Chapter 37#
Snow fell from the heavens, covering the land of Shenzhou and turning everything into a vast, pure white expanse.
The twenty-first year of Yonghe.
There were more palace servants sweeping the palace roads than usual. What the heavy snow covered was bright red, dripping blood, which, after being covered by the snow, seeped beneath the ice and frost.
Some palace servants couldn’t bear to see it and shivered as they worked. They couldn’t help but ask the older servant nearby: “What’s going on? Did something happen yesterday? How can there be so much blood on the palace roads?”
The elder servant glanced at him and whispered: “Weren’t you here yesterday?”
The young servant shook his head, his face turning pale: “I was on leave yesterday; I went home to see my brother.”
The elder sighed: “Then you’re truly lucky. There was a great battle in the palace yesterday; many people died on this road, and blood flowed like a river!”
The young servant’s eyes widened in shock: “This is inside the palace! Who would dare to be so blatant and kill so many people on the palace roads?”
The elder servant shook his head and sighed as he swept away what might have been snow or blood: “The second and third princes’ people were intercepted on this road. Somehow, they led troops into the palace. The one in the Eastern Palace… just succeeded the throne. Such actions would naturally be viewed with suspicion by His Majesty, so wasn’t that giving the Eastern Palace an opportunity to strike?”
The young servant nodded, only half-understanding: “So that’s how it is. How cruel… so much blood. If it weren’t covered by snow, it would probably look terrifying.”
The palace elder shook his head and said: “You didn’t see the scene of corpses everywhere yesterday. The palace servants who cleaned up the bodies were the most pitiful; quite a few of them vomited. It’s rare to see such a scene in the palace in a century. I heard His Majesty is furious, and who knows how he’ll deal with it.”
The young servant thought for a moment and analyzed: “Since it was the second and third princes who broke into the palace, and the Crown Prince was rightfully stopping them, if His Majesty is going to punish someone, it should be the second and third princes, right?”
The elder servant let out a cold laugh: “That’s why people say Lord Lin’s methods are brilliant.”
“Hmm? What does this have to do with Lord Lin?” the young servant couldn’t help but ask.
The servant smiled: “Don’t tell me you don’t even know Lord Lin?”
The young servant nodded: “Of course I know him; isn’t he the Crown Prince’s man?”
The elder servant said: “Yes, he allowed the Crown Prince to logically eliminate two such major rivals. Wouldn’t you say he’s formidable?”
The young servant realized: “That’s… too formidable. You’re saying all of this… was Lord Lin’s doing?”
The servant nodded and made a “shh” sound: “Alright, don’t talk about it everywhere. Just listen and let it go. The matters of those high and mighty people have nothing to do with us.”
The young servant immediately said: “I understand.”
But as they finished speaking, they saw the Chief Eunuch from His Majesty’s side walking over. He was in a hurry, carrying a cup… it looked like wine.
His pace didn’t affect the cup he was holding; not a single drop of liquid spilled from it.
The group of servants immediately diligently swept the palace road, not daring to look sideways.
The Chief Eunuch didn’t pay them any mind, walking straight past the blood-stained palace road.
After his figure completely disappeared, the young servant asked: “Isn’t that Eunuch Tao? Where is he going with that cup?”
The elder servant looked in the direction Tao Qibao was headed and guessed: “That’s the direction of the Eastern Palace. It seems His Majesty has made a decision.”
He was correct; Tao Qibao had indeed received an imperial decree and was heading for the Eastern Palace.
At the thought of what he was carrying, Tao Qibao couldn’t help but shiver. Even a deposed Crown Prince would only be sent to the Cold Palace, but this one who had just entered the Eastern Palace was being bestowed a cup of poisoned wine by His Majesty. Although the Crown Prince was told to decide for himself, it was clear that today, His Majesty would not let the Eastern Palace off easily.
He walked to the Eastern Palace with the wine. Everyone in the palace knew him, and no one dared to stop him. As soon as he entered the Eastern Palace and turned a corridor, he was intercepted. He looked toward another direction of the courtyard. A person in elegant purple robes was standing calmly under the corridor, a slight smile in his eyes. His gentle, jade-like temperament made even an eunuch like him stop and stare.
He stepped forward and said: “Lord Prime Minister is here as well.”
Lin Huaiyu’s gaze fell unobtrusively on the wine cup in Tao Qibao’s hand, and he smiled softly: “Has Eunuch Tao come to deliver a decree?”
Although he asked, he already knew the answer.
Tao Qibao nodded: “Indeed.”
Lin Huaiyu asked again: “Then may I ask if this official can hear this imperial decree?”
Actually, since Tao Qibao had been stopped by him and had come over to see him, it was clear there was room for choice in the decree; His Majesty’s decision was not solely aimed at Su Yang.
Tao Qibao and Lin Huaiyu had a silent understanding. He said directly: “His Majesty’s verbal decree: The palace is in constant internal strife, brothers are at each other’s throats, and the household is in turmoil. The Crown Prince is to blame. Although the second and third princes disturbed the palace first, as the eldest son, the Crown Prince failed to set an example, and furthermore, he listened to the slanders of small-minded people. Now that a great mistake has been made, I am deeply grieved and must punish him. I specially bestow a cup of poisoned wine, hoping the Crown Prince will clean his own house; if not, then the Crown Prince should decide for himself.”
Lin Huaiyu smiled. If this decree were delivered to Su Yang, he would have only two choices: either drink the poisoned wine or launch a coup directly.
It would likely be the latter, but now was not the time for a coup. The people who needed to be eliminated hadn’t been eliminated yet, and the things that needed to be obtained hadn’t been obtained. Acting rashly now would result in a very low chance of success.
Furthermore, His Majesty’s move appeared to be directed at Su Yang, but in reality, it was aimed at him.
His Majesty could hand the world over to Su Yang, but he wanted to cut off Su Yang’s arm; he wanted Su Yang to suffer, and he wanted Su Yang to pay a heavy price for obtaining Great Yong.
Lin Huaiyu knew His Majesty had never liked Su Yang, but he hadn’t expected that hatred to reach such a level—perhaps it was related to Su Yang’s mother.
One had to admit, the timing His Majesty chose to send this wine was truly perfect.
Lin Huaiyu’s expression remained unchanged, and the smile on his face didn’t fade in the least. He drained the poisoned wine in one gulp and placed the cup back into Tao Qibao’s hand: “Eunuch Tao can now report back.”
Tao Qibao bowed with a smile: “Then this old servant will return to report.”
Lin Huaiyu watched Tao Qibao leave. In the next second, he supported himself against a pillar in the corridor and spat out a mouthful of blood. A nearby servant saw this and rushed forward: “Lord Prime Minister, are you alright?”
Lin Huaiyu gently brushed away the blood from his lips, glanced at the red stain on his robes, and looked at the person next to him with a cold gaze, saying: “There’s no need to alarm His Highness about this.”
Seeing Lin Huaiyu’s expression, the person trembled and hurriedly nodded in agreement.
Lord Lin looked as gentle as jade, but in fact, he didn’t hesitate to strike even at princes. Just now, he had been so cruel to himself. The servant knew that if he resisted now, his end would be miserable.
Lin Huaiyu added: “I will give you a sum of money. Leave the palace immediately and depart from the capital. If this official sees you in the capital tomorrow, your life will be forfeit. Do you understand?”
The person hurriedly knelt and said: “This servant understands.”
Lin Huaiyu left the Eastern Palace without looking back and headed for the Imperial Academy of Medicine.
Seeing Lin Huaiyu, He Qingli came forward: “Lord Lin.”
Lin Huaiyu walked inside with He Qingli, reached out his hand, and said: “I’ll trouble Director He to take this official’s pulse.”
He Qingli didn’t even reach out his hand; he just looked at Lin Huaiyu with a forced smile.
Lin Huaiyu immediately understood. His Majesty must have issued a secret order to He Qingli long ago: no matter who came from the Eastern Palace, he was to ignore them.
Lin Huaiyu sighed and whispered: “Is Director He going to refuse to save a dying man? Director He should see clearly the current situation in the palace; do not stand on the wrong side.”
He Qingli lowered his eyes, a hint of helplessness in them: “This humble official… really cannot take Lord Lin’s pulse.”
His wife and children were already controlled by His Majesty. Not only his family, but even his own life was in His Majesty’s hands; he was unable to influence his own decisions.
Lin Huaiyu gave He Qingli a deep look and turned to leave the palace.
He boarded a carriage and raced toward the outskirts of the city.
The carriage went straight to Lingshan Temple. Lin Huaiyu thought of another person, but he didn’t know if he would be lucky enough to find them.
When Lin Huaiyu reached Lingshan Temple, his mouth was already full of blood, and his clothes were stained red. Fortunately, he entered through the back gate, so no one saw him.
Seeing him, the Abbot hurriedly supported him: “Lord Lin, you’ve come.”
Lin Huaiyu spat out a mouthful of blood and asked with a frown: “Was the person found?”
The Abbot supported Lin Huaiyu into a guest room: “Found, but it will take some time for him to rush here. I didn’t expect His Majesty to act so quickly.”
Lin Huaiyu let out a cold laugh: “Our Emperor is no pushover; he naturally knows the importance of timing.”
The Abbot brought a pill: “Take this pill first. I will use the method from the reply to suppress the poison for you. We won’t know exactly how to cure it until he returns.”
Lin Huaiyu nodded, swallowed the pill, and the Abbot took a dagger and handed it to Lin Huaiyu.
Lin Huaiyu looked at him, and the Abbot smiled: “This old monk is a monk and cannot act. Lord Lin should do it himself.”
Lin Huaiyu gave a light laugh, and without a change in expression, he took the dagger and made a deep cut on his own arm.
The Abbot closed his eyes and hurriedly chanted “Amitabha” dozens of times.
Lin Huaiyu could only glance at him with a pale face.
.
After hearing He Qingli’s words, Su Yang slammed his fist into the wall, startling the birds resting on the branches.
His eyes were bloodshot, and anger surged in his chest. No wonder Lin Huaiyu had claimed illness and refused to enter the palace or see anyone back then—not even him. All plans were only conveyed by guards.
But from then on, Lin Huaiyu turned defensive into offensive, striking with extreme sharpness. He used the late Emperor’s hand to eliminate those princes and finally forced him to write a final edict passing the throne to him.
He hadn’t known back then why Lin Huaiyu’s actions were suddenly so rapid and fierce, but it turned out… Lin Huaiyu didn’t have much time left.
The late Emperor had been tied down by Lin Huaiyu’s offensive back then and couldn’t care whether Lin Huaiyu was dead or alive until he died himself; only then did Lin Huaiyu appear in the palace.
But after that, Lin Huaiyu’s health had not been good.
Thinking of this, Su Yang suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
So Lin Huaiyu’s poor health wasn’t because he had developed complications from a major illness, but because of a cup of poisoned wine.
And that cup of poisoned wine should have been delivered to him; he was the one who should have drunk it.
“Your Majesty! Are you alright?!” He Qingli cried out in alarm as he saw Su Yang spitting blood and collapsing.
He Qingli took Su Yang’s pulse, and his face changed.
The next day, Su Yang woke up in the county office, with no one around him. He didn’t know who had sent him back.
But remembering the events of yesterday, he immediately got up to find Lin Huaiyu.
That storybook was right: what would it matter if he knelt to Lin Huaiyu? Setting aside that Lin Huaiyu was his teacher, for all Lin Huaiyu had done for him over the years, the pain he had endured, being personally imprisoned and insulted by him—Su Yang could do anything for Lin Huaiyu without hesitation. Even if Lin Huaiyu wanted to insult him now, he should bear it.
He wanted to see Lin Huaiyu, very much.
When he reached the Lin residence, Lin Fei intercepted him: “The master said he doesn’t want to see you.”
Su Yang quickly said: “Is he in? I want to see him. I have something to say to him—very, very important. I won’t barge in; go and tell him.”
Lin Fei was stunned. It was the first time he had seen Su Yang speak so patiently. He blinked and said: “The master isn’t here.”
Su Yang froze, then asked: “Then do you know where he went?”
Lin Fei said: “He went lake boating with the Seventh Prince of Daxing.”