Chapter 113: The Intrigues of the Imperial Court

Chapter 111: Mother

The moment Zhou Gui spoke, he realized his words had been too impulsive.

Shen Zechuan's birth mother was named Bai Cha, but she was not from the Bai family of Qidong Cui County. She was given this name because, while she was still in the pleasure house, someone praised her as "pure as jade, delicate like porcelain. Whether heavily or lightly made up, she was the fairest in the establishment." At that time, Duanzhou was the premier center of beauty and entertainment in Zhongbo, where beauties from all over the world gathered. Scholars vied to host banquets and compose poetic appraisals, creating a "Pavilion Ranking" that would be revised each season based on the latest accolades, adjusting the order of the ladies on the list.

Bai Cha was the "Flower-Pointing Champion" of the Yongyi era, holding the top position for five consecutive years without ever relinquishing her throne among the blossoms. Whenever she listened to the floral critiques from behind a screen, Duanzhou would empty out its streets as all its inhabitants flocked to witness her. When she performed a dance for Prince Jianxing, Shen Wei, the thoroughfares were packed with crowds so dense they seemed like mountains of people. Countless individuals climbed onto rooftops or stood atop one another's shoulders, each striving merely for a glimpse through the layers upon layers of cascading gauze at her elusive, tantalizing silhouette. Her beauty grew increasingly legendary in the ballads and odes sung in praise of flowers, reaching even the ears of Emperor Guangcheng within the innermost sanctum of the palace. On multiple occasions, he had inquired of then-Vice Premier Hai Liangyi, "When is the royal progress to be set?"—eager to use the pretext of the imperial tour to behold her charm firsthand.

At Lady Zhu's full moon feast, Zhou Gui had caught sight of Bai Cha, though only through the lattice screen, stealing glimpses of the beauty rumored to grace these halls. Lei Changming's sister was originally listed among the courtesans in the establishment, serving as a "matron" when tutoring novices before she was taken as a concubine by the Commandery Prefect of Duanzhou. Bai Cha's attendance at the celebration was on behalf of the young women within the establishment.

This happened many years ago, and Zhou Gui's memory of it had long grown hazy. But just now, as he gazed at Shen Zechuan, he noticed a six-point resemblance between Shen Zechuan's profile and Bai Cha's, which stirred his emotions, causing him to blurt it out.

Shen Zechuan's expression remained unruffled as he said, "How fortuitous."

He felt no novelty, nor any thrill. His memories of his birth mother were blank; despite having heard countless tales about her, nothing lingered in his mind to evoke any affection. The role of "mother" in his life was fulfilled by his foster mother, Lady Hua Pingting, just as the role of "father" belonged solely to his master, Ji Gang. Thus, he was determined to ensure that Ji Lei, who had wronged Lady Hua, would die a gruesome death. The two individuals who had given him life held no connection with him—Bai Cha had passed away long ago, leaving not a single word for Shen Zechuan. Shen Wei despised Shen Zechuan, and it was the Duchess of Jianxing who held sway over their household. Before Shen Zechuan turned seven, he had only met Shen Wei on seven occasions, all during New Year's feasts, and they had never exchanged a single word that one would expect between a father and son.

However, Shen Wei's disdain for him was abundantly clear.

They did not resemble a father and son; they seemed more like eternal foes, born with mutual hatred. Shen Zechuan's existence within the Jianxing Prince's Estate was confined to a corner of the inner courtyard. He was not allowed to leave his own yard without permission. His daily respite was sitting on the veranda, counting the white clouds drifting across that small patch of blue sky. By the time he was seven, he had learned to read many characters. This was achieved through his monthly escapades, squeezing through a dog hole to crouch beneath the classroom windows where his elder brothers, such as Shen Zhouji, studied.

At the time, several elder brothers in the mansion who had already reached adulthood were fiercely vying for power, while concubines from various chambers engaged in their own intrigues. The inner courtyard was rife with discord and malice, to the extent that Shen Wei himself refused to reside there. Instead, he maintained an extramarital residence outside the mansion, spending months on end in its seclusion, turning a blind eye to the strife within the family compound.

Shen Zechuan was the only son whom Shen Wei personally crossed off the list for the former residence in Duanzhou. Shen Wei refused to send him to school or engage a tutor for him. Within the estate, he was cared for by an elderly, deaf, and visually impaired servant woman, while outside, he was looked after by a maid who had stayed behind at the old residence, a woman driven by greed. She siphoned off the silver allocated from the Jianxing Prince's Estate, gradually reducing Shen Zechuan's meals from three daily to two, and eventually to just one, which was always meager and cold leftovers.

Shen Zechuan, upon reaching this point in his thoughts, felt a pang of hunger in his belly. He released his hold on Yan Shan Snow's hand and said, "Ding Tao, kindly assist Mr. Cheng Feng with changing into fresh attire. Today, Cé An and I shall be the hosts; we cordially invite both of you to join us for a meal where we may discourse at length over the table."

Zhou Gui was not skilled in words, and Kong Ling feared that he might inadvertently say something else that would upset Shen Zechuan. Therefore, he promptly took hold of Zhou Gui's arm, relying on him to support him as they entered the city together.

* * *

After Zhou Gui finished helping Kong Ling change his clothes, he paced around anxiously, exclaiming, "Why did I have to bring up that matter?"

"Likewise," Kong Ling remarked, "you're treading on thin ice by bringing that up. Isn't it akin to suspecting him of having ties with the traitors? Fortunately, neither of them is naturally suspicious, or else this would indeed be a significant issue."

"I acted out of momentary agitation," Zhou Gui sighed, "and later at the banquet, I must offer sincere apologies to the Tongzhi. After all, they have come to relieve our siege at Cizhou; I cannot possibly treat them with such disrespect."

"Let's not bring it up deliberately during the gathering," Kong Ling said after sitting upright and pondering for a moment. "If Shen Zechuan were a narrow-minded person, he wouldn't have come. If you attach too much importance to this and insist on apologizing, it would seem that you and I are more concerned about it. Besides, he might not even genuinely care about it. Compared to his mother, it's Shen Wei who truly inspires resentment in others."

Unable to keep Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye waiting for too long, they took a brief respite before rising to attend the banquet.

In the name of a feast, it was actually just a simple lunch. They had all been rushing through the night before, and today they had engaged in a brief clash with bandits at the city gates. Concerned about Kong Ling's age, Shen Zechuan didn't keep them there for more socializing. After the meal, he allowed Kong Ling to rest early.

Xiao Chiye had to arrange for the imperial guards to patrol and dispatch someone to communicate with Tan Taihu at their old campsite. By the time he finished, it was almost dusk. He searched around and found Shen Zechuan on the city wall.

"You'll be busy again after tonight," Xiao Chiye said as he climbed onto the wall. "I thought you'd still be resting in the courtyard."

"I slept for half an hour," Shen Zechuan turned back and looked at Xiao Chiye. "With things on my mind, I couldn't fall asleep again."

Xiao Chiye tilted his head, patting the falcon on his shoulder, allowing it to go play by itself. Still covered in dust and without having changed his clothes, he stood beside Shen Zechuan and asked, "What can you see from here?"

Shen Zechuan gazed at the undulating mountains and the impending darkness that retreated into the forest. The setting sun, a shade of orange, cast its rays across the sky, while the falcon soared within, like a pebble stirring up waves in a sea of cassia flowers.

"I can see the future," Shen Zechuan said calmly. "In the days to come, Chizhou will be the key link in the trading route between Libei and the south. We'll open a direct horse trail to Hezhou in the southwest, ending at Hezhou's harbor, where merchants can unload their goods and sail to Yongyi Port within half a month. Xiqi's fleet can connect the region with exotic goods, and the empty silver vaults will eventually be replenished. I'm not concerned about the money we've spent; we'll have more. Chizhou stands behind Duan and Duankang Provinces, acting as their 'gate.' To ensure the smooth flow of food and supplies, they'll have to maintain good relations with Chizhou."

"After reclaiming Duan and Duankang, we'll need to reinforce our defenses. The reconstruction of the defense forces is urgent, so you must carefully choose reliable and capable people to take charge. But those with talent might not be willing to take orders. In that case…" Xiao Chiye turned around and pointed in the direction of Libei. "I'll establish a new Iron Cavalry Camp to the southeast of the northeastern grain and horse trail. If they cause trouble, just whistle, and I'll lead the troops straight there."

Shen Zechuan laughed softly and said, "Chizhou is too crucial for both of us; we can't let anyone else have it. Zhou Gui is an excellent official, but he's not suited to govern a province. With wolves circling around, passion alone won't save anyone."

"We're short on manpower," Xiao Chiye had been considering this since leaving Lei Changming's old campsite.

If Zizhou were the starting point for the two of them, then as their domain expanded, they would find it increasingly challenging. This challenge referred to the lack of capable assistants to manage affairs. Had Qiao Tianya or Chen Yang been by their side, today's crisis in Zizhou might not have occurred, and the currently subtle stances would gradually reveal their contradictions.

"Zhou Gui is well-suited for the position of the grain commissioner of the six provinces. His love for the people is the foundation. A person like him would never allow collusion between officials and merchants during his inspections. However, he is too compassionate and neither willing nor daring to impose severe punishments, which is why he cannot suppress local villains. Kong Ling came to his side, precisely because he had assessed Zhou Gui's character and was there to help him cut away distractions and act decisively." Shen Zechuan spoke calmly and evenly, "If the two of them can continue to work together with one heart, then they still have potential for the future."

"Well then, what do you think of this Lei Jingzhe?" Xiao Chiye inquired.

"There's no doubt he'll meet his downfall." Shen Zechuan strolled a few steps along the battlements and remarked, "When he left the camp, I thought he was a formidable figure. But after observing his behavior today, I'm no longer so convinced."

"We truly share a telepathic bond," Xiao Chiye observed as the sky darkened. He leaned against Shen Zechuan and walked alongside him, continuing, "Lei Changming is his own uncle, but he left him behind in the camp as a sacrificial pawn to gain an advantage in Boci. Such a move might not win him the loyalty of his men. When he fled, he used his closest confidants as shields to avoid arrows. From these two incidents, it's clear that he is astute but lacks integrity. If he wishes to surrender to Qudu and secure a position, he must first transform his bandits into a disciplined army. However, he seems oblivious to the fact that being a warlord is vastly different from being a general. Authority cannot be built solely through brutality. A general must adhere to orders without hesitation, mete out rewards and punishments with certainty, and be as reliable as heaven and earth to command the respect of his troops. He simply doesn't have what it takes to be a true general."

"So, I am more concerned about Qi Zhuyin than this individual." Shen Zechuan hesitated on the steps as he spoke, "The marriage alliance between Qidong and the Huas cannot be undone. Now that Lubei has rebelled, Qidong is the last stronghold for Qidu. Qi Zhuyin will undoubtedly be promoted and ennobled soon. The Empress Dowager already holds her in high regard. Once her title is confirmed, it will be time to march northward. Regardless, I must fortify Cizhou into an impregnable fortress before Qi Zhuyin arrives."

"Commander Xiao is not someone to be underestimated. Eldest Brother Qi is a heavy cavalryman, Lu Guangbai is a light cavalryman, and Qi Zhuyin is versatile, adept at both cavalry and infantry warfare. She has been based in Cang County for a long time and doesn't easily deploy her troops. However, her attacks are fierce. When she ventured deep into the desert to rescue Qi Shiyu back then, it was like a sudden storm, stunning her adversaries. She has a habit of swiftly overpowering her opponents, instilling fear in them first, so that when they face her again, they can't help but feel intimidated," Xiao Chiye pondered for a moment. "I want to engage her in battle."

Shen Zechuan gazed at him.

Xiao Chiye patted his shoulder and said, "It's not like I'm about to cross paths with her right now. She looks rather fierce staring at me like that."

Shen Zechuan descended a step, then, as if remembering something, he turned back and asked, "Where is my fan?"

Xiao Chiye pinched his chin, striding up three steps at once before crouching down in front of him and saying, "I'll carry you if you come."

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1: "Three Strategies of the Warring States: The Upper Strategy"