Li Yan couldn’t grasp Qi Jianshuang’s attitude, so when Yun Zhensong asked, “Who exactly are you?”, Li Yan was momentarily at a loss for how to handle it.
The scene turned into a stalemate.
Although Yun Zhensong appeared to be the person with the lowest rank and status among the group, he was the one who completely controlled the situation.
Yusheng didn’t understand these convoluted nuances; he only knew that he had to protect his master, along with Brother Zhou’s share. He stood nervously behind and to the side of Yun Zhensong, looking prepared to grab something to block for Yun Zhensong at any moment.
“Relax,” Yun Zhensong patted the back of Yusheng’s hand and said, “Hongke? Don’t lie to me, okay?”
In truth, Yun Zhensong had guessed a bit beforehand. Qi Jianshuang possessed formidable subordinates like Deng Hua and Cheng Sui, and he maintained an innate, disdainful bearing that remained composed even in desperate situations. Yun Zhensong guessed that Hongke must be a capable general by General Qi Jianshuang’s side—at the very least, someone with actual military merit!
Yun Zhensong thought smugly, Go ahead and say it, I’ve already guessed it; I certainly won’t be surprised.
Then, the familiar man before him nodded seriously, as if making a solemn promise to the rest of his life, and said, “I will not lie to you, just as you trust me unconditionally.”
“My name is Qi Jianshuang, ‘Jian’ as in sword, ‘Shuang’ as in frost,” Qi Jianshuang introduced himself solemnly, “my courtesy name is Hongke.”
Yun Zhensong felt as if he had been struck by lightning, standing there completely stunned.
Qi. Jian. Shuang?!
Is he the Qi Jianshuang from the system’s “General who guards the North, leading the Black Iron Battalion to battle,” the one who “was assassinated by death-sworn soldiers on the return journey and died, leading to the fall of the Northern Frontier”? The “host is of lowly status and has no qualification to participate” Qi Jianshuang?!
Yun Zhensong remained outwardly calm, even somewhat expressionless, but inside, he was roaring.
He’s so noble! And I’m lowly? Then who is it that warms my bed, feeds me medicine, and wipes my sweat every single day?!
Also! Didn’t Qi Jianshuang die? If he didn’t die, then the script that follows wouldn’t exist at all! The Northern Frontier wouldn’t fall, and I wouldn’t need to hold the city gate to the death—so what is he doing now? Playing games?
Qi Jianshuang thought he was distressed because he had hidden his identity and deceived him, so he felt miserable for a long while, waiting only for Yun Zhensong to speak. In reality, Yun Zhensong couldn’t care less about what he was worried about; instead, he was torn between joy at having hugged such a thick thigh and questioning the logic and rigor of this script.
Yun Zhensong raised his eyes and looked at the man across from him: sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, a high, straight nose bridge, thin lips, and a build that looked lean in clothes but muscular without—where would one find such an peerless, handsome man like him in the past?
Yun Zhensong composed himself and spoke slowly: “So…”
Qi Jianshuang listened intently.
Gongsun Lin, Li Yan, and Qi Yan were astonished by the degree of importance Qi Jianshuang placed on Yun Zhensong. Deng Hua watched the show, while Yusheng was worried. Only the child Yusheng didn’t feel it was inappropriate for someone of Qi Jianshuang’s status to do such things; in his view, the master was the most important person in the world. Yusheng frowned and pouted, complaining that Qi Jianshuang had stolen his job, making him feel increasingly useless.
Qi Jianshuang couldn’t help but lower his head and chuckle.
“And also… holding me while we sleep.”
Qi Jianshuang’s smile grew richer. Ignoring the fact that the others were about to pop their eyes out, he leaned down to look Yun Zhensong in the eye and said, “I will treat you only better and better.”
“In that case, will you still be angry?”
They were so close that Yun Zhensong felt that if one of them stumbled, their noses would brush against each other. Yun Zhensong felt his skin burning hot and red from the flirtation; he looked away and murmured, “I wasn’t really angry to begin with. Actually, I had guessed a little, and it was I who hadn’t asked clearly about your identity before letting you stay. If you truly had a conspiracy, it could only be counted as my meeting the wrong person and being stupidly laughable.”
Qi Jianshuang squatted down completely and gripped his hand tightly: “But I really was using you.”
“For example?”
“Once war breaks out, I want to turn your Yuanqing County into the granary for the Black Iron Battalion. What the Central Province cannot give, I will demand from Yuanqing County, even if it comes to… using force to coerce.”
The script seemed to be a circle; after much twisting and turning, it returned to his original task. Even if Qi Jianshuang were alive, he would still need to guard the city only now, he would be guarding logistics.
Yun Zhensong lowered his head and touched the raised cloud pattern on the sword.
“Using force to coerce? You’ll have to be better than me to do that.”
Yun Zhensong gave a light smile, raising half an eyebrow, his eyes clear and certain.
Qi Jianshuang’s pupils contracted for a moment. The surprises Yun Zhensong gave him were truly becoming more and more numerous.
In the Central Province, at night, the rain poured down.
The main hall was brightly lit, the candlelight casting long, moving shadows behind the thin white window paper. Even at the hour of Hai (9:00–11:00 PM), officials of various ranks still hurried back and forth under the eaves holding lamps.
On the desk, documents were piled high, covering most of the sandalwood table. Beside it, the bamboo book box was already overflowing. The cluttered scene made Han Pei, buried in work, appear even more weary.
The young eunuch held an umbrella and hurried in from outside, bringing with him the damp chill of the rain. The cold slid down his neck into his body, and he shivered involuntarily.
“Prime Minister Han, it is already very late,” the young eunuch reminded him softly.
Han Pei didn’t even lift his head, continuing to read and mark the submitted documents, saying exhaustedly, “I will read for another half hour… do not disturb me.”
Han Pei didn’t realize until halfway through that it was a servant, and immediately, he couldn’t be bothered to explain, his voice sinking with dissatisfaction.
The Secretariat had retrenched 1,532 people, resulting in countless grievances. Every day, the officials gathered at the Censorate could nearly break the threshold. The Censor-in-Chief, Wang Gu, had to dodge here and there, pretending to be ill and taking leave for over three months.
At first, the Emperor had been dissatisfied with Han Pei’s reforms, but when large sums of money remained in the national treasury, coupled with the great strength of Han Pei’s anti-corruption efforts, the central government suddenly displayed the former glory of the Great Xuan the politics were clear, and the finances were prosperous.
At the same time, the Twelve Guards were intensifying their training. Han Pei and the Emperor’s chosen man, Xu Xinhou, would soon depart for the Northern Frontier, replacing Qi Jianshuang to become the new Grand General of the North.
Han Pei’s eyelid had been twitching incessantly today, irritating him to the point that he raised his hand and pressed hard against his eyelid.
Rustle.
“Who?!” Han Pei suddenly looked up. His heart jolted, and he immediately grabbed the sword at his side. Without even having time to put on a raincoat, he quickly flashed to the tightly closed door, poked a hole in the window paper, and looked out vigilantly.
Lines of heavy rain, thick mist.
He couldn’t see a single person outside!
Cold sweat broke out on Han Pei instantly, soaking his sideburns. It was clear that there had been many officials and servants working just moments ago.
A demon wind blew, bursting open the ajar door. Papers flew messily across the room. Han Pei nearly collapsed; the second before he fell backward, someone caught him.
Drawing his sword half a thumb’s length, he turned his head abruptly, only to see it was the young eunuch from earlier.
“Prime Minister Han, someone is here to kill you!”
Han Pei naturally knew this; in just a few short months, he had made enemies of most of the officials in the Central Province. Those who wanted to kill him could line up from the Imperial Palace to outside the Black Iron Battalion.
“What are you doing?!” Han Pei shook off his hand and snapped.
“I am the eldest young master’s man; he ordered me to protect your safety.”
Han Pei frowned: “Just you? Alone?”
Before the young eunuch could answer, several assassins in black rushed out from the blurred rain. Some jumped down from the beams. The moment they raised their arms, the sleeve-mounted arrows shot out, their short, ruthless arrows moving faster than the shadows.
The young eunuch moved with agility, quickly swapping places with Han Pei, throwing himself at him to use his unprotected back to block the poisonous short arrows.
While Han Pei was astonished, he drew his sword and set the young eunuch down on the floor with his body. Who would have thought that even after vomiting a large mouthful of blood, the young eunuch could still stand up? He pulled a short knife from his wide sleeve, charging out a step before Han Pei, shouting: “If you want to kill Prime Minister Han, step over my corpse first!”
Han Pei was truly shocked by his actions. His originally indifferent heart was thrown into chaos for a mere instant.
The young eunuch had high martial arts skills. Although there were many of these black-clad assassins, their skills were ordinary. The young eunuch didn’t let any of them step into the main hall.
The sharp sound of iron striking iron pierced through the heavy rain. Han Pei set off a signal flare into the sky. Without needing Han Pei to make a move, guards soon arrived. They had been well-trained and solved all the assassins at the fastest speed.
“Leave one alive!” Han Pei stood in the chilling scene of blood flowing like a river, his face gloomy, his corners of his mouth taut. He looked at the injured young eunuch kneeling on the ground one hand using the knife tip to support the ground, the other pressing tightly against the gushing wound on his chest, drenched by the rain, looking so bedraggled yet Han Pei could still discern the stubborn, undying spirit within him.
He spoke word by word, suppressing his anger: “I will interrogate him myself!”
“What is your name?” Han Pei narrowed his eyes at the young eunuch, unable to discern his pleasure or anger.
“…” The high eunuch hat had long since been lost, revealing his tight, scalp-clinging bun. The young eunuch breathed heavily, knowing he wouldn’t live much longer, yet there was not a trace of sorrow in his eyes. “This servant… is named Zhou Quan… Quan as in the spring water…”
“Zhou Quan, Zhouquan (to be comprehensive).” Han Pei repeated it back and forth on his lips. He then squatted down, took out a very light medicine jar, shook out a pill the size of a thumb, grabbed his cheeks, and stuffed it in without allowing for refusal. “Swallow it, and you will live.”
“I want you to live.” Han Pei stood up and gestured for the imperial physician to treat him. “Live, and let me see what other skills you possess!”
The rain showed no signs of stopping, falling intermittently for three days.
The next day, when the Emperor learned that Han Pei had been assassinated and that many industrious officials had died in the main hall, he felt heartache, ordering people to compensate their families well. It wasn’t until the end that he asked about Han Pei’s situation.
“Last night, a young eunuch named Zhou Quan protected him with his life, so Prime Minister Han is unharmed. He has now gone to the Northern Mountain training ground, as General Xu is to depart for the Black Iron Battalion today,” Wang Liren replied.
“Zhou Quan?” The Emperor gave a cold snort and threw his fan onto the table. “The people in the palace are truly hidden deeply; I never knew there was such a formidable person.”
Wang Liren probed: “Then this old servant…”
The Emperor said: “Reward him! He protected the official I value most; reward him well!”
Wang Liren lowered his head and eyes. The estrangement between the sovereign and his minister was only a matter of time.
When Han Pei arrived at Northern Mountain, Xu Xinhou was already prepared. Seeing Han Pei’s carriage arrive, Xu Xinhou immediately turned off his horse, supported Han Pei down with great respect, and said with great worry: “I heard that Prime Minister Han encountered assassins yesterday; were you injured?”
“No.” Han Pei didn’t have the time to waste words with him. “Prepare to leave. I have a few last things to entrust to you. The journey is long, and I have taken care of everything that needs to be taken care of. If a sudden change occurs, immediately release the signal flare; do not fight to the death; saving your life is paramount. After arriving safely, Eunuch Hou of the Black Iron Battalion will receive you. If there is something you don’t understand, ask him. The atmosphere in the Black Iron Battalion is tense; as a new general, do not go charging in blindly. If there is anything, discuss it well with the elders in the army first. Getting their approval will save you a lot of trouble when fighting in the future.”
These words had been heard by Xu Xinhou since the first day he followed Han Pei—hundreds of times but he listened to this one before his departure with particular seriousness.
Xu Xinhou had originally been the son of a condemned official. Han Pei had taken a fancy to him, saved his life, and since then, he had been devoted to Han Pei with unwavering loyalty.
“Alright, depart immediately.”
Han Pei turned to get into the carriage.
“Prime Minister Han.” Xu Xinhou called him to a stop. He took off his hat that had been blocking the rain, stood in the rain, knelt down firmly, and knocked his head heavily three times toward Han Pei, saying in a muffled voice, “This life of mine, Xu Xinhou, belongs to you! I am at your disposal!”
“…” Han Pei watched him with a complicated expression. After a long while, he nodded, said nothing, stepped on the footstool, and got into the carriage.