Chapter 112 Either Live or Die When Meeting

The scruffy old story-teller picked up the erhu and pulled the strings, melodious and low music sounding in the wine shop.

When autumn came in September, chrysanthemums bloomed while other flowers withered; bursts of fragrance permeated Chang’an and golden chrysanthemums were all over the city!

This was the most famous poem of Huang Chao.

Huang Chao was the chief culprit of the turmoil in the late Tang Empire and the gravedigger of an empire.

It was his feat of breaking through Chang’an that unveiled the prelude of vassal states’ obtaining the throne and feudal princes’ competing for hegemony.

The vassal states were only arrogant before, but they were still ruled by the imperial court. But after the Huang Chao Uprising, the vassal states no longer obeyed the orders of the imperial court, and they controlled their troops on their own to fight with each other.

Until the prelude of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms were unveiled.

Li Ye had a deep memory of Huang Chao in his last life. Wu You, Duchess of Li, died in the chaos when Huang Chao’s rebels broke through Chang’an.

Li Ye looked at Huang Chao and smiled. “Since you have an interest, I’d like to accompany you. Please!”

Then he ordered a waiter in the shop to add a seat.

Huang Chao sat down on his knees and drank a glass of wine first, and then he gave a self-introduction. “I’m Huang Chuan. What’s your name?”

Li Ye glanced at Huang Chao and curled his lips secretly. “Huang Chuan? Why don’t you call yourself Huang He directly?”

Li Ye didn’t believe that Huang Chao would come to meet him without knowing his identity. There were so many people in the wine shop, but Huang Chao didn’t go to meet others. Huang Chao came to his dest ignoring the woman in front of him, so Huang Chao’s target was clear.

Li Ye couldn’t help but think of the pool of green lotuses behind Sanqingguan in Niushou Mountain. He thought, “Does Zhongnan Mountain finally realize that I have got the pool of green lotuses?”

Originally, Zhongnan Mountain prepared the pool of green lotuses for Huang Chao, but now they had already been absorbed by Li Ye. Huang Chao’s purpose wouldn’t be simple for his coming.

“I’m Li Hua.” Li Ye cupped his hands and gave himself a fake name casually.

“Mr. Li, nice to meet you!” Huang Chao showed his admiration, but he curled his lips secretly. He thought, “Li Hua? Why don’t you call yourself Li Hua (whose pronunciation is the same as pear flower’s in Chinese)?”

“Our meeting is destiny. Come on. Drink it!” Li Ye proposed a toast. After he had drunk one glass of wine, he asked, “You don’t sound like a native. Where are you from? And why do you come to Chang’an?”

“My ancestral home is Caozhou. To tell you the truth, I’m coming for the next year’s spring civil examinations. I feel ashamed to tell you that I have taken part in the civil examinations for many times, but I haven’t got an official position yet.”

Huang Chao sighed, but he sneered in his heart. “I came here in order to find you, but I won’t tell you. I will approach you slowly to investigate the matter of green lotuses secretly. If you really have absorbed the green lotuses, I will dig out your intestines to take back the green lotuses, whether you are the Grand Prince or the vice magistrate!”

“It isn’t easy to get an official position!” Li Ye pretended to sigh, and then he said solemnly, “But I can tell from your face that you will be very powerful and make a great achievement in the future, so you don’t need to worry about the unpleasant things at present.”

Li Ye pondered, “Since Huang Chao has appeared in front of me, should I find a chance to kill him? In this way, won’t there be Huang Chao Uprising?”

Huang Chao was stunned. “You know the art of IChing?”

“A little bit.” Li Ye smiled. He looked Huang Chao up and down, and then he said with excitement, “Mr. Huang, your physiognomy is rare. I have known so many people in my life, but I haven’t seen someone’s physiognomy like yours. I wonder if I could take a closer look at you.”

Huang Chao was delighted. He couldn’t help but think, “The Taoists in Zhongnan Mountain always say that I have great Luck and I will be able to achieve a grand ambition and have the opportunity to replace the Tang Empire. Now that even Li Ye has said the same thing, is that really so? Well, let him try and see what he will say.”

Huang Chao pretended to be calm. He held out his palm and said as if he hadn’t cared, “Since you’re interested, it won’t be good to say no.”

Li Ye kept his smile and grabbed Huang Chao’s hand immediately!

At this time, the erhu music in the shop suddenly sounded in high pitches, making people feel like on the battlefield!

...

Imperial Palace.

“How is it?” Han Wenyue hurried to ask as Liu Xingshen walked out of the room.

Liu Xingshen shook his head and sighed. He stretched out his hands. A hint of worry appeared on his white face. “Your Majesty’s illness is so severe that the imperial physicians could do nothing about it. He is unconscious now, perhaps which will last for a long time.”

Han Wenyue frowned slightly. His hands folded in front of his abdomen and his fingers kept entangling. He said in a husky and low voice, “Since Wei Baoheng was found guilty, Your Majesty has been sick. I originally thought that he just got a cold, but now he seems not so well.”

“He’s not so well. Your Majesty is getting worse and worse these years. He only has the cultivation of Level 2 Qi-refining which is maintained by Dan Pills. He has been addicted to wine and sex for these years, not keeping in good health. Since his accession to the throne, he has no longer cultivated, so he has a serious setback in cultivation and serious sickness...”

Liu Xingshen and Han Wenyue walked side by side. Their shrill voices seemed weird because they said in low voices. “If Your Majesty cannot survive this time, we should make preparation in advance.”

Han Wenyue nodded to agree with Liu Xingshen. Although eunuchs controlled the Regal Guards and the Privy Council, it didn’t mean that his position and Liu Xingshen’s would remain stable. Every new emperor would bring his own courtiers. In the face of the great change, the position of the Regal Guards wouldn’t change, while their situations might not be the same.

“Prince Pu is good,” Han Wenyue said, “but...”

“But Prince An...” Liu Xingshen frowned tightly. “The matter of Bagong Mountain is a hidden danger.”

“At this point, I have some doubts,” Han Wenyue said, “how did Prince An escape from Wei Jiangnan on that day in Huangli County? Who forced Wei Jiangnan to surrender himself to the Chang’an Office?”

“According to Prince An, Nangong Diyi happened to be there when he went to Huangli County...”

“What did Nangong Diyi say about it?”

“Humph. This guy is always so arrogant that he hit my man directly when I sent someone to ask him!”

“This guy is really seeking death!”

“What about Wei Jiangnan’s matter?”

“It seems to be involved with Nangong Diyi.”

“Why?”

“Nangong Diyi often drinks wine with Prince An in private.”

“So, Nangong Diyi has already turned to Prince An? This fellow always thinks highly of himself and he is very arrogant, so how would he be willing to follow Prince An?”

“But if it isn’t Nangong Diyi, who else can defeat Wei Jiangnan and control him?”

Liu Xingshen and Han Wenyue were silent. After a while, Liu Xingshen said coldly, “I always feel that Prince An is a little mysterious. Will there really be Li Xian’s former trusted followers in Prince An’s Manor?

Han Wenyue shook his head. “I have sent someone to investigate Prince An’s Manor, but nothing has found.”

historical

“It is also possible that he has been prepared for it. This fellow is very meticulous.”

“So what do we do?”

Liu Xingshen pondered for quite a while, and then he said suddenly, “Why don’t we lure him to expose his real power and test him?”

Han Wenyue nodded. “Good idea!”

Liu Xingshen became serious. “If... Prince An really gets together with Li Xian’s former followers?”

“Then we need to get rid of him!” Han Wenyue was decisive. “Considering his relationship with Prince Pu, when Prince Pu ascends the throne, you and I will come to no good end if he rakes up the past of Bagong Mountain!”

“Just do it!”

...

Tonight, there were no stars, dark and windy.

Song Wentong, who stared at Yipin Lou, was in a bad mood.

Whoever was ordered to assassinate a Grand Prince in Chang’an City wouldn’t be in a good mood.

But he had no choice for it was the command of the Lieutenant of the Regal Guards.

And he was just a commander of the Regal Guards who led five hundred guards.

He was also a commander eager for getting promoted.

Wang Jian looked at Song Wentong who squatted on the roof with a gloomy face. With a slight sigh, he took out a steamed chicken wrapped in oil-paper from his waist, tore off one of its hind legs, and handed it to Song Wentong. “Try one?”

Song Wentong, who was thin and white-faced, glanced coldly at Wang Jian. “You’re as fat as a pig. Do you still eat?”

“You’re not a woman, so why are you afraid of getting fat?” Wang Jian didn’t care. Seeing that Song Wentong didn’t eat it, he stuffed the chicken leg into his big mouth, his mouth full of oil. As Song Wentong had said, he indeed had a fat waist and round shape. He was so fat that he was over 150 kilograms with all his fat.

Therefore, instead of squatting on the roof like Song Wentong, he could only sit on it, because he was unable to squat at all.

“Fat Wang, don’t be annoying. I have warned you many times that don’t talk about women in front of me!” Song Wentong gnashed the teeth, his gaze like a sword.

Wang Jian ate with relish, his eyes shining and his mouth making noises. He didn’t turn his head as he heard this. “It’s not your fault that you look like a woman. But if I don’t mention women, do I need to mention men? Are you interested in men?”

“Wang Jian!” Song Wentong, with his fine features, suddenly had a murderous look on his face.

Song Wentong had a ruddy complexion, white teeth, and arched eyebrows. His eyes were as beautiful as peach blossom, and his lips were as red as blood, small and delicate, like a cherry. In terms of appearance, he was more beautiful than flowers and he would make women jealousy.

Moreover, although he was thin, his chest was very muscular. It was very protruding and seemed very “weird”.

Fortunately, Song Wentong’s eyebrows were like swords and his gaze was like a knife instead of watery eyes and eyebrows with amorous feelings, which made him looked heroic, but not feminine. Otherwise, he would be regarded as a woman.

“What? Trying to kill me? Do it. I’m tired of living.” Wang Jian still didn’t care, and he only focused on dealing with the fat chicken in his hands. He twisted his bucket-like waist as he spoke, appearing particularly cheap.

Song Wentong pressed on the long knife at his waist with one hand.

Wang Jian sighed and looked at him. “If this thing goes through today, it won’t be a problem for you to give me a hundred punches when we go back.”

Song Wentong stared at Wang Jian for a long time, almost out of control of his killing intends. He snorted. “Although the other side is a Grand Prince, he is just in Level 5 of Qi-refining, so it won’t be difficult to kill him.”

“Just Level 5 of Qi-refining, don’t say it as if you were countless realm higher than him.” Wang Jian curled his lips. He finally finished the fat chicken, no bones left. He patted his greasy hands and stood up. Compared with Song Wentong who was thin and squatted there, his body was as strong as a hill.

“To tell you the truth, Prince An, who suddenly appeared, isn’t simple. Li Chongde, that fellow, has told me that Prince An is mysterious. I originally wanted to pay a visit, but I didn’t expect we would meet in such a way.” Wang Jian belched as loudly as thunder.

Song Wentong said coldly, “Either live or die when meeting. Isn’t it a good way to meet?”

“If you’re not the one who will die, then you can say so.” Wang Jian moved his wrists. Suddenly, his gaze became serious. “He’s out!”

...

When Li Ye and Huang Chao walked out of Yipin Lou side by side, the scruffy old man in the lobby just finished his song.

“Mr. Huang, goodbye.” Li Ye cupped his hands to say goodbye to Huang Chao in front of the wine shop.

“Mr. Li, you’re a good drinker! I admire you. If we will meet again in the future, we have to decide who can drink more!” Huang Chao belched, smiling like a spring breeze. When Li Ye read his palm, Li Ye praised him highly, which made him very happy—for a scholar over 40 years old who had failed many times, he would certainly be happy that he was proved to be extraordinary in the future when he was in an embarrassing and difficult situation.

“Sure.” Li Ye smiled.

He didn’t start a fight against Huang Chao.

Although he had thought of it just now.

After thinking about it carefully, he gave up the idea.

Huang Chao started the uprising together with Wang Xianzhi. He could kill Huang Chao, but could he also kill Wang Xianzhi? Even if he could, so what? However, the fall of Tang Empire was caused by the decline of Luck of the nation, and Huang Chao was only the person who was chosen by Luck. Even if he had killed Huang Chao, who knew there wouldn’t be Zhang Chao or Li Chao?

Moreover, since Huang Chao dared to appear in front of Li Ye in public, he should have reliance. After all, he was chosen by Zhongnan Mountain, so he would be closely protected.

Watching Huang Chao walking away, Li Ye remained smiling.

He knew clearly that Huang Chao would surely create another chance to “come across” him. His smile seemed to be playful as he thought of this.

Liu Zhiyan staggered behind Li Ye with her head down and her eyes hardly open. When Li Ye stopped, she almost hit Li Ye’s back.

“Send the Big Master back to the Manor,” Li Ye said to the guard who hurried over.

“Your Highness, what about you?” the guard asked.

“I’m going to walk by the river to sober up, so you don’t have to follow me.” Li Ye waved his hand.

“Yes.” The guard took his order.