Chapter 134 A Blood Letter Hoping for Miss's Mercy.
After the banquet, Yue Yining bid farewell to Sun Qiong and returned directly to the Princess's residence. She did not encounter Xie Qingyu again before leaving the Sun residence.
In the stillness of the night, Fu Yao warmed the bedding with a censer before leaving and going back to her room to sleep.
After washing up, Yue Yining sat behind the table wearing only a padded undergarment, looking down at the copper plate in her hand. Her back resembled a small snow-capped mountain.
The worn, golden-brown marks shimmered like water, washing over the flat edges of the bronze plate. Tiltd only halfway, the vibrant shadows of the red candles on the table were reflected across the screen, scattering light throughout the hall, swaying and glowing.
Like the way that person looked at her.
"—Miss will surely understand me."
Yue Yining's eyelashes trembled slightly. Because of those words, she almost recalled the helplessness and panic that had overwhelmed her at that time, the shame of having her pretense exposed, and the utter embarrassment of having her protective shell ripped through.
She never told anyone about the cost of this trip, not even Fu Yao, who followed her around the world. Only her master, Qiu Wuzhu, knew.
Being misunderstood is her way of protecting herself.
Humans possess seven emotions and six desires; joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are expressed on their faces, and love, hate, likes, and dislikes are revealed in their words. An ear through a wall can steal a plan, and an eye through a window can see a will; thus, a scheme is known to the world before it is launched, and the enemy is prepared before the deed is done. To accomplish a world-shaking feat, one must first remain hidden, concealing one's strength and resources, becoming unpredictable even to gods and ghosts, and beyond the discernment of yin and yang.
These were admonitions she knew by heart.
If you want to accomplish something incredibly difficult, the best way is to even fool God.
A feat unknown to anyone may seem great when it becomes known and celebrated later, but for that heroic soul, the price to pay is a long, unbearable loneliness that lasts a lifetime.
When she is tired, there is no one to rely on; when she is lost, there is no one to help her; when she is helpless, she can only look around like a headless fly.
Of course she would also be in pain.
However, no one could comfort her or soothe her emotions.
If you don't know what kind of fate the other person is carrying or what kind of suffering they are going through, then all your comfort will be like a thin membrane, weak and powerless.
She repeatedly sank deeper into the mud, lost her way, stumbled and bumped into walls, then gritted her teeth, stood up, and continued forward.
Sometimes, Yue Yining couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like for her if someone exposed her lies before she reached her own end, if someone saw through her weakness and insecurity, and if one day the prophecy she considered a secret became known to others.
Now, her old question has finally been answered.
It was as if she had walked a long way alone in the dark, starless night, when suddenly a light appeared behind her. She turned around and saw someone standing not far away, quietly watching her, as if he had been following her step by step, walking with her through thousands of years.
She had considered who might notice, but she never imagined that person would be Xie Qingyu.
Does he know everything? From when did he start knowing?
What was his secret, which, like hers, could not be spoken of?
For the first time since Yue Yining began studying divination, he felt restless and unable to calm his mind.
She desperately wanted to know everything about "Xie Qingyu" right now.
But he was the only one she couldn't predict.
In recent days, she has studied dozens of unorthodox techniques, but has been unable to find a solution.
Xie Qingyu's fate had indeed come to an end long ago, and she had personally verified that the Xie Qingyu who returned to the Xie family was not an imposter. She had previously suspected that Xie Qingyu was actually a Celestial Master, or at least proficient in the arts of Heaven, and that his abilities surpassed hers, otherwise she would have had no reason not to be able to calculate his fate. But even this suspicion was ultimately overturned by herself.
What else could it be that would bring someone who should have died back to life?
Moreover, even if someone is brought back to life, their temperament should not be completely different from before.
A gust of cold wind blew into the hall through the half-open window.
Chaotic thoughts are like a wick that has accumulated over the years on an oil lamp, pressing heavily on the weak flame, squeezing out the light into a dim, murky yellow, making all the thoughts in the room appear as indistinct and unclear as dusty old objects.
The sudden gust of wind was like a sharpened knife; with a gentle flick, the clogged lamp flame fell off with a soft "poof."
Freed from the pressure, the flame leaped upwards, becoming straight and bright, instantly illuminating the surrounding gloom and shadows, filling the room with clear light.
In the center of the hall, which was brightly lit by the new fire, Yue Yining's fingers, which were holding the bronze plate, suddenly froze.
Yes, how come she never thought of that?
What if "Xie Qingyu" wasn't resurrected from the dead, but rather possessed a corpse and returned to life?
That makes sense. That makes everything make sense!
Yue Yining suddenly stood up, the candlelight flickering in the wind she stirred up, the hall dimming and brightening intermittently. She didn't care anymore and rushed to a bamboo box in the corner, pulling out a treasured collection of divination techniques.
Although the idea of resurrection through a corpse is absurd, she had thoroughly read the Five Arts Classics treasured by Qiu Wuzhu in the Dharma Pavilion, and there were countless strange and unusual stories in them. Resurrection through a corpse was not entirely unprecedented.
Yue Yining knelt in front of the book box, using the gradually stabilizing light and shadow to flip through the pages while keeping a close eye on the contents that flashed by.
If she remembered correctly, for divination involving the separation of body and soul, the "ghost line" system of the Six Lines divination method was the most suitable, as it could be used to investigate abnormalities of the soul. The Six Lines divination method was not difficult for her; she knew how to do it. She only needed to put the World Line, representing the person in question, together with the Ghost Line for analysis, and then interpret the resulting special hexagram to make a preliminary judgment.
Yue Yining quickly found what she needed and turned back to her desk.
The night was still and deep, the light was hazy and indistinct, and the moonlight was faint and gentle.
......
Two days later, within the Secretariat.
Zuo Xulin has had a very difficult two days.
On the one hand, the imperial edict finally came down yesterday, and the emperor wanted to promote Rong Xuan, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, to the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and enter the Hall of State Affairs. This caused quite a stir in the court, breaking the pattern of the Hall of State Affairs being dominated by the faction of commoners. The first to bear the brunt was his elder brother, Zuo Yingfeng.
On the one hand, Zuo Yingfeng was also troubled by this matter. He had known about it since the day the edict was drafted, and his face had been solemn for several days.
He could also see Zuo Yingfeng's impatience.
Despite being the leader of the "poor family faction," Zuo Yingfeng's life was not as glamorous as it appeared to outsiders.
The "Humble Beginnings Faction" may have been pure at first. A group of impoverished scholars, newly entering officialdom, discovered that the imperial court was a deep and treacherous sea, with scions of powerful families protecting and colluding with each other, desperately squeezing out the poor scholars who had only managed to enter the court through the civil service examinations. Enraged, they decided to band together for mutual support and create a better future for scholars from impoverished backgrounds.
At that time, the poor families were undoubtedly on the side of justice, a spark that resisted relentlessly despite being suppressed.
But what about those from humble backgrounds today?
Zuo Xulin didn't know much. He wasn't as worldly-wise and shrewd as his elder brother. Whenever he was in officialdom, he would offend people over various details, causing his elder brother to have to smooth things over for him. Over time, his elder brother also intended for him to just do his job and not get involved in those power struggles and interpersonal relationships.
All he knew was that even among the poor families, there were struggles for interests, infighting, and factions forming their own groups. They appeared united on the surface, but secretly harbored filth and had their own agendas. All of this depended on Zuo Yingfeng to mediate.
The eldest brother, who refused to compromise his principles, was one of the few honest officials among the poor families. He devoted himself to maintaining the development of the poor families.
Perhaps he had always felt guilty for not being able to share his elder brother's burdens, which is why he nodded speechlessly when his elder brother suggested that he marry Yue Yining.
Indeed. He is by nature aloof and reserved, has never had a beloved woman, and has no interest in so-called marriage or children; to this day, he remains unmarried. For him, a wife doesn't need to be carefully chosen; as long as she is of good character, anyone will do.
If his marriage can help his elder brother, that would be the best outcome.
only.......
During his time with Yue Yining, he became increasingly hesitant and ashamed.
Yue Yining was an excellent female official. She was gentle, capable, and kind-hearted. Even he, who did not have a close relationship with her, could tell that she was a good official who was wholeheartedly devoted to serving the people.
For some reason, she felt particularly close to him, was unguarded with him, and did not avoid contact with him.
Of all her features, her eyebrows and eyes were the most beautiful. Whenever she looked at him, her eyes, like those of a landscape painting, would slowly fixate on him, staring at him without blinking. In those eyes, there was always no wariness or suspicion, only clear trust, reflecting his undisguised desires.
Such a wonderful woman deserves to marry someone even better than him, a man who loves her wholeheartedly and cherishes her like a treasure.
Rather than him having impure intentions.
Yue Yining has been on sick leave for the past two days and hasn't come to the capital. She finally came today, but she arrived later than usual. I wonder if she's still not fully recovered.
Zuo Xulin was working at his desk, pausing frequently to write, as he was agonizing over this very matter.
Should he take the opportunity to show him some concern?
As Zuo Xulin struggled desperately, a series of light footsteps came from outside the corridor. A clerk from the Secretariat, dressed in the robes of a low-ranking official, stepped into the hall and entered the room.
"Left Attendant." The clerk bowed and presented a rolled-up document with both hands. "This is a document from the Secretariat, a review of the materials for the river works in the suburbs of Beijing that were delayed some time ago."
Upon seeing the official documents being delivered, Zuo Xulin immediately straightened his expression.
The document was written on the yellow hemp paper commonly used by the Secretariat, and was carefully bound with fine hemp rope. A dark purple seal was tightly adhering to the seam of the paper at the seal, and in the center of the seal was a small and clear Bixie beast knob mark.
With its fangs slightly exposed and its appearance majestic, the Bixie was the deputy seal of the Vice Minister of the Secretariat.
The Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, the eldest son of the Xie family, Xie Qingyu.
"Thank you for your instructions, sir. This document concerning the river works must be forwarded unopened to the Chief Clerk of Yue." The clerk's voice was respectful, and his head was bowed even lower.
Zuo Xulin had no doubts. He figured it was probably some government affairs that Yue Yining had handled before he went on leave due to illness, and now that the people in the Secretariat had reviewed and approved them, it was probably some minor issues.
Zuo Xulin breathed a sigh of relief as he received the document.
He was also looking for a suitable reason to see Yue Yining, which relieved his worries.
Inside the office of the Ministry of Personnel.
Yue Yining was hunched over her desk, dealing with a mountain of official business. Her slender, white fingers, gripping the brush, looked as if they had been frozen blue. The charcoal fire crackled softly in the gilded basin, trying to dispel the chill seeping in through the cracks in the doors and windows.
Hearing footsteps, Yue Yining looked up and saw that it was Zuo Xulin. She was a little surprised and asked, "What brings Lord Zuo here?"
Zuo Xulin's eyes darted around, as if he was somewhat uneasy for some reason.
He reached out and placed the document on her desk, saying in a low voice, "This is a document that Lord Xie sent to me. It concerns the supervisor of river works in the suburbs of Beijing. He said he wanted me to pass it on to you. It seems that there are some omissions in the document that were sent and it needs to be revised."
Yue Yining was taken aback: "...Lord Xie?"
Xie Qingyu?
The Vice Minister of the Chancellery is in charge of the Chancellery’s review and correction of errors, and reviewing the details of documents is his duty.
However, none of the documents she had submitted before had been returned to her. Why was this particular document concerning river engineering materials rejected?
Yue Yining couldn't help but put down her brush and take the document.
The intact seal and markings came into view.
Yue Yining recognized the seal; it was the secondary seal of the Vice Minister of the Secretariat, used exclusively for documents requiring high-level confidentiality, extremely important matters, or those that needed to be delivered directly to the recipient. This seal was typically used only for documents impeaching high-ranking officials, secret military reports, or those involving imperial secrets.
Yue Yining's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, her doubts deepening.
This is illogical. Even with significant revisions to the detailed regulations, the review process usually involves annotations in red ink on the original manuscript, or a separate note explaining the changes, which are then delivered directly to the relevant departments by clerks or through normal official channels to the Ministry of Personnel. To use a special seal, designate her to open it personally, and require a colleague like Zuo Xulin to relay it…
This action, with its deliberate and overly formal tone that goes beyond the bounds of official business, is quite strange.
Yue Yining suppressed her confusion, calmed herself down, picked up the knife from the table, slowly opened the document seal, and then took out the yellow hemp paper inside.
The moment it unfolded, Yue Yining's pupils suddenly contracted.
The expected cinnabar annotations and rigorous revision suggestions... were nowhere to be found.
The paper was covered with densely packed ink characters, their color eerily dark and sticky, already dried, turning a deep brown, exuding a chilling sense of heaviness.
This was no ordinary ink. She realized this almost instantly, and then a faint, clear smell of blood wafted over her, subtle yet distinct, instantly captivating her entire being.
That was blood.
Whose blood?
Yue Yining's mind went blank, and her fingertips trembled uncontrollably.
She felt disoriented, and after focusing her eyes several times, she finally made out the words written in blood:
“Past events haunt me like a shadow, gnawing at my mind and leaving me no peace for a single day. I write this letter in blood not to defend myself, but to confess my sins.”
“My past actions have offended the public, were cruel, and implicated many. I know my sins are as heavy as a mountain and difficult to redeem. I do not wish to embellish them, nor can I refute them. To regard human life as worthless is my fault; to use any means to achieve my goals is also my sin.”
“My deeper sin is that I deceived you, Miss, and caused you to witness something unbearable.”
"Miss is of noble character and kind heart. Seeing me in such a wretched state, she must be heartbroken and see me as a demon. This is all my own fault, and I dare not harbor the slightest resentment. I bite my finger to write, not out of fear, but because ink and brush cannot express even a fraction of the remorse in my heart. The blood flows from my body, and the pain is in my heart. If this pain can atone for even a fraction of my sins, I will be willing to do so."
"While writing with caution, I also harbored a sliver of foolishness, attempting to plead for leniency under the pretext of repentance and reform, hence this book."
"Your subject Xie Qingyu kowtows and confesses his sins, begging for your mercy, Miss."
-----------------------
Author's note: Who dares to compete with this man in playing the victim?
-
Xie Qingyu: (holding her fingers) Miss, it hurts.
Yue Yining: (Worried) Let me see, who told you to write that kind of thing?
Xie Qingyu: (Nods obediently) (Secretly pleased)
The wound would have healed if it had been any later... Also, I'm going to sue a certain Yu for abusing his power for personal gain. [clasped hands]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com