The Great Song Dynasty's Soul-Forging in Progress

Chapter Ninety-One: The Unpredictable Power of Heaven

In his final moments, overcome with emotion, he knelt heavily on the ground with a thud, his forehead striking the cold, gold-brick floor with a dull, resolute sound: "Your Majesty! I know I have committed a grave offense and dare not beg for forgiveness! I only wish to atone for my sins with merit! I offer the sharpness of this steel blade, the keenness of this hidden arrow, and my own head, all to Your Majesty and to the court! I do not desire official rank or wealth, I only ask... I only ask Your Majesty to give me a chance, to let me be a useful craftsman, to forge swords for the border troops, to sharpen arrows for the generals, and to do my utmost for my Great Song Dynasty!"

This was a strategic retreat, a desperate gamble, and a risky move to the utmost! He laid bare all his chips—technology, military strength, and even loyalty—before the imperial power, gambling on Emperor Renzong. He wanted a loyal dog that could be controlled and driven, not a worthless corpse!

Di Qing's Adam's apple bobbed, and he turned his face away, unable to bear watching any longer. Ouyang Xiu lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting, extremely complex mixture of praise and sigh in them. Lü Sanjun lay sprawled on the ground, his face ashen, his breath barely a whisper.

Emperor Renzong looked at Wang Zhonghua, who was kneeling on the ground, his back trembling slightly from extreme tension and excitement. He looked at this young man who had laid bare everything and entrusted his fate entirely to his judgment. For a moment, the lines on his face seemed to soften. He suddenly chuckled softly. This time, the laughter was less cold than before, and contained an indescribable sense of relief, as if the dust had settled.

It is:

In the deep courtyard, one can pay homage to the holy countenance.

The steel blade bowed, repelling the raging tide.

From now on, I will step out of the martial arts world.

They were under the control of the monarch.

A genuine, undisguised emotion finally flickered in Emperor Renzong's deep eyes. He gazed at Wang Zhonghua for a long time, as if trying to re-examine every inch of the young man's skin and every thought. The study was deathly silent; even Lü Sanjun's heavy breathing could be clearly heard.

Di Qing's clenched fist loosened slightly, and his gaze towards Wang Zhonghua held less scrutiny and more complex emotions that were hard to describe—perhaps approval, perhaps... gratitude?

After a long silence, Emperor Renzong slowly stood up. He made no comment on Wang Zhonghua's answer, but simply nodded slightly to Di Qing and Ouyang Xiu, his tone returning to its usual calm: "Since that's the case, then Boshan (Laoyashan) will be yours, so you won't have to secretly mine any 'graphite' ore. As for the coal for steelmaking, the court will supply it, and you can take seven-tenths of the profits from steelmaking. General Di will expand the blacksmith's workshop and be responsible for stationing troops to protect it! As for your sister, Wang Xiangjun, Mr. Ouyang will take her back to the capital to be taught by her. It's getting late, time to go back."

With a few simple words, Wang Xiangjun achieved great success, ensuring that "Sanyi Village" would never have any worries again.

Wang Zhonghua hurriedly kowtowed to express his gratitude.

Di Qing and Ouyang Xiu immediately stood up and respectfully replied:

"I obey your decree."

"Your humble servant obeys the imperial decree."

Emperor Renzong walked towards the door. As he passed Wang Zhonghua, he paused slightly, his gaze falling on him again. His eyes held a complex and unfathomable expression, a mixture of admiration, inquiry, consideration, and perhaps even a faint, almost imperceptible expectation. He said nothing, but simply reached out and gently patted Wang Zhonghua's shoulder.

That tap, though light, seemed to carry immense weight, bearing the emperor's scrutiny, unspoken approval, and weighty expectations.

Then, surrounded by Di Qing, Ouyang Xiu, and their elite guards, they left silently, just as they had come, as if they had never been there.

As night deepened, an inconspicuous blue-canopied carriage rumbled along a path outside Chenzhou City.

Inside the carriage, Emperor Renzong leaned against the wall, his brow furrowed with weariness. In the flickering candlelight, his gaunt face appeared aged beyond his years.

"Your Majesty, have some hot tea to warm yourself up." A gentle voice sounded in his ear.

The speaker was a middle-aged eunuch, with a handsome face and refined manners. His blue robe was faded from washing but perfectly starched and pressed. He spoke softly and slowly, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's—the gaze of someone who had walked on the edge of a knife for many years.

This man, surnamed Liang and named Huaiji, was Emperor Renzong's most trusted personal eunuch. He entered the palace at the age of twelve and had served the emperor faithfully for thirty years, shielding him from countless attacks and sabotages. He possessed exceptional martial arts skills but never displayed them; he knew many secrets but rarely spoke of them. The concubines and princes in the palace would all respectfully address him as "Eunuch Liang," yet he always maintained his low profile and humility, as if he were truly just an ordinary eunuch serving tea and water.

Emperor Renzong took the teacup but did not drink it. Instead, he held it in his palm and gazed absently at the night scene flashing past the window.

"Is His Majesty thinking about that young master Wang?" Liang Huaiji asked softly.

Emperor Renzong did not answer. After a long while, he whispered, "Huaiji, tell me... whose eyes do they resemble?"

Liang Huaiji was slightly taken aback, then lowered his head: "This servant dares not speak presumptuously."

Emperor Renzong gave a wry smile: "Are you afraid, or are you unwilling to?"

Liang Huaiji remained silent.

Emperor Renzong's gaze deepened, as if piercing through the darkness outside the carriage window, through more than a decade of years, and returning to that night he would never forget.

"I remember it very clearly." He spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse. "That year, she knelt before me, crying, 'Your Majesty, this servant cannot stay in the palace. I beg Your Majesty to spare my life.' I asked her why, but she just shook her head and refused to say anything. Later I learned that she had seen things she shouldn't have seen and heard things she shouldn't have heard. Someone wanted to kill her to silence her, and she couldn't escape, so she could only beg me to let her leave the palace."

Liang Huaiji listened quietly; he knew all about these things. In those years, the palace seemed to be bewitched; too many princes and princesses died young, so many that Emperor Renzong was awakened in fear every night, so many that this ruler of the country could not even protect his own flesh and blood.

"I have no choice," Emperor Renzong said, his voice filled with bitterness. "I am the Son of Heaven, yet I cannot even protect a woman I care about. I can only watch helplessly as she escapes the palace and begs the Prince of Runan to take her in. I know that only in this way can she survive and have an ordinary and peaceful future."

He closed his eyes, tears glistening in the corners.

"Later, the Prince of Runan told me that she had become his concubine and had given birth to a son, whose name was... what was it again?"

"Zhao Zhonghua," Liang Huaiji continued softly, "After the Prince of Runan and Princess Di were murdered, Yao and that 'Wang Zhuacai' took their child and wandered into the countryside. The child took his father's surname and was named Wang Zhonghua."

Emperor Renzong opened his eyes, looked at the roof of the carriage, and murmured, "Wang Zhonghua... Zhonghua... What a good name, what a good name."

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Huaiji, tell me, why won't she see me?"

Liang Huaiji carefully chose his words, speaking cautiously, "Madam Yao... perhaps she doesn't know how to face the Emperor. After all, what happened back then was too dangerous. To protect her child, she lived in anonymity for over a decade, enduring countless hardships. Now... now she only wants to live an ordinary life. Or perhaps she doesn't want to put the Emperor in a difficult position."

Emperor Renzong smiled wryly: "She didn't want to put me in a difficult position? She was thinking of me until her death."

He paused, his voice so low it was almost inaudible: "I am sorry to the Prince of Runan, I am sorry to her."

Liang Huaiji didn't say anything, but simply moved the brazier closer to Emperor Renzong.

The carriage continued on its way, its wheels crunching over the snow with a dull creak.

After a long silence, Emperor Renzong suddenly spoke: "Huaiji, remember this."

"Your servant is here."

"That child, I want to watch over him myself." Emperor Renzong's gaze hardened. "I owe him too much, I owe his mother too much, I owe the Prince of Runan too much. I cannot acknowledge him, but I will protect him. Send a few reliable men to secretly keep an eye on Chenzhou. If anyone dares to lay a finger on him..."

He paused, his voice as cold as ice: "I order their entire family to be executed."

Liang Huaiji bowed and said, "This servant obeys the decree. This servant has already arranged for skilled men, all of whom are old men who served the Prince of Runan in the past. They are loyal and highly skilled in martial arts. They will infiltrate Chenzhou under various identities to secretly protect the Prince."

Emperor Renzong nodded, a hint of satisfaction on his face: "I trust you to handle things."

He looked out the window again; in the night, the outline of Chenzhou City gradually faded into the distance.

"Huaiji, do you think he'll ever find out about his true parentage?"

Liang Huaiji was silent for a moment, then said softly, "If His Majesty wants him to know, there will always be a suitable opportunity."

Emperor Renzong shook his head and sighed deeply, "So be it, so be it. Letting him live well is better than anything else. I owe too many people in my life; I'll repay them as much as I can."

He leaned against the car wall and closed his eyes.