Vol 1 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Mo Shang Hua Kai Chapter 3

The scene from the past turned back to the present.

The Emperor decreed an edict, Li Cong Qing was a.s.signed to do the Imperial Inspection, would travel to Chunan and Erhe Province to inspect. To directly check the people’s condition as well as to listen to the voice of the people.

Many of the officials thought, The Emperor most probably was unable to endure this eat-for-free worm anymore, using this inspecting reason to kick him out. However, several high officials who happened to see Li Cong Qing in the Imperial Study that day had a different kind of opinion. Until now, they still had to resist with great difficulty, didn’t dare to share with other people about this couldn’t be told secret, they almost exploded from holding back.

For the court to dispatch an Imperial Inspection was something common, to represent the Emperor who couldn’t often travel on a long journey to inspect the world.  However, this time was rather special because The Emperor ordered Wei Xiao Miao to travel together with the representative.

Wei Xiao Miao since childhood had been chosen to be Third Prince’s, ---currently The Emperor, personal attendant. The whole education and training he had to undergo was definitely different than with other Palace’s attendants. Naturally, his status was not the same. Moreover, he was growing up together with the Emperor, it could even be said that they were inseparable body and shadow, always together.

He was not a mere personal attendant of the Emperor. He was also the Chief of the Palace’s Internal Affairs. He held the highest position in the inner palace as a third rank level official. Although his rank was lower compared to the other high officials, and he was an eunuch, however, in the Inner Palace he had the control over essential authority. In the Imperial Court, more or less, he also had an influence. Most of the higher officials respected him to some extent.

Such an important attendant of the Emperor was given to Li Cong Qing to go along with him, of course it would lead to another theory. The one who was truly dispatched for the Imperial Inspection was actually Wei Xiao Miao. Li Cong Qing was a mere paper tiger1 to be used for outward appearance.

Indeed, it was the truth. Li Cong Qing was taking this task as to visit various scenic spots. All the relevance affairs were taken care of by Wei Xiao Miao. He was only in charge of sitting in the horse carriage and having fun in wherever place they arrived. Just barely having some respect, he was a rather irresponsible person, he only cared to lay idly and live leisurely, just the same as having nothing but this willful thinking.

The Emperor connived in his willful thinking to live comfortably as he pleased in accordance to his temper. But this time, to allow him to leave his side for this long, he couldn’t help but have this reluctant to part with him feeling.

This time, the departure of the Imperial Inspection from the Capital was also not the same from how it used to be. Before, The Imperial Inspector, after the courtesy from receiving the Imperial Edict, would select the date of departure on one’s accord. But to unexpectedly have the Emperor to see him off from the Capital until the Capital’s outskirt personally, before Li Cong Qing left, The Emperor even entered the horse carriage to be alone with him. [To have a secret talk!]

Ehem, this [secret talk] was not the kind of prohibited for viewers under eighteen’s vivid show that the adult readers expected. That kind of limited affairs had been performed coa.r.s.ely and wildly three days ago. It was unnecessary to do it one more time in the horse carriage. Too tiresome!

“Truly unwilling to let you go to that faraway place.” Song Yu was holding him in his arms, kissing him with his reluctant to part feeling.

“Then just don’t a.s.sign me to go.” Li Cong Qing disapprovingly said while yawning exhaustedly.

Because he was about to leave soon, the Emperor was half forcing him to stay overnight in the Imperial Palace. Spending the spring night* pa.s.sionately three times in a row indeed exhausted him. Last night he was letting him having his way, to the point where the Emperor wouldn’t let him off before early in the morning. Fortunately, because of the preparation for the Imperial Inspection, he wouldn’t have to attend the morning court, so he could have his hard earned luxury of sleeping until late in the morning and to be up later than usual. He didn’t need to suffer the drag and pull by Zhougong [2] in the Grand Audience Hall.

To speak the truth, he was not keen at all to go to the place where ‘Heaven is high and The Emperor is far away’[3]. On one side, he had to suffer the travel-worn, on the other side, he had to part too far with his lover the Emperor. Despite he never said it out loud, from the bottom of his heart, he was also very much reluctant to part with Song Yu. After all, he had become accustomed in indulging himself in each other’s company. Suddenly had to separate to go on a long journey, he really couldn’t get used to it.

“There is some matter that you of course will understand.” Song Yu as if had a profound meaning behind his words.

“Your Majesty has confused this humble subject.”

“Cong Qing, I want you to firmly remember one thing.”

“What is that?”

“Whatever might happen, I will always be here to wait for you.”

“I will be back as soon as possible.” Li Cong Qing was a little confused and couldn’t comprehend his words, but didn’t ask further.

“No need to rush. Just come back when you feel like it.” Song Yu gazed at him meaningfully. “However, don’t let me wait for too long, there will be a day when my patience inevitably will be used up.”

“Your Majesty…” Li Cong Qing had the feeling even more that he wasn’t like his normal self. Every word that he said seemed to drop a hint. What was he hinting at?

“Now go. Be careful on your way. Take good care of yourself. Don’t let me feel anxious. Understand?”

“Mm, I know.”

Both of them stepped down from the horse carriage together. Li Cong Qing once again paid his courtesy to the Emperor with a bow while clasping his hands in front of his chest as a farewell salute. Then slowly disappeared from the Emperor’s line of sight. But, the several high officials who were accompanying the Emperor to see him off had gone crazy from their own wild disordered imaginations. Really wanted to shout to the heaven, ---The Emperor and the Ministry of Rites a.s.sistant must have some kind of (affairs[4]) AAAAA………. ---

The Imperial Inspection’s group traveled with little luggage and few attendants, all together the group was made up of fourteen. Besides Li Cong Qing and Wei Xiao Miao, there were still two officials who followed them on this trip, four bodyguards on horses, three attendants, and three cart drivers ; The four bodyguards on horses were guarding them by lining up in the front, back, left, and right. The other pa.s.sengers were divided to the three carriages.

Li Cong Qing and Wei Xiao Miao were together in a carriage. Their carriage’s floor was paved by a layer of thick but soft carpet. To provide them an extensive comfort. The small table by the side was pinned with a piece of thin metal, to make the magnetic tea set stay safely set on the table.

“Xiao Miao, you already know, me, regarding other people’s affairs I usually don’t like to pry. However, this time I couldn’t not ask. Why is it His Majesty wanted you to accompany me on this trip?” Li Cong Qing suddenly asked with an indifferent tone.

“His Majesty wanted his subject to serve Sir Li.”

“It must be more than that.”

Although this Sir Li ordinarily was careless and absent-minded in appearance, there would be times when he surprised people with his keen observation. Wei Xiao Miao couldn’t help but become speechless, he didn’t know what he should say, regarding the Seventh Prince’s matter…

“Chunan…I have never been there before, I wonder what kind of place would it look like?” Li Cong Qing listlessly propped up his chin while speaking. “The Seventh Prince, three years ago, pleaded to be sent to Chunan. At that time, many people were extremely shocked. Why would a Prince go to a place where ‘birds don’t defecate and hens don’t lay eggs?[5] It was practically asking for banishment on his own accord.”

Wei Xiao Miao remained silent.

“Forget it, in any case, i will never understand these people of royal family’s way of thinking. It is better if I take my sleep.” Li Cong Qing made another big yawn, inclining his body to recline, to catch up on his sleep.

Wei Xiao Miao took a piece of silk cloth to cover his body, attentively he took care of his master’s most beloved person. He entered the Palace when he was nine years old. At ten, he was chosen to serve his present Master, the Emperor. In a blink of an eye, fifteen years had pa.s.sed. He had never seen the Emperor dote on someone to this extent. To the point that he no longer accepted new Imperial Concubines. He even made less Imperial Visitations to the Imperial Harem.

If one wanted to say who had the most understanding regarding the Emperor and Ministry of Rites a.s.sistant’s affairs, haiii…, romantic love life, then it would have to be none other than Wei Xiao Miao.[6] He quietly witnessed it from the very beginning until now. Silently, he helped them to keep this secret.

If you curiously asked him, what actually was the turning point, what kind of faithful encounter for these two people brought them together until now, he would say, it was roughly six years ago, at the Spring Festival with the incident of the a.s.sa.s.sination attempt.

*************************

Talking about a.s.sa.s.sins, one couldn’t not say that the occupation as The Emperor was full of danger in his line of duty. At all times and all places, there would be possibilities of life threatening situations. That’s because no matter whether what you had done was good or bad, there would always be people who tried to kill you with poison, burn you to death with fire, trample you to death with a horse, threw snakes to bite you to death, lifted the knife to chop you to death, took a sword to stab you to death…Persistently and dauntlessly, wouldn’t be satisfied if not attempting to harm you to death numerous times. Didn’t know which historian reviewer said these words because of this situation ---

‘An Emperor who never met with an a.s.sa.s.sin, couldn’t be regard as a real Emperor.’  (Soft roar, without intimidation.)  ---

After ruling by virtue for five years, nearly one year after the said Imperial exam.

The Emperor of Dashao would hold an annual memorial ceremony every spring, by the day marking the beginning of the forth solar system[7], to pray for the Heaven to bestow the year with favorable weathers for the crops to grow, for all five grains to have a b.u.mper harvest. After the Spring Ceremony, what else but the routine Grand Banquet.

The Spring Ceremony’s Banquet was the Emperor’s important annual festival which allowed the commoners to have fun together in this joyful Grand Banquet. Not only the relatives of the Emperor, the kin of the officials and non-officials, this Grand Banquet also allowed the local commoners who were the native of the nation to partic.i.p.ate. These local commoners had to go through a selection, they must possess some traits, ranging from benevolent integrity, filial piety, loyalty and righteousness. The people who had this quality, would be recommended by their local authorities to come. And even ones with a high honorable reputation, in their lifetimes only had this one chance to come to the Imperial Palace to sight-see. Not to mention having the opportunity to have an audience with the sacred countenance of the Emperor.

Obviously, there were also people who would like to spend lots of money to buy the place. Li Cong Yin also bought that one ‘Kind and Charitable’ place, in high spirit, he excitedly entered the Palace to partic.i.p.ate, to entice more customers for the sake of his business. In short, if there were a.s.sa.s.sins mixed in with the commoners to get in, it also was not something that was beyond expectation.

It was told that from the beginning, Li Cong Qing who pa.s.sed last year’s Imperial Exam was a.s.signed to a.s.sume the position in The Ministry of Revenue. A position that would dim the freshly graduated official’s ring of light not long after he had a.s.sumed the position. A department in the Palace which had lots of third rank officials like himself. If one wanted to be promoted, wanted to make fortune, then one had to rely on their own actual strength.

The Ministry of Revenue was in charge of administering for the whole nation’s territories, farm lands, census register, taxes, the payments and the salaries, national treasury, as well as every financial arrangement. It was the busiest department among the Six Boards of Ministries. Their daily jobs included writing, copying, transcribing, counting this and counting that all day long. Li Cong Qing who had a listless nature was forced to work hard until he was badly battered and in terrible shape. How he wished he could resign from his official post and return to his original job as the shopkeeper of a bookstore.

If not, he hoped he could be transferred to another department that was more relaxing compared to this one. For example, The Ministry of Rites.

Although being busy, he should still rest when it was time to rest. The officials could partake in the Palace’s banquet, this was his opportunity to seize the chance to take a break from work. At the very least, on that day, he didn’t need to stay up all night to work overtime. Imagine, a person who only needed a cup of wine to become limitlessly drunk, could he properly calculate the exact amount of taxes, payments or the correct expenditure of funds to build a bridge and to pave the roads?

Li Cong Qing attended the Spring Grand Banquet. He who had zero tolerance for liquor drank a little wine, because if he didn’t drink the wine, there was a possibility he might get caught and dragged back to work by the workaholic a.s.sistant of the Revenue Minister, to accompany him in playing with the amusing everlasting layer by layer stacks, like little happy mountains of files.

A few cups of yellow rice wine down his belly, caused the usually loving to sleep Li Cong Qing all the more to lose his consciousness. However, the banquet had yet to end. His Majesty the Emperor still enjoyed the festival with the commoners somewhere far away. They were merely lowly officials, of course they couldn’t leave earlier than the Mighty Emperor.

Using the need to urinate as his excuse, he freed himself from Geng Bai Zuo who constantly urged him to drink. Searching for a desolate place behind the Chinese Rose hedge, he enjoyed his undisturbed leisurely free time. Ever since he entered the Palace to work, it had been a long time since he had this kind of careless and sloppy time when he didn’t have to do anything. He simply laid down peacefully on the soft and cold lawn of gra.s.s. Floating about during the s.n.a.t.c.hed gap.

The half-moon in the mid-spring. The Chinese Roses were in bloom. The full bloom of the Liu Chao Jin Fen in the magnificence of multicolored splendor, filled the air with the luxuriant floating lush fragrances of the flowers.

Amidst the flowers and under the moonlight circ.u.mstances caused the drunken with bleary eyes Li Cong Qing to happily and care-freely recite a poem in scattered verse. The first half of the poem he recited < hao=”” s.h.i.+=”” jin=””>>: “Fei Yan Xin Zhuang, strived to dye the path between the field with its radiance of spring. The outstanding beauty of Xi s.h.i.+ Zui Wu, drunk to its heart’s content behind the sleeve.” He recited another half verse <>: “Jiao Rong San Bian, filled the small hedges on the yard with its bustling spring color. Amidst the flowers and the wine, envy the carefree and leisure contented old man.” Another poem <> “Happily drunk in the Jade Tower for a while, gazed upon the Su Yu Han Hong. Lazily wrapped in thin clothes to sleep in the cold night, the pillow of spring flowers fragrance’ every night.”   --- (note)

Casually recited the poem in disorder, every verse was chanted in a such lazy way, he recited while mimicking the little puppy playing in the meadow, rolling here, rolling there, without any cause he would burst out into laughter, amusing himself, becoming extremely happy.

Extremely drunk!!

The next scene was what was normally written in the book ---- Precisely at the moment when the Emperor leisurely pa.s.sed by, was precisely the moment he recited the poem’s verse with a laughter which attracted the Emperor’s attention. Afterwards, precisely at the moment he was playfully rolling here and rolling there on the cl.u.s.tered full bloom flowers, was precisely the moment the Emperor caught a glimpse of him. Because of this, The Emperor had a clear look at him.

It could be said, a predestined affinity was indeed a wonderful thing, right?

Last year, after the Imperial examinations, The Emperor didn’t pay him any special attention. But the Emperor’s ability to remember such things was much more superior compared to the ordinary people. Therefore, he roughly had an impression, about the man who seemingly lacked of good virtues yet had lips like spring flowers.

But now, seeing this man after a year, his spa.r.s.e figure was floating among the fragrance. His drunken appearance was simply innocent, charmingly naïve.

< hao=”” s.h.i.+=”” jin=””>>, <> , <> … The Emperor unconsciously slightly raised the corner of his mouth. Unexpectedly, this ordinary man had a refined and romantic literary grace. Using his tipsy mellow feeling to comply with his chant, he leisurely recited those splendid verses. Between the words and the lines was the undulated sluggishness of flirtatious expressions.

Lazily wrapped in thin clothes to sleep in the cold night, the pillow of spring flowers’ fragrance every night. What a charming reverie to attract infinite thoughts.

“Your Majesty, should we wake him up?” Wei Xiao Miao who accompanied him asked in a whisper.

“No need.”

During the banquet, the drunken people who staggered about could be seen everywhere. Wasn’t really a strange thing. The Emperor walked away from the man who was wrapped around the flower’s hedge, let this drunkard be immersed in his own world.

Li Cong Qing absolutely didn’t know that his drunken state had been seen by the Emperor. Absent-mindedly he took his drunken nap. Sinking in his dreamland, looking for Zhougong who shared the same great luck with him, to play chess.[8]

Just when he was excitedly fought in at close quarters, he was about to beat Zhougong’s army in total defeat, Zhougong became hostile and unexpectedly lifted the table, shouting loudly: “a.s.sa.s.sin!! An a.s.sa.s.sin!! Quick!! Capture the a.s.sa.s.sin!!”

Tsk!! Really didn’t have the quality to play chess!! Fortunately this old man was an ancestor of the sages that he had to respectfully wors.h.i.+p.

Turning his body, he resumed his nap. Wanting to arrange the chessboard back.

It happened so suddenly, there was someone unexpectedly coming in his direction and stepped on his body. He cried out in pain and suddenly got up with a start. Opening his eyes, he wanted to see, actually who was it that stepped on his body. Just about to open his eyes, there wasn’t enough time to look clearly, his body was already weighed down by a heavy object.

“Protect His Majesty!!”

“Quickly capture the a.s.sa.s.sin!!”

“Hold him down!! Don’t let him run away!!”

The noisy uproar was rapidly closing in from a far. Ferociously noisy with murderous-intention.

So actually it wasn’t because Zhougong had lost in the chess game that he acted shamelessly. There was truly an a.s.sa.s.sin. The wine effect hadn’t completely worn off, Li Cong Qing was pondering in a daze. So to say, the one who stepped on him was….. an a.s.sa.s.sIN??!!

That’s right! He was an a.s.sa.s.sin!!

That a.s.sa.s.sin, when he was trying to jump over the flower’s hedge, he stepped on Li Cong Qing, losing his central of gravity and tumbled to sit on Li Cong Qing’s body.

Without any coincidence, there would be no stories. In this world, there were such things as being in the worst of luck until one couldn’t be even worse anymore. There was a person who was walking on the road who could actually be caught in the midstream of thunder and lightning. The poor Li Cong Qing, reclining on the ground, being stepped upon, being weighed down, breathed in a little air, but had to gasp out a lot of air, the mouthful of air had difficulty to pa.s.s his narrow pa.s.sage causing him to be unable to breathe.

This a.s.sa.s.sin also had extremely bad luck. He chose the wrong route to escape. A single slip might cause lasting sorrow. Already slipped and fell, would he be able to turn around and flee? The large number of Imperial Guards were rus.h.i.+ng like swarms, surrounding him in a circle to block his way, along with the unable to get up for a while, Li Cong Qing.

The Emperor saw the a.s.sa.s.sin ran to the direction where Li Cong Qing was reclining, jumped to cross over the flowers hedge, soon after that an out of pain cry was transmitted. Upon hearing this painful cry, in his heart, he couldn’t help but have a fearful feeling. Unable to conceal his worry, he went to Li Cong Qing’s place, afraid that he had been killed by the a.s.sa.s.sin.

Without much consideration, without being guarded tightly by his guards, he moved closer. Ignoring the anxious bodyguards who wanted to protect him by blocking his way, with him unable to restrain the concern, he strode forward to the a.s.sa.s.sin and Li Cong Qing’s direction.

Li Cong Qing endured the pain and made an effort to get up. But his body hadn’t had the chance to stand upright properly, a long glittering sword was already on his neck. Made him unable to decide, should he stand upright? Or was it better if he goes back to recline on the ground? This drunken insect who loved to sleep eventually became scared to death, unable to hold the pea-sized cold sweat from rolling down.

“Don’t come here!! If you come, I will kill him!!” The killer in the commoner’s attire shouted out his threat. Looked like he was mixing himself in the crowd of commoners who entered the Imperial Palace for sightseeing.

Li Cong Qing was being seized as hostage.

The Imperial Guards who surrounded them didn’t dare to make any reckless movement, only confronted him with their glaring eyes.

The Emperor opened up the barricade, entered the inner side of the made of people wall, ordered with his solemn manner and deep voice : “Let him go.”

“Make way!!” The a.s.sa.s.sin who took Li Cong Qing as his hostage made a very slow s.h.i.+fting, attempting to charge out alive.

“Your subjects are waiting for Your Majesty’s order.” The Chief of the Imperial Guards was waiting for the Emperor to give his order, to lift the sword and kill the a.s.sa.s.sin, didn’t pay much consideration for the safety of the hostage.

The Emperor calmly raised his hand, signaling the prohibition of impatient action. He didn’t want Li Cong Qing to be harmed, so much to the point of death.

As it went like the saying goes, even if you closed your door and sat inside the house, the calamity would still befall upon you. Li Cong Qing truly received the descended from Heaven’s calamity, his facial senses had formed a sad shape[9], stammering said : “A…aiii…. , Honorable Sire, Heroic Sir, Big Brother a.s.sa.s.sin, I am but an insignificant lowly ranking official. You take me as a hostage is of no use.”

“SHUT UP!! Be mindful or I will kill you!” The a.s.sa.s.sin roared with an angry voice.

The sharp edge of the knife was pressing close to his skin, Li Cong Qing obviously could feel the chilly cold air of the metal, furthermore, he could feel that the a.s.sa.s.sin’s hand was shaking greatly. He was extremely afraid that the a.s.sa.s.sin’s terrible shake, once he made a slip because of the trembling, he would snap his neck and send him to be the son-in-law of the King of h.e.l.l. In that case, he indeed had been treated unjustly to death.

“Honorable Sire, Heroic Sir, Big Brother a.s.sa.s.sin, may I plead, could you please not tremble?” Li Cong Qing was sincerely pleading to him. Hoping that he would emit compa.s.sion and didn’t tremble like crazy anymore. Two of his fingers, while trembling in fear were trying to pinch away the sword’s edge, trying to move them away a little bit.

“SHUT UP!! Don’t move!!” The a.s.sa.s.sin was using more strength to press him down using the sword.

Li Cong Qing hurriedly withdrew his fingers, so as not to let his fingers be the first to suffer, he stiffened his body, didn’t dare to move randomly. An idea pa.s.sed through his mind like a flash of light. Mustering up his courage, he attempted to negotiate by reasoning with him: “Honorable Sire, Heroic Sir, Big Brother a.s.sa.s.sin, I understand that you must have unsatisfied feelings towards the Imperial Government, you bravely risked your life to face the danger and entered the Imperial Palace , thinking about sharing your opinion to His Majesty the Emperor. Everything could be talked over. Need not to move the knife or s.h.i.+ft the sword, alright?”

“What s.h.i.+t do you know!!”

“Honorable Sire, Heroic Sir, Big Brother a.s.sa.s.sin, you may not speak like that. The saying goes: ‘To say you know when you know, and to say you don’t know when you don’t know.’ If you say, then I will know. If you don’t say, of course I wouldn’t know.”

“What kind of know this know that, I don’t understand you! I just know that I want to kill that dog Emperor!!”

“Honorable Sire, Heroic Sir, Big Brother a.s.sa.s.sin, as far as I know, the Emperor isn’t like a dog, but like a rat.”

“Hmph!! Then, that rat Emperor!!”

“Honorable Sire, Heroic Sir, Big Brother a.s.sa.s.sin, put down your knife, repent and attain enlightenment.” Li Cong Qing patiently tried to persuade him, sincerely advised him, he looked exactly like an old monk from a temple.

“I am holding a sword, not a knife!!” The blue veins on the forehead of the a.s.sa.s.sin were twitching greatly.

“Honorable Sire, Heroic Sir, Big Brother a.s.sa.s.sin, put down your sword, repent and attain enlightenment.” People would be able to think fast in an emergency. Li Cong Qing was emitting cold sweat. He was practically babbling nonsense.

“I don’t want to attain enlightenment!! I want to kill that dog Emperor!” The blue veins of the a.s.sa.s.sin were twitching like crazy as if almost burst out the blood vessel.

“Honorable Sire, Heroic Sir, Big Brother a.s.sa.s.sin, it is a rat……”