Zhu Helin personally led the Tengxiang Guards and Firearms Battalion in searching Dashiyong Ward for the entire night.
Just as dawn approached and the rain finally stopped, they discovered the secret tunnel beneath the riverside opera stage that had been blasted open with gunpowder.
They followed the tunnel. Its other end opened into Yibei Ward, with Guangning Gate of the outer city directly to the west.
After searching the outer city and questioning the guards without success, Long Quan, Commander of the Tengxiang Guards, had no choice but to report to the Emperor:
“The wanted criminal Shen Qi escaped with the assistance of his accomplices through the tunnels left behind by the True Void Sect. He has likely already left the capital.”
Zhu Helin’s face was as dark as still water. “Continue searching the capital with your men. Also order Shuntian Prefecture to produce portraits and descriptions of him, post them throughout every prefecture, and issue a nationwide wanted notice. Search the entire country for him.”
Long Quan accepted the order and went off to make the arrangements. At that moment, a palace guard hurried over and quietly whispered several words to the Emperor.
Zhu Helin’s expression changed instantly. He did not even have time to change out of his soaked outer robe before leaping onto his horse and galloping toward Huanghua Ward in the eastern part of the city.
A large contingent of Jinwu guards thundered after the Emperor as he raced through the streets, terrified that anything might happen to the imperial carriage. When they reached the gates of the Su residence in Huanghua Ward, Zhu Helin immediately broke through the door and entered.
The guards did not dare storm the Gelao’s residence as a group, so most remained outside to stand watch. Only a dozen or so trusted palace guards who served directly alongside the Emperor followed him inside.
Zhu Helin rushed through the familiar corridors and into the main residence. In the outer room, he happened to encounter Su Xiaobei carrying an empty medicine bowl.
He immediately asked, “Is Qinghe all right? Is he ill, or has he been injured?”
Su Xiaobei’s eyes were red-rimmed, and his voice trembled. “My lord coughed up blood. Brother Zhui carried him back. He vomited again as soon as they entered the house, bile mixed with blood…”
Before he could finish, Zhu Helin rushed into the inner room and straight to the bedside.
A figure was wrapped tightly in a cocoon of silk blankets. Only his dark hair and pale, bloodless face were visible against the pillow, his eyelashes tightly shut. Jinghong Zhui sat on the footstool beside the bed, holding Su Yan’s wrist. His qi flowed steadily and continuously into Su Yan’s pulse point like a gentle stream.
Zhu Helin asked urgently, “How is he?”
Jinghong Zhui said gravely, “It’s an injury of the seven emotions. I already gave him the pills you brought.”
Zhu Helin remembered what had happened when Qinghe had believed his father had died, and he was still shaken by the memory. “Why is it so much more serious this time that he’s coughing up blood?!”
“The blood came from damage to his esophagus and stomach.” Jinghong Zhui’s expression darkened slightly.
He had already reached the grandmaster level in martial arts. The qi within him was vast and continuously regenerated on its own, so the small, steady stream he was transferring into Su Yan would not trouble him even if he continued for several days and nights without stopping. The darkness in his expression came more from his state of mind.
He frowned. “Actually, the damage to the internal organs isn’t particularly severe. What is truly serious is the disturbance to the emotions, which has caused the yin and yang within his body to become unbalanced. If it isn’t treated promptly, it could damage his vitality and foundation, leading to a multitude of illnesses in the future, and perhaps…”
“Perhaps what?”
“It could even shorten the lifespan.”
Zhu Helin was shocked. “Then treat him immediately! Imperial Physicians! I’ll have all of them come here for a consultation. Whatever medicine he needs, whatever treatment, do it immediately!”
He spoke so frantically that he completely forgot his imperial dignity. He personally ran out of the room and ordered the guards in the courtyard to summon the Imperial Physicians, then immediately hurried back. Carefully lifting a corner of the blanket, he sat sideways on the edge of the bed.
Looking down at Su Yan’s colorless face, Zhu Helin nervously placed his knuckles beneath Su Yan’s nose to feel for his breathing. Jinghong Zhui shot him a fierce glare. Only then did Zhu Helin force himself to suppress his anxiety and compose himself. “Qinghe… met Shen Qi last night?”
Jinghong Zhui gave a slight nod.
Zhu Helin said angrily, “What did that b*stard say to him to upset him this badly?”
Jinghong Zhui kept his fingers on Su Yan’s pulse point, closed his eyes, and said nothing.
Zhu Helin gritted his teeth. “If you won’t tell me, I can guess. That b*stard! Last night at the Northern Surveillance Bureau, I should have ordered the firearms troops to fire a volley and shot him dead!”
Between the pillow and blankets, Su Yan drew a long, ragged breath and slowly opened his eyes.
Zhu Helin wanted to place a hand on his shoulder but withdrew it halfway. Instead, he gently touched him through the blanket and asked softly, “Qinghe, do you feel any better?”
Su Yan said quietly, “I’m sorry to have worried Your Majesty.”
Zhu Helin’s throat tightened. “Are you angry with me? Because of Shen Qi?”
“This official is not.”
“There’s no one else here, yet you’re still calling me ‘Your Majesty.’”
Su Yan weakly tugged the corners of his lips upward and corrected himself. “I’m sorry for making Little Mas… Helin worry.”
Only then did Zhu Helin relax. He gently stroked Su Yan’s cheek with a bent finger. “I heard you were unconscious when you returned home. You frightened me terribly! It’s good that you’re awake now. I’ll have the Imperial Physicians examine you later. Take your medicine properly and recuperate.”
With little strength in his voice, Su Yan asked in return, “Does Young Master want to know how I found Shen Qi, and what I said to him?”
Zhu Helin pressed his lips into a thin line. “I don’t want to know! The wanted criminal escaped because remnants of the True Void Sect came to his aid. It has nothing to do with you. You didn’t see him last night, and you certainly didn’t knowingly conceal anything from the authorities. And no matter what nonsense he said, it was nothing but dogsh*t. You are not to listen to it, and you are certainly not to take it to heart. He is a traitor. The law of the state will deal with him in due time. You must not waste another ounce of your energy over this. Do you understand?”
“It has nothing… to do with me?” Su Yan’s face was pale. He gave a self-deprecating smile. “I was the one who let him escape. Otherwise, with Ah Zhui right beside me, how could he possibly have gotten away? For the sake of my own personal feelings, I disregarded the law and morality and released a tiger back into the mountains. If the Player gains strength because of this, and if blood is spilled as a result, at least half of that guilt should be counted against me.”
This time, not only did Zhu Helin’s expression change, even Jinghong Zhui found it difficult to accept. “My lord, take those words back immediately! Their sins belong to them. They have absolutely nothing to do with you.”
Su Yan closed his eyes and remained silent for a long while.
Zhu Helin exchanged a worried glance with Jinghong Zhui. Just as the two were about to try comforting him again, Su Yan said calmly, “Young Master, there is something I want to ask of you. Will you grant it?”
Zhu Helin hurriedly replied, “Don’t say just one thing. I would grant ten or a hundred things. Tell me.”
Su Yan turned his head toward him. There was an indescribably strange expression in his eyes, and every word was perfectly clear. “I ask you not to publicly announce Shen Qi’s crimes. Don’t issue a nationwide warrant for his arrest. Can you grant me that?”
Zhu Helin froze. Anger and hesitation shifted across his face.
Su Yan said, “I know that what you care about most right now is His Majesty’s safety. Last night, Shen Qi personally told me that he did not abduct His Majesty, and that he would not reveal the information about His Majesty’s feigned death to the Player for the time being. There was no reason for him to lie about that. So if His Majesty isn’t at the villa, there is another possibility—”
Zhu Helin blurted out, “Royal Father woke up! He realized the situation had changed, so he left on his own and took Physician Chen and the others with him!”
“That is possible. His Majesty was unconscious for so long that, after waking, his physical condition likely couldn’t immediately return to its former strength. Choosing to avoid the enemy’s edge for now and make plans before acting is a very wise decision.”
“But if Royal Father woke up, why didn’t he contact me?”
“Perhaps he was worried about exposing himself. Perhaps he has other plans. In any case, during this chaotic period, as long as His Majesty isn’t discovered or attacked by the Player, I believe he will be safe.”
Zhu Helin thought it over from every angle and found Su Yan’s reasoning convincing. His expression gradually softened.
“From the looks of it, Shen Qi may not have been wholeheartedly intending to defect to the enemy after all.” Su Yan continued pleading softly. “I know what I’m asking goes against the law and could harm the larger situation. But please, Young Master, for the sake of the friendship between us… Su Qinghe has never presumptuously asked for imperial favor. Just this once, Young Master, make an exception for me. Let Shen Qi go, all right?”
A strange look appeared in Jinghong Zhui’s eyes, as though he wanted to say something. But after a moment’s thought, he decided against it and instead focused on channeling his qi into his beloved lord, carefully regulating his meridians.
Zhu Helin instinctively wanted to shake his head.
He even wanted to ask Su Yan:
Do you understand the consequences of doing this?!
Shen Qi had spent years building his influence within the Embroidered Uniform Guards. His network had likely already infiltrated military garrisons throughout the country. If his identity as a traitor remained concealed, and his name was not posted on wanted notices throughout the various government offices, then the Embroidered Uniform Guards cavalrymen and secret agents who knew nothing of his betrayal would continue to serve his interests.
And if that happened, how much power would be handed directly to the Player?
How much trouble and loss would it bring upon the imperial court?
Had Su Yan really never thought about that?
Su Yan ignored the young Emperor’s livid expression and reached up to cover the back of his hand, pleading desperately. “If you won’t agree, I truly won’t be able to recover from this illness.”
Zhu Helin struggled and wavered for a long time. In the end, unable to bear seeing Su Yan suffer and exhaust himself with grief, he reluctantly nodded. “All right. I agree. I won’t issue a public warrant. We’ll pursue him secretly. But this is the only time. If he shows himself and commits another offense, I absolutely will not spare him!”
Jinghong Zhui sighed silently.
Su Yan had won the Emperor’s favor, yet there was not the slightest trace of happiness on his face. Instead, his gaze sank, becoming grave and piercing.
Zhu Helin suddenly felt uneasy.
Su Yan forced himself upright. Cold sweat appeared along his temples, and after catching his breath, he said, “Young Master, do you know why His Majesty, when entrusting you with the empire from his deathbed, deliberately bestowed that cup of ‘poisoned wine’ upon me in front of all the ministers?”
Before Zhu Helin could react, he continued. “It was because His Majesty wanted to prove to the ministers that this Su Yan was loyal and righteous enough that even though he was the Crown Prince’s close friend and meritorious servant, even though the Crown Prince and I shared a deep bond, I would never abuse my friendship with the future Emperor to seize power or manipulate imperial decisions.”
“And although I would never dare call myself perfectly loyal and righteous, I at least had some confidence in myself. I believed that Young Master and I shared the same aspirations: clean governance, a peaceful country, and a prosperous people. I believed that no matter how deep our personal friendship became, neither of us would put personal feelings above the public good when faced with matters of right and wrong. But right now, with just a few words of pleading, I have completely shattered that confidence in myself!”
“Young Master… no, Your Majesty.” Su Yan’s eyes were wet and stinging, a profound sorrow filling his chest. He suddenly threw off the blankets. Wearing nothing but his underclothes, he knelt on the bed and performed a full prostration. “Your Majesty has shown this humble servant such profound affection that, simply because you did not want me to become heartbroken and fall ill, you were willing to disregard the greater situation! Knowing full well that strengthening the enemy at the expense of our own country would harm the people, you still agreed to my unreasonable request!”
“May I ask Your Majesty, was that cup of fake poisoned wine that His Majesty gave me a mistake? Should he have given me a real one instead?!”
Zhu Helin’s palms went cold. First came shame. Then, suddenly, explosive fury. “Su Qinghe, you—you actually set a trap for me!”
He slammed his hand against the edge of the bed and stood, pointing furiously at Su Yan through clenched teeth. “You tested me! You tricked me! You learned every last bit of Royal Father’s political cunning! What exactly were you trying to prove, huh? That all my feelings for you are wrong, and that they can only lead me to harm the country and its people? Or that I have no principles, that I disregard the greater good, that I’m an incompetent Emperor who can be blinded by personal feelings?!”
Su Yan slowly shook his head, his voice strained. “I was trying to prove that the distinction I thought I could make between public duty and private feelings, that the balance I believed I could maintain between loyalty and affection was completely incapable of withstanding a real test.”
“Once, I was so confident. I handled cases, reformed policies, turned the tide during crises, and argued against entire groups of ministers in court. When I entered the Grand Secretariat and took charge of affairs, I was humble with regard to my age and experience on the surface, but in my heart, I believed I was worthy of the position.”
“I thought I was standing on the shoulders of giants. I thought that with my own abilities and rationality, I would never fail such an important responsibility. But only after last night did I suddenly realize that reality was not like that… I could neither hold firmly to the righteous path, knowing perfectly well that releasing a tiger back into the mountains would bring harm to the people, yet still allowing Shen Qi to escape because of my personal feelings, nor could I remain rational.”
“My influence over the person making decisions for this country has already reached the point where a single word from me can overturn everything.”
“I’m afraid… afraid this is only the beginning. In the future, I may make even more wrong decisions, and Your Majesty may accept every one of them. Even if you think they are inappropriate, you may still force yourself to accept them, just as you did moments ago, simply because you want to spare my feelings.”
“If I were merely an ordinary citizen, a wrong decision would at most harm myself and my own family. But as a minister assisting the Emperor within the Grand Secretariat, one wrong decision could harm an entire nation and millions of people!”
Zhu Helin roared at him. “So what you’re trying to prove is that you’re not worthy of standing in the imperial court or serving in the Grand Secretariat? You, Su Qinghe, aren’t worthy? Then who is?! Those civil officials who form factions and fight for personal gain? Those lethargic military commanders? Or those censors who do nothing but spout empty accusations? Is Xie Xi worthy? Is Jiang Qiai worthy? Just because one Shen Qi threw your judgment into chaos, and because I was momentarily anxious and failed to think things through, you’re punishing me like this!”
“Fine! I was wrong. I, the Emperor, was wrong! I shouldn’t have imitated King You of Zhou, lighting the beacon fires merely to win a smile, nor should I have imitated Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, sacrificing the empire to favor one person! From now on, I’ll become a cold and heartless Emperor. The greater good comes first. The empire comes first!”
“Are you satisfied now?!”
Su Yan remained prostrate on the bed, neither moving nor speaking.
“You always… You’ve always thought I’m inferior to Royal Father…” Tears shimmered in Zhu Helin’s eyes. He gritted his teeth, swept his sleeve aside, and stormed out.
Jinghong Zhui stepped forward to help Su Yan up. He saw that Su Yan’s eyes were also filled with tears. “I didn’t… I never meant to compare the two of them. I never thought he was inferior to His Majesty. I just…”
Jinghong Zhui reached out and embraced him. “I know. My lord, you’re simply blaming yourself. You’ve taken Shen Qi’s betrayal and Zhu Helin’s immaturity and placed all of it on your own shoulders. But my lord… Qinghe, you’ve already done enough. You really have. More than enough.”
The path Shen Qi chose was his own. He allowed hatred to blind him, and he brought this upon himself. None of it can be blamed on you.”
“The young Emperor is only seventeen years old and has been on the throne for less than half a year. You cannot demand that he handle everything with the ease and composure of an old Emperor who has spent twenty years honing himself upon the throne.”
Su Yan shook his head, wanting to explain further, but the moment he opened his mouth, he vomited another mouthful of blood.
Jinghong Zhui hurriedly took out the medicine bottle and fed him another calming pill. At the same time, he pressed his palm against Su Yan’s back, increasing the flow of qi into him.
“Don’t think about it anymore. Excessive worry will further injure your spirit and aggravate the injury of the seven emotions. It will only hinder your recovery.”
Su Yan swallowed the pill together with the blood in his mouth. After finally suppressing the urge to vomit, he gasped, “Young Master is a good person. I know that his achievements in the future will be no less than His Majesty’s. He simply… relies on me too much. He wholeheartedly accepts every theory I put forward. He firmly believes in every strategy I propose. He strongly supports every decision I make… And precisely because of that, on his journey toward becoming an Emperor, I have gone from being his greatest support to his greatest variable. And in the future… I may become his greatest obstacle. I really don’t want us to reach the day when we look at each other and think, ‘If only life could remain as it was when we first met’…”
Just as it had happened with Shen Qi.
You have considered every aspect of his journey as an Emperor.
But what about the part of him that is simply “Zhu Helin”?
He is a young man burning with passion. Are you truly unmoved by that affection? Or are you deliberately avoiding it because you are afraid of becoming entangled in those feelings again?
For an instant, these questions surfaced in Jinghong Zhui’s heart.
But he restrained himself and did not ask.
In the end, he simply said, “My lord, get some sleep. Don’t think about anything.”
Su Yan whispered, “With the wind howling and the rain pouring like this, how could I possibly fall asleep?”
“If you can’t sleep, shall I tap your sleep acupoint?” Before Su Yan could refuse again, Jinghong Zhui gently pressed him back onto the pillow and pulled the blanket over him, wrapping him up again.
Su Yan said helplessly, “Don’t tap my acupoint. I’ll try to fall asleep.”
Jinghong Zhui removed the outer garment stained with the blood Su Yan had just vomited and slipped into bed beside him. “My lord is sensitive to the cold, and you were soaked in the night rain. You need someone to warm the bed and drive away the chill.”
It was already the end of May. How cold could it possibly be? Still, being held by Jinghong Zhui really was reassuring, and his tightly wound nerves relaxed considerably. Su Yan did not resist. He rested his face against the crook of his personal guard’s shoulder and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.
After a long while, his breathing gradually became slower and deeper. Just as Jinghong Zhui sensed that he was about to fall asleep, Su Yan suddenly spoke as though murmuring in a dream. “Ah Zhui… if I stopped being an official, what would you do?”
Jinghong Zhui answered calmly, “Stay like this.”
“Like this?”
“Yes. I would still hold you like this while you slept, and be your pillow and your hot-water bottle. What difference would it make whether you were an official or not?”
Su Yan shifted his face against Jinghong Zhui’s shoulder and reached out to wrap his arms around his waist.
“Ah Zhui…”
Jinghong Zhui pricked up his ears, waiting to hear what would come next.
But Su Yan said nothing more. Still running a low-grade fever that refused to subside, he drifted into sleep.
