BLHO Chapter 57
by VolareChapter 57: Empress Dowager
He Yuncheng escorted Lin Shuangxu back to his room to rest, only emerging after a full hour.
His subordinates had been searching everywhere for him and, after several rounds of drinks, they finally saw him return. Tipsy, they stepped forward to tease him, wondering how a dignified general could be hiding from the drinking in a room.
He Yuncheng didn’t refute anything they said, but wore a smile as he downed the drinks they offered him.
The atmosphere was high, with everyone drowning their sorrows in wine, and it was thought that this New Year’s Eve could be passed peacefully. But the fangs hidden in the shadows were lying in wait, unwilling to grant them any peace at the start of the new year.
Before dawn, a palace eunuch suddenly arrived.
He was there under orders to deliver an imperial decree, a golden-embroidered edict bearing the imperial seal. It wasn’t sent on behalf of the Directorate of Palace Attendants, but directly from the Emperor himself.
The lively atmosphere in the General’s Manor instantly turned to ice. Everyone set down their cups and knelt with He Yuncheng to listen as the eunuch announced that the Emperor commanded He Yuncheng and Lin Shuangxu to enter the palace for an audience.
He Yuncheng accepted the decree and saw the eunuch off respectfully.
After he left, there was a moment of silence before the crowd swarmed forward, discussing the reasons for the Emperor’s summons of the general and the young master. Why send someone to deliver the decree at night, so covertly? Something didn’t feel right.
Most likely it was another trap set by that eunuch. That Li Yuliang was still not giving up, still plotting against the He Family Army.
But the imperial decree in hand was genuine, and this trip could not be avoided.
Everyone was worried, offering He Yuncheng ideas.
He Yuncheng didn’t say much, only telling them to return to the military camp first, and that everything would be decided after he had seen the Emperor.
In the bedroom, Lin Shuangxu had only just fallen asleep. He Yuncheng couldn’t bear to wake him, waiting until dawn before gently rousing him and telling him about the arrival of the palace messenger.
In truth, Lin Shuangxu hadn’t slept soundly at all.
His heart had been beating uneasily. The moment he had taken the initiative with He Yuncheng last night, he had sensed something was amiss.
What was coming had to come. With an unknown future ahead, he could only hold onto He Yuncheng tightly to find some peace of mind.
“Can your body handle it?”
He Yuncheng helped him put on his clothes, then watched him drink half a bowl of porridge, repeatedly checking on him with concern.
Lin Shuangxu’s wound had not yet healed, and the journey would be bumpy. He was truly afraid that he wouldn’t be able to bear it.
But aside from the trouble that would be caused by refusing the imperial decree, Lin Shuangxu couldn’t bear to let He Yuncheng go alone.
“I’m fine,” he said to He Yuncheng. “Let’s go.”
On the way, He Yuncheng held his hand tightly, but no matter how he tried to warm it, his fingertips remained icy cold.
“Don’t worry,” He Yuncheng comforted him softly. “Nothing will happen.”
Lin Shuangxu looked into his eyes, and after a long silence, he spoke, “Yuncheng.”
“Tell me,” He Yuncheng replied earnestly.
Lin Shuangxu moved his dry lips. The words he had wanted to say last night but couldn’t, he still couldn’t voice today.
He shook his head, giving He Yuncheng a weary smile.
“You’re holding too tight, my hand hurts.”
He Yuncheng was taken aback. Was this his way of cheering him up? Even at such a worrying time?
He loosened his grip slightly, but didn’t let go, bringing Lin Shuangxu’s hand to his lips and gently kissing it.
No more words were spoken.
The Imperial Palace was uncomfortably quiet. The palace maids and eunuchs were all rushing about, like soulless zombies.
In front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the eunuch ordered to wait for them had been waiting for a long time. Without a word, he bowed and led them into the hall.
The doors of the hall opened and closed, the friction creating an ear-piercing sound.
Sunlight streamed in through the crack of the door, dust motes swirling in the light.
Empty and silent, the Emperor was nowhere to be seen.
He Yuncheng and Lin Shuangxu stood side by side, waiting quietly for a moment before they saw a figure slowly emerge from within.
It was Li Yuliang.
He Yuncheng’s face turned cold, and he spoke first, “Where is the Emperor?”
Li Yuliang gave a wicked smile, raising his eyebrows as if mocking him for asking a question he already knew the answer to.
He Yuncheng understood.
“So you really are faking an imperial decree, Li Yuliang. You have some nerve.”
“Let’s skip the verbal sparring,” Li Yuliang said. “I invited General He here today because I don’t want to waste time. The matter of military power has been dragging on for too long. It’s time for a resolution.”
“What kind of resolution do you want?”
“Leave the military seal, and you two, along with everyone in the General’s Manor, will be safe.”
“And if I don’t give it?”
“If you don’t, the case of the Princess is still awaiting an explanation. Lin Shuangxu must confess his guilt and face the law, a life for a life.”
As soon as he finished speaking, He Yuncheng heard the sound of soldiers drawing their swords outside the hall.
Li Yuliang had already prepared. He had ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to surround the Hall of Mental Cultivation. As long as he gave the order, the Northern Garrison Division would arrest the designated criminals according to the law, and if they dared to resist, they would be killed on the spot.
A blatant provocation.
Before He Yuncheng’s anger could be completely ignited, Lin Shuangxu stepped forward, blocking him.
He calmly said to Li Yuliang, “I want to see the Empress Dowager.”
Li Yuliang’s eyes shifted, looking at Lin Shuangxu arrogantly.
Lin Shuangxu said to him, “Even if I surrender today, you won’t achieve the result you want. The Empress Dowager cannot possibly ignore the case of the Princess and let you control it. You don’t ask me why I was able to get Yuncheng out of the Imperial Prison, nor do you ask why I was able to escape safely from death row. Even now, do you still think that the He family is like other officials, weak and powerless, and easily suppressed by you?”
“The Empress Dowager…” Li Yuliang was not threatened by him at all, and said to him, “Since you still see the Empress Dowager as your backing, then I will tell you plainly, it’s useless.”
He deliberately lowered his voice, saying, “The imperial physician said that the Empress Dowager won’t live for more than a few days.”
The arrogant look on Li Yuliang’s face was hateful. He didn’t bother to hide his triumph.
Lin Shuangxu held his breath.
He should have realized it earlier.
Someone who dared to lay a hand on the Princess, what did they fear in harming the Empress Dowager?
From the joint trial by the Three Supreme Courts, the Empress Dowager should have appeared, but she fell ill inexplicably. He should have noticed the strangeness.
But this was too rampant.
The Emperor was young, and the Empress Dowager listened to politics from behind the curtain, her power above the Emperor’s.
What else was Li Yuliang afraid to do?
“The Empress Dowager’s illness, was it you who poisoned her?” Lin Shuangxu asked.
Li Yuliang said contemptuously, “Do you have evidence? Don’t make baseless accusations.”
*Pa-despair.*
A drop of bloody tear fell on the ground, without making a sound.
The Empress Dowager lay on the bed, her pale appearance already like a lamp that had run out of oil.
She was still struggling desperately, but with her mouth wide open, even breathing smoothly was a luxury.
Gu Huan sat by the bed, quietly admiring her painful appearance.
This person whom he had called “Mother” for more than ten years, he had finally, personally sent her to the Yellow Springs.
Separated by a wall, was the confrontation between the He family and the Directorate of Palace Attendants.
If she could still call for help now, with even a one in ten thousand chance, perhaps He Yuncheng would save her.
But Gu Huan would not give her that chance.
“Empress Dowager.”
Gu Huan still called her that.
But as things stood now, how ironic that title was.
Gu Huan looked at her and asked, “Why, why do all of you like to be so clever, treating me like a fool?”