Hua Xiong did not ask further questions; he was well aware that the wisdom of these two far surpassed his own, and since Li Ru had said so, he naturally would not harm him.
"Then I shall go to burn incense and pray. Since I have come here, it’s best not to challenge the authority of the Emperor. Counselor, please rest. If there’s anything you need, have someone inform me, and I shall not dare to neglect it," Hua Xiong, seeing that Li Ru did not speak, bowed and slowly withdrew.
"I wonder how you managed to come out on top back then. These people truly respect you!" Jia Xu said somewhat emotionally as he watched Hua Xiong leave slowly. Dong Zhongying of Xiliang was gone, but these former generals still followed Li Ru’s commands.
Li Ru did not speak, but there was a slight upward curve at the corner of his mouth. Although he had misjudged Dong Zhongying, each of the Xiliang fierce generals he had led was indeed a valiant and upstanding warrior. Without him, though, their generous loyalty won’t last long, as their low origins had confined their capabilities, their scopes, and their visions.
"Wen He, command someone to check if anyone offered incense or wept for Zhongying’s passing. Regardless of whether it’s sincere, after all, Zhongying promoted many people back then. Those who did so, note them all down," Li Ru said, turning to Jia Xu. He didn’t hold out much hope since Dong Zhuo’s actions in Chang’an had greatly disappointed the people—or, to put it directly, were cruel and inhumane.
"Once we entered Chang’an, I dispatched people to find out. After all, I still have some covert contacts in Chang’an. The news is already in hand. There were none who offered incense, but those who wept have been imprisoned and will be executed shortly," Jia Xu said with an even expression.
"Imprisoned? Was it Cai Bojie?" Li Ru reacted immediately, "It’s probably only him. Zhongying treated him very generously, and as a great Confucian scholar, only his integrity would lead him to do such a thing. Does he have children to look after? Considering his status, even if Wang Zishi executes him, he probably wouldn’t exterminate his whole family. Have Hua Xiong check on them, and if necessary, relocate the Cai family."
"There’s only one daughter, betrothed to Hedong Wei’s Weii Zhongdao. But whether it’s observing mourning for three years or sending her to the Hedong Wei family to await marriage, neither timing is quite right," Jia Xu explained the situation to Li Ru, who knew that in this era, legitimate daughters of aristocratic clans generally married at eighteen or nineteen, and Cai Yan’s circumstance was inappropriate from any perspective.
"When the time comes, instruct Hua Xiong to relocate the Cai family and promise her a lifetime of glory! Jia Wenhe, can you do this?" Li Ru opened his eyes, which gleamed as he spoke, "I know you are adept at self-preservation, but let me ask you, Zhongying has treated you generously. You haven’t offered a single plan, which I won’t mention. Zhongying brought this on himself, which I cannot complain about. However, now that someone is mourning for him, and since we have the leisure, we must support the deceased’s other people. You, Jia Wenhe, cannot shirk this responsibility!"
"Alright, alright, promising her a lifetime of glory is no big deal. Such matters are just a trifle for us. But remember, Wen You, I will only provide her with covert protection. Her choices have nothing to do with me; I will not interfere with any of her actions," Jia Xu, resigned, agreed, but he also made it clear that his protection would be in the shadows and he wouldn’t concern himself with her decisions.
"Agreed." Li Ru closed his eyes, uttering a single word, and did not continue to pressure Jia Xu. Thus, the fate of the Cai family’s eldest daughter was decided, and with two mountains of men ensuring it, a lifetime of glory was already secured.
Ten days later, in the Weiyang Palace, Liu Xie sat on the high Dragon Throne, looking down at his bowing ministers. He was very pleased to see Hua Xiong, who had presented him with the much-needed provisions. As for the past events at Sishui Pass, those in the know now selectively forgot, as there was no need to offend a feudal lord, especially one who was a kinsman to the Han Dynasty and had just defeated the Yellow Turbans of Qingzhou, one of the realm’s considerable forces.
Hua Xiong’s presentation to reveal his face was very brief. Aside from Chen Xi’s newly resubmitted white porcelain cup, which shocked the entire imperial court, the rest was more about Yang Biao, along with the Yang Clan and newly advanced Three Dukes Wang Yun squabbling. As for Hua Xiong’s suggestion that the Emperor move his court to Mount Tai, no one from top to bottom cared. If not for the tribute and Liu Bei’s loyalty, they would already have started criticizing.
"It looks like you’re very disappointed?" Jia Xu said with a smile on his face.
"Very disappointed. Is this the Han Court?" After all, Hua Xiong had been captured during the events at Sishui Pass, and by the time he had been promoted and granted the rank to attend the morning court, there was no longer any mention of Hua Xiong. Thus, the morning court of the Han was a novelty to Hua Xiong, and he felt greatly let down after his experience there.
"Hehe, just bring the Angel, that’s what Chen Zichuan wants after all, isn’t it? To think he’s not even twenty and has already secured a high nobility, though quelling a million Yellow Turbans is indeed a great service to the Han Dynasty. In the eyes of the Han Emperor, if not for the Yellow Turbans, he wouldn’t have had to suffer so much," Jia Xu said with a chuckle.
Titles in the Han Dynasty were still difficult to come by. Had Chen Xi’s achievements not been so shocking, there would not have been a Marquis within the Pass for him. Of course, for Chen Xi this was too heartbreaking. After putting in so much effort to end up without even a Marquisate was truly miserable. Speaking of which, Liu Bei was granted the position of Pavilion Marquis. Indeed, fighting against the Yellow Turbans is something the Han Court is delighted to see.
"Let us depart tomorrow. The Xiliang Army will soon be coming back, and the Han Dynasty will once again be shrouded in shadows," Jia Xu sighed, "The former glory, the prosperity gone in a single morning, leaving behind only pain. It’s unclear who will pick up the pieces in the end, and to whom the world will belong."
The next morning at dawn, Hua Xiong asked for leave from the Ministry of Rites and then took a detour out of the city.
"Is this the home of Middle Official Cai?" Hua Xiong looked at a residence that almost everyone was passing by, its walls and ground in disarray.
"Knock on the door!" Li Ru said with a frown. It was inconvenient for him to be seen in Chang’an, but that the Cai Family had become made him turn and glare at Jia Xu, who was looking out the window nonchalantly before closing the carriage door again.
Clang clang clang! Hua Xiong jumped off his horse, ignoring the filth and disorder around him, and knocked on the door directly.
After a long while, a girl in plain white mourning attire opened a crack in the main door and said softly, "The Cai Family has suffered a misfortune, with only the womenfolk left inside, so we cannot ask you to come in. Please do not take offense, guests."
"Zijian, help me down from the carriage," Li Ru called out as he leaned out.
"Form a square formation, be on alert, and block off the entire street," Hua Xiong ordered unapologetically, not understanding why Li Ru was taking the risk of stepping out of the carriage here.
Hua Xiong helped Li Ru down from the carriage and let go of him. Li Ru walked up to the Cai Mansion, radiating an aura of someone who had held high power and life-and-death authority for many years. He addressed the maid, "Have Zhaoji bring the Classic of Music compiled by Bojie, his favorite Burnt-Tail Zither, and the books he did not finish before his death. We cannot stay in Chang’an any longer."
Overtaken by the aura emanating from Li Ru, the maid hurried back inside. A short while later, Cai Yan with slightly swollen eyes wearing mourning attire, came out and gave Li Ru a deep bow, "Zhaoji pays respect to her uncle."
[bookid=3280030,bookname="Immortal Three Kingdoms"]
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