His only possessions were a string of prayer beads, a begging bowl, and some dried herbs.
He was so poor that money couldn’t stay in his sleeves because there were two holes in them.
“The information from Fengxing Pavilion isn’t cheap. How much did you pay, Master?”
Mo Li scrutinized the old monk, still doubtful in his heart.
Speaking of the second-in-command of Stone Mountain Stronghold, Yan Cen’s identity was problematic.
Yan Cen was originally the second son of Emperor Lu Zhang of Qi and the younger brother of the Crown Prince. Although none of the princes of Qi had good lives, compared to Yan Cen, who was looked down upon, suffered hardships, and nearly starved to death wandering the world, they were like living in a honey jar.
When Yan Cen was born, his father almost threw him to death.
According to the Crown Prince, Madam Lu, later Empress Ning, came from the Ning family of Beijiang, known as General Huaiyi’s residence. They once guarded the northern border with great merit, remaining steadfast even during the turbulent Qi-Chu transition, repelling the barbarian armies that took advantage of the chaos to invade southward.
General Ning’s biggest mistake in life was probably misjudging when choosing a son-in-law.
He married his daughter to a young talent in the northern army, who turned out to be ambitious. Taking advantage of the mutual suspicion among Chu’s ministers, he ruthlessly eliminated his rivals, rose to power, seized military control, and ultimately usurped the throne.
When Yan Cen was born, Lu Zhang was still a minister of Chu but already held significant power. Loyal servants of the Ning family risked their lives to snatch the baby and send him to a temple in a border town for foster care. Years later, Crown Prince Lu Xun found the temple, but Yan Cen had long left.
Thus, the monks at the temple knew Yan Cen’s identity.
If they were unreliable, the Ning family wouldn’t have entrusted the child to them.
Even if they really didn’t know, when the former Crown Prince, now Emperor Yongchen, sent people to find them, the monks should have known.
Emperor Yongchen thought Yan Cen had left the temple and disappeared, but that wasn’t the case. According to Stone Mountain Stronghold, wandering monk Yuan Zhi would enter the mountains every year to gather herbs and treat their minor ailments. He was someone they deeply respected. Clearly, the temple and the Ning family were well aware of Yan Cen’s situation but chose not to interfere much.
This alone made Mo Li feel a bit favorable.
Reflecting on the descendants of Chu’s royal family encountered in Qinghu Town, like the boy named Xiao Hu, who knew nothing and was no different from an ordinary rural child, the last person protecting him still harbored hopes of restoring the kingdom. In such a desperate situation, why dream of revival? It would be better to use that loyalty to find ways for the child to live a safe life.
Those behind Yan Cen clearly had no unrealistic hopes for him. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have let him stay in Stone Mountain Stronghold, which, after all, was a bandit den and harmed his reputation.
Yan Cen’s martial skills were mainly in hidden weapons due to his weak constitution, unable to learn anything else. Although he appeared gloomy and taciturn, he wasn’t filled with hostility. He had no resistance towards Monk Yuan Zhi, who found Stone Mountain Stronghold, only hiding their long acquaintance. Everyone in the stronghold believed that Master Yuan Zhi was kind and benevolent. The leader would even count on his fingers when the wandering monk would next come to the stronghold when Yan Cen was ill.
Mo Li wouldn’t have been suspicious of Yuan Zhi if the old monk hadn’t straightforwardly mentioned Stone Mountain Stronghold and Yan Cen by name and openly talked about buying information from Fengxing Pavilion.
Would an ordinary person be so grateful to a doctor for saving their child? Naturally not, only because Meng Qi and his companion encountered a group trying to sever the dragon vein at Stone Mountain Stronghold, led by Taoist Sang, who recognized Meng Qi and revealed his identity as the former dynasty’s national teacher.
Yuan Zhi most likely bought the information, knowing clearly that Meng Qi was heading in this direction, and then followed him.
Mo Li was more concerned about what the old monk used to buy information from Fengxing Pavilion since he had nothing of value on him.
Could it be exchanging information, using Meng Qi’s identity and the conflict with Wu Wang’s followers at Stone Mountain Stronghold?
Mo Li frowned deeply while Yuan Zhi, a beat behind, quickly lowered his eyes and chanted:
“Amitabha, a monk does not lie. This old monk has traveled far and wide, seen many things, and dealt with Fengxing Pavilion early on. Money is an external thing. Even though I am pure, I am still troubled by it. Occasionally, when I lack medical supplies while treating others, I exchange information for some coins at Fengxing Pavilion. This time, I merely owe Fengxing Pavilion a debt.”
Mo Li pondered silently.
Yuan Zhi smiled bitterly and straightforwardly said, “The doctor’s companion has an extraordinary identity. This old monk will not say more.”
Mo Li originally wanted to say that the companion, Master Meng, had long left to get rid of those interested in the former dynasty’s national teacher. But since the sand rat couldn’t always sleep in his arms, and Yuan Zhi was so familiar with Fengxing Pavilion, he could soon find out about someone wandering around in a few silver’s worth of cloth half a day ago. So, Mo Li swallowed his words and asked instead, “Master wants to find Brother Meng?”
Yuan Zhi continued to smile bitterly and nodded.
Mo Li looked at him for a while and then said, “Master is a person beyond worldly affairs and seeks no power. Why seek trouble for yourself?”
Yuan Zhi sighed, clasping his hands together, “The doctor heals without seeking anything from Yan Cen. Both I and the Ning family are grateful. Originally, I should not have come, but the coup in Qi’s palace…”
Meng Qi’s identity as the former dynasty’s national teacher was intimidating, but he hadn’t done anything during his visit to Stone Mountain Stronghold. Moreover, the grudge of Chu’s downfall couldn’t be strictly counted against Yan Cen. The Ning family’s fault at most was not openly opposing Emperor Lu Zhang.
After Lu Zhang’s accession, the Ning family didn’t rise to power.
Maybe having a son-in-law become emperor would be a great joy for other families, but in Qi, General Huaiyi’s position was awkward. The Ning family didn’t receive any rewards. Even after repelling the barbarians, they only got a light commendation. Within a few years, they were transferred from Beijiang to the southwestern frontier due to Emperor Lu Zhang’s suspicion, and their old troops were forcibly disbanded.
If not for General Ning’s high reputation and considerable public esteem, and if Lu Zhang didn’t want to maintain the appearance of respecting loyal ministers, the Ning family might have long been imprisoned.
A pauper who soared to power by marrying into a powerful family wouldn’t be grateful for their help but rather resentful.
Gratitude turning into enmity, such conflicts were numerous between father-in-law and son-in-law.
Apart from Yan Cen, Empress Ning died in depression, and the emperor harbored suspicion against a general holding military power.
“Actually, the Ning family had already prepared for rebellion.” Yuan Zhi’s sudden shocking words.
Mo Li was taken aback, then thought about Yan Cen and shook his head.
“It was for self-preservation, forced to rebel.” Yuan Zhi sighed, “If the Crown Prince dies of illness, the Ning family won’t be spared. Emperor Qi will undoubtedly act against the Ning family. Though not openly, covert attacks are hard to guard against. My fellow monks have left the temple for Xuan Chuan Pass.”
Xuan Chuan Pass was the southwestern frontier fortress where the Ning family now garrisoned.
Mo Li felt a subtle intuition but couldn’t grasp the thought as he wasn’t familiar with the power struggles of the world.
— The fat mouse in the doctor’s arms was deep in thought.
“So the Crown Prince’s words about not being able to die and not daring to die also included the Ning family.”
As an outsider, Mo Li felt increasingly that Crown Prince Lu Xun’s survival wasn’t easy.
“Therefore, Doctor, you not only saved Yan Cen but actually saved the entire Ning family. You stopped the war and brought peace to the southwest, giving the common people a chance to breathe. You are truly a divine healer who saves the world.”
Mo Li stepped aside to avoid Yuan Zhi’s bow.
“Master, you overpraise me. I just treat illnesses and save people, doing my best. The rest is merely a matter of chance. I don’t deserve such praise.”
Yuan Zhi didn’t know that Meng Qi’s heartbeat quickened slightly when he heard Mo Li’s words.
The sand rat dared to bet that the doctor’s ear tips were a bit red. It quietly poked its head out from Mo Li’s collar.
“However, since the Ning family could hide Yan Cen from Emperor Lu Zhang and raise him to adulthood, you must have ways to avoid the Jinyiwei. Master, you are highly skilled in martial arts, and your fellow monks are not ordinary people. The Ning family doesn’t necessarily have to resort to rebellion. Why…”
Mo Li wasn’t elated and irrational by Yuan Zhi’s few compliments. He found the Ning family’s rebellion very suspicious.
After years of suppression by Lu Zhang, the Ning family’s military power was already minimal. General Ning couldn’t have the final say at Xuan Chuan Pass. Lu Zhang would dispatch civil and military officials of equal rank to restrain the Ning family. Whether they could smoothly control the soldiers at Xuan Chuan Pass was uncertain. Rebellion was definitely a last resort.
Yuan Zhi sighed softly, “Doctor, you may not know, but three hundred miles outside Xuan Chuan Pass is the territory of the Tianshou King.”
Tianshou King occupied the southwest, a region full of mountains and miasma. Before the Chu dynasty, it was a place of small countries and tribes. A thousand years ago, it was a county of the Central Plains dynasty, but later it fell into chaos and split apart.
The Chu dynasty spent decades reconquering and governing the three southwestern counties. But in the hands of the Qi dynasty, within a few years, they lost the people’s support, and coincidentally, a Tianshou King emerged.
The Qi dynasty’s rulers and ministers looked down on the three southwestern counties, seeing them as a burden. The region was plagued with miasma and difficult to conquer, and the national treasury was empty. They only stationed troops at the dangerous passes in the southwest.
Over the years, there were small-scale skirmishes, but the court had no money.
Even if Qi generals wanted to make contributions by besieging the rebels, they were helpless due to a lack of supplies.
“The southwest is unstable. General Ning discovered that the Tianshou King was plotting to seize Xuan Chuan Pass. If the Jinyiwei were ordered to eliminate the Ning family, Xuan Chuan Pass would surely fall into chaos.” Yuan Zhi said worriedly, “Tianshou King’s spies and those they bribed in the city would seize the pass. Without Xuan Chuan Pass, there would be no natural barrier, and war would immediately engulf the Central Plains.”
Mo Li gasped.
So that’s how it was. To prevent Tianshou King, the Ning family was secretly investigating and eliminating spies in the city. It was a game of chess.
If Emperor Lu Zhang intervened, the Ning family would be besieged. They could neither abandon their posts to save their lives nor await death without resistance. They had no choice but to rebel. This way, they could preemptively imprison all those opposing the Ning family, as well as the court officials sent to restrain them, turning covert actions into open ones and using overwhelming force to eliminate the hidden enemies within the city.
To secure Xuan Chuan Pass, the Ning family had to bear the stigma of rebellion.
However, once the Ning family rebelled, Lu Zhang would undoubtedly be furious and order the suppression of the rebellion.
On one side was the Tianshou King, and on the other, the Qi dynasty’s army.
Xuan Chuan Pass was in peril, and the Ning family was in grave danger.
No wonder Yuan Zhi had said that by saving the Crown Prince, Mo Li had stopped the war and brought peace, giving the people a chance to breathe.
No wonder Yuan Zhi, despite his poverty, didn’t hesitate to go into debt to buy information from Fengxing Pavilion. The southwest situation was as fragile as an eggshell, and the Qi dynasty had just experienced a coup. With Meng Qi, the former national teacher of the previous dynasty, mysteriously appearing in Taijing and getting involved in the palace coup, everyone needed to understand his intentions—otherwise, no one could sleep peacefully.
Meng Qi’s martial arts skills were unparalleled, and Yuan Zhi had to come himself.
“So, that’s the reason behind it. You’ve had a hard time, Master.”
Mo Li cupped his hands in salute. Yuan Zhi sighed and said, “Amitabha, I wonder if the doctor could introduce me to Master Meng for a conversation.”
Author’s note:
The old monk solemnly: “Please introduce me to Master Meng.”
Mo Li with a fat mouse in his arms: …
Well, please wait a moment. I still need to sew clothes overnight so that the transcendental, extraordinary national teacher can appear gracefully.
Respect to ning family