Yinshan Record

Chapter 398 Calmly Arranging for All Parties to Move (Part 2)

Su Che flipped through the accounts in his hand, while Miao Niangzi carefully massaged Su Gongzi's legs.

Looking at the two people in front of him, Xuan Gui felt a mix of emotions that were hard to describe.

He now knows that the person lying on the bed is the third son of the Su family of Duling, who once served as the magistrate of Shanyin County and is now the chief of justice of Cizhou, the true ruler of Cizhou City.

The two men before them, Lu Bai and Zhu Yi, were both centurions of the Imperial Guards. Their families owned vast estates in Tian'an County.

At first, I thought these guys were all heroes who had become outlaws, and I even thought about how to join them as outlaws.

Looking back now, it truly seems like a brush with death.

It all feels like a dream.

When Xiao Su Lixing suggested that Xuan Gui lend a hand, he was naturally overjoyed and spent his days running around helping everyone in the Su household with various tasks.

Xuan Gui didn't ask for anything else, he only asked that Young Master Su would casually leave a few acres of fertile land so that he could revive his family business.

When a person has ambition, they will naturally be more meticulous in their work. Xuan Gui personally followed Su Fu, the head steward of the Su family, to handle the matter of distributing porridge at the four gates of Cizhou.

A bowl of plain white porridge, so thick that a chopstick stuck in it won't fall over, and it also contains salt, dried meat, chicken, and green vegetables—a delicious bowl of savory porridge that could really be eaten as a meal.

The reputation of "Suzhou Congee" is well-known throughout Cizhou, and breakfast shops in the city have already started to imitate the style of "Suzhou Congee" and launch their own new products.

When Su San Gongzi heard about this, he was very happy and gave Xuan Gui a folding fan that he always carried with him.

Xuan Gui had also heard his uncle mention that he had talked to the Third Young Master Su about how, in the future, once the name "Suzhou Porridge" became known, Cizhou would also become "Suzhou".

That might sound a bit taboo, but that's about it.

Following Young Master Su, a bright future awaits me.

Sometimes when Hyun-gyu lay in bed at night and thought about everything that had happened, he felt that he had survived a great calamity and was destined for good fortune.

If I hadn't gone off to be a whore until I died, how would I have met Young Master Su, and how would I have been able to turn my life around?

Life's encounters are truly wondrous.

His thoughts slowly drifted back and forth between the present and the present. He stood carefully to the side and listened. Lu Bai and Zhu Yi, the two people in front of him, were the seniors who had followed Su San Gongzi the longest. It would never be a loss to learn from seniors.

"Then I won't leave. No one's home, so you can stay here. It'll be convenient if you need anything. Any news from the court since you returned from Jiankang?"
Su Che picked up the earthenware pot from the small red clay stove and poured himself a cup of hot tea.

"Our guards haven't said anything, but they're all impeaching us. There's been no movement from our hometown either. Without your orders, young master, we dare not rashly enter the residence..."

Lu Bai cautiously replied, "Li Yizhen is putting in quite a bit of effort. I heard the Censorate is preparing to impeach you, young master, on four major charges, seven of which are punishable by death..."

“You did a good job. It’s always good to be cautious. But don’t bother with Li Yizhen’s nonsense. If he could talk people to death, Yuwen Rui would have been dead ten times over.”

Su Che was truly concerned about the north. "Any news from the north?"

"I heard that Commander Wei fought seven battles against Yuwen Rui, but failed to capture Luodu and must be retreating."

"Things have changed in Cizhou, and Commander Wei will definitely retreat. It's a pity that someone in the court is hindering us, and we ultimately cannot achieve complete victory." Su Che smiled and asked, "Is there any news about the court's reinforcements?"

"I heard that all the troops from our Imperial Horse Administration have been transferred to the north to support Commander Wei, and Feng Da Dang has also been implicated, leaving the court temporarily vulnerable." Lu Bai replied cautiously, "However, I heard that the person convicted this time is Commander Shi."

Su Che smiled upon hearing this.

This is all nonsense.

Among the people in Cizhou now, Shi Chibao has the lowest cultivation level and no background, so he is destined to be eliminated.

Regardless of whether the Prince of Wuling is alive or dead, the current chaos necessitates pushing him to take the blame. If Shi Chibao doesn't take the blame, then the Yu clan of Yingchuan, the Su clan of Duling, and the Wang clan of Langya will have to take it—can that be acceptable?

"A great injustice throughout the ages."

Su Che put down his teacup.

"It's a pity that our Commander Shi has worked so hard all these years, only to become someone else's scapegoat. This Li Yi truly deserves to be torn to pieces."

"Who says it isn't?"

Lu Bai and Zhu Yi nodded in agreement.

It's a sad situation, like the rabbit mourning the fox's death. We're all imperial guards, doing countless dirty and tiring jobs for the Emperor of Liang, and yet we still have to take the blame when things go wrong. They're truly inhuman.

"So we still need to think about ourselves. In a few days, let's go to Commander Shi's residence and give him some comfort."

We must seize this opportunity to stand up for Shi Chibao. The court's treatment of Shi Chibao must have caused discontent among the Imperial Guards. We should take this opportunity to make a name for ourselves within the Imperial Guards and also to absorb Shi Chibao's remaining forces in Cizhou.

With Shi Chibao gone, they will eventually need to find a new patron. Why can't that patron be me?

Just as Su Che was thinking, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura, which was faintly visible outside the door, like a pipa player half-concealing her face.

Really.

Since you're already here, there's no need to be so polite.

Su Che suddenly said to Lu Bai, "Old Lu, go to the door for a moment. A guest has arrived. Please invite him directly to the study."

After saying that, Young Master Su patted the beautiful lady's flushed cheeks, dispelling the effects of the Moon Serpent's Shadow Imprint.

"You may all step back now, I have some matters to attend to."

Miao Niangzi glanced at Su Che with delight, while Xuan Gui and Zhu Yi beside her exchanged glances.

Young Master still trusts Old Lu more.

The group withdrew, and Lu Bai carefully walked to the door. There he saw a woman with a white veil covering her face and dressed in plain clothes under the red lanterns of the Su residence. Her brows showed signs of sorrow. She was a beautiful woman with a cool and aloof demeanor.

"This gentleman is Lu Bai, and I have come to greet you on the orders of the Ministry of Justice."

Lu Bai guessed that the Third Young Master Su was referring to this woman. If she wasn't a woman, why was he dismissing everyone around her? He wondered when the Third Young Master Su had met her lover.

"Thank you."

The woman's voice was gentle, but seemed to lack strength. Lu Bai looked at the two black porcelain boxes she was holding.

What kind of gift is this?
Lu Bai naturally wouldn't ask questions he shouldn't. He led the way and brought the woman into Su San Gongzi's study, making sure to close the door before leaving.

I wonder what he's carrying. If Young Master Su likes it, I, Old Lu, will give him some too.

As Lu Bai walked back, he thought about it and realized that he had never heard of Su San Gongzi ever liking to play chess.

The study was quiet. Su Che looked at the woman in front of him, and the beautiful woman was also looking at Su Che.

"Madam, are you here to seek revenge at this time?"

Madam Xue did not speak, but simply arranged the two porcelain boxes and opened them, revealing black and white chess pieces inside.

(End of this chapter)