Eternal Night - Chapter 56
The thin morning light swept across the golden bricks of the square in front of the Daqing Hall, reflecting a faint blue glow. Yongye glanced at the towering Daqing Hall, flanked by imperial guards and palace attendants. Walking through the middle, he could see the dragon throne deep within the hall atop countless steps, and could imagine the emperor's majesty looking down from above.
For this kind of imposing presence and power that surpasses everyone else, from the imperial court to the common people, no one is unaffected.
He stood in the middle, slightly towards the back, watching Li Tianyou's tall, upright figure, his doubts and unease growing stronger. When he looked up at the sky today, there was no moonlight. Li Tianyou's words must have a deeper meaning.
But Yuepo… Remembering Li Tianyou’s words that a day of exhaustion would only worsen one’s health, Yongye felt a chill run down her spine.
He stood uneasily in the hall for a full hour. When he heard the eunuch call his name, he quickly stood up, knelt down, and bowed.
"I am very pleased with this peace talk. Minister Li also seconded the proposal for Princess Chen's marriage. Minister Li, who do you think is the most suitable to marry the princess?" Emperor Yujia asked kindly.
Yongye recalled his conversation with his father, but in front of so many people, was it most appropriate for him to speak? He respectfully replied, "Your subject believes that since Prince You is not yet married, it is appropriate to welcome the princess."
“Your Majesty, I think this is inappropriate.” A minister stepped forward to object. “The Chen army has been repeatedly defeated at Sanyu Pass, all thanks to the might of Prince Duan. This time, we have requested that Lord Li lead the negotiations. If the Chen Kingdom were to marry a princess to Lord Li, our dynasty would be able to demonstrate the effectiveness of the negotiations by combining kindness and force. I suggest that Lord Li welcome the princess.”
“Your Majesty, Yongye is eighteen years old and still unmarried. I have no objection,” Prince Duan replied with a smile.
Emperor Yujia, too lazy to ask for opinions again, nodded and said, "I hereby confer upon Li Yongye the title of Marquis of Yong'an, grant him 500 mu of land, and order him to marry Princess Chen in August."
"Your Majesty, I, Li Yongye, thank you." Yongye could only offer his thanks. A marquis? He'd risen so quickly, directly from a fourth-rank official to a marquis. Given his status as the heir to the Prince of Duan, the court officials had no objections. A marquis with no real power, marrying Princess Chen—everyone thought it was a good deal. Yongye remembered what he'd told his father; it had come true. He could simply be granted a marquisate and marry her. A twitch appeared on his lips; he wanted to laugh again.
After listening to the ministers ramble on about various trivial matters, the eunuch finally announced leisurely, "Court adjourned!"
Yongye bowed to the officials and left the palace after the court session. He was anxious to return and inform Li Yannian to inquire about Yuepo's condition. Just as he was about to slip away, Li Tianyou approached him with a smile and said warmly, "Yongye, I have invited a renowned physician to my residence. I intended to invite him to the Prince Duan's residence to examine you, but that doctor is quite eccentric and refuses to go. I would like to invite you to my residence so that I can treat your old ailment."
Upon hearing this, Yongye became even more uneasy. Who else besides Yuepo could be the famous doctor Li Tianyou mentioned? Was he really testing her or had he already secured the information? Despite his inner turmoil, he smiled and thanked him.
"It's better to see a doctor sooner rather than later. Don't be afraid to see a doctor. It's not good to delay."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I changed my clothes at my residence before coming to the Prince's Mansion," Yongye said calmly. Li Tianyou practically wanted to say, "Li Yongye, I've caught your accomplice. You'd better come back with me now and confess." Did he really expect Yongye to silently watch Li Tianyou torture Yue Poheng in front of him, so that the cunning Prince would have a solid case against him? He smiled, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and left.
Had he guessed wrong? Li Tianyou stared blankly at Yongye's retreating figure as he walked down from the golden palace. They were both short, Yongye had sought medical help in Youli Valley, and the assassin had disappeared from the Duan Prince's residence that night. So what if he was wrong? Better to miss an opportunity than let it slip by! Li Tianyou thought coldly.
Who says a tender heart is also gentle?
Moon Soul. When Yongye closed her eyes, she remembered the scene of Moon Soul standing in front of her when she was a child. When she opened her eyes again, she heard the voice of him calling her when he had hardened his heart and did not want to be close to her the last time he saw Moon Soul.
The memory of that cry of "Star Soul" now only brings her excruciating pain.
Knowing it was a trap, knowing Li Tianyou was suspicious, how could she not go?
Yongye changed into clean clothes and put on the black gold armor close to her skin. She opened the chest; inside were all her equipment. Her fingers gently traced the rows of willow-leaf throwing knives, feeling their cool, serene touch. The jade bottle originally contained the disguise potion Yuepo had given her when she left the valley; now she had concocted it herself according to the recipe. The ink-black bottle contained the antidote Yuepo had stolen for her; she had taken some after being poisoned in Prince You's study. And that row of items—bewitching powder, sleeping gas, poisons… each one reminded her of Yuepo.
Her eyes were a little wet. She was torn with conflicting emotions. She could choose not to save him, she could ignore him, but why did this thought make her so restless?
"Young Master! Dinner is ready." Yin'er's clear voice rang out from outside.
"No, I'm going to Lan Cui's for a meal. It's been a long time since I've had her cooking," Yong Ye replied, grabbing everything he needed. He also picked up the replica of Princess Yu Xiu's jade pendant. If Yue Po wanted to escape, this might be helpful.
Li Yannian's courtyard was next to the Prince's Mansion, a small courtyard house in the corner of the West Alley, with a large locust tree planted at the entrance. Yongye slowly pushed open the wooden door and went inside.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, Li Yannian, Li Er, and Lan Cui were having dinner in the courtyard. Seeing Yongye enter, Lan Cui's face lit up with joy: "Young Master! What brings you here?"
"Mmm, smells delicious! I'm here to mooch a meal!"
Upon hearing this, Lan Cui quickly went inside to get new bowls and chopsticks and moved her seat. She then took her bowl to the kitchen to eat.
Four dishes were laid out on the small square table: cold green vegetables, bear paw tofu, braised beef, and a roast chicken.
Yongye suddenly wanted to laugh, recalling the scene of eating at a street stall in her past life. What was missing here was beer. She glanced at the roast chicken, but picked up some vegetables instead, swallowing hard.
For eight years, fearing her body would grow too big, she had been on a vegetarian diet and diet, so the eighteen-year-old looked no bigger than fifteen or sixteen. Was it easy for her? Thinking of this, Yongye put down his chopsticks: "Steward Li, Prince You said he has invited a famous doctor and would like me to come to the Prince's residence to see him."
Li Yannian ate a piece of tofu and said to Li Er, "Young Master is eighteen years old and can drink alcohol. Go and see if there is any more wine in the house. If not, go and get some."
Li Er put down his chopsticks, bowed, and soon went out the door carrying a wine pot.
Li Yannian then slowly said, "Youli Valley was entrusted by someone to send Yuepo to protect Prince You. From the moment he entered Prince You's mansion, his life belonged to Prince You. This is Youli Valley's golden signboard. No matter what Prince You does to him, he can only accept it."
Yongye quietly observed Li Yannian. His meals were so simple, his clothes merely ordinary cloth robes, yet why did she always sense a mixture of nobility and cunning emanating from him? His face, etched with the marks of time, still held a proud expression. What made him so loyal to Youli Valley? And why did her father, knowing he was from Youli Valley, refrain from taking action against him? Was it truly simply because the time wasn't right?
Yongye said, word by word, "Save him!"
Li Yannian did not stop eating. He picked up a piece of roast chicken, chewed it very elegantly, and slowly spat out the bone.
"If Gu Li doesn't save him, I won't be the heir anymore. Tonight I'll kidnap Yue Po and leave." Yong Ye knew he was threatening him. He also knew that these words probably wouldn't have much effect on Li Yan Nian.
Sure enough, Li Yannian carefully took out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth and said, "The Valley Master is indeed wise, but he didn't expect that you would risk being exposed for Yue Po's sake. Do you know the consequences? Prince Duan will kill you, and Youli Valley will not let the two of you go. Why risk your life?"
"I don't believe you would give up the scheme that you've been working on for over ten years. Besides... the Emperor has already decreed that I will marry Princess Yuxiu of Chen during the Mid-Autumn Festival in August."
Li Yannian finally looked at Yongye directly, his eyes filled with coldness: "The marriage alliance has achieved its purpose. You don't think you're the only one in Youli Valley who resembles the Crown Prince, do you? Even if he were an idiot, the princess would still marry him."
Yongye looked at Li Yannian with a calm gaze: "No one can replace me. After all these years, do you think you wouldn't notice if the Prince of Duan was switched again?"
Their eyes met, and a dangerous aura emanated from the air.
"The wine is here!" Li Er's voice broke the silence.
Li Yannian said in a low voice, "As long as you don't reveal your identity, Youli Valley won't interfere."
Is this the biggest concession I've received? Yongye smiled: "I don't want to ruin my future either."
She stood up, and Li Er laughed, "I've never seen the young master drink any wine before. Won't you have a cup?"
Yongye shook his head: "I have to go to Prince You's mansion to see a doctor tonight. It's not convenient for the doctor to treat me if I've been drinking. Please enjoy your meal. I'll come back to try Lancui's cooking next time."
Lan Cui saw Yong Ye get up and rush out, saying, "Young Master is always like this, eating so little, how can he stay healthy?"