The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 166 Interrogation
Suddenly, shouts arose on the deck.

"Everyone, come out!"

"The Deputy Military Governor of Jingnan has arrived!"

The guards at the water gate escorted an official from the Southern Ping Kingdom onto the deck.

An Youjin bowed and stepped forward, handing over the order slip.

“Please take a look, Commander. I often travel this waterway and have always been law-abiding and have never smuggled anything.”

The official from Nanping Kingdom did not reach out to accept it. Instead, he glanced at everyone and began to speak in an orderly manner.

"I, Sun Guangxian, have been ordered by the King to inspect passing ships to prevent spies from infiltrating the capital... There are too many people on this ship who do not appear to be merchants."

The atmosphere froze instantly after those words.

Xiao Yi thought to himself, "This person has such a sharp eye."

After a quick glance, Sun Guangxian appeared to be around forty years old, with a refined and scholarly face. Although he was dressed in an official robe, his demeanor was different from that of a military man, and there were traces of ink under his fingernails.

He is a civil official, and a very shrewd one at that; it would be difficult to pretend to be a businessman in front of him.

Xiao Yi decisively decided to change An Youjin's plan, otherwise it would be exposed.

Over there, An Youjin was already introducing them with a forced smile.

"This is the young master of my boss's close friend's family. He is a first-time merchant and is traveling with our fleet to broaden his horizons."

Xiao Yi stepped forward and said, "I am Ximen Qing."

Sun Guangxian looked around and asked, "And who are these people?"

"This is my uncle, who looked after me on the road; this is my tutor, Mr. Li, who taught me; oh, I also hired an accountant and a bodyguard."

"Judging from your accent, you're not from Xiangchu?"

"General, you have excellent hearing. I am from Qinghe County, Xingzhou."

Xiao Yi happened to see Sun Guangxian looking at Zhang Mantun, so he casually pointed and laughed, "This big oaf is from the same hometown as me."

"Such a tall and strong man, how come he wasn't conscripted into the army?"

"Of course they did! They escaped."

Sun Guangxian remained noncommittal, took the order from An Youjin, and asked questions casually as he looked at it.

"At such a young age, you've traveled far to do business. What are you planning to do on this trip south? What goods are you selling? What products do you wish to buy?"

"I'm really not sure about that."

Xiao Yi blurted it out, seemingly unconcerned.

Sun Guangxian was finally surprised. He looked away from the bill of lading, glanced at him, and then his eyes showed understanding.

He casually handed over the order form.

Xiao Yi accepted it.

Sun Guangxian said, "Young Master Ximen has calluses on his hands; so you are a martial artist?"

"To be honest, General Sun, I am actually skilled in both literature and martial arts."

"Ah."

Li Fang suddenly let out a soft chuckle, turned his back, and shook his head to himself.

Xiao Yi couldn't help but secretly admire this acting skill. Compared to it, it was no wonder that he could only be a stand-in.

Sun Guangxian's oppressive aura lessened slightly. He glanced at Yan Jinqing and Li Guanxiang, but couldn't see any flaws in them. Finally, his gaze fell on the elite Imperial Guards under Xiao Yi's command.

"Young Master Ximen's guards are truly remarkable."

"The land of Chu is rife with war and the trade routes are treacherous. How can we manage without bringing a large number of people?"

"Knowing there's going to be war, aren't you afraid of losing everything, or even meeting with some misfortune?"

Xiao Yi's heart tightened, realizing that the situation was not good.

Sun Guangxian deliberately appeared to be relaxed, but in fact, his suspicions only increased.

What truly arouses suspicion is the contrast between the robust physiques of these elite imperial guards and their seasickness; even more suspicious is the disconnect between their obedience to him and his playboy persona.

Stealing a glance, Sun Guangxian's smile deepened, but he had already moved toward the Nanping soldiers.

How to do?
With a short blade tucked in his pocket, he could easily capture Sun Guangxian in one stride, take him hostage, break through the water gate, and sail down the river. How many more obstacles lay ahead?
Xiao Yi thought for a moment and came up with an idea. It wasn't very reliable, but he could give it a try. So he gritted his teeth and spoke up.

"Alright, to be honest, Commander Sun, I'm not here to do business."

"Oh?"

“My family, the Ximen family, is nothing but a poor household in Qinghe County. I have been wandering around since I was a child, and I like to associate with heroes of the Jianghu. Sometimes I also do some swindling and cheating.”

Sun Guangxian smiled, unsurprised, and asked, "What is the purpose of your trip?"

"Visiting friends".

"Indeed, it is related to the Southern Tang Dynasty."

How did Marshal Sun find out?

"The navy of Liu Renzhan, a general of the Southern Tang, is stationed in Ezhou and is eyeing Yuezhou. If you go south now, unless you enter the Yuan River, you will inevitably make contact with the Southern Tang."

At this point, Sun Guangxian's face darkened, and he shouted, "Confess now!"

Xiao Yi finally figured out his thinking.

They cannot admit that going to the Yuan River would expose their true purpose, but if they say they went to the Southern Tang, how can they appear innocent?

“General Sun is truly a remarkable man; I was just thinking of going to Nanjing.”

An Youjin exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master Ximen, you?!"

Whether he was cooperating or trying to clear his name and save his own life, Xiao Yi couldn't care less about him at this moment. Sun Guangxian raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Going to Jinling? Are you an envoy from the north?"

"He is indeed the protector of flowers."

"Protect the flower?"

"To be honest, the reason I came south is to see a young lady."

"Ridiculous, how could I believe you?"

“In my early years, I traveled south and made a secret betrothal to her. However, she was the daughter of a high-ranking official in Jiangnan, and her family opposed our marriage. So I had to go north. Later, I made a pact with my uncle to have him disguise me as a wealthy young man from the Central Plains, bring guards, and go back to Jinling to abduct her. After I gave birth to a son or daughter, her family would have no choice but to accept me as their son-in-law.”

Xiao Yi's story is absurd.

But perhaps it was precisely because of the absurdity that Sun Guangxian did not refute it, his eyes shifting between light and shadow.

"A high-ranking official from Jiangnan? Whose daughter is she?"

"I don't know her grandfather's name, I only know that his surname is Zhou. The old man wants to marry her off to a relative named 'Li Yu'."

I thought that once the name was mentioned, Sun Guangxian would believe it.

However, Sun Guangxian merely frowned and asked, "Li Yu? Who is that?"

Xiao Yi was taken aback and asked in surprise, "You don't know Li Yu? He... must have a very high status."

"Yu, Yao, which member of the Southern Tang imperial family would dare to use such a grand name? Could they possibly suppress it?"

"This……"

Xiao Yi's surprise was genuine, not an act.

Sun Guangxian stared at him intently for a moment, then muttered to himself as he did so.

"It seems to be a pseudonym. Yu? It is composed of the radical for fire and the sound of Yu. Yu is pronounced as six... Li Jing's sixth son was born in the year of Dingyou, which belongs to the fire element. He desires to shine in all directions. Li Congjia? His ambition is not small."

Xiao Yi didn't quite understand what he was saying.

If Li Yu wasn't called that now, it would be incredibly impressive to be able to deduce who he was by going back in time.

How much dry knowledge would one need to master to do that?

"I ask you, is the young lady you've been flirting with perhaps the daughter of Zhou Zong, the governor of the Eastern Capital of the Southern Tang Dynasty?"

"She never mentioned her father's official title, but since the military commander could guess it, it must be him."

Since it was Sun Guangxian who guessed it himself, it can be believed.

But he still asked, "You are a northerner, without official rank or title, how could you possibly seduce Zhou Zong's daughter?"

"In Qinghe County, who doesn't know my name, Ximen Qing, the 'playboy'? I know all about seducing young ladies. It's nothing more than the five words: 'handsome, rich, handsome, tall, young, and leisurely'."

"what for?"

"The looks of Pan An, the quality of a donkey, the wealth of Deng Tong, the understanding of women's subtle thoughts, and the willingness to spend time."

Those around them burst into laughter, and Little Monkey exclaimed sincerely, "That's right, who can compare to our Young Master Ximen!"

Sun Guangxian smiled enigmatically, stepped forward, patted Xiao Yi on the shoulder, and asked, "How can you prove what you're saying?"

Xiao Yi said, "Madam Zhou likes poetry, so I specially hired Li Xixi to teach me how to write lyrics."

Sun Guangxian looked at Li Fang and said, "Write the lyrics."

Li Fang remained calm and composed, reciting casually: "The Han River flows like a ribbon, distant peaks float on its clear shallows, sails drift lazily with the waves, the wind carries the soft fragrance of orchids from the riverbank..."

“That’s enough.” Sun Guangxian turned to Xiao Yi and said, “This is not enough to prove your point.”

Xiao Yi said, "I have a piece of colored paper given to me by Lady Zhou, on which are written her poems."

"Give me."

Xiao Yi took out a colored letter from his pocket, but instead of handing it out, he unfolded it and showed Sun Guangxian the short poem written in delicate handwriting.

"Please take a look, General Sun, but don't take it away."

Sun Guangxian glanced at it casually at first, then his pupils gradually showed shock.

As I watched further, I couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"This word?!"

Xiao Yi quickly put away the letter and asked, "Is the commander trustworthy now?"

"You and that Zhou woman... have been so... so unrestrained?"

"If the commander still doesn't believe me, I have nothing to say."

"I believe that, apart from Zhou Zong's daughter, I cannot think of anyone else in the world who could possess such talent."

Sun Guangxian sighed softly, paced back and forth, and stroked his beard in thought.

Finally, he turned to look at her and asked, "Are you planning to go to Jinling and kidnap her?"

"Yes."

Finally, Sun Guangxian withdrew his gaze, a faint, elusive smile appearing on his face, as if mocking.

He waved his hand dismissively.

"Verification confirmed, proceed with clearance."

"Thank you, Marshal Sun."

An Youjin felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and bowed repeatedly to see him off, signaling the boatmen to weigh anchor and set sail.

The ship slowly sailed out of the water gate, leaving the grim checkpoint behind.

The future remains uncertain.

(End of this chapter)