“What’s that noise outside?” In the prison corridor, Su Yan suddenly stopped.
The jailer holding the lantern listened carefully: “…Thunder and wind?”
Jinghong Zhui said: “Someone is making a commotion at the prison entrance, loudly calling ‘Is Lord Su here?’ From the voice, it’s that Embroidered Uniform Guard informant named Gao Shuo.”
Su Yan froze for a moment, then his expression changed slightly, and he dashed toward the entrance. Jinghong Zhui followed effortlessly. The jailer, caught off guard, was left far behind.
“Gao Shuo is Shen Qi’s trusted man. For him to be this urgent, even disregarding the rule that informants must not act conspicuously, something major must have happened,” Su Yan said as he ran. Suddenly he felt his body lighten, Jinghong Zhui had wrapped an arm around his waist, carrying him like wind-blown fluff out of the underground passage.
Thunder rumbled overhead like war drums, lightning tearing through the night sky, brewing a storm of terrifying force.
“Gao Shuo!” Carried by Jinghong Zhui, Su Yan arrived before him in an instant. “What happened?”
Gao Shuo was being restrained by the guards. Upon seeing Su Yan, his eyes lit up, and he shouted: “Lord Su, hurry to the Northern Surveillance Bureau! Hurry!”
“Horses! Speak on the way!”
Moments later, three riders burst out of the streets outside the Ministry of Justice. This area lay west of the Thousand-Step Corridor of the imperial city, separated from the Northern Surveillance Bureau only by the Censorate and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, at full gallop, they could arrive within the time it took to drink a cup of tea.
Gao Shuo’s hoarse cries were carried in the wind: “The emperor suddenly arrived… accused Lord Shen of colluding with rebels… committing treason… he’s going to be executed by lingchi… now only Lord Su can save him…”
Su Yan gripped the reins tightly, his expression grave, saying nothing.
The gates of the Northern Surveillance Bureau were right ahead. Su Yan dismounted before the horse had even stopped, nearly thrown off, but Jinghong Zhui leapt forward and caught him.
Su Yan steadied himself, gently pushed away Jinghong Zhui’s support, took a deep breath, and said in a low voice: “Qilang, Helin, I’m here.”
He quickly ascended the steps, passing through the courtyard filled with Embroidered Uniform Guard and imperial guards facing each other in tense opposition. Everyone instinctively stepped back, clearing a path for Prime Minister Su, the one most likely to quell this sudden upheaval.
In the courtyard, surrounded by layers of people, a flash of sword light knocked away the embroidered spring saber. Zhu Helin’s sword point flashed like lightning, aimed at Shen Qi as he shouted sharply: “Pick up your blade! What, afraid of my status, not daring to strike? What is it you fear, Shen Qi? You have the courage of tigers and wolves, the heart of a yaksha, what in this world could possibly inspire your fear or reverence?!”
Shen Qi knelt halfway on the ground, one hand braced on his knee, the other slowly gripping the hilt of the fallen saber.
“That’s right, no need to feign loyalty to your ruler. Come!”
A blade of cold, frost-like light swept up from the ground, slashing toward Zhu Helin’s lower stance.
The imperial guards cried out, “Protect His Majesty!” and rushed toward Shen Qi. But Zhu Helin shouted: “No one come forward! This is a duel between him and me alone!”
Blade met sword, sparks flying. The watching imperial guards and Embroidered Uniform Guard were caught in a dilemma, their faces full of anxiety and conflict.
No matter what, they could not allow the emperor to be in danger. They resolved that if the emperor began to lose, they would disregard orders and rush in to protect him.
After exchanging more than a dozen moves, Zhu Helin seized an opening, his sword tip shaking out several blossoms of steel, attacking simultaneously toward the opponent’s brow, throat, and chest.
Though it appeared as a three-pronged attack, it was not difficult to counter, one could lean back to evade the range of the sword. But Zhu Helin knew Shen Qi had once suffered a punishment to his back, leaving lingering injury. If he bent backward to dodge, it would inevitably strain the old wound, causing a momentary disruption in his internal energy. If Zhu Helin seized that instant and redirected his attack to the lower body, Shen Qi would be struck down on the spot.
As Shen Qi countered, he naturally realized this as well. Thus, as he bent back, he infused his internal energy into the saber and threw it from his hand. If Zhu Helin refused to turn his sword to block and insisted on attacking the lower body, it would only result in mutual destruction.
Such perilous exchanges caused the imperial guards to cry out in alarm: “Your Majesty, be careful!”
“Let us take action and capture the criminal official!”
“Shen Qi! You truly dare to strike, this is outright treason!”
The Embroidered Uniform Guard of the Northern Surveillance Bureau, led by Shi Yanshuang, were equally anxious and torn, indignant on behalf of Shen Qi, who had been driven to the brink, yet not daring to defy imperial orders. Were they really to stand by and watch their commander be sentenced to death by lingchi?
The blade flashed like lightning, forcing Zhu Helin to turn his sword back to block. Shen Qi did not retreat but advanced instead, seizing the moment to spring forward, using his palm like a blade to strike at the Tianding acupoint on the side of the opponent’s neck.
This move was a particularly vicious technique in close-quarters grappling, once it landed solidly, the force of the fingers could shatter the Adam’s apple, collapsing the windpipe and causing the opponent to suffocate to death in a short time.
The imperial guards watching the fight were terrified, just about to leap forward to rescue the emperor, when they suddenly heard someone shout from behind: “Stop!”
The guards turned at the sound and saw that it was Su Yan, Su Gelao, who was supposed to be suspended at home. Instinctively, they let out a breath of relief.
In his urgency, Su Yan disregarded the danger of being struck by the force of their clashing energies and rushed straight into the fight. At that moment, even though Shen Qi and Zhu Helin were like arrows already on the string, they had no choice but to withdraw simultaneously, each forced back several steps by the backlash of their own internal energy.
Su Yan glanced at the expressions of both men, then walked before Zhu Helin and knelt in salute: “Your subject, Su Yan, pays respects to Your Majesty.”
Zhu Helin’s blood and energy churned violently in his chest; only after a while did he speak: “Step aside. Today, I will seize this traitorous official who colluded with rebels!”
Su Yan exclaimed in shock: “Your Majesty, on what grounds do you say this! Shen Qi does carry some harshness in his nature and at times has spoken bluntly against Your Majesty, but treason and rebellion are things he would never commit. I beg Your Majesty to be magnanimous and spare him this once. In the future, he will surely restrain his temperament and serve the court properly.”
“‘Would never commit treason and rebellion’? Qinghe, where is your reason? You are not him, nor do you know how many schemes and secrets he has hidden from you, what kind of malicious intent lies beneath that familiar face, and yet you dare say such things!”
“I am indeed not him.” Su Yan hesitated for the briefest moment, then said firmly, “But I am willing to guarantee with my life that Shen Qi is not a traitor.”
Zhu Helin laughed in extreme anger: “You… you guarantee him with your life… very well! Then when he is executed, do you plan to kill yourself in devotion, or kill me to avenge him?”
Su Yan kowtowed: “I would not dare. It is only that this matter arose so suddenly, Your Majesty moved against him tonight without warning to condemn him for treason. There must be hidden circumstances behind this.”
Zhu Helin’s anger had not yet subsided: “Without conclusive evidence, do you think I would arbitrarily condemn a court official based on mere rumors? Su Qinghe, do you truly see me as such an emperor, one who acts on personal likes and whims?”
Su Yan could not help but glance back at Shen Qi. He saw him standing expressionless, his gaze indifferently fixed on the embroidered spring saber stuck slanted into the ground, as though unmoved by the argument that had just taken place between him and Zhu Helin.
But his fingertips were trembling.
Before anyone could notice, those fingers clenched tightly into fists, the trembling vanishing, leaving only the bulging veins that revealed suppressed resentment.
It felt to Su Yan as though a frost-edged blade had cut across his heart; the pain made his voice falter. He drew a long breath to ease it, then said to Zhu Helin: “I wish to see this evidence. I ask Your Majesty’s permission.”
Zhu Helin nodded and was about to instruct the guards when Su Yan added: “I wish to see it in private.”
Understanding that Su Yan was trying to leave room for maneuver, Zhu Helin still agreed, bringing him inside, and then ordered the guards: “Bind him and await judgment.”
Zhu Helin turned and walked straight into the hall. Gao Shuo, quick-witted, stepped forward to help Su Yan up, taking the chance to whisper: “Lord Su, you must save Lord Shen!”
Su Yan gave a slight nod. As he rose, he had a sudden thought and said to Jinghong Zhui, who stood not far behind: “Ah Zhui, come with me as well.”
As they brushed past, he cast Shen Qi a deep look, silently mouthing: I will find a way, do not act rashly.
The doors of the hall closed.
In the courtyard, the imperial guards took out shackles and moved to place them on Shen Qi, saying brusquely: “Imperial orders cannot be disobeyed. Forgive the offense!”
Shi Yanshuang immediately stepped forward with his men, smiling placatingly: “Brothers, wait a moment. The man is right here, he’s not going anywhere, is he?”
“That’s hard to say. Who knows if Commandant Shen might try to flee out of fear of punishment.”
“Once the shackles are on, how will our commandant face the court in the future? Besides, Prime Minister Su is pleading for him before the emperor. Think about it, when has the emperor ever refused Prime Minister Su’s requests?”
“Times are different now.” The imperial guard sneered. “After tonight, Commandant Shen’s head may not even remain on his neck. What use is dignity then?”
“You…”
Shen Qi raised a hand to stop Shi Yanshuang. He swept his gaze over the imperial guards, his eyes like blood-stained blades.
“This is the Northern Surveillance Bureau,” Shen Qi said.
“The court’s Northern Surveillance Bureau,” the guard replied pointedly, a chill rising in his heart.
“You have only twelve men.”
The guard’s expression shifted slightly: “No matter how many Embroidered Uniform Guard are here, they are still the emperor’s subjects. What, are you trying to incite your subordinates to rebel, Shen Qi?”
Shen Qi let out a cold laugh: “In the emperor’s eyes, am I not already a confirmed traitor? As you said, by tomorrow my head may no longer be on my shoulders, if not now, when would I rebel?”
At these words, the imperial guards’ faces changed drastically.
***
Inside the hall, Su Yan looked at the Embroidered Uniform Guard informant who had survived death, his expression grim.
He recognized this man, a capable agent under Gao Shuo who had once contributed in the Baizhifang explosion case. He had no motive to betray the Embroidered Uniform Guard or falsely accuse Shen Qi. Moreover, judging by his demeanor, he did not appear to be lying.
Zhu Helin handed over another item, a strange cylindrical object made of metal, its surface engraved with uneven patterns that seemed to conceal mechanisms. Su Yan took it and examined it repeatedly.
“This was found in a hidden compartment in Shen Qi’s residence. Do you know what it is?”
“It looks like some kind of mechanism box?”
“Correct, it is a device specifically used for transmitting messages. We’ve seen them before when clearing out underground strongholds of the Void Sect,” Zhu Helin said, disappointment evident on his face. “Shen Qi betrayed the court long ago, betrayed my father, betrayed me, and betrayed you.”
Su Yan staggered, falling back into the chair, his face pale.
“…Impossible.” He muttered in disbelief. “Qilang would not do such a thing. He clearly knows what I want… Moreover, he now holds a high position, commanding the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard. There is no reason for him to betray Great Ming and collude with the player…”
Zhu Helin shouted: “Su Qinghe, stop deceiving yourself! You’re such a clever man, have you truly never had even the slightest suspicion of Shen Qi?”
Su Yan shook his head forcefully.
Jinghong Zhui stepped forward, his face cold as he said to Zhu Helin: “Enough. Don’t push him any further.”
Zhu Helin refused to yield an inch: “I will push him, push him to face reality, push him so that a short pain is better than a long one!”
He walked to the armchair, bent down with both hands braced on the armrests. The crimson, gold-woven dragon gauze hung like a blazing cloud, enveloping Su Yan.
The young emperor looked down at his favored minister and said in a low voice: “Why did Shen Qi betray? Aside from his innate rebellious nature and wolfish ambition, there is another important reason, you know it.”
Su Yan looked at the ruler he had personally helped to the throne, his expression pleading. In that moment, he seemed as weak and powerless as someone long afflicted by illness.
“You know it!” Zhu Helin emphasized. “He did it for you! No, more precisely, for his possessiveness. Anything that obstructs his sole possession of you, be it the state, the sovereign, or morality and ethics, is his enemy. And toward enemies, he has always been ruthless, killing without blinking.”
“He has no beliefs, no bottom line, no sense of morality, not even the most basic human compassion. He climbed up on mountains of corpses and seas of blood, not only because he needed that flesh and blood, but because he enjoyed it. Royal Father was right, he is a Taowu wearing human skin. Such a monster, what is there for you to cling to?!”
Zhu Helin was not wrong… a faint voice in Su Yan’s heart said so. But the fate Shen Qi was about to face was something he could never accept.
“But I once told the late emperor…” Su Yan raised his hand, tracing in the air the shape of Zhu Helin’s brows and eyes, the only feature he shared with Zhu Jinli.
—This subject is willing to be that chain. Even if it is eventually broken, I am willing.
—Qinghe, don’t be foolish!
—This subject is perfectly clear-headed. I will bind him with myself as the chain; he is also willing to be bound by me. In this way, it benefits both public and private matters, and Your Majesty need not worry about the consequences of the beast breaking free.
—And if you cannot restrain him?
—Then this subject will feed him with flesh and blood.
“I am willing to bind him with my body as the chain, to feed him with my flesh and blood as sacrifice,” Su Yan said softly. “Your Majesty… Helin, spare his life. I beg you, do not kill him.”
Zhu Helin was nearly drowned in anger and despair.
“Su Yan, after everything that’s been said, why are you still so stubborn?!” He grabbed Su Yan’s wrist tightly, gritting his teeth as he forced out each sharp word. “Don’t beg me, go beg the world. Go beg the civilians who died in the explosion, the people dragged into the border wars, ask them whether Shen Qi deserves to be spared!”
Tears rolled silently down Su Yan’s face.
“Enough!” Jinghong Zhui shouted, stepping forward and brushing Zhu Helin’s hand away. “Is this persuasion? You’re using Shen Qi’s sins to punish Lord Su!”
“I am not!” Zhu Helin roared at him. “I only want Qinghe to see clearly how worthless it is for him to protect Shen Qi so wholeheartedly!”
Jinghong Zhui said: “Whether it is worth it is Lord Su’s own judgment. It has nothing to do with you, nor even with the world.”
“How could it have nothing to do with me? Qinghe is mine…”
Su Yan suddenly grabbed Zhu Helin’s sleeve, choking with emotion: “Stop talking. The fault lies with me. That matter… Qilang must have already known.”
That matter.
That night in the Fengxian Hall, a dream woven from red candles and red gauze. In the dream, there was the wild joy of fulfilled desire; upon waking, only estranged sorrow remained.
The muscles at the corner of Zhu Helin’s mouth twitched as he smiled in a nearly twisted way: “Good that he knows. If he hadn’t schemed to steal you from Royal Father back then, he would never have had the chance to possess you. Now letting him repay it with his life, what’s wrong with that?”
“Helin!” Su Yan seized his collar, shocked and pained. “Do you even hear yourself? Do you want to kill him because he betrayed the state and the sovereign, or because he obtained what you could not?”
Zhu Helin froze for a moment. His gaze gradually cleared, and a flash of shame passed over his face.
Su Yan, utterly exhausted, let out a long sigh and released him. He said softly: “Helin, do you remember how we returned from Nanjing?”
“We hurried and fled all the way. Ahead of us lay the uncertain fate of the late emperor and a perilous situation; behind us were relentless assassins and powerful rebel forces. When we were surrounded by the Blood-Eyed assassins in the Forest, I was almost in despair. I thought that even if all of us died there, we had to send you, the crown prince of this nation, safely back to the capital.”
“I entrusted that resolve to Shen Qi. And he accomplished it. He used his life to carve a path for you. For three whole days, he rode without rest, escorting you, using his utterly exhausted, flesh-and-blood body to hold back the final pursuers.”
“Tell me, Helin, in that moment, were you truly unmoved?”
Zhu Helin stood stunned.
Shen Qi’s hoarse shout from back then echoed again in his ears:
“Go! Take power! Send troops! Bring reinforcements!”
He left.
Shen Qi, utterly spent, fell backward and sat heavily on the damp ground, resting his blade across his knees. He coughed up a mouthful of blood-foam and rasped toward the few remaining Blood-Eyed assassins: “Next.”
As sword wind rushed toward him, Shen Qi closed his eyes, ready for death, when he returned, drawing his bow and loosing arrow after arrow without missing, killing the last assassin on the spot.
The horse stopped beside Shen Qi. He said in a low voice: “…Get on.”
Shen Qi turned his head, looking up at him from below, and did not respond.
After three days and two nights without rest, after countless fierce battles, this commandant of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had exhausted the last shred of his strength, he did not even have the power to climb onto the horse.
After a brief hesitation, he extended a hand toward the minister he had always feared, resented, and envied.
“Get on!”
Covered in blood, Shen Qi finally grasped his hand.
The rough, cold, blood-soaked sensation of it still lingered on the skin of his palm.
They had ridden the same horse back to the imperial city.
During those brief three days, they had shared a common enemy and had had only each other.
Su Yan pleaded, “For the sake of the fact that he once saved your life.”
Zhu Helin was silent for a moment before finally saying slowly, “As far as I’m concerned, what happened between him and me ends here.”
Before Su Yan could breathe a sigh of relief, the Emperor continued, “But the debt between him and the Great Ming has not been settled. The Imperial Prison will be the place where he spends the rest of his life.”
Su Yan frowned and was about to speak when a sudden furious shout came from outside the door:
“Shen Qi, are you really going to rebel—”
Zhu Helin’s expression darkened. He immediately turned and strode toward the door to open it.
Su Yan instinctively wanted to rush outside as well, but the moment he stood up, he changed his mind and grabbed Jing Hongzhui’s arm.
“Ah Zhui, don’t go out.”
Jing Hongzhui asked, “My lord, don’t you want to know what is happening to Shen Qi outside?”
Su Yan said, “He isn’t someone who would simply stick out his neck and wait to be killed. Helin is here with you and me right now. Even if Shen Qi wanted to make a move, he wouldn’t be able to. Ten to one, he has already escaped. If I go outside and Helin orders his arrest, I cannot openly disobey an imperial decree. But if you intervene, he won’t be able to escape at all.”
“So you still hope that he can escape?”
“…Ah Zhui.” Su Yan spoke with pain and confusion in his voice. “I know this is wrong. If I let him go, I’ll be betraying the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the people of Great Ming. But how could I possibly stand by and watch him be executed by dismemberment? If a piece of flesh is cut from him, it feels as though a piece of me is being cut away too. If he dies on the execution ground, then I’ll be nothing more than a living corpse for the rest of my life!”
Jing Hongzhui pulled him tightly into his arms. He could not say a word and simply held him tightly.
Tears streamed down Su Yan’s face.
“Ah Zhui, I want to speak with him a few more times… There are some things I have to ask him.”
Jing Hongzhui gently stroked his back. “I’ll take you to find him.”
In the courtyard, a bolt of thunder tore across the sky. The torrential rain that had been brewing for half the night finally came crashing down.
Zhu Helin stood on the steps, staring at the imperial guards sprawled across the ground and the brocade-clad guards kneeling in apology. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Did you really think I only brought a dozen or so guards with me? Wei Liangzi, seal the Zhengyang Gate. Order the Tengxiang Guards lying in ambush outside to close in. Authorize the Firearms Battalion to use muskets, cannons, and divine-machine rockets. Capture the traitor Shen Qi. Dead or alive!”
