Chapter 107: The Main Story Concluded
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“Little Royal Uncle, tidy up the false evidence; we’ll burn it later.”
After the morning court session ended, Chu Zhaoyi had just seen off the Northern Frontier Governor and Little General Dou. He was flexing his wrist in his study.
No matter how he twisted it, his wrist felt like that of a patient with poor recovery.
Ze Wang didn’t respond immediately; he silently organized the documents on his desk.
After a while of organizing, he couldn’t help but glance at Chu Zhaoyi.
It was summer, and even court attire was thinner than in spring.
Chu Zhaoyi had obvious gauze wrapped around his neck, covering it from the collarbone to his Adam’s apple. One could also see that it was a vivid red at the neckline, with no intact skin.
When he raised his sleeve, the bruises and bloodstains on his arm muscles were even more prominent.
Bruises, hematomas, and newly formed scabs mixed together, like marks from a severe beating.
“Your Majesty, did you sustain these injuries from falling off your horse?” Ze Wang took a few more glances.
Normally, it was difficult to sustain such serious injuries while living in the palace.
“Yes. I fell off my horse while riding yesterday, and then I was a bit stubborn, trying to tease a cat in the back mountains at night, and it clawed me twice. Cough, cough, cough…” After Chu Zhaoyi finished speaking, he didn’t forget to cough a couple of times. “The imperial physician said it’s nothing serious, so I didn’t want to bother you, Royal Uncle.”
“I heard that you showed signs of your old ailment yesterday. Why did you suddenly decide to go horseback riding?” Ze Wang asked.
“I felt too suffocated from being sick.” Chu Zhaoyi replied and gave up on moving his wrist. He temporarily put down his pen, picked up another scroll of documents beside him, and continued to read. “Let’s not talk about this. The forged evidence is ready; leave it in the usual place. Chu Yao will come to burn it later.”
Ze Wang paused for a moment and then quickly added, “Yesterday, you sent Lord Chu to instruct the ‘princess’ in wedding customs and etiquette. During the morning court session today, you mentioned that today is when Lord Fu would take up his duties.”
“Your memory is truly remarkable, Little Royal Uncle,” Chu Zhaoyi chuckled dryly. “I swapped a new person last minute. Tell Chu Yao to pass it on.”
Ze Wang, looking perplexed, watched Chu Zhaoyi’s awkward smile, his warm eyes filled with suspicion.
The last time Chu Zhaoyi’s poison manifested was a long time ago, but Ze Wang clearly remembered that during previous poison outbreaks, Chu Zhaoyi had never shown signs of confusion or even delirium.
After those forged documents were properly packed, Chu Zhaoyi personally inspected them to ensure there were no issues. Then, he carried them to the incinerator in the backyard.
Once he confirmed they were safely burned, Chu Zhaoyi breathed a sigh of relief.
After relaxing, Chu Zhaoyi couldn’t help but hear a clear “ding” sound coming from his wrist as he walked.
At first listen, it was crisp, like wearing a bracelet. However, upon closer inspection, it was the sound of metal colliding. Where could any bracelets or jewelry come from?
As he approached the vicinity of the library, Chu Zhaoyi signaled the eunuch to stop following him.
He climbed the familiar sun-drenched rooftop with ease, where he found Fu Nian basking in the sun.
It was midday, and the brightest sunlight generously bathed the rooftop of the library.
Fu Nian laid on the tiles, his limbs stretched out, his eyes squinting into slits due to the direct sun. He looked like a cat enjoying sunbathing.
Hearing someone approach, Fu Nian didn’t lift his head or even bother turning his eyes.
“Your Majesty, manipulating the gu to fake an illness overnight and forging the document for a personal expedition must have been quite exhausting, right? No wonder you didn’t have time to return to the palace.” Fu Nian’s voice sounded hoarser than usual.
Even a slight movement would produce a faint noise from his neck, but due to his high-collar clothing and veiled face, it was hard to discern what was on his neck.
Upon hearing this praise, Chu Zhaoyi chuckled, “It was not too exhausting, thanks to Ah Nian’s impatience. That’s the only reason we were able to burn these forged documents early this morning.”
After the laugh, Chu Zhaoyi instantly restrained his playful expression and leaned close to Fu Nian’s ear. “But I truly didn’t expect that you, who have always been loyal, would want to tie me up, isolating me from the outside world. Even more so, this…” Chu Zhaoyi didn’t finish the sentence, only swaying his right wrist.
Under the golden embroidery of his sleeve, there was a heavy shackle on his arm and a broken chain.
“Cherished possessions should be fastened by any means necessary, even if they are secretly kept behind someone’s back, to prevent them from escaping or facing danger. It’s Your Majesty who taught me to behave this way, so I’m just imitating your example,” Fu Nian didn’t avoid Chu Zhaoyi’s gaze, maintaining an almost face-to-face distance.
With just one more step, their lips would touch, but Fu Nian remained motionless.
It was evident that Chu Zhaoyi didn’t seem angry about this act. Instead, he showed an unusual excitement.
Chu Zhaoyi said, “You’ve learned well. Just remember, no matter how tightly you tie me up, I can always break free. The power to hunt will never be in your hands. Before you do something like this again, think about whether it will be like today, where you completely avoid your duties and can’t even perform normal martial arts moves. The slate roof was made for you at the last minute.”
Hearing these words, Fu Nian struggled to find words, and his aggressive gaze softened slightly. He continued to look up at the sun.
“But it’s really nice. In Ah Nian’s heart, I’ve become someone you like again, someone you want to confine,” Chu Zhaoyi said.
“Not again, you always have been,” Fu Nian’s voice was very light, and after speaking, his head involuntarily turned away.
He had been influenced since childhood by the actions and behaviors of his master, eldest senior brother, and senior brother nineteen at the Distant Moon Sect. Entangling with Chu Zhaoyi incessantly, until both of them became deeply entwined, going mad together, and falling into this chaotic and secretive relationship for this lifetime, was the best outcome.
Silently, Fu Nian felt a slight touch on the collar around his neck. Subconsciously, he grabbed the cold shackle on Chu Zhaoyi’s wrist.
Even though Chu Zhaoyi’s wrist had been rubbed red by the metal, Fu Nian still clutched the shackle tightly, refusing to let go.
“Brother Lian, some strange things have happened one after another recently. Not long ago, the princess was just sent away. These past few days, early in the morning, a royal order arrived, stating that another set of wedding attire needed to be made, of empress standards, with quite a grand setup. Tomorrow, I also have to go out to receive a batch of materials, they say it’s mother-of-pearl and dye from the Western Sea.”
Fu Nian talked to find out some information from Rendong, casually mentioning recent events.
“Yeah. Since there were some regrets at the previous royal wedding, it’s normal to start preparations to make amends now.” Fu Nian absentmindedly responded, not wanting to acknowledge the central figure of these events.
“Brother, have you served at the imperial court? Have you seen the Empress’s true appearance, and is it different from the rumors?”
Fu Nian asked, “I’ve never seen her. What do the rumors say about the Empress?”
“They say she’s a demon, how else could she have bewitched His Majesty’s mind to this extent, and they’ve enjoyed each other’s exclusive favor for decades. They also say that many years ago, due to health reasons, the one who attended the royal wedding was a fake person, so now they’re lavishing resources to hold another grand banquet to please the Empress. Some even say that the prosperity of Great Chu is due to her cultivation as a demon…”
Fu Nian: …
He was surprised that he was portrayed like this in the rumors.
Fu Nian didn’t get angry; after all, returning from a visit to the underworld and still being able to conceive as a man, in the eyes of ordinary people, indeed seemed supernatural.
“Well, next time I have a chance, I’ll try to take a look for you, to see what kind of demon the Empress is and what she looks like!” Fu Nian said.
A grand wedding…
Sitting under a tree in the evening sun, Fu Nian remembered many years ago when he and Chu Zhaoyi were married at a young age.
At that time, they were in the Wang Residence, and he had just made the choice to betray his sect, the former emperor, and follow Chu Zhaoyi’s path.
He couldn’t distinguish between becoming sworn brothers and holding a wedding ceremony, so Chu Zhaoyi said it was the same, and so they had held the ceremony. Marriage must certainly be a closer relationship than being sworn brothers, otherwise, how could he have brothers from his sect but no wife?
There were no heavy and luxurious wedding attire, not even a decent red garment. There were no elaborate rituals, no blessings, and no witnesses.
He remembered that at that time, he had promised foolishly that he would protect Chu Zhaoyi, fulfill Chu Zhaoyi’s ambitions, and cut down anyone who stood in their way. He had promised to always treat Chu Zhaoyi well, overflowing with love and admiration.
Chu Zhaoyi’s response was only one sentence: “Since we’re now husband and wife, I will faithfully keep this commitment for life. I will try my best to die in front of you. If there’s an accident, I’ll ask you to wait for me by the bridge until I settle the affairs of the mortal world, and then we can return together.”
At that time, Fu Nian had little education, and he only understood “I will faithfully keep this commitment for life.”
Now, as he recalled it, Fu Nian looked at the blade in his hand and murmured, “… Chu Zhaoyi has kept his promise.”
On the day of their grand wedding, it was a beautiful autumn day. To show goodwill to the Empress, a general amnesty was declared across the country, and children under ten were allowed to receive lucky money.
As they ascended the ladder of auspicious clouds to the main hall, Fu Nian touched the heavy red embroidered brocade on his body.
This was the result they had achieved after two lifetimes of entanglement.
When Fu Nian put on the splendid wedding attire and phoenix crown from their previous life, he didn’t feel much joy. Instead, he couldn’t help but think about the past. In the previous life, after his death, Chu Zhaoyi had gone through the wedding with a mix of madness and numbness, holding his still uncorrupted corpse step by step.
Thinking about it, if the one who had gone first had been Chu Zhaoyi, Fu Nian probably wouldn’t have acted much differently.
As long as he could see Chu Zhaoyi for one more day, even if it was just his skeleton, it meant that Chu Zhaoyi was still alive for one more day.
Walking step by step into the hot spring in the bridal chamber, Fu Nian sat quietly on the carpet.
Before long, the familiar footsteps hurriedly approached.
There was only one layer of red veil on his head, and with Fu Nian’s vision, he could clearly see the outside.
Chu Zhaoyi paused at the door for a moment and then hurriedly walked towards him with a face full of joy.
The bright red embroidered dragon robe was much more lively than the previous black one, making him look very imposing. Unlike the past, he appeared less rigid and seemed several years younger, returning to the age when they were ignorant and held their wedding ceremony.
Fu Nian was the same.
The luxurious phoenix crown and wedding attire didn’t look burdensome on him at all. It complemented his profound and upright facial features, blending a touch of nobility into his solemnity, making him indescribably handsome.
When they saw each other, both of them clearly hesitated for a moment, as if they had never seen each other in this way before.
In the hot spring, with wisps of water vapor rising, they appeared somewhat dreamy in each other’s eyes.
“Chu Zhao…” Fu Nian was about to speak, but before he could finish, the red veil covering his head was suddenly lifted. However, it wasn’t completely removed; instead, someone’s head was forcibly squeezed in, their noses almost touching. If they breathed any heavier, their lips would touch and entwine.
“I will always be your Shadow Guard, loyal only to you, your mad dog.”
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