BLHO Chapter 27
by VolareChapter 27: Are You Sick?
Back then, it was the Empress Dowager herself who issued the order to dismiss and execute Lord Song. Everyone knew that Song Lian had committed suicide in the Imperial Prison to prove his innocence, so how could he be…?
“He saved my father,” Song Jiting said desperately, “The condition was that I become his favored concubine.”
“He likes me.” Song Jiting shook his head sarcastically, “When I was young, I fantasized about meeting the person of my dreams, but I never thought that being adored by someone would be such a disgusting thing.”
He looked sadly at Lin Shuangxu: “If I were still the son of the Minister of Revenue, I would definitely stand with you and fight the treacherous officials who are wreaking havoc in the court to the end. But now I am nothing, and I can barely protect myself. What great righteousness can I talk about? I just want my father to live. What happens to the court, what happens to the world, is beyond my ability.”
Lin Shuangxu calmed his emotions and asked him, “Where is Lord Song now?”
“What do you want to do?” Song Jiting said desperately: “My father is a criminal of Bei Sheng, someone the Empress Dowager wants to get rid of. Anyone who wants to save him is guilty of the same crime.”
Yes, this is indeed difficult.
If it were an ordinary criminal, there might be a way, but Song Lian’s crime was personally judged by the Empress Dowager, which meant a dead end.
The Empress Dowager… Lin Shuangxu felt a chill down his spine just thinking about her.
“You and I are not on the same path.” Song Jiting said: “I’ll say it again, don’t waste your energy, I can’t help you.”
Lin Shuangxu’s face darkened, and he asked him again: “Are you really not afraid that I will kill you?”
“Of course, you can kill me, but I still want to remind you that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Li Yuliang should have already discovered that I am missing. He will send people to look for me. If he knows that I died in the General’s Manor, your situation will be even more difficult… Ugh…”
The words he hadn’t finished were stuck in his throat, as Song Jiting’s throat was fiercely strangled.
Lin Shuangxu exerted force with his palm, the veins on his arm bulging, staring at Song Jiting with murderous intent in his eyes.
Although he had never practiced martial arts, a man using all his strength was something an ordinary person could not withstand.
Song Jiting’s forehead flushed red as he was strangled. He struggled instinctively, but his hands and feet were tied, and he couldn’t move.
Just as he was about to suffocate, he heard Lin Shuangxu say grimly, “Since Li Yuliang used Lord Song as a threat, I won’t force you, but if you dare to lie to me…”
“Every word… is true… cough…”
Lin Shuangxu released his hand before he died, without saying another word, and turned to leave.
As soon as he stepped out the door, he saw someone holding an umbrella in the center of the courtyard, waiting for him.
He Yuncheng.
The anger on his face had not yet faded, and when he saw who was standing in the courtyard, Lin Shuangxu was stunned.
“You’re not asleep?” he asked.
He Yuncheng stepped forward gracefully, holding the umbrella over his head, blocking the rustling snow.
He said softly to him, “The Embroidered Uniform Guard is here.”
–
In the main yard, the Embroidered Uniform Guard broke in, and torches illuminated the General’s Residence.
Shen Tan led the way, exuding murderous intent, her jade face frosty.
He Yuncheng calmly stepped forward: “Lord Shen, what brings you here so late?”
Shen Tan coldly scrutinized him: “Song, the young master of the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, disappeared for no reason today. We are under the command of the Grand Eunuch to search the city for him.”
He Yuncheng asked in confusion, “The people from the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion are missing, so why would you search the General’s Manor?”
He glanced back at Lin Shuangxu, pretending to joke: “My brother has always been strict with me, and I don’t dare to provoke any young masters or male prostitutes.”
Shen Tan did not waste words with him, “Whether he is here or not, we will know after searching.”
She raised her arm and waved, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard dispersed.
He Yuncheng and Lin Shuangxu stood motionless under the umbrella, vigilantly confronting her.
Soon, the Embroidered Uniform Guard who had finished searching returned to report.
“Reporting, my lord, Song is not here.”
“Reporting, my lord, we did not find Song.”
Shen Tan was expressionless. She turned her Embroidered Spring Blade, stepped forward, and personally went to investigate.
Lin Shuangxu gave He Yuncheng a look, and He Yuncheng understood. He handed the umbrella to him and turned to follow Shen Tan.
Song Jiting was being held in the abandoned garden, a very hidden location, but if Shen Tan was determined to search the entire General’s Residence, it would be difficult to hide it.
“Lord Shen.”
Just as Shen Tan approached the entrance of the abandoned garden, He Yuncheng called out to her from behind.
Shen Tan’s blade tip drooped in the snow, and she turned to look at He Yuncheng, her gaze utterly calm.
He Yuncheng said, “I thought Lord Shen was here again for the princess’s matter.”
Shen Tan did not respond to his words.
He Yuncheng continued, “Princess Meng Ning’s bones are not yet cold, but Lord Shen still has to help the eunuch find his favored concubine. This is really embarrassing for you.”
“General He.” Shen Tan warned: “Watch your words and do not disrespect the Grand Eunuch.”
He Yuncheng smiled wryly and sighed, “It seems that the princess doesn’t have much weight in Lord Shen’s heart. If she knew in the afterlife, she would probably be sad again.”
Shen Tan retracted her Embroidered Spring Blade and approached He Yuncheng, her voice scattered by the cold wind: “Then General He, please tell me, how exactly did the princess die?”
“Li Yuliang killed her.”
“No.” Shen Tan said firmly: “The princess’s death has nothing to do with the Grand Eunuch.”
He Yuncheng did not argue with her, “Since you are certain that I killed her, why do you still ask me?”
Shen Tan’s eyes were like an abyss, unfathomable: “I didn’t ask if you killed her, I asked why did she die?”
He Yuncheng didn’t understand what she meant.
“Lord Shen, have you discovered any clues?”
Their eyes met, and both were wary and suspicious.
After a moment, Shen Tan flatly denied: “No.”
She looked back at the closed door. After finishing speaking with He Yuncheng, she didn’t even go inside.
Turning to leave, she said to her subordinates in the main yard, “The person is not in the General’s Residence, withdraw!”
The large-scale search ended hastily like this.
Lin Shuangxu looked at the backs of the Embroidered Uniform Guard as they left, unable to figure it out for a moment.
“She found him, didn’t she?” he asked He Yuncheng.
“Yes.”
She found him, but intentionally let them off.
The reason was unknown.
–
The night was silent, and the horses’ hooves echoed. The Embroidered Uniform Guard returned to their residence.
Along the way, there was constant movement in the bushes.
Someone was following them.
Shen Tan lowered her eyes coldly and instructed her subordinates, “You go back first.”
After speaking, she turned her horse around and went alone into the forest to investigate.
She chased all the way to the outskirts of the city, and as soon as she entered a secluded place, she was surrounded.
A long blade was held against the back of her neck, “Don’t move.”
She did not resist and asked calmly, “Who are you?”
The other party did not reveal their identity, but said to her, “Please, Lord Shen, come with us.”
–
He Yuncheng followed Lin Shuangxu back to the bedroom. Lin Shuangxu closed the umbrella and asked him, “What did Shen Tan say to you just now?”
“She repeatedly asked me why the princess died.”
Lin Shuangxu was puzzled: “The Northern Garrison’s office examined the body. She should know the cause of the princess’s death. As long as she follows the clues of that poison, she will naturally know who did it. Why did she ask you?”
He Yuncheng shook his head in confusion, “She was certain that Li Yuliang didn’t do it.”
Lin Shuangxu frowned and pondered, raising his hand to loosen the cloak on his body.
He Yuncheng said: “Shen Tan was promoted by Li Yuliang, and she owes him a great debt. In the past, the princess showed her goodwill many times, wanting to win her over, but she remained unmoved.”
“Is that so?” Lin Shuangxu recalled, “But the night the princess had the accident, Lord Shen looked very nervous, not like someone who was unmoved.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing, I can’t guess anything right now.” He turned and walked towards the bed, continuing: “The situation is urgent now. Regardless of Shen Tan’s position, our top priority is to protect ourselves and find out the truth, and take this opportunity to suppress Li Yuliang. The Empress Dowager has been able to support the court all these years because she has the power of the Qi Dynasty behind her, but now, the struggle for the throne of the Qi Dynasty is fierce. Once there is turmoil and the Crown Prince of the Great Qi changes, the Empress Dowager will also lose her support. By then, if Li Yuliang completely gains power, the He family’s situation will be truly dangerous.”
He Yuncheng listened carefully to him, curiously asking him: “You rarely go out, why do you know so much about the Empress Dowager? You even know about the Qi Dynasty?”
Lin Shuangxu said, “I investigated.”
“What did you investigate the Empress Dowager for?”
Lin Shuangxu’s eyes flickered for a moment, “Nothing.”
“That’s not right, something definitely happened.” He Yuncheng pestered him to ask: “Tell me quickly, what are you hiding from me?”
“I’m not, it’s getting late, go back and rest.”
“You are! We’re all family, what can’t I know?”
Lin Shuangxu lay down on the bed, ignoring him.
He Yuncheng crossed his arms and leaned against the bedpost, speculating: “Could it be… related to your background?”
Lin Shuangxu was startled and immediately denied: “How could my background be related to the Empress Dowager? What are you thinking?”
He Yuncheng stroked his chin and thought, “That’s right, then could it be…”
“Alright, stop guessing, I said it’s nothing, go back to your room and rest.”
He Yuncheng wouldn’t leave no matter how he was urged. He squatted down and leaned his head against Lin Shuangxu’s pillow in a clingy manner.
“Actually, I’ve always had a doubt.”
“I can’t answer it.”
“I haven’t even asked yet.” Regardless of his attitude, He Yuncheng continued to say: “Tell me, are you really the orphan of a soldier? So many people died in battle, leaving countless orphans and widows behind. Why did my father bring you back to the General’s Residence in particular?”
Lin Shuangxu closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, his heart faintly nervous.
Then, he heard He Yuncheng say: “Tell me the truth, you have rejected me again and again, refusing to admit that you like me even if you die. Is it because you are not actually my father’s student, but his illegitimate child with someone, my own elder brother…”
Their eyes met, their breaths mingling.
“He Yuncheng.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you sick?”