Song Ting remained silent. After a moment, he lifted his robe and knelt before the emperor: "Your subject has selfish motives."

Chu Minghuan was somewhat surprised that he would say that: "Tell me about it."

The two men were kneeling and sitting, their statuses vastly different, yet the imposing aura emanating from Song Ting was in no way inferior to that of Chu Minghuan, the true emperor.

Chu Minghuan saw the same desperate madness he had felt years ago on this man's face.

“Prince Duan, Chu Mingyao, has devoted himself to the Dayan cause. Your Majesty must know that the old prince has been wronged. I dare to ask Your Majesty to clear the old prince’s name and restore the Duan Prince’s Mansion to its rightful place.”

He bent down, his forehead slamming heavily onto the hard ground. When he looked up, his forehead was covered in blood.

This was the first time Song Ting had ever bowed so deeply to Chu Minghuan, and the request he made was enough to cost Chu Minghuan his head a hundred times over.

Everyone knew that Prince Duan, Chu Mingyao, was the late emperor's chosen successor. It was Prince Duan's rebellion that brought Chu Minghuan, the deposed prince, to the forefront, making him an unexpected victor.

However, if it is now proven that Prince Duan was framed, it would be tantamount to putting Chu Minghuan in the spotlight, further confirming that his claim to the throne was illegitimate.

Some might even suspect that the conspiracy and intrigue of that year were orchestrated by Chu Minghuan and his associates, even though the young emperor was only eleven years old at the time.

The opposition will likely be even stronger then.

Song Ting shouldn't have brought this up at this time; in his plan, he should have proceeded gradually. He had already been lying low for many years, so what difference would a little more time make?

But perhaps because the conversation had just reached this point, or perhaps because he was thinking of Huaixu, who was suffering from the Gu poison at any moment, he suddenly didn't want to wait anymore.

"I..." Chu Minghuan sighed, "I'm not afraid to admit it, but I have thought about it, though I have no evidence."

This is the second time Song Ting has been frightened by this young emperor tonight.

"Why do you have that expression, my dear minister?" Chu Minghuan smiled slightly and teased, "Do you think I will definitely not agree to your request, and might even punish you?"

Song Ting lowered her eyes, which was taken as tacit agreement.

"I am not a heartless person. If it weren't for that person, I would have died long ago. So it doesn't matter if I bear some infamy. In any case, I will sit in this position for a long time. The future merits and demerits are still unknown."

"I remember that person said that when playing chess, one must not be impatient or agitated, and should not let temporary gains or losses disrupt the entire plan. Therefore, I am doing this not only for Prince Duan, but also for myself."

At this moment, Song Ting truly admired the young emperor before him.

"Your subject understands."

"Get up."

Song Ting stood up.

Then the young emperor asked, "How is he?"

"The doctor is trying to find a solution."

On the way back to Chang'an, Chu Huaixu's Gu poison flared up. The emperor had seen it with his own eyes, and there was no way to hide it from him. So Song Ting simply told him that Huaixu had been infected with Gu.

"Gu Yi is keeping an eye on things here. Go back and check on things when you have time. Take Wang Guanghe and the others with you too. Maybe they'll come up with a solution sometime."

Song Ting did not tell the young emperor about the Ghost-Faced Physician, at least not to let the emperor know that the person was currently in his residence.

Although the young emperor appeared so magnanimous and reasonable, and even considered Huaixu's interests in every way, Song Ting still did not fully trust him.

He readily agreed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

...

With all the court officials present, Song Ting naturally couldn't leave in a grand manner. Therefore, he quietly left in the latter half of the night when everyone was dozing off.

Everyone in the mansion had already gone to sleep, so Song Ting didn't disturb anyone. As she reached the corridor, she heard faint footsteps.

If you listen carefully, the sound is coming from Huaixu's room.

It's so late, why isn't Huaixu asleep yet?

Suspicious, Song Ting quietly climbed up the tree. The next moment, a door was gently pushed open from the inside, and someone came out.

It was indeed Huaixu.

Huai Xu changed back into his white robes and black cloak, his figure blending seamlessly into the darkness of the night. Song Ting noticed that he was also carrying a bamboo basket.

It's so late, where is Huaixu going, and what is he going to do?

Song Ting was even more puzzled. Then she saw Huai Xu carrying the small bamboo basket and walking behind the artificial hill.

It was dark at night, and it was difficult for anyone to see someone hiding behind the artificial hill. If Song Ting hadn't been in the tree at that moment, they probably wouldn't have known that someone was hiding there.

Huai Xu raised his hand and took off the hood covering his head, then squatted down, put the bamboo basket in his hand on the ground, and took out the contents.

It's paper money.

"Father, Mother, I have some good news to tell you in the carriage. The Empress Dowager is dead, and that old scoundrel Zhang Bing is also dead. If you could know this in the afterlife, you would be happy, wouldn't you?"

"My eldest brother, needless to say, I bet he'll jump for joy, as if he's afraid no one will know the good news. Mother, please keep an eye on him, don't let him embarrass himself."

"And second brother, I saw Gu Yi the other day. He is now highly regarded by the young emperor and is known as Lord Gu. But he... seems to miss you. If you have time, go and see him in your dreams."

The firelight illuminated his face; he was smiling, yet his eyes revealed a deep sorrow.

Song felt as if her heart was being torn apart.

This shouldn't be the case.

It shouldn't be like this.

"Don't worry, I'm doing well. I just miss you all terribly. Once I've avenged you, I'll... I'll go down and find you. I'm the one who caused you all this, and I'll come to atone for my sins..."

"Please don't scold me then..."

He spoke these words very softly; if one hadn't listened carefully, they would have dissipated like a wisp of smoke in the wind. Yet Song Ting heard them nonetheless.

Commander Song, who was used to seeing all kinds of storms, suddenly froze at these seemingly calm words, as if the blood in his body had frozen in that instant, making him feel a chill to the bone.

Huai Xu had clearly been tired of living for a long time.

He wanted to die.

The only reason he could keep living was revenge.

Once his enemies were all dead, and once he felt he had finally avenged his great grudge, Huai Xu could no longer live.

At this moment, Song Ting suddenly remembered Zhou Tong's words. Perhaps Zhou Tong was right, Song Ting thought. They were all the same people, who had died five years ago. What appeared in front of him now was nothing more than a walking corpse on the verge of death.

Zhou Tong lingered on in order to keep his promise to Chu Huaiqing.

Huai Xu lives because he hates him.

He already knew this.

I already knew.

Thank goodness. Song Ting squeezed his eyes shut and thought to himself, thank goodness he hadn't told Huai Xu the truth, otherwise he couldn't imagine how devastated Huai Xu would have been.

He didn't dare say anything precisely because he was afraid Huaixu would do the same. Now he only feels fortunate.

Since that's the case, then never say it, never let Huaixu know.

I want to live longer, so that Huai Xu can hate me for a long time, he thought to himself. Let Huai Xu hate me forever.

It doesn't matter what, just consider me selfish for wanting Huaixu to stay.