Chapter 17 – The General Estate Lacks a Maid

The next day, the county office entrance was crowded with people who came for support food. Chiyun Yuexuan’s soldiers stood in two lines to maintain order.

The food had yet to be distributed when a hubbub suddenly broke out. Some young and strong men amongst the crowd pushed back the women, children and the weak, then rushed ahead themselves. When the soldiers used their spears to block the rushing crowd and push them back to their original position, these men instantly shouted, “What Grand General? He basically doesn’t honestly want to distribute food, he’s only putting on an act. Don’t believe in his rubbish, everyone. Let’s grab the food for ourselves all together!”

Kept in the dark, the people believed their words. Everyone tried to rush to the front and grab the food, and the situation quickly spun out of control. One after the other, the commoners pushed and squeezed themselves forward, while the infirm and frail were shoved to the ground and trampled on. Cries and screams quickly filled the area.

Seeing things go south, Chiyun Yuexuan grabbed his Red Python Heavenslayer Halberd and slammed it on the platform. With a loud “clank bang” sound, a piece bluestone shattered and left a large pit at his feet. Overawed by his presence, the turbulent crowd gradually quietened down. However, while most were intimidated, the young men still didn’t give up on causing a disturbance and continued to rush to the front.

Chiyun Yuexuan drew a gleaming arc in the air with his halberd. After the slash, a bloody head rolled on the ground. Someone shouted from within the crowd, “The grand general is a murderer! He’s killing innocent people! Everyone, let’s put up a fight and kill this evil official who uses the name of giving out support to murder innocent refugees!”

After the shout passed, the crowd was still quiet, no one dared to move forward. The young general stood on the platform holding his spear like a messenger of hell, his entire body exuding an imposing breath that denied all disobedience. After the crowd had completely quietened down, Chiyun Yuexuan ordered for the men who made a fuss to be tied up and brought onto the platform.

Chiyun Yuexuan squinted those phoenix eyes of his and sized up these men, his dangerous aura made their blood run cold. The one who led the disturbance couldn’t withstand the pressure Chiyun Yuexuan was giving off. He quickly confessed that he was acting under the orders of the county magistrate and even identified several associates. The others also knelt down and repeatedly banged their heads against the ground, begging Chiyun Yuexuan to forgive them, saying that they were coerced into it.

The chaos caused many commoners to be injured. A weak elderly woman and three young children were trampled to death. Chiyun Yuexuan’s heart ached. He ordered the supervising soldiers to adjust the lines of people and quickly distribute the food. He also resolved to absolutely not let these corrupt officials off. However, there was something more important to do for now. He still needed to make a trip to Yanshan, since the situation there was very serious as well.

By the time of Chiyun Yuexuan’s departure, overall, the victims of Yuliang had been properly arranged and the situation had taken the first step toward relief. The people sounded the drums and beat the gongs to see Chiyun Yuexuan off with zest. They even offered a plaque with huge letters: “Trusted Arm of the Country.” Chiyun Yuexuan felt that this was much more than he should deserve. Amidst the loud shouts of “Hooray to General Chiyun,” he cupped his hands and bowed to the people with tears in his eyes, before solemnly accepting the plaque.

The situation in Yanshan wasn’t any better than Yuliang, but the local officials here had heard of the grand general’s actions in Yuliang. Scared out of their wits, the officials returned the money they took and released the grain in advance. Basically, when Chiyun Yuexuan arrived, the problem was already solved.

Chiyun Yuexuan summoned all of the local officials. Then, he ordered a record assistant in Yanshan County Office to make a transcript their confessions about stealing support silver and have it signed. After that, this was delivered to Yan Feng in the capital.

After the post-disaster situation was handled, Chiyun Yuexuan continued to station at Fuling Pass. Only up until he received Yan Feng’s summon did the general make his triumphant return.

After hearing Chiyun Yuexuan’s complete narration, Yan Feng said after a long consideration, “This is what they call using power to bully, extort, privately execute court-officials, and suppress the refugees in the petition? However, I cannot just rely on the words of General Chiyun alone. I shall personally send people to Yuliang and Yanshan to investigate before processing this according to the situation. In the meantime, General Chiyun still needs to lay down his rights to military leadership and stand by in the capital.”

Chiyun Yuexuan respectfully accepted the decree as the court broke into a discussion.

After the court, a eunuch chased after Chiyun Yuexuan and told him the emperor was waiting to see him in the Imperial Study.

Inside the Imperial Study, Yan Feng’s mind seemed to have drifted away. Chiyun Yuexun personally bringing Murong Zhining away the previous night did anger him a little. When Chiyun Yuexuan followed the eunuch into the room, he paid his respects to Yan Feng, who then told him to take a seat. The two sat on wooden couch by the window, between them were two cups of fragrant tea.

Chiyun Yuexuan had been buddies with Yan Feng since little, so he didn’t feel restrained in front of Yan Feng. He stood up and looked around the room curiously, casually asking what Yan Feng had summoned him here for.

Yan Feng hesitated for what seemed like half a day, then finally said, “I heard that yesterday, you took a maid from Minghui Palace.”

Chiyun Yuexuan’s eyes were fixed on a copper barrel , touching as he examined it. “How does an insignificant palace maid get His Majesty so hung up on her?” In fact, if Yan Feng hadn’t mentioned this, he would have forgotten about Murong Zhining already.

Yan Feng took a sip of his tea. “Murong Zhining isn’t a palace maid, but a witness in a case. Wasn’t it a little bit inappropriate for you to take her away on your own initiative?”

Chiyun Yuexuan stopped before a calligraphy painting and carefully observed it. “I have heard of Zhuang Cheng case. Didn’t Your Majesty have him executed? Since the case was closed, keeping a servant like Murong Zhining in the palace isn’t appropriate either, not to mention that the imperial noble consort dislikes her. I just happen to lack a maid. How about Your Majesty grant her to me?”

Yan Feng sternly said, “Out of the question. If you lack a maid, I will personally select a few palace maids for you to take away as you like. Just send that girl Murong Zhining back here.”

Chiyun Yuexuan could hear the decisiveness in Yan Feng’s voice, so he instantly changed the direction of the topic. “Your Majesty is so stingy, you don’t even want to spare me a servant. Forget it, I heard that this servant has some knowledge on the qin. Since my estate also has some old music scores that need sorting out, I ask Your Majesty to let her help out in my estate for several days. I’ll definitely send her back after she has finished.”

It was hard for Yan Feng to say anything more at this point, so he agreed with reluctance. In his heart, Yan Feng was extremely anxious about this. He had always trusted Chiyun Yuexuan, but for some reason, this one and only matter made his heart uneasy.

When Chiyun Yuexuan took his leave, he asked Yan Feng to allow a visit to Chiyun Ping at Minghui Palace. Yan Feng approved.

Chiyun Ping was sitting in the courtyard in a daze doing nothing. When her maid reported of Chiyun Yuexuan’s visit, she immediately had people welcome him in.

Chiyun Ping was anxious to inquire about Murong Zhining’s matter. She wanted to know how Yan Feng would react to this. From her observation of his attitude towards Murong Zhining in the past several days, there was no way Yan Feng would let this lie. Chiyun Ping was sleepless the entire previous night, afraid that Yan Feng would never come to Minghui Palace again, and that he would punish Chiyun Yuexuan because of this.

After Chiyun Yuexuan related his conversation with Yan Feng in the Imperial Study to Chiyun Ping, she was genuinely dejected. “I knew it, that girl can’t be touched. You should hurry and get her back here so that His Majesty won’t punish you.”

Chiyun Yuexuan gazed into the distance, “Big sis doesn’t have to worry about me, I know how to handle this correctly.”

The palace maids looked at Chiyun Yuexuan and quietly discussed in groups, their eyes filled with adoration.

Murong Zhining was sitting in a wing room in the General Estate as she casually flipped through a book she found on the table. The previous night, Chiyun Yuexuan brought her here, then left without a word. Later, a maid came and informed her that the general told her to stay here for the time being. Food would be delivered daily, and if she was bored, she could walk around in the yard. Without the general’s order, Murong Zhining wasn’t allowed to take one step out of the courtyard.

This courtyard was in the west wing of the General Estate with two independent wing rooms. The gates were closed the entire day and only opened when a maid deliver a meal over. The yard was very small and simple with only one small stone table and two stone stools, as well as some flowers that Murong Zhining didn’t know the names of.

Taking a seat on a stone stool in the yard, Murong Zhining’s hand propped up her rosy cheeks as she quietly contemplated. She took off the necklace and gazed intently at the jade pendant in her hand. Every time she encountered unhappy events, she would just take out Biwu and look at it, and her mood would slowly cheer up.

Moonrise, the hazy moonlight sprinkled over the little yard. The figure of Murong Zhining sitting alone seemed particularly solitary and desolate.

A little servant girl came in and lit up the lanterns. Murong Zhining said to her, “Please report to your general that Murong Zhining requests a meeting.”

The servant girl rolled her eyes. “You think our general is someone you can see whenever you like? I heard Officer Wu say, you’ve offended Esteemed Consort in the palace. Stop with your tricks, or you won’t like the consequences.”

When the servant girl left, she heavily closed the doors. Helpless, Murong Zhining took out Biwu again. She lifted the pendant to face the moon and pressed her eyes on it to look at the moon through the jade, her head swaying left and right. The mischievous Murong Zhining passed her boredom just like that. Through Biwu, she could see a green moon. Her lips curved up into a sweet smile, the green moonlight could always make her quickly forget all the worries she had.

Suddenly, Murong Zhining discovered a little black spot on Biwu. Curious, she took it off her eyes and closely inspected the pendant under the faint light of the lantern. However, it was too dim to see anything. She went into the room and tried again with the candlelight, still no clue. Murong Zhining dejectedly put the necklace back on her neck and carefully stuffed the pendant in the lapel.

A loud clamor resounded outside the courtyard entrance. Murong Zhining walked to the doors and looked through the small crack between them. It turned out that Chiyun Yuexuan had drunk too much, so the juniors of the noble families were supporting him back. The group chatted loudly as they headed towards the east yard.

A young man in purple brocade robe said in a booming but lisping voice, “General Chiyun is so mighty. That brat just said the general grew up so sweet and charming, and the general beat him down to the ground. I bet he won’t be able to get off the bed for a month. Hahaha, I heard that the brat’s father is Minister of Revenue Yu Wei. That’s not one to be easily trifled with.”