Records of Mysterious Things in the Southern Dynasties

Chapter 183 The Emperor has many things to consider (4800 votes plus more)
After retiring from court, Xiao Yan kept Chen Qingzhi to play chess with him, which showed that the emperor was in a very good mood.

If he was unhappy, he would go and recite scriptures.

Xiao Yan placed a white piece on the chessboard and asked leisurely, "Is it really that Xiao Baoyin who is behind this?"

"It's absolutely true." Chen Qingzhi sat upright, one hand rolled up his sleeves and the other hand placed a chess piece, and answered respectfully: "It has been found out that he also called in the people of Ming Gui, including the scene on the Lantern Festival. Everything was planned by him."

"I told you, with those two idiots' brains, how could they come up with so many tricks?" Xiao Yan couldn't help but laugh and said, "Xiao Baoyin is really determined to be a loyal minister of the Northern Tartars."

Then he sneered and said, "None of the Xianbei people fight as hard as he does, right?"

"Haha..." Chen Qingzhi chuckled and continued, "But the blame for the robbery of Donghunhou's tomb cannot be put on Xiao Baoyin alone. I personally think that he has accomplices in the court, and their status is not low."

"Of course." Xiao Yan's expression became gloomy again. "The one who can make officials at all levels in South Xuzhou pretend to be deaf and dumb, and even the Imperial Mausoleum Guards cooperate with their performance, must be a great figure."

"He is such a traitor, he actually colluded with Xiao Baoyin to steal the imperial mausoleum." Xiao Yan became more and more angry as he spoke: "What exactly is his plan?"

"I, as an official, cannot figure this out." Chen Qingzhi sighed.

"Then unlock it!" Xiao Yan said with great determination, "Find out that big shot with ulterior motives for me!"

"As you wish." Chen Qingzhi responded hurriedly in a deep voice.

The emperor and his minister played chess in silence for a while. The only sound in the imperial study was the sound of the chess pieces falling.

~~
After a while, Xiao Yan suddenly said quietly, "Doesn't this prove that Pei Sui is innocent?"

Chen Qingzhi then said carefully, "The current evidence is indeed insufficient to prove his guilt."

"Hey, Ziyun, there are only you and me here, so there's no need to be so cautious. Just speak freely." Xiao Yan said with a smile.

"In the eyes of this minister, the emperor is always the emperor." Chen Qingzhi said respectfully. Ziyun was his courtesy name, given by Xiao Yan.

"Alas, there is a saying that goes 'clothes are better when new, and friends are better when old'. After the departure of old brothers like Shen Xiuwen and Ren Yansheng, I have no one to talk to around me. Only you old friends in the palace can talk to me about personal matters." Xiao Yan sighed and said:

"So, Ziyun, don't stand between us, okay?"

"I obey your order." Chen Qingzhi could only nod his head and said in a deep voice:
"Then I will speak frankly - I believe that Pei Sui is innocent. When Xiao Baojuan committed atrocities, he was coerced by Pei Shuye and was forced into exile in the Northern Dynasty. Later, when Your Majesty started an army, Pei Sui had been planning to return to the South, and finally overcame difficulties and got his wish. After that, he has been fighting against the Northern Dynasty on the border, becoming the most feared commander of our dynasty after General Wei. It can be said that whether it is to our dynasty or to the emperor, Pei Sui is loyal!"

"Yes, that's the truth." Xiao Yan nodded and asked, "But what about the letters to the enemy? Pei Sui admitted that they were all written by him personally."

"Those so-called letter evidences that suddenly appeared were obviously released deliberately by the Solomon Rinpoche to frame our generals. Even if those letters were real, Marshal Pei was in the enemy country at the time and was easily blamed. How could he come back without saying something against his will? So I think there is not enough evidence!" Chen Qianzhi said firmly.

“……” Xiao Yan twisted the chess piece and fell into deep thought.

In fact, he never doubted Pei Sui's loyalty, but when the Northern Expedition was making great strides, he recalled Pei Sui from the front line for investigation.

To put it bluntly, the emperor was afraid of Pei Sui's rising reputation after seeing the Northern Expedition Army's overwhelming success. So he didn't want him to continue to lead the Northern Expedition Army. This was actually quite normal, because there were too many precedents that proved that it was not a good thing for the court and the emperor when a general had too much power and prestige.

For example, Liu Yu, Xiao Daocheng, and himself... In fact, there were also many people like Huan Wen, Wang Dun, and Su Jun in the Jin Dynasty. The lessons were too many and too profound.

Even if Pei Sui had no ulterior motives, there was no guarantee what the people around him would think. They might even force him to rebel. In this era when loyalty was almost extinct and the emperor was the strongest, it would be a miracle if the emperor said he was not worried.

~~
Chen Qingzhi served Xiao Yan for half his life, how could he not know the emperor's mind? He was simply worried that Liu Yu's story would repeat itself on Pei Sui... After the Northern Expedition was successful, he would come back to usurp the throne.

This problem is the weak spot of all emperors, and any touch of it will crush them to pieces. So at this time, the safest choice is to be prudent and follow the emperor's wishes.

But Chen Qingzhi couldn't do it. His loyalty to the emperor and his concern for the war situation made it impossible for him to express his true feelings.

This is a rare opportunity to conquer the north. The unification of the country is right before our eyes! If you don't take what God has given you, you will be blamed!
So Chen Qingzhi was determined to use himself and Gou Chensi to endorse Pei Sui.

"Well, okay..." After a long consideration, Xiao Yan finally said, "I will trust him again."

"Your Majesty is wise. I congratulate Your Majesty. The unification of the world is just around the corner!" Chen Qingzhi leaned over and said excitedly.

"The world will be unified..." Xiao Yan exhaled with a complicated look in his eyes, and Fang Zhanyan smiled and said, "That's not that easy. I will be satisfied if I can take Shouchun back."

"It will definitely work." Chen Qingzhi said in a deep voice.

"Come on, continue playing chess." Xiao Yan raised his hand and motioned him to stand up.

"Yes." Chen Qingzhi quickly sat up straight and asked for instructions while making his move: "By the way, Your Majesty, those guys have all made meritorious contributions this time, especially the one named Ren Yuan. Fortunately, he saw through Xiao Baoyin's true intentions..."

"Do you need to ask for permission for such a small matter? Just do it yourself." Xiao Yan waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "You should still worry about your Dalong."

"Oh, it's true..." Chen Qianzhi quickly stopped talking and played chess with the emperor wholeheartedly.

~~
The Gouchensi government office.

The Siguo Courtyard had been razed to the ground, and Ren Yuan, his three companions, and Pei Sui were temporarily transferred to Chen Qingzhi's Zuyin Garden.

Pei Sui paid for the jailer to prepare a banquet and treated the three of them to wine to thank them for saving his life.

It also makes up for the regret of Chen Baxian drinking with a fake person.

In fact, Chen Qingzhi's meeting with the emperor today might decide the fate of the four people. But Chen Baxian and Pei Sui were not affected at all. They toasted each other, talked and laughed, and looked very free and easy.

As for Ren Yuan and A Yao, one of them is mature beyond his years, while the other has become taciturn. At times like this, they usually play the role of listeners.

The main purpose was to listen to Pei Sui's narration of his glorious achievements in the war against the Suo Lu. Chen Baxian felt itchy and asked him, "If we can both regain our freedom, can I follow you to the front line?"

(End of this chapter)