Chapter 45
On a day when the spring chill was still present, the room had no underfloor heating, and the two people in the hall were inexplicably drenched in sweat.
The injured Du Ling’s face was pale, and he gritted his teeth to endure the severe pain of his wound, but he had no resentment at all.
This battle had indeed been a disastrous defeat due to the negligence of the two generals.
Since the beginning of the expedition at the end of last year, that Wei Chuan had not taken him seriously. Knowing that it was due to his aristocratic style, Du Ling had not wanted to argue with him, but his master had instructed him to be the deputy and assist the Southern Garrison.
Wei Chuan, relying on the encouragement of the master in the palace, still did not take him seriously before the battle. Du Ling had already been suppressing his anger by being tolerant everywhere, but the other party did not even listen to his deployments. Du Ling finally couldn’t take it anymore.
The Shenwu Army had developed from the thousand cavalry that the regent had led into the Rouran royal court. Each of them was brave and fierce, and in the northern border, they were a force that the Hu tribes feared.
Although Du Ling had been selected to join the Shenwu Army two years after its establishment, he had benefited from the military law of promotion and demotion based solely on military merit, which had been created by the then Grand General of the Shenwu Army, the regent. Within two years, he had risen from the bottom to the rank of a fifth-rank cavalry general. This was due to his thorough knowledge of the western and northern borders, and also to his flexible and ever-changing military strategies.
To say it arrogantly, when the Rouran heard his name, Du Ling, although they would not scatter and flee as they would upon hearing the regent’s name, they would at least feel a little scared.
But Wei Chuan not only did not treat him with the respect due to a deputy, but he also did not listen to his advice on his flawed tactics.
Du Ling was young after all and did not advise him anymore, thinking that he would wait until he had suffered a great loss. Unexpectedly, this great loss had cost the Southern Garrison 90% of its men.
And he had not yet vented his anger. By the time he realized that the battle situation was not right and rushed to the rescue, it was already too late.
Wei Chuan was protected by his trusted guards and escaped. He, on the other hand, had fought to the end with the Shenwu Army and had survived with his years of battlefield experience.
Du Ling was heartbroken over the loss of the Shenwu Army. He had cried several times on the way back. When he reached the capital, he was even more regretful. Why hadn’t he held on to that Wei Chuan before the battle and gambled on that moment of anger?
Now, seeing his master, Du Ling presented his memorial. He had written down the causes and consequences of this battle, and the negligence of both Wei Chuan and himself in detail, thinking that he would die to atone for his crime after his master had questioned him and before he was punished.
After Xie Yao had finished reading the two memorials, he had them rise.
Both of them looked at him, their faces full of a desire to be questioned.
Xie Yao glanced at the two of them. One was eager to shirk responsibility, and the other was eager to explain the lessons of the battle in detail.
His gaze paused for a moment on Du Ling’s bleeding waist and abdomen. Xie Yao turned to a servant. “Grant them a seat.”
A servant brought a chair and placed it behind Du Ling. Du Ling cupped his fists and knelt down. “This humble subject does not dare.”
Xie Yao raised his eyes to look at him. “I grant you a seat.”
Du Ling prostrated himself and kowtowed, his eyes hot. He stood up and sat down, his back straight, even more proud and unyielding than the Wei Chuan standing beside him.
“This battle was a disastrous defeat. Both of you are to blame,” Xie Yao said, not asking them any questions, his tone light, as if he were not very angry.
The two of them had not been in close contact with him and did not know his usual temperament. They had only heard rumors about him in the army. He was brave and unparalleled, and his use of troops was like a god, not to mention that his military law was strict, and his rewards and punishments were so clear-cut that they were almost harsh, which made people respect and fear him.
This matter had already been decided in the master’s mind. The two of them did not dare to say a word. Their suspended hopes fell to the ground, and they both felt that they might not be able to escape the death penalty.
Wei Chuan’s face was ashen. Du Ling was still holding on to the dignity of a general.
“But I will give you two a chance to atone for your crimes,” Xie Yao said, opening another memorial, picking up a brush, and casually writing a vermilion imperial decree.
He said very calmly, “General Wei has escaped safely from the hands of the Hu tribes and has gained a better understanding of the Rouran. I intend to have you learn from your lesson and lead the army on another expedition.”
Wei Chuan felt as if he had walked through the gates of hell and back. He immediately knelt on both knees. “This humble subject will definitely do my best and will not return until I am victorious!”
The sound of a memorial being flipped and a faint “approved” came from above.
Wei Chuan took his order and stood up. The sweat on his forehead dripped down, but he didn’t dare to wipe it.
Xie Yao glanced at Du Ling. “General Du failed to fulfill his duty of persuasion and sent the soldiers of the Shenwu Army to their deaths in vain. He will be imprisoned and await trial.”
Du Ling’s heart was in great pain. He almost wanted to kneel down and cry out in injustice, but he was not entirely innocent.
Xie Yao did not raise his head. “Go.”
Wei Chuan strode out. Du Ling forced himself to stand up, his face lifeless.
After leaving the Imperial Study, Du Ling walked out in a daze. The imperial guards came to escort him. When he reached the palace gate, a servant suddenly came and bowed. “The Prince has an order. General Du is seriously injured and should be sent to the heavenly prison after he has healed. Please follow this servant to the Imperial Hospital.”
Du Ling was stunned for a moment. A flash of light crossed his mind, as if there were something he urgently needed to grasp.
Du Ling left with the servant. In the Imperial Study, Cui Chengbi came out from the inner room. Xie Yao’s vermilion brush did not stop, and the word “approved” was written in a flamboyant style.
Cui Chengbi had a smile on his face. “Your Highness is discerning and has everything planned. That Du Ling will surely be devoted to Your Highness from now on. Now that the court’s allegiance is completely clear, with just this last breath, Your Highness’s achievement of a thousand-year-old feat, comparable to Yao and Shun, is just around the corner.”
Xie Yao chuckled. “Where did you learn these words?”
Cui Chengbi still smiled. “They are all from the bottom of my heart.”
Xie Yao: “Then you can cut out your heart.”
Cui Chengbi knew that he had never liked flattery, especially from someone with poor ass-kissing skills like him. It seemed that he had not changed. Cui Chengbi, however, had a smile on his face. “This subject knows my mistake and will never say it again.”
Cui Chengbi withdrew. Xie Yao concentrated on political affairs. Song He appeared in the hall.
It was not yet time to report on Yuli’s movements. There must have been an accident. Xie Yao stopped his brush. Song He said without pausing, “The Mistress has gone to the dyeing workshop and said that she will be dyeing the silk threads herself from now on.”
Xie Yao’s gaze was slightly cool. Song He said, “The Mistress has guards and Jingyu and Xiyun with her. She is just politely asking for guidance from those three. They are not within three feet of the Mistress.”
“Let her be,” Xie Yao said calmly.
Song He was about to leave when he heard him say again, “From now on, anyone who displeases her will be made to pay the price without a trace. Those with ill intentions will be killed without question.”
Song He solemnly took his order and left.
After Song He left, Xie Yao did not pick up his brush for a long time. After half a quarter of an hour, he ordered a servant to summon the Vice Minister of Revenue.
The Vice Minister of Revenue entered the study. The servants in the room all withdrew. Half a quarter of an hour later, the Vice Minister of Revenue came out and quickly walked out of the palace. After a distance, he began to run, his robes flying.
*
Yuli began to learn to dye silk threads. She entered the dyeing workshop. For five consecutive days, nothing happened with Xie Yao, and nothing happened with her dyeing progress either.
After in-depth study of the method of dyeing cloth, Yuli realized how complicated this process was. Mature dyes were of two types: plant and mineral. Common colors were mostly plant dyes, which were easily oxidized. No matter how fine the color retention method was, they would eventually turn blue, blue of varying shades.
The indigo on Ye Weiqing’s body was the easiest blue to dye.
Mineral dyes were expensive, but their colors were bright and long-lasting. However, mineral dyes were not easy to color and required many auxiliary methods. Mature coloring methods, coupled with mineral blending, could dye a variety of bright and eye-catching colors.
But mature ratios and corresponding coloring methods could only dye common colors. To dye unique colors like Wanse Fang, it required thousands of trials and errors, as well as a bit of luck.
Understanding this, although Yuli felt a lot of pressure, she finally had a bottom line.
Wasn’t it just a controlled experiment? It was just a matter of time and cost.
On this day, Yuli accidentally dyed a very beautiful blue, a bright and deep blue like in the “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains.” But the next day, when she tried to dye it in the same way, after dozens of attempts, she could not dye it again.
“Mistress, don’t be anxious,” the old dyer comforted. “This is how the weaving and dyeing industry is. A miss is as good as a mile. Even for an old dyer with many years of experience, with mature dyeing ratios and techniques, there will be times when the color is not consistent. That is why only a large dyeing workshop with a deep foundation can guarantee the stability of the color. We are starting late and need time to polish, but we will eventually succeed.”
Many things, as long as you put in the time, will have results, such as planting a tree or raising a cat. In the past, Yuli had always felt a sense of accomplishment in slowly doing something that would surely have a harvest. But now, this matter involved too many people, and it was difficult for her to wait for a return without any burden.
If she continued to dye, there would probably be no results for the time being. Yuli did not stay any longer.
As she was about to leave, Ye Weiqing brought water and, outside the guards, handed it to Xiyun.
Xiyun took it and then brought it to Yuli.
Yuli had not touched the dyes herself, only some of the gemstone powder. Xiyun helped her roll up her sleeves to her elbows. Yuli’s plain hands entered the water, and the blue powder spread out, giving off a clear and translucent luster in the water.
Yuli concentrated on pouring water to wash her hands, her wrists. After washing, she took the cloth that Xiyun handed her and wiped them clean.
Yuli nodded in thanks to Ye Weiqing, who was waiting on the side to take the water, and left without saying anything.
Yuli returned to the Xie Residence and stayed in the study of Mingyue Residence. She listed the recent formulas and coloring techniques, corresponded the dyed silk threads one by one, and then, using the controlled experiment method, wrote down the formulas to be tested next.
She buried her head in writing for nearly an hour. Xiyun brought Xuemi to let her rest, but she didn’t move.
Just as she was engrossed, a bowl of longan and fermented glutinous rice balls was placed in front of her.
Yuli looked up. Jingyu’s face was calm. “Mistress, have something to eat first and take a rest.”
The smell of the fermented glutinous rice came to her nose. Yuli took a deep breath and put down her brush.
Jingyu silently withdrew.
Outside the study, Jingyu smiled, revealing a few pearly teeth.
Seeing this scene, Xiyun put down Xuemi and called Jingyu to the east wing.
“This is my job. Why didn’t you tell me to do it?” Xiyun asked.
Seeing her pouting, Jingyu’s smile faded a little. “I just happened to be free.”
“Aren’t you busy enough with the affairs of this residence?” Xiyun said. “Are you trying to take my place in the Mistress’s heart?”
Jingyu was taken aback. “I never thought of that.”
Xiyun’s eyes turned red. “I know I’m not as graceful as you, not as talented as you, and not as diligent as you…”
Jingyu put away her smile and pursed her lips. “You’re overthinking it.”
“Then what are you doing? You’ve never been so meticulous and considerate to the Mistress before.”
Xiyun was probably jealous. Jingyu looked at her for a while and smiled. “I just did it because I wanted to. After all, I’m more diligent than you.”
Xiyun was stunned for a moment, then snorted. “You want to compete with me in diligence, huh? I’ll show you how diligent I used to be.”
Jingyu looked at Xiyun with a gentle gaze but smiled and said nothing.
“Xiyun, Jingyu,” Yuli came out of the room. “I’m not thinking anymore. Let’s go, let’s go for a walk in the garden.”
The garden had just been built last autumn, but the flowers and trees planted were all precious and perennial. After pruning, although not many were in bloom, they were particularly delightful.
The three of them talked and laughed, and after a while, Yuli came back with an armful of spring flowers. She was arranging them in a vase in the room when Xie Yao returned.
Today, he had returned a little earlier than usual. Yuli put down the flower branches and went to the door to greet him. After Jingyu and Xiyun had bowed to him, they left.
Xie Yao’s expression was inscrutable. It was only when Yuli linked her arm with his that it had a hint of gentleness.
Yuli knew that since she had repeatedly apologized to people and had refused to let him vent her anger for her that day, he had been holding a grudge in his heart. Although he looked calm on the surface, he was reminding her every day how many days were left of the three-month deadline.
Yuli had previously thought that after three months, she could still act coquettishly to buy some time. But now she felt that after three months, if Huayan Fang was still like this, he would probably really take it over and just let her wait to collect the money.
Sure enough, after the meal, Xie Yao looked at her for a while, sensed the sorrow between her eyebrows, and said to her, “There are seventy-five days left.”
Yuli sighed. “I know.” Even without that many days, her gold would soon be spent. She planned to use some of the revenue from Xiangfu Zhai to fill in the gap, at least to hold on until the deadline he had set.
If she didn’t succeed, she would really have to live off him in the future.
Seeing her sigh, Xie Yao pulled her into his arms. “It’s so difficult. Can I really not help at all?”
To dye new, sufficiently bright silk threads, besides money, it also required time and manpower. Even the regent had to take it slow. He had already given her people and money. Could it be that he would personally come to the dyeing workshop to help dye the silk threads?
The thought of him covered in dust, his hands full of dye, made Yuli want to laugh.
Xie Yao turned her face over and looked at her carefully.
Yuli’s eyes were crystal clear, her pupils as clear as a pure lake. Even if the wind came to ripple the surface of the lake, it would not change its original color at all. All the impurities in the world could be washed clean in it and sink to the bottom, not affecting its original purity.
Her face was helpless, but she also had a faint smile, probably because she found him difficult to deal with, but she could also see his good side.
He was not much different from those flawed impurities.
A pair of eyes full of venom and greed, and pairs of cold or fearful eyes flashed through his mind. Xie Yao suddenly let go of Yuli and moved his leg to put her down.
“Go and do your business,” Xie Yao said calmly.
Yuli was stunned for a moment. Xie Yao looked over. “Or do you want to go to bed with me early?”
Yuli pursed her lips. His expression was deep and inscrutable. He had just let her go. Although he was still standing very close, he clearly wanted to pull away.
He had been a little strange recently. Yuli guessed that he was still holding a grudge, but he didn’t want to put pressure on her, and she couldn’t give up Huayan Fang to please him. Yuli chose to put it aside for the time being. “Alright.”
Yuli went to the study, opened a thick book, and looked at the dense list of color names on it: indigo, lake blue, water blue, crimson, magenta, fuchsia, and many unnamed ones that were only represented by threads.
Yuli felt a great deal of pressure, and her head began to ache.
Usually, Xie Yao would not let her do these things, and she would be full of enthusiasm. Today, he had taken the initiative to let her, but she felt a sense of resistance.
Rebellion. The essence of human beings is rebellion. Yuli suppressed her impatience, picked up a brush, and wrote a few formulas. Even her handwriting became more and more sloppy.
Yuli threw down the brush, leaned back in her chair, and sighed deeply. The pressure was great, and she couldn’t relieve it. She didn’t want to work anymore.
Yuli suddenly stood up and went around the covered walkway back to the main hall.
When she reached the door, she saw Xie Yao fiddling with the unfinished flower arrangement.
The spring flowers were in full bloom. The flowers she had picked were of different colors and branches. The flower arrangement should also have been lively and lush, but Xie Yao was holding a pair of flower clippers and cutting off all the leaves and branches.
Seeing Yuli approach, he only raised his eyes to glance at her, then lowered his eyes and continued to cut. In front of Yuli, he also cut off the flowers.
Yuli felt the chill and majesty in his glance. Her heart pounded, and she didn’t dare to stop him.
Xie Yao’s hands did not stop. The clicking sound of the flower clippers was incessant, and it became more and more frequent. Finally, with a snap, the flower clippers were placed on the table.
In Xie Yao’s hand was only a string of bright yellow winter jasmine, without a single leaf. He placed it in the vase and looked at Yuli. “This is called a single branch of beauty. Is it beautiful?”
Yuli didn’t want to do any more research and said against her conscience, “Beautiful.”
Xie Yao’s eyebrows twitched. Yuli walked to his side. “Husband has unique taste. This winter jasmine would only have been a touch of color in that pile of flowers just now. After Husband’s pruning, it really deserves the name of a single branch of beauty. Even a master of flower arrangement would praise it for its good artistic conception.”
Yuli really didn’t want to work anymore. She was flattering him to the skies. Whether Xie Yao liked to hear it or not, at least she had shown her attitude of trying to please him. If he were to let her go and work again, it would be rude.
Xie Yao looked at her for a while, and a smile gradually spread from the corners of his lips to his eyes. “Say more.”
The inscrutable gloom was swept away. He had bright eyes and white teeth, and his lips were a light red. His eyes had a condescending look, as if he knew she was flattering him, and it was very clumsy, but he liked her trying to please him.
Yuli suddenly felt that the spring flowers in the room were inferior, and the experimental data was boring. In such a beautiful spring, with such a handsome and close person, she should enjoy it.