Chapter 57: Please, Let Me Explain-Above Chang'an(Sir Dybala)

Yang Xuan crossed his hands behind his back as a soldier stepped forward to bind him. Second Wang was about to slap the soldier to death, but Yang Xuan shouted, "Second, come back with me." The old scoundrel and the others hurriedly pulled Second Wang back, trying to comfort him.

"Meat!" Second Wang struggled.

Liang Jing approached Yang Xuan and suddenly sighed, "Ah, the passion of youth!"

Cao Ying came over, speaking in a low voice, "Lieutenant Liang, my lord has enemies among the Jinwu Guards. If someone tries something sinister..."

Liang Jing beat his chest, "I’d like to see who dares!"

Though only a lieutenant, Liang Jing had behind him a favored imperial consort.

Cao Ying and the others rushed back in a hurry.

"What?" Lady Yi, upon hearing that Yang Xuan was arrested for murder, was instantly at a loss.

"Go beg the Wang family!" Lady Yi clenched her fists. "I will go. Even if I die kneeling there, I must ask the Wang family for help."

"What about the Imperial Academy?" asked the old scoundrel.

Cao Ying shook his head, coughing, "If it were a matter of fighting, the Imperial Academy could help. But in this case, the Academy is useless."

Second Wang squatted, his face somber.

"Second, did you think of something?" The old scoundrel felt the atmosphere was grim, as if their lord were already dead, so he spoke to ease the mood.

Second Wang looked up and grinned foolishly. "I remember those soldiers from today."

Cao Ying and the others felt a chill pour over their heads, their bodies cold.

"Cao Ying!" Lady Yi’s eyes were sharp. "Bring the old dog!"

Cao Ying smiled wryly. "If he comes, our lord will likely have no choice but to wander the world."

"I don’t care, I only want the lord safe." Tears welled in Lady Yi’s eyes. "If only I’d never gotten involved, nothing matters more than him."

Cao Ying knelt down slowly. "Stay calm."

Lady Yi was furious and about to scold him, but Cao Ying glanced at her. "Listen to the old man!"

The old scoundrel and Second Wang squatted together, feeling a chill in their hearts.

"What is the root of this matter?" Cao Ying said, "Our lord went to rescue those abducted women, a just and proper act. Who would dare call it wrong? The people of Chang’an would trample anyone who tried!"

This was the premise.

"Next, the old madam was evil beyond measure—should she not have died?" There was a hint of cruelty in Cao Ying’s eyes. "She deserved death, a hundred deaths wouldn’t atone!"

"Ah!" Lady Yi was delighted. "A good kill?"

"Yes!" Cao Ying nodded. "It was a good kill, but it violated the law. Who can break the law?"

The old scoundrel scratched his head. "The nobles. The law means nothing to them."

"Right," said Cao Ying. "Our lord cannot break the law, but someone can!"

Lady Yi asked, "Who?"

Cao Ying smiled. "The imperial consort."

Lady Yi pressed, "But she has no reason to get involved."

"Indeed! The imperial consort has just gained favor. At such a time, she would rather avoid trouble," the old scoundrel agreed.

"But she cannot avoid it!" Cao Ying, still righteous, continued, "Who resents the consort most? The empress, Yang. Yang comes from the Yangs of Yingchuan, four noble families are her support. Now, her favor has been taken by the consort, and the four families are secretly furious..."

The old scoundrel’s eyelid twitched violently, sensing that this gentleman Cao was about to poison the four families.

Lady Yi covered her forehead. "That's a good idea!"

Cao Ying said, "Last time, the four families tried to assassinate the consort, but our lord saved her. So they were enraged. The Chunyu family set a trap to kill the lord who saved the consort..."

"How vicious!" Lady Yi was indignant.

...

The marketplace.

A group of women buying vegetables gathered to gossip.

These women spent their days cooking and raising children, bored to explosion. Buying vegetables was their way to relieve stress—no, it was their way to gossip.

"...Yesterday the Zhangs made such a racket, they broke the bed, hahaha!"

For them, gossip was a stimulant, brightening their numb lives.

"Hey! Have you heard about the assassination attempt on the consort?"

"Yes! She was saved."

"Do you know who tried to kill her?"

Oh! This was premium gossip, and everyone’s interest rose.

One woman at the edge said, "The consort stole the empress’s favor. The empress is a Yang, and that unruly commander actually saved the consort. Those people were furious. The Chunyu family acted for the Yangs, set a trap, and planned to kill the unruly commander to vent their anger."

"Oh!"

"Is that so?"

"Hey! Where is he?"

"Right! My husband told me the one who saved the consort was an unruly commander."

"The consort is favored now! Every few days a fast horse comes from the south with fruit, tsk! Thousands of miles just to deliver fruit—such favor has never been seen."

"Don’t interrupt," someone said, eyes bright. "Why did they want to kill the unruly commander?"

"To vent their anger!"

"I think it’s not just venting anger, but a warning. Think about it: if the unruly commander who saved the consort is killed, who will dare help her in the future?"

Indeed!

The women understood, and hurried off. This juicy rumor quickly spread throughout Chang’an.

Outside the East Market gate, Second Wang grinned foolishly, squatting among beggars.

"The Chunyu family is going to kill the unruly commander who saved the consort."

In the West Market, a man with righteous air begged for water.

"Thank you, sir! There are few good people left in this world."

"Why?"

"I heard the unruly commander who saved the consort is about to be killed."

"Who?"

"The Chunyu family."

A dozen students were drinking in a tavern, discussing affairs.

Next door, someone suddenly said, "The consort is most favored now..."

A student gestured for silence.

The love of gossip knows no gender.

Everyone fell quiet.

"Don’t mention the consort."

"Why?"

Next door, the old scoundrel spoke. "The consort stole the empress’s favor. You know about the assassination attempt?"

"Yes!" The old scoundrel switched to a mellow accent.

"The Chunyu family acted, killed the unruly commander who saved the consort. Now, whoever praises the consort might be killed by the four noble families."

"Isn't it five families?" The old scoundrel switched to a sharp accent.

"The Wang family isn’t with them."

"Ah! Forget it, such matters don’t concern us common folk. Let’s go."

The door next door opened, and the old scoundrel slipped away.

Inside, a table and a pot of wine.

...

"Yang Xuan was arrested for murder."

Someone was discussing it.

"Hey, Bao Dong, aren’t you the biggest rumor-monger? Why are you silent today?"

Bao Dong said nothing.

Ning Yayun was the same, silent before An Ziyu’s rant.

"That wretch died, so be it. Must there be vengeance? Yang Xuan is an unruly commander, he brought honor to the Academy—should we watch him be imprisoned?"

Ning Yayun gently played the zither. "I am thinking of a way."

"What way?" An Ziyu spun her ruler between her fingers.

"Break him out!"

The portraits of the Academy’s past masters stirred as if by wind, then darkened.

A sense of tragic indignation echoed among them.

Unworthy descendants!

...

Bao Dong changed clothes and hurried to Pingkang Lane.

Today, Pingkang Lane was unusually lively. Crowds gathered, gossiping so much that even the brothel-goers lost interest.

"That Yang Xuan, with one strike—tsk! The madam’s head rolled."

"The Qin woman knocked her head bloody, saying if Yang Xuan was executed, she would dash herself to death outside the palace gate and ask the heavens if there was any justice!"

"Justice?"

Everyone looked at each other, then burst out laughing.

Bao Dong quietly approached.

"What are you gentlemen talking about?"

Seeing his ingratiating smile, everyone turned away disdainfully.

Bao Dong sighed. "Is it about the madam? Actually, it’s not simple."

"Oh!"

Bao Dong finished and left.

"Hey, hey, hey!"

Someone grabbed him. "Tell us."

Bao Dong sighed. "The Chunyu family has connections in the palace."

He nodded and walked on.

In the next crowd.

"The Chunyu family has connections in the palace."

Again and again, he spread the rumor through Pingkang Lane.

Finally, standing at the gate, he whispered, "Yang Xuan once said, 'Three men make a tiger; a lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth.' How true."

...

The palace.

"He actually killed someone?"

The consort covered her forehead.

Liang Jing was speechless. "Sister, that young man is indeed passionate."

Jiao Li said, "Your Grace, be cautious about this..."

The consort nodded. "I know. If the empress gets hold of this, the four families will push for impeachment, and the palace will be caught in a storm."

Liang Jing said, "At least his life must be spared. Exile is unnecessary, right?"

The consort glared at him. "Do you think the law was made for our family?"

Liang Jing laughed. "Almost."

"Your Grace!"

An attendant rushed in.

"Word has spread everywhere—last time the consort was attacked, it was orchestrated by the empress, but she was saved by an unruly commander. The four families were enraged, so the Chunyu family set a trap to kill the one who saved Your Grace."

Liang Jing: "..."

The consort frowned slightly.

The attendant caught his breath. "Many say... the Chunyu family has someone as a concubine in the palace. It’s a double-edged move; if Your Grace falls, the Chunyu family’s beauty gets her chance..."

A cold glint appeared in the consort’s eye.

...

In the prison, Yang Xuan stood in the center, arms folded.

Footsteps approached, the crackle of torches, and Zhou Yan’s voice rang out.

"You killed someone?"

"Yes." The jailer who accompanied him said obsequiously, "He killed someone from the Chunyu family."

"Oh! Then he deserves death." Zhou Yan approached the cell door, undisguised glee in his eyes. He asked the jailer, "Are there ways to torture without leaving marks?"

The jailer grinned. "Plenty."

Zhou Yan pointed at Yang Xuan. "Give him the full treatment."

"Cough, cough!"

Someone outside cleared their throat, and the jailer quickly changed his tune. "No such thing."

Zhou Yan turned around.

Vice-Commander Han entered, accompanied by an attendant.

"Why is Vice-Commander Zhou here?" Han glanced at the jailer.

Zhou Yan was about to speak when the attendant stepped forward. "Are you Commander Yang?"

Yang Xuan nodded. "I am."

The attendant said, "Young men are impulsive, but your passion is commendable. Passion is good, but it must be used wisely. You must be cautious in the future."

Yang Xuan agreed, then looked at Zhou Yan. "Vice-Commander Zhou just tried to have me killed without leaving marks—what are you waiting for?"

Zhou Yan’s face turned pale. "You..."

The attendant glanced at him, speaking carelessly, "Ah! The consort struggles in the palace, and those outside belittle her—how pitiful."

Zhou Yan was struck as if by lightning, about to explain, but the attendant turned and left.