64 Chapter 64
"Keep it in your mouth, don't make a sound."
The capital of Da Yan.
Xie Yutang only brought two thousand light cavalry, and they traveled at breakneck speed. It took them two months to go there and just over a month to return.
The troops were stationed in the suburbs. Xie Yutang only brought Yue Hongcai with him. Former battalion commander Chen Bingliang had been dealt with by Xie Yutang under military law for colluding with the Northern Rong and leaking military intelligence. Yue Hongcai was promoted to battalion commander of the Third Battalion for his outstanding achievements in the Battle of Xuelang Pass, filling the vacancy left by Chen Bingliang.
Before they even entered the palace gates, the two were stopped by fully armed imperial guards who not only confiscated their swords but also searched them.
They returned in triumph, but without any welcoming ceremony or even an audience with the Emperor, they were given this first show of force, which immediately made Yue Hongcai's expression turn sour.
The Imperial Guard Commander Guo Shouzhen gave a forced smile: "His Majesty only summoned Princess Ning'an."
Yue Hongcai frowned, about to speak, but Xie Yutang raised her hand and said, "Wait for me outside the palace, don't worry." After saying that, she was led into the palace alone by a palace servant.
Upon entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a strong medicinal smell immediately wafted towards us.
Emperor Chongde was leaning against the dragon bed, with a soft pillow behind his back, as Eunuch Wei fed him medicine.
However, after only a few months, Emperor Chongde's eyes were dark and his cheeks were sunken, making him look much older.
Xie Yutang clenched his fists tightly under the wide sleeves of his robe, paused for a few breaths, and then bowed his head to greet him.
Emperor Chongde coughed several times: "Get up."
Xie Yutang responded softly, her face showing deep worry as she looked up. She took the medicine from Eunuch Wei and asked, "What's wrong with Father?"
"It's just a minor ailment, nothing serious." Emperor Chongde waved his hand, and Eunuch Wei led the palace servants away. Emperor Chongde looked at the medicine spoon Xie Yutang was holding and gestured for her to put it aside. "This medicine is too hot. I'll drink it later."
Although it is springtime, the chill of winter is still lingering, and the floor heating in the hall is not yet on, so even if the medicine is served hot, it won't stay hot for long.
Xie Yutang, seemingly oblivious, responded with an "okay" and placed the cold medicine bowl on the bedside table.
Emperor Chongde watched her movements, and a slight ripple finally appeared in his eyes. He slowly raised his eyelids and said, "You've been gone for months. Your father said he would confiscate all the firecrackers in the outskirts of the capital so that you could use them as firecrackers when you returned and heard the news of the victory in the northern deserts." Perhaps he had been talking for too long, because Emperor Chongde coughed a few more times. "I will make it up to you when your father recovers."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Emperor Chongde sighed, "As for Wen Zhong... Father promised you that he would be handed over to you for personal interrogation when you returned, but who knew—"
Then came a series of suppressed coughs.
Xie Yutang gently patted Emperor Chongde's back to help him catch his breath. Seeing that he was feeling better, he lowered his eyes and said, "Father, there is no need to blame yourself. This person is very likely the mastermind behind the murder of my father and the Xie family back then. Daring to reach into the imperial prison is too arrogant. Father, rest assured, your son will definitely find the mastermind and hand him over to you for judgment."
Emperor Chongde asked, "Do you have a lead?"
Xie Yutang revealed the pretext he had prepared long ago, subtly mentioning several ministers who had direct conflicts of interest with Xie Qinghe in the past. Some of them still held high positions, while others had retired and returned to their hometowns. However, none of them came from powerful families and had deep roots in the court. They had both the power and the reason to assassinate Wen Zhong and pursue Cao Yong.
While imperial power may seem supreme, powerful clans have deep roots and growing influence, posing a growing threat to the imperial authority.
Emperor Chongde looked at her for a long time, then nodded with satisfaction: "It's good that you understand me."
"I have read the report of victory. You have done very well, very well." Emperor Chongde placed his aged hand on Xie Yutang's hand and patted it. "You have been gone for several months. Now that you have finally returned, you should stay in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and have a good chat with your father."
Xie Yutang lowered his head and said softly, "Yes."
The news that Princess Ning'an was attending to her ailing husband at the Yangxin Palace quickly spread throughout the court and the country.
The opportunity that the three princes could only dream of fell to her as soon as Xie Yutang returned. Some say it was because Princess Ning'an had conquered three border cities in succession, achieving great military exploits and winning the emperor's favor; others believe it was because Xie Yutang held a large army and was too sharp, arousing the emperor's suspicion, and was placed under house arrest under the pretext of "attending to the sick".
Xie Yutang, with a calm expression, was led by Eunuch Wei to the side hall, where he encountered the Crown Prince who came to pay his respects.
Lin Qi first congratulated her on her triumphant return, then changed the subject, his face showing concern: "Is Father feeling better?"
After replying, Xie Yutang said calmly, "Father has always praised my elder brother for being wise and diligent in his duties, and capable of shouldering great responsibilities. Now that Father is unwell, fortunately, there is my elder brother in the court and several ministers in the council hall to support him, so Father can rest assured and recuperate."
Without even glancing at Lin Qi's expression, Xie Yutang curtsied and went to the side hall.
After a while, Eunuch Wei knocked on the door, followed by a young eunuch carrying tea. The young eunuch had his head down, so his face was not visible, but he seemed unusually tall. Xie Yutang glanced at his hand unintentionally, her eyelids twitched, and she was about to look again when the young eunuch finished serving the tea, his sleeves fell down to cover his hands, and he turned around.
The ordinary eunuch's robe made him appear broad-shouldered and long-legged, especially his narrow waist.
Xie Yutang suddenly spoke up: "Wait."
The young eunuch paused, and Eunuch Wei turned around: "Does Your Highness have any further instructions?"
Xie Yutang glanced at the unfamiliar faces around her and smiled, "It's nothing, it's just that I suddenly don't like drinking this pre-Qingming tea anymore, so please bring out a different kind of tea."
Eunuch Wei paused for a moment, then smiled and replied "Yes," before sending someone to do it.
After a while, another eunuch brought in tea, but it wasn't the same one as before.
Xie Yutang wasn't sure if he was seeing things, but he thought the little eunuch looked like... Well, this excuse was already too weak, and if he continued to look, it would definitely arouse suspicion.
The palace appears calm on the surface, but beneath the surface, turbulent waves are brewing. One wrong move could undo all her previous efforts. She quickly put the little eunuch out of her mind and began to carefully consider the current situation.
Suddenly, someone in the corner clicked their tongue and said, "Our General Xie has returned in triumph, but this is how he's treated. How does that feel?"
Xie Yutang looked up and saw Lin Tanyin in the shadows of a corner, arms crossed, looking at her with a half-smile. Outsiders might not know, but he had information about Guo Shouzhen, the commander of the Imperial Guards, and knew that Emperor Chongde was using the pretext of attending to the sick to put her under house arrest in the inner palace.
Xie Yutang was not surprised at all that he was here.
"Father is suspicious by nature. Now that your achievements are so great that they threaten the emperor, I'm afraid you can no longer enjoy the same favor as before."
Lin Tan looked at Xie Yutang. Since returning from the northern desert, Xie Yutang had developed an indescribable aura, like a jade that had been blessed. In contrast, the young ladies of noble families and officials in the capital seemed to have too much of a feminine air.
"Why not marry me? I will not only protect your life, but also ensure you wealth, honor, and supreme glory."
"Then she'll relinquish her military power and become a clingy canary you keep at home, only interested in pleasing her?"
Xie Yutang never expected that Lin Tan would become so love-obsessed after being reborn. After Gu Yue Lou, she thought they had talked things out, but he still spoke in such a way.
Xie Yutang found it amusing. When she received the secret letter from the guards at Xuelang Pass, it also mentioned that Lin Tan was marrying the daughter of Guo Shouzhen, the commander of the Imperial Guards. After reading it, apart from thinking about the changes in the court situation that Lin Tan's actions would involve, she was not emotionally affected at all.
Too lazy to waste words, she said coolly, "The Third Prince has only recently married a concubine, so it's probably inappropriate for him to say such a thing."
When Lin Tan heard her bluntly point it out, her expression first darkened, but then she was overjoyed. Xie Yutang was still concerned about her marriage even while he was away on a campaign at the border. Sure enough, even though he said he didn't want it, he still cared a lot about it.
“My marriage to her was merely a temporary measure. If it weren’t for—” Lin Tan paused, staring intently at her, “the Empress’s position would only belong to you.”
With Emperor Chongde still on the throne, his words are enough to warrant a death sentence.
Xie Yutang merely scoffed: "I'm afraid that when the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the first person he'll execute is a treacherous villain like you."
Lin Tan's brows furrowed: "What did you say?"
"Don't you know?" Xie Yutang looked at him as if he were a fool, "His Majesty is seriously ill, I'm afraid—"
She leaned close to Lin Tan's ear, each word like a whisper of an evil spirit, crashing heavily into Lin Tan's heart: "His Majesty has issued an edict appointing the Crown Prince to oversee the country and has instructed me to support the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne. Anyone who obstructs him shall be executed on the spot."
The words Xie Yutang spoke to Crown Prince Lin Qi in the corridor were heard verbatim by Lin Tan. The words implied that Emperor Chongde intended to pass the throne to the Crown Prince. Lin Tan also mentioned the ministers in the council hall, whom he had tried to win over many times but failed. Now, hearing Xie Yutang's words, he seemed to be on the same side as the Crown Prince.
He infiltrated Xie Yutang's side hall to extract information, and everything turned out exactly as he expected; the moment had come when he had no choice but to take action.
"We can't wait any longer," Lin Tan said bitterly in the secret room. "The plan must be brought forward."
The figure hidden in the darkness seemed hesitant: "What if this is just His Majesty's ploy to lure the troops..."
"No matter what, we must not let Lin Qi oversee the country!" Lin Tan's neck veins bulged. He had tried for so long, but Emperor Chongde still only had that good-for-nothing in his eyes. He suppressed his anger, "Lin Qi already occupies the position of Crown Prince. Once he starts to take power, the longer it goes on, the greater the risks will be for you and me."
Lin Tan clenched his fist in mid-air, his eyes revealing a murderous intent.
"Now is the best time to take action."
Emperor Chongde claimed illness and suspended court sessions, leaving most of the affairs of the court to be decided by the Crown Prince. Xie Yutang said she was left in the inner palace to attend to him, but every time she went there, Emperor Chongde had already been served his medicine by Eunuch Wei, so she pretended not to notice. If Emperor Chongde wanted to talk, she would talk with him. If Emperor Chongde felt better and wanted to play chess, she would play chess with him. She spent most of her time under Emperor Chongde's nose every day.
The side hall where she lived was guarded by many imperial guards, both openly and secretly. When asked, Guo Shouzhen said it was just a normal rotation of guards in the palace. Given Xie Yutang's usual temperament, he would never have believed such nonsense. But now he just nodded, closed the door, and went back to rest.
Guo Shouzhen thought to himself, "He's quite patient."
After the Spring Equinox, the palace stopped using the floor heating. A rain fell that night, and the room was terribly cold. Xie Yutang turned over, the blanket slipping halfway down, the chill seeping in through the gap. Xie Yutang frowned, intending to call for someone to light the charcoal fire. In her hazy state, a pair of hands pulled the blanket up for her, carefully tucking it in. Just as she was about to withdraw her hands, the person on the bed, who had their back to her, suddenly rolled over and instantly grabbed her wrist.
Those hands were dry and warm, with a red jade bracelet on their wrists and a small cinnabar crescent moon underneath.
Xie Yutang's gaze swept over his eunuch robes before finally settling on his cold, beautiful face: "It really is you."
"The ground heating is on, and the room will warm up soon." Su Lu remained bent over, a slight smile playing on his lips, as she continued to press her fingers together.
Xie Yutang held his hand: "Why are your hands so warm?"
Because of the cultivation technique he was practicing, Su Lu's body temperature was always slightly lower than that of an ordinary person.
The young man hadn't expected her first question to be this, and chuckled softly, "I was afraid the rainy night would chill my master, so I warmed myself by the fire before coming in." He paused, then asked quite frankly, "It's been a month since we last met, has Ah Mian missed me?"
Xie Yutang knew without a doubt that it was because he was worried about him that he had followed him all the way here. He must have used some method to infiltrate the Imperial Guard. The little eunuch who served tea a few days ago must have been him.
Xie Yutang frowned in disagreement: "Don't forget that you also hold the position of Director of the Martial Arts Division. Aren't you afraid of being discovered while infiltrating the Imperial Guard?"
"Don't worry." He pointed to a corner of a human skin mask he pulled out from his pocket. "I've changed my appearance and voice, and my walking, sitting, and lying postures are different. You won't be able to tell."
Xie Yutang then said, "The political situation in the Northern Rong has just been stabilized. If you leave, what will happen to the court?"
Since Su Lu has arrived, there must be arrangements made. Xie Shiyi is not only good at concealing his whereabouts, but also has profound skills in imitation and disguise. Su Lu's human skin mask was made by him.
"Otherwise, what about all those days I spent burning the midnight oil, revising memorials day and night?"
It can't be said that he's just hardworking.
All the thorny issues that had to be resolved have been dealt with. Those who needed to be reprimanded have been reprimanded, and those who needed to be given advice have been given advice. Now that Xie Shiyi is impersonating him, and Xie Qi is calm and experienced, if they still can't keep things under control, then the reputation of the Xie family's secret guards is worthless. They should just pack up and go back to their sheep-herding ways.
Xie Yutang left behind enough antidote for the Spirit Control Inducing Pill before leaving, but he didn't know when they would meet again, or perhaps... he would never see her again.
Knowing what she was thinking, Su Lu comforted her while quietly making all the arrangements.
He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, saying in a low, husky voice, almost coaxing, "Once this matter is over, Master can punish me however he wants."
He made meticulous arrangements, considering every detail, and stepped into this quagmire again despite the stigma of defiance, all because of her.
I don't want anything to happen to her.
They were unwilling to wait for the outcome in a safe place.
I want to be with her.
I wanted to protect her.
Even if I am shattered to pieces and fall into eternal damnation, I will never turn back.
An indescribable warmth slowly spread from the bottom of my heart, reaching every part of my body with each heartbeat.
Xie Yutang unconsciously tightened her grip on his hand, and the red jade bracelet on her wrist struck her fingertips, making a very soft, crisp sound.
“My master also said that as soon as you came back, your old flame threw herself at you.” The young man’s gaze lingered for a moment on her slender fingers. “You used the bracelet to lock me up, but you took off your own ring.”
His tone was fairly calm, but the last syllable held a hint of grievance, as alluring as the tip of a cat's tail.
Hearing the words "old flame" made Xie Yutang's forehead veins throb, and he felt like a man who had solemnly sworn to his wife at home that he hadn't been drinking with women: "That ring of yours is too flashy, the old man hasn't even breathed his last yet."
In fact, she removed the thumb ring as soon as she left the Golden Tent Palace of the Northern Rong. Emperor Chongde was already so suspicious of her even though he didn't know she had opened Cao Yong's secret chamber. If he saw that her thumb ring was even better than his own, he would surely go crazy.
Xie Yutang glanced at him with a half-smile, then grabbed his hand and placed it on her neck.
Su Lu's breathing became erratic.
Xie Yutang had always controlled her neck; this was the first time his fingertips had touched hers.
The texture is even better than I expected.
Like a drop of dew sliding down a crabapple petal.
Xie Yutang grasped his trembling fingertips and guided them downwards inch by inch.
The pulse throbbed beneath his skin, each beat striking his heart.
She wore a snow-white undergarment, and guided her jade-white fingertips to the collar, gently hooking out a thumb ring adorned with a red cord.
The striking red contrasted sharply with his snow-white skin. Su Lu blinked slowly, his Adam's apple bobbing as he tried to process the overwhelming visual impact with utmost restraint.
She actually strung the thumb ring with a red cord and wore it on her chest.
Since he couldn't openly wear the thumb ring for the time being, but couldn't bear to put it away, Xie Yutang came up with this solution: by covering it with layers of clothing, the slight protrusion on the thumb ring was quickly concealed.
She nurtured the jade with her body heat.
During the day, when walking in the palace, she could always feel it very clearly. This slight feeling of something poking her chest was not unpleasant; on the contrary, it constantly reminded her of his presence.
I don't know whose lips touched whose first.
Since their first meeting in this world, they had never experienced such a long separation.
Countless thoughts of longing are expressed between the lips and teeth.
Xie Yutang untied the red rope around her neck. Su Lu didn't know what she meant. Before he could speak, he saw her slender fingers pinch the red jade ring, raise it in front of him, and gently touch his lips.
The ring still held her warmth, igniting him completely in the damp, chilly rainy night.
The eyes, usually calm and serene like a deep lake or a snowy night, finally ignited with a hidden fire.
His long eyelashes trembled slightly. He silently met Xie Yutang's gaze, and finally sighed softly as if in resignation, opening his lips to gently take the ring into his mouth.
Xie Yutang gave a wicked smile, tightened the red rope sharply, and heard a muffled groan from his throat, which he had been hoping to hear.
She tied the red string behind his head, like an old patron of a brothel, and deliberately whispered in his ear, "Keep it in your mouth, don't make a sound."
The body in her arms suddenly tensed. She lightly pecked his lips, her hand sliding down his lean waist. She was pleased to see his trembling even more delicately, like a taut string being gently stroked and plucked: "You've always helped me before, now it's my turn to return the favor."
...
She never knew a person could be so beautiful.
She watched him raise his neck, saw the red marks left on his cheeks by the soaked red rope, saw his sweat-dampened hair sticking to his cheeks, and saw his trembling eyelashes adorned with tiny water droplets.
Listen to his heartbeat, listen to the rain outside the window, listen to his breathing and panting, which is different from any other time before.
She was completely captivated by Su Lu.
She finally understood why he had been willing to disregard her and be so fascinated by serving her.
Seeing that she had given him both pleasure and pain, she had never realized so clearly at this moment that this person was hers.
A single thought can bring someone to life, or a single thought can bring them to death.
That sense of control could drive anyone crazy.
...
The night was deep.
Rain was falling outside the window, and the sound of imperial guards patrolling could be heard from time to time outside the door. Walking along the corridor to the end and turning through the back corridor, one would find the Hall of Mental Cultivation of Emperor Chongde.
The moonlight, frozen by the raindrops, suddenly came to life. The red jade ring seemed to be wet by the cold rain, becoming even more warm and bright under the moonlight.
The red jade bracelet on her wrist tapped against the edge of the bed. The floor in the room was warm from the heating, and the melted snow water meandered and flowed like a drizzling river.
On a night of fine, cold rain, no one knew what was happening inside the house.
[Author's Note]
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the final stages! [Let me see]
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