MLMD -Chapter 273 The Imperial Envoy Has Arrived

Just as several people were discussing animatedly, the women who had been the subject of their conversation earlier had already entered the winehouse and were making their way up to the second floor. At this moment, the three women were all gathered affectionately around a young man dressed in a light gray long robe. It was obvious that these three women were the man’s family members.

Seeing the three women accompanying a man upstairs, Hou Fangyu and the other scholars nearby could not help but turn their gazes toward them. However, when their eyes met the young man’s in midair, all of them involuntarily felt a slight jolt.

The man appeared to be only about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, of average-to-above-average build. Yet his eyes were bright and piercing. Though there was a faint smile on his face, Hou Fangyu felt that within that smile was an air of authority that needed no anger to inspire fear. Especially when their gazes met just now, Hou Fangyu had actually felt a sharp sting—purely a kind of mental pressure, yet so vivid and real.

Fortunately, the young man did not pay them any attention. His gaze merely swept lightly across their faces before he headed toward a table by the window. Even so, Hou Fangyu’s heart was stirred. Once the man had gone to the other side, Hou Fangyu lowered his voice and said to his companions, “Brother Chaozong, Brother Gu, did you notice? That man just now seemed quite extraordinary.”

The scholar surnamed Gu also said somewhat uneasily, “Indeed. His gaze was far too sharp. When I met his eyes just now, it was like being cut by a blade—I felt the hairs on my body stand on end.”

“That man is almost certainly a military man,” said the oldest and most experienced scholar with certainty.

“Brother Chaozong, you’re sure he’s a warrior?” Hou Fangyu asked doubtfully.

“I can say this for certain,” the older scholar replied. “He must be a military general. Even if he isn’t one now, he certainly was in the past. That aura of killing intent on him cannot be faked.”

“Killing intent?” The surrounding scholars were taken aback. One of them hurriedly asked, “Brother Chaozong, could he be some kind of bandit?”

“What nonsense are you thinking?” Brother Chaozong laughed at his friends. “Though that man carries a strong air of slaughter, it is upright, masculine, and imposing. Only someone long seasoned in the military and holding a high position would possess such bearing. How could he be a mere bandit?”

“So he’s just a brute of a warrior,” Hou Fangyu muttered softly, a trace of disdain appearing on his face. Though many regions were already showing signs of warlords holding private armies, the status of military men in both society and court remained quite low.

“But he looks so young—he doesn’t seem like someone in a high position,” another person objected.

The scholars began to argue, and as young men tend to do, their voices gradually grew louder without them noticing. Their conversation soon reached the ears of Yue Yang and his group nearby.

“Husband, those people are talking about you,” said Hai Lanzhu, who was sitting opposite Yue Yang and facing the scholars. After hearing them clearly, she pursed her lips and smiled teasingly at him.

“Let them talk,” Yue Yang said calmly. “Their mouths belong to them—how can we control what they say?” Such things were nothing new to him.

“Hee-hee, being talked about just proves my husband is charming,” Yulong said with a grin as she poured Yue Yang a cup of tea and snuggled up beside him, her small face filled with undisguised pride. To her, her husband was the greatest man in the world.

Seeing this, Hai Lanzhu could not help teasing her. “You little girl, always clinging to your husband. You should work harder and give him a child already. On this point, you ought to learn from Yuling.”

“Oh! Sister Hai Lanzhu, you’re so mean,” Yulong said shyly, stamping her delicate foot. “Do you think I don’t want to? But it just hasn’t happened—what can I do?”

At the mention of this, Yulong grew a bit petulant. Hai Lanzhu and Yuling had both already borne Yue Yang sons, while Yulong’s belly remained flat. To say she wasn’t envious would be a lie, but there was nothing she could do except cast a resentful glance at her man.

Seeing her look, Yue Yang spread his hands helplessly. “Heaven and earth bear witness—I treat you all equally. If it hasn’t happened, it’s probably just that the time isn’t right yet.”

“Hmph! It must be that you’re playing favorites and not giving me any,” Yulong said, grinding her small teeth with determination. “Just you wait!”

At Yulong’s fiery expression, Hai Lanzhu nearly doubled over laughing, and even the gentle Yuling covered her mouth and chuckled. The three stunning women playfully bickering together left the nearby scholars staring in a daze. Hou Fangyu gazed at them and involuntarily recited:

“Peach trees so tender, their blossoms glowing bright;
This maiden goes to wed, fit for her home and household.”

The moment Hou Fangyu finished reciting, the surroundings grew quiet. The oldest scholar gave a bitter smile and was about to speak when a crisp voice rang out in the hall.

“Hmph! What a shameless libertine—how dare you recite such an indecent poem!”

Everyone turned to see that it was the woman in the blue ru skirt, her willow brows raised in anger and displeasure written all over her fair face.

At her words, the other two women and the man also turned their gazes over. Yulong, not well read, looked confused and asked Yue Yang softly, “Husband, what does that scholar’s poem mean?”

Yue Yang did not answer her immediately. Instead, he looked at Hou Fangyu and the others, frowned slightly, and said slowly, “You all appear to be men of letters. Why, then, would you speak lightly and disrespectfully toward women who already belong to another’s household?”

Caught out, Hou Fangyu and the others flushed red with embarrassment. The leading scholar quickly stood up and bowed deeply. “I am Mao Xiang, courtesy name Chaozong, a student from Jinling. My friend was merely struck by the beauty of your ladies and spoke without thinking. I hope you will forgive the offense, sir.”

“Very well,” Yue Yang said, waving his hand. “Since it was unintentional, let it pass.” He was not one to press an advantage, and given his high position—and their apology—continuing the matter would only make him seem petty.

Seeing Yue Yang unwilling to pursue the issue, Hai Lanzhu reluctantly sat back down. Just as the matter seemed settled, an ill-timed voice spoke up:

“With respect, sir, your words are not quite right. As the saying goes, ‘A graceful lady is the proper match for a gentleman.’ I merely praised that madam—was there really a need to be so angry?”

“Oh no!” Mao Xiang’s heart sank when he heard Hou Fangyu speak. Hou Fangyu was the son of Hou Xun, Minister of Revenue, from a prominent Donglin family, and had always been arrogant. After hearing that the man was likely a military figure, he must have grown disdainful, and now could not accept Mao Xiang’s apology on his behalf.

Yue Yang’s expression darkened at once. Just as he was about to speak, Hai Lanzhu spoke first in a sharp voice, “Husband, this fellow refuses a toast only to drink a forfeit. It seems we must teach him a lesson. Guards!”

Heavy footsteps sounded from downstairs. Soon, Chen Dazhi, the captain of Yue Yang’s personal guards, rushed up with four soldiers and saluted. “My lord, my lady—what are your orders?”

Hai Lanzhu let out a cold snort. “This man has a filthy mouth. Take him and lock him up with Jiang He at the Youshan Division for two days. We’ll see if he still dares to be so insolent.”

“Yes!” Chen Dazhi replied loudly.

He glanced discreetly at Yue Yang, and seeing no objection, waved his hand. Two guards stepped forward, seized Hou Fangyu’s arms, twisted them, and kicked the back of his knee. With a sharp crack, Hou Fangyu cried out and collapsed to his knees, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.

Yet Hou Fangyu, long spoiled by privilege, still glared at Yue Yang and shouted, “I am a traveling scholar! How dare you arrest me? Are you not afraid of the law of the court?”

Mao Xiang hurriedly stepped forward and bowed. “My lord, Brother Hou merely misspoke in the heat of the moment and meant no offense. You appear to be a court official as well, and Brother Hou’s father is Minister Hou of the Ministry of Revenue. Please, for Minister Hou’s sake, spare him this once.”

“Hou Xun’s son?” Yue Yang recalled the name then—Hou Fangyu did indeed have some fame in history, one of the so-called “Four Young Masters of the Late Ming.” His father, Hou Xun, was also known as a capable official.

Yue Yang’s anger subsided slightly. He signaled to Hai Lanzhu, who understood at once and waved Chen Dazhi back. The guards released Hou Fangyu.

“Do not think I spared you out of fear for your father,” Yue Yang said coldly. “It is out of respect for his years of diligent service to the court. Otherwise, I would have taught you exactly what ‘disaster comes from the mouth’ means.”

Freed, Hou Fangyu struggled to his feet, eyes blazing. “I acknowledge today’s lesson,” he said through clenched teeth. “But may I know your name? One day, I will come again to seek instruction.”

“Haha!” Yue Yang laughed. “I knew you wouldn’t be satisfied. Very well—I am—”

Before he could finish, the clear sound of galloping hooves came from the street. Turning to look, he saw a troop approaching: mounted tiqi in flying-fish uniforms with embroidered sabers at their waists, escorting a eunuch, racing toward the Zhen’guo General’s residence.

Yue Yang sighed softly and stood up. “It seems we won’t be finishing this meal today. Let’s go back.”

The three women had also seen the group pass by. Having followed Yue Yang for so long, they knew such people were almost certainly looking for him. Aside from Yulong pouting unhappily, the other two rose without complaint and headed downstairs.

As they descended, Hou Fangyu shouted after them, “You still haven’t said who you are!”

Chen Dazhi stopped, turned back with a cold smile, and said disdainfully, “Listen well, boy. My lord is Yue Yang, Vice General of the Northern Shanxi Route and Zhen’guo General. If you want revenge, feel free to come—our general will be waiting!” With that, he hurried after Yue Yang.

At the name “Yue Yang,” the scholars froze. Mao Xiang stood stunned for a long moment before murmuring, “Yue Yang… so he was Yue Yang? We had planned to visit the general’s residence—never imagined we’d meet him like this.”

Indeed, Yue Yang’s reputation was already widespread. His successes in land reclamation in Northern Shanxi and his decisive victories against the Qing had earned him great renown.

As Mao Xiang and the others traveled from Jinling, they had seen mostly desolation and roaming refugees. To say that vast stretches of the Ming realm were depopulated was no exaggeration—especially in Shaanxi. Without their dozens of capable attendants, they might not have survived the journey.

Yet upon entering Northern Shanxi, everything changed. Though perhaps not as prosperous as Jinling, the region brimmed with vitality unseen elsewhere. Jinling, for all its splendor along the Qinhuai River, lacked this upward spirit. The people here, though plainly dressed, carried confidence and hope in their smiles—so different from the numbness seen elsewhere.

Gazing in the direction Yue Yang had gone, Mao Xiang murmured, “Perhaps tomorrow we should pay a visit to Lord Yue after all…”

Meanwhile, Yulong clung to Yue Yang like a curious child. “Husband, why were you and Sister Hai Lanzhu so angry just now? Was there something wrong with that poem?”

Yue Yang laughed and ruffled her hair. “The poem itself wasn’t wrong. It’s from the Book of Songs, ‘Peach Blossoms.’ It describes a young maiden’s marriage—her beauty and virtue.”

“Then what was wrong?” Yulong asked wide-eyed. “If he was praising me and my sisters, why be angry?”

Hai Lanzhu laughed and flicked Yulong’s nose. “You silly girl. That poem praises an unmarried maiden. Are we maidens? We’re married women—Yuling and I even have children. Reciting it to us was pure flirtation.”

Only then did Yulong cry out, “Oh! So he was that bad! If I’d known, I’d have had Chen Dazhi teach him a proper lesson!”

Yue Yang laughed and said no more, gently patting her head.

They returned to the general’s residence quickly. At the gate, they saw more than a dozen horses. A guard hurried over to report, “My lord, a eunuch arrived earlier with over a dozen Jinyiwei, saying he came to proclaim an imperial edict. The steward has arranged for them to wait in the main hall.”

“I know,” Yue Yang nodded and went inside.

He did not immediately meet the eunuch, but first changed into his official robes, then summoned the old matriarch, his three wives, and the household staff before heading to the main hall. Upon entering, he saw a familiar face waiting there.