El impresionante Primer Ministro

Capítulo 8

Extra Chapter 1

I was born in a magnificent but cold place!

My mother was born out of wedlock, yet she was the most favored concubine. She was unhappy, though she had a very warm smile, which she rarely displayed. She often sat quietly playing a tune called "Wang Si" (meaning "Lost Thoughts"), as if she were longing for something. When I was seven, she died of depression and was posthumously honored as "Empress Xiaoduan."

Because my father often stayed with my mother, I had more opportunities to be close to him than my siblings. He wasn't as stern and gloomy as the rumors suggested; when he was with my mother, he was lively and gentle. He liked to pull my mother along to watch me practice swordsmanship. When I was young, I often fell while practicing. The bluestone floor was cold and hard, and I longed for a warm embrace, but he would just sit there laughing, as if I were a comical acrobat. My mother would remain silent by his side. His laughter didn't last long. After my mother passed away, he became just as the rumors said and aged rapidly. He still often came to see me at Consort Xian's place, but I knew he only came to see my face! At the age of twelve, I was granted the title of 'Prince Qing' and was given the 'Night Crimson' sword that my father had used when he was the crown prince. Rumors circulated in the court that I would be made crown prince, but soon after, my fourth brother, the son of Consort Shu, was made crown prince.

Consort Xian, two years older than my father, was his principal wife when he was the Crown Prince. I think she wasn't made Empress because of my mother, but she held no resentment. They had a very good personal relationship while my mother was alive. She had no children of her own, so my mother adopted me as her son. I received all the warmth and love a child should have from her, but I only felt gratitude and never developed the same love or hatred for her as I did for my deceased mother. She often said that my personality was very much like my father's. I think she was saying this to me. I was born nearly two months premature, and there were rumors that I wasn't my father's biological child. It was rumored that my biological father was my mother's close friend, my Uncle Ze.

My uncle, Prince Ze, was my father's younger brother, born to the same mother, twelve years younger than him. My mother was a wandering swordsman, and it was through Prince Ze that she met my father. After my father ascended the throne, Prince Ze left the royal family. I don't know if my mother missed him in her moments of 'wandering thoughts'. The Noble Consort Xian greatly favored Prince Ze, saying he was well-behaved and adorable from a young age, with elegant features, gentle and talented, a skilled musician, and an excellent painter. The portrait of his dashing figure that my father often gazed at late at night was painted by him. Prince Ze once composed a piece called "Wandering the World," and those who heard him play it said it was captivating, inspiring a wild desire to wander the world. When he first met my mother, he played "Wandering the World," and she considered him a confidant.

Consort Xian also mentioned that Prince Li's youngest son, Ran'er, was quite like him in his younger days. Ran'er is my nephew, five years younger than me. From a young age, he was as delicate as a flower, and people often joked that he was a girl. Although his appearance hasn't changed much as he's grown up, he has blossomed into a man of both talent and virtue. A few years ago, he even earned the reputation of "Flute Immortal" in the martial arts world. He is quite favored by Consort Xian, and we are also quite familiar with each other.

When I was fourteen, I moved out of the palace and moved into the 'Prince Qing's' residence with Mo Yi and Zi Juan. Mo Yi was my personal guard who grew up with me, while Zi Juan was a maid who grew up in the palace of the Noble Consort Xian. She was given to me by my foster mother to be a little maid when she was only eight years old.

Over the next three years, Mo and I traversed the entire country, experiencing the world of martial arts. What I can't let go of is that this kind of world is something my mother still fondly remembers!

Starting at the age of seventeen, I calmed down and honed my skills, cultivated relationships with powerful figures in the court, and recruited talented individuals from among the common people, earning widespread praise from both the court and the public.

As for marriage, I had already made plans. I was just patiently waiting for Miss Jiang to grow up. In the meantime, Consort Xian sent me two beauties as concubines. I'm not interested in women, but I didn't refuse either. Women are like clothes; they can make life respectable and comfortable. I don't believe in love either; I've seen too much of the power struggles in the palace. My father was wise throughout his life, but he was extremely unwise in his relationship with my mother. She gave him nothing in return while she was alive, and his condition after her death horrified me even more. His love brought him only pain and loneliness.

Several years passed peacefully, and I grew stronger, but my father was getting old and could not wait any longer.

About half a year ago, a man who called himself "Ye Xing" came to me, saying he would help me fulfill a wish. He was a young man, dressed in a brightly colored robe, with a handsome and refined face, and beneath his striking, sword-like eyebrows were a pair of dark eyes as still as the night. When he took out the "Chao Dan" and jokingly hinted at my wish, I was startled. It wasn't just the "Chao Dan"; his smile was as beautiful as a flower, his eyes were darting around, but his gaze was utterly cold!

He was composed and elegant, and the gift he gave me was just what I wanted, but his languid and unrestrained demeanor suggested he was not the type to sacrifice himself for fame or fortune! Before investigating his background, I decided to keep him around. Besides, he turned out to be a woman!

I learned that Uncle Ze had an adopted son who was a master of the zither, earning the title of "Zither Demon" at a young age. I asked Zijuan to keep an eye on Ye Xing's belongings, but the "Li Sao" zither wasn't among them. Moreover, Ye Xing's martial arts and swordsmanship must be top-notch, otherwise Uncle Ze wouldn't have given him the "Chao Dan." We have no leads yet.

Ye Xing used a few tricks to win the hearts of everyone in the mansion, young and old, and even Zijuan was swayed by him. But I knew that although he seemed kind and considerate on the surface, he didn't really care about anything.

That day, when I was picking plum blossoms, I wanted to test Ye Xing's skills, but he won by trickery. I was a little angry, but I really liked his method. It was not against the rules, it saved effort, and it pleased everyone. I didn't lose anything myself. Although the method was not very elegant, the result was the best! I became interested in his talent!

Meeting Jiang Shilang on the road was an accident. My relationship with the Jiang family has gradually improved over the years. This time, I helped Hua Lian with a favor, which also gave me a pleasant surprise: Ye Xing actually knows about 'Rainbow Puppet Show'!

The 'Rainbow Feather Puppet Show' was a birthday gift from the Yue family to the Emperor. The gift was delivered to the capital by the puppeteer, Young Master Jing of the Yue family. The 'Rainbow Feather Puppet Show' winning the Emperor's favor should have been a perfect ending. However, there's more to the story. At the birthday banquet, Young Master Jing fell in love at first sight with Miss Mei of the Jiang family. Both clans vehemently opposed the relationship, but the two threatened suicide, leading to a protracted ordeal that lasted for over half a year. Ultimately, they were both expelled from their clans, and each clan declared them dead, leaving them to fend for themselves. This latter part is a scandal, unknown not only to ordinary people but probably even to the younger generation of the Jiang family. Even fewer people know that Uncle Ze had known Young Master Jing in the martial arts world for many years, and they were close friends! I have to boldly speculate that this Ye Xing might be a descendant of Young Master Jing and Miss Jiang. Although descendants of the Yue family shouldn't possess martial arts skills, it's not impossible that Young Master Jing, having been expelled from his clan, would disobey ancestral rules. If I were to gain the help of a descendant of the Yue family…

Ye Xing's cooking is delicious! The way he looks while cooking reminds me of my mother…

I lowered my guard against Ye Xing. After spending time with him, I found him to be a likable person with extensive knowledge, extraordinary insights, and swordsmanship that exceeded my expectations. Yet, he was also hard-hearted and calm. Apart from his unknown origins, which made me somewhat hesitant, I was almost eager to recruit him into my inner circle!

That day, he actually mocked my carefully planned political marriage! What right does someone who cares about nothing have to ridicule me! I challenged him to a sword duel, only to find many tokens of love from lovesick men and women flying out of his arms. A shrewd person like him would naturally have them if he wanted them, but among those tokens, I discovered a jade pendant that Xiao Ran had worn since childhood! After a moment's thought, I figured out the whole story and was just waiting to verify its authenticity!

At the Jiang family's birthday banquet, Xiao Ran not only confirmed that Ye Xing was indeed the adopted daughter of Uncle Ze, the "Qin Demon" Xing Ge, but also, based on Old Master Jiang's surprised expression upon first seeing Xing Ge, I was almost certain that he was Yue Jing and Jiang Mei's daughter. He came to help me to repay Uncle Ze's kindness! Could I really be Uncle Ze's son?!

After returning from the birthday banquet, I tested Xingge, and sure enough, he knew about 'Wang Si'. His intimate and uninhibited manner when discussing Uncle Ze made me jealous. Later, I got a little drunk and started practicing swordplay. I fell, and he laughed! Just like that mocking laugh from years ago! I was furious and grabbed his throat. His neck was surprisingly flexible, as if it would snap at any moment, yet laughter still escaped from his two crimson petals, his cold, dark eyes filled with tears of laughter. Without thinking, I bent down to block out his laughter. I was truly drunk, fighting in my drunken dream, disregarding cause and effect, fighting with unbridled joy. Afterwards, I stopped dreaming altogether, completely and utterly drunk…

The next morning, I woke up alone on the terrace, my body aching all over, but I didn't feel cold in my heart.

I frankly expressed my wish, and Xingge's swollen face showed a complicated smile. He asked me for a wish, and after thinking about it for a long time, I agreed.

The next few days at Qiulin Farm were the most relaxing days I've had in years. Xingge's identity made me feel at ease! It was like doing something unspeakable, and having a partner to go along with it.

I should have been happy that Xiao Ran came to see Xing Ge; controlling her would be a piece of cake for him. But then I inexplicably got angry, and what angered me even more was that I couldn't figure out why I was angry!

When I asked about 'Phantom Flower Shift,' he casually mentioned his seemingly unhappy childhood, looking completely indifferent. I suddenly became curious to see what he cared about, what things and people could capture his attention and heart.

A few days later, I asked Xingge to visit Bu's house, and he readily agreed.

That night, I saw him off. When he asked me if Master Bu would be satisfied, I smiled from the bottom of my heart. He wasn't disguised, but the charming and delicate appearance he put on was something no one could ignore.

When I led him into the secret passage, he hesitated for a moment. His hand, as always, was slightly cool, slender yet resilient.

He left without looking back, like a falcon eagerly soaring into the sky! My heart remains undisturbed; I await good news!

13. Bu Jia

The Bu family of Fanzhou, the largest escort agency family in the Northwest, has been renowned for its integrity and trustworthiness for over a century. They monopolize the escort business for officials and merchants in the Northwest. The head of the Bu family had two sons and two daughters. A year ago, he passed the leadership to his eldest son, Bu Qingfeng. Six months later, he completely renounced worldly affairs and traveled the world with his wife. The affairs of the Bu family in the capital are now managed by his second son, Bu Qingyun.

That day, the Bu family's branch in the capital received a shipment from the imperial court bound for Fanzhou, specifically requesting that Second Master Bu personally escort it. Although Bu Qingyun found it somewhat strange, the messenger had already stated the importance of this shipment, and since he had not returned to his hometown for nearly a year, he gladly accepted.

The caravan had been traveling safely for several days and was about to enter Fanzhou territory. One day, while traveling along a desolate post road, Qingyun suddenly heard a woman's sobbing cries for help and a man's mocking laughter coming from the dense forest on his left. Qingyun gestured to the guards behind him to protect the caravan, and then pulled his horse to enter the forest. An older guard hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "Second Young Master, it's best to avoid trouble in this desolate wilderness!"

"Master Wang, helping the weak is the duty of a martial artist. You stay here and watch over the goods. I'll be right back!"

As expected, less than a hundred meters after entering the forest, Qingyun spotted a damaged carriage. Not far away, several men resembling bandits were pulling at a woman. He immediately cried out in anger and drew his sword to help. After a few rounds, the bandits were no match for him and fled. Only after confirming that the bandits were gone did Qingyun turn back to check on the victimized woman.

"I am Lu Nanying, and I thank you for saving my life, young master!"

"Miss Lu, please don't be so polite, please get up quickly!" Qingyun returned the greeting while sizing up the woman in front of him. She was dressed in a moon-white dress, with a delicate and pretty face. She wasn't particularly beautiful, but her eyebrows and eyes had a unique charm. There seemed to be traces of tears on her face, which made her look even more pitiful and touching.

"If it weren't for your rescue today, young master, I fear I would have been killed by bandits..." Her eyes reddened, and her voice choked with sobs.

“Young lady, please don’t be sad. May I ask where you are from? I can arrange for you to return to your hometown.”

"I am from Qingzhou. My parents have passed away one after another. To pay off my family's debts, I worked as a musician in a theater for two years. This time, I was on my way to the capital to find my cousin whom I had not seen for many years, but I did not expect to encounter this calamity on the way..." Before she finished speaking, tears fell again.

Qingyun's heart softened. After a moment's thought, he said seriously, "I am Bu Qingyun from the Bu Family Escort Agency in Fanzhou. This time, I am escorting a round trip of goods from the capital to Fanzhou. We will set off back to the capital within ten days. If Miss Lu has no better arrangements, you can come with me to Fanzhou first, and then go to the capital with the escort team in ten days. The escort team is currently on the post road. What do you think, Miss?"

"In that case, I have no choice but to trouble Young Master Bu. I am truly grateful for your great kindness and do not know how to repay you!" After saying this, she bowed deeply.

Nan Ying took Zhang Qin and a small bundle from the damaged carriage, and followed Bu Qingyun, who was leading the horse, out of the dense forest. She saw the escort team that stretched for nearly a mile along the post road, with the "Bu" character escort flag fluttering in the wind. She sighed inwardly, "What a family with a hundred-year history. Where will you go after this calamity!"

Within three days, they arrived in Fanzhou. The caravan first delivered the goods to the Fanzhou government office, and then proceeded to Bujiabao. Bujiabao was located east of Fanzhou city, built against the mountain, and had been inhabited by the Bu family for generations, dating back about a hundred years. When the Sima clan was conquering the world, the General of the Cavalry was pursued to Fanzhou by enemy troops and attacked. The head of the Bu family led his servants to help him escape the siege. Later, after the Sima clan gained power, they bestowed great rewards upon the Bu family. The ancestor of the General of the Cavalry, Jiang Yi, who is now Minister Jiang in the court, was grateful for the Bu family's life-saving grace and betrothed his daughter to the young master of the Bu family. Subsequently, the Bu and Jiang families had many intermarriages, and the Bu family gradually became the most powerful clan in Fanzhou.

Nan Ying sat alone in the caravan, looking out through the curtain. Every ten steps along the roadside, servants held colorful flags to welcome them. The procession stretched for several miles. The caravan gradually slowed down and eventually stopped. Everyone dismounted and bowed to the head of the Bu family, who had come to the gate to greet them. People inside the caravan couldn't see clearly, but they could hear cheers outside. It was a scene of harmony and joy.

Nan Ying followed the caravan into the fortress and rested in a side hall for about half an hour before a maid came to invite her. They turned through a second corridor and arrived at a small living room.

"Brother, this is Miss Lu. Miss Lu, this is my brother Bu Qingfeng."

"This humble woman, Lu Nanying, greets Lord Bu. I am fortunate to have been rescued by the Second Young Master, and now I must trouble you at your residence. I truly do not know how to express my gratitude." Nanying curtsied, while carefully observing the man before her. This Bu Qingfeng was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a dignified appearance and the demeanor of someone in charge. Judging from his eagerness to welcome the Second Young Master Bu, he was clearly a man of integrity and loyalty... Then she thought to herself, "Indeed, one cannot judge a book by its cover!"

Bu Qingfeng greeted her younger brother, whom she hadn't seen for a year, at the door early in the morning. Her trepidation was quickly replaced by the joy of reunion. After exchanging pleasantries for a long time, when Qingyun mentioned rescuing a woman from a theater on the road, and noticed a red mark on his face, she immediately asked to come and meet him.

This Miss Lu was beautiful and slender. Her demeanor and speech had the charm of a theatergoer, but her temperament was somewhat indescribably aloof. In particular, her eyes, as black as night, revealed no emotion. Qingfeng couldn't help but recall another pair of eyes.

“Miss Lu, please don’t be so polite. It is only right to help someone in trouble. Please stay here for a few days. I, your younger brother, will make sure you are safe.”

14. Qilian

Nan Ying settled into the guest courtyard. No matter how busy he was, the Second Young Master Bu would always sit in the guest courtyard every day, listening to the zither, playing chess, and chatting. Ten days later, he indeed brought news that the goods for the government office were not yet fully prepared, and he would have to stay a while longer. Rumors circulated within the fortress that the Miss Lu, whom the Second Young Master had rescued, was not only beautiful but also intelligent and virtuous, proficient in all the arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—and humble and polite. It was truly a pity she came from a theatrical family.

Inside the guest courtyard, Nan Ying used the same trick again, and within a few days, it became the favorite spot for the maids of the manor. Listening to their chatter, she quickly gained a detailed understanding of the manor's affairs. Two things particularly interested Nan Ying: first, the old manor lord and his wife had suddenly left the manor for a journey half a year ago, without any prior preparation, and there had been no further news since. Second, a young lady lived in a corner courtyard of the manor. The two young ladies of the Bu family had already married, and the people in the outer courtyard were unaware of this young lady; the maids were quite cautious when mentioning her, and they had never been able to see her.

One day, Nan Ying was idly reading in her room when Yuan'er, the head maid of the inner courtyard, came in smiling, carrying pastries.

"Stop looking around, come and try this freshly made lotus seed cake!"

"That's so nice?! What do you want now?" Nan Ying asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

"Good girl, of the patterns you drew the other day, two young ladies liked them the most. She's usually so happy, so why don't you draw two more?"

Nan Ying took a bite of lotus seed cake while looking at the embroidery pattern, and sure enough, it was one of these two!

"Does the young lady like the embroidery?"

"She's a golden girl, how could she embroider these things? We embroidered them to please her."

"If you want to have fun, you can go for a walk in the city with everyone. It's a beautiful spring day outside."

"Miss's body can't withstand such strain,"

"oh?"

"Good girl, please help me, quickly draw some new designs!"

"Alright, alright, for your lotus-scented cake!"

After Yuan'er left, Nan Ying's smile lingered as her gaze fell upon the two embroidered patterns in the Xicang style lying quietly on the table. It really was Xicang! Xicang was still west of Qingzhou, south of the Tianshan Mountains, and north of the Gobi Desert, a region where the current dynasty had fought against the Northern Jurchens for years. The two ethnic groups lived together in the area, and the Bu family monopolized the Northwest's goods transport business. It wasn't particularly unusual for a family to have a woman from Xicang, but to keep her hidden was rather strange.

The next day, when the Second Young Master Bu returned to the guest courtyard, Nan Ying seemingly casually mentioned the matter. The Second Young Master indeed hesitated somewhat, but Nan Ying smiled and brushed it off. That evening, just as the two heads of the Bu family were out attending a banquet, Nan Ying played a tune of "Snow on Tianshan Mountain" in the courtyard, enjoying the gentle breeze and bright moonlight. A moment later, a maid from the inner courtyard came to invite her...

“Miss Lu, my young mistress heard your music in the courtyard and was deeply moved. She would like to invite you over for a chat.”

Nan Ying followed the visitor through several corridors to a secluded courtyard. The courtyard was filled with a field of Tian Shan hemp, appearing both serene and eerily beautiful under the moonlight. Even more serene and eerily beautiful was the tall, graceful beauty standing there in the moonlight, who slowly walked towards Nan Ying.

"Is this Miss Lu? Yuan'er and the others often mention you."

"Yes, Lu Nanying greets Miss."

"Call me Qilian, and may I call you Nanying? I heard you just played 'Snow on Tianshan Mountain.' Are you familiar with Xicang?" Miss Qi asked eagerly as she pulled Nanying into the house.

Nan Ying found this young lady to be quite forthright. Although her speech was a bit stiff, she didn't have a Xicang accent. Upon entering the room, she sighed inwardly, "Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman!" With dark eyes and black hair, her features were stunning, yet she possessed a deep profile and a unique charm that women from the Central Plains lacked. Her figure was slender and graceful, and under the candlelight, Qilian was incomparably radiant!

"I come from a theater family and spent a few years in Xicang. Is Qilian also familiar with Xicang?" Nan Ying replied, pondering to herself. Judging from her appearance, this beauty was of mixed race, but her noble bearing and elegant demeanor suggested she was of aristocratic birth. Her name was Qilian, so she was most likely from the Northern Jurchen clan. Moreover, there was something strange about Qilian before her.

"I am a Northern Jurchen, born at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains and raised in Xicang," Qilian Hao answered without hesitation.

"You speak Central Plains language very well."

“My mother is from the Central Plains, and she taught me a lot about the Central Plains, but I didn’t learn embroidery well enough, otherwise I could have embroidered the patterns you drew.”

Nan Ying felt that the beautiful woman before her was innocent and straightforward, as if she had been lonely for a long time and finally found someone to confide in, which made her exceptionally enthusiastic and happy. She felt a little fondness for her.

"I also learned some Northern Jurchen language in Xicang, would you like to give it a try?"

"You're really good at talking?" Qilian asked in the Northern Jurchen language.

"I only know a little bit, but I'll learn everything from you later!" Nan Ying replied in the Northern Jurchen language.

"Alright, from now on I'll speak your Northern Jurchen language. Will you teach me to read? I'm reading the Book of Poetry, but there are a few parts I don't understand." After saying that, he pulled Nan Ying to the desk, picked up a book, and held it up to the lamp. "It's here. How should this sentence be explained?"

Nan Ying was startled, finally realizing what was amiss. It wasn't the poem in the book, but the bright light nearby, which cast an almost imperceptible glow on Qi Lian's face. Nan Ying seemingly unintentionally pushed the lamp towards the light, exclaiming in alarm, while simultaneously grabbing Qi Lian's wrist and pulling him aside.

"Did you get burned?" Nan Ying asked aloud, but she already knew the answer from the sensation in her fingers.

"Thank goodness you're not! You're incredibly fast!"

"The theater always teaches some fancy moves, but they're useless."

Next, Nan Ying and Qi Lian chatted about the customs and people of various places across the country, which made Qi Lian laugh and envious. Just as they were having a lively conversation, they heard someone outside call out softly, "Lord of the Fortress, you have arrived."

Before the words were finished, Bu Qingfeng had already lifted the curtain and entered.

"Brother Bu, is the banquet over so early?" Qi Lian greeted him affectionately as he stood up.

"The banquet ended early today, so I came to see you," Bu Qingfeng replied with a loving smile, but his eyes turned sharply to Nan Ying. "What brings Miss Lu here?"