Chapter 26: Eternal Joy

Hulü Guang cast a sidelong glance, his eyes narrowing.

The Crown Prince was treading the same path as the Emperor Tianbao!

When all was said and done, there was no authority without soldiers. The Gao family had not ascended the throne through moral integrity. Any noble who could not command his own troops would find himself kneeling before others by the morrow. Conversely, even the most unruly soldiers yearned for an invincible commander. Following such a leader meant victory, and victory brought better chances of survival, military merit, and rewards. Thus, one had to master the arts of war to hold sway over those defiant men.

"If the General is willing, I would like to visit your residence often to seek counsel on military affairs and training methods, in preparation for the day I might lead an expedition to expand the frontiers of our Great Qi. What does the General think of this?"

This posture gave Hulü Guang pause.

Military matters alone were not an impossible request. Moreover, it provided a decent pretext for future intimacy, while allowing for a clean break should things go awry.

"I am but a piece of rotten wood, yet the Crown Prince honors me with such high regard," he replied with a smile. "You are welcome to my residence at any time. As long as I, Mingyue, am within these walls, I shall teach you everything I know."

Gao Yin expressed his gratitude twice over and moved to perform the rites of a disciple, but Hulü Guang quickly stopped him; he dared not formalize such a relationship.

Yet, the barrier between them had thinned, and their conversation grew fervent. Gao Yin did not rise to depart until the sun had sunk below the horizon.

"It is getting late; I must return to the palace. I shall come again to seek your instruction, General."

Hulü Guang agreed with a smile and prepared to escort the Crown Prince out of the residence, only to be interrupted by a cry: "An imperial envoy arrives!"

An envoy of the Son of Heaven. Hulü Guang hurriedly welcomed him in. As the Crown Prince was present, there was no need for him to avoid the encounter. Gao Yang's personal attendant entered, bearing a food box. He was surprised to find Gao Yin there, but proceeded to announce: "An imperial decree: His Majesty finds this mutton soup exceptionally delicious and, hearing that the Governor of Shuozhou, Hulü, has just recovered from illness, is deeply concerned. He specially grants this mutton soup to the Governor to restore his health, to soothe the regret that he could not attend the palace banquet!"

Hulü Guang knelt to express his gratitude. Two literati dressed as servants stepped forward to present the soup. Gao Yin raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Magistrate of Linzhang, Secretary Li, what are you doing here?"

The two men looked up—they were indeed Ji Ye, the Magistrate of Linzhang, and Li Wensi, the Secretary. Their smiles were strained. "An unexpected meeting with the Crown Prince! Truly, a stroke of great fortune!"

They made to kneel, but Gao Yin, sensing something amiss, pulled them aside. "What is going on? Have you been reprimanded again for remonstrating with the Emperor?"

The two men immediately fell to their knees, whispering urgently: "Please, Your Highness, save Minister Wang!"

Gao Yin’s expression shifted. Minister of the Court of Ancestral Worship, Wang Xin?

"Explain yourself!"

"Yes! His Majesty held a banquet in the palace today. Minister Wang claimed illness and could not attend. His Majesty was enraged and dispatched cavalry from the palace—I fear he means to do the Minister harm."

Ji Ye hurriedly clarified the situation. "To execute a high official requires legal process. We are deeply unsettled by His Majesty’s actions! Being demoted to slaves is a minor matter, but the Minister’s life is at stake. If Your Highness has the heart, please speak a word of intercession for him; he would at least be able to die with peace of mind!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Yin turned and left, tossing a "Farewell" over his shoulder to Hulü Guang. Hulü Guang, busy consuming the soup for the envoy’s benefit, could only gesture for others to escort the Prince out.

Gao Yin rushed out of the Prince of Xianyang's residence. Unable to speak to anyone else, he tore the gold and jade ornaments from his person and thrust them into the hands of the household guards without waiting for their thanks. He shouted to his retinue: "Quickly, to the residence of the Minister of Ancestral Worship!"

The procession was too cumbersome to move with haste, so Gao Yin made a split-second decision. He ordered the others to return to the palace while he and a few guards, including Kang Hu'er, galloped on horseback toward Wang Xin's residence.

By now, the sky had turned dark. Patrolling guards blocked their path, demanding to know who they were and why they were racing through the streets in such a clamor.

"Are you blind? I am the Crown Prince! Get out of my way!"

Gao Yin ordered his men to whip their horses and scatter them, continuing forward and leaving behind a trail of grievances. When they arrived at the Wang residence, they found that while the street behind them was still adorned with lanterns, this area was shrouded in the night, lit only by the moonlight and the torches held by the black-clad cavalry before the gate.

Sensing the murderous atmosphere, the neighboring residents had extinguished their lights for fear of being implicated, leaving the street looking like a domain of the dead.

There was no wailing as one might expect in a play; Wang Xin’s wives and concubines dared not obstruct the Emperor’s soldiers. There were only the fleeting, stifled sobs of women and children.

"Stop."

Gao Yin’s voice was not loud, but in the deathly silence of the night, it rang out clearly, shattering the cold, grim tension and causing everyone to look his way.

The cavalry raised their bows, but the leader, seeing the interruption, gestured for them to hold. He raised his torch and walked alone toward Gao Yin, illuminating the Prince's face.

"So, it is the Crown Prince." Though he spoke the words, the leader did not dismount, his tone merely growing slightly more respectful. "I do not know what you mean by 'stop', Your Highness."

"Release Minister Wang," Gao Yin said, scanning the cavalry. "What are you doing here?"

"By the Emperor's command, we are to bring Minister Wang to the banquet."

"If it is the Emperor's command, where is the imperial decree?"

"There is none."

"Then an imperial written order?"

The leader chuckled. "Your Highness, do not make it difficult for us. You know the Emperor’s temper; when he is in such a mood, no written order is needed. His words are the law of heaven."

"Oh? And how am I to know if you are not falsely claiming an order to seize the Minister for your own purposes?"

The leader’s expression shifted; this was a charge he could not bear. "Of course we would not dare. If Your Highness has any doubts, you may accompany us to see the Emperor and witness us reporting back."

He waved a hand, and the soldiers moved to shove Wang Xin into a prisoner’s cage.

"Hmph! A Minister of the realm—how can you treat him like a slave!"

No sooner had Gao Yin spoken than Kang Hu'er leapt from his horse and approached Wang Xin. The cavalrymen extended their long spears, blocking his path. Gao Yin immediately rebuked them: "If he is to attend a banquet, what kingdom uses a prisoner's cage to transport its guests!"

The leader looked up, his shadowed face filled with solemnity. "I cannot comply."

Wang Xin was forced into the cage. Gao Yin could only call Kang Hu'er back.

Fortunately, the cavalry slowed their pace, making it easier for Wang Xin. Gao Yin sighed inwardly; his prestige in the State of Qi was still too low, possessing only the empty title of "Crown Prince."

Moreover, he could not blame these soldiers. They were indeed loyal, but their loyalty was to the Emperor, not to him. Yet, before long, they would owe their allegiance to him, and the hatred of today would become the devotion of tomorrow.

When Sun Quan was young, he once privately borrowed money and goods from Lü Fan, who promptly reported it to his brother, Sun Ce, causing Sun Quan great resentment. Later, when Sun Quan became the Magistrate of Yangxian, he embezzled public funds, and the official Zhou Gu fabricated the accounts to cover for him, earning Sun Quan’s great satisfaction. But after Sun Quan ascended the throne, he realized that Lü Fan was loyal and trustworthy, while Zhou Gu was a deceiver, and he never employed him again.

The same principle applied here; he was only resentful because he was not yet a master worthy of their service.

He deeply etched the leader's face into his memory, resolving to employ him when the time came.

"My name is E Yongle," the leader suddenly said. "If the Crown Prince wishes to hold someone accountable, come for me alone. Do not trouble these brothers."

Gao Yin laughed aloud. "Good! Good! E Yongle, I have remembered you!"