HMAM CH 46 Birth Secret?
As evening approached, the guards at the city gate reported that the army led by Xu Ming, comprising more than a hundred thousand men, had stationed itself at Qingzhou, which was only a few hundred miles away from Yingzhou.
Jing Ye pondered for a moment in the room, then made up his mind and said, “Let’s first send someone to guard around the residence of Seventh Master Xing, to see what his intentions are before making a decision. The only issue is that his martial arts are too skillful and he may easily detect us.”
Le Zhenghuan saw that he was in a difficult position and said, “There’s no need to worry about this. The Pingyue Riders have many skilled scouts. Although they may not be able to withstand him in a direct confrontation, it should be possible to observe his comings and goings around his abode.”
“Good, then we’ll have to trouble your subordinates a bit more,” Jing Ye pressed his temples, with a hint of doubt in his expression. “But why has he come to Yingzhou? Even if he has great martial arts, he cannot fight against an army of one hundred thousand.”
Maybe it’s because of what happened back then?
This Seventh Master Xing, although known for his erratic temperament and variable moods, is also a pitiful person. Years ago, he was once a court official, but due to a wrong step during a coup, he ended up imprisoned by the female emperor. His elder brother's family and his own wife all fell ill and died in prison; his wife was pregnant at the time and died when their child was eight months along.
But he didn’t die; instead, he was released from prison and vanished without a trace for over a decade. When he returned to the capital, he had already become a rebel assassin who tried to kill the female emperor but failed, and was locked in a dungeon for years. He acted mad at times but could also show mental clarity sporadically, at other times speaking nonsensically.
After Jing Ye’s father ascended the throne, for reasons unknown, he released this man.
These old matters, containing a mix of truth and falsehood, were recorded in the account books of Qingyu Pavilion. How Seventh Master Xing transformed from a frail scholar into a expert master who shook the martial world, how he got entangled with Xu Ming, training a team of iron guards for him, and why he was secretly infiltrating Yingzhou now; all of this weighed heavily on Jing Ye’s heart.
As night fell, Feng Ling was invited for a visit, and Elder Xing brought him to a lakeside pavilion at his residence, setting up a table to drink.
According to etiquette, Elder Xing was an elder and should not sit at the same level as Feng Ling, yet he insisted on inviting Feng Ling to sit in the honored position and repeatedly encouraged him to drink. Feng Ling had no choice but to accept and drank two cups.
After another cup, Elder Xing raised his glass and smiled, “Qing Sheng, you and I can be considered scholars, right?”
Feng Ling was momentarily taken aback, sensing he had something more to say, so he responded, “Elder Xing is overly modest.”
Elder Xing shook his head and said, “Listen to me. For the first half of my life, I, Xing Zheng, was merely a weak scholar with no power to even strangle a chicken. I thought that relying on a few scrolls of sage teachings would ensure my survival and governance of the world, ha ha!… Who knew that halfway through, I would fall victim to treachery, losing my wife and child, my family ruined, and myself…”
Feng Ling was first surprised by what he said, but when he saw him becoming increasingly agitated, with a look of sorrow and rage on his face, he felt something was off and stood up, saying, “Elder…”
“Stay seated.” Elder Xing turned his head to look at him, his eyes brimming with intense light, but this gaze seemed to carry a hint of madness.
“You are of the Xing family’s bloodline. Back then, I endured humiliation to survive, entrusting you to Lord Feng, and now that you have grown up, you must… must not let Zhao Ziying (the female emperor's name) that wretched woman’s…”
“Elder, be careful with your words!”
Feng Ling finally sensed that something was wrong, never expecting this Elder Xing to speak in such a wild manner, revealing unmistakable signs of madness.
“Don’t believe me?” Elder Xing leaned on his cane and stood up, a smile at the corner of his mouth, “Back then, when I was captured by that wretched woman, someone told me that my elder brother’s child was not dead but had been secretly taken out of prison. At that time, I could have escaped from the capital, but I encountered a couple surnamed Feng outside the city, begging me to save their two lives and the child in their arms, saying that the child was the heir of the Grand Imperial Censor Xing, with proof to confirm it.”
“That couple is now your father and mother.”
Feng Ling frowned tightly, stepping back a step, “Your words are absurd, I dare not believe it. The sky is dark; I must take my leave.”
As he spoke, he turned to leave, but after taking two steps, he heard the old man laughing behind him, “Ha ha ha… Where do you think you’re going?”
Feng Ling suddenly felt the effects of the wine surge, his vision blurred, the world spun, and before he knew it, he had collapsed to the ground, gradually feeling his eyelids grow heavy and losing consciousness.
Jing Ye, covered with a thin blanket, sat beside the incense burner, his fingers tracing the surface of the report paper, lost in thought.
Ye Mao stepped into the room and said, “Your Majesty, Lin Gongzi has returned and seeks an audience.”
Jing Ye said, “Quickly grant him entry.”
Ye Mao bowed, “Yes.” After exiting, a short while later, Lin Xiaosheng entered with his hands folded in his sleeves, wearing a black mink cloak embroidered with gold thread. He was already striking in appearance, taller than most, and now he seemed even more imposing, exuding a dignified presence.
Lin Xiaosheng said, “Your Majesty, a city official went missing an hour ago.”
Jing Ye paused, looking up and asking, “Who?”
Lin Xiaosheng replied, “The Hanlin Imperial Secretary… Lord Feng Ling.”
Jing Ye’s hand trembled as he held the brush, his wrist accidentally slipping into the inkstone, staining it with a large blot of ink.
Before the two could finish speaking, they heard the door creak open again, and a youth clad in flowing red stepped in, just behind Lin Xiaosheng. He had heard Lin Xiaosheng mention Feng Ling’s disappearance and said, “Seventh Master Xing has also vanished. He must have taken the person out of the city.”
Jing Ye had already stood up, saying, “The city gate is now closed. We need to send people to surround Seventh Master Xing’s residence and search the house to see if anyone is left behind.”
Hearing about the missing official made his heart skip a beat, especially when the missing person turned out to be Feng Ling. He got up to order Ye Mao to prepare the carriage, but he was stopped by Lin Xiaosheng, who said, “I’ve already sent people to do it. The night is deep and the dew is heavy; Your Majesty should take care of your health.” As he spoke, he removed his own cloak and draped it over Jing Ye’s shoulders, tying it firmly.
This action was unexpectedly intimate, causing Le Zhenghuan beside them to glare in surprise.
Lin Xiaosheng’s fingers were cold, brushing against Jing Ye’s neck, bringing a cooling sensation that strangely put one’s heart at ease. Jing Ye’s hand tightened and then relaxed, his anxiety gradually calming down. He adjusted the cloak and hurried out to mount his carriage.
Le Zhenghuan lazily followed behind everyone. Seeing Jing Ye get on the carriage, he also mounted his horse. A mounted guard approached him and whispered something, to which Le Zhenghuan replied, “No need, you all go back.” The guard complied and retreated.
He had long known that Feng Ling had dealings with Seventh Master Xing, but he was too lazy to mention it. First, he had heard about Seventh Master Xing’s entanglement with the Feng family from his father; it was not his matter, so why intervene? If the old man Xing came to find him, wouldn’t it be difficult to dismiss him? Second… Jing Ye seemed overly concerned about this Feng Ling.
Just thinking about it made him uncomfortable.
Ahead, the carriage and guards had already moved far away, and Le Zhenghuan slowly urged his horse to follow.
Feng Ling, slipping in and out of unconsciousness, was taken away overnight. When he woke up the next day, he found himself in a locked confinement room, with all the doors and windows secured. Shortly thereafter, two people entered to deliver food. When he tried to engage them in conversation, he suddenly noticed they didn’t have tongues; they had been cut.
The two placed the food down and stepped aside. He knew he was now a prisoner. He casually ate a meal, tidied his clothes, and sat quietly at the table. Before long, he saw Elder Xing enter with a cane, striding toward him, and said, “I will ask you once more, will you come with me?”
Feng Ling said, “Absurd.”
Elder Xing’s face turned angry, but he suppressed it, saying, “You are still stubborn and unrepentant.”
Feng Ling replied, “Let me go, and I’ll return to the capital to ask my parents. The truth will naturally be revealed.”
Elder Xing’s eyes became fierce, saying, “If your parents are willing to acknowledge it, will you then come with me?”
Feng Ling’s gaze swept over the mute servant standing beside him, secretly lamenting how vicious this person was to cut out their tongues. However, he remained expressionless and refused to say anything no matter how Elder Xing twisted the truth.
Seeing that he was unyielding, Elder Xing said harshly, “If you won’t acknowledge me, fine. For each day you deny me, I will keep you locked up for a day. If worse comes to worst, I’ll personally end the life of this unfilial son and go to the Yellow Springs to bow and apologize to my elder brother!”
Days passed like this. Elder Xing came daily to question him, but Feng Ling never uttered a word. He was trapped in a small room, sitting in silence, and sometimes, when he could hardly endure it, he would dip his finger in the water and doodle on the table.
Elder Xing was indeed not in his right mind, often bursting into rage, easily smashing the furniture in the room. Feng Ling observed it all but remained calm; he never believed what Elder Xing had said.
One day as Elder Xing entered, Feng Ling was drawing with his finger on the table. Hearing the door push open, he quickly wiped away the water stains from the table. Elder Xing entered, darkly locking eyes with him for a moment before suddenly swinging his cane.
Feng Ling felt something rush past him with gusty wind. Suddenly, pain shot through his calf, and bending over, he fell to the ground.
Elder Xing had indeed broken his leg.
“Wretched son! You dare to recognize a thief as your father!”
Feng Ling felt cold sweat bead on his forehead, but his expression remained calm. A broken leg was an immense agony, yet this frail scholar didn’t even emit a sound, enduring the pain silently.
Feng Ling supported himself on the ground, smiling as he said, “Elder, after mastering a whole set of martial arts, you seem to have forgotten the books you've read. My father has been a loyal minister for both emperors, serving in office for over thirty years with diligence, above having no shame towards the emperor and below having no shame towards the people. How could he possibly merit the title of 'thief'?”
Elder Xing was taken aback by his endurance. After a long pause, looking as if he had exhausted his strength, he returned the cane to a resting position and said, “You… well, I will give you another half month to consider. If, after half a month, you still haven’t awakened, then wait for your untimely death.”
Feng Ling managed a smile through the pain, feeling as if the pain had slightly lessened, but his vision darkened, and he collapsed.