Mr. Hu Shan pondered for a moment. “The Marquis of Weining’s Residence controls the Ministry of War. Every year, they owe money to the You Prefecture army. King You’s performance is suppressed by the Ministry of War. The army is bitter and cold. The soldiers can’t eat their fill, their clothes can’t withstand the cold, their armor can’t defend against the enemy, their swords can’t kill the enemy, and their thin horses can’t charge. King You fights with the Northern Barbarians every year, and there are casualties every year, causing the Northern Region to be short of supplies. It’s fine if they fight at close quarters, but it’s not enough to go to war.”
Mr. Xian Yun shook his head. “That may not be the case. According to Ye Hanyuan, someone in the imperial court was colluding with the Di people, revealing that the You army was short of money and food. That was why the Di people invaded on a large scale and invaded the north. They also changed their tactics. Instead of plundering, they used a delaying tactic to wear down the You army, which was short of supplies. This led to the loss of three cities in a row in the north.”
Mr. Hu Shan’s expression changed slightly.
Mr. Xian Yun sighed slightly. “In order to reduce his father’s danger and Youzhou’s predicament, Yin Huaixi led people to close the city gate and not allow anyone to escape. He also brought the soldiers from the prince’s residence and captured many officials and nobles from Youzhou. He gathered resources wantonly. Anyone who resisted was killed on the spot. He personally escorted the supplies to the battlefield. Only then did he turn the tide and save the situation. However, his actions completely angered the local officials and nobles.”
Yin Huaixi’s boldness was enough to tell that his worldview was vast and beyond what he saw in front of him.
Unfortunately, since ancient times, loyalty had always been betrayed.
Mr. Xian Yun continued, “The local officials and nobles jointly reported to the Imperial Court that King You had gathered his troops and bullied the commoners. The officials took the opportunity to ask the emperor to summon King You into the capital and ordered the Marquis of Weining to be the commander-in-chief. The Marquis of Changxing was to be the general of the north and help the north.”
Mr. Hu Shan frowned. “The war is tense. The local nobles and officials should support the war in Youzhou. Although Yin Huaixi’s actions are fierce, it’s still understandable. King You has contributed to guarding the north. Even if the local nobles and officials join forces, at most, their merits and mistakes will be offset. Why would King You be accused of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country?”
Even though he was as calm as Mr. Xian Yun, his expression couldn’t help but darken. “You don’t know that this is just a diversion. The Marquis of Changxing ambushed and killed Yin Huaixi on the battlefield. Yin Huaixi didn’t even have a corpse left, and only women and children were left in King You’s Residence.”
Mr. Hu Shan’s heart skipped a beat. He had already guessed what would happen next.
Indeed!
Mr. Xian Yun changed the topic. “They forged false evidence that King You had colluded with the enemy and wanted to rebel. They sent people to besiege the King You’s Residence and used the excuse of searching for the King You’s Residence to enter the residence.”
“When her husband entered the capital, distant water cannot quench the present thirst. Her son’s life and death were unknown, and the Marquis of Changxing was very powerful. Consort You knew that once these people entered the residence, even if they weren’t guilty, they would still “search” for evidence of their crimes. In order to protect her husband’s reputation, she was also worried that she would be humiliated. She took poison with the princess and committed suicide, then burned down the You Residence.”
Mr. Hu Shan immediately couldn’t even drink the tea that was in his mouth.
Back then, King You’s rebellion was very suspicious.
He had also used the name of the Grand Tutor to ignore the emperor, but in the end, the words of the court officials were left unsettled. He did not know that there was such an inside story.
Mr. Xian Yun shook his head repeatedly. “King You and the Consort have been in love for most of their lives. Now, his wife has died, his son has died, and his daughter has died. When the news reached the capital, King You already had the intention to die. In the Golden Hall, he severed his own heart meridian and died. The current emperor was afraid that it would be difficult for him to answer to the world if his hero died, and he was also worried that it will damage the reputation of the royal family. He joined forces with the court officials to frame a dead person for treason.”
Mr. Hu Shan was furious when he heard this. “These people are so unscrupulous. I’m afraid someone instructed them to do this!”
Everyone in King You’s Residence was dead.
However, the Marquis of Weining’s Residence was like the sun in the sky with flowers and brocade.
It was obvious who had instigated such a despicable act.
After saying this, the two of them stopped talking.
After a long while, Mr. Hu Shan finally couldn’t help but sigh. “It’s a pity. King You was a hero for a lifetime and has won many battles.”
A generation of loyal souls had died on the battlefield without any horses.
However, he had died in a conflict between court officials and friends.
It was pathetic, hateful, and lamentable!
Mr. Xian Yun placed a few pieces down and seemed to sense something. He looked up at the outside of the pavilion.
He saw a young lady in light green clothes, just like the green jade beside the octagonal pavilion. He couldn’t help but ask, “Who is that young lady?”
Mr. Hu Shan knew immediately that this was his old habit. He did not answer directly. “What’s wrong?”
Mr. Xian Yun did not hide anything. “The phoenix marrow is in her bones, and the Phoenix God is in her eyes. This woman is born with a phoenix life, but her eyebrows are a little thin, and she can’t suppress her blessings. She’s born unlucky, and her death isn’t good. She’s destined to die a tragic death.” He looked up at the sky and saw a green parasol tree in the east. He pointed in that direction. “The phoenix doesn’t land unless it’s a parasol tree. This is fate.”
Mr. Hu Shan was stunned when he heard this. He lived in the Yu Residence and had heard of all kinds of things in the Yu Residence. “She’s the eldest daughter of the first wife of the Yu family, Yu Youyao.”
Mr. Xian Yun shook his head. “More than three years ago, when I was traveling to Youzhou, I happened to meet a boy. His rhinoceros bones covered the central courtyard, and his forehead was facing the sky. His fate was especially precious. It was the fate of a true dragon that could live forever. However, he was born with evil spirits and was a jinx. Asuras had the intention to kill endlessly in their lives. He was the Asura of the world. Not only did he ruin the momentum of the rhinoceros, but he also formed a dragon trapped in a shallow pool. A proud dragon with a regretful physiognomy.”
Mr. Hu Shan lowered his eyes slightly and placed a black chess piece. “Is the person you’re talking about the heir of King You, Yin Huaixi?”
Mr. Xian Yun did not answer and only said, “One of them has a flawed phoenix life, while the other has a damaged true dragon. They don’t have any power, so when they’re combined, it’s auspicious. The two of them complement each other’s fates. It’s quite strange.”
Mr. Hu Shan’s expression did not change. “It’s said that the big one hides in the city, while the small one hides in the forest. A so-called free bird is not as peaceful as an old man.”
Mr. Xian Yun lowered his eyes. “Firstly, the Marquis of Changxing can’t defend Youzhou, and secondly, he can’t intimidate the vassal lords. Now that King Ping has entered the capital, he has ulterior motives. The situation in Youzhou can’t be delayed anymore. Otherwise, once the Di people break through the defense line of Youzhou and the world is in chaos, only Yin Huaixi can resolve this situation.”
Mr. Hu Shan said calmly, “Are you so sure that Yin Huaixi isn’t dead?”
Mr. Xian Yun nodded. “When Yin Huaixi was young, he had learned Daoist classics from a Daoist for a period of time. Do you know who that Daoist was?”
Mr. Hu Shan was a little curious. “Who was it?”
Mr. Xian Yun said, “Xuan Jizi, the 108th successor of Ghost Valley. He has received the ancestral teachings of Ghost Valley since he was young. He would hide when things were good and appear when things were in chaos. Yin Huaixi has been taught by him and has learned many tricks. He won’t die so easily.”
Mr. Hu Shan was really a little surprised this time. “Back then, Master Hui Neng was guided by him to verify his Buddhism. From then on, he hid himself and disappeared without a trace. He was originally in Youzhou.”