Content Warning: Blood and killing.
“Why is it so difficult to marry a wife?”
Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong for a long time without saying anything. Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh: “You usually have a lot to say, so don’t you have a few things to say about it?”
Pei Wenxuan was holding the hu tablet with both hands, and his arms were naturally hanging in front of him. He lowered his head and let out a soft chuckle. Li Rong raised her eyebrows: “What are you laughing about?”
“Your Highness,” Pei Wenxuan smiled and looked at her, “You’re still very cute even after so many years.”
Li Rong was somewhat at a loss, but it was at that moment that the voice of an eunuch came from within the palace hall with an announcement: “Summoning Princess Ping Le and Pei Wenxuan into the hall——”
Hearing the summons, the two immediately straightened out their expressions. After exchanging a glance with one another, they entered the palace hall one after another.
Consort Ning and Yang Quan’s father, the head of the Yang family, Yang Lie, were kneeling on the ground up ahead in the palace hall. Li Ming sat on the high throne and watched as the two of them entered. Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan’s eyes did not wander as they came forward to kneel down beside Consort Ning and bowed to Li Ming.
“Ping Le,” Li Ming allowed the two of them to rise and calmly said, “Zhen previously let you preside over the Yang family’s case. How far did you get with the investigation?”
Li Rong didn’t dare to answer Li Ming’s question too thoroughly, in too much detail and too cleverly in fear that it would make Li Ming suspicious, so Li Rong smiled and lightly coughed: “Pei daren assisted erchen in handling matters related to the case, so he can speak about this. I cannot speak on it as well as he can, so have Pei daren speak.”
“Pei Wenxuan.”
“This humble official is here.”
Pei Wenxuan came forward. Li Ming saw the young court official emerging from the ranks and slowly said: “A few days ago, you were accused of murdering the wealthy merchant Tuoba Yan. This Tuoba Yan was recently turned out to be alive and went to Shuntian Prefecture to file a complaint, saying the Yang family sent someone to pursue and kill him. Were you aware of this?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan respectfully said, “Please allow this humble official to make a detailed report.”
“Speak.”
“Two months ago, Princess Ping Le held a spring banquet at a mansion on the outskirts of the city. Yang Quan wanted to marry Her Highness the Princess, so he brought people to ambush the Princess on the way back to the palace, hoping to be the hero that saves the beauty and tricking the Princess. This humble official became aware of Yang Quan’s intentions on the way back, and conflict arose with Yang Quan as a result of saving the Princess. After that, we were rescued by His Highness the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince brought this lowly one into the palace along with the Princess. This humble official was able to meet the Holy One, and Your Holiness had pity on this minister, who was still in a fright, and specifically sent people to escort this humble official back to the residence, but Yang Quan unexpectedly harbored a grudge since this humble official had sabotaged his plans. He was so bold as to even set up an ambush to assassinate this humble official on the road home. In a moment of desperation, this humble official’s hand slipped and accidentally killed Second Young Master Yang.”
“His Majesty learned that Yang Quan had acted so boldly and ordered Princess Ping Le to lead the investigation with this humble official’s assistance and Vice Minister’s Su supervision, joining hands to conduct a thorough investigation of the Yang clan. We heeded the order, and after this humble official registered the case for investigation, there was someone who secretly wrote a letter to us, exposing everything the Yang clan has been doing in the Northwest and saying that the Yang family has been colluding with the enemy and betraying the country over the last years.”
“You are uttering nonsense!”
When Yang Lie heard these words, he turned to Pei Wenxuan and let out a bellow of indignance. Pei Wenxuan’s face did not change. Li Rong stood off to the side with a bright smile as she waved her fan, watching as Pei Wenxuan calmly proceeded to say: “Based on what this person said, the Rong State is a bitter and cold place where swords are still mostly made of bronze to this day. They are nothing more than a small barbarian country. The Yang clan came to an agreement with the Rong State in order to consolidate their authority. Every autumn the Rong State sends an army to invade, and the Yang clan requests soldiers and provisions. Once granted, they will evenly divide them up with the Rong State, pretending to be at war when it is merely just an act. Over the years, the reports of victories, big and small, are only due to the fact that the Rong State has been receiving money and cooperating with the Yang clan’s act…”
“You foul-mouthed brat!”
Yang Lie indignantly shot to his feet. Li Rong saw Yang Lie’s movements, napped the golden fan in her hand shut with a “shua,” and sharply shouted: “Kneel!”
The powerful resounding effect of her voice slightly startled Yang Lie and brought him back to his senses. He clenched his teeth and knelt back down. Pei Wenxuan cast him an indifferent glance and continued: “These words merely come from one side, but since such rumors exist, this humble official naturally must go and check. This humble official heard that there was a foreign merchant in Huajing, Tuoba Yan, who has had many dealings from the Yang family. Therefore, this humble official consulted the Princess for further instructions and went with the Princess to investigate this person Tuoba Yan. After arriving at Tuoba Yan’s mansion, this humble official stole his account books, where transactions between the Yang clan and Tuoba Yan had been recorded, and discovered that the amount of money the Yang clan has received from this Tuoba Yan in recent years is a considerable sum. This Tuoba Yan actually bought antiques off the Yang clan’s hands at prices far beyond their value, which goes to show that it was not an ordinary transaction. So this humble official followed the clues on the trail and went to the Ministry of War to verify once more, comparing all the account books side by side, and all affiliated individuals——investigated and interrogated one by one.”
“This matter may have reached Consort Ning’s ears,” Pei Wenxuan looked towards Consort Ning, who was kneeling on the ground with no changes on her face. Pei Wenxuan turned his head and continued to say, “In order to destroy evidence, they murdered Tuoba Yan and put the blame on this humble official and Princess Ping Le. At the same time, when Yang Lie learned that his family members were trapped in their residence, he planned to dispose of the commanding general back then and hand in his letter of resignation to threaten His Majesty.”
“Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan raised his head with a solemn expression, “Now that the account books from the Northwestern border station over the past decade, the Ministry of War and Tuoba Yan’s hands have all been gathered and verified, the amount of money that Tuoba Yan poured into the Yang clan residence in that time frame was consistent with the records from the Ministry of War and border station account books. Furthermore, with the confessions of Tuoba Yan and countless others, it is enough to prove that the Yang family has been stuffing their pockets full over the years at the border station.”
“How can they possess so much money? According to the current reports from the front lines, how could there be so many weapons belonging to our Great Xia when the Rong State attacked? All the evidence adds up and indicates that the person who originally provided this information was undoubtedly right.”
“What the Yang family did… Deceiving the monarch and breaking the law. Harming the country and harming the people. Dishonoring the Son of Heaven and disregarding the common people. colluding with the enemy in order to deceive Great Xia. Your Majesty,” Pei Wenxuan knelt down and said, “Given such grave crimes, the Yang clan cannot remain!”
Once Pei Wenxuan had finished speaking, the civil and military officials in the entire imperial court were alarmed. Everyone blankly stared at Yang Lie and Consort Ning’s kneeling figures. After a long time, Li Ming spoke up and asked: “Yang Lie, do you have anything else to say?”
Yang Lie had his head bowed as he knelt on the ground. He thought for a long time before letting out a derisive laugh: “It is what Your Majesty says it is.”
“Consort Ning,” Li Ming looked at Consort Ning and indifferently asked, “And you?”
When Consort Ning heard Li Ming’s words, she brought her hands up, placed them on her knees and gracefully rose to her feet.
“Since it has come to this point, what does Your Majesty intend to achieve by asking about these things?”
Consort Ning lifted her head and looked at Li Ming: “Whatever crime the Yang clan is guilty of committing, isn’t that because Your Majesty intended it that way? When Your Majesty needed the Yang family, the Yang family was present at the border, fighting for half a lifetime. Now Your Majesty feels that the Yang family is standing in Your Majesty’s way and efforts to support Prince Su, so the Yang family has now colluded with the enemy to betray the country, deceived the Emperor and broken the law. Hah…” Consort Ning laughed aloud, “How funny, how very funny!”
“Yang Wan!”
Li Ming solemnly shouted: “How presumptuous of you!”
“I am presumptuous?!” Consort Ning raised her hand, pointed a finger at Li Ming and screamed, “Your Li clan forced me to this point yet you cannot tolerate me for being out of line?! Let me tell you all,” Consort Ning turned her head and looked at the court officials, “What my Yang clan is today, is your future…”
“Guards,” Li Ming coldly ordered, “Drag this crazy woman out.”
With that said, the guards rushed up to drag Consort Ning out.
Consort Ning was dragged all the way to the doors but resisted with all her might. She struggled, pushing the guards that were dragging her away and simultaneously threw herself at Li Rong: “Li Rong, how foolish can you be! He wanted to depose Li Chuan a long time ago! He arranged for you to marry these men, but not a single one of them is actually good! He resents not being able to marry you off sooner and let you die somewhere out there, and yet you still respect him and love him… Your Li clan, you all cannot have proper deaths! And will not die proper deaths!”
The guards dragged Consort Ning down again, but Consort Ning seemed to have no regard for life and death, throwing herself in Li Rong’s direction.
Without warning, Pei Wenxuan stood in front to block Li Rong. Li Rong quietly eyed Consort Ning, her expressions peaceful as the dead. Consort Ning shouted and screamed until the moment she pulled down the golden hairpin from her hair. In the blink of an eye, Li Ming roared: “Kill her!”
A sword suddenly pierced through Consort Ning’s body. It was at that moment that Pei Wenxuan subconsciously brought his hand up to block Li Rong’s eyes.
Blood splattered onto Pei Wenxuan’s sleeve that had blocked Li Rong’s body. Li Rong tightened her grip on the golden fan in her hand and lowered her eyes, remaining indifferent.
She could vaguely see Consort Ning’s blood soaking into the floor of the palace hall up ahead and slowly making its way towards her.
When she heard the sound of someone dragging Consort Ning out, she suddenly spoke up, “Wait.”
People looked over at her and saw her use a golden fan to press down Pei Wenxuan’s hand, the one that had been covering her eyes, and looked at Consort Ning, who was being dragged away like a pig or dog, before calmly saying: “As someone of noble birth and a member of the imperial family, her body should not be disgraced like this. Bring a stretcher and white cloth, then carry her out properly.”
Having said that, she removed her outer robe and walked over to Consort Ning, then draped it over her body.
Before long, the people outside came over with a stretcher and lifted Consort Ning onto the stretcher. It was covered with a white cloth and carried out.
Pei Wenxuan walked up behind Li Rong and looked over at Yang Lie, “General Yang, do you plead guilty?”
Yang Lie lifted his head. He quietly stared at Li Rong with a murky look in his eyes. After a while, he kowtowed down and hoarsely uttered: “This humble official is guilty.”
‘This humble official is guilty’ — this sentence signaled the end of the Yang family’s case, and with that, the curtain falls.
Li Ming was silent for a while, then a bit weary as he said: “Take him down, then transfer him to the Ministry of Justice and arrest all members of the Yang clan. In light of their ancestors’ meritorious service to the imperial dynasty, they will be allowed to leave behind an intact corpse, and so, grant poisoned wine.”
“This humble official……” Yang Lie trembled as he spoke, “Thanks Your Majesty.”
After Yang Lie received his sentence, he was taken down. Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan also withdrew from the palace hall. When they reached the gates, Yang Lie stumbled, and Pei Wenxuan reached out a hand to steady him. Yang Lie lifted his head and quietly looked at the young man who had put his entire family to death.
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
He said in a hoarse voice, “Young man, being a knife isn’t an easy thing.”
Pei Wenxuan’s expressions were calm. He raised his eyes to look at Yang Lie: “In that case, General Yang, do you know what you’re doing?”
Yang Lie heard him but did not quite understand. Pei Wenxuan helped him on the way out and lightly said: “I have read the poems General Yang wrote in his youth. General Yang once wrote: ‘The white horse leads the army to the north, sweeping across the sky and mountains passes to serve and repay the country’s grace.’ Does the General recall this?”
Yang Lie had a blank expression, and after a moment, he bitterly smiled: “There is unexpectedly someone who still remembers this.”
“With such aspirations in your youth, why did you not continue with them?”
Pei Wenuxan brought his eyes up to meet Yang Lie’s gaze. Yang Lie shook his head: “A single person… Cannot clear the swamp.”[1]
[1] Eliminate corruption, down to the very roots.
“Officials shield one another. It is a complicated relationship. Pei gongzi comes from an aristocratic family and should understand these reasons better than I do. Young people will have lofty ambitions, but in the end, you will always find that the words spoken by your elders were right.”
Yang Lie slightly smiled and patted Pei Wenxuan on the shoulder.
“Pei daren, sending me off until here will do.”
Having said that, Yang Lie turned away with an iron chain securing his hands and walked slowly but steadily.
“One day, Pei daren will come to understand this old man’s words.”
Pei Wenxuan was silent. He put his hands away into his sleeves and stood on the steps above, quietly watching as Yang Lie walked away.
Autumn: I’ve been good, though I’ve been very busy, hence the lack of a set schedule. It was hard to get the feel of this part of the chapter down. Also, when Pei Wenxuan asked to give a detailed report, he did deliver a report in detail…
Autumn Pond Reflection 
Yay glad your back! I feel like you did a great job I totally felt the experience and years of the two lives most from the characters this chapter. Their demeanor were definitely not something a young person could do in that situation
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Thank you, this very good story, i hope this novel can adapt to c-drama soon
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Thanks a lot for the update! ❤
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Thanks for the chapter!
I tried stockpiling a couple of chapters and rereading but I’ve already caught up 🥲
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Ahhh I’m sorry everyone (>_<))) I did plan to go on a translating marathon, but I haven’t been able to get around to it yet… As always, I’m grateful for the support!!
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Thanks for the chapter! Stay safe !
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How sad when people start with noble aspirations and then discover that if you don’t go with the flow you’ll be ground into the mud. And aside from the deeply rooted societal corruption is the weight of family obligations. So you can only think of your responsibility to your family to keep the benefits coming.
Thanks for the chapter 😪
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I’m glad Consort Ning got to say what she had kept in her heart. Woman are always used as pawns or catalyst for men’s wild ambition. When you are useful, you’re seen as righteous and virtuous to men but when you start to defend your rights and feelings, you’re rebellious! Women had all the power, they just couldn’t truly hold it for themselves. It was always for the interests for the men in their families – Father, Husband and Son.
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I honestly feel for the Yang family in this chapter. Sure, they’re corrupt and selfish but aren’t all of the noble families cut from the same cloth ? I’m sure at least some of them have decent moral principles but there’s gonna be times when they need to dirty their hands to remain in power. After all, even our main characters were not so upright.
“Yang Lie lifted his head and quietly looked at the young man who had put his entire family to death.”
Not gonna lie, even knowing that his family was at fault, I feel sad for him. Consort Ning was right, no matter what, the Yang clan fought in the battlefields, risked their lives to protect the border but the emperor did not even hesitate to get rid of them once he feels threatened by them. I’m sure even if the Yang clan was clean, he would still find a way to depose the whole family.
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