Chapter 130: Golden Cicada
On the twenty-seventh of the twelfth lunar month, the heavy snow gradually subsided, and the wind stopped.
An Yuanzhen’s voice could be faintly heard from a distance.
“Get away, don’t follow me.”
Xiao Yi looked down and saw that Li Hanmei in his arms had not noticed, still speaking in a low voice.
After a while, he caught sight of An Yuanzhen’s shocked eyes from the corner of his eye. He turned sideways, blocking Li Hanmei’s view, and spoke to her earnestly.
“I was born at the coldest time of the twelfth lunar month. My parents named me ‘Hanmei’ among the plum blossoms, do you know? Only plum blossoms bloom in winter. When spring comes and all flowers bloom, plum blossoms never deign to compete with them. Today, you have forced me out of this door, and for the rest of my life, I will only be a withered plum. Plums have their own pride. If you understand me, please don’t force me to spend my days like withered blossoms, and let me have your entire winter all to myself, alright?”
Xiao Yi had seen enough of romance and never thought that two people meeting under the golden wind and jade dew had to be bound for life. He thought she had the same understanding, which was why he had touched her.
Unexpectedly, in the end, she bit him with her death in her heart.
He finally agreed.
“Alright.”
“The state can be easily obtained, but it is difficult to find someone who understands my heart. I originally thought that becoming Empress was a compensation for me, but in the end, I realized that it was you who made me once again Li Hanmei.”
Li Hanmei smiled and reached out to stroke Xiao Yi’s face, murmuring, “Will you send me to Yuci?”
“Yes.”
“When we get there, you will meet a complete Li Hanmei…”
A long time passed.
Xiao Yi felt a coldness on his lips. He opened his eyes and saw Li Hanmei still smiling, her eyes holding not only deep affection but also pride.
Snow and wind, plum blossoms, not competing with withered red for spring.
Xiao Yi knew there was no need to grieve; what he had to do was fulfill his promise and bury her in her hometown’s plum grove.
Suddenly, someone walked up behind him and gently patted his head.
Xiao Yi looked up and gave An Yuanzhen a faint glance before lowering his head to ponder.
“You… you all… I…” An Yuanzhen stammered for a while and said, “I don’t know what to say. You… please accept my condolences. Well, the deceased flow like water to the sea, and the living travel like a lone boat on the river. Don’t give up on yourself.”
“She bloomed in the wind and snow all her life, and returned to her pride. There is no need for grief.”
An Yuanzhen said, “I just felt something was wrong when you two didn’t come out for so long. Don’t worry, I came alone, no one else heard you talking, and I will keep it a secret.”
Xiao Yi, however, was somewhat confused.
He and Li Hanmei had made thorough arrangements for their meeting, and her people should have been guarding important points.
Why did An Yuanzhen come over so easily?
He then asked, “Was there no one watching when you came?”
“Yes, Zhang Shangyi is at the palace gate.”
“Shangyi? She let you in?”
“Otherwise?”
“What is Zhang Shangyi’s background?”
An Yuanzhen asked strangely, “She wanted to marry you before, and you refused. Now you’re thinking about… I knew it! She is the illegitimate daughter of Zhang Yanchao, the Military Governor of Jin Chang Commandery.”
“Is she a confidante of the Empress Dowager?”
“Yes.”
Xiao Yi felt even stranger.
He admitted that he had not become dazed or lost by Li Hanmei’s death; he was still calm.
He thought that Zhang Shangyi’s desire to marry him was before he and Li Hanmei became intimate. He had thought they would scatter like birds and beasts in the face of disaster, but she…
An Yuanzhen suddenly waved her hand in front of her eyes and said, “Since I’ve kept your secret, will you safely send me back to Xiangzhou?”
“Alright.”
“Really?”
“This is a fair trade.”
“Then you send me yourself.”
“I said, I guarantee your safe return to Xiangzhou.”
“No, I mean…”
“Go and summon Wang Yan to Zi Chen Hall.”
Xiao Yi picked up Li Hanmei and walked towards the front hall.
An Yuanzhen chased after him and said, “You, you, you… aren’t you going to take the Empress Dowager like this? It’s not very good, is it?”
As soon as they reached the first palace gate, they saw Zhang Shangyi standing there with some trepidation.
“General Xiao, the Empress Dowager she…”
“She’s asleep.”
“General, you probably can’t carry the Empress Dowager out like this. Please put her down.”
Zhang Shangyi was stunned for a moment, looked around, pushed open a side room in the corridor, bowed, and lowered her head.
Xiao Yi also knew that he couldn’t really carry Li Hanmei to Zi Chen Hall, so he followed instructions and placed her on the bed in the side room. At this point, he said, “The Empress Dowager has passed away. Handle the funeral ceremony.”
“Wh… what?”
Zhang Shangyi panicked and cried on the ground.
The crying soon alerted other female officials, who rushed over.
An Yuanzhen appeared quite uneasy and gave him a look.
“General Xiao, you should go to Zi Chen Hall first.”
Xiao Yi cast one last look at Li Hanmei, seeing her lying there as peacefully as if she were asleep. He turned and left.
He walked to the small palace gate between the front court and the inner palace, where Xi Hou and Lu Chou were still on duty, an arrangement he had specifically made for his trysts.
“General, has something happened…”
“Go and summon all the brothers to the front of Zi Chen Hall.”
“Yes.”
The last major court session in Zi Chen Hall was for Liu Chengyou’s funeral. Now, red silk was being hung for the enthronement ceremony.
Wang Yan had also arrived.
Xiao Yi announced the Empress Dowager’s death again and said, “Take down all the red silk and hang mourning veils.”
The palace servants cried loudly.
Wang Yan slapped himself and cried, “The Empress Dowager has passed away?! It’s all my fault, old servant. I was too soft-hearted and didn’t advise the General to detain the Empress Dowager…”
“Silence.”
Xiao Yi reprimanded him and said, “On the first day of the first lunar month, the New Emperor will ascend the throne in the palace. Before that, you will handle the funeral ceremony for me. Bring out the Han Dynasty flags and crowns that were put away. The ceremonies should be simple, but not perfunctory.”
“Yes, old servant, I will handle it. However, the civil officials have all gone out of the city to welcome the New Emperor.”
“We don’t need civil officials. Invite the Li clan relatives.”
“Yes.”
“Come here.”
When Wang Yan approached, Xiao Yi whispered, “Investigate who gave the Empress Dowager wine.”
He actually knew that the wine had been placed in the hall the previous evening, because he was certain that no one had entered from last night until this morning.
Soon, the Inner Palace Guard under his command gathered outside Zi Chen Hall, forming a neat line.
Xiao Yi walked down the stone steps, looked at them for a moment, and spoke.
“I have failed my duties! I am unworthy of my lord’s trust, and I intend to resign as the Commander of the Inner Palace Guard. Those who wish to return to the Tianxiong Army with me, step forward. Those who wish to remain in the Inner Palace Guard, I will not force you, and there will be no grudges.”
“General, it’s not that serious, is it?”
“Silence, listen to the military order.”
“I’ll return to the Nian Battalion with the General! I don’t want to be a doorkeeper anymore!”
“Me too…”
Soon, only the Imperial Guard, who had been transferred later, remained in the formation.
They were not reluctant to give up their Imperial Guard status. They asked, “General, we don’t have military positions in the Tianxiong Army, can we still go with you?”
Lu You quickly shouted, “Silly bird! Come over here!”
Xiao Yi saw that his subordinates were willing to accept a demotion to follow him, and he understood.
Afterwards, he summoned Old Pan and instructed him, “Go to the Ministry of Works and see which of the craftsmen who returned from Yingling last time can be trusted. Bring them to see me outside Xuanwu Gate.”
“Yes.”
Xiao Yi closed his eyes, contemplating a plan to substitute the coffin and cremate Li Hanmei’s body, and then send her back to her hometown.
“General.”
Wang Yan hurried up behind him and whispered, “We’ve found out.”
“So quickly?”
“Yes, the wine was delivered by Wu Shangshi yesterday at noon. She… she also poisoned herself and left this note.”
Xiao Yi took it and saw the delicate handwriting on the note.
“This servant poisoned the Empress Dowager and dare not live on. I only wish to follow the Empress Dowager in the underworld to fulfill my duty as a servant. I hope the authorities will not implicate the innocent.”
This was an explanation for his failure. He put away the note and, after thinking for a moment, asked, “Who is this Wu Shangshi?”
“The General just met her not long ago.”
“I only remember that she was quite tall and didn’t like to talk. I didn’t look closely at anything else.”
“Wu Shangshi was a palace maid in the previous dynasty. When the Khitan entered the Central Plains… she suffered greatly and had a pitiful life. After being rescued, she attempted suicide several times, and it was the Empress Dowager who comforted and supported her.”
“In that case, why did she and Zhang Shangyi come to see me three days ago?”
“Perhaps the Empress Dowager could not bear to see them waste their lives and asked them to find their own way out.”
Xiao Yi asked, “What are the arrangements for Wu Shangshi’s funeral?”
Wang Yan replied, “Zhang Shangyi will arrange it all.”
“How much do you know about Zhang Shangyi?”
“Her name is Zhang Wan. She is skilled in music and dance, and she is also beautiful. She had an opportunity to serve the former emperor, but the former emperor did not like her. Instead, Li Ye took a liking to her. She did not want to comply with Li Ye, and with the Empress Dowager’s protection, that’s all this old servant knows.”
“Have her come to see me later.”
“Yes.”
While they were speaking, two palace maids approached behind Xiao Yi and bowed, “General Xiao, this servant has been ordered to go out of the palace to commission a sarcophagus. Please provide an order.”
Xiao Yi signed the order and, seeing that they looked somewhat familiar, asked, “Where have we met?”
One of them immediately became flustered and lowered her head, saying, “This servant is…”
“This servant sweeps the floors at the gate and often sees General Xiao.”
The funeral matters were quite complicated.
It was Xiao Yi’s first time handling a funeral. He asked when he didn’t understand but was very decisive, immediately abolishing any segment that Li Hanmei disliked.
It was as if he truly had the authority to preside over a funeral.
After a busy morning, seeing that the Li clan relatives had not arrived, he summoned a palace servant to inquire.
“Reporting to the General, we have sent people to invite them, but Li Hongyi and Li Hongjian are not in the capital.”
“Have they gone to Gaomen Village?”
“No, they went to the west of the city to pick up Li Hongxin.”
“Is Li Hongxin returning to the capital today?”
“Yes.”
Xiao Yi knew a little about Li Hongxin.
This person was the eldest brother of the Li siblings, and he was currently the Military Governor of Baoyi Commandery. In his youth, he was skilled in archery and horsemanship and was a cadet in the Later Tang’s Shengzheng Army. Sixteen years ago, when the young emperor of Later Tang wanted to kill Shi Jingtang, Li Hongxin switched his allegiance to Liu Zhiyuan at a critical moment, saving Shi Jingtang and allowing Liu Zhiyuan to begin his rise.
This was one of the reasons why Li Hanmei believed that the establishment of the Later Han dynasty was due to her painstaking efforts.
According to Xiao Yi’s knowledge, since the coup d’état in the imperial court, Li Hongxin had killed all the officials sent by the court to his side and submitted a memorial to disassociate himself, showing his decisiveness and ruthlessness. He was considered the pillar of the Li clan today.
Li Hongxin’s return to the capital this time was likely to celebrate Guo Wei’s enthronement. The new dynasty had no intention of moving against him, lest Shaan Prefecture become unstable.
By the afternoon, Xiao Yi had eaten something. Seeing that the sarcophagus had arrived, it was directly moved by the palace servants to Jin Xiang Hall in the back. He then summoned a palace servant and asked, “What’s going on?”
“General, the female officials are changing the Empress Dowager’s clothes and preparing her for burial.”
Xiao Yi felt that there were many mysteries today.
If he had been distraught, he might have overlooked them, but he was indeed very clear-headed.
Thus, he walked towards Jin Xiang Hall.
As he ascended the steps, the palace maids guarding the hall immediately went inside, and after a while, An Yuanzhen came to meet him.
She had changed into mourning clothes, with a bare face, and was once again performing as the puppet Empress, but this time with some sorrow on her face.
Xiao Yi was walking forward when she stopped him.
“You should pay your respects to me, the Empress.”
“Greetings to the Empress.”
“Don’t go in. The female officials are changing the Empress Dowager’s clothes. They also reminded me that I am the Empress and should be in charge of the funeral ceremony… Don’t be too diligent, lest they see through you.”
Xiao Yi said, “The Imperial Palace was originally under my command. Has it now become Zhang Shangyi’s command?”
“Are you crazy? Have you forgotten that you all…” An Yuanzhen snorted and said, “I’m still angry, and you’re giving me a cold shoulder.”
“If the Empress doesn’t want trouble, don’t interfere.”
“You! I offered good intentions, and you took them for granted. I won’t bother with you anymore.”
An Yuanzhen got angry and put on the airs of a vase Empress, then went to Zi Chen Hall herself.
Xiao Yi reached the front of Jin Xiang Hall and was about to push the door when Zhang Wan hurriedly came out to meet him.
“General Xiao.”
“I need to see the Empress Dowager one last time.”
“No, the Empress Dowager is changing her clothes.”
Xiao Yi, being tall, looked over Zhang Wan’s hair bun and saw that the sarcophagus in the hall was already covered. He said, “Wasn’t it already prepared for burial?”
“General, the deceased are respected.”
“I must look at her one more time.”
Zhang Wan suddenly grabbed Xiao Yi’s wrist and whispered, “General, the Empress Dowager only wishes to have a peaceful final journey. How can you bear to disturb her? Let’s seal the coffin now, alright?”
Xiao Yi shook off her hand and walked straight in.
Inside the hall, there were only two palace servants. Seeing him, they quickly knelt down.
Zhang Wan chased after him, trying to pull Xiao Yi again.
His hand, however, was already on the sarcophagus. With just a push, he could open it.
Xiao Yi did not push, however. He just stood there, unmoved no matter how Zhang Wan pulled him.
After a long time, he turned his head and said faintly, “Take me to see Wu Shangshi.”
“Wh… what?”
“I want to see Wu Shangshi’s body.”
“But, but Wang Yan has already seen it.”
“I want to see it again.”
Zhang Wan was stunned for a moment, bowed, and said, “Please follow me, General.”
Without taking any other servants, the two of them walked through the layers of imperial palace walls to the female official’s quarters in the northwest corner of the Imperial Palace.
Along the way, Xiao Yi became increasingly calm.
They reached a side room, and suddenly, Zhang Wan turned around and hugged him.
“General Xiao, I like you so much… Can I be your concubine? I don’t ask for a title… Wuwu…”
Xiao Yi thought to himself, “As expected,” but said, “Get away.”
Zhang Wan hugged him tighter, clumsily but diligently rubbing against him and kissing his neck.
She had a different fragrance, like faint jasmine. Her lips were initially cold, then gradually warm. Her breath on his skin was a little ticklish.
Xiao Yi, however, pushed her away and reprimanded, “Stop faking your emotions here. I already know everything.”
“General, this servant admits her guilt.” Zhang Wan hugged his leg and cried, “But the Empress Dowager’s feelings were genuine! She did this to avoid implicating you…”
“Still hiding from me? It’s too late.”
“I dare not hide from the General. The Empress Dowager was afraid of implicating you, so she didn’t say anything. Otherwise, we should have been more thorough. I didn’t expect that when the Empress entered, the Empress Dowager had already lost herself. If she wanted to use the General, she would have had the opportunity at the third watch of the night hour last night, when you were asleep…”
Xiao Yi grabbed her and lifted her, pressing her into a deserted corner, and said, “Tell me from the beginning.”
“General, you won’t harm the Empress Dowager, will you?”
“Speak.”
“Yes, the plan was made long ago and had nothing to do with the General. Guo Que’er went back on his word and said he would establish the Liu clan, but instead found an opportunity to lead troops out of the capital. The Empress Dowager, fearing disgrace, asked Military Governor Li to take her to Shaan Prefecture. Her original intention was to fake her death and escape before the General returned. Unexpectedly, the General returned suddenly. I was worried that the General would see through it and wanted to seduce you. I planned to proceed step by step, but I didn’t expect… After Jin Xiang Hall, the Empress Dowager’s resolve wavered, and she worried that this would continue to implicate the General. Military Governor Li has returned to the capital, and everything is ready, with the arrow nocked. I suggested asking the General for help, but the Empress Dowager said, ‘There is a world of difference between him knowing and not knowing.’ Wuwu, the Empress Dowager’s feelings for the General are deep. This servant speaks no falsehoods. I only ask the General to quell his anger.”
“Enough.”
Xiao Yi feigned anger, but his heart remained calm. He had already guessed most of the story. At this moment, the sarcophagus in the front hall should have contained the deceased Wu Shangshi, while Li Hanmei was in the thin coffin in this side room.
He was not angry. He wanted to sit on the Dragon Throne himself, and she had indeed helped him set his ambition; their two nights of intimacy, her deep affection, her desperate desire for pleasure, he had truly enjoyed; meeting under the golden wind and jade dew, and then each going their own way, was his understanding.
In a romantic encounter, Li Hanmei continued her path, implementing her plan when she didn’t want to be taken to Tai Ping Palace; it was fitting. He should also continue his path, see through her plan, and take credit for capturing her; it was also fitting.
However, this was too calm a thought. On second thought, she had made sacrifices. At least she hadn’t implicated him. Fending for herself was less risky than him rescuing someone from Tai Ping Palace.
Thinking of her uncontrollable trembling, her tears, and her breakdown at their last parting… he ultimately did not push open that door and turned to leave.
Today, they part ways, and there will be no need to see each other again.
