Soul Dies in Xiling
Eunuch Feng sighed and shook his head. "Young master, why are you doing this? With just one imperial decree from His Majesty, the young marquis will return." Tang Feng chuckled, toying with the handcuffs in his hands. "Perhaps, but this is the last thing I can do for him."
After Tang Feng returned to the palace, he was escorted back by Eunuch Feng. When Eunuch Feng unlocked his handcuffs, he saw that Tang Feng's face was deathly pale and couldn't help but say, "Young Master, please take care of yourself. This old servant won't be able to come often anymore." Tang Feng nodded, swaying as he leaned against the wall to walk back to his room. The moment he closed the door, all the strength seemed to drain from his body, and he could no longer support himself. He slid down to the ground against the wooden door, looked up, and sneered, "Ziliang, how laughable. I actually thought I could spend my whole life with you, but in the end, it was all just a pipe dream. I wanted to never forget you, but I didn't want you to live the rest of your life in pain. I'm sorry..."
Since the first snowfall, Tang Feng had fallen ill and remained bedridden. Occasionally, he would sit up to write letters to Zhou Ziliang, but most of the time he was in a deep sleep. Perhaps due to the care of Eunuch Feng, the meals brought by the guards, though simple, were still warm, and the servants outside did not disturb him. Tang Feng lived one day at a time, but his health was deteriorating rapidly, giving him a premonition that his time was near. Whenever he became somewhat lucid, he would get up and sit at his desk to write. Since he could no longer be with Zhou Ziliang, he would write down his longing and send it to him. Although he thought this way, his hands could no longer hold the pen; after a short rest, his hands would tremble uncontrollably. However, to avoid worrying Zhou Ziliang, he had to stop and rest for a while before continuing to write. Just as Tang Feng was about to blow dry the letter he had written, he heard footsteps approaching the house. With a muffled thud, the dilapidated wooden door was pushed open. Looking up, he saw that it was Zhang Mobai. Tang Feng seemed surprised by his arrival, and after a moment of stunned silence, he smiled at Zhang Mobai, "You shouldn't have come. After so many things have happened, you didn't even know how to protect yourself."
Hearing Tang Feng speak, Zhang Mobai's eyes instantly reddened. Tang Feng's room was drafty and dark, not even a spark could be seen in the dead of winter. Zhang Mobai had thought Tang Feng might be having a hard time, but he hadn't imagined it would be this desolate. Even prison would be better than this. But Zhang Mobai didn't want Tang Feng to worry, so he made a hoarse joke, trying to lighten the mood, "You can't not come, otherwise, if you die out there one day, who will collect your body?"
Tang Feng couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this, saying, "But we still have you, don't we?"
"Knowing you're in such a miserable state, why are you in such a hurry to get rid of Zhou Ziliang?" Zhang Mobai turned his head away, full of anger but ultimately not uttering a harsh word. "Aren't you cold? In a few days, I'll pull some strings and have someone send you some coal. Look at you, living here, do you still think you're a young master in the Zhou mansion? No one serves you and you don't even know how to take care of yourself..."
"Mo Bai... I'm sorry." Tang Feng put down the letter in his hand and looked up at his friend who had always been by his side. "His Majesty didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"
"What's the use of saying this now!" Zhang Mobai quickly walked to Tang Feng's side, grabbed his arm, and shouted, "Live on! Do you hear me! Live on, for whoever it is, even if it's not for me, at least for Ziliang..."
Tang Feng paused for a moment, then reached out and hugged Zhang Mobai. "You know... if I'm going to persuade Ziliang to leave, it means I don't have long to live."
Zhang Mobai shook his head and hugged Tang Feng, murmuring in a tearful voice, "Then why did you tell me... Don't you think this is painful for me too?"
Tang Feng didn't speak, but gently pushed Zhang Mobai away, cupped his hands and bowed to Zhang Mobai. "Although it's all my fault, I'm entrusting everything to Mobai." Seeing this, Zhang Mobai quickly wiped away his tears and went to help him up. "Okay, okay, I agree. What are you doing?"
Zhang Mobai told Tang Feng that Zhou Ziliang had already left, and before leaving, he asked him to check on Tang Feng. "Ziliang said that you seemed out of sorts the other day, and there must be something you didn't tell him, but he didn't dare to ask you, so he asked me to come and see if you were doing well." Zhang Mobai looked around the room, frowned, and said, "There's no place to light a fire in this house in winter. What are you going to do at night?"
Tang Feng stood up and walked to the bedside, sitting down as he touched the slightly moldy bed frame. "It's alright, as long as you're all safe. I'm a dying man, I don't need anything. Besides... the fact that my crimes haven't resulted in the extermination of my entire family is already an act of great mercy from His Majesty. How could I possibly make any more demands?"
"You don't need to worry too much. Yang Fei and I have only been transferred. Although Ziliang has been sent to the border, he is at least safe. As for the Ninth Prince, he is praying for the Empress Dowager day and night at the imperial mausoleum, and he will probably never be given an important position again."
Tang Feng closed his eyes, leaned against the bed, and chuckled softly, "What's the use of giving him an important position? His father has never given him a second glance. If he lives a mediocre life, so be it. He's probably thanks to this useless tutor of mine that he should know to be more restrained... What truly teaches people to grow is never stories, but experiences. After all, people always mature in the way they least like."
Zhang Mobai abruptly stood up, walked up to Tang Feng, and shook him. "And what about you? Are you just going to stay here for the rest of your life? Do you know how much infamy you'll bear in the future?! History won't record anything about you, and even after you die, your family won't be able to put up a memorial tablet for you! Are you really willing to accept that?" Tang Feng looked up at Zhang Mobai, his face expressionless, his eyes lifeless. "There's nothing I'm unwilling to accept, and you don't need to feel unwilling on my behalf. I've come this far... I've brought honor to my ancestors. Even my father didn't hold such a high position. I've achieved it, so what more could I ask for? I don't need anything to prove my existence. I... came into this world in an unclear way, and I don't need any elaborate descriptions when I leave."
"You!" Zhang Mobai released Tang Feng, stood up, and frowned. "Look at yourself now, so颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it implies a state of listlessness, apathy, and a lack of motivation)... This is no longer the Tang Feng I knew." He then turned to leave, but stopped at the doorway and said softly, "Next time I come, I'll secretly bring some charcoal. You better live well, and don't forget what you promised Ziliang."
Seeing Zhang Mobai leave, Tang Feng instantly lost all strength, his body slamming heavily onto the bed. The taste of blood filled his mouth, and bloodstains trickled down his chin onto the bed frame. Looking at the bloodstains, Tang Feng gave a bitter laugh. "Unfortunately, the Tang Feng you know isn't me, and shouldn't be me... I'll only bring you misfortune. Not just Ziliang's, but I can't keep any of your promises."
When Zhang Mobai returned to the manor, he found Zhang Ruoming waiting for him in the room. Zhang Mobai was taken aback at first, then bowed to Zhang Ruoming and said, "Father, you were waiting for me?"
"You went to see him?"
Zhang Mobai naturally knew who his father was referring to and nodded. "The previous dynasty always scatters like monkeys when the tree falls, never remembering a single bit of past affection. But I can't do that."
"How is Xiao Feng now?" Zhang Ruoming pointed to the chair next to him, gesturing for Zhang Mobai to sit down and talk.
“It’s not good, both mentally and physically,” Zhang Mobai said after a moment’s thought. “Father… I absolutely do not want my little brother to stay there any longer! In the dead of winter, the house is as cold as an ice cellar, and his health is poor… If this continues, someone will die! I suppose His Majesty was furious that day because he reopened the old case, and never considered my little brother’s words. If I petition again, perhaps His Majesty will show leniency…”
"Nonsense!" Zhang Ruoming stood up, pointed at Zhang Mobai and cursed, "How much more lenient do you expect His Majesty to be! Tang Feng is still alive, which is already a great favor. If it weren't for the Zhou family backing him up, from his entire family down to the servants, how could anyone have survived! You shut up!"
"But he's my friend! Am I just going to stand by and watch him die?"
"He's your friend, but are you capable of taking that risk for him? Do you dare challenge imperial power?!"
Zhang Mobai stood up, looked at his father, pursed his lips, suppressing his anger, and said, "I didn't, but I can't just stand by and do nothing. Your friend before, that Su Zili, didn't stay because his friend was too cowardly."
Seeing Zhang Mobai turn and leave, Zhang Ruoming trembled with anger, staggering back several steps before collapsing onto a stool, muttering, "Am I a coward? I'm telling you this only after I've tried it myself—don't go head-to-head with that person!"
Zhang Mobai left the Zhang residence and found himself unconsciously walking towards the Tang residence. The once bustling Tang Feng was now desolate. He intended to turn away, but instead, he raised his hand and knocked on the wooden door. Liu Yiwan opened it, smiling at Zhang Mobai before saying, "Young Master Zhang, are you looking for our young master? He hasn't returned in a long time, staying at the Zhou residence. However, I recently heard that the young marquis has gone to lead troops, so our young master will probably return soon. Perhaps you could wait a couple more days?" Seeing Liu Yiwan's clueless expression, Zhang Mobai remained silent. He dared not tell Qin Jiujiu about Tang Feng's current situation. He sighed, then forced a smile, "Alright...it's alright, I just came to check on things."
Liu Yiwan didn't quite understand Zhang Mobai's words, but she still let him in first. As she led Zhang Mobai towards the main hall, she said, "The New Year is coming in a few days. I don't know if my young master will come back, but it doesn't matter. He's doing quite well at the young marquis's place. Miss Jiu was thinking of offering incense and sacrifices to the master on New Year's Day. If the young master doesn't want to come back, we won't tell him, otherwise he'll be sad again..."
"Did Miss Jiu go out?"
"No, no, it's just been cold these past few days! I didn't want her to go out. If you need anything, just ask me. Do you want to see her? I'll go get her."
Zhang Mobai wanted to call out to Liu Yiwan, but seeing that Liu Yiwan had already walked away, he remained silent. He stood quietly in the hall, unsure how to face Qin Jiujiu. The Tang family had faced numerous misfortunes over the years, and Qin Jiujiu had single-handedly weathered them all—a truly remarkable feat. But Zhang Mobai dared not tell Qin Jiujiu about Tang Feng's accident, fearing it would cause him unbearable grief. Qin Jiujiu had lived in the Tang family for ten years and had long considered Tang Feng her own younger brother. He wondered if she could accept being told this.
"Who do we have here? It's Mo Bai," Qin Jiujiu said with a smile as she walked into the hall, holding an umbrella. "The snow is quite heavy. What brings you here today? Are you looking for Xiao Feng to go to the Zhou residence? My Xiao Feng is married now, so I haven't known where she is."
"No... I'm not looking for a handsome guy, I'm... I'm here to see you."
"Looking at me?" Qin Jiujiu raised her sleeve to cover her thin lips and chuckled. "That Mo Bai knows how to care for people much better than Xiao Feng. Let's eat here tonight, I'll cook for you. Speaking of which, how's Xiao Feng doing lately? I know he's doing well at the Zhou residence with Zi Liang taking care of him, but I heard a few days ago that Zi Liang went to the border again. The family won't be able to reunite for the New Year. I wonder what's going on. Have you gone to see him?"
Zhang Mobai nodded, swallowing back the words he wanted to say. "Little brother...it's fine. He's at the Zhou residence, with servants attending to him. Nothing will happen...nothing will." Zhang Mobai's eyes stung, and he turned his head away, not daring to look Qin Jiujiu in the eye. He whispered, "I have things to attend to at home, so I won't keep you company, sister. Let's have dinner another day."
"Huh?" Qin Jiujiu was puzzled to see Zhang Mobai leave in such a hurry, but thinking that perhaps because Tang Feng wasn't there, Zhang Mobai didn't intend to stay any longer, she didn't think about it further.
Tang Feng stared at the piles of coal on the floor, delivered by Zhang Mobai a few days ago. Lying in bed, too weak to sit up, he had only written three letters to Zhou Ziliang. Like a fish out of water, he gasped for breath, making a final struggle. For more than one night, he dreamt of his deceased loved ones: Qin Liuliu, Tang Zhaonan, Shen Qinghang, and Li Yunye. In his dreams, he kept apologizing to them. He didn't know what else he could do but apologize. Every morning he woke up in a cold sweat, then lay awake from the dead of night until dawn. "Mobai is right... all beings suffer. I can't even save myself, how can I save anyone else..."
Tang Feng endured one lonely night after another on his bed until he heard the sound of firecrackers outside, which brought him back to his senses. It was New Year's Eve. He tried to push himself out to see what was happening, but he was too weak. He strained his ears to listen to the firecrackers. "The snow outside is so heavy!" Tang Feng heard the sound and turned to see Zhang Mobai enter the room, rubbing his hands and brushing the snow off his clothes. "Little brother, are you feeling better today? The palace is heavily guarded, so I didn't dare come. Today is New Year's Eve, and the guards aren't so strict, so I sneaked over. Look, the winter plum blossoms outside are blooming; I picked one." Seeing the fiery winter plum blossoms, Tang Feng smiled at Zhang Mobai with his last bit of strength. Zhang Mobai then helped him up, and Tang Feng began to grumble, "Why didn't you light a charcoal fire? They brought some, why didn't you burn it?" Zhang Mobai squatted down and started packing. "Back at Lishan Academy, you never take care of yourself. How old are you..."
"Mo Bai... could you stay with me?" Tang Feng's voice was weak, but Zhang Mo Bai could hear it clearly. He stood up, walked to Tang Feng's side, and sat down. Looking at Tang Feng's withered body, Zhang Mo Bai sighed, "I'm sorry... I can't help you in this state. I don't even dare to tell Miss Jiu about your condition."
"It's not your fault, it's my fault. It's my fault for overestimating myself and trespassing into the imperial palace. It's my fault for knowing the dangers of the palace yet still trying to fight against them. You... don't hate me." Even though Zhang Mobai had just lit the charcoal fire, Tang Feng was still shivering, too weak to even speak. His eyelids grew heavier. Tang Feng knew he wouldn't survive the winter, and Zhang Mobai wouldn't be able to visit often. He opened his mouth, afraid Zhang Mobai wouldn't hear him, and then, with all his might, threw himself into Zhang Mobai's arms, whispering, "Mobai... listen to me. After I die, don't torment yourself, don't be too sad. The tides rise and fall, all the chaos and turmoil, I am but a passerby, I don't need eternal glory, the praise of pepper blossoms... Don't tell the Tang family about this either. You and Yang Fei are fine, don't worry about me anymore. As for Ziliang's letters... I can't write anymore. Could you write one for me every month and send it to him?"
Zhang Mobai shook his head, even though he knew Tang Feng was saying his last words, "I'm not going! You write it yourself, don't always use me as a shield, I'm not your..."
Tang Feng rested his chin on Zhang Mobai's shoulder, turned his head away, and whispered, "Then write: 'Nothing happened in Xiling, I am safe today, I hope you take care.'"
"Little madman... are you crying?" Tang Feng felt a damp warmth on his shoulder and patted Zhang Mobai's back. "Big brother... can you not go... I can't bear to see you end your life like this in this place. Please hold on a little longer, let's think of a way together... we... we..." Zhang Mobai's voice choked, his words broken and incoherent. Tang Feng stared blankly at the heavy snow outside the window and comforted him, "Little madman, don't be sad. I've killed many people here, and I've seen many people die because of me. No one can..." "To leave with dignity, so too... *cough cough cough*" Blood trickled from Tang Feng's lips, his vision blurring. With all his might, Tang Feng hugged Zhang Mobai, whispering, "There's reluctance too... Not just Ziliang, but you and my sister, even Liu Yiwan. There's resentment, resentment at falling into the mud, being trampled on. But I can't care anymore. A person's life isn't meant to be lived on a high platform, untouched by the dust of the world. I... I just want to know... if... if my last breath comes, where... where... will my soul... find its rest?"
As soon as Tang Feng finished speaking, the hand holding Zhang Mobai suddenly lost its strength and slammed heavily onto the wooden board. Zhang Mobai held the already lifeless Tang Feng, without any heart-wrenching cries, just sitting blankly until Tang Feng's body gradually grew cold. Only then did Zhang Mobai speak, "Little brother... I lit so many charcoal fires, why is your body still so cold... Little brother... Miss Jiu is still waiting for you to go back and offer incense to Uncle Tang, and Lin'an, Lin'an can talk now, he can call me Uncle, and Uncle Zhou, although he's usually fierce, he cares about you a lot... and Ziliang, Ziliang said you'll wait for him to come back." As he finished speaking, a tear slid down Zhang Mobai's cheek, and holding Tang Feng, he said in a sobbing voice, "You always have so many excuses, thinking that your arrangements are the best, but I don't care! I just wanted you to be safe and well, just like you were before, but why... why did you become like this! Why..."
Zhang Mobai finally placed Tang Feng on the bed and tidied his clothes. However, due to his status, he couldn't take Tang Feng away. If Tang Feng died, the servants outside would dispose of the body in a mass grave. Zhang Mobai pushed open the door, called over a servant, and said, "The master inside has passed away. I'll give you some silver to help me give him a proper burial." Zhang Mobai took out fifty taels of silver and handed it to the servant. The servant's eyes lit up immediately upon seeing the money. He took the money bag and nodded repeatedly, "Don't worry, sir! Don't worry! This servant will definitely do it." After Zhang Mobai left, the servant called another helper and muttered as he entered the room, "Dying in the house during the New Year, what bad luck!"
"Stop talking. At least they gave some money. I heard this guy used to be a high-ranking official. Even Eunuch Feng had to treat him with respect."
"A high-ranking official? Which high-ranking official didn't die with a gold nugget in their mouth? Like him? Look at him, all in white clothes, nothing else on him. He's probably done something wrong before, maybe a big corrupt official."
"Alright, alright, give me the straw mat, let's drag him out and bury him somewhere."
Today is New Year's Eve. A palace banquet will be held at the Grand Palace tonight, and the princes can visit their mothers in the morning. Rong Ji was playing chess with Li Yunheng in the palace when a palace maid entered, knelt, and whispered something in Rong Ji's ear. Rong Ji was startled at first, then his brow relaxed, and a smile appeared on his lips. "Mother, is there any good news? Can you share it with me?" Seeing Rong Ji's happy smile, Li Yunheng couldn't help but become curious. "Tang Feng is dead. I was thinking that although His Majesty severely punished Tang Feng, he didn't execute the Ninth Prince. Tang Feng took all the blame at the time. If the Ninth Prince went to the imperial mausoleum, and Tang Feng were to turn the tables one day, it would be hard to say. Now that Tang Feng is dead, this concern can be dispelled. And no one will know about Pu Yuan's relationship with us anymore."
After a moment of contemplation, Li Yunheng asked the palace maid, "Was anyone by Tang Feng's side when he died?"
"Lord Zhang is here. He also entrusted two servants to handle the funeral arrangements."
"Is Zhang Mobai here?" Li Yunheng looked at Rong Ji with some worry. "If Zhang Mobai is here, it might not be truly dead. We need to have someone verify it. It could be a case of him slipping away unnoticed. Tang Feng is always cunning; this isn't impossible. I'll go check now." Rong Ji nodded. "Alright, it's always better to be cautious. Be careful, don't give anything away."
Li Yunheng knew the two servants dared not take the main road and would instead exit through the back gate of the palace, so he waited there early. Seeing the two approaching, he raised his hand to stop them. The two servants, recognizing Li Yunheng, quickly bowed and said, "These servants greet Your Highness, Fourth Prince."
"Get up, where are you going?"
"If someone dies in the palace, we'll carry him out and bury him."
"Buried? People die in the palace and aren't taken to the mass grave, they're buried?" Li Yunheng raised an eyebrow, staring at the two servants with a hint of unease.
"We were thinking of putting them in a mass grave... but Lord Zhang..."
"Lord Zhang?" Li Yunheng stepped forward and lifted a corner of the straw mat, revealing Tang Feng lying inside. His lips were deathly pale, and his face was bloodless. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Do you know who this person is? This is Tang Feng, who caused chaos in the court a few days ago and attempted a rebellion. You even dared to bury him? What audacity! Quickly drag him to the mass grave and leave his body to rot in the wilderness to prevent future troubles."
The two servants, unaware of the gravity of the situation, had only received a few dozen taels of silver from Zhang Mobai and never expected things to turn out this way. They hurriedly bowed to Li Yunheng and carried Tang Feng away.
Upon arriving at the mass grave, crows circled incessantly in the sky, and an indescribable stench permeated the air. The two men tossed Tang Feng aside, covering their mouths and noses, and said, "What bad luck! Taking fifty taels of silver almost landed us in a beheading. Luckily, we ran into the Fourth Prince."
"Everyone's saying His Majesty wants to make the Fourth Prince the Crown Prince, but I don't know if it's true."
"We're just one person doing the work... whatever."
After Zhang Mobai came out, he headed home. Just as he was about to enter, he heard someone calling him, "Mobai? It's New Year's Eve, why are you out?"
Zhang Mobai turned around and saw Qin Jiujiu carrying a basket, followed by Liu Yiwan, who was carrying large and small bags of fruit and snacks. "I..."
"Oh, perfect timing!" Qin Jiujiu took a bag of Liufuji sweet buns from the basket and handed it to Zhang Mobai, smiling as she said, "It's not appropriate for a young lady like me to go to the Zhou residence. I know you'll definitely go to see Xiaofeng during the New Year, and we just happened to run into each other today. Take these to him. I know the Zhou residence won't go hungry, but considering he's always sick, it's good for him to have something sweet. When Ziliang was here, I saw he was quite strict, so let him have a little fun during the holidays. Oh, by the way, I also brought you some ox-tongue pastries, you..."
"Sister," Zhang Mobai said, holding the pastries in his hand, unable to keep up the pretense any longer. He had promised Tang Feng he wouldn't tell Qin Jiujiu, but he simply couldn't maintain a nonchalant facade in front of her. "Little brother... is gone."
"No...it's gone?" Qin Jiujiu's smile froze on her face, and she didn't react for a moment. "What do you mean...gone? What...what do you mean?"
"The young man is... dead."
Qin Jiujiu shook her head, looking at Zhang Mobai in disbelief, and said in a trembling voice, "Impossible... I... I passed by the Zhou residence today and never saw anyone wearing mourning clothes, nor did I see Zhou Ziliang return. You're lying to me. Xiao Feng is fine, Xiao Feng... he must be fine. Did Xiao Feng ask you to make me happy? He used to like playing pranks on me when he was little, he..."
Seeing Qin Jiujiu stagger, Liu Yiwan rushed to support her. Before he could ask what was going on, Zhang Mobai explained in a low, tearful voice, "My little brother... half a month ago... he went to the palace to overturn his case but failed and was imprisoned by His Majesty. This morning... I watched him breathe his last. Because he was a disgraced official, his family is not allowed to set up a memorial tablet or offer sacrifices... But don't worry, sister, I... have already made arrangements. The palace servants will bury my little brother."
Upon hearing this, Qin Jiujiu knelt on the ground with a thud, covering her face with her hands and bursting into tears. "Why didn't you tell me... why! You never said anything, you carried everything on your own. You were like this when you were little, and now that you're grown up, you don't even bring anything home. I tried to persuade him, I told him the court was corrupt and the emperor's heart unpredictable, but he never listened. He said he wanted to avenge Liu Liu, and now he's even left without a memorial tablet... I've not only lost Liu Liu, but I've lost Xiao Feng too!" Qin Jiujiu buried her face in Liu Yiwan's arms, sobbing and wailing, "My brother had no ill intentions, how could he end up like this? My brother... Xiao Feng, he..."
Zhang Mobai crouched down and patted Qin Jiujiu's shoulder. "Sister... your brother doesn't want you to be like this. Let's get up and go back inside to talk."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com