Exonerated (End of main text)

Before Zhou Shouji could speak, the Empress Dowager solemnly said, "People of Dazhao, the one who tacitly allowed the villains to frame the Xiao family is the Emperor Emeritus. Your Majesty's words and actions today are all because, as a son, you wanted to protect your father's face, and thus you made wrong actions and decisions."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jiangsheng and Xie Xiangsi exchanged a glance, their brows furrowing—was the Empress Dowager trying to protect His Majesty?

By pinning the blame for tacitly allowing the Xiao family to be framed by villains on the dying Emperor Zhaowen, Zhou Shouji could be absolved of responsibility, while the recent events could be used to help him establish an image of a dutiful son who would rather be condemned by the world than abandon his father.

It's a sure-fire way to make money.

So, the next step is to appease them, right?

Jie Xiangsi pursed her lips, raised her eyes, and unsurprisingly met the gaze of the Empress Dowager. There was guilt in her eyes, but more than that, there was an unwavering determination and firmness that left no room for doubt or rebuttal.

The whispers of the surrounding people continued unabated, but the Empress Dowager seemed oblivious. She continued speaking with unusual solemnity and calmness, her voice clearly overwhelming the noise: "The injustice done to the Xiao family is a tragedy that grieves heaven and earth. Here, as Empress Dowager Wu Lin, I guarantee to the 132 wronged souls of the Xiao family that, from this day forward, the Xiao Clan Ancestral Hall will be rebuilt, and the memorial tablets of the Xiao clan members will be enshrined, enjoying incense offerings for ten thousand generations. Furthermore, the Xiao Clan Merit Hall will be built, so that the people of Dazhao will forever remember the Xiao family's achievements."

"Furthermore, effective immediately, General Xiao is posthumously granted the title of King of Zhen. Xiao Jiangsheng, son of the Xiao family, shall inherit his title. He shall be granted the title of King of Zhen, despite being of a different surname, and shall be granted the territory of Linzhou! He shall enjoy the double salary of a Prince, and shall not bow to the Emperor, but shall be allowed to wear a sword and shoes in the palace!"

A king of a different surname?!

After a brief silence, a wave of exclamations surged into the sky.

For over a hundred years since the founding of the Great Zhao Dynasty, it has been an ironclad rule that no one of a different surname could be granted the title of king. Yet now, in order to quell the injustice done to the Xiao family, even this ancestral rule has been broken!

Xiao Jiangsheng's pupils contracted sharply. He exchanged a glance with Xie Xiangsi, and both saw surprise and even greater heaviness in each other's eyes.

The title of "King"... This is no longer a reward, but a hot potato. The royal compromise has put them on the hot seat. With such favor, if they were to pursue the matter further, they would be ungrateful.

The Empress Dowager's gaze was like a cold shackle, pressing heavily on the brother and sister.

She didn't give the brother and sister time to think, and spoke again, offering them a bargaining chip they couldn't refuse—

"Furthermore, I, the King of Zhen, will preside over the trial of the Xiao family case. All those involved will have their entire families implicated!"

Upon hearing this, both Xiao Jiangsheng and Jie Xiangsi gasped for breath.

If they accept, they can personally kill their enemies and avenge their clansmen, but from then on, the Xiao family will have no way out. But if they don't accept, after today, everyone in the world will know that the Emperor's grace is boundless and that the Xiao family is ungrateful...

The brother and sister exchanged a glance, and had already made up their minds.

“Brother…” Jie Xiangsi’s eyes reddened slightly.

"Why are you crying?" Xiao chuckled and reached out to rub her head.

Then, he turned to face the high platform, raised his eyelids, lifted his robe, and slowly knelt down on the cold bluestone slab.

"Your subject..." he said calmly, his voice carrying far and wide, "Xiao Jiangsheng thanks the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty for your... grace!"

Beside her, Xie Xiangsi also knelt down, her voice clear yet carrying a resolute air of desperation: "This humble woman thanks you!"

Thus, the wrongful conviction of the Xiao family was finally overturned.

...

The crowds in front of the palace gates gradually dispersed amidst the heavy expression of gratitude, like the receding tide, leaving only a profound sense of awe.

A gentle breeze began to stir atop the high platform.

Zhou Shouji stood by the railing, looking at the palace gate that was crowded with people just a quarter of an hour ago, but was now completely empty, his expression dark and unreadable.

"Royal Grandmother."

After a long silence, he slowly spoke, his voice hoarse.

“A king of a different surname, the presiding judge… Is this really the only way out? Ji’er feels as if we are being forced to do this in front of the whole world.”

He felt an unprecedented sense of humiliation and powerlessness; his imperial dignity was shattered in that moment.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager did not answer immediately, but simply gazed at the scenery of the capital for a while.

After a long pause, she spoke.

"Ji'er".

Her voice was unbelievably calm, like the water of a deep pool: "Look down there, it's empty now, but just now, those kneeling and standing people there represented the will of the people. What do you think we just lost? Was it face?"

Zhou Yanzhi pursed his lips and remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Receiving no answer, the Empress Dowager was not annoyed. She simply shook her head gently, then slowly turned around and looked calmly at the young emperor: "No, what we have lost is the trust of the people of Dazhao. You know, your father tacitly allowed the villains to frame the Xiao family. Besides wanting to expose the corrupt officials in the court, he also wanted to weaken the Xiao family's military power."

"At that time, the situation was unclear. Your father planned to promote the Zhang family after weakening the Xiao family, but he did not expect that Zhang Mingyuan would collude with Consort De and even go so far as to frame the sixth prince born to his younger sister, Consort Xian."

At this point, the Empress Dowager sighed deeply and said, "There are not many people in our Great Zhao who can serve as commanders. Zhang Mingyuan fell from power, and General Xiao died tragically. Among those who can make foreign enemies think twice, there is only General Xiao Sheng in our Great Zhao."

"so……"

The Empress Dowager's eyes darkened. "Xiao Jiangsheng cannot be forced to back down, and we cannot let the enemy know that we have a bad attitude towards Xiao Jiangsheng. Otherwise, a war will be unavoidable."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shouji lowered his eyes, and a certain part of his heart began to soften.

"Ji'er." The Empress Dowager suddenly called out his name.

Zhou Shouji looked up upon hearing the sound.

"Your father always says you're not like him, but I think that among all the princes, you are the most like your father." As if thinking of something, the Empress Dowager's face showed an extremely faint smile: "Your father was like this when he was young. He was obviously very sensitive, but he always pretended to be indifferent. Over time, he often overlooked other, more important things."

Changing her tone, she spoke gently to the young emperor: "Ji'er, do you know why 'Jun' is called 'Jun'?"

"Jun?"

Not understanding why the topic had changed so quickly, Zhou Shouji was momentarily stunned, but he still quickly recited what he had learned from the Grand Tutor since childhood: "'Jun' is composed of 'Yin' above and 'Kou' below. 'Yin' symbolizes governance and control, while 'Kou' symbolizes decision-making and education. Together, they mean 'wielding the staff of laws and regulations to lead all people.'"

"Is that so?" The Empress Dowager smiled. "But if my grandmother says that the first meaning of the character '君' (ruler) is not virtue, not diligence, and certainly not discernment..."

She paused, then spoke each word with a heavy impact on Zhou Shouji's heart.

The first meaning of the character "君" is to inherit.

"Bearing the weight of the nation, bearing the hopes of the people, and even more so, bearing the consequences of every decision you and your father made, whether right or wrong."

"The title and power that Xiao Jiangsheng has received today are not bestowed upon us, but are what we are obligated to return. They are the sins and punishments we bear for your father, the Emperor, and for our Zhou royal family."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shouji trembled. He suddenly raised his eyelids, only to meet the eyes of the Empress Dowager.

It was at this moment that he realized that the famous "Empress Wu Lin" in his memory, the legendary invincible "Empress Wu Lin," had become weary in her eyes.

"You feel humiliated? You feel forced?" The Empress Dowager's voice carried a faint hint of mockery. "When the 132 members of the Xiao family were framed and brutally murdered, what did they endure?"

"What was Xiao Yan enduring when she despaired and committed suicide at the city gate?"

"When Xiao Jiangsheng crawled out of a pile of corpses and returned to the capital, the first news he learned was the death of his own sister. What did he endure?"

Raising her hand, the Empress Dowager gently straightened Zhou Shouji's slightly disheveled crown. Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but it was just enough for him to hear.

"The humiliation you suffer today is only the first step in your understanding of what it means to be a 'ruler'. From childhood to adulthood, you have always been the most outstanding among all the princes, so you have always been more arrogant than the other princes. However, your father favors the fourth prince more, so you are a bit stubborn and believe that what you do is not wrong."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shouji's long eyelashes trembled slightly, clearly indicating that his thoughts had been exposed. In truth, no one knew that on the day of the palace coup, he truly felt a sense of regret that his father had not died at the hands of his favorite prince.

He admitted that he was paranoid and wished death upon everyone who treated him badly. He also wished to become a king whom no one dared to challenge.

"However, Ji'er, a qualified monarch is not one who never makes mistakes, but one who has the courage to face them and do everything in his power, even at the cost of his own dignity, to make amends and stabilize the country."

Changing the subject, the Empress Dowager gestured for him to look outside and spoke gently.

"Just like today, on the surface, our royal family has lost face, but in the long run, we have stabilized the hearts of the people. Making mistakes is not terrible; what is terrible is knowing your mistakes and not correcting them."

"There are countless ways to manage subordinates. It is easy to live with docile domestic animals, but it is a challenge to live with a ferocious beast that you have released, and even to control it again and make it willingly serve you."

“Ji’er, this is the true beginning of your path of ‘guarding Ji’.”

Zhou Shouji's heart pounded.

After a moment of silence, he spoke again, bowing deeply to the Empress Dowager, raising his eyes, and speaking with an exceptionally firm tone: "Ji'er knows what to do. Thank you for your guidance, Grandmother."

...

Following the crowd out of the palace gates, Jie Xiangsi and Xiao Jiangsheng carried the memorial tablets in their hands and walked step by step back to the sealed-off Jin'an Marquis's Mansion, their former home.

They tore off the seal and stepped through the main gate, carrying the spirits of their deceased loved ones.

The once spotless altar was now covered in dust, giving it a strangely sour look. Jie Xiangsi and Xiao Jiangsheng led their people to carefully clean the ancestral hall, working for a long time before they were finally able to finish.

She placed the memorial tablet steadily on the altar, and then respectfully lit incense for each of the clansmen. Jie Xiangsi turned to Xiao Jiangsheng beside her and said, "Brother."

"Hmm?" Xiao turned his head and met his younger sister's eyes.

"I..." Xie Xiangsi hesitated, her gaze constantly drifting towards the outside of the mansion, as if she could catch a glimpse of the person who had been following her ever since she left the palace.

Seeing his younger sister's expression, Xiao Jiangsheng knew exactly what she was thinking and what she wanted to do. However... he stared intently at his sister and asked, "Is it him or no one else?"

To be honest, he really didn't want his younger sister to marry Zhou Yanzhi. After all, after this incident, the Zhou royal family would definitely be more wary of their Xiao family, and he wouldn't feel at ease if Xiao Yan married into the family.

“I… um.” After a pause, Xie Xiangsi raised her eyes and stared intently at her brother, replying, “I will marry no one but him, brother. I’ve liked him for a long time.”

"Yeah?"

"yes!"

Seeing the tension on Xie Xiangsi's face, Xiao Jiangsheng couldn't help but chuckle. He raised his hand and patted Xie Xiangsi's head twice, saying with a touch of regret, "Then go find him."

He paused, then gave Xie Xiangsi's head a couple more hard rubs. Just as she was about to retaliate, she heard him inhale softly from above. With just that one breath, Xie Xiangsi knew—it was Xiao Jiangsheng crying.

“Brother…” Jie Xiangsi was at a loss.

Suddenly, Xiao Jiangsheng pulled her into his arms, his muffled voice above her head.

"It's nothing, I just feel a little reluctant to part with it."

"It feels like it wasn't long at all, and you've grown up so much, old enough to get married. In my memory, you were just a tiny little thing running behind me..."

“You’re not that old, and you’ve already died once.”

"Yan Yan".

"My brother really can't bear to part with it."

Hearing Xiao Jiang's increasingly unsteady voice, Jie Xiangsi felt a lump in her throat, her eyes reddened, and she couldn't help but want to cry. She also raised her hand and hugged her brother tightly: "Brother..."

The brother and sister hugged each other and cried for a long time.

After a long while, the two finally separated.

Seeing his younger sister's red eyes, Xiao Jiangsheng couldn't help but smile. He reached out and smoothed her hair, which he had ruffled, and gently pushed her away.

"Go."

...

Outside the residence of the Marquis of Jin'an.

Zhou Yanzhi stood quietly in front of the Marquis's residence, his gaze fixed on the two tightly closed gates. Meanwhile, Su Feng, dressed in light clothing, and Qi Minghua, dressed in white, watched Zhou Yanzhi, who was standing like a statue in front of the Marquis of Jin'an's residence, from a tea stall not far away.

After taking a sip of tea, Su Feng leisurely fanned himself and said to the person beside him, "Hey, do you think our great romantic won't be abandoned?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Minghua turned her head and glanced at him, but did not reply.

What's with all this talk about abandoning or not abandoning? It's so unlucky!

Seeing that no one answered, Su Feng was not annoyed. He put down his fan, picked up his teacup, and began to drink tea. Suddenly, he heard Qi Minghua's gratified voice beside him—

"Won't!"

Su Feng: "..."

Setting down his teacup slowly, Su Feng glanced to the side and said, "I'm not saying this, but your reply is way too slow."

"Tsk."

Qi Minghua didn't say much to him, but simply turned the man's head to one side and said disdainfully, "See for yourself."

Su Feng followed his gaze and, upon seeing something, his eyes widened, revealing the same look of satisfaction as Qi Minghua. He spoke with great delight.

"It seems they haven't been abandoned."

Meanwhile, Xie Xiangsi and Zhou Yanzhi, who were being observed by these two, stood facing each other, silently staring at each other for a long time, like two statues, neither of them showing any intention of speaking first.

After a while, the two spoke at the same time.

"you……"

"you……"

After a brief pause, the two spoke at the same time, saying in unison, "You go first."

"Pfft—"

Jie Xiangsi couldn't help but laugh. She looked up at the person in front of her, a smile flashing across her eyes. "Okay, then I'll go first. Listen carefully."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanzhi's expression became even more serious.

The girl in front of him trembled slightly with her long eyelashes, looked at him, and slowly spoke, her voice firm yet tinged with shyness: "Would you... like to come with me to Xiangguo Temple?"

In an instant, Zhou Yanzhi felt that the surroundings had become quiet, and in the silence, he heard his own voice.

"I couldn't have gotten it."

—End of text—