"Do you think my father will be saddened that Third Brother is now crippled? To tell you the truth, when the prison carriage carrying Third Brother passed by just now, I did feel a touch of sorrow. But let me tell you, *he* won’t. He absolutely won’t!
He will be thrilled. He will be very proud. He will deem it worth it!
Do you know why Lord Jingnan stubbornly defied the Imperial Edict and insisted on crippling one of father’s sons?"
"Your servant knows nothing, your servant knows nothing."
"It’s because Lord Jingnan harbors resentment; he feels a deep sense of imbalance. If he doesn’t use some pretext to cripple one of father’s sons, his heart will never be at peace!
father knew this. That’s why he only sent Wei Zhonghe to deliver the Imperial Edict, without allowing him to bring any forces. Moreover, he deliberately delayed it. father didn’t issue the edict when Lord Jingnan entered the capital, nor when Lord Jingnan arrived at the prince’s residence, nor when Lord Jingnan was questioning my Second Prince. Instead, the edict arrived precisely when my Third Brother was exposed!"
The Sixth Prince’s face began to contort.
"How can he call us sons? How can he call us sons? We are clearly just bargaining chips in his hands, cards he can play! As long as he thinks it’s worth it, as long as he deems it appropriate, he won’t hesitate to play us, to discard us! This is, this is... my good father!!!"
Sitting on horseback, Zheng Fan felt somewhat dazed.
From time to time, his personal guards around him would glance at him. If, on the way here, they looked at him with admiration because Zheng Fan had once rampaged through the Qian State, conquering cities with only a few hundred cavalry—something soldiers would instinctively respect—now, they were genuinely... afraid.
This was a man ruthless enough to break the limbs of a prince!
Zheng Fan felt a bit lightheaded, like he’d had too much to drink and it had gone to his head. Damn it, did I really cripple a prince? How could I do something so brutal? That’s not my style at all. Of course, what he thought about more was, what should he do next? Either continue to cling to Lord Jingnan’s thigh, or, after returning, pack up everything from Green Willow Fortress and just flee. The Qian State is out of the question. What about the Jin State? No, that’s too close to the Yan State. Then the Chu State? That’s a bit too far... Zheng Fan’s current state of mind was akin to the dread that sets in after a moment of exhilaration—the fear of facing the consequences. Alas... But after I delivered the final blow with the scabbard, Lord Jingnan turned and left. This meant Lord Jingnan desired this outcome. And my actions, compared to killing the Third Prince, seemed to satisfy Lord Jingnan even more. I need to find a way to contact Siniang and A Ming, who came to the capital with me, and have them quickly send word of this back.
Just then, the column of troops, which had already exited the city, suddenly halted. Zheng Fan, snapping out of his thoughts, immediately reined in his horse.
He had been somewhat lost in his muddled thoughts, but now he realized there was an estate wall before him—white walls with green-tiled roofs. From the outside, he could glimpse water pavilions and terraces within, and even see butterflies fluttering about.
This was an extremely rare, almost impossible sight in the depths of winter.
Ahead of their column, on the wide avenue specially constructed before the entrance of this grand and imposing residence, a dark mass of people was kneeling.
However, these people were not kneeling for Lord Jingnan; by his order, the Jingnan Army contingent had halted a good distance away.
And ahead of Zheng Fan and his men, there was another procession.
In the center of this procession was an imperial palanquin, borne by eighteen carriers at the front and another eighteen at the back.
Flanking the imperial palanquin were nearly a hundred palace maids. Further out, an escort of five hundred Imperial Guards carried ceremonial regalia. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⚫𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⚫𝘯𝘦𝘵
These Imperial Guards were all tall and imposing, but they carried not weapons for combat, but rather symbolic ’decorations,’ somewhat akin to the ceremonial guards of later ages.
Indeed, it was a truly grand spectacle.
Only then did Zheng Fan recall: today was the day Her Majesty the Empress was returning to her parental home for a visit.
For ordinary women married into common families, visiting their parental homes from time to time was quite normal. But for a woman who had entered the palace, returning home for a visit was exceedingly difficult.
Lord Jingnan, seemingly unwilling for his troops to disturb the solemn atmosphere ahead, had ordered them to halt. As he himself had not removed his armor, he also did not step forward to greet his own elder sister on her visit home.
People from the residence came out a few times, spoke briefly with Lord Jingnan at the head of his column, and then quickly departed. Evidently, the patriarch of the Tian Clan also approved of Lord Jingnan’s decision.
The formal ceremonies were underway over there. The Empress visiting her parental home was an immense honor, and absolutely no mishaps could be tolerated. Her brother and sister could meet and converse once she had entered the residence; there was no need to rush this.
Perhaps this was also due to a local custom or superstition: on days of major celebrations and rites, the presence of weapons was highly taboo, as it signified misfortune.
Before the imperial palanquin, attendants formed ring upon ring. Eunuchs and palace maids, each holding their designated ceremonial items, waited nearby in perfect order.
Under the direction and planning of the Vice-Ministers of the Ministry of Rites, once all the rituals involving incense tables, candles, and the like were completed, the two Vice-Ministers withdrew, and the guards at the front parted.
A bolt of silk brocade was unrolled from the steps of the imperial palanquin, stretching out long and unbroken, all the way to the assembled members of the Tian Clan who were prostrated on the ground before it.
Next, according to protocol, the Tian Clan was to select an elder of high prestige and moral standing to come forward. This elder, observing the etiquette befitting a subject, would then formally invite Her Majesty the Empress into the residence.
The Tian Clan Patriarch had just celebrated his seventieth birthday, but his constitution remained robust. Supported by his two younger adult sons, he stepped onto the silk brocade path.