Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 176

Chapter 176: Appearance

Gao Shi’er stood outside the hall, looking back from time to time.

Many officials were standing outside the hall, whispering amongst themselves.

“Who’s inside?”

“The Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir.”

“Does His Majesty have no one else by his side? I heard he’s here to appreciate a painting today.”

“Maybe the Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir alone is enough.”

Some were confused, some explained, some questioned, and some were sour.

Someone looked at Gao Shi’er: “Chief Eunuch Gao, go in and report that we have arrived.” As he spoke, he slipped a pouch into Gao Shi’er’s hand.

Others also chimed in: “Yes, yes, let’s all go in together.” “His Majesty loves a lively atmosphere.”

Gao Shi’er looked helpless and put the pouch away: “It’s not that I won’t report, but I was also kicked out.”

His face looked a bit unsightly as he said this.

He had grown up with the Emperor, and the Emperor trusted him the most. To what extent? He was right by the wedding bed on the Emperor’s wedding night.

He didn’t expect the Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir to kneel down and ask His Majesty to dismiss everyone around him as soon as he opened his mouth. How arrogant!

And His Majesty actually agreed.

What right does the Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir have to be favored by His Majesty? Gao Shi’er gritted his teeth. Isn’t it just because of his face? Sooner or later, he’ll get old and lose his looks!

However, at this moment, the Emperor in the hall looked at Zhou Jingyun’s face without any joy.

The Emperor frowned: “Jingyun, I know you’re heartbroken over the loss of your wife and might be overthinking things, but this incident was truly an accident.”

Zhou Jingyun was still kneeling on the ground, his back straight as he looked at the Emperor: “Your subject knows. It’s easy to be confused when something happens, so I waited until now, when I’ve calmed down, to see Your Majesty.”

Calmed down? Pale face, dazed eyes, the Emperor thought to himself, and gently persuaded: “The saddest time for a person is not when something first happens, but after it’s over, especially when a loved one passes away. You don’t feel much when you’re busy with the funeral, but afterwards, you realize that this person is gone. Many people only break down at this time.”

Zhou Jingyun shook his head again: “Your subject has been married to Madam Zhuang for a short time. Although I regret her early death, I’m not devastated.”

Not devastated? The Emperor thought to himself. Yes, they were indeed married for a short time, but he had been widowed for eight or nine years before finding someone he liked, someone he married…

“Jingyun, that day, the incident happened suddenly, and there was indeed something strange about it. It was Empress Jiang’s ghost that was responsible.” The Emperor could only say, “She wanted to harm Consort Bai and the Imperial Heir, but with the Imperial Bell and Xuanyangzi’s protection, she didn’t succeed. However, Madam Zhuang’s mind was affected, and the accident still happened. It was my fault. If you want any compensation, just say…”

He paused again.

“I’ll give you a new wife. I have two daughters, although they’re still young, but if you…”

Zhou Jingyun interrupted the Emperor: “My deceased wife has not yet closed her eyes. Until the culprit is found, I will not remarry.”

It’s been made clear, the culprit is a ghost, the Emperor was a little annoyed. What could he do? Dig up Empress Jiang’s corpse and kill her again? Wouldn’t that make it known to everyone in the world, wouldn’t that cause chaos?

He had originally thought that Zhou Jingyun understood the situation and knew that this matter should not be publicized when he saw him bury his wife quickly and with a simple funeral. Why was he making a fuss now?

“Your wife died in the Imperial City, so I am the culprit.” The Emperor said angrily, “What do you want me to do?”

These words were heavy.

Zhou Jingyun kowtowed: “Your subject is not blaming Your Majesty. I am doing this for Your Majesty’s sake.”

The Emperor sneered.

“Your subject does not disbelieve Your Majesty, I do not believe that ghosts can kill people.” Zhou Jingyun said, “I am worried that Your Majesty deeply believes this and that someone will use ghosts to create trouble. Your subject has traveled for many years and has seen many strange and unusual things. In the end, it was always people behind the scenes, using the name of ghosts.”

The Emperor was stunned. That was true, but Xuanyangzi said…

“What if Xuanyangzi said so? Can he decide everything in the world alone?” Zhou Jingyun interrupted the Emperor again, “I saw with my own eyes my wife holding onto the railing, the railing broke, and she fell. If we don’t investigate why the railing broke, then in the future, whenever something happens, as long as Xuanyangzi says it’s a ghost, will everyone accept it peacefully? How will the people view Your Majesty?”

He understood. It was an upright official who couldn’t stand heresy. Although Xuanyangzi rarely left the temple, he was respected by the royal family because of his status, and officials were privately dissatisfied, fearing that the Emperor would be tempted to practice alchemy and pursue immortality. Such things were common in history books, and civil and military officials were wary of monks and Taoists.

The Emperor breathed a sigh of relief, but he was also a little helpless. He did believe Xuanyangzi because he had seen Xuanyangzi’s abilities with his own eyes.

Unfortunately, not everyone could see what happened during the coup, and it couldn’t be publicized.

The Emperor looked at the young official kowtowing on the ground. His official hat was crooked, his hair was messy, his expression was full of grief and indignation, and he was distraught. Forget it, considering he had lost his wife and was grieving and mad, and insisted on an explanation, he would just appease him again.

The Emperor sighed: “Alright, then I will thoroughly investigate it again for you.”

Zhou Jingyun bowed and sobbed: “Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness.”

Alas, he said he wasn’t sad, but he still cried, the Emperor looked at the person bowing on the ground.

Back then, this son had a celestial appearance, but he was unwilling to serve by his father’s side. He was dissatisfied with his father’s favoritism towards the Demon Empress and disdained to enter the court.

Now that he was the Emperor, Zhou Jingyun had finally returned to the court. He couldn’t let him become a madman after returning to the court for a short time. This not only failed to prove that he was a wise and benevolent ruler, but it was even worse than his father.

Actually, the Imperial City Guards, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and so on had already investigated that night. Since Zhou Jingyun didn’t believe…

“I will order the Censorate to investigate.” The Emperor said, “Are you satisfied now?”

The Censorate could find fault even where there was none. This could be considered an explanation for Zhou Jingyun, so that he wouldn’t dwell on it day and night and truly go mad.

“Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness.” Zhou Jingyun raised his head, tears in his eyes, and shouted, “Your Majesty is wise and brilliant!”

……..

……..

“Someone, someone!”

The officials outside the hall perked up at the sound of the call from inside. It was finally over.

Gao Shi’er put away his gritted teeth and entered with a smile on his face. He saw Zhou Jingyun still kneeling on the ground.

“Your Majesty…” He hesitated.

“Go and summon Zhang Ze.” The Emperor said, pressing his hand to his forehead.

Gao Shi’er’s heart skipped a beat, and he didn’t react for a moment.

“What are you still standing there for?” The Emperor said impatiently, then looked at Zhou Jingyun, “And you, are you done? If you’re done, you may leave.”

Gao Shi’er hurriedly bowed and replied, “Yes.” Zhou Jingyun also bowed and stood up. Officials didn’t have to kneel in front of the Emperor unless it was at events like the Heaven Worship Ceremony or grand celebrations. He had been kneeling on the hard brick floor for so long, his knees were probably red and swollen.

He stumbled slightly, but when Gao Shi’er looked over, he quickly straightened up.

Gao Shi’er smiled mockingly and didn’t help him up. He bowed and said, “Please go first, Your Excellency.”

Zhou Jingyun nodded slightly and walked slowly outwards.

Gao Shi’er deliberately walked behind him. Even if Zhou Jingyun thought his steps were dignified, he could still see the stiffness, and also, the crooked official hat, the wrinkled official robe, the hair that had fallen from under his hat…

Tsk tsk tsk, this was the first time he had seen Zhou Jingyun look so disheveled. What celestial appearance, he was no different from ordinary people now.

Zhou Jingyun was surrounded by officials as soon as he came out, asking what was going on.

“Personal matters.” Zhou Jingyun said, “My wife died accidentally in the palace. I asked His Majesty to strictly investigate whether the building was dilapidated to prevent further tragedies.”

So that was it. His wife’s death was indeed a tragedy, and it was reasonable for him to make such a request. The officials nodded sympathetically, and Zhou Jingyun didn’t say anything more and walked away.

The officials pulled Gao Shi’er aside again, urging him to go and report.

Gao Shi’er looked at them: “His Majesty has summoned Zhang Ze.”

These words were like a curse, and the people surrounding Gao Shi’er immediately dispersed.

“…Do you still want to see His Majesty now?”

Of course they didn’t.

It was too unlucky.

Zhang Ze was a man who spoke without thinking and had evil intentions. If he deliberately asked them questions in front of the Emperor and they didn’t answer properly, they would be in trouble if he caught them.

Forget it, forget it, today was not a good day to see His Majesty.

✿✿✿

The people backed away, watching as Gao Shi’er sent someone to summon Zhang Ze. Zhang Ze arrived quickly, entered the hall, and came out quickly again. The next moment, officials from the Censorate rushed over, leading soldiers towards the inner palace…

“What’s going on?” The people hurriedly asked Gao Shi’er again.

The Emperor didn’t ask Gao Shi’er to leave when he was talking to Zhang Ze.

But Gao Shi’er’s face looked even worse: “His Majesty asked him to investigate the broken railing of the Neighboring Building.”

Several officials looked stunned. What did that mean?

Shouldn’t the broken railing be the responsibility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs? Or the Ministry of Works could investigate it, what could the Censorate investigate?

Then it wasn’t about investigating the construction of the railing.

This matter couldn’t be hidden, His Majesty wouldn’t hide it, and Zhang Ze wouldn’t hide it either. Gao Shi’er gritted his teeth and said, “Because the Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir, Zhou Jingyun, said that his wife was murdered, and His Majesty, in order to give him an explanation, ordered the Censorate to investigate.”

The people were in an uproar.

“The Censorate is investigating! They can find fault even where there is none!”

“Is Zhou Jingyun crazy!”

While the uproar was unfolding behind him, Zhou Jingyun had already walked out of the Imperial City, and the guards outside came up to greet him.

Seeing him, the guard hesitated and asked, “Your Excellency, would you like to ride a horse or take a carriage?”

Do I look very disheveled now? Zhou Jingyun thought to himself, but before he could say anything, a voice came from the side.

“Zhou Jingyun, you look ridiculous now…”

Zhou Jingyun turned his head and saw someone slowly walking out from inside.

Shen Qing.

This was the first time he had seen him since that night at the palace banquet.

That night was chaotic. Zhou Jingyun took Zhuang Li’s body home, and then there was the funeral, so he didn’t pay any more attention to Shen Qing.

However, the two eunuchs in the palace had someone tell him that Shen Qing had stopped going crazy not long after he left that night. He just held his guqin and didn’t say anything, and then he disappeared after the banquet ended.

Now, apart from looking a little haggard, Shen Qing was no different from before.

He approached Zhou Jingyun.

“You know very well whether your wife is dead or not. You pretended to be sincere and instigated His Majesty to use the Censorate.” He whispered, looking Zhou Jingyun up and down, his eyes full of mockery, “So you’re not a good person either, stirring up trouble for your own benefit.”

Zhou Jingyun clenched his fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms, the pain shooting through him.

The pain could remind him whether what he was seeing was an illusion or reality, so that he wouldn’t be confused and say something he shouldn’t.

Shen Qing noticed his action and sneered: “No need for that, I don’t even want to look at you now!”

With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.

Zhou Jingyun released his clenched fists. Although Shen Qing wasn’t going crazy like that night, he didn’t seem normal either.

He probably didn’t believe Zhuang Li was dead. He didn’t know what he was going to do next.

“Your Excellency.” The guard pressed his hand to the saber at his waist and asked in a low voice, “Are you alright?”

Zhou Jingyun lowered his eyes: “I’m fine, ignore him.” With that, he took the reins and mounted his horse.

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

“Your Excellency, would you like to eat first or wash up first?”

Chun Yue walked in and said, seeing Zhou Jingyun standing in front of the dressing table, looking at himself in the mirror.

The Heir was looking in the mirror?

Zhou Jingyun looked at himself in the mirror. Had his appearance changed? It was just that his face was a little paler, his eyes were a little dimmer, and his hair was a little messy…

In those few years, he had been inspecting various places as the Educational Inspector, and there were many times when he looked more disheveled than this.

This was nothing.

These people in the Imperial City had never seen him like that.

Gao Shi’er was gloating, Shen Qing was full of disdain, the guard…was also making a fuss, even asking him to take a carriage.

They would get used to it in the future.

But before seeing his mother, he should tidy up first. He had already brought her too much discomfort this year.

Zhou Jingyun straightened up and looked away from the mirror.

“Wash up first.” He said.

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

“Master Shen, you’re back.”

In a small building in Sanqu Lane, a woman standing on the second floor hurriedly greeted Shen Qing as he walked in.

But Shen Qing didn’t even look up and walked straight into the building.

The woman who greeted him awkwardly put down her hand, and the woman next to her giggled.

“Master Shen had a fight with Madam Huang, he’s in a bad mood. I’ve seen Madam Huang crying a lot these days, and I’ve also heard the sound of a guqin being smashed in the room.” She whispered, “It’s better to stay away.”

Accompanied by the women’s chatter, Shen Qing stood in front of the door, reached out and opened it. He saw Madam Huang sitting inside, wiping her tears with her head down.

“You’re back.” Madam Huang said, tears streaming down her face again, “The butterfly still won’t move.”

Shen Qing looked at the bamboo cage in front of her. The once colorful butterfly had become gray and lifeless, like a wooden carving.

Shen Qing’s expression was wooden: “This butterfly is dead, it was killed!”

Madam Huang chuckled: “Who killed it?”

Was she laughing? Shen Qing was slightly stunned. Had she gone mad from grief? He glanced at the mirror out of the corner of his eye, and his expression suddenly froze. The mirror reflected him and the person beside him.

The person sitting beside him was not Madam Huang—

It was a plump young girl. She was wearing an apricot yellow jacket and skirt, sitting cross-legged with her chin resting on her hand, smiling at him from the mirror.

“The person who could kill your butterfly must be very powerful.” She continued what he had just said and clapped her hands.

Shen Qing slowly turned his head and looked at the person in front of him.

Accompanied by the crisp clapping sound, Madam Huang shattered, and the girl in the mirror appeared.

“Bai Li.” Shen Qing slowly uttered two words.

Bai Li nodded with a smile: “That’s right, remember my name, address me by my name. After that night, you’ve finally become a polite person.”