TBR CH167

The Emperor reigned over the land for seventeen years, his administration harmonious, the seas calm and rivers clear. In the first month, on the Jia-Chen day, the Emperor passed away in Changle Palace. Left Prime Minister Ji Ying was deeply grieved, supporting the funeral bier and dying from weeping blood. Touched by the profound loyalty between ruler and minister, he was interred alongside the Emperor in the royal mausoleum. —《Historical Records: Zhaoming, Year 15》

The night was deep and the dew heavy; the palace was even more somber in the darkness.

Inside the Imperial Study, however, lights blazed, and voices of conversation occasionally drifted out. A guard waiting outside the Imperial Study spotted a figure approaching in the distance and quickly turned to report. After a short while, the Emperor’s somewhat detached voice was heard: “Tell him to wait.”

Ji Ying reached the palace entrance only to be informed he couldn’t enter. He pondered for a few seconds, then, with an air of ease, smiled at the guard at the door and said softly and kindly:

“His Majesty has a guest; it seems I’ve arrived at an inconvenient time.”

This guard had only recently been transferred here and wasn’t yet aware of the nuances. He only knew that his seniors had repeatedly warned him, “The greatest rule in the palace is Prime Minister Ji.” Before he could fully grasp the meaning, His Majesty uncharacteristically displayed a wary attitude towards Prime Minister Ji.

The Emperor’s command was inviolable, so he had no choice but to brace himself and block Ji Ying, his heart inevitably bristling at the treacherous situation before him.

If there was truly discord between His Majesty and Prime Minister Ji…

It had been over ten years since Chu Huaicun ascended the throne. In these ten years, the court and the land had undergone earth-shattering changes. His Majesty, with his far-reaching strategies and iron-fisted methods, had rectified the government, pacified the realm, resolved the mess left by the old emperor, and revitalized the vast empire. The nation prospered, and all neglected affairs were revived, with only one exception that could not be faulted.

That was Ji Ying, the most powerful and influential minister in the current court, personally created by His Majesty.

Who didn’t know that Prime Minister Ji had a private relationship with His Majesty before his ascension? When His Majesty first ascended, there were inevitably some stakeholders who murmured discontent. Ji Ying brazenly overstepped his bounds to intervene directly. The favored minister in white, holding His Majesty’s token, smiled gently and coldly, and no one dared to comment further.

He subsequently intervened in political affairs, almost reaching a position of equality with His Majesty.

People waited for his influence to wane, secretly mocking Ji Ying for being too arrogant. What monarch wouldn’t be wary of a powerful minister? But his favor grew stronger year after year. His Majesty was wise throughout his reign, yet only concerning Ji Ying, he seemed unable to distinguish right from wrong.

Many auspicious titles were bestowed, and the Prime Minister’s residence’s expenses were almost equivalent to the imperial palace’s, though Prime Minister Ji might not have had time to enjoy it—his favor even extended to spending nights in the palace.

However, recently, the situation had indeed been somewhat different.

The autumn moonlight seemed to carry a chill, and Ji Ying had forgotten to add layers. He waited patiently, not minding the increasingly complex gaze of the new guard at the palace entrance.

He had just noticed a bit of cold wind seeping into his collar when he heard respectful footsteps behind him. A palace maid, appearing from somewhere, held a silver-white cloak and a hand warmer, bowing to him:

“These are all the things Prime Minister Ji wanted.”

Ji Ying hadn’t asked for such things. Although his influence was indeed so great that he almost treated the palace as his own residence.

He wrapped the cloak around himself, feeling the warm fur rub softly against his neck, preventing any cold wind from blowing in. The hand warmer felt like an orange-yellow lamp in his hand.

Given the quality of these two items, they were both imperial-grade treasures. The cloak was also subtly scented with a faint plum fragrance.

The maid then whispered to him in an almost inaudible voice:

“The person currently conversing with His Majesty is Zhang Wei from the Ministry of Personnel. It will likely take another half an hour. His Majesty fears Prime Minister Ji might catch a chill. If Prime Minister Ji wishes, he may rest in Changle Palace.”

Just that one sentence sent several thoughts through Ji Ying’s mind. He now completely understood why Chu Huaicun couldn’t see him at the moment.

Zhang Wei from the Ministry of Personnel—this person was not his political enemy, but rather someone who worked under him. This person must have seen that the recent situation was unfavorable, turned to another faction, and found a way to meticulously recount the various crimes committed by his former master to Chu Huaicun.

In such a situation, he, the culprit, clearly couldn’t show his face.

Fortunately, the other party came quietly and would also discreetly leave through the back door, thinking they wouldn’t attract attention, so it wouldn’t hinder anything.

Ji Ying said gently: “I’m not cold. I’ll wait here for him to come out.”

Half an hour later, the door to the Imperial Study finally slowly opened. The lights inside instantly spilled out, illuminating half of the dark night outside.

Chu Huaicun finally saw off Zhang Wei, who had profusely thanked him and wished he could prostrate himself a hundred more times, having just heard an earful of Ji Ying’s “bullying” misdeeds. Feeling dizzy, he looked out and saw his Left Prime Minister.

Ji Ying turned his head in the tranquil night and smiled at him.

Chu Huaicun couldn’t help but think that the clothes he had sent someone to fetch for him were truly suitable. The snow-white cloak was bright as snow in the dark night, embroidered with plum blossoms of varying shades, making him appear like jade, with an air of noble purity even amidst the elements. His eyes, illuminated by the lights, were light and warm, and in his dark pupils, the first thing to emerge was the joyous smile of recognition.

…A contrast of light and shadow, instantly clearing one’s mind upon sight.

“Why were you waiting here all this time?”

Ji Ying entered the hall. The moment the door closed, he proactively approached, gently brushing against the reigning emperor with a touch of the outside chill, and exhaled a sigh of contented satisfaction. Chu Huaicun carefully received him, then touched Ji Ying’s neck, feeling the warm fur of the cloak.

Ji Ying slowly blinked:

“Because I wanted to wait for you. If I went to Changle Palace, I wouldn’t be able to see you the first moment. Actually, I haven’t waited for long. I’ve been snubbed many times before; this is nothing compared to that. It’s just—”

“What?”

“I think it’s not because someone was speaking ill of me in front of His Majesty,” Ji Ying said, “but when I was waiting for you, time seemed to pass especially slowly. Why is that, Your Majesty?”

The monarch was presented with a riddle, but the answer was written before his eyes. There were already charcoal fires burning in the room, so there was no need for the cloak. Ji Ying took off the cloak, revealing a large expanse of skin around his neck. His dark hair contrasted sharply with his somewhat pale complexion. He pressed against Chu Huaicun’s shoulders, his voice dangerously low:

“That person just now told His Majesty that although I hold a high position as a minister, I harbor disloyal ambitions.”

The imperial life seemed unable to change the color in Chu Huaicun’s eyes. At this moment, the sharp gleam of a blade flashed through his ice-like eyes, and then he gently but firmly restrained the powerful minister who seemed to be seducing the monarch.

Ji Ying was easily subdued, taking advantage of the situation. He actually liked this slightly restraining and focused demeanor of Chu Huaicun the most.

Chu Huaicun looked down at him, feeling his neck trembling slightly beneath his fingertips.

“Disloyal?”

He repeated softly, “Whatever Yuan Ya wants, We shall give. If there truly are any disloyal thoughts, why not act on them freely? Minister Zhang’s every word just now was aimed at destroying Our heart—unfortunately, his intention was too obvious, and his performance a bit overdone. These big fish are finally surfacing. Prime Minister Ji has truly been wronged these past few days. However, you don’t need to wait for me like this anymore. It’s autumn now, and if winter comes, it will be bad.”

Ji Ying curved the corners of his eyes again.

Chu Huaicun’s hand resting on his neck made his cheeks flush somewhat. Chu Huaicun was about to let go, but Ji Ying, with his eyes closed, pulled him closer.

His eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and his lips brushed the back of the emperor’s hand. He fully conveyed the hint, murmuring indistinctly:

“But what I wanted at first wasn’t to be a powerful minister; I only sought to be His Majesty’s favored minister…”

Chu Huaicun’s eyes darkened.

The other knew best the temperament of a swordsman, incredibly sharp, yet with an inherent dominant posture in his tenderness towards those he cherished. When he kissed away the other’s tears, his actions were still forceful. Ji Ying had been broken, but that didn’t mean he always had to be handled with extreme care like glass.

Chu Huaicun momentarily lost control of his strength, leaving red marks on him as if he had been constrained. He, instead, closed his eyes and leaned in to kiss him.

Fortunately, the imperial study was very close to the sleeping quarters.

During this period, because they had to plan the concentrated removal of certain disruptive forces behind the scenes, their time together was relatively scarce.

When Ji Ying was finally pressed onto the imperial bed, he tilted his head, and a slight moan involuntarily escaped his throat. There had always been a dark part in his pupils, and at this moment, an indescribable excitement slowly made his eyes glow, then melted into a moist haze.

Even though he had no mind to consider anything else, Ji Ying’s eyes were unfocused, reflecting a hint of ice and snow in Chu Huaicun’s eyes. Yet, as if he had long planned this, he opened his mouth with a husky voice, as if to gauge Chu Huaicun’s reaction:

“Please, Your Majesty, punish your humble servant… for impropriety before the emperor.”

Dealing with the consequences of that sentence cost him some unnecessary time begging for mercy.

“Your Majesty…”

He gasped softly, then switched to a more appropriate address, “Chu Huaicun.”

His pupils were also entirely filled with Chu Huaicun. At this moment, Chu Huaicun was more like a large carnivorous beast on a hunt, his movements graceful and beautiful, his eyes like blades, treating his prey with cruel efficiency, every movement tearing at the prey’s most sensitive nerves.

Occasionally, this appearance would slightly mislead the prey for a moment, and only then would the other realize they had fallen between sharp fangs.

When Ji Ying slowly recovered from his prolonged daze, he felt Chu Huaicun gently press a kiss on his forehead.

He had just been shamelessly putting on a show that would make even a favored concubine blush, let alone a favored minister. Now, his ears quickly burned, and he finally remembered that he still had the facade of a dignified gentleman.

“Yuan Ya.”

Chu Huaicun called him softly, with no other purpose. Just calling his name.

Yuan Ya, Yuan Ya, Yuan Ya.

Was it too late to do this now?

He slowly reacted for a few seconds, then felt the spot where Chu Huaicun kissed him grow hotter and hotter, knowing that the person in front of him would always make him become inexplicably innocent in certain moments.

Presumably, the “fissure” in their relationship during this period would once again become strange in others’ minds due to Ji Ying’s staying overnight in the palace again. As Chu Huaicun thought this, he contentedly looked down at the person beside him.

This person, who had just smiled at him wrapped in a snow-white cloak under the moonlight, was now the moonlight he had tasted, with a slight sweetness.

This was Prime Minister Ji, who held absolute power and wielded immense influence.

Rumors were, of course, just rumors, but reality was also gradually unfolding.

It was not an unspoken secret that Chu Huaicun and Ji Ying chose this time to unearth those who were secretly spying and had strange intentions, and to purge them from the court. Both of them had already begun to secretly wait, though not exactly hoping, because their current lives were good enough, but a different kind of life would also be quite good.

“After I ‘pass away’,”

The current ruler of the land calmly looked forward to his own death notice, “Let’s first take a trip to Bingzhou.”

The Emperor had passed away more than seven days ago.

This was a national mourning, and the boats traveling along the canal in Bingzhou, which connected the north and south, were all adorned with plain white cloth according to custom. Among them was a merchant ship transporting tea and spices, also carrying some merchants traveling between north and south. At this moment, a customer, hearing the commotion, pulled aside the curtain of his cabin to look out.

He appeared experienced, with an extraordinary demeanor, and a ceremonial sword at his waist, signifying a martial artist.

“No matter what’s happening,”

Chu Huaicun said calmly, “I have someone resting here. Please keep quiet.”

This emperor, who had worn the nine-layered crown in the magnificent palace just seven days ago, had just washed. His hair was still loose, falling over his shoulders, exuding a damp, unfinished moisture. Like an immortal pulled into the mortal realm, this scene added a touch of gentle domesticity to the usually cold Chu Huaicun, so much so that the people outside momentarily disregarded his words.

The clashing of swords could be heard cacophonously.

A group of people dressed in tight black clothes, holding blades, stood on the deck, clearly locked in a fierce struggle with the boatmen.

These were the most detested river bandits in the area. They dealt in spices for high profits and came when they smelled blood. The boat owner hadn’t expected such a great calamity for this shipment. At this moment, he was so shocked he lost his wits. He wanted to protect his goods, yet didn’t know if his life was more important. Suddenly, someone behind him touched his shoulder, and he almost burst into tears.

“Are they bad people?”

The sharp-eyed customer asked concisely, finally drawing the enemy’s attention.

Please note, for every person who regularly travels in the Jianghu, stories are ultimately just stories. There are not that many peerless martial artists in the world, and they are not always so kind-hearted. The bandits were numerous and powerful, often appearing in groups, killing like flies. Even escort agencies were helpless; merchant ships that were targeted could basically only resign themselves to bad luck.

So the boatman subconsciously wanted to warn this unlucky fellow who had boarded the ship in the capital. But unfortunately, the heavily built bandit was quite displeased with Chu Huaicun’s bluntness and chuckled sinisterly:

“A rich man from the capital, carrying a sword, really thinks he’s someone? Even if that old emperor who just died were here, our ‘Water Snake Gang’ would still beat him up.”

Chu Huaicun was silent for a moment.

He decided not to waste any more words. The situation was actually very simple. Although it was a feigned death, Ji Ying had kept vigil for him day and night for the past few days. Before leaving the capital, he had also put on a grand show of weeping blood and dying for his master. At this moment, he was resting with his eyes closed in the cabin due to exhaustion. It was too noisy outside, somewhat affecting the quality of his rest, so Chu Huaicun would definitely intervene.

Before those present could clearly see his movements, the sword was already unsheathed.

Once the sword was unsheathed, a cold, flowing light, like a returning whirlwind of snow, briefly sliced through everyone’s vision. Before the bandits even realized what had happened, they were horrified to find the sword’s tip, a chilling gleam, was about to slit their throats. Subconsciously, they recoiled, and before they could even make a sound, they fell into the river.

It wasn’t that there were none among them who tried to resist.

But for Chu Huaicun, dealing with a dozen or so disparate local ruffians was certainly not a problem.

Everything happened like a dream. The boatman heard a series of dull splashes, his face shifting from intense worry to intense confusion. He looked at Chu Huaicun and saw him slowly sheathing his sword, like a contented beast of prey that had just finished a hunt. His expression remained calm, and his ink-like hair was still not completely dry.

The boatman regained his senses and was about to profusely thank him.

Chu Huaicun, however, placed a finger to his lips, signaling silence. Then he smiled gently at him, said nothing, lifted the curtain, and returned to the cabin.

Ji Ying woke up in the evening. When he awoke, he happened to see Chu Huaicun with his back to him, wrestling with his hair at the edge of the bed. When His Majesty was on the throne, even his hair had corresponding regulations, though he had never quite figured them out himself. At other times, he mostly wore his hair down. But after a fight just now, Chu Huaicun began to find his damp long hair a bit troublesome.

Of course, Ji Ying was unaware that while he was drowsily narrowing his eyes, Chu Huaicun had incredibly engaged in a one-on-one battle with local bandits. He merely watched his lover tie up his hair, his movements swift and clean, just like in the old days.

The dim daylight shone into the cabin from the window. Looking out from the gradually docked merchant ship, the city felt strange yet somewhat familiar, and the scene before him overlapped with many years ago.

“I still find it a bit hard to believe.”

Ji Ying watched quietly for a while before concluding, “I thought I would forget more, but actually I remember everything. Just looking out like this, everything is vivid, as if I just met you here yesterday, or we are sitting on this boat, and I’m about to take you back to the Lin family.”

“I’ll go with you.” Chu Huaicun turned around and smiled at him as if it were then.

Ji Ying felt his heart skip a beat. Even though they had been together for decades, and the other had gradually transformed from a naive young swordsman into a resolute and decisive ruler, some bright qualities in Chu Huaicun remained unchanged, and he always effortlessly captivated Ji Ying’s mind. They were both getting older, and by all accounts, they were experienced individuals who should have been more composed.

He chewed on the word “composed” in his mind. Stepping out of the cabin, he suddenly realized that the boatman’s attitude towards them had become inexplicably strange. The boatman greeted them with meticulous detail, and when Ji Ying went to pay, he quickly offered to waive their fees—not that he lacked money. Liang Kechun, the Right Prime Minister in court, had given them enough silver notes to last several lifetimes when he saw His Majesty off.

Moreover, the boatman kept secretly glancing at Chu Huaicun, his gaze filled with reverence and yearning.

Ji Ying quietly hooked Chu Huaicun’s pinky finger: “What did you do just now?”

Chu Huaicun avoided the main point, explaining: “It was a bit noisy outside, and you were resting, so I dealt with it. He was probably bothered by it too, so he’s very grateful to me.”

He said this well, as if he had merely handled a minor dispute, and not actually engaged in armed combat. However, when the boatman stared at Chu Huaicun and called him “Great Hero,” the matter suddenly became much more complicated. Chu Huaicun looked at the blank piece of paper spread before him, and the ink and brush the boatman had prepared. Under the other’s expectant gaze, he felt a bit helpless.

Half an hour later, he and Ji Ying walked on the bustling streets of Bingzhou.

Ji Ying once again, softly and quickly, uttered: “Chu Jiezhao.”

“I can’t leave my real name,”

Chu Huaicun said, “Fortunately, not many people know my courtesy name, and those who do don’t really use it. The main thing is that His Majesty just ‘passed away’ not long ago, so I still need to be careful. However, I also don’t know what use collecting my name has…”

He spoke lightly, but strictly speaking, that signature not only satisfied the boatman’s desire to have a great hero’s name, but it was also the surviving calligraphy of the late Emperor Chu Huaicun—given that Chu Huaicun was now ‘dead,’ such a thing was priceless.

“That’s Chu Huaicun’s name,”

Ji Ying emphasized, a sentence that seemed to say everything and nothing at all. “It’s a pity I couldn’t bring many external things when I left the capital, especially those memorials His Majesty bestowed upon me, which had your vermilion endorsements. I can actually understand it; if it’s something you wrote, I’d want to preserve it well too.”

These memorials were carefully preserved with Prime Minister Ji’s “martyrdom.” Although two empty graves were left in the capital, these things had to be preserved as historical evidence, piled into thick historical records, connecting their two names.

Chu Huaicun held his hand, walking down the long street, not really bothered:

“If Yuan Ya wants them, I will write them for you. Just don’t despise my calligraphy; yours has always been exceptional. Hmm, if you draw something new, I can also inscribe it for you.”

“If it’s discovered a thousand years later, I wonder what the world will say.”

Ji Ying’s contemplation was half-finished when his pupils suddenly shifted slightly. For some reason, he stared at a small stall by the street.

Chu Huaicun followed his gaze and found it was a sugar painting shop. The clear yellow syrup sizzled and melted under the shopkeeper’s hands. Golden butterflies flapped their wings, and sparkling horses raised their hooves, galloping forward. A hint of sweetness permeated the air, and children occasionally ran past, laughing with their sugar figurines.

“I think I still remember this shopkeeper,” Ji Ying said.

The shopkeeper was very old but still energetic. His temples were full of silver hair, gleaming in the sunlight. Chu Huaicun also remembered this person. That year, Bingzhou was under lockdown for over a month due to an epidemic. At that time, he also seemed to run such a sugar figurine shop. Since this was his livelihood, he had some leftover grain at home. However, both of his children contracted the epidemic and died.

In his grief, he and his wife discussed it and decided to give their surplus rice and flour to those who had no food.

Good deeds, however, do not necessarily yield good results. He was soon targeted by those in the city who ruthlessly plundered food.

Chu Huaicun and Ji Ying at that time could be said to be dependent on each other. On one occasion, the two happened to witness a robbery. The young swordsman, fearless in those days, lent him a hand, but the aftermath was unknown. Seeing him now living well, with a smile on his face in the sunlight, Chu Huaicun felt much relieved.

He raised his eyes, looking at Ji Ying as if asking a question.

Ji Ying also lifted his foot and walked towards the shop, stopping in front of the stall: “Excuse me, shopkeeper.”

The other party strained to open his eyes in the sunlight and looked at them. Suddenly, as if he realized something, he trembled and raised his hand, pointing at Chu Huaicun: “…Two guests, have I seen you before?”

Chu Huaicun slowly blinked, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes: “Perhaps. I also find the shopkeeper’s face familiar.”

Without further ado, they received a sugar painting. The shopkeeper had been making sugar figurines his whole life, and his craftsmanship was superb. He seemed to have seen through Chu Huaun’s and Ji Ying’s “familiar faces.” Although he only charged them three coins, he handed them a plum branch cast from golden syrup. Each plum blossom on it was exquisite and delightful.

Chu Huaicun first offered it to Ji Ying. Ji Ying glanced at him and bit off a plum blossom.

He meticulously held the candy in his mouth, smiling and saying “so sweet,” while Chu Huaicun’s way of eating sugar figurines evidently carried a unique air, such as decisively biting them all into pieces.

“You’re doing it wrong.”

Ji Ying slowly swallowed a plum blossom, then gently tugged Chu Huaicun’s hand.

Chu Huaicun let him lead him, slowly walking into the shade. A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Ji Ying, who had just carefully savored the plum blossom on his tongue, lightly tip-toed and quickly kissed him. His lips and teeth were full of sweetness, Chu Huaicun thought, indeed sweeter than the candy he had tasted himself.

“This is the right way,” Ji Ying said, “Like this—”

In short, when the two turned the corner, most of the sugar figurine in their hands had already been eaten.