Chapter 11: Xingzhi Temple (11)
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The charcoal basin warmed the entire room like spring, but the dizziness prevented Lin Zikui from standing up, fearing he might embarrass himself if he did.
If he were sober, he wouldn’t be able to continue Xiao Fu’s conversation, but with his mind clouded, Lin Zikui dared to look at him and said, “Second Young Miss, you’re beautiful, but I still need to study. I have the Spring Examinations next year. I can’t afford to fail.”
“Blinding yourself isn’t a surefire way to avoid failing, you know?”
Lin Zikui had his own reasoning: “But I don’t need to read much. I just need to listen to someone read to me. When my servant reads a word, I can recite the next sentence.”
“But won’t that strain your servant’s voice? Are you willing to inconvenience a child?” Xiao Fu spoke gently. “How about I read to you instead? I have the Four Books and Five Classics here. What would you like to hear?”
Lin Zikui had long memorized the Four Books and Five Classics.
With a dry mouth and a foggy mind, he said, “Anything will do.”
His lips parched, he licked them and took a sip of tea, which was sweet.
Marquis Xiao went to fetch a book. He wasn’t very literate and never enjoyed reading. The only thing he could somewhat read was military books. It was already an accomplishment for him to be able to read. However, there were no Four Books and Five Classics in the room, only a few dusty Taoist scriptures.
Sitting down, he flipped through the pages and began reading aloud in a gentle voice. Lin Zikui listened for a while before realizing, “Second Young Miss, isn’t this… isn’t this the Book of Dao?”
“Yes, do you not like it?”
Lin Zikui shook his head, his eyes misty but bright. “I do like it.”
“Then I’ll continue reading to you. Are you feeling warm now?”
He nodded. “Mm, I feel warm now.”
But listening to the Book of Dao made Lin Zikui more and more sleepy. His head bobbed downwards, almost falling into the charcoal basin. Xiao Fu extended his hand just in time to catch his chin.
Lin Zikui, whether due to the alcohol or newfound boldness, didn’t move away. Instead, he rested his chin in Xiao Fu’s palm and said, “Second Young Miss, your hand… it’s so big.”
This was something he would never dare say when sober, fearing it might touch upon the young lady’s sensitive issues.
Of course, it wasn’t Xiao Fu’s sensitive issue.
The more Xiao Fu looked at Lin Zikui, the more he liked him. He countered, “Is big not good?”
Lin Zikui shook his head slowly. “It’s quite nice.”
Yuanqing, feeling uncomfortable, grabbed a Jinzun and left. “Come on, let’s not be a bother.”
Jinzun protested, “Brother Qing, I want to play chess with the scholar.”
“What chess? You’ll disturb Lord Marquis’s good mood. Be careful, or he might smack you!”
At that moment, a modest gray carriage arrived outside the Xingzhi Temple. It was unadorned, both front and back, and driven by a middle-aged man with a soft and gentle appearance, dressed in a crimson straight robe. He lifted the curtain of the carriage and whispered softly, “Master, we have arrived at the Xingzhi Temple.”
A fair and delicate hand extended from within the carriage, resting on the back of the gentle man’s hand, and then gracefully descended from the carriage.
She was wrapped in a black cloak, not made of flashy or luxurious material. The hood covered most of her face, making it impossible to see her features clearly, but her demeanor was extraordinary, clearly indicating her status as someone of high rank.
Inside the temple, the effeminate man led the woman inside, saying, “Lord Marquis resides in the East Guest Hall of the Xingzhi Temple.”
When the woman arrived outside the East Guest Hall, she was spotted by Yuanwu, who was about to reprimand her, but he froze when he saw the person beside her.
Surprised, he exclaimed, “Cao Gonggong*?”
Note: Gonggong is a term of address for eunuch.
Could it be…
Yuanqing also stood up, “Empress Dowager?!”
The Empress Dowager lifted the hood slightly, revealing her pointed chin and red lips, and interrupted their bowing, saying, “Generals, there is no need for such formalities. Where is your Lord Marquis?”
“Lord Marquis is…” Yuanqing turned to look at the door and said, “Lord Marquis is inside. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty. I will go and inform him!”
After saying this, he knocked on the door and entered. Maquis Xiao turned his head to look at him, frowning. “What is it?”
Lin Zikui was already slightly tipsy, feeling drowsy from listening to the scriptures. With half-closed eyes, he propped his elbow on his arm and cupped his face, which was flushed from the alcohol. Bathed in the light and warmth of the charcoal fire, his gaze wandered absentmindedly over to the Second Young Miss.
As Yuanqing entered, it seemed like Lin Zikui didn’t hear him either, as he continued to stare intently at Xiao Fu.
Occasionally, when Xiao Fu glanced at him, Lin Zikui didn’t even realize it, still staring intently at the other.
Xiao Fu felt like he was being stared at by an innocent little lamb.
So when Yuanqing came in, he was naturally displeased.
“Master, it’s…” Yuanqing paused, then said, “Your elder sister is here.”
“How come she’s here?” Xiao Fu became even more displeased.
At the door, the voice of Empress Dowager Xiao could be heard, sounding as if she was about to barge in, shouting, “Xiao Fu, Xiao Fu! It’s me! I know you’re in there! Stop hiding!”
Hearing this voice, Lin Zikui raised his head in confusion. “Second Young Miss….?”
“It’s my elder sister, don’t be afraid,” Xiao Fu closed the book.
“Your… sister?” Lin Zikui realized, quickly getting up. “Shouldn’t I…?” He looked around, noticing the window, about to climb out, but Xiao Fu grabbed his wrist, flicked a stone picked up from the window sill with one hand, hitting the Empress Dowager’s mute point directly. With his other arm around Lin Zikui, he pushed him onto the bed, lowered the curtains, and whispered, “Don’t make a sound.”
Dazed, Lin Zikui was pushed onto the bed by him, lying stiffly, not daring to breathe. His mind was muddled, and he found himself on the bed of the Second Young Miss such a fragrant smell.
He closed his eyes and covered himself with the blanket.
In a daze, he heard Xiao Fu’s voice from outside, “Why is elder sister here?”
However, his elder sister remained silent.
Lin Zikui didn’t know that the Empress Dowager wanted to speak but couldn’t. She pointed at her throat, glaring at him indignantly. “You…”
Not far away, Cao Gonggong became anxious, “Master!”
Xiao Fu’s gaze swept over him coldly, “Cao Guang, stay outside.”
Xiao Fu stepped out first, then relieved her acupoints. The smile on his face turned into a forced one, “What does the Empress Dowager need from me?”
The Empress Dowager, clutching her hands in frustration, glanced towards his bedroom.
Was there something unsightly inside?
But she couldn’t bother with that now. She immediately said, “Little brother, come back to the palace with me now!”
Xiao Fu raised an eyebrow, “Why?”
“The Emperor…,” the Empress Dowager looked worried, her voice lowered, “has been poisoned.”
“Why come to me then? If he’s poisoned, you should seek the Imperial Physicians. You know I can’t smell or heal, let alone deal with poisons.” Xiao Fu remained calm.
But the Empress Dowager grabbed his arm, which Xiao Fu subtly withdrew. Seeing this, her expression froze slightly, and she didn’t touch him again, clenching her fists, she said, “Xiao Fu, Imperial Physician Zhang said only your master, the Venom King, might be able to cure this poison. But he’s elusive. Now only you can find him.”
“Empress Dowager, as you know, my master is always elusive, living in seclusion. I’ve been stationed in the borderland for seven years without imperial orders to return. How could I know where he is? Why come to me for this?” His smiling eyes turned completely cold.
“Xiao Fu…” The Empress Dowager turned to look, seeing Cao Guang, with the Chen brothers absent. She looked back at Xiao Fu, unable to bend her knees, biting her lip, she said, “Xiao Fu, I beg you! What happened back then was the Emperor’s fault. Now that he’s in trouble, only you can save him! The Crown Prince is still young and unable to inherit the throne. If the Emperor falls now, the border, the princes, and the vassal princes will all be restless. What will happen to the people of this world? Xiao Fu, I’m begging you! Are you really going to make me kneel?”
“Even if you kneel and kowtow to me today, I still can’t find my master,” Xiao Fu looked down at her from above, his voice icy, “Empress Dowager, why not expose the person who poisoned him? Let the one who poisoned him come and cure him. Isn’t that faster than finding me?”
“But the palace has already investigated three times. Several eunuchs were caught, but they all committed suicide out of fear! The person who poisoned him is cunning!”
“Do you know about the assassination attempt on me before I entered Jinling?” Xiao Fu continued, “Who could mobilize hundreds of assassins, and why did they stop me from entering the capital?”
“I know,” the Empress Dowager’s tone faltered, “Are you saying…”
Xiao Fu nodded.
“The person who tried to assassinate you could very well be the same one who poisoned the Emperor!” She exclaimed, “Little brother, who tried to kill you?”
Xiao Fu looked at her with dark eyes, then suddenly smiled, “I don’t know, because I killed everyone involved.”
The Empress Dowager stared at him, taking a step back.
After a moment, a bewildered expression appeared on her face.
“You knew early on that he was poisoned, and you also knew early on that the person plotting to assassinate you was the same one poisoning the Emperor! That person feared you returning to the palace to save him and also feared that you would uncover the palace’s secrets and mobilized the army from Prince Yunnan Residence…”
He had intentionally put the Emperor in danger!
Facing her implicit accusation, Xiao Fu neither confirmed nor denied it, his tone flat, “Empress Dowager, please return to the palace. You shouldn’t have come to this Daoist temple in the first place. The person residing here probably doesn’t want to see you in this lifetime.”
The Empress Dowager fell silent.
Xiao Fu continued solemnly, “Let me remind you, Empress Dowager, the person who could gather so many assassins in Jinling must have connections with the powers in the capital.”
Several names flashed through the Empress Dowager’s mind. With the Crown Prince still young, if the Emperor were to pass away, several princes would vie for the throne.
She braced herself for the worst and pleaded tearfully, “I don’t know how long the Emperor’s condition can hold out. If… that day comes, I implore you, Xiao Fu, the Crown Prince is still young, he’s your nephew. He’s innocent.”
“Empress Dowager, please return.”
As the Empress Dowager turned to leave, she cast one last glance at him. His face was shrouded in a cold shadow, yet Xiao Fu was her brother in all but blood. She had watched him grow up, and despite his martial background, he was as honest and kind-hearted as the Duke Chang.
If it weren’t for her being relegated to the cold palace and her imperial son about to be secretly executed, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t have had to plead with her father, who borrowed the power of Prince Yunnan. How could Xiao Fu have become involved in political strife?
The Empress Dowager knew she couldn’t blame Xiao Fu for his coldness. For the past seven years, the Emperor had always feared him, sending people multiple times to harm him. If it weren’t for Xiao Fu’s luck and having skilled protectors and physicians by his side, he might have perished in the north long ago.
It was said that Xiao Fu’s trusted aides had died under mysterious circumstances.
Supporting the Empress Dowager, Cao Gonggong asked, “Your Majesty, are we returning to the palace now?”
After a while, the Empress Dowager seemed to have shrunk in stature. She whispered, “Cao Gonggong, take me to pray to Guanyin. After that, we’ll return to the palace.”
Once she left, Xiao Fu reached out to catch raindrops falling along the eaves. The rain had stopped, and the lingering drops rolled in his palm before falling away.
Turning back into the room, Xiao Fu found Lin Zikui nestled in his bed, hands clasped under the covers, face hidden.
Pausing for a moment, Xiao Fu gently pried open Lin Zikui’s fingers and lifted the quilt.
Lin Zikui’s eyes were tightly shut, long lashes gently resting against his cheeks, completely motionless.
Xiao Fu reached out as if to call out to Lin Zikui, his fingers brushing against the flushed face with a hint of drunkenness. Lin Zikui remained unresponsive, breathing steadily, lips rosy. Xiao Fu realized then that Lin Zikui had already fallen asleep.
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