108: Chapter 108 Living Better Than You: The General Male Supporting Character 26

On the other side, it wasn't long before a servant found Xuanyuan Zhan.

He had shamefully eavesdropped on the conversation in the pavilion just now.

But it was not he who was shameful, but Xuanyuan Zhan.

Because this was Xuanyuan Zhan's instruction.

Had Meng Zhu discovered it? Naturally, he had. But he did not expose it. It was not something shameful, after all.

But unfortunately, Xuanyuan Zhan did not think so. His greatest doubt was: what was the favor from his childhood? His greatest grievance was: why should he have to rely on Meng Zhu to bestow the throne upon him?

Meng Zhu was currently unaware of these thoughts. Several days later, many people had seen the look on Meng Zhu's face when he went to Prince Yus Mansion.

News of General Pingxi being injured in the Southern Border had spread throughout the capital without anyone noticing.

Even The Old Emperor had sent imperial physicians to the Generals Mansion overnight to check on him. The situation was not good.

Meng Zhu had indeed been injured, even quite severely, and there was a high probability of long-term aftereffects.

However, no one knew that as soon as the imperial physicians had walked a few steps away, as the saying goes, "a short separation is better than a new marriage," Meng Zhu had immediately gone to the bedroom with his wife, and in broad daylight, they had battled for several hours.

At night, Nan Jin lay on Meng Zhu's chest, feeling her man's heartbeat. "Husband, why did you feign illness?"

Meng Zhu stroked her hair. "This military achievement is not small. I do not want to increase The Old Emperor's wariness, so as to avoid unnecessary trouble during this final period. I also want more free time to accompany my wife."

This was unavoidable. Meng Zhu knew that before this winter was over, he still had a great battle to fight.

And it was the kind where, after others had tried and failed, The Old Emperor would have no choice but to bring him forward.

If he did not feign illness this time, he dared not imagine to what extent The Old Emperor's wariness of him would reach by then.

In the original story, it was precisely in the next great battle that he returned in triumph and immediately helped Prince Yu in the confrontation at Xuanwu Gate, seizing the throne. At the same time, he was once again titled Great General of the State.

But now, Meng Zhu could not be sure if The Old Emperor would make a move against him before dying, nor could he fully trust Prince Yu, so he could only restrain his sharpness.

Otherwise, there would be endless trouble, and all his time would be spent dealing with them; how would he then have time to be inseparable from his wife?

After hearing Meng Zhu's explanation, Nan Jin suddenly realized. Her heart was warmed once again. It was true that her husband feared increasing The Old Emperor's wariness. But it was certainly also true that he wanted to accompany her more.

As the days went by, she could feel more and more that her husband loved her more each day than the day before. And she was the same. Thinking of this, Nan Jin raised her head and looked at Meng Zhu with burning eyes.

"What is it?" "Husband!" "Hmm?" "Your concubine wants more."

After saying this, she impatiently kissed him again.

The first snow of the capital came somewhat unexpectedly. Fine snowflakes mixed with the biting wind, outlining the city with a layer of pure silver edges.

The intelligent director's footage abruptly lost sight of the people and changed to a high-altitude bird's-eye view, showing vermilion palace walls, grey-tiled roofs, and crisscrossing alleys.

Amidst the thick clouds and flying snowflakes, a somewhat shrill voice-over rang out.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: General Pingxi, Meng Zhu, is loyal, brave, and resolute, with outstanding wisdom and strategy. In the campaign to suppress the rebellion in the Southern Border, he led the troops in person and devised strategies, achieving victory, suppressing the rebels, and promoting the national prestige of our Great Wu within a month. His contributions to the nation are great, and We are very gratified.

However, considering his toil in battle and his injury at the front, he is specially permitted to temporarily step down from military duties to rest and recuperate. Now, General Pingxi is promoted to 'Marquis Pingan' with a fief of five hundred households. His wife, Madam Nan, is virtuous, wise, and a model of noble conduct, and is specially titled 'First-Rank Lady'.

Awarded one thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, one hundred hectares of fertile land, and one hundred bolts of silk to honor his achievements. We hope Meng Zhu will recuperate well and not fail the imperial grace. This is the decree."

[Holy crap! He's been made a Marquis! Is he really going to be stuck at the third rank forever?]

[What else is there to say? Great Wu Dynasty only had one founding Prince of Zhenbei, and he only held the second-rank title of General of Zhenbei. There has never been a first rank, so this third rank is probably impossible to exceed.]

[This 'Marquis Pingan' title implies something, right? A warning for Meng Zhu to put away his little schemes so he can stay safe?]

[What nerve! To what extent is the imperial court controlled by Meng Zhu now? Even we, the audience, don't know.]

[Jin Bao must be happy now! A First-Rank Lady! The kind where you have to report to the imperial court before you can even be tried for a crime!]

The barrage comments were flashy, but they were genuinely happy. Meng Zhu glanced at them a few times and ignored them. The wind, snow, and clamor of the outside world seemed to have nothing to do with the Generals Mansion.

For the time being, he only wanted to be sweet and affectionate with Nan Jin. Of course, he didn't have to do everything himself, but there were still things to do. For instance, Prince Yu's struggle for the throne.

Inside the study, the charcoal fire was burning brightly, warm as spring. Meng Zhu was dressed in a black robe, leaning against a soft couch, holding a letter that was currently unfolded.

The handwriting on the letter was vigorous, as if one could see the struggle and determination in the writer's heart. This letter came from Prince Yus Mansion.

Several days ago, Meng Zhu had sent a letter over, and the content was simple and clear. He could help Prince Yu ascend the dragon throne, but this was a transaction.

He wanted Prince Yu to promise that after the matter was accomplished, Meng Zhu would be granted land and titled a King; he wanted to be a King of a different surname, and furthermore, one who did not pay tribute.

Meng Zhu had thought Prince Yu would negotiate, but he didn't expect him to agree directly. But the more readily he agreed, the more guarded Meng Zhu felt.

Since ancient times, kings of different surnames have been extremely rare, let alone those who do not pay tribute? One must know that not paying tribute is equivalent to a disguised secession, a semi-independent power.

The imperial court could not collect taxes, nor could it control the region, which was equivalent to Meng Zhu having the final say, lacking only the name of an emperor. This was a condition that no monarch could accept.

Generally speaking, such kings of different surnames either shared the empire with the ruler, or were appeased by the court, using the granting of land and the title of King to prevent them from rebelling. It is evident how humiliating this is for a monarch.

But Prince Yu just happened to agree, and quite readily at that. There was no ripple on Meng Zhu's face, only his eyes became much deeper.

He brought the letter paper close to the candle flame, watching it curl and turn black bit by bit, finally turning into a pinch of ashes. After doing all this, he raised his head, his gaze crossing the window lattice, looking into the courtyard.

There, Nan Jin was with Xiao Cui, excitedly collecting the first snow from the plum blossoms, saying she wanted to brew a pot of new tea for him. With a slight curl of his lips, Meng Zhu spoke indifferently.

"Personal Guard Mo Yu, pass down the order. Let Yanyu Pavilion enter Yingtian Prefecture and begin cleansing the tumors in the imperial court. It doesn't need to be fast, accurate, and ruthless; I want the entire imperial court to live in fear for the next month."

"This subordinate understands." Personal Guard Mo Yu, in the corner of the study, clasped his hands and accepted the order.

"By the way, have the strongholds in each prefecture prepare as well; they won't be idle for much longer."

Since he had reached a deal with Prince Yu, Meng Zhu was not a person who would sit idly by.

Prince Liang's birth mother was the Empress of the Middle Palace, and he was the legitimate eldest son, naturally possessing the name of righteousness. The biggest representatives of this were the civil officials, the Ministry of Rites, followed by the royal clan. Then came the connections of the Empress's maternal family.

The number of officials involved in this was countless. Of course, most importantly, in the Emperor's heart, he probably favored Prince Liang.

Normally speaking, apart from the confrontation at Xuanwu Gate, Prince Yu's chance of winning was barely even one percent. Even with his two wives, one the daughter of the Prime Ministers Manor and the other the granddaughter of the Prince of Zhenbei.

But firstly, Prime Minister Nan Ling valued his reputation more than his life and dared not go against righteousness and ritual. Secondly, the Prince of Zhenbei was accustomed to The Old Emperor's suspicion and had long since become a coward.

Therefore, this game of chess could only start by weakening Prince Liang's power.