Mei Fuyang raised his hands and cried, "Eunuch Yu is in the Inner Affairs Hall. His Majesty has passed away. Please inform the Duke immediately so that we can prepare for the funeral as soon as possible."
Du Yu threw Mei Fu aside and ran, his heart pounding. He passed the Chui Gong Hall, then the Funing Hall, then the Yanfu Palace and the pavilions where the concubines lived, and in the distance, he could see the Inner Affairs Hall engulfed in flames. His heart pounded even harder, his legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed. He raised his sword and shouted, "Put out the fire quickly!"
A flurry of panic erupted behind them, some running out, others running in. Du Wu, sword in hand, led his men on horseback in pursuit, waving for his soldiers to extinguish the fire. Du Yu, choked by the ashes carried by the wind, rubbed his eyes and tried to rush inside. Du Wu shouted, "What's wrong with you? Get him tied up!"
Du Yu waved his hand to break free from the people who rushed to pull him away, and then leaped into the Inner Affairs Hall.
Right at the entrance, two people lay entwined. The tall, thin man in a sapphire blue robe was clearly Yu Yichen, while the other, shorter and charred beyond recognition, was gone. Du Yu glanced at him only once before turning and rushing out of the palace.
He ran out of the palace gate and saw several civil officials from the Censorate and Huang Zijing standing outside the palace. He waved and said, "Come with me."
The Inspector General of the Censorate was established to impeach officials; it was originally a civil service position. Naturally, they were not experts in leading troops into battle, and to save their lives, they all kept their distance. Huang Zijing caught up and asked, "Boss, where are we going?"
Du Yu said resentfully, "Chuanzi Alley."
The curfew was still in effect, but fortunately Du Yu had Du Wu's token, which lifted the curfew, and he rushed towards Chuanzi Alley.
Huang Zijing caught up and asked, "Didn't you find Madam?"
Du Yu replied irrelevantly, "He himself may die, but he would never take Zhenshu with him. So they must have escaped. Let's go to Chuanzi Alley to look for them."
Upon arriving at Chuanzi Alley, Du Yu kicked open the door first. An old man inside rushed out upon hearing the commotion, but Du Yu ignored him and waved his hand, saying, "Search!"
His civil officials scattered and searched the courtyard. Du Yu led Huang Zijing to the back of the small building and went up to the second floor. He saw that the soft carpet inside was spotless and the place was warm and comfortable. He said angrily, "This eunuch knows how to enjoy himself."
He entered a bedroom on the west side and saw several large chests inside. He opened them and found they were full of women's clothing, as well as many pairs of embroidered shoes and boots that only women with unbound feet would wear. The chests were neatly stacked up, covering half a wall. He knew in his heart that this must have been prepared by Yu Yichen for Zhenshu. He was both angry and resentful and said, "So this eunuch used these things to please my wife and bewitch her. When I catch him, I won't be able to quell my hatred without poking a few holes in his body."
Seeing Huang Zijing watching thoughtfully from the side, he glared at him and said, "You go out first."
He circled the bedroom, becoming even more convinced that Zhenshu was still alive. He glanced out the window and saw a small door behind a screen. Pushing it open, he found himself in a washroom. Inside, on a dressing table, sat a large, unlocked trunk. He unfastened the clasp and lifted it, revealing several silver notes and a house deed. He set the notes aside and took out several bundles containing children's clothes and a few adult garments that Zhenshu had prepared for herself and the child after their escape. Below these were gold bars, jade beads, and other valuables.
He sorted through the silver notes one by one, when suddenly a letter appeared among them. He read a few lines quickly; it was from Yu Yichen to Zhenshu. He had no heart to read further, slamming the box shut and muttering to himself, "These things are still here. Judging from the letter, Yu Yichen probably didn't intend to take Zhenshu with him. Could it be that Zhenshu, with her fiery temper, wanted to die with him?" Thinking this, a pang of sorrow gripped his heart, and he sighed deeply, collapsing to the ground. Huang Zijing, unable to wait any longer, slipped in and knocked on the door, saying, "Boss, there's no one else here. What should we do?"
Du Yu waved his hand and said, "Everyone wait outside. Let me rest for a while."
He crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it away, then sat firmly on the ground.
"This isn't a grave, and I can't die here," Zhenshu murmured to herself, crawling forward step by step in the narrow, seemingly endless passage, her body drenched in sweat as if she'd been boiled. Just when she was about to give up, Yu Yichen suddenly reached out and pulled her out of the passage. Though still cramped, at least she could stand up. Yu Yichen took Zhenshu's hand and they walked one after the other. There were small, square ventilation openings above, finally allowing her to breathe. Zhenshu gasped for air, her lower abdomen bulging like a taut drum.
After running for an unknown amount of time, they finally saw another staircase. Yu Yichen went up and looked around. The person lifting the cover was none other than Mei Xun. He reached out and pulled Zhenshu upstairs: "Miss Song has come too."
This was the basement of the Yu residence where she had been before. Yu Yichen pulled Zhenshu up to the first floor, through the hall to the small building, and the two of them were panting heavily, laughing uncontrollably.
Zhenshu said, "There's been a curfew for the past few days, and the outer city gates are probably closed. How are we going to get out?"
Yu Yichen said, "Now that the emperor has passed away, Du Wu dares not conceal the news any longer. He must open the gates and let people out to inform the various princes and invite them to attend the funeral. We can simply follow the messenger out of the city."
After saying that, he started changing his clothes.
When Zhenshu saw that he had changed into the clothes of Du Wu's soldiers, she sighed and said, "So I really am going to be a burden to you. How can I leave the city like this?"
Yu Yichen said, "Go change into something nicer. You're not allowed to wear such ugly clothes anymore."
After saying this, he pushed Zhenshu upstairs, took out one of his own cotton robes for her, the length of which fit Zhenshu's figure perfectly, obviously having been re-tailored, and then put a soldier's uniform on Zhenshu.
Mei Xun produced a box of ointment from somewhere, and Yu Yichen took some and applied it to his face, also applying some to Zhenshu. Seeing that the ointment made her face look rough, yellow, and dark, Zhenshu applied a lot to her hands and wrists as well. Yu Yichen followed suit. After they finished applying the ointment, they looked at each other and realized they were indeed two rough, dark-skinned soldiers who had spent long distances outdoors.
The two finished dressing and went out. At this time, a fire broke out in the palace and chaos ensued. Citizens in various neighborhoods also became agitated, with many setting fires everywhere, causing flames to shoot into the sky at the gates of the neighborhoods. Although the guards stationed in the neighborhoods tried to drive them away with spears and long spears, they were no match for the burning coals and stones thrown at them and retreated in unison.
Zhen Shu and Yu Yichen hid in the chaotic crowd, and when everyone rushed forward, they broke out and ran towards the city gate.
At this time, there were still strict guards on the city gate, but as Yu Yichen said, since the emperor had passed away, Duke Du would send out news of the death everywhere. Therefore, soldiers carrying tokens to attend the funeral were constantly heading towards the city gate.
Perhaps one of Yu Yichen's men was in the group, because the guard glanced in their direction and signaled. Yu Yichen pulled Zhenshu along and followed at the back. The others spontaneously surrounded Zhenshu. As they passed through the city gate, the guard took the token and pass document, glanced at them, then scanned the group, and waved, saying, "Let them through!"
☆、126|Lotus Lantern
The city gate creaked open, and Zhenshu felt a sudden pang of unease. Turning back, she saw Du Yu running after her frantically through the street. She turned back hastily and followed the guards out of the city, thinking to herself: I fear I will never see him again in this life.
Du Yu sat silently in the washroom for a long time, then suddenly slapped his forehead and said to himself, "Since he wants to escape, he certainly doesn't want Zhen Shu to know, so he probably won't stay here. Could it be that he's in his Yu Mansion?"
In a flash of inspiration, he rushed out and waved to Huang Zijing and the other civil officials, saying, "Quickly, come with me to the West City."
The two men, panting heavily, made their way through the city walls to the west. The Yu residence wasn't far; it was just across the Imperial Street. He called out a few times at the gate, but no one answered. The gate was too thick and heavy to kick open, so he took a few steps back, leaped over the high wall, and climbed over to the inside. Only then did he open the gate and let Huang Zijing and the others in.
They ran through the courtyard of the abandoned houses to the back, then past Yu Yichen's strange, dark building, and finally out into the small building. Du Yu picked up a few newly changed black clothes with his sword and examined them. Only then did his heart settle down. He raised his hand and said, "Chase after them!"
By this time, it was already dusk. After walking about a mile or two outside the city gate, Yu Yichen dragged Zhenshu away from the group, and the two turned and walked into the nearby woods. Sun Yuan was waiting in the woods with a horse in his hand. Seeing Zhenshu following Yu Yichen, he hurriedly ran over and asked, "Eunuch, should we find another horse?"
Yu Yichen waved his hand and asked, "Where is the boat?"
Sun Yuan said, "The canal is not yet open to traffic, and the boats are moored twenty miles downstream."
Yu Yichen lifted Zhenshu onto the horse, then mounted himself. Without saying goodbye to Sun Yuan, he turned and rode away.
Zhenshu saw that his plans were meticulously arranged, one step at a time, clearly indicating that he had long been prepared to escape. She felt a sense of relief, despite having worried about him for so long. Turning back, she asked, "Why are you leaving without me?"
Yu Yichen smiled bitterly and said, "Escape is not an easy thing."
Zhenshu also sighed and said apologetically, "Not only can I not help you, but I will also be a burden to you."
Yu Yichen rode his horse along, comforting Zhenshu in her ear: "Although it's a bit of a burden, it has kept me from being cold and destitute on this journey. Without you by my side, I wouldn't even dare to think about how I could have made it out of the capital."
Zhenshu asked, "Where are we going on this trip?"
Yu Yichen then asked, "Is your lotus lantern still there?"
Zhenshu pulled it out of her bosom and said, "I've been keeping it all along."
Yu Yichen gently bit her ear before saying, "Then let's release the lotus lanterns first."
Zhenshu tucked the lotus lantern into her bosom and said, "No, you must tell me where you're going. I can't let you abandon me halfway."
Yu Yichen remained silent for a long time before finally asking slowly, "You've escorted me here, and you're still not satisfied?"
Zhenshu raised her head and asked, "Are you really going to abandon me?"
Yu Yichen said, "You shouldn't have such an obsession. After all, I'm not a proper man. What they can give you, I can't. Now that you have a child and a husband, you should go back and live a peaceful life."
Zhenshu's tears were blown to both sides by the wind. She said bitterly, "You were the one who begged me to marry you, and now you say such things. You are really wicked."
Yu Yichen smiled bitterly, thinking to himself: I wish I could stay with you every moment, day and night, but after all, I can't take a pregnant woman with me to the place I'm going.
Seeing that he remained silent, Zhenshu continued to persuade him, "Everyone in the palace, even the Duke of Du, thinks we are dead. If I go back, wouldn't that be the same as telling them that you are not dead, and causing them to start investigating you again?"
Yu Yichen said, "They will find out sooner or later, and many people in the palace know about this. It can't be kept secret for long; it's just a smokescreen."
It was now completely dark, and the bright, smooth moon, like a jade plate, finally rose on the fourth Lantern Festival since they met. Zhenshu looked up at it and murmured, "I can't believe it, it's been four years since I met you."
Yu Yichen smiled and said, "Four years?"
Zhen Shu said, "Well, the year I first arrived in the capital, I met you in a bookstore. You insisted on tricking me into studying for you. I didn't see you on the Lantern Festival the following year. The third year, you tricked me into going to Chuanzi Lane again. Now it's the fourth year. Although I did something wrong, you also lied to me before. Why don't you want me now?"
Yu Yichen said, "I'm sorry."
After traveling about twenty li, although the road was unobstructed, there were checkpoints along the canal. Yu Yichen dismounted and rode for a while longer when he heard Zhenshu call out, "There are many boats blocked here, but I don't know which one will be there to pick you up?"
Yu Yichen reined in his horse, jumped down, and picked up Shang Zhenshu, saying, "Let's release the lotus lanterns first."
The two led their horses along the canal bank for a long time until they reached a gentle slope. A bright moon shone in the sky, reflecting on the shimmering water of the canal. It was truly a tranquil scene unique to heaven and earth. He grasped Zhenshu's hand and said, "The clothes you bought and the money and valuables I gave you are all in the small courtyard in Chuanzi Lane. You can go there to retrieve them after I leave. That courtyard is left to you. If Du Yu dislikes you because of me and refuses to marry you, you can live there peacefully with your child."
Upon hearing this, Zhen Shu became furious and shook off Yu Yichen's hand, saying, "So that's what you were thinking. You still refuse to take me away."
Yu Yichen added, "However, I don't think he will. After what happened in the palace today, I'm afraid he'll be wary of you and treat you better from now on."
He took a flint and tinder, lit it, reached for the lotus lantern, and placed it in the river before saying, "Du Yu is your true love; I am but a cursed one. From now on, do not remember me."
Zhenshu saw the lotus lantern enter the water and slowly drift downstream from the edge into the canal. She still shook her head and said, "I won't let you go alone. You must take me with you."
The moonlight was so beautiful, the river shimmering. The two of them, dressed in military uniforms, their faces painted a ridiculous mess, looked like two disheveled, hastily fleeing travelers. Yu Yichen reached out and scooped up some water to wipe the powder off Zhenshu's face, gently wiping it away until her skin was slightly red. He then said, "Back then, when I abducted you on this official road and tricked you into going to Wanshou Temple to worship Buddha, that was the first time I kissed you. Almost everything you've done with me, you'll probably do with Du Yu too. But this is one thing you must promise me: never go to a temple with him to worship Buddha. I always hope you can uphold that one thing, one where only I am in it, okay?"
Zhenshu shook her head and said, "No, I don't want to. I want to go with you. Let's go forward, do everything together, eat together, sleep together, go up the mountain together, and worship Buddha together. Please don't leave me behind."
Yu Yichen didn't answer, but kissed her lips for a long time. He raised his head, cupped Zhenshu's face, and was about to say something when suddenly an arrow whistled from behind. He turned around to protect Zhenshu, and the whistling arrow pierced his back.
Zhen Shu touched the sticky blood and was so frightened that she steadied herself on Yu Yichen and grabbed his hand, saying, "Let's run quickly and find a place to treat you."
Du Yu's voice came from not far behind: "My wife is still in his hands, who the hell shot this at me?"
Hearing Du Yu's voice, Yu Yichen felt slightly relieved. He pushed Zhenshu aside and fell backward into the icy canal water. It was still the dead of winter, and although the canal was not frozen due to its year-round transport, the water was bone-chillingly cold, and Yu Yichen was most sensitive to the cold. Zhenshu was both anxious and angry, running after Yu Yichen's gradually drifting figure, reaching out her hand and saying, "Yu Yichen, swim over here quickly, I'll pull you up."
He somehow managed to turn over, and the arrow on his back floated on the water's surface, while he was completely submerged. Zhenshu saw that he was drifting further and further away from her, and since the canal was wide and there were no banks, she figured that if he drifted any further, there would be no chance of reaching the shore. So, she took off her outer clothes and threw them aside, and then took off her robe as well. Wearing only her undergarments and boots, she was about to jump into the canal.
Du Yu caught up and scooped Zhen Shu into his arms, ignoring her crying, pounding, and kicking. He then draped the cotton robe over her and helped her onto his horse before turning to leave. Just then, Zhen Shu pointed at the civil officials behind her and asked, "Who was it? Who fired the arrow?"
A man with his hands behind his back, holding a bow, stepped forward and said coldly, "I am He Peng. He was originally a eunuch who controlled the Censorate. How many people did he wrongly harm and kill under the guise of his position as Censor? How many Confucian scholars and virtuous officials did he kill? Although I am a civil official, I am willing to be a pillar of the country and have a heart to serve the country and eliminate traitors. That is why I practice archery every day so that one day I can shoot him dead."
He spoke with such eloquence and passion that Zhenshu was powerless to refute him.
She looked back down at the shimmering river; the small lotus lantern had drifted away, its whereabouts unknown. Without Yu Yichen, the emptiness between them sent a chill down her spine.
Du Yu drew his sword and pointed it at He Peng, saying, "What happened today is enough for us to know. I won't pursue the matter of you almost shooting my wife, and you shouldn't pursue the whereabouts of Yu Yichen either, okay?"
He Peng nodded silently, still staring hatefully at the river surface from time to time.
Du Yu wrapped the letter tightly in his bosom, spurred his horse, and rode straight to the capital.
Under the bright moonlight, the cold, still waters of the canal lay undisturbed. He Peng, still unwilling to leave, stood on the canal bank with his bow slung over his back, watching the small lotus lantern float for a long time before finally going out as the flame extinguished by the water. He sighed softly, turned back, and walked briskly alone along the moonlit night road.
That concludes the discussion about Yu Yichen and everything else.
☆、127|Obsession
Du Yu took Zhenshu back to the small courtyard behind the East Market in the capital. He warmed her bed with a hot water bottle, coaxed her to sleep, and then quietly left the house for the west room. This time, he took out the letter written by Yu Yichen again, smoothed it out, and carefully read it. The letter read:
Zhenshu, my little shopkeeper:
When you weren't by my side, I read the entire "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions," from the story of the great Tang monk Yueheli, crossing the shifting sands, treading on the scorching sands, and strolling through the gentle lands with abundant water and grass. His footsteps flowed across the pages, witnessing the rise and fall of all things, and enduring endless wind and snow.
The city of Gongyue, illuminated by the bright moon of the Tang Dynasty, and the shadowy figure of Buddhism obscured by dust, were the heavy burdens he carried on his westward journey. The shifting sands of the Taklamakan Desert and the distant mirages of lush vegetation were ultimately met with the help of a string of Buddhist prayer beads, still driven by that same unwavering conviction.
The Tianshan Mountains stretch across the land, and the Pamir Mountains rise high. I, a man with a heart as cold as the deepest bone, thought that by holding onto the same unwavering conviction as the holy monk, I could overcome the sincere desires of Du Yu and the obstacles imposed by heaven and earth to be with you.
Your pity and compassion for me are also a kind of obsession.
I asked you that day, why did the holy monk go west?
You said that he sought the truth in order to find the answer to being a human being.
I do not seek the truth, nor do I seek the answers to being human. For a crippled person like me, hell is the best place to go.