Why Does Mr. Xie Favor Me? Chapter 28
byChapter 28 Hard bow without words
Protect His Majesty?No, I want to protect my Xie Pushe
The idea is set, speed is the key.Xie Heng went straight into the palace without stopping.
Xie Heng’s official boots stepped on the wet bluestone, leaving a series of light water marks.When the chamberlain led him into the palace, the emperor was having breakfast.A bowl of bijing rice porridge and a few plates of light side dishes, eating slowly.
The faint fragrance floated in the hall, making the emperor’s eyes a little hazy.Seeing that Xie Heng’s clothes were still wet with palace moisture and the sweat on his forehead was still wet, the emperor only raised his eyes, paused on the tip of the bamboo shoot with silver chopsticks, and said in a calm voice, “Xie Qing came early.”
“I dare not be late for the important event of spring hunting.” Xie Heng bowed and saluted, the corners of his purple court uniform brushing against the smooth gold brick floor.
The emperor put down his silver chopsticks and wiped the corners of his mouth, “What do you think about Chun Shou?”
This question was asked casually, but Xie Heng heard the underlying meaning.He lowered his eyes and looked at the ground, speaking at a steady pace, “The hunting at Lumingyuan was originally a grand event to demonstrate His Majesty’s civil and martial arts. But this year, the envoys of the Yan Dynasty were also among the spectators. If we just follow the old rules, I’m afraid…”
“Afraid of what?”
“I’m afraid it seems that our court values civility over military affairs.” Xie Heng raised his eyes with a calm gaze, “The Yan Dynasty was very martial, and if you see that the hunting is just about watching flowers, shooting deer and hunting rabbits, you will inevitably despise it. I think that this time, we should pay more attention to the appearance of cavalry and shooting, so that the Northern Envoy can see with his own eyes the heroic appearance of our soldiers.”
The emperor picked up the tea cup, blew on the foam, and said, “Be more specific.”
“Xiao Jue and other generals can be ordered to command the garrison.” Xie Heng said word by word, clearly as if he was announcing the calculation results, “Peripheral security, vehicle-driven retinue, and emergency response. These tasks may seem ordinary, but they are the most test of the general’s dispatching ability and adaptability. Let Xiao Jue do it, one can show the power of our military.”
He paused and lowered his voice: “Secondly, let those in the court who doubt that he only knows how to fight and do not know how to govern, see that a general from a humble family may not be unable to take on big responsibilities.”
There was silence in the hall for a moment.
The emperor stared at Xie Heng with deep eyes: “Is Xie Qing speaking for Xiao Jue?”
“I am speaking for Your Majesty.” Xie Heng said without hesitation, “The Northern Dynasty is eyeing him. Your Majesty needs generals who can fight and commanders who can obey the masses. Your Majesty has noticed Xiao Jue’s performance in the north. Now giving him a chance to prove himself will be a good thing for the country, the army and Your Majesty.”
He spoke impeccably, and every word was from the emperor’s point of view.But the emperor heard the careful protection hidden under the high-sounding crown.
After a while, the emperor slowly nodded: “That’s right. Just do as Xie Qing said. But…” He changed the topic, “The safety of the hunt is of great importance. If there is anything wrong with Xiao Jue, you are the only one I will ask.”
“I understand.”
When we exited Tai Chi Hall, the sun was already rising.Xie Heng stood on the white marble steps, looking at the carriage waiting outside the palace gate in the distance. The hands in his sleeves were slightly curled up, and his nails dug into his palms.
In the carriage returning home, Uncle Cheng reported in a low voice the news that had come from everywhere in the past few days.
Xie Heng closed his eyes and listened, with no expression on his face except for the fingers on his knees, tapping lightly occasionally.
“Over the northern border,” Uncle Cheng said, “Zuo Yunci sent a message the day before yesterday, saying that Cai Qi has been active recently, often leading troops out in the name of patrolling the border, and taking strange routes. He suspects…”
“It’s not suspicion, it’s certainty.” Xie Heng opened his eyes, “Tell Zuo Yunci to continue the investigation, but don’t alert the enemy. In addition, let him leak some information, saying that Xiao Jue was impeached in the court and his position is unstable, and the general in the north may need to be changed.”
Uncle Cheng was startled: “Master Lang, this is…”
“Lead the snake out of the hole.” Xie Heng said calmly, “If there is someone behind Cai Qi, he will definitely take action when he hears this. Only if he moves can we see clearly who is reaching out.”
“Yes.” Uncle Cheng wrote down, “One more thing. Although Wang Yu closed his door to think about his past, there are faces coming in and out of his house. The old slave sent people to keep a close eye on them and found that several of them came from the north. Their accents were wrong, and the calluses on their hands did not look like ordinary merchants.”
Xie Heng’s fingertips stopped.
“People from the north…” He repeated these words, “Tell us the spies in the palace. Find an opportunity to casually mention to Eunuch Chen who is next to His Majesty that the Wang family has been in close contact with some generals in the north recently, and may be suspected of being friends with border generals.”
Uncle Cheng took a breath: “What if these words reach His Majesty’s ears?”
“It just wants to reach His Majesty’s ears.” Xie Heng looked out the window of the car. The street was noisy and crowded, and it was a peaceful scene. “What is Your Majesty most afraid of? The ministers form cliques, the generals are powerful, and there is collusion between internal and external parties. If the Wang family is involved in any of these three things…”
He didn’t finish his words, but Uncle Cheng understood.
This is to plant the seeds of suspicion deep in the emperor’s heart.When it takes root and grows into a towering tree, it will be difficult for the Wang family to turn over.
The carriage stopped in front of Xie’s mansion.When Xie Heng got out of the car, he paused, turned around and said to Uncle Cheng: “Go to the warehouse to pick out a good bow, a harder one. Send it to General Xiao’s house anonymously, no need to leave a message.”
Uncle Cheng was stunned: “Master Lang, what if General Xiao asks about it?”
“He won’t ask.”
Xiao Jue didn’t ask.
The nameless bow sat on his desk for three days, like an unclaimed riddle.In the early morning of the fourth day, the answer to the mystery was revealed along with another document.
Wen Boyan personally delivered the official document of the appointment of the Five Soldiers Cao. The ink was fresh and the large red seal was so bright that it was dazzling.Xiao Jue unfolded it, his eyes lingered on the four words “Guard Commander” for a moment, and then he raised his eyes and looked out the window, just in time to see the old servant in the mansion carefully wiping the hard bow hanging in front of the hall.
He was silent for a long time.
“General?” Wen Boyan asked tentatively, “Will you accept this errand?”
“Holy order, can you say you won’t accept it?” Xiao Jue put the official document on the case and traced the word “Xiao Jue” with his fingertips.The characters are neat and neat, without a hint of warmth.
Just like the look in that person’s eyes now.
He remembered that at the court meeting the day before yesterday, Xie Heng stood at the front of the queue of civil servants, his purple court uniform making his figure slim.Some officials mentioned military affairs in the northern border and hinted at Xiao Jue’s expertise. Xie Heng did not refute, but simply said, “Your Majesty has his own judgment.”
Not even looking at him.
“General,” Wen Boyan’s voice brought Xiao Jue back to reality, “Hunters are blind…”
“I know.” Xiao Jue interrupted him, got up and walked to the window.The pear tree in the courtyard has lost all its remaining flowers, and its new leaves are green and swaying gently in the wind.“It’s precisely because there are so many people that we have to go.”
He turned around and looked at Wen Boyan: “Go and get ready. In addition, starting from tomorrow, we will practice riding and shooting.”
“But your injuries are not fully healed yet.”
“It’s out of the way.”
Xiao Jue’s tone was very light, but with unquestionable determination. Wen Boyan opened his mouth, but finally stopped trying to persuade him.
In the next few days, Xiao Jue almost lived on campus.
The bow is a new hard bow, and it takes eighty kilograms of strength to draw it fully.When he was trying out the bow, he suddenly felt severe pain from the old injury on his left shoulder, as if there was fire burning in the seams of his bones.Cold sweat instantly wet his temples. He gritted his teeth and pulled the string again. The moment the arrow left the string, he felt a tearing pain in his shoulder.He staggered, his eyes darkened, and Wen Boyan held him back.
The arrow hit the bullseye, and its tail feathers trembled.
“General!” Wen Boyan’s voice was filled with anger, “Why are you doing this…”
Xiao Jue stabilized his figure and pushed his hand away.He stared at the archery target a hundred steps away, staring at the arrow stuck deeply in the bullseye, and suddenly smiled.
“Bo Yan,” he said, “if there is really danger, who should I protect?”
“Is it your Majesty? Is it the court? Or…” Xiao Jue didn’t finish his sentence, turned around and walked towards the target, stretched out his hand and pulled out the arrow.
The arrowheads were stained with sawdust and glowed warmly in the sunlight.He tightened his grip on the arrow shaft, his knuckles turning blue-white.
“I want to see clearly.” He whispered, as if swearing to himself, “This time, I must see clearly.”
At the same time, Li Chong quietly entered Wang Yu’s study. His study was hidden in the deepest part of the palace. Tall plane trees were planted outside the window, with dense branches and leaves, blocking the sunlight.Even during the day, there are lights in the room.
At this moment, the candlelight was beating, making the topographic map of the hunting ground flicker.
Li Chong’s finger crossed the map and stopped at a place marked Lu Mingqing: “The terrain here is dangerous, with cliffs on both sides and only a narrow road in the middle. If a frightened beast rushes out when a car passes by, there will be nowhere to escape.”
“Xie Heng is right next to the car.” Wang Yu answered with a hoarse voice.
“But it can only be injured, not killed.” The man in black robes sitting in the shadow spoke, his voice like sandpaper grinding on stone, “The bear’s claws and teeth have been treated, and the skin and flesh are at most ripped apart. It looks scary, but it won’t kill you.”
Wang Yu nodded and moved his eyes to another part of the map, which was outside the paddock and marked the defense area that Xiao Jue was responsible for.
“Where’s Xiao Jue?”
“Everything is arranged.” The man in black robe took out an arrowhead from his sleeve and placed it on the map.The arrowhead is a Northern Dynasty standard with a unique health slot. “Twenty dead soldiers from the north have already mixed into the paddock. They are all good players. When Xie Heng’s side is in chaos, Xiao Jue will definitely be distracted. That’s the time to take action.”
Li Chong added: “The arrows and badges of the Northern Dynasty will be left at the scene afterwards to create the illusion of revenge from the Northern Dynasty. Over in the north, Cai Qi is also ready. As soon as Xiao Jue dies, news of the Northern Dynasty’s rogues will come to the border, confirming Xiao Jue’s charge of lax control of his subordinates and leading to revenge.”
One link after another, the poisonous plan is like a poisonous snake, slowly showing its fangs.
Wang Yu stared at the map and remained silent for a long time.The candlelight cast dancing shadows on his face, making those eyes bottomless.
“Remember,” he finally spoke in a serious tone, “Xie Heng will be injured, but he must live. If he dies, he will have stirred up a hornet’s nest and will fight back like crazy. The situation will be out of control by then.”
“As for Xiao Jue…” Wang Yu pressed his fingertips on the small flag marked Xiao on the map with such force that his knuckles turned white. “He must die. And he must die in a reasonable and reasonable way, so that His Majesty and everyone in the world will feel that he brought it upon himself.”
He raised his head and looked at the man in black: “When you do it, let Xie Heng watch.”
Li Chong was stunned for a moment: “My lord, what you mean is…”
“I want to see,” Wang Yu smiled, his smile looking ferocious under the candlelight, “what Xie Heng’s expression would be like when he saw Xiao Jue dying in front of his eyes.”
The candlelight was dim, but the skylight outside was shining brightly.