ATPnovel Chapter 1588: 1 Yanju
Chapter 1588: 1 Yanju
Chapter 1588: Chapter 1 YanjuLinzi may be big, but it is not lacking in splendid abodes of the Nine Soldier Commander.
The Xiu Mansion is located in the prime area of Jin Xian Fang, constructed under the supervision of renowned craftsmen of the current dynasty, and is indeed imposing and dignified.
Since the Cui Zhu assassination of the emperor case, as the direct recommender of Cui Zhu’s participation in the Yellow River Gathering, Prisoner Electric Army Commander Xiu Yuan was relieved of his duties the same day pending investigation.
Though not locked in the Heavenly Prison, he was confined to his home, banned from taking a single step outside.
Unlike Cao Jie’s kind of secretive house arrest under the guise of constructing covert passageways, Xiu Yuan was truly imprisoned in his residence, his cultivation entirely sealed. It was only out of respect for the prestige of the Nine Soldier Commander that he was not imprisoned.
However, several months have passed since the assassination case. The investigation against Xiu Yuan has not made any significant breakthroughs. The Son of Heaven has yet to appoint a new Prisoner Electric Army Commander, leaving Xiu Yuan’s first general to temporarily lead this powerful force.
For now, things seem to be dragging on.
On this day, a distinguished guest arrived at the Xiu Family.
The visitor was Yan Tu, who was also a Nine Soldier Commander commanding the Zhan Yu Army.
This person was a close friend of Xiu Yuan, known throughout the court and public. Both of them came from humble origins, climbing up from the bottom ranks of the military to the position of Nine Soldier Commander, earning mutual admiration along the way.
Back in the day when the rebellious Xu Fang was still full of youthful spirit, he wrote in an article — “A true man must venture far.” The “far” and “venture” he mentioned actually referred to Xiu Yuan and Yan Tu, and not about traveling afar.
Among the Nine Soldier Commanders, he admired these two the most. Of course, these two may not necessarily know who Xu Fang was.
When Xiu Yuan had just been relieved of his duties pending investigation, Yan Tu submitted nine successive petitions, fervently arguing Xiu Yuan’s innocence, pleading with the Son of Heaven for discernment. He even went to Donghua Pavilion to directly remonstrate with the Son of Heaven!
The Son of Heaven, moved by Yan Tu’s deep sense of loyalty and righteousness, personally kicked him out of Donghua Pavilion and penalized him by reducing his salary for ten years…
In a simply arranged quiet room.
Yan Tu, clad in armor, sat opposite Xiu Yuan, who wore a casual home robe.
On the wall opposite, a bow and knife hung, accentuating Xiu Yuan’s neatly bound hair. His sitting posture was upright and his spine straight, retaining his imposing aura despite being confined at home.
He was leisurely preparing tea. The combination of elegance and sharpness, these two qualities were perfectly unified in him.
Sitting across from him, Yan Tu was a completely different style. Thick eyebrows, wide eyes, a prominent nose, and full lips, exuding an air of robustness. His sitting posture was rather casual, with one foot partly up and the other limply stretched out.
“I say, stop brewing.” Yan Tu glanced at the teapot impatiently, “No matter how well you brew the tea, you won’t blend into the circle of old Qi people and gain their trust. What’s the point?”
Xiu Yuan remained unaffected, continuing his task, speaking slowly, “Why can’t I gain trust?”
“How many months has it been?” Seeing his demeanor, Yan Tu felt exasperated: “If they trust you, how come you, a dignified Prisoner Electric Army Commander, are still idling at home?”
Xiu Yuan smiled, “The matter hasn’t been clarified yet, so I naturally cannot leave.”
“Relying only on those worthless fools in the Imperial City Inspection Mansion!? Ten years won’t clarify, will you Xiu Yuan be confined for ten years? A lifetime won’t clarify, will you be shut in here for a lifetime?”
With the water boiled, Xiu Yuan lifted the teapot from the small stove, leisurely rinsing the teacups, casually saying, “It’s better than being locked in prison, right?”
Yan Tu sneered, “General Xiu is so good at comforting himself, I didn’t know before!”
Xiu Yuan sighed, “Recommending Cui Zhu was indeed my oversight. Alarmed the divine carriage and nearly sullied the emperor’s name… I can still sit here well and brew tea with you, Brother Yan, I am already content.”
“Committing the crime of oversight and being stripped of duties pending investigation is expected, we have nothing to say, but at least there should be a timeline for the investigation?!” Yan Tu said with dissatisfaction, “There’s no movement from Beiyaduwei, Zheng Shi avoids me every day. And you Xiu Yuan, the dignified True Man of the Age, Nine Soldier Commander, cannot step out of this house! Day after day, without end! You have made countless contributions to our Daqi, how can you bear such humiliation?”
Xiu Yuan shook his head, “Zhang Song weeps at the altar, the Eleventh Prince is still out of favor. Cui Zhu assassinated the emperor, how could I be an exception?”
Yan Tu angrily said, “How can you compare with the Eleventh Prince? How can these two events be mixed together?”
“Maybe they can, maybe they can’t.” Xiu Yuan opened a green bamboo canister, using bamboo tweezers to carefully place the stored emerald green tea leaves into the teacup, saying, “I believe everything has a price. The mistakes I made, I must bear. The merits I achieved, His Majesty will remember… Some years of quiet cultivation, perhaps not a bad thing.”
“Your Majesty is naturally wise and valiant.” Yan Tu said in a deep voice, “Only fearing some might deceive the emperor!”
“Since His Majesty is wise and valiant, how can he be deceived?” Xiu Yuan completed the final procedure and then reached out invitingly, “Brother Yan, please have some tea.”
The night was kept out at the door, Yan Tu watching the steam rising from the teacup, before drinking, suddenly thought of a question—
At this moment, does the Eleventh Prince have the leisure to drink tea?
…
…
“Cough cough… cough cough…”
The intense coughing echoed back and forth through the palace, penetrating this long night.
Feng Gu, the deeply wrinkled chief eunuch of the Long Life Palace, looked ahead worriedly. The dark hue in his eyes shifted near and far.
On the desk ahead, a piece of snow-white rice paper was spread out, on which was a piece of unfinished writing.