Chapter 312: Chapter 302 Burned
Xie Jue was brought up by Elder Lin, and he had a good relationship with Lin Yushu and Lin Helin.
When his maternal grandfather passed away, both he and Zhixu were unable to attend the final farewell. It had always been a source of regret for them.
Seeing Xie Jue’s silence, everyone assumed he was swayed and prepared to press further. Just then, they heard him say, "This can only wrong Abao."
Everyone: "..."
His Shadow Guards Six, Seven, and Eight had remained in the Capital City, firstly to protect Feng Shu, and secondly to gather intelligence. However, the long journey from the Capital City to Ningzhou meant he couldn’t obtain firsthand information. Xie Jue disliked dealing with civil officials, but he could guess what Grandmaster Zhang and the others intended to say. He forced himself to listen, merely wanting to learn the latest developments in the Capital City.
Yuwen Jing issuing a self-indicting edict? How ironic!
"Ting Feng, do not get consumed by hatred. Life is long, and time erases all," said Grandmaster Zhang. In his youth, he had taught Marquis Zhenbei, and in old age, had instructed the Marquis’s three sons. Now nearing seventy, he simply wanted to do one last thing for Yanyang.
"Sir, when you arrived, my cousin must have spoken with you. What is his position?" Xie Jue asked.
Grandmaster Zhang glimpsed a sliver of hope and was overjoyed. "Bai Qing’s intention is for His Majesty to issue a self-indicting edict, publicly acknowledge his mistakes, and exonerate the Marquis Mansion. Either Xie Xun or you will be made a prince of a different surname and stationed in Ningzhou."
Xie Jue raised his brows slightly, quite surprised. He hadn’t expected Lin Helin to compel Yuwen Jing to make such a concession. For Yuwen Jing to issue a self-indicting edict was already a loss of face. Throughout history, very few emperors had done such a thing. With the Marquis Mansion exonerated, and Yanyang never having had a prince of a different surname before, this was truly a special honor. Stationing in Ningzhou with military strength, once Yuwen Jing passed and Abao ascended, a new era could unfold. It seemed like a happy ending for everyone.
It both quelled his and Xie Xun’s anger and offered the best solution.
"My cousin has gone to great lengths!"
The others were elated, but Xie Jue merely said coldly, "I refuse!"
"Ting Feng, this is the best possible outcome," Grandmaster Zhang said sorrowfully. He hadn’t anticipated Xie Jue’s refusal. Apart from Lin Helin, no one else could have negotiated such terms with Yuwen Jing.
"Had Yuwen Jing not maliciously sabotaged us, after the new governance was implemented, my brothers and I could have been stationed in Ningzhou, Yanyang could heal and prosper, and no one would’ve had to die. My uncle in the cabinet, my cousin managing state affairs, my brothers guarding Ningzhou, and with Jiangnan under the leadership of the Grand Marshal and Fang Chuning, even a dog on the throne could have become Yanyang’s wisest ruler. The era of restoration would be at hand. He is the one who rejected it," Xie Jue said. "Grand Tutor, do you have any other cards to play? If not, Ting Feng will see you out."
"Xie Tingfeng! How did you become so disrespectful toward your teachers? We once taught you poetry and reason. We are your mentors!" The tutors were pained and indignant.
"Enough!" Xie Jue stood. "Ting Feng is busy with official duties and cannot accompany you. Make yourselves at home."
He had gleaned the information he wanted.
Yanyang was at its wit’s end and lacked the means to wage war. He had initially worried that Yuwen Jing might go all out in a desperate battle against Ningzhou. If that were the case, Ningzhou would have to prepare for war. Now, hearing this, he felt a sense of relief instead.
The conflict between the imperial family and noble clans was irreconcilable. Yuwen Jing was constrained by the nobles, while Sannan was bogging down the Grand Marshal. The court had no ability to go to war.
The tutors tried to intercept Xie Jue, but the Shadow Guards appeared to block them.
"Recklessly arrogant, showing no respect for elders!" The tutors were furious, smashing their cups. The courtyard was filled with ironclad cavalry and Shadow Guards, leaving them too intimidated to act out.
Grandmaster Zhang closed his eyes in pain. This trip had been in vain.
The Shadow Guards thought to themselves that it was rare for the Second Young Master to endure this long-winded discussion. He didn’t even have an interest in debating the state of the nation or the suffering of the common people with these tutors.
"Grand Tutor, what do we do now?"
"How are we supposed to report this to His Majesty? His Majesty was willing to issue a self-indicting edict and bestow them the title of prince with a different surname. What more do they want? Must they insist on becoming treacherous rebels?"
Grandmaster Zhang silently sat in the courtyard, recalling a conversation he had with Elder Lin a few months back. He hadn’t supported the implementation of the new governance, but Elder Lin had held the opposite view. The two, having been comrades in the court for many years, had a deep understanding of each other’s thoughts. Elder Lin had said that implementing the new governance was a gamble, but not implementing it was a dead end.
Who could have foreseen the current situation!
Your Majesty... what exactly are you thinking? Why insist on destroying this golden era?
The subordinate officials of Ningzhou had already gathered in the Prince Manor’s council hall early on. Xie Jue spent more than an hour discussing winter farming and the new laws with them, when a Shadow Guard came to report, "Master, Grandmaster Zhang has been waiting in the courtyard. He wishes to speak with you again."
"Not seeing him!" Xie Jue replied curtly, seated behind a desk piled with documents waiting for his review.
After the council meeting, working on official documents in solitude was his most enjoyable time.
No noisy chatter, no eyesores.
The Shadow Guard stood silently by the window. Xie Jue looked up from his work. "What is it?"
"The Grand Tutor said that Fang Chuning entrusted him with a letter for you."
Xie Jue sneered coldly. "Tell him to burn it!"
How could Fang Chuning possibly entrust someone else to deliver a letter to him? Such a clumsy lie—he had only fallen for it once!