In the end, Xiao Linye couldn’t bear to let Lü Juwen and the Zhaojiang men burn to death in the Brocade Tower. Before the entire structure collapsed, he sent people to rescue them.
As for their crimes, even though Lü Juwen had burned the accounts for this transaction while trapped upstairs, Xiao Linye, the Great Qi emperor himself, had witnessed the events firsthand. Moreover, Song Pingming later led men to raid the Lü Family residence, uncovering correspondence and other financial records that provided irrefutable evidence.
Lü Juwen, utterly defeated, knew he had committed treasonous acts by colluding with the enemy. He begged for his mother’s life to be spared and confessed everything: how he had “governed” Duzhou over the years and how he had contacted the Zhaojiang people.
Xiao Linye and Pei Lanqing sat in the main hall, listening with furrowed brows. Xiao Linye immediately sentenced Lü Juwen to be beheaded. Once all those trapped in the mountains had been rescued, the execution was carried out before their eyes.
The Zhaojiang men were subjected to severe torture until they confessed to using Xuanjin trade over the past few years to amass wealth for the Zhaojiang army.
Thus, while the Duzhou case appeared closed on the surface, it had actually unleashed a far greater disaster.
Prince Zhaojiang’s rebellious intentions were now undeniable, and war could erupt at any moment.
Xiao Linye and Pei Lanqing immediately decided not to return to Fan City. Instead, they ordered the officials stationed there to come to Duzhou. After the two parties had joined forces, they would continue south.
Over a dozen days later, the First Brocade Pavilion of the World, once the most magnificent establishment in the land, had been reduced to rubble. The surrounding streets, once eerily deserted, were finally coming back to life.
Shops that had been closed for years reopened, their signs freshly hung. Scattered vendors began to appear on the streets, and the long-terrified common folk of Duzhou City could finally live in peace.
After consulting with Pei Lanqing, Xiao Linye issued a series of lenient policies, abolishing various miscellaneous taxes and encouraging merchants to return to Duzhou.
Gradually, this once-dead city began to revive.
++++++
“Brother Chi, I want to go over there, over there!”
Xiao Linye and Pei Lanqing had been busy with affairs in Duzhou for several weeks. On the eve of their departure, it happened to be the local Autumn Festival.
After more than half a month of rest and recovery, the night market in Duzhou City had gradually flourished. Xiao Linye thought, since they had nothing else to do, they might as well take Pei Lanqing and Quan’er out for a stroll. This would allow them to experience the local customs and also assess the fruits of their recent efforts.
Quan’er, having grown up in the palace and been carefully nurtured due to his delicate health, had never witnessed such a lively and ordinary scene among the common people.
He immediately grabbed Song Liechi’s hand and ran wild through the market, marveling at everything he saw and wanting everything he saw.
Xiao Linye wanted him to experience the most authentic aspects of civilian life. With Song Liechi’s care and the secret surveillance of their personal guards, he didn’t restrict Xiao Yuquan much, letting him run around as he pleased.
Pei Lanqing agreed wholeheartedly. Seeing Quan’er so happy was a rare sight, so he and Xiao Linye simply watched from a distance, enjoying the spectacle.
“Tired?” Xiao Linye asked, his hand resting on Pei Lanqing’s waist. While a stroll was good, Pei Lanqing’s pregnancy was progressing, and his body was growing heavier. Xiao Linye lowered his head, his expression anxious. “Shall we find a teahouse to rest?”
Pei Lanqing simply smiled, shaking his head as he tugged at Xiao Linye’s hand. “We’ve only been walking for a little while. I’m not tired at all.”
“I haven’t wandered through this night market in ages. Ye’er, stay with me a little longer.”
Xiao Linye sighed, kissing his forehead helplessly. “Alright. But Grand Tutor, please tell me the moment you feel tired.”
And so, hand in hand, they strolled through the bustling night market, its air thick with the scent of fireworks and street food.
Still reeling from the disastrous policies of the past few years, Duzhou’s market offerings were rather limited, mostly silk textiles. However, many of the crafts were exquisitely made.
As they passed a stall, Xiao Linye picked up a red satin pouch embroidered with a boy holding a carp and presented it to Pei Lanqing. “This is more creative than anything embroidered in the palace. Shall we buy it? We can fill it with the baby’s first haircut clippings when he turns one month old.”
Pei Lanqing looked at the pouch and found it quite charming, but he shook his head. Just as Xiao Linye was puzzled, he saw Pei Lanqing pick up an identical pouch from the stall and place it in Xiao Linye’s hand as well.
“Grand Tutor, this is… Quan’er used a palace pouch before. Are you planning to get him a new one?” Xiao Linye assumed Pei Lanqing was worried about favoritism.
But Pei Lanqing shook his head again, took Xiao Linye’s hand, and placed it on his own belly, which was noticeably larger than that of a typical pregnant woman. With a smile, he said, “A few days ago, Imperial Physician Feng came to check my pulse and told me… that my belly is slightly larger because I’m carrying twins.”
“Really?” Xiao Linye was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed. He couldn’t help but cradle Pei Lanqing’s belly with both hands, his touch incredibly gentle. But then worry clouded his face. “Can your body handle it, Grand Tutor? What about the delivery?”
Pei Lanqing pressed a fingertip to Xiao Linye’s lips, leaned his head lightly against his shoulder, and soothed him in a soft voice. “Imperial Physician Feng said my body is in excellent condition this time. As long as I take care to rest and nurture the pregnancy, it won’t be as difficult as last time.”
Xiao Linye still felt uneasy. He secretly resolved to consult the imperial physicians privately, ensuring they were fully prepared. On the surface, however, he didn’t want to spoil Pei Lanqing’s mood. He smiled, embraced him, and showered him with kisses. “Alright, I’ll take good care of you both these days.”
At that moment, Xiao Yuquan, who had been playing with Song Liechi ahead, discovered something fascinating and called out to them loudly.
Xiao Linye and Pei Lanqing exchanged a smile. After purchasing the two pouches, Xiao Linye became even more attentive, supporting Pei Lanqing’s body as they walked towards Xiao Yuquan.
Their figures gradually faded into the crowd. Behind them, in an unnoticed, filthy alleyway, a man with disheveled hair and tattered clothes, under the watchful eyes of constables, was shackled and forced to clean up the foul-smelling garbage.
This was none other than Lü Weibao, the once-arrogant Young Master Lü who had terrorized Duzhou City. After the Lü Family was charged and their home seized, Xiao Linye had personally intervened on behalf of Young Master Lü. He discovered that while Lü Weibao had used his family’s status to cause trouble in Duzhou over the years, he had never actually killed anyone.
After careful consideration, Xiao Linye decided to sentence Lü Weibao to ten years of hard labor in Duzhou City to atone for his past crimes.
However, Lü Weibao had been pampered since childhood and had never done such work before. Within days, his palms were rubbed raw, leaving not a single patch of good skin. Yet today, with the city celebrating a festival, he was forced to come out and sweep the streets.
Just as he was utterly exhausted, he happened to see Xiao Linye and Pei Lanqing walking arm in arm before him. Their affectionate display burned into his memory, and a wave of bitterness surged through his heart.
Suddenly, resentment and fury welled up within him. He wanted to rush into the street and hurl the filthy trash in his hands onto them, so they would be as stinking and disheveled as he was. He wanted to see if “Sixth Brother Qin” would still dare to kiss them then!
But as he lifted his foot, he forgot about the shackles on his ankle and tripped, crashing heavily to the ground. Instead of defiling them, he ended up rolling in the dirt himself.
Lü Weibao pounded the ground in helpless rage, while Xiao Linye and Pei Lanqing, far in the distance, would never notice his existence—not then, not ever.
Their paths would never cross again. The two continued to walk arm in arm, laughing and chatting as they headed toward the livelier streets.
