VBNWDW - Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Within two days, three imperial edicts, each with different contents, were sent up the mountain, progressing from perfunctory official business to offers of rewards and titles.

Her Highness the Grand Princess remained unmoved, not even stepping out of the Daoist temple.

The common people gossiped amongst themselves, all saying that Her Highness the Grand Princess had been so deeply wounded by the Emperor and the Crown Prince that she had resolved to withdraw from the world to quiet her heart and cultivate the Great Dao.

Meanwhile, the state of Chu advanced with ferocious momentum. Regardless of who had killed their prince, as long as the blame could be pinned on an enemy nation, both the common folk and the soldiers were filled with extreme fury. With a little prodding from interested parties, their will to fight soared beyond all previous levels. A journey that once took two days was now shortened by half a day; if they marched with such fervor, one could only imagine their ferocity when wielding a blade against the enemy.

In just half a month, Chu had conquered an entire prefecture and was still pressing its attack.

And what of Great Liang?

Ever since the Crown Prince fled back to the capital, he had not attended a single court session. The civil officials argued incessantly day after day, while the military officials all remained silent. The Emperor, seated on his dragon throne, found his brow furrowing ever tighter, and blisters broke out on his lips.

Until today, when His Majesty the Emperor, accompanied by the Crown Prince, ascended the mountain and set foot in Xuanmiao Temple.

Perhaps because it was situated high on a mountain, the temple's gray tiles and white walls remained cool and detached even in the summer. With soldiers having been sent ahead to disperse the pilgrims and seal off the temple, the chirping of insects and the calls of birds became distinctly clear, making the place seem even more silent.

The only discordant element was the father and son standing outside the gate. Utterly unlike the quiet and peaceful inhabitants of the temple, they were dressed in lavish robes, their expressions anxious and vexed. Zhong Jueren even paced back and forth restlessly.

Up ahead, the old eunuch knocked on the door, calling out for Her Highness the Grand Princess again and again.

No one answered from within. A note had been written on a piece of paper and pasted to the wooden door beforehand, stating that she was in seclusion to comprehend the Dao and would not be seeing visitors for the time being.

The old slave's expression was bitter. The more he knocked, the more hopeless he felt, thinking that Her Highness truly had no intention of opening the door.

The Emperor and the Crown Prince's faces were grim. If it were anyone else, they would have had the door kicked down long ago, but now, they were the ones asking for a favor.

Zhong Tuming gritted his teeth, suddenly strode forward, pushed the old slave aside, and barked, "You useless thing, get out of the way!"

His voice was filled with such rage that it seemed if the old eunuch hadn't been with him for decades, he would have ordered him dragged away and beheaded.

The old slave immediately looked flustered, scrambling backward so hastily he nearly twisted his ankle.

Zhong Tuming stood before the door with a cold expression, his fists clenched beneath his robes as if he were about to tear the door down. And then…

He suddenly forced a smile, raised his hand to knock, and called out in a warm voice, "Jueyu, open the door for Father Emperor. It's Father Emperor."

He knocked with one hand while pressing his ear to the door, listening for any sound from within.

Zhong Jueren hurriedly followed suit, calling out, "Jueyu, it's your Imperial Brother."

He adopted the same manner as his father, his voice lowered considerably, showing no trace of the menacing threats he had made last time.

The old slave beside them watched with wide eyes, momentarily at a loss for words. Since ancient times, had there ever been a case of an emperor and a crown prince personally knocking on a door to beg someone? And to do so…

So hypocritically.

The servants behind them immediately lowered their heads, not daring to look. Their expressions flickered with various emotions before being quickly concealed.

Up ahead, the father and son continued to call out, their voices growing gentler with each cry.

"Jueyu, won't you open the door for Dad? I know you're angry, but you can't just shut your dad out, can you?"

"Yes, Jueyu. Your big brother is tired of standing. Won't you let your big brother in to sit for a while?"

Inside the room, it was quiet. The person standing at the writing desk suddenly froze. The brush in her hand stiffened, and a drop of ink fell, leaving a deep, dark blot on the flattened rice paper, ruining the characters she had just written.

Zhong Jueyu stood there, her back ramrod straight, her gaze unfocused, her expression growing complex.

Regardless of what His Majesty and the Crown Prince thought now, when the late Empress was alive, the four of them had been most like a family. Father Emperor was not Father Emperor, but Dad. Imperial Brother was not Imperial Brother, but Big Brother. And their mother, they called her Mom. They were like an ordinary commoner family.

Why had it become like this?

Zhong Jueyu couldn't figure it out, nor could she understand. Ever since her mother passed away, everything had changed. The more she devoted herself to her father and brother, the more she was met with suspicion and exclusion. Now that her heart had grown cold and she wanted to take back what was rightfully hers, they had started to reminisce about their past warmth.

The brush was tossed aside. Zhong Jueyu braced her hands on the desk and let out a heavy breath.

The person next door seemed to sense something and tapped lightly on the wall, a sound like a gentle reassurance.

Zhong Jueyu turned her head, and her eyes softened once more.

After a moment, she finally walked toward the door.

Screech!

The wooden door was pulled open, emitting a sharp sound.

The two men outside immediately showed expressions of pleasant surprise.

"Jueyu!" the Emperor called out, taking a step forward.

But from within the threshold, Zhong Jueyu, dressed in a simple Daoist robe, her delicate features filled with indifference, said only, "This humble Daoist pays her respects to Your Majesty and Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Jueyu, I'm your father," Zhong Tuming said, his heart seizing with panic as he quickly stressed, "Are you still angry with me?"

Zhong Jueyu glanced at him, her dark eyes filled with incomprehension. "Did Your Majesty not order this humble Daoist to cultivate diligently on this mountain and pay no mind to worldly affairs?"

Her tone was flat, yet it carried an inexplicable hint of sarcasm.

Zhong Tuming wished he could go back in time and slap his former self. He hurriedly explained, "That was just your father speaking in anger."

Zhong Jueren also chimed in, "Father Emperor was confused. Jueyu, don't take it seriously…"

But Zhong Jueyu cut him off, saying, "I have three requests."

The Emperor's mask of warmth shattered. He frowned and said, "Speak."

It was always at moments like this that he most resembled an emperor.

Zhong Jueyu's lips twitched, but she couldn't manage a smile. She could only continue, "First, in accordance with the laws of the nation, reissue the rewards for the officers and soldiers who previously fought against Chu."

Zhong Tuming considered it for a moment, then gritted his teeth and agreed. "That is as it should be."

Zhong Jueyu glanced at him, then said, "Second, I want half of the Tiger Tally."

One who held half of the Tiger Tally could mobilize half of Great Liang's army at will. When Zhong Jueyu had previously led the troops against Chu, she had been granted half of the tally. Later, to force her to return, the Emperor and Crown Prince had issued an edict to take it back, which was one of the reasons Zhong Jueyu had no choice but to return.

Although this demand was difficult, Zhong Tuming did not hesitate. He said directly, "Of course. Since you will be leading the troops against Chu, the Tiger Tally must naturally be given to you."

He added a caveat, emphasizing that the prerequisite for Zhong Jueyu receiving the Tiger Tally was that she lead the troops to attack Chu.

Zhong Jueyu, of course, understood. She nodded with a faint, unreadable smile.

Zhong Tuming instantly breathed a sigh of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted. He then took the initiative to ask, "And the third?"

"Annul the Crown Prince's marriage engagement with the Luo Family," Zhong Jueyu said quickly.

Zhong Jueren, standing beside them, was stunned. He then leaped up and cursed, "The engagement between the Luo Family and me is my business! What right do you have to decide?"

"Zhong Jueyu, are you overstepping your bounds?!"

He was furious, pointing a finger directly at her, but before he could say more, the Emperor shot him a glare. His open mouth immediately snapped shut.

Zhong Tuming reined in his anger and chose his words carefully. "The marriage with the Luo Family is a union between the imperial house and the great clans. You know we have always wanted to win over the aristocracy. This is an excellent opportunity."

Zhong Jueyu's tone was calm as she said only, "I only have these three demands. If Your Majesty agrees, I will descend the mountain."

She paid no heed to his previous words.

The temple was silent, and the slightest sound was infinitely amplified—the fall of a leaf, the rustle of robes in the wind, the sound of heavy breathing.

The servants behind them kept their heads bowed low, not daring to look, unable to look, pretending to see and hear nothing. This included the old eunuch most trusted by the Emperor—the one who had been ordered to deliver the edicts and had just been knocking on the door.

A peculiar fear flickered in his eyes. Even though this long-overdue conversation was much calmer than he had imagined, with no arguments, no questioning of why the Emperor and Crown Prince had done what they did.

But the old eunuch felt terrified. His many years of cautious survival in the palace had given him a special instinct.

He inexplicably felt that Her Highness the Grand Princess was not as calm as she appeared, nor should she be. Yet she had restrained herself.

There was a simple, crude old saying: the dogs that bite don't bark. The old eunuch believed it deeply. The noisy, clamoring people in the palace were not the ones to worry about. It was the ones who looked honest and said nothing who required the most careful handling, because you never knew when they might erupt.

He couldn't help but lift his eyelids for a peek.

The low threshold separated the three of them. Outside, sunlight fell, bright and scorching. Inside, the roof tiles provided cover, and the large swaths of shadow made it cool and dim. They were clearly standing very close, yet it was as if two worlds had been divided.

The people, too, were a study in contrast. Compared to the defensive and annoyed Crown Prince and the conflicted and troubled Emperor, Zhong Jueyu's posture was relaxed; she was even leaning against the doorframe.

This was a small gesture that would absolutely never be permitted under the strict etiquette of the imperial family. The Grand Princess had always been a stickler for rules and propriety, but now…

As if sensing his gaze, Zhong Jueyu lifted her eyes and glanced languidly in his direction.

The old eunuch was so frightened he bowed his head even lower, his body trembling beneath his wide robes as if in fear of something.

The father and son, however, were completely oblivious. One was trying his utmost to persuade, the other was thinking things over and over.

Finally, Zhong Tuming gritted his teeth and said, "As long as you lead the troops into battle, I will agree to everything."

"Father Emperor!" Zhong Jueren raised his voice in a loud cry.

"Silence," Zhong Tuming snapped, turning his head.

Zhong Jueren's eyes were red with anger, but he didn't dare speak, only glaring at Zhong Jueyu.

Zhong Jueyu, however, had no mind to pay attention to this scene. She smiled faintly. "Then this humble Daoist will wait for Your Majesty to fulfill each of your promises."

Zhong Tuming hadn't expected her to say that. He said urgently, "Then when will you descend the mountain?"

"When Your Majesty's promises have all been fulfilled," Zhong Jueyu replied swiftly.

With that, she made a move to close the door.

The Emperor grew anxious and started to step inside, but he stopped himself abruptly. He could only watch as the two doors slowly swung shut, pausing when there was only a gap the width of a palm left.

Zhong Jueyu suddenly looked at the Crown Prince and said, "Imperial Brother, you were wrong last time."

This cryptic statement came without explanation. With a bang, the door slammed shut.

Ignoring whatever sounds came from outside, Zhong Jueyu turned and walked back inside in silence. Her shadow stretched long on the ground. Perhaps from having stayed in the shadows for too long, her fingertips were cold and purple, and her steps were stiff.

Then, a voice suddenly came from the side. "Jinyan."

Zhong Jueyu whipped her head around to see the little Daoist, Qingyue, standing at the window between their rooms. She didn't know how long she had been listening.

Zhong Jueyu forced a smile, trying to make herself look better. She walked over and said in a soft voice, "Didn't I tell you to rest well in your room?"

Mindful of the people outside, she deliberately kept her voice low.

Luo Yueqing looked at her, her clear, dark eyes reflecting Zhong Jueyu's image. She didn't reply, but her worry was plain to see.

Zhong Jueyu suddenly lost the strength to speak, and the facade she had maintained instantly crumbled into gloom.

Outside, the noise continued. The Crown Prince seemed extremely displeased and was shouting something loudly.

Inside, it was perfectly still. Not even the sound of a falling leaf could be heard. The wind, too, had stopped.

Zhong Jueyu reached out and once again covered those fawn-like eyes. Her sigh was so light it seemed a gust of wind could carry it away.

She said, "They used to be very good to me."

Luo Yueqing raised a hand and caught her wrist. She didn't pull it down, but simply encircled it with her thumb and forefinger, feeling the faint pulse beating against her fingertips.

Luo Yueqing said, "I know."

Zhong Jueyu let out a small laugh, as if to say, how could you possibly know? That was all from her past, a time when her mother was still alive and they were still a family. But more than a decade had passed since then. Those memories had become an unknown history, remembered by no one but her.

"Little liar," Zhong Jueyu murmured. Her tone was light, not like a reprimand, but with a gentle lilt at the end, like a lover's whisper.

But Luo Yueqing repeated, "I know."

"Alright, you know."

Zhong Jueyu lowered her hand and looked at her, a helpless smile on her face.

The leaves rustled. Outside, it finally grew quiet.

Someone pushed open the door, walked into the other small courtyard, and held Her Highness the Grand Princess in their arms, not leaving for the rest of the night.

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