Chapter 67 This may be the last of their lives...
The next morning, the red silk in the courtyard was removed. The newly bought maid was still young and unsettled. She stood in front of the gate, staring intently at the street and listening to the commotion in the neighborhood.
Yan Niang was brewing medicine in the stove when Huiyin fell ill that morning. It was unclear whether it was due to being chilled by the cold from wearing too little clothing the night before, or perhaps due to emotional distress. She was delirious with fever early this morning. Fortunately, Yan Yunzhang had stayed here the previous night and had already sent someone to fetch a doctor.
He only felt relieved after watching the doctor finish prescribing the medicine and then left, hurrying towards the county government office, probably to find out about the crimes committed by the Yan family and try to negotiate a settlement.
Yan Niang brought the medicine into the room. Hui Yin had already gotten up and was leaning against the table in a daze, the ink slowly seeping from the brush in her hand.
She stepped forward and saw a scroll on the table. She vaguely recognized it as a set of laws and regulations. She put down the medicine and advised, "Take your medicine first and then read it."
Huiyin pressed her hand against her dizzy throbbing scrotum and drank the medicine in the bowl in one gulp. Yesterday, Pei Yu's sudden arrival interrupted County Magistrate Zhang's plans, and he was still being held by Pei Yu, so he didn't have time to cause trouble for the Yan family.
Once Pei Huo leaves, County Magistrate Zhang will likely launch an attack to arrest everyone in the Yan household; they don't have much time left.
After writing the letter, Huiyin ordered it to be sent to Chang'an immediately. She didn't want to trouble Wang Huan and Feng Cheng any further unless absolutely necessary. The Yan family was now in imminent danger, and she couldn't stand idly by.
It wasn't until nearly dusk that she received a message from Yan Yunzhang's messenger: County Lieutenant Zhang, in collusion with the Song family's wolves and leopards, had framed the Yan family. Their fabricated evidence was so complete that it was impossible to find any flaws in it for the time being; the Song family and County Lieutenant Zhang must have been plotting this for a long time.
Huiyin inquired with the messenger about the whereabouts of Magistrate Zhang.
The man replied, "The Prefect has somehow ended up staying at the county government office. It's heavily guarded, and we can't find out what's going on inside."
The prefect who came yesterday came with Pei Yu. He hasn't left yet, so Pei Yu probably hasn't left Wan County either.
Even with the fastest horse, the letter to Chang'an would take seven days to arrive. Pei Yu and the prefect would not know when they would leave Wan County. Chang'an was too far away to provide immediate relief. The best course of action now was to find the prefect before County Commandant Zhang took power, explain the situation, and ask him to make a decision.
Huiyin recalled the life of Prefect Yao Qing. She had never met him, but she had heard of his deeds. Yao Qing was born into a clan in Shu and was from the same hometown as the current Prime Minister. The two had a close relationship, and Yao Qing's rise to his current position was inseparable from the Prime Minister's support.
He had a well-known hobby: a love of fine wine. When he was serving in Luoyang, he offended a nobleman while drunk. Only because the prime minister protected him was he not punished and was instead transferred to Jingzhou.
Thinking of this, Huiyin hurriedly instructed the messenger to go back and tell Yan Yunzhang and Yan Xiao to try to get in touch with the prefect.
If they could climb up to the position of prefect, having an official as a backer would be very good for the Yan family in the future, and they would no longer have to fear being framed by others.
Hearing her words, the Yan father and son took their family's treasured rice wine and headed to the county government office. However, they were stopped before they even reached the gate. The usually lax county government office gate was tightly closed, and many elite soldiers were stationed there to enforce the strict regulations.
The guards sized them up and shouted, "This is a restricted area of the county government. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter. Leave immediately!"
Yan Xiao wanted to step forward again to ask for leniency, but Yan Yunzhang quickly pulled him aside. The side gate of the county government office was still guarded by elite soldiers, but the side gate was open. Several doctors carrying medicine boxes walked in, while others shook their heads and walked out.
Recalling Pei Yu's condition last night, Yan Yunzhang frowned deeply. These doctors must have been summoned by the prefect to treat Pei Yu, but why did the situation look so bad?
Unable to enter the county government office, meet the prefect, or find out any inside information, the Yan father and son could only look for other avenues while sending messages to Huiyin.
When Yan Yunzhang arrived, Huiyin was being forced to drink medicine by Yan Niang. She swallowed it with a frown, then immediately stuffed a piece of candied fruit into her mouth and pouted at Yan Niang.
When Yan Yunzhang saw her acting like a little girl, he couldn't help but smile. But his smile aggravated the injury on his chest, causing him to cough a few times.
The two, master and servant, stopped talking upon noticing Yan Yunzhang's arrival. Huiyin regained her composure and asked with concern, "Cousin, have you taken your medicine?"
Yan Yunzhang smiled and said, "I've taken the medicine. My injury isn't serious; I just have a bit of a cough."
Huiyin nodded and then asked, "How is the situation at the county government office? Have you seen the prefect?"
Yan Yunzhang hesitated for a moment, but still told Huiyin everything he had seen at the county office. He added, "I asked a doctor I know, and he said that the injured nobleman from Chang'an has a persistent high fever and his wounds are infected. His condition is very serious."
"The prefect has summoned all the doctors in the vicinity, but the man's injuries are so severe that he needs strong medicine. However, even with strong medicine, they cannot guarantee his life or death. The prefect is hesitant to make a decision, and the situation is currently at a stalemate."
Huiyin's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she remained silent upon hearing this. After Yan Yunzhang left, she sat in the courtyard, unable to describe the feelings in her heart—worry, sadness, or grief.
She could only pray to the gods, praying that Pei Yu wouldn't die. Even when she hated Pei Yu the most, she never thought of him dying.
——
When Chi Yan arrived, Huiyin was reviewing the messages sent back from various places. She had someone investigate along the southward route with Jingchuan's portrait. This was the first batch of messages sent back, and Huiyin looked through them one by one, but they were all useless clues.
She wasn't too disappointed. Finding someone in such a vast country as the Southern Dynasty was no easy task, and she was prepared for a long haul.
Yan Niang called her from outside, saying that Chi Yan had come to see her and asked her to go to the county government office.
Huiyin: "Did he say anything about it?"
Yan Niang hesitated for a moment: "They say General Pei is seriously ill, with a persistent high fever, and refuses to take medicine. They ask you to go and see him."
Huiyin paused slightly, then calmly said, "I don't know how to cure diseases, so it would be useless for you to go."
Yan Niang went out to report, while Hui Yin stared at the message in her hand for a long time without taking it in.
A moment later, a commotion arose outside. Huiyin heard Yanniang's dissuasion and Chiyan's urgent tone, "If we wait any longer, the young general will die here. If His Majesty and the Empress investigate, who in Jingzhou can bear the responsibility!"
Chi Yan lightly stepped past Yan Niang and rushed into the inner room, fine beads of sweat on his nose. He rushed to the door, restrained himself from going in, and shouted loudly, "Miss Song, the young general is critically ill. If the situation were not so urgent, Chi Yan would not have bothered you."
His brows furrowed, turning downwards like an inverted V. Chi Yan waited for a long time without any movement from inside, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. Impatient, he stepped forward and pushed open the door.
The next moment, the wooden door opened in front of him, and Huiyin, dressed in plain clothes and pale-faced, stood in front of him. "Take me there."
Chi Yan snapped out of his daze and led Huiyin away. He subtly glanced at Huiyin's pale lips, feeling a pang of regret for his impulsive actions.
Huiyin gave Yanniang a reassuring look and instructed, "If your uncle and cousin come looking for me, tell them the truth and tell them not to worry."
Yan Niang nodded, then called to Huiyin, who was about to get into the carriage, and hurriedly handed her a blue cloak. On the way to the county government office, Huiyin opened the carriage window and asked the driver, Chi Yan, "How is he?"
Chi Yan hesitated for a moment, but in the end dared not hide the truth and said: "The young general's back injury has not healed. The wound has been torn open and aggravated several times. The doctor said it was due to the severe shock to his mind and the recurrence of the old injury, and the high fever that has not subsided."
Huiyin asked, "Why won't he properly recover from his injuries?"
Chi Yan: "When the young general woke up, he wanted to go find you, and no one could stop him. It was raining heavily that day. When he learned that you had left Chang'an, he stayed in the rain for a long time."
Huiyin knew that the rain had started shortly after she left Chang'an. The heavy rain caused a landslide, and she was forced to stay for a day.
Chi Yan scrutinized Huiyin's face, but he couldn't discern anything—no anger, no worry. He couldn't help but feel indignant for the young general, and his tone became somewhat harsh, "After he woke up, he needed strong medicine to get out of bed, and as soon as he did, he came to find you without stopping, working day and night, which aggravated his injuries."
Huiyin sensed the protectiveness towards Pei Yu in his words; it's true that people tend to favor those they're close to. She didn't say anything, after all, Pei Yu had taken the injury for her. If she had suffered that punishment herself, she probably wouldn't have survived long ago. Pei Yu had saved her life.
Now that his injuries have relapsed and he is in critical condition, she can't just sit idly by. Besides, Chi Yan was right about one thing: if something really happens to Pei Yu, she doesn't know if the Empress will blame her, but Madam Pei certainly won't let her off the hook.
Chi Yan drove the carriage at a steady and fast pace, and the two soon arrived at the county government office, heading towards the back courtyard. At the entrance of the main building, the prefect was wiping the sweat from his brow, holding a doctor's hand and talking incessantly.
In the distance, several doctors in plain clothes were gathered, discussing the matter with grave expressions, shaking their heads and sighing from time to time. Huiyin quickened her pace; she had initially thought Chi Yan was exaggerating, but it turned out to be truly dangerous. She even forgot to greet the prefect and went straight into the room.
This was the first time Huiyin had seen Pei Yu so weak. His forehead was covered in cold sweat, his face and lips were as pale as the color of a human, his eyes were closed, and he was unconscious.
She walked over, and the bitter smell of medicine wafted towards her. Several bowls of dark medicine were placed beside the bed. Chi Yan, who was following behind her, said, "No matter what I do, the young general just won't take his medicine. He clenches his teeth and I can't get it down his throat."
Huiyin sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Pei Yu's clenched jawline and his upper body wrapped in white cloth. She couldn't help but feel resentful towards him. Why did he so easily break down her defenses when she was trying her best to forget him?
Huiyin grasped Pei Yu's hands with both of hers, leaned closer and rubbed against his hands, saying painfully, "Pei Yu, sometimes I really hate you."
She hates you, yet she can't let you go. Even if she's unwilling to admit it, her instincts will kick in; she still loves him.
She couldn't help but bury her head and sob. How could she describe the feeling? After her parents passed away, she was like a walking corpse for a long time. She appeared normal on the surface, but only she knew the truth.
If it weren't for her burning desire for revenge, she surely wouldn't have been able to hold on and would have followed them in death. She was such a timid and cowardly person; when she first met Pei Yu, her heart and mind were filled with nothing but scheming.
She was scheming about how to please him, lull him into a false sense of security, and achieve her own goals.
Even though she sensed Pei Yu's feelings for her, she kept avoiding it and didn't want to face her own heart; she was afraid.
Later, everything went off track. She clearly sensed Pei Yu's intense and passionate emotions, which attracted her and made her unconsciously want to respond.
The time she spent confirming her feelings for Song at the Ganquan Palace was the happiest day she had since the Song family's misfortune, allowing her to forget her troubles and let go of everything to be herself.
Pei Yu brought her not only pain, but also pleasure.
Huiyin looked up through teary eyes, her tears dripping onto their clasped hands, leaving a trail of water.
She could feel the subtle movements of Pei Yu's hand. Huiyin asked softly, "Pei Yu, can you hear me?"
"Would you like to take your medicine?"
"I don't want you to die."
Huiyin saw Pei Yu slowly open his eyes, stroke her cheek, and wipe away her tears with his warm fingertips. He had been lying there for a long time, his voice hoarse and strained.
But Huiyin still heard what he said very clearly: "Why do I always bring you tears?"
What he really wanted to ask was, "Are you in so much pain and have no happiness at all while I'm by your side?"
Huiyin could no longer hold back her tears. She rubbed against Pei Yu's palm, tears streaming down her face, unable to utter a word.
She really wanted to say, "No, I'm so happy to be with you. I've truly thought about my future with Pei Yu and wanted to spend my whole life with him."
Pei Yu's palms were covered in Huiyin's tears, the warmth traveling to his heart and making him stiff. He struggled to sit up and held Huiyin in his arms, sighing helplessly, "Don't cry, I'll listen to you this time, I won't bother you anymore."
Huiyin held her breath, her tears flowing even more fiercely. She hugged Pei Yu back, clenched her teeth, buried her face in his shoulder, and let out a whimper like a small animal.
She didn't understand why I would make her so sad and upset when she had begged for all of this.
Pei Yu struggled to raise his hand and touch Huiyin's hair, savoring the last bit of warmth. "I'll listen to you and go back to Chang'an. You must take good care of yourself here."
“If you encounter any difficulties, just ask someone to send me a message,” he paused, then laughed self-deprecatingly, “You’ll probably only ask Wang Huan and Feng Cheng, not me.”
Huiyin silently shed tears, clutching his clothes tightly. The smell of Pei Yu's ointment filled her nostrils, mixed with a faint odor of blood.
Pei Yu turned his head close to Huiyin's, closing his eyes in anguish. He truly had no other choice; he didn't know what to do with Huiyin. Even though he could forcefully take her away, he knew her temperament better than anyone else.
"Better to die a glorious death than live a shameful life." If he really treated her like that, he would only drive her to her death.
Pei Yu couldn't bear Huiyin's tears. He always thought that being with Huiyin was the best thing for her, and that only he could give her happiness.
The moment he woke up, he saw Huiyin sitting by the bed and felt an indescribable joy welling up in his heart. But the next moment he saw Huiyin with tears streaming down her face, crying in pain.
He felt as if he had fallen from heaven to hell in an instant. Thinking back, it seemed that Huiyin was never happy when she was by his side; she was always crying.
Pei Yu didn't want to see her tears; perhaps disappearing from her sight from now on would be the best thing for her.
He released Huiyin and saw that her eyelids were red and swollen, and even the tip of her nose was red. He raised his hand and carefully wiped away Huiyin's tears, saying with difficulty, "Go back, I'm fine, I'll take my medicine properly."
Huiyin didn't even dare to look up, afraid that she would burst into tears if she saw Pei Yu. She nodded silently, got up and walked to the door.
Throughout the ordeal, Pei Yu's eyes followed her. The moment he saw her about to step out the door, his numb heart began to pound violently, his blood rushed to his brain, and his consciousness became incredibly clear.
Huiyin is really leaving. Pei Yu couldn't help but turn his head, clenching his teeth tightly, as if something was sliding down his cheek.
He raised his fingertips to touch it, only to find that it was a tear.
Huiyin stopped at the door and said in a trembling voice, "Take care."
She didn't hear Pei Yu's reply, only the faint gasps of breath from inside the room.
Both of them knew in their hearts that this might be the last time they would ever see each other.
Pei Yu stared at the door for a long time, until his eyes stung and his body felt hot again. He covered his eyes and lowered his head helplessly.
——
Huiyin walked out of the county government office alone. The sunlight at the entrance was dazzling, and she remembered that she still had to see the prefect and ask about the Yan family.
She turned and walked inside, and saw Chi Yan walking quickly toward her, bowing respectfully, "Miss Song, the young general instructed me to escort you back."
Huiyin's eyelids were a little swollen and painful. She covered her eyes with one hand and said in a muffled voice, "I still have some things to discuss with the Prefect."
Chi Yan: "Is it because of the Yan family?"
Huiyin nodded. She heard Chi Yan say, "The young general has already sent the county magistrate's crime report to Chang'an. Soon, Chang'an will appoint another county magistrate here. This person is close to the Pei family, so you can go directly to him if you encounter any problems."
Huiyin's throat tightened. Pei Yu had arranged everything for her; he had dealt with County Magistrate Zhang, thus resolving the Yan family's predicament. Worried that she might be bullied, he specially arranged for a trusted confidant to take up the post.
She closed her eyes and said, "Please thank General Pei for me."
Exhausted, Huiyin returned to the courtyard, where the Yan father and son had been waiting for her for a long time.
She stepped forward, a smile playing on her lips. "County Magistrate Zhang has committed numerous crimes and is already in prison. The imperial court will soon send someone to take up the post. The Yan family is safe now."
Yan Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, wanting to bring up the marriage again, but was stopped by Yan Yunzhang beside him. Yan Yunzhang shook his head at his father, signaling him not to mention it.
Yan Xiao hesitated for a moment, but when he saw Huiyin return from the county office looking tired, and then recalled the general at the wedding hall yesterday, he understood a little.
"Huiyin, you should rest well. Your uncle will come to see you again tomorrow."
Huiyin mustered her spirits to see them off. She didn't even have the strength to walk back to her room. She sat weakly on the steps, the coolness of the floor enveloping her.
She closed her eyes and leaned back against the pillar, her gaze unfocused and unable to settle, her arms wrapped around herself.
Yan Niang carried a pot of hot tea and sat down next to Huiyin, pouring her a cup of hot tea. "Winter is almost here, and you're still sick. Have some tea to warm yourself up."
Huiyin took the teacup and warmed it in her hands. The aftereffects of jumping into the lake to save He Jiaying in the spring were finally showing at this moment.
Not only was she physically weak, but even before winter arrived, her hands and feet were already icy cold, and despite wearing many layers of clothing, her body still couldn't warm up.
Yan Niang didn't offer any words of comfort. She knelt beside Huiyin, silently keeping her company. After a long while, she heard Huiyin ask her, "Mother Fu, actually, it's quite nice for the two of us to live like this. I don't want to marry Yan Yunzhang anymore."
Yan Niang gently stroked Huiyin's hair and laughed, "I think so too. If we had another son-in-law, I wouldn't know what to do."
Huiyin slowly leaned over, resting her head on Yanniang's shoulder, watching the sun being swallowed by dark clouds little by little, the sky darkening, and the cold wind making her face sting.
She closed her eyes, finally relaxing for once.
The next morning, Huiyin received news that Pei Yu and the prefect had left Wan County. In addition, she also received news that Song Xiuwu and Song Qiao had colluded with County Magistrate Zhang to oppress the people and run rampant in the countryside, and had also been imprisoned.
Fearing that the fire would spread to them, the Song family members went to Huiyin early in the morning, begging her to give them some guidance.
Huiyin was initially surprised, but then she laughed. Her original plan was to use some of her wealth to bribe other members of the clan and win them over to her side to remove Song Xiuwu from power and replace him with a clan leader who was closer to her. However, she did not expect that before she could make a move, Pei Yu would beat her to it and even sell her this favor.
She brought the Song family members in, comforted them, and told them that Song Xiuwu and Song Qiao's crimes would not implicate the clan. The best course of action now was to elect another clan leader to take charge.
Upon hearing this, the group's thoughts immediately stirred, and they tentatively asked Huiyin if she had someone she was interested in.
Huiyin smiled and said, "I am just a junior, and it is not appropriate for me to interfere in important matters of the clan. Let the elders decide."
The clan elders dared not appoint anyone arbitrarily. The high-ranking official from Chang'an was so flattering that even the prefect had to fawn over him. He easily dismissed Zhang, the county magistrate. It was said that the newly appointed county magistrate was his confidant, which clearly showed that he was protecting Huiyin.
After a brief discussion, one of the clan elders stepped forward and said, "We have just discussed this and decided to elect the Ninth Elder as the clan leader. What do you think?"
This elder of the ninth clan was Song Ping's grandfather. He was usually very low-key in the clan, but he was fair and just and was highly respected by the clan. However, he was not wealthy and did not have a high status in the clan.
As for why they chose him, Huiyin knew perfectly well. After leaving the Yan residence, she sent Song Ping a gift to thank him for guiding her that day, perhaps to make them think that she was close to Song Ping's family.
Huiyin had no opinion on who was elected clan leader. She only said one sentence: "I only hope that from now on, no one in the clan will interfere in my family's affairs, not in any way."
The Ninth Elder and the others exchanged glances and nodded in agreement, "Don't worry."
After they left, Huiyin stared blankly northward. His injuries had not yet healed, and if he set off like this, would they relapse?
"Young lady, Young Master Yan has arrived," Yan Niang announced from outside.
Huiyin snapped out of her thoughts and went out to see Yan Yunzhang. Yan Yunzhang was the same as before, only his face was a little pale, and he was coughing slightly with one hand on his chest. Huiyin looked guilty; if it weren't for her, Yan Yunzhang wouldn't have been injured.
She asked softly, "Cousin, is your injury any better?"
Yan Yunzhang waved his hand with a wry smile, "It's alright."
Huiyin invited him inside and to sit down, but Yan Yunzhang didn't move. His smile was forced, and the light in his eyes was no longer bright. "I'm here today to talk to you about the marriage."
"I'm sorry, cousin, we should call off our marriage."
Huiyin lowered her eyes. She knew that saying these things was very unfair to Yan Yunzhang, but after experiencing these things, she would not be with Pei Yu, but she also could not accept Yan Yunzhang.
Even though she spoke so harshly and resolutely, her heart did not lie. She still loved Pei Yu. Her rejection of Yan Yunzhang was not because she wanted to remain chaste for Pei Yu. She simply couldn't face the feelings of another person for the time being, even if he didn't care about her.
Yan Yunzhang felt uneasy from the moment Pei Yu appeared. He felt inferior to that man, and he had no right to interfere in the past and feelings between him and Huiyin.
But he still held onto hope: if Huiyin rejected Pei Yu, would she consider accepting him? So he didn't want to give up; he still wanted to try.
“Huiyin, I know you’re feeling very confused right now. I can wait for you, until the day you’re willing to accept me.”
Huiyin shook her head firmly, "Cousin, I can't accept it."
Many things are unpredictable in the future. She doesn't know if she will fall in love with Yan Yunzhang. Nor does she know if Yan Yunzhang will ask her to reciprocate his feelings.
Huiyin was truly exhausted. Yan Yunzhang and Wang Huan were in the same boat; their relationships, to varying degrees, had become a burden for her. She couldn't respond, nor did she want to hold them back.
Yan Yunzhang cupped his face in his hands, his voice muffled. Huiyin was also upset, so she turned her back to Yan Yunzhang to express her feelings.
Yan Yunzhang wiped away his tears and choked out, "Will you still treat my cousin well in the future?"
Huiyin: "The Yan family is my maternal uncle's family, and you are my cousin." But you are only my cousin.
Yan Yunzhang tidied his face, turned around and walked out. As he stepped out, he stopped involuntarily and couldn't help but turn back to look at Huiyin.
Huiyin remained with her back to him, the autumn wind lifting her skirt, exuding a cool and ethereal beauty. From the very beginning, it was he who harbored unrealistic hopes. Huiyin belonged to no one—not to Pei Yu, nor to him; she belonged only to herself.
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