Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 537 Returning to Familiar Territory

Luoyang.

Inside the palace, Yuan Baoju was surrounded by beauties, enjoying their fragrance.

At the beginning of his reign as emperor, Yuan Baoju was indeed infatuated with the magnificence of the palace and the gentleness of the beauties in the harem. However, after his crown prince Yuan Qin was exiled to Shu, Yuan Baoju fell into fear and resentment.

However, faced with the unfavorable situation both inside and outside the palace, Yuan Baoju could do nothing.

Then, he became somewhat numb.

"His Majesty!"

Yuan Zan hurriedly walked in.

Yuan Baoju was very excited to see this rising star of the Yuan clan, a rare talent among the Yuan clan who now held real power, and one of the few ministers who was still willing to listen to him, the emperor.

"Come, drink with me."

"His Majesty……"

Yuan Baoju looked at the hesitant expression on Yuan Zan's young face and nudged the beauty beside him.

"Go and make our Prince Guangping happy."

"Your Majesty, I dare not!"

The beautiful woman beside Yuan Baoju stepped down, her eyes sparkling with joy, her voice melodious and sweet. She pulled Yuan Zan to sit next to Yuan Baoju.

Yuan Zan was very reserved, and dared not look to either side, only managing to drink one cup of wine after another.

Yuan Baoju was amused and laughed:
"You're just like your grandfather, a coward."

Yuan Zan's father was Yuan Ti, the Prince of Guangping, who died at the age of twenty-six in Heyin. After Yuan Ziyou succeeded to the throne, he allowed Yuan Zan to inherit the title of Prince of Guangping.

Yuan Zan did not dare to refute Yuan Baoju's words.

"Your Majesty, Husichun, he..."

"So what about him!"

Ever since Husichun exposed Crown Prince Yuan Qin's crimes, leading to Yuan Qin's exile to Sichuan, he and the Yuan family had a falling out.

Kehu Sichun was not afraid. Instead, she stepped forward and took the initiative to provoke a fight with the Yuan family.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it persecution!

If any member of the Yuan clan made even the slightest mistake, Hu Sichun would find out and punish them.

The Yuan clan members harbored deep resentment towards Hu Sichun.

Upon hearing the name Hu Sichun, Yuan Baoju could not hide his disgust.

"I heard that he dispatched a large force to the hidden tombs in Mangshan."

"Heavy troops?"

Yuan Baoju knew in his heart that Hu Sichun did not have any heavy troops at his disposal. If it was true, there was only one possibility: Chang'an had given his permission to mobilize the troops stationed in the camp outside Jinyong City.

What's in there?

Yuan Zan gave Yuan Baoju a wink, and the latter understood, ordering all the beauties in the palace to leave.

After most of the people had left, Yuan Zan slowly spoke.

"I don't know if it's true or not, but there are rumors that the Imperial Seal of the State is inside!"

Yuan Baoju was stunned, and subconsciously asked:

"What Imperial Seal of the State?"

"It is the Qin Dynasty Imperial Seal with seal script written by Li Si!"

Yuan Baoju felt as if all his strength had been drained away; his whole body went limp. He mustered all his remaining strength to finally speak:

"Is it really fate?"

……

In Lu Wenwei's residence, Lu Huaidao looked at his father. This was the first time in so many years that he had seen Lu Wenwei so anxious.

"What did you just say? Say it again."

"When the servants of the mansion went to the East Market to buy fish, they heard people in the market talking about the Imperial Seal of the State."

The news spread throughout Luoyang so quickly that it's impossible to say there wasn't someone pulling the strings behind the scenes.

"Grandpa, is this true or false?"

Lu Wenwei stroked his beard and pondered:

"Whether it's true or false isn't important; what's important is what will happen in Chang'an."

"Will that person in Chang'an take advantage of the situation?"

Lu Wenwei chuckled, a hint of incomprehension in his voice, and asked, "He has plenty of imperial seals, more than one. What's so different about this one in the hidden tomb? If we were to follow the example of Yao and Shun, wouldn't it be more legitimate to take the Liang Kingdom's seal?"

"What do you mean, Grandpa?"

Lu Wenwei did not speak, but then a servant came to report.

Cui Ling is here!

"Lord Lu, have you heard?"

Cui Ling rushed in, her face flushed, clearly having run there.

Upon seeing this, Lu Wenwei laughed and said:

"Now everyone selling fish in the city knows, how could I not?"

Cui Ling chuckled, keeping everyone in suspense.

"But there is one thing that Lord Lu certainly does not know!"

"What's the matter?"

"Preparations are underway in Chang'an. The King of Qin intends to move his capital to Luoyang. This time, the procession is quite grand, with not only the King of Qin's vassal states but also surrendered vassal states and envoys from various countries."

Upon hearing this, Lu Wenwei's earlier doubts were replaced by an even more urgent question.

"Who did you listen to?"

“Zu Ting gave me a heads-up! He also said that after the King of Qin arrives in Luoyang, he will allow us noble families to settle down permanently.”

Is what he said credible?

"It can't be wrong!"

After Cui Ling finished speaking, she became very excited.

"Following the example of Yao and Shun, this is a meritorious deed of following the dragon's lead!"

They were suddenly back in their familiar territory, and even Lu Wenwei could not hide his excitement.

"No rush, this matter needs to be handled carefully; too fast or too slow will not be good."

……

Ganquan Palace.

Outside the palace, Xiao Ji was waiting.

He had set off from Chang'an earlier and arrived in Luoyang, intending to see his father.

However, when Yuan Ji emerged from the palace, she brought news that surprised Xiao Ji.

Xiao Yan didn't want to see him!
"Prince Wuling, you should return!"

Upon seeing this, Xiao Ji sighed and turned to leave.

Yuan Ji returned to the palace. Xiao Yan was worshipping Buddha, and the sound of the wooden fish he was striking stopped as Yuan Ji spoke.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Wuling has departed."

Xiao Yan remained silent, and Yuan Ji was puzzled.

"Your Majesty is so eager to see your son. Now that he has arrived, why not see him?"

Xiao Yan raised his head. The aura that had once frightened Hebasheng was still heavy, but he could now control it at will.

"A storm is coming; it's better not to see it!"

With just that one sound, the sound of the wooden fish echoed once more throughout the palace.
-
On the official road from Chang'an to Luoyang, Li Shuang leaned back in his carriage, looking at the letter in his hand, and asked:
"Xiao Yan did not see Xiao Ji?"

Zu Ting, standing to the side, replied in a low voice:
"The Liang ruler did not meet with the Prince of Wuling, who stayed at a farmhouse outside Ganquan Palace and did not enter Luoyang City."

Upon hearing this, Li Shuang looked at Zu Ting and asked:
"How is the situation in Luoyang?"

"After I conveyed the letter to Cui Ling, all the officials and nobles in Luoyang were eager to seize this opportunity to help the emperor rise to power."

Zu Ting glanced at Li Shuang's expression and asked:
"Your Majesty, I do not understand. Why must this be done?"

Li Shuang smiled and replied:

"Do you still remember what we said to each other in this carriage?"

Zu Ting cupped his hands and said:
"Your Majesty once said, 'As long as sages exist, great thieves will never cease!'"

Li Shuang sighed and asked:
"He who steals a hook is punished, he who steals a state becomes a prince, but what about he who steals the world?"

Upon hearing this, Zu Ting vaguely understood. However, despite his understanding, he dared not open his mouth, lowered his head nervously, and remained silent for a long time, even with a hint of fear.

……

(End of this chapter)