Note: The title is too spoiler-ish, so I hide it. Click on the arrow to reveal the title.
Chapter 300 – Kong Yu’s Death
"Then why did you kill the Crown Prince this time?" Ji Yunshu asked under her breath.
Kong Yu did not flinch, or even deny, "Miss Ji is indeed clever." She let out a bitter laugh, "I guess, this must be a sign from the heavens. Someone who has sinned cannot hide it forever."
"Didn't you decide not to hide it? Otherwise, you would never have let me enter the palace."
Kong Yu took a deep breath as she met Ji Yunshu's gaze, "Miss Ji, you're not me, so you would never understand. To protect someone, I would even die. I know the Crown Prince could have never planned the fire at Chengqing Hall, but this is a crime he must bear in order to save Ah Rong. Only with his death will the opportunity to reverse the situation be eternally deprived of him." It was a ridiculous reason for murder, but it was so true and sincere, so touching.
Ji Yunshu's eyes were brimming with tears and she turned away to look at the floor. After a long while, she finally said, "You knew that there was no turning back."
Kong Yu was honest, "I knew. From the moment I accidentally killed Yuchi General, I knew that there was no turning back for me." Her voice trailed off weakly, her clear eyes betraying no emotion.
Ji Yunshu felt a lump in her throat, "Then, do you regret it?"
She smiled and shook her head, "I don't." She continued, "Miss Ji, can you promise me two things?" She looked at Ji Yunshu sincerely, pleading.
There was no hesitation as Ji Yunshu nodded, "Speak your mind."
Kong Yu answered, "I hope that you can help me send Juan'er out of the palace; I don't want her to spend her life in the palace." This was the first promise.
Ji Yunshu agreed readily.
"If there comes a day when Ah Rong becomes embroiled in a never-ending struggle, I hope that you can help him, help him turn back." This was the second promise; Kong Yu was a clever woman, as she had predicted what was about to happen.
Ji Yunshu nodded, "I promise you."
"Thank you." Kong Yu was finally at peace. She suddenly clutched her chest, furrowing her brows, as blood seeped out of the corner of her mouth. Ji Yunshu barely caught her as she collapsed to the ground, still smiling.
"Why?" Ji Yunshu asked in astonishment.
"This… this is my own decision, I won't regret it. Ever since… I wed the Crown Prince, I was prepared to make this decision – I must serve penance for my own mistakes."
"But you didn't have to," Ji Yunshu choked.
"There was no other choice. Miss Ji, please… could you promise me one more thing?" She used the last of her remaining strength and grabbed onto Ji Yunshu's hands.
"Speak."
Kong Yu's pale face was flushed as she continued, "Please… tell Ah Rong, if… if there is a next life, I will still love him conditionally, still… keep by his side… please also tell him that he doesn't… doesn't have to feel apologetic nor sorry towards me. I did all these things… willingly."
"Miss Kong…" Ji Yunshu's tears fell uncontrollably.
Kong Yu's unfocused gaze fell on the rain outside and she smiled, blood continually pouring out of her mouth and over her neck and gown, "I think, I think I see a peach blossom forest. There is someone… sitting under a peach blossom tree, looking up at the falling peach blossoms, he's… he's waiting for me, so I'm running… running towards him, I can slowly… see his brows, eyes, nose, lips, and…" Her voice grew feebler and more slurred. Her hand slowly slid down Ji Yunshu's hand, her eyes slowly closing, still smiling as she grew limp in Ji Yunshu's arms.
"Miss Kong?" Ji Yunshu could barely be heard over the rain, and Kong Yu failed to respond. Ji Yunshu's eyes were red from crying and overwhelming pain; at this moment, she had lost all reason as she sat trembling.
When she finally shifted her gaze away, she saw Mo Ruo standing at the gates. He stood there stiffly in disbelief, staring at Kong Yu. He stumbled backwards, then approached them, gently placing Kong Yu into his own embrace as he read her pulse.
"Arsenic!" Mo Ruo let out a cry of despair, as he removed his fingers from Kong Yu's wrist, carefully caressing her deathly white face.
It took a long time before he raised his bloodshot eyes at Ji Yunshu, "Why?"
Ji Yunshu sniffled, swallowing all her remaining tears as she stood up, "With the Crown Prince dead, she must not have felt like living anymore." Ji Yunshu lied! She had decided to hide everything, including the fact that Kong Yu had killed Yuchi Lin and the Crown Prince.
"Then, what did she tell you?"
Ji Yunshu shook her head as she turned to leave, not even glancing back at Mo Ruo.
She walked out into the rain, out of the palace, onto the streets as if she had lost her soul, as if nothing mattered anymore. The heavy rain blinded her as she walked into passerby after passerby, her slender shoulders knocking into one person after another.
Her body could not tolerate it anymore, and her weakened body was flung backwards by the force of an incoming passerby but she was thrown into someone else and both of them fell to the ground together. "Ah!" The person Ji Yunshu ran into let out a sharp cry, knocking some sense into Ji Yunshu simultaneously.
Grenn’s Rants Corner
There goes my shipping Kong Yu X Mo Ruo. =__=
Chapter 301 – A Petition For An Appeal
Ji Yunshu turned towards the source of the scream. Her eyes fell on a woman with messy hair and dressed in plain clothes. Her aged face was haggard and wet from the rain. She was picking up in a flurry the papers that had fallen into a puddle.
"No! It must not. It absolutely cannot…" she kept muttering.
Ji Yunshu recognized she was the one at fault, so she squatted down and helped the woman to pick up the papers. Due to their collision, the papers were scattered everywhere and were almost completely soaked from the rainwater. As if the situation weren’t bad enough, some of them were being mercilessly stepped on by passersby.
After collecting a few, she glanced at the content out of curiosity. She accidentally found out the stack of papers was a petition for an appeal. However, before she could read through the details, the woman interrupted her.
"Give it to me." The woman angrily grabbed back the papers and pushed Ji Yunshu away.
She then roared, her voice choked with emotions. "This is meant to save Ye'er, but it's all been ruined by you! You ruined it. Now, what am I going to do? It's all your fault!"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean… I…"
"Get out of the way!" she pushed Ji Yunshu's shoulder ruthlessly and ran to pick the papers which flew further away.
Ji Yunshu got up and chased after her, but she quickly lost sight of the woman.
Suddenly, someone else bumped into her back. The force made her stagger to the side. Fortunately, she collided into another person’s chest, or she might have had to kiss the ground. Being pushed around left her in as much a mess and she cut quite a sorry figure. Then, an umbrella appeared above her and blocked the rain.
"Shu'er, are you alright?" Wei Yi's voice sounded in her ear.
She lifted her eyes and met with his pure ones. He looked at her and his eyes glowed with distress. She was completely drenched, but he didn't let go of her as he tightly hugged her.
"Shu'er, why are you drenched like this? Aren't you cold? Don't worry! I'll hug you so you won't get cold."
Wrapped in his arms, she felt his warmth wash through her. She couldn't restrain her body from trembling.
She soon freed herself, pushing him away lightly. "Why are you in this place?" she asked.
"Big Brother Mo Ruo is not here, so I went out."
Ji Yunshu shivered from the cold. She knew she would need something to support herself if she went on. Her teeth chattered as a natural reaction. "Wei Yi, can you piggy-back me home?"
"Sure!" he answered without hesitation.
Then, he bent down to allow her to climb on his back; her hands fastened around his neck, and her head rested weakly on his broad shoulder. Although she was weak, she could still give him directions. Seeing them like this was like déjà vu.
Wei Yi walked towards Bamboo Creek Garden, accelerating his pace when remembered how drenched Ji Yunshu was. Yet, despite his worries, he could still chatter along the way.
"Shu'er, it's been a long time since I’ve seen you. You have not visited Big Brother Mo Ruo's place for a long time. I thought you had forgotten about me, so I cried a lot at night."
"Shu'er, I can now examine sick people. Big Brother Mo Ruo said people, whose faces have a yellow tint and who have a white tongue suffer from a liver deficiency. People whose foreheads are pale, and have sunken cheeks with discomfort in the chest could have lung problems, and…"
"Yesterday, Big Brother Ah Si gave me a brush. He said my writing was ugly. He also taught me some words. I can now write better the words you taught me. When you come to see me the next time, I'll show you."
"Shu'er, Shu'er…"
Ji Yunshu listened to him patiently, never interrupting him or responding.
His stride was fast and steady. When he looked back, he saw Ji Yunshu drowsily nodding on his shoulder. He whispered, "Shu'er, let me sing something nice for you, alright?"
Ji Yunshu nodded. Wei Yi gleefully started singing "The Ideal Man."
"In the past,
the gentle breeze blew,
The young Zhao returns,
Eyes filled with Puyang's landscape.
From young, he was a man of books,
When he left,
The winds and snows tempered him,
Through months, after months…"
After their return to Bamboo Creek Garden, Ji Yunshu broke into a fever, and she lied on her bed, her mind all muddled. A maidservant hurriedly left to find a doctor. After many visits, her temperature lowered under their care.
Finally, she fell into a deep slumber.
Sometimes, Shi Zijin would change her clothes. If it wasn't for her, Ji Yunshu's real identity would have long been exposed. After a long rest, Ji Yunshu was awoken because she was burning up.
She glanced around and saw Wei Yi sleeping at her bedside. His head was resting on her bed, revealing his nape. At that time, the red petal shaped birthmark was in full view. She stretched out her hand and poked it.
The sensation of Ji Yunshu's finger against his skin roused him from his sleep. He raised his head and looked at her with drowsy eyes.
He grabbed her eyes and rejoiced. "Shu'er, you're awake. You really scared me. Next time, you can't get wet in the rain. Mother says soaking up all the rain will get you sick."
"I'm fine now."
"That's good then. Shu'er has to listen to me obediently."
She hummed in agreement.
Wei Yi blinked, remembering something. He fished something out from his sleeve in a hurry. It took him a moment, but he finally pulled out a red blood jade. "Shu'er, I give you back your jade. When I carried you back, it fell out. Fortunately, I picked it up for you."
The fine, smooth jade laid flatly in his palm.
She reached for it. "That jade is a memento your father left for you. It's better if you keep it."
She placed the jade pendant back into his palm.
However, before she could complete her action, he hid his hands behind his back. He clearly disagreed with her.
"I don't want it. I’m giving it to you, so it's now yours. I don't want it back."
Ji Yunshu propped herself up and sat on her bed. She examined the jade pendant in her hand.
It was blood jade of the finest quality. Her fingertips lightly stroked its uneven surface. She had never seen up close that kind of jade.
On the refined jade, there was a lifelike carving of a tiger's upper body with a moon crescent on its left side. When she flipped the jade, she could see a big "Xu" carved on the back.
She had to admit Lord Wei's jade was pretty tasteful. It could be seen this was a one-of-kind object.
"Wei Yi, your father wanted you to have it. It should be kept by your side."
"No!" Wei Yi was adamant. "I gave it to Shu'er. Could it be that you don't like it?"
"Of course not."
"Then, please accept my gift. It's yours anyway!" He beamed at her a naive smile.
As they argued over the jade, a maidservant entered with a sheet of dried paper. She walked over and said, "Teacher Ji, is this yours? I found it in your wet clothes."
She handed over the paper.
Ji Yunshu took it and gave it a glance. She recognized it as the piece of paper she had picked up for that woman she bumped into before.
Without this page, the petition for an appeal would remain incomplete. Unfortunately, due to the water, the ink on it had been smeared and lots of details had been lost. She could only make out the general meaning of its content. The object of this appeal was a girl called Ye'er who was involved in a homicide case three years ago. The rest of the paper was unintelligible.
Since this was a request for an appeal, anyone who did not live in the capital had no option but to travel all the way there with the proper documents to request a reinvestigation.
Ji Yunshu felt a pang of guilt when she recalled the woman's nervousness and panic as she picked up the ruined document.
Grenn’s Rants Corner
An arc has ended and a new one begins.
Chapter 302 – Buddha
Ji Yunshu folded that piece of paper and hid it underneath her pillow.
Wei Yi stared at it and scratched his head in curiosity, "Shu'er, what's that?"
"It's nothing."
"Oh!" Wei Yi probed no further.
Ji Yunshu properly kept Wei Yi's jade pendant and glanced outside, only just realizing it was already nightfall. She caressed Wei Yi's head, speaking gently, "It's already so late – you don't have to keep me company anymore. Quickly, go rest."
"Is Shu'er trying to chase me away?" Wei Yi felt wronged.
"No," Ji Yunshu shook her head, "Keep me company these few days; don't return to Yuhua Pavillion."
"Really?" Wei Yi's eyes lit up with surprise and disbelief.
Ji Yunshu nodded affirmatively, "Good boy, now go rest, Wei Yi."
"Mm, then I'll come look for Shu'er first thing in the morning tomorrow." Wei Yi hopped away and went to bed.
Looking at Wei Yi's excited silhouette, Ji Yunshu's gaze darkened. With Kong Yu's death, Mo Ruo must have been in great despair and it was not difficult to see why he would turn to drown his sorrows in alcohol. Hence, having Wei Yi by her side was the most appropriate in this period. At this, Ji Yunshu sighed.
She could no longer sleep, and she dressed herself simply in some robes when she felt comfortable enough. She stood outside in the corridor, her figure and rosy cheeks highlighted by the faintest flames emanating from the two red lanterns hanging above. The cold, harsh winds were still blowing in the deep night, but luckily, the rain had stopped; it was the beginning of April, and the climate should have brightened up with the change of seasons.
A shadowy figure dropped down to her side, keeping her company for a very long time. Ji Yunshu glanced over at Shi Zijin and asked, "How is it?"
She replied, "The palace is in a state of chaos and disarray. His Majesty has ordered to keep the Crown Prince's rebellion a secret from the public, only stating that the Crown Prince has passed away from illness, and the Crown Princess followed suit out of grief. His Majesty also ordered that they would be buried in the imperial tombs in three days."
"Anything else?"
"There's nothing else."
"Mm," Ji Yunshu mumbled, then frowned, "Well, what about Prince Rong?"
"He has already been released from the Supreme Court Prison and headed straight for the palace. He is still keeping watch there." Shi Zijin answered monotonously.
Ji Yunshu did not question further, only wrapping her arms around her shivering shoulders, with an unexplainable sense of unease hanging over her. Shi Zijin asked, "Teacher, are you really not planning on telling Prince Rong?"
"What about?" Ji Yunshu pretended to not understand.
"About your deal with Prince Yi, and the missing heir that Old General Li mentioned, about Miss Kong's murders – do you plan to keep all this from Prince Rong?"
Ji Yunshu's fingers curled up into fists, not answering. She wrapped her robes more tightly around herself, saying, "You wouldn't understand – there are some things better left unsaid; the more one knows, the more one would have to consider and pay attention to. I don't want him to suffer like me."
Shi Zijin felt like she could understand Ji Yunshu's stance, but she was not entirely sure.
Ji Yunshu stood in the corridor all night, not sleeping a wink. As dawn broke, the weather improved, hues of orange dyeing the white sky, bringing a sense of warmth and life to the day.
Wei Yi woke up extremely early that morning and returned to Ji Yunshu's chambers to have breakfast, chattering excitedly to no end. Ji Yunshu only had two bites before stopping and kept filling up Wei Yi's bowl with meat. He had gotten slimmer since spending time at Yuhua Pavillion.
"Shu'er, I dreamt about you yesterday – you were wearing a bridal gown and sitting in the sedan. Then, I kicked the sedan door and piggybacked you out. We paid our respects to the heavens, and even spent our newlywed night together!"
Pfft! Ji Yunshu rapped her chopsticks smartly on his head, "What are you thinking about! Eat up, I'll take you out once you finish your breakfast."
Wei Yi rubbed his sore head and was about to protest, but he immediately lit up at Ji Yunshu's words. "Okay!" He hurriedly stuffed himself with rice, cheeks puffing.
Ji Yunshu kept her word and brought Wei Yi around once he finished his meal. Along the way, Wei Yi tugged at her sleeves, asking continuously about their destination but received no reply. They arrived at the Kong Estate after about an hour. There were no white mourning lanterns or silks hung outside the estate gates, and nothing looked amiss, save for a sense of loneliness. Since Kong Yu had married into the royal family and was crowned 'princess', her body could not be returned to the Kong Family, let alone be buried within the Kong Family tombs; they were to adhere to imperial traditions strictly, and Kong Yu could only be buried within the imperial tombs.
Ji Yunshu knocked on the gates. A servant opened the door and peeked outside, "Who are you?"
"This humble one is here to see Madame Kong."
"The Madame is not seeing any guests," he refuted immediately.
Ji Yunshu was calm, "This one only wishes to see Madame Kong, may I trouble you to bring a message, saying that the Princess' last wishes have not been fulfilled." The servant's face paled at Ji Yunshu's words, and he quickly shut the door and scurried away. He returned a while later and invited Ji Yunshu in through the slightest crack in the estate gates.
As Ji Yunshu followed the servant into the courtyard, she turned back to Wei Yi, "Stay in this courtyard and keep yourself busy for a while – I'll bring you back when you're tired, okay?"
"Okay!" Wei Yi was pleased with the courtyard full of peach blossoms, and he quickly scuttled into the garden, nowhere to be seen.
Ji Yunshu followed the servant to a temple within the estate. Madame Kong was always religious and spent her time devoted to the Buddha within these temple grounds, waiting for the day she would eventually ascend to nirvana. Ji Yunshu could not help but cringe as she entered the temple – she could stand the stench of blood or rotting flesh, but she could not, for some reason, bear the smells of the burning candles and incense. There was something unsettling about it!
Madame Kong was kneeling before a Buddha idol, 99 Buddhist prayer beads in one hand, chanting with her eyes closed and unmoved by the outside world. Her own daughter was dead, but she was still here chanting mantras – what magnanimity!
Ji Yunshu walked up to her and knelt beside her on the straw cushion, placing her palms together as she looked up at the Guanyin statue before her. Ji Yunshu said, "This one has never believed in religion, but I want to believe in it once this time. The Buddha Bodhi states that one should aim to deliver life from suffering, the core of the faith is within oneself and about forgiveness. The Buddhist beliefs explain that there are eight types of suffering in life – the pain of life, the pain of growing old, the pain of falling ill, the pain of dying, the pain of anger, the pain of losing one's freedom, the pain of not fulfilling one's needs, and the pain of worldly desires. These are borne from greed, and so the Buddha has always emphasized that the creation and destruction in the world were always up to and decided by fate; nothing should be forced and one should go with the flow." These words were obviously aimed at Madame Kong.
Madame Kong's hands stopped and she took a deep breath, "Is Teacher acquainted with the Buddha?"
Grenn’s Rants Corner
I feel Madame Kong threw herself into Buddhist, mentioning about fate because her life is something that has always been out of her control, which is also the reality of most women in ancient China.