The Sickly Beauty Official Faked His Death and Now the Tyrant Has Gone Mad - Chapter 28

Lin Huaiyu, I’ve found you…

Golden light spilled over the stone bricks outside, shimmering like boundless white snow. For a moment, it was impossible to tell whether it was sunlight or snow, but the scorching heat seared the heart again and again, making one realize just how much that snowy night was missed.

Su Yang had never felt time pass so slowly. He caressed the imperial pardon token in his hand as if caressing Lin Huaiyu, his longing surging like a tidal wave.

That must be Lin Huaiyu. It couldn’t be wrong it absolutely couldn’t be wrong.

There couldn’t be another person in this world with so many coincidences.

That must be Lin Huaiyu!

“Your Majesty, Lord Fang has arrived,” De Fu announced from outside the door, interrupting Su Yang’s thoughts.

“Let him in.”

Su Yang didn’t even lift his eyes, only carefully tucking the pardon token back into his robes. When he finally looked up, Fang Zhixu had already entered, holding a bright yellow memorial in his hands.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.” Fang Zhixu knelt on the floor. Although the room was quiet, the atmosphere wasn’t as oppressive as before. It seemed the emperor hadn’t found any fault with his proposal for handling the floods in Jiangnan.

Thinking this, Fang Zhixu breathed a sigh of relief.

Ever since returning from the Qionglin Banquet, recalling how he had drunkenly stumbled upon Su Yang in the imperial gardens, he had nearly frightened himself out of his wits.

How could he wander around the imperial gardens? And even if he did, how could he have run into the emperor? And of all times, why did it have to be when His Majesty was in a foul mood?

It was truly unlucky. Though he couldn’t see clearly in the darkness, Su Yang’s eyes had flashed with unmistakable surprise upon seeing him, followed by a darkening expression that had terrified Fang Zhixu.

The wrath of the emperor was something that sent chills down one’s spine just thinking about it.

Even now, he still couldn’t figure out what had angered Su Yang. Perhaps his drunken wandering had genuinely disturbed His Majesty.

Su Yang glanced at the kneeling man below and said calmly, “Grant him a seat.”

Fang Zhixu quickly replied, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Once he was seated, Su Yang picked up the memorial Fang Zhixu had submitted and remarked, “Lord Fang, this memorial is well-written, and the flood control measures are quite detailed.”

Fang Zhixu smiled modestly. “Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. It is merely my duty.”

But Su Yang’s praise took a turn. “The methods outlined in this memorial likely weren’t conceived in a single day. Have you been studying the Jiangnan floods for a long time?”

Fang Zhixu nodded. When it came to state affairs, he was not vague. “I am from Jiangnan, and I have witnessed many floods. I wish to contribute my humble efforts to the Great Yong. My interest in flood control is not a recent whim I have been contemplating this issue since my days in my hometown.”

Su Yang raised an eyebrow and probed further, “Then, are these ideas entirely your own?”

Without hesitation, Fang Zhixu replied, “I am ashamed to admit that some of them come from my teacher. My teacher is a remarkable person. I combined my humble thoughts with his insights and submitted them together to Your Majesty.”

He added, “My teacher is aware of this matter.”

Scholars feared nothing more than being accused of plagiarism, especially if it reached the emperor’s ears—it would be a complete loss of face.

Su Yang’s fingertip paused over the blank lines in the memorial before he remarked, “Minister Fang, there is no need to be nervous. This memorial is very well written. Both your ideas and those of your… teacher have deeply resonated with me.”

Fang Zhixu replied with delight, “It is my honor to contribute to the welfare of the people.”

Su Yang had little patience for such formalities. He had summoned Fang Zhixu to the palace solely to probe for more information about his teacher. Shifting the topic, he inquired about other state affairs: “A few days ago, a memorial was submitted regarding taxation, and I found several points questionable. What are your thoughts on this matter, Minister Fang?”

After a moment of contemplation, Fang Zhixu began to speak eloquently.

As Su Yang listened, he observed Fang Zhixu closely.

The resemblance was striking especially when discussing such matters. Fang Zhixu’s demeanor and his dedication to the nation and its people were identical to Lin Huaiyu’s. That attitude of “the people come first, the state second, and the ruler last” filled Su Yang with profound nostalgia.

For a fleeting moment, as Su Yang gazed at Fang Zhixu, he felt as though he had returned to the days when Lin Huaiyu was still by his side. Back then, Lin Huaiyu would often discuss state affairs with him, always brimming with ideas. If Su Yang’s thoughts strayed, Lin Huaiyu would not hesitate to admonish him.

Fang Zhixu would never dare to do so, but it was enough to plunge Su Yang into memories.

After listening to Fang Zhixu’s elaborate discourse, Su Yang unfolded the memorial and asked, “Your ideas are commendable, but why are the last two or three lines left blank?”

As he spoke, he lifted his gaze and fixed it intently on Fang Zhixu, an oppressive tension instantly filling the room.

Fearing he had made a mistake, Fang Zhixu replied, “I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness. My teacher always leaves two or three blank lines at the end of his writings, and I have unconsciously adopted this habit. I will be more mindful in the future.”

Su Yang unconsciously tightened his grip on the memorial.

Hearing Fang Zhixu mention his teacher, Su Yang subtly steered the conversation in that direction: “It is truly a pity that a scholar of such talent as your teacher refuses to come to the capital.”

At the mention of his teacher, Fang Zhixu swelled with pride: “My teacher is the most capable and compassionate person I have ever met, always deeply concerned for the people. If his health were better, he might have been willing to come to the capital.”

Upon hearing this, Su Yang’s eyes flickered, and his throat tightened. “You say your teacher is in poor health?”

Fang Zhixu nodded. “He is frail and often ill. His courtyard is filled with the scent of medicine, and so is he. That is why he cannot possibly come to the capital.”

Su Yang slowly furrowed his brow. “Do you know what illness he suffers from?”

Fang Zhixu shook his head. “He has never spoken of it. There is a physician by his side who has been caring for him, but even that physician has not been able to cure him completely.”

Su Yang lowered his gaze slightly, lost in thought. The previous emperor was dead, and all the brothers who had once vied for the throne with him had perished. The poison that had afflicted Lin Huaiyu was now untraceable too much time had passed, and only now did he learn of it…

Su Yang closed his eyes, swallowing the surge of bitterness in his throat and steadying the ache in his heart. “The capital has imperial physicians. I can summon the finest doctors for him.”

Though unsure why Su Yang held his teacher in such high regard, Fang Zhixu shook his head. “My teacher is indifferent to fame and fortune and does not care for the bustle of the capital. Even the imperial physicians here would not be able to cure him.”

Su Yang’s heart sank as he looked at Fang Zhixu and asked warily, “Since your teacher has never been to the capital, how do you know the imperial physicians there can’t cure him?”

Fang Zhixu dared not meet Su Yang’s gaze, keeping his head lowered as he replied, “My teacher said that the physician treating him is already the most skilled doctor in the world. If even he cannot cure him, then no one in this world can.”

Su Yang’s eyes sharpened. There were few in the world with such medical expertise. That poison had even left Zhou Li helpless, how could someone else treat it?

A plan formed in his mind. He chuckled lightly and inquired further, “You said your teacher is from Jiangnan. Is he a native of Jiangnan? Does he have no trace of a capital accent at all?”

Fang Zhixu couldn’t shake the feeling that Su Yang was probing him or, more accurately, probing his teacher. Yet he had never heard of his teacher having any old acquaintances or enemies, nor had he ever mentioned any connections to the capital.

Could it be that his teacher was an old acquaintance of the emperor himself?

That seemed too absurd. If they were old acquaintances, why would his teacher be left to fate in a small Jiangnan town?

So he replied, “My teacher is indeed from Jiangnan. He has never been to the capital, so naturally, he has no capital accent.”

Su Yang’s tone turned cold. “Do you know the consequences of deceiving the emperor?”

Fang Zhixu quickly knelt and said, “Your subject knows. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth.”

Su Yang watched him silently, saying nothing more.

Lin Huaiyu had stayed in the capital for so long without picking up its accent. Whenever he scolded him, there was always a soft, southern lilt to his voice, making it especially pleasant to the ear. And given Lin Huaiyu’s temperament, even his scolding never carried harsh words.

He waved his hand, signaling Fang Zhixu to rise, and asked again, “Has your teacher always taught in Jiangnan?”

Fang Zhixu shook his head. “This subject is not entirely sure. I only know that everyone in the town knows my teacher and is very familiar with him. He must have always been there.”

Su Yang narrowed his eyes and said gravely, “I am asking you. Have you known this teacher since you can remember?”

Fang Zhixu knew he could not deceive the emperor the crime was too great for him to bear. But he was beginning to suspect that the emperor was indeed inquiring about his teacher. Perhaps they truly knew each other.

Zhao Xiangyi had said he resembled the late Prime Minister Lin Huaiyu, and the person the emperor was searching for was precisely that Prime Minister Lin. Could it be… that his teacher was Prime Minister Lin?!

Fang Zhixu was startled by his own speculation. Prime Minister Lin had already perished in the fire. Even if he had escaped, he would have been disfigured by the flames. His teacher was so beautiful, how could he possibly be Prime Minister Lin, who had escaped from the fire?

It couldn’t be.

So Fang Zhixu replied, “Since I can remember, I hadn’t heard of my teacher. Perhaps at that time, he… wasn’t teaching yet.”

Su Yang scoffed but said nothing more to Fang Zhixu.

His heart ached with each beat. He was almost certain Fang Zhixu’s teacher was Lin Huaiyu!

He had finally found a clue about Lin Huaiyu!

Su Yang’s eyes reddened instantly, but with Fang Zhixu still present, he couldn’t show too much emotion. Yet joy surged uncontrollably from his chest.

Lin Huaiyu is still alive. Lin Huaiyu was indeed deceiving him. That great fire was merely a cover for Lin Huaiyu’s desire to flee the capital, to escape from him a feigned death to slip away. What a brilliant move, shedding the cicada’s shell!

He wanted to ask Lin Huaiyu why he had been so heartless as to abandon him. But just now, when he heard Fang Zhixu say that Lin Huaiyu’s illness still hadn’t improved, that the poison remained unresolved, he wondered how he could share in Lin Huaiyu’s suffering.

Turning it over and over in his mind, his heart was a tangled mess.

He had to see Lin Huaiyu. He had to see Lin Huaiyu right now!

At this moment, Su Yang wished he could sprout wings and fly to Jiangnan.

He set down the memorial and said to Fang Zhixu, “Go back and prepare. Tomorrow, accompany me to Jiangnan to handle the flood relief.”

Fang Zhixu was stunned. Though he had doubts in his heart, he dared not show them now and could only reply, “Yes.”

Why did His Majesty suddenly decide to go to Jiangnan in person?

Wait, why had His Majesty just inquired about his teacher?

What did that have to do with going to Jiangnan? Could it be that His Majesty was doing this for his teacher?

Although his teacher was indeed exceptionally talented, for His Majesty to personally visit well it wasn’t entirely unreasonable. After all, his teacher always had some rather peculiar people around him. Last time, he even heard a Chu accent, and it seemed there were people from various states.

Thinking about it this way, it wasn’t so strange for the Emperor of Dayong to personally visit to invite his teacher into service.

As Fang Zhixu walked out of the imperial study, he felt the sunlight outside was particularly bright.

It was good that he could still see the sun.

But then, a trace of worry colored his expression. He hoped his guess was wrong. He hoped his teacher truly wasn’t Lin Huaiyu, the former prime minister. He hoped his teacher wasn’t an old acquaintance from the capital, not the person His Majesty was searching for.

His figure grew smaller and smaller against the backdrop of the palace’s red walls.

Su Yang looked at Defu and suddenly asked, “Where is He Qingli, the former head of the Imperial Hospital, now?”

Defu didn’t know why Su Yang suddenly asked about He Qingli. He racked his brain, thinking hard, and after a while replied, “Your Majesty, Lord He retired and returned to his hometown long ago.”

He Qingli had been the head of the Imperial Hospital during the late emperor’s reign. Shortly after Su Yang ascended the throne following the late emperor’s death, He Qingli requested to retire and return to his hometown.

Su Yang tapped his fingers on the desk, his gaze deep. “Where is he from?”

Defu seemed to realize what Su Yang was getting at and quickly said, “Ah… I believe he was also from Jiangnan.”

A smile instantly curled at the corner of Su Yang’s lips.

Lin Huaiyu, I’ve found you.