Chapter 191: 191. Not Wen Liang
Translator: 549690339
Lin Bojun was not alone in following Wan Cong to the General Mansion, as he also brought a team of elite soldiers from the capital city.
Seeing the team of soldiers following behind, Wan Cong’s face grew even uglier, “General Lin, is this really necessary? If people didn’t know better, they would think that my father committed a crime, and you are here to arrest him.”
Lin Bojun spoke seriously, “Young Master Wan, please do not misunderstand.
The Marquis of Zhong Xin specially arranged for me to come here because
General Wan is ill.”
“That’s unnecessary,” Wan Cong shook his head, “Let them go back.”
“The issuing of the Imperial Decree cannot be delayed. Since it is the Marquis’ arrangement, we would have to ask for his permission again if we want them to go back, and I would be held responsible for the trouble this back and forth may cause,” Lin Bojun said loudly, “Young Master Wan, let’s hurry up!”
Wan Cong realized Lin Bojun was warning him. If he dared to hinder Wan Shan from coming, it would be considered obstructing the issuance of the Imperial
Decree.
The distance between the General Mansion and the military camp was very short, leaving no time for Wan Cong to think of a solution for the current predicament.
In fact, even if he had been given more time, there was nothing he could do.
Wan Shan’s paralysis could be described as pulling the rug out from under the Wan family.
Even if Wan Cong now had the qualifications to sit at the same table as Xing Ji, he still couldn’t reverse the situation.
Upon entering the General Mansion, Wan Cong asked Lin Bojun, “How is the
Eldest Prince?”
Lin Bojun told the truth, “Before I left the capital, the Eldest Prince was summoned into the palace.”
Wan Cong heaved a deep sigh, “And how is the health of the Empress
Dowager?”
Lin Bojun still told the truth, “Before I left the capital, the Emperor ordered
Imperial Physician Su to treat Her Majesty the Empress Dowager daily.”
Wan Cong knew about it, but hearing it from Lin Bojun still made his heart sink.
On the surface, each incident individually seemed inconsequential.
However, as things stood now, Wan Cong couldn’t help but suspect that the Emperor was using Su Liang against the Wan family, including both the Empress Dowager and the Empress!
If Wan Cong still could not feel Duanmu Yi’s determination to eradicate the Wan family and his two legitimate sons, then he would be a fool!
The clearer the situation became, the more his head ached.
When Wan Cong led Lin Bojun to the entrance of the main courtyard of the General Mansion, he stopped, ‘General Lin, please wait here for a moment, I will go in and see if my father is awake.”
Lin Bojun shook his head, “Let’s go in together. Whether General Wan is awake or asleep, we must ask him to come with us!”
Wan Cong couldn’t refute. During the short walk from the courtyard gate to the room, he imagined countless times that upon opening the door, Wan Shan would be standing in front of him, safe and sound. If that were the case, there would still be a chance for things to change.
However, the moment the door opened, Wan Cong’s fantasies shattered.
Wan Shan’s concubine, who had been attending to him, did not know what happened. Seeing Wan Cong return, she said with a worried face, “The General is still the same. He is awake but can’t speak or move. We should quickly summon an Imperial Physician from the capital!”
Wan Cong’s face darkened even more upon hearing this.
Lin Bojun hurriedly said, “Is General Wan’s condition so serious? This time, the
Emperor has sent an Imperial Physician along, but he has not yet arrived in
Xuanbei City.”
Wan Cong of course knew who Lin Bojun was talking about. Even without hearing that name, he already gritted his teeth in hatred!
“Father, the Emperor has sent Marquis Zhong Xin with an Imperial Decree for you,” Wan Cong braced himself and whispered into Wan Shan’s ear, “My second brother hasn’t returned yet, and I don’t know what’s going on.”
Wan Shan stared with wide eyes, his lips trembling as he tried to speak, but no clear sound came out, only drool.
Lin Bojun was watching from not far away, with a concerned expression on his face, but in his heart, he marveled at how Su Liang’s move completely destroyed any opportunity for the Wan family to cause trouble.
“Since General Wan is awake, let’s go to the military camp as soon as possible! The Marquis and the other generals are waiting! The Imperial Decree cannot be delayed!” Lin Bojun urged.
Wan Cong wished that Wan Shan could give him some guidance.
Unfortunately, with his eyes wide open, Wan Cong could see his father’s gaze but could not understand what he was trying to express.
Lin Bojun arranged for several soldiers to carry Wan Shan out.
Wan Shan’s concubine looked uneasy, “What are you doing?”
Xing Ji was already acquainted with the several veteran generals sitting in the meeting hall, having interacted with them when they were younger.
Although he wasn’t a military commander, he was well-known in the Qian Country, especially among the soldiers of Xuanbei City, for his remarkable wisdom and bravery.
Moreover, the Xing family was descended from the founding heroes of Qian Country, and they were the only descendants of the founding elders, apart from the Duanmu family, who did not betray the country and still exist today.
Many generals had already guessed the development of the situation and naturally did not dare to offend Xing Ji.
Especially the two veteran generals, Zhou Liu, who Wan Cong believed to be Wan Shan’s most loyal supporters, subtly flattered Xing Ji, giving the younger generals an excellent lesson on the virtue of “honor and wisdom”.
“Marquis, General Wan has arrived.”
The voice of Lin Bojun came from the entrance of the meeting hall, and Xing Ji smiled and stood up to greet them.
Upon seeing the state of Wan Shan, not only Xing Ji but also the generals of Xuanbei City who had not seen him for quite some time changed their expressions.
Before this, most of the people present had believed that Wan Shan was merely suffering from a relapse of an old injury and didn’t have a major problem. They wondered why he had refused to show his face today.
But now, it was clear that he was suffering from the symptoms of a stroke, and he was paralyzed!
In this era, this kind of illness was almost incurable. Once someone fell, it was difficult to stand up again.
That’s why when Old Master Qin had a stroke and Su Liang cured him, her medical skills became famous overnight in the capital city.
Lin Bojun repeated the words of Wan Shan’s concubine, “General Wan is awake, but he cannot speak or move.”
Xing Ji heaved a deep sigh, “How could this happen? Has a doctor seen him? Is there no way to treat him?”
Forcing himself to speak, Wan Cong said, “My father just took a fall in the night. The doctor said he should be fine after a few days.”
But no one believed that.
Xing Ji leaned forward and spoke to Wan Shan, “Brother Wan, the Emperor asked me to announce the Imperial Decree. Since you are awake, let’s do it this way.”
As Xing Ji picked up the Imperial Decree, all the generals knelt down. Wan
Cong also knelt beside Wan Shan, his head bowed, gripping his father’s hand.
Wan Shan lay on the ground, trying his best to turn his head and look at Xing Ji, but all he could see was Xing Ji’s hand and that glaringly yellow Imperial
Decree.
Xing Ji read the decree aloud.
Duanmu Yi naturally did not mention in the Imperial Decree that he was wary of the Wan family, and wanted Xing Ji to replace them. Instead, he first affirmed the credit of the Wan father and son for guarding the Northern Border in recent years, and praised them for having no choice but to separate from their relatives to defend Qian Country. He then stated that the intention was to show empathy for them, and had specially reassigned the Wan father and son back to the capital city to serve in the Ministry of War, while also fulfilling the wish of the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Wan family members in the capital to see each other.
As for the position of Xuanbei City Lord, it would now be filled by Marquis Zhong Xin Xing Ji, who would also enjoy the same military rank as Wan Shan.
After Xing Ji finished reading the Imperial Decree, he folded it up, bent down and placed it on Wan Shan’s body, pattiæ his hand, “General Wan, please take
your sons back to the capital as soon as possible. The Empress Dowager misses you deeply. In the capital, there are Imperial Physicians and General Wan’s illness can receive better treatment.”
Wan Shan couldn’t speak, and Wan Cong had no right to say anything.
The right to speak was on Xing Ji’s side. It was not that the Royal Family wanted to depose the Wan family, but rather, they were showing sympathy to them. It was all an act of grace.
Wan Cong stubbornly bowed his head to express his gratitude.
No matter how hard he listened, there was always a hint of gnashing his teeth.
Who didn’t know the outcome of their return to the capital?
As for the so-called crown prince faction officers present, they could only try their best to distance themselves from the Wan family and avoid being implicated. It was not only because Wan Shan had fallen, but also because the crown prince had been deposed.
“His Majesty has sent Su Liang, the Martial Arts Champion of this year’s examination, to assist me. She is also an Imperial Physician with outstanding medical skills, but due to other matters, she has not yet arrived in Xuanbei City. Otherwise, she could treat General Wan,” Xing Ji explained.
Wan Cong’s face turned dark, and he had to speak up, “We do not dare to trouble Physician Su.”
“However, only Physician Su is most capable of treating this kind of illness in Qian Country at the moment,” Xing Ji said, relentlessly fanning the flames in Wan Cong’s heart.
Everyone else had stood up. Wan Cong did not continue to kneel, but crouched beside Wan Shan, lowering his head in silence.
As if suddenly remembering something, Xing Ji mentioned, “Last night, I passed by a valley not far from Xuanbei City and encountered a group of assassins in ambush, likely sent by Liang Country.”
Wan Cong’s heart skipped a beat!
As the other officers felt confused, they heard Xing Ji suddenly change the subject, asking Wan Cong, “Why is the second son of the Wan family absent? Is he not in the city?”
A few officers realized what was happening, and their expressions changed, naturally realizing that the assassins Xing Ji had encountered were probably Wan Lin!
Wan Cong abruptly stood up, his face anxious, “Marquis, my father received news the night before, suspecting that Liang Country soldiers had infiltrated the city. He sent my younger brother to patrol the southern part of the city with some men. The assassins Marquis mentioned might be a misunderstanding! ”
Xing Ji looked surprised, “Are you saying that those who wanted to kill me were your younger brother?”
Wan Cong immediately nodded, but then realized there was a trap in Xing Ji’s words, hastily shaking his head, “I’m not sure, but it’s possible. If it was my younger brother, it must be a misunderstanding! Perhaps they mistook Marquis for a person from Liang Country!’
“That’s unlikely,” Xing Ji frowned, “We were riding horses in the direction of Xuanbei City. How could we be mistaken for people from Liang Country? General Wan must have misunderstood, those people were definitely not your younger brother; they are from Liang Country. I’ve had my men search them, and they were not wearing Qian Country’s military uniforms nor carrying any identification tokens.”
‘Marquis didn’t kill them, did he?” Wan Cong asked, his face looking unwell.
Xing Ji shook his head, “They’re still alive. I was in a hurry to issue the Imperial Decree and didn’t want to delay the important matter, so I haven’t interrogated them. I just sent someone to escort them back to the capital for the Ministry of Justice to handle. Perhaps they’re not from Liang Country’s army, but assassins hired by my enemy.”
Wan Cong knew that Xing Ji was acting and deliberately provoking him! That group of “assassins” must be Wan Lin’s men! At that time, for the sake of prudence, Wan Cong had instructed them to change clothes and not to carry any items with identification marks.
Although Xing Ji had met Wan Shan in his early years, he never knew his sons, and it was reasonable for him not to recognize Wan Lin, given that he met Wan Cong for the first time today.
However, Wan Cong knew that Xing Ji must be aware of Wan Lin’s identity, and had purposely escorted them back to the capital! In this way, Wan Cong wouldn’t dare to act rashly! His only option was to take Wan Shan, accept the arrangements, and obediently return to the capital. Only then might they be able to save their lives under the protection of the Empress Dowager and the Empress! As for anything else, they shouldn’t even think about it!
The rapidly changing situation had left the Wan father and son without any chances for a desperate struggle.
Wan Cong did not dare to argue with Xing Ji about the “assassin” matter any further. At this point, those who understood the situation had already grasped the whole picture, and Wan Cong would only make more mistakes if he continued to talk.
Xing Ji spoke with a gentle tone, “His Majesty is waiting for General Wan to report back to the capital, and I see that General Wan is in a poor physical condition that cannot be delayed. Eldest Master Wan should escort General Wan back to the capital today. Perhaps Second Master Wan has lost his way, and when he returns, I will inform him to catch up with you.”
Wan Cong held the Imperial Decree in one hand and tightly gripped Wan
Shan’s hand with the other, speaking in a low voice, “Yes, General Xing.”
As for the fully conscious Wan Shan, he was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of blood, closed his eyes, and fainted.
Out of kindness, Xing Ji sent someone to “escort” Wan Shan and his son back to the General Mansion, and had Lin Bojun go there once more to hand over the Seal, Token, and documents belonging to Wan Shan, taking everything away.
The study room in the general’s mansion, which involved military secrets, was directly guarded by elite soldiers from the capital city, and Wan Cong was no longer allowed to step in.
The meeting hall in the military camp.
In fact, many generals had guessed that Wan Shan’s illness was also orchestrated by Xing Ji, representing the will of the royal family.
The seemingly calm but secretly turbulent transition of military power allowed these people to witness Xing Ji’s ruthless methods. They all believed that Xing Ji had secretly sent people to target Wan Shan first. The truth was not far from that.
General Zhou casually asked, “I don’t know when General Su can arrive? I was injured years ago on my back, and every time when there’s wind or rain, I feel a faint pain. It has never fully healed. When General Su arrives, I would like to ask her for help.”
Xing Ji smiled, “Soon.”
The news of the Wan family father and son leaving for the capital city under the imperial order spread quickly throughout Xuanbei City.
This was a major event.
However, Xing Ji controlled public opinion, and the common people thought that it was the royal family’s sympathy for Wan Shan. At the same time, they learned that Wan Shan had suffered a stroke and was paralyzed, unable to even move. Naturally, they wouldn’t think that Wan Shan should stay. From a practical point of view, Wan Shan was already a useless person, no longer suitable for the position of the city lord of Xuanbei and should go home to recuperate and rest.
As for Xing Ji, in the eyes of the older people in Xuanbei City, he has a very positive image because he had made great contributions here in the past.
If it were not for Xing Ji’s efforts, Xuanbei City would have fallen back then.
In fact, Su Liang and Ning Jing, who secretly directed the course of events, had lunch at the tea house and continued to chat and drink tea without leaving.
When the people on the street began to talk about Wan Shan’s return to the capital, Su Liang knew that this mission was almost over.
It wasn’t until the afternoon that Che Yun returned to the city with his men.
As he rode his horse past the tea house, he looked up to see Su Liang and enthusiastically waved to her, “Xiaowen! Shall we have a drink together tonight?”
Su Liang thought that this man was still so happy without completing the task assigned by Wan Cong. He must be a skilled double agent or else Wan Cong would not have trusted him so much.
Su Liang smiled, “My brother is eager to return home. We will leave soon.” Che Yun looked regretful, “What’s the rush?”
As his subordinates urged him, Che Yun waved to Su Liang again and rode away with his men.
“Brother, shall we go?” Su Liang stood up.
“I thought you said you wouldn’t call me brother.” Ning Jing’s expression was indifferent.
Su Liang calmly replied, “I am not Su Liang, I am Wen Liang.”
Ning Jing shook his head, “Not exactly gentle.”
Su Liang chuckled, “We’ll leave the city first, and then I’ll go back in alone to find Uncle Xing. To avoid being exposed by Uncle Qi as not his son, you can hide and be my secret guard..”
