Chapter 516: Prophecy Of The Broken Beam (2/2)
Second Brother was startled and he asked, ”What should we do?”
The Headmaster said, ”Your Youngest Brother was studying the truth of Tao enlightenment by the Daming Lake while he was cooking fish. However, he still cannot fully understand the truth of this world. Whether the fish is fried or cooked, it will end up being eaten.”
Second Brother learned from the statement and said, ”Then we shall wait for them to start the trouble.”
The Headmaster suddenly thought of something and his expression turned grave. He had forgotten to remove the bamboo ladle from the pot and its sides were singed. The fish smelled like it was starting to burn.
After some time, the Headmaster laughed without restraint. He said, ”Even if the fisherman dies, it doesn't mean that fish can't be caught. If the cook dies, it doesn't mean that fish can't be fried. The beam cannot hold the broken house all the time. Someone can only jump from the beam if it breaks. Even though these two things have nothing to do with each other, troublemakers will always be troublemakers.”
Ning Que did not know that the patriarch commented on him in such a serious and prudent tone. After Sangsang had confirmed that there was something wrong with the old steward, he had written two letters immediately and sent them to Chang'an. After that, he did not think about the matter again.
He ranked last in the back of the mountain. There were the Headmaster and his powerful Senior Brothers and Sisters who could settle the problems in Qinghe County. He did not need to worry. He boarded the black horse carriage and left Yangguan City with Sangsang. Two days later, they stopped at a port.
There were no inconsequential robbers trying to rob them. Neither were there any stupid officials who wanted to collect bribes. What had stopped the horse carriage was a misty, endless water.
The lake before the wild in the south of the Tang Empire had an ordinary name. It was called the Great Lake. Only those who had seen it could feel the power behind the simple name. The lake was extremely big. There was no other word that could describe it other than that.
Just like that yellow river further south.
The Great Lake was mighty and stretched across the land for miles. Even birds would find it difficult to cross. Even the most powerful cultivator could not cross it without a boat.
This was the largest lake in the world. It stretched between the two most powerful countries. When Haotian decided to make a buffer between the Tang Empire and the South Jin Kingdom, it would cause plenty of inconveniences for people in the world as well as bring forth peace to them. There would be different types of boats for goods and people to move freely between the north and south. When the mist dissipated, one could see numerous s.h.i.+ps over the reeds, which would be majestic and beautiful.
However, the black horse carriage could only wait by the Great Lake. The path to South Jin Kingdom had been sealed and many large fleets of the Tang Empire were waiting for the diplomatic delegation to arrive.
Ning Que had many ways to ignore the martial law. He could just leave quietly. However, it was better to wait for the delegation than to take out his token to reveal his ident.i.ty and have the fleets open a path for him, whether it was for the sake of peace or, as the Old Master Cui said, he was born to be a cold and cautious person.
Fortunately, the scenery at the Great Lake was mesmerizing enough and the delegation didn't spend too much time to come over. They arrived just as he was about to get bored with the autumn reeds, and sick of eating raw lake fish.
On the Tang Empire's fleet, Ning Que saw the main amba.s.sador— Xian Zhilang, who was the Defender General of the West and was famous for his powerfulness and resourcefulness— of the delegation for the first time.
The head seat at the main hall of the battles.h.i.+p was empty. Ning Que and Xian Zhilang sat across each other because it was hard to make out who was lower in status.
The Defender General of the West was not simple.
This was Ning Que's first impression on Xian Zhilang.
He thought that to himself as he looked at the man who looked feminine and had a disposition that was more akin to a scholar's.
”I'm on the Princess' side. To be more exact, if the Emperor leaves, I will be loyal to Prince Li Huiyuan. Do not look at me like that. This cannot remain a secret forever.”
Xian Zhilang looked at him and smiled, ”This was not a secret anymore when the Princess attempted to have me replace Xia Hou. Furthermore, I believe that since the Empress tried her best to have His Majesty put me in this delegation, she must have known about my relations.h.i.+p with the previous Empress.”
This was a very honest conversation. It made Ning Que think of Yangguan City and how the Master of the Family Cui had begun his speech. So he laughed and asked in a direct manner, ”I don't know anything about it.”
Xian Zhilang said, ”I was Empress Ren Xiao's manservant before she married into the palace.”
Ning Que said, ”This relations.h.i.+p is quite distant.”
Xian Zhilang looked at Ning Que in the eye and said, ”And I'm on good terms with Chao Xiaoshu.”
Ning Que said, ”What do you want to say?”
Xian Zhilang said, ”I want to win your favor.”
Ning Que said, ”The Academy prohibits us from interfering with court affairs. Furthermore, you are already a bigwig in the military. I don't think it is meaningful for you to win my favor.”
Xian Zhilang smiled and replied, ”The Academy prohibits students from interfering with court affairs. But that does not apply to those who have entered the human realm. If you aren't allowed to do anything, why did the Headmaster let you enter the human realm? Besides...”
He suddenly leaned forward and whispered mysteriously, ”...Xu s.h.i.+ is old.”
Ning Que shook his head and said, ”It seems that I have underestimated your ambitions. And you have overestimated mine. Do not forget, I am now the most unpopular person in the military of Tang Empire right now.”
Xian Zhilang smiled and said, ”But I welcome you.”
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