~ Blood Has Not Yet Run Cold ~
To scheme against the Li family and Beijiang, a large sum of silver had to be mobilized. After thinking it through for a long while, Mu Yunyao left the palace and went to Ni Yun Fang.
Caiyi and the others, following her instructions, carried the recent account books upstairs. After taking a sip from her teacup, Mu Yunyao quickly flipped through them. The room was very quiet, the abacus beads clicking crisply as they struck one another.
After reviewing most of the ledgers, Mu Yunyao carefully considered the exact amount of silver required. She was fairly satisfied with the figure. Then she lifted her gaze to Liu Liang.
“Liu Liang, is there any news from Qi Ming?”
“Reporting to Master, Qi Ming still hasn’t sent any word. However, regarding Yi Bao Xuan, this subordinate discovered someone quietly altering the account books.”
“The account books kept at Yi Bao Xuan are already edited versions. The real ledgers are all stored at Ni Yun Fang. If the Li family wants to change them, let them change them. Ignore it.” A thought stirred in Mu Yunyao’s mind, and she suddenly asked, “Liu Liang, do you know anything about Beijiang?”
Liu Liang jerked his head up, his eyes trembling sharply. “Miss, why do you suddenly ask about Beijiang?”
Mu Yunyao studied his expression, and her heart gained a few points of certainty. From Liu Liang’s reaction, her earlier guess had been right. This man was very likely from Beijiang.
“You’ve seen it yourself. The Li family is entangled with the royal court of Beijiang. I thought it would be useful to understand more. Besides, in a little over half a month, Beijiang’s envoys will arrive in the Da Li Dynasty.”
Beijiang’s envoys?
Liu Liang lowered his head. His gaze became even more hollow. After a long pause, he tightened his grip on the sword at his side, and only then did his expression gradually return to normal.
“This subordinate knows a bit about Beijiang. Beijiang’s current king is Helian Ye, the second son of the previous king. He is skilled at commanding troops, domineering by nature, and extremely ambitious. He has two full brothers, Helian Chu and Helian Tan. These three brothers trust one another and joined hands to eliminate all the other royal offspring. After Helian Ye became king, he rewarded his two brothers heavily. Inside Beijiang, there are three kings standing side by side. But outwardly, the brothers are exceptionally united, always plotting to bite off a chunk of flesh from the Da Li Dynasty…”
Mu Yunyao watched Liu Liang. His voice was still unhurried, much like usual, but if one listened closely, a faint, hard-to-detect disgust could be heard within it.
Under Mu Yunyao’s gaze, Liu Liang’s expression turned tense. “Master, do you have any orders?”
“None. I didn’t expect you to know Beijiang’s royal family in such depth.”
Liu Liang parted his lips, wanting to speak. But when his eyes met Mu Yunyao’s clear gaze, a gaze that seemed able to see through everything, his heart sank little by little. His mouth filled with bitterness.
Miss was so intelligent. From his expression and his words, she had likely already guessed at his origins. If she learned his true identity, would she still be willing to keep him?
He remembered that life when he was like a walking corpse. Then he looked at Mu Yunyao before him. Liu Liang’s face slowly turned pale. He wanted to stay by her side, even if he could only keep a humble posture, even if he could only see her occasionally and receive nothing more than her calm glance.
He was willing.
Because only at her side did he feel alive, feel that his heart could still beat, feel that his blood had not yet grown cold.
Seeing him kneeling with his head lowered, his eyes empty as though the whole world had cast him away, Mu Yunyao could not help but soften.
“I only made a passing remark. Don’t think too much. I told you long ago that as long as you don’t wish to speak, I will forever regard you as Liu Liang and won’t ask about your true identity. Of course, it’s still the same. If you want to leave, I won’t force you to stay. If there’s anything you need my help with, as long as it’s within my ability, I will certainly help you accomplish it.”
Joy surged through Liu Liang’s heart, and color slowly returned to his hollow gaze. “I want to stay by my master’s side, to be your subordinate for a lifetime.”
Mu Yunyao joked as if amused. “Then I’ve truly struck gold. I only spent six liang of silver back then, and I got a whole mountain of gold for free.”
Liu Liang looked a little at a loss. Staring at Mu Yunyao’s smile, he tried hard to lift the corners of his mouth, but he’d worn a blank face for too long, and the smile came out stiff and unnatural. He struggled for quite some time, then looked up only to find Mu Yunyao had already returned to her ledgers.
After Mu Yunyao finished checking the accounts, she carefully ran through her plan again and again, confirming there were no real gaps. Then she spoke.
“Liu Liang, once the Beijiang envoys arrive, the plans I’ve laid out can begin. Be careful. The moment you sense anything off, withdraw immediately. Do not take even the slightest risk.”
“Yes. Please rest assured, Master.”
At court, the news that Beijiang’s envoys were about to reach the capital stirred waves of commotion. The civil officials did not feel it as deeply, but among the military officials, the moment Beijiang was mentioned, none did grit their teeth in hatred.
Many places in Beijiang were still uncivilized, yet their fighting strength was terrifyingly fierce, especially their cavalry. Beijiang men grew up with horses. Driven by their environment, they lived on horseback from childhood. Once grown, their control of a mount could be called instinctive. Moreover, Beijiang men were tall and powerful. A hundred-man cavalry unit wielding heavy long blades, charging in formation, sweeping through like whistling steel, left nothing but blood and ruin in their wake. Even a thousand men found it hard to get close.
And Beijiang people were brutal by nature. Once they broke into a village, they took everything they could carry. Whatever they could not carry, they burned on the spot. The slaughter of entire villages was common, and even infants and small children were spared nothing. Prisoners who fell into Beijiang’s hands rarely survived.
“Your Majesty, this humble minister believes the Da Li Dynasty is a land of rites and propriety. Since they come as guests, we should receive Beijiang’s envoys well and let them experience our customs and people.”
“This humble minister agrees. Your Majesty, between nations, envoys are not slain. No matter what Beijiang has done in the past, sending envoys first shows an intent to befriend us. The Da Li Dynasty must not lose face by quibbling with a barbarous small state.”
Most civil officials supported taking this opportunity to befriend Beijiang, but the military officials fiercely opposed it.
“Speak of rites with Beijiang? Why don’t you ask the wronged souls of Da Li Dynasty’s common people who died beneath Beijiang blades and hooves whether they agree? Why don’t you ask the fallen soldiers who fought Beijiang on the battlefield, whether they agree?”
“Your Majesty, this humble minister has led troops against Beijiang for years and understands their nature well. They are born to plunder, with ambition beyond measure. Their visit this time is certainly not well-intentioned. Please issue an edict to strengthen defenses.”
Before long, civil and military officials were shouting themselves into a single chaotic mass.
The Emperor coughed once. Xu Li quickly stepped forward and shouted, “Silence!”
The officials immediately knelt to salute. “We beg Your Majesty’s pardon.”
The Emperor coughed twice, then looked down at Ling Wang and Yu Wang. “Do you have any good ideas?”
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