“De Yong—” Qu Wentai sobbed as he rushed forward, trying to push the queen’s lifeless body aside. However, the two were locked in such a tight embrace that he could not move her. Instead, he held onto half of Qu Deyong’s body and wept loudly. This was his most beloved son, the one he had invested countless efforts into, and the hope for the future of the entire kingdom. Now, he lay cold and lifeless in his arms. Qu Wentai’s tears flowed freely, his white hair trembling as his voice grew hoarse. The onlookers could not bear to witness the scene and silently shed tears.
“Your Majesty,” Zhu Gui approached, “You must take care of yourself.”
“It was I… I who killed De Yong with my own hands… I killed him!” Qu Wentai cried out in anguish. “Why? Why did this happen? Oh heavens, why do you punish me so? What wrong have I committed?”
“Your Majesty,” Zhu Gui said, bowing low behind him, “I know.”
Qu Wentai paused, about to turn around, when Zhu Gui’s face twisted into a sinister smile. Suddenly, he produced a short dagger from his sleeve and plunged it into Qu Wentai’s back, burying it to the hilt.
“Ah—” Qu Wentai screamed, his body leaning forward as he collapsed to the ground, the dagger still embedded in his back.
“Ban Ban!” Qu Zhisheng exclaimed in shock.
Xuanzang had been prepared for this moment. He rushed forward, grabbing Qu Wentai’s arm and pulling him aside just as the surrounding guards rushed in to protect him, encircling Zhu Gui. Countless curved blades and arrows glinted in the moonlight, casting shadows across Zhu Gui’s face.
Yet, Zhu Gui remained unfazed, straightening his hunched back and exuding an aura as imposing as a mountain.
“Zhu Zongguan, it seems I have overestimated you,” Xuanzang said with a bitter smile.
“Oh?” Zhu Gui chuckled, “I know you have seen through my secret, but why do you think so highly of me?”
“Because I could never pinpoint your true intentions,” Xuanzang sighed. “I thought your profound schemes were aimed at the world, that your goal was the throne of Gaochang. I never expected you only wanted to assassinate His Majesty.”
Zhu Gui laughed heartily. “Master, you have indeed overestimated me. For me, the thrill of the world pales in comparison to the satisfaction of settling personal scores.”
“Oh?” Xuanzang asked, “What grievance do you have with His Majesty?”
Zhu Gui looked at him mockingly, pointing at Qu Wentai. “Ask him.”
“Zhu Gui—” Qu Wentai shouted hoarsely, “You ungrateful wretch! I have treated you well; why would you kill me?”
“Indeed!” Qu Zhisheng rushed over in a panic. “Ban Ban, Father has treated you well; how could you do this?”
Zhu Gui stared at Qu Zhisheng and suddenly slapped him across the face, leaving him dazed. “Ban Ban—”
“Get on your knees!” Zhu Gui shouted.
Qu Zhisheng blinked in confusion, looking at him. This sudden change left even Qu Wentai stunned. He exchanged a bewildered glance with Xuanzang, both unsure of what was happening.
“Third Prince, I want you to see this.” Zhu Gui pulled out a roll of silk from his robe and slowly unfurled it. The silk was thin, and the images on it were visible from the back, depicting a scene.
What appeared to be a single roll of silk continued to extend as Zhu Gui handed one end to Qu Zhisheng and the other to Ni Shu. “Da She, please help me unfold it.”
Ni Shu complied, and together with Qu Zhisheng, they began to reveal the images. To their astonishment, the silk depicted more than a dozen scenes!
“Ban Ban, what is this?” Qu Zhisheng asked, puzzled. “What does this have to do with your killing my father?”
Zhu Gui examined the first image. It was vibrant and detailed, showing a battle scene beneath a city, with Persian warriors wielding curved blades and Turkic warriors attacking a fortress. The ground was littered with corpses, and smoke billowed ominously, creating a grim atmosphere.
“Third Prince, you must know that your mother was a princess of the Xiongnu,” Zhu Gui said affectionately, looking at Qu Zhisheng. “This city is the present-day Tuhuo City, the great capital of the Xiongnu over sixty years ago! We Xiongnu are of the Xianbei tribe, having lived on the vast grasslands of the Golden Mountains for generations. Two hundred years ago, our ancestors began migrating westward, defeating the Kushan Empire and the powerful Persian and Byzantine Empires, and vanquishing the people of India.
They established the strongest state in the Western Regions along the banks of the Amu Darya. However, as Buddhism teaches, fate is unpredictable. Just over a hundred years later, the Xiongnu’s power waned, and we were ultimately destroyed by the combined forces of Persia and the Turks. Our people scattered, and my family, as generals of the royal palace, protected the royal bloodline as we wandered in the Western Regions. Your mother and I were born on the road of escape.”
Qu Zhisheng listened, somewhat understanding, and nodded. Zhu Gui then pointed to the second image, which depicted a beautiful young girl riding a fine horse, leading a group of weary travelers struggling across the grasslands and snow-capped mountains.
“This…” Qu Wentai exclaimed, his face showing surprise. “This is Guina!”
Zhu Gui ignored him, gazing gently at Qu Zhisheng. “Third Prince, this is your mother. She was the only bloodline of the royal family, a noble princess of the Xiongnu. I am ten years older than her and have accompanied her since childhood. To me, she was like family. When my family members fell one by one in battle, their dying wish was for me to protect the princess and seek to restore our country. But to me, what was the point of restoration? Such a powerful nation could be destroyed in an instant. My greatest belief was to care for the princess, ensuring she lived happily and never suffered the pain of losing her country again.”
Qu Zhisheng wholeheartedly agreed. “Yes, Ban Ban, being a king isn’t worth it; it’s more important to find someone you love and live out your life…”
He glanced at Long Shuangyue, feeling a pang of sadness.
Zhu Gui interrupted him. “Third Prince, listen to me. Your mother had no ambition for restoration either. As we wandered through the Western Regions, passing through one country after another, she seemed to enjoy this life. She said she wanted to travel to the farthest east, to the Great Sui, to see the homeland of silk, where beautiful porcelain shone like the moonlight. She loved the sound of the Han flute, saying it resembled the ripples on the Amu Darya. Her greatest wish was to marry a Han man who could play the flute. But that year, when we arrived in Gaochang, everything changed.”
The third image showed the young girl and her people arriving outside Gaochang City.
Qu Zhisheng continued to look through the images. The fourth depicted the girl and her people selling wool in the marketplace, where a young man in luxurious black Han clothing gazed at her with admiration. Qu Zhisheng glanced at Qu Wentai, nodding in certainty. “That’s my father. I know she married my father.”
Xuanzang also looked at Qu Wentai, and indeed, the young man in the luxurious Han clothing bore a striking resemblance to him. Qu Wentai forced a smile, exhausted, and sat down against the wall, panting heavily. A group of renowned doctors had already gathered around him, tending to his wounds.
Zhu Gui gazed at the image. “At that time, Qu Wentai was still very young. The Turkic princess had just passed away, and upon seeing your mother, he was captivated and vowed to marry her. However, your mother only wanted to lead her people to the eastern Great Sui. So, Qu Wentai promised her that if she agreed to marry him, he would carve out land in Gaochang for the Xiongnu to reside and protect them. Gaochang had always been a vassal state of the Turks, and we were being hunted by them. Your mother never expected that a mere heir would have the courage to shelter the enemies of the Turks. She was moved and agreed.”
The subsequent images depicted the grand wedding ceremony held in the palace, where the heir and the princess embraced each other sweetly.
“So that’s how it happened, and then I was born,” Qu Zhisheng said. “Moreover, my father said he and my mother had a good relationship.”
“Good?” Zhu Gui’s eyes flared with anger as he glared at Qu Wentai. “Of course it was good! Qu Wentai finally had someone to vent his frustrations on, so he thought it was good. Just a year after their marriage, Qu Wentai’s true nature was revealed. He was inherently volatile but craved fame, often putting on a facade of gentility to win the people’s praise. Over time, his malicious nature had no outlet and was unleashed upon your mother!”
Zhu Gui pointed to the next image, and the style shifted dramatically to a dark and grim scene. In a resplendent palace, on a pure white wedding bed, Qu Wentai’s face was twisted with rage as he wielded a whip, mercilessly striking the princess. Blood splattered, and her beautiful body was covered in welts. The artistry of this image was exquisite, capturing the atmosphere so vividly that even the subtlest expressions of the characters were laid bare.
Qu Zhisheng was stunned, unable to look away. Everyone turned to Qu Wentai, who had just been stabbed, his face pale as paper, yet his expression was filled with deep sorrow, indicating that Zhu Gui was not lying.
The next image depicted a middle-aged man, wielding a knife against his own lower body, blood gushing forth, his face contorted in agony.
“This middle-aged man is me,” Zhu Gui said flatly. “I knew your mother was unhappy in the palace, so I wanted to accompany her and do my best to shield her from abuse. However, in Gaochang, men entering the palace must be castrated, so I mutilated myself.”
“Ban Ban!” Qu Zhisheng looked at the old eunuch who had been with him since birth, his eyes reddening. “Your great kindness to us mother and son, I truly…”
Zhu Gui sighed. “Your mother was the only princess of the Xiongnu, and you are the sole bloodline of the Xiongnu royal family. I watched you grow up; you are no different from my own family.”
“What about after you entered the palace?” Qu Zhisheng asked anxiously.
The following images were even more brutal, depicting the princess suffering unspeakable abuse and humiliation day after day. There was even a moment when Zhu Gui knelt and bled from his head, unable to stop it. Qu Wentai, like a mad demon, was gentle in public but lost all reason at home, using every unimaginable means to torment the princess.
Xuanzang stared intently at the images. Although he was far away, he could feel the desolation and pain through Zhu Gui’s explanations. Remembering the abuse he had witnessed towards the Yu Wen princess days earlier, Xuanzang realized that Qu Wentai’s cruelty was indeed his nature, a source of enjoyment for him over the decades!
Qu Wentai stared blankly at the silk paintings, tears streaming down his pale face as he hung his head in shame.
Qu Zhisheng trembled as he looked at the images, some of which were too bloody for him to bear. When he reached the final image, he was stunned and shouted, “Ban Ban, my mother… she committed suicide?”
Xuanzang was also taken aback. Indeed, in the last image, the Xiongnu princess wore a face of despair as she wielded a knife to sever her head! Zhu Gui held a baby still in swaddling clothes, weeping uncontrollably.
“Your Majesty!” Xuanzang could not help but feel anger towards Qu Wentai.
Qu Wentai was filled with shame. “Master, I… I don’t know why, but as soon as I returned home, I became a demon!”
“Yes!” Zhu Gui suddenly erupted in fury. “Bring him up!”
Everyone was taken aback, and then heavy footsteps echoed from outside the palace courtyard. They turned in surprise to see a dozen eunuchs laboriously carrying a massive stone coffin, staggering as they approached. Xuanzang was even more shocked; it seemed Zhu Gui had meticulously planned tonight’s events, even preparing a coffin.
The eunuchs placed the stone coffin on the ground, each of them panting heavily from exhaustion.
Zhu Gui looked at them with sorrow. “Dear clansmen, the situation has come to an end today, and our lives are over. None of us can leave.”
At that moment, the others noticed that these eunuchs, with their high noses and deep-set eyes, were all of the Yeda tribe.
One eunuch smiled, drew a curved dagger from his waist, and without a word, slashed it across his neck. Instantly, his artery was severed, and blood gushed forth. He smiled as he handed the dagger to another eunuch, then collapsed to the ground, dead.
Another eunuch followed suit, also committing suicide without hesitation. In a matter of moments, over a dozen eunuchs had taken their own lives, and throughout the entire ordeal, not a single sound was uttered, nor did anyone show even a moment of hesitation!
The onlookers stared in shock, a chill running down their spines from neck to spine. Such death warriors truly existed in this world!
Yet, at the same time, curiosity arose among them—what could be hidden within that coffin that compelled these valiant souls to sacrifice themselves?
After the eunuchs had all perished, Zhu Gui wept as he stepped forward to lift the coffin lid. Qu Zhisheng, gathering his courage, approached to take a look and was immediately horrified, nearly fainting.
Everyone was filled with curiosity—what lay inside the coffin?
Zhu Gui grinned maliciously and strode toward Qu Wentai. Qu Wentai, panic-stricken, exclaimed, “What… what are you going to do? Stop him! Stop him!”
The guards aimed their swords at Zhu Gui, but he continued to advance until the blades pierced his chest, finally halting his steps. He glared at Qu Wentai with venomous eyes. “Your Majesty, do you wish to know what is inside the coffin? I can tell you—it is the body of the Yeda princess, the one who has shared your bed for years, indulging in the pleasures of the flesh!”
“Impossible! That can’t be!” Qu Wentai, already in shock, screamed incoherently, “She has been dead for twenty years!”
“Even if she has been dead for a hundred years, I will preserve her corpse!” Zhu Gui cried out, “Because I want her grievances to be seen by the world! Third Prince, do you know why I want to preserve your mother’s body? It is to show you the tragic state of her severed head and body! Who in this world can sever their head with a single stroke? You have seen murder; although a person’s neck is fragile, it is also incredibly resilient. How many warriors and executioners, when beheading others, often have to strike multiple times with all their might? Yet your mother severed her neck with a single stroke! What kind of despair and hatred must that entail?”
Xuanzang and the others were horrified, and it was then that they realized the coffin contained the dismembered body of the Yeda princess!
Qu Zhisheng’s gaze became vacant as he slowly sank to the ground beside the coffin.
“From that day on, I vowed to take revenge! I must take revenge!” Zhu Gui wept loudly, “She was a princess! She was our noble Yeda princess! Yet she was tortured to death by a thief! Tell me, should I not seek vengeance?”
Everyone fell silent, even the guards lowered their weapons.
“This hatred, I have harbored for twenty years, scheming for twenty years, accumulating my efforts in silence,” Zhu Gui continued slowly. “Qu Wentai, if I wanted to kill you, I could do so at any time; if I wanted to see your nation of Gaochang destroyed, it would be but a wave of my hand.”
Qu Wentai and all the Gaochang people shivered involuntarily, unable to deny Zhu Gui’s words. If he truly wished to act, it would be all too simple. Even without the high position of a chief steward, with the Yeda people backing him, even an ordinary person could accumulate enough power over twenty years to wreak havoc.
“Then why don’t you take revenge on me?” Qu Wentai asked, his voice trembling.
“Because,” Zhu Gui sneered, “I want you to experience the greatest pain in heaven and earth, to see your nation destroyed, your family ruined, to be abandoned by all, to have your beloved son killed by your hand, and then to die in agony and madness!”
“You devil! A devil!” Qu Wentai screamed.
Zhu Gui ignored his words and gazed gently at Qu Zhisheng. “Am I a devil? If I were merely a devil, it would be easier. I would have avenged myself long ago and would not have to endure these twenty years of torment. Unfortunately, I also have a love that I cannot let go of, so what I must do is the most difficult task in heaven and earth. On one hand, I want you to experience all the suffering of this world; on the other hand, I want the Third Prince to live a happy life. I want him to live carefree, at ease, and joyfully throughout his life.”
“Banban, I…” Qu Zhisheng gazed at him blankly.
Zhu Gui staggered over, stroking his hair with a loving expression. “Third Prince, the reason I waited twenty years is to allow you to grow up and withstand the storms of this world! You are naturally calm, not greedy for wealth, not enamored with beauty, lacking the ambition of nobility, carefree and untroubled. I originally thought you would live happily for the rest of your life. Who would have thought…” He smiled bitterly, “Who would have thought you would fall in love with the princess of Yanqi!”
Qu Zhisheng glanced at Long Shuangyue Zhi, his face turning crimson. “Banban, I’m sorry, I didn’t know your expectations for me.”
“It’s fine.” Zhu Gui waved his hand. “If you love her, then love her. You are a man, brave in love and hate. I would be delighted, so how could I be disappointed? But now you have presented me with a great dilemma. Not to mention the enmity between Yanqi and Gaochang, how could Long Shuangyue Zhi, of such a status, ever marry you? I have worried myself gray over this for years.”
Qu Zhisheng felt ashamed. “Banban, everyone says I’m a toad wanting to eat swan meat…”
“Nonsense!” Zhu Gui shouted angrily. “You are a prince of the Yeda people, of noble status. How could the mere Yanqi princess be worthy of you? Hmph, since you love her, I will make sure you get her. Third Prince, as long as you can be happy, there is nothing I cannot do for you!”
The crowd exchanged glances, wondering if Zhu Gui had lost his mind. How could he dare to say such outrageous things?
Long Shuangyue Zhi, however, was taken aback. “You… you are deceiving me!”
Zhu Gui smiled. “Princess, I am indeed deceiving you.”
Their seemingly cryptic conversation left the crowd puzzled, especially as they observed the mixture of shock, anger, and embarrassment on Long Shuangyue Zhi’s face.
“Over the years, the Third Prince has been infatuated with you, and I have had no good way to help. Just then, when the Third Prince obtained the David King’s bottle in Yiw, which is said to summon a devil and grant three wishes, I had an idea.” Zhu Gui gazed at Qu Zhisheng, smiling. “Third Prince, although I do not fully understand what the David King’s bottle is, I am certain there is no devil within it. When you studied the bottle and dripped blood into it, causing a cloud of black smoke to emerge and the devil to appear, do you know why that happened?”
Qu Zhisheng shook his head foolishly.
“That was a trick I deliberately designed!” Zhu Gui turned to Xuanzang, sighing. “Master, you are indeed remarkable, deducing my method of summoning the devil merely through reasoning.” He closed his lips, but his voice reached everyone’s ears. “I can indeed perform ventriloquism. Twenty years ago, when we Yeda people wandered in the Western Regions, I supported my clan by performing illusions, which is how I learned this skill.”
Xuanzang listened intently, knowing Zhu Gui was performing ventriloquism, yet unable to discern the source of the sound, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “This skill is far superior to what I saw from the monk Faya back then.”
Zhu Gui smiled. “That black smoke, as the master said, comes from the spices of Tianzhu, specifically used for performing illusions. When I was in Gandhara, I met a remarkable person from Tianzhu named Naluo Ersuomei. He was the most extraordinary magician I have ever seen, and from him, I learned this smoke control illusion, exchanging one hundred gold coins for three taels of spices.”
“Why did you create the illusion of the David King’s bottle summoning the devil?” Xuanzang asked.
Zhu Gui glanced at Long Shuangyue Zhi. “Of course, it was for the Third Prince. At that time, the princess was returning to her country from Yiw and happened to pass through Gaochang. I secretly met her and told her that the devil had appeared from the David King’s bottle, and the Third Prince had made a wish to obtain her. Princess Long Shuang laughed heartily, utterly dismissive.”
Long Shuangyue Zhi’s face turned pale, and she snorted.
“Then, I presented her with a plan to use the David King’s bottle to seize Gaochang.” Zhu Gui said with a smile, “I told her that I could not only help her seize the Silk Road but also help her destroy Gaochang. First, she needed to pretend to be bewitched by the David King’s bottle, losing her senses and being brought into the palace by Qu Zhisheng. This would provide Yanqi with a pretext to gather nations hostile to Gaochang, forming a coalition to besiege Gaochang. The princess was indeed tempted; this was the opportunity she had been waiting for all these years, how could she refuse?”
Xuanzang suddenly understood, both admiring and fearing this old eunuch, he sincerely praised, “Chief Zhu, your cunning is truly unparalleled. Although I suspected you were the one helping Princess Long Shuang, I always thought you were coerced into assisting her because the Third Prince was under her control. I never imagined that the entire plan was conceived by you.”
“I had no choice,” Zhu Gui lamented. “Since the Third Prince wanted to win the love of Princess Long Shuang, how could he achieve that without changing the natural rift between them? At that time, I told Princess Long Shuang that she must act convincingly, truly immersing herself in the feelings of loving Qu Zhisheng.
Because the next step of the plan was to make a second wish with the David King’s bottle, I wanted to create chaos within Gaochang amidst the crisis of the coalition army, seizing the opportunity to eliminate Qu Deyong and Qu Renshu! At that time, Qu Wentai would be besieged on all sides, and Gaochang could be destroyed in one fell swoop! Upon hearing this plan, Princess Long Shuang immediately agreed. Haha, she is indeed the phoenix of the Western Regions, risking her life to leap from the ochre slope. She fell into my trap and the arms of the Third Prince.”
Although Long Shuangyue Zhi felt utterly hopeless at this moment, she couldn’t help but feel both embarrassed and angry upon hearing this. How could someone as clever as she be so thoroughly deceived by an old eunuch?
Xuanzang found it both amusing and exasperating. He had always thought his opponent was Long Shuangyue Zhi, but he never realized it was a layered trap. The old eunuch pushed Long Shuangyue Zhi to the forefront while controlling everything from behind the scenes. Reflecting on the thrilling events of the past few days, Xuanzang couldn’t help but shiver; this old eunuch was truly terrifying.
“Chief Zhu,” Xuanzang couldn’t help but ask, “Although you brought Princess Long Shuang to the side of the Third Prince, how could the princess, who was deceiving him, truly love him?”
Zhu Gui smiled gently, gazing at Qu Zhisheng. “The Third Prince is the best person in heaven and earth. He is kind, gentle, considerate, infatuated, and handsome. What girl wouldn’t like him? The reason Shuangyue Zhi wouldn’t fall in love with him is partly due to the conflict between their nations and partly because she has not yet seen the Third Prince’s merits. What I need to do is remove these obstacles and bring them together. Even if the beginning is filled with schemes and deception, I believe the ending will be one of deep love and companionship. The Third Prince’s infatuation and love can penetrate all barriers; in the end, Shuangyue Zhi will surely be moved by him and love him wholeheartedly. You see, isn’t it going well now? Shuangyue Zhi has already fallen in love with our prince.”
Xuanzang found it both amusing and exasperating; this old eunuch was indeed deeply scheming.
“Bah.” Long Shuangyue Zhi’s face flushed as she shot a glance at Qu Zhisheng. “Who has fallen in love with him?”
“Not you?” Zhu Gui said with a smile. “Princess, although you hide it well, you cannot deceive this old servant’s eyes. When the Third Prince went to rescue Master Xuanzang from the well, why did you get so angry?”
“I… I was afraid this fool would fall into the well and be killed by the princess’s men!” Long Shuangyue Zhi argued loudly. “My plan was not yet complete, and I still needed him to realize it. How could I let him die?”
“Is that so?” Zhu Gui continued to smile. “You know the relationship between this old servant and the princess. Do you think that if I didn’t have complete confidence in his safety, I would let him take the risk of going into the well?”
Long Shuangyue Zhi was left speechless, unsure how to respond.
“Love is love, Princess; why bother to hide it?” Zhu Gui looked at her with satisfaction. “When you struck me that day, your concern for the Third Prince was evident. That was not mere worry about the plan failing. Today, in the fiery furnace of Tianshan, you are willing to jump in with the Third Prince. Although I did not witness it, I know that if you were still that cold, noble, and aloof phoenix of the Western Regions, you would never be driven to the point of sacrificing yourself for him. Princess, love is like the first sprouts of spring grass; even if you stare at it, you cannot see how it grows. When you turn around and look again, the grassland is already lush with wild grass.”
Long Shuangyue Zhi felt both embarrassed and angry, stamping her foot, unable to refute him. As her gaze flickered toward Qu Zhisheng, it revealed something unusual. Ni Shu stood dumbly to the side, and even he, a rough man, could see her feelings. Qu Zhisheng, however, remained dazed, timidly stealing glances at Long Shuangyue Zhi, clearly uncertain.
“Young men and women are like a pile of dry kindling and fierce flames. They pass each other by in this world simply because the fire in their hearts has not been ignited,” Zhu Gui lamented. “In the past, a high monk spoke teachings that could make stubborn stones nod. Although I am dull, I have worked hard, and with perseverance, I can make a phoenix descend to the mortal realm. Third Prince, all I can do for you is this much. Love in this world cannot tolerate the influence of a third party. I have broken down the barriers of enmity between the two nations for you, shattered the pride of the Yanqi princess, and brought you two together. As for the future, it is up to you.”
“Banban,” Qu Zhisheng wept, “no matter if I can be with Shuangyue Zhi in this life, I will always be grateful for your kindness.”
“No need for that! You are the last prince of my Yeda people. As long as you are happy, I can see the Yeda people still thriving,” Zhu Gui said, his enthusiasm waning. “I have two great wishes: one is to make you happy, and the other is to make Qu Wentai suffer. You should pursue your happiness! As for him…” Zhu Gui glared at Qu Wentai, “I killed Qu Renshu and Qu Deyong, yet Gaochang still hasn’t fallen. What a pity!”
“It was you! You harmed Deyong!” Qu Wentai could no longer contain his anger and shouted.
“Of course, it was me,” Zhu Gui coldly stared at him. “I told you, I want to see you childless and alone, abandoned by all, your nation destroyed, and to make you experience the greatest pain in the world!”
Qu Wentai glared at him in fury, his eyes nearly bursting with rage, a trickle of blood seeping from the corners of his eyes, creating a terrifying sight. A short dagger was embedded in his back, and the doctors dared not remove it, merely tending to the wound. But his injuries were too severe; any sudden movement caused the wound to burst open again, blood gushing forth.
Zhu Gui watched with delight, unable to contain his laughter. “I have been in this Gaochang palace for twenty years; what have I not seen? Qu Deyong has long been colluding with the princess, harboring treasonous intentions. The princess secretly raised the outlaws, accumulating power—did I not know? I had long since placed countless spies among Qu Deyong’s troops, keeping track of his every move. Unfortunately, he only held a portion of the military power and feared Zhang Xiong, so he hesitated to rebel. Well, if he won’t act, I’ll give him a push! That day, when Xuanzang went to Jiahe City, the opportunity finally came. I took the chance to invite Princess Long Shuang to meet the queen, telling her that if anything happened to Xuanzang in Jiahe City, Zhang Xiong, and Qu Renshu would be the first to suffer the consequences!”
At this moment, Xuanzang felt somewhat speechless. This old eunuch was truly terrifying; a series of schemes had unfolded seamlessly, unnoticed, and before they knew it, everyone had fallen into his trap, even he, a mere bystander, could not escape. This level of cunning was comparable to that of the monk Faya, and in terms of meticulous detail, it might even surpass it.
“Indeed, the queen was moved. She was determined to be with Qu Deyong, and upon encountering this opportunity, she rushed to Jiahe City and, in full view of the public, abducted the monk,” Zhu Gui said, satisfied. “What surprised me was that to solidify Zhang Xiong’s guilt, she even escaped through the well. When Zhang Xiong returned, he claimed that the monk had been swept away by a strange wind, which incited a collective attack against him, leading to his loss of military power. Qu Deyong, unable to contain himself, immediately launched a rebellion. Princess,” he smiled warmly at Long Shuangyue Zhi, “you see, I have fulfilled all my promises to you, haven’t I?”
Long Shuangyue Zhi snorted, refusing to respond.
Xuanzang sighed, “I once witnessed a court dance at the Taichang Temple in Chang’an, where hundreds danced gracefully, their movements in perfect harmony, flowing like clouds and water. The officials at Taichang Temple told me that it took at least half a year to rehearse such a large-scale dance.
If a dance is so complex, then for the Chief Steward to execute his plan using the second wish of the David King’s bottle, he must first have me captured, then have the general lose his military power, incite Qu Deyong to rebel, and use the rebellion to secretly assassinate Qu Renshu, all while being ready to eliminate the rebels at any moment, ensuring Qu Deyong’s failure. The intricacies involved are truly beyond imagination; one misstep could lead to total failure. How could Princess Long Shuang, a foreigner, control all of this? It turns out this matter has been your plan from start to finish.”
“Yes! The monk understands my plight,” Zhu Gui lamented. “I have been plotting this plan for twenty years; executing it is not difficult. The biggest issue is ensuring the timing is just right.”
Listening to their exchange, Qu Wentai suddenly realized, “You scoundrel! So it was you who killed Renshu!”
Zhu Gui shot him a sidelong glance. “Old thief, only now do you understand? Hmph, first, killing him was naturally to take revenge on you; second, if my plan failed, how could I protect the Third Prince from your wrath? Haha, old thief, now the Third Prince is the only heir to your Gaochang kingdom. Even if you hate him to the core, you must protect him, right?”
Qu Wentai glanced at Qu Zhisheng, his face reddening, but he could not speak.
“Enough! I originally intended to destroy Gaochang, but unfortunately, things took a turn. The David King’s bottle unexpectedly summoned the devil again, leading to the disastrous defeat of the coalition army, and my plans fell apart. This is also good; after your death, the Third Prince will become the king of Gaochang, and the bloodline of my Yeda people will finally occupy a piece of land. Very good, very good!”
He was immensely satisfied, his expression intoxicated. Qu Wentai was furious but powerless.
“Chief Steward,” Xuanzang asked, “there is still one thing I do not understand.”
“Please speak, Master,” Zhu Gui replied. “Today, I have achieved great success, so I will leave nothing unsaid.”
Xuanzang furrowed his brow in thought. “The third wish for the bottle, to resurrect Qu Deyong, must also be an illusion. Therefore, it should be that the dagger Qu Deyong used to commit suicide had a problem, right?”
“Master is astute,” Zhu Gui smiled. “The short dagger Qu Deyong carried has long been replaced by me. It was crafted from high-quality Uzi steel, and I made some modifications. You see, the blade appears to be six inches long, but it can retract, going one inch deep into the body before retracting into the hilt. So, when the queen later tried to pull out the dagger to commit suicide, I quickly stopped her. Once pulled out, although the blade would spring out, the poison on it would not be sufficient to kill her. Wouldn’t that expose my scheme?”
“Clever! An inch deep would naturally not penetrate the heart,” Xuanzang nodded. “But Qu Deyong must have fallen to the ground pretending to be dead, and the dagger must have been coated with a drug that induces a coma, right?”
“Exactly,” Zhu Gui admitted immediately. “That drug was also something I obtained from Tianzhu long ago; I don’t even know its name. It is a poison used by the people of Southern Tianzhu to hunt large beasts. Once it enters the bloodstream, it causes muscle stiffness, inducing a state of apparent death while destroying one’s sanity. When that person revives, they become a madman.”
“I understand now,” Xuanzang nodded. “You used the David King’s bottle to resurrect Qu Deyong, intending for him to awaken before His Majesty. At that moment, Qu Deyong would be out of control and attempt to harm His Majesty, allowing you to have His Majesty personally kill his son, inflicting the greatest pain upon him.”
“Master truly understands this old servant,” Zhu Gui laughed heartily. “Isn’t today’s plan just as you described? Yes, yes, yes, on this clear moonlit night, we shall settle our grievances. Old thief, let us return to the underworld together under tonight’s bright moon!”
“Hmph, in your dreams!” Qu Wentai, who had been half-lying down, suddenly stood up with the help of those around him.
Zhu Gui was stunned. “You…”
“Do you remember the battlefield outside the city today?” Xuanzang sighed softly as he approached. “Ni Shu knocked your dagger away, and I picked it up to return it to you. At that time, I used the dagger that was embedded in Qu Deyong to swap with the one on you.”
Zhu Gui was dumbfounded. “You mean… the dagger I used to assassinate the old thief was that mechanism dagger?”
“Exactly,” Xuanzang nodded. “The Yeda people’s forging techniques are indeed unmatched in the world. After Qu Deyong committed suicide, although I examined that dagger repeatedly, I did not notice the mechanism inside. However, I accidentally discovered that the dagger you carried was identical to Qu Deyong’s. From that moment on, I suspected there was something unusual about it. Only when Qu Deyong was resurrected did I conclude that the dagger had not penetrated his heart. Therefore, it must have had a problem, which led me to discover the mechanism inside.”
Zhu Gui was completely stunned as if his soul had left his body. He never imagined that after twenty years of plotting revenge, just as he was about to achieve his perfect plan and kill his enemy, he had been switched out for the dagger!
He stared blankly at Qu Wentai, suddenly erupting in rage. “Old thief, I will not rest until we are at odds!”
With that, he let out a roar and charged at Qu Wentai. The guards immediately raised their spears to protect him, but Zhu Gui let out a miserable laugh, not dodging at all. He threw himself onto the spears, countless points piercing his body. Yet Zhu Gui did not care, his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at Qu Wentai.
Qu Wentai finally let out a breath, seeing this long-standing enemy who had lurked beside him for over twenty years was about to die. He could not help but wave his hands, laughing maniacally, “Die! Let’s see who dies first! Scoundrel, you want to harm me? I have the protection of gods and Buddhas! I have the monk’s protection! How could a petty person like you harm me in secret? Hahaha, your plans have come to naught, haven’t they? You eunuch, after you die, I will dismember you and feed you to the dogs in the wilderness!”
Zhu Gui was pinned to the spears, his face filled with sorrow, tears, and blood streaming down his cheeks. Watching his enemy’s triumphant expression, he gasped but could not speak.
Just as Qu Wentai was reveling in his victory, he suddenly stumbled and fell. The surrounding guards rushed to support him, but his legs were completely unresponsive, stiff, and twisted.
Qu Wentai was horrified. “My legs! Why won’t they obey me? Monk! Monk!”
Xuanzang hurried to his side, reaching out to touch him. His heart sank; Qu Wentai’s legs felt icy and stiff, like a corpse long dead!
Xuanzang turned abruptly to Zhu Gui. “How do we remove the poison from the blade?”
Zhu Gui understood at that moment, laughing while coughing up large amounts of blood. “It must… be burned with fierce fire…”
Xuanzang sighed deeply. “Your Majesty, it is I who have harmed you! I only wiped the blade with strong liquor and did not burn it with fire. The poison remaining on it must have already affected your legs!”
Qu Wentai was stunned.
Zhu Gui laughed loudly, blood flowing from the corners of his mouth. He laughed until tears and blood mingled, and slowly, his laughter faded. In his final moments, he turned his head to look at the astonished Qu Zhisheng and murmured, “Fate… is so moving!”
With a tilt of his head, he died, his body still pinned to the spears, a satisfied smile on his face.