Chapter 64 On the Lantern Festival, at the turn of midnight
The entire city was under martial law, and the long streets were eerily quiet, devoid of any festive joy.
After descending the city wall, Xie Chengyan did not deal with the trivial matters that annoyed him, but instead returned to the General's Mansion first.
The cloak hung down behind him, his figure blending into the boundless darkness.
In front of the General's Mansion, the bright lamp emitted a faint, dim yellow light. It was a lamp that Shen Xi had specially instructed the servants to replace before he left the mansion this morning.
Xie Chengyan looked up, his gaze lingered for a moment, and then he returned to the room.
Look around.
The furnishings remained unchanged, as if she would walk out at any moment, hug him tightly, and chatter with him about the day's events.
On the dressing table, the set of jewelry he gave her remained where it was; Shen Xi hadn't taken it. Of the entire room, she only took her few medical books.
In Chenxi's heart, it is the only thing that truly belongs to her.
Xie Chengyan tugged at the corner of his lips. He couldn't discern his current emotions, and he tried his best to recall those joys and sorrows that had long been forgotten.
None of them reflect his current state of mind.
He felt that the room was empty and lifeless.
My gaze swept over the furniture and decorations, and it was clear that nothing was lacking.
He had been living alone for more than ten years.
Now, it's just that one person is missing.
It would be abnormal if there were one more person by his side.
Finally, his gaze fell on the table, where a food box was placed.
Xie Chengyan remembered that it was something Shen Xi had sent back from Renfeng Hall near dusk.
He just hadn't returned home yet and hadn't had a chance to see it.
He stepped forward, lifted the lid, and found a bowl of Jade Pearl Cloud Silk Soup inside.
Shen Xi made it herself. She had been tinkering with these things for a while. The appearance and taste were naturally not as good as those from Wangxianlou, but she just liked to make them for him to try.
Recalling those past events, Xie Chengyan's expression softened.
This soup has been sitting for too long and has long since gone cold.
But he didn't care. He silently picked up the spoon and ate one spoonful after another, his demeanor calm and unhurried.
The chilled soup slid down my throat, leaving no taste in my mouth, yet it chilled me to the bone.
After swallowing the last spoonful of soup, Xie Chengyan's gaze turned completely cold. After a long while, he stepped out the door and calmly instructed the person beside him, "From now on, don't make this dish again."
After speaking to himself, even Xie Chengyan himself paused for a moment, seemingly not expecting what he had just said.
Looking back now, it seems a little uninteresting.
What future is there?
"General."
Liang Tuo, fully armed and ready, stood by, his silver armor reflecting the cold moonlight. He had been preparing for a long time, waiting only for Xie Chengyan's command.
Hearing his urging, Xie Chengyan slightly raised his eyelids, his brows furrowing completely: "Go and guard the city gate. Tonight, do not let a single one out."
Liang Tuo clasped his hands and bowed his head: "General, your subordinate swears to follow you to the death!"
Xie Chengyan chuckled silently: "Why follow me? This is my family matter, don't get involved."
Liang Tuo was immediately shocked. He knew Xie Chengyan's plan for tonight, but he never expected that Xie Chengyan would go alone.
"General..."
"This is a military order."
Before Liang Tuo could say anything more, Xie Chengyan had already nimbly mounted his horse, and without looking at him, rode away, leaving only a light, fleeting sentence in the wind.
"Hold the city gates to the death. After tonight, go find Chu Chengji to pledge your loyalty and sever ties with me. He won't make things difficult for you."
"General!"
Liang Tuo hurriedly took two steps to catch up, but Xie Chengyan did not turn around. He panicked instantly, feeling that things would not end well tonight.
The moon is cold and desolate.
Xie Chengyan galloped along the deserted street, traveling without hindrance, before reining in his horse and bringing it to a steady stop outside the Duke's mansion.
He took the sword from its sheath and casually patted the horse's rump twice.
Suddenly, the foal let out a long neigh and ran off uncontrollably.
Alone with his sword, Xie Chengyan stood tall in the north wind, appearing exceptionally small against the boundless night sky.
He stared intently at the golden plaque hanging above the gate of the Duke's mansion, his eyes filled with malice, no longer concealing or restraining himself.
Suddenly, Xie Chengyan ripped off his black cloak, revealing a plain white robe underneath, without any patterns, resembling mourning clothes.
He looked down and examined himself.
The blood-red illusion that used to appear before my eyes was strangely absent tonight.
Xie Chengyan sighed softly, "What a pity."
He stepped into the Duke's mansion, then turned around, spread his arms, and slammed the door shut, locking it tightly and cutting off the last bit of light.
Tonight, many members of the Xue and Xie families have gathered at the Duke's mansion for the purpose of plotting to usurp the throne from the Crown Prince.
The emperor has made up his mind to destroy the foundation of both families. Now the arrow is on the bowstring. If we do not take the initiative, we will become a pawn sooner or later. We have no choice but to take a gamble.
Therefore, they deliberately chose the night of the fifteenth of the first lunar month to launch the attack. Xie Chengyan led the palace troops to support the crown prince in seizing the throne and took the lead in raising an army. Once the news of the uprising was sent, everyone immediately stormed the palace gates and helped the crown prince ascend the throne in one fell swoop.
Everyone rallied their spirits and prepared to go.
Xue Hongming paced back and forth anxiously, glancing out the window every now and then, hoping to catch a glimpse of the fireworks that sent a message.
But after waiting for a long time, there was still no news: "The Emperor's decree of a curfew should have alerted us to something amiss, but it's been so long, why is there still no word from Cheng Yan?"
Xie Yi, however, seemed much calmer: "Let's wait a little longer."
He had a vague suspicion that he probably wouldn't see the message-carrying fireworks tonight.
Actually, it had been a long time since he had properly enjoyed fireworks. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but recall some old memories and sighed softly.
Just then, a servant rushed in to announce, "The eldest young master has returned!"
Xue Hongming frowned. According to the original plan, Xie Chengyan should not have returned. Could it be that he had already resolved the situation in the palace by himself, and it was not their turn to go and help?
But Xie Yi suddenly burst into laughter and slammed his sword heavily on the table: "Let him come over."
Before he could finish speaking, Xie Chengyan had already kicked open the door. The cold moonlight from outside shone down on him, casting a chill over him.
Upon seeing this, Xue Hongming preemptively asked, "Why are you back? How is the Crown Prince's Palace?"
Xie Chengyan's indifferent gaze swept around the room, discreetly taking in everyone.
Only then did he slowly step in, saying unhurriedly, "The Eastern Palace, huh? It's where His Majesty will be, guarding him until his death. Before long, it will be the current emperor."
Xue Hongming was surprised, clearly finding it hard to believe: "What?"
He walked in, and now everyone could clearly see the turmoil hidden in his eyes.
These were all capable assistants of the Xue and Xie families, the most astute of all, and they could glean some clues from Xie Chengyan's expression.
In an instant, everyone slowly stood up, gripped their knives tightly, and stared intently at Xie Chengyan's every move.
Only Xie Yi remained unmoved, calmly watching his son whom he had personally raised.
Xie Chengyan looked at him as well, and the father and son's eyes met, their silent resentment spreading outwards.
After a long while, Xie Chengyan finally spoke, saying to Xie Yi across half a room, "Father, today is the Lantern Festival."
His tone was as light as a bird's feather, sweeping across the room, yet it stirred an uncontrollable tremor.
Xue Hongming was in a hurry to make plans for tonight and didn't understand why he suddenly started saying these strange things.
"Chengyan, this is not the time for a festival! What exactly happened in the palace? Why is there no news at all?"
Xie Chengyan did not answer. He stepped forward, his sword occasionally clashing against his arm guard, producing a few crisp sounds that abruptly echoed in the night.
Of all the people present, only Xie Yi understood his meaning, and a meaningful smile appeared on his face, as if he were pleased: "Yes, today is the Lantern Festival."
Seeing his reaction, Xie Chengyan's gaze turned even colder, and his voice, as cold as ice in the dead of winter, pierced straight into the ears: "Father, do you have anything to say?"
"It seems you already know."
"Unforgettable in this lifetime."
Suddenly, Xie Chengyan drew his sword, which emitted a chilling light.
Everyone was shocked. Although they didn't understand what had happened, they all drew their swords and attacked.
Xue Hongming was already furious: "Xie Chengyan! What are you doing!"
Startled by his shout, Xie Chengyan's gaze swept over him, and he curled his lips into a mocking smile: "It seems that important people have bad memories. You've forgotten what happened on the Lantern Festival twenty years ago. It was the Xue family who helped clean up the mess."
"What do you mean, twenty years ago..."
He subconsciously asked a question halfway through when suddenly, Xue Hongming remembered something and took two steps back. But seeing his confident expression, Xue Hongming's face darkened instantly.
"How could you possibly know!"
All these years of repeated examinations, even instructing Xie Wenlang, a child, to undergo the tests, have shown that Xie Chengyan clearly lost all his memories before the age of seven.
But where did he hear all this from?!
Xie Chengyan's smile became more pronounced, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. His gaze passed over Xie Chengyan and landed on Xie Yi.
"On the Lantern Festival, at the stroke of midnight, the fire was raging. How could I forget? Father, that sword strike was truly merciless."
Xie Yi met Xie Chengyan's fierce gaze, which seemed to want to tear flesh off him, and thought of the past.
During that great fire twenty years ago, he held a blade in one hand and held Xie Chengyan, who was only six years old and unconscious, in his arms with the other.
Blood was still dripping from the blade, and a corpse lay at his feet.
His eyes were tightly closed, terrified of the fire and the excruciating pain in his body.
Although lifeless, it was still possible to vaguely discern that it had maintained a strange posture while alive, as if protecting something in its arms.
The corpse was Xie Chengyan's biological mother.
He realized the truth and was even more gratified: "So, you were awake then. Thinking about it this way, it's not a pity. You must have heard her last words clearly."
As he spoke, Xie Yi stood up, his gaze sharp: "But all these years, I have devoted myself to teaching you and poured my heart and soul into you. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be standing here today. Even so, are you still going to lay a hand on your father for the sake of a dead man?"
Xie Chengyan did not respond, but simply tilted his head to stretch his muscles and casually tossed the sword sheath aside.
The door behind him closed.
"Gentlemen, it's time to pay our debts."
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