Chen Qi followed the steward and entered Marquis Duan’s mansion.
Today, he braved the cold wind and waited outside this magnificent mansion for a day.
Although the gate of Marquis Duan’s mansion is high, but the decoration in the mansion is elegant. Through those pavilions and towers, one can vaguely glimpse the master’s taste. Along the way, no matter the servants or guards, they walk silently, obviously with extremely strict rules.
The steward led Chen Qi directly to the main hall and said, “The Marquis is waiting for you inside.”
Chen Qi looked up and saw the three characters “Gathering Hall” written on the plaque.
The Gathering Hall is a place where Marquis Duan usually discusses matters, and daily visitors are all important members of the Qi Kingdom. Chen Qi had already learned these details in advance from an old acquaintance.
Anyway, he finally succeeded in taking the first step.
Chen Qi thanked the steward and tidied up the disheveled sleeves that had been blown by the wind before heading towards the hall.
The bright lights in the hall were as bright as day. In front of the independent lamp stand, Marquis Duan was dressed in luxurious black clothes, half of his face hidden in the darkness, and the golden silk patterned on his sleeve shone brightly under the candlelight.
Chen Qi only glanced hastily and felt a cold and intimidating force.
He rarely sees anyone with such a cold and captivating aura as snow on a high mountain or a nine-day moon.
Marquis Duan, Duan Xiyue, was not only a highly influential Marquis Duan in the Qi Empire but also a great musician of the time.
Two completely different identities, perfectly fused in the same person.
The song ‘Feng Qiu Huang’ created by him in his youth was still regarded as a treasure by countless music enthusiasts who are constantly grinding and learning. Some even become obsessed with this song and approach madness.
However, it is this pair of hands that play the zither that has killed a large number of nobles in the Qi Capital with his thunderous means since entering the Qi Capital, and gaining the King of Qi’s appreciation, his hands were stained with the blood of Qi Capital nobles.
When the nobles in the Qi capital mentioned this name, Duan Xiyue, they were all as scornful and fearful as if they had seen the evil ghosts of Shura.
Chen Qi came all the way and deliberately inquired about the deeds of this Marquis Duan. He knew that the other party was a highly skilled and ruthless person, and even the Prime Minister, Tian Que, was in awe of him. He dared not harbor any hint of contempt in his heart. However, rumors were ultimately rumors, and it was not until now that he truly stood in front of this highly influential Marquis Duan in this gathering hall that Chen Qi truly understood the fear of the nobles of Qi.
Chen Qi didn’t dare look up at the other person directly, but instead made a big gesture first.
Duan Hou put out his sleeves and spoke calmly, “Chen Qi, the Second Prince of the Chen Kingdom, currently holds the position of Right Secretary in the Sui Empire.”
“You came all this way to the Qi capital to inform this marquis of the secret of Crown Prince Jiang’s background?”
“What secret do you have in hand?”
As soon as these words were spoken, Chen Qi felt as if there was an invisible cold blade lying across his neck.
Chen Qi had no way out and kneeled down directly.
He said, “To be honest with the Marquis, the humble is no longer serving in the Sui Empire. The humble came to the Qi capital this time to join the Marquis’s command and serve the Qi Kingdom.”
“The humble unintentionally grasp an important secret about the Crown Prince of Jiang’s identity. As long as this secret is made public, the Crown Prince of Jiang will inevitably be disgraced and ruined.”
“The Marquis and the King can destroy the Jiang Empire without spending a single soldier.”
Marquis Duan asks, “Disgraced and ruined?”
“That’s right.”
Before entering Marquis Duan’s mansion, Chen Qi was actually uncertain about Marquis Duan’s attitude towards the Jiang Empire. However, during the Jiang and Sui conflict, the Qi did not stay neutral and instead sent troops to assist the Sui Empire in attacking the Jiang Empire. The two countries, Jiang and Qi, indirectly formed a feud. And the secret in his hands could become an important lever for the Qi Kingdom to attack the Jiang Empire.
And today, Marquis Duan was willing to meet him late at night, indeed because of that secret as well.
Chen Qi’s confidence has increased a bit.
He said, “This secret involves both Jiang and Qi.”
“It can even be proven that the current Crown Prince Jiang Rongyu of the Jiang Empire is not the real Jiang Rongyu, but someone else impersonating him.”
“The real Crown Prince of the Jiang Empire may have died five years ago.”
This statement is too astonishing.
The hall fell into a dead silence, and a cold wind blew through. A candle near the door shook violently and almost extinguished.
Chen Qi, who was kneeling on the ground, heard footsteps.
Immediately after, a black hem embroidered with silver thread appeared in his eyes.
“Lift your head.”
The person above said.
The tone was not high, but it was not angry either.
Chen Qi looked up as told and saw the face of the person above him, slightly stunned.
That was an extremely tall and handsome man, dressed in luxurious black clothes. The sleeves and hem were embroidered with orchid patterns using gold and silver threads, interwoven with gold and silver, just like his noble demeanor.
It was rare for Chen Qi to see someone in a position of power and authority who could still have such a demeanor.
Marquis Duan asked, “Do you know what a crime it is to talk about the bloodline of the Crown Prince of a great country?”
There seems to be a blizzard pressing down on his head.
A wisp of sweat dripped down from Chen Qi’s forehead.
He withstood the immense pressure and said, “The humble have no false statements, but there is conclusive evidence.”
Marquis Duan’s gaze was deep and motionless, as if frozen in ice.
Chen Qi quickly took out a letter from his pocket and presented it with both hands: “This was written by the late official Zheng Xian of the Jiang Empire before his death, it provided important evidence of the infamous bloodline of the Crown Prince of the Jiang Empire. The Marquis please review it.”
That is a letter with a yellowed surface, filled with an outdated aura, with no words on the cover.
Marquis Duan remained silent, took the letter, and began to read it.
Chen Qi said, “According to the letter, when the Crown Prince of Jiang was eleven years old, he went hunting in the mountains with Emperor Jiang and encountered assassination. Emperor Jiang favored King Chu and concentrated all his forces to save him when the assassins attacked. The Crown Prince of Jiang was abducted by the assassins and went missing for a full three years. During these three years, Emperor Jiang claimed to the outside world that the Crown Prince was sick. But in fact, the Crown Prince of Jiang was not in the palace at all but rather entered the Qingque Terrace! Zheng Xian mentioned that he had been in the Palace of the Crown Prince of Jiang and accidentally saw a ‘slave’ seal on his waist. That was a mark that only the Qingque Terrace Kunjun had.”
“There are only two possibilities for this: either the Crown Prince of Jiang, who returns to the Jiang Empire three years later, is a Kunjun from Qingque Terrace impersonating, or the Crown Prince of Jiang, who really had entered the Qingque Terrace and was reduced to a Kunjun, had been used as a child molester for three years.”
“Either way, now that Jiang Rongyu and his identity as a Kunjun from Qingque Terrace can undoubtedly be confirmed.”
Chen Qi finished his statement, and Marquis Duan also finished reading the letter.
Marquis Duan’s figure shook slightly, and his hand holding the letter trembled imperceptibly.
He didn’t show it on his face and asked, “Is the content of the letter true?”
“It is absolutely true, without any false words.”
Marquis Duan reached to the edge of the table and raised his hand.
Several armored soldiers quickly rushed in and arrested Chen Qi.
Chen Qi was greatly surprised and couldn’t understand, saying, “Why is the Marquis doing this?”
Marquis Duan turned his back to him, pinched the letter, and said in a chilling voice, “You know, this letter alone is enough for this marquis to cut you to pieces.”
Chen Qi was taken aback.
There was a buzzing sound in his mind, he didn’t understand where things went wrong.
Why would Marquis Duan react like this when he saw such a big secret? Is there any element he doesn’t know about? Has the Qi Kingdom secretly formed an alliance with the Jiang Empire?
Chen Qi finally showed a look of panic.
“Marquis…”
“Take him away.”
The guards of Marquis Duan’s mansion did not give Chen Qi another chance to speak.
The old servant had been anxiously guarding the corridor all along. When he saw Chen Qi being dragged out, he immediately rushed into the hall and saw Marquis Duan standing by the table, clearly with a strange figure. He worried and asked, “How’s Marquis?”
The old servant approached and saw a large mouthful of black blood splattered on the table surface covered in light green brocade.
Marquis Duan’s face was pale, and his fingers on the table were also pale.
The old servant was shocked. “Marquis!”
Marquis Duan closed his eyes, and his face was snow-white, as if covered in a layer of frost from a cold night. He said, “Throughout I, Duan Xiyue’s life, I have not ashamed the heaven, I have not ashamed the earth, and I have not ashamed my country. The only thing I’ve ashamed is that strand of bone and blood. This is probably the greatest punishment that heaven has ever given me.”
The old servant saw the letter that Marquis Duan could hardly hold.
He took it over and, after seeing it, suddenly paled. He couldn’t believe it and said, “It’s impossible, how could this be…”
He suddenly thought of something.
“Five years ago, five years ago, was it that time? How could it be?”
Marquis Duan opened his eyes and looked at him sternly. “Which time?”
The old servant kneeled down and sobbed, “Five years ago, several counties near the capital suffered from famine, and many refugees poured into the Qi capital. Marquis and the Young Master set up a congee shed in the city to feed the refugees. One evening, the old servant saw that child among the refugees in the queue.”
“That child was so much like Marquis when you were young. The old servant thought that he had come to the Qi capital and wanted to recognize the Marquis. The Marquis has finally established yourself in the Qi capital and had a peaceful life. The Marquis has already forgotten about those painful past experiences. The old servant was worried that his arrival would bring danger to Marquis, so this servant kept it a secret.”
“The old servant really doesn’t know that he escaped from that place. If the old servant knew, the old servant wouldn’t hide it from Marquis and make decisions without authorization…”
The old servant’s face was filled with tears, and he choked up in silence.
“It’s all the old servant’s fault.”
“The old servant wronged the Marquis.”
Marquis Duan was stunned.
“You’re stupid! You’re extremely stupid!”
“You can’t, you shouldn’t, treat him like that, even just for the sake of this marquis.”
“But how is that just your fault?”
Marquis Duan laughed, his laughter desolate, echoing in the empty and silent hall.
“This Marquis has implemented a law of balance, which breaks the law and clarifies right from wrong. But how can we not even distinguish right from wrong?”
“You are at fault, and the root of the fault, after all, lies with this marquis.”
Marquis Duan’s chest trembled and he vomited a second mouthful of blood.
The old servant was greatly alarmed and quickly helped Marquis Duan, calling for a medical officer. Marquis Duan raised his hand to stop him and said, “Have Duan Qi come over.”
**
Muyun Pass was also bustling and chaotic.
Liu Gong stood anxiously on the side, watching Meng Hui diagnose the pulse, and kept asking, “How is His Majesty?”
Last night, after that Crown Prince of Sui came over and talked to His Majesty in the bedchamber for less than a moment. Not sure what the other party had stimulated His Majesty, he vomited blood and fell into a coma, still unconscious to this day.
Meng Hui diagnosed his pulse and said it was anger that attacks his heart.
As for where this anger comes from, no one knows except for that arrogant Crown Prince of Sui.
Meng Hui withdrew his hand and said, “I will prescribe two more patches of medicine. Tonight, I will administer it to His Majesty every other hour.”
Liu Gong said yes.
At this moment, the palace attendants called outside, “Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Jiang Yun, dressed in a golden robe, walked in and asked, “How is Emperor Father?”
Liu Gong explained the situation.
Jiang Yun stood by the bedside and looked at Emperor Jiang, who was still in pain and entangled in his coma. After a while, he said, “Just do as Divine Physician Meng said.”
“Yes.”
Liu Gong quickly went to command the palace attendants.
Jiang Yun did not stay in the room for a long time. He returned to the palace where he lived, and in the middle of the night, there was still no movement outside the curtain, he pondered.
Jiang Yun summoned Gongsun Yang in and ordered, “Go to the Sui army camp on the other side, find General Xu Qiao, and say, Gu has something important to see him.”
Gongsun Yang suspected that he had heard wrong, “Xu Qiao?”
“You just go over directly, he will understand Gu’s meaning.”
Gongsun Yang dares not ask any more questions and was ordered to retreat.
The night is so dark that one can barely see their fingers. Around this time, a group of cavalry that had been lurking day and night also secretly arrived at Yongcheng on the border of Qi.
These cavalry soldiers were uniformly dressed in Qi soldier armor.
The defending general of Yongcheng was very confused. During the day, they did not detect any troops approaching. Where did this cavalry come from? He didn’t dare to be careless and personally went up to the city gate to ask.
“It’s us.”
The leading general drove his horse forward and presented the token in his hand.
“General Tian Ying?” The guard looked at the incoming person’s face and was somewhat surprised.
“En.”
Tian Ying frowned and said, “Now that there are peace negotiation between the north and south, the Sui Empire does not need reinforcements anymore. Tian Ye and I directly led the troops back to report to the king.”
The defending general was not aware of the situation at Muyun Pass, but knew that the king had instructed two generals, Tian Ying and Tian Ye, to bring three thousand elite soldiers to assist the Sui Empire.
Now the number of this cavalry is about 3000, and Tian Ying has a clearance token in his hand. Tian Ying was the nephew of Prime Minister Tian Que, and the defending general dared not offend him. After a few routine questions, he quickly ordered the soldiers to open the city gate and let them pass.
Three thousand cavalry swaggered into the territory of Qi.
When he entered the pass, the general came down to meet him, and the scimitar that was placed across Tian Ying’s neck squarely moved away and was quietly placed against the back of his heart.
Tian Ying dared not act rashly and casually perfunctorily said to the general, then he said that he was in a hurry and would not stop at the pass but would go directly in the direction of Qi capital.
The general apologized and agreed. When the group walked away, he was puzzled and said, “It’s strange. Tian Ying is always so high and mighty because he’s Prime Minister Tian’s nephew. Why is he always sweating when talking to me today?”
His trusted subordinate said, “I heard that these two people originally hoped to make a great contribution by taking advantage of the Sui Empire’s attack on Muyun Pass. Now that the two countries have suddenly come to a ceasefire and peace negotiation, this credit cannot be collected. He walked his horse back in vain and naturally felt guilty.”
The general sneered and didn’t think much. After closing the city gate, he went straight to the duty room to sleep. However, as dawn approached, he was awakened by his trusted subordinate.
“What’s wrong?”
The trusted subordinate urgently said, “No good, General. A troop of Sui cavalry came to the front of the pass, claiming that there was a traitor from Sui who had fled into Qi. They want us to open the city gate and search inside the pass.”
The defending general frowned and said, “Without proof or credentials, how could this general casually let Sui soldiers enter the city? Who came?”
His trusted subordinate said, “The other party claimed to be Yang Shuo, the Senior General of the Qinglang Battalion, under the command of the Crown Prince of Sui.”
“Qinglang Battalion?”
The general’s expression was once again solemn.
This is the legitimate army of the Crown Prince of Sui, they can’t be offended easily.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, “Tell them that if they want to find someone, they need a passage token. Let them first try to negotiate with Prime Minister Tian or Marquis Duan. Laozi can’t make such a big decision.”
After receiving a message from Gongsun Yang, Xu Qiao bravely came to meet Jiang Yun at Muyun Pass.
Jiang Yun invited him to drink tea, but before Xu Qiao could figure out how to speak, he heard the young Crown Prince across from him say, “Has he gone to fight the Qi Kingdom?”
Xu Qiao almost sprayed a sip of tea out directly.
Coughing twice, he tried his best to maintain composure and said, “No, there’s no such thing. It’s because Xiao Huangsun doesn’t have enough elk antlers. His Highness heard that white elk had been appearing in a mountain outside the pass recently, so he took people to hunt elk antlers for Xiao Huangsun.”
Jiang Yun said, “You don’t have to deceive Gu, Gu already knows it all.”
Xu Qiao could only feel guilty and put down his tea bowl.
“His Highness was also worried about Your Highness Rongyu…”
Jiang Yun took a deep breath. “Did he really go to fight the Qi Kingdom?”
Xu Qiao was taken aback.
“You just…”
Xu Qiao suddenly paused before realizing that he had been deceived and immediately patting his head in frustration.
Jiang Yun stood up and looked out at the heavy dusk outside the window. After a while, he couldn’t help but grit his teeth and say, “This lunatic!”
