On the way back to the palace, Ling Buyi endured the urge repeatedly on horseback but finally couldn't resist entering Shao Shang's carriage to check her injuries.
Ignoring the girl's protests, he cupped her small face and turned it side to side for inspection—her forehead was swollen, her chin had minor scrapes, but neither was as severe as the bruising around her neck from being choked. Rolling up her sleeves revealed bruises on both elbows, and the edges of her palms were covered in abrasions. Who knew what state her legs were in...
"Hey, that's enough! Stop it!" Shao Shang pressed one hand to her collar while desperately holding down her skirt and trousers with the other. "I'll have Zhai Nanny look at me when we get back—we're still on the road!" If she didn't stop him now, he might start undressing her.
Ling Buyi studied her for a long moment. "...Are you really not going home first?"
Shao Shang's youthful face took on a world-weary expression. "In this world, Her Majesty is probably the only one who won't scold me. If I go home looking like this, Father, Mother, and my three elder brothers will lecture me for half a month! Sigh, I'd better take refuge in Everlasting Autumn Palace first."
Ling Buyi snorted. "So you do know fear. It's precisely because I've been too lenient with you that you've grown so audacious!" Despite his words, he eventually left the carriage and rode his horse to Liang Wuji's side.
After dismounting and entering the palace, Liang and Ling went straight to the Department of State Affairs. Upon hearing that his adopted son and Liang Wuji sought an audience, the Emperor immediately dismissed his attendants. After listening to his adopted son's brief account of the incident at Liang Manor, the Emperor looked coldly at Liang Wuji kneeling below. "You have quite the nerve! Zisheng wanted Liang Xia captured alive, yet you dared to shoot him dead!"
Liang Wuji kowtowed, not daring to argue.
The Emperor grew angrier. "Were you afraid Zisheng might extract some confession from Liang Xia?! What decisive action—I never realized Minister Liang could be so ruthless..."
"Your Majesty!" Liang Wuji cried out mournfully.
"Your Majesty," he continued in a subdued tone, "the Hedong Liang Clan was once flourishing. Not counting uncles and cousins, my grandfather alone had eight sons and six daughters. Though my father passed early, my uncles still had many siblings. But when Heaven wishes to destroy someone, it first grants them small favors to make them arrogant. From the moment Emperor Li rose to power in court, the Liang family began to dwindle..."
"First came over a decade of conflict with the Qu family, with countless casualties. Then we were implicated in Emperor Li's case against the Crown Prince, after which the court continuously harassed and sidelined us. Later, when the realm fell into chaos with warlords rising everywhere, how could the Liang family remain untouched? By the time I inherited the family leadership, there were scarcely any capable kin left—three uncles died before marrying or having children, two uncles perished alongside their sons in battle, and the rest of my cousins were either crippled by torture in prison or died young from illness."
The once-glorious Hedong Liang Clan, illustrious for nearly a century, had fallen to such a state that the Emperor couldn't help feeling sympathy.
"That year when I pledged myself to Your Majesty and achieved modest merits, Your Majesty even teased me, asking why I didn't seek rewards for my kin. I had no way to voice my bitterness. It wasn't that I lacked ambition—it was simply... simply..."
Liang Wuji wept, trembling as he prostrated himself at the foot of the steps. "There simply weren't any able-bodied young men left in my family!"
The Emperor sighed deeply and leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees. "Rise first. Sit and speak properly."Liang Wuji complied with the imperial decree, rose to kneel properly, wiped his tears, and solemnly said, "Your Majesty, does Your Majesty think I am unaware that Liang Shang and Liang Xia are both mediocre and incompetent? In the past, such individuals wouldn’t even be fit to manage estates and farmlands! But what can I do? I am nearly fifty years old and can only endure, hoping the next generation might produce some capable children..."
The Emperor sighed deeply. Why do people often desire numerous descendants? Because the more descendants one has, the higher the likelihood of producing outstanding talents. For a family like the Liangs, with vast fields yielding only a few sparse seedlings, there is simply no choice. Thinking this, the Emperor cast a peculiar glance at his adopted son.
When he first learned that his adopted son had taken a liking to the youngest daughter of the Cheng family, he had sent someone to investigate. The Cheng family’s status and reputation were far from satisfactory, but upon hearing that the girl’s mother, Lady Xiao, was highly fertile, the Emperor hesitated.
Lady Xiao had borne four sons while following the army for years, each raised strong and robust. As for Lady Xiao’s mother, it was said she had given birth to seven or eight sons. They say daughters take after their mothers... Hmm, this is quite good.
Ling Buyi, inexplicably subjected to this glance, found it strange and sensed something odd in his adoptive father’s gaze.
"We understand the Liang family’s plight," the Emperor said impassively. "But what does this have to do with the current case? The Crown Prince has been unjustly implicated and tarnished with a foul reputation. Shouldn’t Liang Xia have been captured and interrogated thoroughly?! Instead, you shot him dead with an arrow, neatly tying up loose ends. Could it be you were secretly complicit in this?!"
"Your Majesty’s wisdom illuminates all. What benefit would I gain from secretly plotting this?" Liang Wuji said with a bitter smile. "The Liang family lacks worthy successors. We should be avoiding trouble and laying low—why would we willingly step into a whirlpool? Your Majesty..." He suddenly lowered his voice, "If this matter is truly investigated, the Liang family will undoubtedly bear the brunt, but for the greater situation, it may not be beneficial either..."
The Emperor tilted his head, closed his eyes, and waved his hand. "We understand. You may leave now."
Liang Wuji knew the Emperor was a perceptive man. Some words needed only to be hinted at. He promptly expressed his gratitude and withdrew.
Once the hall was empty, the Emperor shot his adopted son an exasperated look. "Is this how you handle matters? Watching idly as Liang Wuji silenced Liang Xia. At that moment, you were only concerned with Shao Shang, weren’t you? Otherwise, you would have noticed the moment Liang Wuji nocked an arrow!"
Though his adoptive father spoke the truth, Ling Buyi would never admit it outright. Instead, he redirected, "Your Majesty, isn’t the current situation more appropriate than interrogating Liang Xia would have been?"
The Emperor glared at his adopted son.
Ling Buyi continued, "Your Majesty’s original intention was only to clear the Crown Prince’s name. Today’s events, though unintended, have achieved widespread awareness—far more effective than anything that might have been extracted from Liang Xia’s interrogation."
"Speak plainly. Don’t hint at half and conceal the rest," the Emperor said.
"Though Qu Lingjun is a Liang family woman, she had not set foot in the Capital City for ten years after her marriage. This time, she has been here for barely ten days. She is unfamiliar with the intricacies of Liang Manor and the social dynamics of the Capital City. How could she have orchestrated such a meticulous scheme in such haste? Liang Xia did spend many years in the Capital City during his youth, but from what I observed, he does not seem the type to devise such a cunning plan. So, who was truly behind all this—who leaked the news of Qu Lingjun’s abuse by Liang Shang to the Crown Prince? Who knew in advance that the Crown Prince and Qu Lingjun would meet at Purple Osmanthus Courtyard? And who bribed Sun Sheng...?""Your Majesty, since the incident two days ago, three servants from Liang Manor have died under mysterious circumstances—one drowned, another fell to his death while drunk, and the third mistakenly consumed poisonous mushrooms. Additionally, four or five maidservants have vanished from the Purple Osmanthus Courtyard. Sun Sheng is currently in my custody, but if released, I dare wager he wouldn’t last more than a few days. Nevertheless, if Your Majesty truly wishes to trace this to its roots, it is not impossible to uncover the hidden hand behind it. But, Your Majesty, do you truly intend to pursue this?"
The Emperor sat motionless. After a long pause, as though even the falling leaves outside the hall had frozen midair, he finally spoke, "Go and see the Empress and the Crown Prince."
Ling Buyi glanced at the Emperor, bowed, and withdrew.
...
Slap! A resounding blow landed on the Marquis of Yue’s face, leaving a vivid red mark on his well-maintained cheek.
The Marquis of Da Yue pointed at his younger brother and scolded in a low voice, "Have you lost your mind, daring to orchestrate such a scheme in secret?"
"Eldest brother, lower your voice," the Marquis Zhongyue interjected, glancing nervously out the window.
The Marquis of Yue didn’t even bother to cover his face, instead smiling coldly. "Brother, there’s no need to worry. I left no traces behind."
"No traces? Then why kill so many people?" the Marquis of Da Yue retorted.
"That was a diversion," the Marquis of Yue replied. "If I truly intended to silence everyone involved, far more than just a few would be dead. I deliberately left some alive—it’s a safeguard."
The Marquis of Da Yue stared coldly at his youngest brother.
The Marquis of Yue smirked. "Surely Eldest Brother doesn’t believe I acted alone? True, the idea was mine, but many families are implicated. Take Sun Sheng, for instance—do you think he could be bribed in an instant? He is, after all, a member of the Sun Family. Someone waited five or six years in secret, just to uncover his crimes of murder and embezzlement, all for the day it might prove useful."
"Why have you done this? The Crown Prince is a kind and honest gentleman—"
"Why? For vengeance, of course!"
The Marquis of Yue’s voice rose in a furious tide.
"Quiet!" the Marquis Zhongyue hissed. "Do you want the entire household to hear?"
Ignoring his second brother, the Marquis of Yue locked eyes with the Marquis of Da Yue. "For thirty years, our Yue Family has sacrificed lives and wealth for the Emperor, staking the lives of our entire clan on him. Were we truly so desperate back then?"
"Of seven brothers, only three of us remain! Countless others in our family have perished. Eldest Brother, go back to our ancestral home in Rao County and see the widows and orphans—who did they suffer for? Our Yue Clan in Rao County was once prosperous and content—what madness drove us to join the Wen Family’s rebellion?"
"It was the Emperor’s so-called heroic elder brother, boasting of his noble descent, who insisted on challenging the throne. Yet before he could succeed, his family was hunted down by the authorities. It was our Yue Family who protected the Wen Family’s women and children who couldn’t escape!"
"And the Huo Family," the Marquis Zhongyue added. "Had it not been for Huo Chong’s desperate protection, His Majesty would have—"
The Marquis of Yue sneered. "I revere Brother Huo Chong—he was indeed a peerless hero of unwavering loyalty. But it was his death that made me see the Emperor for who he truly is, and the cruelty of this world.""What does it matter that the Huo family was full of loyal martyrs? Pitifully, their lineage was cut off, and now only a nephew surnamed Ling remains! If His Majesty truly had a fiery temper, he would have long banished the Ling clan from the Capital City to vent Huo Junhua's grievances. But seeing the Ling family's numerous marital alliances, their honest and cautious nature, keeping their heads down without a single misstep, his heart softened. He allowed the three Ling brothers to have children, expand their family, and form powerful marital connections... Who knows if Ling Buyi might return to the Ling family after the Emperor's passing!"
"That's just the kind of man the Emperor is! From childhood, he could endure, always wishing for harmony among all, treating everyone like family, believing in yielding for peace. But not everything in this world can go as the Emperor wishes!"
"Once blood is spilled, it cannot flow back into the body; once enmity is formed, how can it be easily reconciled!" Marquis of Yue said with a sinister expression, gnashing his teeth. "Among the ministers of Jing Sheng, more than one or two families bear blood feuds with Prince Qian'an's lineage!"
"During the initial alliance, that old traitor Qian'an held back his troops, forcing us to charge into battle. Hmph, fight we did—who was afraid? But despite prior agreements, he deliberately delayed, exhausting two of the Li family's elder brothers to death. Uncle Li spat blood in fury and died on the spot. Later, as our influence grew, the old traitor grew wary and sent us to attack the heavily fortified Green Forest stronghold. Hmph, the tricks he played behind the scenes—those two brothers knew all too well... The Wang, Yan, and Taishi families lost so many young men! But circumstances forced our hand. With a greater enemy at our doorstep, the Emperor told us to endure, and endure we did!"
"Don’t make it sound so noble. What you resent is Old Prince Qian'an for killing your sworn brothers," Marquis of Da Yue remarked.
Marquis of Yue remained silent. "In any case, it's a blood feud that cannot be undone."
"Finally, when the Emperor ascended the throne, the old traitor Qian'an could no longer restrain himself and began plotting rebellion. Fortunately, the Emperor was no fool and had prepared in advance, capturing him in one swift move. The old traitor took his own life, and his followers scattered like birds and beasts. But—"
Marquis of Yue gave a cold laugh. "He left behind the Empress and the Crown Prince! For what purpose? Do they think we’re fools who can’t guess? It’s nothing but fear of our growing power, playing his balancing games!"
Marquis of Da Yue sighed, closing his eyes. "Our Yue clan has now reached the pinnacle of glory."
"My sister married him properly, with all due rites, only to become a concubine in the blink of an eye! At the time, it was unavoidable, and we couldn’t blame him. But what about later? He let my sister suffer for twenty years—does he intend to live out his days in this so-called harmony between wife and concubine? Bah! I’d rather he took other consorts and sired other children than let the grandson of that old traitor Qian'an sit on the throne! Forget about us—what about those who owe blood debts to Qian'an's lineage? Can they rest easy watching the Crown Prince inherit the throne?"
Marquis of Yue smirked darkly. "The Crown Prince may seem kind and honest now, but appearances deceive. Who knows what face he’ll show once he gains power? When the knife is in his hand and we’re the fish on the chopping block, it’ll be up to him to decide our fate."Marquis of Da Yue sighed and turned aside, while Marquis Zhongyue sat between his brothers and said in a low voice, "You can't say that. Look at this murder case—the Crown Prince disregarded his own reputation to protect the Qu family. I don’t think he’s a narrow-minded or ignorant man. Once he ascends the throne, our Yue family might still find a way to survive. As for the Third Prince, his temperament is nothing like His Majesty’s—fierce, fearless, cold-faced, and cold-hearted. Though we are his uncles... cough ... and Eldest Brother even sent our niece to him, has the Third Prince ever shown us the slightest favor?"
Marquis of Yue frowned delicately. "Actually, in my opinion, the Third Prince isn’t the best candidate for the throne either. The best would be the younger princes born to our sister—gentle, young, and close to us."
"Outrageous! The matter of succession is not for you to pick and choose! With such insolence, you’ll be the ruin of our Yue family sooner or later!" Marquis of Da Yue flew into a rage and hurled a bronze wine vessel at his youngest brother, striking him squarely on the forehead. Blood immediately gushed forth.
Marquis Zhongyue exclaimed in alarm and hurried over, pressing a handkerchief to his brother’s wound.
"Don’t worry, Eldest Brother, we won’t be ruined. Can the Emperor prove it was us? No. Why didn’t I act directly but instead wove such a tangled web? It was to guard against this very day." Marquis of Yue remained unyielding, holding the handkerchief himself as blood streamed down his face. He didn’t utter a single cry of pain, continuing to speak with a smile.
"If anything truly happens to the Crown Prince, the immediate beneficiary won’t be us—it’ll be the Second Prince. The Empress may seem silent, but she’s sharp-minded. She’s already ordered the Second Prince not to leave his residence. But what does that matter? Can His Majesty rest assured? Can he guarantee the Second Prince’s faction had no involvement whatsoever? He can’t."
"If both the Yue and Xuan factions are implicated, wouldn’t Consort Xu and the Fifth Prince benefit? Wouldn’t His Majesty suspect they were the masterminds, scheming to reap the rewards? He can’t be certain of that either."
"The Second Prince has befriended many noble scions; Prince Ruyang’s Heir secretly collects weapons and armor; Consort Xu has bribed the Eastern Palace’s concubines and servants... If investigated thoroughly, no one is clean."
"With so many families bearing grudges against the Xuan family, and even involving princes and imperial relatives, His Majesty might reprimand them for now, but he won’t pursue it further."
The room fell into a long silence before Marquis of Da Yue sighed softly. "His Majesty is peerless in wisdom and magnanimous. That he lacks the heart to investigate thoroughly is our fortune. But now, you’ve exploited this—I’ve failed His Majesty."
"Even setting aside the duty between ruler and subject, His Majesty and I share a bond of brotherhood. This time, I’ve wronged him. For the sake of the Yue clan, our sister, and the princes, I can’t hand you over. But neither can I let you continue down this reckless path..."
"Tomorrow, you will return to Rao County to repair the ancestral tombs. In a few years, you may marry the Fifth Princess."
"As Eldest Brother commands," Marquis of Yue replied without changing expression. "However..."
"We are all growing old, and the princes are coming of age. The tree may long for calm, but the wind will not cease. This matter is far from over."
Author’s Note: Why do I think Liu Xiu had deep feelings for both Yin Lihua and Guo Shengtong?
Actually, dividing the Nanyang meritorious faction wouldn’t have been difficult. The Yin family wasn’t the only powerful one—couldn’t Liu Xiu just take a few more consorts? A daughter from this family, a daughter from that one, all bearing sons—then the Nanyang faction would have fought among themselves first.However, he didn't do it—
Keyboard warriors always pick on the easy targets. No one calls Liu Yezhu or Huang Taiji scumbags, yet Liu Xiu gets labeled as one every day.
In terms of personal talent alone, I believe Liu Xiu ranks among the top five emperors, as he was one of the few who could both lead battles on horseback and govern the state off it. However, I think he lacked a crucial quality essential for an emperor—ruthlessness.
Look at how ruthless Liu Yezhu was—he relocated powerful clans county by county, never batting an eye no matter how many died along the way. The witchcraft case alone claimed tens of thousands of lives, turning the streets of Chang'an into rivers of blood. (Not that I'm praising him, of course.)
Of course, being too ruthless is also problematic, like Zhu Yuanzhang, who went overboard. That’s why, after his death, when his son fought his grandson, many civil and military families just stood by and watched.
Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient solutions~
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