Cry of the Midnight Jackdaw

Chapter Sixty-nine,
Sludge

Zi Wan considerately closed the door, Xiao Zuo sniffled, then sat to the side of De Qing’s bed, “Zi Wan has brought Ling Xiang out, there aren’t any outsiders here now.”

De Qing’s half-closed eyes finally opened. Due to illness, he wasn’t very energetic, but his gaze was still bright, making his originally frail face gain some vitality. He tied the white hairs by his forehead to the back, then turned to look at Xiao Zuo, and slightly sighed, “I am already old, one must submit to age.”

“What did the doctor say?”

“The weather has turned cold after entering autumn, it is a mere wind chill, nothing important.” De Qing seemed to be afraid Xiao Zuo did not believe it, and smiled at him in comfort, “I originally did not want to tell you two, afraid you two would be worried, why have you come today?”

“Today we went to Western Moon to eat, Zi Wan brought some cake, and came to see you by the way.”

De Qing nodded his head, “Zi Wan is a good child. This old servant still remember when Zi Wan was just brought to the Ji Le Palace, she was only thirteen or fourteen, very shy around strangers, would not say much either, and was all polite. This old servant thought at that time, this child was too softhearted, she is not suited to be in the palace.”

De Qing lamented, then shook his head, “Who knew that with a blink of the eye, it seemed like half a lifetime passed by already.”

Xiao Zuo’s eyes went red from his words, he shamefully lifted his sleeves up and pretended to accidentally rub his eyes, then said, “Yes, every time I see Zi Wan, I would always feel like we are still in Qing Ling’s palace. The troubles every day would merely be playing so much I forgot to do the homework the instructor left, how the lotus soup the imperial kitchen made today put too much salt today again……”

Xiao Zuo pursed his lips, he dejectedly hung his eyes down, and spoke so lightly to the point it seemed like a breath of air, “Sometimes I would think, if I weren’t the emperor, would Nan Liang still be intact today……”

“How could your Majesty think like this?” De Qing disapprovingly knitted his eyebrows, “From what this one hears from Zi Wan, your Majesty has made contact with Nan Liang’s former subjects, what do you plan on doing?”

Xiao Zuo’s heart was in a mess, so he could not spare the thought to fix De Qing’s way of address, and only said.

“Now, Liu Guang Yuan and Bai Xiao have caused internal conflict due to fighting for merits, I have sent a letter for Nan Liang’s former subordinates to secretly contact Bai Xiao, Bai Xiao also has this idea too, so I thought to aid Bai Xiao- if Bai Xiao is victorious, he is strict and impartial in military discipline, and will be able to protect Nan Liang for a while of peace. If [he] is defeated, Liu Guang Yuan would not be able keep Nan Liang for long.”

Xiao Zuo closed his eyes, “De Qing, these days, I would constantly think, that year Father passed the seat to me, was it wrong? In reality, I’m much more suited to be a leisurely duke, writing some poems and painting everyday……”

“I still remember when I was small, the teacher told me, with too much benevolence and not enough influence, if it was a peaceful world, one could maintain the merits [of the predecessors], but if one met with chaos, it would be hard to fight off the mad tides.”

Xiao Zuo leaned on the edge of the bed, with a stifled voice, “I certainly was not a good emperor, I was unable to protect the ancestor’s foundations, unable to protect the country’s peace. And clearly…… clearly I said I would restore the country, but I seem…… seem to be unable to do so too.”

Xiao Zuo spoke softer and softer, as though sleep talking, De Qing silently patted his shoulder, like coaxing a weak child that liked crying, and lightly patted his back. Xiao Zuo buried his head into the blankets, and said with a muffled voice, “That time, I said with such conviction I would restore the country, but in reality, I was only deceiving myself, deceiving myself that I haven’t abandoned Nan Liang, deceiving myself that I was bearing shame to undertake heavier responsibility. But how was I?”

Xiao Zuo’s words were all over the place, sometimes, he would stop with a whimper for a while, then take up another topic and go on, De Qing only let him be, he knew the child in front of him had held it in too long, his slender and frail back carried the far too heavy country’s lands, and long already rubbed his shoulders all bloody, he was that kind of person who grew up in other’s palms, when had he ever suffered this much- he would hurt, would be tired, just allow him to rest for a bit, a bit would be enough.

“De Qing, tell me, would they blame me? Each night, I would dream, and dream of those soldiers’ wronged souls on the battlefield, dream of the dead commoners cryings tears of blood to look for me, I’m really scared……”

De Qing lifted his shaking hand, then gently fixed the loose hairs on his forehead to the back of the head, “Your Majesty, this old servant has been pondering oneself these days, and realized many things.”

“In the past when this old servant asked your Majesty to restore the country, it was merely a brief infatuation of this old servant’s, this old servant also knows, your Majesty only has the power of one, a single branch is hard to erect, Jin is also like the sun in the skies, how could it be that easy?”

“When this old servant followed the former emperor to class, this one still remembers there was a line on that poem, prosper, and the commoners suffer; death, and the commoners suffer.” De Qing slightly closed his eyes, “The world prospers and dies, commonplace for all, your Majesty should not burden oneself.”

After De Qing finished speaking, he suddenly turned the topic, “Nan Liang right now, should be in the autumn harvest.”

“En?” Xiao Zuo blankly lifted his head up, as though he did not understand De Qing’s words.

De Qing hung his eyes down, in that instant, Xiao Zuo faintly saw a sliver of what could be called sorrow in his eyes, “The people of this world, have their own ways of living, people who step in mud, also have their own way to run in the sludge, their lives are strong.”

“Your Majesty is still young, you will understand later.”

Xiao Zuo froze, but De Qing only kindly smiled. He closed his eyes, then pulled the blanket up, “Your Majesty, this old servant is going to rest for a while.”

❀

Each month on the first and fifteenth, He Heng would typically call He Xuan and He Yang together to have dinner. In the past, He Yang would provide some antiques and calligraphy found outside the palace for He Heng, and added with Empress Liu on the side massaging the legs and shoulders, it would truly be a leisurely day.

Except this time, He Heng sat at the top with a dark face, and silently knitted his eyes for already a teacup’s time, while the entire hall was so quiet it was left with everyone’s breaths that was purposely pressed low. The maid bringing in dishes was afraid of offending He Heng, so the hands holding up the dishes all shook, and when pouring water for He Xuan, the pot was not held steady, and accidentally splashed a few drops on the table. That maid was so scared her small face turned pale, and trembled as she knelt on the floor and constantly kowtowed.

“Never mind, just step down.” Tai He Palace was pressed by this overspreading black clouds just before rainstorms came, He Xuan waved his hand and had that maid go down, and when the corner of his eyes brushed by He Yang across from him, [He Yang] shrunk into his seat abnormally, and was all honest without speaking at all- He Xuan raised his eyebrows with slight interest, and then lifted his cup up and took a sip.

Before coming, He Xuan also got some news- though it was said the news his informants sent over was too brief, it was all related with the situation in Nan Liang, and from He Heng’s expression, it appears that the troubles were not small. If Xiao Zuo knew of Nan Liang’s matters, it would probably be like last time…… He Xuan’s eyes went dark, the hand he barely held the teacup with suddenly tightened, and his features dyed with some chaotic colours of ruthlessness.

“Nan Liang’s situation is currently getting worse and worse.” He Heng spoke with a deep voice, “The news of Bai Xiao as well as the other eight generals in the northern expedition betraying the country, joining with Nan Liang’s former subjects, getting in a stalemate with Liu Guang Yuan at Qing Ling, I think you all know. An urgent report was just received- a few days ago, Bai Xiao attacked Liu Guang Yuan’s encampment in the night, Liu Guang Yuan was unable to fend it off, and have suffered great losses. Right now, they can only close the city and not come out, and get trapped inside the city due to Bai Xiao. Liu Guang Yuan has made an urgent military report, wanting the courts to send troops for support.”

He Heng swept an eye at He Xuan and He Yang, “What do you guys think of it?”

He Xuan waited for a while. Seeing He Yang look at himself and stare at the teacup, without any intent to lift his head up, he then said, “Bai Xiao is good at riding and archery, and excellent in military tactics, now that he has joined with Nan Liang’s former subjects, he must know of Nan Liang’s terrain and important areas like his hands, so General Liu losing is also natural. The only plan right now, is to have the courts send troops to support him, uproot the rebellion, and stabilize Nan Liang’s situation for the best.”

He Heng nodded his head, “En, Iz was thinking the same as well, except, the person to bring the troops has yet to be chosen. Xuan’er, do you have any suggestions?”

“Father, generals in the courts able to fight are all in Nan Liang yet to return, the ones left to protect the capital are mostly the younger generation, [I’m] afraid it will be hard for them to take on such a big responsibility.”

“That is slightly wrong.” He Heng slightly narrowed his eyes, and said, “There is still one.”

He Xuan knitted his eyebrows, “Is Father talking about Jing’s main general, Lan Shou Yi?”

“Precisely.”

He Yang at this time suddenly sat up straight, then said, “General Lan might have the name as a war god, never to experience failure, but now, he is already old, and also bears an illness in the eye. He is quite old, can he still fight?”

“A few days ago when Iz went over to General Lan’s residence, he was still sturdy, able to pull a three stonebow.” He Heng laughed, “Quelling Nan Liang this time will be considered a military merit, able to give experience for you two, and able give some experience, you two, go along with General Lan together.”

“Thank you, Father. This son will definitely do his best, and make amends through merit, and share burdens with Father.” Once He Yang heard these words, he was originally a bit dazed, but when Liu Fang Rui on the left fiercely stepped on him, he then came to, and hurriedly knelt down to bow, and kowtowed.

“En.” He Heng satisfactorily nodded his head, “Xuan’er, do give him some suggestions to him, don’t have him make mistakes again.”

“As Father wills it.” He Xuan indifferently glanced at He Yang, then got up to bow.