Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 555

Chapter 555: Broken Bridge

Two days’ journey from the capital, the Empress Dowager’s entourage was trapped.

It wasn’t the heavy snow that blocked the roads, but rather the bridge across the river that was broken. The detour would require taking a side road, and the Empress Dowager’s carriage was wider than that side road.

The Imperial Guard Captain came to deliver a message: “Your Majesty, the bridge repairs will take ten to fifteen days. Taking the side road would be a day or two faster, but then you wouldn’t be able to ride in your carriage; you’d have to use a regular horse-drawn carriage. What do you think? Should we repair the bridge or take the side road?”

“Do I care about a day or two?” The Empress Dowager, eager to return to the capital, had gone to great lengths, even putting the Emperor in a difficult position, only to find the bridge broken.

She alighted from the carriage and walked to the broken bridge. Seeing the collapsed structure, she frowned and angrily demanded, “These bridges are as thick as I am! How could they break so easily? Has it been investigated? Was someone tampering with them?”

“Your Majesty, I have investigated,” the captain replied cautiously. “There are signs of impact on the bridge’s cross-section. We found two red wolves nearby; they must have been the cause. Plus, the recent snowfall has caused the bridge to break at a crucial point.”

If one section broke, the others would follow. One section after another would break. Although the entire bridge had not been destroyed, the current below was swift. The broken sections alone could hold the Empress Dowager hostage for ten days to two weeks.

The Empress Dowager stared at the opposite bank, gritting her teeth. “Repair the bridge as soon as possible; every day counts. And those two wolves—investigate them thoroughly. I refuse to believe such a coincidence could exist!”

In truth, the captain didn’t believe it was a coincidence either, but the wolves had indeed killed each other, and the broken bridge had been washed downstream for a kilometer, the cross-section severely worn, making it impossible to tell if it was man-made.

But since his master had given the order, even knowing it wouldn’t reveal anything, they had to investigate.

When the Empress Dowager returned from the broken bridge, the eunuchs had already set up camp, and now, small snowflakes began to fall.

In this desolate wilderness, there were no inns or villages; everything the Empress Dowager had was what she had brought with her. However, to speed up her journey, she had instructed those preparing the supplies not to carry too much.

So, once inside the camp, although the things inside were the same as those from the previous two days, everything looked unpleasant to her!

“Good fortune!” the Empress Dowager growled, and soon Youfu entered, his temples completely wet, a few thin snowflakes clinging to his hat, quickly melting away.

As soon as Youfu entered the tent, he knelt down. “Does Your Majesty wish for hot water? Or a heater?”

“I am neither thirsty nor cold!” The Empress Dowager frowned, slamming down her teacup. “But look at the furnishings in this tent! It’s so shabby; there’s not even a basic incense burner. Do you even consider me your Empress Dowager anymore?”

When the ruler was displeased, he naturally took it out on his servants.

Youfu didn’t dare utter a word in reply. “It was your servants’ fault for not arranging things properly. We’ll go and arrange it for you right away. Please wait a moment; we’ve already sent someone to Xiling to fetch it.”

Half of the Empress Dowager’s belongings remained in the palace, while the other half were taken to Xiling. She felt she would soon return to the palace, so there was no need to take everything.

Upon hearing that he would have to retrieve them from Xiling, the Empress Dowager cursed them as useless, but then, realizing he indeed needed to go, she dismissed Youfu. She glanced around the tent, her chest tightening.

~

After Pei Que and the other two had stayed in the side hall for a while, until it began to snow, Xiao Dezi entered, speaking softly, “Ministers, you should all go back today. His Majesty is furious; he won’t listen to anyone right now.”

Duke Cheng remained seated, his attitude unyielding.

Minister Xu glanced around, seeing Duke Cheng’s stubborn refusal to speak and Pei Que’s indifferent expression, and he finally spoke, “Please trouble Eunuch Dezi to tell His Majesty that it’s still early; he can calm down slowly. We’ll sit here and wait for him to calm down before we go over.”

Xiao Dezi looked troubled. “Minister Xu, you know His Majesty’s temperament. At this point, it would be better to go back first. We can talk about it tomorrow; it’s the same.”

Minister Xu did know that the Emperor was prone to stubbornness at this time, but waiting here until tomorrow was completely different from waiting at home.

“Thank you for your advice, Eunuch Dezi, but as his subjects, we should do our utmost for His Majesty and dare not slack off for even a moment.” After saying this, Minister Xu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and indicated that he would say no more.

Xiao Dezi had been in the palace since he was five. He could glean several layers of meaning from even the smallest gestures of others, so when he saw Minister Xu drinking tea, he immediately understood. Turning to look at the other two, seeing that they showed no intention of speaking, he could only lower his head and leave.

Back in Renzheng Hall, the Emperor sat on the floor tiles, surrounded by torn memorials and books.

“Well, have they all left?”

Xiao Dezi knelt and shook his head. “The three officials said it was still early and they weren’t in a hurry to go back. They also said that it was their fault for angering you, and they would wait for you in the side hall until you calmed down before returning. Your Majesty, why don’t you see them?”

“See what?” Hearing that Pei Que and the others hadn’t left, the Emperor’s recently calmed emotions surged again. “They all know I’m angry because of them, yet they still won’t leave. They clearly don’t respect me!”

The Emperor made up his mind; he would not take the initiative to back down.

“Go tell the people in the side hall not to give them food or water. I want to see how long they can hold out!” the Emperor sneered.

Xiao Dezi was alarmed. “Isn’t that a bad idea? Duke Cheng and Minister Xu are old. If something happens to them, the people will gossip. If you’re unhappy, just leave them hanging. Just enduring this is enough to make them suffer.”

The Emperor, being young, immediately backed down after Xiao Dezi’s words. “Fine, let them wait then.”

But even so, two hours later, it was the Emperor who was starting to feel the strain.

Because three people were blocking the way outside, the Emperor couldn’t leave Renzheng Hall and had to keep the doors and windows closed.

But he was restless by nature, and after most of the day had passed, the three people in the side hall still hadn’t made a move.

He simply couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Xiao Dezi, go check on Pei Que and the other two. If they’re still here, quickly send them away. I need to check on the Empress Dowager’s palace,” the Emperor said, standing up and pacing around.

Xiao Dezi didn’t want to go, but his master had ordered him, so he had no choice but to go.

In the side hall, Pei Que had finished his official duties for the day and was engrossed in a book.

Duke Cheng was resting with his eyes closed, and Minister Xu didn’t seem impatient either, also sitting and reading.

When Xiao Dezi entered, he silently sighed for his master. The three in the side hall were all shrewd individuals; how could the Emperor, only a teenager, possibly outmaneuver them?