Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

Last night, Liang Yu had his hand crippled by Feng Zhongyan. Early this morning, he ran to the emperor in tears, but gained nothing and was dismissed from his post as a result.

After leaving, Liang Yu wailed all the way, cursing Feng Zhongyan. From the main hall to the carriage, he cried; upon returning to the Liang residence, his expression suddenly changed when he saw the person inside. He ordered the servant, “Close the door.”

The man opposite stood up. “Father…”

Liang Yu wanted to raise his arm to slap him, but because of his injured hand, he could only glare angrily and scold, “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Liang Er stood silently nearby, head lowered.

“You unfilial son!” Liang Yu shouted, holding up his injured, bandaged hand. “Look! Your old man’s hand is crippled because of you! Do you know that Feng Zhongyan nearly took your father’s life last night?”

Liang Er didn’t dare meet his gaze, lowering his head to explain, “I heard from Rong Xiu that Feng Zhongyan has already broken off the engagement with the Shen family. Given Feng Zhongyan’s attitude toward the Shens, he shouldn’t have—”

“Shouldn’t have what?” Liang Yu interrupted with a sharp rebuke. “As long as the Feng family hasn’t said so themselves, she’s still Feng family! Fool and idiot both! If she dares to say otherwise, you’d believe it?!” None of that was the main point. He looked at his son seriously and asked, “What did you interrogate her about?”

Liang Er swallowed hard, remaining silent.

“You ingrate! Who told you to act on your own…”

“Father! Aren’t we already living a humiliating life? When the Zhou family sat on the throne, our Liang family was the head of the Four Great Clans. And now? We’re suppressed and sidelined, while the Feng family monopolizes everything. Isn’t that because Feng Yuanji knelt to the throne faster than we did? I admit that. But after that? Feng Zhongyan saved the emperor’s life, so did our Liang family have no merits? Building schools, supporting poor scholars, the grain and silver we pay at the border—where does it come from? Why does the Feng family get to hold the chancellor’s position and enjoy the rank of Duke, while our Liang family is treated like dirt? The prince didn’t steal Feng family’s military glory; they gave it up willingly, afraid they couldn’t handle the burden.”

Liang Er’s expression was impassioned. “If Feng Zhongyan can save the emperor’s life, so can we. If we get hold of the Cloud Bone and heal His Majesty’s legs, our Liang family can replace the Feng family.”

Liang Yu sneered coldly. “When the higher-ups personally intervened, they still couldn’t pry open Shen Heyan’s mouth. The goods are probably long gone. You think a few lashes will get them?”

“Do you really think Feng Zhongyan believes the Shen family tragedy was caused by the previous dynasty?” Liang Er asked again.

No matter how capable Feng Zhongyan was, the Shen family was his weakness.

He wanted to settle matters quietly, to be both loyal and righteous, so he pushed Feng Zhongyan himself. Even if he didn’t get the Cloud Bone this time, he succeeded in forcing Feng Zhongyan to show his hand.

The lady of the Shen family knew there was more to the case and would investigate thoroughly.

And His Majesty was probably already wary of Feng Zhongyan.

Whether loyalty or righteousness remained depended on Feng Zhongyan’s choice; whichever side he chose, he would betray the founding family rules of the Feng clan.

Liang Yu looked at him as if seeing a stranger, suspicion growing deeper on his face. Suddenly, he asked, “Who gave you this idea?”

He knew his son’s character well enough—could he have thought of this on his own?

Liang Er’s eyes flickered slightly, somewhat defiant. “Who else could know such a secret? Father, do you not trust your son?”

Liang Yu still doubted. “What about those people last night?”

“Father, rest assured, I have dealt with them. Feng Zhongyan won’t find out. We’ll pin it all on Rong Xiu cleanly. With her temper, jealousy is the easiest explanation.”

Liang Yu paced the room, folding his arms. For some reason, Feng Zhongyan’s eyes suddenly appeared before him again. He shook his head. “No, before you could finish your scheme, Feng Zhongyan may have already taken your life.”

To reach his position today, Feng Zhongyan was no fool. His ruthless treatment of me last night confirmed he would never let go of the Liang family connection.

Why did he kneel today?

Was it truly to petition against the prince’s unauthorized military adjustments, to the point of risking his life?

With Feng Zhongyan’s skill, finding an excuse to avoid guilt would be easy.

Liang Yu’s heart suddenly turned cold, falling into a deep abyss. Liang Er’s move succeeded, but it also exposed someone above…

Feng Zhongyan’s kneeling was clearly a plea for mercy to the emperor.

A plea for the emperor to spare the Feng family’s “righteousness.”

Now, it was likely not only Feng Zhongyan who wanted Liang Er dead…

Liang Yu’s face went pale. Before Liang Er could react, he grabbed his arm. “Leave quickly, the farther the better!” Ignoring his son’s resistance, Liang Yu dragged him out, urgently ordering the servants to prepare the carriage.

The sky was overcast, with raindrops falling since morning. Now, rain dripped under the eaves.

The carriage left through the Liang residence’s back gate, rushing swiftly through the city. Entering an alley, a tall horse suddenly appeared through the mist ahead.

The coachman instinctively pulled the reins.

Hearing the noise, Liang Er lifted the curtain. Before he could see who was on the horse, a curved blade flew straight at him.

—

Feng Zhongyan returned to the provincial office. Shen Mingsu had already awakened.

Lian Sheng wiped the sweat from her body and helped her change into clean clothes. The wound’s medicine hadn’t yet been applied. Seeing Feng Zhongyan enter, he quickly stepped back.

Hearing the movement, Shen Mingsu also turned her head.

Feng Zhongyan had just left the emperor’s bedchamber, where he’d endured twenty strokes. Blood from his back was washed by rain, staining his white inner garment with vivid blotches. Before entering, he had borrowed an outer garment from Fu An to cover the mess on his back, but the exhaustion on his face was unmistakable.

Their eyes met through the gloomy rain, both shrouded in melancholy, like old friends reunited after a long separation—strange yet familiar.

Shen Mingsu smiled faintly at him, though her face was pale and her body weak. Whether he could recognize that smile was unknown.

In the hour since awakening, Lian Sheng had told her everything.

Last night’s events, today’s events.

“The provincial governor’s plan was too well hidden, fooling everyone—even Madam Feng believed it. But yesterday, she couldn’t hold back, stormed into Jingzhao Mansion with troops, carried Lady Shen out, personally applied medicine, and watched over her all night. Then she returned and crippled Lord Liang’s hand. Lady Shen didn’t see Madam Feng’s expression…”

Now she had.

After a high fever, her voice was hoarse. “I…”

“You…”

They spoke simultaneously but stopped immediately.

Lian Sheng stepped out, gently closing the door. Only the two remained inside. Feng Zhongyan smiled softly, walked over, and sat by her bedside, asking, “How do you feel?”

“Much better.”

What was meant to be a brief pause lingered inexplicably in silence. Both seemed to look for a proper way to speak.

He wanted to ask if she was in pain, but the answer was obvious. He wanted to explain his actions, but her earlier smile had already said everything.

He wanted to ask if the begonia flowers in the courtyard had bloomed, if the swallow nests under the eaves had been reoccupied.

Did the master and mistress still enjoy making dumplings?

Was his room still there?

Had she ever gone back inside…?

These were the scenes he had imagined countless times in solitude.

Finally, he could no longer hold back and quietly asked, “I carved a set of shadow figures and placed them under your pillow. Did you find them?”

Shen Mingsu nodded. She smiled, recalling, “I practiced for so long, but I still can’t carve as well as you. Guan Yun Chang in your hands seemed alive.”

“You just lack patience.”

That was true. Whenever he carved those figures, he would sit from morning till evening without eating. She couldn’t; when hungry, she would drop everything. “Father said you liked his homemade sauce, so he made a few bottles and asked me to send them to you. I worried they’d break, so I had a wooden box made at the market, packed with wood shavings. Yue Yao laughed at me, saying if you opened the box and saw only a few bottles of sauce, you’d be disappointed.”

She paused, then asked, “Did you receive it?”

“Mm.”

Outside, raindrops fell on the steps, empty and lonely.

His heart and throat felt as if gripped tightly, painful. His lips moved, uncertain how to begin. His voice seemed to spin in his throat. “Not disappointed.”

He liked it very much, reluctant to eat it, even spoiled one bottle.

Shen Mingsu tried to recall their shared memories. “The begonias you planted have bloomed; Yue Yao secretly picked quite a few.”

“The swallow nests were accidentally broken by Yue Yao’s kite. I repaired them for a day, but perhaps not well enough. No swallows returned.”

Also, “Your room, father has kept it. I go in from time to time but don’t dare touch your things. The room has been as it was when you left. When mother makes dumplings, father always mentions you. He says, ‘If Boying were here, these few plates of dumplings wouldn’t be enough.’”

He didn’t reply, as if his soul had been taken, staring blankly at the lamp behind her. She did not look up at his expression.

Night fell silent again. Where no one could see, tears silently traced down their cheeks.

What else was there?

Shen Mingsu thought and found nothing more.

Afterward came father’s assassination, mother’s suicide, the fall of the Shen family, and her escape with Yue Yao.

He knew all that.

She could say no more.

Their past ended here. After parting, they slowly walked out of each other’s worlds. Two years later, when they reunited, only these memories remained to share.

She thought he had forgotten. It turned out she had misunderstood. She apologized for her past misjudgment. “I’m sorry.”

Feng Zhongyan swallowed softly. After a long moment, he registered her words and responded with a puzzled “Hmm?”

If she was to apologize, she didn’t know where to start. After a moment’s thought, she added, “Thank you for saving me, provincial governor.”