Ding Jing didn’t die, but he could no longer live as “Ding Jing” either. In this vast world, he had nowhere to go.

Cui Xun finally said to him, “Since you’re already a dead man, why pretend to be alive? I need someone to do heavy work. I’ll allow you to be my servant.”

His tone was cold when he said this, sounding almost condescending, as if bestowing charity. But Ding Jing knew Cui Xun wasn’t giving him charity—he was saving him.

He was providing him with a place to belong.

Ding Jing agreed, feeling both ashamed and embarrassed. He stayed at the Cui residence, but he couldn’t forget the words he had spoken while kneeling before Nidu Khan in the Turkish royal court: “I willingly surrender to the Turks and will never again serve the Great Zhou in this lifetime.”

Cui Xun had awakened his sense of shame. He was ashamed of the words of surrender that had left his mouth, so as self-punishment, he refused to speak another word. From then on, Ding Jing completely disappeared from the world, leaving behind only the nameless mute servant at the Cui residence.

After becoming the mute servant, Ding Jing began helping Cui Xun sell family assets to aid the families of the Tianwei Army soldiers. Whatever Cui Xun asked him to do, he did; whatever Cui Xun forbade, he avoided. Though he vaguely sensed that Cui Xun was working toward something, since Cui Xun said nothing about it, he asked nothing, faithfully serving as Cui Xun’s servant.

Only recently did he finally learn what Cui Xun had been working on all along.

In Zichen Hall, the golden armor on Ding Jing’s body was now old, no longer as brilliant as before. His face was marked with wrinkles beyond his years. He murmured, “Deputy Chief Cui told me to sell his residence and use the silver to find a place to retire. I could have done so and continued to cling to life. But it was Deputy Chief Cui who reminded me that I am a general of the Great Zhou. How could I abandon him to save myself? I come forward today knowing I will be disgraced and certainly put to death. This is the punishment I deserve, and I bear no grudge. But before I die, I must serve as witness for Deputy Chief Cui.”

He continued slowly: “Deputy Chief Cui never surrendered to the Turks. The rumors of his surrender were spread by Princess Wuduo to obtain him. In truth, he was never her lover, nor did he ever submit to her. No matter how cruel the torture, he never bowed his head or betrayed the Great Zhou. If this doesn’t qualify him as a hero, what does?”

Finally, he looked around at the assembled officials: “Honored ministers, each heart is like a scale. Search your conscience—if it were you, could you have endured such torture and humiliation? Why has such an unyielding hero borne the stigma of surrender for six years? He tried to clear his name, crying out his innocence in the Dali Temple prison, only to be met with torture to extract a confession… He had no choice! Perhaps he is not the flawless gentleman you envision, but he could have been flawless! It is the Great Zhou that has wronged him! If you still have any conscience, please tell the people what I’ve said here today. Tell everyone in the world. Let everyone know that Cui Xun never surrendered to the Turks. He is not a general who feared death and surrendered. On the contrary, he is a hero!”

Ding Jing’s testimony caused a tremendous stir. The Longxing Emperor was so furious that he gnashed his teeth. His anger stemmed not only from Ding Jing’s testimony proving Cui Xun hadn’t surrendered to the Turks, but even more from Ding Jing publicly exposing how his favored consort, Consort Hui, had used a thousand methods to try to possess another man. Such a private matter being openly stated before all officials was an extreme humiliation for a supreme emperor.

The veins on the Longxing Emperor’s forehead pulsed as he raged: “Guards! Take this traitor away and send him to the Dali Temple for judgment!”

However, Deputy Chief Lu Huai of the Dali Temple had been ordered to return home and await punishment for privately allowing Cui Xun to enter Daming Palace. The Assistant Minister of the Dali Temple had to step forward and respond “Yes” in Lu Huai’s place. The Imperial Guards roughly bound Ding Jing and took him away. Before leaving, Ding Jing smiled at Cui Xun—a smile of relief. His aged, rigid face finally regained some of its former spirit. Tortured by guilt for six years, he could finally find peace.

Cui Xun watched Ding Jing being taken away, knowing he might never see the mute servant again. But the mute servant had achieved his redemption. From now on, he was no longer the nameless, mute servant, but Ding Jing, the Garrison Commander who had erred but found his way back.

Cui Xun pressed his lips together, then raised his head to look directly at the Emperor, who had lost all dignity on his throne. He said, “Ding Jing’s testimony and the scars covering my body can prove that I never surrendered to the Turks. Since I am not a traitor, would Your Majesty be willing to order an investigation into Wang Xuan’s death and that page from the court diary?”

The Longxing Emperor was stunned, almost flustered as he said: “How dare you! I have already made it clear that Wang Xuan’s death has nothing to do with me, and that statement in the court diary has no connection whatsoever to the Tianwei Army case! I am the Emperor—my word is final. Should I order an investigation just because of your disbelief? Preposterous!”

Cui Xun smiled faintly: “Right and wrong will be judged by public opinion. Your Majesty cannot explain the words in the court diary, nor dare you investigate Wang Xuan’s death. These are obvious facts witnessed by all. Your Majesty now uses imperial authority to suppress me, which in my view, only confirms that Your Majesty colluded with the Turks, harmed loyal officials, and betrayed your people!”

The Longxing Emperor was astonished. Behind the pearl curtain, the Empress Dowager finally spoke in a deep voice: “Enough!”

She continued slowly: “Cui Xun, I understand you suffered greatly among the Turks. After returning to the Great Zhou, the Dali Temple failed in its investigation and wronged you. This was an oversight by me and His Majesty. I will announce to the world, clearing your name. As for your treasonous words today, I can attribute them to excessive grief and temporary confusion. You may go now. Let this matter end here.”

She was giving Cui Xun one last chance. If Cui Xun agreed, he would still have power, status, wealth, and honor. He would even gain a laudable reputation. The Longxing Emperor didn’t understand why the Empress Dowager was so indulgent toward Cui Xun. He turned his head, about to speak, when the Empress Dowager shot him a fierce glare. Through the swaying pearl curtain, the Longxing Emperor could see the extreme disappointment and anger in her eyes.

But no matter how disappointed or angry she was, he was still her son. She didn’t want to lose him, so she had to continue protecting him.

She promised Cui Xun amnesty, hoping both sides could take a step back. But Cui Xun refused to accept her kindness. Instead, he mockingly curved his lips: “When I struck the grievance drum, I accused both His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. I accused the Empress Dowager of shielding her son, harboring criminals, and perverting justice for personal gain. It seems my accusations have been proven true.”

The Empress Dowager was stunned. Cui Xun continued: “I can understand a mother who protects her child at all costs, but I cannot understand an Empress Dowager who protects an Emperor who colludes with foreign enemies at all costs.”

At these words, all listeners were shocked into silence.

It must be known that in the current Great Zhou, the Longxing Emperor was essentially a puppet, while the Empress Dowager held the true power of life and death. Cui Xun’s public criticism of the Emperor wasn’t enough—now he was criticizing the Empress Dowager as well.

The Empress Dowager indeed lost her composure in anger: “Cui Xun, I see you no longer wish to live!”

Cui Songqing, who had remained silent throughout, could sit still no longer. He said, “Cui Xun, the Tianwei Army case has ended. No sovereign does not deserves respect. Stop this madness.”

Some officials began to agree. The ideology of loyalty to the sovereign and filial piety was deeply ingrained in these scholars’ hearts. Although they realized the sovereign might indeed have harmed loyal officials and betrayed the people as Cui Xun claimed, they still stubbornly refused to believe it. Other officials who agreed had different thoughts: the sovereign selling out the country was such a massive scandal that if word spread, would the people still trust the court? Would foreign nations still admire the Great Zhou?

Therefore, this matter had to end here.

Amidst the chorus of criticism, Cui Xun suddenly smiled. With the clanking of chains, he slowly rose and calmly looked at Cui Songqing—this uncle he had always respected. He said: “That day, when Sheng Yunting’s body was dug up on the official road, Minister Cui knew there must be more to Sheng Yunting’s death, yet chose to turn a blind eye and remain indifferent. Because Minister Cui had the Taichang New Policies to implement and Lu’s faction to fight, how could he jeopardize the bigger picture for someone like Sheng Yunting? Now, Minister Cui continues to prioritize the bigger picture, disregarding the injustice done to the Tianwei Army and the suffering of the people in six provinces. This is Minister Cui’s way. But I despise this way and am ashamed of it. If a way disregards the injustice done to soldiers who died for their country and the lives of innocent suffering people, then this way is not worth following!”

Cui Xun no longer called him “Uncle” but addressed him as “Minister Cui,” showing his inner contempt. Cui Songqing was dumbfounded. Before he could react, Cui Xun turned to the other agreeing officials: “In the previous dynasty, Emperor Shizong instructed Prime Minister Qian Mingyuan to wrongfully execute General Han Yu. People throughout the land successively spoke out for Han Yu, but everyone’s criticism was directed at Qian Mingyuan, not Emperor Shizong. After Han Yu was exonerated, people only said Emperor Shizong had been deceived by villains. Since ancient times, there have only been sovereigns who were deceived, never sovereigns who were wrong. Is this what you all think? But before being the sovereign’s subjects, shouldn’t you first be human beings? As humans, you should know what is right and what is wrong. Is colluding with barbarians right? Is harming loyal officials right? Is betraying the people’s rights? I believe no one would dare say these are right. Then, did you study the classics of the sages all those years just to follow what is wrong?”

Everyone’s expressions tensed, and they seemed somewhat lost. However, under the ideology of loyalty to the sovereign, no one dared to speak up in support of Cui Xun’s words. Cui Xun wasn’t surprised by this result. Instead, he became increasingly calm. He had already said what he wanted to say. His final words were directed at the Longxing Emperor and the Empress Dowager: “Your Majesty has abandoned soldiers and civilians for personal desire, unworthy of being a ruler. The Empress Dowager only cares for her son, disregarding the sons of soldiers and civilians, equally unworthy of being an Empress Dowager!”

The Empress Dowager was shaking with rage. Trembling, she pointed at Cui Xun: “Guards! Take him away!”

Unlike the Longxing Emperor, who still thought of debating with Cui Xun to silence the people, thus causing the farce in Zichen Hall, she saw no need to debate when she held power. Why should she argue? If she wanted Cui Xun to live, he would live; if she wanted him to die, he must die.

In the Blood Basin Realm of Suffering, Yu Fuwei carried Li Ying, about to leave the wooden bridge. Li Ying grew desperate. Resting her head against Yu Fuwei’s arm, she suddenly opened her mouth and bit down on his arm with all her might.

She bit so hard that Yu Fuwei cried out in pain and loosened his grip. Li Ying fell onto the wooden bridge. She didn’t know where she found the strength, but she crawled toward the edge of the bridge. She needed to reach the Blood Pool Hell.

If she could get to the Blood Pool Hell, Yu Fuwei wouldn’t be able to follow. With the Buddha’s relic on her person, the monsters in the Blood Pool Hell couldn’t harm her.

She crawled desperately toward the edge of the bridge, half her body already hanging over. Yu Fuwei was horrified. He lunged forward to grab her waist, preventing her from falling. But in their struggle, a po’er beast silently leaped from the blood pool, its teeth clamping onto Yu Fuwei’s clothes, forcefully dragging him into the Blood Pool Hell.