Chapter 346
Chapter 346
A tense silence had fallen over the capital, where even the sound of the wind was enough to startle. A series of upheavals had occurred in rapid succession. First, Zhang Chong, who had been expected to die in the Supreme Court prison, had miraculously survived and been reinstated to his post. Then Shen Lang, who had achieved great merit as an envoy to the Qiang Kingdom, was arrested by the Blackwater Terrace and imprisoned in the Supreme Court. Following that, the King suffered a defeat in a battle on the border, and now, warriors from the Blackwater Terrace had descended upon the Marquis of Zhenyuan’s estate. So much had happened in the short span of half a month that everyone was trembling in fear.
The one leading the arrest of Su Jianting this time was a commander of the Blackwater Terrace, Yu Wanting. Hundreds of warriors in black armor swarmed into the Marquis of Zhenyuan’s estate and began to search everywhere, ransacking the place. However, none of the servants of the Marquis’s estate panicked or fled; they emerged from their rooms in an orderly fashion and stood quietly in the courtyard, watching the Blackwater Terrace’s actions with cold detachment. It seemed the servants of the Marquis of Zhenyuan were well-versed in the ways of the world, showing no signs of alarm or intimidation.
But the Blackwater Terrace could not find Su Jianting within the Marquis’s estate. Commander Yu Wanting then headed toward the courtyard, where he found Marquis Zhenyuan, Su Nan, sitting blankly. Yu Wanting dared not act rashly. The other warriors of the Blackwater Terrace also hesitated to set foot in the courtyard where Su Nan was. Yu Wanting bowed at the waist and offered his respects.
“Greetings, Marquis Zhenyuan.”
Leaning on his cane, Su Nan lifted his head with great effort and spoke slowly.
“Ah, Yu Wanting. Have you come to arrest this old man this time?”
Bowing even lower, Yu Wanting replied.
“Of course not. His Majesty was enraged that Su Jianting attacked the Count of Xuanwu’s estate a while ago, so he dispatched me with orders to arrest him.”
Su Nan thought for a moment, then said.
“Su Jianting? That boy left the capital a few days ago. The father is to blame for a poorly raised son. You might as well take this old man instead.”
“How could I dare?”
Yu Wanting lowered his waist even further. Just then, a young palace attendant entered and announced.
“His Majesty has issued a verbal command: ‘Summon Su Nan for an audience with Us.’”
“Mm… Very well.”
Su Nan slowly pushed himself to his feet. Perhaps due to his age, every movement seemed unnaturally difficult, as if a great strain. He even swayed a couple of times as he rose, unable to stand steadily.
“Let us go. I will enter the palace at once.”
* * *
“Your sinful subject, Su Nan, greets Your Majesty…”
Su Nan staggered as he bowed before the King.
“Elder Su, please rise.”
Ning Yuanxian personally stepped forward and helped Su Nan to his feet. The King asked Su Nan.
“You say Su Jianting has left the capital?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. He left three days ago.”
“Hmm, and where did he go?”
“This week is the forty-ninth birthday banquet of King Arugan of the Qiang Kingdom. While this subject is not required to attend, Su Jianting, being of a much lower station, was obliged to go.”
Su Nan was not lying. The King knew that Su Jianting had left the capital three days ago. When he heard the news at the time, he had sneered endlessly.
*A guilty conscience needs no accuser.*
At that time, the truth of the matter had not yet been fully revealed. When it seemed Shen Lang was on the verge of death, Su Jianting had fled in advance, as if to avoid suspicion. What did that prove? That Su Jianting had indeed committed a treasonous act. Moreover, sending Su Jianting to the Qiang Kingdom was a form of blackmail.
*If anything happens to me in the capital, the Qiang Kingdom will act immediately. Su Jianting is the heir to the Marquis of Zhenyuan; he can succeed me at once.*
A rebellion from Zhenyuan City alone would be a minor affair, but if it was in concert with the Qiang Kingdom and drew in Tiansi Province, it would be no ordinary problem.
*You wouldn't be able to handle that, Ning Yuanxian. Therefore, I will remain safe in the capital.*
Su Nan asked the King.
“Did my foolish son happen to cause some trouble?”
“Did an imperial censor not submit a memorial a few days ago? It claimed that several months ago, Su Jianting led warriors to attack the Count of Xuanwu’s estate in an attempt to murder his own paternal aunt, Su Pepe. You know well that We rule the realm by the example of filial piety, do you not? How could We stand by and watch such an unnatural act? Therefore, I intend to send men to bring Su Jianting back for a thorough investigation. If the memorial is true, I will show absolutely no mercy. But if it is false, We must personally clear the Su Clan’s name.”
Marquis Su Nan replied.
“My foolish son has done no such thing. I, too, had people investigate and found that it was the great bandit Gao Touhuan who attacked the Count of Xuanwu’s estate in the Su Clan’s name. Your Majesty must have heard how fearlessly that man runs rampant. Furthermore, the Count of Xuanwu’s estate was empty for some time back then, so he likely took advantage of the opportunity to plunder the fief. What’s more, on that day, my son was not in Xuanwu City but in Tiansi City. That night, he was drinking and composing poetry with the son of the Tiansi Provincial Governor. Many people can attest to the situation.”
Ning Yuanxian’s eyes narrowed.
*Damn this old bastard, he threatens Us with every word. First, he brought up the Qiang Kingdom, and now he mentions the Tiansi Provincial Governor’s office? On that day, Su Jianting clearly led masters from the Western Regions to attack the Count of Xuanwu’s estate, yet he claims Su Jianting was in Tiansi City, with the Provincial Governor of Tiansi as his witness.*
What could this mean? It meant the Su Clan had long since suborned the Provincial Governor of Tiansi, and that the officials of Tiansi Province were utterly corrupt. Tiansi Province was an incredibly complex situation. It was the front line against the State of Chu, and though its area was small, it garrisoned nearly half of the State of Yue’s entire army. The Grand Protectorate of the West Pacifying Army commanded only military affairs, while the Provincial Governor of Tiansi commanded only civil affairs. Since neither side encroached on the other’s domain, the administrative system there was all the more complicated.
After hearing Su Nan’s words, the King asked even more calmly.
“Is that so?”
Su Nan trembled, bowing low as he spoke.
“The claim of attacking the Count of Xuanwu’s estate is certainly groundless. However, my foolish son is a useless lout who has committed many absurd acts. The father is to blame for a poorly raised son, so the fault is mine. I beseech Your Majesty to punish this subject.”
The King asked with a smile.
“How can I mete out punishment when I do not even know what crime has been committed?”
Su Nan kowtowed and said.
“Any punishment will do.”
The King’s face twitched violently again.
*So this old bastard is really playing hardball, is he? Adopting an attitude of utmost deference while in fact challenging my every word? What is the meaning of ‘any punishment will do’? Is he implying that We have spoken without basis? That this Ning Yuanxian, finding the Su Clan an eyesore, is fabricating charges out of thin air?*
Ning Yuanxian closed his eyes to hide the murderous glint within them. He truly wanted to order Su Nan seized and beheaded on the spot, but he could not. He could not bear the consequences of such an act. If he could have dealt with Su Nan long ago, he would not have brought down the blade of his New Policies upon Jin Zhuo. Everyone thought that Su Nan was the King’s lackey, supporting him no matter what he said, and that because of this docile attitude, the King had not turned the blade of his New Policies against him.
But that was not the truth. Only by taking down Su Nan could the New Policies that Ning Yuanxian desired achieve a great victory. The Su Clan was the number one family among the ancient aristocracy. Taking them down would have allowed the New Policies to advance like a hot knife through butter, but for now, he could not touch them.
Compared to Su Nan, Jin Zhuo was a man filled with human appeal. What you saw was what you got; there was no difference between his surface and his core.
*If the King wishes to wield the blade of his New Policies to seize my family’s inheritance, then I cannot accept it and will resist to the end. But now that my family is at peace, I will harbor no ulterior motives. When the King of Wu sent an envoy to entice me with a dukedom, did I, Jin Zhuo, not kill the Wu envoy without a second thought?*
But the man before him, Su Nan, was vicious beneath his facade, a cunning man who spoke pleasing words to one’s face while plotting harm behind their back. Ning Yuanxian believed that he absolutely had to eliminate this old bastard during his reign and exterminate the Su Clan. Otherwise, the Su Clan would surely plot rebellion in the future. Perhaps the day the states of Chu and Yue went to war would be the day the Su Clan rebelled.
In fact, it was not just the Su Clan; he also had to deal with the Zhong and Bian clans. All military power in the State of Yue had to be held by the King. However, Ning Yuanxian intended to handle the Zhong and Bian clans with a relatively gentler approach. Bian Mu, in particular, had shown him great favor and had never threatened him. The Zhong Clan had sent one of its own to the capital to serve as the Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and Bian Mu had given his only daughter to be his queen consort. Not only that, Yan Province was a special place, and Bian Mu did not meddle in any of its civil affairs, leaving them entirely to the civil officials sent by the King. Thus, in Ning Yuanxian’s heart, Bian Mu was an incredibly important figure, someone he even considered a confidant or a friend.
The reason the King, despite being so harsh and rarely bestowing grace upon his subjects, could hold onto his power so firmly was that he had pillars strong enough to prop up the heavens: Bian Mu, the Zhu Clan, Yan E, and the Xue Clan. The Zhong Clan used to be among them, but now they had begun to run wild alongside the Su Clan.
* * *
Ning Yuanxian laughed loudly.
“Hahaha. Elder Su, you react more seriously than I expected. Enough. Rise!”
Ning Yuanxian once again stepped forward on his own to help Su Nan up. Su Nan struggled to his feet, only to kneel again a moment later.
“Your Majesty, Zhang Chong nearly died in the Supreme Court prison this time. The Supreme Court bears an undeniable responsibility, and thus, this old subject deserves to be punished.”
King Ning Yuanxian was taken aback.
*Su Nan, you belong to the Bureau of Military Affairs, don't you? The Supreme Court is not under your jurisdiction. Are you now trying to extend your reach there as well? In the past, you always expressed an intention to step down, but now you act to the contrary?*
However, contrary to his inner thoughts, the King acted as if he would follow his words.
“Very well. The Supreme Court bears an inescapable responsibility for this matter.”
“It is not this old subject’s place to interfere, but Baiye Commandery is my homeland! The Prefect of Baiye Commandery, Chen Qilong, accepted bribes and broke the law, and the position has long been vacant. I implore Your Majesty to make a swift decision.”
The King said with a smile.
“Then who does Elder Su think is suitable for the position?”
“This subject is not part of the Ministry of Personnel, so I am hesitant to offer a name.”
“Baiye Commandery is your homeland; you certainly have a right to speak. Besides, the position of Lord of Zhenyuan City has also been vacant for a long time. Why don’t you recommend someone?”
“Then this old subject dares to recommend the Chief Minister of the Supreme Court, Wang Jinglun, as the Prefect of Baiye Commandery, and the former Magistrate of Wannian County, Wang Jiguo, as the Lord of Zhenyuan City.”
The King’s insides trembled with fury.
*You old bastard, are you not openly testing me? You intend to see just how far Our limits can be pushed.*