Chapter 160

Fan Changyu had witnessed Xie Zheng's stubbornness firsthand.

But she knew very little about Wei Yan.

Everything she knew about the powerful Prime Minister came from rumors and hearsay. The only time she had ever met him was on the night of the coup.

Whether uncle and nephew truly resembled one another, she couldn't say.

Her first impression of Wei Yan, however, matched his reputation perfectly.

Cold.

Ruthless.

Willing to use any means necessary to achieve his goals.

Unlike Grand Tutor Li, who at first glance resembled a lofty scholar standing like a solitary pine, Wei Yan felt like a blade carved from stone—cold, hard, and seemingly devoid of any weakness.

Sitting upright on the bamboo mat, Fan Changyu hesitated before asking:

"Godfather, did Wei Yan and Consort Shu have some kind of relationship in the past?"

Grand Tutor Tao lifted his eyelids and looked at her again.

"Why do you ask that?"

Fan Changyu recounted the testimony given by the maid from the Cold Palace, as well as Qi Min's accusations.

Grand Tutor Tao set down his teacup.

His weathered fingers slowly rubbed the rim of the cup.

A trace of the weariness brought by age appeared in his eyes.

"I wasn't in the capital back then, so I don't know exactly what happened in the palace. But if it concerns that girl from the Qi family, then no matter how hard Wei Yan's heart became, I don't believe he could have burned Qinghe Palace."

Seeing Fan Changyu's confusion, he explained:

"Consort Shu was originally a daughter of the Qi family. Before either of them married, she and that brat's mother were close friends.

"Back then, the Xie family hadn't yet risen to today's prominence. The true pillar supporting Great Yin was Old General Qi.

"Both Wei Yan and Linshan served under Old General Qi and were tempered on the battlefield under him.

"Later, after Old General Qi passed away, Linshan took up the burden of defending the northwest, while Wei Yan abandoned the military and entered officialdom.

"It was during that period that the Qi family's daughter entered the palace."

Fan Changyu frowned slightly.

According to Grand Tutor Tao, Wei Yan and Consort Shu had known each other since youth.

Their families had also been quite close.

Given that relationship, it made even less sense that Wei Yan would later burn Consort Shu alive after already slaughtering the imperial palace.

Calculating the ages in her head, Fan Changyu realized Consort Shu should have belonged to the same generation as her own parents.

Crown Prince Chengde was also from that generation.

Which meant…

The emperor had been old enough to be Consort Shu's father.

Though wealthy old men marrying beautiful young concubines was hardly uncommon, Fan Changyu still frowned.

"If Wei Yan truly cared for Consort Shu, why didn't he marry her before she entered the palace?"

Grand Tutor Tao let out a long sigh.

"Do you know who Crown Prince Chengde's mother was?"

Fan Changyu shook her head.

"The Empress Dowager Qi, posthumously honored as Filial, Loyal, Solemn, and Compassionate. She was Old General Qi's younger sister and Consort Shu's biological aunt."

Fan Changyu froze.

That meant Consort Shu and Crown Prince Chengde were cousins.

Although history was full of examples where an aunt and niece shared the same husband, the situation here felt different.

With Crown Prince Chengde already established as heir and Old General Qi backing the family, there seemed little reason for Empress Qi to send another niece into the palace simply to maintain favor.

Perhaps all her thoughts were written plainly across her face.

Grand Tutor Tao continued:

"The court today is a muddy pond. It wasn't any cleaner back then.

"The illnesses of a dynasty accumulate generation after generation.

"You clear away the old filth, and given enough time, new filth grows in its place.

"There's never a day when everything can truly be cleaned."

He sighed again.

"You've already traced matters back to Noble Consort Jia's maid, so you should know how favored Noble Consort Jia once was.

"Half the court practically belonged to the Jia family.

"While Old General Qi still lived, he remained the pillar of the realm.

"No matter how favored the Sixteenth Prince was, the Crown Prince's position remained secure.

"But once Old General Qi died, the Empress lost her support.

"The Crown Prince's path became far more difficult."

He paused.

"People blamed the Noble Consort for seducing the emperor and allowing her family to interfere in politics.

"After Old General Qi's death, the Empress herself became bedridden.

"She feared that if she also passed away, the Crown Prince would lose all support in the inner palace.

"So she brought the Qi family's daughter into the palace under the pretext of assisting her during her illness.

"I met that girl before.

"She was intelligent from childhood, well-read, and breathtakingly beautiful.

"She attended the Empress for an entire year.

"A year later, the Empress passed away.

"Not long after returning home, the girl entered the palace through the selection process and was granted the title of Consort."

Fan Changyu fell silent.

The reason Consort Shu entered the palace was far heavier than she had imagined.

Struggles between imperial princes were not games.

They drew blood.

People died.

If Crown Prince Chengde lost, no one knew what fate would befall the Qi family.

The lives of an entire clan had rested on Consort Shu's shoulders.

How much choice could she really have had?

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Fan Changyu's mind.

She raised her head.

"Godfather, both Wei Yan and General Xie received guidance from Old General Qi. Later, they both supported Crown Prince Chengde.

"Consort Shu also opposed Noble Consort Jia and her son from within the palace.

"If that's the case, then both Consort Shu's death and the accusation that she had an affair with Wei Yan seem highly suspicious."

Grand Tutor Tao nodded.

"If all of it was truly orchestrated by the Jia family, then when Wei Yan later seized power and exterminated every Jia official in court, perhaps he wasn't simply purging corruption."

He sighed softly.

"When that brat first became convinced that Wei Yan was behind the Jinzhou tragedy, I already suspected there was more hidden beneath the surface.

"That's why I personally came to the capital to seek Wei Yan out.

"He may have a heart of stone now.

"But back then, he and Linshan were brothers who entrusted their lives to one another on the battlefield.

"Otherwise, he never would have married his beloved younger sister to Linshan."

Hearing this, Fan Changyu remembered what Xie Zheng had once told her in the Xie family cemetery.

Every year, Wei Yan had personally taken him there to pay respects.

He never allowed servants to accompany them.

The memory left her emotions tangled.

"Did you ever hear any rumors afterward about what happened in the palace?"

A trace of bitterness entered Grand Tutor Tao's gentle smile.

"Child, do you know how long Great Yin remained in chaos after Jinzhou fell and the Northern Di marched south?"

He looked out the window.

"The Crown Prince died.

"The generals died.

"The emperor died.

"Those barbarians intended to march straight to the capital.

"Green mountains buried bones.

"Rivers ran red with blood.

"Nine out of every ten households stood empty."

His voice grew heavier.

"The front lines were so brutal.

"When the nation's survival hung in the balance, the deaths of a few imperial consorts were nothing more than grains of dust mixed into the blood of a troubled age.

"My own son and daughter died during those years of war.

"If not for Jingyuan collecting their remains, they wouldn't even have had coffins and graves."

Bitterness filled Fan Changyu's throat.

She lowered her head in shame.

"I'm sorry, Godfather. I…"

Grand Tutor Tao waved a hand.

"It's all in the past.

"After Jinzhou fell, Great Yin and the Northern Di continued fighting for another three years.

"The treasury was empty.

"The people fled everywhere because of the war.

"Farmland was abandoned.

"There wasn't enough grain left to support the army.

"If the war had continued, Great Yin would have collapsed into chaos before the barbarians even reached the capital."

His gaze deepened.

"It was then that Wei Yan stepped forward and single-handedly pushed through the treaty exchanging the Twelve Liaodong Prefectures for twenty years of peace."

Grand Tutor Tao laughed quietly.

"I told him then that history would curse him forever for such a decision.

"He replied that a Prime Minister who presided over the destruction of a nation would be cursed as well.

"'Since I'll be cursed either way,' he said, 'the barbarians beyond the frontier have fought for years and exhausted their supplies. Let us trade twenty years and gamble on the future.'"

As a general herself now, Fan Changyu immediately understood the situation.

After Jinzhou's fall, Great Yin had been like a centipede that refused to die.

For three years, countless loyal men like General Xie and Grand Tutor Tao had held the front lines.

Yet eventually both sides had been exhausted.

The Northern Di no longer had the strength to continue.

Nor did they know how much longer Great Yin could endure.

Thus they accepted Wei Yan's proposal.

They probably never imagined that before those twenty years had passed, Jinzhou would be reclaimed by the descendants of the Xie family who had once died there.

Nor that the Twelve Liaodong Prefectures would be taken back as well.

Thinking of Wei Yan's strict upbringing of Xie Zheng and his decision to appoint Grand Tutor Tao as Xie Zheng's teacher, Fan Changyu found herself increasingly unable to understand the man.

Had he truly acted to preserve Great Yin?

Or merely to preserve his own power?

Yet at the same time, he had framed her grandfather with an everlasting stain and killed her parents.

She pressed her lips together.

"Godfather… is Wei Yan a good man or an evil one?"

Grand Tutor Tao looked at her quietly.

His gaze was complicated, broad, and tolerant enough to contain rivers and seas.

Finally, he said:

"People of an era can only do what their circumstances demand.

"As for right and wrong, merit and fault…

"Leave that for future generations to judge."

Fan Changyu softly acknowledged his words.

Looking down at the chessboard, she held a piece in her fingers and remained silent for a long time.

—

After leaving Grand Tutor Tao, Fan Changyu took Changning and Bao'er to Aunt Zhao and her husband's residence.

Since Qi Min had already been captured alongside Grand Tutor Li, finding Yu Qianqian should only be a matter of time.

Xie Five had been injured protecting Aunt Zhao and her husband.

Fan Changyu summoned Xie Seven and asked him to arrange a search for Yu Qianqian.

Xie Seven informed her that Gongsun Yin had already located her.

For some reason, Qi Min had not brought Yu Qianqian to the capital.

Instead, he had imprisoned her in an estate within another prefecture.

The people sent to retrieve her would return in a day or two.

Learning that Yu Qianqian was safe immediately eased Fan Changyu's worries.

Back when she had been insignificant and struggling, Yu Qianqian had helped her countless times.

Even when war broke out in Qingping County and Yu Qianqian fled south with Yu Bao'er, she had still tried to take Fan Changyu and Changning along.

How could Fan Changyu ever forget such kindness?

She asked Xie Seven about the current situation.

Grand Tutor Li was unquestionably dead.

Qi Min had survived the arrow but remained on the brink of death.

Gongsun Yin could not determine how Xie Zheng intended to deal with the descendant of Crown Prince Chengde, so the imperial physicians were keeping him alive for now.

The young emperor had also been found in Wei Yan's residence.

However, he seemed completely insane.

Whether the madness was genuine or an act remained unknown.

Before the coup, Qi Min and Grand Tutor Li had spread rumors through the Imperial Observatory claiming that the imperial dragon vein was corrupted and the current ruler lacked legitimacy.

Ironically, those rumors now served as a stepping stone for Bao'er.

The officials now followed Xie Zheng's lead.

At the proper moment, Yu Bao'er could easily be elevated to the throne.

Thinking about the still-unsolved truth behind Jinzhou, Fan Changyu felt a heaviness in her chest.

She decided that practicing a set of saber techniques might help clear her mind.

Lost in thought, she accidentally collided with Xie Zhong, who was limping toward Xie Zheng's study carrying a stack of items.

The box in his arms fell to the ground.

Its contents scattered everywhere.

"My apologies, Elder."

Feeling guilty, Fan Changyu immediately crouched to help gather the fallen items.

Xie Zhong's expression had initially been wary.

Seeing it was Fan Changyu, he relaxed.

"It was my fault. I saw that the General was deep in thought and didn't wish to disturb you. These old legs aren't very quick anymore."

Fan Changyu had been about to offer a few comforting words.

Then she saw what had fallen from the box.

Alongside several letters lay three tiger tally seals.

Her expression changed instantly.

All three bore the seal-script characters for Chongzhou.

They were clearly Chongzhou military tallies.

But why were there three?

Tiger tallies only came in two halves.

The left tally belonged to the commanding general.

The right tally remained with the emperor.

Fan Changyu's breathing quickened.

When she tried fitting the three pieces together, her hands began trembling.

The left and right halves joined perfectly.

Every engraved character aligned flawlessly.

The extra tally was—

Another left tally.

And the tally her father had delivered back then had been the emperor's right tally.

The steward of the Sui residence had said that Prince Changxin personally tested the tally in front of his officers.

The pieces had failed to match.

So it wasn't that her father had delivered a fake tally.

It was the Sui family who had produced a counterfeit.

The realization sent blood rushing through her body.

She abruptly looked up.

"Where did these come from?"

Seeing how pale she had become, and how tightly she was gripping the tally, Xie Zhong quickly answered:

"The strategist who originally testified against Wei Yan later changed his testimony and implicated the Li family instead. He also revealed where the Sui family had hidden their correspondence with the Lis.

"The Marquis ordered these pieces of evidence retrieved earlier.

"They were only delivered back from Chongzhou today."

Hearing this, Fan Changyu stopped explaining and immediately began searching through the letters.

"Elder, I'm looking for something. I'll explain to Xie Zheng afterward."

Xie Zhong unexpectedly remained calm.

"Search whatever you need. The Marquis instructed us long ago that everything in this manor is available for the General's use."

The urgency of uncovering the truth behind the Jinzhou tragedy overwhelmed the strange feeling that statement stirred within her.

Unfortunately, none of the letters contained correspondence between the Wei and Sui families.

After staring at the three tiger tallies for a moment, she stood up.

"Elder, I'm borrowing these."

"Take whatever you need."

Fan Changyu immediately carried the three tiger tallies to Grand Tutor Tao.

The door flew open with a bang.

Grand Tutor Tao had just poured himself a cup of tea.

The sudden noise startled him so badly that tea spilled onto his robes.

"You girl! Didn't you just leave? What urgent matter brings you storming back now—"

Fan Changyu immediately held up the three tiger tallies.

"Godfather, look at these. Are they real?"

Grand Tutor Tao's eyes widened.

His scolding ended abruptly.

His expression instantly became serious.

"Let me see."

Fan Changyu handed them over.

Holding them beneath the light coming through the window, Grand Tutor Tao carefully examined them.

Finally, he nodded.

"They're genuine Chongzhou tiger tallies. No mistake."

Fan Changyu's hands clenched at her sides.

She lowered her head.

When she spoke, she was struggling to suppress her emotions.

"My father delivered the real tally. The Sui family had ulterior motives."

Grand Tutor Tao's brows furrowed deeply.

"The Sui family truly is strange. When they were needed to send troops and save the situation, they refused.

"Yet after Jinzhou fell, they immediately moved in.

"If the entire responsibility for Jinzhou's fall lies with the Sui family, then why would Wei Yan cover for them?"

Fan Changyu turned and strode toward the door.

"The Crown Prince's grandson… he's still alive.

"He hates the Sui family more than anyone.

"Maybe he knows something."

Watching her leave, Grand Tutor Tao turned to the unfinished chess game on the board.

He sighed softly.

"You stubborn old fool…

"What secret could be so important that you'd rather carry it into the grave than reveal it?"

—

The prison was dark and gloomy.

Only a single shaft of daylight descended through the opening above.

Tiny snowflakes drifted lazily downward and accumulated in a thin layer beneath it.

At the far end of the corridor, chains rattled.

A pair of embroidered boots stepped slowly across the stone floor.

The figure stopped before one of the innermost cells and silently stared at the upright old man seated cross-legged inside.

The cold of the prison was severe.

Even the snowflakes resting on the visitor's cloak showed no sign of melting.

Wei Yan slowly opened his stern phoenix eyes.

Looking at the young man outside the bars—the man who would soon support the future of Great Yin—he spoke calmly.

"You defeated me.

"You didn't come all the way here simply to see how I'm living now."

Xie Zheng merely looked at him.

His expression was indifferent and detached.

"You're right.

"I came because I wanted to see what a man who spent his entire life chasing power looks like after losing it."

Wei Yan laughed faintly.

"Then I'm afraid I've disappointed you."

Xie Zheng tilted his head slightly.

His long hair was meticulously tied beneath a golden crown.

The light from above illuminated his profile, making his features appear even sharper.

Coldness lingered in his eyes.

Yet something else lurked deep within them.

Something impossible to read.

"I wouldn't call it disappointment.

"A creature with the heart of a viper and the nature of a wolf probably forgot long ago what it means to be human.

"Why would I bother judging something that's not even human?"

A flash of fury immediately appeared in Wei Yan's eyes.

Not simple anger.

The sternness of an elder toward a younger generation lingered there as well.

Looking down at him, Xie Zheng said coldly:

"Angry?

"What right do you have to be angry?

"Or are you planning to tell me that killing your own sister and brother-in-law was somehow justified?"

The muscles in Wei Yan's face tightened.

He simply closed his eyes and refused to answer.

Xie Zheng continued mockingly:

"Your wife of twenty years came to beg me for mercy.

"Only then did I learn why Wei Xuan's death meant nothing to you.

"He wasn't your son."

His eyes slowly lifted.

A mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"When you killed my parents, did you feel nothing as well?

"Or was my mother not truly your sister?

"Anyone who stood in your way deserved to die?"

Every word was sharp as a knife.

Hidden beneath the mockery in his eyes was a faint trace of blood-red pain.

"Enough!"

Wei Yan suddenly shouted.

For a brief moment, deep sorrow flashed through his eyes.

Xie Zheng lunged forward.

He grabbed Wei Yan's collar and slammed him against the bars.

The hatred he had suppressed for years finally shattered the last thread of reason.

His expression twisted.

His voice exploded with fury.

"Then tell me!

"Why did you kill my parents?

"I called you Uncle for over twenty years.

"Were you worthy of it?"

Wei Yan's wrists were shackled.

Dragged violently forward, his temples struck the wooden bars hard enough to draw blood.

His gaze suddenly turned vicious.

"Just as you said.

"They stood in my way.

"So they deserved to die."

The final words were spoken heavily.

Xie Zheng's jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles trembled.

His eyes reddened.

Veins bulged across the hand gripping Wei Yan.

With a violent motion, he threw him away.

Then he rose unsteadily.

Grinding his teeth, he spat out three words:

"You're lying."

Wei Yan collapsed back onto the straw.

Breathing heavily, he said nothing.

Xie Zheng slammed a hand against the wooden pillar of the cell.

Hatred burned in his eyes.

"You abandoned family and humanity for power.

"Now you've lost that power.

"Who are you still protecting?

"Why are you still hiding the truth from seventeen years ago?"

Wei Yan remained silent.

At last, Xie Zheng turned and stormed away.

The prison door at the end of the corridor opened and slammed shut with a deafening bang.

Chains rattled violently.

The sheer force behind the sound revealed the depth of his anger.

The guards dared neither speak nor ask questions.

After relocking the door, they quietly withdrew.

Snow continued to fall.

Flakes drifted through the shaft of light above and floated slowly into the darkness.

Lying on the straw, Wei Yan watched the snow.

Pure.

Clean.

Far too clean for a place like this prison.

Slowly, he closed his eyes.

His path of retreat had been cut off seventeen years ago.

Even if he became infamous for eternity.

Even if he deserved a thousand deaths.

Let him bear it alone.

That person, pure as spring snow, deserved to leave this world cleanly—

Without a single stain recorded in the pages of history.