#77: A Lamp in the Dark Room (1)

Finally, Bo Senseng returned to the carriage and removed all the swelling from her face.

He left her with a face that bore some resemblance to her old one, yet was subtly different, making it impossible for anyone but the closest people to immediately ascertain her identity.

Luo Wei held the bronze mirror and sighed, “Xue Chu’s disguise techniques are indeed all learned from you.”

Bo Senseng said proudly, “She’s not skilled enough; how can she compare to me?”

Then he quietly asked, “Where has Xue Chu gone recently?”

Luo Wei shook her head, pondering, “I don’t know either. Probably traveling in the northwest.”

Bo Senseng asked curiously, “You two are so close, why isn’t she in Bianjing? She didn’t come...”

He had intended to ask why she didn’t come to help her, but the words caught in his throat, changing to “didn’t come to stay with you.”

Luo Wei gave him a strange look and slowly said, “She has her own life, her martial arts world, her spring breeze, her poetry and wine. These are her choices, the things she wants to do. I also have my own things to do, my selfish desires, my path. I am enough for myself; why should she abandon her own affairs to stay with me?”

She shook her head and patted his shoulder: “You’re the same. I just wanted you to help me with a small favor.”

Without further ado, Bo Senseng led her out of the carriage and into the residence. Luo Wei looked around and then, looking up, saw a familiar figure standing under the corridor not far ahead.

She hadn’t seen so many old acquaintances for a long time, and for a moment, all she could manage was a surprised exclamation: “Brother Jia...”

Zhou Chuyin nodded at her and solemnly replied, “Luo Wei, long time no see.”

He continued to lead the way for her, speaking as they walked:

“In the second year of Tianshou, you came to Jiangnan for the last time, and after that, there was no news. In the first year of Jinghe, Xue Chu came to Bianjing to see you once, and then also went far away. She still knew to write to me, but you didn’t send a single letter.”

Luo Wei whispered, “I... I don’t know what to say.”

Zhou Chuyin led her to a small hut deep in the back garden. Turning around, he saw that her eyes were red. He sighed and simply comforted her, “Get some good rest. When he returns, we can discuss further.”

Luo Wei nodded, and before closing the door, she called out to him again.

“Thank you, Chu Yin.”

Zhou Chuyin asked, “Thank me for what?”

Luo Wei said, “Thank you all... for not forgetting him.”

After the door closed, Bo Senseng asked behind him, “Why has she never called me brother?”

Zhou Chuyin couldn’t be bothered to answer him, so Bo Senseng continued, “Yesterday he spoke to me in a hurry, only saying that Luo Wei hadn’t betrayed him, but didn’t make anything else clear. It seems she doesn’t know his identity yet.”

Zhou Chuyin scoffed, “You’re quick to change your tune, not calling her Empress anymore?”

“You’re still talking about me?” Bo Senseng said angrily, “Wasn’t it because of him that I called her Empress earlier... I think you actually never wanted to call her ‘Empress,’ did you? I’m curious, since you don’t believe Luo Wei would betray him, why didn’t you tell him directly? Now that Luo Wei is here, you should reveal her identity.”

Zhou Chuyin pulled a bamboo fan from his sleeve and tapped him on the head: “I told you long ago, when it comes to matters between the two of them, it’s best to ask less and say less. Only they know a thing or two about love in this world. Who can dissuade star-crossed lovers even a little?”

He shook his head, frustrated: “You can heal all things, but you yourself are a blockhead.”

Bo Senseng retorted disdainfully, “Why be so obsessed? Didn’t we both lament that there’s no cure for this?”

________________________________________

The small pavilion Ye Tingyan found for her was deep within the garden, surrounded by trees. From the window, one could only see a round, moon-shaped floral window through the withered and scattered leaves, though she didn’t know whose residence it was.

She was physically and mentally exhausted, and slept for a very, very long time. When she woke, the moon was high in the sky, freshly warmed food sat on the table, and the gentle sound of a zither drifted in on the night breeze.

It was Zhou Chuyin playing the zither; she recognized the piece, “Short Clear.”

For some reason, being in such a peaceful and quiet world, she felt it was unreal.

For the past few years, she had never had such a sound sleep.

No nightmares, no schemes, and she felt safe as soon as she opened her eyes.

Luo Wei ate a simple meal, then walked through the long corridor, following the sound of the zither.

Indeed, she saw Bo Senseng and Zhou Chuyin waiting for her at the far end. Beside them, a young scholar in a green robe was none other than Pei Xi, who was common in the Imperial Court.

Pei Xi saw her approach. Although he didn’t recognize her at first glance, he still couldn’t help but feel nervous, stammering, “Em-Empress Dowager.”

Luo Wei had changed into an ordinary dress and sat down almost comfortably to one side: “Where is Empress Dowager?”

Zhou Chuyin said, “Wrong. Just speak for yourself.”

Pei Xi swallowed, glanced at her again, and said, “Okay.”

He had an excellent memory and, having only heard the message from others, could repeat it word for word: “A change occurred at Guyou Mountain. Last night, someone attempted an assassination, cutting a drafty slit in the main tent, then vanished without a trace, no one seeing their face. His Majesty was furious and ordered the hunting grounds and Guyou Mountain to be sealed off for a strict investigation. The young master brought four Vermilion Bird guards down the mountain to protect His Majesty, and before sunrise, he blocked a second assassination attempt for His Majesty, getting injured...”

Bo Senseng slapped his thigh: “Injured again?”

Pei Xi said, “His arm was injured.”

Bo Senseng said angrily, “He—”

He was about to say, “He might as well die,” but seeing Luo Wei frown deeply, he swallowed his words.

Pei Xi continued, “The young master was injured and fell unconscious. His Majesty was very touched. But just as the sun was rising, a heavily wounded Vermilion Bird guard came to the hunting grounds to report that last night, after the young master went down the mountain, the Vermilion Birds were lured away for the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn. In that short period, the empress, who was confined deep within the Chongling Imperial Ancestral Temple, mysteriously disappeared.”

Everyone looked at Luo Wei. Luo Wei spread her hands and asked with a smile, “And then?”

Pei Xi said, “His Majesty seemed to have suffered from a migraine and immediately collapsed in pain, summoning two imperial physicians from Bianjing overnight. The news has been temporarily suppressed. The empress’s disappearance is simply too alarming. Even if His Majesty wanted to claim she ‘died of illness,’ he should at least produce a body and give her a grand burial.”

Zhou Chuyin asked, “Was this within your calculations?”

Luo Wei nodded: “He naturally couldn’t let the news out. It would sound too much like a flimsy excuse, and the Censorate officials wouldn’t let it go. For now, he has no choice but to return to the city, send troops to surround Guyou Mountain, and publicly state that I am gravely ill and recuperating on Guyou Mountain.”

Pei Xi said, “Your Ladyship’s guess is spot on. Moreover, even if His Majesty didn’t want to return to the capital to face the Censorate’s questions, after the assassination, he would be restless and wouldn’t drag the hunt on until late September before returning.”

“Once he returns to the capital, there will surely be a storm in the court,” Luo Wei said with a smile. “Since the Empress is ‘gravely ill,’ how can she be searched for with great fanfare? The cicada shedding its shell plan was, after all, a great success.”

Only then did Bo Senseng come to his senses: “So you created the illusion of trouble in Bianjing just to engineer this ‘disappearance’ to make him frantic?”

Luo Wei didn’t mind telling them more: “Ling Cheng, do you know why Song Lan cannot sit securely on this throne?”

Before he could answer, Zhou Chuyin said, “When a monarch is fickle, his officials will inevitably face disaster, either elevated or cast into the abyss.”

He thought for a moment and praised, “You are already the most outstanding strategist.”

Luo Wei asked, “And you all, what are your plans?”

Zhou Chuyin said, “It’s a long story, or... perhaps when he returns, you and he can stay up late, talking over candles, and discuss this matter.”

Luo Wei suddenly paused.

After a moment of silence, she asked, “You trust him so much?”

Pei Xi quickly glanced at her. Zhou Chuyin remained silent, and even the usually talkative Bo Senseng said no more. Finally, Zhou Chuyin spoke: “He is trustworthy. As for everything else, you can ask him yourself.”

Seeing everyone’s reaction, Luo Wei no longer pressed the matter. After they dispersed, she walked towards the small pavilion. Passing by the locked room with a round moon-shaped floral window, she asked, “Who lives here?”

Pei Xi, who was walking in the same direction as her, said, “This is the young master’s study. He usually sleeps in his study as well.”

He thought for a moment and said, “Would Your Ladyship like to come in and take a look?”

Although Ye Tingyan usually never allowed anyone to enter his study without permission, Pei Xi, in his heart, still hoped Luo Wei would go in and see.

However, Luo Wei clearly didn’t trust him as much as she trusted Bo Senseng and Zhou Chuyin, believing it to be a test. After hesitating for a moment, she shook her head: “No need.”

The next day, she rose early to grind ink and wrote several letters, one for Yan Lang and one for her elder brother Su Shiyu. Zhou Chuyin sent the letters out and instructed Pei Xi to personally guard at Fenle Tower—Zhang Suwu would leave the palace at noon a few days later to relay a message to her. This was her instruction before her departure.

Song Lan had not yet returned to the capital, and Bianjing remained peaceful. Bo Senseng suggested that Luo Wei go out for a stroll, but Luo Wei was very cautious, always feeling that besides searching inch by inch on Guyou Mountain, Song Lan had likely already sent people back to Bianjing to search secretly.

Three days later, the imperial entourage finally returned to the capital.

Just as dusk was falling, someone knocked on the door of her small pavilion.

“He’s back.”

Ye Tingyan’s arm injury didn’t seem too severe. He had been unconscious at the time only because there was poison in it—not a virulent one. Perhaps this had been part of his self-inflicted wound strategy. Bo Senseng had examined him many times and, after confirming he was fine, still lectured him at length.

As Luo Wei walked to the door, she could still hear his incessant complaints.

She touched the exquisitely carved patterns on the door frame, feeling a sudden hesitation.

Unmasking had led to a chaotic night. After that chaotic night, there had been distant messages exchanged. Seeing him again, she felt a strange awkwardness in her heart.

Bo Senseng pushed the door open and saw her there, then quickly gestured for everyone else nearby to flee.

This was not his study, but simply a warm residence near the door. It seemed to be because he was sensitive to cold; even though it was autumn, there was a huolong (a heated brick bed or floor) in the room.

Luo Wei stood at the door for a long time, listening to Ye Tingyan’s clear, mellow voice.

“It’s windy at the door. Come in.”

Why should she feel such timidity, as if she were a traveler returning home after a long absence? Even if it was awkward, it shouldn’t be just her.

Luo Wei closed the door and approached his couch. |

Ye Tingyan’s right arm was wrapped in bandages, devoid of color. The bandage stretched from his elbow to his wrist; the wound must have been a very long one.

She lowered her eyes and had just looked at him when he quickly averted his gaze.

But after she entered the room, he had clearly been watching her. So why, when she looked back at him, did he feel the urge to avoid her?