Chapter 192 - Doing the Work (1)

Infighting was not something only sects had. In a sense, the Imperial Court fought even more fiercely.

The Great Flame Empire was simply too large. The court’s foundation was far, far greater than that of any single sect, and the web of interests tangled around it was far more complicated. Especially in recent years, unrest in court had come wave after wave, hardly giving anyone time to breathe.

In Xu Yuan’s memory, the most direct sign of it came from the Bureau of Music and Entertainment.

Starting five years ago, the top courtesans there had basically been changing every month. Today, some censor’s wife would appear. Tomorrow, a vice minister’s daughter would suddenly be added to the roster.

When he returned to the Imperial Capital this time, Xu Yuan figured he would probably see quite a few new courtesans at sky-high prices there.

Three months ago, the previous Ministers of War and Revenue had both had their homes confiscated. They were the highest-ranking heavyweights to have their families ruined in recent years.

Xu Yuan did not know the inside story now, but he did know that in the decades since the Emperor had ascended the throne, under the combined efforts of the Emperor and his old man, most of the stubborn old forces left from the previous dynasty had already been purged once over.

In other words, the important ministers currently standing in court were basically all the Chancellor’s men or the Emperor’s men.

And now, the top officials of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue, two of the most important departments in the empire, had directly had their homes raided and confiscated.

In the past, officials at that level were usually transferred elsewhere. At worst, they would be made to retire and return to their hometowns. Even when there was infighting, it stayed within a controllable range. The ones who died were usually minor officials beneath them.

But now, their homes had been confiscated outright. That meant someone had struck to kill.

As a former silkpants, Xu Yuan did not know which side those two officials had belonged to in private, but whether they were from the Chancellor’s faction or the Emperor’s faction, this was enough to show that the infighting in the court was gradually intensifying.

Those men were warnings written in blood for the Chancellor's Manor.

With the Chancellor's Manor’s current size, there was no such thing as laying down power with a graceful toast. Having reached this position, they could only advance or fall back. And one step back meant an abyss.

After he finished speaking, silence fell.

A hard-to-hide wavering appeared in Xu Xinyao’s beautiful eyes.

Though he had been explaining things to Ran Qingmo, she knew that a large part of her third brother’s words had been meant for her. It was meant to shatter the wishful thoughts in her heart.

Ran Qingmo, standing to the side, did not think as much as Xu Xinyao. After a short silence, she asked softly, “But if they are bound to cross blades in the end, why set up a marriage agreement at all?”

Xu Yuan pondered for a moment, then shook his head with a smile. “This marriage agreement is a kind of disguised alliance.”

Confusion entered Ran Qingmo’s eyes. “Is that kind of alliance useful?”

“No.” Xu Yuan denied the binding force of this marriage agreement without the slightest hesitation. “An alliance like that can only cover up contradictions. The whole reason people sign it is so they can tear it up later.”

If marriage alliances could truly ease conflicts, the imperial dynasties and the nomadic tribes in his previous life would not have fought so many wars.

But after a pause, Xu Yuan added, “But the Emperor and my old man both need this thing.”

Ran Qingmo looked at Xu Yuan, her eyes blinking and blinking, as if she were trying to puzzle out the logic behind it. In the end, she still failed. She did not understand why anyone would go to such great lengths to do something with no binding force at all.

Xu Yuan looked into her eyes. “The contradictions between the Emperor and my father have been piling up bit by bit over the past several decades. If things keep going like this, there’s a good chance they’ll flare up. But right now, neither side can tear off the mask. They still need to borrow each other’s strength.

“With this marriage in place, under the current conditions, if conflicts arise, both sides can use the marriage to communicate. No matter what, the princess and I are direct relatives of the two sides. Before the relationship truly breaks down, they’ll have to take that into account, at least a little. You can think of it as a signal, or a symbol. A symbol that both sides want to reconcile.”

Hearing this, Ran Qingmo lowered her head and glanced at the black sword in her hand. “Oh.”

Xu Yuan noticed her gaze. “What’s wrong?”

Ran Qingmo shook her head. “Nothing.”

Xu Yuan’s eyes curved slightly, and he leaned close to her ear. “What, does it bother you?”

Sensing the man draw near, Ran Qingmo lifted her quiet eyes and glanced at him, then lowered them again. “...A little.”

Xu Yuan froze, his footsteps stopping by instinct.

The two women did not wait for him and continued walking toward the main hall of the county office. Their slender backs drifted farther and farther away in his eyes.

After a long silence, the corner of Xu Yuan’s mouth lifted slightly. But then he sighed and quickly caught up. “Actually, you don’t need to feel bothered.”

Ran Qingmo glanced sideways at him. There was still a bit of gloom in her eyes. “Oh.”

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, then said in a low voice, “I mean it. Because to me, you’re special.”

Ran Qingmo stopped. Her eyes widened slightly, bright and blinking as she stared at him.

Xu Xinyao, who had been caught in her own turmoil, also looked over instinctively. Her complicated thoughts were set aside for the time being, and a trace of curiosity entered her eyes as she watched this first disciple of the Sword Sect and her third brother.

Xu Yuan glanced at her, then waved his hand, signaling for her to hurry up and get lost.

Xu Xinyao pursed her lips, but she showed no intention of leaving.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan simply let her be.

Emotion surged in Ran Qingmo’s beautiful eyes, but in the end, she lowered them again and silently walked forward.

Xu Yuan was left speechless.

Xu Xinyao poked Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan looked back.

Xu Xinyao mouthed silently, Aren’t you going to comfort her?

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes at little sister of his and said, “It won’t work.”

Xu Xinyao’s eyes went a little flat. She sighed.

The corner of Xu Yuan’s eye twitched.

Ran Qingmo might be a little slow when it came to certain things, but she was not stupid. More importantly, the little tricks from his previous life for changing the subject had basically no effect on her at all.

Xu Xinyao did not bother saying much more to Xu Yuan. She quickly caught up and walked beside Ran Qingmo, lowering her voice to whisper a few private words to her.

ᯓ➤

Inside the main hall of the county office, General Wang had already taken off his armor. He wore a set of rough brown clothes, with blood faintly seeping through the fabric. He was rubbing hard at the space between his brows, while a deputy stood beside him and quietly reported the various matters within the town.

“...The list of fallen brothers has been compiled. Here it is. A total of 5,369 confirmed dead, and 2,765 missing...”

“...We temporarily conscripted laborers from the town to clear the rubble and corpses from the streets, but the speed is still too slow...”

“...The town’s medicinal supplies have already bottomed out. Many people probably won’t make it through tonight...”

One matter after another was reported. Then the deputy’s voice suddenly sank a little.

“There is also the matter of the martial apprentices from those merchant caravans and wandering bands. They have started getting restless.”

Hearing this, General Wang, who had kept his eyes closed all this time, lowered his hand. His voice was tired. “Tell me the details.”