Night Song - Chapter 27
Day 10.
He remained kneeling on the steps, never raising his head.
The area ahead was bustling with activity, both overt and covert.
Qianming argued that he bore full responsibility for the failure of this mission and advocated using severe punishment to uphold the authority of the religion.
Zi Su's veiled and ambiguous remarks pointed out the flaws in Jia Ye's scheme. She advocated for leniency, punished Jia Ye, and suggested that the King strip him of his power to highlight his wrongdoing.
Jiuwei suggested that the assassination squad should carry out the assassination again to mitigate the impact of this failure.
The king sat on his throne, smiling as he watched the infighting below. He remained silent for a long time until the debate intensified, at which point he finally spoke to interrupt.
"Where is Jia Ye?"
The three of them quieted down, and Zi Su responded softly.
"Your Majesty, it is said that Envoy Xue is currently preparing to go on a mission to Qiemo (a place name) and has no time for anything else. I think..." She covered her mouth and chuckled a few times. "It seems as if she knows she has done something wrong and is trying to avoid the joint trial out of guilt."
“Recently, many envoys from various countries have come, and the envoys have been extremely busy. This little matter is nothing to worry about; it will be decided by Your Majesty.” Qian Ming glanced coldly at him.
"Whether they are her own shadow guards or not, it would be best if they came over." The King casually twirled the jade beads on his wrist.
Just as Jiuwei was about to speak, her eyelids suddenly twitched.
A slender figure stepped lightly and unhurriedly into the main hall.
“Gaya pays respects to the King.”
His eyelashes could only reveal the light sway of his white silk robe as he walked across the jade-like ground, his delicate toes hidden beneath the hem of his skirt, his cool voice as calm as ever.
My heart skipped a beat.
"Jia Ye, you've come at just the right time. Are you here to plead for your shadow guards?" King Ci'ai inquired.
The hall was quiet for a moment.
“Your Majesty, Jia Ye was merely bidding farewell before leaving for Qiemo; he had no other intentions.”
Jiuwei's face immediately turned pale.
"I see. We are currently dealing with his failed assassination attempt. What are your thoughts?" The king tapped the armrest lightly with his jade-like long nails, narrowing his eyes as if trying to discern the most subtle expression.
“Shuying has violated the rules of the religion, and there is no reason for Jiaye to interfere.”
"Qianming advocates a severe punishment followed by execution after seven days, as a warning to others; Zisu proposes feeding Mowanfa as a slave. In your opinion, which one is more reasonable?"
"In Jia Ye's opinion, Qian Ming's suggestion is certainly more in line with the rules," she replied indifferently.
Zi Su sneered. "Snow Envoy is truly ruthless, so eager to kill the Shadow Guards, is she perhaps trying to exonerate herself?"
“Snow Envoy judges impartially; how can there be any talk of personal bias?” Qianming immediately retorted. “Flower Envoy is probably being petty.”
The king stared at him for a long time before slowly asking a question.
"Does Jia Ye really think that way? It's not easy to cultivate a personal shadow guard, don't you feel it's a pity?"
"Although Jia Ye felt regret, she could not violate the rules of the sect, so she had to put righteousness above family ties."
"What a righteous act of sacrificing family for the greater good! Has Xue Shi ever considered her own responsibility for inadequate supervision?" Zi Su sneered, arms crossed. "Did you think that killing him would make you safe? Don't forget that he alerted the enemy, causing Shanshan Kingdom to be on high alert, making it extremely difficult for the assassination team to carry out another assassination."
"You flatter me, Flower Envoy. Assassination is the specialty of the Assassination Group. What difficulty is there in such a minor incident?"
She dismissed the matter with a few words, but Jiuwei was indignant and couldn't stand it any longer.
"If Xue Shi takes assassination so lightly, no wonder the Shadow Guards failed in their assassination attempt."
"You're mistaken, Moon Envoy. Although it may add a little trouble, it shouldn't hinder the elite edge of the Assassination Group. 'An army is raised for a thousand days to be used for one.' Doesn't Moon Envoy have even this much confidence in his subordinates?" Qian Ming casually changed the subject.
"It seems that in the eyes of the Wind Envoy, taking the life of a king is as easy as turning one's hand." Jiuwei's gaze was as cold and sharp as a knife. "But in the hands of the Snow Envoy, it seems that this is quite the opposite."
“That’s right, otherwise why would the Snow Envoy rush to Qiemo and leave the rest of the trouble to the Moon Envoy?” Zi Su smiled charmingly, mocking Qian Ming.
"There is a division of labor. Killing is the duty of the Moon Envoy, while the Snow Envoy travels according to custom. Why would the Flower Envoy say such a thing?"
"If that's the case, Xue Shi should have admitted long ago that he was not up to the task of assassinating the King of Shanshan, and the King would naturally have assigned Yue Shi to carry it out instead."
"Could the Flower Envoy be implying that the King's appointment was inappropriate?" Qianming cleverly shifted the blame to the king on the throne, causing Zisu's expression to change slightly.
The King coughed lightly, about to speak, when Jia Ye suddenly sighed softly.
All was silent for a moment.
She smiled faintly, knelt down, and looked directly at the King.
"Your Holiness, I admit that I am incompetent and lack virtue, which is why my mission failed and even tarnished Your Holiness's reputation. Now, the Moon Envoy and Flower Envoy are making accusations and demands on me in many ways. I have no way to defend myself and can only prove myself through my actions."
The king on the throne raised his eyebrows with interest.
How will you prove it?
“Shuying’s failure has put Yue Shi in a difficult position; Hua Shi also said that Jia Ye is shirking responsibility and trying to escape; the King of the Church is compassionate and also feels that the Shadow Guards are hard-won and that it would be a pity to execute them according to the law.” She lowered her eyes, seemingly very unwilling. “With all this, if Jia Ye does not take responsibility, how will he conduct himself in the Church in the future, and who will be able to win the hearts of his subordinates?”
She bit her lip helplessly.
"I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to act as you see fit. This journey to Qiemo is not far from Shanshan. If I can complete my business smoothly and easily, and then return with the king's life, I can spare the assassination group from being implicated by the 'Special Shadow' and silence the gossips, minimizing the impact of any failure. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission."
His voice was as clear as jade, and this time it was Qian Ming's turn to turn pale.
Jiuwei stood there stunned for a long while, her eyes filled with complex emotions, as if she had suddenly become a stranger. Zi Su stood up straight, looking completely bewildered and incredulous.
He almost thought he was hallucinating, and suddenly looked up, only to see Jia Ye kneeling upright with his back to him.
The air seemed to stagnate, and the squinting eyes appeared to be making a calculation.
What if you also fail?
“Then it is true that Jia Ye is incompetent, and I can only resign from the position of Snow Envoy.” The girl humbly lowered her head. “If I am fortunate enough to succeed, I ask that the King be lenient and forgiving of my recent failure as a warning, so that my merits and demerits can be offset, and that Jia Ye can retain some dignity.”
A low chuckle began, gradually turning into loud laughter.
"Good, good..." The King didn't say what was good about it, and after a long while he stopped laughing, his gaze peculiar.
“I underestimated you. Since you have this intention, why shouldn’t I grant it?” He paused, then added meaningfully, “Besides, everything you said makes sense. If I don’t agree, it would be unreasonable of me.”
"Thank you for your permission, Your Majesty. I will certainly live up to your expectations."
Jia Ye seemed oblivious to the implied meaning, smiled faintly, bowed respectfully, and withdrew from the hall.
From beginning to end, he never once looked at the person kneeling below him.
Shanshan
Charlene has been restless these past few days and can't calm down no matter what she does.
As the little princess of Shanshan, she was always pampered and spoiled. Her usually autocratic father would soften when he saw her, and no matter how angry he was, he would never lash out at her. He would always coax her gently, as if there was nothing he couldn't get as long as she smiled.
She accidentally saved her father a few days ago, which led to her being spoiled beyond measure.
The memory still lingers in my mind. The handsome young man appeared like a ghost, easily slaughtering all the guards around my father. His sword was like lightning, and his killing intent surged. No one could stop him.
Like the terrifying Grim Reaper.
She couldn't recall how she had the courage to stand in front of her father, nor did she understand why he suddenly stopped and stared intently at her face.
His appearance was as handsome as a legendary deity, yet he was terrifying.
Why didn't you stab me?
Because of her tears? Or... her beauty?
Every time she guessed, she would blush unconsciously. This extraordinary man was the first she had ever seen, and he was even more captivating than the prince from the neighboring country.
A strange feeling lingered in her heart, and she suddenly hoped that the Imperial Advisor would not hurt him, that he could escape the inescapable net of pursuit, or... that he would be injured and meet her in some secluded place?
The atmosphere in the palace was extremely tense. The royal advisor stayed by her father's side at all times, but she was lost in thought, the powerful and cold stranger seemingly etched into her mind, haunting the young princess who was just beginning to experience love.
She dared not tell anyone about these secret thoughts, not even her personal maidservant, who assumed that the princess's recent absent-mindedness was due to fright.
She always sent people to inquire about the progress of the hunt for the assassin, hoping for news but also not wanting him to be captured.
My father has long harbored resentment towards this henchman of the Tianshan Demon. If he were truly captured, he would certainly not let him off easily. Even my father, who dotes on his precious daughter, would not soften his heart because of her pleas.
But he is so mysterious, dangerous, and exceptionally handsome. How wonderful it would be to see him again.
She definitely won't summon the guards.
The beautiful little princess pondered for a moment, two blushes appearing on her fair face, making her even more charming and beautiful. The maid behind her smiled and complimented her.
"Your Highness is truly beautiful; even the snow lotus of Mount Tianshan would be ashamed of its own beauty. She is indeed the most outstanding beauty in Shanshan Kingdom. Tonight's banquet will surely captivate all the guests from all nations."
Tonight's banquet is for the King's fiftieth birthday. Shanshan is a powerful and renowned nation, and has just dealt a heavy blow to the Demonic Sect's attack. Envoys from all the Western Regions have come to offer their congratulations, and the hall is filled with distinguished guests and dignitaries, making this a grand celebration for the entire nation of Shanshan.
The young princess, who has just reached marriageable age, will make her official appearance at the banquet. The King of Shanshan also intends to take this opportunity to choose a suitable husband for his daughter, and everything is done with the utmost extravagance.
The maidservants selected suitable jewels from the dazzling array of boxes and arranged them to complement her cloud-like black hair, ensuring that the princess would appear in her most captivating form.
The beautiful woman was veiled in a magnificent purple robe. With each step she took, the hair ornaments in her hair trembled gently, like a soft breeze brushing against a willow branch. Her bright eyes sparkled with autumn waves, and she was both innocent and charming. Even the King of Shanshan was stunned.
She smiled, pursing her lips, and twirled gracefully. "Thank you, Father, for the new clothes."
Composing himself, the man smiled and gently stroked his daughter's rosy cheeks.
“Shalin has grown up, and her beauty has surprised even her father.” The father, who was usually very loving, stroked her cheek with a strange look in his eyes, a look that seemed to be both admiration and regret. “She is more beautiful than your sister.”
"Sister Iman? Father is joking. Everyone knows that you are the most beautiful woman in the Western Regions." Your sister, who married far away, was renowned for her beauty throughout the countries. After she came of age, suitors came in droves, and they had a very good relationship with her. In the end, she married the King of Shule. The richness of her dowry and the grandeur of her wedding ceremony became a famous story.
The hand that was touching her cheek was very warm, which made her feel slightly uncomfortable.
As if oblivious to her slight pull away, the man lifted her face and examined her closely. "Shalin is so beautiful, it makes me reluctant to marry you off so soon. How about you stay with your father for a few more years?"
“Shalin is willing to stay with Father King for the rest of her life.” She smiled sweetly, which made King Shanshan smile as well, and he straightened a golden hairpin for her.
"Go, let all the envoys from various countries see what a beautiful little princess I have."
As night fell, the courtyard was as bright as day.
Hundreds of banquet tables were filled with distinguished guests, who feasted outdoors in the exquisite palace gardens. All who attended were honored guests from all corners of the world. Golden cups and silver goblets were filled with fine wines and rare delicacies, and alluring maids served them attentively, making one feel intoxicated even without drinking.
The Hu women sang and danced, their voices soft and enchanting. Laughter filled the courtyard as they praised the King of Shanshan for his literary and military prowess. Birthday wishes and congratulatory messages were endless, and the princess's beauty was so outstanding that even the stars in the sky paled in comparison.
Charlene sat gracefully beside her father, a smile befitting her status.