He Sui’an’s hands and feet became scorching hot, and she stammered incoherently, “You, I, I…”
Qi Buyan, following his instincts, kissed her tightly gripped fingertips. She was already numb, and then she heard him say, “Do you know what the most intimate thing in the world is? It’s when I…”
A hand covered his mouth.
He Sui’an turned around, shrinking into Qi Buyan’s arms, her skin flushed with a beautiful pale pink. “I’m so tired.”
She had used this excuse before.
“Then will you do this most intimate thing with me in the future?” Qi Buyan lowered his head, his thin lips inadvertently brushing against her earlobe.
He Sui’an responded with a flustered series of “mm-hm, mm-hm, mm-hm.”
Her mind was entirely occupied by Qi Buyan’s words, as if it were about to explode.
Although He Sui’an knew that Qi Buyan would express his thoughts plainly, knowing was one thing, but hearing it was another matter entirely. She buried her head in Qi Buyan’s arms, unwilling to come out.
—
The next day, the sky was ablaze with sunlight.
Golden light streaked across the exquisite towers and majestic vermillion palace walls, spilling over the long palace path, illuminating the golden rooftops and red doors, making the palace appear even more grand and solemn.
Several figures walked through the sunlight, treading the winding palace path.
One of them was Su Yang.
Yesterday, she was kept in the palace by the emperor for the night. As a rare visit for the princess, Su Yang was asked to keep the empress company, so she could only leave the palace today.
When Su Yang saw the emperor, she immediately expressed her suspicion that someone in Chang’an was secretly refining extremely destructive Spirit Gu. She presented the evidence she had gathered, warning that if something went wrong, it could lead to catastrophic consequences.
She had not yet identified who was secretly refining the Spirit Gu and wanted the emperor to investigate the suspicious individuals.
Emperor Duan Jing fell into silence.
He had reviewed the evidence Su Yang presented, his expression unreadable. He only stated that he would send people to investigate the matter and, for her safety, advised Su Yang to stop investigating and leave it to the court officials.
Su Yang sensed something strange in Emperor Duan Jing ‘s attitude and couldn’t help but press him, asking if he truly had no suspects, insisting that it was important.
Her actions overstepped boundaries and showed a lack of respect.
Daring to question the emperor.
However, Emperor Duan Jing did not get angry nor did he feel offended. He remained benevolent, perhaps due to his belief in the Tao, which emphasized tranquility and calmness in all things, rarely losing his temper.
Emperor Duan Jing said gently, “Once there is news, I will have someone inform you.”
Su Yang could only comply.
She also heeded Emperor Duan Jing ’s words and spent a night in the palace. To outsiders, it appeared that Su Yang’s visit to the palace was merely to keep the empress company.
The empress wished for Su Yang to stay a few more days. There were no other concubines in the harem, and though the empress had the emperor’s undivided favor, prolonged solitude could still be lonely. However, Su Yang politely declined, citing other matters.
The gentle and dignified empress did not insist.
The person accompanying Su Yang out of the palace today was still Aunt Qi, the empress’s personal maid, which indicated the empress’s considerable regard for this princess from Fengling Town.
Although Su Yang seldom entered the palace, she knew all the necessary etiquettes. She refrained from asking unnecessary questions or looking around too much as she followed Aunt Qi toward the palace gates.
While passing through another palace path, Su Yang saw a man, and Aunt Qi reminded her to pay her respects.
The man was Prince Qing, Liu Yan, who was nearing forty but looked much younger. His hair was tied with a jade crown, and he wore a light blue python robe with a jade pendant at his waist.
Su Yang curtsied to Liu Yan.
“No need for formalities,” Liu Yan said, meeting Su Yang for the first time and asking Aunt Qi about her identity.
Aunt Qi replied respectfully, “Your Highness, this is the Princess of Fengling, previously granted the title by His Majesty, hailing from Fengling Town. She came to Chang’an and visited the palace to keep the Empress company.”
Upon hearing the name Fengling Town, Liu Yan smiled. “So, you are the Princess of Fengling.”
The Tomb of King Yan is located in Fengling Town.
The tomb has been guarded by the Su family for generations, and the Princess of Fengling is a member of the Su family, something Liu Yan learned through Yan Luoxu.
When the Tomb of King Yan initiated its self-destruct mechanism, it was Liu Yan’s subordinate, Ah Xuan, who was sent to monitor Fengling Town’s movements, who saved Yan Luoxu. Currently, Yan Luoxu is under Liu Yan’s custody, allowing him to learn many things.
Liu Yan casually asked, “What brings the Princess of Fengling to Chang’an so suddenly?”
Su Yang stood straight.
Her tone was cold, like an uncontaminated magnolia flower: “I heard that Chang’an is prosperous and flourishing, so I came to see it for myself.”
Liu Yan inquired, “What about your father?”
Su Yang replied, “My father did not come to Chang’an. His health is not suitable for the rigors of travel.”
Their conversation was succinct, without unnecessary words.
Liu Yan roughly discerned Su Yang’s personality, smiled, and after a few more words, passed by her. Su Yang suddenly looked up.
Her father, Su Ruilin, had mentioned in his letter that the body of a person refining Spirit Gu would change from that of ordinary people. Over time, they would uncontrollably emit a peculiar fragrance, like a blossoming exotic flower.
Su Yang, with her keen sense of smell, detected an unmistakable fragrance from Liu Yan.
It was very unusual.
However, it could also be the scent from a sachet he was wearing or from incense he had used before entering the palace.
However, Su Yang had long suspected Liu Yan. Investigations revealed that he had visited Fengling Town many years ago. Although he acted discreetly, any actions leave traces.
After Su Yang arrived in Chang’an, her bodyguard, Zhong Huan, encountered a suspicious masked man. He tried to follow him, but the man was very vigilant and managed to evade capture, disappearing into a street.
That street had many households.
Prince Qing’s residence was among them.
Su Yang thoughtfully watched Liu Yan’s retreating figure. Aunt Qi, seeing her standing still, called out, “Princess?”
Hearing Aunt Qi’s voice, Su Yang put away her suspicions and turned her gaze back.
As Su Yang turned to continue toward the palace gates, Liu Yan glanced back at her. His confidant, guessing Liu Yan’s thoughts, approached and whispered in his ear, “Should I…”
Liu Yan waved his hand dismissively, “Everything is already set in motion, let them be.”
A few days ago, Liu Yan would have preferred to kill a hundred people rather than let one slip through, ensuring that anyone who might know about his Spirit Gu refinement was silenced, preventing any hindrance to his plans.
Times had changed. In the past few days, Liu Yan had successfully refined the Spirit Gu. Whether they knew or not, it no longer mattered; there was nothing they could do.
Years ago, Princess Luoyan’s brother and sister-in-law had tried to stop Liu Yan and expose his actions.
Liu Yan did not understand.
Why couldn’t his friends support him? Refining the Spirit Gu would benefit the Zhou Dynasty greatly. They wouldn’t need to risk their lives on the battlefield anymore; the Spirit Gu would suffice.
With the Spirit Gu, the Zhou Dynasty would thrive perpetually.
How wonderful it would be.
Liu Yan did not seek the throne with the Spirit Gu; he only wanted to save the Zhou Dynasty from its precarious state and defeat the foreign tribes that humiliated it, forcing them to bow to the Zhou Dynasty forever.
Since his elder brother, Emperor Duan Jing , ascended the throne, the Zhou Dynasty had almost continuously compromised with other nations.
Liu Yan could not accept this.
But over the past few decades, the Zhou Dynasty had indeed weakened, no longer as prosperous and powerful as it was a century ago. Emperor Duan Jing adhered to the principle of “governing by doing nothing,” often speaking of the Daoist concept of natural order.
Liu Yan’s repeated admonitions fell on deaf ears, and he ultimately became a nominally idle prince. In reality, he secretly sought ways to strengthen the Zhou Dynasty and found the Spirit Gu.
Liu Yan wanted to make the Zhou Dynasty strong.
Using the Spirit Gu to control people was an excellent shortcut.
By chance, his friends discovered what Liu Yan had done. They vehemently disapproved, righteously declaring that using the Spirit Gu to control people violated human ethics and was absolutely unacceptable.
Most importantly, those controlled by the Spirit Gu could potentially lose control.
They believed that, as officials of the court, their duty was to protect the people of Zhou, not to disregard their safety. They warned Liu Yan that if he did not stop, they would expose his actions.
Liu Yan could not persuade his friends.
Not only were they unwilling to help him, but they also tried every means to stop him. Liu Yan had no other choice but to resolve to kill them and disguise it as an attack by mountain bandits.
The night he killed them, Liu Yan’s heart was in agony, and he felt deep shame facing Princess Luoyan, his friend’s sister. Over the years, he had tried his best to be kind to her, out of a sense of guilt.
Liu Yan sighed deeply.
Composing himself, he ascended the steps and entered the hall to see Emperor Duan Jing , wearing his usual smile. After bowing, he said, “Brother, why have you summoned me to the palace?”
Emperor Duan Jing stepped down from the dragon throne, walking towards Liu Yan. The two brothers looked very similar.
“Second Brother.”
Emperor Duan Jing stopped a couple of steps away from Liu Yan. “Are you aware that Assistant Minister of Justice Xie Wenqiao is re-investigating the Weicheng case?”
Liu Yan feigned surprise, asking, “Wasn’t the Weicheng case already closed? Why is Minister Xie re-investigating it? Does Brother think there are doubts about the case?”
“What do you think, Second Brother?”
Emperor Duan Jing countered.
Liu Yan remained calm. “I believe there are no doubts. Wasn’t it General Jiang’s complacency that led to the defeat at Weicheng?”
“But I have heard that someone colluded with the Hu people, betraying the nation and leaking Weicheng’s defense secrets, which led to General Jiang’s defeat.” Emperor Duan Jing returned to his throne, looking down at Liu Yan.
In the hall, wisps of incense smoke drifted from the burner.
Liu Yan stood on the white marble floor.
He frowned. “Is that so? I have never heard of such a thing. If it is true, once Minister Xie finds the evidence, General Jiang’s name should be cleared, and he should be given justice.”
Emperor Duan Jing stared at Liu Yan in silence for a long time before finally smiling kindly. “I am a bit tired. You may leave, Second Brother.”
Liu Yan withdrew.
Emperor Duan Jing gazed distractedly at the hall’s door, calling for the eunuch Bai Gonggong, and asked the seemingly irrelevant question about the recent weather. Bai Gonggong replied, “It appears to be very good.”
“Is that so?” Emperor Duan Jing seemed absent-minded. “Why does it look like a storm is brewing to me?”
Bai Gonggong dared not respond.
—
Under a clear sky and bright sun.
A day later, He Sui’an and Qi Buyan came to Su Yang’s residence again.
Su Yang, having just returned from the palace, was waiting for them in the courtyard. Shen Jianhe had already relayed every detail of the previous day’s events to her.
Su Yang invited them to sit down.
