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Situation in the Capital (1)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“That’s why, even if Rui Qinwang doesn’t know, that Sir Su will still voluntarily inform him. When time comes, Former Wei will help Rui Qinwang stabilize his rule, and in exchange, once Rui Qinwang becomes the emperor, he will give them enough benefits. And this benefit most likely will include a portion of Qi Yuan’s mountains and rivers?” Jing Wan followed-up.
Li Hong Yuan nodded, “This is just Li Hong Ming’s greatest trump card right now, else he wouldn’t dare make a move at this time.”
“Former Wei has always been eyeing Qi Yuan covetously. Working with them is just tantamount to ‘asking the tiger for its hide[1]‘, what kind of good outcome can there be?” Jing Wan paused, “No wait, Rui Qinwang, to put it bluntly, is still just a subject. The so called collaboration, inherently, is just selling the country, committing treason, conceding the country’s interest. This kind of person, how are they worthy of being a member of the imperial family.”
“For the person on the throne, they can let the country’s territory fall into outsider’s hands, yet won’t allow their ‘own people’ have delusions about it, because as long as the country is still present, regardless how big the territory, he is still the esteemed ruler. And if switched with their ‘own people’, ‘on the side of one’s bed, how can one allow others to snore[2]‘. This reasoning, placed on Li Hong Ming, placed on many people, it’s all the same. As long as Li Hong Ming can sit onto that position, not letting it fall into the other brothers’ hands, then surrendering a bit of land to Former Wei, what harm is there? In his eyes, perhaps it’s just the smallest sacrifice in exchange for the greatest benefit.”
“Power is enticing, let alone that paramount and unrivaled position.” Jing Wan muttered.
Jing Wan’s stomach right now was increasingly prominent, but it didn’t appear cumbersome. Moreover, recently, she hasn’t been resting well, so for the most part, didn’t gain any weight. Although it’s not that every pregnant women will gain weight during pregnancy, but seeing how Jing Wan didn’t change anywhere else aside from her stomach, Li Hong Yuan felt that he was quite lacking as a husband. “Wan Wan, you should eat a bit more.”
Jing Wan was still pondering over certain matters, so suddenly hearing Li Hong Yuan say this, it took her a moment to realize what he was saying, her expression cracking a little. This leap in thought, wasn’t it a bit big? Jing Wan poked him with her elbow, “We’re talking about important matters here.”
“Could it be that your body isn’t an important matter? What other matters can there be that’s more important than you?” Li Hong Yuan said rather boldly, “Other women when pregnant gain half their original weight, but you, still the same as before, just the stomach growing bigger, which is more than enough to see that you certainly lost weight.”
Jing Wan was speechless. Gaining that much weight, there were indeed cases like that, but her exercise amount has never been light. Just her stomach growing and not the rest was very normal. Furthermore, during this period of time, it was very stressful, so for her to lose a bit of weight was very normal, just need to slowly recuperate. However, for some things, she really was helpless towards this man. Saying things like thoroughly climbing on his head, it was all a lie. However, in the end, it was still because she herself was ‘failing to live up to expectations’, unable to be completely stubborn with him. “Slowly recuperate after returning to the capital, it will eventually grow back.”
“Why wait until after returning to the capital, right now, should just eat a bit more.” Li Hong Yuan said, also frowning. He wasn’t that satisfied with the meals on the road.
“Alright, I’ll try to eat a bit more.” Even though right now her appetite has increased, it was still for the most part a fixed amount. However, forget it, there was no point arguing with him. In any case, in the end, she won’t be able to win against him.
“Very good.” Li Hong Yuan even stroked her head.
With him messing around like this, Jing Wan just deflated, listlessly closing her eyes, all big and small matters, whether important or not, she all didn’t bother with anymore, and there was no point in bothering.
As they arrive closer and closer to the capital, Jing Wan’s stomach was already at six months. The trip afterwards absolutely won’t be peaceful.
Of course, at this time, they also gradually met up with the people lookin for Li Hong Yuan on the surface.
Knowing that Li Hong Yuan, this big threat, will soon return to the capital, how can the others just let him safely go back to mess up their following big plans? That’s why, intercepting and killing was necessary. However, right now, there were quite a few people guarding by his side, so unless it’s dispatching an army, otherwise it won’t succeed. However, at this crucial time, deploying an army, was it disdaining that one can’t die fast enough? That’s why, the hopes of killing the other party were faint, and can only obstructed as much as possibly. At the same time, Li Hong Yuan’s ‘true colors’ also got exposed, an uproar throughout the city. If the commoners were still just treating the news as entertainment, then for the court officials and the emperor, it was just another matter.
Previously, when they were unable to control or kill Li Hong Yuan, having the matter exposed before Le Cheng Emperor might instead become Li Hong Yuan’s protective umbrella. But now, it wasn’t the same. To want to deal with Li Hong Yuan, the best way was to just borrow Le Cheng Emperor’s hand. As the emperor, regardless how he favors his son, once this son just appears good on the surface, but secretly plotting for the throne, then this was just even more hateful than those that were openly eyeing the throne, especially when he was even able to deceive everyone. It was more than enough to show just how sophisticated his thoughts were, and just how impressive his skills were.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Moreover, after learning everything, Li Hong Ming had sent people to vigorously investigate. Li Hong Yuan’s scale of operation was too big, so it was impossible to be truly flawless. That’s why, just as expected, Li Hong Ming was able to more or less figure out some things, and those things were just hard evidence, so Le Cheng Emperor had no choice but to believe.
It can be seen, after learning about this matter, just how furious Le Cheng Emperor was. As the saying goes, when things reach an extreme, it can only move in the opposite direction.
The reason why Le Cheng Emperor was once that good to Li Hong Yuan was because of feeling guilty towards him, and also because of shifting his affections towards the Imperial Noble Consort onto him. In his eyes, although Li Hong Yuan was a bit of a bastard, he inherently was a good child. Yet now, reality nevertheless ruthlessly gave him a slap. This was practically just the greatest deception and humiliation towards him, truly making his dignity sweep the floor. Moreover, he was clearly aware that he’s a ghost child, and sitting onto the throne will just bring disaster to the country, yet he still dared to eye the throne, practically not having the ancestor’s mountains and rivers taken seriously, just disloyal and unfilial, heartless and unjust, less than an animal!
Li Hong Yuan stepped on Le Cheng Emperor’s bottom line, touching his taboo, so however much he once doted on him was just however much he loathed him now, loathing to the point of wanting his life!
Prior to bringing out the evidence, aside from those that have already turned to Li Hong Yuan, the others actually didn’t really believe, but after the evidence was presented, it was first shock, and then alarm. Recalling Jin Qinwang’s usual style, they couldn’t help but rub their own necks, just feeling chilly. Seemingly, not just once in the past, their heads were in danger of getting removed. Thinking about it now, there was still lingering fear.
And for those that were in the know, seeing certain people’s complexions alternately turning green and pale, don’t how how amused they were inside. In the very beginning, they’d already imagined what kind of reaction these people will have, and sure enough, it didn’t disappoint. However, they can’t express it, even needing to appear distressed like the others.
In comparison, Luo Pei Shan’s position just wasn’t that good, because he was Jin Wangfei’s grandfather. Marriage ties were just a natural alliance. Sitting in the position of the Head Minister of Appointments, holding great power in hand, on the surface he appeared to be neutral, selfless and impartial, handling matters in a strictly business-like manner, but who knows whether or not he’d slipped in some personal gains in private, secretly helping out Jin Qinwang.
To the extent that those that got praised and promoted by Luo Pei Shan, regardless who they belonged to originally, all got suspected by their original masters.
A small portion of them weren’t innocent, but the great majority truly were wronged. However, they can only bitterly smile on the inside.
In reality, it wasn’t just this. As long as it was related to the Luo family, all more or less got affected. Because the people that originally wanted to rope in Luo Pei Shan all got smoothly brushed off by him, they originally thought that he was determined to not participate in the matter, yet turns out, he was simply playing with them. This while, they were unable to touch him, but would they not be able to touch the others?
The people below constantly making moves, Le Cheng Emperor all took in, but pretended to not see, clearly tacitly approving their actions. This just made certain people even more arrogant.
Le Cheng Emperor actually didn’t reprimand Luo Pei Shan, but Luo Pei Shan was a good subject, directly taking a sick leave, no limit on the time. Afterwards, he just flung his sleeves, shutting his doors and declining guests. His sons and grandsons still went to morning roll call on time, but they didn’t have any work on hand, so can’t be more idle. In the past, quite a few people all liked to run before them, but this while, all avoided like the plague. However, they were rather nonchalant about it, just returning home when it was time, not going anywhere else. At the same time, the Luo family’s womenfolk also didn’t go out either.
This attitude was displayed quite obviously.
Luo Pei Shan has always been loyal and dutiful, and there wasn’t any definitive evidence proving that he’d secretly worked for Jin Qinwang. Even for eliminating Fu Yun Ting, Le Cheng Emperor all needed to find all kinds of excuses, so he naturally won’t do anything to an old minister under this kind of situation.
That’s why, Luo Pei Shan couldn’t be more comfortable at home in the Luo Manor. Some things have long been predicted, and moreover, on the other side, when Li Hong Yuan had completely escaped from danger, he’d already sent them a secret letter. That’s why, the things that needed Luo Pei Shan to handle have already been handled previously.
And the ones that very much minded this matter were none other than the women of the imperial harem. They believed that they were very accurate in judging people, even more accurate than most men, yet they really thought that Li Hong Yuan was someone that didn’t have anything other than imperial favor. But in reality?
Especially Noble Consort Su, she believed that in front of Li Hong Yuan, she’d been quite perfect, but in reality, she was the fool that got messed around with. The slap on her face was even heavier and louder than the one on Le Cheng Emperor’s face.
And how could the prideful and arrogant Noble Consort Su bear this. With the heat of anger attacking the heart, she nearly fainted again.
Le Cheng Emperor stared at the Imperial Noble Consort’s portrait. The portrait was that wonderful, and the painter had put in a lot of thought. When obtaining, he just thought that it was his son’s filial piety, and his son was just a bit dishonest with his feelings, but thinking back on it now, what filial piety, clearly just trying to increase assets for himself. And since his childhood, whenever he retorted him, that was really just contradicting and taunting him. And the rest of the times, when he was still considered obedient, that was probably all a disguise.
The more Le Cheng Emperor thought about it, the angrier he became, his eyes overflowing with dark currents, to the extent that he had his most cherished painting wrinkled, even having a trace of a tear. After coming to realization, he quickly tried to smooth out, but no matter how he tried, there was still a mark.
The next day, upon the imperial court, Le Cheng Emperor flew into a rage, endlessly cursing ‘unfilial bastard’ nonstop. In the past, one didn’t hear him scold any less, but all could tell that the implications were actually different. In the past, no matter how he scolded, he still carried a bit of affection, but now, there was just anger left.
He immediately sent a decree out of the capital, ordering Li Hong Yuan to immediately return without delay.
However, this was actually just the decree on the surface. The real decree was the one given secretly to Li Su Yan, letting him think of a way to eliminate Li Hong Yuan on the road, and afterwards, have the matter pinned on Fu Yun Ting’s head. A perfect two birds with one stone.
[1] 与虎谋皮 – Actually, this idiom originally is ‘asking the fox for its hide’, although both fox and tiger in chinese are pronounced as hu, with different tones. The overall meaning is just what one side is seeking is detrimental to the other side, so it absolutely won’t succeed.
[2] An expression meaning, things within the scope of one’s power or interest, can’t allow others to invade.
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