Prince Dongping had originally lifted his foot to leave, but after thinking it over, he ultimately didn’t go. He nodded at Lai Chenglong.
It seemed that in an instant, the wild ambition between this Prince’s brows had vanished. His entire person was completely different from before. Lai Chenglong glanced at him and nodded faintly, then personally went out to supervise the documentation.
Han Zhengqing’s mouth was severely swollen. The Imperial Guard had countless methods of torturing people. Not giving food or water was child’s play. What was truly cruel was that after starving you for several days, they would tie a bowl to fire tongs—if you wanted to drink water, your face and mouth would inevitably touch the red-hot branding iron. This method was truly unbearable. Even Han Zhengqing couldn’t escape it. He wasn’t afraid of death, but he feared a fate worse than death. He had already been tortured to the point of semi-consciousness. Never before had he experienced such indignity. Combined with the injuries Han Zhi had previously inflicted, by now, he could barely hold on.
Yet he still opened his eyes to stare fixedly at Prince Dongping. After a good while, he let out a sigh, his face showing genuine joy, just like any loving father looking at his child, his face full of gratified smiles. “Even if you don’t acknowledge me, being able to see you healthy and well, I can count myself content.”
He spoke from the heart. Prince Dongping’s earlier words had reminded him—he himself wasn’t afraid of death. The Imperial Guard and Emperor Jianzhang would absolutely not let him die now anyway. But he feared something happening to Prince Dongping.
If something truly happened to Prince Dongping—now that he had no one left by his side, his sons were probably all dead, and only Prince Dongping remained—if even he was gone, how could he face Grand Consort Fan below? How could he face his parents?
When committing acts that would destroy his entire family and clan, he hadn’t thought about his parents, couldn’t remember them. But once he was about to die, he thought of his parents who were also underground, and felt inexplicably ashamed. Because of him, the entire Han clan had been almost completely wiped out. The people below would probably want to eat his flesh when they saw him.
Prince Dongping, however, wasn’t as pleased as he was. He stood before Han Zhengqing for a long while, pressed his lips together, the two hands hanging at his sides clenched and then relaxed. He laughed once and shook his head at him. “You shouldn’t be content.”
Han Zhengqing didn’t understand what Prince Dongping meant. The Imperial Guard had been depriving him of sleep for days, so his thinking was somewhat sluggish. Before he could ask clearly, he heard Prince Dongping sneer.
This laugh was full of mockery and somewhat grating.
Prince Dongping looked down at him condescendingly, his eyes unusually bright. “I’m not your son at all! Never have been!”
Han Zhengqing didn’t react. Clearly Prince Dongping’s words were extremely clear, each word enunciated with perfect clarity, but when put together, he seemed unable to comprehend the meaning. He woodenly opened his mouth and laughed. “That’s not for you to decide.”
Children these days were simply too calculating. He had clearly already decided not to influence his son anymore, wanting to let his son live well, but this child just couldn’t show any understanding at all.
Prince Dongping indeed had no intention of showing him understanding. He looked at Han Zhengqing with some pity, couldn’t help but laugh mockingly again. “It was at the Marquis Jinxiang’s estate, wasn’t it? You were drunk, weren’t you? Do you still remember that besides Lianqiao, there was another woman called Ziyan by my mother’s side?”
Han Zhengqing seemed to understand somewhat, yet also not understand. His hands trembled, the flesh on his face quivering.
“What are you thinking? What dream are you having? Don’t you know perfectly well whether my father is an idiot or not? Where would my mother truly have the ability to defy him?” He laughed, clasped his hands behind his back, finally feeling like he had expelled a breath of foul air. His entire being felt refreshed and clear-headed. Looking at Han Zhengqing’s expression of rage and despair, he laughed aloud. “Only you, this fool, took it seriously, being played for a complete fool by a woman. I’m truly grateful my mother looked down on you. A man who, for the sake of a woman, cast aside his family, cast aside his clansmen, didn’t act like a son to his son, disloyal and unfilial, unbenevolent and unrighteous—you’ve covered them all. How are you fit to be anyone’s father? If I truly had a father like you, I’d slit my own throat first.”
He had wanted to say these words for a long time. Holding them in his heart was like having a thorn embedded there, making him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles, unable to rest peacefully for a moment. Now that this thorn had finally been extracted, he had released the great weight on his heart. Facing Han Zhengqing, whose eyes were already bloodshot and looked extremely frightening, he said coldly, “Listen clearly. I am not your son. My mother was deceiving you from beginning to end. I look down on her, and I look down on you. I only wish that in my next life, I won’t be my mother’s son again, and I want nothing whatsoever to do with you!”
He flicked his sleeves and left, unwilling to spare even another glance at the person behind him. He returned to the palace to see the Crown Prince, hesitated for a long time, then knelt by the Crown Prince’s side and spoke of going to see Han Zhengqing. Afterward, he added, “If I didn’t make it clear, your son always felt there was a knot in his heart.”
The Crown Prince stroked his head and after a long while hummed in acknowledgment.
When the documents were submitted, all the civil and military officials of the court awaited a great purge—with the Crown Prince’s and Prince Gong’s assistance, Han Zhengqing had planted countless spies and moles throughout the capital. With Han Zhengqing’s confession, wouldn’t they catch them all with perfect accuracy?
But in the end, Emperor Jianzhang didn’t implicate many people. Apart from having the Imperial Guard raid one household, there were no other major moves.
Chief Minister Chang’s words made sense. Now was precisely the time when people were needed to do work. Those who were deeply implicated had already been rooted out during the previous border war. What remained were all small fry. When water is too clear, there are no fish; when people are too pure, they have no followers. Those who should be dealt with lightly should be given a way to survive.
Song Chengru also said this to Old Madam Song, then smiled. “Didn’t they say they’ve started looking at potential matches for Miss Yan? Right now the capital lacks joyful celebrations—this should be expedited. Also, the porridge distribution tents should be set up again. Distribute for another period—it’s also for our Great Zhou to have favorable weather, peaceful country, and safe people.”
Old Madam Song understood Old Master Song’s meaning. After the war, hearts still needed to be stabilized. When the aristocratic families and honored nobility showed their attitude, only then would the common people below be completely reassured. Previously, when the Tartars lingered before Zijing Pass, quite a few wealthy households in the capital had thoughts of fleeing, which had even caused an incident. Naturally they should guard against this now. She nodded and instructed the First Madam to handle it. Watching the First Madam leave, she then called for Second Madam Yin Yunduan. Seeing the wet nurse behind Yin Yunduan holding a nursing infant, she personally took the child into her hands, cooed and played with him, her face full of smiles as she looked at Yin Yunduan. “You’ve just given birth, yet I’m making you busy and tired again. About what I mentioned to you last time, regarding Miss Yan’s matter…”
Song Chuyan was Song Yi’s concubine-born daughter, so naturally Yin Yunduan should be the one handling her affairs. Old Madam Song had already discussed this with her before. Hearing Old Madam Song say this, she smiled. “Yes, this daughter-in-law has long since made plans.”