BXG - 115

◎Imperial Prison◎

After Su Chaoci submitted his petition, the court fell into an eerie calm for some time.

Cheng Shu disappeared mysteriously and was found dead four days later on a mountain outside the capital. The Ministry of Justice and the Department of Punishments jointly investigated for half a month before hastily concluding the case as “robbery gone wrong.”

The Cheng family blamed Zhou Tan for this. After all, Cheng Shu had vaguely hinted before his disappearance that he held a damning secret against the Chancellor.

With someone willing to take the lead, things became much easier.

Zhou Tan’s alleged crimes spread like wildfire through the streets. His reputation in Bianjing had never been pristine, and with recent reforms stirring discontent, it only took a few whispers from the right people to ignite public outrage.

Qu You rarely ventured out these days, even avoiding her old friend Gao Yunyue.

It was Gao Yunyue who eventually came to visit, taking the back entrance to avoid the main street. She knew the Zhou residence well.

The white walls of the Zhou estate had been defaced with graffiti, smeared with eggs and vegetable scraps—a chaotic, intimidating mess. But Qu You paid it no mind, brewing fresh tea for Gao Yunyue in Xin Ji Hall.

“Given enough provocation, one can always create the illusion that ‘the whole world hates you,’” she said, lifting her teacup to savor the aroma before passing it to Gao Yunyue. “But in truth, most commoners are silent. They don’t care about political intrigues or the reputations of so-called ‘great men.’ All they care about is whether life improves for them. Once this storm passes, few will remember.”

“But… Lord Zhou’s tarnished reputation surely harms his career,” Gao Yunyue replied, sipping the tea, concern evident in her voice. “And while the common folk may not care, there are still the historians.”

The mention of “historians” seemed to strike a chord with Qu You. She lowered her eyes, falling silent for a moment.

Noticing her demeanor, Gao Yunyue sighed heavily. “Yoyo, I feel like you’ve changed so much since I first met you.”

Qu You’s gaze flickered over the faint pink scar on Gao Yunyue’s face, her heart aching as she awkwardly looked away. “You’ve changed too.”

Gao Yunyue rested her chin on her hand, playfully pinching Qu You’s cheek and pulling a face. In a light tone, she said, “When we first met, you were still just a young girl—so proud, so arrogant, deigning to be friends only with me…”

Qu You laughed. “Aren’t you describing yourself?”

Gao Yunyue glared at her but continued. “You probably don’t know this, but before you married Lord Zhou, my brother had feelings for you… You might not even remember what he looks like. He never cared for books, yet inexplicably admired refined talents like you. Mother even promised that when he returned from military service, she’d arrange a marriage proposal.”

Gao Yunyue’s brother… wasn’t his name Gao Yunyang? Qu You vaguely recalled a young man who always smiled shyly at her. But his face had long faded in her memory; try as she might, she couldn’t fully reconstruct it.

“Talking about this now feels like discussing events from another lifetime,” Gao Yunyue said, brushing aside her melancholy and sniffing slightly. “Actually, I came today to share some good news—I’m getting married.”

Qu You’s eyes brightened. “Finally decided?”

After Bai Ying left, Gao Yunyue had thrown herself into business with Ding Xiangzhi Ling and Ai Di Sheng, achieving great success. Ren Shiming had proposed several times, but she always refused.

Qu You remembered the first time Ren Shiming visited. He must have said something wrong, for Gao Yunyue immediately smashed the jade hairpin he brought, coldly declaring, “A humble girl dares not aspire to noble virtue.”

Later, Ren Shiming painstakingly repaired the hairpin and sent it back.

Qu You understood that Gao Yunyue’s actions stemmed from lingering insecurities after recent upheavals.

Today, she had brought the jade hairpin with her, signaling she was finally ready to move past those insecurities.

Qu You smiled, intending to tease her further, but unexpectedly, Ren Shiming suddenly arrived with Zhou Yang.

She initially thought Ren Shiming had come to fetch Gao Yunyue, but when both entered Xin Ji Hall, their expressions hinted at something else entirely.

As expected, Ren Shiming spoke urgently. “Sister-in-law, please don’t panic… News from the palace says Brother has been imprisoned in the imperial jail.”

Calculating the timeline, winter was approaching—it made sense.

To everyone’s surprise, Qu You calmly nodded, asking no questions. Only Gao Yunyue noticed her nails digging deeply into her palm.

Zhou Yang, somewhat nervous, explained, “Sister-in-law, His Majesty has always trusted Brother. This imprisonment is merely due to public pressure. Surely…”

“Everyone should go home, go home,” Qu You heard herself say. “Don’t… don’t petition the Emperor on his behalf. Don’t come again until the snow stops.”

When Su Chaoci entered the study, Song Shixuan was lost in thought.

Turning to see him, Song Shixuan’s dazed expression eased slightly, revealing a rare glimpse of exhaustion. “Master Su.”

Su Chaoci bowed deeply. “Your Majesty.”

Song Shixuan personally helped him up. “Master, no need for formalities.”

After a pause, he added, “Teacher sent word… saying I shouldn’t prevent them from administering punishment.”

Su Chaoci clenched his robe tightly, speaking softly. “It’s been three months.”

Three months. The Lunar New Year had passed, and spring was near.

Song Shixuan placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’ve heard everything clearly from Master. Teacher is such a man of high moral standing… It makes me utterly ashamed. It’s all because of my youthful incompetence that he’s made such a sacrifice, and I…”

Su Chaoci noticed that since entering, Song Shixuan hadn’t once used the royal “I.”

“And I… cannot even clear his name in the annals of history,” Song Shixuan struggled to continue. “These three months, I’ve met with every historian in court, Master…”

Su Chaoci glanced down at his purple robe. “Allowing punishment is just for show… Your Majesty, do as he wishes—strip him of his chancellorship and let him return to Lin’an. If you refuse to release him, prolonging this for three months… his body won’t last much longer.”

“Yes, isn’t his insistence on enduring punishment just to force my hand?” Song Shixuan stared at the ground, hesitating to speak further. Finally, he murmured, “Master, I…”

“What does Your Majesty wish to say?”

“Nothing, nothing.”

Su Chaoci fiddled with the five-colored prayer beads on his wrist, recalling something else. “By the way, I heard Lady Zhou submitted a request to visit him in prison. Poor her, she hasn’t written any petitions these three months. Though visits aren’t allowed, make an exception for her this once, Your Majesty.”

Song Shixuan nodded absentmindedly. “Of course. I’ve already sent someone to escort Madam.”

Silence fell between them. Su Chaoci rose to take his leave, sensing that Song Shixuan had something more to say but swallowed it at the last moment.

Not wanting to press him, Su Chaoci simply bowed and departed.

When Qu You entered the imperial prison, she brought only a bowl of warm Yangzhi Ganlu for Zhou Tan.

Visits weren’t permitted, so she chose the deepest hours of night, sneaking in when Zhou Tan was taken out for interrogation. Song Shixuan had assigned two of his personal guards to accompany her, granting her freedom to choose any day.

She picked the night with the heaviest snowfall.

The night before their meeting, she dreamed her recurring nightmare—kneeling in the passageway all night, then watching Song Shixuan and Su Chaoci carry out Zhou Tan’s corpse from the prison.

The dream left her unsettled.

The interrogation chamber was separated from the cells by the same passageway where she had once knelt. Adjacent to the palace walls, it was convenient for meetings—Tingfei had also visited Zhou Tan here.

The guards dispersed the interrogators; everyone recognized the Emperor’s token carried by the guards. Besides, they weren’t the first visitors—previously, Song Shixuan had secretly sent physicians.

Qu You entered carrying a lantern.

To maintain appearances, Zhou Tan endured severe torture to confess to the fabricated crimes he himself had written. Rumors of his confession would only add credibility to public gossip.

Though reluctant, Su Chaoci and Song Shixuan ensured no excessively harsh punishments were administered. Thus, despite injuries, Zhou Tan’s condition wasn’t critical.

Yet when Qu You illuminated his face with the lantern, her heart still trembled.

Already pale, his closed eyes made him appear lifeless. Sensing someone, he opened his eyes hazily. The light revealed a small red mole at the corner of his eye.

Qu You untied him from the rack, urgently asking, “How are you?”

Coughing twice in her arms, Zhou Tan replied, “Fine. It’s all for show, as you know.”

Pausing, he suddenly smiled. “How did you manage to wait this long before coming?”

Qu You wiped away tears in the darkness, striving to keep her voice steady. “I… feared seeing you like this. I might lose control and take you away, abandoning everything.”

They had barely exchanged a few words when the guards abruptly interrupted, whispering in surprise, “Madam, His Majesty has arrived.”

Zhou Tan froze, but Qu You reacted quickly, grabbing the food box and retreating into the shadows. The guards didn’t question her—they knew Song Shixuan would recognize her presence tonight.

But Song Shixuan was visibly distracted, failing to notice anyone. Upon entering the chamber, he immediately ordered everyone to leave.

From behind rotting wooden bars, Qu You listened silently to the conversation between emperor and subject. Perhaps she had chosen tonight specifically to hear what they would say.

Song Shixuan routinely inquired about Zhou Tan’s injuries, to which Zhou Tan responded. From their exchange, Qu You realized Song Shixuan wasn’t visiting for the first time.

In the cold, desolate darkness, she heard Song Shixuan hesitate before saying, “Teacher, winter has been too long. Tomorrow, I’ll release you. Go back to Lin’an with Madam.”

Zhou Tan’s voice remained gentle, unsurprised, almost relieved. “You’ve finally…”

“I didn’t want to strip you of your chancellorship!” Song Shixuan interrupted, head bowed, revealing a rare childishness. “It’s because I’m too young, unable to handle court factionalism, forcing you to make such a sacrifice. And… why didn’t you or Master Su tell me beforehand? I…”

Zhou Tan spoke soothingly. “We feared you wouldn’t agree.”

Song Shixuan removed his pristine white crane cloak and draped it over Zhou Tan, who didn’t resist, allowing him to fasten it. “Without you in court, Ziqian, you must…”

“Honestly, teacher, you’ve probably wanted to do this for a long time, haven’t you?” Song Shixuan suddenly interrupted, laughing bitterly. “Teacher… you never intended to assist me forever, did you?”

Qu You frowned slightly. Song Shixuan’s words sounded strange.

Zhou Tan was also surprised. “Ziqian…”

“Teacher, I understand,” Song Shixuan stammered, enunciating each word. “I saw Bai Ying’s lawsuit.”

Qu You recalled Bai Ying mentioning a “lawsuit” before his death, though she didn’t know…

Zhou Tan reacted strongly, his voice trembling. “Where… where did you see it? Who presented it to you? You…”

“For so long, you delayed coming to Fengqi Pavilion, leaving me anxiously waiting… Now, you insist on leaving, even at the cost of your reputation.” Song Shixuan seemed to mutter to himself, his voice soft. “So… this is the reason… My shadow guards killed your parents. I understand if you hate me.”

Heart-piercing words.

Qu You clamped her hand over her mouth, suddenly understanding everything that had transpired in the prison years ago.

The deaths of Bai Qiu and Zhou Shu weren’t accidents—they had discovered Song Shixuan’s whereabouts near Lin’an. Protecting him, the Jing王府 guards had no choice but to kill them. Zhou Tan had pursued the truth, uncovering that “lawsuit.”

But ultimately… it wasn’t Song Shixuan’s fault.

Then whose fault was it?

He had uncovered the truth himself, not even informing Su Chaoci, swallowing the injustice whole.

Qu You recalled the look in his eyes the first time he took her to visit his parents’ graves.

Perhaps it was guilt… guilt for being unable to seek revenge, yet forced to serve.

Zhou Tan was always too rational—never blaming others indiscriminately, never punishing the innocent. Once he committed to a path, he followed it to the bitter end without regret.

This matter, uncovered by himself, should have remained buried forever.

Until he risked leaking the information to Bai Ying.

Without this revelation, Bai Ying and Li Yuanjun wouldn’t have taken such risks.

They assumed Song Shixuan, upon learning the truth and suspecting Zhou Tan, would immediately eliminate him.

After all… a small favor turns to resentment with greater obligation.

But Zhou Tan never imagined Song Shixuan would think his refusal to enter Fengqi Pavilion and his current sacrifices were born of hatred.

Such suspicion was devastating. Even considering it made Qu You’s heart ache with cold despair.

Back then, in the prison, Zhou Tan had already completed everything. Hearing these words from the child he had raised, he felt utterly hopeless. On his way back to the cell, he casually handed his crane cloak to a passing palace maid.

He no longer wished to live.

After uttering those words, Song Shixuan seemed to immediately regret them. Supporting himself on the rack, he shook his head repeatedly before stumbling out in a panic.

Alone, Zhou Tan knelt on the blood-streaked ground, unmoving for a long time.

The food had long gone cold. Qu You, stiff and numb, emerged from the shadows to his side. Without a word, she embraced him.

Slowly raising his head to look at her, Zhou Tan laughed hollowly a few times before finally succumbing, spitting out a mouthful of warm blood.