Chapter 214: Hello Chang’an
Chapter 214: Execution (Requesting Monthly Votes)
“Miss Chang has finally agreed to see me.”
Inside the flower hall, Li Lu rose and cupped his hands when he saw Chang Suining arrive.
“So the Heir does understand.” Suining looked at the thin young man. “If I refused to meet you today, you would return again and again, until you wore down the Chang family’s threshold, until outsiders gossiped that because you would not testify for my Elder Brother, our family bore you a grudge and deliberately kept its distance—am I right?”
At that time, when called to testify, Li Lu had not denied that he had spoken with her Elder Brother in private. But he insisted that after they parted he did not know where Chang Langjun had gone, and thus dared not guarantee it on oath. These words could be said to be perfectly measured. Even now that her Elder Brother’s name was cleared, no one could fault the heir of Prince Rong for what he had said.
On the contrary, by “telling the truth” without shielding a friend out of private feeling, he appeared all the more upright and candid, the bearing of a true gentleman.
Such a frail, courteous gentleman, and afterward he personally called upon the Chang residence again and again. If the Chang family had always shut its doors to him, would that not seem narrow and petty?
So how could she refuse to see him?
Li Lu said, “If this is an apology, yet I retreated at the first rebuff, where would be the sincerity in that?”
Suining sat down. “The Heir’s ‘sincerity’ is always of a kind that cannot be refused.”
This man was one of a strong purpose, never concerned with another’s willingness. He appeared mild and harmless, but beneath the silk lay hidden needles. To press others against their will seemed to come naturally to him.
From seeking her hand at the Hibiscus Banquet, to leveraging her Elder Brother’s case, down to today’s visit—all had been the same.
“But Miss Chang refused, and more than once.” Li Lu also sat, his tone carrying a hint of dejection. “At the Hibiscus Banquet, and again at that two-day appointment—you refused me, did you not?”
In other words, before this girl, he had known only setbacks.
Suining said, “Yet the Heir remains undaunted.”
The young man looked at her, smiled, and spoke with sincerity: “Because Miss Chang is worth it.”
This was the truth.
At first, indeed, he wished to use this girl to reach the men behind her, Chang Kuo and his son. But twice refused, though he was stung, he was also delighted—this girl was worth pursuing to the end.
“In three days’ time, it will be the execution of the Ming heir—no, the criminal Ming Jin.” He continued, “What Lu could not achieve, Miss Chang has accomplished by her own strength. It shows that I was self-deluded, my vision too narrow.”
With that, he looked contrite. “These past days I have thought about it again and again. My proposal then, though meant to save a life, was indeed offensive, with a hint of coercion. If I cannot apologize to Miss Chang in person, I truly cannot rest easy.”
Such polished hypocrisy made Suining marvel. She was one who admired talent, and she reckoned if such a man ever went to war, his very face alone could serve as a shield against ten thousand spears—no blade could pierce that skin.
He was shamelessly false—but then, so was she.
So she asked, “The Heir speaks of an apology. Where is the action to prove it?”
If there was profit in it, she did not mind playing along.
Li Lu seemed to ponder before saying, “I came today with two pieces of news not yet sent back to the capital. I may tell Miss Chang first, as proof of my sincerity.”
Suining lifted her cup of tea. “Let me hear it.”
“The first—Li Yi’s army, sent to suppress the rebels, met defeat in its very first battle at Mount Duliang.”
Suining’s hand tightened around the cup. Old Chang lost?
“In truth the fault was not Great General Chang’s.”
Li Lu sighed. “They had a plan set. But halfway through the battle, the commander Li Yi lost heart when the tide seemed uncertain. He ordered retreat. In the withdrawal, the Xu rebels ambushed them. … Fortunately, Great General Chang held the line, broke through with the troops, and prevented greater losses.”
Suining’s brow creased.
Li Yi had always been timid, excessively cautious. The Xu army must have known his weakness. That was why they used such a stratagem—to shake his nerve and then spring the ambush.
Before the expedition, she had worried about this very point. But at the time, Chang Kuo told her that Li Yi had promised to obey his command in all things. Now it seemed promises were one thing; once battle was joined, it was quite another.
This was the opening battle. A defeat would strike at morale and public confidence. It was an ill beginning indeed.
“Great General Chang was wounded by an arrow while protecting Li Yi’s retreat. But be at ease, Miss Chang—it is not a mortal wound.”
Still, her furrowed brows did not smooth. She pressed further: “And the Heir’s second piece of news?”
Li Lu said, “The Prince of Huainan, Li Tong, is gravely ill.”
The Prince of Huainan, Li Tong—Li Yi’s father.
Suining regarded Li Lu, her tone cool: “Is this news brought by the servant your family sent to offer birthday congratulations to the Prince of Huainan? Is it reliable?”
That day when she had slipped into the Rong Prince’s residence, Li Lu had told her that some months ago he had sent a man to Huainan with gifts for the prince’s birthday, and when that man returned, he would bring news of the war in Yangzhou and of Chang Kuo.
So it was natural she asked so now.
But in truth, only Suining knew what suspicion stirred in her heart.
“It is as you say,” Li Lu replied. “As for its veracity, news will soon reach the capital—you may judge then.”
He sighed. “My uncle is aged. Before the imperial army marched south, it was he who bore the burden of defending against the Xu rebels, holding fast to Huainan. But along with military strain, poisonous rumors reached his ears. Angered, he fell into a grave illness.”
“Rumors?” Suining’s eyes flickered. “Do you mean the rumors concerning the Prince of Huainan and the Holy One?”
“So Miss Chang has heard… A family scandal of the Lis. I beg you not to laugh.”
Suining gave no answer.
Back when the Empress Ming ascended the throne, beyond the support of her generals and ministers, she also owed her seat to the princes of the clan. Among them, the foremost was the Prince of Huainan, Li Tong.
There had long been whispers that the Empress and Li Tong were entangled.
“Rumors cannot be fully believed. But that my uncle has been loyal to the Holy One is beyond question. It was because of that loyalty that His Majesty entrusted Li Yi with command of this campaign.”
Li Lu went on: “But now, with the Prince of Huainan gravely ill, and Li Yi discredited by his defeat, sure to be impeached—both the imperial will and the army’s morale may be shaken…”
Chang Suining knew well that his words were no exaggeration.
If the Prince of Huainan were truly to “die of illness” at this time, the situation in Jiangnan would surely plunge into greater turmoil.
“And General Chang, with his upright nature, may well be in danger of being drawn into an unknown whirlpool…” Li Lu said. “That is why I speak so, hoping Lady Chang may think ahead and prepare.”
…
Li Lu’s words were proven true just two days later.
News came back to the capital that the army had been defeated while Li Yi held his forces back, and with it, the grievous tidings of the Prince of Huainan, Li Tong, having passed away.
The Holy Emperor was both enraged and grieved.
For the past ten days, there had been no peace at court. Open and covert attacks against the Ming family abounded, and the Aristocratic officials pressed forward step by step.
Now with these two pieces of news arriving together, the court and the realm alike erupted in uproar, disputes unceasing.
The news of Li Yi’s defeat quickly spread through the capital. Among the people, rumors began to circulate that “the death of the Prince of Huainan is Heaven’s sign that the Empress’s fate has run its course.”
When this talk reached the Holy Emperor’s ears, she immediately ordered the Palace to investigate its source.
…
“The Xu clan’s rebels, and now the Aristocratic officials led by the Changsun clan…” Late at night, the Emperor stared at the memorials piled high upon the imperial desk, murmuring: “The two do share a common interest—and that is to force me to abdicate.”
By this point, unless she were utterly blinded and muddled, she could not fail to see the possibility of collusion between the two sides…
Xu Zhengye raised his army in the south, and within the court… there must be those who have joined hands with him!
The Holy Emperor gazed into the faint candlelight.
That very night, a palace attendant came in haste to summon the Marquis of Zheng to the palace. Wei Shuyi hurriedly rose and changed into his official robes.
At the same time, the Right Chancellor of the Central, Lord Ma Xingzhou, was also on his way into the palace in his sedan.
Though it was the depth of night, the attendants keeping watch outside the Hall of Sweet Dew stood taut and vigilant, not daring to relax in the slightest.
For the Holy Emperor to summon her most trusted ministers in the middle of the night, there must be an urgent matter of utmost gravity to be discussed… After this night, the court would likely soon be bathed in storms of blood.
And come tomorrow, it would be the day when the Holy Emperor’s very own nephew was to be executed.
At the thought, one of the palace attendants standing beneath the colonnade glanced quietly toward the brightly lit imperial study.
Within, the Son of Heaven was conferring secretly with her ministers, with not a shred of thought to spare for her nephew’s impending death.
Such rending of flesh and blood, which in ordinary households would be unbearable grief—in an emperor, it seemed there was no room for sorrow or pity. Even if there were, it was nothing but cold anger and blame.
That heir had indeed erred and brought calamity, yet after all, he had grown up before the Holy Emperor’s eyes. Still, she had shown no trace of hesitation or mercy. Once she had decided to meet our punishment, she never again cast a glance or word in his direction…
Ah, such is an emperor.
…
Ming Jin and Chang Shi were both sentenced to death by beheading, their heads to be displayed to the public.
That night, Chang Shi, unwilling to be disgraced before the crowd, dashed herself to death in prison.
Ming Jin, however, still refused to believe he would truly be executed. He was the Holy Emperor’s nephew, the blood of the Ming family—surely someone would come to save him. Even if he could not be absolved openly, there must be some secret arrangement to help him escape!
As for Feng Min, implicated as an accomplice, she was spared the death penalty for giving testimony, and together with her grandmother, Madam Xie, was sentenced to exile. The next day, they were to be sent away from the capital.
But Feng Min knew her grandmother likely would not live to leave with her.
The two of them were imprisoned in the same cell, shackled hand and foot with heavy chains. Having already endured thirty strokes of the rod by law, Madam Xie now lay sprawled on the ground, unable to move.
At first she had still cursed Feng Min, but now she had not a trace of strength left.
Her wounds had festered; she had not eaten in three days. When she saw the bowl of water brought by the jailer, she moved her parched lips, whispering faintly: “Min’er… water…”
“Grandmother wants water?” Feng Min walked over.
Madam Xie raised her head with great effort, watching her granddaughter lift the bowl.
Feng Min stepped back two paces, and slowly poured the water out upon the ground.
“You…” Despair and hatred welled in Madam Xie’s eyes. “You unfilial wretch—you… will die without peace!”
“Grandmother is both right and wrong. I should die, I should not know peace—but that is because I killed, and I deserve it. Not because of so-called unfilial rebellion.”
Hatred also flickered in Feng Min’s eyes. “Grandmother needs this bowl of water—without it, you will die, isn’t that so? Yet when Grandmother once pushed me to the brink, to trade me for gain, did you ever think that I too might die?”
“Of course Grandmother thought of it…” She let out a laugh. “The only thing Grandmother never thought of—was that this wretched child could drag her grandmother down to death as well.”
“What I am today, is all by Grandmother’s doing… So this is the retribution Grandmother deserves.”
Feng Min emptied the last drop of water, then tossed the broken bowl before Madam Xie.
Madam Xie’s eyes bulged wide as she tried to crawl toward the small puddle on the ground. But the distance—so short—had become an eternity, one she could never cross.
By dawn, she breathed no more, her eyes still frozen wide.
Feng Min slumped weakly to the ground, lifting her gaze to the thin ray of morning light filtering into the cell.
Soon after, she was taken out, bound together with a group of convicts. Under the guards’ escort, they were paraded through the streets, cursed and spat upon, and driven beyond the city gates.
Her mother came to see her off outside the city. She had spent silver to bribe the guards, hoping her daughter might be treated with some leniency on the journey.
Looking at the mother she once scorned as the most useless person, now doing her utmost for her, Feng Min’s eyes reddened, and her heart filled with deeper regret.
In the past she had only listened to her grandmother, dismissing her mother’s “weak” teachings. But now…
“Min’er… we have done wrong, and must bear the consequences…”
The woman stroked her daughter’s face through her tears. “I will do all I can for you. The road to exile is bitter, and life in Lingnan will be bitter too. But since you repent, there is still a sliver of hope. If, one day, Heaven grants a general amnesty… you and I may yet be reunited.”
“No matter what others say, I will wait for my Min’er to return.”
Feng Min wept like rain, nodding heavily to her mother.
…
At the hour of noon, the executioner raised his blade.
The midday sun struck its back, sending out a dazzling glare. Bound and kneeling at the center of the execution ground, Ming Jin dared not shut his eyes.
He could not believe he was about to die.
He longed to remind all present—he was the Ming family’s heir, even the Crown Prince Li Zhi had never dared raise his voice before him!
But his mouth was stuffed tight, and he could utter no sound.
As he looked at the crowd around him, hearing the tremor of the blade’s ring, at last fear seized him, and his face showed terror.
In the next instant, that fear froze forever upon the head that rolled down from the execution platform. The body, headless, still knelt where it was.
Some clapped in delight, others were struck dumb in awe. The cries and murmurs were chaotic and clamorous.
This was one reason the Holy Emperor had decreed Ming Jin’s execution be public: the people needed both outlet and deterrence, and they needed to see with their own eyes the ruler’s act of sacrificing kin for justice.
Chang Suining too came to watch the execution—more precisely, she had returned from visiting Shen Sanmao at the manor, and on the way, stopped by out of curiosity.
She cast one last glance at the headless Ming Jin, then turned and walked away from the crowd.
Not far from the execution ground, just as she was about to mount her carriage, a group of men and women of varied ages and attire hurried after her.
“Lady Chang, please wait!”
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