Da Li Temple - Chapter 75.2

Chapter 75.2
Dreaming
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Everything became apparent when the conversation reached this point. King Liang and the Chen family already have a marriage relationship, so it wasn’t surprising they would join forces and conspire to get what they needed. This matter can also explain why the Empress would take the risk, condone Wei Shu’s impersonation, and even secretly help cover it up.
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“Then does the Empress know about King Liang’s rebellion?” Emperor Yonghui asked, his voice cold and hard as ice.
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Su Moyi briefly thought before saying, “I guess not. The Empress is the crown prince’s biological mother. The Emperor is now in his prime, and the Crown Prince is young. Even if they plotted to usurp the throne, it shouldn’t be now. Moreover, the Empress knows that King Liang’s knife is always hanging over her head, and without the Emperor’s shelter, she and the Crown Prince would only be like floating weeds in the water.”
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Emperor Yonghui took a deep breath, remained silent momentarily, and said, “The Empress matter involves the Crown Prince. It may shake the country if we’re not handling it well. Do your assumptions have evidence?”

“I don’t.” Su Moyi confessed, “Everything is only my assumption. Besides, things have already passed for more than ten years. The Empress and King Liang have always been cautious in their work and might have handled the relevant evidence and witnesses cleanly.”
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“Then ……” Emperor Yonghui wanted to speak but finally only heaved a sigh.
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“However, at the moment, the Emperor should not be worried about the matter of the Xiao family.” Su Moyi said, “King Liang is the root of this case. If we captured King Liang, the person with evil intentions naturally can’t sit still and reveal their tails at that time.”
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“But Da Li Temple and Golden Guards’s matter has made a big fuss, and all the kingdom know ……”
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“Your Majesty, don’t need to worry,” Su Moyi laughed, “I sent a letter to the Royal Grandmother last night, asking her to send someone to monitor the Empress and stabilize her first. We’ll let her know after we deal with King Liang, so she caught off guard and panicked.”
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The empty hall once again fell silent. The wick beeped lightly, and the curtain swayed.
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Emperor Yonghui no longer spoke. He seemed to be falling into long-lost memories. His eyes absentmindedly looked into the distance for a long time, and he sighed.
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“Jingche –” he called him, his tone desolate, “You are twenty-one this year, right?”
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Su Moyi was stunned and nodded his head in response.
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Emperor Yonghui smiled softly and slowly said, “I remember, thirteen years ago, when I was about the same age as you, I knelt in front of the hall, begging my father, wanting to save my beloved woman. However, I never told her that I believed in her innocence. Over time, I forgot to care about it.”
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Su Moyi’s expression darkened, and he bowed his head and did not say anything.
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Emperor Yonghui’s voice was steady, and the majesty that only belonged to the ruler couldn’t hide the pallor and weariness in it.
He paused and retracted his gaze. He looked at Su Moyi and lightly laughed: “Because I am the Crown Prince, shouldering the court and the world. This case involves the previous dynasty, involving my sister and mother—I have no way to go against the world for a woman. So I thought I’d wrong her first, and when I ascend the throne as the Emperor, I’ll give her a new identity, then compensate doubly…”
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“But ……” Said here, a trace of sadness appears on the always-calm Emperor’s face as if he blames himself and is regretful. “Forget it. ” He waved his hand and said nothing more. “Has there been any movement on King Liang’s side?”
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“We had seized the mine I once visited with Official Zhang,” Su Moyi replied, “The government also intercepted a batch of goods when they were about to be shipped out of Hongzhou. I also sent someone to deliver a message to King Liang, asking him to hurry up and act before the Emperor discovers the plot.”
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“Hmm,” Emperor Yonghui nodded, “Then it’s better to act according to the plan.”
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*
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King Liang’s Mansion, inner courtyard.
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On the deep, silent night, the moon was shining brightly, and the room was dim because only a lamp was lit. The towering bamboos outside the window were cast into the room, shaken by the night breeze, and shadows leaped inside like a group of little ghosts. After a rush of footsteps, someone knocked on the room door.
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King Liang raised his head from his book. “Speak,” He glanced at the troubled-faced officer in his mind. The officer shivered and reported the contents of the letter.
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King Liang frowned and knocked on the tabletop, emitting a frightening tapping sound in the silent, dark room.
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“How many available men and horses do we have on hand?”
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“Reply to His Highness, about 100,000.” The officer answered truthfully.
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After another long silence, King Liang leaned over and flicked the candle flame on the table, and under the jumping firelight, a pair of deeply sunken eyes spat dark light—one hundred thousand men, still a bit short of what he had planned.

However, they arrested Song Zhengxing, and the private mines in Hongzhou were exposed. It was only a matter of time before the imperial court discovered he was plotting a rebellion. Clenching his hand tightly into a fist, he looked deeply at the officer, “The arrow is already on the string. We must release it.”
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The officer was startled, “What the King means is ……”
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After silence, King Liang nodded and said, “Instead of sitting back and waiting to be restrained, it is better to break the boat and fight.”
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“But if we start a war head-on, whether it’s strength or people’s hearts, we are ……”
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King Liang waved his hand and interrupted him, “The soldiers will move dangerously (*) while the General will think of a plan. We are not completely without a chance.”

T/N:???? is from the Art of War by Sun Tzu.

The officer froze, baffled, “What does the King mean ……”
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The room was silent for a moment. King Liang got up and marched to the window, raising his head. The ghostly light in his eyes reflected the cold moonlight, adding a few points of chilliness.
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“Pass the secret message to Wei Shu.”
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Author Notes:??
The villain is so miserable! He has to die not long after his appearance. The aunt and the Emperor are also pretty pathetic.