BLHO Chapter 90

Chapter 90: Where Does It Hurt?

The night cloaked palace was silent.

Grand Eunuch Li’s movements were always discreet; the paths he took back to the palace were unguarded by any soldiers.

Only the shadows of the high walls pressed down on the empty palace road.

Yet, he still cautiously wrapped the person in his arms tightly, using his outer robe to cover his frail body and head, so that even if someone saw them, they wouldn’t be able to discern who it was.

The person in his arms was unusually docile, his arms around his neck, his cheek resting on his shoulder, clinging to him like a child, so thin that he barely felt any weight.

Li Yuliang was fully aware of how dangerous it was for him to bring Song Jiting back to the palace like this.

But when Song Jiting grabbed onto him, crying incoherently, he simply didn’t know what else to do.

The candlelight in the Directorate of Palace Attendants was dim. In two more hours, it would be dawn, and the servants were already fast asleep. No one noticed that the Grand Eunuch had returned, bringing with him an outsider.

After entering the room, Li Yuliang supported the person in his arms with one hand and gently closed the door with the other.

He removed Song Jiting’s robe, walked to the bedside, and bent down to put him down.

But as soon as the other’s back touched the bed, he tightened his arms anxiously, clinging to him, refusing to let go.

Song Jiting’s eyes were closed. He had probably cried himself to exhaustion on the way back and had drifted off into a daze.

Now, half-dreaming and half-awake, his mind was unclear, and he instinctively didn’t want to leave Li Yuliang, clinging to him and saying in a tearful voice that he hurt so much.

Li Yuliang didn’t dare to force him. He bent down, and in a low voice, asked him, “Where does it hurt?”

Song Jiting wandered in his dreams, unable to hear what Li Yuliang was saying, and just repeated to himself, “It hurts…”

Li Yuliang had no choice but to pick him up again, not even bothering to change his own clothes. Wearing his python robe, he leaned against the headboard, letting him sleep on top of him.

Song Jiting finally calmed down. The room was silent, save for the occasional flicker of the candlelight, which swayed the shadows.

Such a gentle Grand Eunuch was commonplace to others, but to him, it was like a rare spectacle.

In this world, what fairness was there to speak of?

Li Yuliang, afraid of waking him, remained in one position without moving.

Then, in another moment of distraction, he realized that he wasn’t really asleep.

His eyes were closed, but the tears that he thought had dried up were now flowing down Song Jiting’s cheeks again.

A person’s heart isn’t porcelain; when it breaks, it doesn’t make a sound.

Li Yuliang gently raised his fingertip and wiped away the wetness for him.

He didn’t sleep all night.

Li Yuliang didn’t dare to close his eyes for a moment, partly to stay with Song Jiting, and partly because he was waiting for the Emperor to come and question him.

Based on the Emperor’s temperament, this time he had offended his superior. Even if he didn’t sentence him to death, he would be severely punished.

But he waited until dawn without hearing a single sound.

Then, one day, two days, three days passed, and what he had done that night seemed as if it had never happened. The Emperor didn’t demand any price from him.

Until the fourth day, the deathly silent palace was finally awakened by a crisp ringing of bells.

A fierce wind rose, and the sky was so gloomy that it made one’s heart uneasy. Crows swirled in flocks above the imperial city. In the middle of summer, gusts of cold wind sent chills down people’s spines.

The palace maids and eunuchs knelt on both sides of the palace road, their heads lowered deeply, no one daring to look up.

The Grand Diviner, his thin body wrapped in a black robe, walked through the palace, holding a Sanqing bell and chanting incantations that ordinary people couldn’t understand.

Today, he was acting on the Emperor’s orders to perform a ritual to deliver the Empress Dowager’s soul, to comfort her spirit in heaven.

Li Yuliang’s face wasn’t much better than the weather. His robe was lifted by the wind as he hurried to the Cishou Palace.

It used to be where the Empress Dowager lived out her days in peace, but now it was emptier and colder than a deserted palace.

Li Yuliang felt uncomfortable as soon as he got close. He wanted to go in and see how that demonic priest was using sorcery to bewitch the Emperor again, but at this moment, the Cishou Palace was heavily guarded by the imperial guards, not allowing anyone to approach, including him, the Grand Eunuch.

“Move aside,” Li Yuliang said, scowling as he berated the imperial guards who were blocking his way.

They naturally didn’t dare to be tough with him, and explained with difficulty, “The Grand Diviner is performing a ritual for the Empress Dowager to pray for blessings. No one is allowed to disturb him during this time. If the Grand Eunuch wants to see the Emperor, please wait until the ritual is over.”

“Praying for blessings?”

With this kind of setup today, Li Yuliang didn’t believe it was for praying for blessings.

Moreover, he knew how the Empress Dowager had died, even if others didn’t.

The Emperor wished that the Empress Dowager would never be reincarnated, so why would he perform a ritual to deliver her soul?

“I’ll say it again, move aside.”

“Grand Eunuch, please don’t make things difficult for us.”

The two sides were at a stalemate. At this moment, a wail suddenly came from behind the tightly closed palace gate.

It was the Emperor’s voice.

Li Yuliang’s expression changed. The imperial guards who were blocking the way were also startled. No longer caring about stopping him, they stepped aside and let him pass.

He pushed open the gate of the Cishou Palace and was met by a gust of cold wind that blinded him.

He steadied his feet and looked again. The scene before his eyes made his scalp tingle.

Red strings were strung up in the courtyard, covered with bells that swayed in the wind. All the doors and windows were covered with dense paper talismans, yellow paper with blood-red characters, surely human blood.

A heavy smell of blood permeated the Cishou Palace. Li Yuliang endured his discomfort and moved towards the main hall.

That cry just now was indeed made by Gu Huan, but at this moment, his condition had calmed down. He was kneeling among a group of Taoists, his eyes lowered, a faint smile on his face.

It was terrifying.

“Your Majesty.”

Li Yuliang stepped forward and called out to him.

He seemed unable to hear, and vacantly closed his eyes.

Li Yuliang didn’t dare to act rashly and looked sideways to find the Grand Diviner, only to find that he had fallen to the ground. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing two arms covered with wounds that were still bleeding.

Li Yuliang walked over to him and found that he was still breathing.

Anger surged within him as he questioned the Grand Diviner, “What have you done?!”

The Grand Diviner propped up his exhausted body and stood up. His bloodshot eyes were crazed.

His voice was hoarse as he said to Li Yuliang, “The imperial power is in imminent danger. Only by keeping the soul of the Queen Mother in the imperial city can we suppress demons and prevent treacherous villains from usurping power…”

The ritual today was not to deliver the Empress Dowager’s soul.

It was to trap the Empress Dowager’s soul in this magnificent palace, never to be reincarnated.

The wind rose again, blowing the magic bells and incantations all over the courtyard. The continuous sounds were like the cries of wronged souls.

Even Li Yuliang, a person who didn’t believe in ghosts and gods, was chilled to the bone.

“Heretical nonsense!” he rebuked the Grand Diviner, and reminded Gu Huan, “Your Majesty, the situation of the border troops is unclear. The important thing is to reorganize the Ministry of War and concentrate military power, not to place hope in ghosts and gods here!”

Gu Huan had always liked to seek divine guidance, but he wouldn’t act recklessly on important matters. Therefore, although Li Yuliang disliked this mysterious Grand Diviner, he didn’t remove him from the court.

But now, he was actually bewitching the Emperor, openly performing evil arts in the palace, interfering in politics, and sowing discord among close officials. What were his intentions?

Gu Huan seemed to be truly mesmerized by the magic circle and couldn’t hear what Li Yuliang was saying at all, closing his eyes and not even looking at him.

Li Yuliang couldn’t suppress his anger any longer. He couldn’t allow this demonic priest to continue his evil deeds. With a twist of his body, he unhesitatingly attacked the Grand Diviner.

The Grand Diviner was weak at the moment, and naturally couldn’t avoid such a swift attack.

Seeing this, several disciples immediately rose to protect their master, engaging Li Yuliang in a fierce battle.

The Taoists’ martial arts were all for show, setting up formations and performing rituals to fool the dead. When it came to real swords and spears, they were no match for Li Yuliang.

In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen Taoists couldn’t hold on. Li Yuliang quickly approached the Grand Diviner.

At this moment, the imperial guards guarding the gate outside heard the fighting and rushed in to protect the Emperor. Drawing their long sabers, they blocked Li Yuliang’s attack, protecting the Grand Diviner behind them.

Li Yuliang had his concerns. He wanted to clear out treacherous villains in order to protect the Emperor. If he fought with the imperial guards, it would be unclear who was loyal and who was treacherous.

And the imperial guards were also hesitant, brandishing the swords, but not really attacking Li Yuliang.

Seeing this, the Grand Diviner shouted sharply, “What are you waiting for? Waiting for this eunuch to threaten the Emperor’s life again?! Take him down!”

Hearing this, the imperial guards dared not hesitate any longer, and stepped forward, attacking Li Yuliang.

For a time, the sounds of fighting filled the Cishou Palace, and the bells in the courtyard swayed even more frantically.

Li Yuliang tried to get around the imperial guards and capture the Grand Diviner, but wave after wave of imperial guards came up to fight with him, not giving him a chance at all.

“Grand Eunuch, stop!” the imperial guard general said, fighting him while trying to persuade him with difficulty.

But Li Yuliang was determined to kill him. He couldn’t help it. If he didn’t get rid of this demonic priest, who knew what kind of disaster would arise in the court in the future.

Seeing his persistence, the imperial guards could only stop holding back, “Grand Eunuch, forgive us.”

Just as the two sides were locked in an inextricable battle, shouts suddenly came from outside the door.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! A letter has arrived!”

It was Chen Chang.

Holding a letter in his hand, he rushed in in a hurry. He was too excited and almost tripped when he entered the door.

He knelt down to Gu Huan in a fluster, his face full of excitement, “General Han has replied! Your Majesty…”

Gu Huan turned around and glared at him fiercely.

Only then did he realize that there were so many people present and that it was inconvenient to say some things, so he quickly closed his mouth.

And everyone had stopped fighting when he rushed in, all looking at him.

“All of you, get out of here,” Gu Huan said in a deep voice.

All the imperial guards and Taoists put away their swords and exited. Only Gu Huan, Chen Chang, the Grand Diviner, and Li Yuliang remained in the hall.

Chen Chang eagerly handed the letter to Gu Huan and explained, “The heavy rain a few days ago delayed the journey, so the letter was delivered late. Nothing went wrong, Your Majesty. He Yuncheng is dead, and the military seal of the He family army has been handed over to General Han. The troops are on their way back to court and will arrive in Fengdu soon.”

Gu Huan took the letter and examined it closely.

It was indeed Han Mao’s handwriting, and his commander’s seal was stamped on it.

Li Yuliang could also see the writing on the letter clearly from a distance, and the agitated emotions he had felt earlier calmed down a little.

But before he could speak, the Grand Diviner waved his sleeve and knelt on the ground, kowtowing, “Congratulations, Your Majesty! The grand plan has been accomplished. After today, the empire will surely be stable, and blessings will last for eternity!”

Gu Huan cheerfully raised his head, revealing a smile, and said, “This is all thanks to you, my beloved subject!”

The Grand Diviner had just finished performing the ritual, and the good news had arrived. Whether it was a coincidence or not, credit had to be given to him.

Li Yuliang looked at the scene before him and couldn’t agree with it.

“Your Majesty…” He still wanted to persuade him.

“Grand Eunuch Li.” Gu Huan finally deigned to look at him, but his eyes were full of threat. “I won’t kill you because of our past relationship. If you still want to stay in the palace and continue to live a life of luxury, from now on, guard your Directorate of Palace Attendants well, be a good servant, and don’t interfere in matters that you’re not supposed to ask about…”

He moved closer to Li Yuliang’s ear and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “If you dare to be presumptuous again, I will definitely catch him back and chop him into pieces. I mean what I say.”

At a very close distance, their eyes met. This time, Li Yuliang was no longer as crazy as he had been last time. Gu Huan even saw a hint of panic in his eyes.

The Emperor’s aura became even more oppressive: “Are you not retreating yet? Is there something else?”

Li Yuliang’s chest rose and fell as he restrained his breath, kneeling and kowtowing, “This servant knows his crime.”

Without another word, Li Yuliang could only leave.

Behind him, the ritual instruments swayed in the wind, ghosts cried and howled, not knowing who they were singing a dirge for.

All the way, he was silent.

Li Yuliang returned to the Directorate of Palace Attendants.

The cloudy sky had vanished in the blink of an eye, and golden, dazzling rays of sunlight fell.

The door was tightly closed, and there wasn’t a sound in the house.

He had warned Song Jiting before he left, to hide quietly in the room and absolutely not to go out.

However, from the moment he entered the courtyard, an ominous premonition had begun to emerge.

With a cold face, he pushed open the door.

Sunlight fell into the room, stirring up tiny particles of dust.

The room was empty. No one was there.