Chapter 19: Beyond the Material World (II)

The ancient temple was desolate, and the forest was tranquil with no one around. Royal guards surrounded the distant meditation rooms. Seeing her scolding had no effect, Luo Wei glared and stepped on his foot. Ye Tingyan acted as if he hadn’t noticed and refused to let go.

Not only that, but he also deliberately moved closer, whispering, “This place isn’t safe; royal guards might pass by at any time… Your Majesty should remain silent so they won’t discover us.”

Luo Wei was amused by his hypocritical words and actions: “Silent? You refuse to let go, yet you tell me to be silent. I really thought you were fearless.”

Ye Tingyan lightly caressed her waist and smiled without sincerity: “How could this humble servant not know fear, but I am aware that Your Majesty is bold and will surely protect me. Otherwise, why did Your Majesty readily agree when I sent that letter of invitation?”

Luo Wei sneered in retaliation: “So we’re back to this again. When it comes to audacity, how can I compare with you, sir? You are His Majesty’s close minister, yet you dare covet me and privately arrange a meeting. Now you even overstep your bounds presumptuously… In your eyes, the principles of ruler and minister, human ethics, are worthless. Acting like this, how dare you question me?”

Ye Tingyan raised an eyebrow at her, not answering but instead laughing very pleasantly.

This man was meticulous and full of cunning tricks. Today’s reckless behavior didn’t seem like something he would do.

Perhaps she still didn’t understand him enough.

Luo Wei couldn’t guess his intentions, and neither provocation nor reprimand worked. On a whim, she simply reached out and hugged his neck.

Ye Tingyan was caught off guard, his body stiffening momentarily.

Seeing this move was effective, Luo Wei felt somewhat reassured. She slightly tiptoed and leaned close to his ear, saying, “Speaking of boldness, I suddenly remember to remind you—serving me is like walking on the edge of a knife or treading on thin ice. If you ask for a high price, I don’t mind, but I hope you won’t become timid when the time comes.”

Finally, Ye Tingyan released the pressure on her waist. Luo Wei stepped back a pace, about to speak when he suddenly regretted it and pulled her back, similarly leaning close to her ear and saying, “Your Majesty’s commission, this humble servant will gladly face any danger, like sweet nectar.”

After saying this, he finally completely let go, brushed his sleeves, and knelt down to apologize insincerely: “For offending Your Majesty, this humble servant deserves ten thousand deaths.”

Now it was Luo Wei who looked down on him. She didn’t tell him to rise: “Lord Ye, since parting from the high terrace, you’ve been two different people. I’d like to know what made you change your mind and stop pretending in front of me?”

Ye Tingyan let out an “Oh” and casually fabricated: “Your Majesty’s words, this humble servant dares not accept. Know that all my actions are because of the word ‘affection’—Your Majesty knows, since escorting the coffin to the capital years ago and meeting Your Majesty, I have tossed and turned, unable to sleep, my heart set on Your Majesty, always hoping for a day to meet again. Heaven rewards the sincere; now I’ve finally found an opportunity, and in a moment of uncontrollable emotion, seeing Your Majesty could use my help, I risked sending that message.”

“I never expected Your Majesty to come to the appointment, both surprised and delighted, fearing Your Majesty wouldn’t understand, not daring to offend, who knew Your Majesty’s actions that day would make me feel like I was dreaming, leaving me to flee in panic.”

Listening to his shameless lies, Luo Wei’s lips twitched.

Ye Tingyan continued acting pitifully: “Today, I unexpectedly met Your Majesty,

just like Lord Xiang meeting the goddess, forgetting myself for a moment. Thus, with a heart full of true feelings, I recounted the legend of this tree of affection, not expecting Your Majesty to forget yesterday’s heartfelt encounter on the terrace, treating me coldly. I am heartbroken and sorrowful, committing a grave mistake, truly deserving ten thousand deaths.”

He changed faces quickly, talking nonsense and spouting endlessly, even Luo Wei was stunned, feeling this person should join a theater troupe, not wasting his silver tongue.

She then thought that if he didn’t behave like this, he probably wouldn’t win Song Lan’s favor.

Luo Wei pondered back and forth, becoming angrier the more she thought, wanting to kick him but fearing he would act improperly again, so she endured, squeezing out a sentence: “Get up.”

Ye Tingyan hadn’t finished his act, mournfully saying: “Does Your Majesty not believe my words? Under this tree, I swear upon my deceased parents, my heart towards Your Majesty is clear as the sun and moon, moving mountains and rivers…”

Luo Wei gritted her teeth listening to him: “Lord Ye, be careful with your words. The gods are watching above, and we are in a Buddhist temple. Your nonsense will be heard by all the arhats in the hall.”

Ye Tingyan said: “My words come from my sincere heart, every word true.”

Luo Wei enunciated each word: “Lord Ye best show me your ‘sincere’ heart.”

Ye Tingyan quickly responded: “If Your Majesty doesn’t believe my heart, then tomorrow during the Shangsi Spring Hunt, I will present Your Majesty with a grand gift.”

Luo Wei caught the underlying meaning of his words: “You have plans for tomorrow?”

Ye Tingyan coughed, finally reining in his earlier dramatic sadness, speaking seriously: “The Grand Tutor’s roots run deep in the court; uprooting him entirely is no easy task. However, eradicating them one by one still offers opportunities. Since I’ve come to Your Majesty, I must prepare a meeting gift.”

His manner of speaking finally resembled the former gentle and cunning “Lord Ye San.”

But now, having seen through this mask, Luo Wei couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

Peeling off this layer of gentlemanly veneer revealed someone thoroughly corrupt inside.

Knowing he absolutely wouldn’t reveal his plans, she didn’t continue questioning, stepping forward to leave but paused: “Lord Ye chose me over the Grand Tutor without hesitation, coming to plot strategies and spare no effort. I’m curious, having been in Beiyu for so long, what grudge do you hold against the Grand Tutor?”

“Isn’t this injury enough of a grudge?” Ye Tingyan placed his hand over the scar on his shoulder. If he hadn’t mentioned it, Luo Wei almost forgot about this wound.

“The Grand Tutor is dissatisfied with His Majesty’s favor and will deal with me sooner or later. I’m just preparing in advance. Moreover—”

Ye Tingyan lowered his eyes, his gaze flickering: “I indeed have longstanding grievances with the Grand Tutor. Too much to say, unworthy of many words. When there’s leisure, if Your Majesty wishes to hear, I will recount it in detail.”

“However, I suddenly recall, Your Majesty just said serving you is like walking on the edge of a knife—I’m also curious, apart from the matter with the Grand Tutor, what other tasks that can’t see the light of day has Your Majesty entrusted me with?”

Seeing the numerous wrinkles her grip had left on his shoulder earlier, Luo Wei reached out to smooth them one by one, only saying: “When I see your ‘true heart,’ I will entrust you accordingly. For now, prepare the ‘gift’ you plan to give me. I await with anticipation.”

She walked to the threshold of the golden hall and heard Ye Tingyan call out behind her: “I have one more thing to say—”

Luo Wei patiently turned her head: “What is it?”

Ye Tingyan looked at her, seemingly earnest: “From now on, could Your Majesty stop calling me ‘Lord’? It always feels distant. Call me by my courtesy name, Tingyan, or my nickname ‘Qú Huá’ as my close ones do.”

“Qú Huá…” Luo Wei repeated these two words thoughtfully, implying something.

She didn’t continue. It was time to return; they should part ways.

However, Ye Tingyan understood the unspoken part of Luo Wei’s words.

After Luo Wei left, he turned to look at the red silk fluttering in the wind, softly repeating: “Qú Huá means lotus, a symbol of purity.”

At this moment, his expression was completely different from before, not a trace of similarity.

With his eyes closed, he could vividly imagine his own pitiful and laughable appearance, a surge of near-violent disgust welling up in his heart, prompting a self-mocking chuckle.

“You’re right. Something so pure, how could I deserve it?”

•

After paying respects at Xiuying Temple, Song Lan and Luo Wei returned together to the imperial city, kneeling until dusk at the candle tower.

Palace attendants bustled back and forth, lighting the candles one by one. Luo Wei held the cool prayer beads in her hand, kneeling properly. After Song Lan rose from the prayer mat, he turned to help her up: “Today’s ceremony is finally complete. Sister, are you tired?”

Luo Wei took his offered hand without answering his question: “Zilan, when will we visit Bian River?”

The string of prayer beads dug into their palms.

Hearing her words, Song Lan’s hand suddenly trembled.

Back then, when the Crown Prince was assassinated and fell into the river, the turbulent waters of Bian River swept away his body. The Golden Sky Guard searched everywhere but found no corpse, only retrieving a broken traveling crown downstream.

The crown entered the imperial mausoleum in place of the Crown Prince.

At that time, Luo Wei still hoped to find some bones, so the coffin wasn’t sealed. Song Lan used this as an excuse not to carve a memorial tablet, thus there was no posthumous name for Song Ling in the candle tower. To pay respects, one had to go to the Tinhua Platform by the Bian River.

Back then, the investigation into the assassination case lasted over four months, implicating many people. Finally, Song Lan and Yu Qiushi identified the three main culprits responsible for the assassination and erected kneeling stone statues of them, eternally atoning to the golden body of the Crown Prince on Tinhua Platform.

Also there was a stele titled “Gengzi Year End Punishment of Chaotic Scholars,” detailing why these three carried out the assassination.

Tinhua Platform is now spontaneously guarded in rotation by the Golden Sky Guard, essentially becoming the altar for the Crown Prince Chengming. However, due to its height and the bloody case, few people come to pay respects.

Now, the royal ceremonies avoid this place. Counting it up, he had never received a formal worship from her and Song Lan.

Luo Wei hadn’t realized this before, but now she clearly understood—it was Song Lan’s intention.

But Song Lan also dared not let her catch on, pursing his lips, he put on a sorrowful expression: “Not finding my elder brother’s remains, I often wake up in shock at midnight, truly afraid to face him. However, during every festival, I always arrange a grand Dharma service for my elder brother, wishing for his peace in the afterlife. Sister… do you want to go to the Tinhua Platform?”

Luo Wei lifted her eyelids, expressionlessly saying: “Your Majesty has a kind heart, so do I. When our grief is relieved, we will go together.”

Song Lan responded: “Very good.”

After pondering for a moment, he spoke again: “Tomorrow’s spring hunt, Sister, will you participate? I remember you once hunting rabbits with dogs, looking heroic and spirited, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that.”

Luo Wei gently said: “I’m tired today, unsure if I’ll have the strength tomorrow. Your Majesty should rest early.”