Though they could have killed Xiao Changtai along with his subordinates in the grove, Shen Xihe had brought him back alive – clearly, she must have had other intentions.
“I made a promise to someone,” Shen Xihe said, instructing Zhenzhu to fetch a box. While Zhenzhu was gone, she told Xiao Huayong everything Ye Wantang had said to her. When Zhenzhu returned with the box, she handed it to Xiao Huayong, “This contains the location where Xiao Changtai hid the rest of his money, along with the keys and maps to retrieve it.”
Xiao Huayong took the box. Both he and Shen Xihe knew the money’s origins were questionable. The tomb-robbing case was already closed, and it wasn’t possible to reopen it now to compensate each family, especially since Xiao Changtai had already squandered most of the money. Complete compensation wasn’t possible, but given the money’s dubious nature, neither husband nor wife wanted to keep it for themselves.
Xiao Huayong naturally wouldn’t leave this hot potato in Shen Xihe’s hands. Holding the box, he pondered for a moment before saying, “Let’s use it for charitable donations – at least that way it can generate some good karma for the families whose tombs were robbed.”
This was the best solution Xiao Huayong could think of, and also the most prudent option Shen Xihe had considered: “But under whose name?”
Shen Xihe didn’t want to use her and Xiao Huayong’s names – wouldn’t that still be taking advantage of the situation?
“Give it to Hua Fuhai, he’ll handle it appropriately,” Xiao Huayong felt such a minor matter didn’t require his attention.
However, Shen Xihe suggested: “I’ll have Qi Pei work with Hua Taoya, let him learn from this too.”
“I’m honored that Youyou thinks so highly of my people,” Xiao Huayong was delighted by this suggestion, as it meant gradually merging their two power bases until they became indistinguishable.
The more familiar Shen Xihe became with his people, the happier he was.
Smiling, Shen Xihe discussed a few other matters before leaving, telling Xiao Huayong to rest more. Having exhausted himself and spent a sleepless night fighting with Xiao Changtai, Xiao Huayong obediently followed her instructions to rest.
After Xiao Huayong fell into a deep sleep, Shen Xihe lit some calming incense and quietly left the room.
Outside the door, Zhenzhu informed her that Xiao Changtai had awakened: “Lady Ye sent someone to ask when she could see him?”
“What has Lady Ye done since arriving here?” Shen Xihe asked.
“Nothing at all. She’s been quietly keeping to herself, and hasn’t even spoken half a word to anyone.” The only thing she’d done was send someone to ask when she could see Xiao Changtai.
Shen Xihe walked briskly, contemplating for a moment before sighing deeply: “Have Mo Yuan take him over.”
Mo Yuan gave Xiao Changtai a muscle-weakening drug before untying him and escorting him to Ye Wantang’s room. Before this, Ye Wantang had sent another request to Shen Xihe for a table of food and a jar of premium Yichun wine.
Yichun wine was Xiao Changtai’s favorite, having been an imperial tribute since the Jin Dynasty and remaining so in the current dynasty.
Getting premium Yichun wine wasn’t easy, especially in the Northwest. Shen Xihe had Zhenzhu ask Tianyuan, who quickly procured a jar of Yichun wine that rivaled tribute quality.
“Whatever else she requests, grant it,” Shen Xihe instructed Zhenzhu as she moved to another room to handle some aftermath matters.
After the Yichun wine was delivered to the bedroom, Ye Wantang made no further requests. When Xiao Changtai was brought to the room, she dismissed everyone else, leaving only herself and him.
Xiao Changtai sat weakly against one side, his face pale, too weak to even stand. He heard the beaded curtain rustle and looked up to see Ye Wantang, magnificently dressed, pushing aside the curtain and walking toward him step by step.
She was truly beautiful, with her hair arranged high and adorned with golden hairpins set with jewels, dressed in fine silks, her movements graceful. Her trailing dress spread out around her, displaying her noble bearing. He felt dazed – when she had married him years ago with her grand wedding procession, she had been just as breathtakingly beautiful.
“Wanwan…” Xiao Changtai’s voice was weak.
With an exquisite flower ornament adorning her brow, complementing her clear, gentle eyes, she looked at him for a moment before sitting beside him. She arranged the dishes, and noticing he might not even have the strength to hold chopsticks, she rolled up her sleeves and brought his favorite dishes to his lips.
But Xiao Changtai didn’t open his mouth.
Ye Wantang gave a self-mocking smile and put the food from her chopsticks into her bowl. Taking her chopsticks, she ate it in front of him, watching his pathetic state while chewing: “Did you think I would kill you to curry favor now that I see you defeated?”
“I didn’t mean that…” Xiao Changtai wouldn’t doubt Ye Wantang; he just didn’t trust anyone else here.
Understanding his meaning, Ye Wantang’s smile deepened: “In our current situation, if they wanted us dead, why bother with poison?”
Xiao Changtai remained silent.
Ye Wantang didn’t press the issue, instead feeding him again. This time Xiao Changtai ate whatever she fed him. After he was full, Ye Wantang began eating herself, lost in thought as she did so.
Xiao Changtai noticed her unusual expression and waited until she was almost finished before saying: “Wanwan, go back to the capital…”
These words made Ye Wantang’s arm freeze. She paused and put down her chopsticks, her gaze gentle: “I can’t go back…”
From the moment she had risked everything to leave with Xiao Changtai, she knew it was the final choice of her life. If she chose correctly, they would forget the past together and spend their remaining years in carefree contentment. If she chose wrongly, it would be a path of no return.
“Wanwan…”
“I lied to you.” Before Xiao Changtai could speak, Ye Wantang interrupted him. She picked up the wine jar and poured two cups. “That day when I said I regretted marrying you, it was just words spoken in anger. Even now, I still can’t let you go.”
Her smile turned desolate as she continued: “I hate myself for becoming like this. Before marriage, I thought that if I married the wrong person, I could withdraw in time. Even if divorce wasn’t possible, I would at least protect my heart…”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she slowly looked away from Xiao Changtai’s face, staring vacantly ahead: “Only now do I realize how naive and foolish I was then. Some feelings are carved into your bones – unless you dig out the flesh and scrape the bones clean, how can you break free?”
“Wanwan.” Xiao Changtai’s eyes also reddened.
“I truly… truly fell deeply in love with you, beyond salvation. I keep thinking why couldn’t you have been crueler to me? If you loved power so much, why didn’t you take more concubines to strengthen your position? If you had, perhaps I could have seen sooner, freed myself sooner…”
Seeming to realize something, Xiao Changtai’s heart was gripped by immense fear: “I didn’t take concubines only because I didn’t want His Majesty to see my ambitions too early, not because I was truly devoted to you as you thought!”
Ye Wantang, whose tears had been barely contained, let them fall at these words. She raised the wine before her: “I never wanted you to fight for that dragon throne in Mingzheng Hall, because… where you see the path to supreme power, I see only the deep grave of the Yellow Springs.”
With these words, Ye Wantang threw back her head and drained her cup in one gulp.