Volume One, Chapter 15: Yan Jiangli, No Longer the Youthful Elegance of Bygone Days
Night Fusang was escorted all the way to the Ye Residence. Xiao Wogu’s sword was too straightforward; she only allowed Master Qiu to watch over Xiao Wogu and did not permit him to follow.
In the elaborately carved and jeweled hall, the sharp sound of a teacup smashing on the floor was heard, followed by a voice filled with rage: “You are the eldest daughter of the Ye family, yet you secretly consort with a bastard! Have you no shame? The Ye family still values its reputation!”
Before entering, Night Fusang already felt helpless. What kind of baseless accusation was this, dumping a heap of dirt on her head?
“You, yellow-haired brat, kneel down!”
The man in the green robe at the upper seat was slightly plump, his stern face streaked with strands of white hair. He raised his hand, pointing at Night Fusang. “You, a mere bastard, dare to abduct the legitimate daughter of the Ye family!”
The steward behind tried to push Night Fusang down, but she sidestepped and stood straight, her back like a pine tree. After bowing to the tear-streaked Ye Mingzhu on the ground, she then looked at Ye Zhangyuan. “Lord Ye, as Minister of Revenue, you must judge this matter clearly. In my heart, I have always admired Her Highness the Princess, but my elder sister has always said I’m a toad lusting after swan meat. To break my illusions, she arranged for me to be matched with the bastard daughter of your noble residence. How then could I have abducted the eldest daughter?”
“Isn’t it just a toad lusting after swan meat?” The people nearby whispered and chuckled upon hearing Night Fusang’s composed demeanor.
Upon hearing the name Ye Nitian, Ye Zhangyuan’s anger flared suddenly. “Such a shameless act, yet she dares return to the Ye residence! Bring Ye Nitian here as well. I want to see just how many shameless people there are today!”
“Eldest Miss, we have never known each other; why sully yourself with me?” Night Fusang lowered her gaze at the kneeling figure.
“You’re a heartless man,” Ye Mingzhu averted her delicate brows and wept silently, refusing to speak further.
Night Fusang pursed her lips, eyeing the exquisite peony hairpin tightly clutched in her hand. The craftsmanship was fine, almost lifelike.
Clearly, Ye Mingzhu had someone on her side. Unable to bear parting with her lover, she resorted to slandering Night Fusang.
Even without thinking, Night Fusang knew exactly whose idea this was.
When Ye Nitian was brought over, she was terrified. Her abandonment was common knowledge, and she had returned secretly without informing her father. She knelt, crying, and handed over a love letter from her sleeve. “Father, I did not intend to run away. It was Night Fusang; he wrote me this love letter, saying he did not mind me being remarried!”
Ye Zhangyuan looked at the letter, his expression darkening. After a pause, he suddenly ordered, “It seems all is a misunderstanding. Take the eldest miss back to her room first.”
“Night Fusang, since you wrote this love letter, I shall grant your wish. In a few days, on an auspicious date, I will hand my daughter over to you,” Ye Zhangyuan said magnanimously.
No wonder he was the Minister of Revenue; his mind was quick.
The old miser was using her to protect Ye Mingzhu’s reputation and resolve the disgrace brought by Ye Nitian.
Night Fusang suddenly smiled wryly. “Lord Ye, have you looked at whose handwriting this is? I have been uneducated since childhood; I cannot write.”
“You…” Ye Zhangyuan only then realized he had been tricked by this little bastard!
---
“Sir, the Astronomical Bureau officials have arrived!”
Ye Zhangyuan’s expression changed instantly, his brow furrowing as he smoothed his robe sleeves and sat at the head of the hall. “Lock them up first!”
“Lord Ye, no need to rush!”
A voice echoed from outside, and a figure in pale pink robes stepped in. The first thing to catch the eye was his graying beard. He bowed formally to Ye Zhangyuan. “Lord Ye, the recent disasters in Jing and Chu have been severe. His Majesty ordered me to observe the stars and found a comet colliding in the outskirts. Have there been many deaths in your residence these past days?”
“Supervisor Zhang has been busy, traveling far and wide. Yes, but it was merely thieves taking advantage of the chaos. They have been caught.” Ye Zhangyuan offered tea to Zhang Ji. “The Ye family has always been upright; no skulduggery here. Zhang’s trip was a detour.”
“Matters concerning the people are the foundation of the nation; they cannot be taken lightly. Let me examine the Ye residence closely so both you and His Majesty may be at ease.”
As he spoke, a slender, pale woman in white appeared behind Zhang Ji. Her ink-black hair flowed like a brushstroke, colorful jade bracelets adorned her wrist, and a white veil concealed her face except for a red floral mark on her forehead.
“White-clad Dianying—is this... someone from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion?” Ye Zhangyuan’s face grew serious.
“Yes, this is Bing Yan, the chief envoy of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. Recently, with the chaos in the heavens, the Pavilion, which had hidden for ten years, has naturally reemerged,” Zhang Ji explained. “His Majesty has established the position of Imperial Advisor, awaiting the Pavilion’s leader.”
Watching the woman ahead, Night Fusang hid her tightly clenched hand beneath her sleeve. Bing Yan... indeed, still as cold and serene as ever. Besides Yi Ning and Yan Li, she had trusted Bing Yan the most.
Yet Bing Yan had poisoned herself with the Nirvana toxin, deceiving her into handing over two-tenths of the beauty Yan to her.
In the end, all they received was a sword through the hearts of herself and Yi Ning!
“The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is renowned worldwide. The emperor has summoned them thrice to appear, yet you choose to live in seclusion. We enter this Pavilion to write the fate of the world, not to sit idly by!”
At that moment, her chest was pierced with blood staining the blue waves beneath her, the sword biting cold to the bone. “When the people live in peace, so does the world.”
“Hah... The Three Kingdoms are divided; how can there be peace? Without power, how can fate be controlled?”
That was when she realized that the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was filled entirely with power-hungry schemers.
Now, with the five divine medicines revealed and bloodshed impending, they were entering the world to vie for power?
A trace of mockery and sorrow flickered in Night Fusang’s icy phoenix eyes.
Enough... Whatever the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is today, what concern is it of hers? She was no longer the youthful and radiant Yan Jiangli but the desperate Night Fusang struggling to survive.
Bing Yan stepped forward, her gaze suddenly fixing on Night Fusang. Her voice was cold and clear, “How did those guards die?”
“This person wasn’t killed by me, how would I know?” Night Fusang grinned.
---
“You…” Bing Yan frowned slightly, displeased with Night Fusang’s attitude. Who did not show utmost respect to the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion? Yet this person was so brazen. “Take him away. There is blood energy on him; he is ill-omened.”
Night Fusang laughed suddenly. “Is this how the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion behaves? Arresting people without explanation. Seems you’re all just empty talk.”
Bing Yan looked into Night Fusang’s eyes, feeling inexplicably averse. “We’re only taking him for questioning. What are you afraid of? — Take him away.”
“When did wandering heroes start meddling in court affairs?” Suddenly, a cold female voice brushed past the ears of those present.
The hem of a jade-green gauze skirt fluttered in the breeze. Everyone knelt in fear and saluted.
“Greetings, Her Highness the Princess! Long live the Princess, long live, long live!”
“Your Highness.” Night Fusang lowered her brows silently as Chu Yang’s fox-like eyes glanced at her with imposing authority.
Behind Chu Yang, Ji Rongxue raised her eyebrows at Night Fusang with a smug “I’ve come to save you” expression.
Night Fusang sighed inwardly. The Princess’s arrival was only to stir trouble.
“Your Highness, this is Bing Yan, the chief envoy of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, personally summoned by His Majesty,” Zhang Ji explained.
“Heh...” Chu Yang sneered. “The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion? Yan Jiangli has been dead for ten years. What Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is there?”
“The current head of the Pavilion is Master Ning,” Bing Yan said, frowning slightly at the Princess’s sharp words.
“Silence! Do I need your input when I’m speaking?” Chu Yang’s eyes turned cold, the jade earring glinting with celestial light, and the black hair above her forehead radiated authority. “Since this is an edict from the imperial brother, I shall not defy it.”
“Guards!” Chu Yang waved her sleeve indifferently, and two squads of soldiers surrounded the Ye Residence. “If there is anything that harms the state, we will find it with a thorough search.”
“Your Highness! Princess!” Ye Zhangyuan suddenly rushed before Chu Yang. “The Ye family has always been diligent and loyal to the imperial house! You lead troops to storm my residence without cause or imperial decree—does this realm still belong to His Majesty?”
“How dare you!” Chu Yang glared at Night Fusang. “You explain. What has the Ye family to hide?”
Night Fusang knew this was a mess-maker, not a rescuer. This was clearly pushing her into the fire. But with no allies present, she had to rely on the Princess. “Your Highness, those guards were clearly headed to Wen Yue Manor but ended up in the backyard. Since it’s not a ghost killing, there must be a secret passage. Perhaps Your Highness could have someone search for it.”