“Is that you?!”
Princess Jin was startled when she saw the person before her.
Hong Xiao also frowned and spoke: “This is the Empress Dowager’s order, this is a palace matter. A guest shouldn’t interfere, should he?”
For some reason, she felt an inexplicable sense of… wariness, or perhaps some other feeling toward this person. Though he was said to be merely a clan leader with nothing particularly remarkable about him. Perhaps it was because of how he had confidently discussed national affairs with Li Zhaoting yesterday?
Sang Zhan first bowed to Princess Jin, then looked at her and said calmly: “Your Majesty the Empress, this humble citizen is insignificant with little influence, naturally having no right to interfere in palace matters. It’s just that having received the Emperor’s gracious treatment, I’m grateful in my heart. The Emperor was seriously injured, and I hope to help ease his burdens.”
“From what this humble citizen witnessed earlier, the assassin’s target was indeed the Emperor. It was only because the attempt failed that she turned to attack Noble Consort Shu. The Emperor was injured while trying to save Noble Consort Shu. To say the assassin came for Noble Consort Shu – what Your Majesty heard may be based on false rumors.”
He didn’t accuse Hong Xiao of slander, but spoke in this manner instead.
“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, why do you think the assassin acted this way?” He continued: “It was because she saw Noble Consort Shu’s importance to the Emperor, and the Emperor’s rescue further proved Noble Consort Shu’s position in his heart.”
“The Emperor even told Commander Si and General Manager Liang that if Your Majesty the Empress Dowager arrived, they must not reveal the specific circumstances of the assassination. He also said to let Noble Consort Shu stay to attend him. Isn’t this enough to explain everything?”
“If the Emperor wakes to see that Noble Consort Shu, whom he was injured saving, still cannot escape harm, wouldn’t he be heartbroken? Wouldn’t this blade have been taken in vain? If this causes conflict with Your Majesty, not to mention damaging feelings, it would certainly be no good for the Emperor’s recovery.”
“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager commands the six palaces and surely understands this principle. This humble citizen speaks no lies – everyone present here can testify. If Your Majesty insists on punishing Noble Consort Shu, we would inevitably face the Emperor’s wrath, because we all personally witnessed the Emperor’s concern for Noble Consort Shu. Not speaking up to ease our lord’s burdens would be most inappropriate. Therefore, this humble citizen means no offense – it’s for both our lord and ourselves. I hope Your Majesty will show understanding.”
After he finished speaking, Princess Jin’s brow furrowed tightly, while the imperial physicians, who had minded their own business before, now all stepped forward and knelt in supplication: “Your Majesty, please reconsider. Young Master Sang speaks truly – the Emperor’s dragon body is what matters most!”
Between Princess Jin’s furrowed and relaxed brows, her tone finally softened slightly: “Very well, I shall not pursue this matter for now. Noble Consort Shu, since the Emperor has ordered you to remain here, you may stay for now. Conduct yourself well, otherwise…”
She didn’t finish saying “otherwise what,” but her eyes carried a stern warning. Having said this, she inquired about Li Zhaoting’s condition from the court physician who had also completed his treatment. The physician respectfully responded, and she nodded repeatedly. The consorts, knowing it seemed nothing serious, all breathed sighs of relief. But with Princess Jin present, they dared not overstep propriety to visit, instead casting jealous, complex glances at Suzhen.
Among them, Wei Wulei and Consort Xia, who had been rebuked by Li Zhaoting that day, were most intense.
Unlike the others, Miaoyin’s expression carried doubt and mockery, which made Suzhen uncomfortable. But having chosen to return to the palace for revenge, the arrow was already on the string and had to be released.
Hong Xiao was now mostly watching Sang Zhan. He had seemingly glanced at her earlier, intentionally or not, and she felt angry in her heart, yet somehow dared not speak her anger. She didn’t know why, but always felt this person was somewhat frightening.
Si Lanfeng had originally been preparing words to plead with Princess Jin, and now finally breathed a sigh of relief. The Emperor truly hadn’t misjudged this person… Seeing Sang Zhan look his way and bid farewell, he quickly had the palace servants escort him out.
…
After an unknown amount of time, everyone had finally left. Before departing, Princess Jin ordered Suzhen to serve well. Suzhen was forcibly escorted back to the bedside by Liang Song and Xiao Si.
The bed had been carefully tended by the palace maids, with little of the bloody smell remaining. The air was filled more with medicinal fragrance… Due to excessive blood loss, Li Zhaoting’s lips were pale blue-white. She looked at him indifferently, but her thoughts weren’t much focused on him.
She was grateful to Sang Zhan for helping her out of trouble, but his seemingly amused, mocking gaze before leaving made her feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
In his mind, she must be contemptible.
What would he tell Lian Jie and the others?
His seemingly mocking, dark gaze made her heart ache faintly.
Lost in thought, she couldn’t help but cough softly, her throat filling with sweet-metallic taste. She quickly covered her mouth, trying not to make any sound.
But Li Zhaoting on the bed was already disturbed, his brows knitting, his eyelids twitching slightly.
Seeing him covered in sweat, she hesitated for a moment, then finally took out her handkerchief and wiped the sweat from him.
The path she had walked to this day… the pain and suffering seemed endless, and half of it was thanks to him. She truly could no longer harbor any feelings for him. This act would repay the debt of his saving her life.
Her hand was suddenly grasped.
She was startled, but saw he had already opened his eyes. He glanced at what she held in her hand, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
He wanted to sit up, suddenly letting out a muffled groan.
Suzhen had heard the imperial physician say earlier that though he hadn’t been hit in a vital spot, the dagger had penetrated more than halfway, creating a deep wound. She reached out to help him, and just as she was about to sit back down, he suddenly pulled her into his arms!
“You really scared me just now. I was afraid something would happen to you. Fortunately…” His somewhat hoarse voice fell by her ear.
He used force with his hands, touching his wound, and groaned softly again, but he didn’t loosen his grip, only holding her tighter!
Suzhen resisted his scent and embrace, but she didn’t push him away. This assassination was actually her opportunity—
“Didn’t you say you had forgotten me? Didn’t you plan to abandon me at Huguo Temple to fend for myself? Didn’t you…”
She spoke with some mockery. He pushed her back slightly, his eyes sharp and compelling: “What I think in my heart – why ask when you already know!”
The leaping flames in his eyes shocked her somewhat. He leaned toward her lips with unsteady breath. Suzhen instinctively began to retreat, but was forcibly restrained by both hands. She bit her teeth and let him have his way…
A “slap” sound came from outside the hall. Both turned their heads simultaneously to see Hong Xiao standing outside the door, having struck the door with her palm, looking at them with a slight cold smile.
She said nothing and turned to leave.
Suzhen said: “Shall I help you go after her?”
Li Zhaoting’s brow immediately furrowed! Not only did her eyes show none of the joy that other women would typically have in such situations, but there was a hint of seemingly amused mockery. This wasn’t the first time encountering such a situation either. His blood surged, and he couldn’t help but laugh coldly: “Who said I want to chase her!”
“Good, if you won’t chase, then don’t chase. Now that you’re awake, I’m also at ease. Rest well, I’ll come again tomorrow.” She intended to help him lie down, but he grabbed her arm!
With his severe injury, this forceful movement immediately caused blood to seep through his undergarment.
“You said you wanted Lian Yu’s remains back, and I granted your wish. You said you’d accompany his sister for three months, and I fulfilled your request. When you encountered the fire and your appearance was ruined, I still brought you back without question. Today when you were in danger, I…” He stared at her intently, his eyes dark as obsidian, showing fierce determination. “I had someone send you snacks last night. When you came today, didn’t you already know my feelings? How I feel about you in my heart – you understand very clearly. Why ask when you already know!”
“Feng Suzhen, what exactly do you still want?”
“No matter how you treat me, didn’t you still let your talented lady and the empress conceive? I’ve said before, no matter how Hong Xiao treats you, you would never imprison or blame her. My face… wasn’t it caused by you?” Suzhen smiled, reaching up to touch the scar on her cheek.
“Zhaoting,” she said, “I’m grateful for what you did for me today, but you would do the same for Miaoyin or Hong Xiao.”
“What I seek in my heart is uniqueness. Can you give that? You cannot! So I never hope for it. I returned because I couldn’t let you go, but how dare I let myself fall deeply again?”
She struggled forcefully. Li Zhaoting wouldn’t let go, and she suddenly fell from the bed. She looked at him in alarm, wanting to turn back to help him up, but in the end, she gave a self-mocking smile and quickly walked out.
“Feng Suzhen!” Li Zhaoting shouted sternly, but could only watch helplessly as she closed the door and left.
His knees hit the ground hard – the impact was severe, immediately breaking the skin and damaging bone. The wound on his chest and abdomen became even more crimson, but he seemed to feel no pain, only the dull ache in his heart that was unbearable.
“I am the Emperor, I cannot be without heirs! You angered me too much then. Today, if it were anyone else, I would never have acted so unhesitatingly. You know this – you simply don’t know!”
He blurted this out, laughing lowly.
“Lanfeng, Liang Song.”
He suddenly roared in anger.
Si Lanfeng and Liang Song were just outside the hall. Having seen people leaving one by one, they knew the situation inside wasn’t good. Hearing this call, they hurried in and were shocked to see Li Zhaoting’s condition. Si Lanfeng took several steps forward, about to carry him back to bed, when he heard him say through gritted teeth: “Help me go find Noble Consort Shu.”
Both were horrified, but seeing the red threads in his eyes, they dared not advise otherwise.
…
Outside the hall, Hong Xiao walked to a spot and heard sounds behind her, turning around.
“What? Come to show off your power?” Hong Xiao asked with a cold smile.
“Is there any need?” Suzhen replied indifferently. There was simply only one path – she had no choice.
Hong Xiao’s eyes carried mockery: “Didn’t you claim to deeply love Lian Yu? How is it you’re now going back on your word? When I was with Lian Yu, you came. When I’m with Li Zhaoting, you also must interfere between us. What is this supposed to be, Feng Suzhen? I truly look down on you.”
Suzhen smiled: “I knew Li Zhaoting first. We had a marriage contract. Now that I’m with him, isn’t it as it should be? Lian Yu was undoubtedly good to me, but what I felt for him then was more gratitude. Now that he’s gone and Li Zhaoting has had a change of heart, why can’t I renew our former relationship with him!”
“You!” Fire sparked in Hong Xiao’s eyes!
“I carry the dragon’s heir and am the empress he personally appointed. Do you think some things can be changed so easily?!”
“Childhood sweethearts – I have ten years of feelings with him. Just because you carry the dragon’s heir doesn’t mean anything. Why couldn’t I also have children with him!” She smiled slightly as she spoke, brushing past her.
Hong Xiao stood in place, her face deathly pale, trembling all over.
…
Several zhang away, Li Zhaoting stopped in his tracks. He didn’t let Si and Liang support him in pursuit. Going round and round, she still had him in her heart after all… The tension in his face relaxed slightly. Since this was so, tonight he needn’t admit defeat so completely.
He instructed Liang Song: “Go to the Empress’s palace later and convey some words of concern, saying I will visit her when I’m better.”
“Lanfeng, have Noble Consort Shu come to attend me tomorrow.”
“Yes!” Both were secretly shocked. The Emperor’s feelings for Noble Consort Shu seemed to deepen each time…
Watching the woman in plain clothes walk away, the man who had been in the dark corner still hadn’t moved a step.
Light and shadow flickered in his eyes, like ink, like indigo, seeming to smile yet sorrowful. Only when Hong Xiao ahead clutched her belly with tears streaming down did his gaze finally move slightly.
He wanted to go out and offer some support, but having made that decision initially, he wouldn’t change it. Why invite more melancholy!
Unlike some who always have their hearts elsewhere?!
The eastern quarters of the palace housed the consorts’ residences, heavily guarded by imperial troops. He had originally planned to find an opportunity to visit her palace and observe, but after consideration, he gave up the idea. If discovered, his death wouldn’t matter, but it would bring mortal danger to her.
Moreover, with treacherous officials not yet eliminated, great revenge incomplete, and hearts not united, how could he die?
So, knowing it was futile, he still waited here.
Knowing that tonight she would stay in the Emperor’s hall, after being escorted to the western quarters, he had quietly returned, harboring a thread of hope that perhaps, after Li Zhaoting woke, she would come out, would return to her own sleeping quarters… then he could see her a few more times from here.
But what did he see instead?
In the silent place, he also smiled silently.
When Suzhen returned to her palace, Guo Sizhen and several others quickly approached. Today’s “great event” in the palace had spread news everywhere. Knowing Suzhen was present and hadn’t returned, they couldn’t help but worry. During this time, Guo Sizhen sent people to inquire several times, only to be told that Noble Consort Shu was still at the Emperor’s hall. Under their worry, they stayed awake all night.
Suzhen was grateful in her heart and repeatedly assured them that she hadn’t gotten into trouble, telling them to return to their rooms to rest. Only then did they disperse.
Suzhen also had the night-duty palace servant bring a pot of wine into her room.
On the table in the room sat today’s medicinal meal.
She first poured herself a cup of water to rinse her mouth, washing away all traces of Li Zhaoting’s scent from her mouth, then drank large mouthfuls of the medicine that had become ice cold. Midway, she coughed and spat it out, accompanied by large amounts of fresh blood.
She had argued with Li Zhaoting partly to make him worry, and partly because of Sang Zhan’s presence – her blood and qi had been churning and she could no longer suppress it. If she had stayed longer, Li Zhaoting would surely have noticed something abnormal. Her illness would be detected by imperial physicians with a single examination – she couldn’t fool everyone every time!
She knew Li Zhaoting had very likely followed behind earlier. Those words were meant to provoke Hong Xiao and also to put Li Zhaoting at ease.
Li Zhaoting’s feelings for her were her weapon against the Wei family!
She poured the wine onto the ground and said quietly: “Father, please protect your daughter to live a few more days, to avenge you and Lian Yu. The Wei family is greatly evil, having done too many unconscionable things. Your daughter wants to remove this malignant tumor for the people of Great Zhou. Moreover, if the Wei family isn’t uprooted, Little Lotus and everyone else cannot be safe.”
She dipped her hand in the spilled wine and slowly wrote the three characters “Wei Wujun” beside it.
Thinking of something, she spoke with worry: “Xiao Zhou, there’s still one matter I haven’t figured out how to handle. What do you think…”
No response came from around her. She looked up and remembered that she was now completely alone.
She slowly walked outside and called a bright palace servant over, smiling: “Tomorrow, find me a pair of Chinese giant salamanders. I want to keep them in the courtyard.”
The other person was puzzled but still respectfully agreed.
She returned to her room to grind ink and write a letter. By dawn, she had finally finished writing it. To avoid suspicion, she had Chen Jiao take the letter out of the palace, first delivering it to Wuqing, who would then pass it to Quan Feitong.
The Chancellor’s Residence.
Today court was dismissed, so Quan Feitong hadn’t gone out. After reading the letter, his eyes lit up slightly, but then his brow furrowed again. The steward happened to enter to report that Young Master Sang requested an audience.
He ordered him to be quickly admitted.
Actually, before Sang Zhan entered the palace yesterday, the two had already met privately.
He had previously had Chao Huang conduct surveillance, not expecting Li Zhaoting to be so cunning and still manage to bring the person into the palace. But after Sang Zhan left the palace, he actively sought him out.
He said he was willing to serve Li Zhaoting openly while secretly assisting him.
He asked with a smile why he had chosen him.
“I originally came to the capital for the Yingyan matter, not expecting to receive ‘appreciation’ from you and the Emperor. Perhaps it’s heaven’s will, wanting me to repay the debt of life to Lian Yu. Chancellor Quan, Lian Yu helped me.”
That was Sang Zhan’s answer.
If it were any other reason, he would need to carefully consider this person’s sincerity, but his straightforward response eliminated most of his doubts.
He knew that Lian Yu and Feng Suzhen had been guests at the Sang clan, and that Lian Yu had helped Sang Zhan. His spy Ji Fufeng had been beside Lian Yu at the time.
As he was thinking, Sang Zhan arrived.
He asked with a smile: “How is the situation in the palace?”
He naturally knew about the palace events, and like other officials, he had sent supplements and greetings yesterday. Going to visit now would only add to the chaos.
“The Emperor’s injury is not serious,” Sang Zhan replied.
Quan Feitong continued smiling: “Mm, it’s not yet time for him to die. If he died, who would suppress Old Thief Wei? However, we can take advantage of this period to first disable one of Wei Chenghui’s arms!”
Happy New Year everyone, updates on 2.13/2.14, with another thousand during the holidays. No update tomorrow, see you the day after.