Construyendo una dinastía de canciones armoniosas

Capítulo 53

Just as Qin Hao was about to get angry, a hand came from the side and covered his chest: "Don't worry, Xiao'er is here." Turning his head, he saw Lin Suyang taking the sleeping Qin Xiao from Yanzi's hands and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I was worried that the Crown Prince would cry, so I had Yanzi bring him here," Lin Suyang said with a smile, reaching out to touch Qin Xiao's face.

Yanzi, standing to the side, was already pale with fright. With such a huge fire, if her master hadn't told her to bring the Crown Prince along, wouldn't the Crown Prince have been... Her heart turned cold. Who could be so vicious?

"Your Majesty, the fire is too large. I fear that everyone inside is likely dead or alive," Xiao Ling said, his forehead covered in sweat.

"Do your best. Save as many as you can. Also, go down and investigate what caused the fire," Qin Hao said expressionlessly.

"yes."

The ministers behind them all stood respectfully at attention, not daring to utter a sound. Si Junxing, however, kept a close eye on Lin Suyang, scrutinizing every expression on her face.

Just then, Empress Dowager Fengxiang, accompanied by Consort Qi and Consort Xiao, stormed over. Upon reaching Qin Hao, Empress Dowager Fengxiang's sharp eyes swept over him, then fixed her gaze on Lin Suyang, who was still holding Qin Xiao and talking to Yanzi.

"Is Your Majesty alright?" Empress Dowager Fengxiang turned her gaze to Qin Hao.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine."

Empress Dowager Fengxiang glanced at the center of the fire and said to Qin Hao, "Does His Majesty still have no clue what to do about today's events?"

Qin Hao frowned and asked, "What does the Empress Dowager mean by that?"

"His Majesty has truly been bewitched by this vixen." Empress Dowager Fengxiang sneered at Lin Suyang. "Does His Majesty not know that all of this is because of her?"

A stir arose among the officials, their eyes filled with doubt as they looked at Lin Suyang. Lin Suyang chuckled softly, turned and handed Qin Xiao to Yanzi, then turned back to Empress Dowager Fengxiang with unwavering resolve and asked, "Which eye of Your Majesty saw me do all this? Could it be that Your Majesty is a deity, capable of knowing the heavens and the earth?"

Empress Dowager Fengxiang shouted, "You vixen, you have insulted my virtuous minister of the Great Central Plains. You have bewitched the Emperor, colluded with spies from Yan and Liao to plot his assassination, and now you have set fire to my Qingxiang Palace. Every single one of these accusations is irrefutable, and you still want to deny it?"

At this point, Han Yufeng's face darkened, and he stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, please explain yourself clearly. What traitors from Yan and Liao? When did they attempt to assassinate the Emperor? If you do not give me an explanation today, I will not rest until you have done so!"

Lin Suyang also said, "Hmph, Empress Dowager, are you senile? Insulting a virtuous minister? I have always stayed within the palace walls, never stepping outside. How could I have insulted a virtuous minister? As for bewitching the Emperor, that is even more of a misunderstanding. The Emperor has hands and feet, and I dare not even stop him from coming and going. How could I have bewitched him? Is there any conclusive evidence? I beg the Empress Dowager to produce the so-called evidence."

"Witch, don't be too happy yet. As everyone knows, the former Grand Tutor Lin Suyang was a talented man of our Great Yang. He was loyal to the Great Yang but died young due to the rebellion of a vassal state. Everyone in the Great Yang knows that he was exceptionally talented in literature and handsome beyond compare. Now, witch, you are impersonating the deceased Grand Tutor Lin. Isn't that an insult to my virtuous minister?"

"Furthermore," Empress Dowager Fengxiang continued, "you use your alluring appearance to seduce the Emperor, causing him to lose his appetite, neglect state affairs, and even unjustly kill innocent people because of you. Isn't this deceiving the Emperor?"

"Empress Dowager, I will handle this matter myself. Please return to the palace first," Qin Hao suddenly interjected.

"Your Majesty, although I am not Your Majesty's biological mother, I bear the responsibility of your upbringing. If I see Your Majesty becoming hopelessly addicted to women, I would rather go down and join my late Emperor. I must make this clear today. Otherwise, I fear Your Majesty will continue to be controlled by this vixen."

"Speaking of colluding with spies from Yan and Liao..." Empress Dowager Fengxiang suddenly looked at Si Junxing, who had been silent behind Han Yufeng, and said, "I wonder if His Highness the Eighth Prince, the distinguished guest from Yan and Liao, has anything to say?"

There was an uproar around them. What was going on? How did it suddenly turn into a discussion about the Eighth Prince of Yan and Liao?

"I believe that many of the imperial guards saw the assassin who attempted to assassinate the Emperor that day. Can anyone tell me whether they recognize this person?" Empress Dowager Fengxiang pointed her long finger at Si Junxing.

Only then did someone exclaim, "Ah, it's him, that assassin of heaven and earth!"

Han Yufeng chuckled inwardly. This guy's acting was terrible. He and Si Junxing seemed to be the center of attention when they entered the Wei Palace. Could it be that he only saw Si Junxing's face now?

"Your Highness, can't you give the officials of the Great Central Plains an explanation?"

"Eighth Prince, you need not listen to the Empress Dowager's nonsense. May I ask, does the Empress Dowager believe the guard's words without any evidence? Or is the Empress Dowager deliberately trying to sow discord between the Great Yang and Yan Liao?" Lin Suyang said coldly.

"Enough! Do you think I don't exist?" Qin Hao turned around and saw the still raging fire in Qingxiang Palace. "I have the right to make my own decisions. Empress Dowager, please return to the palace."

Empress Dowager Fengxiang looked at Qin Hao's cold face and said with a sorrowful expression, "Your Majesty is so disobedient to loyal advice that I am truly ashamed before the ancestors of the Qin family. If Your Majesty does not punish this witch today, I will absolutely not go back!" Before Qin Hao could speak, she called out, "Guards!"

A maidservant timidly stepped out from behind Consort Qi.

"Tell me, what is the relationship between our Empress Jingshu and this person?"

"This servant...this servant doesn't know. It's just that when this servant went to Hanzhu Garden to deliver something that day, I accidentally saw the Empress call this person into the bedroom of Hanzhu Garden, and then...and then this person didn't come out for a long time..."

Yanzi recognized the voice immediately. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Cui'er from the Imperial Kitchen. When her mistress was still living in Hanzhu Garden, this girl often helped deliver seasonal fruits when she was busy. However, she hadn't asked her for help that day.

Thinking of this, Yanzi, fearing she might cause trouble for her master, hurriedly cried out, "She's lying!"

“No, I’m not lying. That day, Sister Yanzi packed fruits and vegetables to take back to Hanzhu Garden. Later, I realized that she forgot to bring the plums that the Empress often eats, so I helped deliver them to her…”

Yanzi was taken aback. No wonder she thought Shunzi had kindly brought the fresh plums to the table that day; it turned out to be her.

Seeing that Yanzi had nothing to say, Empress Dowager Fengxiang sneered, "What, is this still a lie? Your Majesty, not only is the Empress already your woman, but she is also secretly entangled with someone else, even instigating him to assassinate Your Majesty. Does Your Majesty intend to tolerate this?" Turning her gaze to the bowed ministers behind her, she continued, "Ministers, although I have not made any great contributions to the Great Yang, I will absolutely not allow anyone to plot against Your Majesty or the Great Yang. What do you ministers think should be done about this matter?"

The courtiers fell silent. On one side was the new empress favored by Emperor Hong, and on the other was Empress Dowager Fengxiang. This was a truly difficult situation. However, seducing a man was a capital offense, especially since the man was a prince of Yan and Liao. Putting aside the complicated relationship between the two countries, this prince of Yan and Liao even came to assassinate their emperor. His crime was simply unforgivable.

At this moment, Consort Qi, who had remained silent, spoke up: "Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, I believe that Her Majesty the Empress was merely confused for a moment. I beg Your Majesty and Your Majesty to punish her leniently."

Her tone seemed to be pleading for Lin Suyang, but in reality she was overjoyed. As long as Lin Suyang fell, everything would be back in her hands.

Lin Suyang scoffed. Qin Hao hadn't even said anything yet, and she was already so eager to hit him? Just as she was about to retort, a sharp pain shot through her head, her vision went completely red, and then she heard someone scream in terror: "Monster..."

The next moment, she was pulled into someone's arms, and she heard the person ask anxiously, "How are you?" It was Qin Hao. Lin Suyang felt a fire burning within her, and she irrationally pushed Qin Hao away, staring at him with bloodshot eyes. Suddenly, she pulled out a dagger from somewhere and stabbed him. Qin Hao couldn't dodge in time, and with a "swoosh," the dagger pierced his flesh. A chorus of shouts for protection erupted around them.

Lin Suyang went berserk and stabbed anyone she saw. The imperial guards who arrived quickly surrounded her, but Qin Hao pushed them away. Qin Hao wanted to step forward and take the dagger from her hand, but he was worried about hurting her, so he was caught in a dilemma.

Just then, a dark shadow flashed by, grabbed the struggling and flailing Lin Suyang, and floated away. Realizing the crazed Empress was gone, the crowd then noticed the figure leaping about in the distance.

Qin Hao quickly glanced behind Han Yufeng and, sure enough, Si Junxing dared to snatch someone right under his nose! He immediately ordered Xiao Ling to take the imperial guards and give chase. Qin Ke, who had been standing quietly for a long time, also stepped forward to volunteer. Qin Hao, disregarding his thoughts, nodded in agreement.

Empress Dowager Fengxiang and Consort Qi chuckled to themselves. Some ministers had already fled in terror. Only Qin Hao and Han Yufeng exchanged heated glances in mid-air, their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wits. Behind them, the raging fire illuminated the chaotic scene.

Volume Four, Palace's Absolute, Chapter 121: The Song of the Stars

Xiao Ling and Qin Ke, accompanied by imperial guards, chased after the imperial concubines to Quexing Palace. Although it was a palace for imperial concubines, the two were so eager to find someone that they ignored the people blocking their way and rushed in.

Xuan Ge was already in a low mood, so she prepared to go to bed early. Suddenly, she heard Nian'er knocking on the door and saying that the imperial guards had come to search. Startled, she quickly put on her clothes and went out.

Xuan Ge knew Xiao Ling; he had accompanied Qin Hao several times when Qin Hao came here. However, she did not know Qin Ke. So when the two of them hurriedly walked in, Xuan Ge had no choice but to stop Xiao Ling and ask him what had happened.

Xiao Ling simply replied, "Find someone," and then directed the guards behind him to search the area. Qin Ke, on the other hand, went alone to the garden behind the Quexing Palace.

After carefully examining the area and finding nothing amiss, he was about to leave when he caught a glimpse of a bright red gauze dress peeking out from the flower bushes in the corner. He paused, startled, just as a series of hurried footsteps approached.

"Your Highness, is it here?"

Qin Ke casually shifted his position, blocking the red figure, then shook his head and said, "I've searched, but I haven't found anyone. Let's look over there."

The person who asked the question responded and hurriedly ran away. Qin Ke paused for a moment, then said softly, "Take good care of her." He then turned and left.

Xiao Ling and Qin Ke returned empty-handed, enraging Qin Hao, who ordered all palace and city gates to be closed and anyone found suspicious to be reported immediately. The disappearance of the Eighth Prince of Yan and Liao and the Empress confirmed Empress Dowager Feng Xiang's accusations of adultery, and Lin Suyang's sudden madness and assassination attempt on the Emperor were also recorded in the criminal code. As a result, some ministers sided with the Empress Dowager, determined to severely punish Lin Suyang once she was captured.

The events of that night were already chaotic, but what followed plunged the entire palace into panic. Not long after Xiao Ling and Qin Ke returned to Qingxiang Palace, a group of men in black appeared out of nowhere, attempting to assassinate Qin Hao and his companions; even Han Yufeng was among their targets. Fortunately, the imperial guards sent to find Lin Suyang returned in time and captured the dozens of men on the spot. Enraged, Qin Hao ordered Xiao Ling to torture them to determine who was behind it all, but to everyone's surprise, they all bit off their tongues and committed suicide. No one survived.

What struck Xiao Ling as odd was that the details of these people's attire resembled those he remembered from a previous encounter. He frowned and pondered for a long time when suddenly a thought flashed through his mind. He looked at the people on the ground in disbelief, then squatted down and carefully examined their corpses.

Qin Hao noticed Xiao Lingdi's unusual behavior and hinted that they should talk later. With a cold face, Qin Hao ordered the palace guards to escort the officials home. Then, he approached Empress Dowager Fengxiang and Consort Qi, who were already pale with fright, and said gently, "Your Majesty, you have been frightened today. Please return to the palace to rest as soon as possible." Before Empress Dowager Fengxiang could speak, he called out, "Guards! Escort the Empress Dowager and the two consorts back to the palace."

After Empress Dowager Fengxiang left, trembling with fear and supported by Consort Qi, Qin Hao walked to Yanzi's side and took Qin Xiao from her arms. Yanzi felt a cold sweat run down her back. If Qin Hao hadn't immediately ordered most of the imperial guards to surround her and Qin Xiao to protect them, she would probably be beheaded by now.

Strangely enough, the commotion just now had many people on edge, yet His Highness the Crown Prince remained soundly asleep. Normally, even a slightly loud voice from a palace maid would have woken him. Yanzi patted her face. Was she dreaming? Otherwise, why would so many strange things have happened today?

After dismissing the others, Qin Hao summoned Han Yufeng, Qin Ke, Lin Cheng, and the others to the Imperial Study. That night, the floor lamp in the Imperial Study remained lit until dawn.

Xuan Ge had a premonition that something unusual was about to happen after Xiao Ling's visit. She asked Nian'er to inquire. Nian'er returned saying that the new empress had suddenly gone mad and wanted to assassinate the emperor. Moreover, the empress dowager had people accuse her of being a spy from the Yan-Liao Kingdom, and so on. She also mentioned that the eighth prince of Yan-Liao had kidnapped the empress.

A spy from Yanliao? Xuan Ge frowned. Wasn't His Majesty the Holy Emperor also in Da Yang today? Wasn't the Empress Dowager afraid of igniting a war between the two countries by saying this? Moreover, if we're talking about spies, it definitely wouldn't be Lin Suyang. And the Eighth Prince too. When did Yanliao have an Eighth Prince? What exactly is going on?

Xuan Ge decided to wait and see; as long as her mission remained unchanged, she couldn't afford to be distracted. After letting Nian'er rest, she prepared to blow out the lamp and go to sleep. Just as she turned around, she saw a man in blue sitting on her bed. She opened her mouth to call for help, but the man swiftly threw a pebble at her, sealing all the acupoints on her body, rendering her unable to speak or move.

"Excuse me," the man said breathlessly. Then he carefully hugged someone from behind.

Xuan Ge stared wide-eyed at the red-clad woman in the man's arms, her eyes closed. Wasn't that the Lin Su Yang they were looking for? Could this be the Eighth Prince that Nian'er had mentioned?

Xuan Ge searched her memory but couldn't recall ever having an eighth prince like this in Yan Liao. While pondering how to make a sound to call for Nian'er, she kept a close eye on the man, fearing he might harm her and Lin Suyang. But when she saw the man lower his head to kiss Lin Suyang's cheek, she couldn't contain her anger. Did this man really want to incite war between Da Yang and Yan Liao? How dare he be so disrespectful to the Empress of Da Yang?

Before she could finish thinking, the man spoke in a low voice, "Please help us." Xuan Ge looked at him in astonishment, not understanding what he meant.

"She's been poisoned, and I must find an antidote for her as soon as possible. Could you please do me a favor?"

Xuan Ge didn't believe him at all. If Lin Suyang was really poisoned, why didn't Qin Hao come to save her? Given Qin Hao's doting on her, would he tolerate someone poisoning her and just stand by and watch her die? That would be a joke.

Xuan Ge cautiously rolled her eyes around to see if there was anything she could throw on the ground. Suddenly, for some reason, she saw the jade pendant on the waist of the man on the bed. Her pupils contracted sharply. She was not sure if what she was seeing was real. The royal jade pendant of Yan Liao, a jade pendant that only members of the royal family possessed!

Si Junxing noticed Xuan Ge staring at his waist in surprise. He looked down and saw the plaque Han Yufeng had given him earlier gleaming in the dim candlelight. He thought for a moment, then remembered Han Yufeng telling him that they had once presented a dancer to Emperor Hong, who later took her as a concubine. The person before him…

"You're Xuan Ge?" That seems to be her name.

Xuan Ge, who was lost in thought, suddenly heard someone call her name. She looked up and saw Si Junxing looking at her. After hesitating, she finally nodded.

Si Junxing breathed a sigh of relief. Before he could doubt the truth, he said, "I am the eighth prince of Yan Liao, and Emperor Sheng Han is my elder brother." Fearing that she would not believe him, Si Junxing took the jade pendant from his waist and threw it on the table next to Xuan Ge.

"Since you are a citizen of Yanliao, you should know your mission. Now, I order you to help me leave the palace. If necessary, you can seek help from my elder brother, the Emperor. However, you must not let anyone else know." The authoritative tone was exactly the same as Han Yufeng's when he was serious. Xuan Ge couldn't help but gasp. Should he agree or not?

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this chapter is shorter than usual; I will definitely make up for it tomorrow…

Volume Four, Palace Absolute, Chapter 122: Nai Ruo Flower Gu (Part 1)

Whether to agree or not, Xuan Ge didn't have time to think for long, because Si Junxing quickly carried Lin Suyang to her and said, "If you agree, blink; if you don't agree, don't move. I won't make things difficult for you. If you don't agree, we'll leave right away."

Xuan Ge hesitated for a moment, but seeing Si Junxing's genuinely anxious expression, she figured he wouldn't lie, so she blinked gently. Si Junxing immediately thanked her happily, and seeing that she didn't move, he remembered he hadn't released her acupoints yet, so he quickly reached out and released them for her.

After being freed, Xuan Ge rushed forward and looked at Lin Suyang in Si Junxing's arms, asking worriedly, "What happened to her?"

Si Junxing's face suddenly darkened, and he said, "They've been poisoned with witchcraft."

"Witchcraft?" Xuan Ge exclaimed in surprise. "Such an evil thing?"

Si Junxing nodded. "You know?"

"I've heard that witchcraft is a unique poison of the ethnic minorities in the southern part of Yan and Liao. It is cultivated using human blood as its essence. If witchcraft is cursed and then put into a person's body, it will cause that person to have all sorts of hallucinations, and ultimately make them wish they were dead." Xuan Ge recounted what he had heard from others.

"What you've said is only part of it. The most dangerous aspect of witchcraft isn't just inducing hallucinations; what's even more terrifying is that the caster can control her thoughts and actions without her even realizing it. Furthermore, witchcraft creates dependence if it stays in a person's body for too long, making it impossible to remove by any means. Therefore, I need to take her away as soon as possible." "You want to take her to find the person who cast the witchcraft?"

“No,” Si Junxing shook his head, “I’m taking her to find the person who cast the curse.” The one who casts the curse and the one who casts the curse are not the same person. The one who cast the curse must be a member of the Jiang tribe, and once the curse is activated, that person will never be able to leave the Jiang tribe’s territory for the rest of their life. Although this is a popular legend in the martial arts world, Si Junxing prefers to believe it.

"But how can you be sure she's been afflicted by witchcraft?" Xuan Ge asked again. After all, witchcraft was just a legend. No one seemed to have actually encountered it. What if Lin Suyang wasn't afflicted by witchcraft at all?

Si Junxing glanced at her, then lowered his head and lifted the sleeve on Lin Suyang's wrist. Xuan Ge gasped, and saw a small, crimson petal eerily imprinted on Lin Suyang's fair wrist.

"These are the symptoms of being afflicted by witchcraft. Those afflicted will have five strange flowers appearing on their wrists. Once the petals are fully formed, the afflicted person will be beyond saving." If it weren't for this, Si Junxing wouldn't be certain she was under witchcraft. Since this matches the legend, it's believable that the antidote requires finding the person who cast the curse. He wasn't worried that Lin Suyang's five strange flowers would quickly gather. Don't forget, she still has Nine Lotus Ice within her. Although Nine Lotus Ice is a sacred medicine that can cure all poisons, for something like witchcraft—which is neither purely poison nor purely toxic—its effect is only to slow down the development of the witchcraft's toxicity.

Xuan Ge pondered in her heart who in the palace harbored such deep hatred for Lin Suyang that they would go so far as to travel to Yan and Liao to obtain witchcraft for poisoning. After much thought, the first people that came to mind were Consort Qi and Empress Dowager Fengxiang. Consort Qi's title of Empress and her son's position as Crown Prince had both been taken by Lin Suyang and his mother, so it was understandable that she harbored resentment. However, in that case, Consort Qi was truly too ruthless. If the Emperor were to find out…

Xuan Ge suddenly thought of another question. She scrutinized Si Junxing and asked, "What exactly is your relationship with her?" Given Emperor Hong's character, he would never allow Lin Suyang to suffer. If that's the case, why would this Eighth Prince risk taking her away? Wouldn't it be faster to have Emperor Hong send the Imperial Guards to fetch medicine? And wouldn't that also reveal who was plotting against the Empress?

"She...is my wife." Si Junxing's expression was gentler than anyone else's. He carefully pulled Lin Suyang closer, letting her face rest against his chest, listening to his own heartbeat.

Xuan Ge was truly startled. Her wife? Then... then the Emperor... He dared not think any further. She shook her head and said, "You should change your clothes first. I have a way to let you leave the palace without informing His Majesty Sheng Han. However, you must promise me that you will heal her. She... is a good person."

The strings of the zither are long and entwined, the cup empty. Willow branches sway in the wind. Falling petals and raindrops play like brocade. Pity the lonely one sleeping in the deep palace. Everyone says the Grand Tutor of the Great Yang Dynasty is a man of great literary talent. This is the first poem Xuan Ge has ever heard written specifically for her by such a person. Though it was unintentional on someone else's part, she always felt that the person who could understand her zither music was a confidant. And since she was a confidant, she didn't want anything to happen to her. Moreover, she was the most beloved person of Emperor Hong.

Emperor Hong, a name that caused Xuan Ge immense distress. Was he already so enraged he wanted to kill someone?

The Great Yang Imperial Palace was finally quiet. In just three days, the entire capital city seemed as if nothing had happened. Ministers continued to attend and dismiss court as usual, and the concubines still awaited the Emperor's favor. However, no one mentioned the Empress anymore, for she was ill.

Shortly after the Empress's coronation ceremony, news spread throughout the palace that the Empress had fallen ill. A palace maid accidentally set fire to the Qingxiang Hall, causing the Empress to suffer from a stroke. The Eighth Prince of Yanliao had a conflict with his elder brother, Emperor Shenghan, over a certain matter and left Dayang ahead of schedule.