Ji Yunshu thought he had fallen asleep and felt that perhaps her trip today was in vain.
Unexpectedly, Old General Li suddenly sighed. In a heavy tone, he started retelling the event. “I and the Imperial Duke were best friends. During the reign of the previous Emperor, he was bestowed the title of King of Peace. At that time, the current Emperor was merely the powerless eighth prince. Conflicts and struggles within the imperial family are endless, and the King of Peace hated vying for power, so he let the eighth prince become the crown prince. After the previous emperor died, the eighth prince ascended to the throne, taking on the regnal title – Qi Zhen, one with great fortune. Not long after, the current Emperor bestowed the Imperial Duke title on the King of Peace, making him remain in the capital. Although he was granted a higher status, his power was inversely proportional to his elated status, akin to a domesticated tiger whose teeth and claws have been plucked.”
Ji Yunshu understood the logic behind Qi Zhen’s actions. His four sons were granted the same treatment as the Imperial Duke. He merely promoted their statuses but didn’t bestow any land on them. He granted them estates, but they had to be built within the Capital. He even went as far as forbidding them from having private forces. If they left the capital, they had to dispatch a messenger every three days to inform of their whereabouts. Hence, it could be said that Qi Zhen continued to domesticate any individual at risk of jeopardizing his position.
Ji Yunshu continued to patiently listen to the old man while looking at the vapors emanating from her teacup.
“The so-called monarch and vassals relationship… after having experienced three emperors reign, this old man was getting quite fed up, so I resigned from my post and returned to Qinzhou for retirement. After more than 10 years of such a life, I could say that I am happy and relaxed despite having a very disappointing son and also a very disappointing grandson. If I was still healthy as I was in my younger days, they would be dead and buried. This world would have a few idiots less.”
He slapped his thigh as he spoke those words.
Although there was anger in his words, his expression remained calm and indolent. “Talking about my son, that bastard with no prospect in life, he was actually granted an official position and passed his days being idle. When Zhao’er was young, he was a fine child, but as he grew up, he became a disappointment – gambling all day, turning into the little bastard he is today. If I had known earlier, I would have choked him in infancy. It would have made the world a little better. Also…”
He continued to chatter about trivial matters. They were finally able to broach the Imperial Duke matter, but once again, the old man deviated the subject to his son and grandson. Ji Yunshu endured. She guessed that today she would, unfortunately, continue to drink more tea. Since there was no other choice, she might as well be an ear for this old man’s ramblings.
After he finished grumbling about his son, daughter, then grandson and a whole lot of other family members, he finally returned to the main topic. “Far from the intrigues of the court and the battlefield, my mind had relaxed, but I didn’t stop inquiring about the matter inside the capital. During those idle years, the Imperial Duke visited me many times, mostly to play chess, or discuss some poetry and books. And then, one day, fourteen years ago, he suddenly approached me about the troops I had in Qingzhou. Even after talking for a moment, I didn’t notice anything strange. However, when he returned to the Capital, his residence burned to the ground. All the exits were sealed, and all the guards inside had been transferred to somewhere else. Everything is far from simple. Who can predict when calamity will come knocking on the door?” A heavy sigh concluded his narration.
Ji Yunshu asked, “The Imperial Duke only inquired about the troops’ transfer? Did he mention anything else?”
He waved his hand and shook his head. “No. Nothing else. That damn old thing didn’t show any suspicious signs. This old man wants to dig him up and ask him what he found in the end.” When he was done talking, he laboriously got up, turned around and walked to another screen. He slowly sat beside it.
“It’s getting late. You should go back. Whatever you wanted to know, I have already told you.” His voice weakened.
What? That’s it? But you didn’t tell me anything worthwhile! Don’t you have anything else to say?