Chapter 111: Vigilance

"Bixia, please believe this subject," Liang Jiwen said as she knelt in the imperial study, "if this succeeds, I will submit to the Great Li without the slightest disloyalty."

Jiang Changbai sat upon her chair, looking down at Liang Jiwen from above, and suddenly felt something unfamiliar. She still remembered when Liang Jiwen had first arrived, she'd been dark and gaunt. Her clothes had been dishevelled, and even her cheeks had been hollowed by extensive hunger. Afterwards, she'd learned to speak the language of the Great Li, and how to read, and her complexion had turned rosy, and her posture had grown tall and straight, and even her speech no longer had its previous timidity. If, before, she looked like a beggar, now, she truly looked like a princess.

One could say, she'd watched Liang Jiwen grow up. And now, she was suddenly like a powerful minister who'd been been buffeted by the waves of the court for countless years, kneeling before her, asking her to support her in returning to her state to seize the throne.

"Are you aware of what you're saying?" Jiang Changbai's sharp gaze pierced Liang Jiwen, her voice lacking its usual amicability; rather, it was interrogative.

"This subject does," Liang Jiwen said, raising her head to look directly at Jiang Changbai. "This subject asks you to let this subject return to Shejin in Su Ya's place, and asks you to help this subject ascend as King of Shejin. The Great Li has been kind towards this subject; if this subject ascends the throne, in the future, Shejin will be the Great Li's vassal for the coming generations; as long as Shejin has it, as long as the Great Li requires it, it will have it."

Liang Jiwen's words were firm and resonant, yet when Jiang Changbai heard them, she felt somewhat discomfited. Actually, she didn't like Shejin much; didn't like the state which, every autumn, harassed the Great Li's border. But when Liang Jiwen spoke, she felt as if the one who sat on Shejin's throne was someone who would have the state give obeisance and step aside, that wouldn't be good for Shejin, either.

Of course, Jiang Changbai knew full well—there would always need to be someone to be the King of Shejin, and for the Great Li, rather than having one of those princes take the throne, it would be better to have Liang Jiwen sit upon it. In the end, their relationship was a bit closer.

"Aren't you afraid[…]"^[1]

Though she thought that to herself, Jiang Changbai shifted her gaze to Xie Qianbing. "Then, what does Qianbing think?"

Xie Qianbing, hearing the chill in Jiang Changbai's words, for a moment regretted coming to speak with the Emperor alongside Liang Jiwen. But things had already come this far, and she could only pluck up her courage. "Responding to Bixia, this minister doesn't think this matter is utterly unfeasible."

No shift could be seen on Jiang Changbai's expression; she merely looked at Liang Jiwen once more. Liang Jiwen's hair rose at Jiang Changbai's stare, and she felt her kneeling legs uncontrollably tremble, the clothes on her back nearly soaked with sweat.

"This subject doesn't need the Great Li to use its military might to force the King to abdicate for this subject," Liang Jiwen said, and then suddenly paused. "This subject only needs the border to send more soldiers."

Jiang Changbai remained silent, merely watching Liang Jiwen fixedly. Xie Qianbing, seeing this, drew a deep breath, deciding to help Liang Jiwen. But she'd only said the two characters of "Bixia" when she was cut off by Jiang Changbai.

"Were you permitted to speak?"

"This minister overstepped." Xie Qianbing hurriedly lowered her head and retreated a few steps.

As if there was no one else in the room, Jiang Changbai picked up a cup of tea and took a sip, and then, as if it were any other day, flicked through memorials, perusing them. In the end, Liang Jiwen couldn't hold back, and when she spoke, her voice was slightly impatient. "Please, Bixia, permit it."

Yet Jiang Changbai seemed not to have seen her, and raised her head to look at Xie Qianbing. "Grind ink."

"Of course." When Xie Qianbing passed by Liang Jiwen's side, she glanced at her, ill at ease. Xie Qianbing had ground ink for Jiang Changbai many times; though now she was the Minister of Appointments, she could still be counted as practiced at grinding ink. The sound of the friction on the stone travelled from her palm to her spin, and Xie Qianbing absent-mindedly felt as if she'd once more returned to the time in the Prince's residence.

Jiang Changbai chatted with her as she had in the Prince's residence. "What was the name of that teacher you brought to the Rear Court?"

Now, all the power was in Xie Qianbing's hand, but Xie Qianbing blinked, for a moment, unable to think of that person's name. She could only smile guiltily. "Responding to Bixia, this minister has forgotten as well."

That teacher had only stayed in the Rear Court for a year, and after that, most of the people remaining in the Rear Court had moved into the city to live. Without students, naturally there was no need for a teacher. Of course, Xie Qianbing hadn't treated her poorly, and had obtained an imperial decree to bestow her with a minor, eighth rank official's position, and sent her to the Imperial Academy to conduct research.

Of course Jiang Changbai wasn't truly unaware of the teacher's name, nor did she press the matter, but rather continued, "She seems only able to study; take a look—the students of hers, they don't even know how to negotiate."

Liang Jiwen had originally believed that Jiang Changbai was preparing to ignore her entirely, and she'd just grown anxious; hearing this, she hurriedly raised her head, pleasant surprise flashing in her eyes. But Jiang Changbai didn't give her an opportunity at all; the next moment, when she spoke, her words carried a degree of carelessness. "If the teacher didn't teach you, did Chen Xun not teach you either?"

Hearing this, Liang Jiwen's eyes grew round, entirely shocked. Xie Qianbing was rather surprised as well, and her searching gaze immediately fell on Liang Jiwen as well. After all, she'd been to that luxuriously-decorated room as well.

"Bixia, what are you saying? This subject…this subject doesn't understand," Liang Jiwen, feeling lucky, swallowed back the metallic taste in her throat, and played at naivete.

Jiang Changbai scoffed. "Since you want Our assistance, then you ought to be sincere. We do not need your promises for after matters succeed, merely your being more candid now."

As she spoke, Jiang Changbai's gaze flicked to look out the window. A figure was layered on the tightly-closed window. And, at this moment, the owner of this shadow was frowning, listening carefully to the sound of movement within the hall.

She knew who that person was.

Actually, the sound of the three's speech wasn't loud; it was even purposefully lowered. But no one knew that the acuity of Song Juguang's hearing could even hear all this, brought to her ear along with the sound of the breeze. She heard the atmosphere within the imperial study go from nervous to easy, and then grow joyous, and the gravity of her expression grow deeper and deeper.

Liang Jiwen couldn't return. The though rose inexplicably in Song Juguang's mind. She herself thought it was strange as well; when Liang Jiwen had first arrived in the Great Li, it was she who had thought that she[…]^[2]

When Liang Jiwen, head held high, pushed the doors open and came out of the hall, the two greeted each other. Without waiting for Liang Jiwen to react, Song Juguang, expression dark, walked inside. Jiang Changbai looked at her as if she'd long since expected this, and said, "Have Xun Zhu come in as well."

Yet Song Juguang didn't pay that any mind, and came directly over to Jiang Changbai's side, the smile on her face not reaching her eyes; though it was nominally a smile, it would be better to say that "bitterness" would be more fitting. Jiang Changbai raised her head to look at her, and said with a smile, "You were busy all night—how come A Guang hasn't gone home to rest? Is there some urgent matter?"

This time, Song Juguang was surprised, and asked, "Bixia knows about that?"

Jiang Changbai rose, and led Song Juguang to the low sofa, the two separated only by the small desk. "Reassigning troops in the depths of the night, how could I not know?"

A sudden, complicated feeling rose in Song Juguang's heart; the Emperor ought to have eyes and ears in all places, but when the one being monitored was her, she felt rather vexed. But before Song Juguang could explain, Jiang Changbai continued, "I'm not meaning to blame you. You already have the military authority, and you only ordered forces to guard the dike out of fear of the torrential downpour leading to its collapse and destroying the common peoples' crops. With A Guang worrying so for the state and the people, I'm very pleased."

Song Juguang hadn't imagined Jiang Changbai would say something like this, and a smile unconsciously rose to the corners of her lips. But Jiang Changbai's gaze was fixed on Song Juguang, and it didn't shift at all. Yet seeing this smile of Song Juguang's, surprise rose in her mind.

In this time, Jiang Changbai had only believed that Song Juguang wanted to put on an act of being a loyal minister, and so she'd played along. But right now, the happiness on Song Juguang's face seemed as if it truly were the joy of receiving her praise.

But what did she have to be happy about? Going from State Preceptor to her current overly cautious and careful state, shouldn't she be displeased?

"A Guang," Jiang Changbai suddenly said, "actually, you don't need to be so cautious—if you're a bit more candid, I won't fault you."

As she spoke, she picked up the pot of tea from the table, and poured some tea into the cup before Song Juguang with her own hand. "Go on, drink."

Yet Song Juguang didn't move a muscle, merely remaining upright, staring fixedly at Jiang Changbai. The two were silent for a long time, and in the end, it was Jiang Changbai who broke the quiet. "Is A Guang angry with me?"

Song Juguang startled. Only now did she recall that the Jiang Changbai in her memories had now long since been replaced by this handsome figure drawn in black casual wear, and now, with this person sitting properly before her, it caused her to think of the newly-forged jian the blacksmith had pulled out a few days before, the sharpness of its blade unclear, but when it was drawn from its scabbard, it would most certainly draw blood.

Though that was what she was thinking of, in the end, Song Juguang still picked up the cup of tea before her.

She finished it in a single swallow. But as soon as she'd set the cup down, Jiang Changbai covered her hand. The warm, gentle touch travelled from her arm to her heart, and Song Juguang felt as if she'd been struck by a weak bolt of lightning.

"That was quick," Jiang Changbai said, her eyes carrying a smile, "were you even able to taste what tea that was?"

"Songtao Tingxue," Song Juguang said with a smile, "this minister nearly forgot."

At that, the time jumped back to a few years prior; at that time, Jiang Changbai had still only been one of the unfavoured princesses in the Prince's residence; during the Crown Prince's birthday banquet, she'd won a drawing game, and a few liang of Songtao Tingxue. When she'd returned to the residence, she'd shared it with those close to her. At the time, Song Juguang had only been at Prince Ling's residence for a few months, and she'd said, grinning, that this was her favourite tea.

But this tea was incredibly precious, and if not for the Crown Prince's birthday, even Prince Ling couldn't get any in a month. Now the two of them had such high positions, and what they'd thought, in those days, was unobtainably precious, was at hand day in and day out.

Song Juguang stared fixedly at Jiang Changbai. Bright sunlight that had replaced the torrential rain—perhaps because the heavens had just been cleansed with the rains, it seemed as if this day was even brighter than the average day. At this moment, it was, by chance, midday, and it was as if even Jiang Changbai's lashes were filled with some scattered light. In only a few years' time, it seemed as if the previous youth on Jiang Changbai's face had retreated, and a steadiness had replaced it.

She seemed more and more like an emperor.

But when Song Juguang spoke, her words were somewhat displeased. "Bixia wishes for this minister to be candid towards you, but you're very vigilant against this minister."

As she spoke, Song Juguang leaned over the table, inclining a not insignificant amount towards Jiang Changbai. The distance between the two grew closer and closer, close enough that they could feel each other's breaths.

Jiang Changbai unconsciously leaned back a bit. "You're resenting being held outside by Xun Zhu just now?

Song Juguang responded with silence, the expression on her face telling all. But Jiang Changbai only smiled. "If you knew what Liang Jiwen asked of me just now, you'd likely not agree. Keeping you outside was in order to reduce conflict. I'm very tired."

These words, when spoken, seemed as if coquettish.

"This minister's disagreement." Song Juguang, utterly unaware of it, merely laughed at herself. "You're the Emperor; all matters in the Great Li are under your control; could you really pay mind to this minister's opinion?"

Jiang Changbai restrained her gaze. "Of course I do; you're the Regent, aren't you? If you wanted to govern alongside me, there would be nothing stopping you."

As she spoke, she gazed at Song Juguang, as if looking for hints on her face. But Song Juguang's expression was the same as ever, and even a bit more terrified.

"Bixia jests," Song Juguang said, leaning back on the low sofa. "It's your country."

Song Juguang knew that this was Jiang Changbai sounding her out, but the words she spoke were from her heart. But she suddenly felt that this scene before her was a little preposterous. When she'd heard the conversation between Liang Jiwen and Jiang Changbai in the imperial study before, she hadn't understood why Jiang Changbai was willing to trust in Liang Jiwen, to let Liang Jiwen return to Shejin to compete for the throne, yet wasn't willing to trust in her.

Was she so afraid of the remnants of military power in her hands? Song Juguang sometimes would rather that Jiang Changbai were an incapable ruler, and though not understand governance, wouldn't be so vigilant against her.

Of course, that was only an idle thought.

"My country," Jiang Changbai murmured; she seemed very pleased with what Song Juguang had just said. Her tone rose, and she looked at Song Juguang. "Do you want to know what Liang Jiwen said, just now?"

"What could she have said?" Song Juguang's voice filled with harshness; when Liang Jiwen was mentioned, a nameless fire rose in her heart. "Perhaps that she wants to take on Su Ya's task, and return to her homeland. But foreigners' intentions are always different; if you send Liang Jiwen back like this, I fear you'd be nurturing a tiger and inviting calamity and putting the Great Li in danger in the future."

Hearing this, the guard that Jiang Changbai had let down rose once more. The matter of Liang Jiwen wanting to replace Su Ya and go back even she'd only just learnt about. Song Juguang had been outside, and their voices had been small; she ought not to know.

Yet, how had she guessed correctly?

Jiang Changbai pressed her lips together, and sighed. "A Guang truly is supernaturally skilled in prediction; I think, this matter isn't necessarily unfeasible."

Yet Song Juguang immediately rose from the low couch, and with a thud, fell before Jiang Changbai. "Bixia, this is inviting calamity. Currently, Shejin's internal affairs are in disorder—a time of powerlessness. This minister would only need ten thousand elite soldiers, and within a year, Shejin could be levelled, and there would be no future danger. Though in the moment the people would suffer a bit, the advantages will resonate a thousand years!"

"And after that?" Jiang Changbai's fingers unconsciously curled, "The state treasury is empty; if there is to be a war, then taxes must be increased. Do you know what sort of lives the people are living now? They're already barely surviving—if taxes are increased, I fear they'd have no way to continue on. If the people cannot survive, then what's the point of my being Emperor?"

Yet Song Juguang continued arguing, "It couldn't be that Bixia believes that Liang Jiwen, a marriage alliance princess who has long since been cast aside, would be able to properly ascend the throne on her return, could it? If you want to assist Liang Jiwen in taking the throne, it would require forces. Since both require forces, it would be best to settle the matter in a single stroke, and cut off all future threats. More than that, Liang Jiwen is Shejinese; she's barely been in the Great Li for two years—how can you be certain that, once she takes the throne, she won't renege on her promises?"

It was as if Song Juguang had long since formed this mental outline, and she spoke extensively. But Jiang Changbai only listened patiently, and only once she finished did she say, "That's precisely why I wanted to find you to discuss it."

"This minister doesn't have any thoughts," Song Juguang said, turning her head. "This minister would rather flatten Shejin."

"Get up first," Jiang Changbai's voice slowed, and she even leaned down to help Song Juguang up herself. Song Juguang couldn't bear that, and in the end, she stood up herself.

"Look at that," Jiang Changbai said, brushing off Song Juguang's sleeves, "they've grown so dusty."

In fact, the night before, the surroundings of the Tonghe dike had long since been turned to mud by the rains, and when horses were ridden over it, even the cleanest of clothing would get a bit muddy. Song Juguang had come in a rush, and hadn't paid that any mind, nor had she had time to change her clothes.

It was an originally impossibly domestic movement, but Song Juguang's pupils suddenly trembled. She unconsciously drew her sleeve back, feeling a ringing sound in her ears, as if her mind had been penetrated by countless needles.

"This minister was negligent," she said, lowering her head.

Jiang Changbai had been startled by the force of Song Juguang's sudden movement just then as well, but she didn't take it to heart, and merely said, "A Guang's rushing from Tonghe dike here must not have been in order to stop me from returning to Shejin, must it?"

Only now did Song Juguang recall what her original objective had been; in comparison to whether Liang Jiwen would return to Shejin, whether Wei Xiren would remain at the Western border seemed to not be that important. But Song Juguang still said, "Responding to Bixia, this minister wishes to give an order of relocation."

Hearing this, Jiang Changbai's breath halted, yet her expression didn't change, and she asked, "What relocation?"

"This minister requests an edict, to bring General Wei Xiren, guarding the border, back to the capital."

Only now did Jiang Changbai let out a breath, and pick up the teacup on the table, taking a sip. The tea leaves wetting her lips seemed to press down the heart that had just been hanging. "I seem to remember it was you who made the decision to send Wei Xiren to the Western border."

"Responding to Bixia, at the time, it was this minister who approved Wei Xiren's location to the Western border. But at the time, it was merely because her desire to go to the Western border was too intense, and this minister only approved it on remembering that she was familiar with the conditions of the border. But now, she's not suitable to remain there," Song Juguang replied earnestly, yet she didn't notice in the slightest that she'd laid out the matter she'd originally not wanted to tell Jiang Changbai at all right before her.

Yet Jiang Changbai laughed. "Because she pursued Shejinese soldiers, and lost one hundred seventy-three soldiers? It seems A Guang isn't willing to fight either; otherwise, why would you want to relocate Wei Xiren?"

She'd known of this matter before Song Juguang had; she'd only just returned to the imperial study two days before when the Ministry of War's urgent report had already been laid out on her desk.

Yet Song Juguang suddenly grew serious. "But in comparison to allowing Liang Jiwen to ascend the throne, this minister would rather fight. Forget about the peoples' lives, the troops' lives, or even this minister's own life. If this minister's life could be used to protect the Great Li's peace, this minister is utterly willing."

-

< LAST | HOME | NEXT >

-

Translator's notes:

[1]: The raws are missing for part of this sentence, and as far as I can tell, there's not a version that includes anything further.

[2]: Another lacuna in the raws.