Chapter 96 Extra: Outside the Palace Walls (Part 6)
Chapter 96 Extra Chapter: Outside the Palace Walls (Part 6)
It's late autumn again.
Inside the imperial study, the scent of ambergris seemed to be imbued with the owner's lingering melancholy.
Li Qianche sat behind his desk, holding an insignificant memorial in his hand, but his gaze was fixed on the withered sycamore trees outside the window.
It has been more than a year since the "accident" at Luoyan Gorge.
He had lost a lot of weight, and the dragon robe that used to fit him now looked somewhat loose on him. His eye sockets were sunken, his cheekbones were slightly protruding, and there was a dark, unyielding bluish-black under his eyes.
Those once deep, sharp eyes, capable of seeing through the political turmoil of the court, now often appear somewhat vacant. Only when they hear any sporadic news that might be related to "her" will they suddenly flash with a terrifying light, only to fall into deeper silence due to disappointment.
He slept very little, and even when he occasionally closed his eyes, it was a light sleep and he was easily awakened. His dreams were filled with her resolute back as she turned away, or the terrifying face of that fake corpse.
He seemed to be enveloped in an invisible layer of ice, gloomy and silent. Only when dealing with government affairs, especially when purging the remnants of the Zhuang family, would he reveal the ruthlessness and efficiency befitting an emperor.
"Xuan Sujizhi." He suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse and dry.
Su Jizhi quickly answered the call and entered. He appeared as composed as ever, though a lingering heaviness clung to his brow. After bowing respectfully, he stood with his hands at his sides.
Li Qianche did not offer him a seat, but instead raised his eyes, his gaze like a rusty hook, fixed firmly on Su Jizhi's face. He spoke each word with an almost pleading weariness: "Jizhi, there are no outsiders here. Tell me, you know where Su Su is, don't you? She's in Jiangnan, isn't she? Tell me, where in Jiangnan is she?"
Su Jizhi's body tensed almost imperceptibly for a moment, then he lowered his eyes, his voice flat and sorrowful: "Your Majesty... have you forgotten again? My younger sister... Su Su, she has been dead for more than a year. Her remains... have long since returned to dust."
"You're talking nonsense!" Li Qianche slammed his hand on the imperial desk, stood up abruptly, his chest heaving violently with agitation, his eyes bloodshot. "She's not dead! That corpse isn't her! You've hidden her! Give her back to me! She's my imperial concubine! She's my..." The last few words caught in his throat, turning into a painful growl.
Su Jizhi raised his head and looked directly into the emperor's eyes, where madness and pain were burning almost out. He was also filled with mixed feelings.
He took a deep breath, his tone unusually sharp: "Your Majesty, why do you do this? Even... even if Su Su really did survive by sheer luck, what good would it do to bring her back? Did she live a happy life in the palace all those years? She was either scolded for being spoiled, or dragged into unwarranted troubles and demoted and neglected, living in constant fear and tears. She was like a flower transplanted into a golden basin, looking noble, but her roots were rotting in those dark schemes and neglect! Your Majesty, ask yourself honestly, how many times did she truly laugh freely and happily by your side?"
These words were like needles chilled to the bone, piercing the most painful spot in Li Qianche's heart.
He staggered, grabbing the table to steady himself. The rage on his face faded, leaving only a pale, dejected look and undeniable remorse.
"It's my fault..."
He murmured, his voice so soft it was almost a soliloquy, “It’s my fault… The late emperor warned me on his deathbed that if the power of the empress’s relatives were too great, the imperial power would be in danger. I… When I looked at her, I thought of the Empress Dowager, I thought of the Su family… I dared not profess my love for her, I even… I even pushed her away with indifference and rebuke, thinking that this would protect her and also thwart the Empress Dowager’s ambition to control the harem through her… I was too foolish, too presumptuous…”
He raised his bloodshot eyes and looked at Su Jizhi, his gaze filled with unprecedented vulnerability and pleading. "Jizhi, tell me where she is. I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong. Give her back to me, and I swear, I will treat her well, never let her suffer the slightest grievance again, never let her shed a single tear again... This harem belongs to her..."
“Your Majesty!” Su Jizhi interrupted him, bowing deeply, his tone resolute, “She is gone, all is vanity. Please… spare her. And spare yourself as well.”
Having said that, he no longer looked at the emperor's face, which had instantly turned ashen, bowed and took his leave, his steps heavy yet resolute.
The Imperial Study was deathly silent.
After a long silence, Li Qianche finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "Night Shadow."
A dark shadow silently appeared.
"Jiangnan... how's the investigation going?" His voice regained its calmness, but it was even more chilling than his previous agitation.
Ye Ying knelt on one knee and reported, "Your Majesty, as per your orders, I have been keeping a close watch on the movements of the Tang family in Jiangnan and Lord Su for the past year. Several months ago, Lord Su Mufeng did indeed travel to Jiangnan with his wife and bodyguard Su to 'visit relatives,' staying at the Tang family residence for over a month. I personally followed them to investigate secretly, and found nothing unusual inside or outside the Tang family residence, nor did I discover any trace of any young, unfamiliar women. Lord Su and his entourage behaved as usual, visiting relatives and friends, and enjoying the scenery."
He paused, then continued, "However, shortly after I returned to the capital to report, I received news that Guard Su Jizhi is preparing to set off for Jiangnan again, ostensibly to 'take his newlywed wife, Lady Pei, back to her parents' home for a visit.' Two trips south within a year, and with such a short interval this time, are quite unusual. I boldly speculate that the Imperial Concubine... is very likely hiding somewhere in Jiangnan. Guard Su's trip may be to visit her or to deliver a message."
Upon hearing this, the almost extinguished flame in Li Qianche's eyes suddenly flared up, shining with astonishing brightness.
He slowly sat up straight, a near-distorted smile even appearing at the corner of his mouth, with an obsessive certainty: "As expected... in Jiangnan."
He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "Make preparations. This time, I will go myself. Arrange for men to secretly follow Su Jizhi's group. I will follow him and find her."
Jiangnan.
Su Su has spent nearly a year peacefully in this secluded mountain dwelling in Jiangnan.
Life was like a mountain stream, peaceful, light, and carefree.
Although for safety reasons, Butler Chen repeatedly warned her not to go down the mountain into the town easily, the huge mountain residence and the nearby forests belonging to the Tang family were enough for her to explore at will.
She no longer needed to rise early to pay her respects according to the palace's schedule, and often slept until the sun was high in the sky, awakened by birdsong outside the window or sunlight filtering through the gauze curtains.
If she wants to eat something, she only needs to tell Butler Chen in advance, and mountain delicacies, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and Jiangnan snacks will always be delivered to her in a variety of ways.
In spring, she learned to ride a horse with the guards, slowly walking along the mountain paths, feeling the refreshing breeze on her cheeks;
On summer nights, she would cool off in the pavilion in the back garden, listening to the spring and watching the stars, while spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums kept her company and told her interesting stories about the countryside.
In autumn, she even tried simple hunting, shooting down plump pheasants and rabbits with a small crossbow. Although she missed nine out of ten shots, she enjoyed it nonetheless.
In winter, people gather around the stove to brew tea, admire plum blossoms and listen to the snow, or read with great interest a storybook that Steward Chen found from who-knows-where.
On this clear autumn day, the sky was a brilliant blue, as if it had been washed clean. Su Su was flying a kite on a wide, grassy slope behind the mountain.
It was a huge, colorful butterfly that she had skillfully made from chrysanthemums, fluttering and dancing in the azure sky, flying higher and higher.
She ran happily across the grass, pulling on the spool of thread, her skirt fluttering, her laughter as clear as silver bells, her cheeks flushed with a healthy rosy hue from the exercise, and her eyes shone with a long-lost, radiant light, free of any gloom.
"Young Miss! Young Miss!" Butler Chen's slightly hurried but joyful voice came from behind.
Su Su stopped and turned around. She saw Butler Chen walking quickly towards her with a smile on his face: "Miss, come back quickly! The young master is here! And he's brought his new wife with him!"
"Brother is here?" Su Su's eyes lit up. She immediately reeled in the kite string, hugged the huge butterfly kite, and ran towards the courtyard like a happy little deer.
As soon as she entered the second courtyard, she saw Su Jizhi's tall figure standing under the old plum tree, with a woman in a pale yellow dress, slender and graceful, with a beautiful and gentle face, smiling at her.
"Brother!" Su Su threw away the kite and ran over quickly.
Su Jizhi quickly reached out to help him up, his handsome face full of doting smiles: "Slow down, you're still so clumsy, be careful not to fall."
Su Su stopped in front of him, slightly out of breath, her gaze falling curiously on the woman. She blinked and asked, "Is this... my sister-in-law?"
She remembered that when her brother last visited her, he had mentioned his marriage to Miss Pei.
A blush rose on Pei Yunxi's face as she shyly glanced at Su Jizhi.
Su Jizhi put his arm around her shoulder and nodded with a smile: "That's right. This is your sister-in-law, Pei Yunxi."
He then said to Pei Yunxi, "Yunxi, this is the little sister I often mention to you, my unruly yet pitiful sister, Su Su."
Pei Yunxi stepped forward, took Su Su's hand, and said gently, "Sister, I have often heard Ji Zhi talk about you. Seeing you today, you are indeed more beautiful than in a painting, so lively and charming."
Her tone was sincere and her eyes were clear, making her instantly likable.
Su Su laughed and grasped her hand in return: "Sister-in-law, don't praise me. You're the prettiest one, like a fairy in a painting. Brother is so lucky! Don't stand there, come inside and sit down to chat."
Holding Su Jizhi's hand in one hand and Pei Yunxi's hand in the other, she walked happily towards the main hall.
Steward Chen had already prepared tea and snacks, including a plate of crystal-clear amber walnuts coated with sugar, and a box of Poria cocos cakes from the capital, which were Su Su's favorite snacks when she was in the palace.
"Why did you and your sister-in-law come here so suddenly? Is something wrong in the capital?" Su Su picked up a walnut kernel and asked while eating it.
Su Jizhi's smile faded slightly. He exchanged a glance with Pei Yunxi, pondered for a moment, and then said slowly, "Susu, I've come here this time for two reasons: first, to bring your sister-in-law to see you, and second, to discuss something important with you."
He paused, looking into his sister's clear eyes, "His Majesty... he has never given up looking for you. In the past year, he has almost exhausted himself, fallen ill several times, and is now extremely thin and haggard. He is certain that you are still alive, and... he has set his sights on Jiangnan."
Su Su slowed down her chewing, and the joy on her face gradually faded.
Su Jizhi continued, "He even... in order to cut off other possibilities, or perhaps for other considerations, issued an edict to disband the harem half a year ago."
"What?"
Su Su was shocked, completely unaware that the walnut kernel in her hand had fallen onto her skirt. Dissolving the harem? This was utterly unheard of!
"Then... what about Consort Wan? Didn't he like Consort Wan very much? He dismissed her too?" She thought of that aloof and ethereal woman.
This time, Su Jizhi looked at Pei Yunxi.
Pei Yunxi gently held Su Su's hand and said softly, "Sister, it's more appropriate for me to say this. 'Consort Wan' Mu Hanyan is actually... my brother Pei Xuan's betrothed."
Su Su was completely stunned.
Pei Yunxi recounted: "Back then, my brother was seriously injured in the Southwest and needed to infiltrate behind enemy lines to carry out a secret mission. To reassure my brother and to protect Sister Hanyan from being harmed by the Southwest's spies, the Emperor had no choice but to bring her into the palace and grant her the rank of Consort. This matter was kept extremely secret. Now that the Southwest has been pacified, my brother has returned, and his injuries have improved. The Emperor has already arranged for Sister Hanyan to 'die of illness' and quietly return her to my brother's side. The 'Consort Wan' in the palace no longer exists."
The truth was so shocking! Su Su was stunned for a long time.
It turns out that his so-called "favor" was actually a carefully planned scheme to protect and trap.
So how much of his indifference, suspicion, and inconsistent behavior towards me was genuine, and how much was out of necessity?
Su Jizhi observed her expression and spoke again, asking the most crucial question: "Susu, now that the Emperor's harem is empty, it seems his mind is entirely focused on you. Are you willing... to return to the palace?"
Return to the palace?
Su Su subconsciously shook her head.
That place holds too many unhappy memories: a tragic death in a past life, a cold heart in this life, and the heavy palace walls like shackles.
The free air in the mountains, the easy breathing, and the carefree smiles are the life she truly desires.
Even if he disbanded the harem, even if he regretted his actions, could that deep rift, that extinguished passion and trust, ever return to what it was before?
She didn't know, and dared not gamble again.
"Now that I'm out, I don't want to go back," she said softly but firmly.
Su Jizhi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, or perhaps a sigh, and said seriously, "Alright, I understand, brother. In that case, this place is probably no longer absolutely safe. The Emperor's men are keeping a close eye on Jiangnan, and your visit this time has probably already attracted attention. You should prepare to leave."
"Leave? Where to?"
"Go to a wider place." A hint of encouraging smile appeared in Su Jizhi's eyes.
"Haven't you long wanted to see the world's mountains and rivers? Take this opportunity to go out and travel. Your father has prepared a new identity document and enough money for you, as well as reliable people to protect you in secret. Whether you want to go to the ancient towns of Jiangnan, the strange mountains of Sichuan, or the scenery of Lingnan, you can do as you please. When you've traveled enough, are tired, and want to settle down..."
He lowered his voice, "and then quietly returned to the capital."
"Back to the capital?" Su Su asked in surprise.
"The most dangerous place may be the safest. The Emperor searched high and low for you in Jiangnan, but he probably never expected that you would return to his doorstep. Your father has a very secluded villa in the far suburbs of the capital, where you can live in peace."
Su Jizhi revealed the entire plan.
As Su Su listened, a gleam of excitement gradually ignited in her eyes. Traveling the world! This was something she had never dared to dream of before! The sorrow of separation and the slight trepidation about the unknown in her heart were quickly replaced by her yearning for freedom.
The next morning, before dawn, an inconspicuous blue-curtained carriage quietly drove out from another, more secluded path in the mountain village.
Su Su changed into the ordinary clothes of a wealthy young lady, carrying spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, and embarked on her journey full of anticipation.
Less than three days after she left, another group of weary travelers, guided by Su Jizhi "intentionally or unintentionally" and secretly tracked by Ye Ying, finally found the house hidden deep in the mountains.
Li Qianche practically stormed into the mansion.
However, the courtyard was deserted, the plum blossoms still smelled sweet, and the fish in the pond swam leisurely, but the house was empty. On the table in the main room, a cup of tea was still slightly warm, as if the owner had just left.
He frantically searched every room and pushed open every door, only to find the neatly arranged but empty house, and on the grassy slope in the backyard, the forgotten, brightly colored butterfly kite lay forlornly on the grass.
Steward Chen stood respectfully with his head bowed, knowing nothing when asked, only saying that the master's niece had come to stay for a while and had already taken her leave and returned home a few days ago.
Li Qianche stood on the grass where Su Su used to run and play, clutching the paper kite tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white.
The setting sun cast his shadow long and solitary. Once again... he was too late.
She was like a wisp of mountain wind that could not be grasped, a drifting cloud that could not be retained; though her presence was so close, it had already quietly vanished.
Anger, regret, helplessness... After the surge of all sorts of emotions, what finally settles down is a deep-seated weariness and an even more stubborn obsession.
"Investigate. Keep investigating! She must still be in Jiangnan! Dig three feet into the ground, find her for me!" His voice was hoarse, yet it carried an undeniable imperial authority.
However, this time, Su Su's whereabouts disappeared completely, like a stream flowing into the sea.
She seemed to have mastered the art of counter-tracking, her route unpredictable, sometimes boating on West Lake, sometimes watching the clouds in Huangshan, and sometimes appearing in Lingnan to savor lychees. Those who tried to track her down were exhausted, but could only ever catch a glimpse of her elusive tail.
Year after year.
Li Qianche's temples were quietly turning gray.
He remained the same diligent emperor, pacifying the southwest, quelling border troubles, lifting the sea ban, and caring for the people's livelihood, governing the country in an orderly manner.
However, he never held another talent show, and his harem remained empty.
He became increasingly silent, and occasionally he would stand alone on the highest rooftop in the palace, gazing at the southern sky in a daze.
He never went to the Su residence to interrogate him again, but occasionally, during festivals, he would give Su Mufeng some extra, silent rewards. Su Mufeng would always thank him respectfully, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Little did he know that while he stubbornly focused his search on Jiangnan and even further afield, the person he was so desperately looking for had already quietly returned to the capital after two years of travel, covered in dust and stories, and was living in seclusion in a quiet villa in a remote town near the capital.
Another year's Lantern Festival is approaching, and although the town is not as bustling as the capital, it is still adorned with scattered lanterns.
When Li Qianche received another secret report about a young woman living alone in a town near the capital acting suspiciously, a certain part of his heart, which had become almost numb, suddenly stirred again.
Almost without hope, yet unable to resist, he once again disguised himself and left the palace, heading straight for that small town.
The winter sun shone with a faint warmth, and a winding river flowed outside the town, with a blue stone arch bridge lying quietly on it.
Li Qianche walked slowly to the bridgehead with a heavy heart, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over the figures of several women wearing veils who were watching folk artists making dough figurines on the riverbank below.
One of them was dressed in a light blue dress, with a slender figure, and the veil of her hat was gently fluttering in the breeze.
As if drawn by some invisible force, he stopped in his tracks on the bridge, his gaze fixed on that figure's back.
At the same time, she seemed to sense something under the bridge, and just then turned around, looking up at the bridge surface through the swaying willow branches and the gurgling water.
Their eyes met.
Time seemed to freeze in that instant.
The hustle and bustle of the city receded like the tide, and the whole world seemed to consist only of the bridge, the flowing water, and the two people who were separated by a short distance but seemed to have been separated for a lifetime.
Li Qianche froze abruptly, his pupils shrinking sharply.
That figure, that silhouette that could be vaguely discerned even through the veil... was the image that haunted his dreams and burned his heart with longing for countless days and nights! He stared intently, not daring to blink, as if the phantom would vanish in the blink of an eye.
His heart was pounding wildly in his chest, making his ribs ache.
A massive surge of emotion, a mixture of extreme ecstasy and disbelief, overwhelmed his composure and instantly brought tears to his eyes.
Tears welled up without warning, rolling down his thin, sunken cheeks and dripping onto the cold stone bridge railing.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Only his hot tears and slightly trembling body revealed the earth-shattering shock and the enormous impact of regaining what he had lost.
Under the bridge, Su Su was also stunned. Her eyes, hidden behind her veil, suddenly widened.
Although he was dressed in ordinary fine clothes, looking haggard and thin, a far cry from the always majestic or melancholic emperor in her memory, his deep-set eyes, and the gaze he was currently fixed on her with, seemed to contain endless pain and longing...
It's him! It really is him! How could he be here? Why does he... look so old and so sad?
The tears that slid down her cheeks felt like burning sparks, searing her heart.
A wave of sourness rushed to the tip of my nose without warning, my vision blurred instantly, and my eyes uncontrollably reddened.
Why...is my heart in such turmoil? Why do I feel like crying when I see him cry? Haven't I already decided to let go and settled into peace?
The wind blew gently, fluttering her veil and his clothes.
The two stood facing each other, motionless, separated by a stone bridge. Between them flowed the river, three years had passed, a chasm of life and death misunderstandings, and unspeakable pain and regret.
After a long while, Li Qianche took a very slow, tentative step forward, as if afraid of startling a fleeting butterfly.
His gaze was fixed on her, his lips moved, and he finally found his hoarse voice, a voice so soft it was like a dream, yet so heavy it struck their hearts:
"Crispy...crisp?"
Upon hearing this, Su Su trembled slightly and subconsciously took a half step back, but then stopped.
Through her blurry, tear-filled eyes, she watched the weeping man cautiously approach her step by step. A thousand thoughts and ten thousand emotions surged within her chest, only to eventually vanish into a blank, leaving only a heart pounding like a drum.
The green hills remain, and the setting sun has reddened countless times. Though I am not old, my feelings remain undiminished.
His long, hopeless search seemed to have finally glimpsed a ray of light.
And this glance stirred ripples in her once tranquil heart that could no longer be ignored.
Li Qianche's long journey to win back his wife may have only just begun.
………………
The End!!!
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