181 Tarnished Reputations (1/2)
At that very moment, a certain Marshal Scapegoat was sighing loudly as he lounged in the palace.
”Who would have known that these fellows wouldn't leave immediately after Tie Zheng’s wedding but choose to stay behind? What are they up to? I can't believe that they are just planning to sightsee, they must have an ulterior motive!”
Qiu Jianhan was like a raging lion that was pacing around its cage with its claws extended, ready to tear into anyone who got too close.
”Didn't we already foresee this?”
The emperor looked at Qiu Jianhan with a slightly amused expression. ”It was no mean feat for them to arrive here, perhaps this is the only chance they’d ever have to enter Yutang. How can they just go back empty-handed?”
”These people wish catastrophe upon Yutang! They will certainly act upon their wishes now. I'm certain they are looking for undercover agents and installing spies. At the very least, they must be stealing information.” Old Marshal Qiu was indignant.
”Let them be. How much damage can they do? I, on the other hand, hope that the longer they stay, the more they will feel like making their home here, and forget about returning. That would benefit us all.”
The emperor’s generosity stunned the old marshal. ”My apologies Your Majesty, isn't that a tad overambitious? Even I dare not have such high hopes. What a wild imagination one has!”
His Majesty laughed and said, ”All in all, let them be. I'm just surprised that they asked for no one else but Yun Yang. This makes me curious. What places can Yun Yang bring these generals to?”
When he spoke about that, the old marshal felt like laughing too. ”I heard that that rascal suggested to book a brothel for them and have everyone enjoy the place for ten straight days…”
”Enjoy a brothel for ten days?” The emperor stared eyes wide before he coughed incessantly. ”Cough, cough… F*cking hell! This child's way of handling matters is highly amusing!”
His Majesty guffawed for a long while before realizing that Qiu Jianhan was staring at him with disbelieving eyes. He then recalled the inappropriateness of his words; it wouldn't do for an emperor to curse like a common sailor.
Indeed, it would damage his image as a reigning monarch.
He quickly salvaged the situation by saying, ”It seems the shock has loosened my tongue and caused me to swear unbecomingly. Well, it's all for my own gratification, of course.”
Puu!
It was better if the emperor had not bothered to explain himself. Qiu Jianhan could no longer hold it in and chortled. ”Your Majesty’s curse is exactly the same as this old official’s thoughts!”
”I laugh aloud at the thought of Han Sanhe visiting a brothel. I really hope that Yun Yang is capable enough to let Old Man Han enjoy the brothel for all ten days…” Qiu Jianhan was reveling in the other’s misery.
…
However, the old marshal and His Majesty would be disappointed, at least for today.
Yun Yang had already departed with his entourage, heading merrily towards the Residence of Nine Supremes.
On their way, Young Master Yun displayed his eloquence, introducing the scenery without stopping as he spoke whatever that came to mind; he talked easily as if he was speaking of his own family.
The way he introduced topics, however, were singularly bizarre.
”See this house? This house has some story to it. Back in those days when the founding emperor was building this empire, this was where the Chancellor’s father-in-law’s brother-in-law’s brother-in-law’s sister-in-law’s lover stayed. Why is this place famous? It’s all because this Chancellor’s brother-in-law’s brother-in-law’s…”
Zhan Ge who was listening to the long-winded introduction could no longer reign in his irritation as he retorted angrily, ”Isn’t this Chancellor’s brother-in-law’s brother-in-law the Chancellor himself? And the Chancellor’s brother-in-law’s brother-in-law’s sister-in-law the Chancellor’s own sister-in-law? You make so many roundabouts about such a simple relationship… the sister-in-law’s lover…”
Yun Yang, was actually confused by Zhan Ge’s reiteration. Blinking, he said, ”This thing is rather complicated. You are terribly observant...”
Everyone else was looking at him sardonically.
”Look over there, see this tree? Look, you fellows, look at the entwining roots, look at the huge canopy. This tree’s story is even greater. Legend has it that this tree is a tree that has been enlightened. It blesses this place with favorable weather and prosperity; it’s powerful in its ability. But do you all know how many times has this tree been struck by lightning in these the past hundred years?” Yun Yang 's voice lowered as he spoke mysteriously.
”How many times?” The dark-skinned youth was reluctant to acknowledge him, but he could not help himself.
”None.” Yun Yang replied seriously, his face as smooth as a blank slate.
The youth glared at him like he was about to swallow a certain someone whole.
”Such a huge tree but it’s never been struck by lightning even once in so many years…” Yun Yang said, ”This is an astonishing matter in itself.”
A bearded general retorted in a dissatisfied tone, ”This tree is at most as wide as the mouth of a bowl, I can't believe that it's more than ten years old, what more hundreds of years… Besides, a tree that’s over a hundred years old isn't exactly an aged tree either… what are you trying to do say?”