Nightfall

The sound of boots treading on snow echoed throughout the quiet streets. It sounded monotonous as if someone were slapping the old bell in the Imperial Palace with his hand. It was a dull, painful ringing. The crutch under Ning Que’s armpits landed rhythmically on the snowy ground, following his footsteps. However, it did not make any sound.

He had stayed silent after a long time, after hearing Chao Xiaoshu’s words. Then, he said, “The Academy does not interfere with politics. The Empress will be the one to decide whether to kill her or not.”

If the Academy did not interfere in politics, the Tang Empire would have fallen months ago. The words ‘The Academy did not interfere in politics’ had long become a empty talk, and as such, the second statement was pointless too.

Chao Xiaoshu said, “Should Hua Shanyue be killed?”

Ning Que said, “I want to kill him.”

Chao Xiaoshu replied, “The Hua family is still a prominent family in Hebei. Unlike the families of Qinghe County, he has always been loyal to the Tang Empire and has connections in the army and court, especially in the five camps of Gushan Commandery, which they are in charge of. The Hua family has fought hard this time in the Northern Frontier and the Eastern Border, and they’re still fighting hard.”

Ning Que said, “Are you telling me all this to say that Hua Shanyue shouldn’t be killed?”

Chao Xiaoshu said, “You know this as well, otherwise you’d have done it already even if I had not stopped you.”

Ning Que said, “I was thinking, if I wanted to kill Hua Shanyue, should I also kill his entire family?”

“Even though this answer is cold and cruel, it is within my expectations.”

Chao Xiaoshu said, “It’s just that there are too many for you to kill them all. You cannot possibly exterminate the families of ministers that support Li Yu since that will doom the Tang Empire. However, once the war calms, these people will definitely worry if the Empress or the Academy will get rid of them. The conflict will thus continue. Even if the Hua Shanyue incident had not happened, something similar will also happen in the future.”

Ning Que said, “I will find a suitable method to deal with this.”

The two stopped their discussion about the matter. After all, those incidents and their solutions were all rather sinister. It was rather dissonant with the snow white streets and the days of hot-bloodedness.

Ning Que did not say anything else since Chao Xiaoshu did not like it. The two continued forward silently, and they shortly arrived at the Eastern City’s Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Upon entering the Chao Mansion, Ning Que greeted Old Master Chao before being pulled away to the yard by Shangguan Yangyu. He looked at the prefectural magistrate sleazy’s appearance and raised his brows, saying, “How fast was the reaction over there?”

Shangguan Yangyu touched his goatee, looking calm. However, his hand was actually shaking so hard he nearly plucked his already thin beard off. He said, “It was not easy for things to calm down over the last two days. There would be great trouble if this matter is not handled properly.”

“How do we handle the matter well?” Ning Que looked at him and asked.

Shanagguan Yangyu grew anxious at Ning Que’s stare and he answered, “The best way to handle it is the way that you deem is the best.”

Ning Que smiled and said, “Who’s been pressing you for it?”

Shangguan Yangyu answered, “Not even the Grand Secretary or the senior ministers dare to come forward regarding this matter. Who else could it be? The Supreme Court minister is waiting at my house right now.”

Ning Que only realized that the Supreme Court minister was related to the Hua family after the prefectural magistrate’s explanation. After thinking about it, he asked, “What does the Empress intend to do?”

Shangguan Yangyu said, “The Empress asks that Mr. Thirteen handle this.”

Then, he looked around him to make sure there was no one watching them. He said softly, “The Hua family, old and young, are kneeling before the palace right now. It might continue until tomorrow morning.”

“What’s the point of kneeling now?” Ning Que asked.

He understood what the imperial court wanted. Hua Shanyue’s clan did not agree with his actions. But at a point of time like this, everyone wanted to keep peace and remain united.

Only the Academy was qualified to handle the matter and calm the storm.

In other words, he had to handle the matter.

Ning Que thought of the Northern Army officials and the army which attacked the Empress’ convoy at the Northern Military Camp. He said, “Send all those involved in the matter to General Xu Chi. Tell them that I have ordered them to do so. Following precedent cases, they have to redeem themselves with ten heads. Return to your home and tell the minister that if the war stops, have the Hua family be ready to hand over their military power.”

“I understand.”

Shangguan Yangyu had been tossed out by the Empress to become the middleman. But he was unwilling to offend the Princess and her faction. He finally heaved a sigh of relief when he heard Ning Que’s suggestions and he asked, “What about Hua Shanyue?”

Ning Que replied, “Throw him there too.”

Shangguan Yangyu could finally breathe easy. He had been extremely worried that Ning Que would insist on killing Hua Shanyue. Even the Empress thought that Hua Shanyue could not die at this time.

Shangguan Yangyu left the Chao Mansion, leaving Ning Que alone in the courtyard. He caressed the rough surface of his crutch and thought of what had happened tonight. He felt that something was off.

A cough sounded from behind the wintersweet bush. Old Master Chao walked out from behind it.

Ning Que went up to help him.

Old Master Chao waved his hand and said, “You’re a cripple now, and you’re still thinking of helping me?”

Ning Que smiled and suddenly asked, “Second Uncle, what do you think of this matter?”

Old Master Chao said, “It’s such an important matter of the Royal Court, why have you come to ask me?”

Ning Que said, “Even the Abbey Dean has to ask you, let alone me.”

Old Master Chao said, “Then tell me about it.”

Ning Que said, “I still think it’s not right to handle it like that.”

Old Master Chao replied, “Because you are retreating.”

Ning Que said thoughtfully, “That’s right, I’m no longer used to retreating with regards to matters in the world.”

Old Master Chao looked at him and said, “If you want to ask about the Heaven’s Way, then you shouldn’t care about matters of the world.”

Ning Queasked, “But what if the matters of the world keep coming to you?”

Old Master Chao asked him, “What did you do when the Abbey Dean stood before you?”

There were many stoves in the Chao Mansion parlor; it was as warm as spring.

The Fish-dragon Gang had suffered heavy casualties the other day, and the atmosphere in the gang was naturally subdued. Now that Chao Xiaoshu and Liu V returned, many gathered in the Chao Mansion. However, they did not drink much.

Ning Que and Qi IV looked around the table after they discussed the rebuilding of Yanming Lake.

Chen Liu was drinking hot tea. He did not like drinking alcohol because he thought that it hindered one’s thinking ability.

Ning Que excused himself, saying that he had drunk too much.

Moments later, Chen Liu left the parlor as well.

“We are close to the army. How is our relationship with the Northern Army?”

Ning Que looked at Chen Liu and asked.

Bright yellow light streamed through the window paper, shining on Chen Liu. It cast a large shadow, and his face could not be seen clearly.

After the night at the Spring Breeze Pavilion, the relationship between the Fish-dragon Gang and the army grew extremely close. Chen Liu knew that he could not hide anything regarding this matter, and so, he said softly, “We are relatively close.”

Ning Que said, “Tell them that I want Hua Shanyue to die.”

After a long moment of silence, Chen Liu nodded.

His nodding movement was so small that Ning Que would have missed it if he had not been staring at him.

The two returned to the parlor one after the other.

Chao Xiaoshu looked at the two and said, “Eat quickly, the meat is about to rot.”