Deposed 2

Chapter 2. Beyond Reproach

“Master~” “Master~”

The soft, sweet voice, like a kitten’s paws, scratched at one’s heart.

It was also like a mouthful of sticky syrup, threads upon threads, lingering on the throat, a sweetness that reached the very core of one’s heart.

The pear blossoms of March were in full bloom, jade-white and lustrous. The young boy standing beneath the tree with a sword, his eyes like gemstones, meticulously carved from jade, a cute bundle made of snow, was even more pleasing to the eye than the pear blossoms.

“Master!”

The wind rose, and pear blossoms danced in the sky.

The boy spread his snow-white sleeves and pounced, his large eyes sparkling with adoration.

In his light sleep, a faint smile touched the corners of Wei Zhao’s lips, and he reached out his hand.

However, just as he was about to touch that patch of white, the world turned upside down, the dreamscape collapsed, and the small figure in the light disappeared, vanishing into the endless darkness along with the courtyard full of pear blossoms…

The carriage rumbled along. Wei Zhao’s hand, which was propping up his forehead, stiffened, and he abruptly awoke from his dream. In his palm, half of a dragon-shaped jade pendant carved from green jade shimmered faintly. The red thread that held the jade was old and worn in several places, indicating that the pendant was quite old.

Rubbing the surface of the jade was like rubbing that old memory. Another smile touched Wei Zhao’s lips.

After all these years, he wondered where that little fellow was now, how he was doing, and whether he was still as cute and endearing as he was back then.

“Your Lordship?”

Several advisors, who were kneeling in the carriage waiting to offer advice for Marquis Wei’s return to the capital, exchanged glances and secretly gasped.

The iron-fisted, stone-hearted, cold-faced god of death who ruled the northern border with an iron fist, the commander of the 300,000 strong northern frontier army, whom no one in the court dared to provoke—Marquis of Dingbei, Wei Zhao.

Just now, he actually, actually smiled at a jade pendant?

And there was even a hint of tenderness?

Ah, no.

They must be seeing things.

The sun was still rising from the east, how could Marquis Wei smile? It’s already good enough if he doesn’t make you cry.

“Your Lordship, ahead is the Tumen Pass. At our current speed, we will reach the imperial capital in no more than three days.” A personal guard approached and offered hot tea, reporting the progress of their journey.

Wei Zhao lowered his eyes and stirred his tea bowl. Only after the lingering throb from his dream subsided did he raise his eyes and glance at the advisors who were shrinking back across from him. He asked coolly, “So? Are you going to speak in order, or are you going to choke on your tongues and speak all at once?”

The advisors: “…..”

Do they not have any dignity?

It seems—

Indeed, they don’t need any.

“Ahem.” The unlucky representative who was quickly pushed forward carefully observed Wei Zhao’s expression and said, “Everything else is fine, but there is one thing. Upon your return to the capital, we hope Your Lordship will be particularly cautious of the Crown Prince and not act rashly due to the old grudge… ahem… from back then.”

Since receiving the secret decree, Wei Zhao had heard these words at least a hundred times. He merely responded with a noncommittal “hmm” and raised an eyebrow, asking, “What else?”

The advisors stared at Marquis Wei’s hand gently caressing the jade pendant. For some reason, they had a faint feeling that if they said one more word, that jade pendant would surely transform into a deadly flying blade and lop off all their heads in one fell swoop. They wisely shook their heads in unison.

Preserving their lives was paramount, preserving their lives was paramount.

As Marquis Wei’s advisors, they had never possessed such things as backbone and dignity.

***

After the morning court session, Mu Yun took a sedan chair to the Imperial Guard’s duty room.

The passing palace maids saw the handsome young man in bright yellow, with a white jade belt around his waist, sitting regally in the sedan chair. They all blushed secretly and lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at him. They thought to themselves, if only the Crown Prince were the Emperor’s own son, and not the detestable blood of Emperor Wu, how wonderful that would be.

After a short distance, the Second Prince, Mu Xiao, caught up from behind, calling out, “Your Highness, please wait.”

The eunuchs had no choice but to stop the sedan chair.

“Greetings to Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

Although he was very resentful of the one who had usurped his rightful place, Mu Xiao still swallowed his pride and performed the proper etiquette.

The eunuchs carrying the sedan chair were puzzled. The Second Prince, relying on the favor of his mother, Noble Consort Su, and the power of his maternal grandfather’s family, the Su clan, was always arrogant and domineering. He was like fire and water with the Crown Prince. Why would he come to strike up a conversation today?

Mu Yun half-closed his eyes, not even lifting his eyelids, and lazily said, “If you have something to say, say it directly. I am weak and will not get off the sedan chair to return the courtesy to my Imperial Brother.”

Mu Xiao: “…..”

Have you no shame? Last year at the Western Mountain Autumn Hunt, who was it that shot two birds with one arrow and stole his first place! And now you have the face to say you are weak??

“Hmm?” Seeing that Mu Xiao remained silent for a long time, Mu Yun finally lifted his eyelids slightly and said impatiently, “If Imperial Brother has nothing else, I will take my leave.”

“Wait!”

Mu Xiao forced a smile and tried to make it look sincere, saying, “It’s nothing major. Your Highness must have heard the news of the Marquis of Dingbei’s return to the capital. I heard that Eldest Brother and Fourth and Fifth Brothers have all prepared gifts. I wonder what Your Highness plans to give. I am inquiring in advance to avoid any impropriety.”

After saying this, Mu Xiao calmly observed Mu Yun’s reaction.

Of course, he knew about the old grudge between Mu Yun and Wei Zhao. His purpose today was not really to inquire about gifts, but to see Mu Yun make a fool of himself and to vent the resentment that had been building up inside him for years.

The Eldest Prince, Mu Jue, because he had been a hostage in the imperial capital since childhood, was sickly and of little use. If it were not for Mu Yun, he would be the one wearing the bright yellow brocade robe and sitting in the sedan chair. He would be the one commanding the entire Imperial Guard.

This detestable former Crown Prince not only stole the glory and honor that rightfully belonged to him but also stole the unique affection of his Imperial Father! The thought that this person was finally going to meet his downfall filled Mu Xiao with glee. So, as soon as the court session ended today, he rushed over, eager to use Wei Zhao to provoke Mu Yun.

Mu Xiao hoped to see something like panic or fear on the other’s face, even if it was just a pale complexion, bloodless lips, or a slight tremor in his body.

However, Mu Yun merely uttered a faint “oh” and said, “Imperial Brother is overthinking. The items bestowed upon me by Imperial Father are always unique. I can just pick any two and send them over. If you want to be improper… I’m afraid it will be very difficult.”

“Of course, unless they are fakes.”

Mu Xiao: “…..”

He really wanted to kill someone.

***

It was already a quarter past the hour of Chen (7:45 am) when they arrived at the Imperial Guard’s duty room. The Deputy Commander, Ji Huai, who had also come from the morning court, was already directing the troops in their drills.

Regarding the fact that he was late again, and late by half an hour, His Highness, the Crown Prince, was calm and composed.

After all, the sedan chair moved slowly, and he was noble and weak, so he had to take the sedan chair!

“Your Highness, Your Highness, Deputy Commander Su is trying to sneak off to the Grand Secretariat again to badmouth you to the ministers. He has been captured by the brothers. How should we deal with him?”

Seeing Mu Yun’s arrival, Ji Huai immediately ran over like a loyal dog to report the situation and seek credit.

He was originally just a lowly illegitimate son, bullied and overlooked in the Imperial Guard, which was full of noble sons. It was Mu Yun who discovered his talent and promoted him to the position of Deputy Commander. From then on, Ji Huai embarked on the path of sucking up to the Crown Prince, never to return.

The Deputy Commander Su he mentioned was Noble Consort Su’s younger brother, the Second Prince Mu Xiao’s maternal uncle, the son of the General Assisting the State^[1], Su Gui, Su Yulin. He was a notorious dandy in the capital, proficient in all manner of debauchery, from eating and drinking to whoring and gambling, cockfighting and dog racing. He only got into the Imperial Guard because of Noble Consort Su’s connections. Before the Crown Prince took charge of the Imperial Guard, he often bullied those of humble origins like Ji Huai.

The other’s family was powerful and influential, and he was also a member of the imperial family. Initially, Ji Huai was unwilling to provoke him.

But Su Yulin always had it in for his dear benefactor—His Highness, the Crown Prince. Every few days, he would run to the Grand Secretariat and the Emperor to badmouth him, making His Highness’s fondness for being late and leaving early known throughout the city.

This, Ji Huai could not tolerate.

Just now, before His Highness’s sedan chair arrived, Su Yulin was sneaking out, obviously intending to badmouth him again, so that the old men in the Grand Secretariat could catch His Highness in the act. When it reached the Emperor, his dear Highness would probably be punished and suffer again.

Ji Huai couldn’t bear to imagine such a tragic scene, so he decided to take action. He had Su Yulin knocked unconscious and stuffed into a sack.

The enemy of His Highness is his enemy.

If he didn’t show his loyalty now, when would he?

Mu Yun nodded and asked without surprise, “Where is he?”

“Just outside.”

Ji Huai waved his hand, and two Imperial Guards carried a large sack inside. They deliberately lifted it high before throwing it heavily to the ground.

There was a loud thud, and Su Yulin was jolted awake, letting out a painful groan.

It sounded very painful.

Mu Yun signaled for Ji Huai to untie the sack.

Su Yulin, with a rag stuffed in his mouth and his body bound tightly, struggled to get his head out. Upon seeing Mu Yun, as if seeing his mortal enemy, he immediately started struggling and making muffled noises.

“Untie the Deputy Commander.”

Mu Yun picked up a booklet and said leisurely.

“Mu Yun, you bastard! How dare you let these lowly things harm this Imperial Uncle! Aren’t you afraid that I will report this to the Emperor and have him severely punish you!”

Su Yulin cursed loudly, glaring fiercely at Ji Huai and the others.

Although he held the same rank as the other, his family was in decline and without power, while the other was the Emperor’s brother-in-law. Ji Huai couldn’t help but feel a little guilty, and he quickly looked to his dear Crown Prince for help.

Mu Yun let out a chuckle from his nose.

Su Yulin felt deeply humiliated and asked with an almost savage expression, “What are you laughing at?!”

Mu Yun propped up his chin, leisurely flipping through the roster in his hand, not even lifting his eyelids, and said, “Oh. Then, Deputy Commander, feel free to report it. You harbored ill intentions and attempted to harm this Crown Prince. This Crown Prince, in self-defense, ordered his men to subdue you. Whether the crime of harming the Crown Prince or the crime of harming an Imperial Uncle is greater, let the Emperor and the Grand Secretaries judge.”

“…..”

Su Yulin’s mouth fell open, completely shocked.

How could there be such a shameless person in the world!

Mu Yun blinked and nodded very confidently at Imperial Uncle Su.

Yes, that’s right.

This Crown Prince is the heir apparent. What this Crown Prince says goes. No objections allowed.

Ji Huai, very much in tune, said, “That’s right. This subordinate is willing to testify for His Highness, the Crown Prince. It was Imperial Uncle Su who acted improperly first, and His Highness only fought back.”

The Imperial Guards standing outside the duty room also chimed in, “We are also willing to testify for His Highness. It was Imperial Uncle Su who was disrespectful, it was Imperial Uncle Su who overstepped his bounds!”

“…..”

Is there no justice left in the world!

Suddenly being accused of such a grave crime, Su Yulin, in a fit of rage, coughed up a mouthful of black blood, which splattered all over the Imperial Guard’s duty room.

Before fainting, Su Yulin, holding onto his last breath, glared fiercely at Mu Yun, “Wei Zhao is returning to the capital. Let’s see how long you can remain arrogant!”

Mu Yun lowered his eyes, his long, thick eyelashes concealing all his emotions. After a long moment, he chuckled softly, “Imperial Uncle should worry about his own two legs first.”

The entire nation knew that two years ago, when the Mu Dynasty was at war with the Western Di, the Su family took the opportunity to send Su Yulin to the northern frontier, hoping he could gain some military merit and return to the court for a good position. However, Su Yulin, after only half a month, relying on his status as Imperial Uncle, violated two military regulations: “consorting with prostitutes” and “drunkenness.” In Wei Zhao’s eyes, the title of Imperial Uncle was no different from trash. He had Su Yulin tied up, his mouth gagged, and severely beaten with a hundred military rods. Su Yulin was beaten until his skin was torn and his flesh was lacerated, almost losing a leg. In a fit of rage, he took advantage of Wei Zhao leading the troops into battle and stole a horse, fleeing back to the capital.

As a frontier general, returning to the capital without an imperial decree was a serious crime. The General Assisting the State, Su Gui, was so furious that he almost opened the ancestral hall and invoked the family law to beat this unfilial son to death, but he was stopped by Old Madam Su. Later, it was Noble Consort Su who pleaded with the Emperor, falsely claiming that Su Yulin was suffering from dysentery and was on the verge of death, unable to endure the wind and sand of the northern frontier. Only then did the Emperor show mercy and spare Su Yulin from punishment.

Others might not know whether Su Yulin had dysentery, but Wei Zhao, as the commander-in-chief, surely knew. If he were to submit a report, the Su family and Noble Consort Su would be guilty of deceiving the Emperor.

Now, with Mu Yun hitting his sore spot, Su Yulin’s pupils contracted, a certain part of his body twitched reflexively, and he could no longer hold on, fainting from sheer exhaustion.

“Quickly summon the military physician to examine the Little Imperial Uncle.”

Mu Yun thoughtfully instructed and picked up a pen to circle the name “Su Yulin” on the roster, adding a note: Insubordination, half a month’s salary deducted, effective immediately.

 

***

 

“Lin’er? Lin’er? Let your sister see, how did you end up vomiting blood.”

In Qingjia Palace, Noble Consort Su stared in shock at her pitiful, half-dead brother being carried in. She furiously demanded, “Who dares to bully the Imperial Uncle to such a state!”

Su Yulin, full of blood and tears, “It was Mu Yun.”

The Second Prince, Mu Xiao, also happened to be paying his respects to Noble Consort Su, and also happened to have just been angered by Mu Yun. The uncle and nephew exchanged a look, the flames of indignant fury leaping in their eyes, a sense of camaraderie between two aggrieved parties.

Noble Consort Su knew her brother’s character all too well. Hearing the answer, she immediately understood what had happened. She snorted and chided, “This consort has warned you many times not to provoke the Crown Prince. Why do you never listen?”

Su Yulin looked up with a wronged expression.

“Alright, Ah-Jie knows you did it to vent your anger for me and Xiao’er. But think about it, that one has experienced two dynasties, both as the Crown Prince. How can his schemes and methods be something you can compare to? Just look at the times you’ve clashed with him, have you ever gained any advantage? Do you really think that a few complaints will get him removed from the position of Crown Prince?”

Su Yulin thought about it. It seemed he had never gained any advantage. Although he had made many complaints, each time Mu Yun had cleverly talked his way out of it, while he himself had been maliciously retaliated against and beaten to a pulp several times.

Thinking this, he felt even more wronged.

Based on the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, the Second Prince, Mu Xiao, immediately chimed in, “Mother, don’t blame Little Uncle. He only sought out Mu Yun because he couldn’t stand seeing me being bullied.”

Noble Consort Su’s expression changed instantly, “The Crown Prince bullied you?”

How could her brother compare to her precious son? Noble Consort Su’s protective instincts immediately kicked in.

“Yes.” Mu Xiao skipped over the part where he retaliated and embellished the events of the morning, saying, “On the surface, he was showing off to your son, but in reality, he was indirectly insulting you, Mother.”

Since Noble Consort Hui became pregnant, the Emperor had been spending less time at Qingjia Palace, and naturally, the rewards had also dwindled. Noble Consort Su already hated Noble Consort Hui for bewitching the Emperor. Now, hearing someone insinuate that she was out of favor, how could she possibly analyze rationally how much of Mu Xiao’s words were true or false? She pulled her son up, “Let’s go. To Chengqing Hall!”