Chapter 5: If You Follow My Arrangements, I’ll Help You
“Within Consort De’s Ordinance Palace there’s a square, red sandalwood table. It was crafted exquisitely; the engraved phoenixes on the legs of the table look so vivid they seem alive. But did you know? In every single tiny crevice formed by the engraving, there is musk powder. Since its smell is extremely similar to that of red sandalwood, no one noticed. However, no matter how tiny the amount of musk there is, after countless years of coming into contact with it, there’s bound to be an effect. As of now, Consort De’s health is getting weaker and weaker. This is all due to the red sandalwood table that Ye Hongyi had carefully prepared for her.” If it weren’t for Yin Xue’s careful investigation, Yao Mowan would never have found out about this either. She hadn’t expected Ye Hongyi to have come up with such a shrewd method to deal with Xie Siyin who he owed a huge amount to.
“Ye Hongyi had built Ordinance Palace for Siyin seven years ago. That means…” Jian Chen’s entire body with trembling from anger.
“That means, Ye Hongyi had already been preparing to get rid of you two even as he promised to help you two.” Yao Mowan summed up the cruel truth.
“What what are we to do? What can we do!?” Jian Chen abruptly relaxed his fists and collapsed back into the chair weakly. What did it matter if he felt hatred and wanted revenge? The person they were facing was an emperor, the most powerful existence in this country.
“Escape far away!” stated Yao Mowan concisely, her clear eyes filled with firm light.
“Easy to say!” Yao Mowan’s proposition sounded completely unrealistic to Jian Chen.
“It’s very easy as long as you listen to me!” Inwardly, Yao Mowan was loosening a breath in relief. Now that she had convinced Jian Chen, the following matters would be much easier.
“I can agree to anything, but I have one condition!” Yao Mowan’s words didn’t bring Jian Chen any joy. In his belief, no one had the ability to oppose imperial power. Moreover, the person sitting in front of him was just a woman.
Yao Mowan waited silently to hear his condition.
“No matter how this ends, Jian Chen only asks that you guarantee Siyin’s safety!” Jian Chen spoke plainly, but these sincere words sounded more touching to Yao Mowan than any oath of eternal love. No matter what, Xie Siyin was blessed. At the very least, there was someone like this that wholeheartedly loved her in this world.
Her heart suddenly squeezed. Hadn’t Ye Junqing been this wholehearted as well? It was just that back then, she was blind…
When she got back to Guan Osprey Palace, she hadn’t even had the chance to sit down when Ye Junqing rushed in.
“Imperial Physician Wang has diagnosed this prince to be completely recovered. Now tell me how Nurse Sun died!” Ye Junqing asked impatiently, his eyes filled with expectation.
“Tonight’s moon is very beautiful. Would Prince like to accompany Mowan out for a walk?” Yao Mowan lifted her brows as she glanced towards the bright moon outside. When she recalled the deep love in Jian Chen’s eyes when Xie Siyin was brought up, her heart warmed slightly.
“Not interested!” rejected Ye Junqing.
“How did Nurse Sun die again? Let Mowan think, hmm… oh no, I can’t recall!” Yao Mowan looked towards Ye Junqing with an innocent expression.
“You’ll be able to recall once this prince accompanies you for a short walk?” Ye Junqing forced this question out between gritted teeth.
“That’s very likely!” Yao Mowan nodded earnestly. Ye Junqing took a deep breath, then stomped out of Guan Osprey Palace.
The tranquil night had a gentle warm breeze. Ye Junqing paid no attention to Yao Mowan and strode ahead on his own. His figure seemed even more slender in the moonlight. As they walked on the cobblestone path, Ye Junqing’s had subconsciously taken him to the forest of willows that faced Changle Palace.
“You can finally bring yourself to look back now?” When Ye Junqing turned around, he saw that Yao Mowan was standing behind him with her slender jade fingers pressed lightly against her chest as she panted softly.
“We’ve walked enough. Have you recalled now?” When he noticed the sweat gathering on Yao Mowan’s forehead, he felt a little bad.
“You truly don’t know to cherish the fragrance and pity the jade. Can’t you give me some time to catch my breath?” Yao Mowan shot Ye Junqing at look, then turned towards Changle Palace. This was the Changle Palace that had housed her joys, angers, sadness, and happiness. As of now, it looked like a half-dead old man that was standing there instably without support and just waiting for an end.
Yao Mowan would often question herself. Back then, with how wise and farsighted she was, why hadn’t she been able to see Ye Hongyi’s true face? Before, she had always thought it was because she hadn’t been intelligent enough, but after she found out about Xie Siyin and Jian Chen, she realized that it had also been because Ye Hongyi had hidden his true self too well.
“To sacrifice so much for a woman that didn’t love you, was it worth it?” Although Jian Chen’s willingness to give up his life for Xie Siyin was admirable, it was also worth it. At the very least, Xie Siyin would respond in the same manner with the same feelings. But what about Ye Junqing? He had given his everything, but what had he received in return?
“Once you fall in love with someone, you’ll learn that for one smile from her, even if you have to give up your body, your life— it’s all worth it.” The night breeze swept up Ye Junqing’s ink-like hair and it danced in the wind like strands of black silk. Yao Mowan was so deeply touched by his words that her eyes filled with tears.
“Yao Moxin was so stupid. Why didn’t she notice how good you were?” Yao Mowan smiled bitterly.
“It’s that Junqing wasn’t good enough…” Ye Junqing gazed with longing towards Changle Palace, his eyes flickering with sorrow. Moxin, do you know that Junqing misses you? Every day, every night, every moment, every second; I miss you so much, what do I do? I miss you so much that my heart hurts.
“Nurse Sun was killed because she had caught An Bingshan doing something shameful. She was killed to silence and her body was buried under the wing located where the Cold Palace used to be.” Yao Mowan suddenly spoke coldly.
“An Bingshan doing something shameful? What did he do?” Ye Junqing hadn’t expected Yao Mowan to answer him so straightforwardly. However, Yao Mowan had already left grimly, ignoring his questions.
Ye Junqing already knew that Yao Mowan’s attitude changed faster than the weather, so when she left, he stopped himself from following her. After all, it would be better to investigate himself than to follow her and end up being scolded again for no reason.
The next day, when Jian Chen appeared as a patrol guard in Ordinance Palace, Xie Siyin was overcome with joy.
“Jian Chen!” Even though she had only gotten a glimpse of his side profile, she had been able to recognize that person she always longed for with once glane. When Yue Chan saw her master run out of Ordinance Palace, she immediately chased after her.
“This subordinate Jian Chen kowtows in salute to Your Highness Consort De” Unconcealable joy shone through his voice as he cupped his fist in a respectful salute.
“En. This consort has something heavy that must be moved, so come help!” Xie Siyin forced herself to speak calmly and turned back to reenter Ordinance Palace. Jian Chen followed deferentially.
In a hidden location, Ye Hongyi, who was dressed in the bright dragon robe, clenched his fists as he looked on coldly.
“Your Majesty, this old servant doesn’t understand. Why didn’t you just have Jian Chen die outside? That would be less trouble, wouldn’t it be?” asked An Bingshan carefully.
“She will only give up if Jian Chen dies in front of her. And, she’ll only despair if she sees him die with her own eyes. At that time, we might not even need to do anything for her to follow Jian Chen and die. What did Imperial Physician Zheng say?” Ye Hongyi’s lips hooked in a strange smile.
“Replying Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Zheng said that Jian Chen’s poison will probably kill him tonight. As for Consort De… If she continues taking the drug at this rate, she can still live for half a year,” reported An Bingshan.
“Then let’s wait and see what happens. If she doesn’t follow Jian Chen of her own accord, then have Imperial Physician Zheng increase the dosage. We don’t have the patience to wait that long!” Ye Hongyi gave a cold humph and turned to leave. Everyone that wronged him must die!
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Credits: Translated by Chiyomira
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