plumnovel Chapter 47 Ji Wuye
Chapter 47 Ji Wuye
The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the mansion. The driver announced the arrival in a low voice from outside, but Zhao Yan did not move. He simply lifted a corner of the curtain, revealing half of his gloomy face.
Guo Kai was indeed waiting at the door. When he saw the curtain move, he immediately understood, quickly stepped onto the carriage, and bent down to crawl into the carriage.
He sat down opposite Zhao Yan, bowing slightly, and carefully observed his master's expression in the dim light. Seeing that his eyes were closed and his face was still pale, he reassured him, "The eunuch Gao has already managed to send out the news in advance about the situation in the palace, and I am aware of the general outline."
Zhao Yan didn't open his eyes, but let out a hum through his nose.
"Master need not worry too much."
Guo Kai leaned slightly towards Zhao Yan:
"Although the retainers involved have indeed been taken away by the Ministry of Justice, I made arrangements as soon as I received the news. Their families have always been under control, so you can rest assured, Master. Although border service is hard labor, it is better than being executed on the spot. I have ordered that their families be well 'comforted' and promised to take care of them in the future. Those men are all smart. To ensure the safety of their wives, children, and elderly parents, they should know what they should and should not say in prison."
He paused briefly, observed Zhao Yan's reaction, and seeing that the other party still showed no reaction, continued:
"Jianxin Jun's side will likely act quickly as well. The final report will probably be consistent: they were heartbroken and angered by the close relationship between the prince and the Qin people, and acted on their own initiative. In this way, the matter can be kept within the scope of 'oversight'."
However, upon hearing this, Zhao Yan was not relieved at all. Instead, he suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze chillingly cold.
"A bunch of idiots! Their work is riddled with flaws, even that brat could see through it at a glance. What use are they? If I didn't need them to take the blame right now, I would have killed them all to vent my anger!"
Guo Kai merely chuckled, offering no comment on the retainers, but instead reminded them, "Master, there is one more matter. Lord Jianxin has been waiting at the manor for quite some time. Judging from his expression, he seems somewhat displeased. When you meet him later, please be mindful of your words."
Zhao Yan was already displeased, and now his anger intensified, his teeth grinding together with a clattering sound.
"He's already upset? Hasn't he taken enough benefits from me every day? He can't sit still at the slightest sign of trouble. If this matter is really investigated thoroughly, how can he escape responsibility? We're all in the same boat. If the boat capsizes, no one will get ashore cleanly! And he's putting on airs!"
Guo Kai quickly lowered his voice and said:
"My lord, please calm your anger. Now is the time when we need capable people. After all, Lord Jianxin is the prime minister and has extraordinary influence in the court. We still need his help to mediate many things. It is not advisable to argue with him now. A small act of impatience could ruin a great plan."
Zhao Yan's chest heaved violently a few times, but he didn't say anything more. He just leaned back heavily into the carriage, his temples throbbing.
The carriage went straight into the mansion, and Zhao Yan and Guo Kai got out and entered the front hall.
Jianxin Jun sat on the right side of the table, holding a cup of tea and blowing on the foam on the surface. Hearing footsteps, he raised his eyelids, glanced at Zhao Yan who had entered, then lowered his eyes again and continued blowing on the tea.
He neither rose to greet her nor exchanged pleasantries, clearly displeased with the unexpected failure of the scheme in the palace that day, and determined to make his displeasure plain on his face.
Seeing his arrogance, Zhao Yan was immediately enraged, but his facial muscles twitched and he quickly put on a bitter smile. Before he even got close, he bowed to Jianxin Jun.
"I have kept Your Majesty waiting. I am incompetent and my plans were flawed, which has only caused Your Majesty's subordinates to be implicated. I am truly terrified and have nowhere to hide my shame."
Upon hearing this, Jianxin Jun continued skimming the foam from his teacup without pause. After slowly taking a sip, he lifted his eyelids, glanced sideways at Zhao Yan, and let out a soft, ambiguous hum.
"I am now generally aware of the details. However, today's mishap is not entirely your fault, young master; the primary reason lies with that fool Gao Qu's misjudgment!"
He slammed the teacup down on the shore, his tone gradually turning stern:
"They said that Zhao Heng's quick wit was entirely due to Wei Jia's guidance, and that he was no threat without Wei Jia. I believed their nonsense back then! Thinking back to that day at Zuiyue Tower, how quickly that kid responded when he confronted me—he didn't seem like a clueless child at all! I shouldn't have believed such nonsense and ruined everything!"
This is just hindsight; if you really didn't believe it, why didn't you say so earlier?
However, although Zhao Yan thought this way in his heart, he appeared to have found a resonance on his face. He walked a few steps to the main seat, but did not sit down immediately. Instead, he slammed his palm on the table:
"Your Majesty is absolutely right! If Gao Qu hadn't repeatedly misled us, would we have thought that brat was so easy to fool? We had victory firmly in our grasp, intending to strike decisively and eliminate any future troubles. Who would have thought... that this brat would turn the tables on us! Now we've lost men, ruined our plans, and let that brat gain face and benefit in front of the old man for nothing! It's utterly hateful!"
Seeing his agitation, Jianxin Jun slightly toned down his accusatory tone, merely twitching the corner of his mouth before picking up his teacup again.
"What's the panic? Since His Majesty has already spoken, the final punishment will be nothing more than border service, which will be the final verdict. It's all just a matter of my word."
He leaned back slightly and said calmly, "Make sure to take care of the people along the way and in the border areas, and let them 'die of illness' or 'accidentally.' The sky won't fall. It's just that you've lost a few useless retainers. On my side, if I lose a Chief Justice, I can just replace him later. A few setbacks are nothing to worry about."
Seeing the man's calm and composed demeanor, Zhao Yan felt a slight relaxation, and his anger seemed to find an outlet. He finally sat down angrily.
However, Guo Kai, who had been standing quietly to the side, coughed lightly at this opportune moment and said:
"The aftermath is under Your Majesty's control, so there is no need to worry. However, in my humble opinion, the real trouble at present may not lie with a few retainers or the Chief Justice, but within the palace walls."
He observed the reactions of the two noblemen, and only continued when they looked at him: "According to intelligence from the palace, after this incident, His Majesty not only did not reprimand Prince Heng for his association with the Qin hostage, but also showed considerable pity and comfort. In fact, he seems to intend to keep Prince Heng in the palace tonight so that he can question him in detail."
Zhao Yan's face visibly darkened, and then he gritted his teeth and said:
"Guo Kai's words are true! Just now in the hall, I felt something was strange. That brat leaned close to the old man's ear and whispered something, and the old man's expression immediately changed. The way he looked at me was also strange. Then, without saying a word, he sent me away. He must have used some trick again, or given me some kind of bewitching potion!"
The more he talked, the more likely it seemed. He got up agitated and paced back and forth in the hall, becoming increasingly anxious as he spoke:
"The old man's mind has become increasingly unpredictable in recent years. What if he softens his heart, or is truly swayed by that brat's clever words, and decides to make him the crown prince? Wouldn't all our years of hard work be in vain? If that brat really takes the crown prince position, I'll never have a chance to rise again!"
Seeing Zhao Yan's anxious appearance, like an ant on a hot pan, Jianxin Jun shook his head and chuckled, "Young master, please calm down. There's no need to worry so much and throw yourself into chaos."
Seeing that both Zhao Yan and Guo Kai were looking at him, he slowly sat up straight and placed his hands folded in front of his abdomen:
"Your Majesty has a clear understanding of the succession to the throne, and it cannot be easily swayed by the clever words of a mere child. This matter involves the entire court and the people; it is not a trivial matter. Since the founding of our Zhao state, from the time of Xiangzi to the reign of Marquis Lie, and even to the recent Sand Dune Palace Coup of King Wuling, which change of heir has not been accompanied by infighting among the royal family, fratricide, and rivers of blood? These lessons are vividly clear in our minds; how can Your Majesty not be extremely cautious?"
As Zhao Yan listened, the impatience on his face eased slightly, but the doubt in his eyes remained.
Jianxin glanced at him and continued:
"Although the court and the public largely accept the decision to establish Zhao Yi (Lord Chunping) as crown prince, he is still in Xianyang and has not yet died. Therefore, there is no reason to establish Zhao Heng as crown prince so easily, and besides—"
He looked directly at Zhao Yan, his gaze becoming meaningful:
"Furthermore, Your Majesty is aware that the Prince has cultivated his power base for many years, both in and out of the court. If he were to forcibly install Zhao Heng, would you willingly submit? That would inevitably lead to even greater turmoil. Your Majesty is advanced in years, and your health and energy have declined significantly in recent years. What you seek is a smooth transition after your death, not undue upheaval and a repeat of the events of the Sand Dune incident. Therefore, this matter is absolutely impossible to be settled so quickly."
Zhao Yan was overjoyed, as if he had taken a reassuring pill. His expression softened considerably, and he quickly walked back to the main seat and sat down.
However, Guo Kai stroked his short beard and suddenly replied:
"Your Majesty's insight is profound. The King must ultimately consider the weight of power and is probably waiting for Lord Chunping to return to the country before making a decision. However, it is precisely because of this that the current situation shows that time is of the essence. If we wait until Lord Chunping safely returns to Zhao, the succession will be a foregone conclusion, and there will be no room for maneuver. By then, it will truly be too late."
Upon hearing Guo Kai's words, Zhao Yan abruptly stood up from his seat. In his haste, his robes knocked over the teacup in front of him, spilling leftover tea onto the table. He paid no heed, simply stepping out of his seat and saying irritably:
"Guo Kai is right! If my second brother truly returns to Handan unharmed, with his status and prestige, what reason would the old man have not to appoint him as emperor? At that time, everything will be settled, and we will have no further say! We must nip all possible variables in the bud before he returns! We must not let him come back!"
Seeing Zhao Yan's loss of composure, Jianxin Jun frowned again, his tone turning cold and tinged with impatience:
"Nip it in? How can we nip it in? Zhao Heng is slippery as a mule these days. Today, with the King's protection, he's already difficult to deal with. As for Lord Chunping, he's in Xianyang. Even if we can make a move against him, if he really falls in Qin, it might provoke the King to regret it and directly establish Zhao Heng as the heir apparent. Wouldn't that be counterproductive? Right now, I'm afraid the only thing we can do is wait and see how things develop, and plan our next move slowly."
These words made Zhao Yan even more frustrated and irritable, and he could only pace back and forth in the hall in agitation.
"That brat! He used to be so timid, honest, and taciturn in front of me. How come he's completely transformed after falling into the water and waking up? His words are sharp, his mind is meticulous, and he even speaks eloquently about examining injuries and judging cases! Could he really be possessed by a ghost or a god?"
A moment of silence fell over the hall.
Jianxin Jun held his now-cold teacup, his face expressionless and his eyes unfathomable. He clearly disregarded Zhao Yan's complaints and anxiety, yet could not think of a more effective way to break the deadlock, so he was unwilling to say more.
Zhao Yan paced back and forth like a trapped beast, unable to shake off the pent-up emotions in his heart.
However, Guo Kai, who had been pondering and remaining silent as if carefully weighing something, stepped forward again and calmly bowed to the two of them.
"Your Majesty, Master, I have a plan that might break this stalemate."
Seeing the two men looking at him, he immediately smiled and said, "If this plan succeeds, it might achieve two birds with one stone, or even three. However... it involves many crucial points, requiring skillful planning and some risks. I wonder if Your Majesty and Master are willing to condescend to listen, and whether they have the courage to take the risk?"
Zhao Yan immediately stopped pacing and turned around abruptly: "What's your plan? At this point, what's the point of keeping us in suspense! Tell us quickly! What are a few risks if we can turn the tide!"
Jianxin sat up slightly and said, "Oh? Mr. Guo is known for his wisdom. Since it is a well-thought-out plan, it must have its merits. I would like to hear the details. Please speak freely."
Having received their approval, Guo Kai first asked a completely unrelated question: "Does Your Majesty and Master know of this person, 'The Violent Kite'?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan's face showed obvious confusion. He searched his memory and seemed to have some vague impression, but in the end, he only looked at the knowledgeable Jianxin Jun.
Jianxin Jun scoffed and said disdainfully:
"Isn't that the so-called Great General Bao Yuan of Han? He has served the Han court for decades, from King Han Li to the current King Han Huanhui, spanning three reigns. But now he's an old codger, why mention him? Do you think a Han general on his deathbed could interfere in the affairs of Zhao and help us?"
Guo Kai smiled slightly and shook his head: "Your Majesty misunderstands. I do not mean that I expect Bao Yuan to be of service to us. Rather, this man has a guest advisor named Ji Wuye, who may be of use."
"Ji Wuye?" Zhao Yan had never heard of such an unknown person before, and his brows furrowed even more.
"Exactly." Guo Kai nodded: "This Ji Wuye, there are many different opinions about her specific background, and she may not be illustrious. But she is born with superhuman strength and is exceptionally brave. It is said that she can fight tigers and leopards and has the courage of ten thousand men. Moreover, she is not just a brute, but also has some knowledge of battle strategy. Furthermore, she is ruthless and decisive, and often uses any means to achieve her goals."
Guo Kai paced slowly: "However, he was never given a prominent position under Bao Yuan's tutelage. Ji Wuyekong is ambitious and talented, but he is frustrated and unfulfilled, and his resentment must be deep. I believe that this man is like a sharp blade that has been sheathed in dust, and what he craves is an opportunity to draw it and draw blood, so that he can rise to prominence."
Hearing this, Zhao Yan was still full of doubt and couldn't help but interrupt: "Even so, what use can a mere unsuccessful guest minister from Han be for the affairs of Zhao? Do you think we can bring him to Handan and send him to assassinate Zhao Heng? That would be rather foolish."
Guo Kai couldn't help but laugh, but before he could answer, Jianxin Jun narrowed his eyes, gently tapped the table, and slowly said:
"Isn't Lady Han, the mother of that brat Zhao Heng, a princess of the State of Han...?"