Chapter 48: My Failing Lies in Being Unable to Stand Up for My Soldiers

This man was none other than the only non-imperial prince of this dynasty, the Loyal and Righteous King, Wu Hong.

"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty." Wu Hong clasped his hands together in salute.

The crowd that had been clamoring moments before now fell silent, each one closing their mouths. How could they not? The Loyal and Righteous King was someone they dared not provoke. This old man had fought alongside the founding emperor to establish the realm. Even their emperor addressed him as Royal Uncle.

"Royal Uncle, there is no need for formalities. Someone, bring a seat!"

"No need," Wu Hong replied, "I am old but still strong, and can stand with these unruly youngsters. Today, I have come to court to stand up for my little grandson. He resembles me the most and has always been the apple of my eye. To see him beaten like this pains me to death."

No one dared utter a sound.

Pains you to death, does it? You only see your own child injured, yet you do not notice the Third Prince lying prone or the other wounded children.

Xie Yuheng’s eyes brimmed with tears. He gazed excitedly at his grandfather, sitting up straighter as if to say, "At last, you are here." His demeanor had changed entirely; he lifted his chin in pride, as if boasting, "Look! My backing has arrived. What can you do to me now?"

His insolent posture made the others grind their teeth in frustration.

"You, speak. Why is my Yuheng unforgivable? If you cannot explain yourself today, I will break your legs," the old prince barked, glaring at Shen Zhao.

He had heard this youngster say that Yuheng was unforgivable. Was it not merely that he struck a prince? How was that unforgivable? Besides, their boy had reason—he hit the Third Prince because the latter obstructed him from recovering the funds owed to the Capital’s military. Who else should he have struck? That spoiled brat who knew neither right nor wrong!

"Old Prince, allow this junior to explain," Shen Zhao replied sincerely, not daring to be impudent before him. Honesty was her only weapon. "Not only is Yuheng unforgivable, but so am I. Alas... as commander of the Capital Guards, I have failed to provide even a place for my soldiers to stay. They sleep outdoors, with the sky for a blanket and the earth for a bed, hungry and in rags. Many have fallen ill from exposure to the cold. I have led them to hardship, and those who are sick have not even the money to buy medicine."

There are military doctors in the camp, but what use are physicians without medicine? Even food is scarce, let alone medicinal herbs. One young officer sold his family heirloom, a jade pendant, to pay for his men’s treatment, only to be imprisoned by the Capital Prefect for offending a noble. Old Prince, am I not unforgivable?"

As she spoke, she placed her hand on Xie Yuheng’s shoulder.

"Young General Xie is guilty as well. He should not have endured humiliation and been beaten by a mob in order to get back the funds owed to his soldiers. He should not have cared so deeply for those miserable souls, nor should he have clashed with the Third Prince, accidentally injuring him and ending up battered himself. He should not have offended so many noble sons in pursuit of money to save those wretched men.

Yuheng and I are both warriors, and we lack the scheming ways of those others. Yesterday, His Majesty, wise and just, restored the Capital Guards’ pay, but some people only paid one month’s wages, nothing more. Not a word about the proper allowances, not a single coin! All we wanted was for the soldiers to eat, dress warmly, and have shelter—why is that so difficult?

Old Prince, is Yuheng guilty? Guilty of being responsible and compassionate, guilty of offending those he should not offend. That is why I say he is unforgivable."

Those who had just been denouncing Shen Zhao and Xie Yuheng now wished they could gag themselves.

This—this is not confessing guilt, but putting them all on the spot!

The Loyal and Righteous King’s eyes widened, his voice booming like thunder. "So not only are you two guilty, but I am guilty as well! I once followed the High Ancestor Emperor, leading the armies to conquer the land. Who could have imagined that, in barely a dozen years since I left the barracks, our soldiers would be reduced to this state? Our nation is prosperous, its people at peace, yet those who defend them are left hungry, in rags, sleeping on bare ground!"

With those words, he grabbed Shen Zhao and Xie Yuheng, lifting them effortlessly.

"You two are not the ones who should kneel!"

His gaze fixed upon the Ministers of War and Revenue.

The two officials shivered as the old prince’s meaning became clear—they were the ones who should kneel.

They wiped the sweat from their foreheads and stepped forward.

Shen Zhao quickly interjected, "Old Prince, the fault does not lie with these two lords."

Both ministers cast grateful glances at her—at last, someone reasonable.

Shen Zhao extended her hand, pointing at Pang Qingyun and his ilk.

"The plight of the Capital Guards is thanks to Grand Tutor Pang and these literary gentlemen..."

Shen Zhao revealed how Pang Qingyun and others had repeatedly moved to reduce the military’s pay, diverting funds to build poetry academies and book halls for their own profit and pleasure.

The Loyal and Righteous King’s face grew darker with every word. At last, he roared, "Well done, Grand Tutor Pang! Do you truly believe that Great Southern Chu belongs to your clan? Without the soldiers’ struggle and sacrifice, where would your peace and enjoyment come from?"

He jabbed a finger at the ministers kneeling and crying injustice.

"And you lot, bringing your spoiled offspring to court to lodge complaints—shame on you! You use the soldiers’ rations to build academies for your own pleasure, yet you dare block the Capital Guards from reclaiming the profits from Yiyun Academy? After bullying them so, where is your shame?"

He cast a dismissive glance at the Third Prince—a jinx, that one.

"Third Highness, as a prince you should care for the whole realm. Are the Capital Guards not people in your eyes?"

"Loyal and Righteous King, I have been beaten by Xie Yuheng—" The Third Prince, never chastised so harshly, immediately retorted, but was cut off.

"Silence! You deserved it. As a royal, you fail to uphold your duty!"

The Third Prince was furious—how dare this old man silence him!

"You..." he began, but a sharp gaze from the throne made him shut his mouth, looking aggrievedly at his father.

The Loyal and Righteous King turned and addressed the emperor, "Your Majesty, you must stand up for the Capital Guards! For these two youngsters! They are passionate and righteous, unversed in the twisted ways of the old men. Their only crime is lacking ill intentions, caring too much for their soldiers."

The old emperor’s face was ashen.

This was a slap in his face—it was he who had indulged the Crown Prince and the Third Prince in their struggle for control of the Capital Guards. He had not expected their methods to be so ruthless, directly tormenting the soldiers.

He turned to Shen Zhao for confirmation. "Beloved minister, is it true that the Capital Guards sleep on the ground with no shelter?"

He glanced coldly at the Third Prince, who was feigning death on a stretcher.

"Your Majesty, my words are true. There are four thousand men without a place to stay. I beg Your Majesty to grant them shelter, even a thatched hut would suffice." Shen Zhao knelt again before the emperor.

This time, without prompting, Xie Yuheng knelt as well.

"Outrageous! The soldiers of Great Southern Chu are without shelter? My ministers, you are truly loyal subjects—loyal subjects, indeed!"

The ministers broke out in a cold sweat, hastening to kneel, crying out in unison, "Your Majesty, forgive us! We are guilty!"