Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 830 - 520: Turbulence

Chapter 830: Chapter 520: Turbulence

Two decades had passed since that night, and Xu Yuan gradually returned to his previous leisurely lifestyle, living a simple routine moving between only his bedroom and study room. The only activity beyond his cultivation probably was to visit his father, the Prime Minister, in his study and gossip over the latest written reports.

The approaching end of the year brought festivities to Di’an City, its decorations untouched by the events of that night.

The morning after that night, the magistrate of Di’an City arranged for the Yamen under his jurisdiction to urgently print and post notices throughout the city to calm the public’s hearts.

They claimed,

that the strange phenomenon in the Sky Dome that night was a celestial trail, a New Year’s blessing from the Imperial Family to the people of Dayan.

It was eloquently written.

Thousands of elaborate characters in literary Chinese portrayed the Saints’ Combat as a legitimate sign of the Li’s rightful claim to the throne and evidence of the Emperor’s paternal love for his subjects.

Although it seemed far-fetched, the people of this era fell for it.

The information isolation at the bottom of Dayan’s society meant that government announcements and imperial reports were the only source of news, and long-standing propaganda efforts had left them with an unshakeable belief in the legitimacy of the royal family.

This was the absolute political correctness of Dayan, and it was also the reason why Xu Yinhè was branded a thief of the state by the common people.

Compared to the calm among the populace, the court was bustling with activity. The waves that had risen within the Prime Minister’s Mansion that night ultimately set off a storm in the outside world.

These nobles were not the ignorant masses; someone had to take responsibility for Di’an City’s near destruction, and all fingers were pointing at the high and mighty Prime Minister. But who would be the scapegoat?

The early morning court sessions were eerily quiet, as if something foreboding loomed.

Bring up matters, or descend from the court if there are none.

In the first few days after the eunuch finished saying these words, the court simply dispersed.

Below the surface of calm, a storm was brewing.

On the morning of the fifth day, the Imperial Censorate’s junior official suddenly stood up and accused the deputy Capital Commandant of negligence, for placing the Emperor in peril.

He did not attack the Prime Minister himself, but the deputy Capital Commandant was widely known to be part of the Prime Minister’s faction.

This was the first shot fired.

This was the joint attack by all but the Prime Minister’s supporters—the silence of the first few days was due to their plotting.

After that, various accusatory documents flew into the Emperor’s study like snowflakes, and flames from the aftermath of that night slowly crept toward the Prime Minister himself.

Many from the City Defense Office, the Bureau of Supervision, and even the Imperial Guards were imprisoned pending trial, with the magistrate of Di’an City nearly losing his position, and without exception, all were the Prime Minister’s men.

Yet, despite all that happened, despite the jailing of so many high-ranking officials from his party, the Prime Minister simply silently watched it all unfold in the court.

This attitude perplexed many, including not only the Imperial Faction and the Sects but also some high-ranking members of the Prime Minister Party.

"We are prepared to fight to the death, why then does Your Majesty concede first?"

Wang Yuqian, the Deputy Minister of War, sought out Xu Yuan in private on behalf of the high-ranking court officials of the Prime Minister Party, eager to gauge the Prime Minister’s intentions. However, the response he received was to wait.

Once all-powerful, the Prime Minister’s followers were now trembling with anxiety, attempting some counterattacks. But without their leader speaking up, these responses were scattered and insignificant compared to the overwhelming onslaught they faced.

In such an atmosphere of every man for himself within the Prime Minister Party, time had brought them to today, two decades later.

The twenty-ninth day before the New Year.

Taking a sip of Spiritual Wine, Xu Yuan placed his cup on the tea table in front of him, savoring the spicy and sweet sensation on his taste buds while admiring the snowy night view of Di’an.

Since that night, snow had fallen intermittently three times, with the last flurry ending just yesterday. The bright moonlight reflected off the snow, giving the Sky Dome an extraordinary glow.

After staring at this scene for a dozen breaths, Xu Yuan slowly shifted his gaze to the python-robed youth with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes across from him, let out a breath, and lightheartedly asked,

"You risked sending someone to summon this ’dead man’ out. Surely it wasn’t just to have me join you for a drink and admire the view?"

Li Junqing’s expression lacked the usual ease and leisure, his eyes revealing a seriousness as he stared at Xu Yuan for several breaths before quietly asking,

"The events of that night have almost fermented to their limit."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan raised his eyebrows, looked directly into the other’s eyes for two seconds, and sighed softly,

"I thought you wanted to talk to me about your mission to Japan. I didn’t expect you to come to probe about my father’s intentions too. When did you start caring about political affairs?"

At these words, however, Li Junqing’s face showed no sign of jest, his fingertips gently caressing the slightly rough surface of the bronze wine vessel in front of him.

Tonight, the brothel they were visiting was built in the style of the Great Zhou Dynasty from seven thousand years ago, with all the vessels and utensils cast from refined fire copper.

Lifting the bronze wine vessel, Li Junqing took a sip and said slowly and methodically,

"I originally thought that after the events of that night, my mission to Japan would go much smoother. But with the Prime Minister’s current stance, the court’s agenda simply cannot move forward."

As he spoke, Li Junqing’s fingertips tapped lightly on the tabletop,

"Everyone is well aware that the near destruction of Di’an that night was caused by your Prime Minister’s Mansion, but they are also aware that even if Di’an City had truly been destroyed, it couldn’t have caused your Prime Minister’s Mansion any significant harm. This time, the struggle in the court is actually about making your Prime Minister’s Mansion pay some price within the rules, yet the Prime Minister’s attitude seems as if we want to use this affair to completely annihilate your mansion."

Xu Yuan fell silent for a moment, the corners of his lips curling slightly,

"What are you trying to imply with all this?"

Li Junqing’s gaze, deep within his sword-like eyes, seemed to try to see through Xu Yuan across him,

"Such an easy-to-understand principle is by no means incomprehensible to the Prime Minister, so there must be a reason for him to let the situation continue to ferment.

"So, you’re stalling for time, right?"

"...."

Xu Yuan looked at Li Junqing and did not speak.

Seeing this, Li Junqing showed the first hint of a smile that night, but it was a bitter smile,

"Xu Yuan, you guys found something very important on the body of that Saint Xi’en, didn’t you?"

"Pat pat pat..."

Xu Yuan applauded for Li Junqing with a smile and said in a low chuckle,

"You really live up to your reputation, Yunqing."

Thoughtfulness flickered in Li Junqing’s eyes as he gently shook his head and said in a low voice,

"It’s not so difficult to deduce this point. After all, I was also a participant that night, wasn’t I?"

Xu Yuan shrugged noncommittally, smiling as he asked in return,

"We did find some things on the body of that Saint Xi’en. So, are you here tonight to share in the spoils?"

Li Junqing shook his head and said with self-deprecating laughter,

"What qualifications does this powerless Prince have to share in your spoils? However, my father the Emperor does entertain such thoughts."

"How so?"

"He wants me to go to your Prime Minister’s Mansion to demand someone."

"O’Reilly?"

"Right."

"Then come and get her."

"He wants it to be done openly and aboveboard, in front of everyone."