It has been nine years since Liang Zhaoyi left ho to join the palace selection.
During these nine years, Liang Shuren and the others have not seen Liang Zhaoyi, their daughter, even once. Although they have been in touch over the years, and in her letters, their daughter tells them she is doing well, they remain worried at heart.
When their daughter was at ho, they loved her dearly and couldn’t bear her to suffer in the slightest. Since their daughter was successfully selected, they have not been happy but rather worried.
The harem is a dangerous place that consus people without leaving a trace. Many daughters have entered the palace, only to et untily ends. During that ti, they were constantly on edge, fearful that their daughter might be bullied or hard after entering the palace.
Later, when they received news that their daughter had given birth to a prince for the Emperor, their worries intensified. The Liang family held no power in the capital, and with their daughter giving birth to a prince, they feared she might incite jealousy or resentnt from influential consorts, placing both their daughter and the prince in danger.
They worried day and night, dreading the day they would receive news of their daughter and the prince encountering trouble. However, over the years, they received no bad news, which provided so relief to their hearts.
When their youngest son went to the capital, he finally made contact with their daughter. Learning that she was doing well in the palace brought them so peace of mind. Yet, they also worried that their daughter might be deliberately saying she was well to prevent them from worrying.
In the past two years, receiving letters from the young prince made them imnsely happy. The young prince would often tell them in his letters that he and his mother were living well in the palace and reassured them not to worry. However, their youngest son wrote to tell them that their daughter and the young prince were not particularly favored and lived cautiously in the palace.
The thought of their daughter, whom they had cherished from childhood, having to be cautious and humble in the palace cut their hearts like a knife.
His official rank was too low, leaving him unqualified to enter the capital, let alone the palace to visit his daughter.
Liang Shuren hesitated for a long ti before deciding to ask Grandmaster Liu about it.
Hearing Liang Shuren’s question, Grandmaster Liu was not surprised at all.
"Zhaoyi and the Tenth Prince are doing well."
"Really?" As soon as Liang Shuren spoke, he realized that his words might have been inappropriate. He was about to and them when Grandmaster Liu said, "It’s true."
Song Dekang, who was beside him, added, "The Tenth Prince is very clever. Recently, he invented the stirrup, and the Emperor rewarded him with many gifts."
"The Tenth Prince, he..." Liang Shuren recently received a portrait sent by Zhao Yao, depicting the Tenth Prince as very beautiful and adorable, much like his daughter.
"The Tenth Prince is very intelligent, very cute, and the Emperor dotes on him greatly."
The Emperor dotes on the Tenth Prince?
Liang Shuren was puzzled, as the Tenth Prince wrote saying that he and Zhaoyi were not much favored, yet Grandmaster Liu said the Emperor dotes greatly on the Tenth Prince? Was Grandmaster Liu only trying to comfort him?
Grandmaster Liu then proceeded to tell Liang Shuren about the things Zhao Yao had done.
Liang Shuren was stunned upon hearing how Zhao Yao had secretly eaten Pri Minister He’s orchids.
Song Dekang, listening from the side, clapped his thigh and laughed, saying the Tenth Prince did well.
Liang Shuren did not expect the Tenth Prince to be so... mischievous and adorable.
After hearing about Zhao Yao for a while from Grandmaster Liu and the others, Liang Shuren got up to take his leave.
Once Liang Shuren had left, Song Dekang remarked, "I wonder what the boss is thinking; his son-in-law has good capabilities and is a good official, why not promote him and transfer him to the capital?"
"The Liang family has been rchants for generations and is doing well in Yangzhou, but in the capital, they’re insignificant," Grandmaster Liu explained. "His county magistrate position was bought during the previous dynasty, and although he’s done well over the years, he hasn’t achieved any major rits. Furthermore, moving to the capital wouldn’t be advantageous for them."
"Can’t you see, the man just misses his daughter," Song Dekang clicked his tongue, saying, "I bet Liang Zhaoyi hasn’t seen her family since entering the palace."
Grandmaster Liu cast a sidelong glance at Song Dekang and said, "In the palace, how many concubines get to see their families?"
"But Liang Zhaoyi isn’t like the other concubines."
"Exactly because she’s different, the Emperor is even less likely to transfer Liang Zhaoyi’s father to the capital for a position," Grandmaster Liu said aningfully. "Can’t you tell the Emperor is protecting them?"
Hearing this, Song Dekang finally understood.
"That’s really the case."
Grandmaster Liu said no more on the matter and turned the conversation back to affairs in Yangzhou.
Song Dekang listened intently.
They discussed until the hour of the pig (11 PM - 1 AM) before concluding.
"It’s a pity," Song Dekang suddenly sighed.
Grandmaster Liu paused while raising his teacup, then asked in confusion, "What’s a pity?"
"It’s a pity that we aren’t in the capital," Song Dekang expression shifted to a mischievous grin, "There are surely so interesting scenes playing out in the capital these days, but we can’t watch them."
Grandmaster Liu nodded in agreent, "It is sowhat of a pity."
"I’d really like to see those noble families’ faces in the capital, it must be quite a spectacle," Song Dekang said, adding, "The boss’s move to shake the mountain and scare the tiger must have given those noble families in the capital quite a fright."
"That is exactly the outco the Emperor desires," Grandmaster Liu said, finishing his tea and standing up. "There’s work to be done tomorrow, let’s rest for now."
"Lao Liu, are you overseeing the execution tomorrow, or am I?" asked Song Dekang, catching up with him.
"Didn’t you say you quite enjoy overseeing executions? You should keep doing it."
"No, I’ve been overseeing executions so much lately that I’m tired of it," Song Dekang said. Since the fall of the noble families in Yangzhou, Grandmaster Liu has been systematically sentencing them. The cris they’ve committed are nurous and severe. The Emperor ordered imdiate executions, with Grandmaster Liu and Song Dekang executing these in Yangzhou.
Of course, not everyone is punished locally in Yangzhou. A dozen individuals are to be escorted to the capital for execution there.
These dozen individuals are the heads of Yangzhou’s noble families. Their cris are too many to count and must be punished in the capital.
The main reason for executing them in the capital is so that the noble families there can witness it.
"There’s one thing I don’t understand," Song Dekang asked in bewildernt, "Why doesn’t the boss have Dong Jin escorted back to the capital for execution?"
"A re rebel, escorting him to the capital for execution would be giving him too much face," Grandmaster Liu sneered. "Who is Dong Jin to deserve that?"
Song Dekang nodded, agreeing, "He’s not worthy." Recalling the interrogation of Dong Jin, Song Dekang always felt that Dong Jin was hiding sothing more. However, despite pressing him alongside Grandmaster Liu, Dong Jin remained silent.
"Lao Liu, what do you think that turtle’s son Dong Jin is still hiding?"
"He’s hiding the real mastermind behind the scenes, what else?"
"Who do you think this real mastermind could be, soone capable of making Dong Jin serve him so loyally and faithfully?" Song Dekang walked with his hands crossed over his chest, pondering, "When I caught him, he looked shocked, as if he couldn’t believe he had been betrayed."
"You’d think he knows he’s been betrayed by the mastermind but still keeps their identity a secret, why?"
"It’s simple, they have so important people of his in their hands. If he reveals the mastermind, those important people would lose their lives."
"Even if he keeps it secret, those important people of his still won’t survive," Song Dekang said, touching his chin thoughtfully. "He’s no longer useful, so there’s no reason to keep those important people alive. Doesn’t he realize this?"
"What does it matter if he knows?" Grandmaster Liu said with a smirk. "He’s clear that as long he doesn’t speak, there’s still a chance for his important one’s survival. If he does speak, their death is certain."
"That’s true," Song Dekang replied. "Lao Liu, who do you think is behind Dong Jin?"
"I don’t know."
"Lao Liu, with your wit, it’s impossible for you not to know," Song Dekang speculated. "The person behind Dong Jin must be from the capital, but is it the Wang family, the Xun family, the Yuan family, or maybe even the Yu family..."
Grandmaster Liu didn’t respond to Song Dekang’s guessing, entering his courtyard and closing the door in front of him.
Song Dekang’s nose almost got caught in the door, prompting him to pound it a few tis in frustration.
At that mont, the Deputy General approached and said, "General, a few people in the prison are clamoring to see you. They claim they don’t want to die and wish to atone with ritorious deeds by telling you so things."
Song Dekang, showing impatience, replied, "These damn bastards never stop. I need to get so sleep."
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