HXC Chapter76

It had been a full six months since the new emperor’s ascension and the four seas were finally showing signs of peace.

 

In late summer, the eldest prince of the Khitan, Yelu Qi, arrived. His visit wasn’t just to pay tribute; it was also for a political marriage between the two nations.

 

But Ji Zhen hadn’t expected the one to be married off to be Ling Yue.

 

He had known Ling Yue for many years. Though they hadn’t seen much of each other in recent times, they had interacted several times while studying at the Imperial Academy and a certain affection existed between them. Not to mention that when the Ji family fell from favor, Ling Yue treated him no differently.

 

Ji Zhen knew that those born into the imperial family were often constrained by circumstances when it came to their personal lives. Ling Yue was the younger sister of the Third Prince, Li Muhui. Even Li Muhui had once used her marriage as leverage against Jiang Yunyu. Now that Li Muhui was imprisoned at the Youming Terrace, Ling Yue, though still a princess, had a gentle nature, and her situation was surely even more difficult.

 

Once Ling Yue went to Khitan, she would never have the chance to return home.

 

On the day of the palace banquet, Ji Zhen finally saw the former Crown Prince again. Li Muwei was robed in a magnificent dragon silk robe and was seated regally on the high throne with the Empress. The Emperor’s eldest son had grown much taller in the past two years, looking more and more like his father and become a handsome and dashing young boy at such a young age.

 

Ji Zhen recalled the day he bowed to the Emperor outside the Chengqian Palace and received the Emperor’s instruction: “Yesterday is gone and cannot be chased; today has come, so cherish it and walk on.”

 

Reconsidering it now, this might have been a different kind of metaphor.

 

He sat with his elder brother on the right side of the high platform. The hall was filled with the clinking of cups and the tall, imposing Yelu Qi was chatting and laughing heartily with the new Emperor. “Lingyue is Your Majesty’s sister. This humble one will certainly treat her as a precious jewel. Please, Your Majesty, rest assured.”

 

With just a few words, Ling Yue’s entire life was decided, yet no one even bothered to ask her what she thought.

 

Ji Zhen thought of Princess Ling Yue, who was only in her early twenties and about to be married as a concubine to a man old enough to be her father. His heart felt desolate, and even the delicious food before him turned to tasteless husks.

 

Ji Jue noticed Ji Zhen’s low spirits and immediately understood what he was thinking. Without a word, he simply poured a cup of wine and pushed it toward Ji Zhen’s hand.

 

Even the wine that went down his throat was bitter.

 

After the banquet, Ji Zhen, his elder brother, and Jiang Yunyu went together to pay their respects to the Emperor.

 

Li Muwei had always been gentle; even as the Crown Prince, he had been welcoming to all men of talent. Now as the Emperor, he was naturally praised by everyone as an enlightened ruler. He had spent nearly two years biding his time in the Chengqian Palace and took a great risk to ascend the throne. It hadn’t been easy to get to this point. He was especially generous and kind to Ji Jue and Jiang Yunyu, who had helped him ascended the throne.

 

And Ji Zhen was someone he had watched grow up, so when the few of them gathered, it wasn’t as formal as a typical meeting between a ruler and his subjects.

 

“Zhen hasn’t seen you in a while. You’ve become much more composed,” Li Muwei said with a smile while sizing up Ji Zhen. “Zhen heard you endured many hardships following your elder brother on the campaign?”

 

Ji Zhen shook his head. “It is this commoner’s duty to serve Your Majesty with all my heart.”

 

Li Muwei couldn’t help but laugh. He pointed at Ji Zhen, then said to Ji Jue, “Look at him, he’s even learned how to say polite formalities.”

 

Afraid that the Emperor would think he was being insincere, Ji Zhen quickly said, “This commoner’s words are from the heart.”

 

Jiang Yunyu chuckled and said, “His Majesty was just teasing you. No need to be so nervous.”

 

The Emperor and Jiang Yunyu were cousins, so Jiang Yunyu was naturally more at ease in front of Li Muwei than others.

 

Ji Zhen was silent for a few moments, then mustered his courage and said, “Since that’s the case, this commoner has an impertinent request…” He paused, then finally stated his plea. “I… I would like to visit Princess Ling Yue.”

 

Ji Jue’s and Jiang Yunyu’s expressions both changed slightly. Ji Jue softly called out, “Zhen Zhen.”

 

Ji Zhen observed the Emperor’s unchanging expression and said candidly, “The day this commoner was permitted to bid farewell to Your Majesty at Chengqian Palace, it was Ling Yue who showed me the way. Now that she is about to embark on a long journey, this commoner simply wishes to say goodbye to her with no other intentions.”

 

Jiang Yunyu frowned in disapproval. He knew what kind of person Ji Zhen was, but Li Muwei was the emperor now, not like before. Ling Yue was the Third Prince’s own sister, and it was best to have less interaction with her.

 

Before Jiang Yunyu could speak, the Emperor gently said, “People who value loyalty and righteousness are a rare find in this world. Zhen grants your request.”

 

Ji Zhen let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

As they walked out of the hall, Jiang Yunyu said helplessly, “You really are…” After a moment, he sighed. “Forget it. That’s just the way you are, Ji Zhen.”

 

An imperial attendant was already waiting. Ji Jue patted Ji Zhen’s arm. “I’ll wait for you at the palace gates.”

 

Ji Zhen nodded and went with the attendant.

 

After walking for a good half-hour, he stopped in front of a hall. There were guards at the entrance, it was no different from an outright confinement.

 

Ji Zhen slowly walked inside and heard a wisp of a zither melody. The zither’s notes were low and mournful, each sound like a sob, as if one could glimpse the inner sorrow of the person playing.

 

The music gradually stopped the moment Ling Yue saw Ji Zhen.

 

The lingering notes echoed through the high red walls, drifting with the wind into the distance—

 

The Youming Terrace was a secluded and remote area, where even in the height of summer, a gloomy wind would blow. Under the dilapidated eaves, a goldfinch was diligently feeding its newborn chicks. The chirping of the birds was the only sound of life here.

 

Shen Yanqing pushed open the peeling wooden door and walked into the courtyard covered in dead leaves and saw a tall, dark silhouette with his back turned in the room.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

The person who was called paused and did not immediately turning around, instead, he let out a cold sneer. “It’s been a long time since anyone called me that.”

 

Shen Yanqing walked forward slowly. Li Muhui finally turned around. He had been imprisoned at the Youming Terrace for six months already. His hair was a bit disheveled and his chin was covered with stubble with a faint smell of alcohol lingered around him. He no longer needed to wear a mask; his fox-like eyes held no hint of a smile, replaced instead by a deep-seated malevolence.

 

Li Muhui didn’t get up. “You’re not dead? What a skill you have.”

 

The room was simple, even the teapot and porcelain cups were chipped. There was a pervasive scent of decay inside and even the arrogant Li Muhui seemed to have withered in this rot.

 

“So now Minister Shen is a high-ranking official, the new Emperor’s running dog, coming specifically to laugh at my misfortune.” Li Muhui chuckled softly. “Go back and tell my elder brother that if he wants me to wag my tail and beg for forgiveness, he can keep dreaming.”

 

Shen Yanqing said, “This minister is here to bid farewell to Your Highness out of our past relationship as both master and friend.”

 

“Friendship? What a joke.” Li Muhui narrowed his eyes. “I did once consider you a close friend. It was you, who opposed me time and time again for the sake of Ji Zhen.”

 

Shen Yanqing’s eyes were bright as he looked directly at the other party. “Your Highness has mistaken.”

 

“What have I done wrong?” Li Muhui gritted his teeth. “In the eleventh year of the Hongli reign, there was a great drought in the southern suburbs. I worked day and night to manage the disaster until the heavens finally showed mercy and brought rain. In the thirteenth year of the Hongli reign, the Assistant Minister of Works embezzled funds and exploited the common people, I personally had him executed, which was a great relief to the public. In the fifteenth year of the Hongli reign, bandits were causing trouble in the northern suburbs. I spent a full half-month in hiding, and I killed every last one of the bandits who had harmed countless common folk… I worked my heart out for the Great Heng, what have I done wrong?”

 

“If I’m at fault, it’s because I’m not a legitimate son, just like my father!”

 

He swept the teapot off the table with a flick of his hand and iy smashed into pieces with a loud clatter.

 

Shen Yanqing stood still and his expression remained unchanged. Li Muhui stood up and said furiously, “I should have killed Ji Zhen long ago. That way, he wouldn’t have stayed to become a disaster and corrupt your loyalty.”

 

“To this day, why must Your Highness push the blame onto the innocent Ji Zhen?” Shen Yanqing looked up and his voice as cold as a blade of jade, striking directly at the other party. “What is Your Highness thinking in your heart, and what intentions does Your Highness harbor toward my wife? Your Highness knows full well why I have severed ties with you like Guan Ning cutting the mat[mfn]It symbolizes ending a friendship due to irreconcilable differences or moral disagreement.[/mfn] Stop deceiving yourself.”

 

Li Muhui burst into hearty laughter. “So that’s your true thought. It’s just because of one Ji Zhen, just because of one Ji Zhen…”

 

He fell back onto the wooden stool, still laughing, a laugh that was somewhat desolate but filled with intense resentment.

 

Shen Yanqing watched silently for a long time, then raised his hands in a respectful bow and said in a clear voice, “This minister bids farewell to Your Highness.”

 

Li Muhui remembered when the Crown Prince was confined to Chengqian Palace. He had stopped Ji Zhen outside the hall and said, “When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. You’re quite sentimental and loyal.”

 

It turned out that he was the one who ultimately lost, and yet, there was still someone who came to bid him farewell.

 

Li Muhui looked up at Shen Yanqing as he walked into the courtyard. In the interplay of light and shadow, scenes from the past flashed by like a revolving lantern.

 

“To have a subject and friend like this, it is this highness’s good fortune.”

 

As Shen Yanqing reached the door, he suddenly heard frenzied laughter from behind him. Li Muhui yelled, “I am not at fault!”

 

The arrogant man did not know how to repent, even to his death.

 

Shen Yanqing stepped over the threshold without hesitation, leaving behind only the lingering, deranged laughter that echoed through the Youming Terrace.

 

—

 

On the same day that Ling Yue’s marriage procession left the capital, Li Muhui took his own life at the Youming Terrace.

 

When the news reached Ji Zhen, he was in the small kitchen brewing medicine for Shen Yanqing. His movements paused for a moment at the news, then he calmly added more water.

 

Now Shen Yanqing had to drink two doses of medicine every day. Sometimes when Ji Zhen had free time, he would make it himself as practice made perfect.

 

He poured the liquid out, instructed Ji An to discard the dregs and carried the bowl to the room to find Shen Yanqing.

 

Shen Yanqing had also just learned of Li Muhui’s death.

 

He had done everything he could for Li Muhui and had anticipated that this day would come sooner or later so he was very calm and didn’t mention a word of it to Ji Zhen.

 

It was Ji Zhen who, after Shen Yanqing drank the medicine, said in a quiet voice, “I went to see Ling Yue at the palace banquet that day.”

 

“She told me that her birth mother passed away when she was very young, and the retired Emperor had her and the Third Prince raised separately under two other consorts in the palace. She and the Third Prince only got to see each other once a month, and each time, the Third Prince would bring her her favorite peach blossom pastries.”

 

“Once they grew a little older, the Third Prince began to win over the ministers, and the two of them saw each other even less. As for the imperial marriage granted in the Southern Garden, Ling Yue had been informed beforehand.”

 

Ji Zhen slowly nestled into Shen Yanqing’s embrace and continued, “She said her elder brother had it tough and as long as it was something she could do, she was willing to do it for him. She said she wasn’t scared of this political marriage. After she becomes Yelu Qi’s concubine, perhaps His Majesty will show leniency to the Third Prince for her sake…”

 

Ling Yue had no choice, yet she was willing to go to the unfamiliar Khitan for her elder brother. And Li Muhui, who had spent his whole life plotting and scheming, finally, in the end, thought of Ling Yue, the only person in the world who had ever cared for him, and took his own life.

 

Shen Yanqing held the slightly trembling Ji Zhen tightly. Neither of them spoke for a long time.

 

The faint scent of medicine filled the room. After a while, Shen Yanqing said softly, “Ji Zhen, let’s leave for Jiangnan next month.”

 

Just as Ji Jue had said, the capital was a city of intrigue. Whether you were a high-ranking official or a commoner, in this treacherous imperial city, there was no shortage of people who were forced to go against their will.

 

They were young and in the prime of their lives. It was time to ride the clouds and go south.

 

The author has something to say:

The Third • Wholeheartedly devoted to his work • Never backs down to the end • Prince.