The collapsed and frenzied emperor was unapproachable, as the ruins of the council hall seemed to echo his wailing.
Liang Ye clutched the dragon robe tightly to his chest, as if by doing so he could still feel Wang Dian’s lingering warmth and the strong scent of begonia that had not yet dispersed, proving to him that Wang Dian had truly existed.
Around him fell an endless silence. Someone was pulling at his arm, someone was trying to snatch Wang Dian’s clothes, someone stepped on the small trinkets Wang Dian had left behind. He struggled in collapse, howling and fighting with all his might, trying desperately to find a familiar face among the blurry visages before him.
The blood was still fresh; he had caught Wang Dian, he was certain of it.
He had caught him!
He questioned those around him in anguish, angrily demanding they return his Wang Dian to him. He seemed to have fallen into a chaotic and manic dream, threatening to kill everyone as sacrifice for Wang Dian’s burial!
“Liang Ye!” Yue Jingming’s angry shout suddenly cleared his confused mind.
Liang Ye glared at him fiercely, his eyes bloodshot, the ruthlessness and unwillingness on his face growing even more intense as he shouted hoarsely, “Zhen wants Wang Dian! Give Wang Dian back to me!”
“He doesn’t belong here,” Yue Jingming said coldly, as if detached from the situation. “The matter is concluded, so naturally he had to leave.”
His words were too harsh and unsympathetic. Xiao Chunhe beside him couldn’t help but say, “One of you is from a past life, one from a future life. His ability to come to you was already a great fortune. With Wen Heshen’s example as warning, Liang Ye, a single obsessive thought can easily lead to demonic obstacles. Don’t stray from the path.”
“Zhen wants Wang Dian!” Liang Ye stubbornly and desperately repeated the same words. “He is not Liang Ye, he is Zhen’s Wang Dian!”
He refused to acknowledge the reality they spoke of, as if doing so could bring Wang Dian back.
As Xiao Chunhe was about to persuade him further, Liang Ye disregarded everything and forcefully used his internal energy to break free. Then a whisk came down, directly knocking him unconscious.
“…” Xiao Chunhe caught the unconscious Liang Ye and felt his pulse. “I thought he was a good seedling who could sever emotions and love, but he turned out to be a passionate lover.”
Yue Jingming knelt beside him, reaching out to hold Liang Ye’s jaw, forcing his mouth open. He took the antidote handed over by Cui Qi and poured it in without wasting a drop.
“Slow down, this is your disciple, not livestock,” Xiao Chunhe picked up a handkerchief to wipe the blood and medicine stains from Liang Ye’s face. Noticing the small yellow flowers embroidered on it, he raised an eyebrow. “Which young lady gave this handkerchief?”
“This was bought by Wang Dian for Master!” Chong Heng, who had just arrived, snatched the handkerchief away and collected all the scattered trinkets on the ground. He anxiously looked around for someone. “Where is Wang Dian?”
He had pursued with all his might, but he was injured and his martial arts were inferior to Liang Ye’s, so he couldn’t catch up.
“Gone,” Xiao Chunhe touched his nose, startled by Chong Heng’s fierce gaze. “Hey, don’t cry. Your master already cried the council hall to collapse.”
Chong Heng moved his lips, unable to understand his meaning. “What do you mean by ‘gone’?”
“It means—”
“Xiao Chunhe.” Yue Jingming coldly interrupted him. “Take him to get his wounds treated.”
Liang Ye had already sustained extremely serious injuries, then forcefully used his internal energy. After experiencing such great sorrow, he was at the end of his strength. The Maple Frost Fall in his body had been largely activated, and after taking the antidote, he slept for half a month before barely waking up.
“He’s awake! His Majesty is awake!” Yun Fu saw Liang Ye open his eyes and wept with joy, rushing out to call for help. “Physician Li! Cui Daren! His Majesty is awake!”
Chong Heng, who had been sleeping on the rafters, leaped down. “Master!”
Yun Fu returned with Li Bu and Cui Qi, and Li Bu hurriedly checked Liang Ye’s pulse.
Liang Ye lay flat on the bed, his pale face showing no emotion. His pitch-black pupils stared directly at the tassels on the bed curtains. After a long while, he spoke his first words since waking, “How long has Zhen been asleep?”
“Your Majesty, you have been asleep for sixteen days,” Yun Fu knelt on the ground, wiping his tears.
“Where are Master and the others?” Liang Ye asked again.
“Master, Martial Uncle, and Temple Master Xiang left with Wen Heshen,” Chong Heng quickly replied. “Martial Uncle left a letter for you, Master.”
He handed the letter to Liang Ye, who accepted it but didn’t look at it. After a pause, he asked, “Who shot the arrow?”
At that time, they had just managed to capture Wen Heshen with all their might. To obtain the antidote, everyone’s attention was focused near the cage. Chong Heng and Chang Ying’s men were busy dealing with the fleeing traitors. With the enemy defeated, no one had anticipated this sudden arrow.
It was just an ordinary arrow—not poisoned, no mechanism—that pierced Wang Dian’s chest while everyone’s attention was on Wen Heshen.
“It was…..Jian Ling,” Chong Heng knelt on the ground and said. “His martial arts had been completely crippled. He sneaked into the palace during the chaos and was directed to Suixue Garden.”
He couldn’t describe the feeling in his heart. It seemed so incongruous that Wang Dian, surrounded by so many skilled fighters including his master and the martial uncles, who could even defeat a terrifyingly powerful opponent like Wen Heshen, would die from a single arrow shot by a crippled Jian Ling.
“Chang Ying captured him on the spot. Jian Ling was accompanied by a traitor named Xun Yang,” Chong Heng said. “It was Xun Yang who gave him directions. Both are now imprisoned in the secret dungeon.”
Liang Ye rose and got out of bed.
“Master!”
“Your Majesty!”
The people around tried to stop him.
Liang Ye had always been temperamental and eccentric. Apart from Wang Dian, no one dared to approach him. Even Chong Heng only dared to speak but not touch him. But somehow, they had suddenly become bold.
In his urgency, Li Bu grabbed his wrist, Cui Qi frowned and pressed down on his shoulder, and even the little eunuch Yun Fu dared to grab his clothes to stop him.
Liang Ye was instantly furious. “Get away from Zhen, all of you!”
“Your Majesty, your serious injuries haven’t healed. You cannot get out of bed,” Li Bu advised earnestly.
“Who gave you such courage?” Liang Ye stared at him with a gloomy gaze.
Li Bu lowered his head, not daring to look at him. “The Prince….when he was here, instructed this old servant that if Your Majesty were injured again, regardless of what Your Majesty said, this old servant must prioritize Your Majesty’s health.”
Liang Ye’s expression instantly twisted with anger.
“There are many court matters awaiting Your Majesty’s personal decision,” Cui Qi spoke calmly, though his grip was strong, preventing Liang Ye from getting out of bed. “Many measures in the cabinet were approved with the Prince’s seal. If they are to continue, only you can take over.”
“Your Majesty, your dragon body is of utmost importance,” Yun Fu said tearfully. “The Prince would certainly not want you to abuse your body like this…”
Liang Ye looked at them expressionlessly, then suddenly laughed coldly. “Wang Dian was quite good at winning people’s hearts, making you all obey him without putting Zhen in your eyes. Very good, indeed very good!”
Li Bu and the others all lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
Liang Ye’s wrists and ankles were wrapped in thick bandages, yet blood was slowly seeping through due to his earlier movement. His face was completely pale, and anyone could see he was seriously ill and difficult to cure, but no one dared to advise him further.
If Wang Dian were here, he would certainly scold him harshly, then irreverently push him back into bed. They would argue for a few rounds, then Wang Dian would give him some sweetness and slowly coax him. Afterward, Liang Ye could rightfully become more demanding, and most of the time, Wang Dian would indulge him despite complaints, caring for him tenderly and thoughtfully.
If Wang Dian were here.
This thought made Liang Ye’s heart suddenly empty.
He seemed to finally remember something, and after a long daze, he said in a deep voice, “Everyone out.”
Chong Heng placed a package beside the bed and retreated with the others.
The vast imperial chamber was once again left with only Liang Ye. He had lived here alone for more than a decade but had never felt it to be so empty before.
He glanced at what Chong Heng had left, reached out to open it, and two rings fell out, stained with dried blood and dust. One of them rolled away, and he instinctively reached for it, but pulled at his wound. The ring brushed past his fingertips and was missed, the momentary sensation reminding him of failing to catch Wang Dian.
Liang Ye unnaturally curled his fingers, remained silent for a while, then got up from the bed and stepped barefoot onto the floor. He bent down to pick up the ring, carefully wiped it clean with his sleeve, and placed it together with the other ring.
Then, lowering his eyes, he pulled off the copper coin he wore around his neck, removed the jade pendant with its red tassel, and tore off the red string around his ankle, throwing them into the bag of blood-stained and dusty trinkets.
Mere dead objects.
He stared at the dusty sleeve bag with a gloomy expression, and along with two tattered dragon robes, threw it into the lotus pond outside the window. He stood by the window watching as those things slowly sank into the water.
The doors of the imperial chamber opened, and Yu Ying, who was guarding nearby, looked up to see Liang Ye walking out with a cold expression. She exclaimed in surprise, “Your Majesty?”
“Go to the imperial study,” Liang Ye didn’t pause at all, the cold and oppressive aura surrounding him making people afraid to look directly at him.
****
The important ministers of the cabinet, who were overwhelmed with work, were shocked to see Liang Ye arrive, and their bows were half a beat late.
“What, you don’t recognize Zhen again?” Liang Ye sat down in the main seat, lazily tapping the table. “Or do you only recognize the Prince of Danyang?”
“Officials wouldn’t dare!” The officials instantly broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly knelt to proclaim their loyalty.
“Alright, you may all rise,” Liang Ye impatiently waved his hand. “Where is Bian Cang?”
“In response to Your Majesty, Bian Cang and his entire family, extending up to the ninth generation have all been imprisoned, awaiting Your Majesty’s decision,” Yan Ze replied.
“Pick a good day,” Liang Ye raised his hand to brush off some dust that had somehow gotten on his sleeve, and revealed a cold smile. “Behead them all.”
Zeng Jie wanted to speak but hesitated, finally gathering his courage to say, “Your Majesty, although the main branch of the Bian family is declining, there are many collateral branches. If all are beheaded, I fear—”
“Zhen knows your daughter married into a collateral branch of the Bian family,” Liang Ye said coolly. “Zhen not pursuing the Zeng family is already showing exceptional mercy. Zeng Daren, must Zhen spell it out clearly?”
Playing both sides and hedging bets was shrewd but not completely fruitless—Liang Ye was naturally displeased.
Zeng Jie immediately lowered his head in trepidation.
“All traitorous court officials will have their entire family, extending up to the ninth generation exterminated, and rebellious family clans will be left without a single survivor,” Liang Ye met Cui Qi’s disapproving gaze and leisurely smiled. “Zhen is willing to bear this infamy.”
The nineteenth year of Ding’an in Northern Liang would certainly leave an indelible mark in the history books.
Northern Liang had struggled to pacify external threats but couldn’t avoid internal rebellion. The Tan and Bian families revolted in succession, which then implicated Wei Wanlin’s treason of colluding with enemies. Cabinet minister Qi Ming and imperial concubine Tan Yishuang were involved, and the conspiracy of the three-dynasty senior minister Bian Cang was exposed, revealing the absurd evil deeds of Emperor Huixian in his early years… Liang Ye led troops to quickly suppress the rebellion, and just when everyone thought he would implement benevolent governance and recuperation like his great-grandfather Emperor Shengwu did after military chaos, this emperor who had just taken power fully revealed his cruel and violent side. With lightning speed, he swept away the noble families that had been causing trouble for years and executed the rebellious court officials. In an instant, half the court was emptied.
The imperial prison, empty for many years, was filled to capacity. Heads littered the ground beneath the execution platform, and corpses piled like mountains in the mass burial grounds.
In the summer of the nineteenth year of Ding’an, the entire capital ran with blood.
Not only Southern Zhao and Eastern Chen, but even the Northern Liang commoners who could finally farm and eat agreed:
The Emperor of Liang, Liang Ye, was indeed an unpredictable, eccentric madman.
