Chapter 54: Together into the Fiery Depths
The Brocade Guards didn’t know, and neither did I. Half an hour ago, Xun Yitang had already unexpectedly found Cheng Huaishi on Five Spirits Mountain.
Cheng Huaishi was in prison. Since hearing the prison warden sentence him to death, he had been resigned to his fate.
Feng Gao was sent with a secret decree to rescue him. He didn’t understand the situation and refused to come out. Feng Gao couldn’t explain much to him, so he had people tie him up and abandon him on Five Spirits Mountain. Then, he went to pick me up to meet him.
To ensure everything went perfectly, Feng Gao devised a plan.
He tied up two people of similar build and split them into two groups, heading towards Five Spirits Mountain.
One was the real Cheng Huaishi, led by his trusted subordinate Ge Dasheng, ascending Five Spirits Mountain from the west side and hiding in a dense forest. Further west, there was a small path without any checkpoints, leading directly to Jicheng. This was the place the coachman later brought me to.
The other was a fake Cheng Huaishi, whom he led, placing him on the east side of Five Spirits Mountain. He intended to lure the Brocade Guards along the way, to turn defense into offense on the mountain, seize the opportunity to strike, capture Mu Lin alive, and eliminate a hidden threat. He had discovered that the Brocade Guards planned to tamper with the “Tea Permit” of the Eldest Young Master of the Cheng Family, Cheng Cangshi, upon his return, to utterly destroy the Cheng Family. He did not want me to have any worries.
His plan was watertight, with every detail meticulously connected.
He used this matter as bait, but not Cheng Huaishi himself.
He calculated every move, planned the most suitable method, and did his utmost to protect everyone I cared about.
However, human plans are no match for divine will.
On the day Cheng Huaishi was to be executed, Xun Yitang came to Qionglin Academy. Together with a group of scholars who had been Cheng Huaishi’s classmates, she collected all of Cheng Huaishi’s past policy essays and poems written at the academy, as well as his old brush and inkstone. Carrying these items, these thoughts, she intended to return to Peach Blossom Nunnery on the mountain and commit suicide.
Minister Zhang died suddenly.
Cheng Huaishi was sentenced to be beheaded.
She had made up her mind and did not wish to live on.
It just so happened.
On her way up the mountain, she encountered Cheng Huaishi.
She was surprised and overjoyed, untied Cheng Huaishi, and brought him back to Peach Blossom Nunnery together.
The news of His Majesty abolishing the New Policies spread throughout the Four Seas and Nine Provinces.
The two sat opposite each other, sighing with emotion.
All their ideals turned into bubbles.
This world would return to a world where “rich families feast on wine and meat, while the poor freeze to death on the streets,” a return to the tragic state of the Jiajing era where “even at the Emperor’s doorstep, there were starving corpses.” Countless poor citizens would bow their heads, exploited by heavy taxes and corvée labor.
Minister Zhang’s efforts, Cheng Huaishi’s efforts, were all in vain with Minister Zhang’s death.
Cheng Huaishi’s resolute face was filled with despair.
Xun Yitang sat silently beside him and said, “To dedicate oneself to the country, what is there to fear? Second Master did his best, persevering until the last moment of the New Policies.”
Suddenly, the sound of clashing weapons erupted outside.
The voice of Mu Lin of the Brocade Guards echoed, “Traitor Cheng Huaishi, come out quickly and accept your death!”
The nuns in Peach Blossom Nunnery were all startled and fled down the mountain.
Cheng Huaishi glanced outside.
Then, he said to Xun Yitang, “I was a dead man long ago. Even if Director Feng saved me for a while, he couldn’t save me forever. The rest of my life would only be living incognito, barely surviving. My life has been upright and honorable; why should I live like a snake or insect in the darkness? Miss Xun, you don’t need to be burdened by me, escape!”
Xun Yitang’s eyes welled with tears, and she shook her head desperately. Mustering her courage, she threw herself into his arms, “Second Master has been pure as the wind his entire life. If the wind no longer blows in this world, what meaning is there for Yitang to live alone?”
Cheng Huaishi couldn’t bear to push her away, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Mu Lin of the Brocade Guards had already led his men in.
Cheng Huaishi was outnumbered and captured by the Brocade Guards.
This was an excellent opportunity to strike at his enemies. How could Mu Lin miss it? The secret report from his subordinate was indeed true. Feng Gao, usually so cautious, had actually made such a significant mistake.
He grinned menacingly, “If you’re smart, confess Feng Gao. I might leave you with a whole corpse.”
Death is death.
Why involve others?
Cheng Huaishi resolutely refused to speak.
Mu Lin ordered his men to tie him up and drag him out of Peach Blossom Nunnery, to torture him and force a confession, so he could claim rewards from His Majesty.
I, who had followed, saw this scene and rushed forward.
I held the imperial title of “Lady Yidexiang,” so the Brocade Guards dared not harm me. Mu Lin roared at his men to pull me away.
Cheng Huaishi, covered in blood, desperately roared at me, “Go! Go quickly!”
I refused to flee.
He suddenly turned his head away, unwilling to look at me, “At this moment of mortal peril, Zhu Sangyu, are you still so selfish, unwilling to fulfill my wishes and Yitang’s? The divorce letter has been issued, by what right do you still cling to me?”
Xun Yitang threw herself onto him, shielding him from the lashes. She seemed to have just learned that I had been divorced. There was joy and sorrow in her eyes.
The divorce letter had been issued; by what right did I still cling to him?
Her words struck me like a thunderclap, leaving me speechless.
Feng Gao had painstakingly tried to make him and me flee together. This was merely Feng Gao’s wishful thinking, and also my own delusion. Would he agree?
My heart was like a kite with a broken string, drifting aimlessly.
Meanwhile, Feng Gao went up the mountain and met the fake Cheng Huaishi. He waited and waited, but the Brocade Guards didn’t appear. He grew suspicious and searched the mountain. Finally, he heard commotion from Peach Blossom Nunnery.
Soon after, he arrived with his men and surrounded the Brocade Guards, surrounding Peach Blossom Nunnery.
Mu Lin attempted a final gamble, taking me hostage to threaten Feng Gao.
In less time than it takes to say, Feng Gao lunged forward. With a gentle, swift movement of his palm, a powerful surge of internal energy erupted, repelling Mu Lin.
“Elder Sister, are you alright?”
He walked anxiously towards me, examining me from head to toe. Seeing that I was unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He turned around, his expression changing.
He sneered at Mu Lin, “Good, very good. The dog I raised has started biting.”
This statement directly pointed to the truth behind the incident involving the previous Commander of the Brocade Guards, Liu Shou.
Mu Lin was someone Feng Gao had groomed to deliver the fatal blow to Liu Shou.
It was Feng Gao who had promoted Mu Lin to this position.
Mu Lin, enraged, said, “To this day, Feng Gao, you harbor a condemned prisoner. The evidence is conclusive, yet you dare to be so arrogant!”
Feng Gao’s lips curled, and he waved his hand.
The experts from the Eastern Depot surged forward.
A bloody battle ensued.
The ground was littered with corpses.
Mu Lin was captured alive.
Feng Gao kicked him to his knees and grabbed his chin, “Do you know why you’re not as good as me?”
Mu Lin’s eyes widened in terror. He knew Feng Gao’s methods of tormenting people. Trembling, he stammered, “You, you, I am the Commander of the Brocade Guards. You dare not kill me privately, you cannot kill me… How will you explain to His Majesty?”
Feng Gao chuckled, “See? You’re impulsive again. Not only are you impulsive, but you also think I’m as impulsive as you. Utterly foolish. I am His Majesty’s man, I only serve His Majesty, understand?”
Mu Lin shook his head in disbelief, pointing at Cheng Huaishi, “You mean, you mean, he, he is…”
Feng Gao said leisurely, “His Majesty said this is a secret, not to be revealed to others. Now that you know, I can only make you forget, to fulfill His Majesty’s decree. What are you doing with all this commotion? Are you plotting treason? Or, did you uncover this news and intend to embarrass His Majesty? To make His Majesty lose face in front of the world?”
“You! You’re slandering me!”
“It doesn’t matter. I have ways to make you confess, until I’m satisfied. The Eastern Depot’s duty is to resolve His Majesty’s worries. Feng will not forget this for a moment.”
He patted Mu Lin’s face, “Lord Mu, don’t worry. Once you fall into the hands of our Eastern Depot, we will make you feel comfortable from head to toe, inside and out.”
Mu Lin shivered.
Feng Gao released him, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and meticulously wiped his fingers, as if he had touched the dirtiest, most defiled thing in the world.
He gave a look to someone beside him.
The person understood and dragged Mu Lin away.
A pungent odor permeated the air.
While the Eastern Depot and the Brocade Guards were fighting, Xun Yitang, at some unknown time, set Peach Blossom Nunnery ablaze.
Late autumn and early winter, the Capital City was extremely dry.
Peach Blossom Nunnery, with its abundance of incense and candles, caught fire easily. The flames, like giant tongues, licked everything. The fire raged, leaping to the roof beams.
Xun Yitang, holding a torch, stood in the main hall, her face resolute.
She had been prepared to die for a long time.
And none of us had noticed.
Cheng Huaishi looked at her in agony, veins bulging on his forehead.
In the blink of an eye, he rushed in with lightning speed.
Feng Gao grabbed him, but only managed to catch a torn piece of his sleeve.
Feng Gao was furious and shouted, “Scoundrel! Why are you dying when you should be running with my Elder Sister!”
Flames ignited Cheng Huaishi’s clothes.
He let out a few bitter laughs.
Utter desolation.
“At most a few decades, at least a decade, the Great Ming will surely fall. I, Cheng Huaishi, having eaten the Emperor’s salt, consider the nation’s affairs my own. Tell His Majesty that I do not wish to live in hiding! I do not wish to see the nation destroyed and its people perish! I die today, willing to exchange my blood for His Majesty’s compassion for all living beings! I earnestly hope His Majesty will awaken!”
Feng Gao cursed, “How can you face my Elder Sister!”
He wanted to go in and pull Cheng Huaishi out. However, the roof beam fell in the fire, and the flames had already sealed the door. To enter now would be no different from being buried alive.
When the world is in order, one dies for the Way. When the world is in chaos, one dies for the Way.
He stood together with Xun Yitang.
Both of their robes were already burning.
“Brother Huaishi, do you remember? When we were young, we went to Guanyin Mountain together. A fortune teller once said that we were born in the same year and would die in the same year, a fated karmic bond for a lifetime. Now it seems he was right.”
She smiled and died with him.
Through the flames, Cheng Huaishi looked at me and tightly embraced Xun Yitang.
“My heart is as pure as the bright moon, but even the bright moon has its phases. Self-discipline throughout life is difficult to decide, unwilling to harm the country or my beloved.”
This was a poem he had once written on paper.
Self-discipline throughout life is difficult to decide, yet it was decided.
Unwilling to harm the country or my beloved, yet it was harmed.
I knew that from the moment he chose to die with Xun Yitang, the marital fate between him and me in this lifetime had completely ended. I struggled desperately, tried to get closer, and now, I am alone, with empty hands.
I lost this marital fate.
I lost my status and the person, all at once.
The two of them embraced tightly in the inferno.
I stared blankly at this sudden conflagration.
It burned away my pale attachment.
It burned away my romantic sentiments.
The scene from my dreams mirrored reality. In my dream, he said he would leave the passion to me and his ideals to Yitang.
Looking back at the past, with the double mandarin ducks in the red bridal chamber, what he left me was merely a fleeting affection, like dew.
In the face of this great fire, dew leaves no trace.
Xun Yitang looked at me and smiled, “Laughing at you and me, two beautiful women of the same age, laughing at you and me, a soulmate unrecognized by a soulmate… Zhu Sangyu, I won.”
At that time, on that day, in this gate, we first met under the peach blossom tree.
One sees the immortal planting the peach tree, but never hears of the immortal admiring the blooming flowers.
Every morning, I eagerly awaited the immortal’s gaze, every day the peach blossoms smiled in the spring breeze.
Suddenly, I heard the immortal’s trace had arrived, and the peach blossoms and the face were even more radiant.
“Yes. You won.”
She won against me in such a tragic manner.
Peach Blossom Nunnery became their tomb. They slept in the same grave.
My tears flowed like the waves on the Grand Canal, carrying the ship that took me from Dongchang Prefecture to Yangzhou in the past, majestically sailing towards my destiny.
