Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Why Do You Only Come to See Me at Night
The last day they met was Ji Teng’s fifth birthday.
Shao Jinhui angered Emperor He and was locked up in the Cold Palace. To make Shao Jinhui bow her head, Emperor He allowed Ji Teng to enter and leave the Cold Palace.
Ji Teng’s forehead was wrapped with a white cloth, somewhat afraid of Shao Jinhui, yet he couldn’t help but want to get closer to her.
Shao Jinhui stood in the chilly wind, wearing only a thin royal garment.
"Teng’er."
She looked at him apologetically: "Mother has fallen ill, did I hurt you?"
Ji Teng immediately teared up.
Shao Jinhui personally made him a bowl of longevity noodles. She occasionally raised her hand to touch Ji Teng’s head, talking to him gently and softly.
Ji Teng liked this kind of royal mother.
That evening, the royal mother sent him to the front of the Cold Palace.
— Mother, I will come again tomorrow.
Shao Jinhui slowly squatted down, embraced him in her arms tightly, and held him for a long time: "Okay."
On the way back, Ji Teng always felt uneasy. As the night deepened, his panic grew. Waking up in the middle of the night, he forgot to put on his outer garment and ran back trembling.
By then, Shao Jinhui had already hung herself to death.
She left him a suicide note inside the room. Every word bled tears.
Ji Teng still remembers it.
— In her chambers, my mother was once a beloved girl, pampered in every way. Last night I dreamed of your uncle, he was still in the prime of his youth, looking unsurpassably handsome. I am not a good mother, but a mother is not born knowing how to be one, thus my Teng has suffered over and over again. This immense Imperial City is surrounded by walls, love cannot flourish, hate cannot be expressed, an escape is impossible, and the deep-seated hatred cannot be forgotten. Mother is too tired, she doesn’t want to accompany Teng anymore.
As time passes and when looking back, it feels like the heart could still bleed.
Yet, Cui Yun’s heart is very tough: "Is that all? Why does the Third Prince need to make this trip in person?"
The man suddenly looked up.
"Whether what you say is true or false, or if there are other motives, I do not care."
"The Marquis Yangling Mansion will never interfere with the Third Prince’s matters. As for your future actions."
Ji Teng was somewhat surprised. He heard Cui Yun, each word clearly pronounced.
"I am looking forward to it."
————
After Ji Teng left, Cui Yun sipped the tea in his cup, then got up, washed up and went to bed.
He was indeed tired.
Soon, the man fell into a deep sleep, his dreams opening the doors to his memories.
"Stop!"
A voice sternly reprimanded.
Old Master Cui, breathing hurriedly, chased after him.
Cui Yun stopped in his tracks: "Hu Teng, the affair with the Imperial Guard is clear, Cousin Xuan and I have been investigating the peculiarities in Shan City at that time. Why do you keep obstructing?"
"What does it matter if you investigate? What does knowing the result change?"
Cui Old Master: "I thought you had become prudent! But I see now you still do not think before acting, let this matter go, I won’t allow you to investigate any further!"
Cui Yun did not respond.
The Old Master Cui knew his stubborn temperament well. Once he was set on something, even if it led to a bloodied and broken head, he would never turn back.
"Come in!"
He let out a heavy sigh. No longer concealing it, he moved aside the vase placed on the cabinet in the study, revealing a hidden chamber.
This was Cui Yun’s first time learning there was a secret chamber in the study; without giving it further thought, Old Master Cui took out a stack of thick papers.
His voice weary: "Everything you want to investigate is here."
Cui Yun was surprised and hurriedly opened it to start reading.
Old Master Cui: "How could I not know the numerous doubts within, a son and a grandson, just like that gone, do you think as a grandfather I would be willing?"
"Why were the reinforcements delayed that year?"
"Why were the soldiers’ armor and weapons suddenly nothing more than scrap metal?"
But what is the reality?
In Shan City where General Jin was stationed, a deputy general was indeed bought over by the enemy, leading to a quick breach of the city gates from inside and outside.
But who knew, that deputy general was clearly Emperor He’s man.
This was something initiated by the ruler of Da Qi. To be precise, it was orchestrated by him.
He, aiming to eliminate the Cui family father and son, did not hesitate to collude with the enemy nation and handed over Shan City.
Three capable generals who died to protect the city, perished amid gunpowder smoke, and blood splattered on the battlefield. So much for unwavering loyalty and iron bones; it turned out to be a huge joke.
How many innocent people died then.
Cui Yun remained silent for a long time.
He had already suspected, but when reality presented itself, he still found it hard to accept.
Why remain loyal to such an unkind and unjust ruler, to give one’s life for him?
Emperor He was indeed a terrifying person.
Old Master Cui turned his back to him.
"These were sent by Prince Gong during the year your brothers met their mishaps."
"The Emperor is most cautious; spies are everywhere. It has been noticed that someone was investigating the incident from that year. Prince Gong also helped to cover it up for you."
"How could an arm possibly twist a thigh? In such matters, our Cui family could only bow our heads and accept."
Cui Yun left the study, his expression dazed.
Suddenly, he thought of something.
Cover up? How to cover up?
Only by sealing mouths.
Cui Yun’s expression darkened.
But when he left the mansion to chase after him, he was met with screams and heart-wrenching cries, and the roaring flames seemed like they could swallow him at any moment.
These... were all the men he and Xuan Chen had sent out.
A figure approached.
Prince Gong seemed to have been waiting for him for a long time.
"You mustn’t act on impulse."
"They have already been traced up to the Ministry of Justice, and regardless of their loyalty, they would confess everything."
Therefore, the safest method was to sacrifice the lesser for the sake of the greater good.
Only a raging fire could erase everything and thoroughly clean the slate, leaving no place for inquiries.
"Openness can never compete with the survival tactics in the dark. See, all these people died because of you."
"It was also their own choice."
"Mr. Cui, you are more capable than the average person, but I still think it’s not enough for now," the prince observed.
"However, give it a few more years, and you will certainly become the most outstanding figure of the next generation."
Cui Yun’s forehead was beaded with cold sweat as he suddenly woke up, sitting up on the bed.
His heartbeat was erratic, and his face grew increasingly somber.
He would often have this dream.
The helplessness and overwhelming guilt in the dream always haunted him.
Ying Yi stepped forward, holding out a cup of tea.
Cui Yun, his voice hoarse, didn’t take it: "What time is it now?"
Ying Yi replied respectfully.
Hearing this, Cui Yun closed his eyes,
Over the years, he’d been in too many life-threatening situations, his hands stained with blood, but...
But just thinking about those who were devoured by the fire always left him in fear.
Cui Yun could no longer sleep.
He slowly got up and put on his robe. After pausing for a moment, he walked out, planning to see Cui Rong, but as he walked, he saw that the light was still on next to Cui Rong’s tent.
Shen Hua hadn’t slept yet.
Cui Yun walked in slowly, then suddenly paused. His slender fingers tightly clenched, turning pale.
Soft voices came from inside the tent.
Shen Hua was holding Xie Xun’s arm, her voice filled with endless bitterness.
"Why do you only come to see me at night?"
"Ha! Our situation really does seem like an affair out of a romance novel."
Xie Xun scoffed lightly: "Nonsense."
Cui Yun’s heart suddenly sank. The man’s jawline tensed, his dense eyelashes casting shadows in his eyes.
He stormed into the tent with a darkened face.