CT - 75

The candlelight flickered, then quickly settled. Song Lan closed his eyes, his expression shifting from the intense menace of his earlier interrogation to one of relieved openness. He reached out and stroked Luo Wei’s cheek, the jade ring colder than ice: “I’ve guessed for so long, and now you finally deign to tell me. It must have been hard, holding it in for so long.”

Luo Wei slumped in front of the couch, obediently leaning into his palm, yet she said, “From the moment you had to use me, Your Majesty has been in constant fear. If we speak of hardship, you have suffered more.”

She picked up a Buddhist bead that had fallen from Song Lan’s hand from her dress and placed it back in his palm: “If your heart wasn’t suffering, why would you seek solace from gods and Buddhas? Your Majesty wanted to use Yu Qiushi, yet couldn’t fully trust him. After much thought, only I could keep him in check. We are both merely Your Majesty’s pawns. The empress’s pregnancy was just an excuse. Your Majesty wanted to take personal control, and only without him could you be at ease, wasn’t that right?”

“I must thank you for this, A-jie,” Song Lan said earnestly. “Although Teacher helped me greatly, I used to be very worried, always thinking, if he harbored disloyal intentions, could I fend him off? Thanks to you, you first gave me peace of mind, then later broke his spirit without shedding blood. Without you, I don’t know how much effort I would have had to expend, how many lives I would have had to sacrifice, to get rid of him.”

He extended another hand, cupping her face, and asked, “When did you know?”

Luo Wei said, “Let me think. Probably starting with that poem ‘Elegy for Jintian’.” :-)

“After Ah Qi died, I went to see you, but you told me that you never expected him to have such malicious intentions, and you told me not to grieve for that villain. From that moment on, the more I looked at you, the more estranged I felt.”

“Do you know... what Ah Qi wrote in my palm before he died?”

She held Song Lan’s hand and wrote in his palm. Song Lan didn’t resist, letting her act.

Luo Wei stroked his palm. Song Lan’s palm lines were intricately chaotic. For a moment, she couldn’t even find his life line.

“He wrote... that I should protect you.”

Song Lan’s fingers trembled, his face blank for a moment.

“What was your relationship with him? You harbored resentment for so many years because of his unintentional contemptuous words when he was drunk, yet when he fell into such a state, he still cared about your safety.” Luo Wei didn’t look at him, she just said, “And you, why did you believe so unhesitatingly that he would commit fratricide?”

“From then on, I couldn’t sleep at night. I secretly mobilized all trustworthy people to investigate this matter. Although you did it cleanly, there would always be clues. The Golden Heaven Guard, severely wounded but not dead on Tinghua Terrace, the little eunuch walking alone with a lamp in the imperial city, and the Guzhu Purple Bamboo tea that Yu Qiushi often drank in your palace, the evidence you covered up for Lu Heng... I spent two years, little by little, piecing them together. Only then did I realize that I was the most foolish person in this world.”

She laughed softly. Song Lan curled his finger to lift her chin, noticing tears in her eyes that didn’t fall. He gently wiped the corners of her eyes with some pity and sighed, “So early, ah. In the end, I made a wrong move, revealing a flaw.”

Luo Wei stared directly at him, saying with hatred, “To think they were personally killed by you, and yet I used that Emperor’s Sword to put you on the throne. Not only did I not save those you branded as rebels, but I also became your Empress—thinking of these things, I wish I could gouge out my flesh with a knife and personally slice you into a thousand pieces, but I cannot...”

She took a deep breath, and tears dripped past his fingers: “You are not the only culprit. Those who helped you, those who condoned these acts, those who betrayed us, I will not spare a single one.”

Song Lan uttered a soft “hmm,” and said with great sorrow, “From the end of the first year of Jinghe, you began to disrupt the Six Ministries, inserting your people into the Censorate, and using your confrontation with the Grand Tutor to kill or demote many of Yu’s faction. There are many things, perhaps even I don’t know them... And by this spring, it was Lu Heng, Ning Le, and the Grand Tutor. Actually, these actions, I might not have been unaware. I just truly didn’t want to believe that you would abandon the Empress’s throne, that unique nobility in the world, as if it were a worn-out shoe, painstakingly planning and enduring hardships, just for a dead man!”

Luo Wei said indifferently, “It’s not just for him. There’s something I told Yu Qiushi, and I don’t mind telling you—you don’t understand what we seek.”

Song Lan feigned indifference. He closed his eyes, his dark eyelashes trembling, and a tear actually fell: “A-jie, why do you love Imperial Brother so much? The best things in this world all belong to Imperial Brother. How can it be that even after his death, they are still his?”

He grabbed Luo Wei’s hand and pressed it to his chest: “Don’t you know that this heart also beats for you? From the day I first saw you in Lanxun Garden, I have always loved you so humbly and timidly, but your eyes, when have they ever held anyone else?”

Luo Wei had never seen his tears before, but now that she did, she felt a surge of grim satisfaction. She remained unmoved, coldly retorting, “Is that so? This is your love, your blood-sucking, marrow-squeezing, masked love? It’s as despicable and ugly as you are. In truth, when have you ever loved anyone else? From beginning to end, you are a narcissus stained with poison, gazing into the water, always loving only yourself!”

Song Lan was completely enraged by her. He grabbed her by the neck and dragged her in front of him. Their foreheads touched. Song Lan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He knew Luo Wei wanted to see him lose control, and he wouldn’t give her that satisfaction.

So he ambiguously kissed Luo Wei’s ear, deliberately saying in a gentle voice, “What a pity, what a pity. Even with all this resentment in your heart, you still have to play along, even sacrifice yourself to me. By that reckoning, by the end of the second year of Jinghe, when I tricked you into drinking that first cup of wine, you already knew the truth? And you still allowed...”

“Your Majesty is mistaken, I prepared that wine myself,” Luo Wei turned her head, avoiding his kiss, and said with a smile, “Your suspicion of me grew daily, and Yu Qiushi instigated you constantly. What if one day you truly couldn’t rest assured and decided to eliminate me first? Zilan, think carefully, wasn’t it after I willingly accepted you that you lost the idea of eliminating me first, then Yu?”

Song Lan was startled: “You did that on purpose? What, you... you didn’t remain chaste for him?”

“Hahahahaha, chastity?” Luo Wei laughed so hard in his hands that she rocked back and forth, “What is that! You just asked if I had, and now I’m telling you, I don’t care at all. What is chastity? Indulging in pleasure with others is also a kind of indulgence, isn’t it? As long as it’s not him, it doesn’t matter who it is. Oh, no, you are different. After all, even if I close my eyes and try hard to imagine you as him, every touch, every kiss with you, makes me utterly disgusted, unable to calm down for a long time!”

Song Lan was completely consumed by rage. He withdrew his hand and slapped her across the face. Luo Wei covered her face and stumbled backward. She saw Song Lan point at her with trembling fingers, almost speechless: “You, you...”

“Do you think that after Yu is gone, if you trick me here to Guyou Mountain, your people can then take the opportunity to rebel in Bianjing city?”

He flung off his imperial robes, stood up, and clenched his hands into fists. A moment later, he let out a deranged, long laugh: “You’ve said all these high-sounding words, but how much better are you really? Living in luxury all these years, don’t you harbor ambitions for the throne? All this talk of avenging him is just a smokescreen. What you want is this empire, isn’t it?”

He reached out, picked Luo Wei up, and threw her onto the couch beside them. The candlelight flickered with the movement, and half of the candles had already gone out.

“You think you’re clever, but when it comes to this matter, you’re far inferior to me. Even if I can’t be certain of your intentions, would I not guard against you?” Song Lan pressed her shoulders, tearing the ties of her outer garment. “You are now the empress praised by all, but you are not a child of the Song clan. Tomorrow, you will be a usurper like Yu Qiushi!”

Luo Wei scoffed, “Who will win is yet to be known.”

Song Lan was about to remove her outer robe when the candlelight flickered. Luo Wei, at some point, had pulled out the sharp rose-gold hairpin from her head and fiercely stabbed it into his right hand.

The blade-like end of the hairpin pressed against his throat, forcing him to roll off the couch and fall to the ground. In that moment, Song Lan still managed to suppress a cry of pain. He twisted her wrist back, snatching the hairpin away.

Luo Wei showed no fear, provoking him, “Why don’t you kill me now and see if your empire still stands tomorrow?”

“A-jie, you jest. How could I bear to?”

Since she dared to reveal her hand so boldly, she must have some unknown contingency plan.

Song Lan desperately pressed his wound, scrutinizing the hairpin for a few moments, not forgetting to mock, “Do you know, the hairpin in your hand is stained with the last blood of the person you yearned for?”

Luo Wei instantly understood the source of the bloodstain on the golden hairpin. Her face paled. Song Lan struggled to his feet and took two steps back: “Good, good. You don’t want to believe you’ve lost. Then I’ll give you a chance. You wait here and see your own fate.”

He stumbled towards the hall door, crashing into the nearly extinguished cluster of candles. As if remembering something, he turned back and smiled, “I forgot to tell you, Imperial Brother didn’t actually die after the assassination back then. I found a good place for him. When you return to the palace, I’ll take you to live there. How about that?”

Luo Wei wiped the blood he had left on her hand, as if disgusted, and did not reply.

Song Lan kicked open the door, and the candles extinguished completely.

Luo Wei heard his voice from beyond the hall door.

“The Empress has suddenly fallen gravely ill and is temporarily confined to the Chongling Imperial Ancestral Temple. Imperial physicians are to treat her with utmost care.”

________________________________________

In Bianjing city.

Ye Tingyan took the jade token, met Yan Ping, and then personally rode around the thirteen city gates.

But the city gates were so calm, without the slightest unusual movement.

When would she make her move? Did she know of Song Lan’s precautions?

Although Yan Ping remained in the city, he did not understand Song Lan’s intentions. Seeing Ye Tingyan with Song Lan’s jade token, he quickly gathered troops and, as instructed, guarded the inner and outer city walls.

Ye Tingyan stood before Mingguang Gate, looking through the red walls at the perpetually bright Candle-Burning Tower within the imperial city.

He suddenly remembered the time he met Luo Wei here before, looking at her for a long time before she noticed him. He saw her standing under the setting sun, her arms spread, like a white crane poised for flight.

Where was she flying to?

A few days ago, Luo Wei, at great risk, forced him onto her side. If she was truly burning her bridges, she should have informed him.

His thoughts paused for a moment. In the autumn night wind, Ye Tingyan suddenly realized that the message Song Lan sent to the imperial city was her notification. If Bianjing was peaceful, Song Lan would surely summon him to command the Vermilion Bird Bureau and keep an eye on Luo Wei.

As for Song Lan himself, the Yan brothers leading the Imperial Guards would suffice to protect him. After all, to him, Luo Wei was now the most dangerous person.

Song Lan would be watching the situation in Bianjing and might not have the presence of mind to care about Luo Wei for a few days. She would inevitably fall into his hands.

After Ye Tingyan understood, he curled his lips into a faint smile.

So this was why she was so eager to win him over.

Unfortunately, she miscalculated one step. She failed to see that what he desired was not fame, wealth, power, or even a peaceful end after devoted service.

This was her... personally delivering herself into his hands.

Before noon the next day, Ye Tingyan indeed received Song Lan’s second handwritten letter, summoning him to come alone on horseback to Guyou Mountain to await orders, without informing Yan Ping.

He galloped on horseback, arriving as dusk was about to pass. Song Lan was in his tent, deliberating over an article he was writing.

Ye Tingyan bowed with cupped hands. After Song Lan granted his permission, he took a few steps forward and saw that what Song Lan was writing was “Eulogy for Empress Jiayi.”

He only glanced at it, and his heart sank. Song Lan peered at him, and Ye Tingyan quickly retreated a few steps, saying urgently, “Your Majesty.”

“Tingyan, no need for formalities,” Song Lan replied, telling him to sit on one side, and sighed, “Do you still remember, I once told you my worries? The Empress has assisted in governing for many years, and her ambition grows daily. Though I love her dearly, I cannot withstand her overt and covert attacks.”

He was about to speak, but Song Lan continued, “All these years, she has built such a good reputation for herself. If I hadn’t known her early on, even if someone came to report against her, I wouldn’t have believed it. If I am like this, how should the officials be? Bianjing is temporarily peaceful, but who knows when she will act? The only weapon she carried when she came to see me yesterday, I, in my rage, personally took it away. Now, even if I show my wound to the officials, they might think it’s a ruse.”

Only then did Ye Tingyan notice the layers of bandages on Song Lan’s palm.

“I’ve thought it over and over, and I cannot take the risk. It is better for her to ‘die of illness’ here. Even if it invites criticism, I cannot care so much. At least it’s an explanation.” Song Lan sighed deeply, “My affection for the Empress goes back many years, and I truly did not wish for it to come to this. But what can I do? Even if I were willing to hand over the empire, in my dreams at midnight, with my ancestors pressing me with questions, how could I answer?”

“Jiayan, Yiheng, good posthumous titles. It’s the last thing I can do for her.”

These words were a mix of truth and falsehood. Ye Tingyan lowered his eyes and echoed, “Your Majesty is benevolent.”

Song Lan turned and clasped his hand, saying earnestly, “I called you here because I have an important matter to entrust to you. This matter, I cannot trust to anyone else—the Imperial Guards are currently all in the hunting grounds. You are to go up Guyou Mountain now and lead the Vermilion Birds to strictly guard the Empress. I don’t know if anyone will come to rescue her, nor if these people will first come to the hunting grounds. She must have a contingency. If Bianjing changes, or if the hunting grounds change, I will go up the mountain and personally act.”

Ye Tingyan sneered inwardly but said respectfully, “Yes.”

________________________________________

When he pushed the door open, Ye Tingyan first smelled a lingering scent of blood.

There were no lamps lit in the room, but the candles were still there. He didn’t know why Luo Wei hadn’t relit them, simply letting herself remain in complete darkness.

Ye Tingyan exchanged a look with Yuan Ming outside the door. Yuan Ming understood his meaning and immediately summoned all the Vermilion Bird Guards stationed at the entrance, scattering them into the forest.

With Song Lan absent, everyone followed his commands.

He closed the door behind him and, with great patience, lit ten candles in a row, illuminating the hall brightly.

Turning, he saw Luo Wei leaning against the couch, silently watching him.

Her appearance was utterly disheveled: disheveled hair, half-open collar, a lingering red mark on her face, and smeared lip rouge.

The vibrant color mingled with the bloodstains on her neck, indistinguishable from each other.

Even so, she was calm and composed, as if seeing him countless times before, with a slight seductive curve to her lips, she looked at him: “Tingyan, I have waited for you for a long time.”

Ye Tingyan walked towards her step by step. The words he had wanted to ask before pushing the door vanished completely.

He looked at the handprints, kiss marks, and bloodstains on Luo Wei’s body, and a nearly tyrannical surge of anger welled up within him. He couldn’t distinguish if this anger was directed at Luo Wei, Song Lan, or himself.

He forced a trembling smile onto his lips and calmly approached her: “What does Your Ladyship wish to instruct me?”

Luo Wei half-straightened herself, reaching out to hook his jade belt at his waist.

“Naturally, I ask for your help, my lord.” ┆┆

He knew he would hear this sentence, and couldn’t help but sneer, playing along with the act: “Does Your Ladyship know that if this servant helps you now, he would be risking his life?”

Luo Wei “mm-hmm”ed: “But you will save me, won’t you?”

In truth, she had never placed all her bets on him. Yan Lang had brought more than just those ten men when he first entered the capital.

However, foreigners suddenly entering the city would inevitably attract attention, so Yan Lang patiently stayed in Bianjing for three or four months, allowing his soldiers to disguise themselves as merchants and vendors, entering the city in small groups.

Subsequently, Luo Wei chose Guyou Mountain. This group had arrived near the Chongling Imperial Ancestral Temple half a month in advance, just waiting for Song Lan to relax his guard before coming to rescue her.

The imperial city was heavily guarded, and there were many informers in Bianjing during ordinary times. She wanted to seize an opportunity to leave the city, feigning one thing to attack another, and escape during the two-day interval when Song Lan thought he had figured her out.

Bianjing would not change at all; without absolute certainty, she would never take the risk.

So, it had to be fast. Song Lan didn’t yet dare to be absolutely sure that Bianjing would remain peaceful. If he were to recover his senses, he wouldn’t just send the Vermilion Birds to guard this Chongling Imperial Ancestral Temple.

If Ye Tingyan could help her, it would be a happy outcome. If not, it might be a bloody battle.

After all, the Vermilion Birds were also the elite of the Imperial City. Fighting them would inevitably lead to many sacrifices and alert Song Lan, resulting in the worst possible scenario.

The Vermilion Birds had already moved far from the Ancestral Temple, and all the palace servants had been dismissed. In the empty Ancestral Temple, only the occasional whistling wind could be heard.

Ye Tingyan looked down at her, his hand wiping the red mark on her collarbone, whether it was lip rouge or blood, spreading it out.

Luo Wei looked up, seeing his lower sightline, and as expected, heard him ask, “How will Your Ladyship repay me?”

She had not tidied herself after Song Lan left, waiting for his arrival.

With a movement of her hand, Luo Wei unfastened the cool jade belt at his waist.

A piece of white silk ribbon floated down with the jade belt. She grasped it, recognizing it as the handkerchief Ye Tingyan usually used to shield his eyes from the light.

Sensing her intention, Ye Tingyan couldn’t describe how he felt—contempt? Joy? Frankly, it seemed more like anger.

He had been angry many, many times at her changes. Now that she was offering herself for survival, it was only natural, yet his heart was so choked that he could barely speak.

Ye Tingyan suddenly didn’t want to see that unfamiliar face, so he snatched the silk handkerchief from her hand and blindfolded her.

Luo Wei didn’t resist; to be honest, this action suited her perfectly.

In the faint darkness, she straightened herself, reaching for the琉璃珠扣 (glass bead button) at his neck.

The darkness brought her endless reveries. For instance, at this moment, she was pondering the appearance of this glass bead. She remembered how, in the past, on the Dianhong Terrace, when his slender fingers unfastened this button, she was holding a silk fan embroidered with begonia flowers, watching him.

How strange the world was; had she thought of this moment back then?

In an instant, she suppressed her thoughts. At this moment, it was better to think of nothing.

Ye Tingyan leaned down and bit her neck, licking it wetly.

The kisses continued downwards, even carrying a hint of tearing.

Luo Wei didn’t know why he was angry. Perhaps it was because she had put herself in this situation without consulting him?

In fact, wasn’t this also his final test? If he could help her even in her current state of distress, then she could trust him.

Moreover, she still wanted to force out the words she wished to hear.

In her memory, that slender, graceful hand moved down her back, unfastening her dress ties. Ye Tingyan stroked her waist and suddenly asked, “Your Ladyship, what are you thinking?”

Luo Wei’s heart tightened. After a moment of silence, she replied, “Naturally, I’m thinking of you.”

Ye Tingyan sneered. She knew he didn’t believe her.

But at this moment, no one could care so much.

The candles on the table flickered, burning quietly, shedding wax tears drop by drop.

After the initial awkwardness, there was a self-taught ease.

Luo Wei gripped his lapels tightly, her eyes closed, feeling the surrounding sounds clearer than ever.

Outside the window, the wind rustled the Buddhist banners. In the distance, the bamboo grove swayed, rustling. Before her, there was a low gasp, a breath exhaled onto her cheek, a damp itch.

How could such a person, as cold as jade, burn with such intensity?

Soon, she could no longer think. Her vision was black, but the surrounding presence felt so familiar. It was better not to think about it anymore.

Ye Tingyan’s hair had come undone at some point. After a kiss, it brushed Luo Wei’s cheek.

She had never realized before that the strongest scents of sandalwood and jasmine on him came from his long hair.

So Luo Wei obsessively caught a strand, brought it to her nose, and pulled a bit too hard, hearing his muffled groan of pain.

That sound...

It was so familiar, like the one she heard under the begonia tree in Qionghua Palace.

Luo Wei was almost entranced. She wanted to reach out and remove the silk ribbon from her eyes, but he held her hands above her head, preventing her from moving. His dark hair repeatedly brushed against her neck, tangling with her own. Sweat dripped onto her cheek, and if it weren’t for its warm stickiness, she might have mistaken it for tears.

Luo Wei felt her nose growing increasingly sore, and the wetness in her eyes almost soaked the silk handkerchief.

He carried her towards ecstasy, in a lingering, relentless embrace.

A moment later, Ye Tingyan released her hands and again leaned into her neck, bestowing tender kisses.

Luo Wei couldn’t help but sob. As if possessed, she whispered in his ear, “Brother...”

Ye Tingyan froze.

He reached up and removed the silk handkerchief from her eyes, seeing a pair of unfocused eyes. So he cupped her chin, forcing her to look directly at him.

Luo Wei was disoriented, taking a long time to steady herself and look at him.

In those dark pupils, anger now lurked.

He asked, “Who are you calling?”

Luo Wei suddenly shivered. She pushed back, trying to retreat, but he pulled her back. He leaned closer, trying to soften his voice, and asked again, “Who are you calling?”

Luo Wei refused to answer.

She didn’t know why he was so obsessed with this question, so determined to get her answer.

She could only lean on his shoulder, like a small boat in a stormy sea.

And he, persistently, relentlessly repeated his question: “Who are you calling?”

After a while, she couldn’t hold back any longer, and tears flowed uncontrollably. Ye Tingyan cupped her face, wiping away her tears with his thumb. His tone was clearly cold, yet it held a hint of pity: “Why are you crying like this?”

Luo Wei sobbed, cursing him: “Rebel... traitor...”

To her surprise, these four words enraged him again. He grasped her pulsing, vulnerable neck, tightened his grip slightly, and after a strange laugh, almost frantically whispered sarcastically into her ear, “Rebel? Traitor? Who is the rebel? The poisonous snake sitting on the throne, he is the rebel. And you, the empress who has indulged in pleasures with him for years, you are the traitor!”

Luo Wei was thrown to the clouds, then lightly fell back. At this point, the other’s voice echoed in her ear, dreamlike and fluctuating in closeness.

And she slowly realized that she had guessed correctly.

Ye Tingyan was still sneering, relentlessly demanding from her. Although he was clearly the predator, his voice carried a hint of resentment, as if he had been abandoned: “What a pity, what a pity. Are you still convinced he couldn’t bear to kill you? You’re wrong. The moment your people make a move, he will send you on your way without hesitation—you chose this heartless thing, and he cast you aside like trash. Empress! Your Ladyship! This is your retribution! In your dreams at midnight, have you ever regretted trusting this wolf-hearted, dog-hearted person?”

Luo Wei’s hands, which had been pushing against him, suddenly went limp.

She had heard every word, and almost wanted to embrace his shoulders and laugh out loud.

For all these days of truth and falsehood, mutual pretense, and individual scheming, the hidden doubts in her heart had accumulated until now. Finally, when he was most vulnerable, consumed by desire, she had bitten open a crack, forcing him to speak the truth.

Ye Tingyan’s eyes were bloodshot, but now that the words were out, there was nothing to fear. He kissed her cheek, and said coldly, “Your Ladyship, rest assured, I will naturally rescue you. However... I cannot hand you over to your people for now. If you leave the capital now, it would be dangerous. How about staying at my house for a day or two?”

He actually had the same idea as Song Lan!

But at this moment, Luo Wei couldn’t care about anything else.

On the long, lonely night path of many years, a fellow traveler suddenly appeared, holding a lamp. She almost wished she could be taken away by him right now, to leave without a thought, to leave the majestic imperial ancestral temples, to leave the cold, crimson palace walls.

As long as they were together, wandering to the ends of the earth, dying an unnatural death, she would feel no regret.

Ye Tingyan saw her silence and was about to say something more when she suddenly pushed him away.

Luo Wei rolled over and looked down at him, tears streaming down her face.

Her lips trembled, and after much effort, she finally spoke, but what she said was something he didn’t understand: “You are his person, aren’t you?”

Before he could react to what she meant, Luo Wei leaned down and hugged him tightly.

He heard her say, as if in a dream, one word at a time: “Lord Ye, you often ask me what I seek...”

The mingled scents of rose and begonia, intertwined with their embrace, condensed into droplets that suddenly slid down the side of his face, whether sweat or tears, he couldn’t tell.

Luo Wei continued, her voice suddenly gaining force: “Go and kill Song Lan, for my Crown Prince, avenge him.”