Chapter 718

Chapter 725: The First Move (Part 2)

On the sixth day of the third month, the grand wedding of the eldest princess took place. A month prior, Wang Xian had been appointed Imperial Son-in-Law by the Ministry of Rites. On the wedding day, the emperor ordered the crown prince to personally escort the princess to her wedding. A month after the marriage, Wang Xian was made Marquis of Jingshan and put in charge of the Imperial Clan Court. This caused an uproar both in the court and among the public, with many submitting memorials arguing that Wang Xian’s enfeoffment as a marquis based solely on imperial favor violated established norms. The emperor ignored all these memorials without responding. Gentleman of the Palace Secretariat Li Yongchun knelt for a long time at the Left Compliance Gate, but the emperor paid him no heed. Censors Li Qingji, Chen Ji, and seven others gathered at the Left Compliance Gate in protest. The emperor issued an edict appointing Wang Xian as Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. The protesters wept uncontrollably, but the emperor ordered the Shandong Provincial Administration Commission to allocate ten thousand mu of land as the estate of the eldest princess.

"...This will only lead to pitting himself against commoners for profit!" Wang Li wiped the sweat from his forehead. "The emperor originally intended to show favor to the Imperial Son-in-Law, but this course of action may backfire, placing the Imperial Son-in-Law in a precarious position. It is highly unwise. Ying Hua should advise the emperor!"

Lord Xu remained silent, lowering his head to take a sip of tea.

"I know this puts you in a difficult position," Wang Li said with a bitter smile. "But aside from you, I can’t think of anyone else who could speak to the emperor under these circumstances! Besides, this is also for the sake of Princess Jiangdu."

Jiangdu was the title of the eldest princess.

Lord Xu looked up and suddenly smiled. "The Wang family asked you to do this, didn’t they?"

Wang Li looked embarrassed. "Nothing escapes your notice. Indeed, it was the Imperial Son-in-Law, Jiangdu, who entrusted this matter to me."

It seemed this Wang Xian was a cautious person after all.

"I’ll see what I can do," Lord Xu said immediately. "But I can’t promise success."

Wang Li laughed. "Since you’ve agreed, I believe there’s a ninety percent chance of success!" He dropped the subject and asked about Jin Geer. "...How is he doing over there? It’s been almost a year, hasn’t it? Her Majesty’s birthday is in July. Perhaps you could seek an imperial favor then!"

"We’ll see when the time comes," Lord Xu replied noncommittally. He then shifted the conversation to matters of the Grand Secretariat. "With Grand Secretary Liang retiring, who does the emperor intend to appoint as his replacement?"

"Grand Secretary Dou proposed Magistrate Jiang of the Hanlin Academy, and Grand Secretary Chen proposed Deputy Minister of Rites Du." Wang Li glanced at Lord Xu. "The emperor has been preoccupied with matters concerning Princess Jiangdu these days and has not adopted either proposal."

Magistrate Jiang... Grand Secretary Dou... Grand Secretary Chen... Deputy Minister Du... Deputy Minister Du had served as the Jiang family’s matchmaker when Zhun'er got married... Lord Xu smiled, his expression thoughtful.

When he returned to his room, Eleven Miss was there reading a letter.

"You’re back!" She stood up to help Lord Xu change his clothes. "Has Lord Wang left?"

"Yes." Lord Xu’s gaze fell on the letter on the kang table. "Has Jin Geer written?"

Eleven Miss nodded with a smile. "It arrived this afternoon."

Lord Xu eagerly picked up the letter and began reading.

Thinking Lord Xu missed their son dearly, Eleven Miss turned to prepare tea for him.

The letter contained nothing but assurances of his well-being and greetings.

Lord Xu breathed a sigh of relief.

The previous night, he had also received a letter from his son. However, its contents were entirely different.

In the letter, Jin Geer wrote that he had accidentally discovered a silver mine. Located at the border between the Miao territory and the Pingyi Guard, neither the Miao people nor the Pingyi Guard’s battalion commander knew of its existence.

Seeing his son’s eager and excited tone between the lines, Lord Xu felt somewhat concerned.

Given Gong Dongning’s shrewdness and capability, coupled with his many years of management in Guizhou, if Jin Geer made a move, it would undoubtedly not escape Gong Dongning’s notice. Based on his understanding of Gong Dongning, if the latter had wanted to return to Yanjing, he would have found a way long ago. The fact that he had stayed in Guizhou all this time suggested that, aside from taking advantage of the remote, lawless environment, it likely had to do with these off-the-books yet highly profitable ventures... Personal feelings were one thing, but money was another. If Jin Geer really managed to open that silver mine, Gong Dongning would undoubtedly become an unavoidable obstacle.

Should he warn his son?

The purpose of his going there was not to make a fortune. Why jeopardize the original plan for a silver mine?

At this thought, Lord Xu set down the letter in his hand.

The boy, afraid of worrying his mother, had not revealed a word of this.

The thought crossed his mind, and he smiled faintly.

Or perhaps, just let him make some waves!

Some things, if not experienced firsthand, no matter how much elders advise, won’t sink in.

Conduct yourself well before taking action—the same principle applies to leading troops in battle. Moving to a new place every three years was meant to hone his social adeptness. If this silver mine incident helps him improve his people skills and strategic acumen, it might not be such a bad thing after all. Besides, he had already discreetly sent four martial arts masters to shadow him—enough to ensure his safety in any danger... Or perhaps he should send two more?

Xu Lingyi was a decisive man.

He called out to the maid Hanxiao, "Go, summon Steward Bai."

Hanxiao was one of the two attendant maids sent by Princess Suiping’s consort to Xu Sijin—the other was Lengxiang.

Eleven Miss had kept them by her side to serve.

Eleven Miss walked in, "It’s so late—why are you calling for Steward Bai?"

Xu Lingyi picked up his teacup, deflecting, "Weren’t you planning to visit Si'er Lane? Did you go? How are things over there?"

Si'er Lane was where Cao E and her son lived. Lanting had arranged to meet Eleven Miss there.

"I went," Eleven Miss said. "Lanting is returning to Fengshui the day after tomorrow. Cao E plans to stay in Yanjing for another two years. Lanting is worried that after she leaves, the Jiang family might incite the Gan family to bother Cao E, so she asked me to look out for her. I agreed." The Jiang family had been making trouble these past few years—even he had heard about it in Yanjing.

Xu Lingyi nodded and brought up Wang Li’s purpose for visiting: "...Tomorrow, request an audience and go to the palace. Speak with Her Majesty the Empress. The court officials won’t blame the Emperor—they’ll only see Wang Xian as getting arrogant from the Emperor’s favor. If that happens, it could damage Wang Xian’s reputation."

Eleven Miss agreed, and Steward Bai arrived.

Xu Lingyi went to speak with him in the study.

Suddenly, Denghua rushed in frantically: "Madam, Eunuch He is here! He insists the Marquis hurry to the palace at once!"

Eunuch He was the Emperor’s trusted inner attendant. For him to summon Xu Lingyi to the palace at this hour...

Eleven Miss’s heart leapt to her throat. As she hurried toward the study with Denghua, she asked, "Do you know why Eunuch He is here?"

"I don’t know!" Denghua said. "But from the look of it, his expression was very grim..."

Then it couldn’t be good news!

She pondered this as she stepped through the colonnaded walkway.

"Who accompanied Eunuch He?"

"Palace guards," Denghua replied quickly. "There were forty or fifty of them—they didn’t even carry lanterns."

Eleven Miss’s heart pounded wildly.

The study was brightly lit. Xu Lingyi and Steward Bai seemed to have just finished their conversation and were coming out of the study one after the other. Seeing Eleven Miss and Denghua, both showed surprise.

Steward Bai hurriedly bowed to Eleven Miss.

But she didn’t bother with pleasantries and quickly told Xu Lingyi about Eunuch He’s arrival.

Xu Lingyi’s expression turned grave.

Everyone watched him, holding their breath. Under the eaves, the red lanterns occasionally emitted a crackle from the candles, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

"Denghua, take a few sharp servants with you and stand guard outside Zuoshun Gate. At the first sign of any movement, run back to report," Xu Lingyi’s voice was steady and measured, but Denghua’s heart trembled. He responded urgently, "Yes!" and dashed toward the outer compound.

Lord Xu instructed Steward Bai, "If the situation turns dire, I entrust the household affairs to you."

Steward Bai's eyes suddenly reddened. "Rest assured, my lord. I know what must be done!" His voice choked with emotion as he bowed respectfully to Lord Xu and Lady Eleven before turning to leave.

The courtyard was now left with only Lord Xu, Lady Eleven, and a few young maids who exchanged bewildered glances, unaware of what was happening.

Lord Xu held Lady Eleven tightly in his embrace.

"Mo Yan," he whispered, "Do not alarm anyone. If I do not return, gather Ting’er, Zhuang’er, and Qing’er to your side. Steward Bai will arrange for your return to our hometown. Xiang Yi and her spouse are trustworthy. As for Jin’er, do not worry—I will have a message delivered to him. Even if you cannot see him immediately, when the time is right, you and the children will be reunited..." Lady Eleven suddenly understood.

He was giving his final instructions...

Tears streamed down her face.

She wanted to say that everything would be fine.

But she trusted Lord Xu's foresight even more.

Her entire body trembled as if she had plunged into an ice cellar. She tried to return his embrace, but her arms felt frozen and too heavy to lift.

"I... I understand!" Lady Eleven heard her own voice quivering. "I will take good care of the children!" Her vision blurred with tears. "You need not be so pessimistic. The Emperor has treated you well these past few years. Perhaps it is something else..." She stumbled over her words, trying to comfort him.

Lord Xu smiled faintly, his fingertips gently tracing her brows and eyes before he tenderly kissed her forehead. "Go and rest. Perhaps I am overthinking it." Then he released her and walked out of the main courtyard without hesitation.

Lady Eleven watched his retreating figure, her body shaking uncontrollably. It took her a long while to calm down.

If Lord Xu truly did not return, she had much to do...

She took a deep breath and calmly instructed Han Xiao, "Let us return."

It was an agonizingly long night. Years later, Lady Eleven would occasionally look back, her memories of that night blurred. What remained vivid was the expression of surprise on her face after daybreak when Steward Bai informed her, "The Emperor has fallen unconscious. His Lordship, along with Minister Chen, Minister Dou, and Minister Wei, has been appointed to assist the Crown Prince in temporarily overseeing state affairs."

"Is the news about the Emperor's unconsciousness reliable?" Lady Eleven did not relax upon hearing this; instead, her expression grew solemn as she asked Steward Bai, "Is there any way to send a message to His Lordship?" Steward Bai was surprised by her solemnity. After a moment, he replied, "Yes, now that everyone knows His Lordship has been entrusted with this critical task, and with Her Majesty the Empress's support, sending a message is relatively simple."

"Very well," Lady Eleven said gravely. "Just tell His Lordship, 'Beware of settling scores after the autumn.'"

Who knew if the Emperor would wake up... If Lord Xu became too prominent, who could say whether the Emperor would become suspicious of him again?

Steward Bai's expression changed greatly. He bowed respectfully and hurried off to arrange for the messenger.

Lady Eleven gazed out the window at the gradually brightening sky and released a long, weary sigh.