A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 641 The Bitter Meat Scheme

Pei Xuanyan rode a Turkic horse home, and his attendant Bao Huan proudly shouted to the old gatekeeper Afu, "Look at that! A Turkic steed, with a black mane, a black tail, and a chestnut body. It's only six years old and it even has a Khitan saddle."

The gray-haired gatekeeper, Afu, looked at the large horse in surprise. "Young master, be careful when you dismount. This horse is much bigger than our old donkey."

Pei Xuanyan dismounted with a smile, reached out and stroked the large horse, quite satisfied.

Riding a horse and riding a donkey are very different experiences, and they attract different kinds of attention on the street.

Huannu was even happier than Pei Xuanyan, "I heard that such a fine horse would cost at least 20,000 coins, and more than two taels of gold."

In recent years, the imperial court has recovered Longyou and Hexi, gained land for raising horses, and won many wars against the Turks, causing horse prices to drop significantly.

A regular packhorse costs three or four thousand coins, a better riding horse costs seven or eight thousand, and a fine horse costs ten or twenty thousand.

"My lord, tomorrow find a craftsman to install a dismounting stone at the entrance of our house, so that it will be much more convenient for you to get on and off your horse."

Afu was curious why Pei Xuanyan, who had ridden a donkey for ten years, suddenly changed horses, and such fine horses at that.

“This horse wasn’t bought; it was a gift from the King of Qin. After Ah Lang went to the Ministry of Personnel to pay his dues and receive his official document, he went to the King of Qin’s residence. Although he didn’t see the King of Qin, the King of Qin had already prepared this horse and also bestowed twenty bolts of brocade upon him.” Bao Sheng said proudly.

Pei Xuanyan was also beaming.
The fine horse and colorful silk ribbons represent the King of Qin's appreciation and high regard for him.

He recalled that he had served as a ninth-rank official in the Secretariat for several years, but his talents were never recognized. Even after the dynasty changed, he still had no chance to rise in rank.

Three years ago, he was selected to work at the Prince of Qi's residence and promoted to the rank of eighth-grade clerk. He thought he would be able to display his talents, but the Prince of Qi never paid any attention to them.

He tried to offer advice and remonstrance, but was instead dismissed from his post by the King of Qi.
When he left the Prince of Qi's residence, none of his colleagues of three years, except for his secretary Rong Jiusi who saw him off, uttered a single word of farewell.

How fickle human relationships can be!

As the three were talking, Scarface Su Laosan returned riding Pei Xuanyan's donkey, followed by two of his brothers.

Yun Hongyi arranged five people for Pei Xuanyan: Su Yi was the leader, three followed Pei Xuanyan, and two guarded the house.

"Pei Lang, tonight we'll have mutton soup." Su Yi said with a smile as he dismounted. His donkey was carrying a sheep, which was also a gift from the King of Qin.

“Okay.” Pei Xuanyan was delighted and readily agreed.

Su Yi smiled and took on the task of slaughtering the sheep.

Several people entered the door,

Pei Xuanyan, dressed in a light green round-necked official robe, went into the backyard to see his wife.
As soon as he entered the inner gate, the maid Pu Tao saw his green attire and greeted him with a smile, "I'm so used to seeing you in your blue robes, I almost didn't recognize you in this green one."

"How is it?" Pei Xuanyan asked.

“This green official robe looks more dignified and composed than the blue one,” Pu Tao said with a smile.

Pei Xuanyan laughed heartily and strode into the hall, "My wife, I'm back."

Looking at her husband's newly changed light green official robe, Pei Liushi also thought it looked good. Her husband had worn a blue robe for ten years, and finally, he had changed into a green robe.

"Although I didn't see the King of Qin today, he rewarded me with a fine horse and a brocade ribbon. I believe my talents have finally found a place to be put to use."
"Ten years! Ten years from now, I will surely be able to exchange this green robe for a scarlet one, and then I will earn a noble title for my wife."

Pu Tao came in and said, "My lord, my wife, Sheng Nu said that a lot of people have come from outside. There are your old colleagues from the Qi Prince's Mansion, as well as your new colleagues from the Qin Prince's Mansion. Even the neighborhood head and neighbors have come to give gifts and congratulate you on your promotion."

Pei Xuanyan was taken aback.

It's true that there are few who offer help in times of need, but many who add to someone's success.

When he was dismissed from his post, not a single person came to see him off.

"Ah Lang, go and see them quickly. They are all guests, especially this new colleague from the Prince of Qin's mansion. We can't neglect him," Pei Liu said hastily.

She straightened her husband's clothes.

Pei Xuanyan arrived at the door.
There were even queues forming here, many of them there to offer gifts and congratulations. Among them were former colleagues from the Secretariat, former colleagues from the Prince Qi's residence, and new colleagues from the Prince Qin's residence.

Many of the others were neighbors from the neighborhood, while some were people he didn't know.

As soon as he came out, everyone surrounded him, cupping their hands in congratulations.

Phrases like "rising step by step," "smooth sailing," "bright future," and "great ambitions" were constantly used to describe the situation.

Some of those faces were familiar, while others were unfamiliar.

"Congratulations on your promotion, Mr. Pei!"

Pei Xuanyan saw a familiar face: Rong Jiusi, the secretary of the Prince of Qi's mansion. He was the only colleague who could be considered a friend during his three years at the Prince of Qi's mansion.

Rong Jiusi was also dressed in a green robe, but it was a deep green.

He was a sixth-rank official in the Qi Prince's mansion.

"Brother Rong, what's this?"

Pei Xuanyan was quite surprised to see that Rong Jiusi had sent many gifts.

“I am also a poor official and cannot afford to send so many gifts. These were sent by the Prince of Qi. He said that he is very grateful for your contributions during your three years in the Prince of Qi’s residence.”

"The gifts that the King of Qi sent this time are quite substantial. Not only are there a hundred bolts of silk, but also a set of the Four Treasures of the Study, as well as pepper, Solomon's seal, frost sugar, tea, and other items."

Pei Xuanyan looked at these items: spices, medicinal herbs, silk, writing brushes and ink; the total value was estimated to be more than a hundred strings of cash.

I lived in the Prince of Qi's residence for three years, but I never enjoyed such treatment from the Prince of Qi.

Rong Jiusi leaned close to him and lowered his voice: "Prince Qi asked me to tell you that now that you've left, you should keep everything about the Prince Qi's residence a secret."

It was lively for a long time.
Until the evening drum sounded,
As the city gates and neighborhood gates began to close, the group gradually took their leave.

The front yard of the Pei residence,

The gate closed.

The gifts were piled up like a small mountain. All sorts of gifts...
However, the one given to the King of Qi was the most valuable.

Scarface Su San took out the gifts and examined them carefully.
Silk and writing implements were not worth examining too closely, but spices, medicinal herbs, and tea were all opened.

"Old Bai, check all of these carefully, especially this Solomon's Seal."

"Is there a problem with the Solomon's Seal?" Pei Xuanyan had a habit of eating Solomon's Seal rice to abstain from grains, and he knew a bit about Solomon's Seal. The ones that the Prince of Qi sent were obviously top-grade.

Su Yi pointed at Lao Bai, "This is the head of Qianjintang. He knows the most about medicinal herbs. We'll know if there's a problem once he takes a look."

Su Yi was shocked.
Because Prince Li Yi of Dai had arranged for him to come to Pei Xuanyan's house early on, and had even transferred an old pharmacist from Qianjintang Medical Clinic to him in advance, and had instructed him to carefully examine the Huangjing if Prince Qi sent it.

Unexpectedly, the King of Qi has actually sent some Polygonatum.

He didn't know how the Prince of Dai, who was thousands of miles away in Taiyuan, could have foreseen all of this.

He now regards Prince Li Yi of Dai as a god.

The Prince of Dai said he wanted to examine the Polygonatum that the Prince of Qi had given to Pei Xuanyan, so naturally he had to examine it carefully.

You won't know until you check.
A check was taken aback.

Old Bai truly lives up to his reputation as a senior pharmacist at Qianjintang.
The problem was immediately discovered in those top-grade Solomon's Seal.

"These are all top-grade Solomon's Seal that have been steamed and dried nine times, but they are all poisonous. Someone has poisoned them with Gelsemium elegans."

If ingested, death is certain; even a miracle cannot save him!

As soon as this word comes out,
Pei Xuanyan's pupils dilated instantly, and his face turned deathly pale.

He had a habit of fasting by consuming Polygonatum rice. He not only consumed it himself, but also shared it with his wife, and even his wife's personal maid, Putao, and his page, Shengnu, often let them eat it together.

If I were to consume these Solomon's Seal,

Then they would all die from poisoning.

He trembled all over. "How could this Polygonatum odoratum contain Gelsemium elegans poison?"

Su Yi chuckled, "That goes without saying, someone poisoned you to murder you."

Faced with this box of highly poisonous Polygonatum,
Su Yi quickly sent someone to contact Yun Hongyi.
Yun Hongyi was his superior in Chang'an, and Yun Hongyi's superior was Zhang Liang.

Soon, not only Yun Hongyi arrived, but Zhang Liang also came; both of them were in disguise.

After confirming that the Polygonatum was poisonous and that it was indeed a gift from the King of Qi, Yun Hongyi and Zhang Liang exchanged a glance, just as shocked as Su Yi had been earlier.

Everything was exactly as Prince Li Yi had predicted.

How did the Prince of Dai foresee that Pei Xuanyan would leave the Prince of Qi's residence, and how did he anticipate that the Prince of Qi would use Huangjing (Polygonatum sibiricum) to poison Pei Xuanyan?
As dusk fell,
Zhang Liang quietly arrived at Hongyi Palace to meet the King of Qin.

He first went to see Changsun Wuji as Li Yi had arranged beforehand.

"A self-torture trick?"

When Changsun Wuji saw the secret plan left by Li Yi, he couldn't help but marvel.

The more I read, the more I admire Li Yi.

He got up and went to find his uncle, Gao Shilian.

After reading it, Gao Shilian stroked his beard and sighed deeply.

“The Prince of Dai’s plan is indeed brilliant, but I don’t know if the King of Qin is willing to accept it.”

The King of Qin was currently attending a royal banquet at the King of Qi's residence.

Changsun Wuji, stroking his large belly, said excitedly, "I think Wuyi's plan is excellent. The King of Qi and the Crown Prince are now joining forces, and the King of Qin is in grave danger. We can't let them lead us by the nose. We must take the initiative to counterattack and break this deadlock."

"Wu Yi's plan is perfect for breaking the deadlock."

Gao Shilian nodded. "I just received news that His Majesty seems to have decided to enfeoff the Prince of Qin to establish a kingdom in Jiaozhi or Nanzhong."

At the end of the Sui Dynasty, Gao Shilian was demoted to Jiaozhi to serve as a county clerk, and stayed in that remote corner of the South China Sea for several years before returning.

Jiaozhi Rinan, that's already the southernmost point.

The situation in the south was not much better. It was almost entirely controlled by the Zhu Cuan clan, and it was there that Zhuge Liang captured Meng Huo seven times.

Changsun Wuji's face flushed red. "What kind of enfeoffment and state-building is this? It's nothing short of exile! The King of Qin absolutely cannot agree to it, and neither will we."

"Wu Yi is right, we shouldn't have held onto any hope in the first place."

After discussing the matter privately for a while, the uncle and nephew called Zhang Liang over.

Do you think the Prince of Dai's self-inflicted injury ruse is difficult to execute?

"Are we really going to poison the King of Qin?"

"He must have been poisoned, otherwise the imperial physicians would have been able to see it, and His Majesty would have sent them to examine and treat him."

Gao Shilian was somewhat worried, "But this Gelsemium elegans is highly poisonous."

Zhang Liang said, "Gelsemium elegans is indeed highly poisonous, but the Prince of Dai had an old doctor from Qianjintang prepare a dose. After taking it, one will experience symptoms of Gelsemium elegans poisoning. As long as the antidote is taken in time, there will be no danger."

"There's still some danger!" Gao Shilian was worried about the possibility of something going wrong.

Changsun Wuji gritted his teeth and said, "We are now in a dead end. The only way to break the deadlock is to put ourselves in the trap. I think my plan is feasible."

Now, the three of them are left with only one question: whether to tell the King of Qin first, or to keep it from him for the time being.

(End of this chapter)