Xiao Zhun’s mind was unsettled, and his pace quickened of its own accord. By the time he reached the entrance of Yuanhe Hall, he came face to face with Prime Minister Bai Zhaoyu.
Xiao Zhun raised an eyebrow. He had made straight for this place after court was dismissed. Within the Tiancheng Imperial Palace, running was forbidden for all except those delivering military reports; within the first layer of palace walls, even quick walking was prohibited. So he had simply walked briskly — yet his soldier’s stride was longer than most to begin with. He had not expected the old Prime Minister’s legs to prove considerably more nimble than he looked.
Bai Zhaoyu looked up and saw Xiao Zhun, then lowered his gaze again, coughing twice as he caught his breath. The heavy court robes he wore seemed ready to press the breath out of him.
Xiao Zhun bowed his head in greeting. “Prime Minister.”
Bai Zhaoyu composed himself and returned the salute. “Grand General Xiao.”
Xiao Zhun carried two titles — Qinghuai Marquis, and Grand General of the Cavalry. But in private, court officials preferred to address him as Grand General rather than Qinghuai Marquis.
Qinghuai — “Cherishing Qing.”
Qing was the personal name of the late Prince Shuo, Xiao Qing. The title had been conceived with deliberate care when the emperor bestowed it. It was a name others could say without difficulty, but hearing it in his own ears always brought Xiao Zhun a measure of pain — so except for the man upon the throne, most people simply called him General, or Marquis. Few ever invoked the words “Qinghuai.”
“Is the General here to see His Majesty? What matter has brought you, if I may ask?”
Xiao Zhun paused only a moment before answering directly. “I have come regarding the matter of sending troops to Bijiang.”
Bai Zhaoyu, who had long since refined himself into something like a fox, had only asked as a formality — he had almost certainly guessed the reason long before.
Bai Zhaoyu gave a light cough and looked at Xiao Zhun with an expression that was half a smile and half something else. “I hear the Qinghuai Marquis went to the palace yesterday as well, seeking an audience with His Majesty on this very matter. Did His Majesty grant him a private audience and discuss it with him?”
Xiao Zhun went still at that, and then fell into silence.
He had entered the palace yesterday before the third watch of the night, together with Grand Commandant Xuyou and Military Commander Ma Mengren. Any one of the three would ordinarily warrant a royal audience — let alone all three together.
But the emperor had only called the three of them to wait in a side hall, remaining behind a curtain as he kept them company for roughly an hour, spending most of that time watching them debate among themselves. After an hour, the emperor said no more — yet kept all three of them in the side hall for a meal. By midday, Xuyou and Ma Mengren had each taken their leave, and Xiao Zhun, unwilling to give up, stayed a while longer — only to have a eunuch carry out a puzzle box, with the message that if Xiao Zhun could solve the interlocking mechanism, His Majesty would be willing to meet with him in person.
Puzzle boxes were notoriously intricate, and this particular one was especially troublesome. Xiao Zhun worked at it until night had fallen and still could not solve it. He asked to take it back to the mansion and think it over — only to be told it could not leave the palace. He had no choice but to give it up.
Looking back now, it was clear the emperor had been deliberately making things difficult for him.
“To be candid with the Prime Minister — His Majesty has rarely been willing to discuss the matter of pacification with me face to face of late. Even when it came to the recent feudal unrest, there was no talk of sending troops. Today’s court session was the first chance to raise it in some time, yet even then I was barred from leading the campaign…”
“General.” Bai Zhaoyu interrupted him gently. “What the General speaks of is a decision handed down by His Majesty. Where there is a decision, there is a purpose behind it. A minister’s greatest failing is to question too much; between ruler and subject, the greatest danger is too much suspicion. Does the General not agree?”
Xiao Zhun looked into the old Prime Minister’s bright, steady eyes, and for a brief moment felt as though he were looking at his late father, who had often offered such counsel in the old days. In those times, he had always been high-spirited and proud, and had never been willing to lower his head.
He had changed a great deal since then. Yet whenever this particular matter arose, he still could not bring himself to pretend he did not care.
“Does the Prime Minister know what it means — to have a grievance that cannot be laid to rest?”
Bai Zhaoyu suppressed a quiet sigh, and in the next instant had drawn his gaze away again. “Even a three-year-old child wandering the streets of Quecheng could tell you the General’s heart — how would His Majesty not know it too? The General’s feelings are not difficult to read. But His Majesty’s heart is — and the General would do well to reflect carefully. Ahem — this old minister has an appointment with His Majesty for tea. Would the General care to join?”
Xiao Zhun thought of that puzzle box waiting outside the side hall the other day, and something settled quietly into place within him.
“In that case, I will trouble the Prime Minister to show me the way.”
Bai Zhaoyu glanced at the man beside him — seemingly unaware of a single thought passing through his mind — and smiled pleasantly as he walked on ahead.
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