BLHO Chapter 47

Chapter 47: A Commoner’s Audacity

Chapter 47: A Commoner’s Audacity

All was pitch black, a silent void.

Lin Shuangxu was blindfolded with black gauze, unable to discern night from day, or how much time had passed.

Examining his body closely, he was unharmed from head to toe, showing no signs of torture.

He wasn’t even deliberately starved; food and water were delivered on time.

Shen Tan was bluffing He Yuncheng.

Footsteps approached, and with his hands and feet bound and eyes covered, Lin Shuangxu could only listen intently.

The door to the secret prison opened, and someone entered, bringing his meal.

He heard the person set down the food box, arrange the dishes, and spoon a mouthful to his lips, touching them impolitely to signal him to open his mouth.

He shook his head, avoiding it.

The person didn’t force him; when he refused to eat, they took the food away.

Since being imprisoned, he hadn’t touched a single bite of the food they sent.

It wasn’t out of fear of poison, but because he was negotiating.

He wanted to see someone.

But he had no bargaining chips, so he could only threaten with his own life.

Although it seemed the life of a mere commoner like him was worthless.

He was certain they wouldn’t let him die easily.

They still needed him to threaten He Yuncheng.

Not long after the food deliverer left, someone else entered.

Lin Shuangxu instinctively felt it was Shen Tan, but he couldn’t be sure based on footsteps alone.

“How long does the young master intend to starve himself?”

It was indeed Shen Tan’s voice.

Lin Shuangxu had gone several meals without food, leaving him extremely weak. His pale lips parted slightly, and without wasting words, he repeated, “I want to see the Empress Dowager.”

“The young master’s mental fortitude is truly admirable.” Shen Tan slowly paced back and forth. “Ordinary prisoners, when locked up in the Imperial Prison, can’t bear it after just a few hours of not seeing or hearing anything, and confess everything. You, on the other hand, have such courage. It seems the late General He indeed put his heart into teaching you, his student.”

Lin Shuangxu didn’t need such praise.

He was more tolerant than ordinary people, not because his teacher had intentionally taught him, but because he had grown up in solitude and was already numb.

“I want to see the Empress Dowager. I have something to say to her.”

He repeated his request.

But in reality, he didn’t hold much hope.

He thought Shen Tan would refuse him as before.

Unexpectedly, after a moment of consideration, she surprisingly agreed.

“Alright.”

She approached Lin Shuangxu, lowered her voice, and added, “However, I am not agreeing to this as the Commander of the Northern Garrison, but as a friend, fulfilling a personal wish for the young master.”

Until this moment, Shen Tan’s stance remained unclear.

But Lin Shuangxu had no choice but to trust her.

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me. I can only tell you that seeing the Empress Dowager won’t change anything. I’m only granting your request to let you completely give up hope.”

“I have my ways.” Lin Shuangxu said, “Lin is endlessly grateful for Commander Shen’s kindness.”

Shen Tan didn’t say much more. Her expression was hidden in the shadows, a faint smile flickering uncertainly.

She wasn’t lying this time. Under the cover of night, she secretly took Lin Shuangxu into the palace.

Lin Shuangxu originally thought the prison was the worst possible situation.

But after arriving at the palace, he realized he had been too optimistic.

Shen Tan’s words about there being no room for change didn’t just mean they couldn’t regain the Empress Dowager’s trust.

But now, even getting the Empress Dowager to listen to his explanation was extremely difficult.

The Empress Dowager was ill and absent from the joint trial of the Three Departments. Not a single hint had been leaked, indicating that her illness was this severe.

Silence reigned in the Cishou Palace, and the faces of the eunuchs and maids were solemn.

Shen Tan was familiar with the route. She slipped two taels of silver to the eunuch guarding the gate, who quietly let them pass, reminding them to be brief and not disturb the Empress Dowager for too long.

Inside the bedchamber, curtains were drawn and candlelight flickered.

Lin Shuangxu’s wrists were bound with rope, and he knelt on the ground. Shen Tan stood beside him. The eunuch lifted the curtain and tiptoed inside to report. A moment later, he came out and said to Lin Shuangxu, “Speak. The Empress Dowager is listening.”

Lin Shuangxu stared intently at the curtain before him, hesitant to speak.

Shen Tan was puzzled. Why wouldn’t he speak after she had brought him here?

After a moment, he finally said, “This humble commoner is so bold as to request an audience with the Empress Dowager.”

This was indeed audacious.

Shen Tan was surprised, but she didn’t stop him.

Then, she listened carefully for any sound from behind the curtain, but heard nothing.

Lin Shuangxu understood, of course, that the Empress Dowager didn’t want to see him.

He didn’t force it. He kowtowed and began to speak.

“I, Lin Shuangxu, a commoner, have committed a grave crime of plotting against the Princess. I have come to confess my guilt and request the Empress Dowager’s punishment.”

Shen Tan never expected his method to be so extreme.

He actually wanted to take all the blame himself, in order to protect He Yuncheng.

A long silence ensued, the atmosphere extremely oppressive.

After another moment, two knocks came from behind the curtain.

It was the eunuch relaying the Empress Dowager’s message, telling Lin Shuangxu to continue.

Lin Shuangxu lowered his head slightly, his expression calm and composed, and continued, “Although I am a student of General He Chong, and have received the He family’s kindness for many years, I have always harbored shameful thoughts towards He Yuncheng. This time, out of jealousy for his marriage to the Princess, I poisoned her on their wedding night, and also hired someone to disgrace her, to vent my personal anger. But unexpectedly, the Princess’s nature was so unyielding that she committed suicide.”

He spoke so frankly that anyone who didn’t know the truth would think he was a cruel and inhumane person.

“All of this was planned by me alone. He Yuncheng was unaware. I beg the Empress Dowager to discern the truth. I am willing to pay for the Princess’s life, and beg that innocent people not be implicated.”

The results of the court’s interrogation had already been reported to the Empress Dowager. She already hated the He family to the bone, and Lin Shuangxu’s words only enraged her further.

“Get out…” A strained voice came from behind the curtain, accompanied by hurried, heavy breathing.

Shen Tan secretly observed Lin Shuangxu’s reaction and saw that he was calm as usual, as if he had expected the Empress Dowager to react this way.

He didn’t panic, and remained kneeling upright, without moving.

He spoke again, “Empress Dowager, the court of Bei Sheng is rife with rampant eunuchs and powerful officials. You must already be aware of the military situation at the border. At this time, executing a general of the court would only boost the enemy’s morale and demoralize Bei Sheng’s army. It is by no means a wise move.”

“You dare threaten me?”

Lin Shuangxu ignored her and continued, “I believe the Empress Dowager should consider more for the Emperor, and even more for the people of Bei Sheng.”

“Then who will seek justice for my Ning’er!” The Empress Dowager gasped, her tone furious.

Lin Shuangxu’s gaze dimmed, and his voice turned cold, “For the Princess’s death, doesn’t the Empress Dowager bear some responsibility? Your Majesty, for the sake of stabilizing the realm, you have always been decisive in killing even your own close kin…”

“A commoner’s audacity!”

The Empress Dowager shouted, and vomited a mouthful of blood.

A nearby eunuch helped her up and soothed her breathing, then carefully lifted the curtain.

The Empress Dowager was pale, consumed by rage, and saw the emaciated figure kneeling not far away.

She trembled with anger, pointing at Lin Shuangxu and said, “The He family dares to threaten imperial authority…”

“The He family has received the Empress Dowager’s grace for many years and would naturally not dare to disobey you. What I have said is all my own words.” Lin Shuangxu said neither humbly nor arrogantly, “I have one last thing to say: even if the Empress Dowager doesn’t consider for the Emperor, or for the people of the world, she should consider more for herself…”

As he spoke, he slowly raised his head.

“The position of Empress Dowager, second only to one person and above ten thousand, does Your Majesty truly believe you can sit securely in it forever? Can those dirty secrets of the palace really be completely erased from the world?”

Their eyes met, and when the Empress Dowager saw Lin Shuangxu’s features clearly, her expression changed drastically.

“You…? Impossible… How could it be… This is impossible…”