Ch 41: Rise To Prominence? More Like Lose Your Head!
Grand Herald’s Office.
Lin Che had just gotten off his carriage when a large group of officials, both high and low ranking, stood before him.
Leading them was the Minister of the Grand Herald’s Office, Fei Sanzhu.
He looked to be around fifty years old, a middle-aged man with a face full of righteous qi, and distinctive, wide, drooping mustaches.
“Grand Herald Fei Sanzhu, leading forty-five officials, high and low, of the Grand Herald’s Office, welcomes the Deputy Minister.”
Fei Sanzhu laughed heartily, bowing first, and the officials behind him followed suit as if rehearsed.
“We wish the Deputy Minister a swift rise through the ranks!”
“Baron Jing’an’s reputation truly precedes him. Today, I finally get to meet you.”
The scene was almost complete with the sounds of gongs and drums, and firecrackers.
“Your Humble Servant, Lin Che, greets Lord Minister.” Lin Che quickly stepped forward and bowed to Fei Sanzhu.
Fei Sanzhu’s face was full of amiability. Before Lin Che could finish bowing, he grabbed Lin Che’s hand and exclaimed:
“No, no, no. You are an Earl, and nominally my superior. I dare not have you bow.”
“My, my. Lately, we’ve all heard of Baron Jing’an’s name. Indeed, a great reputation is well-deserved. With Baron Jing’an joining our Grand Herald’s Office, this reception of the Yan Yun Kingdom envoys will surely satisfy Your Majesty.”
Lin Che responded, “Lord Minister, you flatter me. I am a newcomer, just arrived and know nothing. I will need your guidance to avoid mistakes. I have decided to follow your lead, Lord Minister. If you say east, I will absolutely not go west.”
Lin Che had one principle: to get by smoothly for two and a half months, until the mission to Yan Yun Kingdom was successfully completed.
Then the sky is the limit.
Fei Sanzhu’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. He had already heard about Lin Che’s temper. When angered, he would fiercely denounce court officials in front of all civil and military officials, and dare to debate with Grand Scholars.
If Lin Che were to be so forceful in the Grand Herald’s Office, it would be difficult to manage.
But unexpectedly, Lin Che was so agreeable.
After a round of mutual flattery, they entered the Grand Herald’s Office.
Inside, the officials, both high and low ranking, presented Lin Che with various gifts, large and small.
“Baron Jing’an, please don’t disdain these. They are small tokens of our colleagues’ goodwill. They should have been given when you were ennobled as Baron Jing’an, but we were too busy then…”
“I am most grateful, most grateful,” Lin Che said, not being polite, as every little bit helps.
He would resell these gifts later, adding to his skill points.
After the introductions, it was noon.
Fei Sanzhu had already instructed the kitchen to prepare a midday banquet for Lin Che.
This meal was quite extravagant.
Lin Che needed to replenish his strength, and he ate with great gusto.
In the afternoon, Fei Sanzhu took Lin Che to the water pavilion to drink tea, chat, and eat snacks.
Lin Che saw two colleagues with some young women, embracing and feeding each other red dates. He couldn’t help but notice.
“Lord Minister, haven’t the Yan Yun Kingdom envoys almost arrived? Shouldn’t we be preparing something?”
Fei Sanzhu laughed, “Rest assured. Everything is ready. The envoys will stay in the three pavilions west of our Grand Herald’s Office. They’ve been thoroughly cleaned.”
“On the second day, the envoys will meet Your Majesty. Matters of discussion are for higher-ups. On the third day, we will pay respects to the Spring God, then have a half-day hunt. It’s tradition. The fourth day is when we negotiate. We don’t even know why they’re coming yet. No rush.”
Lin Che nodded thoughtfully. He felt this was no ordinary exchange of envoys between two countries.
This was Yan Yun Kingdom, an enemy country.
At this moment, a small, thin official suddenly stood up and angrily said:
“Lord Minister, we should entertain them? Entertain what? Ten years ago, they dared to demand that Daqian send two hostages. Deputy Minister Lin returned, but the Second Prince is dead. They absolutely cannot be forgiven.”
“Our glorious Daqian Dynasty, are we afraid of them? Let’s kill their envoys, then send troops to conquer Yan Yun Kingdom, and reclaim the Sixteen States!”
Seeing them becoming increasingly audacious, Fei Sanzhu’s face darkened:
“Silence! Stop talking nonsense. Get out! I have something to discuss with Baron Jing’an.”
The officials, indignant, reluctantly withdrew.
In a short while, only Lin Che and Fei Sanzhu remained in the water pavilion, not even a servant in attendance.
“Deputy Minister Lin, there’s something I need to tell you. This time, there’s a prince among the Yan Yun Kingdom delegation.”
Lin Che already knew this, so he wasn’t too surprised. “Yan Yun Kingdom sending a prince. What do they want?”
Fei Sanzhu sighed, “I think Yan Yun Kingdom is deliberate. They want this prince dead.”
“What do you mean?”
“Yan Yun Kingdom has had ten years of respite, but it’s no match for Daqian. If Daqian sends troops, Yan Yun Kingdom will surely pay a heavy price. Yan Yun is afraid, but the death of the Second Prince is a blood feud.”
Fei Sanzhu slammed his teacup down, gritting his teeth, “They’re thinking, a life for a life. Let us kill their prince, and it’ll be even. They’re dreaming!”
Lin Che stared intently, his mind racing through possibilities.
Seeing Lin Che’s silence, Fei Sanzhu approached, and patted Lin Che’s shoulder:
“Younger Brother, don’t think I’m being too forward. With the Yan Yun envoys here, your attitude will be Daqian’s attitude.”
“Think about it. You were imprisoned by Yan Yun Kingdom for ten years. If you want revenge, and Daqian wants to send troops, who’s the most suitable person to initiate this? You! Even if you don’t want to, someone will force you.”
“Family and national hatred. The Second Prince’s revenge must be avenged!! Instead of passively waiting for an opportunity and being called a coward, seize this chance to become a hero of Daqian!”
Lin Che, feigning ignorance, already knew what was coming:
“What opportunity?”
“Kill the Yan Yun prince! Avenge the Second Prince and raise our national prestige!” Fei Sanzhu was excited, his fists clenched, as if eager to immediately go to war.
Lin Che’s face showed excitement, but inwardly he was cursing.
This dog.
On his first day of work, this guy wants to use me as a pawn?
Kill the Yan Yun prince? Such a reckless act, you want me to do it?
I was a hostage for ten years, not a fool for ten years.
Rise to prominence? More like, lose my head.
Wait.
This Fei Sanzhu is just a low-level official who receives envoys. Where did he get such a crazy idea? To kill an enemy prince?
This definitely wasn’t his own idea. There are big figures behind him.
Who could it be?
After reading the Empress’ secret edict, Lin Che could confirm the Empress wouldn’t do this. Otherwise, what was the meaning of the secret edict she gave him?
Besides, if the Empress wanted to kill the envoys, they wouldn’t even enter Daqian territory.
Not the Empress, then who?
“Lord Minister, you’ve said too much. I hate Yan Yun Kingdom. None of them should live to go back.”
“But I’m alone and weak, and I fear I can’t do it alone. Let’s go out and issue a call for heroes, recruiting powerful assassins.”
“The moment those envoys set foot in our Grand Herald’s Office, we’ll smash our cups as a signal. We’ll surge forward and hack them to pieces! Let’s go now!”
