Lady Kelpi Translations

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Seven:
Each at the End of the World

By the time the eunuch at the door announced their arrival, Shaoshang had regained her composure and wiped away the tears. Apart from her slightly red eyes, there was no difference. Considering she was a poor young woman whose fiancée had just committed a heinous crime, her appearance was also considered normal.

The Third Prince witnessed first-hand her miraculous transformation into a different person. When she bowed to the Emperor and the ministers, she was both respectful and humble, with a hint of fear in her voice – as if the person who had just smashed the jade pendant outside the palace and yelled at the prince was not her.

The candles hanging from the oil pool were high up, and every three steps there was a twelve-branch connecting lamp that was equally as high, illuminating the entire hall like it was daytime. Below the imperial throne, about twenty ministers were sitting in the left and right rows according to their official ranks. Most of them Shaoshang had seen before, and one-third were familiar faces. The Emperor sat seething on the throne, while to his left was Marquis Cui who was still crying and begging while pulling on the Emperor’s sleeve.

Shaoshang thought to herself that the Emperor still cared for Ling Buyi. He only announced that he had met a group of people, and they were all trusted confidants who could bring rhythm. If a grand court meeting was held, once the courtiers shouted and urged His Majesty to deal with Ling Buyi under national laws, it would be difficult to step down.

“Your Majesty, even if that upright person committed a heinous mistake, you should be lenient…” Shaoshang and the Third Prince heard Cui You’s tearful pleadings as they entered the hall.

Shaoshang sighed. People were really different. They were also deceived and kept in the dark. Even at this point, Cui You was still confused and didn’t know what was going on. But he didn’t even think about it and crawled out of his bed to plead for Ling Buyi.

Perhaps she truly was a horrible person.

The Third Prince strode over to the side of Marquis Cui and knelt. The Emperor didn’t look at him but waved at Shaoshang. Shaoshang knelt to the right of the throne and used the opportunity to adjust her sleeves to sneak a glance at the imperial throne above. She was stunned.

Royal Uncle had always been kind. Even when he sat in the dragon chair, he wouldn’t change his nature. When he was in Changqiu Palace, he was often amiable, and when he was with Consort Yue, he was often helpless. Even at Shangshu Terrace, he only had three idle belly black spots – because of his exceptional intelligence, three belly black spots were enough to clean up the court. When encountering major national affairs, he just added a few more strategies.

However, at this moment, the Emperor exuded a fierce aura that was difficult to dissipate. His thick eyebrows were furrowed, his face was dark, and his anger was hard to dispel – even if the three nobles and nine ministers defected to the enemy together, and Consort Yue wanted to divorce him.

Shaoshang sighed inwardly. If it were like normal, she would never dare to touch the Emperor’s mold, but now even if he was furious, she still had to beg.

Marquis Cui was still crying. Prince Ruyang stood up and angrily said, “Your Majesty, you know my younger brother. He has never had any contact with the Ling family. The Marquis and his wife invited guests several times, and his nephew had ordered the young family not to go. If it weren’t for the trivial matters between Madam Chunyu and Ling Yi, my father might not have caused trouble in the later fields! But –”

He took a deep breath. “Anger and disdain are one thing, killing and setting fire to others is another! No matter how wronged Madam Huo was, Ling Buyi could not kill his father for the sake of his mother’s grievances! Killing his father is unacceptable. My mother has been angry and is refusing to eat, and I can’t believe such a crazy and unbearable thing in the world!”
[Prince Ruyang is the son of the Old Prince and Princess Ruyang.]

The statement was reasonable and fair. A wave of agreement echoed around the room.

The Emperor remained silent. Marquis Yu smiled and said, “Your Highness, don’t be angry. Let’s sit down first. Oh, by the way, how is the health of the old princess? Half a month ago I heard she was struggling.”

Prince Ruyang hesitated for a moment. “…My mother has been seeing some improvement for a few days now. Her diet and disposition have returned to normal.”

“I see,” Marquis Yu smiled again. “That’s good to hear.”

“What does Marquis Yu mean by that?” Prince Ruyang was displeased by his tone.

Marquis Yu kept the smile on his face and didn’t answer. General Wu took over and said, “What Master Yu means is that in order to prevent others from thinking that you were deceiving others and getting rewards while cursing your esteemed relatives to die early, it would be better to wait until you are truly critically ill before reporting. Don’t look at me like that, Your Highness. I am doing this for the good of Prince Ruyang’s mansion.”

Prince Ruyang’s face turned red.

He really didn’t have much of a friendship with the Ling family, but after all, his mother was his mother. When she lay on her sickbed, she was so angry that she repeatedly begged him to report to His Majesty. How could he disagree?

“My mother did not deliberately deceive everyone, but it was unexpected…” Prince Ruyang’s expression was difficult. “Your Majesty, my mother is a confused person, but Princess Yuchang is innocent! She is young and widowed, always virtuous and self-disciplined, never showing arrogance. She is so easy to talk about marriage, but now…”

He began to choke up as he spoke. “After the murder, Madam Chunyu and her son fled to her mother’s place overnight like frightened birds! Fortunately, mother and son have a close relationship, and for more than a decade, they have raised carrier pigeons to deliver messages. Last night, when Madam Chunyu’s mother received the message, she immediately sent a general to rescue them. At the time, she was about to become a widow again…”

A chubby courtier with a slightly crooked beard suddenly stood up. “What His Highness Ruyang said is true! Whoever has no relatives, has no reason! Your Majesty, I am not covering it up anymore. My sister is the wife of Second Master Ling! A few years ago, the world was chaotic, and two of her husbands were killed in a row. It wasn’t easy for her to marry Second Master Ling and they were a harmonious couple. Now, overnight, she became a widow again! Now she is searching for death at home, who can I argue with?! If Ling Buyi wants to plead for his own mother’s grievances, he just has to go after Ling Yi. Why bother killing everyone? Even Second and Third Master Ling were slaughtered. It’s because he is crazy and bloodthirsty!”

Big Marquis Yue frowned. “Don’t sensationalize. You’re the bloodthirsty one, wanting to kill them all. Are your sister’s children still alive? Sit down!”

Another man with a dark face and a slightly shorter body angrily said, “Ling Buyi has killed quite a few people! Second and Third Master’s eldest sons are dead or injured…”

Middle Marquis Yue said, “Swords and spears have no eyes. When facing each other, it’s a fight to the death. Who cares about whose son or son-in-law?”

The dark-faced man paused and then sat back angrily. Shaoshang immediately figured that this man’s daughter probably married a cousin of Ling Buyi.

A man with a pale face and a few strands of a beard straightened up and said to Ji Zun opposite him. “Master Ji, you are a court officer. Can’t you say a few words?”

Under the lights, Ji Zun’s face appeared particularly crisscrossed with grooves. Shaoshang heard him say, “Last night, Ling Buyi committed several major crimes, including killing his father, forging edicts, manipulating troops, deceiving the Eastern Palace, and causing chaos in the court. Regardless of the grievances between Ling Yi and his wife, regardless of the grievances between the Ling father and son. Today, I will only ask the laws and regulations of the country! If these charges are confirmed one by one, Ling Buyi will be guilty and die for it!”

Shaoshang silently exclaimed, ‘This is terrible. Old Ji is still old and spicy and hit the nail on the head.’

Marquis Cui stood up and pointed at Ji Zun. “Old Ji, you… you watched Zisheng grow up. When he was fourteen years old, you taught him how to read criminal law and regulations. Now that he is suffering at the bottom of the cliff, how can you fall into a well and hit a stone?” He couldn’t help but start crying again.

Ji Zun’s body was like an old rock, his face gloomy as he remained silent.

The man with the pale face and a few strands for a beard stood up straight and bowed to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, it’s common for people to hide their loved ones, and if you all care about this, it will lead to chaos. Besides, the country has its laws. Even if Ling Buyi experienced countless hardships, he should not engage in military and political warfare. He almost caused six military camps to become on edge. If Your Majesty does not punish him today, I am afraid that future disasters will continue!”

Grand Marshal Cai Yun patted his thigh and praised, “What you said makes sense!”

The crooked bearded man seemed to get inspiration from this and burst into tears, “Your Majesty, I know you are reminiscing about the old love of the Huo family, but the three brothers of the Ling family have been with us for decades. Although Ling Yi was weak, he fought us out of Feng County with one blow and one shot! Now his family has been almost entirely wiped out. You have to decide for them!”

“Your Majesty, Ling Buyi can kill his father which shows that his coldness and malice are no better than beasts. Don’t think about raising him!”

Another dozen or so ministers also responded, either calling out for help or crying…

“Have you said enough?”

A loud reprimand rang out. Everyone quickly turned their heads to see the Third Prince’s sudden outburst of rage.

The Third Prince’s face was masked with frost, his icy gaze sweeping over the ministers one by one. “Just the same old words repeated over and over again, what’s different from this morning? As officials, if you don’t think about the mysteries of last night’s event and only care about your family ties, chattering away, tangled up and unclear, what use are you? Are you leading the official rank of the court or his, the Ling family’s?”

Under the intimidation of the Third Prince, all the ministers suddenly fell silent.

The Emperor turned his head slightly and gave his son a complex look. The two Marquis Yue brothers looked at their nephew with both proud and embarrassed glances. Marquis Yu smiled silently while the old immortal was present. General Wu skillfully moved the glass of wine in front of Marquis Yu’s table to his.

Shaoshang thought that if they were to compare power and courage, even a string of crown princes tied together could not compare to a single Third Prince.

“Zisheng was raised in Changqiu Palace since he was a child and Father has carefully raised him. We treat each other hand and foot, even if we are blind, we can see that his future prospects are promising and limitless! He is crazy or foolish, and he will run to destroy his father’s entire family. Then you, who are even worse than blind, come and condemn him?! You should pick up your long unused brain and think about why Zisheng, with his calm and mature personality, should do such incredible things instead of talking in circles and repeating the same old tune!”

The Third Prince roared like thunder, his momentum was like a rainbow, making it difficult for Prince Ruyang and the others to lift their heads. Marquis Cui wiped his tears and said, “What Your Highness is saying is that there must be something fishy going on here!”

After a while, the man with a pale face and little beard finally probed. “I dare to ask Your Highness, what do you think is suspicious about it?”

“I don’t know, but I know there must be a hidden truth behind it. As for what the hidden truth is, shouldn’t you stop and consider it? Otherwise, what’s the use of having all the courtiers?!” The Third Prince was arrogant and righteous.

Shaoshang continued to sigh.

She didn’t know which great deity once said that rules and ministers were like wives and concubines, and impractical scholars were like self-righteous men. Men always hoped for harmony and happiness between their wives and concubines, but that was just a legend. In fact, either the ruler was strong and the minister weak, or the ruler was weak and the minister was strong, with rare exceptions. However, compared to the Crown Prince’s inability to handle even a few mediocre officials, the Third Prince’s strength was clearly much more satisfying.

Grand Marshal Cai Yun glanced at Marquis Yu, who nodded inexplicably. Cai Yun arched his hand and said, “The matter started in a hurry, and there were various opinions. I don’t know what Your Highness’s opinion is. It’s better to share it with His Majesty and the foolish officials.”

Shaoshang inwardly cursed, ‘You are indeed a perfect match for your future niece and her husband, old and cunning!’

The Third Prince expressed his satisfaction with the current atmosphere and said calmly, “Madam Cheng, tell us. Last night, you informed Father that Zisheng was going to the Ling family’s villa. How did you learn about it?”

With those words spoken, everyone’s gaze converged on the delicate girl who had remained silent since entering the hall.

The man with a pale face and sparse beard said, “So, this is Madam Cheng. Ling Buyi is your future husband. Are you coming to plead for him?”

The Third Prince took over the lead. “Just now, Master Ding said that it’s common for people to hide and protect each other. Even if she wants to plead, what will happen?”

Master Ding, the pale-faced man with the sparse beard, choked and sputtered. “Madam Cheng, although Ling Buyi has committed a heinous crime, he is, after all, in an alliance with you through marriage. How could you accuse him of his crimes last night?”

“That’s because the in-laws hadn’t been established yet. What is wrong with Madam Cheng considering her father and brother’s family first?” the Third Prince said impatiently.

All the ministers thought to themselves that he hadn’t finished speaking the truth and they didn’t dare to ask what was wrong.

Marquis Yu chuckled lightly and stepped up to be a mediator. “Master Ding, please keep calm and listen to what Lady Cheng has to say first. Madam, did Zisheng reveal the truth to you? Feel free to tell us everything.”

“That’s right. Shaoshang, please speak up,” Marquis Cui said with determination.

Shaoshang hung her head like a normal young girl in confusion. “Before last night, Master Zisheng had not said anything to me,” she said.

“How did you know that Zisheng would leave the city last night?” Marquis Yu asked. “And how did you know that he would be detrimental to his father’s family?”

“I have had a long-standing suspicion about Master Zisheng in my heart.” The young girl raised her head, her soft gaze pleading with the lower officials. “Have you never felt anything was strange about him?”

The officials all collectively thought that now she had mentioned it, how could they say they didn’t notice anything? They all made a few ambiguous noises, varying in pitch.

“I remember one time at the Apricot Blossom Courtyard, the maid who served Madam Huo told me that Madam Huo doted on her son very much and would never allow him to go to any places that were high up. However, I clearly remember Master Zisheng once said that when he was young, his father would often lift him up and throw him in the air to play. Don’t you think it’s strange?” Shaoshang asked.

The ministers thought to themselves, ‘What’s so strange about this? It’s strange to hear you, an ignorant young lady from a deep mansion, gossiping in the main hall!’

General Wu finally spoke up. “What’s so strange about that? These are two completely unrelated things.”

“No, it’s not right.” Shaoshang felt a bit helpless. “If Madam Huo doesn’t even allow her son to climb up on a high ledge, how could Marquis Ling ‘often’ throw his son up in the air?”

The courtiers were taken aback for a moment. Master Ding said, “Perhaps Madam Huo firmly believed that her husband would not fall and injure the child. Or perhaps Marquis Ling was playing with him behind Madam Huo’s back… This is just a small matter of women and children in the inner house. What is there to worry about?”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The Emperor suddenly spoke up. “No. Junhua had trouble conceiving for several years and her pregnancy was not easily obtained. She held her son very close to him. Even at home, Ling Yi never dared to raise his head to pick him up. Shaoshang, please continue.”

All ministers present stood in awe.

Shaoshang bowed respectfully. “If it were only the one thing, I wouldn’t be suspicious… I dare to ask the general, do you know how Madam Huo and her son came back after being separated?”

General Wu was puzzled. “What do you mean? Wasn’t it that shortly after Ling Yi remarried, she came knocking at the door and caused quite a scene? What’s wrong with this?”

“Marquis Yu, did you also hear it this way?” Shaoshang asked.

“Isn’t that the case?” Marquis Yu replied.

“That isn’t right!” Cui You shouted. “Junhua didn’t come back herself, I brought her back!”

Even the Emperor had a surprised expression on his face.

“How can that be?” the minister with the crooked beard asked. “I heard from a woman at home that Madam Huo found her way back herself and even beat and scolded Ling Yi. She said he had no conscience and forgot about mother and son.”

“No, that isn’t right,” Cui You exclaimed. “Junhua was hiding in the countryside for two years. If I hadn’t overheard the villagers talking about it and searched, I wouldn’t have known when Junhua would have returned! His Majesty, you know this…!”

The ministers began to mutter extensively to each other.

“Everyone, please be quiet and listen to me,” Marquis Yu said in a loud voice. “Back in the day when the war was fierce, His Majesty’s general and officials had very little time to spare. When Madam Huo was separated and returned, I was traveling to the west of the river to talk to several famous scholars. Old Wu and the other generals also had their own tasks, so we all heard about it after it happened.”

The Emperor nodded. “That’s right. At that time, only Cui You, who had been training scouts, was around. Ling Yi, on the other hand, had just gotten married and had not left yet. Junhua was indeed found by Cui You.”

General Wu’s mind was not as delicate as Marquis Yu’s. “So what?”

Shaoshang anxiously looked at Cui You and said, “Uncle Cui, you grew up with Madam Huo since childhood. Don’t you think it was strange what happened back then? Marquis Ling had never taken a concubine before, so he must have done so because of the Chunyu family. At that time, Madam Chunyu was already pregnant, and Madam Huo pretended to agree with it. In the future, she could slowly find a way to drive Madam Chunyu away. She’s done it before.”

The dark-faced official loudly said, “I am from Rao County, but I also heard that Madam Huo had been violent and irritable. Before General Huo Chong was alive and of course, she could slowly harass his concubines. But when General Huo Chong passed away, she had no one to rely on. She had to live or die!”

“No, that isn’t right,” Shaoshang said. “Madam Huo’s impatience and fierceness were different from before. It wasn’t that Madam Chunyu didn’t enter the Ling family, but that she insisted on killing Madam Chunyu! Your Highness Ruyang, you should know about this matter.”

Prince Ruyang saw everyone had turned to stare at him and quickly said, “That’s right! Mother used to say that Madam Huo was cruel and ruthless. At that time, Mother saw His Majesty sympathized with the loyalty and martyrdom of the Huo family, and had already decided to take a step back. She planned to wait for Madam Chunyu to give birth to a child and then find another satisfactory husband for her – Madam Chunyu also agreed. No one expected Madam Huo to be so unwilling to give up and she had to kill her. That’s when they finally divorced!”

For a moment, everyone began to whisper again. Master Ding, with his pale face, slowly said, “It’s still a trivial matter. It is important to find it or to come back on your own? It’s not enough to force Marquis Ling to abandon Madam Chunyu. Madam Huo insisted on killing her quickly, causing her to become insane after they broke off the marriage. It’s hard to say, she was already insane by then…”

As Marquis Cui was about to curse back, Shaoshang rushed to say, “But what if Madam Huo wasn’t crazy? What if she was pretending to be crazy?”

A spring thunder exploded out of the thin air outside the palace, causing the courtiers, along with the Emperor, to jump.

There was a ticking sound; it started to rain. The Third Prince exclaimed in surprise. “No, Zisheng is still at the bottom of the cliff. Father…” He turned to look at the Emperor with a begging look.

The Emperor stared at Shaoshang. “Go on.”

There was a heavy ache in Shaoshang’s chest as she continued, “After becoming betrothed to Master Zisheng, my mother once went to inquire about the past of the Huo and Ling families. The story she heard was that ‘Lady Huo returned on her own accord.’ I’m afraid most people in the Capital believe this. But, no one pays much attention. I think, if someone were to investigate carefully, they would discover that the news of ‘Lady Huo returning on her own accord’ was actually spread by the Apricot Blossom Courtyard.”

Cui You opened his mouth, speechless. “You mean to say it was Junhua herself who started it? But why, why would she…?”

“Uncle Cui, think about Madam Huo’s state before her death. Do you really think she was insane?” Tears welled up in Shaoshang’s eyes.  

Cui You recalled that night, the piercing, heart-wrenching cries of Huo Junhua ringing in his ears. “I’m blind, I’m a fool, if only I had married you.” He felt like he had been struck by lightning as suspicion began to form in his heart.

The Emperor turned to fully face Shaoshang. “There’s more?”

“Yes,” Shaoshang responded calmly.

“All these years, Zisheng has been unable to serve Madam Huo. Your Majesty, you should know the reason.”

“Of course, I know!” the Emperor said. “Every time Junhua saw Zisheng, she was reminded of Ling Yi and her mental state would worsen!”

“Think carefully, Your Majesty. Do you truly believe Master Zisheng resembles Master Ling?” Shaoshang asked in a loud voice.

The Emperor’s breathing grew ragged, and his pupils dilated.

Shaoshang, emboldened, met the Emperor’s gaze. “I don’t think Master Zisheng resembles Marquis Ling. He is the spitting image of Madam Huo. And Big Marquis Yue once said that Madam Huo and her brother, General Huo Chong, have very similar appearances, so…”

“So Zisheng truly resembles General Huo Chong?” the Third Prince blurted out.

Shaoshang turned to face the assembled court. “I am young, but many of the esteemed officials here have seen General Huo Chong. I dare to ask you to think back carefully. Who exactly does Master Zisheng look like?”

Another clap of spring thunder echoed outside the hall, striking the hearts of the assembled like a heavy hammer. There was a myriad of differing expressions.

“Finish what you have to say!” the Emperor panted, his hands gripping the armrest tightly.

“I have had a suspicion in my heart, but I didn’t dare to speak of it. Until last night, when Master Zisheng confessed to me that he was not the son of Marquis Ling, but the son of Master Huo. Back then, when the city was besieged by enemy forces, Marquis Ling colluded with the enemy, causing the deaths of the entire Huo family. His actions last night were an act of revenge!”

As soon as those words were spoken, there were cries and gasps from within the hall. Even the ever-composed Marquis Yu was taken aback as he rose from his seat. General Wu accidentally knocked over his wine cup with a clatter.

In addition to his fluctuating emotions, Big Marquis Yue also gave Shaoshang a special look, thinking that this young woman was actually intelligent and wise. If she had come up and announced this at the beginning, everyone would have scolded her for talking nonsense. But first, she showed weakness, then she gradually built up her argument, each point connecting to the next, guiding the thoughts of everyone in the hall to the crux of the matter. Then, with a single, powerful blow, she achieved a remarkable effect.

After a moment of stunned silence, the atmosphere in the hall was like a lit fuse, exploding with a roar.

The man with the crooked beard stood up in anger and said, “Nonsense! I have never heard of this before. When Huo Chong defended the city, he only had a few thousand men against two hundred thousand barbarian soldiers. We all admired and were grateful to him! You can’t say he colluded with the enemy just because he didn’t die during the defense of the city!”

The man with the dark complexion shouted, “Precisely! General Huo Chong cherished Madam Huo, and Ling Yi was not skilled in warfare. Therefore, every time they went to battle, General Huo Chong would keep Ling Yi safe behind him and prevent him from facing any danger. We all know this! The city was situated at the foot of Mount Xunyang, and the three Ling brothers were assigned to guard the provisions there. When the city fell, the Ling family was naturally among the last to encounter the enemy!”

Marquis Cui’s face turned wild. “All the defenders in the city have died, even the women and children of the Huo family were killed. Why was Ling Yi still alive? Their whole family is alive! How could there be such a coincidence?”

Prince Ruyang softly retorted, “Isn’t it because our reinforcements arrived in time? General Wu arrived only half a day after the city was destroyed…”

“You can’t say that,” General Wu said. “When the defense of the city is at its most critical, who cares about the front or rear lines? Every soldier and every man, regardless of rank, has to climb the walls to defend the city! I found it strange. If the women, children, and elderly were placed at the foot of Mount Xunyang behind the city, that would make some sense. But the three Ling brothers and their men were all strong and valiant. Why were they hiding there?”

The Middle Marquis Yue cocked his eyebrow, “Perhaps Ling Yi was a coward who was afraid to fight?”

The man with the crooked beard continued to roar, “How dare you slander him?! Perhaps Ling Yi was protecting the women and children.”

“Wu, you’ve been in battles and defended cities yourself. Why are you pretending to be clueless?” Marquis Cui cursed. “When a city falls, women and children are all in danger. Why would you keep people behind to protect them? They should be on the city walls fighting the enemy! I know you and your siblings have been close for many years, but you can’t twist the truth to protect him!”

“How is that twisting the truth? If Ling Yi colluded with the enemy, would I have shown him any mercy? But now, based solely on Ling Buyi’s word, you want to sentence the entire Ling family to death?”

“Exactly! It happened over a decade ago, and the three Ling brothers are all dead. Now that there are no witnesses, anyone can say whatever they want!”

“That’s not necessarily true. Even if the Ling brothers were alive, would they honestly admit to having connections with thieves from both inside and out? It was a difficult time for His Majesty during that time. If Ling Yi really stabbed us in the back, the consequences would have been far more severe than those of Peng Nian!”

“Stop wasting time with this talk. If there is evidence, present it. If not, don’t ramble around!”

……

“Enough!” The Third Prince roared, unable to bear it any longer. “The Emperor is here! You dare to be so disrespectful in his presence?!”

The courtiers reluctantly returned to their seats, their eyes darting to the Emperor on the throne.

At some point, the Emperor had slumped back against his armrest and his hand covered his face. Tears were streaming down his cheek.

The hall fell silent.

“So, it wasn’t A’Li, it was A’Zheng,” the Emperor said, slowly lowering his hand to reveal a wrinkled face streaked with tears. “A’Zheng was two months older than A’Li. A’Zheng was lively from the moment he was born, laughing at everything he saw. But A’Li was weak and thin. So Junhua insisted on taking A’Zheng’s name. Ling Buyi, Huo Buyi… Heh…”

Seeing this Marquis Yu and the others all understood, while those officials who had been defending Ling Yi were shocked.

Shaoshang quietly wiped away her tears. So his name was A’Zheng – a terrifying and brave ancient beast.

Master Ding, sensing a shift in the atmosphere, quickly began to interject. “Your Majesty, let’s not jump to conclusions. It is not uncommon for nephews to resemble their uncles. It is not surprising that Ling Buyi bears a striking resemblance to General Huo Chong…”

“But what if he is the son of Huo Chong?” Marquis Yu interrupted him.

General Wu chimed in, “Yes, the son of a heroic warrior, to just die in vain like this?”

Prince Ruyang clutched his head. “You two esteemed officials are also related to the Ling family through marriage. Why aren’t you speaking up for them?”

Marquis Yu chuckled as he rubbed his nose. “I’m not close with that cousin of mine. I have never even met his daughter. Old Wu, it was your cousin who married the daughter of the Ling family.”

“Forget it,” General Wu mocked. “When I was young and poor, I never saw any relatives come to help me. I thought all my relatives had died long ago during that time. When I made a name for myself, all my relatives came to me one by one. I was surprised. It’s only when someone rises to fame that they have more relatives.”

Grand Minister Cai Yun and the two Yue marquises laughed heartily. Master Ding’s face turned sour.

“Although I come from Jingzhou County,” General Wu continued, “I can’t say that I got along with Huo Chong. It’s because I have a bad temper and love to fight and kill. He always scolded me, so I didn’t like being around him.”

The expressions of Master Ding and his associates gradually began to improve.

“But…” General Wu continued, “When I was guarding that city back then, everyone knew it was a close call. I was supposed to go, but I was worried that my mother would not be taken care of. I heard that Huo Chong had taken orders to leave after I hesitated for a while. I’ve often thought to myself over the years that if it were me back then, would those colleagues take care of my mother and children when they saw me die, or would they trample them?”

The hall fell silent again. No one dared to answer.

Big Marquis Yue furrowed his brow. “Nonsense. You are a man who charges into battle, how could you defend a city?”

“I love leading the charge, you’re a scholar, and Old Yu is only good with words,” General Wu sarcastically retorted. “But there were others who could defend the city. Why didn’t anyone volunteer back then?”

The generals who had spoken up for the Ling family all stopped speaking. The corner of Marquis Yu’s mouth tugged. “It seems you’ve learned a thing or two, you’ve figured out how to speak indirectly.”

Master Ding’s face went white and he couldn’t hold on any longer. With his forehead glistening with sweat, he loudly addressed the Emperor. “Your Majesty, please listen to me again! This is a matter of great importance, and we must not hastily determine which family Ling Buyi is from! How could Marquis Ling not recognize his own son? In all these years, I have never heard him suggest he had any suspicions…”

“Didn’t you just say that it’s not uncommon for nephews to resemble their uncles?” Shaoshang said softly. “Perhaps Master Ling’s son A’Li also resembled General Huo Chong. The cousins were only two months apart in age, so they would have been quite similar.”

“Even if they were similar, surely Master Ling wouldn’t mistake his own son!” Master Ding snapped, caught off guard.

“That’s why Junhua hid in the countryside and refused to return,” Marquis Cui suddenly understood. “She wanted to wait a few more years, until Zisheng’s appearance was significantly different, before coming back. I had found her after over a year! She was not really going to kill Chunyu; she wanted to create chaos and then use that as an excuse to divorce Ling Yi. That way, Ling Yi wouldn’t be able to see his son…”

Master Ding sneered. “Marquis Cui, don’t be so self-righteous. His Majesty and General Huo Chong were deeply devoted to each other. Why would Madam Huo hide for years? She could have simply told the Emperor everything. Surely His Majesty would have stood up for her! If Ling Yi truly killed Huo Chong, the entire Ling family would have been exterminated a hundred times over!”

Cui You was at a loss for words.

“That’s because no one would believe her words.” For the first time that night, Big Marquis Yue spoke, his gaze sweeping over the assembled court.

He repeated what he had just said. “Because Madam Huo thought no one would believe her. Back then, when my younger sister was in danger, His Majesty said he would never believe Madam Huo’s words again. So, Madam Huo planned to find evidence of Master Ling’s treachery herself.”

Shaoshang closed her eyes in pain.

There weren’t that many people who could predict the future. Often, it was just a matter of chance. Madam Huo was not a smart person; she made what she thought was the best decision.

Master Ding’s eyes flickered and he coldly said, “Although I am from Rao County, I have heard that Madam Huo was fond of lying since she was a child. Back then, rumors of her slandering Imperial Consort Yue ran rampant. At the time of the Huo family’s downfall, Ling Buyi was only five or six years old. What if Madam Huo, consumed by her anger towards Master Ling and his infidelity, lied to the young child every day, and Ling Buyi believed her?”

Everyone thought about it, and it did seem possible.

Marquis Cui was furious and shouted, “Zisheng is clearly the son of Huo Chong. It’s only right for him to seek revenge!”

Master Ding refused to back down. “If Ling Buyi was tricked by Madam Huo into believing that he was Huo Chong’s son, but is actually a Ling, then he is guilty of patricide!”

Another person chimed in, “How could the children of the two families have been swapped if the Ling family was hiding in Mount Xunyang?”

“In short, there are many doubts about this matter. I request Your Majesty to investigate carefully!”

Shaoshang felt her limbs grow cold, her vision blur, and her senses dull. She didn’t have the energy to keep up the act. With effort, she raised her voice, “Your Majesty!”

The Emperor seemed lost in thought with a pensive expression. He only snapped out of it when he was called.

Shaoshang, tears welling up in her eyes, bowed her head in a deep kowtow. “Your Majesty, today I finally understand Master Zisheng’s predicament.” Her gaze slowly swept over the assembled court.

“It’s been years, and not only does Master Zisheng have no evidence of Marquis Ling’s collusion, but he cannot even prove who his father is! Marquis Ling is dead, so there are no witnesses. But if Marquis Ling were alive, he would still insist that Zisheng was his son – how could a son kill his father?”

“I finally understand. Master Zisheng truly had no other choice. Last night, he took this desperate action.”

Hearing this, the Third Prince finally understood the whole story and pounded his legs in agony. Cui You cried bitterly and said, “Zisheng, the poor child…!”

Ji Zun, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly stood up. “Your Majesty, we still cannot definitively say who Ling Buyi’s father is. But what if, just what if, he is the son of Huo…”

“I have a way to prove it.”

Before Ji Zun could finish his sentence, the Emperor suddenly interrupted, his voice firm and decisive.  The officials, with a mixture of surprise, joy, and panic, turned to him. The Emperor rubbed his temples with one hand and waved his other. “Don’t speak yet, let me think.”

No one dared to speak up. The hall fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After what felt like an eternity, the Emperor lifted his head and asked General Wu, “Do you remember if General Huo Chong had a birthmark?”

“Your Majesty, I just said I wasn’t close to General Huo,” General Wu, somewhat embarrassed, replied.

The Emperor then turned to Marquis Cui, who also looked embarrassed. “General Huo Chong was several years older than me. When I was playing on the riverbank, he was getting married. Besides, General Huo was always meticulous about his attire and manners. He was always so formal, never revealing his chest or back. No one knows…”

The Emperor’s gaze shifted again, and Marquis Yu and the two Yue marquises quickly said, “We are from the neighboring county.”

“Wait, wait.” Prince Ruyang pondered for a moment, then tapped his head and loudly said, “I remember. Huo Chong did indeed have a birthmark on his chest! That year, he and His Majesty rolled around and were covered in mud. For fear of being blamed by his mother, I stole firewood to warm the bathwater for them!”

“That’s right!” the Emperor clapped loudly. “That birthmark was as big as two palms! Huo Chong even told us not to tell anyone about it, because someone in his family once died from being cursed by witchcraft after seeing the shape and position of it!”

“Your Majesty has a remarkable memory!” Prince Ruyang exclaimed in admiration. “We were only ten years old back then, and it’s been forty years! And yet, Your Majesty still remembered this little detail.”

“…It was A’Zheng’s one-month banquet, and we were all drunk.” The Emperor had a good memory, but recalling something from over twenty years ago while drunk was not easy. “As we were leaning on the wine table, General Huo Chong suddenly said that A’Zheng had a birthmark exactly like his, but it was different in size and position.”

Ji Zun finally breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s great. I’ll dispatch personnel to rescue Zisheng from the bottom of the cliff. Everything will be clear if there’s a birthmark!”

The officials who spoke for the Ling family couldn’t help but feel uneasy at these words.

If Ling Buyi truly had the surname Huo, first, he wouldn’t be guilty of patricide, and second, the Emperor would certainly protect his life. The rest wouldn’t matter since the crime of military disobedience could be negotiated. If the Emperor decided not to pursue it, no one could do anything about it.

What they didn’t know was that Marquis Cui and the Third Prince were also filled with anxiety.

For Cui You, if Ling Buyi had the surname Ling, he would be the son of Huo Junhua and must be protected. If he had the surname Huo, then he was the nephew of Junhua, the son of Huo Chong, and still had to be protected.

The Third Prince didn’t care who Ling Buyi’s father was. As long as he was someone the prince felt close to and trusted, that was all that mattered.

What if they rescue Ling Buyi and discover he has no birthmark?

The two of them became worried simultaneously.

“Is  the birthmark on his left ankle?”

Just as everyone became lost in their own thoughts, a soft, feminine voice rang out in the hall– it was Shaoshang.

The Emperor slowly stood up and fixed his gaze on the girl. Everyone in the hall turned to look at her.

Shaoshang tilted her head in thought. “Yes, it’s a small tiger head, but with three ears… only about two inches in size.” She remembered the night on the slopes of Xiaoyue Mountain. The snow outside was falling gently, while inside the tent the fire crackled warmly. She had been washing his feet with warm water.

The Emperor stumbled, nearly falling over from the shock. The Third Prince quickly rushed forward to steady him.

“Yes, a three-eared tiger head!” the Emperor muttered, then began issuing orders in rapid succession.

“Someone, quickly go get that little beast from the cliff! Make sure not to injure him more, hurry!”

“Cui You, go watch over them and get that little beast back safely for me! Bring a few of the best physicians with you. The rascal hasn’t had any food or water for a day and night… Cui You, I entrust this to you…”

“I want to drag him before his father’s spirit tablet, beat him thoroughly, and ask him if he’s lost his mind or possessed by demons. What couldn’t he say properly? Why did he have to take such a reckless risk?”

At this point, the Third Prince finally felt his heart settle, while Master Ding and the others were ashen-faced. Only the muddleheaded, bearded official was still nagging. “Your Majesty, there’s still the crime of privately mobilizing troops!”

The Emperor’s response was to hurl a gilded wine goblet with all his might, smashing it against the man. He cried out in pain and grabbed his foot. The Emperor roared, “Should I take the blame for A’Zheng? Would that be satisfactory to you?!”

The matter was settled, and Cui You dragged Ji Zun to gather people in a hurry. The other courtiers also crowded out of the main hall, leaving the Third Prince behind. When he turned around, he saw that Shaoshang hadn’t left and was kneeling before the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, please don’t be angry. Master Zisheng is smart but can be slow-witted. You can teach him gradually in the future.”

“Teach him? I think he’s arrogant, cruel, and contemptuous of everyone!”

“That isn’t the case, Your Majesty. Actually, I was mistaken just now. Master Zisheng isn’t desperate. If he wanted to eliminate the entire Ling family, he could slowly plan for it and there’s no need to take risks. Think about it, Your Majesty. Master Zisheng is destined to be a high-ranking official. He is so intelligent, so capable. When he holds power in his hands, he can slowly deal with the Ling family… there were many ways to do it.”

“But Master Zisheng didn’t want that. In just a few years, Ling Yi had formed so many alliances through marriage. What would happen in a few more years? Even Princess Yuchang was to be the bride of the Ling family. Master Zisheng is not afraid of these relatives, but unwilling to involve more people.”

“Don’t be angry, Your Majesty. He’s just that type of person – either he can use evidence to bring the Ling family to justice in a proper trial, or he takes revenge with blood, killing his enemy and sacrificing himself. He knows those insidious and manipulative methods, but he’s unwilling to use them. You’ve raised him well. He is not a bad man…”

The Emperor’s eyes welled up with tears. In a daze, he seemed to see his brave and upright brother standing before him. He murmured, “I understand what you mean. You can leave now. I need to think.”

The Third Prince stood quietly at the entrance of the hall.

In the entire time he knew her, this was the first time he’d heard Cheng Shaoshang speak in such an innocent and gentle tone.

So, when Shaoshang walked out of the main hall, he silently followed her. Before he could think of something to say, Shaoshang turned her head and saw him. “Third Prince?” she exclaimed. “Don’t sneak up on me like that! You’ll scare me to death! By the way, did you hear what Prince Ruyang said? The Chunyu family raises carrier pigeons and are constantly communicating with the old princess.”

The Third Prince blinked, bewildered. “So what?”

“Last night, when the incident occurred, Marquis Ling went into hiding in the secret room to escape, while Madam Chunyu fled to Prince Ruyang’s mansion in the dead of night. They didn’t even bother to collect Ling Yi’s body. Also, thirteen years ago, Madam Chunyu promised the old princess that she would have a son and remarry–do you think that is the behavior of someone deeply in love?”

“Since it isn’t, why did Ling Yi insist on marrying Madam Chunyu, who came from a poor background? I heard when His Majesty was young, Old Princess Ruyang was not considered kind. Why marry someone who wasn’t close to the Emperor’s aunt, instead of taking a wife from a high-ranking family? Several times, when I saw the couple together, it always seemed that Madam Chunyu was deeply afraid of Ling Yi, and Ling Yi was never kind to her.”

“Could it be that Madam Chunyu has something on Ling Yi?” the Third Prince blurted out, his mind racing. “That’s why he had to marry her? She raised those carrier pigeons not to send messages but to intimidate Ling Yi, to prevent him from acting recklessly!”

Shaoshang sighed again. It was refreshing to talk to someone intelligent. If only the Crown Prince… oh, never mind him. Her joy lasted less than three seconds before she heard the Third Prince say, “Only you women would notice such subtle details.”

Shaoshang remained silent.

The Third Prince pondered for a moment. “Madam Chunyu must know about Ling Yi’s treachery and have the evidence hidden somewhere. Otherwise, Ling Yi would have killed her to silence her years ago. Where could it be?”

“I don’t know,” Shaoshang replied. “Perhaps you should ask Madam Chunyu. But with a crime like treason, they won’t confess even if they’re beaten to death. If they admit it, Madam Chunyu and her son will be in deep trouble.”

The Third Prince’s face darkened. “I’ll interrogate Madam Chunyu.” As he turned, he noticed that Shaoshang was swaying on her feet. A rare wave of concern washed over him. “Don’t walk. I’ll get someone to send a sedan chair for you.”

Unable to walk anymore, Shaoshang leaned against a tree. “Okay. Just take me to Changqiu Palace.”

The Third Prince looked at her curiously. “Changqiu Palace? I thought you were going home. What do you want to say to the Empress?”

Shaoshang let out a soft hum of affirmation. “Her Majesty never asks me anything. She just listens when I want to speak.” She was utterly exhausted. She didn’t want to talk or explain anything, she just wanted to be in a warm embrace that would accept her actions without question.

“After such a big incident, the Empress didn’t even ask you?” The Third Prince was incredulous – last night, Ling Buyi had secretly mobilized troops, essentially targeting the Crown Prince, and the Empress was completely unfazed?!

“Your Highness, you don’t understand,” Shaoshang said, smiling weakly. “You want to ask me why I won’t live and die with Master Zisheng. He wants to ask me if I have him in my heart, and my parents want to ask me why I’m not staying out of it and insisting on flowing this muddy water… Only the Empress believes that everything I do has a reason.”

The Third Prince fell silent.

He also loved and respected the Empress very much, but his actions would hurt this kind woman.

The sedan chair arrived. Shaoshang unsteadily rose to her feet. The Third Prince, unable to help himself, reached out to steady her. As he drew his hand back, he noticed blood on his palm. His eyes went wide, startled. “What happened? You’re bleeding.”

Shaoshang weakly covered her shoulders and shook her head. “It’s probably because the wound opened up. A’Zhu didn’t wrap it tightly enough. Don’t worry, Your Highness, Her Majesty will take care of me.”

The Third Prince’s chest heaved. After a few deep breaths, he said loudly, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Zisheng apologizes to you properly when he returns. What was he thinking, hurting you like that?! But Zisheng likes you so much, he will definitely listen to you in the future.”

The sedan chair lifted and began to move forward. Shaoshang turned and offered a wan smile, “You still don’t understand Your Highness. He and I, we don’t have a future…”

The rain had stopped, and the night wind was chillingly cold. The young woman was gone, leaving the puzzled Third Prince standing alone.

…

The one time Third Prince is kind and in Shaoshang’s corner, and she drops that bombshell. Hopefully this chapter wasn’t too confusing. Get ready for more pain!

Again, thank you to everyone who read, liked, commented, and donated. I really appreciate it!

Next Chapter: Time Slips Away