The Sickly Beauty Official Faked His Death and Now the Tyrant Has Gone Mad - Chapter 24

The heavy snow continued to fall, blanketing the palace pathways in a thick layer of white. The eaves of the buildings sagged under the weight of the accumulated snow, transforming the world into a pristine, dreamlike realm.

In the Qinchun Palace, the trees were laden with snow. Several palace servants were busy sweeping, while others filed in one after another, carrying trays of breakfast into the inner chambers.

Watching the lavish dishes being carried past, a few servants sweeping the snow took advantage of Su Yang’s absence to whisper among themselves. “These dishes are delivered every day, and every day they’re sent back untouched, exactly as they were. What’s the point?”

Another servant glanced at him, sweeping closer with a furtive air. “Don’t you know? This palace used to be the residence of Prime Minister Lin Huaiyu.”

The first servant nodded. “I know that. Minister Lin lived in Qinchun Palace before, but on the day of the sacrificial ceremony, a great fire broke out here, and Minister Lin perished. What does that have to do with the breakfast?”

“Everything!” the other servant lowered his voice. “Our Majesty has nearly gone mad over Minister Lin’s death. This breakfast is prepared on His Majesty’s orders for Minister Lin. But Minister Lin has been dead for a long time. Isn’t that terrifying?”

Hearing this, the first servant’s face paled. Though no one else was around, he too lowered his voice. “That’s truly frightening. No one eats it after it’s delivered. Could it be that His Majesty believes Minister Lin is partaking of it? Is this a form of mourning?”

The other servant shook his head. “You don’t understand. Sometimes His Majesty even mutters to himself, even though there’s no one beside him. I always feel that…”

He didn’t dare finish, but the servant beside him, seemingly unafraid of taboos, blurted out, “Minister Lin’s spirit is still here?!”

The first servant immediately dropped his broom and covered the other’s mouth. “Don’t speak nonsense! Such matters are strictly forbidden in the palace. With the Son of Heaven residing here, how could such things happen?!”

“Mmph…” The servant struggled to speak through the hand over his mouth. Once released, he whispered again, “But isn’t that exactly what you meant?”

The first servant brushed the snow off his clothes, annoyed. “I said nothing of the sort. I merely think… His Majesty’s feelings for Minister Lin might have surpassed those between ruler and subject, or even teacher and student.”

The other servant pondered this. “So that’s what you meant. Isn’t it obvious? What ruler and subject would live in the inner palace? What teacher and student, upon death, would cause the emperor to abandon morning court and remain guarding Qinchun Palace?”

The first servant nodded in agreement. “You’re right. So… His Majesty’s feelings for Minister Lin were of that nature? No wonder Minister Lin was still in Qinchun Palace on the day of the sacrificial ceremony.”

“But the man is dead. Is His Majesty unable to move on, or is it…”

The other servant added, “I’ve also heard that His Majesty has issued widespread arrest warrants, yet explicitly ordered that no harm come to Minister Lin. His Majesty still believes Minister Lin is alive. Do you think His Majesty is…”

“Shh! Do you have a death wish?!”

Out of the corner of his eye, the servant caught sight of the emperor in his black dragon-embroidered robes, his presence overwhelming. He immediately knelt and loudly alerted his companion, “Your Majesty!”

The other servant fell silent and knelt as well.

Both kept their heads bowed, catching only a glimpse of the hem of the emperor’s robe passing before them. The oppressive aura weighed down on them like a mountain, leaving them breathless.

The sound of the door closing finally allowed the two to breathe a sigh of relief. “Don’t say such things anymore. If His Majesty hears us, we’ll both lose our lives!”

Su Yang did not overhear the servants’ conversation. Had he heard, he truly would not have spared them. As for the attendants who had previously served Lin Huaiyu, Su Yang knew Lin Huaiyu did not wish to implicate them, which was why he had used the imperial pardon token. In accordance with Lin Huaiyu’s wishes, Su Yang had dismissed them all from the palace.

Now, a new group of servants had been assigned to the Qinchun Palace. Su Yang gazed at the lavish breakfast spread on the table, picked up his chopsticks, and began placing food into the plate beside him carefully selecting all of Lin Huaiyu’s favorite dishes.

De Fu watched Su Yang’s actions and sighed silently in his heart.

These days, His Majesty’s condition had worsened again. He no longer needed to intoxicate himself to believe that Lord Lin was still here in the Qinchun Palace. He would even talk to himself, serving food for Lord Lin as he used to, as though someone were truly sitting beside him.

It was eerie and heartbreaking.

De Fu had witnessed Su Yang and Lin Huaiyu’s journey from the Eastern Palace. The two had once been so close. Lord Lin had been meticulous in his care for Su Yang when he was still the Crown Prince. They spent most of their time together, sharing meals and living quarters. Lord Lin offered counsel, and Su Yang trusted him implicitly, always following his advice.

Back then, Su Yang had never shown any signs of abnormality.

Perhaps Su Yang had concealed his feelings too well, for De Fu had never detected anything amiss.

But ever since Su Yang ascended the throne, everything seemed to have changed. The emotions buried deep within His Majesty had twisted, no longer suppressible, shattering the bond between them.

Lord Lin had regarded Su Yang as a student, as the Son of Heaven, as his sovereign. How could he have known that Su Yang harbored such feelings? To be imprisoned and forced to accept His Majesty’s morally transgressive affection was no easy ordeal.

De Fu’s heart ached for both Su Yang and Lin Huaiyu.

“Teacher, please eat. In a moment, I’ll take you for a walk,” Su Yang spoke softly to the empty seat beside him, his gentle tone masking his true nature.

Even though De Fu knew no one was responding, a flicker of loneliness passed through Su Yang’s eyes. He added, “If Teacher doesn’t wish to walk, then I’ll stay here and keep you company.”

After a brief pause, Su Yang murmured to himself, “It seems Teacher simply doesn’t want to be with me.”

The plaintive tone was so convincing that, had De Fu not known better, he might have doubted his own sanity and wondered if Lin Huaiyu was truly there, invisible to his eyes.

The door to the bedchamber opened once more. Attendants from the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau entered, carrying several newly tailored garments. The leading court lady bowed and announced, “Your Majesty, the clothing tailored for Lord Lin is ready.”

Su Yang gave a slight nod. “Leave them here.”

The court lady gestured, and the attendants placed the clothes on a nearby table before quietly withdrawing.

Su Yang turned to the side and said, “Teacher, it was my fault before for not having any clothes made for you. There isn’t a single garment in this palace that belongs to you. Come, take a look. I specifically ordered these made for you. They should fit you perfectly.”

“Teacher, do you not like them? Or do you prefer to keep wearing my clothes?” Su Yang continued his one-sided conversation.

With that, he stood up and walked over to the clothes. “Teacher always favored purple. This purple robe is quite nice, don’t you think?”

“However, I still wish to see Teacher wear this red attire once more.”

As soon as Su Yang finished speaking, he immediately grew flustered and added, “No, that’s not it. I didn’t mean to upset Teacher on purpose. This style is different from the wedding gown. I know Teacher dislikes that wedding gown. Teacher has misunderstood me.”

In the span of a single sentence, Su Yang continued, “Teacher is right to scold me. I’ll have them make a few more sets.”

He was about to call for someone when, unexpectedly, no sound came out, as if someone had truly stopped him. He then said, “Alright, alright. Whatever Teacher says, I shall obey.”

De Fu watched from the side as Su Yang obediently sat down and resumed dining with the nonexistent Lin Huaiyu, his heart filled with indescribable complexity.

He had never believed in ghosts or spirits, but now, he could no longer tell whether Su Yang was gravely ill or if Lin Huaiyu’s ghost was truly present, just invisible to him.

Yet, by all logic, the Emperor was the true Son of Heaven. No ghost, no matter what kind, should be able to approach His Majesty.

De Fu couldn’t make sense of it, but Su Yang’s condition hadn’t improved much either, for he still couldn’t sleep.

Late at night, with the bright moon hanging high, De Fu had already retired to bed when a faint noise startled him awake. He saw Su Yang standing in the courtyard of the Qinchun Palace, snowflakes quickly covering him from head to toe.

De Fu hurriedly grabbed an umbrella and rushed to Su Yang’s side, shielding him from the snow as he asked, “Your Majesty, why have you come out?”

But Su Yang pushed De Fu away, causing the umbrella to fall to the ground. The snow began to pile up on his shoulders once more as he said, “Teacher refuses to speak to me. I was wrong. I must beg for Teacher’s forgiveness, but Teacher won’t let me in.”

De Fu hesitated, struggling for words before finally saying, “Your Majesty, Lord Lin, he…”

Su Yang turned to look at him, and De Fu felt a threatening intensity in his gaze, as if saying that Lin Huaiyu was dead would cost him his head.

De Fu had no choice but to play along: “Since Lord Lin is angry, Your Majesty standing here won’t change anything.”

Su Yang withdrew his gaze and stared once more at the tightly shut doors of the bedchamber. “Then tell me, what should I do?”

“This…” De Fu wore a troubled expression. “This servant has no good solution. If I were to offend Your Majesty, the only outcome would be losing my head.”

Hearing De Fu’s half-serious, half-joking words, Su Yang scoffed, “Useless. Step aside. Don’t get in my way.”

De Fu could tell Su Yang wasn’t truly angry. After a moment’s hesitation, he picked up the umbrella and stood beneath a tree. Unable to persuade Su Yang, he could only watch from a distance.

Su Yang stood there all night, the heavy snow piling thickly upon him until he nearly resembled a snowman. Only when dawn broke, and De Fu almost feared Su Yang would follow Lin Huaiyu to the grave in this state, did Su Yang finally stir. He murmured to himself, “Tell me, was it this cold when Teacher knelt in the snow back then?”

De Fu dared not answer, only saying, “Your Majesty, it’s cold outside. Shouldn’t you go in?”

But Su Yang paid him no mind. “I remember clearly. Teacher knelt in the snow for half the night to plead for my sake, injuring his knees. How could I have punished him to kneel in the snow again that day?”

He turned to De Fu and asked, “Am I deserving of death?”

De Fu was so frightened he immediately knelt. “Your Majesty, you humble this servant too much.”

Su Yang shook his head and turned his gaze back toward the bedchamber. “No wonder my teacher doesn’t want to speak to me. He wants to leave me. But now that I know I was wrong, why won’t he come back?”

De Fu stood nearby, not daring to respond.

Breakfast was brought as usual. This time, Su Yang did not enter but remained standing at the door, and the palace attendants dared not look too closely.

Along with the breakfast, medicine was also delivered. Only when Su Yang saw it did he speak up. “Were the peach pastries prepared?”

The attendant nodded. “They are prepared, Your Majesty.”

Su Yang let out a sigh of relief. “Go ahead.”

Lin Huaiyu hated bitterness so much without the peach pastries, he would never drink the medicine. Even with them, he might still refuse.

A long while later, the attendants returned on schedule to clear away the untouched breakfast and medicine. Su Yang looked at the untouched meal and the bowl of medicinal soup and sighed softly. “My teacher still refuses to forgive me.”

De Fu watched Su Yang and sighed quietly as well.

His Majesty had truly lost his mind.