43 Chapter 43
◎ Shall we get married? ◎
Xie Yutang felt that fate was mocking him.
Lin Tan wanted her to marry him.
In her previous life, she waited in vain for these words, and even her marriage was something she had to beg from Emperor Chongde. She never imagined that the words she longed to hear most would be heard when she least wanted to hear them.
Xie Yutang found it amusing and actually laughed.
But this laughter had nothing to do with joy; it was pure mockery and bitterness.
The light in Lin Tan's eyes dimmed.
His palms still carried the touch and warmth of her hair, his fingers gradually clenched, his knuckles turning white.
Xie Yutang didn't bother to say a word and turned to go downstairs.
Even if Su Lu wanted to leave, she still wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Upon reaching the lobby downstairs, Xie Yutang saw a vast expanse of snow outside, the world a blanket of white. A biting wind, carrying snowflakes, swept in from the doorway. Xie Yutang donned the cloak handed to him by Huai Jin, but before he could step out of the shop, he was suddenly blocked by a long spear that was suddenly thrust across his face.
Huai Jin shouted angrily, "How dare you block His Highness's path!"
"Tangtang, you've misunderstood. They weren't blocking your way." Lin Tan composed herself, gracefully descending the stairs with a folding fan in hand, a faint smile playing on her lips. "The princess and Prince Su haven't returned for a long time, and there are many people and all sorts of people outside. Plus, with the heavy snow falling, who knows if some villains might suddenly decide to threaten the princess's safety? The brothers of the Imperial Guards are protecting us."
What a fine example of "protection".
Xie Yutang glanced at the soldiers who had somehow surrounded Gu Yue Lou, and finally his gaze returned to Lin Tan's face.
The Imperial Guards were responsible for key areas of the capital, which concerned the safety of Emperor Chongde. Therefore, the leaders of the Imperial Guards were most wary of openly taking sides and forming factions. In his previous life, Lin Tan was able to persuade the Imperial Guards to cooperate with him largely by taking advantage of the affection that the daughter of the commander Guo Shouzhen had for him. He did this flawlessly. Even Xie Yutang only realized this after Lin Tan had ascended the throne and married Guo's daughter in a high-profile manner. At that time, Xie Yutang and Lin Tan had many disagreements about whether to thoroughly investigate the incident at Daoma Pass. They had been in a cold war for several months. Consort Guo also took many opportunities to interfere. Guo Shouzhen also incited the court officials to submit memorials, requesting the Empress to be deposed on the grounds of "discord between the Emperor and Empress" and "the empress should not interfere in politics".
Xie Yutang snapped out of his thoughts. His relationship with Guo Shouzhen, the commander of the Imperial Guards, had always been a closely guarded secret by Lin Tan. He had no reason to expose his biggest trump card for seizing the throne just to trap her in this Guyue Tower.
The fact that these imperial guards outside dared to stop her was not because they were under the command of Lin Tan.
Xie Yutang's eyes narrowed.
It was Emperor Chongde.
He Lou Wulan had her sights set on Emperor Chongde from the very beginning. The day she left his residence, He Lou Wulan went to see Emperor Chongde and bluntly told him that she had taken a liking to Su Lu and wanted to take him away. Because of Lin Tan, Emperor Chongde had long wanted to get rid of Xie Yutang's people. In addition, given Su Lu's formidable strength and half-Northern Rong blood, it was impossible for Emperor Chongde not to be wary.
He Lou Wulan dared to demand people so brazenly because he had a clear understanding of Emperor Chongde's thoughts. After all, for Emperor Chongde, this move was a triple win: it not only eliminated Su Lu, but also paved the way for the marriage between Lin Tan and Xie Yutang, and also did the Northern Rong a favor.
Everything was planned.
He Lou Wulan left with her entourage, and Lin Tan proposed marriage to her, which Emperor Chongde tacitly approved.
Several groups, each with their own agendas and schemes, were ultimately acting in their own self-interest.
What a lively lantern market!
Lin Tan was waiting to see Xie Yutang's impotent rage, but to her surprise, she simply closed her eyes and stood still for a moment before strolling back to the main hall and sitting down. She casually poured herself tea and did not have the slightest conflict with the Imperial Guards from beginning to end.
Lin Tan paused, her fingers stroking the fan ribs.
Given her temperament, she should have given those guards a good beating long ago and forced her way in, so he could now legitimately put her on the carriage and forcibly send her back to the mansion.
It seems she has truly changed her ways.
But this is for the best. When they enter the harem, they will eventually have to restrain their nature.
Lin Tan sat down in front of Xie Yutang, picked up a teacup from the table, and said softly, "After the New Year, I will ask my father to request the Astronomical Bureau to choose an auspicious day for us to get married, shall we?"
Xie Yutang sneered: "Dream on."
Lin Tan wasn't annoyed. She pushed the tea she had just poured towards him and asked, "Am I dreaming, or are you dreaming?"
"Tangtang, you're not still hoping he'll come back, are you?"
Xie Yutang's eyelashes trembled.
"When Prince Muqing came to the capital this time, he didn't mention him at all. It's as if the father and son are strangers."
Lin Tan seemed to regretfully say, "Without father or mother, without power or influence, without connections in the court, and without a family to rely on, what good are you, Tangtang, except for your looks?"
Lin Tan spoke slowly, his words no longer carrying the suppressed desperation of his earlier marriage proposal, but instead gentle and calm. Xie Yutang understood that it wasn't that he had given up on the idea, but rather that he was well aware of the weight of his words, hence his extraordinary composure.
Lin Tan paused for a moment, her gaze slowly moving up from the teacup on the table to Xie Yutang's face. "Don't you want to find out the truth and avenge your father?"
To avenge his father.
Lin Tan knew exactly what she wanted. If she hadn't been given a second chance at life, she probably would have taken the bait again.
"You can fool me once with that, but that's enough." Xie Yutang remained unmoved. "Thoroughly investigating the truth behind the wrongful deaths of the Xie family during the Daomaguan Incident is no easy task. How many secrets are buried beneath this capital? Grab one head, and you'll find a whole string of them, dragging out countless sordid deeds." Xie Yutang looked directly into Lin Tan's eyes. "Third Prince, would you do something like this?"
For a moment, Lin Tan felt as if she had been completely exposed.
He merely wanted to use this to persuade Xie Yutang to agree to the marriage, thereby bringing her military power under his control. Coupled with his years of maneuvering in the court and the influence of the Imperial Guard, he was determined to conquer the world. As for promising Xie Yutang "revenge for her father," he could simply put on a show, find a few scapegoats, and execute them. The past was the past; why bother people now? Besides, the court was a complex web of power struggles, and if any powerful families were implicated, he would have plenty of trouble.
He believed he had always kept these thoughts well hidden and had never revealed them in the slightest. How could she have seen through them?
Xie Yutang slowly stroked the rim of the cup with his fingertips. "The Third Prince is indeed powerful and influential, with extensive connections in the court. Backed by the imperial family, he can be considered to have risen in status because of his father."
Lin Tan's forehead vein throbbed.
"You say others use their looks to please others, but I think you're the one who's like a male concubine, flitting between different women. Today it's me, tomorrow who knows who it will be. You're selling your already meager masculinity for something filthy that can't be brought to light."
"That's all the status you have. Otherwise, I wouldn't even bother looking at you in a brothel—"
Lin Tan was completely enraged and raised his hand to slap him, but Xie Yutang was prepared. He grabbed Lin Tan's wrist and pulled and twisted it, and the table between the two of them shattered with a loud crack.
Lin Tan was forced to lower his body, his entire arm bent behind his back, and he turned pale with pain.
Although Lin Tan had some martial arts skills, they were all just for fun for aristocratic young men. He was always accompanied by skilled guards when he went out, so he never needed to actually fight. But Xie Yutang was different. Since her rebirth, she no longer confined herself to her boudoir. She practiced martial arts every day. She received guidance from Su Lu in the back mountains of Yingkou and even sparred with top masters like Qiu Ran Ke. She had long since reached the first-class level in martial arts, so dealing with Lin Tan was a piece of cake.
Hearing the commotion, Xiao Fuzi, who was waiting outside, came in and was so frightened by what she saw that she almost knelt down. "Oh my two ancestors! Can't we talk things out properly... Princess, please let go. His Highness can't take this kind of torture..."
Lin Tan, seemingly emboldened by some unknown force, refused to utter a single conciliatory word. "I only said one thing, and you're already protecting him like this... Do you really think he'll come back?"
Just as Xie Yutang was about to speak, he heard a noise outside the door. He looked up and was startled. He loosened his grip on Lin Tan, who took the opportunity to break free. Lin Tan rubbed his wrist and looked towards the door as well, but he also stopped.
As night fell and the hustle and bustle of the lantern festival gradually subsided, a young figure became increasingly prominent amidst the falling snow.
He walked step by step, his face gradually becoming clearer. Snow had whitened his head, shoulders, and hair, making his features appear even more refined and elegant.
The imperial guards at the gate looked at each other in bewilderment. They could only order Princess Ning'an not to leave, but they could not order her not to come in. Moreover, this person was the soon-to-be-appointed head of the Martial Arts Department, their instructor and half-superior.
Who would dare offend them?
The Imperial Guards sheathed their spears and silently made way for him. Lin Tan watched in disbelief as the young man, covered in frost and snow, walked in. In front of everyone, he knelt and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Xie Yutang, but instead of offering a word of apology, he said, "Your Highness, I failed to escort the Princess back. Please punish me."
Narrow alley.
He Lou Wulan gazed for a long time in the direction the boy had left, the bright red blood stretching out before being quickly covered by snowflakes.
The boy's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her head, yet also like a spark that quickly ignited a wildfire, sending shivers down her spine. A small, suppressed flame within her gradually ignited, burning until her mouth was parched, and for the first time in her life, she felt a certain yearning and ambition.
"I thought you could succeed."
Tuoba Xiu appeared unnoticed and stood behind Helou Wulan, sighing softly, "Now look what's happened, I'll have to marry you when we get back."
"Everyone envies us, talking about royalty and nobility, yet we don't even have the freedom to love."
"Born into an imperial family, is it a blessing or a curse?"
He Lou Wulan was too lazy to listen to his pretentious talk. She rolled her eyes, turned around and was about to enter the depths of the alley, but then she remembered something. After taking a few steps, she picked up a handful of blood-stained snow from the ground. She cherished it very much, but was afraid that it would melt. She held the handful of snow in her palm and remained silent for a moment. "He can't go back."
“His identity has been exposed, and Xie Yutang will no longer trust him.”
Guyue Tower.
Xie Yutang looked at the upright young man kneeling before her, her eyelashes lowered, but she spoke to Lin Tan: "My guards have returned, so Your Highness need not trouble yourself to 'protect' me any longer."
Lin Tan looked quite unwell when he left.
There were still some onlookers inside and outside the building, but most of them were scared away when they saw the Imperial Guards surrounding the building. Now that even the Imperial Guards had withdrawn in disgrace, no one dared to stay any longer, and the area inside and outside the building instantly became quiet.
Xie Yutang looked at the young man kneeling before her with his head bowed and eyes lowered. He had always been obedient in front of her and more pleasing to her than anyone else. But wasn't Lin Tan the same way back then?
Xie Yutang glanced at him indifferently: "You're injured, go and apply some medicine first."
The boy was dressed in black, and his wounds were not obvious, but the faint smell of blood in the cold, snowy air was still hard to hide.
Su Lu blinked lightly, turned her head, and a strand of hair fell down, slipping into a shallow hollow on her collarbone, making her look innocent and fragile: "The Jade Skin Cream is finished."
He had never asked her for anything before; this was the first time.
"The Martial Arts Division has a medical clinic, which will prescribe medicine for you."
Her voice was calm, without any extreme emotions, but Su Lu's heart sank instantly.
She had never spoken to him in such a tone before. Even on their first meeting, she dared to make him undress in front of a group of maids, teasing him while applying medicine herself. Every word she uttered was vivid and lively. But now, she had stripped away all her emotions, leaving only cold indifference.
He had considered many possible reactions from her. He would gladly accept any punishment, whether it was hitting, scolding, or yelling at him. Indifference, however, would be the worst possible outcome.
The boy knelt motionless on the ground, his lips so pale they were almost transparent, as if they would shatter at the slightest touch. His gaze remained stubbornly fixed on her, still adhering to the rules and refusing to look at her face, staring only at the dark embroidery on her skirt, as if she were about to abandon him at any moment.
Xie Yutang, who wanted to leave, ultimately couldn't take the step. She held the secret letter in her bosom in front of him: "You knew your identity all along, didn't you?"
There was almost no doubt in his tone.
On the back mountain of Yingkou, Qiu Ran Ke's behavior was impossible to hide. She had asked him about his identity, but he did not tell her.
Lin Tan was the same way back then. He said he would find out the truth about the tragic death of the Xie family at Daoma Pass, that he would speak out for the wronged souls and seek justice for the soldiers who died unjustly in foreign lands, and that he would become her support. He took everything she did for him for granted, gradually eroded her military power for his own use, and ascended the throne with her help. Then, in his lust for power, he finally stopped hiding his naked exploitation and his unprecedented sincerity.
What about Su Lu?
Since he already knew his identity, why did he give up being a pampered young marquis in the Northern Rong and willingly serve her, willingly being misunderstood as a male concubine? Did he really not notice or care about those contemptuous, mocking, or ridiculing looks?
He was always obedient in front of her, even letting her control him at will, but to be honest, with the experience of two lifetimes combined, Xie Yutang wouldn't dare say that she could see through this person.
This feeling is all too familiar.
Perhaps Su Lu and Lin Tan are not the same kind of people, but can she afford to gamble?
She had given her heart to the wrong person, her family feud remained unresolved, and justice was hard to uphold. She had already made a mistake once and paid the price with her life. Now that she had a second chance, could she risk losing everything and make another desperate gamble to believe in someone else?
She didn't get a second chance.
The sound of jade pendants rang out exceptionally clearly in the heavy, suffocating silence.
Su Lu looked up and froze on the spot after seeing Xie Yutang's actions. The last trace of color drained from his face.
Xie Yutang took off the jade pendant, as if knowing he wouldn't accept it, and gently placed it on the ground in front of him.
It was a very soft sound, yet it sent a shiver down the spine of the boy.
That day, she was angry that he didn't take care of himself, and she pressed him down in the hot spring water, almost suffocating him. He looked disheveled, but the light in his eyes was so dazzling, and his whole being had a warm feeling after being immersed in it, unlike now...
Xie Yutang looked away. The jade pendant had been returned, and from then on, life was free for him. She set him free.
Su Lu suddenly raised his hand and grabbed her wrist. Before Xie Yutang could react, a dagger had been shoved into her hand, its sharp tip just inches from the boy's throat.
Xie Yutang was shocked and furious: "What are you doing?"
Su Lu's fingers gripped her wrist tightly, not with much force, but enough to render her completely immobile. The chill of his fingertips was still shocking even through her sleeve.
He wanted to explain, to tell her, what did the heir of the Su family, the marquis of Beirong matter? He didn't want any of those things; he just wanted to stay by her side.
He moved his lips, but couldn't say a word.
He too was reborn, knowing the betrayal she had suffered, and how futile and pointless any explanation could be.
“My master didn’t believe me, so he killed me.”
The knife tip was too close to his Adam's apple; so close that it could pierce him with just a few words.
Blood flowed down his porcelain-white, almost translucent neck, but he was completely unaware.
The boy smiled, seemingly genuinely believing that it would be good if his life ended in an instant; he would rather die in her hands.
The force on her wrist pulled her back a little, then with a resolute force, it stabbed towards her throat.
Xie Yutang directly used his unrestrained left hand to grasp the blade.
Su Lu hadn't expected her to do this. He subconsciously flicked his finger with his inner force, and the dagger flew far away. The hilt hit the mahogany counter and fell to the ground with a thud.
Xie Yutang sneered, grabbed the boy's chin, and forced him to raise his face.
"Your Highness is truly something else, daring to threaten me now."
Su Lu remained silent, letting her take control of him.
Xie Yutang would do anything for him, except leave.
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