Chapter 144: The Painting in the Royal Study
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It was only when the carriage was fast approaching the palace that the old marshal regained his breath from the string of orders that had left him puffing for air.
"Child, I’m asking you one last time - is this entire tale true?" Qiu Jianhan looked at Yun Yang sternly. "We haven't entered the palace yet, there’s still a chance to turn around. Once we are in the palace if there’s any kind of mistake… your life would be forfeit!"
"This nephew might be a popinjay but this is an urgent matter that involves the destiny of a nation. How could I lie about this? This is unmistakably true," Yun Yang spoke with conviction.
"Don’t mention anything about being a popinjay…" Qiu Jianhan looked like he was having a terrible headache.
This fellow would just pin the title of popinjay to his head for whatever happened as if it was his best hope of reliability.
It was truly enough!
Was it so easy to become a popinjay?
Do you think that this old one can’t see that you’re merely pretending to be a popinjay?
With a loud thud, the old marshal landed a kick on Yun Yang’s buttocks. "Stop your b*llshit! Follow your father in!"
It was only natural that the old marshal was unobstructed in his meeting with the emperor due to his status.
After passing the message, both of them had their way to the royal study room without a hitch.
They could see His Majesty’s silhouette cloaked in royal yellow standing before the painting of the Empire of Yutang’s territory; a dossier was in his hand while his brows were locked in a frown. The atmosphere was thick with tension.
"Old Qiu, you’re here." Seeing that Qiu Jianhan had entered, His Majesty wasted no time inf meaningless formalities, heaving a loud sigh before starting to complain, "The floods are severe at the east of the river, millions of people have been robbed of their shelters. Old Qiu, looks like…"
As he reached that point in his tirade, he finally saw Yun Yang enter as well, tailing the old marshal, and could not hide his surprise, "You’re here too."
Yun Yang seemed to be paralyzed with shock upon hearing him as he put up a front of extreme surprise. "Uh… Uncle… Yu? Uhh… Your Majesty… this…"
The old marshal landed a slap on the back of his head and chided him loudly, "Are you still pretending? Speak properly! Human language, please!"
His Majesty laughed and waved his hand, saying, "You're both not outsiders, be at ease. Come, sit down."
Watching the both of them take their seats, the emperor stood up instead and frowned, "This flood on the east of the river… it’s really sudden, too sudden! There’s no way to handle it."
"The old dragon stream got flooded overnight, most likely due to the continuous storms we've been experiencing. The water level keeps rising and the embankment has finally collapsed. A total of thirty-six counties are affected, it’s really a natural disaster…"
The old marshal sighed too. "To the empire, this natural disaster is adding insult to the injury. What did the Ministry of Revenue say? Have they come up with a correspondence?"
"What charter can they come out with? Other than saying that the treasury is empty and we can’t do much due to the lack of funds!"
The emperor massaged his brows and heaved a long sigh. "There are only three million silver taels left in the treasury but these are supposed to be rewards for the east border army… The army’s pay is also included in that amount. It’s already insufficient for rewarding them, what more for other things…"
"The Ministry of Revenue suggests to first use those silver taels for disaster relief in order to quickly quell the flood and pacify the people; hold off rewarding the army and save the flood victims first… Even so, the sum is still far from being sufficient."
The old marshal’s straight brows squeezed together in a frown as he said, "Your Majesty, this must never be done! The army has put their lives at stake for the country and if there isn’t even the basic allowance and pension, not even their pay, isn’t this setting them up for disappointment? Who will then give their all and give their lives when they go into the battlefield next time? Please reconsider, Your Majesty."
The emperor rubbed between his brows again and said, "Of course I know about this but one cannot make bricks without straw. Not only does the Ministry of Revenue recommend it, I myself agree with it…"
Qiu Jianhan’s frown locked deeper, feeling that something was amiss while watching the emperor.
His Majesty had always been incisive and discerning. When he was met with matters like this, his solutions had always been quick and sharp; he always had a way to pacify both civil and military officials.
Yet why was his corresponding tactic so weak this time?
He seemed to be powerless and only had the capacity to sigh in futility.
"I know cutting their provisions like this will disappoint the army but desperate times call for desperate measures. It’s far more urgent to first solve the flood situation. Perhaps it’s not that difficult to think of an official name for this matter." The emperor was still rubbing his brows, seemingly more troubled and frustrated. "But I really don’t want to do so… it's too troublesome…"
The old marshal and the emperor carried on with their conversation.
Yun Yang had been inspecting the royal study ever since he entered the room.
As far as a royal study went, a place for the emperor to go through dossiers and call upon his aides and officials for a meeting, it was remarkably ordinary.
There were almost no decorations.
Yun Yang had only seen two paintings since he first came in.
One painting was on the left wall of the emperor’s chair. It was a scene of the wind, clouds, thunder, lightning, water, and flames surging while the earth lay upturned. It looked odd, strange phenomena happening simultaneously as if it were the end of the world.
Yun Yang knew, however, that this painting represented the Nine Supremes; it depicted a scene of the Nine Supremes descending to this world and gathering at Yutang.
The emperor had actually hung Nine Supremes’ painting here! Yun Yang was taken aback to see it there.
Another painting was right behind His Majesty’s chair. This painting held Yun Yang’s gaze for a long time, his eyes refusing to leave it.
The backdrop of the painting was obviously in this very royal study; a handsome youth who stood tall and proud had his arms behind his back with his chin slightly raised and his eyes gazing far away.
This personage wore a royal yellow robe that had soaring golden dragons embroidered on it.
It added some nobility to the youth in the portrait.
The soft lines on the youth’s face reflected unyielding strength while his gaze was deep and had the slight sorrow of deep meditation; it was as if he could see the bitterness of worldly lives as distinct empathy could be seen brimming in his gaze.
Royal yellow robes with soaring golden dragons – this was obviously the costume for the crown prince!
The person in the portrait was the current crown prince?
However, the portrait was not of the crown prince. Yun Yang had seen the crown prince before and he was certain that he had never seen this person in the painting!
Certain as he was, Yun Yang still felt an inexplicable familiarity with this person. The familiarity was as if it had been ingrained in his blood and bones.
It was especially the eyes that seemed to peer into his heart.
Looking at the portrait, Yun Yang felt his heartbeat increase. His vision began to blur as a sense of vertigo crept up on him.
A lightning strike seemed to jolt his mind as he suddenly recalled the day he was severely injured and near death’s door…
He had met a few of his brothers on a path when he lost consciousness.
The one leading the brothers was the eldest, Supreme Earth.
He did not have his mask on then.
He was looking back at him with his gaze filled with love and empathy, with the trust he spoilt his brothers with; he then landed a kick on Yun Yang, scolding, "Get back! Don’t come here ever again!"
His face, his aura, his gaze, and expression was exactly the same as the person painted in this portrait.
"Big brother?" Two words popped out from his mind amidst a whirlwind of thoughts.
He felt a piercing pain through his heart and suddenly a mouthful of blood spluttered out from his throat.
The old marshal and the emperor were discussing some matters with worried frowns and looked over once they heard the odd sound, just in time to witness Yun Yang spewing blood onto the floor.
Both of them were, of course, immensely shocked. When they got a better look, Yun Yang’s face was drained of color as he swayed weakly on his feet.
The old marshal acted quickly, holding on to him while the emperor was bewildered. "What has happened to this child?"
Qiu Jianhan sighed. "He has somehow deviated from his cultivation earlier days ago and almost passed out. He has been bedridden for several days, unconscious and dead to the world. He has just managed to move around for a few days now; he probably hasn’t fully recovered and is being affected by his old injuries as well."
His Majesty asked in concern, "Are you alright?"
"I am alright." Yun Yang took a breather and smiled bitterly. He cultivated to recover for a moment and replied, "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I was just affected by the sudden imbalance of meridians and was caught by the blood clots accumulated from old injuries. I didn’t manage to hold it in and have soiled Your Majesty’s study. Please pardon my sin."
"You are injured. What sin have you committed?" His Majesty waved dismissively. "Really, what are you doing coming all the way here and not resting at home when you bear such severe wounds? Let me call the royal physician to check on you later. We'll have to make sure the root cause is cured!"
Yun Yang managed to pull a weak grin. "I absolutely can’t sit still."
He had suppressed the whirlwind of his Qi and blood, for now, his pale face regaining its color. His waves of emotions, though, had not recovered in the slightest.
It was his eldest brother’s portrait!
It was Supreme Earth’s portrait!
Why would Supreme Earth’s portrait be hung here though? Furthermore, why was big brother wearing the crown prince’s robe?
Yun Yang felt as if a cosmic explosion had erupted in his mind; he could pretty much guess the reason but nothing felt right in his befuddled mind.
Looking at the approximately eighty percent similarity between the emperor and the portrait, Yun Yang could barely contain the waves of emotions surging within.
The old marshal cast a glance at Yun Yang, feeling perplexed upon looking at his dazed state and could not help coughing in irritation.
He had entered the palace today all because of this fellow’s intelligence; just when he was waiting for him to speak and break the myth, he had actually become mute at the most crucial moment upon entering the palace.
Your father has spent so much effort to bring you into the palace, and you’re doing this to your father?!
Yun Yang coughed and reined his thoughts in forcefully; he then caught Qiu Jianhan's eyes.
The latter felt almost engulfed in anger with that single glance.
I suppose this bastard hasn’t heard anything we said earlier.
This old one has talked so much here and I was just wasting my saliva all this while?
If they were not in the royal study, Old Marshal Qiu felt that he would have tackled the child, pulled his pants down around his knees, and walloped his rear end!
If he didn’t give dole out a good beating, his rage would never be subdued!