Chapter 78
“Miss, the Prime Minister’s residence has been closed off for an entire day. Those troublemakers outside seem to have tired themselves out. As for the Wang Manor, the decoys we sent were all captured by the prince—every single one of them—and were promptly expelled. Shangguan Ye is indeed formidable, but I worry he might extract information from them that could harm us.”
“Formidable? Hah. Anyone who keeps a hypocrite like Murong Qiufeng by his side can’t be all that impressive. I’m honestly curious how he earned his title as the ‘God of War.’” Song Lige scoffed as she ran a peachwood comb through her hair.
“As for those decoys, even if he doesn’t investigate, he’ll know it was our doing as long as he trusts Murong Qiufeng. If he doesn’t trust him, well, that works in our favor. And even if he figures out our scheme, what evidence does he have? What can he do without proof? If he acts rashly against us, he’ll only tarnish his reputation as an upright and just official. Surely Shangguan Ye wouldn’t ruin his hard-earned fame just to protect Murong Qiufeng.”
“But what if Shangguan Ye decides to deal with us in secret?”
“Then he’d only be proving his guilt. Right now, not only can’t he harm us, but he has to protect us. The chaos we stirred up today caused quite the commotion, and he even ordered arrests from his manor. If something were to happen to us now, it would only further incriminate Murong Qiufeng and damage Shangguan Ye’s reputation. And let’s face it—those who rise to great heights value their reputation more than anything else.”
“Miss, your plan is brilliant! This time, Murong Qiufeng is bound to fall, and I doubt he’ll ever recover.”
“Hmph. People like him deserve to be humiliated, turned into rats that everyone despises. Killing him would be far too merciful.” Song Lige snorted coldly.
“By the way, make arrangements to handle those injured by the zither music at the restaurant earlier. Rough them up a bit more—don’t kill them, but leave them hanging by a thread. Also, send people to the Wang Manor to stir up more trouble. Make it loud and chaotic, enough to set the entire city of Lu ablaze with gossip, so the Emperor himself will be forced to act against Murong Qiufeng. As for the Prime Minister’s residence, keep it surrounded. Have people hurl the vilest insults. Provoke them. If they retaliate, it’ll escalate into a conflict. I want Murong Qiufeng to be completely isolated, abandoned by everyone.”
…
“Your Highness.”
“How did it go?”
“They’re just a bunch of petty thugs hired for money. They don’t know anything else.”
“Hmm.” Shangguan Ye nodded and continued walking forward.
Murong Qiufeng glanced around. The Wang Manor’s dungeon was unlike any other he’d seen. There was no light, only pitch darkness and a suffocating scent of blood. The only illumination came from the flickering flames of the torches.
They arrived at an area where several men were hanging from shackles, their bodies bearing fresh whip marks—evidence of recent torture.
Murong Qiufeng instinctively frowned. Shangguan Ye, as if expecting this reaction, stood beside him and spoke, “These men care for nothing but money. They’ve committed countless petty crimes, spreading harm wherever they go. Such punishment is light compared to their misdeeds. If you had no one to back you today, Murong Qiufeng, someone else would have suffered unjustly, perhaps even losing their entire family. Punishing people like them is not cruelty—it’s saving others. They don’t deserve your pity.”
Murong Qiufeng sighed softly.
“Your Highness, have mercy! We didn’t know! Please spare us!” The bound men wailed at the sight of Shangguan Ye, their faces filled with terror.
Murong Qiufeng studied them. They were all young, none older than twenty.
“No one is born evil, just as no one is born inherently good. Those who commit wrongdoing are not destined to be wicked forever, nor are the virtuous immune to missteps. Perhaps they’ve erred, but this punishment should be enough. Let it serve as a lifelong lesson. Those who survive death understand the value of life. Release them,” Murong Qiufeng said, turning to Shangguan Ye.
It wasn’t just compassion that drove him. He hadn’t witnessed their past misdeeds, nor could he predict their future. All he could see was who they were now. Much like when he saved Shangguan Ye before—despite being targeted by him—he acted on what was before him.
Shangguan Ye raised his hand in silent agreement, without hesitation. “Let them go.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The guards moved to release the prisoners.
The thugs froze in disbelief, then their faces lit up with astonished joy. They stared at Murong Qiufeng in wonder. It was unfathomable to them that Shangguan Ye would heed someone else’s words so readily. They couldn’t help but wonder if this extraordinary man was the famed and virtuous Murong Qiufeng.
For the first time, guilt stirred within them. The man they had sought to harm had forgiven them. His magnanimity weighed on them, filling them with shame.
Murong Qiufeng smiled warmly at them. “You acted on orders, so I won’t hold it against you. But letting you go today doesn’t erase your guilt. Consider this punishment as payment for this offense. However, if it happens again, the consequences will be severe. Debts must be paid, and crimes must be punished. Whether you live honorably or perish is your choice alone.”
With that, he turned and walked away, never once asking who had orchestrated the scheme—because he didn’t need to know.
“Wait! Sir!” One of the young men called out hesitantly. “We never met the person who hired us, but we overheard them mention a wealthy young master—not from Lu City. From his accent, it sounded like he was from the North.”
Murong Qiufeng turned back and gave them a gentle nod. “Thank you.”
Shangguan Ye watched him, his lips curving into a smile. “A prodigal son can always return. It’s never too late.” He turned to the men, leaving the dungeon with Murong Qiufeng, his expression one of quiet pride. He couldn’t help but marvel at Murong Qiufeng’s ability to inspire.
Later that night, the released men were taken to a medical clinic. Along with some medicine and a bag of money, the guards left them a message: “If you’re in this line of work, it doesn’t matter who hired you. Consider this payment for your services.” It was both a warning and an invitation to gather intelligence.
Murong Qiufeng’s actions weren’t driven purely by kindness. He was cautious for Shangguan Ye’s sake. If these men had been executed, their deaths could be used against Shangguan Ye by his enemies. With the schemer’s ultimate goal still unclear, discretion was key.
Unbeknownst to Murong Qiufeng, this single act of mercy would change lives. The money Shangguan Ye had given in Murong Qiufeng’s name became the seed of their future success. They pursued honest livelihoods, eventually becoming prosperous merchants and officials who contributed to the well-being of their communities.
Years later, this group would create a haven known as Maple Leaf City, granted by imperial decree. It would become the peaceful retreat where Murong Qiufeng and Shangguan Ye would find solace in their twilight years.
