TIGR Chapter 137

The Imperial Guard’s Revenge

Chapter 137 asdf

Finale

In the evening, the wind was calm and the air was cool. Wang Yanqing sat on the patio, testing Lu Xuan’s recitation.

Lu Xuan recited smoothly at first, but towards the end, his eyes kept drifting outside, and he stumbled over the latter part of the passage. Still, he managed to finish and breathed a long sigh of relief: “Mother, I’ve finished. I’m going out to play!”

“Come back.” Just as Lu Xuan was about to dash out, Wang Yanqing called him back. Her face remained calm, and her voice was gentle and soft, but her tone allowed no room for argument, “Memorize the second part properly before you go.”

Lu Xuan fidgeted with his fingers, reluctant: “Mother, I’ve been reciting all day. Let’s continue tomorrow.”

“No, I’ll wait here while you finish it.” Seeing him still unmoved, Wang Yanqing threatened, “If you keep dawdling, your father will be home soon. Do you want him to test you?”

Lu Xuan deflated. Mother never scolded him harshly. Even when he made mistakes, she would just correct him and have him recite it again. But with his father, that would be a different matter.

Wang Yanqing called Lu Xuan to her side, accompanying him as they read through the latter part clearly. She explained the meaning of each sentence and had him recite it again. Lu Xuan inherited Lu Heng’s excellent memory, but even the best talent required constant practice. Without effort, a good memory would eventually become slight cleverness, blending into mediocrity.

In fact, Lu Xuan didn’t lack the ability to memorize. He simply relied on his sharp mind, playing all day and not applying himself properly. By evening, he would hurriedly memorize in chunks just to pass Wang Yanqing’s tests. Wang Yanqing helped him work through the second half. Once he understood the meaning, reciting became much easier.

Lu Xuan leaned against his mother’s warm and soft body, listening as she gently explained the poetry. Slowly, he became absorbed in it. Just as he was becoming immersed, he suddenly heard greetings from outside, followed by a figure in bright red stepping through the courtyard gate, striding towards the main house.

Lu Xuan instantly tensed, clutching Wang Yanqing’s sleeve. Father was home early today, if he found out Lu Xuan hadn’t finished his homework…

Wang Yanqing tapped his head, her gaze calm as she said: “Now you’re afraid? You were still playing around during the day. Will you do it next time?”

Lu Xuan hurriedly shook his head. At that moment, Lu Heng pushed open the door. He saw Lu Xuan kneeling on the couch with books spread out in front of him and asked: “What’s going on?”

Lu Xuan’s entire body stiffened with fear. Wang Yanqing calmly closed the book and said: “Nothing, I just finished checking his work. Xuan’er, go tidy up your things.”

Relieved, Lu Xuan jumped off the couch, gathered his books, hurriedly greeted Lu Heng without even raising his head, and dashed out. Watching the boy’s rabbit-like retreat, Lu Heng sneered: “Out playing again today, weren’t you? Trying to rush through your homework.”

Wang Yanqing tidied up the brushes and ink on the table, saying: “He’s barely four years old. It’s natural for him to play. When I was four, I didn’t even know how to read.”

Lu Heng removed his embroidered spring blade and sat beside Wang Yanqing: “That’s different. You were much more sensible, unlike him, always scheming ways to fool his family.”

Wang Yanqing still spoke gently in defense of her son: “Ordinary children don’t need to study so early. It’s only because he’ll enter the palace as a companion that we’re teaching him in advance. These texts are truly too dull for a child. Even you only became a companion reader at six.”

In truth, Lu Heng knew that the current pace was indeed a bit too demanding for Lu Xuan. The Third Prince was three years older than Lu Xuan. Whether in comprehension or focus, he far surpassed Lu Xuan. To keep up with the prince, Lu Xuan had to start early. Otherwise, once in the palace, he would lag behind, lose confidence, and perhaps lose interest in learning altogether.

Though Lu Heng understood this, he still felt jealous seeing Wang Yanqing always defending Lu Xuan. Raising an eyebrow, he pressed his hand onto Wang Yanqing: “At six, I didn’t have anyone explaining lessons to me every day, reading with me. The attention you give him is far more than what you give me.”

It was usual for Lu Heng to wrap his arms around her waist, but today, Wang Yanqing stiffened unusually, pushing his hand away with a stern face: “Don’t mess around.”

Lu Heng’s hand was blocked, and he looked at her in surprise: “What’s wrong?”

Uncertain of the matter herself, Wang Yanqing hadn’t intended to say anything. But his piercing gaze was too much. Eventually, she couldn’t resist and whispered: “I might be expecting again.”

Lu Heng’s expression changed abruptly upon hearing this. Seeing this, Wang Yanqing hurriedly explained: “But I haven’t had a doctor examine me yet, it’s just my own guess. I might be wrong.”

“You did the right thing. It’s better to be cautious with such matters.” Lu Heng immediately grew serious as well. Since Wang Yanqing herself had a feeling, it was likely close to certain. His gaze toward her turned careful and gentle. He lightly wrapped his arm around Wang Yanqing’s waist, his palm hovering over her lower abdomen, as if trying to feel what was inside: “Do you think it’s a boy or a girl this time?”

Wang Yanqing leaned against Lu Heng’s shoulder, also looking expectantly at her lower abdomen: “It’s all fate. Whatever comes is good.”

“True.” Lu Heng nodded, but still added, “But if it’s a girl, that would be even better.”

Wang Yanqing smiled softly: “And if it’s a boy?”

“Then I’ll work harder next time, to make sure you bear a daughter.”

Wang Yanqing immediately gave Lu Heng a light punch, scolding: “The child is right here. What nonsense are you spouting?”

Lu Heng was unfazed: “So what? Sooner or later, children should understand these things. As parents, it’s good to set an example early.”

“More? Shut up.”

Having given birth to one child already, Wang Yanqing could vaguely sense another pregnant. But since it was still early, she didn’t want to bring false joy, so she kept quiet. If she weren’t worried that Lu Heng might get too rough, she wouldn’t have even told him.

Although Lu Heng outwardly said it was up to fate, he still immediately summoned a doctor the very next day. The emperor wasn’t holding court sessions currently, and as a First-Rank Commander, Lu Heng’s rank was so high that barely anyone outranked him. If he chose not to report for duty, no one dared to object. Thus, Lu Heng openly skipped work to stay home with Wang Yanqing.

The doctor arrived, paid his respects to Lu Heng, and proceeded to examine Wang Yanqing’s pulse.

When Wang Yanqing was pregnant with Lu Xuan, they had been so nervous that the physician was frightened into silence. This time, though Lu Heng still took it seriously, he wasn’t as tense as before. With no interference, the physician quickly completed his diagnosis, rose, and bowed: “Congratulations, Supreme Commander. Congratulations, Madam. Your pulse indicates you are pregnant.”

Wang Yanqing’s guess was confirmed, and her face bloomed with a smile. Lu Heng ordered his people to escort the doctor out to collect his reward and have some tonics prescribed. Wang Yanqing interjected: “Medicine always carries some toxicity. Since I’m not feeling unwell, there’s no need for tonics. It would be a waste.”

Lu Heng insisted: “It’s good if we don’t need them, but we should have some prepared, just in case.”

Lu Heng was determined, and Wang Yanqing’s persuasion was fruitless, so she let him be. Ling Xi and Ling Luan took the doctor out to prepare the prescriptions while Lu Heng stayed by Wang Yanqing’s side, speaking with her in a low voice. Amid their warmth, Lu Xuan came running in, thumping his way to the couch, leaning over with a mysterious look: “Father, Mother, I just heard from the nursemaid that Mother is going to give me a little brother?”

“A little sister.” Lu Heng corrected him immediately. “This doesn’t concern you. Go back and recite your books.”

Lu Xuan refused, clinging to the couch’s edge coquettishly: “Little sister won’t know anything when she arrives. As her big brother, I should talk to her more.”

Seeing Lu Heng ignore him, Lu Xuan ran to the other side, hugging Wang Yanqing’s hand and whining: “Mother…

Wang Yanqing was eventually worn down and relented: “Alright, you get a day off. Just this once, no next time.”

Lu Xuan immediately cheered. His voice was too exuberant. Seeing Lu Heng glance his way, Lu Xuan quickly covered his mouth and tiptoed out.

A short while later, Lu Xuan returned, arms full of items, loudly proclaiming: “Mother, I’m going to teach my little sister how to read.”

Lu Heng, holding Wang Yanqing’s hand in conversation, chuckled lightly upon seeing Lu Xuan: “With your level, you think you can teach others?”

With Wang Yanqing present, Lu Xuan’s courage soared. He wasn’t afraid of Lu Heng at all. Kicking off his shoes, he climbed onto the couch, sitting beside Wang Yanqing and asked: “Mother, what should little sister learn first?”

The family was enjoying a warm, cheerful moment when suddenly, a guard hurriedly approached, stopping at the main room’s entrance: “Supreme Commander.”

His voice was urgent and low, as if suppressing something serious. Lu Heng glanced outside and, with a composed face, said to his wife and son: “You two stay here, I’m going to the office. I’ll be back soon.”

Wang Yanqing also heard the guard’s voice. Her face showed concern, but she still nodded calmly: “Alright, go safely.”

Lu Heng quickly stood up and left. Though Lu Xuan was still young, perhaps taking after Wang Yanqing, he was very sensitive to emotions. He nestled beside Wang Yanqing, asking fearfully: “Mother, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Wang Yanqing gently stroked her son’s head, her tone soft yet firm. “It must be some official business. Don’t worry, your father will handle it.”

Lu Heng said he would return soon, but by nightfall, there was still no sign of him. Lu Xuan insisted on waiting for Lu Heng, but in the end, he couldn’t stay awake and fell asleep on Wang Yanqing’s lap.

Wang Yanqing softly patted her son, and once he was sound asleep, she carefully laid him down on the bed.

As she was tucking Lu Xuan in with a quilt, footsteps sounded outside. Wang Yanqing realized Lu Heng had returned. She gestured for the nursemaid to watch over Lu Xuan, then quickly walked to the door.

Lu Heng entered and happened to bump directly into Wang Yanqing. Wang Yanqing immediately hushed him and stepped forward to help him remove his cloak: “What happened?”

In Wang Yanqing’s memory, the last time she saw Lu Heng with such a grave expression was during the Renyin Palace Rebellion. Lu Heng sighed heavily, pressing his fingers to his brow: “The Altan tribe demanded the reopening of the horse market, but the court refused. The tribe attacked the border, and today, they breached Gubeikou and crossed the Great Wall.”

Wang Yanqing gasped. Crossed Gubeikou, didn’t that mean they were about to threaten the capital itself?

No wonder the guards were so flustered when they came looking for him today. No wonder Lu Heng was busy until now. Wang Yanqing lowered her voice, worried about waking Lu Xuan, and asked: “What did the emperor say?”

“The palace has been deliberating this all day. The capital has garrison troops and city walls, so defending against the Mongol cavalry isn’t an issue. But grain is a major problem.”

“What?”

“This year’s new harvest hasn’t come in yet. The capital’s granaries are nearly empty, relying on surrounding areas for supply. The nearest granary is in Tongzhou. If the capital is besieged, there’s only enough food for ten days in the reserves.”

Wang Yanqing’s eyes widened. She thought the Mongols approaching the capital was already the worst scenario, but the reality was always more absurd than she imagined. Lu Heng sighed and spoke frankly to her, setting aside courtly niceties: “Even ten days is an optimistic estimate. In my view, once news of war spreads, noble families will compete with the commoners for food. Ordinary folks might only last five days.”

Wang Yanqing was speechless. Several major granaries surrounded the capital, but no one ever considered the possibility of the city being besieged and no one paid attention to stockpiling food within the walls. As a result, everyone was caught off guard when the Mongol cavalry arrived.

Wang Yanqing frowned and said: “There are a hundred thousand troops stationed in the capital. No matter how many the Altan tribe brings, they can’t outnumber a hundred thousand. Can’t we just drive them away?”

“That’s another problem.” Lu Heng’s lips curved into a smile, but his eyes remained cold, filled with mockery. “The so-called hundred thousand of the Three Great Battalions are mostly old, weak, sick, disabled, or only drawing pay by name through connections. The actual number is probably less than half. Everyone in the Six Ministries know this, so no one wants to go to war.”

Falsifying army rosters was easy, but actual soldiers couldn’t be faked. Once they engaged in battle, the empty payrolls and draft evasions would be exposed. By then, whoever was in command would become the scapegoat.

Having troops but no general, that was bitterly ironic. Wang Yanqing couldn’t respond and asked: “Then what will you do?”

Lu Heng sneered: “Tonight, the Ministry of Revenue rushed to transport grain from Tongzhou. Whatever they can bring back is better than nothing. At the same time, the Ministry of War has issued urgent orders to surrounding regions, hoping someone will arrive quickly with reinforcement troops.”

Because no one is willing to engage, the capital can only stay on the defensive. The emperor ordered the city gates closed, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving, to prevent Mongol spies from getting in. Fortunately, the Ministry of Revenue managed to bring back enough grain to feed the entire city for a month. The emperor could finally breathe a little easier, though he was still furious.

In all his life, the emperor never worried about food. Now, it was no longer a matter of choosing between southern rice or Hetao wheat, but whether there would even be food next month with Tongzhou’s soybeans.

Because of the Mongol invasion, the entire city had to downgrade their food. Even the palace and noble families were forced to eat coarse grains. Lu Xuan, noticing the sudden lack of vegetables in his bowl, asked: “Mother, why haven’t we had vegetables these past few days?”

In times of peace, officials and nobles feasted on delicacies, but in wartime, vegetables became the most luxurious item. Wang Yanqing softly reassured her son: “These days, life is hard for the common folk. Many can’t even buy grain. We should also eat less.”

After news of the siege spread, everyone fell into panic. Every household began stockpiling grain. Although the Ministry of Revenue shipped enough food for the whole city to last a month, commoners could never compete with powerful noble families, most of the grain was intercepted by the high-ranking clans, and some merchants took advantage of the chaos, hoarding supplies to drive up the prices.

The Lu Mansion had reserves, but Wang Yanqing still ordered all expenses to be reduced. She also distributed grain and flour to the common people, helping even a little was something.

“Why?” Lu Xuan asked. “There are so many farms outside the city. If we can’t buy it here, can’t we just go outside to buy some?”

Wang Yanqing replied: “But there are Mongols outside.”

“There are so many of us, can’t we just chase them off?”

Wang Yanqing didn’t know how to explain it to her son. She stroked his head and sighed: “Yes, even you understand that. Why is it the adults don’t?”

The emperor felt he would one day face death by anger for his officials. The capital of the mighty Ming Dynasty had been forced to shut its gates by just a few thousand Mongol cavalry, and the emperor asked repeatedly, yet not a single person was willing to go out and fight.

The Mongols weren’t fools either. Altan Khan never expected to truly penetrate the Ming Dynasty. He had no ambition to conquer cities and knew he couldn’t take them, so he didn’t attack the capital directly. Instead, he plundered food on the outskirts.

Mongol cavalry roamed freely beyond the city, galloping openly, as if it were a land without defenses. The emperor was dizzy with fury. Fortunately, not all the Ming were cowards. On the fifth day of the capital’s lockdown, reinforcements from various regions began arriving.

The first to arrive was the garrison from Datong, led by Commander Fu Tingzhou.

Fu Tingzhou finally understood what it had felt like when Lu Heng saved the emperor back then, this was truly a thousand-mile gift of military merit. Fortunately, he hadn’t wasted his years on the frontier. Among all the reinforcements, he was the first to reach the capital.

The emperor’s mood upon seeing Fu Tingzhou was identical to when he opened his eyes during the Renyin Palace Rebellion and saw Lu Heng. The emperor immediately promoted Fu Tingzhou to Grand General, giving him command over all forces. Fu Tingzhou’s power expanded dramatically, every resource inside and outside the capital was now under his control. He was essentially Commander-in-Chief of all troops.

Lu Heng had long been a standout in the bureaucracy, leaving his peers far behind. But now, Fu Tingzhou’s rapid promotion meant his military standing nearly matched Lu Heng’s.

At the palace gate, Fu Tingzhou and Lu Heng met face-to-face, Lu Heng exiting and Fu Tingzhou entering. Fu Tingzhou found the moment strangely familiar. Once, years ago, they met just like this on the way to court.

Only back then, Lu Heng was the emperor’s favorite rising star, while Fu Tingzhou was a nobody who just entered the officialdom.

Now, everything was reversed.

Fu Tingzhou stopped, but Lu Heng walked right past him, as if he hadn’t seen him at all. Fu Tingzhou smiled faintly and, as they brushed shoulders, suddenly spoke: “Supreme Commander Lu, it’s been a while, yet you don’t even say hello?”

“Grand General Fu overthinks. You are entering the palace on imperial summons, and I am merely leaving so as not to delay the emperor’s questioning. But you seem at ease. The emperor is waiting, yet you’re pausing to chat. Grand General Fu, it’s not good to keep the emperor waiting for so long.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Supreme Commander Lu.” Fu Tingzhou said. “Still, I wonder what urgent matter you have that you don’t even have time for a simple greeting?”

Lu Heng turned and smiled at Fu Tingzhou. When Fu Tingzhou saw the glint in his eyes, he realized he had fallen into a trap. But it was too late, he had no time to object before hearing Lu Heng say: “Indeed, my wife is pregnant, and I’m rushing home to be with her.”

Fu Tingzhou froze and his breath caught. Lu Heng, this dog, had been lying in wait for this.

After his initial anger, a sense of confusion washed over Fu Tingzhou. She was already expecting her second child?

Time really had flown.

A nameless jealousy rose in Fu Tingzhou’s chest. He said: “I used to think Supreme Commander Lu was ruthless and scheming, but still a man of responsibility. Yet with the capital under siege, and farmlands being trampled by barbarians, you, just like the others, hide inside the city and refuse to fight?”

That kind of jab might shake a hotheaded youth, but it didn’t faze Lu Heng at all. He replied calmly: “I am the emperor’s personal guard. My sole duty is to protect the emperor. Defending the nation is your task, not mine. Besides, during the five days of siege, order within the city remained intact, not a single spy got through. My wife and son were safe and unharmed. I won’t claim to have defended the nation, but as for protecting my family, I believe I did that much.”

Fu Tingzhou stopped because of a hidden desire to compete. All these years, Lu Heng had always outranked him, advanced faster, even she had chosen Lu Heng. Fu Tingzhou swallowed his resentment for years. Now, finally, he had the chance, he too saved the emperor, and he earned his place. So he provoked Lu Heng, just to retaliate for old humiliation.

Even without amnesia, if Wang Yanqing met them both at the same time, she still would’ve chosen Lu Heng.

What man could tolerate that kind of humiliation? Yet in the end, it was Fu Tingzhou who stormed off, defeated.

His success had come too late. If it had been ten years earlier, he would have done anything to marry Wang Yanqing and he wouldn’t have entered a political marriage with another marquis’ daughter for career gains. Even five years earlier, he might have had a chance to win her back.

But now? She already had a son and was pregnant with another man’s child.

Lu Heng watched Fu Tingzhou leave, calm and composed on the surface, but fuming inside.

That infuriating buzzing fly was still thinking about Qing Qing after all these years. As for Fu Tingzhou’s jabs about hiding from battle, Lu Heng couldn’t care less.

You do what your post demands. He was an Imperial Guard, not a city guard. What heroism was he supposed to show? If anything, his duty, should the city fall, was to escort the emperor to safety.

It would’ve been foolish to recklessly join the fight when the city was never truly in danger. With the mess of the Three Grand Battalions, anyone who got involved would be dragged down. Lu Heng wasn’t about to fall into that trap.

To him, protecting his family was the most practical thing to do.

The Mongol cavalry was driven off after only nine days inside the pass. Apart from damage to the farms outside the city, the capital itself suffered little. Still, the emperor considered it a national humiliation. He told the Cabinet: “Foreign officials dared sit at our gates and watch as our city was besieged, how can this go unpunished? If we do not send troops in retribution, what example are we setting?”

After the emperor issued the decree, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue were ordered to gather troops and stockpile grain in preparation for a military campaign. Fu Tingzhou was given the title, Grand General Who Pacified the Barbarians, and instructed to lead an army to suppress the Altan tribe. The emperor demanded he emulate the might of the founding emperors Hongwu and Yongle, and drive the barbarians back three thousand miles.

Fu Tingzhou set out with a grand expeditionary force to campaign against the Mongols, with an awe-inspiring procession. On the day of his departure, the streets of the capital were packed to the brim with people. The entire city turned out to see the Grand General Who Pacified the Barbarians. Fu Tingzhou rode on horseback, eyes sweeping over the dense sea of people, thinking. Could she be among them?

He thought again. If she were my wife now, seeing me off amidst the crowd’s gaze, how wonderful that would be.

Fu Tingzhou looked for a long time but never found the figure he hoped for. Internally sighing, he turned and ordered his deputy general: “Move out.”

While the Grand General Who Pacified the Barbarians rode forth with glory and grandeur, the wife of the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Guards naturally would not appear on such a dangerous occasion. Wang Yanqing stayed home with her son, urging Lu Xuan to study. But today, he kept fidgeting left and right, unable to focus.

Lu Xuan finally couldn’t hold it in and leaned toward Wang Yanqing: “Mother, today the General Who Pacified the Barbarians led his army out. A lot of people are going to see him! I want to go too.”

“What does marching and fighting have to do with you?” Wang Yanqing was unmoved and coldly said, “Recite your books.”

Lu Xuan pouted and sat back down, muttering, “I heard the general marched urgently from the frontier to the capital, and now he’s leading a hundred thousand troops to battle the Mongols. How impressive! Unlike Father, when the Mongols reached Anding Gate, he still ordered the gates shut and stayed inside.”

Lu Xuan was just parroting what he’d heard, he didn’t even know where Anding Gate was. But as soon as he finished, his usually gentle and kind mother’s face turned cold. She slammed the table hard and snapped: “Lu Xuan.”

Lu Xuan was startled and instinctively stood up: “Mother.”

Ling Xi and Ling Luan were also frightened, rushing forward to steady Wang Yanqing: “Madam, please don’t get angry. You must take care of the baby.”

Wang Yanqing stared at her son with a look of unprecedented severity and scolded: “You only see the Datong army’s urgent charge, but do you know, when Altan’s army approached Tongzhou, it was your father who submitted a memorial urging the Ministry of War to deploy troops and the Ministry of Revenue to allocate rations? Without him, the month’s supply of food for the city wouldn’t have arrived in time.  When Altan’s army reached the capital, countless thugs plotted unrest, it was your father who mobilized the entire Imperial Guards, day and night, to arrest the ringleaders and quell the threat. You only see the glory of the General Who Pacified the Barbarians commanding a hundred thousand troops. But do you know, when the Mongols first arrived, tens of thousands of refugees gathered outside the city walls? It was your father who persuaded the emperor to open the gates and let the fleeing people in, preventing a massacre. There is only one General Who Pacified the Barbarians. But the reason you can sit here safely reading your books is because of thousands upon thousands of nameless people like your father working in the shadows.”

Lu Xuan hung his head, sniffling and crying: “Mother, I was wrong.”

“It’s my failure in teaching you, to let you think such things.” Wang Yanqing said solemnly, “Ling Xi, bring the rod.”

Ling Xi glanced at Lu Xuan and tried to dissuade her in a low voice: “Madam…”

It wasn’t that they were pleading for the young master. Children, delicate as they were, should be disciplined when necessary. If not now, they’d be beaten by others in the future. What they feared was that Wang Yanqing would be too angry and harm the baby in her womb.

Wang Yanqing’s face remained cold as frost. She said icily: “Go get the rod.”

Ling Xi and Ling Luan said nothing more and quietly fetched the ruler. Wang Yanqing, one hand steadying her already prominent belly, gripped the rod in the other and struck Lu Xuan’s palm hard.

Lu Xuan had been protected all his life, never had his hands even been scraped. But now, just one strike made his palm swell red and high. Wang Yanqing didn’t even glance at it and continued hitting him harshly.

“This family teaches you to read and practice martial arts. Not to be a reckless hero, but to make you a man worthy of heaven and earth, of the people. Wherever you go, you must be kind and grounded.”

Lu Xuan was already sobbing, trembling all over. He wanted to dodge but dared not, crying: “Mother, I was wrong.”

Only after three strikes, and with the maids pleading, did Wang Yanqing reluctantly lower the rod. She frowned, steadying her belly, and the maids hurried to help her sit down. Then they were calling doctors and attendants, it was utter chaos. In the commotion, Ling Luan came to hold Lu Xuan’s hand and said: “Young Master, Madam can’t teach you today. Please go back.”

“But what about my mother…”

“Madam will be fine.” Ling Luan said. “Don’t be afraid and go apply some medicine. We’ll take care of her.”

Lu Xuan was taken away by the nursemaid. He had medicine applied to his hands, but he remained gloomy all day. His mother had never scolded him before. Today, he made her so angry that it nearly hurt his baby sister in her belly. He felt terrible but didn’t dare approach her.

Mother surely didn’t want to see him right now.

The nursemaid tried comforting him, her heart aching at the red swell of Lu Xuan’s palms, but Lu Xuan found it annoying. He said he wanted to sleep and chased them all out. Once he was alone, he buried himself under the covers and cried in silence.

He didn’t know how long he cried, but suddenly, he felt someone pulling at his blanket. Lu Xuan startled, he didn’t want the nursemaid or maids to see him like this. He held the blanket tightly: “I’m sleeping, go away!”

But his resistance was useless. The person on the other end was too strong and easily snatched the blanket away. Lu Xuan turned around angrily and unexpectedly found that it was his father.

Lu Heng sat by the bed, looking at him with a faint smile: “At least you know enough to feel ashamed. Hiding under the covers to cry, huh?”

Lu Xuan thought it was a maid. Seeing that it was Lu Heng, he shrank back. His father was always strict. Today he’d spoken ill of him, made Mother cry, and caused her pain, he thought his father would surely punish him severely this time.

Yet the scolding never came. Lu Heng set the blanket aside and said: “Let me see your hand.”

Lu Xuan hesitated but eventually stretched it out. Lu Heng examined it, then suddenly pressed down hard on the swollen part. Lu Xuan cried out in pain, but Lu Heng remained unmoved, checking the whole hand before slowly saying: “Made your mother angry today, didn’t you?”

Lu Xuan lowered his head, saying nothing. Lu Heng chuckled lightly: “Serves you right. No broken bones, just some bruising. It’ll heal in a couple days.”

Lu Xuan thought his father would scold him for what he said during the day, but Lu Heng acted as if he didn’t know. After examining the wound, he stood up, patted Lu Xuan’s head, and said: “Tomorrow, go apologize to your mother. Don’t make her worry.”

After speaking, Lu Heng turned to leave. Lu Xuan suddenly called out from behind, biting his lip.

“Father, today I…”

“No need to explain. I’m not so petty as to hold it against you.” Lu Heng replied. “But I hope that one day, you’ll be able to form your own judgment, instead of simply believing what others say. Hopefully that day won’t be far off.”

Lu Heng left after that, leaving Lu Xuan sitting on the bed in a daze for quite a while.

Lu Heng returned to the main chamber. Wang Yanqing had already taken down her hair and was lying in bed to rest. Hearing him come in, she asked: “How is he?”

“He’s fine. When I went in, he was curled up crying under the blanket.” Lu Heng chuckled as he sat by the bed and tucked her in. “But the doctor said you stirred your womb today. Next time you want to discipline him, let the maids do it. Don’t do it yourself.”

Wang Yanqing shook her head: “If I don’t do it myself, he won’t remember.”

She said that, but Lu Heng knew she was afraid others might take it too far and harm Lu Xuan’s foundation. Lu Heng didn’t point it out: “All right, we’ll raise the child slowly. Don’t worry, get some rest.”

But how could Wang Yanqing fall asleep? She asked: “He led the army out today, right? I heard the emperor trusts him very much, even gave him a private seal and allowed him to report directly by secret letters. If this goes on, won’t he become a threat to you?”

This was probably the most delightful thing Lu Heng had heard all day. He asked: “Who is he?”

Wang Yanqing, annoyed, said: “Who else could it be? Of course it’s Fu Tingzhou.”

Carefully avoiding her belly, Lu Heng held his wife in his arms: “It makes me happy that you worry for me. But if he wants to be a threat to me, he should at least beat the Mongols first.”

Wang Yanqing frowned: “Don’t tell me there’s something fishy about this battle?”

“No tricks.” Lu Heng said. “But everyone wants to claim credit, just like in the war against the Japanese pirates. Everyone has their own hidden motives, and in the end, nothing gets done. This time, I won’t help him clean up the mess. Let’s see if he can handle those old foxes.”

Lu Heng was right. At first, Fu Tingzhou thought this was a straightforward military campaign, later, he realized it was a political struggle.

Among the overseeing government officials, there were factions loyal to Xia and Yan. Even mid-ranking generals had their own calculations. In the first few days of the expedition, what they did most was not strategizing how to fight the Mongols but argue over whose orders to follow.

The Mongols excelled at mounted archery. Any hesitation and the opportunity vanished. The Altan cavalry had already broken through the encirclement and vanished deep into the grasslands.

After missing several chances, Fu Tingzhou couldn’t take it anymore and tried to discipline the government officials with military law. But Ming Dynasty government officials were the least afraid of physical punishment. The more Fu attacked them, the more they would risk their lives to impeach him.

In the end, Fu Tingzhou became a pawn in the power struggle between the Xia and Yan factions. He started by disciplining a student of Head Auxiliary Xia Wenjin. So Yan Wei’s men, thinking Fu was on their side, became bolder. Fu, unable to endure it any longer, punished one of Yan’s men as a warning, subtly drawing a line between himself and Yan.

When he was reinstated as General of Datong, he relied on Yan Wei’s support. But now he had repaid that debt. If Yan wanted to use that favor to blackmail him forever, to gain personal advantage or break military discipline in his camp, Fu Tingzhou wouldn’t agree.

However, cutting ties with Yan Wei didn’t earn Fu respect from the scholars. Instead, both Xia and Yan factions began to jointly impeach him. Imperial censors flooded the palace desk with memorials accusing Fu Tingzhou. Xia Wenjin’s faction said Fu was obstinate and tyrannical, harsh with officials, trying to turn the army into his personal domain.

Yan Wei’s memorials were even harsher, claiming Fu Tingzhou avoided battle on purpose, and perhaps the siege of the capital was part of a conspiracy between him and the Altan tribe. He claimed Fu once supported horse markets and secretly aided the enemy. After the horse markets were closed, Fu bore a grudge. He allegedly colluded with the Altan chief, allowed them to bypass Datong, and attack the Great Wall from the north, besieging the capital to pressure the court into reopening the horse trade, giving Fu an opportunity to seize power.

This memorial stirred a huge uproar. And with no positive updates from the northern expedition, even the emperor began to question Fu’s motives. With Fu’s capabilities, such results were suspicious.

Xia and Yan’s internal struggle was fierce, and both used Fu Tingzhou as a tool. The once-dismissed horse market issue became relevant again. Though the emperor had trusted Fu at first, the continuous barrage of impeachments from both sides eventually made him waver.

And the final blow came from Lu Heng. Lu Heng produced evidence that during his rapid march to the capital, Fu Tingzhou had indulged his soldiers in plundering civilians and recklessly seeking merit. During the siege, the Mongols had looted only a little from the suburbs, but what the Datong soldiers robbed from the commoners was ten times that.

The emperor saw the evidence and made up his mind. He dismissed Fu Tingzhou from command and ordered him back to the capital for investigation.

The grand spectacle of his expedition was still fresh in memory, and Fu Tingzhou never expected that his return would not be one of triumph, but of “treason.”

Fu Tingzhou, suspected of colluding with the enemy, was detained and sent to the imperial prison for investigation. He still carried arrow wounds from the battlefield, and because he couldn’t properly treat it on the journey, the injuries hadn’t healed and still throbbed painfully. Fu Tingzhou silently endured the pain, and when he thought of the charges against him, he found it laughable.

Colluding with the enemy? As a general who had fought against both the Japanese pirates in the south and the Mongols in the north, he was now accused of treason.

The imperial prison of the Imperial Guards was eerily quiet. As he sat silently, he heard footsteps echoing down the corridor. He thought it was an interrogator, or someone sent to extract a confession. But when he looked up, he saw the person he least expected.

She stood with a graceful posture, still as elegant as she was at seventeen. Were it not for the loose waistline of her gown, no one would even notice she was pregnant. Her delicate and familiar features had softened, whether due to motherhood or years of peaceful life, and the cold, aloof aura of her youth had faded. Now, her temperament was calm, serene, and warm.

She was like a flawless pearl, quietly glowing.

When they met again, neither imagined it would be like this. Wang Yanqing stood outside the cell and bowed formally: “Marquis of Zhenyuan.”

Fu Tingzhou really hadn’t expected her. He let out a bitter laugh and asked: “Where’s Lu Heng? He actually let a pregnant woman come here alone? Has he become so desperate for a promotion.”

“It was the emperor who sent me.” Wang Yanqing said. “The emperor wishes to know whether you truly harbor treasonous intentions.”

Fu Tingzhou had heard countless slanders by now, but hearing the word “treason” from her lips felt especially humiliating. He stared at her motionlessly and asked: “Qing Qing, do you believe I would betray my country?”

Wang Yanqing looked at the man now sitting behind bars. They had known each other since they were seven, studying and training together through all seasons, kneeling beside each other in the ancestral hall when they were punished. She knew his competitive nature and that he rarely let anyone into his heart, but there was no denying his talent and dedication to military affairs.

She believed that even if fate kept them apart, he would at least become a general admired by all.

The once-young general in her heart was invincible and resolute. How could he be a traitor?

She blinked quickly, forcing back the mist in her eyes. She turned away, unwilling to look at him anymore: “Second Brother, I’ll report your situation truthfully to the emperor. Whether he believes me, I cannot guarantee. But if you have the chance to leave this place, don’t return to the battlefield.”

His talent in military strategy was unmatched, but when it came to political games, he was no match for the likes of Xia Wenjin, Yan Wei, or Lu Heng. She was too naive. War was never just a general’s business. How many famous commanders in history had ended well?

If he could let go now and retreat while he could, though he might not become a hero, he could at least live in peace.

Fu Tingzhou sat in silence beneath the skylight, light casting across his back. He said nothing for a long time. When she received no answer, Wang Yanqing turned to leave. Just as she walked far down the corridor, his voice suddenly called out.

“Qing Qing.”

She paused and turned to look at him. He remained in the same position, staring deeply at her. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but finally only said: “Go quickly, it’s cold in here, take care of the baby.”

What did he really want to say?

Wang Yanqing didn’t know. No one did except Fu Tingzhou.

Outside the prison, Lu Heng stood in silence, staring at the dappled shadows on the ground, saying nothing for a long time. Guo Tao, sensing the suffocating pressure from Lu Heng, grew more and more anxious. Finally, he said: “Supreme Commander, should I go in and protect Madam?”

Lu Heng ground his teeth, spitting out the words: “No need.”

Wang Yanqing had gone to meet Fu Tingzhou alone. If that idiot said anything inappropriate and someone overheard…

Just the thought of it made Lu Heng feel murderous.

Guo Tao wisely shut up and quietly stepped back. Lu Heng silently for a while, and when she still hadn’t come out, he couldn’t take it anymore. Just as he was about to storm inside, a nervous but hopeful voice called out beside him: “Left Commander Lu?”

Because of his merits defending the palace, Lu Heng had already been promoted to Left Commander of the Rear Guard, officially a top-rank, first-class commander at the pinnacle of military power. He turned to see a young man, and narrowed his eyes: “You are…”

The newcomer was clearly thrilled that Lu Heng had responded. He lifted his hand in a deep salute: “I am Zhang Juzheng. During the Gengxu Rebellion, I was posted to guard Chongwen Gate. That day when Supreme Commander Lu opened the gates to let in the refugees, I was there and witnessed your great righteousness firsthand. But perhaps Supreme Commander Lu doesn’t remember me.”

Yes, Lu Heng truly did not remember him.

The siege by Altan Khan occurred in the Gengxu year and was thus also called the Gengxu Rebellion. Lu Heng defied all opposition and opened the gates to let in refugees. The entire process was handled without any riots, outbreaks, or uprisings, a reflection of his refined governing skill even in the smallest details. Zhang Juzheng witnessed it all and deeply admired the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Guards.

So many government officials couldn’t manage such a comprehensive outcome, yet he, a military officer, balanced compassion and execution so well. Zhang Juzheng had come to South Fusi on business, and upon seeing Lu Heng, couldn’t help but approach.

Lu Heng, his mind fully on his wife, had no time to entertain a stranger and responded perfunctorily: “You’re dressed as a scholar. Why were you assigned to guard the city gate?”

Zhang Juzheng was overwhelmed with excitement that Supreme Commander Lu would even ask: “My family comes from a military background. But I am the second son, so the military post went to my elder brother, and I came to the capital to take the imperial exams. During the rebellion, the gate was short-staffed, so I was called to help.”

Lu Heng nodded, eager to send him off: “I too am a second son. After some twists and turns, I now hold the top rank. This official robe marks a duty to protect the common people. The higher one’s position, the more people one should protect. I have done only what is my duty. You are a scholar, and if someday you rise to the rank of Head Auxiliary, the lives you could touch would far exceed mine. Study diligently and do not waste your time.”

Zhang Juzheng solemnly bowed: “I shall not fail your expectations, Supreme Commander.”

But Lu Heng was no longer paying attention. He spotted Wang Yanqing emerging and immediately turned and walked toward her. Zhang Juzheng looked up and saw only the dazzling flying fish pattern on Lu Heng’s robe.

A man of great power and supreme rank, such a life is one to aspire to.

Lu Heng finally waited long enough to see his wife. He saw Wang Yanqing’s calm expression, and even though he was seething inside, he still smiled as he reached out to support her: “The Imperial Prison isn’t clean and its cold. Do you feel unwell?”

Wang Yanqing shook her head: “I’m fine. I’ve fulfilled the emperor’s command and can report back.”

Fu Tingzhou was ultimately released, but he firmly denied any treason and requested to return to the battlefield to prove himself. After multiple pleas, the emperor granted his request. Fu Tingzhou didn’t remain in the capital but immediately returned north. However, before he even reached the front lines, his old wounds flared up, rapidly worsened from infection, and he died.

When Fu Tingzhou asked to fight despite his injuries, he already suspected he wouldn’t last long. Had he stayed, he might’ve had a chance at survival, but as a soldier, his dignity didn’t allow that.

A general should die wrapped in horsehide on the battlefield, not in humiliation from political scheming.

He failed her in this life, but he wished to have no regrets toward the nation.

After Fu Tingzhou’s death, the northern campaign against the Mongols quietly fell apart. Yet the emperor always viewed the Gengxu Rebellion as a great humiliation. He appointed a new governor for the Ji-Liao region and mobilized troops annually from Shandong, Shanxi, and Henan to garrison the capital, making it a lasting policy. He re-selected elite troops to retrain the capital’s Three Military Battalions. He also ordered Yan Wei to rebuild Beijing’s outer wall, with Lu Heng overseeing the construction.

In the long and fierce struggle between Yan Wei and Xia Wenjin for dominance as the Head Auxiliary, Yan Wei finally prevailed. Xia Wenjin resigned from his position and returned home. However, before he even reached Tongzhou, he was summoned back by an imperial decree and executed in the Western Market.

Just like the mysterious death of the Marquis of Wuding, Xia Wenjin became the first Head Auxiliary in history to be executed.

Zhai Luan briefly filled the position, and afterward, Yan Wei ascended to become the seventh Head Auxiliary of the Jiajing era.

Players came and went from the imperial table, six head auxiliaries had already fallen, but Lu Heng remained, always seated at the victor’s end.

On the day the new outer city wall was completed, Wang Yanqing brought their son and daughter outside the city to witness the ceremony. She saw with her own eyes the words, “Gate of Eternal Stability” written by Yan Wei, hung high upon the majestic tower. She whispered to Lu Heng: “Head Auxiliary Yan is ruthless in eliminating his enemies, but he does have good handwriting.”

“He’s also a great writer, a filial son, a loving father, and husband who listens well to his wife. He has only one wife who he fears like his life and dotes on their only son.” Lu Heng laughed. “The complexity of human nature surpasses all things in this world.”

“And you?”

“I’m much simpler.” Lu Heng turned his head and smiled at her and their two children. “I’ve only ever had three wishes. The first was to reach the first-rank office and wield power, check. The second, to find someone I truly love, build a family, and raise children, also check.”

“And the third?”

The third?

Lu Heng looked up at the two characters hanging high, “Eternal Stability.”

I only wish for eternal peace upon every sun and moon across all lands of the great Ming Dynasty.

—The End of The Imperial Guard’s Revenge

|| Author’s Note:

Foreign chieftains dare send a message and watch our city from beyond the walls? How can we not make an example of them with force!

—— “The Veritable Records of Emperor Shizong Su of the Ming Dynasty”

**

During the Gengxu Incident, Zhang Juzheng was indeed conscripted to guard the city gates. Historically, Lu Bing (the inspiration for Lu Heng) was also defending the imperial city at the time. The records don’t mention whether they met, but in this novel, they encounter each other at the same gate.

The Jiajing era was truly a time of dazzling brilliance. Half of the most renowned generals and politicians of the Ming Dynasty appeared in this period.

At this point, the main story of The Imperial Guard’s Revenge is complete. This has been the most meticulous and most difficult historical romance I’ve written to date. My previous books focused primarily on palace intrigue and domestic scheming, where court politics usually skimmed over through a few lines of dialogue between women, and most scenes were grounded in everyday life. But this time, I wanted to try something different. I sought to fully abandon inner-court drama and truly depict the power struggles of the imperial court and the ruthless realities of officialdom.

I’ve always been fond of the Imperial Guards as a setting, and I really wanted to do it justice. So I spent half a year preparing, studying micro expressions, researching Ming history, learning forensic science, and reading famous cases from ancient and modern times, in China and abroad.

But once I began writing, I realized my preparation wasn’t nearly enough. I spent most of the time researching as I wrote, making this my slowest writing process ever. I also aimed to keep the language precise and concise. The Imperial Guard’s Revenge ended up being over 700,000 words long. It’s no exaggeration to say I crawled through this marathon word by word.

When I first began this project, I wrote in my annual goals that I hoped The Imperial Guard’s Revenge would surpass Greetings, Ninth Uncle (九叔万福) as my peak work in historical romance. Now that it’s finished, after it consumed countless amounts of my energy and emotion, I can finally say with a clear conscience that I did it.

After Banished Immortal (谪仙), I was often afraid readers would ask why I no longer wrote characters like Li Chaoge and Qin Ke. Banished Immortal marked a turning point in my writing style, and I’m grateful it made readers remember September Flowing Fire (九月流火). But I don’t want every book to be like Banished Immortal. Every set of protagonists I write feel like real people to me. They are unique and cannot be replicated. During serialization, I do my best to portray them fully. But once a story ends, I move on and won’t write the same type of story again.

I hope I can always say, with pride and sincerity, that the next book I write will be my best.

The title The Imperial Guard’s Revenge may seem simple, but it took me a month to finalize, discarding over twenty other options before settling, with great difficulty, on the word “Revenge” (殺) I’m very satisfied with the title. It sets the tone for the whole story. Imperial Guard — Refers to the infamous yet dramatically rich secret police force of the Ming Dynasty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Revenge — Signifies the serious, somber tone of the novel. It’s not a lighthearted story, but one that contemplates state, duty, and justice.

Still, I hope Lu Heng and Qing Qing brought you some joy. In the past, my male leads weren’t exactly good people, but in this book, Lu Heng is explicitly not a good man. There’s no need to elaborate in the final note, you’ve already seen what kind of person he is. When writing past stories, I often had to revise repeatedly to get the protagonist’s character right. But with Lu Heng, I never had to worry. From the moment he appeared, his personality was vivid and powerful. There was no need to worry about destroying the hero’s character for the sake of the plot. The plot couldn’t progress unless every choice aligned with what he would genuinely do.

Lu Heng was inspired by a historical figure, whose life reads like an unbeatable power fantasy. But Qing Qing is the kind of person commonly seen in real life, shaped by her family or upbringing to be a people-pleaser, often considering others’ feelings over her own when making decisions. In both life and online, we often see women who constantly suppress themselves and sacrifice for others. It’s easy for bystanders to call them doormats, but it’s not their fault. If you’ve never been genuinely loved or prioritized, how could you be brave enough to say no?

In the novel, Qing Qing’s journey is idealized. She meets Lu Heng, a confident and powerful man who supports her as she begins to express herself. Only after she realizes that rejection won’t lead to abandonment does she slowly begin to blossom. But in real life, not everyone will find such a partner. That’s why I hope that readers who see themselves in Qing Qing will learn to become their own “Lu Heng,” to try saying no to things they dislike, and reclaim their identity.

During serialization, I didn’t announce this so as not to affect readers’ experience, but The Imperial Guard’s Revenge has been signed for both TV and web drama adaptations. If the show comes out in the future, I hope you’ll support it!

This book was incredibly exhausting to write. I need a few days of rest before I start my next novel, Midnight Song (子夜歌), in May. Midnight Song will be published under the fantasy channel, based on ancient mythology, and will feature two crazy and chaotic alpha-type protagonists. Tomorrow we’ll continue with The Imperial Guard’s Revenge epilogues. They won’t be very long. See you then!

After five months from the cold winter to early summer, I’ve finally finished writing The Imperial Guard’s Revenge.

|| Translator’s Note:

Thanks so much to everyone who followed this novel and translation to the end. It’s a bittersweet moment for me as this is my first translation work ever. It has taken almost three years for me to complete this translation and I am so grateful for everyone’s support and patience. I tried very hard to parallel the author’s writing style and humor, so I hope I was able to let you experience this novel in a new and honest light. I’m so glad to have gotten to work with this amazing piece and see the development of the plot, characters, as well as my translations and your reactions. There are 3 additional chapters which will be released in the following weeks. I wish you all greater joy moving forward 😊

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