Chapter 60 She is Liu Tan.
"I gather fragrant herbs and wild angelica, and string autumn orchids as my adornment. In the morning I pluck magnolias from the hills, and in the evening I gather withered grasses from the islets..."
Huiyin frowned slightly. She could feel someone wiping her body, carefully applying medicine, and gently moistening her dry lips with water. In her hazy state, Huiyin heard someone's voice. Who was it?
She drifted in and out of sleep, until someone held her hand and called her "Lady," at which point she slowly woke up. Everything around her was completely unfamiliar. The maidservant who was serving by her bedside was overjoyed to see her awake and rushed out to call for help.
Huiyin propped herself up and sat up. The wound on her back was wrapped in layers of white cloth. It didn't hurt as much as it did at first; only a slight numbness remained.
The room was elegantly decorated, and the incense burning in the stove had a sweet but not cloying aroma. The color scheme of the curtains inside was eye-catching, and a landscape painting of spring was painted on the screen, showing that the owner had a refined taste.
Huiyin threw off the covers and got out of bed. She took the coat hanging on the clothes rack and put it on, then bent down to tie her belt.
Yan Niang's exclamation came from outside the door, "Young lady, why are you staying here? Go back quickly!"
Huiyin turned her head and stared blankly at Yanniang, somewhat incredulous, "You..."
Before she could finish speaking, Yan Niang had already run up to her, pulled her to sit on the bed, and kept muttering, "Your back injury hasn't healed yet, you need to rest properly."
"Mother Fu, what are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to leave the city?" Huiyin held back for a moment, but finally couldn't help but hug Yan Niang and cry softly.
Yan Niang stroked Huiyin's soft hair tenderly, "I heard you leave the city. You were found by Wang Langjun. He said you were injured and had a high fever that wouldn't go down, so he couldn't give you any medicine. I panicked when I heard that, so I followed Wang Langjun's men back."
Huiyin sniffed, lifted her head from Yan Niang's arms, her eyes, washed by tears, were clear and bright, "Mother Fu, I did it, I cleared Father's name."
"I knew it, my lady, you could do it." Tears welled up in Yan Niang's eyes.
The mistress and servant hugged and cried for a while before Huiyin remembered to ask, "Are we in the Prince's mansion?"
“It’s one of my residences.” Wang Huan stood at the door, his long eyelashes like raven feathers.
He was followed into the room by a group of maids carrying lacquer trays. They quickly set out the food on a small table and brought it to Huiyin's bedside for her to eat.
Wang Huan stood at the door, a warm smile on his face. "May I come in?"
Huiyin nodded. "Of course. If you hadn't saved me, I might be sleeping on the streets."
Wang Huan chuckled softly and remained silent, sitting upright behind the screen. His voice was gentle and warm, "You've just recovered from a serious illness, so I had some light meals and medicinal dishes prepared. Would you like to try some?"
Huiyin picked up the silver spoon. The congee was savory and delicious, with some diced bamboo shoots and minced meat added. After she finished eating, Yanniang cleared the table and took the dishes out. For a moment, only the two of them remained in the room.
The two spoke at the same time:
How long was I unconscious?
"Does the wound on your back still hurt?"
Huiyin moved her shoulders and shook her head, saying, "My injury is healed and it doesn't hurt anymore."
Wang Huan got up and walked behind the screen. He reached into the inner room through the curtain and held a jade jar in his long, slender hand.
"You've been unconscious for three days. The physician said it's because you took a very strong medicine, which caused your blood to rush upwards and your internal organs to overheat, resulting in a persistent high fever. We've been waiting for the medicine to dissipate these past few days, and we've only used some ointment for external injuries. Here's some medicine to reduce swelling and bruising. Take this, and I'll have Yan Niang apply it for you later."
Huiyin accepted the ointment and sincerely thanked him, "Wang Huan, thank you so much. You have helped me so much, I have no way to repay you. In the future..."
Wang Huan's tone was somewhat disappointed, "Huiyin, do you think I helped you for your reward?"
"That's not what I meant," Huiyin quickly waved her hand to explain.
Wang Huan stared at the figure behind the veil, his eyes growing increasingly dark. "If Pei Yu helped you, would you be this polite to him?"
Huiyin's words were cut off by him. She gripped the jade jar tightly, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. "You are different."
"I want to be like him."
Huiyin took a deep breath, got up from the bed, lifted the curtain, and stood facing Wang Huan. She was wearing an outer garment, and apart from her disheveled hair, her clothes were neat and she was not impolite.
"I'm sorry, please don't waste any more time on me."
Wang Huan wasn't surprised to hear this. He lowered his eyes; Huiyin's complexion was much better than it had been three days ago, and the color had returned to her lips. During the three days she was unconscious, besides murmuring about her deceased parents and younger brother, she only called out the names of two people: Yan Niang and Pei Yu.
He knew that he couldn't compare to Pei Yu in Huiyin's heart, but he still wanted to try; he didn't want to miss out again.
"Huiyin, I don't ask you to accept me right now. Time can heal all wounds. I can wait for you, until the day you forget Pei Yu. I want to marry you then, and I'll protect you from now on, okay?"
Huiyin avoided Wang Huan's gaze. Her mind was in turmoil, and she didn't want to think about anything related to her feelings anymore. She didn't want to go back to that state of being unable to control her emotions.
She replied, "I'm sorry, I won't consider such things anymore. Wang Huan, I'm very grateful to you, you are my best friend, and I cherish you very much. You will definitely meet a woman a thousand times better than me in the future, and I will leave Chang'an, perhaps never to return in this lifetime."
She turned around, her eyes crinkling as she looked at Wang Huan, and said with a smile, "I will wish you a smooth, peaceful, and joyful life from afar."
Wang Huan's throat tightened, "If we get engaged..."
“There are no ifs,” Huiyin interrupted him. “Life cannot be relived, and we cannot dwell on the past; we must look forward.”
The two faced each other in silence. After a long while, Wang Huan's broken expression returned to calm. His eyes were red and his voice was hoarse. "I understand. You can stay here for the time being. I will come to see you off when you leave."
Huiyin nodded silently, watching him leave.
Wang Huan walked to the door, looked up at the blazing sun, which was blindingly bright. He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight, and gave a self-deprecating laugh. In truth, he couldn't blame anyone else. If he hadn't defied the elders' objections and forcefully taken Huiyin under his wing when the Song family first encountered trouble, everything would have been different.
He stopped and sighed helplessly, sometimes wishing he could be a little more petty.
Wang Huan stopped and turned to Huiyin, saying, "I don't think I'm any less devoted to you than Pei Yu, but he really surprised me that day in the main hall."
Huiyin opened her eyes wide, somewhat puzzled, "What did you say?"
Wang Huan said helplessly, "I've thought about it for a long time, whether or not to tell you. But I think you should know about this. That day in the main hall, the remaining forty-seven lashes you took were taken by Pei Yu in your place."
...
After Huiyin left the main hall, everyone present, except for Su Wenyi, lowered their heads, showing expressions of pity. Wang Huan wanted to step forward to plead for her, but Wang Heng held him back tightly, saying, "This is what she has to endure, and it is what she asked for herself!"
Wang Huan closed his eyes in despair. After fifty strokes, it was uncertain whether Huiyin would even have a breath left. Moreover, with her injuries, she argued with Su Wenyi in the main hall. If he had known she would do this today, he would have stopped her.
In his despair, he suddenly heard the people in the hall catch their breath and turn to look ahead. Pei Yu had appeared in the hall at some point. He knelt upright and spoke loudly, "Your Majesty, when I quelled the rebellion of Dong'ou, you asked me what reward I wanted. I said I would ask Your Majesty for it when I remembered. I wonder if Your Majesty still remembers?"
Emperor Xuan squinted. "I remember. What, are you asking me for it now?"
"Yes." Pei Yu bowed and kowtowed. "Your Majesty once said that what is promised must not harm the country and the nation. Today, I wish to use military achievements to exchange for Song Huiyin's exemption from punishment. This has nothing to do with the country and the nation. Please grant me permission, Your Majesty."
Su Wenyi turned his head stiffly, glaring angrily, "General Pei, you are mistaken. Song Huiyin's act of appealing to higher authorities and being subjected to torture is in accordance with the law. How can you disregard the law for your own selfish reasons!"
Emperor Xuan appeared troubled, "That does make some sense."
"Then I will choose another one. I humbly request Your Majesty to allow me to take the blame for Song Huiyin."
Pei Yu turned to stare at the furious Su Wenyi and said with a sneer, "This shouldn't be related to the law, right?"
Su Wenyi looked as if he had been choked, his face turned pale, and his lips trembled as he pointed at Pei Yu.
Emperor Xuan laughed and said, "Are you sure you want to exchange military merits for this?"
Pei Yu lowered his head. "Your subject is certain."
"I grant your permission," Emperor Xuan said with a smile, stroking his sleeve. "Go out and receive your punishment."
Pei Yu respectfully finished his bow, without even glancing at Su Wenyi's ferocious expression, and got up to walk out of the main hall.
He stood on the steps of the main hall, easily taking in the view below. He watched as Huiyin was being helped up by two eunuchs.
A trace of blood remained at the corner of her lips, her face was as white as paper, but her eyes were still bright and shining so brightly that people dared not look directly at them.
Pei Yu withdrew his gaze and brushed past Huiyin.
He didn't sit on the torture bench, but knelt upright in the center of the stone steps, removed his outer robe to reveal his narrow back, leaned slightly forward, and clasped his hands together in front of him.
Someone handed him a handkerchief and said, "General Pei, bite on this so you don't hurt your tongue during the execution."
Pei Yu silently accepted the handkerchief. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another handkerchief lying on the ground not far away. It was the one Huiyin had bitten earlier, and there were still bright red bloodstains on it.
Pei Yu felt as if a blunt instrument was drilling into his heart, making it hard for him to breathe. He asked in a hoarse voice, "How much did you go just now?"
The man replied, "Three mosses, you still need to suffer forty-seven more mosses."
San Tai: Huiyin is frail and has fair skin. Even a little force can leave a red mark, let alone San Tai. She must be in a lot of pain.
Pei Yu threw away the handkerchief, his heart tightening. "Do it."
Perhaps the executioners dared not go too far, for after enduring forty-seven moss treatments, Pei Yu remained conscious and did not faint. However, his back was completely numb, and he could not even feel the pain.
Blood flowed down his back, pooling in a small pool beneath him. Someone helped him up from behind and told him to hurry and find a doctor.
Pei Yu pushed him away, staggered, picked up his coat and put it on. He could still bear it, how could he leave her here alone, how could he leave her to face those wolves and tigers alone?
Pei Yu stiffly dressed and struggled to walk upstairs. He thought with a touch of self-mockery, "The old saying is true: if your body aches, your heart doesn't."
...
Huiyin was stunned when she heard Wang Huan's words. She never expected that Pei Yu would go to such lengths for her.
Why would he do this? Didn't they already break up and agree to go their separate ways?
Huiyin was in a state of utter confusion, not even noticing when Wang Huan had left. She sat there, covering her face, and belatedly realized that the smell of blood she had smelled in the main hall that day was not an illusion.
She knew better than anyone how severe the moss torture was; she had only endured three blows and was already so severely injured, let alone the remaining forty-seven.
He was injured but still helped her in the main hall, and even found a witness she had never been able to find. What exactly did Pei Yu mean by this?
Huiyin rubbed her head haphazardly. Just moments ago she had sworn that she would never be swayed by emotions again. What was she doing now?
She tilted her head back and exhaled, then stood up and forced down three cups of tea to suppress the frustration in her heart.
Yan Niang came over with a wooden comb, pulled Huiyin to sit down, and gently combed her long hair. Her tone was gentle, "Today, Young Master Wang helped us retrieve all the old belongings of the Song family from the Prefect of Jingzhao. The Song family is currently occupied by someone else, and they are willing to buy it with money. What do you think?"
Huiyin was silent for a moment, then said, "Give it to them. We won't stay in Chang'an for long either. Even if we come back, no one will live here for long, and it will fall into ruin sooner or later."
“That’s what I was thinking too,” Yan Niang tentatively asked, “So when are we leaving Chang’an?”
Huiyin looked out the window. Someone passed by under the tree, and the birds were startled and flew south. Her voice was a little low, "Find someone to calculate an auspicious day for the coffin to be taken back to the hometown."
Yan Niang nodded. "I'll go find someone to take care of it." She hesitated, opening her mouth but not speaking.
Huiyin noticed this, turned her head and smiled, "Just say what you want to say."
Yan Niang: "We left in a hurry and didn't get to take many things from the Pei residence. Do you still want them?"
Huiyin's eyes trembled. The thoughts she had managed to suppress resurfaced at this moment. She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, and a voice in her heart kept telling her to go see him.
She managed to open her mouth with difficulty, "Yes, I'll pick it up in a couple of days."
——
After spending three days in the villa, Huiyin's injuries had healed considerably. On this day, she had a carriage prepared and went to the Pei residence alone without calling Yanniang.
The side gate of the Pei residence remained tightly closed, just as before. Huiyin sat in the carriage for a long time before getting off and knocking on the door. The servant at the side gate recognized her and looked surprised to see her.
Huiyin handed over a small gold bead, saying, "Could you please inform the young general that I wish to see him?"
The servant opened the door and stepped aside to let Huiyin in. "My lady, please come in quickly. Would you like me to take you to the inner courtyard?"
Huiyin shook her head. "I know the way."
She entered the path with hanging flowers and walked inwards. For some reason, none of the maids in the backyard were there today, and there was no one along the way.
Huiyin paused slightly as she saw the Linshui Pavilion. Its doors and windows were tightly shut, and in just a few days, the branches and leaves of the large locust tree in the courtyard had withered considerably. She also heard no sounds from Asang or Aheng within the courtyard.
Huiyin glanced around for a moment, then continued forward, finally stopping outside Shuofeng Hall. She hesitated for a moment outside the door, then stepped inside. The servants scattered around in the courtyard saw her and stopped what they were doing to bow to her. One of them glanced at her quickly, then lowered his head, looking at the inner room with a strange expression.
Huiyin followed his gaze and looked towards Pei Yu's bedroom. She had only been there once before, and now the door was tightly closed, and it was quiet inside.
She asked, "Is the young general here?"
The group of children exchanged glances and shoved one of them forward to speak. The boy, with a handsome face, stammered, "The young general is... resting inside, inside..."
Before he could finish speaking, the door to Pei Yu's bedroom was opened from the inside. Huiyin saw a woman dressed in a light purple dress with intertwined branches and a flowing hem walk out from behind the door. The jade hairpin in her hair, of excellent quality, shimmered gently in the light.
Huiyin froze, her gaze fixed on her, a name welling up in her heart: Liu Tan.
Liu Tan closed the door very quietly, afraid of disturbing the person resting inside. She turned around, a faint smile on her lips, her gaze briefly touching Huiyin before leaving. In a soft voice, she instructed the servants in the courtyard to leave.
The servants did indeed listen to her, quickly cleaning up the basin of water and rags on the floor, and hurriedly leaving the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind them.
After everyone left, Huiyin noticed Liu Tan's gaze fixed on her, and she also got a clear look at Liu Tan's appearance. Her figure was slender and graceful, her brows slightly furrowed, like a beauty from a misty, rainy Jiangnan region. She exuded an aura of scholarly refinement, appearing to be a well-read and talented woman.
Liu Tan spoke first, standing motionless at the door of the bedroom, adopting the demeanor of the lady of the house, "You are Song Huiyin?"
Huiyin withdrew her gaze and nodded gently, "Miss Liu."
Liu Tan crossed her arms in front of her abdomen, tilted her head slightly, and although she was about the same height as Huiyin, she had a more imposing presence because she was standing on the steps. "You've come to visit your brother Yuanxi?"
Huiyin responded softly, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Liu Tan raise his hand to straighten his collar, speaking affectionately, "Brother Yuanxi has just taken his medicine and fallen asleep. If you have anything to say, you can tell me, and I will pass it on for you."
Huiyin felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if she were being pricked by needles. Looking at this woman who acted as if she were the mistress of the Pei family, she couldn't help but want to confront her. "The young general was seriously injured because of me, and I want to visit him in person."
Liu Tan smiled gently and recalled, "Brother Yuanxi is still the same, cold on the outside but warm on the inside. He would help a pitiful person on the roadside, let alone you? I heard that you have left the Pei family. Did you send someone to announce your arrival today?"
Huiyin clenched her fists and remained silent.
Liu Tan smiled dismissively and called for someone to come in, asking, "Who brought this Miss Song in? Why was no one announced?"
The servant looked troubled and said with his head down, "...Reporting to Miss Liu, no one informed her or led the way; she came by herself."
"I understand, you may leave." Liu Tan waved her hand gently, the light gauze draped over her arm rising and falling with her movements, her posture elegant and beautiful.
Huiyin lowered her eyes, gave a self-deprecating laugh, and didn't understand why she had come here to humiliate herself today. How stupid of her.
She raised her eyes and curtsied slightly, saying, "Please ask Miss Liu to convey my gratitude to General Pei. I will repay his kindness when the opportunity arises."
Liu Tan smiled and nodded, then spoke up just as Huiyin stepped out the door, "By the way, my wedding with Brother Yuanxi is set for before the new year. Would Miss Song do me the honor of attending?"
Huiyin stopped and looked back at Liu Tan's undisguised smugness. She smiled slightly and said, "Perhaps I can't go. I'm sure Miss Liu and General Pei don't need my blessing."
She hurriedly left Shuofeng Hall, feeling like a defeated, homeless dog, without even the courage to look back.
Huiyin returned to Linshui Pavilion by the same route, gently knocked on the door, and after a short while the door was opened. Aheng poked her round head out with a puzzled look on her face. When she saw that it was her, she was overjoyed and quickly shouted, "Wife, you're back!"
She opened the door and let Huiyin in. Asang, who was still inside, heard this and ran out as well, looking at Huiyin with a joyful expression. "Wife, are you leaving again this time?"
Huiyin smiled and said, "I'm here to pick up something."
Ah Heng and Ah Sang looked disappointed, holding hands and looking at Hui Yin hesitantly, following behind her like little tails.
Huiyin looked up and surveyed the small courtyard. The courtyard was exactly the same as when she left, and the furnishings inside the house were unchanged. The floor and tables were clean and tidy, indicating that someone had been cleaning it all along.
Ah Heng said softly, "After you left, the young general ordered that nothing here be touched."
Huiyin didn't say anything and went straight upstairs. The second floor was also untouched, and the room was still filled with her usual incense.
She walked to the cabinet, took out the bamboo dragonfly that Pei Yan had given her as an apology, left everything else untouched, and also took the Nine Heavens Jade Pendant that Wang Huan had found for her.
Aheng stepped forward and took the Nine Heavens Jade Pendant from Huiyin's hand, saying reluctantly, "My lady, let me see you out."
Huiyin nodded, letting the two escort her to the side gate. A maid from the Prince's mansion stepped forward to take the things from Aheng's hands and carried them to the carriage. She turned to look at Asang and Aheng, "Thank you so much for taking care of me these past few days."
The two women stepped aside to avoid Huiyin's curtsy, waving their hands repeatedly, "Please don't say that, madam. It is our honor to serve you."
Huiyin told the two to go back, then turned to walk outside. A furious shout came from behind her, "Song Huiyin, stop right there!"
She turned to look, and He Jiaying rushed over, lifting her skirt, grabbed her angrily, and demanded, "What's going on? What happened?"
Huiyin supported her, a smile appearing in her usually calm eyes. "You're so well-informed, there's something you don't know?"
He Jiaying frowned. "I know about your affairs with the Su family, but I don't know why you left the Pei residence. Is it because my cousin blames you, or because of my aunt?"
"It has nothing to do with them. I want to leave on my own. I want to leave Chang'an." When Huiyin heard Pei Yu's name, the smile on her face faded.
"Chang'an is so prosperous, why leave?" He Jiaying frowned, tightly gripping Huiyin's arm, looking completely puzzled.
Huiyin: "I don't like it here, it's not good here."
He Jiaying said, feeling wronged, "But I don't want you to leave."
Huiyin patted her hand and comforted her, "Separation is for the next meeting. If there's a chance, we'll meet again."
He Jiaying's lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face. "Do you really have to leave? I know my cousin and aunt have treated you badly, and you've suffered a lot of grievances here. I've also wronged you before, but I really can't bear to leave you."
“Your cousin must also be reluctant to let you go. When the Crown Prince sent him back to the manor that day, he was unconscious and covered in blood. If he didn’t care about you, why would he take the punishment for you? Huiyin, even if you want to leave, wait for your cousin to wake up.”
Huiyin looked towards Shuofeng Hall and gently shook her head. "I'm leaving. Take good care of yourself. If you're unsure about anything, ask Aunt Tao first. Don't do anything foolish again."
She pulled He Jiaying's arm away, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and left the Pei residence without a trace of regret.
She did not return to the villa, but instead sent someone towards the Court of Justice's residence. The entire Su family was imprisoned, Su Wenyi was to be executed in the autumn, the other male members were exiled to a harsh and cold place, and the female members were reduced to slavery.
Before leaving, she always had to go and see Su Jinghao to get an answer.
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