Fish Meat – Chapter 243

The Ninth Year of Shunde

Like Snapping Dried Twigs and Pulling Up Rotten Wood (10)

Li Feng strode briskly out of Zichen Palace, full of enthusiasm. Seeing Ah Qiong, he called out happily, stepping forward to support her and examining her meticulously:

            

“Ah Po, do you know how much I’ve missed you? Is your health still good?”

“Still good, still good. We haven’t seen each other in several years, and Your Majesty has grown so tall.”

Ah Qiong moved away from the people supporting her on either side and linked arms with Li Feng. They walked along the gravel path towards the small flower garden in front of Zichen Palace.

            

In the small garden stood a tall, massive banyan tree whose aerial roots formed a grove, known as the Dragon Beard Grove​¹. Planted during Emperor Wu’s era, it already had a hundred years of history. Even after the Hu bandits broke into the Forbidden Garden, they treated this ancient tree with great care, fearing that felling it would bring misfortune. Thus, the Dragon Beard Grove had been preserved to this day.

Li Feng led Ah Qiong through the Dragon Beard Grove, asking about her health and whether she had lived well in Sudu. He also reminisced about their past experiences hanging between life and death in Yanxing. Learning that Ah Qiong had persisted in taking her medicine in that remote foreign land, that much of the poison in her body had been purged, and that her periods of lucidity now outweighed her times of confusion, Li Feng felt relieved.

Li Feng gazed at Ah Qiong for a long moment, then suddenly turned away to wipe his eyes.

            

“What’s wrong, Your Majesty?” Ah Qiong asked him.

“It’s nothing… It’s just that seeing Ah Po reminds me of my birth parents. Ever since I left Yanxing to ascend the throne, I haven’t seen them again.”

He once used to tell Ah Qiong everything.

            

He knew Ah Qiong also treated him sincerely. They had gone through life-and-death situations together, forging a bond deeper than life itself. Furthermore, Li Feng had already recognized her as his god-grandmother before she went to Sudu. With his parents absent, Ah Qiong had mistaken him for her own child and protected him desperately. Li Feng had always kept this kindness etched in his heart.

During all these years in Runing, as he grew older and understood more about the world and the people around him, the more cautious​² his pretense became, and the more exhausting the constant vigilance​³ grew. There was no one he could confide in. He knew anyone around him could potentially be Wei Tingxu’s spy; every word he spoke, everything he did, would reach Wei Tingxu’s ears in the blink of an eye. Even Liu Shao—he was merely using him.

He knew everything about how Liu Shao exploited the populace and engaged in large-scale construction projects​⁴ externally, using the Son of Heaven’s​⁵ name. He hadn’t criticized Liu Shao in the slightest so far because Liu Shao was his only pillar of support within the central administration. No matter how bad or greedy this person was, he had to keep him. Once the Wei and Zhangsun clans were eliminated, it wouldn’t be too late to get rid of the eunuch.

            

For all these years, he had been playing the role of a fatuous ruler, constantly immersed in pools of wine and forests of meat​⁶, even having to feign illness or drunken fits from time to time. This was all to make that gang of scoundrels in the Advisory Council think he was hedonistic, incompetent, and unworthy, letting their guard down against him so he might have a chance to strike back. For so long, Li Feng had played his part well. The plan to suppress the female officials this time had also gone very smoothly. Just as he was beginning to feel that sense of proud relief​⁷, an important pawn had been killed again.

Yao Maolin was in the Sky Prison, yet the Wei and Zhangsun clans were audacious enough to kill someone inside the Sky Prison. This truly left Li Feng with a knot of resentment stuck in his chest, making him feel exceptionally distressed.

And at this critical juncture​⁸, Ah Qiong appeared. He naturally knew what this signified.

            

Perhaps he was about to lose even the last person he could speak a heartfelt word to.

Ah Qiong was offering solace, saying that everyone must die eventually, but what Li Feng thought of was the vast expanse of sky and land he had gazed upon back then, sitting in the Qingyuan carriage amidst the boundless white snow.

At that time, he hadn’t yet returned to Runing and was full of anticipation for the imperial throne. He wanted to govern diligently, restore vitality to the devastated Central Plains, and allow the displaced people​⁹ to return to their homes.

            

He was full of ambition then, but reality was completely different from what he had imagined.

Though called the “Son of Heaven,” he possessed none of the Son of Heaven’s power.

He now thoroughly understood how much royal melancholy and loneliness filled those four words: “the solitary and the lonesome.”​¹⁰

            

“Ah Po,” Li Feng interrupted Ah Qiong. “Tell me what Sudu is like. How is it different from Runing? What do the people there say and do? What kind of clothes do they wear? I want to know.”

---

When Lin Mu returned to the General’s Residence, Zhen Wenjun had already been waiting for a long time.

Before entering the residence, she had already removed her night-travel clothes, changed into her usual attire, and entered through the back gate.

            

Zhen Wenjun hadn’t moved into the General’s Residence; it had merely been simply renovated and tidied up. She would occasionally come here when discussing military matters with Lin Mu, Huang Bo, and others, not wanting to disturb the tranquility of the Zhuo Jun Manor. There was also another situation when she would come.

After Lin Mu entered the residence, she drank the wine cup placed in the center of Zhen Wenjun’s table. Zhen Wenjun then knew that Yao Maolin was dead.

“You’ve worked hard, General Lin.” Zhen Wenjun looked at the wine cup, lost in thought.

            

Lin Mu was usually efficient and taciturn. But now, after finishing the wine, she didn’t leave, standing in place as if she had something to say.

Zhen Wenjun said, “If General Lin has something to say, please speak.”

“When I saw the Attendant Scribe [Yao Maolin] in the Sky Prison, she thought I was you, General. She thought the General had come to save her.”

            

Zhen Wenjun acknowledged with an “Mm,” pouring wine for herself. “Anything else?”

“Nothing else.”

“Then General Lin should return early and rest.”

            

Before leaving, Lin Mu said, “Ever since returning from the Northern Frontier, the General seems to have something on her mind. Being in Runing doesn’t seem to make the General happier than killing enemies in the North.”

Zhen Wenjun countered, “Is that so?” Her tone was casual​¹¹, making her mood unreadable.

Lin Mu cupped her hands and smiled, “Perhaps it’s just this subordinate’s​¹² own feeling.”

            

Lin Mu left. In the rustling autumn wind, only Zhen Wenjun remained in the entire General’s Residence.

The wine tonight was truly delicious. Zhen Wenjun drank cup after cup, unable to stop.

---

The autumn wind rustled. Ah Zhu had just used a long pole to light the gauze lantern in the front courtyard when a gust of wind blew past. The lantern swayed precariously and was extinguished again.

            

Ah Zhu supported her stiff back, somewhat annoyed. The household servants nearby immediately stepped forward to help.

“No need, I’ll do it myself. You lot are all so clumsy. What if you burn the lantern and frighten the Mistress?”

Seeing that Auntie Ah Zhu seemed a bit irritable, the servants dared not provoke her further, nor did they dare to leave, afraid that Gugu​¹³ might fall if left alone. They all gathered around, watching Ah Zhu holding the long pole, trying to reach the gauze lantern, unsure whether to step forward or not.

            

Ah Zhu was old; she knew her body was declining day by day, but she couldn’t stop. Her mother had been a steward in the Wei family, Wei Lun’s wet nurse. She had worked hard for the Wei family her entire life and remained robust. Later, she accidentally took a fall. It wasn’t serious, but the Wei family, taking care of her, gave her a piece of land to retire comfortably. Without work to do, her mother died soon after. To this day, Ah Zhu still remembered her mother’s words before dying:

“People like us have a fate of toil​¹⁴. Without work, it’s like our souls are pulled out. Our hands tremble, our legs go numb, we won’t live long.”

Her mother’s words were like a curse, constantly lingering in Ah Zhu’s mind.

            

The gauze lantern was right before her eyes. This was something she could usually do easily. Why couldn’t she manage it now?

The more Ah Zhu struggled with herself​¹⁵, the harder it became to light the lantern. Holding her breath in frustration, she grew extremely anxious.

Suddenly, someone reached out from behind her, firmly grasping the swaying pole. With that person’s help, the flame on the pole quickly touched the lantern’s wick. With a “hiss,” the stone steps of the front courtyard were illuminated by the lamplight.

            

“Commandant Zhangsun has arrived.”

The moment the gauze lantern lit up, Ah Zhu’s agitated heart also eased somewhat.

Ah Liao smiled gently at Ah Zhu. “Auntie Ah Zhu is still more used to calling me Ah Liao. Where is Tingxu? Is she asleep?”

            

“The Mistress is in the main courtyard. When I came out just now, I saw the light in her room was still on. She probably hasn’t slept,” Ah Zhu said. “General Zhen hasn’t returned yet; she won’t sleep.”

Ah Liao walked towards the main courtyard. Only then did Ah Zhu notice another person following behind her – who else could it be but that Ah Qin.

---

Wei Tingxu heard footsteps outside and thought Zhen Wenjun had returned. She had just stood up when she realized the sound was slightly off; it wasn’t Zhen Wenjun.

            

“What’s wrong, don’t want to see me?” Ah Liao witnessed the entire change in Wei Tingxu’s expression as she entered the room and couldn’t resist teasing her.

“I just didn’t expect you to come so late.” Wei Tingxu also noticed Ah Qin behind her, gave Ah Qin a polite smile, sat back down in her chair, and picked up the small hand-warming incense burner again.

“You’re not asleep this late either, still waiting for Wenjun-meimei.” Ah Liao made herself at home, pouring water for herself, and motioned for Ah Qin to sit opposite her.

            

As soon as Ah Qin sat down, Wei Tingxu said, “Ah Qin has been here several times before, always waiting outside. This must be the first time entering the room.”

Ah Qin smiled and nodded.

“I don’t know if you two have had supper. There’ that Ah Liao likes in the kitchen. My legs are inconvenient; could I trouble Lady Ah Qin to fetch it?”

            

Ah Liao quickly interjected, “I’ll go, I’ll go,” but was pinned back by Wei Tingxu’s affectionate yet firm gaze. Ah Qin tactfully stood up and asked how to get to the kitchen. Wei Tingxu described the way to the farthest kitchen, a winding route, all in one breath. Ah Qin didn’t ask a second time and immediately set off.

“I sent Wenjun to kill Yao Maolin.”

The moment Ah Qin left, Wei Tingxu’s smile vanished, and she dropped this bombshell.

            

Ah Liao hadn’t even brought the tea to her lips before she was startled, nearly spilling it on herself.

“What? Wasn’t that Attendant Scribe deeply devoted to Wenjun-meimei?” Although Ah Liao was devoted to Ah Qin and her Qingyuan, seemingly single-mindedly​¹⁶ focused on love, she still kept track of major and minor events at court. “You could have killed the Attendant Scribe directly. Why make Wenjun-meimei do such a thing? The Yao family is your mortal enemy, but not Wenjun-meimei’s. Doing this…”

“Do you know why I didn’t kill Wenjun back then?”

            

Ah Liao couldn’t keep up with the speed of Wei Tingxu’s thoughts for a moment. “Back then? Which back then?”

“When I discovered I had actually fallen for the pawn I myself had crafted.”

Ah Liao: “Wasn’t it because you liked her?”

            

“It wasn’t just liking. Compared to a ‘person’ I liked, what I disliked even more was having a weakness. Once I truly fall in love with someone, that person becomes my fatal vulnerability. Besides the vulnerability itself, my emotions will fluctuate because of this person, creating openings in my personality that others can exploit—the reason I chose to support Li Yanyi, using Li Yanyi as an entry point to eliminate the Li Clan, was precisely because I had long discovered the points in her character that were enough to cause her demise. Xiaohua warned me more than once not to halt my steps because of Wenjun, not to let everything fall short at the last moment​¹⁷ for her sake. Behind me are not just the thousands of lives of the Wei Clan, but also the lives of your entire Zhangsun Clan. It was because of her reminders that I was able to adjust my direction in time amidst my confusion, leading to the current situation.”

Ah Liao looked at her. “So, you too have moments of confusion.”

Wei Tingxu raised an eyebrow slightly. “Naturally. I am also human.”

            

“Then what about now? Without Xiaohua to remonstrate with her life​¹⁸, are you hesitant again? Jealous of that Attendant Scribe? Let’s put it this way, Wenjun-meimei is not quite like us. She grew up in Qixian, the daughter of a gardener, and experienced many hardships, so she can better understand the suffering of others. She is a gentle person, undeniably. You would be attracted to someone like her, and so would others. Plus, she possesses both literary and martial skills, and carries the great titles of National Hero and General Who Pacifies the Nation. It’s perfectly normal for young ladies to like her. If you make her personally kill everyone who likes her, how could she possibly keep up?”

“Ah Liao.” Wei Tingxu said, “I understand what you’re saying, but right now, I feel it’s perfectly natural​¹⁹ to have her kill them all.”

Ah Liao’s expression faltered.

            

“Anyone who covets her cannot be allowed to live in this world.” Wei Tingxu’s eyes didn’t blink as she said this, the candlelight reflecting in them like two sharp needle points. Ah Liao knew she was serious.

“Similarly, anyone who wants to sow discord between her and me must also die.”

“Tingxu.” Ah Liao grasped her hand. “Have you already investigated something? Aren’t you long tired of hearing those gossiping words​²⁰ meant to sow discord? Why would you mind such things? Or is it that the person sowing discord this time is someone you truly dread?”

            

“Bu Jie.”

Ah Liao stiffened. “Bu Jie? The strategist who followed Wenjun-meimei for many years?”

“Precisely him. A man who should have died years ago, who escaped from my grasp.”

            

“He… you, how did you know he is sowing discord?”

Wei Tingxu didn’t speak, gazing at the motionless candlelight.

“Could it be… you’ve planted spies around Wenjun-meimei?” There was no one else in the room, but Ah Liao’s voice dropped lower and lower, the last sentence almost just a breath.

            

“Yes.” Wei Tingxu admitted directly.

“Can you still not trust each other after all this time?”

“Let me ask you, what about you and Ah Qin?”

            

At the mention of Ah Qin, Ah Liao’s expression changed color as well.

“Of course, you love Ah Qin, and you believe she wasn’t the one who harmed Ah Xu. But you are wary of her. It wouldn’t be strange if one day her actions didn’t proceed as you envisioned, because she is outside your control. It’s the same for me. I had people secretly infiltrate Wenjun’s side, not because I don’t trust her, but because I doubt myself. Back when I discovered Wenjun had become my weakness, I had a strong impulse to eliminate her. But ultimately, I didn’t do it because I thought, if I just killed her like that, just erased the weakness, it would be too bland, too uninteresting. I wanted to keep her, to slowly overcome, slowly conquer.”

Ah Liao: “But now you realize, she hasn’t been conquered by you, nor have you overcome it; this weakness has instead grown stronger. So you feel fear. What you dislike most is losing control. Why do you like her so much? Precisely because she is the only person you cannot truly grasp.”

            

---

---