Chapter 26#
Chapter 26#
A bright moon hung in the sky, stars reflecting each other, dotting everyone’s night curtain with shimmering colors. The spring night was incredibly vibrant.
The Qionglin Banquet for the new top scholar was a necessary program after every spring imperial examination.
A banquet was set in the Imperial Garden, with all the civil and military officials coming to congratulate, making it very lively.
“I thought that for this year’s Qionglin Banquet, the Emperor wouldn’t want to hold it.” An official spoke softly with another before Su Yang arrived.
Others also nodded: “I thought so too. But since the spring examinations, the Emperor has even started attending court again. Could it be that he has moved on from Lord Lin’s matter?”
That person let out a snort and said: “You all told me before that the Emperor’s health was deteriorating, speaking so urgently it scared me. It turns out it was just the Emperor missing the Imperial Teacher and unable to move on. Now that a year has passed, it’s about time he moved on.”
Another person felt something wasn’t right and said: “But I think it’s wrong. If the Emperor has moved on, then why haven’t the wanted posters across the land been taken down? Speaking of which, it’s strange; Lord Lin had no possibility of survival in that fire, yet the Emperor firmly believes that Lord Lin must still be alive and insists on finding him.”
Someone else chimed in: “Since the person hasn’t been found, does this count as the Emperor… waking up in time?”
“In my opinion… the Emperor’s feelings for Lord Lin are a bit excessive.”
“Our Emperor lost his mother at a young age, and the late Emperor toward the Emperor… cough. Lord Lin, as the Emperor’s teacher, even raised the Emperor; naturally the feelings are deep, which is beyond reproach.”
“But it shouldn’t be to this extent…”
As they were discussing in low voices, a figure happened to enter the doorway.
That person, in the red robe of a top scholar, was tall and elegant, humble and polite, making one’s eyes light up.
It was Fang Zhixu’s first time seeing such a scene. Although he had already seen the various Lords in court, he was still a bit nervous at this moment—not that he was stage-frightened, but facing so many gazes was somewhat unnatural.
After all, no one in the court would pay attention to him, but the Qionglin Banquet was specifically set up for him, the second-place scholar, and the third-place scholar. The focus of everyone’s gaze was the three of them, especially him, the top scholar.
As soon as he entered the banquet, someone handed a wine cup to him: “Top scholar, congratulations, congratulations. In the future, you will be working under Lord Zhao Xiangyi; your future is limitless.”
Fang Zhixu hurriedly took the wine cup. He could talk eloquently in court, but at this moment he was somewhat reserved. Regarding social interaction… uh… Teacher didn’t teach that!!!
He could only take the wine cup, his face turning red as he downed it: “Many thanks for the Lord’s kind words.”
Unfortunately, he couldn’t drink. After one cup, he immediately began to cough, his sleeve covering half his face as he coughed for a long time.
Several people around immediately began to laugh: “Our new top scholar’s tolerance for wine isn’t very good; practice more. In the future, when we set a table at the Spring River Banquet, the top scholar must grace us with your presence.”
Fang Zhixu nodded with a smile. He knew that the reason these court officials treated him this way today was all because of Zhao Xiangyi, or rather, the Emperor’s attitude toward him.
As soon as Zhao Xiangyi entered, he saw Fang Zhixu being forced to drink, and came over to smooth things over: “Lords, since the top scholar’s wine tolerance isn’t good, this fine wine shouldn’t be wasted.”
Seeing him arrive, several Lords began to toast Zhao Xiangyi.
Nowadays, Zhao Xiangyi could be considered to hold a high and powerful position in court, sitting very firmly in the position of Director of the Hanlin Academy. He was even the first choice for the currently proposed position of Chancellor. Although his influence in court couldn’t compare to Lin Huaiyu’s back then, he was also unparalleled for a time.
With everyone’s attention on Zhao Xiangyi, Fang Zhixu finally had a rare moment of peace. That wine was likely the strong wine offered as tribute by Great Chu; even now, his throat still felt a fiery burning.
He covered his lips and let out a few more low coughs.
“The Emperor has arrived—” a palace servant shouted at the top of his lungs.
Everyone hurriedly put down their wine cups and knelt: “Greetings to Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long live, long live.”
Su Yang stepped into the banquet and saw Fang Zhixu covering his face and coughing lightly at a glance. His gaze tightened instantly, and his breathing even stopped for a moment.
In that instant, he thought he had seen Lin Huaiyu.
Clearly, this person’s appearance and figure had no similarity to Lin Huaiyu’s, yet for some reason, everywhere showed such consistency with Lin Huaiyu’s behavior and habits.
Just why was this?
Could it be that Lin Huaiyu really changed his appearance and figure for the sake of the people of Great Yong and returned to his side, yet was unwilling to recognize him?
There was no lack of capable people among the common folk who could completely transform a person into someone else.
Could it be that Fang Zhixu really was Lin Huaiyu?
For a moment, Su Yang was actually in a mess in his heart.
Not until the De Fu beside him reminded him did he realize with a start that the others were still kneeling.
Su Yang’s gaze never moved away from Fang Zhixu, only saying: “Rise.”
Only then did everyone let out a sigh of relief.
Su Yang looked at Fang Zhixu for a long time, the corners of his lips curling up slightly. An ambiguous smile rippled on his lips, inexplicably making one’s skin crawl: “New top scholar Fang Zhixu, I have read your article again; it’s truly not bad. Today is your great day of joy; I bestow wine.”
Fang Zhixu was startled and hurriedly raised his wine cup, saying to Su Yang: “Many thanks to Your Majesty for bestowing wine.”
After Su Yang finished his wine, he saw Fang Zhixu unable to adapt to the strong wine and covering his face and coughing again—that appearance was indeed identical to Lin Huaiyu’s.
Back then, when Lin Huaiyu became the top scholar, he was also bestowed wine by the Emperor in this Qionglin Banquet and congratulated by everyone. At that time, Su Yang had slipped out from the Cold Palace and almost forgot to breathe when he saw Lin Huaiyu in red surrounded in the center.
Lin Huaiyu was not good at drinking, and the wine of Great Chu was very strong. He also covered his face and coughed lightly like this, while not wanting to lose his composure, enduring the strong wine burning his throat, even the corners of his eyes stained with a red flush.
That fair, peerless face was a dream Su Yang could never forget.
While thinking, he drank the wine at his hand.
He didn’t continue speaking, nor did he immediately test Fang Zhixu, but just sat there, his gaze lingering on Fang Zhixu.
With Su Yang’s start, other officials also began to congratulate the new top scholar.
This time, it was something Fang Zhixu couldn’t escape even if he wanted to.
He could only let cup after cup of wine enter his stomach, coughing while drinking, and also had to face Su Yang’s searching gaze; he simply wanted to dig a hole and bury himself on the spot.
Teacher, oh Teacher, you didn’t say that becoming the top scholar meant having to be forced to drink!
After three rounds of wine, Fang Zhixu, a newcomer who had never drunk before, was long ago drunk. Not only him, but some ministers with poor wine tolerance were also already slumped on the table.
Only then did Su Yang put down the wine cup in his hand, his thumb rubbing the rim of the cup, like a hunter silently fixing his gaze on his prey: “Fang Zhixu.”
Although Fang Zhixu was drunk, hearing Su Yang call him, he still knew he had to step forward to reply, but his walk was stumbling: “Your servant is here.”
Su Yang looked at him with a smile, but his gaze held an ambiguous danger: “Your article was written so excellently; it actually reminded me of a person. Guess who it is?”
By now, Fang Zhixu no longer knew what was heaven or earth, and spoke up: “I heard Lord Zhao say it; I’m a bit like… hmm… the late Chancellor Lin Huaiyu.”
Hearing the two words “late,” Su Yang’s narrow eyes narrowed, and the pressure around him dropped even lower.
However, no one sensed this danger at this moment, and naturally Fang Zhixu couldn’t sense it either.
Su Yang didn’t immediately make trouble, only saying faintly: “Your news is quite well-informed. I am merely somewhat curious; was your article-writing technique taught by someone?”
Fang Zhixu, drunk, forgot that Teacher had once instructed him not to mention him to anyone after coming to the capital, and said all at once: “In our town, there is a private school teacher. He is brimming with talent, possessed of immense learning, and teaches us when he has nothing to do. If I’m to be honest, I am ashamed that I haven’t even learned one ten-thousandth of Teacher’s knowledge.”
Hearing the other had a teacher who taught him, Su Yang’s interest was instantly piqued. Fang Zhixu indeed wasn’t Lin Huaiyu, then perhaps his teacher would be the person he was longing for.
Su Yang’s gaze focused slightly, and he followed up: “Since that teacher of yours is so capable, why didn’t he come to the capital to participate in the imperial examinations? Since you say you’re not even one ten-thousandth as good as your teacher, if he came, Great Yong would have another capable talent.”
Fang Zhixu smiled and waved his hand in reply: “Teacher said he doesn’t like the capital. He is used to staying in the south and can’t stand the cold of the north.”
Su Yang’s dead heart seemed to come back to life, pounding wildly at this moment.
Lin Huaiyu was a southerner. Although he had stayed in the north for nearly eight years, every year when winter came, he feared that bone-chilling cold.
Su Yang couldn’t help asking: “Your teacher, he is very afraid of cold?”
Fang Zhixu nodded: “Teacher can’t even stand the cold of the south; I’m afraid the cold of the north would be even harder to endure.”
Su Yang said subconsciously: “The north has charcoal braziers, and my palace even has floor heating; the rooms won’t be cold.”
Fang Zhixu still shook his head and said: “Teacher said he doesn’t like the capital, so he won’t come.”
But Su Yang seemed to have heard something between the lines. His tone lightened as he asked tentatively, “He doesn’t like the capital; has he been here before?”
Fang Zhixu’s face was so red his mind was no longer very clear, shaking his head as if he would fall asleep in the next second: “This… I don’t know. Teacher didn’t say…”
Su Yang’s gaze flashed, and before Fang Zhixu fell asleep, he asked the most critical question: “Your teacher, what is his name?”
Perhaps it was the feeling of being close to home that made one timid; Su Yang was actually somewhat nervous at this moment. He even thought it would be fine if Fang Zhixu didn’t tell him; he could keep thinking with this suspicion.
But no one in this world could disobey the Son of Heaven, and it was impossible for Fang Zhixu not to answer him: “My teacher’s name is… Yuxi.”
Su Yang didn’t hear the name he wanted to hear, and a moment of disappointment surged out from his eyes. He waved his hand, stopped looking at Fang Zhixu, and left the banquet.
The cold wind slapped Su Yang’s face, making him a bit more sober.
Fang Zhixu wasn’t Lin Huaiyu, and his teacher wasn’t Lin Huaiyu either.
But if… it was just a changed name?
That person didn’t like the capital, was afraid of the cold…
Lin Huaiyu, by now, surely must not like the capital.
Could it be Lin Huaiyu?
Su Yang shook his head self-deprecatingly. Just a point of similarity, not even the name was right, yet it made him a mess like this…
He continued walking forward. De Fu knew the other’s mood was displeased and sensibly only followed from afar.
They all knew that Lin Huaiyu had died long ago in that fire. Everyone present at the time saw with their own eyes that Lin Huaiyu didn’t come out. With such a large fire, he must have been burned to ashes.
Walking in the Imperial Garden, as the snow fell, Su Yang remembered what he had once done to Lin Huaiyu in the Imperial Garden.
At the victory banquet, he was drunk and even drugged. His filthy feelings for Lin Huaiyu hidden in his heart eventually found full expression on Lin Huaiyu because of that drug and Lin Huaiyu saying he would propose to someone else.
That day was also this cold, seemingly even colder than today, and the snow was also larger than today. Lin Huaiyu, in his ill state, was humiliated by him in the Imperial Garden in the bone-chilling cold wind.
Lin Huaiyu was clearly so afraid of cold, yet at that time he completely disregarded it and injured Lin Huaiyu.
Su Yang stared with a heavy gaze at the place in the Imperial Garden where he had humiliated Lin Huaiyu, his heart aching like it was being twisted.
The scattered and torn robes seemed still before his eyes, and Lin Huaiyu’s peerless face enduring pain was also in his mind, so clear, yet in the next instant turning into a sharp sword piercing his heart.
With what kind of heart was Lin Huaiyu imprisoned in Qinchun Palace by him at that time?
He was wrong; if he really could find Lin Huaiyu, he would surely be very, very good to that person, as long as Lin Huaiyu was still willing.
But he couldn’t find Lin Huaiyu. That person left so resolutely, so cold-hearted that not a trace was revealed; otherwise, how could just a point of similarity throw his mind into such chaos?
He turned and was about to leave when suddenly a figure appeared in his vision. That person, in a red robe, was exceptionally conspicuous, standing in the Imperial Garden. The breeze lightly blew the hem of his robe, and the moonlight spilled over him, gentle and beautiful.
Su Yang thought he had returned to the time when Lin Huaiyu became the top scholar.
He walked gently toward the person in his vision, cautiously for fear of scaring the person away again.
If it’s a hallucination, then so be it; at least he could see Lin Huaiyu…
He approached, wanting to reach out his hand, while calling softly: “Teacher…”
Have you finally been willing to come back and see me once? I’ve missed you so much…
But the person turned and looked back, shattering his beautiful dream.
Fang Zhixu.
Fang Zhixu hurriedly lowered his head: “Your Majesty.”
Su Yang’s face instantly turned cold. He withdrew his hand and said coldly, “Why are you here?”
Fang Zhixu didn’t know how he had annoyed Su Yang, so he could only speak truthfully: “I was drunk and thought of having a breeze to sober up. Disturbing Your Majesty, I deserve ten thousand deaths.”
Su Yang closed his eyes and only said: “Forget it.”
Fang Zhixu hurriedly took his leave: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Su Yang watched Fang Zhixu’s departing back and rubbed his brow.
Why did he always see Fang Zhixu as Lin Huaiyu…
Clearly they weren’t alike at all.