Young Prime Minister, a Hermit

Chapter 59

"So you still remember that place." Yang Yi's deep voice rang out. "I thought that after so many years, you should have forgotten it long ago."

I clutched my chest and stared at him blankly.

He straightened up, suddenly reaching out to touch my cheek. A turbulent undercurrent surged within his blue eyes, several times deeper than mine: "Three years ago, on that rainy night, you came before me with the same deathly pallor, looking at me with that same near-despair. And so… I was bewitched… even if it meant being used as a tool for your revenge, I was willing. Who would have thought your ambitions were so far greater… not just revenge, but the Golden Radiance, even the entire continent of Ishu."

"Someone come here!" Yang Yi shouted outside, "Take the Prime Minister to Naihe Pavilion!"

A flash of green light appeared before my eyes, and Yi Han had firmly supported me as I swayed, looking at me with a worried expression: "Young Master, are you alright?"

I shook my head, straightened up, and bowed, saying, "This humble subject takes his leave."

Yang Yi, with his back to me, did not turn around. He only said in an extremely stern tone, "Xiao Anzi, bring Prime Minister Qin to my study in two hours, or your life will be in danger."

"Yes...this servant...this servant obeys!" Xiao Anzi hurriedly accepted the order and led me out of Ganlin Palace, heading towards the back of the palace.

Halfway there, Xiao Anzi looked around and frowned, saying, "Young Master, the Emperor is probably determined to deal with you this time. All the people you planted in the palace have either been eliminated by the Emperor or, like me, have been placed under strict surveillance. The Emperor is probably only keeping us alive to keep you in check."

I was startled and looked up at Zi Mo. He nodded, his expression extremely solemn: "It seems I truly underestimated Yang Yi. A person who can sit on the throne is definitely not a kind person. However, he is also right. Now Jin Yao has Huo Ling in front and Feng Yin behind, and you have just defeated Qian Cheng, making your reputation even more famous. If Yang Yi kills you now, it will only make Huo Ling and Feng Yin think they have an opportunity and attack together, which would be tantamount to him destroying his own country. Yang Yi would not be so foolish."

Xiao Anzi continued, "Young Master, Madam didn't suffer much in Naihe Pavilion, but she was shackled with black iron chains and could only move around within the pavilion. Apart from the key in the Emperor's possession, I'm afraid no one can rescue her." At this point, Xiao Anzi's expression darkened, and he advised, "Young Master, we all know you love Madam deeply. But this time... it seems impossible for you not to compromise."

I didn't understand what Xiao Anzi said, so I looked up at Yi Han and saw that he looked somewhat embarrassed and turned his head away. I could only bow to Xiao Anzi to express my gratitude.

Xiao Anzi was so frightened that he waved his hands repeatedly, almost kneeling down: "Young master, you are too kind to say that. My family has only been able to survive until now thanks to your kindness. Moreover, I am a cripple, yet you have never despised or insulted me, treating me like a normal person. I...I..." He wiped away his tears and smiled, "Young master, there are many spies in the palace, so this servant cannot say more. Naihe Pavilion is just ahead. If you have anything to say, you must explain it clearly to your wife. Your wife...your wife will definitely understand."

Following Xiao Anzi's directions, I looked up and saw the plaque, written in cursive script, hanging in front of me. This was an extremely secluded courtyard; if it weren't so clean and the trees so neatly trimmed, I would have thought it was the site of a cold palace.

Naihexuan, Naihexuan! I walked step by step towards this desolate courtyard, so bleak in the transition from autumn to winter. My heart pounded, aching! A pain that seeped into my very bones, slowly spreading upwards. Was this Lin Yu's pain, or mine?

Yi Han caught me, his hands around my waist trembling slightly, as if he wanted to envelop me completely. His deep voice came from above: "Young Master, it's over...it's all over."

What? What's past? I looked up at him in a daze, then gazed at every pillar, every corridor, every flower and plant. Where exactly is this place? It's utterly unfamiliar, yet it feels so familiar, even in my pain. Lin Yu! Lin Yu! What have you experienced here? What decisions have you made?

Xiao Yi

2007.9.9 12:50

Chapter 40: Emperor Yang Yi (End)

Hehe, the mystery is slowly emerging... I've already planted some foreshadowing... Take a guess! ^_^

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Chapter 41 Sealed Past

Chapter 41 Sealed Past

When Xiao Anzi said Yunyan hadn't suffered much, I mostly didn't take it to heart. But when I opened the door and saw her reclining figure on the soft bed, those words suddenly came to mind. Indeed... she hadn't suffered much, and in fact, she seemed to be living a more comfortable life.

The moment she saw me enter, a surge of wild joy flashed in her eyes, and she leaped from the bed with a thud, making a clattering sound. When a pair of delicate hands tightly embraced my neck, my whole body stiffened for a moment. Yunyan was trembling all over, her arms around me so tight they seemed to be strangling me, as if we had been separated for years.

"Lin Yu..." she whispered in my ear, her voice choked with emotion, "You're alright...you're really alright...you bastard..."

Those silent sobs felt like hammer blows striking my heart, which was built with high walls, trying to shatter the coldness and alienation within. When I came to my senses, I was already holding her tightly, like holding my dearest friend, letting her cry on my shoulder, her tears soaking my clothes.

After crying, I was about to let go of her when she hugged me tightly, looking at me with tear-streaked face: "Husband, you're finally back. Yunyan missed you so much!"

"Cough cough..." I quickly lowered my head to cover my laughter, and pulled her to sit on the bed. "My lady, don't be afraid. Now that I'm here, I will never let you get hurt again. By the way, Yunyan, why were you accused of poisoning the princess?"

Yunyan sobbed in my arms, but wouldn't say a word. I was about to lose my patience with her crying. She suddenly looked up and made a face at me, then immediately lowered her eyes and said softly, "Yunyan doesn't know why this happened. That day, I was ordered to go to the palace to accompany Consort Nian. Consort Nian had some exquisite pastries prepared, and said that the princess had mentioned wanting to eat them last time, so she asked me to pick some and send them to her, and also to pay my respects. My husband knows... the princess has never had a good impression of Yunyan, and Yunyan thought that it wouldn't be bad if she could befriend the princess. So she agreed to Consort Nian's request. Who knew... who knew... the princess ate the pastries that Yunyan brought and suddenly had a severe stomachache. After the imperial physician examined her, he found that the pastries contained a deadly poison. But Consort Nian and Consort Yi ate them and were fine, so they said that Yunyan poisoned the princess out of jealousy. Husband... husband... you should know that although Yunyan is the daughter of the Poison Immortal, she has always been a virtuous and kind woman, never stepping out of her home. How could she do such a vicious thing? The princess... the princess's poison really wasn't from me!"

"Alright! Yunyan, don't cry! I believe you! Of course... cough... I believe you." I patted her back to comfort her while desperately trying to suppress my laughter. Because as she spoke, she wrote these words on my palm:

"Are you kidding me? How could I possibly use such a low-level poison? If I were to use poison, I would definitely use 'heart-gouging' poison, making her itch for ten days and ten nights, ruining her appearance, and then causing her body to rot and die! I can tell it's just a piece of poison by smelling it. I have at least a hundred kinds of medicine that can easily cure this poison. It would only make matters worse. I would never be short of excuses!"

After calming Yunyan down, I began to ask her about the events of the past two months and briefly told her about my own situation. I started rambling on and on, and found I had so much to say that I talked for an hour, when Yihan suddenly said, "Young Master, the people watching have left."

Yunyan and I both breathed a sigh of relief, then exchanged a bitter smile. As usual, Yunyan first smacked me on the head with something, then angrily said, "You idiot! You've put yourself in a life-or-death situation again, and almost dragged Yihan and the entire Dark Camp down with you. That Liu Cenfeng isn't someone to be trifled with! Knowing he was already making moves, you still dared to leave the army and go to Binsheng without permission, almost losing your life. And now you know you were wrong? Ever since I received Uncle Li's letter, I've worried about you day and night, not even getting a good night's sleep. Do you realize your mistake now?"

I closed my eyes, and those long-forgotten memories churned gently in my mind, only to be suppressed again. I smiled and said, "Yunyan, I know I was wrong, and I won't do it again."

This reminds me of why Zimo agreed to let me go to Binsheng in the first place. Firstly, he wanted to scout out the terrain and trusted Yihan and the Night Division's protective capabilities, though my foolishness disrupted the plan. Secondly, he suspected Liu Cenfeng was in Binsheng, so he had me plant some men there to prevent Liu Cenfeng from cutting off Jingu and Xiangxi's connection during battle. If Xiangxi were isolated and helpless, it would be easily plunged into a bitter struggle. But he never expected that Liu Cenfeng's arrival in Binsheng had no intention of helping Qian Cheng win; he was solely focused on killing me. Zimo said even he had to admire Liu Cenfeng's decisiveness and ruthlessness.

Yunyan suddenly hugged me gently and said softly, "Linyu, don't look like that. It hurts me to see it. Does this place remind you of him again?"

I shuddered and slowly began to look around, my gaze moving from the rosewood desk to the short couch covered with brocade cushions, the several potted ancient plum and kumquat trees arranged in a pleasing manner, the bright and translucent window curtains, and finally settling on the large bed behind me, draped with yellow silk brocade. In a daze, I saw a figure struggling and wailing on it. His handsome face, which could eclipse the sun and moon, was now contorted in pain; his lips, once alluring and graceful, were now dripping with blood; his phoenix eyes, bright as stars and possessing an unsmiling yet captivating charm, were now filled with hatred and agony…

He... he used to be so handsome and elegant, like a fairy. But now he's clutching my clothes, repeating over and over, "I hate... I hate so much..." He died with his eyes wide open, unable to rest in peace.

With a loud "bang," I seemed to hear something. I wanted to ask what had happened, but I couldn't move. Yunyan and Yihan called out to me anxiously, and then a pair of hands carefully helped me up. A cool and reassuring aura enveloped my whole body: "Young Master, Young Master!" Only then did I realize that the "bang" was actually from when I fell down.

I slowly raised my head, and my pale face was reflected in Yunyan's tear-filled eyes. I heard myself ask her in a very calm voice, "Yunyan, who was ever imprisoned here?"

“Lin Yu…” she called softly, her lips trembling, “Are you starting to remember?”

I neither said yes nor no, I just quietly and persistently looked at her.

Yun Yan sighed softly and said, "Kewei, Ren Kewei. Lin Yu, do you still remember this person?"

My mind was a bit confused. I searched my memory for a long time with Lin Yu's super memory before I suddenly looked up and said, "Ren Yao, courtesy name Kewei. He is the one I took the imperial examination to clear his name and the one who assisted Yang Yi to avenge him."

Yunyan's eyes darkened, and she gently embraced me. I noticed her body was trembling uncontrollably, so I reached out to support her shoulders, wanting to comfort her, but suddenly realized that the trembling was actually coming from myself.

"Ren Yao was a renowned handsome and talented man in Jin Yao, the son of Ren Fei, the former censor of the previous dynasty. Although he died early, he was still regarded by the world as one of the four most outstanding young men in the Yi Xiu Continent, along with you, Qin Luo, Han Jue, the third young master of the Han family, and Liu Cenfeng of the Fire Feather Kingdom. In the twenty-second year of Jia Ying, Crown Prince Yang Qian discovered that Ren Fei intended to join the Third Prince Yang Yi, so he fabricated a charge of treason against him, and his entire family was either executed, exiled, or imprisoned. Ren Yao was secretly imprisoned here for two whole years."

I glanced around, then quickly looked down again, a strange fear gripping me, afraid of what I might see: "How did I meet Ren Yao?"