Chapter 70 Spy

Chapter 70: The Informant

"Northern Xiang's border shows no abnormalities."

When Fang Fengshi read this sentence aloud, slowly and clearly, a moment of silence fell over the room. Neither Jiang Wang nor Xiao Yan spoke.

No abnormalities at the border?

Then what was that urgent message from hundreds of miles away about, the one reporting Beixiang had dispatched troops?

Jiang Wang seemed to think of something and asked, "How many military reserves does our Great Jing Dynasty still have?"

Fang Fengshi knew this well. Although he was primarily responsible for the imperial city's security, he was also well aware of the Great Jing Dynasty's military strength.

"Approximately 60,000."

"60,000?!" Jiang Wang exclaimed in surprise. "Are you saying Old General Fang took 100,000 troops to the border, leaving only 60,000 in Zhaojing?!"

It was a middling number, but for defending Zhaojing, it seemed a bit insufficient...

Especially considering that Chang Wenji might also be secretly raising private troops...

Xiao Yan, however, revealed a dismissive smile. "Scared?"

Who wouldn't be?

Jiang Wang gained a new understanding of Xiao Yan's steady nerves.

If Chang Wenji chose this moment to attack, wouldn't Zhaojing be in danger?

Every rebellion or power grab was built on rivers of blood, on the piled-up corpses of tens of thousands.

At that time, whether the Great Jing Dynasty would change rulers remained unknown, but Zhaojing would certainly become a sea of corpses and flames...

Jiang Wang frowned deeply, his expression grave.

This wasn't the scene he wanted to see, and he was sure Xiao Yan and Fang Fengshi did too.

But when he turned to look, he found that Fang Fengshi was also grinning, without a hint of concern on his face.

If one person was this calm, it might be nerves of steel. But if two people were... then there must be a scheme.

"You also have a backup plan?"

"Of course," Xiao Yan replied with a meaningful smile. "You think Chang Wenji is the only one who can raise a private army?"

Jiang Wang's eyes widened slightly, betraying his disbelief.

So that was it.

"Then, mind if I ask... our hidden forces..."

Just how many are there?

"80,000."

80,000 plus 60,000 meant there were 140,000 men.

This number was barely adequate; it should be enough to handle any surprises.

However, those 60,000 imperial guards were stationed at the camp in the capital's outskirts. Where would the 80,000 personal guards be?

There didn't seem to be any other place near Zhaojing to hide so many people.

Xiao Yan noticed the subtle change in Jiang Wang's expression and, as if knowing what he was thinking, threw him a hint.

"You've been there."

Huh? He had been there?

This hint consisted of only three words but contained a wealth of information.

For a moment, Jiang Wang was utterly confused, having no idea what place Xiao Yan was referring to.

But after a brief moment of thought, he gave an answer.

"Mount Zhao?"

The place they had visited not long ago during their spring tour.

It was also on the outskirts of Zhaojing and not too far from the camp in the capital's outskirts. If trouble broke out in Zhaojing, it could offer strong reinforcement.

Moreover, Mount Zhao's terrain was vast and sparsely populated, with valleys large enough for training without being detected.

Thinking about it this way, it truly was an excellent location to station personal guards.

The border had sufficient troops, and Zhaojing also had considerable reserves.

Jiang Wang felt a lot safer.

However, just as he was beginning to relax a little, Fang Fengshi flicked the corner of the slip of paper that read "Northern Xiang's border shows no abnormalities," revealing a new one.

"But Beixiang's new leader has taken office; their stance is unclear."

What exactly did Old General Fang mean? Couldn't he write everything on one slip of paper? Did he have to be so dramatic!

"Stance unclear" meant...

"Unclear whether friend or foe?"

Jiang Wang deduced this meaning and looked at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan nodded, confirming his guess.

It seemed Beixiang's internal strife had ended, the leader had changed, and the new ruler had taken office, hence the border showed no abnormalities.

But the current calm didn't represent permanence.

Chang Wenji had colluded with Beixiang. Now, with the new king's ascension, it was unknown whether Chang Wenji had a hand in it.

Perhaps at this moment, the best course was to wait and see.

"Send a reply to Old General Fang: hold your positions and do not move."

"Yes."

Fang Fengshi accepted the order and left, leaving only Jiang Wang and Xiao Yan in the secret chamber.

Inside the secret chamber, the candle flames flickered, and the wicks sputtered.

Jiang Wang looked at Xiao Yan, his clear eyes holding a hint of concern.

With a cancer like Chang Wenji present, whether there was a coup or not, this war wouldn't be easy to win.

Could Xiao Yan... pull it off?

Xiao Yan, who had been trimming the candlewick, seemed to sense something and suddenly turned around, right into Jiang Wang's gaze.

Xiao Yan's lips quirked up in a soft chuckle. "Worried about me?"

"N-no, not at all." Jiang Wang hurriedly averted his eyes and picked up Big Orange. "I am merely concerned about the people of Zhaojing."

"Rest assured, I will make sure they're safe." Xiao Yan's gaze softened for a moment. "And I'll keep you safe, too."

And. I. Will. Protect. You. Too.

These light, simple words struck Jiang Wang's heart like a massive boulder, instantly throwing him off balance.

"Your Majesty mustn't talk nonsense!"

Blushing, Jiang Wang picked up Big Orange at his feet and hurriedly made to leave, throwing over his shoulder, "I will keep Your Majesty's secret."

Just as his figure disappeared around the corner, he reappeared after a few moments.

The cat was still in his arms; he'd clearly turned back halfway.

Jiang Wang blinked and said, "If there's anything Your Majesty needs me for, please do not hesitate to ask."

Although he didn't know what he could do, every bit helped.

The sky outside had darkened, the deep night sky thick with stars, yet always shrouded by a layer of dark clouds.

Jiang Wang glanced at it. Although the evening breeze was gentle and the surroundings peaceful, he couldn't shake a nagging sense of unease.

*

Even if Jiang Wang was unwilling, summer came anyway.

Just when he hoped the summer would be cooler, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau informed him that this year's summer was the hottest in almost thirty years.

More importantly, not only were the temperatures high, but the rainfall was also heavy.

Just his luck.

The sky had just begun to lighten, but Jiang Wang was already awake.

High temperatures made Jiang Wang prone to sweating; even a fresh bath, the relief lasted only ten minutes.

Sleeping with the window open at night let in mosquitoes and bugs, and his fair, delicate skin was bitten with seven or eight big, itchy bumps overnight.

Yet, not opening the window made it too stuffy, often waking him up sweaty and gross from a dream, only to lie awake until dawn.

This morning was no different.

Jiang Wang stared listlessly at the bed canopy, flung down the small fan in his hand, rolled out of bed, washed up, and headed off to his post.

Since summer arrived, Jiang Wang had been a lot more punctual about his duties, often even being the first to arrive, taking his seat early behind the Coiling Dragon Pillar waiting for his colleagues and Xiao Yan.

Of course, only Jiang Wang himself knew the reason for this.

His diligence was entirely because Xiao Yan was like a 'portable air conditioner'!

During audiences in the Hall of Diligent Governance, eunuchs stood by fanning him. After court, whether handling affairs in the Hall of Chonghe or resting in the Hall of Cangwu, servants would set out large blocks of ice in advance to cool the room.

The temperature was so comfortable; a wave of cool air hit you upon entering, almost no different from having air conditioning.

Of course, the ice wasn't the small cubes added to drinks, but large blocks half a person's height, stored in advance in ice cellars.

Several ice blocks placed in huge containers in the hall quickly lowered the temperature. Once the ice had mostly melted, attendant eunuchs would promptly replace them. It was the height of luxury.

Truly, the emperor's exclusive perk.

Therefore, he could only try to spend as much time as possible with Xiao Yan to enjoy more of that hard-won coolness in the summer heat.

After the morning court, Jiang Wang followed on his heels beside Xiao Yan, terrified of falling behind or losing track of him.

Stepping into the main hall of the Hall of Chonghe, as that faint wave of cool air washed over him, Jiang Wang took a deep breath, his whole body relaxing in relief.

Of course, Xiao Yan had also keenly noticed Jiang Wang's recent 'shadowing,' having only just pieced together the real reason.

Jiang Wang feared the heat.

Xiao Yan cleared his throat deliberately. "Minister Jiang—"

"Hmm?" Jiang Wang emerged from the comfortable coolness, quickly walking a couple of steps to Xiao Yan's side. "Your Majesty called?"

"Minister Jiang has been much more diligent in his duties recently, not like you used to be."

"Haha," Jiang Wang gave an awkward chuckle and spoke, "I have been doing a lot of soul-searching lately, fearing I cannot help Your Majesty in the slightest, leading to sleepless nights. I have decided to mend my ways, determined to assist Your Majesty in accomplishing great things."

He couldn't very well tell Xiao Yan he was here to 'mooch the air conditioning'...

Which emperor would allow a minister to openly 'mooch the air conditioning'?

So, thinking quickly on his feet, he made up an excuse.

However, this excuse wasn't entirely false. Given the current severe situation with both internal troubles and external threats, he genuinely wanted to contribute.

It's just that how to contribute still depended on Xiao Yan's orders.

"Mm," Xiao Yan nodded. "Minister Jiang having such intentions is a great comfort to me."

Over the years, emperors of the Great Jing Dynasty would go to the summer palace to escape the heat in June or July. The climate there was much cooler than here, and the temperature more pleasant.

There were also local delicacies and wild fruits, and in the evenings, they would roast cattle and sheep—truly delightful flavors.

He had originally wanted to take Jiang Wang along.

But the current situation, which could change at any moment, forced Xiao Yan to cancel this plan.

The summer palace was far from Zhaojing, making it inconvenient to bring a large military force, which could reveal vulnerabilities.

Moreover, the palace maids and eunuchs at the summer palace were not familiar faces; it was possible Chang Wenji's spies had already been planted among them.

For now, it was better to be cautious.

It's just... poor Jiang Wang.

Xiao Yan pointed and said, "In that case, Minister Jiang shall sit in the inner room from now on. If I need to call you, the outer room is rather inconvenient."

"As Your Majesty commands."

Jiang Wang pursed his lips, barely holding back a smile, and gleefully accepted Xiao Yan's request.

Of course the inner room was better—it was much cooler than the outer room. He was all for it!

A young eunuch moved Jiang Wang's original desk and chair inside, placing them to one side of Xiao Yan.

As Jiang Wang sat down, he instantly felt a strange yet familiar feeling.

Why did it feel so much like his high school days when he sat by the teacher's desk?

Xiao Yan was like his homeroom teacher, and he was the student caught by the teacher for not studying properly.

He glanced up at Xiao Yan, whose rigid, upright posture bore a striking resemblance to his homeroom teacher!

The long-dormant but deeply ingrained fear of teachers quietly resurfaced. Was this the enduring power of a Chinese education...?

Jiang Wang muttered to himself, but in the blink of an eye, Xiao Yan suddenly changed his posture.

Shedding his earlier seriousness and dignity, Xiao Yan lazily leaned back in his chair as if his bones had turned to jelly.

The brush he had just been holding was casually tossed onto the desk, its ink instantly staining the open memorial black.

Yet the person who had been reviewing it seemed utterly indifferent.

He looked every bit the decadent, dissolute playboy.

Just as Jiang Wang was stunned by Xiao Yan's drastic transformation in such a short time, a palace maid entered carrying a tray.

On the tray were tea and pastries prepared for Xiao Yan.

The maid moved with light steps, her head slightly bowed throughout, her manners impeccable, her attitude respectful, without the slightest hint of impropriety.

However... as she turned to leave, she seemed to glance in Jiang Wang's direction.

It was only for a fleeting moment, so brief that Jiang Wang even wondered if he had imagined it.

And after the maid left, Xiao Yan swiftly abandoned his previous posture and returned to normal.

Jiang Wang was utterly amazed by Xiao Yan's quick-change act.

If Xiao Yan were in modern times, with his physique and looks, he could definitely make it in the entertainment industry. Coupled with his superb acting skills just now, he'd be a cinch for Best Actor.

But Xiao Yan's strange behavior just now must have had a reason.

Xiao Yan had said that Cangwu Palace was absolutely safe, and everyone there had been vetted by him, but he hadn't said the same about Chonghe Palace.

So...

"Was that palace maid just now an informant planted here by Chang Wenji?"

Xiao Yan's exaggerated act might have been for outsiders, but combined with the maid's almost imperceptible glance, Jiang Wang was almost certain that maid was no good.

Xiao Yan nodded, took out the piece of black jade, and casually broke off a small piece of pastry, sprinkling it onto the jade.

In the blink of an eye, the pastry actually darkened slightly and took on a scorched, burnt color!

Wasn't this the sign of soul-dispersing powder?!

Soul-dispersing powder, when sprinkled alone on black jade, would self-ignite and leave black ashes. When mixed with food, it would cause the food to burn along with it, though incompletely, only turning it charred and scorched.

So besides himself, there were others trying to poison Xiao Yan?!

He didn't know if Chang Wenji was doing this as a double insurance to accelerate Xiao Yan's death or if he still didn't fully trust him yet.

No wonder Xiao Yan's act just now was so exaggerated. Under the influence of such a large dose, Xiao Yan's body should be deteriorating rapidly.

Coupled with Xiao Yan's weary and feeble appearance during the morning court, he really did look like someone whose body was about to be completely drained.

But why did the palace maid glance at him just now?

Author's note:

So, will anything happen to Jiang Wang...