Sueño de Jiangshan

Capítulo 62

Corrupt officials, bandits, bullies, and robbers tremble at the mere mention of money. They wish they could immediately find a rat hole to hide in. Otherwise, they wouldn't even know how they died before heading to the underworld.

However, Leng Jie did not feel a great sense of accomplishment because of this. There was one thing that had been bothering her and was like a thorn in her throat: their struggle with the Crown Prince had made no progress.

Three years ago, the people of Longmen tracked down a member of the Crown Prince's faction surnamed Zhong who had returned with a letter from Prime Minister Leng, only to find him mysteriously dead in an inn. Afterwards, they sent no further people to search for Prime Minister Leng. Thus, all leads regarding the Crown Prince completely disappeared.

For three years, Leng Jie used all the resources of the Dark Guard and the Dragon Gate, but couldn't find a single trace. The Crown Prince seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth again. There was no further news. But because of this, he was like a super-powerful time bomb that could explode at any moment, keeping Leng Jie and her team constantly on edge.

On the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival, August 15th, in the sixth year of Jingxuan's reign, Leng Jie, who had been away from the capital for three years, finally returned. At this time, she wore a light purple, belted, ankle-length silk dress, with a matching, gossamer-sleeved gauze overlay, making her appear noble and ethereal.

Her long, flowing black hair was tied back in a ponytail with a purple ribbon, making her look even more dashing and radiant.

Her face, weathered by wind and sun, has finally shed the childishness that clashes with her mature and steady demeanor. Her cheeks, untouched by makeup, maintain a healthy and natural rosy glow. Her delicate, upturned nose exhales lightly, and her luscious cherry lips add to her allure.

The only thing that remains unchanged is that pair of captivating, soul-stirring, clear yet profoundly beautiful eyes.

Accompanying her was always her purebred, chestnut-red Akhal-Teke horse—Red Blood. Red Blood was a fitting name Leng Jie had given the horse, signifying not only its crimson color but also praising its unwavering loyalty. This was because it had saved its master's life on several crucial occasions.

With such beautiful women and fine horses appearing at the same time in densely populated areas, at the only gate in the capital that allows free entry and exit, it's practically impossible not to cause traffic congestion.

Leng Jie, who always kept a low profile, frowned involuntarily as she looked at the crowd of onlookers treating her like a spectacle. She wanted to spur her horse forward, but she couldn't bear to harm innocent civilians. However, she had urgent business to attend to, which was why she hadn't even had time to put on makeup. She hastily threw on some clothes, mounted Chi Xue, and rode back to the capital.

Three years ago, at the fake martial arts tournament in Jianzhou, she revealed her true face. This was only the second time she had appeared in public in her true form. She thought the commotion that time was due to her elaborate disguise and her skillful entrance. But judging from the current situation, she seemed to have underestimated the allure of her body itself.

As night fell, the crowd of onlookers only grew larger. This was because it was the time when fishermen from the city were returning from their harvest, and farmers from outside were going home after selling their goods. People in the middle couldn't stand still, so people at both ends naturally gathered more and more. The guards at the city gate were also attracted by the beautiful women and handsome horses, and had long forgotten their duty to direct traffic.

Leng Jie shook her head and sighed; it seemed she simply couldn't keep a low profile any longer. She then pulled out a gleaming plaque engraved with "As if the Emperor were present," and using her inner strength, shouted at the guards on the city wall, "The Emperor's golden plaque is here! You all make way at once!"

The common people didn't recognize the gold medal, but the soldiers guarding the city gates dared not fail to recognize it.

Upon receiving the imperial edict, the officers and soldiers were the first to kneel down and salute, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

A moment later, the people recovered from their shock and involuntarily stepped back. A narrow passage was immediately cleared.

Leng Jie immediately put away the cards, whipped her horse, and spurred it into the city, heading straight for the imperial palace in the city center. Only then did the sounds of people kneeling and shouting "Long live the Emperor!" rise behind her.

…………

Some people feel that time flies by too quickly and cannot be preserved. But there are also many who feel that each day is like a year. For example, Qingfeng, who is currently in Beifeng Kingdom, Xuanyuan Yunli, who is in Jinghe Palace, Shiyu, who is in Jianzhou, and even Duanmu Xingchen, who has just arrived in the capital.

For three years, not a single day passed without them thinking of the same beautiful figure who haunted their dreams. But she remained like a cloud in the sky, beautiful yet elusive, someone they could only admire from afar and dream of, never able to touch or get close to.

For the past three years, since parting ways with her in Wuyou Valley, Qingfeng and she have lived apart, each in their own corner of the world. She cherishes those beautiful memories and endless longing in her heart, hoping the three years will end soon. But counting down the days, it truly feels like each day is an eternity.

Shi Yu fared slightly better than him. Two years ago, when she went to Jianzhou to investigate the Crown Prince's affairs, they met briefly. But before he could express his feelings, she vanished just as suddenly as she had arrived. He tried to find her afterward, but each time he received news of her, she was never in the same place. Moreover, her movements were completely unpredictable. It was impossible to predict where she would go next. Therefore, he could only wait passively for her to come to him. But this hopeless waiting seemed even more unbearable than an eternity.

Fortunately, he had another thing to do: work. He could only numb himself with work. As a result, the development of Jianzhou under his jurisdiction over the past three years was certainly no worse than that of Jinghe and other places.

As for Xuanyuan, if he had known that they wouldn't see each other for three years after parting ways in Jianzhou, he certainly wouldn't have let Ying go to help her when she was in Qizhou. He would have gone himself. Although she had helped him inspect the country, understand the hardships of the people, and punish corrupt officials, allowing him to focus on governing the country and ensuring the people's well-being, he would rather have endured more hardship and worry himself than have her wandering around alone.

But every time he wrote to urge her to come back, her reply was always the same: "The time is not yet!" He didn't know what time she meant, so he could only pray in his heart that the time would come soon.

Duanmu was the luckiest of them all, yet also the most pitiful. He knew her whereabouts best, but he could only follow in her footsteps. Because two silver foxes couldn't appear in the same place, after they parted ways in Qizhou, they could only communicate by carrier pigeon.

But he had finally gotten the chance to see her. Duanmu had been excited ever since he received Leng Jie's message ordering him to come to the capital immediately for a meeting. The journey, which should have taken a day and a half, was completed in just over half a day. Following the instructions in the letter, he waited early on the street closest to the palace gate. As the sun gradually moved westward, and the appointed time for their meeting drew closer, his heart pounded faster and faster.

Finally, as the moon rose, Chi Xue's tall and handsome figure appeared on the deserted street, carrying his beloved whom he had longed for day and night. Duanmu Xingchen's heart pounded like a drum.

The streets in front of the palace were deserted, and Leng Jie spotted Duanmu Xingchen waiting there at a glance. Three years had passed, but he hadn't changed much. Dressed in a dark green brocade robe, with his hair tied up in a jade crown, he still looked handsome and extraordinary, a real heartthrob.

"Whoa—" Leng Jie reined in her horse and stopped beside Duanmu. She dismounted with a "whoosh" and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I was delayed at the city gate just now."

Before Duanmu could respond, she leaned close to his ear and whispered some instructions. Duanmu simply nodded in agreement, without even a chance to utter a complete sentence. Leng Jie had already returned to her horse, leaving behind the words, "It's up to you tonight!"

Then he spurred his horse and rode towards the palace.

After a moment of stunned silence, Duanmu Xingchen, looking disappointed, hurriedly called out to her retreating figure, "Xiao Jie!"

Leng Jie pulled on the reins, turned around, smiled, and asked, "Is there anything else?"

With this smile, everything is possible!

"You should be careful too!" Xingchen said gently.

"I will!" Leng Jie nodded in response, "Go and prepare!"

Leng Jie flashed her gold token and entered the palace gates without hindrance. She stopped the guards who went to report and went straight back to Qingfeng Residence. Everything in Qingfeng Residence was exactly as it had been, as if she had only left yesterday. This made her feel incredibly at home.

"Miss! May I ask what brings you here?" The gatekeeper, a medicine servant, stopped Leng Jie and asked politely.

This is the imperial palace. Aside from palace maids and eunuchs, everyone who can come here is a high-ranking official. And this young lady before them, so noble that one dares not look directly at her, clearly cannot be a palace maid. Now that their mistress is away, although the people of Qingfeng Residence are being looked after by Eunuch Fu, they dare not offend the mistress of the harem as casually as before.

“I am your master’s junior sister, named Leng Jie. I will be staying here for a while. Go and have the steward come to see me.” Leng Jie said as she walked past him.

The butler, who had come upon hearing the voice, paused for a moment before recognizing the celestial-looking young lady before him—the same nameless young master who had looked like a fairy three years ago. He had suspected back then that she was a woman. He was overjoyed to find out she truly was a young lady and went to greet her with delight.

"Young master! You're finally back!"

Seeing the servant's surprised expression, she immediately realized her mistake, slapped herself, and corrected herself, saying, "Look at my eyes! I called her 'Young Master' when she was clearly 'Miss.' I deserve a beating!"

Leng Jie knew the housekeeper had recognized her. She casually handed the blood to the housekeeper and gently instructed, "It doesn't matter what you call me, just take good care of the blood. Also, I'll be staying here for a while, so have someone clean up my old room."

The butler immediately replied, "Miss, you can move in anytime. Your and Young Master's rooms are cleaned every day."

"Thanks!"

Leng Jie nodded in satisfaction and thanked him. She took the bundle off Chi Xue's back, gently patted it as a farewell, and then instructed the steward, "Take good care of my Chi Xue!"

After saying that, he picked up his bundle and turned to walk towards his room.

Leng Jie pushed open the door and went inside. The room was indeed exactly as she had left it. The furniture and bedding were spotless. However, she noticed a pot of cold tea on the table, along with a teacup that someone else had used. The calligraphy brush she had once used to practice calligraphy on the desk also showed signs of recent use.

Has anyone stayed in her room? Qingfeng isn't here, so who else would come to Qingfeng Residence besides her? She's certain the steward and servants wouldn't come to her room for tea. Thinking back to when she said she wanted to stay in her old room, the steward didn't mention anyone else had stayed there. That means that person only came for tea, not to stay overnight. Someone who could leisurely come to Long to drink tea and practice calligraphy—in this palace, besides Xuanyuan, there's probably no one else like him.

Leng Jie shook her head and smiled. Just as she was about to drink the tea, the butler brought hot tea to the door.

“Miss, that’s the Emperor’s leftover tea from last night. You can’t drink it.”

Leng Jie put down the teapot and casually asked, "Does His Majesty often come here for tea?"

"Yes! His Majesty comes to Qingfeng Residence whenever he has time. Sometimes he plays chess in the young master's room, but most of the time he just sits in the young lady's room, lost in thought. His Majesty left late last night, so this old servant didn't have time to clear away the tea set. Today, because of the grand state banquet being held in the palace, all the servants in the manor have been transferred to help, leaving only this old servant and the two gatekeepers, so we haven't had time to come and clean up either. Young lady..."

"What time does the banquet start, and where will it be held?" Leng Jie interrupted the butler, asking anxiously.

"The banquet is being held in the Imperial Garden. It's already started! Is Miss back for the banquet?"

Before the butler could finish his question, he suddenly found himself alone in the room. He muttered to himself, "Uh! So Miss is just as elusive as Young Master!"

Meanwhile, a grand Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was being held in the brightly lit Imperial Garden. Dozens of square mahogany tables were neatly arranged in the garden, which was covered with luxurious carpets. Exquisite ivory chopsticks and perfectly crafted ceramic utensils were set on the tables. The food served was all rare and precious delicacies. In the center of the seating area was an open space of several square meters, prepared specifically for the performances of song and dance. Just by looking at the venue, one could tell the banquet was grand and solemn.

Looking at the list of attendees, the sheer scale and grandeur of the gathering became even more apparent. Besides the imperial concubines, relatives of the emperor, and high-ranking officials, there was also a special group of guests: an envoy from the neighboring state of Xiping.

This was the first time Jinghe and Xiping had exchanged envoys, and it happened to coincide with the Mid-Autumn Festival, so the court officials proposed holding a state banquet in the palace. This would both demonstrate Jinghe's magnanimity and showcase its national strength.

Although Xuanyuan was not enthusiastic about this, and could even be said to be extremely averse to it, because the Jinghe Imperial Palace had always adhered to the principle of building the country through diligence and frugality, and rarely held such extravagant banquets, as the ruler of the country, he could not refuse the ministers' suggestion to demonstrate the nation's strength. Moreover, the envoy from Xiping kept emphasizing that they would present Jinghe with the most lavish gift at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Therefore, both in terms of sentiment and reason, this banquet was unavoidable.

As the high-pitched voice of the eunuch in charge of ceremonies announced their arrival, the guests took their seats one after another.

The most eye-catching group was the envoy from Xiping. They numbered about thirty, including men and women, young and old. All the women veiled their faces. The men were all tall and imposing, with thick waists and strong arms. The older men, probably in their fifties or sixties, wore elaborate Xiping clothing and, instead of appearing kind, exuded a sinister and frightening aura. The youngest was no more than five or six years old, their faces also veiled, like the women, making their features impossible to discern.

Their entourage instilled a great deal of mystery in everyone, prompting much discussion and speculation among the well-informed courtiers and the palace ladies who were largely unaware of world affairs. Only when the loud announcement, "The Emperor has arrived!" did the chaotic scene quiet down.

Emperor Xuanyuan, clad in a bright imperial dragon robe, strode into the hall with his head held high and chest puffed out, accompanied by Eunuch Fu and Ziying. His sharp gaze swept over the entire hall, immediately revealing his imposing imperial aura.

The crowd immediately kowtowed and knelt, shouting three times, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Xuanyuan casually raised his hand and replied indifferently, "Rise!"

These two simple words, though spoken in a seemingly peaceful tone, are filled with aloofness and authority.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The crowd rose and bowed in gratitude, filled with trepidation.

Led by Eunuch Fu, Xuanyuan arrived at the main seat. To his left were the Third Prince and the Empress Dowager. The empty seat to his right was reserved for the Empress. Next to the Empress was Consort Shui. Having been in the palace for three years, this was the first time Shui Rong'er had sat at the same table as the Emperor, and she was naturally overjoyed. However, she had become accustomed to the Emperor's affection for her only in the darkness, while maintaining a distance from her in public. Therefore, she obediently remained in her seat, not longing for the empty seat beside her.

After the emperor took his seat, everyone else followed suit. As the host, Xuanyuan wore a distant smile, raised his cup, and said, "Today's banquet is mainly to welcome and cleanse the dust of our journey for the distinguished envoys of Xiping. Therefore, let us all raise this first cup to the distinguished envoys of Xiping!"

Everyone stood up at the same time to toast the Xiping envoy.

Except for the children, everyone in the Xiping envoy entourage drank the first cup of wine personally offered by the Emperor. Then, the leader of the Xiping envoys, the Crown Prince of Xiping, rose and bowed to the Emperor Xuanyuan, performing their country's traditional salute. He then sincerely said, "I thank His Majesty Emperor Jinghe for his gracious hospitality! To express Xiping's determination to maintain a lasting friendship with Jinghe, I have brought a great gift for Your Majesty today. Please accept it!"

"Oh! I wonder what kind of grand gift Your Highness has prepared for me?" Xuanyuan asked indifferently.

Prince Xiping beckoned to a woman in pink and a veil at the table. The woman slowly stood up and walked gracefully towards the open space in the center of the table.

"Are you going to send him a woman?" A hint of disdain flashed in Xuanyuan's eyes, and a mocking smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

Meanwhile, Shui Rong'er, standing beside him, glared angrily, wishing she could devour the woman in the room.

Many ministers, however, showed obvious delight, for the Emperor no longer wished to select concubines to expand his harem. Furthermore, Consort Shui had remained childless. The Empress could be disregarded entirely. The Emperor's lack of offspring had always been a major worry for the ministers. The saying "The Emperor isn't worried, but the ministers are" perfectly describes their anxieties over this matter over the past few years.

But the current emperor is no longer the cold-faced, aloof little emperor they once knew, easily manipulated. He surpasses even his predecessor in many ways. Judging from his actions over the past few years and his understanding of the common people, they've long concluded that the emperor has taken control of the secret service. However, this is a tacit understanding; no one speaks it aloud, and therefore, no one dares to challenge him. Forcing him to do something he doesn't want to do is tantamount to suicide. An official like the Cold Prime Minister, who leaves no room for criticism, is truly a rare breed indeed.

Now that the Crown Prince of Xiping is risking offending the Emperor by sending him beautiful women, why wouldn't they be happy to oblige?

After the woman from Xiping stood beside the Crown Prince, the five-year-old boy who was also covering his face also came out from the banquet.

Everyone was surprised, as the nobles of Xiping Kingdom had a long-standing habit of keeping male concubines. However, Jinghe, a nation known for its etiquette, strongly disapproved of such practices. The ministers, who had initially shown delight, immediately turned to contempt upon seeing the boy step forward as well.

But Xuanyuan found it amusing. He smiled and asked, "Are these two the precious gifts the Crown Prince intends to present to me? What is their purpose? And what makes them so valuable?"

"Hahaha..." Crown Prince Xiping laughed arrogantly, "As everyone knows, Emperor Xuan of Jinghe married a foolish woman as his empress. And the Consort has been unable to bear children. Just think, how could the mighty Jinghe Dynasty lack a capable mistress and a clever heir? And what I wish to present to Your Majesty are precisely these two people: an empress and a crown prince! I wonder if Your Majesty is satisfied with their use!"

These words caused an immediate uproar! Shui Rong'er turned pale with anger, trembling all over. Her father, Minister Shui, was the first to lose his temper, abruptly standing up and pointing at the Crown Prince of Xiping, shouting angrily, "Insolence! How dare you barbarians insult me like this, Emperor Jinghe! Your words alone are enough to prove that you came here to provoke us, not to negotiate peace. Guards, seize them all!"

Inside the palace, without the emperor's permission, no guards would come to arrest the person. Therefore, the Crown Prince of Xiping, still grinning, looked at the emperor and said, "What? Does Your Majesty dare not accept this gift?"

The emperor, far from being angered by the Crown Prince's words, greeted him with a smile and said, "Whether to accept them or not depends on verification first! Since the Crown Prince says they are my Empress and Crown Prince Jinghe, I believe there must be a reason! Please have them unveil their faces to verify!"

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Highlights

However, the emperor was not angry at the Crown Prince of Xiping's words. Instead, he smiled and looked at the Crown Prince of Xiping, saying:

"Whether to accept them or not depends on verification first! Since the Crown Prince of Xiping claims they are my Empress and Crown Prince of Jinghe, I believe he must have his reasons! Please, Your Highness, have them unveil their faces to verify their identities before making any decisions!"

A glint of triumph flashed in the eyes of the Crown Prince of Xiping, and a sly, contemptuous smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"His Majesty the Emperor truly possesses the demeanor of an emperor! Now, please proceed with the inspection!"

As he spoke, he casually lifted the child's veil, and everyone immediately let out a chorus of "Phew!"

The small face that caught everyone's eye was exquisitely crafted, as if sculpted by a master craftsman. What astonished everyone most wasn't his good looks, but rather his striking resemblance to the Emperor, bearing a five or six-point resemblance. Considering the Crown Prince of Xiping's confident words earlier, they couldn't help but wonder if the child was indeed the Emperor's offspring.

At this moment, beneath his delicate, crescent-shaped eyebrows, a pair of large, bright eyes, clear and bright, blinked with surprise as he surveyed the crowd watching him. His rosy face showed no sign of shock at the scene, only astonishment. He glanced around, finally fixing his gaze on the emperor, who was staring at him with the same astonishment. Then, he suddenly tilted his delicate chin and asked the woman beside him:

"Mother! Is he Yi'er's father, the Emperor?"