HMAM CH 44 Meeting Again
The next day, the army began to march north.
Jing Ye slept deeply all night and felt that he had recovered a lot of energy, so he refused Ye Mao's suggestion to go slowly and rushed all the way.
The army marched eastward from Bixue Pass to the Huaihe River that separated the north from the south, crossed the river, and then went straight north to the pre-decided Yingzhou City, hoping to meet up with the 80,000 imperial troops who had arrived from the capital first to block the rebels' path.
Jing Ye simply forced himself to rush on the road. When the army was resting, he drank medicine while discussing with the generals how to arrange the troops and food supplies. When marching, he huddled in the carriage and let Lin Xiaosheng hold him in sleep. After all, the horse pulled carriage was bumpy, and having a pillow made it at least a bit better.
Although the generals had thoughts against the emperor always being surrounded with handsome young men, they saw that he was clear headed in decision making and impartial in rewards and punishments. He was completely different from the little emperor in the rumors, so they no longer thought about saying sycophantic words of flattery, and followed military rules and regulations when doing things, gradually becoming cautious and respectful.
Seven days later, the army approached Yingzhou City and entered the city gate.
The people all went out and lined the streets to welcome the emperor.
At the gate of the government office, the Zhizhou of Yingzhou City and his subordinates knelt down. (TN: senior provincial government official in dynastic China)
The Zhizhou surnamed Xing was an honest and upright official. Thinking of what was said in the rumors, he could not help but lower his head and say with trepidation: "This subject's home is simple and crude. I'm afraid I've offended Your Majesty. This subject hopes... hopes Your Majesty will forgive me."
Jing Ye said: “No matter, rise." After saying that, they entered the building and everyone hurriedly cleared the path. Xing Zhizhou led the way, leading Jing Ye and his party into the prepared residence within the governmental building.
After cleaning his face and changing clothes, Jing Ye had no intention of resisting his exhaustion. He took a few sips of tea and rested.
After the army entered the city, they set up camp and prepared for battle.
Feng Ling and several civil officials who accompanied the army stayed in a post house in the city. When they heard the noise and shouting outside, they couldn't help but look outside and said to each other: "Now that His Majesty is here in person, a big stone has finally fallen to the ground in my heart."
One of them had already opened the door and went out to look. Feng Ling raised his head and saw the cheering and joyful people outside the door. His expression shifted then he lowered his head again.
Scholars liked peace and quiet, so after discussing for a while, they went back to write documents. When Feng Ling wrote up to a certain part, he found that he didn't remember it very well, so he called the servant boy to bring over the scroll.
But after calling three or four times, there was still no response. A colleague laughed and said, “Is it a map you want? I have one here. Those little monkeys, forgetting everything while watching the excitement."
Feng Ling thanked him. After a while, the noise gradually faded away. People on the streets began returning to their houses or continuing going their ways.
But the servant boy still didn't come back. After waiting for about a stick of incense, the back door opened and a handsome and clever looking young man came in. He was the young soldier who had talked to Feng Ling a few days ago.
He was originally a soldier responsible for cooking in the military camp, named Ba Yuan. He wasn't very good at martial arts and fighting, but he had gone to school and could read and write, so he worked under Feng Ling.
Feng Ling had already finished writing. He rolled up the document and put it in the box then got up and walked to the back of the house. While walking he asked him what the situation was like on the streets. Ba Yuan followed him hurriedly and answered honestly.
"I was squeezing around in the crowd and couldn't see anything. Then someone pushed me and I almost fell at the feet of the guards at the front. When I looked up, I saw the carriage wheel, which is actually inlaid with jade. I’ve never seen such a thing like that before in all my years alive.”
Feng Ling was amused by what he said, and then thought of Jing Ye.
How was his health? It was common to see him drinking medicine when he was in the palace. After traveling such a long distance, he was afraid of the other becoming ill from exhaustion, and even if he didn't, he was afraid of the other losing weight…
He left to join the army to escape, but unfortunately all he thought about day and night was Jing Ye. At this moment, his love was only a few miles away from him, and he wanted to see him in person more and more to relieve his worries.
When they arrived at the dormitory, Ba Yuan came over with his official uniform in his arms. Feng Ling asked blankly, "What are you doing?"
Ba Yuan said: "My lord, have you forgotten? All the officials of the fourth rank and above in the city must go to His Majesty's residence in the evening."
These words were like a pillow handed to a drowsy person. Feng Ling stood up suddenly, walked a few steps back and forth beside the bed, and then sat down, clutching the cuffs of his sleeves.
Just take a look, just take a look.
So like that he didn't know how he passed the time away until nightfall. Feng Ling and two colleagues who were also officials from the capital got on the carriage and went to the governmental office. After passing through many guards, they arrived at the meeting hall.
After entering the hall, the candlelight was bright, and all the generals and civil officials saluted and said, “Paying respects to Your Majesty."
The clear and soft voice of the young emperor came from the high seat: "All the ministers may rise and have a seat."
Feng Ling stood up with everyone, raised his head, and finally saw Jing Ye. Sure enough, he was much thinner. Although he appeared majestic and solemn, he could not hide his tiredness.
Jing Ye glanced across the crowd of ministers and met his eyes with surprise. But as soon as he moved his fingers, they were held by Lin Xiaosheng who was sitting on the side.
Feng Ling lowered his head and took a seat with everyone.
After the meeting, he followed his colleagues out of the building. He couldn't help but look back and saw only two soft gauze lanterns hanging at the front door, giving off dim light and looking extremely lonely.
The colleague said: "What's wrong? You have been distracted all night, but luckily you were not rude in front of His Majesty."
Feng Ling shook his head, and the two of them were about to take a step forward when they heard someone shouting from behind: “My lord, please wait!"
Both of them turned around, and it was a servant boy with a palace plaque hanging on his waist. He bowed with a smile: “Lord Feng, His Majesty asks you to come back to the hall to discuss some things more."
Feng Ling's heart skipped a beat. He said goodbye to his colleagues, and followed the young man back into the building to the meeting hall.
All the attendants in the hall were sent away, leaving only Jing Ye with his back quietly facing the door.
Feng Ling walked to the threshold, paused, raised his robe and knelt, “This subject, Feng Ling, pays respects to Your Majesty."
Jing Ye turned around and said, "What are you kneeling for? Get up."
Feng Ling stood up and heard the other continue: “Does qing want to talk to zhen while standing outside the door, come inside."
Feng Ling entered the door and at this closer distance, he saw that Jing Ye's face looked even more pale and he couldn't help but want to say something.
Jing Ye took a step forward and saw that although he looked a bit travel worn, his eyes were still bright and there was no difficulty in moving. He felt relieved and said with a slight smile: "Why are you here? Before the expedition, zhen heard Ye Mao say that you and the Yang family's daughter are engaged to be married... A defenseless scholar like you should not leave your fiancée and come here."
Feng Ling wanted to explain that he had no marriage contract with the young lady Yang, but as soon as he explained, would it not make his intentions clear for all to see. Thinking of his previous decision, he fell silent.
Jing Ye just wanted to check on his safety. Seeing that everything was fine with him, there was nothing more to say. He waved his hand and said, "Nothing's wrong. Qing may go back."
Feng Ling slowly retreated to the door. Ye Mao was guarding outside. Seeing this, he came up, bent towards Feng Ling, and went in to serve.
The attendant stepped forward and closed the door of the hall, cutting off the lights in the hall. A gust of night wind blew by, the leaves rustled, and the footsteps gradually receding could be heard.
The courtyard was not big, but if it was used for martial arts competition, it would not be too restrictive either.
The young man was still dressed in red brocade clothes, with a green malachite band tied around his forehead, and his eyebrows were as bright as the sun lit clouds.
He held a big cutlass in his hand and shook it casually. The copper ring on the big cutlass knocked against the blade, making a crisp sound.
A few feet away from where he was, the guard in black stood panting for a while, then charged forward with his sword and stabbed straight towards his chest. Although the move was simple, it had been modified after thousands of times of practice. It could be said to be fast and ruthless, which ordinary martial arts practitioners could not reach.
But the young man was not at all afraid. He blocked the attack with his cutlass and then turned his wrist to force the attacker back. His move seemed like a block, but who knows how much force he had accumulated in it that it forced the black-clothed guard to the ground, his wrist trembling and no longer able to hold the sword hilt steady.
The guards standing next to them were startled. When Lu Baizang had nothing to do in the palace, he would compete with them using his fingers as blades. The Lu family's martial arts emphasized the combination of hardness and softness, shifting heavy weight to lightness, freely retracting and releasing, breaking moves but not hurting the opponent.
But this young man in front of them struck hard and ruthless, his aura violent and overwhelming.
The young man sneered: "Is this what your people are capable of?"
The black-clothed guard gritted his teeth and was about to get up when he heard the courtyard door being pushed open and hurriedly knelt on one knee with the other guards.
Jing Ye glanced around the courtyard. Oh very good. Three of the four carp tanks were broken, and a few fish were still twitching on the bluestone floor. The maids were so frightened that they hid behind the door. Seeing His Majesty arrive, they all came out and knelt down tearfully. Not to mention the black-clothed guards kneeling on both sides whose faces looked like rouge had been tuned on them, with patches of red and blue here and there, and some even had nosebleeds.
Jing Ye said: “City Lord Le, zhen asked them to entertain you, but not in this way."
Le Zhenghuan slapped the cutlass: "What did you call me?"
Ye Mao was trembling with fear and hid behind Jing Ye. Hearing this, he stretched out his head and said, "How audacious! You-you-you..."
He was originally going to shout, “You dare to be rude to His Majesty", but when he saw the bright big blade in Le Zhenghuan's hand pointing at him, he shrank his head back with a screamed “Aiya!"
Jing Ye didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so he could only say: "You have destroyed this place, where can zhen live now?"
Le Zhenghuan was originally angry that he called him in such an unfamiliar manner, but when he heard him talking to him gently, in a low and melodious voice, he put the cutlass behind him, and the anger surrounding his person instantly subsided. He said: "It's not like I hit them…"
The black-clothed guards: "..."
The maids: "..."