After agreeing on the terms of the peace treaty with the diplomatic corps of the Wan Kingdom and the Luohai Kingdom, Yuwen Tong who was in a pretty good mood returned to the Infinite Fortune Palace.
At the sight of his face, Ling Zhang came to know that the negotiations were fruitful. “So what were the terms? They accepted all of them?”
Yuwen Tong told him the terms and added, “They agreed to all of them.”
While listening, Ling Zhang felt rather sorry for the Wan Kingdom’s and the Luohai Kingdom’s emperors. “With this agreement, I think they’ll have to lay low even if they don’t want to, and they won’t be able to recover from the after-effects of these terms of yours any time soon.”
Harsh as these terms were, the Wan Kingdom and the Luohai Kingdom had actually accepted them, which showed that this defeat had indeed rendered them incapable of waging another war. Also, Yuwen Tong had acceded to the throne and put everything under control, and the emperors of the other two countries began to be afraid of him.
“The more willingly they accepted the terms, the quicker they will tear the agreement up when they decide to go back on their words,” said Yuwen Tong, who knew about the situation very well. The Wan Kingdom had ripped up a peace accord before, and their promises meant nothing to them. The Luohai Kingdom seemed to be peace-loving, but they had still resorted to ruthless back-stabbing at a crucial juncture. “There’s no doubt they would do the same thing again once they think they’re ready. As a result, we also have to speed things up, revive the economy and restore our army to its full strength, but from the vantage point of the present, they would only fulfill approximately half of these terms. After all, they’ll want to stall for time.”Read manga at our MangaBob.com
They’d only fulfill half of the terms? No wonder they’d agreed so readily. Ling Zhang coldly gave a snort.
The matter of the Wan Kingdom and the Luohai Kingdom handled, a lot of courtiers entered the imperial palace in the afternoon, including the Right Prime Minister, Zhao Zheng, Yuwen Feng, Old Master Ji and… Jiang Shennian.
It had been this noon that people of the Jiang family’s house arrest was lifted. A lot of people had almost forgotten about the existence of this family, which indicated how much time could do, because it hadn’t really been long since the Jiang family had been placed under house arrest.
When Jiang Shennian showed up in the imperial palace, he struck people as a lot thinner than before, but his back was still quite straight, and he was still sure-footed.
Chu Liangyan’s eyebrows contracted at the sight of him. Previously Jiang Shennian’s authority and influence had weighed him down like a mountain, leaving him barely able to breathe, and it hadn’t been until the Jiang family and the Gu family were brought down that he was rid of the burden. It could be said that the two of them were irreconcilable foes.
However, Chu Liangyan was also fully aware that no matter how much he disliked Jiang Shennian, the latter would undoubtedly make a political comeback sooner or later. Back at the time when the Jiang family had been under house arrest, Chu Liangyan had hoped that Jiang Shennian would lose his cool and do something stupid, but to his surprise, Jiang Shennian had actually managed to retain his composure and stay put, stating his stand clearly.
Apart from disappointment, Chu Liangyan had also had some admiration – though not much – for Jiang Shennian’s mental endurance, believing that a man like this wouldn’t be defeated easily.
“Jiang Shennian, a guilty servant of yours, pays his respects to Your Majesty.”
“You may rise.”
“My gratitude, Your Majesty,” said Jiang Shennian, straightening his back, “but I don’t dare rise to my feet. What with my momentary confusion, I almost made a serious mistake. Your Majesty magnanimously released the Jiang family earlier this day. I’m deeply indebted to you and at the same time feel terribly guilty. I’m really ashamed to stand up.”
“I know what you mean, Old Master Jiang, but you’re a smart man, and you know better than to believe that staying on your knees would be enough to express your gratitude and remorse,” said Yuwen Tong matter-of-factly.
Jiang Shennian’s whole body tensed briefly and with that he hastened to rise to his feet and said, “I don’t dare have any ulterior motive, Your Majesty. I came here for two reasons. The first one is to kneel before you and thank you for sparing my families’ lives, and the second one is to express the Jiang family’s determination to dedicate all our energies throughout our lives to serving the Great Wen and Your Majesty wholeheartedly so as to repay Your Majesty for your kindness and atone for our crimes.”Read manga at our MangaBob.com
“I find your words somewhat confusing, Old Master Jiang. The Jiang family has lost its influence, and Jiang Chengfeng is not fit to take on any important responsibilities. Who else of the Jiang family could possibly do something for the Great Wen? You? A geriatric?” said Chu Liangyan scathingly.
Yuwen Tong just watched in silence, making no remarks.
The others were also watching and listening, waiting to see what bargaining chip Jiang Shennian would show, but surprisingly, they heard Jiang Shennian reply, “I’m indeed on the verge of senility, and I don’t dare become a burden to Your Majesty, but I worked in the Ministry of Penalties for many years, and I have some experience in settling lawsuits. I heard that Your Majesty has ordered retrials of all the cases in all cities the verdicts of which are not beyond reasonable doubt with the intention to get justice for wronged victims. With your permission, I’d like to go to the yamen of a provincial city where my experience in settling lawsuits is needed. I’m willing to do whatever I can to help the wronged victims make appeals so as to display Your Majesty’s kind-heartedness, pacify local residents and assist local officials in performing their duties of improving people’s livelihood.”
Jiang Shennian was volunteering to be appointed to a provincial city? This was not something he would normally do. However, Yuwen Tong’s and Old Master Ji’s countenance remained unchanged, as though totally unsurprised by Jiang Shennian’s decision.
A wily old fox who had been in official circles for many years, Jiang Shennian saw the reaction of everybody present out of the corner of his eye. As he noticed Yuwen Tong’s face which was composed and utterly free of surprise, he inwardly let out a sigh, feeling that Yuwen Tong was indeed no common person, that it was a very natural thing that Yuwen Tong had succeeded in taking the throne from the Zhou family.
“I heard about your ability to crack cases and your discernment some time ago. Still, are you sure you’re in a fit state to handle the workload?” said Yuwen Tong blandly.
Jiang Shennian replied, “I think I still have another couple of years to live. Otherwise I would never have dared volunteer such services. Please trust me, Your Majesty.”
“I know what you mean now, Old Master Jiang. I’ll think about it,” said Yuwen Tong.
After a few moments’ astonishment, Chu Liangyan’s mind started racing. He had a general idea of why Jiang Shennian was doing this. He was making concessions in order to gain advantages.
“Old Master Jiang, are you planning to walk away and leave your large family in your son’s incompetent hands? As far as I know, your son has quite some personal ambition.”
Many people knew that Jiang Chengfeng had insisted the Jiang family take the Eighth Prince’s side.
Without the slightest change in his countenance, Jiang Shennian responded, “I’ve given up on that good-for-nothing son of mine. In fact, I’ve already sent him to watch over the mausoleum of my ancestors, and I won’t allow him to come back until he truly realizes his mistakes.”
Guarding the mausoleum? The Jiang family’s ancestral home was in Cangzhou, but it’d been several generations since they’d moved to the capital city, and they barely had any relatives in Cangzhou. In addition, what with the previous political turbulence, the Jiang family had lost all their contacts in Cangzhou, and the popular uprising in Cangzhou had almost reduced the whole city to rubble. Sending Jiang Chengfeng to Cangzhou to watch over a mausoleum was no different from sending him into exile.
Jiang Shennian had actually had the heart to do that?
“After the rebellion in Cangzhou, I heard that our ancestral mausoleum was damaged. By watching over the mausoleum, he’s merely doing what he should do as a member of the Jiang family. Also, it’s an opportunity for him to introspect in front of our ancestors,” said Jiang Shennian.
Chu Liangyan felt that Jiang Shennian was rather heartless. “If so, who’s going to take care of the rest of your family?”
Surprisingly, Jiang Shennian gave a smile. “I’ve put my grandson Jiang Yu in complete charge of the Jiang family. Yu’er is sensible and intelligent. I can relax safe in the knowledge that the Jiang family is in his hands.”
After saying this, he said to Yuwen Tong, “Your Majesty, I have another request. This may make me seem thick-skinned, but with your permission, I’d like to have my grandson Jiang Yu serve Childe Ling as his attendant. Childe Ling saved Yu’er’s life twice, which is a favor so great that the Jiang family would never be able to return a small fraction of it no matter how hard we try. I only hope my grandson would have a chance to serve Childe Ling so that he could repay Childe Ling as much as possible.”
This time even Old Master Ji was somewhat amazed.
Yuwen Tong’s face slightly changed, but the look in his eyes stayed the same. He looked at Jiang Shennian and asked, “Do you know what you are doing, Old Master Jiang?”
Jiang Shennian sank to his knees. “I do, Your Majesty. Childe Ling saved Yu’er’s life twice, and Yu’er should repay the favor with his life. I want him to serve Childe Ling because it’d be an opportunity for him to repay Childe Ling. Still, I don’t dare insist. It’s to be decided by Your Majesty and Childe Ling.”
Chu Liangyan gazed at Jiang Shennian, unable to believe what he’d just heard. Was Jiang Shennian out of his mind? He was actually sending his own grandson to be an attendant? Was he soft in the head?
A thoughtful expression appeared on Old Master Ji’s face. He fixed Jiang Shennian kneeling on the ground a stare, a flicker crossing his eyes.
He was such a wily old fox.
After a few moments’ silence, Yuwen Tong asked, “Where’s Jiang Yu?”
“He’s waiting outside.”
“Call him in.”
Soon Jiang Yu was summoned to the great hall. He appeared tall and upright, taciturn and poised, bearing little resemblance to the childe Yuwen Tong had once met in the Imperial College who’d been gorgeously dressed and skittish-looking.
He walked to the side of Jiang Shennian, got down on his knees and prostrated himself. “Your humble subject Jiang Yu pays his respects to Your Majesty.”
His movements were neat and clean.
Yuwen Tong sized him up and then instructed, “Straighten your back.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Jiang Yu answered and straightened his back to look Yuwen Tong in the face.
On that day Yuwen Tong had seen some kind of infatuation for him in Jiang Yu’s eyes, but now the only thing he could see in those eyes was calmness. There was no sign of the infatuation with him whatsoever. Also, the reason why Jiang Yu was looking Yuwen Tong in the face seemed to be that he wanted Yuwen Tong to know about his true thoughts.
Yuwen Tong inquired, “Did you hear what your grandfather just said? Is this what you truly want as well?”
“My thoughts on this matter are in line with my grandfather’s, Your Majesty. Childe Ling saved my life twice. In order to repay the favor, I’m willing to do anything for Childe Ling, including giving up my life,” replied Jiang Yu in a matter-of-fact but earnest tone of voice.
Yuwen Tong looked from him to Jiang Shennian, lapsing into silence. He made no reply and the others couldn’t tell what he was thinking. For a few moments the hall was very quiet.
“Tell Childe Ling to come here.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
A guard on duty outside immediately went to the Infinite Fortune Palace, found Ling Zhang and told him what had happened in the great hall.
Ling Zhang was perplexed. “Jiang Yu?”
“Yes. His Majesty requests your presence in the hall,” said the guard.
Ling Zhang slightly furrowed his brows. Why was Jiang Yu doing this? He had indeed saved Jiang Yu’s life, but given the personal history between the two of them, Ling Zhang believed that it was impossible for Jiang Yu to subject himself to such humiliation.
Bemused, Ling Zhang went to the great hall and saw Jiang Shennian and Jiang Yu both of whom were on their knees. Ling Zhang paused fleetingly and then walked straight past them, making towards Yuwen Tong. “What is it you want to see me about?”
“Jiang Yu, tell Childe Ling what you want to do,” said Yuwen Tong, looking in Jiang Yu’s direction.
Ling Zhang had no choice but to pivot around to face Jiang Yu, and with that he saw what Jiang Yu looked like at this moment and was amazed by how much Jiang Yu had changed.
“Childe Ling, I’m deeply indebted to you for saving my life twice, and I’m willing to be your servant for the rest of my life to return the favor. I’ll do anything you want me to do. Wanting in ability and shallow in knowledge as I am, I grew up in the Jiang family and have picked up a few skills over the years. I’m sure there are a lot of things I could help you deal with. If you take me as your attendant, I’ll do whatever you tell me to, put your needs before everything and do your bidding only. I won’t do anything against your interests even if His Majesty orders me to,” enunciated Jiang Yu, his earnest eyes on Ling Zhang.
