Chapter 306: The Whole City is the Enemy

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The Zijing Palace houses the Yangling Study, which offers a panoramic view of the entire city. Its top floor contains a library, and outside the study building, stone carvings of dragons elegantly spout water. Aunt Hongshu personally planted five crabapple trees there. For the past few days, Xu Fengnian has moved from Qingliu Courtyard to the study within the Yangling Study, often standing by the window for an hour or more. While Hongshu could leisurely occupy her small corner in Wutong Garden, like a koi swimming, such freedom is utterly impossible in Dunhuang City. Now, seventy to eighty thousand people depend on her every decision. She is like a young empress ruling from behind a curtain. Although a group of competent female officials in Zijing Palace assist her with state affairs, the tangled forces in Dunhuang City, with their myriad complexities and chaotic mess, all require her decisive judgment. Fortunately, Xu Fengnian does not keep her constantly by his side. There is no such thing as an airtight wall in this world; even the walls of an emperor's palace cannot hide everything. Xu Fengnian, who periodically roams stealthily within the palace, senses an undercurrent, its tendrils spreading outward and then feeding back into the palace. He is unsure if this is the normal state for Juxian Palace and Dunhuang City. Once, he asked Hongshu about it. She explained that when Dunhuang City was under her aunt's rule, people and their words were always uncontrollable. When the demon Luoyang was outside the city, Dunhuang City was a scattered mess. The forces indebted to her aunt merely stood by as she left the city alone, only to return severely wounded. After Luoyang departed, they offered only superficial gestures. As for the common people, most saw it as a matter of course: "You're the City Lord of Dunhuang; if you don't act, who will? If you die, it's just a change of master. If the city falls, no matter how much Luoyang indiscriminately kills, it's unlikely she'd kill all seventy to eighty thousand of us, right? If the master changes, at worst, everyone will suffer together, which is better than stepping forward and being slaughtered by the demon." Xu Fengnian heard this answer and simply smiled.

Hongshu then asked, "If one day Beiliang's 300,000 iron cavalry failed to defend the northwestern border, and the millions of households in Beiliang capitulated en masse, even defecting to Beimang and turning against the Beiliang army, would you feel disheartened, Young Master?"

Xu Fengnian retorted, "If you were me, what would you do?"

Hongshu traced her finger over her lips, smiling, and said, "If this servant were a hereditary Beiliang King like you, Young Master, and such a thing truly happened, it would be fine if I didn't see it. But if I saw one, I would kill one."

Xu Fengnian sighed, "It seems a bit of a waste of your talent for you to be the City Lord of Dunhuang."

A land of gentle embrace ultimately becomes a hero's tomb. When Hongshu mentioned that 500 li north, within Jinxi Prefecture, lay the ruins where the Wu family's Nine Swords had shattered ten thousand cavalry, Xu Fengnian conceived the idea of leaving the city. That night, on the dragon throne in Juxian Palace's main hall, she wore a dragon robe, seated regally, exuding an air of dominion over the world. Any elderly, high-ranking official of the Beimang imperial court, seeing this scene, would only mistake her for the Empress regaining her youth. It was late spring, and the night was absurd. Fortunately, Dunhuang City had no morning court. Before dawn, they returned together to Qingliu Courtyard. They bathed together, and Xu Fengnian, attended by her, changed back into his scholarly attire—black mountain patterns on a white background—and slung his book satchel over his back. Hongshu circled him twice, meticulously checking for any flaws, striving for perfection. Unable to find any imperfections, she regretfully said, "Young Master, this scholarly attire makes you look like a man of letters, which is very handsome. But that purple python robe looked even better."

Xu Fengnian patted his Spring Autumn sword and softly said, "Don't see me off."

Hongshu shook her head and said, "I'll see you to the outside of Benyuan Gate."

Upon reaching the outside of Dizang Benyuan Gate, Hongshu then said she wanted to see him off ten li further. Xu Fengnian helplessly replied, "If you see me off like this, I might as well just go straight back to Beiliang."

Hongshu meticulously tidied Xu Fengnian once more and asked, "Are you sure you don't want that Night-Illuminating Jade Lion horse? Even if you're worried about it being too conspicuous, you could just get a good horse to ride, and discard it casually if you get tired of it."

Xu Fengnian shook his head and said, "It's still unknown who will be taking care of whom; walking is easier. If I develop feelings for it, I won't be able to just discard it."

Hongshu softly said, "Have a safe journey, Young Master."

Xu Fengnian nodded and said, "You should also return to Beiliang soon. My words remain: no matter how crucial Dunhuang City is in Beiliang's overall plan, you must live well."

Hongshu lowered her gaze and said, "This servant understands."

Xu Fengnian thought for a moment, then continued, "For the young eunuch Tong Guan, observe him coolly for another two or three years. Afterward, send him to the Yangling Study. You'll need to devote more effort to his literacy, studies, and martial arts foundation. While I said to let him grow freely, completely leaving him to fate is not acceptable."

Hongshu smiled and said, "Young Master, rest assured. Dong Shou will certainly surprise Dunhuang City in the future. The Scripture Pavilion genuinely has a few secret manuals suitable for him to practice; he's quite lucky."

Xu Fengnian hummed softly and whispered, "I hope there will be one more dedicated person in the world who doesn't fail."

"I'm leaving."

Xu Fengnian turned his back to Hongshu, whose brocade robes and wide sleeves resembled a hibiscus, and waved his hand.

Hongshu seemed to want to follow him, but she pulled back her foot before it even touched the ground. She lingered for a long time. When the morning bell rang in the palace, she finally walked through Benyuan Gate towards Yeting Palace, standing on Duichun Mountain to gaze into the distance. Dunhuang City, under her aunt's rule, traditionally held court on the fifteenth of each month. These court sessions were small, essentially gatherings of various influential forces within the city to divide spoils. Her aunt had always wanted to unite them, but she never succeeded, even until her death. Hongshu didn't even hope for them to share a common hatred; it seemed that even superficial harmony was now a luxury. She narrowed her eyes, revealing a cold aura starkly different from her demeanor with Xu Fengnian. "The petty clowns should all surface now," she thought. Indeed, as soon as her aunt died, they began to stir up trouble, especially after confirming that the demon Luoyang was disinclined to interfere with Dunhuang City. These old foxes, who considered themselves elders, were now ready to target her, a seemingly weak seductress. Wasn't the rumor of a male favorite seizing power, currently rampant in the city, bait spread from their own mansions? Hongshu slowly walked down Duichun Mountain. Although she was a first-class maid in the Beiliang King's Residence, she spent two or three months each year in Dunhuang City, personally observing how her aunt handled state affairs. Those forces who watched her grow up only knew her as the "Second King's" cherished and cultivated niece, intended as the next City Lord, unaware that she was a 'brocade musk deer'.

Walking down the mountain and passing a flowerbed, she unexpectedly encountered Dong Shou, who had again risen early to work for his old eunuch master. Hongshu stood quietly outside the flowerbed.

The young eunuch had seen her from afar, retaining a vague impression. He mistook her for a palace official having a private affair with his benefactor, and he smiled shyly, bashful yet sincere. He carefully thought, "Master Stone Mason truly has good taste; this elder sister looks just like a Dunhuang celestial maiden from a fresco."

Hongshu gently asked, "Are you Dong Shou?"

The young eunuch quickly put down the bronze watering can in his hand and, with bright eyes, knelt to pay his respects, "Dong Shou greets Madam Official."

Hongshu smiled and said, "Get up. If you kneel too long, your clothes will need washing again. It's late spring, and there will be rain in the next couple of days. If they don't dry, they'll be uncomfortable to wear."

Dong Shou slowly rose, his eyes clear and his face radiating a bright smile, "Madam Official, you have the heart of a Bodhisattva; you're sure to have abundant blessings and prosperity."

Hongshu laughed heartily, "Indeed, I wasn't wrong; at such a young age, you are a thoughtful person. Your master's phlegm is yellow and viscous, and he frequently coughs up blood; he has tuberculosis. Later, I will have someone treat your master. The root cause of the illness might not be eradicated, but it can allow him to live out his remaining years peacefully."

Dong Shou burst into tears and kowtowed, "Elder Sister and Master Stone Mason are both living Bodhisattvas! Dong Shou will never dare to forget your great kindness for the rest of his life!"

Hongshu coldly said, "Crying and kneeling often, burning incense at temples, and kowtowing to Buddhas are excellent habits in the palace."

By the time the young eunuch looked up, the celestial sister was nowhere to be seen.

Hongshu walked out of Yeting Palace. Between the two palaces was Yulong Road, marked as a "thunder pool" (a forbidden boundary). Several female deathsworn officials, personally trained by her aunt, stood solemnly, their brows reflecting a readiness to face death.

Walking together towards the White Elephant Gate, the southern main gate of Juxian Palace, an oval-faced female official softly said, "City Lord, of the five hundred Jinwu Guard cavalry outside the palace, three hundred are loyal. The remaining two hundred have all been bought over."

A tall female official, built like a sturdy man, calmly stated, "Miss, secret agents report that aside from the Buque Pavilion, which remains indecisive and unwilling to show its hand early, and the Yuwen and Duanmu families, who are holding their ground, the remaining major forces have openly gathered outside the White Elephant Gate, intending to seize the opportunity to storm the palace and stage a coup. The Mao family has heavily bribed nearly a hundred martial artists, hoping to fish in troubled waters during the internal conflict among the Jinwu Guards. Meanwhile, five hundred Jinwu Guards outside the city, led by Mao Rou, are about to charge through the main city gate and will then march with great force towards Juxian Palace. Zijing Palace currently has no spare capacity to block them. Miss, this might cause many neutral parties to side with those rebellious traitors."

A female official with a doll-like face, dressed in a long purple satin robe, frowned and asked, "Palace Mistress, why don't you let this servant contact the demon Luoyang? The City Lord said when she was alive that when this day came, we could bring out this demon to suppress the rebellious forces. Even if it's like driving away wolves only to invite tigers, it's still better than letting these ungrateful wretches become the new masters of Dunhuang City. After all, Luoyang is the nominal Palace Mistress of Yeting Palace, which gives her legitimacy, and given Luoyang's status, I believe she wouldn't completely usurp authority."

Hongshu reached out and tapped the female official's forehead, teasing, "Your elbow is already turning towards that demon! Luoyang hasn't even entered Dunhuang City yet; what will happen later? You might just sell me out!"

The doll-faced female official blushed and puffed out her cheeks, "Palace Mistress, you're bullying me!"

Along the way, over a dozen old eunuchs with blood-stained sleeves successively joined the group, having resolved internal palace troubles. In front of Hongshu, they all presented themselves as loyal subjects. They were all secret pawns placed by Hongshu's aunt before her death. Many had seemingly defected to the enemy's side, but once the truth was revealed, it became clear that these old eunuchs were indeed more "manly" than the Jinwu Guard cavalry, and they understood better how to choose a master and be loyal. Recalling the internal strife of dynasties where eunuchs held power, even foolish emperors preferred to delegate authority to the eunuchs around them, heavily relying on them to scheme against powerful ministers or imperial relatives. This was not entirely without reason. Powerful ministers could sit on the dragon throne, and imperial relatives could wear the imperial yellow robes, but who had ever heard of a eunuch, who had no descendants, becoming emperor himself?

Over thirty gold-armored guards, clad in heavy armor, also joined the contingent.

Hongshu smiled. She would have a magnificent death.

Before dying, she would drag hundreds with her to their graves.

In this way, Dunhuang City would be thoroughly cleansed.

Then it would be the turn of the Beiliang forces, whose details even she was unaware of, to take over.

The last time she left Beiliang, Li Yishan of Tingchao Pavilion had personally instructed her on this plan; every step was precise, and she had no complaints.

Once she left Beiliang, she would never return.

Hongshu looked back to the north.

"Have a safe journey, Young Master."

What she didn't know was that at the gate of Dunhuang City, a sword-carrying young man, appearing as a scholar, faced five hundred cavalry, holding the pass alone, guarding the city gate for her.

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