What Leng Wu said was as dreadful as a powerful bomb, greatly shocking Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan.
“What?” Qin Yunuan saw clearly that almost the whole mountain collapsed. No one in it could survive.
“It’s true. I saw him clearly.” Leng Wu explained slowly, “On the day when the Grand Prince’s property was confiscated, I saw people bring heavily injured Wanyan Su back to the capital city right on my way out of the Grand Prince’s Mansion. Wanyan Su’s right arm was broken and started to fester because of late treatment. Although he was behind layers of curtains, I saw him clearly.”
“Wanyan Su indeed had broken his arm.” Leng Changxi murmured, “Wait. The Grand Prince’s property has been confiscated?”
“Right.” Leng Wu continued, “Not long ago, the Grand Prince should have been out of confinement. But officials asked to impeach him for his adultery with imperial concubines. The Grand Prince insisted on his innocence, but an imperial concubine who was pregnant for 6 months confessed. As a result, the Grand Prince’s property was confiscated, and he has been temporarily taken into custody. Given Grand Khan’s temperament, he may likely deprive the Grand Prince of his royal title. But everything is not settled yet, and we don’t know how Grand Khan will punish him.”
“Jing Yuanchu must know it.” A horrible scheme suddenly occurred to Qin Yunuan. “He knows that the Grand Prince is in an impasse now but still tries hard to promote the engagement between Mu Qingyu and him. Ho, in this way, he really can wipe out two of his enemies.”
“I’m afraid that people will know this at the imperial banquet, which is held two days later.”
“His plot will be frustrated.” Qin Yunuan was confident about her plan. Looking at Leng Wu, she said sincerely and earnestly, “Leng Wu, Changxi and I originally could only rely on each other to fight with Jing Yuanchu in West Xia. But we have you now. You can join in our camp if you’d like to.”
Leng Wu knelt on one knee at once and replied with no hesitation and doubt, “I’m willing to fight for General Leng fearlessly and firmly regardless of any danger.”
Leng Changxi quickly helped Leng Wu stand up. Qin Yunuan smiled and encouraged him, “Leng Wu, don’t worry about Maner. She’s fine. I promise you when we are back to Qi, you will reunite with Maner who is healthy and energetic.”
Leng Wu felt touched. Other than Leng Changxi, he also worried much about his wife who was far away. Such a good girl should be forced to part with her husband soon after they got married.
Later, it snowed for two days in a row. On the day when the imperial banquet was held, the whole capital turned white early in the morning. A 10-year-old wintersweet tree in the courier station stood alone in snow. From time to time, a few sparrows would land on its branches, but they later quickly flew back to their nest due to the cold weather.
The Elder Princess dressed herself up carefully for today. She wore an aqua-blue buttoned coat made of spun yarn, and a piece of aquamarine dress. Several light rosy peonies were embroidered on the dress top. They looked as if they grew on it, making the dress naturally delicate.
Qin Yunuan wore a simple elbow-sleeve light yellow coat and a hair clasp made of jade. Simple as it looked, it was actually a well-matched outfit. Leng Changxi still wore his silver mask. Xinger rushed into the room to report that the carriage Prince Yuanchu arranged had arrived and waited for them at the gate.
Meanwhile, the palace was full of boisterous people. West Xia advocated thrift, so all of its emperors acted on the principle of frugality and avoided extravagance. Such a grand imperial banquet was only held once a year. Usually, the emperor would choose a day to hold a banquet at the end of a year, for reporting this year’s state affairs and commending officials who made great contributions. Besides, it was specially regulated that officials could advise on anything except for deceit and remarks to profane former emperors. No matter what they advised, they wouldn’t be punished.
Guests were all high officials and dignified figures. Jing Yuanchu sent a servant to lead Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan and the Elder Princess to sit in an inconspicuous place. In the middle was the seat for the emperor, but he hadn’t arrived. Officials there assumed that the emperor who had been ill for a long time would find it hard to recover. It was unknown whether he would attend the banquet today.
Qin Yunuan saw that Jing Yuanchu sat next to where the Crown Prince sat. He was having a good chat with officials near him cheerfully. It seemed that he won the favor of many officials, although he was neither the empress’s son nor the Crown Prince. If the trend went on, it was just a matter of time for him to become the next emperor.
Speaking of the Crown Prince, he showed up a bit late. Jing Yuanxiao, who the empress entrusted to the emperor before she died, didn’t walk to his seat until all guests arrived.
Jing Yuanxiao was strong and tall, just like his father, Jing Donghua. But he looked unsophisticated and honest, not as ambitious and shrewd as his father. This was a trait rarely seen in royal members. Nevertheless, one had to admit that all sons of Jing Donghua were decent and handsome. Leng Changxi was a good example.
“Your Royal Highness, Your Grace.”
“Your Royal Highness.”
Seeing the Crown Prince, officials all stood up to curtsy to him. Jing Yuanxiao lagged way behind Jing Yuanchu in terms of political achievements. But the empress, who shared deep love with the emperor, specially entrusted the latter to educate Jing Yuanxiao well and assist him in becoming the next emperor. Also, West Xia valued the eldest son of the empress very much. Therefore, all people didn’t dare to misbehave themselves before the future emperor.
Except for Jing Yuanchu. Not taking a flattering attitude, he just nodded his head in a decent way when Jing Yuanxiao sat down, and said, “Your Royal Highness, you’re late.”
Jing Yuanxiao put on a naive smile and answered, “The Crown Princess felt uncomfortable with her stomach, so we were late.”
Right at this time, the Crown Princess, following Jing Yuanchu, wore a shy smile and nodded to make an apology.
Qin Yunuan observed the Crown Princess after she arrived. She was small, especially when she stood next to Jing Yuanxiao who was tall and strong. Qin Yunuan learned that the Crown Princess was the daughter of a businessman. West Xia valued family background and classified people into different types such as intellectuals, farmers, workers and businessmen. Businessmen had the lowest status, but the Crown Prince should marry the daughter of a businessman. It must be a long story worth pondering.
But thankfully, Jing Yuanxiao loved the cute and obedient Crown Princess. All servants in his palace knew that the Crown Princess was the one in charge, and the Crown Prince never refused her request.
“Why hasn’t father come?” Jing Yuanxiao looked anxiously at the empty curled-up-dragon table.
Jing Yuanchu lowered his head and took a sip of rice wine. “We’re not in a hurry. Just wait for a while.”
Right after he finished the sentence, the eunuch outside reported, “Your Majesty’s arrived.”
Officials stood up to give a salute in a revered manner. The Elder Princess in the corner experienced a mood swing, but she held herself. Xinger, who worked for Jing Yuanchu, spied on her and followed her everywhere. Now, she was staring at the Elder Princess who “had taken” Jing Yuanchu’s nepenthe so the latter couldn’t show any emotional change.
“Who’s he?” The Elder Princess blinked and held Qin Yunuan’s hand like a naive child. She looked as if she didn’t know Jing Donghua and said, “He is so thin, just like the bamboo pole.”
Qin Yunuan glanced at Xinger. She patted the Elder Princess on her shoulder and replied, “He’s the emperor in West Xia, the most distinguished man here. You really don’t know him?”
The Elder Princess shook her head and looked in blank. Xinger exchanged glances with Jing Yuanchu in the distance to tell him that the Elder Princess had not recovered.
Jing Donghua, who sat in the middle, ran his eyes over everyone, including Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan and the Elder Princess in the corner. But he didn’t spare any attention to them as if he didn’t care about them.
“I didn’t feel very well a few days ago. Sorry to make you worry.” After Jing Donghua finished, people echoed. An official who had served three emperors stood up and said, “Your Majesty, it’s said that a skilled Taoist cured you just two weeks after his arrival. I wonder whether we have the honor to meet him.”
Many people wanted this. Heavenly Master Lin, a man coming from nowhere, suddenly cured the emperor and made great contributions. Some felt jealous, some restless and some worried about Jing Donghua. They all wanted to see him.
“No problem.” Jing Donghua waved his hand. “See, here he comes.”
On the other side, a bamboo-made sedan chair landed gently on the end of the red carpet, as if the man sitting on it was weightless. Officials and dignified figures were surprised to notice that he had no legs, but they showed respect spontaneously in sight of his old face.
Seeing Heavenly Master Lin come in, Jing Donghua already ordered people to set a redwood armchair for him. He raised his voice, “Take a seat.”
Servants carefully carried Heavenly Master Lin and put him on the chair. When sitting down, Heavenly Master Lin cupped his hands to Jing Donghua. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” He glanced at Jing Donghua’s waist while speaking and felt relieved after seeing Jing Donghua indeed wore the bamboo-made flower sachet as he requested.
“Your Highness, it’s said that you invited Heavenly Master Lin to cure father. You really made big contributions to father’s recovery.” Jing Yuanchu didn’t take the credit. But actually, it was he who recommended Heavenly Master Lin to Jing Yuanxiao when the latter mentioned finding a master to treat Jing Donghua.
Jing Yuanxiao wore a naive smile again and confessed. “Yuanchu, you always make me take your credit. But I should not do this again this time.”
