◎”Oh, this subject was thinking—with ten taels monthly salary, how can I marry a beautiful woman.”◎

Imperial Consort Lin knelt crying outside the palace hall seeking an audience with the Emperor, yet no one came to invite her in for a long time. Her heart grew increasingly pained.

Prince Qi’s heir, summoned to the palace, saw this scene and quickly helped her up: “You’re elderly—how can you withstand kneeling? Please return home. Your grandson will handle everything here.”

Imperial Consort Lin cried resentfully: “When you go in, you must properly ask your Imperial Grandfather why the deceased still lies in his coffin unburied while the killer gets to defend himself inside!”

Hearing this, Prince Qi’s heir’s expression changed: “Grandmother!”

These were greatly disrespectful words.

Imperial Consort Lin at her age had sent a black-haired person off—how could she let this rest: “But Aji is dead! A human life—can it just be passed over so lightly?”

Hearing this, Prince Qi’s heir’s expression suddenly grew complex. He thought of four years ago.

Back then, Lin Ji had designed the murder of a Shuzhou commoner woman to prove his intelligence and talent, prompting Old Madam Shou to seek an imperial audience. The old lady had said similar words then.

She had said: “Abai, you’re an upright good child. Do you also think a murderer can freely defend his crimes while the innocent dead cannot rest in peace?”

Prince Qi’s heir had been young then and blushed with shame.

The old lady had shaken her head: “Help me persuade Imperial Consort. Tell her not to fixate on Yu Qingwu beating Lin Ji. Since someone was already killed and advantage taken, be magnanimous—this is when you accumulate virtue for yourself. Otherwise, the gods watch from above—who knows when it will fall upon oneself?”

He had gone to persuade his grandmother. Imperial Consort Lin had said: “People have ranks—this is determined at birth. Since we’re in Luoyang, we follow our rules here. Not to mention just a Shuzhou commoner woman—even if it were the governor of Shuzhou’s daughter, taken before His Majesty, could they kill Aji in compensation?”

Now, not even five years later, things seemed to have truly turned full circle—the world indeed had ranks.

Ayang was His Majesty’s beloved young grandson, pampered since childhood. Aji was merely the heir of Marquis Boyuan’s residence. Over the years he’d caused plenty of trouble—His Majesty was already displeased. Being so, how could Ayang possibly be killed for Aji’s death?

He sighed, vaguely understanding why today His Majesty hadn’t summoned Father or Marquis Boyuan to the palace—because he himself was reasonable and wouldn’t fixate on Ayang.

Before coming, Father had even said: “Since things are already thus, if Aji’s life can’t topple Prince Wei, use whatever other value his death has.”

Father’s words made him uncomfortable inside. Ordinarily, Father seemed to favor Aji most, but now that Aji was dead, Father acted as if he didn’t care.

Prince Qi’s heir sighed. After much persuading, he convinced Imperial Consort Lin to return home, then hurriedly entered the inner hall.

Inside, Prince Wei beat Prince Wei’s heir with a shoe. The heir rolled on the ground wailing: “Imperial Grandfather, I truly didn’t mean to! He stole my woman! He wanted to humiliate me! He even said when Uncle Qi ascends the throne he’d kill me!”

Prince Wei shouted sternly: “What nonsense! Even if Aji was wrong, you should know he was your childhood playmate. How could you strike so viciously!”

Prince Wei’s heir cried: “I didn’t intend to! He tried to hit me first—I just fought back.”

Who knew he’d use too much force—one blow and he died.

The Emperor laughed coldly: “The person is already dead. Whatever you say, there’s no way to verify.”

Prince Wei was about to scold his son when the Emperor rebuked him: “Enough! Why play the strict father before me? If you’d truly taught him this way ordinarily, would he dare kill? Would he dare deflect blame at this moment? Quickly think how to resolve this matter! After you leave, Prince Qi and Marquis Boyuan will surely come demanding justice!”

Prince Wei said righteously: “Everything is at Father Emperor’s disposal.”

The Emperor’s anger flared. He grabbed a memorial and threw it: “Then I’ll kill Ayang to avenge Aji!”

Prince Wei’s heir wailed: “Imperial Grandfather, I truly didn’t mean to.”

That day he’d gotten drunk with others. At the drinking table they spoke lewdly, so he wanted to go to Yangliu Lane for some warmth. But upon entering, he heard sounds of a man and woman doing that inside—how could he restrain himself?

He said: “There was a stool nearby—I just grabbed it and smashed it over—”

Listening from the side, Prince Qi’s heir ultimately stood with Aji, his expression already very poor, yet constrained from cursing before the Emperor.

The Emperor glanced at him and called him over, saying slowly: “Abai, come. I’ll ask you—answer truthfully.”

Prince Qi’s heir quickly nodded: “Your grandson understands.”

The Emperor smiled: “Right now, you’re the one I trust most. You’ve been an upright child since young.”

Prince Qi’s heir: “Your grandson dare not lie.”

The Emperor nodded: “I ask you—why did Aji go…”

His expression turned ugly, feeling even saying the word was disgusting: “Why did he go steal Ayang’s mistress?”

Prince Qi’s heir had been coached by Prince Qi beforehand. He’d said: “His Majesty wants to smooth things over—we can’t oppose him.”

So Prince Qi’s heir spoke truthfully: “Your grandson had never heard before, but yesterday when questioning Aji’s attendants, I learned Aji had a perverse temperament. Having small grievances with Ayang ordinarily, he wanted… wanted revenge.”

Men’s methods of revenge against men were actually many, but Aji had chosen the worst one.

Prince Qi’s heir himself felt this matter was truly absurd. But Aji had always been thus—acting rashly, disregarding consequences. Now meeting his match, he’d lost his life—truly one didn’t know what to say.

The Emperor indeed wanted to hear this answer. But when Prince Qi’s heir actually said it, he felt something was wrong, uncomfortable inside.

His expression unchanged: “Viewed thus, it’s fifty strokes each.”

Prince Qi’s heir nodded, knowing this matter would pass for now. What followed was how to compensate Marquis Boyuan’s residence.

Prince Wei’s expression finally relaxed somewhat: “Still, Ayang’s fault is greater. Father Emperor should punish him severely.”

The Emperor after all didn’t want to kill his grandson, but also didn’t want to hurt Prince Qi and Marquis Boyuan’s hearts. He first pronounced judgment to set the punishment: “Punish Ayang by having him cultivate at a temple to atone for Aji—for fifteen years.”

Prince Wei’s heir was terrified at fifteen years’ punishment. Prince Wei slapped his face: “Why don’t you quickly thank your Imperial Grandfather!”

Fifteen years now would become ten years, five years, one year later.

He said: “Thank you, Father Emperor.”

The Emperor now didn’t want to see him at all, only asking: “Abai, where is your father?”

Prince Qi’s heir hesitated this time, but ultimately didn’t dare lie: “He’s interrogating a prisoner at Luoyang Prefecture.”

The Emperor frowned: “Interrogating whom at such a time?”

Wasn’t the criminal right here?

He glanced at Ayang: “Who else?”

Prince Wei’s heir had been frightened today and quickly shook his head vigorously: “Don’t know! I went alone—no accomplices.”

Prince Wei’s eyes went dark—how did he give birth to such a fool!

Prince Qi’s heir then said: “The Hanlin Academy lecturer, Yu Qingwu.”

For a moment the Emperor couldn’t recall who this person was. Prince Qi’s heir recounted Yu Qingwu and Lin Ji’s entanglement: “A few days ago, he bought property in Yangliu Lane.”

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly: “What does your father mean?”

Prince Qi’s heir saw the Emperor’s expression wasn’t right but couldn’t discern his meaning. He could only bow respectfully: “Father feels such coincidence—Aji also died in Yangliu Lane. Perhaps Aji’s death was his scheme, and Ayang merely a scapegoat.”

Prince Wei’s heir rejoiced. Prince Wei frowned, vaguely uneasy inside.

The Emperor thought of the Imperial Grand Prince.

Abai courted the Song family’s eldest, Ayang the Song family’s third. Only the Imperial Grand Prince hadn’t targeted aristocratic families but instead valued Wu Qingchuan’s disciple.

The Emperor understood his meaning. He was showing respect to Wu Qingchuan.

Just as the Emperor these years gradually reminisced about the Crown Prince, the Imperial Grand Prince also cherished the Crown Prince’s memory. He didn’t reminisce about other things, only saying: “Your grandson doesn’t remember much about others, only that Minister Wu frequently came to the Eastern Palace. Father often mentioned him before passing.”

“But he’s already entered the Cabinet now—your grandson can’t assist him there, so I’ll just help his student somewhat.”

For the Emperor, elevating someone like Yu Qingwu would take at least five years to compare with aristocratic families. The Imperial Grand Prince should indeed be maintaining the Crown Prince’s lingering connections.

The Emperor was moved. He felt only the Grand Prince in this world remembered the Crown Prince as he did.

The Empress always said he was being hypocritical now, but who knew he dreamed of the Crown Prince nightly? He was sincerely regretting.

So the Emperor always wanted to protect the Imperial Grand Prince somewhat. Just as seventeen years ago, he’d always wanted to protect Prince Qi somewhat.

And now, Aji was dead. Prince Qi didn’t come to kill Ayang, even having Abai defend Ayang—clearly meaning to let it pass lightly.

But turning around, he arrested Yu Qingwu.

The Emperor’s mind stirred—was this giving favor to Prince Wei, joining him to suppress the Imperial Grand Prince?

He felt slightly displeased inside.

He asked: “Is there evidence?”

Under his increasingly authoritative gaze, Prince Qi’s heir bent lower, ultimately shaking his head: “No.”

No evidence.

Without any evidence, he’d arrested someone.

—

In the Court of Judicial Review’s prison, darkness prevented seeing daylight. Layer upon layer of spiraling oil lamps resembled ghost fires, making this underworld appear even more miserable.

Wu Qingchuan’s expression was angry. Striding forward, hurrying down the steps, he saw Yu Qingwu prostrate on the ground, not a patch of intact flesh on his body.

Though rushing over immediately upon receiving news, he was still a step too late.

His steps halted. Fearing he’d faint, he simply closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. Taking a deep breath, he said painfully: “Why must you suffer so!”

The jailers left with others, making space for them to talk. Yu Qingwu, having endured a beating, was half-dead, his vision blurred. He struggled to lift his head and saw Teacher stumbling over.

Yu Qingwu was startled—he hadn’t expected Teacher to come.

He’d thought Teacher wouldn’t come.

He said softly: “How wonderful if Teacher hadn’t come.”

Wu Qingchuan had already reached him, trembling as he extended his hand to touch his torn and tattered flesh, his eyes moistening: “What foolish talk! You were raised by me—how could I not come?”

But Yu Qingwu struggled to raise his hand, blocking his touch, then slowly propped himself against the wall to sit up, the pain making his face even paler.

He panted shallowly several times and shook his head. The refusal was obvious.

Wu Qingchuan’s face darkened: “What do you mean by this?”

Yu Qingwu slowly raised his head and suddenly said: “—When Yingying died, Teacher wouldn’t accept the letter.”

“When Elder Brother died, Teacher hid evidence.”

Word by word: “Now, I’ve merely been beaten, yet Teacher comes crying to visit.”

“With Teacher’s arrival, my flesh no longer hurts, yet I feel heart-rending, bone-cutting pain—I feel such shame that even in death, I’d have no face to meet Elder Brother and Yingying.”

Wu Qingchuan’s outstretched hand slowly dropped.

He said quietly: “Who told you? The Imperial Grand Prince?”

Yu Qingwu sat upright, his lips trembling more, his voice becoming hoarse: “No one needed to tell me—I could figure it out. I just didn’t dare think about it.”

“I truly never imagined…”

“Four years ago, when Elder Brother said you didn’t fail to receive the letter but just didn’t want to interfere, I thought he was transferring anger over Yingying’s death to you. I even quarreled with him over it. Last year when Elder Brother died, my first thought was to ask Teacher to investigate—I was truly raised by Teacher. I didn’t dare question Teacher in the slightest. I thought Teacher was like a father to me—surely wouldn’t deceive me—”

Wu Qingchuan turned away, interrupting him emphatically: “I did much wrong, but I truly treated you as my own son.”

Hearing this, Yu Qingwu couldn’t catch his breath and immediately began coughing. After his breathing calmed, he said dazedly: “Not anymore. If after avenging my great grievances I still associate with Teacher, how could I face Elder Brother and Yingying when making offerings?”

Wu Qingchuan angrily struck the wall: “You’re being stubborn again! Whatever my faults, I never harmed you! You’re angry at me—I can’t defend myself much. I only ask that one day when you reach my position, you can forgive me two or three parts.”

Yu Qingwu then also shouted: “It’s not that I need to forgive Teacher—how am I qualified to forgive Teacher?”

His voice gradually lowered: “Everything I have came from Teacher. The house did, the clothes did…”

“The books did, the brushes did, the learning, the aspirations—all of it.”

He gritted his teeth: “Precisely because it’s all from you, I cannot freely hate Teacher!”

“But being human, conducting oneself—shouldn’t one live up to one’s conscience? Teacher taught me this—how can Teacher forget?”

“Does Teacher remember that year on Mount Duancang when you were ill? I alone couldn’t manage, so I wrote Elder Brother, having him bring Yingying to help?”

His hands clenched tighter: “Has Teacher never received kindness from him? Even Yingying—she suffered anger transferred because Elder Brother spoke for you.”

Yu Qingwu truly didn’t understand how the Teacher who once taught him propriety, righteousness, integrity and honor had become like this.

He said: “So Teacher, you don’t need my forgiveness. Just remember in midnight dreams, when Elder Brother brings Yingying to question you, to seek their forgiveness.”

Wu Qingchuan was humiliated and enraged, yet his heart was being cut with knives. Did he want to be this kind of person?

Back when His Majesty cast him to Shuzhou, everyone could step on him. He endured nearly ten years of such days until he finally couldn’t bear it and thought to return.

He lowered his head, just as the Crown Prince and Duan Boyan had lowered theirs. His Majesty was pleased and let him return to Luoyang to balance court factions. So he was mocked by everyone, saying he was ungrateful, betraying his past.

But what about His Majesty? He killed those people back then. Now regretting it, reminiscing about the Crown Prince’s goodness, he actually blamed him for failing the Crown Prince.

With a muddled ruler in power, he could only look after himself more—what was wrong with that?

He said in exasperation: “If you think I was wrong, if you think everything you have came from me, then return it all to me! I want to see how you’ll return those books, those words, that learning, those aspirations—how will you return these to me?”

Yu Qingwu smiled: “These things—Teacher did teach me.”

“But Buddhism has a saying: ‘Admiring others’ treasures, they’re ultimately not one’s own portion’… What Teacher taught me, I remember in my heart. But I think, from knowing Teacher and I have divergent paths, Teacher’s principles are no longer my principles…”

He shook his head, struggling to stand using the wall: “If I can leave here, I’ll seek my own principles.”

“Henceforth, Teacher and I are strangers. Teacher and I—no more connection.”

Wu Qingchuan angrily swept his sleeves and left. Yu Qingwu stared blankly. After a long while, the Imperial Grand Prince came down the steps, asking gently: “What are you thinking?”

Yu Qingwu smiled and slowly wiped the blood from his face: “Oh, this subject was thinking—with ten taels monthly salary, how can I marry a beautiful woman.”