Chapter 39: The scar hurts, and only then does he feel like he is not a zombie...
Fang Yilan and Zhou Ting'an had clearly parted ways at the Jinling Money House, so why hadn't he returned yet?
She had a guess in her mind, and after pondering for a moment, she said to Zhou Chuchu: "Chuchu, don't worry, I should know where he is."
Fang Yilan rode Bright Moon to the palace entrance, where a familiar shadow guard was waiting. Upon her arrival, the guard respectfully handed her something. "General Fang, His Highness has instructed that if you need help with him, this item is for you."
It was a peace amulet. She rubbed the patterns on the amulet with her fingertips, and her eyes darkened.
Lingwu Temple, located on the outskirts of Shangjing City, is hidden among the mountains and forests. The sound of galloping horses shatters the silence of the night. Fang Yilan rides his horse towards the temple. The ancient pines in front of the temple are vigorous and tall, their branches and leaves swaying in the night wind.
Zhao Huaixu stood on the temple platform in a long robe with a bright moon on it, watching Fang Yilan dismount and walk towards him step by step.
The bell of Lingwu Temple rang slowly, followed by a loud slap in the face, which knocked Zhao Huaixu's face to one side.
When Fang Yilan swung her hand, she accidentally scratched the pendant on Zhao Huaixu's earlobe. The sharp edge cut a tiny bloody wound on her fingertip.
Zhao Huaixu's eyes darkened. He reached out and grasped her hand, lowering his head to lick the blood from her palm. His movements were gentle and focused.
If it weren't for the redness and swelling on the side of his face, it would seem as if the person who had just been slapped was someone else.
He raised his eyes to look at her, his tone filled with helplessness and doting: "Why are you so careless?"
Fang Yilan's rage intensified as she watched Zhao Huaixu's nonchalant expression. She abruptly pulled her hand back, her voice practically clenched through her teeth as she spoke, "Zhao Huaixu, he's an official appointed by the imperial court! Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you're a prince?"
Zhao Huaixu seemed to be unconcerned with her anger: "Alan, are you worried about me?"
Fang Yilan was so angry that she laughed and said coldly, "Don't be so self-indulgent. Let him go immediately."
Zhao Huaixu sighed slightly, and said as if he couldn't do anything about her: "Come with me."
Then he turned and walked deeper into the temple.
Zhao Huaixu took her to a meditation room in the temple. As soon as Fang Yilan entered the room, the sound of a lock being locked was heard from outside.
She turned around suddenly, only to see Zhao Huaixu approaching. He grabbed her waist with one hand, pressing her heavily against the screen, and with the other hand, pinned her hands above her head. Fang Yilan was trapped in this small space.
Zhao Huaixu's breathing was rapid and hot, and his eyes were filled with long-suppressed emotions, like the last struggle of a trapped beast in a cage.
He whispered, "Is it him you like?"
Jealousy almost ate away his remaining sanity, and his hands clenched even tighter.
Fang Yilan struggled for a moment, but he held her tightly. She looked up at him, her tone cold: "Zhao Huaixu, are you crazy?"
Zhao Huaixu seemed oblivious to her questioning, continuing, "He's a noble young man, elegant and graceful, and I... am the fake, all show and no substance, isn't that right?"
The scar on his heart was cruelly opened by himself, but he felt a sense of reality brought by self-destruction. Fang Yilan's love made him grow flesh and blood, but she tore him apart with her bare hands.
Only when he felt pain did he feel that he was not a skeleton walking around like a corpse.
The trees outside the window rustled, and the candlelight was as small as a bean, jumping restlessly between the two of them, illuminating Zhao Huaixu's face with flickering light, and the madness and fragility in his eyes were exposed.
"You two are childhood sweethearts, and I am a lowly male concubine seeking love." His Adam's apple rolled and his voice was hoarse as if it had been honed by sand and gravel.
There was an indescribable pain in his words: "Was it Yu'an or Yu'an who got the name for me? Did you regret not having him by your side before you died?"
Fang Yilan was shocked by his sudden questioning and for a moment she forgot to struggle, with her wrists still locked tightly above her head by Zhao Huaixu.
Her wrists were still locked above her head by him, their breaths tangled, making the air thin. Zhao Huaixu's lips suddenly pressed down, with a hint of madness and desperation, kissing her so hard that she could hardly breathe. Fang Yilan bit his tongue fiercely.
But even so, Zhao Huaixu still refused to let go, and they continued to kiss each other. His mouth was full of the taste of blood. He let out a satisfied sigh from his throat, but his eyes couldn't help but glance at the other room separated by the screen from time to time.
Fang Yilan finally came to his senses, broke free from his restraints, raised his hand and elbowed him, throwing him to the ground.
She stepped on his chest with her boots, looking down at Zhao Huaixu on the ground with a cold glint in her eyes: "Zhao Huaixu, are you trying to humiliate yourself or me by saying this?"
Her voice was as cold as ice: "If I, Fang Yilan, like someone, I will admit it openly, pamper him, love him, and give him the best in the world. I will never find someone to replace him or play those shady tricks."
"But your deliberate exploitation made me feel that you were unworthy of this love. So I took it back, that's all."
Zhao Huaixu lay on the ground, his chest aching from being stepped on by her, but he didn't struggle, letting Fang Yilan vent her anger. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with mixed emotions, but in the end, all those emotions turned into a low laugh: "Alan is always like this, decisive and efficient, never dragging things out."
He was left to live and die in this quagmire.
Fang Yilan just noticed that Zhao Huaixu's eyes were fixed on a certain place, so he stepped forward and kicked over the partition of the Zen room, revealing Zhou Ting'an who was tied up to the pillar of the room.
Seeing that Zhou Ting'an had no obvious injuries, she breathed a sigh of relief. She pulled out her dagger, cut the hemp rope neatly, and helped him up. "Master Zhou, are you okay?"
Zhou Ting'an shook his head. Although he looked a little tired, he still managed to force a soothing smile: "It's okay. Thank you, General Fang, for saving me."
The two of them left the temple together. Zhou Chuchu, who had received the message from Fang Yilan, rushed over. Seeing Zhou Tingan, she rushed forward and grabbed his sleeve, her voice filled with anxiety: "Brother! Are you okay? I was so scared."
Zhou Ting'an rubbed her head and said softly, "It's nothing. I'm sorry to have worried you."
Fang Yilan felt a little embarrassed and whispered, "Master Zhou, I hope you can forgive me for this..." Halfway through her words, she didn't know how to continue and had to stop awkwardly.
Zhou Ting'an naturally understood her implication and smiled slightly, his tone gentle but somewhat serious: "General Fang, don't worry, I won't mention this to anyone else."
Fang Yilan nodded and whispered, "Thank you, Master Zhou, for your understanding."
The Zhou siblings boarded the carriage, its wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs before it gradually disappeared into the night. Fang Yilan stood still, watching the carriage drive away.
Just at this moment, the night wind whimpered and rolled up a few yellow fallen leaves. Fang Yilan turned his head along the wind, and his eyes inadvertently swept towards the direction of the temple, but saw that the slender figure was still standing there.
His eyes were like a cold and clear pond, staring at her quietly, as if wanting to penetrate her.
Fang Yilan's heart trembled, and he stopped looking at him. He jumped onto the horse swiftly, neighed, and galloped towards Shangjing City.
In the Buddhist hall, the old monk rolled the bodhi beads in his hand and said: "Donor, orchids are born and fruits are born, and words are hard to stop. The only thing to do is to let go of the obsession."
Zhao Huaixu turned and stood in front of the Buddha statue, his eyes reflecting the faint candlelight: "The moment I let go of my obsession, I will sacrifice my head to her."
He slowly closed his eyes: "If that day comes, I hope she... won't shed tears for me."
...
Fang Yilan has been having nightmares lately and can't wake up for a long time.
In the dream, Zhao Huaixu collapsed to the ground, his eyes, as gentle as black jade, no longer shining. His usually fair face was now covered in mud and blood. His clothes were torn, covered in whip marks mixed with dried blood. His abdomen was ripped open, and even the white bones could be seen. Blood flowed out, forming a glaring pool under him.
Her heart tightened and she suddenly woke up from her dream. Cold sweat had soaked her clothes. She was gasping for breath. When she saw the familiar bed and the furnishings in the room, she realized that her memory was just a horrible nightmare.
Fortunately it was just a dream.
There was a gentle knock on the door, and Shuxue pushed it open. She walked lightly to the window and slowly raised the lattice halfway. The morning breeze blew in, bringing a hint of coolness, dispelling some of the dullness in the room.
"Miss," Shuxue said softly, "The Eastern Palace sent someone to deliver the birthday invitation early this morning."
Fang Yilan nodded calmly. She had to go because it was both moral and logical. "Tell the housekeeper to prepare the gifts."
On the second day of the second lunar month, Crown Prince Jiang Fu celebrated his birthday. The East Palace was decorated with lanterns and was bustling with activity. Princes, nobles, and court officials filed in, bearing gifts.
The prince had already known that Fang Yilan was coming, and he went to the gate of the East Palace to greet her in person, looking eagerly awaiting her arrival.
But before Fang Yilan arrived, an uninvited guest arrived.
"Seventh Brother...why are you here?"
Zhao Huaixu smiled and said, "It's my brother's birthday, such an important day. How can I not come as his younger brother? My brother won't refuse to welcome me, will he?"
The entire court was filled with civil and military officials, so the Crown Prince would never do something as rude as driving someone away. Although he was disgusted by the relationship between this person and Fang Yilan, he still wore a deliberately warm expression on his face and ordered his men to lead Zhao Huaixu in: "How could that be? Please come in quickly."
As soon as Zhao Huaixu entered, the carriage from the Ding'an Marquis Mansion arrived at the palace gate.
Fang Yilan walked out of the car, still dressed as a military general. Although she was not wearing any makeup, she looked dashing and heroic.
"General Fang, you're here." The prince greeted him warmly with a smile on his face.
Fang Yilan bowed and said with a hint of meaning, "Since the Crown Prince has sent a birthday invitation, how dare I not come?"
The prince did not understand the meaning of her words. Instead, he seemed extremely satisfied with her answer and led her into the courtyard. There was a lot of noise everywhere, and the palace maids and eunuchs were busy running around.
As they walked, the prince suddenly mentioned, "General Fang, I have to tell you something first. The Seventh Master is here today. If you feel awkward, just stay by my side. He definitely won't dare come forward to greet me."
How come even the palace knows about the relationship between Zhao Huaixu and me?
Fang Yilan hadn't expected the Crown Prince to mention Zhao Huaixu, so she simply said calmly, "Your Highness, you're joking. The Seventh Prince and I have only met a few times, and we don't have any special relationship."
The Crown Prince spoke magnanimously, "I won't dwell on the past entanglement between you and the Seventh Prince. Everyone has had a few fleeting romances. However, you will be the Crown Princess in the future... well... you must be dignified and chaste in the future."
Is there something wrong with this person?
Fang Yilan was a little unhappy and was about to explode when she found that the prince was leading her to a small path away from the crowd: "Prince, isn't the banquet venue over there?"
The prince seemed to have just remembered something and explained with a smile, "Oh, I'll take you to see my mother first. I've often mentioned you to her and she's been looking forward to meeting you."
See her? What for?
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