Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
◎Tingshan◎
Snow began to fall outside Xiugqing Temple.
The distant toll of the Tianmen Pagoda echoed as Qu You opened her eyes, seeing Li Yuanjun kneeling devoutly before the Buddha statue.
This was her first visit to Xiugqing Temple in this life.
She glanced around—the memories were cruelly clear. Every brick in the main hall had been meticulously wiped by her; behind the prayer cushion before the golden Buddha, she had found the Spring Sandalwood Collection dropped by Emperor Ming. In the rear garden stood an ancient tree, its branches adorned with countless red ribbons tied by visitors to convey their wishes. Whenever the wind blew, they fluttered gracefully.
Seeing her awake, Li Yuanjun smiled faintly at her. “Lady Qu.”
The ground was damp, and a pungent smell filled the air. Rubbing the back of her neck, Qu You instinctively blurted out, “Why have you come here?”
She hadn’t yet figured out why Li Yuanjun had captured her, nor did she understand why, after doing so, she hadn’t fled Bian Capital immediately but instead came to Tingshan.
No matter how many ambushes were set, this place was a dead end. Once Yan Fu realized and surrounded Tingshan with troops, there would be no escape for her.
“Shouldn’t a lady in your position first concern herself with her own safety?” Li Yuanjun paused, startled. “Since you already know my family’s involvement behind this…”
Qu You interrupted, “General Li Wei is advanced in years, and your brothers, immersed in military life, lack understanding of court politics. You’ve schemed against the Crown Prince since his youth, intending to turn him into a puppet once he ascended the throne. But even if Song Shiyan hadn’t died, knowing he was poisoned, he might not have obeyed you.”
Li Yuanjun rose from the prayer cushion, signaling the two guards holding Qu You to step aside. Only then did Qu You realize the main hall was filled with Li family soldiers—no monks in sight.
Li Yuanjun approached, her almond-shaped eyes narrowing slightly, resembling Song Shiyan’s expression. “They are inadequate, but I am not.”
Qu You asked, astonished, “What?”
Through the haze of incense, Li Yuanjun’s face was indistinct, but her voice was resolute, even carrying a hint of arrogance. “The Zhou dynasty had a female emperor—why can’t ours?”
Qu You was momentarily silent.
Li Yuanjun laughed. “What? Is it so shocking for a woman to ascend the throne?”
After a long silence, Qu You slowly replied, “You are unfit to rule.”
Li Yuanjun sneered. “Does Lady Qu also find my ambitions outrageous? How disappointing. I thought…”
Qu You climbed to her feet, meeting her gaze. “Do you think I care about being unconventional? It’s not that I believe women are unfit to rule—it’s that you are unfit, just as Song Shiyan is unfit! The Zhou empress rose from humble beginnings, her heart tied to the welfare of all under heaven. She understood what I told Song Shiyan about the stench of wealth behind red doors. She wouldn’t treat human lives as mere chess pieces or hand over Bian Capital, sacrificing the common people to become casualties beneath her blade. You claim inspiration from the Zhou empress—why don’t you emulate her diligence and love for the people? Your heart holds only power and yourself, capable only of nursing your grievances, just like Song Shiyan, consumed by selfish desires… Your Highness, do you know that excessive detachment disqualifies one from high office?”
The clamor of conflict erupted outside. Li Yuanjun turned pale as she glanced outward, then abruptly faced Qu You with a faint smile. “If we had met before I married into the Crown Prince’s household, we might have become confidantes.”
“Now… it’s too late.”
“It’s not,” Qu You urged. “I know deep down you’re not evil. During my time in the palace, I was cared for by you and know well what Song Shiyan has done. His treatment of you naturally bred resentment… Tell me the truth—I can guarantee your life…”
“To survive as a captive again, like in the Crown Prince’s household?” Li Yuanjun interjected. “Enough. I’m no saint. I placed my bets on Song Shiyan, never expecting him to crumble so easily, leaving my plans in ruins. I…”
Before she could finish, fireworks suddenly exploded in the distance. Li Yuanjun’s expression shifted as she pushed open the heavy temple doors, snow and wind rushing in.
Struggling, Qu You followed her gaze, spotting red fireworks blooming in the snowy night.
Li Yuanjun gazed at them, smiling gently. Qu You studied her closely, sensing a tenderness in her eyes, as though witnessing something deeply satisfying.
“A Lian!”
Amidst the howling wind and snow, she suddenly heard Zhou Tan’s voice.
Leaning against the tall threshold of the temple, Qu You saw Zhou Tan, draped in a snow-white crane cloak, rushing toward her. Li Yuanjun swiftly yanked her up from the ground, revealing a gleaming dagger hidden in her sleeve.
Zhou Tan halted, coughing a few times, his gaze fixed on Qu You.
Qu You stared as snowflakes settled on his hair and eyelashes, just as during their first encounter in the dark, snowy night within the imperial city. A pale-faced young man had offered her his pristine crane cloak. She looked up at her deity, noticing a snowflake melting on his lashes.
A millennium passed in an instant, all sounds silenced.
Her tears fell onto Li Yuanjun’s hand, scalding her and making her grip tighten nervously. Yet Zhou Tan acted as if he didn’t see Li Yuanjun, speaking gently to Qu You. “Don’t cry. I’m here.”
She broke into a smile, instinctively repeating, “… You’re here.”
Li Yuanjun glanced behind him, seeing only fleeting black shadows. Zhou Tan’s expression hardened as he calmly addressed her. “Crown Princess, I’ve captured your father and brothers on Tingshan. General Yan’s troops are searching the mountain. You know his forces far outnumber yours. Capturing them all is merely a matter of time.”
“I once believed wholeheartedly in the deep bond between Lord Zhou and his wife,” Li Yuanjun said unexpectedly, unfazed by the capture of her father. “Song Shiyan, that fool, refused to believe until you manipulated him effortlessly. After our parting at the ferry, he finally understood.” She paused, smirking. “Lord Zhou, you may threaten me with the entire world, but I need only advance an inch to kill your beloved. Who holds the stronger bargaining chip?”
“What do you want?”
“What do I want…” Li Yuanjun repeated, savoring the words. “Perhaps you should tell me what you can offer.”
“I can let you go, but this world isn’t mine to command,” Zhou Tan said coldly, his eyes locked on the dagger at Qu You’s neck. “Even if you leave Tingshan, there’s Chenghua Road, Nanxie Street, the towering gates, and the outer city defenses. You know you can’t leave Bian Capital alive.”
Li Yuanjun laughed. “Of course. I don’t aspire to be a stray dog on the run. Perhaps Lord Zhou can guess again.”
The blade pressed closer to Qu You’s neck, but she steadied herself, thinking quickly.
When she first saw Zhou Tan moments ago, her focus wavered. Now recalling, she realized something was amiss.
It wasn’t a festival season, and the frightened citizens of Bian Capital likely didn’t know what had transpired on the new emperor’s first day. Who would dare set off fireworks?
Unless it wasn’t fireworks—it was a signal!
Li Yuanjun hadn’t brought her to Tingshan out of desperation but with meticulous intent to divert attention, buying time for someone else to break through or preserve strength!
With her here, both Zhou Tan and Yan Fu’s focus was on Tingshan. Even if Zhou Tan had ordered the other areas secured, lapses were inevitable.
She hadn’t thought deeply earlier, assuming Li Yuanjun acted for Li Wei’s sake. But with Li Wei and her brothers captured, why wasn’t Li Yuanjun panicking?
There was a third person manipulating power in Bian Capital—besides Song Shiyan and Li Yuanjun!
Suddenly, Zhou Tan unsheathed the sword at his waist.
He gently placed the white jade scholar’s sword on the stone tiles now dusted with snow, taking a step toward them.
Li Yuanjun tensed. “What are you doing?”
“I know what you want. For this coup, you’ve plotted for years, infiltrating the Crown Prince’s side. But I brought General Yan’s army from Ruozhou, disrupting your plans entirely. You must hate me deeply,” Zhou Tan said, his voice emotionless.
Li Yuanjun scoffed, her knuckles whitening around the dagger.
“Release my wife, and take me as your hostage,” Zhou Tan suggested with a faint smile. “Or… I could end my life before you. What do you say?”
Qu You struggled, shouting angrily, “Zhou Xiaobai!”
Unmoved, Zhou Tan glanced at her before continuing forward. “You captured her, but where’s the real advantage in that? You risked bringing her here from Song Shiyan’s side precisely to lure me to Tingshan, didn’t you?”
Li Yuanjun laughed loudly.
“Lord Zhou, you truly are clever.”
Zhou Tan lowered his eyes. “You flatter me.”
Turning his head, he commanded, “Everyone, retreat ten paces.”
Someone called out, “Master…”
“Retreat!”
Li Yuanjun loosened her grip slightly.
In her panic, Qu You dared not move recklessly, instead shouting at Zhou Tan as he approached. “Stop!”
“What is Lady Qu doing?”
“Crown Princess,” Qu You took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. “That firework was so conspicuous—aren’t you worried General Yan will trace it and find the person who set it off?”
Li Yuanjun froze. “What did you say?”
“I said, how can you be sure the person who set off the firework is safe right now?” Qu You reached out to grasp Li Yuanjun’s wrist—a risky move, but her prolonged weakness rendered her harmless. “You orchestrated this grand spectacle on Tingshan for him. Why doesn’t he come to save you?”
“What do you know?” Li Yuanjun instinctively retorted hastily. “I don’t need saving!”
Her response only confirmed Qu You’s suspicions.
When Li Yuanjun claimed she wanted to be empress, Qu You should have started doubting. Historically, women in power faced immense challenges. Even if Song Shiyan had ascended the throne, Li Yuanjun becoming empress would require painstaking efforts to build her reputation.
The Zhou empress had risen from poverty, gaining fame shortly after marriage for her charity work. By the time her husband ascended, her renown surpassed his, allowing her to inherit the throne seamlessly after his death.
Even then, many officials voiced discontent.
Song Shiyan had never doubted Li Yuanjun. Her feigned timidity was all an act. If she had harbored ambitions for high office from the start, she wouldn’t have cultivated her reputation this way.
The third person Qu You imagined truly existed!
“If Zhou Tan dies here, you’ll never leave this mountain alive,” Qu You reasoned, leaning close to Li Yuanjun. “You’ve devoted yourself to him—don’t you want to see him again?”
Li Yuanjun faltered slightly.
In that moment of distraction, Qu You employed the throwing knife technique Zhou Tan had personally taught her in Ruozhou. Using a deft twist of her wrist, she lunged forward with all her might, heedless of the consequences.
The dagger slipped from her grasp, but lacking strength, Li Yuanjun still managed to grab the end, slicing a wound across Qu You’s shoulder and neck.
Zhou Tan immediately stepped forward to catch her. “Archers!”
The sound of bowstrings tightening echoed around them. As Li Yuanjun moved to approach, an arrow grazed past her cheek. She gripped the dagger, laughing bitterly. “Lady Qu… truly a sharp mind.”
The pain from the wound made Qu You’s vision blur. Falling into Zhou Tan’s arms, she immediately turned to look back. Li Yuanjun didn’t pursue but retreated step by step into the main hall.
Qu You suddenly recalled the damp floor and pungent smell when she first awoke.
“No, she’s going to…”
She tried to shout a warning but lacked the strength, watching helplessly as Li Yuanjun slammed the heavy temple doors shut.
Qu You clutched Zhou Tan’s cloak, rolling with him several times in the snow. Finally, she screamed, “Retreat, retreat!”
As if to confirm her warning, a muffled explosion sounded behind them. Even Li Yuanjun’s accompanying soldiers were caught off guard, blown several steps back.
In the dim night, Qu You saw the reflection of flames in Zhou Tan’s eyes.
The main hall of Xiugqing Temple, housing the golden Buddha statue, was engulfed in a raging inferno.
Google Sites
Report abuse