Pang Xiao didn’t need to think too deeply to know that Ji Zeyu was killing two birds with one stone, but he didn’t want to think so ominously of a brother.
Thus decided, he ignored the rumors swirling outside and matched stories with his mother and maternal grandparents, then ran off to continue playing the patient.
Having trudged through snow and long distances, the Valiant Tigers had also finally reached the capital.
When Li Qitian heard that Zuo Jinwei had returned with his men, he immediately had the Five Armies [1], Firearms Division, and the Three Thousand, [2] as well as the ten thousand Dragon Riders that Ji Zeyu had left outside the city walls, block the returning Valiant Tigers outside the city gates.
When Zuo Jinwei learned that the troops had been intercepted, a surge of indescribable excitement and anticipation barreled through him. The emperor had received his reports, right?
Pang Zhixi’s deeds threatened to eclipse his master, yet he didn’t know the value of discretion. Anyone with half a brain could see where the greater picture was trending to. And he, Zuo Jinwei, had gotten evidence of such a large crime as soon as he’d taken control of the Valiant Tigers! No matter what the rewards were, his position in the emperor’s internal ranking would advance another step.
Didn’t those Valiant Tiger bastards refuse his authority? Weren’t they willing to put their lives on the line whenever Pang Zhixi gave the word? He’ll show them just who their real commander is!
Blazing with self-righteousness, Zuo Jinwei steered his horse forward and had the men wait in place.
The troops sent by the emperor lined up in a great formation outside of the city gates. Their congregation didn’t spook the citizens, since the Valiant Tigers and Dragon Riders had been filtering back to the capital over recent days. Large military encampments outside the city walls were a common sight, and soldiers often entered the city.
However, the sight of two armies facing off in front of the city gates was a new one. At this time, a disturbance filtered through from the city gates.
Sitting primly on his hose, Zuo Jinwei craned his neck curiously to see what was going on.
The newly appointed Minister of the Bureau of Punishments, Qi Rugang, led a stream of department personnel out of the gates. He declared roughly to the guards at the gate, “Watch the gates carefully! Only exit is allowed through the gates today, all entrance is forbidden!”
“Understood!
The guards on duty had no idea what was going on, but given the highly tense atmosphere, they were worried about incorrectly executing any orders. They quickly passed on the word to all the city gates.
Zuo Jinwei clenched his fist with elation. There was no way that Pang Zhixi could sneak inside the city now! Let’s see what excuses he comes up with when His Majesty interrogates him!
He also cast a quick look at his vice general, who immediately came forward understandingly. “We’ve had eyes on the carriage all this time. He’s still inside, sick.”
Zuo Jinwei nodded with satisfaction and dismounted, walking forward with a perplexed and irritable expression. “What does Sir Qi mean by all this?”
Qi Rugang flicked a lofty glance at Zuo Jinwei, pausing before moving to dismount.
Zuo Jinwei busily cursed up an inward storm at how fake the minister was being.
The surrendered Northern Ji officials had always been estranged from officials like Zuo Jinwei, the latter had fought by the emperor’s side to carve out his dynasty. However, the former hated Pang Zhixi even more so. Today, Qi Rugang would be a blade drawn across Pang Zhixi’s neck.
Zuo Jinwei kept a tight grip on his temper and continued evenly, “Sir Qi has closed the city gates. Is this to keep my Valiant Tigers outside the city? How can you do such a thing??”
Scorn rose in Qi Rugang to see Zuo Jinwei play to the hilt the role of a caring commander. He raised cupped hands in return. “Don’t be in a hurry, Sir Zuo. This official is here today for the matter of the Faithful Prince of the First Rank deploying troops for his own use!”
Deathly silence descended upon the scene. Pang Xiao’s name was simply too renowned in Great Zhou, particularly in the capital!
The one who’d captured Northern Ji’s capital was Pang Xiao. In the eyes of the enemy, he was a murderous god of violence. In his own people’s eyes, he was an undefeated god of war.
Thanks to the blocked city doors, more and more commoners were gathering. Everyone watched the scene unfold with curiosity.
Surrounded by so many people, Zuo Jinwei spent a great deal of effort to keep the schadenfreude from showing in his expression. He asked quizzically, “The prince deploying troops for his own use? But he told this general that he had imperial orders to lead twenty thousand men out for military exercise.”
The vicinity erupted in a hubbub when this was declared.
If what Minister Qi said was true, then what the Faithful Prince of the First Rank had said about military exercises was clear and blatant falsification of imperial orders!
Many people knew that Pang Zhixi no longer held command of the Valiant Tigers. Deploying troops without wielding a command token could be viewed as treason, and he’d even lied to the current Valiant Tiger commander to do so!
This meant that he’d committed triple crimes of defiance of imperial orders, troop deployment for suspected treason, and forging an imperial decree. Whoever did such a thing would be without a doubt, sentenced to death!
Citizens discussed hotly amongst themselves as solemn expressions descended on the Valiant Tigers.
The scene grew restless again as strains of conversation grew ever louder. Things were about to get out of control.
Zuo Jinwei chortled endlessly to himself, but maintained a grave expression on his face. “Sir Qi must get this right, this is a very important matter. You can’t levy accusations without proof and do the prince an injustice.”
As part of the cohort of former Northern Ji officials, Qi Rugang had nothing but disdain for Pang Xiao and Zuo Jinwei. He had absolutely no patience for this act.
“No proof? General Zuo’s secret report made it clear that the prince had deployed the troops of his own accord and lied that it was on imperial orders for military exercises. You were the one who provided all the evidence. This official is just following the lead and here to arrest a traitor. What kind of games are you playing at here?!”
Those simple words laid out Zuo Jinwei’s dual agent nature to the Valiant Tigers. He immediately felt countless pairs of eyes fix onto him. If looks were tangible, he would’ve been flayed alive and dismembered by all the soldiers.
It was a bit awkward to be revealed like this, but serious business was at hand, so he didn’t waste energy arguing with Qi Rugang.
“This general was just conveying the truth. As His Majesty’s subjects, we should remain firmly in our places. We should never deceive our liege. Since Sir Qi is here, proceed as the Bureau of Punishments would handle the matter. To avoid suspicion, I will not be involved in any part of today or interfere in anything.”
Having delivered his pretty speech, Zuo Jinwei retreated off to the side.
Qi Rugang cast a sidelong glance at the general and stated to his own men. “Have the Faithful Prince of the First Rank come out.”
“Understood!”
Those who’d come with the minister were also former Northern Ji officials. They all hated Pang Xiao and would never give him an any easy time in anything. They bounded towards the returning Valiant Tigers as soon as the order was issued, commencing an exhaustive search of the twenty thousand that had come back.
At the same time, a disguised Great Zhou emperor Li Qitian was hidden within the crowd. He was wearing an inky-green cotton cloak, accompanied by head eunuch Li Guanwen, and craning his neck forward with interest.
His excitement was on par with Zuo Jinwei’s. He’d created such a grand spectacle today so that Pang Xiao’s crimes would be announced to the rest of the world. Even if he killed Pang Zhixi for them,
no one would say he was afraid of his subjects and thus getting rid of them after extracting all use! Instead, they would curse Pang Zhixi for not appreciating his good fortunes and attempting treason instead.
None of them noticed a ferociously frowning Ji Zeyu in another corner, clad in a black cotton cloak and hiding half his face in the collar.
* * *
1. Full name Division of the Five Armies
2. Together, the three make up the Three Great Training Divisions
Chapter 301: Being a Scapegoat
Ji Zeyu adjusted his hat and buried his face even deeper into the shadows, not wanting anyone to see that he was here at this time. Pang Xiao’s actions had really ventured out of the scope of his expectations this time.
If he’d known that this sworn brother of his would privately send troops out to investigate the Qin fourth miss’ whereabouts, he wouldn’t have sent his own to intercept and kill the Qins.
It hadn’t crossed Ji Zeyu’s mind at all that not only would Pang Xiao refrain from pulling up an old enemy by the roots, but he’d fall for their fourth miss! The marquis had always felt Pang Xiao was a highly principled and rational person. Who would’ve thought that the prince would one day put it all on the line for a girl he liked!
Ji Zeyu didn’t know how to describe his mix of emotions, but they didn’t feel good.
He’d been stationed at the Tatar border for almost a year; Pang Xiao had spent the same amount of time fighting the war to the south. Being unable to meet up, he didn’t know much about his brother’s personal affairs. He’d thought that Pang Xiao was the same as before, that he wouldn’t change. But to think that in a short half year, so much of the unanticipated had happened!
No wonder the marquis had randomly picked up Pang Xiao’s beloved snow-white horse! It was incredulous that he would’ve ever been willing to gift such a valuable Ferghana to a girl. And now, he’d committed such a grave crime and handed this enormous opening to the emperor out of rescuing the girl!
Indeed, Ji Zeyu believed that Pang Xiao really had led the Valiant Tigers out for a search and rescue mission.
The emperor seemed to be certain beyond a doubt as well, which was why the Dragon Riders had been ordered to hold down the fort. The imperial majesty was planning on thoroughly crippling Pang Xiao this time!
The marquis and prince were usually both exceedingly cautious. They were on the same footing when it came to eclipsing their master with their accomplishments. The marquis understood all of Pang Xiao’s difficulties, and the former had carefully committed a mistake that the emperor could seize upon — so that he would keep himself safe. But to think that the coolly collected Pang Xiao had set aside personal safety for a girl?
As Ji Zeyu’s thoughts ran their course, his fists slowly tighten inside his cloak. He couldn’t describe what he was feeling. Does Pang Xiao not want to take revenge for his father anymore?
Has he lost sight of the bigger picture because of a girl?
Or was the marquis irritated at himself for attacking the surrendered Yan convoy and causing a whole slew of trouble for his brother?
He could no longer sort through his tangled feelings. All of them mixed together just made him even more cantankerous, so ill-tempered that he wanted to kill someone!
As the marquis’ thoughts twisted and turned, Qi Rugang finished his close inspection of the Valiant Tigers. He’d even scrutinized the dozen or so rescued Yan officials and their families. At the same time, a group of people surrounded the carriage that Zuo Jinwei had put a heavy guard on.
“Your Highness, why have you still not alighted to receive your punishment!?” Qi Rugang and Zuo Jinwei approached the carriage, one after another.
The surrounding citizens and Valiant Tigers, as well as the disguised Li Qitian, Li Guanwen, and Ji Zeyu all looked at the carriage.
The curtains lifted as a grizzled, stooped, seventy-some elder lurched his way down from the carriage. A young maid dressed in a downy-pink double layered jacket, her hair swept up in looped pigtails, followed after.
The elder placed a wooden footstool in front of the carriage, drawing muted commotion from the crowd. A strapping man like the Faithful Prince of the First Rank needed a footstool to get out of a carriage?
At this time, the navy blue, cotton curtains were lifted by a pale, jade-like arm.
What came into view was a young girl with her head lowered, her inky-black long hair and soft features on display. The scene quieted down as she stepped down with the help of her young maid.
It was a beautiful young girl wearing a pale-green skirt combination, draped with snow-white fox fur; her hands neatly tucked into white fox fur hand muffs that were embedded with rubies.
She stood a bit helplessly in the crowd, not sure what to do with herself. Her lively, almond-shaped eyes were dewy, likely out of fright. Slender fingers adjusted her fur collar as she looked down, hiding half of her face in the snowy fur.
Beneath the winter sun, the collar perfectly offset her clear skin and she seemed to glow in the celestial radiance. The green of new growth in her clothes brought a hint of spring to the gray-white winter, so stunning that it shook one’s heart.
Within the crowd, Li Qitian narrowed his eyes. Head eunuch Li Guanwen’s mouth had dropped open; he had no idea that he’d sucked in a mouthful of glacial air.
Ji Zeyu was expressionless, save for a shrewd light flashing through his attractive eyes. There seemed to be a voice pointing out to him that this is the Qin fourth miss.
Close at hand, Qi Rugang and Zuo Jinwei were completely flabbergasted. The Valiant Tigers next to them were more steady. They’d all seen Qin Yining before, and knew that she was the future princess consort.
Dressed as a seventy-some year old elder, Xie Yue shook as he walked forward, making his greetings to Zuo Jinwei in a raspy voice. “General Zuo, this isn’t what we discussed before. Didn’t you say that you were going to escort my miss into the capital? Why is she barred from entering the city and even asked to alight?”
Zuo Jinwei could only reply in a daze, “Who are you? When has this official ever met you?”
“Now this won’t do, Master Zuo!” Xie Yue roused to anger. “Although Great Yan has submitted to Great Zhou, my miss is still the official daughter of the Marquis of Anping! Minister Qin was a renowned official in the former Yan dynasty! What do you mean with this denial?!”
“You, you!” Zuo Jinwei couldn’t quite wrap his mind around things. The sense that something was wrong pricked at him. He hastily asked his confidante, “What’s going on here, isn’t that the Faithful Prince of the First Rank in the carriage?! How did you all guard that vehicle?!”
His vice general was likewise addlepated. “Please, please quell your anger, sir! This subordinate kept a close eye on this carriage all this time. Even a sparrow wouldn’t have flown out of it, much less a person. It, it really is the prince in that carriage!”
Qin Yining’s slender eyebrows drew together slightly, her tone gentle but colored with a few hints of anger. “Where is this even coming from? I’ve been in this carriage all along. Aside from me, there’s only an elderly senior and my eight year old maid inside the vehicle. What outside male could there be?”
She glared hotly at Zuo Jinwei and hectored severely, “Master Zuo, I was grateful to you for the rescue, and you even promised to keep looking for my father and missing family members. I agreed to introduce you to my father for your efforts, but you’re slandering me like this in broad daylight! What do you mean by this??
“Great Yan has surrendered to Great Zhou and submitted to His Majesty because His Majesty is a wise ruler. But to think that sage emperor would have such a flip-flopping subject! I have truly learned something new today!”
Qin Yining’s words were logical, plausible, and self-assured. There was also entirely too much information in them. A dull roar broke out in the crowd.
What deployment of troops for personal use?
What falsification of imperial order
s?
It was all bullshit!
In reality, Master Zuo Jinwei was cozying up to the surrendered Yan officials! That’s why he’d sent troops out to rescue them—who else held the Valiant Tiger command token, hmm?
Chapter 302: Who To Believe?
Within the crowd, Li Qitian’s forehead was knit tightly as he looked suspiciously at Zuo Jinwei.
Zuo Jinwei was the Minister of Military Affairs and the commander of a hundred thousand Valiant Tigers. It was understandable if his ambitions had grown to wanting sole authority after wielding great power. But would he be so bold as to frame Pang Zhixi and deceive his liege, all for his own profit?
Li Qitian actually didn’t know who he should believe.
Meanwhile, Qin Yining was still effortlessly slinging everything onto Zuo Jinwei.
“Master Zuo, you said you wanted to be introduced to my father and then to Prince Yan. Looking at what you’ve done today however, let’s forget about all that. My father is an upright and righteous man. He won’t want to run with petty criminals!”
If Zuo Jinwei still didn’t understand that he was being framed, then he’d really be a fool. Literally hopping mad, he stabbed a finger in the vicinity of Qin Yining’s nose.
“Slander! Where did a wild chit like you come from? How dare you pretend to be from Great Yan? How dare you wag your tongue like this?! When have I ever done anything like that? I didn’t rescue you at all!”
A frown crossed Qin Yining’s forehead and she turned back to look at the other rescued Yan citizens. She didn’t say anything, but her unruffled composure told everyone that Zuo Jinwei was lying!
Having watched the show for quite a while, Qi Rugang fully understood now that Zuo Jinwei had set up a plot that’d made even the emperor a pawn. He stalked forward furiously to inspect the carriage.
Upon finding no sign of Pang Xiao, he called out loudly, “Have you all made a thorough search? Is the Faithful Prince of the First Rank really not among the men?”
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