Chapter Twenty-Four: Past Events

The mighty Yangtze flows eastward, its waves washing away the heroes of the past. Right and wrong, success and failure, all vanish in the blink of an eye. The green hills remain, witnessing countless sunsets.

Kyoto. Imperial Palace. Shishinden Hall.

A fine sheen of sweat beaded on his forehead as the noble young master Zhang Songzhi awoke with a start, his eyes still faintly red. The Empress was no longer beside him; the bamboo mat was cool, the room chilly, much like the bright moonlight of the night.

A sudden chill ran through him. Without even straightening his nightgown, Zhang Songzhi staggered to his feet and headed out of the hall. In his previous life, under the same moonlit sky, he stood atop the high steps, watching helplessly as the then-Seventh Princess, the Empress, perished in the power struggle for the throne.

Blood, bright red blood gushed from the Seventh Princess's chest. He saw her resentment, her reluctance, but he could only watch helplessly, without taking a single step. At that time, his heart and eyes were filled only with fame, fortune, and glory; the favor of an unloved little princess was nothing to him.

His steps grew increasingly unsteady, his heart pounding. The panic of not finding his lover made it almost impossible for him to move. He remembered, he vividly remembered, that in his previous life, he disdained being the husband of a mere princess; he wanted to be a powerful minister with absolute authority. He succeeded; he truly became a regent, second only to the emperor. But what was the result? His achievements overshadowed his master.

On the day the new emperor sent men to confiscate his property, the sky was a clear, azure blue. The streets of the capital were bustling with people, still lively and cheerful. But inside the Prime Minister's residence, his hundreds of family members, from children to women, lay dying in pools of blood on that bright spring day, amidst the green willows and blooming flowers. He was falsely accused of treason, his reputation ruined, and ultimately subjected to the agonizing torture of slow slicing.

He knew all was vanity in death. A lifetime of striving and struggling, yet in the end, his family was destroyed, his entire clan perished, and tragedy struck. He vividly remembered that before his execution, as he passed through the long street, the sunlight stung his eyes. In a daze, he suddenly saw that day, the day he passed the imperial examination with flying colors, achieving third place among the successful candidates. Riding his white horse through the long street, he was struck by a colorful ball lightly thrown by a bright young woman from an upper floor.

That day, the sky was exceptionally blue, the girl upstairs looked exceptionally radiant, and he himself was riding a white horse, wearing a brocade sash, full of vigor and ambition, dreaming of entering the imperial court.

"Go quickly..." The sudden whip and angry shout interrupted his thoughts, and he fell awkwardly into the cage.

Looking up again, where is the bright young girl from before? Where is the unspoken words from before? That person, that love, has long since turned into a wisp of sorrowful soul, drifting like threads of emotion, forever vanished from the world.

"Pah, you traitor..."

"Kill him, traitor..."

Memories receded like a receding tide. The scene shifted abruptly. A crowd surged down the long street, rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs raining down on him, hitting his head and face. His disheveled hair reeked of blood and grime, his body stained with blood and dirt, utterly filthy. Who would remember that seven years ago, the man before them was a dashing and exceptionally talented scholar, a top-ranking official in the imperial examinations?

Seven years, a lifetime of hard work, and he only shone for seven years. Was Heaven punishing him for his infidelity? The bright young girl who called herself the Seventh Miss had already pledged her life to him.

His tongue had been cut out, leaving him unable to ask questions or seek answers. He could only wail incoherently, enduring the new emperor's thunderous wrath. Though he knew all along that once the cunning rabbit is caught, the hunting dog will be cooked, he was ultimately unwilling to relinquish that glory. Thus, he could only accept his fate and fall into the mud. His brilliance began, but it dissipated, leaving him still bearing a stain of disgrace.

The man's steps became even more unsteady, and his chest clenched with intermittent pain. No, no! He cherished his newfound life above all else, treasuring it like a precious gem. How could he possibly repeat the same mistakes?

Finally, he caught sight of the imperial study, and the faint candlelight shining through the window instantly calmed Zhang Songzhi's heart. He gasped for breath and stumbled, falling to his knees on the threshold.

A slender, white hand reached out to him and steadily pulled him up. The fingertips trembled slightly. Zhang Songzhi looked up and gazed at her, his eyes sparkling as if they held a thousand unspoken words.

"What's wrong?" the Empress asked with a smile.

"No, nothing..." Zhang Songzhi answered blankly, but the next second, he hugged her tightly in his arms, so tightly that the Empress could hardly breathe.

What happened? The Empress gently stroked the man's back, her heart filled with surprise.

"It's really nothing..." Struggling to hold back the tears that were about to fall, Zhang Songzhi said in a muffled voice, "It's just that I didn't see His Majesty when I woke up, and I was worried about him..."

Worried? The Empress couldn't help but smile again: "The palace is heavily guarded, and I am always escorted by imperial guards when I travel. Why should I worry, Ninth Prince?"

"Hmm." Deeply inhaling the Empress's unique fragrance, the man's previously chaotic heart gradually calmed. He finally released the beauty from his embrace, looked earnestly into her eyes, and said, "Your Majesty should still be more careful, after all..."

"Alright, I understand." The Empress extended a slender finger to stop the man from speaking. The women of the inner palace are forbidden from discussing state affairs. This rule still applies within the palace.

Zhang Songzhi nodded, gripping the Empress's hand. In truth, he wouldn't say anything. After all, he couldn't give those stubborn old fogies, who were desperately trying to eliminate him, any opportunity. For so many years, he had enjoyed the Empress's exclusive favor, which had long since made those who wanted to plant spies in the palace resentful.

Los Angeles.

Stroking the rim of his wine cup, Ye Tanhua, seated high on the platform, wore an inscrutable expression. Coincidentally, he had just glanced at the face below him at that very moment.

Before leaving the capital, Ye Yiqing had heard that the famous matchmaker, Madam Zhou, had been frightened and turned back after attempting to arrange a marriage for a minor fifth-rank official. Curious, Ye Yiqing wanted to see just how plain-looking the illegitimate daughter of the Mu family truly was. By sheer coincidence, he actually stumbled upon her through a crack in the carriage bed. However, to Ye Yiqing's surprise, the illegitimate daughter of the Mu family seemed drastically different in appearance and figure. Little did he know, this illegitimate daughter of the Mu family was actually someone else in disguise.

This is interesting. It's said that this illegitimate daughter of the Mu family was sent to a nunnery with her aunt at birth due to an unlucky birth date, only returning when she came of age. If it weren't for her plain appearance and secluded life, which caused her to gradually fade from attention, she would have long been the talk of the town. But why is this little-known illegitimate daughter being dressed up by the dignified head of the Judicial Office, Lord Mu? This question has piqued the curiosity of the scholar Ye, making him lose his appetite and sleep, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Interesting, this is really interesting. Ye Tanhua rubbed his fingers together, finding his trip to Los Angeles increasingly fascinating.

Once seated, Yin Wenbin, finally regaining his composure, laughed heartily and said, "The members of the Judicial Office are indeed worthy of being disciples of the Emperor. Guard Meng's skills are superb; I am truly impressed..."

Mu Lian glanced coldly at the City Magistrate of Luocheng before her, remaining impassive, and flicked her finger lightly. "I've heard that obese people have a lot of fat on them, is that true?"