Death Knell
The woman, who was sitting in the study, quickly stood up when she heard Tang Feng enter. "This commoner greets the Grand Tutor and the Young Marquis." Tang Feng raised his hand to help her up, saying, "No need for formalities, sit down and let's talk."
After the woman sat down, she said softly, "My name is Wenying. I live in an ancient village outside Xiling City. My older sister and I depended on each other when I was little. I've been blind since childhood, and my sister worked in the ghost market to pay for my medical treatment. The other day, she said... she found a big customer and had already given me more than ten taels of silver... At first, I thought my sister was lying to me, but after a couple of days, she brought back the deposit, which was three taels in total. She said she would give me the rest after the deal was done."
Tang Feng glanced at Zhou Ziliang, then looked at the girl. "Then... where's your sister? Why didn't she come?"
“I thought…giving so much money at once must be a risky business, so I didn’t want her to go. But she said that once she accepted the money, she had to do it. She left in the morning and didn’t come back until late at night, and then we never heard from her again.” Wenying took out a tael of silver from her sleeve. “I feel this silver; it doesn’t look like what ordinary people use. Take a look.”
Tang Feng took the silver and examined it carefully. He then noticed the character "许" (Xu) printed on the bottom, indicating it was official silver. Seeing Zhou Ziliang's confusion, Tang Feng explained, "When I was a child, I went to Qing... to play, but I didn't bring enough money and had to buy some on credit. The creditors came knocking on my door. Later, Mo Bai explained it to me. Look," Tang Feng held the silver up to Zhou Ziliang and pointed it out, "the amount of silver given to each official is fixed. To avoid confusion, their surname is engraved on the bottom."
"The Xu family?"
Tang Feng nodded, then looked at the girl and asked, "Why didn't you report it to the authorities?"
"I knew about the collusion between officials, and besides, I'm just a weak woman. If this young master hadn't approached me, I probably would never have said a word."
Tang Feng thought for a moment, then said, "To be on the safe side, you should stay at an inn in Xiling for now. As the saying goes, it's darkest under the lamp; they won't cause you any trouble. As for the expenses, the Tang family will cover them."
After Wenying left, Tang Feng examined the silver and then said, "Then... everything can be explained. Li Yunheng had Xu Chang'an find Wenying's sister, disguised as a palace maid, to lure Huaitang into a trap. He also arranged for her to secretly meet with Xiao Shi, and then had the palace maid report to Li Yunrui. What a clever scheme to trap him like a turtle in a jar! But I still have some doubts."
"A letter from the Eldest Princess?"
Tang Feng nodded. "The letter is full of reproach; it shouldn't have been written by someone contemplating suicide."
Zhou Ziliang sighed. "It was probably Li Yunheng who did it too. Let's put the rest aside for now. That's not what I'm curious about." Tang Feng looked up at Zhou Ziliang, his eyes filled with confusion, unsure of what he wanted to say. "Xiao Feng, don't you find it strange? When Pu Yuan sent tribute, they caused a huge uproar in Xiling, making everyone panic. They even got the Crown Prince to use his military seal to summon me back, just wanting to marry the princess. But in the end, the princess didn't go through with the marriage. Yet they not only gave tribute but also didn't pursue Yan Yun's responsibility. This doesn't seem like proper conduct between the two countries."
Tang Feng placed the silver on the table, his brow furrowing slightly. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he said, "You mean between the two..." Tang Feng didn't dare finish his sentence, but Zhou Ziliang understood and nodded.
"Young Master, Young Master, someone outside wants to see you." The maid stood outside the door, her face somewhat grave. "What is it?" Zhou Ziliang asked. "Who wants to see us? Didn't we say that the Young Master is ill and should not see anyone else?"
"Can..."
"Alright, no need to make things difficult for her. She's already out the door, what's there to be afraid of?" Tang Feng stood up, looked at the maid, and asked softly, "Tell me, who wants to see us?"
"It's Miss Zizhu; she says she wants you to come to the palace."
Tang Feng suddenly remembered that the Empress Dowager had been ill a few days ago, and he had been busy with Li Yunye's affairs and hadn't been able to visit her. He figured she must be feeling much better now. "Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go now. I'll be right there." Then he tugged at Zhou Ziliang's hand. "Why are you so sullen? The young girl is easily frightened. You don't usually scold Liu Yiwan, so how can you bear to be so harsh on a young girl?"
Zhou Ziliang sighed, "I just felt that someone looking for you couldn't be anything good, but since it's Miss Zizhu who's looking for you, I'll go with you."
When Zizhu saw Tang Feng come out, she stood up and bowed, "Grand Tutor." Tang Feng wanted to step forward and exchange a few pleasantries, but Zizhu's absent-minded expression made him somewhat worried. "Miss, what's wrong? You seem distracted."
Zizhu shook her head, then said, "The Empress Dowager's condition has worsened, and I was thinking of seeing you; perhaps it would cheer her up."
Tang Feng frowned and scolded, "How could this happen? Didn't you say it was just a cold? I'll go to the palace right now!"
Tang Feng originally only wanted to go alone, but Zhou Ziliang insisted on coming along, so he agreed. Tang Feng was filled with unease on the journey. Years ago, when he was in college, his grandmother passed away while he was away. There were no relatives left; neighbors helped with the arrangements. When he returned, only her portrait remained on the altar. He hadn't been able to see his grandmother one last time, a regret that weighed heavily on his mind. Tang Feng's mind raced in the carriage, reflecting on the past: his grandmother, Qin Liuliu, Tang Zhaonan—his loved ones were all leaving him. Thinking of this, Tang Feng grasped Zhou Ziliang's hand.
Zhou Ziliang knew that Tang Feng was in a state of utter confusion, but he didn't offer any words of comfort. He simply patted Tang Feng's hand to reassure him.
Upon entering the Empress Dowager's palace, the air was filled with the aroma of medicine, causing Tang Feng to frown. "She's so ill, what have all the imperial physicians been doing?"
"The Empress Dowager dismissed the imperial physicians long ago... saying that drinking that damn medicine was just torture," Zizhu sighed, opening the palace door for Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang. "I won't go in."
Tang Feng nodded and followed Zhou Ziliang into the palace. After that, Zizhu closed the door.
Tang Feng stepped forward, first bowing, then kneeling beside the bed and softly saying, "Grandmother, Xiao Feng has come to see you."
The Empress Dowager's eyes were no longer as clear as usual, filled with a dazed look. She stared at Tang Feng for a long while before saying, "You've arrived?" Tang Feng nodded, about to speak, but Zhou Ziliang stopped him, "The Empress Dowager is probably looking at someone else through you. Don't speak yet."
"Zili, Lan'er," the Empress Dowager stretched out her somewhat withered hand and forcefully pried Zhou Ziliang's hand from Tang Feng's. "You two cannot be together. Since ancient times, rulers have protected the country. You have chosen the country, so you cannot choose him again. Do not let him bear the blame for bringing disaster to the country and the people..."
Tang Feng was a little confused, but he didn't pay much attention. He took the Empress Dowager's hand and said, "Grandmother, it's me... Xiao Feng. Don't you recognize me?"
"Yes... Xiao Feng, Xiao Feng is Zhao Nan's son," the Empress Dowager slowly regained consciousness, touching Tang Feng's forehead as she said, "I'm old and useless, but you two still have a bright future ahead of you. Stay with Zi Liang and don't covet anything undeserved—power, fame... Leave as soon as possible."
Tang Feng's nose stung, his eyes reddened slightly, and he forced a smile, nodding, "Okay... I'll listen to Grandma."
The Empress Dowager looked at Zhou Ziliang and instructed him again, "Take good care of him. In this world, the only thing we can grasp is the present moment; lest we have regrets later."
Upon hearing this, Tang Feng knelt beside the Empress Dowager's bed and began to sob softly. He knew, of course, that the Empress Dowager was on her deathbed. The Empress Dowager who had saved him and protected him was about to leave this world, and the thought of it made his heart ache.
The Empress Dowager heard Tang Feng's soft sobs and patted his back. "Little Feng, don't be afraid. Wherever you are in the future, your Grandmother will always protect you."
Tang Feng simply shook his head. He didn't want the Empress Dowager's blessing; he just wanted to keep this elder who treated him like a grandson.
Tang Feng seemed distracted after leaving the palace. Zhou Ziliang, seeing this, couldn't help but worry. He tried to comfort her, but to no avail. In the end, he could only sigh, "Little Feng, birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural course of life. Don't take it too seriously."
"Of course I know," Tang Feng slowly closed his eyes, leaning wearily on Zhou Ziliang's shoulder. "But it's precisely because I know that I feel so pathetic, just like you, unable to accept that I will die from this illness."
Zhou Ziliang was speechless for a moment, unsure how to respond to Tang Feng's words. Then Tang Feng spoke again, "If you don't know what to say, then don't say anything. There's no need to comfort me. If I can't accept losing so much, I'd be being too dramatic."
Zhou Ziliang didn't say anything more after hearing this, but simply hugged Tang Feng tightly, feeling the warmth of his body.
After Tang Feng left, Zi Zhu went into the Empress Dowager's palace to tidy her quilt, but heard the Empress Dowager say, "Is the Emperor busy lately?"
"At this time, we should be reviewing memorials to the emperor."
The Empress Dowager sighed. "Tonight... I'll have him come to see me. He's refused to see me alone for so many years; surely he can't still refuse now that it's finally happening?"
Seeing the worried look on Zizhu's face, the Empress Dowager smiled. "Don't worry, the Emperor has always maintained appearances. You can go and invite him. As his son... he should come and listen to his mother's words."
Just as the Empress Dowager had predicted, Emperor Yun arrived shortly afterward. Seeing the Empress Dowager lying on the bed, Emperor Yun sat down before her and said, "Mother."
"Since you call me Mother, why don't you bow?" The Empress Dowager's voice was soft, but her authority remained. Emperor Yun rose, bowed, and said, "Your subject greets Mother."
"Your Majesty, please sit. I know you've always blamed me for driving Su Zili away." The Empress Dowager turned her head to look at her silent son and sighed. "But you chose this path yourself. Since you've become emperor, you can't have everything you want. Su Zili has indeed been kind to Yanyun, and I admire him very much, but you two can't be together. Putting aside worldly concerns, do you want Yanyun to perish after only two generations?"
"Even so, you shouldn't have obstructed me in every way, forcing me to marry Qiao'er. Because of Ali, Qiao'er's heart was divided with mine, causing her to be unable to have peace of mind during her pregnancy, and ultimately she passed away after giving birth to Wuyou. Isn't all of this the fault of the Empress Dowager for arranging this marriage?"
Seeing Emperor Yun's cold expression, the Empress Dowager smiled. "I forced you to leave Su Zili, but I betrothed Qiao'er to you only so that Su Zili could leave in peace. Besides, the Emperor agreed back then. If you truly felt sorry for those two siblings, why did you consummate the marriage back then?" The Empress Dowager propped herself up and looked at Emperor Yun, frowning. "Emperor, you've committed too many sins back then. Don't make another mistake. Zhao Nan has followed you for so many years, and you still haven't let him go. Now... to atone for your sins, spare his son."
Emperor Yun narrowed his eyes, looked at the Empress Dowager, and sneered, "So that's why you summoned me in the middle of the night, to plead for Tang Feng?"
"Your Majesty, he doesn't yet know that you killed his father. Before he hates you, find a reason to release him."
Seeing the Empress Dowager's words filled with sorrow and pleading, Emperor Yun stood up, bent down to look at her on the sickbed, and said, "Hate me? What right does he have? This is the consequence of betraying me. Tang Zhaonan was willing to die in place of his son, but I gave him a way out. Look at you now. Didn't Ali beg you in your palace back then, begging you to spare him, to spare his sister? But you still forced him away. I am your son. I can only say, like mother, like son. Mother... I will not let those who betray me go."
Tang Feng sat on the edge of the bed, flipping through a book in a state of unease, when Zhou Ziliang came in carrying a candlestick. "Since you've taken your medicine, you should rest early. Didn't you say you weren't feeling well when you came back? You didn't sleep for even a short while."
Tang Feng shook his head. "I can't sleep. Come sit up and talk to me."
Zhou Ziliang readily agreed and turned to close the window when a bolt of lightning struck, followed by several claps of thunder.
"Judging by the days, this should be considered the first thunder of winter," Tang Feng chuckled, then heard faint bell tolls. "Xiling... is there a temple?"
Zhou Ziliang listened carefully for a while, then said solemnly, "This is a death knell... It probably means someone in the palace has passed away."
Tang Feng's hand trembled slightly as he turned the pages. He stared blankly for a while before managing a smile, "Is it Grandmother?"
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