Chapter 107 You absolutely must take this fertility-killing pill. ...
The capital city was gripped by a climate of fear due to the change of imperial power, and the number of foreign merchant caravans entering the city had decreased significantly. This situation was largely due to the dozen or so bloody human heads hanging in front of the city walls. Fortunately, the winter weather was cold, and the severed heads did not attract swarms of flies; they were simply a gruesome sight to behold.
Jin An lowered the sedan curtain and looked at Yu Ruxi, who had also turned her gaze away. Still shaken, he said, "The deceased's face was incredibly ferocious; it's clear he was terrified before he died. I'd only ever heard of that living Yama's extraordinary methods before, but seeing him today... it would have been better if I hadn't seen him at all. I'm sure I'll have nightmares tonight..."
Anyone would be terrified to see a row of heads with their necks cut into jagged pieces hanging high in the air, some even with their eyes wide open.
Yu Ruxi punched Jin An in the chest, but she didn't use much force. Her tone was teasing as she spoke, "Jin An, we haven't even fought the real deal yet, and you're already scared?"
Jin An had lost a lot of weight. He pounded his chest twice to encourage himself, saying, "How could that be! I've been practicing martial arts lately! I, Jin An, would go to great lengths for my friends without hesitation! I will definitely bring Brother Tan back to the capital. We haven't even finished writing our story, 'The Road to First Rank for Two Brothers in the Sixth and Seventh Grades'!"
Yu Ruxi said, "Then don't boost others' morale and diminish your own. Xiao Yinshi is both vicious and wicked. Did you look closely at the cut on the severed neck just now? The cut was uneven, indicating it wasn't made in one stroke. The executioner held the knife to the neck and slowly cut, and the executioner's struggle caused such a cut. In other words, the person being executed could hear the sound of their neck separating from their head as they died... Yesterday, during a casual chat among the gatekeepers at the post station, I overheard that the dead were Xiao Yinshi's uncle who usurped the throne and his son, along with some rebel henchmen."
"Stop, stop, stop!" Jin An interrupted repeatedly, then gagged uncontrollably, a chill running down his spine. He said, "We're here to demand people from him, and we're going to have a tough battle. Don't try to scare me. Logically speaking, new rulers should all have the ambition to die for their country and become a wise and benevolent ruler who benefits all people. Why is Xiao Yinshi going against the grain?"
Yu Ruxi shook her head and said to Jin An in a calm tone, "He neither pursues extravagance nor bestows imperial favor to alleviate the suffering of the people. I believe that for him, the throne is merely a tool to achieve his goal of revenge."
Jin An said, "Such a person is terrifying. He has the appearance of a dragon and a snake but doesn't show it. When he was a snake, he hid in the wilderness and lay low in the officialdom of Da Huang for more than ten years; after he became a dragon, he controlled the world, and anyone who stood in his way died... Yu Ruxi, we have to rack our brains to negotiate!"
As they spoke, the carriage had already entered the capital city. A long procession of people in brocade robes and embroidered saddles, adorned with halberds and jade ornaments, escorted three large sedan chairs as they slowly made their way through the city. The grand procession of the Dahuang Dynasty attracted many people to line the streets to watch.
At this time of year, the air is thin, and the mountains surrounding Beijing cannot block the cold waves that come in. People wearing winter cotton clothes jostle shoulder to shoulder on the road, their eyes filled with curiosity, trying to peek through the narrow gaps in the swaying sedan curtains.
The clamor of the city and the clatter of the carriage wheels filled their ears. Yu Ruxi and Jin An remained silent and took a break. Suddenly, they heard a horse neighing outside the carriage. A hurricane swept in and lifted the curtain, revealing the rider on horseback.
Yu Ruxi narrowed her eyes as she looked at the newcomer and said, "Long time no see, General Shen."
Shen Shiyi dismounted and gestured for the sedan chair bearers to get off. The bearers glanced back at Yu Ruxi, and after receiving permission, bowed and dismounted. Shen Shiyi's lips curled slightly as he stepped onto the carriage, picked up the reins, and flicked them, leading the carriage away from the Huangchao ceremonial guard.
With a long sigh, the carriage stopped in front of the general's mansion. The servants inside hurriedly came over to take the horses, and Shen Shiyi led the two to sit in the reception pavilion inside the mansion.
Just as the day's horoscope was turned, the sun began to rise. The reception pavilion, covered with glazed tiles, was simple and elegant in appearance. Yu Ruxi casually leaned against a pillar, looking at Shen Shiyi with a half-smile, and said coldly, "Since our parting at Dahuang, General Shen, how have you been?"
Before Shen Shiyi could answer, she added sarcastically, "Of course he's doing well. Feng Tan's gunshot shattered the chains binding your brother, and with his family rescued, he's naturally overjoyed. Why would he care whether someone else's husband is alive or dead?"
Shen Shiyi remained unmoved upon hearing this. He personally poured Jin An a cup of tea as a gesture of hospitality before answering Yu Ruxi's barbed words, "I am in the wrong, and there is no way to refute it. The reason I invited you two here today is precisely because of this matter. I, Shen Shiyi, have never acted against my conscience, but last time, a villain caused me to break my promise to Feng Tan. Without her, my brother could not have been rescued... Ultimately, I owe her a great deal. Mingzhu has been tarnished in Dahua. She should have been thriving in the officialdom, but now she is imprisoned in the palace. It is her misfortune. My brother and I have received a debt of gratitude from her that we have not yet repaid, and we will do our best to help her."
Yu Ruxi narrowed her eyes, a hint of suspicion rising within them, and said, "You're here to help us take Feng Tan away?"
"It's not really about helping. After all, I'm a member of the Great Hua Clan, and I can't afford to offend the Great Hua Emperor. I'm just... doing my best," Shen Shiyi said.
"Willing to risk everything, even to bring down the emperor." Yu Ruxi looked into Shen Shiyi's eyes, sat on the low stool in front of the stone table, and looked her straight in the eye. "Ordinary people naturally don't have such courage, and it seems General Shen is no exception. But, who were you referring to as the villain you just mentioned?"
Shen Shiyi poured Yu Ruxi another cup of hot tea and said, "On this cold day, tea is served like wine to guests. Look how dry your lips are, they're even peeling."
The hot tea was a clear, reddish liquid, and its aroma filled the air as it was poured. Shen Shiyi poured himself another cup and said, "A villain caused this, and a gentleman suffers in silence. I'm sorry, Miss Yu, I cannot reveal the villain's name."
Jin An gripped his teacup tightly, a look of doubt creeping across his face. He said, "General Shen, you're neither going to help us openly nor will you tell us who started this. What exactly are you up to with this tea party today?"
Shen Shiyi maintained a calm tone throughout, saying, "You just saw the heads hanging in front of the city gate. You don't recognize the people of Dahua, so you couldn't tell that one member of the royal family was missing from the corpses hanging in front of the city gate. He was the only survivor of this incident, and also a malignant tumor lurking in the shadows, threatening the emperor's throne. It is because of him that villains now have the opportunity to do evil. As the saying goes, 'When villains prosper, virtuous men retreat.' Before we are confident of success in one fell swoop, I can only guide you and protect your path."
Yu Ruxi and Jin An knew a little about the inside story of the Dahua Coup, but not the specifics. Yu Ruxi intuitively felt that Shen Shiyi's words were credible, and she had no reason to go to such lengths to deceive them. So she asked, "Then what does General Shen mean by asking us to do?"
Shen Shiyi secretly monitored Xiao Liling's every move. Her ruthless and insidious methods kept Shen Shiyi constantly on guard. According to the latest intelligence, Xiao Liling intended to directly target Feng Tan, who was imprisoned in the inner palace. Ever since Feng Tan's attempt to make a deal with her, Xiao Yinshi had given her a death order, forbidding her from approaching Feng Tan, and the palace was naturally closed to her.
If she were to tell Xiao Yinshi directly, and if Xiao Liling had a backup plan, the failure would definitely be detrimental to the Shen family. She wouldn't let the Shen family risk their lives for the debt she owed. After thinking it over, she decided it would be better to hand the matter over to the people in Feng Tan's camp.
Shen Shiyi quietly tightened his grip on the teacup and said, "Her lightness skill was crippled by Xiao Yinshi. After that, she killed Ban Huayun to vent her anger, so Xiao Yinshi completely locked her in the bed and she couldn't leave the palace."
Before she could finish speaking, Yu Ruxi and Jin An simultaneously smashed their teacups, shouting angrily, "You worthless bastards!"
Jin'an, having completely disregarded his refined upbringing as a son of an official, cursed in vulgar slang: "Damn it! To keep an eye on Tan-ge'er, he used such a despicable method, locking her in bed. What's the difference between that and breaking her bones!"
After the two of them finished venting, Shen Shiyi spoke again, "With the arrival of the envoy today, Xiao Yinshi is too busy to take care of Feng Tan. The Luosha Army guarding Feng Tan cannot easily enter the inner palace. If anyone wants to harm Feng Tan, tonight is the best opportunity."
Upon hearing this, Jin An's pupils contracted sharply, and he said, "Does the general mean that someone is planning to take this opportunity to kill Feng Tan tonight?"
"She wouldn't dare, nor would she, commit suicide." Shen Shiyi took a sip of tea, his voice icy. "In short, her methods won't let Feng Tan off easily. Who are the people who will be able to enter the palace for a meeting tonight?"
Jin An and Yu Ruxi exchanged a glance and said, "According to the rules we have set, on the first day of our arrival in the capital, officials from the Court of State Ceremonial will act as envoys to negotiate."
Shen Shiyi nodded and said, "Then tell them that they must go to the Emperor's bedroom no matter what... It would be best if they had high martial arts skills so that they could sneak in unnoticed."
The officials in the Court of State Ceremonial were all civil officials. How could they possibly infiltrate the most heavily guarded imperial palace without leaving a trace? Yu Ruxi frowned slightly as she pondered. Among the officials of Laihuang, there were quite a few military officers of the seventh rank or above, but none of them were under her command. If she reported this to Emperor Chongming, he would be very suspicious. It seemed that only she could handle this matter.
“Actually, besides you, there is another person.” Shen Shiyi’s gaze shifted between Yu Ruxi and Jin An, then slowly lowered again. “The King of Chu.”
To ensure everything went smoothly, she relayed the same message to the King of Chu. During the prison break that day, Shen Shiyi had clearly witnessed the King of Chu's shady intentions. The distorted love among the imperial family was commonplace in Shen Shiyi's eyes, and precisely because of this, the King of Chu could become a useful tool for her to use to kill tonight.
He did many bad things on Evil Island under the guise of subduing evil spirits, and he should fight evil with evil to suppress the real evil spirits.
Upon hearing the name of the King of Chu, Yu Ruxi let out a sarcastic laugh and said, "One should not rush into treatment when one is in dire need, General Shen."
***
The cold chains pressed against his wrist bones, leaving two deep red marks over the past few days. Feng Tan lay on the bed, turning his head to look at the sky outside the window.
It was around late afternoon, but the sky was not yet completely dark. The palace lanterns outside the hall had been lit, making the shadows of the bamboo covering the window paper even clearer.
The mealtime had arrived, and a long line of palace maids and eunuchs presented various fragrant dishes to the table. Two palace maids who were serving him walked to the golden pillar on the left and right and loosened a small section of the chain to ensure that Feng Tan had enough length to walk to the table.
Unable to fathom the emperor's thoughts, she killed Lady Ban, and in a fit of rage, the emperor locked her up—but locked her to his bed. If His Majesty hated this girl, why would he treat someone who killed his own mother with such kindness and privilege? If His Majesty loved this girl, why would he chain his beloved to his bed?
Because they couldn't figure her out, they didn't dare to mistreat her. However, this girl was quite resilient. Most girls locked in bed would become melancholic, but she was different. In just a few days, she asked for a lot of historical books, miscellaneous records, and storybooks to read. Apart from showing some resentment at the beginning, she never seemed discouraged again in the following days.
Steel chains fastened to her wrists made a clanging sound when Feng Tan ate, and whenever the palace maids saw this and offered to feed her, Feng Tan would shake her head and refuse. Feng Tan considered restoring her health her top priority; she knew that health was the foundation of everything, so even though she was confined to bed all day, she never stopped training her legs to recover.
When Feng Tan was a child, she had to be coaxed by Empress Xiaoxian, Emperor Chongming, and chased after by Sheng Honghai and Shang Chunxiang to feed her. The situation now was completely different from when she was a child. She swallowed a mouthful of hot porridge and thought to herself with a self-deprecating smile. A gentle female voice came from behind her, "I've come at a good time. I heard that my second brother has invited many chefs from Dahuang to cook for you. May I sit down and have a taste?"
Feng Tan turned to look at Xiao Liling and smiled, "It is my pleasure to have someone accompany me for a meal. Please, Princess."
Xiao Liling sat down next to Feng Tan, looking at the dazzling array of dishes on the table. She slowly pursed her lips, her gaze falling on the porcelain wine cup beside her. She reached out and picked it up, saying, "The winter night is a bit chilly. Miss Feng can't bask in the sun, so how about we warm some wine to ward off the cold?"
Feng Tan accepted the wine cup offered by her, looked at Xiao Liling's expressionless face, and said, "Princess, I heard that you fainted several times after Madam Ban died. Everyone says that I am the real murderer of Madam Ban. Why would you come to see me?"
“I know you’re not,” Xiao Liling said, holding a wine cup in a toasting gesture, her eyelids still red and swollen from crying for too long.
Feng Tan looked at Xiao Liling, and after a brief silence, drank the wine she offered, saying, "What makes you say that?"
Xiao Liling laughed silently. She waved for the palace maids serving in the hall to leave the inner palace. Seeing their hesitant expressions, she said, "I am the future Empress of the Great Hua Dynasty. Don't I even have this much power?"
"Of course there is," the palace maids responded and withdrew. Xiao Liling slowly stood up from her seat, walked behind Feng Tan, gently placed her hands on Feng Tan's shoulders, and whispered in her ear, "Because I was the one who killed Ban Huayun."
Upon hearing this, Feng Tan gripped her wine cup tightly, her fingertips turning slightly white. She turned her head to meet Xiao Liling's eyes, her voice cold and deep, "Thank goodness you told me."
The implication was that Feng Tan hadn't found enough evidence yet. Xiao Liling was taken aback. Had she lost her composure and exposed herself? But it didn't matter. With Feng Tan's intelligence, she had already locked onto her as the suspect. Finding the truth was only a matter of time.
Xiao Liling's fingers, which were clasped on Feng Tan's shoulders, moved slightly, caressing her still slightly swollen lips, and then touched the bite marks on her neck. Her expression became unreadable, and her voice became low and hoarse as she said, "Feng Tan, his desires are hard to bear, aren't they?"
Feng Tan saw a hint of envy in Xiao Liling's eyes as she leaned over, and the feeling of her skin being caressed instantly made her feel disgusted. She tried to raise her hand to brush away Xiao Liling's fingers that were stroking her neck, but she couldn't muster any strength and instead fell off the wooden chair onto the thick carpet.
Xiao Liling squatted down, looking at Feng Tan lying weakly on his back, and said, "I knew you were carrying a weapon, so I gave you muscle-relaxing powder."
Feng Tan took in her expression and said confidently, "You put it in that cup of wine."
Xiao Liling raised an eyebrow. "You know? You know, so why did you still drink it?"
"If I don't drink, will you tell the truth?" Feng Tan's expression remained indifferent after Xiao Liling's confession. Even now, when she was struggling to speak, there was no sign of panic on her face. "Why? Why did you kill Feng Youming?"
Xiao Liling disliked seeing her like this. She grabbed Feng Tan's collar and forced her to lean forward, finally seeing her disheveled appearance. Then, in her usual gentle tone, she said, "I didn't mean to kill her; I meant to kill you."
Just as Feng Tan had predicted, Xiao Liling suddenly released her grip on the clothes, causing Feng Tan to fall violently back to the ground. She looked at Xiao Liling as he leaned closer and said, "So now, are you going to kill me?"
Xiao Liling knew Feng Tan was ruthless, but her current submissive appearance was quite satisfying. Her tone unconsciously dropped its pretense, revealing the softness that was inherent in her voice, "You are the apple of Xiao Yinshi's eye, so of course I can't kill you. But Feng Tan, the position of Empress was something I obtained by abandoning my father and brothers' lives, and I will not allow you to have even the slightest possibility of taking it away."
As she spoke, Xiao Liling reached out and pinched Feng Tan's chin, forcing her to open her mouth slightly, before taking out a light brown pill from her sleeve. "So, you absolutely have to take this infertility pill."
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