Chapter 88.2 - Collapse (Part II) (2/2)
Thus, with layer upon layer weighing them down, how could the Grand Councillor fu even have the slightest glimmer of opportunity to escape?
In this way, the Grand Councillor fu collapsed and Eighth Prince also suffered a great loss of power and influence. Meanwhile, Fifth Prince had benefited the most, but the Zhao family had also gained much.
Why had the General fu, who had always remained aloof from worldly affairs, and quietly remained neutral, acted so uncharacteristically? The disappearance of several hundred elite soldiers the previous night clearly had their signature all over it. When had the methods of the General fu become so ruthless?
And, what about Guan Liang Han? Why had Guan Liang Han taken part in this affair?
Li An swiftly made connections between all these, the General fu, Guan Liang Han . . . suddenly, a name appeared in his mind – Jiang Xin Zhi.
The General fu was the family of Jiang Xin Zhi’s biological mother, and Jiang Xin Zhi was Guan Liang Han’s Deputy General.
The faint smile of a young lady appeared before him, a charming young lady with cold eyes, bearing an ambiguous expression.
He suddenly remembered what Li Dong had mentioned to him the day before. “Your elder brother wants to marry that slut, Jiang Ruan, and the Jiang family has already made arrangements to send the geng tie over.”
At that time he had been preoccupied with checking the area around the reservoir to ensure that nothing was out of place, and was disinclined to argue with Li Dong.
However, now that he thought about it, those words were like a bolt of lighting appearing out of the blue and ferociously striking his heart.
If Li Yang wanted to marry Jiang Ruan, it could only be to torment her, because Jiang Ruan had castrated him.
But before the geng tie could be sent over, the Grand Councillor fu had been seized and searched.
A dreadful conjecture came to mind – that the General fu had changed from its usual laid-back style to a ruthless and aggressive one, that the Guan family soldiers had been involved – could it all have been due to Jiang Ruan?
While he was waiting for the opportunity to lure his prey into the trap, the prey had instead aimed at his backyard.
A diversion[3]– it was an excellent diversion!
[3] Sheng dong ji xi ( 声东击西 ) – lit. to threaten the east and strike to the west.
Li An stood where he was, feeling the great weight of depression in his heart. He abruptly straightened his neck and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
“Young Master Li!” the imperial bodyguard said in shock.
Xuan Li also stared at him in shock. Li An was a subtle and profound person, highly intelligent and self-controlled; when had he ever been so dazed and beside himself in distraction? He frowned and said, “Why don’t you first . . .”
“Your Highness, there’s something I have to do.” Without warning, Li An cupped his hands in salute and said, “Li An will take his leave first.” So saying, he leapt out of the window and disappeared.
“Your Highness, should we give chase?” An imperial bodyguard asked.
Xuan Li waved his hand. “No need, he is an intelligent man, and he won’t do anything without reason.” He kneaded his forehead; this sudden situation had left him feeling unbearably exhausted. It was truly hard to understand. How could something that was as good as guaranteed turn out this way? The present circumstances of the Grand Councillor fu had really put him in a difficult position, neither able to retreat or advance.
He would have to sacrifice his rook to protect his king, but this rook was his most important bargaining chip. How could he be willing to do so?
“Why hasn’t that monk been brought here yet?” Xuan Li asked, in a rather jittery manner. It was clear that the damage to the reservoir had been man-made, but the rainfall becoming heavier could not possibly have been orchestrated by humans. Could it be possible that the monk actually had some gift? If this were true, if he could make use of him and snatch him from Fifth Prince’s hand, it would make up for the losses he had incurred previously.
Just as he asked this, an imperial bodyguard ran into the room and said, in a panic, “Your Highness, it’s not good, someone has seized hold of that monk!”
* * *
In the Guan fu.
Guan Liang Han paced back and forth, looking at Xiao Shao, who was looking pensive. He could not help but say, “I’ve f**king reached the end of my patience, why won’t you let me ask Jiang Xin Zhi about last night’s happenings? How dare you steal my seal? And, why did you suddenly deploy your troops last night? You’re not worried that rascal Xuan Li will recognise your Jin Yi guards?”
“He won’t say anything.” Xiao Shao sat in front of the table and said, “It’s very obvious, someone wants to deal with the Li family.”
“The Grand Councillor fu? Guan Liang Han burst out in laughter before saying, “The Grand Councillor fu has been seized and sealed, I am utterly delighted! Li Dong, that old boor, I always knew that there was something off about him. For so many years, he’s been prancing around in the skin of the Grand Councillor, and this time he’s fallen flat on his face! What did you just say? Someone wants to deal with the Li family? Who? Jiang Xin Zhi?”
“Jiang Xin Zhi doesn’t know anything at all. There’s no use asking him,” Xiao Shao said indifferently.
“You won’t say anything about this, you won’t say anything about that, you’ll be the death of me!” Guan Liang Han said, “How did the Zhao family get mixed up in this? Furthermore, what kind of ability does that monk next door really have? He just has to say a few words about the rainfall getting heavier and the reservoir collapsing, and you all just up and move all the people to the top of the mountain? This b*st*rd is too god-like!”
“Watch Hui Jue closely and get some men to protect him.” Xiao Shu said, as a reminder, “Xuan Li is bound to ask all over the place for his whereabouts, and might even arrange to kill him to prevent his secrets from being found out.”
“Understood.” Guan Liang Han rubbed his hands together and said, “Whoever Xuan Li’s enemy is, he’s my friend. This monk is so interesting; in one move, he has negated all the merit Xuan Li gained through his contribution to flood control. Even if it was just to annoy Xuan Li, I would still protect him well.”
Xiao Shao nodded and said, “Many thanks.”
“No need for courtesy.” Guan Liang Han eyed Xiao Shao and sighed. “Even though I have no idea what you’re doing secretly Third Brother, I still want to offer you some advice. Don’t get mixed up in the piddling matters of the imperial court, otherwise you will find it hard to avoid getting sucked in yourself.”
They had been sect brothers for many years, so he naturally understood Xiao Shao’s temperament. He was a master at withholding information; If he did not want to say anything, not even a knife at his neck would persuade him to speak. The previous night, Xiao Shao had unexpectedly and urgently asked him to go to the Jinying Wang fu, where more than a hundred Jin Yi guards had dressed to look like Guan family soldiers and proceeded to thoroughly slaughter the imperial bodyguards Xuai Li had positioned at the reservoir to guard it. The Jin Yi guards had always been trained to carry out secret missions, so there was absolutely no trace of the massacre. Although he had no idea what Xiao Shao’s intention was, Guan Liang Han did not probe further.
“I only want to confirm something,” Xiao Shao coolly said with lowered eyes.
* * *
A heavy fall of rain, and what had collapsed was not only the reservoir, but also the stable imperial court the Great Jin dynasty had experienced over the past few decades. The capital was in chaos and everyone felt insecure, especially the people who were associated with the Grand Councillor fu. If they weren’t hiding behind closed doors, they were packing all their belongings and preparing to flee overnight.
The Grand Councillor fu had been stripped of all its glory and had been reduced to nothing but a pile of mud. Whoever was tainted by it would suffer misfortune.
In the Jiang fu, Jiang Quan angrily told Xia Yan, “Bring me Ruan niang’s geng tie!”
Although Xia Yan was extremely unwilling to do so, she could only plaster a small, sweet smile on her face and obediently place the geng tie which they had prepared to be sent to the Grand Councillor fu in Jiang Quan’s hand. Smiling, she said, “Ruan niang, this child, has such good fortune, as there’s still time! If this were one day later, she would have been married off to the Li family, and she would be considered guilty by familial association.” However, in her heart, she harboured a deep hatred. Why did she have to be so fortunate? Just one day’s difference, just one day! If not for that one day, Jiang Ruan would have been imprisoned just like the rest of the people in the Grand Councillor fu! Why was she so fortunate so as to have dodged this calamity!”
Jiang Quan took the geng tie from Xia Yan and reprimanded her, in a low voice, “Women’s opinions are impossibly stupid!” He looked once again at the geng tie in his hand and sighed in relief. “Thank goodness there was still time.”
From the looks of things at the moment, the Emperor intended to put the Grand Councillor fu in order. At this time, it was most important to protect oneself. If Jiang Ruan had really been married into the Li family, it would not only have been her suffering misfortune- the entire Jiang family would also have to accompany her in suffering.