Chapter 55 Heavenly Fire [VIP]
Chapter Summary: Xu Luchuan is "Dead"
Despite Xu Luwei's questioning, Xu Qinguo remained calm and composed at his desk, saying, "It is because of people like Chang Andao in the court that Wei Jingshan is so unscrupulous."
"The Grand Commandant has fallen ill and is still bedridden due to the murder of his eldest daughter. His fate remains unknown. Even his residence has been besieged. The court is in chaos. Someone has to step forward and fight against this."
"Do you intend for your father to stand by and watch him wreak havoc in Jinling and harm Shaoyuan, and do nothing about it?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Luwei lowered his eyes, gazing at the flickering candlelight on the floor, and said in a deep voice, "Father may be right. But...have you forgotten? Three years ago, when Prince Ling forced the palace, you were imprisoned for standing up to him. You almost lost your life."
"We should also act within our capabilities."
Upon hearing this, Xu Qinguo suddenly slammed his fist on the table.
"Act within your means? Over the years, I have sponsored those sincere students from poor families, enabling them to enter officialdom. So that one day, when Shao Yuan is in danger, someone will step forward and not remain indifferent as before."
Xu Qinguo's words were sincere, and Xu Luwei was also moved by them.
But he still refused to budge: "What about the Xu family? Everything you've sworn to protect could very well be reduced to ashes."
"Are you willing to go to such lengths?"
"With the fall of Shao Yuan, the glory of our Xu family lasted only a night." Xu Qinguo said, gently closing the memorial he had written on the table. His mind was made up. "I have a clear conscience and I have lived up to the ancestral teachings. As for the rest, I believe that future generations will give a fair judgment. In that case, it will not have been in vain."
Xu Luwei was unable to persuade Xu Qinguo, and he could only helplessly call out, "Father."
"Let's cancel it." Xu Qinguo waved his hand.
Just as the two were about to part on bad terms, the door was suddenly pushed open. Xu Luwei looked over in surprise and saw Xu Luchuan walk quickly to the table after closing the door, straighten his robe, and kneel down.
Xu Luchuan called out in confusion, "Erlang?"
Xu Qinguo placed his fingertips on the memorial, staring at his wayward son, and scolded, "Where did all the manners you learned in Liyang go? Eavesdropping on your father and brothers' discussions is one thing, but daring to barge in like this! What kind of behavior is this?"
In the past, Xu Luchuan would have confronted him for saying these things.
But things are different now. After hearing what Xu Qinguo said, Xu Luchuan chose to believe him.
Therefore, he did not take those rebukes to heart.
He slowly placed the bamboo tube containing the imperial edict in his palm, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother, rest assured, Father will not die, and the Xu family will not be destroyed. I have a way to resolve the predicament of Jinling."
"You?" Xu Qinguo suddenly sneered.
He clearly found Xu Luchuan's words absurd. Seeing this, Xu Luwei took the bamboo slip from Xu Luchuan's hand and handed it to Xu Qinguo.
Xu Qinguo opened the bamboo tube and took out the paper scroll to examine it.
He glanced at the scroll, and when his gaze settled on the seal, Xu Qinguo was shocked. He carefully stuffed the scroll back into the bamboo tube, looked up at Xu Luwei, and said, "Eldest son, you go back first. I need to have a good talk with Second son."
Xu Lu didn't understand his meaning, but he didn't disobey. He respectfully cupped his hands and said, "Yes."
After speaking, Xu Luwei turned to leave. As he passed by Xu Luchuan, he didn't forget to tell him, "Second Brother, remember to talk things out with your father properly."
"Don't worry, elder brother, get some rest." Xu Luwei patted his shoulder and then turned and left the house.
Inside the room, only Xu Qinguo and Xu Luchuan remained.
If there were an opportunity like today to be alone in a room, it would probably be a rare occurrence in his lifetime. Although the atmosphere was inexplicably awkward, Xu Qinguo was more concerned about the origin of this imperial edict.
He stood up, holding the bamboo tube, and slowly approached Xu Luchuan.
Once he was positioned above, Xu Qinguo finally spoke, asking, "Where did you get this? Is the marriage alliance with Wuxing the solution you mentioned?"
"This imperial edict was written by His Majesty himself. My son is to be sent as an envoy to Wuxing," Xu Luchuan replied confidently.
He then briefly recounted to Xu Qinguo what had happened that evening.
Xu Qinguo listened with skepticism and said, "Leaving the capital? Going on a diplomatic mission? How easy is that? If Nanjing is not captured, how can this imperial decree for marriage be sent out... If it cannot be sent out, the Tang family will not be able to return to the court. It seems to be a dead end."
“It’s not a dead end. If my son says he can leave Jinling, would Father be willing to lend a helping hand?” Xu Luchuan’s eyes darkened, and Xu Qinguo gripped the bamboo tube in his hand tightly. “Since that’s the case… tell me, what do you need me to do?”
Xu Qinguo rarely agreed to Xu Luchuan's request.
Xu Luchuan then revealed his next plan in detail.
After he finished speaking, Xu Qinguo stood with his hands behind his back in front of the door, watching the relentless wind and rain fall with a solemn expression. He hesitated to say anything, beginning to worry about Xu Luchuan's safety.
For the first time, Xu Qinguo spoke to him in a slightly trembling voice, "Is this the only way? Is there no other way?"
Xu Luchuan stood up, walked to Xu Qinguo's side, gently patted his no longer upright shoulders, and said softly, "Eight years ago, your son went to Liyang by himself. Now, father, please see your son off on his own."
"For Shao Yuan's sake, and for everything my father has always protected, I'm entrusting this to you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Luchuan released his hand from his shoulder and pushed open the door of Chengfeng Pavilion. The torrential rain hadn't stopped, and lightning flashed like dragons. Lian Xing rushed over and stuffed the unique Breath-Sealing Pill of the Bodhi Sect into his hand.
Lian Xing's eyes were filled with reluctance, and she hesitated to speak.
Finally, he just pursed his lips unhappily and said, "I'll go, get ready."
Lian Xing is gone.
Xu Luchuan stood calmly under the eaves, and Xu Qinguo stepped out from inside the door and stood beside him. The father and son, though silent, were no longer at odds. After a long while, Xu Qinguo suddenly asked, "Second Brother, did you truly exert all your strength this time solely for Shaoyuan?"
“No,” Xu Luchuan said frankly. “Now that things have come to this, there’s nothing left to hide. Everything my son did was for one person, Liu Shiyu.”
Once the matter was discussed openly, the father and son were quite frank about it.
However, no one spoke again.
Xu Luchuan stepped out of the house and stood in the rain, letting the rain soak him. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck, and flames erupted from the roof of Chengfeng Pavilion—Lianxing had succeeded. Xu Luchuan then took out a bottle containing a breath-holding pill, picked it up, and put it in his mouth.
Under the eaves, Xu Qinguo gazed at Xu Luchuan, seemingly burdened with a heavy heart.
Xu Luchuan looked up at the Chengfeng Pavilion, still burning fiercely in the torrential rain, as if he saw a glimmer of hope. The firelight in his eyes cleaved through the dark sky, and he stretched out his hands, slowly pulling the completely soaked hood over his head.
Xu Luchuan lowered his gaze again and walked against the flames. He brushed past Xu Qinguo, but stopped just as he was about to step through the door.
He suddenly asked, "Father, will I one day become your pride, just like my elder brother?"
For some reason, Xu Luchuan walked into the fire without waiting for Xu Qinguo's answer. Perhaps he was afraid of getting an answer, or perhaps the answer wasn't important. When Xu Qinguo looked back, he was struck unconscious by a series of falling stars from the eaves in front of the porch.
The height of Chengfeng Pavilion is exceptionally conspicuous within the Xu family.
Just as Xu Qinguo collapsed, someone outside the courtyard shouted, "Heavenly fire! Heavenly fire! Chengfeng Pavilion has been struck by heavenly fire!"
The group rushed into the courtyard where Chengfeng Pavilion was located, and someone discovered Xu Qinguo lying outside the door. They quickly went over and carried him to a safe place.
Soon after, Xu Luwei arrived upon hearing the news.
As he picked up Xu Qinguo, he heard Xu Qinguo awaken from his daze, slowly point towards Chengfeng Pavilion, and forcefully call out, "Erlang..."
At that moment, everyone looked up and rushed towards the fire without hesitation.
...
The heavy rain in Jinling continued until dawn. The Xu family in the city was in chaos, while the imperial palace remained deathly silent.
After being startled awake last night, Liu Shiyu was unable to fall back asleep.
At dawn, Lian Yue was still half-asleep on the couch, with Liu Shiyu lying beside her like a quiet raccoon. Outside the palace, rainwater dripped from the eaves. Suddenly, the sound of the iron lock being opened outside the door caught her attention.
Liu Shiyu stood up and turned around, only to see Wei Jingshan striding into the hall in a python robe, exuding ostentation.
"In the end, you're the one wearing that python robe." Liu Shiyu leaned casually against the bedside, scoffing at him. "Shouldn't I be addressing you as 'Your Majesty' now?"
Wei Jingshan, however, was in a great mood for some unknown reason, and he didn't hold a grudge against the person in front of him for mocking him.
With a casual wave of his hand, the Northern Army behind him closed the palace doors for him.
Wei Jingshan approached Liu Shiyu step by step, his hands behind his back. Only when he stood in front of Liu Shiyu did he speak, feigning politeness, "Your Highness, did you sleep well last night?"
Upon hearing his greeting, Liu Shiyu coldly laughed, "My lord, you came to Shiguang Palace before dawn. You didn't just want to check if I was sleeping well, did you? Speak your mind. I have no mood for idle chatter."
Upon hearing this, Wei Jingshan smiled, then lifted the python robe behind him and slowly squatted down.
Squatting down in front of Liu Shiyu, Wei Jingshan's smiling face immediately turned gloomy. He stared intently into Liu Shiyu's eyes and said, "Your former lover is dead. Your Highness, you are indeed not in the mood for idle chatter."
"What did you say?" The word "deceased" sounded jarring. Liu Shiyu's mind went blank. She stepped forward and grabbed Wei Jingshan's collar. "Explain yourself clearly to me!"
Wei Jingshan gently grasped Liu Shiyu's hand that was pulling at him and sneered, "Xu Luchuan is dead."
"How could this be? You're lying to me, I don't believe it." Liu Shiyu couldn't believe it. She shook off his grip on her hands. "You killed him! Wei Jingshan, what right did you have to lay a hand on him!"
Wei Jingshan lowered her arms, and for the first time, she saw helplessness in Liu Shiyu's eyes. It was an expression she had never seen before.
He had not even seen him on the day Prince Ling forced him to abdicate.
"I intend to kill him."
"However, Heaven's punishment came a step faster than mine. Heavenly fire burned down Chengfeng Pavilion, and I heard that Xu's second son was already dead when he was rescued. Liu Shiyu... You see, even Heaven hasn't let him off the hook."
Wei Jingshan suddenly grabbed Liu Shiyu's shoulder angrily, his jealousy driving him almost to madness.
Liu Shiyu broke down, struggling desperately to break free, but she could no longer escape his control. But Liu Shiyu didn't give up; she resolutely raised her unbound foot. With a single kick, she struck him right where he wanted.
Wei Jingshan instantly released his grip and collapsed to the ground in excruciating pain. But as before, he remained silent.
After a long while, he forcefully propped himself up, glared at the person in front of him, and said, "Liu Shiyu, no matter what, this time... you have no other choice."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com