The Sickly Beauty Official Faked His Death and Now the Tyrant Has Gone Mad - Chapter 26

A bright moon hung high in the sky, its glow mingling with the shimmering stars, painting the night with a dazzling brilliance. The spring evening was radiant beyond words.

The Qionglin Banquet for the newly crowned top scholar was an essential event following every spring imperial examination.

A grand feast was set up in the Imperial Garden, attended by civil and military officials alike, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

“I thought His Majesty might not hold the Qionglin Banquet this year,” one official whispered to another while Su Yang had yet to arrive.

Others nodded in agreement. “I thought so too. But ever since the spring examinations, His Majesty has even resumed holding court. Could it be that he has moved on from the incident involving Lord Lin?”

Someone scoffed. “You all told me earlier that His Majesty’s health was deteriorating, making it sound so dire that it frightened me. Turns out, His Majesty was merely grieving for his late teacher and couldn’t let go. Now that a year has passed, it’s about time he moved on.”

Another official felt something was amiss. “But I find it strange. If His Majesty has truly moved on, why hasn’t he revoked the arrest warrants issued across the regions? It’s odd Lord Lin had no chance of surviving that fire. How can His Majesty remain so convinced that Lord Lin is still alive and insist on finding him?”

Someone else chimed in. “Since Lord Lin hasn’t been found, does this mean His Majesty has come to his senses?”

“In my opinion… His Majesty’s feelings for Lord Lin are a bit excessive.”

“Our Majesty lost his mother at a young age, and the late Emperor well, let’s not go there. Lord Lin, as His Majesty’s teacher, raised him. It’s only natural for their bond to be deep.”

“Still, it shouldn’t be to this extent…”

As they whispered among themselves, a figure appeared at the entrance.

Dressed in the crimson robes of the top scholar, the man stood tall and carried himself with humility and grace, capturing everyone’s attention.

Fang Zhixu was experiencing such a scene for the first time. Although he had already met the officials at court, he still felt a bit nervous not out of stage fright, but because so many eyes were fixed on him, making him somewhat uneasy.

After all, no one paid him much attention during court sessions, but the Qionglin Banquet was specifically held for him, the second-place scholar, and the third-place scholar. All eyes were on the three of them, especially him, the top scholar.

As soon as he entered the banquet, someone handed him a cup of wine. “Congratulations, Top Scholar! You’ll be working under Lord Zhao Xiangyi from now on your future is boundless.”

Fang Zhixu quickly accepted the cup. While he could speak eloquently in court, he was more reserved in social situations. As for socializing well his teacher hadn’t taught him that!!!

He could only take the cup, his face flushing as he downed it in one go. “Thank you for your kind words, my lord.”

Unfortunately, he wasn’t much of a drinker. After one cup, he immediately began coughing, covering half his face with his sleeve as he coughed for a long while.

The officials around him laughed. “Our new top scholar isn’t much of a drinker! You’ll need more practice. In the future, we’ll host a banquet at Chunjiang Pavilion you must honor us with your presence.”

Fang Zhixu smiled and nodded. He knew that the reason these court officials treated him so warmly today was because of Zhao Xiangyi or rather, because of His Majesty’s attitude toward him.

As soon as Zhao Xiangyi entered, he saw Fang Zhixu being pressured to drink and stepped in to mediate. “Gentlemen, since the top scholar isn’t much of a drinker, let’s not waste this fine wine.”

Several officials, upon seeing his arrival, raised their glasses to toast Zhao Xiangyi.

Nowadays, Zhao Xiangyi held a high and powerful position in the court. His role as the head of the Hanlin Academy was extremely secure, and he was even the top candidate for the position of prime minister. Although his influence in the court did not match that of Lin Huaiyu in the past, he was currently at the peak of his power.

With everyone’s attention focused on Zhao Xiangyi, Fang Zhixu finally found a rare moment of peace. The wine, likely the strong liquor from the Great Chu tribute, still burned like fire in his throat.

He covered his mouth and coughed softly a few more times.

“His Majesty has arrived ” a palace attendant announced in a sharp voice.

Everyone hurriedly set down their wine cups and knelt. “We pay our respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!”

Su Yang entered the banquet hall and immediately spotted Fang Zhixu, who was covering his mouth as he coughed. His gaze tightened, and for a moment, he even held his breath.

In that instant, he thought he had seen Lin Huaiyu.

Although this person’s appearance and figure bore no resemblance to Lin Huaiyu, for some reason, every gesture and habit seemed to align perfectly with Lin Huaiyu’s.

Why was this?

Could it be that Lin Huaiyu had truly changed his appearance and figure for the sake of the people of Great Yong, returning to his side but unwilling to reveal his identity?

Among the common folk, there were indeed skilled individuals capable of transforming a person entirely into someone else.

Could it be that Fang Zhixu was truly Lin Huaiyu?

For a moment, Su Yang’s heart was in turmoil.

It was only when De Fu, standing beside him, reminded him that he realized everyone else was still kneeling.

Su Yang’s gaze remained fixed on Fang Zhixu as he said, “Rise.”

Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

Su Yang stared at Fang Zhixu for a long time before a faint, enigmatic smile curled at the corners of his lips, sending an inexplicable chill down one’s spine. “Top Scholar Fang Zhixu, I have reviewed your essay once more. It is truly excellent. Today is your day of celebration, so I grant you wine.”

Fang Zhixu was startled and quickly raised his wine cup, addressing Su Yang, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for the wine.”

After drinking, Su Yang watched as Fang Zhixu, unaccustomed to the strong liquor, covered his mouth and coughed again. The sight was indeed identical to Lin Huaiyu’s mannerisms.

Back then, when Lin Huaiyu had achieved the top scholar rank, he too had been granted wine by the emperor at the Qionglin Banquet and congratulated by the officials. Su Yang, who had sneaked out of the cold palace at the time, had seen Lin Huaiyu in red robes surrounded by the crowd and had nearly forgotten to breathe.

Lin Huaiyu was not adept at drinking. The Great Chu wine was exceptionally strong, and he had similarly covered his mouth and coughed softly, trying to maintain his composure while enduring the burning sensation in his throat. Even the corners of his eyes had flushed red.

That fair, peerlessly beautiful face was a dream Su Yang could never forget.

Lost in thought, he drank the wine beside him.

He did not speak further, nor did he immediately test Fang Zhixu. Instead, he simply sat there, his gaze lingering on Fang Zhixu.

Following Su Yang’s lead, the other officials also began to congratulate the new top scholar.

This time, there was no escape for Fang Zhixu.

He had no choice but to drink cup after cup of wine, coughing and drinking under Su Yang’s probing gaze, wishing he could dig a hole and bury himself on the spot.

Master, oh Master, you never said that becoming the top scholar would involve being forced to drink like this!

After three rounds of toasts, Fang Zhixu, who had never drunk before, was already thoroughly intoxicated. Not only him some ministers with poor tolerance for alcohol had long since collapsed onto the tables.

Su Yang finally set down the wine cup in his hand, his thumb gently stroking the rim, like a hunter silently locking onto his prey. “Fang Zhixu.”

Though Fang Zhixu was drunk, hearing Su Yang call him, he knew he had to step forward to respond, staggering as he walked. “Your servant is here.”

Su Yang looked at him with a smile, but his eyes held an ambiguous danger. “Your essays are written so brilliantly, it reminds me of someone. Guess who?”

By now, Fang Zhixu had lost all sense of direction, replying without hesitation, “I heard from Lord Zhao that I resemble. um… the late Prime Minister Lin Huaiyu.”

Upon hearing the word “late,” Su Yang narrowed his slender eyes, the pressure around him dropping even lower.

However, no one noticed this danger at the moment, and Fang Zhixu naturally couldn’t sense it either.

Su Yang didn’t immediately press the issue, only murmuring thoughtfully, “You’re quite well-informed. I’m just curious was your essay writing style taught by someone?”

Drunk, Fang Zhixu forgot his teacher’s warning not to mention him after arriving in the capital. In a rush, he blurted out, “There’s a private tutor in our town. He’s immensely talented and knowledgeable, teaching us in his spare time. To be honest, I’m ashamed to say I haven’t even learned a fraction of what he knows.”

Hearing that Fang Zhixu had a teacher, Su Yang’s interest was immediately piqued. Fang Zhixu was clearly not Lin Huaiyu, so perhaps his teacher was the one he had been longing for.

Su Yang’s gaze sharpened as he continued, “Your teacher… if he’s so remarkable, why hasn’t he come to the capital to take the imperial exams? If you say you haven’t even learned a fraction of his knowledge, then if he were to come, the Great Yong would gain another talented individual.”

Fang Zhixu chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. “My teacher said he doesn’t like the capital. He’s used to the south and can’t bear the cold of the north.”

Su Yang’s lifeless heart seemed to stir, pounding wildly in that moment.

Lin Huaiyu was from the south. Though he had spent nearly eight years in the north, every winter he dreaded the biting cold.

Su Yang couldn’t help but ask, “Your teacher is he afraid of the cold?”

Fang Zhixu nodded. “He can’t even stand the cold in the south, let alone the northern chill.”

Su Yang unconsciously replied, “The north has charcoal braziers, and my palace even has heated floors. The rooms aren’t cold.”

Fang Zhixu still shook his head. “My teacher said he doesn’t like the capital, so he won’t come.”

Su Yang seemed to catch the hidden meaning in his words, his tone softening as he probed, “He doesn’t like the capital has he been here before?”

Fang Zhixu’s face was flushed, his mind barely coherent, shaking his head as if he might fall asleep at any moment. “This I don’t know. My teacher never mentioned it.”

Su Yang’s eyes flickered, and before Fang Zhixu drifted off, he asked the most crucial question. “What is your teacher’s name?”

Perhaps it was the anxiety of nearing the truth, but Su Yang felt a sudden tension. He even wished Fang Zhixu wouldn’t tell him, so he could cling to this suspicion and keep wondering.

But no one in this world could defy the emperor, and Fang Zhixu couldn’t refuse to answer. “My teacher’s name is Yuxi.”

Su Yang did not hear the name he had hoped for, and a flicker of disappointment surged in his eyes. He waved a hand dismissively, no longer looking at Fang Zhixu, and left the banquet.

The cold wind slapped against Su Yang’s face, bringing him a moment of clarity.

Fang Zhixu was not Lin Huaiyu, and his teacher was not Lin Huaiyu either.

But what if… he had simply changed his name?

That person disliked the capital, feared the cold.

Lin Huaiyu, by now, must surely detest the capital as well.

Could it be Lin Huaiyu?

Su Yang shook his head self-mockingly. Just a few similarities, not even the right name, had thrown him into such disarray…

He continued walking forward. Defu, knowing his master was in a foul mood, wisely followed at a distance.

They both knew Lin Huaiyu had died in that great fire long ago. Everyone present had witnessed Lin Huaiyu trapped inside, unable to escape. A blaze that fierce would have surely reduced everything to ashes.

As Su Yang walked through the imperial garden, snowflakes drifted down from the sky, and he was reminded of what he had once done to Lin Huaiyu here.

During the victory banquet, he had been drunk and drugged. The filthy feelings he had buried deep in his heart for Lin Huaiyu, fueled by the drug and Lin Huaiyu’s announcement of proposing to someone else, had all been unleashed upon Lin Huaiyu.

That day had been just as cold, perhaps even colder than today, with heavier snow. Lin Huaiyu, already frail and ill, had been humiliated by him in the imperial garden amidst the biting wind.

Lin Huaiyu had always been so afraid of the cold, yet back then, he had paid no heed, injuring Lin Huaiyu without remorse.

Su Yang gazed at the spot in the imperial garden where he had once tormented Lin Huaiyu, his heart aching as if pierced by a blade.

The torn and scattered robes seemed to still linger before his eyes. Lin Huaiyu’s stunning face, twisted in pain, remained vivid in his mind so clear, yet in the next moment, it transformed into a sharp sword that pierced his heart.

What must Lin Huaiyu have felt when he was imprisoned by him in the Qinchun Palace?

He was wrong. If he could ever find Lin Huaiyu again, he would treat that person with the utmost kindness if only Lin Huaiyu were willing.

But he could not find Lin Huaiyu. That person had left with such finality, so heartlessly that not a single trace remained. Otherwise, how could even the slightest resemblance throw him into such turmoil?

Just as he turned to leave, a figure suddenly appeared in his line of sight. Dressed in striking red robes, the person stood in the imperial garden, the gentle breeze lifting the hem of their clothes. Moonlight bathed them in a soft, beautiful glow.

For a moment, Su Yang thought he had returned to the day Lin Huaiyu had topped the imperial examinations.

He moved slowly toward the figure in his sight, careful not to startle them away again.

Even if it was just an illusion, at least he could see Lin Huaiyu…

As he drew closer, he reached out a hand and whispered softly, “Teacher…”

Have you finally returned to see me? I’ve missed you so terribly…

But the figure turned around, shattering his beautiful dream.

Fang Zhixu.

Fang Zhixu quickly bowed his head. “Your Majesty.”

Su Yang’s expression instantly turned cold. He withdrew his hand and said sharply, “Why are you here?”

Fang Zhixu, unsure how he had offended Su Yang, could only reply truthfully, “Your servant drank too much and thought to clear his head in the breeze. I have disturbed Your Majesty and deserve ten thousand deaths.”

Su Yang closed his eyes briefly and said, “Never mind.”

Fang Zhixu hastily took his leave. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Su Yang watched Fang Zhixu’s retreating figure and rubbed his temples.

Why did he always mistake Fang Zhixu for Lin Huaiyu…

They were not the least bit alike.