Chapter 143: A Glimpse Of Past Events

Shen Lang, reminded by Xie Wei, seemed to remember that he was in the court.

He then summoned Xiao Dingfei to pay his respects.

The ministers immediately turned their eyes to the entrance of the hall—

This was the legendary heir of Dingfei!

He had saved the emperor’s life.

Moreover, he carried the blood of both the Xiao and Yan families. Even though the Yan family had fallen, his status as the eldest son of the Xiao family alone could stir up a storm in the capital. It was incredibly curious that he had returned during the suppression of the Tianjiao Sect.

“Guilty minister Xiao Dingfei pays respects to His Majesty, long live the emperor!”

A loud voice, filled with sorrow and barely suppressed excitement.

Everyone was shocked.

Looking closely, they saw a tall, handsome man in a stone-blue brocade robe with gold thread, whose features bore some resemblance to Duke Xiao Yuan standing in front, but with a more unrestrained and noble air.

From the moment he entered, Shen Lang’s gaze was fixed on him.

He almost scrutinized him from head to toe.

In an instant, his heart was in turmoil!

But having sat on the throne for over four years, and having experienced various court intrigues during the previous dynasty’s struggle for succession, he had learned to conceal his emotions. Instead, he laughed heartily, appearing delighted, and even his somewhat sickly face showed a bit of color, “Twenty years, twenty years, I never expected to see you again! Rise, rise.”

This emperor is really good at acting.

Kneeling on the ground, Xiao Dingfei felt his knees ache, thinking that even in the Tianjiao Sect, no one dared to make him kneel. But here in this damned court, there were so many rules. Given the situation, a single misstep could cost him his head, so he only dared to complain inwardly, while outwardly he appeared deeply moved as he stood up.

Tears came easily.

His skills at evoking pity, honed from begging on the streets years ago, were still sharp. He cried uncontrollably in the hall, “Twenty years away from the capital, trapped in the Tianjiao Sect, unable to rescue His Majesty in times of peril, unable to serve the court, guilty, guilty…”

Duke Xiao Yuan stood nearby, having watched Xiao Dingfei’s return all the way, feeling like he was a stranger, with no real contact.

Who would have thought he would act like this in the hall?

He was completely stunned.

Shen Lang remained calm, his eyes flickering with doubt, “Why do you call yourself ‘guilty’?”

Xiao Dingfei had memorized his lines perfectly, “When Prince Pingnan attacked the capital, both His Majesty and I were young. How could I let His Majesty take risks? Loyalty to the emperor and love for the country are the duties of a minister. I went to my death, never expecting to survive. When that dog Prince Pingnan saw me, he immediately had eunuchs from the palace identify me. I had been His Majesty’s companion since childhood, and the eunuchs knew me. Just as the Empress, now the Empress Dowager, predicted, the eunuchs recognized me but knew who was the true heir. Following the Empress’s instructions, I sternly claimed to be the Crown Prince and scolded them. The eunuchs dared not reveal my identity, and Prince Pingnan believed I was the Crown Prince.”

Few knew the details of those events.

When Prince Pingnan’s army entered the capital twenty years ago, they killed almost all the officials. The newly appointed officials were naturally younger. Without this, someone like Xie Wei, despite his achievements, would never have become the “Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince” at such a young age.

Hearing Xiao Dingfei’s account, everyone was shocked.

They realized that the Empress Dowager’s clever plan had saved the emperor’s life!

Xiao Dingfei, while inwardly mocking, outwardly wiped away a tear and continued his story. He described how Prince Pingnan, a traitor who hated the late emperor, had him tied up to use as leverage against the emperor. Xiao Dingfei demanded that Prince Pingnan release the three hundred boys as promised. Prince Pingnan laughed and said that a man of his word would not go back on his promise, and then…

At this point, Xiao Dingfei seemed unable to continue.

The fine beads of the emperor’s crown cast a faint shadow over Shen Lang’s face, making it difficult for others to read his expression. He asked, “What happened then?”

Xiao Dingfei suddenly knelt down again and cried out, “Then he killed them all! Three hundred children, their bodies were thrown from the gate tower and piled up outside the palace gates…”

The hall fell silent.

No one could imagine such a horrific scene.

Xiao Yuan’s face also darkened.

Xie Wei stood quietly at the front, his eyes lowered, hiding his emotions. Shen Lang sighed, saying, “This is my fault, the court’s fault!”

The ministers were all trembling, but no one dared to speak.

Only Xiao Dingfei’s voice continued.

Still kneeling, he said, “I wanted to rush out and stop them, but I was powerless. Prince Pingnan saw my defiance and had me imprisoned. Soon after, reinforcements from Tongzhou and Fengtai arrived to retake the capital. Prince Pingnan tried to use me as leverage, but the reinforcements knew His Majesty was safe and attacked regardless. Realizing he had been tricked, Prince Pingnan, in a rage, raised his sword to kill me. The Tianjiao Sect’s Wan Xiuzi slapped me and demanded to know who I was. Knowing the rebels were doomed, I declared myself Xiao Dingfei. Only then did they realize my identity. I thought I was doomed, but they, in desperation, tied me to the city gate tower. The one leading the army was the Duke.”

The mention of “the Duke” made everyone uneasy.

Why would a son refer to his father so formally?

Even Shen Lang, usually composed, narrowed his eyes slightly.

Xiao Yuan, lost in thought, seemed to recall the scene from years ago, his face turning pale.

Xie Wei remained unmoved.

Gu Chunfang, standing among the civil officials, frowned and said, “Knowing the heir’s identity, Prince Pingnan and Wan Xiuzi must have tried to use him to threaten the Duke.”

Xiao Dingfei glanced at him.

Seeing an old man, he didn’t care much but noted his position ahead of Xie Wei, indicating he was likely a cunning old fox. Respectfully, he said, “You guessed correctly. They intended to use me as leverage. Though young, I knew the stakes and couldn’t let the reinforcements be caught in a dilemma. When Prince Pingnan called out, he whipped and scolded me, but I bit my lip and didn’t cry out.”

He was less than seven years old!

Born into luxury, a favored child.

To endure such humiliation and remain silent showed incredible resolve and strength.

The officials, seasoned as they were, couldn’t help but feel sympathy and admiration.

Shen Lang’s gaze turned to Xiao Yuan.

Twenty years had passed.

Xiao Yuan recalled, “I wasn’t in the palace when it happened. When I led the army to the capital, we faced Prince Pingnan’s rebels at the city walls. They had a child, claiming he was my son, but from a distance, I couldn’t see clearly. The child made no sound, didn’t cry or fuss. As a loyal minister, I couldn’t hesitate, even if it was my child. So, I pressed on, intending to capture the rebel leaders, but they escaped…”

The entire court was struck with a sense of foreboding, recalling the previous case of the Marquis of Yongyi’s secret dealings with traitors. It was rumored that letters were found linking the Marquis to Prince Pingnan and the Tianjiao Sect, including one stating that the heir of Dingfei was still alive. Everyone had thought this was a trap set by the Tianjiao Sect to lure the Marquis, but it turned out to be true. Reflecting on the case, the inconsistencies suddenly made sense.

Someone sighed, lamenting the treachery and the foolishness of the Marquis’s household for associating with such people, even if the heir of Dingfei had died loyally.

Xie Wei clenched his fingers tightly at his side, feeling a surge of anger and frustration with no outlet, leaving him internally wounded.

Kneeling, Xiao Dingfei could only see Xie Wei’s robe and hem. Hearing a minister’s words, he felt a chill and marked the man as dead in his mind.

Shen Lang asked about Xiao Dingfei’s presence in Tongzhou.

Xiao Dingfei explained that the Tianjiao Sect, fearing that Gongyi Cheng would reveal their secrets under torture, sent a force to rescue him, planning to use him to return Xiao Dingfei to the capital as their puppet. Xiao Dingfei was saved by Xie Wei during this mission and brought to the emperor to explain everything.

Everyone listened without suspicion.

Shen Lang sighed, “I see.”

Only Zhang Zhe, standing below, suddenly asked, “If what the heir of Dingfei says is true, he should have been pleased to find court officials among those rescuing Gongyi Cheng. Why then, in a moment of crisis, did he expose me as a court spy to the Tianjiao Sect?”

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