The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 164 The Situation in Jianghan
After passing through winding corridors and paths, Xiao Yi was led to a guest courtyard called "Chengkong Courtyard". The courtyard was quite elegant, with white walls and black tiles, and planted with green bamboo and magnolias.

"Please rest a while, my lord. My father will host a banquet tonight to welcome you back."

An Shouzhong settled him in and then went to entertain Li Fang and Yan Jinqing.

Xiao Yi climbed the steps and saw that the room was exquisitely furnished, with a blue carpet on the floor, and several maids were tidying up and pouring hot water into the bathtub.

Turning around the screen, a maid was making the bed; she was tall, with a slender waist and full hips.

Hearing the noise, she turned around, a look of surprise on her beautiful face. Then she lowered her eyes shyly, curtsied, and spoke gently.

"Is it Lord Xiao? He is so young and handsome. I have been rude. Please forgive me."

"It's no trouble at all, thank you for your help."

"This servant will attend to Your Excellency's bath..."

Shedding the dust-covered robes, I immersed myself in warm water, and the fatigue from days of travel dissipated with the rising steam.

Xiao Yi let out a comfortable sigh, leaned against the tub, and closed his eyes.

The beautiful maid with a graceful figure entered the room again and placed a set of clean clothes on the shelf.

She placed her slender hand on Xiao Yi's shoulder.

"Your Excellency must be tired from your journey. May I help you relieve your fatigue? Is my strength sufficient?"

"Push harder, push harder."

After massaging his shoulders for a while, Xiao Yi felt comfortable, and then those delicate little hands touched his broad chest.

Turning his head and glancing at her, he saw that the beautiful maid's eyes were already filled with affection.

"My lord, shall I press the tub for you, please?"

Her voice was so soft it could melt your heart.

Xiao Yi said, "There are two beauties in the delegation who were bestowed upon Liu Yan by His Majesty. Since you are like them, you can go and settle them down."

"What does Your Excellency mean?"

"Go ahead, there's no point in talking it out, and you'll be in even worse shape if things turn sour."

Xiao Yi's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a cool and collected quality that could defuse the atmosphere. The beautiful maid's charming smile froze, and her eyes showed reluctance and unwillingness, which gradually turned into fear.

“Tell An Shenqi that I came with good intentions, there’s no need for this.”

"Yes."

After taking a bath and changing clothes alone, I heard a knock on the door.

Then, An Yuanzhen's voice rang out.

"Xiao Yi, are you busy?"

"not busy."

Xiao Yi opened the door and saw An Yuanzhen standing outside with her hands on her hips. She had only finished doing her hair and hadn't tied it up yet, so she just tied it into a high ponytail.

Although it was simple, he quite liked her hairstyle.

Upon closer inspection, Li Zhaoning had changed back into women's clothing, wearing a red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), looking both aloof and beautiful.

"Hmph, let me see."

An Yuanzhen stormed into the house.

Xiao Yi saw the mischievous smile on Li Zhaoning's face and smiled back.

Inside the room, An Yuanzhen looked around and said, "Xiao Yi, has anyone tried to seduce you? I heard from the nanny that the master has arranged a romantic encounter for you."

"I haven't received it yet. Could you please urge the Prince of Nanyang for me, Madam An?"

"I need to urge him on; I have to go and give that senile old man a piece of my mind."

After saying that, An Yuanzhen lifted her skirt and ran outside.

Li Zhaoning wasn't in a hurry to chase after him. She glanced curiously into his robes and smiled, "Lord Xiao, you're all ready so quickly?"

After saying that, perhaps out of embarrassment, or perhaps because she was in a hurry to catch up with An Yuanzhen, she ran away in a hurry.

Xiao Yi wondered if she was implying something, but he thought that An Yuanzhen understood him best and wouldn't ask such a question.

Looking over, I saw two women whispering in the corridor.

"Young lady, come quickly."

"Slow down, don't rush."

"What's there to be in a hurry for? I'm just worried about my father. How could he be so harsh on an official of the imperial court!"

"..."

The banquet was held in the flower hall of the Prince's Mansion.

The hall was spacious and decorated with colorful paintings, and dozens of horn lamps illuminated it as bright as day.

Seated at separate tables, An Shenqi sat in the main seat, wearing a comfortable-looking brocade robe, his imposing presence undiminished. Beside him leaned a young and beautiful concubine, her hair styled in cloud-like hair and her face radiant with flowers, looking at least thirty years younger than him.

As she poured wine for An Shenqi, she occasionally glanced at the people at the table.

Xiao Yi sat in the head seat on the left, with Yan Jinqing, Li Fang, and Li Guanxiang sitting below him. Opposite them were An Shouzhong, An Shoulin, and the accompanying staff and generals.

Now that he was there, he was also somewhat curious about An Shenqi's confidants. He raised his glass in a toast and took note of two generals who seemed to be quite skilled in martial arts.

"I respect the general, and I admire your great name."

"I dare not accept such praise. I respect Lord Xiao, the Chief of the Imperial Guards."

An Youjin was quite young, around thirty years old, with a robust build and a touch of heroism. He drank the wine in his cup in one gulp and then introduced another general.

“Lord Xiao, this is An Wanhe. We were both servants of the king, and were promoted to the rank of generals by the king’s favor.”

"Oh? I was also a servant in the Li family."

"Heroes are not judged by their origins. Lord Xiao's achievements are unparalleled, and he can serve as a role model for the world."

Xiao Yi smiled and thought that although An Youjin was a martial artist, he had a refined manner of speaking and was very clever in dealing with people.

As they spoke, delicacies were served, the dishes were exquisite, and there were many more fish and shrimp.

The maidservant who served Xiao Yi the dishes was none other than An Yuanzhen's attendant. Without making a sound, she replaced the strong liquor on the table with osmanthus wine, which was warm.

"My lord, your wife is asking if the dishes are to your liking."

"Like the women of Xiangzhou, they suit my taste."

"It is dark in Xiangzhou at night, please leave a lamp on, my lord."

"understood."

After a few rounds of drinks, Xiao Yi steered the conversation toward the chaotic situation in the State of Chu.

An Shenqi indeed knew the details.

"The King of Chu, Ma Yin, was a hero who founded and expanded the country. However, he had too many sons. His thirty-odd sons originally agreed that the throne would be passed down from brother to brother. But what happened? First, Ma Xi'e murdered his brother and established himself as king. Ma Xichong was no better. The brothers fought amongst themselves, and the various vassal states within the territory were scattered and disorganized."

Li Guanxiang replied in a nonchalant tone, "That is precisely why it is time for General Liu to establish his heroic destiny."

An Shenqi sneered and asked, "Are you one of Wang Kui's or Zhou Xingfeng's men?"

"Your Majesty misunderstands, I..."

"I can't be bothered with you."

An Shenqi waved his silver chopsticks and looked at Xiao Yi, saying, "Wang Kui and Zhou Xingfeng want to take advantage of the Ma brothers' internal strife to launch an uprising. Do you know why they don't step forward themselves?"

"May I ask for your guidance?"

"Although the Ma brothers are fighting amongst themselves, their strength remains. Moreover, there are wolves surrounding the Chu Kingdom, all waiting for an opportunity to strike. Li Jingda and Bian Hao of the Southern Tang are sharpening their knives, their hearts filled with tigerish malice. Hmph, would they dare to reach out and snatch chestnuts from the fire?"

Xiao Yi understood, thinking that although An Shenqi's attitude was poor, he was still a decent person and had helped him understand the situation. Li Guanxiang smiled slightly, saying, "Therefore, the generals of Langzhou can only rely on the Great Zhou..."

"Bullshit!" An Shenqi said. "Between me and Chu, there is still the Kingdom of Nanping. Gao Baorong is two-faced. If I were to send troops across the border, would you really think he's a pushover?!"

Xiao Yi had looked at the map. From Xiangzhou to Langzhou, which is from Xiangyang to Changde, one had to pass through the border area between the four kingdoms of Da Zhou, Nanping, Ma Chu, and Nan Tang. The situation was very complicated.

An Shenqi's implication was that he was advising him not to go to the State of Chu.

really.

"What can Liu Yan accomplish by entering Langzhou Prefecture alone? Even if he succeeds, he will only be a pawn being manipulated. There's no need for you to rush to deliver the imperial edict to such a doomed character. Just send this cunning fellow back to the border, stuff the edict in his hand, and you'll be done with your mission."

Li Guanxiang stood up abruptly and said urgently, "Your Majesty is mistaken. This matter concerns the dignity of the Great Zhou Dynasty. How can we be so hasty?"

The generals of the An family laughed heartily, taking it as a joke.

Xiao Yi said, "The Prince of Nanyang is a man of few words, but if I don't go to Langzhou, how will I answer His Majesty when he asks?"

"Then how about we stay in Xiangzhou?"

"Just kidding."

Such an impossible thing should be rejected immediately.

Across from him, An Shouzhong put down his wine glass with a slow, gentle gesture and a soft tone, yet with a hint of pity.

“Lord Xiao, you have misunderstood. My father was actually worried about your safety.”

"I would like to hear more details."

"Since the founding of the Ma Chu Kingdom, the people have been devout Buddhists and have built many temples. Bian Hao is also a famous Buddhist layman, known as 'Bodhisattva Bian'. Governor Xiao has carried out the anti-Buddhist campaign with cruel methods. If we fall into their hands, our lives will be in danger."

His words were relatively restrained, but his tone clearly revealed his respect for Buddhism and his dissatisfaction with Xiao Yi's suppression of Buddhism.

Xiao Yi laughed and said, "You flatter me. I am not destroying Buddhism, but purifying it. Since they believe in Buddhism, they should thank me."

"Damn it, shameless and audacious, no wonder he's done a lot of bad things."

An Shenqi muttered something, seemingly thinking that Xiao Yi was beyond redemption, and shook his head.

"Anyway, don't even think about getting me to support Liu Yan. At most, I'll station troops on the border as a show of support. Whether it succeeds or not depends on your own fate."

Xiao Yi finally understood where An Yuanzhen's personality came from. Both father and daughter were easy to get along with yet difficult to get along with; they were straightforward and sincere, but also a bit domineering.

After the banquet ended, it was already late at night.

Xiao Yi wanted to talk to An Shenqi alone, so he wasn't in a hurry to get up.

An Shenqi indeed had something to say to him, so he patted the young and beautiful concubine, telling her to leave first, while he stayed behind alone.

"You still have something to say to me? I'm already showing mercy by not killing you."

"I am only thinking of the An family, how could the king kill me?"

"Considering the An family? Then I'll consider your situation too. Stay in Xiangzhou, and you'll have a stable future. Honestly, compared to the southerners, your soldiers are all landlubbers. Going to Chu would be suicide, wouldn't it?"

"Xiangzhou is located in a strategic position, bordering Ma Chu, Nanping, and Nan Tang. With merchants coming and going, His Majesty must have planted spies in Langzhou. I am entering this situation alone and completely in the dark. Only with the help of these informants can I gain insight into the situation and avoid danger."

"By what right? Just because you have an imperial edict, you think you can suppress me at every turn?"

"Your Majesty has been a hero for a lifetime, establishing a great foundation, but you must consider the future. Brother An is outstanding, but he is too young and too naive."

Xiao Yi paused, glanced at An Shenqi, and saw that his expression had indeed become a little more serious.

This person is not very shrewd and doesn't hide anything.

He then continued, “Xiangzhou is an important town, surrounded by enemies on all sides. It has arrogant soldiers and fierce generals within, and powerful neighbors surrounding it without. If Your Majesty is to consider the long-term future of your children, you can no longer rely on powerful figures to maintain your own power. The situation in the world is about to change. It is appropriate to act in accordance with Your Majesty’s orders. To put it more clearly, Your Majesty can lay the foundation for a unified empire.”

An Shenqi sneered, "Trying to trick me into betting? It's not that simple."

Xiao Yi smiled nonchalantly and said, "It's just a small matter that benefits you without costing you anything. Your Majesty is helping me out casually. If I succeed, the An family will gain merit and can also form a synergy with Liu Yan. If I fail, I will only lose a few spies. How could Your Majesty not be able to calculate the gains and losses involved?"

An Shenqi looked at him with piercing eyes and remained silent for a long time.

Just as Xiao Yi was wondering if something was wrong, he finally heard him exhale.

"Good lad, you have a sharp eye, thick skin, big guts, and a silver tongue. No wonder you can seduce young ladies."

Xiao Yi thought to himself that the benefits he received were far more than these.

Ultimately, it touched on An Shenqi's hidden worries.

"Does Your Majesty agree?"

An Shenqi's eyes already held a resolute look as he called out in a deep voice towards the door.

"An Youjin".

"The little one is here."

“Choose twenty clever men who are familiar with the situation in Chu, know the local dialect, and can manage connections, to protect this kid as he travels south. They should be in charge of all communication channels and follow his instructions.”

"Here!"

An Shenqi finished his drink and said, "Wait until you come back alive... Damn it, let's talk when you get back."

Xiao Yi stood up, bowed, and said, "I will never forget Your Majesty's kindness today."

In any case, he had tried his best to obtain the assistance he could from Xiangzhou.

As for the rest, once we enter the State of Chu, we'll have to rely on ourselves.

When I returned to the guest house, it was already late at night.

Remembering what An Yuanzhen had told the maid to say, Xiao Yi deliberately left the door bolted and left the candles lit in the outer room before lying down.

He knew that she was sleeping with Li Zhaoning tonight and might not be able to find an opportunity to come over.

The brocade robe was soft and warm, with a faint fragrance, which made him keep thinking about An Yuanzhen's movements, making it inexplicably difficult for him to fall asleep.

The longer I lay there, the more restless I became, so I got up to drink a glass of water. Suddenly, I heard the door creak softly.

Xiao Yi's mind raced, and he walked around the screen, just in time to see the hem of a skirt swaying, revealing delicate silk stockings beneath. Then, An Yuanzhen tiptoed in, carrying a pair of red embroidered shoes, and secretly closed the door.

Her fair cheeks were flushed, her hair was disheveled, but her eyes were full of affection.

Before she could turn around, he strode over and pulled her into his arms.

"Why did you come like this? Aren't you cold?"

"It's not that I'm cold, I'm just so nervous that my ears are burning. I don't even have time to comb my hair. Let me fix it first."

"It's beautiful."

Xiao Yi carried her back to the bed in his arms.

"Are your feet cold? Let me warm them up for you."

Having not been able to be intimate for a long time, An Yuanzhen was a little shy. She held her skirt to prevent him from touching her and whispered, "If I shout out and my father finds out, he will beat you to death."

"Then you won't shout?"

"But I'm afraid I can't help it... You're so annoying, why are you looking at me like that? Humph, I wasn't planning on coming to see you."

"They've come after all?"

"I can't sleep because I miss you so much." An Yuanzhen held Xiao Yi's hand, preventing him from moving, and whispered, "If you touch me, you'll know how much I miss you."

"Me too, you'll know as soon as you touch it."

"..."

As night fell in Xiangzhou, Xiao Yi dreamt that he had fallen into the spring waters of the Han River.

The waters of the Yangtze and Han rivers flow endlessly, gently permeating the landscape.

(End of this chapter)