Kangning Palace.
“Eat slower.” Tan Yishuang instructed the palace maid to fetch some milk, “Why have you started liking milk recently?”
“Wang Dian said drinking it helps one grow taller.” Chong Heng had always eaten like a wolf devouring its prey. Despite Liang Ye scolding him many times, he never changed. Tan Yishuang couldn’t correct him either, so she eventually let him be.
Tan Yishuang laughed at his words, “Your height is already considered tall among men.”
“Not as tall as Master and Wang Dian,” Chong Heng said stubbornly.
He was half a head shorter than Liang Ye and Wang Dian, and slimmer too. He always felt he wasn’t imposing enough. He took the milk from the palace maid and finished it in a few gulps, finally feeling full. Seeing Tan Yishuang smiling at him, he belatedly realized something and instantly blushed, “I-I was just hungry and happened to pass by…”
Only after finishing his meal did he realize Tan Yishuang had let him eat with her. He was so excited he didn’t know what to do, but since he had spent most of his childhood eating at Kangning Palace, it didn’t feel strange at all.
“It’s been so long since I came back to eat,” Chong Heng sniffled, his eyes turning red, his voice filled with unspoken grievance.
Tan Yishuang felt touched by his words. She took a handkerchief and wiped the corners of his mouth, “You can come back whenever you want, when have I ever stopped you?”
“Mast-” Chong Heng’s words stopped abruptly, and he lowered his head in silence.
Tan Yishuang looked at him and sighed, “Liuli, bring the winter clothes we made.”
The palace maid brought out a new crimson cotton robe. Tan Yishuang held it up against him to check the size, “The size looks about right. I originally wanted to make you a light-colored one, which would look lively on a young person, but then thought you should wear something festive for New Year’s Eve, so I changed it to crimson. But since His Majesty cancelled the family banquet, I didn’t get a chance to give it to you. The one I made for him is still in the closet, I won’t give it to him anymore.”
Chong Heng grinned, scratching his head, “On New Year’s Eve, I wanted to see you, Imperial Concubine, but Imperial Preceptor Wen died, and Master was unhappy, so I had to stay with him.”
“I understand,” Tan Yishuang patted his arm, “Go to the side hall and try it on so I can see how it looks.”
Chong Heng took the robe and happily went to the side hall. The palace maid nearby covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed, but after receiving a moderate glance from Tan Yishuang, she immediately fell silent.
After Wang Dian finished reviewing memorials and discussing matters for half a day, he was feeling tired when he saw Chong Heng dart out from somewhere, dressed all in bright red.
Wang Dian remarked with curiosity, “This robe looks quite festive.”
“The Imperial Concubine made it for me,” Chong Heng’s smug expression was almost identical to Liang Ye’s.
Wang Dian smiled, “It looks good, keep wearing it.”
Chong Heng said, “I have people watching Qi Ming, he just switched shifts.”
“Keep an eye on him yourself from now on,” Wang Dian looked down at the map on the table while keeping his hands in his sleeves, “I don’t trust anyone else.”
“Yes!” Chong Heng was used to such tasks, and Wang Dian’s trust made him very happy. He hugged his sword and darted out.
Wang Dian raised his head, his expression becoming grave.
Under the map lay a letter intercepted this morning – a secret message Qi Ming had sent into the palace. He had temporarily sent Chong Heng away to create a time gap so he would avoid this matter.
“There’s a lead about the grain and provisions,” Cui Qi pushed his wheelchair out from behind the screen, “Deputy Minister of War, Tan Yong.”
Tan Yong was Tan Yishuang’s full brother.
“Your Highness,” Yu Ying pushed open the door and handed over a letter, “The Tan family claims they have found Miss Tan Jiu.”
This was absurd. Back then, Liang Ye had gone to great lengths to collaborate with Tan Yishuang to fabricate the character of Miss Tan Jiu in order to make Wang Dian empress. The story of Miss Tan Jiu had spread far and wide among the common people, with many supporters. However, after Wang Dian left, this matter was forgotten. Yet now the Tan family was using it to their advantage again.
This was what they called lifting a rock only to drop it on one’s own feet.
The trouble Liang Ye had created would ultimately have to be resolved by “Miss Tan Jiu” herself.
Wang Dian tugged at the corner of his mouth, “Sixteenth Brother, why do you think they’re so impatient?”
Cui Qi ignored his annoying form of address, and calmly analyzed, “You keep talking about eliminating the noble families, and those hotheads you placed in the Ministry of Personnel started investigating corruption and fraud without restraint. News about problems with supplies reaching the frontlines will spread soon… They probably planned to make their move now anyway.”
“It’s not appropriate to keep the officials confined in the palace anymore,” Wang Dian’s smile faded, “Though I’m reluctant to sit in the position of empress, I don’t like others coveting it either.”
“Let’s add fuel to their fire.”
The Tan family’s rebellion was unexpected, but not entirely surprising.
The Liang nation was on the verge of collapse, with chaos breaking out everywhere. In the struggle for power and profit, the bold ones prospered while the timid starved. No matter how intricate the planning might be, in the end, it all came down to luck.
When the military uprising broke out, Wang Dian stood on the steps of the discussion hall, with Liang Huan pressed close to him, fearfully listening to the fighting outside while staring at the flames.
“Ah Huan, don’t be afraid,” Wang Dian stood relaxed on the steps, looking down at the pale-faced officials in the hall, “Darens, there’s no need to panic. Some people overestimate themselves, like eggs striking stones. Let me show them whose surname this world should bear.”
The sounds of tens of thousands of imperial guards and soldiers fighting from their hidden positions shook the heavens.
Behind the pearl curtain, Bian Yunxin’s face had turned ashen, her hands clenched tightly in her sleeves. Meanwhile, Tan Yishuang merely kept her eyes closed, her cold demeanor suggesting she had nothing to do with this farce.
Blood soaked through the palace pathway’s stone slabs, its vivid color more beautiful than the palace walls.
Corpses lay everywhere, blood flowing like rivers.
Great fires blazed throughout the capital, as if slaughter could cleanse this dynasty’s final corruption.
All the dark schemes proved powerless against absolute military superiority.
As dawn approached, Wang Dian looked down at his clean palms and smiled sardonically, tucking his sleeves in. He smiled at the officials in the hall, “Darens, you’ve worked hard lately. Go home and rest. Tomorrow will be a day off.”
“Wang Dian! May you die a horrible death!” someone cursed angrily.
The next second, an arrow pierced through their heart.
Wang Dian smiled and sighed, “Does anyone else object?”
The discussion hall fell into deathly silence.
News of the Tan family’s failed rebellion quickly spread throughout the capital. How it started and ended didn’t concern the common people – they only knew that the palace fires burned all night, bodies piled up in layers at the burial grounds, and the prince appointed by His Majesty now wielded supreme power in court, his brutality far exceeding Liang Ye’s.
First the Cui and Jian families, and now the prominent Tan family had fallen. Fortunately, other noble families saw the situation and withdrew in time. Wang Dian didn’t deliver a fatal blow, allowing both sides to barely maintain face.
After this incident, the noble families were severely weakened and dared not act rashly again. The court reshuffled, and Wang Dian swiftly appointed Cui Yun and Baili Cheng’an, two famously unyielding officials, to begin bold reforms of the official system.
Compared to the Tan family, the previous Cui and Jian families seemed modest. The confiscated gold, silver, and jewels filled nearly half the national treasury. The amount of land seized from the noble families was astounding, and the grain they had hoarded could feed more than 300,000 troops…
Wang Dian was shocked, angry, and deeply saddened by this helpless situation. He could only hurry to transport supplies and military equipment to the frontlines, while also distributing grain to the disaster-stricken counties in the north, hoping to save as many as possible.
Even though Wang Dian ordered the officials to return home, several key ministers of the cabinet had no time to leave. With sufficient supplies and weapons, they needed to reorganize defense lines, change strategies, seize the opportunity to reform the official system, audit finances, remeasure lands – everyone wished they could split themselves into eight.
Yet the noble families remained, undead though defeated, still like dark clouds hovering over Great Liang.
At sunset, Wang Dian sat on the threshold of the discussion hall eating snacks, dark circles under his eyes. Cui Qi glanced at Liang Huan who was playing with sand in front of the terrain model, then wheeled himself behind Wang Dian.
“Some changes can show immediate results, while others take generations,” Cui Qi said quietly.
“Mm.” Wang Dian chewed his snack vigorously, watching the blood-red sunset. “This is all I’m capable of.”
“Achieving this much is already heaven’s blessing for Great Liang,” Cui Qi said, “Others might not be as decisive as you.”
“Liang Ye could,” Wang Dian turned to smile at him, “He might have done even better than me.”
Cui Qi shifted his gaze from Wang Dian’s bright smile, “Liang Ye keeping you confined in the capital gave Great Liang another lease on life.”
Even if someone could do better than Wang Dian, Liang Ye wouldn’t have granted such power. Even if Liang Ye had no choice but to grant power, the other person might not have remained loyal… The current situation was like having two emperors in Northern Liang.
Though strange, this was exactly how Cui Qi felt. Wang Dian’s appearance seemed like a turning point, forcibly pulling Northern Liang from the brink of destruction.
Wang Dian glanced at Liang Huan, who had climbed into the sand table to play with battle flags, then turned back to munch on snacks while watching the sunset. “Sixteenth Brother, was Liang Ye this mischievous as a child?”
Cui Qi paused before answering, “I only saw him occasionally. His childhood wasn’t pleasant. At that time, I could barely protect myself, and didn’t want to help him.”
“How honest, Sixteenth Brother.” Wang Dian brushed off the snack crumbs, watching Qi Ming being escorted over by Chong Heng. Finally feeling a hint of sadness, he smiled, “But I like that.”
Cui Qi’s expression twisted as he stared at him warily.
Wang Dian laughed heartily, brushing off non-existent dust from his sleeve, “But first, let’s hear how my dear friend defends himself.”
After many days in prison, Qi Ming had lost his former dignity. His gaze at Wang Dian was calm and frank; he even managed a smile.
Wang Dian smiled back, remaining seated on the threshold.
Qi Ming was forced to kneel, but Wang Dian raised his hand to stop this.
Looking at the haggard Qi Ming, he still felt regret, “When I brought you into the cabinet, I thought we’d share many more drinks together.”
Qi Ming tugged at the corner of his mouth and sat cross-legged before him, “Zhongqing, why be so hypocritical? If you hadn’t schemed against me with that wine that night, how could I have shown any weakness? The Tan family wouldn’t have acted so hastily and failed when success was within reach.”
Wang Dian sighed, “Even without that cup of Immortal wine, you had already shown your weakness.”
Qi Ming sneered, disbelieving.
“Imperial Preceptor Wen was healthy – in court, it would take seven or eight people to stop him from throwing himself against a pillar in remonstrance,” Wang Dian looked at him, “At Cui Yuxian’s birthday feast, he could lift Yan Ze with one hand to dodge arrows. How could a mere fall have killed him?”
“The teacher was old,” Qi Ming’s composed expression finally cracked.
“His fall wasn’t severe. Someone serving him had poisoned his medicine,” Wang Dian said slowly, “If war hadn’t suddenly broken out, keeping Liang Ye too busy to investigate, do you think you’d have lived until today?”
Qi Ming’s expression tensed. After a while, he laughed softly. “The teacher always played favorites. If Baili Cheng’an hadn’t been transferred from the capital, would he have remembered he had me as a student and let me enter officialdom? When I left, he ignored me. Now when there’s no one else to use, he drags me out – why? Am I so worthless in their eyes? Zhongqing, tell me, how am I inferior to Baili Cheng’an? Why do you all value him so much more than me? Where exactly am I lacking?”
“You don’t lack anything,” Wang Dian said, “Imperial Preceptor Wen once said you were alert, intelligent, ambitious, and talented – destined to become a great minister.”
Qi Ming froze, asking incredulously, “The teacher really said that?”
“Not just once.” Wang Dian recalled how when he used to play gobang with Wen Zong in the past, Wen Zong would often praise Qi Ming while frequently pointing out Baili Cheng’an’s shortcomings. This once made Wang Dian think he favored Qi Ming, which was why he was willing to actively befriend Qi Ming after leaving the palace—Wen Zong had always been very accurate in judging people.
Yet he never expected to be deceived by his own disciple.
“No… impossible, you’re lying to me!” Qi Ming said with reddened eyes. “Teacher clearly liked junior brother more!”
“Even if he liked Baili Cheng’an more, Lehong, ask yourself honestly, was he ever lacking in his treatment of you?” Wang Dian said coldly. “Since you entered official service, how many paths has he paved for you, how much effort has he spent? Qi Ming, one must have a conscience.”
Qi Ming shook his head vigorously and laughed, “You’re deceiving me, Wang Dian, you’ve always been cunning.”
Wang Dian’s lips twitched, “If you don’t believe it, so be it. For the sake of our past friendship, I’ll just let you die with understanding.”
Qi Ming laughed with reddened eyes.
“In your home, we found several letters exchanged with Tan Yishuang, Tan Yong, and—” Wang Dian ground his teeth hard before spitting out the last name, “Wei Wanlin. How do you explain this?”
Qi Ming’s smile faded as he stared expressionlessly at Wang Dian, “Victory belongs to the victor, defeat to the vanquished. I accept my fate.”
“You think you can dismiss the meaningless deaths of a hundred thousand soldiers in the Northern Frontier with just that phrase?” Wang Dian tilted his neck, his dark gaze fixed on Qi Ming’s face. “Qi Ming, you conspired with the Tan family and Wei Wanlin to rebel, willing to betray your country?”
Qi Ming looked at him with hostility, his hidden anger and resentment finally surfacing. “If you hadn’t suddenly appeared and interfered, I would be the winner now. Wang Dian, you were living well in Southern Zhao, why did you have to come back at this time! Why is it that after all my careful planning, you could so easily see through my schemes! Tell me, what makes you so exceptional?!”
Wang Dian smiled at him, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Your carefully laid plans were just a game to me. If I lost, I’d just die—I never cared about staying in this wretched place anyway.”
Qi Ming glared at him intently, but likely didn’t understand his meaning, finding his words puzzling.
So Wang Dian rephrased it, “Because I had nothing to lose, because I brought enough troops, because I…had already planned to use the Tan family as an example to deal with the noble families.”
As for whether the Tan family was rebellious or treasonous, to Wang Dian, the outcome would have been death either way—now it was just more justified.
Qi Ming’s expression finally changed, “Aren’t you afraid of being condemned by history!? Aren’t you afraid Liang Ye will return and kill you!?”
Wang Dian finally stood up from the doorstep, looking down at him with the bearing of a victor. “If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have come back.”
Qi Ming suddenly leaped up from the ground, but in the next moment, the guard beside him kicked him hard in the back of his knees, forcing him to kneel heavily before Wang Dian.
Wang Dian reached out to grip his jaw as he tried to bite his tongue to commit suicide, bent down to look directly into his eyes, and showed a chilling smile, “Don’t be in such a hurry to die, I still have many questions for you.”
“Lehong.”
