Anger stems from one’s incompetence, while sorrow arises from life’s regrets.
As these emotions subsided, Mei Ruyan’s mind gradually settled into calmness. Perhaps dying like this wasn’t so bad, she thought. At least she wouldn’t have to keep pining for someone beyond her reach.
With this realization, she stopped struggling and closed her eyes, waiting for death.
After a while, when the expected pain didn’t come, she opened her eyes slightly. Looking up, she saw two large men standing rigidly, their faces pale and the light rapidly fading from their eyes.
Within moments, they collapsed to the ground.
Mei Ruyan turned to survey her surroundings. Through the mist-covered tall grass, she spotted a figure holding a lantern not far away. The wind rustled through the grass, and the moisture-laden blue robe seemed to hang heavily.
“Sir,” Mei Ruyan exclaimed joyfully as she stood up.
Wei Yuzhi coughed for a moment before walking over to untie her. “Why didn’t you fight back? I always thought you had a strong will to live.”
“I…” Mei Ruyan didn’t know how to explain.
“Is it because of him?” Wei Yuzhi asked calmly as he walked slowly through the grass. “He’s not worth it. He’s never paused for anyone.”
“At least he was sincere to me once!” Mei Ruyan retorted. “Otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked me to avenge him.”
Mei Ruyan believed that Master Mo had said those words because he acknowledged their feelings for each other.
“Ahem. I have no experience in this area, but logically speaking, if he truly liked and cared for you, shouldn’t your safety be his top priority?” Wei Yuzhi turned slightly to look at her. “Why would he ask you to seek revenge?”
Mei Ruyan pursed her lips. “Perhaps he lacks experience too.”
Wei Yuzhi pondered for a moment before smiling slightly. “You’re right about that. Before you, he had never liked anyone.”
However, Wei Yuzhi always felt that liking someone didn’t require experience; it was instinctive. Just like his own unexpected feelings. Although he often found himself in difficult situations with An Jiu, his subconscious never wanted to hurt her.
Wei Yuzhi looked away, thinking to himself that a woman in love, no matter how clever or worldly-wise she might have been before, was like a moth drawn to a flame. He wondered if Mei Shisi was the same kind of person.
Perhaps even if he got an answer, he would still be just an observer.
People with high spiritual energy often have a certain ability to foresee things. For instance, from the moment he first saw An Jiu, he knew that she would never belong to him. Yet, he still found himself sinking deeper into this quagmire uncontrollably.
The only difference between him and Mei Ruyan in this regard was that he remained clear-headed.
Mei Ruyan broke the silence. “Sir, will the Crown Prince succeed?”
“Are you worried about Hua Rongjian?” Wei Yuzhi asked.
“It seems I can never keep secrets from you, sir,” Mei Ruyan smiled. “He’s not a bad person. Even knowing my ill intentions, he still accepted me and treated me well. It’s just… later, he seemed to become a different person.”
“Oh?” Wei Yuzhi’s impression of Hua Rongjian was unremarkable. If not for his status as the second son of the Hua family, he wouldn’t have even noticed this person.
Compared to the radiant aura surrounding Hua Rongtian, Hua Rongjian was indeed too ordinary.
Mei Ruyan sighed and shook her head. “I can’t quite understand it either.”
When she first encountered Hua Rongjian, although he behaved poorly, he was a kind and graceful man. Later, due to some unknown circumstances, his entire personality changed dramatically, becoming increasingly cruel and sinister. Although Mei Ruyan had no real feelings for him, seeing a once sunny person fall into darkness was truly lamentable.
“Whether the Crown Prince can ascend to the throne or not is unimportant for the Liao nation,” Wei Yuzhi said. He was merely following orders to create chaos in the Great Song Dynasty, while his main task was to search for medicine. “You should go to Liao. Take this token with you.”
Wei Yuzhi stopped and removed the jade pendant from his waist, handing it to her.
“Thank you, sir!” Mei Ruyan exclaimed joyfully, carefully tucking the token into her bosom.
“Five li north of here, there’s an estate. With this token, you can obtain a horse there to leave. The north is in turmoil, so be careful,” Wei Yuzhi said, his face growing increasingly pale and beading with sweat.
Mei Ruyan looked concerned. “Are you alright, sir? Should I stay and take care of you for a while?”
“No need. It’s just an old ailment. I won’t die from it,” Wei Yuzhi said nonchalantly. “Go now.”
Mei Ruyan hesitated for a moment, then bowed deeply to Wei Yuzhi before turning to leave.
Wei Yuzhi watched her retreating figure and murmured, “Of all worldly sufferings, unfulfilled desire is the most painful.”
It wasn’t clear whether he was referring to himself or Mei Ruyan.
The death knell tolled until daybreak. The palace sent a message to the Second Prince’s residence, which was soon relayed to the city gates by the steward.
The Second Prince asked Chu Dingjiang, “Master, should we go or not?”
At this point, neither the Crown Prince nor the Second Prince dared to make any big moves. They were both aiming for legitimacy, not wanting to be seen as usurpers and bear the infamy for generations to come.
“Your Highness must go,” Chu Dingjiang said firmly.
Chu Dingjiang’s main purpose in spreading the news of the Emperor’s death was not to force the fence-sitting court officials to take sides but to make the military officers supporting the Second Prince understand that the tide was unstoppable. They had already set things in motion – success would mean becoming meritorious ministers, while failure would brand them as treasonous usurpers.
One step forward to heaven, one step back to hell.
The Second Prince hesitated. “The court officials…”
“Didn’t His Majesty once bestow upon Your Highness a secret imperial edict?” Chu Dingjiang asked with a slight smile.
“Father knew the Crown Prince’s nature well. That edict was given as a lifeline in case the Crown Prince couldn’t tolerate me,” the Second Prince said. Now, this edict felt both indispensable and uncomfortable to him. If he wanted to ascend to the supreme position, this edict would be evidence of his illegitimacy, as the late Emperor had not intended to establish him. Yet, if he destroyed it now and his efforts failed, wouldn’t he lose his last lifeline?
Chu Dingjiang asked, “How many people know the contents of this edict?”
The Second Prince’s eyes lit up. “Master, do you mean…?”
Chu Dingjiang reached into his robe and spread out a piece of yellow silk on the table.
The Second Prince read it, his face filled with shock. He picked up the edict with trembling hands. “This… this is!”
The edict clearly stated: “With the sudden passing of the previous Emperor, returning to the five elements, I have received the mandate of Heaven and the great legacy of our ancestors. Following the last will of the late Emperor… Deeply aware of the weight of this responsibility, I am filled with trepidation. Only the Second Prince, Zhao Huo, possesses benevolence, wisdom, filial piety, and brotherly affection, winning the hearts of all under heaven. He should ascend to a great position. All civil and military officials, both within and without, shall unite in assisting the government to bring peace to our people. I hereby reverently announce to Heaven and Earth that I will ascend to the imperial throne, to nurture and sustain all beings, and to continue the prosperous legacy… The coming year shall be the first year of Yuning. A general amnesty shall be granted throughout the realm, marking a new beginning with the people…”
This edict was penned by a Hanlin Academy official, and the seal at the end was one the Second Prince had seen countless times. He could not detect any flaws. If someone were to claim this edict was genuine, he would not doubt it.
“This Hanlin Academy official is willing to pledge allegiance to Your Highness,” Chu Dingjiang said.
The Second Prince, upon hearing this, became more clear-headed. He calmed his excitement, realizing that since Chu Dingjiang mentioned this person’s allegiance, it meant the edict was not the Emperor’s true intention. “Is this edict fake?” he asked.
Chu Dingjiang replied, “It’s real if we say it’s real, and fake if we say it’s fake.”
The Second Prince was puzzled. “What do you mean by that?”