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Crisis at the Borders
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!
The Wu province was situated near the north border, yet not as dry and bitterly cold as the Northern Pass, its climate a bit milder. Even if the Mujin people invade the borders, the conflict won’t reach this place either. After much consideration, Lu Qi Yang decided to let Shen Lan Chi come here to recuperate.
The capital city at present was no longer safe, so under the pretext of traveling, he took the opportunity to take his parents and wife out of the capital, in order to seek safety.
As for Shen Lan Chi’s parents, they instead got held onto by Lu Zi Xiang, unable to leave the capital no matter what. Fortunately, Shen Lan Chi had carefully discussed with Empress Ji, hoping that Empress Ji can take care of her parents in passing, seeing on behalf the fact that she and her husband will leave the capital. Ji Fei Xia agreed, promising that she will use the Ji family’s power to help out the old Shen family couple.
Upon arriving in the Wu province, Lu Qi Yang sent Shen Lan Chi to the residence that he’d long prepared in advance.
The Wu province can’t compare with the capital. It was much more quiet and secluded. Although this residence wasn’t as luxurious and grand as the Zhennan Wang Manor in the capital, it surpassed in its elegance and charm.
The inside of the courtyard was planted full of lush green trees, also having the small bridges over flowing streams, pavilions, and buildings that mimicked the south, all extremely exquisite, clearly showing the craftsmen’s attention to detail.
Stepping into the residence, Lu Qi Yang said to Shen Lan Chi, “If there’s anything missing, just let the servants go buy. In your free time, you can also write to me. Just, there’s a lot going on at the Northern Pass, so my replies will probably be a bit slow.”
Pausing for a moment, he deliberated over his words and said, “Although it’ll be a bit slow, there will definitely be a reply. At most, asking you to wait a few more days.”
Shen Lan Chi smiled and nodded her head.
She stood under the door plaque, wearing a light lake blue dress, her slender figure graceful like jade. Glancing from afar, she was as captivating as a budding lotus facing the wind. Lu Qi Yang glanced a few times, yet kept feeling that he couldn’t get enough of her.
After parting with her this time, he will be heading to the Northern Pass. Once the war breaks out, there will be very few peaceful days. If he doesn’t take this time to look some more, perhaps after this, they won’t have the opportunity to nicely spend time together again.
Thinking to here, Lu Qi Yang held her hand, saying in a low voice, “Somewhat reluctant to leave.” After saying this, his old face turned red, a look of not knowing what to do, “Don’t know when I’ll be able to see you next time.”
He was originally alone in the world, with no ties or attachments. If he were lose his life, it was just that, not worth pitying. But, now that he has a wife, there was an extra attachment, actually producing a greedy desire to live, just wanting to win the following battle no matter the cost.
“I know you can’t bear to part with me, but you also have important things to do.” Shen Lan Chi brightly smiled and stood on her toes, patting the top of his head and saying, “No matter how far apart, it still won’t be as far as that time before the Hall of King Yama[1], so what’s so hard about it?”
The two of them have already experienced being separated by life and death once. Compare to that time, this current separation was just considered temporary and fortunate.
“You are right.” Lu Qi Yang helplessly smiled.
“The official matters are more important.” After Shen Lan Chi said this, her line of sight swept to the side, landing on the horse carriage behind Lu Qi Yang, slowly asking, “The reasoning, I all understand, but you bidding me farewell, why insist on letting Sir Liu listen from behind?”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Liu Chang’s complexion turned as red as a pig’s liver.
Lu Qi Yang revealed a toothy smile, his face full of pure innocence, “This is because seeing how Sir Liu is still unmarried at such an old age, I want to let him experience the joy of an ordinary couple, thus kindly let him come observe.”
Shen Lan Chi: ……….
You’re too impressive, can’t win against you.
Don’t know whether or not it was because Lu Qi Yang had gone too far, the curtain of that horse carriage got lifted. Liu Yu stuck out half his face, rushing him, “Wangye, it’s time to hit the road. If we don’t head out now, we won’t be able to reach the lodging station before nightfall.”
Lu Qi Yang also knew that it was time to go, so could only let go of Shen Lan Chi’s hand and slowly descend the steps.
When he reached the last step, he turned around, softly saying to his wife who was standing before the door, “Wait for me.”
After saying this, he flung the hem of his coat and mounted his noble steed. The horses and carriages of the Zhennan Wang Manor instantly became lively, erupting in clamor. The wheels slowly turned, running over the stone-paved street, making a creaking sound.
Half an incense stick later, the carriage squad disappeared from the alley.
After arranging the luggage, Ah Luo came out to support Shen Lan Chi, saying, “Wangfei, why don’t you go in and get some rest first.”
Shen Lan Chi gradually put away the smile on her face. She gazed in the direction the carriages disappear in and said, “I’m not stupid, how could I not know what you’re hiding?”
Lu Qi Yang had left the capital in a hurry. Presumably, Lu Zi Xiang is going to make a move against him. But Lu Qi Yang didn’t utter a word, just saying that he wanted to send her to the Wu province to recuperate. He meant well, not wanting to let her worry, but she won’t be completely ignorant towards his.
The days in the Wu province were much slower than those in the capital.
Without those annoying trivialities, Shen Lan Chi quietly settled down in the Wu province. She didn’t need to deal with the schemes inside and outside of the palace, and also didn’t need to chat and laugh with those noble madams. Every day when getting up in the morning, she would practice calligraphy, then leisurely tend to the plants and flowers, enjoying the breeze and admiring the moon.
Occasionally when free, she would write a letter to Lu Qi Yang.
Merely a month after Lu Qi Yang left, there was disturbance near the Northern Pass. The Mujin tribe stormed the pass and invaded the border, burning and killing throughout the border town, arousing grievance among the people. The Mujin tribe had gotten driven beyond the pass by Lu Qi Yang previously, so harbored resentment. Entering the pass this time, they were filled with the desire for revenge, exceptionally brutal and ruthless. It’s said that wherever the Mujin people passed through, not a blade of grass was left. The women all got taken as slaves, while all the men were slaughtered.
The people at the borders fled their homes one after another.
At this time, rumors also started spreading, saying that Zhennan Wang had colluded with the enemy from the inside, thus allowing the Mujin tribe to enter the pass.
Fortunately, the military inspector, Liu Yu, came forward and spoke for Zhennan Wang before the people, directly stating that this matter was fabricated out of thin air and shouldn’t be believed.
Liu Yu was a favored minister before his Majesty. His words, the people naturally believed, the discontent and grievances finally getting quelled.
When the Mujin tribe once again entered the pass to pillage, Lu Qi Yang bravely marched out, having the Mujin people driven out of three towns. This originally was a great feat, but his Majesty suddenly erupted in anger, angrily accusing Zhennan Wang of mobilizing the troops without permission, acting against the imperial mandate. Lu Zi Xiang successively issued three imperial edict, ordering Zhennan Wang to withdraw from the northern war front and return to the capital.
The Northern Pass was currently in the midst of fire and water, with the Mujin tribe repeatedly causing trouble, so how could Lu Qi Yang casually step away? He could only ignore the orders and continue to stay at the Northern Pass.
However, this move angered Lu Zi Xiang. It’s said that he denounced Zhennan Wang as a ‘treacherous traitor’ on the spot in court, who not only colluded with the enemy, he even held onto military power, acting with self-importance, looking down on the mandate of heaven. He wanted to take away Lu Qi Yang’s title and stipend.
The more furious Lu Zi Xiang was, the more Lu Qi Yang won’t return to the capital.
The Northern Pass and the capital city clearly formed into two opposing sides. One side was Zhennan Wang who was renowned for his military achievements, while on the other side was the current emperor. There were those that were sharp among the court officials, all sensing the approaching the storm. On the way to and from court, the pathways were filled with whispers and murmurs.
“Perhaps soon the sky will change………”
“Zhennan Wang is far away at the Northern Pass. To not accept the edict because beyond the imperial court’s reach, no wonder his Majesty is furious.”
“Shh! This cannot be said, cannot be said.”
The summer days were typically full of continuous showers, the skies frequently gloomy, with several heavy clouds pressing down. Under this patch of dull overcast, everything became inexplicably heavy, the air so stifling that it can drip with water.
His Majesty issued imperial edicts in succession, but Zhennan Wang had no intention of returning to the capital. In this way, the atmosphere in the capital became more and more suffocating with each passing day.
This situation was like a string getting stretched tighter and tighter. Eventually, one day, it will snap.
At the end of the seventh month, the Mujin tribe once again invaded the border. That very night, Lu Zi Xiang finally lost his patience, appointing his trusted confidant Song Yan De as the Yangwei General to campaign against Lu Qi Yang. Then, he secretly ordered Liu Yu who was far away at the borders to exchange letters with Song Yan De, so as to adopt a pincer formation.
When Liu Yu received the emperor’s imperial letter, he was currently sitting in the military tent, drinking a cup of bitter medicine.
The medicine although was bitter, he nevertheless didn’t crease his brow, drinking it all in one go. After using the handkerchief to wipe his mouth, he opened the letter, carefully skimming through.
Outside the tent, there was the sound of the strike of the first night watch[2]. The wind of the Northern Pass puffed the tent flaps. If not for the two large rocks holding down a corner of the flap, afraid the howling night wind would’ve already poured into the crude tent. The oil lamp on the table had burned more than half, the flame flickering.
Liu Yu although was the military inspector, he didn’t stay together with Lu Qi Yang.
The powerful nobles of the Northern Pass have strong ties, the great majority all old subordinates of Zhennan Wang. After coming to the north border, he was practically unable to take a single step, his position as the military inspector was more in name than in practice. Lu Zi Xiang also completely ignored him, leaving him on his own. Because of this, Liu Yu didn’t have an easy time at the north borders.
Fortunately, he’d extensively made friends in the past, also having exchanged letters for several years with a general guarding a strategic town at the northern borders, thus having a place to stay.
This border town was called Hongcheng. The defending general was someone from the capital, called Wei Zhen. Wei Zhen admired Liu Yu’s talent and wisdom, having him treated as an honored guest, showing him great courtesy. Although the people of the capital all say that Liu Yu had angered his Majesty, Wei Zhen still treated him with much respect.
In return, Liu Yu also helped devise strategies for Wei Zhen, forcing the Mujin tribe to retreat many times, sparing Hongcheng from disaster, not once getting harassed by the Mujin people.
Liu Yu has come to the border for more than two months, his body having visibly weakened, frequently asleep for half a day, his spirits also low. Wei Zhen was deeply worried, privately seeking out doctors and medicine for Liu Yu, but it didn’t have any effect.
But, before Wei Zhen could find a good doctor, an imperial decree came from the capital, wanting Liu Yu and Wei Zhen to assist the Yangwei General Song Yan De in bringing down the treacherous Lu Qi Yang.
This letter came silently, without a sound. No one in Chu was aware that Lu Zi Xiang has dispatched troops to campaign against Lu Qi Yang.
And at this time, Lu Qi Yang was still fighting with the Mujin tribe at the Northern Pass. Afraid, he was also unaware that a blade will soon stab into his back.
Liu Yu’s eyes swept over the writing on the letter, his expression increasingly cold.
Seeing this situation, Wei Zhen said, “If we are to attack Zhennan Wang at this time, it will truly be letting those Mujin people gain the advantage. With our Chu fighting amongst ourselves, no matter which side loses, it’ll all be a lose-lose situation, letting the Mujin people mock us for nothing!”
Liu Yu stacked up the letter and looked towards Lu Zi Xiang’s envoy, saying, “Just as General Wei said, if we campaign against Zhennan Wang at this time, it will only let the Mujin tribe take advantage of the situation, the gains not making up for the losses. Asking to please report back to his Majesty, saying that it’s not too late to carry out the campaign, once the external threat has been dealt with.”
That envoy was also someone well-versed in the current affairs. Upon hearing this, the envoy shook his head, saying, “Sir Liu has devoted all of one’s blood and heart for the country. It’s not that I’m unable to understand. But, Zhennan Wang’s power and influence is growing stronger by the day, already having become a threat to his Majesty. His Majesty……..certainly won’t be able to let it be. Even if needing to release the Mujin tribe into the borders, inflicting heavy losses upon oneself, still need to have Zhennan Wang Manor eliminated in one swoop.”
Liu Yu pondered a while and said, “If able to have Zhennan Wang’s wife controlled in one’s hand, then perhaps can keep Zhennan Wang in check. How about reporting back to his Majesty like this: This subject has knowledge of Zhennan Wangfei’s whereabouts, asking your Majesty to order the wangfei to return to the capital. In this way, Zhennan Wang will certainly obey the imperial command.”
After saying this, Liu Yu’s heart shivered as he closed his eyes.
When Lu Qi Yang went to the Wu province, he didn’t avoid him, certainly because of believing that he, Liu Yu, was a true nobleman and won’t lay a hand on a woman. But now, he nevertheless was going to be a despicable and shameless scoundrel.
Liu Yu, oh Liu Yu, such conduct truly is a disservice to Zhennan Wang’s goodwill.
[1] Referring to King Yama who’s the ruler of the underworld in chinese mythology.
[2] Approximately 7pm
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