Chapter 61: Longevity The late spring raindrops passed through the carved window lattices, on the blue bricks...

Late spring raindrops skimmed the carved window lattices, forming puddles on the blue brick floor. The wind rang the bronze bells on the eaves, startling the swallows perched on the beams and sending them fluttering into flight. A few feathers swirled and fell into the window.

After the copper door knocker was knocked several times, it made a creaking sound, and a pair of muddy soap boots stopped just in the shadow of the threshold.

Zhou Jin brushed off the raindrops on his official robe, straightened his tilted black gauze hat, and then looked into the house.

Fang Buyu was curled up in a huanghuali armchair, clutching a gilded wine pot in his hand. His wide, plain sleeves were soaked with spilled mulberry wine. The green jade hairpin on his head slanted out from his messy black hair like crow feathers, facing a fallen leaf inserted diagonally in the green porcelain vase on the desk.

"Looks like you haven't found my sister either." Zhou Jin sighed. The strong smell of alcohol in the room hit him, and he instinctively took a step back, but then stopped. He hadn't come here just to find his sister from Fang Buyu.

He approached slowly, his official boots treading over the messy ground. "I'm sure you already know that in Tuoba Xuan's case—no, now I should say, Wang Xin's case—His Majesty has officially concluded that Tuoba Xuan will be released from prison soon."

Zhou Jin's lips curled up in a mocking smile as he spoke. "Oh, it's ridiculous. Every piece of evidence pointed to Tuoba Xuan, yet it all changed because the Crown Prince visited the palace. Now, all the blame is placed on Wang Xin alone. How could a concubine have such extraordinary abilities, instigating so many people to commit such heinous crimes, and yet Your Majesty actually believed it? Where is justice in this world?"

Zhou Jin thought Fang Buyu would react after he said this, but Fang Buyu remained like a wooden sculpture, his lifeless eyes reflecting the gray sky outside the window.

Seeing him like this, Zhou Jin felt a nameless anger ignite in his heart. He strode around the desk, grabbed Fang Buyu by the collar, and pulled him up from the chair.

"Fang Buyu!" A roar exploded amidst the sound of rain. "Do you think I'm not heartbroken over my sister's passing? For over two months, just like you, I've searched everywhere she might have gone, but there's not a single trace of her! Back then, I was just a little bit away, just a little bit away, and I would have recognized her..."

At this point, Zhou Jin's calm mask shattered, and his voice began to tremble. "In the ten years since my sister left, I've thought countless times that if she were still here, I would make it up to her and let her live the most comfortable life. But when she finally came back, I couldn't even recognize my own sister. In those days, I never did anything for her. When she left, I didn't even have time to say goodbye to her. Do you think I don't regret it or blame myself?"

He let go dejectedly, his knuckles clenching the safety lock on his chest. "But what can we do? Life must go on... We shoulder too much responsibility. How can we just sit there and do nothing because of our pain? Don't forget, you once vowed to me that you would seek justice for the people of Weizhou and give them a fair and clear Weizhou. But now, have you done that? You spend your days in a daze, wallowing in pain. How can you save those people who are suffering?"

Zhou Jin took a half step back, his black boots trampling over the broken porcelain on the ground. He stared at Fang Buyu and spoke word by word, "If my sister knew that you had become like this because of her leaving, she would be so heartbroken!"

After a pause, he pulled out a scroll from his bosom. It was Wang Xin's confession, with prison straw still stained on the edges of the parchment. "His Majesty has ordered us to hand over Wang Xin's case to the Tianying Pavilion for investigation. Fang Buyu, I beg you, please don't let my sister down, and don't let down the people of Weizhou!"

Zhou Jin's footsteps faded away. A long time later, the sound of a wine jug tumbling could be heard from inside the house. Sobs mingled with the sound of raindrops, leaving dark stains on the messy floor...

*

The morning mist had not yet dissipated. Zhao Hui carried her breakfast and walked along the wet bluestone path towards Fang Buyu's villa.

Beside the flowerbed, Xiaoying was watering the camellia bushes with a kettle. Seeing Zhao Hui approach, she quickly put the kettle down and bowed, "Madam, you're here."

Zhao Hui's gaze passed over Xiaoying's shoulder and fell on the pure sea of ​​flowers. "Thank you for your hard work. You've taken such good care of this patch of camellias."

"It's not hard. Ever since Miss Tang left, the Pavilion Master has been locked up in the house all day. The few times he goes out, he just stands in front of this flower garden." Xiaoying reached out and gently stroked a nearby flower bud covered with morning dew, saying softly, "Look, this camellia is blooming so beautifully. It's a pity that Miss Tang, who loved it the most, can't see it..."

Zhao Hui gazed at the blossoming white camellias. The dawn light was barely visible, and the dewdrops on the petals shone brightly, almost falling. Her heart sank. After Miss Tang left, it seemed as if she had taken Bu Yu's soul with her. He ate very little every day, even with her constant supervision. If she hadn't been watching over him, he might... She was really afraid he'd harbor some inappropriate thoughts, might do something foolish...

She didn't dare to think anymore and couldn't help but quicken her pace.

As soon as she reached the moon-shaped gate outside the courtyard, she saw the door to the inner room was wide open. Zhao Hui's heart tightened, and she almost ran in.

"No chance!"

Fang Buyu, adjusting the collar of his official uniform, turned at the sound. Morning light streamed through the window lattice, casting a pale golden hue on his gaunt profile. "Mother," he called softly, his voice carrying a long-lost calmness.

Zhao Hui hurried forward and took her son's hand. It wasn't until she could feel his warmth that her heart finally settled. She then noticed that not only was her son dressed neatly, but even his long-uncombed hair was meticulously done.

"Are you...going back to the pavilion?"

"Yes. There are too many backlogs of affairs in the cabinet. Although Wang Xin's case has been concluded by the Holy Judge, there are still many details that need to be finalized." Fang Buyu replied in a gentle voice.

Zhao Hui nodded repeatedly and patted the back of Fang Buyu's hand. Her eyes couldn't help but turn red: "I'm glad you can figure it out... Just now, I thought you..." The words were on the tip of her tongue but she swallowed them back. She turned her face away, not wanting her son to see her loss of composure.

Fang Buyu took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and gently wiped the tears from the corners of Zhao Hui's eyes: "I'm sorry, mother, for making you worry about me. Don't worry, it won't happen again in the future."

"Okay, okay..." Zhao Hui responded repeatedly, pulling him to the dining table. "Hurry up and have breakfast. Look how much you've lost weight in the past few months." As she laid out the dishes, she naggled, "I'll make you a pot of pigeon soup later. You need to nourish yourself."

Fang Buyu looked at Zhao Hui's figure, a deep sense of guilt welling up in his heart. His mother said he had lost weight, but wasn't she the same? For more than two months, his mother had worried so much about him that even a few strands of gray hair had appeared on her temples.

"Okay," he took the bowl and chopsticks and sat down meekly, "I'll listen to mother."

*

Outside the Tianying Pavilion prison, the sun was rising. Guo Yan paced repeatedly in front of the door, his figure elongated and slender, revealing an unconcealable anxiety. Upon seeing the familiar figure, he quickly rushed to meet it.

"Buyu, you're here! When someone from your house came to tell me this morning, I couldn't believe it... Are you really okay?"

"No problem," Fang Buyu replied. The corners of his eyes were still slightly red and swollen, but his eyes had regained their former clarity and composure. "How is Wang Xin now?"

"Imprisoned in the deepest part of the cell."

"Go and have a look."

Before he even approached the prison door, he could hear a woman's hoarse cries in the dank air, mixed with the dull thud of flesh hitting the wooden bars.

"Let me out... Let me out quickly!" Although the voice was weak, it revealed a sad and stubborn tone.

Fang Buyu and Guo Yan stopped in front of the last cell. In the dim light, Wang Xin, her hair loose, suddenly fell silent when she heard footsteps. She turned her head sharply—her eyes, as if filled with poison, fixed on the newcomer.

"Fang Buyu!" She almost squeezed out the name from between her teeth.

"Do you know why you are here?" Fang Buyu asked calmly.

"Heh..." Wang Xin's dry lips pulled out a cold laugh, "You can't touch my husband, so you use me, a woman, to take the blame. Do you think I don't know?"

"You signed the confession yourself, so how can you say you took the blame?"

"You..." Wang Xin was speechless for a moment, then raised her chin and looked at Fang Buyu with contempt, "My husband is the prime minister of this dynasty, who the hell are you?!"

"Yes, your husband, the Prime Minister, will be released from prison today."

"Really?" Upon hearing this, Wang Xin suddenly became excited. He grabbed the prison bars and a strange light flashed in his eyes. He then quickly lowered his head to cover it up.

"Are you thinking that if you take on this heinous crime for Tuoba Xuan, he will definitely remember their past and rescue you?"

Wang Xin's pupils shrank and he stared at him warily.

"You forged a handwritten letter from the Prime Minister, instructing the prefect to embezzle funds for bridge construction and use straw instead of stone, causing the bridge to collapse and hundreds of lives to be lost. You also co-founded Ningxiang Residence with Lin Bowen, forcing women into prostitution and making millions. After the incident was exposed, you even set it on fire to silence the witnesses and framed the court officials—" Fang Buyu said each sentence, taking a step forward. "How many heads do you have to stand up to all these crimes? Do you think Tuoba Xuan would be willing to be involved in this filth?"

Wang Xin tried to remain calm, but the muscles on his cheeks twitched slightly unconsciously.

"Three days ago, His Majesty personally judged and concluded the verdict. Considering Tuoba Xuan's 'complete ignorance', he was not guilty and was only demoted to the fifth rank. But you, your brother Wang Gui, your youngest son Tuoba Bin, and your entire maternal family..." Fang Buyu paused, "Ten days later, you will be executed at the Meridian Gate."

Wang Xin trembled all over, staggered and fell to the ground, letting out a shrill scream: "Impossible! You lied to me - Bin'er is only five years old! Xuanlang... Xuanlang would never do this to us!"

"Guo Yan." Fang Buyu gave a slight gesture.

Guo Yan stepped forward, unfolded the execution document, inscribed in red ink, and handed it to Wang Xin. But she turned her head away as if burned by fire, her hands tightly covering her ears, her voice fragmented: "No... Bin'er is still so young... He won't..."

"Your deep love has resulted in your loved ones being buried with you."

Wang Xin's eyes were bloodshot, and he slammed sideways into the prison bars like a madman. His skinny fingers stretched out from the cracks in the wooden bars and tightly grasped Fang Buyu's clothes. He screamed, "I confess now! I confess everything! I didn't do these things, it was Xuan Lang... No! It was Tuoba Xuan! He forced me to do this!"

"It's too late." Fang Buyu said in a cold voice, "Your Majesty has made his decision. I'm here today just to make sure you die with a clear conscience."

He turned to leave, but his shirt was tugged tighter. Wang Xin fell to his knees, his forehead banging against the cold stone. "Pavilion Master Fang! Please! Save me..."

Fang Buyu lowered his wrist, mercilessly pulled the corner of her clothes back from her fingers, and said to Guo Yan, "Let's go."

"Pavilion Master Fang! Don't go—" Wang Xin's scream suddenly rose to a crescendo, filled with the madness of someone on the verge of death. "If I tell you... for over a decade, the Crown Prince and Tuoba Xuan have been experimenting with drugs on living people, secretly cultivating the art of immortality—would you be willing to hear this secret?!"