The First Jasmine - Chapter 150
Chapter 150 - The Marquis of Nan's Danger
Before long, Ye Li and Mo Xiurao no longer had the heart to pay mind to Su Zuidie's antics, because shocking news arrived from the Capital. The Emperor had thrown the entire Marquis of Nan's Manor into the imperial prison on charges of treason and collaborating with the enemy, ordering their execution on a specified date. Furthermore, he had dispatched envoys to the border to arrest and escort the Marquis of Nan and the Heir Apparent of Nan back to the Capital. Hearing this news, the Marquis of Nan instantly collapsed to the ground in shock, unable to utter a single word for half a day, only letting out a long, deep sigh after a long while. His whole life had been low-profile, cautious, and circumspect, yet he had never expected that he still could not escape the Emperor's suspicion and jealousy.
The Heir Apparent of Nan rose and was about to charge outside, only to be stopped at the doorway by Ye Li and Mo Xiurao, who arrived together. Ye Li asked, "Where is the Heir Apparent going?"
The Heir Apparent of Nan said, "My Marquis of Nan's Manor was implicated all because of me. I will head to the Capital right now to plead guilty to the Emperor."
Before Ye Li and Mo Xiurao could speak, the stern, angry voice of the Marquis of Nan echoed from inside the room: "Vile child! Get back in here!" Looking at the distracted Heir Apparent of Nan, Ye Li let out a soft sigh and said, "Go back inside first and hear what the Marquis has to say. The Heir Apparent must not act on a momentary impulse." The Heir Apparent of Nan smiled bitterly: "What kind of Heir Apparent am I anymore?" At the same time the Emperor threw the entire Marquis of Nan's Manor into prison, he had also stripped the Marquis of Nan of his title; naturally, the Heir Apparent of Nan was no longer an heir apparent either.
Stepping into the parlor, the Marquis of Nan stepped forward to greet them, cupping his hands and saying, "Your Highness, Princess Consort, you have witnessed a joke." Over this past month or so, there had been far too many blows for the Marquis of Nan. Campaigning abroad was physically exhausting due to long-distance travel, and although his condition had improved after the Heir Apparent of Nan returned, the Marquis of Nan still appeared somewhat frail now, and his temples—which had originally possessed a few gray hairs—were now almost entirely white. Ye Li said softly, "May the Marquis take care." The Marquis of Nan shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Since ancient times, accompanying a monarch has been like accompanying a tiger. Although this Marquis strove with all my might to avoid being involved, I still could not escape..." Before he could finish his words, only a long sigh remained. Mo Xiurao said in a deep voice, "It was this Prince who implicated the Marquis." Saying that the Marquis of Nan had committed treason and collaborated with the enemy—leave aside Mo Xiurao not believing it, even Mo Jingqi sitting in the imperial palace right now would likely not believe it either. It was merely that because the Heir Apparent of Nan was rescued by Prince Ding's Manor, in the Emperor's eyes, the Marquis of Nan's Manor and Prince Ding's Manor would henceforth be on the same side. What's more, over all these years, the Marquis of Nan had consistently feigned deafness and dumbness, unwilling to assist the Emperor in dealing with Prince Ding's Manor, which in itself was a form of disloyalty to the Emperor. At this point, there was no way the Emperor would ever trust the Marquis of Nan's Manor again.
The Marquis of Nan smiled bitterly: "Why does Your Highness speak such words? This Marquis is timid by nature, thinking only of keeping out of trouble in all things. If it were not for my foolish son this time, I fear I would not have been willing to step into these right-and-wrong entanglements either. A person who vainly attempts to play both sides... today's retribution can be considered self-inflicted."
"The Marquis has no need to belittle himself so." Mo Xiurao shook his head. When the Marquis of Nan was young, he had also known times of whipping his steed and spurring forward in high spirits. In the years after that, the Prince Regent Mo Liufang died mysteriously, and the late Emperor suddenly passed away as well. Afterward, Mo Xiuwen similarly contracted a sudden, severe illness, and tens of thousands of Mo Family Army souls perished at the border. The Marquis of Nan was a clever man who saw things clearly and thought deeply about everything. Having seen too much and thought too much, he naturally grew afraid, which was why such a Marquis of Nan—who refrained from meddling in worldly affairs—came to be. The Marquis of Nan shook his head in silence. Ye Li frowned as she looked at the gloom and lifelessness between the Marquis of Nan's brows and the stark desolation in his eyes; a sudden shock ran through her heart—she feared the Marquis of Nan harbored a wish to die.
"Marquis, as long as one is still alive, there is hope. Do not forget that the Marquis of Nan's Manor is still waiting for the Marquis to save them, and the Heir Apparent still needs the Marquis's support and guidance. I sincerely hope the Marquis takes care."
The Marquis of Nan froze for a moment, looking at the Heir Apparent of Nan standing beside him, a look of resolute determination flashing across his face as he said, "This Marquis will set out to return to the Capital immediately. As for my foolish son... I ask Your Highness and the Princess Consort to look after him."
"Marquis, please think twice!" Ye Li said with a frown. If the Marquis of Nan took the Heir Apparent of Nan back to the Capital together, the outcome might be nine deaths, but there would still be a slim ray of hope for survival. However, if he left the Heir Apparent of Nan in the army and returned to the Capital alone, she feared it would be a journey of no return. The Marquis of Nan raised his hand to stop Ye Li, saying, "Thank you for your kind intentions, Princess Consort. But... the current Emperor... can be considered someone this old man watched grow up. Compared to Your Highness and the Princess Consort, this old man fears he understands him even more deeply. Your Highness, Prince Ding's Manor has been loyal to Great Chu for generations; this old man originally shouldn't say such words... but now, it makes no difference anymore. Regarding the Emperor... Your Highness had better make preparations early." Silence fell over the parlor for a moment. The Marquis of Nan had made it crystal clear: even knowing that returning to the Capital was a dead end, he still intended to go back. The Heir Apparent of Nan said in a deep voice, "Father, your child will accompany you back together." The Marquis of Nan swept a glare at him and said, "Nonsense! If your father goes and does not return, do you want my Nan family to be cut off without descendants from now on?"
"Father!"
"Reporting to Your Highness, people have arrived from the Capital, saying they are here to escort the Marquis of Nan and the Heir Apparent of Nan back to the Capital," a guard reported from outside the door.
Mo Xiurao stood up and let out a cold laugh, saying, "This Prince only just received the news, yet the people from the Capital have already arrived. The Emperor has made progress. Who is the person who came?" The guard said, "In reply to Your Highness, it is the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Wang Jingchuan." Mo Xiurao frowned. "Wang Jingchuan?" Prince Ding was occupied with a thousand matters every day; naturally, he would have no impression of minor characters who could not take the stage. The Marquis of Nan smiled bitterly and said, "He is the brother of Lady Consort Wang in the palace, the second son of the main line of the Wang family." With a slight frown, Mo Xiurao understood immediately. Although the Marquis of Nan's Manor claimed to be neutral, it was not completely devoid of enemies; co-incidentally, this Wang family was extremely at odds with the Marquis of Nan's Manor. For the Emperor to send such a person to escort the father and son back to the Capital, the intention to deliberate make things difficult and humiliate them was self-evident. Mo Xiurao gave a soft snort and said, "Let him in!"
Before long, a young man wearing the official robe of a third-rank official walked in. This man's appearance could be called decent, but a bit of malevolence was added between his brows, making one feel he was not of a benevolent sort. Following behind him was a young man wearing the official robe of a seventh-rank official; Ye Li raised her eyebrows slightly as she looked at that person.
"This subject, Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Wang Jingchuan, pays respects to Your Highness and the Princess Consort." Wang Jingchuan ultimately knew what was important after all, immediately bowing to Mo Xiurao and Ye Li upon entering the door. The young man behind him followed suit and bowed: "This subject, Registrar of the Court of Judicial Review Zhou Yu, pays respects to Your Highness and the Princess Consort."
Mo Xiurao sat composedly on his seat, lowering his eyes to look at the two people on the floor, and said calmly, "Rise. For what reason has Official Wang come?"
Wang Jingchuan rose, a trace of triumph flashing in his eyes as he said, "Reporting to Your Highness, this official has come under imperial decree to escort the traitors Nan Ye and Nan Junfei back to the Capital."
Mo Xiurao raised an eyebrow. "Traitors? The Marquis of Nan is this Prince's deputy commander; although the Heir Apparent of Nan was previously defeated and captured, he has returned safely. Afterward, he achieved military exploits repeatedly across several battles. Who is the traitor Official Wang speaks of? Where is the evidence?" Wang Jingchuan clearly had not expected Mo Xiurao to ask like this, freezing for a moment before saying, "Your Highness, this is the Emperor's intention. Could it be that Your Highness wishes to defy the imperial decree?!" Mo Xiurao laughed coldly: "Defy the decree? Where is the imperial decree? This Prince has heard that the Wang family and the Marquis of Nan's Manor share quite a few grudges; this Prince suspects you forged the decree with the intention of harming the Marquis of Nan!"
"Your Highness! Please speak with caution. Even if this official shares a grudge with the Marquis of Nan's Manor, I would not dare commit such a treasonous act."
"Where is the imperial decree?" Mo Xiurao asked calmly.
Wang Jingchuan choked. Facing Mo Xiurao's aggressive gaze, he could only say, "The Emperor issued a verbal decree."
"A verbal decree?" Mo Xiurao looked with a half-smile at the somewhat uneasy man before him, speaking no further.
Wang Jingchuan stood in the hall with his head lowered in unease, and the entire hall suddenly seemed abnormally quiet. Under Prince Ding's gaze, Wang Jingchuan felt as if he could hear the sound of his heart leaping out of his chest, and a large patch of his clothes on his back turned silently drenched in sweat. Just when Wang Jingchuan thought he would collapse limply to the floor under Prince Ding's pressure, Zhou Yu—who stood behind him—stepped forward, bowed to Mo Xiurao, and said respectfully, "May Your Highness quell your anger. We are merely acting on orders; please grant us convenience, Your Highness."
"Acting on orders?" Mo Xiurao smiled with playful amusement. Wang Jingchuan clearly felt Prince Ding's gaze shift away from him, and he could not help but quietly let out a sigh of relief. Wiping the fine beads of sweat on his forehead, Wang Jingchuan was even grateful in his heart for this somewhat taciturn young subordinate of his. Only to hear Mo Xiurao smile and say, "What a fine 'acting on orders.' Originally, this Prince shouldn't make things difficult for you either. However, you two have surely heard a certain saying."
"We ask Your Highness to bestow guidance." Wang Jingchuan was no fool; no matter how happy he felt in his heart over the Marquis of Nan's Manor meeting with misfortune, since Prince Ding was unhappy now, there was no need for him to display his triumph. To be sure, the Emperor would definitely stand on his side, but in case Prince Ding slaughtered him in a fit of rage, the sky was high and the Emperor was far away—the Wang family would likely have no choice in the end but to pinch their noses and accept it. Mo Xiurao looked at the two with a smile and said casually, "When a general is out in the field, he may refuse the monarch's commands."
Wang Jingchuan froze, saying with some difficulty, "Your Highness, we came under imperial decree; we ask Your Highness not to make things difficult for us."
Mo Xiurao looked at him with a calm, aloof expression, leaving Wang Jingchuan feeling bitter in his heart. Secretly, he regretted snatching up this errand just because he wanted to see his archrival suffer. Leave alone a mere third-rank official like him, even if a first-rank official of the court wanted to make things difficult for someone, who would dare say no to Prince Ding? However, if he failed to bring back the Marquis of Nan and his son, his good days would likely come to an end after returning to the Capital.
"Currently, our army is facing off against Western Ling; recklessly removing the deputy commander will fearfully prove detrimental to army morale. Official Wang may go back to the Capital and tell the Emperor just like that. If the Emperor places blame, Official Wang can also feel free to push it onto this Prince." Mo Xiurao clearly had no interest in making things difficult for Wang Jingchuan either, speaking calmly.
Wang Jingchuan shook his head and said, "Your Highness, please forgive us. The Marquis of Nan's illicit communication and treason are unforgivable crimes; the Emperor is already thunderously enraged. He ordered us to escort the Marquis of Nan and his son back to the Capital within half a month without fail, otherwise... we can only present our heads upon meeting him! Please raise your noble hand, Your Highness, and grant us a way to live."
Mo Xiurao raised an eyebrow and gave a cold laugh, saying, "What a fine 'illicit communication and treason.' Is this outcome... the verdict of the Court of Judicial Review or the result of a joint trial by various ministries? Where is the evidence?" Before Wang Jingchuan could figure out how to answer, Zhou Yu, who stood beside him, opened his mouth to say, "Reporting to Your Highness, upon receiving the news, the Emperor was instantly in a thunderous rage and ordered us to first escort the Marquis of Nan back to the Capital for trial." Mo Xiurao gave a soft snort. Before even holding a trial, or even having any proper evidence, throwing the entire Marquis of Nan's Manor into the imperial prison to be executed... Giving a soft snort, he said, "So to speak, it was this Prince who was remiss in my duties then. With the Marquis of Nan right beside me, I failed to even notice that he was in secret communication with an enemy nation. Why doesn't Official Wang first take a memorial of self-punishment from this Prince back with you? As for the Marquis of Nan, once the war in the Northwest is concluded, this Prince will personally escort him back to the Capital."
"This..." Wang Jingchuan hesitated with some unwillingness. Mo Xiurao said indifferently, "Is Official Wang distrustful of this Prince?"
Wang Jingchuan was startled and quickly said, "I wouldn't dare. To not hide it from Your Highness: the Emperor issued a decree that if he does not see the Marquis of Nan and his son return to the Capital within fifteen days, every single person in the Marquis of Nan's Manor, regardless of male, female, old, or young, will have their heads drop to the ground without exception!"
Off to the side, Ye Li let out a soft sigh in her heart; the Emperor was determined to put the Marquis of Nan's Manor to death. She feared that before the Marquis of Nan even returned to the Capital, the lives of the Marquis of Nan's family members would no longer be preserved. Even if they wanted to dispatch people back to rescue them right now, it would likely be too late anyway. Most importantly, given Prince Ding's Manor's current stance, it was completely impossible to save them in secret. If they wanted to ask the Emperor to spare them from the blade out in the open, Mo Xiurao would have to personally return to the Capital. However, given the current war situation, that was even more impossible. Just as she was thinking, the Marquis of Nan suddenly walked out from the inner room, his expression composed as he said, "This Marquis will simply follow you back to the Capital."
Wang Jingchuan looked toward Mo Xiurao; if Prince Ding did not agree, even if the Marquis of Nan himself was willing to go with him, he would be unable to take the man away. The Marquis of Nan turned, cupped his hands, and bowed to Mo Xiurao, saying, "Your Highness, with this Marquis's departure, I know not when we shall meet again. Everything... is entrusted to Your Highness."
Mo Xiurao fell silent for a moment, then sighed: "This Prince has let the Marquis down." Right now, he was completely unable to return to the Capital to handle this matter. The Marquis of Nan shook his head: "It is fate and destiny; what does it have to do with Your Highness? This Marquis shall take my leave now." Saying so, he turned to Wang Jingchuan and said, "Official Wang, please." Wang Jingchuan looked at the Marquis of Nan, his eyes rolling as he said, "Marquis of Nan, if this official remembers correctly, your esteemed son is also here." The Marquis of Nan smiled calmly and said, "This Marquis knows not what Official Wang is talking about."
"You!" Before Mo Xiurao, Wang Jingchuan ultimately did not dare act too presumptuous after all. Taking a breath, he said to Mo Xiurao, "Since Your Highness no longer interferes, we ask Your Highness to also invite the Heir Apparent of Nan out together. This subject may then take my leave and return to the Capital."
Ye Li said indifferently, "This Princess Consort has not seen the Heir Apparent of Nan."
Wang Jingchuan froze, frowning as he said, "Why must the Princess Consort deceive herself and others? The Heir Apparent of Nan was captured by Western Ling, and later rescued by the Princess Consort. How could the Princess Consort not have seen him?" Ye Li gave a shallow smile: "Official Wang has just come from the Capital, yet you know things in such meticulous detail; your sources are truly exceptionally well-informed. However... Official Wang's news might be a bit off. This Princess Consort truly has not seen the Heir Apparent of Nan. Or... does Official Wang wish to search this Magistrate's Manor and Xinyang City?" Wang Jingchuan swiftly glanced at Prince Ding, who sat off to the side with an aloof expression, and quickly shook his head. Even if the Heir Apparent of Nan were truly inside the Magistrate's Manor, he did not possess the courage to conduct a search. What's more, this Xinyang City, the Magistrate's Manor, and even several cities in the Northwest were all within Prince Ding's grasp right now; who could say for sure that the Heir Apparent of Nan was definitely here at this moment? In case he failed to find the person and instead enraged Prince Ding... Wang Jingchuan once again confirmed that he had indeed taken on a hot potato this time.
"What the Princess Consort says is correct. This Prince has not seen the Heir Apparent of Nan. Since you are going to escort the Marquis of Nan back to the Capital, this Prince will not keep you. Furthermore, since you are pressed for time, this Prince will dispatch two secret guards to escort you back to the Capital."
Wang Jingchuan's heart trembled, and he could only say, "If so, this subject takes his leave..."
Watching the Marquis of Nan turn and leave without a single shred of reluctance, Ye Li sighed softly in her heart, rising to see him off: "May the Marquis take care."
A rare trace of free and easy spirit was added to the Marquis of Nan's smile as he laughed, saying, "Thank you, Princess Consort. May Your Highness and the Princess Consort take care."