CT - 66

Long after he left, Luo Wei came back to her senses, leaning against the small table by the window as if drained of all strength, her hands that had held the knife still trembling.

She didn’t know if her current mood was self-reproach or regret; she only felt dizzy and nauseous—confronting him was far more exhausting than seeing Yu Qiushi.

Zhang Suwu entered the hall to offer tea. Luo Wei saw him and finally remembered to ask, “He has been staying in the palace too much lately. Do you know why?”

“This humble servant has investigated,” Zhang Suwu replied in a low voice, holding the tea cup, “These days, the Empress has rarely left the hall to avoid suspicion. You don’t know that His Majesty has unleashed thunderous killing blows. It is said that even the stone carvings in the Suzaku Office are stained with blood.”

Luo Wei’s face was pale, feeling nauseous: “Is he staying to handle this matter for Song Lan?”

Zhang Suwu, however, shook his head: “Quite the opposite, he is staying to appease this matter.”

Luo Wei frowned: “Appease?”

Zhang Suwu said, “The Empress knows His Majesty’s temperament. He has endured these past few years under the Grand Tutor, and though he doesn’t hate his cronies to the bone, he certainly bears a strong grudge. Now that the trouble has just passed, the censors, being united with His Majesty in their animosity, temporarily cannot say anything against Suzaku. His Majesty seized this opportunity to find a few people to vent his anger on.”

“Who did he arrest?”

“When this humble servant inquired yesterday, there were at least four people—Gao Meng, Yu Zheng, Liu Qianlu, and Xue Wenming.”

Luo Wei was startled: “Indeed, they are the Grand Tutor’s close confidantes, but those few...”

She didn’t continue, instead saying, “Were their lives saved?”

Zhang Suwu nodded: “Lord Ye tirelessly pleaded and stayed by their side yesterday, barely managing to save them. Although the four lords were severely injured, some exiled, some demoted, they ultimately escaped from the Suzaku Office alive.”

“He understands Song Lan’s thoughts so well. If he had been there back then, the disaster of Jintian might have been avoided. This Ye San,” Luo Wei said bitterly, “This person... forget it. He risked testing me today. If it’s only to confirm my benevolent heart, that’s good. But if he then presumes upon my reluctance to act and becomes reckless, it will be difficult to handle.”

She held her forehead, feeling a terrible headache: “Since he tested me like this, I must also find a way to force him over...”

Zhang Suwu advised, “Empress is weary, please rest early.”

Luo Wei nodded and returned to her couch. As she drew the sheer curtains, she suddenly remembered something and asked, “Since these four have left Suzaku, why did Ye San stay today, and where is Song Lan?”

Zhang Suwu replied, “Lord Ye stayed, but did not attend His Majesty. Naturally, it’s because His Majesty’s words to the person he wanted to see could not be heard by him.”

Luo Wei understood: “He went to see Yu Qiushi again?”

She turned back to her bed, stretched, and said, “Since he couldn’t get anything out of him, he must have gone to say goodbye. If you ask me, why do these teacher and student need to say goodbye? They are sure to meet again on the path to the underworld.”

Zhang Suwu hesitated, “Does the Empress truly not worry about him revealing something?”

Luo Wei shook her head, gesturing for him to leave: “Whether he speaks or not, it makes no difference at all.”

________________________________________

In the imperial prison, a single drop of water fell from somewhere, striking a puddle of accumulated rain with a “drip-drop” sound.

The sound was originally very faint, but to Yu Qiushi’s ears, it was like a drumbeat. He jolted awake and saw a dark figure standing before him.

Song Lan sat unconcernedly on the weeds in front of him, quietly watching him, unaware of how long he had been sitting there.

Seeing Yu Qiushi awaken, Song Lan smiled faintly: “Teacher, are you awake?”

His official titles and honorary positions were gone, so there was naturally no need to call him “Grand Tutor” anymore.

Although Yu Qiushi was imprisoned, his prestige from years of power still remained. Song Lan also did not subject him to cruel tortures, ultimately preserving some dignity for him.

Even in such a predicament, he did not feel shame or anger. He even straightened his robes and calmly asked, “Zilan, have you been here long? Why didn’t you wake me?”

Song Lan said, “They said Teacher had rare peaceful sleep these past few days. I couldn’t bear to disturb you.”

Yu Qiushi sighed: “Yes, always dreaming of things from the past, not sleeping well. It’s just by chance you came; today, however, was a good dream.”

Song Lan was quite interested: “Oh, what kind of good dream?”

“Yellow dust, clear water, beneath three mountains, a thousand years change like a running horse...” He closed his eyes and slowly said, “I dreamed of three immortal mountains, shrouded in clouds and mist. I stood on the cliff, gazing at this magnificent land. There were wild geese returning from the south, and smoke rising from the north. I heard the clang of gongs, the whistle of arrows breaking the wind, and also the pouring of wine, a tune of ‘Man Ting Fang’... Jade Mountain crumbles and ascends to the clouds, the jianghu is full of spring breeze—do you think this counts as a good dream?”

A sudden silence fell between the two.

After a long moment, Song Lan finally spoke, his voice very low, sounding somewhat sad: “Teacher, you regret it, don’t you?”

“Jade Mountain crumbles and ascends to the clouds, the jianghu is full of spring breeze...” He recited it again, smiling, “This is Imperial Brother’s poem, Imperial Brother’s empire. Teacher once said you would never regret it, but now it seems that was just an empty promise.”

Yu Qiushi did not answer, only looked up. There was a small window in the imperial prison, and a silver-white beam of light poured in: “The moonlight must be excellent today. Did you look up when you came?”

Song Lan was startled and replied, “No.”

Yu Qiushi shook his head repeatedly, saying “what a pity” several times.

He stroked his beard and smiled faintly, “As for regret, I’ve realized these past few days that there are truly too many things in my life to regret, so I might as well not regret at all. Zilan, why do you ask me if I regret it or not? I know you came to see me only to know what the Empress said to me.”

Song Lan said, “Please enlighten me, Teacher.”

Yu Qiushi said, “The Empress told me that His Majesty would one day eliminate me. If I surrendered, she would do her best to preserve the life of the Imperial Concubine.”

Song Lan was startled: “That’s all?”

Yu Qiushi laughed loudly: “Otherwise, what?”

Song Lan still didn’t believe him, and said slowly, “Teacher often told me before...”

Yu Qiushi said, “Yes, I told His Majesty many times, but His Majesty never believed it. What’s the point of saying it again now? Whether the Empress was biding her time or truly unaware, His Majesty must already have a plan for her. After this old subject is gone, it doesn’t matter whether she knows or not. Why say more?”

Before Song Lan could speak, he continued, “The Empress really didn’t need to say anything more. On the day I decided to assist His Majesty, I already harbored the intention to sacrifice myself. I thought His Majesty understood me.”

Song Lan rose from the ground, brushing off the dry straw that clung to his palms.

Perhaps knowing that he would not extract anything more, he said no more, only tidied his robes and knelt before Yu Qiushi.

His forehead struck the straw with a dull thud.

“This student bids farewell today, bowing once as a disciple to his teacher.”

Yu Qiushi did not evade, watching him perform the great礼.

“A second bow to the Grand Tutor for upholding the official’s integrity.”

“A third bow... for confessing and knowing me. Even if we cannot cherish each other as lord and subject, we are still friends across generations.”

Song Lan raised his head after kowtowing. With just these three bows, a bruise had already appeared on his forehead.

Yu Qiushi looked down at him, his eyes flickering, unsure whether to feel pain or regret at that moment. Had he truly made a mistake in helping this child ascend to power? The late emperor was so benevolent, and the border troubles dragged on for ten years, making the dynasty outwardly strong but inwardly weak, and precarious, a clear premonition of years of conflict ahead! The late emperor lacked resolve, so he seized the throne with iron and blood. Even when torrents of foul blood rushed down the imperial steps, he had no regrets. All these years, he enjoyed immense prestige, power, glory, and wealth, eliminating all those in court who advocated peace regarding the border troubles. He should not regret it.

However, Luo Wei’s words pierced his heart, one by one.

Taxes, people’s livelihood, societal atmosphere, education... These words echoed chaotically and beautifully in his ears. She told him the truth about the late emperor’s death, just to make him admit that the sacrifices he made, disregarding historical records and his reputation in life and death, were a fundamentally misguided decision.

He sought to become a saint, but the path he comprehended was that of a ghostly underworld; he sought to sacrifice himself, but the self he sacrificed was one burdened by ingratitude and loneliness.

How could he live up to the “Jade Mountain rising to the clouds” and the “spring breeze throughout the jianghu”?

Where would the black-robed Emperor kneeling before him lead the dynasty with the cunning he once praised?

It was too late for regrets.

Song Lan was still young. Even if his thoughts were unfathomable, he was ultimately uneducated. If Song Lan eliminated the Empress after his death, he would surely gain the reputation of a tyrant within five years. Could the peace of the four corners be entirely entrusted to weapons? The stability and popular support within the nation were also wars without gunpowder.

He had thought that his presence could suppress the situation, but he had ultimately overestimated himself and underestimated Song Lan. Since Song Lan could murder his father to ascend the throne, there was nothing he couldn’t do.

He only hoped that the Empress could, as she said, rectify this mistake.

But would her rectification also be another bloody storm?

These questions flashed through his mind, almost driving him to despair. Song Lan did not know his thoughts. After bowing, he stood up solemnly, with a hint of genuine and feigned sorrow, and asked him, “Teacher, do you have any other instructions for me?”

Yu Qiushi clutched his chest, and after a long moment, asked, “What kind of death does His Majesty intend to grant this subject?”

Song Lan then said, “In the height of summer, all things flourish. If it waits until autumn, it will inevitably be a bleak scene. Teacher is a vital instrument of the nation; I cannot bear to see you go to the market with disheveled hair and bare feet. Would that not also be an insult to myself?”

For such a grave crime as treason, a public execution in the marketplace of Shangdong would seem like a sign of guilt, yet Song Lan could not wait until autumn.

These words sounded pleasant, but they actually implied a secret execution here.

Yu Qiushi opened his mouth, knowing he could no longer ask about his children. Finally, he only said, “This subject... thanks His Majesty for his grace. The moonlight is so beautiful tonight, I wonder what day of the month it is?”

Song Lan replied, “Tomorrow is the Ghost Festival.”

Yu Qiushi thought for a moment: “There are too many spirits on the Ghost Festival; it might block the path to the underworld. This subject begs for a grace, to allow me to depart after the Ghost Festival, on a day when the moon is still full.”

Either the sixteenth or the seventeenth.

Song Lan pondered and agreed. He turned, touched the cold lock, and whispered, “This place is desolate. When the time comes, I will send someone to take Teacher to the central courtyard to admire the moon, how about that?”

Yu Qiushi replied, “That would be most excellent.”

Song Lan sighed again: “It’s just that I cannot come to send Teacher off on his final journey. I fear my eyes will be streaming with tears, which would only annoy others. So I shall send Tingyan to accompany Teacher for a drink. Teacher knows he has always wanted to have a drink with you.”

Yu Qiushi was silent for a moment, then said, “Very well, this subject... cannot express my gratitude. I bid farewell to His Majesty.”

Song Lan asked, “Teacher, will you not call me Zilan one more time?”

There was no reply. The Emperor reached up and wiped his dry eyes, turning back with reddened eyes, forcing a smile: “Zibai, after all these years, you and I... shall meet again in another world.”