Chapter 73 End of the Song (End) Back then, he was a general...
The smell of blood in the Golden Palace had not yet dissipated when sporadic footsteps were heard outside the palace.
Fang Yilan turned around and saw two figures standing outside the gilded threshold. Concubine Yuan was supporting Grand Tutor Yuan and walking towards the hall.
When Grand Tutor Yuan saw Jiang Fu's body lying on the ground, his eyes did not move even a bit.
He leaned on his cane and bowed, the hem of his robe brushing the bloodstains on the blue bricks. "This old minister has been waiting for the young prince and the general for a long time."
Fang Yilan looked at his reaction, and all her doubts were cleared up in an instant.
Why was Yuan Qingjun so persistent in investigating the past of the Fang family? Why did Zhao Huaixu have such a smooth journey back to the palace under a false identity, even when the prince was plotting a rebellion on the night of the prison break?
It turns out that in this chaotic chess game, someone had already made their moves behind the scenes.
"Grandmaster Yuan, you've been playing this game for the long haul," Fang Yilan sneered. "You've been planning this from the moment Emperor Jingwen usurped the throne until today, right?"
Grand Tutor Yuan's aged face remained serene. He simply bowed and replied, "General, your compliments are most commendable."
He looked at Zhao Huaixu again, a complex light flashing in his eyes. "It's just a pity that the young prince has to suffer in Xiling, and that the general's family has also suffered..."
"You're too polite, Master."
Zhao Huaixu lowered his eyes, rubbed the hilt of the sword with his fingertips, and spoke in a tone as calm as if he was talking about the weather.
When he looked up again, the corners of his lips curled up slightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "It's just a few more years of smelling blood in the Xiling dungeon. It's better than the Taifu sleeping on straw and eating bitter food in the capital."
Grand Tutor Yuan sighed deeply and gazed out the hallway. "The world cannot be without a ruler for a single day... If I, an old minister, had intervened when the late emperor murdered his brother and usurped the throne, the land would have been shattered, the country in turmoil, and where would the people have found refuge?"
"People?"
Fang Yilan's eyes were cold, and he said in a deep voice, "Taifu, do you know how high the corpses of the Fang family soldiers piled up on that cold night in the southwest, surrounded and suppressed by their own soldiers? Do you know how the soldiers on the northwest border had their shoulder blades burned through by branding irons? They didn't even leave their names behind, but left behind a reputation of infamy."
"Who should those wronged souls seek justice from?"
Imperial Concubine Yuan stood aside with her eyes lowered, her pearl necklaces leaving deep red marks on her fingers. "General, please calm down... If I had a glimmer of hope back then, how could I have ended up in this situation..."
She had once been a close friend of the Crown Princess, so how could it be just Fang? How hateful was Emperor Jingwen, he ruined her child and killed her best friend.
When Zhao Huaixu returned to the palace, she recognized his identity at a glance. His eyebrows and eyes were so similar to Wan'er, only Emperor Jingwen couldn't see clearly.
It doesn't matter if you can't see clearly or not, only then can you take their life.
Grand Tutor Yuan was silent for a long time before interrupting, "This old minister has no soldiers under his command, so he can only use his body as a chess piece. If Your Highness and the General feel that this old minister deserves death, please feel free to take this white head."
Fang Yilan looked at the old man's hunched back and felt extremely tired.
Was Grand Tutor Yuan wrong? He may never have intended to harm anyone, simply wanting to protect the world in his own way. But how can the families of those who died in vain because of his "scheming" ever come to terms with this?
Outside the hall came the horn of returning to camp, long and desolate.
Zhao Huaixu's face was expressionless. The moonlight shone on his pale face. He only said lightly: "Taifu's life, save it to apologize to the world."
After saying that, he took Fang Yilan's hand and said, "Let's go. The smell of blood here is too strong."
The two figures leaving together gradually disappeared at the palace gate, leaving only the Yuan family father and daughter in the empty hall.
...
After everything was settled, Genji made public the truth about how the former crown prince was framed and how Emperor Jingwen killed his brother to seize the throne. The former crown prince's stigma was cleared, and Zhao Huaixu naturally restored his true identity.
In the hall, the civil officials argued confidently: "Your Highness is the eldest son of the late emperor. How can his legitimate bloodline be tarnished? The surname Jiang should be restored, and an auspicious day should be chosen for the ceremony!"
Before he finished speaking, a thunderous cry of opposition erupted from the crowd of generals below the stairs: "This world was won by the Fang family army at the cost of their lives. Why should someone surnamed Jiang continue to sit on the throne?"
"How dare you! The emperor's power is bestowed by heaven, how can a warrior interfere?"
When the civil officials finally remembered to ask their "master" for a decision, there were only two empty rosewood thrones on the high platform. The teacups on the table were still warm, but there was no one in sight.
In the abandoned corner tower at the northwest corner of the palace wall, moonlight is pouring in through the collapsed glazed windows.
Fang Yilan was leaning against the eaves, his fingertips stroking the bone ring repeatedly, staring at the crescent moon in a daze.
"Why are you hiding here?" A man in a moon-white robe with the scent of pine came up and sat down beside her.
Without even raising his eyes, Fang Yilan fell back straight up, with the back of his head hitting his knee precisely. He rubbed left and right like a cat looking for a nest until he found the most comfortable position.
"Are you still worried about the court?" Zhao Huaixu looked down at her, his eyes fixed on the corners of her furrowed brows. He gently rubbed her cheek with the back of his hand. "When I left, I saw my uncle was so angry that he ripped off the Imperial Censor's black gauze hat."
A few strands of hair fell down, brushing against the tip of her twitching nose like spider silk.
Fang Yilan wrinkled her nose and waved her hands randomly, saying angrily, "Itchy!"
Then he couldn't help but complain: "Listening to them arguing back and forth, my ears are about to get calluses."
"It's better here, it's quiet."
Zhao Huaixu brushed her hair away from her face in silence, and sighed in relief, "So she just slipped out to take some time off. I thought Yu'an had done something wrong and upset A-Lan again."
Fang Yilan snorted softly and pursed her lips, "Here we go again! I told you to stop trying!"
Zhao Huaixu stroked Fang Yilan's black hair, twisting it around his fingertips and making circles. He said with a wronged look, "Yuan just said one sentence, and already Alan is annoyed by you?"
Zhao Huaixu's ability to confuse right and wrong is so good that even the famous actors in the troupe would have to admit defeat.
Fang Yilan rolled her eyes and was about to get up and leave in anger, but Zhao Huaixu immediately pulled her back into his arms.
He changed the subject very quickly and began to analyze in a clear and logical manner: "Nowadays, no matter where you go, there is a group of people following you. When you look outside, you can see either the palace walls or the eaves. The other day, I saw Jiaoyue digging the ground in the stable. I'm afraid he also finds this palace boring. It's normal for Alan to feel bored." The person lying on his knees nodded in agreement.
Fang Yilan blinked a few times, then turned her gaze back to Zhao Huaixu and comforted him, "It's okay. Many things have been arranged now. In about half a month, there will always be a chance for you to leave the palace."
Zhao Huaixu looked at her deeply, his voice suddenly lowered, and his eyes reddened: "Alan, are you going to abandon me?"
Fang Yilan sat up straight, scratching her head in confusion. "Huh? That's not what I meant?"
But when she met his eyes full of grievance, she lost her temper and could only smile and coax him: "When did I ever say I wanted to leave by myself?"
The next moment, she was suddenly pulled into his embrace. The moon-white fabric of his long gown carried his unique body warmth. Zhao Huaixu rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice low and trembling like the strings of a zither: "Yu'an once had only hatred in her heart, but now she only desires one person." He tightened his arms, holding her closer. "I can be anything, but I must be by your side, not a step away."
"What are you talking about?" These corny and sour words made people feel embarrassed. Fang Yilan wanted to pull her hand away, but he held it tighter.
"A Lan naturally understands what I am saying. Yu An also knows that whether it is the throne or me, if I can't keep you." Zhao Huaixu lowered his head, rubbed his nose against her forehead, and his voice was as soft as a whisper.
Fang Yilan's heart seemed to be gently bumped by something, feeling numb and warm.
She hugged his waist with her backhand, buried her face in his arms, and said sullenly, "I know, I know, you're so nagging."
The copper bell on the eaves rang again, and this time the sound of a distant drum was carried by the wind.
Fang Yilan looked up at the sky. The crescent moon had disappeared into the clouds at some point, leaving only a sky full of stars. She suddenly felt that the moonlight, divided by the palace walls, was not so annoying anymore.
"Zhao Yu'an" She poked his chest, "When we leave the palace, you have to hold my horse for me."
"good."
"Before you leave, you must arrange a marriage for my brother and Sister Qingyun so that they can achieve their goals soon. Xunyun and Zhuanggu have worked hard on this journey, so remember to reward them well."
"It's up to you."
"You want to do whatever I want? Then you will warm my bed starting tonight."
"With pleasure."
Zhao Huaixu chuckled softly and leaned over to kiss her hair. Moonlight poured in from the gaps in the clouds, casting their shadows on the mottled palace wall.
Just as he was indulging in this tranquility, Zhuang Gu's loud voice suddenly rang out from below: "General! Your Highness! Why are you two hiding here?"
Fang Yilan pouted and pulled Zhao Huaixu up: "Let's go, let's see what other quarrels they can come up with."
Back in the hall, the quarrel was still raging. Civil officials waved their tablets and quoted from classics, while military commanders stood with swords drawn, glaring angrily. Both sides argued fiercely.
Fang Yilan coughed lightly, the crisp sound penetrating the clamor: "Have you had enough of the noise?"
He swept his eyes across the entire room, and all the ministers who had been blushing just now fell silent at the same time.
Zhao Huaixu took a step forward, his voice gentle but with unquestionable determination: "Everyone, although Huaixu has royal blood, I have no intention of competing for the throne."
As soon as he finished speaking, the generals all turned their gazes to Fang Yilan, their eyes full of expectation.
Fang Yilan and Zhao Huaixu exchanged a tacit glance, and a carefree smile appeared on the corner of their lips: "Coincidentally, I don't want to be an emperor either. The wind and sand of the frontier are much more comfortable than the dragon throne in the Golden Palace."
After saying that, she turned to look at Zhao Huaixu and said, "How about finding a royal family member who understands the suffering of the people and letting Zhao Huaixu assist in the administration?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall exploded, but Fang Yilan and Zhao Huaixu said no more. As long as it was for the people, there would be a suitable candidate for the throne in the end.
A few days later, the new emperor ascended the throne. Zhao Huaixu assisted in the government affairs, while Fang Yilan was ordered to go to war and garrison the northwestern border.
Less than a month after arriving in the northwest, on a quiet night, Fang Yilan was staring at the bright moon in a daze when suddenly a familiar breath enveloped her.
Fang Yilan raised her lip and asked, "Why is Prince Zhao not busy reviewing memorials in the capital instead of running out here to starve?"
Before she could turn around, a warm breath brushed against her ear and Zhao Huaixu's arm wrapped around her from behind.
"The general took advantage of the situation back then. You must be responsible to me to the end."
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