Chapter 114: 114. Arriving in Beijing (Second Update)
Translator: 549690339
Bei Jingwang Xing Ji came out of the palace at dusk.
The sunset draped the majestic palace in a hazy golden-red light. He turned his head for a glance, then shifted his gaze back. His followers waiting outside the palace approached and whispered a few words.
Master and servant mounted their horses and headed to the inn that Xing Yusheng had rented.
Ever since last year, when the court began investigating iron smuggling cases, rumors about Bei Jingwang being the mastermind had persisted.
Today, Bei Jingwang’s entire family suddenly arrived in the capital, causing confusion among the various forces in the city, as the mastermind behind the iron smuggling case had yet to be revealed.
If it was Xing Ji, bringing his whole family to the capital would be akin to seeking death, wouldn’t it?
If it wasn’t him, the sudden move of his entire family to the capital would be even more intriguing.
During this time, the actions of the Duke of Qin, who was related to Bei Jingwang’s family, had also drawn much attention.
Although Old Master Qin and Duke Qin Kang had not made any public appearances, many people saw the eldest grandson of the Qin family accompanying Xing Yusheng to settle in the Xing family and pay respects to Old Madame Xing.
Xing Ji entered the inn and headed straight for Old Madame Xing’s residence.
Both Qin brothers had already returned home, and Xing Yusheng was having dinner with his grandmother. On the table was a medicinal diet that Su Liang had previously prescribed and prepared by the Qin family’s chef.
“Mother.”
The sound of the door opening, followed by Xing Ji’s voice, footsteps coming in.
Xing Yusheng, with his back to the door, stood up from his wheelchair, the smile on his face disappearing. He bowed to Xing Ji, “Father.”
Xing Ji’s gaze shifted downward, noticing Xing Yusheng’s stable standing legs, and nodded, “It seems you’ve been well cared for at your maternal grandparents’ home.”
Father and son had similar features; Xing Ji was a serious middle-aged man with an old scar on his left cheek, left from his days of fighting battles in his youth.
Among the three vassal kings, Bei Jingwang Xing Ji was considered the most likely to rebel because of his restless temperament in his youth, which was directed not inward but outward.
There was a year when Qian Country was invaded by a neighboring country in the north, and Bei Jingwang’s family had no military power, nor was the royal family allowed to intervene. However, at that time, the Qian Country’s northern army suffered successive defeats and seemed to be hitting Bei Jingwang’s territory.
Xing Ji, with two followers, sneaked fearlessly into the enemy camp, captured the enemy general alive, and assisted the Qian Country’s army in driving the enemy out of the border and capture three cities in a row.
At that time, Bei Jingwang Xing Ji became famous in one battle.
Although he made great achievements, it also exposed his strength, making the court extremely wary. Subsequently, the court arranged for him to marry the eldest daughter of the Duke Qin Family, who was believed to have been sent by the royal family to monitor Xing Ji.
Xing Ji and Xing Yusheng’s father-son relationship deteriorated after the death of Xing Yusheng’s mother, Qin Xiang. The catalyst was Xing Ji promoting his concubine shortly after Qin Xiang’s death.
At the moment, there was not a shred of warmth between father and son as they reunited after a long time.
“His Majesty will issue an edict to confer me as Marquis Zhong Xin and bestow a mansion,” Xing Ji told Old Madame Xing.
Old Madame Xing heaved a long sigh of relief, clasped her hands together, and muttered a Buddhist phrase, “As long as there are no problems.”
Descending from a non-royal king to a Marquis ranked lower compared to the Duke’s family, but at least this demotion signaled that the matter was over.
Otherwise, if the emperor had taken action first, the outcome would have been hard to predict.
Old Madame Xing asked Xing Ji to visit his father-in-law at the Duke Qin Family, and Xing Ji agreed.
“Yusheng, accompany your father,” Old Madame Xing said.
Xing Yusheng hesitated for a moment before responding with a simple “Hmm.”
Father and son left the inn, Xing Ji on horseback and Xing Yusheng in a carriage, heading to the Qin Family.
Although Old Master Qin did not particularly like his son-in-law because of his daughter’s death, he did not embarrass Xing Ji, out of consideration for his grandson.
By nightfall, news of Bei Jingwang’s arrival in the capital, voluntarily giving up his royal position and territory, and the entire family staying in the city had spread.
An Imperial Decree arrived in Xing Ji’s hands the following day, signaling the end of Bei Jingwang and the birth of Marquis Zhong Xin.
Surprisingly, the bestowed Zhong Xin Mansion was once the mansion of the executed Marquis Chang Xin from the Gu Family…
Last year, after being searched and sealed, the Gu Family Mansion was still wanted by the Qian Country for harboring the escaped crown prince of Marquis Chang Xin, Gu Ling.
As for the emperor’s decision to assign this mansion to the Xing Family, anyone with discerning eyes wouldn’t believe it to be a coincidence. It was clearly meant to knock down Xing Ji and warn him to behave, or he would end up like the Gu Family.
Xing Yusheng, who had stayed at the Duke Qin Family’s house the previous night, received the news and was stunned when he learned the location of their new home, “It’s the former Gu Family?”
Qi Yan nodded, “Yes! Marquis has already sent my father with people to clean up the place. We’ll move there in three days. Does Young Master plan to live there?”
Xing Yusheng thought for a moment and said, “Now that I’m the crown prince of Marquis Zhong Xin’s family, shouldn’t my residence be the one originally occupied by Gu Ling?”
Qi Jun nodded, “That’s right, in theory.”
Xing Yusheng sighed, “Gu Ling once saved my mother, I wonder where he is now and if he is safe.”
“Young Master shouldn’t worry too much, no news is good news,” Qi Jun said.
Xing Yusheng nodded, “The current outcome is already quite good. Ning Jing and Su Liang may arrive soon. You go and see if there are any suitable mansions for them. It doesn’t have to be too big, just quiet and elegant, and with a garden.”
“I heard that the… our Zhong Xin Mansion is quite big. We could invite Ning Jing and Miss Su to stay with us. Everyone knows that Ning Jing initially took the exam using Young Master’s name, and they are friends,” Qi Yan said.
Xing Yusheng shook his head, “Ning Jing definitely doesn’t want to live with me.”
Qi Jun coughed lightly, “Considering that Ning Jing is now the head of the Ning
Family, he will likely have their accommodations arranged in advance, right?”
“That’s his business. I want to give Su Liang a mansion, just in case she doesn’t want to live with Ning Jing,” Xing Yusheng said.
Qi Yan’s eyes lit up with joy, “Exactly! Let’s go find it!”
Three days later, the plaque of Marquis Zhong Xin’s Mansion was hung on the gate where Marquis Chang Xin’s Mansion was originally located, and the Xing family officially moved in.
Xing Yu Sheng also moved in, mainly to please his grandmother.
Qi Yan and Qi Jun searched the capital city and bought a mansion not far from the Marquis Zhong Xin’s Mansion. It was not very big, but there were many trees planted in it, very quiet. Xing Yu Sheng saw it and thought that Su Liang would like it.
As the Xing family returned to the capital city, the truth of the iron mine smuggling case was finally made public. The real mastermind was not Bei Jingwang, but Nanping Prince.
Moreover, the imminent war in the south was also related to the collusion between Nanping Prince and the enemy country.
When the emperor sent Nian Jincheng and Lin Bojun to the south, he gave them a secret order to behead Nanping Prince.
As for the still low-profile, yet no action till now, western vassal king, the emperor issued an order to summon the entire family of Prince Xiliang to the capital city.
However, Prince Xiliang had missed the good opportunity to show his loyalty. Even if he wants to come now, whether he can arrive safely in the capital city, no one knows. If he does not arrive within a limited time, it would be defying the order.
On their way to the capital city, Ning Jing and Su Liang also gradually learned about the news of the three vassal kings.
“It seems that Xing Yu Sheng’s father is still very shrewd.” Su Liang commented.
The one in the south had to die. The emperor had to choose at least one between Bei Jingwang and Prince Xiliang to stay, to avoid being criticized for not tolerating the descendants of the founding generals.
There may be only one chance to survive, and whoever gets it first will have it.
Although Bei Jingwang’s high-profile behavior in his youth led to jealousy in the court, it also made those in power believe that he didn’t have many schemes.
The overt power display didn’t count for much. Those who pretended to be waiting for death on the surface but schemed behind the scenes were even more wary.
Nanping Prince was the latter.
The seemingly most useless Prince Xiliang was also suspected of being the latter.
Not traveling slowly, Ning Jing and Su Liang arrived at Qian Country’s capital city in the evening before the Lantern Festival.
It was Su Liang’s turn to drive today. She dressed as a man, wearing a straw hat woven by Ning Jing herself, and curiously looked at the capital of Qian Country.
Compared to here, not only Bei’an County but also Pingbei City is rural.
As soon as they entered the city, the bustling market was immediately visible.
The two didn’t go to find Duanmu Chen or Xing Yu Sheng. Instead, they went directly to the Tea House that the Ning Family opened in the capital city.
The steward of the Ning Family in the capital city had already received the news and prepared a courtyard for the arrival of the family master. Their luggage had been transported ahead of time and was placed here.
It would be easy to buy a mansion for Ning Jing in the capital city, but Ning Jing sent a message saying that it was not necessary.
“Miss Wan came yesterday and asked to be informed when the master arrives.” The steward spoke respectfully.
“Where do they live?” Ning Jing asked.
The steward gave an address, and Ning Jing let him retreat.
Dinner was brought from the largest restaurant in the capital city. After eating, they changed clothes, left the Tea House on foot, and planned to go see Zheng’er first. They would deal with other people and things tomorrow.
They met Xing Yu Sheng halfway, which they did not expect.
Xing Yu Sheng was also very surprised. At first, when Qi Yan said that he saw two people ahead who seemed to be Ning Jing and Su Liang, he thought Qi Yan was mistaken.
When he was sure it was Su Liang, Xing Yu Sheng looked delighted, “When did you arrive?”
He came out this late because he heard that Old Master Qin suddenly fell ill and wanted to go to Qin Mansion to have a look.
“An hour ago.” Su Liang looked at Xing Yu Sheng, nodded with a smile, “You look good. ”
As the heir of Marquis Zhong Xin, he no longer had to pretend to be weak.
Xing Yu Sheng grinned, “It’s all thanks to you. I really don’t know how to thank you. My grandmother will be delighted to know that you’ve arrived, she was just talking about you!”
“I’ll visit the old lady another day, haven’t thanked her for the medical book she sent me.” Su Liang smiled.
Qi Jun whispered in Xing Yu Sheng’s ear, “Why not invite Miss Su to Qin
Mansion?”
Xing Yu Sheng nodded, looked at Su Liang and asked, ‘Where are you going? If you have time, can you please accompany me to Duke Qin’s Mansion? My grandfather is ill.”
Su Liang looked at Ning Jing, “You go find Zheng’er first, I’ll come over later.”
Xing Yu Sheng said seriously, “Don’t worry, Ning Jing. After the matter is settled, I will take Miss Su to wherever she wants to go.”
Ning Jing’s face was indifferent, “I’m not busy.”
“Let’s go together then.” Su Liang nodded, “Let Xing Yusheng show us the way.”
Xing Yu Sheng said, ‘We are friends, don’t be a stranger. Just call me by my name.”
Su Liang smiled, “You’re still a crown prince, so I won’t change what I call you.”
“As you wish.” Xing Yu Sheng nodded, inviting Su Liang and Ning Jing into the carriage, and they headed towards Duke Qin’s Mansion together..
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