The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 13 The Art of Face Reading
The body fell to the ground, splashing up the accumulated snow.

Xiao Yi deftly discarded the knife and walked towards Shi Dechong's study.

Since he was already a close attendant, he did not need anyone to announce his arrival. He went straight into the guarded courtyard gate, walked through the courtyard, and climbed the steps.

Just as he was about to knock on the door, Xiao Yi stopped and stood still, listening to the conversation inside.

"If you ask me, I guess he will kill, but who knows how long he will drag it out."

Judging from the voice, Xiao Yi knew that the speaker was Xie Hui.

Shi Dechong asked, "Didn't you recognize her? She was a slave girl confiscated from Li Song's residence back then."

"Now that you mention it, I remember the child who was so scared that he wet his pants, kneeling and begging me to spare his life, with tears and snot streaming down his face. After being raised at your home for two or three years, he was completely different."

How did he react when he saw you?

"There was no reaction, as if he didn't recognize me."

"No mention of the former master?"

"He didn't mention it." Xie Hui scoffed. "Would he dare to mention it?"

Shi Dechong said, "That means the old master is gone, so you don't need to make things difficult for him anymore. Go."

"But doesn't the young master find him strange? He's like a completely different person."

“I know, he’s been completely transformed in just a few days. But all I need is for him to be loyal…”

Xiao Yi turned around, stepped back down the steps in the snow-stained footprints, called out "Young Master", and walked forward again to knock on the door.

A moment later, Jie Hui opened the door, glanced at him, smiled slightly, and strode away.

"Young master, it's done."

Xiao Yi's voice was calm and composed, without any discernible emotion.

Shi Dechong didn't even raise his head when he heard this, he just gave a faint "hmm" as if he were just listening to a trivial matter.

This means that Xiao Yi has temporarily passed his test.

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A few days later, several maids walked along the corridor and saw Xiao Yi walking towards them. They quickly stood aside.

"Ottoro".

"Ah."

Xiao Yi nodded, continued walking, turned the corner of the corridor, and arrived at Shi Dechong's study without any hindrance.

He closed the door, walked to the last row of bookshelves, and scanned the scrolls.

The scrolls were covered with small paper labels, such as "Grand Tutor Feng Dao", "Left Minister Su Yugui", "Minister Dou Zhengu", "Hanlin Academician Wang Renyu", "Hedong Military Governor Liu Chong", and "Yanzhou Military Governor Murong Yanchao", which recorded information about important officials of the court.

His gaze quickly swept over the ones he had already seen, stopping at the five characters "Liu Zhu, Prefect of Kaifeng," and Xiao Yi reached out and picked them up.

At this moment, Shi Hongzhao was meeting with Liu Zhu in the main hall, accompanied by Shi Dechong. They were presumably discussing confidential matters. Xiao Yi was not present, but he was somewhat curious.

Unrolling the scroll, a red checkmark under Liu Zhu's name comes into view, indicating that Liu Zhu was a key person Shi Dechong wanted to befriend.

"Liu Zhu, a native of Shaanxi, was born into a military family in Heyang. He was cunning, fond of killing, and ruthless, but he knew how to advance and retreat. The late emperor appointed him as the Left Chief Clerk. At the beginning of the dynasty, he was appointed as the Military Governor of Yongxing Army. After the young emperor ascended the throne, he was promoted to Prefect of Kaifeng. He deeply understood his father's idea that harsh punishments were necessary in chaotic times. Whenever they met, he would talk about executions and taxes. When beating people, he would use two canes at the same time, which was called the 'Hehuan Cane', or he would beat people according to their age, which was called the 'Age-Based Cane'. He was good at accumulating wealth. This year, he charged 3,000 coins per mu for autumn crops and 2,000 coins per mu for summer crops..."

Shi Dechong's handwriting was messy, using traditional characters and punctuation, which Xiao Yi had previously struggled to read, but now he could understand it fluently. He quickly wrote down the information for future use.

Unrolling it further, a strip of paper fell out of the scroll.

The paper is mulberry paper, of excellent quality, and is generally used only for important documents. The writing on the paper is rough, like that of knives and halberds.

"The knife and chopping board are sharp, and the fat pigs are lined up. If I give the order, the whole city will be reduced to ashes. Zhu bows and prostrates himself twice."

Xiao Yi pondered the two lines of text, not understanding their meaning for a moment. He put the paper back and carefully put the scroll away.

He thought to himself, Liu Zhu “bowing and kowtowing” must be bowing to Shi Hongzhao, but who is “fat pig”?

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Shi Dechong walked in, his face slightly displeased.

Xiao Yi remained calm, as he was already assigned the task of organizing the bookshelves.

"What are you doing?"

"Among those familiar with the young master's comings and goings."

“You’ve become a close attendant, and you want to do your job well, that’s fine, but…”

As he spoke, Shi Dechong walked to the bookshelf, picked up the scroll about Liu Zhu, unfolded it, took out the note from it, glanced at it, and a hint of annoyance flashed in his eyes.

"But since you weren't asked to serve him, it means you don't need to get to know him."

"take note of it."

“But I see no remorse from you.” Shi Dechong raised his voice.

Xiao Yi said, "I will never do it again..."

"If you have any remorse, why do you not feel any fear?"

Shi Dechong suddenly questioned him and became unusually angry, like thunder suddenly breaking out in the bright spring season.

He pointed and said, "I appreciate you and promote you, but what have you done? Have you ever knelt down to thank me for my kindness? You spend your days pretending to be a nobleman, impersonating Erlang, causing a great uproar in the city. When others call you 'Yilang,' do you really not consider yourself a servant anymore?!"

Xiao Yi was initially puzzled, but upon hearing the words "impersonating Erlang," he guessed that Liu Zhu might have spread some rumors that displeased Shi Dechong.

Or perhaps Shi Dehong was using this as an excuse to make him more humble.

But he ultimately didn't want to kneel down and admit his mistake. After thinking for a while, he decided to put into practice an idea that had been on his mind for several days.

“I certainly didn’t consider myself a slave.”

"What?" Shi Dechong was surprised. Xiao Yi changed the subject and said, "Young Master's appearance is of immeasurable nobility."

"Why do you need to tell me?"

"I mean, the purple aura between your brows is a sign of the Purple Star reflecting the Big Dipper and the Emperor Star shining upon you."

Shi Dechong's expression hardened, and he asked in a deep voice, "What? You can read faces?"

"I won't."

"That is?"

Xiao Yi deliberately counted three breaths slowly before saying, "Some time ago, someone saw you from afar at the manor and said something that enlightened me."

"Who?" Shi Dechong's expression shifted. "Could it be... Zen Master Wenyan? He said I am a sign of imperial star shining upon me? What are the specifics?"

"can not say."

A look of suspicion flashed in Shi Dechong's eyes, and he snapped, "Are you playing me?!"

Xiao Yi vaguely sensed the urgency in his tone and concluded that his heart was already stirred. He withstood the pressure and remained silent.

a long time.

"Okay, I won't ask."

Shi Dechong finally conceded, presumably because he was more willing to believe what Xiao Yi said.

He sighed and said, "Do you know that the Zen master passed away not long ago?"

Xiao Yi shook his head in response, then asked in surprise, "That pair of young masters... was that his final prophecy?"

Shi Dechong paced a few steps, his steps unconsciously becoming a little faster than usual.

"You cannot elaborate on the Zen master's prophecy; instead, share your thoughts."

“Yes, ever since I met the Zen Master, I no longer consider myself a servant.” Xiao Yi bowed solemnly and said, “May I ask, if the prophecy comes true one day, will you need a timid and humble servant, or a loyal and devoted confidant?”

The study remained silent for a while, with only the faint whistling of the wind blowing through the cracks in the window.

With a swallowing sound, Shi Dechong's throat bobbed as he suppressed his anger and said, "You, how dare you! Do you know what you're saying? Just for those words, I could kill you right now."

“The young master once said, ‘There’s no point in opening your heart to someone.’ Today, I am simply opening my heart to the young master.”

Shi Dechong frowned, staring intently at Xiao Yi, as if trying to find a trace of bluff or fear in his eyes.

But Xiao Yi was as calm as a Buddha statue enshrined in the Daxiangguo Temple.

He knew that Shi Dechong wouldn't kill him; that threat only revealed his insatiable thirst for power.

Eyes facing each other.

After a while, Shi Dechong's icy expression gradually melted, revealing a complex and unfathomable look: shock, doubt, bewilderment, a hint of annoyance at being seen through, but more so, a sense of satisfaction at having his ambitions resonated with and been soothed.

Finally, he gave a self-deprecating laugh and shook his head.

"The reason you looked at Liu Zhu's file was to test the waters. Are you telling me that you understand my plan and want to get involved?"

“Yes.” Xiao Yi agreed with his guess.

"I will remember your arrogance today."

Xiao Yi said, "Perhaps one day, young master will not think this is arrogant."

Shi Dechong couldn't help but smile, his expression suddenly brightening. He said, "Very well, I might as well tell you. I do indeed have... great ambitions."

"I am willing to serve you."

Xiao Yi bowed again, still not humble, but with a more serious, advisor-like demeanor.

Shi Dechong said, "Liu Zhu just mentioned that there are rumors in Kaifeng that the servant of the Shi family that Su Fengji made things difficult for at the banquet was actually Shi Erlang. So I tested you, and sure enough, I found out."

Xiao Yi said, "So, young master was trying to force me to open up. But how could there be such a misunderstanding?"

“It’s alright.” Shi Dechong had calmed down and said calmly, “They won’t misunderstand for long… Go, and don’t reveal a single word of what you said today.”

"Yes."

Xiao Yi pushed open the door, and a gust of wind carrying snowflakes blew in, the chill making him shiver involuntarily.

Shi Dechong tightened his fox fur coat, turned his head and saw an old blue sable cloak hanging on the rack. He immediately picked it up, stepped forward and personally draped it over Xiao Yi's back.

The mink fur is thick and soft, providing immediate protection against the cold wind.

"It's cold, wear this."

Xiao Yi turned around and saw that Shi Dechong's eyes were full of warmth after he had completely calmed down, so he did not refuse and said, "Thank you for your kindness, young master."

In a short while, the figure draped in a blue sable cloak disappeared into the distance.

Shi Dechong stood with his hands behind his back in the corridor, looking up at the sky, recalling the phrase "the Purple Star reflects the Dipper, the Emperor Star shines in his presence," his heart surging with emotion for a long time.

He didn't explicitly state his ambitions earlier, but if one had to summarize them, one could use a quote from An Chongrong, the military governor of Chengde...

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Stepping out of the courtyard, Xiao Yi glanced back at the swirling snow and seemed to sense something.

He couldn't read faces, nor could he fully determine the historian's ambitions based solely on Liu Zhu's note, but he was familiar with the traditions of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

This tradition can be summarized in one sentence—

"The emperor should be the one with the strongest army and the most powerful horses; is there any inherent right to rule by birth?!"

(End of this chapter)