[Wuxia] The Number One Ding Under Heaven (Complete) - Chapter 38

Chapter 287 A Casanova of This World? A Thousand Years of Infamy? Jealousy!

This is jealousy, blatant jealousy!
This heartwarming scene before him, capable of moving anyone to tears, must be incredibly displeasing to his brother-in-law, the Emperor—but why the cold laugh? Think about it, his useless brother-in-law, that "infamous lecher in the capital, known throughout the land for his lust," has actually disguised himself as a lowly servant and easily won over this beautiful, aloof woman. And now, she's crying her eyes out in his arms!
What does this mean? What does this mean?! Someone is furious. The mighty Emperor of the Song Dynasty, having condescended to analyze the situation for this rebel leader and persuade her to stop, has had no response whatsoever, only to turn around and cry in Pang Yu's arms. Isn't this a blatant insult to his incompetence as a persuader?
No wonder Emperor Renzong was furious. Zou Xiyun's crying made him feel inferior to his brother-in-law, and the Emperor of the Song Dynasty was utterly disgraced!
But this is understandable. The supreme ruler, who ascends the throne and controls the world, cannot truly understand what "love" is, much less imagine that there exists a woman who, once moved and touched, opens her heart to love a man, and loves him unconditionally, until the seas dry up and the rocks crumble!
Yang Paifeng was like this, and so was Zou Xiyun!
After this attack, Pang Yu risked his life to find the traitor "Konghuan" for her, and now, after this reunion after the ordeal, the brief separation made her deeply understand the true longing in her heart… Now, Zou Xiyun has transformed from being forced into serving the Emperor to completely loving her fourth brother!
Undoubtedly, the emperor's brother-in-law, who always thought himself dashing, charming, and popular with women—in reality, neither dashing, charming, nor popular with women (if he didn't reveal his identity, what girl would be interested in a sleazy man, right?)—felt immensely humiliated when Zou Xiyun sobbed heartbrokenly in Pang Yu's arms.
He was the emperor, he was the respected one, he was the brother-in-law, he was the elder; he couldn't lose to a subject, he couldn't be inferior to his brother-in-law!
Ren Huang was furious, looking at the two unfortunate lovers embracing each other, a cold smile in his eyes. The
wrath of the emperor. Should have been thunderous. A flick of his glasses. Imprisonment. A wave of his hand. Dead.
But underhanded tactics were more in line with the nature of our Emperor Renzong.
Ren Huang's eyes darted around. He drew out his words and sighed to the heavens, “Pang Si, you sent your brother to persuade her to stop. I couldn’t persuade her. You really are something. Why can’t you say anything about your own wife? You had to make me relay it. Oh dear, you should have made it clear to your sister-in-law long ago. The current emperor is wise and brilliant, his talent and strategy are no less than Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han. Their rebellion has no future. It’s better to disband ‘Konghuan’ as soon as possible and follow you to be a marquis’s wife.”
Fourth Brother stared wide-eyed at Ren Huang as if he had been stabbed in the back. “
You’re the emperor! The emperor of the Great Song Dynasty! How could you do such a despicable, shameless, vile, immoral, insidious, and vile thing?!”
Ren Huang’s cold smile vanished. He stroked his mustache lewdly. His eyes revealed only two words: revenge.
"What...what Marquis's wife?" Zou Xiyun sobbed in her lover's arms, her face streaked with tears. But provoked by Ren Huang's slanderous words, she instinctively asked in a choked voice,
"The Emperor said that after pacifying 'Konghuan,' he'll be granted the title of Marquis of Anding, on par with his master, Marquis of Anle."
Anding my ass!
Pang Yu was furious, almost spitting blood. It was too hot, and he wasn't wearing enough clothes to hide the silver bricks; otherwise, he would have pulled them out and smashed them at Pang Yu's face.
Ren Huang wasn't satisfied and continued to incite: "Sister-in-law, you don't know yet, do you? A few days ago, the fourth brother Pang was summoned by the Emperor, and the terms were all agreed upon. The Emperor personally promised that as long as Pang Si persuades you to abandon your rebellion and submit to the court, he will be given a title, a high-ranking official position, and even marry his princess to him, making them relatives."
The hall fell silent. Zou Xiyun, her pretty face brimming with tears, stared blankly at Pang Yu.
What could Pang Yu say? Could he explain? It's no use. It's better not to explain; explaining will only make things worse. He could only try to warm the wounded heart of the woman in his arms with a tight embrace. But Zou Xiyun pushed him away, her tear-streaked face cold and expressionless, like a block of ice.
Then, in an icy voice, she threw out a sentence: "You're talking nonsense, I don't believe you!"
—said to Ren Huang.
Hahaha, my good wife understands me best!
Pang Yu was so moved he almost cried. He took her cold little hand in his, gazing at her with deep affection: "Buddha said: Five hundred glances in a past life are exchanged for a mere brush in this life. I used ten thousand glances to meet you. During these days apart, I've realized one thing: I love you, and I only want to be with you forever! Thinking of you has become a habit, loving you has become a part of my life. I will be with you until the end of time, I will always protect you. The distance between us will not make us apart, and we will overcome the test of time together. My wife, I will love you for ten thousand years!"
These incredibly moving words echoed in the hall. Zou Xiyun stood there, stunned, as if petrified. Any other girl would have burst into tears
, sobbing and weeping as she threw herself into his arms. But Zou Xiyun didn't. After a moment, she actually pulled her little hand away from Pang Yu's clutches.
The best was yet to come.
"My wife..." Pang Yu called out to her tenderly.
Zou Xi's body trembled again, a tear rolling down her cheek. Then, the tears vanished, replaced by an icy calm. She pointed at Ren Huang and asked Pang Yu, "Husband, is this really your best friend? Let's kill him so he can't tip off the emperor." Ren
Huang trembled with rage, his beard bristling. "You...you two, good, good! I...we're truly a pair of doomed lovers!"
"Even if it means 'doom,' I will be with my husband!" Zou Xi walked to Pang Yu's side, grabbing his strong arm. Her tear-stained face rested on his shoulder, and she looked up at the man she loved so deeply. Their eyes met, and a feeling of happiness filled their hearts.
Ren Huang jumped up and down, shouting, "Pang Si, think it through! The Emperor has entrusted you with great responsibility and promised you lavish rewards. Are you really willing to degenerate, to join forces with rebels, plot against the Emperor, and wreak havoc on the world for a woman?!"
The lovers, embracing and gazing at each other, completely ignored him.
"Pang Si!" Ren Huang finally snapped, slamming his hand heavily on the table.
Zou Xiyun turned her face away from him, coldly staring at the villain who had interrupted her and her husband's intimacy. Her eyes were chilling: "What my husband and I do is none of your business. Husband, should we kill this person or not?"
Pang Yu, blinded by the joy of their reunion, only then realized that things might have gone a bit too far.
This man and woman's public display of affection was unbearable for any man, especially since the man was Emperor Renzong, who ruled the world and controlled all living beings. An emperor! Who in the Song Dynasty dared to disobey him? Who dared to defy him to his face? Yes, Fourth Brother has indeed defied the emperor today!
What's worse, the woman in the intimate act is a rebel leader determined to restore the Song Dynasty. Even the emperor himself tried to persuade her, but she refused to stop and even threatened to kill him. The man has already been intimate with the princess, is the designated prince consort, the son of the Grand Tutor, the emperor's brother-in-law, and a marquis—all imperial favors bestowed upon him! Yet, instead of repaying this kindness and serving the Song Dynasty, he secretly colluded with a rebel, openly displaying affection for the beautiful rebel leader—whose beauty even the emperor's brother-in-law was captivated—in front of him!
This is intolerable!
Emperor Renzong, as if unleashing a thunderous rage in court, swept his robes aside with a "whoosh," his previously lewd expression vanishing completely. His beard bristled, his thick eyebrows arched, and the decisive, ruthless aura of an emperor was vividly displayed on his face: "Pang Si, for the sake of our half-brotherhood, I'll ask you one last time: will you carry out the task the Emperor has entrusted to you? Are you really willing to let your master, Marquis Anle, bear the infamy for all eternity for this remnant of the Southern Tang?!"
Clearly, Emperor Renzong was forcing Pang Yu to make a choice on the spot: Will you obediently follow me and level the Seven Show Pavilion, or will you willingly become a rebel for Zou Xiyun?
He had to choose one of these two options on the spot!
On one side was the life of luxury and privilege, born without struggle, effort, or hard work. He could marry a princess, become her consort, and be the only one above his emperor brother-in-law, the emperor himself. He could also rightfully take nine more wives (his emperor brother-in-law had agreed). On the other side was Zou Xiyun, with whom he had shared countless intimate moments and who had vowed to give her a lifetime of happiness. To betray his own brother-in-law and future nephew would bring him eternal ridicule and infamy!
The hall fell silent once more. Zou Xiyun and Ren Huang's eyes were fixed on Pang Yu, awaiting his final decision.
Fourth Brother was a loyal man. Everything he possessed, except for women—his title, power, wealth, and even his connection to the Crown Prince—was directly or indirectly bestowed upon him by Emperor Renzong. The Song Dynasty owed its existence to the current Marquis of Anle. Loyalty to the country was paramount; gratitude was essential. He could not betray his brother-in-law and his nation.
But Fourth Brother was a man of deep love and affection. He would never allow the woman he loved to suffer any pain or injustice. Even if it wasn't about him personally destroying "Empty Illusion," but simply turning a blind eye and ignoring everything, he couldn't agree. How could he stand idly by and do nothing when it concerned his woman?
Time seemed to stand still. Even someone as clever and decisive as Pang Yu was caught in this most difficult choice in history, caught between a rock and a hard place.
He stood there, lost in thought, silent for a long time. His face showed little expression, but his heart was in turmoil.
Time ticked by, and finally, Pang Yu spoke.
"Xi, I'm sorry..." He stepped forward, pressing his hands against Zou Xiyun's delicate, chiseled shoulders.
"You've suffered these past few days. From now on, whatever you decide to do, I will be with you!"

Chapter 288: Vows

Melt into the Night Moon, the Milky Way glitters, and the girls of Seven Show Workshop, busy all day, drift into dreams.
Outside the window, all was quiet, save for the occasional chirping of insects and birds. Inside Zou Xiyun's boudoir, on the bed draped with brocade curtains, a hazy, delicate, and graceful figure was faintly visible through the thin, misty veil.
After their passionate lovemaking, Zou Xiyun lay quietly in Pang Yu's arms like a docile lamb, her head resting on his chest, her breath, as if exhausted, gently caressing her lover's ear. Her
long, smooth, black hair parted in two, draped over her snow-white neck and rested on her full breasts. The contrast of black and white accentuated her delicate, smooth skin, her complexion as rosy as snow under the morning sun, her face flushed even without makeup. Beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows, her phoenix eyes, gentle and tender, seemed to hold a pool of autumn waves as she gazed lovingly at her man.
Pang Yu gently stroked her long, shapely, and shapely thighs, the touch cool and indescribably soft and fragrant, even finer than almond tofu.
"A stunning beauty," he couldn't help but exclaim.
From her angle, Zou Xiyun's full breasts stood high, her curvaceous figure fully revealed. Her lower body, which had just felt like she was in heaven and still lingered in his memory, was half-sunken into the soft bamboo-padded couch, the other half outlined by the thin brocade quilt covering her legs.
"Husband..." Zou Xiyun softly called him, her murmur, like a dream, tinged with a hint of infatuation.
Pang Yu embraced her slender waist, his hand caressing her incredibly soft and warm skin, a pleasure rising from his fingertips to his heart.
"Do you like it?" he asked gently.
Zou Xiyun softly hummed in agreement. Dimples appeared on her cheeks, revealing her pearly white teeth.
Pang Yu laughed, "If you like it, I'll come every night. We'll do it day and night. Let's have a baby with my darling soon."
Zou Xiyun blushed instantly. She cried out, "No, no! If you come every day, the gossipy girls will laugh at me to death. And having a baby... Xiyun..."
"What? Little Yunyun doesn't want to have one?"
"No... no..." Zou Xiyun's face turned crimson. She was so ashamed that she didn't dare to lift her head. "But... but I... I haven't... married you yet..."
Pang Yu laughed heartily. He let go of her hand and swung it down, pinching her round, perky pink buttocks.
Zou Xiyun let out a soft "ooh," playfully pounding his chest with her small hands. Pang Yu flipped her over and pinned her beneath him. Instantly, the tassels of the tent flap fluttered, and a new wave of passion surged forth.
After their encounter, Zou Xiyun nestled obediently in Pang Yu's arms, her long, shapely legs and full, rounded buttocks pressed tightly against his. Pang Yu held her, quietly savoring this intimate tenderness.
"Is it really alright to let that man surnamed Ren go back?" she asked softly, tilting her head back.
"It's fine.
" Pang Yu stroked her cloud-like hair, his gentle smile as warm as ever.
"He... he definitely won't tell anyone about us."
Zou Xiyun murmured an "Mmm," then hesitated.
"What's wrong?" Pang Yu asked with concern.
“Actually…actually…” Zou Xi bit her pink lips, her expression unusually melancholic, as if something was stuck in her heart. After struggling for a while, she finally spoke, “Actually, he’s right. With our current strength, ‘Konghuan’ is simply delusional about restoring our kingdom…”
“No matter how hard it is, I will stay with you, for life—no, for all eternity!”
Zou Xi stared blankly at her lover’s resolute expression. For some reason, tears suddenly streamed down her face. She hugged him tightly and sobbed, “Husband, thank you. With you and Xiyun by my side, Xiyun would be content even if she died.”
“Hey, don’t say such unlucky things.” Pang Yu lowered his head and kissed her forehead. “Husband wants to grow old with you. When our beards are all white and we can’t walk anymore, we’ll still sit together and watch the moon.”
Hearing this, Zou Xi cried even harder, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. She endured far too much suffering throughout her life. From a young age, her mother instilled in her the obsession with revenge and restoring her kingdom. Every morning, she had to kneel before the ancestral spirits, repeating over and over the vow to "kill the dog emperor, destroy the Song Dynasty, and restore the Southern Tang." Her mother forced her to practice martial arts, requiring her to get up before dawn. If she was even slightly late, she would be beaten with sticks and whips. While other children could enjoy the warmth of home under the care and love of their parents, all she had were unbearable memories of her childhood… The suffering Zou Xiyun endured was beyond the comprehension of most people, even if she were a celestial being, she could not bear such repeated torment. And just today, just a few hours ago, the great cause of restoring her kingdom, for which she had lived and persisted for almost her entire life, was cruelly criticized as a farcical act of overestimating her own abilities!
Finally, as night deepened and all was quiet, she could finally stand naked before her beloved husband, all barriers removed. In that moment, the sorrow and bitterness in her heart exploded. She nestled in Pang Yu's arms, tears streaming down her face.
Pang Yu hesitated for a moment, unsure
what to do. It was too cruel to burden such a beautiful young woman with the responsibility of restoring her kingdom alone, and he, severely wounded, couldn't be with her, forcing her to silently bear all the hardship. Finally, after all the trials, he came. In Zou Xiyun's loneliest and most sorrowful moment, he came. He would stay with her, never to be separated again, for all eternity!
These tears weren't tears of bitterness, but tears of happiness and joy; let them flow freely.
Zou Xiyun burst into tears, finally releasing all her bitterness, sorrow, resentment, and grievances.
After all, she was only a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, just beginning to blossom into womanhood. The intense grief and subsequent joy, even with her exceptional martial arts skills, had left her emotionally exhausted. Fortunately, leaning against Pang Yu's chest was so warm and comforting, like finding the most peaceful harbor in the world, a place where her wounded soul could find quiet respite. Zou Xiyun cried for a long time, and Pang Yu held her tightly, offering her the most intimate comfort in the world with love, care, and his body.
After a long while... after a long while...
Zou Xiyun stopped crying, her pair of snow-white arms gently wrapped around Pang Yu's chest, and she softly called out in a voice as gentle as a spring breeze: "Husband..."
This call was filled with so much emotion that Pang Yu's throat tightened, and he almost cried out as well.
Zou Xiyun gazed at her, her pretty face full of tenderness, and murmured to herself, "From the day I became aware of things, I thought I was destined to be without happiness in this life. Who knew I would meet you in the capital? You are my obsession in this life, turning hatred into love, an uncontrollable emotion, unfathomable and unbreakable, forever and ever lost in it. If I had a choice, I would rather give up everything, not to restore the country, not to rebel against the Song, but only to grow old with my husband, to be a carefree and happy couple, inseparable until death—even in death, we would not part!"
Although these words were spoken casually, every word was sincere and deeply moving. Pang Yu, a man of deep feelings, was moved beyond words, thinking that to have met such a beautiful woman as Xiyun in this life was truly a blessing from past lives. He wiped his eyes hard, a hint of... panic creeping into his heart? This isn't a good sign. If this continues, I'll be moved and conquered by her. A man who loses himself becomes a lovesick fool.
"Xi Yun..." he called softly.
"Husband." Zou Xi's cherry lips parted slightly, her eyes filled with tender affection.
"Give up. Don't think about restoring the kingdom anymore. Your husband will take you far away, to a place where no one knows us, to live a life where we envy only the lovers, not the immortals."
Zou Xi's delicate body trembled, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears again.
"Wife, give up. I really can't bear to see you suffer like this. Give up!" Pang Yu hugged her tightly, calling out affectionately, until he too choked up.
Zou Xiyun shook her head: "No, Xiyun swore an oath before the ancestral spirits..."
"Xiyun!" Pang Yu called out to her loudly, "What ancestors, what oaths, to hell with them! I only want you to be happy, as long as you're content, I don't care about anything else!"
"My foolish husband!" Looking at the resolute expression on Pang Yu's face, Zou Xiyun was moved, but her heart ached. The discipline she had received since childhood, the oath before the ancestral spirits—how could she just disregard these things? Restoring the kingdom, in his eyes, and in the eyes of others, might just be a light-hearted phrase, but for her, it was the only pursuit in life—of course, before she fell in love with Pang Yu. Now, to give up the great cause of restoring the kingdom—a cause that three generations of people, young and old, had fought for their entire lives—for Pang Yu, for their love, she asked herself, she couldn't do it. She
really couldn't!
"Xi, why are you doing this to yourself!" Pang Yu couldn't help but beat his chest and stamp his feet, two hot tears rolling down his cheeks.
Zou Xiyun stared at him blankly, incredulous. A grown man, a man who would calmly face death for her, disregarding his own life, was actually crying!
How could this be?!
Men don't easily shed tears, unless they are truly heartbroken!
Pang Yu raised his head, gazing at the deep starry sky outside the window, letting tears stream down his cheeks and drip onto Zou Xiyun's forehead. Zou Xiyun's grief intensified, tears falling like rain as she shook her head bitterly: "No...no! Husband, Xiyun really...really...really can't give up..."
She sobbed uncontrollably, clinging to her beloved Pang Yu with all her might.
"My wife!" Pang Yu stroked her tear-streaked face. "Listen to me this once, give up, okay? Okay? Your husband will take you far away..."
Suddenly, Zou Xi stopped crying, slowly raising her head to face the man she deeply loved and wanted to spend her life with. Her pretty face was covered in tears, like a pear blossom in the rain, indescribably pitiful, but her eyes were clearly filled with deep hatred: "Even if for your sake, I, Xi Yun, will not rebel or restore the country, but the dog emperor Xi Yun must be killed! The hatred between 'Kong Huan' and the emperor is irreconcilable!" (

Chapter 289 National Hatred and Family Feud:

I was not originally surnamed Zou..." The beauty in his arms clearly had tears in her eyes, but her expression was icy cold.)
"Your surname is Li, so you're a member of the Southern Tang royal family, right? That's why you became the young master of Konghuan, shouldering the mission of overthrowing the Song and restoring the country." Pang Yu smiled somewhat reluctantly. He had finally managed to persuade her to give up on the cause of restoring the country, but why did she suddenly say, "The hatred between you and the emperor is irreconcilable"?
Could it be... that besides the hatred of the fall of the country, there was some other hidden story!?
"No, I'm not a member of the royal family, Jian is, I..." Zou Xiyun hesitated for a moment, biting her pink lips for a long time before finally saying, "Actually... my surname is... Zhou."
"Zhou! Not Zou, but Zhou!?" Pang Yu was stunned, two names vaguely appearing in his mind.
"Yes."
"You, you..." He stared at Zou Xiyun in astonishment, then suddenly grabbed her delicate shoulders, asking breathlessly, "You're from the Zhou family of Southern Tang, the two Zhou empresses, the two Zhou empresses are your..."
Zou Xiyun's eyes were filled with tears, her voice filled with sorrow and her teeth clenched as she fiercely said, "My great-grandfather was Zhou Zong, a founding meritorious official of Southern Tang and a veteran of three reigns. He had two daughters and a son. His daughters married the emperors of Southern Tang, the one you call Li Yu, and his only son was my grandfather."
Upon hearing this, Pang Yu couldn't help but gasp. Sure enough, the two Zhou empresses were her relatives, and the younger Zhou empress was with Emperor Taizong... No wonder she said "unforgivable enemies," she truly was an irreconcilable enemy!
"Zhao Kuangyin led a tyrannical army, using the pretext of 'How can I allow others to sleep beside my bed?' to launch a massive invasion of our Southern Tang across the river. The last emperor, a commoner of Jiangnan, had no choice but to surrender. However, those with ambition in the country were unwilling to submit to the Song Dynasty and sever the Southern Tang's lineage for thirty-nine years. They secretly established 'Konghuan' in Jinling, preparing to rise up and restore the kingdom."
"My grandfather was only a little over ten years old at the time, younger than my two older sisters. But because the Southern Tang royal family had all been captured by the Song Dynasty, and no bloodline remained in Jiangnan, he was chosen by a group of loyal officials to be the leader of Konghuan."
"And then it passed down to you?"
“Yes, my grandfather tirelessly worked for the restoration of the nation, worrying and toiling until he finally collapsed and passed away before he was forty. After my grandfather's death, Konghuan was passed on to my mother. In recent years, my mother has been grooming me, while she herself is in charge of the overall situation in Jinling. She ordered me to lead my troops north to establish a foothold in the capital and wait for an opportunity to assassinate the dog emperor.”
Pang Yu had already vaguely guessed the general idea, but he still couldn't help but ask, “Why are you so determined to kill...kill the current emperor? Is it because the emperor's death will inevitably lead to chaos in the Song Dynasty, and once the Song Dynasty is in chaos, you will have the opportunity to raise the banner of restoration in Jiangnan and start an uprising?”
"It's not just national hatred, but also family vendetta!" Zou Xiyun gritted her teeth and said fiercely, "The Southern Tang Dynasty fell to your Great Song Dynasty. Empress Xiao Zhou was taken to Bianliang with the Later Lord, where they lived together in the residence where the Song Emperor imprisoned them, suffering the bitterness of a fallen kingdom. After the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin, died, his younger brother Zhao Kuangyi succeeded to the throne. Then, during the Lantern Festival of the third year of the Taiping Xingguo era, the ladies of the court were customarily required to enter the palace to offer their congratulations. Empress Xiao Zhou stayed there for several days, until the end of the first month, when she was finally released from the Song palace. After the Later Lord inquired in detail, it turned out that..."
Zou Xi choked up, and tears streamed down his face again: "It turns out that the dog emperor Zhao Kuangyi was a despicable and shameless villain. On the surface, he treated the emperor well, but in reality, he had long coveted the beautiful and unparalleled Xiao Zhouhou. That day, when they entered the palace to pay their respects to Emperor Taizong and the empress, all the noblewomen dispersed. But the dog emperor secretly sent a eunuch to forge an imperial edict from the empress, ordering Xiao Zhouhou to stay and discuss needlework, keeping her in the inner palace."
"Xiao Zhouhou believed it to be true and waited happily in the inner palace for her summons. But that very night, the impatient emperor arrived, forcing her to first serve wine at a banquet, and then forcibly take her to his bedchamber. Xiao Zhouhou was already against her will by being tricked into staying in the palace and forced to serve wine; how could she allow that dark-skinned, fat emperor to defile the pure body that belonged only to the Empress? She resisted desperately. However, a woman's strength is weak, and she was drunk and her hands were limp; the emperor, a mere warrior, was in a fit of lust. He not only shamelessly forced himself on her while intoxicated, but also ordered several palace maids to forcibly seize Xiao Zhouhou and remove her clothes, openly raping her in front of all the palace maids." "The little Zhou Empress, her face streaked with tears like a pear blossom in the rain, was humiliated..."
She cried harder as she spoke, her eyes filled with deepening hatred. "From the Lantern Festival when she entered the palace, until the end of the first month, the dog emperor finally reluctantly released her. For over half a month, that scoundrel clung to her, walking side-by-side and sleeping side-by-side. Little Zhou Empress suffered inhuman torment every night, her face constantly wet with tears. The dog emperor, having tasted the sweetness, was extremely unwilling to let her go, but fearing that keeping her in the palace would invite gossip from his ministers, he temporarily tolerated it, allowing Little Zhou Empress to return to her private quarters, while secretly plotting to force the emperor to his death and forcibly marry her into the palace."
"After that, the dog emperor often used the pretext of having the empress and other noblewomen discuss needlework or appreciate flowers to forcibly summon Empress Xiao Zhou and other noblewomen to the palace. Each time, he would 'detain' her in the palace for several days, allowing him
to indulge his lust to the fullest. He even commissioned a painter to create a painting called 'Emperor Xi's Visit to Empress Xiao Zhou'!"
Pang Yu touched his nose, at a loss for words. Yes, what Zou Xi said was all true, not just popular gossip or unofficial historical rumors. That painting, "Emperor Xi's Visit to Empress Xiao Zhou's Palace," was historically significant. It is famous not only for its paintings but also for its numerous written accounts. Shen Defu, a Ming dynasty scholar, described the work in his *Wanli Yehuo Pian* as follows: "A Song dynasty painting depicts Emperor Taizong's visit to Xiao Zhouhou. Emperor Taizong wears a turban, has a dark face and a plump body, while Empress Zhou is slender and frail, supported by several palace maids. Empress Zhou appears to be frowning and unable to bear the weight." Yao Shuxiang, in his *Jianzhi Bian*, wrote: "I once saw a copy (i.e., a watercolor painting) of a Yuan dynasty painting by the famous painter Zhang Ji of Yanzhou, depicting Empress Zhou wearing a floral crown and red socks that only reached her shins. She was naked, supported by five attendants: two under her arms, two on her thighs, and one behind her, her body suspended in mid-air. Emperor Taizong was positioned behind her. Empress Zhou closed her eyes, turned her head, and used her hand to push away Emperor Taizong's cheek." "—These are all books he personally flipped through in the library, special collections, ancient books, black and white on paper. At the time, he thought, how could this damned Emperor Taizu of Song be so shameless? He was simply cruel and cruel, he deserved to die ten thousand times! Otherwise, how could he have realized something was wrong as soon as he heard that Zou Xiyun's surname was actually "Zhou"!
"In order to vent his lust, the dog emperor forced the deeply affectionate Empress Xiao Zhou and Emperor Houzhu to be separated by an insurmountable distance, and even used Emperor Houzhu's life as a threat to force Empress Xiao Zhou to stay in the palace." For the sake of comforting the last emperor and the Southern Tang royal family, Empress Xiao Zhou could only endure humiliation and bear the emperor's every demand, suffering all sorts of unspeakable abuse... Every time Empress Xiao Zhou was summoned to the palace, the last emperor would be distraught, restless, unable to sleep all night, longing for her return. Each time Empress Xiao Zhou returned from the palace, she would throw herself into his arms, crying out to him about the emperor's shameless coercion and barbaric torment..."
As Pang Yu listened, he was also moved by her sorrowful words and unconsciously murmured Li Yu's poem "Joyful Oriole": "The dawn moon falls, the lingering clouds are faint, I silently lean on my pillow. Dreams return to fragrant grasses, thoughts linger, the distant sky and the faint cry of wild geese. The oriole's song disperses, the remaining flowers are scattered, the lonely painted hall and deep courtyard. Let the fallen petals not be swept away, let them remain, awaiting the return of the dancers." "This was on the night Li Yu, the last emperor of the Southern Tang dynasty, was summoned to the palace by Zhao Guangyi. Leaning on his pillow, he gazed at the palace, his heart aching, speechless with sorrow. In his thoughts, he seemed to hear again the familiar footsteps of Xiao Zhouhou returning home at night outside the window. He quickly got up and looked around the deep courtyard through the window, but he could not see Xiao Zhouhou's ethereal figure, only fallen petals on the ground. So he
picked up a brush and composed a poem on the spot. Zou Xi's eyes were unfocused, and tears streamed down his face like a spring. He buried his face in Pang Yu's arms and sobbed, murmuring: 'Li Yu was a straightforward poet who did not know how to hide his feelings. He let them flow freely. With his moving poems, they spread throughout the world. The dog emperor knew that as long as Li Yu was alive, the people of the former Southern Tang would not be at peace, and he would not be able to possess Xiao Zhouhou forever. Finally, on Li Yu's forty-second birthday, after composing the eternally famous 'Yu Meiren,' the dog emperor ordered someone to poison him with a 'trapping poison'!'" "The last emperor died a violent death, and Xiao Zhouhou was heartbroken and overwhelmed with grief. She neglected her appearance, lost her appetite, and spent her days weeping.
The treacherous emperor was still relentless, constantly seeking excuses to force Xiao Zhouhou into the palace. Overwhelmed with grief and anger, Xiao Zhouhou repeatedly threatened suicide. The emperor, helpless, still harbored ill intentions and continued to send emissaries to persuade her, using threats and inducements to force her into the palace to serve him. Unable to bear the humiliation, Xiao Zhouhou committed suicide that same year, her life ending in death, following the last emperor..." She finished recounting the past, suppressing the pain of her memories, already sobbing uncontrollably.
The cold moonlight shone through the half-open window, illuminating her trembling body. At this moment, Zou Xiyun was so delicate and pitiful. Pang Yu took her smooth, delicate hand and used a handkerchief to wipe her tears: "Xiyun, you've suffered so much. It's my fault for making you think of these painful things." “No, it’s not your fault, my husband. ”
Zou Xi shook her head desperately. Her cheeks, already smooth as jade, were now streaked with countless tears, glistening in the faint moonlight like pearls from a broken string, making her both lovable and pitiful. Pang Yu held this beautiful woman, who had endured so much suffering and bitterness, tightly, his throat tight as if he wanted to speak.
“In short, our Konghuan and that dog emperor of the Great Song Dynasty have not only national hatred, but also family hatred!” Zou Xi swayed as she propped herself up from his embrace, her eyes filled with deep hatred, and said through gritted teeth, “Although that dog emperor Zhao Kuangyi is dead, he still has descendants. The current emperor is his direct descendant. I, Xi Yun, swear to the moon that I will avenge Xiao Zhou a thousandfold, a hundredfold, the humiliation and bitterness he suffered back then!”
“Don’t worry, my wife!” Pang Yu pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, feeling the pulse of her blood, soothing her wounded heart.
"Leave everything to me, whether it's national hatred or family feud, I will definitely avenge you!"

Chapter 290: The Emperor's Majesty

had been bestowed. The civil and military officials departed in their sedan chairs, some returning to their offices, others going directly home. Only one person remained, standing alone outside the Zichen Palace after the officials had left. Dressed in his signature blue robe, small hat, and black boots, he stood motionless under the scorching sun, enduring the unbearable heat.
After standing for over an hour, Pang Yu's clothes were completely soaked, and he became dazed, his body swaying unsteadily, as if he might collapse at any moment.
"Lord Tian Ding—" a strange, sarcastic voice called to him.
"Ah, oh dear, Eunuch!" Pang Yu suddenly snapped out of his daze. Seeing it was Xu Bin, the Emperor's personal eunuch, he immediately approached him. "Eunuch Xu, how is it? Has the Emperor agreed to see me?"
Xu Bin rolled his eyes and replied indifferently, "The Emperor is busy with state affairs. After court, he's been in the Imperial Study reviewing memorials and hasn't had time to grant you an audience."
"I also have state matters to report!" Pang Yu cried anxiously.
"Oh, how important can state affairs be, Lord Tian Ding? The Emperor said you shouldn't bother him for five days. On the sixth day, even if you don't come, the Emperor will send someone to 'invite' you."
(Pang Yu was
furious, but still maintained a smile, moving even closer to Xu Bin: "Eunuch Xu—Eunuch Xu!") "Please go in and tell His Majesty again that I have a matter of utmost importance concerning the safety and survival of our Great Song Dynasty. I beg His Majesty to see me today, absolutely, without fail."
"Oh dear. This old servant dares not. His Majesty has already said he will see me. If this old servant were to report again, wouldn't that be..." Xu Bin suddenly stopped mid-sentence—well, most people, upon suddenly seeing "a lot" of money, will have their eyes light up and be too excited to speak.
At this moment, Fourth Brother pulled out a large stack of at least ten banknotes from his robes. The top one was clearly worth one hundred strings of cash. Smoothing them out, each one had the same amount.
"Eunuch Xu, truly, I truly have urgent business to attend to with the Emperor. Look at my sincerity! My sincerity!" he emphasized, handing the banknotes to Xu Bin.
"Oh dear, this won't do," Xu Bin pushed it away, his face stern and righteous. "This servant serves the Emperor, seeking only loyalty and not..."
He trailed off, because Fourth Brother had produced another stack of banknotes, still ten in total, one thousand strings of cash. This time, he didn't hand them over, but stuffed them directly into the lapel of his eunuch's robe.
"Eunuch Xu, you've worked so hard serving His Majesty. Without your tireless service day and night, how could His Majesty handle state affairs so smoothly? On behalf of all the officials and the people, I thank you, Eunuch—" Xu Bin, flattered by his compliment, immediately beamed. Eunuchs, after all, their comings and goings are no longer a concern. All that's left is their love of money. If they don't, it's because they're not being paid enough; they don't even look at their worth! Fourth Brother is such a generous man! He tossed out two thousand strings of cash in one go. Was he afraid the old eunuch wouldn't accept it?
“Well then…” Xu Bin hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. A knowing smile flashed across his face. Before Pang Yu could act, he stuffed the stack of papers he was holding into his clothes, his face hardening as he drawled, “This eunuch will risk my life to report again for the sake of the patriotic Lord Tian Ding.” “
Thank you, Eunuch—”
××××××××××××××××
A quarter of an hour later, Pang Yu was finally led to the door of the Imperial Study.
“Lord Tian Ding, His Majesty is inside, busy with state affairs. You may go in by yourself.” Xu Bin led him over, gave him a brief instruction, and then withdrew.
“Your Majesty, I am guilty, I deserve to die—” Pang Yu shouted, pushing open the door and rushing in.
Unfortunately, a wooden beam as thick as an arm blocked the doorway. Fourth Brother, in his haste to express his remorse to the Emperor for yesterday’s events, had tripped over it and fell straight down.
Luckily, Fourth Brother reacted quickly. In the moment of crisis, he braced himself with his hand on the ground, flipped over with a "whoosh," and landed steadily. Although his clothes were inevitably wrinkled and he looked a bit disheveled, it was better than falling flat on his face.
Once he was steady, Fourth Brother looked up.
!!!
His brother-in-law, the Emperor, sat leisurely. There were no memorials or anything like that on his desk, but rather a jade bowl of jadeite, from which white steam faintly rose—it was obviously chilled plum juice or some other refreshing dessert.
The matter was clear: the wooden beam at the door had been deliberately placed there by his brother-in-law, not for any other reason than to give this rebellious and lawless Marquis Anle a warning.
Sipping his chilled plum juice while watching his brother-in-law wrestle and fall flat on his face—what a comfortable life! After being baked in the sun for over an hour ,
the fourth brother, his head practically steaming and his mouth parched, really wanted to pounce on his emperor brother-in-law, kick him away, and snatch the plum juice for a good drink!
"You've had to suffer, having to pay money just to see me. Tell me honestly, how much did it cost?" The emperor brother-in-law glanced at him and casually replied,
"A lot, two thousand strings of cash.
" The fourth brother had only said it offhand, realizing immediately that something was amiss.
How did his emperor brother-in-law know about this?! "
Xu Bin spoke highly of you to me, but he has no idea you're the Marquis of Anle. You're working so hard, you're not getting any benefits!" The Emperor's brother-in-law said coldly, then slammed his fist on the table, "What? Two thousand strings of cash? Give it to me! It's not easy for me to take money from the inner palace to spend. The Empress Dowager is afraid I'll cause trouble outside, so she has people watching me—I heard the most popular girls in the capital charge over that much for a night, right?"
"I'm innocent, I don't know," Pang Yu shook his head like a rattle.
"Hmph, you don't know?" The Emperor's brother-in-law scoffed, then nodded, "Ah, that's right. When have you ever paid for prostitutes? Before, you used the Marquis of Anle's name to eat, drink, and whore for free everywhere. Now you're playing with emotions, not only taking advantage of the beautiful but also wanting her to kill me for you!"
The Emperor is indeed the Emperor, unpredictable. He was laughing so smugly just now, and suddenly he's furious!
In the past, Fourth Brother would have definitely explained to his brother-in-law, the Emperor, that he was truly in love, not playing with emotions, and that Zou Xiyun was willingly offering herself to him, not being taken advantage of. But this time, he had indeed gone too far. He had angered his brother-in-law so much at the Seven Show Pavilion that he almost banged his head against the wall. However, the fact that his brother-in-law didn't order his men to storm in and ransack the pavilion after leaving was a sign of respect. In return, he would also give his brother-in-law face this time.
"How dare you speak like that? Didn't you pride yourself on your silver tongue, your unparalleled eloquence? Why aren't you explaining? Why aren't you covering up? Why aren't you arguing?" His brother-in-law was getting even more worked up, slamming his fist on the dragon table and shouting angrily.
Fourth Brother felt a pang of heartache, heartache for that bowl of sour plums. Slamming it like that, he'd spilled the soup—what a waste! It would have been so much better if he had given it to him. Honestly, when we get back from the palace, I'm going to go to the ice cellar in the mansion and drink it all night long!
"Your Majesty, after a painstaking investigation, I have found out!" he shouted loudly. He glanced at his brother-in-law, the Emperor, who raised an eyebrow, and knowing he was interested, he immediately moved closer. "Your Majesty, I have found out. This 'Konghuan' was actually established when Li Yu surrendered the capital..."
He recounted the details of Konghuan from Zou Xiyun, omitting her relationship with Xiao Zhouhou and her vow to kill the emperor.
Emperor Renzong frowned deeply upon hearing this. "You mean most of Konghuan's strength and manpower are still entrenched in Jiangnan? Their attack on the capital was merely their leader wanting to test his daughter's abilities. Konghuan's true strength has not yet been revealed."
"Yes, that's it."
"So even if I send troops to destroy Qixiufang, I cannot eliminate Konghuan. Instead, I will alert them, making them wary of the court, and perhaps even inviting Konghuan's retaliation, right?"
"Your Majesty is wise! Wise!" Fourth Brother clapped and cheered loudly.
"Bang!" Emperor Renzong slammed his hand on the dragon table, furious. "How dare you! You're trying to trick me into letting the Seven Showers go! I've already given my word that I'll take the Seven Showers within half a month. You're reluctant to act? Fine, I will! I'll immediately order Ye Gucheng to lead troops to surround the Seven Showers and wipe out all the rebels inside!"
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" Fourth Brother cried out anxiously, almost jumping onto the table. Emperor Renzong instinctively stepped aside, and Fourth Brother seized the opportunity to grab the jade bowl on the table, tilting his head back and gulping down the chilled plum juice inside.
"Ah—so refreshing! The food in the palace is just so good." Fourth Brother wiped his mouth, grinning as he met his brother-in-law's angry glare. "Your Majesty, I've made up my mind. I'm willing to personally go to Jiangnan for the sake of the Great Song Dynasty, to subdue the entire 'Konghuan' for Your Majesty and the Great Song Dynasty. Not only will I stop them from plotting a rebellion in Jiangnan, but I'll also make these people serve our Great Song Dynasty loyally."
"Hmph, nice words!" The emperor's brother-in-law sneered, glancing sideways at the jade bowl in Fourth Brother's hand, which was now empty. "Regardless of whether you have the ability to persuade these vicious rebels, even if you do subdue them, our Great Song Dynasty has a million soldiers and many famous generals. Do you think I would want these rebellious traitors?" "
But if we were to wipe them out, it would be exhausting, laborious, disruptive to the people, and costly. Your Majesty, it wouldn't be worth it!"
"So what! Eradicating 'Void Illusion' once and for all, bringing peace to Jiangnan and the entire nation, what could be better? My Great Song Dynasty can afford the military and financial resources, and I have the determination!" Emperor Renzong stood up, his dragon eyebrows raised, his imposing presence overwhelming, showing no trace of his past sleazy nature, only the majesty of an emperor. "The battles that must be fought, I will fight; the national strength that must be expended, I will bear; the infamy that must be carried, I will shoulder alone! I don't care how history records me, nor do I care how the world judges me, I only want to do everything a Great Song emperor should do, and leave a bright and peaceful world for future generations." "A prosperous age!

" Chapter 291: The wars

fought by tyranny, I will finish them; the national strength that should be depleted, I will bear; I will shoulder the burden alone! I don't care how history records me, nor do I care how the world judges me; I only want to finish everything that the Emperor of the Great Song should do, and pass on a bright and peaceful world to my descendants!"
Emperor Renzong spoke each word with a heavy weight, and even though he had finished speaking long ago, his voice still echoed and trembled in the study.
Pang Yu stared at him in surprise, somewhat incredulous. It turned out that his brother-in-law, the emperor who he had always thought of as lewd, depraved, lowly, lustful, and shameless, actually had such lofty ambitions!
Damn it, luckily I was prepared in advance and had thought of a countermeasure, otherwise I would have been really scared.
"Your Majesty, brother-in-law—" he suddenly shouted, his eyes "moved" and moist, "You are truly a benevolent and sage ruler, a good emperor for the people of our Great Song! To repay Your Majesty's kindness, and to create a bright and peaceful world for my future nephew, I, Pang Yu, will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
"Good, good indeed, 'going through fire and water without hesitation,' very good indeed!" Emperor Renzong suddenly reverted to that shameless, treacherous, and despicable man, "I will not go through fire and water, nor do I need you to die. As long as you raid the Seven Show Pavilion for me, that will be a great achievement, and I will not treat you unfairly."
“Brother-in-law, I still think it would be better for us to use a more lenient approach and try to win them over. After all, our Great Song Dynasty is in dire need of manpower... I mean, rashly deploying troops in the capital and disturbing the people, trying to eradicate ‘Konghuan’ from the ground in Jiangnan, could easily lead to the loss of livelihoods…”
His sister, the Emperor, interrupted him coldly: “You underestimate the Great Song Dynasty. With the military strength of the three routes in Jiangnan (East Jiangnan, West Jiangnan, and Liangzhe), as well as the veteran generals who participated in the Battle of Chanyuan, I don’t even need to use the Yang Family Army. I can easily eradicate ‘Konghuan’ from the ground.”
"The Emperor didn't actually mobilize the Yang Family Army, did he?" Fourth Brother suddenly laughed. "Although the Liao Kingdom signed the Treaty of Shanyuan with our Great Song Dynasty, agreeing to be brotherly states and not to invade each other, after the death of Emperor Shengzong of Liao, his successor, Emperor Xingzong's son Yelü Zongzhen, became extremely extravagant and bloodthirsty, repeatedly pressuring our dynasty to increase the annual tribute, which was sternly refused by Prime Minister Lü. In a fit of anger, Yelü Zongzhen mobilized 100,000 iron cavalry from seven prefectures—You, Ji, Tan, Shun, and Shuo—to press towards the border. Only then did the Emperor order the Yang Family Army to leave the capital overnight, even neglecting to suppress the rebels, and hastily return to their border posts to resist the Liao army."
Emperor Ren, who had also planned ahead, said calmly, "Even if I have to deal with the Liao army's coercion and have to garrison heavy troops to defend the capital region, there are still the garrison troops in Jiangnan, Jinghu South, and Liangzhe, which are more than enough to wipe out Konghuan!"
"Your Majesty, I speak frankly." Fourth Brother took a step forward. His voice lowered. "Wei Nong Quanfu, the prefect of Tangyou Prefecture (present-day Fusui, Guangxi), was a Zhuang leader in Guangxi. Instead of serving the country and the Song Dynasty, he harbored ambitions of rebellion and independence. He not only killed his own brother Nong Cunlu and his brother-in-law Dangdao, but also seized their territories of Wanya Prefecture (also known as Wanya Prefecture, present-day Daxin County, Guangxi) and Wule Prefecture (present-day Fusui, Guangxi). He recruited local Zhuang people to illegally mine gold and amassed an army of over 100,000. Moreover, he colluded with Jiaozhi (present-day Vietnam) to purchase weapons and warhorses at great expense..."
At this point, Emperor Renzong's face turned grim. But his fourth brother ignored him and continued speaking. "According to a secret report from Zhang Lihuan, the military commander of Guangxi, Nong Quanfu's power is growing daily. His control has expanded from three prefectures to most of Lingnan. Not only are the local Zhuang people completely obedient to him, but many powerful officials in Guangnan West Circuit are also secretly colluding with him. Quanfu heard that the Liao army is stationed at the border and that our Great Song is unable to look south, so he thinks he has an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. He is plotting to declare himself emperor, calling himself 'Emperor Zhaosheng,' making his wife 'Empress Mingde,' bestowing the title of 'King of the Southern Court' upon his son, and changing the prefecture to 'Longevity Kingdom'..."
Emperor Renzong's face grew increasingly grim. He asked him in a deep voice, "How do you know all this?"
Pang Yu touched his nose. He chuckled awkwardly, "Yesterday, I didn't come to the palace to apologize. I went to the Privy Council for a quick look. I 'checked in' on some state affairs."
"That's a state secret. How could the people at the Privy Council tell you?"
"I went under my father's name. Who would dare hide it? Besides, using platitudes is my forte..." Fourth Brother, now that he had the Emperor as his brother-in-law, was about to explode. Let's quickly get back to the point. "According to the military system of our Great Song Dynasty, the elite troops in various regions are gathered under the central government to serve as the emperor's guards, defending the capital and preparing for conquest. They are called the 'Imperial Guards.' The remaining old and weak soldiers remain in their localities and are called 'armies.' Now, the Liao Kingdom has stationed a large army on the border. In case of any unforeseen circumstances, not a single soldier of the hundreds of thousands of Imperial Guards in the capital and surrounding areas can be mobilized. If Nong Quanfu were to rebel, it is uncertain whether the local garrison troops in Guangnan West Road, Jinghu South Road, and Jinghu North Road could even protect themselves. Let alone suppress the rebels and recover Lingnan!"
Fourth Brother was not talking nonsense. Later, Nong Quanfu's son, Nong Zhigao, rebelled against the Song Dynasty, defeating the garrison troops of Guangdong and Guangxi. He swept through the region, not only occupying the entire Lingnan region but also nearly capturing Guangzhou. The court sent troops to suppress him several times, but each time they suffered heavy losses and returned in defeat. Fortunately, his future brother-in-law, the future number one general of the Great Song Dynasty, Di Qing, volunteered to lead the expedition, which quelled Nong Zhigao's rebellion. However, Di Qing also brought
the Imperial Guards with him!
Although Emperor Renzong could be quite despicable at times, he was still a capable ruler. He was certainly aware of what Pang Yu was saying; otherwise, why would the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty go alone to the lair of "Konghuan" to persuade Zou Xi to give up on restoring the country? He could have simply sent someone to eliminate them! The truth is, although the Great Song Dynasty was wealthy and powerful, if three sides were at war simultaneously, there would be no peace in the country. Moreover, if one side was defeated, it would inevitably affect the whole, with unimaginable consequences! Since
persuasion failed, he had no choice but to take a hard line. Emperor Renzong insisted that Pang Yu wipe out Konghuan within half a month, hoping to force him to use all the power of the Grand Tutor's Mansion to first eliminate the anti-Song forces that were causing great turmoil in Jiangnan!
Pang Yu's solemn expression was genuine. He spoke slowly, word by word: "If at this moment, the Liao army attacks the border, Nong Quanfu allies with Jiaozhi to invade, and 'Konghuan' seizes the opportunity to rise up in Jinling and restore the Southern Tang, and if Goguryeo and Fusang also take advantage of the chaos, our Great Song will be surrounded by enemies, and the country will be in grave danger!"
"Your Majesty, you are a good emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, the most benevolent ruler in history. Can you bear to watch the people suffer from the chaos of war? Can you bear to let the country and the nation left to you by Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong..."
"What exactly are you trying to say?!"
"Your Majesty!" He knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, take Miss Zou to Jiangnan. I am confident that even if I cannot persuade Konghuan to surrender, I can certainly organize them to rise up in Jiangnan. Once the Liao army in the north withdraws and the Nong Quanfu rebellion in Guangxi is quelled, Your Majesty can move the army to Jinling. Why should we worry about Konghuan not surrendering or Jiangnan being in turmoil?"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!" He almost shed tears when he got to the point of emotion.
Emperor Renzong remained unfazed, instead sneering, "Hmph, why don't you just say you're abandoning your sister and eloping with another woman to live a carefree life in Jiangnan?"
"No, Your Majesty, I truly do this for the Song Dynasty, for Your Majesty's empire!" Fourth Brother cried out, wiping his eyes—a feigned act, of course—but his unwavering loyalty to the country was undeniable.
"You've gone to Jiangnan with that female bandit, what are we going to do? Are we going to leave someone alone in the palace?"
"The princess is still young, only thirteen. We can wait a few years before marrying her..." Fourth Brother regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth. He remembered that his brother-in-law, the Emperor, had decided to marry the princess to him without knowing he was his brother-in-law because he was annoyed by this spoiled, arrogant, and fiery girl, and the harem was in chaos. He couldn't stand it anymore and quickly found a good man to marry her off—if he left with Zou Xi, and the princess became "lonely" again, wouldn't his brother-in-law be in a terrible predicament?
"Your Majesty, if you insist that I take the little princess with me..." He hesitated for a long time, then gritted his teeth.
"Fine!"
The emperor brother-in-law visibly relaxed, but his face instantly hardened again: "But what if you and the female bandit run away together and never come back, and you also abduct my precious sister? Wouldn't I be at a huge loss!"
"What!? Abduct..." Fourth Brother was about to cry in grievance. My goodness, how could Your Majesty use such a vulgar word? This is simply judging a gentleman by the standards of a petty person!
He was furious and annoyed, but for the sake of his woman, he could only temporarily submit to his brother-in-law's tyranny: "Fine, fine, Your Majesty, I swear, I swear it! Heaven above, earth below, if I, Pang Sisi, do not return from this trip to Jiangnan, or abduct a princess, may I be struck by lightning and suffer a terrible fate..."
"Swear? What good is a swear? When Nong Quanfu's ancestors surrendered to our dynasty, didn't they also swear to be loyal to the Song Dynasty and to defend the southern border for generations? And now, after only a few generations, they have rebelled with an army." Emperor Renzong was clearly nitpicking, comparing his loyal and brave brother-in-law to a rebel.
Fourth Brother understood his meaning. His brother-in-law was lewd, despicable, shameless, and shameless. He had lost to him in verbal sparring time and time again, but this time he had finally caught him red-handed. His brother-in-law had come to beg him, so of course he would demand an exorbitant price, asking for the lion's share of his pent-up resentment and anger!
"Then, Your Majesty, what do you suggest?"
"To be honest, I'm not afraid you'll run away. All land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people within the realm are his subjects. The entire world belongs to me; where can you possibly run off to?" Emperor Renzong was truly shameless, even at this point he still wanted to demonstrate his magnanimity. "However, to prevent you from lingering in Jiangnan for too long, causing the Grand Tutor and my beloved concubine to worry, I think… you should agree on a return date with me, and leave something as collateral. If you haven't returned by that date, then I'm sorry…"
"Whatever you pledge, it all belongs to me!"

Chapter 292: Extortion

! The trump card has been played—this is extortion, blatant extortion!
Persuading a rebel to surrender is such a difficult and arduous task. It's obvious it can't be accomplished in a short time; it must be incredibly time-consuming and exhausting—they've been lying low for decades, determined to restore their kingdom, and you think you can persuade them to surrender in ten days or half a month? That's a myth!
The Emperor brother-in-law's demand for a deadline was clearly an attempt at extortion! Within that timeframe, Fourth Brother would definitely fail to complete the task, and without it, he'd be too ashamed to return. And if he didn't come back, the things he'd been holding would become the Emperor's. "What does Your Majesty want me to hold...hold?" Fourth Brother asked hesitantly.
"You decide," Fourth Brother said after a moment
's thought, then smiled.
"Your Majesty, you see, I'm your son and your future brother-in-law, we're all relatives..."
"It concerns state affairs; I cannot show favoritism,"
Fourth Brother inwardly scorned his brother-in-law, forcing a smile. "This time, I'm taking Xi back to the 'Empty Illusion' stronghold in Jiangnan. One wrong move and it'll be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains, so what I'm holding to Your Majesty must be something that offsets my identity as the 'rebel young master,' right?"
"You're smart."
"That's easy!" Fourth Brother quickly replied, not giving his sister-in-law a chance to back out. "I pledge my status as the number one young nobleman of the Song Dynasty to Your Majesty. If I fail to appear within the agreed time, I request Your Majesty to strip me of my title, have the Grand Tutor expel me from the family, and have my Consort disown me as her own brother."
"You!" Emperor Ren was furious.
Yes. His brother-in-law was indeed the number one young nobleman of the Song Dynasty, son of the Grand Tutor, the Emperor's brother-in-law, and a Marquis by imperial decree. He also held the top position in the Crown Prince's faction. Furthermore, he was now the designated imperial son-in-law. His noble and illustrious status even surpassed that of Zhao Xuanhuang, who had already been granted the title of Prince.
He was more than capable of overshadowing a mere rebel prince. The problem was, even if Pang Yu failed to appear by the agreed time, Emperor Ren could not remove his title and status. Not to mention that the little princess only recognized Pang Si and insisted on marrying him. As her brother, he couldn't strip him naked and force his precious sister to marry him. His father-in-law, Grand Tutor Pang, only had this one precious son. The Pang family line was waiting for Pang Yu to inherit it. Even if this fellow committed the most heinous crimes, Grand Tutor Pang would risk his life to protect him. He would never expel him. And then there was his most beloved Consort Pang. She had lost her mother at a young age and had raised her younger brother like both sister and mother. If he dared to harm his brother-in-law, Consort Pang would surely throw a tantrum!
In short, Pang's pledge was essentially worthless.
“Your Majesty, please don’t tell me that in your eyes, your current brother-in-law, your future brother-in-law, the future pillar of the Song Dynasty, is less important than a female bandit.”
Fourth Brother’s words left his brother-in-law speechless. He gritted his teeth and glared at him angrily for a long time before finally sighing, “Fine, I can’t argue with you. I’ll let you bring the Grand Tutor’s son, the current emperor’s brother-in-law, the bestowed marquis title, and the head of the Crown Prince’s faction. Is that enough?”
Fourth Brother had prepared a long speech, but he didn’t expect it to be so easy. He quickly thanked the emperor loudly, creating a fait accompli that his brother-in-law couldn’t back out of. Unusually,
the emperor didn’t press him further and waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.
Without a second thought, Fourth Brother turned and dashed off, eager to rush back and tell his wife the good news. Just as he was leaving, his brother-in-law, the Emperor, called out from behind, "Hey, I heard you've made some money lately."
"Yeah, that's right—" Fourth Brother turned around, giving himself a thumbs-up, beaming with pride, "Thanks to Your Majesty's golden words, that perfume—the cheapest kind only costs five strings of cash to make, but I sold it for two hundred! They were snapped up! And the Great Song Dynasty Weekly—don't underestimate it just because it's only a few coins a copy. The volume is huge, and with the advertising fees after opening up the market, one issue can easily earn over ten thousand strings of cash. Otherwise, why would I be so generous, handing out two thousand—ah!" He suddenly realized he'd fallen into his brother-in-law's trap, his face freezing, his mouth twitching as he asked, "Your Majesty, you're not going to ask me for… money as collateral, are you?"
"Smart~;"
"Brother-in-law, that's not fair! This is extortion! That's the behavior of a thug, a shameless rogue!"
"Is that so? In your eyes, I am that kind of person?" The emperor's brother-in-law stared straight at him.
Fourth Brother, of course, couldn't possibly nod; insulting the emperor was a capital offense! So he quickly denied it: "Ah, no, no, no, not at all, of course not! Your Majesty is wise and powerful, a man of great talent and strategy..."
He only managed half a sentence of flattery before Emperor Renzong waved his hand, interrupting him: "Hey, Imperial Brother-in-law, you don't know, my inner treasury is short of money lately..."
Short of money my ass! The inner treasury is the emperor's gold mine; how much can the Minister of Revenue refuse? It's the Empress Dowager who has people watching over it; if you can't produce it, then just spend it.)
Fourth Brother wanted to curse, but for Zou Xi's safe return to Jiangnan, he had no choice but to admit defeat and obediently hand over the money.
"Your Majesty, just say it. How much do you want? I'll give it to you. We're family, we can discuss it."
Hmm, discuss it, let's discuss it properly. Emperor Renzong laughed, approving of his "sensibility," and while laughing, he lewdly stroked his mustache, then gestured the number "one" to Pang Yu.
"One thousand...no, ten thousand strings of cash, right?" The fourth brother felt a pang of pain at such a large sum, but since it was a tribute to the emperor, there was nothing he could do; he could always ask Gao Lao Si for twenty thousand strings later.
"Alright! No problem, I'll give it to you now.
" Thinking he wouldn't have to pay, the fourth brother acted very "generously," walking to the dragon table and starting to take out his money without thinking—but before he could even take it out, a hand pressed down on him.
The owner of the hand was the emperor's brother-in-law.
"Ten thousand? Do you think I'm nothing?" The emperor's brother-in-law snorted, his index finger tapping the table, his face full of anger. "You give a eunuch two thousand as a tribute to me... cough, you give me ten thousand for leaving things here as collateral? Do you think I'm worth five eunuchs? Huh?"
The fourth brother paused, then jumped up in shock: "One... one hundred thousand? Your Majesty, you want one hundred thousand strings of cash!?"
One hundred thousand! That was his two highly profitable businesses. After more than a month of operation, after deducting all land costs, labor costs, entertaining guests, gifts, and travel expenses, and after distributing to other shareholders, not to mention bribing officials—do princelings need to bribe officials for their businesses? In short, after all his hard work, he only received one hundred thousand strings of cash. The emperor's brother-in-law was asking for an exorbitant amount, wanting it all gone at once!
"Your Majesty... Brother-in-law..." For the sake of his woman, Fourth Brother was desperate. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, 100,000 strings of cash it is. I'll exchange them all for banknotes and bring them to the palace to present
to you another day!" Even though Fourth Brother was willing to go all out, his Emperor brother-in-law still didn't smile. He stared straight at him with a lewd grin: "Your Ponce perfume and Great Song Times Weekly haven't been on the market for long, have they? If you can promise me 100,000 strings of cash, you must have earned more than that. I'm letting 'Konghuan' off the hook this time and even allowing you to take their young master away to Jiangnan. If you run away halfway and don't come back, wouldn't I be at a huge loss?"
"I won't pledge the son of the Grand Tutor, the current emperor's brother-in-law, the imperial marquis..."
"These are all things I gave you. You don't need to pledge them; I can take them back at any time." Emperor Renzong smiled shamelessly, clearly trying to raise the price. He was certain that Fourth Brother would have to obey him if he wanted to take his woman away.
Seeing his sleazy appearance, Fourth Brother didn't intend to hit him, but rather felt a rare chill run down his spine. He took a deep breath and mentally prepared himself before asking, "Your Majesty, how much do you want?"
Emperor Renzong slowly raised his hand, revealing "one."
"One million!!!" Fourth Brother roared, almost causing the imperial study to collapse. Then, with a bitter face, he threw himself onto the imperial desk, saying, "Brother-in-law—this is unfair! Even if you kill me or sell me, I can't get one million strings of cash. Your Majesty, the annual tax revenue of a prefecture in our Great Song Dynasty is only..."
"I will only ask you once, to pledge or not to pledge?" The emperor's brother-in-law stood up, flicking his dragon robe. It was clear that if Fourth Brother dared to say "no," he would leave immediately.
"Your Majesty, I don't have a million!"
"How much do you have?"
"Just one hundred thousand."
"One hundred thousand... Here's what we'll do, find someone to write an IOU, then borrow another nine hundred thousand from him. You have five days left. Give it to me within five days, and I'll let you and the female bandit go. If you can't raise it..." Emperor Renzong smiled slyly, "Then I'm sorry, Ye Gucheng and my personal guards will be very busy, understand?"
The Emperor had spoken, could Fourth Brother say "I don't understand"? Full of bitterness and tears, he agreed, just like that, his brother-in-law had swindled him out of a million strings of cash!
"Your Majesty, I take my leave—" Fourth Brother, swallowing his pride, left reluctantly with a sob in his voice, leaving his brother-in-law, the Emperor, in the study, stroking his mustache and smiling smugly.
"Your Majesty—" With a soft, feminine voice, a graceful and beautiful woman emerged from behind a screen beside the dragon desk. Her skin was as white as snow, and she was naturally beautiful. She wore a magnificent palace dress with a light purple bamboo pattern and nine phoenixes. The front of the long skirt swept the ground, and the back trailed
more than a foot, but she still walked with a light and graceful gait, as if she were a fairy.
When Emperor Renzong saw her, he chuckled and stood up, his eyes full of tenderness: "My beloved consort, you wouldn't have tricked me like that, would you? You suddenly took a million from your brother."
"How dare I?"
Consort Pang gently shook her beautiful face, a light smile playing on her lips, her eyes sparkling: "Your Majesty is a benevolent ruler throughout the ages, caring deeply for the people. This year, there was drought in Huguang, plague in Yunnan, and pirate raids in Liangzhe. Your Majesty promptly issued decrees for relief and dispatched troops to suppress the pirates, spending millions of strings of cash. In addition, you have overseen the construction of canals and water conservancy projects in Jiangnan. Last year's revenue was practically depleted. If war breaks out simultaneously in the north and south, the court's military expenditure may be short by nearly a million strings of cash. My Pang family has received imperial favor for generations and should serve the Song Dynasty to the death. Let my unworthy brother bear this million strings of cash, as a chance for him to serve his country!"

Chapter 293: The Three Beauties Go South of the Yangtze River.

What? The three beauties go south of the Yangtze River? What does this mean?! After leaving the palace, Pang Yu
stayed at home for two days. On the third day, he rushed to Qi Xiu Fang and told Zou Xiyun that he had used his silver tongue to persuade the emperor to spare the lives of everyone in "Kong Huan" after three days of persuasion. However, the condition was that Qi Xiu Fang must continue to operate in the capital, and no one could leave without permission, except for Zou Xiyun—well, to prevent "Kong Huan" from continuing to cause trouble and plotting a rebellion, she, as the "young master," had to obediently enter the palace as a hostage.
Zou Xiyun was moved to tears and agreed on the spot without much consideration.
—What are you considering? The man she deeply loves wouldn't harm her!
Of course, her fourth brother wouldn't harm her. Her plan was to first bring Zou Xiyun to the palace, then stage a dramatic rescue, a heroic act of storming the palace for love, and elope with her to the south for a joyous honeymoon.
There was no other way to explain it. Jiang Zhengjie's betrayal exposed all of "Konghuan's" arrangements, manpower, and countless secrets in the capital to the court. If the court wanted, it could raze Qixiufang to the ground in an instant. Therefore, thanks to his wisdom and courage, he managed to escape with his three inches... With her silver tongue, she persuaded the Emperor to consider the well-being of the people and the capital's livelihood and not to resort to war. Only then did the court, with its overwhelming advantage, spare "Konghuan." Of course, to prevent further trouble, taking
Zou Xiyun to the palace as a hostage was a logical next step. However, just as Fourth Brother recounted his three days of hardship to Zou Xiyun, and received her consent to be a hostage, which also dispelled the hostility from the Seven Beauties' quarters, he excitedly returned home. Before he could even spend some time with Xiuxiang, he heard this shocking news.
"What? The Three Great Beauties have gone to Jiangnan? Explain yourself!" "Pang Yu grabbed Chui Xue's clothes and shoved him against the wall, asking urgently.
"It's just...it's just that the Emperor issued an imperial edict this morning, ordering the Fangsi (a type of entertainment venue) to hold some kind of 'Flower Queen Competition' in Jiangning Prefecture (which is Jinling, renamed Jiangning Prefecture after the Southern Tang surrendered to the Song Dynasty, but Konghuan has long used the name Jinling). It's to invite the three most beautiful courtesans of the year to come south and compete with famous courtesans from Jiangnan—no, to perform together, competing in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, and dancing..." Before he could finish speaking, Fourth Brother was already furious. "
Emperor brother-in-law, you're stabbing me in the back! We clearly agreed that my woman would be a hostage to let Qixiu Fang go, but now it seems like you're letting my woman go and demanding that the entire Qixiu Fang be used as collateral in the capital. Emperor brother-in-law, do you not trust your brother-in-law, or are you deliberately playing me? I'm
very angry. The consequences will be serious. I'm determined to go to the palace immediately to find the Emperor and get to the bottom of this."
But before that, he had to do one more thing.
"Pang Si." "This 500,000 strings of cash is all of Young Master Qian's private savings. Big Brother... Big Brother took it. What... what does he want it for?" The usually generous and lavish Master Qian, who seemed to spend money like water, became less so when faced with 500,000 strings of cash. He tugged at Pang Yu's sleeve, pulling him aside, and asked in a low voice.
"Master Qian!" Fourth Brother called out deeply, placing his large hand on his shoulder. "What exactly does the Marquis want this money for... I don't know! But the Marquis said that if Fourth Brother is in trouble, he shouldn't take it. We've been brothers for so many years, eating, drinking, having fun, and even going to brothels together. He really can't bear to make things difficult for his brothers!"
"What are you saying!" The mention of "brothers," the mention of his eldest brother, immediately invigorated Young Master Qian. He patted his chest and said loudly, "We, the brothers of the Crown Prince's faction, follow Big Brother's lead. Big Brother needs the money..." "Forget about handing over his private savings. Even if he wanted the young master to get it from the family's money exchange, it would be a simple matter of a word!"
"Snap!" Fifty banknotes, each worth ten thousand strings of cash, were handed to Fourth Brother.
"Master Qian, I thank you on behalf of the Marquis!" Pang Yu grasped his hand, tears of gratitude
streaming down his face. With the wealthy young master setting a good example, none of the other members of the princeling faction were willing to lag behind. Gao Ya Nei was the first to bid, offering one hundred thousand strings of cash. The other princelings also eagerly contributed their money. Fourth Brother had only notified them three days in advance and then, with a few words of encouragement, managed to secure one million strings of cash—uh, you read that right, one million. Fourth Brother hadn't touched a single one hundred thousand strings of cash he earned himself; he used it all for his honeymoon in Jinling with Zou Xi Yun—no, with the three most beautiful courtesans.
After dealing with the "money" matter, Fourth Brother went to the palace, carrying the one million strings of banknotes he had just received, which he hadn't even had a chance to warm up yet, and went straight to the Imperial Study to obediently hand them over to his brother-in-law, the Emperor.
"Oh, I didn't expect you to be so good at making money. You've already amassed a million strings of cash so quickly. Tsk tsk tsk, even I've never handled so much money before.
" The emperor, having already taken advantage of his brother-in-law, couldn't resist making a few more sarcastic remarks to his fourth brother. What could he do? The emperor was the emperor, and the fourth brother could only endure it, and not only endure it, but also force a smile.
"Your Majesty flatters me. Serving Your Majesty—serving the court—how could I dare not do my utmost?"
Hmph, don't try to flatter yourself in front of me. You're only doing this for a woman, aren't you? The emperor's brother-in-law stroked his lewd mustache, his expression somewhat gloomy.
The fourth brother, seeing through him perfectly, knew exactly what his brother-in-law was thinking. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, your brother-in-law is always a man of deep affection and passion, romantic but not vulgar. I'll treat the little princess the same way—oh, by the way, I haven't seen her for quite some time. How is she?"
"You didn't call her that."
"Ah, Your Majesty, we're not married yet, so I'm too embarrassed to call her 'wife'." "
How dare you! How dare you utter the princess's name like that!" The emperor's brother-in-law slammed his fist on the table, looking furious. He was probably annoyed by the princess's constant pestering these past few days and was taking it out on his fourth brother. "Let me tell you, according to the laws of our Great Song Dynasty, even if you become the prince consort, you still have to obediently call her princess!"
"Well, you're the emperor, so why can't I call you my sister's name..." the fourth brother muttered under his breath, but he didn't have time to argue with the emperor anymore; he had important business to attend to.
"Your Majesty, this... what's this about the Three Great Courtesans Going South?"
"The Three Great Courtesans Going South means the Three Great Courtesans Going South of the Yangtze River. Do I really need to explain that to you?" "
No, Your Majesty, even if you intend to summon the three most beautiful courtesans to Jinling in the name of the court, to perform and showcase the prosperity and peace of our Great Song Dynasty, thereby stabilizing the hearts of the people in Jiangnan and allowing the court to concentrate its efforts on dealing with the troubles on the northern and southern borders, you should at least inform me first. Don't put me in such a passive position..."
"Do I need to report to you when I do things?" Emperor Zong glared at him.
"No, Your Majesty, what I mean is..."
"You mean? What I mean is that I've changed my mind. This time, your trip to Jiangnan isn't about running away with the female bandit leader. It's about you going to Jiangning Prefecture as an imperial envoy with the three most beautiful courtesans. Through the 'Courtes' Festival,' you'll let the people of Jiangnan open their eyes and experience the grand spectacle of the capital. Most importantly, you want them to know that Jiangnan under my rule is prosperous and fertile, with a life of peace and prosperity, far more flourishing than during the Southern Tang Dynasty, understand?" "
Understood, understood. The point is to let the common people know that Song is the best, and Your Majesty is the highest. Life is wonderful now; not only are we well-fed and clothed, but we also have courtesans from the capital to admire. The common people can enjoy the same visual pleasures that only the powerful and wealthy in the capital have—in short, following 'Konghuan' in their attempt to restore the kingdom is a dead end. It's better to obediently be citizens of the Great Song, support the current Emperor, and uphold the dynasty!"
"Hmm, well said!" Emperor Renzong nodded with a smile, his eyes suddenly gleaming. "But Pang Si, you must know that sometimes being too clever isn't good."
"It's alright, I'll play dumb when necessary." Pang Yu was quite perceptive, chuckling. "As for the princess, I'll say that her emperor brother cares about his sister and deliberately sent this courtesan to Jiangnan so I can take her out of the palace for a trip." "
The Emperor's brother-in-law nodded in satisfaction: "In that case, you will still go as Pang Si. I will promote you to the rank of a third-grade Heavenly Soldiers and give you a secret decree, authorizing you to control all officials, large and small, in the three circuits of Jiangnan. If the Liao Kingdom in the north withdraws its troops, or if Nong Quanfu dares not truly rebel, and 'Konghuan' still does not surrender, I will only give you one word: Annihilation!"
Pang Yu was stunned for a moment, then immediately approached with a grin: "Your Majesty, the third grade is a bit low, it's not impressive enough. How about you give me a first-grade..." "Insolence!
I have already promoted you three grades, placing you on par with the Grand Masters of the Palace, the Grand Master of the Palace, the Academicians of the Hall of Literary Brilliance, the Left and Right Attendants of the Palace, and the Acting Ministers of the Six Ministries. You still want a first-grade!"
"No, brother-in-law, I have always been indifferent to fame and fortune. I don't care about how high an official position I am. Besides, I will regain my true identity sooner or later. It's more comfortable to be my Marquis and the Imperial Brother-in-law, isn't it?" "I'm begging Your Majesty to grant my Xiuxiang the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady. Of course, it won't be for free. Your Majesty, I guarantee you with my life that within ten years at most, or five at least, my brother-in-law Di Qing will become a young general no less outstanding than Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. From now on, our Great Song Dynasty will have more than just the Yang family to rely on!"
...
Fourth Brother isn't someone to be easily bullied. He'd given away a million strings of cash for nothing, so he had to get something in return. After much persuasion, he finally managed to get Xiuxiang the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady from his brother-in-law, the Emperor. However, he'd have to return from his southward campaign, perform meritorious service, and become a Third-Rank Imperial Soldier before he'd be officially granted the title.
"Aren't you afraid that if you go to Jiangnan, the Crown Prince's faction will be left without leadership, and Zhao Yunbi will seize the opportunity to swallow it up?" "
When he arrived at the palace, his brother-in-law, the emperor, asked him.
"Afraid? Of course I'm afraid. Although Zhao Yunbi can't beat me, he's more than capable of dealing with my bunch of good-for-nothing underlings, so...
" He smiled faintly, his eyes flashing: "Before going to Jiangnan, I want to see someone."
"?"
"Bao Zheng!"

Chapter 294 Meeting Bao Zheng in Prison

. The prison.
This is the place where my fourth brother was once imprisoned, where he suffered endless misery and loneliness, and was almost poisoned to death.
Now, as always, it is full of prisoners.
—When Bao Zheng first took office, the capital was like Yuzhou (if you don't understand, ask Baidu), with a city-wide crackdown, and the prisons were overflowing. Anyone caught in the prison was a bad guy who had committed many crimes. Now, almost two months have passed, and it is still full. Isn't that obvious? Apprehending traitors was always a more important task than cracking down on organized crime. With Bao Zheng imprisoned, all affairs in the capital were handled by Grand Marshal Gao. Grand Marshal Gao was always loyal to the country, especially for a task with great merit and the opportunity to eliminate dissidents. He worked just as hard as Bao Zheng. A large number of local ruffians, thugs, and bullies that Bao Zheng had arrested were released after Bao Zheng finally managed to get them released by Grand Marshal Gao through connections and bribes. However, after several large-scale manhunts throughout the city, they all returned to the palace. In addition, many more were arrested. Since they couldn't catch the vagrants, they would catch local ruffians, thugs, and bullies. Anyway, none of them were good people. Eventually, not only Kaifeng Prefecture but also the Imperial Guard's prison were full. The notorious criminal organization "Hongxing," which was one of the three major scourges of the capital along with Marquis Anle, was even taken down. From the boss to the underlings, none of them escaped. Enough of the digressions
. Anyway, Fourth Brother, dressed in the robes of a third-rank official, swaggered into the Kaifeng Prefecture prison. He heard a constant stream of ghostly wails—"My lord, I'm innocent!"—before finally arriving at the cell where he had once been imprisoned.
Now, Bao Zheng was in that cell.
To be honest, when he saw Bao Zheng, Fourth Brother was…
Anyone confined for a long time will inevitably look unwell. Living in darkness for extended periods, eating, drinking, and relieving oneself in a single room—can you really be the same as before you entered?
Bao Zheng could! His face was still as dark as charcoal, his posture ramrod straight. Wearing the white robes of a high-ranking prisoner, he looked even more spirited than in his black robes with gold and python patterns.
Bao Zheng was naturally surprised. First, he hadn't expected his fourth brother to visit him. Second, his fourth brother was wearing the robes of a third-rank official—how old was he? Not even eighteen yet! He had already climbed to this position!
This upright, impartial, and incorruptible judge—the greatest judge of the Song Dynasty—doubted his own eyes for the first time.
They stared at each other for a while. His fourth brother spoke first: "Lord Bao, you look quite well today. It seems you've had a good time in prison—oh. No wonder. In your own office, how could the jailers not be careful?"
Bao Zheng remained expressionless. He wasn't bothered by his fourth brother's blunt and sarcastic remarks upon meeting him.
"Lord Tian Ding has been promoted again?" He put down the book he was reading and stared at Pang Yu.
"Hahahaha. Lord Bao, you know perfectly well what I'm asking." His fourth brother laughed heartily. "Thanks to Lord Bao's good fortune, I've been promoted three ranks and am now a third-rank Tian Ding, appointed by His Majesty."
Bao Zheng was the only one besides him and Princess Huanyu who knew that Ren Huang was Emperor Renzong. Since the Emperor had gone to such lengths to personally come to the prison to examine his fourth brother, and even intended to make him a son-in-law (or perhaps he came specifically to examine him because he wanted to find a son-in-law), promoting him was only natural. But the speed was far too fast!
Pang Yu didn't hide anything, saying calmly, "The Emperor has ordered me to go to Jiangnan on a confidential mission. My rank is too low, and I'm afraid I won't be able to control the people of Jiangning Prefecture. The troops in the three routes of Jiangnan won't be willing to obey my orders."
Bao Zheng, being the man he was, immediately sensed from Pang Yu's casual remark that something important had happened in the country. He opened his mouth as if thinking something, but then held back.
(Heh heh, wanting to go out and serve the country, huh?)
Fourth Brother knew what Bao Zheng was thinking. He had said those things just now to make him anxious first.
"Lord Bao," he laughed, deliberately changing the subject, "what were you reading when I came in just now? Tsk tsk tsk, Lord Bao is indeed Lord Bao, a Grand Scholar of the Dragon Pavilion, even in prison he doesn't forget to read. If it were me, I'd probably be lying in bed thinking about girls, ahahahaha—"
Bao Zheng's face was dark, and even when he was angry, his iron-like face was ashen, so it wasn't noticeable. Just as he was about to speak, his fourth brother grabbed the book he had put aside, looked at the beginning of the volume, and then flipped through a couple more pages: "Lord Bao is reading the *Tang Shu* compiled by Liu, the Minister of Works of the Later Jin Dynasty (after the *New Tang Shu* compiled by Ouyang Xiu, Song Qi, and others in the Song Dynasty was published, the *Tang Shu* was renamed the *History of the Tang Dynasty*). (From the *Old Book of Tang*, Ouyang Xiu was only in his early twenties at the time.) Oh dear, he was reading *The Biography of Di Renjie*. I never imagined that Lord Bao, like me, would admire the brilliant and selfless judge Di Renjie, and would often pick up the book to reminisce about his heroic spirit.
Bao Zheng looked at him with some surprise and said in a deep voice, “As an official, Di Renjie was like what Lao Tzu said, ‘The sage has no fixed mind; he takes the mind of the people as his own.’ He cared for the people, was not afraid of power, and dared to defy the emperor's will to save the innocent. He always held a high position in the court, but his concern was for the people. Later generations called him a ‘pillar of the court,’ truly a model for officials throughout history.”
"That's right, that's right. During Wu Zetian's reign, Judge Di held the highest judicial position in the country, judging countless backlogged and doubtful cases, and correcting countless wrongful, erroneous, and fabricated cases. As the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, in charge of criminal law, he handled more than 17,000 cases left over from his predecessor within a year of taking office, and none of them appealed again. His impartiality is evident." For some reason, Pang Yu kept going along with Bao Zheng's words, "In every position Judge Di held, he was always concerned about the people's livelihood and achieved outstanding political achievements. After he became Prime Minister, he devoted himself to the country and its stability, and to Wu Zetian..." He rectified many of the malpractices of the Tang Dynasty, inheriting the legacy of the Zhenguan era and paving the way for the Kaiyuan era, making him the foremost contributor to the Tang Dynasty's prosperity.
Bao Zheng initially despised this shameless servant who abused his master's power, distorting right and wrong, and even decided to arrest and bring him to justice. However, upon hearing that he also admired Di Renjie and was so familiar with Di Renjie's deeds, he couldn't help but chime in, "As an official, Bao Zheng has always taken Di Renjie as his role model. Di Renjie's integrity, incorruptibility, and impartiality in enforcing the law are always etched in Bao Zheng's heart..."
This was exactly what Fourth Brother wanted!
"Lord Bao!" Fourth Brother interrupted him, his expression suddenly becoming serious. "Lord Bao's judgment is divine, truly a modern-day Di Renjie. I have a case here that I don't quite understand; I wonder if Lord Bao would be willing to listen?"
Judicial investigation was Bao Zheng's greatest interest in life. Since he had come to him with a question, and it was still a difficult one, Lord Bao, who had been cooped up for over a month, had no reason not to.
"In a certain place in Jiangnan, three people surnamed Wu died in succession. At the same time, news came from the capital that Wu Xiaojie, the head scholar of Chongwen Academy, and his close friend Xu Shide, a proofreader, were killed in a fight with weapons at Xu's residence..." Fourth Brother moved a chair over and sat down, recounting the case in a leisurely manner. It wasn't actually a new case that even he couldn't handle. It was just a case that was taken from "Detective Dee" and changed to "The Blue Robe Case" (the Huzhou case), with the characters and background changed, and it became a difficult and strange case that occurred in a certain place in the Song Dynasty.
Bao Zheng is indeed Bao Zheng. After Fourth Brother finished explaining the case, he helped him organize the clues and, in less than half an hour, the man solved the case: "The reason the murderer framed Young Master Li is because the 'Blue Robe Chronicle' involves a huge fortune. The Southern Tang king left behind a treasure map divided into three parts, hidden in three copies of the 'Blue Robe Chronicle,' which were respectively kept by Wu Xiaojie, Liu Chali, and Li Gui. The murderer obtained the first copy from Wu Xiaojie, the second copy from Liu Chali, and the third copy from Li Gui..."
Not a single word was different, truly not a single word was different, because Fourth Brother had already presented all the evidence to be investigated. Bao Zheng was able to analyze the case in just half an hour, and his analysis matched Di Renjie's judgment perfectly. Moreover, after he finished his analysis, he stroked his beard and pondered, "Lord Tian Ding, the case you described is probably not from our dynasty. Chongwen Hall was an official title during the Tang Dynasty, and with the strength of the Southern Tang, it was impossible for them to have left behind such a huge fortune. Also, how could that Prince Li from the Southern Tang later hold a high position in our dynasty?"
"Hahaha—" Pang Yu clapped his hands and laughed, "Lord Bao is furious! I admire you greatly! This extraordinary case happened during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and it was precisely Di Renjie, whom you
, Lord Bao, revered as a model official, who solved it. Lord Bao, if you were in charge of this case, you would certainly uphold justice, judge the case according to the law, and publicly execute the criminal in front of Empress Wu Zetian, wouldn't you?"
"Of course!" Bao Zheng didn't want to agree anymore.
"In that case, Lord Bao, you are sorely mistaken!" Fourth Brother stood up abruptly. "Lord Bao, have you thought this through? This case doesn't involve some Southern Tang remnant, but the current Crown Prince, Emperor Zhongzong Li Xian, who was deposed by Empress Wu Zetian. If Lord Bao upholds justice and convicts Li Xian of treason, Empress Wu Zetian will surely depose him and use the opportunity to carry out a large-scale purge of the Li Tang descendants. The Tang dynasty will then be extinguished, and the country will fall into the hands of Wu Zetian!"
Bao Zheng suddenly shuddered, speechless with shock. He had adjudicated countless cases in his life, always acting in accordance with the law without any favoritism. But this time, if he truly followed the laws of the Tang dynasty, while the judgment would be impartial and the enforcement of the law would be upright, it would also make Di Renjie a sinner of the Tang dynasty for all time, a sin that even death would not atone for! "
Could it be that I'm wrong? Sometimes, it's really not possible to... follow the law completely?"
Seeing his hesitant expression, Fourth Brother's eyes flashed with a cold smile: "Lord Bao, do you know how Judge Di judged this case?"
"How?" Bao Zheng asked.
"Judge Di ordered the main culprit to commit suicide, then reported to Empress Wu that this person had coerced the Crown Prince into treason, completely clearing Li Xian's name. In your eyes, Lord Bao, this is turning right and wrong upside down, confusing black and white, a crime deserving death. But Judge Di's decision back then, although violating the laws of the Great Zhou, preserved the Tang Dynasty!"
"Therefore, Lord Bao, sometimes, judging a case doesn't necessarily mean being impartial. More important than 'impartiality' is the nation, the country, and the safety of our Great Song Dynasty!!!"

Chapter 295: The weight of a sinner

weighs heavier than a thousand pounds. The words resonated deeply, leaving Bao Zheng, who always had a clear conscience in judging cases, speechless. This guy is too cunning!
Even Bao Zheng, who never spoke ill of others behind their backs, cursed inwardly at this moment. If it had been stated from the beginning that the case involved Prince Li Xian of the Wu Zhou Dynasty, then even though he consistently judged cases according to the law without bias, he would have carefully considered the matter and tried to find a compromise.
But Pang Yu had first turned this case into a "Great Song Dynasty version," and the Prince Li Xian involved had become Li X, a descendant of the Southern Tang Dynasty who held a high position in the court. What was there to think about then? Judge according to the law, and bring him to justice! The case he
was sentenced to
was actually handled by Di Renjie, the judge whom Bao Zheng most admired and respected. Indeed, the complexity, breadth of connections, and depth of the case were such that no one else in China, besides Di Renjie and Bao Zheng, could have solved it. Therefore, this case wasn't something Pang Yu fabricated to frame him; he couldn't have made it up! It was a genuine fact!
Bao Zheng was conflicted. According to his usual approach to the case, he had truly made a mistake.
He had upheld the law and upheld justice, but at the cost of the nation!
What use was the law if the nation was gone?!
His fourth brother was very magnanimous. He felt that using something not recorded in official history was a severe blow to Bao Zheng. Bao Zheng was certainly distressed, but whether he was truly convinced was another matter. Xiaoxiao continued, "If Lord Bao believes this case is a fabrication of my own making, and not recorded in historical records, then fine. I'll ask you another question.
Suppose there is an official in the Song Dynasty, holding the position of Prime Minister, second only to the Emperor. Although he has done many things beneficial to the country and its people, he is arrogant, domineering, and lives a life of extravagance. He is particular about appearances, frequently holding lavish banquets, drinking and making merry all night long, frequenting brothels, and dancing every night. He never uses oil lamps for lighting in his home, and even uses huge candles in the kitchen (candles were a luxury at that time). Lord Bao, having served in the Censorate for so long, supervising officials throughout the land, you must know that a Prime Minister's salary could not possibly support such extravagance, right?"
Bao Zheng's face indeed showed anger: "Hmph. There's no need for a detailed investigation; it's obvious this person is corrupt."
"Lord Bao, you can't say that. He is the Prime Minister, holding a high position and great power." "Give him a few gifts. Accept them. It's no big deal."
"Nonsense. Officials should be honest and upright. Especially those in the prime minister's position, who are above all officials in the land, how can they lead the way in accepting gifts from subordinates and setting an example of extravagance and pleasure!"
"Then, according to Lord Bao's opinion..." Fourth Brother paused deliberately. He said in a deep voice, "If Lord Bao had been serving in the Censorate at that time, he would definitely have reported to the Emperor to have this person imprisoned and severely punished for corruption and bribery?"
"Of course."
"Hahahaha—" He burst into laughter.
"What are you laughing at?" Bao Zheng glared.
"I'm laughing because it's fortunate that Lord Bao was born thirty years too late, otherwise my Great Song Dynasty would have perished in your hands!!!"
Pang Yu slapped him! He slammed his hand heavily on the table, the sound echoing throughout the room. "In the first year of Emperor Zhenzong's Jingde reign, Empress Dowager Xiao of Liao and Emperor Shengzong Yelü Longxu, under the pretext of recapturing Waqiao Pass, personally led a large army south to invade our Great Song. Their advance was swift and unstoppable, successively capturing Suicheng, taking the defending general Wang Xianzhi prisoner, and conquering Dingzhou, capturing the Yunzhou military governor Wang Jizhong. At that time, the court and the public were in shock. None of our Great Song's civil and military officials dared to advocate war. Wang Qinruo advocated moving the capital to Shengzhou (Jiangling Prefecture), and Chen Sou advocated moving the capital to Yizhou. Only the current prime minister Kou Zhun strongly advocated war, which led to Emperor Zhenzong's personal expedition and the Treaty of Shanyuan, which ensured the century-long peace of our Great Song!" "If Lord Bao had been an official in court at the time, and had first prosecuted Prime Minister Kou for corruption and bribery, then what would have happened? The Liao army's iron cavalry would have swept south, no one in the court would have dared to speak of war, our Great Song would have had to move its capital to avoid disaster, thousands of miles of northern territory would have fallen into enemy hands, and millions of people would have suffered under the Khitan's iron hooves... Lord Bao, you have once again become a sinner for all time, this time a sinner for all time for our Great Song!!!"
Bao Zheng was so shocked that his face twitched: "You... this person is Kou Lai Gong (Kou Zhun was enfeoffed as the Duke of Lai)!?"
"Lord Bao doesn't believe me?" Fourth Brother sneered, "Then you can go to Prime Minister Kou's old residence and inquire, or ask the old ministers from back then, whether they gave Prime Minister Kou lavish gifts, whether they saw the 'ten thousand candles' in Prime Minister Kou's house! 'What is the ultimate fate of generals and ministers? Time flies by like a shuttle. Why ask about the affairs of the world? Let's go forward and listen to the beautiful songs!'" "The song 'Prime Minister Kou's 'entertainment' is still a popular tune in my palace to this day!!!"
Bao Zheng was trembling with anger, his dark face almost turning red, yet he had no reply.
"According to Lord Bao's consistent principles of judgment, even if Huo Qubing of the Han Dynasty asked Emperor Wu of Han for the imperial chefs to accompany him on his campaigns to cook for his troops, that would be a violation of regulations. If violations are punished severely, what kind of war would we fight? Right? Then there would be no more surrender in Hexi, no great victory in the northern deserts, no sealing of the wolf's lair, no Emperor Wu of Han's glorious civil and military achievements, and certainly no confidence for us Han people to stand tall for millennia!" "
Oh right, could it be that after the great victory, Huo Qubing also killed Li Guang's son, Li Gan? Murder is punishable by death! With your methods, Lord Bao, you would surely arrest him and execute him in a public and lenient manner. Then the Han Dynasty would no longer have its mighty war god, the northern Xiongnu would invade again, and the border people would suffer again!"
"You...you're just making excuses! Making excuses!!!" The scene in Fourth Brother's dream was about to appear, and Bao Zheng was about to vomit blood from anger.
"Lord Bao!" Fourth Brother shouted heavily, "Gold is never pure, and no one is perfect. There is no official in this world without any flaws. Although Prime Minister Kou is impartial, upright, and resolute, he also has a side of extravagance and madness. But as the saying goes, 'a flaw does not obscure the jade,' his great talent and righteousness enabled the late emperor to sign the Treaty of Shanyuan with the Liao Dynasty, which also overshadowed his extravagance, allowing him to be remembered in history and admired by future generations." Huo Qubing was no perfect man. He once shot and killed Li Gan, and he was also known for his strict discipline. Yet, even so, he still managed to defeat the Xiongnu so decisively that they fled at the mere sight of him. His achievements
are illustrious and unforgettable, making him the greatest war god of the Han Dynasty! "The word 'qing' in 'qingguan' (a term referring to an upright official) means incorruptible and upright in Bao Zheng's eyes. However, I believe 'qing' refers to integrity, that is, not being confused and having a sense of justice. Human nature is inherently selfish. The ideal of a 'high, great, and perfect' person does not exist. We cannot expect officials to be saints, much less use the standards of ascetic monks to judge a high-ranking official who holds power and serves the people. Wise rulers throughout history have selected officials based on both virtue and talent, but in reality, looking at the Song Dynasty today, perhaps only you, Bao Zheng, truly meet these standards. So, how can the country function, and how can the court select officials?" In the past, Emperor Taizong of Tang divided his officials into three categories: virtuous, capable, and mediocre. Virtuous people were those of good character, with political foresight, the ability to control the overall situation and grasp the direction, and who could benefit the people. Capable people were those who could open up new opportunities, had strong work abilities, and could serve the people, but their character was not necessarily good; they had minor flaws and were prone to being greedy for small gains. Mediocre people could be understood as those who were mediocre and incompetent; although they did not have the talent to expand their territory, they could manage their households and maintain peace in their region and would not do anything to harm the people.
"Lord Bao may think that such personnel management will inevitably lead to national chaos, but little does he know that this is the way wise rulers of all dynasties have used personnel. As a superior, one should tolerate the shortcomings and weaknesses of subordinates, utilizing their strengths and suppressing their weaknesses. As long as one's political achievements are good and the people enjoy the benefits brought by those achievements, the main purpose of personnel management has been achieved."
"Your Majesty, you should not judge a hero by the success or failure of a single event. Lord Bao once shouldered the responsibility of supervising all officials in the realm; he should therefore view talent with a broad and dialectical perspective. One should not judge a person's ability based on the success or failure of a single event, nor should one erase their achievements because of a temporary mistake. Instead, one should conduct long-term and meticulous observation; one should look at the mainstream, the consistency, the essence, and the development, avoiding the error of generalization. Otherwise, if one abandons someone after a single failure, and is intolerant of any fault, talent will be buried, and there will be no talent left in the world."
What a shocking scene! Pang Yu, not even eighteen years old, was actually telling Bao Zheng, the most impartial and incorruptible judge of the Song Dynasty, the principles of being an official, selecting talent, employing people, and tolerating others, in the Kaifeng Prefecture prison, and he did it all so eloquently!
"If Lord Bao still doesn't believe me and insists on his consistent approach to handling cases, then fine, let me give you another example. Zhao Pu, the founding prime minister of our dynasty, assisted Emperor Taizu in establishing the Song Dynasty with 'half of the Analects,' making him arguably the greatest contributor to the founding of the dynasty. Emperor Taizu and Zhao Pu had a very good personal relationship, and Emperor Taizu often visited Zhao Pu's home incognito to discuss important matters of state.
Once, Zhao Pu was at home inspecting gold melon seeds sent by the Kingdom of Wuyue when he was suddenly informed that the Emperor had arrived. He hurriedly went out to greet him. Emperor Taizu saw Zhao Pu's nervous expression and the ten jars in the room, and knew what was going on. He asked Zhao Pu what was in the jars, and Zhao Pu said it was seafood sent by the southern kingdom. Emperor Taizu ordered them to be opened, and immediately they glittered with gold; the jars were full of gleaming gold! Lord Bao, if you were an official in the court at that time, you would definitely have severely punished Zhao Pu according to the law. Colluding with an enemy country and accepting bribes is not just a matter of beheading; it is a crime punishable by the extermination of three generations of one's family!"
"But Emperor Taizu actually pardoned Zhao Pu at that time, not only not pursuing his crime of treason, but also granting him even greater power. Because Taizu knew that at that time, the Great Song Dynasty was newly established, the borders were not yet stable, and officials like Zhao Pu were needed to support the country. Although Zhao Pu was greedy for money, he was not greedy for the country, nor did he seek power, and he had no political ambition. He was a capable minister who could be entrusted with great responsibilities! History has proven Taizu's wisdom. From the founding of the Great Song Dynasty to the later conquests in the south and north, the pacification of Wu and Yue, the conquest of Jingnan, the pacification of the Southern Han, the destruction of the Southern Tang, and the subjugation of the Northern Han, the empire was unified and the four seas were united. Zhao Pu's contributions were indispensable. The 'decision to conquer the south before the north on a snowy night,' the 'strengthening the trunk and weakening the branches to divide the powers,' and the 'releasing military power over a cup of wine,' which is recorded in history and ensures the eternal stability of the Great Song Dynasty, all came from the decisions of Zhao Pu, a great corrupt

official !"

In the face of Pang Yu's impassioned statement, Bao Zheng was once again speechless.
But Fourth Brother was far from finished.
"Therefore, it is clear that the primary criterion for selecting, appointing, using, and punishing officials is serving the people, followed by diligence, then mediocrity, and finally, integrity and self-discipline. Otherwise, if we simply pursue officials who are honest and law-abiding, in the end, they will only be mediocre and unable to do anything beneficial for the people. No matter how honest or incorruptible such officials are, can they be used?"
"You..." Bao Zheng choked with anger: "I refuse to believe that our great Song Dynasty cannot find a few officials who are both honest and dedicated to their duties and have outstanding achievements?" Before Pang Yu could even mock him, he choked on his own words. A few? Can the four hundred prefectures and counties of the Song Dynasty be governed by just a few honest and dedicated officials with outstanding achievements?
Fourth Brother smiled and asked again, "Lord Bao, in your eyes, my Grand Tutor is not a good official either, is he?"
Bao Zheng said emphatically, "Insidious and ruthless, forming cliques for personal gain, appointing relatives and friends, covering up the truth, embezzling and perverting justice, accepting bribes—every single one of the good deeds done by the Grand Tutor is intolerable to the nation!"
"Is that so?" Fourth Brother raised an eyebrow, shrugged, and said with obvious concern, "My Grand Tutor does indeed wield immense power, but precisely because of this, the court is spared the intriguing political struggles between various official factions, avoiding the internal strife caused by officials attacking each other. For the country, the people, and the nation, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. As for the so-called forming cliques and appointing relatives, the officials promoted by my Grand Tutor naturally follow his lead. Does that mean that the officials and protégés promoted by Prime Minister Lü don't follow him? The same behavior is considered forming cliques and appointing relatives by my Grand Tutor, but by Prime Minister Lü, it's a beautiful story of having disciples all over the court and having students all over the world. Lord Bao, you really know how to talk."
"As for the law on embezzlement and accepting bribes... Hmph, did Zhao Pu accept them? Did Kou Zhun accept them? Both of our great Song's two meritorious ministers and wise prime ministers accepted money, so why can't my Grand Tutor?"
Bao Zheng was speechless for the nth time.
"Lord Bao, accepting bribes isn't the problem for an official; the key is whether, while taking the money, one serves the country and the people. Taking money is one thing, but as long as one does more things beneficial to the nation, the merits outweigh the demerits—this isn't just my saying, it's what the wise and powerful Emperor Taizu and the sagacious Emperor Zhenzong showed us through their actions! Lord Bao, do you understand what I'm saying?"
Zheng was practically fuming. Pang Yu kept bringing up Emperor Taizu and the previous emperor, leaving him no chance to refute, nor daring to!
He couldn't speak. Fourth Brother continued, "History will not forget the contributions my Grand Tutor made to the Song Dynasty. Later generations compiling the *History of Song* will clearly record: Pang Ji. Knowledgeable in law and order. Skilled in administration. Strict in upholding the law. He governed the people with kindness and compassion. He was adept at employing people. His political achievements were outstanding. He had a great reputation for virtue!"
This wasn't just Fourth Brother making things up. Later generations, including He Weiyi, Zhang Qi, and Ouyang Xuan, wrote the *History of the Song Dynasty*. The biography
of Pang Ji in that book records it this way! Bao Zheng, throughout his life, couldn't stand the reversal of right and wrong, or the confusion of black and white. Today, my fourth brother visited him in prison and, right before his eyes, exposed this reversal of right and wrong, completely shattering Bao Zheng's long-held beliefs in judging cases.
Seeing Bao Zheng's ashen face and speechless expression, my fourth brother smiled: "Lord Bao, what I just said wasn't to encourage corruption, but rather to hope that from now on, in your conduct, your official duties, and your judgments, you won't demand the standards of a saint from everyone. For officials who have made great contributions to the country and benefited the people, if they occasionally make minor mistakes or flaws, let them pass if possible. Don't eliminate a large number of capable officials in the name of so-called 'integrity and honesty,' thus corrupting the entire country's governance!"
"Of course. For officials who do nothing but engage in rampant corruption, or those who are too greedy and have poor conduct, exceeding their merits, they should be investigated and arrested as appropriate. They should be punished according to the law and brought to justice! Whether certain officials in the court are good or bad, meritorious or demeritful, whether to let them off the hook or to severely punish them, the 'degree' in this matter... Lord Bao, the Emperor has sent me with an oral decree for you. You must grasp this 'degree' well!"
Bao Zheng stood there stunned. Although he couldn't refute it, he still couldn't accept the logic of investigating officials as described by Pang Yu. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but his fourth brother suddenly pulled something out of his sleeve, which gleamed with gold.
"Kneel down!"
Bao Zheng was stunned for a moment, but his iron will remained unshaken.
"Receive the decree!"
His fourth brother snorted coldly. Bao Zheng saw what the golden thing was and knelt down on the spot, kneeling before his fourth brother.
"By imperial decree, effective immediately, Bao Zheng is reinstated to his original post, appointed as Academician of the Privy Council and Acting Commissioner of the Three Departments, overseeing all affairs, large and small
, in Bianliang. Lord Bao, the safety of this vital capital is now yours!"
×××××××××××××××
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Half an hour later, in the Imperial Study, the fourth brother stood before his brother-in-law, the Emperor, at his dragon desk, giving a thumbs-up.
"I just wanted Bao Zheng to come out and keep the Prince's faction in check, to prevent Zhao
from getting too powerful and bullying my useless underlings while I was away. I'll deal with him properly later. I didn't expect Your Majesty to think the same way, to reinstate Bao Zheng and even add a whole bunch of titles. Great minds think alike, hahaha."
"You know nothing!" The Emperor's brother-in-law glanced at him. "With the war between the North and South, if Bao Zheng isn't in charge in the capital, who can keep order? Even if you hadn't told me, I would have released him in the next couple of days. He's been locked up long enough. Minister Bao must have realized his mistake and knows that you can't be too rigid in handling cases."
"Repented my ass!" Fourth Brother muttered. "If I hadn't gone to the prison and spent all my time 'educating' Bao Zheng, the capital would have been in a state of panic and paranoia before the war even started. Every official would be living in fear."
"What did you say?" "
"It's nothing. I was just saying that when His Majesty issued the imperial decree, Bao Zheng was moved to tears in prison." Fourth Brother chuckled and moved on. "Your Majesty, we're only leaving in a few days, and I suddenly thought of a very serious problem. I'm going south to negotiate with the rebels at the 'Void Illusion' stronghold. I'm afraid I can't guarantee the little princess's safety if I take her with me—brother-in-law, don't glare at me. What I mean is, the little princess is a precious child, and she's just... going south with me alone. What if something happens to her along the way? I... I can't afford to pay for it, hehehe—"
The Emperor snorted coldly twice: "Trying to back out at a time like this? Let me tell you, it's impossible. She's going to follow you. Even if you don't leave the capital, I'll send her to the Grand Tutor's mansion."
"Your Majesty, this is unfair! You're being unreasonable!"
"Reason? My mountain, my empire, I am reason!!!" The Emperor brother-in-law shamelessly threw him this out, and that was it. Fourth Brother was left speechless, with no one to complain to.
"Fine, fine, what can I do? The little princess is one of my harem members, and she's my favorite little loli type.
(I'll reluctantly share the burden for my brother-in-law, the emperor. One is a little princess, the other is a rebel young master. It must feel great to have her on both sides, hahaha—)
"Don't worry.
" My brother-in-law, fearing he might try to back out, smugly stroked his mustache and chuckled, "Although she's young, her martial arts are far superior to yours. She's more than capable of dealing with a few rebels. You might even need her to save you." Since my brother-in-law
had said that, what could I say? I had to admit defeat and quickly took my leave to return to the Seven Show Pavilion to explain to my wife that "the dog emperor changed his mind at the last minute and wanted the other members of the Seven Show Pavilion to stay in the capital as hostages." My brother-in-law snorted, "Wait a minute, you're just leaving like that?"
"Does Your Majesty have anything else to say?"
"It's not me who has something to say, it's you!"
××××××××××××××
Summer night, the starry sea like a net, the sky like a firmament.
The palace, bathed in the glow of night, was serene and peaceful. Starlight spilled across the sky, the moonlight was like water, and a gentle breeze swept away the sweltering heat.
Zhao was a habitual late sleeper, often not going to bed until after midnight. Otherwise, why would she be known as the "Night Owl Princess"? Why would she frequently sneak out to play with her Emperor brother in the middle of the night, only to stumble upon him nine times out of ten while he was with Consort Pang?
Ever since her accidental encounter with Pang Yu at the Pianxian Pavilion, and then her mistakenly drugging her innocent fourth brother with aphrodisiacs in her own palace, Zhao, now experiencing the first stirrings of love, finally understood that such encounters shouldn't be disturbed. If she were doing those shameful yet pleasurable things with a certain scoundrel, and her Emperor brother suddenly entered, she would be furious and ready to punch him!
Who said the little princess was ignorant? Having grasped this, she never disturbed her Emperor brother at night again!
However, this meant his other cousins were in deep trouble. Zhao Yunbi, Zhao Shikai, and Zhao Zonghui, the leading figures in the prince's faction, were busy every night taking turns entertaining Princess Anle, who was out having fun.
Little did the princess know, her cousins, who hadn't yet taken concubines, were doing far more shameful things than her emperor brother!
But tonight, the princess unusually stayed in her palace, taking a bath. Feeling refreshed, she donned a light robe and sat before a bronze mirror. The flowing gauze robe seemed to emit steam, making her cheeks rosy, and a few damp strands of hair at her temples further accentuated her soft skin.
If a month ago she was a snot-nosed, mischievous little baby, then a month later, our unruly little princess was still mischievous and troublesome, but the once innocent and delicate little girl had now become a vibrant, half-mature woman…
Zhao sat in front of the bronze mirror, looking quite adorable, but his unruly expression was anything but.

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