The evening glow covered the sky as the door of Zhaowen Pavilion creaked open, pushed from the outside.
Yin Qing instinctively raised his head from his desk, but upon recognizing the visitor, his expression changed to one of astonishment. After a long moment, he slowly stood up and lowered his eyes, saying: “This subject did not know Your Majesty was coming here. I have been discourteous and beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Ying Gua’s expression was calm as he slowly paced a few steps inside, his gaze casually sweeping over the scrolls on Yin Qing’s desk. “Since you passed the imperial examinations, it seems you have never met with Us in private.”
Yin Qing bowed his head low and respectfully replied: “That is correct.”
But in the next moment, the cold sheath of a long sword was forcefully pressed against his throat.
Fear flashed across his face, but he composed himself in an instant, raising his head to meet Ying Gua’s gaze without flinching.
Those heterochromatic eyes were filled with icy determination, a fury that even the coldest river could not extinguish.
Ying Gua slightly moved his wrist and asked just one question: “Where is she?”
With the cold sword sheath pressing against him, Yin Qing’s breathing gradually became difficult, and his body stiffened. Yet he maintained a calm gaze, gently shaking his head.
Ying Gua narrowed his eyes. “Is it that you don’t know, or that you won’t say?”
Yin Qing lowered his eyes and managed to reply: “I don’t know. Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”
The cold sword sheath was suddenly withdrawn, and he doubled over, coughing heavily and struggling to breathe.
“It seems she truly did learn of her identity.” Ying Gua turned and sat down decisively, staring intently at him. “When did she find out? Before leaving the capital or after? And who told her?”
Yin Qing’s gaze showed confusion, then regret. He momentarily regretted losing his composure earlier, having inadvertently confirmed the Emperor’s suspicions.
After a long while, he finally spoke hoarsely: “No one told her. She realized it herself. Before leaving the capital, she came to ask me, and I naturally could not deny it.”
Ying Gua’s eyes darkened. Though this matched his previous assumption, his heart still felt numb.
Meng Tinghui—
I truly underestimated you.
But you have also underestimated me.
Yin Qing collected himself after a moment and looked up, only to see the richly dressed man before him with a solemn expression, features quiet, all previous fierceness gone.
Unable to read him, Yin Qing risked asking: “May I inquire how Your Majesty came to know all of this?”
Ying Gua raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp once more. “I should thank you for searching for traces of her past in Chao’an. Otherwise, the people I sent would not have been able to follow the trail so quickly to discover her background.”
Yin Qing was stunned.
He hadn’t expected the Emperor to have known so early.
But if that was the case, why hadn’t he acted all this time? Why had he increasingly shown her favor, allowing her to rise through the ranks at court?
Ying Gua suddenly curved his thin lips into a smile, though his expression remained cold. “Unfortunately, you only knew she was Meng Hao’s daughter, but didn’t know it was I who saved her life back then and had her sent to the women’s academy in Chongzhou.”
Yin Qing was stunned again, doubt and confusion evident on his face.
Ying Gua continued: “Perhaps you are also unaware that she now considers herself a traitor who has sold out to the enemy. The northern border, both front and back, knows of Meng Tinghui’s infamy. By tonight at the latest, the imperial court will also know of this matter. When that time comes, she will bear eternal disgrace from above and face the scorn of all people below.”
These words struck like a thunderbolt, causing Yin Qing to pale in shock.
“Impossible!” he frowned and said. “Once we reach Shuzhou, someone will announce her identity as the imperial descendant of Zhongwan to the world. Then no one will think of her as a traitor.”
Ying Gua’s expression darkened. “According to this, she is currently on her way to Shuzhou?”
Yin Qing’s words caught in his throat momentarily before he gritted his teeth and said: “I don’t know.”
Ying Gua paused briefly, then said coldly: “The vengeance for a fallen nation and destroyed family is indeed unforgettable to her, but her concern for the people is something you cannot fully understand.” His gaze was filled with mockery. “Since she has already admitted to being a traitor, how would she allow you to use her imperial identity to make a grand statement?”
Yin Qing’s face was cold. “Things have reached this point. What method could she possibly have to prevent people from announcing her identity to the world?” As soon as he finished speaking, his expression changed, and he suddenly looked up and said: “Are you saying…?”
Ying Gua sat motionless, silent, merely watching him with indifference.
“Impossible,” Yin Qing said repeatedly. “Impossible. She would never do such a thing…”
Ying Gua suddenly stood up and shouted: “Guards!”
Immediately, two armed guards entered from outside and, without a word, began to escort Yin Qing away.
Yin Qing did not struggle as he was led out, but at the doorway, he made an effort to turn his head and glance back at the Emperor. Finally, a trace of uncertainty appeared in his eyes, though it was unclear whether it was for himself or Meng Tinghui.
“Before I leave the capital on the expedition,” Ying Gua stepped forward, staring at him, “if you are willing to tell me her route south to Shuzhou, I will spare your life.”
As August began, the weather in the northern regions started to cool.
Compared to the Jiankang and Chao’an routes, the Linhuai route had fewer states and counties affected by the war. Except for a few southern garrisons already occupied by rebel forces, the northern areas from Zizhou and Huizhou downward were mostly under the control of the Great Ping Imperial Army.
According to Meng Tinghui’s previous plan, Yue Linxi was escorting her southward from Huizhou, passing through several prefectures, intending to turn west from Chuzhou to enter the Jiankang route, then head south to Shuzhou.
To avoid attention, Yue Linxi and Meng Tinghui disguised themselves as brother and sister from a wealthy merchant family. The dozen or so soldiers accompanying them also disguised themselves as household servants, escorting the two southward.
Her official garments and items had already been ordered to be burned. Yue Linxi had specially procured for her the attire of a wealthy family’s daughter—a light gauze gown with a thin vest, graceful and crimson.
At every post station along the way, Yue Linxi would send a letter. She didn’t know to whom or where he was sending them, nor did she care to ask. Whatever he did, she maintained an attitude of complete indifference.
As they approached Chuzhou, rumors about her betrayal had already spread from the north. Yue Linxi had some objections to this, but she said: “What’s wrong with others thinking I’m a traitor? This way, everyone believes I’m in Northern Jian. Even if the Great Ping Imperial Army hates me, they’ll direct that anger at Northern Jian. If people were to know now that I am the imperial descendant of Zhongwan, the Imperial Army would certainly come south to intercept us. Wouldn’t that be self-defeating? How could we then safely reach the Jiankang route? Once we reach Shuzhou, where our forces control both inside and outside, then we can reveal my identity to the world. The common people will realize the truth. This is the safest strategy.”
After hearing this, Yue Linxi merely sighed slightly, recognizing the logic in her words, and never brought up the matter again.
Chuzhou was not large, and the city’s inns were small.
When staying in the city for the night, there wasn’t enough room for the dozen accompanying soldiers, so they had to find separate lodgings. After Yue Linxi had arranged everything, he invited Meng Tinghui to retire to her room, but she leisurely ordered a cup of wine and sat quietly in the hall, listening to what the other guests were discussing.
Yue Linxi had no choice but to sit down with her.
Without listening, they already knew that in recent days, the most widely circulated topic among the northern populace was none other than Meng Tinghui’s treasonous act of selling out to the enemy. Occasionally, some unspeakable insults would reach their ears.
As Yue Linxi listened, he began to feel uncomfortable. He turned to her and whispered: “Sovereign, please endure a little longer. Once we enter the Jiankang route tomorrow and meet with the welcoming forces, you can rest easy.”
Meng Tinghui’s expression remained unchanged as she nodded slightly to indicate she understood.
Someone at a nearby table engaged them in conversation: “Are you two from the north? Have you heard about that, Meng Tinghui? She’s truly hateful, causing our Great Ping Imperial Army to lose more than ten thousand troops for nothing. Young lady, tell me, if such a traitor continues to live in this world, is there any justice?”
After being passed through thousands of mouths, the matter had been exaggerated many times over. This person’s claim that the north had lost ten thousand troops because of her was considered modest.
Meng Tinghui turned her face, her eyes clear and bright. “Indeed, there’s no justice. For such a traitor, even death by a thousand cuts would hardly satisfy the anger of our Great Ping people.”
The man was pleased and said: “I didn’t realize that such a young lady could speak such words!” He leaned closer to the two and lowered his voice: “Since you’ve just come from the north, you may not be familiar with the news from the south. Word has come from the capital that His Majesty is going to personally lead an expedition!”