08. Transfer Order (2)
For someone like him—a fugitive who couldn't even reveal his true gender to the world...
The only thing he needed to master was force.
His grandfather had risen from Grand Commandant to Emperor because of military power.
It was also through power that he ensured no one under Heaven dared defy his wishes.
So what if he was reckless and brutal?
So what if he was absurd and indulgent?
He had committed every evil an emperor could possibly commit.
But he possessed absolute power.
Therefore, even when the entire court was furious and dissatisfied, no one dared say anything to his face.
Take whatever you want.
If you cannot obtain it, destroy it, so no one else can have it.
That was the principle Murong Yan had followed since childhood.
In the front hall, Yu Wenjun was also speaking with the tutor who taught Murong Yan and Yu Qingjia the classics and history.
Seeing Yu Wenjun sigh repeatedly, the literary tutor asked curiously,
“Brother Yu, why are you sighing?”
Mentioning the matter made Yu Wenjun feel embarrassed.
“It's rather shameful to say, but it concerns my daughter and the young master.”
At the mention of that person's identity, the tutor immediately straightened his back and sat upright.
“What happened?”
“It isn't that the young master has done anything wrong. It's my younger daughter.”
Seeing that the tutor had misunderstood, Yu Wenjun hurriedly explained.
“She is the only child of my late wife. Since childhood, I've treasured her like a pearl, so naturally she's grown up lively and somewhat spoiled."
“These past few days, matters in the household have all been arranged with the young master in mind. You know his public identity. My daughter has become jealous because of it, and she's been making a fuss with me for several days.”
“So that's what it is.”
The tutor froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“No wonder I've noticed that your daughter and the young master have been studying in the same room these past few days without exchanging a single word. So that's why!”
The antics of a young daughter were amusing and novel in the tutor's eyes.
To Yu Wenjun, however, all he could manage was a strained smile.
After laughing heartily, the tutor gradually sobered.
“The young master was born into a noble family, yet he suffered a great upheaval at a young age. Although he has remained calm and composed throughout these past two years, without showing signs of despair or collapse, he's only fifteen."
“How can a young man possess such composure?
“Even those of us who have endured years of hardship might not be able to maintain our composure after experiencing such a family catastrophe. Yet from beginning to end, the young master has never shown the slightest resentment or despondency."
“He Guang and I have been deeply worried about this for a long time. When we had no choice but to move him here, we were originally worried that he wouldn't be willing to live under a woman's identity. But now, it seems this decision was ultimately the right one."
“Regardless of anything else, the fact that the young master has regained some of the liveliness of a boy his age makes this dangerous gamble worthwhile.”
The Yu household had been thrown into chaos because of the conflict in the inner residence.
Yu Wenjun could only force a smile.
“You're absolutely right.”
The two continued discussing Murong Yan for a while before inevitably returning to the current political situation.
“The Prince of Changshan is extorting the people and acting against all reason. How can a ruler commit such acts of looting and smashing things in the streets? If even the slightest hint of resentment appears on a person's face, he'll order them killed."
“How can such an incompetent ruler govern the world?"
“And yet, he leaves the palace whenever he pleases. No one knows when he'll appear, and the people have no way of knowing when they need to hide.
“Everyone in Ye City is now living in fear. Every industry is declining."
“This is a disaster for the people and a calamity for the country!”
Whenever they spoke of the current emperor, both Yu Wenjun and the tutor sighed.
Yu Wenjun lamented,
“The Crown Prince was benevolent when he was alive. The entire realm placed its hopes in him. Who could have imagined that the Eastern Palace would be destroyed simply because a villain betrayed him?"
“Fortunately, the Crown Prince left behind a descendant. Although no one dares speak of it openly, everyone under the Heaven is waiting for the young master.”
Indeed.
With the Prince of Changshan ruling through brutality and absurdity while surrounding himself with sycophants, an uprising was merely a matter of time.
For now, their task was to protect Murong Yan until he safely reached adulthood—
and wait for the right opportunity.
“His Highness is fifteen now. His frame has not fully developed, so he can still disguise himself as a woman. But once he grows a little more, perhaps in two years at most, I'm afraid it will no longer be possible.”
The tutor exchanged a glance with Yu Wenjun.
They could both see the worry in each other's eyes.
Although Murong Yan hated people pointing this out, he truly was extraordinarily beautiful.
He was still young, with a slender frame that made his gender difficult to distinguish.
For now, they could forcefully pass him off as a woman.
Most people wouldn't question another person's gender without reason. Once they saw an attractive, slightly masculine-looking “woman,” they would simply accept the assumption.
But as Murong Yan continued to mature, his bones would broaden and his height would increase.
At that point, even his height alone would make it impossible to fool people.
It was a serious problem.
The most important thing in launching a rebellion was timing.
Could they gather enough military strength within two short years?
Could they find the moment when the Prince of Changshan had aroused widespread public outrage and the entire realm would welcome a rebellion?
Yu Wenjun and the tutor fell silent.
After a while, Yu Wenjun said,
“We still have at least two years to prepare. We'll take things one step at a time.
“For now, we should focus on teaching the young master the classics, etiquette, and strategies for governing the state.”
The tutor's expression suddenly brightened.
He let out a long breath and said,
“Brother Yu is absolutely right. I was simply worrying unnecessarily.”
Yu Wenjun and the literary and martial tutors carefully guarded the secret of Murong Yan's identity.
Meanwhile, the chaotic days of studying together between Murong Yan and Yu Qingjia passed amid the steady dripping of the water clock.
The weather grew hotter, then gradually cooled again.
When the winds of early autumn arrived, the Governor's residence suddenly received a letter bearing a red seal.
「Governor of Guangling County, Qingzhou, Yu Wenjun, whose virtue brings warmth and whose governance has been diligent and benevolent since taking office, educating the people and earning praise from those around him… is hereby promoted to Sima of Yanzhou and shall assume his new post immediately.」
It was a transfer order for Yu Wenjun.
After serving as Governor of Guangling County for two years, Yu Wenjun was suddenly ordered to be transferred back to Yanzhou.
He suddenly felt a chill behind him.
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