Chapter 26: Change
After night fell, the already dim prison became even darker. In the pitch-black cell, Wang Zhengyi leaned against the wall, his eyes vacant, his mind a blank slate.
He had lost track of how many days had passed, and he didn’t know how An Su was doing.
Tomorrow was the day the Xu family was supposed to deliver An Su’s letter to him… With that letter, Wang Zhengyi felt that everything he was doing had meaning, that he had a reason to live on. This dark and damp prison could be endured.
Swoosh—
Wang Zhengyi’s eyes flew open, and he dodged to the side, avoiding a hidden weapon that had shot in from outside the cell.
A silver needle, coated with poison, fell to the ground.
Wang Zhengyi stood up and looked around warily.
Clang—
A man in black quickly opened the cell door, and then a group of men in black poured into the cell, holding swords and surrounding Wang Zhengyi.
Wang Zhengyi frowned. What’s going on… silencing me? But if they killed him, the Xu family would be in a lot of trouble. The wounds and expression of a suicide were difficult to fake; a coroner would know at a glance. And if it was murder, how could assassins sneak into the Ministry of Justice’s prison? Was the Ministry of Justice useless, or was there another conspiracy? Plus, this case had happened right under the Emperor’s nose. In short, it would definitely attract the attention of the Supreme Court and the Censorate.
Wang Zhengyi didn’t think the Ministry of Justice would make a move to kill him and cause trouble while he was being cooperative.
Could it be An Su, he…
A chill ran through Wang Zhengyi’s heart, but his body moved on instinct, dodging the fierce attacks of the men in black. The iron chains clanged with his movements.
Not only were his hands cuffed, but the physical exertion of being in prison for many days, plus the fact that he was outnumbered, gradually wore him down.
Wang Zhengyi was exchanging blows with one of the men in black when he keenly sensed a strong gust of wind coming from behind him. However, he was already struggling with the one in front, and couldn’t deal with the one behind. Just as the blade of another man in black was about to pierce his back, Wang Zhengyi closed his eyes, preparing to take the blow, but instead heard a muffled grunt.
Immediately after, the man in black he was fighting also convulsed, his body swayed, and Wang Zhengyi watched him fall…
Before he could make sense of the situation, Wang Zhengyi saw that the corridor outside the cell was in chaos. Although they were all men in black, there were clearly two factions, otherwise why would they be fighting each other?
This…?
Wang Zhengyi began to weigh his options. He had entered this prison willingly to take the blame, so unlike the other prisoners, he had no intention of escaping. So, should he take this opportunity to escape to save his life? But if he escaped, would the Xu family harm An Su…
BOOM—
A deafening explosion interrupted Wang Zhengyi’s thoughts. He felt his head and eardrums ringing, the ground beneath his feet began to tremble, and a wave of heat washed over him.
What happened next left no room for Wang Zhengyi to consider.
The summer villa was silent and still in the dead of night.
After hastily finishing the last memorial under Wen Ning’an’s silent supervision, Feng Qi, feeling free, was about to go to bed with Wen Ning’an for some tender moments when Wuying suddenly appeared in an inconspicuous corner of the bedchamber.
Shadow guards were not people, but shadows, ghosts. They were absolutely not allowed to disturb their master’s life, no matter how urgent the situation. This was the code of a shadow.
Wen Ning’an pushed away the approaching Feng Qi and frowned, pointing at the shadow guard.
Feng Qi remained pressed against Wen Ning’an and asked with a sidelong, impatient glance, “What is it?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Ministry of Justice is on fire.”
“What?” Feng Qi sat up straight, frowning. “Give me all the key points, quickly.”
“The Xu family’s shadow guards tried to kill Wang Zhengyi. We and the Left Army’s shadows worked together to repel them. Everything was going smoothly at first, but then another group of people suddenly appeared and set fire to the place. The other party was well-prepared, outnumbering us two to one, and their martial arts were extremely high. We couldn’t stop the fire from spreading and lost many men.”
Feng Qi narrowed his eyes. Is this a case of the snipe and the clam fighting, while the fisherman profits?
Then who is this “fisherman”?
Wen Ning’an’s focus was different from Feng Qi’s. He asked hurriedly, “What about Wang Zhengyi? How is he?”
“Replying to General Wen, I don’t know.”
“What?”
Wuying said, “I did not enter. I was just monitoring from the outside when I saw the huge fire and rushed to report to my master. When I left, no one had come out of the prison yet.”
Although the situation was under control, it had happened suddenly, and there was a “fisherman” watching covetously. Feng Qi shook his head. “We will personally take people there.”
Wen Ning’an said, “Bring An Su as well. Have someone quickly disguise him, and then he’ll go with us.”
“Why?”
Wen Ning’an sighed. “Let’s… prepare for the worst. If the situation is truly so serious that we can’t control it, at least let An Su see Wang Zhengyi one last time. They have been separated for too long.”
What often kept Wen Ning’an awake at night was not the soulless corpses of his comrades on the battlefield, but the anxious inquiries of their relatives after he returned to the city, and their despairing expressions after learning the truth.
Feng Qi rubbed Wen Ning’an’s head. “Let’s go.”
When Wen Ning’an led the Left Army to the south side of the imperial palace, where the Ministry of Justice was located, he saw a scene of chaos. The fire lit up half the sky, thick smoke filled the air, and the flames, like a fierce beast, seemed to be devouring everything, crackling as they burned. The Imperial Guard and servants were busy extinguishing the fire, the officials who were still on duty in the Ministry of Justice were fleeing miserably, and the imperial physicians were overwhelmed.
Feng Qi frowned. Besides the smell of burning, there was also a faint smell of gunpowder. No wonder the fire was so difficult to put out…
The fire was getting stronger. If it wasn’t extinguished soon, it would spread beyond the Ministry of Justice.
Feng Qi said angrily, “Where are the water dragons?”
[Translator’s Notes: Water Dragons: An ancient Chinese fire-fighting device, essentially a large, manually operated water pump, often mounted on a cart.]
Fu Che said, “Replying to Your Majesty, all the water dragons have been maliciously set on fire and destroyed, so we can only use water vats and water bags…”
Feng Qi snorted coldly. “Then take gunpowder from the Ministry of War and blast an underground passage to let the water from the nearby lotus pond flow over. If this fire burns until tomorrow, the southern part of the city will be pretty much gone.”
Wen Ning’an went to the commander of the Imperial Guard to ask about the situation and learned that more than half of the officials and the prison cells inside the Ministry of Justice had not yet been rescued. Not only was the fire too fierce, but the gunpowder had also caused many serious collapses, restricting the soldiers’ movements.
Those who had not been rescued naturally included Wang Zhengyi, and the shadows protecting him were also still inside. Wen Ning’an knew in his heart that compared to the criminals or the death row prisoners about to be transferred, the Imperial Guard would naturally favor and do their best to rescue the officials of the Ministry of Justice, so those in the prison were naturally ignored…
Wen Ning’an turned and had his Left Army go and help with the rescue. He was also considering whether he should go in and lend a hand… Wen Ning’an had always been used to taking the lead, especially in such critical situations.
Seeing Wen Ning’an looking at the fire, Feng Qi frowned. “Yixin, you are a great general. This is not a battlefield. You don’t have to do everything yourself.”
“Young master! It’s dangerous!”
One of the Imperial Guards grabbed An Su.
Wen Ning’an turned his head and saw An Su break free from the Imperial Guard and rush into the fire…
Feng Qi frowned. He’s going to his death! But the next moment, he saw Wen Ning’an’s figure also suddenly disappear from his side, chasing after An Su…
“Wen Ning’an!”
Feng Qi trembled with anger. They’re not even related. Why is Wen Ning’an so eager to go in!
Does he not know how dangerous it is in there?
Feng Qi couldn’t understand Wen Ning’an’s special feelings for An Su and Wang Zhengyi. He was so anxious he wished he could follow him in immediately.
“Your Majesty! You absolutely must not! The overall situation is the most important!” Seeing that Feng Qi seemed to have lost his reason, Fu Che hurriedly knelt down. “Your Majesty, even for General Wen’s sake, so he can have no worries inside, Your Majesty must stay here and take charge of the situation. You yourself said, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.”
“Bastard!”
Feng Qi punched the old tree beside him, his eyes bloodshot.
When Wen Ning’an comes out, I’ll have to properly… properly…
A ruthless look flashed in Feng Qi’s eyes.
The surroundings were filled with thick smoke and the light of the fire. Wang Zhengyi was standing in front of one of the railings, repeatedly hitting the lock with an iron bar. Although the cell door had been opened by the assassins, there was another door in the corridor, firmly locked.
The iron bar was picked up from the ground, burning hot from the fire. Wang Zhengyi felt as if his palm was about to rot.
His eyes and nose were extremely uncomfortable from the thick smoke and high temperature, and they couldn’t function properly. The air he breathed in was scorching, and he felt as if his insides were about to burn up.
His body was already covered in wounds, but Wang Zhengyi still didn’t give up.
He was not resigned.
He hadn’t seen An Su yet. How could he die…
An Su…
An Su?!
Wang Zhengyi saw An Su’s figure suddenly appear before him. The figure drew closer and closer, until Wang Zhengyi could clearly see the face he had longed for day and night…
“Big Brother Wang!”
The disguise mask on An Su’s face had long since melted from the high temperature. He now showed his true face, holding a string of keys, and was opening the iron gate for Wang Zhengyi from the outside.
Wang Zhengyi was unable to come back to his senses for a long time.
“Su’er? You… how are you here!”
An Su desperately tried to find the matching key and said anxiously, “It’s a long story. I’ll… I’ll open the door for Big Brother Wang first. We have to get out quickly…”
After speaking, An Su couldn’t help but cough for a long time. For him, who had not practiced martial arts, it was impossible to withstand such a harsh environment. There wasn’t a single good spot on his skin, and the thick smoke irritated his eyes, causing tears to stream down constantly. He was now just biting his tongue and lips to keep from fainting.
An Su focused on opening the lock and didn’t notice the beam above him that was already starting to break.
“Su’er!” Wang Zhengyi’s eyes widened. “It’s dangerous! Get out of the way!”
After An Su turned his head and saw it, he didn’t move, but instead focused even more on opening the lock. He couldn’t leave. If he left, the beam would block the lock, and then the two of them wouldn’t be able to move it, and Wang Zhengyi would truly be trapped inside.
Seeing An Su unmoved, Wang Zhengyi felt he was going crazy. He had originally thought of having An Su give him the lock so he could find a way to open it himself, but the door was cleverly designed, and the person inside couldn’t reach the outside.
“Su’er! Are you crazy? Go!”
“An Su! Scram!”
Click—
An Su finally found the right key, but at the same time, the connection of the beam above was finally burned through by the fire and fell, unable to hold on any longer.
“Su’er!”
An Su closed his eyes, but the expected pain did not come. When he came back to his senses, he found that he was being held in someone else’s arms.
“Su’er! Are you alright? Su’er, can you hear me!” Wang Zhengyi was still on the other side of the door. He couldn’t see anything but the beam lying in front of the door, and he felt he was about to collapse.
“Ngh…”
An Su felt the person on top of him let out a muffled grunt. He looked up anxiously and saw an unexpected person.
“Master… Master Xu?”
The already unconscious Xu Binghua was now holding An Su tightly, his head and back a bloody mess.
Wang Zhengyi’s calls kept coming from his ear. An Su trembled and said, “Big Brother Wang, I’m fine… Master Xu, he… he protected me…”
Wang Zhengyi was surprised. In any case, An Su’s voice sounded uninjured, so the great weight in his heart was finally lifted. “Can you get up? Open the door for me first.”
The beam was pressing on Xu Binghua, and Xu Binghua was pressing on An Su. An Su was about to push Xu Binghua away, but most of the bones in his body seemed to be broken. A touch brought a muffled “thud,” scaring An Su so much that he immediately pulled his hand back.
“An Su?”
When Wen Ning’an rushed over, he saw this deadlocked scene.
“General Wen!” An Su seemed to have seen his savior.
Wen Ning’an first opened the door, then worked with Wang Zhengyi to move the beam that was pressing on An Su and Xu Binghua. There were still many small flames on the beam, and coupled with the high temperature, Wen Ning’an’s palm was quickly burned. However, compared to the miserable state of the others, he was already quite elegant. He only had some superficial wounds on his palm, his skin was slightly red, and his white robe and cheeks were a little blackened, while An Su and the others were already covered in wounds.
Wen Ning’an used a special technique from the battlefield for retreating to carry Xu Binghua on his back. An Su and Wang Zhengyi supported each other and stumbled out of this inferno, following Wen Ning’an.
After finally escaping to the outside under Wen Ning’an’s lead and being able to breathe normal air again, everyone felt a sense of clarity.
“General Wen, you’re finally out!” Seeing that Wen Ning’an was safe, Fu Che almost knelt down in tearful gratitude to thank the heavens for their blessing.
Seeing Fu Che’s reaction, Wen Ning’an could guess what had happened.
“Huaitian… he’s angry?”
“More than just angry!” Fu Che said, on the verge of tears. “You don’t know, just now His Majesty even rushed in and scared us all to death. But before he could go deep, he saw you, General, coming out from the other side.”
Wen Ning’an subconsciously looked at Feng Qi and saw that the hem of his robe was scorched black, as if it had been burned by the fire. And Feng Qi, feeling Wen Ning’an’s gaze, also turned to look at him.
Wen Ning’an hurriedly looked away, feeling a little uneasy.
“Are you alright?”
Feng Qi took the initiative to walk over to Wen Ning’an and asked, his tone still calm.
“I’m fine…”
Feng Qi looked at Wen Ning’an for a long time, then finally leaned over and hugged him tightly.
Wen Ning’an, who had expected to face Feng Qi’s wrath, was stunned, completely unable to react.
“It’s good that you’re alright…”
Wen Ning’an turned his head with difficulty and saw Feng Qi trying hard to suppress the rage and anxiety in his eyes. He thought to himself, Perhaps Feng Qi has really changed… changed for him.
Wen Ning’an couldn’t help but smile, a warmth in his eyes.
The fire lit up the surroundings. Feng Qi and Wen Ning’an held each other tightly, feeling each other’s heartbeat. Feng Qi felt he was about to lose it. It was just a fire, and he knew Wen Ning’an could handle it, but he couldn’t suppress the frantic growth of his worry and negative emotions. He even began to imagine Wen Ning’an abandoning him, as if he had lost his mind…
On the other side, after checking Xu Binghua’s pulse and injuries, Wang Zhengyi shook his head at An Su.
“He’s not going to make it.”
An Su was startled, his heart a mixture of emotions. To say he didn’t hate Xu Binghua was a lie. Xu Binghua had not treated him well, using him to threaten Wang Zhengyi, forcibly separating him from his beloved. His body was also covered in bruises and whip marks left by Xu Binghua. An Su had always thought that Xu Binghua didn’t like him, but… Xu Binghua also seemed to be very good to him, saving him from the Ministry of Justice, and now sacrificing his life to protect him…
An Su didn’t understand what was in Xu Binghua’s heart.
“Su’er…” A flush appeared on Xu Binghua’s face, and he seemed much more energetic. How could An Su not understand? This was a final burst of life.
“I have always truly liked you. I really, really like you… I thought you were dead, I thought… It turns out, I can’t live without you…” Xu Binghua reached out, wanting to stroke An Su’s cheek.
An Su subconsciously dodged.
“I’m sorry…” Xu Binghua slowly closed his eyes and finally stopped breathing.
An Su knelt beside him, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.
“It’s alright, it’s all over…” Wang Zhengyi wrapped his arms around An Su from behind and gently kissed his forehead, feeling his own eyes turn a little red. An Su is here now, in his arms…
The pond water was diverted to the Ministry of Justice, and the great fire was finally completely extinguished before dawn.
A great fire burned down all the records in the Ministry of Justice. Afterwards, Feng Qi received another piece of news: a certain factory on Lulou Mountain had suddenly exploded late at night and had been burned to the ground. There were no survivors, and the factory was reduced to a pile of ashes, leaving no clues.
What was done was done, and there was no turning back. Feng Qi no longer dwelled on it and simply took Wen Ning’an back to the villa to rest. There would be a busy period ahead.
To prevent further complications, Wang Zhengyi and An Su also returned to the villa with them. The two were now important witnesses for Feng Qi. The factory and the documents were gone, but fortunately, Feng Qi still had the account book and human witnesses. Besides An Su and Wang Zhengyi, the Hong Xi man captured by the shadow guards tonight was also a crucial piece of evidence against the Xu family.
With the capture of this Hong Xi assassin, many parts of the account book that Feng Qi didn’t understand were now answered. It turned out to be a record of transactions with Hong Xi!
The Xu family had embezzled a lot of silver to run the factory, and all the goods produced by the factory were sold to Hong Xi. It must have been something important, which was why Hong Xi was keeping a close eye on the Xu family’s movements. Who knows where they got the news that Feng Qi had already intervened, but to protect the secret of the goods, they had no choice but to destroy the factory and the Ministry of Justice.
Under severe torture, the Hong Xi assassin finally admitted to the deal between the King of Hong Xi and the Xu family, but as for what specific goods were being traded, he said he was just an assassin, so how would he know?
The account book, the Hong Xi assassin, the testimonies of Wang Zhengyi and An Su, the materials and on-site calculations of the dam, and so on—when all these things were connected, and the whole story was understood, the evidence was easy to find. The evidence was as solid as a mountain. Colluding with an enemy country, corruption and bending the law, forcible seizure… the crimes were too numerous to list. All these charges together were enough for the Xu family to suffer.
Since the clue of the factory was lost, Feng Qi no longer waited. In the middle of the night, he dispatched the Supreme Court, the Censorate, and the Imperial Forest Army. The Censorate was under the Li family’s control, so the procedures were handled with extreme efficiency. The Xu family’s residences and properties were knocked open one by one by the Imperial Forest Army, sealed, and their occupants arrested…
Xu Binghua was dead, and the main branch of the Xu family was not spared either. Xu Rui, Xu Tongda, Xu Bingyuan, and other pillars of the Xu family were all imprisoned, awaiting execution after autumn.
And this case snowballed, implicating more and more people… Not just the Xu family, but other noble families were also more or less involved. For a time, everyone in the capital was in a state of panic. Batch after batch of people were sent to prison, either having their homes confiscated or being sentenced to imprisonment, or worse, being beheaded.
The court underwent a major reshuffle, and discerning people noticed that the vacant positions were all being filled by people with the surname Wen.
Feng Qi was on a killing spree at this moment. No one dared to be foolish enough to get in his way and become a whetstone for his blade, so there was no resistance in the court. Even the Empress Dowager, watching her own family be brought down step by step by Feng Qi’s years of planning and his current push, dared not speak out in protest, only feeling resentment and a chill in her heart.
When Feng Qi went mad, he had even laid a hand on his own full-blooded brother. The Empress Dowager now only hoped to keep her place in the palace.
In just one week, the Xu family fell.
By the time the hot summer was over, it seemed everyone had not yet reacted.
The situation was truly changing.
A lone crane soars through the clouds, inspiring poetic feelings to reach the azure sky. Autumn had arrived, and a cool golden wind blew. Although the “autumn tiger” still lingered after the start of autumn, the summer heat had finally dissipated a lot. The weather, especially at night, was much cooler than before. The capital was filled with red maple and withered leaves, a sea of fiery red and orange.
[Translator’s Notes:Autumn Tiger : A term for a period of hot, dry weather that can occur after the official start of autumn.]
Feng Qi and Wen Ning’an were also preparing to return to the palace from the summer villa. Wen Ning’an’s time in the capital this time was longer than any other, and he began to think about going back to the Left Army’s base—the frontier town of Fengzhou—to have a look.
However, after Wen Ning’an briefly mentioned this to Feng Qi, he saw Feng Qi’s face immediately darken. So, Wen Ning’an didn’t mention it again. It was the same wherever he stayed.
The servants began to pack their luggage, while Wen Ning’an and Feng Qi were nestled in a bamboo and rattan hanging chair in the courtyard, enjoying the cool evening breeze. Wen Ning’an held a book on military formations in his hand, flipping through it absentmindedly.
“Your Majesty.” Fu Che came up behind them quietly. “Wang Zhengyi and An Su request an audience.”
“Granted.” Feng Qi waved his hand.
Wen Ning’an gently pushed Feng Qi to make him sit up straight and smiled. “They are probably here to say goodbye.”
Wang Zhengyi had tidied himself up, shaved his beard, washed away the dirt, and changed into clean clothes. He looked quite handsome and dashing, not as scruffy as he had been in prison.
Wang Zhengyi held An Su’s hand. The two of them came before Feng Qi and Wen Ning’an and knelt to pay their respects. Wang Zhengyi said, “This commoner has brought my wife today to kowtow to Your Majesty and General Wen.”
With that, the two of them performed a grand ceremony in earnest. Wen Ning’an had originally wanted to stop them, but on second thought, he felt it would be inappropriate, so he didn’t refuse their kind intentions.
An Su said, “Thank you, Your Majesty and General Wen, for saving our lives. We will never forget this great kindness. Your Majesty and General Wen are of noble birth. We are but commoners and don’t know how to repay you…”
“It was a small effort,” Feng Qi shrugged.
Wen Ning’an also helped An Su up. “This is our duty. You don’t need to take it to heart. The emperor is originally the protector of the people.”
An Su smiled. “His Majesty is a wise ruler, a good emperor. And General Wen will surely be a good empress.”
As soon as An Su said this, he felt the hand that Wen Ning’an was using to support him suddenly stiffen.
Wang Zhengyi quietly squeezed An Su’s elbow.
Seeing that the atmosphere seemed a little strange, An Su’s face turned pale. “This commoner has mis-misspoken.”
“No.” Feng Qi smiled brilliantly. “You are very right. Thank you for your auspicious words.”
Tsk, tsk, I have to say, An Su is really pleasing to the eye. No wonder Wang Zhengyi and Xu Binghua were so crazy.
An Su had called him a wise ruler and looked at him with sincere and grateful eyes. Feng Qi found it novel. This was the first time a commoner had thanked him from the bottom of their heart and even used the title “wise ruler.”
The feeling… wasn’t bad?
An Su’s hands nervously rubbed and intertwined with each other. “If it weren’t for Your Majesty and General Wen, this commoner would never have been able to reunite with Big Brother Wang… I thought my whole life would be like that…”
Wang Zhengyi rubbed An Su’s shoulder, his eyes also full of relief and gratitude.
Wen Ning’an smiled. “You two must be happy and complete in the future.”
After Wang Zhengyi and An Su left, Wen Ning’an turned and glared at Feng Qi. “An Su misunderstood. Why didn’t you explain?”
He even went along with An Su’s words and spouted nonsense…
Seeing Wen Ning’an’s earlobes, which had been red since just now, Feng Qi smiled. “Was I wrong? That’s what I truly think in my heart.”
Wen Ning’an turned his head away.
“But to be called a wise ruler, I was truly surprised,” Feng Qi shook his head.
Wen Ning’an sat down beside Feng Qi and took the initiative to hold his hand. “Huaitian, you can also become a wise ruler. There are many, many common people in this world like An Su and Wang Zhengyi who are oppressed by the powerful. You may not be able to completely eliminate it, but you can do your best to help more people and remove more injustice.”
Feng Qi teased, “Hahaha, just as An Su said, a good empress.”
Wen Ning’an was furious. He was seriously discussing the way of a ruler with Feng Qi, and this person was being so improper! All he thought about all day was that… that kind of thing!
As the two were bickering, they saw Fu Che approach. “Your Majesty, Wang Zhengyi and An Su have left the villa. This old servant has already had a carriage prepared for them.”
Feng Qi nodded.
Wen Ning’an sighed. “I hope Wang Zhengyi and An Su will be happy in the future. They are a good match. Xu Binghua also loved An Su, but…”
Feng Qi said, “Xu Binghua loved An Su so much he didn’t even want his own life. Maybe he really did love him. But he didn’t understand his own feelings before and used the wrong way to treat An Su. Imprisoning him, besides threatening Wang Zhengyi, was also largely for his own selfish desires. He was unwilling to lose him, but felt disgusted when he looked at him. And it was only after he lost him that he suddenly realized how much he truly cared for An Su, that he couldn’t be without him, that it had to be him…”
Feng Qi didn’t know what he was reminded of, but his previously playful and teasing expression suddenly darkened.
“It’s just a pity that he doesn’t have a second chance… because An Su has Wang Zhengyi, someone who has been good to him from beginning to end, a more suitable person. Xu Binghua treated An Su so badly, he deserved to not get him…”
Seeing Feng Qi’s mood suddenly become so dark and unpredictable, Wen Ning’an couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy.
“Huaitian, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.” Feng Qi wrapped his arm around Wen Ning’an’s shoulder and nibbled on his earlobe. “You are mine, you know that?”
Wen Ning’an shrank back from the ticklish feeling and smiled, reaching out to smooth Feng Qi’s furrowed brow.
“By the way, there’s something I think I must tell you.” Feng Qi said seriously, “Prepare yourself.”
Wen Ning’an frowned.
Feng Qi said slowly, “An Su, he actually… doesn’t have long to live.”
What?
Wen Ning’an’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t react for a moment.
Feng Qi explained, “An Su is different from Wang Zhengyi, after all. He wasn’t in prison, and the Xu family didn’t have enough reason to put him under house arrest. So, to be safe, the Xu family had poisoned him long ago to control him. After all, anything could happen. You see, that day An Su succeeded in meeting us. But An Su had risked his life this time and didn’t care about the poison in his body at all.”
“Is there no antidote?” Wen Ning’an felt a hollowness in his heart.
“Wangchuan poison is just a very common poison, but because the proportions of the various poisons it contains can be controlled at will, only the person who mixed the poison has the matching antidote. Others, because they don’t know the proportions the poisoner used, simply cannot produce an accurate antidote.”
“The antidote was originally with Xu Tongda, but do you think he would hand it over? Besides, he’s dead now. In other words, there is no cure.”
Wen Ning’an was speechless for a long time. No wonder he felt he had missed something that day. So it was this!
“Then… how did you know?”
Feng Qi said, “One night you were asleep, and I went out for a walk to get some air. I met An Su in the courtyard, who had also come out to get away from Wang Zhengyi. He seemed to be suffering from the poison, looking quite uncomfortable, but I just pretended not to see. Later, I had the shadow guards investigate and found out.”
What Feng Qi didn’t say was that the reason he had left his gentle comforts to go out for a walk in the cold wind was because he had gotten too carried away with Wen Ning’an. Wen Ning’an was oblivious, but he himself had been left to his own devices, a close call that he had to go out and “cool down” from… The grievance was simply beyond words.
Wen Ning’an leaned against Feng Qi’s shoulder, feeling as if his heart were filled with lead.
It’s a fly in the ointment…
It’s just a pity that the moon has its phases of waxing and waning. No one can control a person’s life.
On the narrow path outside the villa, a small carriage rolled slowly forward.
Wang Zhengyi held An Su’s hand and said gently, “We won’t go back to Tonghua Village. I’ll go back alone to get the knotted cords, and then I’ll take you to travel everywhere. The desert? Sailing? Where do you want to go?”
“Anywhere is fine,” An Su said with his head lowered, smiling. “As long as I’m with Big Brother Wang, I’m happy anywhere.”
Wang Zhengyi smiled faintly and pulled An Su into his arms.
“Sleep first. I’ll call you when we arrive.”
An Su secretly tucked the blood-stained handkerchief in his pocket more securely and, leaning against Wang Zhengyi’s shoulder, closed his eyes peacefully.
One more day of life is one more day with Big Brother Wang.
An Su secretly prayed to the heavens, Let me live longer, just a little longer…
The moon was high in the sky, and a clear, water-like moonlight spilled down from the courtyard, the surroundings silent.
Wen Ning’an lay on the bed, thinking, After tonight, we have to go back to the palace tomorrow morning…
“Big brother…”
Wen Ning’an turned his head and saw Ah Bai standing timidly by the door.
“Ah Bai? Come here.” Wen Ning’an patted the bed he was lying on and beckoned for Ah Bai to come to his side. This summer, while Wen Ning’an was at the villa, besides the times he was entangled with Feng Qi, Ah Bai had been sticking to him almost all the time. Wen Ning’an had even taught him how to read. To Ah Bai, Wen Ning’an was a light, and in his heart, Wen Ning’an was also very fond of the soft and gentle Ah Bai. Their relationship grew better and better, to the point that even Feng Qi grew jealous.
Ah Bai climbed onto the bed and lay down beside Wen Ning’an.
Wen Ning’an reached out and held him in his arms, smiling. “What’s wrong?”
Ah Bai didn’t speak, just clutched the corner of Wen Ning’an’s clothes tightly, his breath hitching.
Seeing Ah Bai’s heaving back, Wen Ning’an was startled and asked hurriedly, “What’s wrong? Don’t cry. Tell me so I can help you.”
“Wuu…”
Large tears fell one by one. Under Wen Ning’an’s care, Ah Bai now slept well and ate well. Wen Ning’an had even had clothes specially made for him, so he looked even more exquisite. His skin was as soft and tender as white jade, and his already striking, watery eyes and long, dark hair made one imagine what he would look like as an adult. And now, these beautiful eyes were filled with tears, which made Wen Ning’an’s heart ache.
“Be good, don’t cry…” Wen Ning’an stroked Ah Bai’s head.
“Did someone bully you? Tell me, and I’ll teach them a lesson for you.”
Ah Bai was good in every way, except that he was too easygoing and didn’t know how to resist at all, which was why he was always bullied. Wen Ning’an had always wanted to correct his mindset and make him better at protecting himself.
“No…” Ah Bai sobbed. “It’s just, it’s just that I heard the other big brothers and sisters say that big brother is going back to the palace…”
Wen Ning’an didn’t understand. “I’m going back to the palace. Why are you crying?”
“I can’t bear to… I don’t want to be alone again…” Ah Bai cried until he was almost out of breath.
Wen Ning’an thought for a long while before he understood what Ah Bai meant.
“Ah Bai, what are you being silly for! Of course I’ll take you with me when I go back to the palace. I won’t abandon you.”
Ah Bai was stunned, looking at Wen Ning’an with a flattered expression, as if a pie had just fallen from the sky.
“Silly child.” Wen Ning’an said helplessly, “Why would you think I would abandon you? Didn’t I say you would stay by my side from now on?”
Ah Bai finally stopped crying and broke into a smile through his tears. Wen Ning’an smiled and held him even tighter.
“It’s like a dream…” Wen Ning’an heard a muffled voice from his embrace. “After my mother died, this is the first time I’ve been so happy. It’s like a dream… I’m afraid that when I wake up, it will all be gone…”
After a long while, Wen Ning’an said slowly, “I understand. I’m also experiencing that feeling right now…”
Ah Bai looked up, seeming not to understand what Wen Ning’an meant.
Wen Ning’an just smiled faintly. “Don’t think too much. Even if it’s a dream, you should enjoy it.”
Ah Bai nodded, half-understanding.
“And, this isn’t a dream…”
“General Wen.”
As the two were talking, they saw Fu Che outside the inner chamber. “His Majesty has summoned you to the bamboo garden.”
“Now?” Wen Ning’an frowned. Isn’t Feng Qi planning to sleep yet?
Seeing Fu Che nod, Wen Ning’an had no choice but to get up and put on an outer robe.
“Ah Bai, you sleep first. I’m going out for a bit, I’ll be right back.”
Ah Bai said nervously, “Here? But His Majesty doesn’t seem to like me, and he doesn’t like me sleeping here…”
“You’re overthinking it.” Wen Ning’an pinched Ah Bai’s cheek. “He’s just jealous. He likes you in his heart too.”
Wen Ning’an couldn’t help but think of what Feng Qi had said to him before…
“Since Ah Bai gets along with you so well, when we have a son in the future, Ah Bai can be his playmate.”
Wen Ning’an felt his cheeks grow a little hot. He patted them, put on his outer robe, and hurried to the bamboo garden.
The bamboo garden was some distance from the palace where Wen Ning’an and Feng Qi were staying. When Wen Ning’an arrived, he saw Feng Qi standing at the entrance of the bamboo garden, seeming to be waiting for him to enter.
“You made it, just in time.” Feng Qi looked at the moon in the sky. “It’s past midnight. It’s now the seventh day.”
Wen Ning’an didn’t understand.
Feng Qi took out a signal flare from his robes and fired it into the sky. With a “bang,” a splendid, seven-colored firework appeared in the dark night sky.
Before Wen Ning’an could understand the meaning of Feng Qi’s actions, he saw countless fireflies suddenly appear around them…
Looking closely, he realized they weren’t fireflies, but colored lanterns. The frames were made of iron wire, with a layer of colored paper on the outside and a small flame inside. The candlelight flickered through the colored paper, as if all the stars in the sky had fallen to the mortal world.
The colored lanterns were very light, so as soon as the servants hidden around them let go, they slowly rose with the air currents. In an instant, as far as the eye could see, the entire sky was filled with colorful firelight.
Feng Qi smiled at Wen Ning’an. “Happy birthday.”
“Huaitian…”
Wen Ning’an stared blankly at all this, feeling a warmth in his heart.
Since they were young, Wen Ning’an would carefully prepare gifts for Feng Qi’s birthday, all things Feng Qi had casually mentioned wanting or liked. But Feng Qi had never once celebrated Wen Ning’an’s birthday properly, so this year…
“Yixin, I know you don’t like the palace walls.”
Feng Qi said seriously, “We’re going back to the palace tomorrow. You don’t like it, and I don’t like it either. We’re both reluctant to leave the days at the villa, but I have to go back. Are you willing to accompany me? To always be with me.”
“Don’t go to Fengzhou. Stay in the palace with me. I will do my best to make you happy.”
The colored lanterns drifted further and further from the ground, gradually becoming a multitude of stars in the sky. Wen Ning’an watched, entranced, and said blankly, “Alright…”
Feng Qi smiled and pulled Wen Ning’an into his arms, feeling that the vast but empty imperial palace he was about to return to tomorrow now had a sense of life.
The Xu family had fallen, the court had changed, and their relationship had also changed. After returning to the palace, it would be a brand new day.
