Chapter 1570: No One Is Qualified to Judge Me!

On an upper floor of Maolu Villa, Hui Qingping set down her teacup after drinking with Niu Youdao, rose, and departed.

Niu Youdao remained seated with his own cup in hand, slowly turning his head to watch Hui Qingping leave Maolu Villa.

At that moment, Yun Ji came upstairs and placed a confidential letter in front of him.

"His Highness sent word. He says he received a letter from Shao Dengyun's steward, Yang Shuang. Yang Shuang says Shao Dengyun now has only one son left, Shao Pingbo, and hopes His Highness can show mercy and spare Shao Pingbo's life."

"Yang Shuang says Shao Dengyun knows nothing about the request, but His Highness can't be certain whether that is truly so."

Niu Youdao set down his cup and picked up the letter.

After reading it, he understood.

Whether this was truly Shao Dengyun's intent was not important.

The important thing was that Beizhou had made the request.

Shao Dengyun was a regional lord, and his support for Nanzhou had previously rendered great service. Shao Dengyun had only this one son left. Shang Chaozong plainly found it difficult to let Shao Dengyun's line end entirely.

Leaving everything else aside, many of Shao Dengyun's old comrades still served under Shang Chaozong. Countless pairs of eyes were watching.

But Shang Chaozong also knew about the grievances between Shao Pingbo and Master Dao.

This was not something Shang Chaozong could decide on his own.

Clearly he was asking Niu Youdao's opinion.

And the fact that Beizhou had made such a request meant they had obviously recognized that Jin's greater momentum was already lost and that Jin was no match for Shang Chaozong.

Shao Pingbo was still on Jin's side.

Once Shang Chaozong broke Jin, they feared he might not spare the man who had spent years stirring up trouble throughout the western Three States.

Niu Youdao said, "His Highness is leading the armies west while Shao Dengyun guards Beizhou and confronts Han. What does Beizhou mean by making this request now? Are they trying to pressure His Highness? They overestimate themselves."

Yun Ji asked, "Then how should we reply?"

"Tell His Highness I never intended to kill Shao Pingbo. He can handle it as he sees fit."

...

Yan Capital.

The imperial palace was cold and deserted.

Only a scattering of eunuchs and palace maids could occasionally be seen cleaning.

In truth, even the palace's general upkeep could no longer be called conscientious. Too few people still lived there, and weeds had begun growing in many places.

The condition of each imperial consort's residence now displayed every shade of human fickleness.

A residence that remained clean and orderly usually meant the woman's natal family still retained some power under the Regent.

Because this affected their own future and fate, the eunuchs and palace maids who remained naturally concentrated manpower and resources on currying favor with such women.

Quite a few other consorts, meanwhile, had taken up illicit relations with the stationed guards, or even the cultivators assigned there, merely so they could survive or have enough food to fill their stomachs.

As for the emperor, he could barely protect himself.

He no longer possessed the standing that made them compete for his favor.

The court would not actually allow the people inside the palace to starve to death, but the resources allocated were merely enough for subsistence. No one would allow the palace to continue living in extravagance.

And the eunuchs and palace maids responsible for distributing those limited resources naturally favored the consorts who still had powerful backgrounds.

If some received more, supplies for others would inevitably become tight.

Shang Jianxiong remained confined inside one palace hall.

He had nothing to do all day.

His hair hung loose, his clothing was disordered, and he wore whatever he pleased.

Calling him a pig being kept alive was hardly an exaggeration.

Many eunuchs and palace maids now dared show him open contempt.

Sunlight stabbed brightly through the tree branches, yet Shang Jianxiong still stood beneath the tree watching the birds resting there.

An elderly eunuch came over and quietly reported some news from outside that had been difficult to obtain.

He told Shang Jianxiong that Shang Chaozong's western campaign was sweeping forward unstoppably, striking such fear into Jin that men trembled at the mere rumor of his advance.

"A hundred thousand Crow Generals? A hundred thousand Crow Generals! A hundred thousand Crow Generals..."

Shang Jianxiong suddenly threw his head back and laughed.

The laughter gradually became desolate.

Tears ran from his eyes.

The birds in the tree startled and flew away.

...

A farmstead stood amid peaceful mountains, waters, and fields.

"Shang Chaozong. A hundred thousand Crow Generals. Gong Lince. Zhong Guzi. Kunlin Shu. Guan Fangyi. Yun Ji. Zhao Xiongge. Yuan Gang. Shang Chaozong. A hundred thousand Crow Generals. Gao Jiancheng..."

Inside the study, Shao Pingbo sat behind his desk with an intelligence report in hand, repeatedly murmuring certain names and phrases.

His eyes gradually widened.

Color flushed red and white across his face.

Both hands began trembling.

His breathing grew faster and faster until it seemed he could no longer draw in enough air.

Footsteps sounded outside.

Shao Sansheng entered in haste and reported urgently, "Eldest Young Master, the war is going badly. His Majesty has already returned to the capital ahead of the army."

"From what we're hearing, this side may not be able to hold. We may have to withdraw all the way back into Jin's original territory."

"Chief Steward Tao has personally come from outside. He says he has come to invite Eldest Young Master back to the capital."

Shao Pingbo drew a deep breath. "This place is a long way from the capital. Tao Lue came personally just to invite me?"

"Yes. He's outside now. The Princess stopped him and is speaking with him. She sent this old servant to invite Eldest Young Master out."

Shao Pingbo asked, "How many people did he bring?"

Shao Sansheng paused. "Several dozen, from what I could see."

Shao Pingbo nodded slightly. "Go reply first. Tell him I'm packing a few things and will be out shortly."

"Yes."

Shao Sansheng accepted the instruction and left.

Shao Pingbo sat in silence for a while.

Then he pulled open a drawer beside him and took out a small box.

Inside lay a wax-sealed pellet.

He pinched it free, crushed the wax shell, and examined the black pill inside.

Then, perfectly calm, he placed it in his mouth and slowly swallowed it.

He closed the little box and slowly returned it to the drawer.

After waiting for some time, perhaps because Shao Pingbo had still not emerged, Tao Lue suddenly forced his way inside with his men.

Taishu Huan'er's angry voice could be heard outside trying to stop him, but she failed.

Seeing Shao Pingbo still sitting quietly behind the desk and not attempting to flee, Tao Lue visibly relaxed.

Shao Pingbo said calmly, "Chief Steward Tao has come."

Tao Lue did not salute. He said coldly, "Lord Shao, His Majesty has issued a decree. Please return to the capital with this old servant."

Shao Pingbo said, "A message would have been enough. What matter could possibly require the Grand Chief Steward to travel such a long way personally?"

"What matter?" Tao Lue said. "The soldiers on the front are fighting bloody battles. His Majesty even went on campaign in person, yet someone in the rear has been creating chaos."

"As for who has been directing it from behind the scenes, I imagine Lord Shao understands better than this old servant."

The moment the words left his mouth, Taishu Huan'er was badly startled.

She snapped, "Chief Steward Tao, don't make groundless accusations!"

Shao Sansheng was equally shocked.

Eldest Young Master had arranged that matter with extreme care and had never contacted the people carrying out the disruption directly.

How had Tao Lue discovered it?

Tao Lue cupped his hands toward Taishu Huan'er. "That is precisely why His Majesty sent this old servant personally to invite Lord Shao back to the capital, so the matter can be clarified."

Shao Sansheng's gaze shifted toward Shao Pingbo and suddenly froze.

His eyes widened.

A line of blood was running from Shao Pingbo's nostril.

Within moments it began dripping steadily onto his clothing.

"Eldest Young Master!"

Shao Sansheng cried out and rushed around the desk, catching hold of him.

"Eldest Young Master, what's wrong?"

Everyone looked over.

Taishu Huan'er was instantly terrified.

"Someone come! Quickly!"

She ran over herself.

Shao Pingbo remained calm.

His gaze stayed fixed on Tao Lue.

"No one is qualified to judge me!"

A smile appeared on his face.

Then he slowly closed his eyes.

"Quickly!" Tao Lue, horrified, waved frantically for the cultivators accompanying him to save the man.

Several cultivators rushed forward and immediately began emergency treatment.

The answer was simple.

Shao Pingbo had taken poison.

By the time they discovered it, too much time had already passed.

They could not save him.

He departed quietly, without suffering any pain.

Just like that, he was gone.

Taishu Huan'er woke several times and fainted from grief several times.

In the end she sat dazed beside the corpse, continuously murmuring the same words.

"Father Emperor, you said you loved Huan'er most. Father Emperor, you said you loved Huan'er most..."

Tao Lue was stunned.

Shao Pingbo had died.

He had died right beneath Tao Lue's eyes.

And now the Princess seemed almost witless with grief.

Tao Lue had come personally and still managed to let the matter end like this.

He had no idea how he was supposed to explain himself to Taishu Xiong when he returned.

He did not understand why Shao Pingbo had been so resolute.

Yes, Blackwater Terrace had received intelligence and had followed the clues to verify that Shao Pingbo had betrayed Jin, becoming an inside traitor and carrying out widespread destruction from within.

But there had not even been an interrogation yet.

Shao Pingbo had not even given himself a chance to save his own life.

He had taken his life at their first meeting.

What was this supposed to mean?

Even an ant clung to life.

Why would a living man go this far?

Shao Sansheng was struck no less severely and fainted as well.

When he woke, he was overwhelmed with grief.

He did not understand either.

Eldest Young Master had refused to bow his entire life.

How many hardships had he endured, bending only to rise again and again?

Why would he take his own life so easily now?

Only later—only after Shao Sansheng learned that Niu Youdao was still alive—did he finally understand.

That was the true reason Eldest Young Master had killed himself.

Before his death, Eldest Young Master had already inferred that Niu Youdao was alive.

Eldest Young Master had realized that the person who truly brought down the Nine Saints was Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao had been hiding behind the scenes all along, manipulating everything.

Jia Wuqun had merely been a smokescreen.

Yet Eldest Young Master himself had actually been serving his mortal enemy.

For a man whose pride ran this deep into his bones, how could such a truth be endured?

First Niu Youdao had made Eldest Young Master sow chaos inside Jin.

Then he sold him out.

And Tao Lue's personal arrival plainly meant he had come prepared.

In the end, it forced Eldest Young Master onto a road with no exit.

Just as Eldest Young Master had said before death: "No one is qualified to judge me."

With pride like his, how could he allow Niu Youdao to humiliate him further?

Eldest Young Master had always insisted that Niu Youdao would never spare him.

Naturally, he would rather take his own life than endure every humiliation only to die miserably afterward.

Later events proved that Eldest Young Master truly had no possibility of turning the tables again.

There had been nowhere left to flee.

Consumed by endless grief, Shao Sansheng found himself wishing Shao Pingbo had been a little more foolish.

If only he had not been so intelligent, if only he had not understood everything so early, perhaps he would not have taken his own life.

Perhaps some road to survival might still have existed.

It was precisely because he had been too intelligent that he forced himself onto a dead end, taking poison in a way that did not even leave others time to save him...

News of Shao Pingbo's death reached Jin's capital.

Word that Taishu Huan'er had become dazed and unresponsive reached the imperial palace.

Taishu Xiong sat with his jaw clenched, silent.

He had not intended to kill Shao Pingbo so quickly.

At least, he had not intended to kill him yet.

Shao Dengyun was a Yan general.

If Taishu Xiong still held Shao Pingbo and Shao Liuer in his hands, they might have served as bargaining chips in future negotiations.

But matters had already reached this point.

In the end, Taishu Xiong still ordered Shao Pingbo's students arrested.

Even without proof that those students had been involved in the internal sabotage, he could not simply leave them free.

They had to be placed under control first to eliminate future danger.

Inside the imperial prison, in a dim, cold cell strewn with disordered straw, Shao Liuer, Hao Zhen, two adolescent boys, and one small child either lay down or sat silently.

The family did not even know what had happened.

Shao Liuer sat in the straw beside the bars, staring blankly at the dim oil lamp on the opposite wall...

[End of Chapter 1570]