Speaking to this point, Marquis Jing’an was already weeping with tears streaming down his aged face.

He had always firmly believed that secrets spoken aloud would no longer be secrets, so the fewer people who knew about Marquis Zhenyuan’s surviving heir, the better.

Over these years, he had felt guilt, depression, and fear, but he had never once regretted saving Marquis Zhenyuan’s youngest son.

Marquis Zhenyuan had been the backbone of Great Liang, shouldering the burden of ten thousand li of mountains and rivers. Such a person’s bloodline could not be severed.

“Lan Shan has controlled the court for over ten years, relying on far more than just flattery and sycophancy. After the rumors about you being an illegitimate son spread like wildfire, I thought it over repeatedly and felt this matter probably couldn’t be hidden from him anymore. So I summoned you here—I couldn’t keep you in the dark any longer.”

Shao Mingyuan lowered his eyes and said nothing.

What could he say? Thank heaven for treating him well, letting him escape the humiliating identity of an illegitimate son?

But what about the lives of his entire clan?

The sovereign he served loyally was the cruel executioner who slaughtered his entire clan, not even sparing young children.

Shao Mingyuan had never felt so lost before.

He knew such thoughts were treasonous, but that resentment coiled in his chest with nowhere to vent.

Marquis Jing’an’s voice, clearly carrying the weight of old age, sounded in his ears: “I’ve already arranged for your third brother to study at White Deer Academy in Heyu. There are my old subordinates there. Should anything happen to the family, at least they can protect him to live out his life under an assumed name. Mingyuan, I’m telling you this secret so you’ll be prepared. If you can devise some response, that would be even better. I am incompetent—aside from passively waiting for Lan Shan’s moves, I have no good solutions.”

In the capital, military generals could never outmatch civil officials.

When scholars rebelled, they couldn’t succeed even in ten years. Looking back hundreds of years, there had never been a literati who rose and changed dynasties. Therefore, emperors throughout history would subconsciously be wary of military generals while trusting civil officials more.

Once they returned to the capital, those who had led troops would have their military authority stripped away. Like tigers entering cages, they only looked frightening but posed no real threat, completely incomparable to those close imperial ministers whose casual words could determine life and death.

Marquis Jing’an looked at Shao Mingyuan with profound eyes.

He knew this young man was different. Because of his exceptional talent for commanding troops, even as a fierce tiger locked in a cage, the one on the dragon throne wouldn’t casually raise the blade against him.

But the former Marquis Zhenyuan had been equally outstanding, yet still couldn’t escape the fate of being discarded once his usefulness ended.

“Father, you… need not worry about me…” Shao Mingyuan’s voice was low, his expression inscrutable. “What about elder brother and the others?”

“Them?” Pain flashed in Marquis Jing’an’s eyes. “Your elder brother cannot leave. If he left, Lan Shan would see right through it.”

Speaking to this point, Marquis Jing’an closed his eyes: “Your elder brother is the heir. This is the responsibility he must shoulder, and also the punishment he must bear.”

From the day he took in Marquis Zhenyuan’s youngest son, he had thought countless times about the outcome should the matter be exposed, but he had no regrets.

If he regretted it, what would those censors who died crashing into dragon pillars amount to? What would those ministers who lost their positions or even their lives for angering the emperor by pleading amount to? What would those righteous men who helped cover Marquis Zhenyuan’s youngest son’s escape and then committed suicide to keep the secret amount to?

Marquis Zhenyuan had risked a hundred deaths to protect the homeland. Naturally, they would also risk everything to preserve this drop of his bloodline for him.

Shao Mingyuan knelt on one knee.

Marquis Jing’an hurriedly bent down to help him up: “Mingyuan, what are you doing?”

“Father, please rest assured. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Marquis Jing’an helped Shao Mingyuan to his feet, his expression still heavy with worry: “Mingyuan, what are you planning to do?”

Seeing Shao Mingyuan remain silent, Marquis Jing’an was alarmed: “Mingyuan, you mustn’t act rashly. I know your subordinates are exceptional, but your personal guards number only a few hundred in total. Forget about the various capital guards—even the Jinlin Guards alone number nearly ten thousand. To confront them would be like throwing eggs against rocks. Moreover—”

Marquis Jing’an looked deeply at Shao Mingyuan: “Moreover, your father was a respected, loyal minister and excellent general. You cannot tarnish his reputation through momentary rashness.”

“Father, where are your thoughts going? Please rest assured, I won’t act recklessly.”

“Good that you won’t act recklessly.” Marquis Jing’an breathed a sigh of relief.

“However, as a precaution, having the third brother go study at White Deer Academy is perfect.”

Marquis Jing’an nodded with a forced smile: “Yes, I’ll have him set out tomorrow.”

Speaking to this point, Marquis Jing’an hesitated before asking: “Mingyuan, what do you plan to do?”

Shao Mingyuan was silent for a moment before saying, “I will find a way to clear Marquis Zhenyuan’s entire clan of their unjust charges.”

“That’s impossible!” Marquis Jing’an blurted out.

Shao Mingyuan’s eyes flickered slightly.

Marquis Jing’an sighed: “The original edict was issued by His Majesty’s insistence. If Marquis Zhenyuan could be cleared of unjust charges, wouldn’t that mean making His Majesty admit he was wrong back then?”

With Emperor Mingkang’s stubborn nature, how could he admit he was wrong?

“When the time comes that he has no choice but to admit it, then he’ll have to admit it.” A cold light flashed in Shao Mingyuan’s eyes. “Father, I’ll head back first.”

“Go attend to your business.”

Shao Mingyuan walked outside and happened to encounter the heir’s wife Lady Wang walking this way, followed by a maid carrying a food box.

“Sister-in-law.”

“Second brother, are you heading back?”

“Yes.”

“Stay and dine with the Marquis. The Marquis hasn’t eaten much these past two days. These dishes are just enough for two people.”

“No need, sister-in-law. I have matters at my residence.” Shao Mingyuan politely declined. “Sister-in-law, please help persuade Father more. Only by taking care of his health can other matters be discussed.”

Seeing Shao Mingyuan’s hurried expression, Lady Wang didn’t press further: “Since second brother has business to attend to, I won’t detain you. Take care, second brother.”

At the study door, Lady Wang took the food box from the maid’s hands and gently knocked: “My lord, may your daughter-in-law enter?”

“Come in.”

Lady Wang entered with the maid and persuaded: “My lord, your daughter-in-law heard you have no appetite, so I specially instructed the kitchen to make pickled cucumber strips and black chicken congee. Please eat at least a little.”

“Just leave the things. I’ll eat in a while.”

Lady Wang hesitated before saying: “Just now your daughter-in-law encountered second brother. Second brother also said that you must take care of your health before other matters can be discussed.”

“Thank you for your concern.” Marquis Jing’an looked at Lady Wang’s young face and sighed softly in his heart, then asked: “Lady Wang, I remember next month is your father’s fiftieth birthday?”

Lady Wang was startled, then nodded.

“Though your family home is somewhat distant, your father-in-law’s fiftieth birthday shouldn’t be missed. Pack up these next few days and return to your family home.”

“Your daughter-in-law was originally planning to mention this to you, my lord. It’s just that Autumn Brother and Little Niuniu are both too young. Your daughter-in-law worries that taking them both on such a long journey might make them ill, so this time I only planned to take East Brother.”

Marquis Jing’an was silent for a moment, then smiled with difficulty: “Yes, they’re too young. Just leave them here. Taking East Brother back will be fine…”

Speaking toward the end, Marquis Jing’an’s voice became hoarse. Lady Wang found this strange but couldn’t figure out why. After urging Marquis Jing’an a few more times, she departed.