Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 600 Concealment

Despite the turmoil in the world over the years, the Du residence in Shengpingfang does not seem to have changed much. The bamboo garden in the yard has become more dense, and the tiles and beams have become older.

In the afternoon, the wind blew the window of the east wing, causing a slight creaking sound. Lu Fengniang finally couldn't help but push the door open.

"Why don't you get up? You are an adult, but you still stay up all day long!"

Du Wulang wrapped himself in the quilt. He lazily raised his eyelids and closed them again. After a while, he uttered a few words incoherently.

Others could not understand what he said, except Lu Fengniang, who knew that he was saying that he was unable to come back from Lingwu during the Lantern Festival last year, and this year he planned to take his children out to play all night and catch up on some sleep.

"There are still ten days until the Lantern Festival, and you're already catching up on your sleep?" Lu Fengniang complained, "I've been catching up on my sleep for half a year and I'm still catching up on my sleep."

"Mother, why are you always talking all day long? If you continue like this, I will really have to start my own business."

"Did I want to wake you up? Your grandfather is looking stern and blaming you for not going to the government office."

"Eh? Didn't I hire someone to take my place?"

Du Wulang was only surprised for a moment, but quickly put the matter out of his mind. Fortunately, he finally sat up.

It was the first month of the third year of Zhengxing. He was already thirty-one years old, but he still looked childish as he sat on the couch rubbing his eyes. I guess it was because he had stayed at home for too long and didn't have to worry about anything.

Everyone else in the family had already eaten, but Lu Fengniang not only left some food for him, but also sat by and watched him while he ate.

This mother and son were discussing national affairs.

"Your grandfather said that he would ask you to persuade His Majesty when he has time."

"Ok?"

"After the New Year, His Majesty said he wanted to go on a tour of the country." Lu Fengniang said, "Recently, your grandfather has been so worried that he couldn't sleep well and has been tossing and turning all night."

"Why should I worry about this? Mother, today's radish is too salty, and the egg custard is well-mixed, but the taste is bland."

Du Wulang didn't care and just continued eating.

He thought of what he had said to Guo Ziyi in Lingwu, and said in return: "I also want to persuade you to retire early and live a leisurely life."

Lu Fengniang said, "He won't retire. With his ability, he finally became the prime minister. How could he be let go so easily?"

Having said this, she looked around, lowered her voice, and told another secret story.

"Besides, if Lord Yan retires, he will be the only one with the most experience in the court."

Du Wulang was surprised and asked, "Why did Lord Yan want to withdraw? Could it be that my grandfather wanted to compete with Lord Yan for power?"

"No." Lu Fengniang whispered in his ear, "There have been rumors for two years, saying that Lord Yan has long had ambitions and is planning to let Your Majesty seize the throne. Or he knew Your Majesty's identity long ago, so he married his daughter. Some even say that he helped Your Majesty forge his identity..."

"That's why I say, you should retreat bravely." Du Wulang said, "Today, Mr. Yan is attracting attention. If he retreats, it will be his turn to blame you, Grandpa."

"That's different." Lu Fengniang said, "The reason for this is that too many people came to Mr. Yan to seek official positions, but he rejected them, so he felt resentful and deliberately made up this story, right?"

"If my mother says so, then if it's my grandfather, can he handle it better?"

"I just said that if all those who spread the rumors were killed by His Majesty, there would be no trend now."

Du Wulang was even more surprised and asked, "Your Majesty killed him? How did you kill him?"

"It seems like he died suddenly at home. I am a woman, how can I understand such things?"

"I see that my mother knows a lot. Where did she hear it from?"

"It's not your grandfather who said that."

"Oh."

"By the way, Your Majesty wants to build a ship and go on a trip. Isn't that the style of Qin Shi Huang? This is not acceptable. We must persuade him."

Du Wulang just listened to it for fun, shook his head and said, "Qin Shi Huang sent people to sea to seek immortality, but your majesty is different, you have a purpose."

Lu Fengniang didn't understand all this, so she just said, "Your grandfather said that if you don't persuade him, then let your sister persuade him."

"Don't bother me, okay, I'll listen to you."

"That's pretty much it."

Du Wulang had no choice but to pick up the big bowl and drink the egg custard in one gulp, then went to find Xue Bai.

He hadn't seen Xue Bai for a while.

If someone else had an emperor friend, they would either display their talents to become an important official, or stay by the emperor's side to ensure their glory and prosperity. However, he did not like to meet the emperor frequently because he felt that Xue Bai was very busy.

Moreover, a trip to the palace is very tiring. Just walking from the palace gate to the front hall is a long way.

When they met, Du Wulang asked, "I heard that you wanted to build a large ocean ship, but it has been several months since the Secretariat approved it?"

"Emperor cannot do everything as he pleases." Xue Bai said: "After all, the benefits of this matter are not yet visible to the officials, but the cost is not small."

"Are there really those places and products on the sea that you mentioned?" Du Wulang said, "Why not prove it to them?"

"Yes."

Du Wulang was just saying something stupid. If he really wanted him to help Xue Bai prove this matter, he couldn't do it.

On the other hand, he knew that Xue Bai did not need the consent of all officials to build ships and go to sea. Even if he did not become emperor, Xue Bai still had a huge industry.

Every year, the emperor’s treasury not only did not require tribute from local areas, but also replenished the national treasury.

Sure enough, Xue Bai said: "Don't worry about this matter, I have my own way."

"I knew they couldn't stop you even if they wanted to."

"Rather than saying it was to stop me, it's more like a restriction on the imperial power, which is what it should be." Xue Bai said, "So, I didn't force the provincial government to approve it, it's just..."

Xue Bai actually showed a rare hesitation.

Du Wulang asked hurriedly: "Just what?"

"Please help me check something." Xue Bai thought about it, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke.

Du Wulang had just sensed that Xue Bai's attitude towards the two matters of the emperor's tour and shipbuilding and sailing to the sea was very peaceful. He had no intention of having a fierce conflict with the court officials. He just had different opinions on governing state affairs.

He then relaxed, and then felt the caution in Xue Bai's next words.

But right now, what's the big deal?
The world is at peace and everything is stable.

"And he sent me again, what for?"

"Fang Guan had a student named Cui Zhongwei. He once asked Zhang Weng for an official position, but Zhang Weng thought he was good at talking but had no real talent, so he didn't grant him an official position. At the end of last year, Cui Zhongwei held a banquet at his home. After getting drunk, he said in public that Zhang Weng was cunning and had arranged for me to seize the throne. Not long after, Cui Zhongwei encountered thieves on the way to Zhongnan Mountain and was cut into five pieces."

Du Wulang was surprised and asked, "Didn't he die suddenly at home?"

Xue Bai glanced at him and said, "It seems that you have also heard about this?"

"I have heard of it."

"Then who do you think killed Cui Zhongwei?"

Du Wulang said: "Maybe he really encountered robbers?"

Xue Bai asked: "Don't you think I sent someone to kill him?"

"Many people would think so," Du Wulang said, "Didn't His Majesty send someone to kill him?"

Xue Bai said: "I can kill them, but I can't kill them all, so I asked you to investigate."

Du Wulang opened his mouth, wanting to ask Xue Bai if he intended to use this incident to warn Yan Zhenqing so that Yan Zhenqing would be more obedient in handling government affairs.

He felt that this was something Xue Bai could do.

"What does your majesty want to know?"

"Who killed Cui Zhongwei, and what does Cui Zhongwei know?"

Du Wulang thought about it and said hesitantly: "Your Majesty, it seems better not to investigate this matter, right?"

Xue Bai thought for a moment and suddenly asked, "Who taught you to tell others that you knew I was the emperor's grandson when we first met?"

"Ah?" Du Wulang said, "I think this is good for you and the Tang Dynasty."

"It's not important." Xue Bai said, "It's meaningless to prove these. If the Tang Dynasty rises again, no one will care who I am. If I can't govern this country well, someone will overthrow me sooner or later."

"If that's the case, why would someone want to kill Cui Zhongwei?"

"The essence of this matter is still a struggle for interests. We want to establish a new order, which will damage the old order. The old order will inevitably attack us, and the best attack is to take advantage of our weaknesses." Xue Bai said: "For the time being, what Cui Zhongwei said is our weakness."

Du Wulang said: "So someone killed Cui Zhongwei because Cui Zhongwei knew your or Mr. Yan's weakness? So let me find out what he knew?"

"Ah."

"But how can I check?"

Xue Bai pondered and said, "I have always wondered who arranged for Guo Suo."

Du Wulang was surprised and asked, "Why must someone have arranged this? Couldn't he have just appeared on his own? I mean, everything he said is true, so of course no one arranged it."

"I have a hunch that there is." Xue Bai said confidently, "I asked Du Jin to investigate this matter, but after so long, she still hasn't given me an answer."

"Second sister?" Du Wulang felt very embarrassed and tried to evade the question, saying, "Why don't you just ask her directly?"

"Because I noticed that she was hiding something from me, I asked you to investigate."

Du Wulang said: "But, these are all things of the past. If we pursue them further, it will only cause more trouble, which is not good."

"Don't worry." Xue Bai said, "I just have a guess that needs to be confirmed."

"You already know who it is?" Du Wulang was surprised.

"Yes." Xue Bai said: "I have guessed it for a long time. I didn't intend to investigate it thoroughly. But as I said just now, this has become our weakness."

"That's what I think." Du Wulang stammered, "Cui Zhongwei didn't need any evidence to slander Lord Yan. He just saw Lord Yan as the father-in-law of the emperor, so it was easy for him to say such nonsense. Your Majesty may be too suspicious?"

"So I asked you to check."

"Ok."

~~
After leaving the palace, Du Wulang thought about it again and finally he fully understood Xue Bai's meaning.

It might have been a coincidence. Cui Zhongwei was talking nonsense and was killed by robbers. There was nothing to investigate. After all, there were many people who gossiped about the Yan family because they couldn't bear to see their prosperity. But since Xue Bai mentioned Guo Suo, it meant that he suspected that Yan Zhenqing had planted Guo Suo to confirm his identity.

Then, Xue Bai asked Du Jin to investigate, but Du Jin concealed the matter.

In this case, Xue Bai should suspect that Du Jin sent someone to kill Cui Zhongwei, because Cui Zhongwei really had evidence that Yan Zhenqing arranged Guo Suo to testify?

"It's all intuition. None of my guesses are reliable, but you still insist on asking me to check."

The matter is difficult and simple at the same time. The simplicity lies in that Xue Bai has already figured out the matter, and the difficulty lies in how to verify it.

If I ask Yan Zhenqing directly, he will definitely not tell me; if I ask Du Jin directly, I am afraid I will be scolded by her; or I can secretly go to the place where Du Jin keeps the confidential documents and take a look?
But can there be any written records left behind for something like this?
After much thought, Du Wulang decided to look for Da Xi Yingying again. She was now the most capable person under Du Jin.

When we arrived at Xi Yingying's residence in Qujiangfang and walked through the corridor, we saw two handsome young men walking towards us.

"Wu Lang, come with us. Madam will be waiting for you at Wan Qing Tower by the pool."

"okay."

Du Wulang looked over and saw that they had delicate features, bright eyes, high nose bridges, flawless smooth skin, tall and strong bodies, and were full of youthfulness. He couldn't help but think of the years when he and Xue Bai became famous in Chang'an.

"How old are you?"

"To Wulang, I am eighteen and he is seventeen."

Du Wulang asked again: "You look very impressive, are you from a noble family?"

"The family has fallen into poverty, and the past glory is not worth mentioning."

"You... weren't kidnapped by her?"

Du Wulang hesitated for a while, but still asked this question, fearing that Da Xi Yingying would return to her old ways. She not only liked handsome guys, but also valued good manners and temperament.

"Wu Lang, what are you talking about? We can't wait to see our lady Yang Mu. We would rather die than not follow her."

"Really?" Du Wulang didn't know what to say. "Okay then." He suddenly felt inexplicably melancholy and thought of some past events. He suddenly felt that they were so far away. After all, it had been more than ten years.

Da Xi Yingying was sitting in the attic dozing off, stroking her face with one hand. When she saw Du Wulang arriving, she raised her eyes slightly.

More than ten years have passed, and she is no longer as beautiful as she used to be, but she is still very charming.

Du Wulang shifted his gaze and looked down at the attic, where the two young men were standing by the pool.

"Why? Goro cares about them?"

"No." Du Wulang was a little flustered.

"Are you jealous of me? Or do you think I'm an old cow enticing young grass?" Da Xi Yingying asked.

"Neither, or, at least you're not kidnapped."

Da Xi Yingying smiled and said, "I should find a partner. The two of them together are just the same age as me."

"Okay." Du Wulang laughed awkwardly.

"I just woke up from my nap and remembered that I once liked you, Wulang. But if I had followed you, become your concubine, your mistress, and attached myself to you, what good would that be? After all, I would have been your vassal, how could I have the power I have now?" Da Xi Yingying said, "To be honest, I owe you two favors. One is that you helped me when I was the weakest."

"What about two?"

"Second." Da Xi smiled and said, "Thank you for not taking advantage of me."

Du Wulang was very embarrassed. He touched his nose and thought to himself that he should not have come to see her and made himself miserable.

"Since it's a favor between two people, would you do me a favor?"

"what?"

"Cui Zhongwei, did you send someone to kill him?"

Da Xi Yingying said: "I don't know what you are talking about."

Du Wulang said, "That's it. There is nothing in Chang'an City that you don't know. I'm telling you, it was His Majesty who asked me to ask you. If you know anything, just tell me."

Da Xi Yingying's face changed when she heard this. She stood up and paced back and forth, saying, "I shouldn't be responsible for this matter. Second Lady will explain it to His Majesty."

"Your Majesty asked me to ask you because he didn't want to be kept in the dark by my second sister."

"Wu Lang, I feel very embarrassed when you do this."

"Your Majesty has guessed it. Tell me quietly. Second Sister won't know."

"What does your majesty want to know?"

Du Wulang was shocked and asked in surprise: "Did you really do this?"

He just wanted to trick Xi Yingying.

"Ah."

"Why?"

"Cui Zhongwei knew something he shouldn't have known."

"what is that?"

Da Xi Yingying said: "I don't know either. I just followed Er Niang's order to get rid of him."

Du Wulang asked, "Then was it you who ordered the body to be cut into five pieces?"

"Yes." Da Xi Yingying said, "If not, we won't be able to deter those who follow suit."

"When did you become so cruel?"

Da Xi Yingying glanced at Du Wulang and said, "After so many years of intrigue and deception, who else could remain unchanged except you? You haven't changed, you are not cruel, isn't it because you have a sister and the protection of His Majesty."

Du Wulang took a step back and asked again: "What did Cui Zhongwei know?"

"I really don't know."

"If you don't tell me, I will report this to your majesty."

"Okay." Da Xi Yingying sighed, "If it were anyone else, they would never find out the truth no matter how hard they tried, but Your Majesty asked you to ask. I really don't know the details, but in the past year, I have killed more than 40 people for this matter."

"Wha...what?"

Du Wulang was still in shock when Da Xi Yingying handed him a list.

He looked down and saw that there were more than forty names crossed out, and only one name had just been written, the ink was very fresh and had not been crossed out yet.

"The next person you are going to kill is... Zhang Yi?"

"Yes." Da Xi Yingying said, "I am waiting for the news of his death."

Judging from her tone, it seemed like she was waiting for the pastries she ordered to be delivered.

Du Wulang turned and left.

He had heard from Yan Quanming that after Zhang Yi became a monk, he first practiced in Chongguang Temple, and then the imperial court destroyed Buddhism and moved him to another temple. At that time, he was surprised that Zhang Yi, who did not have a profound understanding of Buddhism, was ordered to return to secular life.

Princess Ningqin has always been brooding over this matter.

~~
"Boom-"

Following the melodious sound of the bell, Du Wulang hurried into Jingfa Temple in Chang'an City.

"Zhang Yi, oh, is Zen Master Wuzhen here?"

"Amitabha, you are a little late. Master Wuzhen has just passed away."

"He passed away?" Du Wulang asked, "How did he pass away?"

"He passed away alone in his meditation room."

Du Wulang didn't believe it, so he hurried to the temple and broke into the meditation room where Zhang Yi passed away. He saw that it was spotless inside.

Zhang Yi's body was still there, his face calm, and he indeed looked like he had died of natural causes. No matter how hard Du Wulang looked, he could not find any flaws.

The more this happened, the more terrified he felt, and he felt that Du Jin's people had become extremely proficient in assassination techniques.

That evening, Du Wulang returned home and saw Du Yan coming back for dinner, which was a rare occasion.

"Miss."

"Hmm?" Du Yan asked gently, "Are you worried about something?"

"Do you know what my second sister is doing recently?"

"She's always busy."

Du Wulang originally wanted to ask Du Yan if she knew that Du Yan was busy killing people, but seeing Du Yan's gentle appearance, he did not ask.

He thought to himself, what does it matter if the elder sister knows or not, this matter will ultimately have to be handled by Xue Bai.

The next day, Du Wulang entered the palace again and handed the list to Xue Bai.

"I understand." Xue Bai said, "It's enough for you to investigate this matter up to here."

"But I haven't found out what Cui Zhongwei knows yet."

"My guess has been confirmed."

Du Wulang was very worried and asked, "How will His Majesty deal with my second sister?"

"Why do you want to punish her?" Xue Bai said, "I asked you to investigate because I don't want her to know that I am suspicious of this matter."

"Then...will the second sister kill many more people?"

"It's almost done."

Du Wulang was stunned for a moment, and said, "Your Majesty asked me to investigate this matter, isn't it to stop it?"

"No, I said, I just want to confirm my guess."

After Xue Bai finished speaking, he put the list in the brazier and lit it.

A wisp of green smoke rose in the hall.

"His Majesty."

Du Wulang opened his mouth, hesitated, and finally changed his tone to a friend and asked, "What exactly do you think when you asked me to investigate this matter?"

Hearing his tone, Xue Bai smiled.

"In fact, you have always known that I am not Li Qian. You have known this since the fifth year of Tianbao."

"I don't know." Du Wulang said, "I didn't know you were Li Qian in the fifth year of Tianbao, but I knew it later."

"You are pretending to know. This matter doesn't matter to us." Xue Bai said, "But it is very important to my father-in-law."

"Is it really Mr. Yan? No way?"

"It must have been very painful for him to make this decision." Xue Bai said, "Back then, I approached Chang'an as the King of Yong. The situation in the world was already determined. If you didn't recognize my identity, the country would be overthrown. Let me ask you, at that time, you wanted the world to be pacified as soon as possible, but also wanted the orthodoxy of the Li Tang Dynasty to remain intact. What would you do?"

“I didn’t think about anything at the time.”

"What about my father-in-law?"

Du Wulang scratched his head, feeling that this was really difficult to answer.

Xue Bai said: "For him, the best ending is that I am really Li Qian."

"Yes, as long as you are real, all problems will be solved."

"So he asked Zhang Yi to find out the truth of what happened back then. Then, he arranged for Guo Suo to meet me at Lantian Station to confirm my identity."

"Maybe he just found out and it's true."

"If it was true, he wouldn't have kept it from me." Xue Bai said, "Because he knew I wasn't Li Qian, that's why he never told me about it."

"What do you mean?"

Xue Bai said: "He hopes to trick me as well and make me think I am Li Qian."

"Maybe not, maybe..."

"I know that he did all this without any selfish motive." Xue Bai asked, "Do you believe it?"

Du Wulang scratched his head again, not knowing how to answer.

It seems unreasonable to say that a person disguised his son-in-law as a prince and helped him to the throne without any selfish motives. But at that time, the son-in-law was already certain to ascend the throne, and his identity was recognized by the emperor, so there was no need to prove it again.

If it was really Guo Suo arranged by Yan Zhenqing, his purpose might be just one, which is to make Xue Bai recognize that he is Li Qian.

"Perhaps, Mr. Yan is really motivated by public interest?"

"It doesn't matter. By doing this, he has already given up his good reputation." Xue Bai said, "But I have always had a hunch that Guo Suo was arranged by someone, so I asked Du Jin to investigate. Du Jin must have found out the truth, but couldn't bear to tell me."

"Second sister is hiding this from you?"

"Yes, Du Jin also wanted me to believe that I was Li Qian. She said that she had not found anything and that I had lost my memory and could not remember my identity. She even wanted to pretend to be my real self. In this matter, she chose to stand on the side of the father-in-law."

Du Wulang asked: "Do you blame them?"

Xue Bai said calmly: "Let's end this matter here. There is no need to let my father-in-law know. He probably doesn't know that my aunt is helping him to silence her."

Du Wulang was about to say something but stopped himself. He wanted to talk about those people who died at the hands of Du Jin, but when he felt Xue Bai's calm tone, he realized that except for himself, everyone had changed.

How could it not change?
Keeping it secret like this would have been the best outcome, and he didn't dare to disrupt it.

"Then me?"

Xue Bai said: "No need to say anything, just pretend we don't know..."

(End of this chapter)