Chapter 111 Old Memories: Enemies minus one stroke become old friends.
Yue Yi listened quietly to the whole story, not forgetting to look up and glance at He Chan's reaction.
He Chan's face showed no less shock than hers; clearly, even she didn't know about Jiang Chiyin's past.
Jiang Chiyin's lips trembled for a moment. She raised her head and looked at Yue Yining with a hint of suppressed expectation in her eyes, "...So you know Lingxi, then do you also know where Xiaorong is now?"
"Why can't I find out anything about her? Why haven't I received a reply to the letters I sent to her home in Suyang?" Jiang Chiyin tried her best to keep her voice steady, but she still couldn't hide her excitement and anxiety. "Where did she go?"
“…Actually, I just lied to you,” Yue Yining said softly.
“The case in Suyang was not solved with the help of Lingxi and Hairong; it was a trap they set together.”
"Jiang Hairong originally planned to go to the government office to redeem you, but the government office told her that you could not withstand the torture and had died. Jiang Hairong thought you were dead, so she took your ashes to Jin Lingxi. Jin Lingxi had witnessed her father murder her mother when she was young and had long harbored hatred for her father. After this incident, she hated Jin Yuanxiu even more."
"The two of them had been plotting for a long time, seizing the opportunity when Yanjing sent people to inspect the Suyang Mint, deliberately exposing the corruption and filth of the Jin family, with the aim of bringing down Jin Yuanxiu. Among the officials from Yanjing, they chose me to 'help' me solve the case, and I also saw through the truth."
“Jin Lingxi explained the whole story to me and asked me to keep it a secret. I agreed and applied for a pardon for her. Before the Jin family fell, she had already transferred her assets to Jiang Hairong. Now the two of them live in Suyang and run these shops and estates together.”
“So don’t worry,” Yue Yining said gently as she looked at Jiang Chiyin, “she avenged you and is still alive and well, living happily with her best friend.”
The joy of regaining what was lost, the exhaustion of surviving a disaster, and the torment of years of suffering all rushed into my heart at once.
Jiang Chiyin covered her face, as if relieved, or as if exhausted. Her shoulders were no longer tense, and they slumped down, letting them tremble, letting tears fill the gaps between her fingers.
The choked sobs gradually amplified, echoing like the tides between the stone walls.
Yue Yining squatted down and looked down at her: "The friend I mentioned earlier who does business in Suyang is Jin Lingxi. Jiang Hairong came with her too. They are currently in Qinghuai City. If you would like, I can bring her to see you."
The crying subsided, and that thin arm reached out and grabbed her wrist again, this time very gently, without much force.
"...No," Jiang Chiyin said in a hoarse voice, her voice trembling with tears, looking at her with teary eyes, "Even if you say that, I will not agree to let you go..."
Yue Yining and Jiang Chiyin looked at each other, and as she watched her eyes change, Yue Yining slowly reached out and took her hand in his.
“I never said I was leaving.” She smiled gently, her eyes crinkling. “I will help you. I won’t abandon you.”
She said this unintentionally, without any deeper meaning; it was more like a reply.
Immediately afterwards, Yue Yining took Jiang Chiyin's hand and helped her up. She looked at He Chan, unaware that Jiang Chiyin had suddenly stopped crying and was staring at her blankly without moving.
Her voice was clear and melodious as she said, “General He, I know you are worried that I will reveal your whereabouts and that I will go back on my word. For me, eliminating the threat completely is the best course of action, but you still have a conscience and are unwilling to harm the innocent and loyal. You harbor deep resentment and are determined to take revenge. I understand General He’s hesitation and I can understand your feelings.”
“Even if I say I will not be your enemy, and will not help the court to suppress bandits, you will not completely believe me. After all, my stance is there. Everyone has their own desires in life, and no one can act against their own stance. I will not arrogantly persuade you to put aside your deep-seated hatred.”
"It's foolish to make empty promises to make you believe me; it's arrogant to ask you to make an exception for me without paying a price," Yue Yining said slowly. "But what if I told you I had a way to get what you want without harming the interests of either of us?"
He Chan's expression changed slightly, and she said in a deep voice, "Tell me about it."
"The imperial court suppressed bandits because it was worried that mountain bandits would cause trouble and disrupt peace. In other words, if the mountain bandits voluntarily led their men to surrender to the imperial court, the hidden danger would disappear, and the difficulty of suppressing bandits would be easily solved," Yue Yining said.
"Absurd!" He Chan's brows furrowed with anger. "We came up the mountain precisely because we hate corrupt and power-hungry officials. How could we willingly become the court's lackeys again?"
Yue Yining’s voice was calm and composed, like a babbling brook soothing her anger. “General He, please calm down and listen to me.”
"To be honest, when I first arrived in Qinghuai, I already noticed the rampant corruption within the government. However, due to the pressure of disaster relief, I had no choice but to temporarily feign compliance with Prefect Che. But I had already secretly ordered my female officials to collect all kinds of evidence, and once the disaster relief was over and I returned to Yanjing, I would submit all the evidence to the Dali Temple," Yue Yining said. "I can assure you that I will definitely bring Che Zilong and other corrupt officials to justice."
“My lord is the current princess, who is compassionate towards the people, wise and upright, and uses people without regard to background. If you are willing to submit to the court, I will also mediate and arrange new identities for you. If the bandits who are recruited can pass the court's military examination, they can stay in Yanjing as officials.”
Yue Yining looked at He Chan: "General He, the reason you have hesitated to accept Huang Zhuo's invitation is because you know that this is a path with a high probability of death. You regard these women who follow you as your brothers and sisters and do not want them to risk their lives. As for Doctor Jiang, he understands the problems and pities the oppression of the people. I also deeply understand this. However, in addition to overthrowing it, getting involved yourself and changing this corrupt system from the inside is also a good strategy."
"In my opinion, while it is indeed heroic to rise up in rebellion and destroy everything, it is also a poor strategy. It would be better to enter the court, cleanse the wicked and corrupt, become a person with power, personally purge the filth, and rectify the world."
Yue Yining spoke these words with conviction and conviction.
The cave fell silent for a moment. He Chan's gaze was fixed on her, never leaving her for a second. She was clearly moved, yet she remained lost in thought and silent.
Yue Yining was not in a hurry. She looked back at him earnestly, showing her sincerity.
After a long while, He Chan said slowly, "You're right, and what you've given is indeed a foolproof plan."
"But no matter how much you say, it's all empty talk. You just need to make your words sound nice and appealing, and I have no way of verifying their truthfulness. But if you were me, how could you believe it, how could you dare to believe it?"
Yue Yining: "Whether I am just making things up or it is true, General, you only need to come down the mountain with me and enter the city to personally examine the evidence we have collected over the past few days, and you will be able to find out."
He Chan didn't speak. After a long pause, she shook her head and said, "But if I agree to go down the mountain, I will be entering the tiger's den alone. If there is an ambush or a sudden change, even if my martial arts are superb, I will not be able to escape alive."
“If you want me to trust you, you must go down the mountain and return to the city to prove yourself to me; but it is precisely because I cannot fully trust you that I cannot let you go down the mountain.” He Chan’s eyes were deep. “Yue Yining, this is a dead end.”
He Chan was making things difficult for her, but she was also giving her a chance to persuade her.
—At this point, what else can you do or say to move me?
All eyes were on the woman in the center of the cave. She was still dressed in her green robe. Her illness and the half-month she spent in prison had made her much thinner, but she stood very steadily and straight, which gave her a sense of perseverance and unshakability.
“I understand the general’s concerns. I know that Doctor Jiang is skilled in concocting poisons. If you cannot fully trust me, I am willing to offer my sincerity in exchange for your trust.” Yue Yining said firmly, “I will have Doctor Jiang prepare a poison and drink it in front of you.”
A voice immediately rang out from behind; it was Xie Qingyu. His expression changed drastically: "Miss, you mustn't!!"
Jiang Chiyin hadn't expected her to say that either, and she repeated incredulously, "What did you say?"
Yue Yining looked at her: "Doctor Jiang's medical skills are superb. Preparing a poison that can remain dormant until the next day is definitely no problem for him. My idea is to have Doctor Jiang make a dose of this poison, which I will take before going down the mountain. General He will carry the antidote formula with him. In this way, my life will be in your hands. I am a person who values my life and will never joke with my own life."
"So, you're willing to trust me this once?"
He Chan stared at her blankly, her expression trembling, truly moved by her words, "You..."
“General He.” Yue Yining took another step forward, allowing He Chan to see the flickering flame and brilliance in her eyes more clearly and without any room for error.
“I have said before that I am of one mind with the general. Logically, I cannot betray the court, and my desire to recruit you is also driven by personal desires; emotionally, I myself was once an orphan who wandered far from home, and I can deeply understand the suffering of the common people. I am unwilling to exterminate you, nor am I willing to stand idly by and watch your sins go unpunished.”
“I am helping you, helping the people of the world, and helping myself. I, Yue Yining, swear to my ancestors that every word I have said is from the bottom of my heart and there is not a trace of falsehood.”
......
In Yanjing, the autumn mountains are clear and bright, and the steps are covered with sycamore trees.
Golden clouds stretched across the red walls and green tiles of the Princess's mansion, yet a strange desolation lingered. Outside Wei Yihua's bedchamber, a female official in red hurried along the corridor, which was filled with maple leaves and fiery trees. Su Yue saw her, her expression turned serious, and she went to greet her.
"My lord, has another message come from Qinghuai?" Su Yue asked in a deep voice.
The official in red shook her head, her brows furrowed with worry. Seeing this, Su Yue also sighed.
"Is Your Highness still asleep?"
Su Yue said in a low voice, "Yes. Your Highness was busy with official business until late last night. I just entered the palace to change the incense burner and found Your Highness still asleep, so I didn't wake her up. Your Highness has been worrying too much these past few days and it's rare for her to sleep so soundly, so let her sleep a little longer."
"Your Highness is concerned about state affairs, but Qinghuai is far away in the south of the Yangtze River. There is no need to rush, and rushing will be useless. Your health is the most important thing."
Su Yue did not offer any further explanation, but after agreeing, she instructed the maid to take the female official to the side hall to wait.
She knew that what was causing Wei Yihua's unusual anxiety was not the situation in Qinghuai or the progress of disaster relief.
There was one person who was deeply on Wei Yihua's mind.
Princess Chang could not sleep peacefully for a day without news of the Yue people.
At the end of September, just before autumn officially arrived in Yanjing, an urgent letter from Qinghuai was delivered to the Princess's residence, abruptly shattering the tranquility.
The letter stated that rampant corruption had made it difficult to maintain government grain supplies, plunging disaster relief into crisis. Even more alarming was the news that Yue Yining had been kidnapped by bandits and his whereabouts and fate were unknown.
Su Yue was standing beside the Princess when she suddenly saw Wei Yihua's hand tremble, spilling tea onto the table and soaking a piece of official document.
She has been the princess's personal maid for eighteen years.
She had never seen Wei Yihua so panicked.
After seeing the female official off, Su Yue slowly returned to the outer corridor of the palace, gazing at the golden armor that shone brightly in the central courtyard, her heart filled with worry.
She hadn't expected that the life or death of this Yue man would have such a profound impact on Wei Yihua.
If Yue Yining has indeed perished...
Su Yue dared not think any further.
Inside the palace, Wei Yihua lay asleep with her eyes closed, nestled among layers of precious tents.
Whether it was because she had been thinking about him for many days and dreamed about him at night, or because past memories were flooding back, she dreamed of Yue Yining from her past life again.
This was the second time she had dreamed about her past with Yue Yining.
The scene in my dream overlaps with today; it's another golden autumn of prosperity.
She was no longer the favored princess, but was about to become the emperor's half-sister.
The late emperor passed away suddenly half a month ago. The third prince, Wei Ye, as the crown prince appointed by the late emperor, and Consort Li, honored as the Empress Dowager, will hold an enthronement ceremony after the late emperor is buried in the Ming Mausoleum, and formally ascend the throne to become the new emperor.
For several days after the late emperor's death, Wei Ye and Yue Yining were inseparable. Yue Yining oversaw and assisted with everything, big or small.
Everyone can see that the Third Prince Wei Ye, whose maternal clan was weak and who had no special talents, was able to get to where he is today thanks to the devoted support of this female celestial master surnamed Yue.
There was much discussion in the palace, with everyone saying that Wei Ye had already issued an edict and that a formal decree would be drafted soon, appointing Yue Yining as the Imperial Preceptor.
On this day, the soon-to-be-crowned new emperor and the Empress Dowager went to Qingyun Temple in Jinling to pray for the deceased late emperor. Among the entourage were the eldest princess and Yue Yining, who was to be appointed as the Imperial Preceptor.
The autumn light was vibrant, and the red maple leaves leaned against the clouds. From the moment she entered the gate on the mountain until she was ushered into the inner hall, she kept her eyes away from Yue Yining's direction, keeping her head down and following beside her mother.
Wei Yihua still hated Yue Yining at that time, but she could vaguely sense that she didn't hate him as much as before.
Perhaps because she had suffered too many blows, her pride had been broken, or perhaps she had grown weary of the feeling of hating someone. She was exhausted, wanted to accept her fate, and wanted to let herself go. She was still young at the time, not yet twenty, but she already felt a deep sense of desolation, as if her future was uncertain and her life was over.
She didn't look at Yue Yining, so naturally she didn't know whether Yue Yining had looked at her or not.
The proud princess has made up her mind to be a quail for a day.
Everyone knelt in the center of the main hall, praying quietly. After the ceremony, His Holiness would receive the new emperor and the queen consort separately, while the others would remain in the hall to wait or go to other places to pray.
After they left, only Wei Yihua and Yue Yining remained in the hall.
Wisps of smoke curled upwards, and the candles flickered. The twelve gilded deities surrounded the Heavenly Ancestor in the center, their expressions compassionate. Sunlight streaming through the paper windows, like melting amber, cast a hazy, dim light on the main hall.
Wei Yihua pretended to close her eyes, put her hands together in prayer, and listened nervously to the sounds from the other side.
Yue Yining made the first move.
The rustling sound of the cushion bouncing back rang out, followed by the faint, clear sound of the pearls and jade pendants at the waist striking each other.
She thought Yue Yining would leave the main hall, but to her surprise, she called out to her.
"Your Highness, the Eldest Princess."
Unable to remain inside the shell any longer, Wei Yihua had no choice but to open her eyes.
A white light surged before her eyes, and the dim light and heavy mist enveloped the woman not far away, blurring her face. But Wei Yihua could see clearly that Yue Yining was smiling gently, her eyes, as bright as stars and the moon, looking at her: "Your Highness, would you like to go to Jishan Hall together for some lily soup?"
Wei Yihua was on tenterhooks, wondering how Yue Yining would retaliate against her, but she never expected Yue Yining to say something like that.
She froze, then asked, "...What?"
“It’s November now. I remember that monks in the Jishan Hall on the west side would make some flower soup to serve to pilgrims.” Yue Yining smiled and said, “When I was a child, I came to Qingyun Temple with my master and ate it a few times. It was fragrant, sweet and delicious.”
"Would Your Highness like to try some?"
Wei Yihua didn't understand why Yue Yining would suddenly invite her to travel together. They clearly weren't compatible, so she declined, saying, "No need."
After speaking, she regained her pride as a royal princess, slightly raising her chin: "No matter how delicious it is, it's just the casual and rough vegetarian food in the temple. How can it compare to the delicacies prepared by the imperial chefs in the palace?"
She deliberately avoided looking at Yue Yining's expression, letting the maid help her stand up straight, and heard Yue Yining's clear and gentle voice in her ear: "Your Highness is right."
“The food in this temple is indeed not even one ten-thousandth as good as the imperial meals the princess usually eats,” Yue Yining said. “Then I shall take my leave.”
Wei Yihua stood there until Yue Yining's footsteps gradually faded into the distance before slowly turning around to look at the autumn colors outside the hall, golden and red like the sunset.
She said, almost as if possessed, "Suyue, let's go for a walk together."
"yes."
Wei Yihua was unwilling to admit that she wanted to follow Yue Yining. She came out too late, and Yue Yining was long gone. She could only walk along the stone steps and paths inside the temple, stopping occasionally to look at the scenery and pass the time.
She didn't know how much time had passed, but after walking through a covered walkway lined with flowering trees, she finally saw Yue Yining.
Wei Yihua stopped a long way off.
Today, Yue Yining was not wearing her usual blue and white robes, but rather more dignified brocade and fine clothes. She almost didn't recognize that figure from behind.
Several stone steps piled with fallen leaves lay behind Yue Yining. She stood quietly outside the wooden door, motionless, with only the ends of her hair fluttering. A gust of wind swept through the ginkgo trees planted in front of the door, and their dense golden branches swayed gently, rising and falling above her head, bright and radiant, like waves and tides.
Under the eaves, birds chirped a few times.
She stood there for a long time, but Yue Yining didn't move.
Wei Yihua was puzzled. Seeing a sweeping boy pass by, she called him over and asked, "What is that wooden hall for?"
The boy's voice was clear and childlike: "Replying to Your Excellency, that is Venerable Qiu's separate residence within the temple. She recently came to visit Venerable Hua. Venerable Hua had an honored guest visiting today, and Venerable Qiu did not wish to disturb her, so she stayed inside and did not go out at all today."
Wei Yihua was taken aback: "She's inside? Then why doesn't she open the door to see the guest?"
The sweeping boy laughed instead: "You are too kind, sir. Who is Venerable Qiu? Does he not come to see just anyone? I heard that Venerable Qiu did not have any guests today. I suppose this gentleman waiting outside the door was just acting on a whim. It is only reasonable for Venerable Qiu to refuse him entry."
That's true. The Venerable One holds a high position, so naturally not just anyone can meet him.
Ke Yueyining is Qiu Wuzhu's disciple.
Clearly, even the cleaning boys who often stayed in the temple were unaware that Qiu Wuzhu had a promising disciple who was about to become the national preceptor.
A sense of satisfaction welled up in Wei Yihua's heart; she had finally witnessed the omnipotent Yue Yining suffer a setback.
But what followed was a dense, bittersweet feeling, like fine stitches filling my heart.
Wei Yihua watched Yue Yining's retreating figure from afar. She stood amidst the golden leaves, and a gust of wind blew, showering her head with ginkgo rain.
She inexplicably wanted to walk up to her, turn her shoulder, and see what kind of expression she had now.
If she remembered correctly, Yue Yining had no parents, only her master, Qiu Wuzhu, who could be considered family. She was about to become the Imperial Preceptor, and she stood before his door to pay her a visit, yet her master refused to even see her. What must she be feeling? Dejected? Lonely? Sad? Or as gentle and quiet as usual? She desperately wanted to know; this urge was so strong that even she found it strange, utterly incomprehensible.
But Wei Yihua stood still, without taking a step forward.
After looking for a long time, the princess turned around, took her maid's arm, and whispered, "Let's go."
The maidservant accompanied her as she wandered around the temple grounds. They turned through several stone platforms and wooden corridors and arrived at the Jishan Hall. Yue Yining's words were true; indeed, bowls of lily soup were laid out on the wooden platform, the pure white petals adorning the clear green broth, served in wooden bowls.
Wei Yihua walked slowly past, Su Yue supporting her wrist, but then saw the Princess suddenly stop and no longer move forward.
"Suyue," she said, "bring me a bowl of lily soup."
I want to try it.
Su Yue was surprised, but immediately replied, "Yes."
Wei Yihua sat on the futon, waiting for Su Yue to bring the lily soup and place it in front of her. She held the crudely made wooden spoon and brought a mouthful of the soup to her lips.
She chewed a few times, swallowed, and suddenly felt an urge to cry.
That damned Yue Yining, she lied to her again.
This lily soup is not tasty at all.
As the wooden spoon was set down, Wei Yihua awoke from her dream. The unique, bittersweet fragrance of lilies seemed to still linger on her lips and tongue, rich and lingering, making her uneasy.
She had almost forgotten that they had once lived far apart and were once sworn enemies. She always harbored some inexplicable resentment towards her. Now that she thought about it, perhaps it was because she could never face her honestly. She didn't resent her, but rather herself, who had been so deeply influenced by her.
If you remove one stroke from an enemy, it becomes an old friend.
She was someone she knew.
The years gone by, a long sigh of regret, have all been consigned to the dust of eternity.
Su Yue was changing the incense in the palace when she heard movement by the bed. She quickly put down what she was doing and went to greet him. "Your Highness is awake?"
"This servant will immediately send someone to help you change your clothes and wash up—"
Wei Yihua sat up from behind the bed curtains, looking at the sunlight filtering through a thin sheet of paper, and guessed what time it was.
"Suyue," Wei Yihua said, her voice dry and hoarse from the early morning, "Did I sleep for a long time?"
“Not long after, I know Your Highness went to bed late last night and wanted you to sleep a little longer, but you still got up so early.” Su Yue’s eyes were full of concern. “Your Highness, it is precisely at times like these that you must take care of your health.”
Wei Yihua understood the reasoning, but she just couldn't suppress the anxiety in her heart.
She asked, "Has there been any news from Qinghuai?"
Su Yue sighed inwardly. Every morning, the Princess would say the same thing.
"No."
Wei Yihua lowered her eyes. "Is that so?"
Su Yue couldn't bear it and was about to say something when suddenly a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the corridor, as if someone was running and stumbling all the way to the palace gate.
Hearing the commotion, Su Yue temporarily handed over the duties of serving inside the palace to other maids and quickly went outside, where she spotted the little maid rushing over in a hurry.
Her eyebrows shot up immediately, and she scolded, "Don't you know that you can't make noise outside the bedchamber? What kind of behavior is this, so reckless and impudent!"
However, the panting maid did not respond. She had run all the way here, and after finally catching her breath, she shouted excitedly, "Sister Suyue!"
"It's Qinghuai! News has come from Qinghuai!"
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A note from the author:
The second case is almost over! [Rabbit head with upright ears]
The next chapter is another crucial one!! The relationship between the two is about to undergo a huge turning point, and I'm going to go all out in the third case! [rainbow fart]
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