“I happen to be with General Xie”
Qin Li and his party entered Qingyue Tower, which had already been cleared by the Yulin Guards. Yang Qiong and Yuan Chen were both brought before Qin Li.
When Yang Qiong saw the Emperor personally appear at Qingyue Tower, he was momentarily stunned. He immediately collapsed to his knees and cried out, “Your Majesty! This servant is wronged! I received a tip-off that remnants of the Li family might be hiding here, which is why I brought men to capture them!”
He glared at Xie Linchuan. “Your Majesty, it is clearly Xie Linchuan who is colluding with the remnants. He even wrote a secret letter to the Prince of Shun, surely appointing a meeting at this location. I followed him to find this place and indeed caught traces of these rebels. That letter is ironclad proof of Xie Linchuan’s treasonous intent!”
Nie Dong frowned and gave a heavy snort. “What nonsense are you talking about? When I caught you in the same room as the rebels, General Xie was clearly with His Majesty.” He gestured for someone to bring forward a waist plate and a slip of paper.
Nie Dong presented them to Qin Li. “Your Majesty, this waist plate is Vice Commander Yang Qiong’s personal token, found on the rebel’s person. This slip of paper was found on Yang Qiong himself.”
Qin Li’s expression remained unchanged as he opened the paper. It was written in Li Xuehong’s handwriting, saying, “I hope to meet you tonight at Qingyue Tower.” On the back was a simple orchid pattern. Nie Dong added, “The pattern is the mark of the Qingyue Tower pleasure boat. It was clearly the meeting place.”
Yang Qiong was both shocked and enraged. He had never seen this paper before. He suddenly remembered the sturdy old woman who had bumped into him earlier and shouted, “Your Majesty, please see clearly! This is Xie Linchuan framing me! He is fabricating a crime against a loyal official for a personal vendetta! He is seeking revenge for Li Xuehong!”
Qin Li’s eyes darkened, but he remained noncommittal. He turned his head to Xie Linchuan. “Does General Xie have anything to defend himself?”
Xie Linchuan pointed to the other rebel in black, Yuan Chen. “Why not ask him?”
Yang Qiong was suddenly terrified. If that man spoke against him, he was finished. His eyes turned bloodshot as survival instinct took over. Using the fact that Yuan Chen was close to him, he suddenly broke free from the guards and slammed his head into Yuan Chen’s chin.
Amidst the shocked cries of the crowd, Yang Qiong lightning fast drew a small dagger hidden in his boot and stabbed it into Yuan Chen’s throat, killing him on the spot. Only a corpse with wide open eyes remained.
“Yang Qiong! To use a weapon before the Emperor, are you tired of living?” Nie Dong stood sternly in front of Qin Li and ordered the guards to surround Yang Qiong.
Facing a dozen blades, Yang Qiong did not struggle further. Instead, he fell to his knees, spread his left hand, and with a swift stroke of the dagger, he actually cut off his own pinky finger.
Everyone was shocked. Nie Dong looked at him in disbelief. “What are you doing?”
Qin Li’s gaze was playful, the corners of his mouth curling into a smirk, thoughts unknown. Xie Linchuan narrowed his eyes; he actually had some admiration for Yang Qiong’s ruthlessness.
Yang Qiong, with red eyes and heavy breathing, looked up at Qin Li. “Your Majesty, on the day the city fell, I had already offended everyone in the world. Everyone calls me a traitor who sold his master for glory. I have no choice but to be fiercely loyal to Your Majesty! Anyone could betray you, but I, Yang Qiong, never will! If there is a single lie, let it be sworn by this finger! If Your Majesty must kill me today, I will not complain, but does Your Majesty truly wish to wrongly execute a meritorious official just after ascending the throne? If Your Majesty can show mercy, I, Yang Qiong, will be Your Majesty’s most loyal dog!”
Yang Qiong’s declaration of loyalty was spoken with absolute conviction, while the bloody severed finger still held residual warmth. Qin Yongyi, Nie Dong, and the other officials looked at each other. Although Yang Qiong’s behavior was suspicious, his words held some truth. Moreover, with the witness dead, it was difficult to convict him. One had to admit that Yang Qiong was exceptionally ruthless, both to others and to himself.
The ministers looked toward Qin Li. This matter could be large or small, depending entirely on the Emperor’s decision.
Xie Linchuan looked down at Yang Qiong without expression. Qin Li’s sharp gaze swept across everyone’s faces before landing on Yang Qiong. “Just now you said General Xie was colluding with remnants and meeting the Prince of Shun in secret. Do you have evidence?”
“There is a secret letter!” Yang Qiong’s spirit lifted. “Before I came, I sent subordinates to intercept it. Your Majesty will know once it is checked.”
A moment later, the person Nie Dong sent to verify returned with a perfectly sealed letter. Yang Qiong had rushed to Qingyue Tower to capture Xie Linchuan, so the letter had not yet reached his hands. Yang Qiong stared maliciously at Xie Linchuan, his hatred and spite evident.
Qin Li subtly glanced at Xie Linchuan, who remained silent throughout, showing no panic or intent to beg for mercy. He looked at the letter, frowned, and seemed to hesitate for a moment before taking it. When he opened it, he was stunned.
Qin Li looked it over twice and threw it back at Yang Qiong with a cold laugh. “Is this the treasonous letter you spoke of?”
Yang Qiong picked up the letter in confusion, his eyes widening in shock. The paper was completely blank; there was not a single word on it. It was clearly a blank piece of paper. “This, how is this possible?”
While everyone was astonished, Xie Linchuan finally spoke. “Your Majesty, perhaps it is best to deal with Vice Commander Yang leniently.”
Qin Li raised an eyebrow. Xie Linchuan was actually pleading for Yang Qiong?
Xie Linchuan said slowly, “As Yang Qiong said, he is a meritorious official who helped Your Majesty take the imperial city without bloodshed. How can he be easily convicted because of a dead rebel? Would it not lead people to say Your Majesty was eager to kill meritorious officials as soon as you took power? Since the Vice Commander has merit, for the sake of Your Majesty’s reputation, it matters little if we subordinates suffer a bit of grievance.”
Qin Yongyi’s mouth twitched at those words, not knowing what expression to make. Qin Li glanced at Xie Linchuan and finally said, “I have acknowledged Vice Commander Yang’s loyalty.”
Yang Qiong’s anxious heart finally settled halfway. Qin Yongyi and Nie Dong exchanged a look; as a ruler, the Emperor clearly prioritized meritorious officials and reputation over the grievances of a favorite. Qin Li had only been Emperor for a month; what would the other surrendered officials think if he killed the man who opened the gates?
Clearly, Yang Qiong thought so too. He glared at Xie Linchuan, ignoring the cold sweat from his finger’s pain. The two had completely dropped their masks. He had not managed to pull the other down this time and was instead countered; he had underestimated Xie Linchuan.
However, Qin Li’s tone shifted, his eyes turning cold. “But as the Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard, firstly, you failed to discover the rebels’ tracks in time, which is a dereliction of duty. Secondly, you harbored jealousy toward a colleague and fabricated a false accusation. Since you are a military officer, I will punish you according to military law. Men, strip him of his official robes and give him two hundred military strokes. He is dismissed from his post pending further investigation, as a warning to others!”
Yang Qiong’s face instantly turned pale. His eyes widened, and his voice trembled with anger and indignation. “Your Majesty!”
Two hundred strokes would at least cost him a layer of skin if not his life, and the dismissal was a push toward the gates of hell. But what could Yang Qiong say? He had to endure the pain of his severed finger and kowtow to Qin Li. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for the mercy of not killing me.”
Under the watchful eyes of all, Yang Qiong’s black brocade official robes were stripped off by guards. He was dragged to a long bench where the punishment began immediately. Two hundred strokes were no joke; the thick military poles landed on his backside with heavy, dull thuds. Yang Qiong’s veins bulged from the pain, and being watched by his colleagues and subordinates, his face turned bright red from the utter loss of face.
Qin Yongyi and the other trusted ministers watched Qin Li and Xie Linchuan, exchanging silent looks. Prime Minister Yan Yu’s brow furrowed with worry. The Emperor seemed to value Xie Linchuan too much. Breaking rules for him repeatedly was not a good sign. Fortunately, the Emperor had not completely lost his mind; although Yang Qiong was a sinister man, his life was more useful kept alive to appease the other surrendered officials. After this display of authority, which of the surrendered officials would dare to act out?
Yan Yu stroked his beard, then thought to himself: Fortunately, this General Xie is a man. Even if the Emperor favors him for a time, there will be no heirs to cause trouble later.
After the grand drama at night, it was late when they left Qingyue Tower. Xie Linchuan looked at the sky; a crescent moon hung on the treetops. The midnight drums had sounded, and by the calendar, today was the third day of the third month.
Qin Li dismissed the other ministers and looked at Xie Linchuan. “General Xie said you would treat me to a meal. Surely you were not fooling me just to trick me out of the palace to watch a play with you?”
Xie Linchuan smiled leisurely. “Did Your Majesty not just have snacks at Qingyue Tower?”
Qin Li’s brow darkened. Xie Linchuan had indeed shown him a good play, but that did not mean he would tolerate being used. “You want to dismiss me with just some appetizers?” Qin Li snorted, narrowed his eyes at him, and said slowly, “General Xie said he would personally cook a meal to host me. If you cannot produce it, it is the crime of deceiving the Emperor.”
He emphasized the words “personally” and “meal,” acting as if he would not give up until he ate today.
Xie Linchuan gave a low laugh. He bypassed Qin Li and stepped onto the carriage. He lowered the footstool, half knelt on the carriage, and reached out a hand toward Qin Li. His eyes, slightly curved, looked like the crescent moon. “Your Majesty, please board the carriage.”
Qin Li’s gaze fell on the other’s long fingers. He instinctively reached out to hold them, feeling a dry warmth that made him not want to let go. With a gentle pull, Xie Linchuan brought him onto the carriage. Only after sitting inside did Qin Li ask, “Where are we going?”
Xie Linchuan replied naturally, “To my home to cook and host Your Majesty, of course.”
Qin Li leaned against the soft cushions, a small smile finally appearing on his lips. Food was served early in the palace, and having just had snacks, he was not actually hungry. He watched Xie Linchuan sitting upright with his hands on his knees, looking dignified. Thinking that these hands, accustomed to bows and swords, would soon be rolling up sleeves to wash vegetables and cut meat to cook for him, the curve of his smile became more pronounced.
Tsk, I actually do feel a bit hungry.
The Xie Residence.
The dark carriage stopped at the entrance. Xie Linchuan’s grandmother and his two younger siblings were waiting. Qin Li did not want to make a scene and had everyone disperse, following Xie Linchuan into the hall to sit.
Qin Li asked with a smile, “I wonder how General Xie’s skills are? The Xie family is a prestigious military family after all; why would they let you into the kitchen?”
Xie Linchuan gave a faint smile, his tone confident. “I will certainly satisfy Your Majesty.”
Oh? That truly makes one curious.
Qin Li rested his chin on his hand, holding a cup of tea and watching the floating leaves as Xie Linchuan turned to the kitchen to busy himself. In the middle of the night, he did not expect the man to actually produce a feast of mountain and sea delicacies, nor did he worry about poison. Even if Xie Linchuan burnt the pot, he would still pick up his chopsticks to taste it.
To his surprise, before Qin Li could finish his tea, Xie Linchuan came out carrying two bowls.
Two bowls?
Qin Li was stunned to see a bowl of Yangchun noodles placed before him. The noodles were rolled very thin and stacked long. The rich broth had oil spots floating on top, with fresh green shepherd’s purse and a poached egg. An appetizing aroma hit his nose.
Qin Li blinked slowly, pointing at this bowl of vegetarian noodles without a single piece of meat. “General Xie’s “personal cooking” is just making noodles for me to eat?”
Li Sanbao’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth twitching. General Xie was being far too perfunctory; could he not have at least stir fried a few home cooked dishes?
Xie Linchuan completely ignored Li Sanbao’s look and sat down beside Qin Li, saying seriously: “Today is the third day of the third month. In folk legend, the ancient Shennong used shepherd’s purse and eggs to cure people’s headaches. So, eating shepherd’s purse and eggs on this day can dispel disasters and ensure health. These noodles are long and unbroken; they are longevity noodles.”
He looked deeply at Qin Li, his gaze serious and warm. “Your Majesty, I wish you a long life and good health.”
The warm candlelight and the rising steam softened Xie Linchuan’s sharp features. The way he looked at Qin Li held a rare gentleness and focus. He knew that the third day of the third month was a special day for Qin Li. In his past life, he had never spent it with him, nor had he ever offered a blessing. He wondered if, after his death in the past life, Qin Li had lived a long and healthy life.
Qin Li’s eyes widened in unexpected shock, and he blurted out, “How did you know today is”
Xie Linchuan blinked and asked in return, “Today is the Shangsi Festival; did Your Majesty forget?”
Qin Li paused. So it was just a coincidence.
Li Sanbao called for someone to test the food for poison according to the rules, but Qin Li waved them away. Xie Linchuan smiled and took a bite from his own bowl first before saying, “Please, Your Majesty.”
Qin Li gave him a deep look and slowly lifted his chopsticks. He bit into the long noodles; the resilient yet smooth texture combined with the fragrance of the shepherd’s purse spread through his mouth.
In a daze, Qin Li remembered his childhood. He was a bastard abandoned by his parents, taken by a mother wolf to be raised as a cub. When he grew a bit older, he was chased out by the wolf pack and crawled back to a human village on all fours. Born with silver hair, the local villagers said he had wolf blood and was an ominous person who brought war and disaster; he was driven away wherever he went. Only a teacher named Qin took him in to work, gave him food, and taught him for a few years.
But the good times did not last. During a year of disaster, the teacher found him too cold and unsociable, so he sold him to a middleman for a few silver coins. He fled desperately, wandering the streets barefoot. It happened to be a festival that day, and the streets were lively. He was starving and watched people sitting at stalls eating noodles that smelled delicious. He sat in front of the stall all day, begging for a bowl of noodles in vain. Later, he had to steal a bone from a dog’s bowl and was nearly beaten to death by the owner.
How noble Qin Li was now, holding the lives of ten thousand in his hands, was how lowly he had been in the past, discarded like weeds. He swore then that he would one day rise above others and get everything he wanted; no one would dare look down on him or abandon him. Dignity was a luxury the lowly did not deserve, yet it was a will that could not be stripped away even by a death of a thousand cuts. It was the only thing Qin Li possessed when he had nothing.
That day was the third day of the third month, the legendary birthday of the Yellow Emperor. Qin Li did not know his own birthday, so he set this day as his own. His enemies hated him and wished him in the depths of hell; his ministers flattered him only to pray for wealth and glory. Now he possessed the world and enjoyed every delicacy, yet he did not expect that twenty years later, on the same day he was once most helpless and miserable, someone would cook him a bowl of longevity noodles and seriously wish him a long life and good health.
He sometimes felt that human desire was a bottomless pit that could not be filled even by taking the world. Other times, he felt the human heart was so small and soft that even a bowl of vegetarian noodles without meat could satisfy him completely.
Qin Li kept his head down, eating the noodles slowly and silently. The hot soup warmed his face and made his heart feel swollen and aching, his throat warming along with it. He could not help but think: Xie Linchuan is a fine person, it is just a pity he is so young yet so blind in the eyes. But it did not matter; Qin Li had enough patience. Once Xie Linchuan spent more time with him, that stubbornness could still be cured.
Qin Li took a long time to eat, chewing slowly and finishing every bit of the longevity noodles before putting down his chopsticks. He finished the last sip of soup, wiped his mouth and hands, and looked at Xie Linchuan, saying slowly, “General Xie, it is late tonight, and I am tired. I might as well stay at your residence for the night. I shall share a bed and have a night long talk with General Xie. How about it?”
“Of course.”
Xie Linchuan watched Qin Li’s lazy, satisfied look and thought: if his smile got any wider, it would reach his ears.