The Blood Crown - Chapter 50

On that day, apart from explaining the whole story to Yu Ji and having a conversation with Yan Zilian, Yan Sikong hardly spoke with anyone else.

They sat in the record room of the Imperial Academy all night. As autumn approached, the late-night chill made it difficult for Yan Sikong to even pretend to sleep. He was restless, partly due to the cold and mostly because of the weight on his mind. He could clearly hear the faint trembling of someone’s teeth, both inside and outside, the Forbidden City guards kept watch, and no one dared to make a sound. It was an excruciatingly long night.

When the day finally broke, the morning court session would undoubtedly bring new waves, and their fates might soon be decided.

He wondered what Feng Ye was doing right now…

The issue of the revised historical records must have spread throughout the capital. Feng Ye had known about it early on and had promised to help him. If circumstances changed beyond his predictions, Yan Zilian wouldn’t be able to protect him, but Feng Ye would serve as his lifeline.

Through this incident, he could also uncover how much influence Feng Jianping had secretly established within the court and how many forces he could leverage.

As the sky began to brighten, the first chime of the Jingyang Bell awakened a new day in the Dashing Sun Dynasty. The Imperial Academy was not far from the Imperial Hall where the morning court was held. The ancient bronze bell, which had weathered a century of storms, tolled like distant thunder, reverberating in the hearts of every courtier, reminding them of the Emperor’s boundless grace and the manifest might of heaven.

Yan Sikong closed his eyes, and it felt as though he could see the scene inside the Meridian Gate. The soldiers, with their banners arranged solemnly, and hundreds of courtiers entered the Imperial Hall from the left and right side gates. The eunuchs in front of the Emperor cracked their whips, and the courtiers crossed the Golden Water Bridge, entering the Imperial Hall, where they would perform the Five Bows and Three Kowtows before the Emperor, seated high on the Golden Platform…

Once upon a time, that had been his childhood dream, his father’s dream, and the dream of generations of scholars in the Yan family. He had believed that the Emperor was chosen by divine providence, a chosen one favored by the heavens. He had once vowed to assist the Emperor, to be a benevolent ruler who cherished his subjects and consoled the people’s suffering.

Later, he came to realize that an Emperor was just a human being. From the Zhou Dynasty to Emperor Zhaowu, the surnames of the rulers had changed countless times, and even bandits and rebels could become Emperors, as long as they held military power and could “remove an unrighteous ruler acting against the will of heaven.” The Emperor was merely a prize for the victor, and it had been so throughout history.

With this realization, he knew that the Emperor was no more than a mortal. The throne had been occupied by countless different individuals throughout history, from kings to rebels. All it took was military might, and if the Emperor “defied the will of heaven” by acting unrighteously, he could be “removed from the mandate of heaven.” The Emperor was just a prize for the victor, and history had proven this time and time again.

Once he understood this, he knew he and those loyal officials who served the Emperor would walk different paths.

Now it’s time to attend the morning court. Yan Zilin should start by presenting a memorial to the throne accusing Wang Shengsheng, the Deputy Chief, and then other senior officials would join in to remonstrate. Given Wang Shengsheng’s rank, no one would be clean, so various charges like bribery, selling offices and titles, and abusing authority would be listed. He believed that with all this incriminating evidence, Yan Zilin had prepared, once Emperor Zhaowu was confronted with Wang Shengsheng’s crimes, even if it led to his detention for further investigation, the matter would be considered settled. After all, regardless of how much Xie Zhongren pleaded on his behalf later, Emperor Zhaowu’s strong sense of face would prevent Wang Shengsheng from walking away unscathed.

While Yansikong calmly entertained these thoughts, the others in the room were growing increasingly nervous.

Especially Liu Zhaolin, who had remained silent throughout the night. Unable to contain himself any longer, he asked the guards for a cup of water.

After the guard’s request for instructions, he brought Liu Zhaolin a cup of water.

Liu Zhaolin held the teacup, but his hands trembled uncontrollably, causing most of the lukewarm water to spill out.

Sitting beside him, Shen Hexuan gently patted his leg and said in a deep voice, “Brother Liu, stay calm.”

Liu Zhaolin nodded, his face deathly pale.

Yansikong observed Liu Zhaolin and felt a sense of utter calm within himself. Among the candidates who had passed the imperial examination this time, Liu Zhaolin was rather unremarkable. He had an ordinary background, mediocre knowledge, and unexceptional appearance. Such a person was less suited for navigating the complex world of officialdom than even Shen Hexuan. As for Lin Yue, he was just a minor clerk tasked with collecting information.

Yansikong had long since abandoned any sense of moral righteousness. If achieving his goals required sacrificing even himself, what did the fate of others matter? As for his own actions, what did they amount to in the grand scheme of things?

The morning dragged on, and it was clear that the court session would soon commence. Yet, the atmosphere in the room grew more oppressive with each passing moment.

It wasn’t until nearly noon that the morning court finally concluded, and more footsteps approached the entrance of the library.

After a moment, the door was pushed open, and a voice announced, “Jinlin’s editing office, Liu Zhaolin, is to be escorted to the Grand Justice Court.”

Liu Zhaolin’s teacup slipped from his trembling hands and shattered on the ground. His face turned ashen.

Two guards flanked Liu Zhaolin, leading him out of the library. The remaining three men watched, their faces filled with anxiety.

The official continued, “The three of you are to return home temporarily. You are not to leave your residences or have contact with outsiders. Await further instructions.”

The three of them let out a collective sigh of relief. As long as they were not imprisoned, they believed they had escaped this ordeal.

Lin Yue sighed, “What can Brother Liu do now?”

Shen Hexuan whispered, “The Emperor will make his decision. There’s no need for us to say more. Let’s go back.”

As Yansikong rose to leave, he encountered Yan Zilin and several other Grand Secretaries who were discussing something in the council chamber.

Yansikong was naturally curious about what had transpired during the morning court, but he refrained from asking. Instead, he bowed respectfully to the group and said with hidden meaning, “I thank Teacher.”

Yan Zilin gave him a glance and said, “You should thank the Emperor. Return for now and remember, do not speak of this matter any further. Await the Emperor’s decision in silence.”

“Yes.”

Yansikong hadn’t returned home all night, and when Arly saw him, the excitement on her face turned her cheeks red. She must have thought that Yansikong might not return for some time.

Yansikong looked weary as he said, “I need to bathe.”

Arly nodded vigorously.

She prepared a bathtub, and Yansikong, dragging his exhausted body, stepped into the water. When his body was fully enveloped in the warm and soothing water, he felt a moment of relaxation that eased his tense mind.

He closed his eyes, held his breath, and sank into the water. Underwater, everything was tranquil and warm. His senses were blocked, and the surroundings were so quiet that he could only hear the sound of his own heartbeat. In this small, cramped wooden tub, he felt strangely safe. Was this how a person felt when returning to the mother’s womb?

When he could no longer hold his breath, Yansikong emerged from the water, took a deep breath, wiped the water from his face, and opened his eyes.

“Ah…” Yansikong was startled when he saw the tall man who had appeared in the room without a sound.

Feng Ye couldn’t help but chuckle softly, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Yansikong took a deep breath and replied, “You didn’t mean to scare me, but why did you enter so silently?”

“I knew you were under house arrest and couldn’t have contact with outsiders, so I couldn’t enter through the front door. I had to climb over the wall and break in,” Feng Ye explained as he walked closer. He rested his elbows on the edge of the tub, gazing at Yansikong with deep, straightforward eyes.

Yansikong’s wet, jet-black hair clung to his cheeks, making his fair skin appear even more translucent. The water droplets on his long eyelashes, the misty pupils, and his slightly raised shoulders above the water’s surface were all incredibly enticing.

Feng Ye lifted a strand of Yansikong’s wet hair and said softly, “Have you ever heard of the Water Nymph in your childhood stories?”

Yansikong was puzzled, “What Water Nymph?”

“I heard there’s a type of seductive nymph that lives in the water, incredibly beautiful, who seduces people by the water’s edge and drags them into the water…” Feng Ye’s face drew closer to Yansikong’s, his voice laced with ambiguity, “Not for seduction, but to consume their essence.”

Yansikong replied nonchalantly, “That’s just a story to scare children.”

Here’s the translation of the text you provided:

“Yes, but…” Feng Ye ‘s lips lightly touched Yàn Sīkōng’s nose, cheeks, and jawline like a water’s ripple, as he chuckled, “If you were a water nymph, I would willingly follow you to the underworld.” With those words, he firmly held the back of Yàn Sīkōng’s head and sealed his lips.

Yàn Sīkōng lowered his eyelids, concealing the emotions in his eyes, passively accepting this kiss.

Feng Ye kissed with focus and passion, his tongue thoroughly exploring every inch of Yàn Sīkōng’s mouth, the rising heat and the fiery kiss soon making him feel dizzy.

When Feng Ye released him, he took several deep breaths to regain his composure.

Feng Ye playfully said, “Do you want me to help you wash up?”

Yàn Sīkōng replied, “I’m not in the mood for playfulness right now. I’m still under house arrest, awaiting my fate.”

“That’s precisely why I’m here,” Feng Ye splashed some water gently on Yàn Sīkōng’s shoulders and cheek. His eyes were filled with unmistakable, bare desire.

Surprised, Yàn Sīkōng asked, “Do you… have any news?”

“Of course.”

“Tell me.”

Feng Ye chuckled, “Are you planning to discuss matters with me here in the bathtub?”

Yan Sikong grabbed the cloth towel, “I’ll just come out.”

Feng Ye looked at him good-naturedly, those eyes clearly full of anticipation.

Yan Sikong stood up from the bath tub while wrapping the cloth towel around his body.

Even though it was only for a split second, Feng Ye actually appreciated that slender and white body once more.

Yan Sikong snorted, “You also have what I have, what exactly is there to see?”

“My dear,” Feng Ye smirked, “every part of you is good-looking.”

Yan Sikong shook his head, took another piece of cloth, and began wiping his hair.

Feng Ye took the cloth from him and said, “Sit down, I’ll do it.” He then gently pressed Yan Sikong onto a stool and carefully dried his thick, black hair.

As Yan Sikong observed this peculiar scene in the bronze mirror, he didn’t find it unsettling at all. It seemed that he, too, had been affected by Feng Ye. He thought that there was nothing extraordinary about how two men interacted with each other.

Most importantly, nothing in this world came for free. To gain something, one had to pay a price, and that price might include giving up everything.

Feng Ye was usually brash and domineering, but his hands, which were now gently drying Yan Sikong’s hair, felt exceptionally tender. Both of them remained silent for a long time. Yan Sikong stared at the two figures in the bronze mirror, finding it increasingly difficult to avert his gaze. Feng Ye’s focused and delicate expression was particularly striking.

“Enough,” Yan Sikong’s tone suddenly turned cold. “Tell me what you know.”

Only then did Feng Ye respond, “During the morning court session, four ministers accused Wang Shengsheng. The Emperor was furious and ordered his immediate imprisonment. Later, Elder Yan asked the Emperor how to handle Huo Li and a few others implicated in the case of the newly compiled history books.”

“What did the Emperor say?”

Feng Ye chuckled, “The Emperor asked Elder Yan how he thought they should be dealt with.”

Yan Sikong had a fairly good idea of what was going on.

“Elder Yan believes that those implicated should be punished, but not all in the same manner,” Feng Ye said as he ran his fingers through Yan Sikong’s hair, looking smug. “Then… how do you plan to thank me?”

Yan Sikong glanced at him through the mirror and replied, “Well, you should first tell me what I should thank you for.”

“I went to plead with Minister Liu from the Ministry of Personnel and Assistant Minister Meng from the Ministry of Justice overnight. I asked them to protect you, Huo Li, and Shen Hexuan and focus the case on Wang Shengsheng. Most of those involved were merely implicated, and only the person who wrote it might have been acting under Wang Shengsheng’s orders.”

Yan Sikong let out a long sigh, though his expression remained calm, turmoil raged within him. He realized that during the morning court session, if Yan Zilian had requested leniency, the Emperor might have seen it as favoring his own student and, in a fit of anger, decided to charge them with heavier crimes. But Yan Zilian’s restrained response, combined with the pleas of several influential ministers, likely saved them from severe punishment.

With Wang Shengsheng and Liu Zhaolin now in custody, although the four of them would not escape blame, they were unlikely to face severe penalties.

Yan Sikong finally smiled faintly and said, “Feng Ye, thank you.”

Feng Ye chuckled, “I told you I’d protect you.”

Yan Sikong turned around, looked up at Feng Ye, and asked, “Do you think Lord Wang can make a comeback this time?”

“I don’t care whether he can make a comeback or not,” Feng Ye replied as he tossed aside the cloth and handed Yan Sikong his clothes. “Put these on; don’t catch a cold.”

“He’s part of the Eunuch Faction and often opposes my teacher in the Academy. If we could bring him down…”

“Their affairs are none of your concern,” Feng Ye interrupted, his expression suddenly becoming more serious. “Remember, you’re just a lowly Hanlin scholar. Don’t get involved in the bloody factional struggles and political disputes.”

Yan Sikong gazed quietly at Feng Ye and said, “I am Yan Zilian’s student and the Crown Prince’s tutor. Feng Ye, do you truly believe I can remain uninvolved?”

Feng Ye was momentarily speechless, but then he spoke with a commanding tone, “I don’t care about your official position or status. I don’t want you to venture into danger. The political arena is deep and treacherous, not something you can navigate easily. Do you understand?”

Yan Sikong hesitated but nodded, realizing that Feng Ye must know something but couldn’t share it with him. He said, “Understood.”