In the warmth of spring, everything was reviving. Even the accumulated maladies of the Great Song Dynasty, left over from the dynastic transition, seemed to flourish silently in the gentle spring rain. Yet amidst this desolation, vibrant vitality could still be glimpsed.
The inner court of the imperial palace, silent for so long, suddenly erupted with hearty laughter.
The laughter of the young emperor, who had swiftly shed his youthful naivety, seemed to pierce through the oppressive dark clouds, capable of dispersing them in an instant to reveal the sun.
The prime ministers in the cabinet harbored different thoughts, but ultimately, they were pleased.
"General Ling is truly still alive! Heaven blesses the Great Song!" the emperor exclaimed.
Prime Minister Hua had been hesitating whether to mention that Chu Dingjiang had saved Ling Ziyue. Upon hearing the emperor's exclamation, he chose to remain silent. The Great Song had only one sovereign—His Majesty. Prime Minister Hua had complex feelings toward his rebellious son, even a hint of fear, yet he could not deny that the boy had spared no effort to protect the Hua Clan. Nor could he deny that Chu's decisive infiltration of the Crane Control Army had been crucial to the clan's survival. After all, he was still his flesh and blood, and Prime Minister Hua wished to help him escape his current predicament.
Those who could enter the cabinet were no fools. Having served the emperor for so long, they had some understanding of his temperament. Now, they each weighed in their hearts whether they should volunteer to clear Ling Ziyue's name.
Prime Minister Hua, however, barely hesitated before softly asking, "Your Majesty, exonerating General Ling will inevitably involve the late emperor..."
No matter the method, the fact remained that the late emperor had personally sentenced Ling Ziyue. This would, to some extent, tarnish the late emperor's reputation.
The emperor was unmoved. In his heart, the late emperor's reputation wouldn't suffer much from this one incident! Though such thoughts bordered on disrespect and filial impiety, he had only ever shown obedience to the late emperor, never genuine reverence. This was largely due to his mother's teachings since childhood—"When you grow up, be a true man. Never emulate your father!"
After a moment, the emperor sighed. "My father devoted his life to the nation and its people. Now, the Great Song needs General Ling. His spirit in heaven surely would not blame us. Entrust this matter to Prime Minister Hua. Proceed without hesitation."
"Your servant obeys the decree!" Prime Minister Hua hurriedly rose to accept the order.
Though the emperor spoke boldly, in practice, he could not act entirely without restraint. Even if not for the late emperor's sake, he had to consider the dignity of the imperial family.
By early May, Ling Ziyue appeared in Bianjing, seeking an audience with the emperor to plead his innocence.
His sudden reappearance caused an uproar—after all, many had witnessed "General Ling" being struck by a volley of arrows and dying on the execution ground.
Yet upon closer reflection, no one had actually seen the face of the so-called "General Ling" at the time.
The court acted with unprecedented speed, overturning the case in just half a month. It was claimed that villains had fabricated "evidence" of General Ling's treason, and the late emperor, deceived by its convincing nature, had initially condemned him. However, in his wisdom, the late emperor had uncovered the truth before Ling Ziyue's execution and secretly rescued him to capture the true traitor.
As for how the traitor was caught or who it was, no clear answer was given—only that it was confidential. In short, the late emperor had been wise and decisive, while General Ling had endured humiliation for a greater cause. Everything had been dictated by necessity.
The current emperor posthumously honored Ling's wrongfully executed wife with the title of First Rank Lady and personally inscribed words of praise for the Ling family, lauding their loyalty and sacrifice.
Ling Ziyue moved into a brand-new general's residence, standing alone in the vast, silent courtyard, enveloped in solitude.No matter how much he told himself that his return was to defend the country, resentment still lingered in his heart. He felt unworthy as a husband and a father. His family had been wrongfully executed by the previous emperor, yet now he was expected to lay down his life for the Zhao dynasty's rule.
A general's success is built upon countless bones.
Whether it pained him or not, he had no choice but to tread upon these bones to become the revered God of War. To build an impregnable Great Wall for the Great Song—only then would he not betray the countless sacrifices made.
Ling Ziyue closed his eyes. No matter how dazzling the words "Loyalty and Valor" shone on the plaque above the gate, he would always feel indebted, forever unable to erase the sense of guilt buried deep within.
"Brother Ling, are you unhappy?" Lou Xiaowu had been standing under the corridor for a while, watching him.
She didn't understand. This should have been a day of vindication, so why did he look so sorrowful?
Ling Ziyue composed himself and turned to her. "What brings you here?"
Lou Xiaowu pouted, her large eyes brimming with silent accusation. In the past, though Ling Ziyue had been stern and reserved, and they hadn't been particularly close, their frequent interactions on the island had fostered some familiarity. Yet never had he deliberately ignored her as he had these past two days.
When he remained silent, Lou Xiaowu couldn't hold back. "I want to live with you."
A statement that could easily be misconstrued, but Ling Ziyue didn't misunderstand. Lou Xiaowu was still naive about matters between men and women—her idea of "living together" simply meant sharing the same courtyard. "Go back and focus on your inventions. If war ever breaks out between Liao and Song, those contraptions of yours will prove invaluable."
"We used to get along so well. Why have you suddenly become like this?" Lou Xiaowu pressed her lips tightly together, staring at him stubbornly.
Her mind was simple, and there were too many things she couldn't grasp. To her, Ling Ziyue's emotions were an enigma.
His dark eyes remained calm, revealing nothing. "Xiao Wu, go stay with Sheng Changying and his wife. I'll be leaving for the border soon, and this place will be empty."
"I want to go with you."
"No."
Ling Ziyue refused outright.
Lou Xiaowu froze, then suddenly burst into loud, childlike sobs, as if abandoned by her parents.
Those who knew Lou Xiaowu understood that despite her innocence, she was resilient—not one to crumble easily. Even when the Lou clan had been exterminated, she hadn't cried as loudly as she did now.
A person can endure hardship with gritted teeth, shedding blood but not tears. Yet when faced with the presence of those dearest to them, they suddenly feel as though they've suffered the greatest injustice. Perhaps this was Lou Xiaowu's state of mind now.
Hardening his heart, Ling Ziyue turned away without another glance and strode off.
Behind him, Lou Xiaowu's wails abruptly ceased, leaving only the sound of hiccuping sobs. Ling Ziyue's heart ached: Xiao Wu, it's because you're someone I want to protect that I fear you'll become the next sacrifice if you stay by my side.
Such was the paradox of a general's duty—to safeguard countless lives at the cost of those closest to them.
Through tear-blurred vision, Lou Xiaowu watched his figure disappear among the lush foliage, her mind a muddled mess. She couldn't comprehend or accept this reality.
It seemed everyone had their own path to follow, leaving her behind—her mother, her sister, her friends, and now even Ling Ziyue."Fine, ignore me then. Hmph." Lou Xiaowu wiped her tears and walked away indignantly, muttering to herself, "As if I have nowhere else to go! Plenty of people still like me!" (To be continued...)
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