I will not let you off so easily again
Xie Linchuan did not know how to find a reasonable explanation for the shift in his attitude.
After all, half a month ago, they were life and death enemies on the battlefield, and everyone knew him as the unmatched loyal and brave general of a prestigious family. Who would suspect that Xie Linchuan was reborn? Who could believe that he truly no longer wished to be Qin Li’s enemy?
Especially since he had just made a move that genuinely threatened Qin Li’s life, he could not clear his name even if he jumped into the moat.
If it were not for Qin Li’s appreciation for beauty, or perhaps a sense of morbid curiosity that gave him a lingering patience, Xie Linchuan estimated that by now, he would have bid farewell to the warm brazier and returned to the Heavenly Prison to stare down rats.
Qin Li did not believe him, Li Xuehong did not believe him, and even his political enemies did not believe him. Xie Linchuan suddenly felt that having too great a reputation was not necessarily a good thing. Qin Li had a hard temper and a suspicious mind; how to win his trust remained a major problem.
Xie Linchuan stood in place silently, his mind racing. At this moment, no matter how he explained his earlier attack, it would be impossible to dispel the suspicion already rooted in the other man’s mind.
Qin Li narrowed his eyes at him and asked lazily, “What? Nothing to say?”
Xie Linchuan simply shifted his strategy. He blinked slowly, adopting an expression of deep sorrow. “Your Majesty, you wanted me to stay by your side, and I agreed. I moved into the palace without even seeing my family. You wanted me to serve you by undressing you and changing your bandages, and I did so. Even when you repeatedly insulted me, I never showed a hint of disrespect.”
His expression turned solemn, his voice becoming more righteous as he spoke, until finally, it sounded like a formal accusation born of a heart full of grievances. “But Your Majesty still chose to push me at every step and even moved against me!”
“I was once the Chixiao General of the Jing Kingdom, born of a loyal and heroic family. If Your Majesty’s promise is merely empty words, then I have nothing left to say. There is no need for Your Majesty to act personally. I shall end my own life, only asking that Your Majesty does not implicate my family.”
When in doubt, shift the blame. This principle truly held up.
Qin Li was stunned by this counter accusation. He immediately sat up straight from his soft cushions, his brow furrowing. “When did I move against you? It was clearly you who”
He paused. Could it be that Xie Linchuan’s sudden assassination attempt was because the man thought Qin Li intended to harm him?
Qin Li said irritably, “I merely smelled a fragrance on your neck and wanted to investigate. It was you who were too bold, actually daring to defy your superior!”
Qin Li stood up and walked over to Xie Linchuan. “If I had not spared you once, would you still be standing here shouting at me?”
Fragrance?
Xie Linchuan raised an eyebrow, never expecting that to be the reason. He reached for the family heirloom jade pendant hanging around his neck. It was carved from a precious type of fragrant jade and indeed emitted a faint, elegant scent, though he had worn it so long he had become oblivious to it.
It seemed he had misunderstood Qin Li this time. More surprisingly, Qin Li actually deigned to offer an explanation.
In his past life, Qin Li would never have bothered explaining himself to a trophy of war. He likely would have laughed coldly from his high position, stating that both thunder and rain were the Emperor’s grace, meaning he could do as he pleased, and Xie Linchuan had to endure it.
Xie Linchuan decided to feel guilty for three seconds about the blame he had tossed at Qin Li’s head.
Then, he heard Qin Li snort. “I am the sovereign, and you are the subject. Both thunder and rain are the Emperor’s grace. Even if I want something from you, you can only be grateful for my kindness.”
Xie Linchuan: “Forget it. Qin Li deserved every bit of that blame.”
Qin Li warned him, “I do not care what you are plotting in your heart, but I hope today’s event does not happen a second time. If there is a next time, I will not let you off so easily again.”
The corners of his mouth turned down slightly, his gaze dark and fierce. The threat was clear as he waited for a reaction.
Unfortunately for him, Xie Linchuan did not even twitch an eyebrow. He left no opening for weakness; instead, he untied the red string around his neck and removed the jade pendant.
Qin Li raised an eyebrow as the fragrant jade was held out to him.
“Does Your Majesty wish to see this?”
Qin Li looked at the pendant, then at Xie Linchuan. He reached out to take it and played with it. The jade felt warm and smooth, still carrying the residual heat of its owner.
Xie Linchuan watched his expression and spoke slowly, “I misunderstood Your Majesty earlier. Thank you for your magnanimity in forgiving my rudeness.”
His tone was peaceful and gentle, carrying a hint of submissive weakness that formed a sharp contrast to his earlier fierce accusation.
The corner of Qin Li’s mouth quirked up in an almost imperceptible curve. Human psychology is prone to contrast. If those trembling officials in court said such words, Qin Li would find it only natural. But because Xie Linchuan had been bold enough to attack him first and accuse him later, this current softening made Qin Li feel exceptionally satisfied.
Perhaps the elegant fragrance from the jade was pleasant enough to improve his mood.
Qin Li’s dark eyes shifted to Xie Linchuan’s face. He tilted his head, returning to his lazy demeanor. “When General Xie was with his old master, did you dare to be so fierce with him?”
Xie Linchuan glanced at him. Who exactly is the fierce one here?
He lowered his eyelashes and said neutrally, “I did not have a close personal relationship with the Prince of Shun. I naturally understood the difference between superior and subordinate.”
Qin Li gave a light snort and tossed the pendant back to him, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Since the minor matter of changing bandages was settled, he had no reason to stay and returned to handle his neglected government affairs.
A few days later, Li Sanbao personally led several craftsmen to present several pieces of high quality raw jade and a pristine celadon porcelain vase to Xie Linchuan.
Holding his horsetail whisk, Li Sanbao bowed slightly and pointed to the various sizes of jade on the tray with a kind smile. “General Xie, these are rewards from His Majesty. If there is any pattern you like, you may instruct the craftsmen to carve them. Whether for jewelry or small ornaments to play with, you need only give the order.”
Xie Linchuan was truly surprised. He had not expected that after Qin Li had suffered such a strange setback at his hands, the Emperor would not only let it go but actually send him gifts.
Xie Linchuan glanced at the tray and said, “This jade is very precious. I have no merit to receive such a reward.”
Li Sanbao seemed to have expected this and smiled. “General Xie has merit for caring for His Majesty’s injuries. There is no need to decline.”
In the past life, Qin Li had often sent him valuable or rare items, but it was usually after he had angered Xie Linchuan, using such superficial means to try and smooth over the relationship. Xie Linchuan, accustomed to the material wealth of the modern world, had no interest in these impractical luxuries. He would refuse every time, or if forced to accept, he would simply toss them aside. This only made Qin Li unhappier, and their encounters always ended poorly.
Xie Linchuan had thought he knew Qin Li well enough, but it seemed he still did not. Seeing Li Sanbao’s insistence, he stopped refusing and had the items brought into the room.
Qin Li could not possibly think he liked jade and was trying to curry favor, right?
The movements of the new founding monarch were watched constantly by those with ulterior motives. The fact that Xie Linchuan, a foreign official, had moved into the side hall of Zichen Palace could not be hidden.
Within days, news spread like wildfire through the capital that the head of the surrendered officials had abandoned his old master, Li Xuehong, and was even using his looks to serve the Emperor in exchange for status.
Initially, people treated it as a joke. Even a three year old in the capital knew the character of the Chixiao General. However, as more palace secrets and rumors leaked, such as sacrificing his body to protect his master in prison, struggling against the Emperor’s overwhelming grace, or the favorite of the three palaces, these ridiculous, groundless tales became the subject of hesitant gossip.
The Imperial Study.
Qin Li sat behind a large mahogany desk, one finger pressing against his temple while the other tapped lightly on the desk edge. He listened with his eyes closed to the bickering of his officials, remaining silent.
Qin Li’s sworn brother, Qin Yongyi, who was currently serving as the Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, was arguing heatedly for the deployment of troops to wipe out the rebels.
“The remnant of the Li family, Li Fenghao, has led eighty thousand troops back to Shangyuan. That is the ancestral home where the Li family began; they have held it for centuries. There are people, fields, and grain there. If we do not strike while the iron is hot and wipe them out now, they will eventually raise enough troops to become a mortal threat to our Great Yao Dynasty!”
General Nie Dong frowned and said in a booming voice, “Li Fenghao still flies the banner of the Jing imperial family. We must wipe them out eventually, but the Qiangrou tribes in the northwest have always coveted the Central Plains. They have used the internal chaos of the dynastic change to launch multiple raids on the north. Most of our troops are stationed at the border with the Qiangrou. The force we can spare to wipe out Li Fenghao is limited.”
“My suggestion is that since Li Fenghao is on the defensive and the Qiangrou are on the offensive, we should deal with the Qiangrou first.”
Qin Li’s most trusted strategist, now Prime Minister Yan Yu, offered a reminder. “His Majesty has just ascended the throne. Funds and grain are needed everywhere. The treasury is empty, and the common people need rest. We must wait another six months for the autumn harvest. We cannot afford a war on two fronts.”
Qin Li opened his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group. He nodded. “I understand. We will proceed according to Nie Dong’s suggestion first.”
They say being an Emperor is grand, possessing the world and limitless power. After the hard work of conquering the land, Qin Li sat on the dragon throne only to realize he faced a crumbling empire full of holes. The old Emperor of the Jing Dynasty had already squandered the family fortune, which was why Qin Li’s northern campaign had been so smooth.
Now, internal and external troubles were constant. There was a lack of soldiers, money, grain, and talent. Countless mouths were waiting for Qin Li to find a way to feed them. After a day at court, listening to the verbal sparring was more exhausting than killing enemies on the battlefield.
Yan Yu thought for a moment, stroked his beard, and said, “I believe that while Li Fenghao is a threat, he is far away. The true danger may be in the capital or even within the imperial city.”
Qin Li frowned. “You mean Li Xuehong?”
Yan Yu thought to himself, more than just Li Xuehong.
He said seriously, “The Li imperial family possesses a secret organization of death warriors cultivated over a century, known as the Hidden Guards. They are extremely loyal to the Li family and difficult to bribe. Their identities are secret, and they are widely dispersed among civilians, the military, officials’ households, and the inner court. They do not just perform assassinations and intelligence work; they also control the private treasury passed down through the Li line. The method of organizing them is only held by successive Emperors. It is said the old Emperor died suddenly in the harem and could not pass it to Li Xuehong, but I believe there are many suspicious points.”
“Li Xuehong himself is not to be feared, but the Hidden Guards and the private treasury are vital. They must not fall into Li Fenghao’s hands.”
Qin Li looked at Li Sanbao. “How has the Prince of Shun been lately?”
Li Sanbao lowered his head. “Your Majesty’s kindness allowed the Prince of Shun to attend court. He usually stays in his residence and only comes to court once every seven days.”
“Any suspicious movements?”
“None.”
Qin Li nodded casually and was about to give a few instructions when a young eunuch hurried into the study and whispered to Li Sanbao. A strange look appeared on Li Sanbao’s face. He reported in a low voice, “Your Majesty, the attendants serving General Xie Linchuan report that the General has gone out.”
Li Sanbao looked cautiously at Qin Li. Seeing the Emperor’s gaze instantly darken, he buried his head even lower.
“What?” Qin Li’s brow furrowed. His first reaction was that Xie Linchuan had dared to escape. But after a moment’s thought, he dismissed it. Xie Linchuan would not be that foolish. “What do you mean gone out?”
Li Sanbao replied simply, “General Xie evaded the guards and left Zichen Palace in disguise, but he did not leave the imperial city.”
Since he was not escaping, was he meeting someone privately?
Qin Li’s gaze turned cold as he locked onto Li Sanbao. “Is today the day Li Xuehong attends court?”
Li Sanbao thought about it and nodded. He was about to add that Li Xuehong had been very well behaved until the court session ended, and furthermore, by this hour, Li Xuehong should have already left the palace. But then he saw Qin Li’s face, which was as black as the bottom of a pot.
Qin Yongyi and the other trusted ministers looked at each other and simultaneously shut their mouths, not daring to provoke Qin Li’s bad mood.
Li Sanbao swallowed his words and said tentatively, “Your Majesty, should we send someone to bring General Xie back?”
“No.” Qin Li tossed the scroll in his hand onto the desk with a sharp smack, his voice sounding like he was speaking through gritted teeth. “I will go personally to see exactly what tricks Xie Linchuan is playing.”