Chapter 45: A Good Marriage and a Bad Marriage.
The Grand Tutor and Grand Protector, standing under the eaves of the small hall, tucked their hands behind their backs, glanced at each other, and both looked as if they wanted to say something but hesitated.
Suddenly, the weather outside changed. The rumbling thunder seemed to roll along the ground, coming in a mighty torrent and then rushing away into the distance. The dark clouds overhead gathered in an instant, pressing down lower and lower, as if to flatten the palaces of this Dragon City.
Before long, raindrops began to pour down, pattering on the steps and splashing up to a height of about a foot. The two stepped back a few paces to avoid getting their clothes wet.
The Grand Tutor looked back, but his gaze couldn't penetrate the silk gauze covering the latticed window, nor could he see the scene inside the small hall.
"Hasn't it been checked yet? It only takes the time it takes to lift a shirt."
Taibao crossed his arms and stared blankly into the distance. "Joining the army, don't you think it's pathetic?"
The Grand Tutor was alarmed and said in a low voice, "Be careful what you say, stop talking now."
Taibao sighed, looked up at the rain pouring down from the sky, and muttered, "This rain is perfect. I dug a pond behind my house, and it might be half full after this rain."
Finally, the door to the small hall opened, and the Grand Tutor and Grand Protector hurriedly returned inside, only to be startled upon entering. Imperial Censor Li was kneeling on the ground, trembling, and blood was splattered everywhere on the golden bricks inside the hall. The strategist from the Nine Chapters Mansion who had come to testify against the Grand Tutor was lying on the ground, seemingly dead.
"Your Majesty..." The Grand Tutor looked up at the throne, "Your Majesty was not frightened, was you?"
Emperor Shengyuan shook his head. "With the Grand Tutor protecting me, there is no problem. This so-called strategist already harbored a personal grudge against the Grand Tutor, resenting his dismissal and spreading rumors to frame him. I have personally examined the Grand Tutor's chest and found no red line indicating a fatal flaw. It seems the censor was deceived by this man. Now that the truth is out, the villain has committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and Li Qiaozhen has been handed over to the Grand Tutor for punishment. I am truly exhausted and do not wish to concern myself with this matter any further."
As he stood up, Emperor Shengyuan staggered violently. Lu Min quickly stepped forward to support him, calling out to someone, "Your Majesty is unwell; please take him back to the palace to rest."
The imperial eunuchs bowed and came forward to greet him, surrounding and supporting him as they helped him out.
The Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector finally breathed a sigh of relief. The Grand Protector said, "This is utterly absurd! What puppeteer creating humans? It's all nonsense! How can you take it seriously! Censor Li, you've lost your mind. You've been led by the nose by a shameless person, and now you've lost your position, your life, and all your face. Was it worth it?"
The Grand Tutor glanced down at the man kneeling on the ground, then turned to Lu Min and asked, "What do you intend to do with this man? Summon the officials from the Ministry of Justice to take him away and investigate him thoroughly."
Lu Min did not respond, but sighed and said, "We are colleagues, so let's not go too far. Let's be lenient when we can. I know he is still unmarried and has an elderly mother to support. If he is sent to the prison, how can he come out alive? Let's not let the white-haired bury the black-haired."
Taibao clicked his tongue, "You're still too kind-hearted; you're unwilling to take a life."
He chuckled lightly, "Killing someone makes one restless day and night." As he spoke, he reached out and pulled the kneeling man aside, "I will not pursue this matter any further. Censor, please resign. You must have offended many officials in the court these past two years. If you can't stay in Baiyujing, it would be good to travel around and broaden your horizons."
Li Qiaozhen didn't say anything more. He stood up, bowed deeply to him, and followed the eunuch who was leading the way out of the palace.
As for the corpse on the ground, the guards quickly came in, tied it up, and dragged it out of the small hall.
Bloodstains were everywhere in the hall. The attendant led the palace attendant into the hall to clean it up, and the three dukes then withdrew.
The rain had stopped by then; summer downpours always come and go quickly. A ray of sunshine appeared on the horizon, and colorful bands of light broke through the azure sky, like a sudden salvation appearing on a hopeless life.
The three walked slowly and unhurriedly on the road out of the palace.
Lu Min remained as humble and gentle as ever, and said in a calm voice, "I feel very sorry that you two have made a wasted trip today because of my matter. I have already informed His Majesty that I will be staying in Shangdu for a while. I will host a banquet in a couple of days to apologize for what happened today."
The Grand Tutor and Grand Protector chuckled, "You were almost framed, yet you took the blame upon yourself. Your magnanimity is truly admirable. It's a good thing you made a wasted trip; it would be impressive if you hadn't. As for the drinks, we certainly won't refuse. We'll just wait for your invitation to the banquet."
So they bowed and said goodbye, and went their separate ways at the palace gate. Lu Min got into his carriage, but instead of heading towards Shanhefang, he turned and drove towards the Beimang Righteous Tomb in the north of the city.
The so-called Beiman Cemetery was a place specifically for collecting unclaimed corpses. When eunuchs from the palace died, they were also sent here. He had informed the Zhidang Guards in advance to find a quiet place in the cemetery to place the strategist's body. When he arrived, the secret guards of Jiuzhang Prefecture had already surrounded the outer perimeter.
Brushing aside the musty stench lingering in his nostrils, he stepped into the small hall where the corpses were kept. Shi Mi and Gu Jingguan were already waiting inside, and only after he appeared were the human skin masks on the corpses' faces removed.
Looking at this face, Shi Mi didn't feel much joy, but rather a sense of relief, as if he had finally achieved a goal he had been pursuing.
Lu Min returned the dagger from his sleeve to her; it was the one she had entrusted to him before leaving.
"Why did you have to use this knife?" He glanced down at the open wound on the corpse's neck and frowned. "The blade wasn't sharp enough, and blood splattered on me."
Shimi held the dagger and let out a long breath. "This was pulled from my grandfather's body. It was originally a broken sword, and I sharpened it into its current form."
Lu Min was stunned. Her background had always been something they had deliberately avoided, but now it was finally time to expose it.
Shi Mi looked up at him, his eyes flashing with cold light. His gaze was fixed on him, but he raised his hand and plunged the knife into the chest of Emperor Sheng Yuan.
He was startled and took a half step back. He heard her say, "What a pity I didn't do it myself. I can only finish the job and vent my anger."
Having already attacked Emperor Shengyuan, she probably won't attack him again! She often takes unconventional approaches, and sometimes it's really hard to predict what she'll do next.
"Although the person in charge has changed, I still need to take charge of the overall situation in the court. Let's work together sincerely and not let this hard-won country fall into internal strife again." He gave a dry laugh. "You are a woman with a strong sense of righteousness. No matter what, you must put the people of the world first."
That's true. The person in charge died here, and the Yanren who replaced him is incapable of handling state affairs. He still needs to lead the High Council. Next, she needs to find a way to negotiate with him and get him to release the former Yu royal family members in Yuancheng. Most importantly, there's the child who was born this year. If she can send him to Longcheng and announce that he was born to the Empress, like a tree that takes ten years to grow, perhaps the Yu Dynasty still has hope of restoration.
He nodded and began to subtly hint at him, “Grand Tutor is right, that’s what I think too. Now that the mountain that was weighing on us has fallen, you should be the one to rule the Yan Dynasty. But if I remember correctly, Emperor Shengyuan has already established a crown prince, who is seven or eight years old now. It’s hard to control a grown child, so Grand Tutor should be careful.”
His eyes were cold and clear, and he smiled slightly, saying, "Thank you for reminding me, young lady. I almost forgot. Don't worry, the crown prince can be deposed. Anyway, that child isn't very talented, so it's not bad for him to be a carefree idler."
Shi Mi sneered, "I thought you were going to kill him."
He paused for a moment, then slowly said, "If necessary, killing is not out of the question."
The two of them were locked in a fierce battle of wits, focused solely on who was superior, while Gu Jingguan, standing to the side, was more concerned with cleaning up the mess.
"The body cannot be left; it must be disposed of quickly."
Lu Min was practically provoking Shi Mi, saying, "What do you think? Do you want me chopped into mincemeat?"
Shi Mi glanced at him disdainfully, "I'm too tired, and I don't want to get my clothes dirty." As he spoke, he took out a bronze tube.
The corpse-dissolving medicine given by my senior brother only requires a few drops to completely dissolve the flesh and bones, but it takes some time for it to take full effect.
The three stepped out and stood under the eaves to wait. Lu Min then said to Gu Jingguan, "Mr. Gu, this trip to Baiyujing will probably take you a while. The people in Longcheng need your help, and I think Ami is also reluctant to part with you. I can send someone to retrieve the things left behind in Liren Alley."
Gu Jingguan said there was no need, "We have already packed everything before we came. Fifth Hai will be escorting us, so we should be able to enter the city in time tomorrow."
Lu Min nodded. "I've ordered someone to meet him at the city gate. There's a villa of mine west of Longcheng. I've already had it prepared; it's fully furnished and ready for you to stay."
Gu Jingguan gave a faint thank you, then looked back at the hall. The stone bed was now only covered in thick blood. The matter was settled, and he could leave.
Emerging from the cemetery, heading east and west respectively, Lu Min was surprised to find that the heartless woman was going to follow Gu Jingguan.
He couldn't help but say "Hey," without saying anything else, just frowning and looking at her.
Shimi remembered that he still had important matters to discuss with him, so he had to see his senior brother off to the car before turning back.
The Grand Tutor's carriage door was wide open. He gestured for her to get in. Shi Mi gathered her skirts and sat inside, obediently leaning to the side, waiting for him to come in and take his seat.
As soon as his tall figure entered the carriage, the space suddenly became cramped. After he sat down, he didn't even look at her, staring straight ahead as if he could see another world through the gap in the curtain.
Even now, Shimi still feels a sense of disorientation; everything proceeded so smoothly, as easily as drinking water or eating. This Emperor Shengyuan was, after all, an emperor, and for an emperor to end so quietly is probably unprecedented in the history of Chinese dynasties.
Without her saying a word, those around her understood her thoughts: "It's not that the process was easy, it's that the method was too clever. There's a fake that even a god couldn't tell the difference from. Who in this world can guarantee they won't be replaced by a fake? Plus, there's me. My goal is the same as yours, so you can be invincible. Consider this my gratitude for saving my life. Who else do you want to kill next? It's all negotiable except for me."
But the person she wanted to kill was precisely him, which made things a bit complicated.
“Once a person dies, they suddenly become insignificant.” She composed herself and said slowly, “Let’s put killing aside for now; I want to save people. Do you remember the first time you took me to Baiyujing, when we passed a mansion on the way back where members of the Yu Dynasty’s royal family were imprisoned?”
His gaze slowly shifted and landed on her. "You want to save the Xie family?"
Shi Mi nodded, "Yes."
"Why?" He raised the corners of his lips, secretly steeling himself before deciding to lay the matter out in the open. Although the truth was not easy to face, scratching the surface wouldn't help him negotiate. It was time to be frank; there was no point in hiding it any longer.
For Shimi, any gain after the death of Emperor Shengyuan was an unexpected bonus. She wasn't afraid to reveal her identity openly, since she still held his life and death in her hands and had enough leverage to negotiate with him. So she answered him without hesitation, "Because I also share the surname Xie."
When the truth was revealed, there was no tense standoff as expected; both sides were surprisingly calm.
"The surname is Xie..." He pondered for a long time, then suddenly said, "The name on the marriage certificate can be changed back. After that, we can continue to discuss other matters."
His unexpected move silenced the confused. She had expected a debate about national righteousness and a blood feud, but all he cared about was the name on the marriage certificate.
He certainly had his reasons. "Always having a fake name makes me feel like this marriage is fake too. Although I don't care much about those old-fashioned customs, I have to give myself an explanation for this important life event."
The astray was speechless. "It was fake all along..."
“You’re mistaken.” He smiled. “We’ve bowed to heaven and earth, drunk the nuptial wine, and shared a bed, whispering sweet nothings in each other’s ears. How could it be fake? Alright, let’s put everything else aside for now. I’m only concerned about revising the marriage certificate. Once it’s revised, everything will be fine.”
There was nothing that could be done about the confusion; the only option was to do as he said.
To her surprise, he had actually brought the marriage certificate to Shangdu. He led her into the study, took it out of the drawer, unfolded it, and placed it in front of her. He then took out a wolf-hair brush, dipped it in ink, and handed it to her, smiling as he said, "I have waited for this day for a long time. Ami, write down your real name."
Shi Mi gripped his pen, helplessly crossed out Lu Xia Fang's name, and wrote "Solve Shi Mi" in one breath.
Lu Min was clearly satisfied. He looked at the three words again and again and muttered to himself, "I always felt that no one in the world was worthy of me, but I never expected that my good match would come here."
Shimi had no time to discuss good or bad fortune with him; her mind was only on the people in Yuancheng. "The name has been changed; can we talk business now?"
He smiled and put away the marriage certificate, saying, "Of course, my wife, you may bring up anything you wish to discuss, as long as it is within my power."
She said bluntly, "Release your family. Stop imprisoning them like pigs and dogs. Give them their freedom and let them live like human beings."
He readily agreed, saying, "I can release it, but I need to discuss the terms with you first."
Shi Mi immediately became agitated, "What? There are still conditions? The name has already been changed!"
“The entire Xie family has twenty-six members. Twenty-six!” He smiled. “That’s quite a number. Changing your name is just to gain the opportunity to discuss things with me. You can consider whether you want to hear my terms.”
What else is there to consider? Will considering it make him have a change of heart?
She gave in, "Go ahead."
“It’s simple. One life for one year of yours. Twenty-six lives, and you’ll stay with me for twenty-six years.” He gazed intently at her and said, “Starting today, we’ll release the oldest ones first. Twenty-six years later, our newborn child will be in his prime. This way, the Xie family won’t lose out, and I’ll be protected. What do you think?”
Sure enough, when it comes to scheming, she was no match for him. The older ones, once released, had lost their will to fight; they probably only cared about having enough to eat and resting. The younger ones, if kept imprisoned, would suffer another year of torment. What would be left when they finally stepped out of their cages? Besides, the population was increasing every year; how could they possibly release them all in twenty-six years? He clearly intended to take the Xie family's lives, forcing her to support him for the rest of her life. His calculations were so precise, they were practically spiking in her face.
"I don't think it's very good." She said coldly, "Grand Tutor Lu, you seem to have forgotten that you have no room to bargain with me. That puppeteer in Dragon City is currently under my senior brother's control. Even without you, the emperor's decree is just as effective."
He, however, remained unperturbed. “You seem to have forgotten that I am not going to die immediately. I can arrange everything before I lose my life. For example, slaughter the entire Xie family, push the people of Chong’an City into the tomb passage, and bring you and Gu Jingguan to be buried with me. I have no worries, but you are the one who has too many concerns. Since that’s the case, why not negotiate properly instead of making things a lose-lose situation?”
Shi Mi was nearly driven to the brink of collapse by his eloquence. Seeing his smug demeanor, she kicked him in anger, "Serves you right for scheming!"
He was hit and staggered in pain. "There's still a way out!"
She was furious. "What? Speak!"
“Give me a kiss, and I’ll release one person. Nine people a year for a total of three years. If they don’t have any more children, they can all be released.” He pleaded shyly. “What do you think of this plan?”
Shi Mi's mind started racing. No matter how you looked at it, three years was definitely more worthwhile than twenty-six. She wasn't some delicate, pampered young lady; kissing him would be a piece of cake. He'd kissed her thoroughly long ago; this time it was just a matter of her taking the initiative. Like a stamp, it was over in a flash.
"When will it start?" she asked. "Now?"
She said she was coming to fulfill her promise, but he quickly stepped back, saying, "Wait, I still have blood on me, it's very unlucky. Let me change my clothes."
Shi Mi had no choice but to stop and wait alone in the study. Time seemed to drag on endlessly; she had never longed to kiss him as much as she did now. Her people were still waiting for a pardon, and every moment of waiting was an extra moment of torment.
But he was gone for a long time, probably on purpose. After calming down and reflecting deeply, she realized he wasn't wrong. She wanted too much, had too many concerns, and the two were already mutually restraining each other; there was no question of one suppressing the other. Why could such a messed-up thing happen? She should have been in control, but in the end, she was being led by the nose by him. Where did she go wrong, or were all the steps wrong? Her so-called schemes seemed like child's play to him.
Frustrated. Utterly frustrated. A lack of strategy led to a disastrous outcome.
Just as she was spinning in the center of the earth, he came in from outside, changed into light and soft robes, and removed his hair ornament. He was no longer the sharp and assertive person he was in the court, but looked like a hermit living in seclusion in the mountains.
He turned and closed the door, his wide sleeves brushing against the low table as he slowly walked to her. He bent down, supporting himself on his knees, to be level with her, and said gently, "Ami, come on, I'm ready."
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