Chapter 326
Chapter 326
The King's eyes lit up, his face flushed with excitement.
‘Excellent! Excellent! Count Jin Zhuo has not betrayed my trust after all. To boldly kill the envoy from the State of Wu, demonstrating that he harbors no ulterior motives. A truly loyal subject!’
Shen Lang said.
"Your Majesty, three high officials from the State of Wu secretly infiltrated Raging Tide City with the intent of enticing key members of our Jin Clan to commit treason, seeking to overthrow our State of Yue's control over the city. As soon as my father-in-law discovered this, he immediately detained them. Unfortunately, Wang Chengyan, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, resisted fiercely and was struck down. The other two have been imprisoned, awaiting Your Majesty's judgment."
Shen Lang continued, bowing low.
"However, we fear that this action may provoke a diplomatic crisis between the states of Wu and Yue. My father-in-law acted unilaterally, killing and imprisoning officials from Wu without receiving Your Majesty's decree. I implore Your Majesty to deliver a fitting judgment!"
"Hahahahaha!"
The King rose to his feet, laughing heartily.
"Excellent! Excellent! The Count of Xuanwu is indeed a loyal subject of our State of Yue. I was not wrong about him. The late king once said that Jin Zhuo is like the Black Tortoise—frustratingly stubborn and obstinate, but his character is absolutely trustworthy, and he would become a pillar of the state in a critical moment. A diplomatic crisis, you say? The State of Wu suffered a crushing defeat at our hands. Did the King of Wu not cede nine commanderies to us after his thorough defeat in the war twenty years ago? What is there to fear from such a weak nation? Far from being at fault, the Count of Xuanwu has performed a great service."
The King then looked at Big Dummy and asked.
"And what is in the box this tall oaf is carrying on his back?"
"Heaven has sent an auspicious omen, which the Jin Clan dared not keep for themselves. We have brought it specially to present to Your Majesty."
"Open it."
Big Dummy set the box down, and Shen Lang approached to open it. Everyone couldn't help but gasp in awe.
‘Wow! What an enormous tortoise. And it seems valiant, not the least bit frightened or timid. An ordinary tortoise might live a hundred years and still be no bigger than a palm, but this one is the size of a small table. It must weigh a hundred catties. Truly a magnificent Black Tortoise.’
In truth, it was a large alligator snapping turtle. It was eighty centimeters long and weighed over a hundred catties. Shen Lang had asked the Heaven's Path Society to transport it from a distant land, a task that had taken a very long time. He intended to present it to the King as an auspicious beast at the critical moment when the Jin Clan was to be enfeoffed as a marquisate.
‘This is a most auspicious sign. Even though our Count of Xuanwu's Estate has grown powerful, we harbor no thoughts of treason. Are we not even willing to offer such a great Black Tortoise to Your Majesty? Heaven and earth can attest to the loyalty of the Jin Clan.’
The King said with a smile.
"Shen Lang, this is a spiritual beast that symbolizes your family. Why would you gift it to me?"
"Everything in the State of Yue, including Raging Tide City, belongs to Your Majesty. Naturally, this great Black Tortoise is also yours, is it not?"
"Hahaha. Auspicious omens? I don't believe in such things, but I can't keep such a rare and magnificent Black Tortoise as a mere pet. I will have a special pond built for it. Let it guard the royal palace for me and ward off evil spirits and demons."
Then, the King declared in a clear, resonant voice.
"I shall issue a decree!"
At that moment, several officials from the Department of State Affairs and the Hanlin Academy, along with the court scribe responsible for records, all sat at their desks.
"Jin Zhuo has demonstrated daring loyalty. With integrity and selflessness, he has annihilated pirates and expanded our territory, rendering great service to our nation. Therefore, I hereby enfeoff him as the Marquis of Xuanwu. By my imperial will!
It is beyond doubt that Raging Tide City is the territory of our State of Yue. I command the Jin Clan to govern it on my behalf. By my imperial will!"
After the two decrees were finalized, the King spoke again.
"Now that these two decrees have been decided, there must be no delay. The Court of the Imperial Clan shall see to it."
Then, the King looked at the Royal Uncle and said.
"Royal Uncle, I must trouble you to go in person."
Enfeoffing a marquis was a major affair, requiring someone of great virtue and prestige to deliver the decree. The Royal Uncle stepped forward, bowed, and said.
"As you command. I shall depart at once!"
Following this, the two decrees were stamped with a large seal and placed inside a golden coffer. The Royal Uncle received the decrees and, without any delay, led a procession out of the capital toward Xuanwu City to deliver them. After all the turmoil, the Jin Clan's official rule over Raging Tide City was now confirmed, and Jin Zhuo's ascension to Marquis of Xuanwu had been successfully concluded! But Shen Lang's performance at court was not yet over. The final act was yet to come.
"Your Majesty, it has been a long time since my father-in-law killed the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial from the State of Wu. Yet the date on this secret letter indicates it was sent eight days ago. Is that not laughable? Would my father-in-law write a secret letter to the King of Wu to wish him well *after* killing his envoy? This is clearly a scheme by the State of Wu to sow discord, a plot concocted with a powerful official of our own state to frame our Jin Clan.
Vice Censor-in-Chief Wu must have been in private contact with the State of Wu. Otherwise, how could he possess such a forged letter? Three ministers from Wu entered Raging Tide City to frame our Jin Clan. Logically, how secretive must their movements have been? So how could Vice Censor-in-Chief Wu have known their movements and secrets? He must be a spy sent by the State of Wu! His intention is clear: to pressure our Jin Clan into treason and thereby subvert the foundations of our great Kingdom of Yue. He must be executed!"
Vice Censor-in-Chief Wu, his face pale and his body trembling, pointed a finger at Shen Lang.
"Do not slander me! Your Majesty, you must not believe his words! My loyalty to you is known to heaven and earth, to the sun and the moon!"
The King glanced irritably at Vice Censor-in-Chief Wu and said coldly.
"Seize him, throw him in the prison of the Blackwater Terrace, and investigate this matter thoroughly!"
‘Not the prison of the Court of Judicial Review, but the prison of the Blackwater Terrace?’
The Blackwater Terrace was an institution as formidable as the Ming Dynasty's Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard combined. It answered only to the King, acting as the sword in his hand. The Blackwater Terrace intervened to interrogate criminals whenever a major, world-shaking case arose. Once inside its prison, one could neither live nor die as they wished. This alone showed the extent of the King's fury toward the Vice Censor-in-Chief. As the King's order was given, two warriors from the Blackwater Terrace stepped forward and dragged Vice Censor-in-Chief Wu away.
"Your Majesty, spare me! Spare me! Your Majesty, I am innocent!"
Shen Lang pricked up his ears, hoping to hear Wu Shengzhu cry out, "Lord Su (Su Nan), save me!" but to his disappointment, he never did. Still, Shen Lang decided to be satisfied with this for today. Today's victory was significant enough—Shen Lang, with his meager influence at court, had single-handedly faced the vicious attacks of a powerful enemy and emerged triumphant. He stood there still, legs apart like a crab, hands poised as if holding blades, looking imposing.
"Who else?"
The officials filling the court all lowered their heads, their expressions solemn.
‘How lonely it is to have no enemies. How empty.’
Just then, the King shot Shen Lang an irritated glance and said flatly.
"Shen Lang, Registrar of the Court of State Ceremonial, has raised his voice, struck an official, and acted insolently in court, showing no regard for etiquette. He is hereby dismissed from his position as Registrar. Go home, lock your doors, and reflect on your actions."
Shen Lang was dumbfounded.
‘What?! Did I overdo it so much that the King couldn't stand it anymore?’
The King gave Shen Lang a flat, sidelong glance.
‘You fool, you should recognize a favor when you see one. There are those who want to send you to the Four Barbarian Tribes to die. I have just completely severed their plans.’
* * *
The moment Shen Lang arrived home, the adorable first daughter of the Yu family, Yu Keke, ran up, hugged his thigh, and began to wail. But it was all for show; not a single tear fell. Shen Lang was genuinely intimidated by this cunning little girl. Only three years old, yet she could wrap him around her finger. He picked her up and asked.
"What is it this time?"
Three-year-old Yu Keke pointed at her two-year-old sister and said.
"Uncle, my sister tore your drawing."
Shen Lang looked at two-year-old Yu Xixi and saw the chubby child holding a portrait torn in half in her small hands. Shen Lang was startled. It was a portrait of the Divine Maiden Xue Yin. The key issue was that the divine maiden in the painting was wearing only a transparent chest covering, very scantily clad and drawn in a very sensual manner.
‘I'm sure I hid this portrait well. Where did this child find it? How mortifying would it be if the Divine Maiden saw this?’
Two-year-old Yu Xixi stared blankly at the portrait in her hand.
‘Big sister told me if I closed my eyes, she'd give me something nice. But why, when I opened them, is the picture she accidentally tore in my hand?’
Then the little girl burst into loud sobs and said.
"Uncle, it wasn't me! I didn't tear it!"
With tears welling in her eyes, the genuinely crying child looked incredibly pitiful. Shen Lang looked at the older child, Yu Keke.
‘How can a three-year-old be so cunning?’
Just then, three women standing beside them watched the scene with awkward expressions: the wife of the Fifth Prince Ning Zheng, Lady Zhuo; Xiao Bing; and the subject of the portrait herself, Xue Yin.
* * *
The Divine Maiden Xue Yin was preparing to leave. She had escorted Shen Lang to the capital and stayed for two extra days to help him deal with his enemies at court. Zhong Chuke had gone to Mount Fudao to ask for the antidote to save her and had not yet returned, so she had to go to Mount Fudao to see for herself.
"My situation is very different from before, so even Mount Fudao won't be able to do anything to me. Don't worry, Lang'er. But if neither Zhong Chuke nor I return, you must entrust Big Dummy to the Sword King, Li Qianqiu."
Shen Lang was reluctant to see Xue Yin go, but he knew she wouldn't stay even if he asked. He saw her off, and still reluctant to part, continued to accompany her for several dozen li outside the capital.
Xue Yin said gently.
"That's enough. You should go back now. If you go any further west from here, I can't guarantee your safety."
Shen Lang said reluctantly.
"Divine Maiden, you must return safely. And come visit me when you have time."
Xue Yin's beautiful eyes fell upon Shen Lang as she said affectionately.
"I am very fond of clever children like you. The time I spent with you was the most enjoyable for me."
She gave Shen Lang a light kiss on the forehead and was about to turn and leave. Just then, a figure leaped from the far west, arriving before them in an instant. He bowed to the Divine Maiden Xue Yin.
"Jiang Ming greets Your Highness, my royal aunt! After twenty years, I finally see you again. It has also been twenty years since my royal father passed away. It should be time for the resentment in your heart to be resolved."
Shen Lang was stunned.
‘Royal father? Didn't King Jiang Li of the Great Qian Kingdom have no sons? Where did a son suddenly come from?’