TBR CH142

Chapter 142: Snow Between the Brows

Chu Huaicun only spoke half the truth.

The spilled tea snaked up Mr. Fang’s silver needle, staining it an ominous black, then traveled along Chu Huaicun’s blood. Chu Huaicun calmly suppressed the poison. The poison he’d ingested wasn’t severe enough to be life-threatening, yet it was also not so light as to be dismissed; his fingertips were already growing cold.

His expression remained unchanged. Instead, he unfastened his snow-white cloak. Ji Ying’s gloomy eyes had never been so transparent, the undisguised anxiety and despair burning before Chu Huaicun, not extinguished by the pouring rain.

“You drank it,” he murmured. “Did I not have time to—”

Ji Ying trembled.

“You should change your clothes,” Chu Huaicun said, taking advantage of Ji Ying’s distraction to drape his cloak over him. Ji Ying’s dripping robes were still shedding water, and Chancellor Chu’s priceless fox-fur cloak was now soaked with mud from outside. This one act probably ruined a good garment. “Put it on first. You can’t get any colder.”

Chu Huaicun himself was usually rather cold, but the hall was brightly lit by candles, and Ji Ying had run all the way in the heavy rain. At this moment, the snow-white cloak, carrying Chu Huaicun’s faint incense scent, touched his skin, scalding him. His frozen blood seemed to flow again. Chancellor Chu, on the other hand, wore only a thin white robe, exuding a cool, otherworldly aura, like an immortal not of this world.

Ji Ying instinctively reached out to pull his collar closed, then suddenly took a step back, his voice harsh yet barely suppressing a tremble: “Chu Huaicun, you’re insane! Do you know you’re poisoned? Where’s Mr. Fang? You must get treatment quickly, quickly. This is not a joke. If you die…”

His pale fingers involuntarily curled when he mentioned that word. Finally, he turned his head, vaguely seeing his face covered in water marks, unsure if they were cold raindrops or something else:

“You know I’ll do anything,” Ji Ying avoided the word “die,” saying fiercely, “Chancellor Chu has so many things he cares about, so many people he cares for. How dare you leave them for me to deal with as I please? I won’t be soft-hearted. You must understand, you are the only one I care about. I won’t show an ounce of mercy to anyone else. If you… if you dare…”

He couldn’t continue, hastily clearing a path. Mr. Fang had already tested the tea’s composition with a silver needle and now stepped forward to take Chu Huaicun’s pulse. Chancellor Chu appeared composed, not at all like someone poisoned. Ji Ying stared intently at the two until Mr. Fang waved him back.

“Physicians attend to their patients; idlers should not pry.”

At this moment, Ji Ying listened to no one but the physician. He reluctantly retreated two steps, his eyes still fixed on Mr. Fang without blinking.

Mr. Fang narrowed his eyes, like a thoughtful old fox, placing his fingers on Chu Huaicun’s wrist, his expression unmoving, impossible to discern whether it was good or bad. They spoke briefly in low tones, only audible to the two of them, no one else could hear a single word. Then, Mr. Fang stood up and announced loudly:

“I will now detoxify Chancellor Chu. This poison was not ingested deeply and is not a major issue. Please do not worry, and follow Chancellor Chu’s arrangements.”

Upon hearing this, everyone present let out a genuine sigh of relief. Chu Huaicun still held immense authority, standing calmly in place, like ice and snow on a mountaintop, cold and sharp. Fragments of the white jade teacup lay beside him, tea spilled everywhere. The chaotic and tense atmosphere finally returned to order and stability.

Only—

Mr. Fang said he needed to prepare in the side hall, and before leaving, he gave Chu Huaicun a condemnatory look that only Chancellor Chu could see. The old man’s beard twitched as he silently mouthed a deadline to him. Chu Huaicun felt half of his arm already beginning to go numb. He lowered his eyes but couldn’t help but look at Ji Ying, who stood abruptly in the center of the hall.

He reached out to the other, and Ji Ying walked over in a daze.

“I said I’m fine,” Chu Huaicun gently reassured him. “Mr. Fang is here; there won’t be any problems.”

The person in front of him had dripping wet hair, as if just pulled from the water. But he was covered in a snow-white cloak, its fluffy fur damp, rubbing against Ji Ying’s skin, creating an ill-timed contrast. Only now did he seem to be pulled from a terrible nightmare into reality. Chu Huaicun stood before him, perfectly alive.

That’s great. He vaguely thought, instantly unable to stand steady.

Then he realized—

He realized that he, himself, was like a lonely ghost, standing in a place that didn’t belong to him.

Ji Ying numbly scanned the interior of the palace hall with his peripheral vision. Everyone here was a trusted advisor of Chu Huaicun’s. They had witnessed this farce and were now looking at him with confused and astonished eyes. Under those gazes, Ji Ying felt he had nowhere to hide.

Who was he? The emperor’s lackey, a treacherous official at court, or a foolishly persistent admirer?

For a moment, another layer of coldness finally crept up his spine. His bones had once been covered by the “half-face makeup” from the imperial palace. Now, a huge and similar fear finally once again pressed down heavily on him. He had lost his mind upon hearing the news, abandoning his carriage and running back alone to deliver the message, braving the black downpour, so absurd.

He should have been in the palace at this moment, under dark and strict surveillance.

What room did he have left for explanation?

Chu Huaicun stood before him, but their positions were different. His sudden appearance like this would only cause trouble. Ji Ying swallowed the title that almost escaped his tongue and lowered his eyes. He felt a chill throughout his body, suppressing his urge to touch Chu Huaicun with his right hand, and unconsciously smiled.

What would happen to him next? He didn’t even know himself. But he could at least use all his strength to curve his lips:

“Then congratulations to Chancellor Chu. I lost my composure just now and disturbed Chancellor Chu. Perhaps I should leave now.”

Ji Ying regretted walking forward just now. Chu Huaicun was so close, making it impossible for him to quickly steel his heart. He forced himself to drag his steps, almost succeeding. But he forgot one thing: for two people to hold hands, only one needs to take the initiative.

Chu Huaicun naturally and without hesitation took his hand.

He said calmly in front of everyone present, as if this was nothing surprising:

“You sit next to me, you’re not allowed to leave. The rest of you, listen to my orders. Liang Kechun, you take people to the main hall to report that Chancellor Chu was just assassinated, drank poisoned wine, and the poison took effect quickly. Release this news. I will have the secret guards control Dan Mountain Palace. Also, I need someone to arrange for troops from the Chancellor’s residence. No messages are allowed in or out of the temporary palace. I trouble the generals present. When notifying General Zhenbei, don’t tell him the truth, just say I was indeed ambushed. He’ll be of some use…”

He assigned tasks one by one, with no intention of avoidance.

Ji Ying suddenly found himself at the core of Chancellor Chu’s strategic meeting, his body stiff, yet he couldn’t bear to take another step. Outside the palace, strong winds mixed with dark torrential rain, destroying trees and raising a series of wails. He had nowhere else to go, and Ji Ying knew this perfectly well.

If he had forced himself to brave the wind and rain just now, he wouldn’t know where he could have gone.

Now, however, he was being held by Chu Huaicun’s hand and comforted as he sat down. Chancellor Chu’s fingers were long and strong, gently yet firmly pressing him down beside him. For the first time, their proximity was so close under the gaze of others.

Chu Huaicun clarified his side of things. Those in the palace who had been assigned tasks had already left to carry them out. A solemn and dangerous atmosphere was about to spread from this chamber to the entire temporary palace. The news that Chancellor Chu had been assassinated with poisoned tea would undoubtedly shock everyone. And he had always disregarded notions of hierarchy; since the other party had already made their move, they clearly wanted this reaction.

The actions of the Chancellor’s residence undoubtedly heralded one thing:

The poisoner had succeeded. Chancellor Chu had indeed consumed poisoned tea, and his fate was now unknown.

“Ji Ying,” Chu Huaicun turned his head, his pale gaze slightly shaking Ji Ying’s eyes, like a small piece of melting snow held on the tip of a tongue, “Next, I need to deal with your matter. You came down the mountain and rushed back after hearing the news before you even had time to return to the Ji residence, didn’t you?”

“How did you know?” Ji Ying paused, then quickly answered himself, “I understand, Chancellor Chu noticed I hadn’t changed.”

Earlier today, when he was shooting arrows, his deep purple official robe had been torn in one spot by a sharp arrow. Although his clothes were now soaking wet and disheveled, with traces of being caught by tree branches during his run, if one observed carefully, it was still clear it was the same garment.

“Did anyone see you?” Chu Huaicun asked. “My place here is secluded, and the palace is chaotic now. It’s also almost impossible to see anything in the heavy rain. Do you think anyone noticed you?”

“…I don’t know.” Ji Ying chose to tell the truth. “I couldn’t think of anything else at that time.”

Chu Huaicun smiled gently at him, almost like a miracle. His indifferent eyes also softened, still sharp, yet seemingly making an exception especially for him. His smile was extraordinarily bright, and Ji Ying couldn’t tear his gaze away.

“Then how about this story?”

Although he had chosen to hold Ji Ying’s hand, he soon wrapped around him like a snake sensing its prey. Chu Huaicun felt Ji Ying inching closer, intertwining their fingers, yet he let the process happen even faster.

“Today, the wind and rain are gloomy. Lord Ji’s sedan chair was overturned by the heavy rain while descending the mountain, almost falling off a cliff. As for the other people in the sedan chair, perhaps they have already perished, depending on Lord Ji’s wishes. Afterwards, Lord Ji was coincidentally rescued by another team of carriages descending the mountain, who then let you stay in their sedan chair and descend first. And Lord Ji, having caught a cold, had to temporarily stay at their residence.”

“Another team of carriages?”

“Lord Qi of the Ministry of Justice. He observed filial mourning for his mother for three years, and lights incense in his family’s Buddhist hall every night, so he descended the mountain earlier. Most importantly—”

“He has always been a loyalist to the emperor, deeply trusted by His Majesty.”

Ji Ying murmured, “Lord Qi is actually Chancellor Chu’s man. He’s hidden too well. If he speaks, His Majesty will naturally believe it somewhat. This plan has some feasibility. Chancellor Chu tells me these secrets, but I am ultimately His Majesty’s person. Aren’t you worried… Moreover, why would Chancellor Chu go this far for me? I haven’t said anything yet.”

Even he himself found these words unconvincing, so he quickly pressed his lips together. Yet, he still felt incredulous. It was like someone who had always had nothing suddenly being handed a priceless treasure.

“If you agree, I’ll arrange for people to fake the scene.” Chu Huaicun tapped the table lightly with his free hand and turned to give instructions. “If the plan changes tonight, your movements might still arouse suspicion. But now, the emperor hears exactly what he wants to hear, so he probably won’t think of your side.”

“Why would Chancellor Chu help me?” Ji Ying’s hand couldn’t help but tighten, gripping Chu Huaicun’s hand firmly. He felt his mind was muddled, one moment scorching hot, the next as if in the dead of winter.

He involuntarily lowered his voice, afraid of breaking his dream again, but Chu Huaicun was right in front of him, a living Chu Huaicun, a Chu Huaicun who smiled at him. A Chu Huaicun who chose to protect him.

“Why did you come?” Chu Huaicun asked even softer than he did, his voice like ice melting at a touch. “Ji Ying, I’ve been thinking about this, but now I feel that these two questions probably have the same answer.”

His situation at this moment was not good. Chu Huaicun sat upright in the main seat, but half of his body was already almost numb. The poison in the tea spread, a faint, bone-piercing pain bringing large areas of numbness. He forced himself to recall the essentials of sword fighting again, suppressing the toxicity, but he knew in his heart that he couldn’t fool around for too long.

He had to resolve these matters before getting treatment, which was enough to make Mr. Fang angry.

However, it was good that he had indeed deceived most people. The few people remaining, plus Ji Ying, were a small number. Chu Huaicun could still vaguely feel Ji Ying gripping his hand tightly, but he found it difficult to lift his fingertips to respond at this moment.

He could fool others, but not Ji Ying.

The expression of the person beside him tensed again, those gloomy and fierce eyes filled with anxiety and panic. Ji Ying noticed Chu Huaicun’s abnormality. He suddenly stood up. Chu Huaicun thought, his expression exactly the same as when he rushed heedlessly into this palace chamber earlier—wet, like an injured venomous creature, a snake or a scorpion.

But now, wearing his snow-white cloak, he was like something taken into his territory.

Chu Huaicun suddenly felt that a certain kind of response, similar to affection, was not an unreasonable thing.

“Don’t lie to me,” Ji Ying’s voice was trembling. “Where’s Mr. Fang! Quick, get Mr. Fang here, Chu Huaicun, why are you still like this? Do you know I’d worry, you clearly know I’d be scared. Fine, you guessed everything right. I beg you, it’s okay if everything you said earlier isn’t done, just tell me if you’ll be alright—”

“Ji Ying,” the spreading weakness was already nearing the other half of his body. Chu Huaicun listened, feeling his heart strangely trembling, yet also helpless.

He tried to reach out, but found the movement already a bit difficult for him:

“I’m not lying to you, I’m really fine… Come a little closer.”

Mr. Fang had warned him already; he would have to pass out for a while.

Ji Ying was clearly at a loss. If this continued, he would probably repeat those threats, helplessly trying to make himself waver. But he still very carefully complied with Chu Huaicun’s wishes, moving closer to Chu Huaicun, who was leaning back in the chair, close enough to clearly see each other’s slightly trembling eyelashes.

“Come a little closer,” Chu Huaicun said softly.

So close that even their eyelashes were almost entangled. Chu Huaicun could smell Ji Ying’s damp scent, which was a very heavy rain. And Ji Ying looked at the pale-faced Chancellor Chu, feeling that the other had an astonishing fragility about him now. To constantly accept invitations to approach in such a state, the process itself was a breathtaking beauty.

“Mr. Fang said I need to rest for a while,” this was an appropriate distance. “After all, it’s poison. But it can be resolved; I’m not lying to you. You need to go change your clothes first. As for any future arrangements, just tell my people. They heard what I just said, they will believe you, and you can trust them. Also, Ji Ying, I think…”

Chu Huaicun paused, stopping his words, only using his last strength to sit upright.

Then he leaned forward slightly and kissed the forehead of the person in front of him.

He didn’t finish his last words.

But Ji Ying stood there in disbelief, almost unable to move, even fearing that his breathing would disturb everything. This was not their first kiss, and they had even had physical intimacy. But this was truly the first time Chu Huaicun had actively kissed him, and this kiss landed on his scorching forehead like a small piece of melting snow.

Like him.