On the third afternoon, Tang Lici once again entered the palace with his own blood serum. Consort Yun’s poison wound had already improved somewhat. Seeing him bring medicine again, Consort Yun dismissed everyone around her and let Tang Lici inject the medicine into her bloodstream. After everything was properly completed, Consort Yun lowered the curtains and sighed softly.
“Does Yun’er feel better in her body?” Tang Lici asked gently. He was still in white robes with pearl-adorned shoes. Today’s clothing was embroidered with light-colored borders in patterns of clustered flowers and curling grass—auspicious and magnificent. Consort Yun said faintly, “Much better. Tomorrow at noon, by the incense burner at Emerald Willow Little Lotus, I will give you the Green Enchantment…” Tang Lici interrupted her words, “No need.” Consort Yun was slightly startled, “Could it be that you—” Tang Lici raised a finger to his lips and softly “shushed” once, “Has the person who poisoned you and forced you to take the Green Enchantment continued to send you messages?”
“Yes.” Consort Yun lifted the water-green hanging curtain and stared intently at Tang Lici. He had obtained the Green Enchantment—how had he obtained it? Was it really so easy? Tang Lici’s gaze lowered, but the corners of his eyes lightly lifted, “How did you respond?” Consort Yun let out a long breath, “I said—” she said slowly, “I said that National Uncle Tang is treating my illness and I’m already showing improvement, so… I’m not afraid of the Enchanting Blossom poison. I won’t take the Green Enchantment—I don’t have the courage to touch the Emperor’s belongings.” Tang Lici smiled slightly, “What was his reaction?” Consort Yun shook her head, “Ever since I gave this response, Guard Qi’s little nephew hasn’t come again. However, I think…” she said in a low voice, “I have… harmed you.”
Tang Lici had a method to neutralize the Enchanting Blossom’s strange poison—perhaps he could also neutralize the other two deadly poisons. Anyone would think this way. So their abandoning Consort Yun and the Green Enchantment to target Tang Lici instead was very likely. Tang Lici didn’t mind, saying gently, “Then regarding tomorrow’s message at the incense burner by Emerald Willow Little Lotus, how had you originally arranged it?” Consort Yun’s expression was very desolate, “I had planned to have Xia He deliver the Green Enchantment for me, but I never told her what I was giving her.” Tang Lici’s gaze flowed, “Oh… you can stop regarding the Green Enchantment, but the trip to Emerald Willow Little Lotus must still happen. You can go at noon today—I’ll be waiting at Emerald Willow Little Lotus.” Consort Yun said faintly, “Must you always resolve things so thoroughly? Perhaps if you and I remain silent, they’ll withdraw knowing they’ve failed.” Tang Lici turned around with his hands behind his back, saying gently, “Yun’er, you know I’ve never liked letting things slide.” Consort Yun raised her gaze and looked at his back once, “I’ve said many times that this temperament of yours is not good.” Tang Lici walked away slowly, “Hmm… unfortunately… you’ve never been able to persuade me.”
He left.
Tears in Consort Yun’s eyes slid down her cheeks. How many times was this that she had cried for him? She could no longer count clearly.
Unfortunately… you’ve never been able to persuade me.
This sentence was cruel, but it wasn’t the cruelest one she had heard. How many heartbreaking words had he said to her? And the ridiculous thing was… she could hear them all, and deep in her heart there was always a trace of joy—he didn’t hide anything from her. To him, was she still somewhat different from others?
Was causing harm without restraint also a kind of emotion?
At least he had saved her life. To him, she was not as thin as reed grass. Whether it was for his future benefit, for the National Uncle’s mansion, or for his grand strategy—at least… he had saved her life.
That was enough for her to continue living.
Tang Lici left Ciyuan Hall with a slight smile on his face, seeming in very good spirits. In today’s blood serum injection, he had included powder from the Green Enchantment pearl. The deadly poison in Consort Yun’s body should be fine now. What remained was only the problem that must be resolved at Emerald Willow Little Lotus. Not far from leaving Ciyuan Hall, someone was waiting in Wenxin Pavilion. Seeing him emerge, the person cupped his hands in greeting, “Lici.”
“Brother Yang.” Tang Lici stopped, “On duty today?” Yang Guihua smiled slightly, “Indeed. Lici seems in very good spirits today. I wonder if there’s some joyful occasion?” Tang Lici responded with an elegant, shallow smile, “Consort Yun’s illness has greatly improved, so naturally I’m happy.” Yang Guihua stood in the pavilion and took a deep breath, “Lici, there are some things I ask as a friend—are you willing to treat me with sincerity?” Tang Lici looked at him once, “Oh… I’ll treat you with sincerity. I wonder if Brother Yang will also treat me with sincerity?” Yang Guihua trembled slightly, “Of course!” Tang Lici looked at him with an ambiguous and smiling gaze, “Ask away.”
“Was last night’s palace incident related to you?” Yang Guihua asked in a heavy voice. Tang Lici didn’t even blink, “No.” Yang Guihua asked in a low voice, “Are you truly treating me with sincerity?” Tang Lici said, “Shouldn’t you trust me?” Yang Guihua paused, “It truly wasn’t you?” Tang Lici smiled and shook his head, “Tell me, what clues have you found in Kaifeng? What are the Imperial Guards suspicious of?” Yang Guihua let out a light breath, “Recently, sixteen guards within the palace have been killed, all silently struck at fatal acupoints in the middle of the night. Several of them had martial arts skills no less than mine. The sixteen were killed in different locations, but they were getting closer and closer to Funing Palace. Some showed red spots all over their bodies after death, very similar to the ‘Crimson Ghost Nine Heart Pills’ poison that’s been spreading in the martial world recently. Lord Jiao and I both suspect… someone has infiltrated the palace and is distributing poison among the Imperial Guards. But exactly how many have taken it, probably no one knows.” Tang Lici’s elegant brows furrowed slightly, “If they had taken poison, why would they be struck at fatal acupoints?” Yang Guihua’s expression was very serious, “Perhaps it was because they were unwilling to obey the poisoner’s orders. The dead guards were all straightforward in character and easily impulsive rough men. If someone is truly spreading poison among the troops, Kaifeng inside and outside is in grave danger. Our dynasty’s military conflict with Liao has not ceased—if the Imperial Guards lose control, the consequences would be unthinkable.” Tang Lici pondered for a while, “Distributing poison among the Imperial Guards—what’s the most likely purpose? Colluding with Liao? Or harboring rebellious intentions? Or… both?”
“I don’t know.” Yang Guihua said slowly, “We haven’t yet reported this matter to the Emperor. Please forgive us, Lici.” Tang Lici said gently, “Then naturally I’ve heard nothing.” He closed his eyes slightly, his eyelashes lifting as he gently opened them, “Brother Yang, watch Ciyuan Hall—perhaps… you’ll gain something.” Yang Guihua’s expression changed slightly, “You mean…” Tang Lici stepped forward, and as he passed by his shoulder, he laughed in a low voice, “Spring Peach, Summer Lotus…” Yang Guihua’s face truly changed color, “They…” Tang Lici’s robes fluttered as he had already walked past without looking back.
Yang Guihua watched Tang Lici’s retreating figure, gripping his fists tightly. Spring Peach, Summer Lotus—Consort Yun’s maids. If the matter was truly related to them, perhaps Consort Yun’s illness had great significance, and how could Tang Lici, who was treating Consort Yun, be completely unaware? What was his intention in mentioning Spring Peach and Summer Lotus?
Tang Lici’s gait was very leisurely, as if strolling in the courtyard of the National Uncle’s mansion. He planned to spend most of an hour relaxing in the imperial garden, then go to Emerald Willow Little Lotus. After saying the four words “Spring Peach, Summer Lotus,” Yang Guihua would undoubtedly follow behind him. At this moment, in the subtle situation within the imperial palace, having one more helper might bring unexpected benefits.
Yesterday’s assassination attempt on Emperor Taizong by the Liao assassin was naturally a setup he had arranged. Writing a letter in Liao script and throwing it to a vagrant wandering the streets—not many people could read Liao script, but the place he threw it was very subtle. Before long, the letter reached someone who could understand it, and everything afterward went as expected. When the assassin’s long arrow shot toward them, he pushed Emperor Taizong, the arrow broke the Green Enchantment, and before it fell to the ground, he collected the Green Enchantment and placed down the pearl. Everything was done before everyone’s eyes, but no one saw it. Everyone’s eyes saw only the assassin. As for the assassin being accidentally killed in prison, that was indeed not his intention. Although this assassin’s death must have another story, it was no longer within Tang Lici’s control. Yang Guihua was indeed treating him with sincerity, but unfortunately, for Tang Lici, whether it was trust and promises or casual friendship, neither was necessarily worth cherishing.
There were very few things he cherished in this life, and many things he harmed.
The autumn wind was desolate. The imperial garden was full of blooming autumn chrysanthemums. Even if the varieties were rare and exotic, chrysanthemums were still chrysanthemums—they would never have the rich magnificence of peonies and tree peonies. Tang Lici walked with trailing sleeves, his garments embroidered with clustered flowers and curling grass brushing through the chrysanthemum clusters, picking up a layer of light green sap. The wind blew the withered petals of chrysanthemums, rolling and withering all over the ground. He walked very slowly, taking nearly half an hour to walk from outside Ciyuan Hall to Emerald Willow Little Lotus. Yang Guihua followed far behind him, seeing Tang Lici pause briefly by a pond. In the pond was a longevity rock with an old frog crouching on it, shivering in the autumn wind. As Tang Lici walked past the pond’s edge, with a “pa” sound, something struck the old frog’s head, instantly creating a bloody mess. Yang Guihua was slightly startled. When he looked again, Tang Lici had already left without looking back. In the cold wind, only the white jade on the dead frog’s head glinted in the sunlight.
It was a piece of mutton-fat white jade carved in the shape of a longevity peach, only thumb-sized, but with delicate and smooth jade quality worth at least a thousand taels. Tang Lici had used it as a hidden weapon, casually throwing it to kill an old frog. Such behavior made Yang Guihua, who was following behind, feel a chill throughout his body. This person… seemed possessed by demons, his every movement carrying demonic energy that made people shudder.
After most of an hour, Tang Lici finally reached Emerald Willow Little Lotus. This was a secluded small pavilion within the imperial palace with a huge incense burner inside, near Purple Cloud Temple. Before he arrived at Emerald Willow Little Lotus, there was already someone in the pavilion. Looking at her dress and appearance, it was Xia He. Seeing Tang Lici arrive, she bowed to him, said something unknown, and took her leave. Tang Lici didn’t detain her. After Xia He left, he reached into the incense burner at Emerald Willow Little Lotus, retrieved something, patted off the incense ash, and placed it in his bosom.
What was this about? Yang Guihua felt slightly alarmed. It looked like some kind of transaction, but… his thought wasn’t even complete when shadows suddenly moved in the pavilion. Several black shadows leaped from the flower clusters, two palm strikes and one sword energy attacking Tang Lici’s vital acupoints at his back simultaneously. Yang Guihua was startled, but saw Tang Lici counter with his palm. Within several moves, the three black shadows had all fallen down—so fast that hardly any sound was made. Excellent skills! Yang Guihua’s eyes moved slightly. He heard very faint sounds from his side. Turning slightly, he saw someone flash past in the distant grove. Without thinking, he crouched and followed. For a moment his mind was focused on nothing else, unable to spare attention to think about what Tang Lici had just been doing.
Within three moves, Tang Lici had brought down three strange visitors who had covered their entire bodies and faces with black cloaks. Pulling off the black cloaks revealed three unfamiliar palace guards underneath. Tang Lici’s white cloud shoes lightly stepped on one man’s chest. The man had a stern expression and closed his eyes, determined that no matter what Tang Lici asked, he would absolutely not answer. Unexpectedly, with a crisp “crack” sound, before Tang Lici had asked anything, his foot first broke one of the man’s ribs. The man cried out “Ah” in agony, suddenly sitting up with a pale face, “You… you…”