After a stretch of silence, it was Li Xuanzhen who broke the silence: “Why do you say that?”
His voice was low and dark, seemingly restraining something.
Du Sinan slowly said, “The letter that Princess Wenzhao sent back not only reminded me to guard against the Northern Rong, Southern Chu, and Western Shu but also pointed out that there are many contradictions between Southern Chu and Western Shu. Princess Wenzhao said it would only take using the Qianzhong Road as bait to cause the two countries to turn against each other. In addition, the letter mentioned the strife in the Southern Chu court. To change Southern Chu’s Crown Prince this time around, it was Princess Wenzhao’s ploy that I used.
“Princess Wenzhao seems to know Southern Chu and Western Shu like the back of her hand. The two countries’ reactions were exactly like what she predicted in her letter. She said that the alliance between Southern Chu and Western Shu is not strong and that it only takes a little provocation to break down the relationship between the two countries. Du mou thinks that Princess Wenzhao has foresight as if she is divine.”
This time, Li Xuanzhen was silent for even longer. The tea’s steam rising in spirals seemed to cast a layer of dark clouds over his elegant side profile.
Zheng Jing interjected, “Princess Wenzhao grew up in Jingnan. Jingnan is close to Southern Chu and Western Shu, and the Xie family has been operating in Jingnan for many years, so it’s not surprising that Princess Wenzhao is so knowledgeable about Southern Chu and Western Shu.”
Li Xuanzhen faintly hummed, sitting there lost in thought, his eyes blank.
Du Sinan could not help but ask, “What does Your Highness think of this plan?”
Li Xuanzhen returned to his senses and pondered for a long time, silently mulling over the conversation he had just had.
If the plan went smoothly, Great Wei would be able to achieve the impressive feat of unifying the world at the quickest speed using the least amount of effort.
Then, when Great Wei pacifies the world and leads its troops to the west, they will have sufficient troops to fight against the Northern Rong.
With the decision made in his mind, he said to Du Sinan, “Du Sheren is worthy of being His Majesty’s Zifang—planning strategies and obtaining victory from a thousand miles away.”
Zhang Liang, courtesy name Zifang, was a skilled, highly intelligent minister under Liu Bang who founded the Han Dynasty. Comparing the two is praise for Du Sinan and his clever plans.
Du Sinan said, “Your Highness flatters me.”
His tone was modest, but the look on his face carried some icy arrogance, seeming to say, “Who else but me?”
Zheng Jing secretly shook his head.
Li Xuanzhen entered the palace to see the Emperor and discuss the specific plan with Li De. The other two took their leave and left. Zheng Jing reminded Du Sinan: “Du Sheren has been in the limelight too much recently. Beware of being the tallest tree in the forest.”
Tallest tree in the forest, destroyed by the wind (木秀于林，风必摧之). Zheng Jing only says the first part, but the literary meaning is the tallest trees in the forest are the first to be blown down. Literally, it means the most outstanding people easily receive jealousy and blame and are often targeted.
Du Sinan coldly laughed: “Zheng Shilang and I are different. Zheng Shilang is the descendant of a famous noble family. You have just entered the court and are already in the Son of Heaven’s inner circle. I, Du Sinan, am of humble origins. Ten years of strenuous study, hard work for a lifetime, but I can only make wedding clothes for people like Zheng Shilang. Now, His sagacious Majesty granted me the chance to prove myself. How can I let go of this opportunity to make a name for myself? Even if it is the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog cooked, I, Du Sinan, will still become a man of honor, fulfill my ambitions, and make unparalleled achievements.”
Shilang (侍郎): An official position. Many official titles vary depending on the dynasty, so I can’t tell which of the two has the higher prestige. At the very least, Sheren and Shilang are about the same based on their similar robes.
Make wedding clothes (作嫁衣裳): To work hard for other people’s happiness and benefit, receiving little/no reward.
Zheng Jing had no response.
Du Sinan was a sword in Li De’s hands, a sharply polished blade ready to cut down the influential families. The influential families had keenly sensed Li De’s intentions, thinking of winning Du Sinan over and pulling him into the influential families’ camp. For this reason, they did not hesitate to offer the influential families’ treasures for marriage. Originally, they assumed that he, this poor and humble child, would be jumping with joy. Never did they expect that he refused to even think about it.
Zheng Jing was the son of the Zheng family. Recently, he heard a lot of rumors. If Du Sinan continued to go his own way, the influential families would never be soft.
“Has Du Sheren truly made up your mind? His sagacious Majesty and the Crown Prince can protect you for a while, but not for a lifetime. Not to mention that the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog cooked. Throughout the dynasties, how many ministers like Du Sheren have had a good end?”
The corner of Du Sinan’s mouth curled up, uncaring: “Although Shang Yang suffered dismembering by five horses, in the end, he still succeeded in reforming the law, and his name will remain in history. Zheng Shilang, you and I seek different things. Do humans know the joy of the fish?”
Zheng Jing smiled. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, “Du Sheren is unwilling to marry a woman from an influential family. Does it have anything to do with the Seventh Princess?”
Du Sinan’s expression froze.
Zheng Jing chuckled and said, “Du Shreren is conceited of his talent, but unfortunately comes from a humble, poor background. Previously, when you were in Southern Chu, you had made a public vow that you would not marry unless it was a woman from an influential family. Thus, Du Sheren sought fame and fortune, vowing to make a name for yourself. Now that the capital’s influential families are willing to marry their di-born daughters, why do you refuse?”
Du Sinan’s face sank. He coldly glanced at Zheng Jing, and sarcastically retorted, “Zheng Shilang is the son of an influential family, with a noble background and a promising future. You have yet to marry, and there are only concubines in the mansion. The family’s affairs are all taken care of by your tangjie. Why doesn’t Zheng Shilang take a wife?”
Tangjie: older female cousin; daughter born to one’s father’s brother. Specifically for this statement, it is important to convey that it’s his female cousin of the same surname, so it’s not a cousin he has feelings for, and it’s only a temporary solution as she still needs to marry.
The smile on Zheng Jing’s face faded little by little.
The two were quiet.
Zheng Jing turned aside and looked at the lush pomegranate tree in front of the hall. He stood with his hands behind his back, and said softly, “I have seen a woman like the Seventh Princess and personally sent her to marry far away….”
She wore a flower hairpin, dressed in a ceremonial dress, and boarded the carriage before the eyes of a crowd of civil and military officials.
In this life, Zheng Jing could never forget her delicate and slim back.
He couldn’t remember when he began to like the Seventh Princess. At that time, he did not think she would be carved in his bones, engraved in his heart. It was just a young man’s adoration and longing. After the Seventh Princess married far away, he thought that these feelings would slowly fade with the passage of time, but the result was the opposite. The regret not only did not fade but on the contrary, carved a deeper imprint in his heart, leaving a scar that suddenly ached when one least expected it.
Like aged wine stored in the cellar; the longer the years, the richer the taste.
Zheng Jing’s words were only half spoken, but Du Sinan could understand his unfinished words.
“I, Du mou, am of lowly birth… I am not worthy of an influential family’s daughter.”
After a long stretch of silence, Du Sinan drawled.
The two were silent for a while.
After standing for some time, Zheng Jing walked down the steps, glanced to the left and right, and lowered his voice: “Wei Ming has gone missing.”
Du Sinan’s eyelids jumped.
Zheng Jing calmly said, “The person who did it was Grand Duke Wei.”
“Li Zhongqian? Didn’t he go to Helong?”
Zheng Jing said, “Grand Duke Wei knew that the Eastern Palace had strengthened its guard, and did not immediately strike during his return to the capital. The person disappeared a few days ago, and the one who did it was the manpower left behind by Grand Duke Wei.”
Looking pensive, Du Sinan said, “Right now, Grand Duke of Wei only wishes to find the Seventh Princess as soon as possible, so that she will not be buried in foreign land… When Grand Duke Wei returns…”
Li Zhongqian will kill Wei Ming with his own hands.
And then what?
There was definitely more than just one Wei Ming that he wanted to kill.
The two walked out of the long corridor shoulder to shoulder, the atmosphere a bit stagnant. Zheng Jing suddenly changed the subject, “Will Du Sheren defect to the Eastern Palace in the future?”
Du Sinan’s pupils shrunk slightly, raising his head to stare angrily at Zheng Jing.
Zheng Jing’s face was as usual.
The two stared at each other for a moment. Du Sinan curled his lips and smiled coldly, “I was once suspected by the Crown Prince. That guy Wei Ming even tried to harm me repeatedly. There is already a rift between me and the Eastern Palace.”
Zheng Jing narrowed his eyes.
Du Sinan snorted coldly and said, “Zheng Shilang knows my reputation. I can do whatever it takes to make a name for myself. Only when I’ve gained a firm foothold in the dynasty will I have the backbone to negotiate with others.”
The two exchanged a look, with tacit understanding.
They were both people whose interests were paramount; calm and rational. All they were doing now was to climb to the summit of power.
Therefore, even though they were angry at Li De for making the Seventh Princess marry, they were still in the court for power, chasing merit and glory.
The Seventh Princess’s distant marriage made them realize that the only way to protect the people they cared about was to hold power.
Until then, they didn’t care who they were loyal to, nor did they care what the origin of the people they worked with was.
As for whether the two of them would become enemies, that was a matter for later.
At least, until Li Zhongqian returned, their interests were aligned.
moonbeam 