When Wang Dian dismounted, he saw corpses and heads scattered across the ground, with a man and woman kneeling, and another person writhing and howling on the ground.
Liang Ye stood in a pool of blood, holding a little girl in one hand while smiling with a twisted, sinister expression, opening his mouth wide as if about to bite the child’s head.
He looked just like a man-eating demon.
“Liang Ye!” Wang Dian called out just in time.
Liang Ye looked up, his eyes brightening upon seeing him, then said with great disdain, “You’re so slow, were you carrying the horse while running?”
At the very least, given all these people and corpses present, Wang Dian had to give him a kick.
When Liang Huan heard the voice, he turned his head trembling, tears immediately starting to fall like broken strings of pearls, “Un…Uncle! Waaah——”
Wang Dian strode forward and pulled Liang Huan from this fellow’s hands into his embrace, patting his back while comforting him, “Hey, your Father Emperor was just playing with you.”
Liang Huan clutched his collar and cried heartrendingly. Liang Ye clicked his tongue in displeasure. “Still crying.”
Liang Huan was so frightened he hiccupped mid-cry, immediately stopping his wails, burying his head in Wang Dian’s embrace and sobbing softly.
Wang Dian glared fiercely at Liang Ye, silently cursing him. Liang Ye let out a contemptuous snort through his nose, and lazily said to those still kneeling. “Stand up.”
However, Baili Cheng’an remained kneeling, prostrating herself as she said, “This minister concealed her female identity to serve in office, please punish this minister for the crime of deceiving Your Majesty.”
Only then did Wang Dian recognize that the woman kneeling on the ground was Baili Cheng’an. He looked at her with some surprise, after all, Baili Cheng’an’s behavior, mannerisms, and speech were all so masculine that even though she was good-looking, there had never been anything strange to notice. Yet when she wore women’s clothes, it didn’t look out of place either – she remained just as proper and elegant as jade.
Liang Ye squatted in front of her, spinning the willow leaf knife rapidly in his hand, staring at her face with great interest, smiling as he said, “Just now you were firmly declaring that if Zhen looked down on you because you’re a woman, you wouldn’t follow Zhen anymore.”
“……” Baili Cheng’an remained silent with her head lowered.
That was indeed what she had thought, and what she would have done.
“Zhen understands your meaning now.” Liang Ye’s aura suddenly changed as he said coldly, “You’ve committed the crime of deceiving your sovereign, Zhen naturally cannot let you off lightly, much less allow you to leave Northern Liang—”
Baili Cheng’an silently sighed in her heart. Wang Dian frowned disapprovingly and was about to speak, when he heard this fellow say gleefully, “However, Zhen is a benevolent ruler, and naturally won’t take issue with you over this.”
He particularly emphasized the words “benevolent ruler,” turning back to show off proudly to Wang Dian, looking as if he wanted to stamp those two words on his forehead.
Wang Dian silently turned his head away, wishing he could pretend not to know him.
What was there to show off about!
“This minister thanks Your Majesty for your great mercy.” Baili Cheng’an performed a formal bow with both hands covering her forehead.
Liang Ye waited for a moment, and seeing that she wasn’t going to praise him further, stood up and brushed the blood from his clothes, saying disinterestedly. “Rise.”
After speaking, he stared at the flower hairpin on her head for a couple of moments, then turned to tug at the pink fluffy flower on top of Liang Huan’s head, looking at Wang Dian thoughtfully.
“…………” Without deep thought, Wang Dian understood what he was thinking, gave him a warning look, and swatted away his hand that was pulling at Liang Huan’s hair.
Liang Huan clutched his head and whimpered, saying softly in a hoarse voice, “Uncle, the flower…was pulled off.”
Wang Dian looked at the small fluffy flower that had already been reduced to fragments under Liang Ye’s blade, twitched his lips and said, “It’s alright, we’ll buy another one.”
Wang Dian carried Liang Huan out of the pool of blood, wrapped the child in his cloak and mounted his horse, clearly having no intention of leaving space for Liang Ye. In a foul mood, Liang Ye kicked Qi Ming, saying sinisterly, “Scream again and I’ll cut out your tongue.”
“Liang Ye, you—” Before Qi Ming could finish cursing, he was knocked unconscious by Long Xiang’s sword hilt.
Only then did Liang Ye’s mood improve slightly. He walked out of the alley with his hands behind his back, took a few leaping steps and squeezed onto Wang Dian’s horse. Wang Dian could clearly feel the horse’s steps becoming slower under the added weight.
“Daren?” Long Xiang looked anxiously at Baili Cheng’an, somewhat uncertain of His Majesty’s intentions.
Baili Cheng’an cast a cold glance at Qi Ming on the ground, “Bring him along and follow us.”
“Yes.”
Half an hour later, at Tongzhong City Inn.
Liang Huan clutched his egg-yellow skirt hem with tears in his eyes, saying pitifully, “Little girls shouldn’t lift their skirts.”
Liang Ye laughed mockingly, while Wang Dian said rather helplessly, “You’re not a little girl, be good now, your dress is covered in blood, let uncle change it for you.”
“No.” Liang Huan shook his head vigorously in protest.
Liang Ye strolled to the bedside with his hands behind his back, saying menacingly, “If you don’t change, I’ll sprinkle some salt on you and eat you up!”
Liang Huan was so frightened he clutched Wang Dian’s arm tightly, his little face turning pale.
“Don’t be afraid, Liang Ye doesn’t eat children.” Wang Dian stroked his head, smiling as he said, “Children don’t have much meat, they’re too dry to chew on, and the tendons get stuck in your teeth.”
Liang Huan became even more terrified instantly, plopping down on the bed and staring blankly at Wang Dian.
Wang Dian rubbed his nose, forcing a laugh as he said, “Uncle was just joking.”
He just couldn’t resist teasing the child because he was too cute.
After trying both threats and coaxing, they still couldn’t get Liang Huan to take off his little dress, so they simply let him wear it as is. With his bangs falling over two watery eyes, and naturally red lips and white teeth, he really looked like an adorable little princess.
Liang Ye mischievously went to pluck the other egg-yellow fluffy flower from his head. Liang Huan wanted to dodge but couldn’t escape him, and was so distressed he was about to cry again. Wang Dian couldn’t bear to watch and pulled the child into his arms, using a wet cloth to wipe the blood from his face, being as gentle as possible.
Liang Ye said unhappily. “It’s not like he doesn’t have hands.”
“How old is he?” Wang Dian found him annoying and pointed to the door, “If you have nothing better to do, why don’t you go out and interrogate Qi Ming?”
“Zhen rushed for a day and night just to save this little thing, Zhen needs to rest.” Liang Ye lay back on the bed, playing with the jade pendant tassel at Wang Dian’s waist, saying lazily, “Don’t let this little one’s crying fool you, he’s actually quite vicious, almost poked out one of Zhen’s eyes.”
Wang Dian looked at the soft little bunny still trembling in his arms, then thought of how Liang Ye’s attacks had sent limbs flying everywhere, “Even made-up stories should have their limits.”
Liang Ye sat up, “If you don’t believe me, ask him.”
Wang Dian looked down at Liang Huan who was curled up in his arms, “Ah huan, is what Liang Ye said true?”
Liang Huan looked at him timidly, red-eyed as he nodded.
“……” Wang Dian was silent for a moment, “Liang Ye, don’t teach children to lie.”
“???” Liang Ye looked at Wang Dian in shock.
Liang Huan was so frightened he curled himself into a ball in Wang Dian’s arms.
The child had recently recovered from a serious illness and had been thoroughly frightened by Liang Ye, so he soon fell into a drowsy sleep, looking as cute as a little snow dumpling.
Although Wang Dian didn’t particularly like children, he found Liang Huan quite appealing. Despite appearing afraid of people, once he warmed up to someone, he was as obedient as could be.
Wang Dian carefully placed him in the blankets, instructed the secret guards to watch over him, and dragged Liang Ye to rest in the next room.
“You believe this little brat but not Zhen,” Liang Ye said coolly, “It’s not like he’s your own son.”
“The child has been frightened enough today, don’t torment him anymore.” Wang Dian said helplessly. “It’s fine if his nature is a bit fierce, how else could he sit firmly in the position of Crown Prince?”
Liang Ye raised an eyebrow, still dissatisfied.
“After all, he calls you Father Emperor, it’s only right that I spoil him a bit, don’t keep scaring him.” Wang Dian said casually.
These words were spoken with great skill, and Liang Ye twitched his lips, “Then I’ll listen to you.”
“Are you really not going to punish Baili Cheng’an?” Wang Dian couldn’t help but ask.
After all, Liang Ye’s feudal beliefs were deeply rooted, and Wang Dian thought he would disapprove of women serving as officials, or at least wouldn’t agree so easily.
“Why punish her?” Liang Ye lay on the bed with his arm as a pillow, squinting his eyes tiredly, “Her talent and achievements aren’t fake… even if Zhen didn’t agree, would you let her leave the cabinet?”
“Of course not.” After learning that Baili Cheng’an was a woman, Wang Dian admired and respected her even more. In this era, it was already difficult for women to step out of the inner chambers, let alone Baili Cheng’an’s achievements which had surpassed most men, showing her extraordinary ability even more clearly, “Baili Daren should be a pillar minister of Great Liang.”
“But some punishment is necessary.” Liang Ye said lazily, “Zhen thinks, how about fining her three years’ salary?”
“That would work, but three years’ salary is too much.” Wang Dian thought for a moment, remembering the small courtyard where Baili Cheng’an lived, and said, “How about fining half a year’s salary, plus halving her vacation time for three years, she still needs to make a living.”
Although any random reward from Liang Ye could make up for three to five years’ worth of salary, docking pay really hurt feelings. Better to let capable people work more, doing extra overtime for the company, which could also train people.
Liang Ye agreed. “Very well.”
Baili Cheng’an, who had inexplicably lost half of her vacation time, was still unaware as she requested an audience outside.
“Come in.” Liang Ye sat up properly, looking very dignified and proper, very much like a benevolent ruler.
Wang Dian had no choice but to open the door.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness.” Baili Cheng’an had changed back into men’s clothes and bowed to both of them with neither servility nor arrogance, “In the earlier chaos, this minister has an important matter to report.”
“What matter?” Liang Ye asked.
Baili Cheng’an took out a letter from her sleeve, “When this minister went to receive the Crown Prince, Cui Daren gave this minister a letter, asking that it be delivered personally to Your Majesty.”
Liang Ye took the letter she handed over and opened it to read with Wang Dian.
The handwriting in the letter was proper and elegant, with only a few words. “Wei Wanlin, Capital’s General’s Mansion.”
