Chapter 1948: Looking Toward Duke Jiu! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”Eunuch Gao said that everything was far from over, that there would be many things in the future that we would be unwilling to see. These words are hinting to us that the future situation will be even more disastrous than this one!” Xu Qiqin sternly said.
”Are you saying that Eunuch Gao was warning us?” Wang Chong suddenly said in realization.
Xu Qiqin's eyes were clear as she confidently declared, ”That's right!”
In the short time given, she had found it somewhat difficult to understand a few things, but as she analyzed, the situation gradually cleared up.
Eunuch Gao had not come to answer Wang Chong's questions. He had come to warn Wang Chong. Just like Wang Chong, he had an intense unease in his heart.
There was no doubt about this!
Wang Chong managed to maintain a calm face, but his mind was in turmoil.
Wang Chong had never expected that Eunuch Gao had left the palace to warn him.
But now that he thought about it, Eunuch Gao had been intentionally avoiding answering his question and appeared instead to be constantly reminding and warning him.
He had been so caught up in the situation that it was only now that he had time to slowly think it over and realize these 'suspicious' points.
”But even if we understand this, without an answer, it's of no help to the current situation. This is an extremely complicated situation, and if Eunuch Gao was not willing to talk, we have nowhere to start.”
Wang Chong shook his head and sighed.
”Who said that?”
Xu Qiqin's eyes had a crafty light as she smiled at Wang Chong.
”Eunuch Gao hinted that everything has its reasons. We can also interpret this as meaning that the origin of all this was from a long time ago, not in the present, perhaps even earlier than we imagined. After all, if it was a recent incident, there would be no reason for all of the officials or us to not know about it.
”Eunuch Gao knows the truth because he's the Sage Emperor's closest advisor, but also because he's served the Sage Emperor the longest.”
Xu Qiqin slowly extended two fingers, her eyes like bright beacons that pierced through the darkness.
”In the past, we might have been helpless, but if my hypothesis is true, then we have a chance.
”In my view, we need to question two more people before setting the tone!”
Mountain Water Pavilion fell silent, except for the sound of the gentle breeze. Slowly, Wang Chong began to smile.
”Haha, Qiqin, you really are the most talented woman in the capital. I knew that you wouldn't let me down when I brought you along!”
”You flatter me!”
Xu Qiqin blushed and turned her head away.
Even a talented woman like Xu Qiqin couldn't help but show her childish side in front of the man she loved.
”Right, has Your Highness realized who I'm talking about?” Xu Qiqin asked.
”Come; let's write down the two people we're thinking of and see if we are of the same mind!” Wang Chong said with a smile.
The two took up brushes, dabbed them in tea, and wrote on their palms. A few moments later, they opened their palms, and when they saw what the other had written, they both gave knowing smiles.
Yes, besides Eunuch Gao, there were still two people in the Great Tang who had served the Sage Emperor the longest and had extremely close relationships to him. These were Wang Chong's grandfather, the illustrious Duke Jiu, and the Old Master of the Yao Clan, Yao Chong.
Ever since these two had entered Four Quarters Embassy, they had essentially withdrawn from government affairs. No matter what happened in court, even the war of the northwest, the two old gentlemen did not appear.
The passage of time had made many people forget that these two old gentlemen had once been influential ministers who had been closest to the center of power.
Even the Sage Emperor had once regarded them as his arms. The accomplishments achieved by the cooperation of these subjects with their sovereign had created stories that the entire realm knew.
There were some things that Eunuch Gao could not speak about due to his status, but the same was not necessarily true for these two old gentlemen.
With Wang Chong's mind set, he left Mountain Water Pavilion and had his carriage head toward Four Quarters Embassy.
This was a massive estate surrounded by Imperial Army soldiers and Golden Guards that signified its status, and the words 'Four Quarters Embassy' above the gate were written by the Emperor himself.
Through his carriage, Wang Chong could see that the bamboo trees peeking over the walls were thriving even more than in the past.
Each time Wang Chong visited this place, he experienced something different.
Four Quarters Embassy was a plain, elegant, and refined place, even though the two old gentlemen residing here had more than enough status to decorate the place in a majestic and opulent manner.
From a certain perspective, the style of Four Quarters Embassy reflected the mental pursuits of the two old gentlemen.
When one experienced enough in life, when one reached a certain level of wealth, fame, and political power, everything returned to the origin, and one began to yearn for peace and grow indifferent to fame.