novelraw Chapter 836 - 814: Memorial Tablet
Chapter 836 - 814: Memorial Tablet
When Fang Chuning returned, the daylight was bright. Xie Jue, waiting for him, had not yet taken his breakfast. Despite Fang Chuning’s somewhat slow steps upon entering, his expression remained usual, showing no signs of anything amiss. Along the way, he greeted the soldiers, smiling warmly, which eased Xie Jue’s anxious heart. Waving at him, Fang Chuning sat beside him, casually grabbed a hot towel to wipe his hands, then picked up a baked pancake to eat, "I’m starving."
Xie Jue, unhurriedly, served him a bowl of hot porridge and placed it in front of him, asking dispassionately, "Went out at midnight, came back at dawn, where did you go?"
"The spies from Jiangnan had something to discuss with me." Fang Chuning did not conceal anything, as hiding would be foolish. Ying San would have known such signals and naturally heard them. Whatever Xie Jue wanted to know, he could ask his Shadow Guard.
Xie Jue continued, "What did the Marshal want you for?"
Fang Chuning devoured half a pancake and drank half a bowl of porridge, ravenously, as if starved for days, "Father Marshal has some unfinished matters in Sannan that require my arrangement. I might need to frequently contact the spies in the coming days."
"Specifically what matters?" Xie Jue pressed on for details. The two knew each other too well, having a mutual understanding. Fang Chuning had numerous ways to keep things from him, yet Xie Jue was adamant about knowing everything.
If it were the Yuwen Dynasty, Fang Chuning could still use military secrets as an excuse. But now, such excuses wouldn’t work, as Prince Yan, being a royal prince, had the authority to inquire about all military secrets.
Fang Chuning said, "Father Marshal had placed many spies in Sannan. The earliest batch of spies had settled there, establishing families. Some have even become unreachable. Before leaving, he gave me a list and hoped I could find the missing spies and, if they had betrayed, to kill them on the spot. Some spies who have settled in Sannan for many years and wish to return to their homeland would also need arrangements from me. They can return secretly with the envoy this time."
He had found the most reasonable explanation on his way back, which was logical and flawless. Xie Jue’s expression softened, saying faintly, "Is that all?"
"Ting Feng, are you interrogating me?"
"Yes!"
Fang Chuning rolled his eyes inelegantly, "There are no secrets between us. What have I ever hidden from you?"
"Countless." Xie Jue sneered, "Back then, you reached Beiman before me, and I wasn’t aware. Even the first time you appeared before me, I didn’t know it was you, and you didn’t say anything."
"Bringing up old scores, huh?" Fang Chuning pleaded, "Husband, spare me, I was wrong, do as you will—hit or scold—I won’t resist."
One word, "husband," extinguished Xie Jue’s nitpicking mindset, sparing him for now. Unable to resist, he asked, "Have many spies from Jiangnan gone missing?"
"Four have gone missing, and it’s unclear if they are dead or alive, unreachable by others. Among them, two had settled, and their whole families have disappeared without a trace. Perhaps they have defected and fled." Fang Chuning spoke nonchalantly, truthfully, without fabrication. It wouldn’t be hard for Xie Jue to verify, Fang Chuning said, "If they did flee, it’d actually be unnecessary. Jiangnan spies here don’t bear heavy tasks; they mainly collect intel on Sannan to send back to the border. Betrayal isn’t necessary. If they defect, the Sannan Royal Family would offer them sanctuary, making escape unnecessary. Now is not yet the time for Sannan’s return."
"When did it happen?"
"Two vanished six months ago, and two a year ago," Fang Chuning said. "Father Marshal is busy dealing with the enemy, having no time for spies. Chen Yesheng is responsible for this side but hasn’t found anything substantial."
"Need Ying Yi to help you investigate?"
"No need. You handle the negotiation; I’ll do the checking. No rush!" Fang Chuning smiled, very relaxed, putting Xie Jue’s suspicions to rest. As long as the Marshal wasn’t sending someone to take him back, it was fine. Then, a question arose: was the information too slow in reaching the Marshal? Had he not yet received it? Fang Chuning waved his hand in front of him, "What are you thinking? Not eating your breakfast."
"Nothing!" Xie Jue put aside his doubts, "If you say so, I’ll believe you."
After breakfast, Xie Jue needed to go out; High Priest Du Fang had an appointment with him. Fang Chuning did not accompany him. After staying out all night, he was somewhat sleepy, with Lin Xiao and the Shadow Guard providing escort.
As Xie Jue left, Fang Chuning clutched his waist and abdomen, frowning in pain. In a duel, Chen Yesheng and the spies couldn’t defeat him, but he couldn’t fend off four hands with two fists either. Though Chen Yesheng said he didn’t bring anyone, in fact, six spies surrounded him. After the battles, Fang Chuning was injured. Fortunately, he went barehanded; they didn’t use swords or knives, only sustaining invisible injuries—a large bruise on his waist and abdomen, not damaging the ribs. Chen Yesheng was ordered to take him back by any means, without harming him, both sides reached a stalemate. Fang Chuning fought his way out, walking away with swagger. To take him away, they’d have to carry his corpse. The matter stumped Chen Yesheng, who could only write to inform the Marshal again, not daring to act without further orders.
What he discussed with Xie Jue about the missing spies wasn’t entirely deceitful, as finding out the spies’ whereabouts was one of his tasks in Mudan City—to find them, dead or alive.
Such brutal tactics!
The spies took orders from the Father Marshal. If he really commanded them to take him back regardless of life or death, they would dare to make a move. Fang Chuning’s eyes turned icy cold as he looked into the distance.
He had already planned step by step to let him know, and naturally wasn’t afraid now.
At worst... get expelled from the family and removed from the family genealogy!
Xie Jue met Du Fang at the Priest Temple; the temple was splendid and magnificent. A nine-story pagoda stood midway up the mountain—it was Mudan City’s most ornate building, towering as if in the clouds, overlooking all. Beneath the temple was a Nine Curved Corridor, before which was a temple dedicated to offering prayers, serving the people’s worship and supplication. The true power center lay within the nine-story pagoda.
The lowest story of the nine-story pagoda held the memorial tablets of deceased members of the Sannan Royal Family and elders of the Priest Court. These tablets received continuous offerings and cleansings by priests, much like Beining’s Imperial Temple. Unlike the Imperial Temple, though, here, besides the royal and priest tablets, ordinary ministers, no matter their achievements, couldn’t enter.
The High Priest said, "We once set up a memorial for the eldest Princess; now that you’ve returned to Sannan, it’s time for you to offer incense to her. Our Sannan Princess shouldn’t have ended up in Beining, being someone’s concubine, a maid subject to bullying."
Looking at his birth mother’s tablet, Xie Jue couldn’t help but recall her gentle humor, liveliness, and cuteness. His mother and Aunt Lan liked her very much, treating her as a sister. Among his mother and the two aunts, Aunt Mudan was the most carefree and lively. The winds and rains outside the Marquis Mansion were always shielded by his mother. Inside the Marquis Mansion, it was like perpetual spring, his mother living an immortal-like life, always pampered like a naive little princess.
Why did the Sannan Royal Family feel the Marquis Mansion had failed his birth mother?