BLHO Chapter 26
by VolareLin Shuangxu’s eyes darkened. “Master Song, think carefully again.”
Song Jiting was determined not to budge. “I’ve never heard of such a love poison, nor have I ever been poisoned. I don’t know what you two saw at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, but you must be mistaken.”
Lin Shuangxu smiled coldly. “It seems that Master Song has been spending your days and nights with Grand Eunuch Li, cultivating feelings for him.”
“Say what you will. I can’t lie for you about something I don’t know.”
“Important people are forgetful. Fine, I’ll give you some more time to think carefully. I’ll wait for you.”
“I told you, I don’t know.” Song Jiting’s attitude was firm. “Also, don’t blame me for not reminding you. If Grand Eunuch Li goes to the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion and doesn’t see me, things will get troublesome. If you have nothing else to ask, I’ll take my leave.”
“Please hold your steps, Master Song.”
Lin Shuangxu’s words were polite, but the guards’ long sabers were ruthless. They were drawn with two “shua shua” sounds, blocking Song Jiting’s path.
Song Jiting gritted his teeth inwardly. “Are you really not afraid of causing trouble?”
“We’ve already caused it,” Lin Shuangxu said. “The General’s Manor doesn’t want to cause trouble, but some people are actively trying to provoke us. I don’t have the energy to waste time with you. I’ll give you one night to consider. If you still can’t think clearly by tomorrow morning, I’ll have no choice but to resort to torture. Master Song’s skin is delicate. If you can’t bear it and lose your life, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
Song Jiting couldn’t help but feel nervous. “You dare to use illegal torture? Is there no law in this kingdom?”
“The law is used by those in high positions to consolidate their power, not to support and reason for the weak. Others may not understand this principle, but how could Master Song not understand it?”
These words struck a chord with Song Jiting’s pain.
If there really were justice and law in this world, how could he have fallen to his current state?
“One last piece of advice: a wise bird chooses its tree. Eunuchs are not reliable shelters. You should wake up as soon as possible.”
After Lin Shuangxu finished speaking, he raised his eyes slightly. The guards immediately stepped forward and tied Song Jiting’s hands with ropes.
“Take him away.”
“Yes!”
The moonlight enveloped the courtyard, reflecting an exceedingly sharp light in Lin Shuangxu’s eyes.
The two left the hall side by side. He Yuncheng followed behind him, teasing, “This Song Jiting does have some courage. You were so scary just now that even I was frightened.”
Lin Shuangxu continued to walk forward, not knowing if he had heard him.
“Lin Shuangxu.” He Yuncheng grabbed his wrist.
Lin Shuangxu stopped and turned around. “What is it?”
Between their gazes, He Yuncheng felt moved and also pained.
He said the words he had said several times already, “Thank you for your hard work.”
Coercion, enticement, abuse of private power – these were not things a gentleman should do. For him, Lin Shuangxu had done everything.
But he didn’t know that Lin Shuangxu had never considered himself a gentleman.
Unlike He Yuncheng, he was not the descendant of loyal and virtuous officials, and he didn’t need the world to praise his reputation.
If someone was seeking their own death, he wouldn’t mind giving them a ride.
–
It was late at night, and the bedroom was very quiet. Lin Shuangxu stared at the ceiling, feeling no sleepiness at all.
Countless thoughts disturbed him. It wasn’t just the death of the princess that troubled his heart.
Sealed memories surfaced intermittently.
In a secluded wild bamboo forest, the young him was placed in a hidden house, growing up alone, year after year.
He never felt the love of his parents. Even when he was over ten years old, he could only occasionally see his father once.
No one told him why he had to hide in this desolate mountain forest.
When his father came to see him, he never told him who his mother was either.
Why did he exist in this world? And why couldn’t he be seen in the light?
A child whose mind was not yet mature knew nothing about himself.
Then, on the day of his twelfth birthday, his father had promised to come see him. He stood in the forest, waiting and hoping, but what he waited for was a stranger.
That man was imposing and majestic. He was a great general, and he said to him, “From now on, your surname is Lin. You are the orphaned child of a soldier under my command. I will take you back to the manor. From now on, forget your father and forget that your surname was once Gu.”
That was his teacher, He Yuncheng’s father, the great general He Chong.
At that time, Lin Shuangxu was ignorant and didn’t know why he was told to forget his biological father.
It wasn’t until he returned to Fengdu that he learned of his father’s death.
It was also then that he realized that his father, in addition to being a father, had another identity.
Here, everyone called him Prince Rui.
…
His head throbbed painfully. Lin Shuangxu stopped forcing himself to sleep and got up to leave the bedroom.
It was snowing again. He didn’t hold an umbrella, but carried a lantern and came to the room where Song Jiting was being held.
For He Yuncheng, he could be a villain, but he ultimately couldn’t bear to harm the son of Lord Song Lian.
Over the years, his teacher hadn’t allowed him to mention his father or reveal his identity.
So, he kept his mouth shut and hardly interacted with anyone.
As a remnant of rebellious party, he certainly didn’t want to involve the He family.
But after all, he was a living person, and since he was alive, he wanted to live with clarity –
Why, from the moment he was born, did his father have to hide him in the bamboo forest?
The identity of Prince Rui’s son, even if illegitimate, why was it so shameful?
He wanted to know everything about himself.
So, over the years, he had secretly investigated and thus learned many things related to his father.
Among them was the case of Lord Song Lian, his father’s confidant, who had been wrongly accused.
This was why, when he first heard Song Jiting’s name, he found it familiar.
His footsteps stopped in front of the locked door. The guard at the door bowed to him. “Young Master.”
“Has he confessed anything?”
“Reporting to Young Master, no.”
“Open the door.”
“Yes.”
The guard opened the door. Inside, Song Jiting was tied to a wooden post. He was a scholar who had never practiced any martial arts. After being tied up for most of the night, his whole body was sore and exhausted.
His face was bloodless, and he drooped his eyes wearily. Seeing Lin Shuangxu come in, he said weakly, “You really don’t need to waste your energy. I can’t help you.”
Lin Shuangxu put down the oil lamp in his hand and ordered the door to be closed.
“I’m not here to interrogate you,” he said calmly. “I just couldn’t sleep, so I came to chat with Master Song.”
“Chat with me?” Song Jiting smiled helplessly, not knowing what trick he was going to play.
Lin Shuangxu told a story as if he were talking about someone else: “There was a famous person in Fengdu City who was good at painting, especially bamboo. I have copied many of his works, but unfortunately, my talent is crude, and I can only learn a little bit of the surface.”
As he spoke, he slowly spread out a piece of rice paper on the table, dipped his brush in ink, and began to paint.
“That famous person once said that painting bamboo is like painting the heart. The heart of a gentleman should be like bamboo, able to contain all things, with humble drooping leaves on the outside and unyielding pride on the inside. No matter how harsh the environment, one must have steadfastness in their heart.”
He exerted force on his wrist, and the bamboo joints he painted were straight and vigorous, outlining a scene that was not afraid of the cold in a few strokes.
After finishing the painting, he carried the rice paper to Song Jiting. “Master Song comes from a famous family. Take a look for me. Is this painting pleasing to the eye?”
Song Jiting looked at the painting in his hand, somewhat incredulous, and his eyes gradually gained light.
The brushstrokes revealed charm, a complete replica of his father’s style.
“This painting?”
This painting of cold bamboo was his father’s most proud work, but it was taken away by the soldiers during the confiscation of his home, and its whereabouts were unknown now.
“My imitation is not good,” Lin Shuangxu said. “However, Lord Song’s original work is in my collection in the manor. If Master is willing to befriend Lin, I will not take a single coin and return the item to its original owner.”
Song Jiting shook his head weakly, his laughter bitter. “My father has already been disgraced, and I have reached this point. What’s the use of keeping that fame-seeking thing? You don’t think you can persuade me with a painting, do you?”
Lin Shuangxu said, “I just want Master Song to know that if there is anyone in this world you can trust, that person is me, not a eunuch from the Directorate of Palace Attendants.”
“Is that so? Then tell me, who are you?”
“I am nobody, just a commoner like you.”
“Then so what? Even the Emperor is afraid of him. What do you have to fight against him?”
Lin Shuangxu took a deep breath, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly smiled.
“It seems that you really have deep feelings for him, willing to die rather than betray him.”
“I don’t!” Song Jiting couldn’t control his feeling of disgust. “Since you have investigated my father, you should know my family’s style. Even if I fall into the dirt, I would never have feelings for that eunuch who brings disaster to the court.”
Recalling the heavy past, the crazy trampling, the wanton humiliation, Song Jiting’s eyes turned a hideous red.
“I wish he would die even more than you do…” Song Jiting’s chest rose and fell with difficulty, and he trembled, “But I have no choice. Besides him, who else can save my father’s life…”
“What did you say?”
Lin Shuangxu was shocked when he heard this. “What do you mean by that?”
Song Jiting’s eyes were numb, and he didn’t say any more. He knew that Lin Shuangxu understood.
His father, Lord Song Lian, was not dead.