When they left the Ling residence, the hour was still early. With the freezing cold outside, wandering about seemed unwise, so Shaoshang suggested the two of them go to Apricot Blossom Villa to mooch a meal.

“Granny A’s culinary skills are exceptional. Originally my foster mother was unconvinced, but last time when I brought back some of Granny A’s air-dried meat, foster mother said nothing more! Once Granny A casually mentioned that she originally managed household affairs, and only started learning cooking after your parents divorced in order to care for Lady Huo. This is truly natural talent!”

Ling Buyi paused, saying quietly: “After father and mother divorced, many things changed.”

Shaoshang fell silent. The one whose life changed most was probably Ling Buyi himself.

“This winter is particularly cold. Who knows when this cold spell will pass? Both Her Majesty and your mother have been sickly and weak lately, fearing cold and having no appetite all day long. But if we burn more charcoal they start coughing. Oh, it worries me to death! Look, only our household’s Madam Xiao is full of vigor and spirit—two days ago she just gave Third Brother a beating, saying he was using the excuse of attending to Uncle Wan’s illness to avoid studying. Hmph, with First Brother and Second Brother at Uncle Wan’s side, what business is it of Third Brother’s? Serves him right! Mother didn’t burn his turtle shell, so he’s lucky!”

Ling Buyi laughed heartily: “Magistrate Wan’s injuries still haven’t healed? I thought he would immediately return to Xu Prefecture.”

“They’re mostly healed. He wants to wait for Father to return so they can meet.” Shaoshang said. “Actually, Uncle Wan is the originator of using illness to avoid matters. Mother is furious with him, but she can’t exactly storm over to the Wan household to beat him, so she can only beat Third Brother instead.”

Ling Buyi most loved hearing Shaoshang chatter about family matters—it always warmed and softened his heart. He said gently: “When Magistrate Wan returns to Xu Prefecture, invite your brothers and the Wan family ladies to Tugao Mountain Villa to soak in the hot springs. After all the recent shocks and scares, everyone has been both frightened and exhausted. Now they can relax and play.”

Shaoshang nodded: “The others should be fine, but whether Sister Qiqi can come out, I don’t know. A few days ago, Aunt Wan also returned to the capital. She’s good friends with Lady Yin, right? Seeing how Sister Ange’e has now learned to be gentle, virtuous, and well-organized, that very night she scolded Sister Qiqi thoroughly, then cried into her pillow. She said in the future the two sisters-in-law will inevitably be compared, and Sister Qiqi being so rash and unrefined, completely lacking a lady’s manner, will probably be compared all the way to Yanzhi Mountain!… So these past days Sister Qiqi is being confined by Aunt Yin to learn how to be a proper bride.”

Ling Buyi said slowly with a smile: “You’re also rash and unrefined, you also lack a lady’s manner. Princess Yuchang is famously virtuous throughout the capital. When the time comes, you won’t just be compared to Yanzhi Mountain—you’ll probably be sent to the Greater and Lesser Yuezhi.”

Shaoshang was furious: “If the princess is so wonderful, why don’t you go marry her?!”

Ling Buyi smiled: “Because I don’t like virtuous women. I like women who think wildly, act recklessly, and eat gluttonously…”

Shaoshang laughed and lunged at him to hit him: “Who eats gluttonously?! I think you’re the one talking nonsense, being unreasonably argumentative, making things up… Quick, what other phrases start with ‘wildly’? I can’t think of any more!”

The two wrestled and played in the carriage. Because of the cold weather, the carriage was tightly sealed. The Liangqiu brothers riding horses outside didn’t know what was happening inside—they only noticed the carriage body shaking, the wheels swaying unsteadily.

Liangqiu Fei suddenly thought of something and blushed: “This is outside though. The young master wouldn’t… would he?”

“He wouldn’t.” Liangqiu Qi’s expression remained normal. “The young master and the young lady are probably just playing around.”

“How does elder brother know?”

“Because I have four devoted female confidantes, while you managed to drive away even the gatekeeper’s daughter who once admired you.”

Liangqiu Fei: …

Arriving at Apricot Blossom Villa, Marquis Cui and his three sons were unsurprisingly there again.

Huo Junhua was quite ill this time. Having just taken medicine, she had fallen into a deep sleep. Only at times like this could Ling Buyi sit by the bed without interference, quietly gazing at his birth mother for a while.

Huo Junhua was no longer young. Even though she usually spoke and acted like a delicate young girl, the years and separations had still left traces of suffering and sorrow on her face.

Everyone said Ling Buyi resembled his father Ling Yi, but Shaoshang now felt Ling Buyi actually more resembled Huo Junhua—the same elegant eyebrows sweeping toward the temples, the same stubborn high-bridged nose, especially that obstinate pale chin, as if carved from the same mold.

Such features suited Ling Buyi’s face perfectly, but on a woman’s face they seemed too strong and not soft enough, making Huo Junhua’s beauty always carry an overbearing quality. Consort Yue was much better off—though her personality was even more combative, she looked charming and graceful. Shaoshang completely understood the Emperor Uncle’s choice.

Ling Buyi looked down at his birth mother for quite a while, then quietly walked out of the bedroom. The two Cui sons couldn’t wait to drag him, one on each side, to the outer courtyard to spar and play. Shaoshang sat with Marquis Cui in the corridor watching them.

Shaoshang saw Marquis Cui’s brows tightly furrowed and probed: “Is Lady Huo very seriously ill this time? I heard Granny A say this is her recurring winter ailment.”

Marquis Cui said: “It is a recurring ailment, but now Junhua is getting on in years. She can’t endure illness like she could when young and strong. I heard from Granny A that you used to come see Junhua every few days. Good child, that must have been hard on you. But you’ve also seen—this time Junhua has been unconscious more than ever before, barely able to take her medicine. The imperial physicians said, said…”

“They said Lady Huo’s constitution was actually hollowed out, and these years she’s only been holding on through good food and drink.” Shaoshang said quietly. “But I really don’t understand. When General Huo Chong was alive, Lady Huo lived in luxury. After coming to this Apricot Blossom Villa, His Majesty’s and Her Majesty’s rewards have been endless—deer tendons, leopard fetuses, wild ginseng, snow lotus. Her provisions are probably better than princesses and consorts. Which is to say, the lady truly suffered only during those two years lost and separated. Just two years—how could it have depleted her body so severely…”

Cui You thought of the goddess’s suffering, tears nearly falling: “When I found them, mother and son, Junhua was so thin she was unrecognizable. The whole journey she was melancholy and despondent. Only when I told her that dog Ling Yi had found a new love did she perk up! You can see that suffering isn’t measured by time. A single stab only takes a moment, but it’s immediately fatal!”

Shaoshang felt this wasn’t quite the right analogy but held back from saying so.

“Junhua was born prematurely to Lady Huo. She’s been in poor health since childhood. Sometimes when arguing with people, if she got too agitated she would faint. The Huo family expended great effort to save her life! Later she risked her life to give birth to Zicheng for that Ling scoundrel. Seeing the child sickly and weak, she nearly fainted to death again. Fortunately, Lady Huo gave Zicheng the name she had reserved for her own son. Strangely enough, once Zicheng had the Huo family son’s name, his health improved day by day…”

Shaoshang smiled: “Uncle Cui, you’re so biased. Which is to say, because Lady Huo was weak since childhood, no one could oppose her wishes or argue with her, or she would faint… And in the end she even took the name reserved by her sister-in-law for her son? So what did General Huo Chong do later?”

Cui You recalled the situation then and also smiled: “Lady Huo had a strange hobby—she loved neat parallelism. Her three sons and three daughters all had coordinated names: Buji, Buhai, Bushi, Buqi, Buwei, Buyi… Later when ‘Buyi’ was given to Junhua’s son, their youngest son could only be called ‘Wushang.'”

After saying this, he couldn’t help defending the goddess again: “Ordinary girls raised so pampered and spoiled might have terrible tempers, but Junhua is only sharp-tongued with a soft heart. As a child, seeing I was thin and small, thinking my family was poor and couldn’t afford food, she would often use her little dress to carry millet to give me, never forgetting to save me some treats. Alas, now everyone only remembers her speaking without restraint, but who knows her heart is actually not bad…”

Facing Old Cui whose rose-tinted glasses were eight hundred meters thick, Shaoshang had nothing to say.

—Being annoying always has its reasons. Calling it ‘speaking without restraint’ was avoiding the important point. Actually, Huo Junhua loved lying since childhood. Whenever things didn’t go her way, she would lie. General Huo Chong had apologized to people on her behalf countless times.

Especially later when competing with Consort Yue, Huo Junhua told if not a hundred lies then eighty. One moment she’d say Yue Heng from the neighboring county, though beautiful, was cruel-hearted and enjoyed tormenting servants. The next she’d say she was flirtatious and seductive with many lovers. Only when everyone met the real Yue Heng did they know it wasn’t so, and Huo Junhua had no more lies to tell.

The most dangerous time, Huo Junhua tricked Consort Yue into going to a place rumored to be frequented by bandits—Shaoshang privately speculated that Huo Junhua probably didn’t truly want Consort Yue to suffer disgrace and die miserably, just mindlessly willful and foolishly mischievous.

However, if not for Huo Chong’s alertness and timely rescue, the Huo and Yue families would have immediately become blood enemies.

People are complex. To Cui You, Huo Junhua was a sharp-tongued but soft-hearted little fairy. To Consort Yue, she deserved to die a thousand deaths. After this incident, the Emperor would no longer show favor to this Huo family younger sister he’d watched grow up, and ultimately Huo Junhua gave up on the Emperor, turning her attention to the handsome young man surnamed Ling who had just moved to the county.

Thinking of this, Shaoshang quickly told Cui You about what she’d seen and heard this morning at the Ling residence, picking out the important parts.

Cui You cursed vehemently: “That old scoundrel Ling! Back then he only relied on his gentle sweet talk to deceive Junhua. In real skill, he’s not worthy of carrying our shoes! When charging into battle he shrinks back faster than anyone, but now he’s gotten cocky. Shaoshang, let me tell you—not just Princess Yuchang, the three Ling brothers wish they could form marriage alliances with all the prestigious clans and meritorious nobility in the capital. But people’s hearts can’t be deceived. Pull out all the old brothers and ask them—if not for Elder Brother Huo Chong’s support, who would respect him! However…”

He suddenly turned to Shaoshang with a smile, his sharp monkey-like face grinning like a dried eggplant. Shaoshang shuddered.

“Don’t completely ignore what old scoundrel Ling says either. Where you should restrain Zicheng, you still need to restrain him. Don’t just keep fighting desperately.” Cui You smiled genially.

Shaoshang protested indignantly: “Just now you were calling Marquis Chengyang an old scoundrel!”

“Now isn’t like before when we lived day to day in uncertainty. His Majesty’s prestige grows higher now. Heroes from all directions come to serve. Why worry about having no one to employ in court? If something happens to Zicheng, will Junhua even want to live! This matter I’m entrusting to you. When you marry out, however much dowry your father and mother give you, Uncle will match it exactly! Be good, listen well!”

“No need! Her Majesty the Empress and Uncle Wan have both said this. I already have plenty of dowry!” Shaoshang was very magnanimous.

“Silly girl! Who complains about having too much dowry? You should know that wealth is never enough when needed! This is an ancestral teaching passed down in Uncle’s family—nothing could be more correct!” Cui You slapped his thigh in reproof. “If your dowry isn’t substantial, how will you hold your head up when you meet your princess sister-in-law in the future?!”

Shaoshang slowly, segment by segment, turned her head: “Why wouldn’t I be able to hold my head up when meeting Princess Yuchang?”

Cui You spoke bluntly: “She’s accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, and cooking—famously virtuous and kind throughout the capital. And you? According to Granny A, to this day when you sew up a tear in clothing it’s still crooked!”

Shaoshang trembled with rage, struggling to stand up from the floor: “Marquis Cui, Uncle Cui, for the sake of your advanced age and virtue, I won’t argue with you. But our connection has ended. Farewell here. Heaven is high and earth is distant—no need to see me off!” Saying this, she clasped her hands, puffed up with anger, and made to leave.

Only then did Cui You realize he’d angered the young lady. Crying “Aiyo!” repeatedly, he quickly rose to stop her.

…

Fearing Huo Junhua would have another fit upon waking and seeing Ling Buyi, after the midday meal and some playing around, Shaoshang and Ling Buyi prepared to return to the city. The Cui father and sons planned to stay at Apricot Blossom Villa for two days.

Looking back from a distance at the villa entrance, they saw Cui Er had said some joke to his father and brother. Marquis Cui grabbed his son and tossed him into the air, then caught the second son together with the eldest son, all laughing merrily.

Ling Buyi watched with eyes full of laughter, casually saying: “When I was young, father also liked to toss and catch me like that.”

Shaoshang also looked back at Marquis Cui, sighing: “Uncle Cui’s feelings run so deep. Alas, he and your mother grew up together. When do you think he realized he loved your mother?”

Ling Buyi smiled and shook his head: “Probably when the time comes, one naturally knows.”

Shaoshang tilted her head thinking for a long while: “Third Brother also asked Young Marquis Ban how to know if you’re attracted to a woman. Young Marquis Ban said his great-grandfather told him that when meeting a beloved woman, you’ll feel thunder and lightning—when you saw me, did you feel thunder and lightning?”

Ling Buyi thought carefully, then said seriously: “That night at the lantern festival? I didn’t feel thunder and lightning. I only felt that standing there, all around you was the warmth of spring and blooming flowers.”

Shaoshang’s heart was sweet, smiling until her eyes curved.

Ling Buyi added: “What exactly did you say to Uncle Cui? Earlier I saw him stopping you and apologizing repeatedly. At the meal he even cut you the most succulent roasted meat.”

Shaoshang stiffened, feigning nonchalance with a wave of her hand: “Nothing major. Uncle Cui has recently seen me becoming increasingly virtuous and kind, so in his joy he greatly rewarded me!”

—Wuwuwu, in this world only the Empress appreciates me! These feudal society stinking men, one by one with their narrow vision and decayed backward aesthetics!

…

Several more days passed like this, and Old Master Cheng finally returned triumphant with General Han’s army.

Speaking of this Shouchun rebellion suppression campaign, the most frustrated was probably their army. From start to finish they only caught a dozen or so defeated stragglers, because Nanny Cui feared the little friends in his class would have accidents, so he had absolutely no intention of attacking forcefully.

First, Ling Buyi’s swift and violent assault shattered the morale of the rebel camp. Then Nanny Cui used a series of “persuade to surrender—sow discord” combination punches. Finally, Peng Zhen was tied up like a dumpling by his own trusted subordinates and thrown out of the city to surrender.

The Emperor was quite generous. Though Old Master Cheng and General Han returned without merit, there’s still credit for hard work. Each received considerable rewards of wealth and provisions, though their official ranks weren’t changed.

The main event was at home.

Old Master Cheng went straight to the Wan residence without even removing his armor. Then Comrade Old Wan, like a child wronged for many days seeing a parent, clutched his sworn brother and wailed heart-wrenchingly, crying with life-and-death grief, repeatedly saying “I thought I’d never see dear brother again, it was worse than death ahhhhh…”

Madam Xiao stood to the side with folded arms, watching coldly. Lady Wan was embarrassed to the point of helplessness. Except for the eldest Cheng Yong who hadn’t yet returned from the Imperial Academy, the remaining youngsters happily watched the drama—given this scene, if not for Old Master Cheng’s devoted love for Madam Xiao and Old Uncle Wan’s love of visiting the pleasure quarters (BG type), Shaoshang would almost start thinking crooked thoughts.

Cheng Yang had also grown much taller, her temperament increasingly calm and gentle. Since Wan Songbai was impeached, she often came to the Wan household to help care for the old lady. Now she quietly helped the ailing Lady Wan bustle about, making Wan Qiqi look even worse by comparison—thus, starting with praising Cheng Yang, Madam Xiao and Lady Wan pulled up family chat on the side.

Madam Xiao had already chosen a match for Cheng Yang, just waiting a few months for Second Uncle Cheng to return from White Deer Mountain on leave to finalize it. Actually this match was quite good. Madam Xiao had worked hard on it. If not for Ling Buyi as comparison, it could even be considered Cheng Yang marrying up. However, with Ling Buyi’s brilliant and dazzling existence, all the sons-in-law in the capital paled in comparison.

Lady Wan was quite philosophical about it. Anyway, her twelve sons-in-law combined didn’t have as much prestige as Ling Buyi. Her current wish was just for her daughter Qiqi to be happy.

After crying for the duration of a meal, Wan Songbai wiped clean the snot and tears hanging on his beard, then drove everyone out, keeping only his dear good sworn brother to talk. Madam Xiao could no longer endure. With a sweep of her long sleeves she walked out. Lady Wan followed with a bitter smile.

Only after everyone had left did Wan Songbai say: “This time I narrowly escaped death, facing danger repeatedly. Speaking of it, I only escaped to heaven thanks to dear brother’s excellent son-in-law! Alas, having died several times, I’ve seen through everything. Dear brother, today I want to discuss with you the betrothal of Qiqi and Zifu, and also my family’s succession of incense.”

Cheng Shi was clear-headed, sighing: “I thought about this long ago. Our two families share life-and-death friendship. Now it seems elder brother won’t have sons…”

“What do you mean won’t have sons? Wasn’t it your terrible idea to have me renovate the ancestral graves, which ruined the feng shui…”

“Even without renovating graves and ruining feng shui, elder brother would just have another daughter every two years. The son still doesn’t know where he is!”

“Having daughters is better than having none! Since Qiqi was born, I’ve had zero harvest for over a decade. Now people outside are gossiping that there’s something wrong with my body!”

“Nonsense! Whoever dares say that about elder brother, I’ll skin them alive!”

“Even if you roast them alive, you can’t stop people from thinking it!”

“Then what to do?” Cheng Shi sat down helplessly.

“What else can be done?” Wan Songbai leaned against the cushions. “I’ve given up on sons. I’ll count on grandsons.”

Cheng Shi’s eyes brightened: “I thought of this years ago. Several years ago I told Yuan Yi ‘It seems elder brother will have no sons’… Elder brother, don’t interrupt, let me finish! Zifu grew up under your watch, and his relationship with Qiqi is good. After they marry in the future, the children can be adopted to elder brother, or Zifu can directly marry into your family…”

Wan Songbai was moved, patting his sworn brother’s shoulder and sighing: “Dear brother and I aren’t blood but closer than blood—that’s why you say such heartfelt words. As for marrying in, I considered it, but first I fear you two would be heartbroken, and second, I’d be heartbroken too! Zifu is such a cheerful, happy good child. Though I treat him as my own son, being an adopted son-in-law sounds bad when said. If in the future people mock him outside, isn’t that cutting our own flesh! After much thought, Mother and I discussed it and decided rather than adopt a grandson in the future, better to directly adopt Zifu as an heir!”

Cheng Shi didn’t react immediately: “Adopt Zifu? But our two families have absolutely no blood relation!” Generally adoption picks children from within the clan.

“Who says it’s not allowed!” Wan Songbai sat up happily. “Look, Cen Anzhi beside His Majesty adopted a friend’s nephew as heir…”

Cheng Shi said helplessly: “First, Internal Official Cen is a eunuch. What is elder brother comparing with him? Second, Internal Official Cen’s relatives were all lost in the chaos, and the remaining ones are beyond five degrees of mourning. Third… third I can’t think of it temporarily, but in any case this matter is improper. Elder brother will be criticized behind his back!”

“Criticized for what!” Wan Songbai snorted coldly. “You also know those clansmen of mine—we’ve long been at odds. Adoption?! Hmph, I dare adopt, but do they dare send their children? Moreover, my plan to adopt Zifu isn’t completely without basis. Over the years I’ve gathered dirt on quite a few clan elders. When the time comes, I’ll suppress some, win over others, find some respected village elders to mediate, and the matter will surely succeed!”

He slapped his thigh. “I’ve already sent people back to the hometown to secretly lobby. In any case, if they make me happy, I’ll write off past grievances and give them more benefits in the future!”

Cheng Shi thought carefully—it seemed… maybe… it really wasn’t impossible.

“Wait wait! If Zifu becomes your son, then he and Qiqi would be siblings! This this this…” Old Master Cheng grew anxious.

“Stop yelling nonsense!” Wan Songbai said leisurely. “Just adopt Qiqi out too! I’ve already chosen the family—my wife’s brother’s family. Qiqi’s maternal uncle and aunt have no daughter and already dote on Qiqi dearly. They’d be delighted with this arrangement.”

Cheng Shi felt dizzy, his head unable to process: “Could your wife agree? Qiqi is the apple of her eye!”

Wan Songbai smiled and scolded: “I think you’re exhausted and addled! If not for Qiqi’s mother agreeing, could I have thought of adopting Qiqi to my brother-in-law’s family? Your sister-in-law not only agreed—since I told her about this, she’s been so happy she can’t sleep!”

He paused, then sighed again: “Alas, it’s because dear brother and his wife are magnanimous. Let me speak from my conscience—with a girl like Qiqi, I wouldn’t be happy having her as my daughter-in-law either! Rash, impulsive, pampered, and willful, without a trace of how a bride should be!”

“Elder brother, don’t be self-deprecating. Niaoniao isn’t much better. She talks back to me constantly, saying things that could anger people to death…” Cheng Shi said.

Wan Songbai waved to stop him: “It’s different, completely different! Niaoniao is someone with calculations in her heart. The palace—what kind of place is that? She speaks flamboyantly, but do you and I really think it’s a paradise? Even with the Empress and Ling Buyi’s protection, if she herself didn’t have sense and know when to advance and retreat, she still couldn’t stand firm! Qiqi is different—she truly speaks without thinking, without calculation. Now it’s perfect—she can be ‘married’ home. Your wife can’t wait to tear out her heart as a thank-you gift to you two!”

Cheng Shi’s mind was in chaos: “Elder brother, let me take it slowly. Let me discuss with Yuan Yi…”

“You! You just lack a man’s spirit!” Wan Songbai was exasperated. “For this kind of thing, once the head of household agrees, what business is it of the women!”

After scolding, he quickly smiled again: “Hey hey, you might tell Xiao Shi that in battle and formations I’m not your match, but in accumulating family wealth I have skills! As long as she agrees, all my vast wealth will go to Zifu! Outside is one thing, but when he returns home Zifu will still call you father and mother. I won’t mind at all. Hahaha, hahahahaha!”

Cheng Shi looked at his sworn brother’s face laughing heartily, moved in his heart, saying quietly: “Elder brother, I know you mean well, your heart sincere. But you must think clearly—once you draw the bow there’s no turning back! If you truly adopt Zifu, what if elder brother has a son in the future? And if in the future Qiqi also cannot bear a son, what then? Should we have Zifu take concubines? Then the children born would have no blood relation to the Wan family at all!”

Wan Songbai stopped laughing, his eyes seemingly glistening. He looked steadily at Cheng Shi, saying word by word: “Dear brother, I’m not as fortunate as you—I’ve had weak blood ties since childhood. Back then I watched with my own eyes as uncles forced my mother to gouge out eyes and cut off ears to prove her resolve—so bloody! When young, they even plotted against me. These years they wish nothing more than for mother and son to die outside early, just to seize this family fortune! I won’t touch the sacrificial fields and ancestral property, but the fortune Father, Mother, and I built myself—I won’t let them covet it!”

“That day in the dense forest surrounded by bandits, though I was injured and confused, I still remember Zifu binding me to his back. I’m heavy and fat, pressing him down until he couldn’t straighten up, yet no matter what he wouldn’t abandon me to escape alone—I thought then, even if he were my birth son, facing great disaster, it would be no more than this!”

“Don’t tell this to Xiao Shi—she’s taught the children very well, brave and resourceful, kind-hearted. Having a son as filial and righteous as Zifu is my fortune. I’m just troubled about taking away dear brother’s good son!”

Cheng Shi’s tiger eyes brimmed with tears, gripping his sworn brother’s hands tightly: “What is elder brother saying? Without elder brother’s full support, with just the manpower my wife and I had, we would have drowned in the chaos of war long ago! That year when that bandit Chen wanted to fight me to the death, outnumbered, we were about to be annihilated. It was elder brother who lent me his entire fortune to resist the enemy army. What great kindness that was…”

“What nonsense are you talking! Those sesame and rotten millet from eight generations ago—you keep bringing them up to show off your good memory? You’re so motherly and fussy, that’s why Xiao Shi always bullies you…”

The two brothers smiled at each other, moved. Wan Songbai was just about to egg his sworn brother on about the way of controlling wives when suddenly there was commotion outside, then Cheng Yong’s hurried and panicked voice—

“Mother, something terrible has happened! The rebel Peng Zhen suddenly confessed in prison, saying he long colluded with Prince Qian’an, plotting great schemes together! The two thousand jin of refined copper from Tongniu County was his meeting gift to Prince Qian’an!”

The hall outside fell silent for a moment, then a lazy young voice sounded: “What does this have to do with us? Elder brother, sit down first, catch your breath and drink some water.”

“Shaogong, shut up! Yong’er, continue speaking. Has it implicated the Wang family?!” Madam Xiao said.

“Mother’s guess is correct!” Cheng Yong seemed to catch his breath. “That rebel also said that if not for General of Chariots and Cavalry Wang Chun making the connection years ago, he wouldn’t even know the Qian’an faction. After he rebelled, it was also Wang Chun who sent letters telling him to ally with Prince Qian’an’s residence…”

“Just words! Does whatever Peng Zhen say count as truth?! A rebel facing death wanting to drag a few more people down with him—that’s not strange!” This was Cheng Song’s voice.

“Second brother, don’t interrupt either. Elder brother is so anxious, it must not be just Peng Zhen making wild accusations!” Cheng Shaogong said.

“Correct! Peng Zhen kept a trick up his sleeve. He originally wanted Wang Chun to plead for mercy with His Majesty on his behalf. But seeing Wang Chun ignored him, he went all in and brought out all of Wang Chun’s letters he’d hidden!”

“…Elder brother, you’d better say it all at once.” Shaoshang’s cool and calm voice, steady and slow. “I’m afraid it’s not just implicating the Wang family so simply. Has it also implicated the Eastern Palace?”

Cheng Yong sighed deeply: “Several of those letters wrote—it would be best to provoke His Majesty into personally leading the campaign, then manipulate things from within. As long as His Majesty meets the fate of mountain collapse, the Crown Prince can succeed the throne. Then the Wang and Peng families will have their share.”