Chapter 5

In the crowd blocking the gap, a dark-skinned official, resembling an old farmer, stepped out and stopped the general's spear.

The man on the warhorse, who looked like a god of war, seemed unable to stand straight before him. Standing in front of the horse, he scolded the general: "Foolish!"

The general, holding Tie Xin Yuan, jumped off the warhorse and bent over, saying: "This peasant woman indeed committed a capital offense!"

The dark-skinned official looked at the general, pointed to the crowded onlookers in the distance, and coldly said: "If she committed a capital offense, she should be punished, but this peasant woman is not a soldier in your army. Even if she had a sharp knife, there must be another reason. You are a military official, what right do you have to punish civilians?"

The general handed Tie Xin Yuan back to Wang Rouhua, who had just regained a glimmer of hope, and scratched his head, saying: "Whether it's the Censorate or the Kaifeng Prefecture that handles the case, it will still be a dead end. Nephew doesn't think Uncle will show mercy."

The dark-faced official grunted and said: "Once national law is established, it should be enforced according to the law. Although human sentiment is not outside the law, imperial authority cannot be defied, which is an ironclad rule. Huaiyu, you are young and impetuous. In the future, you must never act so rashly. Your father is now the Defense Commissioner of Fengzhou. Many people are watching him, hoping for his downfall. You serve as the imperial guard, and you must never give others a handle to use against you, or it will implicate your father. This woman indeed committed a capital offense, but her orphaned and widowed condition is truly pitiful. Killing her in the street will be extremely detrimental to your future reputation!"

The young general bowed and thanked him: "Thank you, Uncle Bao, for your teachings. Nephew will remember."

Wang Rouhua was still dazed and didn't understand what had changed, but Tie Xin Yuan heard clearly. Seeing the soldiers' banners marked with "Song" and the way these two addressed each other, how could Tie Xin Yuan, who was well-versed in history, not guess their identities? No matter what, these two famous figures in history, one brutal and the other rigid, had almost cost him and his mother their lives just for taking shelter from the rain in a corner.

Tie Xin Yuan glared resentfully at the two people talking under the umbrellas. Bao Zheng seemed to sense something, turned around, and glanced at Wang Rouhua, who was shivering in the rain. He took a few steps closer and said to her: "I will ensure your son is taken care of. You need not worry."

Wang Rouhua's tears fell on Tie Xin Yuan's face, like the heavy rain outside. Tie Xin Yuan's eyes were fixed coldly on Bao Zheng's face, unblinking.

Bao Zheng was slightly puzzled but shook his head to dispel the strange thought. "A child not yet a year old... I shouldn't overthink it."

With an iron chain around her neck, Wang Rouhua, holding Tie Xin Yuan, was dragged out of the corner by the constables. Suddenly, Tie Xin Yuan saw a huge carriage parked nearby. Two burly men stood on the carriage shaft, unmoved by the heavy rain. The other soldiers standing on both sides were like statues, silent.

The sky was not yet completely dark, but a dozen large lanterns had already illuminated the surroundings like daylight. The previously quiet Tie Xin Yuan suddenly burst into loud, piercing cries. Wang Rouhua, thinking of her child's future without a mother, also fell to the ground and wailed, refusing to get up no matter how the constables tugged at the chain, just hugging her son and crying in the mud.

The swaddling cloth was soaked through, and the little fox, which had been hiding in the swaddling cloth out of fear, now hid even more carefully due to the crowd. Its playful tail brushed against Tie Xin Yuan's skin several times, making his cries even more shrill.

The cries finally caught the attention of the person in the carriage. A man in a rain cape with a duster came out of the carriage, whispered a few words to Bao Zheng, glanced at the mother and son crying on the ground, and then got back into the carriage.

Soon, a frail young man, protected by a large umbrella, came out of the carriage. He personally looked at Wang Rouhua and her son, then looked up at the dark sky and slowly said to Bao Zheng: "Disasters keep happening, which is a warning from heaven. The suffering of the people is my responsibility."

Bao Zheng bowed and said: "Your Majesty has already issued a self-censure edict due to the disasters. Heaven will naturally be moved by Your Majesty's sincerity, and next year will naturally be peaceful."

The young man coughed lightly and said: "I have already issued three self-censure edicts in recent years. In heaven's eyes, I am probably already a sinner. Forget it, just don't create more evil for me. Do you think this mother and son have the ability to threaten the palace or assassinate me?"

Bao Zheng hesitated and said: "No, but the dignity of the law must still be maintained."

"Killing this peasant woman will maintain the dignity of the law? I don't see it that way. The royal family has lost three princes in recent years. The reason I have no children is probably related to the overly harsh laws."

Bao Zheng, ignoring the heavy rain, took off his hat and let the rain pour down on his face, shouting: "Filial piety and benevolence are the pillars of our great Song. The law is the foundation of our great Song. How can we abolish it just because princes have died? Please, Your Majesty, think carefully!"

The emperor shook his head and pointed outside the city: "Forget it, I have seen enough corpses today. I don't want to create another one. Issue an edict: lend a corner of the royal palace to this mother and son. Minister Bao, no more words!"

The young emperor, after speaking, turned and looked at Tie Xin Yuan, who was listening with his ears perked up. Seeing the pitiful condition of the mother and son, he thought of his three deceased princes and felt a pang of sympathy. He waved to the eunuch and then got back into the carriage.

Bao Zheng stepped forward and ordered the constables to remove the iron chain from Wang Rouhua's neck, smiling: "Your Majesty is benevolent. Your escape is a stroke of luck. It's not suitable to live near the imperial city. Would you like me to find you a better place to live?"

Wang Rouhua, who had clearly heard the conversation between the emperor and Bao Zheng, and realized she wouldn't be killed, suddenly became fierce. She hugged her son and shouted: "I am a subject of Your Majesty, and I will follow Your Majesty's arrangements. I would rather build a thatched hut at the foot of the imperial city than live in a grand house you provide!"

Wang Rouhua then dragged her son back into the corner. The eunuch, who had been standing nearby, chuckled and said: "That's reasonable! Even a thatched hut from the emperor is more honorable than a grand house from others. Here are five strings of coins, a gift from the emperor to you and your son."

The eunuch, without acknowledging the embarrassed Bao Zheng, took off his rain cape and draped it over Wang Rouhua, saying: "This is from me, for your words just now."

Wang Rouhua, delighted, held her son in one hand and the heavy five strings of coins in the other. Before she could thank the eunuch, he had already disappeared.

Bao Zheng sighed and said to Wang Rouhua: "Take care of yourself."

Wang Rouhua grunted and dragged her reward back to the corner.

Bao Zheng looked around, his pupils narrowing, and said to the constables: "Except for that mother and son, anyone who approaches the imperial city within ten steps will be executed!"

The constables responded loudly, came to within ten steps of the imperial city, and waved their swords, shouting: "People outside, listen up! The Prefect orders that anyone who dares to approach the imperial city within ten steps will be executed!"

Wang Rouhua returned to the corner, put her son back in the bathtub, and, shaking her rain-soaked head, proudly said to her son: "Son, we've struck it rich. We now have eight strings of coins. Do you want to build a small house here and live? The rest of the money, I'll save for you to marry a beautiful wife."

Tie Xin Yuan opened his toothless mouth and laughed, and the little fox, seeing no one around, jumped out of the swaddling cloth and chirped at Wang Rouhua.

Wang Rouhua, feeling extremely relieved, patted the little fox's head and smiled: "You are also blessed."

Seeing her son's swaddling cloth was soaked, Wang Rouhua hurriedly took out a drier one. Although it was a bit damp, it was still drier than the current one.

With a place to stay, Wang Rouhua seemed to have boundless energy. In a short time, she not only set up a simple tent with an oilcloth but also laid all the dry clothes in the bathtub, and with her son and the little fox, jumped into the bathtub to sleep.

The rain continued, but it had lessened. Occasionally, water droplets from the city wall corner hit the oilcloth, making a pattering sound.

Wang Rouhua, sitting in the bathtub, prayed: "Seventh Brother, this is all thanks to your spirit. Please protect our child to grow as strong as a calf, to continue your lineage. I will work hard to raise our child."

Tie Xin Yuan knew this was the most genuine side of Wang Rouhua. Whether it was the emperor, the Prefect, or the general, they were all too distant.

She would rather believe that the scene just now was the result of her husband's spirit appearing than to believe that the officials were showing mercy.

This was a simple truth. Tie Xin Yuan never thought that resting against the wall of the imperial city was a great offense.

Even if it was, it was unfair.

A man of honor repays kindness and enmity. In his previous life, the greatest regret was not repaying the favors he owed before coming here. In this life, he would not tolerate such a thing happening again.

Yang Huaiyu, Bao Zheng? The emperor, the eunuch?

This is indeed interesting.

Wang Rouhua stubbornly pushed her son's head back into the swaddling cloth and chased the little fox to the side. She then comfortably laid her head on the money bag and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Tie Xin Yuan couldn't sleep, repeatedly trying to control his tongue to practice speaking. The biggest trouble of being an infant was the inability to communicate with others.

However, he wasn't practicing to start talking to his mother tomorrow, as that would scare her and the people of Tokyo.

Through the gaps in the swaddling cloth, Tie Xin Yuan looked at the dark sky and smiled strangely, saying clearly and distinctly: "I have come!"

Wang Rouhua's breathing was steady; she was already asleep and couldn't hear her son speaking in a strange tone. The little fox, lying at Tie Xin Yuan's feet, perked up its ears in confusion but, hearing no more sounds, put its mouth back on its small tail.