#97: Without You (VIII)

◎Consort Ting◎

“The executioner must have been instructed by His Majesty to be gentle. It’s just a shallow wound—apply some medicine for a couple of days, and it’ll heal,” Bai Ying muttered while packing his medical kit. “Every time I see your old scars, they’re shocking. Maybe I’ll work on a remedy to remove them—it’d save you the trouble…”

Zhou Tan fastened the topmost bead of his official robe and suddenly asked, “Eleven, tell me the truth—how much longer do I have to live?”

Bai Ying fumbled, and the porcelain bottle in his hand shattered on the ground.

The two fell into a prolonged silence before Bai Ying finally spoke. “The Ministry of Rites has already set the date for your appointment as Chancellor.”

Zhou Tan hummed in acknowledgment. “The second day of the sixth month—a good day.”

Bai Ying slammed his wooden medical box. “Actually… I don’t know exactly how long you have left. But if you take the position of Chief Minister, even with all my skills as a physician, I can’t guarantee you more than five years.”

To Bai Ying’s surprise, Zhou Tan chuckled. “Is it really that serious?”

“Those injuries you sustained in the imperial prison…” Bai Ying hesitated. “They never healed properly. Then you were stabbed during an ambush, and the delay in treatment didn’t help. During those days when Lady Qu was in Bian Capital, you overexerted yourself, coughing up blood repeatedly—it damaged your foundation. Tell me, how long do you think you have left?”

Zhou Tan lowered his eyes. “Back in Ruozhou, I didn’t feel any issues with my old wounds.”

“That’s because you were fine for two years in the west. That’s why I said, Xiaobai…” He called him by his courtesy name for the first time. “…if you could abandon everything now and retreat to the northwest, perhaps you and Lady Qu could have a long, peaceful life together.”

Zhou Tan’s fingers twitched slightly.

After a long pause, he finally spoke but only said, “For now, don’t tell her about this.”

Bai Ying was exasperated. “Not tell her? How long do you plan to hide it—until you drop dead and she doesn’t even have time to buy you a coffin?”

Zhou Tan laughed softly. “I’ll find the right moment to tell her—but not now.”

“Fine, fine. I don’t want to meddle in your affairs anyway—I can’t stop you. Since you don’t want anyone to know, I won’t mention it to His Majesty either,” Bai Ying said resignedly, stretching lazily. “You Bai family people are all the same—born to toil.”

When the two emerged from the inner chamber, Consort Luo had already left.

Qu You remained seated, her face pale and alarming. She hadn’t noticed their exit until Zhou Tan approached and saw the fine beads of cold sweat on her forehead.

Bai Ying casually asked, “Did someone come by earlier?”

A eunuch replied, eyes downcast. “Consort Luo visited.”

At the mention of her name, Zhou Tan’s expression turned icy.

Song Shixuan glanced at him and quickly asked, “Master, is your injury still serious?”

Zhou Tan shook his head. “It’s fine.”

After a pause, he continued, “Your Majesty, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Song Shixuan didn’t respond directly. “Xiao Yan wrote, saying they’ve excavated the hidden chamber at Xiugqing Temple. There’s indeed a mountain path leading elsewhere. Lady Qu’s suspicions weren’t unfounded—Li Yuanjun might still be alive, hiding somewhere in Bian Capital with a third person.”

Qu You snapped out of her daze and stood beside Zhou Tan. “I remember that night well. Xiao Yan captured many people on Tingshan, only later realizing that Li Yuanjun’s attendants were all from Xishao. We don’t know where Li’s army went. Her forcing everyone onto the mountain likely gave these people time to change clothes and blend into the populace. Many of Li’s soldiers haven’t passed through military camps, so even if they’re registered in Bian Capital, it’ll take time to uncover them.”

Song Shixuan nodded. “Exactly. I’ll have him continue investigating.”

He picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip, cleared his throat, and said, “Master, there’s one more thing. Lady Qu saved several ministers during the deposed Crown Prince’s coup and led troops to help civilians repel the Xishao invaders. Yesterday, Minister Cai submitted a petition requesting a reward for her. What would Lady desire?”

Zhou Tan gently stroked her hand. “She’s right here. Ask her yourself, Your Majesty.”

Qu You smiled faintly. “If Minister Cai submits a petition, it won’t violate protocol, will it?”

Song Shixuan sighed ruefully. “Of course not.”

Qu You pursed her lips, glancing at Zhou Tan. After careful consideration, she finally spoke. “Then… I’ll request a favor from Your Majesty. Grant me permission to enter the Ministry of Justice as a woman and revise the laws.”

The smile on Zhou Tan’s lips froze.

Qu You continued, “During the deposed Crown Prince’s reign, I managed the inner palace affairs for a time and was familiar with the guards. When I led troops to assist civilians, no one opposed me. If I re-enter the Ministry of Justice now, it shouldn’t cause Your Majesty too much difficulty.”

Song Shixuan folded his arms behind his back and nodded. “Naturally. I’ll have Minister Cai personally draft the document at the Ministry of Personnel.”

By the time they left the imperial city, it was already noon. Outside Yushi Street, the bustling streets of Bian Capital were filled with noise. The wooden plaques and bells hanging from the carriage clinked melodiously. Zhou Tan remained silent, and Qu You, observing his expression, sighed. “I know what you’re thinking.”

Coincidentally, Zhou Tan also spoke. “In your opinion, what do you think of Consort Luo?”

Their eyes met, and they couldn’t help but laugh. Zhou Tan conceded, “You go first.”

“After Emperor Xuan, the Ministry of Justice’s authority became severely misaligned, resulting in numerous wrongful cases. During your time there, you submitted countless petitions on penal reform to His Majesty. Unfortunately, the power struggle among the chancellors was intense, and the emperor had opened the Golden Pavilion, prioritizing imperial authority over the law, which ran counter to your ideals.” Qu You didn’t hesitate, immediately continuing. “Chancellor Gu once instructed you to abolish the Tanghua Law in the west. Although it’s now banned, its legal provisions remain ambiguous. You’ve long wanted to use the pretext of revising the law to overhaul the legal code and curb the chaos stemming from the previous emperor’s reign. Now, with a wise ruler and you wielding significant power, there’s no better time—do you agree with me?”

Zhou Tan didn’t answer directly but simply gazed at her. “There’s no one in this world who understands my thoughts better than you. So, regarding that reward you requested…”

“Yes, I’ve thought it through,” Qu You didn’t avoid his gaze. “Though it’s a new emperor on the throne, dynasties may change, but influential families endure. Revising the law touches upon their interests—this path won’t be easy. You’re my husband, and the road ahead is fraught with thorns. I simply don’t want you to walk it alone…”

Zhou Tan interrupted her. “Even if it means sacrificing yourself too?”

Qu You answered without hesitation. “I’ll never regret it.”

To her surprise, Zhou Tan didn’t continue arguing. After a brief pause, he said, “All right, it’s my turn. Earlier, I asked you—what do you think of Consort Luo?”

Qu You didn’t answer directly. “How did she end up by His Majesty’s side?”

“The daughter of a condemned official fled in the night and collided with His Majesty’s sedan just outside Qifeng Alley,” Zhou Tan summarized succinctly. “Minister Jiang of the previous dynasty was a retainer of the deposed Crown Prince; his wife and daughter both perished during the palace coup. How does he suddenly have another daughter? She claims to have been saved by a maid, but such an unclear identity… Ladies-in-waiting in the harem usually go unnoticed, yet His Majesty impulsively granted her a title, especially since she was pregnant.”

Qu You frowned. “Pregnant?”

“The child didn’t survive, so it was kept secret,” Zhou Tan sighed. “If not for the child, neither I nor Chaochi would have gone to such lengths to fabricate an identity for her entry into the harem. His Majesty has grown up—I don’t want to interfere too much in his affairs. But this person…”

“Do you know why His Majesty is so fixated on her?”

After a long silence, as the carriage neared the Zhou residence, Qu You finally murmured, “As an outsider, you haven’t seen her. She… looks very much like Ah Luo.”