Chapter 7: The Whole Story
“Really?”
That night, Xiao Yi, covered in blood, returned with Zhang Mantun. Shi Deyuan listened to the account and actually clapped and laughed heartily, falling back and forth.
“Hahahaha, there’s such a strange thing? How could he be so stupid to dare to anger Father?”
“Stop laughing, you’re losing merit.”
“I can’t help it… has Su Niupi died? I’m going to burn incense for him.”
Zhang Mantun said regretfully, “He slipped away very quickly. Grand Tutor Yang held onto Marshal tightly, crying so miserably.”
“He cried? Hahahaha, the old man cries too? I really want to see it.”
The more Shi Deyuan laughed, the more composed Xiao Yi became. Although he didn’t know what the old men were up to, all those who died were lowly people.
Xiao Yi asked, “Second Young Master, do you know why Marshal was furious?”
“Of course I know… Huh? Zhang Mantun, you know too, why didn’t you tell Xiao Yi?”
“Shush, this matter cannot be mentioned.”
“If you don’t mention it, you don’t mention it. Go fetch a basin of foot-washing water.”
Zhang Mantun said, “Second Young Master’s servant is right here, how can we ask a Guard General to do this?”
“Xiao Yi, go empty the chamber pot… Zhang Mantun, go fetch a basin of foot-washing water.”
“Second Young Master, don’t try to send me away to talk about that matter. If Marshal is angered, there will be no good fruit to eat.”
“I definitely won’t say it. Also, if Xiao Yi hears about it, it must be someone else who told him.”
After Shi Deyuan finished speaking, he inexplicably sighed with emotion, as if thinking of something, “Zhang Mantun, you followed me and not the eldest, you are truly fortunate.”
“Fortunate enough to fetch foot-washing water.”
As soon as Zhang Mantun left, before Xiao Yi could see the chamber pot, Shi Deyuan grabbed him.
“You want to know why Father is angry, right?”
“Mm.”
“Heh heh, who do you think looks more noble between me and the eldest?”
“Naturally, it’s you.”
“This is indeed not hard to see. Say again, who looks like Father’s legitimate son?”
Xiao Yi was somewhat surprised. Judging by their treatment, neither Shi Deyu nor Shi Deyuan seemed like illegitimate sons.
He vaguely understood something.
Shi Deyuan gave a mysterious smile and excitedly began to speak.
“My mother told me about this, it’s very interesting. Father came from a peasant background, and in his youth, he became a member of the Imperial Guard with his skills. Then, someone proposed marriage to him. He married a daughter of an official, his legitimate wife. She was said to be from a scholarly family, proficient in all arts such as poetry, music, calligraphy, and painting. Father was very happy and always brought Madam Yan to banquets. She helped him with wine games, and the generals all liked inviting him. They would always greet him with smiles. Madam Yan also bore Father a son. Later, one day, Father discovered she wasn’t a daughter of an official at all. Guess what her identity was?”
Hearing this, Xiao Yi already had an answer in his heart.
But he just waited for the rest.
“She was a prostitute! A prostitute.”
As expected, Shi Deyuan immediately said it, as if sharing a treasure. He was so excited that he danced with joy, then burst into laughter, unable to control himself, rolling on the ground, kicking his legs.
“Hahaha, those generals already knew… hahahaha, only Father was kept in the dark. Shi Deyu studied… Hahaha, of course he had to study, because his mother was a hostess…”
In this light, everything made sense. But Xiao Yi recalled the reactions of Su Fengji and Yan Youniang at the banquet and vaguely felt something was wrong.
Shi Deyuan’s mad laughter hadn’t stopped when Zhang Mantun returned with the foot-washing water.
“Second Young Master, did you say it?”
“Of course I didn’t say it, haha, right? Xiao Yi, I didn’t say anything. Ah, I’m so tired, my face hurts from laughing.” Shi Deyuan pushed at the loose fat on his face and said, “Sooner or later you will know that I am Father’s beloved son.”
Zhang Mantun pouted dismissively.
Xiao Yi pondered, “Tonight’s events are probably not that simple. Looking at Su Fengji’s reaction, he wasn’t deliberately trying to insult Marshal. Otherwise, with one slip, he would be dead.”
“He should still be killed,” Zhang Mantun said. “Even if it was unintentional, he still touched Marshal’s sensitive spot.”
“It wasn’t unintentional either. If no one arranged it, it wouldn’t be such a coincidence.”
“Not intentional, and not unintentional, what was it then?”
“This matter is all interconnected. Doesn’t it seem like… someone used Su Fengji to anger Marshal?” Xiao Yi retorted, “Assuming Marshal really killed him, what would happen? Would it benefit Marshal?”
Zhang Mantun was stunned and shook his head, “No.”
Even he knew that killing a Prime Minister would come at a price. Once the balance of the political situation was broken, Shi Hongzhao would not be able to control the situation.
Xiao Yi pressed, “Then who would benefit?”
“You mean, someone is sowing discord between Marshal and Su Niupi? Who?!” Zhang Mantun muttered, “Yang Bin? But he was crying too, what a great performance.”
Xiao Yi shook his head and pondered, “It’s not Yang Bin. It doesn’t align with his interests. If he were the mastermind, he would have let Su Fengji kill Marshal, and then he could control the situation. In this current situation, the one who benefits is…”
He paused and slowly uttered two words.
“The Emperor.”
Although the Ministers of State had their own conflicts, they had collectively marginalized the young Emperor. Once the balance was broken, the Emperor would naturally be the greatest beneficiary.
Xiao Yi was unsure if the young Son of Heaven in the Imperial Palace possessed such cunning. If so, it might have been calculated from the very beginning, using others to kill.
Moreover, even if Su Fengji did not die, the conflict between the two Prime Ministers had already become public and irreparable. The plot had succeeded.
Zhang Mantun’s round eyes darted around uneasily. Suddenly he said, “Stop rambling, let’s go to sleep.”
Xiao Yi glanced at Shi Deyuan and saw him shrinking his neck, his eyes flickering, looking like a thief who had stolen something.
It was likely that Shi Deyuan intended to claim this analysis as his own and gain credit with his father.
This was precisely Xiao Yi’s objective. If he had personally advised the capricious Shi Hongzhao, it would have been too dangerous. Using Shi Deyuan’s mouth to test the waters was just right.
He had originally hoped to earn some merit tonight and transfer from slave status to military status, but he would have to find another opportunity…
————————
The next day, everything in the Shi Residence was as usual, only the servants were more nervous.
At noon, the good news of Guo Wei’s great victory against the Khitan arrived like timely rain. Numerous officials came to offer their congratulations, and the atmosphere turned jubilant.
Xiao Yi’s conspiracy theory did not cause unease, but it was not entirely useless.
It changed Shi Deyuan’s major life event…
In the afternoon, Xiao Yi was summoned by Shi Deyu to the courtyard for questioning.
Perhaps due to Madam Yan’s affair somewhat affecting Shi Deyu’s mood, in this meeting, Xiao Yi could tell that his demeanor was not as natural and calm as usual. He kept flipping through the scroll in his hand but wasn’t reading it at all.
“Father intends to propose marriage to the Guo family for Second Young Master. This matter must be related to you.”
“Related to me?” Xiao Yi asked in surprise, “Why would Eldest Young Master say that?”
“This morning, Second Young Master told Father a rather absurd story,” Shi Deyu said with a slight smile. “He said that the Emperor was behind everything, to sow discord between Father and Su Fengji, causing the Ministers of State to fight among themselves, so that he could reap the benefits.”
Xiao Yi keenly sensed his disdain and asked, “Does Marshal think Second Young Master is wrong?”
“More than wrong? It’s simply wishful thinking. The Emperor ascended the throne at a tender age and indulges in pleasure. His advisors are all jesters and sycophants. How could he have such schemes?”
He did not say “How could the Emperor scheme against his subjects?” but instead, he openly revealed his contempt.
After speaking, he looked at Xiao Yi with burning eyes and added, “This kind of speculation about people’s hearts and discerning the times is something Second Young Master could never figure out. Were you the one pulling the strings from behind?”
Xiao Yi had no intention of hiding it and replied, “Young Master, you see clearly. Second Young Master did discuss this matter with me.”
“As expected,” Shi Deyu said. “Although your guess was wrong, you did remind Father that since the situation could escalate to the point of animosity with Su Fengji, others could also be used to sow discord. Therefore, we need to strengthen our relationships, hence this marriage alliance.”
It was evident that Guo Wei was important to the Shi family.
“At Wang Zhang’s banquet, I saw that your knowledge was not ordinary,” Shi Deyu said. “Tell me, what are your thoughts?”
Xiao Yi felt that such matters should not be asked of him and sensed danger. Was it because Shi Deyuan was the one getting married that Shi Deyu was offended? But he didn’t know if Shi Deyu was married.
“Replying to Young Master, my knowledge is shallow, and I have no opinion.”
Shi Deyu slapped his knee, got up, and said, “You don’t open your heart, it’s boring. Come, let’s go to the Guo Residence to propose marriage.”
Xiao Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly, pondering that his analysis from last night might have earned him another small opportunity…
If it were a formal proposal, normally Shi Hongzhao himself should visit. However, Guo Wei was currently in Ye Du, with only his family remaining in Kaifeng. Therefore, Shi Deyu would visit first to express their intentions.
The streets of Kaifeng were bustling with traffic.
Xiao Yi rode his horse and followed in the procession, paying attention to the scene on the streets and alleys.
Suddenly, Shi Deyu ahead looked back, squinted slightly, and sped up his horse, but it was just a trot.
This kind of trot was the most bumpy. In technical terms, it was called a “fast walk” or “bouncing gait,” making the horse’s back undulate like waves. Xiao Yi almost instinctively rode the waves, his body rising and falling with the horse’s rhythm.
Occasionally, he would also press down on the waves, guiding the gait of the horse beneath him.
After a stretch of road, Shi Deyu reined in his horse to slow down, deliberately riding alongside him.
“You ride well, when did you learn?”
As a martial double, Xiao Yi’s riding skills were more than just good. After a moment of consideration, he decided to use Shi Deyuan as a shield and said, “Second Young Master took me riding a few times.”
“Only a few times?” Shi Deyu smiled meaningfully, “Even in the military, it’s rare to find someone as calm, steady, and upright as you.”
“Second Young Master taught me well.”
“As I said, you don’t open your heart, it’s boring.”
Suddenly, the sound of a bell echoed from afar, with Buddhist chanting softly following.
Shi Deyu casually said, “This is the ‘Xiangguo Frost Bell.’ Soon you’ll see the Octagonal Glazed Hall and Paiyun Pavilion of Great Xiangguo Temple. The Guo Residence is nearby. Madam Chai is devout and often goes to offer incense for blessings and good fortune.”
Heading south along Madai Street, they indeed saw a towering building with yellow and green glazed tiles, looking quite solemn.
Turning into a small alley, a courtyard house came into view. The plaque above the door read “Guo Residence.”
“Guo, Chai…”
As if divinely inspired, a buried memory surfaced in Xiao Yi’s mind.
During a boring history lesson that afternoon, he rested his head and listened, casually highlighting a sentence in his textbook.
— “Guo Wei proclaimed himself Emperor, establishing the state of Great Zhou and the capital at Bianjing, historically known as Later Zhou.”
