Firewood burned in the courtyard, and even a light drizzle from the sky couldn’t stop the flames. Several young eunuchs crouched on the ground, throwing the confiscated medicinal herbs into the fire.

Ever since the Old Ancestor had handed over what was in his hands, Zhang Minwang had forgotten what it felt like not to kneel for long stretches.

His knees ached like needles, but he showed none of it on his face, still kneeling in trembling reverence, for kneeling was the basic training of people like them — including the Old Ancestor above, who had fallen halfway into the abyss.

No one could kneel like a eunuch.

There was no anger in She Qingling’s heart. What was bound to come would come; he had done all he could do. Now he could only watch in silence as those medicinal herbs were carried off to be burned to ash.

A full six years — since Emperor Wu ascended the throne, not a single imperial prince had been born in the harem. Even when an imperial princess was born, she was always sickly and frail.

Why had it come to this, why had things reached this point — in all the world, only She Qingling understood exactly what had happened.

But no matter how clearly he understood it in his heart, he couldn’t expose it. He still had to act as though he shared in the grief, had to put on the look of bitter disappointment in those he’d failed to properly guide, and sigh deeply as he asked these disciples he’d personally raised: “Do you still remember what I taught you the day I brought you out?”

Among the chief eunuchs present, despite whatever authority they each held, only Zhang Minwang could speak with the Old Ancestor at this moment, so they all turned to look at him together.

Zhang Minwang’s body trembled. He raised his head to look at the Old Ancestor, his lips quivering as he said, “I remember.”

She Qingling smiled slightly and asked, “How much do you remember?”

A few young eunuchs came over carrying a bronze basin, hair oil, and combs, kneeling behind him to help comb and tie up his hair.

Perhaps enjoying the service, She Qingling slowly closed his eyes.

Zhang Minwang knelt below, raising his sleeve to wipe his sweat, glancing back a few times. No one dared speak. Gritting his teeth, he finally turned his face to She Qingling and said, “Every word the Old Ancestor taught that day is deeply engraved in my heart. I would never dare to neglect it — I recite it night after night, over and over.”

She Qingling didn’t open his eyes, and listened as Zhang Minwang began to recite: “Restrain your edge within, be humble and compliant to avoid calamity. Misfortune comes from too many words; greed and desire breed disaster. It is hard enough being a lowly man, sorrow upon sorrow, with no choice but to endure. Living is harder still — so what is to be done? The wise above are loyal, the wise in the middle are loyal, the wise below are loyal. The foolish choose the best plan, the foolish choose the middle plan, the foolish choose the worst plan… Those who use loyalty profit, those who use foolishness survive… This is the Scripture of the Lowly Man for Averting Calamity. Begin — begin the recitation.”

As he recited to this point, he raised his head to look at She Qingling’s expression, and was so frightened he flinched.

The Old Ancestor’s hair had already been tied up and netted, but what he wore was not the gold-traced curved-horn cap of a former chief eunuch, but rather the three-colored jade-pillar seven-beam coronet of a Prince of the Second Rank.

Right, of course — by bloodline, what did this person have in common with himself anymore?

She Qingling raised his hand to adjust his coronet, his tone unchanged as he asked, “Which point did you reach?”

Zhang Minwang bit his lip. “The middle plan of foolishness. By the Old Ancestor’s grace, this humble one was never clever.”

She Qingling glanced at the sky and finally sighed. “Not stupid, then. Why would you want to be clever? Of this one scripture, how many points have you achieved?”

Zhang Minwang said, “Self-examination, restraining desire, cautious speech — just, just these three.”

She Qingling nodded, seeming to recall something, and tapped his fingers on the table beside him one by one, until the things in the courtyard had finished burning and the flames had died down somewhat. Only then did he slowly speak: “Everything else is fine. But what about your kindness toward goodness?”

Zhang Minwang raised his head. “In answer to the Old Ancestor — a fool cannot manage kindness.”

She Qingling showed no expression.

Zhang Minwang bit his lip until it bled again and ventured, “Old Ancestor, it’s not that we don’t want to reach the wise plan, but with your kind of wisdom, and our kind of background — how many good days have we even had? We’ve finally made it this far — this loyalty and courage, when you really think about it, it hurts so much—!”

His tears suddenly poured out.

Sighing softly, She Qingling finally said, “Very well then. Human wisdom cannot outmatch heaven’s will. Weng Jinzhong and the others — send them before the throne to await the Emperor’s judgment.”

Zhang Minwang’s head snapped up, his expression full of terror. He meant to smash his head to the ground until it bled, but the instant his head touched down, it landed on a soft cushion instead.

A young eunuch who had been tending the fire nodded at him and gravely advised, “The Chief Manager serves before His Majesty — doing this would only implicate the Old Ancestor and put him in a difficult position, wouldn’t it?”

Zhang Minwang had no way to respond, and could only lie prostrate on the ground, begging, “Old Ancestor, save me — some people have no choice, no choice! How innocent I am! My crime doesn’t deserve death…”

But She Qingling only laughed, and slowly, coldly forced out a few words: “Which of them did I not manage, not warn, not teach, back then? It’s only that you all stopped doing it — and now you want to play the good man? Too late! The Chief Manager himself doesn’t meddle in such matters anymore — you’ve all turned into fools, and now you cry injustice on their behalf? Isn’t that disgusting?”

He checked the time again and, somewhat impatiently, waved his hand, then raised his arm to let someone dress him in a red ceremonial robe.

Zhang Minwang and the other chief eunuchs staggered to their feet and stumbled out, their souls scattered from fear.

By coincidence, when they reached the gate, they saw Chen Dasheng arriving together with Lao Dao.

His heart lurched. Zhang Minwang rushed to grab Chen Dasheng and beg, “Little Ancestor, save me, please, save me.”

Having said this, he and the other eunuchs hurried off, as if something were chasing them from behind.

Chen Dasheng watched him leave, told a few of his brothers to wait outside, and strode into the courtyard alone with his sword.

By now the courtyard had already been swiftly cleaned. The bonfire and the remnants of the medicinal herbs were gone; the smoky air that had once lingered was masked by a cool, refreshing fragrance.

Chen Dasheng stopped, tilted his head to sniff, and smiled. “How much East Pavilion cloud-incense did you burn?”

She Qingling looked at his son and smiled warmly, his tone full of affection. “You’ve picked up some strange skills — you can actually smell it out?”

Chen Dasheng smiled. “Ah, plum-blossom brain, occupied wax-sink,番栀子 gardenia mixed together, that’s most likely it. Sixth Master likes to take things carelessly from Consort Xiao’s place — and only ever gives it to Little Seven, but Little Seven doesn’t use incense, so mostly it ends up benefiting your daughter-in-law instead.”

Having said this, he took the shoes a eunuch was holding and bent down to put them on his father’s feet one by one.

She Qingling, curious, asked as he switched feet, “Is that so? Why have I never smelled it at our house?”

Chen Dasheng helped him up and laughed, “Just you wait — such expensive things, and she’s so stingy she can’t bear to use them. She gives them all to the Meng family next door, and lets Madame Lu put them in the spice shop to sell.”

“Ha—!”

She Qingling burst out laughing. Truly, how to even describe it.

He’d been born into wealth and nobility — though he’d faced hardship, the environment around him had always been steeped in riches. All the women he’d known before were nothing like the women of this household; it wasn’t until he came to Qinwei Lane that his eyes were truly opened.

Whether the old madam or his own daughter-in-law — truly, they’d reached a level of frugality one could search heaven and earth for and never find again.

Of course, he wasn’t angry about it, nor did he mind in the least.

He was even rather proud of it — this person he doted on, even if she’d stepped in excrement, he wouldn’t think less of her for it.

And so he laughed, “Quite the worthy disciple of our old madam.”

Chen Dasheng was proud too. “That’s right — all saved up for your grandsons.”

She Qingling thought of little Gaoxing, and his heart melted into a puddle.

It was as if thinking of the child had summoned him. With this grandchild, his guilt toward the Chen family, toward Dasheng, had been eased by half.

He had been in the palace for many days now, secretly investigating certain matters, and today he had finally reached some understanding.

Back when they were still at home, it had also been Chen Dasheng who brought little Gaoxing out to show him a few glimpses every day; now he missed him even more.

So he asked, “How has Gaoxing been these past few days?”

Chen Dasheng smiled. “That one was born knowing how to enjoy life — eats well, drinks well, sleeps through the whole night too, doesn’t like to trouble people. His arms and legs are already round and plump.”

She Qingling nodded, longing showing plainly on his face, and sighed, “My grandson is truly a kind and gentle soul. Once these two months of busy work are done, we’ll go back and settle down for good — moving back and forth like this, it’s still more comfortable staying over at Qingfeng’s place. I wonder if An’er misses me?”

Chen Dasheng supported him as they walked out of the courtyard, laughing as he said, “Whenever something happens and his mother won’t agree to it, he thinks of you.”

“Ha! That child~ that child has always been closest to me of all.”

Now he was thoroughly delighted. When they reached the gate, eunuchs brought over a palanquin, but the Prince declined it, taking only Chen Dasheng down the old corridor, letting no one else follow.

When they reached the spot, the two of them, father and son, slowed their pace, and the smiles on both their faces sank away.

She Qingling said, “My son shouldn’t have come today.”

Chen Dasheng only tilted his head back and laughed heartily. “Listen to you. Things out front were in such chaos, how could I not look after you first?”

She Qingling’s brows knit tightly. “All the more reason you shouldn’t have come.”

Chen Dasheng bared his teeth in a grin. “I’m your son — how could I stay away? Zhang Minwang just now even asked me to plead on his behalf to you.”

Without breaking stride, She Qingling said mockingly, “Pleading now? Too late. No one can save them now. Of those I once brought up myself, at the very least a good portion will be lost this time.”

Chen Dasheng asked, his tone equally steady, “Do they~ all deserve death?”

She Qingling shook his head. “Today, go with open eyes to see, and afterward think it over carefully — who deserves death, who deserves to live? It’s all just people caught up in things beyond their control. There’s no real reasoning to be had in this matter — it only comes down to whether there’s benefit to this realm or not.”

Chen Dasheng drew a breath. “And if there’s benefit, but also real injustice?”

She Qingling’s face turned utterly stern. “Then let them file their complaint before King Yama in the underworld. As for now — that cannot be.”

“Truly there’s no way to save them?”

“No.”

“Understood.”

With that, the matter was settled between them.

Skirting a puddle of standing water, She Qingling stopped, stood in silence for a moment, then suddenly asked his son, “What does my son think of His Majesty?”

This spot was exactly the middle of the corridor.

It was here that Chen Dasheng had once led men in pursuit of the Deposed Emperor, years ago.

The empire’s last loyal ministers had all perished right here — some of them, before dying, had worn looks of relief, even smiles.

Chen Dasheng had never been able to make sense of this before, but today he vaguely began to grasp the edges of it.

Uneasy as he felt, he thought again — back then he’d simply been the blade; he’d never stopped to consider whether the person beneath the blade was good, or loyal.

He’d had to make sure he himself survived first.

Now his father was asking — what did he think of His Majesty?

Chen Dasheng gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and looked at his father. “Actually, son has always felt that Father always liked to think things through so elaborately and thoroughly — it seemed exhausting. To me, the Emperor and the rich landlord from our old village aren’t really so different.”

She Qingling looked at him in astonishment, staring at his son in disbelief for a good while before saying, “My son — you’ve read quite a few books, it seems.”

Chen Dasheng laughed carelessly. “However many books I’ve read, that’s still how I see it. The landlord’s two mu of land in front of his house — whoever dares take advantage on his land isn’t worth much as a person, and he’ll surely find some way to get revenge. It’s his land, after all.”

She Qingling’s throat moved. “Can — can it really be put that way?”

Chen Dasheng nodded, speaking with conviction. “Of course. How else would you put it? It’s just like our old madam’s kang cabinet — if it’s not one of her own grandchildren, just let someone else try to touch it. She’d curse their ancestors eight generations back straight into their graves.”

She Qingling walked on with his hands behind his back, saying as he went, “Seems to me your wife’s touched it plenty of times too.”

Chen Dasheng caught up. “As if you’d dare provoke her — the old madam’s no fool.”

She Qingling stopped again, his tone showing a touch of ease. “That landlord my son spoke of — what if he deliberately buried something in his field, to lure people into trespassing on his land and committing a crime?”

Chen Dasheng closed his eyes and opened them again. “How would a good man be lured? It’s only because there’s already a ghost in one’s heart — petty men, scheming and covetous, only take the bait when they already have designs. A good man, even with gold ingots right in front of him, you can watch and see whether his heart even stirs.”

She Qingling drew a breath. “It’s not about petty men, either. It’s just that — any landlord who wants his descendants to hold that land for generations to come would probably have to take this road — killing the chicken to warn the monkey!”

There was a sharp crack — a paving stone in the palace shattered like a spider’s web.

Chen Dasheng looked down and examined it for a long moment before saying, “This foundation stone is from the previous dynasty — it really is quite old, after all these years.”

She Qingling looked at it too and nodded. “Mm, I think a good number of the stones along this corridor need replacing.”

Chen Dasheng looked around, walked to the wall, and pounded his fist against the palace wall, shouting under his breath a few times — hard to bear, hard to bear, hard to bear!

Having shouted it out, he shook out his hand, then walked back in front of his father, bent down and said, “Father is getting on in years, and the children at home have grown up too. This road isn’t easy to walk — let me carry you on my back. Don’t be afraid. You have someone to lean on, someone to depend on — there’s nothing you need fear.”

She Qingling laughed behind him, and slowly climbed onto his son’s back.

Chen Dasheng gave a slight effort, hoisting his father’s body a little higher, and strode forward with great steps as he said, “Truly, don’t laugh at me. Today I’ll let you in on something — even if things really do rot through, rot all the way down to the underworld, we’re still not afraid! We have backing — your daughter-in-law is quite formidable. If anything happens to you, she’ll dig a thousand feet into the earth to pull you back out, guaranteed!”

She Qingling reached back and swatted the back of his head, chiding, “Why don’t you say you’ll save me yourself? Bringing your wife out as an offering instead.”

Chen Dasheng, helpless, called out softly, “Son means it sincerely! Hey, and you’re still hitting me—?”

While this father and son shared this tender, affectionate moment, today, in front of the newly built Changxin Hall of the Great Liang palace, chaos reigned.

At the end of the Chen hour, the high officials entered the palace, but instead of going to the morning court at Dongming Hall, they were led by eunuchs to stand before the newly built but never-yet-used Changxin Hall.

Once there, His Majesty did not summon the assembled officials into the hall, only commanding them to await the proclamation outside.

The officials, too, sensed something strangely amiss about the day, exchanging glances to probe one another, yet no one had received any word.

Around the second quarter of the Si hour, a heaven-shaking wail of crying suddenly rose from the rear palace. By the time the person was brought forward, the assembled officials were struck with shock.

At the very front was none other than Empress Cao.

As if she had long known this day would come, the Empress had dressed with unusual solemnity today — wearing the pheasant robe, a nine-dragon four-phoenix coronet, the great sash and great ribbon, holding the jade tablet in her hand.

Six years into the Great Liang era, Lady Cao’s status had remained awkward — she had never formally taken her place as Empress in the main palace, so this set of robes was, strictly speaking, without proper title or claim.

Among the people, there was talk that the Emperor’s heart lay with Consort Xiao instead, and the court officials had murmured much about the matter.

However, this was also not among the items Lady Cao — never formally invested, never permitted the temple rites — should have had. Yet no one knew when it had already been made ready.

Minister of Rites Zheng Xingyun flew into a rage at once and rebuked her: “Lady Cao oversteps! Her intentions deserve death! Her crime is unpardonable!!”

Before he could even finish speaking, guards rushed forward, dragged him out from among the ranks of officials, and hauled him all the way to three feet behind the Empress, pressing him down to kneel there directly.

They did not remove his black gauze cap in the process, and yet he had already been humiliated all the same.

Zheng Xingyun, humiliated before the throne, immediately wished to dash his head against the ground and die.

But he was seized and pressed back down to the ground.

Empress Cao burst into laughter, laughing with utter wildness.

She said, “Interesting, interesting, truly interesting!”

A dead silence fell before Changxin Hall; the assembled officials all knelt in silence, leaving only Empress Cao laughing in her wild fit.

Not long after, Weng Jinzhong — once the foremost figure within the late Empress Dowager Zheng’s palace, later the Chief Steward within Empress Cao’s palace — was dragged out with his mouth gagged.

Behind him, crowds of palace maids and eunuchs were dragged out as well, and partway through the procession, even Daoist priestesses and Buddhist nuns — figures who had no business being there — appeared among the ranks.

The court officials grew even more shocked at this.

As this group was pulled out, numerous lesser consorts of the rear palace who held enough standing to reside in the main halls were also dragged out in great numbers.

And it did not end there. At the end of the Si hour, Zheng Aman, holding a blade with her hair unbound, rushed into the hall’s courtyard, intent on taking her own life before the throne in atonement — but she was knocked unconscious by guards already stationed there in wait and dragged away. Not long after, the white-haired Duke of Loyalty and Valor, Liu Pu, was dragged before the hall’s courtyard as well.

This elderly duke was one of those who had followed Emperor Wu, Yang Zao, when he first raised his army — everyone present was shocked at this.

Not long after that, several officials from the previous dynasty who had opened the city gates in surrender, and who had since risen to considerable standing under the new dynasty, were dragged out as well…

And then — even members of the imperial clan?

From this moment on, it was as if the gates of hell had opened, both within and beyond the palace — guards continued, without pause, to drag one honored, named and titled figure after another before Changxin Hall to kneel…

No matter how chaotic things grew outside, no matter how Zheng Xingyun howled the name of the late Empress Dowager, cursing the Emperor as an ungrateful wretch who meant to kick away the ladder the moment the old Empress Dowager had left this world — such wild, deranged words — the imperial carriage never appeared.

Not until She Qingling was carried into the courtyard of Changxin Hall on Chen Dasheng’s back did the terrified crowd finally feel able to breathe a little easier.

Someone cried out loudly, “There are wicked men harming the foundations of the court!! When those above harbor suspicion, calamity is bound to follow! We are wronged…!”

She Qingling came down off Chen Dasheng’s back, slowly drew his own jade tablet from his sleeve, and, solemn and dignified, climbed the steps, calling out three times before the hall to request an audience…

His Majesty still did not grant it. She Qingling looked over the courtyard, a scene of utter disarray, and finally slid the jade tablet slowly back into his sleeve. Then, extending both hands, he actually pushed the hall doors open and walked straight in?

He just — walked in?

The courtyard fell silent in that instant. Chen Dasheng looked around and saw, in the distance, Liu Daya, his face full of terror, shaking his head at him repeatedly; he saw Li Jingui standing in the corner, tears streaming from both eyes; he saw Chang Lianfang, face full of terror, being forcibly pulled backward by Chang Mianshen…

Many officials of the Ministry of Justice seemed to have been prepared in advance, standing at the corner, their expressions stiff and solemn.

Looking up again, atop the walls of Changxin Hall, the various guard posts had stationed men in great numbers in places they should not have been standing, and beside them stood the Minister of War, Sun Shouyi, fully armored.

Having taken in the sight, Chen Dasheng drew a breath and slowly climbed the steps as well.

He seemed to vaguely hear little Huar calling out to him: “Brother—!”

The voice was very faint, as if he’d misheard?

And so he arrived before the hall, turned, and stood at attention with his sword at his side.

Though His Majesty had not yet appeared before the throne today, it was still his turn to stand watch.

Not long after Chen Dasheng took his position, the Lao Dao brothers came one by one to stand outside Changxin Hall as well.

Atop the high wall, Sun Shouyi slowly let out a breath and slowly closed his eyes.

And within Changxin Palace, Emperor Wu, Yang Zao, looked at She Qingling before him, and after a long moment, laughed helplessly and said, “Why did you come dressed like this today?”

She Qingling touched his sash and looked at the Great Liang Emperor before him — sitting there lazily, feet propped up on the imperial desk, a wine flask in hand, cheeks flushed from drink — and said, “This solemn getup — I’ll be beaten in a moment anyway, might as well take it off looking sharp and dashing.”

Emperor Wu drew a breath, sat up straight, and laughed. After laughing, he looked at him and said, “Qingling, you were in this palace since you were young — you must have seen no small number of texts on the art of kingship, haven’t you?”

She Qingling shook his head. “I only heard them talking nonsense. There was never any such thing.”

Emperor Wu nodded. “And yet — it seems I’ve come to grasp a few edges of it myself now.”

She Qingling nodded too. “That’s a good thing.”

Emperor Wu pursed his lips, put his feet down, picked up the wine flask, and walked down the steps, looking over the new hall. “Do you know why I’ve never wanted to come here?”

She Qingling shook his head.

Emperor Wu, with no intention of listening to his opinion, went on speaking to himself. “Long ago — oh, back when we were children — that Master Wu who always liked to critique past and present, he always most enjoyed condemning emperors who slaughtered the founding ministers of their own dynasties. I remember I once said something reckless back then — do you remember what I said?”

She Qingling’s lips curved. “‘One day, if I become the King of Heaven, I will surely share the realm with worthy ministers!'”

Emperor Wu laughed, slowly sat down, and beckoned to She Qingling. “Come, sit. How old were we then?”

She Qingling walked slowly over to sit across from him, crossing his legs as he sat, even snatching the wine flask to take a few gulps before saying, “It was the first year after you returned.”

Emperor Wu nodded. “Afterward, Master Wu went and complained to Mother, and Mother had me brought to witness an execution. From then on, that reckless habit of mine was cured. She was quite good to me, in her way.”

She Qingling’s hand, holding the wine flask, paused for a moment; he tilted his head back and drained the last of the wine.

Emperor Wu said again, “Today, I’m afraid I’m going to break my word.”

She Qingling raised his sleeve to wipe his mouth.

Emperor Wu studied him seriously. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Have you come to counsel~ me?”

She Qingling looked at the empty wine flask, and after a long while said, “The She family has, for generations, been known for proud, unyielding bones. I’ve come today only to ask — as your elder brother, grant your younger brother a fine set of bones intact, worthy of being passed down through the ages, worthy even of being written into the histories — that too would be a fine thing.”

Emperor Wu’s eyes turned sharp in an instant. He glared at She Qingling, suppressing his anger. “So — is that what you mean, little brother? Have you come to remonstrate unto death?”

She Qingling glared back at him mockingly, his lips trembling for a long while before he said, “Bullshit… my second grandson isn’t even a hundred days old yet. If you don’t beat me hard today, tomorrow the whole court will be remonstrating unto death instead. If you deal with me, some others can escape with their lives — you’ll be able to breathe easier too. This beating — it still can’t be light…”

He watched the Emperor’s temples begin to tighten, plainly unwilling to give in to what he wanted.

So he slowly stood, bowed slowly, and clasped his hands together in a formal salute. “My lord cuts his own flesh today — allow this subject to bleed in your place!”

Emperor Wu’s lips trembled, his hands clenched tight, and he growled low, “Do you understand — this blade coming down, there is injustice in it.”

She Qingling said calmly, “But with each cut, someone escapes.”

Emperor Wu stepped forward, a stern killing intent overflowing from him. “Do you understand that this is a trap I set myself — one meant to lure people into it.”

She Qingling answered solemnly, “That my lord has already touched the edges of the art of kingship is truly fortunate.”

He tilted his head up to look at Emperor Wu, his own eyes red-rimmed, his lips trembling for a long while before he said with a bitter smile, “You’ve been forced into this with no other way out, then — so go and do it! Only — from now on, your days will truly be lonely.”

Emperor Wu drew a long breath, tears already slowly flowing, and said, “Ah, I knew it long ago, didn’t I — that I’d be alone in this. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you, Qingling — you’ve been afraid since you were small, afraid of pain.”

She Qingling looked up and laughed instead. “That was when I was young. You’ve endured all these years, haven’t you, just waiting for this day? If you can let go, why can’t I? For the sake of a flourishing age’s founding… someone has to make the cut cleanly and decisively, don’t they?”

Emperor Wu slowly stepped back, then suddenly swept everything off the imperial desk with one arm, glaring at She Qingling and cursing through held-back tears, “What kind of talk is that?! Those with ghosts in their hearts, those who wielded power through deceit, those who failed the state and envied the worthy — do they deserve to have you speak for them? Guards! Prince Rui’an has overstepped, speaking recklessly without restraint! Drag him out and give him — forty lashes!”