The name “Rong Jing” made the other man’s expression change abruptly. He did not even register the accusation that followed before blurting out, “…You know who I am?”
Not when had Song Liang recognized him, or how—but that he knew him at all. Knew the son of a condemned official whose entire household had been executed, a man all of Yanjing had long since forgotten.
Song Liang’s expression remained impassive. “If I didn’t, wouldn’t that make your journey of a thousand miles to stage this little performance at the foot of West Mountain a waste?”
“I never meant to deceive you. I only feared Your Majesty wouldn’t trust me if you knew I was Rong Jing.” With his intentions exposed, Rong Jing’s expression soured. “When did Your Majesty recognize me?”
Song Liang scoffed. When? The instant this man appeared, the system had practically slammed its important-character panel into his face, as though terrified he might miss it. It had nearly stopped him from parrying the sword thrust coming his way.
3085 replied guiltily, 【…I was only worried you’d cut him down without a second thought.】
Song Liang gave a cold laugh and ignored it. He had no intention of answering the other man in the room either, turning his gaze instead toward the assassin writhing on the floor, clutching his hand and howling.
Alarm flashed across Rong Jing’s face. Afraid Song Liang would strike again, he immediately stepped in front of the man.
“Your Majesty! He is one of my men!”
“Of course I know he’s one of your men.” Song Liang regarded him coldly. “By calling me Your Majesty, you still acknowledge me as your sovereign. Yet you obey me to my face, defy me behind my back, and secretly lay an ambush. Are you planning to seize the throne and restore the Rong clan’s standing while you’re at it?”
“How can Your Majesty say such a thing? When has the Rong clan ever contemplated treason?!” Rong Jing pointed at the man sleeping on the bed and declared fiercely, “The one truly plotting to usurp the throne is him! Xie Yun, the Prince Regent!”
Song Liang’s voice was cool. “You accuse him of treason. What proof do you have?”
“The Prince Regent is a treacherous wolf! Any righteous man has the right to kill him!”
“Any righteous man—or your family, seeking vengeance for what happened all those years ago?”
“……”
Rong Jing’s expression faltered.
“My father rendered great service to this country, yet he framed him as a traitor who had colluded with the Hu. The entire Rong household was executed because of it. Does he not deserve to die?”
“If I deserve to die, then your father deserved it even more.”
A hoarse voice broke into their exchange. Both men froze. At some point, Xie Yun had opened his eyes and was now pushing himself upright on the wooden bed.
Song Liang instinctively reached out to help him. “Did we wake you?”
Xie Yun paused. In the end, he did not reject the offered hand, allowing Song Liang to take his forearm.
The sight only stoked Rong Jing’s anger. He glared at Xie Yun.
“What did you say?”
“I said your father deserved to die.”
Xie Yun’s voice was rough, but calm and cold. His eyes remained indifferently lowered, making him look all the more arrogant.
“If you disagree, you are welcome to face me. If you win, take my head and offer it to your dead. If I win, the Rong clan’s last surviving heir will die by my hand as well.”
“You think I wouldn’t dare?”
Rong Jing abruptly raised his sword. Before he could advance, Song Liang drove his dagger into the board beside the bed. His dark eyes rested calmly on Rong Jing, his warning unmistakable.
“You’re protecting him?” Rong Jing stared at him in disbelief. “This is Xie Yun—the Prince Regent, the man scheming to steal your Chen family’s realm of Yao! And yet you—”
Song Liang ignored him and asked bluntly, “Do you want revenge, or do you want to protect this country? If it’s revenge, then tonight we fight to the death. If it’s the country you wish to protect, I will give you a chance to clear the Rong clan’s name.”
Rong Jing choked on his words, unable to answer.
“You came all this way, wearing that false face, and risked your life to save Xu Qingye and me. Wasn’t that what you wanted?”
Song Liang’s tone remained mild.
“Or have I misjudged you? Is the valiant young heir of the Rong family, once counted among Yanjing’s Four Young Masters, truly so shortsighted? Would you rather satisfy a moment’s hatred and leave your family disgraced than endure a little longer to clear your entire household’s name?”
3085: 【How moving. To think I’d live to see the day my host persuades someone with reason and appeals to their feelings instead of kicking or stabbing them. I can almost see a brighter future already.】
3085: 【And a lovely haul of points when this scenario ends.】
Song Liang: “……”
Song Liang: 【Exactly. I’m very considerate.】
3085: 【You’re afraid of getting struck by lightning.】
Song Liang: “……”
His speech had certainly worked. Rong Jing immediately regained his composure. After studying the two of them for a moment, he turned his gaze back to Xie Yun, his tone considerably calmer.
“Why did you say my father deserved to die?”
“Colluding with the enemy and betraying one’s country warrants death by a thousand cuts,” Xie Yun replied, as coldly as ever.
“……” Song Liang couldn’t help glancing at him. So certain, so righteous. Had he not known that Xie Yun was the one who framed the Rong family in the original novel, he might actually have believed they had betrayed their country.
Rong Jing did not notice his look. He studied Xie Yun’s impassive face in silence, then turned to Song Liang.
“Your Majesty’s foresight is extraordinary, and your wisdom and valor surpass even the late emperor’s. I am willing to place my trust in you this once. I also hope Your Majesty will clear the Rong family’s name.”
“If my family truly did collude with the enemy and betray this country, I am willing to die with them.”
“You can’t die,” Song Liang blurted out instinctively.
Rong Jing froze, looking at him in surprise. A moment later, a trace of emotion crossed his face.
“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Song Liang: “……”
He had no idea what Rong Jing had read into that, but he accepted the gratitude without hesitation. Seizing the opportunity to put on a performance, he stepped forward and made a courteous gesture of support.
“There’s no need for such formality—”
“Your Majesty—”
“What are you two doing?”
A low, icy voice abruptly interrupted their exchange of courtesies.
Rong Jing looked into Xie Yun’s eyes, visibly startled. “He—”
“He fell off the cliff saving me. Only afterward did we discover he had been poisoned.”
Rong Jing was astonished. “He actually suffered poisoning and fell from the cliff to save Your Majesty—”
“Yes.” Song Liang frowned and sighed. “That is why I asked whether you had any evidence that he intends to usurp the throne. After all… he has been so devoted to me.”
Rong Jing had no time to consider precisely what sort of “devotion” he meant before asking hurriedly, “But I heard—”
“Rumors are more fearsome than tigers. Surely you understand that?” Song Liang sighed. “Take me, for instance. There are even rumors that I’m a cruel, debauched ruler.”
Rong Jing’s brow furrowed at once. “To think anyone would slander such a wise sovereign! Outrageous! Whoever spread those rumors deserves to be put to death!”
Xie Yun: “……”
Song Liang: 【This one’s all right. I like him.】
3085: 【……】
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