Lan Yin Bi Yue

Chapitre 45

"Ah, how could your aunt not understand your thoughts, child? You hate Yun Feng'er not only because she stole Emperor Hong's attention, but also because she wants to ascend to that position, right?" Empress Dowager Fengxiang looked at her knowingly.

Consort Qi panicked again: "No, Lian'er... Lian'er just hates that she can wear the things that my brother risked his life for, the jade silk. Those belong to my brother and should belong to me. Why should the Emperor give my things to that slut?"

Consort Qi became increasingly agitated as she spoke, her jade-like hands clenching into fists. The emerald bracelets on her wrists clinked together, producing a crisp sound.

"Yours? What makes you think it's yours?" Empress Dowager Fengxiang sneered. "No one truly owns anything in this world. If you don't fight for it, you're destined to get nothing!"

"Your brother knew how to fight for it, and that jade brocade was his. The emperor knew how to fight for it, and the world was his. And that slut you speak of—if she hadn't used her beauty and the child in her womb to fight for it, how could the emperor have fallen for her? Look at yourself. What have you fought for for yourself and your two children? All you've done is suppress the other concubines in this palace. To become empress, to control the entire harem, is nothing more than a word from the emperor. Now your real enemy has emerged. If you continue like this, what can you accomplish with just hatred? If you want to be suppressed by others or banished to the cold palace by the emperor with your tricks, you can continue. I will not stop you."

Empress Dowager Fengxiang turned to leave, but Consort Qi quickly grabbed her and pleaded, "Aunt, Lian'er will listen to you. As long as Aunt can help Lian'er fulfill her wish, Lian'er is willing to do anything."

Empress Dowager Fengxiang paused, then turned back and said gently, "That's right, this is my Shen family's good daughter. Don't worry, your aunt will definitely help you achieve your wish. However, you must not presumptuously ruin my plan."

"Lian'er doesn't know how."

Empress Dowager Fengxiang left the Xiyang Palace, turned around and looked towards the Jinhe Palace. "Emperor," she thought, "you'd better watch out for my methods."

Yanzi looked at Lin Suyang, who was lying lazily on the soft couch, and hesitated to speak.

Lin Suyang opened her eyes and saw Yanzi secretly peeking at her while constantly twisting her fingers. She rubbed her forehead and said softly, "Yanzi, just say what you want to say. Don't mumble." She had been feeling very tired lately, and wanted to sleep after sitting for a short while. Plus, the hot weather made her even less energetic to talk.

"Master, you...you won't even ask what happened to that assassin from that day?"

"That day? The assassin?" Lin Suyang thought for a moment, then asked in confusion, "What assassin?"

Yanzi opened her eyes wide and said, "Master, you've forgotten? It's the person who mistook you for someone else!" How could Master have forgotten so much in just a few days?

"Mistaken for me? Who is it?" Lin Suyang shook her head, her mind a jumble of thoughts. It seemed someone had mistaken her for Lin Suyang again. But who was that person? Why couldn't she remember their face at all?

"You're saying he's an assassin?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Didn't you watch the Emperor fight him? Your Majesty, you haven't really forgotten, have you?" Yanzi asked curiously.

"Let me think." Lin Suyang closed her eyes and sorted out her thoughts. She was certain that there was such a person, but she still couldn't remember what he looked like. Could it be because she was pregnant?

"Your Majesty," Lin Suyang paused and said, "Where is he—I mean, where is that assassin being held?"

"Ministry of Justice prison."

Lin Suyang thought for a moment and then said, "Yanzi, I'm thirsty. Bring me some plum juice."

Yanzi rubbed her eyes. What was wrong with her master? They were talking about the assassins, so why did she suddenly want to drink plum juice? Despite her doubts, she still had to listen to her master, so she quickly picked up her feet and walked outside.

Lin Suyang glanced at the bowl on the table with a complicated expression. It was the heatstroke prevention medicine that Yanzi had given her not long ago.

She lowered her head and touched her stomach, murmuring, "Is this how it is?" Suddenly, a scent of ambergris mixed with masculine aroma wafted around her. She raised her head slightly and saw Qin Hao smiling at her.

"Did you behave today, baby?" Qin Hao sat down, placing his large hand on Lin Suyang's hand that was resting on her stomach. He leaned down and said, "Let me hear." Then he pressed his ear against her stomach.

"The phoenix robe is finished," Lin Suyang said, moving the hand that was being held.

"How is it? Is it suitable?" Qin Hao asked, looking up.

"Hmm, it suits me, but I'm afraid it won't look good on me."

Seeing her glance at his subordinate, Qin Hao chuckled softly, "Who said you don't look good? I think you look good in anything, right, son?" It was as if he were echoing her words. Lin Suyang felt a slight movement in her stomach.

"By the way, what are your plans regarding the assassin from that day?"

Qin Hao paused, his hand poised to pour himself a cup of tea. "You remember?"

Lin Suyang frowned at him, and he quickly added, "What I mean is that the situation was so dangerous that day, and you were only worried about me. I thought you didn't remember anything else."

"I clearly remember seeing him before, but why can't I remember him now?"

Seeing her distressed expression, Qin Hao took her hand and said, "Don't overthink it. If you can't remember, you can't remember. It's probably because of your pregnancy. If you want to see what he looks like, I'll have someone take you to see him."

"real?"

"Mm." Qin Hao nodded.

Lin Suyang carefully observed his expression, which showed no sign of evasion, and then said, "Let's forget about it to avoid trouble. However, that person doesn't seem to be a bad person. He... he just misses someone too much."

Qin Hao narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly, "Really? How did you know?"

Volume Four, Palace Intrigue, Chapter 107: Jade Smoke and Silk (Part Two)

"I've always wondered if I really resemble your minister, Grand Tutor Lin?" Lin Suyang asked with a serious expression.

Qin Hao released his hand, stood up, and said, "You really want to know?"

Lin Suyang nodded. Qin Hao looked at her for a while before saying, "It is very similar, especially these eyes." He reached out and touched her eyes, tracing her eye sockets. "It bewitches others but always keeps them at arm's length."

Qin Hao sighed and turned around, "It's a pity that the heavens are jealous of talent. It is a great loss to our Great Yang that Grand Tutor Lin passed away at such a young age."

Lin Suyang had been observing his expression, and when she caught the fleeting complexity in his eyes, she was even more puzzled. What exactly were his feelings for that Grand Tutor Lin? Was he merely a subject?

While they were still stunned, Qin Hao asked, "Where is that phoenix robe?"

Lin Suyang pointed to the hidden compartment by the bed. Qin Hao walked over, opened the drawer, took out a neatly folded phoenix robe, and returned to the table. "Do you know why this is called Jade Smoke Robe?"

Lin Suyang shook her head. Yanzi had told her the origin of the name "Emerald Smoke Silk" and that it was bestowed by the late emperor, but no one knew the specific reason.

Qin Hao told her to hold onto a corner of the phoenix robe, then picked up the teapot on the table and poured tea onto it. The dripping tea quickly soaked that small patch of robe.

"You..." Lin Suyang was startled and was about to withdraw her hand when she noticed that a faint mist was gradually rising from the wet area. She looked down in surprise and saw that the fabric, which should have been dark in color, was actually emitting a shimmering green light. The wisps of smoke resembled a jade gem that had sunk to the bottom of the water.

"What... is this?" Lin Suyang reached out and gently touched it. It was cool, and a refreshing chill spread from his hand into his body.

"This is the real Jadeite Silk Robe." Qin Hao unfolded the entire robe and held it up against Lin Suyang. He praised, "Your mother's craftsmanship is truly extraordinary."

"The secret of the Jadeite Silk Gauze is known only to the Qin family," Qin Hao said slowly. "Everyone knows that the Jadeite Silk Gauze is a treasure, but they don't know exactly why it is so valuable."

"Back then, Father Emperor discovered its miraculous effects by accident. He said that he rarely admired anyone in his life. The hermit of the Lost Mountains was truly a peerless talent to have the ability to create such a treasure. Father Emperor originally wanted to invite that hermit to come out of the mountains, but when he thought of the matter of Shenxian, he changed his mind. I guess that hermit has long since passed away by now."

"Such a precious thing. Why did you give it to me?" Lin Suyang stroked the smooth, silky green gauze. The pendant in her heart swayed, as if it had been accidentally tugged by someone.

Qin Hao looked at her and said, "Because you are more precious to me than it."

Lin Suyang's hand paused. Somewhat confused, she asked, "Really?"

Qin Hao stopped speaking, simply pulling her into his arms and holding her so tightly that Lin Suyang even felt she might suffocate in his embrace one day. An unprecedented sense of powerlessness washed over her. She began to feel afraid, afraid of this version of herself. He was clearly her husband, clearly. He loved her so much, but why did she always feel that the person she loved wasn't him?

On this rare rainy day, Lin Suyang remained in her room in the small courtyard, staring blankly at the gloomy sky. In just a few days, she would be wearing that unique phoenix robe and walking into another palace that represented power and status.

She asked Qin Hao, "Isn't she already the Empress? Why is this grand ceremony still necessary? Why do his concubines seem unaware of her existence?" However, she didn't voice this question.

Qin Hao told her that because she used to be very aloof and didn't like interacting with outsiders, he had let her live alone from the beginning. To avoid causing her any trouble, he had omitted the palace rules, but now that their child was about to be born, he said it was time for her to emerge as the empress.

After listening to Qin Hao's words, Lin Suyang was filled with doubts. What he said was completely different from what she had said when she first lost her memory. Why would he lie to her?

Feeling a bit annoyed, she turned her head and saw Yanzi looking at something from different angles. She couldn't help but ask, "Yanzi, what are you looking at?"

Upon hearing this, Yanzi quickly put her hands behind her back and replied, "No, it's nothing." Seeing that Lin Suyang was still looking at her, she said, "Master, would you like some plum juice? I'll go get it for you right away."

She took a step to leave, but heard a "thud" as something fell from her. Lin Suyang looked down at the ground and saw a very familiar jade pendant lying there. Her eyelids twitched. She sat up straight and said to Yanzi, "Give it to me."

Yanzi slowly bent down and picked up the jade pendant, then leisurely walked over and handed it to her.

The moment Lin Suyang received the jade pendant, a scene suddenly flashed in her mind. In the scene, a man in blue robes held up an identical jade pendant in front of her and said, "You should recognize this, right?" The scene flashed, and she saw "herself" walking leisurely down the road, while someone behind her kept calling her, "Suyang, Suyang, Lin Suyang."

Startled, she dropped the jade pendant, which fell to the ground. Yanzi, who was standing nearby, caught it with lightning speed and said with concern, "Master, please be careful. This jade is very valuable."

Lin Suyang was shocked by the memories that had just flashed through his mind. Upon hearing Yanzi's words, he asked, "How do you know this jade is valuable? Have you seen it before?"

“This servant has never seen it before, but having seen many jade ornaments belonging to my masters, I have never seen any jade that is smoother and more translucent than this, so this servant guesses that it must be very valuable.”

"Where did you find this jade?" Lin Suyang asked immediately.

Yanzi looked at Lin Suyang timidly and said hesitantly, "Yes, it was my friend who works at Qingxiang Palace who found it. He thought the jade pendant was very beautiful, so he gave it to me."

"Qingxiang Palace?" Lin Suyang took the jade pendant from Yanzi's hand again. The character "Lin" engraved on it was so bright that it was almost blinding to her.

Seeing that Lin Suyang didn't press for details about who gave her the jade pendant, Yanzi breathed a sigh of relief. Stealing a glance, she noticed Lin Suyang's extremely grave expression and, wondering what had happened, asked worriedly, "Master..."

Lin Suyang gripped the jade pendant tightly in his hand, looked up and asked, "Yanzi, can I have this jade?"

"If you like it, then take it. I'm just looking for something new anyway."

"Thank you," Lin Suyang said, then ignored Yanzi's probing gaze and buried himself in thought.

Si Junxing never dreamed that the things he had treasured and kept safe would disappear like this. After being heartbroken by Lin Suyang that day, he was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's jail by Qin Hao. He should have been executed immediately for his crimes. But for some unknown reason, Qin Hao neither punished him nor tortured him; he simply kept him locked up there and ignored him.

Si Junxing was constantly searching for a chance to escape. As long as he could get out, regardless of whether Lin Suyang had regained her memory, he would take her away from this place of trouble. However, when he discovered that the only thing he had left to remember her by was missing, a wave of despair washed over him. Was it truly fate that they were destined not to be together?

He furiously attacked the heavily iron-bound cell, roaring like a mad beast, struggling with all his might against this cruel fate. Why? He only wanted to be with the one he loved forever—was that wrong? He had no grand ambitions. No powerful aspirations; couldn't even such a simple wish be fulfilled?

God, how unfair you are to me!

Si Junxing collapsed to the ground, exhausted and sorrowful.

"What...what's your name?" A soft but urgent voice came from outside. Si Junxing sat up abruptly and saw the person he had been longing for standing outside the prison door, looking at him.

"Su Yang?" he called out uncertainly.

"What's your name? You know me, right?" Lin Suyang didn't respond to him, but just kept asking him.

Si Junxing stood up and walked to the iron gate, reaching his hands through the gaps to pull her away, but Lin Suyang took a few steps back and moved far away. Si Junxing suppressed the bitterness in his heart and said softly, "My name is Si Junxing. Remember it. My name is Si Junxing. Whether you remember it or not in the future, you must remember that my name is Si Junxing."

"You know me. Don't you? Tell me, who am I?" Lin Suyang continued to back away, pressing her back against the cold wall, as if that would calm her down.

"You... did you remember something?" Si Junxing couldn't hide his excitement, and his voice trembled as he spoke.

“I don’t know,” Lin Suyang shook her head. “I just feel like I shouldn’t be called Yun Feng’er. I… I really don’t know.” Her bewildered eyes stared blankly at Si Junxing, her fragile and lonely expression like that of a child abandoned in the wilderness, unable to find her way home. “Do you even know me?”

Si Junxing was heartbroken and desperately wanted to tell her the truth immediately. However, looking at her stomach, Qin Hao's words from that day flashed through his mind: "She's extremely weak right now. If you want her and the child to never wake up again, then just tell her the truth. Let her suffer another shock..."

He clenched his fists and closed his eyes. Si Junxing shook his head and said gently, "I don't know you, but you really look a lot like the person I love most, which is why I lost control like this. If I have caused you any trouble, then I apologize."

"Really?" Lin Suyang was clearly surprised by the answer, but seeing Si Junxing's sincere expression, the thought in her mind began to waver again.

“Of course. If you’d like, I can tell you some things about her,” Si Junxing said gently. “If you want to hear it, just sit down on that chair and I’ll tell you slowly.”

Lin Suyang followed Si Junxing's gaze and looked to the side, where there was a table and a chair. She hesitated for a moment, but finally went over and sat down.

"Her surname is Lin, and her name is Lin Suyang."

Upon hearing this name, Lin Suyang's expression subtly changed.

Si Junxing took in her expression, but his mouth didn't stop talking about what they had experienced together, from when she saved him, to when they met on the road to Shenzhou and he learned that she was disguised as a man, to his infatuation on the Lantern Festival, to when she left Yundu and encountered assassins, and he jumped off a cliff with her to save her, and then he shamelessly followed her, step by step winning her heart, until he lost his sight for her and lost all his martial arts skills for her, and then to their happiest time in Yan and Liao.

Everything seemed as vivid as if it had happened yesterday, and Si Junxing thought he would probably never forget it for the rest of his life.

"And then what?"

Volume Four, Palace Absolute, Chapter 108: Lost on the Path (Part 1)

"And then?" Lin Suyang asked.