Night Talk
In the evening, Helian Chong's army marched into the imperial city of Xuzhou, where it was brightly lit and filled with the sounds of music.
The banquet in Northern Qi was extremely extravagant. The dancers had slender waists and their flowing sleeves fluttered, eliciting bursts of laughter from the soldiers. Some clapped their hands in admiration, while others, drunk, reached out to touch the dancers' skirts, shouting, "These Southern Suzhou women are indeed more captivating than our Northern Qi women when they dance!"
Su Jing sat at the lowest seat, with cold food and wine in front of him, untouched by anyone.
Chu Yiran stood behind him, his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, his eyes filled with suppressed anger.
After the dance ended, a drunken general from Northern Qi grabbed a dancer and dragged her out of the hall. The woman struggled in panic, but he picked her up and carried her down the corridor while laughing.
The woman's pitiful screams mingled with the taunts of the Northern Qi soldiers. Chu Yiran's muscles tensed, and his fingertips subtly pressed down on the hidden arrow in his sleeve.
"Don't move." Su Jing didn't even turn his head. His voice was very soft, but it was undeniably authoritative.
Chu Yiran gritted his teeth but ultimately didn't move.
Helian Chong, seated at the head of the table, narrowed his eyes, a playful smile playing on his lips. He slowly picked up his wine cup and walked to Su Jing, saying, "Seventh Prince, now that you've come to Northern Qi, wouldn't it be a shame not to have a drink?"
Su Jing paused slightly, a faint smile still on her face, but she did not reach out to take it.
Chu Yiran knew that Su Jing never drank alcohol, so he stepped forward and said loudly, "Your Highness has never liked drinking, so this servant will drink this cup for you!"
The hall fell silent instantly.
Helian Chong raised an eyebrow and looked at Su Jing with a half-smile: "What, Your Highness won't even give me a cup of wine?"
Su Jing lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting a shadow beneath them, concealing the turbulent emotions surging within.
After a long pause, he slowly raised his hand, his fingertips just touching the rim of the cup—
Chu Yiran snatched the wine glass, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. The wine slid down his lips and dripped onto his clothes, spreading a dark stain.
"Good wine," he said coldly, slamming the empty cup down on the table, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing Helian Chong.
Helian Chong stared at him for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Interesting! Isn't Nansu known for its emphasis on etiquette and strict hierarchy?" He clapped his hands. "A mere servant dares to speak on behalf of his master?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed the wine pot and shoved it directly in front of Chu Yiran.
"Since you're going to drink on my behalf, then drink it all the way!" he chuckled. "Drink this whole pot!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Chu Yiran picked up the wine jug, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. The strong liquor was like a red-hot thin blade, cutting straight down his throat.
"Hahahaha!" Upon seeing this, Helian Chong returned to the main seat with a loud laugh.
The singing and dancing stopped for a while. Helian Chong leaned lazily on the main seat, a smile on his lips, and suddenly clapped his hands.
“What’s the point of just watching dancing?” he said slowly. “How about we add some entertainment?”
As soon as the words were spoken, the palace doors swung open, and dozens of ragged Southern Su people were pushed in. Some of them were limping, and some were injured. They were roughly shoved by the Northern Qi soldiers and made to stand in rows of five.
“We, the Northern Qi, are a people on horseback, and everyone is skilled in riding and archery,” Helian Chong laughed. “Today, let the Seventh Prince witness how the men of Northern Qi draw their bows!”
The soldiers grinned maliciously as they placed apples one by one on the heads of the civilians.
"Whoever hits the apple will be rewarded with a jar of wine!" Helian Chong announced loudly. "If you miss... well, that depends on luck."
Before the words were even finished, the bowstring had already been twanged.
The first arrow struck the apple squarely, and the man was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, convulsing and too afraid to get up.
The second arrow missed, piercing a man's throat directly. Blood spurted out, and the man collapsed before he could even scream.
The hall erupted in laughter, with some clapping and cheering, "Excellent archery! Again!"
Just as the third arrow was about to be fired, a thin boy finally broke down, turned around and ran behind a pillar.
"Why are you running!" a drunken general cursed, grabbing a palace servant standing behind Su Jing.
"You're the one!"
The palace maid struggled in terror, but was forcibly made to stand in the center of the hall, just as the apple was placed on her head—
"Whoosh!"
An arrow pierced the skull.
"Oops, my hand slipped." The general waved his hand drunkenly and laughed loudly.
The laughter inside the hall grew louder, and five new "targets" were brought to the front. Someone, with bleary eyes, pointed at Chu Yiran and said, "Bring this one over too!"
The soldier reached out and grabbed—
Su Jing suddenly raised his hand and grabbed the man's wrist.
The entire room fell silent.
“If we’re talking about horsemanship and archery, Your Highness is undoubtedly the best in Northern Qi,” he slowly raised his eyes, a faint smile even playing on his lips, but his eyes were chillingly cold. “Why don’t I play with Your Highness?”
Helian Chong raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes: "Oh? How does the Seventh Prince want to play?"
Su Jing walked slowly forward, passing the five trembling Southern Su civilians. His gaze swept over each terrified face, finally settling on a middle-aged man—whose face was sallow, covered in wounds, and had a dark red lump on his neck, as if he had been strangled.
Seeing Su Jing slowly scrutinizing him, Helian Chong, overcome by drunkenness, walked from his seat to the center of the hall.
He wanted to see what Su Jing was up to.
Su Jing reached out and gently placed her fingertips on the man's neck.
"How about..." he chuckled softly, then suddenly grabbed the lump with his other hand and squeezed it hard!
"ah--!"
A piercing scream rang out as the man convulsed in agony, blood gushing from the swelling and dripping between Su Jing's fingers. He staggered forward, his back arching as he barely touched Helian Chong's fingertips—
"You're in the way." Su Jing scoffed coldly, shoving the person away forcefully. "Get out of my way."
The man fell to the ground, clutching his neck and curling up in a ball, making hoarse breathing sounds.
Su Jing walked to the spot where the man had been standing, took an apple from the fruit plate, and steadily balanced it on her head.
"Fourth Prince, please." He smiled slightly, his eyes as deep and unfathomable as a pool.
Helian Chong narrowed his eyes, slowly nocked an arrow and drew his bow; the sound of the taut bowstring was exceptionally clear in the silent hall.
The arrowhead was aimed at Su Jing's brow, its cold light gleaming.
"Whoosh—!"
The arrow pierced the air, precisely striking the apple and embedding itself in the beam behind him. Shards flew everywhere, and apple fragments landed on Su Jing's shoulder.
He didn't even blink, but simply raised his hand to brush away the fruit crumbs on his shoulder, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Your Highness is indeed a master archer."
"Hahahaha!" Helian Chong, having lost his enthusiasm, waved his hand and left. "The banquet is over. Everyone, disperse."
As the crowd dispersed, Chu Yiran and another palace maid quickly stepped forward to help Su Jing.
Su Jing suddenly flung his sleeve and shouted sternly, "You unruly servant! How dare you offend the Fourth Prince! Get out of here!"
Chu Yiran stood frozen in place, the effects of the alcohol still churning in his stomach and burning his throat. He stared blankly at Su Jing, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Su Jing turned around, put his arm around another palace maid, and walked towards the bedroom without looking back.
Chu Yiran didn't know why Su Jing was scolding him, and felt a little wronged, so he could only follow Su Jing from a distance.
——
The night was deep, and a cold wind howled outside the palace.
Chu Yiran stood outside the hall for a long time, his knuckles stiff from the cold, before he heard a low, hoarse voice from inside: "Come in."
He pushed open the door and was immediately greeted by a burnt smell.
The curtains inside the palace hung tightly shut, making it airtight. In the brazier at the foot of the bed, the outer robe that Su Jing had just worn was crackling and burning, the scarlet flames licking at the brocade, slowly swallowing the bloodstains into ash.
"Don't come any closer." Su Jing's voice came from behind the curtain, hoarse beyond belief. "Go to the closet and get a clean set of clothes, cover your mouth and nose, then take a blanket and spread it out further away... You sleep on the floor."
Chu Yiran froze on the spot, his throat tightening: "Your Highness?"
"Go quickly."
After Chu Yiran finished tidying up as instructed, Su Jingcai said in a hoarse voice, "That person had the plague. I've seen it in medical books. It's different from the common plague. Infected people will develop lumps in places such as the groin, armpits, and neck... If you come into direct contact with the patient's blood, sweat, or droplets, it is very easy to get infected."
Chu Yiran's pupils contracted sharply as he recalled the scene from just now: "Then His Highness wouldn't be—"
“I’m definitely infected,” Su Jingjing chuckled, “but Helian Chong can’t escape it either.”
Chu Yiran sighed, looking worried, and said, "Your Highness, why are you doing this? The plague has always been difficult to cure, and it's common for seven or eight out of ten people to die..."
“That’s still better than going to Yanjing,” Su Jing coughed twice and pulled his thin nightgown tighter. “Northern Qi has been operating in Yanjing for decades. If I go there, I will have no chance of escape. But the plague… is enough to hold back Helian Chong’s army.”
Looking at the emaciated figure in the curtained room, Chu Yiran suddenly felt a pang of heartache: "Your Highness, I'll go find a doctor right now."
"Don't alarm outsiders. This illness needs another day or two to develop. Helian Chong won't let me really die then. Don't worry, they'll be more anxious than we are..." Su Jing turned over and looked at Chu Yiran through the curtain. "Lie down and talk to me. You drank so much tonight, aren't you dizzy?"
Su Jing's words inexplicably brought him peace of mind. Chu Yiran slowly lay down on the bedding on the floor. Still feeling the effects of the alcohol, his head was spinning. He stared at the roof beam above him and muttered, "If it were any other day... my mother would be frantic right now, and she would definitely have made me a big bowl of hangover soup—"
He regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth.
There was a moment of silence inside the curtained room, then Su Jing said softly, "Princess Anning is a good mother."
There was no jealousy or self-pity in his tone, but rather a hint of gentle approval. Chu Yiran felt a slight sense of relief, and then heard Su Jing continue, "Although I lost my mother at birth, I had a wet nurse, a maid who was always by my side."
A spark popped from the charcoal fire.
“She said my mother’s hometown was Langya. Her family was of modest means, but they lived a peaceful life.” Su Jing’s voice was soft, as if she were talking about a distant dream. “My parents farmed, and my brother sold salt. If my father hadn’t brought her into the palace that year, she would have lived a free and happy life…”
"My wet nurse also told me many things about my mother, but unfortunately she died of illness when I was five years old, and I can't remember what she told me before..."
"Your Highness..." Chu Yiran didn't know what to say.
Su Jing suddenly asked, "Will you regret it?"
"What?"
"You are the heir of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion, your father is a great general who has fought on the battlefield, and your mother is the noble and precious Princess Anning. You could have enjoyed wealth and honor, but instead you followed me to this dangerous and treacherous place..."
"Your Highness, if I were to live a life of debauchery like the royal family of Southern Su, given the current situation and the covetous gaze of Northern Qi, how many more years could I possibly enjoy my wealth and status?"
Upon hearing this, Su Jing smiled and said, "You have extraordinary insight and a broad vision; you are destined for greatness."
“Your Highness understands my heart well, and you are someone I can follow. I have never been someone pampered and sheltered from the world, so Your Highness need not worry about me!” Chu Yiran smiled, then whispered, “You will not betray me, and I will not betray you…”
The night wind swept through the windowpane, making a soft, mournful sound.
That night, they talked for a very long time.
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