roccoschili Chapter 88 I Don't Want to Get Wandered in the Royal Family's Muddy Waters
Chapter 88 I Don't Want to Get Wandered in the Royal Family's Muddy Waters
"General Han called you a 'genius of unparalleled talent' in his letter, fearing that your 'precious gems are being obscured'."
Yang Yan's voice echoed in the quiet courtroom, each word like a heavy hammer blow to Li Jing's heart, which had long since grown cold.
"When I read this letter, I seemed to see an old general, lamenting at the end of his life that the talents of a national hero could not be used. I do not want this regret to come true."
Li Jing, his hands trembling, slowly unfolded the letter.
The rustling sound of paper rubbing together was exceptionally clear in the silence.
"...My nephew, Li Jing, courtesy name Yaoshi, though young, possesses profound wisdom. Whenever we discuss military strategy, his insights often surpass my expectations, and he deeply understands the subtleties of deception and transformation. I once privately told those around me, 'This young man is a prodigy, and one day he will surely succeed us and achieve great things. It is a pity that he is resolute and does not like to show off; if he does not have the opportunity, I fear his brilliance will be obscured.' If you have the time, brother, you can invite him to see for yourself, and you will know that my words are not untrue."
Every word and phrase seemed to weep and lament.
As Li Jing read on, his eyes began to well up with tears.
He recalled the exhilaration of serving under his uncle, discussing military strategy and tactics; he remembered his uncle patting him on the shoulder and saying, "In the world, only this young man can discuss military matters with me."
And now...
He looked up at the mountain of "Regulations for Carriages and Chariots" piled around him, then at the letter of recommendation in his hand, years overdue, and felt a mix of emotions. Uncle, even in the afterlife, are you still worried about your nephew's future?
After a long while, Li Jing took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and closed the letter.
When he looked up again, the confusion and loneliness in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by his usual calmness and sharpness, even with a hint of scrutiny.
"Your Highness."
Li Jing's voice regained its calmness, but his speech quickened noticeably. "Uncle, I am unworthy of your kindness. Now that Your Highness is in the midst of this situation, and even you yourself are... I wonder what Your Highness intends to do by bringing this old letter to me?"
This is an extremely bold question.
A prince about to be exiled came to find a lowly official. Since this had happened, the prince's purpose was self-evident.
But Li Jing was not the kind of mediocre person who would bow down to the powerful and wealthy. He needed to know whether this Prince of Changning was worth selling his life for.
Looking into Li Jing's eyes, which seemed to see right through people, Yang Yan couldn't help but secretly praise him: What a fine pharmacist Li!
Even in such circumstances, he maintained this clarity and pride.
"For survival, and for the greater cause."
Yang Yan made no attempt to conceal his ambition, nor did he use any flowery language to embellish it.
He stepped forward, looked directly into Li Jing's eyes, and spoke in a deep, powerful voice:
"I am heading south to Lingnan and need talented people. This is no secret. But everyone thinks I am going to avoid disaster and be exiled."
"But in my eyes, Lingnan is not merely a symbol of a single city or region, but a grand undertaking to secure the southern frontier, open sea routes, and bring peace to the Baiyue people!"
At this point, Yang Yan suddenly flicked his sleeve, pointed to Qin Qiong behind him, and then pointed to the blueprints filling the room.
"For charging into battle, Qin Shubao is sufficient; but for strategizing and winning decisive victories, I need more than just a general; I need a patron who can see the big picture and lay the foundation for future expansion!"
"Pharmacist Li, don't you feel stifled counting wheel spokes in this tiny room every day? Is all your 'genius' military strategy just meant to rot and stink in this pile of old papers?"
This barrage of questions bombarded Li Jing like a machine gun.
Li Jing's breathing became noticeably rapid. He stared intently at Yang Yan, as if trying to find a trace of hypocrisy on the young prince's face.
But all he saw was a burning ambition and sincerity.
"Since General Han called you a 'genius of unparalleled talent' in his letter, I have come to see you in person!"
Yang Yan solemnly extended his hand to Li Jing, palm facing upwards, as if inviting him to dance, or as if entrusting the empire to him.
"Pharmacist Li, though Lingnan is rife with miasma, it is also a place where hidden dragons can rise to the heavens. Would you rather stay here and continue proofreading cartwheels for the rest of your life, or follow me to Lingnan, to that real battlefield, and use your pen and sword to paint a magnificent land that belongs to you?"
The wind seemed to be blowing in from outside the door, stirring up the dust on the ground.
Li Jing looked at the hand reaching out to him, and it seemed as if he could hear the roar of thousands of troops again, a scene that had appeared countless times in his dreams.
He knew that this hand held not only an invitation from a prince, but also a ticket to that magnificent era.
His fingers gently caressed the yellowed letter, the rough touch striking his long-dormant heart like an electric current.
That's my uncle's handwriting; it can't be faked.
The fervor for military strategy and the expectations for future generations that permeate the text, even across the boundary of life and death, are so intense that they are almost too painful to look at directly.
However, after that moment of rush of passion, reason was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head.
He is Li Jing.
He is Li Yaoshi, who boasts that he possesses the wisdom of a million soldiers and is a "talent capable of assisting a king"!
In ancient times, good birds chose their trees to perch on, and wise ministers chose their lords to serve.
The Prince of Changning before us, though he has his uncle's dying letter as a matchmaker and is courteous to scholars, is in a predicament that, to put it bluntly, is like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river—unable to even save himself.
The Eastern Palace? That's the biggest vortex in Daxing City right now!
The lessons of the "War of the Eight Princes" in the Former Jin Dynasty are still fresh. In the hundreds of years of bloodshed and turmoil during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, how many royal family members killed each other for that chair, with heads rolling and blood flowing like rivers?
If one rashly boards this dilapidated ship, it's as if stepping into a battlefield of power struggles.
For Li Jing, who was cautious by nature and used to planning before acting, this was not only a gamble on his future, but also a gamble on his life and fortune.
Winning doesn't guarantee a high-ranking position; losing means utter ruin and will also implicate the entire Li clan of Longxi.
The heat in the air gradually cooled down as Li Jing slowly closed the letter.
He raised his head, and his eyes, which had been slightly red with excitement, had now returned to a deep, still pool.
He carefully put the letter into his pocket, then took a half step back, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and bowed deeply to Yang Yan.
The gesture was respectful and flawless, yet it conveyed a sense of aloofness that kept people at arm's length.
"General Han's dying wish is deeply etched in my heart. However..."
Li Jing straightened up, his gaze no longer avoiding Yang Yan's, but meeting Yang Yan's eyes directly, his tone neither humble nor arrogant:
"Your Highness is of noble birth, while I am but a mere clerk. Your Highness's journey to Lingnan is an imperial tour on behalf of the Emperor; if I were to accompany you, I would be without any official title or status, which might invite criticism from the court and the public, and ultimately jeopardize Your Highness's important mission."
This is an extremely smooth excuse.
The subtext is clear: I accept the letter and appreciate the favor, but I don't want to get involved in this mess.
Standing behind Yang Yan, Qin Qiong frowned, his fingers tightening slightly on the hilt of his sword, a flash of anger crossing his tiger-like eyes.
In his view, His Highness had condescended so much, yet this scholar was so ungrateful!