Court Coup 12

"Yes." Que Si rose to his feet. The ghost silently moved to stand behind Xie Yuanju, his expression calm and inscrutable, automatically blending into the background.

"Tsk tsk, where on earth did my lord find such a young little old man? Even more rigid than an old crone," Shang Sou teased, waving the folding fan in his hand with a smile. He appeared to be about forty years old, with clear, handsome features and a half-foot-long beard. A long scar ran from the corner of his mouth to his temple on the left side of his face—a relic of an old wound, barely noticeable unless one looked closely.

"Shang Sou knows well that Que Si won’t pay you any mind, yet you tease him every time," Xie Yuanju said as he filled an empty teacup. "The southern army’s guard has successfully defected to the Grand Marshal He Dai. Has Shao Youwang made any moves?"

Shang Sou lifted the teacup and savored a sip. "Good tea. The best still comes from your lord’s side! With Wen Zheng’s death, the last tether binding the Liu dynasty’s realm snapped. Liu Jin is like a beast unleashed—chaos looms over the Liu dynasty."

"The late sovereign once said that the Liu family’s seizure of the Han throne was but a usurpation by his vassals, destined to decline by the third generation—which we have reached now. Liu Jin, son of the Martial Emperor, has inherited his father’s debauchery and tyranny. Rumor has it that on the day Wen Zheng died, he gleefully assaulted a dowager consort, causing uproar throughout the court but disregarding it entirely. Then he spent days indulging in revelry with He Dai’s daughter, neglecting court affairs. Since He Dai placed his daughter in the palace and secured Ao Lei’s secret allegiance, it’s unlikely that He Dai orchestrated Wen Zheng’s assassination."

"Shang suspects the assassin was acting on Shao Youwang’s orders," Shang Sou stroked his fine beard and shook his head thoughtfully.

"Today, the realm divides into three powers: the imperial army controls 200,000 elite troops, Shao Youwang commands 60,000 private soldiers, and the Jiedushi mercenaries under Zhu Ben number 300,000."

"After He Dai sent his daughter into the palace, he gained imperial favor. The southern and northern imperial guards are now under his influence, but he already treats them as his own. Capturing the northern army is only a matter of time. Since Shao Youwang was assigned his fief, he has never ceased recruiting soldiers in secret. Shang believes his forces number at least 180,000. The Zhu family, a long-established noble house, commands far more troops than the 300,000 openly known."

"By this reckoning, Shao Youwang’s strength is the weakest. When turmoil erupts in the court, He Dai will surely... hold the emperor hostage to command the princes. The Jiedushi have long resented the court. If He Dai intends to usurp the throne like the Martial Emperor once did, Zhu Ben will block him. A clash between the court and the Jiedushi will be inevitable and fierce. Shao Youwang, caught between the two, will benefit from their conflict."

Xie Yuanju’s fingers paused as they tapped the table, then tapped twice more, his gaze distant. "Hmm."

The Grand Marshal commands the court’s military and has long resented Zhu Ben, who controls their provisions. If He Dai seizes the emperor to dominate the princes, Zhu Ben’s pressure will reach a breaking point—and he will not bow his neck to be slaughtered.

The capital’s seemingly peaceful revelry needs only a small spark to ignite into fire.

Shang Sou asked, "My lord, with all matters in the capital settled, you’ve played the loyal retainer to the Xie family maiden for so long. Aren’t you growing fond of it?" His subordinates were all waiting for the lord’s return to lead the grand scheme.

If not for pressing affairs, Shang Sou sometimes longed to see how a person chilled to the bone could so convincingly play the devoted, reserved retainer.

He glanced subtly at Que Si, thinking his lord’s reference must surely be him.

A face flickered through Xie Yuanju’s mind—one that could express both irritation and delight.

He said calmly, "Had it not been for Xie Qi saving me in my direst illness, I fear I would have perished. Such a life debt must be repaid. Before he died, he entrusted his beloved daughter to me. Now she has seen through the Xie clan’s treacherous intentions and seeks a different path. She has only just arrived in the capital. I must wait until she is completely safe before I can leave."

Shang Sou instantly grew serious. "It is my fault that my lord was endangered."

"No blame lies with you. There is no need to mention it again."

Recalling past events, Shang Sou still harbored silent resentment but, after a moment of breathing control, asked, "What measure defines her complete safety? Must we wait until she is married, or until she stands firm in her husband’s household?"

He sighed half in jest, half in earnest. "In my view, it would be better for my lord to take her into his household. Her father intended it so—it would be a perfect solution."

His lord, nominally her foster husband, would then officially protect her under his wing, securing her complete safety.

Xie Yuanju remained silent.

Seeing his lord ignore the suggestion as if it were a breeze, Shang Sou understood his usual advice was once again dismissed.

When his lord lifted his teacup, brushing his lips lightly against its rim, Shang Sou closed his fan and stood to take his leave.

Serving tea and sending off guests—was his lord tired of his chatter?

Before departing, he glanced back at Xie Yuanju. The young man was just coming of age, not yet twenty, handsome and composed. Even the lamps in the room seemed to favor him, casting light on half his face while his high nose cast the other half in shadow, like a deity enthroned on a high altar—unfathomable.

A thought crossed Shang Sou’s mind: Could it be that even the Xie family maiden was not as beautiful as his lord?

So he was not interested?

Though Shang Sou had always urged his lord to take the maiden into his household.

Yet in these decadent times, with three successive Liu emperors each more absurd than the last—the Martial Emperor brutal and murderous, the Wen Emperor lavish and cruel, and the current emperor licentious and depraved—no good man would receive even a polite rejection, let alone a ruler known for benevolence.

The corruption from top to bottom set a precedent: officials mastered the art of inaction, debauchery became enlightened, and arrogance was deemed elegance.

Bribery and official sales were openly priced; the entire court and government were rotten to the core.

Therefore, Shang Sou admired his lord’s gentlemanly spirit in repaying Xie Qi’s life-saving favor and treating his daughter well.

Such time wasted was nothing; his lord already bore too much. Let him follow his heart. One day, this debt will be repaid in full, and then they will together discuss and plot great undertakings. For now, Shang Sou would be his vanguard.

As night deepened, the brothels of Qimo Spring Lane grew ever more lavish.

Xie Yuanju’s ears twitched. He opened a corner of the window facing the street, filtering out much noise, focusing on a few voices.

"Oh, my dear sister, that lady in the palace gifted you so much gold—how we envy you!"

"You envy me for nothing. That’s all thanks to my skill. Ten years ago, I was the capital’s top courtesan, and even now I teach the palace ladies their secret arts. If you could learn even a bit from me, it would benefit you all your life."

The envious praise in the women’s voices was unmistakable.

"I heard that lady comes from the Grand Marshal’s household—a truly noble family from the clouds above..."

A sultry voice interrupted them.

"Enough. To have the chance to teach the lady is my blessing. These years, thanks to the sisters in the building, I’ve held on. Take the gold and divide it among yourselves."

Hearing what he wished, Xie Yuanju closed the window.

"Let’s go to the government office," Que Si followed silently.

Their path to the office passed through the bustling market and the southern lane. Passing the crowded street, the colorful wares on the roadside stalls caught Xie Yuanju’s gaze and held it for a moment.