Volume One, Chapter Two: Petitioning the Emperor for Punishment

Outside the Weiyang Palace, Lin Che stood quietly in the wind, patiently waiting. Soon, the emperor’s close attendant, Cao Shiqi, hurried out. Upon seeing Lin Che, he cast a cold glance and remained standing on the steps.

“Young Master Lin, the emperor has already bestowed many rewards upon General Xiao. Are you here this time to ask for yet another favor?” Only the emperor and Cao Shiqi knew Lin Che’s true identity within the palace. Cao Shiqi pitied the emperor deeply for having a son so easily swayed by a woman.

Now that Prince Liang had returned to the capital, everyone knew it was because he had learned of the emperor’s grave illness and came to claim the throne. Yet they were powerless, for Lin Che no longer shared their intentions. Thus, Cao Shiqi spoke with a heavy tone.

Lin Che, aware of his own faults, lowered his voice. “Attendant Cao, I wish to see my father, the emperor…”

“The emperor is gravely ill and unconscious; it is not suitable for visitors now. Come another day,” Cao Shiqi said without mercy. He could not allow the emperor to be further disturbed. Saying this, he turned and left Lin Che standing alone.

Within the Weiyang Palace, inside the Xuan Shi Hall, a man lay in bed. His once robust frame had withered away due to illness, leaving him emaciated. Yet his eyes still held an unyielding will, unlike that of any ordinary man. A bowl of medicinal soup sat nearby.

When Cao Shiqi returned to the hall, Emperor Lin Xu saw him approaching and weakly inquired, “Attendant Cao, what is it now…”

Cao Shiqi lowered his head. “Your Majesty, Young Master Lin has come again—likely to seek benefits for his wife.”

Lin Xu gave a bitter laugh. Again? In just a few months, he had come countless times, and the emperor had already granted all possible favors. Since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, no precedent like this existed. Was he still not satisfied?

Now, Prince Liang had come to court, aiming to replace him. The emperor suffered unbearable pain day and night. Some ministers had even openly suggested appointing the prince as crown prince. Prince Liang was the late empress dowager’s grandson, and the treacherous officials who supported him were all aligned with her faction. The emperor had no strategy.

“Very well, let him in. I will grant no more favors,” Lin Xu sighed. Cao Shiqi summoned Lin Che.

“The will of heaven cannot be defied…” Lin Xu’s eyes dimmed, having accepted the harsh reality.

Soon, Lin Che entered and was struck dumb upon seeing his father lying there.

“Father…” Lin Che opened his mouth, realizing how much he owed this man.

“Lin Che, my time is short. Have you come to see me?” Lin Xu deliberately asked.

Lin Che’s eyes moistened. Suddenly, he knelt straight down, a gesture that took Cao Shiqi by surprise.

“General Linglong has already received extraordinary rewards, and many in court have voiced objections. It is no longer appropriate to grant more…” Lin Xu’s voice was weak, thinking Lin Che had come again for rewards, deepening his melancholy.

Yet Lin Che’s gaze was resolute as he kowtowed. “Father, I was wrong. This time I come to apologize. You were right—I should never have sacrificed everything for a woman!”

“I have seen the truth now. I beg your forgiveness and ask to return to court, to inherit the throne, continue the bloodline, and bring lasting peace!”

Boom!

“What did you say?!” Lin Xu almost sat upright.

“Your Majesty!” Cao Shiqi hurried to support him.

“Return to court!” Lin Che repeated firmly. “I beg your pardon, Father!”

Lin Xu was stunned, as if he had misheard. His wrinkled hand trembled with excitement. In his lifetime, he had never expected to hear these words.

Recalling the past, he had secretly sent Lin Che away from the palace and nurtured him for twenty years, only to find his son had other ambitions upon returning. For the sake of the Lin dynasty, Lin Xu had repeatedly ordered, scolded, and even pleaded for him to inherit the throne.

Each time, Lin Che had resolutely refused, saying a man might meet only one woman he truly loved in his life, and he would not miss that chance—even at the cost of everything.

This had caused a rift between father and son.

Now, with his days numbered and faced with the return of Prince Liang and pressure from court ministers, he could only blame fate. His hair had turned white, powerless to change destiny.

Even today, he had thought Lin Che came again for that woman’s sake, seeking rewards.

Who would have thought Lin Che would say such words?

Lin Xu struggled to sit up with Cao Shiqi’s help, his eyes reddened.

Lin Che kowtowed again, resolute. “Father, I was unfilial and let down the family and nation. Once, I abandoned everything for a woman, thinking that was enough, but reality is different. Sometimes, you offer your heart to the bright moon, only to find it shining on a ditch…”

“Father, I have seen clearly now. I ask for your approval!”

Lin Xu nearly wept. No one knew how long he had waited for this moment.

“I, I…” He was so moved he forgot to refer to himself as ‘I, the emperor.’ After a long pause, his trembling hand seemed to reach out to help Lin Che up, though he was too weak to stand.

“It’s good you’ve come back, good you’ve come back…”

Lin Che’s heart ached deeply. He truly had wronged his father, having been blinded by that woman, Xiao Aoyu, and unaware of how deeply he had hurt him.

In the end, all he received was abandonment.

“Attendant Cao, arrange for the Heaven Worship ceremony to be held on the third day of the Ding Si month,” Lin Xu’s voice was frail as he gave the order.

“Yes!” Cao Shiqi nodded with tears in his eyes, his blood boiling with excitement. Now the emperor could openly and rightfully proclaim he had an heir!

Seeing his father needed rest, Lin Che said, “Father, please take good care of your health. I have some matters to resolve but will return soon.”

“Very well, go ahead,” Lin Xu said without further questions.

Just as Lin Che was about to leave, Lin Xu suddenly called out.

“Wait, Che’er!”

Lin Che’s straight posture trembled. It was the first time his father had called him by his nickname.

He turned back, swallowing the lump in his throat.

Father and son gazed at each other.

“Che’er, protect yourself well.” Lin Xu had much to say, but it all came down to this single sentence.

Lin Che knew the court was rife with treacherous ministers wielding great power—even daring to kill princes. With the emperor gravely ill and no crown prince named, they only needed to wait for the emperor’s death to establish Prince Liang and fulfill their decades-long goal. They might even seize power themselves without anyone daring to oppose.

Thus, Lin Che’s return would utterly shatter their schemes. In other words, he had become their only stumbling block.

Though Lin Xu understood what inheriting the throne would mean for Lin Che, he could not stand by and watch the Lin dynasty fall.

Lin Che turned back, eyes sharp. “Father, rest assured, I will protect the ancestral legacy!”

Lin Xu’s gaze flickered.

Even Cao Shiqi stiffened all over.

His Highness seemed different from before.

Lin Che bowed thrice to his father, then turned and left the palace…