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The most helpless thing in life is the decline of beauty and the twilight of heroes. Qizong Nongsan is already seventy years old, in poor health, and has entrusted state affairs to his trusted ministers while enduring the torment of illness and living a difficult life.
Although he is the thirty-third Zanpu of Tuguhun, it would not be an exaggeration to call him the founding monarch of the Tuguhun dynasty. During his reign, he led campaigns against Sun Bo and incorporated regions such as Kang and Ando into the territory of the Tubo Kingdom. To the east, the Border adjoins the Tang Empire and the Tuguhun. In the wars waged by the Tang against the Tuguhun, he seized opportunities, becoming the greatest power on the plateau, earning respect from various states in the Western Regions.
Not only that, but he also established political, military, economic, and legal systems for the Tuguhun dynasty. He introduced Buddhism from India and the Tang Empire, and due to his marriage alliance with Wencheng Princess, he brought advanced crafts and calendars from Tang. He even built the Potala Palace for Wencheng Princess on Red Mountain northwest of Lhasa.
Now, although he lives a simple life, he is deeply revered by the people and even deified as a Buddhist king. Despite rarely engaging in ordinary state affairs, when significant matters arise, decision-making power still rests in his hands. At his age and with his energy, it is remarkable that imperial authority remains firmly in his grasp without being usurped by powerful ministers.
This is all thanks to deeply ingrained religious beliefs, which are a result of his promotion of divine right to rule and have further strengthened his confidence in continuing to promote Buddhism.
Today, he must convene a court meeting because this matter is extremely serious; Xu Zhen of the Tang Empire has been brought before the court. If mishandled, it could lead to severe consequences.
Although he is advanced in age, he tends to favor peace rather than conflict, unlike the younger faction within the Court or the warlike Lords among various tribes who believe that their newfound strength allows them to expand their territories at will.
Had it not been for his declining health, Qizong Nongsan would likely have been a proponent of war himself; after all, he dared to intervene in Songzhou—what was one mere envoy from Tang compared to that?
However, he knows that time is short; his son has already died, leaving only an incompetent grandson. Many ministers and Lords harbor ulterior motives. If he offends Tang again, things could turn dire.
As Qizong Nongsan just took his seat, an inner servant came to report that Wencheng Princess requested to attend as an observer. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded lightly. Wencheng Princess emerged from the inner hall; after a brief salute, she sat beside him.
In any country, it seems an ironclad rule that women cannot engage in politics. However, in Tuguhun, the Queen holds significant prestige and can preside over certain public welfare projects—such as constructing Buddhist temples in her name—and guide various forms of civilian production.
Since it was a Tang envoy who had been captured, Wencheng Princess's presence here was natural. Qizong Nongsan did not wish to sour relations with Tang; having Wencheng Princess act as a buffer was just right.
The ministers had already arrived early at Treasure Hall. Lu Dongzan hurried over without even donning his official robes; he was dressed in ordinary attire. Some Lords who held military power were also present. Qizong Nongsan even spotted Qiang Bang Se from Tibetan Nobility!
Qiang Bang Se had previously been a diligent minister but felt dissatisfied due to perceived neglect by Zanpu. Complaining about rewards led him to sow discord between Dalun Shangnang and Qizong Nongsan while secretly inciting Shang Nang with claims that Qizong Nongsan suspected him of rebellion. Alarmed by this news, Shang Nang quickly retreated to his stronghold and ordered his private soldiers to be on guard while secretly preparing for escape.
Qiang Bang Se then approached Qizong Nongsan with reports that Dalun Shangnang was planning rebellion. Startled by this news, Qizong Nongsan hurriedly dispatched someone for a secret investigation and indeed discovered that Shang Nang's stronghold was already mobilizing troops!
Furious, Qizong Nongsan sent troops to eliminate Shang Nang and appointed Qiang Bang Se as the new Great Minister.
Years later, descendants of Shang Nang finally had an opportunity to reveal the truth to Qizong Nongsan in hopes of vindicating their predecessor. However, by then Qizong Nongsan had grown old and could not afford to lose face over this matter; he chose not to expose it further. Citing Qiang Bang Se's old age as a reason, he retained him in a nominal position as Great Minister while allowing him to retreat back to his fiefdom. Yet he knew well that Qiang Bang Se would not let this matter rest easily.
Although he appointed Qiang Bang Se's son Anqiao as one of his avatars, Qizong Nongsan continued to secretly monitor developments within Qiang Bang Se's stronghold and discreetly instructed Lu Dongzan to suppress Qiang Bang Se's military ambitions.
Under such circumstances, Qiang Bang Se's appearance made Qizong Nongsan feel that this incident was no simple case of fire or arson; he was already certain that Xu Zhen could not possibly be behind any arson since this esteemed General of the Guard had no motive whatsoever!
The Xu Zhen was brought into the grand hall by the palace guards. Due to her special status, she did not resist, and as a dignified envoy, she was not bound. Li Mingda followed closely by her side.
The Chief Officer of Lhasa reported the events that had transpired and then quietly stepped aside.
The Xu Zhen wore a bitter yet resigned smile, naturally letting her arms hang down, her palms gently resting together. Li Mingda, having received royal education since childhood, displayed impeccable manners. The two faced each other calmly, their demeanor impressive.
Qizong Nongsan let out a low hum from his throat, the meaning unclear, before his aged and weary voice spoke up: "Grant a seat to the General."
The eunuch bowed and nodded, quickly presenting two cushions. The Xu Zhen cupped her hands in gratitude towards Qizong Nongsan, then adjusted her robe and sat cross-legged.
"What does the General have to say about this?" Qizong Nongsan asked, his eyes half-closed. His Tang Language was soft; although his speech was somewhat slow, his enunciation was clear and precise, indicating he had put considerable effort into understanding Tang culture.
As an envoy of the Heavenly Kingdom, the Xu Zhen represented Tuguhun, which had paid tribute to the Tang Dynasty and accepted its titles. Therefore, there was nothing inappropriate about Qizong Nongsan using Tang Language for discussions.
"Your Majesty," she began, "as the Chief Officer has stated, the Xu Zhen indeed performed blessings at the temple and lit the Holy Fire. However, the incident of fire in the marketplace is unrelated to me. I hope Your Majesty will take note..."
The Xu Zhen spoke with neither humility nor arrogance; she was confident and did not feel the need to defend herself. She merely stated the facts, making it clear that this matter had nothing to do with her.
The ministers and lords present understood well that Zoroastrian temples were not uncommon in Lhasa. Although Buddhism was increasingly popular with followers throughout the region, many still practiced Bon Religion and Zoroastrianism. Qizong Nongsan did not deliberately suppress different faiths; he was known for his inclusiveness.
Everyone present knew that although Zoroastrianism worshipped fire, the places for ritual fires were mostly outdoors with fire prevention measures in place. The likelihood of an accidental fire was minimal. Thus, the claim that the Xu Zhen lighting the Holy Fire caused a major blaze was completely unfounded; moreover, she had no motive for arson.
However, what they needed was not sound reasoning; no matter how flimsy the justification might be, it did not matter to them. They sought an excuse—a spark—to demonstrate their tribe's power to other lords and even to Qizong Nongsan himself in order to secure greater status and benefits for their tribe.
In this regard, the Xu Zhen was merely a scapegoat.
Qizong Nongsan had been on this throne for many years and understood domestic powers well; he was fully aware of the thoughts of those in court. Even if it were not the Xu Zhen but another Tang envoy instead, the outcome would be similar because Tang had a significant influence on Tuguhun's future situation!
"Mm..." Qizong Nongsan responded noncommittally as if acknowledging the Xu Zhen's statement. He then turned his gaze toward the ministers and lords; his expression sharpened as he asked,
"What are your opinions?"
After a brief silence, most eyes turned toward Lu Dongzan. This Great Minister currently controlled most of Tuguhun's internal affairs and held significant influence over future developments.
However, before Lu Dongzan could speak, one person stood up from the cushion and declared loudly: "I believe there are hidden hands behind this incident stirring trouble to frame Tang's envoy and provoke conflict between Tang and our Tuguhun with ulterior motives. I urge Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this matter and identify the true culprit; otherwise, Tuguhun will be in turmoil!"
This person spoke passionately as if pinpointing the essence of the issue at hand with sharp words that struck home. The Xu Zhen couldn't help but glance at him; however, others in court merely furrowed their brows with serious expressions.
Xu Zhen was confused, not understanding why everyone was reacting this way. Lu Dongzan had already taken over the conversation, relaxing his brow and saying, "What Daron Qiao Bang Se said is indeed correct, but the urgent matter at hand is to comfort the casualties and handle the aftermath. We must first stabilize the people to quell the rumors and prevent ignorant citizens from being misled by those with ulterior motives before discussing the investigation..."
Upon hearing the name Qiang Bang Se, Xu Zhenxin felt a tightening in his chest. Although he had already guessed that this was Anqiao's doing, he did not expect Qiang Bang Se to be so straightforward in standing up. It should be noted that Qiang Bang Se was well-known as a pro-war faction; if anyone were to deliberately provoke a conflict with the Tang Dynasty, the pro-war faction would be the most suspicious. What was going on here?
It was precisely this confusion that led many ministers and lords to look at Qiang Bang Se as if they were meeting him for the first time, each showing a puzzled expression.
It must be said that Lu Dongzan was indeed a steady and wise Great Minister. His measures were very appropriate; he considered first calming things down while maintaining the focus of a Great Minister. He prioritized the well-being of the citizens, making it his primary duty to soothe and care for them. He also interrupted Qiang Bang Se's unusual actions, leaving no room for him to continue his argument. On the surface, he even acknowledged Qiang Bang Se's point without rudely contradicting him; in fact, Qiang Bang Se's statement was also indisputable.
The ministers and lords began to show strange expressions. Initially, they found it hard to understand why the pro-war faction's Qiang Bang Se suddenly changed direction, shifting suspicion of the dark plot onto his own faction. Those who had always looked down on Qiang Bang Se and often clashed with him were surprised to find that Lu Dongzan actually agreed with Qiang Bang Se's argument. Gradually, they began to see some clues.
Xu Zhen felt very innocent; she truly was caught in the crossfire. The ministers and lords in the court began to express their opinions, clearly distinguishing between the pro-war faction and the anti-war faction. They were not discussing whether Xu Zhen was the true culprit or whether someone wanted to use this incident as an excuse to go to war with the Tang Dynasty.
Instead, they were discussing how someone wanted to smear the pro-war faction through this incident, attempting to incite a war between the two factions, which absolutely could not be tolerated!
As they condemned the behind-the-scenes instigator who sought to provoke war between the two factions, they hurled insults at each other. It seemed that everyone was unwilling to ignite a war between factions but simultaneously pushed both sides toward an imminent conflict!
This was precisely the situation that the behind-the-scenes instigator wanted to see!
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