Chapter 124: The Truth

"Why does Your Majesty say that?"

Xiao Han was perplexed. He had not submitted the letter to the Ministry of Justice at the time for several reasons. First, after Lu Youxu was murdered, he had grown indifferent to the fame and fortune of officialdom. Second, even if he had submitted it, he would only have been framed alongside the guilty parties, making it infinitely harder to clear the Lu family's name. Third, he kept it as a memento; Lu Youxu’s kindness toward him was as heavy as a mountain, and keeping the letter close was a constant reminder of that debt and his own responsibility.

Before Feng Yewu could respond, Lu Jue, who had been standing nearby, felt a flicker of hope rekindle upon seeing the handwriting. Gradually regaining his composure, he spoke softly in explanation.

"This letter does not merely represent the innocence of our Lu family; it also prevents those treacherous officials from covering their tracks."

Lu Jue raised his head slowly. His eyes, filled with rage and a sharp, icy coldness, scanned the darkness in the distance with profound indignation.

"This paper and handwriting clearly indicate the work of someone with ulterior motives—deliberately forged to frame General Lu Youxu. Their efforts were truly painstaking."

Wei Nanqi sighed softly. If Xiao Han had not produced the genuine letter, Lu Jue would have been unable to clear his name even if he had jumped into the Yellow River. As a scholar-official, Wei Nanqi knew full well that to imitate someone's handwriting with such startling accuracy was no small feat; it was not the work of a single day. The forger had mimicked everything—even the subject’s breath and the mindset behind every stroke of the brush.

Man proposes, but Heaven disposes. All those years ago, Lu Youxu had simply written the letter of recommendation out of a kind desire to ensure Xiao Han’s talent did not go to waste, never imagining that years later, this very letter would clear his family’s name.

Feng Yewu sighed in turn. "These people calculated every move, yet they still left a trail. Though the letters are aged, making it impossible to determine an exact date, the stark contrast in the handwriting is enough to clear the Lu family of all charges."

"Dispatch more men to search the Prince of Pingyi’s estate thoroughly. See if we can uncover more clues."

After giving these instructions to Wei Nanqi, Feng Yewu, accompanied by Xiao Han, began to inspect the surroundings. Having just experienced such an emotional upheaval, Lu Jue was intentionally left alone for a moment by Feng Yewu, and the others dispersed.

"Young Master Lu, if the opportunity arises, you should seek out others to spar with. It may provide you with better inspiration." Xiao Han looked at Lu Jue and said this softly before departing.

Xiao Han had spent his life as a lowly soldier, rising to his current position through the brutality of the battlefield. He knew only the spear techniques passed down by his ancestors and found it difficult to offer Lu Jue specific guidance. After much thought, this was the only advice he could offer.

Hearing this, Lu Jue looked at the sincerity in Xiao Han’s eyes. Moved, he nodded in silent acknowledgment with a faint smile.

*Seek out others to spar with?*

Watching Xiao Han walk away with Feng Yewu, Lu Jue fell into deep thought, and a single person appeared in his mind. After composing himself, he headed out of the estate.

***

"Cough, cough, cough! Interesting. I never expected that it would be you, little girl, who saved me."

Outside Langya City, at the base of the famous Langya Mountain, lay a dim cave. Lang Tou was swathed in thick bandages. With each violent cough, blood seeped through the heavy layers of cloth.

Lang Tou looked up at Zhao Xiyan, who had just finished dressing his wounds at the mouth of the cave. He grinned, his once-arrogant demeanor entirely vanished, leaving him looking exceptionally desolate.

"Senior, you really should stop moving..."

Hearing the coughing behind her, Zhao Xiyan turned her head slightly. In the moonlight, her profile appeared softened and delicate.

Earlier, realizing the Prince of Pingyi was doomed, Zhao Xiyan had slipped away unnoticed. As an assassin nearing the rank of Grandmaster, she possessed at least that much confidence. Upon leaving the estate, she noticed the city was swarmed with imperial guards, and the elite of the Penglai Pavilion had already sensed the situation and retreated.

Zhao Xiyan did not blame them. The Penglai Pavilion survived by adhering to its own rules. They were neither soldiers nor martyrs; it was never wise to fight when certain defeat was inevitable.

Discovering that the iron cavalry of the Divine Strategy Battalion had entered the city, Zhao Xiyan headed toward the West Gate, where the battalion was stationed. Since the battle with the Langya had just concluded there, the defenses were at their most lax.

After successfully escaping the city, Zhao Xiyan followed a dark, narrow path. She smelled a faint scent of blood in the air, and after a few more steps, she found Lang Tou, who had fainted in the middle of the path from blood loss. She did not know why she had saved him. Though she was the Master of the Penglai Pavilion, she was, at heart, a woman. With her greatest support, Wang Changgeng, now dead, and Lang Tou being one of his subordinates, she hadn't thought twice before carrying him to this place.

"Heh heh heh. I won't die, I know that." Hearing Zhao Xiyan’s warning, Lang Tou’s eyes flickered. He lowered his lids and spoke with a hint of self-mockery.

Hearing his words, Zhao Xiyan felt a surge of irritation. Despite being a Grandmaster, he was severely injured yet still dared to speak so boastfully. "If I hadn't saved you, you would have died on that road already."

Lang Tou ignored her. Instead, he struggled to lift his head and lean it against the cold stone wall. After a moment of silence, he asked softly, "Girl, what is your name?"

Zhao Xiyan had been worried that her previous words were too harsh, but she was surprised to find that the notoriously cruel and bloodthirsty Lang Tou was now speaking to her with the calm demeanor of an elder.

"Zhao Xiyan."

Lang Tou’s eyes narrowed as he whispered the name to himself. "Surname Zhao... the Master of the Penglai Pavilion?"

"You know me?" Zhao Xiyan’s eyes brightened. She asked, surprised that he had identified her status so quickly.

"Truly, the turns of fate are ironic!"

Hearing her confirmation, Lang Tou didn't show any pride. He merely nodded slightly and began to ramble. Zhao Xiyan did not understand what he meant by "the turns of fate." She said nothing, instead walking over to sit against the wall opposite him, meeting his gaze.

The cave was damp and cold. Due to the circumstances, they dared not light a fire for fear of being tracked by Feng Yewu’s men.

Lang Tou’s eyes shone bright in the darkness as he looked at Zhao Xiyan. "When the Prince of Pingyi besieged the Penglai Pavilion years ago, it was my Langya group that struck. It was my decision not to kill you."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiyan frowned, finally understanding what he meant by the irony of fate. Now that the Prince of Pingyi was dead, there was no longer any connection between them; it mattered little whether she had saved him or not.