Chapter 132

Chapter 132

The prison in the Dali Temple was filthy and dim. The days were cold and short, as it was late autumn—a season also marking the time of death.

Xie Langyang resembled a withered corpse, lying motionless on a moldy, foul-smelling straw mat, his face and body covered in dried blood that had turned ink-black.

The taste of a fate worse than death, of days dragging on like years, of heart-wrenching agony—he had experienced them all.

Looking back on his brief life, the greatest mistake he had ever made was lingering an extra day to admire the scenery of Qingping Mountain all those years ago, where he encountered the dazzlingly brilliant young Wen Zuo.

If he had proceeded directly to the capital back then, if he had never had the slightest interaction with Wen Zuo, he would never have discovered that he could fall in love with a man.

He would have steadily become the pride of his family, shouldering the responsibilities of the eldest legitimate son.

He would not have loved Wen Zuo, nor would he have betrayed Wen Zuo, ultimately ending up in this state of utter ruin and disgrace.

Outside the cell door, jailers were chatting and joking, their waist knives clinking against the wall with their laughter.

"Hey, have you heard? Minister Liu Kangren really brought back potatoes from the Western seas, and they've already been successfully cultivated!"

"Oh? How do you know?"

"My younger sister works at Duke Liu's residence. She came back and told me. This thing grows fast, isn't picky about soil or water, tastes good, and fills you up. If it's widely planted in the future, the common people will never have to fear famine again!"

"Is it really that good?"

"Of course! When the Duke tasted it for the first time, his eyes lit up. Minister Liu is kind-hearted; he even gave a small piece to each of the servants. My sister also said it tastes much better than ordinary grains. Right now, they've just been harvested, so the quantity is scarce. They all have to be offered to the palace first; ordinary folks have nowhere to find any to eat!"

"I really envy your sister."

"In another three months, another batch can be harvested. Then we'll see if my sister can get one for me to try."

"You better remember to share a bite with us brothers then."

"Don't worry, I won't forget you!"

...

Xie Langyang's eyelids twitched slightly. First, he couldn't believe it, then a bitter smile touched his lips.

So, he had been blinded by a single leaf, failing to see the mountain. The path Wen Zuo had pointed out to Liu Kangren was truly a way to survive.

If even the crisis facing Duke Liu could be so easily resolved, no wonder Wen Zuo had the confidence to say that whoever he chose would become the Emperor.

By now, he understood that Shen Chen was not destined by heaven, and neither was he. Yet, in his heart, he remained unwilling.

He absolutely could not allow Wen Zuo to effortlessly possess everything, to tread upon his bones and enjoy all the glory and power.

Xie Langyang struggled to prop himself up. His rough, stiff fingers finally grasped the brush, and his unfocused gaze gradually sharpened on the stack of hemp paper.

With trembling hands, he wrote three characters—a confession of crimes.

"I, your guilty subject Xie Langyang, am a scion of a prominent family from Nanzhou. In my youth, I received instruction from renowned scholars and great Confucians, and by the grace of the state, I entered official service. I should have cultivated my conduct and upheld the state, striving to become a worthy talent for governing the realm. Yet, my initial resolve was not firm; I stumbled into the mire, staining my own reputation. This is my first crime."

"I have long harbored aspirations to become a famous minister for the ages. However, my talent is shallow and my ambition limited; personal desires overrode my virtue, leading me ultimately onto a wicked path. During the Spring Terrace Chess Association incident, although I was not fully aware of the private agreement between the Eight Schools and Nanping, in order to exonerate my nephew from blame, I shamelessly advised the Chief Grand Secretary to frame a prince, thereby causing calamity, harming others and myself. This is my second crime."

"After one scheme failed, my greed remained unquenched, and I devised another sinister plot. In the past, I encountered Mo Shu by chance at the residence of the Marquis of Yongning. Detecting something unusual about his identity, I secretly reported this information to the Chief Grand Secretary, which eventually reached the ears of the Former Crown Prince. In an attempt to save the Cao family, the Former Crown Prince rashly employed a scheme. Unexpectedly, His Majesty, discerning as autumn, not only did not punish Mo Shu but instead heavily employed him and specially pardoned his offense. The Cao family ultimately implicated the Former Crown Prince because of this, brewing his downfall. This is my third crime."

"Knowing that Wen Zuo favored Shen Zheng, while I myself was partial to Shen Chen, feelings of jealousy and resentment became uncontrollable. I sought to use the 'Evening Mountain Rhapsody' to put Wen Zuo to death. In this case, I repeatedly made false statements, deceiving Your Majesty. This is my fourth crime."

"From the downfall of the Former Crown Prince to my presentation of the 'Evening Mountain Rhapsody,' a long time elapsed, truly because I hesitated internally and could not bear to part. During the confrontation at the Wuying Hall, Wen Zuo refuted me with reason, and I answered with a guilty conscience. For it was not originally Wen Zuo who seduced me into indulging in male affections; in truth, it was a mutual affection between us, a private exchange."

"He gifted me the 'Evening Mountain Rhapsody,' and I in return gifted him clothing, silver, and poetry. Later, I obeyed my father's command to take a wife, causing the bond between us to sever completely, after which Wen Zuo began his acts of retaliation. Even so, I felt only remorse and admiration for him. It was only after I glimpsed his private relationship with Shen Zheng that jealousy burned fiercely, and I resolved to strike a fatal blow."

"On that New Year's Eve in the past, the Crown Prince did not attend the court congratulations. It was not because he was concerned about Your Majesty's poor appetite and went out of the palace to seek food; it was actually to celebrate Wen Zuo's birthday. At that time, I wished to reconcile with Wen Zuo. Standing outside the door, I personally heard and saw, only then realizing the two were privately involved. I, foolish and ignorant, presumptuously speculated that the Crown Prince was constrained by Wen Zuo's talent and wisdom, fearing he would mislead the state and violate ancestral teachings. Thus, I produced this document to inform Your Majesty."

"Today, I write each word with tears of blood. All I speak is the sincere truth from the depths of my heart. I only wish for Your Majesty to clearly distinguish loyalty from treachery, firmly uphold ancestral teachings, preserve the foundation of the Great Qian, and not be misled by treacherous officials. I boldly go to my death, willingly accepting execution by axe. Even beneath the Yellow Springs, I will surely await that treacherous official who misled the state, to rectify the Heavenly Way."

"Your guilty subject, Xie Langyang, kowtows a hundred times, prostrating himself and awaiting Your Majesty's sacred judgment."

Emperor Shunyuan read this confession over and over again, until his eyes grew sore, then handed it to Liu Quan beside him: "You read it too."

Liu Quan respectfully received it with both hands. The more he read, the tighter his brow furrowed. By the end, he couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.

"Your Majesty, this..."

Emperor Shunyuan propped his forehead with his hand, his voice hoarse like a coarse gong: "Do you believe what Xie Langyang says?"

Liu Quan's expression shifted rapidly. Holding the document with both hands, he gently placed it back on the table and forced a smile, shaking his head. "This servant does not believe it."

"Oh?" Emperor Shunyuan was somewhat surprised.

"This servant suspects that, knowing his death is imminent, he intentionally seeks revenge against Your Majesty. He uses this method to sow discord between Your Majesty and the Crown Prince's father-son bond. It must be said, this scheme is insidiously vicious, with no way to counter it." As he finished speaking, a bead of cold sweat had already seeped from Liu Quan's temple.

In his entire life, he had never expressed his stance so clearly before Emperor Shunyuan. It was extremely dangerous and went against his original intentions.

Having accompanied His Majesty since childhood, he should have been single-mindedly loyal to his master, without distraction. But at this point, he could only guide his master's decision, seeking stability in his later years.

Emperor Shunyuan indeed took in these words. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "Xie Langyang, at the end of his rope, could indeed be desperate enough to gamble everything to alienate Zhen and the Crown Prince."

Liu Quan quickly nodded, about to relax and show a smile, when he heard Emperor Shunyuan's tone shift, becoming heavy and hoarse: "But Zhen cannot afford to gamble. If even one part in ten of this confession is true, Zhen must eradicate the calamity for the sake of Great Qian."

The smile instantly vanished from Liu Quan's face.

Emperor Shunyuan slowly turned his head. His eyes actually reddened, his voice unable to conceal pain: "Zhen is reluctant, and unwilling. He is the only person in this world connected by blood to Xingluo. But Zhen is first the Emperor of Great Qian, and only then Xingluo's beloved. Before my time comes, I must hand over a realm free of hidden dangers to the Crown Prince."

For a moment, Liu Quan was speechless.

The ambergris in the incense burner had burned out, its fragrance now so faint it was almost imperceptible. The window lattices were wide open; the autumn wind swept through the hall, carrying from afar the sweet scent of the bountiful melons and fruits outside the palace.

Such a joyful season of harvest was now connected to a bone-chilling winter.

"Wanshan hasn't come to see Zhen for a long time. Zhen misses him a little. Summon him here."

This was the first time in Liu Quan's life that he hesitated for a moment before deeply bowing in response: "Yes."

Upon suddenly hearing of Emperor Shunyuan's summons, Wen Zuo felt slightly surprised. Calculating the time, the Emperor's body was already at the end of its strength.

To be fair, although serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, Emperor Shunyuan had always treated him with tolerance. Whether this tolerance was because he never coveted power or because he was the nephew of the Imperial Consort, he had indeed received this tangible benefit.

Now, with his life stable and fulfilling, he felt a twinge of pity for this dying Emperor.

When a person is about to die, their words are good. Wen Zuo straightened his official robes and once again stepped into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Your humble official pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Emperor Shunyuan's spirits were surprisingly good today. Without Liu Quan's support, he stood alone before the table, appreciating ancient calligraphy treasures.

Seeing Wen Zuo, he smiled slightly and raised his hand in greeting: "Wanshan, rise. Zhen recently obtained Wang Xizhi's 'Clear Sky After Snowfall' scroll. Come and see if it's authentic."

Emperor Shunyuan was fond of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, which Wen Zuo knew well.

In the past, whenever the emperor acquired an authentic piece, the first person he would turn to was Liu Zhangbai. Liu was a skilled connoisseur, and his wife was a descendant of the Langya Wang clan, giving him the final say on the matter.

But now Liu Zhangbai was dead, and his wife had also passed away. The renowned masters and great scholars left to Emperor Shunyuan by Emperor Kangzhen had long since vanished—driven away or executed by his own hand.

Wen Zuo rose, straightened his robes, and walked to Emperor Shunyuan's side, studying the calligraphy scroll before him closely.

He lightly touched the paper with his fingertips, then leaned in to smell the ink. Finally, he straightened up and was silent for a long time.

Emperor Shunyuan urged him, "Out with it!"

Wen Zuo bowed with clasped hands. Though reluctant to disappoint the emperor, he could only speak the truth: "Your Majesty, the ink's hue and the paper's feel are inconsistent with the Eastern Jin period. However, the handwriting is a masterful imitation, with strokes as strong as iron and as graceful as silver—it is likely a fine Tang dynasty reproduction. Even so, it remains a priceless treasure, a masterpiece passed down through the ages. Congratulations, Your Majesty."

"Ah..." Emperor Shunyuan slowly sank back into his chair, his expression tinged with disappointment. After a moment, he began to roll up the scroll. "Never mind, never mind. Since it is not an original, you can have it."

With that, he handed the scroll over.

Wen Zuo raised an eyebrow slightly, intrigued, and asked in return, "Is Your Majesty not afraid that I deliberately claimed it was a fake in order to con you out of this treasure?"

Emperor Shunyuan turned his head and snorted softly at him. "If you had asked for it the moment you entered, I might indeed have suspected you."

Wen Zuo lowered his gaze with a light chuckle, cradling the scroll in his arms with great care.

Seeing how clearly he cherished it, Emperor Shunyuan looked him up and down and couldn't help but frown. "Tsk, don't tell me you really did scheme to trick this scroll away from me?"

Wen Zuo immediately wiped the smile from his face and reluctantly placed the scroll back on the desk. "If Your Majesty is unwilling to part with it, then so be it. I never really wanted it anyway."

Emperor Shunyuan quickly waved him off. "Take it, take it, take it..."

Wen Zuo promptly scooped the scroll up again, along with the wooden case that held it.

Emperor Shunyuan's eyes widened. "This case is Chu lacquerware, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and perfumed with cassia and pepper. Even if the scroll is fake, this case is more valuable than the scroll itself. How dare you just take it?"

Wen Zuo kept a straight face and casually bluffed, "Your Majesty is mistaken again. Chu lacquer uses black as the base and vermilion for the patterns, with a texture as rich and thick as grease. This case has garish lacquer colors, a thin and lightweight body, and stiff, lifeless decorations—clearly a later forgery. I merely find it convenient for storing things."

"Hmph!" Emperor Shunyuan pointed at him. "Don't try to show off in front of me. Though I am no expert in calligraphy and painting, Chu lacquer was a favorite of my elder brother. I have observed it since childhood, and even with failing eyesight, I would never mistake it."

Wen Zuo fell silent for a moment, then quietly set the case down and knelt, bowing deeply. "I acknowledge my mistake."

Rarely having left Wen Zuo speechless, Emperor Shunyuan leaned back on the imperial throne with a smug expression, looking down at the kneeling figure.

"If you wish for me to give you this case as well, it is not impossible. I have a question for you. If your answer satisfies me, I will grant it to you along with the scroll." Emperor Shunyuan's earlier high spirits gradually faded, and his gaze toward Wen Zuo grew complex and conflicted.

Wen Zuo remained kneeling with his head lowered, unable to see the emperor's expression. "Please speak, Your Majesty."

Emperor Shunyuan spoke slowly, "Take the three characters 'Ying,' 'Xing,' and 'Luo' as the key themes and compose two lines of poetry. If you succeed, the case is yours as well."

Wen Zuo's eyelashes trembled slightly. According to Consort Zhen, Xingluo was the given name of the Imperial Consort. It seemed the emperor still believed he was unaware of this.

He couldn't fathom why Emperor Shunyuan would assign a poem using the Imperial Consort's name. Perhaps, nearing death, he sought some solace from someone related to her.

After a moment of thought, Wen Zuo recited, "Longing should pierce the azure skies, / Frosted stars in one night gleam between the brows."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Shunyuan felt a wave of melancholy.

He murmured the lines to himself, but in his heart, he regretted—it was reversed, all reversed.

It was Ying Xingluo, not Ying Luoxing. Wen Zuo truly did not understand.

Emperor Shunyuan then smiled faintly. "What I wrote back then was—'Meeting an immortal frame standing in the breeze, / Starry eyes suddenly fell, locking a lifetime.'"

That was why he had named her Ying Xingluo.

Wen Zuo gracefully conceded, "My poetic talent is far inferior to Your Majesty's. It seems this case rightfully belongs to you."

Yet Emperor Shunyuan directly placed the case in his hands, chiding with a smile, "How strange—why are you so polite today? In the past, whenever you coveted something of mine, wouldn't you scheme day and night to obtain it?"

For a fleeting moment, Wen Zuo felt as though his interactions with Emperor Shunyuan had returned to how they were in the beginning.

This familiarity brought him comfort. Perhaps the emperor had grown old and fragile, merely wishing to cling to the few remaining traces of warmth in his life.

Having sat for too long, Emperor Shunyuan grew weary. Wen Zuo rose to take his leave. Just as he reached the palace door, the emperor suddenly called out to him.

"Wanshan."

Wen Zuo turned and saw the gaunt old man, his eyes already reddened, tears pooling in their cloudy depths. With an almost pleading and sorrowful tone, he said, "I wish to go on one last autumn hunt, to see the lands of Da Qian one final time. You are the person I trust most... Go to Qingping Mountain and make the arrangements for me."

Wen Zuo watched as the emperor raised his hand, reaching out toward him across the empty space. A single tear finally rolled down and fell onto the vacant Imperial Desk.

"I obey your command."