A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 65.2

Xie Yuan said, “Chen Liangyu is to me just as the late Marquis of Xuanping was to you back then. I trust her. Even if someone must be kept, Chen Xingqian is already at the Court of Judicial Review. Why is it necessary to also keep the daughter of the Marquis of Wu’an?”

Xie Yuan thought, since Chen Luan was kept, there was really no need to forcibly keep a one-year-old child.

Emperor Xuanyuan said, “Chen Xingqian is not the son of your elder brother. Neither he nor Lin Jun, nor Third Lass are truly blood siblings.”

Yan Baizhang, who was physically impaired, took almost half an hour to walk from the palace gate to Nanyuan Palace.

The moment he passed the Duan Gate, a guarded with a saber quickly ran towards the inner palace.

When he saw Emperor Xuanyuan, the imperial carriage and the inner attendants who carried it at the gate of Nanyuan Palace were gone. This newly renovated palace only housed the former emperor, who had once dominated thousands of miles, all alone and solitary.

Emperor Xuanyuan felt a mixture of emotions upon seeing this “strategist” who had once wholeheartedly assisted him but was now crippled.

Emperor Xuanyuan said, “Yan Yong, the person I want to kill the most is you!”

Yan Baizhang pulled up his robe and slowly knelt down, “Your Majesty…”

It was he who used a paper-made eight trigrams wind wheel to find the underground palace beneath Prince Hui’s mansion, to find the burial place of those children’s bones. It was also he who picked up a bag of charred infant bones and brought them back to throw in front of Lin Jianshu…

The monarch and subject turned against each other, the relationship between master and disciple became an enmity, and the court situation of the Great Lin changed overnight. Everything seemed to have started because of him.

Emperor Xuanyuan said, “Your elder brother never forgave me until his death! I only made one mistake. Why must everyone pressure me? You, Lin Jianshu, and the people of East Yin, you all deserve to die! Guilty of the most heinous crimes!”

Yan Baizhang remained silent.

After Emperor Xuanyuan’s great anger subsided, his tone was no longer filled with intense hatred when he spoke again. He said, “Yan Yong, you are old too. I really wanted to kill you! But I can’t bring myself to kill you anymore.”

Emperor Xuanyuan said, “Go to Zhudong. Didn’t you always pride yourself on pleading for the common people? Then use your remaining life to repair the river and redeem your sins.”

Yan Baizhang once again dragged his disabled leg along the path he came, heading out of the palace. Passing through a courtyard gate, he looked up and saw high walls on all sides. He stood at the end of the palace path, with one road ahead and one to the left, unable to discern where they led.

He was lost.

Yan Baizhang had to admit that he was indeed getting a bit old.

“Military Advisor Yan, Military Advisor Yan.”

Yan Baizhang looked back and saw that the newcomer was wearing a python-patterned satin robe, an inner attendant of high rank by the Emperor’s side.

The eunuch in the python-patterned satin robe said, “How did you get here? His Majesty summoned you, and it took this servant a while to find you. Those rascals in the palace were lazy and hid, and no one guided the Military Advisor. This servant will definitely punish them severely.”

Yan Baizhang followed the man, winding through several turns to the Chongzheng Hall. Xie Yuan was not in the main hall but standing on the steps.

He excused Yan Baizhang from performing the full salute and went straight to the point: “I, with my mediocre ability, still wish to be a revivalist monarch after ascending the throne. The Great Lin has two chancellors, but now only Xun Xian remains. Today, I wish to appoint you, Sir, as the Chancellor. Are you willing to assist me in governing the world?”

Yan Baizhang ignored Xie Yuan’s attempts to stop him and still knelt to perform the grand salute.

“Your Majesty, it’s not that I am unwilling. I am old and lack the strength. To assist Your Majesty in becoming a revivalist monarch, one does not necessarily have to stir up trouble in the court. I will go to Zhudong and dedicate the rest of my life to eliminating the disaster of the Tianqian River for Your Majesty, which is also a form of assistance. I have selfish motives. In this life, I only have Nian’er. She lost her mother when she was young and has now lost her husband. I don’t know how many years I have left to live. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to enjoy a few years of kinship and spend more time with my child.”

Since the matter had come to this, Xie Yuan could not force him to stay. He said, “I have one question I wish to ask, Sir. Who among the court officials do you think is fit to be the Chancellor of the country?”

Yan Baizhang said, “The Chancellor is merely the wings of the Emperor. If there are no urgent matters that cannot be handled, Your Majesty can attend to everything personally.”

As he spoke, he glanced in the direction of Nanyuan Palace. This glance did not have any special meaning, merely a farewell to his former master.

In Xie Yuan’s eyes, however, the meaning was very different.

Xie Yuan said, “I have been instructed. Zheng Hechuan, summon my imperial carriage to send Sir off.”

The eunuch in the python-patterned satin robe tucked his whisk into his elbow and walked forward with small steps, “Yes.”

Passing through two rows of rooms in front of the palace, the imperial carriage carried him over the Jinshui Bridge. The Marquis of Xuanping’s carriage was parked not far away. Yan Baizhang got out of the carriage and had only walked a few steps when he saw Xun Xian.

Xun Xian held a second-rank official position and was also the Empress’s father. He should have crossed the inner Jinshui Bridge, but he bypassed the bridge path and walked straight toward Yan Baizhang.

Xun Xian said, “Do you regret it, Yan Yong? If you hadn’t exposed that matter, the position of Chancellor of the Great Lin should have been yours.”

He was a petty man with grand ambitions, and he truly couldn’t forget the humiliation of being firmly suppressed by Yan Baizhang, Chen Yuanqing, and Lin Jianshu in the past, without any strength to contend with them.

But so what? Times still change, and prosperity and decline are unpredictable.

Yan Baizhang sneered and said, “You don’t understand.” He looked towards the heavily guarded palace behind him, “In the vast court, some people truly come for the common people of the world. You don’t need to understand. You can only be a mediocre talent.”

Xun Xian mocked, “You are a heroic talent, an exceptional talent, a great talent, but aren’t you just an old cripple?” With that, he flicked his sleeve and left.

Chen Liangyu followed closely on horseback, with Bo Ping’er accompanying her.

Yan Baizhang already knew she would catch up. “Didn’t I ask your Elder Sister-in-law to tell you, it’s nothing.”

Chen Liangyu said, “I wasn’t at ease. What did that old rogue Xun Xian say?”

Yan Baizhang said, “He just came to say hello.”

Chen Liangyu snorted, “I don’t believe that his dog mouth could utter anything good. A two-faced person.”

Yan Baizhang got into the carriage. The curtains were drawn open on both sides. He said through the window, “He is now the Empress’s father. You are close to the Empress. Don’t speak like that.”

Chen Liangyu rode slowly on her horse, “The Empress is the Empress. Xun Xian is Xun Xian. A bad stalk can still produce good bamboo shoots.”

The carriage and two horses were heading southwest when a person suddenly rushed out of a noodle shop ahead, waving their arms and shouting her name, “Chen Liangyu, Chen Liangyu! Over here, look here!”

Chen Liangyu recognized her, “A’Yin?”

That little female bandit from Baogong Ridge.

Yan Baizhang drew the curtain. The Marquis of Xuanping’s carriage went ahead. Chen Liangyu and Bo Ping’er dismounted in front of her. They tied the reins to a post and sat with her at a noodle table placed outside the shop.

A’Yin had only eaten half of her noodles. She said, “I’ve been staking out for you for many days. It’s really not easy to see you now. I get chased away everywhere.”

Chen Liangyu asked, “Did something happen at Baogong Village?”

A’Yin said, “Something did happen, but it’s not a big deal! The officials came to the village and told us to move to the village at the bottom of the mountain and not to live on the mountain. We are also not allowed to farm the land on the mountain anymore. They reallocated farmland to the villagers and built new houses. But I didn’t come to you for this. Didn’t you ask me if I was willing to join the army? I am willing now. Do you still want me?”

Chen Liangyu asked, “Why did they suddenly make the village move?”

A’Yin said, “I don’t know. Maybe they are afraid that if we stay on the mountaintop, we’ll revert to our old ways and start robbing again when the crops don’t yield well.” She asked again, “Do you still want me?”

Chen Liangyu pointed to Pu Ping’er, “Ask her.”

When Linxia attacked Yongdu, Pu Ping’er had female soldiers disguise themselves as peasant women to sneak into Yongdu ahead of time and coordinate with the main army outside. In fact, they didn’t need to disguise themselves, as most of the female soldiers were originally peasant women, so no one noticed any flaws. During the decisive battle and siege, the soldiers guarding the city gates of Yongdu hadn’t even figured out what was happening when they saw a group of women wielding knives and guns rushing in to kill. The city gate fell, and the main army entered the city.

Xie Yuan personally bestowed the name “Yunhui Army” on the banner and conferred the title of General Yihui upon Pu Ping’er, thus officially establishing an army of women.

A’Yin said, “Doesn’t she have to listen to you too?”

She had no concept of official ranks, but seeing Pu Ping’er consistently following Chen Liangyu just now, she treated her as a small attendant.

Chen Liangyu smiled. This little female bandit was surprisingly not easy to fool.

Bo Ping’er conducted herself professionally, asking, “What is your name?”

“A’Yin.”

“What is your surname?”

“Lin.” After A’Yin spoke, she noticed Chen Liangyu’s gaze beginning to scrutinize her. “I’m not the Great Chief’s child. The children in the village without parents all take the surname Lin from the Great Chief.”

Bo Ping’er said, “Village? What did you do before?”

Lin Yin said, “A bandit, a robber. I even fought with Chen Liangyu.”

Pu Ping’er said, “In the army, you must address her as Great General.”

Lin Yin almost spats her noodles back into the bowl. Looking at Chen Liangyu, she said, “You’re such a big official? No wonder it was so hard to see you.”

Pu Ping’er said, “Finish your noodles. I’ll take you to report to the army and get your gear.”

Lin Yin said, “Okay.”

As the time neared Xu Shi (7-9 PM), Chen Liangyu’s thoughts became more restless.

The latch of Liangyuan’s door was not fastened, merely ajar.

Before returning to the Northern Territory, she had to write a letter to Jingming to inform him of some matters. She was focused on writing and didn’t hear the ‘creak’ of the door opening. Only when footsteps drew near did she look up from the writing desk.

The latticed door was gently knocked. Chen Liangyu stood up to open the door.

Xie Wenjun indeed returned to Liangyuan as promised and on time, “Did you miss this princess?”

Chen Liangyu’s heart skipped a beat. She was at a loss.

She stuffed the letter paper into the envelope, placed it on the writing desk, and walked towards the bedroom. Upon entering, she quickly scanned the room. A pear wood screen divided the room into two halves. On the outer side, a simple fragrant wood table and two chairs were placed.

Xie Wenjun was on the other side of the screen, taking the underclothes placed by the maid on the head of the bed, and undressing herself at her convenience.

Chen Liangyu immediately turned her face away to avoid looking.

She was taller than Xie Wenjun. The underclothes were a bit long for Xie Wenjun, hanging loosely on her body.

Chen Liangyu asked with great uncertainty, “Does Your Royal Highness intend to sleep here?”

Xie Wenjun was tying the thin ribbon around her waist. She said, “There is only one bed here. As a body of a thousand gold, am I supposed to sleep on the floor?”

Chen Liangyu said, “Then… I… I’ll sleep on the floor?”

Xie Wenjun changed into her underclothes, rolled onto the bed, and patted the edge of the bed, “General Chen, attend the bedchamber!”

She was being flirtatious in a very serious manner.