Lanting

Capítulo 55

"Don't interfere in the Rong family's affairs anymore. Even in front of the Emperor, you can't speak casually."

Lu Xiu was taken aback for a moment, then immediately put on an indifferent expression. "I'm not as shrewd as Seventh Brother, nor as obedient as Fourth Brother, and I can't learn Fifth Brother's ability to please people. What I, his son, ever say actually pleases him? It would be great if I became mute one day. They say those who understand the times are heroes, but I'm just not cut out for that. I accept my fate."

He waved his paper fan and turned to leave, looking both relaxed and weary.

It's a pity, considering his carefree and unrestrained nature, which gave him a touch of the chivalrous spirit of a wandering knight.

Lu Xiu was truly born into the wrong family.

The Emperor bestowed a plate of lychees upon the ailing Consort Lin and asked me to deliver it to her.

When I arrived at Consort Lin's place, I was about to pay my respects when I saw a man in a moon-white robe walking up behind me. I knew in my heart that he was the Fifth Prince, whom I had met before the Emperor. He had been on official business for many years and was highly valued by the Emperor. I only remembered seeing him once when I served tea at the wedding.

Everyone says he has a handsome appearance. Although he is not as elegant as Lu Li, as alluring as Lu Xiu, or as imposing as the Fourth Master, a closer look today reveals that when this gentleman smiles, he has a certain approachable charm that makes people want to get closer to him.

He bowed to him, relayed the Emperor's instructions to the Consort, and got up to leave. After taking two or three steps, it started to rain outside. Just as he was thinking about whether to run back, a shadow fell over his head. When he looked up, he met the Fifth Prince's kind smile.

"I'm on my way to see the Emperor myself," he said casually.

I walked silently with my head down. When I arrived at Chaoyang Palace, I saw that half of his shoulder was wet with rain, but he himself was not wet at all.

He just smiled and closed the umbrella. "When I saw you by the Emperor's side during the day, I only thought you were a clever girl. I didn't expect you to be so quiet."

I looked at him, puzzled. He was still smiling, and his smile reminded me of my second brother from the Prince of Huai's mansion. Thinking of my second brother, my heart ached.

He took a few steps, then suddenly turned back. "Your name is Yan Zheng, right?"

"yes."

"I've got it." He smiled. "How about I ask you for it next time the Emperor rewards me?"

Before I could even react in surprise, he had already turned and walked away with a smile, saying that there was no particular reason, but the kind of honest and kind aura about him always made me feel different from others. Unlike Lu Li's aloofness, more gentle than the Fourth Master, and without Lu Xiu's cynicism, he gave you more of a feeling of being a father, or even an older brother. That kind smile, falling into my eyes, was incredibly warm.

Somewhat flustered, I made my way to the west pavilion to prepare tea. Upon reaching the side hall, I found several princes already seated, talking amongst themselves. I expressionlessly served the tea to each of them. When I reached the Fifth Prince, he suddenly looked up and smiled at me. I was startled, remembering our earlier conversation. My hand slipped, and the teacup fell to the floor. I quickly knelt down and used a handkerchief to wipe the water stains, but he grabbed my hand, saying, "Be careful, it's hot—"

The gentle words reached my ears, yet I couldn't help but shiver.

Several princes around me were already looking over. I shook off his hand, pulled myself out, and lifted the curtain to go outside.

My mind is a mess, but something just doesn't feel right. Why is Fifth Master being so nice to me for no reason?

Chapter Seven: The Beginning of Calamity

Leisurely days are few and far between. In the morning, I was busy delivering the tributes bestowed by the Emperor to the ladies of the various palaces. I estimated that it was time for the Emperor to leave court and return to Chaoyang Hall to review the memorials, so I went back to the West Pavilion to prepare tea and snacks for the Emperor and the ministers I was meeting.

Just as the tea was brewed, Xiaoyu came in and whispered, "Miss, please be careful today, the Emperor has finished his court session."

She said nothing more, only took out the tea and snacks, and I followed her into the Chaoyang Main Hall with the tea in my hand.

Before one's eyes, from the eldest prince to the ninth prince, the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, the Grand Secretary Lin, the Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, and other important officials were all kneeling on the ground, each with a grim expression. The room was filled with people, yet not a single breath could be heard.

The emperor had his back to us, and just looking at his back sent chills down our spines.

Xiaoyu nodded slightly to me, and I mustered my courage to gently place the teacup on the table.

The Emperor suddenly picked up a teacup and smashed it at Lu Li. I froze instantly, and then I felt Xiao Yu quickly pull me behind her, and we both knelt down. I felt as if that sudden kneeling might shatter our bones.

Lu Li didn't dodge, and a bowl of fine Lin'an Longjing tea spilled all over him.

With a sharp crash, the teacup shattered on the ground. In the midst of the oppressive silence, this sound struck people's hearts heavily, each sound a sign of the emperor's wrath.

I knelt on the ground, head bowed, wondering how hot the tea was. I had no idea what was happening, only that the Emperor favored Lu Li and had always chosen him as the heir apparent. Why was he so angry today?

The Emperor coldly replied, "I have long ago decreed that 'any prince who colludes with the remnants of the Rong clan is a traitor to the country, unforgivable by law, reason, or even more so by sentiment. Your Second Brother, who is still on the run, is a prime example.' And you, under the guise of investigating the Rong faction, what good deeds have you and the Eighth Prince done in Huainan? You were the one who feigned illness to avoid the case, and the Eighth Prince was the one who pretended to be confused and said that a few refugees wouldn't warrant such a large-scale uprising. Well, well, you brothers are truly working together. Last time I asked you what the Eighth Prince had been doing in Huainan, what did you say?"

Lu Li replied calmly, "My son said last time that my eighth brother is in Huainan investigating cases."

The Emperor glared at Lu Li and said resentfully, "I... will ask you one more time today."

Lu Li raised his head. In that instant, our eyes met. But I couldn't discern his intentions.

He kowtowed deeply. "Son still says the same thing."

The Emperor slammed his fist on the table and roared, "You are all in cahoots! Do you even respect me?"

This time it wasn't just teacups. All the memorials on the table were thrown in front of Lu Li. "I've always indulged you, to the point that you've gone so far as to deceive me with nonsense?"

The Fourth Prince knelt down and kowtowed as he said, "Father, my Seventh Brother has always been reasonable and would never do anything deceitful. There must be some misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?" The emperor chuckled coldly. "Lu Min, what did you tell me in your memorial?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Fifth Master stood up, walked to the front of the group, lifted his robe, and knelt down properly with a solemn expression and calm eyes.

Looking at Fifth Prince, a chill ran through me. The influence of Grand Secretary Lin had never been underestimated. With such an uncle, the Fifth Prince might not be as kind and gentle as he appeared, nor was he an ordinary person. I had only seen his gentle and benevolent side, gradually overlooking the fact that he was the second strongest candidate for Crown Prince, not because of the Emperor's favor towards Consort Lin or the Lin family's power, but because Fifth Brother truly had the makings. This betrayal truly revealed his ruthlessness and hidden cruelty.

"My retainer in Huainan once entrusted me to secretly report to Your Majesty—"

At this moment, someone had already rushed in from outside the hall, and Fifth Master subconsciously stopped reporting.

The Emperor's face darkened further, and he angrily shouted at the newcomer, "Didn't I tell you to kneel outside? Who gave you permission to barge in?"

The man stepped forward and knelt at the Emperor's feet, his face pale. "Father, please don't make things difficult for Seventh Brother. This was all my idea. Seventh Brother was unaware of it. I was the one who colluded with the remnants of the rebel party."

Lu Li called out, "Eighth Brother!"

Lu Xiu acted as if he hadn't heard, insisting, "I released several former members of the Prince of Huainan in Huainan, and I also secretly met with those so-called traitors. None of this has anything to do with Seventh Brother. I am the only disloyal and unfilial son of the Emperor. I should confess myself and not implicate others."

Fifth Brother turned his head and glanced at Lu Xiu, saying, "I don't understand what Eighth Brother is saying. How can you say that they are completely unrelated? Without the seal in Seventh Brother's hands, would you have let those people go so easily? We brothers all know that Seventh Brother and you are close. How can you say that your intention is not Seventh Brother's intention?"

I stared at Fifth Brother suddenly, and felt that his words were indeed quite weighty.

"Fifth Prince, isn't this chaotic enough? Public matters are public matters, and private matters are private matters. What do you mean by this in front of the Emperor?" The Fourth Prince finally couldn't hold back any longer and publicly confronted the Emperor, who was coldly looking at each of his sons, unsure whether to be angry or hurt.

Lu Xiu glanced behind him and said, "Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, the fault lies with your younger brother. Please don't let me ruin our harmony." After saying that, he turned around and kowtowed to the Emperor, saying, "I have my own selfish reasons for doing this. I have always believed that the Rong family is innocent, and the Rong family is indeed innocent."

The emperor was furious and reached for something in his hand to throw at Lu Xiu, but there was nothing left to throw.

Lu Xiu stood motionless, his eyes filled with grief and indignation.

"You scoundrel! Do you even have the right to judge the cases I've decided?!" The Emperor was completely hysterical.

Lu Xiu gave a cold laugh. "If there hadn't been some shady inside story, the case wouldn't have been decided so hastily back then, and so many innocent people wouldn't have been implicated. The reason for the hasty decision was the Emperor's unease. I'd like to ask the Emperor, where is that firsthand evidence—that document about collusion with the Liao Kingdom?! It was burned back in the twenty-first year when the Rong Clan's purge began. A fake is a fake, and it will eventually reveal its flaws. The Emperor understood the mystery better than anyone else, which is why he couldn't wait to destroy it. The fire in the Hall of Diligent Governance was probably caused by that."

"Shut up—" At the Emperor's command, Lu Xiu fell silent.

Something was gathering inside me, about to surge forth. I bit my lip hard, letting the pain gradually blur my consciousness.

"Drag him away and lock him in the Buddhist hall. Don't light the stove, don't give him water or food. Make him kneel and think about what he said. If he can't figure it out, he'll never come out." The Emperor closed his eyes, exhausted.

Without making a sound, Lu Xiu took out a white silk scroll from his sleeve and suddenly unfurled it. On the thirty-meter-long scroll were eight large, bright red characters: "The Rong family is innocent, Huainan is wronged."

The emperor glanced at it only once before abruptly turning around.

Lu Xiu said with a somber expression, “This is a long scroll that the local people wrote together by biting their fingers when I was in Huainan. It was hung on the city gate. Even the common people didn’t believe that the King of Huainan had betrayed him, but my wise father insisted on it. This can only mean that it’s not that the monarch is incompetent, but that the monarch is ungrateful. It’s not that the monarch wronged the Rong family, but that the monarch is determined to destroy the powerful minister who has worked hard and made great contributions. Father, you have always been the most virtuous and wise emperor in my eyes, but now, my heartache for you is no less than your disappointment in me… Father, we were both wrong. You were wrong to let me go with Seventh Brother to get involved in the affairs of Huainan, and I was wrong to be born into an imperial family.”

Lu Xiu kowtowed three times to the Emperor, but not to the Emperor himself, but to the blood-red characters on the blank scroll. After kowtowing, he stood up and left with the guards, never glancing at anyone again.

The Emperor watched Lu Xiu leave, his expression a complex mix of emotions, a sense of bewilderment. Was he disappointed or heartbroken? He probably didn't know either.

He simply gave the order: "Kneel down and take your leave!"

After speaking, he was led out of the main hall by Eunuch Chang.

People gradually stood up in the main hall, but none of them uttered a sound. Perhaps because he had been kneeling for too long, Ninth Master felt that his knees could not straighten when he stood up. He cried out "Ouch!" and after being glared at by Fourth Master, he dared not make a sound again. Sixth Master stepped forward and half-dragged, half-carried Ninth Master out.

Many people gradually left.

Fourth Master initially stood aside, watching Lu Li still kneeling on the ground. Seeing that Lu Li showed no intention of getting up, he sighed and said, "I'll go out first and discuss with some brothers about pleading for Eighth Brother."

Lu Li didn't react. Fourth Master shook his head, turned around, and left.

We maids were the last to get up. Xiaoyu got up and pulled me, and I gestured for her to help Lu Li get up.

Xiaoyu pouted and whispered in my ear, "I don't dare, so don't worry about it."

Seeing that I didn't intend to leave, Xiaoyu sighed, "I'll go out first and wait for you in the back hall."

The empty hall was truly silent this time.

I walked over to Lu Li, squatted down beside him, and said softly, "They've all left, you should go back too!"

I waited for a long time, but he still didn't move.

I took a deep breath and said, "Is it to kneel for the Emperor, or for myself, for Eighth Prince, or for those innocent lives?!"

He stiffened, his shoulders trembled, and he looked at me with a calm gaze.

"If neither of these apply, then rise." I sighed, stood up from beside him, and walked towards the outer hall, his voice echoing behind me.

“That false edict was fabricated at my father’s behest. Now I’ve discovered… the most upright gentleman is the Eighth Prince. I’m just a vulgar man who schemed to get that position, climbing up step by step by step over others, over… my own father-in-law…”

My heart felt like it was drowning in the words "perjury." I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. My father's two sons-in-law, one committing perjury and the other framing someone, it was truly the biggest joke in the world.

Chapter Eight: Punishment

In the empty Buddha Hall, I stood outside the hall, watching the kneeling and standing figures inside. After a long while, Lu Li walked up and knelt beside Lu Xiu.

Lu Xiu remained silent, while Lu Li said calmly, "You've investigated everything you needed to investigate, haven't you?"

"Seventh Brother—why didn't you embrace me? Why didn't you cover it up? At least give me some pretense to show that this wasn't your true intention."

"Even if it's something you have to do even if it's not your intention, you don't need to consider your feelings anymore." Lu Li's voice was very calm.

Lu Xiu tilted his head slightly and looked at him. "You won't tell me the truth, but you won't stop me from investigating all of this. I really don't understand you anymore, Seventh Brother."

"I don't speak because I can't bring myself to say it. And perhaps, deep down, I do hope that someone will stand up and expose all of this. Eighth Brother, do you even understand the world?" Lu Li looked at the serene Buddha statue and smiled calmly. "This is the imperial empire, a land bought with bones."

"Yes, in Seventh Brother's heart, not only many lives were sacrificed, but also a woman."

Lu Li remained silent for a long time. "For her, death is better than living. Looking at the empty gaze she gave Xiao Li when she was alive makes me feel that I've taken the wrong path."

Lu Xiu struggled to his feet. "Because you chose this path, you had to give up a woman's life, but you also gained all the women in the world. Seventh Brother, you really made a profit."

“I often wondered if that girl would have survived if I hadn’t chosen this path. But later, I realized that no matter who pursued that position, the Rong family would perish, and that girl would follow. That’s what Rong women are like. What kind of pride and nobility makes them give everything to follow them generation after generation. A family that can be so proud is immortal.”

As they descended the stone steps, a cold wind blew, reminding them that even if only one member of the Rong family remained, they could not perish...

Aunt. I know you're watching. But... Aunt. We gave everything. And what did we get in return? In the end, it was all just the wind. Everything is just the wind. We can't hold onto anything.

Even if you can't hold on to it, you can't stay.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the Spring Warm Pavilion in the West Palace. I couldn't help but smile. How had I subconsciously ended up here with Consort Lin?

Just as I was about to turn around, I heard laughter coming from the courtyard. Taking a few steps closer, I saw it was Lu Xiu's concubine. She used to always accompany Xi Wen in and out. I naturally understood what was going on.

Fifth Master had one arm around her, his eyes smiling. "This time, it's all thanks to you."

The woman wrapped her arms around his neck affectionately. "It's nothing. Our Eighth Master doesn't care about his little secrets. But... I can't stand him stealing chickens and dogs all the time. He'll be showing soon. How will we cover it up then? Aren't you going to find a way to take me away?"