The one who sent Wang Ding flying from the second floor with a slap wasn't Mo Xidao, but Hou Wenji. Bystanders didn't even see how he got in front of Wang Ding, how he raised his hand, or how he sent Wang Ding flying like a cannonball. And just as people were astonished, a shout from the street shocked everyone into a state of shock and disarray.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
For the people at Keshengju today, their previously calm hearts were repeatedly shaken.
Many border soldiers and diners lost their balance and fell to the ground, and before they could even get up, they heard the words "His Majesty has arrived." Undoubtedly, it was more chilling than a thunderbolt. For the first time in eleven years, Emperor Tianyou appeared so closely before the people. Compared to his father, Yang Yi was remarkably low-key, a fact that evoked sighs of regret. During his reign, the late emperor greatly enjoyed traveling incognito. He often led civil and military officials to inspect various parts of Chang'an, frequently appearing in the public eye in a high-profile manner.
Yang Yi, who had rarely left the palace in the eleven years since his ascension to the throne, was a figure of considerable renown.
His sudden appearance this time was without a large entourage. He was accompanied only by a few dozen guards, a rather simple affair compared to the travels of ordinary noble families. Known as the most low-key and mild-mannered emperor in the history of the Sui Dynasty, this succinctly reflected his personality. Among his entourage, three individuals appeared to hold significant positions. Although only these three followed closely behind the emperor, they perfectly protected him from every angle.
To the emperor's left was Luo Weiran, dressed in a flying fish robe; to his right was a high-ranking Taoist priest in a red robe. Following behind the emperor was Su Buwei, the eunuch in charge of the imperial study.
These three formed a wall-like barrier.
These were the three visible figures. On the rooftop of Jin Ke Zhai, opposite Ke Sheng Ju, stood an elderly man in light blue brocade robes, his aloof gaze sweeping across the crowd on the street.
Hou Wenji, the garrison commander of the Qingya Garrison, slapped Wang Ding away, his figure blurring as he appeared outside the door. Almost simultaneously, Zhuo Buyi also leaped down from the second floor and exited Keshengju. The two stood on either side of the entrance, bowing simultaneously: "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Emperor Yang Yi of the Great Sui Dynasty walked slowly to the entrance of Keshengju, waving his hand to signal Hou Wenji and Zhuo Buyi to rise. He looked up at the Keshengju signboard and smiled, saying, "The late Emperor once said that Keshengju's crab roe lion's head meatballs are even better than those made in the imperial kitchen. I've always wanted to sneak over and try them, but alas, I've been too busy with state affairs to find the time."
The owner of Keshengju, kneeling at the door, was overjoyed to hear this, but dared not raise his head.
"This humble subject, Li An, greets Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"
He kowtowed vigorously on the ground.
The Emperor walked to Li An's side, bent down to help him up, and said, "My sudden arrival has made you all uncomfortable. Please rise; I would be uneasy if I disturbed the people's peace."
He glanced at Hou Wenji, then at Zhuo Buyi.
"Hou Wenji, why didn't anyone tell me you were here?"
The Emperor asked calmly, but Hou Wenji's heart tightened. His secret meeting with Luo Wen at Keshengju was unknown to Luo Weiran and the others. He had even kept it from Zhuo Buyi; the only one who knew was the astute Liu Duxiu. But even Liu Duxiu didn't know why Zhuo Buyi had suddenly appeared. He hadn't informed Zhuo Buyi when he mobilized that group of guards; mobilizing the Flying Fish Robe was within his authority.
But Zhuo Buyi's arrival seemed to indicate that he already knew something unexpected would happen at Keshengju. "I was drinking with General Luo today when this happened to arrive," Hou Wenji replied, bowing his head. The emperor hummed in response but didn't ask further. As he walked into the main hall, he glanced at Zhuo Buyi on the other side and asked, "Buyi, when we were almost here, Luo Weiran told me that you used the 'drawing a circle on the ground as a prison' technique?"
Zhuo Buyi nodded and said, "Your Majesty, I did."
"What a pity," the emperor said with some regret.
"I'm too late. I've wanted to see your 'drawing a circle on the ground as a prison' technique for a long time. Too late…too late."
He shook his head and sighed softly as he spoke, seemingly truly regretful for not witnessing Zhuo Buyi's skill.
Before the emperor entered, everyone in the room was already kneeling on the floor. Entering the main hall, he saw the mess in the room, glanced at the kneeling border soldiers, and finally fixed his gaze on Wang Ding, whom Hou Wenji had knocked unconscious with a single blow. The emperor's expression darkened slightly.
"Who is this man?"
He asked, pointing at Wang Ding. Liu Duxiu, standing respectfully to one side, quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this is Wang Ding from the Wang family of Jiangnan, a student recruited by the Martial Arts Academy this year. His father is Wang Yishan, who once held the official rank of fourth-grade prefect. This man is Wang Yishan's eldest son, and he was already quite renowned for his talent in the Jiangnan region at a young age."
The Emperor grunted in acknowledgment, then walked to the center of the hall and gestured upwards with both hands, saying, "Rise, all of you. You are all fine young men who have risked your lives to defend the borders for me. After you arrived in the capital, I originally intended to have the Ministry of War invite you all to Changchun Garden so I could personally offer you wine to thank you for your outstanding contributions to the country! Since you have arrived today, I will borrow a pot of wine from Keshengju and offer you a toast!"
The Emperor didn't inquire about today's events, only about the border troops' achievements!
The meaning behind this was quite clear.
Luo Weiran smiled slightly, thinking that His Majesty was about to make a statement. With the impending military campaign against the Northwest, His Majesty couldn't possibly punish the soldiers at this time. Thinking of this, he suddenly realized that since the last martial arts academy's recruitment of students, His Majesty had decreed the selection of outstanding talents from various armies for the examination. Now it seemed that His Majesty had already been preparing for the military campaign back then. His Majesty's scheming was terrifying.
Hou Wenji glanced at Luo Weiran, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
Luo Weiran simply smiled and remained silent.
...
...
The Imperial Guards' Flying Fish Robe quickly cleaned up Keshengju, rearranging the tables and chairs neatly. The owner of Keshengju personally supervised the kitchen, and all the dozen or so large stoves were bustling with activity. The chefs dared not slack off, working with the same focused attention as wound-up robots.
The border soldiers sat around the tables, each one filled with unease.
The Emperor sat at a table in the center, beckoning Zhang Kuang and Mo Xidao to sit beside him. These two border corps commanders, who had braved countless trials and tribulations without flinching, trembled slightly as they sat beside the emperor. Mo Xidao, in particular, had been nearly framed and sentenced to death for killing someone, and now sat at the same table with the emperor—the contrast was too stark for him to accept.
"Your name is Mo Xidao, I know," the emperor said with a smile.
"I am well aware of the matter in Dongchu. The court cannot openly bestow too generous a reward upon you. I have always felt indebted to you. Last winter, I specifically instructed the Ministry of War to include your name in the list of candidates for the Martial Arts Academy entrance exam, without needing to consider any further military merits. Moreover, I have already discussed this with Dean Zhou… You can directly enter the Martial Arts Academy without taking the exam."
Mo Xidao was startled, quickly stood up, took two steps back, and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, I thank you!"
The emperor smiled and said: "It is I who should thank you. My empire has been protected by you, resisting…" "Foreign enemies, vanquishing the barbarians, pacifying the bandits, displaying the might of our army. A while ago, I discussed with several high-ranking officials the possibility of doubling the border soldiers' pay. This matter has been handed over to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue for verification, and should be announced to the world soon."
He had Mo Xidao helped up and said, "I know you may harbor many grievances. The court has done many things unsatisfactorily, and there may even be injustices, but you should trust me. Give me time, and I will gradually remove all injustices, just like removing a malignant tumor from my body, leaving nothing behind."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
All the border soldiers knelt again, kowtowing in gratitude.
The Emperor smiled, gestured for everyone to rise, and said to them, "Some people, because of their slightly better family background, become arrogant and overbearing. The Sui Dynasty has hundreds of millions of people; such people are ultimately a minority. Their arrogance stems from their belief that they have a so-called prestigious family behind them, that someone is backing them up."
"But today,"
the Emperor stood up, his gaze sweeping over all the border soldiers, and said, word by word, "You must remember that having powerful backers is nothing to fear; they are merely putting on airs. You also have powerful backers, and yours is the most solid and reliable—that is me! This family, that family—I'd like to see who is more powerful than the Yang family!"
These words resonated throughout the land.
The border soldiers felt a surge of warmth within them, a warmth that almost made them want to shout with joy! ...
Hou Wenji gave a soft hum, leaning closer to Luo Weiran and frowning slightly. "Your Majesty's words today seem a bit excessive. If they spread, they will inevitably cause dissatisfaction among some."
Luo Weiran pursed her lips. "When Your Majesty first ascended the throne, everyone thought he was the most lenient emperor in history, so powerful families inevitably became arrogant. But since the case of the Qiu family in Jiangdu... who dares to think that way anymore? The people below don't know Your Majesty is going to wage war in the Northwest, and they rely on their fallen noble lineage to act arrogantly. At this juncture, how could Your Majesty not speak up for the military?"
Hou Wenji shook his head. "I still think Your Majesty is taking these border troops too seriously. Ultimately, the court still relies on powerful ministers and nobles."
Luo Weiran rolled her eyes at him, offering no reply. Hou Wenji smiled helplessly, "You know I didn't mean to look down on those from humble backgrounds..."
"Who can easily fathom the Emperor's will? Have you ever considered that the three emperors before him killed fewer people combined than His Majesty, yet people still perceive him as very lenient? Just that alone... who can achieve that?"
Luo Weiran shook her head, not wanting to dwell on the topic. Hou Wenji hummed in agreement, looking at the deeply moved border soldiers, and murmured, "Perhaps I truly don't understand His Majesty's thoughts. However, the Qiu family case happened several years ago, and some forgetful people have forgotten the Emperor's might. The Wang family of Jiangnan... heh."
His cold laugh carried an even colder meaning. Before the Emperor arrived, he genuinely intended to stand aside. A little trouble between the border soldiers and aristocratic families wouldn't be a bad thing for him; only by creating some disturbances could the Imperial Guards avoid appearing idle.
But His Majesty arrived, so he immediately slapped Wang Ding, sending him flying. His enduring favor over the years stemmed from his ability to make crucial choices.
"How much of your cultivation did you use to break free of the self-imposed confinement?"
After a moment of silence, Luo Weiran couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
Hou Wenji smiled, his tone flat, "Neither you used my full strength, nor did I. However… perhaps you're also wondering how much of my cultivation I used."
Luo Weiran nodded, lost in thought.
The two conversed in hushed tones. In the distance, Zhuo Buyi instructed two men in flying fish robes to carry the unconscious Fang Jie out of the Guest House. After placing Fang Jie in his carriage, he sat down and grasped Fang Jie's wrist. A moment later, Zhuo Buyi's expression suddenly changed.
This young man's body was burning hot, as if he were being roasted over a fire. His exposed skin was an eerie red, as if blood was flowing beneath it, ready to burst forth. Moreover, his entire body was as hard as iron; pressing a finger against his skin didn't even leave a dent.
Zhuo Buyi gripped Fang Jie's wrist, intently sensing the abnormality within his body.
"Seven orifices?"
He murmured to himself, "What's going on?"