Graceful Dynasty

Chapter 40: The sky is low

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Sometimes the encounter between people is full of magic and uncertainty. Just because of a sentence, one's opinion of someone changes. This situation really happened to Xinghe.

She fell backwards, with only her two feet on the ground, unable to move. The Privy Councilor looked at her as if she were a fool. She smiled awkwardly, "I was working on a case last night and didn't sleep well."

When something falls, big objects are avoided and small objects are picked up. In fact, there is no need to think about it. It is instinct. Huo Yan stretched out his hand and caught the Jinyi Envoy who was about to fall. The hat on her wrist rolled five steps away. Only then could he see her appearance clearly. The woman who could catch the prince's eye was indeed extraordinary.

The pain was bearable, she was not someone who could not bear it. She went back to the yamen and worked on the case for half a day as usual, discussing with Nan Yushu how to investigate the Cao Zhan case.

The Qianhu next to him said, "The case has not been decided yet, so we can't be careless. Let's put him in the back room first."

Seeing you today is not in vain… It’s as if we’ve been thinking about each other for a long time and we’ve met again after a long separation. With just this one sentence, he quickly concluded that he and the prince, who were both from the Huo family, were two completely different people. The prince looked kind but had a deep mind; while this privy envoy was serious but could still say a few flattering words.

Normally, she had experienced so much flattery that she should just laugh it off, but Huo Yan's polite words seemed so novel to her.

Huo Yan said "oh", lowered his eyes, and scraped the tea leaves with the cup lid. His contemptuous look was revealed in his movements. Xinghe knew that Huo Yan was in a high position and had a proud and arrogant personality. Just as the prince had warned her in advance, it would be difficult to move him.

Xinghe had some things that were no longer his concern. Since he could not bring down Huo Yan, he was not interested in asking about the following matters. He simply replied, "Lord Nan, please go to the Privy Council in person. I think the Privy Councilor will buy this favor."

She followed him into the hall. In the past, the Privy Council often summoned military officers to discuss military affairs, so the place for government affairs was particularly spacious and deep. The weather was bad, and the room was dim. In addition, the seats on the pillars were all made of ebony. Without lights during the day, people's faces could not be seen clearly. Two rows of candles were burning on the corridors on the left and right sides, and shadows of people walked by quickly. There were still a few officials in the back of the hall. Huo Yan raised his hand slightly to let them leave, and said, "When Lord Su came, the government office happened to have a military matter to deal with, and they all came to discuss matters..." Then he gestured to the seat of honor, "Please sit down."

Back at the East Palace, she wondered how the prince would manipulate her. She was just a toy to him. Others could only keep a tiger or a leopard, but he could keep her so that he could take the blame and handle cases.

Sometimes the encounter between people is full of magic and uncertainty. Just because of a sentence, one's opinion of someone changes. This situation really happened to Xinghe.

He turned his gaze to look at her and interrupted her mid-sentence, "Why are you standing, Master Su? Sit down and talk."

Huo Yan responded to such pleasant words with due grace, "Lord Su is so thoughtful. It's windy outside, please come in." After that, he led the way to the main hall. The elegance in his turn shed all the ostentation of youth, revealing a solemn, deep and profound foundation, which made Xinghe inexplicably bewildered - in another ten years, the prince should look like this too!

Good, good, no matter how she was speculated behind her back, at least she was given enough face. Xinghe stood up and bowed again, "I have been here for half a day, asking you to answer my questions. Thank you for your patience. I have asked everything I wanted to ask. It is getting late, so I will leave. Please stay."

She felt strange. "Is his wife gone? There is no other female family member in charge of the household. Why did he entrust such domestic affairs to your mother?"

Xinghe felt like a fool for a moment. It turned out that the old ones are the wisest. She thanked him for the meal and continued, "Please don't misunderstand, Lord Huo. Although the Control Military Department is thoroughly investigating the case of General Cao Zhan, they don't have and dare not have any doubts about you. This visit to the Privy Council is just a formality and a routine matter. Lord Nan originally wanted to come in person, but was afraid that if the commander showed up, it would make too much of a scene, so he sent me to bring you a message first and ask you two questions."

The Privy Councillor nodded, "It was the negligence of the subordinates. Originally, there was a felt in front of the door, but later it was removed because water came out when stepped on. It has not been put back until now."

The young girl was very serious about government affairs, and her meticulousness was no less than that of male officials. They became stronger when faced with a strong opponent, which was a common trait of their kind. He just didn't expect that a girl could still make him bother to deal with her, which was enough to make him look at her with new eyes.

She glanced outside the door and asked, "Master, do you have any government affairs to attend to today?"

Nan Yushu and several other captains looked at each other. Such a woman was really scary. It was as if she was born to be a case solver. If she was trapped in the palace, it would be a waste of her talent.

She smiled more gently, "I have often heard my brother talk about you, but because I have always been in the palace, even though I have admired you for a long time, I have never had the opportunity to visit you."

Xinghe smiled vaguely, "If you don't have enough manpower, I can dispatch them at will. But Cao Zhan's case is not within my jurisdiction. As I said before, I can't interfere."

Huo Yan said nothing, but nodded slightly, watching her walk up the archery path, her thin legs taking one step at a time, as if she had bound feet. He guessed that she was probably afraid of falling, and was worried about it happening again.

Xinghe said he sprained his ankle. Yinchen, who was in the duty room, ran out and hurried forward to support him. "It's so cold, it's hard to recover from the injury. I have some medicated oil with me, I'll just rub it on you and you'll be fine."

So they held her on both sides and carried her into the side hall.

Huo Yan relaxed his brows and said with a smile, "Master Su, don't belittle yourself. Although Xing Hai and I have been colleagues for ten years and have a deep friendship, it is my consistent rule not to have personal feelings when on duty. Master Su has done a good job, and a woman is as capable as a man, which is quite respectful to a brother. If there are other difficult points in Cao Zhan's case, Huo is willing to lend a hand. Please don't be shy, Master Su."

This idea has been proposed before, but intermarriage is a helpless outcome of equal power. The power of Dayin and the Uda Khanate is not equal, and marrying a princess is tantamount to condescending, which would be embarrassing for the court. Nomadic in the north, a good girl from the capital was sent there, living in a big tent every day, and had to ride a bare ox cart when migrating, squeaking on the grassland in the wind and sun, no royal relative could bear to see their daughter suffer that.

Naturally, no one would take these words seriously. Let's give the prince some face, and at the same time, we really admire the courage of this female official. Su Yujin is a scholar, and although he is a cabinet minister, the rebellious spirit in his bones has been passed on to his two children. It is rare to have three high-ranking officials in one family in the court nowadays. The female official was not squeezed to death, and it seems that she is doing well in the Control Military Department. Such a shady government office can still take root. How can such a woman be simple

As for the prince, Dequan said with a smile: "Master, how can you be interested in a girl who makes noises? It is said that the girls there are dark and strong, and they eat mutton every day, and they smell like mutton. Don't cheat him, or he will bury you alive."

Xing He snorted and laughed, "Can't we just do anything? Call nine guards, change their clothes, and stand side by side with Cao Zhan. Bring all the people from the outer house here, and let the maids and servants identify the person in front of them. As long as the identification is correct, it will be useless even if they deny it. How many murderers admit that they killed someone? If he doesn't admit his guilt, can't we deal with him?"

He turned his gaze to look at her and interrupted her mid-sentence, "Why are you standing, Master Su? Sit down and talk."

This question was very sharp, and it was quite a collective punishment. Huo Yan looked at her, and the corners of his lips twitched slightly, "It is my job to review on a monthly basis, but do you think that the documents submitted will be found to have any flaws? I only go to the army once every six months, and I go there to reorganize the three armies, not to inquire about military pay. As long as no one in the Northern Army complains, this matter will be difficult to be discovered."

Xinghe thanked him profusely, "To be honest, sir, I was afraid of your authority before I came here, and I was very nervous before entering the government office. Now that I have met you, you are so polite, which really surprises me. I believe that you are doing this for my brother's sake. I have been bothering you for a long time, and I don't know if my words are abrupt. If there is anything wrong, please forgive me."

A puzzled look appeared on her face. "So, after the Northern Army's pay was handed over to General Wei, Your Excellency has not asked about it again, and even reduced the monthly review?"

Or maybe because she was a female official, and relied on the prince's first place, she was finally treated a little preferentially. Huo Yan went out to greet her personally, which was a great honor he had never given to others since he took charge of the Privy Council. When the servant brought tea, he politely gave way to her, drank tea, and asked, "How long has the Jinyi Envoy been in office?"

"Goodbye, Lord Su." He bowed.

The sky gradually darkened, and the sedan was dim, with only a little light coming in from the sheep-horn lamp outside. She lowered her hand and touched her ankle, which seemed swollen. She felt angry and useless. She couldn't afford to delay at such a critical moment. What would she do with her limp leg behind her

Yinchen poured medicinal oil into his palms, rubbed his hands until they were hot, and pressed them on her ankles, and replied casually: "There is no mistress in the Duke's mansion. He has only had his wife. After the Duke's wife died of illness four years ago, the mansion was taken care of by the chief secretary. When it comes to anniversary celebrations, there are many relatives coming and going. How can the chief secretary recognize everyone? He had to entrust my mother to take care of it."

Huo Yan leaned back in his armchair and shook his head slowly. "I just heard about it from Lord Su. This matter is of great importance. I will send the Chief Secretary to the army to conduct a thorough investigation. Once it is confirmed to be true, I will immediately file a report to the Emperor and confiscate Cao Zhan's property to fill the hole he owes."

She said it was nothing, "It was just a slip. Where is Cao Zhan now? Has he been escorted to the Control Rong Division?"

"So does the Privy Council supervise the finances of the Northern Army?"

It sounds like a joke for an official with little experience to come here to interrogate a powerful official.

A puzzled look appeared on her face. "So, after the Northern Army's pay was handed over to General Wei, Your Excellency has not asked about it again, and even reduced the monthly review?"

So all the files and documents about Cao Zhan were moved to her duty room. Seeing that it was getting dark, she ordered to put it aside for the night and let the witnesses identify him when she returned to the government office tomorrow.

Xinghe became more humble, leaning forward slightly and said, "Then I will be bold... Has the military affairs of the Northern Army commanded by General Wei been reported to the Privy Council as scheduled?"

Nan Yushu asked: "What does the Privy Councilor think about Cao Zhan's case? Is he trying to protect him, or is he completely ignoring him?"

Nan Yushu expressed his appreciation for her generosity and said, "Master Su, you have worked hard. I didn't expect to sprain your bones after making this trip."

She stood up, bowed and replied, "I have been working in the Military Control Department for just over a month."

Nan Yushu waved his hand and said, "If Lord Su is worried that the case is not justified, then I will just hand it over to you. There are many female relatives involved anyway, and it will be troublesome for two people to judge separately with a hand between them."

Xing He remembered that she and Huo Yan were related, so she asked, "Last time I heard that you called the Privy Councilor your uncle, is the Minister familiar with him?"

Xinghe said, "Okay, since everyone thinks she and the prince have an affair, she can also enjoy the shade under the big tree." While thanking him, he replied, "The prince is doing well. Yesterday, when he learned that I was going to visit you, he talked about you for a long time, saying that you had outstanding military achievements and had suppressed rebellions and killed enemies in the border areas, and you were feared outside the border."

She stood up, forgetting the injury on her foot, and used too much force, causing a sharp pain. The people in the hall saw her and asked her with concern whether she wanted to call a military doctor. She said no, and let Ye Jinchun support her, and jumped to the official sedan chair.

She took a deep breath, calmed down her anxious mood, and said, "Master Huo probably already knows the purpose of my visit..."

Let's cherish the hero, she is also a heroine. Huo Yan has always been reluctant to get involved with others, but this time she made an exception and came to the door.

She felt strange. "Is his wife gone? There is no other female family member in charge of the household. Why did he entrust such domestic affairs to your mother?"

He turned his gaze to look at her and interrupted her mid-sentence, "Why are you standing, Master Su? Sit down and talk."

So they held her on both sides and carried her into the side hall.

Xinghe warmed his hands on the hand warmer and said slowly, "The court does not intend to keep Cao Zhan, and if the Privy Councilor insists on stepping out, isn't that courting death? He is a smart man, and it is natural that self-preservation is important at this time. If he is not a royal relative, and if he is an ordinary official, the superior will be guilty of negligence if the subordinate commits such a thing. I had a night talk with the master yesterday, and his meaning was that only Cao Zhan should be dealt with, and Huo Yan should not be touched. We are working for others, and since the superiors have instructed us to do so, we should just do it. But I think that the Privy Councilor is quite sincere, and said that if necessary, he is willing to accompany us to the Northern Army for an on-site investigation."

She was good at speaking, and someone who could devalue herself must be able to handle the officialdom with ease. Huo Yan naturally knew about the origin of this Jinyi Envoy. She was the deputy commander of the Control Military Division appointed by the emperor, the only female official in the outer court of the Dayin Dynasty, and the concubine of the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace... She was so favored by everyone, yet she could still be humble in front of him. He admired her courage and magnanimity.

She glanced outside the door and asked, "Master, do you have any government affairs to attend to today?"

"Goodbye, Lord Su." He bowed.

It was not his style to make things difficult for women, and Nan Yushu must have known this for sure, which was why he sent her here. He put down his cup and sat upright, "Cao Zhan is from my rear army governor's office, and has always been my disciple. Now that something has gone wrong, the military control department wants to prosecute him, and I have no choice but to cooperate with the government in handling the case. If you have anything to say, Lord Su, just ask."

Dequan said, "The north is not peaceful again. That so-called Wuliwala King has rejected several marriage proposals. He is so angry that he is sending troops to attack us. The master is still in the inner court to discuss strategy. He came back late today, so tell you not to wait for him."

She stood up, bowed and replied, "I have been working in the Military Control Department for just over a month."

Xinghe smiled and said, "I'm afraid this hole is difficult to fill. Cao Zhan has more than one property, and there are dozens of outer houses. I am stepping up my investigation. The ten houses are temporarily sealed. Once Lord Nan has made a decision on the case, I will report it to the court for disposal."

Xing He remembered that she and Huo Yan were related, so she asked, "Last time I heard that you called the Privy Councilor your uncle, is the Minister familiar with him?"

"So does the Privy Council supervise the finances of the Northern Army?"

They laughed at each other. They didn't expect their first meeting to be so interesting, although it was so interesting that it embarrassed Xinghe. Huo Yan lifted her up, and she stood up, staggered forward a few steps, picked up her hat and put it on, still bowing: "Sorry for the rudeness, goodbye."

He turned his gaze to look at her and interrupted her mid-sentence, "Why are you standing, Master Su? Sit down and talk."

The thousand households under her command also encountered difficulties. "The servants and maids are not easily frightened. A few loud voices can make them tremble. But they insisted that their master was General Wei, and there was nothing they could do if the concubines refused to recognize them. After all, most of them were widows rewarded by the court, and some of them had imperial decrees, so they could not be easily touched."

Huo Yan said yes, "I submit the report every month and never slack off."

Yinchen muttered a few words, probably because he was afraid of being buried alive, and never mentioned the matter of Beifang Baolin again.

Huo Yan stood up and gestured to the outside, "I am seeing Master Su out. It's almost the end of the year, and Chengzi has been busy with military affairs. I haven't seen His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for a long time. Please tell His Royal Highness to wish His Royal Highness the best of health."

"So does the Privy Council supervise the finances of the Northern Army?"

Wrinkles... This is what she thought before she fell to the ground. Maybe this iron-willed privy envoy would think that she was not smart enough and then have some sympathy and love for her. Anyway, this time the court official could not show off, fortunately she did not fall in front of her subordinates.

The King Wuliwala mentioned by Dequan was the King Wudahan of the Xianbei in the north. He had tried to marry a princess of the Celestial Empire many times but failed, so he found a good excuse to openly disturb the border of Dayin. This battle had to be fought eventually, but it was only a matter of time. Yinchen helped her massage with medicated oil, saying as she did so: "The imperial court is also a bunch of idiots. If they want a princess, just find a princess from the clan to give them. Then we can ask for their princess and make her our prince's concubine. It would kill two birds with one stone. How great is that!"

Yinchen muttered a few words, probably because he was afraid of being buried alive, and never mentioned the matter of Beifang Baolin again.

"So does the Privy Council supervise the finances of the Northern Army?"

She turned around and said goodbye with a smile, "Thank you for seeing me off. It's cold outside. My Lord, please go back now."

He frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "During the war, due to frequent personnel transfers, I was personally in charge of all military supplies. Later, the situation in the Central Plains stabilized, and it has been ten years now. The salaries for the troops deployed around the capital were collected by the Privy Council and distributed to various departments, and then to the army, and handed over to the generals of each army for distribution."

His eyes were sharp, and he might have been offended. Xinghe hurriedly said yes, and said in a roundabout way, "There are 300,000 troops stationed in and outside the capital. With so many people, it is too much for you to take care of every detail. It's all because of the negligence of the subordinates. If the officers patrolling the camp were more careful, this matter might have been discovered long ago." She licked her lips and adjusted her sitting posture. "Last night, the Military Control Department sent a thousand households to the Northern Army to investigate. They interrogated hundreds of people, and they all claimed that military pay has always been paid every two months. But as far as I know, military pay is different from other things. There has never been a precedent of paying pensions every other month. Uh... Sir, are you aware of this matter?"

A puzzled look appeared on her face. "So, after the Northern Army's pay was handed over to General Wei, Your Excellency has not asked about it again, and even reduced the monthly review?"

So they held her on both sides and carried her into the side hall.

At this time, tell a harmless little lie to ease the awkward atmosphere, otherwise the image you have worked so hard to build will be ruined.

Maybe it was because people relaxed their minds, and once they relaxed, things went wrong. The floor under the Privy Council corridor was finely paved, with square bricks polished on five sides and tightly connected, paved with mortar, smoothed with water, and then soaked with raw tung oil. The floor was so shiny that you could see through it. Her soap boots were powder-coated, and she deliberately added leather pads to prevent them from getting wet on snowy days, which made them clash with the floor. When she stepped over the threshold, she forgot, slipped, and fell backwards.

Nan Yushu laughed, "What favor do I have with him? Didn't the big Buddha accompany me to investigate because of Lord Su? I'm afraid I'll have to trouble Lord Su with this matter. It's almost the end of the year, and there's not only this case in the government office. An official from a remote post was robbed and killed on his way back to Beijing last night. Three of my captains have already gone to investigate, and I'll have to go to the funeral home to examine the body later. I'm really busy."

She glanced outside the door and asked, "Master, do you have any government affairs to attend to today?"

She said it was nothing, "It was just a slip. Where is Cao Zhan now? Has he been escorted to the Control Rong Division?"

It sounds like a joke for an official with little experience to come here to interrogate a powerful official.

Nan Yushu let out a long sigh, "That's good... Right now there is something that needs to be done to the Privy Council. The Northern Army's archives are confidential. No one can open them easily without the Privy Council's permission. The Privy Council has been stripped of its power until now. The five military governors' offices have each been responsible for their own affairs. The Northern Army is in charge of the military defense of the capital. All the military strategies are in that archive, which must also include records of military supplies and fodder. The book is made to deal with the superiors. There are many cases of saying one thing and doing another. As long as the book is taken out for the three armies to confront, no matter what the devil is, he will be exposed."

I finally breathed a sigh of relief secretly. I didn't expect to do anything to the other party all at once, but I just wanted to show my face first and figure out the other party's context, so that it would be easier to deal with things later.

Nan Yushu asked: "What does the Privy Councilor think about Cao Zhan's case? Is he trying to protect him, or is he completely ignoring him?"

She glanced outside the door and asked, "Master, do you have any government affairs to attend to today?"

So they held her on both sides and carried her into the side hall.

But he seemed to be away today. After entering the palace gate, he only saw Dequan wandering under the eaves. She called out, and Dequan squinted his eyes. He vaguely saw a figure, sometimes taller and sometimes shorter, coming down the steps holding a whisk, "Master Su, what's wrong with you?"

Let's cherish the hero, she is also a heroine. Huo Yan has always been reluctant to get involved with others, but this time she made an exception and came to the door.

Yinchen said, "They are familiar with each other. They are relatives. The two families have always had exchanges. Last time, on the anniversary of his wife's death, my mother helped to take care of it."

"Does Lord Su have anything else to ask?" His expression was slightly more relaxed than before. "If necessary, it is not impossible for Huo to accompany Lord Su to the Northern Army for an on-site investigation."