Chapter 86: Mandarins’ Chamber

Chapter 86: Mandarins' Chamber

When Shang Junning emerged from the dungeon, the sunlight outside was so bright that it hurt his eyes. In his hand, he still clutched the blood-stained dagger, its handle stuck to his palm due to dried blood, and the metallic scent of blood lingered in his nostrils.

So, soul-snatching techniques truly existed in this world. No wonder Lu Yan's personality had changed so drastically after he woke up; there was no trace left of the man he used to be.

Shang Junning felt as if a thorn that had been festering in his heart had finally been brutally extracted. The pain was piercing, but where it had been removed, new flesh was growing unnoticed, causing an odd mix of itchiness and a sour ache.

From dawn until dusk, Lu Yan waited for news of Shang Junning's return from court, but all that came were maidservants to untie him and help him wash and bathe, with strict orders not to leave the room.

"The Chancellor has instructed us that if you step out of this room, we will all be beaten to death. Please, Master, spare our humble lives."

These words extinguished any thoughts Lu Yan had of knocking out the maidservants. He could only allow them to assist him in washing and bathing, then changed into clean, luxurious robes. A table was already set with wine and dishes, clearly prepared with care.

Lu Yan sat down at the table, lifting his robe slightly, and poured himself a cup of wine. "Is the Chancellor not planning to see me anymore?"

A maid bowed her head. "Master, please don't worry. The Chancellor must have been detained by some matter."

After they finished speaking, they bowed again before leaving the room together, closing the door behind them.

Lu Yan wasn't in a hurry. He held his wine cup and drank alone, until the candle on the corner of the table had burned down significantly, and time had quietly slipped into the late hours of the night. It was then that he finally looked up toward the roof:

"Are you not coming down yet?"

The man on the roof, holding a wine jar, paused at these words, as if frozen in place.

Lu Yan picked up a peanut between his fingers and flicked it, hitting a tile on the roof with a light sound. With a half-smile, he asked, "Will you come down, or should I go up?"

He had spent the entire night drinking inside the house, while Shang Junning had spent the night drinking on the roof. It was unclear what either of them hoped to achieve.

A figure silently appeared outside and pushed the door open. The slightly stifling evening breeze and the chirping of cicadas rushed into his ears, making everything seem vivid and real.

Lu Yan's gaze fell on Shang Junning, pausing imperceptibly for a moment, before he finally got up and walked over. In truth, he hadn't figured out how to explain things to Shang Junning. His mind was a jumble of thoughts mixed with alcohol, making it difficult to find peace day or night.

Looking at Shang Junning, Lu Yan asked, "Do you believe me?"

"Clatter!"

It was the sound of the wine jar being tossed aside and shattering.

Suddenly, Shang Junning reached out to wrap his arms around Lu Yan's neck and kissed him directly. Their teeth collided with their lips, somewhat clumsily, as if venting and seeking something at the same time. Eventually, the taste of blood overpowered the bitter flavor of the wine.

Lu Yan froze for a moment before closing his eyes. He tightly embraced Shang Junning's waist, turned to close the door, and stumbled with him toward the bed in the dim light of the nearly extinguished candle. Together, they sank into the brocade sheets.

Shang Junning's striking red robe was taken off, revealing the exquisite and intricate pine tree embroidery at the hem. Lu Yan had once said that he loved this type of tree because it remained green throughout the year, a symbol of longevity.

During the year they were separated, Shang Junning couldn't help but think of Lu Yan constantly, even as he tried to forget him. Memories had turned into a sharp blade, repeatedly piercing his heart during those midnight reveries.

Lu... Yan.

A name he couldn't forget even if he shattered into pieces. Even when others mentioned it casually, it would echo through his heart like the wind in a valley, bringing a pain akin to flesh being torn and bones scraped.

After Lu Yan regained consciousness following the assassination attempt, his personality had changed dramatically. At times, he would whip servants, and at other times, he would kill for amusement, becoming so unfamiliar that Shang Junning could barely recognize him. Yet, neither the Emperor nor Eunuch He showed any surprise at this change. It was as if this was how Lu Yan was supposed to be, and the Lu Yan in Shang Junning's memories was the anomaly...

"This is how His Highness has always been," Eunuch He repeated over and over again.

No, he wasn't like this!

Shang Junning coldly refuted this, but each time, Eunuch He's response was unchanging: "His Highness has always been this way."

Always this way.

Everyone seemed to selectively forget, leaving him drowning in the depths of his memories, struggling alone.

Memories suddenly shattered, leaving only the years spent in the dungeon without seeing the light of day.

Shang Junning's lips trembled. He seemed cold and afraid, clinging to Lu Yan's shoulders with a force that bordered on suffocating, asking fiercely, "Where did you go?!"

His eyes were red-rimmed, his voice choked with emotion: "Lu Yan, where did you go that year?!"

During the countless days and nights he spent imprisoned in the dungeon, Shang Junning repeatedly pondered one question—where had Lu Yan's soul gone?

If a soul lacked a body to reside in, its only fate was to dissipate into nothingness. Shang Junning feared that Lu Yan's body might have been possessed by a wandering spirit, while his true soul drifted aimlessly outside, vulnerable to being destroyed by a mere gust of wind or a bolt of lightning. What pleasure would there be in returning to the position of power in Wuyun if Lu Yan was gone forever?

Shang Junning hated the situation so much that he even considered killing the evil spirit. If Lu Yan couldn't return, his body shouldn't be occupied by someone else either. But he couldn't bring himself to do it.

All he could do was hasten the demise of the Immortal Spirit, then imprison this person by his side, locking him in a room, chaining him with iron, for a year, ten years, or more, until he returned to his original self, until the real Lu Yan came back...

Lu Yan kissed away the tears at the corners of Shang Junning's eyes, gently brushed aside his disheveled hair, and whispered softly in his ear, "Shang Junning, I've always been with you..."

"Always."

They had witnessed each other's most wretched moments, lived together, and died together in the raging inferno.

Outside the Chancellor's residence in the eastern part of the city, not far away, was the largest theater in the city of Shennü. The morning air was still chilly as a maid carried a bucket of water to water the red maple trees and peach trees in the courtyard. In the distance, she could hear the soft and enchanting singing of an opera performer, but since it was quite far away, she listened carefully for a moment to identify the tune.

Ah, it was "The Palace of Eternal Life."

Having experienced life, death, immortals, and ghosts, they became twin lotuses in the celestial palace.

Outside the Chancellor's residence, an ornate carriage had stopped at some point. A young master dressed in blue silk robes descended from it. The guards at the gate recognized him immediately and didn't stop him; instead, they knelt and paid homage. "Greetings, Master."

Due to his noble status, they couldn't address him by his proper title, so they simply called him "Master."

Zhao Yuzhang waved his fan and gestured with his hand: "No need for formalities. Where is your Premier? He hasn't attended court for a day now. Could it be that he's ill?"

When Shang Junian didn't attend court, Zhao Yuzhang felt as if half of his brain was missing. The court had been in chaos today, unable to come up with any regulations, so he simply left the palace in disguise.

The guard spoke vaguely: "Premier is entertaining a good friend and might not have the time."

"A good friend?"

Zhao Yuzhang's eyelids twitched. He thought about how Shang Junian usually kept to himself; what kind of good friend could he have? Only he was willing to play with him: "Male or female?"

Guard: "Male."

Zhao Yuzhang: "Handsome?"

Guard: "Very handsome."

"Whoosh!"

Zhao Yuzhang closed his fan and rushed to the back courtyard. His gossiping heart burned fiercely, eager to see who this man was: Shang Junian, oh Shang Junian, there are flowers everywhere in the world, why fixate on just one? You've finally woken up and found someone else!

Shang Junian was still sleeping in the room, the curtains drawn tightly to shield out the glaring sunlight outside. Lu Yan had dressed and practiced swordsmanship in the courtyard for a while. Just as he was about to go back and call the other to wake up for breakfast, he caught sight of Zhao Yuzhang sneaking through the moon gate from the outer courtyard.

Lu Yan saw this and reversed his sword, thinking that he had been looking for Zhao Yuzhang high and low without success, but now he had come right to him. He had been planning to find Zhao Yuzhang, but never expected the other to deliver himself right here.

A voice that seemed to laugh but didn't suddenly rang out in the courtyard, startling Zhao Yuzhang and causing him to stumble:

"It's been a long time since we last met, Prince Yuzhang is still as charming as ever. I haven't yet congratulated you on your ascension to the throne. I'll make sure to send my gift later, please don't be offended."

Zhao Yuzhang: "?!!!"

This familiar voice, could it be...

Zhao Yuzhang turned around in disbelief, only to see Lu Yan slowly walking down the steps with his hands behind his back, his eyes smiling, exactly like the annoying person he remembered: "Lu Yan?!!!"

Zhao Yuzhang stared in shock and rushed forward: "How can it be you?!"

Lu Yan asked with interest: "Why can't it be me?"

Zhao Yuzhang was furious and rolled up his sleeves, ready to hit him: "You still dare to come?!"

Lu Yan asked in confusion: "Why shouldn't I come?"

Zhao Yuzhang was at his wit's end: "What do you want?!"

Lu Yan said calmly: "Oh, nothing much. I'm getting old, it's time to settle down and start a family. I came especially to Wuyun to propose to Premier Shang, Brother Yuzhang, remember to come for a drink when the time comes."

After saying this, he patted Zhao Yuzhang's shoulder with a smile, acting as if they were good friends.

Zhao Yuzhang was so angry that his whole body trembled. He had never seen anyone as shameless as Lu Yan before. He grabbed the collar of his shirt and said, "Lu Yan, do you have any shame? How did you treat Junian after I left Wuyun?! And you still dare to come looking for him?!"

Lu Yan let him grab his collar and said seriously, "The past is like smoke, he doesn't care, I don't care, why should you care?"

Zhao Yuzhang: "You!"

As they spoke, there was a creak and the tightly closed door was suddenly pushed open. Shang Junian walked out with an overcoat draped over his shoulders. Seeing them arguing and fighting, he couldn't help but frown: "What are you doing?"

When Lu Yan and Nanxun Wang were fighting openly and secretly, he discovered one thing: complaints must be made quickly, whoever is faster is in the right. He ran to Shang Junian's side and said as if it was difficult, "I was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard earlier and happened to run into Brother Yuzhang and said a few words. I don't know what happened, but he rushed over and grabbed my collar and was about to attack..."

What he said was true, but not entirely true. He glossed over the important parts, making Zhao Yuzhang so angry that smoke was coming out of his ears.

Shang Junian was clearly not that easy to fool. He looked at Lu Yan: "What did you say to him?"

Lu Yan's eyes wandered: "I said I would soon marry you and bring you back to Immortal Spirit, and invited him to our wedding feast."

No wonder he got beaten up.

Zhao Yuzhang's head finally worked once. He quickly stepped onto the steps and said不服气 (bùfúqì) [lit. not convinced, idiomatically meaning 'unwilling to accept defeat'], "Hey, why is it that Junian has to marry into Immortal Spirit, instead of you marrying into Wuyun? Immortal Spirit is about to fall apart, for Junian's sake, I can barely take you in."

A year had passed, and Zhao Yuzhang's mouth had become more poisonous.

Lu Yan didn't say anything, using the cover of his sleeve to secretly hold Shang Junian's hand and hook his little finger. Then he asked with a smile, "Okay, Premier Shang, when do you plan to marry this prince? Don't skimp on the dowry."

Thick-skinned people, Lu Yan wasn't afraid of. There was no one in the world with thicker skin than him.

Shang Junian frowned awkwardly and coughed lightly, subtly shaking off his hand. Two grown men talking about marriage and marriage, weren't they ashamed?

Lu Yan held his hand again.

Shang Junian shook it off again, and Lu Yan held it again.

After several rounds, Shang Junian was finally worn down by him and turned to sweep his sleeves and enter the room: "Let's talk about it inside!"

It was time for breakfast, and the maidservant brought in dishes one after another. Shang Junian wasn't a person who liked luxury, always eating light fare. On the table was only a plate of beef buns, a plate of pickled vegetables, a plate of boiled vegetable hearts, and three bowls of white porridge.

Zhao Yuzhang and Lu Yan sat facing each other, staring each other down. If it weren't for Shang Junian in between, they would have started fighting.

Shang Junian paused, somewhat regretting not telling Zhao Yuzhang about Lu Yan being soul-snatched, leaving these two people to look at each other like black-eyed chickens, not liking what they saw: "Let's talk about it after breakfast."

Zhao Yuzhang picked up a meat bun and took a bite. Seeing that Lu Yan wasn't moving his chopsticks, he said sarcastically, "What's wrong, Premier? Can't the food in the Premier's residence meet the eyes of the Fengling King?"

Without waiting for Lu Yan to answer, he drew out his voice and said, "Also, how can it compare to the delicacies of Fengling Palace? A duck tongue tofu skin bun uses only a small piece of meat from the tip of the tongue, three small buns use up at least a hundred tongues. Even if you eat a clear soup noodle dish, the broth has to be simmered for days with chicken, duck, fish, sheep, abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and stomach. How can this porridge and small dishes compare."

When Lu Yan heard his words, he knew that this guy had eaten quite a bit in the backyard kitchen back then. He deliberately gave Shang Junian a serving of vegetables, implying something: "Actually, what you eat isn't important, what matters is the person you eat with. With Junian, this king would be satisfied even if I had to eat bran and swallow vegetables."

#Really disgusting#

Zhao Yuzhang's face turned green for a moment, then he slowly exhaled: "Since you like Junian so much, why not consider the matter of marrying into Wuyun?"

He didn't believe that Lu Yan could really put aside his pride.

Lu Yan indeed said, "I'm afraid I must disappoint Brother Yuzhang."

Zhao Yuzhang wore an expression that said he had expected as much: "Why?"

Lu Yan smiled faintly. "Father won't let me marry a poor man."

"Ahem ahem ahem ahem ahem—!"

Zhao Yuzhang nearly choked on his bun at these words, erupting into a coughing fit that shook the heavens and moved the earth. Even Shang Junnian paused with his chopsticks, casting a less-than-friendly glance at Lu Yan. "How am I poor?"

When Lu Yan heard this, he knew it was bad. Was Shang Junnian really planning to make him marry him? The Emperor would be furious if he knew.

"The Chancellor is not poor; it's Wuyun that's too poor."

Lu Yan lightly traced the bottom of his bowl with the tip of his chopsticks, his words carrying hidden meanings. "Both are remote lands, but Tianshui enjoys perpetual spring while Wuyun endures year-round cold. Its people aren't skilled in farming and mostly live off herding. Every winter, many cattle and sheep freeze to death, and when food runs short, they have to buy from Tianshui. Add to that the tribute given to Xianling, how much can they have left by the end of the year?"

Lu Yan feigned concern. "Brother Yuzhang, I've heard that the late emperor indulged in extravagance and squandered without restraint. Your treasury must be empty enough for horses to gallop through, right? Tianshui has also suspended grain support. This Prince truly worries that this war will drain all of Wuyun's vitality, leaving it to be swallowed by Dongli."

Zhao Yuzhang suddenly looked up, grinding his teeth in anger. "Tianshui suspending grain supply was your doing?!"

Lu Yan stroked his chin. "Back at Zifeng Hall, I at least brought him plenty of snacks. Gong Sunwuyou would still give me this face-saving favor."

Zhao Yuzhang slammed the table, wanting nothing more than to curse Lu Yan for being shameless. "When did you ever bring him snacks? It was clearly Chen Ying..."

Before he could finish, he suddenly saw Lu Yan looking at him with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, his demeanor eerily similar to that of the young guard. An indescribable familiarity washed over him, and he belatedly realized something. His expression changed dramatically, and he stood up abruptly. "You're Chen Yingqi?!"

How could this be possible?!!!

Lu Yan neither confirmed nor denied it, deliberately lowering his voice to ask, "Brother Yuzhang, did you enjoy the meat buns this Prince gave you?"

Zhao Yuzhang: "!!!!"

The maidservant sweeping the courtyard outside suddenly heard a string of angry curses in the distance. Peering inside, she saw Zhao Yuzhang storming out, cursing all the way from Tingfeng Pavilion to the gate of the estate. He cursed as viciously as he could, and even after getting into his carriage, he continued to spit out curses as he lifted the curtain:

"It's just a few dozen meat buns! Your little master will dig them out and vomit them back to you! You damned liar, may you never have children! Shang Junnian, sooner or later, you'll be swindled down to your underwear by him!"

"What are you staring at! Back to the palace!"

Shang Junnian wasn't feeling well and didn't go to see Zhao Yuzhang off, but his hearing was sharp, and he caught some of the harsh words. He looked across the table at Lu Yan, who remained calm and composed. "He cursed you to be childless. Aren't you angry?"

Lu Yan picked up a beef bun from the table and took a bite, indifferent. "I'm already childless. You can't bear children either."

Shang Junnian subtly glared at him. "Will the Xianling Imperial Clan agree to let someone without heirs be their emperor?"

Lu Yan smiled, and in his flickering eyes, one could glimpse the rapid swelling of ambition. "They'll have to agree whether they like it or not. As long as I persuade the three countries to withdraw their troops, plus Father's guarantee, the position of Crown Prince will be mine."

In his previous life, when Nanxun Wang ascended the throne, Lu Yan had already grown tired of the feeling of having his fate controlled by others. Rather than waiting until after the Emperor's passing to be left without a master, he might as well seize power now.

Shang Junnian slowly lifted his eyelids. "Are you so sure Yuzhang will withdraw his troops? He won't do anything without benefit."

After a moment of thought, Lu Yan said, "Luzhou borders both Xianling and Wuyun. It's always been lush with grass and water, and it's where trade between the two countries takes place. But it's been unclaimed territory for years, with no resolution in sight. How about giving it to him?"

Shang Junnian pondered for a moment. "Waive Wuyun's tributes for another three years."

With these two cards, he could convince Zhao Yuzhang to withdraw his troops in court and silence the warmongers.

Lu Yan slapped the table. "Deal!"

When the news reached Zhao Yuzhang's ears, he was naturally reluctant, but somehow, Shang Junnian managed to persuade him to bow his head. In court, he engaged in a battle of wits against the scholars, unilaterally tearing up the alliance pact with Dongli.

When the news returned to Dongli, Liu Que Dan keenly sensed something unusual. He raised his head in the dim candlelight, his brows slightly furrowed. Beneath his usually gentle features lurked the depth of an emperor's solemnity. "First, Tianshui cut off grain supplies, then Wuyun tore up the alliance pact. Can there really be such coincidences in the world? Could Xianling have meddled in some way?"

Prince Liu stood below, shaking his head upon hearing this. "Xianling is at its wit's end. What could they possibly do? Our spies sent there haven't uncovered any news, but..."

Liu Que Dan raised his eyes. "But what?"

Prince Liu hesitated. "Chancellor Shang Junnian of Wuyun wishes to request permission to visit Dongli as an envoy to discuss the alliance pact in detail."

Liu Que Dan exhaled slowly. "He tore up the pact and now wants detailed discussions. This Emperor will see what tricks he's playing. Granted!"