Chapter 005: Imitation of Yang Xu

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Zhang Shisan spoke as he picked up a small hammer and gently tapped a block of ice in the silver tray. The ice had been taken from a chest beneath the soft couch, which was filled with ice blocks and insulated with thick cotton blankets. Along the way, the ice could lower the temperature in the carriage and also be consumed, serving two purposes at once. Wealthy families are adept at enjoying life; many households have built ice cellars to store ice in winter and use it in summer. Snow is used for brewing tea, while ice is used to chill wine, creating an atmosphere of elegance and showcasing the luxurious display of affluent families.

Xiao Guan has a daughter, who is fourteen years old, named Xiao Di. Although she is of servant status, Yang Wenxuan has always treated her as a sister. When Yang Wenxuan is at home, she is responsible for taking care of his daily needs and meals. The people in the Yang residence who are most familiar with Yang Wenxuan are this father-daughter pair. For safety's sake, after you return to the residence, you should quickly find a reason to send this father-daughter pair far away, to prevent them from discerning the truth.

This is Yang Wenxuan's woman, merely a woman he purchased, quite beautiful, isn't she? Yang Wenxuan has a penchant for women; in addition to frequenting the brothels, he also has other women in Qingzhou, perhaps one, perhaps several, possibly unmarried ladies from prestigious families, or perhaps married women like Luo Fu. A wife is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as a mistress; however, such secretive matters are known to me only in part...

The identity of the Prince of Qi is esteemed, and the opportunity for you to be received by him is limited. If there is any matter, the prince will have the steward eunuch of the royal residence discuss it with you. If the steward eunuch consults you on business matters, you may respond ambiguously and discuss it with me later upon your return. Even if the prince personally meets you, there is no need for excessive concern. As long as you can keep it from your family and friends, passing the scrutiny of the Prince of Qi will be quite easy.

Zhang Shisan, seeing that he was learning quite well, couldn't help but smile and said: "Yang Wenxuan is from Jiangning in the Yingtian Prefecture. Over there, the Yang family has a large clan. However, you only need to know a little about the matters there; there is no need to concern yourself too much. Here, no one will inquire about those affairs. Moreover, the reason Yang Wenxuan's father came to Qingzhou was due to a conflict with the family back then, which led him to leave his hometown in anger. Both father and son dislike discussing their hometown, so even if someone does ask you about it, you can easily show an unhappy expression and avoid the topic. Furthermore, Yang Wenxuan left Jiangning when he was only six years old, so he doesn't remember much about his hometown anyway"

The several managers at the quarry are all local hires and are not familiar with Yang Wenxuan, making it easy for you to deceive them. However, the quarry is not the main business of the Yang family, so it is not necessary for the owner to be present there all the time; thus, we can only stay for about ten days to half a month. During this time, I will inform you of Yang Wenxuan's preferences, temperament, disposition, speech, and behavior, as well as his friends and the close managers and servants in his household, covering all aspects of his relationships. You need to familiarize yourself with everything about Yang Xu in the shortest time possible to achieve a convincing impersonation.

Xia Xun exclaimed in surprise, "What? I still have to deal with the prince?"

At Yang Wenxuan's residence, there is a steward named Xiao, who is the most trusted person by Yang Wenxuan. He is the only servant who accompanied the Yang family patriarch from their old home in Jiangnan. He has always been loyal to the Yang family, never leaving their side. Yang Wenxuan grew up under his watchful eye. During the past two years, while Yang Wenxuan was in mourning, there were certain business matters that were inconvenient for him to handle personally, which were also managed by Xiao.

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Upon thinking of this, Zhang Shisan felt a stir in his heart and suddenly thought of a brilliant reason. He said: "You must understand that those who intend to rebel could be either members of the teaching sect or officials of the prince's residence. The members of the White Lotus Sect are accustomed to concealing their identities, relying on powerful families, and engaging in illicit activities; as for the officials of the prince's residence, the princes possess both soldiers and wealth, wielding significant power. If some audacious officials of the prince's residence wish to seek wealth and nobility through meritorious service, emulating the stories of the Chenqiao mutiny and the donning of the yellow robe, it is not impossible for them to plot treason, first engaging in rebellion and then forcing the vassal princes to submit.

Xia Xun gathered his courage and said: "Then, let the prince keep it a secret and assist us in the shadows, wouldn't that work? When the officials from the county office come to our village to capture thieves, they first notify the village head and provide assistance in secret."

All four guards wore narrow-bladed sabers at their waists. The court permits the carrying of knives, as it does not wish for innocent civilians to be harmed during tumultuous journeys. However, while carrying a knife is acceptable, it is best not to carry items such as bows, arrows, or spears, even as collectibles, unless you wish to implicate yourself in a charge of attempting rebellion

There were four burly men in riding attire at the front and back of the vehicle, each mounted on a horse. In ordinary affluent families, even if they were wealthy, it was uncommon to have household servants or guards equipped with horses. However, the Yang family had this advantage. Since the government permitted private horse farms, people began to explore the establishment of such enterprises, and the Yang family opened a horse farm in Yidu.

In the past, he would never have received such treatment. Yang Xu is an official who has formally joined the Jinyiwei, holding the title of an appointed officer. Since he passed the examination last year and obtained his degree, his status has risen even further. Although Zhang Shisan and Yang Xu are colleagues, in terms of both their public and secret identities, he must always appear subordinate to Yang Xu. Yet now, "Yang Xu" has to obediently submit to his manipulation, which is truly a source of pride.

After much persuasion, Xia Xun was finally calmed down. Zhang Shisan let out a long sigh, raised his silver cup filled with wine, and smiled, "Would you like to have a drink?"

Zhang Shisan walked over, lifted the soft cushion and bamboo mat spread on the couch, revealing a box filled with ice underneath. He then opened the lid of the box, which contained a thick layer of cotton blankets. Xia Xun knew that beneath the blankets were neatly stacked ice blocks; he had already enjoyed the taste of this chilled grape wine on the way. Lifting the cotton blankets, he found, as expected, the ice that was crystal clear and bright, although it was sealed tightly, it had already begun to melt somewhat.

Xia Xun shook his head and said, "I am not thirsty"

Xia Xun, being as accommodating as water, busily poured a glass of wine, imitating Zhang Shisan's manner. He added a few ice cubes, gently shook it, and watched as the red liquid and white ice danced in the silver cup, creating an enchanting hue, before taking a delicate sip.

A few people responded and then walked away into the distance. It was fine for the host to wash up by the river, but since there were women present, the servants had to keep their distance. The weather was hot, and the women's clothing was thin and transparent, making it inappropriate for them to be seen by others. The riverside was surrounded by dense woods, which provided a cool respite, and soon the five of them disappeared into the shade of the trees.

The driver responded from outside, and Zhang Shisan said: "After crossing the river, drive the cart to the shade of the tree; the young master needs to rest for a while"

In his childhood, Yang Wenxuan had an engagement arranged by his parents in his hometown; however, I do not know the details or the circumstances regarding his betrothed. Yang Wenxuan has never been willing to discuss anything about his hometown, and he has always been vague about this engagement as well. If anyone inquires about it, you may also respond ambiguously and need not pay it any mind

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Zhang Shisan smiled enigmatically and said, "Step aside a bit, and you will soon be able to see her."

A few years ago, Zhu Zhi, the brother-in-law of King Tan, was reported as a traitor of Hu Weiyong by the commander of Ningxia, Yu Hu. King Tan, Zhu Zhi, was extremely anxious about this. Upon hearing the news, Zhu Yuanzhang sent envoys to comfort his son and even specifically summoned him back to the capital for an audience. However, Zhu Zhi mistakenly believed that his father wanted to summon him back to the capital to question him. In his fear and anxiety, he ultimately committed self-immolation. Since Zhu Zhi had no sons, his fief was consequently revoked.

Xia Xun said with disbelief: "If it has nothing to do with King Qi, then... then the officials have come with a royal decree. They only need to say that the prince is aware, and they can jointly apprehend the traitors. Why... why must it be so secretive, even to the point that the prince is kept in the dark?"

Zhang Shisan smiled faintly but did not respond

Seeing his fearful expression, Zhang Shisan couldn't help but worry: "This kid is an unsophisticated country bumpkin. The highest official he has ever encountered must have been someone like a village head or a local chief. How could he have ever met a noble? If we tell him we are here on imperial orders, it might bolster his courage if he meets other figures, but if he learns that the person we are dealing with is a prince, he might become as pale as the twelve-year-old warrior Qin Wuyang when he sees the King of Qi. Even if he tries to act the part, it would surely raise suspicions. A warrior who has never seen the world finds it difficult to remain calm in front of lords and nobles."

The carriage jolted along the uneven road, with only Xia Xun and Zhang Shisan inside.

This incident caused a sensation throughout the world, prompting the court to issue a special edict, detailing the circumstances of the matter to inform the public, resulting in widespread awareness. According to Zhang Shisan, it was precisely for this reason that the Emperor exercised extreme caution while investigating the conspiracy case of the Prince of Qi, fearing that mishandling the situation might 'scare' the Prince's son to death, which is why the Imperial Guards were particularly careful.

Zhang Shisan raised his voice and asked, "Have we arrived at the Guoshui River?"

At this point, Zhang Shisan suddenly felt something was amiss. Wasn't it a bit too calm for a countryman to encounter such a corpse? Without any warning, he abruptly turned his head away

A rush of turbulent water sounds reached Zhang Shisan's ears as he gently lifted the curtain and glanced outside. Before him lay a great river, its waters flowing swiftly and clearly, surging majestically toward the distance. The sunlight reflected off the surface, creating a shimmering mosaic of scales.

Xia Xun imitated Zhang Shisan's movements, elegantly taking a sip of wine, savoring it slowly, and gently nodding in agreement

Seeing that they had already gone far, Zhang Shisan returned to the car. Xia Xun said in surprise: "Miss Tingxiang? Besides you and me in this car, where else is there any young lady?"

Their destination for this trip is Xieshipengzhai, where there is a quarry that the Yang family just established at the beginning of the year

Zhang Shisan spoke, and as his gaze turned towards the ice tray, Xia Xun promptly took the initiative to add a few pieces of crushed ice to his glass. Zhang Shisan gently swirled the fine wine in his cup, a contented smile appearing on his face

Zhang Shisan raised his eyebrows and said in a deep voice: "Can a major rebellion be compared to the duties of a constable in catching thieves? Although you live in the countryside and are somewhat ignorant, you must have heard of the incident where Prince Tan self-immolated, right? In matters of rebellion, who can know whether the favored individuals of the prince or his relatives and friends are involved, and to what extent? If this is disclosed to Prince Qi before the matter is clarified, and if the prince becomes overly anxious and repeats the mistakes of Prince Tan, who would dare to take responsibility?"

Xia Xun suddenly understood something upon reaching this point. He recalled the chilled grape wine he had consumed along the way, and his throat tightened suddenly, accompanied by a feeling of nausea

Xia Xun asked in a low voice: "Aren't we in a hurry to go to Shichengzhai to unload the stones? Why are we stopping here?"

Zhang Shisan picked up the tongs, selected a few crystal-clear ice cubes from the silver tray, and placed them into his glass. He gently shook the glass, listening to the pleasant clinking sound, took a slow sip of the fine wine, and leisurely remarked: "You should have a little. Yang Xu's two favorite types of wine are one that is chilled white wine and the other is homemade aged wine, and this is one of them."

The carriage is a horse-drawn vehicle crafted by the Yang family carriage workshop. It is quite spacious, featuring a pine wood compartment adorned with exquisitely carved wall panels. Inside, there is a large and comfortable soft couch, several embroidered stools, and a small table. The lower half of the wall panels on both sides is designed with compartments, which can hold musical instruments, board games, fine wines, or candied fruits for entertainment during the journey. The walls of the carriage are draped with light curtains, while the windows are fitted with loosely woven bamboo blinds.

Yang Wenxuan's father passed away four years ago. His father's name was Yang Bingkun, and he was fifty-four years old at the time of his death. At that time, Yang Wenxuan was only sixteen years old. After completing the three-year mourning period, he was admitted to the provincial school last year, becoming a student in Qingzhou

Upon thinking of this, he smiled reassuringly and said: "Absurd, how could it possibly be related to the King of Qi? The King of Qi is the son of the current Emperor; would a prince rebel against his own father?"

Zhang Shisan was amused by his anger and thought to himself: "Although this cunning villager lacks great insight, he is not foolish. This is quite good; if he were as stupid as An Litong, even if I exerted all my strength to teach him, I fear he would not be capable of being cultivated."

However, at present, the evidence is insufficient; these are merely our conjectures. If we were to make a grand effort to investigate the royal residence, only to find that our findings were unfounded, would it not harm the father-son relationship between the Emperor and Prince Qi? Alternatively, if our information is incorrect, and this alleged rebel has no substantial connection to the royal residence, would our reckless approach to investigating there not alert the enemy?

After the vehicle crossed the bridge, the driver steered it to the shade of a tree by the river. Zhang Shisan stepped out of the carriage and instructed the driver and the four bodyguards, "You all go into the woods to have some dry rations and take a rest. The weather is hot, and the young master and Miss Tingxiang will wash up by the river to cool off."

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Zhang Shisan took out the quilt and spread it out, then arranged the ice cubes one by one. After moving down two layers of ice cubes, there was another layer of quilt underneath. Upon lifting it again, a girl curled up in a fetal position suddenly appeared.

Zhang Shisan swayed slightly with the motion of the vehicle and said, "If you were to appear in Qingzhou City at this moment, it wouldn't take half a day for your true identity to be revealed. Therefore, we need to find an excuse to leave Qingzhou first. The stone quarry at Shicheng Zhai was only established at the beginning of the year, and the Qi King needs to rebuild the royal palace, with all the required stone materials supplied by this quarry. As the owner of the quarry, it is reasonable for you to be concerned and go oversee the situation since the stones are for the royal palace."

The girl in the box had an unusual pallor on her face, with small droplets of water forming on her skin as the ice melted. Her lips were slightly parted, and her eyes, which should have been alluring, were wide open in terror, staring blankly. This sight sent a chill down Xia Xun's spine.

Xia Xun's expression became tense: "We... we... this... this matter of rebellion, it wouldn't... have anything to do with King Qi, would it?"