Chapter 1238: YeXi Behind the scenes (1/2)

Han Yunxi’s words were a perfect mirror to the gossip about her views outside. They claimed she refused all the pleas of the courtiers to cancel the party and was going to make it a huge deal!

Han Yunxi rolled her eyes at him. “You’re the fool!”

“Empress, you want to force them to help the disaster refugees at the birthday banquet?” Ning Jing asked. She knew Han Yunxi was no idiot.

“Not only that!” Han Yunxi laughed coldly. She beckoned the couple closer and whispered a few words to them. Long Feiye had long known of Han Yunxi’s plans and simply laughed from the sidelines. The politics and veiled competition of the court were extremely boring affairs, so it was fun to have Han Yunxi stir up the waters once in a while. Tomorrow’s birthday banquet would definitely be amusing.

That night, Long Feiye personally flew around the walls to check all the rooftops of the palace, but found no trace of Gu Qishao. Although he had forbidden the man from coming with them, he still sent a messenger to invite him to Rui’er’s birthday banquet.

Is that guy not coming?

Although Gu Qishao said he’d gift No. 7 Teahouse to Rui’er, he hadn’t done so formally. They at least needed the title and deed. Although Han Yunxi knew how to stir up trouble, Gu Qishao was the true expert. If he didn’t show up, tomorrow’s gathering would be much less interesting.

The night passed peacefully within the palace, but both within and beyond the capital walls and even people across the continent were awaiting news of the banquet cancellation. Baili Yuanlong was especially invested in the news.

Late at night, he held a secret meeting with a southern military commander named Xiao Dong (萧栋).[1] This year, Xiao Dong was 40, a full 16 years younger than Baili Yuanlong. But compared to Jin Zi in the norther, Chu Tianyin in the west, or Luo Tuo (洛图)[2] in the east, he could be considered old. Xiao Dong was hopeless at tactics or fighting, so amongst the other southern generals he was an absolute waste! But his origins were huge!

He was none other than a member of the head of all the large clans in the south, the Xiao. When Long Feiye was still at the peak of Celestial Mountain, the Xiao Clan Head went to the Medical City conference to object against supporting Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue. For years their family had eyed the position of the empress, so it’d be strange if they didn’t raise any objections!

The south could not fall into unrest! That was one reason the southern generals dared to act so wantonly. Of course, their supporters and various clans were all very intelligent. They knew Long Feiye had reservations against them, so they had to seize this chance to snatch more power and allies. Xiao Dong was simply a representative of the other major clans. He was very different from Baili Yuanlong, but the two had similar understandings.

First, they felt that Long Feiye had been too hasty in appointing Jin Zi, Chu Tianyin, and Luo Tu as main commanders of the armies. Both Jin Zi and Chu Tianyin had yet to reach 30, while Luo Tu was the nephew of the Kangan Private Bank’s Manager Luo. He had just turned 30 last year. In the eyes of Xiao Dong and Baili Yuanlong, these whippersnappers were still growing. What could they accomplish?

Secondly, they both had Han Yunxi on their spearheads. The southern generals most coveted the empress’s position, for her son would be the future monarch. To put it plainly, they hoped the crown prince and his future heirs would come from their clans and favor their people, thus winning more benefits for their side. Baili Yuanlong wished the southern region could gain strength as well. If possible, it’d be best if they grabbed up the empress spot. In his eyes, a stronger southern army meant the emperor would need him more, thus drawing him closer to the sovereign! After all, the current situation showed that only the Baili Clan was capable of contending with the south.

Baili Yuanlong and Xiao Dong had been talking for a long time across the tea table. Now they were simply waiting for news from the palace. Although this was a private meeting, they maintained their formality towards each other. After all, they weren’t true comrades but both fighting for honor and advantages. It was only natural to be guarded against each other.

After a long period of silence, Xiao Dong probed, “Your Excellency Baili, it’s already so late. As I see it, there won’t be any more news from the palace, yes?”

What was he probing for? To see if Baili Yuanlong had any agents in Long Feiye and Han Yunxi’s court. All of the civil and military officials wanted to buy news from the palace and hear the latest updates. Unfortunately, this was extremely difficult. Long Feiye didn’t have a harem and only lived with Han Yunxi at the main palace. They didn’t require many servants at all.

Xiao Dong mused that Baili Yuanlong was once the second in command of East Qin, so he should be very intimate with Long Feiye’s circle of allies. Even if he couldn’t bribe servants close to the two rulers, he should at least have spies within the palace. But that was something only Baili Yuanlong himself knew.

Baili Yuanlong replied, “Wait a while longer. If there’s really no news, then that’s perfect.”

Thus, the two fell into silence again.

Yet little time passed before Xiao Dong grew restless. “Your Excellency Baili, if the esteemed empress insists on proceeding as planned, then the two of us can withdraw together tomorrow!”

They had agreed that if the birthday banquet went on as planned, they wouldn’t mention it at the morning court, but censure the empress in public at the gathering that night. After all, it would be the empress herself who insisted on making it a big show!

“Of course!” Baili Yuanlong nodded placidly.