Chapter 19#
Chapter 19#
The sunlight was like gold leaf sprinkled over the mortal world—the best weather since the beginning of spring. It was an auspicious day and hour, suitable for going out, for marriage, and for sacrifices; everything was flourishing.
Except for funerals.
Gongs and drums filled the air, firecrackers roared, red silk fluttered in the wind, and flowers paved the entire path. A touch of bright red was added to the golden and solemn imperial palace, festive and lively.
Lin Huaiyu woke up to the sound of music. He felt extremely uncomfortable and had no strength to move. He could only slowly turn his gaze toward the window. The high-flung fragments of firecrackers rose into the clouds, visible even from Qinchun Palace; it truly was a celebration for all.
Lin Huaiyu moved slightly, propping himself up. Looking at the fireworks in the sky outside, a trace of imperceptible loneliness appeared in his eyes.
The person who had been lying by his side last night had gone early today to marry someone else. How ironic.
Outside, the drums and music were loud, and the flutes and pipes never ceased, but Qinchun Palace was quiet and cold.
Lin Huaiyu watched for a while until his body could no longer support him. He lowered his eyes, hiding the loneliness in his heart, and couldn’t help but start coughing. In an instant, blood overflowed from the corner of his lips. Lin Huaiyu hurriedly wiped it with his sleeve.
Looking at the bloodstains on his sleeve, he let out a bitter laugh and said to the palace servants outside, “It’s a bit cold in the room. Bring a charcoal brazier.”
The palace servants outside felt the warmth coming from the vigorous floor heating in the room and didn’t know why Lin Huaiyu still wanted a charcoal brazier when the room was so hot.
But they didn’t dare to question him at all. Everyone knew that even the Emperor didn’t dare to disobey Lin Huaiyu’s words. They could only bow and say, “Yes.”
The palace servants moved quickly. The charcoal brazier was burning vigorously, with sparks jumping out from inside. It was moved into Lin Huaiyu’s bedroom, and Lin Huaiyu pointed near the desk, saying, “Put it here.”
The palace servant nodded and did as told.
Lin Huaiyu looked at him while covering his cough with his sleeve, the metallic taste of blood spreading in his mouth. He said somewhat vaguely, “You don’t need to serve here anymore. Leave.”
“Yes.” The palace servant didn’t suspect anything; whatever the master said, they did.
Having dismissed the palace servant, Lin Huaiyu looked at the crackling charcoal brazier and took out the hidden brocade box. He picked up the worn hand-warmer, rubbed it gently with his thumb, and then moved it over the charcoal brazier.
Lin Huaiyu’s eyes were filled with the dark red of the burning charcoal. His fingertips loosened, and the hand-warmer fell into the brazier, instantly igniting the fire inside. The tongues of fire licked the hand-warmer, gradually swallowing it.
Lin Huaiyu’s eyelashes trembled, and he took out the various things he had personally made that were inside, throwing them one by one into the charcoal brazier. The flames in the brazier became even more vigorous because of the items placed inside. The burning fire was like a net swallowing everything within it, slowly consuming them all.
Lin Huaiyu stood up while coughing, his illness worsening. His entire body was trembling. Most of the books on the desk were things he had written, as well as some of his writings, annotations, and lists he had written.
Lin Huaiyu clutched these things in his hand and let out a soft sigh, his gaze slightly dim.
A moment later, he threw these things into the charcoal brazier without hesitation. The pages with Lin Huaiyu’s elegant handwriting were ignited by the flames and then swallowed, like butterflies dancing in the fire.
Lin Huaiyu burned everything that could be burned and watched the firelight silently for a long time. Then, as if remembering something, he walked back to the low cabinet. The only thing left in the drawer was a safety talisman that Lin Fei had brought him a few days ago.
Clutching the small brocade pouch in his hand, the smell of incense from Lingshan Temple still remained on it. Lin Huaiyu’s gaze paused slightly as someone walked in from the door.
Lin Fei looked at the burning charcoal brazier, feeling uncomfortable in his heart. “Master, can’t we take these things with us?”
Lin Fei knew that those books were all Lin Huaiyu’s hard work, and those other things were all personally made or personally sought by Lin Huaiyu.
Lin Huaiyu shook his head gently. “There’s no need.”
Lin Fei let out a soft sigh. He knew his master was resolute and stopped trying to persuade him. “Master, the carriage is ready. I’m just waiting for you to come over. I’ve also arranged everything else.”
He was even somewhat glad for Lin Huaiyu’s resoluteness. Given Lin Huaiyu’s current health, it was better to break ties with this imperial palace and that Emperor early.
Lin Huaiyu nodded gently and moved the safety talisman in his hand over the charcoal brazier. Seeing this, Lin Fei couldn’t help but try to persuade him again: “This was sought by Master after praying for forty-nine days at Lingshan Temple. Keeping it for yourself would be good too.”
He felt it wasn’t worth it—not worth it for Lin Huaiyu. Lin Huaiyu had given so much, yet in the end, he ended up with such a miserable outcome.
Hearing this, Lin Huaiyu loosened his hand, and the safety talisman fell straight into the fire. He smiled shallowly, the leaping firelight reflected in his eyes, which were clear instead. “What I prayed for in my heart was to pray for the Emperor’s blessings. Keeping it for myself wouldn’t have any effect.”
Lin Fei watched the safety talisman being swallowed by the fire and sparks, secretly calling it a pity.
But then his gaze was drawn to Lin Huaiyu. Lin Huaiyu had lowered his hand, and his pale lips, which had been covered by his sleeve, were stained red with blood. Blood flowed continuously from the corner of the other’s lips—a shocking sight.
Lin Fei hurriedly ran to Lin Huaiyu’s side and supported him. Feeling the other’s weakness, he cried out, “Master!”
Lin Huaiyu waved his hand and, following Lin Fei’s strength, went to the bed to sit down. But his cough became even more serious, like an unstoppable force that couldn’t be blocked. He even directly spit out a large mouthful of blood.
Lin Fei was startled and hurriedly helped Lin Huaiyu lie down. He hastily called out to someone, “Quick! Quick, call the Imperial Physician!”
Lin Huaiyu didn’t have time to stop him. But even if he didn’t stop him, the palace servants outside would definitely take action seeing him like this.
Lin Huaiyu looked at the returning Lin Fei and motioned for him to come closer, whispering, “When they return, not a single person from Qinchun Palace can be let out, understand?”
Lin Fei nodded. Lin Huaiyu had already explained everything to him in the letter, but Lin Huaiyu hadn’t told him he would spit up blood!
He looked at Lin Huaiyu with a face full of nervousness: “Master… you’ve spit up blood…”
Lin Huaiyu smiled shallowly and wanted to wave his hand, but only raised it an inch before it fell weakly. He had lost all his strength by now, but he still forced himself to say, “I’m fine.”
Lin Fei looked at Lin Huaiyu’s pale face. That already fair face was now as white as paper, his breath as thin as silk, looking even weaker than in previous days.
A bad premonition rose in his heart, and he said nervously, “Master, what exactly is wrong with you? Did the Emperor… did the Emperor use torture on you? Was he wary of your high position and power?”
Lin Huaiyu looked at Lin Fei with a shallow smile. This child was very smart, having guessed about ninety percent of it.
Su Yang was indeed wary of him. The more intelligent one was, the more calculating and scheming, and with real power, the more one was feared—let alone the Son of Heaven.
Even though he had once assisted Su Yang and pushed him onto the throne, no powerful official ended up with anything other than the fate of “the cunning rabbit dies, the hound is cooked; the birds are gone, the bow is hidden.”
He would be no exception.
As they were speaking, a sound of footsteps came from the door; it wasn’t just one Imperial Physician who had come.
Lin Huaiyu’s gaze landed on Zhou Li, but Zhou Li gave him a helpless look, though he immediately noticed the blood on Lin Huaiyu’s body and was shocked.
Coughing up blood and spitting up blood were two different things. If it was coughing up blood, although serious, his life could still be hung by precious medicinal materials—hanging on for half a year was still possible. But if it was spitting up blood…
Looking at Lin Huaiyu like this, he was afraid… his end was near.
Lin Huaiyu wiped the blood from the corner of his lips while looking over, but this time, the rising blood couldn’t be suppressed no matter what. It continuously overflowed from Lin Huaiyu’s mouth. He subconsciously wanted to catch it, but the blood fell into his palm and flowed from between his fingers—it was all to no avail.
Seeing this, Zhou Li hurriedly ran to Lin Huaiyu’s side to take his pulse. Lin Fei took a handkerchief to wipe the bloodstains from Lin Huaiyu’s palm while looking at Zhou Li nervously.
After a long time, Zhou Li let go of his hand, let it hang by his side, and said helplessly, “Master Lin, please forgive my incompetence. This poison has already eroded your heart’s meridians; there’s no way to save you.”
Lin Fei’s eyes widened, and he looked at Lin Huaiyu: “What?! How could this happen? Master’s health was clearly just poor; how did it become untreatable after two months in the palace?!”
He looked at Zhou Li again and asked frantically, “Did you see it wrong? Look again, write a prescription? How could Master… how could he be about to die?!”
Zhou Li shook his head and said directly, “Master Lin has already spit up blood, proving the poison has entered his internal organs and eroded his heart’s meridians. I will not misjudge. If Master doesn’t believe it, you can let other colleagues take a look.”
Zhou Li was about to leave when Lin Huaiyu stopped him: “Director Zhou, I said I would leave you your life, and naturally I won’t break my word. But if the Director thinks himself clever and wants to play some little tricks with me, I don’t know if I can still protect your life.”
Zhou Li’s heart suddenly missed a beat. He had indeed been thinking that since Lin Huaiyu didn’t have long to live and looked like he wouldn’t survive the day, he could take the opportunity to report to the Emperor to clear his own name, but he didn’t expect to be seen through by Lin Huaiyu immediately.
A fox truly is a fox—old and calculating.
Zhou Li had no choice but to stop his steps. But while he didn’t move, the palace servants outside heard Zhou Li say Lin Huaiyu was beyond medical help and were preparing to go report to the Emperor. Lin Huaiyu didn’t even raise his eyelids: “Xiao Fei, restrain them. If a single living creature walks out of Qinchun Palace today, don’t blame me for being heartless.”
The several palace servants outside immediately knelt on the ground. The entire Qinchun Palace was silent, making the sound of the firecrackers from outside particularly piercing.
Lin Huaiyu leaned on the bed, listening to the investiture ceremony slowly proceeding outside. At this moment, Su Yang and Bai Jianqing should be walking toward the sacrificial altar separately.
Ten miles of red makeup, with flowers and firecrackers everywhere, and the civil and military officials offering congratulations—it was so lively.
Lin Huaiyu felt his eyelids were a bit heavy, and the blood in his mouth was still continuously overflowing. It seemed he had an endless supply of blood to spit out. In the end, Lin Huaiyu could only let the blood overflow from his mouth, staining his collar red.
The several Imperial Physicians saw this and looked at each other. They had all followed the Emperor’s orders; if anything happened to Master Lin today, they would all have to pay with their lives.
An Imperial Physician had an idea. Seeing only Lin Fei alone, he thought Lin Fei probably wouldn’t be able to block them. He moved, preparing to slip away. In the blink of an eye, Lin Fei was in front of him: “Where is this master going?”
The Imperial Physician’s pupils shrank. Lin Huaiyu’s guard was actually so powerful; the wind hadn’t even stayed by his side, yet this guard had already stopped in front of him, a blade at his neck. He hurriedly knelt but insincerely pretended to care for Lin Huaiyu: “Master Lin is already like this; are you going to just watch him die?”
Lin Fei sneered. He hadn’t seen anyone care about his master’s health before. The Lin Manor had been cold and quiet, without even a single visitor. Every one of them wanted Master Lin to die. Now that it affected themselves, they didn’t want anything to happen to his master.
How ridiculous.
Lin Fei’s blade was at the Imperial Physician’s neck as he said coldly, “My master said no one can step out of Qinchun Palace today. I only listen to my master’s words!”
The Imperial Physician was so angry his teeth itched, but he didn’t dare to move, fearing the sharp blade would cut his skin: “Even if your master dies because of you, are you still going to do this?!”
Lin Fei looked back. Lin Huaiyu on the bed was constantly vomiting blood, looking extremely painful. He tightened his grip on the blade and said through gritted teeth, “Yes.”
His master had just ordered that no matter what happened, not a single living creature could leave Qinchun Palace today, so he could only do this.
His master said he would leave the palace with him; he certainly wouldn’t break his word. He believed in his master.
The Imperial Physician shook his head, his face ashen. “Blindly loyal! Truly blindly loyal!”
The sound of firecrackers pierced the sky and swallowed the curses.
Lin Huaiyu listened to the sound of ritual music outside, and as if experiencing a final burst of energy, stopped spitting up blood. He wiped the corner of his lips with his sleeve and propped himself up on the edge of the bed.
Lin Fei’s eyes lit up when he saw him get up: “Master!”
But Zhou Li’s expression was very ugly; how could he not see what state Lin Huaiyu’s body was currently in.
In this current situation, it was a death either way. If Lin Huaiyu died, the Emperor wouldn’t let them off, but if they got up now, they would be killed by Lin Huaiyu on the spot.
But Lin Huaiyu beckoned to Zhou Li: “Director Zhou, please come forward.”
Zhou Li was somewhat confused but walked up as told.
Lin Huaiyu took out a golden token from under his pillow and handed it to Zhou Li. Zhou Li took a closer look and his eyes widened. He looked at Lin Huaiyu in disbelief and asked, “Master Lin… what do you mean by this?”
Lin Huaiyu’s smile was very weak, but his expression was clear and shallow, showing no trace of wretchedness. He said faintly, “This thing might be able to save your lives. I promised you back then that as long as Director Zhou kept my secret, I would naturally keep your lives safe.”
Zhou Li’s pupils were shocked. He took the death-exemption gold token with trembling hands, feeling his palm was heavy.
He had thought that at the time Lin Huaiyu just wanted to threaten him, and even at the end, Lin Huaiyu probably wouldn’t let him go. But he didn’t expect that Lin Huaiyu would actually take out the death-exemption gold token.
He remembered the origin of this gold token; it was personally bestowed upon Lin Huaiyu by Su Yang on the day he ascended the throne. At that time, Lin Huaiyu’s power was unparalleled, above ten thousand and below only one person—he truly was powerful. Many people wanted him dead, but not a single person could truly take Lin Huaiyu’s life.
And now, the cunning rabbit dies, the hound is cooked. Others might not know, but Zhou Li knew what Lin Huaiyu had experienced in the palace.
He took the gold token and bowed deeply to Lin Huaiyu.
He had also been like other people, thinking Lin Huaiyu was cold-hearted and used cruel means. Although his body was weak and he didn’t know martial arts, he was deeply calculating and could easily take a person’s life while strategizing. He didn’t even care about imperial grandchildren or nobles, treating human life like grass.
But only today did he realize that Lin Huaiyu was not as the world rumored.
“Leave.” Lin Huaiyu spoke softly.
Everyone withdrew from Lin Huaiyu’s bedroom and knelt outside Qinchun Palace. Lin Fei still watched them, not letting them go.
Lin Huaiyu swallowed the metallic sweetness in his throat, picked up other books on the table, and walked to the charcoal brazier. His expression was weary as he ignited the book. The tongues of fire immediately licked the book. He used that ignited book to light the bed curtains, setting Qinchun Palace on fire.
“Fire! It’s on fire!” The people kneeling outside watched the fire ignite inside Qinchun Palace and pointed inside while looking at Lin Fei.
Lin Fei remained unmoved, still managing them: “Don’t move!”
Those people were as anxious as fire: “It’s on fire! Aren’t we going to put it out? Master Lin is still inside!”
Lin Fei looked at the intensity of the fire, then looked in the direction of the sacrificial investiture ceremony, and passed the words Lin Huaiyu had taught him to everyone present in a cold tone: “Master Lin knows his days are numbered and has immolated himself in Qinchun Palace. He only wishes for clear rivers and calm seas, prosperity across the four seas, the flourishing of the Great Yong nation’s destiny, and long live the Emperor, long live, long live.”