Chapter 143: English and Ji Fight Chickens, The Death of Old Hua

Chapter 143: Cockfighting Between Princes Ying and Ji, and the Death of Old Hua

In the arena, a large yellow rooster was chasing a black-feathered rooster. Li Xian shouted, "Stop!"

This strictly followed the rules of cockfighting. Generally, there were three rounds. The first round was for probing; if one side suffered a loss, the owner or guest could call a timeout. The second round was also exploratory, where they would rest when disadvantaged, feed the rooster some water, and soothe it. Of course, since Li Xian and the fourth prince, Li Xulun, were the ones staging the cockfight, they wouldn't soothe the roosters themselves; they had designated chicken attendants to do so. Only in the third round would the two fighting roosters engage in a fight to the death, or until one side completely submitted.

Cockfighting was a very ancient activity and was also popular in the Tang dynasty. From Li Yuan and Li Shihmin to Li Zong, all of them loved this activity. Wang Bo had written that famous denunciation, but he had hit a brick wall. It wasn't that Emperor Gaozong restricted his sons from playing cockfighting, but rather that it implied instigation. This was something Emperor Gaozong, who had suffered deeply from such plotting, could least tolerate.

The former crown prince, due to illness and poor health, rarely even went out and had no liking for cockfighting. Li Wei didn't care much for it either, so the Eastern Palace lacked such activities. However, the second prince Li Xian, the third prince Li Xian, and the fourth prince Li Xulun all had specialized servants to raise fighting cocks, known as chicken attendants.

Not only did one need to select good roosters, but one also had to know how to raise and train them; this was a skill in itself.

Seeing the huge gap between the two sides, young as he was, Li Xulun did not look pleased. He called his chicken attendant aside, looked at his third brother who was laughing triumphantly not far away, and asked in a low voice, "Why is it so terrible?"

The chicken attendant said mysteriously, "Your Highness Prince Ji, don't worry. This rooster is very sinister; just wait and watch a good show."

With that, he brought some water and gave it to the black rooster to drink. The second round began.

The black rooster was still very afraid, only running and maneuvering. Even Li Xian, who was quite well-versed in this and was watching from the sidelines, frowned. The fourth brother's chicken attendant was no good; the rooster he selected was too inferior. Li Xian laughed even more smugly, patted Li Xulun on the head, and said, "I told you, Fourth Brother, you are still young. This art of cockfighting is not something you can play with."

After another brief rest, the maneuvering continued. After chasing for a long time, the black rooster couldn't fight well, but it was very fast at running away, and the yellow rooster gradually lost its fighting spirit. Suddenly, the black rooster turned around to provoke the opponent. When the yellow rooster lunged forward, it fled again. After another provocation, the yellow rooster's stamina was gradually exhausted, and the black rooster began to counterattack, as if the roosters had been swapped. The two roosters truly began to fight, sending feathers flying everywhere.

Before long, the yellow rooster had been pecked and hurt in many places, including its comb which had been torn open by the black rooster, and it began to run away. Unable to outrun its opponent, it collapsed onto the ground and wailed mournfully.

Li Xulun waved his hand happily and said, "Good! That sinister trick worked brilliantly."

Li Xian said angrily, "Indeed, what kind of master raises what kind of rooster. Your political aides are sinister beyond measure, your chicken attendants are sinister, and even a rooster is utterly sinister."

"Third Brother, what are you talking about? I have explained to you many times, I have met that Ming Chongyan no more than a few times, and the words we exchanged do not add up to twenty sentences. What does his harming the eldest brother have to do with me?"

"Then he was playing supernatural tricks before, and you actually didn't know?"

"I really didn't know, Third Brother! You aren't saying I instigated it, are you? Even if the eldest brother had an incident, it would have benefited the second brother; what does it have to do with me?" Li Xulun blurted out anxiously. After all, he was still rather young. Although he was beginning to understand some matters, he lacked deep craftiness and spoke without restraint.

"What are you two arguing about? You can even start a quarrel over a cockfighting match!" Li Xian could no longer listen. Interjecting himself between them, he said, "Isn't it just a cockfighting match? Tomorrow I will send each of you one, both better than these two. Besides, you should think about how the eldest brother treated us when he was in the Western Capital. Brothers must learn to be yielding. Especially the third brother, you are a few years older than the fourth brother, can't you yield a little?"

"His Highness the Prince of Pei puts it wonderfully," a voice came over. The three of them turned their heads and saw Xu Jingzong walking toward them.

Other ministers feared this statesman, and the princes feared him just as much. Don't assume that because they were princes they were safe—how did the former crown prince, Li Zhong, die? Instead, all three of them said in unison, "Greetings, Lord Xu."

"I dare not, I dare not. This subject's health has merely improved slightly these past few days, so I came to check on Your Highnesses. Coincidentally, I just heard His Highness the Prince of Pei's remarks. People call Your Highness a virtuous prince, and indeed your reputation precedes you, indeed your reputation precedes you," Xu Jingzong praised repeatedly.

Li Xian began to feel suspicious. After pondering for a moment, his expression suddenly shifted slightly, and he said, "Lord Xu flatters me too much; I do not deserve such praise."

After exchanging a few more polite words, Xu Jingzong took his leave.

They had also heard rumors that the eldest brother seemed to be accusing this very Xu Jingzong of masterminding Ming Chongyan's plot to frame him. Whether these rumors were true or false, they could not tell. Yet, an undercurrent of hostility and wariness toward Xu Jingzong remained. Watching this terrifying old man arrive inexplicably and leave inexplicably, the three brothers looked at each other in dismay. Li Xian asked doubtfully, "Second Brother, what on earth did he come here for?"

"Heaven knows," Li Xian shrugged. "Third Brother, can you guess Lord Xu's intentions?"

Li Xian shook his head.

However, Li Xian had already guessed some things, though he did not say them, nor was it convenient to speak of them.

Xu Jingzong was not in a rush either. Some things could not be hurried; just like crops, seeds were sown in the spring, and harvest only came in the autumn. Although Ming Chongyan had been demoted and exiled from the capital, this seed had been sown very robustly. His earlier remarks had probably sown a seed as well.

His carriage returned to his estate, and two pretty maids helped him down. Xu Jingzong had many flaws, but in this respect, he was very much like Lady Rongguo: old in years, yet his vigor remained youthful. It seemed the older he got, the more spirited he became. Almost every night, pretty maids accompanied him to bed.

Arriving at the study, he told the maid, "Call Uncle Zhong here."

Uncle Zhong was the servant who had gone to Luoyang. His original surname was unknown, but he had followed Xu Jingzong for a very long time and handled many affairs for him. He was Xu Jingzong's most trusted servant, and was granted the surname Xu.

The old servant walked in, and Xu Jingzong said once more, "I must trouble you to make another trip."

"Lord, this is what this servant ought to do."

"This trip is rather far, but there's no immediate rush. You can just treat it as continuing your sightseeing tour. Having followed me for so many years, it is indeed time for you to relax."

"This servant wouldn't dare. I wonder where I am to go?"

"First, go to the Eastern Capital and deliver this letter to Xiao Yun, the second letter to Yun Hanshan, and the third letter to Quan Hu. However, do not let others know of this journey. Once they have read the letters, they will accompany you to Shenzhou. Then, deliver the fourth letter to Ming Chongyan."

"Lord, he has already fallen beyond recovery, and moreover, this man is somewhat disobedient."

"Whether he obeys or disobeys, this man cannot be underestimated. Once I am gone, Boyan will not be able to keep him in check. It is better to let go and increase his power, giving him wings like a tiger. This time I am not asking him to do anything for me; it is sending charcoal in snowy weather. When he rises to power in the future, it will be enough if he promotes Boyan." Xu Jingzong knew very well in his heart that his own health could not hold out much longer. Even if he gave Ming Chongyan some support for a comeback, given the time remaining, he feared he would not survive until the day Ming Chongyan was reinstated.

The old servant sighed inwardly. This man truly refused to let go of the crown prince even in death. However, the enmity between them was already sealed; even if the crown prince was benevolent, the decline of the Xu family upon his ascension was inevitable. What the master was doing was also out of desperation, even though the master himself had started the conflict. He said, "Understood. It's just that this servant worries he still cannot be propped up."

"No matter, I have already arranged things for him, there is no hurry. Perhaps before he is even needed, I will smoothly remove the crown prince from his position. You may go."

"Understood." The old servant withdrew. Xu Jingzong then said, "Call Su Mingda in."

Su Mingda walked in, and Xu Jingzong asked, "Have the medicine and herbs been prepared?"

"They are prepared," Su Mingda said, pulling a medicine packet from his bosom.

"Come with me." With that, Xu Jingzong led Su Mingda to a side room. The room was somewhat shabby; it was none other than Madam Yu's quarters. She had originally lived in the main quarters, but ever since Xu Jingzong discovered her illicit affair with his son, he had flown into a towering rage. His son had been packed off to Lingnan, let alone a concubine, so she had been banished to this desolate back room.

"Greetings, Lord," Madam Yu walked over cautiously, offering a bow. She glanced stealthily at his expression, then at Su Mingda standing behind him, and her body involuntarily trembled twice.

"What is wrong with you?"

"I caught a chill in the rain, and this maid's body is somewhat unwell."

"Let me take a look," Xu Jingzong said, and without listening to any explanation, he grabbed her wrist, took her pulse, and said, "There is nothing severely wrong, you are merely somewhat weak. I have just returned from the imperial palace and begged some tonic medicine from the imperial physicians. Mingda, bring the medicine over."

"Yes."

"Brew it for the mistress."

"Yes." Su Mingda acknowledged and began to brew the medicine. His expression was quite calm; ever since that night when his master's out-of-favor concubine had likely overheard their conversation, he had anticipated today.

Madam Yu's face turned pale, and she said, "This maid has already taken medicine; taking more will not help."

"Do you have the final say, or do I?"

Madam Yu sighed inwardly, realizing she had failed to escape this disaster after all. Clinging to a shred of hope, she pleaded, "My lord, considering that this maid has served you for so many years, please spare me. At worst, you can lock me up in this side room, how about that?"

Why would I lock you up?"

"My lord, please show mercy." Trembling, Madam Yu clutched Xu Jingzong's leg and begged for her life.

Knowing that this concubine understood the purpose of his current action, Xu Jingzong exchanged a glance with Su Mingda. Su Mingda understood, brought over the bowl of medicinal soup, and said, "The medicine is brewed. Please take your medicine, Mistress."

"I won't drink it! I won't drink it!" Madam Yu lunged forward frantically, trying to knock over the medicinal soup, but Xu Jingzong grabbed and held her firmly. Su Mingda stepped forward, forced her mouth open, and poured the medicinal soup down her throat.

Seeing that the potency of the poison had taken effect, Xu Jingzong let go. Madam Yu gasped, "Xu Jingzong, you beast in human form, you will come to a bad end one day!"

"Rest assured, many people have said that of me, but I am still living quite happily. However, considering our past acquaintance, I will give you a lavish burial."

The so-called lavish burial might actually happen, but the burial was fake while gathering wealth was real. The concubine who had served him for many years had died, and those wishing to curry favor with him would naturally come to offer condolences, and condolences meant bringing gifts. Look at that—from the crown prince down to various chancellors, despite their impeachments against him, he remained as secure as Mount Tai. This was status, this was imperial favor, coupled with even heavier backing. Those who sought to flatter him would never be in short supply.

His fondness for wealth was Xu Jingzong's greatest hobby. Although the Xu estate was currently not short of money, more was always better.

Thinking of her miserable death, and how even in death she was being used as a tool for him to amass wealth, fury surged within Madam Yu, driving the poison straight to her heart. She spat out a mouthful of dark blood and instantly died on the spot. Yet her eyes remained wide open in resentment and unwillingness.

Xu Jingzong reached out and smoothed her eyelids shut, murmuring, "Actually, you should have died long ago."

Then he instructed Su Mingda, "The mistress has died of a sudden illness; prepare for the funeral."

"Understood!"

The rain continued to fall. The death of this controversial concubine quickly spread throughout Chang'an. The reason it had dragged on for so many days was primarily to prepare the prescription. The medicine had been blended with exquisite craft; at first glance, it did not look like poisoning at all. Even if it was suspected of being poisoning, pray tell, which official would court trouble and come to investigate?

Night fell. In front of the Xu estate, however, carriages were as numerous as a stream and horses as thick as a dragon. As the sky grew darker, even more people arrived. Consequently, the servants hung out lanterns. The brightly lit lanterns, the resplendent estate, the countless carriages at the entrance, and the gatekeepers incessantly announcing the names of arriving guests—someone had died, yet the scene was exceptionally grand...