Chapter 4
Even though Yu Qin was the grandson of Yu Chang’en, his character was vastly different from his grandfather's. Had they been more alike, he probably wouldn't be alive today either.
From their first encounter at Donglin Academy, Yan Yunhe knew this person was the sort that would seek revenge even if you looked at him funny. Now that he had severely offended the man outside the Zhou residence, he anticipated some form of retaliation.
Song Wen was right. It’s easier to dodge a spear in the open than an arrow in the dark. And so, he waited for Yu Qin to make his move.
Three days later, an imperial censor submitted a memorial to impeach Yan Yunhe for indulging in wine and pleasure in the military camp with no regard for law and discipline, questioning his fitness to command an army.
That day, Yan Yunhe was summoned to the palace.
Yan Yunhe was eight years older than Emperor Chengjing, and, by blood, his maternal cousin. When Emperor Chengjing was young, the two shared a close bond. However, once he ascended the throne, they were no longer childhood playmates, but sovereign and subject.
Just as Yan Yunhe was pondering what his response should be, Eunuch Yan saw him and took the initiative to say, “His Majesty has summoned my lord to the imperial garden for an audience.”
Yan Yunhe bowed his head and replied, “Thank you, gonggong.”1
He surmised that since Emperor Chengjing was still in the mood for flower viewing in the imperial garden, the matter shouldn't be too serious.
Entering the garden, he found Emperor Chengjing, only eighteen years old, sitting at the lakeside, rod in hand—actually fishing. He didn't need to look to know that some junior eunuch must have already dived beneath the lotus pond and hooked live fish onto Emperor Chengjing’s fishing line. The young emperor had a handsome face, lounging casually in his chair without an ounce of decorum. Ignoring that dragon robe, he looked more like a wealthy brat than Yan Yunhe had been back in the day.
But that was no reason to underestimate this emperor. All who had looked down on him paid the price for it, including the empress dowager.
“Dear minister,2 you have arrived,” Emperor Chengjing said cheerfully, calling Yan Yunhe forward.
Yan Yunhe knelt in obeisance, but the emperor didn't tell him to rise.
“Your Majesty!” he began, but Emperor Chengjing raised a finger to his lips and shushed him gently. “Quiet now. You're scaring away all the fish.”
By the time he caught a fish, Yan Yunhe was drenched in sweat from kneeling. At last, Emperor Chengjing leisurely said, “A new batch of firearms3 has recently arrived at the palace. Come with us4 to try them out.”
At the shooting range, Emperor Chengjing raised a musket, lit the fuse, and aimed at the target standing a short distance away. “Zhang Zheng was imprisoned not long ago, and today our dear minister was impeached by the censorate.” The words had barely left his lips when a deafening blast erupted, leaving the target's bullseye completely charred.
“Huaiyang.” Emperor Chengjing lowered the musket. “We entrusted the Divine Machine Battalion5 to you because we held such high hopes for you.”
“This subject deserves ten thousand deaths!” Yan Yunhe knelt once again.
He slammed his forehead hard against the ground, but he didn’t remain kneeling for long. Emperor Chengjing reached out to help him up. “We know you're in a difficult position. I6 suddenly appointed you as commander in chief of the Divine Machine Battalion; those veteran generals won't necessarily submit to you.”
“But winning people's hearts requires patience and careful planning. Dear minister, you acted too hastily,” Emperor Chengjing said with a shake of his head.
That may be so, but which of those generals would actually submit to him? Yan Yunhe had been dropped into the command of the Divine Machine Battalion. Without building rapport with the veteran generals, how could he possibly manage the troops?
To counter this, he nearly drank himself sick with those generals, only to be impeached by the censorate.
While civil officials and military officers often held each other in contempt, how could those bookworms possibly be aware of the affairs of the military? It was obvious that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had gathered intelligence and delivered it to civil officials seeking to sabotage him.
Emperor Chengjing set down the musket, his enthusiasm waning. “Huaiyang, do not disappoint us again.”
These words carried immense weight. Yan Yunhe's face turned pale.
Once he had given his warning, Emperor Chengjing finally revealed the reason for summoning him today. “Zhao Xiang, the vice minister of works, has gone missing. We ordered the Court of Judicial Review7 to conduct a thorough investigation.”
He added with a sardonic smile, “The director from the Court of Judicial Review was supposed to oversee this case, but he's under investigation by the Embroidered Uniform Guard for corruption and bribery. The clerk responsible for transcribing the case died mysteriously at his home last night.”
“Investigate this matter. The Imperial Surveillance Bureau is at your disposal.” Emperor Chengjing gave Yan Yunhe a glance.
Yan Yunhe kowtowed in gratitude for the emperor's grace.
He understood that Emperor Chengjing hadn’t dismissed him from his post as Commander of the Divine Machine Battalion just yet, giving him a chance instead. If he handled Zhao Xiang's case well, once the uproar over the drinking incident subsided, he could still return to the Divine Machine Battalion. If he failed, he'd have to brave the winds and sands of the border.
All that kowtowing resulted in Yan Yunhe leaving the imperial garden with a bruised, bleeding forehead. A group of eunuchs followed behind him, carrying several large chests—all bestowed by Emperor Chengjing. Seeing his appearance, the palace servants were momentarily unsure whether he had been punished or rewarded. However, it was evident that Yan Yunhe hadn’t lost the emperor’s favor over this matter.
Beneath his blank expression, Yan Yunhe’s heart was filled with mixed emotions. Even though he knew he and Yu Qin were no longer those youths of Donglin Academy, he never imagined Yu Qin would disregard their shared past as classmates and act with such ruthlessness, his very first move intent on destroying him.
Not only had he incurred His Majesty's displeasure, but he had also let everyone in the palace see him in this pitiful state.
What you think about, you get.8 On the palace walkway, Yan Yunhe found himself face-to-face with Yu Qin, the culprit behind his misery. Yu Qin wore a crimson official robe today, a golden saber hanging at his waist. He was being escorted by palace maids rather than his usual subordinates. Judging by the direction he came from, he must have been at Cining Palace, where the empress dowager resided.
Yu Qin didn't ignore Yan Yunhe as usual; instead, his gaze focused on his forehead.
Yan Yunhe almost laughed in exasperation. He knew that in Yu Qin’s eyes, the wound on his forehead wasn’t an injury—it was a badge of success that he would likely think back on with pride for ages to come.
The palace was bustling with people. After a brief exchange of looks, the two men brushed past each other.
When Yu Qin returned from his duties at the palace, it was already the hour of zi.9 The elderly servant opened the door for him, served him a simple bowl of vegetarian noodles, and retired for the night.
The Yu residence was small, as was the number of its servants.
The renowned commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard lived in such a shabby place, and yet the court officials still denounced him, calling him a hypocrite. Did he truly believe that maintaining the lifestyle of the late Duke Yu made him less of a treacherous villain, a mere lackey for those in power?
Yu Qin's reputation was already in tatters; he no longer cared about these insults.
He picked up his chopsticks and ate his noodles in silence. In the next instant, the candle flame flickered, and the saber at his waist flew out of its sheath in a blur, striking at the figure who had appeared out of nowhere. In a flash, only the clash of metal rang out as the saber was knocked into the air. Yu Qin spun upward and caught it, but as he lunged for a second strike, he suddenly halted mid-motion.
The reason? The intruder was holding a firearm. The metallic clang had been the sound of blade and gun colliding.
Yan Yunhe traced the scratch on the musket and clicked his tongue. “This is a sacred imperial gift. Lord Yu, you are bold indeed.”
The candle flame, buffeted by the gusts of wind, flickered violently, struggling until it went out.
Yu Qin stood in the dimness, blade in hand. The austerity of his household meant only a single candle lit the room, providing the perfect opportunity to conceal himself in the dark.
Yan Yunhe chuckled softly, lighting the fuse without hurry. His ears twitched a little, and he slowly aimed the muzzle in Yu Qin's direction.
“Lord Yu, why don't we make a bet? Which is faster—your blade or my gun?”
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Wow didn’t expect to run into each other this way
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