Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan Volume 6 Chapter 3 part1

Bocah, that was the reason I said earlier that Kou Zhong will get Li Xiuning, Xu Ziling will get Princess. But it was just a wild guess. George, I did not see the same thing you did, I think Yun Yuzhen did not do anything bad this time. Ysabel, HPC, Jaya, Komeng, Chua, you are welcome. Xu Xiong, Sky, I did not realize I made you guys worry about me, sorry ... Akolaw, nice analysis. Laoren, true. Xu Xiong, I think Akolaw was saying that KZ's nature was Yang, but he chose to train Yin, while XZL was the other way around. But IMHO, someone's innate character is a stronger influence to their personality than what they are training. Hence, in KZ's case, his 'yang' character will always dominate, and vice versa.

Book 6 Chapter 3 - Sui Emperor Yang Guang

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling climbed onto the carriage; accompanied by Big Sister Xiao and Xiang Yushan, they entered the city. Susu, accompanied by Yun Yuzhen, was riding on another carriage; they had different arrangement.

Afraid that the Yuwen Clan might obtain information and thus prevent the two boys from entering the Palace, Dugu Sheng personally came out to meet them.

Surprisingly, this Dugu Clan martial art master - who ranked second only to Dugu Feng - had a rather unremarkable appearance. He was about fifty, short and wiry, and looked a bit like an old monkey. But his eyes, which looked half open and half close, were deep and bright; the taiyang acupoints on his temples were protruding high, so that people immediately knew that he was not someone to be trifled with.

Toward Kou and Xu, two boys, he was polite, but kept his distance; however, he was quite amiable toward Xiao Huan and Xiang Yushan, evidently he did not have too high of a regard toward Kou and Xu.

Under the escort of Dugu Sheng and about a hundred imperial bodyguards, the party entered the city of Yangzhou.

Returning to their hometown, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were immediately overwhelmed with unbearable itch; they really wished to slip outside right away to look for their old friends and foes and say hello, also perhaps to see if Yan Laoda [see Book 1 Chapter 1] was still alive and well.

Xiang Yushan whispered in the two boys' ears, "We are really lucky, today Yang Guang happens to be in the Palace. You don't know it, but since becoming the Emperor, he never stopped, always going on a tour or a military expedition, infuriating the heavens exasperating the people, angering the gods and distressing the ghosts; otherwise, the people would not have rebelled.”

Big Sister Xiao sighed and said, "Now he is giving the western capital Chang'an to his grandson, Dai Wang [wang - king/prince] Yang You, and the eastern capital Luoyang to another grandson, Yue Wang Yang Dong, while he himself is hiding in here, so scared that he even abandoned the Luoyang's sixteen-courtyard madams. To his surprise, however, Du Fuwei attacked Liyang, Li Zitong is also moving to Jiangdu. Basically there is no happy place for him on the earth.”

Irritated, Xiang Yushan said, "Dai Wang Yue Wang, one is twelve, the other eleven, unexpectedly they are in charge of western and eastern capitals; won't the true power fall into the hands of high-ranking ministers such as Yang Shichong and the others? If any mishaps happen to Yang Guang, the world will be ten times more chaotic than right now.”

Listening to this, Kou Zhong's eyes lit up, and Xu Ziling could see it clearly.

The carriage suddenly stopped.

Dugu Sheng spoke from outside the window, "His Holiness has just gone to Lin Jiang Palace, we must change our itinerary.”

After ascending the throne, Yang Guang issued a decree to build the city of Yangzhou, which formerly was under his stewardship as the Zongguan, and changed its official title to Jiangdu. Not only the city was expanded, numerous palaces arose, parks and garden embellished it, north of the city, where there were mountain on one side and water on the other, he also established Gui Yan, Hui Liu, Song Lin, and the others, the so-called ‘Shu Gang Ten Palaces'.

But perhaps the most magnificent was the Lin Jiang Palace, which was built by the shore of Yangtze River. Whenever Yang Guang was prompted by a sudden impulse, whether it was morning or evening, he would go there to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Yangtze River.

When Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling had an audience with this muddleheaded ruler of the historically shortest, and the fastest to disappear, dynasty, he was having a drinking party on a palace balcony overlooking the Yangtze River, accompanied by his favorite concubines Xiao Yu and Zhu Gui'er [gui means imperial concubine, so I don't think it was her actual name], completely oblivious of the ups and downs of the chaos of war outside.

Kou Zhong and the others alighted from their carriage at the square in front of the Palace, which was tightly guarded by the Imperial Guards. After a thorough body search, which was personally conducted by Dugu Sheng, to make sure that they did not bring any weapons, he led them into the Palace. However, Xiang Yushan and Big Sister Xiao had to remain at the gate.

As Dugu Sheng was leading them through the corridors and pathways, they could hear the surging water of Yangtze River, mingled with faint melodious music from the continuously stretching palaces ahead.

This was the first time that the two boys entered such a richly ornamented, brightly decorated, splendorous and majestic building. Momentarily their eyes were unable to take it all, and they were quite at a loss.

Kou Zhong whispered, "Now this is what I call glory, splendor, wealth and rank.”

"Don't talk!” from the front, Dugu Sheng coldly shouted.

Kou Zhong jumped in fright and immediately shut his mouth.

Xu Ziling mused in his heart, ‘Only ghosts are willing to live in such noisy, raucous, tacky, and irritating place like this. For me, it would be enough if I can live deep in the mountains, in a thatched hut in a secluded valley, with beautiful scenery and birds and beasts as my company.'

There were Imperial Guards everywhere, with checkpoints at every entryway; without Dugu Sheng leading the way, it would be impossible for them to move a single step.

When the Wangjiang Tai [Riverview Balcony; ‘wang jiang' means ‘looking at the river'] was in sight, an official appeared ahead and stopped them.

The man looked gentle and handsome, about thirty-five, thirty-six years old. Upon introduction by Dugu Sheng, they found out that he was the interior minister Yu Shiji, one of Yang Guang's most trusted courtiers.

Noticing his unstable, floating footsteps, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling knew that not only this person did not know martial art, his body was scooped empty by wine and women, so that his appearance looked like he was too weak to stand up to the wind.

Normally, an interior minister ought to be a high-ranking eunuch, but this person's appearance did not have a real eunuch flavor, making it difficult for them to make correct assessment.

After sizing up the two boys, Yu Shiji said to Dugu Sheng, "It's really them.”

Dugu Sheng nodded in affirmative.

It was only then did Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling find out that Yu Shiji was involved in this matter. If that was the case, then Yang Guang's other favored minister, the Imperial Censor Fei Yun, ought to be key personnel in this operation, which was directed toward the Yuwen Clan, as well.

After carefully examining the two boys again, Yu Shiji said, "Give the account book to me first, the two of you may wait in the side chamber. When the opportune time comes, this official may take you to appear before His Highness.”

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged glances; they were unwilling, but finally had to hand the account book over to Yu Shiji.

Yu Shiji immediately flipped the pages. When he reached certain page, he suddenly laughed aloud and said, "General Sheng, this time we really obtain a treasure. I want to see how much longer Yuwen Clan will be able to shine.”

Hearing that, Dugu Sheng smiled while twisting the tip of his moustache.

The two boys waited in a room by Wangjiang Tai for nearly two sichen [4 hours]. They waited until the sun was about to set, still no Yu Shiji or Dugu Sheng to take them to see Yang Guang.

The palaces, as well as the courtyards, were tightly guarded by Imperial Guards, making them feel like prisoner in the palace hall.

Xu Ziling sat quietly in a corner. Looking at Kou Zhong, who was pacing back and forth restlessly, he frowned and said, "Could you be a bit more patient?”

Kou Zhong halted in front of him; he sighed and said, "Maybe we were wrong; now even the account book has been taken away, and I still don't know how we are going to leave this place.”

"Don't worry!” Xu Ziling said, "As long as we are still useful, they will rely on us. These people put the cart before the horse, they don't care that outside the chaos is turning the sky and the earth upside down, they are thinking of fighting with other people around instead. No wonder the rebels' momentum is growing day by day.”

After a short pause, he went on, "What worries me most is Su Jie; after meeting that muddleheaded ruler, we must find a way to leave this place and rendezvous with Su Jie, and immediately go as far away as possible. Whether Yuwen Clan is toppled or not, we must not tarry in this place too long.”

Kou Zhong sat down by his side; he said, "You are right. If Yang Guang issues in imperial decree to search and confiscate the Yuwen Clan's possession and have their entire family exterminated, it will incite a tempest; Yuwen Huaji and the others will definitely fight will all their strength. If that happen, it would be strange indeed if Jiangdu does not turn into a mess.”

Xu Ziling added, "Don't forget that Ol' Die and that Li Budong are glaring at Jiangdu like a tiger watching its prey. As soon as they know that Jiangdu in chaos, they will immediately deploy their troops to attack. Ay, this thought is really frightening!”

Kou Zhong did not know what to think.

While they were busy with their own thoughts, Yu Shiji came in. With him was a big, fat official, whose face was wide, his eyes thin, his nose long like a wine gourd; in short, a crafty villain look.

Yu Shiji excitedly said, "Two Xiongdi, come meet Imperial Censor Daren.”

Hearing him addressing them as ‘brothers', Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were rather flattered. Thinking that this must be Yu Shiji's partner Fei Yun, they hastily paid their respect according to the way Big Sister Xiao taught them.

Fei Yun assumed an amiable appearance; he said with a chuckle, "Two Xiao Xiongdi have rendered great merit, these days this official will present a memorial to His Highness, he will reward you heavily.”

"Let's strike while the iron is hot,” Yu Shiji continued, "High Highness ought to see the account book. Right now we are going to take two Xiao Xiongdi to have an audience with His Highness, but you must not mention anything about the account book. Even if His Highness ask, you must pretend not to know there is such thing.”

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other in dismay; they understood that the great merit of obtaining the account book would be falsely claimed by these two crafty and fawning despicable men.

Fei Yun laughed and said, "Two Xiao Xiongdi must be men who understand reason. Just serve us well, and I guarantee you will enjoy endless glory, splendor, wealth and rank. We are here!”

The two boys looked at each other with bitter smile; they could only follow behind the two men helplessly.

Chapter end