Why is the emperor here?
“What should we do next?” Sikong Rui asked, “Chu Xiang has arrived on his own right in front of us, and there are not many soldiers on this island. So it is easy to capture him. Let’s just take him to the royal city and claim credit for the little emperor.”
Duan Baiyue shook his head: “Liu Jinde was also exiled with Chu Xiang. The reason why Chu Xiang was not willing to just be a prince and dared to risk his life to fight for the throne, most of the credit for it goes to Liu Jinde. It is better to say that he is the mastermind behind the scenes when he made the plans to dispatch troops and generals.”
Sikong Rui guessed: “Are you going to wait for Liu Jinde to come out and then catch them all at once?”
Duan Baiyue said: “This Xingzhou has been newly built for only two or three years. We don’t know how many people there are, but since he needs to find another island to raise soldiers, I’m afraid this plan has already expanded, and it’s not just Liu Jinde. Only by joining forces with Chu Xiang, or more likely with an island country in Nanyang, can all this develop rapidly in a short period of time. Therefore, it is useless to kill Chu Xiang alone at this time. If the mastermind behind the scenes is not eliminated, the South China Sea will not be able to become safe in the future.”
Sikong Rui frowned: “Although there are many island countries in Nanyang, there are only a few bigger ones. Moreover, in recent years, everyone has been doing business with Chu kingdom. You cannot earn money by going on war. As far as I know, at least those few big countries definitely wouldn’t have such thoughts.”
“But you also said that the Southern Ocean is huge.” Duan Baiyue said, “It is not impossible for the whirlpool of the waves and the vast white mist to hide tens of thousands of people, if not hundreds of thousands of people.”
Sikong Rui said: “What do you mean?”
Duan Baiyue said: “Let’s take a general look at this island first, and then we will withdraw temporarily. Since Chu Xiang has chosen Xingzhou as his new territory, he won’t be too far away from his actual hiding place. You and I will use the excuse of business to search a few nearby islands before deciding what to do next.”
Sikong Rui sighed: “I pity my lady who guards the empty boudoir alone, who is like a flower, like a jade full of affection, and eagerly looking forward to her husband’s return. I don’t know how long she will have to wait before she can see her handsome, unrestrained and romantic husband.”
Duan Yao silently blocked his ears. He felt dizzy after hearing too many words.
Duan Baiyue patted Sikong Rui’s shoulder: “There are benefits.”
Sikong Rui hurriedly asked: “What are the benefits?”
Duan Baiyue replied: “After this trip, I will return those letters to you.”
Sikong Rui sighed: “It’s really a great benefit.”
Duan Baiyue nodded: “I think so too.”
Sikong Rui: “…”
I should have known long before that I can’t compete with him.
His face is already thick, and now he wears a mask as well.
Who in the world can beat him at shamelessness.
In the Southwest Palace, Nan Moxie was sitting on a stone bench, grimacing in pain.
Aunt Jin was combing his hair, quickly and accurately, and tied up the messy white hair neatly in the blink of an eye. When the King and young prince are not around, Master Nan becomes more and more neglected. His new clothes could be worn out in two days, and his hair was messier than a bird’s nest. Yesterday he went to squat on the street to bask in the sun, and was treated as a beggar by a group of foreigners. A pile of copper coins fell in front of him in a moment, and even now the men, women, and children in the city are still making fun of him, which is simply embarrassing.
Nan Moxie was dejected, feeling that he had made money yesterday, and even though he had made money, he still had to comb his hair.
“Master Nan, Aunt Jin.” A servant hurriedly ran in, “Some official ministers are here.”
“Official ministers? Take them to the council hall and inform Lord Wang.” Aunt Jin said.
“No, the guest asked for Master Nan by name.” The servant said, “He looks very impressive. Master Wei personally came with him.”
“Master Wei, Fang Wei?” Nan Moxie wondered, that was the highest ranking official sent by the imperial court to the southwest. Could it be that he was an imperial envoy?
“No, Master Wei, Master Wei, this is the backyard, you can’t enter.” Several servants stopped him hastily, “Master Nan’s residence is full of poisonous insects.” What to do if you are bitten.
Wei Fang looked embarrassed. It’s useless for you to stop me. Didn’t you see that the ancestor at the front was trying to break in?
“They seem so urgent as if something serious has happened.” Aunt Jin was a little confused when she heard the commotion outside. She didn’t even have time for Nan Moxie to change his clothes before he pushed away.
Looking at the person standing at the door, Nan Moxie was stunned thinking that maybe he was dazzled, or maybe he was hallucinating due to the pain of pulling on his scalp.
Wei Fang said from the side: “Master Nan, the Emperor has come to the Southwest Mansion traveling day and night to discuss important matters.”
Everything was quiet.
Aunt Jin recognized the situation, bowed and left. Chu Yuan raised his hand slightly, and Wei Fang also bowed and left.
Nan Moxie rubbed his hands and laughed.
Chu Yuan asked: “He’s not here, is he?”
Nan Moxie said from the bottom of his heart: “He is really not here this time.”
“Which part of Nanyang did he go to?” Chu Yuan asked.
Nan Moxie swallowed.
Chu Yuan continued: “You didn’t find Tianchensha at all. Why did you lie to me?”
Nan Moxie secretly complained in his heart, how come he suddenly knows everything.
Seeing that he was silent, Chu Yuan already had a clue in his mind. Before Xuan Tian died, he wrote a letter telling him that Duan Baiyue had sent Duan Yao to find him privately, and he had colluded with him to say that Tianchensha was not difficult to find. But how could it not be difficult to find a divine object from ancient legends? Thinking a step back, even if he really could find it, the rumours that have been passed down say that after taking Tianchensha, it can detoxify hundreds of poisons and restore the meridians. It really shouldn’t be like that half-dead and sick look of that day.
Regarding the white-browed immortal – he had asked about it to Penglai Xingdou Zhenren1 in the East China Sea, the ghost-hand miracle doctor in the South China Sea, and many old people who have lived along the coast, but they all said they have not heard of him. There were many similar immortals in the street stories – Bai Mei immortal, white-bearded immortal, white-sleeved immortal, and white-haired immortals, all together can just make a group of their own.
Thinking of this, Chu Yuan was almost furious: “Where is he?!”
Nan Moxie took a step back and said, “Your Majesty, please go back to the royal city.”
“Of course, I want to return to the royal city, but first I have to save his life.” Chu Yuan said: “If Senior refuses to tell me, the Chu army in Beihai has been mobilized and can go to war at any time.”
Nan Moxie fished in troubled waters and followed suit: “What the emperor said is very true, but I don’t know where that scoundrel is now, why not—”
“Senior, there is no need to say any more.” Chu Yuan interrupted him, his voice quiet and calm, “It doesn’t matter if you really don’t know. Our Chu Navy has never trained troops before, and this time it happens to fight one island country after another. All who say they don’t know where he is, will be regarded as accomplices and rebels in the Southwest Mansion. Let’s see till where we can expand the Chu Kingdom passed down from our ancestors in the end.”
Nan Moxie was stunned.
“Farewell.” Chu Yuan rolled up his sleeves and walked out.
Nan Moxie burst into tears behind him: “Baixiang Kingdom, Baixiang Kingdom!”
Chu Yuan raised the corner of his mouth: “Thank you, Senior.”
Nan Moxie stamped his foot: “I will go with Your Majesty!”
Chu Yuan still smiled: “Okay.”
Nan Moxie really wanted to cry like his little apprentice.
If I had known this before, I should have buried myself in the grave yesterday, so that I could hide myself properly.
On the official road, a group of carriages moved forward briskly. Chu Yuan leaned against the window, staring at the mountains outside.
Sixi said: “Your Majesty, please rest for a while.”
Chu Yuan came back to his senses: “Guess what the Taifu might be thinking at this moment?”
What else he can think of. Eunuch Sixi was all smiles. But he said in his heart that he reckoned that this time when the emperor goes back, the Taifu lord would have to sacrifice the family law left by the former emperor.
In the royal city, Liu Dajiong made a special trip out of the palace to buy a large bag of snacks, and carried it to Tao Rende’s residence.
“Master Liu.” The housekeeper seemed to see a savior, “You are here.”
“Old Tao died of anger?” Liu Dajiong asked with concern.
The butler was taken aback, and quickly waved his hands: “My lord, don’t joke.” If my lord knew about it, he would have to lie down for another two days.
Liu Dajiong carried the snacks, pushed open the bedroom’s door and walked straight in.
With a piece of cloth on his head, Tao Rende was sighing.
Liu Dajiong said: “The way you are look right now, it seems like a woman drawn in a medical book, who just had a miscarriage.”
Tao Rende sat up and asked, “Has the emperor returned?”
“Why would the emperor come back?” Liu Dajiong said, “He should still be in the south.”
Tao Rende fell back again.
Liu Dajiong said: “Do you want to have some snacks?”
Tao Rende scolded angrily: “What time is this, when you still want to eat snacks2.”
“Time? When the snacks come out of the oven, you have to eat them while they are hot.” Liu Dajiong opened the paper package, “You are not the only one in this court. The other ministers are all fine. You are the only one who has tortured yourself until you can’t afford to get sick. Why bother.”
“To abandon the affairs of the court without any warning and to send troops to attack the South China Sea, this -” Tao Rende said halfway before he gasped with anger.
“Our emperor is no longer the one who had just ascended the throne. Can’t he be a little ambitious in the world?” Liu Dajiong tsk tsk.
Tao Rende said: “Let’s put aside his ambitions for now, but now even the southwest has not been taken back. The person with surname Duan is in the south of the Manqi River. The emperor not only ignored this, but took the initiative to transfer the southwest army to Beihai, opening up all the hinterland north of the Manqi River. If we really go to war with Nanyang by then, there is no guarantee that the Southwest Mansion will not take the opportunity to get a share of the pie. By then, Chu will be attacked from both sides, and if this territory is lost by another inch, you and I will become sinners for the ages.”
“If you can think of it, don’t you think the emperor can’t think of it?” Liu Dajiong said, “If the emperor can’t think of it, General Shen must have thought of it, and the Ninth Prince would have thought of it too. Since they don’t care, how can you be sure that the emperor will definitely start a war during this trip?”
Tao Rende frowned.
“You’d better listen to my advice and have some snacks to calm down.” Liu Dajiong crossed one leg on the bed and said slowly, “Maybe the emperor just went to visit the mountains and rivers to relax, or maybe he wanted to find out some other information. Why are you panicking?”
Tao Rende took a bite of the snacks with a solemn expression.
“That’s right.” Liu Dajiong said, “The late emperor entrusted the emperor to you when he died, so you are concerned. But just listen to me sometimes. Even if the emperor really annexes the heart of Bahuang, even if one day Chu will declare war on Nanyang, it is not gonna happen now. Our emperor is very smart. If the country of Chu is in his hands, you and I may have a few more headaches, but he is a blessing for the people.”
Tao Rende was silent for a long time, then raised his eyelids and said, “Old fox.”
Liu Dajiong chuckled: “I used to say this to you, but this time you finally accepted it. Don’t lie on the bed anymore, go out to a restaurant and have a glass of wine. Whatever you have to do tomorrow, for now just relax and wait for the emperor to come back.”
===========================================================
As usual, if there are any mistakes or errors, please contact me and I’ll rectify it. If anyone is willing to help in translation who knows Mandarin, you are more than welcome to assist. In that case as well, please email me.
==========================================================
Notes:
I think this is Shen Qianling’s master ↩︎ haha.. basically he means is “can’t you see what kind of situation is this. but you still have the hunger to eat snacks”. ↩︎
Why is the emperor here?
“What should we do next?” Sikong Rui asked, “Chu Xiang has arrived on his own right in front of us, and there are not many soldiers on this island. So it is easy to capture him. Let’s just take him to the royal city and claim credit for the little emperor.”
Duan Baiyue shook his head: “Liu Jinde was also exiled with Chu Xiang. The reason why Chu Xiang was not willing to just be a prince and dared to risk his life to fight for the throne, most of the credit for it goes to Liu Jinde. It is better to say that he is the mastermind behind the scenes when he made the plans to dispatch troops and generals.”
Sikong Rui guessed: “Are you going to wait for Liu Jinde to come out and then catch them all at once?”
Duan Baiyue said: “This Xingzhou has been newly built for only two or three years. We don’t know how many people there are, but since he needs to find another island to raise soldiers, I’m afraid this plan has already expanded, and it’s not just Liu Jinde. Only by joining forces with Chu Xiang, or more likely with an island country in Nanyang, can all this develop rapidly in a short period of time. Therefore, it is useless to kill Chu Xiang alone at this time. If the mastermind behind the scenes is not eliminated, the South China Sea will not be able to become safe in the future.”
Sikong Rui frowned: “Although there are many island countries in Nanyang, there are only a few bigger ones. Moreover, in recent years, everyone has been doing business with Chu kingdom. You cannot earn money by going on war. As far as I know, at least those few big countries definitely wouldn’t have such thoughts.”
“But you also said that the Southern Ocean is huge.” Duan Baiyue said, “It is not impossible for the whirlpool of the waves and the vast white mist to hide tens of thousands of people, if not hundreds of thousands of people.”
Sikong Rui said: “What do you mean?”
Duan Baiyue said: “Let’s take a general look at this island first, and then we will withdraw temporarily. Since Chu Xiang has chosen Xingzhou as his new territory, he won’t be too far away from his actual hiding place. You and I will use the excuse of business to search a few nearby islands before deciding what to do next.”
Sikong Rui sighed: “I pity my lady who guards the empty boudoir alone, who is like a flower, like a jade full of affection, and eagerly looking forward to her husband’s return. I don’t know how long she will have to wait before she can see her handsome, unrestrained and romantic husband.”
Duan Yao silently blocked his ears. He felt dizzy after hearing too many words.
Duan Baiyue patted Sikong Rui’s shoulder: “There are benefits.”
Sikong Rui hurriedly asked: “What are the benefits?”
Duan Baiyue replied: “After this trip, I will return those letters to you.”
Sikong Rui sighed: “It’s really a great benefit.”
Duan Baiyue nodded: “I think so too.”
Sikong Rui: “…”
I should have known long before that I can’t compete with him.
His face is already thick, and now he wears a mask as well.
Who in the world can beat him at shamelessness.
In the Southwest Palace, Nan Moxie was sitting on a stone bench, grimacing in pain.
Aunt Jin was combing his hair, quickly and accurately, and tied up the messy white hair neatly in the blink of an eye. When the King and young prince are not around, Master Nan becomes more and more neglected. His new clothes could be worn out in two days, and his hair was messier than a bird’s nest. Yesterday he went to squat on the street to bask in the sun, and was treated as a beggar by a group of foreigners. A pile of copper coins fell in front of him in a moment, and even now the men, women, and children in the city are still making fun of him, which is simply embarrassing.
Nan Moxie was dejected, feeling that he had made money yesterday, and even though he had made money, he still had to comb his hair.
“Master Nan, Aunt Jin.” A servant hurriedly ran in, “Some official ministers are here.”
“Official ministers? Take them to the council hall and inform Lord Wang.” Aunt Jin said.
“No, the guest asked for Master Nan by name.” The servant said, “He looks very impressive. Master Wei personally came with him.”
“Master Wei, Fang Wei?” Nan Moxie wondered, that was the highest ranking official sent by the imperial court to the southwest. Could it be that he was an imperial envoy?
“No, Master Wei, Master Wei, this is the backyard, you can’t enter.” Several servants stopped him hastily, “Master Nan’s residence is full of poisonous insects.” What to do if you are bitten.
Wei Fang looked embarrassed. It’s useless for you to stop me. Didn’t you see that the ancestor at the front was trying to break in?
“They seem so urgent as if something serious has happened.” Aunt Jin was a little confused when she heard the commotion outside. She didn’t even have time for Nan Moxie to change his clothes before he pushed away.
Looking at the person standing at the door, Nan Moxie was stunned thinking that maybe he was dazzled, or maybe he was hallucinating due to the pain of pulling on his scalp.
Wei Fang said from the side: “Master Nan, the Emperor has come to the Southwest Mansion traveling day and night to discuss important matters.”
Everything was quiet.
Aunt Jin recognized the situation, bowed and left. Chu Yuan raised his hand slightly, and Wei Fang also bowed and left.
Nan Moxie rubbed his hands and laughed.
Chu Yuan asked: “He’s not here, is he?”
Nan Moxie said from the bottom of his heart: “He is really not here this time.”
“Which part of Nanyang did he go to?” Chu Yuan asked.
Nan Moxie swallowed.
Chu Yuan continued: “You didn’t find Tianchensha at all. Why did you lie to me?”
Nan Moxie secretly complained in his heart, how come he suddenly knows everything.
Seeing that he was silent, Chu Yuan already had a clue in his mind. Before Xuan Tian died, he wrote a letter telling him that Duan Baiyue had sent Duan Yao to find him privately, and he had colluded with him to say that Tianchensha was not difficult to find. But how could it not be difficult to find a divine object from ancient legends? Thinking a step back, even if he really could find it, the rumours that have been passed down say that after taking Tianchensha, it can detoxify hundreds of poisons and restore the meridians. It really shouldn’t be like that half-dead and sick look of that day.
Regarding the white-browed immortal – he had asked about it to Penglai Xingdou Zhenren1 in the East China Sea, the ghost-hand miracle doctor in the South China Sea, and many old people who have lived along the coast, but they all said they have not heard of him. There were many similar immortals in the street stories – Bai Mei immortal, white-bearded immortal, white-sleeved immortal, and white-haired immortals, all together can just make a group of their own.
Thinking of this, Chu Yuan was almost furious: “Where is he?!”
Nan Moxie took a step back and said, “Your Majesty, please go back to the royal city.”
“Of course, I want to return to the royal city, but first I have to save his life.” Chu Yuan said: “If Senior refuses to tell me, the Chu army in Beihai has been mobilized and can go to war at any time.”
Nan Moxie fished in troubled waters and followed suit: “What the emperor said is very true, but I don’t know where that scoundrel is now, why not—”
“Senior, there is no need to say any more.” Chu Yuan interrupted him, his voice quiet and calm, “It doesn’t matter if you really don’t know. Our Chu Navy has never trained troops before, and this time it happens to fight one island country after another. All who say they don’t know where he is, will be regarded as accomplices and rebels in the Southwest Mansion. Let’s see till where we can expand the Chu Kingdom passed down from our ancestors in the end.”
Nan Moxie was stunned.
“Farewell.” Chu Yuan rolled up his sleeves and walked out.
Nan Moxie burst into tears behind him: “Baixiang Kingdom, Baixiang Kingdom!”
Chu Yuan raised the corner of his mouth: “Thank you, Senior.”
Nan Moxie stamped his foot: “I will go with Your Majesty!”
Chu Yuan still smiled: “Okay.”
Nan Moxie really wanted to cry like his little apprentice.
If I had known this before, I should have buried myself in the grave yesterday, so that I could hide myself properly.
On the official road, a group of carriages moved forward briskly. Chu Yuan leaned against the window, staring at the mountains outside.
Sixi said: “Your Majesty, please rest for a while.”
Chu Yuan came back to his senses: “Guess what the Taifu might be thinking at this moment?”
What else he can think of. Eunuch Sixi was all smiles. But he said in his heart that he reckoned that this time when the emperor goes back, the Taifu lord would have to sacrifice the family law left by the former emperor.
In the royal city, Liu Dajiong made a special trip out of the palace to buy a large bag of snacks, and carried it to Tao Rende’s residence.
“Master Liu.” The housekeeper seemed to see a savior, “You are here.”
“Old Tao died of anger?” Liu Dajiong asked with concern.
The butler was taken aback, and quickly waved his hands: “My lord, don’t joke.” If my lord knew about it, he would have to lie down for another two days.
Liu Dajiong carried the snacks, pushed open the bedroom’s door and walked straight in.
With a piece of cloth on his head, Tao Rende was sighing.
Liu Dajiong said: “The way you are look right now, it seems like a woman drawn in a medical book, who just had a miscarriage.”
Tao Rende sat up and asked, “Has the emperor returned?”
“Why would the emperor come back?” Liu Dajiong said, “He should still be in the south.”
Tao Rende fell back again.
Liu Dajiong said: “Do you want to have some snacks?”
Tao Rende scolded angrily: “What time is this, when you still want to eat snacks2.”
“Time? When the snacks come out of the oven, you have to eat them while they are hot.” Liu Dajiong opened the paper package, “You are not the only one in this court. The other ministers are all fine. You are the only one who has tortured yourself until you can’t afford to get sick. Why bother.”
“To abandon the affairs of the court without any warning and to send troops to attack the South China Sea, this -” Tao Rende said halfway before he gasped with anger.
“Our emperor is no longer the one who had just ascended the throne. Can’t he be a little ambitious in the world?” Liu Dajiong tsk tsk.
Tao Rende said: “Let’s put aside his ambitions for now, but now even the southwest has not been taken back. The person with surname Duan is in the south of the Manqi River. The emperor not only ignored this, but took the initiative to transfer the southwest army to Beihai, opening up all the hinterland north of the Manqi River. If we really go to war with Nanyang by then, there is no guarantee that the Southwest Mansion will not take the opportunity to get a share of the pie. By then, Chu will be attacked from both sides, and if this territory is lost by another inch, you and I will become sinners for the ages.”
“If you can think of it, don’t you think the emperor can’t think of it?” Liu Dajiong said, “If the emperor can’t think of it, General Shen must have thought of it, and the Ninth Prince would have thought of it too. Since they don’t care, how can you be sure that the emperor will definitely start a war during this trip?”
Tao Rende frowned.
“You’d better listen to my advice and have some snacks to calm down.” Liu Dajiong crossed one leg on the bed and said slowly, “Maybe the emperor just went to visit the mountains and rivers to relax, or maybe he wanted to find out some other information. Why are you panicking?”
Tao Rende took a bite of the snacks with a solemn expression.
“That’s right.” Liu Dajiong said, “The late emperor entrusted the emperor to you when he died, so you are concerned. But just listen to me sometimes. Even if the emperor really annexes the heart of Bahuang, even if one day Chu will declare war on Nanyang, it is not gonna happen now. Our emperor is very smart. If the country of Chu is in his hands, you and I may have a few more headaches, but he is a blessing for the people.”
Tao Rende was silent for a long time, then raised his eyelids and said, “Old fox.”
Liu Dajiong chuckled: “I used to say this to you, but this time you finally accepted it. Don’t lie on the bed anymore, go out to a restaurant and have a glass of wine. Whatever you have to do tomorrow, for now just relax and wait for the emperor to come back.”
===========================================================
As usual, if there are any mistakes or errors, please contact me and I’ll rectify it. If anyone is willing to help in translation who knows Mandarin, you are more than welcome to assist. In that case as well, please email me.
==========================================================
Notes:
I think this is Shen Qianling’s master ↩︎ haha.. basically he means is “can’t you see what kind of situation is this. but you still have the hunger to eat snacks”. ↩︎