TBR CH157

Even though the people of Dali Temple were on tenterhooks, they couldn’t complete the necessary procedures before His Majesty’s birthday. This wasn’t a time for them to disregard human life; they couldn’t just barge into a prince’s residence with a group of imperial guards, like Ji Ying did, and drag him away in shackles. Though that would certainly save a lot of trouble.

Something was buried beneath the East Palace, disturbing the resting place of a powerful entity.

The crucial point, the official overseeing the case nervously glanced at Ji Ying, who stood beside him in deep purple robes, looking lethargic, as if uninterested in the search results—the crucial point was that there had been two previous Crown Princes, and both seemed to have ample reason and time to curse their father.

This was almost like a trend throughout the dynasties.

Ji Ying stared at the unearthed effigy. It was crudely carved, with empty eyes staring back at him.

“Lord Ji,” the person beside him spoke, his voice almost wrung out with bitterness, “Besides that one槐 tree, only herbaceous plants grow on that patch of land in the East Palace. We can’t determine how long this has been buried from the root systems… But His Majesty’s birthday is approaching, and these things are ominous. I, I wonder if they should be dealt with—”

Those talismans inscribed with birthdates had, of course, long been burned. However, there were deliberate scratches on the effigy, and it was unclear if they also carried a curse. Ji Ying sighed and turned away. He wouldn’t wear an unsettling smile at a time like this, but something overly bright flickered in his eyes.

“Since a conviction can’t be made yet,” he said, as if losing interest in the matter, “then preserve the evidence. Even if you don’t want to touch this case again, don’t use His Majesty as an excuse—are you truly so foolish as to parade an effigy through the palace? His Majesty’s birthday is approaching; he’s most benevolent these days and wouldn’t want to see you behave like this.”

“Yes, yes,” the other party responded hastily, “We will certainly follow Lord Ji’s instructions.”

The wooden carving of the current emperor continued to lie silently in some corner of this world, decaying along with the fatal curse upon it. Even for someone who didn’t believe in spirits, this fact held a certain enjoyable, exploitable aspect for Ji Ying. However, he left without looking back, rushing to the side of the living old man.

The scent of medicine that had permeated the palace for several days finally dissipated.

His Majesty had been seriously ill, but coincidentally, just as the witchcraft in the East Palace was discovered, the old man’s already burdened body seemed to be re-energized. By now, he could rise from his couch unassisted and walk through the vast, empty palace chambers.

When Ji Ying entered, he predictably heard voices from the inner chamber. He prudently lowered his head and waited by the door, but still caught snippets of His Majesty’s words. His Majesty was speaking with the Seventh Prince, which was understandable, but the affection in his voice, like a true father gently advising a junior, was highly unusual.

“Good child,” the Emperor concluded, even patting the Seventh Prince’s head.

Even the Seventh Prince’s usually composed eyes flickered with a hint of surprise. Ji Ying slowly put on his false smile, brushed past him, and began to report the search findings to His Majesty. He didn’t mention that the witchcraft items hadn’t been dealt with; after all, His Majesty had recovered, hadn’t he?

Although His Majesty looked as if he had aged another decade or so.

Perhaps the realization that his children hated him and the firsthand experience of being subjected to the most malicious curses were still vastly different. In any case, the old man before him was finally struck, began to examine his father-son relationships, and wearily realized he had accomplished nothing in that regard. And now it was too late to pretend to be a good father.

“His Majesty’s miraculous recovery,” Ji Ying said, feeling a quiet disgust as he spoke, “is truly a blessing to the nation.”

“Who do you think it was?”

His Majesty ignored the pleasantries, his face even showing an unconcealed madness as he asked, “Tell me the truth. Was it the Crown Prince, Chu Huaicun, or the Prince of Duan, or…?”

He paused, and Ji Ying felt pleased again. Scenes of filial piety could certainly be replayed here repeatedly, but His Majesty wasn’t foolish. His suspicion of the Seventh Prince was no less than of anyone else, making that earlier “good child” sound like a joke.

The Seventh Prince had lifted a stone only to drop it on his own foot.

While it was difficult to explain how he could have had the means to prepare witchcraft items of several years’ age in the East Palace, his previous feat of fabricating a non-existent person in the Prime Minister’s mansion had already exposed his methods.

However, he still had to say:

“Your humble servant dare not speculate about the princes. Your Majesty’s precious body is now recovering; please do not worry. Dali Temple has not yet yielded further investigation results. The three princes are, after all, Your Majesty’s flesh and blood; even if it was a moment of impulse, no great harm was ultimately done…”

“I told you to speak!”

Ji Ying paused, then whispered, “Your humble servant believes it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Please forgive my imprudence.”

“He? He wouldn’t have the guts.” His Majesty’s face was gloomy, but his emotions had slightly calmed. His cloudy eyes shifted, unsteadily looking at Ji Ying, “I know you’re not telling the whole truth, but your demeanor is somewhat reassuring. What do the Grand Academicians of the Bureau of Astronomy say?”

“Now all phenomena return to their origin,” Ji Ying said smoothly, “It is an auspicious sign, with all stars surrounding, perfectly in line with wishing His Majesty a long life.”

The actual situation, of course, was not like this.

Even the old man before him hardly realized what the slight power he relinquished during his sudden illness meant to Ji Ying. He was most confident that the witchcraft in the East Palace would never be linked to this person; he couldn’t have had the opportunity to approach it, and besides, the celestial phenomena recorded by the Imperial Observatory were unequivocally genuine.

“Enough,”

His Majesty waved his hand, dismissing Ji Ying, “…If you encounter the Seventh Prince, tell him to visit the palace more often.”

As a wise emperor, he should now properly examine his successor and make arrangements for his affairs after death. But with the witchcraft incident, there was no longer any trust between father and son. He instinctively wanted to avoid this point, choosing instead to hear false words of eternal life. Ji Ying silently departed, his hair, as always, imbued with the scent of palace incense burners, a sweet, cloying dragon’s saliva incense.

Now, His Majesty undoubtedly realized that the person he could trust most was, in fact, Ji Ying.

After all, Ji Ying’s loyalty stemmed from his shattered bones, from cruel, dog-like treatment and endless torment. This was precisely the kind of loyal dog a ruler could trust.

Ji Ying blinked silently.

Of course, he couldn’t do something like secretly burying a pile of witchcraft items in the East Palace. This matter still had to be attributed to the East Palace’s former master, or even blamed on the current one—who told him not to properly re-cultivate the back garden?

However, he thought, if a certain incense in His Majesty’s hall were replaced with similar, different ingredients, as the incense slowly burned out, a chronic poison would subtly spread, flowing into his body in small doses, corroding it like a worm. He probably wouldn’t notice. And as it turned out,

That’s exactly what happened during the witchcraft incident; His Majesty was completely oblivious.

—Just like a carved wooden figure.

Chu Huaicun was inspecting his sword.

This sword was thin and bright, just as it was on the first day he received it. In reality, he hadn’t deliberately maintained it, but a frequently drawn sword usually looked like this. Mr. Fang calmly stroked his beard beside him, while Liang Kechun stared at them both in confusion, seemingly lacking comprehension of what he was about to do.

“Prime Minister Chu means…” he began to stutter when nervous again, “You, you plan to do it yourself, instead of letting others do it. And Mr. Fang also plans to go along? Although this was my idea, my expectation was a highly skilled dark guard, and a, a palace informant.”

“I’m more familiar with the route,” Mr. Fang said with a smile, although he had never actually entered the imperial palace.

“Young Master Liang,” Chu Huaicun said calmly, “my swordsmanship is actually quite good.”

The problem clearly wasn’t there, but the specific problem seemed not to be uttered from his trembling lips. Liang Kechun struggled for a moment, then realized that neither person before him could be swayed by him. After all, he had experienced many things and quickly calmed down, though still with lingering trepidation:

“The situation in the palace is not optimistic. Although it’s His Majesty’s birthday banquet, there will be a mixed crowd in the palace. But precisely at such times, His Majesty will guard his secrets most strictly. The imperial palace is filled with armed guards, and the gloomy deep palace is never open to outsiders—however, since that’s the case, I can at least refine the infiltration route for you.”

He hurriedly pulled a piece of paper from an unknown corner of his robe and began to draw and write.

“What exactly did you teach him?” Chu Huaicun silently asked Mr. Fang. The other man spread his hands, feigning innocence.

Liang Kechun was exactly the kind of student all teachers loved, readily absorbing all knowledge and skilled at drawing inferences. Chu Huaicun had initially noticed him because of his poetry; he had thought at the time that Ji Ying would like this poetic style. Thinking back now, it felt like a lifetime ago.

It was late at night, a special night, the eve of His Majesty’s birthday.

Besides the Prime Minister’s mansion, many other places had candles burning all night.

The palace was currently in a state of silent anxiety. Everyone was bustling about, worrying if the freshly painted pillars were bright enough, if the newly planted flowers were neat, and if the banquet hall was spotless. For many, tomorrow was the grand day, and until now, it felt like a heavy shadow that would never truly arrive, so they still found a basketful of problems to check and confirm.

His Majesty, however, had gone to bed early. Before sleeping, he had inquired about the Prime Minister’s mansion.

Even if he could arrange his birthday as perfectly as he wished, he couldn’t make Chu Huaicun’s presence disappear from the banquet. And even if he did disappear, it would lead to endless troubles. This aging emperor merely inquired about Prime Minister Chu, then quickly ended the topic, as if knowing how unpleasant the conversation could become.

Then, he closed his eyes.

For some, this night was long. But for the old man, it seemed unbelievably short.

When he opened his eyes, he was enveloped in a chorus of congratulations. The faces of those serving him were beaming with joy, and more celebrations seemed to be rolling in close to the ground; he could feel the warmth even before getting out of bed.

The old emperor insisted on walking by himself without assistance. He staggered slightly when he stood up from the bed, his cloudy eyes reflecting the silken and brocade decorations outside the door.

Strangely, these decorations had all been personally approved and carefully selected by him. Now that they were actually set up, something felt awkward, dull, and imperfect. From the very beginning, an ominous aura of conspiracy had unsettlingly enveloped this morning, which had only just begun to lighten. He tried hard to dispel the gloom in his heart.

Despite this, the old man was usually suspicious and unpredictable, with fluctuating moods.

He suddenly waved for the Chief Eunuch, who spoke in a high-pitched, soft voice, seemingly a little confused by his decision, but prudently did not inquire. Their Majesty, on a whim, decided to implement more precise protection in a certain secret-burying place in the palace, which was clearly not something he should question.

The old emperor spoke in a deep voice, showing a certain dignity at this moment.

Perhaps this celebration had rekindled his vitality. He stepped out of the hall wearing a golden dragon robe, the珠帘 on his imperial crown gently swaying, and his eyes, hidden behind it, cast a severe gaze.

After a period of strategizing, he carefully weighed the power in his hands and assessed the disparities in strength.

The current Crown Prince was already Chu Huaicun’s abandoned pawn. Even if the Prince of Duan was at odds with him, he would never conspire with Chu Huaicun. The Seventh Prince still showed some filial affection, or perhaps had something to gain from him. Moreover, he had Ji Ying by his side. If Ji Ying had appeared in court years earlier, the situation of Prime Minister Chu’s sole dominance would never have arisen.

His Majesty coughed. He regained some confidence and decided to at least hold his birthday banquet with dignity.

“Proceed,” he announced solemnly.

At this moment, His Majesty would never have imagined that in a shadow cast by the gloomy, solemn palace walls, two people who absolutely shouldn’t be together were lurking. Their shadows were darker than the buildings’ and almost ambiguously intertwined.

Chu Huaicun tidied Ji Ying’s hair.

When the latter suddenly appeared before him like a ghost, he almost scared Liang Kechun. The Prime Minister’s carriage had not yet come to a complete stop when, in an unseen corner, stood a ghost in deep purple robes, slowly raising his eyes and smiling at him. His lips curved slightly, inexplicably giving off a sense of ill intent.

But Chu Huaicun knew that the other had been waiting for him under the deepening palace walls for a long time.

“Didn’t go back last night,” Ji Ying said, as if unconcerned, “Too many things to take care of. I couldn’t be absent at this time. But that also made it easier to find a corner to hide, since Lord Ji is busy inquiring about the situation everywhere, and no one would be constantly watching.”

Chu Huaicun could tell his emotions were very strained. Otherwise, he might not be crazy enough to risk what he was doing now, exposing himself to others’ view. He extended his hand towards Chu Huaicun and said gently:

“Allow me to borrow your Prime Minister for a moment.”

Liang Kechun looked at Mr. Fang in horror. Although this group of people who were allied with the Prime Minister’s mansion were more or less aware of this matter, he had never seen it so closely before. Ji Ying’s long-established image as a black-hearted and cunning person was deeply ingrained, so he was more or less a little shocked.

Mr. Fang observed without a change in expression, even seeming a little pleased.

And Chu Huaicun was very smoothly “borrowed.” Chu Huaicun walked to a corner where no one could see. Ji Ying had just been quietly immersed in that shadow alone, silently waiting for the Prime Minister’s carriage to pass. Their hands were clasped together, a perfectly natural gesture, but Ji Ying’s palm was excessively cold, cold and dry.

Chu Huaicun’s icy pupils subtly stirred.

And somewhat uneven, clearly pressed hard against the rough palace wall behind him by its owner, sharing its warmth with the stone. Chu Huaicun looked into Ji Ying’s eyes and found his dark pupils silently fixed, as silent as he was.

He was like a clumsy liar who had already tricked someone but seemed not to have thought about what to say to Chu Huaicun.

“I’m a little nervous,” Ji Ying admitted, then noticed Chu Huaicun’s knuckles tracing through his hair, then gently pressing on the back of his neck. Mr. Fang usually pricked needles in that spot, and for some reason, Chu Huaicun also liked to rub that small patch of skin with a hint of ambiguity and tenderness.

“Mhm,” Chu Huaicun’s voice indicated he was listening intently, and at the same time, he gently pressed Ji Ying against the wall. A mild coldness seeped through their clothes, and their two shadows slightly overlapped.

Ji Ying blinked. The faint anxiety, upon seeing the other’s pristine white collar, had actually dissipated a lot: “I haven’t said I waited here because I missed you.”

“That’s because I truly wanted to do so.”

Chu Huaicun carried a faint scent of incense, which fell on Ji Ying’s lips just like his kiss. He initiated the kiss, and it was a restrained one, merely dry, cold lips lightly touching, mingled with their breaths. After all, neither of them could stay too long; it was just a brief meeting.

But it also felt very reassuring. Kissing another person like this in such a setting, the subtle curves of their faces and the frequency of their breaths seemed to convey only one thing.

Don’t worry, I will always stand behind you.

“Don’t put too much burden on yourself,”

After a brief moment of tenderness, Ji Ying tried to curve his lips again, but a slight tremor deep in his pupils betrayed his emotions, “That wasn’t my fault, so it couldn’t be imposed on you. I’ve done so many bad things; if my family thought it was for them, they’d choose to commit suicide immediately.”

Chu Huaicun nodded reassuringly, “I understand. You have more to do than that.”

Strangely, even now, Chu Huaicun didn’t know what kind of secret Ji Ying had left behind, what kind of weapon could be used to reverse everything before them. But he didn’t seem to care much. No matter what shocking thing Ji Ying was about to do, he knew he could protect him.

“His Majesty won’t let you bring your sword into the palace,” Ji Ying’s gaze was almost deep, “Does Prime Minister Chu have any thoughts?”

That had indeed been considered.

To put it more forcefully, if Chu Huaicun disobeyed the emperor’s command, even His Majesty would be helpless against him.

However, since Ji Ying had something to say now, things would undoubtedly be much simpler.

Liang Kechun and Mr. Fang waited in the Prime Minister’s carriage, but Prime Minister Chu was always a very reliable person. He spent what could only be described as a very appropriate short amount of time before reappearing in the carriage. That narrow shadow, though no one could be seen in it, still gave a feeling of being watched from somewhere unknown.

The carriage horses began to move lightly. Liang Kechun had just breathed a sigh of relief when his gaze inadvertently fell upon an unexpected sight.

“Prime Minister Chu,” he didn’t know if he should speak, only feeling a bit bewildered, “Your sword…”

It was clear that Ji Ying had not only “borrowed” their Prime Minister in some unknown way but had also “borrowed” Chu Huaicun’s sword, which he had polished last night. A swordsman without his sword would obviously have difficulty performing, which was terrible for their plan. However, things weren’t necessarily heading in a bad direction.

Liang Kechun quickly figured it out himself and shut up.

Mr. Fang, however, pulled out another sword from somewhere: “At least bring a fake one. How can Chu Huaicun be Chu Huaicun without a sword?”

This sword stayed with Chu Huaicun for a very short time. The attendant at the palace gate, responsible for receiving guests, was simply relieved. He had never imagined that the seemingly arduous task of making Chu Huaicun put down his weapon before entering the hall could be so easy, as if the auspicious words about His Majesty’s birthday, such as “blessed by good fortune” and “five elements in harmony,” had come true, almost moving him to tears.

Even His Majesty felt a sense of certainty when he saw Chu Huaicun.

Beside him, the Crown Prince and Prince of Duan were silent, clearly preferring to remain quiet about recent events.

General Zhenbei was to return to the frontier after this birthday celebration. Qin Sangzhi sat arrogantly among the scholars, softening his expression only when Chu Huaicun entered, giving him a smile. Prince Ping was struggling to prevent his son from making a fool of himself, while the Crown Prince’s heir, in such a setting, seemed not to know where to put his hands and feet, staring blankly at His Majesty’s golden throne.

Ji Ying stood quietly beside His Majesty, but once the banquet began, he was to move to a lower position.

His Majesty sat grandly in the center of the resplendent hall, dressed in his full regalia. Beneath his imperial yellow robe, everyone was considered his subject. He felt a subtle corner within his heart swell again, little by little, with a bloody taste. He seemed to be able to temporarily forget the fact of his aging.

“My beloved ministers,” a certain inexplicable smile unconsciously graced his lips. Even he didn’t know why, but he suddenly and inexplicably uttered a subtle lament, as if by some ghostly prompting:

“Today, the pillars of the nation are gathered here. If the late emperor were alive, he would surely be immensely pleased—”