Book 14: Chapter 24
Post-Meeting
“One of the reasons I allowed Liu Shan Men to fall from grace was because I was displeased with your s.h.i.+fu’s ridiculousness. The other reason was for balancing power in the imperial court. I don’t hide anything from you as I consider you my daughter. At its peak, Liu Shan Men had so much power that it was close to being out of control. Never in our dynasty’s history had one of the three offices held so much power. Admittedly, my support for your father played a role in that, but Yan s.h.i.+san and his capabilities were undeniable.
“Your father was the centre of their generation. Ye Yun, Muren and Ling Long all orbited around him. He was the best candidate to maintain the balance between the three offices. Yan s.h.i.+san was a genius you’d only find once in a century. Frankly, Liu Shan Men was probably capable of anything and everything if they were independent during that time. I would never have allowed such a powerful force to exist if I wasn’t friends with your father and if your clan wasn’t loyal. Even with your father and Yan s.h.i.+san at the helm, Liu Shan Men started to change for the worse in later years. That was why I didn’t stop Liu Shan Men’s downfall, so I am partly to blame for its current state.”
I watched His Majesty’s expression turn bitter as he recalled the sorrowful memories, never taking my eyes of his airborne b.u.m cheek. I held my fist up in front of my mouth and bit down on my thumb so that I wouldn’t laugh.
“Frankly, the Qilin Guards are on the same trajectory as Liu Shan Men was, but I know w.a.n.g Muren is intolerant and harsh. The Qilin Guards have peaked. It’s Liu Shan Men’s turn to rise again.”
Boss smiled as though she expected to hear that, that not being the permission to rebuild but the consideration reserved for her.
“While it appears that I’ve demoted you, I’ve actually promoted you. The security of the capital is in safe hands. Should something befall it, like this time, The Ultimate Three will step in. Liu Shan Men’s abilities are limited in its current immature state. Go and establish yourselves. As for the branch in the capital, you can leave it to its own device once you have finished setting up. Your female constables seem quite good. I’m aware you’ve been recruiting subordinates. Have you already started planning for a branch outside of the capital?”
“Indeed.” Boss smiled. “Once upon a time, Liu Shan Men’s constables were ubiquitous across the land. I cannot limit Liu Shan Men to the capital since I have inherited my father’s will. I have dispatched a team to search for our erstwhile comrades, but they will return to holding down forts outside of the capital.”
His Majesty proudly smiled upon hearing Boss’ plan.
“Regarding the headquarters in the capital, I am not concerned. Besides, do we not have a captain in charge here?‘
“Hah, Song Clan… Song Clan!” Feeling so inflamed that he couldn’t think of anything to say besides repeating “Song Clan” twice went to show how inflamed His Majesty was. “He has some nerve agreeing to the engagement. Had you not talked me out of it, I would’ve personally gone to Yangzhou myself.”
“Patriarch Song is a reasonable man. It was my request. Had I not promised to convince y-”
“Convince me, right?! You making a promise is one thing. How dare he agree?! Had it not been for you, would the engagement have ever gone through?! As for Song Ou, I want to smash him whenever I’m reminded of him. He didn’t speak up for you once when I scolded you. Is that how a husband ought to be?!”
“Uncle, you know that w-”
“That’s it!” His Majesty got to his feet vigorously, forgetting all about his injury. “The more I think about it, the madder I get. I’m going to go back and find an excuse to make him suffer. I’d like to see him do something about it!”
As he limped out, His Majesty said, “Don’t worry about seeing me out. I have carriage parked outside.” As he pa.s.sed by me, he told me, “Do as you see fit. I’ll back you.”
“Your subject will bear it in mind.”
Silence permeated the room for a while after we courteously saw His Majesty out.
Boss and I looked to each other.
“… Pfft! Hahaha!”
“Hahaha!”
We rolled around on the floor as we laughed.
“Boss, I can’t believe you could hold it in until now. I had to bite my finger from when His Majesty started gazing into the sky.”
Boss wore on a straight face. “You know I laugh easily! Don’t you dare use Uncle’s b.u.m to… puhahaha!”
We continued laughing for a good ten minutes.
“Don’t use Uncle’s injury for comedy.” Boss wiped her tears with her hand that wasn’t wrapped around her tummy.
“I… I’ll do my best,” I breathlessly replied.
Was it my fault His Majesty hurt his b.u.t.t of all places? No.
“Okay, that’s enough laughing. What did you want to tell me?”
“A lot of stuff. Sit back down.” I didn’t even know where to start, so I just randomly chose the fighting contest. When I went to move on to cheating in the exams, I picked up on a presence. “Come in.”
“You are as impressive as ever.” Yuan Kou flipped through the window.
The fact that Boss didn’t even spare Yuan Kou a glance indicated that her internal energy had gone up another notch again. Though I sensed him first, she sensed him before I could call him out.
Yuan Kou couldn’t take his eyes off Boss. “Eh, greetings, hehehe. I am Sir Ming’s most trusted subordinate. My name is…”
“Hey, hey, hey, mind your manners. Remove your filthy paws. Are you qualified to touch Vice-Captain Shen’s hand?” I took Boss’ hand and pulled it over to myself. “Even I have yet to touch it. What’s all the fuss about that you even had to come here for me?”
“Uh…” Yuan Kou glanced in Boss’ direction.
I wagged my hand. “Speak without reserve. What Vice-Captain Shen says is what I say. You should treat her as you would treat me.”
Boss smiled at me as if to convey, “That’s what I thought.”
“Feizhen.”
“Yes.”
“You going to let go?”
“Huh? Oh, I forgot. Sorry.”
My dorky smile put a smile on Boss’ face.
“You should protect your secrets. I have things I have to do, too. You two talk.”
As Yuan Kou ogled Boss leave, he grinned to himself. “Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
“Want me to make you groan instead?! Speak Mandarin.”
“Uh, as per your instructions, your subject waited at Eight Deities all day for the fights. Zhao Tiankui came by.”
“And? Did anything special happen?”
“Not special, but hehehe… I lost.”
“That’s it?”
… Wait.
“You lost?!”