As Jiang Xianming’s words fell, Tai’an Hall became silent as a grave. Officials stood divided on both sides. The howling bitter wind carried snow particles surging through the wide-open hall doors, making the ground increasingly wet.
“Your Majesty!”
Hanlin Reader-in-Waiting Zheng Jian turned around and bowed. “Jiang Xianming credulously believes rumors and draws conclusions rashly. A case that was already deliberated and decided sixteen years ago—now people like Dong Yao want to overturn it, and Jiang Xianming also wants to overturn it. This shows no respect for the sovereign. This is ulterior motive!”
“Lord Zheng,”
Vice Commissioner of Military Affairs Ge Rang stood nearby, his mind full of those one hundred and thirty-six cuts. “Even if it’s a case from sixteen years ago, if doubts are discovered now, can it not be raised again? What kind of reasoning is this?”
“Ge Rang.”
Huang Zongyu frowned, signaling him not to say more.
Zheng Jian suddenly turned his head, his eyes fixed on Ge Rang, then bowed rather respectfully. “Lord Ge, I nearly forgot—back then you were extremely loyal to Xu Hexue. Whatever he said, you did. At that time you were at least a man in your thirties, yet you elevated a yellow-mouthed child as if he were unmatched in heaven and earth… No wonder today you would say such things.”
Huang Zongyu secretly tugged at Ge Rang’s sleeve, but Ge Rang brushed away his hand and snorted coldly, stepping forward several paces. “Zheng Jian, have you ever been on a battlefield? Do you know that people like you who are skilled at wagging your tongue would have that tongue cut off by the barbarians’ golden blades on the battlefield?”
Zheng Jian’s complexion changed slightly.
“In your view, it seems shameful that I, Ge Rang, in my thirties, revolved around a young man. But I want to tell you—on the battlefield it’s always real swords and real spears. I don’t judge people by their age, only by their ability to fight. At fourteen, he gave up his future in the capital, his provincial graduate status, and plunged headlong to the frontier, joining Grand Commandant Miao Tianzhao’s Huning Army.”
As Ge Rang spoke, he looked toward Grand Commandant Miao standing on the other side. Many people’s gazes in the hall followed his, falling on Grand Commandant Miao.
Grand Commandant Miao’s heart ached unbearably. He could only clench his teeth tightly.
“At fifteen, in our eyes he was just a half-grown child, yet at Danyuan he led seven hundred cavalry around to the barbarians’ rear. With just seven hundred men, he inflicted losses of two thousand on the barbarians and even captured Ze Rong alive. Without his surprise night attack, Grand Commandant Miao would have been locked in stalemate with the barbarians much longer at the front.”
“At sixteen he left the Huning Army and commanded the Jing’an Army. The Battle of Yinma Lake, and later every battle to recapture the thousand miles of Yan Pass—I was in all of them. A youth who possessed both courage and strategy—on what basis should I look down on him because of his age rather than respect him?”
“Lord Ge, so you share the same view as Jiang Xianming?”
Zheng Jian seized on his words. “Today, you also want to vindicate Xu Hexue, is that it?”
“I…”
Grand Commandant Miao endured until both eyes turned red. Gritting his teeth, he rolled up his sleeves and was about to walk toward Zheng Jian when an official beside him hastily restrained him, saying in a low voice: “Grand Commandant Miao, don’t be impulsive.”
“I respect Xu Hexue solely because of his past contributions to Great Qi. If he were a traitorous rebel, why would I vindicate him? Now this isn’t even vindication—it’s merely taking this old case and re-examining it once more.” Ge Rang advanced step by step toward Zheng Jian and the others. “On the contrary, why are you people now desperately blocking it?”
Ding Jin exchanged a glance with Pan Youfang without showing emotion, then bowed toward Emperor Zhengyuan. “Your Majesty, the confession in Jiang Xianming’s hands is of unknown origin, but this case from back then had ironclad evidence. This subject believes there is no need to re-examine it. This subject Ding Jin impeaches Vice Censor-in-Chief Jiang Xianming for abuse of authority and deceiving the sovereign.”
Zheng Jian immediately bowed. “Your Majesty, those who raise this case at this time clearly harbor ill intentions! Back then this case was investigated for a full month. It was thoroughly cleared by multiple court officials with utmost dedication. Sixteen years have passed—can we investigate more clearly today than we did back then? Tan Guangwen has already committed suicide from fear of punishment. A dead man can no longer speak. This subject wonders whether Jiang Xianming, using this so-called confession, is acting for Xu Hexue or harboring ulterior motives…”
“This subject Zheng Jian impeaches Vice Censor-in-Chief Jiang Xianming!”
These words implicated multiple officials who had deliberated on the case back then—the Remonstrance Bureau, the Hanlin Academy. At once, many people bowed in succession. “This subject impeaches Vice Censor-in-Chief Jiang Xianming!”
“This subject impeaches Vice Censor-in-Chief Jiang Xianming!”
“This subject impeaches Vice Censor-in-Chief—Jiang Xianming!”
Amid these voices of impeachment, Meng Yunxian stood upright. He said nothing. The New Party members also observed their noses with their eyes and their hearts with their noses—neither speaking for Jiang Xianming nor voicing impeachment.
Meng Yunxian looked at Jiang Xianming kneeling prostrate on the ground. Since saying those words, he had made no sound.
He was seeking death.
Meng Yunxian raised his eyes and met the gaze of Pan Youfang standing opposite.
Snow particles were blown in slantwise by the wind. Pan Youfang pulled at his lips and nodded silently at him. Meng Yunxian remembered that rainy night when this person told him he would absolutely never acknowledge it.
Today, anyone could plead for Jiang Xianming—except Meng Yunxian. Because his past friendship with Zhang Jing was known to all. If he pleaded for Jiang Xianming, it would be expressing grievance for Zhang Jing.
Emperor Zhengyuan remained silent for a long time. Liang Shenfu, supporting him from the side, forcibly endured the pain of his wrist being gripped fiercely by the sovereign, his face deathly pale.
“Meng Yunxian, I want you to speak.”
Emperor Zhengyuan’s voice was hoarse.
Meng Yunxian stepped forward, standing beside Jiang Xianming. He saw how the sovereign looked at him—so coldly, bloodshot.
Assistant Minister of the Secretariat Pei Zhiyuan watched this scene, feeling as if his heart were being squeezed tightly by a hand.
Minister Meng, don’t speak.
Don’t speak.
Words His Majesty doesn’t want to hear—you must not say them.
Meng Yunxian bowed. “This subject…”
Just one word fell when Emperor Zhengyuan suddenly vomited blood.
“Your Majesty!”
Liang Shenfu was greatly alarmed.
Tai’an Hall instantly descended into chaos. Liang Shenfu frantically sent someone to the Imperial Medical Bureau while hastily helping Emperor Zhengyuan out of Tai’an Hall.
The officials were also badly frightened, each showing worried expressions.
But at this moment, Grand Commandant Miao rolled up his sleeves, strode forward with several large steps, grabbed Zheng Jian by the collar, and threw a punch that sent Zheng Jian falling backward to the ground.
“Oh my! What is this about?”
Huang Zongyu quickly had officials pull Grand Commandant Miao away.
“Grand Commandant Miao!”
Zheng Jian, dazed and dizzy from this military man’s punch, sat up only to feel hot liquid flowing from his nose. He reached up to wipe it—his hand was covered in blood. He said angrily: “Why did you strike a colleague?!”
“I hit exactly you!”
Grand Commandant Miao watched as imperial guards escorted Jiang Xianming away. “Zheng Jian! Not only will I hit you, I’ll cut out your tongue! Colleague? What kind of colleague are you?”
Grand Commandant Miao laughed coldly. “Being colleagues with people like you makes me sick!”
“Ah, Grand Commandant Miao, you can’t say such things! Doesn’t this harm the fellowship among those serving in the same court?” Ding Jin and others helped Zheng Jian up. Many officials felt his words were too harsh and showed displeasure.
“With you people, what fellowship is there?” Grand Commandant Miao forcibly shook off the hands of several officials restraining him. He couldn’t wear a blade into the palace and couldn’t find anything suitable at hand for a moment. “I, I…”
He lowered his head and simply pulled off one of his boots.
“Oh my! Grand Commandant Miao! You mustn’t! You mustn’t!” Military officials all came to restrain him.
“Brute! Only knows how to use fists! What can fists solve? Truly disgracing the refined!” Zheng Jian was dizzy with anger.
These words immediately displeased the military officials restraining Grand Commandant Miao.
“Fists can smash barbarians to death. Can you civil officials’ wagging tongues kill barbarians?”
“We are all civil officials—why should we do such violent things?”
“If we don’t fight, who the hell will defend the territory? Rely on worthless things like you?”
“You! Vulgar!”
“You’re cowardly weaklings!”
In Tai’an Hall, after civil and military officials finished verbal attacks, they began physical ones, brawling in utter chaos. Huang Zongyu hastily sent people to mediate, but after saying only a few words, the mediating officials also joined the fight.
Huang Zongyu saw Ge Rang also took the opportunity to kick Zheng Jian several times. Covered in sweat, he hurried to Meng Yunxian’s side. “Minister Meng, why don’t you try to mediate? How can they fight like this? They’re all officials of Great Qi. His Majesty’s condition is still unknown, and they’re truly excessive…”
“Set your mind at ease. Among those serving in the same court, there’s no one who hasn’t fought. A few words don’t match, they start fighting—it’s nothing rare.” Meng Yunxian spoke calmly. “What’s urgent now is that we must go wait outside Qinghe Hall.”
“This Jiang Xianming angered His Majesty to the point of vomiting blood. He really is…” Huang Zongyu muttered a few words, then immediately walked toward the outside of Tai’an Hall. “I must hurry to wait outside Qinghe Hall.”
Amid the chaos of voices in Tai’an Hall, Meng Yunxian and Pei Zhiyuan walked out of the hall. At that moment, someone followed them.
On the white jade stone steps, Meng Yunxian stopped.
“Minister Meng, I told you long ago—let matters from sixteen years ago pass.”
Pan Youfang drew his cloak tighter.
“The confession in Jiang Xianming’s hands—you had someone give it to him. You wanted him to walk onto a path of death himself.”
Meng Yunxian spoke with certainty. “You know too well what kind of person he is. Back then when he volunteered to take the post of Prefect of Yongzhou, among those who spoke for him and agreed he should go were you. It was you and Wu Dai who helped him gain that position.”
“You people made a pure minister who thought he was practicing righteous principles into the blade that killed General Yujie. And you, Pan Youfang?” Snow particles fell on Meng Yunxian’s topknot. “For sixteen years, you’ve kept yourself completely unstained.”
“But I want to tell you—”
Meng Yunxian turned his face. The cold wind billowed his purple robes as he stared at this person beside him. “Dong Yao is dead, but the old case of Princess Wenduan’s estate is not yet concluded. He used his own life to protect me, to protect this case.”
“Even if the jade universe of this world may never be completely clear and bright, we people absolutely have no reason to allow filth to run rampant unchecked while sun and moon remain obscured.”
Heavy snow swirled between the two men.
Like a deep, profound chasm.
“Principles? Who in this world doesn’t know principles? Many turn a blind eye. Many make one wrong move and become chess pieces for life. Principles always remain there, but not everyone is willing to be reasonable. Some deliberately play dumb, and some make wrong moves and can’t turn back.”
As Pan Youfang spoke, he respectfully bowed to Meng Yunxian. The wind and snow blew until people’s ears went numb. “Liyu will remember Minister Meng’s teachings. It’s regrettable that I can no longer have such a clear and unblemished stance. Nor will I defend myself.”
He raised his head and smiled. “Minister Meng, you and I once walked the same path. Now, let us each cherish ourselves.”
——
The medical officers from the Imperial Medical Bureau had been in Qinghe Hall for several cups of tea’s time, yet no one emerged. Huang Zongyu wore three cloaks on his body but still couldn’t withstand the severe cold outside. He rubbed his hands together and saw Prince Jia standing to one side, constantly watching the closed hall doors, wearing only one cloak.
Huang Zongyu thought for a moment, removed one cloak from his body, and stepped forward to wrap it around Prince Jia. “Your Highness, stand a bit further inside. Don’t let the snow wet your clothes.”
Prince Jia said nothing and didn’t move.
Huang Zongyu didn’t know what else to say. He looked down the steps, thinking to himself why Meng Yunxian and the others hadn’t arrived yet, when he saw several young eunuchs hurrying up the steps.
They ran urgently, each with face frozen red, bent over and gasping for breath.
“What’s all this panic about?”
Huang Zongyu frowned.
“Minister Huang!”
Seeing him, the eunuchs quickly bowed, then called out to Prince Jia in the distance: “Your Highness.”
“What is it?”
Prince Jia turned to look at them. “Rongsheng, didn’t I have you send supplements to Her Ladyship’s palace?”
These several people turned out to be palace attendants currently serving at Prince Jia’s side.
Rongsheng bent over. “Yes, Your Highness, but, but Her Ladyship has met with trouble!”
“What trouble?”
Huang Zongyu asked.
“Her Ladyship heard that His Majesty vomited blood at Tai’an Hall and wanted to come to Qinghe Hall. It happened that a palace maid from the Bureau of Apparel came saying she was delivering new clothes to Her Ladyship. Her Ladyship’s mind was on His Majesty—how could she care about any clothes? Who knew that when she reached the Imperial Garden, that palace maid had been secretly following behind, gripping scissors in her hand, and actually attempted to assassinate Her Ladyship!”
Rongsheng answered truthfully.
“What palace maid is so bold? How is Her Ladyship?” Prince Jia stepped forward two paces.
“Fortunately Her Ladyship’s close attendants blocked her in time.”
Rongsheng continued: “That palace maid, seeing her plan failed, fled in panic. After running through half the Imperial Garden, she fell into the lake in her fright. But the lake was frozen with thick ice, and Her Ladyship’s people captured her!”
“But, but…”
“But what?”
Prince Jia asked.
“As that palace maid ran, she shouted some things…”
“Stop hemming and hawing! What did she shout?” Huang Zongyu was somewhat impatient.
“She said her older sister died unjustly. She said her sister discovered Her Ladyship’s wrongdoing and lost her life in vain.”
The more Rongsheng spoke, the more he trembled with fear.
“Wrongdoing? What wrongdoing?”
“She said—”
Rongsheng and the several eunuchs beside him bowed even lower. “She said Her Ladyship engaged in palace debauchery and had an affair with a medical officer surnamed Wang from the Imperial Medical Bureau.”
Rongsheng’s voice grew lower and lower.
“What?!”
Huang Zongyu’s eyes bulged in great alarm. He grabbed Rongsheng by the collar. “How dare you speak such words? Do you still want your life?”
“This slave dares not! This slave dares not! She kept shouting it—many people heard!”
Sweat beaded on Rongsheng’s forehead.
The imperial bloodline could not be taken lightly. Cold sweat covered Huang Zongyu’s back. Since many people had heard these words, stopping them now would likely be impossible.
“Miao Jingzhen, quickly have Steward Liang come out! Quickly!” Huang Zongyu strode quickly to the hall entrance and shouted to the Commander of the Palace Command.
Prince Jia simply descended the steps. Rongsheng and the others hurriedly followed.
Pei Zhiyuan and Meng Yunxian each held umbrellas. Before they reached the white jade long stairway, they saw Prince Jia hurrying down.
“Your Highness.”
Pei Zhiyuan stopped and bowed.
Between wind and snow, Meng Yunxian raised his umbrella rim. His gaze met Prince Jia’s, then he bowed.
“My lords, please go up quickly.”
Prince Jia spoke only this brief sentence.
He passed by Meng Yunxian. Rongsheng behind him bowed low toward Meng Yunxian, then closely followed Prince Jia’s steps.
“Something happened above?”
Pei Zhiyuan detected some meaning from Prince Jia’s tone.
“Let’s go.”
Meng Yunxian lifted his robe hem and ascended the steps.
When Prince Jia arrived at the Noble Consort’s palace, the Noble Consort was just smashing a soup bowl to pieces. “Give me my cloak. I must go to Qinghe Hall! I must see His Majesty!”
“Her Ladyship caught a chill. It’s better not to go.”
Prince Jia entered.
“Why did you come?” The Noble Consort raised her head, looking at him through the curtain. Her expression was tense. “Has that lowly maid’s words reached Qinghe Hall?!”
Prince Jia didn’t deny it, only saying: “Father vomited blood. Now he’s unconscious. The people from the Imperial Medical Bureau are in the hall. Even if you go, Your Ladyship, you cannot enter.”
“Where is that slave?”
“She’s dead.”
Prince Jia was startled. “Your Ladyship, how could you deal with her at this time?”
“I didn’t deal with her!”
The Noble Consort’s face paled, unable to suppress the anger in her tone. “Though I had her captured, she took poison and died herself!”
What good would dealing with that lowly maid at this juncture do for her?
Would she be such a foolish person!
“May I ask Your Ladyship, did that palace maid’s older sister truly serve in your palace?” Prince Jia showed a worried expression.
“It’s true.”
A palace maid standing beside the Noble Consort said: “But she committed an offense. Her Ladyship punished her for that! Absolutely not because of those filthy rumors!”
“Dealt with privately?”
Prince Jia asked again.
The palace maid said nothing, looking toward the Noble Consort.
“Your Highness, Ru’er left the palace this morning. Why hasn’t she returned by this time?” The Noble Consort stood up and lifted the curtain to emerge.
The Ru’er she mentioned was her niece.
“She heard Yanhui Pavilion has a women’s poetry society and wanted to see it. She should return by nightfall.” Prince Jia paused. “Why is Your Ladyship anxious to find her?”
“That lowly maid spoke uncleanly, saying our Ladyship gave someone a phoenix bird gemstone gold hairpin as a token.” The palace maid’s face was full of resentment. “But the gold hairpin she mentioned was clearly one Her Ladyship bestowed upon our young mistress!”
“Your Highness, please quickly send someone to summon the young mistress back!”
Prince Jia nodded lightly, a cold meaning showing at the bottom of his eyes, as if lightly mocking. “Set Your Ladyship’s mind at ease. I’ll go fetch her now.”
After saying only a few words, Prince Jia emerged from the Noble Consort’s palace. Just then, a eunuch ran from the corridor passage, hurriedly whispered something in Rongsheng’s ear, and stuffed a paper note into Rongsheng’s hands.
Rongsheng nodded, then turned to see Prince Jia and walked forward, presenting the paper note in his hands. “Your Highness, this was sent by your personal guard Yuan Gang.”
Prince Jia unfolded it and lowered his eyes to look—”The Bureau of Military Affairs has decided to conduct a citywide search tonight at the hour of the rat to capture Zhang Xin’en, deputy leader of the Lotus Flower Sect. The Palace Command cavalry are already preparing.”
The Lotus Flower Sect originated from Pure Land Buddhism. On the surface it involved reciting Buddhist scriptures and worshiping Buddha, but in reality it was a demonic heretical sect that gathered believers to rebel and cause uprisings.
The Bureau of Military Affairs had received intelligence that Zhang Xin’en, deputy leader of the Lotus Flower Sect, had entered the capital in disguise the day before yesterday, plotting something significant.
He forcibly suppressed the roiling emotions in his heart.
It seemed today’s situation at Tai’an Hall had finally made Ge Rang reach a firm decision.
“Rongsheng, that palace maid didn’t say anything else?”
Prince Jia crushed the paper and tried to make himself appear calm.
“No. Everything she said was according to Your Highness’s instructions.” Rongsheng followed Prince Jia while saying in a low voice: “This slave has also comforted her family. Your Highness can be at ease.”
The Noble Consort’s arrogance had ultimately given them an opportunity to create complications.
“You are someone Minister Meng sent to my side. I know you’re very loyal to Han Qing.” Prince Jia walked forward along the corridor passage. “This matter—you’ve already told Minister Meng?”
“Your Highness…”
Rongsheng was terrified.
“I’m not blaming you.”
Prince Jia pulled at his lips. “For these matters, you should rightfully tell him. You should also tell Minister Meng to take care of his health. Now the New and Old Parties in court are locked in endless struggle. If he doesn’t cherish himself, many people will lose their anchor.”
Rongsheng couldn’t help saying: “Your Highness, Minister Meng is also very worried about you. He hopes you’ll be well. There will always be a way.”
“A way?”
Prince Jia raised his face, his voice almost squeezing through his teeth. “What way can there be? By today, who still can’t see clearly—whoever wants to touch this case must die.”
Rongsheng had never seen such a gloomy expression on Prince Jia’s face. He was startled. “Your Highness…?”
Prince Jia took a deep breath and clenched the crushed note in his hand. “The day I defied the edict and returned to the capital, I had already thought everything through very clearly. When a person reaches this point, what else is there left to lose?”
For some reason, these words made Rongsheng’s heart uneasy. He opened his mouth, but heard Prince Jia say: “I must leave the palace to fetch Miss Wu. You needn’t follow. Go back.”
“But if Miss Wu returns, then the matter of the gold hairpin won’t…” The Noble Consort’s possessions weren’t so easily obtained, so Rongsheng could only work through Miss Wu.
But if Miss Wu returned to the palace at this time, once she testified for the Noble Consort, matters would become difficult.
“I said I’m going to fetch her, but I didn’t say whether I’d bring her back. Moreover, Miss Wu is not unaware that now, she and I share glory and loss together. If the Noble Consort gives birth to an imperial prince, the Noble Consort will no longer acknowledge this niece. At that time, she can only die together with me.”
The cold wind blew Prince Jia’s cheeks numb. After a moment, his throat moved as he said softly:
“Rongsheng, from now on, remember to help me visit her more often at the Southern Suburbs Villa.”
——
Pale daylight leaped along the eaves, the eaves corridor covered with a thin layer of snow.
Ni Su dressed Xu Hexue in a spring jade-green round-collared robe, her fingers pinching the rounded jade buttons on one side of the lapel, fastening them one by one. “I started making this garment when I returned to the capital.”
“I know.”
Xu Hexue had seen it.
Even when terribly busy, she hadn’t forgotten to work on this garment.
“A’Xi, I’ve made things very difficult for you.”
He said.
“This isn’t difficulty.”
Ni Su looked at him wearing the brand-new brocade robe, his hair still loose, and had him sit before the bronze mirror. While gathering his long hair with both hands, she said: “Making clothes for my husband is a very happy thing.”
Xu Hexue raised his eyes, gazing at her face in the bronze mirror.
“Tonight you cook dinner for me and Qingqiong.”
Ni Su’s movements arranging his topknot didn’t stop.
“Alright.”
Xu Hexue responded softly. “What would you like to eat?”
Ni Su thought for a moment and smiled. “You ask me, but I really don’t know off the top of my head. Just make whatever you want. But remember to make several dishes—we’ll be drinking wine tonight.”
Ni Su quickly finished arranging his topknot, then inserted that white jade bamboo-jointed hairpin through his hair. She bent down, looking at him in the bronze mirror. “So handsome.”
Xu Hexue looked at her and grasped her wrist.
At dusk, Qingqiong silently helped arrange the dishes from the kitchen onto the table. Ni Su brought out the warmed yellow wine. Seeing the dishes on the table, she paused and looked toward Xu Hexue. “When did you learn to make Que County dishes?”
“I helped General Xu get recipes from Que County cooks.”
Qingqiong suddenly spoke.
“It’s my first time making them. Try them.” Xu Hexue sat down beside her.
Ni Su made a sound of acknowledgment. She picked up a piece of red-braised chestnut chicken. The chestnuts were sweet and fragrant, the chicken tender and soft. She raised her head. “Very delicious.”
She opened the yellow wine and poured a bowl for each person.
“A bowl of yellow wine contains six flavors of the human world. If one day you can taste flavors, I’ll definitely have you try it first.”
Ni Su raised the wine bowl. Hot vapor rose. She took a sip, then saw Qingqiong hadn’t touched his chopsticks. “Today this table has a full ten dishes. Why won’t you even taste them? Did you eat in the kitchen?”
Qingqiong always said his happiest moments were when eating. He loved the food of this mortal world most.
“He didn’t eat.”
Xu Hexue lifted his wine bowl and sniffed it lightly, smelling the rich fragrance, but when it entered his mouth there was still no flavor whatsoever.
“I ate flatbread earlier.”
Qingqiong explained dryly, then picked up his chopsticks, took some food and ate a bite, then lifted his bowl and drank some yellow wine. There were indeed many flavors, but the sweet and sour tastes were most obvious.
He took two more large gulps.
“Drink slowly.”
Seeing him like this, Ni Su couldn’t help speaking with concern.
Qingqiong’s throat choked badly. He could only take food to cover for himself.
The sky gradually darkened. Lights filled the courtyard. Ni Su held her wine bowl, looking at the small mountain Xu Hexue had piled in her bowl and dish.
“Your cooking has always tasted better than mine.”
She said.
“You’re such an intelligent woman. Nothing in this world can trouble you.” Xu Hexue placed a piece of chestnut chicken in her bowl.
Ni Su rested her chin on her arm. She smelled the fragrant aroma of yellow wine in the bowl from close up. “Anyone will have things they’re not good at. Perhaps this matter is truly very difficult for me.”
She spoke of cooking, yet also not of cooking.
Xu Hexue easily read the deep meaning beneath her words. The fingers holding his chopsticks bent. He looked toward this woman beside him. “A’Xi…”
“Today really feels like a festival.”
Ni Su interrupted him, straightening her body and saying with a smile: “Let’s consider this the three of us celebrating New Year’s Eve together early.”
Last New Year’s Eve,
She and Xu Hexue had been right here, the two of them spending it together.
In the blink of an eye, another year had passed.
Qingqiong suddenly set down his chopsticks and stood up. The sky had already darkened. Night wind blew into the corridor gallery. His face was pale, his pupils deep black. “General Xu, you’re leaving, aren’t you?”
“Once you leave, you won’t return, will you?”
“Qingqiong…”
Xu Hexue had just spoken when he saw him turn and walk out of the corridor gallery, pulling out a wood-chopping knife from a dark place in the courtyard. The lanterns under the eaves illuminated his thin form.
“General Xu, whether you’re going to save people or kill people, I’ll go with you.”
Qingqiong’s eyes turned thoroughly red, tears shimmering. “I won’t live long anyway, but at least while I’m still alive, I really want to see your name cleared. But so many people have died—I don’t know if I can wait that long. Rather than this, I might as well go with you! Even if I die, it will be of my own willing!”
The corridor gallery was utterly quiet.
Ni Su pressed her lips together tightly.
Xu Hexue stood up and slowly walked before Qingqiong, looking at the wood-chopping knife gripped in his hands. “Qingqiong, remember what your father said—even if life is brief, you must live well for yourself.”
Qingqiong pressed his lips together, sobbing softly.
“After I leave, you must help me.”
Xu Hexue turned around, looking toward Ni Su sitting at the table. “Don’t let A’Xi be alone. All this way, whether for herself or for me, it’s been very difficult. Sometimes, she’ll also need someone to listen to her talk.”
Ni Su took out that glass lantern from beneath the table. She blew on the fire fold. Hearing these words, the sourness at the tip of her nose came very sharply, but after pausing only a moment, she lit the candle inside the glass lantern.
The lamplight reflected on her face. Ni Su lifted the lantern and walked down.
“I know you won’t stand by and watch those sixty-some people die because of you. You want to save them. You also want to save the thirty thousand heroic souls of the Jing’an Army trapped in the Netherworld Pagoda. I could never stop you. Even knowing you’re walking a path of no return, I can only stay by your side, watching you walk it.”
Ni Su looked at him. He wore the new robe she’d made, his topknot arranged very neatly. This should be the attire he found most comfortable—proper, clean, like someone full of scholarly air.
Like a living person.
She knew that whether for Dong Yao, for the lives of those sixty-some people imprisoned in the Yinye Bureau, or for the heroic souls in the Netherworld Pagoda, he could wait no longer.
He would kill Wu Dai, kill Pan Youfang, and lead soul fire into the Netherworld.
“Today, I will also watch you walk.”
Step by step walking before him, Ni Su handed him the glass lantern. “Don’t worry about me. You know that now I have Minister Huang’s inscription. Many ladies are willing to let me treat their illnesses. There’s also the posthumous reward from the court for Xu Jing’an—so much money and silk.”
She said: “I will live very well.”
“I’m sorry, A’Xi.”
Xu Hexue grasped her hand offering the lantern and embraced her.
Ni Su leaned against his chest. “Do you still remember what I said? Even if we’re separated, I won’t abandon myself. On the contrary, I’ll still do what I want to do and live my life well.”
Xu Hexue’s jaw tightened. He held her tightly.
At this moment, the conflict in his heart almost drowned his entire chest. He both hated himself for being bound by desire—with a remnant soul body, possessing her—and shamefully wanted to possess her this way.
But now, he could possess nothing.
“If you can still return to the sky, if then you can see me, you must be the brightest star. That way I’ll know which one to look at when I raise my head.”
Ni Su clutched tightly at his clothes.
“Alright.”
Before him was swirling heavy snow. Xu Hexue’s gentle kiss fell on the crown of her head. “No matter where I am, no matter what I am, A’Xi, I will pray for your blessings.”
Even if transformed into wind, he would certainly not harm her with bitter cold.
“A’Xi, don’t be angry with me.”
A trace of trembling hid in his voice.
If only he could, no matter what, he would want to stay by her side.
“I’ve never been angry with you. I never will be in the future either. I will always, always remember that there was a young scholar-general who I chose myself—the very best husband.”
Ni Su forcibly held back her tears. “I believe that in this lifetime, I will surely see this mortal world return to you the justice you deserve.”
“Go now, Xu Ziling.”