Chapter 133: Kun

Well water is a treasure, and its warnings come early.
When there is no rain, the water turns murky; when drought comes, the well begins to bubble.
The water level changes greatly, and flowers of foam rise as bubbles break the surface.
Some wells change color, while others change in taste.

Yang Yaozong recalled the old rhyme. He lifted his teacup again and took a careful sip. Sure enough, the tea tasted exactly as it had over the past two days.

Zhang Lie took a sip, then frowned and set down his cup. Curious, he asked, “My lord, what did you say would change so simply?”

Yang Yaozong replied with profound meaning, “The earth dragon will turn.”

Zhang Lie’s eyes widened as he stared at him. “My lord, are you saying that an earthquake is about to strike the capital?”

Yang Yaozong nodded with a frown.

“How did you learn of it?” Zhang Lie asked curiously.

Yang Yaozong explained the signs he had observed. Zhang Lie hesitated before saying, “Can you really conclude that an earthquake will strike the capital based on these things alone?”

Yang Yaozong shook his head. “They are merely folk sayings. They cannot serve as conclusive evidence, but it is still wise to take notice. There are other signs as well: mules, horses, cattle, and sheep refuse to enter their pens; ducks stay out of the water; dogs bark madly. Rats abandon their homes and flee, while pigeons take fright and refuse to return to their nests. Snakes emerge from their holes even in ice and snow, and fish panic and leap from the water.”

After hearing this, Zhang Lie suddenly rose to his feet and stared at Yang Yaozong in alarm. “My lord, all of these things have happened in recent days! While I was at the yamen, I heard my colleagues mention them. We merely treated it as a joke. But if they truly are signs of an earthquake, then we must immediately warn the people of the capital and those living nearby, lest the earthquake cause unimaginable deaths and destruction. Even if no earthquake comes, there would be no harm in issuing a warning. And if an earthquake truly does strike, my lord, you will have rendered a service of immense merit. It would not be an exaggeration to say that you saved countless common people from disaster.”

Yang Yaozong frowned and fixed his gaze on Zhang Lie. “Even if we are to warn the people, we cannot openly tell them the truth. Otherwise, you may be branded a sorcerer or a madman and thrown into prison. I do have a plan. Let us discuss it.”

**********

The sky was already beginning to brighten when Zhang Lie finally emerged from Yang Yaozong’s room. Yet there was not the slightest trace of sleepiness or fatigue on his face. Instead, he looked rather excited.

He carried several sheets of paper inside his robe. Upon them was a proclamation he had written, warning against Prince Qin’s treasonous ambitions.

Very well—he had gone to post another batch of small notices.

After Zhang Lie left, Yin Ruyun finally appeared inside Yang Yaozong’s room. She found him sorting through the papers on the table and asked with a slight furrow in her delicate brows, “Will an earthquake truly strike the capital?”

Yang Yaozong gazed at her tenderly, had her sit in a chair, and poured her a cup of hot tea. “I cannot be certain. But frightening Prince Qin a little will do no harm. Still... it may cause some panic among the people. Yet if an earthquake really does come, enduring a period of panic is better than losing their lives.”

Yin Ruyun’s face grew warm beneath his gaze, though she continued to frown. “Are you not afraid?”

Yang Yaozong answered with complete composure, “Are you not here?”

Yin Ruyun gave a soft snort.

Yang Yaozong let out two dry chuckles. “You have traveled so far and worked so hard. Has your master’s body been properly laid to rest?”

Yin Ruyun gave a soft hum and nodded.

“And what of the servant who accompanied you? Has he been settled as well?”

Again, Yin Ruyun hummed lightly before replying, “Meng Kuo remained in his hometown to recover from his injuries. He is also responsible for protecting him. You need not worry.”

Yang Yaozong frowned slightly, then smiled as he stared at her. “You...”

Yin Ruyun lifted her head and met his eyes. “What about me?”

Yang Yaozong raised his brows and smiled. “Are you tired? Would you like to lie down and rest for a while?”

When he saw her brows draw together as though she were about to lose her temper, he hurriedly continued, “I only noticed that you seem somewhat different from usual. The northern climate is dry and cold, while you grew up in the south. You are also dressed so lightly, and you have traveled without rest. Do not wear yourself ill.”

After leaving the capital with her master’s remains to return home for burial, Yin Ruyun had only just returned when she learned that Yang Yaozong needed her protection on his journey north. She had immediately set out again for the capital. After so much travel, she was indeed somewhat exhausted.

She knew that he meant well, and her expression softened. “No need. I will simply sit here for a while.”

Yang Yaozong nodded, then said with some embarrassment, “Once you have rested a little, I will have to trouble you with distributing these notices among the laborers building the new princely residence. They must also be circulated through Prince Qin’s military camp at Tongzhou.”

Yin Ruyun immediately rose and picked up the thick stack of notices he had arranged on the table. “The sky is not yet fully light. I will go now.”

Yang Yaozong reached out and caught her by the arm. When he saw her delicate brows crease slightly, he released her and said gently, “Be careful.”

Yin Ruyun nodded shyly and turned to leave.

Yang Yaozong watched her figure leap away. He felt that something about her was not quite right, yet he could not put his finger on what it was. She seemed much gentler toward him than before.

He shook his head and smiled inwardly. Perhaps Xin’er had said something to her.

**********

At present, a million northern tribesmen are invading the frontier. Our people are filled with righteous indignation, and the soldiers of Great Zhou stand united against the enemy. Many hot-blooded men have even taken up arms to defend the realm.

Yet Jingtai, though a prince of the imperial house and bearing the title of Prince Qin, has given no thought to relieving His Majesty’s burdens. Relying on the dignity of his position, he forms factions for private gain, withholds taxes, undertakes massive construction projects, suppresses free speech, recruits troops without authorization, and colludes with the northern tribes.

Prince Qin intends to take advantage of the turmoil beyond our borders to launch a rebellion within the realm. His conduct is despised by all under Heaven...

And so on and so forth.

The proclamation went on to say that if Prince Qin still failed to awaken to his error and return from his misguided path, he would once again incur the wrath of Heaven. At that time, Heaven’s warning would not be limited to lightning striking down the new princely residence. The sleeping earth dragon would be roused, and it would overturn the capital and all the surrounding lands.

Then even the common people of the capital and its environs would suffer alongside Prince Qin.

The notice specifically reminded the people that, should they feel the earth begin to turn in the coming days, they must immediately flee to open ground. If they were indoors, they should hide beneath sturdy tables to avoid being injured by collapsing buildings, along with various other precautions for surviving an earthquake.

Ai Yi held one of the small notices in her hand and passed it to Yang Yaozong, who stood beside her. Her bright, sapphire-blue eyes gleamed with a bewitching light as she asked slyly, “Yang Guo! Did you write this?”

Before the morning was over, the people of the capital and the laborers constructing the new princely residence had been thrown into an uproar by the notice in Ai Yi’s hand.

Prince Qin had also learned of the matter. He had been so furious that he nearly fainted on the spot. He was now raging as he summoned all his advisers to discuss how to respond.

Yang Yaozong and Zhang Lie escorted Ai Yi, Se’wu, Jiezhi, and the others beyond the city gates. Ai Yi was dressed in strikingly beautiful fashion that day. Her purple Turkic garments made her appear not only alluring, but noble as well.

She stood alone with Yang Yaozong some distance from the crowd.

Yang Yaozong glanced at the notice in her hand but did not answer her question. He merely smiled and said, “The road ahead is long. Take care of yourself. I wish you a safe journey.”

Ai Yi, however, was unwilling to let him dismiss her so easily. She stared at him and pressed him with both curiosity and concern. “Will there really be an earthquake in the capital?”

Yang Yaozong smiled at her. “Hmm... Perhaps.”

Ai Yi seized his hand tightly. “I do not care about anyone else. I only care that you remain safe. Otherwise...” She uttered something in Turkic, then threw herself into his arms and held him tightly, her shoulders trembling faintly.

Yang Yaozong’s nose stung as well. He sighed and said, “Otherwise what? You know I cannot understand Turkic.”

Ai Yi pulled away from his embrace and smiled slyly, her eyes curving into an utterly charming expression. With a coquettish laugh, she spun gracefully in front of him, her skirt flying around her and her figure as light as a swallow.

Yang Yaozong was completely baffled by her strange mixture of tears and laughter, sorrow and happiness.

Ai Yi placed her hands behind her back, leaned toward him, and smiled as she pronounced each syllable distinctly.

“Yang! Yao! Zong!”

Yang Yaozong suddenly froze. Then he glanced around before smiling at her. “Where is the Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent?”

Ai Yi straightened and gave a coquettish laugh. Then she bent over and giggled without end.

Yang Yaozong burst into hearty laughter as well.

Everyone nearby looked toward the two of them in curiosity.

Slowly, Yang Yaozong restrained his laughter. Narrowing his eyes, he stared at Ai Yi, who had also composed herself, and asked with a smile, “Who are you?”

Ai Yi approached him and lightly brushed her fingers across his face. Then she reached beneath his collar and drew out two red cords.

She noticed that, besides the jade pendant she had given him, there was also a small leather pouch hanging around his neck.

With a coquettish laugh, she asked, “What is inside this little leather pouch? Is it a gift from Nangong Qingyi?”

When Yang Yaozong showed no intention of answering, she pouted. “You must wear the jade pendant I gave you at all times as well. Do not damage it or lose it!”

She laughed again, though her eyes had already grown misty with tears. “I am Ai Yi. But I do not like the name Yang Guo, and I do not like the name Yang Yaozong either. Hmm... From now on, I will call you Kun. That is a name from among my Turkic people.”

When Ai Yi saw Yang Yaozong frown as though he were about to speak, she once again threw herself into his arms and said in a trembling voice, “Kun! You must remain safe! Otherwise, I will let the iron hooves of the Turks crush the Central Plains and turn your Great Zhou into a land of blood!”

Yang Yaozong shoved Ai Yi away from him and stared at her coldly. “Who are you, really?”

Ai Yi paid no attention to his icy tone. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and smiled coquettishly. “I am not like you. You took advantage of a young girl’s innocence and deceived her by telling her your name was Yang Guo. I am Ai Yi! If you do not believe me, you can go to the frontier yourself—to the Turkic lands—and see who I truly am.”

She looked at his cold expression and continued, “Do you intend to have me arrested? Look behind you. There are many men Prince Qin sent to protect me!”

Then she giggled sweetly. “Come to the frontier once you have dealt with Prince Qin. I will be waiting for you there. Do not take too long! I will miss you. Do not make me miss you for too long, or I am afraid I will be unable to resist bringing the iron hooves of the Turks into the Central Plains to find you!”

The group in the distance began walking toward them.

Ai Yi moved closer to Yang Yaozong and gently caressed his cheek. In a soft voice, she said, “I am leaving now. Will you not wish me a safe journey?”

Yang Yaozong gave a helpless smile. “I wish you a safe journey.”

Ai Yi flashed him a radiant, coquettish smile, then immediately turned and ran toward the waiting group without looking back.

Yang Yaozong and Zhang Lie watched as they gradually disappeared into the distance.

Seated inside the carriage, Ai Yi lifted the curtain and looked back at the figure that had already grown indistinct in the distance. Crystal tears slid down her cheeks, yet she smiled as she murmured, “Kun! We will meet on the battlefield!”

To be continued...