BXG - 79

◎ Cloud Ascension ◎

With the emperor critically ill, an atmosphere of tension hung over Bian capital. Even noble families refrained from allowing their children to frolic or carouse outside, fearing they might inadvertently invite trouble from the palace.

As a result, the number of patrons at Fanlou had significantly decreased in recent days.

Ye Liuchun’s departure from the Spring Rain Pavilion was publicly framed as her leaving the entertainment world and departing Bian capital altogether. The Crown Prince, ever adept at maintaining appearances, ensured that few knew the truth: the talented singer had entered his residence as a concubine.

Only the scholars lingering in the main hall lamented no longer hearing such exquisite moon lute performances.

As Qu You ascended the stairs, she overheard a drunken literatus reciting poetry in the main hall.

“Spring departs—when will it return? Gazing into the evening mirror, mourning the fleeting scenery… Paired birds on the sand, twilight over the pond; clouds part, the moon emerges, flowers cast shadows…”

“Layer upon layer of curtains shield the lamp; the wind unsettles, people begin to settle. Tomorrow’s fallen petals… will surely cover the path.”

Fallen red petals swirl with the eastward-flowing water, a loyal heart dies for you.

She thought, It is indeed Ye Liuchun singing.

The guards led her to a private room on the lower floor. This time, she deliberately looked up at the plaque above the door reserved for the Crown Prince—it bore the name “Shang Yun Le” (Cloud Ascension).

Such an arrogant title.

Her brow twitched slightly as the guard pushed open the intricately carved wooden door. Inside sat the Crown Prince, holding a five-petaled golden lotus wine cup, slowly raising his eyes to meet hers.

“Lady Qu, it has been a long time.”

Qu You stood at the doorway, giving a perfunctory curtsey without stepping inside. “Your Highness enjoys good health. To what end have you summoned this humble servant?”

She deliberately emphasized the term “humble servant,” knowing full well Song Shiyu wouldn’t miss the implication.

True enough, Song Shiyu narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly. “Zhou Tan is now within the inner palace. He wouldn’t know of our meeting here. Why be so distant?”

Qu You couldn’t help but wonder about the Crown Prince’s intentions.

Zhou Tan had entered the imperial city, yet instead of worrying about the emperor’s motives, Song Shiyu repeatedly extended courtesies toward her. What could be his purpose?

Before ascending the throne, he dared covet another man’s wife?

Setting aside how absurd such an act would be, what could possibly attract him to her? Beautiful women were abundant in Bian capital, many eager to throw themselves at him. Even if he disliked the Crown Princess, he had countless options. Why waste effort on her?

Seeing her remain unmoved, Song Shiyu set down his wine cup and shifted the topic. “Lady Qu, do you recall where we first met?”

She answered respectfully, “At the eastern gate of the imperial city.”

“Wrong,” Song Shiyu shook his head, pointing to the floor beneath them. “It was here.”

“That day, Liuchun came to Fanlou to play the zither and invited me to listen. I stayed for a while but had urgent matters to attend to and was about to leave when the incident occurred.”

Yan Wuping had deliberately informed Ye Liuchun to invite the Crown Prince. Gu Xianghui’s actions were rushed—not only because she saw Zhou Tan but also likely because she spotted the Crown Prince preparing to leave and feared he’d miss the moment.

“At the time, chaos erupted throughout the building. I stood at the front, instructing my guards to summon investigators. As I looked up, I happened to see a flash of pink peeking down, her face filled with panic.”

“Peach blossoms smiling beyond the fence, seemingly most affectionate when yet to bloom… At that moment, I thought, if I were to meet you again—”

He drew out his tone, leaving the sentence unfinished. Qu You felt a chill creep up her spine.

In the midst of that chaotic crime scene, with a bloodied corpse at his feet, Song Shiyu had ignored it all, focusing solely on the woman who caught his interest.

Far from finding it romantic, she found it horrifying.

“That day at the eastern gate, I only found you vaguely familiar. It wasn’t until I returned home that I remembered who you were… Such a pity. Though Xiaobai is charming, his nature is cold—he’s not someone one can rely on.” Song Shiyu gazed at her regretfully. “Today, I’ve invited you here to make amends for that missed opportunity.”

Qu You slowly lowered the hand that had been resting on the doorframe.

Her mind raced, pondering how Song Shiyu perceived her relationship with Zhou Tan.

During their wedding, Zhou Tan had deliberately distanced himself from her for her safety, likely mentioning it repeatedly in front of Song Shiyu.

If he wanted the Crown Prince to believe they weren’t close, it would be effortless. Qu You knew well Zhou Tan’s skill at deception—if one didn’t scrutinize carefully, they’d surely be fooled.

Thus, Song Shiyu likely believed she and Zhou Tan were estranged until Zhou Tan entered the palace, and she struck the Drum of Petition twice.

At the time, she had spoken fervently before the drumstone, but afterward, few in Bian capital praised their marital harmony. This was partly due to Zhou Tan’s reputation, but more importantly, his case involved murder charges. If severely punished, it could implicate family members.

As husband and wife are seen as one entity, aside from a handful who knew the truth, most likely assumed she acted out of self-preservation.

A woman petitioning for her husband sounded better than outright separation.

Zhou Tan couldn’t reveal his relationship with Xiao Yue to Song Shiyu, vaguely promising instead to eliminate Fu Qingnian—a critical blow if executed properly.

Unaware of the details, the Crown Prince only had rough plans. So… did her striking the Drum of Petition twice lead him to think it was a premeditated strategy?

Like before, in their cooperative yet individually motivated arrangement, each plotted and took what they needed.

In Song Shiyu’s eyes, they appeared estranged, ripe for exploitation.

Qu You felt a wave of nausea.

Seeing her remain silent, Song Shiyu coughed. The guard behind her promptly closed the door, forcing her to step forward, leaving her alone with Song Shiyu in the room.

Qu You coldly remarked, “Your Highness, I came to see you knowing I’m not alone. Though my guards downstairs may not outnumber your soldiers, Fanlou is a unique place. Should conflict arise…”

“Do you really think I intend harm? It won’t come to that,” Song Shiyu said, observing her expression with a smile. “Lady Qu, Zhou Tan might not understand you, but I do. After our meeting at the eastern gate, I read your past poems—’The stream before the hall carries flowers away; heaven and earth know nothing.’ They don’t understand, but I do.”

“I understand your discontent with being confined to domestic life. Even after disregarding propriety to advocate for those fallen women, the world still attributes your efforts to your husband. Once, twice… Do you truly wish to remain forever in his shadow, tainted by his unsavory reputation, never to rise?”

After marrying his official wife, Song Shiyu refrained from taking concubines—not out of virtue but to honor his uncle, a general, and ensure the Crown Princess bore his first child. Many nameless women like Ye Liuchun entered the Crown Prince’s residence, merely as servant-mistresses.

Such positions were even lower than concubines. In ancient eyes, favoring them didn’t count as licentiousness.

Song Shiyu was a veteran of romantic entanglements, raised near Emperor De, skilled at reading people. Though Qu You despised him, she had to admit he was adept at discerning hearts.

When she first arrived here, all she sought was freedom and independence. Meeting Zhou Tan ignited her curiosity, and through shared experiences, she grew to love and respect him, wanting to accompany him further, to see how history treated him.

In this process, she often forgot the original owner of this body and never seriously considered what a daughter of a minor official should aspire to.

Her aspirations stemmed from a millennium later. Her self-awareness never fully merged with this era. Even loving Zhou Tan, she never forgot her origins.

These thoughts had no one to confide in.

Song Shiyu could see through the heart of an official’s daughter, hence his earlier words. But he couldn’t penetrate the detachment of a history student from a distant future, so his words only seemed laughable to her.

Qu You’s lips curled slightly, a barely perceptible mockery.

Song Shiyu thought he understood her, but he didn’t realize her pursuits were never about fame. Like Zhou Tan, if they could genuinely help the people, they cared little for historical remembrance.

Zhou Tan truly didn’t care, and she was genuinely indifferent—they reached the same end through different paths.

Moreover, Zhou Tan never intended to confine her to domestic life or take credit for her achievements. From the start, he admired her ideals beyond lady's chamber norms, not minding her dressing as a man or nurturing her pursuits, even arranging for her to stay in the Ministry of Justice, allowing her to do what she loved.

Zhou Tan simply wasn’t as eloquent as Song Shiyu, never boasting of his deeds.

While Song Shiyu spoke grandly, she couldn’t guess his true thoughts.

To understand his intentions, Qu You lowered her eyes and feigned asking, “Since Your Highness speaks thus, you must know what I desire?”

Song Shiyu blew on the wine in his cup, closing his eyes to savor its aroma, nonchalantly replying, “What about becoming Empress?”

“You…”

Though aware of his madness, Qu You hadn’t expected such audacity: “Your Highness, choose your words carefully!”

“What do you fear? Everyone outside is loyal to me.” Song Shiyu continued, “Once I ascend the throne, I can choose whomever I wish. By then, I can find a hundred identities for you—Qu family’s twin daughter, a noble maiden, even a foreign princess or descendant of a former dynasty. You needn’t worry…”

Qu You coldly responded, “The Crown Princess is still alive.”

“Yoyo, you’ve met the Crown Princess. You know her nature. Do you think someone like her can truly become Empress?” Song Shiyu sighed, rising to his feet. “The Empress I desire must be intelligent, perceptive, tactful, ambitious… daring to do what others dare not…”

Calling her by her intimate name, he approached her. Instinctively, Qu You stepped aside. Unperturbed, Song Shiyu leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Don’t you despise kneeling? With me… only I can protect your pride, ensuring you never kneel again.”

Unable to endure his words further, Qu You turned, pushed open the door, and walked out.

The top floor of Fanlou catered only to royalty, already deserted. Song Shiyu’s guards stood at the stairs, ostensibly respectful as they bowed, but their words stopped her. “Madam, His Highness hasn’t permitted your departure.”

Qu You turned back to look at Song Shiyu. He stood beneath the “Shang Yun Le” plaque, gazing down at her. His once gentle gaze now carried a hint of sinister coldness.

There he stood, silent and unmoving. Meeting his gaze, Qu You felt a chill creep up her spine, making her shiver involuntarily.

In that instant, a sudden realization struck her—a fleeting detail from history books she had never deeply considered before.