Chapter 0035: Letting Go

Chapter 0035: Letting Go

Qu Yunmie did not understand what Xiao Rong meant. He was about to ask when footsteps were heard from outside, and Yu Shaocheng returned.

He returned with the information he had gathered, and as Qu Yunmie had said, the person who presented the treasured sword was named Huang Keji. However, it was strange that he held no official position beside Huang Yanjiong.

Xiao Rong was somewhat surprised, but upon reflection, he thought there was no issue, after all, Huang Keji was only sixteen years old. As Huang Keji's uncle, Huang Yanjiong's statement that he was not yet ripe enough to hold any official position could not be disputed by outsiders.

Moreover, Huang Yanjiong is currently just a governor, and even if he wishes to bestow higher positions upon his subordinates, he is unable to do so. Most of the people who follow him are in this awkward situation, without any official title, and are nameless when they go out.……

Having figured out these points, Xiao Rong inquired who that scholar was to Yu Shaocheng.

Yu Shaocheng replied, "The man is called Zhou Liang, he is a staff member by Huang Yanjiong's side."

Xiao Rong took a moment to process the information silently, then suddenly stood up: "Zhou Liang?! A 'wood' and a 'capital' Liang??"

Yu Shaocheng was taken aback, not expecting Xiao Rong to ask about such details. He had not inquired about such specifics, and for the moment, he was unsure which character was meant by Zhou Liang's "Liang." However, having navigated the bureaucratic waters of Southern Yong, he was aware that he could not simply respond with "I don't know" and leave it at that. Doing so would give the impression to his superiors that he was incompetent. So, he bowed his head and changed the subject: "I have not heard about these details, but I am aware that this person hails from Dong Mou County and comes from a humble background." ... That must be the Zhou Liang in question.

Xiao Rong sat back with a dazed expression. Qu Yunmie, observing his look, felt quite peculiar: "How do you know everyone?"

Xiao Rong absentmindedly replied, "I don't know Zhou Liang, I've just heard of him before."

Qu Yunmie responded with an "Oh," and then changed the subject, asking, "How do you seem to have heard of everyone?"

Xiao Rong: "…………"

Because I have a good memory.

Xiao Rong was shocked, not because of Zhou Liang himself, but because in his memory, Zhou Liang was clearly a man of the Dongyang King, He Tingzhi. Their relationship was exceptionally close, and later the Dongyang King even married Zhou Liang's daughter, who also became the historically renowned Empress Zhou.

History is indeed fascinating; the title a person holds at the time of their death is how history will refer to them. The reason this woman is called Empress Zhou, not Empress Dowager Zhou, is naturally because she passed away before He Tingzhi.

Moreover, her death was extremely tragic. He Tingzhi believed that Empress Zhou was his bane, and that all the natural disasters during his reign were brought about by her. He felt compelled to make Empress Zhou suffer, as her pain would solidify his grip on the throne. Thus, he confined Empress Zhou in a room near the second main gate of the palace, ordering her to be tormented day and night. It is said that her screams of agony were so loud that even the commoners outside the palace could hear them. Upon hearing her cries, the people would have nightmares, suffer from high fevers, and in the end, several were driven to madness.

He Tingzhi and Empress Zhou were a couple with a significant age gap, and their love was once deeply affectionate. In the early years of his reign, there were many beautiful tales about their relationship. However, it is unclear when things changed, and they began to oppose each other. Empress Zhou intervened in the affairs of the court, even involving her father and her brothers. The Zhou family was originally of humble origins, but after He Tingzhi ascended to the throne, they rose to the ranks of the aristocracy. Zhou Liang, as a person of high status and power, brought the Zhou family to unparalleled prominence. It was possible that one day they could dethrone He Tingzhi.

At this juncture, Han Liangru made his appearance. Although it was only in the last five years that he turned He Tingzhi into a puppet, he had actually been by He Tingzhi's side for a long time. Previously, he had never involved himself in political matters. The incident with Empress Zhou was the first time he got involved. He persuaded He Tingzhi to trust himself, stripping away He Tingzhi's trust in Zhou Liang and his reluctance to part with Empress Zhou. This led He Tingzhi to make a firm decision, and in one fell swoop, he arrested all the members of the Zhou family. Overnight, the Zhou family vanished, leaving only Empress Zhou barely surviving in the palace.

What is the most ironic? At the beginning, the court was grateful to Han Liangru because the Zhou family was too troublesome, and many people hated them, but unfortunately, they couldn't persuade the emperor to take action against the Zhous. Later, they found out that the emperor's methods were so cruel, and they realized that the development of this matter was out of their control. The historical records show that Han Liangru, although he harmed the Zhou family, had pleaded for Empress Zhou, but He Tingzhi firmly believed that she would be the nemesis who would eventually kill him, so he resolutely did not release her. Han Liangru sighed and left, and the palace people still thought he was really kind-hearted.

The specific details of the matter are probably only known to the few people involved. Due to the mythological aura surrounding Han Liangru, later generations have demonized him, saying that the Zhou family's alleged rebellion was secretly manipulated by him, and that the deterioration of the imperial couple's relationship was also driven by him step by step, all to eventually eliminate this family and leave He Tingzhi in a state of isolation, with no one to rely on but Han Liangru.

Whether this is true or not, Xiao Rong does not know for certain, but he is aware that Zhou Liang is undoubtedly a person of He Tingzhi.

Did he overlook something? Before coming to He Tingzhi's side, could Zhou Liang have served under Huang Yanjiong? It's not impossible, after all, no matter how meticulous he is, he wouldn't scrutinize every detail of someone like Zhou Liang, whose most well-known identity is being the father of the empress.

As for the matter that Zhou Liang is a spy planted by He Tingzhi next to Huang Yanjiong...

Xiao Rong first scared himself into a cold sweat, and then suddenly realized, this was impossible.

Firstly, Huang Yanjiong isn't that impressive. Apart from Xiao Rong holding him in high regard, everyone else sees him as just a minor governor. His mediocrity is his best protection; no one would go to such great lengths and spend years plotting against him.

Secondly, He Tingzhi also lacks capable subordinates. Zhou Liang's abilities are widely recognized; he has served as Chancellor, Marshal, and Grand Chancellor—positions of the highest rank. He is He Tingzhi's right-hand man. Even if He Tingzhi wanted to deal with someone, he wouldn't send Zhou Liang.

So this is merely a coincidence. Zhou Liang likely started serving under Huang Yanjiong first. Later, something happened—perhaps they had conflicting ideals or Zhou Liang offended Huang Yanjiong—so he left. By chance, he met He Tingzhi and began serving him.

Xiao Rong fell silent.

Regardless of how high Zhou Liang might rise or how much he might turn against He Tingzhi, what matters to Xiao Rong is that Zhou Liang is a thorough scoundrel.

He is petty and extremely devious. If someone offends him, he will remember it daily and seek tenfold revenge. He is not only ruthless to his enemies but also to his allies. A top general under He Tingzhi was driven to suicide by him.

Initially, Xiao Rong thought Huang Yanjiong came up with the idea of killing three birds with one stone, but now it seems more likely that Zhou Liang proposed it.

Xiao Rong's expression suddenly turned grave. Qu Yunmie found this intriguing and couldn't help asking, "What are you thinking?"

Xiao Rong paused for a moment before speaking calmly, "I'm thinking that this person cannot be allowed to live."

Qu Yunmie's eyebrows shot up: "Cannot be allowed to live means—"

Xiao Rong gave him a look, knowing Qu Yunmie would react this way.

But occasionally letting him feel important wasn't a bad thing. Even dog trainers interact with their trainees sometimes.

After a moment, Xiao Rong smiled, "It means exactly what the King thinks."

Having heard Xiao Rong repeatedly emphasize not to kill, Qu Yunmie felt an immense sense of relief when Xiao Rong finally said it was permissible. The air seemed fresher.

Qu Yunmie laughed heartily, "Very well, I'll find an excuse to kill him tomorrow."

Xiao Rong: "…………" He wanted to bang his head against a wall.

Rubbing his temples, Xiao Rong said helplessly, "Does the King want to do it himself again? Some things the King should handle personally, but others should be delegated. It's better to have someone else do it. Although this person is just Huang Yanjiong's advisor, it's best not to get involved in the mess. No need to find an excuse; after they leave the city, have a few quick-witted people pretend to be bandits. This way, no one can link his death to the King."

Qu Yunmie frowned, "Why make such a simple matter so complicated?"

Xiao Rong felt conflicted and didn't answer immediately. He was still pondering whether to kill Zhou Liang. This man was truly evil. Now that his plan was foiled by Qu Yunmie, he and Huang Yanjiong might develop a rift. Keeping him could be a future threat.

But he couldn't just kill someone over a potential issue, which would make him no better than a murderer.

Xiao Rong knew that since he boarded Qu Yunmie's ship, he would eventually face these dilemmas. But when confronted with them, he realized how difficult it was to make decisions.

One decision determined another's life and his own conscience.

These thoughts flashed through Xiao Rong's mind in an instant. He looked up at Qu Yunmie and said, "I—"

Before he could finish, Qu Yunmie stared at him with a troubled expression and turned away impatiently, "Fine, fine, I'll do as you say. We'll act once they leave the city."

Really, all he said was that it was troublesome. Did it warrant such a serious expression?

Xiao Rong was slightly taken aback. Although he didn't know why Qu Yunmie suddenly agreed, it worked out well. After all, Huang Yanjiong and the others would still be in the city for several more days, giving him ample time to observe Zhou Liang before deciding what to do.

Xiao Rong was conflicted about killing Zhou Liang, and his hesitation was for Qu Yunmie's sake. He believed that Zhou Liang held a grudge against Qu Yunmie, but what he didn't know was that Zhou Liang's true target was himself.

Zhou Liang clearly saw that after Xiao Rong intervened, Qu Yunmie suddenly calmed down. Later, Xiao Rong's single word turned the situation around, transforming an original plot against Qu Yunmie into a favorable outcome for him.

Without Xiao Rong, Qu Yunmie, with his arrogant nature, would never have thought of this. He would have simply flown into a rage and driven Huang Yanjiong away, possibly even expelling them from the city without discussing the upcoming attack on the Xianbei.

So Zhou Liang felt his plan was foolproof: if it succeeded, Qu Yunmie would face dire consequences; if it failed, Huang Yanjiong would be spared the trouble of sending troops. Either way, it benefited them.

Such a good plan was foiled by Xiao Rong's sudden appearance. The more self-satisfied he had been, the more painful it was now.

He lowered his head to process these humiliating and angry emotions. Across from him, Huang Yanjiong raged like an out-of-control gorilla, continuously venting his fury.

Zhou Liang had been with Huang Yanjiong for about three years and had become his most trusted advisor. Zhou Liang prided himself on his ability to manipulate people, and he knew exactly what kind of person Huang Yanjiong was. He believed that Huang Yanjiong's cruelty was necessary for achieving greatness.

From the fact that Zhou Liang could propose sacrificing Huang Keji to Huang Yanjiong, it was clear they were birds of a feather. Thus, Huang Yanjiong behaved genuinely around Zhou Liang, not needing to pretend to be benevolent or magnanimous.

Huang Yanjiong was a scoundrel, and now, in his rage, he said whatever came to mind. Though Zhou Liang wasn't a good person either, he still frowned at Huang Yanjiong's words.

The plan had failed, and tomorrow he would truly attend a feast of death. What if Qu Yunmie changed his mind after a night's sleep and decided to kill him?

Huang Yanjiong was angry, scared, and felt guilty, making him appear increasingly weak and cowardly. He needed to mask his emotions with anger.

After venting enough, Huang Yanjiong began to calm down. His first thought was to run away immediately.

Zhou Liang then looked up to stop him: "No! Leaving without notice is equivalent to breaking ties with the Northern Pacification King. His anger hasn't subsided yet. If he pursues you personally, even if he didn't intend to take your life, he might do so in a fit of rage. Do you have confidence in escaping the Northern Pacification King's pursuit?"

Huang Yanjiong: "…………" No.

Qu Yunmie had three defining traits: he hated the Xianbei, enjoyed killing, and ran incredibly fast.

Pursuing enemies over long distances was his specialty. Not only was he energetic, but his horse was too. Those who caught his attention ultimately met their end under his wrath.

Li Xiuheng managed to survive for ten years because Qu Yunmie never encountered him. Their game wasn't one of pursuit but of hide-and-seek. The former was Qu Yunmie's forte, while the latter wasn't.

Despite his hesitation, Huang Yanjiong still dared not stay. Seeing this, Zhou Liang reassured him: "Do you remember what Xiao Rong said? The Northern Pacification King wants to discuss two matters with you tomorrow: compensation for the gifts and attacking the Xianbei. Since they still need something from you, they won't harm you. So rest assured, the Northern Pacification King won't do anything to you."

Upon hearing this, Huang Yanjiong visibly relaxed, slowly sitting down. But halfway through, he stood up again: "If I do, I'll have to send troops!"

That was indeed the case, and even Zhou Liang couldn't change it. He nodded solemnly: "Fortunately, this is the will of the people. When you send troops, the entire world will be grateful to you."

Huang Yanjiong: "…………"

Who needs that reputation!

His initial goal was to avoid sending troops, revealing his strength, or dragging his army to Sheng Le. It would waste so much time, and the current situation was ever-changing. A year could bring a new dynasty, and attacking the Xianbei would take at least half a year!

Unlike Qu Yunmie, whose base was relatively close to Sheng Le, Huang Yanjiong's territory was in Ningzhou, 4,500 miles away. By the time Qu Yunmie returned to Chenliu, Huang Yanjiong would still be struggling back to Jianning.

Thinking of this, Huang Yanjiong became furious, and he remembered that this idea was Zhou Liang's, making him even more displeased.

If not for Zhou Liang's plan, he would have feigned illness in Jianning. If he didn't want to go, he could always pretend to be sick, right?

Listening to his complaints, Zhou Liang appeared submissive but inwardly sneered.

Not wanting to damage his reputation or tire himself—how could you want it all? When did you ever mention feigning illness? Feigning illness is cowardice. Do you have the courage to be a coward?

Initially believing Huang Yanjiong to be a wise ruler, Zhou Liang now saw him as mediocre. They were still in Chenliu, so he couldn't make a big scene, but once back in Jianning, things might change. Huang Yanjiong trusted him because he never made mistakes. Now, his status in Huang Yanjiong's eyes would undoubtedly diminish.

Zhou Liang had a small heart and couldn't tolerate others influencing the person he served. He disliked being overshadowed. Though he could regain Huang Yanjiong's trust, he now found Huang Yanjiong distasteful.

He was just the tallest among dwarfs.

Zhou Liang began considering serving someone else. His first thought was Qu Yunmie, but thinking of Qu Yunmie reminded him of Xiao Rong.

Working with this annoying person wasn't an issue; Zhou Liang considered himself adaptable. However, he disliked how Qu Yunmie listened to Xiao Rong so obediently.

He sensed that this relationship couldn't be replicated. No matter how persuasive he was, Qu Yunmie wouldn't replace Xiao Rong with him. So, it was impossible; he needed to think of someone else.

Huang Yanjiong couldn't guess Zhou Liang's thoughts. Since the situation was settled, he resigned himself to attending tomorrow's feast of death and dealing with future issues later.

Huang Yanjiong started asking Zhou Liang what to do tomorrow. Zhou Liang answered every question patiently. When Huang Yanjiong asked about Huang Keji, Zhou Liang wanted to say not to let him out of sight, as today's events were suspicious, and the Northern Pacification King had a clever advisor who might already be suspicious and would likely approach Huang Keji.

But as he opened his mouth, his words took a different turn: "Today's events revealed everything. Huang Keji must have sensed the governor's intentions. It's best not to see him again. There's no explanation, and it will only cause more trouble. Once you leave the city, you can decide what to do."

This was a subtle suggestion, implying that Huang Keji should be eliminated outside the city.

When Huang Yanjiong decided to sacrifice Huang Keji, he discarded their familial bond. Now, fearing Huang Keji would expose him, he nodded, agreeing that Huang Keji shouldn't return to Jianning alive.

He still had a question: "If I blame Qu Yunmie for this, do you think it's feasible?"

Zhou Liang smiled: "Of course it is."

Huang Yanjiong felt slightly relieved, waved him away, and Zhou Liang bowed before leaving.

Huang Yanjiong stayed in this room, while Huang Keji was in a room diagonally opposite. Seeing the light still coming from Huang Keji's windows, Zhou Liang sneered.

Whether the Northern Pacification King's contact with Huang Keji caused trouble for Huang Yanjiong or Huang Yanjiong killed Huang Keji, leaving himself vulnerable, the repercussions would eventually come back to Huang Yanjiong. That was enough.

Xiao Rong woke up late the next day, primarily because no one came to wake him. Xiao Yi was somewhat worried, fearing he might miss something important and incur the Northern Pacification King's wrath. However, Prime Minister Gao Xunzhi visited their courtyard, reassuring him that Xiao Rong had endured much hardship during their journey and deserved a good rest.

Xiao Yi: "……"

Gao Xunzhi's residence was slightly smaller than Xiao Rong's, lacking a clear division between male and female quarters. Otherwise, it was similar. The courtyard housed not only Gao Xunzhi but also the Yu brothers.

Qu Yunmie told Gao Xunzhi about yesterday's events early this morning, shocking him. Gao Xunzhi then informed Yu Shaoxie, who was infuriated.

"To harm one's own brother is worse than an animal!"

Gao Xunzhi had stayed in Southern Yong with Qu Yunmie back then. At the time, he merely felt that Huang Yanjiong wasn't someone to be closely associated with, but he never imagined he would become like this.

He sighed, "One can know a person's face, but not their heart."

After sighing, he became somewhat worried about Huang Keji's situation: "Back then, it was we who received the favor of Huang Keji's father. Later, it was also due to our circumstances that we had to abandon him. Out of both emotion and reason, we should protect the descendants of our benefactor."

Yu Shaoxie agreed with this logic and nodded as well.

This was the mindset of scholars. They believed that gratitude was paramount, and owing a meal could warrant giving one's life, let alone the countless meals Qu Yunmie owed.

However, dying for a true friend was only a beautiful ideal. Most people wouldn't really do it, and few would go as far as ancient times, where owing a meal meant giving one's life.

Repaying a debt of gratitude was necessary, but it required the right methods and timing, considering the circumstances. After all, whether the debt could be repaid depended on Qu Yunmie's thoughts. If he didn't want to, no one else could force him.

Yu Shaoxie and Gao Xunzhi exchanged a glance, then got up and walked out together.

But they weren't going to persuade Qu Yunmie; instead, they turned into the neighboring courtyard. ...

Xiao Rong indeed hadn't slept so well in a long time. Feeling the light on his face, he couldn't help but smile, stretching lazily in bed with his eyes closed.

Once his limbs were fully stretched, Xiao Rong opened his eyes, almost scaring his soul out of his body.

He sat up abruptly, reflexively pulling the blanket to cover himself, and exclaimed in fear, "What are you doing?! Why are you looking at me like that?!"

Yu Shaoxie stepped forward, solemnly grasping Xiao Rong's hand and said, "Brother Xiao, there's something we can only entrust to you now!"

Xiao Rong: "…………"

Pervert, let go!