Cage (6)
The candlelight in the room danced and flickered on him, and he was caught in the flickering light and shadow, his eyes also showing a dark and mysterious look.
His word "forbidden" sounded like a cold blade piercing Li Qi's chest, making her tremble uncontrollably and shiver uncontrollably.
"How did you become like this?" Li Qi asked in a hoarse voice, a little confused and a little unwilling: "I told you so many times that you are a good person, but you..."
"I don't want to hear this from you, just open your mouth."
Feng Siji interrupted her and scooped a spoonful of food to her mouth.
The warm food was still steaming, and the heat was on my lips and nose, and the fragrance penetrated my nostrils, but the stiff and numb feeling in my stomach was still strong, and I had no appetite and didn't want to eat.
She didn't want to eat at first.
Feng Siji stared at her tightly closed lips and threatened coldly, "Either you eat it yourself, or I chew it up and pour it into your mouth."
Li Qi looked over in surprise, resisting the urge to knock over his bowl. She angrily asked, "When did you become so disgusting?"
"You've always thought I was disgusting, so it doesn't matter if I'm a little more disgusting." Feng Si quickly chased her lips, handed the spoonful of rice to her, and ordered, "Eat."
Li Qi gritted her teeth and looked at him for a long time, struggling for a long time, making sure that he was not just talking, and that he could really chew it up and feed it to her. She forced herself to open her mouth, as slowly as if in slow motion.
Feng Siji stuffed the spoonful of rice into her mouth. He didn't get annoyed when he saw her chewing it slowly as if she were eating poison. He was surprisingly patient and waited until she finished chewing before handing her another spoonful.
Li Qi didn't feel hungry at first, her stomach felt empty, but after taking a few spoonfuls of food, she inexplicably had an appetite. She was so hungry that she slowly finished the bowl of food he brought her.
When the bowl was empty, he brought another bowl of dark medicinal soup and handed it to her: "Drink the medicine and have a good sleep. The doctor said you need to rest well."
Li Qi really wanted to say that she couldn't rest with him here, but thinking that he would torture herself if he got angry, she decided to endure it.
She took the medicine bowl, pinched her nose and drank it in one gulp. It was so bitter that she frowned. Just as she put the bowl down, she saw him peeling a plum and handing it to her: "Eat one and it won't be bitter anymore."
Li Qi subconsciously opened her mouth and bit down, accidentally holding his fingertips in her mouth. The wet, hot and soft feeling left her fingertips as soon as they touched her. Feng Siji was startled and stared at her inquiringly, trying to find some deliberate disguise, but he didn't see anything unusual, as if it was really an unintentional act.
He helped her lie down and covered her with a blanket: "Have a good sleep, I'll be outside, call me if anything happens."
Li Qi gave him a look of annoyance, turned over and faced the inside, not looking at him.
He looked at her thin figure with her back to him for a long while, but did not force her. He picked up the empty bowl and tray and walked out lightly.
-
After eating, his stomach felt warm and full, and he felt lazy all over and just wanted to sleep. Li Qi lay down for a while, listening to the soothing wind under the eaves, and gradually fell asleep.
She slept very soundly and deeply, without any bad dreams and without any noises disturbing her.
When she woke up, it was bright outside. The morning light shone through the window, and was cut into pieces by the window panes, forming mottled patterns that fell in front of the bed like stars.
She was a little confused after being sick for a few days. She rolled her eyes and saw Feng Siji and Ye Shu with their backs to her in the room. It took her a long time to realize where she was.
Neither of them noticed she was awake, and she didn't call out for help. She only heard Ye Shu say, "I have investigated all the suspicious individuals. When Concubine Li and Wang Xiu died, there was nothing unusual except that the candles went out."
Feng Siji didn't speak for a long time. Li Qi stared at the back of his dark head, not knowing what he was thinking. She also didn't know why he wanted to bring up the Empress' case again when he had already decided to protect her.
The room was silent for a long time before Feng Siji said, "The affection between Concubine Li, Dong Mingrong, and her is definitely not a show. She couldn't possibly have killed Concubine Li. There must be something else we've missed."
Ye Shu asked suspiciously, "Does your Excellency think the murderer is someone else?"
"No," Feng Siji thought for a moment and said, "The palace is heavily guarded. There aren't many people capable of killing the Empress. Either someone close to the Empress did it, or the Empress isn't dead at all."
Ye Shu frowned and said, "If she's not dead, where has she been for the past year and a half?"
"This is what I can't figure out. Either we find the real murderer or we find Concubine Li Dong Mingrong. Otherwise, we will never be able to clear Li Qi's name and save her."
Feng Siji rubbed his brows tiredly. "I want to ask Li Qi, but she won't tell me. Even if she does, it's probably a lie, given her personality. I can't believe it."
Ye Shu sighed, a bit disappointed in her: "Your Excellency is investigating this case just to find the truth and clear her name. The so-called shielding is actually just giving you time.
"I really don't understand. What on earth could possibly stop you from killing someone like her? If I were you, I'd say it would be best to just stab her once and for all while she's weak and unable to resist, just like she did to you."
Ye Shu gripped the knife handle tightly, as if he wished he could personally kill Li Qi with a single blow.
"You go out first." Feng Siji didn't argue with him and let him go. He turned around to look at Li Qi, but saw that she was looking at him with her eyes open. He was stunned for a moment, then walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand affectionately and naturally: "When did you wake up? Did you hear everything?"
There were thick calluses on his palms from years of flipping through books and files, and rubbing them against her palms made her feel a little itchy.
She looked at him and tried to pull her hand back, but he held it tightly. With his other hand, he gently played with the loose hair on her temples and said softly, "Spring is coming soon. When the weather warms up, flowers will bloom. Wherever you want to go, I'll accompany you for an outing."
His gentle look left Li Qi speechless for a moment.
He was wearing the familiar snow-blue robe, with black hair and a jade crown, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. His eyes and every gesture were warm, light, elegant and aloof.
He has the air of a scholar and a reputation as an honest official. He has a gentle face, which is good-looking, but too feminine. His eyes always reveal a ruthlessness that is both obvious and covert.
The red plum blossom on his chest made him look even more lonely and aloof. She had embroidered it for him herself in Qianzhou.
I didn't expect that he had kept it all these years. Even though it had turned white from washing, he still looked as comfortable as if he was wearing gorgeous clothes.
She didn't say anything. Feng Siji thought she didn't want to go, so he said nothing more. He just lowered his head gently and kissed her forehead without any lust. His eyes were full of warmth. "Then you should have a good rest. If you get tired of lying down, get up and let Qinglan accompany you for a walk in the yard. I have something to go out for. I will be back to accompany you later."
He lifted up his robe and stood up, without changing his clothes, and left in the robe that was washed so white that it looked pale.
-
Yongshou Palace.
Three figures were entangled on the dragon bed, with Emperor Liang hugging two women on his left and right. Two rare and beautiful women were leaning on his arms, one of them fed him a bunch of grapes, and the other held up a wine pot for him to drink.
The corners of Emperor Liang's eyes were purple from excessive lust. He smiled and hugged the two women, kissing them left and right. Seeing this, Feng Siji smiled with satisfaction in his heart. Emperor Liang must have forgotten Li Qi long ago.
Feng Siji said sternly, "Your Majesty, did you hear what I just said?"
Emperor Liang glanced at him, but before he could act seriously, the woman on his right pulled him back with a sweet laugh. "Your Majesty, drink some wine." As she said that, she poured a gulp of wine into his mouth.
Emperor Liang drank it, his intoxicated eyes glued to the woman, and said casually, "What did you just say? Say it again."
"Your Majesty's case will take some time, but it's best that Princess Yun'an is in the Princess's Mansion right now. After all, when everyone attacked her earlier, I already sent soldiers to protect her and will not let anything happen to her."
"I understand. You take good care of Li Qi. The case must be closed within a month. I want to take her into the palace."
After speaking hastily, Emperor Liang turned around, hugged the beauty, pressed her down, and said softly, "My dear, I have already drunk some wine. Now is it your turn to drink something else?"
Feng Siji avoided the sight and slowly left Yongshou Hall.
Outside the hall, a group of eunuchs headed by Li Ke were guarding. When they saw him come out, they all bowed and saluted.
Feng Siji glanced sideways, glanced at Li Ke indifferently, and left with a flick of his sleeve.
He did not leave the palace, but turned and went to Fushou Palace where the queen lived.
In Fushou Palace, the palace gate was closed and two young eunuchs were guarding outside.
Feng Si walked in slowly, and no one stopped him. The palace was empty, no longer the lively atmosphere of palace people chatting and laughing.
It was a rare moment when the weather warmed up a little. Zhang Wan's palace maids moved a rattan chair under the shade of a tree. She was leaning back in the chair and rocking gently. The breeze made the tassels on her temples sway gently. She stared blankly at the void somewhere.
Feng Siji walked forward with his hands behind his back. The palace maid brought a bench. He sat under another tree and looked at Zhang Wan sideways.
Zhang Wan was the queen after all. Even though she was so angry that her face turned pale and her shoulders trembled, she did not use harsh words to provoke Feng Siji like Li Qi did. She just stared at him angrily and asked in a voice that was almost broken: "Xianglai Inn, why did you plot against me!"
Since arriving at Xianglai Inn, she has been under house arrest under the order of Emperor Liang.
The reason was that she intended to assassinate He Zhangjing and Li Qi in Xianglai Inn. The eunuch Li Ke who delivered the message also said that the people she intended to assassinate were an official appointed by the court and the Princess Yun'an, whom Emperor Liang loved. His Majesty only confined her to her house out of consideration for their past relationship.
Ha, Zhang Wan sneered, and couldn't help but raise her orchid fingers that were clenching the handkerchief, pointing at Feng Siji hatefully: "If I wasn't so anxious to get rid of that useless half-brother, people like you would never have the chance to see me in your life!"
She burst into tears and asked angrily, "But you actually deceived me, why?"
Feng Siji boredly pulled off a leaf from above his head and rubbed it on his fingertips to kill time, watching the emerald green juice seep out and dye his nails green.
He spoke slowly and calmly, "I've also been obsessed with this question, Your Majesty. I really wanted to ask her why. But there's no answer. Your Majesty has lived for nearly forty years, doesn't she know? Not everything has an answer. You can only learn to accept it slowly."
He didn't seem to want to waste time here. He threw away the crumpled leaves between his fingers and stood up. Facing Zhang Wan's delicate yet angry and ferocious face, he said in a gentle tone, "When the time comes for you to get rid of Zhang Zhouzhu, I will naturally let you get rid of him. Until then, Your Majesty, you should stay calm and suffer less.
"I came here to ask you, was there anything unusual before Concubine Li was murdered?"
Zhang Wan turned her head away angrily and refused to cooperate: "I don't know."
Feng Siji stared at her profile for a long time, didn't ask any more questions, and walked out.
When passing through the Imperial Garden, he was stopped by a familiar person.
Feng Siji raised his eyes and saw Jiao Lan, one of the beauties who had just been entangled with Emperor Liang.
She and Qinglan originally came to him together, but unfortunately she didn't like doing the chores of serving tea and water, nor was she interested in practicing martial arts. Instead, she liked to tinker with rouge and powder.
Feng Siji trained her into a charming beauty, intending to give her to other adults after returning to Kyoto to help them gain some connections. He himself never expected that he would give her to Emperor Liang.
Regardless of their relationship, Jiao Lan is now a member of His Majesty's entourage. Feng Siji politely bowed before asking, "What's the matter?"
Jiao Lan looked around and saw no one, so she said confidently, "Envoy Feng, I have found the answer to what you asked me to find out."
Feng Siji's brows knitted slightly, but soon smoothed out again, and he looked at her with a meaningful smile: "What did you call me?"
His dark eyes were like the moon that was about to be covered by dark clouds. Once covered, it would never see the light of day again. Yet, he still showed such a warm smile, making it impossible to figure out his true thoughts.
Jiao Lan felt her heart sink as she watched. She lowered her head, only daring to look at the tips of her shoes, and hurriedly whispered, "Feng, Feng, the envoy?"
Feng Siji stared at her deeply buried head, with a red velvet flower on her bun, and laughed out loud: "Just call me Master Feng as before."
Jiao Lan raised his head, knowing full well that he shouldn't, but still unwillingly pressed on, "Why? You're a special case officer now, not the Supreme Court Minister anymore."
Feng Siji narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at her with a smile and said nothing.
Jiao Lan felt uneasy when he looked at her. Thinking of Wang Mo, who was still being cut every day without seeing the sun, her palms were sweating with nervousness.
She should have known that this person could make people so afraid without even moving a single soldier.
"I've overstepped my bounds," Jiao Lan said, bowing her head. "During my time in Yongshou Palace, I've observed that Emperor Liang isn't controlled by Prime Minister Zhang in every matter, as the outside world claims. He's simply incompetent and unable to make decisions on many matters, so he leaves them to Prime Minister Zhang. He also said he's afraid of Prime Minister Zhang, so he gives him everything he can handle.
"But Prime Minister Zhang can't control and decide everything. In fact, all the decisions, such as approval, are in the hands of Li Ke."
Feng Siji paused: "Li Ke?"
Jiao Lan nodded. "Well, as early as when Emperor Liang ascended the throne, Prime Minister Zhang was actually sidelined, and most of his power was transferred to the Privy Councilor. And the Privy Councilor was the eunuch Li Ke.
"There are rumors that Prime Minister Zhang is only an external minister with nominal power, and the real power holder, Li Ke, is the internal minister."
Feng Siji frowned tightly. He had not been back in Kyoto for long and had been wandering outside before. He only knew the movements between the feudal states and had only a vague understanding of Kyoto.
In this case, the power that Emperor Liang had been stripped of was actually in the hands of Li Ke, and Li Ke... was Li Qi's man.
Jiao Lan added, "Your Majesty's real concern is that his edicts won't be able to get out of Kyoto. The vassal states outside Kyoto are revolting. Although he has sent numerous military supervisors, the envoys have either defected to the vassal states or been manipulated by them. And those vassal states have been under the command of Prime Minister Zhang since the late emperor. Prime Minister Zhang holds a great deal of power over the vassal states. He didn't force the emperor to abdicate because he doesn't have the military power in Kyoto; that power is in Dong Linche's hands."
Feng Siji slowly clenched his fingers.
At this point in the court, Emperor Liang had long lost his real power. The only rights he could exercise were to issue imperial edicts that no one followed and to grant nominal titles and exemptions.
He relied on envoys, but the envoys had long been suppressed by the local vassal states.
Even Feng Siji was an envoy he relied on, but Feng Siji had not been in Kyoto in recent years, and all his power was in the local vassal states.
But he thought of something else and felt a little doubtful, so he asked, "Are you sure?"
Jiao Lan nodded. "Your Majesty has been very drunk these past two days, and his mind is full of nothing but that kind of thing. He just said these words unintentionally. As for Li Ke's approval, Prime Minister Zhang has no authority. This is something I observed myself."
If this is true, then Emperor Liang's imperial edict will be stopped before it can reach Kyoto. Even if it is not stopped, the vassal states will not obey.
So, who gave the order to appoint himself as the special case envoy and summon him back to Beijing to handle the case?
Li Ke holds the power to approve documents, and Dong Linche controls the military power in Kyoto. Both of them are close to Li Qi.
Therefore, the person who truly holds the lifeline of the court is not them, nor the notoriously ruthless Zhang Zhouzhu, but Li Qi.
It turned out to be her, an orphan girl who climbed up from Yunzhou.
Feng Siji chuckled, not knowing whether to be happy or sad for a moment.
"This was found under your desk when you asked me to pack up your things when you said you were moving to the Treasury." Jiao Lan handed over a letter.
Feng Siji took it. There were four big words written on the dark yellow envelope: From Li Qi personally.
He asked, “Have you seen it?”
Jiao Lan lowered her head: "I dare not."
Feng Siji said nothing more and walked around her and left.
It was sunset when he rode back to the Gold Storage Pavilion.
As the sun sets in the west, endless red clouds cover half the sky and are reflected on the distant mountaintops.
Looking from the eleventh floor of the Treasure Pavilion, it feels like being in a dreamy cloud. The distant mountains and sunset glow are so close that you can touch them with your hand.
Li Qi, however, was not interested in the beautiful sunset. She asked Qinglan to bring scissors and cut off the branch that grew in front of the window.
Whenever she saw this branch, she would remember what Feng Siji had done to her here and the shameless words he had said to her.
She was about to withdraw her hand and take back the cut branch, but a big hand stretched out from the side, holding the shackles, and handcuffed her hands with a click.
Li Qi turned around and saw Feng Siji's face, which was smiling but with a cold expression. The branch in his hand snapped and fell from the eleventh floor.
No matter how much she tried to provoke him with her words, she couldn't face him calmly. She frowned in dissatisfaction and asked, "Are you going to send me to prison?"
Feng Siji shook his head without saying a word. He bent down, picked her up horizontally and put her on the bed.
He handcuffed her hands to the head of the bed and her feet to the foot of the bed, and tied her up in a spread-eagle position on the bed.
Li Qi thought of his cruelty, her face turned pale, and she said in panic, "I'm not fully recovered yet, you can't do this to me."
Feng Siji unbuttoned his robe, leaving only an ivory-white undershirt. He turned over and crawled to the inside of the bed, squatting beside Li Qi, just looking down at her from above.
His eyes were sticky, emitting a dark and damp smell, as if he was stripping off all her clothes with his eyes, and then licking her from the inside out.
Li Qi shivered involuntarily and tried to move, but was trapped tightly by the shackles. The shackles and the bells made a crisp tinkling sound.
This shameful voice has become a switch. Once it sounds, those unbearable scenes will flood into Li Qi's mind and replay in front of her eyes over and over again.
She was so ashamed and angry that her face turned red. She looked at Feng Siji in panic and fear.
He pursed his lips, squatting silently on the inside of the bed, staring at her intently with those sticky, dark eyes that seemed to be licking her.
After staring for a long time, he suddenly moved. Li Qi was startled and subconsciously shouted, "I don't want it!"
Feng Siji ignored him and reached out to untie her belt. His slender fingertips moved back and forth to untie her clothes.
His movements were gentle, but his words were filled with anger. "Emperor Liang is now a hollow figure, and his imperial edicts are difficult to spread beyond Kyoto. So, it was you who asked Li Ke to appoint me as a special case envoy and recall me to Kyoto."
Li Qi was stunned, and she sat stiffly on the couch, staring at him blankly: "What did you say?"
The clothes fell off at his fingertips, and a chill passed through his skin, causing goose bumps to appear on his fair skin.
He played the qin with his fingertips, gently tapping and plucking her shoulders, moving slowly down from her shoulders to her collarbone and then to her red lips.
"What are you planning?" The finger that was touching her red lips suddenly moved down and pinched her breasts, his dark eyes glued to her face.
The breeze blew the water-red bed curtain over, covering the lower half of his face. She could only see the upper half of his face. His eyes were full of violence, and the veins on his forehead were throbbing. The fear of being crushed to death by him came over her like a tide.
It was so cold and gloomy all around that she suddenly thought she was in the cold and damp underworld.
"I don't understand what you are saying..." Li Qi said with difficulty.
His hand slowly moved down: "You don't want to say it?"
"What exactly do you want me to say...?"
Feng Siji raised his hand and waved it back and forth in front of her eyes. "I'm a scholar, and my fingertips are thick with calluses from holding a pen. Have you thought it over? Do you want to tell the truth?"
His fingers were long, with distinct joints and dark skin.
Li Qi's heart tightened. She clenched her toes nervously and said hurriedly, "I don't have anything to tell you the truth."
He sneered, "Concubine Li Dong Mingrong is not dead at all. Where on earth have you hidden her? You asked Li Ke to summon me to the capital to investigate her case. What is your intention?"
"I don't……"
He pinched her until tears welled up in her eyes, and the corners of her eyes were red, but in his eyes, she looked like a blooming red flower in spring, extremely charming.
He bent down to kiss away her tears and said, "When we were in Qianzhou, I had already seen that you had evil intentions. But you had your own obsession. Even though I knew you wanted to kill me, I still didn't hesitate. I only hope that if your obsession is accomplished, the day we meet again, you will also be unwavering in your loyalty to me.
"But I never expected that even our reunion was part of your plan."
She was not devoted to him, but was always busy with him.
Feng Siji understood her temper. It was not that he was sad, but he was unwilling to give up. His heart was filled with a possessive desire for revenge because he couldn't get the love he wanted. If he couldn't possess her, they would perish together.
If he can't get it, no one else can get it.
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