The Sickly Beauty Official Faked His Death and Now the Tyrant Has Gone Mad - Chapter 21

Lin Huaiyu seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth…

For several days, torrential rain poured down as if even the heavens could no longer bear to watch the calamities plaguing the mortal world. The belated downpour sought to extinguish the raging fires from days past.

Defu watched as Su Yang, unable to sleep night after night, sat with bandages still wrapped around his body. The wounds from the fire had yet to heal, and it was likely they would leave scars.

A layer of gauze covered Su Yang’s eyes, which had been burned by the flames during the fire. They required time to recover, yet Su Yang refused to rest. He stubbornly clung to the disbelief that Lin Huaiyu was dead, spending his days sitting in the imperial study.

The dim room remained unlit by candles. Zhou Li had insisted that Su Yang rest early and avoid any stimulation from candlelight to protect his eyes, so no candles were allowed in the palace. Su Yang sat motionless in his chair, like a statue, staring at the pardon token in his hand.

Defu sighed softly and stepped forward to replace Su Yang’s cold tea with a fresh, hot cup. In his current state, Su Yang was utterly despondent, refusing to see anyone and neglecting court affairs. Though his absence was officially attributed to his recovery, Defu knew Su Yang had no heart for governance.

As long as Su Yang refused to accept Lin Huaiyu’s death, he would remain trapped in this torment forever.

“Still no news?” Su Yang’s voice was hoarse and gravelly, as if he hadn’t spoken for days.

Defu shook his head. “No.”

He knew Su Yang was deceiving himself. Where could Lin Huaiyu possibly be found now?

Yet, as long as there was no news, Su Yang clung to the hope that Lin Huaiyu was still alive.

Defu gently advised, “Your Majesty, no news is good news. Perhaps you should rest and sleep. Maybe tomorrow, there will be word of Lord Lin.”

Su Yang suddenly turned toward Defu, his sharp eyes beneath the gauze dark and brooding. He murmured softly, “Can I still trust your words?”

Defu immediately dropped to his knees in fear. “Your Majesty this servant deserves death.”

Su Yang let out a cold, mocking laugh.

Hearing that laugh, Defu felt a cold sweat soak through the back of his robes, but he dared not say another word. He could only plead, “Your Majesty, please take care of your health.”

Su Yang did not pursue the matter further. He knew Defu meant well, but he had no desire to hear such words. Instead, he asked abruptly, “Where do you think Lin Huaiyu might have gone?”

Defu kept his head bowed, not daring to offer any real speculation. “This servant does not know.”

Su Yang laughed again, a sudden, unsettling sound. “It doesn’t matter. No matter where my teacher has gone, I will find him.”

Listening to Su Yang’s words, which bordered on madness, Defu sighed silently in his heart.

It’s over. His Majesty is truly losing his mind.

Days turned into weeks, but the men sent out to search returned empty-handed. Su Yang even issued warrants to neighboring towns and across the entire Great Yong Empire, yet no news ever came.

Lin Huaiyu seemed to have truly vanished without a trace.

No in the eyes of everyone else, Lin Huaiyu had perished in that fire. Only one person refused to believe it, stubbornly convinced that Lin Huaiyu was not dead but had merely escaped.

Half a month later, Su Yang stood on the palace path outside the ruins of Qinchun Palace. The once-grand palace was now a charred wasteland. For the past fortnight, Su Yang had paid no attention to any matters unrelated to Lin Huaiyu, shutting out all other voices. The fire had been extinguished, but the ruins remained untouched, abandoned and desolate.

Su Yang stepped into the ruins, seeing only that everything related to Lin Huaiyu had been burned to ashes, leaving nothing behind. All that remained before his eyes were dark ashes.

Defu stood far behind Su Yang, not daring to approach too closely. Su Yang stood there for a long time before finally instructing Defu, “Have the Qinchun Palace rebuilt.”

Defu hurriedly responded, “This servant will go deliver the decree immediately.”

“Make sure it is exactly the same as before,” Su Yang emphasized.

Defu naturally understood Su Yang’s meaning. Su Yang didn’t just want the Qinchun Palace rebuilt exactly as it was before he also wanted everything inside to be identical to how it was when Lin Huaiyu was there, down to every single item, even the clothes.

“Yes,” Defu replied softly.

Having received his orders, he went to the Ministry of Works to issue the decree. After walking a few steps, he glanced back at Su Yang, who stood alone amidst the gray-black scorched earth, looking like an abandoned, homeless puppy.

After the reconstruction of Qinchun Palace began, Su Yang almost went every day to oversee the progress. For an entire month, aside from handling important memorials and meeting with crucial ministers, he spent the rest of his time supervising the construction of Qinchun Palace, barely attending court at all.

Civil and military officials speculated endlessly, and rumors even spread among the common people. The most severe rumors claimed that Su Yang was gravely ill and could no longer attend court, suggesting that the Great Yong Dynasty was about to change hands.

As the chief eunuch of the inner palace, Defu naturally heard many of these rumors. Civil and military officials frequently inquired about Su Yang’s health from him.

Watching Su Yang standing on the palace path, intently staring at Qinchun Palace, Defu felt that this could not go on.

“Your Majesty, Minister Zhao requests an audience.”

On this day, Zhao Xiangyi finally couldn’t hold back any longer and entered the palace on behalf of the civil and military officials to request an audience with Su Yang.

At that time, Su Yang was still overseeing the reconstruction progress of Qinchun Palace, which was nearing completion. Hearing the visitor’s name, he immediately frowned, “What does he want?”

Defu replied truthfully, “Most likely, it’s about the morning court sessions.”

Defu glanced at Su Yang’s expression. With Qinchun Palace about to be completed, Su Yang’s mood was likely decent today, so it wouldn’t be a bad time to bring this up.

In truth, officials came daily to request an audience with Su Yang regarding court affairs, but after reporting once and being scolded, Defu had suppressed all such requests.

Sure enough, today Su Yang didn’t scold him but instead said impatiently, “I don’t want to see him.”

Seeing this, Defu quickly seized the opportunity, “Minister Zhao is, after all, a talent that Lord Lin valued. He likely has something important to report to Your Majesty.”

He deliberately mentioned the slight connection between Zhao Xiangyi and Lin Huaiyu. As expected, Su Yang reacted.

Su Yang sneered disdainfully, “Is he worthy?”

Defu remained silent, then heard Su Yang say coldly, “Let him in.”

“Yes,” Defu replied, relieved that his words had finally gotten through to Su Yang.

Indeed, His Majesty now only cared about matters related to Lord Lin.

He only hoped that Minister Zhao could, like Lord Lin in his time, persuade His Majesty.

Defu walked to the palace gate and saw the new top scholar no, now the head of the Hanlin Academy. Just as Lin Huaiyu had said, he was indeed a capable man.

Zhao Xiangyi stood at the palace gate, tall and elegant. If not for the red robe he wore, which was not Lin Huaiyu’s usual attire, one might have mistaken him for Lin Huaiyu standing there.

Defu approached him, “Head of the Hanlin Academy, His Majesty requests your presence.”

Zhao Xiangyi hadn’t actually expected Su Yang to agree to see him. He had come today merely to try his luck, as over the past month, aside from a few ministers he absolutely had to meet, His Majesty Su Yang had refused to see anyone else.

Zhao Xiangyi looked at Defu and discreetly passed a pouch of silver from his sleeve to the other man, asking in a low voice, “Eunuch Defu, serving His Majesty day and night, do you know how His Majesty’s mood is today?”

Defu smiled and pushed the silver back. Zhao Xiangyi’s expression stiffened, but Defu reassured him, “We are all here to share His Majesty’s burdens. I appreciate Lord Zhao’s kindness.”

Zhao Xiangyi relaxed slightly, embarrassed. “It was thoughtless of me.”

Defu shook his head with a smile. Zhao Xiangyi had managed to climb to the position of head of the Hanlin Academy in such a short time not only because of his own abilities but also due to his skill in navigating complex situations a talent some could never learn no matter how hard they tried.

He said, “His Majesty is in a good mood today because the construction of the Qinchun Palace has been completed. When you speak with him later, Lord Zhao, you might mention Lord Lin more.”

Zhao Xiangyi was momentarily taken aback, then realized that Defu was actually advising him on how to please the emperor.

He quickly expressed his gratitude, “Thank you, Eunuch Defu.”

Defu shook his head again. He wasn’t helping Zhao Xiangyi; he was trying to help the emperor.

He didn’t possess Lin Huaiyu’s broad-minded concern for the world, but he knew that as long as the emperor was here, the Great Yong would remain at peace.

Zhao Xiangyi followed Defu to the palace path outside the Qinchun Palace. Sure enough, he saw the emperor, dressed in black robes, standing at the entrance of the Qinchun Palace. He seemed different from the Su Yang Zhao Xiangyi had seen in the grand hall more somber, with not a trace of a smile on his face.

Su Yang was enveloped in gloom, as if surrounded by an unfading mist that trapped him in a vast, inescapable haze.

Zhao Xiangyi stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty.”

Su Yang didn’t even glance at him, his gaze fixed on the Qinchun Palace as he said indifferently, “What is it?”

Zhao Xiangyi glanced at Defu, feeling that the emperor’s mood couldn’t exactly be described as good at the moment.

Nevertheless, he steeled himself and said, “Your Majesty has not held morning court for many days. All the officials are deeply concerned about Your Majesty. With numerous affairs of state piling up, we humbly request that Your Majesty resume morning court.”

Only then did Su Yang slowly shift his gaze to Zhao Xiangyi. The sight of the other man respectfully offering advice reminded him of Lin Huaiyu. Unfortunately, Lin Huaiyu rarely wore red robes.

The last time he wore red was when Su Yang had coaxed and tricked him into putting on wedding attire, only for Su Yang to tear it off soon after.

Lin Huaiyu didn’t like that wedding attire, nor did he like Su Yang, his student. Yet, for Su Yang’s sake, Lin Huaiyu had been poisoned, and even in his weakened state, he had been humiliated by his own student. What had Lin Huaiyu been thinking at that time?

Su Yang couldn’t help but recall Lin Huaiyu’s weary expression. He tugged at the corner of his mouth, letting out a self-mocking laugh.

Lin Huaiyu probably hated him to the core.

“Do I need you to remind me whether I should hold court or not?” Su Yang’s voice grew colder.

Lin Huaiyu would also admonish him like this, but what Su Yang hated was that the person standing before him now, offering advice, wasn’t Lin Huaiyu but someone else.

Zhao Xiangyi hurriedly replied, “This humble official wouldn’t dare. It’s just that without Your Majesty’s approval, none of the officials dare to act on any matter.”

Su Yang scoffed. “Without me, you can’t do anything? Then what use are you to me?”

Zhao Xiangyi looked troubled. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Defu, who was signaling to him. He could only give it his best shot.

So he said, “Your Majesty, this humble official was thinking that if Minister Lin were standing here now, he would surely advise Your Majesty in the same way.”

Su Yang’s expression froze, his face instantly clouded with gloom as he coldly stared at Zhao Xiangyi. “How dare you mention him?”

Lin Huaiyu had knelt in the snow for Zhao Xiangyi, his knees chilled, leaving him in discomfort for several days.

Seeing this, Zhao Xiangyi quickly knelt and said, “Your Majesty, if Minister Lin were here, he would certainly not wish to see Your Majesty so despondent, neglecting even the morning court!”

He bowed deeply, awaiting Su Yang’s judgment, but there was no response from above.

Zhao Xiangyi cautiously looked up to see Su Yang standing still with pursed lips, his gaze seemingly lost in thought.

Noticing that Su Yang indeed seemed somewhat receptive to matters related to Lin Huaiyu, Zhao Xiangyi breathed a sigh of relief.

But the next moment, Su Yang looked down at him with cold disdain. “What did you just say? What do you mean ‘if Lin Huaiyu were still here’? Is he gone? Huh?!”

Zhao Xiangyi was taken aback and replied, “Minister Lin perished in the fire. We are deeply grieved and beg Your Majesty to restrain your sorrow. We know Your Majesty is heartbroken, but you must take care of your health.”

Upon hearing this, De Fu thought to himself, “It’s over.”

Su Yang’s eyes instantly reddened. He glared fiercely at Zhao Xiangyi and roared, “Who said he’s dead? He’s not dead! What sorrow is there to restrain? Get out! All of you, get out!”

Zhao Xiangyi was dragged away by De Fu, still somewhat bewildered halfway. “Eunuch De Fu, why is His Majesty unwilling to believe that Minister Lin is dead?”

The wanted notices were posted everywhere. Zhao Xiangyi had previously been puzzled, thinking it was due to Su Yang’s overwhelming grief. But now, it seemed as though His Majesty…

In any case, something was off.

De Fu sighed and said, “His Majesty’s feelings for Minister Lin run deep.”

Zhao Xiangyi couldn’t understand. Lin Huaiyu was Su Yang’s teacher. No matter how deep their bond, how could it lead to neglecting state affairs for over a month?

And earlier, De Fu had mentioned that His Majesty’s mood improved only after the Qinchun Palace was completed. Why would the renovation of Qinchun Palace lift His Majesty’s spirits? He remembered that Minister Lin had died in the fire at Qinchun Palace.

During the sacrificial ceremony, why was Minister Lin in His Majesty’s inner palace?

Thinking carefully about these details, there were many perplexing points.

But clearly, De Fu would not reveal these to him.

After seeing Zhao Xiangyi off, De Fu hurried back to the Qinchun Palace. Su Yang was still standing in the same spot, watching as furnishings were moved back into the palace. Su Yang noticed a charcoal brazier and stopped the palace servant. “There wasn’t one of these here before. Take it away.”

The servant replied, “Your Majesty, on the day of the sacrificial ceremony, Minister Lin instructed this servant to bring this charcoal brazier.”

Su Yang frowned. “Was the underfloor heating not working in Qinchun Palace that day?”

The servant quickly explained, “Your Majesty, the underfloor heating was burning vigorously every day and never stopped.”

Su Yang’s frown deepened. “Then did the teacher say why he needed this charcoal brazier?”

The servant answered truthfully, “Minister Lin said he still felt somewhat cold in the room, so he ordered this servant to bring the charcoal brazier.”

Su Yang’s gaze darkened. Was Lin Huaiyu feeling cold at that time?

Yet he himself had been in the biting wind and snow, repeatedly humiliating Lin Huaiyu.

Su Yang closed his eyes and asked, “Where did he place the charcoal brazier?”

Upon hearing this, the servant placed the brazier where Lin Huaiyu had previously indicated.

Su Yang looked at the charcoal brazier placed beside the table, his heart filled with even greater confusion.

Lin Huaiyu had specifically requested that brazier for that day, what was it for?

Could the great fire have been because of that brazier?

Su Yang watched as the items in Qinchun Palace were gradually restored, yet the one person he longed to see was still missing.

Gazing at the empty bed, he asked Defu, “Tell me, when will I find him?”

Defu very much wanted to say that even if Lin Huaiyu truly, truly, truly hadn’t died, with his cunning, if he wanted to hide away and live in seclusion, no one would likely ever find him.

But he could only change his approach, saying, “Your Majesty, I’ve heard that Lingshan Temple is very efficacious. Minister Lin often went there to pray for blessings. Although Your Majesty doesn’t believe in such things, if there’s truly no other way, perhaps you could consult the abbot for a divination?”

Su Yang’s gaze darkened as he looked at Defu.

A chill ran down Defu’s back, realizing he had spoken out of turn again. He quickly knelt and said, “This servant spoke recklessly. Your Majesty does not believe in such things. You are the true dragon, the only ordained ruler under heaven.”

“Let’s leave the palace,” Su Yang withdrew his gaze, rising to his feet.

Defu was taken aback. Watching Su Yang’s retreating figure, he blinked in surprise.

Was His Majesty actually planning to go to Lingshan Temple for a divination?

He hurriedly followed in astonishment.

Lingshan Temple was bustling with incense offerings. Though located outside the city, countless people flocked there daily, with worshippers coming in droves to pray and seek blessings.

Su Yang changed into plain clothes and discreetly ascended the mountain. Defu, also in ordinary attire, followed closely behind.

Upon seeing Su Yang, the abbot approached and said, “Your Majesty.”

Su Yang looked up at the gilded Buddha statue and asked, “I wish to find someone. Can you tell me where to look?”

The abbot chanted “Amitabha” and closed his eyes. “Your Majesty, some matters are best not forced. Too deep an obsession can easily give rise to inner demons.”

Su Yang met the gaze of the Buddha statue, looking at the compassionate, merciful figure, and laughed softly. “Are you saying I should give up?”

The abbot shook his head but opened his eyes, saying no more. He only advised, “Your Majesty is lost in a fog, unable to see the way.”

Su Yang turned and gave the abbot a deep look. “I see clearly. He isn’t dead. He’s hiding from me, and I will find him.”

With that, he turned to leave.

“Your Majesty, are you not carrying the protective talisman close to you?” the abbot suddenly inquired.

Su Yang halted immediately and turned back to look at the abbot. “What protective talisman?”

The abbot clasped his hands together, a kind smile on his face. “Minister Lin once prayed for Your Majesty’s safety and sought a protective talisman at the temple. He knelt here daily, devoutly worshipping the Buddha for forty-nine days without interruption. This talisman must be carried close to the body. Perhaps at a critical moment, it may yield unexpected results.”

Su Yang’s heart tightened. He could no longer hear what else the abbot said, only replying, “I understand.”

He then left Lingshan Temple and hurried back to the palace.

He walked straight to Qinchun Palace, where everything was restored exactly as it had been before the fire. For a moment, Su Yang felt as if he had truly returned to the time before Lin Huaiyu left.

He entered the bedchamber, opened all the cabinets, and meticulously searched every corner, not even sparing the bed and pillows.

He remembered that during the New Year, he had asked Lin Huaiyu for a gift. Lin Huaiyu had said he hadn’t left the palace and thus couldn’t prepare one.

Could it have been that protective talisman? Was it meant to be a gift for him, but never given?

Later, when Lin Fei entered the palace, he remembered Lin Huaiyu once standing before the low cabinet…

Su Yang hurried over to the low cabinet, but it was empty, with nothing there.

Su Yang stood there for a long while before suddenly catching sight of the charcoal brazier placed beside the table. In that instant, it seemed he understood why Lin Huaiyu had suddenly asked for the charcoal brazier.

Lin Huaiyu had burned the unsent peace talisman…

Su Yang’s eyes reddened abruptly.

His consciousness gradually pulled away from the memories.

Qinchun Palace had already been burned once before. Even if Lin Huaiyu hadn’t personally burned the peace talisman, Su Yang wouldn’t be able to find it now.

Su Yang suddenly swept his gaze across the entirety of Qinchun Palace. The bedchamber remained exactly as it had been, with every item arranged as if it had never been destroyed by fire.

But upon closer inspection, the books on the desk were not quite the same as when Lin Huaiyu was there. There were no longer the memorials that required Lin Huaiyu’s attention. He remembered Lin Huaiyu always sitting at the desk, writing and sketching, annotating various things. Yet now, none of the books or ledgers on the desk bore Lin Huaiyu’s handwriting.

Su Yang circled the bedchamber once more. The incense burning was still the same fragrance as before, but the only thing missing was Lin Huaiyu’s traces, Lin Huaiyu’s presence.

Su Yang walked over to the wardrobe and opened it. Every piece of clothing inside was his own none belonged to Lin Huaiyu.

Su Yang let out a self-mocking laugh.

Of course, ever since Lin Huaiyu entered the palace, he had never given Lin Huaiyu clothes that truly belonged to him.

Back then, what Lin Huaiyu wore were all his clothes loose and ill-fitting.

Su Yang forcefully shut the wardrobe.

Although everything here had been restored to exactly how it was before, the only thing missing was Lin Huaiyu’s traces, Lin Huaiyu’s presence.

His gaze gradually dimmed, and he walked dejectedly to the edge of the bed.

This bed bore the traces and memories of the madness between Lin Huaiyu and him. He slowly lay down on the bed, imagining that Lin Huaiyu was still there. Clutching the bedding as if holding Lin Huaiyu, he pressed it tightly against his chest.

Moonlight spilled in through the window. Su Yang remained motionless in this position, but his eyes stayed open, just as they had for over a month now unable to sleep.