TIGR Chapter 86

The Imperial Guard’s Revenge

Chapter 86 The Banned Book

By the eighth month, autumn was sweeping the land in a gradual onset. It was still hot during the day, but the weather cooled quickly after sunset. Wang Yanqing was just thinking about this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival when she heard that Lu Heng had returned. She quickly grabbed the gift list and went to his study to find him.

When the guards outside the study saw Wang Yanqing, they greeted her as usual. But Wang Yanqing quickly noticed that something was different today. In the past, the guards would let her pass without saying a word, but today they took initiative to talk to her. They seemed to be trying to curry favors with Wang Yanqing, but in fact, they were trying to delay her while others were inside reporting to Lu Heng.

Wang Yanqing was inwardly surprised. Did Lu Heng have an important matter recently that even needed to be kept a secret from her? Wang Yanqing pretended not to know what was going on and stopped to talk to the guards. Only after the guards finally finished their “greetings” did Wang Yanqing continue to walk inside. When she pushed the door open, she saw that the study was clean and tidy. Lu Heng was sitting behind the desk, reading a book.

Seeing her come in, Lu Heng put down the book and walked towards her with a smile: “Why are you here?”

Wang Yanqing knew that Lu Heng’s work situation was unique and there were some things he didn’t want her to know, so Wang Yanqing didn’t ask. She put down a food box and quietly took out a small porcelain bowl with grape patterns, saying: “The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming up. I made several cake molds, but I can’t decide which one to use for the festival gifts, so I came to ask Brother.”

Lu Heng looked at the table. There were various cakes on the porcelain plates with various patterns, some being begonia, lily, and lotus. Lu Heng looked carefully and said: “I think these four are very beautiful and refined, it would be a pity to throw any away. Why not just keep them all and put two on each pattern, so a pair of them will represent the meaning of four seasons.”

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, close relatives and friends gave each other mooncakes to symbolize reunion. Nobles didn’t limit their gifts to just close family and so giving festival gifts became a social etiquette. Superiors, peers, and subordinates all had to give mooncakes, and even more so, there was social prestige in sending gifts. This created an increasingly fierce competition for festival gifts in the capital. Not only did people compete to compare the carvings on mooncakes, but even the pastry sets and fruit baskets that pair the gifts were not spared.

Giving gifts during the Mid-Autumn Festival had become a completely non-compulsory yet necessary project in polishing one’s social image.

Wang Yanqing was quite surprised when she heard Lu Heng’s words. The Lu Mansion had always kept a low profile in the past, but she didn’t expect that this time Lu Heng would actually want to join in competing with the army.

Wang Yanqing reminded: “Brother, isn’t it too exquisite to use four patterns at the same time?”

Lu Heng just smiled and said: “Things are different now.”

Lu Heng certainly wasn’t someone who would waste his own money for fun. His previous holiday gifts were mostly steady and low-key. On the one hand, it was required by his position, and on the other hand, it was because he didn’t have a wife. This year, the Lu Mansion’s gift boxes would suddenly change their style and add feminine things like flowers. The various mansions in the capital would immediately understand that the Lu Mansion had a mistress.

According to etiquette, a son should mourn three years for his parents. It is said that the mourning period is three years, but in fact, the customary period was twenty-seven months. It was now the eighth month of the thirteenth year of Jiajing, and Lu Heng had been in mourning for two full years. In other words, Lu Heng will be able to consider coming out of his filial piety in three months.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was the perfect opportunity to slowly warm up everyone in the capital.

Lu Heng insisted, and Wang Yanqing had no objection, so she did as he said. Wang Yanqing saw a book on Lu Heng’s desk and asked: “Brother, what book are you reading?”

Lu Heng walked to the table and opened the cover casually: “The Biography of Heroes.”

The Biography of Heroes? Wang Yanqing thought about it for a moment, but she couldn’t recognize it at all: “When was this book published? How come I have never heard of it?”

“It’s normal that you haven’t heard of it.” Lu Heng’s fingers gently ran across the pages of the book, and he said with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, “This was just written several days ago.”

Wang Yanqing felt that his tone was not right, so she walked closer to Lu Heng and looked down at the book: “Really? What is it about?”

“It is a story of how Emperor Hongwu led a group of heroes to overthrow Emperor Shun of the Yuan Dynasty, eliminate independent regimes, and establish the Ming Dynasty.”

Wang Yanqing was extremely stunned after hearing this, and after a while, she asked: “What?”

Lu Heng smiled meaningfully, handed the book to Wang Yanqing, and asked her to look through it slowly. The full title of this book was “The Imperial Ming Dynasty’s Founding of a Kingdom – A Biography of Famous Military Achievements and Heroes“. Wang Yanqing opened the first chapter without speaking. She saw many familiar names and even Emperor Hongwu’s original name.

Wang Yanqing flipped through a few pages randomly and was continuously shocked. She looked at Lu Heng and asked hesitantly: “Who wrote this?”

“Who do you think?”

Wang Yanqing’s heart skipped a beat: “It wasn’t you, right?”

Lu Heng had sat down and was about to drink from his cup of tea, but he almost choked when he heard her words. He set down the teacup, his expression difficult to interpret: “Are you overestimating or underestimating me? Would I do such a foolish thing?”

Upon learning that it was not Lu Heng, Wang Yanqing breathed a sigh of relief and then dared to look at the contents of the book. Wang Yanqing sat at the table, skimmed through several pages, and exclaimed in surprise: “The time, the place, the characters – everything is spot on, it’s remarkably accurate.”

Lu Heng chuckled and said: “It was written by an expert. They were involved in all those major battles back then, so their depiction is authentic.”

Wang Yanqing’s eyebrows arched slightly as she turned to look at Lu Heng: “An expert?”

Lu Heng smiled but remained silent. The expert sees the details, while the layman sees the spectacle. He flipped through a few pages of the book and immediately knew it was written by an insider. Beyond the details of the battles, the book accurately depicts the time and place of Emperor Hongwu’s uprising, something far beyond the reach of ordinary individuals.

Most ordinary people could only fantasize about celestial battles and divine warriors. How could they possibly know the specific details of Emperor Hongwu’s uprising and marching routes? Although the Lu family didn’t directly experience the founding of the dynasty, there were records within the Imperial Guards. Lu Heng knew that those locations were accurate.

Seeing Lu Heng’s expression, Wang Yanqing speculated that this person’s status was quite high. Moreover, from the reverence expressed between the lines regarding military achievements, it was evident that this person was not a mere scholar. Scholars wouldn’t care about those founding heroes… Wait, founding heroes?”

Wang Yanqing’s eyes widened, and she asked in surprise: “The Marquis of Wuding?”

A smile flickered in Lu Heng’s eyes, and he found the person before him increasingly endearing. Intelligent and beautiful, perceptive and quick-witted, with just a little guidance from him, she quickly grasped the situation.

The more Lu Heng looked at her, the more he liked her. Thinking he should reward her for guessing correctly, he wrapped his arms around Wang Yanqing’s waist and planted a firm kiss on her cherry lips: “That’s right, it’s him.”

So, when Lu Heng said Guo Xun was beoming complacent, he was not wrong at all. Only Guo Xun would engage in such self-destructive behavior.

Wang Yanqing was greatly shocked, so much so that she didn’t even have time to bother with Lu Heng’s advances: “Is it really him?”

Lu Heng nodded. Wang Yanqing widened her eyes and couldn’t help but ask: “Why would he do this?”

In the light clothing for a summer day, Lu Heng held Wang Yanqing’s delicate and soft waist in his fingers, until it seemed he could even feel a slight chill on her skin. The faint fragrance teased at the tip of the nose, both enticing and elusive, making him want to push aside any barriers and eagerly trace the source of that scent.

Lu Heng’s eyes roamed incessantly over Wang Yanqing’s flawless, porcelain-like face, increasingly feeling that mere glances were insufficient to fully appreciate its beauty. Though his mind was still occupied with base thoughts, he managed to muster a small portion of his attention to respond to Wang Yanqing’s question: “What else could it be for than to give oneself a little credit. If you look further ahead, you’ll see that he attributed all credit for Chen Youliang’s death to Guo Ying, boasting extravagantly as if without Guo Ying, Emperor Hongwu would not have been able to unify the realm and establish the Ming Dynasty.”

Wang Yanqing knew she was currently in the safest place under the sun, the stronghold of the Imperial Guards. However, she still dared not casually discuss the right and wrong of Emperor Hongwu. Wang Yanqing asked: “Guo Ying has already carved out his territory and been bestowed a title, the Guo family thrives to this day. What more could the Marquis of Wuding be dissatisfied with? What does he aim to achieve by compiling this book?”

After all, Guo Xun was a marquis and couldn’t possibly find time to write a book himself. Yet, given his power and influence, countless people would be willing to write for him at his command. The content of The Biography of Heroes must have been written under Guo Xun’s direction.

But the question arises, Guo Xun has already become the foremost figure of honor and nobility, having served as the commander of the Three Thousand Battalions, Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, the military commander of the East Army in the Capital, overseeing the capital’s military forces, and frequently representing the emperor in ceremonies honoring heaven, earth, and ancestors. With Guo Xun’s power already so immense that sometimes even the head auxiliary must yield to him, what could he possibly be dissatisfied with?

Lu Heng smiled knowingly and said: “It’s human nature to want more once you’ve obtained something. The Guo family may appear prominent now, but during the Hongwu era, figures like Xu Da and Chang Yuchun were made kings, while Guo Ying, just a marquis, paled in comparison among the many accomplished heroes. Once Guo Xun achieved success himself, he began to lament the injustices suffered by his ancestors.”

Wang Yanqing furrowed her brow, vaguely sensing something. These people never seem to have a moment’s rest. Just last month, Xia Wenjin took over as Head Auxiliary, and the cabinet had barely stabilized before they started up again. Guo Xun and Xia Wenjin owed their current positions not only to the political climate but also to Lu Heng’s significant contributions.

The court appeared to be in a showdown between the Guo and Xia factions, but it was actually a three-way balance where Lu Heng represented a third force alongside Guo Xun and Xia Wenjin. He simultaneously befriended and provoked both sides, causing strife between the government and military factions. In doing so, he benefited from their conflicts.

Wang Yanqing could sense that Lu Heng was up to something mischievous again, but she was unsure of his intentions.

Wang Yanqing sighed and asked: “What are you up to this time?”

Lu Heng raised an eyebrow, his expression ambiguous as he replied: “This time?”

“A book stamped with Guo Xun’s seal has appeared in your study. You took this book back to read. Surely, you’re not curious about the stories of Guo Ying and the other heroes?”

Lu Heng smiled. He had absolutely no relationship with Guo Ying, whether he was honored or not was of no concern to him. So there had to be another reason for why Lu Heng would read this book.

Lu Heng said: “Actually, the Emperor has ordered me to investigate this book.”

“How did the emperor find out about this?”

Lu Heng looked at Wang Yanqing, who met his gaze steadily without flinching. After a moment, Lu Heng smiled, a faint curl on his lips as he said: “Are you upset, Qing Qing?”

“What do I have to be upset about in the court’s political struggles?” Wang Yanqing said, “I just feel that living like this must be exhausting for you.”

Lu Heng’s lips curved a little deeper, revealing a genuine smile: “Qing Qing, do you know how to win at chess?”

“By planning deeply, thinking ahead, and strategizing carefully.”

“No.” Lu Heng held Wang Yanqing close, his embrace filled with meaning, and said with intent, “It’s by constantly attacking. Offense is the best defense.”

Wang Yanqing remained silent. Previously, when she referred to him as “Second Brother,” she never doubted Lu Heng’s actions. Whatever Second Brother said was always taken as truth. Later, she began to realize that she and Lu Heng actually held different opinions.

She preferred peace and stability, particularly disliking competition and leaned towards conservatism in various aspects. On the other hand, Lu Heng was the opposite. He was aggressive and determined to obtain whatever he desired. His outward appearance of caution and meticulousness only demonstrated his assertiveness and decisiveness. He was willing to invest significant time in waiting patiently, all for the decisive strike to capture his prey.

It was easy to imagine that any woman marrying him would likely live in perpetual fear, constantly worried about his safety.

Wang Yanqing also felt confused. When she thought about marrying Lu Heng, she hesitated, but the thought of not marrying him made her unwilling inside. For instance, right now, she knew Lu Heng was instigating internal strife again. Rationally, she understood that it was wrong, but emotionally, she couldn’t help but defend him. Caught in this conflict, Wang Yanqing oscillated between opposing emotions, unsure of which path to take.

Lu Heng could probably sense what Wang Yanqing was afraid of. But as he said, the best defense was a good offense. He had to ensure he always stood ahead of Guo Xun and Xia Wenjin to control the situation. Once he fell behind, he would be left passively waiting for others to scheme against him.

Lu Heng held Wang Yanqing close and said: “I’ve got things under control out there. Don’t worry, I have a back up plan. If someday I truly miscalculate, I can still ensure your safety and let you live out the rest of your life peacefully in Anlu.”

Wang Yanqing remained stiff in his embrace, her neck still straight, showing no emotion as she asked: “Do you think that is a good thing?”

Widowed and alone, facing a life of solitude, Wang Yanqing couldn’t see how such a fate could be considered “peaceful” at all.

Lu Heng was momentarily stunned by the question. After a brief pause, he nodded earnestly and said: “You’re right. I’ll do my best to ensure you won’t be widowed.”

Wang Yanqing ruthlessly elbowed Lu Heng and then settled herself down. Lu Heng sighed softly and said: “Actually, it was arranged by the emperor. Zhang Jinggong recently resigned from office because of a similar kind of thing. I won’t make the same mistake as him. Guo Xun has dug his own grave, taking advantage of the emperor’s good mood these days, he bribed the eunuchs and palace maids around the emperor to write stories for The Biography of Heroes.

In the fifth month, Imperial Concubine Duan gave birth to the emperor’s eldest daughter, Princess Zhu Shouying. Shortly after, in the sixth month, Concubine Wang gave birth to a son, thereby fulfilling the vacancy left by the late Crown Prince Ai Chong. In the second half of the year, two more concubines were due to give birth. If another son was born, the emperor would no longer have to endure the anxiety of lacking an heir.

The emperor, in high spirits, elevated Concubine Wang to the rank of Senior Concubine. During this period, there were also frequent good news reports coming from the Datong Prefecture.

Fu Tingzhou truly lived up to being personally groomed by Fu Yue. He was not just all talk, but capable of military prowess. Lu Heng couldn’t help but feel a tinge of regret. Why didn’t the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion just let him live lazily?

However, regardless of the circumstances, with good news from the front lines and happy news in the palace, the emperor’s mood was quite good. Guo Xun seized this opportunity and had his servants narrate passages from The Biography of Heroes to the Emperor, aiming to elevate Guo Ying’s status to be on par with figures like Xu Da and Chang Yuchun.

But how could the emperor allow such bold opinions to be spoken freely. The emperor originally intended for the East Department to discipline the palace maids and eunuchs around him. However, he discovered that Guo Xun not only wrote The Biographies of Heroes, glorifying his ancestors, but also supported a group of scholars who composed and published numerous books, including the banned book — Water Margin.

Water Margin has existed since the end of the Yuan Dynasty. Emperor Hongwu himself rose from a peasant rebellion, so he didn’t oppose the revolutionary themes in the book but couldn’t openly endorse it either. Since the founding of the nation, there haven’t been any publicly printed books of Water Margin on the market. Although some people secretly copied the book and circulated it in small circles, the court had always turned a blind eye and didn’t take action even with public reports.

But now, the Marquis of Wuding, Guo Xun, was publishing Water Margin.

The emperor wouldn’t deem a rumor enough to accuse his officials of rebellion, but he couldn’t avoid having Lu Heng investigate to see what Guo Xun was up to in private.

This was why Lu Heng was reading The Biographies of Heroes. Of course, if the timing was right, Lu Heng wouldn’t mind lending a hand to Guo Xun as well.

Fu Tingzhou and Guo Xun were already tied together. The greater Guo Xun’s influence, the safer Fu Tingzhou would be, and as Fu Tingzhou earned military merit, he would in turn support Guo Xun. Lu Heng couldn’t allow them to continue their mutually benefiting relationship. He must quickly cut off Fu Tingzhou’s source of support.

Therefore, it was crucial for Lu Heng to investigate Guo Xun this time in order to secure his position.

|| Translator’s Note: It’s been a while, I hope everyone is well! I am back and will be posting weekly, so please keep an eye out 😉 Enjoy!

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