bullyxtreme Chapter 34 Ideas
Chapter 34 Ideas
By the time the carriage left the alley, it was completely dark.
The carriage was unlit, with only a few scattered streetlights occasionally filtering through, barely illuminating the outlines of people. The woman leaned against the carriage wall; the gentle and considerate demeanor she had shown in the courtyard earlier had completely vanished, leaving only indifference.
The old woman driving the car glanced back at the blurry outline of the small courtyard deep in the alley before lowering her voice and asking in a hoarse tone, "Madam, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should ask it."
"explain."
"As far as I know, Guo Kai has already secretly planted spies on that young master Heng. The lord must have made arrangements as well. Why does Madam still want to get involved in this mess? And today she even went so far as to use this girl… Aren't you afraid that if the lord finds out, it will bring trouble upon yourself…"
The woman let out a soft snort through her nose.
"Guo Kai... He is indeed clever, but too clever. He won't do anything without personal gain, and he's a two-faced, smiling tiger. Whoever is in power, he'll sidle with them; whoever loses power, he'll trample on them more ruthlessly than anyone else."
She turned her head to look at the increasingly dark street outside the curtain: "He's currently advising the lord, but in reality, he's just betting on the lord's potential ascension to the throne. Once the lord actually sits on that throne, Guo Kai will be credited for supporting him, and naturally, he'll receive his share of the rewards. As for the rest..."
The old woman listened silently, subtly adjusting the reins in her hand to avoid a pothole in the road.
The carriage swayed slightly.
The woman, leaning against the wall, continued:
"Now I'm stuck in the manor, completely dominated by that vile woman. As long as Prince Zhao is still alive, the lord won't dare to depose her easily. Guo Kai is a master at reading situations; how could he truly help a favored concubine like me to fight against the mistress? His schemes are ultimately for the lord's future. As for my life and my situation, he probably doesn't care."
The carriage turned a corner, and the lights ahead became a little brighter.
The old woman glanced back in the light, noticing the woman's expressionless face, before speaking again: "Today, Zhao Heng went to see the Qin hostage again, and our men saw it. If we report this to the emperor, saying he has a close relationship with the Qin hostage, perhaps..."
"These things are obvious to everyone; they're nothing special," the woman interrupted dismissively before she could finish. "Guo Kai has probably already reported them as ordinary news."
She leaned forward slightly, speaking with composure:
"But things are different now. That Zhao Heng, today at Zuiyue Tower, dared to publicly challenge Jianxin Jun for a mere courtesan. At such a young age, he's already so fond of beautiful women, and his behavior is so flamboyant and unrestrained..."
A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips: "Since that's the case, why don't we... grant him his wish?"
The old woman couldn't help but ponder.
"That girl, Xue Nu, inherited her beauty from me and is also skilled in playing the flute. If we let her get close to Zhao Heng, she will surely win his favor... At that time, we will be able to know everything Zhao Heng does, what he said and did to the Qin hostage, and even what is happening in the Chunping Jun residence. In this way, I will have the upper hand in everything."
The woman leaned back against the wall, her tone turning cold: "Right now, what Your Majesty fears most is your son, Lord Chunping. Guo Kai has his methods, and I have mine. Once we get rid of Zhao Heng, this eldest grandson, Your Majesty's position will be even more secure. At that time, the throne will be within your grasp."
As she spoke, a fierce glint flashed in her eyes: "Once the lord ascends to the throne, I will have the confidence to make him depose that wretched woman in the manor."
The wind lifted the curtain again, and this time the light shone through, illuminating half of the woman's face. Her once alluring face was now filled with a fierce expression.
"Does she really think she's so great just because she gave birth to the eldest son? I also have a son now, and I'm even more favored by the lord. In the end, who will sit on that throne and who will have the last laugh will depend on their own abilities."
After listening, the old woman said admiringly, "Madam is very insightful. With your wisdom and the master's favor, you will surely be the one in charge of this household in the future."
Upon hearing this, the woman finally showed a slight smile of pleasure, but it quickly faded. She reached up to tidy her hair, returning to her usual gentle demeanor, as if she had never spoken those words.
The carriage had left the commoners' district, and the streets became wider and smoother, the sound of the wheels quickening. High walls and deep courtyards began to appear on both sides, indicating the residences of the nobility.
And so, only the sound of the carriage wheels remained as it gradually faded into the distance.
……
When Zhao Heng returned to his residence, it was already completely dark.
The man sent by Lord Xinling explained the situation to Lady Han, saying that Lord Xinling had met the young master by chance at the music hall, and out of consideration for their old friendship, invited him upstairs to say a few words, which is why he returned home late. He did not mention the later turmoil at Zuiyue Tower.
Although Lady Han was worried all day, upon hearing that it was Lord Xinling who had invited her and that her son had returned safely, she could not bear to scold him further. She only instructed him to inform her in advance if he returned late again in the future.
Zhao Heng had dinner with his mother and Fu's mother.
During the banquet, Lady Han inevitably inquired about the details of Lord Xinling's invitation.
Zhao Heng only spoke the safest words, saying that Lord Xinling, mindful of his old friendship with his father, cared for the younger generation and gave him some advice on how to conduct oneself in society. Han was deeply moved after hearing this.
After dinner, Zhao Heng went to the study in the west courtyard to find Wei Jia.
However, the servant waiting outside the study informed him that Wei Jia had gone out in the afternoon and had not returned since. Zhao Heng then instructed him to send someone to inform his teacher as soon as he returned home, no matter how late it was, before leaving the study.
Instead of returning directly to his own courtyard, he took a detour to a secluded wing room on the west side of the outer courtyard. This was where he had Gongsun Yang organize letters and handle official documents recently, and it was rarely visited.
The lights were on inside the room at that moment.
When Zhao Heng pushed open the door, Meng Ben, Ji Cheng, Luan Ding, and Gongsun Yang were already waiting inside. Upon seeing him enter, the four of them stood up and bowed.
"Young Master."
"Please sit down." Zhao Heng walked to the head seat and gently pressed his hand down, indicating that they did not need to stand on ceremony.
Luan Ding closed the door behind him, and Gongsun Yang got up to pour Zhao Heng a cup of warm water. The four of them then sat down again.
"How is it?" Zhao Heng took the water, but didn't drink it; he just held it in his hand.
Gongsun Yang stroked his beard and said solemnly, "As instructed by the young lord, I disguised myself and followed the young lord and his party at a distance today, and I did indeed discover something."
He paused briefly to gather his thoughts before continuing in a deep voice, "There are two groups of people following Young Master."
The expressions of the people inside the room all turned serious.
Ji Cheng and Luan Ding began to review the details of what they had seen and heard during the day, while Meng Ben sat up straight with sharp eyes.
"Tell me in detail." Zhao Heng's voice remained calm and even, without any apparent emotion.
Gongsun Yang nodded and slowly began to speak:
"The first group of people came from the fish market area in the east of the city. That place is a melting pot of all sorts of people, and the alleys are like a maze. The person following them was very cautious, moving in and out of the crowd, sometimes close and sometimes far away, and their route was also circuitous. Several times they changed their position by using the stalls and the flow of people to cover themselves. I followed them to the depths of the fish market, where the crowd gradually thinned out, and it became difficult to trace them any further."
He frowned and concluded, "In my judgment, this should be a professional informant. The technique is skillful and the vigilance is very high. I can't find out anything about them for the time being."
Ji Cheng couldn't help but interject, "It must be one of Gongzi Yan's men. This fellow, having failed to harm the young lord, will certainly not let it go!"
The other three did not readily agree, and Luan Ding even glanced at Ji Cheng with a hint of helplessness.
Zhao Heng didn't comment, but simply asked, "What about the second wave?"
"The second wave..." Gongsun Yang's expression grew even more solemn: "They came from Zuiyue Tower."
Ji Cheng exclaimed in surprise. Meng Ben and Luan Ding exchanged a glance, both seeing wariness in each other's eyes.
"This group is also cautious, but they are far less shrewd than the first group."
Gongsun Yang continued:
"I spent some extra time following them. After you left Weifeng Lane, they stopped following you and instead went in the opposite direction, passing through two streets, blending into the crowd, and then came back. I didn't dare to follow too closely, so I just watched from a distance as they circled most of Handan City, and finally... returned to the back alley of Zuiyue Tower and never came out again."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng gently stroked the pottery cup, lost in thought.
Seeing that everyone remained silent, Meng Ben frowned and said, "Young Master, could the people from Zuiyue Tower... be sent by that Zi Nu you mentioned? Her background is suspicious, and her help to deal with Jianxin Jun is probably not just out of kindness. And Jianxin Jun..."
Ji Cheng, being impatient, couldn't help but snort and interrupt:
"Jianxin Jun was never a good person. He's a man who spends all his time applying perfume and powder, dressing like a woman. Before our lord went to Qin, he said that this man was all show and no substance, gaining favor by flattering the king and the empress dowager. He has no real talent or ability to command troops, and he's jealous of the virtuous and capable. He's not someone who can be entrusted with the affairs of state!"
He spoke with some agitation, his face slightly flushed, clearly indicating that he had long disliked Jianxin Jun.
Gongsun Yang sighed, stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and then said, "What Ji Cheng said, though blunt, is not wrong. There is indeed a grudge between Lord Jianxin and our lord, and it didn't start overnight."
He looked at Zhao Heng, his tone growing serious: "After the Battle of Changping, Prime Minister Lin Xiangru retired due to illness. Your Majesty originally intended to appoint General Lian Po as his successor. However, Qin soon invaded again, and the General was preoccupied with military affairs and had no time to attend to the Prime Minister's political affairs, so he declined the offer to Your Majesty."
He paused for a moment, and seeing that Zhao Heng was listening attentively, he softened his tone:
"At that time, our lord was renowned for his virtue and had achieved great military and political success. The king decided to appoint him as prime minister and promote him to the rank of Marquis of Chunping. However, Lord Jianxin first advised the king that 'our lord is young and may not be able to command the respect of the people,' and then suggested that our lord personally go to the front lines to comfort the soldiers and boost morale. This suggestion seemed like a promotion, but in reality, it was a way to transfer our lord away from Handan. The matter of appointing our lord as prime minister was thus put on hold."
"Soon afterward, the Qin state demanded a hostage, and some people in the court fueled the flames... until the lord was forced to go to Qin."
Gongsun Yang looked up at Zhao Heng: "Now that Jianxin Jun holds the position of Chancellor, he is in cahoots with the likes of Guo Kai. He will certainly not sit idly by and watch the Lord return, much less allow you, Young Master, to have the opportunity to threaten his position. Today's conflict at Zuiyue Tower, though accidental, was, upon closer examination, inevitable."
Zhao Heng listened without showing any expression.
After a long silence, he finally spoke indifferently: "What happened today, though seemingly accidental, was actually premeditated."
He looked at the crowd:
"I have been in the water for three days, and the palace has remained silent. There must be someone, such as Jianxin Jun or his cronies, who have obstructed the news or said things that were unfavorable to me to my grandfather. A direct confrontation with him is only a matter of time. Rather than letting him exert pressure and frame me in the dark, it is better to use today's events to bring the conflict to the forefront."
Ji Cheng clenched his fist, while Luan Ding nodded thoughtfully.
Zhao Heng then looked at Meng Ben and pondered for a moment:
"As for Zi Nu... she must have had something to ask for today. But I'm more inclined to believe it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. If I hadn't managed to escape safely from Lord Xinling's private quarters today, drawing her attention and prompting her to consider my options, she might not have intervened. Naturally, there wouldn't have been the incident of offering wine to help me out. However, Zuiyue Tower has sent people to follow me..."
As he spoke, he glanced at Luan Ding and asked, "I asked you to investigate the Snow Woman and that fake mother's background. Have you made any progress?"
Luan Ding quickly bowed and replied, "As instructed by the young master, I had reliable people investigate through various channels in the marketplace. The origins of this Snow Maiden and that fake mother are indeed quite interesting."
He took out a brief record from his pocket and spread it on the table.
"The stepmother's surname was Wu, and she was known as Lady Wu. About fifteen or sixteen years ago, she was a well-known dancer in Handan. Later, she suddenly fell in love with a wandering knight and eloped with him, abandoning everything. It is said that she took all her savings with her and gave them to the knight."
"What's the name of the wandering knight?" Meng Ben asked.
"I don't know."
Luan Ding shook his head: "There are many rumors circulating in the city. Some say his surname is Tian, others say it's Zhu. It's been so long that it's hard to be sure. All we know is that he disappeared during the siege of Handan. Perhaps he died in battle, or perhaps he left. The year after the siege was lifted, Wu Ji returned to Handan alone, with a little girl by her side, who is now known as Xue Nu. Wu Ji claimed that this little girl was the daughter of the wandering knight's deceased brother and sister-in-law, and that she had entrusted her to raise."
Ji Cheng scratched his head, guessing, "This Snow Maiden, could she be Wu Ji's own daughter? But she doesn't want her child to be relegated to a lowly status, so she made an excuse..."
Luan Ding didn't respond, but continued:
"When Wu Ji returned, she was already past her prime, and her elopement had ruined her reputation, so her former master was unwilling to take her in anymore. It is said that the manager of Zuiyue Tower at the time appreciated her business acumen and connections from her early years, so he paid to redeem her, signed a life-or-death contract, and put her in charge of training newcomers and managing some mundane affairs in the tower. Wu Ji was indeed quite capable, and within a few years she gained a foothold in Zuiyue Tower, and she even raised Xue Nu single-handedly, becoming the manager's foster mother."
Upon hearing this, Ji Cheng sighed:
"Whether it's true or not, this fake mother is quite a devoted and soft-hearted person. The wandering knight abandoned her and disappeared without a trace, yet she still kept her promise and raised the orphans of his brother and sister-in-law. No wonder the fake mother hesitated and avoided eye contact when talking about the Snow Maiden's background today. It turns out she didn't want to mention her past of eloping and being abandoned."
Zhao Heng did not respond.
He stared at the records Luan Ding had collected on the table, his brows furrowing slightly.
He didn't doubt the Snow Maiden herself. He couldn't help but have a preconceived notion and complex feelings about this female leader of the Mohist school who dared to love and hate in the world of "Qin's Moon".
However, the specific origins of the Snow Maiden remain a mystery in my memory. All I know is that she was once a person from Zhao and later became the top dancer of the "Feixue Pavilion" in the Yan Kingdom. What happened in between, and what the cause and effect were, is completely unknown.
His stepmother's reaction today made him feel that it was probably not as simple as "covering up past sorrows".
On second thought, Wu Ji's ability to establish herself at Zuiyue Tower lay in managing the music hall, attracting customers, and training newcomers on how to please the nobility, not in teaching advanced flute skills. Xue Nu, at such a young age, had already reached such a level of flute skill; besides talent, she must have had the guidance of a renowned teacher.
Who is this famous teacher?
Wu Ji is clearly not this person.
So, is there another unknown master of musical instruments hidden within the Drunken Moon Pavilion? Or is there someone else who teaches the Snow Maiden, and perhaps has a deeper entanglement with Wu Ji's past?
Seeing Zhao Heng remain silent and thoughtful, Gongsun Yang tentatively asked, "Does Young Master feel that there are still some unclear points regarding the identity of this Snow Maiden or Wu Ji?"
Zhao Heng simply shook his head, offering no direct answer, and instead instructed him:
"Don't alert the spies at Zuiyue Tower for now. Just observe them carefully, but don't try to find out who in the tower sent them, lest we reveal that we are being watched. Right now, the focus is still on the first group of spies. Put in more effort and try to find some clues in the network of relationships at the bottom of the fish market area."
Gongsun Yang bowed: "Yes, I understand."
Zhao Heng then instructed Luan Ding:
"I need you to investigate two more things. First, in the past ten years, among those who frequented or had close ties with Zuiyue Tower, have any exceptionally talented musicians or dancers lived in seclusion or resided there? Especially women. Second, investigate in detail who Wu Ji associated with in the years after she returned to Handan, especially those skilled in music or dance."
Luan Ding pondered for a moment, carefully memorizing these two points, and replied, "I understand, and I will do my best to investigate."
"Ji Cheng." Zhao Heng looked at Ji Cheng, the youngest of the four, and said, "Remember, if your teacher returns to the manor, no matter how late it is, report to me immediately."
The latter nodded emphatically, his face full of solemnity: "Young Master, rest assured, I will keep watch near the study. I will report to you immediately as soon as you return!"
Luan Ding hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Young Master, so... will the matter of Miss Xue Nu coming to teach still proceed as originally planned?"
Zhao Heng couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Of course, everything will remain the same. I went to such great lengths to invite her here today, how could it not be counted? In the next couple of days, after I have discussed it with my mother and Madam Fu and set a fixed time for the daily lessons, and cleared out the time for learning the xiao (vertical flute), I will send someone to Zuiyue Tower to formally inform them and arrange the date for the first lesson."
Luan Ding readily accepted the order.
The four men sat for a while longer, reporting on some miscellaneous matters in the mansion. Seeing that Zhao Heng had no further instructions, they got up to take their leave and insisted on escorting Zhao Heng back to his quarters.