Light snow fell over Liyang, the leaden sky like a massive lid pressing heavily down upon the city.

Han Qian, dressed in a blue padded robe, crouched by the pond’s edge where thin ice had formed, watching the koi swimming beneath the frozen surface.

Wang Jun walked in carrying Wencong. Seeing that she had reached the pond’s edge without Han Qian even noticing, she sighed quietly in her heart and used the young child’s small hand to tousle Han Qian’s hair.

“Why did you bring Wencong over yourself? I thought when Wang Yuan brought his family, you’d accompany them through dinner before returning,” Han Qian said with a smile, taking his young son into his arms.

He had spent these past months supervising military operations in the north, only returning to Liyang the previous month. His young son Wencong treated him like a stranger—only in these last two days when held in his arms would the boy not wail loudly, though he still pushed away Han Qian’s stubbled chin with his small hands, struggling to return to Wang Jun’s embrace.

Han Qian deliberately pressed his chin against the child’s hand, letting his stubble gently rub against those tiny fingers.

“My cousin kept hinting he wanted to see you, looking anxious and unsettled the whole time. Watching him made me irritable, so I brought Cong’er back and left Wang Zhe and Huo Xiao to keep them company,” Wang Jun said, watching as Cong’er’s face scrunched up—if Han Qian teased him any longer, the child would start wailing again. She quickly took him back into her arms.

“Those people are still waiting outside?” Han Qian asked.

“Still waiting in the front courtyard. They cornered me earlier and went on at length. When they saw I wasn’t taking the bait, they didn’t press further, though he seems to have sent someone to find Ting’er,” Wang Jun replied.

Han Qian slapped his forehead in frustration, smiling bitterly. “It wasn’t easy for me to make this decision, and they really know how to make things difficult…”

Just as he was about to say more, hearing footsteps outside the courtyard, Han Qian turned his head to see Guo Rong, Gao Shao, Xi Chang, Feng Liao, Old Zhao, and others—those he had previously turned away—now entering with Zhao Ting’er.

Besides Han Laoshan, six other elderly family soldiers who had served the Han family and retired to live out their years in Liyang also came in with imposing momentum, ready to reason with him.

“Han Qian, allow me to rely on my seniority today—immediately send someone to Chaozhou to rescind the order. We’re not talking about eradicating every last one or dismembering them with five horses or executing them by a thousand cuts—just send a pot of poisoned wine for that traitorous empress dowager and those eunuch traitors who murdered the old master to drink, then send the imperial grandson Yang Fen to Jinling afterward. No one in the realm will say you’ve violated Great Chu’s laws—they’ll only praise you for being clear about grudges and gratitude…” Han Laoshan walked over trembling. Though Han Qian indicated someone should bring a chair, the old man wouldn’t sit, his hands and feet shaking as he spoke.

“Did you really issue orders this morning for Huo Li to escort Empress Dowager Xu and Duke Chu Yang Fen to Jinling?” Zhao Ting’er approached and asked quietly.

“You think things aren’t chaotic enough already?” Han Qian glared at Zhao Ting’er.

“Uncle Han came looking for me—seeing him like that, how could I ignore him?” Zhao Ting’er said aggrievedly.

She could understand how difficult this decision had been for Han Qian. These past two days, everyone at Lian Garden had deliberately avoided mentioning the matter, but when Han Laoshan brought these elderly men to find her, she had no way to turn them away.

Han Qian sighed and patiently explained to Han Laoshan: “The revenge for my father’s murder—I dare not forget it. However, Empress Dowager Xu and Zhang Xinchun conspired in rebellion, murdered the late emperor, and slaughtered loyal officials and innocents indiscriminately—all grave crimes. Sending them to Jinling for trial and execution also serves to uphold proper law and illuminate national justice.”

“Though I, Han Laoshan, haven’t been particularly clever my whole life, if you don’t take revenge for your father’s murder now but instead send the traitorous empress dowager and Zhang Xinchun alive to Jinling, what if Shen Yang, Yang Zhitang, and Zheng Yu—those old bastards—make an issue of it, or even deliberately keep them alive? What will you do then? If that happens, everyone between the Huai and Jiang rivers will mock you for lacking filial piety!” Han Laoshan said excitedly. “If you think it would dirty your own hands, we old servants can still wield a blade. We’ll go to Chaozhou—you just need to order that boy Huo Li not to interfere with us.”

“With a single command from me, thousands upon thousands of heads roll—my hands are already covered in blood. To speak of dirtying one’s hands is too affected, too falsely benevolent,” Han Qian said. “But if I merely take up the blade and slaughter the realm as a military man, the Huai and He regions, the He and Shuo regions, the Jiang and Huai regions over these past hundred-plus years—they’ve never lacked warriors, and they won’t lack me, Han Qian, either. This realm has long been drenched in rivers of blood from killing. But to end this era of military men running rampant is not easy. Perhaps Shen Yang and Yang Zhitang will make an issue of Empress Dowager Xu and Zhang Xinchun to trap me with charges of lacking filial piety, but this remains mere speculation. If I send Empress Dowager Xu and Zhang Xinchun to Jinling now, and if Shen Yang and Yang Zhitang are truly so contemptible as to refuse to punish these great criminals according to national law merely to target me, then in the future I will personally bring Empress Dowager Xu and Zhang Xinchun back to execute them according to proper law, openly and justly punishing their great crimes of fomenting rebellion, destroying armies and people, and causing the lands between the Jiang and Huai to run with blood—rather than now, without proper justification, engaging in poisoned assassinations or secret killings. Uncle Han, you served my father for so many years—think about whether my father in the netherworld would truly want me to send assassins to gruesomely sever the heads of Empress Dowager Xu and Zhang Xinchun, then falsely claim to the world that they died suddenly on the journey? If I truly did such a thing, how could I openly and justly record my father’s sincere passion for establishing principles for the common people in the historical records for future generations to remember?”

“…Am I just old and confused?” Han Laoshan murmured to himself.

He couldn’t sort out whether killing or not killing at this moment was right or wrong. Stunned for a long while, tears slid down his withered, tree-bark-like cheeks as he shuffled away leaning on his cane.

Han Qian indicated for Xi Chang and Old Zhao to personally escort Han Laoshan and the other elderly soldiers back to their residences. Seeing Guo Rong, Yang Qin, Feng Liao, and Feng Yi still standing there stubbornly, he found them equally irritating and asked: “Is there anything else you need?”

“Emperor Liang Zhu Yu is truly something—insisting on sending these two hot potatoes to Huaixi. Doesn’t he know they should never have been brought out of Bianzhou alive in the first place?” Feng Yi complained.

“If you have nothing else, stop getting in my way here and go busy yourselves with whatever you should be doing.” Han Qian drove these people away, seeking some peace and quiet.

“What Feng Yi just said does have merit—why would Emperor Liang insist on sending Empress Dowager Xu, Zhang Xinchun, and imperial grandson Yang Fen to Huaixi? Could he truly want my husband to personally slay the empress dowager to avenge his father’s murder?” Zhao Ting’er asked.

“Logically speaking, Emperor Liang Zhu Yu should have anticipated that despite the difficulty, my husband would make such a decision. Perhaps it was other people in the Liang court who insisted on it?” Wang Jun speculated hesitantly…

—

During the Jing-Xiang campaign, the father of the Du siblings served as medical officer of Yingzhou. When the city fell, he was forced to serve the enemy and was later executed, while the Du family elders and children were all reduced to slavery.

Du Qiniang and Du Jiuniang were bestowed by Emperor Yanyou Yang Yuanpu to serve at Han Qian’s side, allowing their brothers Du Yijun and Du Yiming and other Du family members to fortunately escape from their suffering.

Du Yiming was only fourteen years old then. Though he served as a slave and laborer for just over three months, the deep marks it left would never be forgotten in his lifetime. In the blink of an eye, twelve years had passed. Now he served as county magistrate of the Chaozhou provincial seat as a child of the Han family soldiers—he could be considered a core official of Tangyi.

Du Yiming usually practiced diligently with sword and bow, attended Han Qian’s lectures on military governance, but over the past several years had mainly participated in civil administration. Nevertheless, he habitually carried his sword and bow. When someone brought him the message, he led several bailiffs to the northern city courier station.

Seeing that the messenger from East Lake was cavalry commander Huo Li of the guard cavalry, Du Yiming knew he was Madam Jun’s cousin through her maternal uncle, had gone north to the He and Shuo regions to scout enemy intelligence and achieved great merit—the man could be trusted. After verifying the order was genuine, though puzzled, he still followed the instructions and arranged for someone to contact the western city water camp, having the camp prepare several warships so Huo Li could accompany this Liang army cavalry unit in escorting over a hundred criminals to Jinling for trial.

Perhaps the criminals being escorted were all confused that they could pass through Huaixi territory safely. Many people’s numb expressions showed hints of surprise and suspicion as they frequently looked back while boarding, seeming to worry that once aboard, hundreds of fierce soldiers would rush from the ship’s hold and hack them to pieces with wild blades before throwing them into the lake to feed the fish and crabs.

Not all the Liang army escort troops boarded the ships for Jinling—over two hundred men remained behind.

Du Yiming found nothing strange about this.

Previously, escorting over 160 prisoners overland southward meant they might encounter small enemy forces that had infiltrated along the way. The Liang army naturally needed to dispatch sufficient elite troops to guard them and prevent mishaps en route.

But traveling by ship directly from Chaozhou to Jinling, not only would Tangyi’s water forces escort them the whole way, but they would reach Jinling in two days at most. Afterward, Great Chu’s central ministries would take over. Having so many Liang escort troops all go along was entirely unnecessary—seventy or eighty men would suffice as a token gesture. If Tangyi’s side weren’t truly unwilling to take custody directly, the Liang forces could simply hand the prisoners over to Tangyi.

“By the way, we’re following His Majesty’s decree—this time we’re thinking of bringing Princess Yunhe back to Luoyang,” said Jing Tan, the Liang army’s Profound Cavalry Captain in charge of the escort forces, standing at the wharf as several sail shadows disappeared into the lake waves and heavy snow, speaking to Du Yiming.

“It’s already late. I’ll send someone to Liyang tomorrow to report this matter. Please rest in Chaozhou for a couple days—Liyang might even invite General Jing and company to stay until after the New Year festival before departing…” Du Yiming said.

As county magistrate of Chaozhou’s provincial seat Xiang’an County, Du Yiming had no authority to question Jing Tan’s request, but he wouldn’t directly send over two hundred elite armored cavalry to Liyang to fetch someone. He figured the matter wasn’t urgent—with darkness falling now, he’d wait until tomorrow to send someone to Liyang to report.

Whether or not Liyang agreed to let Jing Tan take Princess Yunhe this time, they would make appropriate arrangements without him needing to worry.

Besides, today was already New Year’s Eve. Even if Liyang wouldn’t obstruct Princess Yunhe’s return to her homeland, they might well ask them to stay until after the New Year before departing—otherwise they’d have to spend the festival on the journey back to Luoyang.

Jing Tan didn’t press the matter, first leading his troops back to the northern city courier station to await news.

On the third day at dusk, a cavalry unit came escorting two carriages rapidly along the eastern post road.

At this time, the setting sun shone upon the pristine white snow covering the earth—heaven and earth were magnificently beautiful.

The carriages stopped before the courier station. Princess Yunhe couldn’t wait to lift the carriage curtain and step down, gazing with melancholy yet a trace of joy at the distant Chaozhou city (Xiang’an County) towers. Though Liyang had wanted her to stay through the New Year festival before departing, not wanting her to be lonely on the journey during the holidays, she couldn’t wait to rush to Luoyang and reunite with her family.

Though in many people’s eyes the overall situation in the realm was turbulent and unstable, in her eyes, Luoyang—where she was born and spent her childhood—was her true homeland.

Wang Zhe then climbed down from the carriage. He didn’t recognize Jing Tan, but seeing him wearing Liang army armor and standing alongside Du Yiming, he walked over and cupped his hands, saying: “Might you be Great Liang’s Profound Cavalry Captain General Jing, Jing Tan? Northern Office Advisor Wang Zhe pays his respects…”

Wang Zhe didn’t recognize Jing Tan, but knew his identity as the son of Jing Zhen, who had formerly commanded Great Liang’s Chengtian Office as Commandant Director and now led elite forces garrisoning Huazhou, Tongguan, and other cities on the western flank of the He and Luo regions to resist enemy forces.

Originally, Wang Zhe, Huo Li, Han Bao, and others had escorted Shen Peng, Zhao Ci, and Princess Yunhe back to Tangyi. Since Emperor Liang Zhu Yu wanted to bring Princess Yunhe back to Luoyang, Han Qian thought to have Wang Zhe, an old friend, represent him in escorting her out of Huaixi.

The cavalry commander accompanying Wang Zhe’s escort, Shi Ruhai of the Guard Cavalry Battalion, was also an old friend from when they had all gathered in the He and Shuo regions years ago.

“Does General Jing have a personal decree from Emperor Liang authorizing him to bring back Princess Yunhe?” Wang Zhe asked.

Wang Zhe didn’t find it suspicious that Jing Tan claimed to be following Emperor Liang’s decree to bring Princess Yunhe back to Luoyang for a reunion, but as proper transfer procedure, Jing Tan needed to produce a personal decree from Emperor Liang Zhu Yu or other official documentation—they couldn’t just casually hand over Princess Yunhe based on a verbal claim.

A trace of hesitation showed in Jing Tan’s eyes. Wang Zhe’s gaze sharpened as his hand gestured backward, indicating for Shi Ruhai to be on guard, and stared at Jing Tan asking: “What’s wrong? Could it be that General Jing has lost His Majesty’s decree?”

“Please, Advisor Wang and Magistrate Du, come into the courtyard to discuss matters,” Jing Tan said, his eyes lowering.

Wang Zhe glanced suspiciously at Du Yiming. Seeing Du Yiming equally startled and doubtful at this moment, he instructed Shi Ruhai: “You guard the princess well. Magistrate Du and I will follow General Jing into the courtyard to see if we can locate Emperor Liang’s decree.”

Princess Yunhe stood there bewildered, not knowing what trouble had arisen now. She opened her mouth to question Jing Tan but ultimately held back without speaking.

“Advisor Wang, what matter does General Jing have that can’t be discussed here?”

Though the two armies were on good terms, Du Yiming had specifically given the western courtyard of the northern city courier station for Jing Tan’s armored cavalry to garrison. Yet Shi Ruhai worried that if Wang Zhe and Du Yiming entered completely unguarded, some mishap might occur.

“It’s fine.” Wang Zhe indicated for Shi Ruhai to just stand guard outside.

Though the situation seemed strange, he didn’t believe Jing Tan would actually take any harmful action against them in Tangyi’s heartland. Together with the bold Du Yiming, he followed Jing Tan into the courtyard entirely garrisoned by armored cavalry.

The northern city courier station had been renovated from a military camp. The western courtyard was extremely spacious, with over a hundred barracks of various sizes arranged across five successive courtyards. In the cold winter season, no other greenery flourished, but several wintersweet trees in the courtyard corners had sprouted buds. Snowflakes drifted down, complementing the white walls and black tiles—quite a pleasing sight.

Walking deep into the courtyard compound, Wang Zhe rarely saw a clump of slender bamboo growing by the eaves. Several people stood in the central pavilion, all wearing ordinary padded clothing yet bearing extraordinary bearing.

Though Wang Zhe had never met these men, carefully examining their features and cross-referencing with intelligence collected by the Military Intelligence Staff Office, he stood frozen as if struck by lightning. He never imagined these particular figures would seize the opportunity of escorting criminals to slip into Tangyi undetected.

“This old man Lei Jiuyuan greets Advisor Wang and Magistrate Du.” In the depths of the courtyard, Lei Jiuyuan with his white hair, dressed in a blue robe, stood under the pavilion. Seeing Wang Zhe and Du Yiming enter with Jing Tan, he cupped his hands, then introduced those beside him: “These four gentlemen are our Liang State’s Clan Administrator Zhu Juezhong, Palace Attendant Gu Qian, Minister of Rites Chen Youtong, and Palace Guard Cavalry Commander Jing Hao. We carry our sovereign’s secret decree and have come to secretly meet with Marquis Han. We ask Advisor Wang and Magistrate Du to make arrangements…”

—

Wen Muqiao, Feng Liao, Gao Shao, Zhao Wuji, Guo Que, Xi Chang, Ji Xiyao, Du Yijun, Chen Jitang, Zhao Qi, Feng Zhang, Lin Zongjing, Han Donghu, Huo Xiao, and other high-ranking officers received urgent summons early on. Arriving one after another at Lian Garden’s western courtyard council hall, they saw Great Liang’s Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary Lei Jiuyuan, Clan Administrator Zhu Juezhong, Palace Attendant Gu Qian, Minister of Rites Chen Youtong, and Palace Guard Cavalry Commander Jing Hao seated in the great hall. None could suppress their inner shock.

For a moment they wondered what tremendous event had occurred in the He and Luo regions to make these five figures secretly steal into Liyang at this time.

Lei Jiuyuan had initially served as Emperor Liang Zhu Yu’s secret advisor, early on commanding the Chengtian Office. After Emperor Liang Zhu Yu usurped the throne and ascended, though Lei Jiuyuan was somewhat advanced in years and held only the nominal position of Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, he was undoubtedly one of Liang State’s most core ministers.

Clan Administrator Zhu Juezhong was a cousin of Liang Progenitor Zhu Wen and one of the few Zhu clan members who firmly stood with Zhu Yu, having always represented the Zhu imperial clan.

Gu Qian was a friend and teacher from Zhu Yu’s youth. A prodigy who achieved fame young, before age thirty he was selected by former Great Liang Emperor Zhu Wen to serve as Instructor to the Prince of Yong’s household, serving at Zhu Yu’s side for many years. He had held positions including Magistrate of Henan Prefecture (He and Luo regions) and Vice Minister of Revenue. After Zhu Yu’s usurpation, he became Palace Attendant—the chief civil minister of Liang State.

Minister of Rites Chen Youtong was the father of Zhu Yu’s former consort, and thus the maternal grandfather of Princess Yunhe and Emperor Liang Zhu Yu’s eldest son, Prince Luo Zhu Zhen.

Palace Guard Cavalry Commander Jing Hao, along with his elder brother Jing Zhen and Han Yuanqi, Chen Kun, and others, were the commanding generals Zhu Yu trusted most.

“Everyone, please sit,” Han Qian indicated for Gao Shao, Feng Liao, and others to sit and talk. “Lei, Gu, and the other gentlemen came south with the criminal escort队, entering Huaixi several days ago. Yesterday when Wang Zhe and Shi Ruhai were escorting Princess Yunhe to Xiang’an, they learned of this matter and immediately escorted them to Liyang overnight…”

Hearing Han Qian say this, everyone’s hearts filled with even more surprise and suspicion:

Lei Jiuyuan, Gu Qian, and the others had entered Tangyi with the criminal escort forces but hadn’t come to Liyang immediately—hadn’t even revealed themselves, lingering outside Chaozhou city for five or six days. Yet they decided to come to Liyang only after Han Qian finally decided to send Empress Dowager Xu, Zhang Xinchun, and other criminals to Jinling for trial, and in response to Emperor Liang Zhu Yu’s request, sent Princess Yunhe to Xiang’an to be escorted back to Luoyang?

“What exactly has happened?” Gao Shao saw Wang Jun and Zhao Ting’er seated behind Han Qian. Without yielding to Wen Muqiao, Feng Liao, or Guo Rong, he went straight to sit at the table to Han Qian’s right, unable to contain the surprise and doubt in his heart as he asked in a lowered voice.

“It would be better for Minister Gu to explain in detail to everyone,” Han Qian said.

Gu Qian and the others sat at the tables on the left side. He said: “After the tenth month, our Great Liang sovereign’s body could no longer withstand wind or cold, even falling unconscious twice. When the Mengwu people had Marshal Liang withdraw troops from the He and Luo regions and other areas, perhaps they foresaw this, believing that after His Majesty’s death, the He and Luo regions and other places could be taken without attack, with no need to waste military strength at this time…”

“What?”

When Emperor Liang Zhu Yu had borrowed passage through Tangyi to return to Caizhou, he met with Han Qian on the eastern shore of Chao Lake. At that time, Feng Liao, Gao Shao, Wen Muqiao, Guo Rong, Wang Zhe, and others were all present and could see Emperor Liang Zhu Yu showed signs of illness in his complexion.

However, so much time had passed since then, and Emperor Liang had continuously commanded troops in battle personally. The Tangyi people hadn’t thought further about it, assuming Emperor Liang Zhu Yu’s minor ailment at the time, with renowned physicians of superb skill at his side, had long since been cured.

Who could have imagined that Zhu Yu, in his prime years, was already critically ill?

“Are you gentlemen worried that if Emperor Liang suffers any misfortune, the Mengwu people will again launch a massive military assault on the He and Luo regions, and specifically came to Liyang for that reason?” Guo Rong asked. But after blurting out this question, he felt something was wrong. He thought that if Gu Qian and the others had truly come to seek Tangyi’s aid, why would they hide in Xiang’an for five or six days before revealing themselves? Besides, though seeking military assistance was critically important, there was no need for all five of Lei Jiuyuan, Gu Qian, and the others to come together!

“That’s correct—we do worry that if His Majesty suffers any misfortune, the Mengwu people will again raise armies to attack the He and Luo regions, and the He and Luo regions will be difficult to defend, requiring Tangyi’s assistance. However, regarding how to request Tangyi’s aid, we have very significant disagreements with His Majesty,” Gu Qian said.

A thought flashed through Feng Liao’s mind. He glanced at Han Qian and couldn’t help asking Gu Qian: “Could it be that Emperor Liang wants to entrust his posthumous affairs to our lord?”

Hearing Feng Liao ask this, Guo Rong, Gao Shao, Wen Muqiao, and others couldn’t help but press their hands on the long tables in shock.

Though Feng Liao’s speculation could explain why these five important Liang figures would all come to Liyang at this time, it couldn’t explain why after reaching Xiang’an they delayed several days before revealing themselves! Could this be due to enormous disagreements between Liang’s sovereign and ministers on this matter?