Chapter 83
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Before leaving, Li Yi went to bid farewell to the emperor at Zhonghe Palace. As Zhao Heng had just ascended to the throne, he was extremely busy.
Li Yi had no intention of meeting the emperor, but he had to observe the formalities.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Heng dismissed his attendants and allowed Li Yi to enter.
After congratulating the emperor as per protocol and offering some words of blessing, Li Yi was about to leave the palace. The emperor remembered and asked, “Are you still planning to visit Bao’en Temple? Shall I arrange it for you?”
Li Yi calmly nodded his head, “I am at a loss as to how to avoid Su Wang. With Your Majesty’s assistance, I can think of nothing better.”
The emperor smiled and said, “Professor Li need not worry about Su Wang. He has his own troubles to attend to.”
“What has happened to Su Wang?” Li Yi asked.
Liu Shunzhong, who was standing by, answered on behalf of the emperor, “Zhao Yuan is no longer Su Wang. He is now awaiting sentencing in prison under the supervision of the Imperial Clan Court.”
“Your Majesty!” Li Yi widened his eyes, unable to believe that Zhao Heng would truly turn his back on someone.
“I promised to release you safely to Su Wang, but I never promised to overlook his past misdeeds,” replied Zhao Heng, unperturbed.
“Your Majesty, what crime has Zhao Yuan committed that would result in the revocation of his title and imprisonment? He made significant contributions to Da Cheng, and worked tirelessly for the common people day and night. Are these not enough to offset the unfounded charges against him?” Li Yi asked anxiously.
“How dare you!” Liu Shunzhong stepped forward and rebuked him.
Li Yi was anxious and could only look to Zhao Heng with pleading eyes.
“Does the Professor want to hear the emperor’s own words about the serious crimes committed by Zhao Yuan, which must be dealt with by the Clan Court?”
According to normal procedures, Zhao Yuan should be examined by the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment. If Zhao Heng didn’t want the matter to be widely known, it would be common for him to order a secret trial by the imperial guards.
But the emperor said that Zhao Yuan was apprehended by the Clan Court, and thus it was a matter of the emperor’s family affairs and the crime of the Zhao family.
Li Yi’s mind flashed through several possibilities, and the most plausible charge was plotting against a relative. Shen Yin was the emperor’s uncle, and although it was publicly said that Duke Dingguo died of a sudden illness, how many people in the court did not know that he was slaughtered by Zhao Yuan overnight?
Following Wei Che to visit Zhao Yuan in prison, Li Yi had long thrown his intention of going elsewhere out of his mind. If Qi Yuan was safe, he still hoped to avoid him. Now that Qi Yuan was imprisoned, Li Yi hated himself for not being able to return to the days when he was imprisoned in the palace, and he only hoped for Qi Yuan’s safety.
After entering the prison, they walked through two floors, but still did not see Zhao Yuan. Li Yi began to have a bad feeling. Sure enough, Wei Che led him to the depths of the dungeon.
The further down they went, the more damp and humid it became. The air was filled with a musty smell, and Li Yi’s heart sank to the bottom. He felt that every step towards the innermost part was as heavy as a thousand pounds.
The sound of water faintly came from the end of the corridor. Li Yi suddenly remembered something, and his heart jumped into his throat.
However, Wei Che no longer led him forward, but turned into a room next to them.
The stone room was neat and tidy with chairs and tables. It didn’t look like a typical prison cell. Li Yi looked around and saw water stains everywhere on the front stone wall, and moss growing in the cracks.
Wei Che silently pointed to a small hole in the stone wall.
Li Yi didn’t understand, so he walked up to it. The sound of water became clearer and clearer from the hole. He anxiously moved his eyes to the opening.
The scene before him suddenly opened up. In a stone-built circular water dungeon, Zhao Yuan stood with his back facing him, immersed in a waist-deep pool. His arms were bound by iron chains, pulled apart almost in a straight line. His upper body was bare, revealing scars, and his black hair spread out in the water.
Li Yi was shocked and took a few steps back, unable to believe what he saw. When he was taken as a hostage, the last thing he saw was Zhao Yuan’s back. And now, all he could see was his back again, but in this situation.
With just one glance, Li Yi almost cried.
He turned around to look at Wei Che, anger flickering in his eyes. Wei Che gestured for him to sit down and didn’t explain much, only saying, “Professor, please be patient for a moment. His Majesty will come here later and you will understand.”
Li Yi felt like he couldn’t wait for even a moment, feeling anxious and restless, but had to force himself to stay calm.
After waiting for who knows how long, there was suddenly a sound from the other side of the stone wall. Li Yi stood up in surprise, hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth and gathered the courage to walk back to the peephole.
Zhao Yuan’s shoulders trembled as he couldn’t control the pain surging within him. Blood began to seep out from all over his body, rippling in the water, staining it a reddish color.
Li Yi closed his eyes tightly and stepped back. Suddenly, he turned around and rushed out of the stone room. Wei Che was stunned for a moment before quickly following behind Li Yi out of the room.
Outside the water dungeon, Li Yi sternly reprimanded the jailer and ordered him to open the iron gate, as if he had become a different person.
The jailer was about to drive them away, but seeing Wei Che nod towards him, he opened the prison door expressionlessly.
Li Yi quickly entered the cell, and Wei Che followed closely behind him, standing side by side with him by the edge of the pool. However, the man in the pool was completely oblivious to anything around him.
The pain was so intense that Zhao Yuan couldn’t even stand upright, and he curled up entirely in the water.
It was only then that Li Yi noticed that there were long iron chains attached to Zhao Yuan’s feet at the bottom of the pool.
The iron chains on his limbs violently shook as he struggled, causing his softened skin to be rubbed raw by the chains, and blood seeped into the water.
Li Yi caught sight of the stone steps leading to the pool, but Wei Che quickly grabbed him and said, “Don’t move! Look at the water.”
There was no longer any blood seeping into the water, but instead bubbles of white foam were rising from the surface.
Wei Che also pointed out the end of the iron chain to Li Yi, showing him that where it touched Zhao Yuan’s bloody skin, the iron chain was making a sizzling sound, as if it was being corroded.
After doing all this, Wei Che turned around to face Li Yi, lifted his knife and cut off a corner of his robe in the blink of an eye.
The piece of clothing fluttered like a butterfly and floated into the pond with the force applied by Wei Che. As soon as it touched the water, it emitted a faint white smoke and quickly dissolved.
Wei Che said, “The pond water is poisonous, highly toxic.”
Li Yi looked at the decaying fabric and then at Zhao Yuan, shocked. “What about him?”
Why was he unaffected, even as the poison seemed to spread from his body into the pond? Li Yi was so surprised by his own judgment that he couldn’t continue his questioning.
“His Highness is infected with blood poison, and the pond water has become like this because of him. He is naturally unaffected,” Wei Che explained.
Li Yi turned his head at the sound of the voice and saw that Zhao Heng had arrived behind them without him noticing.
“Your Majesty, how could this happen?” Li Yi couldn’t bear to see anyone suffer, especially Zhao Yuan. It was as if his heart was on fire.
Zhao Heng saw Li Yi’s expression and said lightly, “Professor, aren’t you supposed to go to the Bao’en temple? What happens here has nothing to do with you anymore. You’ve seen what you needed to see, and the matter is settled. Start your journey earlier, and if you have any further questions, let Wei Che tell you on the way.”
Li Yi knelt directly in front of the emperor and begged, “Please, Your Majesty, let Zhao Yuan out of this water dungeon first. I know my words don’t carry much weight, but I still hope Your Majesty can consider our past relationship. Even if Su Wang had no merit in making Dacheng, he had worked hard. If Zhao Yuan is to be punished for the matter of Duke Dingguo, it is all my fault. Your Majesty, all the blame should fall on me. Please spare Zhao Yuan.”
Zhao Heng smiled, “If that’s the case, Li Yi, do you dare to jump into this pond? I’ll give you the key. If you can release Zhao Yuan from his handcuffs and shackles underwater, I will allow him to leave this water dungeon.”
Li Yi stood up suddenly and although his lips trembled slightly, his voice was firm as he asked, “Is Your Majesty serious about this?”
Zhao Heng confirmed, “A monarch never speaks in jest.”
Li Yi took the key and walked to the edge of the pool, looking as white as paper. He tightened his grip on the object in his hand, took a deep breath, and stepped into the water. He thought he would feel the pain of corroding bones, but only felt a piercing cold.
Without thinking, Li Yi quickly swam to Zhao Yuan’s side and took a deep breath before diving under the water. He used the key to unlock the lock on the ankle chain. Zhao Yuan had just passed the most painful stage and slowly opened his eyes.
At that moment, Li Yi emerged from the water and saw Zhao Yuan’s gaze almost melt him.
Zhao Yuan leaned against Li Yi’s ear and said, “How did you get out of the palace and come here? Go back to your courtyard outside Pan Palace and wait for me there.”
Li Yi suppressed his tears and fumbled for Zhao Yuan’s shoulder to release the iron chain. Zhao Yuan finally freed an arm and pulled Li Yi into his arms.
“Huan An, listen to me. It’s cold in the water, go quickly.”
It had been a long time since Zhao Yuan had spoken to him so obediently, and Li Yi’s heart trembled. He quickly untied the last shackles on Zhao Yuan’s hands.
Li Yi wanted to pull him out of the water, but Zhao Yuan squeezed him tightly and let go, saying, “The attack hasn’t subsided yet, and I can’t get out of the water. Go back.”
Li Yi looked back at him, and Zhao Yuan lifted his chin and made an urging expression.
Li Yi knew that in order to get Zhao Yuan out, he ultimately had to rely on the Emperor. He emerged from the water, with no intention to investigate why he wasn’t affected by the terrifying pool water. His concern was whether the Emperor would fulfill his promise.
Zhao Heng gestured for Li Yi to follow him.
With Wei Che leading the way, they brought the Emperor and Li Yi back to the adjacent stone chamber. A fire was lit in the room, and a eunuch brought a fox fur coat for Li Yi to keep warm.
“I ordered them to lead the person out of the water dungeon.”
Li Yi was about to express his gratitude, but Zhao Heng stopped him and said directly, “You are the deposed crown grandson and should be well aware of the founding emperor of the previous dynasty. The Zhao clan has ancestral rules. If anyone awakens their bloodline and uses it without the consent of the clan leader, they will be expelled from the clan. The crime committed by royal uncle was precisely using his bloodline power to save you.”
Li Yi was stunned upon hearing this and looked at the emperor with a dull gaze.
Zhao Heng smiled faintly, “Don’t understand what happened? I’m curious too. How did royal uncle save you? Why don’t you stay here quietly, Professor, while I go ask royal uncle?”
Before Li Yi could respond, the emperor had already turned and left the stone room.
Wei Che gestured to Li Yi not to eavesdrop and quietly moved to the side of the stone wall to listen.
When Zhao Heng returned to the water dungeon, the jailer was helping Zhao Yuan out of the water.
“Royal uncle should have killed Li Yi back then. How did you end up saving him?”
Zhao Yuan answered calmly, but on this side of the wall, Li Yi instantly returned to the foot of Wuliang Mountain that night.
Wei Che saw him tremble as he listened, not knowing if it was from being frozen from the water or for some other reason.
Soon, the emperor’s voice rang out again, “Royal Uncle, I have fulfilled my promise to you. Li Yi has already been sent away by Wei Che.”
“Thank Your Majesty for your grace,” Zhao Yuan’s breath had obviously stabilized compared to earlier.
Zhao Heng continued, “With this one stone and two birds, you’ve hit the mark. With Royal Uncle’s current situation as an example, everyone in the court is bowing their heads, and I don’t even need to establish my authority. As for Li Yi, I heard that he had no intention of leaving when the Royal Uncle was imprisoned.”
“I only know that Li Yi is soft-hearted. If I had acted properly, he would have avoided me of his own accord. It’s only because I was forced by Your Majesty that I ended up in this miserable state. Even if Li Yi had some doubts, he wouldn’t have left me.”
Li Yi stiffened all over when he heard Zhao Yuan’s words suddenly change of tone. He coldly said, “Your Majesty shouldn’t have implicated Li Yi. I only wanted you to inform him of my guilt. Why did you have to bring him here?”
The emperor thought to himself, I not only want to implicate Li Yi, but also want to hear the trap you set and watch you carry the beauty back.
If I don’t find the ways of having Wei Che unharmed, I am unworthy of being an Emperor.
When Li Yi heard Zhao Yuan’s confession that he had set him up, he felt despondent. He slowly stood up and was about to leave the wall.
Zhao Heng should have stopped talking and left, but there was something that he had been curious about for a long time. If he didn’t ask now, he might not have another chance. He couldn’t help but ask, “Royal Uncle, why have you never let Li Yi know that you suffered from blood poisoning because of him? Since Li Yi is soft-hearted and recognizes you, wouldn’t it be a good opportunity for you to seek his gratitude?”
Li Yi stopped in his tracks and held his breath, listening intently.
“If there was someone who reminded you of the loss of your parents and being alone in this world, someone who reminded you of falling from the heavens and losing everything because of deceit. If this person saved you only to make up for their intention to kill you, and he destroyed the things that are precious to you, such as your paintings and your hands, and make your life not worth living even if you survive.
But if there was another person, with a resemblance in appearance and temperament to that person, who brought you the same joy as before, without having to confront all the painful memories. Your Majesty, if it were you, which one would you choose? And which one would you hope for?”
Zhao Heng fell silent for a moment.
Zhao Yuan continued, “That’s why I never thought of acknowledging Li Yi. If he hadn’t recognized me later and I was afraid he would leave me, I wouldn’t have set up this trap. Compared to all the pain Li Yi has suffered because of me, my suffering from this little blood poisoning is nothing.”
Wei Che saw Li Yi on the wall, his face already covered in tears. He was worried that Li Yi, who was leaning against the wall, would collapse at any moment.
In the water dungeon, Zhao Heng never expected Zhao Yuan to say such words, and was somewhat stunned.
With the words spoken to this extent, the emperor no longer had any thoughts of teasing.
As the conversation between the two went on, their voices became increasingly soft, as if the emperor and Zhao Yuan had left the water dungeon and were getting further away.
Li Yi gradually regained consciousness without knowing how he did it.
Zhao Yuan had done so much for him, but he had known nothing about it for many years.
Wei Che sent Li Yi back to the small courtyard, where Ping An was already waiting in the courtyard. When Ping An saw Li Yi, he burst into tears of joy, and Li Yi smiled and followed him inside.
It was only then that Wei Che handed Li Yi a few copied notebooks.
“If you read them, you’ll understand everything.”
After Wei Che left, Li Yi opened the thin booklets and found that they were all notes from Zhao’s ancestors. He finished reading them all in no time, and was overwhelmed with emotions.
The bright light of the jade palace shone on the west side of the palace, like shattered rouge, dyeing the sky.
The crisp sound of wind chimes sounded from the eaves, and the young emperor stood on the jade steps of the Da Cheng Hall.
Before parting, Zhao Yuan bid farewell to the emperor in the palace.
After saying what needed to be said, Zhao Yuan was about to leave.
Zhao Heng, with a look of realization on his face, said, “I forgot to tell Royal Uncle that after leaving the water dungeon, Li Yi didn’t leave immediately. He changed his clothes in the stone room behind the water dungeon before leaving.”
“Are you saying that he heard everything I said after that?” Zhao Yuan’s face darkened in front of the emperor.
Zhao Heng innocently nodded his head.
To the emperor’s surprise, Zhao Yuan did not explode on the spot, but remained silent for a while before saying, “Your Majesty does indeed bear a grudge against me for hurting Wei Che.”
The emperor shook his head, “Not only that, you even used Wei Che’s future to threaten me, and you caused the death of my uncle.” He then added with regretful tone, “I almost blackened your name, but who would have thought that Royal Uncle would reveal such words that even moved my heart, let alone Li Yi.”
Zhao Yuan curled his lips and stepped down the stairs.
In the setting sun, Wei Che looked at Zhao Yuan’s departing figure and asked the emperor, “Why did Your Majesty restore the title of Su Wang again?”
In other words, if Zhao Yuan were a commoner, wouldn’t it be better for the emperor?
“Zi Tong, when I asked you to deliver the notes to Li Yi, you read them, right?”
The emperor did not seal them, nor did he forbid them from being read. Even Wei Che, with his status as a member of the imperial guard, had to look at them to be at ease.
Because he had read the notes, Wei Che understood the emperor’s strange illness, which might be related to the awakening of the Zhao family’s bloodline. But Wei Che did not know about the secret conversation between Zhao Yuan and Zhao Heng, and like the emperor before, he did not know what triggered the awakening of the bloodline.
Zhao Heng had been watching Zhao Yuan disappear at the palace gate, and he sighed, “Now I understand why the two ancestors in the notes never mentioned the trigger for the bloodline awakening.”
The emperor said this sentence, but he did not intend to explain further. Even if Wei Che was curious, he could not ask.
Whether it was the Zhao family ancestor’s love for the founding emperor of the former dynasty or the other ancestor’s love for his teacher’s wife, Zhao Heng finally understood that both were forbidden love in the eyes of the world.
Just like the earliest legend of the Zhao family, the heavenly phoenix transformed into a woman and married a mortal man, which was a shocking and extraordinary love.
Zhao Heng only thought, “The Zhao family owes Royal Uncle a lot for these many years, and the Zhao clan owes even more to Li Yi.”
Wei Che listened and thought that the emperor was referring to matters of the country and the loyalty of his subjects, but he did not know that Zhao Heng was thinking of the ancestor who was granted the title of a different surname.
The descendants of the Zhao family not only plotted to kill the descendants of those who gave everything to protect them, but also seized the kingdom that should have been guarded by them.
However, Royal uncle encountered Li Yi. When he realized that he had fallen in love with someone of the same status as his ancestor, he didn’t know what kind of emotions he was experiencing.
The emperor was deeply moved and said, “Restore Su Wang’s title, it is the compensation from the clan to the two of them.”
Zhao Yuan left the palace and rushed back to the small courtyard on Bai Yucong. He pushed open the door and Li Yi rushed out from inside.
Li Yi had never seen Zhao Yuan lose his composure like this before, and he was stunned for a moment. He quickly realized what was happening and reached out to take the things in his arms. However, Zhao Yuan ran up to him and suddenly stopped.
Zhao Yuan shook his head, picked up Li Yi in his arms and spun him around, causing Li Yi to feel dizzy. He then whispered in his ear, “Come with me to the fiefdom.”
Although Li Yi’s face was full of smiles, he still asked, “What identity? Am I a prince’s retainer or a favored courtier?”
Zhao Yuan was amused by his teasing and took out a silk book from his arms. He handed it to Li Yi and said solemnly, “Perfect match.”
Li Yi didn’t understand what he meant and looked confused. He unfolded the silk book and found that it was a marriage certificate written by Zhao Heng himself. He was somewhat stunned.
Zhao Yuan hugged Li Yi from behind and bit his ear, saying, “It’s not a royal marriage, but I want to give you a little bit of my heart.”
Li Yi’s face turned red and he whispered, “Qi Yuan…”
Zhao Yuan overwhelmed him with his words and carried him into the room.
The sunset entered the room, casting a beautiful glow. Li Yi struggled to get out of this “improper” state, but Zhao Yuan pressed him down on the bed.
“Where do you want to escape to?”
Zhao Yuan’s eyes were deep and even more mysterious than the twilight.
Li Yi was so scared that he dared not move and whispered, “Qi Yuan…”
Before the words could be spoken, the urgent kiss had already fallen upon him, attacking every inch of his lips with fervor before slowing down and becoming more lingering around his tongue. Li Yi couldn’t help but let out a soft moan as his heart became saturated with sweetness.
Zhao Yuan stepped back and looked, only to see that his lips had been ravaged to a deep red, with a trace of silver at the corners of his mouth. The alluring colors of passion came from the person beneath him, causing Zhao Yuan to let out a low growl as he tore off Li Yi’s outer garment…
Outside the window, the smoke haze and moon misted over, while inside the curtains, they were still entwined in a passionate embrace. They shared their happiness through storms and stress.
【End】
Author: Thank you to the little angels who supported me until the end.
There will be sweet extras, all kinds of extras, but I need to catch my breath and take care of real-life matters first.
My Weibo handle is my pen name, and there may be some extras posted there.
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