On the way back to the palace, Ling Buyi restrained himself again and again on horseback, but finally couldn’t help entering Shaoshang’s carriage to check her injuries.

Ignoring the girl’s struggling protests, he cupped her small face and turned it side to side examining it twice—her forehead was swollen, her chin had some scraped skin, but none compared to the bruises on her neck from being strangled. Rolling up her robe sleeves, both elbows had knocked-out bruises, both palms had many scrapes along the edges. Who knew what her legs looked like…

“Hey hey, enough already! Stop!” Shaoshang covered her collar with one hand while pressing down her skirt and pants legs with the other. “When we get back I’ll have Nanny Zhai look. We’re still on the road!” If she didn’t stop him, he’d start stripping her clothes off.

Ling Buyi looked at her for a long time: “…You really won’t go home first?”

Shaoshang’s young face took on a world-weary expression: “In this world, probably only the Empress won’t scold me. Looking like this going home, Father, Mother, and all three brothers could nag me for half a month! Aih, better go hide at Changqiu Palace first.”

Ling Buyi snorted: “So you do know fear. It’s because I usually don’t lecture you enough that you’ve become so recklessly bold!” Having said that, he still got off the carriage and rode his horse to Liang Wuji’s side.

Dismounting to enter the palace, Liang and Ling went straight to the Imperial Secretariat. Hearing it was his adopted son and Liang Wuji requesting audience, the Emperor immediately dismissed everyone around him. After hearing his adopted son briefly recount the incident at the Liang residence, the Emperor looked at Liang Wuji kneeling below and said coldly: “You have great audacity! Zicheng said to capture Liang Xia alive, yet you dared shoot him dead with one arrow!”

Liang Wuji kowtowed, not daring to argue.

The Emperor grew angrier, saying loudly: “Were you afraid of what Zicheng might interrogate out of Liang Xia?! What decisive action! I hadn’t noticed before that Minister Liang could be so ruthlessly resolute…”

“Your Majesty!” Liang Wuji called out mournfully.

“Your Majesty.” He softened his tone, voice low and deep. “My Hedong Liang clan was originally prosperous with many branches. Not to mention uncles and cousins—just my grandfather’s generation had eight sons and six daughters. Though my father died young, my uncle still had many siblings. But when heaven wishes to destroy someone, it first indulges them with small blessings. From when Emperor Li gained power in court, the Liang family began gradually losing descendants…”

“First came over ten years of struggle with the Qu family with countless deaths and injuries, then implication in the case of Emperor Li and the Crown Prince, afterward constantly suffering court harassment and sidelong glances. Then when the realm fell into chaos with heroes rising everywhere, how could the Liang family remain unscathed? When this subject took the family head position, there were hardly any usable kinsmen around me—three uncles died before marrying and having children, two uncles and their sons all perished together on the battlefield, other cousins either disabled by torture in prison or weak and died young.”

The Hedong Liang clan’s illustrious nearly hundred years of glory and prominence—hearing they’d fallen to such a state, the Emperor couldn’t help feeling compassion.

“That year this subject came before Your Majesty with slight merit. Your Majesty even joked with me, asking why I didn’t request rewards for siblings and nephews. I had suffering with nowhere to speak. Where was I indifferent to worldly desires? The truth is… the truth is…”

Liang Wuji wept, his body trembling as he prostrated on the steps. “The truth is the family no longer had any useful young and able-bodied men!”

The Emperor sighed deeply, stroking his knee as he sat back: “Rise first. Sit and speak properly.”

Liang Wuji obeyed the decree, rising to kneel and sit, wiping tears before saying seriously: “Your Majesty, does this subject not know both Liang Shang and Liang Xia were mediocre and incompetent? In the past, such specimens wouldn’t even be worthy of managing estates and fields! But what choice did I have? I’m already nearly fifty, can only endure like this, hoping the next generation produces some capable children…”

The Emperor sighed faintly. Why do people always love having many descendants? Because the more descendants, the higher the possibility of producing talented ones. Like the Liang clan with thousands of acres but only a few stalks of grain—there’s nothing to choose from. Thinking of this, the Emperor looked at his adopted son rather mysteriously.

When he first learned his adopted son liked the Cheng family’s younger daughter, he’d had people investigate. The Cheng family’s status and reputation couldn’t satisfy him, but hearing the girl’s mother Madam Xiao was highly fertile, the Emperor hesitated.

Madam Xiao had campaigned with the army for years and still gave birth to four sons, each raised robust and healthy. Madam Xiao’s mother needn’t be mentioned—reportedly bore seven or eight sons. They say daughters follow their mothers… Mm, this was quite good.

Ling Buyi was inexplicably looked at and felt strange, finding his adoptive father’s gaze somewhat eerie.

“I know the Liang clan’s suffering.” The Emperor said impassively. “What does this have to do with the current case? The Crown Prince was implicated for no reason, got a whole body of filth—shouldn’t Liang Xia be captured for thorough interrogation?! You were quite something—one arrow killed him, ending it all. Could you have secretly conspired in this matter?!”

“Your Majesty’s sagely illumination—what benefit would secretly plotting this bring this subject?” Liang Wuji smiled bitterly. “The Liang clan has no successors. Avoiding trouble and keeping a low profile isn’t enough—how would we deliberately step into the whirlpool? Your Majesty…” He suddenly lowered his voice. “Truly investigating this matter—though the Liang clan bears the brunt, for the overall situation, it may not be a good thing either…”

The Emperor turned his head and closed his eyes, waving his hand: “I understand. You may withdraw first.”

Liang Wuji knew the Emperor was a perceptive person. Some words need only be hinted at. He immediately thanked the grace and withdrew.

When the hall was empty, the Emperor glared at his adopted son without good humor: “Is this how you handle matters? Watching helplessly as Liang Wuji silenced Liang Xia. At that time you only cared about Shaoshang—otherwise you would have noticed when Liang Wuji nocked his arrow!”

Though his adoptive father spoke the truth, Ling Buyi certainly wouldn’t obediently admit it, turning the conversation: “Your Majesty, isn’t the current situation actually more appropriate than interrogating Liang Xia?”

The Emperor glared at his adopted son.

Ling Buyi said: “Your Majesty’s original intent was only to clear the Crown Prince’s tarnished name. Today could be called accidentally hitting the mark—making it known to all is better than truly interrogating something out of Liang Xia’s mouth.”

“Speak plainly. Don’t say half and hide half.” The Emperor said.

“Though Qu Lingjun is a Liang family wife, after marrying she didn’t set foot in the capital for ten years. Coming to the capital this time, it’s been only ten days. She doesn’t know the Liang residence’s intricacies, isn’t familiar with capital personnel—how could she hastily devise such a thorough scheme? Though Liang Xia lived in the capital for quite a few years in his youth, observing his character, he doesn’t seem like someone with such cunning. Then, who exactly orchestrated all this behind the scenes—who revealed the news of Madam Qu being beaten by Liang Shang to the Crown Prince, who learned in advance the Crown Prince and Madam Qu would meet at Purple Osmanthus Villa, and who bribed Sun Sheng…”

“Your Majesty, since the incident the day before yesterday, the Liang residence inexplicably lost three house servants—one drowned, one fell to death drunk, one ate poisonous mushrooms by mistake. Purple Osmanthus Villa also lost four or five servants. Sun Sheng is now in this subject’s hands, but if I let him out, I dare wager he won’t live more than a few days either. Nevertheless, if Your Majesty truly wants to get to the bottom of this, finding the person in the shadows isn’t impossible. However, Your Majesty, do you really want to investigate further?”

The Emperor sat motionless. After a long while, as if even the falling leaves outside the hall had frozen mid-air, he finally said: “Go see the Empress and Crown Prince.”

Ling Buyi looked at the Emperor and bowed to withdraw.

…

Smack! A heavy slap struck the Younger Marquis Yue’s face. On his well-maintained cheeks, bright red palm prints rapidly appeared.

The Elder Marquis Yue pointed at his brother cursing lowly: “You ate the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard—daring to secretly do such things!”

“Elder brother, be quieter.” The Middle Marquis Yue walked to the window looking outside uneasily.

The Younger Marquis Yue didn’t even cover his face, instead smiling: “Elder brother needn’t worry. I left not a trace of evidence.”

“Left no traces, yet you killed so many people!” Elder Marquis Yue said.

“That’s misdirection.” Younger Marquis Yue said. “To truly kill everyone involved wouldn’t be just those few. I deliberately killed some and left some precisely for self-protection.”

Elder Marquis Yue looked coldly at his youngest brother.

Younger Marquis Yue smiled: “Does elder brother truly think this was my doing alone? The idea was indeed mine, but many families were involved. Nothing else—could Sun Sheng be bribed in a moment? He’s still a Sun family member. To get evidence of his murder and theft, someone waited in the shadows for five or six years, just to have it available when needed.”

“Why did you do this! His Highness the Crown Prince is an honest and upright gentleman…”

“Why?! Of course for vindication!”

Younger Marquis Yue shouted loudly, anger surging like a tide.

“Lower your voice!” Middle Marquis Yue said quietly. “Must you call out everyone in the residence!”

Younger Marquis Yue ignored his second brother, staring straight at Elder Marquis Yue: “Thirty years! Our Yue family risked life and limb for the Emperor, contributed people and money, placed the lives of the whole clan in his hands—were we desperate then!”

“Seven brothers—only we three remain alive now! As for other clansmen, deaths and injuries countless! Elder brother, go look at the clan in Rao County—how many orphans and widows, all for whose sake! The good Rao County Yue clan, originally prosperous and content—what madness made us follow the Wen clan in rebellion!”

“It was the Emperor’s fine brother who fancied himself a heroic figure, descendant of the High Ancestor, insisting on competing for the realm. In the end before succeeding, he implicated family and siblings being hunted by authorities. It was our Yue family who protected those Wen family women and children who couldn’t escape!”

“And the Huo family.” Middle Marquis Yue interjected. “If not for Huo Chong’s desperate protection, His Majesty would have long…”

Younger Marquis Yue sneered: “I admire Brother Huo Chong—truly sincere and heroic, unmatched and unrivaled. But it was precisely Brother Huo Chong’s death that made me see clearly the Emperor and this world’s affairs.”

“What good did the Huo family’s complete loyalty bring? Pitifully their line is severed—now only a nephew surnamed Ling remains! If His Majesty were truly resolute, he’d have long banished the Ling Yi clan from the capital to appease Huo Junhua. But seeing the Ling family has many marriage connections, is honest and cautious, living with heads tucked in never making a single mistake, his heart softened. He allows the three Ling brothers to bear sons and daughters, branch and spread, broadly forming powerful marriage alliances… After the Emperor’s hundred years, who knows if Ling Buyi will return to the Ling clan!”

“The Emperor is that kind of person! From childhood he could endure, his whole life hoping everyone would be harmonious, close as one family, taking a step back for broader horizons. But matters in this world can’t all go as the Emperor wishes!”

“Blood spilled can’t flow back into the body! Enmity formed can’t easily be reconciled!” Younger Marquis Yue’s expression was sinister, teeth gritted. “More than one or two families among the Jing’ao ministers have blood feuds with King Qian’an’s line!”

“When we first allied, that old thief Qian’an withheld troops, only letting us charge and kill. Hmph, fight then fight—who’s afraid! But we’d clearly agreed beforehand—he deliberately delayed the battle timing, exhausting two Elder Li brothers to death. Uncle Li vomited blood right then and was enraged to death. Later when the old thief Qian’an saw us gradually growing stronger and felt threatened, he deliberately sent us to attack Green Forest strongholds with heavy troops stationed. Hmph, what he secretly did, both elder brothers knew well… The Wang family, Yan family, Taishi family—how many sons and brothers died! But circumstances were stronger than people. With great enemies before us, His Majesty told us to endure, so we could only endure!”

“Don’t speak so nobly. What you resent is that the old King Qian’an killed your sworn brother.” Elder Marquis Yue said.

Younger Marquis Yue made no comment: “In any case, blood feuds are hard to resolve.”

“Finally when His Majesty ascended the throne, the old thief Qian’an couldn’t restrain himself and began plotting rebellion. Fortunately His Majesty wasn’t muddled and had prepared—capturing him in one move. The old thief also committed suicide, his remnants scattered. But—”

Younger Marquis Yue sneered coldly: “He left behind the Empress and Crown Prince! For what purpose—does he think anyone’s fool enough not to guess? Isn’t it just fearing we’d grow too powerful, playing balancing arts?”

Elder Marquis Yue closed his eyes sighing: “Our Yue clan is now also illustrious to the extreme.”

“Sister married him perfectly well, a proper match, but in the blink of an eye became a lesser wife! That was unavoidable then—can’t blame him. But afterward? He wronged sister for twenty years—does he plan to spend his whole life with wife and concubine harmonious? Bah! I’d rather he take other consorts, bear other children, than let the old thief Qian’an’s grandson sit in the heir position! Never mind us—those with blood debts to the Qian’an line, could they peacefully watch the Crown Prince inherit the throne?”

Younger Marquis Yue smiled darkly: “The Crown Prince now seems honest and upright, but knowing people’s faces doesn’t mean knowing hearts. Who knows if he’ll change faces after gaining power? When the time comes and people are knives while we’re fish meat, won’t it be up to others how to dispose of us?”

Elder Marquis Yue turned aside sighing. Middle Marquis Yue sat between the brothers, saying quietly: “Can’t say it like that. Just look at this case—the Crown Prince risked his own reputation to protect Madam Qu. I see he’s not an unfeeling person. After he succeeds, our Yue family may not necessarily be unsafe. Rather it’s the Third Prince—his temperament nothing like His Majesty, fierce and fearless, cold-faced and cold-hearted. Though we’re his maternal uncles… *cough cough*, elder brother even sent our niece to him, yet has the Third Prince ever shown us any courtesy?”

Younger Marquis Yue furrowed his delicate brows: “Actually, in my view, the Third Prince also isn’t the best heir candidate. Best would be those young princes born to sister—young and amiable, close to us too.”

“Outrageous! Heir establishment is a great matter—is it for you to pick and choose! You’re so arrogantly presumptuous—the Yue clan will be ruined in your hands sooner or later!” Elder Marquis Yue flew into a rage, forcefully throwing a bronze wine vessel at his youngest brother, hitting Younger Marquis Yue’s forehead dead-on. Blood immediately flowed profusely.

Middle Marquis Yue cried out and hurried over, producing a handkerchief to press on his brother’s wound.

“Elder brother, rest assured—it won’t be ruined. Can the Emperor determine it was us? He can’t. Why didn’t I personally act but instead created tangled threads and multiple connections? Precisely to guard against this day.” Younger Marquis Yue was very tough, pressing the handkerchief himself. Despite blood covering his face, he didn’t cry out in pain once, still talking and laughing calmly.

“If the Crown Prince truly had a mishap, who immediately benefits isn’t us but the Second Prince. The Empress seems quiet and unassuming but is actually very clear-headed—she ordered the Second Prince early not to leave his residence a single step. But what of it? Can His Majesty be at ease? Can he guarantee the Second Prince’s faction didn’t participate at all? He cannot.”

“If both the Yue and Xuan factions were implicated, wouldn’t Beauty Xu and the Fifth Prince benefit? Can His Majesty not suspect they’re the masterminds behind it all, plotting to profit as the fisherman? He also cannot.”

“The Second Prince broadly befriends noble sons. The Ruyang Prince’s heir privately loves collecting weapons and armor. Beauty Xu secretly bought off Eastern Palace consorts and servants… Truly investigating—no one is clean.”

“So many families with grudges against the Xuan clan, also implicating princes and imperial relatives—His Majesty may admonish for a while but won’t pursue it.”

The room was silent for a long time. Elder Marquis Yue sighed quietly: “His Majesty has peerless talent and wisdom, magnanimous tolerance. That he can’t bring himself to pursue is our fortune. Yet now you exploit this—I’ve wronged His Majesty.”

“Even setting aside ruler-subject righteousness, His Majesty and I share brotherly affection. This time I’ve wronged His Majesty. For the whole Yue clan and for sister and the princes, I cannot hand you over, but I also can’t let you continue this muddle…”

“Tomorrow, return to Rao County to repair the ancestral tombs. In a few years, marry the Fifth Princess.”

“This younger brother respectfully obeys elder brother’s command.” Younger Marquis Yue’s expression didn’t change. “However…”

“We’re all old. The princes are gradually growing up. The tree wishes to be still but the wind won’t stop—this matter isn’t finished yet.”