EWRN - Chapter 26
Chapter 26: Encounters in the Brothel (IV)
The zither's melody was melodious and captivating. Di An played one piece after another as if tireless, and Huo Jinyu gradually became lost in the sight of her.
She seemed to have returned to that day, the day in Jinxiang Palace, when that bright and captivating woman sat before an open window, her hands ceaselessly plucking the strings, just like the woman before her now, playing a beautiful tune.
It was just that the person before her was playing a cheerful tune meant to please, like "High Mountains and Flowing Water." But that day in the palace, that person had played of the chaos of war, of a nation destroyed—a sorrow so profound it made one's heart ache. It was as if she had returned to her past life, to the fall of a kingdom, to death by five horses, a time of utter grief and despair.
Di An was immersed in her own beautiful music when she suddenly looked up and saw the Young Master gazing at her with a profound look in his eyes, as if he were looking through her to see someone else.
"Who are you thinking of, Young Master?" Di An stopped playing and asked curiously.
"I am thinking of my wife," Huo Jinyu replied in a heavy tone. Only after the reflexive answer left her lips did she realize what she had said. And only then did she realize the music had stopped.
"Since you are thinking of her, you must love her very much," Di An said with a pleasant smile. Inwardly, she wondered, If he likes her, why would he come to a brothel, a place of fleeting pleasures? Could they have had a quarrel?
Huo Jinyu quickly gave her answer. "I... do not love her." And I cannot love her, Huo Jinyu thought. Since I promised her freedom, I will eventually let her return home. My identity cannot be revealed. What right do I have to speak of love? In my past life, I loved only the common people of the realm, never any single person. In this life, I will not fall in love with anyone, no matter how stunning or talented they may be.
"Then that explains it." As if not hearing the trace of hesitation in the Young Master's voice, Di An smiled. Another one who doesn't understand love, she thought. But then again, did she herself understand love?
After all, something like love was too ethereal, too difficult to grasp.
Meanwhile, in the imperial city.
After accidentally seeing Bai Qing sneak out of the palace once, Yan Xi had also picked up some bad habits. With Huo Jinyu away, she too had secretly slipped out of the palace alone. It was late, and Huo Jinyu had not yet returned, which made her a little worried. After leaving the palace last time, she had dispatched people to secretly guard Huo Jinyu, but once outside the imperial city, the target was too conspicuous, so they had not followed. Within the imperial city, however, there were still ways to learn of his movements.
Using the cover of night, Yan Xi left the palace and came to a small alley where there was an inconspicuous jade shop. Knock knock knock, knock knock. Yan Xi raised her hand and tapped out the secret code.
With a creak, the door opened. A man who looked like a steward poked his head out and said in pleasant surprise, "Princess, you've come! Please, come in!" He stepped aside and welcomed Yan Xi inside.
The two spoke pleasantly at a table, their conversation turning to the situation in the Northern Kingdom.
"Your Highness, there is something this subordinate is unsure if I should mention," the steward said after a moment's hesitation.
"Speak freely. It's fine." Seeing the steward's demeanor, Yan Xi couldn't help but frown. What could be so important that he found it this difficult to say?
"Then... this subordinate will speak." The steward rose, knelt on the floor, and kowtowed. "Two days ago, this subordinate received a message from an informant. The informant said... said that His Highness the First Prince and His Highness the Second Prince have both been beheaded and their heads displayed in public!"
Yan Xi heaved a long sigh. From the day her two imperial brothers were captured, she had anticipated this outcome. "Rise. This princess understands." After telling the steward to get up, Yan Xi asked, "What about the Third and Fourth Princes?"
"Your Highness, the Third and Fourth Princes are still young. Although they managed to escape that day, I've heard the Wu Clan has placed a heavy bounty on them in the Northern Kingdom. I fear their chances are slim!" The steward also sighed heavily.
"Our people are to remain on standby. Find the right moment for a single, fatal strike! Do not act rashly now, or we risk alerting the enemy," Yan Xi ordered.
An hour later, a dart carrying a letter flew through the air and embedded itself in a doorpost. Yan Xi went over, removed the letter, and her face darkened as she read its contents.
The letter read: "His Majesty of Great Yuan went to Baili Mountain this morning. He then proceeded to Jiang City in the south. This afternoon, he entered the Jade Spring Pavilion. In a private room on the second floor, he spent one million taels of silver to win the top courtesan. Before we returned, His Majesty had already entered a private chamber with her. His Majesty is in no physical danger. All is well."
How was this 'all is well'?! That fellow actually went to a brothel again! And spent that much silver just to buy a night with the top courtesan? He really went!
Yan Xi's face was now as cold as frost. If looks could freeze, she might have turned the entire room to ice. The steward felt a sudden chill. He thought to himself that the weather wasn't cold, and he was dressed warmly. Could he have caught a cold? It seemed he would have to visit the apothecary for some medicine tomorrow.
Yan Xi didn't know when she had started to care so much about Huo Jinyu—caring about his every move, his whereabouts, everything about him. Wasn't it normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines? Moreover, he was the ruler of a nation, and he already had a pregnant consort in his harem. Hadn't she known this from the very beginning? Known from the start that he could never belong to her alone. He belonged to the consorts of the harem, to the court officials, to the common people, to the entire realm. His love could only be universal, a great love. An emperor's love was never a small, personal love. It would never be hers, Yan Xi's. What was she still fantasizing about?
Yan Xi gave a sarcastic smile. She turned, gave a few more instructions, and then hurried back to the palace.
Jiang City. Jade Spring Pavilion.
The night had deepened. Huo Jinyu and Di An had drunk some wine and chatted for a while before Di An, unable to hold her liquor, slumped over the table, fast asleep. Huo Jinyu couldn't bear to see the girl sleep like that at the table; it wouldn't do if she caught a chill. Just as Huo Jinyu stood up, intending to carry Di An to the bed, her hand had barely touched the corner of Di An's sleeve when she heard a shing—the familiar sound of a sword being drawn. It was followed by a rush of footsteps and a gust of wind from behind. Huo Jinyu retreated sharply, dodging the blade's edge. She turned to see a woman in tight-fitting red clothes. Before she could get a clear look at the woman's face, the woman lunged with her sword again. Huo Jinyu was furious. Where did this shrew come from, attacking without any reason?
Hua Ying was injured and couldn't move her left hand. After just a few exchanges, she was defeated. Hua Ying retracted her sword and leaped to Di An's side. Shielding Di An, she shouted, "Don't you dare touch her!"
Seeing the woman had stopped, Huo Jinyu also ceased her attack and stood her ground. "Who are you, miss?"
"It's none of your business who I am. Be careful, or I'll take your life!" Hua Ying said fiercely. She walked to the table, carefully wrapped her right arm around Di An's waist, and supported Di An's full weight against herself. She slowly walked to the bed, gently placed the person in her arms onto it, and pulled up the covers. When she turned around, Huo Jinyu was already seated at the table, sipping her wine again.
Hua Ying sat down opposite Huo Jinyu. "It's a good thing you didn't do anything indecent to Di An. Otherwise, I, Hua, would have taken your life, even if it cost me my own!" Hua Ying said sternly.
"And if it weren't me tonight, but some other man, would you have done the same?" Huo Jinyu asked, taking another unhurried sip of wine.
Neither of them spoke, and the atmosphere grew tense.
Hua Ying sized Huo Jinyu up and down several times, until Huo Jinyu shifted uncomfortably.
"Young Master..." Hua Ying hesitated for a long while before finally steeling herself to ask, "Young Master, may I ask why you are dressed in men's clothing?"
Clack. Startled, Huo Jinyu slammed her wine cup onto the table. "What do you mean by that, miss? I don't understand!"
"Miss, there's no need to pretend anymore. You should know that no disguise in this world can escape my eyes!" Hua Ying said proudly, completely oblivious to Huo Jinyu's face, which had grown so dark it looked like it could drip water.
Her identity on the verge of being exposed, Huo Jinyu acted without thinking. She shot up, and in a single stride, she was in front of Hua Ying. She moved so fast that before Hua Ying could react, she was seized by the throat and thrown to the ground. To prevent Hua Ying from struggling, Huo Jinyu straddled her, pinning Hua Ying's right hand with her left, while her right hand pressed against Hua Ying's neck. "Who are you?" she demanded harshly. "How did you find out my identity? Who else knows about this?"
With her throat constricted, Hua Ying couldn't speak, her face turning crimson.
Huo Jinyu realized she was using too much force, but a dark glint flashed in her eyes. If she just strangled this person to death, perhaps there would be no future trouble.
No! I can't. If one person could see through her identity, there would surely be a second. She had to find out this woman's origins!
With this thought, Huo Jinyu released her right hand. The woman beneath her could finally breathe. She gasped for air, coughing for a long while. "Let me go! We can talk this out. I know you have your secrets. I won't tell anyone," Hua Ying said quickly, as soon as she had recovered.
Huo Jinyu also realized that their current position was not very seemly and immediately got up, releasing Hua Ying. Unexpectedly, as she stood, Hua Ying stared at her, stunned.
"Aren't you going to get up?" Huo Jinyu said irritably.
At her words, Hua Ying immediately got up, and the two sat back down at the table.
"My name is Hua Ying. I'm from the jianghu, and also... a good friend of Di An's. You're a member of the imperial family, aren't you?" Hua Ying introduced herself first, not forgetting to add a bit of gossip at the end.
Astonished by Hua Ying's keen powers of observation, Huo Jinyu nodded. "I am indeed a member of the imperial family, and I am indeed a woman. I have maintained this careful disguise for so many years. How did you see through it?" Huo Jinyu was extremely curious.
"Anyone else would never have been able to tell. But your biggest flaw is that your complexion is fair like a woman's, and you have no Adam's apple. As for how I knew you were from the imperial family, that was simple. The jade-inlaid gold medallion on your person gave away your identity." Having said so much in one breath, Hua Ying's mouth was dry. "I, Hua, swear an oath here. I will never reveal a single word of what happened today, not to anyone. If I break this oath, may I, Hua Ying, be struck by lightning from the heavens, die a horrible death, and may my soul never find peace!"
People of the jianghu took oaths very seriously, so Huo Jinyu breathed a sigh of relief.
But Hua Ying had not finished.
"It's just that I have one more favor to ask of you, Young Master."
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