Homecoming

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Garden.

Inside the pavilion with its bright yellow curtains hanging down, at an octagonal table made of rosewood, sat a man in a yellow robe and a woman in a blue dress.

Wei Yuan and Emperor Yuanjing were about the same age. One had a ruddy complexion and a full head of black hair, while the other had graying temples early and his eyes held the vicissitudes of life.

If men were compared to wine, Emperor Yuanjing would be the most radiant and noble, but in terms of flavor, Wei Yuan would be the most mellow and fragrant.

The two are playing chess.

Emperor Yuanjing looked at the white pieces that Wei Yuan had taken away and sighed:

"After the fall of the Prince of Huai, the northern border lost its pillar of strength, and the barbarians couldn't stir up trouble for a while. But if the Northeast Witch God Cult were to bypass the northern border and enter the pass through Chuzhou, they could be heading straight for the capital—the dragon slayer has arrived!"

As they spoke, Emperor Yuanjing placed his piece. With a crisp sound as the piece struck the board, the situation suddenly shifted, and the white pieces formed a sharp sword, directly threatening the large dragon.

"Tsk, Wei Qing seems a bit distracted while playing chess today."

Wei Yuan's gaze was gentle as he picked up a black stone and said, "The Optimus Prime is too tall and too large to control. If it collapses, it will hurt others and itself even more."

A light, effortless placement of the piece.

The two chatted idly while playing chess. After four or five moves, Emperor Yuanjing said calmly:

"The Crown Prince was assassinated a few days ago, and everyone in the harem is on edge. The Empress has also been quite frightened and hasn't been eating or sleeping well lately, looking haggard. Minister Wei, please catch the assassin as soon as possible so this matter can be over, and the Empress won't have to live in fear anymore."

Wei Yuan glanced at the chessboard, resigned, and slowly exhaled, "Your Majesty's chess skills are becoming increasingly refined."

Then, he stood up, took a few steps back, bowed, and said, "It was my dereliction of duty. I will do my utmost to capture the assassin as soon as possible."

Emperor Yuanjing burst into laughter.

At the same time, the cabinet.

A middle-aged eunuch wearing a python robe, accompanied by two other eunuchs, arrived at the Wenyuan Pavilion to pay his respects to Grand Secretary Wang Zhenwen.

They didn't stay long; after only a quarter of an hour, the head eunuch led two other eunuchs away.

Grand Secretary Wang Zhenwen sat expressionlessly behind his desk, remaining motionless for a long time, like a silent statue.

The following day, at the court assembly, Emperor Yuanjing continued to debate the Chuzhou case with the officials, but the debate was not as intense as the day before, and the entire hall was filled with tension.

Although today's court session still did not conclude, it ended in a relatively peaceful manner.

Zheng Xinghuai, a seasoned official, sensed an unease. He knew that the problem he had worried about yesterday had finally come to pass.

At the court meeting, although the officials still refused to budge, they were no longer as insistent as they had been the day before on convicting the Prince of Zhenbei.

Even when the nobles proposed ways to dispel rumors in the capital and change the opinions of the 20,000 armored soldiers in Chuzhou, some civil officials participated in the discussion under the guise of reprimanding them.

What pained Zheng Xinghuai the most was that Wei Yuan and Wang Zhenwen remained silent throughout the entire process.

After the court session ended, Zheng Xinghuai walked silently. Suddenly, he heard someone call out to him from behind, "Lord Zheng, please wait."

He turned around blankly and saw the Duke of Cao, dressed in his ducal robes, chasing after him with a clear smile on his face.

In Zheng Xinghuai's view, this was the smile of a victor.

"Lord Zheng, you left Chuzhou without permission to come to the capital to file a complaint, thinking you came with great power. Did you ever imagine that this day would come?"

Duke Cao remained calm and said indifferently:

"I'll give you a clear path. Chuzhou City is in dire need of reconstruction, and you are the Provincial Governor of Chuzhou. Now is the time to stay in Chuzhou and rebuild the city. As for matters in the capital, don't meddle."

He turned and glanced at the imperial palace behind him, then added, "This is also His Majesty's intention."

His Majesty means that if you know when to quit while you're ahead, you'll still be the Provincial Governor of Chuzhou. Go back to where you came from. Anyway, Chuzhou is tens of thousands of miles away from the capital, so I'll just ignore you.

"Pooh!"

In response, he was met with Zheng Xinghuai's spittle.

"Ungrateful."

Duke Cao watched Zheng Xinghuai's retreating figure and sneered.

The Nightwatchers's office, the Haoqi Tower.

Wei Yuan was the first person Zheng Xinghuai visited after the court session ended.

Xu Qi'an had been paying close attention to the events in the court today. He was about to go to the post station to find Zheng Xinghuai to inquire about the situation when he heard that Zheng had visited Wei Yuan, so he immediately went to Haoqi Tower.

But they were stopped by the guards downstairs.

"Duke Wei said that no one is allowed to disturb him during his audience. Besides, Duke Wei didn't plan to see you during this time; he's already sent you away several times."

The guard and Xu Qi'an were old acquaintances, so they spoke without any reservations.

Xu Qi'an showed no restraint in hitting the man, slapping him repeatedly on the head while cursing, "You talk too much, you talk too much!"

Seventh floor.

Dressed in a blue robe, with graying temples, Wei Yuan sat cross-legged before the desk.

Opposite him stood Zheng Xinghuai, his back gradually hunched, his hair also turning gray, and his brows furrowed with unresolved melancholy.

"When the Capital Evaluation ended, Lord Zheng returned to the capital to report on his duties, and I met with you there. At that time, although your hair was gray, you were in excellent spirits." Wei Yuan's voice was gentle, and his eyes were full of pity.

When I saw him again, he seemed to have lost his soul; the heavy bags under his eyes and the bloodshot eyes foreshadowed his sleepless nights.

A slightly downturned mouth and a frown between the brows indicate that the other person harbors deep resentment, is unable to calm down, and is unable to express their anger.

"Is Duke Wei also planning to give up?" Zheng Xinghuai asked in a deep voice.

"I admire Xu Qi'an and think he's a natural-born martial artist, but sometimes his temper gives me a headache."

Wei Yuan replied, seemingly off-topic, "I told him that in the treacherous waters of officialdom, one must think thrice: think of danger, think of retreat, and think of change."

Before doing something, you should consider the consequences, understand the advantages and disadvantages, and then weigh whether to do it or not.

"If the overwhelming trend is unstoppable, one must consider retreating and avoiding its sharp edge. Our Emperor has done a good job. Only by retreating and ensuring safety can one think about how to change the situation."

"That brat Xu Qi'an replied, 'I understand all these principles, but I don't care. Ha, what a crude brute.'"

Zheng Xinghuai recalled what Xu Yinluo had said in the cave: knowing that the Prince of Zhenbei was powerful, he still went to Chuzhou to investigate the case. A smile appeared on his usually stern face.

"The fact that Duke Wei used the word 'vulgar' precisely shows that Duke Wei was helpless against him."

Zheng Xinghuai understood the meaning behind Wei Yuan's words, but like Xu Qi'an, he had his own bottom line that he would never back down from.

He went downstairs alone and saw Xu Qi'an waiting downstairs.

"Lord Zheng, I'll escort you back to the post station." Xu Qi'an greeted him.

"I will not return to the post station." Zheng Xinghuai shook his head, looking at him with a complicated expression. "I'm sorry to disappoint Xu Yinluo."

Xu Qi'an's heart sank.

The two left the yamen in silence, got into the carriage, and Baili Shentu, acting as the driver, drove away.

During the journey, Zheng Xinghuai described the whole story of the day in court, pointing out that the officials' attitudes were ambiguous and their positions had subtly changed.

"Duke Wei shouldn't do that. If he's in that position, he can easily plan for what he wants without going against his conscience and pandering to His Majesty."

Xu Qi'an frowned deeply, puzzled by this.

"It's difficult for Duke Wei," Zheng Xinghuai explained on Wei Yuan's behalf, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"There is a distinction between ruler and subject. As long as Your Majesty does not infringe upon the interests of the vast majority of people, no one in the court can rival him."

"Duke Wei said to think thrice. Why doesn't Lord Zheng consider it? Let's avoid the limelight for now. The Prince of Huai is dead, and the people of Chuzhou have already avenged themselves," Xu Qi'an advised.

Lord Zheng was a good official, and he did not want such a person to end up in a miserable state, just like when he was in Yunzhou, single-handedly defending Governor Zhang against the rebel army.

There were no rebels this time, and the struggle took place in the imperial court. Xu Qi'an couldn't possibly rush into the palace with a knife and wreak havoc, so he didn't play a role.

We can only advise Lord Zheng to reconsider.

Zheng Xinghuai looked at him and asked, "Are you willing to accept this? Are you willing to watch an executioner like the Prince of Huai become a hero, be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and have your name go down in history?"

Xu Qi'an did not answer, but Zheng Xinghuai saw resentment in the young man's eyes.

Then he smiled with satisfaction.

"I am a second-rank provincial governor, but more importantly, I am a scholar. A scholar only seeks to have a clear conscience, to be worthy of himself, and even more so, to be worthy of the parents who worked so hard to raise you."

They remained silent the entire way.

After a long while, the carriage stopped by the roadside. Shentu Baili whispered, "My lord, we've arrived."

Xu Qi'an lifted the curtain, and the carriage stopped in front of an extremely grand courtyard. The plaque above the gate read: Wenyuan Pavilion.

Cabinet!

Zheng Xinghuai jumped down from the carriage and said to the guards at the door, "I am Zheng Xinghuai, the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Chuzhou, and I request an audience with Chief Minister Wang."

Seeing this, Xu Qi'an understood Zheng Xinghuai's plan: he wanted to act as an advocate, persuading the officials to bring them back to his side.

The guard entered the cabinet to report, and after a moment, strode back, saying in a deep voice:

"The Grand Secretary said that since Lord Zheng is the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Chuzhou, one should not visit him, whether during his duty hours or after his duty has ended, lest one be impeached on the grounds of forming a faction."

Zheng Xinghuai left in disappointment.

The following day, Xu Qi'an watched him run around trying to persuade others, only to be met with setbacks everywhere. At dusk, he returned to the post station dejectedly.

Xu Xinnian returned home after finishing his shift, he couldn't find his elder brother. He wandered around the courtyard for a while before hearing someone on the roof call out, "Your elder brother is here."

That was the melodious voice of a young woman.

Looking up, he saw it was Li Miaozhen, the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect. She stood on the eaves, looking down at him expressionlessly. Just by looking at her face, he could tell that something was wrong with her.

When Xu Erlang brought the ladder, he found that Li Miaozhen was no longer there. His elder brother was lying on the roof ridge with a grass root in his mouth, his hands behind his head, and his Erlang crossed.

The incomparably handsome Xu Xinnian, holding the hem of his official robe, climbed up the stairs to the roof ridge.

"What are you doing up here?" Xu Qi'an said irritably, "One annoying woman left, and now you're here to bother me again."

"Master Li doesn't seem too happy." Xu Erlang said calmly as he sat down next to his elder brother.

"Of course she's unhappy. If she had the strength, she'd want to storm the palace by dawn."

Why wait until 5 AM?

"Because she thinks the court is full of beasts who should all be killed, so she wants to wait until dawn to hold court and kill them all," Xu Qi'an said irritably.

Upon hearing this, Xu Erlang shrank back, saying, "Luckily, I'm just a junior scholar."

Xu Qi'an couldn't help but laugh, then sighed:

"Tianzong cultivates the Supreme Detachment of Emotions. Perhaps, when she truly possesses that power in the future, she will no longer be the Flying Swallow Heroine of yesteryear. That's life; eight or nine out of ten things don't go as planned."

"Big Brother seems to have become more composed," Xu Erlang said with relief.

"It's not calmness, it's just that I'm a little tired, a little disappointed." Xu Qi'an murmured, his hands behind his head, gazing at the fading twilight sky.

Is it really that hard to admit a mistake and apologize?

Xu Erlang turned his head, glanced at him, then turned his gaze to the azure sky and said:

"I am already aware of the affairs of the court. I came up here to talk to my elder brother. Although the court has not yet reached a conclusion on the massacre of the city by the Prince of Zhenbei, the matter has caused a great uproar in the capital and is already a foregone conclusion. It will not be so easy to reverse the situation."

"Even if the imperial court forcibly portrays the Prince of Zhenbei as a hero, this matter will leave hidden dangers. When people talk about this, they will never forget the massacre of the city by the Prince of Zhenbei that initially shocked them so much. This is the key to overturning the verdict in the future."

As Xu Qi'an raised an eyebrow, he instantly recalled many cases from his past life.

Many loyal ministers and generals who died unjustly were eventually exonerated, while the once-glorious treacherous officials finally received their due punishment.

The most famous of them is Qin Hui.

The bronze statues of this notorious traitor and his wife still stand in a famous scenic spot, despised by later generations.

To what extent is she despised? -- Qin Hui's wife, Jia Nailiang.

When Duke Wei told Zheng Xinghuai to reconsider, was he perhaps thinking the same thing? Lord Zheng is blinded by anger and hatred, and his emotions are bound to be extreme; he might not understand Duke Wei's meaning. Hmm, I'll remind him tomorrow.

A wise man takes his revenge even after ten years. Since the situation is beyond our control, we should just endure it.

My Erlang is indeed worthy of being a prime minister; his intelligence is no less than that of Duke Wei. Xu Qi'an sat up with satisfaction and put his arm around Xu Erlang's shoulder.

Xu Erlang shoved him in disgust.

The Imperial Palace.

Inside the lavishly furnished imperial bedchamber, Emperor Yuanjing leaned against a soft couch, studying Daoist scriptures, and casually asked, "What's been happening with the cabinet lately?"

The old eunuch whispered, "The Grand Secretary hasn't received any guests lately."

Emperor Yuanjing nodded in satisfaction. "And Wei Yuan?"

"After the court session the day before yesterday, Provincial Governor Zheng went to the Nightwatchers's office, where he met with Duke Wei. After that, the two had no further contact," the old eunuch reported truthfully.

"Wei Yuan and Chief Minister Wang are both incredibly clever, but Wei Yuan disregards me even more." Emperor Yuanjing wasn't angry. He turned a page, stared intently for a while, and then his expression suddenly turned cold:

Where is Zheng Xinghuai?

"These past few days, Lord Zheng has been running around trying to persuade the officials, but not many are willing to see him. The officials are all watching and waiting. So he changed his mind and went to the Imperial Academy to seduce the students," the old eunuch whispered.

Emperor Yuanjing smiled, but his eyes held no mirth, only a chilling glint.

On the morning of May 12th, eight days had passed since the body of the Prince of Zhenbei was transported back to the capital.

The imperial court never posted an official announcement regarding the conviction of the Prince of Zhenbei.

The people of the capital are not in a hurry. As residents living under the emperor's nose, they have even seen cases drag on for several years, and tax reduction decrees that have been circulating for years and are still circulating now, and will probably continue to circulate indefinitely.

Although there's no rush, the hype is still there and hasn't cooled down.

After meals, the people of the capital would habitually bring up the Prince of Zhenbei once, twice, or even three times.

Early that morning, a group of uninvited guests arrived in the capital.

Thirty horsemen charged through the city gate, passed through the outer city, and stopped at the gate of the inner city.

The leader had a handsome face, but was blind in one eye; he was none other than Que Yongxiu, the commander of Chuzhou.

The Duke of Protectorate was dressed in tattered armor, his hair was disheveled, and he looked travel-worn.

The same was true of his companions.

Upon reaching the city gate, Que Yongxiu abandoned his horse and entered the city on foot. He took out a blood-written letter from his robes, held it in his palm, and shouted:

"I am Que Yongxiu, the Commander-in-Chief of Chuzhou and the Duke of Protector of the Nation. I hereby accuse Zheng Xinghuai, the Provincial Governor of Chuzhou, of colluding with barbarians to kill the Prince of Zhenbei and the 380,000 people of Chuzhou City."

"Afterwards, Zheng Xinghuai deceived the delegation, pursued and killed me, and in order to cover up the fact that he colluded with the demons and barbarians, he falsely accused the Prince of Zhenbei of massacring the city, a heinous crime."

He walked and talked, attracting the attention of the townspeople who stopped to watch and discuss the matter.

"The Duke of Protectorate? Is that the Duke of Protectorate from Chuzhou? The one who aided and abetted the tyrant in the massacre of the Prince of Zhenbei?"

"Good thing they're back. They've walked right into our trap. Keep a close eye on them and don't let them escape. Let's go to the government office and report this to the authorities."

"Don't panic, listen to him. Provincial Governor Zheng Xinghuai colluded with the barbarians, murdered the Prince of Zhenbei, and deceived the delegation. What exactly happened?"

"Could it be that the Provincial Governor of Chuzhou was the culprit behind the destruction of Chuzhou City?"

Ordinary people are used to hearing these kinds of plot twists, just like storytellers' old tales of loyal officials being framed and then getting a reversal of fortune.

This kind of scenario is all too familiar to them.

"It's definitely fake. The Prince of Zhenbei was the one who ruined Chuzhou City. Have you forgotten? Xu Yinluo was in the delegation. Would Xu Yinluo frame an innocent person? If that so-called Provincial Governor was a traitor, wouldn't Lord Xu have seen through it?"

That makes sense.

The local people wholeheartedly agreed.

During the year of the Capital Evaluation, a series of major cases occurred in the capital. Each time, the presiding official was Xu Qi'an. At that time, he gradually became known to the people from a lowly clerk and became a topic of conversation.

After returning from Yunzhou, his reputation rose to a new level, transforming him from a topic of conversation to a martyr. The real breakthrough came with his battle against the Buddhist School sect. After defeating Buddhist School, he became a hero in the capital. As the imperial gazette was sent to various regions, he was the talk of the town among the people and martial arts practitioners Great Feng Dynasty.

It solidified a tremendous reputation.

The debate between Celestial Person and Man solidified his image and prestige; he resided deep in the minds of the people, in their dreams, in their hearts, and even in their shouts.

Therefore, compared to Que Yongxiu's blood-written letter, the surrounding onlookers were more willing to believe the Chuzhou Provincial Governor who was brought back by Xu Yinluo.

Soon, news spread that Que Yongxiu, the Commander-in-Chief of Chuzhou and Duke of Protector of the Nation, had returned to the capital, carrying a blood-written letter, and had filed a complaint against Zheng Xinghuai, the Provincial Governor of Chuzhou, along the streets.

In an instant, the case of the massacre of Zhenbei Wang became increasingly perplexing.

After the incident, Que Yongxiu was immediately taken to the palace by the Imperial Guards and had a private audience with the Emperor.

Not long after, the emperor summoned all the officials and held a small court assembly in the imperial study.

Emperor Yuanjing sat behind his desk, with civil officials on his left and nobles and members of the imperial family on his right. Before the desk knelt Que Yongxiu, holding a letter written in blood.

"My beloved ministers, take a look at this letter written in blood." Emperor Yuanjing handed the letter to the old eunuch.

The latter respectfully accepted it and passed it on to the imperial family members, and then to the civil officials.

Duke Cao strode forward, indignantly declaring, "Your Majesty, Zheng Xinghuai colluded with the barbarians to murder the Prince of Zhenbei. His crime is heinous and deserves the extermination of his entire clan."

The Vice Minister of Ministry of Rites stepped forward with a frown. "Duke Cao's statement is too arbitrary. Zheng Xinghuai colluded with the barbarians and then killed his entire family?"

One of the princes retorted, "Who can be certain that Zheng Xinghuai and his entire family died in Chuzhou?"

Grand Secretary Zhao Tingfang was furious and said sternly:

"If Zheng Xinghuai colluded with the demons and barbarians, then what about that mysterious expert who killed the Prince of Zhenbei? He specifically named the Prince of Zhenbei and said he massacred the city. The delegation witnessed it firsthand and heard it with their own ears."

Duke Cao sneered, "Who is that mysterious expert? Let him come out and testify for Zheng Xinghuai. How can you believe the words of an unknown Evil Cultivator?"

Right Vice Censor-in-Chief Liu Hong was furious, "It was this so-called Evil Cultivator you spoke of who beheaded the barbarian leader. Duke Cao was meek and subservient before the barbarians, yet he struck with force in the court; what a show of power!"

Before Duke Cao could refute him, Yuan Xiong, the Left Censor-in-Chief, jumped out to argue with his political enemy. "The saying goes, 'Those Non-Self race will surely have different hearts.' Lord Liu, do not forget your place."

Liu Hong sneered, "Non-Self my kind, yet you dare to wield the National Sword?"

"Enough!"

Suddenly, Emperor Yuanjing slammed his hand on the table, his brows furrowed with anger.

Upon seeing this, Duke Que Yongxiu immediately prostrated himself on the ground and cried, "Your Majesty, please do justice for me, for the Prince of Zhenbei, and for the people of Chuzhou City!"

Emperor Yuanjing nodded slowly. "This case is of great importance, and I will naturally investigate it thoroughly. The three judicial departments will jointly handle this matter, and Duke Cao, you will also participate."

After saying this, he glanced at his attendant beside him and said, "Issue the Duke of Cao a gold token. Go to the post station immediately to arrest Zheng Xinghuai. Anyone who disobeys will be executed first and reported later."

Duke Cao replied excitedly, "Yes, Your Majesty Sagacity."

After leaving the palace, Wei Yuan hurried to catch up with Chief Minister Wang. The two powerful ministers did not ride in a carriage, but walked side by side.

This scene was a sight to behold before everyone's eyes, a sight still worth reminiscing about years later.

"I tried to persuade Zheng Xinghuai, but unfortunately he's stubborn," Wei Yuan said gently, his expression unchanged.

"If he weren't so stubborn, he wouldn't have been sent to the northern frontier by the old prime minister back then," Prime Minister Wang sneered. "What a fool."

It's unclear whether he was criticizing Zheng Xinghuai or himself.

Wei Yuan said calmly, "Last time we almost captured Que Yongxiu in the palace, but he escaped. We searched the whole city the next day, but still couldn't find him. That's when I knew this matter was beyond our control."

Chief Minister Wang calmly said, "It's not necessarily a bad thing. The reason you gentlemen agreed with His Majesty was because the Prince of Zhenbei was dead. Now that Que Yongxiu has returned alive, some people will not agree. This is our opportunity."

Wei Yuan shook his head. "It is precisely because Que Yongxiu has returned that those people have seen hope of 'overturning the case.' As long as they cooperate with His Majesty, this case can be settled. And once it is settled, Que Yongxiu will be a first-class duke, a founding meritorious official, making it difficult to deal with him again."

After a moment of silence, they both asked simultaneously, "Did he threaten you?"

Post station.

A cough came from inside the room. Zheng Xinghuai, dressed in blue casual clothes, sat at the table with his right hand flat on the surface.

A white-robed Warlock was taking his pulse.

After a long while, the white-robed Warlock withdrew his hand and shook his head:

"It's nothing serious, just a bit of medicine and a few days of rest. However, Lord Zheng, you should try to relax, or this illness might come back to haunt you."

Mr. and Mrs. Chen breathed a sigh of relief, then sighed again.

The illness itself is minor and easy to cure; what is difficult to cure is Lord Zheng's mental anguish.

Zheng Xinghuai did not respond to the white-robed Warlock, but cupped his hands in thanks. "Thank you, doctor."

"Don't act like you don't care." The white-robed Warlock of the Bureau of Astronomy were proud and always spoke their minds unless subjected to violence.

"You're not that old. If you're carefree, you can live a few more years. Otherwise, you'll have another serious illness every three to five years. At most, in ten years, I'll be able to visit your grave to offer incense."

Mr. and Mrs. Chen looked unhappy.

Zheng Xinghuai seemed to have witnessed the white-robed Warlock's true colors before, and instead of blaming or getting angry, he asked, "I heard that Xu Yinluo and the Bureau of Astronomy are close friends."

The white-robed Warlock scoffed, "I know what you're up to. Young Master Xu is a VIP in our Bureau of Astronomy. However, if you're thinking of getting an audience with the Director through him, forget it. The Bureau of Astronomy doesn't concern itself with court affairs; that's the rule."

Just as Zheng Xinghuai was about to speak again, the white-robed Warlock added, "Xu Yinluo has already gone to the Bureau of Astronomy to ask for help. If this path is feasible, do you still need to tell me?"

He had already been to the Bureau of Astronomy. Zheng Xinghuai's expression was complicated. Of the delegation returning to the capital, only Xu Yinluo was still working on this matter.

Others, constrained by the situation, chose to remain silent.

As they spoke, hurried footsteps came from downstairs, followed by Zhao Jin's angry roar, "Which government office are you from, daring to trespass on Lord Zheng's residence at the post station?"

Zheng Xinghuai and the others rushed out of the room and happened to see Duke Cao, dressed in military uniform, swinging his scabbard and slapping Zhao Jin hard across the face, breaking half of his teeth.

The Nightwatchers's gong, accompanied by several bronze gong players, rushed out of the room and shouted, "Stop!"

He ordered the gong-bearers to restrain the enraged Zhao Jin, while the silver-gong-bearer glared and warned, "These are the palace guards."

Zhao Jin's face stiffened.

Yinluo took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and said, "Duke Cao, what brings you here?"

Duke Cao looked at Zheng Xinghuai, who was rushing out of the room, his smile cold, and said, "By order of His Majesty, arrest Zheng Xinghuai and bring him back to the Dali Temple for questioning. Anyone who disobeys will be executed without exception."

"What?!"

The Nightwatchers and Zhao Jin's expressions changed.

Zheng Xinghuai stood tall and fearless, with a clear conscience, and asked, "What crime have I committed?"

Duke Cao was taken aback, his smile turning playful and mocking, "It seems Lord Zheng didn't go out today. Hmm, the Commander of Chuzhou and Duke Protector of the State, Que Yongxiu, has returned to the capital. He has accused you of colluding with the barbarians and causing the deaths of the Prince of Zhenbei and 380,000 people in Chuzhou."

Zheng Xinghuai staggered, his face drained of color.

Huaiqing Prefecture.

The head guard knocked on the door of Princess Huaiqing's study, stepped inside, and presented the note he was holding:

"Your Highness, the information you requested is all here. Lord Zheng has been imprisoned. Furthermore, many people in the capital are spreading rumors that 'Lord Zheng is the one colluding with the barbarians,' and that it is the Duke of Cao's men who are behind this."

Huaiqing listened as he unfolded the note and silently read it.

"I knew Father had a backup plan. Que Yongxiu returned to the capital long ago and has been lying in wait, waiting for his chance. Father ignored the rumors in the capital precisely to wait for this moment. Brilliant."

She waved.

The head guard took his leave.

After the study door closed, Huaiqing, dressed in a plain white dress, walked to the window and quietly looked at the spring scenery outside.

A soft sigh echoed in the study.

The Eastern Palace.

Lin'an ran with her skirt hem lifted, like a cluster of bright flames, her skirt, waist ornament, and ribbons fluttering in the wind.

Six palace maids chased after her, shouting: Your Highness, slow down! Your Highness, slow down!

"Crown Prince, Crown Prince!"

A melodious, bell-like voice echoed from outside into the hall.

The crown prince was in his bedchamber enjoying the company of a pretty palace maid when he heard her shout. His face changed drastically. He hurriedly scrambled off the bed, picked up his clothes from the floor, and quickly put them on.

Fortunately, the eunuchs in the Eastern Palace were sensible and knew that their master was working hard to ensure the continuation of the royal family. They firmly prevented Lin'an from entering the bedroom and invited her to the reception room instead.

As the crown prince straightened his clothes, he entered the reception hall. Upon seeing his younger sister, his expression softened, and he asked gently, "What's the matter that you're in such a hurry?"

Lin'an frowned, her delicate brows furrowed, and her charming peach blossom eyes flashed with anxiety and worry. She said repeatedly, "Crown Prince, I heard that Governor Zheng has been arrested by Father's men."

The crown prince paused for a moment, then nodded. "I know."

Having served as the crown prince for so many years, he naturally possessed considerable experience and was well-versed in the affairs of the court.

Lin'an asked furtively, "Father, he... he misses Lord Zheng, doesn't he?"

After dismissing the eunuchs and palace maids, leaving only the brother and sister in the hall, the crown prince nodded in affirmation.

Her bright, peach-blossom eyes dimmed, and Lin'an whispered, "The Prince of Huai massacred the city, killing 380,000 innocent people. Why is Father Emperor covering for him, even going so far as to frame Lord Zheng for it?"

This concerns the royal family's reputation; there can be absolutely no compromise. The Crown Prince intended to say this, but seeing his sister's downcast mood, he sighed and patted her on the shoulder.

"You're a young woman, don't worry about these things. Why don't you learn from Huaiqing? You shouldn't have gone back to the palace."

Lin'an hung her head, like a disappointed little girl.

The Crown Prince still felt sorry for his younger sister. He held her delicate shoulders and said in a deep voice, "Father liked you because you had a sweet tongue and because you never interfered in court affairs. Why have you changed now?"

Lin'an said weakly, "Because Xu Qi'an's position is getting higher and higher."

The crown prince's expression changed, revealing anger. "Did he encourage you to enter the palace?"

"No." Lin'an pouted, looking aggrieved, and said, "I... I don't dare to see him, I'm too ashamed to face him."

The Prince of Huai is her own uncle. He committed such atrocities in Chuzhou. As a member of the royal family, how can she completely absolve herself of any responsibility?

Her guilt over the 300,000 innocent souls made her feel ashamed to face Xu Qi'an.

She even gave up on herself, thinking she would never get better.

"So, you came to see me today hoping I'd plead with Father Emperor, right?" The Crown Prince led her to sit down again, and seeing his younger sister peck his head, he shook his head and chuckled.

"Father won't even see you, how could he possibly see me? In Lin'an, there's no right or wrong in officialdom, only gains and losses. Putting aside whether my intervention would be of any use, I am the Crown Prince, and I must stand with the imperial family and nobles."

"You're just a girl, nobody cares what you do. If you were a prince, based on your actions the other day, you'd already be out of the running for the throne."

Lin'an said with a sad expression, "But, killing so many people must have a price to pay. Otherwise, who will still believe in the laws of our Great Feng? I heard from Huaiqing that the one who killed for the Prince of Huai was the Duke of Huguo."

"He killed so many people, and Father still wants to protect him. I'm very unhappy."

Silly sister, beneath Father's dragon throne lies a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

Such things happened frequently in the past, are still common now, and will continue to happen in the future. No one can change that.

Including Xu Qi'an, the one you like.

The crown prince shook his head helplessly.

Dali Temple, prison.

In early summer, the air in the prison cell reeked of decay, a mixture of the smells of prisoners urinating and defecating indiscriminately, and the stench of rotting food.

The stuffy, murky air made me nauseous.

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, carrying two jugs of wine and a bag of beef, entered the prison. He walked slowly to the cell where Zheng Xinghuai was imprisoned, and without any regard for the filthy name of the place, he plopped down on the ground.

"Lord Zheng, I'd like to invite you for a drink." The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review smiled.

Zheng Xinghuai, his hands and feet bound in shackles, walked to the fence, scrutinized the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and said, "You don't look well."

"What's wrong? You have a rosy complexion and feel relaxed all over."

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review unwrapped the paper and shared the food with Zheng Xinghuai. While eating, he suddenly said, "After this matter is over, I will retire and return to my hometown."

Zheng Xinghuai glanced at him and nodded. "Very good."

After finishing the meat and wine, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review rose and bowed deeply to Zheng Xinghuai: "Thank you, Lord Zheng."

He didn't explain and just walked away.

Thank you for helping me regain my conscience.

As soon as Fang Fu stepped out of the dungeon, the Dali Temple official saw a group of people walking towards him. The two people standing side by side at the front were Duke Cao and Duke Huguo Que Yongxiu.

What are they doing here? Why should the Duke of Huguo, a key figure in the case, be detained?

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review glanced at them and noticed the attendants behind them. Was the arrest of the two men accompanied by their own entourage?

"Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, we meet again."

Que Yongxiu greeted him with a smile, looked him up and down, and clicked his tongue in amazement:

"So you're just a sixth-rank official. When I was in Chuzhou, I thought you were a first-rank official, all high and mighty, daring to question even me."

Suppressing his anger, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review asked in a deep voice, "What brings you to the Court of Judicial Review?"

"Of course, it's for interrogating the prisoner." Que Yongxiu revealed a mocking smile, "By His Majesty's decree, the prisoner Zheng Xinghuai is to be interrogated. During this time, no one is allowed to enter the dungeon; those who violate this rule will be punished as accomplices."

After saying this, the two dukes went into the dungeon side by side, and their attendants closed and locked the dungeon door from the inside.

They wanted to kill him to silence him. The thought flashed through the mind of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and he was struck dumb.

His instinct was to seek help from the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, but the fact that two dukes dared to come here was enough to show that the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review knew about the matter and tacitly approved it.

Because the two dukes were acting on His Majesty's orders.

"They intend to kill him to silence him, then fake it as a suicide out of guilt, thus announcing it to the world. In this way, the anger towards the Prince of Huai will be transferred to Zheng Xinghuai."

"This is much simpler and more easily accepted by the people than overturning the previous statement and forcibly exonerating the Prince of Huai. His Majesty... he has no intention of holding a trial at all; he wants to catch the officials off guard and leave them with no choice."

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review hurried away, his pace quickening until he was running wildly, rushing towards the stables of the yamen.

He had only one thought in his mind: to find Xu Qi'an.

Only the stinking stone in this latrine could stop the Duke of Protectorate and the Duke of Cao; only he could be so enraged by the beliefs in his heart.

Duke Cao covered his mouth and nose, frowning as he walked through the passageway between the dungeons.

"What's this little bit of stench, Duke Cao? You haven't led troops in far too long," the one-eyed Que Yongxiu chuckled.

"Enough with the nonsense, get this done and get out of here, or things might get complicated." Duke Cao waved his hand.

The two stopped in front of Zheng Xinghuai's cell. Que Yongxiu glanced at the wine jug and greased paper on the ground and scoffed, "Lord Zheng, you're living quite well, aren't you?"

Zheng Xinghuai's eyes instantly turned red. Dragging his shackles, he rushed out, roaring like a lion, "Que Yongxiu, you beast!"

Que Yongxiu wasn't angry. He smiled and said, "I am a beast, a beast who will slaughter your entire family. Zheng Xinghuai, it was only because you escaped by chance that so much trouble followed. Today, I've come to reunite your family."

Zheng Xinghuai roared and howled, his mind filled with images of his grandson impaled on a spear, his son nailed to the ground, and his wife and daughter-in-law hacked to death.

The people of Chuzhou fell to the ground amidst arrows; human life was as worthless as grass.

The scenes were vivid and clear, making his soul tremble and wail.

Que Yongxiu laughed heartily, bending over with laughter.

Duke Cao sneered from the side and said:

"These past few days you've been running around causing trouble, and His Majesty has long since reached his limit. If you weren't still somewhat useful, you would have died a quiet death long ago. Zheng Xinghuai, you're still not smart enough. If you could think carefully about everything that happened in Chuzhou, you would know who you really have to face."

Zheng Xinghuai froze abruptly, as if he had been struck on the head with a club.

A few seconds later, the scholar's body began to tremble, trembling incessantly.

"Why did he do this? Why did he do this? Those were his people!"

He lowered his head and never raised it again.

This scholar's backbone is broken.

Que Yongxiu sneered, "Thank Duke Cao, at least you died knowing why."

With that, he stretched out his hand and grinned menacingly, "Give me the white silk ribbon; I want to send him up myself."

One attendant handed over a white silk ribbon, and another opened the cell door.

Que Yongxiu strode in, flicked his wrist, and the white silk ribbon wrapped around Zheng Xinghuai's neck. He pulled it sharply and laughed:

"Zheng Xinghuai, the provincial governor of Chuzhou, colluded with barbarians and massacred 380,000 people. After being exposed by Duke Que Yongxiu, the protector of the country, he hanged himself in prison."

"Is Lord Zheng satisfied with this outcome?"

Zheng Xinghuai was unable to speak; his eyes bulged, his face was flushed, and his tongue was slowly sticking out.

His struggles went from intense to slow, with occasional kicks of his legs. His life was slipping away rapidly, like a candle flickering in the wind.

At this moment, as life was about to come to an end, Zheng Xinghuai's past life flashed through his mind.

A difficult childhood, an aspiring adolescence, a disillusioned youth, and a selfless middle age. In the end, he seemed to return to his small mountain village.

He ran along the dirt road in the village, heading towards home. He had walked this road countless times, but today, for some reason, he felt unusually anxious.

Bang bang bang!

He knocked anxiously on the courtyard gate.

The courtyard gate slowly opened, revealing an ordinary woman standing inside, weathered by life, with a gentle smile.

He breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had found a haven in his life, where he could rest from all his weariness and smile happily.

"Mom, I'm home."

After an unknown amount of time, a loud bang shattered the silence of the dungeon.

The iron door leading to the dungeon was violently kicked open, slamming heavily against the opposite wall, the loud noise echoing through the dungeon corridor.

Xu Qi'an, knife in hand, charged into the dungeon.

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review followed behind him, panting heavily. At his age, even though he usually took good care of his health, the strenuous running still made his lungs feel like they were on fire.

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review chased Xu Qi'an into the passageway and saw him suddenly freeze at the door of a cell.

He stood there, frozen, like a statue.

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review felt a sinking feeling in his heart, and with a sudden burst of strength, he staggered over.

In the gloomy prison cell, a corpse hangs from the bars.

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review sat down heavily on the ground, covered his face, and burst into tears.

P. S.: I've been so tired from writing lately. I used to have some lewd dreams, but now my dreams are full of novels, I'm even brainstorming plots in my dreams. Ugh, it's a long story.

I'd like to ask for your monthly votes.