Chapter 47 (1/2)
Chapter 47 Rising Wind: Headway
“Your Majesty, the Duke of Anping is here to see you.” The imperial attendant stood below the steps, his head bowed in respect.
“Let him in.” The Emperor continued looking at the scripture held in his hands.
“Summon the Duke of Anping!” The imperial attendant turned and called out.
“Your Majesty, I have arrived.”
“Rise. Seems like there's been a development in the case that I’ve entrusted to you, seeing how you're standing here before me.”
Situ quickly handed the statements to him. “You have many other capable officials in court, your Majesty. I can only help with the minor matters.”
The Emperor smiled. “You are too humble.” He quickly scanned through the statements, and sneered. “Seems like the Ailao kingdom is stirring again. To think that they would stage such a malicious attack against my people just because their country is weak and poor. I’m certain they will stir up more trouble during the diplomatic meet, with the help of the other countries.”
“That was what I’d feared.” Situ calmly added. “However, I have yet to find concrete evidence of the Ailao amba.s.sador’s treachery, and I cannot detain him without it.”
“I trust that you'll be able to find it soon.” The Emperor handed the statements to the imperial attendant, who carefully placed it on the Emperor’s desk.
“That depends on whether your Majesty’s will approve of this plan of mine.”
“What is it?” The Emperor turned to look at him.
“To destroy the statue in the North Plaza, so that we can eliminate the threat posed to the people of Chang'an.” Situ looked directly at the Emperor.
“Do you not know the importance of the statue? Have you thought of all the complications that will arise if we destroy the statue?” The Emperor was composed, his face not showing any hint of displeasure at Situ’s seemingly outrageous proposal.
“I do, and that is exactly why I’d proposed to destroy it.” Situ’s lips curled upwards into a smile. “What if a foreign amba.s.sador attending the Autumnal Meet happen to destroy the statue by accident, and your Majesty merely increased the levy on that country as punishment? How will the rest of the world view this matter then?”
“HA HA HA!” The elderly emperor patted Situ on his shoulder, hard. “It is my fortune to have you in my court, Anping Duke.”
“May I take that as an approval for everything that I plan to do during the Meet?” Situ bowed deeply.
“Do whatever you want. I trust you.” The Emperor returned to his seat. “You may leave now to focus on your preparations. I have many more things to tend to, and do not wish to keep you here any longer.”
“Please take care of your health, amidst your busy schedule, your Majesty. I will take my leave now.” Situ bowed again, and briskly left the hall.
Situ had left for a while, when the Emperor laughed a little, patting the statements on the table. “The Duke is a really capable man, isn’t he? I don't have to worry so much with him around.”
“Of course, your Majesty. The Duke is young but accomplished, conquering the Northern Plains in a mere six years. One could almost say that he is invincible.” The imperial attendant smiled, and answered the Emperor.
The Emperor kept quiet, a half smile on his face, his eyes brooding and foreboding.
Situ walked into Dream Mirrors the next morning, with a hamper of desserts in his hands. Ignoring the dancers and artistes that gathered towards him, he quickly walked around the parlour, unable to find Jiang Moyin and Feng Luodi. He frowned as he left Dream Mirrors briskly, and snapped his fingers together. Two members of his Covert Guards appeared immediately.
“Go to the Jiang and Feng households, and find out what is going on.”
“Yes, General.”
Situ turned to return to his household, but it was a mere five minutes later when one of them returned. “General, the Grand Tutor’s illness suddenly flared up, and Miss Feng is taking care of him at his residence.”
Situ’s face darkened, and quickly turned to walk towards the the Grand Tutor’s residence. “Why did it suddenly act up? He was perfectly fine yesterday!”
“I did not manage to find out the exact reason before I’d came back, General.”
“No matter. I'll investigate this myself. Go and get Zero, and tell him that as well.”
“Yes, General.”
As Situ approached Jiang Moyin’s courtyard, he heard a melody coming from the garden, foreign yet strangely familiar at the same time. It was a melody he had not heard before, but the instrument was familiar to him.
“The Grand Tutor’s illness suddenly flared up last night, and he became bedridden. The Grand Tutor had requested for Miss Feng to play for him when she came by in the morning, and she hasn’t stopped since.”
“Why did that happen? What did the royal physician say about his condition?” Situ asked the head steward as he stepped into the courtyard, his eyes fixated on the person behind the zither in the courtyard. Feng Luodi sat beneath a flowering vine with her back to them, dressed in a robe of pristine white.
“The physician had cla.s.sified it as overexertion. The Grand Tutor has always been sickly, and the autumn chill coupled with his repeated poisonings had resulted in his condition deteriorating rapidly. He just has to rest more, and continue taking the medicine that has been prescribed to him previously.” The head steward looked at Feng Luodi in the yard and continued.
“You can hear just how much Miss Feng is worrying about the Grand Tutor just from her music. The Grand Tutor had even reminded me to wake him up early this morning, when he was due to go out with Miss Feng.”
“I will go in myself; please go ahead with your tasks.” Situ walked through the yard, not making his presence known to Feng Luodi, and headed straight into Jiang Moyin’s room.
“Yes, your Grace.”
Situ entered the room to find Jiang Moyin sleeping lightly, who opened his eyes before Situ could sit down.
“There you are. I didn’t even get the chance to send word to you to tell you where we were.” Jiang Moyin sat up a little. “I didn’t even realise I fell asleep listening to Luodi’s music.”
“She would be glad to know that.” Situ placed a small brazier into Jiang Moyin’s hands.