Travel back in time and become Chongzhen, watch me turn the tide

Yangzhou's Dongguan Street is like a shining pearl, deeply embedded in the vast Jianghuai land.

Entering from the East Gate Tower, the towering city walls, their mottled bricks and stones bearing witness to the vicissitudes of time, churn out a vibrant flow of traffic and people. The streets are lined with shops, their signage fluttering. Inside the silk shops, mountains of vibrantly colored silks and satins gleam in the sunlight. Shopkeepers warmly greet passersby, showcasing exquisite silk products. Inside the tea shops, the lingering aroma of tea permeates the air. A dazzling array of renowned teas from around the world is on display, and tea vendors expertly brew the fragrant teas, inviting customers to sample the intoxicating aroma.

The Salt Shop is a prominent landmark of Dongguan Street. Its massive, eye-catching sign, suspended high above the door, highlights its unique status. Porters busily shuttle between the entrances, loading and unloading heavy bags of salt, either on their shoulders or by hand. Dressed in opulent attire, the sheen of brocade gleams in the sunlight, the salt merchants engage in lively conversation with merchants from all over the world, discussing prices and market trends. Every expression and gesture betrays the shrewdness and confidence of their business dealings.

The salt merchant's residence here is tall and magnificent, like a small palace. Its exquisite carved beams and painted buildings further demonstrate the wealth and status of the salt merchant family.

The Wang family mansion boasts a history of nearly a century. Its towering gatehouse stands majestically, like a silent giant, guarding the residence's dignity. The heavy wooden door is inlaid with a bronze animal-head door knocker. The texture of the animal heads is clearly visible, and though it is now mottled, the former opulence is still palpable, as if telling of its glorious past.

Crossing the high threshold, a courtyard comes into view. A winding bluestone path winds its way through the courtyard, its tenacious moss growing between the cracks a testament to the passage of time. Greenery is scattered throughout the courtyard. Several tall, lush bamboos stand tall, their leaves rustling in the breeze. Banana trees in the corners spread their broad leaves, like umbrellas holding up the courtyard. In the stone flowerbed, the peonies, though past their blooming season, still evoke the allure of their full glory.

The main house is magnificent, its carved beams and painted rafters showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. The painted beams, though faded from vibrant color through the ravages of time, still reveal the mythological stories and auspicious motifs they once depicted. The sturdy wooden pillars, their bases carved with auspicious beasts, lend the building a sense of antiquity and grandeur. The carvings on the windows are so meticulous that, through the hazy window paper, one can almost glimpse the vibrant lights of the house's past.

The reception room was lavishly furnished. The sandalwood tables and chairs exuded a subtle, delicate fragrance, a delicate and lingering aroma, like the lingering charm of time. The carvings on the tables and chairs were lifelike, each texture seeming to have life, as if ready to leap from the wood grain. The Treasure Pavilion was filled with rare treasures. Fine porcelain shone with a gentle luster in the dim light, its delicate texture and exquisite shape revealing its preciousness. Gold and silver items gleamed in the corners, and the brilliance of jewelry made the entire space shimmer.

At this moment, Wang Zheng had been sitting alone in the reception room for who knows how long.

Ever since the news of the failed assassination came back last night, Wang Zheng knew that the Wang family was finished. This family, which had been passed down for a century, would be destroyed because of his decision. His eyes were empty, as if he had lost his soul, and his heart was filled with endless regret.

He didn't know why he had so easily trusted the eunuch and made the decision that would ruin his family's century-old foundation. Every moment of the decision kept replaying in his mind, and every recollection was like a sharp knife, deeply piercing his heart.

A loud commotion erupted from the courtyard, waking Wang Zheng from his reverie. The noise shattered the stillness of the living room, as if a huge rock had been dropped into a tranquil lake.

"Wang Gui, who is making noise outside?" Wang Zheng frowned, with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Master, it's the Second Master," said Wang Gui, the housekeeper, who had been waiting outside. Upon hearing Wang Zheng's question, he hurriedly pushed the door open. With a hint of nervousness on his face, he hurriedly walked up to Wang Zheng and bowed slightly.

"Hmph! Let him in," Wang Zheng said with a sigh.

"Brother, why are there so many soldiers at the door?" The person who came in was Wang Zheng's younger brother Wang Rong. He shouted as soon as he entered the door. His face was filled with anger and confusion, and his eyes revealed a hint of arrogance.

"I don't know where these soldiers came from, but they dared not let me go out. Big brother, you must teach them a lesson!"

Wang Rong spoke, waving his arms in the air, his demeanor dominating. His younger brother had been a lazy worker since childhood, spending his days enjoying a life of debauchery and drunkenness with his friends, never caring about family affairs, only caring about having fun.

"Second brother, calm down," Wang Zheng said with a sigh, looking at Wang Rong. His eyes were filled with fatigue and helplessness, as if he was looking at a child who would never grow up. "If I don't let you go out, then stay here honestly..."

"Brother, what are you talking about?" Wang Rong shouted, his eyes wide with dissatisfaction. "When has our Wang family ever been treated like this in Yangzhou City? How dare you block our door without even asking what our Wang family does?"

Wang Rong paced back and forth in the hall, becoming increasingly agitated.

"What are we doing? What else can our Wang family do?" Wang Zheng finally exploded. He stood up, pointed at Wang Rong and shouted. His voice became hoarse with anger, and his eyes were bloodshot. "We are just salt merchants, what else can we do?"

His body trembled slightly, and the anger in his heart completely erupted at this moment.

"Brother, please don't be angry. I..." Wang Rong had been afraid of his brother since he was a child. Seeing Wang Zheng angry, he immediately became obedient. He lowered his head, not daring to look Wang Zheng in the eye. However, he was still a little puzzled and asked, "I... I just want to know where those soldiers are from and why they are blocking our gate?"

Wang Rong's voice became smaller and smaller, without the arrogance he had just had.

“Second brother, we…we…” Wang Zheng was hesitating whether to tell Wang Rong the truth when he heard someone shouting, “Why did you break into the palace? Hey, why are you hitting people?”

The voice was filled with fear and anger, breaking the tense atmosphere in the hall.

Wang Zheng sighed, his entire body slumped in the armchair as if his spine had been torn out. His eyes were filled with despair. He knew that what was coming would eventually come, and the wheel of fate was already rolling relentlessly towards the Wang family.

"But Wang Zheng, the head of the Wang family!" Moments later, hurried footsteps echoed, and a red-faced, bearded, imposing general, fully armored, appeared before Wang Zheng. He looked like a god of war, his armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight. He glared sharply at Wang Zheng, seated in the center of the hall, and asked sternly. His voice, deep and commanding, echoed throughout the hall.

"It's Wang!" Wang Zheng said, taking a breath as he looked at the general who looked like the reincarnation of Guan Yu. A hint of fear flashed through his eyes, but he managed to remain calm. "I wonder what brings you here, General?"

"What's the matter? Doesn't the head of the Wang family know what's the matter? Then you know this person, right?" The person who came was Yan Yingyuan. Behind him, two soldiers were holding Wang Cong, who was covered in blood.

Wang Cong's face was as pale as paper, his clothes were torn and bloodstained, and his eyes were full of fear and despair.

"Cong'er, are you...are you okay?" Wang Zheng, seeing his son's plight, wanted to rush forward, but after taking two steps, he stopped again. His body trembled, his eyes filled with heartache and fear, and he waved his hands helplessly in the air.

"What have you done to Cong'er? Let him go! Ouch..." Wang Rong was getting anxious. He strode forward and reached out to grab Wang Cong, but before he could get close, a soldier kicked him out. Wang Rong fell heavily to the ground, screaming, a look of pain on his face.

"Master Wang, your son has confessed everything. Do you have anything else to say?" Yan Yingyuan walked forward slowly and said leisurely. His eyes were fixed on Wang Zheng, not missing any expression on his face.

"General, now that things have come to this, I have nothing more to say," Wang Zheng said with a long sigh. His voice was low and hoarse, as if he had aged a lot.

"Everything that happened was due to my momentary confusion. All the mistakes are my fault alone... I hope that for the sake of our Wang family's ancestors who respected the ancients and were devoted to the court, please don't let my Wang family lineage be cut off from now on, okay?"

Wang Zheng's eyes were full of pleading, and tears were welling up in his eyes.

"Having committed such a heinous crime, you still dare to harbor such wishful thoughts?" Yan Yingyuan shook his head. There was no trace of pity in his eyes, and his tone was cold and resolute.

"I dare not entertain such wishful thoughts. I only pray for a trace of my Wang family's bloodline to remain," Wang Zheng said through gritted teeth. His eyes revealed a hint of determination, as if he were making a final struggle. "I can give away all the savings of my Wang family over a century..." His voice trembled, each word filled with helplessness and pain.

"This..." Yan Yingyuan pondered for a moment. He knew that if they just relied on them to search, they might not get much, but if he took the initiative to confess... He was weighing the pros and cons in his heart, and a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes.

"If we rely solely on your search, we'll only seize some of the Wang family's wealth," Wang Zheng said hoarsely, his eyes bloodshot. His eyes were filled with earnestness, as if grasping at a last straw. "Leave a trace of my Wang family's bloodline. I won't let you suffer any loss..."

"Hmph!" Yan Yingyuan snorted coldly, somewhat moved. He exchanged glances with Zhu Ge, cleared his throat and said, "Then no one from other families participated in this assassination?" His eyes became sharp and he stared at Wang Zheng closely.

"Ah..." Wang Zheng was stunned at first, then a look of struggle appeared on his face. He was silent for a moment and said, "Yes..." His voice was very low, as if he had used up all his strength to say every word, and his eyes were full of complicated looks.