Chapter 198: The Yun Family Faces Trouble
The next day.
News emerged in the capital.
The long-lost legitimate eldest son of the fourth-rank Xue family, who had disappeared over a decade ago, had actually been found. Such an occurrence was practically unheard of, and word immediately spread through the streets.
At the same time, news came from the Yatang Teahouse that Ding Yiyuan had agreed to join the Empty Gate.
This was within Yun Chu's expectations. She wrote a letter and had Qiutong deliver it to Yatang Teahouse, where it would be passed through several hands before reaching Ding Yiyuan.
After reading the letter, Ding Yiyuan once again found it utterly absurd.
However.
Since Master Shanji had even predicted the matter about a noble emerging from a dilapidated temple, the contents of this letter were likely eighty to ninety percent accurate.
He immediately took out a copper coin from the envelope and, carrying his newly issued travel documents, entered the capital. He found a spot to sit down on the busiest street in the Eastern Market.
He no longer looked as disheveled as he had three days earlier.
Dressed in a blue-black robe, his graying beard and eyebrows were neatly trimmed and reached down to his chest, making him appear to be in his forties or fifties.
In reality, he was not yet thirty. The immense hardships he had endured over the past six months, combined with his long beard, had aged him considerably.
He took out the copper coin from his sleeve and placed it on the ground.
The woman selling handkerchiefs next to him exclaimed in surprise, "What does putting a copper coin mean? What kind of business are you running?"
Ding Yiyuan replied, "Placing a copper coin means I'm selling copper coins."
The woman found it amusing and pressed further, "How much for this copper coin?"
Ding Yiyuan held up one finger. "One tael of silver."
As soon as he said this, many people in the market burst into laughter.
"A single copper coin is worth one wen. One tael of silver can exchange for a thousand copper coins. Do you think everyone is a fool?"
"I've been setting up stalls in the Eastern Market for over twenty years, and this is the first time I've seen someone selling copper coins. How strange!"
"Who would've thought?"
Ding Yiyuan remained calm and composed, completely ignoring the crowd's remarks.
By the end of the day, no one had shown any interest.
On the second day, he appeared again in the Eastern Market. The woman couldn't help but laugh, "If no one bought it yesterday, it means people aren't fools. Why are you back?"
Ding Yiyuan sat on the ground. "Therefore, today I'm selling it for ten taels of silver."
The onlookers roared with laughter.
They treated him as nothing more than a joke.
By the third day, he raised the price to one hundred taels of silver, and the crowd of onlookers grew larger. Besides mocking him, they were also increasingly curious.
On the fourth day, Ding Yiyuan set the price at one thousand taels of silver.
Though he appeared calm on the surface, inwardly he was filled with panic. Was it even possible to sell a single copper coin for one thousand taels of silver?
He thought it was impossible.
But Master Shanji had said someone would come to buy it.
So he would just wait.
The crowd of onlookers grew larger, and everyone chattered incessantly. He struggled to maintain his composure as he sat there.
"How amusing, how amusing!"
A young man's voice rang out.
It was one of the capital's notorious playboys, the heir of Marquis Pingjin.
He pushed through the crowd, squatted down in front of the stall, and reached out to examine the copper coin. He looked it over left and right but couldn't find anything remarkable about it.
"This thing costs one thousand taels of silver?"
Ding Yiyuan kept his eyes lowered, his expression serene, and said calmly, "Flowers bloom and wither in the vicissitudes between illusion and reality. Fate is tangled and hard to comprehend. The copper coin is illusion, yet it is also reality."
The heir of Marquis Pingjin scratched his ear, not understanding a word.
But he had money.
Spending money for amusement was his daily routine.
He tossed a money pouch at Ding Yiyuan. "I'll buy this copper coin. What's all this nonsense about illusion and reality? Explain it clearly, and quickly."
Ding Yiyuan stood up.The heir of Pingjin finally noticed that this man was very tall, with a long beard, giving off an air of a transcendent master. The frivolous smile on his face involuntarily faded somewhat.
"In the south, great chaos is imminent," Ding Yiyuan gazed southward, then looked toward the direction of the Yun family's General's Manor. "The coins point to it, the stars show anomalies. The nation's God of War, his heart constellation shrouded by dark clouds..."
The heir of Pingjin frowned. "Can you speak in plain language?"
Ding Yiyuan spoke slowly: "The God of War of our dynasty is the Pillar of the Nation Great General. This means the Pillar of the Nation Great General has gone missing."
"Nonsense!"
"Where did this charlatan come from, daring to make wild claims about the General's Manor!"
"The Pillar of the Nation Great General is fighting enemies on the front lines—how could he possibly be missing!"
"Charlatan! A complete fraud!"
The Pillar of the Nation Great General held immense prestige among the people. No one believed a single word of Ding Yiyuan's claims, and their anger swelled to the point where they began throwing things at him.
Amid the chaos, the heir of Pingjin's attendant snatched back the money pouch. "Spreading heresy and delusions, even daring to deceive our heir! Let's see how we teach you a lesson!"
Ding Yiyuan covered his head as punches and kicks rained down upon him.
Over the past six months, he had grown accustomed to being beaten and knew how to minimize the harm to himself.
After venting their fury, the crowd eventually dispersed.
The matter of high-priced coin sales among the common folk had actually reached many ears. Now, with this man uttering such treasonous statements, coupled with the heir of Pingjin's embellished retelling, the incident spread through the noble circles of the capital as well. It reached the ears of those with vested interests, and upon closer investigation, it was confirmed: Yun Silin had indeed vanished without a trace.
At this, the imperial court immediately erupted in turmoil.
"Your Majesty, eyewitnesses confirm General Yun entered the borders of Southern Yue and then lost all contact."
"In the memorial from the Chariot and Horse General, it is mentioned that the King of Southern Yue held multiple secret talks with General Yun, intending to win him over..."
"General Yun is the garrison commander of the Western border. Why would he suddenly go to the Southern border region? This move is highly suspicious."
"I have reason to suspect General Yun has defected to the enemy and betrayed the nation..."
The Emperor's face darkened.
Yun Silin had been sent with a secret imperial decree to the Southern border region to execute the Chariot and Horse General, yet he had disappeared. The Emperor had no doubt the Chariot and Horse General was behind this.
However, the Chariot and Horse General was the Empress Dowager's nephew and an ally of the former Crown Prince's faction, with lingering influence in the court. These secrets were not something the Emperor could openly discuss.
He trusted Yun Silin would never betray the nation.
But the Grand Astrologer's divinatory symbols, the rumors among the people, and the officials' outrage could not be resolved by trust alone.
"Your Majesty, please dispatch troops to Southern Yue to capture Yun Silin!"
"Yun Silin has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the nation—heaven cannot tolerate this! Your Majesty, punish the Yun family!"
"Our Great Jin has struggled to reach this point—we cannot afford any missteps. We implore Your Majesty to make a decision!"
The Emperor remained silent.
Chu Yi was the first to laugh. "With just this flimsy evidence, you would convict the Yun family? Don't you find this rather hasty, esteemed ministers?"
One official retorted fearlessly, "Then would Prince Pingxi care to explain why Yun Silin abandoned his post at the Western border to go to Southern Yue? Moreover, why did he lose contact after arriving there?"
"A great general who guards the nation's borders can defend the West as well as the South. There's no need to explain such matters to a mere third-rank official like you." Chu Yi cupped his hands and turned toward the dragon throne. "Father, I am willing to lead troops to Southern Yue, rescue General Yun from peril, and execute the true traitor who has colluded with the enemy!"
The Emperor: "..."The third son had just received twenty heavy strokes from him, the most severe kind of punishment. It was already remarkable that he could still attend the court session; riding into battle was utterly impossible.
After pondering, the emperor declared, "Where is the Swift Cavalry General?"
The Swift Cavalry General stepped forward.
"I grant you thirty thousand elite troops. Proceed to Nanyue and ensure you find Yun Silin’s whereabouts!"
"Yes! Your servant accepts the decree!"
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