Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 92

Late at night, the rain ceased on the eve of the Three Temples’ trial.

At the Imperial Bodyguards’ quarters, Qin Suizhi rubbed his shoulders, preparing to conclude his duty and return home.

A fire erupted in the Mount Li hunting grounds, startling both beasts and steeds. The emperor was injured while rescuing the Mongolian Second Prince from a fall. Chaos reigned in the eastern hunting grounds. After the blaze subsided, Qin Suizhi had been tirelessly guarding the emperor’s safety by Commander Lu’s side.

Rushing back to the capital, faced with immediate duty, he realized he hadn’t been home for several days…

Qin Suizhi had just risen when Lu Ze entered, observing him and asking, “Are you preparing to return home?”

Qin Suizhi responded promptly, “Yes, but no rush. Do you have any orders, sir?”

Looking at the young man before him, Lu Ze spoke calmly, “Ziyou, come with me to the Ministry of Justice. Lord Xue sent a confidential message to me. Tomorrow’s trial at the Three Temples involves matters concerning the Qin family.”

At those words, Qin Suizhi couldn’t help but feel stunned.

The trial at the Three Temples.

Wasn’t that related to the Su family’s rebellion from four years ago? How could it implicate the Qin family?

With some matters best left unspoken, Lu Ze sighed, “Let’s head there first and discuss along the way.”

Qin Suizhi nodded in bewilderment.

As night enveloped them, Lu Ze and Qin Suizhi rode horses to the depths of the Ministry of Justice. The further they went underground, the stronger the damp, putrid scent of decay and death became.

They halted in front of an interrogation chamber. Qin Suizhi saw Xue Xiangyang, the Minister of Justice, and the coroner Wu Xu.

After exchanging courtesies, Xue Xiangyang turned the lock. The chamber creaked open, and by the intermittent silver light from outside, Qin Suizhi glimpsed a stranger’s corpse lying horizontally on the ground.

Xue Xiangyang said, “We’ve summoned Lord Qin today for a notification.”

Qin Suizhi felt a sudden unease but remained composed. “Please, my lord, go ahead.”

Xue Xiangyang continued, “Your father, Qin Wang, was killed by Dantai Yi, the Imperial Tutor of Qi, recently. Due to the passage of time, his remains are untraceable.”

Qin Suizhi was taken aback, exhaling deeply. He explained, “My lord, there might be a misunderstanding. Last month, during the hunting expedition, my father oversaw the astronomical records and accompanied the imperial family to Mount Li.”

Xue Xiangyang lifted a nearby candlestick, illuminating two stacks of documents and a human-skin mask on the table. “The stack on the right contains testimonies for tomorrow’s trial at the Three Temples. The left stack is confidential. Lord Qin, you’re to review all of these tonight.”

Qin Suizhi glanced back at Lu Ze, who nodded with a furrowed brow. His pupils twitched slightly, sensing an ominous premonition.

Approaching the table, he picked up the documents and began to read slowly.

As candles flickered and time passed with each drop from the hourglass, Qin Suizhi finished reading the testimonies on the right. He then picked up the autopsy report from the left stack, detailing measurements nearly identical to those of Dantai Yi and Qin Wang, along with fabricated shoulder width and foot length.

His throat tightened faintly, feeling as if everything before him was part of a grand illusion.

“Due to Dantai Yi’s unpublicized demise, your father’s epitaph will be altered to honor his sacrifice in rescuing the emperor,” Xue Xiangyang said, taking the imperial decree. His tone shifted, “Lord Qin, here is the decree.”

Qin Suizhi, bewildered, gasped for air and staggered to his knees.

“In recognition of Qin Wang’s valor in protecting the emperor, he is posthumously bestowed the title of Count of Cheng’en. His tomb shall be erected at Mount Qingyu.”

Mount Qingyu had always held a special significance. Battles led to victories during the Great Zhou’s rise, except for the tragic losses at the Liang River. Unlike land battles, naval warfare meant risking all; once fallen, only remnants remained. Regardless of achievements, they could only be laid to rest in ceremonial garb.

Those interred at Mount Qingyu were loyal martyrs. Erecting a stele there signified the utmost honor after grief.

Qin Suizhi bowed deeply, his forehead touching the ground. “I humbly thank His Majesty for this grace.”

Xue Xiangyang said, “These confidential documents are weighty. After reviewing them, Lord Qin, speak not of them to others.”

Qin Suizhi, his voice hoarse, replied, “Thank you for your guidance, my lord. I understand.”

Su Huai’an had prepared for this trial for too long. Even the coroner who examined the Duke of Zhen was brought to the court. With all the testimonies and evidence gathered, there was no need for lengthy deliberation; the case was swiftly concluded.

The wrongful case was overturned. The emperor issued a decree to absolve the guilt, then proposed an edict to restore the Su family’s title. The son of a former criminal was suddenly transformed into the Duke of Zhen of the Great Zhou.

The long-awaited truth, arriving four years late, evoked sighs across the court and among the people.

The fleeting sympathy of the world soon faded away. As time passed, fewer cared whether the souls under these accolades truly found justice.

After the heavy rain, the sky turned clear and bright. The scent of damp earth lingered in the air, and the wind rustled through the woods.

Upon the final closure of the Dali Temple, Mount Qingyu saw several new steles. Qin Suizhi buried his father’s official robes, kneeling to carve words onto a stone monument.

As a palace concubine, Qin Ling couldn’t mourn openly and only wore a white gown to signify her grief. She held Qin Rong’s hand beside her.

Qin Suizhi respectfully offered wine, and Qin Rong collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably. Sobs rose, one after another, echoing higher and higher.

Qin Wang’s passing indeed affected Qin Rong. After all, Qin Wang genuinely cared for her. Putting aside his favoritism of Jiang Lanyue, Qin Wang’s heart was always in the courtyard where Qin Rong lived. She received immense affection even though she was just a concubine’s daughter, from small to big.

In Qin Rong’s childhood memories, whenever Qin Wang returned home, he would always bring three gifts, one for each of them. The gifts for the main courtyard were always placed on the table beforehand, but for the courtyard where Qin Rong lived, Qin Wang would carry the gift in his hands, teasing and playing with the youngest, Qin Rong.

At such times, Qin Suizhi would often bring Qin Ling back to the main courtyard, trying to comfort her like Qin Wang did, attempting to balance that favoritism.

Objectively speaking, Qin Wang wasn’t a good father, but neither could he be labeled a villain. He didn’t deserve to end up with nothing but vanishing remains.

Lost in these thoughts, Qin Suizhi circumvented Qin Rong and approached Qin Ling gently, whispering, “Don’t cry…”

Handing her a handkerchief, Qin Suizhi comforted her, saying, “Father was a civil official who strived half his life in his career, all for the sake of securing a prosperous future for his descendants. Now that the Qin estate has become the Count of Cheng’en’s estate, and Father’s stele stands at Mount Qingyu, it’s all because of your favor in the palace. Ah Ling, you’ve already shown utmost filial piety.”

Though his attempt at consoling her was evident, it twisted Qin Ling’s heart, and tears streamed down her face.

How could Qin Suizhi not feel troubled by his biological father’s passing?

“You don’t need to comfort me, Brother.” Qin Ling nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. Slowly, she looked at him earnestly, “Brother, whatever happens in the future, please don’t hide it from me.”

Qin Suizhi nodded, smiling, “Alright, I’ll remember that.”

Once they left Mount Qingyu, Qin Suizhi returned to the Qin estate. As the newly titled Count of Cheng’en by the emperor, he received numerous guests. Amidst the white silk decor, he greeted and bid farewell to guests, seemingly overnight transitioning from Qin’s eldest son to a ruling lord. Qin Ling felt a sense of relief.

In the evening, palace attendants escorted Zhaoyi Qin back to the palace. But as night fell, Qin Ling returned to Mount Qingyu. She had one more person to honor.

Su Jingbei held a high position in the court, with numerous achievements in his lifetime. Moreover, with the Su family’s name cleared, his stele stood atop the highest hill.

Su Huai’an had been waiting for her for some time. Amid a midsummer night, the air was filled with the chorus of insects…

Su Huai’an expertly and swiftly arranged the offerings of wine and food. On several occasions—during Qingming, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Winter Solstice, and New Year’s Day—he had found a secluded place to pay respects to his parents and sister.

Kneeling before the grave, Su Huai’an spoke many words. He didn’t express regret or mention his aspirations for success. Instead, he poured a jug of wine, speaking as if conversing with an old friend. He spoke of the overturned case and how his sister was still alive. Finally, he made a point of mentioning that he had two children, both three years old.

As they descended, Qin Ling suddenly threw herself onto him, venting out a torrent of emotions, crying uncontrollably, her tears and runny nose smearing his clothes. Su Huai’an gently patted her back, chuckling softly, “Ah Ling, you’ve held back for quite a while.”

Qin Ling lifted her head from his shoulder, wiping her eyes.

Qin Ling admonished him to ease the tension, “You took advantage of Changning. How dare you say that to Father?”

Su Huai’an raised a finger and tapped her forehead lightly, “Me, taking advantage of her? Ah Ling, without knowing the full story, don’t jump to conclusions.”

As they continued down the mountain, Qin Ling persisted, “Then tell me, what’s the full story? Changning is raising two children there, and you returned to the capital without telling her. No wonder she’s ignoring you.”

Su Huai’an winced but remained silent, refraining from divulging the process of trying to pass on the note before his sister gained power.

Su Huai’an countered, “I’ve noticed you always argue with me.”

They hadn’t gone far when their steps halted involuntarily. Looking down upon the undulating mountain range, bathed in moonlight, they saw Qin Suizhi kneeling in front of Qin Wang’s stele. It was apparent he had been there the entire night.

As the moonlight faded, Qin Suizhi’s shoulders trembled as he wiped away his tears. Regardless of when Qin Wang passed away, this night was, for Qin Suizhi, his last night as a filial son.

Qin Ling watched Qin Suizhi’s figure, feeling like her feet and shoulders carried a thousand pounds. Su Huai’an saw through her thoughts and softly said, “Ah Ling, sooner or later, everyone experiences such a day in life. Shall I invite him for a drink at dawn?”

Before the dawn broke, they refrained from disturbing him. The drink at daybreak marked the day they became intimate friends. In the future, when people spoke of them, they’d say, “During the Yanxi era, with talented ministers aplenty, they looked to Su Jingming for literary matters and Qin Suizhi for military affairs.”

However, before sunrise, none of them approached Qin Suizhi. Qin Ling gazed at the sky, lost in thought.

Su Huai’an patted her shoulder, using the tone he often used during their childhood, “Lingling, do you know how much it means to me that you’re still alive?”

As the gentle breeze swept by, Qin Ling couldn’t help but wonder, did today’s events occur because of her?