Young Prime Minister, a Hermit

Chapter 67

Yang Yi looked down at me, his expression changing rapidly. After a long while, he laughed and said, "Lin Yu, I was just joking with you. Why take it seriously? Get up! You are my most beloved minister, my right-hand man. How could I bear to kill you?"

I breathed a sigh of relief and stood up as he gestured. A chill ran down my spine as I realized I was drenched in cold sweat. I bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I am recovering from a serious illness and am feeling quite tired. I will take my leave now."

Yang Yi offered a few more words of comfort before smiling and saying, "Lin Yu should rest well these days. The eighth day of next month is the day the princess will marry Feng Duwei. As Feng Duwei's master, Lin Yu will definitely be the officiant."

I don't know how my face looked, or how I left the palace. All I know is that Yang Yi's last look at me was filled with a multitude of complex and incomprehensible meanings.

Zi Mo sighed softly in my ear: "I was so close to making him believe me completely, but unfortunately, I failed at the last minute."

I looked up at him anxiously. Zi Mo said helplessly, "I didn't warn you earlier because I wanted you to act naturally in front of him. There was a sedative incense burning in that room that could disturb your peace of mind and cloud your thinking. If you hadn't been so determined, Yang Yi would have gotten something out of you, or at the very least, you would have given yourself away. But perhaps it's your sensitivity to the drug; your performance just now was flawless, and even Yang Yi began to doubt his own judgment. However, the moment he mentioned Feng Yihan's marriage, your face turned deathly pale. I'm afraid..."

I forced a bitter smile, my mind a jumble of thoughts, and walked unsteadily toward the Imperial Garden, intending to 'find the elusive Feng Yihan' as planned.

Although it was also a winter garden, the palace scenery was even more magnificent and splendid than that of the Chiyu Tower. As I wandered among the artificial hills and trees, I indeed saw Princess Jianing, standing with her brows furrowed, her beauty unparalleled, nestled among the white plum blossoms.

Yang Jianing, with the title Yongle, was the most beloved daughter of Emperor Jiaying, Yang Fan, and Yang Yi's only half-sister. According to historical records, Princess Jianing was gentle by nature, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and never harsh towards others, thus winning the hearts of everyone in the palace. She had many admirers, but for some reason, they all became her confidants, yet none won her heart. Only Lin Yu, a year younger than her, captured her heart at first sight, and she swore before Yang Yi that unless the man was as exceptionally talented and handsome as the Prime Minister, she would rather remain unmarried for life.

I coughed softly twice, pretending to look around nonchalantly, a hint of anxiety on my face. Sure enough, a soft, gentle voice called out, "Prime Minister Qin."

I stiffened, pretending that I had just noticed her, and took a few steps forward to bow and say, "Your subject Qin Luo greets the Princess."

"No need for formalities," she said softly. "Why has Prime Minister Qin come to the Imperial Garden today? Isn't he at home with his beloved wife?"

I gave an awkward laugh, cold sweat almost dripping down my back, and quickly replied with my head down: "Your Majesty, I and Yihan came to the palace to pay our respects, but when we came out we couldn't find him anywhere. We heard that he had come in this direction, so I came to check."

Princess Jianing walked towards me with light, graceful steps, a uniquely feminine fragrance wafting towards me on the cold air, which deepened my bitter smile. I heard her say in a distant, reproachful tone, "Lord Qin, is Jianing so disliked by you? You won't even glance at her now."

"Princess...you're too kind!" I wanted to bang my head against the wall, but I still had to cautiously raise my head and look at her. Yes, with her arched eyebrows like distant mountains, her delicate and elegant nose, her rosy lips, and her bright, clear eyes, coupled with her unparalleled beauty, she was indeed a beauty. But compared to Yunyan's stunning beauty, she was still somewhat lacking.

I don't know if she saw through my thoughts, but she frowned slightly and her eyes welled up with tears: "Jia Ning is about to be forced to marry. Lord Qin will naturally not have the slightest worry."

"How could that be?!" I exclaimed softly, and seeing her expression suddenly brighten with joy, I felt a headache coming on. I couldn't very well tell her that I wasn't worried about whether she would get married, but rather whether my Yihan would marry her. I gave an awkward smile and quickly added, "To me, the princess is like a confidante. It has nothing to do with romantic feelings, but I always hope that the princess will be happy."

A flash of light caught my eye, and I stared in astonishment at the tears welling in the princess's eyes. She choked out, "Does Lord Qin truly love his wife so much? Men often have multiple wives and concubines, but Jianing... Jianing doesn't mind sharing a husband with Miss Chu."

My forehead was covered in cold sweat, but then I suddenly realized that this was the perfect opportunity to instill her views on love. I quickly straightened up and said seriously, "Princess, would you like to hear me tell a story?"

Jia Ning stared at me blankly, then nodded with tears in her eyes, saying, "Of course I'm willing." She pointed with her delicate hand and said, "This way, sir."

We sat down facing each other at an open-air stone table, and I began to slowly recount a poignant love story in a sorrowful and nostalgic tone. To Jia Ning, it would surely seem that while it was a story, it was something Yunyan and I had personally experienced. But if a modern person heard it, they would absolutely burst out laughing, because what I was telling was clearly a combination of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, Romeo and Juliet. Only the ending was changed: Yunyan and I finally overcame all obstacles and eloped, escaping our families to start a new life in Jinyao Kingdom.

The charm of classic love stories is indeed endless. The gentle and virtuous princess was crying uncontrollably, while Zi Mo's extremely annoying laughter in the air made me both laugh and cry.

Princess Jianing lamented, "I never knew that anyone in this world could love as deeply as you and your wife. Jianing still dares to try and interfere; it is truly wishful thinking."

I quickly said, "Princess, please don't say that. Your Highness is exceptionally beautiful, gentle and virtuous. Countless people admire you, how could you possibly look down on yourself? But I have something to say from the bottom of my heart, I don't know if I should say it."

Princess Jianing said reproachfully, "Lord Qin, there's no need to be so polite. Just say what you have to say."

I stood up, bowed deeply, and said solemnly, “Today, His Majesty has arranged a marriage for the princess. I should not interfere, but firstly, the princess’s fiancé is my subordinate, which would inevitably lead to awkwardness. Secondly, I, as a guard, already have someone I love, and I fear that marrying him would be a disservice to the princess. Thirdly, although the princess and I are not destined to be husband and wife in this life, we can still be close friends. I sincerely hope that the princess can find someone who loves her deeply and spend the rest of her life with her. I have said all I need to say, and I hope the princess will forgive any offense caused by my words.”

Xiao Yi

2007.9.23 11:16

Chapter 46, Deceit and Intrigue, is complete.

My cold is getting worse, lol...

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Chapter 47 The Return of the Envoy

Chapter 47 The Return of the Envoy

The year 765 of the Wanli reign, a year fraught with hardship for both Jin Yao and me, finally ended peacefully amidst the booming sounds of fireworks and firecrackers. I sat on the roof of the main building of Chiyu Tower, leaning against Yi Han, sipping fragrant gardenia wine while gazing at the brilliant and magnificent sky.

"How lucky..." I chuckled softly, "I just finished eating cake and now I can see beautiful fireworks, it's like they're celebrating my birthday specially for me. Hey, Yihan..." I looked up at him, my face flushed, "Say 'Happy Birthday' to me."

A hint of doubt flashed in Yi Han's eyes, but he still said softly, "Happy birthday."

I picked up the wine glass, and the fragrant aroma of the wine wafted towards me. I drank it all in one gulp, and a warm feeling instantly rose in my chest. Just as I was about to drink again, a pair of hands reached out to stop me: "Young master, you'll get drunk if you drink any more."

I shook my head, leaned on his shoulder, and breathed just a few breaths away from him: "It's alright if I get drunk today, since I don't have to attend court tomorrow anyway."

"Young Master." Yi Han resolutely took the wine pot from my hand and said calmly, "Drinking too much wine is not good for your health."

"I know." I propped up my slightly dizzy head and looked at him. "I won't drink much in the future. But today, Yihan, just let me drink." I smiled, and while he was still in shock, I snatched the wine jug, poured a glass, but didn't drink it all. Instead, I gazed at the sky for a long time. "Yihan, do you know? On your birthday, you should put candles all over the cake, then turn off the lights. In the darkness, there are still flickering candlelight, and your dearest loved ones are blessing you. When the candles are blown out, it's pitch black, but that's the happiest moment. I used to think that way."

"Young Master...you're drunk." Yi Han's voice was gentler than usual.

I chuckled softly and downed the wine in my glass: "If I said I wasn't drunk, you wouldn't believe me." I poured another glass, and as the hand that was about to stop me reached out halfway, it withdrew. I drank it all in one gulp: "And now, I live in this strange happiness every day, but I only feel that it is an endless hell, a devil's swamp, from which I cannot break free, cannot escape, and I have to force myself to smile."

I kept downing drinks, my head finally starting to spin. Though my mind was clear, I couldn't control my words and actions. I chuckled softly, my voice slightly slurred: "Sometimes I wonder why neither world seems to belong to me. The person I love no longer loves me. I can't see my own world anymore. The person who loves me doesn't love the real me. The world I inhabit has never truly belonged to me. Ha...it's ridiculous, like a tongue twister..."

“Young Master…” This time, Yi Han resolutely took the nearly empty wine flask from my hand and gently embraced me as I swayed from side to side. “Young Master, you’re drunk.”

"Drunk?" A wave of alcohol rose in my chest, and I coughed heavily, my lips and cheeks burning. "I wish I were drunk. To forget Xu Lie, to forget the pain, to forget my past foolishness. But I'm more sober than anyone else!"

My body felt lighter as he lifted me up. My hands naturally wrapped around his neck, and his cool breath filled my nostrils, a familiar scent that almost brought tears to my eyes. I pressed my face against his collarbone, looking down at the bustling capital city of Luonan, feeling that such prosperity had never belonged to me. I murmured, "Yihan, what if I fall in love with you?"

Her body, pressed against mine, suddenly stiffened, her soft breaths lingering around me. I said silently, "Knowing you don't love me, yet I've still fallen for you. What should I do?"

The hands covering me tightened inch by inch, and that familiar dark green in his eyes struggled and surged, as if trying to break through all obstacles and burst forth. I giggled and poked his firm chest with my finger, saying, "Silly, I was just kidding."

I looked up and saw long, flowing black hair, a delicate face, and brown eyes. She smiled gently and said, "The path Lin Yu chose doesn't give him the right to love or be loved. Don't you think so?"

I looked down and met Yihan's cold, deep black eyes, where too much longing and too much pain had been buried. My head drooped limply, and I whispered, "I might really be drunk, Yihan, let's go downstairs."