Holding the Emperor Hostage : Chapter 83: Rewards

Although the edict enfeoffing Shengtu Yang as Prince of Yan had already been issued, the golden patent, golden seal, official seal, and ceremonial robes of the Prince of Yan, not to mention the new Prince of Yan’s mansion, had not yet been made. Therefore, from a legal standpoint, Shengtu Yang was still the Duke of Yan tonight.

At the victory banquet, Yao Wenruo and the other generals of the Yan faction cheerfully carried wine jars forward to offer their lord a toast in congratulations. A dense crowd of people surrounded Shengtu Yang’s seat. Shengtu Yang refused none who came, and even his manner of drinking wine seemed to swallow mountains and rivers like a tiger.

Among the twenty five thousand cavalry who had followed Shengtu Yang to campaign in the Western Regions, apart from Shengtu Yang’s direct line Yan Cloud iron cavalry, there were also some soldiers from the northern and southern armies, as well as good sons from the Longyou and Guanzhong regions who had volunteered to follow the army. When the army returned in triumph, these soldiers bore military achievements and also returned to the capital with Shengtu Yang. At this moment, they were mixed among the crowd offering toasts to Shengtu Yang.

When the aristocratic families and nobles at the feast saw this scene, they could not help but smile and sow discord before Huo Quan: “The northern and southern armies were originally in the Grand Commandant’s pocket. Now that they have returned from the Western Regions, they actually also look to the Prince of Yan as their leader. Our Grand Marshal, isn’t his hand reaching a bit too far?”

Huo Quan was unmoved, and still smiled with calm confidence: “The duty of the northern and southern armies is to protect His Majesty, and they will only obey His Majesty’s edicts. The Prince of Yan is the Grand Marshal personally enfeoffed by His Majesty. The soldiers followed the Grand Marshal to campaign in the Western Regions, so naturally they must obey the military orders of their commander. You, sir, are a civil official and have never joined the army to fight in battle, so naturally you do not understand the principle that military orders are as immovable as mountains.”

When that official heard these words, he chuckled: “The Grand Commandant certainly has a good heart. It is just that I do not know whether our Prince of Yan can understand the Grand Commandant’s well-intentioned efforts.”

Huo Quan did not take it to heart: “What well-intentioned efforts do I have? I am merely following His Majesty’s edicts. We are all subjects of the ruler, and naturally should follow the duty of a subject.”

That aristocratic official, seeing that Huo Yan was impervious to both oil and salt, only felt tightness in his chest and shortness of breath. He also could not be bothered to deal with Huo Quan in a false and accommodating manner: “In the past, your respected father was chancellor, exercising imperial authority with such imposing might. Now that you, sir, hold the position of Grand Commandant, you can only bow your head to others. If your respected father knows in the springs below, I do not know whether he would feel for the Huo family—”

“Sir, watch your words.” Huo Hong, who had followed his father to the banquet, unceremoniously interrupted that aristocratic official’s sarcastic mockery: “My Huo family is full of loyal subjects who love the ruler and the country. When have we ever exercised imperial authority or committed acts of usurpation? In the past, when my grandfather served as chancellor, he diligently assisted His Majesty. The ruler and minister got along well, and all under heaven knew it. After my grandfather passed away, relying upon His Majesty’s heavenly grace, my father was enfeoffed as Grand Commandant and put in charge of the northern and southern armies. My father similarly diligently assists His Majesty and has never been the slightest bit negligent. My Huo family is full of loyal and devoted hearts. How can others make irresponsible remarks?”

When the crowd of aristocratic officials at the feast heard these words, they could not help but chuckle inwardly.

Your Huo family is full of loyal and devoted hearts, and has never had any rebellious acts? Then which grandson was it who rashly spoke of deposing and establishing in your mansion? Such lies can actually be spoken with a straight face. The Huo family’s face is indeed thick enough.

But the matter had already reached this point. Their plan to sow discord between the Huo family and Shengtu Yang was certain to fail.

The various aristocratic families and nobles watched Shengtu Yang, who was surrounded so tightly by the soldiers that not a drop of water could pass through, with complicated thoughts. On one hand, they envied Shengtu Yang’s illustrious military achievements. On the other hand, they privately muttered that Yin Shuhuai was “blinded by lust.” To please his beloved, he actually broke the ancestral system and enfeoffed someone of a different surname as prince. They did not know what Yin Shuhuai was thinking. It was truly rearing a tiger that would bring disaster.

Shentu Yang, who was viewed as a tiger by the aristocratic families and nobles, carried his wine cup to His Majesty’s presence and respectfully offered a toast to His Majesty. Yin Shuhuai, the Son of Heaven who was rearing a tiger that would bring disaster, smiled and drank it all in one go. The ruler and minister exchanged a smile, making the aristocratic families and nobles’ teeth ache.

After three rounds of wine, Yao Wenruo and the civil and military officials of Yan, relying on their three parts drunkenness, swarmed up to surround Shengtu Yang and boldly asked about the heavenly horses that sweat blood.

Today when welcoming the triumphant army, the various generals had looked at the heavenly horses that sweat blood beneath the triumphant soldiers with such envy that their eyes turned green. If they had known that campaigning in the Western Regions could get them heavenly horses that sweat blood, they would have done whatever it took to follow Shengtu Yang on the expedition. Unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret in this world. They had already missed the opportunity to follow Shengtu Yang to campaign in the Western Regions. Now they could only hope that Shengtu Yang, their lead brother, had not forgotten them, and could at least provide them with an opportunity to purchase heavenly horses that sweat blood.

When Shengtu Yang heard these words, he laughed out loud. No one knows a younger brother better than his older brother. When it came to heavenly horses that sweat blood, he knew these guys would not be able to hold their composure. But he had not expected them to be so unable to hold their composure, asking impatiently at the victory banquet itself.

“Rest assured, I have already had people set aside one thousand good horses in advance. They are all prepared for you.” Shengtu Yang had always valued loyalty and righteousness, and was clear in rewards and punishments. Even the soldiers who had followed him on the expedition could each receive a heavenly horse that sweats blood. How could he forget the good brothers who had fought alongside him all the way from the Xiongnu to the present?

Not to mention the people left in Ji County, even Gao Jingde, Zhou Tai, and the others who were serving as provincial governors and commandery governors outside, Shengtu Yang had not left out a single one.

In fact, when Shengtu Yang had personally selected fine horses for His Majesty in Dayuan, he had already set aside one thousand good horses in advance for the brothers of the Duke of Yan’s mansion. It was not only heavenly horses that sweat blood. Even the spices, ivory, and other interesting items he had come across in the Western Regions, apart from what was given to His Majesty, Shengtu Yang had also set aside a share for everyone. He himself had not kept much.

When the various generals heard this, they were overjoyed. They swarmed up to surround Shengtu Yang, and words of praise that cost nothing poured out of their mouths, coaxing Shengtu Yang into beaming with joy. His laughter became even more hearty.

The aristocratic families and nobles who had just been speaking sour words at the feast saw this, and felt even more upset in their hearts. They also wanted fine horses. Since ancient times, fine horses have been like beautiful women, both treasures that can be encountered by chance but not sought after. Unfortunately, they did not have the ability to campaign in the Western Regions. They also did not know whether, after the Silk Road was restored, the merchant caravans sent to Dayuan would be able to exchange for heavenly horses that sweat blood.

After Shengtu Yang had exchanged pleasantries with his brothers for a while, he suddenly remembered something. He walked before Grand Commandant Huo Quan and said with a hearty smile: “I have also left a good horse for the Grand Commandant. If the Grand Commandant has free time, you might as well come to my mansion to personally select it.”

When Huo Yan heard these words, he was actually somewhat overwhelmed by favor. He immediately raised his wine cup and stood up to express thanks, then smiled and congratulated Shengtu Yang on being enfeoffed as Prince of Yan.

When Shengtu Yang heard this, he laughed heartily: “What thanks are needed? You and I are both subjects of His Majesty, so of course we are on the same side.” And Shengtu Yang had always been generous to those on his own side. Out of love for the house, he was even more kind and pleasant toward Huo Quan, this loyal supporter of the emperor.

When the aristocratic families and nobles heard these words, they could not help but look at him with sidelong glances. They were also subjects of His Majesty. They also wanted heavenly horses that sweat blood. Why did Shengtu Yang not select one for each of them?

Unfortunately, the crowd was constrained by Shengtu Yang’s overwhelming power and did not dare to question him aloud.

After the victory banquet ended, the generals of the Yan faction led by Yao Wenruo still wanted to drag Shengtu Yang to the Duke of Yan’s mansion for a second round of drinking, to celebrate their big brother becoming Prince of Yan. Shengtu Yang would not go, and frankly stated that he would stay overnight in the palace: “As the saying goes, one day apart feels like three autumns. This trip to the Western Regions lasted several months. My separation from His Majesty feels like several decades. My longing overflows. Where do I have the time to deal with you lot. Each and every one of you, go find somewhere cool to stay. If you really have nowhere to go, go sleep in the stables and keep your thousand li horses company.”

When the various generals heard this, they could not help but giggle and wink at each other, throwing their arms over each other’s shoulders as they left the palace.

Shentu Yang returned to the Chongde Hall with his tail in the air, and saw Yin Shuhuai sitting properly before the desk handling official business. The ever-bright lamp of the Changxin Palace emitted a warm and bright light. His Majesty sat properly before the desk, which set off his beauty even more like jade. Shengtu Yang drew close, his eyes full of tenderness: “After several months apart, has Your Majesty missed me?”

Yin Shuhuai glanced at Shengtu Yang with suspicion: “Why did you not go out drinking with Yao Wenruo and the others?”

Shentu Yang’s face fell, and he said in disbelief: “Is Your Majesty trying to drive me away?”

Yin Shuhuai was somewhat caught between laughter and tears: “Why would I drive you away? In this palace, you have long been free to come and go as you please. Who could drive you away?” He had only heard from Zhuang Wuwei that Yao Wenruo and the others intended to invite Shengtu Yang to drink a second round at the Duke of Yan’s mansion outside the palace. He had asked casually, that was all.

Shentu Yang would not listen, and still said pitifully: “After several months apart, Your Majesty does not miss me at all?”

He pointed at the stacks of memorials on the dragon desk and protested in dissatisfaction: “I led twenty thousand troops to campaign in the Western Regions and established illustrious military achievements for Your Majesty. I returned after nine deaths and one life. Instead of properly rewarding me, Your Majesty is actually staying up late to approve memorials? What about me? Where does Your Majesty place me?”

Yin Shuhuai looked helplessly at Shengtu Yang, who was throwing a tantrum for no reason. He truly had not expected that Shengtu Yang would cast aside the civil and military officials of the Duke of Yan’s mansion and run to the inner palace to pester him. One thousand heavenly horses that sweat blood had already been given out. If it were Yin Shuhuai, he certainly would not let such a good opportunity to win people’s hearts slip by.

Shentu Yang did not know what Yin Shuhuai was muttering inwardly, and complained with righteous confidence: “Back then, we agreed that I would hold the Emperor to command the nobles…” Yin Shuhuai thought to himself: Who agreed with you?

Shentu Yang: “…Now who does not know that it is the Son of Heaven who holds me to command the world? I willingly fight on the battlefield for you, pacify Goguryeo in the east, guard Jingxiang and Shuzhong in the south, reclaim the Protectorate General of the Western Regions, expand territory, and serve before and behind your horse… And yet you actually ignore me day and night to handle court affairs.”

Looking at Shengtu Yang’s genuine and heartfelt accusation, Yin Shuhuai truly could not hold back: “I have already enfeoffed you as Prince of Yan.”

To be enfeoffed as prince and appointed as chancellor, nothing could surpass this. Yin Shuhuai had done it even if it meant violating the ancestral system. He felt he had not wronged a meritorious subject.

“These are not what I want.” Shengtu Yang said in a deliberately affected manner: “I only want Your Majesty.”

After a pause, Shengtu Yang also said shyly: “Besides, I am not Prince of Yan tonight yet. Your Majesty’s golden mouth and jade words, do you still remember the reward I requested from Your Majesty in my letter?”

He had specially sent a chest of chains made of gold and gems. He did not know whether His Majesty had grasped his deeper meaning.

Yin Shuhuai could endure it no longer. He could only set down the memorials and crook his finger at Shengtu Yang: “Pass the edict. The Duke of Yan shall stay overnight in the palace tonight.”

Before the words had finished falling, Yin Shuhuai stood up and walked into the bedchamber. He pulled out a chest from beneath the dragon bed and opened it, pouring the contents all over the floor. He deliberately said word by word: “If the Duke of Yan had not mentioned it, I would have forgotten. The things the Duke of Yan sent back from a thousand li away must all be good things. I do not wish to take what others cherish. It would be better to ask the Duke of Yan to wear them all himself.”

The Duke of Yan’s complaints came to an abrupt halt. He carefully looked at Yin Shuhuai: “Your Majesty, you have already enfeoffed me as Prince of Yan.”

Yin Shuhuai gave a cold and eerie smile: “The patent, seal, and official seal have not yet been made. You are not Prince of Yan tonight.”

Shentu Yang swallowed his saliva, and heard His Majesty say coldly: “Duke of Yan, go bathe. Or do you want me to bathe with you?”

As Yin Shuhuai spoke, he casually picked up a leg chain made of gold: “The Duke of Yan’s trip to the Western Regions must have broadened his horizons greatly. You wear all of these, and let me broaden my horizons as well.”