Chapter 31: Faith

An awkward and tense silence lasted for a moment. Nan Yexiren finally struggled to shift his gaze away. Perhaps the conflict had been too intense, and his speech was now unclear.

“I don’t know what the son wants to say.”

He did not directly refute but instead spoke evasively, which made his intentions unmistakably clear. The Japanese envoy’s eyes darted around but kept sneaking glances at the son of the Mu state, trying to judge the source of the information.

“Is that so?” The son’s expression remained unchanged. “Then let it just be my rambling… 

Besides, please convey to the high officials of Japan. No matter how the world changes, Goryeo is the throat of the Central Plains; and to protect this crucial point, the Central Plains will make unimaginable decisions and pay unimaginable prices—even in the most difficult times. 

Of course, Mr. Nan, trust me, you wouldn’t want to experience such a decision firsthand.”

His tone was casual, yet it sent a chill down Nan Yexiren’s spine, giving him the distinct feeling of breaking into a cold sweat. After a brief moment of numbness, he finally forced out.

“Is the decision to resolutely defend the Goryeo Peninsula the will of your Emperor?”

The son looked at him carefully and smiled warmly.

“Mr. Nan is very smart, or perhaps you’ve received news from the spies you’ve bribed? Alright, since both sides understand, I no longer need to hide the truth. 

The current Emperor is indeed quite displeased with Goryeo and has never promised any security guarantees for them… The information you have is entirely correct.”

There was no need to probe the secrets of the Western Garden; just by observing the treatment of the Goryeo envoy, it was clear that the Emperor’s stance had shifted, and he was using the tribute matters to pressure the Goryeo people. 

This time, the Goryeo envoys’ silence and low profile were probably related to this subtle shift in direction.

Of course, the current tensions were still a small matter. When the official sealing of the son and the chaos within Goryeo’s palace fully erupted, the relationship between the two parties would plummet, almost to an irreparable state. 

Meanwhile, Japan would take advantage of the situation and stir up the entire peninsula’s affairs; the so-called “dreams of conquering China” would rise once again, spreading its poisonous influence far and wide, beyond calculation.

The Japanese at present might not have such a long-term view, but tson constant focus on the secrets between the Central Plains and Goryeo made tson intentions highly suspicious. 

Nan Yexiren keenly noticed the contradictions in the son’s words and immediately pressed on:

“Therefore, it is certain that the Central Plains will defend Goryeo, but that is only the opinion of the Crown Prince, not the will of your country’s Emperor.”

Mu Qi remained calm and composed, “Indeed.”

Nan Yexiren’s eyes narrowed slightly: “If that’s the case, does it mean that the Crown Prince did not receive the Emperor’s permission yet still made a public statement on his own? I do not understand the laws of your country, but I have heard of the Confucian principles regarding the relationship between ruler and subjects, and father and son. 

The Crown Prince’s actions, would they be considered a false edict or as presumptuous speculation on the Emperor’s will?”

Mu Qi looked at him with some surprise, a hint of astonishment in his eyes. 

Despite being repeatedly suppressed by his advantage of future spoilers, as soon as there was an opportunity, this envoy still demonstrated sharp and experienced tactics. If he truly didn’t understand the laws of the Central Plains, how could he so confidently and precisely accuse with the most sensitive charges?

The Feixuan Zhenjun, known for his mysterious and solitary practice, was becoming increasingly power-hungry and could no longer tolerate any personal speculation on the Emperor’s will, forging edicts to interfere with the imperial power. 

In the future, when Xia Yan, the chief minister, dies at the execution ground, it would most likely be due to this suspicion. To frame someone with such a crime is to sharpen the knife with the intent to kill.

However, framing and slandering depend on the identity of the person. If one were to catch a few officials by the neck and pin the blame on them, it might very well frighten several high-ranking ministers into a cold sweat and force them to make major concessions. But when it comes to the Son of the Duke of Mu…

Mu Qi casually leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs: “I have nothing to say. If you insist on thinking that way, there’s nothing I can do.”

Nan Yexiren’s expression froze slightly.

“Our Da’ancestor’s ‘Great Edict’ allows anyone, from officials to elders, to petition against treacherous ministers; foreign envoys are no exception. 

If you truly believe I’ve done something wrong, just submit a petition to the Ministry of Rites,” The Crown Prince said indifferently, as if it were of no concern to him. 

“But of course, before you make an accusation, I suggest you first inquire about the origins of the Duke of Mu’s family and learn about my father’s identity before proceeding.”

He smiled slightly at Nan Yexiren, his lazy demeanor carrying a sense of arrogance, something disdainful that made one uncomfortable.

“…Otherwise, it would be a waste of energy, and that wouldn’t be good.”

It must be said that after being surrounded by noble circles for so long, Mu Qi had indeed picked up the habit of calling for his father in the manner of a pampered son. Moreover, given the current situation, calling for his father to exert pressure was precisely the most suitable method.

“Have you heard of ‘My Duke Father’?”

The Duke of Mu’s family was deeply intertwined with the state, not only being the absolute pillar of imperial power but also the unshakable foundation of the current Feixuan Zhenjun, the Emperor Wanshou. 

The Crown Prince’s grandfather, the previous Duke of Mu, personally traveled to Hubei to welcome the Zhenjun; the current Duke of Mu, his father, even risked his life to rescue the elder from a fire, suffering serious burns and having to recuperate in Jinling.

Because the fire incident was rather embarrassing (it was later revealed that it was most likely caused by the old Taoist’s alchemy experiments), the Duke of Mu’s injuries were not widely publicized. 

But with these two events, the Duke of Mu’s family was a well-established noble, whose status alone ensured that they could easily maintain a top position in the core circle.

Unlike his ungrateful and lacking intelligence grandson, the old Taoist was selfish and harsh, but his political strategies were precise and effective, never missing a beat—politics without compassion cannot go far, but the old Taoist always knew when to show warmth and never allowed his political allies to suffer. 

With the position of the Duke of Mu and the achievements of two generations, unless a core member openly defected and attempted to usurp the throne, the mere surname alone would act as an unshakable talisman.

As for the Crown Prince’s current actions… rather than believing he was scheming to usurp the throne, it would be more reasonable to believe that he was the reincarnation of the Emperor’s ancestor. 

As long as the civil and military officials give him fifty, he would ensure tson survival in the future purges.

So, regardless of how the Japanese push matters to extremes, such accusations were not particularly significant. 

The crime of speculating on the Emperor’s will depended entirely on what the old Taoist said. Looking at past examples, the Feixuan Zhenjun, Emperor Wanshou, would likely just send eunuchs to scold the Crown Prince, lock him up for a few days, and that would be the end of it.

Thus, Mu Qi was relaxed and confident, even in the mood to make a sarcastic remark:

“…Moreover, although I am young and inexperienced, I have been close to the Emperor. I know a little about his will. Does Mr. Nan firmly believe that our Emperor will not assist Goryeo?”

Perhaps tired of being provoked, Nan Yexiren stopped pretending and spoke coldly:

“The Crown Prince may not understand. Assistance isn’t something that can be done with just words; it requires real money being spent! Such ongoing expenses would surely be highly displeasing to your Emperor!”

This was clearly mocking the finances of the Da’an Dynasty. The Japanese spies had indeed uncovered the true nature of the current Emperor—if the Emperor was enraged and reacted violently over a few hundred thousand taels of silver being misappropriated, how could he possibly spend millions on Goryeo?

In general, this deduction was quite reasonable. The Emperor had emptied the state treasury to satisfy his personal desires, which was the root cause of recent administrative neglect, natural disasters, and human suffering. 

If he had already compromised the sea defenses for his own benefit, why would he not also abandon Goryeo?

This was a highly logical and insightful deduction, and probably the true source of Japan’s ambitions and the idea of “Middle Kingdom and Japan in mutual respect.” 

In the eyes of some Japanese figures, although the Central Plains had a large and strong body, the core that governed it had long since rotted and grown corrupt; with proper manipulation, using Goryeo as a springboard to strike at the Beijing could potentially lead to seizing power.
Decades later, such wild ideas did indeed become reality. 

After Japan was barely unified, it grew stronger and launched a full-scale offensive on East Asia’s order. But, unfortunately…

Mu Qi’s eyes flickered.

“The Emperor’s innate wisdom and decisive judgment are unparalleled. He certainly knows what to do.”

“Really?”

Nan Yexiren’s expression was indifferent, but the corner of his mouth curled slightly in a mockery, as if he were ridiculing the son of the Duke of Mu for insincerely uttering such nonsensical flattery.

The Japanese had far more knowledge of the Da’an court than most could imagine. How could they not know that the current emperor was such an outstanding figure?

Mu Qi could see this clearly. Though his eyelids twitched involuntarily, his expression remained mostly calm. 

Naturally, he was unwilling to flatter the old Taoist, but “innate wisdom and decisive judgment” were not exactly insincere compliments. His confidence in the Lao Deng was by no means unfounded.

To put it simply, the old Taoist’s morals might be anthropomorphic, but his intelligence was certainly extraordinary. Feixuan Zhenjun had been selfish, cold, and calculating all his life, yet when it came to matters concerning the imperial power, he had never been vague. 

And the fate of Goryeo was exactly such a matter!

Mu Qi might not fully understand military strategy, but defending Goryeo and the Northeast had been the consistent choice of the most prominent political figures in Chinese history for over a thousand years, ever since Emperor Taizong of Tang. 

Even in the most difficult and vulnerable times, this decision-making willpower had never wavered, and they were willing to pay the price in blood for it. You may not believe Goryeo’s call for help or the hollow words of the ministers, but it’s best to believe in the shared foresight of these historical figures.

Of course, the Lao Deng’s character could never compare to that of the ancient sages, but his insight into power was absolutely impeccable. 

If even his grandson Baozong could make decisive actions, then the Lao Deng would strike even harder, earlier, and without regard for the cost. When it came to key moments of power struggle, the Lao Deng would never flinch!

After all, figures like Baozong were rare in history. Even if Heaven wished to increase the intensity of Chinese civilization, one such figure in five hundred years was enough. After all, in the hellish layers of beasts, there weren’t many lowly scoundrels available for reincarnation.

However, Nan Yexiren clearly couldn’t understand Mu Qi’s confidence, so he only sneered and remained silent. Mu Qi was too lazy to explain or to continue flattering the old Taoist. 

But the current situation was extremely delicate. Until the maritime defense plans were complete, confronting the Japanese envoys rashly wasn’t the best choice. 

If the Japanese were to see the true face of the emperor too early, it would inevitably provoke unpredictable and arrogant ambitions.

Ultimately, the decisive battle with Japan should at least be delayed for five more years. During this time, any provocation against the Japanese pirates must be carefully avoided to ensure safety. As for the Lao Deng… well, his consistent poor performance would undoubtedly be the greatest catalyst for the Japanese pirates’ ambition.

We’re all from the East Asian cultural sphere; who doesn’t know that logic about strong armies and horses for the emperor?

Therefore, no matter how unwilling, Mu Qi could only drink tea and chat with Nan Yexiren, subtly hinting at the old Taoist’s “decisiveness” and “wisdom,” attempting to intimidate the Japanese, whose desires had already started to show. 

Of course, he still maintained some boundaries, only praising the old Taoist’s intelligence (which was absolutely true) without involving any moral evaluation. 

However, despite the sourness churning in his stomach, Nan Yexiren remained unmoved, and his expression grew even more mocking.

He had every reason to remain indifferent. With Mu Qi’s pitiful rhetoric, it seemed impossible to make him change his mind and develop any respect for such an absurd figure as the old Taoist.

 A simple, disdainful “Really?” was enough to reject all attempts at persuasion.

Surely no one truly believes the old Taoist is a wise ruler, right?

So, based on the current situation, shaping the old Taoist into a wise ruler was out of the question. This was expected, but…

After Mu Qi had struggled to drink his fifth cup of tea, a deafening sound suddenly erupted from outside the small meditation hall. 

In an instant, thunder rumbled, air surged, and a massive shockwave swept through, overturning the tea table and blasting open the door. The shock made tson ears ring, and the scene almost left them dizzy.

Mu Qi forcibly suppressed the dizziness and stood up, leaning on the chair. The earlier sound and shock had come so suddenly that it had poured an entire pot of hot tea onto his legs, burning him so badly that he nearly rolled on the spot. 

But now was not the time for that. Mu Qi had to endure the immense pain, steadying himself to say the lines he had already prepared:

“What are they doing? How could they blow up the Emperor’s alchemy furnace again!”