Why Does Mr. Xie Favor Me? Chapter 27
byChapter 27 Night Watch at Dawn
The young couple quarreled over “tonics”!
Xie Heng put down his pen, the light cast a deep shadow between his eyebrows, and his fingertips brushed over the post just sent by the Wang family.
The Wang family has made it clear that they want to establish their authority.Less than two months after Wang Yu’s fall, the Wang family had to hold a birthday banquet with great fanfare, inviting all the prominent people in the country.As for Xie Heng, as the current leader of Qingliu in the DPRK, whether he wants to go or not is all a matter of expressing his position.
The rain gurgled outside the window, and the leaves of the old plum tree in the garden were washed and shined.He recalled that many years ago, his father pointed to the high gate of the Wang family and said: “A noble family is like a century-old tree with tangled roots. If you want to cut it down, you must be aware of being tripped by the roots and scratched by the branches and leaves.”
Now he is cutting down the tree.Xiao Jue is the sharpest ax in his hand, but it is also the one that is easiest to curl.
“Prepare gifts.” Xie Heng pushed the greeting card aside, “Choose something expensive but not eye-catching.”
Uncle Cheng agreed, but did not leave immediately: “General Xiao also received the message.”
Xie Heng’s hand holding the pen stopped in mid-air, and the sound of rain suddenly became loud and hit the tiles, like countless tiny hoofbeats.
“How did he respond?”
“I declined. He said it was an old injury that recurred and he needed to rest.” Uncle Cheng paused, “But Mr. Wang went to the General’s Mansion in person yesterday and took two cups of tea before leaving.”
Two cups of tea are enough to say a lot of words, make a lot of promises, and dig a lot of holes.
“I know, go ahead.”
The study door closed gently, Xie Heng stood up and walked to the window, watching the rain winding down the window lattice, but thinking about him in his heart: What is he doing now?Are you also standing in front of the window watching the rain?Does the shoulder injury really hurt again?
The rainwater formed a trickle on the brick floor. He stretched out his hand to catch a drop of rain, which was bitingly cold.
He turned around and took out a small white jade bottle from the secret compartment, poured out a pill, mixed it with water and swallowed it.
It was a disease he developed after his father passed away, and he would use it when his heart hurts badly.The medicinal properties are overbearing. After taking it, I felt cold all over my body, but my internal organs felt like they were being roasted by a slow fire.But this kind of pain is just to overcome another kind of pain.
The effect of the medicine gradually came on, and he slowly sat down holding on to the edge of the case.He closed his eyes, and the darkness in front of his eyes and the buzzing in his ears slowly receded like a tide, replaced by the noisy silk bamboos and laughing voices that could still clearly seep into the study across several courtyards.
That voice reminded him that today was Mrs. Wang’s birthday party.
The main entrance of the palace is wide open, with carriages of guests arriving in an endless stream, a canopy of red wheels, and a fragrant breeze.The voice of the porter’s roll call got louder and louder, and behind every name was a distinguished family name.
Xiao Jue came on horseback, an ordinary black horse, wearing a half-worn indigo military attaché uniform, with only a standard sword hanging around his waist.When he dismounted, the palace steward who was greeting guests at the door was stunned for a moment, and then he smiled and stepped forward: “General Xiao is here to greet you, but you are welcome from afar.”
His tone was respectful, but his eyes quickly glanced at his simple clothes.
Xiao Jue seemed as if he hadn’t seen him before, and handed over the gift list, “Let’s express our feelings.”
The gift list only contained some common medicinal materials and cloth, mixed with a bunch of rare and rare treasures, making it look shabby and shabby.
Stepping into the main hall, the hustle and bustle rushed towards you.
The hall was full of people, dressed in rich clothes and jewels.The incense is mixed with the smell of wine, and the silk and bamboo are mixed with laughter.Xiao Jue entered slowly, and the originally lively scene was stagnant for a moment because of his arrival.
Countless eyes fell on him, as if looking at an unexpected decoration.
“Hey, isn’t this our Peking General!” A drunken voice sounded. He was the youngest son of Duke Zhen and a well-known dandy. “I heard that the general cuts people like melons in the north. Why didn’t you bring a knife today?”
Laughter broke out everywhere, and several children from aristocratic families exchanged joking looks.
Xiao Jue stood there and slowly tightened his palms. Blood and flesh were flying everywhere on the battlefield, but these people were drinking and having fun with the lives of his comrades in the warm hall.
“That’s enough.”
The voice was not high and could even be considered gentle, but the laughter in the whole hall ended abruptly as if it had been cut off by a knife.
Xie Heng turned out from behind the screen. He was wearing a light blue brocade robe today, with wide sleeves hanging down, and a jade crown tied up his hair, revealing a clear jawline.He sat down next to Wang Yuzong and did not look at Xiao Jue from beginning to end.
Wang Yuzong smiled and raised his glass, “Thank you, Pushe, for your willingness to honor me and make your humble house shine brightly.”
“You’re welcome, Mr. Wang.” Xie Heng held the cup and tapped his fingertips on the rim of the wine cup, making a crisp sound.He finally raised his eyes and looked over, his gaze even more chilling than the previous few days.
“It’s just that I didn’t expect,” he paused, and the corners of his lips curved in a very shallow arc, “the threshold for Mrs. Wang’s birthday banquet is now so low.”
After the words fell, the hall was filled with dead silence.
Xiao Jue’s blood rushed to his head and his ears were buzzing.He stared at Xie Heng, his breathing became a little rapid, and he couldn’t believe his ears.
Wang Yuzong stood up to smooth things over, “Xie Pushe was joking. General Xiao is your Majesty’s personally appointed General of Peking.”
“General Peiping.” Xie Heng repeated these four words, his tone as light as if he was weighing something, “Yes, a fourth-grade military rank is indeed not low in a poor family.”
He suddenly turned to Xiao Jue, the tail of his eyes raised slightly, and there was a cold smile in his eyes, “Then General Xiao, do you know what etiquette is?”
Xiao Jue’s Adam’s apple rolled and she stared at his face tightly, unable to make a sound.
“Etiquette is about etiquette.” Xie Heng asked and answered his own questions, his voice clear and clear, “It is proper etiquette when it is appropriate and appropriate. On the old lady’s seventieth birthday, the guests in the hall are all wearing brocade clothes and preparing generous gifts. Why? It is to respect the elders and it is an important occasion.”
He put down the wine glass, touched the bottom of the cup to the table, and said softly, “General Xiao is wearing old clothes, with windy sleeves. Does he look down on the Wang family, or does he think that the dust he brought back from the north is more valuable than the beauty in the house?”
He looked down and saw that his body had been washed to gray, his elbows had rough repair marks after being frayed, and his cuffs were still stained with blood that couldn’t be washed away.
It is indeed very inappropriate, but this is considered a relatively decent outfit for him.
Suppressed laughter echoed in the hall, and those glances became more explicit, as if they were looking at a monkey who didn’t understand the rules.
Xiao Jue stood there, suddenly feeling a chill from the bottom of his heart, a sickening coldness.
“Thank you, Pu She, for making a strong statement.” He said solemnly, “The general is from the army and does not understand these rules. If there is any offense, I will resign.”
“Don’t understand?” Xie Heng smiled, the smile was very shallow, floating on his lips but not reaching his eyes, “General Xiao, not understanding is not an excuse. When you enter the court, you have to abide by the rules of the court. Just like when you go to the battlefield, you have to abide by the rules of the battlefield. If you don’t even understand this truth, you, the general of Peking, won’t be able to win the seal and ribbon?”
The last sentence was light and airy, but it was like a heavy hammer, hitting Xiao Jue’s heart hard.
He raised his head suddenly and bumped into Xie Heng’s eyes, which were still calm.
“Here comes someone.” Xie Heng stopped looking at him and turned to the serving maid, “Show General Xiao his seat. Since he’s here, you can’t let the general stand.”
The maid led Xiao Jue to the last seat. When passing those splendid clothes, someone deliberately moved the hem of their clothes, as if they were afraid of getting dirty.When Xiao Jue sat down, the dishes in front of him were already cold, and the oil had condensed into a layer of white flowers, floating on the surface of the soup like rotten grease.
After drinking for three rounds, Xie Heng suddenly stood up and left the table.
Xiao Jue had been paying attention to him with his peripheral vision, and saw that his steps were sloppy, his face was extremely pale, and his right hand was unconsciously pressing on his heart.
He stood up suddenly and followed Xie Heng through the winding corridor in the backyard of the palace. Xie Heng was holding on to the pillars, with thin beads of cold sweat on his forehead.The power of Hanshi Powder was like an ice blade, stirring in his internal organs. Hot and cold were attacking each other, and his eyesight turned black.
Footsteps came from behind, very soft, but he recognized them.
“Thank you Pushe.”
The voice was hoarse, with suppressed anger, but more of an imperceptible worry.
Xie Heng did not look back. He closed his eyes to suppress the bloody air surging in his throat, and said in a cold voice: “General Xiao, please leave.”
Xiao Jue walked up to him and handed a glass of warm water to him: “You are taking medicine again.”
Xie Heng stared at the glass of water. The water surface swayed slightly, reflecting his distorted reflection.He suddenly wanted to take it and take a sip from this man’s hand, but what he said was: “This is my own business, and I don’t have to worry about General Xiao.”
Xiao Jue’s hand froze in mid-air, and he suddenly laughed, his laughter full of bitterness: “Yes, it has nothing to do with me. Naturally, Xie Pushe’s matter has nothing to do with me, a vulgar martial artist.”
He placed the water glass heavily on the corridor, and the porcelain collided with a harsh sound: “But I just don’t understand. What did I do wrong? Can you tell me?”
Xie Heng clenched his hands tightly, his nails digging into his palms. He raised his head and looked at Xiao Jue’s red eyes and said, “Is this important?”
Xiao Jue’s eyes turned slightly red when he saw his heartless look, and his voice was choked, “You can’t do this to me.”
Xie Heng was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then he suddenly bent over and coughed.He coughed so hard that his eyes turned black, and he finally vomited a mouthful of blood.
His body swayed, and he reached out to hold onto the pillar, but his fingertips only barely brushed against the cold wood grain, and he fell softly backwards.
“Thank you Pushe!”
Xiao Jue almost rushed over. When he caught the fallen body, his mind went blank. He only felt that the person in his arms was terribly light, like a lamp that was about to burn out.
The light blue uniform was soaked with cold sweat and clung to his thin back, and the jagged joints pinched his arms.
“Come here! Come here quickly!” Xiao Jue roared in the direction of the banquet hall, his voice broken.
But the corridor was silent and no one responded. The noise of the banquet in the distance came through the courtyards, making it blurry like another world.
Xiao Jue lowered his head to look at the person in his arms with his eyes closed, and the strange bright red on his lips was dyed even brighter by the blood stains.His breathing was very shallow, so shallow that it was almost imperceptible. Only the weak and almost stagnant ups and downs of his heart proved that this man was still alive.
Xiao Jue’s hands began to tremble, not from fear, but from a deeper fear.Just like many years ago on the battlefield, he held a dying soldier and watched life drain away from that young body, and he could do nothing but watch.
He no longer hesitated and suddenly picked up Xie Heng.
“It’s okay, it’s okay…” He heard his voice shaking, “You’ll be fine.”
He rushed out of the corridor with the person in his arms. When the servants of the palace saw his appearance, they were so frightened that they all moved away.Someone wanted to come forward and ask, but he glared back.
“Prepare the car! Now!!” he roared.
The groom hurriedly brought the carriage, Xiao Jue got in with Xie Heng in his arms, and carefully placed him on the cushioned seat.Xie Heng’s head rested weakly on his shoulder, his cold forehead pressed against his neck, and every weak breath was like a knife scraping across his skin.
“Go back to Xie’s Mansion! Hurry!”
The carriage was speeding along and the carriage was bumpy. Xiao Jue hugged the person in his arms tightly and put a hand on his heart, feeling the weak heartbeat.The other hand was unconsciously combing through his sweaty hair.
“You always do this” he whispered.
The low voice seemed to come from far away from the bottom of the water, becoming the last ripple that Xie Heng caught as he sank into the boundless darkness.
Then all perception faded.
When he regained consciousness, the first thing he felt was the soft brocade mattress beneath him, rather than the hard bumps of the carriage.
There was light flickering through his eyelids, and it was already bright when Xie Heng woke up.
He opened his eyes and stared at the complicated lotus pattern on the ceiling, his mind was blank and he couldn’t remember anything.
He was stunned for a while, and his memory slowly came back.
Those venomous words at the banquet, Xiao Jue’s red eyes in the corridor, and the last mouthful of sweet blood.
He raised his hand and looked at his pale wrist. The wrist bones were protruding and the skin was so thin that the blue blood vessels underneath could be seen.The fingertips seemed to still have the feeling of being held tightly last night.
“Master Lang is awake?”
Uncle Cheng’s voice came from the door, as soft as if he was afraid of disturbing something.He came in with a bowl of soup. The medicine bowl was steaming, and the bitter taste filled the air.
Xie Heng sat up and the brocade quilt slipped from his shoulders, revealing his thin middle coat.He took the medicine bowl, his fingertips touched the warm porcelain wall, and paused: “Who sent me back last night?”
Uncle Cheng lowered his eyes and said softly: “It’s General Xiao. When he rushed into the house with you in his arms, the old slave was startled. You were covered in blood, and General Xiao’s eyes were red as if he wanted to kill someone.” Uncle Cheng paused and lowered his voice, “He stayed in front of your bed all night and left only at dawn.”
The concoction swayed in the bowl, causing ripples.Xie Heng stared at the ripples for a long time, then raised his head and drank the medicine in one gulp.The bitter taste spread from the tip of the tongue to the stomach, suppressing the bloody smell in the throat.
“Where are the others?”
“Let’s go.” Uncle Cheng took the empty bowl, “When I left, I told you not to take medicine randomly anymore…”
“I know, go down.”
Uncle Cheng did not move. He stood there with his hands clasped in front of him, “Master Lang, there is one more thing…”
“There is something going on over at Wang Yu’s side.” Uncle Cheng’s voice was lowered, as if he was afraid of being heard. “Although he is still shutting up and thinking about his past, people in his house have been coming in and out frequently in the past few days. Yesterday afternoon, Li Chong, the Minister of the Fifth Army, went to the palace and stayed for two full hours before coming out.”
Xie Heng’s fingertips moved slightly.
Li Chong is in charge of the selection of military attachés. Going to the palace at this time is not just as simple as visiting a doctor.
“Also,” Uncle Cheng took out a secret letter from his sleeve, “I received this this morning from the north.”
The letter paper is very thin and the ink is a bit sloppy. You can tell that the writer is in a hurry.Xie Heng unfolded it, glanced at the few words on it, and his face darkened little by little.
The letter was written by Zuo Yunci, the scout captain promoted by Xiao Jue in the north.The letter said that an unidentified cavalry group of about a hundred people appeared near the northern camp three days ago. They were well-equipped and moved in secret.
They avoided all official roads and checkpoints and seemed to be surveying the terrain.What’s even more strange is that where this cavalry passed, the Northern Dynasty cavalry appeared the next day, and their routes were highly overlapping.
“Someone is delivering news to the Northern Dynasty.” Xie Heng whispered, “And it’s someone who knows the defense of the Northern Territory well.”
Uncle Cheng nodded, “Zuo Yunci said at the end of the letter that after General Xiao left the northern border, there were three records of the camp’s defense map. One was Wen Boyan, one was a routine inspection by the Fifth Army Cao, and another…” He paused, “it was Cai Qi, Wang Yu’s old department and the current grain supervisor of the northern border.”
The person he Wang Yu single-handedly promoted, when Xiao Jue was reorganizing the northern camp, he was dismissed from his post and investigated for embezzling military rations. Later, for some unknown reason, he was transferred to the position of grain inspector. Although his rank was lower, he was still in charge of the northern rations dispatch.
A person who had been punished by Xiao Jue, a person who had the ability to access defense maps, and a person who frequently accessed defense maps after Xiao Jue left the northern border.
“Wang Yu is trying to drain the flames.” Xie Heng put the letter close to the candlelight and watched the flames lick the page and quickly turn it into ashes. “He knew he couldn’t touch me, so he went to touch Xiao Jue. If something happens in the north, the first person to be held accountable will be the coach. At the end of the day, he may be dismissed, or his life may be at risk.”
“Where is Your Majesty?” Xie Heng asked.
“Your Majesty summoned Wang Yuzong yesterday.” Uncle Cheng’s voice became even lower, “We talked for half an hour. When Wang Yuzong left the palace, his face was not very good-looking, but it was not too ugly either.”
Xie Heng sneered, the emperor was trying to play a balancing act.We must use Xiao Jue’s sword to attack the north, and we must use the Wang family’s rope to tie the hilt of the sword.The knife is too sharp and I am afraid of hurting my hand.
The rope is too tight and I’m afraid the knife will be dull.Therefore, we need to let the Wang family move and put some pressure on Xiao Jue, but we can’t let them move too hard and break the knife.
“There is one more thing.” Uncle Cheng hesitated, “This morning at the court meeting, several censors jointly submitted a petition to impeach General Xiao for specializing in military affairs and nepotism in the north. It is said that the people he promoted, such as Wen Boyan, Zuo Yunci, etc., either came from poor families or lacked qualifications, so they may not be qualified for the job.”
This is to break Xiao Jue’s foundation.A military general leading an army relies on having a group of loyal and capable generals under his command.If you can’t even promote anyone on your own, how can you be a general?
“How does Your Majesty approve it?”
“Stay in the middle and don’t send it out.” Uncle Cheng said, “But I didn’t reprimand those censors.”
Acquiescing to the existence of these impeachments and tacitly allowing the criticism of Xiao Jue from the DPRK and China to continue to ferment.When the time comes, these crimes will cut off all Xiao Jue’s escape routes.
Xie Heng slowly leaned back on the pillow and closed his eyes.The morning light shone warmly on his face, but he felt cold, the cold seeping from the cracks in his bones.
Wang Yu did not target Xiao Jue directly, but slowly nibbled away from the outside.First shake his foundation in the north, then create public opinion in the court, and finally use the emperor’s hand to legitimately pull him from this position.
And the emperor is happy to see the success.
A side general with great achievements and a humble general without aristocratic background can easily lose control.Using the Wang family as a check and balance is the most labor-saving and safest option.
As for what Xiao Jue would think, it doesn’t matter.In the eyes of the emperor, there is only the difference between what is useful and what is not.
“Master Sir,” Uncle Cheng asked in a low voice, “since you are so concerned about General Xiao, why don’t you just help him? Now this has made him resent you deeply.”
Xie Heng’s eyes were blank and he stared straight ahead. After a long time, he spoke in a very soft voice: “Now the emperor is using the Wang family to check and balance. If I openly stand up to help Xiao Jue, it will force the emperor and the Wang family to join forces and kill me and him first.”
Uncle Cheng was startled.
A faint smile appeared on Xie Heng’s lips, “It’s better to let him blame me. The farther away from me, the safer it will be.”
Because only in this way will the Wang family feel that they have really broken up and relax their vigilance.Only then would the emperor feel that the sword could still be held in his hand, and would not be in a hurry to replace it.
As for whether Xiao Jue will be injured in this game…
Xie Heng closed his eyes and didn’t dare to think about it, pushing all the emotions back to the deepest part of his heart.
“Go and prepare.” He said, “Tomorrow I will go to the palace to meet the Holy Spirit.”
“Master Lang wants to…”
“Your Majesty wants a balance, then I will give him a balance. If the Wang family wants to touch Xiao Jue, I will touch the Wang family. Let’s see who can’t hold on first.”
“Old slave, I understand.” Uncle Cheng bowed, “Let’s get ready now.”
[The author has something to say]
[Red Heart] 2025 is coming to an end~
“We’re kids who love second chances, comebacks, and every new year is another opportunity.”
——Janet Winterson, “Twelve Christmas Stories”
I hope everyone will achieve immediate success in the new year and never lose the courage to start over [Star Eyes]
I wish all the little babies can become better versions of themselves in the new year, be confident and beautiful [shy] enthusiastic and generous [spread flowers] You are the best, and you deserve the best![Milk Tea]
Dear readers, I wish you all a Happy New Year in advance [touch your head]
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I’m going out for the New Year’s Eve soon haha [Rainbow Fart] I wrote this on the subway.I ride the subway every day, but today I sat backwards [changed]