Volume 1, Chapter 29: A Matter of Life and Death (1/2)

Volume 1, Chapter 29: A Matter of Life and Death¹

I watched Xiaoshunzi gather our belongings My ainthat could be done totime before I could steelabout someone who had decided to killPill At thisZhi, and Gou Lian had come to see rearood men Since after today, there wouldn’t ever be an opportunity to sit and drink with theht I smiled and ordered the servant to invite theent After chatting for a few moments, they realized that I had e ht As thedawn outside theWith a ss must coain, I’ers”

Distressed, Gou Lian replied, “Since Suiyun knows this, why are you entering service with the Prince of Qi?”

I shness, the Prince of Qi, is reckless, i in his service After a period of ti’an When that time comes, ill be friends and not eneentle Zhi said, “The only fear is that His I to allow Sir to leave”

I only tranquilly reo back I will leave the Prince of Yong’s residence today His Ihness has already stated that he plans to see hness like this I o bid farewell to His I to his feet, Guan Xiu said, “Since that is the case, on’t disturb Suiyun any further We won’t participate when the Prince throws your send-off banquet so that we can avoid the grief and sorrow of parting Those feeling overwhel farewell”

After seeing these three advisers off, I walked into a rear roo Within the roo wide The entire floor of the pool was covered with limestone The water intake valve was at the center of the bath Above it was the water outtake valve in the shape of a lotus Underneath the li the clear spring water fro thewater would spray forth in all directions fro water into the pool The entire roo water like pearls and jade I sht that the imperial clan certainly kne to enjoy the, I stepped into the pool, openly and unrestrainedly enjoying the hot water bath With a smile, I called, “Xiaoshunzi, tell me, can I build a similar pool in the future?”

Xiaoshunzi did not answerthat his e, I shook my head However, I did not rouse his or worries fro to say to , I put on the clothes that Xiaoshunzi had prepared for ararb had to be snohite Just as I was dressing conscientiously, Xiaoshunzi suddenly appeared and kneeled on the ground befores so difficult for yourself”

I stared blankly at him for a moment, my hands that were just about to take the proffered robes stopping in ?”

Xiaoshunzi replied, “Xiaoshunzi knows that young e your wife May I ask young ems could be employed?”

I looked at him and softly said, “We are in the sa from you As soon as I learned the identity of main culprit, I had devised three plans—upper,master’s low plan?”

I took the proffered robes from his hands In an unhurried voice, I responded, “The low plan is thecapital, I will go into hiding and wait for the opportune lected by a wise person’s overthinking As long as ait carefully, there will eventually be an opportunity to assassinate Li An Even if we can’t assassinate hiligence⁴ I can wander the world, cultivating and training forces that are dissatisfied with Li An Presently, the Hanzhong region has not yet wholeheartedly sub the entire world’s strength and with the Prince of Yong eyeing covetously on the side, I will one day take revenge It is only that killing a country’s heir apparent is not a small matter After we have succeeded, I will have to scatter my subordinates and wealth, and from that moment forward, travel the world In addition, even if we are the slightest bit inattentive, our fate will be of defeat and death”

In a low voice, Xiaoshunzi continued to ask, “May I ask young master’s middle plan?”

I draped the robes over my shoulders and quietly replied, “The est supporter is the Prince of Qi Although the Prince of Qi is impulsive and reckless, that is only his outer appearance In reality, he is an outstanding talent of the present age If the Prince of Yong did not exist, then the Prince of Qi would be a good choice to inherit the throne I will pledge ize for hiht ate internal strife Whether this benefits the Prince of Yong or the Prince of Qi, I will break Li An and kill him Even if ere unable to achieve this objective, ould incite a civil war in Great Yong, avenging both state and personal grievances”

Xiaoshunzimaster’s upper plan?”

I fastened my robes With a smile, I responded, “This upper plan is the fairest andand borrow his strength to attack⁵ When the ti murder his older brother and force his father to yield the throne Not only will I have taken revenge, the world will also have received a wise and virtuous ruler With unification, the dawn of a new era will be at hand Not only will I, Jiang Zhe, be famous in the annals of history, after success, I will be able to either retire and become a recluse, or enjoy riches and honor This is the upper plan”

In a grave and serious voice, Xiaoshunzi said, “Young master, over the last several years, Xiaoshunzi has always been attending by your side How can Xiaoshunzi not understand youngallegiance to the Prince of Yong is the best course of action Why have you been so stubborn? Young master’s personal ene , theascends to the throne is the inning to end, young iances to the Prince of Yong, and even repeatedly and deliberately instigated provocations, forcing the Prince of Yong to co as youngmaster will be able to beco years in peace There is absolutely no need to take such risks Although young master’s medical expertise is extraordinary, you may not be able to save yourself fro’s i master suffers misfortune, what then? Even if Xiaoshunzi were capable of killing the Prince of Yong, what use is that?”

I distantly replied, “How can I not understand these things? But through the entirety ofto use any available tools to confront ainst those I ae of this era He trusts Suiyun coht has he put in to acquire Suiyun’s services? Over a long journey of a thousand iven me his clothes, his food Suiyun does not have a heart of stone How can I not beof Southern Chu for latterly There are already s present

“Let alone the fact if I were to submit, I hness Without ht not necessarily lose Although the resulting conflict will be bitter and desperate, his reputation will remain faultless But if I were to submit, Suiyun is only an ordinary person, and won’t be able to stop rievances Because of that, I would have harhteousness of the cause If I were to be co’s spirit in the underworld? Thinking it over, since I ahness’s reputation in the annals of history, and a, because of s difficult for h I will not injureto be badly hurt I already feel guilt and shame in my heart because I cannot serve this kind of wise and virtuous liege How can I bear to harm him? That is why I have adopted the low plan”

Xiaoshunzi inquired, still filled with questions, “Young , and yet considers the Prince’s needs But is there a need to force the Prince of Yong to kill young reement, after so’an

I smiled and explained, “I may have been careless in the way I have handled small, unimportantto lie and deceive I did not lie or deceive back then, when I refused to serve the Prince of De As I have the decision to not serve the Prince of Yong, I will not lie and deceive hi otherwise Moreover, if I did not force the Prince of Yong to kill ’s inclination to recruiter But if I were to suffer e fordid not emon must not be softhearted I only ask that you re side Piaoxiang Do you proround It was so, “How can this servant not listen to youngmaster, after I have killed Li An, I will return to Southern Chu and spend the rest of rave”

I quietly replied, “Many thanks to you Actually, h There is no need for you to feel bad After we have overco in this world that can fetter eance, I will not sacrifice myself”

Xiaoshunzi fell silent and had nothe truth, though I had never becoeance