“No wonder the Xiao Zhongwu couple fought for military authority before the seventh day of mourning had passed. No wonder he remained unmoved when sixty thousand people drowned at the Battle of Changgu in Guo City. When it comes to ruthlessness, who in Great Wei could compare to Xiao Huaijin?”
The dungeon fell into complete silence.
Though Shen Han wanted to speak, he ultimately remained quiet. The young man stood with his back to the prisoner, his hand pressed against his side slowly clenching into a fist.
A moment later, it relaxed again. He turned his head toward Lei Hou and said with detached amusement, “It seems you understand very well what kind of person I am. Then you should think even more carefully.” As he walked out, his voice grew cold, “I never give people a second chance.”
When he reached the doorway, he happened to encounter He Yan and Lin Shuanghe standing at the corner. His gaze paused briefly, but he ignored them and left directly.
No one dared to follow him.
Shen Han had Lei Hou locked up again. Whether it was due to his earlier conversation with Xiao Jue making Lei Hou lose all hope or something else, Lei Hou burst into terrible laughter. The laughter echoed through the dungeon, eerie and shrill.
Fei Nu walked out from inside and was startled to see He Yan and Lin Shuanghe. He said, “Young Master Lin, why have you come?”
“I wanted to say,” He Yan glanced inside, “I’ve crossed swords with Lei Hou before. Perhaps I could help when Commander Xiao questions Lei Hou, so I came to see.”
“That won’t be necessary. It’s already been resolved,” Fei Nu answered quickly. “You both can return now.”
Lin Shuanghe shrugged, noticing Xiao Jue’s cloak in Fei Nu’s arms. He reached out to take it, saying, “This is Huaijin’s clothing. I’ll deliver it to him. I imagine he doesn’t want to see anyone right now.”
Fei Nu: “No need to trouble Young Master Lin.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” Lin Shuanghe said, “I was planning to find him anyway.”
Fei Nu relented and nodded to Lin Shuanghe: “Then thank you, Young Master Lin.”
Lin Shuanghe smiled and said to He Yan, “Let’s go.”
The two walked out together.
By the time they came out, light snow was falling, and it had grown heavier. He Yan was injured and walked slowly, still wearing Cheng Lisu’s cloak. Although Lin Shuanghe called her “sister” affectionately, he maintained a proper distance from women, seemingly deliberately avoiding suspicion, not even offering to support He Yan.
However, neither was in a hurry, so they walked slowly.
Snow fell silently, landing on their bodies. He Yan was pondering Lei Hou’s words from the dungeon when Lin Shuanghe suddenly asked, “Have you heard of the Battle of Changgu in Guo City?”
He Yan started, then answered, “Yes.”
The Battle of Changgu in Guo City was the most important battle when Xiao Jue led the Southern Army to suppress the Southern Barbarians’ rebellion after Xiao Zhongwu’s death. At that time, everyone in Great Wei was waiting to see Xiao Jue fail. How could a sixteen-year-old youth leading so many soldiers defeat the powerful barbarian army that even his father couldn’t overcome? It seemed destined for failure.
Unexpectedly, he achieved a great victory in the first battle, leading to the Southern Barbarians’ consecutive defeats. Xiao Jue truly pacified the Southern Barbarians’ uprising in just half a year.
“Do you know how he achieved victory at Changgu?”
“Water warfare.”
“You know about that?”
He Yan remained silent, poking her walking stick into the snow, making a small hole.
“Then you must also know that in the Battle of Changgu, General Feng Yun Xiao Huaijin flooded Guo City, killing sixty thousand people,” Lin Shuanghe clutched Xiao Jue’s black cloak tighter. “At that time, corpses floated everywhere, the eastern city reeked, Guo City became like hell on earth, too horrific to describe.” He smiled and asked, “What do you think? Doesn’t it seem cruel?”
He Yan calmly replied, “War is inherently cruel. Showing mercy to enemies is cruelty to one’s people. Moreover, unless you’re in that position, no one knows the true situation. If not for his cruelty and inhumanity, perhaps the drowned would have been us.”
Lin Shuanghe stopped in his tracks and turned to He Yan, asking, “You would think this way?”
“I simply don’t believe Commander Xiao is that kind of person.”
Lin Shuanghe stared at He Yan as if seeing her for the first time.
He Yan asked, “Did I say something wrong?”
After a while, he shook his head and smiled, saying, “I’m just surprised that in less than a year of knowing Huaijin, you trust him so completely. Why didn’t I have such faith when I first heard of this?”
He Yan thought to herself that it was because Lin Shuanghe had never truly been on the battlefield. Only those who had witnessed the killing on the battlefield understood how difficult it was for a commander to make each decision. Xiao Jue was intelligent and calm; if there hadn’t been an absolute necessity, he wouldn’t have done this and left himself with a reputation for bloodthirst.
It should be noted that after the Battle of Changgu, although Xiao Jue greatly defeated the Southern Barbarians and earned the admiration and awe of countless young people, many scholars pointed fingers at him, cursing his heartlessness and excessive killing. After all, among those drowned in the Battle of Changgu were Southern Barbarian civilians.
“Doctor Lin seems to know his reason for doing this,” He Yan asked, “What was it?”
“I didn’t know from the beginning,” Lin Shuanghe sighed. “Think about it, with three thousand soldiers against sixty thousand, what other option was there besides water warfare?”
“Three thousand soldiers?” He Yan suddenly looked up, “Wasn’t it a hundred thousand Southern Army troops?”
“A hundred thousand?” Lin Shuanghe laughed, “If he had a hundred thousand Southern Army troops at his disposal, he wouldn’t have needed to take such measures.”
After Xiao Zhongwu’s death, Lady Xiao followed him in death. At that time, the Xiao residence was filled with wailing and mourning. Everyone in court said that Xiao Zhongwu’s defeat at the Battle of Mingshui was due to his stubbornness and command errors, resulting in tens of thousands of Great Wei soldiers dying in battle.
His Majesty was merciful and, considering the Xiao family’s years of service did not pursue Xiao Zhongwu’s failure of duty. However, he also took back military authority. Xiao Jue was only sixteen then, Xiao Jing had just turned eighteen, and Bai Rongwei had been married into the family for less than half a year when this disaster struck. For a time, everyone was anxious, not knowing what path lay ahead.
Lin Shuanghe still remembered his first meeting with Xiao Jue after the Xiao family’s misfortune.
The youth had always maintained a cold, languid appearance as if nothing could touch his heart. But he also made people understand that nothing in the world could defeat him.
However, when any family faces such a great catastrophe, they would inevitably be devastated, or at the very least, become very different from before. But the Xiao Jue that Lin Shuanghe saw wasn’t like this. Apart from looking a bit more haggard than before, he showed no signs of depression or dejection.
“Do you have medicine that can make someone sleep for an entire day?” Xiao Jue asked immediately.
Lin Shuanghe replied, “My family’s pharmacy has it. If you want it, I’ll get it for you right away.”
The Lin family’s pharmacies were spread throughout Great Wei, with several in the bustling markets of Shuo Capital alone. Lin Shuanghe ordered a servant to fetch two doses from the nearest pharmacy and handed them to him, saying, “Taking this will make you sleep for ten hours.” He suddenly thought of something: “If you have trouble sleeping at night, I can prepare a milder version for you.”
Perhaps Xiao Jue, due to his family’s sudden misfortune, couldn’t sleep at night and wanted medicine to help him rest.
Xiao Jue tucked the medicine into his sleeve, waved his hand at him, and said, “Thank you.” He turned to leave.
“Huaijin!” Lin Shuanghe called out.
Xiao Jue stopped and looked at him.
“This medicine… is it for your use?”
The youth’s features were delicate and beautiful. His gaze passed over Lin Shuanghe and fell in the distance, where majestic palace buildings loomed faintly. He said flatly, “I’m going to the palace.”
Lin Shuanghe wasn’t a fool – he instantly understood Xiao Jue’s intention and exclaimed in shock, “You plan to enter the palace without telling your elder brother?”
“What’s the point of telling him?” The youth lowered his head and smiled slightly. “It would only cause him needless worry.”
“You’re mad!” Lin Shuanghe said urgently. “Don’t you know that because of General Xiao’s matter, the court is in chaos? No one dares to speak up for General Xiao now. Do you know why Minister Xu has been accompanying His Majesty daily?”
“I know,” Xiao Jue said. “But what of it? The military authority must return to the Xiao family.”
“You could lose your life over this!”
Xiao Jue turned his head and looked at him steadily. “Then so be it.”
“You-!”
“By the way, there’s something I’d like you to help with,” he said.
The youth rarely showed such a solemn expression. A sense of foreboding suddenly welled up in Lin Shuanghe’s heart. His lips trembled as he asked, “What is it?”
“If I return alive, treat this as if it never happened. If I die,” he paused here, “don’t bother collecting my body. Imperial Physician Lin has some influence with the Empress Dowager. Please help my elder brother – this matter has nothing to do with him.”
“What do you mean… if you die?” Lin Shuanghe heard his voice trembling.
“It’s simple. After tonight, either I die now, or he dies tomorrow,” he said calmly as if speaking of someone else’s fate. “But I’m not certain of the outcome, so,” he curved his lips slightly, “you can pray if you wish.”
“Xiao Huaijin!”
The youth bowed deeply to him, and upon straightening, said only two words.
“Thank you.”
Lin Shuanghe’s eyes reddened.
Xiao Jue waved at him: “Go back now.”
Lin Shuanghe didn’t move.
He laughed softly and turned to leave on his own.
That was such a long time ago, but the image of Xiao Jue’s back then seemed to remain before his eyes. On the bustling market street, the youth’s figure was straight and proud, yet exceptionally solitary.
No one knew what path he was about to take, but Lin Shuanghe was certain of one thing.
Xiao Jue would not look back.
Lost in thought, he was suddenly interrupted by He Yan’s question: “So afterward, did the Commander enter the palace alone?”
Lin Shuanghe came back to himself and continued walking slowly forward, saying as he walked, “I didn’t go to the palace with him. What happened after, I heard from my grandfather.”
That night, it began to rain.
The autumn rain was cool and cold, seeming to seep into one’s heart. In a few days, it would be the Mid-Autumn Festival. If nothing had happened to Xiao Zhongwu, the Xiao residence would have been busy preparing mooncakes and arranging banquets for the festival. However, now everything was desolate, with mourning clothes everywhere.
The three at the table were silent.
No one wanted to touch the food until Bai Rongwei spoke gently, “Please eat something at least. Your bodies won’t hold up like this.”
It was just simple porridge and small dishes. After a moment of silence, Xiao Jing picked up his bowl. He had barely taken a sip before setting it down again, saying, “Huaijin, tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the palace with you.”
Xiao Jue: “Alright.”
Bai Rongwei asked: “What are you going to the palace… for?”
“Without military authority, the Xiao family will eventually become meat on the chopping block, at others’ mercy,” Xiao Jing said. “No matter what, the Southern Army must return to the Xiao family, otherwise…”
Otherwise, who knew how long the Xiao family could hold out?
“Even if His Majesty returns the military authority to us, what then?” Bai Rongwei carefully spoke up. “Ruyi, you’re a Grand Master of Remonstrance, and though Huaijin follows the military path, he’s only sixteen.”
Xiao Jing’s movements stopped.
He had to acknowledge a fact: the Xiao family had no one left. Even though Xiao Jue was exceptionally gifted, he was only sixteen, and he was barely more than a child. How could they lead tens of thousands of Southern Army troops?
It would be hard to command respect.
“There’s plenty a sixteen-year-old can do,” Xiao Jue said carelessly while picking at his food. “Elder Brother, being overly cautious will accomplish nothing.”
Xiao Jing sighed and said, “Well, we’ll take it one step at a time. Now, we have no other path to take.”
“Will His Majesty return the military authority to us?” Bai Rongwei worried aloud. “Minister Xu’s influence is overwhelming now; he won’t miss this chance to deal with the Xiao family.”
“He will,” the youth lazily poured tea for them. “Don’t be afraid. Xu Jingfu is just a mortal, after all.”
No one spoke again.
The night rain continued to fall steadily. Servants helped Bai Rongwei and Xiao Jing back to bed.
Xiao Jue stood up, put on his outer robe, and walked out.
Outside, Fei Nu was waiting. The rain fell on the ground, creating puddles that rippled outward, soaking through the white lanterns hanging at the doorway.
Xiao Jue stopped at the doorway.
Fei Nu said: “Young Master.”
He lowered his head and instructed the steward: “Take good care of them.” Then he turned and got into the carriage.
“Let’s go.”
With that, he disappeared into the night.
The carriage headed toward the imperial palace. Inside the palace, current Prime Minister Xu Jingfu was playing chess with Emperor Wenxuan.
A palace servant reported: “Your Majesty, the second young master from the Martial Valor General’s residence seeks an audience.”
Emperor Wenxuan’s chess move paused, “Xiao Huaijin? What does he want?”
“Probably about his father’s matter,” Xu Jingfu smiled. “Your Majesty, be careful.” He captured a black piece.
“You, don’t take advantage while I’m distracted,” Emperor Wenxuan laughed and scolded. “Cunning.”
Xu Jingfu also laughed: “Your Majesty is letting this old minister win.”
The two continued joking and playing chess, seeming to have forgotten about Xiao Jue. After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the palace servant comes in again to remind them: “Your Majesty, Young Master Xiao is still waiting outside the hall, and it’s still raining.”
“If it’s raining, he should go home,” Emperor Wenxuan was troubled by the chess situation before him. “What’s the point of staying?”
“Your Majesty, don’t be annoyed,” Xu Jingfu said. “This second young master of the Xiao family has just experienced a great tragedy, and he’s still just a child. He must have many grievances in his heart. Let this old minister go out and persuade him – it would be best if I can convince him to return home.”
“Go then.” Emperor Wenxuan waved his hand impatiently. “It’s all about Xiao Zhongwu during court sessions, and it doesn’t end after court either. It’s always Xiao family this, Xiao family that – I’m tired of hearing it. Tell him to go home! Hurry back – you still need to finish this game of chess with me.”
Xu Jingfu rose and respectfully bowed: “Yes.”
Upon leaving the hall, he immediately saw Xiao Jue kneeling and waiting at the door.
Xu Jingfu was over sixty years old. In his youth, he had served in the Hanlin Academy, and his disciples were spread throughout the realm. Most of the outstanding young men in Great Wei had some connection to him. Although Xiao Jue wasn’t his student, he had heard of Xiao Jue’s excellence. He had seen Xiao Jue once during a royal hunt and remembered how the youth in white robes had outshone everyone else, like a luminous pearl.
Xu Jingfu had sighed to himself then, thinking how wonderful it would be if such an outstanding youth belonged to the Xu family. Unfortunately, he had been wasted on that brute Xiao Zhongwu.
He stood before Xiao Jue and said, “Second Young Master Xiao.”
The youth raised his head and looked at him, “Minister Xu.”
“It’s raining so heavily outside, why doesn’t Second Young Master Xiao have an umbrella?” He instructed the palace servants around him, “Someone bring an umbrella for Second Young Master Xiao.”
A palace servant stood behind Xiao Jue with an umbrella. Xu Jingfu made a motion to help him up, speaking like an elder genuinely concerned for a junior: “Why continue kneeling? Please rise.”
Xiao Jue remained still and said, “I wish to see His Majesty.”
“His Majesty is busy at the moment. If Second Young Master truly has something to discuss, coming tomorrow wouldn’t be too late. It’s already very late, and His Majesty needs to rest after his duties. This isn’t a good time for an audience.”
The youth remained unmoved, only repeating, “Minister Xu, I must see His Majesty today.”
Xu Jingfu stepped back two paces, keeping his hands within his sleeves as he watched him, maintaining a benevolent smile, “Second Young Master Xiao, His Majesty is merciful. Previously, the Xiao family had merit, and you were greatly favored. Now your father has failed in his duty, the Battle of Mingshui resulted in a devastating defeat for Great Wei’s soldiers. There should have been consequences, but His Majesty remembered old ties and showed leniency. How can you be so presumptuous and unwise?”
The night rain fell diagonally, slipping past the umbrella and soaking the youth’s clothes. His features were devastatingly handsome, his expression calm, his voice now devoid of its former languid charm as he said, “Minister Xu speaks truly.”
Xu Jingfu’s smile remained unchanged.
“Therefore,” Xiao Jue raised his head to look at him, “I beg Minister Xu to speak a word to His Majesty. Xiao Jue wishes to see His Majesty.”
“Second Young Master Xiao jests. Why should this old minister speak to His Majesty on your behalf?” Xu Jingfu asked.
The youth looked at him and slightly bowed his head: “Please, Minister Xu, grant this request.”
A youth’s proud bones are most easily broken. Sometimes, once the spine bends just slightly, it can never stand straight again.
If Xiao Zhongwu knew from the underworld, seeing his proud second son now kneeling before his enemy, begging for mercy and charity, what expression would he wear?
At that moment, Xu Jingfu no longer wished to immediately push him to the edge. Watching a proud person fall into mortal dust, trampled into the mud, their dignity rendered worthless – that was far more interesting.
He tilted his head slightly, feigning concern: “Second Young Master Xiao, it’s not that this old minister won’t help you. But His Majesty is currently angry with the Xiao family. Even I would find it difficult to intervene in this matter.”
Xiao Jue only said: “Please, Minister Xu, grant this request.”
Xu Jingfu stared at him. After a while, he said, “If the Second Young Master insists on seeing His Majesty, perhaps you should first accept punishment. The Xiao family is already guilty, if the Second Young Master can endure this, His Majesty might see it and his anger might dissipate somewhat. Then this old minister could speak on your behalf.”
“Please instruct me, Minister Xu.”
“You are young now, and cannot bear too heavy a punishment. So first, take fifty strikes with the board,” he said.
He spoke with complete ease as if he was already being lenient with Xiao Jue. The palace servants kept their heads down in silence, but couldn’t hide their shock.
Fifty strikes with the board could kill someone with a weaker constitution. Even for an ordinary person, fifty strikes would take half their life, requiring a year or more to recover.
Xiao Jue said: “Very well.”
Xu Jingfu smiled: “Second Young Master truly has his father’s spirit.” He turned and instructed those behind him, “Take Second Young Master Xiao to receive his punishment.”
The night rain fell steadily. Fifty strikes on the body were not as easy as imagined, especially since the palace servants had been specially “instructed” by Xu Jingfu.
The youth didn’t make a sound, gritting his teeth through it all. After fifty strikes, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and slowly pushed himself up to stand.
When he stood, his steps were unsteady, almost losing balance. The nearby palace servants watched with pity. Who could have predicted that the former Second Young Master Xiao, once clothed in brocade and fox fur, noble and resplendent, would end up in such a sorry state? No one could have predicted it.
Xu Jingfu had no interest in watching Xiao Jue’s punishment. He entered the hall to speak with Emperor Wenxuan first.
Emperor Wenxuan said: “Didn’t you say you would send him away?”
“Your Majesty,” Xu Jingfu shook his head, “Second Young Master Xiao insists on seeing Your Majesty. This old minister cannot dissuade him. Young people are headstrong – once they set their minds on something, even nine oxen couldn’t pull them back. Now that the Martial Valor General is gone, and his mother too… This old minister pities him. Perhaps Your Majesty could see him once, and hear what he has to say. If he speaks poorly, send him away, and don’t receive him next time.”
Emperor Wenxuan sighed: “Minister, your heart has softened.”
“It is Your Majesty who is merciful.”
“Very well,” Emperor Wenxuan instructed the palace servants, “After all, We watched him grow up. Let him enter.”
Outside the hall was extremely cold, inside extremely warm. Away from the inescapable night rain, there was only the dizzying fragrance of flowers. In the flickering lamplight, someone approached.
He knelt before Emperor Wenxuan and said: “Your subject greets Your Majesty.”
“Rise,” Emperor Wenxuan said casually, raising his eyes to look at Xiao Jue, then froze, asking, “How did you end up in this state?”
It had been raining outside, and the umbrella Xu Jingfu had ordered lasted barely a moment. He was soaked from head to toe, in a terrible state, and having just endured fifty strikes, his body was extremely weak. His face was as yellow as paper, his lips pale, as if he might faint at any moment.
Completely different from before.
Having watched him grow up after all, Emperor Wenxuan couldn’t help but feel pity, showing some genuine concern as he softened his tone: “Tell Us, has someone bullied you?”
“No,” Xu Jingfu answered from the side: “Second Young Master Xiao knows the Xiao family’s guilt and voluntarily accepted fifty strikes as punishment, to ease his conscience and to show Your Majesty the Xiao family’s remorse.”
Emperor Wenxuan looked at him and sighed, “Fifty strikes… that seems excessive.”
“Second Young Master also appreciates Your Majesty’s benevolence,” Xu Jingfu smiled.
“Why have you come to see Us?” Emperor Wenxuan said, “We don’t wish to discuss the Xiao family’s matters anymore.”
Xiao Jue’s gaze swept across the chess game on the table, where black and white pieces were interwoven in complex patterns, casting an eerie chill under the warm lamplight.
Like life’s strange twists, no one can predict what the future holds.
But the past is past, and if one cannot predict the future, then create it.
The youth prostrated himself, his voice calm, carrying an unstoppable stubbornness as he said each word clearly:
“Your subject begs Your Majesty’s grace to personally lead the Southern Army back to Mingshui to battle the Southern Barbarians.”