Chapter 73 For you, I am willing...
A thunderclap suddenly fell from the ground, leaving the officials dazed and confused.
The court officials in the Xuanzheng Hall all looked at the girl's figure. Some officials who were standing at the side even forgot where they were and stood on tiptoe to look, not caring about their image. Many of them recognized the girl as the one who had come out of the Zhang residence not long ago. Apart from the fact that she had taken off her sword, everything about her was the same as what they had just seen.
"If I'm not mistaken, it seems to be the girl from the Bian family who led Cheng Jin to retrieve it."
"It's her, but she's lost her murderous aura."
"All 127 members of the Bian family were killed, and I remember the name of a young girl from the Bian family was also on the list..."
"Didn't you hear what His Highness said? Madam Bian's personal maid escaped. It must have been her who ran away with the youngest daughter of the Bian family."
"Is she really the youngest daughter of the Bian family? Could someone be impersonating her?"
"It's undeniable. I thought I was seeing things just now. This young lady looks just like Madam Bian. They are very similar in their eyes and brows."
Upon hearing this, the nearby court officials all looked at him, remembering that many officials had served in Suzhou and some of them had seen the Bian family at its peak, and thus had naturally seen Lady Bian.
"The Xu family has committed numerous evils; it seems the political landscape is about to change."
The Xu family was able to become the largest merchant family in the Li Dynasty, so there must be court officials backing them up. If the Xu family is uprooted, those behind the Xu family will not escape either. Not to mention others, the officials who once served as the prefect of Jingzhou will probably be skinned alive.
Standing in the center of the main hall, Bie Zhi blinked her almond-shaped eyes. On the way here, Cheng Jin had told her that Fu Huaiqing would publicly announce that she was not the second daughter of the Qin family but the youngest daughter of the Bian family. He had also asked her for her opinion on whether she agreed to him publicly declaring that she was the one he loved.
She knew all this, but when she heard him say it with her own ears, she was still stunned.
The figure on the tiered throne was tall and unrestrained, looking down at the girl below who was gazing at him from afar. His bright almond-shaped eyes seemed surprised and bewildered, before a slight sly smile appeared after a moment.
The veins on Fu Huaiqing's large hand, which landed on the throne, disappeared as the smile in her bright eyes faded, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
His gaze swept over the court officials below. "Last night, the Bian family's daughter was ordered to go to the Zhang residence to investigate. She happened to run into members of the Xu family, which brought up a past incident."
"Yesterday, I was ordered to go to the Zhang residence and heard Zhang Yan ask Xu Wenche, the young master of the Xu family, to take a letter back to Jingzhou, and to ask the Xu family to send him away from the Li Dynasty and protect him safely into the capital of the Xilan Kingdom."
The girl's calm and unhurried voice lingered.
Her resounding words caused the court officials to hold their breath and listen intently with furrowed brows.
"Zhang Yanyan mentioned the massacre of the Bian family nineteen years ago."
"The extermination of the Bian family was closely related to the Xu family."
In an instant, a commotion erupted inside the Xuanzheng Hall.
Bie Zhi pursed her lips slightly, took a breath, and continued, "Zhang Yan mentioned that the reason he sent assassins to kill Yu Minnu was because he was ordered by his 'master' to silence the Bian family years ago. Now that Yu Minnu is still alive, if their master finds out, they will all be buried with the Bian family."
“Last night, after I captured the two men, I saw the letter that Zhang Yan gave to Xu Wenche.” She took out the yellowed letter from her sleeve and handed it to Jiang Yue, who had just stepped forward. She looked up at the figure above through the long and solemn steps and said, “This letter is about what my parents wanted to report nineteen years ago.”
Every word and phrase in the letter is deeply ingrained in my mind.
She took a deep breath and read out the contents of the letter word by word: "Based on the reputation of the Bian family in Suzhou over the past hundred years, I hereby accuse the Xu family of Jingzhou of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, and secretly bringing the enemy general Helan Daisong into the country to investigate the military situation of our dynasty."
"Through my secret investigation, I have discovered that the Xu family is the final link in this chain of events. Helan Daisong still has other allies within our dynasty, named Zhang Yan, who is currently the Vice Prefect of Wuzhou. The head of the Xu family and Zhang Yan are in cahoots, betraying our dynasty and putting our soldiers in a precarious situation!"
"This humble subject has little influence, yet I know that without the soldiers who swore to defend the border to the death, the surrounding area would be in a terrible state. I implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the treasonous actions of Zhang Yan, the prefect of Wuzhou, and the head of the Xu family, merchants from Jingzhou, who colluded with the enemy and leaked military secrets. This is to comfort the hearts of the soldiers of the Li Dynasty and restore peace and order to the Li Dynasty."
The resounding words echoed in the Xuanzheng Hall, lingering even after the girl finished speaking. The court officials, who had witnessed and heard many bizarre tales, were filled with heavy breaths, while the generals on the battlefield were even more furious, their eyes blazing with anger, wishing they could skin Zhang Yan and the head of the Xu family alive on the spot.
The official standing at the head of the military officers stepped forward, brushed aside his robes, knelt down, and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect: "Your subject humbly requests Your Highness Prince Su to thoroughly investigate the matter of Zhang Yan and the Xu family's collusion with the enemy and treason, to restore order to the Li Dynasty, and to comfort the hearts of the Li Dynasty's soldiers!"
Following closely behind were the military generals who had once been stationed on the borders of the Li Dynasty. One after another, they knelt down, saying, "Your subject humbly requests Your Highness Prince Su to thoroughly investigate the matter of Zhang Yan and the Xu family's collusion with the enemy and treason!"
A series of powerful voices rose and fell, echoing throughout the vast Xuanzheng Hall.
Fu Huaiqing lowered his eyelids and glanced around. The court was silent, as if everyone was holding their breath, not knowing where to vent it.
He appointed a cabinet minister, headed by Lin Yiqing and Su Ci, to lead a comprehensive investigation into Zhang Yan and the Xu family's treason, with the assistance of the Yingyuan Hall of the Dali Temple, which is independent of the Six Ministries, in order to console the hearts of the hundreds of Bian family members who died for them.
Biezhi's eyes were slightly red. She glanced sideways at the solemn-looking military officers and took a deep breath.
Her parents and hundreds of other members of the Bian family have been buried underground for nearly twenty years.
What happened today may be a scenario they had once dreamed of.
Biezhi followed Jiang Yue out of Xuanzheng Hall.
Before she could even stand still, Fu Shuning, who had listened to the entire story from outside the hall, rushed forward with red eyes. Her lips parted slightly, opening and closing, but she couldn't find her own voice for a long time.
Fu Shuning, who wasn't very good at comforting people, pouted and frowned, looking like a little old lady.
After thinking for a long time, Fu Shuning felt that the books in the palace might cheer her up. He took her hand and said, "Come on, before brother finishes court, I'll take sister to see something nice."
Bewildered, she was dragged away, stumbling and confused.
Fu Shuning took her back to her palace, dismissed all the palace maids serving in the hall, and made sure to tell the departing maids to close the door behind them. She crouched down and crawled under the bed, and soon came out carrying a box.
Without even bothering to brush the ashes off her skirt, she solemnly held up the box and handed it over, saying, "These are the few rare books I have left, and I'm giving them all to you, sister."
Upon hearing the word "rare book," Biezhi immediately understood what was inside the box.
The rare copy that Fu Huaiqing had confiscated is still sitting in the center of the bookshelf in the study. She tried to sneak over the wall into the study, but she didn't manage to steal the book back. Instead, she got caught several times.
Seeing that she didn't accept it, Fu Shuning simply stuffed the box into her arms, saying, "When you're in a bad mood, just look at something you like." After thinking for a moment, she remembered that she seemed to have higher requirements for men's appearances, and said, "How about this, I'll have them find some picture books of men's appearances and send them to you another day."
Biezhi: "..."
She didn't particularly like inanimate objects.
Fu Shuning seemed to see through her thoughts, "Many guards in the palace are quite good-looking, and there are also many handsome young men from noble families in the capital. There is still plenty of time in the future, so we can take a look at them one by one."
The girl's face lit up with joy, and Biezhi couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Aren't you afraid he'll cause you trouble?"
"Sister won't just stand by and watch someone die, right?" Fu Shuning blinked.
Bie Zhi glanced down at the box in his arms and nodded: "We'll share the good times and the bad."
When misfortune may come is unknown, but blessings can be enjoyed right now.
The box contained more than thirty books, each exquisite and unique.
On the way back to Prince Su's mansion by carriage, Biezhi stared in disbelief as she flipped through one of the volumes. The more she read, the wider her mouth opened, and the more incredible it seemed. Every page had a different writing style and a unique focus.
The carriage stopped at the gate of the Prince Su's mansion. She put away the books in her hands, hugged the box tightly, and leaned out. When her eyes met Fang Tingzhi and Qin Wan, who were anxiously waiting in front of the gate, the corners of her mouth curved up.
She jumped off the palanquin and ran towards the two of them.
Upon hearing the news, Fang Tingzhi and Qin Wan, who had been waiting at the Prince Su's residence for nearly half an hour, lifted their skirts to greet her. Seeing that the girl rushing towards them was carrying a Dao box in her arms, which looked rather unpleasant, Fang Tingzhi silently stopped and stepped aside.
Bie Zhi rushed over but missed her. Before she could question Fang Tingzhi, she saw Fang Tingzhi raise her palm and press it firmly against her forehead.
Fang Tingzhi glanced at the box in her arms with disdain, "Stay away from me."
"I won't!" Biezhi, who was always stronger than her, rushed forward regardless and threw himself into her arms through the box.
Fang Tingzhi hissed in pain.
Although he said he was disgusted, he still hugged her through the box when the other branch rushed at her.
Bie Zhi nuzzled her chin against her shoulder, glanced at Qin Wan who had a smile on her lips, struggled to pull her arm out of Fang Tingzhi's grasp, and waved slightly at her.
Upon seeing this, Qin Wan's smile deepened.
When Fu Huaiqing rode back to the Prince Su's residence, he saw the three of them walking together towards the Qinghe Courtyard. He glanced back at the court officials following behind him and frowned.
As soon as he stepped across the threshold of the Prince Su's mansion, he caught a glimpse of Ling Feng and the others who had rushed over after receiving the news. They all seemed to be heading towards Biezhi, which made him fall into deep thought.
They're all blind and lack common sense.
The courtiers who had come with him were puzzled as to why Prince Su had stopped. They looked at each other for a moment, vaguely realizing that they had come at the wrong time. If His Highness Prince Su wanted to discuss the matter of Zhang Yan and the Xu family's treason, why did he rush back to Prince Su's residence after court? However, when they saw the girl's figure leaving with the others, and that there were still people waiting to find her, they felt relieved.
They weren't the only ones who didn't know their place.
Therefore, they felt very at ease and followed Fu Huaiqing back to the study to discuss matters.
Inside Qinghe Courtyard.
The branch tightly clutching the box was surrounded.
Ling Feng frowned and stood in front of her, directing Fang Tingzhi to tap her here and there from time to time, checking her for any discomfort.
"I'm really not hurt." Seeing that he didn't believe her, Biezhi glanced at Mingzhe, who had come with their master. "My senior brother was here last night too, and they didn't hurt me at all."
Upon hearing this, Ling Feng took a moment from his busy schedule to glance at Ming Zhe.
Mingzhe immediately raised his hands, "I left last night after helping my junior sister deal with one person, and I don't know anything about the rest."
Biezhi, who had been betrayed in an instant, glared at him, but when she caught sight of her master's stern expression, she silently withdrew her gaze and muttered, "If I'm really injured, how will I have the strength to rush to the palace?"
"Heh." Ling Feng tapped her forehead with his fingertip. "You're got the strength of an ox, do you think I didn't know you could still jump around like that last year despite being covered in injuries—"
“Master.” Biezhi interrupted her master seriously, glancing at the entrance of Qinghe Courtyard with slightly wide eyes. She breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t see that figure. “If he hears this and causes trouble for me, Master will be fully responsible.”
Ling Feng looked at her with exasperation, "He's causing you trouble, why don't you fight back?"
Biezhi: "..."
How should she describe it?
This trouble is different from that trouble.
My master has been alone for many years, so he wouldn't understand.
However, understanding his concerns, Biezhi still let Fang Tingzhi tap and hammer here and there.
Only after confirming that she had no injuries did Ling Feng feel relieved.
He had other matters to attend to, and after giving Biezhi a few more instructions, he hurriedly left with Mingzhe.
After being busy for a while, Fang Tingzhi finally got a break. She casually sat cross-legged on the stone bench opposite Biezhi, propped her elbows on the table, looked her up and down, and then glanced at Qin Wan, who was sipping her tea in silence.
Receiving a questioning look from her friend, Biezhi poured a cup of tea and put it in her hand, then found a jujube paste and osmanthus cake that she liked and stuffed it into her mouth to shut her up.
Fang Tingzhi clicked her tongue as she chewed on the jujube paste cake; she was genuinely curious.
The story of the Prince of Su and his childhood sweethearts, and the Prince's impulsive act of marrying for a woman, has been circulating among the people for many years. However, recently, rumors have spread that the Prince of Su seems to have found a girl he likes, which has greatly shocked the people who have been saying for nearly four years that the Prince of Su and the Qin family girl will get married sooner or later. They are all stunned.
Only then did someone belatedly realize that both the Prince's steward and the Qin family had denied it, but everyone just wanted to see what they thought.
Some people started to review the number of times Prince Su and Qin Wan appeared together over the past three years. Not only were the number of times they did appear together very few, but each time there were other people present, which was not the case at all as everyone had described. As the discussion progressed, some people mentioned that before Qin Wan became a teacher at the Imperial Academy, no one seemed to have mentioned that she and Prince Su knew each other, let alone that they were childhood sweethearts.
"The relationship between Your Highness and me is more of a mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation."
Seemingly sensing Fang Tingzhi's curiosity, Qin Wan, who was sipping her tea, put down her teacup and said slowly, "It's just that most people don't like such boring stories; they prefer to delve into the emotions behind them."
Bie Zhi, who was staring at Fang Tingzhi, paused for a moment, then turned her gaze to Qin Wan, whose clear eyes held a faint smile. She recalled the words spoken by Qin Wan and the two girls from the Su and Zhu families at the Qin family's announcement banquet, clearly indicating that they were also deeply troubled by the rumors.
On the day Qin Wan told Biezhi that she had no marriage ties with Prince Su, she never imagined that Biezhi and Prince Su would be involved. She only intended to tell her sister that their relationship was not as the outside world claimed. Little did she know...
The younger sister is not a biological sister; he and Prince Su are indeed not related by marriage, but she is.
"At the risk of offending you, Your Highness, our relationship is more like that of like-minded partners."
"Partners?"
Qin Wan's gaze swept over the energetic girl, and she nodded slightly: "From a young age, I never wanted to be confined to one place or four corners of the world. As my brother gradually entered the court, I gradually realized that what I wanted was not just to be free from this, but to have my own place to make a difference."
However, she has never found the right opportunity.
Until five years ago, Fu Huaiqing took power.
“Father has always been a minister by Prince Su’s side, and my brother has a close relationship with him. No matter how outrageous my words are, I think he will consider the feelings of Father and my brother and let me off this time.”
Four years ago, on a certain afternoon, Qin Wan, who had come to the Prince Su’s mansion with her father to pay respects, approached Fu Huaiqing.
Qin Wan was prepared to die, but she didn't expect everything to go so smoothly. "Before I even opened my mouth, he had already revealed my purpose."
Even now, she seems somewhat dazed when she mentions this matter.
"Your Highness and I share one thing in common," Qin Wan smiled, "Ability transcends gender."
"In the past, women held power and served as regents because the men of the time were incompetent; if they had been capable, they could have overthrown the regime."
Throughout history, there have been many outstanding women; what they lacked was simply a stepping stone. This is why every step they took was fraught with difficulty and obstacles. Where there is rise, there is suppression, which leads to turmoil.
The rise and fall of a dynasty is never due to women, but rather to a lack of capable individuals.
"At that time, I used Xianyun Tower as an example." Qin Wan had just guessed that the two girls in front of her were from Xianyun Tower. She smiled and said, "I told him that there are nearly a hundred people in Xianyun Tower, and I heard that women make up nearly half of them. Xianyun Tower never distinguishes between men and women. It has always been the capable who rises. I have never seen Xianyun Tower decline because of the presence of women."
Upon hearing this, Biezhi and Fang Tingzhi exchanged a glance.
Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, Biezhi asked, "And then what happened?"
Qin Wan took a sip of tea to moisten her throat. "Prince Su gave me two paths."
Firstly, Fu Huaiqing used her as the core to promote reform and recommended her to take the imperial examination as a woman. Secondly, he combined her current talents to send her to the Imperial Academy as a teacher.
Bie Zhi frowned, knowing that no matter which path Qin Wan chose, it would not be easy.
Qin Wan, however, chose the second path.
"It's not that I'm afraid of difficulties and want to back down, but according to the upbringing of wealthy and powerful families, women are still confined to certain areas. Even those who have the ability to arrange their daughters' studies are like this, let alone families with poor circumstances." Qin Wan paused and said, "Changes often cause new turmoil. For the court that had just experienced a period of upheaval, a subtle and gradual approach was the best choice."
Prince Su granted her certain powers, and in return, she was required to uphold his regime.
Once the Imperial Academy had its first female teacher, it could have its first female student, and only then would things become more common.
"I thought about it later, and perhaps it's because no one had heard of His Highness Prince Su having a favorite girl before, and everyone is curious about royal secrets, which is why rumors are flying everywhere." Qin Wan felt more and more troubled as she thought about it. "A couple of years ago, even the students in the Imperial Academy who were on good terms with me would privately ask me about this matter."
Thankfully, the person in question has finally appeared, and I've been able to extricate myself from this rumor.
Recently, Qin Wan has been walking down the street with a triumphant air, hearing people around her refuting the old rumors. "If you had appeared two or three years later, who knows what they would have been spreading then." She couldn't help but lower her voice and say, "For the past year, there have been rumors that His Highness Prince Su is impotent."
Biezhi: "..."
Yes, it's all reached her ears.
He kept asking me what it meant to be unable to have sex.
Who the hell spread this rumor? If she catches him, she'll definitely give him a piece of her mind!
The Qinghe Courtyard was filled with lively conversation, and the slanting sunlight did not dampen the energy all around.
Inside the study of Prince Su's residence.
The courtiers, having received the order, withdrew from the study.
Fu Huaiqing put down his pen, closed the document, glanced at the sky outside the window—it was almost nightfall—and asked again, "Is anyone still at Qinghe Courtyard?"
"Both young ladies are still here." This was the third time Jiang Yue had answered this question today. He handed over a fresh cup of tea and added, "The princess seems to be on her way as well."
Fu Huaiqing frowned slightly upon hearing this.
"Send her back to the palace." He stood up and left the study.
Before Fu Huaiqing even reached Qinghe Courtyard, he could hear a clear, melodious laugh, like the gentle murmur of a spring, through the high walls. He could almost see the tiny dimples that appeared and disappeared with the girl's cheerful laughter.
The three people in the courtyard were chatting animatedly when Fang Tingzhi, who was facing the archway of Qinghe Courtyard, caught a glimpse of a figure suddenly appearing outside the archway. The corners of her mouth, which had been raised in a smile, slightly drooped. She belatedly glanced at the sky, which was now nearly half dark. She nudged Biezhi, who was still talking about meeting a very handsome man when she left the capital some time ago, and said to Qin Wan, "It seems we've been a little too oblivious."
Qin Wan, who was listening intently, hummed in confusion. Following her gaze, she turned around and saw Prince Su, whose eyes were fixed on Bie Zhi. The two women exchanged a glance and stood up at the same time. "It's getting late, we'll be going now."
Before the words were even finished, the two ran extremely fast, deliberately taking a detour to avoid the places Fu Huaiqing had passed through.
Biezhi: "..."
She turned her gaze away and looked at the figure on the cobblestone path.
In the darkness, the man's dark face seemed to carry an accusatory air, interspersed with a hint of eye-catching prey. Biezhi swallowed hard and quietly got up.
For every step Fu Huaiqing took forward, she took half a step back.
When there was nowhere left to retreat, Biezhi turned and ran.
Before she could run three or four steps, a hurried breath swept past behind her, and in the next instant, a large hand covered her waist. The man's large hand gripped the girl's slender and well-defined waist and pulled her back.
The instant her back collided with the man's body, a refreshing scent swept over her.
Fu Huaiqing moved his large hand slightly, turning her around to face him, his expression somewhat helpless: "Why are you running? Don't you want to see me?"
"No, not at all." Biezhi's almond-shaped eyes were bright as she blinked and looked up at him. She didn't know why her first reaction was to run. "My intuition tells me that I should run."
Fortunately, after I returned, I had Hua Chao find a secluded place to hide the box. If Fu Huaiqing had caught it...
She raised her hands slightly, mimicking his gesture of wrapping them around his waist, and chuckled twice. "Are you done with your work over there?" Then, without waiting for his reply, she immediately turned the tables and said, "I saw that there were always people in the study, so I didn't bother you."
Upon hearing this, Fu Huaiqing reached out and pinched the tip of her nose. "Are you sure?"
His movements were very light, but Biezhi slapped his hand away with a "smack," nodding confidently and righteously: "I've counted them for you, twenty-three people." She had seen them all, from the Grand Secretariat to the Six Ministries, including the Court of Judicial Review and the Yingyuan Hall. There was only a couple of hours in between when no one came looking for him.
As luck would have it, they were having a lively conversation at that very hour.
Cheng Jin, who came to investigate, arrived full of enthusiasm but left disappointed.
A hint of guilt occasionally flashed across Fu Huaiqing's confident expression as he slowly raised his thin lips and said, "They came here today because of Zhang Yan's matter."
Upon hearing the name, Biezhi pursed her lips slightly: "How about it?"
"The evidence is conclusive, but it will take some time to put it all together." Fu Huaiqing took her hand and walked inside slowly. "The day the evidence is written will be the day of execution."
Biezhi let out a sigh of relief.
Nineteen years.
Nineteen years have passed.
Nineteen years ago, he should have died by a knife.
Fu Huaiqing paused slightly, glancing sideways at the girl with her almond-shaped eyes sparkling like stars. "Why didn't you kill him last night?"
With her skills, she could easily handle Zhang Yan.
If it were before, she would have already slit Zhang Yan's throat with a sword.
“I just feel that he shouldn’t have died so easily,” Biezhi said truthfully, and… she slightly raised her chin, meeting the man’s ambiguous smile.
He actually understood everything, but he just wanted to say it out loud.
"And another thing is that worrying about something that is very simple can make things complicated for you."
Before she could finish speaking, Biezhi fell into the man's arms.
Fu Huaiqing's large hands gripped the girl's waist, holding her tightly in his arms as if trying to embed himself into her bones. In his clear, dark eyes, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up.
She never said she liked him, but every little thing she did touched her heart.
In the past, she acted without any scruples.
She doesn't even care about herself, let alone others.
However, she now has concerns.
It is precisely because of these concerns that one will think about whether their decision is correct and whether it will cause trouble for him.
Fu Huaiqing's voice was slightly hoarse, "From now on, do whatever you want. No matter how difficult the matter is, I will do it willingly for you."
In that instant, Biezhi's heart trembled.
She lifted her eyelids, pursed her lips, and hummed in agreement.
In fact, she did not go against her own wishes.
Her emotions had been fluctuating all day. Biezhi thought she would fall asleep soon, but after turning off the light, her eyes were bright and her mind was filled with an unusual excitement, showing no signs of sleepiness.
She turned over and looked at the man lying outside the couch, finding it somewhat novel.
Fu Huaiqing reached out and caught the tossing branch, pulled it into his arms, pulled the silk quilt over her, and rested his chin on the top of her head. "Sleep."
"I can't sleep." Biezhi was truly not sleepy at all. The more she recalled the events of the day, the more excited she became. The thought of hearing about Zhang Yan's fate soon made her look forward to that day even more. She looked up at his handsome face with his eyes slightly closed, turned over, propped herself up on the bed with her elbows, and admired him. She raised her hand to play with the man's thick eyelashes.
As I played, I started to feel that something was off.
According to the books and stories she had read before, after dealing with a major event, men and women would confess their feelings to each other and be intimate in various ways at night. Now that she was lying next to him, how could he still hold back? She frowned and glanced at Fu Huaiqing, whose eyes were closed and whose thin lips were slightly pursed, then suddenly pushed him away and sat up.
"You can't really not get enough nourishing soup, can you?"
hiss……
What a waste.
Fu Huaiqing: "..."
Remembering that she hadn't rested since yesterday, he, who had been suppressing his anger for so long with his eyes closed, laughed in exasperation. By the bright moonlight, he looked at the girl whose expression changed from surprise to regret and then a little sadness. Fu Huaiqing grabbed her hand and gritted his teeth slightly: "Who can't?"
The voice, which sounded like he was gritting his teeth, turned into a tone of anger and embarrassment. Biezhi clicked her tongue and patted his shoulder reassuringly, "It's okay if it doesn't work. At least the imperial physician's prescription can help you. There's still hope for us."
Fu Huaiqing: "..."
The veins on his forehead throbbed, and the soothing words that had been chattering in his ears fell silent the moment his large hand pulled her hand over the covers.
The soft, almost invisible silk quilt couldn't conceal any movement. Feeling the curve under her palm, Biezhi subconsciously glanced down, only to see the back of her hand. She then looked up in astonishment at Fu Huaiqing's dark face.
Her words, though unrestrained and wild, suddenly brought to mind several days ago.
His legs were rubbed raw.
When she first learned to ride a horse, her legs were never chafed.
Biezhi swallowed hard, chuckled twice, and made a gesture as if to pull her hand back.
I tried to pull for a long time but couldn't get it to move.
She secretly glanced at the man whose deep pupils glowed with green light, his eyes fixed on his prey like a wolf king that had been starving for a long time. Though a giant in words, a dwarf in deeds, Biezhi smiled slightly ingratiatingly and leaned back: "It's alright, it's alright."
Fu Huaiqing's lips twitched slightly. "What did you say to Xiao Ming?"
“I didn’t say it was you.” Bie Zhi immediately raised her free hand to swear, and said seriously, “I told Lord Xiao that we were friends, but he doesn’t know me.”
Fu Huaiqing recalled the hesitant look on Xiao Ming's face when he came to take his pulse that afternoon, almost asking him if the prescription would work.
He took a deep breath. "That prescription—"
"I'll throw it away tomorrow," Biezhi said hastily. He didn't even need to say anything more; she already sensed that he really didn't need the prescription. "I'll definitely throw it far away and never use it again."
As she spoke, she hesitated again.
It is said that men may not be able to perform well after a certain age. This prescription is still useful for him. Whether or not to keep it is up to him. Just because he doesn't need it now doesn't mean he won't need it in the future.
Hesitation was written all over Biezhi's face. Fu Huaiqing could tell at a glance that she was secretly criticizing him again. The veins that had been throbbing wildly finally stopped started throbbing again.
Her free wrist was also clamped, and before Betsuki could react, she was trapped between him and the tatami mat.
The man's cool, refreshing scent swept over her, completely stealing her breath without any intention of stopping. She was forced to tilt her chin back, enduring the overwhelming force, like waves crashing against the shore.
Biezhi's voice trembled slightly: "I've already admitted that you're very capable, isn't that enough?"
"Whether it works or not, we'll only know after we try." Fu Huaiqing's throat moved, and he looked up at her with a half-smile: "Otherwise, you'll always be suspected. You yourself said that men can't help but be suspicious in this matter."
"No, I swear," Biezhi's voice softened from his kiss.
Fu Huaiqing chuckled softly, brushing aside the stray hairs that were obstructing her view with his fingertips. "Words are useless; facts speak louder than words."
He gazed at the girl in his arms for a long time, the dark light in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by an indescribable possessiveness, his undisguised desire almost overflowing, firmly enveloping her.
The man's palm moved slowly downwards, causing Biezhi's body to tremble uncontrollably. She bit her lower lip tightly, and her scattered black hair resembled strokes of a richly colored painting, occasionally brushing against her fair skin beneath her disheveled clothes.
Suddenly, the branch around the waist loosened.
The inner garment's ties lay quietly on the couch, the white ribbons crumpled under the palm of a hand, leaving them wrinkled.
Her calloused palms wandered around, and the moment they touched the delicate flower branch, she stopped breathing and trembled uncontrollably. As her slender fingers teased her, the light in her almond-shaped eyes shattered considerably.
The only palace lantern left inside the tent for nighttime illumination flickered intermittently. Suddenly, the embedded candle flame burst open, the crisp yet slightly muffled sound striking the heart of Bie Zhi, startling her. Her eyes widened abruptly, and she remained dazed for a long while before regaining her usual clarity, as if washed by a clear spring.
Fu Huaiqing slightly raised his hand.
His palms were damp with moisture, and the faint candlelight flickered across them, creating a unique glow.
Even Biezhi, who prided herself on having a thick skin, couldn't bear it. The blush on her ears spread instantly, and in a short while, her whole body was covered in a flush.
When Fu Huaiqing came in, for a moment, Biezhi wanted to kick him away.
big.
pain.
It really hurts.
It felt like being run over by a rut, my whole body screaming and crying out in pain.
It hurt more than a regular accidental injury, and it was also scalding hot, making her want to shrink back, but she couldn't escape.
Fu Huaiqing swiftly caught her raised, powerful foot, poised to strike. He leaned down slightly, his thin lips parting slightly as he kissed hers. "If you were to kick me now, that prescription might really come in handy." He brushed aside the strands of hair clinging to the girl's sweat. "Planning to live the rest of your life as a widow?"
Biezhi: "..."
She silently stopped.
However, once an item falls into the hands of another, it cannot be easily retrieved.
When pushed to the extreme, Biezhi bit the man's well-defined arm hard, but after a moment she couldn't help but feel a sudden soreness and unconsciously let go.
In an instant, everything shattered.
A broken voice, broken beads of sweat, and her impending demise.
"We can continue next time, how about it?" Biezhi looked up expectantly at Fu Huaiqing, whose entire being exuded an air of unyielding resolve, and tried to reason with him, "We—didn't—last time either—"
His intermittent voice echoed in the bedroom, and he took a long time to finish a single sentence.
Like a frightened horse, it galloped wildly without any rhyme or reason, seemingly without any order but actually heading straight for vital points. The girl holding the reins was so frightened that she would shrink her shoulders from time to time. But once she let go of the reins, the horse became even more uncontrollable and lurched around, causing her body to rise and fall uncontrollably.
The moment it landed, the horse reared up and galloped upwards, startling Biezhi so much that she hurriedly grabbed the reins, but she couldn't steady herself no matter what she did.
The place where the horse charged was shattered and left in a mess.
The darkness dissipates, and dawn is approaching.
Having lost her mind countless times, Biezhi really wanted to kick Fu Huaiqing away this time. He was like a bull that charged ahead recklessly and knew how to work hard, never stopping for a moment.
Three and a half hours.
Four times.
Bie Zhitou hated herself for practicing too hard in the past. Never before had she so desperately wanted to faint, but unfortunately, fate had other plans, and she remained fully conscious.
I was always perfectly lucid.
Bie Zhi even felt that if it weren't for the approaching morning court session, Fu Huaiqing would have really held onto her and continued.
He went to court feeling refreshed, while she felt sore all over, with only one thought in her mind.
Next time, I'll definitely teach him a lesson.
When Hua Chao woke her up, Bie Zhi was still a little dazed, and it took her a while to understand what she was saying.
"Miss, the cabinet presented all of Zhang Yan's crimes and the evidence of the Xu family's treason to the Prince during the morning court session, and the verdict has already been reached!"
Suddenly realizing what had happened, Biezhi immediately sat up, asking, "What was the verdict?"
"He will be torn apart by five horses and executed in ten days." Hua Chao's eyes were bloodshot with excitement. "The head of the Xu family is sentenced to be beheaded at the Meridian Gate, and the rest of the Xu family will be exiled to Heyin."
Upon hearing this, Biezhi blinked.
Hua Chao looked at the girl who was in a daze, wondering what she was thinking. She seemed unable to come back to her senses. After an unknown amount of time, tears welled up in the girl's round almond-shaped eyes. She pursed her lips slightly and took a deep breath.
Biezhi lifted the quilt and got up.
After washing up, she looked at herself in the mirror and held her breath.
Everyone who had met her mother said that they looked remarkably like her, but no matter how they looked, she couldn't pinpoint the resemblance. Was it their eyebrows and eyes, their noses, or all their features? Nobody could say for sure.
She had never seen it before.
"I'm going out for a bit." A surge of impulse welled up in Biezhi's heart, surging and clamoring within her. She suddenly stood up, not forgetting to tell Huachao, "Tell him I'll be back soon."
Hua Chao, who was choosing hairpins, was stunned when she heard this. Before she could say anything, the girl disappeared.
Without alerting anyone else, Biezhi quietly returned to her residence in Xianyun Tower, packed her bags in advance to avoid being sent on a mission, went to Baiding Tower to get her horse, and led it out of the city at a brisk pace, then galloped towards Suzhou.
Suzhou is not exactly close to the capital.
But if you're talking about distance, it's not that far.
However, even traveling by horseback would take a full six days.
She traveled day and night, only resting for six hours during that time.
Finally, on the morning of the fifth day, they saw the city gate of Suzhou.
Looking at the huge plaque above the city gate, Biezhi tightened her grip on the reins, a feeling of trepidation rising in her heart as she approached home. She had never been to Suzhou before and had only heard of the place.
She led her horse through the city of Suzhou.
The bustling streets were no less vibrant than those in the capital. Vendors hawking their wares all wore smiles, and even the old women carrying loads on shoulder poles as they walked through the streets and alleys had smiles on their faces as they called to the children following behind them to go to a shady spot.
Following the directions, Biezhi found the stable, tied up the horse, and handed the silver to the yamen runner in charge of the matter.
She took three or four steps inside, hesitated for a moment, and then went back.
The yamen runner, who had just received the money and was writing down the registration paperwork, suddenly felt dizzy. He looked up, puzzled, at the girl who had returned.
Biezhi: "Brother, do you know where the Bian family mansion is?"
The constable was taken aback by her question: "The Bian family?"
Biezhi nodded, unsure how to describe it to him for a moment. Fortunately, the constable quickly came to her senses and stood up to point out the way: "Miss, follow this road to the end and head west. If you have any questions along the way, you can ask the taverns around the street. They all know where the Bian family is located."
"Thank you." Biezhi cupped his hands in thanks.
"Miss." The constable called out to her, his lips moving slightly before his expression hardened. "I don't know if you believe in ghosts. If you do, it's best not to go near that place."
Biezhi stopped and frowned at him.
"The entire Bian family was tragically killed nineteen years ago, leaving the once-grand Bian family mansion an empty house. Before that, the Bian family mansion was a famously auspicious place, and many people wanted to buy it. However, whenever someone went to the prefectural government to inquire, they would have a bizarre dream of the mansion with rivers of blood flowing through it that night. This would happen four or five times, which would eventually discourage everyone from pursuing the idea."
"Now that many years have passed and no one has cleaned it, it has fallen into disrepair." The constable sighed, his gaze sweeping over the girl in front of him. He had never seen her in Suzhou before, and couldn't help but say a few more words: "Miss, you may go to see her, but if you want to do anything else, you should think twice."
After hearing what the constable said, Biezhi remained silent for a long time.
After a long while, she came to her senses, bowed again to express her gratitude, and followed his instructions to the end of the street, heading west.
It took her most of the day to walk a distance of only 600 zhang.
I walked and stopped along the way, observing the unfamiliar streets.
Looking at the dilapidated Bian family mansion with its decaying gates, Biezhi did not go in. Instead, she watched quietly. Every now and then, three or four figures passing by would glance at her for a moment, follow her gaze to the Bian family mansion, and leave with great confusion.
She observed for about half an hour before heading to the Suzhou Prefecture.
Before Biezhi even got close, he saw two or three figures pacing back and forth under the eaves of the prefectural government building, seemingly waiting for someone. The man in the lead was wearing an official robe and was the current prefect of Suzhou.
He looked up at the guard beside him, his eyes filled with a hint of suspicion, not knowing what the guard beside him had said.
After a moment of silence, Biezhi's eyes flickered.
She stepped forward and bowed to the prefect, saying, "May I ask where the Bian family's tombs are located?"
The prefect of Suzhou was taken aback for a moment, then beckoned to the yamen runners who had been waiting for a long time, and said, "Take this young lady over there."
Seeing this, Biezhi smiled.
She said nothing and followed the constables.
Seeing the hundreds of men standing in front of the graves, Biezhi thanked the constable, quickly ran up behind him, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "How did you know I would come here?"
The girl leaned forward, her face beaming with a smile. Fu Huaiqing, who had already heard her footsteps, looked down at her. Their eyes met for a moment, and then his tightly pursed lips relaxed. "I guessed it."
Five days ago.
Before Fu Huaiqing had even returned to his residence, he received a message hurriedly delivered by Cheng Jin.
He sent a message to Hua Chao, and when he heard Hua Chao recount the various things that had happened after Bie Zhi rose up, and when he heard that she had left a message for him, he guessed that she must have come to Suzhou.
Having traveled all night without sleep, Fu Huaiqing arrived in Suzhou half an hour later than her.
He guessed the purpose of her trip and thus knew what she wanted to do.
Fu Huaiqing did not catch up with her, but let her wander around Suzhou City on her own. If the Bian family had not met with misfortune, she would have grown up here carefree.
“I just wanted to come and take a look,” Biezhi said.
Her gaze swept over the overgrown earthen grave, the tombstone bearing the name of its owner.
Fu Huaiqing followed her gaze and looked around. "The hundreds of graves were all built spontaneously by the people of Suzhou City."
Upon hearing this, Biezhi bit her lip.
Her gaze was fixed on the tombstone before her. She had seen the two names engraved on it before in the indictment. Between the two names was her own name, Bian Zhaoyan.
Her parents and 'she' lie buried here.
Beside her parents' graves lay what appeared to be the burial grounds of her grandparents. She didn't recognize them; aside from her parents' names, she couldn't identify anyone else.
Bie Zhi squatted down and pulled out the weeds one by one.
She started from the west, while Fu Huaiqing started from the east, carefully tidying up the items.
The sunlight slowly illuminated the two figures, reflecting off the shimmering halo around them.
Cheng Jin and Jiang Yue, who had come with them, exchanged glances and signaled the guards following behind to go forward and deal with the other graves.
As the sun began to set, Biezhi, who had been bent over for a long time, finally straightened up.
Her eyes swept around, and the hundreds of graves were no longer as chaotic as before. The breath she had been holding in her chest dissipated instantly. She turned her gaze to Fu Huaiqing, whose forehead was glistening with a few beads of sweat, and her eyes curved into a smile.
She stepped forward and took Fu Huaiqing's arm, leaning her entire weight on him, looking at him with a pitiful expression: "You have to carry me."
Fu Huaiqing raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?"
"It's all your fault." Biezhi was too embarrassed to say this in front of so many guards. She still had some sense of shame, so she glared at him slightly to signal him to bend down.
Fu Huaiqing gazed at her thoughtfully for a moment, a meaningful smile appearing in his eyes. He bent down and whispered in her ear.
Seeing that he still had the nerve to laugh, Biezhi grabbed his ear and, thinking she was being fierce, whispered, "My back is killing me!"
Upon hearing this, Fu Huaiqing suddenly burst out laughing.
Biezhi: "..."
She was immediately annoyed and chased him for half a mile.
She chased after him until she was breathless but still couldn't catch up with Fu Huaiqing, which made her even more annoyed. She glared at him intently.
Seeing that her mood was no longer as gloomy as before, but rather carried a hint of feigned ease, Fu Huaiqing stepped forward, half-squatted down to gesture for her to come up, and said, "Let's go."
Her gaze was fixed on his lowered eyes, then she pounced on Fu Huaiqing's back, and the moment he stood up, she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, pulling him back, "I told you, if I catch you, you're dead!"
Fu Huaiqing stumbled from her sudden movement, but he didn't loosen his grip on the girl's arm at all.
As the sun slowly sets, we return home bathed in its glow.
Tired from playing, Biezhi lay on Fu Huaiqing's back, waving as she looked at the increasingly tiny earthen grave.
She will definitely live her life well.
Together with Fu Huaiqing.
-End of text-
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