Chapter 52

Mother and son were worrying about the matter when Pang Da burst in, all agitated. The guards and the steward of the Duke’s mansion were very familiar with him, so no one stopped him as he rushed in.

Seeing Pang Da’s beaming face and the large red flower pinned to his chest, Song Li couldn’t help but laugh, "You’re getting married, huh? Why are you wearing a red flower?"

"Here to pay my respects to the Ming Wang’s consort and the Ming Wang’s heir!" Pang Da gave a bow and performed a grand salute to Song Li and his mother.

"What’s this about a Ming Wang and his heir? Explain yourself, boy." Song Li and Yun Lin were both puzzled. When did a new Ming Wang appear in the court?

Pang Da got up, his face brimming with excitement, and playfully punched Song Li. "Boss, you’re going to be a big shot now! You don’t know what happened in court today. My dad came home and told me, and I was stunned. He even told me to get along with you better, saying you’re not the same as before and that I should cozy up to you. That old man is just a snob. I really don’t like that about him. I, Pang Da, hate evil and stand for justice, so how could I have such a snobbish old man as a father... Oh, wait, how could such a snobbish old man have a son like me..."

Song Li rolled his eyes and scolded, "Get to the point! Are you trying to kill me with suspense?" Sometimes he really wanted to sew Pang Da’s mouth shut. The more critical the moment, the more he rambled, a true chatterbox.

"Oh..." Pang Da scratched his head, embarrassed, and chuckled, "Here’s what happened. In court today, Duke Kang suddenly accused the Deputy Chancellor Wen Liren of colluding with the Kingdom of Lambis and plotting treason. He asked the Emperor to allow a search of Wen’s residence. Chancellor Huang Tingxuan also joined in, pressuring Deputy Chancellor Wen, leading to a heated argument between the two. They accused each other of being imperial spies. Then, Duke Zhong suggested a fair search of both Chancellor Huang’s and Deputy Chancellor Wen’s residences. The matter was so serious that the Emperor personally supervised the search, sending the Mobile Corps and the Golden Feather Knights to search both residences. Guess what they found?"

Song Li couldn’t resist kicking Pang Da’s butt. "Stop being a storyteller! What did they find?"

Pang Da, unfazed by the kick, continued excitedly, "They found identical brocade boxes in both Wen’s and Huang’s residences. The box in Wen’s residence contained only ordinary letters, but the one in Huang’s residence had letters proving Chancellor Huang’s collusion with the Prime Minister of Lambis and evidence of his conspiracy with Duke Kang. Two black-clothed assassins then rushed out from Duke Kang’s guards, attempting to assassinate the Emperor. However, Duke Hai, like a flying general, leaped into action before the Golden Feather Knights could react, swiftly severing the assassins’ tendons with a few swift sword strikes. Unfortunately, Duke Jing suddenly attacked and killed the assassins! My dad didn’t say much, but I think Duke Jing overreacted, possibly to silence them... Back in court, the Emperor was furious and ordered Chancellor Huang to be bound and imprisoned for treason, along with his family. However, his clan was not implicated. Duke Kang was stripped of his title and demoted to a Duke, losing control of the three special agencies. Deputy Chancellor Wen was promoted to Chancellor... And here’s the big news, boss, brace yourself... Because Duke Hai protected the Emperor, the Emperor promoted him to ‘Ming Wang’ and gave him control of the three special agencies! Boss, from today on, the Duchess is no longer a Duchess but a Ming Wang’s consort, and the mansion is no longer a Duke’s mansion but a Ming Wang’s mansion! Most importantly, you’re no longer just a ‘young master’ but have been officially appointed as the ‘heir’ by the Emperor!"

Yun Lin and Song Li exchanged glances, both seeing the joy in each other’s eyes.

What comforted them the most was not Song Xinghai’s promotion but the fact that their plan had succeeded, and the Emperor’s side had won. This meant Song Xinghai was safe. Mother and son had been worried about this, but now they were completely at ease.

The Emperor had actually promoted his father to ‘Ming Wang’ and given him control of the three special agencies? As far as Song Li knew, the three special agencies of the Holy Lion Empire, though similar to the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty, had a broader scope of power and a better reputation, having made significant contributions to the empire’s security. Unlike the Jinyiwei, which was notorious, the three special agencies were well-regarded. For his father to become their controller was a monumental event, even surprising Song Li himself.

The status of a Duke was already extremely high, second only to the Emperor and Duke Zhong. A Duke with control over the three special agencies was even more powerful. Song Xinghai, once a minor figure in court, had suddenly risen to become the powerful ‘Ming Wang,’ a meteoric rise that left everyone in awe. Even Chancellor Wen, who was promoted to Chancellor, had to admit his inferiority.

While the Chancellor was the administrative head of the empire, his power was not much different from that of a Duke. However, Wen’s promotion from Deputy Chancellor to Chancellor was not as significant as Song Xinghai’s sudden rise from obscurity to power, which was faster than a rocket. The stark contrast in his rise was even more shocking.

Song Li didn’t care much about others’ reactions; what mattered was his own feelings. From now on, he was a ‘young prince.’ Having read many novels and watched TV shows, he had always admired the grandeur of those young princes, surrounded by luxury and respect. Imagining himself in their shoes, he couldn’t help but feel excited.

Yun Lin also couldn’t hide her joy. Though she was devoted to alchemy and not interested in fame and fortune, she still hoped her husband would achieve something in his career, rather than being a minor figure. After the initial excitement, Yun Lin suddenly thought of something, "Pang Da, you said your father has returned home, meaning the court session is over. Why hasn’t the Duke returned yet?"

"Your Highness, after the session, the Emperor kept the Ming Wang and Chancellor Wen behind, probably to offer some encouragement. The Emperor’s favor is strong, so there’s nothing to worry about," Pang Da smiled, calling her ‘Your Highness,’ which made Yun Lin feel more comfortable. She realized that being a Ming Wang’s consort was indeed more delightful than being a Duchess. Since the Emperor had kept Song Xinghai, she had nothing to worry about. This event made her even more impressed with her son. Discovering the enemy’s plot by chance was one thing, but using that information to devise a flawless plan, turning the tables on them, and helping the Emperor remove two thorns in his side was another. Duke Kang, though not in mortal danger, had been stripped of his title and control over the three special agencies, effectively neutering him.

Yun Lin was deeply engrossed in alchemy, and Song Xinghai was unambitious, so their political acumen was negligible. Song Xinghai’s success today was entirely due to their son. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed how capable Song Li was. When Song Li explained his plan, she was there. He had even predicted the reactions of Duke Kang and others, advising his father on how to respond. Pang Da mentioned that Duke Jing had killed the assassins, which Song Li had also predicted, warning his father to capture them alive and ensure their safety to prevent them from being silenced. It seemed her husband hadn’t taken his son’s advice seriously, or the assassins might have lived.

Song Li was truly becoming more and more impressive. Yun Lin doted on him even more, her eyes soft and her actions affectionate, treating him as if he were a precious gem.

Song Li, used to his mother’s fierce demeanor, found her sudden gentleness disconcerting. He was at a loss when faced with her affection, but fortunately, Pang Da pulled him aside, easing the awkwardness.

"Boss, I have to ask, is the brocade box you placed in Chancellor Huang’s study related to the one the Golden Feather Knights found?" Pang Da whispered, "When my dad mentioned it, I immediately thought of the box you placed... But don’t worry, I didn’t say anything to him. I know such things can’t be spoken of lightly."

Song Li whispered back, "You’re right. The box the Golden Feather Knights found is the one we placed. This is a secret between us. If a third person finds out, many heads will roll, including yours. Got it?"

Since the matter was settled, Song Li didn’t want to hide it from Pang Da. The boy’s curiosity was stronger than a woman’s, and the more you hid from him, the more he wanted to know. It was better to be honest, explain the stakes, and make him keep it secret. Fortunately, Pang Da was curious but also very discreet, knowing what to say and what to keep quiet about.

"So... Chancellor Huang... was framed?" Pang Da’s face turned pale, clearly shaken.

"Framed, my foot! Do you know if I hadn’t gone to the Langya Cave to save you and overheard their plot, my father and Deputy Chancellor Wen would have been the ones framed?" Song Li explained the whole story, adding, "Chancellor Huang and Duke Zhong are all in cahoots. I just turned their own tactics against them. They dug their own graves. Who would have thought they’d try to harm others first? Huang Tingxuan, though not the mastermind, was definitely an accomplice. He deserves to die a thousand deaths!"

Pang Da finally understood the truth, clenching his teeth in anger, "Serves him right! To dare frame the Ming Wang, he deserves to die!"

"You understand, but don’t let it slip, got it?" Song Li reminded him again.

"Don’t worry, I’ll keep it to myself. Even a hundred beauties from the Man Tingfang couldn’t make me talk!" Pang Da swore, thinking it was the most serious oath he could make.

"Ha, look at you, always thinking about the girls from Man Tingfang!" Song Li scoffed at Pang Da’s taste in women.

Pang Da didn’t argue, still feeling proud of his involvement in the ‘removal of the Chancellor.’ Though occasionally scared, it was undeniably thrilling. His admiration for Song Li, who dared to undertake such a monumental task at a young age, was boundless.

Not long after Pang Da left, Song Xinghai returned.