Joy of Life

After generally checking the time, Yan Bingyun closed the window and sat back in his chair. He took out a beautifully embroidered pouch from his shirt. He dug out a few pumpkin seeds and brought them to his mouth. He chewed on them carefully and appeared to be bored. It was only when his gaze landed on the pouch did they become gentle and filled with feeling. This pouch had been embroidered by the lady of the Shen family.

These past few days, Sir Yan had been particularly leisurely. He no longer had to lead Council affairs or be as watchful of the court officials with abnormal sensitivity like the officials in the First Bureau. Other than day-to-day tasks in the Fourth Bureau, he didn’t have much to do.

On a patch of wilderness between Yanjing and Cangzhou, Shang Shanhu calmed down after he suffered a great loss at Yan Xiaoyi’s hands. Although the Northern Qi people had sent a letter in reprimand, the accidental injury investigation was still being carried out. There had been no move from Shangjing. Dongyi was also being very quiet.

These were the only things the Fourth Bureau had to concern themselves with. Before the Emperor left the capital, the Fourth Bureau had already put out sufficient amounts of false information to ensure the silence of the two powers. Yan Bingyun believed that given the power of the Overwatch Council, even if the Northern Qi royal family and Sigu Jian knew the Emperor was out on inspection, they wouldn’t be able to react in such a short time.

Furthermore, he had no choice but to be leisurely. Even if there were not these tasks, the Qinian unit in Jingdou was still under Yan Bingyun’s control. He should have notified Fan Xian ahead of time for such a major matter as the Emperor going out on inspection. However, inexplicably Director Chen had returned to the capital and decisively suppressed this thought.

This was the question that plagued Fan Xian while he was in Danzhou. Yan Bingyun still did not know that Commissioner Fan had already met up with the royal entourage. He was still faintly at a loss in his heart.

At the same time, he was nervous.

Jingdou appeared calm. With the Imperial Army, Jingdou Garrison, and Director Chen, who radiated a dark and terrifying aura everywhere on his body, it was impossible that something major would happen. If something were to happen, it should be far away from Jingdou at the Emperor’s side.

Yan Bingyun forced a smile and stood at the window, looking at the Tianhe Avenue below the building and the Royal Palace not far in the distance. His position was not high, but his role was very complicated. He was the third-ranking person in the Overwatch Council and Fan Xian’s trusted aide. His father had a different identity. He was also one of the young people summoned into the Palace by the Emperor. After a long night of conversation, he gained another identity.

No wonder Director Chen had immediately suppressed him after returning to the capital. Presumably, the Director had some opinions about him.

As for why Director Chen would not allow him to inform Fan Xian, Yan Bingyun faintly guessed a sliver of the truth through information from three sources. He began to fear this truth. Was Director Chen dead certain that something major would happen near the Emperor? Thus, he wanted to go with the flow and have Fan Xian be as far away from the royal entourage as possible.

Director Chen was loyal to the Emperor. No matter how much he cared for Fan Xian, how could he put Fan Xian’s safety above that of the Emperor’s life?

Ding, dong rang the bell. The most special of the return home signal in various large Jingdou yamen’s rang out. Countless hurrying officials came out of the Overwatch Council’s square building. They were not rushing to spread evil tricks. They were just rushing to return home. Special operations were still business, so the Overwatch Council was filled with common workers.

Yan Bingyun didn’t have anything to tidy up, so he made a beeline out of the building. He sat in his carriage and hurried home to his manor. He didn’t stop to talk of love with the girl from the Shen family. Instead, he directly went to his father’s study and asked, “Is there any news from the Qin family?”

Yan Ruohai glanced at his son and shook his head. “You’re in charge of the Fourth Bureau in the Council, has there been any movements around Xiao Mountain?”

Xiao Mountain’s location was special. It happened to be at the entrance to Dongshan Road. It was northeast of Qing Kingdom and not far from Dongyi. Because of the primitive forest between Danzhou and Dongyi, no one dared to pass through. Thus, the communication between the two places depended on the sea or going around Xiao Mountain.

Originally, there were not any powers in Dongshan Road that could threaten the royal entourage. But, Xiao Mountain just happened to be on the way back from Dongshan Road to the capital. As the Yan father and son both knew, they had been using the mountain to train their private soldiers. The group that had attacked Fan Xian in the outskirts of Jingdou at the end of the year had been soldiers the Qin family had transferred from Xiao Mountain without the court’s knowledge.

“Xiao Mountain has been quiet for a long time. Ever since that incident, the Council has spent a great of energy watching the area. If there is any movement, it can’t be hidden from us.” Yan Bingyun relaxed slightly and sat down.

Yan Ruohai smiled slightly and said, “What we know is something that the Director knows, which is something the Emperor knows. Since the Emperor took 2,000 Imperial Soldiers to the great Dong Mountain to worship heaven... If it isn’t because he doesn’t take the few people in Xiao Mountain seriously, then it is because he trusts in the old Qin master’s loyalty.”

“Loyalty?” Yan Bingyun sighed. “Secretly killing important court officials is considered loyal?”

“There are many layers to loyalty. Perhaps the Emperor already suspected the old man’s loyalties after the last incident. There is always a difference between officials and the Emperor himself.”

Yan Ruohai paused for a bit and then asked, “I have already retired from the position and should not ask, but I am still curious. Are there any problems in Dingzhou?”

Yan Bingyun shook his head. “At the beginning of the year, they beheaded 600 Hu people. He should have returned to the capital to report on his work. It is clear that Ye Zhong is worried that the Palace suspects him. Thus, he has left his people in Dingzhou. He doesn’t dare to return to the capital while the Emperor is not here.”

He gently clenched his fist in his sleeve.

Yan Ruohai glanced curiously at his son and said, “You’re not usually like this. Speak if you have something to say.”

A faint shadow of doubt rose onto Yan Bingyun’s cold face. “I don’t know if the Emperor’s safety can be assured.”

“What dangers are there?” Yan Ruohai furrowed his brows. “Qing Kingdom has seven Roads of elite soldiers. The three Roads you suspected cannot even get near the great Dong Mountain and are all watched by the Council.”

“What about Yan Xiaoyi?” Yan Bingyun stared coldly into his father’s eyes, as if he wanted to find something else in his eyes.

Yan Ruohai naturally turned his head and broke away from his son’s gaze. “What about Governor Yan?”

“There is something wrong with the Cangzhou pass,” Yan Bingyun lowered his voice and said. “I said before that there was a problem this time with the Cangzhou pass. The Fourth Bureau secret agent investigating military merit has reported back. Although those heads had been disguised, there are some problems...”

“You are the head of the Fourth Bureau, taking over from me. You should know that although killing civilians to claim military credit is a serious crime, it has always been impossible to completely stop. These border generals need extra rewards from the court to balance out the harshness of living on the borders,” Yan Ruohai said coldly. “Besides, even if Yan Xiaoyi lied in his reports about his military works, what does that have to do with the Emperor on Dong Mountain? Don’t forget, the letter from Northern Qi has already arrived. Are you saying that the Northern Qi people would put on a show together with Governor Yan?”

“That is exactly what I am afraid of,” Yan Bingyun said coldly. “If it is only killing civilians for military credit, it could be excused. If this incident is connected to Northern Qi, then I’m afraid the matter is not so simple.”

Yan Ruohai slowly stood up and stared into his son’s eyes as he stated each word clearly, “You are clear about what you are saying? Perhaps you think that because the Director and Commissioner allowed you to temporarily run Council business that you are the most incredible person in the world? Somehow you can see through all the tricks in the world? Even if Governor Yan and the Northern Qi people are putting on a show together, what problem is there?”

“What problem?” Yan Bingyun looked at his father. A fire of rage ignited in his chest. He angrily said, “Five thousand people died in the Northern expedition army! Is this a great victory? Eight thousand beheaded, but probably more than half were fake! Did those 5,000 people die or not? If they didn’t die, then where did they disappear to without a sound or trace?”

He pointed to the table and the non-existent maps of Qing Kingdom borders. He angrily said, “Father, although the Northern expedition camp was between Cangzhou and Yanjing, if a straight line was drawn, it is less than 500 li from the great Dong Mountain! If these 5,000 people, who are supposed to be dead, suddenly turned up at the foot of Dong Mountain, then what?”

Yan Ruohai furrowed his brows. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said in a cold voice, “Idiot! Although it is not far from Cangzhou to Dongshan Road, one would need to go around Xiao Mountain and through countless counties. The distance is upwards of a thousand li. Do you think 5,000 people could enter deep into this territory without a sound or trace?

“What if they didn’t go around?” Yan Bingyun blocked his father and would not give a single inch. He laid out all the fear and confusion that had been swirling in his mind. “If Dongyi opened its country and allowed 5,000 dead men to pass through, then what?”

His words did not make Yan Ruohai nervous. He gazed at his son and smiled coldly, “Idiot! Even if the 5,000 people had truly become, as you described, dead soldiers, and even if Sigu Jian was as stupid as you and opened the country without fear of Qing Kingdom at all... Did you think that one would need to pass through Danzhou to get from Dongyi to the great Dong Mountain. To the north of Danzhou are high cliffs and treacherous precipices. It is impossible for anyone to climb over!”

This was the truth that had been proven by people’s eyes and abilities. The primitive forest and mountain peaks to the north of Danzhou were not places that mortal people could cross, much less an army of 5,000 people.

“No one has crossed it before, but it doesn’t mean that no one will ever cross them.” Yan Bingyun thought of the environment there. He weakened slightly but still did not rest and. “Besides, who knows if there are any secret passages in those mountains.”

“Secret passages? Do you think this is a novel published by Danbo Bookstore?” Yan Ruohai laughed coldly and prepared to leave the study.

Seeing his father’s completely uncaring attitude, Yan Bingyun finally couldn’t endure it anymore. Slamming his palm onto the table with a giant crash, he said, in a rage, “I don’t know if what I am worried about is like a novel, I only know that what the Overwatch Council is doing right now is a joke. Regardless of whether or not this will happen, there have already been points of suspicion. I have followed the process in the Council and reported it up. Why has the Director suppressed this matter?”

Hearing these words, Yan Ruohai’s body trembled. He slowly turned around and gazed at his son with a complicated gaze.

Yan Bingyun thought that he had finally convinced his father and felt a wave of relief rise in him.

Unexpectedly, Yan Ruohai shook out his sleeve and left the study. He summoned his trusted guard and coldly said, “The young master is not feeling well. Have him rest in the manor. He is not to take a step out of the door.”

A few guards acknowledged the order.

After Yan Bingyun’s recovered from his shock, a sense of coldness rose in his heart. He stared at his father’s retreating figure and suddenly thought of a conversation he had with his father a long time ago and couldn’t talk for a while.

That day, he had asked his father, “If... I am saying if, you had to choose between the Palace and the Council, how would you choose?”

At that time, Yan Ruohai looked at him with a laughing gaze and sighed. “Silly child, naturally, I would choose the Council. I the old Director did not have such confidence in me, how could he have said so much to you?”

Yan Bingyun took one step toward the door and was stopped by a guard in his family with powerful martial arts training. He did not uselessly struggle. He just sighed and asked his father, “Where are you going?”

Yan Ruohai turned around and looked at his son with a smile. “Since you are ill, I am going to the Council to ask for leave for you.”

Yan Bingyun didn’t say anything more. He was loyal to the Emperor and court. He had already done what he could do. He was, after all, an official of the Overwatch Council and his father’s son. He could do no more.

...

...

“The Ye family is indeed too quiet. Ye Zhong has been too well-behaved. Offering prisoners is such a good opportunity to enter the capital. Is he just going to let it go like this?”

Chen Pingping, sitting on the wheelchair, shook his head and said, “He is afraid that the Palace will fear him and have something go wrong early. However, the Second Prince must be feeling concerned thinking to himself that the Crown Prince was about to be deposed. If the Crown Prince messes up something now, the Second Prince, with the support of the Ye family, would be able to take the throne on his own. He is probably hoping and eagerly waiting for his father-in-law’s return.”

“Right now, everyone wants to make a move. But, no one has the power or courage to be the first to make a move.” The old man smiled slightly and pushed the wheelchair over from beside the black cloth, “If one wants to self-destruct, one must be crazy. The Eldest Princess is sufficiently crazy.”

Yan Ruohai smiled. He understood what Director Chen meant and said, “But with you in the capital, even if she had plans, she will have to wait for news from that side.”

Chen Pingping smiled slightly and said, “Our mighty Emperor will certainly give the Eldest Princess a surprise. As for the message she is waiting for, it may never arrive.”

“What about Yan Xiaoyi’s 5,000 elite troops?” Yan Ruohai furrowed his brows. “This is something I don’t understand. Even if he managed to get the soldiers into the country by the skin of his teeth, how could he have shipped them to the foot of the great Dong Mountain?”

“Yan Xiaoyi’s trick in the Cangzhou pass was done very well this time.

Who would have thought that it would be Yan Bingyun who spotted a discrepancy,” Chen Pingping said with approval. “That child is truly very good.”

Yan Ruohai forced a smile and said, “Usually, he looks like ice. When major things happen, he is still uneasy.”

“He isn’t like you and me. He doesn’t know of the Emperor’s plans.” Chen Pingping sighed. “His suspicion of us is normal.”

“Afterward, how will we explain it to the Palace?”

“The Emperor does not want to alert them, so the Council cannot react ahead of time to Yan Xiaoyi’s actions.” Chen Pingping coughed and thought to himself that the question was whether or not there would be an afterward.

After Yan Ruohai left, the old cripple habitually pushed his wheelchair to the side of the window and looked outside through the layer of black cloth. The corners of his lips twitched up slightly. He thought to himself that there was indeed a secret passage through the group of mountains in Dongyi’s vassal states that passed through Danzhou and reached Dong Mountain. He knew, the Emperor knew, and it looked like now the Eldest Princess’ side also knew.

Even if 5,000 people went, they could only surround the summit. At most, they would be able to control the messages the people worshipping heaven could send. Of the entire matter, the only vital part was still on the summit of the mountain.

Chen Pingping scratched his white hair with his withered and dry right hand, quietly thinking to himself that he had missed a bit. Fan Xian had run to the summit. He could only hope that he would be lucky and not lose his life in the earth-shattering event that was about to happen.

The Emperor had prepared a major surprise for the Eldest Princess and Ye Liuyun. Would the Eldest Princess not prepare a surprise for the Emperor?

Chen Pingping tilted his head and leaned weakly against the wheelchair, feeling the taste of life slowly flowing out of his body. He became excited by the pictures being displayed in his head. He seemed to find an element of the excitement, energy, and fascination that he had in the past.

The surging in his state of mind made him cough. Although he coughed joyfully, it sent stabs of pain through his chest. Unconsciously, he pressed the secret bell on his desk and found the person who opened the door and came in was not Fei Jie.

It was only at this moment that he remembered Fei Jie had already followed his instructions and left Qing Kingdom. He should already be in Quanzhou, preparing to have the life he had wanted for a long time.

“I’m coughing a bit. Please find some medicine.” Chen Pingping smiled slightly at the subordinate who had walked in and spoke amiably. If he could live two more years, he would do so.

The subordinate was surprised by the kindness and left with the orders.

...

...

Just like the Emperor at the summit of the mountain had guessed, as long as the Eldest Princess Li Yunrui did not die, she would always be able to find a hidden power in Jingdou. Even though she was being imprisoned in a side courtyard and watched by the Overwatch Council, her life remained at a very luxurious level.

Unexpectedly, the Xinyang strategist who had escaped Jingdou months ago was sitting in the side courtyard across from the Eldest Princess.

“Even a blind man can see what the Emperor is thinking. However, I don’t know where his confidence comes from.” Li Yunrui’s appearance was still beautiful. Her eyes remained charming and filled with emotion. However, a truly meticulous person would be able to see that this woman’s state of mind had changed slightly. Under the emotion, there was a coldness etched into her heart.