Chapter 98: Showdown ◇

◎Has Hua'er triumphed, or has the Third Prince emerged victorious?◎

Zhu Ying was ecstatic. He was certain that his master, Hua Ji, would become the emperor by conquering the imperial city! He immediately prepared to leave the city and return to Shangyixiang Village to inform Lord Hou, Lady Hou, and the others of this earth-shattering news.

Especially Lady Hou, who had been kept in the dark for so long about her master's survival. Zhu Ying felt a twinge of guilt for not telling her the truth, witnessing her pain and longing without revealing the truth. Now, he could finally share the good news!

However, just as he rode to the city gates, he found them shut tight. Soldiers, now dressed in civilian clothing, guarded the entrance, forbidding anyone from entering or exiting.

When Zhu Ying approached them for information, they ignored him, urging him to leave quickly and not hinder their official duties, warning that he might be mistaken for a criminal and thrown into prison. Confused, Zhu Ying asked, "Didn't you hear? The imperial city has fallen, and the throne has changed hands. Whose emperor are you serving now?" The soldier brushed off his plain clothes and said, "Can't you see? We've shed our old uniforms. From now on, we're soldiers of the new dynasty and the new emperor... Who are you? Scram!"

After bribing the soldier with silver, Zhu Ying learned that after the city fell, the dog emperor, accompanied by Concubine Chen and their son, had escaped through a secret tunnel. All the surrendered cities were now under martial law, preparing to capture the trio and present them as a gift to the new emperor.

Thus, the city gates were sealed, allowing no one to enter or leave.

Zhu Ying: "..." How was he supposed to deliver the joyful news now? Lord Hou, Lady Hou, and even the matriarch were waiting for him!

Inappropriately, Zhu Ying thought that soon, they would become the Grand Empress Dowager, Empress, and Imperial Grandmother... Rubbing his chin, he felt content, believing that although he hadn't fought on the battlefield for his master, he had protected the master's family. Though he hadn't earned any great achievements, he had certainly put in the effort. Surely, he could at least be rewarded with a general's title?

If Zhu Ying were aware that his master had, after much deliberation, appointed him the position of Grand Eunuch, he would undoubtedly have fainted. His beloved young madam had also remained silent, not speaking up for him in the matter of hiding the truth about her husband still being alive.

...

At this moment, the folks in Shangyi Village were still unaware of the change in the ruling dynasty. The return of the children was a mix of joy and sorrow; those whose sons had been drafted the previous year had not seen them come back – were they already dead on the battlefield?

Widow Zhao wept incessantly until Yu Lian sent her twins to inform her that Hua Tianqu was not dead. He had been rescued by their family's hero, Zhu Ying, and would return when the political situation stabilized. Only then did she find some solace.

In the Hua household, they were in distress. They had spontaneously given away two hundred acres of land in the morning, only to have all the conscripted villagers released in the afternoon. Hadn't they just given it away for nothing?

In the morning, the twins were also absorbed in the idea that their sister-in-law truly loved them, as evidenced by her willingness to give up such vast lands for their sake. They felt they didn't deserve it and, in the afternoon, insisted on finding their father to reclaim the land at the county office.

Hua Zhan, complying with his sons' request, armed himself and headed to the government office, only to find it deserted. Not a single official, from the county magistrate to the clerks and constables, was present. It was as if they had all collectively abandoned their duties.

Observing the town's streets, life seemed to proceed as usual. Despite the hardships of the past two famine years, people still managed to secure their basic necessities. The grocery stores in the town were open, and vendors selling vegetables and steamed buns called out to customers, inviting them to try their plump, white buns.

Hua Zhan took out a handful of copper coins, purchased ten buns, and gave one each to his two sons. The remaining buns were meant for their grandmother, sister-in-law, and mother back home.

The three of them inquired around but heard no substantial news. Some joked that perhaps the county magistrate had fled, anticipating the fierce battles above to eventually reach their doorstep. With the situation so dire, why wouldn't he run now?

Hua Zhan knitted his brows. After years of diligent study in harsh conditions, he had finally passed the imperial examinations and become the county magistrate. Unless circumstances were utterly dire, a magistrate would never flee. Should he run now, not only would his position be lost, but his life would be in jeopardy as well.

Intent on returning, he was held back by his twin sons, who insisted on searching for their sister-in-law's land. They clung to their father's hand, refusing to let him leave.

All three men were skilled in martial arts, and the boys had learned some basic agility techniques from their master. While they couldn't exactly fly like birds or scale walls effortlessly, climbing over one was certainly within their capabilities.

They pulled their father to the foot of the county office wall and leaped up first, turning to look at him. "We'll go over and have a look. We'll find our sister-in-law's deed; it must be there."

With that, they jumped down into action.

Hua Zhan: "..."

After climbing over the wall, Hua Zhan found that there was not a single person inside the county yamen, not even the cleaning servants or old nannies. He began to realize that something might have truly gone wrong!

The two young men dashed into the county office and rummaged through the documents and chests on the desk. Eventually, they discovered a stack of land deeds – all evidence of exploiting the common folk. Hua Xing picked out two, which detailed his sister-in-law's two hundred acres of land. His eyes gleamed with an idea; he felt that taking just two deeds was insufficient. Since this corrupt official had amassed so much, Hua Xing decided to take them back. Even if he didn't keep them for himself, he could distribute them among the famine-stricken villagers in Shancun as a form of divine retribution, robbing the rich to help the poor.

Yet Hua Yan held back his brother's hand, shaking his head disapprovingly. "Just take what belongs to us. Taking more would be stealing - how would that make us any different from that corrupt official?"

Hua Xing was unconvinced, feeling that his second brother had somehow also adopted those conventional and rigid ways. He disclosed his intentions, and the two brothers sought their father's judgment on the matter.

Hua Zhan observed the two boys engrossed in their endless bickering over such trifles, devoid of the keen perception they should possess. He let out a sigh.

If it were the eldest son, he would have sensed something amiss long ago and never allowed his focus to be distracted by insignificant matters like these.

He scolded them equally, "Firstly, these land deeds were undoubtedly plundered from ordinary citizens by corrupt officials. If you take them to aid the famine victims, won't the original owners be deprived? Giving to one side means denying the other. Xing'er, you've wronged one party – this is not doing good, but recklessness and stubbornness!

"Secondly, these land deeds are assets. The fact that the officials didn't manage to take them before disappearing suggests a major incident has occurred. You failed to perceive the danger and are still quarreling over trivialities – how foolish!"

The two young lads turned crimson with embarrassment and stammered, "Father, we understand our mistake."

"What should we do now?"

"Father, the county magistrate has fled. What will happen to the common folk here?"

This was not a time of peace and prosperity. There were numerous disaster-stricken refugees from outside, and chaos reigned throughout the county. Accidents occurred frequently, usually requiring the presence of officials and their patrols to maintain order. Now that those responsible had deserted their posts, who would ensure the safety and stability of the people?

Hua Zhan was about to remark that it was none of their concern, but...

Yet, she held back her words. The two boys were still young and possessed pure hearts filled with concern for their country and its people. It wouldn't be right to restrict them with the notion that commoners, devoid of power and influence, should mind their own business.

After a moment of contemplation, he began searching the table and cabinets with the two children, seeking clues as to what could have prompted the county magistrate to flee in such haste.

Hua Yan suddenly cried out, "Father, look!"

Hua Zhan approached and discovered it was a partially burned letter. The beginning was destroyed by the flames and thus unreadable, but the latter half of the page, miraculously spared from the fire, bore two characters: "...save the emperor!"

Saving the emperor? What kind of rescue would require the use of the term "saving the emperor"? Only the current emperor would be worthy of such a description.

Hua Zhan abruptly rose to his feet, his expression grave.

Could it be that the emperor has reached a desperate situation, with the imperial city under siege? Only in such circumstances would he widely dispatch royal rescue decrees. Considering the distance between here and the imperial city, even the fastest carrier pigeon would take at least seven or eight days. Does that mean the city was on the verge of collapse seven or eight days ago?

And now? What is the current state??

Has the emperor managed to recover, preserving both the capital and his throne, or has he already...

Hua Zhan clenched his fists, thinking of Hua'er...

Uncertain of the fate of his eldest son, in this state of affairs, among all the rebel armies that now rise across the land, only Hua'er's forces possess the strength to lay siege to the Imperial City. He and the Third Prince have finally reached the point where they must confront each other on the battlefield, to determine the ultimate victor...

After so many days, who has emerged victorious between them? His fingers clenched tighter, turning a bluish-white, while his eyes glistened with red veins, revealing an intense emotion beneath.

He was well aware that, once the decisive battle commenced, one of them would inevitably meet their end.

Defeat in battle would come at the cost of one's life.

This was why Hua'er refused to disclose her survival to anyone in her family. Calculating the time, if it was Hua'er who had laid siege to the imperial city, with so many days having passed, the battle should have already begun.

Has Hua'er emerged victorious, or has the Third Prince claimed the triumph?

Despite his unwavering faith in his eldest son, Hua Zhan could not definitively predict the outcome without concrete news. In his past understanding, altering the course of dynasties was an immensely challenging endeavor. Even if an empire had grown corrupt and the world was in turmoil, overthrowing it was by no means a simple task.

The Third Prince, by virtue of his lineage, is the rightful heir. Hua'er's army, though named a rebellion, is indeed a force in defiance. Numerous conservative elders stubbornly label him a traitor. No matter how wayward the emperor may be, they are willing to serve under him, for that is the advantage of being the legitimate successor.

That was why, back when he and Hua'er were feared by the old emperor, when they plotted rebellion, they did so under the banner of a royal descendant. As long as they held the reins of power, it made no difference to them as father and son who sat on the imperial throne.

The Seventh Prince is foolish, overly ambitious, and utterly devoid of knowledge. He's the perfect puppet for manipulation, yet who could have foreseen that this dullard would turn against us at the eleventh hour...

Just as this thought crossed his mind, both of his sleeves were tugged by his two sons. "Father, what are you thinking about?"

Hua Zhan shook his head and sighed. "I'm thinking about your eldest brother."

"Father, don't think about it anymore. Eldest Brother has been gone for so long, he must have reincarnated by now. With how clever he was, he would surely choose a wealthy and noble family to be born into. Perhaps he's already been reborn as a prince and will become the Emperor one day!"

Hua Zhan: "..."