Chapter 73: The World Owes The Qin Family Justice; If The World Won’t Give It, She Will Give It Herself

Nothing more than ants.

The cold wind blew in. Xun Chuan stood there, stunned, listening to the conversation inside. She stared blankly at the figure of Li Rong, standing tall and firm, confronting Shangguan Xu.

A nearby attendant whispered, “My lady?”

Xun Chuan snapped back to herself. She lowered her head, looking a bit embarrassed. “I suddenly remembered something. Don’t tell Her Highness I was here. I’m leaving.”

After saying that, Xun Chuan quickly walked away, as if she had never appeared at all.

Li Rong was completely unaware of her arrival or departure. She listened to Shangguan Xu’s words, looked straight at him, and said plainly, “You are the Prime Minister, and I am a Princess.”

“You and I have the power to change the rules, but you are unwilling. You insist on maintaining the current situation, clinging to this fragile balance, hoping His Majesty and your faction will continue to play this game of tug-of-war, all while watching the Shangguan family rot away day by day without doing anything.”

“But is that even possible?”

“Since the founding of Da Xia, it has seen four emperors and nearly a hundred years of history. There have been wars in the northwest and natural disasters internally. This is no longer a newly established dynasty—it cannot endure such turmoil. No ruler could tolerate a family like the Shangguans continuing to stir things up. You say the Shangguan clan is Chuan’er’s foundation, but take a look—if today the Supervisory Office were in the hands of Consort Rou instead of me, and His Majesty was determined to target Chuan’er, then tell me, would the Shangguan family be his foundation… or his doom?”

Shangguan Xu fell silent. Li Rong took a deep breath and continued, “I have never wanted the Shangguan family and myself to turn on each other. I only want one thing.”

Shangguan Xu lifted his head. Li Rong tapped her fan lightly on the table and said seriously, “I want a clean Shangguan family—a family not controlled by aristocratic puppeteers. I want a Shangguan family that won’t drag Chuan’er down or overstep its place in the future. Lord Shangguan, do you understand me?!”

The cold wind swept in from the main gate, carrying dead leaves that rustled across the floor between the two of them. A long moment passed before Shangguan Xu finally spoke.

“I understand what Your Highness is saying… but I am powerless.”

“If you can’t do it, then let someone else!”

Li Rong stared at him. “Let me ask you, Uncle—if you could take full control of the Shangguan family, would you be willing to?”

Shangguan Xu remained silent. Li Rong turned to Shangguan Ya.

“Cousin Ah Ya, are you willing?”

“I shall obey whatever Your Highness commands,” Shangguan Ya replied respectfully with a bow.

Shangguan Xu looked at her, then at Li Rong, and after a pause, he gave a bitter smile. “Your Highness, do I even have a choice?”

Li Rong didn’t speak. Shangguan Xu said slowly, “No matter how I choose, your purge of the Shangguan family is inevitable. I can’t stop you. Either I ally with the aristocratic clans and depose you, or I stand by while you wield the knife against my kin. But if I depose you, the Crown Prince and the Empress will turn against me—perhaps even my daughter…”

He stopped, then said in a low voice, “The Shangguan family is the Crown Prince’s foundation, and he is also the future and foundation of the Shangguan family. Your Highness is pulling the rug out from under me, using the Crown Prince to pressure me—you’ve left me no choice. From now on, whatever Your Highness does, I will not interfere,” he said, bowing deeply. “I only hope Your Highness can show some mercy to our clan… and spare their lives.”

“Whether their lives are spared is not up to me,” Li Rong replied calmly, looking at him. “It depends on the Shangguan family themselves. The Supervisory Office will not act out of favoritism. If there’s nothing to find, that’s one thing. But if evidence is uncovered, it will be handled according to the law. Uncle, you spent half your life revising the Da Xia Code, giving this country laws to follow. If those laws can’t be enforced, don’t you find that a great regret?”

Shangguan Xu fell silent, and Shangguan Ya respectfully said, “Your Highness, rest assured—the Shangguan family will not give the Supervisory Office any reason to act. After I return today, I will begin an internal investigation of the Shangguan clan, from Huajing to Youzhou, the entire family will be self-examined. I am your daughter,” she turned to look at Shangguan Xu, “and if this investigation proceeds smoothly, the Crown Prince will face no troubles in the future. But if it doesn’t, and Father decides to punish me as a way of taking responsibility before the clan, you’ll still remain the family head, and my brother will not be affected.”

“What does Father think?”

Shangguan Ya looked at Shangguan Xu.

They had already paved the path ahead. If Shangguan Xu refused, and Li Rong let the Supervisory Office act, it would be a death match between her and the Shangguan clan. If he agreed and let Shangguan Ya take charge, the clan might still lose—or win—but at least Shangguan Xu would have a way out.

Unless he was a fool, any sane man would choose to let Shangguan Ya handle the internal investigation.

And agreeing to let Shangguan Ya lead the self-investigation meant agreeing to hand part of the Shangguan family’s power to this unmarried young woman.

Shangguan Xu was silent. After a long moment, he let out a small laugh, tinged with bitterness. “As expected of a daughter of the Shangguan family.”

“Power,” he said, slowly pushing himself up with effort, letting out a half-laugh, half-sigh, “really does run in your blood.”

“The future belongs to you young people. This old man… truly is old now.”

With that, he raised his hand in salute to Li Rong, his voice tired. “Everything shall be as Your Highness arranges. I will take my leave now.”

Li Rong stood as if to see him off, but Shangguan Xu waved her down. “No need to trouble Yourself, Your Highness. I can see myself out. You’ve grown up—you have your own thoughts and plans now. That comforts me greatly. But, there’s still one thing I must say to Your Highness.”

Li Rong lifted her eyes and looked at him. Shangguan Xu’s gaze fell on Pei Wenxuan. He gave Pei a glance, then turned back and said seriously, “Your Highness carries half the blood of the Shangguan family—but marriage is not forever. You once stayed out of politics, and yet after marrying, you’ve become dazzling in court. Your Highness,” he advised, “you must tread carefully.”

“Uncle, don’t worry,” Li Rong replied calmly. “I understand.”

Shangguan Xu gave a bitter smile and said no more. After taking his leave, he departed with Shangguan Ya.

Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan walked them to the door. Once they were gone, Pei Wenxuan tucked his hands into his sleeves and said gently, “Now that the Shangguan family has begun its self-investigation, Your Highness must be feeling a good deal more at ease.”

“Mm.”

“With support from both the Shangguan and Pei families at court, once the Qin family case is concluded, they’ll surely be rewarded handsomely. Once the northwest stabilizes, with Xiao Su having no real roots there, and Qin Lin’s capabilities and the Qin family’s reputation in that region, military command in the northwest will soon fall into Qin Lin’s hands. When the civil service exam opens next year and Your Highness assigns people to the court, you will have nothing left to worry about.”

Li Rong listened to Pei Wenxuan and softly acknowledged his words. After a moment, as if recalling something, she smiled. “Earlier, I told you to step outside—why did you insist on staying? Were you afraid my uncle would be too annoyed by you, or worried I wouldn’t keep anything from you?”

“That wasn’t it,” Pei Wenxuan smiled as she questioned him, seemingly unaware of her deeper meaning. “By staying, I made Shangguan Xu think I was manipulating Your Highness. Let them believe that everything you do is at my urging. That way, no matter what happens in the future, they’ll think that as long as I’m out of the picture, Your Highness won’t oppose them. That makes you much safer.”

Hearing those words, Li Rong raised an eyebrow. “You’re really not afraid of death?”

Pei Wenxuan kept his hands tucked into his sleeves, his tone calm. “For a commoner striving to rise, if they feared death, they wouldn’t even dream of climbing upward.”

“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong frowned slightly, a trace of doubt in her voice, “you’re working so hard to force your way into the court—what is it that you’re after? Do you really crave power that much?”

“Your Highness is mistaken,” Pei Wenxuan shook his head. “This humble servant never desired to force his way in. In my past life, I had no choice—I muddled my way into becoming your consort, then muddled my way into politics. By the time I wanted to step back, it was already too late.”

“And in this life?”

“In this life,” Pei Wenxuan walked slowly forward, hands still in his sleeves, his face showing a gentle smile, “having once reached the heights, I know the view is magnificent—I can’t bring myself to abandon it.”

Li Rong didn’t reply. Listening to his words, she felt a quiet calm, spreading gently in her heart.

Neither of them spoke.

Pei Wenxuan walked in front of her, silently shielding her from the wind. He didn’t look back—he knew Li Rong was following behind him.

Not too close, not too far—just there.

After seeing the Shangguan family off, Li Rong returned, while Xun Chuan sat alone in her room.

She didn’t know what to do.

Pleading with Li Rong—Li Rong had already done more than enough. She couldn’t trouble her any further.

Li Rong owed the Qin family nothing. She was a princess; to have done this much was already extraordinary.

Besides begging Li Rong, what else could she do?

So many people had died. All the witnesses had been buried in the wilderness. The Qin family had been wrongfully accused, humiliated in prison.

Was that it? Was it just to be let go like that?

Hand it over to the Ministry of Justice? But what could they possibly do?

Suddenly, a rush of unspeakable hatred surged up in her—hatred for her own powerlessness, her ignorance. Why couldn’t she be like Shangguan Ya, like Li Rong—calculating and commanding, with everything within their grasp?

She could only hide here in the shadows, helplessly watching the sword of injustice fall above her head.

She sat there in silence for a long time. Suddenly, anxious voices rang out from outside: “Lord Xun, something’s happened to the Qin family!”

Xun Chuan had specifically instructed her subordinates to keep an eye on the Qin family. Hearing those words, she rushed out. “What happened?”

“The young master of the Qin family got into a conflict with Assistant Minister Cui from the Ministry of Justice, right on the street! You’d best go quickly!”

Hearing that, Xun Chuan immediately mounted a horse and rushed to the scene. When she arrived, she saw her younger brother, clearly beaten, the street strewn with guards, and standing next to the carriage was Qin Lin, his expression cold and unyielding.

Cui Shuyun was lying on the ground, gasping for breath, glaring up at Qin Lin. “Qin Lin, don’t you go too far. Attacking a court official—just wait until tomorrow!”

Qin Lin looked down at Cui Shuyun, his expression calm. “Fine. I’ll wait.”

With that, he turned to his younger brother and said, “Qin Yun, let’s go.”

“You want us to wait? You’re the one who should wait!” Qin Yun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes bloodshot. “You killed my sister, killed so many people. My sister’s spirit won’t forgive you. Just wait!”

“You’re talking nonsense!” Cui Shuyun shouted, but Qin Lin remained calm and said, “Qin Yun.”

Qin Yun turned his head, wiping his tears, and followed Qin Lin. Cui Shuyun was helped up by his subordinates. He glared at the retreating figures of Qin Lin and Qin Yun, gritting his teeth, and shouted, “She killed herself!”

Qin Lin stopped walking. Cui Shuyun sneered. “I didn’t touch her. She died on her own in front of the princess’s residence. The Qin family’s case will soon be transferred to the Ministry of Justice, and they’ll give the Qin family justice. Don’t worry, Lord Qin.”

Qin Lin said nothing. He clenched his fists tightly. Qin Yun turned back, about to make a move, but before he could, Xun Chuan stepped forward and kicked Cui Shuyun aside. She then walked toward Qin Lin and respectfully said, “Lord Qin, the princess requests your presence.”

Cui Shuyun was helped up, and he intended to make a move, but hearing the words “the princess,” he hesitated for a moment before muttering, “Let’s go.”

After Cui Shuyun and his group left, Qin Lin turned and looked at Xun Chuan. He studied her quietly for a long time before bowing and saying, “Thank you, Lord Xun, for stepping in.”

“Is the young master alright?” Xun Chuan asked, turning to Qin Yun.

Qin Yun lowered his head, his voice hoarse. “I’m fine, thank you for your concern, Lord Xun.”

“It’s getting late,” Xun Chuan said softly. “Let me escort both of you back.”

Qin Lin nodded, and together with Xun Chuan, they headed in the direction of the Qin residence.

They walked in silence for a long time. After a while, Qin Yun couldn’t help but ask, “Lord Xun, is it true that the case will be handed over to the Ministry of Justice?”

“I haven’t heard any definitive news on that yet.”

“Please ask the princess for us,” Qin Yun pleaded urgently. “Could you ask her to speak up? If the case is transferred to the Ministry of Justice, how is that different from releasing them? My sister is dead, Uncle Luo is dead, so many people have died. Our Qin family is in prison, and my uncle has been tortured so much, yet it’s all going to end like this?”

“Qin Yun,” Qin Lin said coldly, “Don’t cause trouble.”

As he spoke, he looked at Xun Chuan and said calmly, “The princess is someone with great ambitions. A case involving the Qin family is just one move in a game for someone like the emperor or the princess. The princess has already done everything she can for the Qin family, showing both kindness and righteousness. Lord Xun doesn’t need to discuss this further with her. The Qin family’s case involves too many people and cannot have a simple resolution. Even if there is a punishment, it will likely only be a demotion or exile, which is already the greatest punishment the princess can obtain for the Qin family.”

“This isn’t fair…” Qin Yun clenched his fists as he listened. “They killed so many people, and my uncle, whose health was already poor, is now being tortured and is gravely ill in bed… Why are they allowed to remain unharmed?”

Xun Chuan remained silent. Qin Lin’s voice turned cold, and he said, “Because they are from a prestigious family. Even the emperor cannot touch them. Do you understand?”

“This isn’t fair!” Qin Yun raised his voice, but Qin Lin shot him a cold look. “What fairness is there in this world? Do you think fairness is something you can demand just by shouting? How old are you? You have no sense of propriety. Get back inside!”

After being scolded by Qin Lin, Qin Yun fell silent. He bit his lip, not saying anything. Xun Chuan escorted Qin Lin and Qin Yun back to the Qin residence. Qin Lin asked Qin Yun to go inside first, and then he bowed to Xun Chuan. “This is where I’ll leave you, Lord Xun. Please take care.”

Xun Chuan silently watched Qin Lin for a moment. Suddenly, there was a commotion in the Qin household. Qin Yun ran out, panicked. “Big brother, Uncle is coughing up blood again! You must come quickly!”

Qin Lin’s face changed, and he hurriedly said, “Lord Xun, I need to go in. Please excuse me.”

Xun Chuan nodded and watched as Qin Lin and Qin Yun rushed back into the house.

She stood at the door, looking at the familiar Qin residence she had known for many years, watching as snowflakes gently fell from the sky.

Suddenly, she felt as if she no longer had a place to call home.

The world owes the Qin family a sense of justice. Since the world won’t give it, she would give it herself.

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