Near the hour of the ox, Palace Command Commandant Miao Jingzhen stood outside Qinghe Hall blowing in the cold wind, watching snow swirl beyond the eaves in the distance. His heart felt pressed by a massive stone until he could barely breathe. His mind was filled with what his father had told him after returning home from the heaven-worshipping ceremony at Tai’an Hall: “If something happens to me, don’t acknowledge me.”

Miao Jingzhen immediately knelt before Grand Commandant Miao, looking up at him. “Father, what are you planning? At this critical juncture, do you also want to follow Jiang Xianming’s example?!”

“You had Yiyang resign from office, had him and his wife take Mother and leave the capital—it’s not to visit relatives at all, but to avoid disaster, isn’t it?”

Grand Commandant Miao looked at him. After a long while he finally said: “Jingzhen, your younger brother isn’t suited to being an official. I was mistaken initially. Whether civil or military official, he can’t survive in this official world. With his pure nature, who knows when he’d meet his end in all this.”

“Recently, you’ve been delivering the correspondence between Prince Jia and me. You should also know exactly how your uncle truly died.” Grand Commandant Miao mentioned his younger brother who died in his prime, unable to contain himself. “What personal grudge? How could Tan Guangwen have killed Tianning over a personal grudge?”

“Tianning died defending Yongzhou for Great Qi. All these years, you and I both thought he died at Yelu Zhen’s hands. Who could have imagined—the barbarians couldn’t kill him, but instead people from our own Great Qi court killed him!”

Grand Commandant Miao’s eyes grew moist. He laughed with tragic bitterness. “I’ve been a military official for decades. How many battles have I fought for Great Qi? But what did I get in return? The sovereign’s suspicion, my younger brother’s tragic death.”

“I always thought—if General Yujie hadn’t turned traitor, how could Juhan Pass have fallen? How could Yongzhou City have nearly been lost, Tianning die so tragically?”

“But Jingzhen, he didn’t turn traitor.”

All these years, Grand Commandant Miao had harbored indescribably complex feelings toward that youth who had once joined his army. He had truly admired Xu Hexue.

Grand Commandant Miao would never forget the Battle of Danyuan, when he led the Huning Army locked in stalemate with tens of thousands of barbarian troops at Danyuan.

He couldn’t break through the barbarian elite forces blocking the front.

Fifteen-year-old Xu Hexue entered his tent three times, begging for a few hundred cavalry. Grand Commandant Miao wouldn’t permit it, so Xu Hexue stood outside the tent.

On the plateau, the temperature difference between day and night was extreme. The youth stood from daylight to darkness without moving an inch.

“Elder brother, let him try! I think this kid can do it!” Miao Tianning pulled him out of the main tent, pointing at that youth. “Why not let him try once?”

“Try? Can I let a yellow-mouthed child try this casually?!”

Miao Tianzhao’s eyes blazed with fury. “This is war, not child’s play! I’m the general—I must cherish my soldiers’ lives! Let him try—can he guarantee to bring our men back whole and complete?!”

“I can.”

The fire brazier on the wooden rack burned vigorously. That youth’s clear voice fell: “General Miao, if you’ll permit me one attempt, if I lead them out, I will certainly bring them back.”

He was only fifteen.

Miao Tianzhao didn’t know where this youth got such confidence, but he thought of Xu Xian—someone Grand Commandant Miao admired in his heart. And Xu Hexue was Xu Xian’s son.

Miao Tianzhao gave Xu Hexue seven hundred cavalry.

It was these seven hundred cavalry that circled to the rear in a surprise attack, entering as if into an undefended realm, miraculously inflicting losses of two thousand on Danqiu’s rear forces and even capturing Ze Rong alive.

That battle, Miao Tianzhao crushed the barbarian army.

That was the first time he witnessed Xu Hexue’s war talent that didn’t match his age—truly the tiger father has no dog for a son.

“I wronged Tianning—not knowing his true cause of death for so many years. I also wronged Xu Hexue, believing like others that he was a treasonous criminal.”

Grand Commandant Miao had fought at Tai’an Hall, his hair still disheveled, not having anyone arrange it. “They rely on His Majesty’s unwillingness to acknowledge this wrongdoing, which is why they’re so bold and unrestrained. Now they’ve harmed that student surnamed Dong. Over sixty more young men await death in the Yinye Bureau. Even Jiang Xianming and Academician He are imprisoned in the Censorate’s prison… So many people—who among them isn’t someone who dares speak truth? But speaking truth means death.”

“No one can obtain justice for General Yujie Xu Hexue before His Majesty, before the law. Minister Meng has no way. Jiang Xianming has no way. No matter how numerous, how hot the blood—there’s still no way…”

“Everyone is forcing us to drop this case. They’re all watching us, thinking we can’t handle this case!”

“But Jingzhen, I’m someone who’s been on battlefields. I’ve killed so many barbarians I’ve lost count. Would I fear these twisted schemes?”

Grand Commandant Miao gripped Miao Jingzhen’s shoulders. “His Majesty won’t permit me on battlefields to kill enemies anymore anyway. However much prestige I have in the military, that’s how much His Majesty suspects me. But you’re my son. You should know how many years I’ve been stifled. I won’t continue like this!”

“Lotus Flower Sect Deputy Leader Zhang Xin’en—Ge Rang and I used the pretense of amnesty with high office and generous salary to lure him here, then leaked information to Huang Zongyu that Zhang Xin’en entered the city with possible plots. Huang Zongyu has already ordered a curfew tonight—at the hour of the rat, the Palace Command cavalry will conduct a citywide search for Zhang Xin’en.”

“Within the Palace Command cavalry are two battalions of Ge Rang’s former subordinates. We’re going to use tonight’s search for Zhang Xin’en as cover to kill Wu Dai and Pan Youfang!”

“Though we cannot use law to return justice to General Yujie and the Jing’an Army, we must kill these two to comfort General Yujie’s and the thirty thousand Jing’an Army soldiers’ heroic spirits!”

“And Tianning—the Noble Consort is with child. As long as she lives, Wu Dai can’t die. But I must have Wu Dai repay the debt of Tianning’s life!”

“My son, you’ve served at His Majesty’s side for years now. Don’t involve yourself in my affairs. When His Majesty punishes, you personally arrest me. This way you can protect yourself, protect your wife A’Xia. Your mother, younger brother and sister-in-law all depend on you to live.”

Miao Jingzhen’s eyes suddenly reddened. “How can a son arrest you? How can I…”

“Jingzhen, you must do this.”

His father’s voice echoed in his ears. Miao Jingzhen stood dazed before the hall lost in thought, his eyes growing hot again, when he heard the hall door open. He turned his face and saw several eunuchs emerge in a panic.

They quickly headed down the white jade steps. The second door inside Qinghe Hall hadn’t yet closed. Miao Jingzhen faintly heard Emperor Zhengyuan’s angry shout from within: “The elixir! Liang Shenfu!”

His speech seemed somewhat unclear.

Shortly after, medical officers from the Imperial Medical Bureau duty room hurried over. Someone ran so urgently that just reaching the stone steps, they slipped on the wet ground, but dared not delay—they scrambled up and rushed into the hall.

Miao Jingzhen’s heart was uneasy. When palace guards told him to rest in the duty room, he made no sound. One hand gripped his blade hilt tightly.

Several eunuchs came out carrying cleaned-up porcelain shards, hurrying down the steps. Liang Shenfu seemed to be behind the partition screen. Miao Jingzhen couldn’t quite hear what he was saying, so he simply stepped across the hall threshold and approached the screen.

“His Majesty wants the elixir… so…”

A young eunuch inside said in a trembling voice.

“If His Majesty wants it, you dare give it?”

Liang Shenfu spoke sternly. “Now is different from before. This elixir can’t be taken carelessly!”

The elixir could alleviate His Majesty’s head ailment. Miao Jingzhen had seen His Majesty take the elixir before. The elixir refined by True Man Ziyang had always been retrieved from the Daoist palace by the palace guards on duty before the throne.

But thinking carefully, he was suddenly alarmed—recently the palace guards on duty before the throne hadn’t gone to the Daoist palace even once.

“Lord Miao.”

A call suddenly came from outside the hall. Miao Jingzhen turned his head and saw the visitor was actually Rongsheng, a eunuch at Prince Jia’s side, covered in sweat despite the harsh winter.

Miao Jingzhen walked out, had the guards on duty close the hall door, then went with Rongsheng beneath the terrace. “Why did you come?”

“Lord Miao, His Highness said during the day he’d fetch Miss Wu back to the palace, but the palace gates have been locked and he still hasn’t returned. I heard there’s a curfew tonight with rebels being caught outside. This slave is truly worried about His Highness…”

Rongsheng’s sleeves were covered with snow particles. He carelessly wiped sweat from his face. “His Highness was very abnormal after leaving Tai’an Hall today. The more this slave thinks about it, the more wrong it feels. Lord Miao, what do you think His Highness went to do?”

Rongsheng’s heart was very panicked.

“What did His Highness say to you?” Miao Jingzhen immediately asked.

“He said now whoever touches General Yujie’s case must die. He also said that when a person reaches this point, there’s nothing left to lose…”

Rongsheng was now extremely regretful. “He also told this slave to visit Former Consort Li more often at the Southern Suburbs Villa. How did this slave not notice anything wrong then!”

Thinking back now, every word and phrase revealed absolute resolve.

Miao Jingzhen thought of his father’s correspondence with Prince Jia, thought of what his father had said to him at home. He and Vice Commissioner of Military Affairs Ge Rang clearly had no intention of drawing Prince Jia into this affair. They had even concealed it from Minister of the Eastern Secretariat Meng Yunxian.

But from the current situation—

Prince Jia had very likely already become involved.

Miao Jingzhen almost immediately guessed that Prince Jia doing this might be trying to take all responsibility for his father Miao Tianzhao and Ge Rang.

But how could Prince Jia die?

Miao Jingzhen gripped his blade hilt tightly. He realized many people’s life and death were balanced in this one night. But could he truly follow his father’s command, preserve himself wisely, and personally… arrest his own father?

“Your Ladyship! Your Ladyship, please slow down!”

Miao Jingzhen heard such a worried female voice. He suddenly raised his head and saw the Noble Consort being surrounded by numerous palace maids and eunuchs walking up the white jade steps.

The Noble Consort had no way to sleep peacefully. Prince Jia said he’d fetch her niece, but it was already late at night, the palace gates locked, yet she hadn’t even seen Ru’er’s face. This made her heart very uneasy.

Hearing that medical officers from the Imperial Medical Bureau had been summoned again to Qinghe Hall, she hurriedly dressed and rushed over.

“If the Noble Consort enters, the matter of His Highness not returning can’t be explained clearly…” Rongsheng saw this scene and was terribly frightened.

Miao Jingzhen stood motionless, watching as above, Liang Shenfu emerged from within the hall, bowing low to speak with the Noble Consort.

“Rongsheng, you’re Director Han’s godson?”

Miao Jingzhen suddenly spoke.

“Yes.” Though Rongsheng didn’t know why he suddenly asked this, he still answered truthfully.

“Then Steward Liang is also your godfather? Are you close?”

“Without my godfather, this slave often serves before my godgrandfather. Naturally we’re close.”

It was precisely because of this relationship that Han Qing would place him at Prince Jia’s side—only thus could he feel at ease.

“Good.”

Miao Jingzhen nodded, stood straight, his expression solemn. “Rongsheng, listen—Prince Jia definitely went to avenge General Yujie. Now before us lie only two paths: first, Her Ladyship lives, Prince Jia dies; second, Her Ladyship dies, Prince Jia lives.”

Rongsheng was shocked, eyes wide, lips trembling. “Lord Miao…”

“Prince Jia cannot die. Then the Noble Consort absolutely cannot have a chance to turn things around. Now having just the crime of illicit relations isn’t enough, because Minister Huang is still investigating. If he doesn’t investigate clearly, the Noble Consort is still the Noble Consort. So you and I must now make the Noble Consort bear another capital crime.”

These earth-shattering words made Rongsheng’s breathing instantly freeze.

“You don’t dare?”

Miao Jingzhen pressed close to him. “Rongsheng, if we can’t succeed tonight, my entire family must die. And how your godfather Han Qing chose—I need not remind you again, correct?”

“This slave…”

Rongsheng stepped back several paces. In just this moment, he thought of much. If Prince Jia met with trouble and the Noble Consort brought her niece back to the palace, what if Miss Wu changed her mind and explained away the so-called token to protect herself? Then he too could hardly escape death. Not only would he hardly escape death, but because of his relationship with Han Qing and Liang Shenfu, he would implicate them as well…

The Noble Consort wouldn’t spare them.

Moreover, slandering the imperial bloodline was itself an enormous crime.

“What should this slave do?”

Rongsheng’s heart pounded wildly in his chest.

“Let the Noble Consort enter. Besides this, we must also persuade your godgrandfather. Rongsheng, this entire matter depends on him. If he refuses, we all must die.”

Miao Jingzhen said.

“Your Ladyship, His Majesty is sleeping. You’d best not enter. When His Majesty wakes, he’ll see you…” Liang Shenfu bent over, constantly trying to dissuade her. “In this bitter cold, Your Ladyship must take care of your own body!”

“People from the Imperial Medical Bureau have come twice. How is His Majesty exactly? You slaves—who knows if you’re serving with full dedication?”

The Noble Consort’s chest heaved with anger. “I will serve His Majesty! How dare you servants block me!”

Rongsheng first walked up the white jade steps. Seeing Liang Shenfu dispatch several eunuchs who hurried down, he pulled one aside: “What are you going to do?”

“Steward Liang told us to go request Minister Meng and Minister Huang to enter the palace!”

Hearing this, Rongsheng released him. He watched several people rush into the wind and snow. His heart was shocked and suspicious. It wasn’t yet the hour of the tiger. Before the tiger hour, palace gates were locked—they couldn’t be opened except for urgent matters.

But his godgrandfather was actually having people request the two ministers of the Eastern and Western Secretariats into the palace at this time. Rongsheng’s expression tightened. Could it be His Majesty…

He immediately hurried up the steps.

“Your Ladyship, please don’t make things difficult for this slave…”

Liang Shenfu was covered in cold sweat, truly not knowing what to do. Seeing a eunuch approach bent over, he looked carefully: “Rongsheng?”

“This slave pays respects to Your Ladyship.”

Rongsheng first saluted the Noble Consort, then called to Liang Shenfu: “Godgrandfather.”

“Why hasn’t Prince Jia returned to the palace? Where is Ru’er?” The Noble Consort recognized him. Seeing him, she immediately went forward and kicked him.

The ground was slippery. Kicked by her, Rongsheng fell down at once. He hurriedly scrambled up and knelt on the ground. “Your Ladyship, His Highness and Miss Wu must have been delayed by something. When day breaks more, they should return!”

Liang Shenfu couldn’t help Rongsheng up in front of the Noble Consort, but hearing this exchange between the Noble Consort and Rongsheng, he said in shock: “Prince Jia hasn’t returned to the palace?”

“Correct.”

Rongsheng answered. Just as he wondered how to persuade Liang Shenfu to let the Noble Consort enter the hall, he heard Emperor Zhengyuan’s pained groans faintly coming from within the partition screen. The Noble Consort immediately rushed toward the hall regardless: “Your Majesty!”

The palace guards on duty on both sides of the hall door, mindful that the Noble Consort was pregnant, dared not block her. Liang Shenfu was about to step forward when Rongsheng gripped him tightly. Those eunuchs saw the Noble Consort’s imposing manner—pulling out a gold hairpin to press against her own neck—they too dared not block much.

“Oh, Your Ladyship…”

Liang Shenfu saw the Noble Consort throw away the hairpin and push open the partition screen to enter. He turned his head: “Rongsheng! What are you doing!”

“Godgrandfather, quickly come here!”

Rongsheng pulled him into the long corridor inside the hall door, walking to a dimly lit place. “Now something terrible has happened!”

“No matter what terrible thing, it’s not as important as what’s happening right now…”

Liang Shenfu was concerned about His Majesty inside and wanted to hurry in. Who knew Rongsheng would fall to his knees before him with a “thud.” Liang Shenfu was startled: “Rongsheng, what are you doing? Get up quickly!”

“Rongsheng won’t get up.”

Rongsheng kept his head lowered. “Godgrandfather, you don’t know yet—Prince Jia now can’t survive.”

“What?”

Liang Shenfu immediately bent down. “What are you saying?”

“Grandson has wronged Godgrandfather…” Rongsheng’s voice held suppressed sobs.

Liang Shenfu grabbed his lapels. “This old servant told you long ago—even at Prince Jia’s side, you’re still His Majesty’s servant. You absolutely mustn’t get involved in unnecessary troubles. Have you forgotten this old servant’s admonishments?!”

“Godgrandfather, you’re an old hand in the palace. You know that here, how can there be any impartiality…” Rongsheng lowered his voice, sobbing once. “My godfather is thus. I am thus as well.”

“You two…”

Liang Shenfu’s heart was horrified. His fingers suddenly went slack.

“This old servant treated Han Qing and you as my own children and grandchildren.” Liang Shenfu gritted his teeth. “But you two hid things from this old servant. Now you’ve caused trouble and implicated this old servant as well, haven’t you?”

Rongsheng cried until snot and tears flowed. He pressed his lips together without speaking, bowed low, and kowtowed one after another, each sound louder than the last.

Even after going to Yongzhou, Han Qing always sent letters expressing care and concern, not forgetting to send some Yongzhou food and items. And this Rongsheng before him—he was Han Qing’s godson, someone Liang Shenfu had watched grow up. Seeing Rongsheng kowtow until his head broke, Liang Shenfu’s heart softened. He reached to pull him up, but unexpectedly a blade suddenly pressed against his neck.

Liang Shenfu was startled, about to shout, when he saw the person holding the blade was precisely the Palace Command Commandant, Miao Jingzhen.

“Lord Miao, what are you doing? Do you want to rebel?”

Liang Shenfu had served at His Majesty’s side for many years after all—he remained fairly composed.

“Just killing one eunuch doesn’t count as rebellion.”

Miao Jingzhen’s voice was low.

Outside, wind and snow raged. The palace guards on duty outside made no sound. In this narrow corridor within the hall, only these three hid in the darkness.

“Lord Miao, you absolutely mustn’t treat him this way…” Rongsheng was frightened and quickly pleaded.

“I only want to ask Steward Liang two things.”

Miao Jingzhen didn’t lower his blade.

“What?”

“How is His Majesty’s current condition?”

Liang Shenfu closed his mouth and said nothing.

“Godgrandfather, I saw you have them request Minister Huang and Minister Meng. Could it be His Majesty has some problem…” Rongsheng knelt on the ground, pulling at Liang Shenfu’s robe hem.

Liang Shenfu waved away his hand. Miao Jingzhen’s blade pressed closer. Liang Shenfu’s heart panicked. After a long while, he finally spoke: “His Majesty… shows signs of apoplexy.”

If not for this, he wouldn’t be frantically having people request the two ministers of the Eastern and Western Secretariats into the palace.

Since His Majesty had used the medicine of renowned physician Zhang Jian, his health had been far worse than before. This winter was bitterly cold. His Majesty had caught cold several times, and his head ailment kept recurring.

Conducting the heaven-worshipping ceremony at Tai’an Hall for those several hours made His Majesty’s illness suddenly much more severe. Moreover, that Censor Jiang at Tai’an Hall had angered His Majesty to the point of vomiting blood.

Now the situation wasn’t good.

Liang Shenfu was also at a complete loss, not knowing what to do.

Miao Jingzhen had already calculated in his heart. Hearing Liang Shenfu’s words wasn’t too surprising. He asked again: “Then I ask you—given His Majesty’s illness, can he take the elixir?”

At these words, Liang Shenfu’s expression changed dramatically. “You…”

The medicine Zhang Jian used conflicted with the elixir—this was something His Majesty had known long ago. But he still preferred to have his own flesh and blood, even if it meant taking that tiger-wolf medicine.

Having taken Zhang Jian’s medicine, he could never touch even one grain of the elixir again.

“I heard His Majesty’s speech is already somewhat unclear. I might as well tell you—tonight I, Miao Jingzhen, am staking this life on this blade. I’ve already made my choice. Your godson Han Qing made his choice long ago. And this person kneeling before you calling you godgrandfather—what about you?”

Miao Jingzhen pressed the blade against his neck, pushing him against the partition screen. Through the carved gaps in the partition screen, both Liang Shenfu and Miao Jingzhen saw several medical officers inside the hall, the Noble Consort sitting on the bed’s edge.

Miao Jingzhen said coldly:

“Steward Liang, do you know how you should choose?”

Piled snow froze harder, clinging to the eaves tiles, illuminated crystalline by jagged lamplight. At the Meng estate, Jiang Shao wore an outer garment. The steward at her side held a lantern for her as they hurried through the connecting corridor.

The lamp in the study still burned. Jiang Shao pushed open the door and discovered Meng Yunxian had actually fallen asleep slumped over the desk. She walked forward, anxiety in her tone: “Meng Zhuo, wake up quickly! Something’s happened!”

Meng Yunxian was shaken awake by Jiang Shao. His eyes were still moist. He stared dazedly at Jiang Shao before him for a moment before murmuring: “A’Shao?”

Then he suddenly stood up, looking around.

In the room apart from his wife before him and the steward holding the lantern nearby, there was no one else.

“Minister Meng, first take care of yourself. Temporarily set aside my case.”

He suddenly remembered that faint figure, accompanied by these words, gradually transforming into mist and dispersing before his eyes. And he too had lost consciousness in the not-yet-dispersed fog.

“Meng Zhuo, His Highness has met with trouble!”

Jiang Shao didn’t know what he was looking for and had no time to ask. She simply handed him the letter Ge Rang had sent.

Meng Yunxian immediately became much more alert. He received the letter, unfolded it and scanned line by line. His complexion changed: “How could they be so reckless…”

Ge Rang. Miao Tianzhao.

So searching for Zhang Xin’en was false—using this as cover to forcefully kill Pan Youfang and Wu Dai was the truth.

They had concealed this from him completely.

“They… truly don’t want their lives.”

The hand holding the letter trembled. Meng Yunxian let it fall limply.

“This letter says His Highness used his life as threat, forcing Commander Lin from Ge Rang’s Tiger Roar Battalion to personally kill Pan Youfang. Now His Highness wants to bear the heavy crime alone, having them stick to one statement saying His Highness falsely transmitted an imperial edict.”

Jiang Shao’s throat moved. “Lord Ge Rang says to persuade His Highness—he and Miao Tianzhao will accept this crime. He asks you to preserve His Highness’s life.”

Meng Yunxian said nothing.

He suddenly remembered the day Prince Jia defied the edict to return to the capital. Before dawn had fully broken, the two of them sat in this study.

“Last night I encountered someone. He wore a veiled hat. Though I couldn’t see his face clearly, Minister Meng, I don’t know why, but seeing him made me always think of Ziling.”

Prince Jia’s face was covered in tears. “He saved me, urged me to cherish myself. But at that time, hearing him say these things, my heart felt as if being cut by blades.”

“I don’t dare leave. I never dare leave again.”

Prince Jia said chokingly: “Minister Meng, I’ve already thought it through. I don’t want dignity. I can want nothing at all. I’m alone now anyway. Even if I die, I’ll die in the capital.”

It was that very day—

Prince Jia performed three prostrations and nine kowtows, calling out “All wrongs of ten thousand directions rest on this subject alone,” from Imperial Avenue to the Imperial City.

Only now did Meng Yunxian suddenly realize what his phrase “even if I die, I’ll die in the capital” truly meant.

When Prince Jia returned to the capital, he had originally harbored the will to die—for Xu Hexue, for the Jing’an Army.

Since law couldn’t return them their deserved justice, he would seek it himself.

“We can’t wait any longer. Wait a few more decades, and no one in this world will remember or care about his innocence.”

These were the last words Prince Jia said to him before leaving that day.

At this moment, Meng Yunxian deeply grasped the profound meaning of these words.

“Master! Someone from the palace has come!”

A servant hurriedly led a palace eunuch through the snow.

“Minister Meng, please enter the palace quickly!” That eunuch entered the door and said urgently.

“Is it His Majesty’s illness?”

Meng Yunxian estimated it wasn’t yet the hour of the tiger. For this eunuch to leave the palace, there must be urgent matters.

“His Majesty shows signs of apoplexy. Steward Liang ordered us slaves to leave the palace to request you and Minister Huang to enter!” The eunuch bent over, speaking breathlessly.

Apoplexy?

Meng Yunxian’s heart grew stern. He immediately said: “You first drink a bowl of hot tea. I’ll change into official robes and we’ll go.”

“Yes.”

The eunuch bowed his head, turned and was led away.

“What should we do now?” Jiang Shao saw the person leave, went to fetch robes while asking.

“A’Shao.”

But Meng Yunxian didn’t raise his hands to let her dress him.

Jiang Shao raised her head and discovered tears in his eyes.

“I…”

Meng Yunxian’s voice was tight. “I saw Ziling.”

“What… nonsense are you saying?”

Jiang Shao looked at him in shock, but saw the tears in Meng Yunxian’s eyes quickly surge and flow down. He gripped her hand tightly. “He, he is Xu Jing’an. He is Young Master Ni.”

“A person who died—after sixteen years returning to the yang world, yet this yang world still curses him, insults him. But he… again at the frontier, for our Great Qi’s territory, for our Great Qi’s common people, died once more.”

Meng Yunxian’s voice trembled. “A’Shao, sixteen years—no one returned his innocence, no one collected his remains. But he still urged me to temporarily set aside this case. He wants me to live well.”

“In his heart, we who are alive are far more important than him, someone already dead. But we… we have wronged him…”

“Why should we wait? Why continue waiting?”

Meng Yunxian wept uncontrollably.

“If I wait any longer, I’m ashamed to be human!”

Meng Yunxian immediately summoned the steward waiting outside. “You go—have Yinye Bureau Vice Commander Zhou fetch Prince Jia back from Ge Rang.”

The steward responded and turned to leave.

Meng Yunxian crumpled the letter in his hand into a ball. “Now I can only pull Huang Zongyu in with me and do my utmost.”