Chapter 98. In just a short while, the sky was turned upside down, and her tears...
The wind and rain were relentless, and the rooftops creaked and groaned with the sound of water dripping.
The bedchamber was brightly lit by candles, and the flickering light cast shimmering shadows on the curtains.
The imperial physician, whom the people inside the palace had summoned, was taking the pulse of the unconscious Yu Nie through the bed curtains, his hand resting on a silk handkerchief.
Song Ai and Cuiwei held their breath and stood guard outside the bed, watching the imperial physician's furrowed brows. Their hearts were in their throats, and they kept glancing at the person on the bed, afraid of missing the slightest movement.
With eyes and ears everywhere, no foreign officials are allowed to enter the princess's bedroom.
Huan Xun stood quietly outside the inner courtyard's sleeping quarters, peering intently through the flickering lamplight at the scene inside.
Lu Jinshi stood guard by his side.
Gu Xiangzhi was waiting outside with him.
He also rushed back from the palace under some pretext. His gloomy face no longer showed the sickly appearance of the previous days; he had recovered as usual.
Although both of them were close to the emperor, they rarely interacted.
It is truly rare for them to gather here at this moment without prior arrangement.
Gu Xiangzhi, as the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Horse Administration, had a suitable reason, but Huan Xun's appearance was obviously abrupt.
Gu Xiangzhi already knew from Yu Nie's scattered recounting of the past that she knew Huan Xun.
Nevertheless, he was unsure just how deep their relationship truly was.
But relying on the keen intuition honed from years of officialdom, and the way he stood up for her that night in the Jiu Shao Palace, disregarding everything else, she could sense his presence.
He was certain of the entanglement and conflict between them.
I'm afraid... it's deeper than he imagined.
Huan Xun stood with his hands behind his back, the raindrops whipped by the wind and brushing against his robes.
Even though he didn't turn his head, he could clearly feel that staring gaze.
His clear voice, accompanied by the whistling wind, reached his ears: "Is there something you want to say to me, Junior Supervisor Gu, as you look at me like that?"
The shadows beneath the pillars remained silent for a long time, with only the crisp sound of raindrops falling to the ground echoing incessantly.
The sound of the wind gradually became mournful.
Gu Xiangzhi's eyes darkened and became distant as he slowly spoke: "Minister Huan usually doesn't meddle in other people's business. I'm just surprised that the Minister would speak up for someone so insignificant. That's quite a strange thing."
"Did you disregard your duty of guarding the palace banquet and rush back from the palace in such a hurry just to discuss this matter with me here?"
His eyes flickered, and his index finger casually tapped the jade belt at his waist: "Speaking of strange things, isn't the young eunuch's behavior also strange?"
"I'm sure someone as intelligent as the Junior Supervisor knows something about my affair with her."
"We're at least half... old friends." He couldn't find the right words, so he used this phrase to describe his relationship with Yu Nie.
Then he continued, "If something happens to her, I certainly won't ignore it."
After a pause, he smiled faintly and said, "But isn't it you, Junior Supervisor Gu, who are even more...shocking to be here?"
Gu Xiangzhi naturally sensed the sarcasm hidden in his words.
Today, a banquet is being held in the palace, and guarding the emperor's side is his top priority.
The Grand Eunuch Chang Yushan, who had personally mentored him, repeatedly warned him never to do anything that would ruin his future for unrelated people.
But he eventually found an excuse to rush back.
What exactly is the reason for this?
Is he trying to repay the kindness of her taking care of him tirelessly a few days ago?
still……
Or was it that the unease deep in my heart, which I dared not even think about deeply, ultimately overwhelmed my reason?
Huan Xun clearly had no intention of waiting for his answer. His dark eyes had already returned to the depths of the bedchamber, the light from the palace lanterns hanging overhead reflecting in his sharp pupils.
His words sounded almost indifferent: "I know everything that Supervisor Gu wants to find out from me."
“I can tell the junior supervisor clearly and plainly…”
He turned his head to the side, his tone carrying an undeniable warning:
“Rong Yunie is very important to me. So, anyone who wants to lay a finger on her in the future has better think twice before taking action and see if they have the strength to withstand my retaliation.”
He didn't originally need to say the last sentence to him, but considering his previous actions that ruined his plans, he still felt it necessary to say it to the future Grand Supervisor of the Imperial Stables.
He spoke bluntly, showing no regard for their status as close advisors to the emperor.
To outsiders, they were still colleagues on the same warship.
Huan Xun's expression was a half-smile: "Junior Supervisor Gu should understand now just how deep the relationship between me and her has become."
Gu Xiangzhi remained silent for a long time.
The wind under the eaves carried scattered raindrops that pattered against the painted red pillars.
From the look in the other person's eyes, he could tell that what he had just said was not just empty talk.
Suddenly, her memory was pulled back to that royal banquet many years ago.
At that time, Zhao Shuhuai, emboldened by alcohol, publicly humiliated Yan Yue, the then governor of Jingzhou, cursing him as nothing more than a corrupt official who sought wealth and status through military merit. He said that even if Yan Yue could enter the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, he was nothing more than a soldier in official robes, a lackey of the enemy, a tool to be driven by others.
He mocked Yan Yue, asking, "Did your ancestors and fathers even come from the ranks of the military?" He further insulted him, calling him nothing more than a beggar soldier who had never suffered the hardships of being captured.
Huan Xun was with his adoptive father Yan Yue at the time and heard everything.
Even he, Yan Yue's adopted son, suffered no shortage of insults.
Amidst the laughter of the powerful and influential in the hall, Huan Xun, still a young boy, took a step forward and stood in front of Yan Yue.
Facing a high-ranking member of the royal family, he calmly uttered harsh words, warning Zhao Shuhuai that one day he would definitely pay the price for what happened today.
But who would take a child's words seriously?
The entire room burst into laughter, dismissing his words as arrogant and ignorant.
It wasn't just someone who said he was fit to be a deserter, or insulted him as a convict.
It wasn't until Zhao Shuhuai was killed, causing shock throughout the court and the public, that people belatedly remembered the emotionless vow he made at the banquet that year, realizing that he had been telling the truth.
At the time of the banquet incident, Gu Xiangzhi had just been transferred from the Hall of Supreme Harmony and entered the Imperial Horse Stables, where he was serving before the banquet.
He remembered that scene very well; the person opposite him had a similar look in their eyes back then, unwavering and resolute.
After saying that, Huan Xun said lightly, "However, the fact that the Junior Supervisor can return tonight shows that he is not a cold-hearted person. No wonder he would arrange such a thing as a substitute for Zhao Huashu's marriage."
When someone unexpectedly revealed his old secrets, Gu Xiangzhi remained completely calm, showing no sign of panic.
"Lord Huan, are you trying to remind me that you have something on me, or are you planning to report me to the Emperor?"
Huan Xun scoffed, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "You're too narrow-minded, Lord Gu. What good will it do me to report you now? It'll just be a waste of time."
After he finished speaking, he composed himself, his eyes calm, and finally brought up the important matter he had wanted to discuss with him earlier.
“Gao Chou deliberately framed you under the pretext of preparing a banquet, and we both know that. His Majesty has long wanted to deal with the four great clans, but he has held back for the time being due to the war in the northern frontier. After all, the most dangerous thing right now is internal and external turmoil, and the slightest carelessness could backfire.”
With no one around except Lu Jinshi standing nearby, and the sound of the rain mixed with the howling wind, even if these words were broken down and spoken in detail, they would not reach a third ear.
Huan Xun: "Although Gao Chou caused His Majesty to punish you, it was to test whether His Majesty really only wanted to 'pacify the interior' and coexist peacefully with the gentry. As a result, the Junior Supervisor lost his position as Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Horse Administration and was demoted to the sixth rank, becoming a minor Inspector Censor in the Censorate."
He paused, his gaze shifting as he looked at the other person: "This position isn't exactly bad, but a junior supervisor... are you really going to put up with this?"
The emperor was willing to clip his own wings, even going so far as to arrange a marriage alliance with a tiny state like the Great Khanate just to pass through.
To the Gao family, this action was fraught with contradictions and unpredictable variables, causing them to feel intense anxiety and fear.
Therefore, their framing of Gu Xiangzhi, a close advisor to the emperor, was nothing more than a carefully designed "pressure test."
If the emperor insists on thoroughly investigating the "food corruption" case and forcefully proving that Prime Minister Gu is innocent, it is a clear declaration that he wants to protect his own people and that he will not allow any power to challenge the imperial power or his authority in this scheme where right and wrong can be judged on the surface.
If that's the case, the Gao family will definitely unite with other aristocratic families and spare no expense to immediately and completely disrupt the war in the northern border and ignite internal turmoil.
However, if the emperor punishes Gu Xiangzhi, it would be sending a strong signal of appeasement to the Gao family and other aristocratic clans.
Tell these powerful families that he would rather have his wings clipped than ever before, even knowing that Gu Xiangzhi had been wronged, in order to maintain a semblance of peace with the gentry and avoid internal disintegration.
This is enough to prove that the emperor was indeed willing to pay a heavy price for internal stability, and it also confirms that his statement that "Beiye was not willing to be attacked from both sides at that time, so he had no choice but to send troops to pacify the northern frontier" was not an empty promise, but rather a lip service while secretly plotting to eliminate people and things that threatened the imperial power one by one.
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiangzhi remained expressionless and coldly spoke:
"Minister Huan should know that the Gao family's actions are actually aimed at forcing His Majesty to compromise step by step. Only by seeing His Majesty keep making concessions can they feel at ease and be sure that His Majesty will not seek revenge later."
"If I were to lose control and kill Gao Chou, wouldn't all of His Majesty's previous plans have been in vain?"
It was impossible to tell whether he was joking or serious in his words: "It seems that Vice Minister Huan wants Jian'an to become like the northern frontier, plagued by war and chaos. By moving Gao Chou now, he is just waiting for the court and the public to be shaken."
"Does the Junior Supervisor truly believe that Gao Chou will be completely at ease after this test?"
Without waiting for his reply, he moved and walked towards the eaves:
"Throughout history, aristocratic families have only ever protected the longevity of their own clans. The saying 'I would rather betray the nation than betray my clan' perfectly encapsulates this. The emergence of a truly centralized and powerful imperial authority would only threaten their generations-long monopoly on official positions, land, and culture, and they would never tolerate it."
"When the late emperor opened the military examinations and conducted policy tests, he was assassinated three times. Such a thing could not have been done by someone from a humble background."
"If they don't allow an emperor who wants to change the system, would they allow a 'great ruler' with unparalleled military achievements? A prestigious emperor no longer needs to rely on their governance, let alone have the ability to purge them."
His last question was quite meaningful: "Imagine, if you were in a position of power within a noble family, facing such a situation, could you truly sleep soundly at night? Lacking wealth to exert effort, possessing little wisdom, and even more eager to seize opportunities, they would probably be scheming every night on how to preserve their family's wealth and status."
After hearing this analysis, Gu Xiangzhi understood the deeper meaning hidden in his words.
This test may bring a few days of peace, but if it goes on for too long, it might not even last ten days, and similar tests will inevitably come again.
This time it's just a punishment of demoting him; he'll take up his new post next month.
Next time, those people might cause even more trouble.
"We can't let them do whatever they want. You and I are both His Majesty's close advisors, so we have to take precautions. If they frame us again, it won't just be a simple demotion."
He turned to look at the other man, his gaze slightly probing: "What does Junior Supervisor Gu think?"
The two were actually thinking very similarly.
Gu Xiangzhi naturally understood that what he said made sense.
He paused for a moment, then spoke: "What are your thoughts, Vice Minister Huan?"
Huan Xun: "The Junior Supervisor is about to take over the position of Inspector Censor. This position is responsible for supervising all officials and has the power to speak out without punishment, report on hearsay, submit special memorials, and investigate cases. If we keep retreating, we will never be able to hold on. Only by attacking them when they have to defend themselves, and making them busy with their own affairs, can we achieve true stability."
"attack?"
Gu Xiangzhi raised an eyebrow slightly: "Is Vice Minister Huan already showing signs of this?"
Huan Xun replied casually, "The shady dealings that Wang, Chen, Gao, and Li have been doing—aren't there ready-made signs everywhere? They're just waiting for us to expose them."
After he finished speaking, Gu Xiangzhi's eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked the question that had been on his mind: "Your Majesty is not only surrounded by me, and I am not the only one who has offended the aristocratic families."
He stared at him, his cold eyes filled with sharpness:
"Why... did you specifically choose me? Is it because I was just demoted, or because you think I have a grudge against the Gao family and will definitely get involved?"
As the saying goes, "When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked."
Huan Xun did not deny it, and his words had a somewhat cynical tone: "If they can cause you trouble today, they may very well turn to me tomorrow. The gentry have always regarded me as an outsider, and after tonight, they will probably regard me as a thorn in their side even more."
“Junior Supervisor Gu isn’t exactly a person who tolerates things, is he?”
He and I will recall the events of the same day: "I still remember that Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, when you were publicly humiliated by a eunuch of a much higher rank than yourself. Later, behind the artificial hill next to the Jiushao Hall, you could no longer bear it, so you pushed that person into the water and drowned him, making it look like an accidental drowning, without revealing any flaws."
Listening to him recount the details of that year so clearly and precisely, Gu Xiangzhi remained calm, only slowly asking:
How did you find out about this?
Huan Xun replied casually, as if he were talking about a trivial matter: "No one specifically told me. I was just bored that day and was wandering around the Jiu Shao Palace when I happened to run into them."
Gu Xiangzhi never imagined that a fourth person in the world would know about this.
He was eleven years old at the time of the incident, still very young.
The reason he was able to easily extricate himself from that incident without being suspected by anyone was entirely due to Chang Yushan's secret help and arrangements, which erased all traces and allowed him to remain safe and sound.
This secret, which had been hidden in his heart for many years and never spoken to anyone, was revealed so casually by Huan Xun. He was quite surprised, but not flustered.
Given his current status, even if the truth were to come out, no one would believe it.
Huan Xun knew, of course, that such a trivial matter was nothing more than fleeting smoke, and would not cause the slightest ripple.
After saying that, he looked relaxed and continued, "Just now the Junior Supervisor said that I was going to use the old story of the marriage alliance to blackmail you. You might as well say that I want to use this as a 'pledge of allegiance' to find an opportunity for cooperation and mutual benefit with the Junior Supervisor."
His words made perfect sense: "After all, given my status, if I were to rashly interfere in these political affairs, it would only arouse His Majesty's suspicion."
Gu Xiangzhi understood the meaning behind his words.
He is Yan Yue's adopted son, and has the Beiya Army and Xuan Ce Army behind him. If he were to openly step forward to help the common people sue the aristocratic families, given the emperor's suspicious nature, it would be hard to guarantee that he wouldn't suspect that he was using this opportunity to win over the people and gain prestige. Even worse, he might think that he wanted to use legal means to carry out a political purge of the aristocratic families on behalf of the forces behind him.
The Emperor now intends to use the Northern Cliff Army and the Xuan Ce Army as his "swords" to flatten the long-standing gentry, foreign tribes, and the stubborn Southern Yin. The sword must be firmly held in the hand of the wielder; the sword cannot speak for itself, much less act arbitrarily.
The emperor was already wary of the military power behind him. If he were to intervene now, this move would undoubtedly destroy all the previous careful, deceptive, and meticulously planned schemes, rendering all efforts futile.
Therefore, from Gu Xiangzhi's perspective, his concerns were not wrong in any way, and were in line with his stance and logic of action.
"Besides..." he added, "His Majesty values you highly. I sought you out for two reasons: first, to find an ally, and second, so that if His Majesty were to learn one day that I had no choice but to eliminate the aristocratic clans in order to protect myself, someone could testify to me that I did not have any selfish motives."
"And the most important point..."
"The most important point?"
Huan Xun didn't say anything. He glanced around the bedchamber, then looked at Gu Xiangzhi, who looked puzzled, and kept the truth to himself.
He said, "You're a smart person, and everyone likes to work with smart people."
Gu Xiangzhi seemed immune to such praise: "You want me to be your witness in the future? Are you so sure I'll do as you wish?"
These seemingly threatening words made Huan Xun smile.
He replied calmly, "If I wasn't confident, I wouldn't have come to you, Junior Supervisor."
Having said that, he was about to turn around and walk towards the entrance of the bedchamber when he saw the imperial physician carrying a medicine box, his back slightly hunched, slowly walking out.
It was the same physician, Dr. Li, who had come to treat him last time. Although he shared the surname "Li," he had no connection whatsoever with a prestigious family like Li Xing's.
Physician Li looked extremely tired. An hour had passed since Yu Nie fell into a coma, and it was well past midnight.
The physician, Li, no longer had the furrowed brows he had when he first saw Yu Nie's condition, and the solemnity on his face had disappeared.
Huan Xun stepped forward first, blocking the imperial physician's path.
He glanced into the bedchamber and saw Song Ai carrying several doses of medicine, whispering something to the palace servants inside, seemingly instructing them on how to prepare the medicine.
He withdrew his gaze, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable urgency: "Imperial Physician, what's the situation inside? Has the princess woken up?"
As he asked the question, Gu Xiangzhi also moved over.
Upon seeing that the two were close advisors to the emperor, the imperial physician stopped and bowed respectfully.
He spoke cautiously, choosing his words carefully: "Your Excellencies, Her Highness the Princess has temporarily regained consciousness and her mind is clear for a moment, but due to excessive grief, she is extremely weak and has now fallen into a deep sleep again."
Huan Xun asked, "What kind of illness does the princess have?"
Physician Li's expression was solemn. After pondering for a moment, he replied, "In my opinion, the princess's condition is a sign of hysteria."
"Symptoms of hysteria?" they both blurted out at the same time.
Seeing that the two of them still did not understand, Physician Li explained: "This disease is neither congenital nor caused by external factors, but rather caused by internal injury from the seven emotions."
The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic states: "Grief injures the soul," and "Grief dissipates qi." Ordinary grief is merely a temporary stagnation. But the princess's grief was like a flood bursting its banks, far exceeding the limits that the five internal organs could bear, thus causing her illness to come on suddenly. This resulted in obstruction of the heart orifices and blockage of qi. When qi does not flow, blood does not circulate smoothly, clear yang does not ascend, and turbid yin does not descend, rushing upwards to the brain, clouding the mind, thus causing sudden coma, limb stiffness, muscle spasms, clenched teeth, and even biting of the tongue and cheek.
"Fortunately, the princess is out of danger..."
Physician Li sighed: "From now on, the focus of recuperation is on calming the mind and spirit, and absolutely no more grief, fear or shock. If the liver wind is aroused again, the wind and fire may fan together and attack the heart, which may damage the heart meridian."
After hearing what Physician Li said, Huan Xun felt heavy-hearted and said, "I'll have to trouble you tonight, Physician Li."
He summoned Lu, the attendant, and said, "Send Physician Li back."
"Yes, sir."
The moment he raised his hand, Physician Li caught a glimpse of the wound on the web of his hand, which hadn't been properly bandaged yet. The flesh was turned inside out, and dark red bloodstains were still clinging to the edges.
"Lord Huan, your wound is still exposed. Shall I treat and bandage it for you?"
The situation was so urgent that there was no room for hesitation.
After carrying her to the bed, he was so focused on urging the imperial physician to examine her condition that he completely forgot about the bleeding wound on his hand. In the end, he simply grabbed a handkerchief and pressed it against the wound to stop the bleeding.
He rubbed the wound on his hand with his fingertips, declined the doctor's suggestion, thanked him, and said, "Let's not rush into that."
His handkerchief, already soaked with blood, now blew out a little more red, which looked quite conspicuous under the bright palace lanterns.
When he carried Yu Nie to him, the stinging pain in his hands was quickly overshadowed by the panic in his heart.
Standing at the entrance of the sleeping quarters, that pain started to throb again.
The door to the sleeping quarters was ajar, and you could see the smoke from the calming incense burning inside wafting out.
He moved quietly, pushed open the door, and his gaze immediately fell on the couch.
When Song Ai caught sight of the two of them entering one after the other, she originally intended to step forward and stop them.
When he saw Huan Xun, he recalled the real effort Huan Xun had put in tonight's chaos.
She glanced at Gu Xiangzhi again.
If we stopped this one and let that one go, it would seem strange. Besides, Mei Nian was helping to look after things from the front, and he contributed his efforts from both sides.
Furthermore, she understood that she had no other intention than to see Yu Nie, so she suppressed her desire to follow the rules.
She walked forward with her eyes lowered, curtsied, and spoke in a very soft voice, as if afraid of waking the person on the bed.
As Song Ai spoke, her gaze kept drifting behind the semi-transparent gauze curtain, where she could vaguely make out the figure lying inside.
She said, "My princess has just fallen into a deep sleep again. Just now, Cuiwei and I heard her sobbing in her sleep, and tears kept flowing from the corners of her eyes. Please be gentler, gentlemen."
"I need to go and check on Ah Hui in the front courtyard. There are many funeral arrangements to be made. I need to see if the mortician and the Fang Xiangshi have arrived yet. I can't be late. I'm really sorry for not being able to entertain you properly. I'll take my leave now."
Huan Xun pressed down on the jade pendant that was swaying on his body: "The princess is not at ease, so we should naturally keep our distance."
He lowered his voice and looked at the gauze curtain: "Go and take care of things in the front yard, I'll keep an eye on things here."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiangzhi glanced at him.
He then turned to Song Ai and said, "If there is any need, Song Juling, please feel free to instruct Mei Nian to do it."
Song Ai accepted the gesture, then gave a slight bow, glanced at Yu Nie one last time with concern, and strode towards the front yard.
The two of them walked to the bedside, where Cuiwei sobbed softly as she bent down to wipe away the tears of the person on the bed.
Yu Nie lay flat on her back, her eyelashes wet, and tear stains clearly visible on her face.
The two of them stopped a few steps away from the tatami mat, not daring to come any closer.
Huan Xun's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his brows furrowed unconsciously.
When he carried her into the hall, her forehead rested against his chest, and in that short time, her tears soaked his collar.
The warmth seeped through the layers of clothing, making his heart clench.
He looked at her lying in the brocade quilt, her hair at her temples slightly disheveled by tears, and the words that Physician Li had said to them still echoed in his ears.
Gu Xiangzhi also frowned, recalling her appearance in Jiu Shao Palace, a feeling of tightness in his chest.
He even thought that if he had been by her side, this wouldn't have happened, and she wouldn't be in so much pain now.
But the moment that thought popped into his head, even he was startled.
When did she occupy such a place in his heart?
In her dream, Yu Nie's consciousness was pulled back to the distant past, and scene after scene unfolded in the chaos.
She felt as if she had returned to the depths of winter in Huaiyuan, where heavy snow was falling, instantly covering the footprints on the ground without a trace.
The scene from her childhood was so vivid, it was as if it were right before her eyes: Ah Hui, along with Lang Xi, were building a snowman in the snow.
Inside the temple's kitchen, Uncle Shi and Aunt Liu were busily roasting sweet potatoes around the stove. The sweet aroma wafted out of the temple gate on the wind.
Before her martial aunt even came out, her voice had already reached out, telling the three of them to go back.
As she ran, she turned around and saw Ah Hui standing alone in the snow, far away.
She pulled Langxi and turned to run in the direction of Ahui, wanting to hold his hand and take him home.
To their surprise, the snow quickly rose to their knees, and they sank into the snow with every step, making it extremely difficult to walk.
Just as they were about to get close to Ah Hui, a sudden gust of wind swept in, stirring up the snow on the ground.
The swirling snowflakes formed a barrier, instantly obscuring Ah Hui's shadow.
As the heavy snow subsided, Ah Hui's figure grew even further away from them.
She and Langxi pushed through the waist-deep snow and moved forward with difficulty.
Meanwhile, Ah Hui, with a faint smile on her face, turned and walked towards a more distant place, step by step, without the slightest hesitation.
She screamed desperately in her dream, but her voice was swallowed by the wind and snow and vanished in an instant.
She watched his retreating figure, seeing him disappear step by step into the vast snowfield, never looking back.
In his sleep, Yu Nie's brows were furrowed, and soft sobs escaped from his throat as he called out to his junior brother again and again.
Her tearful plea echoed through the silent hall, repeating over and over again: "Junior Brother, don't go... Please, stay, Junior Brother..."
Hearing the tone of her sobs, the three people who were sitting at the square table rushed to the bedside at the same time.
Last night, Xiao Chengyan, who had finally managed to escape the Empress Dowager's watchful eye, braved the rain to rush to Hongzheng Pavilion.
After the commotion at Jiushao Palace, the news had spread throughout the palace that a princess dared to draw her sword and confront the emperor for the sake of a mere eunuch.
The Empress Dowager knew that Xiao Chengyan's position was awkward, and she didn't want him to get involved in this mess, lest it displease the Emperor.
But Xiao Chengyan was determined to come to Hongzheng Pavilion, and no matter how the Empress Dowager tried to persuade him, it was to no avail. In the end, she had no choice but to let him leave the palace.
“Qiqi, Qiqi…”
In her hazy dream, she couldn't make out the person's appearance. Following only a faint warmth, she suddenly reached out and tightly grasped the other person's palm, as if she had grabbed the last straw.
Huan Xun, who had been guarding the palace all night without sleeping, suddenly froze.
He lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the hand that was tightly clenching his, its fingers slender yet filled with an unyielding stubbornness. The candlelight cast dappled shadows on her tear-streaked face. He moved his lips but said nothing, letting her hold his palm tightly.
His fingers curled slightly, suppressing the urge to return the grip.
He leaned down, his tone unusually gentle, as if trying to rescue her from this deep dream: "Qiqi, don't be afraid, it's just a dream."
After the word "萋萋" was finished, Xiao Chengyan looked at Huan Xun beside him with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Although he didn't utter a word, a strange feeling was stirring within him. Just now, he and Huan Xun had both called out the name "Qiqi".
He was full of doubts. How did the latter know Yu Nie's childhood name?
When did they become so familiar with each other?
He had this question before; he had it when Huan Xun stood up to speak for Yu Nie in the Jiu Shao Hall.
Gu Xiangzhi glanced lightly between the two of them, then turned to Cuiwei, his voice calm and even: "Is the medicine ready?"
"Alright, alright... I'll go get it right away." Cuiwei hurriedly agreed and was about to leave.
Unexpectedly, the person on the bed slowly opened their eyes.
Huan Xun's dark eyes narrowed, all his attention focused on her: "It's good that you're awake, otherwise, I was planning to call the entire Imperial Medical Bureau here."
Even the usually aloof and detached Gu Xiangzhi paused when he saw her awaken, his eyes flickering slightly. A barely perceptible softening flashed across his typically cold and unwavering eyes.
A sound of porcelain clattering came from inside the bedroom.
Song Ai, who had just come in carrying a bowl of medicine from outside, hurriedly put the bowl down.
She couldn't suppress a soft gasp of surprise: "...Princess, Princess, you're awake?!"
Yu Nie propped herself up and sat up. She looked around the room and asked in a hoarse voice, "Where is my junior brother?"
Song Ai and Cuiwei looked at each other, and for a moment no one spoke.
None of them seemed to be able to bring themselves to speak.
Huan Xun was about to speak when she lowered her eyes and remained silent for a long time.
Without anyone reminding her, the events of yesterday flooded her mind like a tidal wave.
Song Ai said softly, "Princess, the funeral attendants have already cleansed and dressed Master Ahui, and made up his face..." She hesitated, with a hint of seeking instructions, "Master Ahui is now nominally a person by the princess's side, nominally an eunuch. According to palace rules, he must not hold a grand funeral in the main hall of the palace or other conspicuous places."
"I was afraid that the princess would be affected by the criticism from outsiders. Therefore, I simply made some arrangements in the main room of the Taoist priest's residence and set up a simple mourning hall for people to worship and mourn."
Yu Nie threw off the covers and got up; her body looked extremely thin beneath her robes.
So what if there's criticism?
She walked out, and Cuiwei wanted to help her, but Song Ai stopped her: "It was my carelessness that caused his death. I can't not even give him a proper funeral."
If she hadn't gone to Changxin Palace, he wouldn't have been kidnapped and wouldn't be in this situation now.
"How can you blame this on Qiqi?"
Seeing her sorrowful expression and tears streaming down her face, Xiao Chengyan felt as if a piece of his heart had been ripped out, and an indescribable bitterness and self-reproach welled up within him.
"If I hadn't solemnly assured you that nothing would happen to Ahui while she stayed outside Changxin Palace, how could you have felt at ease and followed me into your grandmother's bedroom?"
He clenched his fists, filled with remorse:
“The fault lies entirely with me. I was too confident, thinking that with the palace so secure and the world so bright, no one would dare to do evil in front of the emperor… I underestimated the wickedness hidden beneath these vermilion walls and green tiles.”
Who would have thought that in broad daylight, in the royal forbidden garden where singing and dancing were in full swing, a prince would be so audacious as to openly kidnap people?
Such a horrifying thing is something that no one could have imagined, no matter how hard they tried.
He didn't have much contact with Zhao Yuanze to begin with, and only vaguely remembered that this nephew, who was about the same age, was always absurd and willful. He never expected that the other party could be so heartless and crazy.
What he didn't expect was that Li Yunsheng, whom he thought would learn his lesson and restrain himself, would hold such a grudge and resort to such insidious and vicious revenge.
As he spoke, everyone noticed that his lips were bleeding from a cut, with a bruise that stood out starkly against his handsome face.
Cuiwei, with her sharp eyes, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Your Highness Prince Guangning, what... what happened to the corner of your mouth?"
Xiao Chengyan raised his hand, his fingertips brushing against the wound without much care. The movement aggravated the pain, causing him to frown.
He simply said, "It's alright."
He rode straight to the Li residence the night before, and without saying a word, stormed into the inner room. He grabbed Li Yunsheng, who had just been whipped and was groaning on the bed, and beat him again without saying a word.
Han Jie, who was accompanying him, tried his best to stop him, but he couldn't hold him back from his rage and loss of control.
Old grudges and new hatreds have already been formed, and there is no turning back.
At this point, Xiao Chengyan bluntly told Li Yunsheng, who was beaten black and blue, that he was the one who attacked him last time, and if he was resentful and wanted revenge, he didn't need to involve others, he could just come at him, the Prince of Guangning.
Although he said the fault lay entirely with him, Yu Nie did not think so.
As they were talking, Sui En came in a low voice to report that Xu Zhige of the Wuwei Camp had arrived.
Given the uproar yesterday, it's no wonder that Xu Cai, who was on duty in the palace, heard about it.
Song Ai gestured to Sui En to let Xu Cai in.
At this point, Song Ai could see that Xu Cai and her group had a very close relationship with her.
After offering three incense sticks in the mourning hall, Xu Cai followed Sui En's footsteps all the way to the inner courtyard.
After bowing respectfully, he looked up and saw Huan Xun and the others coming out, and paused for a moment.
The presence of these people made him swallow the words he wanted to say.
He simply said, "Princess, please accept my condolences."
Yu Nie approached him, her voice hoarse: "Has Junior Sister sent any letter?"
Langxi only set off yesterday, and judging by the distance, he should still be on his way to Xuzhou at this moment.
Xu Cai shook his head, his brow furrowed with worry.
Ah Hui's death disrupted all his plans.
He dared not imagine how Langxi would cope with the repeated blows when he arrived in Xuzhou, discovered that he had been deceived from beginning to end, and returned to Jian'an.
"I estimate... she won't be back for another two or three days."
"I think it's best to keep Ah Hui's matter a secret from her for now, and tell her when she comes back."
He paused, then said hoarsely, "I'm afraid that if she knows too much all at once, she... she won't be able to handle it."
Upon hearing these words, Yu Nie felt as if her heart was bleeding, and the pain was so intense that she could hardly breathe.
How should she tell her senior sister? How should she tell her junior uncle?
And then there's Aunt Liu, who always treats Ah Hui like her own child. How should she bring it up?
How can she explain that it was because she wasn't careful enough that her junior brother died far from home?
"Your Highness." Mei Nian ran over from the front yard and bowed to everyone: "The mortician said that the small encoffining ceremony is about to begin, please come over."
Ah Hui is her only relative, so she should be the one to perform this ceremony.
Yu Nie agreed and changed into a simple white robe.
Holding a funeral is already going too far, and with what happened last night, given her current status, she can't do anything else. If she were to wear mourning clothes, it would be a matter for the entire royal family.
Huan Xun and the others followed her to the mourning hall.
Yu Nie slowly approached the wooden bed where the body lay in state and leaned slightly forward. Under the covers, A Hui's face was pale, but his brows and eyes were relaxed, as if he were simply asleep.
Song Ai whispered from the side, "I know that Master Hui is from a Taoist family, so I found Taoist robes for him to change into, thinking that it would suit his identity."
Yu Nie reached out her hand, almost touching his cold cheek, but suddenly froze in mid-air, her throat tightening and her breath becoming painful.
Huan Xun stood quietly by the door, his gaze fixed on her trembling back, his hands clenching tightly.
She finally grasped the stiff, cold hand of the person on the wooden bed. The biting chill and pain threatened to engulf her completely.
Overwhelmed with grief, her mind went blank, leaving only boundless darkness and suffocation.
Yesterday's events kept replaying in her mind.
The shameless and sinister smiles of Zhao Yuanze, Li Yunsheng, Wang Fengshuo, and others; the indifference of the emperor and empress dowager after weighing the pros and cons; and the well-dressed princes and ministers who were present but remained silent.
These faces twisted and spun, eventually transforming into a bone-chilling hatred that burned from the very core of one's being.
She recalled Huaiyuan...
I recall the little beggar I met at Saibei Tower.
He recalled the evil deeds committed by He Renzhi, Zhao Shuhuai, and others in the past.
I recall Langxi saying to Xu Jingyang that without the two measures of examinations and military examinations, even if a poor family had extraordinary talent, he would only be trapped in a minor official position or be sent to a remote place to be a small county official, and would live a mediocre life.
Even the Shen family was framed by the gentry, which led to their decline.
She thought of the old woman who was innocently killed in front of the Li family mansion, and the Qu family woman who was forcibly taken from her.
Jian'an was the imperial capital, and even under the emperor's nose, the situation was like this. One can only imagine how miserable the common people in the surrounding prefectures and counties were.
She didn't think she had any extraordinary abilities; she just wanted to use her meager skills to protect those around her and herself, and to survive in this chaotic world.
She could not change the predetermined fate, nor could she resist the overwhelming tide of history.
but……
But in a world where human life is divided into different classes...
A noble person's life is as precious as gold and jade, while a commoner's life is as worthless as dust.
If this Jian'an era was merely the Jian'an era of the gentry, then what use is there in maintaining such a world?
It's better to just overturn it, regardless of whether there are towering waves or bottomless abysses behind it, at least it will end cleanly.
If the aristocratic class is unrighteous, then overthrow the aristocratic class.
If you don't have power, then create it.
Build bridges over rivers and open roads through mountains.
She refused to believe that these parasites entrenched in the clouds could remain arrogant forever.
She wants to exterminate every single one of those who bully the weak, treat others like ants, and disregard their lives!
She demands the law, and she can punish everyone!
She stared at Ah Hui's seemingly sleeping face, tears blurring her vision time and time again, her heart filled with regret.
If she had spoken up sooner, this wouldn't have happened.
Standing beside her, Song Ai added softly, "The ritual implements for the Taoist funeral are also ready. The prayer flags and the Three Pure Ones bells are all arranged according to tradition, awaiting only the princess's auspicious time..."
She remained silent for a long time, and the silence in the mourning hall was chilling.
After an unknown amount of time, she raised her face, her voice very soft:
"Thank you for your help, Magistrate. Please allow the attendant to enter."
"Send my junior brother into the coffin."
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Author's Note: Sorry everyone, this was my first time setting up anti-theft measures, and there were some issues. I just changed it to the lowest setting, with a one-hour duration. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me in the comments section. Please feel free to speak your mind.
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