287 The Dragon Shall Sleep
Mingde Emperor Year 21, Year’s End.
His Majesty the Emperor fainted at the Heavenly Altar during the annual Ceremony of Offering Sacrifices, alarming the imperial court and the people. According to the diagnosis by the Imperial Academy of Medicine, the Emperor had suddenly contracted an ailment of the heart. Although his life was not in any danger for the time being, they were unable to find a cure. For six consecutive days, His Majesty the Emperor remained in a half unconscious state, and all the physicians were at their wits’ end, helpless in the face of this crisis. Hence, they could only turn to the Director of Astrology Qi Tianchen from the Directorate of Astronomy for help. But Qi Tianchen came to see him three times and could only help His Majesty the Emperor temporarily regain consciousness.
But during the three times he regained consciousness, Mingde Emperor made three decrees.
In the first decree, Lanyue Marquis and Grand Preceptor Dong Zhu were jointly appointed as regents of the country and they were in charge of everything in Beili. This was something everyone had expected. The last time Mingde Emperor traveled out of the capital, it was Lanyue Marquis who was made regent of the country. This time, he must have thought that this illness was likely to cause more alarm in the court, so he allowed the Grand Preceptor Dong Zhu, who was widely respected as a person of high moral standing and reputation, to take charge of the country together.
In the second decree, Heavenly Revelations City would be locked down for one month. Civil officials below the second grade were not allowed to leave or enter the city, and military officials above the second grade were not allowed to leave their residences. This decree had an even deeper purpose. Second-grade civil officials were not allowed to leave or enter, because an imperial court in chaos was most afraid of the literati sowing disorder into the hearts of the people. Also, all second-grade military officials were not allowed to leave their residences because even if the literati sowed discord in the hearts of the people, they would not be able to rise up without armed soldiers in the mix.
The third decree was a secret decree and it was brought to Ye Xiaoying's residence personally by the Eunuch of Seal, Jin Yan Gonggong.
The three decrees reached the ears of the court officials. The first was to entrust the country, the second was to prevent chaos, and the third was to alarm the people. His Majesty the Emperor's intention was too obvious, but with this obvious intention, another even more obvious fact was also revealed.
This time, Mingde Emperor was really seriously ill.
The news spread quickly throughout Heavenly Revelations. And even if Heavenly Revelations City was locked down for one month, the news still managed to spread as fast as a wildfire throughout Beili.
In the General's Residence, Ye Xiaoying sat in the study room, looking at the secret decree that Jin Yan Gonggong had specially brought to him. He knocked on his temples with some frustration.
Ye Ruoyi sat opposite him, looking at the secret decree thoughtfully.
When he was critically ill, His Majesty the Emperor sent the Eunuch of Seal to deliver the third decree to the most high-ranking general in the Beili Army. This was an extraordinarily novel thing in the eyes of court officials, and many people began speculating privately. The White Prince Residence and Red Prince Residence had already sent several groups of people over in an attempt to probe some information.
But Ye Xiaoying laid the secret decree blatantly on the table generously, not seeming to avoid anything.
Because within that secret decree, not a single word was written.
"What do you think the Emperor is up to?" Ye Xiaoying looked at his daughter.
Ye Ruoyi smiled and said, "Father is now the most high-ranking person in the Beili Army and you have been holding the Central Army’s Tiger Tally for many years. His Majesty has given you this secret decree because he wanted to tell those officials conspiring to rebel that he has already passed a certain order to you. With this decree in hand, if someone attempts a conspiracy to rebel, you can act arbitrarily according to what is written in the decree. You are the Manslayer. Even if Lei Mengsha or Langya Prince were still alive, when it came to handling matters ruthlessly, they’re not comparable to you."
"I really can't tell if you’re complimenting me." Ye Xiaoying smiled bitterly. "But the Emperor obviously didn’t write a single word."
"This daughter just told you. Father, you’re the Manslayer. How could His Majesty the Emperor truly trust you and give you such an imperial decree." Ye Ruoyi gently waved her hand and put the secret decree away.
Ye Xiaoying grumbled with frustration, "He’s stabbing me in the back."
"He’s the Emperor after all," Ye Ruoyi said.
"By the way, with what happened this time, do you think it will affect that person?" Ye Xiaoying said quietly.
Ye Ruoyi thought for a while and nodded. "Yes."
Late at night. Grand Preceptor Residence.
Lanyue Marquis, dressed in exquisite golden robes, walked out before he turned around and bowed. "Grand Preceptor Dong, I will be counting on you during this period of time."
"Marquis is too polite." An old veteran of two reigns, the Grand Preceptor Dong Zhu was widely respected as a person of high moral standing and reputation. He hurriedly returned the bow, "Please return as soon as you can."
"Of course." Lanyue Marquis turned around, and an attendant was already approaching with his horse. Lanyue Marquis leaped onto his horse and yanked the reins. "Ride!" He rode at high speed all the way to the city gates. The gates of Heavenly Revelations City which were under strict orders to stay closed, had already opened a crack. He rode on a white horse with his golden robes and left the city just like that, bathed under the moonlight.
"Little genius doctor, we’re going to meet again." Lanyue Marquis looked at the moon in the sky and smiled.
Tianshui Town.
Muming Tea House.
Zhu and Long Er were sitting inside and chatting with the shopkeeper.
"We’re from Lishan Tea Garden and happen to pass through here. I saw that the shopkeeper’s sign outside is quite big. Would you be interested in buying some tea from us?" Zhu asked flippantly.
The shopkeeper was surprised. "Lishan Tea Garden! Isn’t that one of the top three largest tea shops in the world? How could this lowly one have the means to buy tea leaves from the Tea Garden."
"When the tea from our Tea Garden is sold, it does not depend on how prestigious their location nor how much silver they offer. Shopkeeper, your tea is elegant and supple. Although the tea leaves are ordinary, you brewed a tea flavor that is top in grade." Zhu picked up the tea cup from the table and took another sip. "You’re someone who understands tea."
The shopkeeper nodded. "But, mister tea seller, I have a question. I wonder if I may ask?"
"Please ask freely."
"The way you’re travelling, you could obviously have gone faster and arrived at Heavenly Revelations City quicker. Why did you have to pretend to be a tea seller, looking for tea shops along the way to stop for tea and chats? Wouldn’t that delay your important business?" The shopkeeper had put away his smile and the doors of the tea house had closed without their notice.
Long Er's face suddenly changed, and she pulled out a long sword hidden in the guqin. Zhu was stunned for a moment, but he still replied evenly, "Since we’re pretending, we have to try and be a little more convincing. Only when you have deceived yourself can you consider that a true disguise."
"On that point, we’re very similar." The shopkeeper nodded. "In order to wait for you, I spent a whole two months studying how to select tea and steep tea. Furthermore, I found out that I’m actually very talented in this area. Now, in this whole town, nobody knows tea better than me. Even I am a little in love with this business."
"This packet is Cangshan Snow Green from the Tea Garden. It is fresh and elegant, and most suitable for getting rid of the scent of blood from your body after committing murder." Zhu placed a small packet of tea on the table and slowly drew out the long sword on his back.
The tea house’s shopkeeper kept the packet of tea and smiled. "Thank you for that. But Mister Zhu, you can forget about playing with that sword. We all know what’s hidden in your bamboo pole. We won’t be fooled a second time."
The shop assistants and customers in the tea house all stood up one after another, drawing the weapons that they had hidden on their bodies as they surrounded Zhu and Long Er.
Long Er finally spoke, her voice wretched and raspy.
"Hidden River."