The Sickly Beauty Official Faked His Death and Now the Tyrant Has Gone Mad - Chapter 19

Sunlight spilled over the world like golden foil the finest weather since the start of spring. An auspicious day, an auspicious hour, ideal for travel, for weddings, for ceremonies. All things flourished.

Except for funerals.

Amidst the clamor of gongs and drums, ceremonial cannons boomed, red silk streamers danced in the wind, and fresh flowers carpeted the roads. The majestic golden palace was adorned with a splash of crimson, festive and bustling.

Lin Huaiyu awoke to the sound of celebratory music. His body ached terribly, leaving him with no strength to move. He could only slowly turn his gaze toward the window. The scattered remnants of the ceremonial cannons soared high into the clouds, visible even from the Qinchun Palace a true celebration shared by all under heaven.

Lin Huaiyu stirred slightly, propping himself up. Watching the fireworks blooming in the sky outside, a faint, almost imperceptible loneliness flickered in his eyes.

The person who had lain beside him last night had risen early today to marry another. How bitterly ironic.

Outside, drums and music thundered, flutes and pipes played without end, yet the Qinchun Palace remained cold and desolate.

After watching for a while, Lin Huaiyu could no longer support himself. He lowered his gaze, concealing the solitude in his eyes, and was overcome by a fit of coughing. Instantly, blood spilled from the corner of his lips. He quickly wiped it away with his sleeve.

Staring at the bloodstains on his sleeve, he let out a bitter laugh and called to the palace servant outside the door, “It’s a bit cold in here. Bring a charcoal brazier.”

The servant outside, feeling the warmth radiating from the well-heated floor, wondered why Lin Huaiyu would need a brazier when the room was already so warm. But none dared question him aloud. Everyone knew that even the emperor dared not disregard Lin Huaiyu’s words. They bowed and replied, “Yes.”

The servants moved quickly. The charcoal brazier, burning fiercely with sparks leaping from within, was carried into Lin Huaiyu’s bedchamber. Lin Huaiyu pointed to a spot beside the desk. “Place it here.”

The servant nodded and complied.

Lin Huaiyu looked at him, covering his mouth with his sleeve as he coughed, the taste of blood spreading in his mouth. His voice slightly muffled, he said, “I don’t need you here anymore. You may leave.”

“Yes.” The servant, without suspicion, obeyed as he was told.

Once the servant was gone, Lin Huaiyu gazed at the crackling brazier and retrieved a hidden brocade box. He took out the worn hand-warmer, gently rubbing it with his fingertips before moving it over the brazier.

Lin Huaiyu’s eyes reflected the dark red glow of the burning charcoal. His fingers loosened, and the hand-warmer fell into the brazier. Instantly, it ignited the flames within. The fire licked at the hand-warmer, gradually devouring it.

Lin Huaiyu’s lashes trembled slightly. He then picked up the various items he had made with his own hands, stored inside the box, and tossed them one by one into the brazier. The flames grew fiercer with each addition, burning like a net that swallowed everything, slowly consuming it all to ashes.

Coughing again, Lin Huaiyu stood up. His illness had worsened, and his entire body trembled. Most of the books on the desk were ones he had written himself annotations, commentaries, lists, and other writings.

Clutching these items in his hand, Lin Huaiyu sighed softly, his eyes dimming.

After a moment, he threw them without hesitation into the brazier. The pages bearing his elegant handwriting caught fire, devoured by the flames like dancing butterflies in the blaze.

Lin Huaiyu burned everything that could be burned, watching the flames quietly for a long time. Then, as if remembering something, he walked back to the low cabinet. In the drawer lay the only remaining item a peace talisman he had asked Lin Fei to bring him some days ago.

The small brocade pouch rested in his hand, still carrying the lingering scent of incense from Lingshan Temple. Lin Huaiyu’s gaze paused briefly as someone entered from outside.

Lin Fei glanced at the burning charcoal brazier, his heart heavy. “My lord, can’t we take these things with us?”

Lin Fei knew that the books contained Lin Huaiyu’s painstaking efforts, and those other items were either crafted by his own hands or sought out personally.

But Lin Huaiyu shook his head gently. “There’s no need.”

Lin Fei sighed softly. Knowing his master’s resolute nature, he didn’t press further. “My lord, the carriage is ready and waiting. I’ve also arranged everything else with the servants.”

He even felt a sense of relief at Lin Huaiyu’s decisiveness. Given Lin Huaiyu’s current health, it was better to sever ties with the imperial palace and the emperor as soon as possible.

Lin Huaiyu nodded lightly and extended the peace talisman toward the charcoal brazier. Seeing this, Lin Fei couldn’t help but urge, “But this is something you prayed for after forty-nine days of devotion at Lingshan Temple. Wouldn’t it be better to keep it for yourself?”

He felt it was unjust unjust for Lin Huaiyu, who had given so much only to end up in such a wretched state.

At these words, Lin Huaiyu’s hand loosened, and the peace talisman fell straight into the flames. A faint smile touched his lips, his eyes reflecting the flickering firelight with a clarity that seemed almost serene. “What I prayed for back then was blessings for His Majesty. Keeping it for myself would serve no purpose.”

Lin Fei watched as sparks flew and the talisman was devoured by the flames, inwardly lamenting the loss.

But then his attention was drawn back to Lin Huaiyu, who had lowered his hand. Beneath the sleeve, his pale lips were now stained crimson with blood, which flowed unceasingly from the corner of his mouth a shocking sight.

Lin Fei rushed to Lin Huaiyu’s side, supporting him and feeling his weakness. “My lord!” he exclaimed in alarm.

Lin Huaiyu waved a hand dismissively and, leaning on Lin Fei’s support, made his way to the bed to sit down. Yet his coughing grew increasingly severe, unstoppable as a collapsing army, until he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.

Lin Fei was immediately terrified. He helped Lin Huaiyu lie down and hurriedly called out, “Quick! Fetch the imperial physician!”

Lin Huaiyu had no time to stop him, but even if he had, the palace servants outside would have taken action upon seeing his condition.

As Lin Fei returned, Lin Huaiyu motioned him closer and whispered, “When they come back, do not let anyone from Qinchun Palace leave. Do you understand?”

Lin Fei nodded. Lin Huaiyu had already explained everything in his letter, but he hadn’t mentioned he would cough up blood!

He looked at Lin Huaiyu anxiously. “My lord you’re coughing blood”

Lin Huaiyu tried to smile and wave it off, but his hand only lifted an inch before falling weakly. Though he had lost all strength, he still forced himself to say, “I’m fine.”

Lin Fei gazed at Lin Huaiyu’s pale face once fair, now as white as paper, his breath faint as a thread. He looked even weaker than he had just days before.

A sense of foreboding rose in his heart, and he asked anxiously, “My lord, what exactly is wrong? Did His Majesty… did His Majesty subject you to torture? Does he fear your high position and the heavy authority you wield?”

Lin Huaiyu looked at Lin Fei with a faint smile. This child was clever he had guessed about ninety percent of the truth.

Su Yang did indeed fear him. The smarter, more scheming, and more powerful a person was, the more they were to be feared, especially by an emperor.

Even though he had once assisted Su Yang and helped him ascend to the throne, no powerful minister ever escaped the fate of “the cunning hare dies, the hunting dog is cooked; the birds are gone, the bow is stored away.”

He would be no exception.

Just as they were speaking, footsteps echoed at the door more than one imperial physician had arrived.

Lin Huaiyu’s gaze fell on Zhou Li, but Zhou Li only gave him a helpless look. However, upon noticing the blood on Lin Huaiyu’s body, his expression shifted in alarm.

Coughing up blood and vomiting blood were two different matters. If it was coughing blood, though serious, one could still rely on rare medicinal herbs to sustain life for perhaps half a year. But if it was vomiting blood…

Judging by Lin Huaiyu’s condition, it seemed his time was near.

Lin Huaiyu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he looked over, but this time, the blood welling up could not be suppressed. It flowed incessantly from his mouth. He instinctively tried to catch it, but the blood fell into his palm and trickled through his fingers, all to no avail.

Seeing this, Zhou Li hurried to Lin Huaiyu’s side to check his pulse, while Lin Fei fetched a handkerchief to wipe the blood from Lin Huaiyu’s palm, anxiously watching Zhou Li all the while.

After a long while, Zhou Li released his hand, letting it fall to his side, and said helplessly, “Lord Lin, forgive this humble official’s incompetence. The poison has already invaded your heart meridian. There is no way to reverse it.”

Lin Fei’s eyes widened in shock as he looked at Lin Huaiyu. “What?! How could this be? My lord was merely in poor health. How could he become beyond saving after just two months in the palace?!”

He turned to Zhou Li, asking frantically, “Are you mistaken? Please check again. Can you prescribe something? How could my lord, how could he possibly be dying?!”

Zhou Li shook his head and stated plainly, “Lord Lin is already vomiting blood, which proves the poison has entered his organs and invaded his heart meridian. This humble official cannot be mistaken. If you do not believe me, you may ask my colleagues to examine him as well.”

As Zhou Li turned to leave, Lin Huaiyu spoke up to stop him. “Chief Zhou, I have said I would spare your life, and I will not go back on my word. But if you act cleverly and try to play tricks with me, I cannot guarantee whether I will still be able to protect your life.”

Zhou Li’s heart sank. He had indeed been thinking that Lin Huaiyu was nearing his end and likely would not survive the day. Seizing the opportunity to report to the emperor might help him absolve himself somewhat. He had not expected Lin Huaiyu to see through his intentions immediately.

A fox was indeed a fox cunning and calculating.

Zhou Li had no choice but to halt his steps. However, though he remained still, the palace attendants outside, having heard Zhou Li declare Lin Huaiyu beyond medical help, were preparing to report to the emperor. Without even lifting his eyelids, Lin Huaiyu said, “Xiao Fei, detain them. If any living creature steps out of the Spring Breeze Palace today, do not blame me for being ruthless.”

The palace attendants outside immediately knelt in unison. The entire Spring Breeze Palace fell into dead silence, making the celebratory cannon fire from outside sound particularly jarring.

Lin Huaiyu leaned against the bed, listening to the slow progression of the coronation ceremony outside. At this moment, Su Yang and Bai Jianqing should each be making their way toward the altar.

For miles, the scene was adorned with red decorations, filled with flowers and ceremonial cannons. The entire court of civil and military officials offered their congratulations a scene of great festivity.

Lin Huaiyu felt his eyelids growing heavy. Blood continued to spill from his mouth, as though there was an endless supply within him. In the end, he could only let the blood flow freely, staining the front of his robes.

Several imperial physicians exchanged glances upon seeing this. They had all received the emperor’s orders: if anything happened to Lord Lin today, they would pay with their lives.

One of the physicians, seeing only Lin Fei present and thinking he couldn’t stop them all, had a thought. He shifted his weight, preparing to slip away, but in the blink of an eye, Lin Fei was already standing before him. “Where is this lord planning to go?”

The physician’s pupils contracted in shock. Lin Huaiyu’s guard was this formidable? The wind itself hadn’t even stirred beside him, yet this guard had already halted in front of him, a blade pressed against his neck. The physician quickly knelt, though unwillingly, feigning concern for Lin Huaiyu. “Lord Lin is in such a state. Are you really going to stand by and watch him die?”

Lin Fei let out a derisive laugh. In the past, no one had ever cared about his lord’s well-being. The Lin residence was cold and deserted, with not a single visitor in sight. Everyone wished for Lord Lin’s death. Now that their own lives were at risk, they suddenly didn’t want anything to happen to his lord.

How laughable.

Lin Fei’s blade remained pressed against the physician’s neck as he said coldly, “My lord said that no one is to leave the Qinchun Palace today. I only follow my lord’s orders!”

The physician gritted his teeth in frustration but dared not move, fearing the sharp blade would cut his skin. “Even if your lord dies because of you, you’ll still do this?!”

Lin Fei glanced back. On the bed, Lin Huaiyu was vomiting blood incessantly, clearly in great pain. He tightened his grip on the blade and gritted his teeth. “Yes.”

His lord had just given the order: no matter what happened, not a single living thing was to leave the Qinchun Palace today. And so, he could only do this.

His lord had promised to leave the palace with him. He would never break that promise. Lin Fei believed in him.

The physician shook his head, his face ashen. “Blind loyalty! Truly blind loyalty!”

The sound of ceremonial cannons pierced the sky, drowning out the curses.

Listening to the music and festivities outside, Lin Huaiyu seemed to experience a sudden surge of vitality, as if in a final rally. He stopped vomiting blood, wiped the corners of his mouth with his sleeve, and propped himself up to sit on the edge of the bed.

Seeing him rise, Lin Fei’s eyes lit up. “My lord!”

But Zhou Li’s expression was grim. How could he not see the state Lin Huaiyu’s body was in now?

In this situation, death was inevitable either way. If Lin Huaiyu died, the emperor would not spare them. But if they tried to leave now, Lin Huaiyu would kill them on the spot.

Yet Lin Huaiyu beckoned to Zhou Li. “Chief Zhou, please come forward.”

Zhou Li was puzzled but complied, stepping forward.

Lin Huaiyu retrieved a gleaming golden token from beneath his pillow and handed it to Zhou Li. Zhou Li fixed his gaze on it, his eyes widening in disbelief. He looked at Lin Huaiyu incredulously and asked, “Lord Lin… what is the meaning of this?”

Lin Huaiyu’s smile was exceedingly frail, yet his expression remained serene, showing no trace of distress. He spoke softly, “This may save your lives. I promised you earlier that as long as Chief Zhou kept my secret, I would ensure your safety.”

Zhou Li’s pupils dilated in shock. Trembling, he took the pardon token, feeling its weight heavy in his palm.

He had thought Lin Huaiyu was merely threatening him at the time, and even at the end, Lin Huaiyu might not spare him. Yet, he never expected Lin Huaiyu to produce a pardon token.

He remembered the origin of this token it was personally bestowed upon Lin Huaiyu by Su Yang on the day he ascended the throne. Back then, Lin Huaiyu was at the peak of his power, second only to the emperor, truly holding sway over the court. Many wished for his death, but none could truly take Lin Huaiyu’s life.

Now, with the cunning hare dead, the hunting dog is cooked. Others might not know, but Zhou Li was aware of what Lin Huaiyu had endured in the palace.

He accepted the pardon token and bowed deeply to Lin Huaiyu.

Like the rest of the world, he had once believed Lin Huaiyu to be ruthless and cruel, a man of deep schemes who could easily take lives with a single maneuver, showing no regard for royalty or human life, treating it as mere grass.

But today, he realized Lin Huaiyu was not as the rumors portrayed.

“Leave,” Lin Huaiyu said softly.

The crowd withdrew from Lin Huaiyu’s bedchamber and knelt outside the Qinchun Palace. Lin Fei continued to watch over them, not allowing them to leave.

Lin Huaiyu swallowed the metallic taste in his throat, picked up another book from the table, and walked to the charcoal brazier. With a weary expression, he lit the book, and flames immediately licked at its pages. Using the burning book, he ignited the bed curtains, setting the Qinchun Palace ablaze.

“Fire! There’s a fire!” Those kneeling outside watched as flames rose within the Qinchun Palace, pointing inside and looking toward Lin Fei.

But Lin Fei remained unmoved, still managing them. “Do not move!”

The onlookers grew frantic. “The palace is on fire! Shouldn’t we put it out? Lord Lin is still inside!”

Lin Fei observed the spreading fire, then glanced toward the direction of the coronation ceremony. In a cold tone, he relayed the words Lin Huaiyu had taught him to everyone present: “Lord Lin knew his time was short and chose to end his life by fire in the Qinchun Palace. He only wished for peace and prosperity across the land, for the Great Yong’s fortune to flourish, and for His Majesty to live ten thousand years.”