The Capital.
The Palace gate had just been opened before dawn. Then the officials went straight to the Golden Hall.
Half an hour later, a eunuch hurried into the residence of the Sixth Prince. “Your Highness, this morning Commander Zhang’s request to expand the encampment of the Prefecture Guard was rejected by His Majesty.”
“What? When did Zhang Chong’s memorial to the throne arrive in the capital? How come it was taken out at today’s morning court?”
The sixth princes, Zhou Mingshen, still looked delicate and pretty. The childishness hadn’t faded from his face, which made him look younger than his age. He, who was supposed to be a lively and cheerful young man, looked a bit gloomy at the moment.
“It was submitted by the Ministry of War. Zhao Zheng of the Ministry of War said the matter was discussed in the court because Commander Zhang had requested an expansion larger than previously requested, and it was far beyond the scope of the encampment for the Prefecture Guard prescribed by law.”
“Damn it. Zhao Zheng, the bastard!”
Zhou Mingshen got up and paced anxiously in the room. Then he stopped, asking, “When was Zhang Chong’s last letter?”
“Your Highness, eight days ago. It was sent by carrier pigeon.”
“If at top speed, his letter can arrive at the Capital from Tanyang in seven days. And this letter should have been submitted to the Emperor two days before. Why did the Ministry of War delay the submission?”
Zhou Mingshen frowned, feeling something was wrong. “I am going out to see my uncle.”
“Your Highness, you can’t do that. His Majesty rebuked her highness, the imperial concubine, yesterday, and he also blamed you. You can’t leave the palace again at this time. If His Majesty knows that, I am afraid he will be more dissatisfied with you.”
The eunuch hurried to dissuade Zhou Mingshen, afraid that he would leave the palace on impulse.
A scowl formed on Zhou Mingshen’s face. He said after a while, “Well, then go and deliver my message.”
“Yes, your highness.”
As soon as Zhou Mingshen finished the letter, he asked the eunuch to deliver it out of the palace. Then he went to his mother, Imperial Concubine Shu.
“Mother, Zhang Chong’s request was rejected. The Ministry of War delayed the submission of his request for two days.”
Imperial Concubine Shu was a middle-aged woman. But she was well maintained in the palace, which made her look like a sixteen-year-old girl. Even her eyes were utterly bewitching.
“Zhao Zheng? He is a man His Majesty trusts, and he doesn’t belong to any party. Why did he delay the submission of the memorial that delivered from Tanyang?”
The Imperial Concubine Shu frowned and was lost in a deep thought.
“I’ve sent a letter to my uncle. I hope my uncle can find out something.”
“Good job. Now the memorial from Tanyang was rejected. I am afraid that your uncle can’t submit any matter to the throne within a short time. His power in Tanyang is our backing, so don’t upset him into thinking that we are good-for-nothing. Write a letter to placate him.”
“Yes, mother.”
After watching her son leave, Imperial Concubine Shu pulled a long face. “It’s all Imperial Concubine Xian’s fault, she is such a bitch. If it weren’t for her plot, I wouldn’t forget my manners in front of His Majesty. Otherwise, I will have a chance to put a few words before His Majesty.”
“Your Highness, don’t be angry. We just need to be patient. When His Majesty’s anger dissipates, it’ll be easy for you to handle her.”
“That bitch!” cursed the concubine as she tried to hold back her anger. “In the past, His Majesty never rejected the memorials from Tanyang, I don’t know why he did it this time.”
The Yuwen Mansion…
“Captain, Zhang Chong’s request has been rejected, and Sixth-brother has set off for two days. When are we leaving for Tanyang? Is Marshal really going to marry Childe Ling?”
Yuwen Tong’s yard was a forbidden area in Yuwen Mansion. Even if Yuwen Tong was not in the capital, his yard was off limits to everyone. Yue Qi and others were hiding in this yard after they got back to the capital.
“It will arrive all in good time. The task assigned by marshal isn’t completed yet. What did you find about Li Chong?”
“I just got some leads. I am investigating according to the clues. Barring accidents, we’ll get findings in a few days.”
“Okay.” Yue Qi nodded. “Has everything been arranged in Wuhu Yard?”
“Everything’s settled. The second Master said that he will stay in Wuhu Yard tonight. There will be no one at the study except those on duty.”
“Good, be careful you guys. The study is the last place we need to investigate.”
“We’ve investigated for two days and found no evidence that Second Master and Second Madam had sent someone to make difficulties for the Ling Family. If we can’t find any clues in the study tonight, do we still need to continue the investigation?”
“Tell Marshal the results. We can’t let down our guard, though. And leave no stones unturned.”
“Yes.”
“Now, the news that Marshal is in Tanyang has not been leaked out, so the capital appears relatively calm. Once this matter is put on the street, I’m afraid that there will be a big mess. Put other disputes aside, the sixth prince’s gonna doubt the Marshal once he knows this matter. Marshal has never been involved in any of these royal rivalries, and I have no idea what he is going to do this time.”
Yue Qi kept a straight face and wondered.
……
Ling Zhang appeared at the residence of the guard on time the first thing at the morning. He felt revitalized after a night’s rest. Even if the guards were difficult to teach, he would persist.
The guards didn’t want to back down, either. He thought these guards would forget some of the basics of what they had learned the day before after a night of rest. But to his surprise, they not only remembered all but also could skillfully distinguish the basic position.
“Young master, we got up early and started practicing here over and over again this morning. Liu Yi has a good memory of what we have learned, and he corrected us again and again.”
Looking at Ling Zhang’s surprised expression, Wang Dashan came over and said proudly.
Liu Yi came over when Ling Zhang was looking at him. “I remember better of what you taught us yesterday. They also want to master the knowledge quickly and they all want to live up to your teachings.”
A smile formed on Ling Zhang’s face. “Thank you. You guys did a good job.”
“Young master, you are so kind. It is our duty to work hard to achieve your wish.”
Ling Zhang was in a good mood at once. He could see the hope now. With the knowledge they learned yesterday, today’s teaching went much more smoothly. Ling Zhang spent only a morning teaching the general knowledge of the orientation. Then he was about to detail the branches of the orientation and the characteristics of the orientations of these branches in the Trap and Kill Formation of Twelve.
Ling Zhang was not hasty this time. He knew that the guards were new to this knowledge, so it was not easy for them to grasp it quickly. Therefore he just taught them some basics, which helped to form a simple framework of knowledge in their minds. Then he would ask them to remember exactly the orientations according to the Trap and Kill Formation of Twelve, to keep practicing and make the practice a habit. In the end, they would be able to master and apply the skill slowly.
Only when they were able to utilize these formations could his goal be realized. It didn’t matter if his goal came a bit later.
Ling Zhang had a busy morning. Seeing Yuwen Tong was waiting for him at the gate of the court yard, Ling Zhang was surprised.
“When did you get back?”
“Last night. I heard you went to bed early, so I didn’t disturb you.”
Yuwen Tong’s eyes glinted when he saw Ling Zhang soaked with sweat. At this moment, the sun was shining brightly, and the beads of sweat on Ling Zhang’s face were glittering and translucent under the shining sunlight; his face, just like the flawless jade, had a pink flush caused by long-time exercising. As he approached, the youthful vibes on him almost immediately caused Yuwen Tong’s physiological reaction.
“Why are you staring at me like that? Is there anything dirty on my face?”
Ling Zhang rubbed his face in bewilderment. He felt strange when he found Yuwen Tong fixed his eyes on him.
“Nothing, I just saw that you soaked with sweat. Go back and get changed quickly.”
Yuwen Tong withdrew his slightly aggressive eyes, going into the yard with Ling Zhang.
Ling Zhang noticed that he was holding a wad of paper. “What’s that?”
“Something helpful. I will tell you after you get dressed.”
Yuwen Tong kept Ling Zhang guessing, which made Ling Zhang desperate to know it. So he immediately went back to his house to change his clothes.
“Young master.”
A man came over from the corridor and bowed to Ling Zhang respectfully.
“Xia Feng, help me get changed and re-comb my hair, too. And, ask them to get me some water, I want to wash up.”
Ling Zhang ordered Xia Feng naturally; and Xia Feng was quick in responding to the order and immediately let other servants get the water. Then he followed Ling Zhang back to the room. The two of them reached a tacit understanding in their every movement.
Yuwen Tong frowned, keeping his eyes on Xia Feng from head to toe.
Xia Feng, whose demeanor was steady, was a few years older than Ling Zhang. He was different from other servants in Ling Zhang’s yard. Obviously, Ling Zhang trusted him. ‘He comes back from Yanzhou so soon?’
Yuwen Tong withdrew his gaze, entering the hall. The servants knew that Yuwen Tong was a man in exalted position and he was on good terms with Young master. So they dared not to slight him.
Ling Zhang finished washing up pretty soon.
“Can you tell me now?”
Ling Zhang understood what Yuwen Tong meant when he glanced at Xia Feng and the other servants. So he said, “You all get out. Xia Feng, go to the kitchen and ask them to bring lunch here. I will have lunch with Lord Yuwen. By the way, tell my grandfather that we won’t join him for lunch.”
“Yes, young master.”
Xia Feng turned and took all others with him when he left.
Ling Zhang urged Yuwen Tong with his expectant eyes.
‘He is really no longer as coy as before.’ Yuwen Tong thought as he unfolded the pile of paper and handed it to Ling Zhang.
Taking it from Yuwen Tong, Ling Zhang was surprised with only one glance. Then he suddenly looked up at Yuwen Tong, “You…”
“Yes, I knew it from you. Do you remember that day I came to find you when you drew it?”
Yuwen Tong’s honesty calmed Ling Zhang down.
“I remembered that I covered it with something.”
“The paper was blown up by the wind, so I saw half of it.”
‘Does he see only half of it? But what he has in his hand is a complete one!’
A thought suddenly occurred to Ling Yong, he looked at Yuwen Tong in disbelief. “Did you complete the rest part yourself?
Yuwen Tong nodded, “Yes, it is not hard to know the other part of the formation. This formation has its rules. So I just have to reason it out.”
Ling Zhang was utterly shocked. How could it be so easy? It was even more shocking than the fact that Yuwen Tong knew about his formation. If he was not very proficient in the knowledge of formation, he wouldn’t be able to do it. Yuwen Tong’s attainments in formation were really excellent. He was really worthy of being a member of the Yuwen Family and the best Marshal of Great Yue.
