Chapter 126: Swallow Feather Army. Huo’s Army…

Chapter 126: Swallow Feather Army. Huo's Army...

The three most important days in the Great Yan Dynasty are the Spring Festival, the Emperor's Birthday, and Empress Dowager Huo's Birthday.

In terms of noble status, Empress Dowager Huo was the late emperor's empress consort and the current sovereign's birth mother.

As for power and influence, she was no pampered figurehead idling away in the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. Instead, like the emperor, she had court historians documenting her words and deeds, governing as Empress Dowager Regent over the vastest territories of the realm.

For such a figure's milestone birthday—especially her thirtieth—officials spared no effort to be meticulous, not daring the slightest oversight.

The Ministry of Rites had begun preparations two months in advance.

Empress Dowager Huo's aversion to extravagance was one thing, but if subordinates misinterpreted her intentions and neglected her birthday, that would be another matter entirely.

On this day, during the grand court assembly, Director Song Xu of the Ministry of Rites stood at the center of the hall, representing the ministry as he presented the arrangements for Empress Dowager Huo's Birthday to Her Majesty and the Emperor.

Empress Dowager Huo remarked, "The Ministry of Rites has been exceedingly diligent."

Clearly, she was pleased with their thoroughness.

Song Xu bowed respectfully to the throne before retreating to his position among the ranks.

The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel passed Song Xu and took his place at the center of the hall—then—

Like a thunderclap in silent air, the Right Vice Minister's impeachment memorial was nothing less than earth-shattering.

To think this was happening during the grand court assembly.

This was happening before the entire court, barely half a month before Empress Dowager Huo's Birthday—an impeachment charging the Duke of Chengen with abusing power for personal gain and amassing military strength...

The entire court fell into dead silence, where even breaths were scarcely audible.

This peculiar hush was like the thin layer of ice still covering a river at winter's end—beneath it, undercurrents surged unseen.

Many stole glances at Wen Shengan.

The Ministry of Personnel was Minister Wen's territory.

Though it wasn't Minister Wen himself who had stepped forward to impeach the Duke of Chengen, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel doing so was no different from Minister Wen acting personally.

Even Song Xu, who had not yet returned to his place among the ranks, froze in stunned silence.

Why go to such lengths?

Even if his mentor had indeed uncovered wrongdoing by the Duke of Chengen, this was hardly the moment to impeach him.

Could they not even wait half a month?

Impeaching the Duke of Chengen at this time was a blatant affront to the Empress Dowager's dignity—but it would also inevitably invite her fierce wrath.

Many shared Song Xu's thoughts, surreptitiously lifting their eyes to gauge the Empress Dowager's reaction.

Even Ji Xianshan couldn't suppress a slight shift in his posture.

Behind the imperial throne, the draped curtains remained utterly still, barring all prying eyes.

Not even Ji Xianshan, who stood closest to Huo Ling, could see her expression—only hearing a voice so calm it revealed not a flicker of emotion emerge from behind the throne.

"Vice Minister Xu has publicly accused the Duke of Chengen of abusing power for personal gain and amassing military strength. Presumably, you have already obtained irrefutable evidence."

The Right Vice Minister of Personnel is correct.

"Hand over the memorial."

The Right Vice Minister of Personnel silently handed the memorial to the attendant, clearly unwilling to announce its contents before the court.

Doing so would truly mean burning all bridges with the Empress Dowager.

Huo Ling scanned the memorial rapidly. Her expression remained unchanged throughout, as if the Right Vice Minister of Personnel had not submitted an impeachment memorial but a mundane greeting memorial.

From the corner of her eye, she caught Ji Xianshan’s curious and worried gaze. She gave him a slight shake of her head, signaling him to sit properly again—the entire court was watching below.

Then, her gaze, veiled behind the curtains, settled on Wen Shengan.

Clad in a purple official robe, a golden fish pouch hanging at his waist, and holding an ivory tablet, Wen Shengan stood with slightly lowered eyes, calm and unruffled, as if oblivious to the scrutiny and sidelong glances around him.

A frosty smile tugged at Huo Ling’s lips.

Since Chen Haoyan and Cui Ming had departed the capital in succession, over the past year or so, Huo Ling had been engrossed in supervising the revisions of the *Penal Code*, handling disaster responses nationwide, and processing petitions from every province.

When she did find spare moments, most were spent instructing Ji Xianshan.

The remaining scattered moments were devoted to brushing up on calligraphy, playing a game of chess, or taking a quick ride at the equestrian grounds to stay sharp.

Because Wen Shengan had been so compliant—even when their opinions occasionally clashed, he usually backed down—over time, her guard against him had slackened.

Who could have guessed that Wen Shengan, remaining still for so long, would spring such a bombshell?

"How did the Ministry of Personnel learn of this memorial’s accusations?"

The Right Vice Minister of Personnel replied, "Your Majesty, during the annual review of officials’ performance and promotions last year, the Ministry inadvertently discovered this matter.

"As it involved the Duke of Chengen, we proceeded with caution. After months of careful investigation, this impeachment was drafted."

Huo Ling closed the memorial.

"The Empress Dowager will rule on this matter. Court is dismissed."

The officials flooded out of the throne hall like a retreating wave, a dark mass of figures. No whispers were exchanged—only the sounds of footsteps and rustling robes.

Only once they were beyond the sight of the imperial guards did some finally give in, exchanging whispers.

Song Xu glanced around.

"Who are you looking for?"

A hand landed on Song Xu’s shoulder, and Ding Jinghuan’s voice came from behind.

Song Xu said, "Not you."

Ding Jinghuan replied, "I know. No matter—I’m the uninvited kind."

Ding Jinghuan stepped beside Song Xu and jerked his chin toward the front-left. "Your teacher is surrounded by a crowd. You won’t find him like this."

Song Xu followed Ding Jinghuan’s line of sight.

Indeed, the crowd was so thick that he might have missed Wen Shengan entirely if not for the reminder.

Song Xu pressed his lips together; his urge to approach Wen Shengan had dulled.

"Let’s go?"

Ding Jinghuan tugged at Song Xu as he walked forward.

He didn’t pull hard, but Song Xu moved with him.

***

A pot of peonies stood beside the desk, in full bloom, their pale pink petals fluttering lightly under the scattered sunlight from the window.

Huo Ling dipped a wooden ladle into water and slowly poured it at the base of the flowers.

Wu Mo approached Huo Ling and whispered, "Your Majesty, Wu Feng is here."

"Let him in. Everyone else may leave."

Wu Feng entered the hall, his gaze shifting from the peonies to the nearby desk.

The desk was bare—no teacups, vases, or porcelain—just a single memorial lying open.

He’d attended the grand court assembly earlier.

"Your Majesty."

Huo Ling gestured to the memorial beside her, her attention still on the potted plant. "Read this first."

The memorial’s contents weren’t too complicated.

The Right Vice Minister of Personnel had accused the Duke of Chengen, Huo Shiming, of corruption and military buildup.

Corruption was nothing new in the bureaucracy.

As Commander of Xingtang Pass, Huo Shiming had his subordinates control several trade markets in western Yan. Even a small cut could bring hefty profits.

Frontier generals had to report to the capital triennially. At the end of last year, Huo Shiming was originally due to return for his report, but due to issues in the trade markets, the court, fearing unrest in western Yan, barred him from leaving his post.

The Right Vice Minister of Personnel stated in the memorial that the trade market issues arose because Huo Shiming demanded exorbitant fees, angering both Qiang Rong and Western merchants.

Western merchants were one thing, as the Western Region was separated from Great Yan by the Qiang Rong.

But the Qiang Rong merchants answered to powerful tribes.

Huo Shiming’s actions had angered many Qiang Rong nobles, undermining Great Yan’s efforts to pacify and win them over.

...

Regarding the charge of corruption, the Right Vice Minister of Personnel wrote at length.

But regarding the charge of military buildup, he was oddly brief, writing only a single line.

But that line made Wu Feng’s eyes narrow sharply.

[Rumor has it that in private, the people of Xingtang Pass refer to the Swallow Feather Army as the Huo Army.]

To put it bluntly, given the Duke of Chengen’s standing, skimming from the trade markets was hardly a serious crime.

He wasn’t the first Xingtang Pass commander to pull this.

But while lining his pockets was one thing, building a private army was unforgivable!

……

"Have you read it all?"

Huo Ling's voice jolted Wu Feng from his thoughts.

He replied respectfully, "I have finished, Your Majesty."

"Then do you know why I summoned you here?"

Wu Feng showed a look of shame. "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

"Very well."

Huo Ling turned the memorial over, her gaze settling on the words "Huo's Army."

Her previously calm expression hardened into one of deep-seated coldness.

"Do I need to remind you what the Swallow Feather Army is? Why didn't our people in western Yan detect this beforehand? I had to hear this from Wen Shengan."

In those days, people valued local connections and factions. Born and raised in western Yan, she had always considered it her stronghold.

To secure her base, and for the future plan of annexing Qiang Rong, she had invested heavily in western Yan with both people and resources.

Whenever the court implemented policies, this remote backwater always received preferential treatment.

Why?

All because of her deliberate favor.

Yet after all these years of management, she hadn't caught even a whisper of warning beforehand, letting Wen Shengan take her by surprise!

Absolutely ridiculous! Completely absurd!

The officials establishing district schools in western Yan, not residing in Xingtang Pass and responsible for education rather than military affairs, could be forgiven for missing the signs.

But shouldn't the Shadow Guards have caught wind of something?

Did Deputy Commander Liu Ji of Xingtang Pass notice nothing unusual?

Had all her efforts to train them yielded nothing but negligent incompetents?

Meeting Huo Ling’s piercing gaze, Wu Feng fell to his knees.

The Shadow Guards were first established by Emperor Taizu.

They served two purposes: to work covertly to protect the royal family,

and to train spies to infiltrate Great Mu and gather intelligence for the eventual recovery of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

As Great Mu and Great Yan remained deadlocked, with little hope of reclaiming the prefectures soon, the Shadow Guards' focus began to shift.

From outward to inward—from gathering intelligence on Great Mu to monitoring Great Yan's provinces.

After Huo Ling became Empress Dowager, to tighten her grip on the regions, she greatly expanded the Shadow Guards and granted Wu Feng, their commander, greater authority.

"Your Majesty, we have too few people in western Yan, most scattered in other towns..."

"Why?"

Wu Feng was left speechless.

He couldn't very well tell the Empress Dowager that Yanxi was a desolate place, long neglected by the court, which had stationed few agents there. When he took over the Secret Guards, he assumed everyone at Xingtang Pass was already loyal to them, so he hadn’t seen the need to deploy more personnel.

It sounded like an excuse, but it was the truth.

"It's my failure. Please punish me accordingly, Your Majesty."

Huo Ling fixed Wu Feng with a piercing stare before rising angrily with a sweep of her sleeve. "I know what you're thinking. But the Secret Guards' duty is to monitor intelligence in every prefecture and county. No exceptions—period. Not even for Yanxi, not even for Xingtang Pass… Do you understand?"

Her words carried weight, and Wu Feng lowered his head further.

"I understand, Your Majesty."

"Since this is your first offense, I'll deduct six months’ pay."

"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty."

Huo Ling stepped toward him, slightly bending to help him up personally. "The Secret Guards may be understaffed in Yanxi, but the Deputy Commander I appointed at Xingtang Pass cannot possibly be both blind and deaf."

If he wasn’t blind or deaf, nor physically unable to write reports, yet had chosen to remain silent all this time—didn’t that mean…

Deputy Commander Liu Ji of Xingtang Pass had thrown his lot in with the Duke of Chengen?

Wu Feng immediately understood Huo Ling’s meaning. "Please give me a chance to redeem myself. I will go personally to Yanxi to investigate the matters in the memorial—and Liu Ji himself."

Huo Ling patted Wu Feng’s shoulder, as if brushing off dust. "A thorough investigation is overdue. We can't afford to be blind to what's right under our noses."

Wu Feng bowed obediently, but in his mind, Liu Ji was already a dead man.

Her Majesty appointed you as Deputy Commander at Xingtang Pass not to win glory, but simply to hold that position—even as a figurehead—to prevent the Duke of Chengen from monopolizing power in Yanxi.

Yet you not only deceived Her Majesty, but may have sided with the Duke.

The Duke is Her Majesty’s own father—she cannot act directly against him. But she can certainly make an example of *you*.

"Your Majesty."

Just then, Wu Mo entered again and whispered, "The Imperial Uncle seeks an audience."

Huo Ling knew exactly why Huo Ze had come.

"Let him in."

Huo Ze burst into the chamber, speaking urgently. "‘Elder Sister,’ Father would never misuse his power or hoard military influence. There must be some misunderstanding."

Huo Ling took the proffered teacup from Wu Mo and idly swirled the tea leaves, as if she hadn’t heard.

Wu Feng reminded him, "Imperial Uncle, since this concerns official business, you should address Her Majesty properly."

Huo Ze froze.

In private meetings before, his elder sister had never corrected his form of address.

His heart sank slightly. He performed a proper bow before speaking again. "Your Majesty, that Right Vice Minister of Personnel is Wen Shangshu’s lackey. He must be acting on Wen’s orders to slander the Duke of Chengen. Such a treacherous snake deserves Your Majesty to see through this scheme."

Huo Ling slammed the teacup down.

The light fragrance of tea carried a wave of humid warmth, yet Huo Ze shuddered despite it.

He kept his head lowered as Empress Dowager Huo spoke from the raised seat:

"What is true cannot be false, and what is false cannot be true. Wu Feng, go yourself to Xingtang Pass. Arrest Liu Ji on charges of dereliction of duty, and tell Duke of Chengen to leave early to return to the capital for his official report and to defend himself against the impeachment."

---

***

Yanxi.

Xingtang Pass.

A relentless wind swept the desert, carrying yellow sand from the north toward Xingtang Pass. Though partially blocked by the tall, thick city walls, grit still seeped into the city.

Travelers muffled their faces with scarves, heads bowed low, revealing only their eyes to barely see the path beneath their feet.

Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves arose.

Several steeds rushed past, kicking up dust as they tore past.

By the time the travelers turned toward the sound, the figures of the horses had already blurred into the swirling sand once more.

---

"Welcome back, General."

As soon as Huo Shiming dismounted, the gatekeeper eagerly approached.

Huo Shiming acknowledged him absentmindedly, throwing the reins to his guard before striding toward the inner residence.

Fang Shi was busy sorting goods with the housekeeper.

Among the items, some were for their son and daughter-in-law, some were prepared for their future grandchild, but most were gifts for the Empress Dowager’s Emperor's Birthday.

The Empress Dowager’s Emperor's Birthday fell in early June, while their daughter-in-law Guan Shi’s due date was at the end of the same month—the timing was tight.

Since Fang Shi was to travel to the capital to accompany the childbirth, she had to arrive early to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s Emperor's Birthday.

She had only finished counting half the items when Huo Shiming arrived.

Fang Shi looked surprised. "Husband, what brings you back unannounced?"

The military camp was stationed outside the city, and Huo Shiming usually stayed there, only returning home on rest days.

Huo Shiming replied, "You're leaving for the capital the day after tomorrow. I wanted to see you before you left."

Fang Shi seemed to smile faintly. "You didn’t come back just to check."

Huo Shiming dismissed the matron and maids, then gripped her shoulders.

Instead of addressing the matter directly, he casually brought up the child recently adopted by the Fang family.

Fang Jianbai fell in battle in the 26th year of Jingyuan. Now, it was the 8th year of Tian Shou—time had softened the grief, allowing acceptance to settle in.

Fang Shi’s elder brother and sister-in-law couldn’t wait any longer. At the end of last year, they adopted an orphaned boy from their clan.

"Kang’er has a scholar’s mind. Not long ago, my brother-in-law wrote to me, asking me to find someone to start his schooling."

Fang Shi’s expression softened slightly. "I know. My sister-in-law mentioned in her letter that the tutor you found for Kang’er is excellent and is thoroughly devoted to him." Huo Shiming nodded. "Indeed. We aren’t raising a scholar—just want him to make something of himself. His future will be secure then. A Ze’s only kin is Kang’er. I hope the two of them can support each other in the future and shoulder the family’s future together."

Having been the Duke of Chengen’s wife for so many years, even if she wasn’t particularly attuned to court politics, Fang Shi could still detect the implication in Huo Shiming’s words.

He was hinting at benefits for her natal family.

“I understand,” Fang Shi suppressed the bitterness in her voice and said calmly. “I understand everything. You’ve said this to me many times already. Three years ago, when Aze married, I went to the capital to handle his wedding arrangements, and everything went smoothly enough, didn’t it?”

What else could she do if she didn’t understand?

That was Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.

Who would dare resent the Empress Dowager?

Huo Shiming softened his tone further: “I’m just repeating myself needlessly. Come on, tell me—who’s all this for?”

Fang Shi pointed toward a jade box but hadn’t even opened her mouth before Huo Shiming cut in: “This is a rare treasure I had merchant caravans search for a long time before finally obtaining it from the Western Regions. I intend to present it to Her Majesty as a birthday gift—how could I not recognize it?”

Fang Shi gave him a sidelong glance. “You’ve given Her Majesty and His Majesty such lavish gifts. Why don’t I see you preparing anything for our grandchild?”

“How could that be the same thing?” Huo Shiming replied. “You think I’d forget our grandchild?”

Fang Shi said, “I wonder if it’ll be a boy or a girl this time.”

“The Huo line is thin,” Huo Shiming responded. “They waited three or four years after marrying just to conceive this one—I just hope it’s a grandson. Once we have a grandson, the second child, whether a boy or a girl, will be a joy.”

Fang Shi felt the same way. A boy first always set minds at ease.

After chatting idly for a while, Huo Shiming returned to his room to bathe and change clothes, washing off the dust from his journey, while Fang Shi continued going over the gifts with the housekeeper.

The sandstorm had battered Xingtang Pass for days before finally dying down, leaving the entire city as if scoured by sand. Even the trees along the roadside had changed from deep green to dusty yellow.

Fang Shi was set to depart for the capital, and Huo Shiming was also returning to the military camp.

Their routes coincided for a while, so Huo Shiming accompanied Fang Shi to the city gate. Just as he was about to say something more, beyond the gate, at the far end of the road, a plume of dust churned—

A group of over a dozen riders on fine horses, wrapped in sand-proof cloaks, approached from the distance.

Spotting Huo Shiming and Fang Shi at the city gate, the leader abruptly pulled back his horse, removed his hood, and flashed the token on his belt.

“Wu Feng, Deputy Commander of the Vermilion Guard, sent by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager to Xingtang Pass to apprehend a criminal. Here is a secret decree from Her Majesty to the Duke of Chengen. Please accept your orders, Duke.”

One overzealous Royal Guard dismounted and stepped forward toward Wu Feng.

Wu Feng looked at Huo Shiming: “Please accept your orders, Duke of Chengen.”

“My guard was impolite,” Huo Shiming apologized, stepping forward to receive the decree.

Wu Feng said nothing and handed the bamboo tube to Huo Shiming.

Inside was a slip of paper no larger than a finger, bearing a brief message.

Huo Shiming glanced at it, his expression shifting slightly. “Commander Wu Feng, this decree…”

Wu Feng offered a faint smile. “The Duke need only act accordingly. Her Majesty’s will isn’t ours to question.”

“Yes, yes,” Huo Shiming nodded hesitantly. “I’ll head back to camp right away, send men to arrest Liu Ji, and personally escort him to the capital.”