The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0651 The Real Mastermind

After dinner, Jiang Hongjin casually asked Yurong whether she had visited the wangfu for any particular reason.

Yurong thought for a moment before answering, ”San Jie has always been kind to me and taken good care of me. Now that Iʼm married, of course, I have to visit her.” In truth, she said this to let Jiang Hongjin know that with Yuchen—the Wangfei—as her backer, she wasnʼt someone who could be easily bullied.

Jiang Hongjin nodded. ”Thatʼs how it should be. If youʼre free, you can visit the wangfu more often.” Had he known that Yurong was going there today, he definitely would have gone too. But even if he had, he still wouldnʼt have been able to see Yuchen.

Jiang Hongjin hid his thoughts extremely well—no one around him had a clue. He wasnʼt stupid; if Jing Wang found out what he was thinking, heʼd be killed instantly.

Yurong smiled. ”You said it yourself. If Mother blames me later, youʼll have to speak up for me.” This situation just showed how important power and influence were. See? As soon as she returned from the wangfu, Jiang Hongjinʼs attitude changed immediately.

That night, Jiang Hongjin didnʼt go out and stayed in the room. He was unusually vigorous that night, taking Yurong twice in a row, to the point that she could barely handle it. Before falling into a deep sleep, Yurong wondered how he could be so energetic without taking any medicine. Had she somehow gotten something wrong?

After venting his desires, Jiang Hongjin left and didnʼt return. Only after he had left the courtyard did Luye enter the bedroom. Seeing the mess on the bed and Yurongʼs bruised body, she felt both ashamed and angry. She brought hot water to clean Yurong up, then helped her settle into bed. As for herself, she slept on the floor beside the bed.

Jiang Hongjin returned to his study and took a painting out of a hidden compartment. It depicted someone in profile with a qin placed beside them. He had been cautious; if it had been a frontal portrait of Yuchen, it might have revealed his feelings. A side view wouldnʼt give him away. Gazing at the figure, Jiang Hongjin murmured softly, ”If only she were you, how wonderful that would be.” He had imagined Yurong as Yuchen; otherwise, how could he have been so vigorous? If Yurong ever found out the truth, she would have coughed up blood.

Yurong didnʼt wake up until broad daylight the next day. Her whole body ached. ”Luye, where is the Second Master?” She assumed that Jiang Hongjin had left in the morning.

Luye hesitated but decided to tell the truth. ”Er Nainai, Second Master left last night after you fell asleep. He spent the night in the study in the front courtyard.” After pausing, she lowered her head and added, ”Er Nainai, I was the one who changed your clothes.”

Yurongʼs face turned ashen with rage. How foolish of her to think Jiang Hongjin would be kind to her because of her San Jie, even if it were merely superficial kindness. But in the end, he used her and tossed her aside. What did Jiang Hongjin take her for?

Luye advised, ”Er Nainai, this is the Jiang household. Youʼll have to live here in the future, so itʼs not wise to offend Madam and Second Master too much. Otherwise, youʼre the one whoʼll suffer.”

Yurong felt that made sense and nodded. ”Youʼre right—we still have a long road ahead.” She didnʼt want a divorce. After all, it was always the woman who suffered in a separation. She recalled what Momo Gui said about the Jiang family rules: as long as she bore a child, neither Yu Shi nor Jiang Hongjin could cast her off.

On the same day, the Marshalʼs residence in Tong City was surrounded.

The personal guard, Chiang Tao, said anxiously, ”Marshal, this is bad! Qiu Dashan has brought troops and surrounded the Marshalʼs residence.” Nearly all of Tong Cityʼs military officers had rebelled, and those who didnʼt were imprisoned. While the ones who stubbornly resisted were all executed.

Marquis Chiang felt desolate. He hadnʼt died at the hands of the Donghu people, yet was about to die at the hands of his own subordinates. Although he knew the situation in Tong City was complicated, it was far worse than he had imagined. He had spent so much time believing he had control over Liaodong, thinking he had won over Qiu Dashan and the others, only to realise they had only pretended to submit.

Although Qiu Dashan led troops to besiege the Marshalʼs residence, he had no intention of killing Marquis Chiang. Yan Wushuang had ordered that persuading Marquis Chiang to defect would be far more useful than killing him.

Chiang Tao conveyed the message to Marquis Chiang: ”My Lord, Qiu Dashan wishes to meet with the Marshal. What do you think...?”

Marquis Chiang replied, ”I would rather die than surrender.” If he surrendered, the entire Chiang family, young and old, would be doomed. No matter how unfilial he might be, he couldnʼt let his mother, who was in her sixties, die because of him.

Upon receiving this response, Qiu Dashan didnʼt immediately attack the Marshalʼs residence. Instead, he went to seek Yan Wushuangʼs instructions. Yan Wushuang instructed, ”I want him alive.” Since he wouldnʼt surrender willingly, they would have to force him.

Qiu Dashan led five thousand troops and took just a shichen to breach the Marshalʼs residence. Marquis Chiang was gravely wounded and attempted to take his own life by cutting his own throat, but his personal guard, Chiang Ping, stopped him. Grabbing his hand, Chiang Ping cried, ”Marshal, you absolutely mustnʼt!”

Looking at Chiang Ping, Marquis Chiang asked coldly, ”Chiang Ping, I have not treated you poorly—why would you betray your master?” Had Chiang Ping not stopped him, he would already have died for his country.

At that moment, Qiu Dashan arrived with his men and overpowered Marquis Chiang and Chiang Ping. Marquis Chiang was now in no position to die if he wanted to.

Chiang Ping lowered his head and said, ”My Lord, he who understands the times is a wise and outstanding person. Why canʼt you join him? Why sacrifice your life and reputation for that dog of an Emperor?”

Hearing these words, Marquis Chiang was so furious that his anger attacked his heart.

Looking at the unconscious Marquis Chiang, Yan Wushuang said to Qiu Dashan, ”Make sure he survives. I still have great use for him.”

Qiu Dashan nodded and replied, ”Yes, Young Master.” He had once been Yan Wushuangʼs childhood playmate. However, after misfortune befell the Yan family, he was separated from Yan Wushuang and taken in by a military household.

In the past, Yuxi had said that Qiu Dashanʼs name symbolised hatred as great as a mountain, but that was just her overthinking it. In truth, it was just a coincidence. Qiu was the surname of the military family who took him in, and he was named Dashan in the hope that he would grow up to be as strong and upright as a mountain.

When Yan Wushuang obtained the Marshalʼs seal, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

Qiu Dashan wondered aloud, ”Young Master, this command seal canʼt even mobilise the troops. What use is it?” Marquis Chiangʼs failure wasnʼt due to his incompetence, but for two reasons. Firstly, he had arrived in Liaodong too recently and hadnʼt established a strong foundation or cultivated loyal commanders. Secondly, and more importantly, the Tong City Massacre was a wound that the soldiers and people of Liaodong could not forget. Many current officers had either survived the tragedy or lost family members in it. How could they continue to serve the Emperor once they learned he was behind it?

Yan Wushuang smiled. ”Donʼt underestimate this marshalʼs seal. When used well, it can rival thousands of troops and ten thousand horses.” With the right strategy, they could use the seal to sway the opinions of civil and military officials alike.

When he saw Yan Wushuangʼs reaction, Qiu Dashan didnʼt ask any more questions.

Yan Wushuang summoned a forgery expert to imitate Marquis Chiangʼs handwriting and drafted a memorial. In it, ʼMarquis Chiangʼ fiercely denounced the Emperor for treason and colluding with the enemy. At the end of the memorial, he declared that he would raise troops in support of the late Crown Princeʼs orphaned heir. After it was written, Yan Wushuang personally stamped it with the marshalʼs seal.

Yan Wushuangʼs trusted aide, Mr Guo Zhong, was somewhat surprised. ”Wangye, will this strategy even work? If the Emperor doesnʼt believe that Marquis Chiang has turned traitor, wonʼt all our efforts have been in vain?”

Yan Wushuang smiled mockingly and replied, ”If he had any self-restraint, he wouldnʼt have colluded with the Donghu back then just to seize the throne. As the saying goes, ʼrivers and mountains are easy to change, but oneʼs nature is hard to alterʼ. Even as Emperor, he canʼt change his impatient nature. Besides, colluding with the Donghu is a lifelong stain he can never wash away. When he sees this memorial, he wonʼt even suspect itʼs part of our scheme to sow discord.”

He chuckled again and added, ”Even if the Emperor doesnʼt believe it, the common people will.” The Imperial Court was already wavering in the wind and rain. Encountering such a matter again, the Imperial Court would certainly lose the peopleʼs hearts.

Guo Zhong greatly admired Yan Wushuang. ”Master, your thinking is always so thorough.”

Yan Wushuang sighed regretfully. ”Itʼs just a pity I canʼt take that dog Emperorʼs life so soon. If Yun Qing were to join forces with me, it would take me no more than three months to do so.” He had once sworn to offer that head to the over one hundred thousand wronged souls of Tong City.

Guo Zhong looked concerned when Yun Qing was mentioned. ”Master, Yun Qing already controls the northwest. If he expands into Henan and Shanxi, he will become a real threat.”

Yan Wushuang shook his head. ”Actually, Iʼd prefer it if Yun Qing were eager to expand. If he rushed to increase his power, his foundation would be unstable and easier to take down later on. Unfortunately, heʼs not rushing to expand at all. Instead, heʼs focused on reorganising the military and civil administration in the northwest. It wonʼt be long before he has the full loyalty of both soldiers and civilians. When that time comes, the northwest will be his domain. Removing him at that point will be extremely difficult.” If not, it could even be impossible.

Yan Wushuang had never thought of Yun Qing as a threat. He had always believed that Yun Qing was rigid, inflexible and unable to adapt. People like that were the easiest to control. However, as the saying goes, ʼMan proposes, but God disposesʼ. He never expected Yun Qing to marry someone like Han Shi, a woman of extraordinary intelligence and ambition who managed to influence him.

Guo Zhong said with some regret, ”Yueying has never failed before. Who would have thought sheʼd fall at Han Shiʼs hands?” Yueying was one of the top three assassins in their organisation.

Rather than saying Yueying had failed, Yan Wushuang felt it would be more accurate to say Han Shi had a strong survival fate. To survive even under those circumstances, she must have relied on something other than luck.

Guo Zhong asked, ”Master, should we send someone again...”

Yan Wushuang raised his hand, cutting Guo Zhong off. ”Donʼt waste manpower—we wonʼt get such a good opportunity again.” If a close-range assassination had already failed, succeeding again would be as hard as reaching the heavens.

Guo Zhong hesitated, then said, ”Master, I have a feeling that if Han Shi isnʼt eliminated, sheʼll cause us endless trouble in the future.”

Yan Wushuang responded, ”Given Han Shiʼs intelligence, she must already know I was behind this attempt. She and I have already become enemies who wonʼt rest until one of us dies.” Han Shi was cunning, and Yun Qing was strategic—becoming enemies with this pair was never what Yan Wushuang wanted. But reality didnʼt bend to his will.

Guo Zhong hadnʼt realised that Yan Wushuang feared the two of them so much. After thinking for a moment, he said, ”Master, we might have a chance to exploit if thereʼs a rift between Yun Qing and Han Shi.”

When Guo Zhong suggested using a honey trap to create discord between the couple, Yan Wushuang said regretfully, ”A beauty trap wonʼt work on Yun Qing.” If it had worked, he would have used it long ago.