Following that voice, wind and snow poured into the tavern, startling the solitary lamp on the table, causing its flame to flicker; almost extinguishing. Song Yingxu glanced at the newcomer, reached out to protect the solitary lamp, and then smiled, "Brother Ning, no, I should call you Lord Warden Commander now. Have you been well?"
On New Year's Eve, few would dare to come here. Actually, even if the facial features were not clear, Song Yingxu would not have too many candidates in mind either. Moreover, the newcomer was dressed only in a single layer of clothing in the harsh winter. There would not be too many people like this.
The Lord Warden Commander standing at the door heard the term of address "Brother Ning" and seemed somewhat dazed. As a result, he did not speak up quickly, but only entered the room after a brief pause, and took a seat across from this Lord Song. In the glow of the oil lamp, the Lord Warden Commander's face showed no emotion; like a rigid stone. However, as their eyes met, a gentle light appeared in his eyes.
He and this former dynasty's Lord Song were indeed acquainted.
Glancing at the bowl of alcohol on the table, the Lord Warden Commander picked it up, took a sip, and sighed, "Many years have passed. I never thought I would see you again in the Divine Capital in this lifetime."
Song Yingxu poured wine for him and casually remarked, "When I left the Divine Capital back then, I naturally thought about returning one day. If I didn't, I would have already died here in the Divine Capital back then."
The Lord Warden Commander shook his head and said, "Although you were a subordinate official who emerged from the Crown Prince's Manor, you should also know that if the late Crown Prince ascended the throne, Great Liang would naturally be better off. However, if it's his eldest son, handing Great Liang over to him wasn't a good thing."
Song Yingxu sneered, "By Brother Ning's logic, if anyone today is more suitable to rule Great Liang than your Majesty, we can just ask him to abdicate too?"
"These two are fundamentally incomparable. His Majesty also carries the bloodline of Emperor Lingzong; a true imperial bloodline."
The Lord Warden Commander looked at Song Yingxu and slowly said, "Touch your own conscience, if your emperor in mind were still in power, would the demons in the Northern Frontier have already advanced south? And would those cultivators in the South be acting recklessly within the borders of Great Liang? Can the lives of the common people be as good as they are now?"
Song Yingxu retorted, "His Majesty is a benevolent ruler. There are civil officials governing the country in the court, and military generals defending the borders with their lives. It doesn't necessarily mean that the current state of affairs would be worse!"
The Lord Warden Commander shook his head, not delving further into the topic. Some things, even when glaringly obvious, would still be denied by some, because the outcome was not what they desired. They would only want to see the result they wanted to see.
Conversing with such a person would almost certainly yield no answers.
The saying 'there is little common ground for understanding between persons of differing principles' was this logic.
"I believe Lord Song knows why I came to find you."
The Lord Warden Commander looked him in the eyes. As he spoke again, his voice turned somewhat cold like his expression.
"If I had known you were in the Divine Capital, I probably wouldn't have come."
Song Yingxu sighed. The information circulating earlier suggested that this Lord Warden Commander had already left the Divine Capital, heading out to sea to deal with another matter. However, who could have imagined that it was all a ruse? He had never left the Divine Capital and had been hiding in the shadows all along.
"That emperor of yours does indeed have some means."
Song Yingxu looked somewhat regretful. While the trap was not considered overly sophisticated, the fact that he had not seen through it meant he really deserved to die. Smiling at the Lord Warden Commander, Song Yingxu said, "Since Brother Ning has come to send me off on my final journey, I suppose there's nothing to complain about. You're just like you were back then - stubborn and unyielding, not even allowing people to celebrate the New Year."
The Lord Warden Commander said, "It's my duty. If there are any unforeseen variables, who will bear the responsibility?"
Song Yingxu smiled without speaking, merely reaching out to pick up the oil lamp. The lamp which was originally dim, now unexpectedly began to emit a bright glow. He exhaled a breath, his expression gradually becoming solemn. "Brother Ning is undoubtedly one of the top martial artists in the world, but this Song is no longer the scholar I once was. The outcome of our battle remains uncertain."
In the years since leaving the Divine Capital, Song Yingxu had been cultivating diligently. Now, he was already a Nepenthe cultivator with a formidable cultivation base. While it was uncertain whether he could win against the Lord Warden Commander, he might also not be completely at the mercy of the Lord Warden Commander.
The Lord Warden Commander nodded, "Lord Song, it's truly commendable that you've made progress in other aspects. However, as the Lord Warden Commander of Great Liang, this warden has no choice but to kill you today for the sake of the Great Liang." The Lord Warden Commander did not say anything more, nor did he inquire about the whereabouts of those former subjects who had left the Divine Capital but remained loyal to the deposed emperor. Because he knew that although the current Song Yingxu was a scholar, he would not disclose their whereabouts.
After some contemplation, Song Yingxu suddenly said, "There's one more thing I request. The female boss of this tavern has nothing to do with us. Though she was also implicated in the events of the past, she now has no attachments. Brother Ning can surely investigate the same results. I just hope that Brother Ning still has some conscience. Making a mistake like wrongful killing, once is enough."
"If it is as you say, and the truth is clarified, there will be no wrongful killing. I believe His Majesty also wouldn't commit such an unjust killing now."
The Lord Warden Commander spoke, and behind him, the wind and snow had become too close.
Song Yingxu sneered, "What a nice thing to say that he won't commit unjust killing now. Did that great purge from over a decade ago leave you all with regrets too?!"
The Lord Warden Commander remained silent and just looked at Song Yingxu.
Song Yingxu set down the solitary lamp, and looked towards the door with a complex expression. Since coming to the Divine Capital, he had clarified many things in his mind. Now, facing death, he held no resentment. However, one thing continued to perplex him - why did His Highness(Chen Chao) harbor no hatred toward that Great Liang Emperor who caused the destruction of his family?
Was momentary comfort all he sought? Was that what he wished to do?
But if that were the case, what about the bloodline of the late Crown Prince in your veins?
How did someone like the late Crown Prince give birth to an heir such as you?
The other highness was similarly of the late Crown Prince's bloodline, but he chose to walk into the sea of fire when the Great Liang Emperor breached the Divine Capital, facing death with calmness. Why do you refuse even to mention the words "restore the rightful ruler"?
The more he thought about it, the more troubled Song Yingxu became.
Along with his inner turmoil, the flame of the oil lamp flickered along with it, as if on the verge of extinguishing at any moment.
The Lord Warden Commander watched this scene in silence. At this moment, he understood that there was no need to fight this battle; he had already won. It was not his confidence as one of Great Liang's top three martial artists but that he already saw through that Song Yingxu's heart was in disarray at this moment.
A heart in turmoil.
That was already defeat.
The Lord Warden Commander shook his head and began thinking of other matters he needed to attend to.
