Chapter 101: Preparing for the Journey North (Part II)

Yang Yaozong had just finished briefing Jing Yijun and Yin Ruxin on the affairs of the Secret Inspection Bureau when Qin Haizhou also arrived, and the four of them chatted together for a while longer.

Upon learning that Yang Yaozong would be heading north that very day, Qin Haizhou expressed concern and insisted on accompanying him to ensure his safety. However, Yang Yaozong reasoned with him, pointing out that Yin Ruxin had only just taken over the Secret Inspection Bureau and would need his assistance and coordination, both in training the inspectors and in arranging their assignments. Furthermore, as the Left General of the City Defense Army, Qin Haizhou could hardly leave the city at will; besides, how many prominent and influential figures in the capital did not know Qin Haizhou by sight? If he were to go, it would only arouse the suspicions of the Prince of Qin. And with both of Qin Haizhou's wives pregnant, he was needed at home to look after them. Through such persuasion, Yang Yaozong managed to convince Qin Haizhou to remain in the capital.

With the affairs of the Secret Inspection Bureau properly settled, Yang Yaozong and Jing Yijun went together to the palace to meet the Imperial Grandson and the Sage Prince. Yin Ruxin, meanwhile, returned to her own courtyard to help Ruyi pack the belongings that were to be moved to the Yang residence. Qin Haizhou stayed behind in the Secret Inspection Bureau to process intelligence documents.

Jing Yijun led Yang Yaozong directly into the hall where the Emperor had been resting, without waiting for a formal announcement. There they found the Imperial Grandson earnestly seeking counsel from the Sage Prince regarding questions raised in a memorial. Yang Yaozong felt great comfort at seeing the Imperial Grandson's quick-witted and studious demeanor.

When the Imperial Grandson caught sight of Yang Yaozong, his face lit up with delight and he hastily rose, taking a few steps toward him. Then, realizing his bearing was improper, he immediately stopped, suppressed his smile, and stood ramrod straight with his chest puffed out, trying to look solemn.

Yang Yaozong found this amusing and walked over to pay his respects to the Imperial Grandson, but the boy waved his sleeve dismissively and asked with concern, "No need for formalities. Has the Grand Tutor to the Imperial Grandson recovered somewhat?"

Yang Yaozong knew the Imperial Grandson's concern was genuine, and felt warmed by it. "Thank you for Your Highness's concern. Your subject's health has greatly improved. I have come today especially to see Your Highness and the Sage Prince. I plan to depart for Shangjing tomorrow."

The two walked and talked, and by now they had reached the bed where the Sage Prince usually lay disguised as the Emperor. Since there were no outsiders present, the Sage Prince naturally had no need for Yang Yaozong to observe empty formalities, nor was he pretending to be the Emperor, afflicted by illness and weak. Instead, the Sage Prince sat cross-legged on the bed, hale and spirited. Having been shaken awake by Yang Yaozong's words that day, he had reconciled with the Sage Princess that very night, and having finally experienced the warmth of family, he was deeply grateful to Yang Yaozong. Now, hearing that Yang Yaozong was to head north to Shangjing immediately, he asked with equal concern, "Would it not be better for the Grand Tutor to rest for a few more days? The journey to Shangjing is long and arduous. Besides, you and Jun'er have only just been wed—can you bear to part from her so soon?"

Yang Yaozong looked at Jing Yijun, who had turned crimson at the Sage Prince's words and looked utterly embarrassed. Taking her hand, he said to the Sage Prince, "Of course I cannot bear to part, but Jun'er and I both understand that matters of state take precedence. For us, only with a nation can there be a home. If Great Zhou remains stable and prosperous, then the home Jun'er and I share can flourish and grow happier day by day."

The Sage Prince fixed his bright, piercing gaze upon Yang Yaozong and declared with vigor, "Well said! Only with a nation can there be a home! Excellent! Yang Yaozong, the words you speak have made me regard you with fresh admiration once again! But I fear you and Jun'er shall have a hard time of it. You have only just married, and already you must trouble yourselves with affairs of state. Ah! Jing Sheng!"

Hearing the Sage Prince call him, the Imperial Grandson promptly answered in a docile manner, "Third Grandfather."

The Sage Prince smiled. "When you ascend the throne someday, you must always remember what your aunt and the Grand Tutor have done for you. Be a virtuous and wise sovereign, and do not disappoint the expectations they hold for you."

The Imperial Grandson nodded firmly and resolutely. "Third Grandfather, I shall never disappoint the hopes you all have for me. And I will remember the great effort you have all devoted on my behalf."

Yang Yaozong smiled at the Sage Prince and said, "Sage Prince, there is no need to place too much pressure upon the Imperial Grandson. I will take great care on my journey to Shangjing, and I will return as soon as my business is concluded. Moreover—"

Yang Yaozong glanced at Jing Yijun beside him and said somewhat bashfully, "Moreover, a brief parting of this sort is even more delightful than one of the four great joys of life."

The Imperial Grandson quickly asked, "The four great joys of life? Grand Tutor, do tell me what these four joys are. I have never heard of them!"

"Er—" Yang Yaozong was taken aback. He thought to himself, could it be that they had never even heard the common saying of the four joys of life? He looked at the Sage Prince and Jing Yijun, who were both gazing at him with the same expectant and curious expressions as the Imperial Grandson. Yang Yaozong coughed twice and said with a smile, "Ah, the four joys of life, well then, let me speak of them, and Your Highness and the Sage Prince can judge whether they indeed qualify as the joys of life. The four joys are these: sweet rain after a long drought, meeting an old friend in a distant land, the night of the wedding candle, and one's name upon the golden list of examination success."

After Yang Yaozong finished, the Sage Prince nodded silently with a smile.

When Jing Yijun heard "the night of the wedding candle," she thought of how, due to Yang Yaozong's injuries, the two had not yet consummated their marriage. His internal wounds could not possibly have healed in just a few days, so naturally they could not yet share the bridal chamber. It seemed they would have to wait until Yang Yaozong returned from the north. She could not help but feel a pang of disappointment, and at the same time felt ashamed of herself for even thinking about such matters.

The Imperial Grandson repeated the words and then asked curiously, "Then Grand Tutor, what is this thing you spoke of that is even more delightful than these four joys of life?"

Yang Yaozong hemmed and hawed, "Well, well—" but could not bring himself to say it after a long while, his face full of awkwardness.

Seeing that Yang Yaozong seemed to have some difficulty speaking, the Sage Prince asked, "If it is even more delightful than one of these four joys, it must also be some joyful occasion. Speak freely, no need to stammer."

Yang Yaozong gave an embarrassed laugh. "It is... it is 'a brief parting is sweeter than the wedding night.'"

The Imperial Grandson did not understand the meaning and looked at Yang Yaozong with a puzzled expression. The Sage Prince, however, frowned in thought for a moment, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "Interesting! Interesting! Truly interesting! Yang Yaozong, you really are a most amusing fellow!"

Yang Yaozong laughed sheepishly.

Jing Yijun, too, did not understand. She looked at the Sage Prince, then at Yang Yaozong's awkward expression, and muttered to herself, "A brief parting is sweeter than the wedding night? A brief parting is sweeter than the wedding night?" Since she and Yang Yaozong had not yet consummated their marriage, she naturally did not grasp the meaning behind his words. But connecting it with "the night of the wedding candle" from the four joys Yang Yaozong had mentioned, she vaguely sensed something, and could not help but blush deeply and lower her head in a shy, charming manner.

The Imperial Grandson looked at the Sage Prince with a genuinely inquiring expression. "Third Grandfather, what exactly does 'a brief parting is sweeter than the wedding night' mean? And why do you praise the Grand Tutor as amusing?"

The Sage Prince laughed several times. "In the future, you will understand on your own. To explain it to you now would be beyond your comprehension."

The Imperial Grandson pouted and gave a soft "oh," but in his heart, he was still pondering the matter of "a brief parting is sweeter than the wedding night."

Seeing the Imperial Grandson frowning in thought, Yang Yaozong hastily changed the subject. "Your Highness, for this journey north, I wish to bring someone with me. This person may prove of great assistance to me."

The Imperial Grandson's attention was indeed diverted, and he asked curiously, "Oh? And whom does the Grand Tutor wish to bring? Say the word, and I shall grant it."

The Sage Prince sighed inwardly at how rashly the Imperial Grandson had agreed to Yang Yaozong's request. He shook his head and looked at the Imperial Grandson with some helplessness. He thought to himself with a sigh: Ah, after all, he is still too young. He does not yet understand the dignity a sovereign should possess, nor the prudence of one's words.

Yang Yaozong noticed the Sage Prince's demeanor and guessed his thoughts, yet he was also pleased that the Imperial Grandson trusted him so greatly. He said with a smile, "I wish to take Zhang Lie, this year's second-place graduate in the imperial examination, north with me."

The Imperial Grandson pondered for a moment. "Oh, I remember that man Zhang Lie. He was the one who submitted a blank paper as his answer to the examination question—a blank sheet of paper—that you, Grand Tutor, had set. He said that a single sheet of paper could not contain the ideals and ambitions in his heart. And for that, he earned the Grand Tutor's high praise. Am I right?"

Yang Yaozong nodded. "Yes, precisely that man. He is originally from Shangjing, and his elder brother is the Left General of the Shangjing Border Defense Army. Moreover, Zhang Lie indeed has ambition in his heart; I have spoken with him. This man hopes to engage in practical affairs and does not care for the work of compiling and editing books. I also feel he is a man of loyalty and courage, so I have decided to bring him north with me, and in so doing, put him to the test. If he proves capable of great tasks, I shall formally recommend him to Your Highness, so that he may fulfill his ambitions."

The Imperial Grandson nodded. "Very well. Then I shall issue a written edict ordering Zhang Lie to accompany you north and to obey your commands completely."

"Hmm—Grand Tutor, do you intend to bring only him with you?" the Imperial Grandson asked, a note of doubt following immediately.

Yang Yaozong said, "The scrutiny of those coming and going in Shangjing is extremely strict. To enter Shangjing more safely, without alarming the grass and startling the snakes, or drawing the attention of those with sharp eyes, I intend to bring only Zhang Lie along. I shall adopt the alias of Yang Guo, posing as a friend of Zhang Lie's, invited by him to visit his home, with the excuse of traveling to Shangjing for scholarly pursuits, and with Zhang Lie as my guarantor. I believe I will be able to enter Shangjing without any trouble."

The Imperial Grandson frowned. "And how will the Grand Tutor's personal safety be ensured?"

Yang Yaozong looked at Jing Yijun. Jing Yijun understood and nodded. She walked over to the Imperial Grandson, gently patted his shoulder, and said, "Do not worry. All you need to do is trust him. He will return safe and sound!" Though Jing Yijun said these words for the Imperial Grandson's benefit, she was equally reassuring herself.

The Imperial Grandson looked at the resolute expression on Jing Yijun's face, and recalling the implications of her words, naturally thought of the Secret Inspection Bureau. He concluded that the Bureau must have made preparations, and so he said with reassurance, "Then the Grand Tutor must also take care. Let me do this: to make matters more convenient for you, I shall bestow upon your alias Yang Guo the title of a successful candidate of the same rank as a metropolitan graduate. For, heh heh, I cannot bestow one of the top three ranks upon you, but I know that with the Grand Tutor's talent, were he to sit the imperial examination, he would surely take first place. And with this title, the fact that the Grand Tutor is a friend of Zhang Lie, this year's second-place graduate, will appear all the more reasonable and natural."

Yang Yaozong felt quite uneasy at the Imperial Grandson's flattery, but he also sincerely admired how the Imperial Grandson had added an extra touch of perfection to the plan. He bowed to the Imperial Grandson and praised, "Your Highness considers matters thoroughly and possesses strategic insight. As your Grand Tutor, I am deeply gratified and honored."

The Imperial Grandson was extremely pleased to hear Yang Yaozong praise him so, and his face broke into a delighted grin.

The Sage Prince also looked approvingly at the Imperial Grandson, then said to Yang Yaozong, "I shall write a letter and give it to you in a moment. If you encounter any trouble, or if you face some thorny matter in need of assistance, take my letter and seek out Cui Jiye. He is a beloved former general of mine. I believe he will help you out of regard for my sake."

Yang Yaozong recalled that Qin Haizhou had once mentioned Cui Jiye to him. He should be the Grand General of the Northern Border Defense Army. Yang Yaozong confirmed, "Cui Jiye? The Grand General Cui of the Northern Border Defense Army?"

The Sage Prince nodded. "Indeed, that very man."

Yang Yaozong asked carefully, "Can Grand General Cui be trusted?"

The Sage Prince understood Yang Yaozong's meaning, and looking at him seriously, said, "We have occasional contact. Every year, he sends someone to bring me some northern specialty products, but we have not met in person for nearly ten years. As to whether he is worthy of trust, that is something the Grand Tutor must ascertain for himself."

Yang Yaozong bowed to the Sage Prince. "I thank the Sage Prince for his kindness and concern toward Yaozong."

The Sage Prince smiled and took out a foot-long dagger from near his calf. Its shell was of gilt metal, its surface carved with a golden fish scale leaping upward in an elegant curving arc. The carving was lifelike, with each tiny golden scale clearly visible, seeming under the shifting light as if it might leap right off the surface of the sheath. At the hilt was set a round purple gemstone, its surface cut and polished into numerous reflective facets that made the stone appear all the more crystal-clear and dazzling. The gemstone echoed the golden fish scale depicted mid-leap with its tail flicking, as though it had been spat out from the creature's mouth.

Yang Yaozong admired the dagger's exquisite craftsmanship, and a phrase suddenly came to mind: "The golden scaled thing is no creature of the pond; when it meets the wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon."

The Sage Prince looked at the dagger in his hand with great affection, then handed it to Yang Yaozong. "This dagger has been with me all these years. The Emperor has specially permitted me to carry it into the palace. It is forged from meteoric iron, and it can cleave iron as easily as mud. During my campaigns to pacify the south and the north, it saved me from danger on numerous occasions. Now I give this dagger to you, to serve whatever needs might arise. Though I do hope you will never have cause to use it."

Yang Yaozong could tell just from the sheath and hilt that the dagger must be priceless, and moreover it held extraordinary significance for the Sage Prince. How could he presume to accept it lightly? Startled and flattered, he said hastily, "How could Yaozong be worthy of such great favor from the Sage Prince?"

The Sage Prince feigned anger. "I had thought you, Yang Yaozong, to be a forthright and honorable man. What is this about being worthy or unworthy? What I give, I give. There is no sense in taking it back. It serves no purpose by my side any longer. If you do not want it, I shall throw it into the foundry and melt it down! Better that than have it annoy me by lingering before my eyes!"

Yang Yaozong was rendered speechless. He thought to himself that the Sage Prince's temper was indeed fierce and stubborn. So he bowed and accepted the dagger. "I thank the Sage Prince for his great kindness. Yaozong will surely treasure this dagger."

The Sage Prince huffed. "I did not tell you to treasure it! I told you to keep it on your person at all times and use it when the need arises!"

Before Yang Yaozong could speak again, the Sage Prince waved his sleeve and said, "I have just recalled the matter of the prison riot at the Yingtian Prefecture jail. The Prince of Qin is certain to receive word of this within a few days. Will he take any action?"

Yang Yaozong pondered for a moment. "He should not. Because the Prince of Qin will not connect that matter with the escape attempt of the eldest young lord, Jing Min. At present, strict control has been placed over the Prince of Qin's estate, and news of the eldest young lord's failed escape should not leak out. However, the Prince of Qin will likely be rather distressed to learn of the riot at the Yingtian Prefecture jail, because Guo Huaide, the Prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, is a hidden agent the Prince of Qin has planted in the capital. We can remove this man openly and legitimately, thereby eliminating a covert threat lurking in the capital. Of course, before eliminating him, he must be strictly interrogated to see whether any further intelligence can be extracted from his mouth."

The Sage Prince gave a surprised "Oh?" and asked, "Truly?"

Yang Yaozong nodded with a smile. "Truly."

The Imperial Grandson said angrily, "How dare the Prince of Qin! How dare he!" Being still young, he was so angered at hearing this that his whole body trembled and he could not find the words.

From what Yang Yaozong knew, the Sage Prince had long since guessed that Yang Yaozong must have another hidden identity, likely specially arranged by the Emperor. Although Yang Yaozong had not deliberately concealed it from him, the Sage Prince would not press the matter. Thus, he trusted Yang Yaozong's words greatly, for he understood that in many matters, the less one knew, the better. The Sage Prince let out a sigh. "That is good, then! If the Prince of Qin were to detect something because of what I have done and rise up in rebellion prematurely, then even a thousand deaths would not absolve me of my guilt."