Chapter 59

After Ning Shouli returned to his residence, the steward reported that an honored guest had arrived and was waiting for him in secret in the rear courtyard.

Ning Shouli hurried there. When Tushan Ze saw him, concern crossed his face, and he quickly rose to his feet.

“I just learned of General Ning’s predicament, and I was deeply worried. Please forgive me for coming without notice.”

“I have always held the Ning family in the highest regard. If not for your protection of Yan Chi’s borders, the land would likely have long since been trampled beneath the Xiongnu’s hooves. There must be more to this matter. I absolutely do not believe General Ning would betray his country!”

His words were earnest and beautifully phrased. Even though Ning Shouli knew the other man had ulterior motives, he could not help but be moved.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Tushan Ze continued, “Knowing His Majesty as I do, I’m certain he would never exchange Longcheng for the life of a single general. But General Ning has made so many contributions to Yan Chi. I cannot bear to see him die at the hands of the Xiongnu, nor can I bear to see the loyal Ning family’s line end here!”

Ning Shouli gave a bitter smile. “Your Highness, my son has already fallen into the hands of the Xiongnu. They must be guarding him heavily…”

Tushan Ze stepped forward and took Ning Shouli’s hand, his expression solemn. “Old General Ning, if you are willing to trust me and lend me your assistance, I will do everything in my power to bring General Ning back!”

Ning Shouli met his seemingly sincere gaze head-on.

He ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍knew that Prince Ze was ambitious. Once the most favored of the princes, he had an entire group of former court officials under his banner. How could he possibly lack influence?

If Prince Ze was willing to help him, Jiang’er might truly be saved.

But that would mean the Ning family would completely abandon its neutral position and throw itself into Prince Ze’s camp, becoming embroiled in the murky struggle between factions.

Jiang’er…

But Jiang’er was the last male heir of the Ning family! Ning Shouli had not even dared tell his wife the news, afraid she would faint from the shock.

Tushan Ze continued in an earnest tone, “Old General Ning, if even you refuse to find a way to save General Ning, then he truly will be trapped in enemy territory with no hope of escape!”

Those words were the final straw, crushing the last of Ning Shouli’s resolve. He wavered completely.

“Prince Ze, I…”

But at that moment, his daughter’s words suddenly echoed in his ears.

Ning Shouli gritted his teeth. After a moment of struggle, he finally cupped his hands toward Tushan Ze and said, “Thank you, Your Highness, for believing in the Ning family. I would like to wait until His Majesty makes his decision tomorrow before considering our next course of action.”

Tushan Ze’s expression stiffened for an instant before he forced out a smile. “Of course. Then I shall await Old General Ning’s answer tomorrow.”

The moment he turned around, Tushan Ze’s expression turned cold. The apprehension in his heart was nearly swallowing him whole.

Tu Shanjin, how is it that you have won the hearts of the court to such an extent?

This cannot continue!

The eastern sky had just begun to pale. A fierce wind swept through the imperial palace, whipping Yun Yaoyao’s dragon robes behind her as she strode toward Xuanzheng Palace.

The resentment she had once felt toward the early morning court sessions was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she was brimming with energy.

Because today, there was a battle of insults to be fought!

Yun Yaoyao had barely settled onto the imperial throne, before she had even warmed the seat, when the officials’ remonstrances came flying at her like a blizzard.

“Your Majesty, the Xiongnu are currently eyeing Longcheng hungrily. You must dispatch a new general to take command there!”

“Your Majesty, with two cities lost and the general captured, General Ning bears grave responsibility and is strongly suspected of treason. I suggest that General Ning’s military rank be stripped immediately!”

“Your Majesty, General Ning’s situation is highly sensitive, while his father, Ning Shangshu, is the Minister of War and oversees the appointment of military officials. Given the current circumstances, I suggest that Ning Shangshu be temporarily relieved of his post. A decision can be made after the matter concerning General Ning has been thoroughly investigated.”

“Your Majesty…”

Some of the officials were offering sincere advice. Others were taking advantage of the chaos, muddying the waters for their own benefit.

How dare they!

When it came to people like this, Yun Yaoyao would tear into them one by one—or take on an entire group at once!

“General Ning is strongly suspected of treason? Lord Liang, it seems you understand and are deeply concerned about the fighting at the border. I am very pleased. Then I shall send you there as military inspector. If anything happens to Longcheng, I will hold you personally responsible!”

“Temporarily remove the Minister of War from office? Then who will handle the Ministry of War’s affairs? You? And why are you shaking your head? I can see exactly what you’re plotting!”

“Losing two cities at the border is shameful enough. Now you’re causing internal strife in court as well. You’re making the entire kingdom a laughingstock!”

Yun Yaoyao’s gaze then fell on an official standing near the front. He had a kindly face and a gentle smile, but every one of the barbed attacks against the Ning family had come from his mouth.

“Minister Du, you’re so determined to target the Ning family. How come I never saw anyone from the Du family take the battlefield when it was time to fight? You’re happy to take the meat from the bowl, but the moment you put down your chopsticks, you start cursing the cook!”

So what if he was the Minister of Personnel? She was still the Son of Heaven. If someone deserved a dressing-down, she would give it to them!

Seeing that His Majesty had made her position clear, Zhou Siren and the others, who had remained silent until then, immediately joined the battle.

Di Shunzhi and Lin Qingti, the two cultured masters of verbal abuse, twisted all kinds of historical references into elegant insults. Zhou Siren, already burning with frustration after suffering from severe constipation lately, used the opportunity to vent all his pent-up anger.

Then there was Gao Chongguang, whose foul mouth was so vicious it made people’s hearts tremble. He went straight for everyone’s sorest spots.

Before long, Xuanzheng Palace fell silent. One after another, the officials decided they did not dare provoke the emperor’s army of sharp tongues.

Seeing this, Yun Yaoyao swept her frigid gaze across the assembled officials and declared solemnly, “I have already made my decision.”

Yun Yaoyao named several men whom Tu Shanjin had arranged in advance. “The general stationed at Longcheng will be General Long. The military inspector will be…”

“The Xiongnu have given us half a month. As for the truth behind the loss of two cities in a single night, I will uncover it!”

“Until the truth is known, I will find a way to preserve General Ning’s life. I will not allow any general who has spent his entire life fighting for the kingdom to feel betrayed and abandoned!”

“From this day forward, anyone who dares speak recklessly about this matter will have his entire clan exiled to Lingnan to dig for wild vegetables!”

A capable ruler also needed to go mad from time to time in order to keep the court in awe.

This threat of sending entire clans to dig for wild vegetables proved remarkably effective. The officials fell silent as cicadas in winter, no longer daring to make a sound.

His Majesty had made his position clear. Before the matter was fully investigated, he was determined to protect the Ning family.

Without conclusive evidence, there was nothing these officials could do, no matter how much more chaos they wished to stir up.

One by one, they obediently agreed and shouted, “His Majesty is wise!”

Among the officials, Ning Shouli stared at the sovereign on the throne in disbelief.

Before the morning court session, he had imagined many possible outcomes.

Perhaps His Majesty would follow the suggestions of the petty officials and use the opportunity to pressure him into surrendering his post, thereby bringing the Ministry of War under imperial control.

Perhaps His Majesty would remain neutral, neither involving himself in Jiang’er’s capture nor putting pressure on the Ning family, choosing instead to await the truth before making a decision.

But he had never imagined this possibility.

His Majesty had firmly taken the Ning family’s side—and had even said that he would protect Jiang’er’s life!

That recognition, that trust, caused the heart that had been cold for years to begin beating fiercely once more.

As a court official, as a military commander, who among them had not engraved the belief of “loyalty to the sovereign and protection of the kingdom” into their very hearts?

It was only after being discarded time and again, after suffering repeatedly beneath suspicion and mistrust, that their passion had slowly been worn away, leaving nothing but disappointment.

Tears glimmered in Ning Shouli’s eyes as he made his decision in silence.

Your Majesty, if you truly trust the Ning family, and if you can truly preserve Jiang’er’s life—

Then Ning Shouli, and the entire Ning family, are willing to serve at your command!