Chapter Ten: The Couplet That Shook the Capital

"I will pay him back exactly how he treated Xiaoyu."

Qin Hao's voice was devoid of any emotion. This was his true objective. He had declared earlier that every bit of suffering Xiaoyu endured would be repaid, and it had to be done. Of course, reclaiming his mother's remains would have been ideal, but unfortunately, that vile woman Yang Suxin had not fallen for the bait.

"Impossible!" Yang Suxin refused instantly. How could she ever let her precious son suffer?

Qin Hao’s expression darkened, his voice turning icy cold. "Truly a touching display of maternal love. In that case, I no longer care for my mother’s remains. Let’s just burn the bridge and see who perishes."

Yang Suxin felt a tremor in her heart. *This is bad, I’ve pushed him too far!* She looked at Qin Hao, seeing not a man, but a frenzied beast.

"Mother, no, I don't want to!" Qin De-wu panicked. He was as terrified now as he had been arrogant moments ago. His legs were trembling uncontrollably. Although he was a hedonist, he wasn't a fool. The moment he saw the Princess's personal jade pendant, he knew he couldn't kill Qin Hao.

Seeing this, a cruel smile spread across Qin Hao's face. "Brother De-wu, don't worry. I will use all my strength to lash you later. I guarantee it will be exhilarating."

"No, no!" Overcome by fear and haunted by the memory of Qin Hao devouring raw dog meat earlier, Qin De-wu lost control of his bladder. The pungent stench of urine permeated the courtyard.

Yang Suxin’s face turned black with rage. *What a useless thing.* She immediately stepped forward and said, "I will take the lashes in De-wu's place."

Qin De-wu fell silent, staring blankly at his mother's back.

"De-wu, don't worry, Mother is here," Yang Suxin said, looking at her son with doting reassurance. She then turned to Qin Hao, "Qin Hao, since you hate me so much, I’ll give you a chance to vent. I’ll take the punishment for De-wu."

Qin De-wu felt a sense of relief, yet he remained silent, harboring a strange, twisted emotion: *If Mother is whipped, would her screams sound pleasant?*

"Qin Hao, if you need to vent, I will bear it for De-wu," Yang Suxin repeated.

Qin Hao applauded lazily, laughing. "What a touching display of mother and son. And what a brilliant scheme."

"Under the laws of the Great Jing Dynasty, a child who strikes a parent is to be executed. Even if you are only my stepmother in name, the punishment is the same."

"Do you think I would fall for that? Today, you have only two choices: either let me lash Qin De-wu, or we go down together. I believe that with my ability to obtain the Princess's token, if I were to die, she would investigate this matter thoroughly."

Having failed to trick him, Yang Suxin remained silent. She hadn't expected that Qin Hao, who had been an imbecile for years and never left the Qin household, would be so well-informed. She had hoped to goad him into harming her, which would have ensured his execution regardless of her title. A dead man cannot clear his name, no matter what he says or what dirt he tries to throw.

Seeing her hesitation, Qin Hao did not give her time to think. "I give you three breaths to choose. Either we all die, or you let me vent."

Yang Suxin took a deep breath, her expression turning cold and resolute. She spoke with difficulty, "Someone, bind De-wu to the execution frame."

"Mother, I don't want to, I don't want to!" Qin De-wu sat paralyzed on the ground, struggling and refusing to let the servants near him. He wet himself again, completely immobilized by his terror of Qin Hao.

"De-wu, act like a man!" Yang Suxin, unable to stand the sight, snapped at him. Qin De-wu froze, stopped struggling, but the look he gave his mother shifted into something unsettling, before turning back into pure hatred for Qin Hao.

As soon as her son was bound to the frame, Yang Suxin turned and walked away, leaving behind the instruction: "Bring the young master back later."

Qin Hao laughed, his voice booming until it filled the entire courtyard. To Yang Suxin, the sound was grating. As she left the courtyard, she heard her son’s agonizing screams, but she forced herself not to look back. Her desire to kill Qin Hao grew even stronger. She regretted not finishing him off sooner. She had attacked him multiple times, yet failed to end his life, leading to this current predicament.

...

By the time Qin Hao left, Qin De-wu had fainted on the frame from the pain. Qin Hao carried Xiaoyu on his back, refusing to let her down despite her panicked protests.

As soon as Qin Hao departed, Yang Suxin ordered men to secretly tail him. Simultaneously, she hurried back to Qin Hao’s courtyard to have Qin De-wu treated, followed by a group of guards who had never been seen in the Qin residence before.

The terrified servants stood frozen, not daring to utter a word. They weren't fools; they had seen and heard far too much today. Just as one servant opened his mouth to pledge his loyalty, Yang Suxin ordered the guards, "Silence them."

"Yes." Twenty guards moved in unison. The servants were only able to let out a few whimpers of mercy before their necks were snapped.

"Tie stones to them and throw them into the pond," Yang Suxin commanded. As the bodies disappeared, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Send someone to tell the other servants not to speak a word of this. Anyone who gossips will be skinned alive. Especially, do not let the Lord know."

The conflict today was too significant; it had to be hidden. Moreover, since Qin Hao had secured the Princess as his backer, she could not kill him outright. She would have to dismantle his protection first. The Princess likely helped him out of sentiment for his deceased mother, but sentiment eventually runs out, doesn't it? She refused to believe the Princess would go to such lengths to protect a witless, unlearned fool.

While Qin Hao and Yang Suxin were plotting against each other, another matter was brewing.

"Have you heard? The Princess's famous poetic couplet has been solved!"

"I know! 'Shulin Han Tie, Hanlin Shu'—it is simply a work of genius."

"I truly wonder which great talent came up with that response. It is absolutely brilliant."

"Indeed! Could it have been written by one of the scholars at the Hanlin Academy?"

"Quite possibly. Many are flocking to the Princess's residence now, hoping to catch a glimpse of the person who solved the eternal riddle. Let's go!"

"Yes, let's go!"

Every scholar was discussing the mysterious person who had solved the Princess's riddle. The news spread like wildfire, known throughout the city—in bookstores, taverns, alleys, and even brothels.

In the Imperial Palace, the Royal Study was filled with half of the important officials of the Six Ministries—mostly civil officials who opposed improving the treatment of military generals.

On the Dragon Throne sat a middle-aged man wearing a golden crown and imperial robes. His gaze was piercing, radiating an untouchable, majestic aura. This was Emperor Xuande of the Great Jing Dynasty. The Princess, the only woman permitted to participate in state affairs, had been summoned to the palace.

"Daughter greets the Emperor, my father." The Princess offered a graceful bow, exuding dignity.

"Rise."

The Princess spoke, sweeping her gaze over the officials of the Six Ministries, and asked with feigned ignorance, "I wonder why Father summoned me today."

Emperor Xuande smiled. "The officials of the Six Ministries tell me that someone has provided a response to your couplet. I have seen it; it is quite magnificent. I wonder, which great talent wrote it?"