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Aggrieved Fish Sprite - Chapter 150

Published at 2nd of April 2024 12:19:28 PM


Chapter 150

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No, no, whoever wants this kind of luck can take it

Speaking of the residences near Yiguang Gate, they have their pros and cons.

In terms of area and location, they are top-notch, but they are unfortunately located at the southwest corner of the Imperial City. They face strong winds in winter and the longest exposure to the scorching sun in summer. Truly, only those who live there know what it’s like.

Over time, those high-ranking officials of the court would not reside here.

Yet, the residences here are quite large, too grand for those of lower ranks.

Since the Chen Dynasty, this place has become the mansion of high officials from other provinces, usually bestowed by the Emperor himself. There was someone who got a mansion and died on duty without ever living in it. A few years later, the mansion was given to another rising official from outside, but as soon as this newcomer gained the Emperor’s favor and was called back to the capital to join the cabinet as a minister, not only was he promoted, but he would definitely be moved to a larger mansion closer to the Imperial City.

Thus, the owners of these mansions near Yiguang Gate changed constantly. Occasionally, an official who returned to the capital and moved into one of these houses couldn’t even figure out the rank and posting of the neighbor next door.

The nameplate hanging might still display the owner’s old official title.

Because of the frequent changes, it’s hard to say who the master of the house is after just three months.

Mo Li, standing across the alley, looked at the signboard with “General’s Mansion” written on it and hesitated, “Is this the place?”

“It should be…”

Meng Qi’s voice grew softer, as he couldn’t help looking around to ascertain their location.

Because in front of the General’s Mansion, quite a few imperial guards were loitering, seeming to patrol but actually surveilling.

If it were an unoccupied mansion, it wouldn’t be worth this much attention.

“How strange, could it be that the owner of the mansion has returned?” Meng Qi murmured to himself, then shook his head, “There was no light in the entire mansion last night, except for a lantern hanging at the gatehouse, just like the other mansions around, clearly indicating the owner was not at home. With the capital under martial law and the city gates locked down, how could the owner have returned in just one day?”

Mo Li had already made his way to the side of the wall, easily using the nearby eaves for cover to leap onto the wall and look inside.

Indeed, there was movement inside the mansion, not by servants but by men dressed as soldiers in leather armor.

“General’s Mansion…”

A sudden realization popped into Mo Li’s mind.

At that moment, he felt someone squeezing next to him.

“How about it? Did you see the rockery in the backyard? Want to go around for a closer look?” Meng Qi asked with a smile.

Mo Li silently looked at him, confirming his earlier guess from Meng Qi’s teasing gaze.

—The general who was not here yesterday but has returned to the city today, and also a military officer stationed outside, who else could it be?

Considering the Sixth Prince’s entry into the capital, the name of this person was almost on the tip of his tongue.

“Brother Meng!”

Mo Li felt conflicted, intending to advise Meng Qi not to always pick on this one sheep, and with the world full of coincidences, what if there was another military officer following the Sixth Prince into the capital, eager to find a money bag only to discover it’s not a money bag, what then?

“Don’t rush, Doctor.” Meng Qi squeezed closer to Mo Li, then calmly said, “Let’s just go and see this mansion’s courtyard, admire the lotus pond, look at the rockery. If the Doctor is not pleased, aren’t there many other vacant houses around here for us to choose from?”

Mo Li: “……”

It’s spring, and there’s nothing in the lotus pond, what’s there to see?

He was thinking of an excuse when he heard Lu Min anxiously saying from below the wall, “A large troop of people is coming this way.”

***

The main gate of the General’s Mansion was wide open, and Liu Dan led his personal guards to the entrance, coldly watching the Minister of the Military, who was surrounded by imperial guards, come to proclaim the imperial decree.

According to the rules, receiving an imperial decree requires setting up an incense table and kneeling in respectful welcome.

However, Liu Dan stood there unmoved, his gaze sharp as a knife, startling the Minister of the Military, causing his complexion to change.

“How dare you, Liu Dan, show such disrespect when the imperial decree has been issued?”

“So, the Minister has brought an imperial decree.” Liu Dan suddenly brightened, changing from his previously murderous demeanor, and said with a smile, “It was my oversight. I should have had my personal guards waiting at the alleyway early on. How could His Majesty treat me, a humble official, so generously, allowing me to stay at home in unrest, even having my door watched?”

The Minister of the Military raised an eyebrow, initially wanting to rebuke, but considering the Emperor’s current situation, he suppressed his anger.

He looked at Liu Dan with a disdainful glance, silently laughing at such a crude warrior, relying on his merits in saving the Emperor and the Emperor’s favor. How could this last? Just being defiant for now, but when the Third Prince ascends the throne, let’s see how this man tries desperately to protect himself.

“Are you dissatisfied with the superior officials? Or with His Majesty?”

“Far from it, it’s just that I haven’t been in my residence for a long time, and the house is empty. I could only find an incense burner, not even a proper incense to light… Neglecting the imperial decree, how could this be good?”

The Minister of the Military had already lost patience with Liu Dan and with a cold laugh, he opened the imperial edict to read it directly.

Putting aside the ornate language, the gist was that Liu Dan was accused of siding with a prince, angering the Emperor, who ordered him to reflect at home with doors closed.

“Thanks to His Majesty’s grace.”

Liu Dan knelt, and as soon as he received the imperial edict, the Minister of the Military turned and left with a flick of his sleeve.

Liu Dan’s face was cold, and the gates of the General’s Mansion were directly closed by the imperial guards, clearly under house arrest.

“This is too much, General, we cannot sit idly by and wait for death,” Liu Dan’s personal guard said indignantly.

“Yes, General, something must have happened to His Majesty.”

Liu Dan remained silent, his face grim as he walked towards the flower hall.

Originally, his reputation was widespread in the northern frontier, and both the Western Liang and the Khitan people would avoid him when they saw his banner. He was a blade honed in the northern frontier, only dimming his brilliance due to the superficiality of the court, not because the blade had rusted or forgotten the taste of blood.

Liu Dan was angry but silent, deep in thought, leaving his personal guards somewhat frightened, daring not to disturb him rashly.

These guards had followed Liu Dan for many years and knew that only at life-and-death moments would Liu Dan contemplate like this, for once a decision was made, there was no turning back.

Could it be… the General really intends to support the Sixth Prince? Or even start a rebellion?

Liu Dan entered the flower hall, and the Sixth Prince came out from behind a screen.

“General, you are in imminent danger. If you don’t save yourself, your life and family might be at stake.”

Although the Sixth Prince was young, he spoke with a series of arguments, self-satisfied in his speech.

However, not only did this fail to achieve the expected effect, even Liu Dan’s personal guards looked hostile, hands on the hilts of their swords as if ready to attack at any moment.

The Sixth Prince was terrified and immediately shut his mouth.

Then, feeling that showing weakness completely lost him face, his complexion turned from green to white.

Liu Dan’s expression was icy, commanding respect without anger.

He was very annoyed with the Sixth Prince, perhaps in others’ eyes, the Sixth Prince was still a child, but in the harsh frontier, teenagers of about ten years old already had to wear armor and hold swords to guard the border.

But annoyance aside, Liu Dan had no intention of killing the Sixth Prince with a single strike.

First, killing a prince would bring even bigger troubles, and second, because of the Sixth Prince’s peculiar nature.

Liu Dan was not foolish, even if he knew nothing of the secrets of the imperial court, the Sixth Prince’s temperament alone explained a lot. Emperor Lu Zhang, perhaps, was even more heartless and ungrateful than he had imagined.

The court valued civil over military, the cabinet suppressed and excluded military officers, and although Emperor Lu Zhang was gracious to him, Liu Dan, the true value of this grace was yet to be measured!

Just as Lu Zhang himself had resented, Chu Emperor Ling only needed a dog, and countless people were willing to be the Emperor’s dog, even fighting tooth and nail for it. The owner himself doesn’t care about the dog at all, happy to feed it, and kicking it away when displeased.

Lu Zhang treated his subjects generously, so he certainly wouldn’t kick the dog himself but let others do it.

Liu Dan was not bitterly resentful, for he saw this very clearly—he wanted to be promoted, and the Emperor needed useful people, it was a mutual benefit.

It’s not about being a dog, nor is it about a harmonious relationship between a wise subject and a noble ruler.

The Emperor’s predicament meant that the path Liu Dan had laid out was gone.

“Does the Sixth Prince want to persuade me to rebel?” Liu Dan looked at the Sixth Prince as if looking at a joke, his tone mocking, “Does His Highness think that just by wearing the title of a prince, he can inspire others to risk their lives and fortunes for the glory of following a dragon?”

The Sixth Prince stared at him, his face gradually turning pale.

Liu Dan’s gaze was devoid of any respect, a stark contrast to his attitude these past days, as if he had become a different person.

“His Majesty has four sons, you and the Third Prince were born princes, no wonder you have such thoughts.” Liu Dan picked up a teacup, not even lifting his head as he spoke, “If I had the intention to rebel, why would I need to bring you along? Wouldn’t it be better for me to ascend the throne myself?”

The Sixth Prince’s eyes lit up, a smile appearing on his lips, and he said loudly, “Does the General want the throne? I fear the General might not sit securely.”

“Not bad, I cannot hold my position. Even if I lead tens of thousands of troops to conquer Taijing, the civil and military officials will not submit to me. Even if I follow His Majesty’s example and turn the court into a river of blood, the territory of the Qi Dynasty will disintegrate in an instant, with people everywhere taking up arms to declare themselves king. In the end, all I would have is Taijing, and this throne would probably only last for three months.”

Liu Dan did not wait for the Sixth Prince to speak before he sarcastically said, “Your Highness means to say, being a prince, pushing you to the throne is far smarter than me declaring myself emperor. But in my view, Your Highness, how arrogant you are. Is it you whom the court officials support? No! I have only a dozen personal guards by my side, struggling even to protect myself, yet Your Highness keeps pestering me, truly at the end of your rope, grasping at straws as you drown…”

“Enough!” The Sixth Prince’s teeth gritted with a grinding sound.

Liu Dan looked at him steadily, saying coldly, “Your Highness should understand that what is so-called ‘destined by heaven’ is just a deception for the ignorant masses. His Majesty is not the true dragon emperor, nor are you the dragon heir. You have nothing, merely the position of a prince, isn’t that a death warrant? Since you have escaped, you should hide your identity, not think about usurping the throne.”

“Shut up, what do you know?” The Sixth Prince gasped for breath in haste, his eyes bloodshot, almost on the verge of madness.

He could give up being emperor.

Letting the Second or Third Prince ascend the throne was fine.

The premise is that he must kill that person!

“The general is right, the one bearing heaven’s mandate is not me, but it will definitely not be my imperial father either. I don’t want you to rebel, I just want you to find someone for me, is that so difficult? You are being evasive, unwilling to disclose the whereabouts of Master Meng, could it be you really are for the Chu Dynasty…”

The Sixth Prince hadn’t finished speaking when a loud shout came from outside the floral hall.

“Sixth brother! What are you trying to do?”

“Smash.”

The teacup in Liu Dan’s hand dropped.

He stared blankly at the three people who walked into the floral hall.

Master Meng, Doctor Mo, and a scabby-headed boy?

Seeing Lu Min’s appearance, the Sixth Prince was stunned, then realized something, and furiously rushed to fight with the Second Prince.

“You actually found Master Meng? Do you also want to curry favor with the eldest imperial brother? You know the eldest imperial brother holds Master Meng in high regard…”

“Sixth brother, do you need a lesson?”

Liu Dan stared blankly as the two princes fought, blankly wondering why the imperial teacher would come? He hadn’t flaunted wealth in public!

How terrifying, to be sought out like this!

How much money does he have at home again?

“Not knowing Master Meng would visit today, for what purpose…”

General Liu, with a killer’s aura as sharp as a knife, couldn’t even speak fluently.

Master Meng said lazily, “To stay over.”

“To stay over? But this Second Prince…”

“Oh, this one I picked up on the road.”

Hearing this, Lu Min, amidst the fight, did not forget to turn his head and angrily say, “How could Master say such a thing? We met in the imperial palace!”

Liu Dan and his personal guards were shocked, why the imperial palace?

Wait, wasn’t the news saying the Second Prince was conspiring?!

Master Meng asked with a smile that was not a smile, “General Liu, I just heard, you want to rebel, eyeing the throne?”

“Absolutely not!” Liu Dan shook his head without hesitation, “Whether Master Meng goes to assassinate His Majesty for the elixir, or helps the princes seize power, I will not inquire even a word.”

Master Meng was speechless for a moment before saying, “Who said I want to help the Second and Sixth Princes? They don’t have money!”

Liu Dan and his personal guards looked at each other, so rebellion also requires presenting a money bag first?

General Liu felt inexplicably relieved—

Relieved my foot!

He didn’t want to rebel, why should he be robbed?





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