Bai Su had already burst into tears. He tried to struggle out, wanting to touch his brother, his brother whom he admired the most. He would always help him correct mistakes in his essays, and when their father punished him, he would accompany him to be punished. He would always find ways to take him out to play when he was sad, give him all the things he liked, tell him interesting things about the court, and tell him all the wise deeds of Prime Minister Liu and Huo-dage. Even when he was worried about the situation with the government, he would still say that with those two people here, the world would be peaceful sooner or later, and then the two brothers would travel together and create a map of the whole country.

The last time Bai Su saw him, he was clearly a corpse beyond recognition. Eight years later, the pain had long been buried deep in his heart, and was becoming less distinct day by day. Then the brother he thought he could only see in his dreams appeared in front of him again.

But he was still…..a corpse. Nothing could have hurt him more than this.

Facing Cheng Xi’s nearly insane accusations, Bai Su felt his mind go blank. He was in too much pain to react.

But Cheng Xi wanted to tell Bai Yu’s family member how difficult it was for him.

“Back then, Bai Yu was obsessed with helping to exonerate Liu Zhenqing, so he was imprisoned and tortured. If not for me, he would have died long ago. Do you know that your brother was tortured half-crazy? I didn’t reject him, and brought him home for meticulous treatment and healing. He probably knew he was wrong and feared causing trouble for you, so he was willing to hide, and relied on me very much. He loved me wholeheartedly. Although I wanted to marry a wife, I didn’t want to let down his deep love, so I kept him outside.”

“Impossible!” Bai Su suddenly shouted: “No matter how terrible an ordeal my brother encountered, as long as he still had his mind, there is no way he would willingly be a mistress!”

Cheng Xi’s originally handsome face became horribly distorted when he heard Bai Su’s denial. “I’m not lying. He knew he was half-crazy and knew that he was not worthy of me, but I was still willing to accept his feelings. He was very happy. How could he not be willing?”

Bai Su immediately gave a desolate laugh. “Cheng Xi, you didn’t know my brother at all, did you? If everything was what he wanted, then where did the self-inflicted wounds on his neck come from? Didn’t he regain his mind?”

“That was because…..because he learned that the exonerating evidence he found back then turned into evidence to incriminate Liu Zhenqing, and he couldn’t accept it.”

“Then my brother would have found a way to get out and collect the evidence again! He would never give up his life. Liu Zhenqing had faith in him, and as long as he had one breath left, he would never give up on exonerating Liu Zhenqing unless something else happened!” Bai Su couldn’t explain it clearly, but he didn’t believe it was that simple.

Cheng Xi was stunned by his words, and it was as if he was suffering a tribulation. Two years ago, Bai Yu had gradually recovered under his meticulous care. Reading and painting, he lived a contented life. Cheng Xi also faced his own heart, left his wife, stayed with Bai Yu wholeheartedly, and became the good official that Bai Yu expected.

But Bai Yu was too clever. As he regained his sanity, information from the outside world could no longer be prevented. He gathered it bit by bit, and finally figured out what had happened back then. He collapsed and went crazy, trying to escape, but how could Cheng Xi let him go? However, he never expected that when he returned home from handling government affairs that day, he would only see half-dried blood next to the bed and a cold body.

Cheng Xi hid this person in an ice cellar and kept him company night after night. Eventually, he developed a cough and did not have long to live, but he still hadn’t avenged him. He would not let anyone who hurt Bai Yu back then escape.

And now, his great revenge was complete.

Cheng Xi returned to his senses with a start. Turning to look at Bai Yu in his arms, he gently stroked his cold face.

“Wangshu, I have avenged you. I know that you still had one wish, which was to marry me. I actually know that when I went to marry someone else that day, you didn’t hold me back, but you were sad and envious, and hid to cry secretly. In fact, I hesitated at that time. If you were willing to ask me to stay, I might not have married her, and then you would have been my only wife. Today, I’ve invited your brother to come as a witness. We will formally marry. From now on, you will be a member of my Cheng family. Sharing the same bed in life and the same grave in death.”

Cheng Xi spoke with great affection. He lowered his head and kissed Bai Yu’s forehead gently, then covered him with the red veil again.

Then he held Bai Yu and faced the sky outside, and slowly knelt on the cushion placed on the ground.

“Cheng Xi, I don’t agree, I don’t agree! Let my brother go!” Bai Su struggled desperately. The rope had already caused his exposed skin to bleed, but there was no sign of loosening.

One bow, two bows. The last bow was between husband and wife.

Just when Cheng Xi half-embraced Bai Yu and knelt face-to-face, a figure suddenly appeared in his field of vision.

Cheng Xi’s originally happy expression froze, and he turned around to see Huo Fenglie and Liu Zhenqing standing outside the door of the hall.

But Cheng Xi didn’t panic at all, and only said calmly: “I didn’t invite you.”

Liu Zhenqing didn’t answer. He just stared blankly at the lifeless figure.

He had thought that Bai Yu would be free after death, but didn’t expect…..that he was never free.

Liu Zhenqing’s face was covered with frost, and murderous intent slowly accumulated in his eyes.

“Cheng Xi, you have done so much harm to Bai Yu. Do you think you are still worthy of marrying him?”

“I’ve harmed him? As a member of the Liu family, you are truly shameless. I originally wanted your blood to apologize to Wangshu on Liu Zhenqing’s behalf, but I thought Wangshu wouldn’t want to involve innocent people, so I let you go. You have the nerve to question me? Don’t you know what your cousin did?”

“I don’t know, but I heard Magistrate Yao explain the truth. What? Are you not a real man who can take responsibility for his actions?”

Liu Zhenqing smiled at the absurdity, his anger already rising to the top of his head.

Because of Liu Zhenqing’s words, Cheng Xi glared furiously and was so agitated that he began to violently cough.

At this moment, Huo Fenglie rushed toward Cheng Xi.

And at the same time, two people fell from the roof and entered the main hall to rescue Bai Su.

But just when Huo Fenglie drew near, something fell from Cheng Xi’s hand, and in an instant, a fierce wall of fire burst up from the ground to stop him.

Huo Fenglie retreated at once, and the flames quickly spread.

Then there were loud explosions everywhere.

Qin Yu and He Lan were near the explosion. They had no time to untie the rope, and were instantly surrounded by flames.

A rope flew out of the wall of flames in a timely manner. Huo Fenglie caught it in an instant, and with a sudden pull, Qin Yu and He Lan flew out together with the chair.

However, they had still been injured by the impact of the explosion, and the three of them fell heavily into the courtyard.

Liu Zhenqing hastened forward to help Bai Su up. Although he was seriously injured, he continued to stare at the flames in a daze.

“Fuck, is he crazy? He buried gun powder at home?” He Lan cursed.

“He intended to die today.” Qin Yu held his injured arm and sat up. He didn’t expect that they would encounter misfortune like this. A madman truly couldn’t be reasoned with.

Everyone looked up. Within the flames, only the place where they were kneeling in worship was not affected by the explosions.

“Gege…..” Bai Su watched with wide eyes as the man supporting Bai Yu knelt down face to face with him again, as if he intended to continue worshiping in this place of death.

Bai Su stood up at once and tried to rush over, but was held back by Qin Yu and He Lan.

“You’re fucking crazy, that place could collapse at any time! The fire is too big. Your brother is already dead!”

“There could be gunpowder left, Yuzhou, don’t be stupid!”

But none of them noticed that Liu Zhenqing, who had been supporting Bai Su just now, had disappeared.

He entered through a side window and walked into the main hall along the place where the explosions had occurred.

Just as Cheng Xi was crazily holding Bai Su and about to bow down, a force pulled Bai Yu back.

Bai Yu was held straight like this, unable to bend down to kowtow.

Cheng Xi immediately looked up and saw a figure standing behind Bai Yu against a backdrop of flames, like an evil god controlling his follower.

“What are you doing? Do you not fear death? Get out of here!” Cheng Xi angrily remonstrated Liu Zhenqing, who had suddenly appeared.

But as soon as he finished speaking, Liu Zhenqing kicked him in the chest. He was already a seriously ill person, and even this kick from someone who didn’t know martial arts caused Cheng Xi to fall to the ground in disarray.

However, one of his hands continued to hold tightly to Bai Yu’s wrist.

In the next second, a cold light flashed, and Cheng Xi’s wrist was pierced by a sharp blade that could cut iron like clay. It severed his tendons, and he could no longer hold on.

Cheng Xi screamed as Bai Yu was taken away from him, and his entire person became ferocious and crazy.

When he looked up, he saw Liu Zhenqing pull off Bai Yu’s veil and gently take him into his arms.

He said softly: “Wangshu, I’m sorry I’m late. I’ll take you home now.”

What they said was inaudible to the people outside amid the noises of collapse and explosions. 

“You…..what did you say?” Cheng Xi stared at Liu Zhenqing in disbelief.

Liu Zhenqing’s gentle eyes turned bitterly cold the moment he looked at Cheng Xi.

“Do you know what Wangshu means? It is the noble and beautiful moon. These were the first characters that came to my mind when he asked me to give him a courtesy name, because in my opinion, such a beautiful boy was like the moon. So I called him Wangshu.”

“W-who are you?” Cheng Xi’s entire being felt unwell as he looked at Liu Zhenqing in shock.

Liu Zhenqing didn’t answer, and only taunted: “Don’t think that just because the beautiful moonlight inadvertently swept over a smelly thing like you, you can keep the moon forever. You don’t deserve it.”

“You’re speaking nonsense. It is me Wangshu loved, how could I not keep him!” Cheng Xi retorted frantically, as if remembering Bai Yu’s suicide, and tried to reach out.

However, Liu Zhenqing pulled Bai Yu up and moved farther and farther from Cheng Xi. This was something that Cheng Xi could not accept. He couldn’t suppress his coughing as tears ran down his face, and he tried to pull Bai Yu back.

“I’ll say it again, you are not worthy.” Liu Zhenqing glanced at Cheng Xi as if regarding a dead person. Supporting Bai Yu, he turned around and left.

“Lay in the same grave? That will always be impossible!”

“No! Wangshu, give Wangshu back to me, don’t take him away! Wangshu, Wangshu!” As if he had received a sudden surge of strength before death, Cheng Xi stood up to give chase, but was kicked away by another person.

This time, it was with force. Cheng Xi directly hit the wall, rolled down several pieces of calligraphy paintings, and fell to the ground, vomiting blood.

“Wangshu!” He gave a final unwilling roar, and a heavy object fell.

Huo Fenglie had already protected Liu Zhenqing and Bai Yu and taken them from the main hall.

Even though he was in a state of disarray, Liu Zhenqing still brought Bai Yu out to Bai Su.

Bai Su hugged Bai Yu and wept bitterly.

Liu Zhenqing silently peeled off the eye-catching red and tossed it into the fire, then removed his outer layer and covered Bai Yu with it, watching silently.

In fact, he had selfish motives in letting Bai Yu go south. He had everything planned out. The Three Kings were about to fall, and his body had reached its limit. He didn’t know what accidents would occur at the critical moment, and only hoped that nothing would happen to the people he cared about.

Those who followed him had bad reputations, and staying away from the capital meant staying away from the chaos.

Therefore, the two people he trusted most at the time, one civil and one military, were arranged by him on the pretext of work.

If he himself survived and safely went into seclusion, they would naturally have a good home. If he died, they would still have room to maneuver.

But Liu Zhenqing never could have imagined that the road he chose would become the road to hell.

Liu Zhenqing felt so cold. Truly cold. Suddenly, his vision went dark and he fell.

As always since his rebirth, he never seemed to fall anywhere cold, but was always enveloped in a solid embrace. 

In the past, there was no one behind Prime Minister Liu. But now, there was.

When Liu Zhenqing woke up again, all the burns on his body had been treated, but he still felt very hot.

He didn’t need to check  his pulse to know that this was the first time since his rebirth that his mood had fluctuated so much, and when he was holding Bai Yu, the freezing coldness on his body was too much for him. It caused him to catch a cold, and his fever hadn’t gone away.

Liu Zhenqing didn’t sit up, only opening his eyes in a daze.

He heard movement after a while, and the bed curtain opened.

Liu Zhenqing turned to look over. Sure enough, it was Huo Fenglie.

“Qing-ge, take the medicine.”

Liu Zhenqing was helped up, and he drank the medicine obediently. He vaguely remembered Huo Fenglie feeding him medicine and food several times. “How are your injuries?”

“I’m fine.”

Liu Zhenqing knew that Huo Fenglie must have suffered more injuries. Because of his willfulness, Huo Fenglie had to accompany him to venture somewhere dangerous.

“Thank you,” Liu Zhenqing said suddenly.

“I understand, you had to do it.” Huo Fenglie said calmly: “You were unconscious for two days. Brother Bai was placed in a coffin, and Yuzhou also heard the truth. Although he was grieved, he got through it. He won’t go with us next, but will send his brother home. They’ll board a ship in one day.”

“I want to go see them off,” Liu Zhenqing said.

Huo Fenglie nodded and said: “Okay.” Then he raised his hand and touched Liu Zhenqing’s forehead.

Liu Zhenqing hurriedly said: “The fever should be gone soon.”

Huo Fenglie paused, and the gentleness in his tone could not be hidden. “If it isn’t gone, I’ll still take you there. Don’t worry.”

Liu Zhenqing stared blankly at Huo Fenglie and suddenly said, “Thank you.”

“En?”

“I originally complained about not being able to leave. But now…..I’m glad I stayed. At least I could bring Wangshu back.”

Huo Fenglie froze when he heard this, and didn’t speak.

Likely because he heard that Liu Zhenqing had woken up, Bai Su came over specially.

Looking at Bai Su, who had lost a lot of weight in two days, Liu Zhenqing said worriedly: “Don’t make yourself sick.”

Bai Su gave a faint smile. “You still have the nerve to lecture me.” Then his eyes dimmed and he took Liu Zhenqing’s hand, saying, “Thank you very much, Brother Liu. Thank you.”

Liu Zhenqing patted Bai Su and said: “I also did it for that person. If he were here, he would definitely do the same.”

Bai Su’s eyes flashed, and he suddenly said: “Brother Liu, not only do I want to report the matter of my brother when I go back, but I also want to help clear Liu Zhenqing’s name. That is my brother’s last unfulfilled wish, and I want to do it for him.”

Liu Zhenqing opened his mouth and was about to say something, but was stopped by Bai Su: “I know you’re going to say it’s difficult, and that it’s unnecessary. You want to say that there is no evidence, and it might be futile. We don’t know the emperor’s intentions and may offend him and the common people of the world. But if I do nothing, I fear my brother will blame me.”

Bai Su said firmly: “The world should know what Liu Zhenqing has done for everyone.”

Liu Zhenqing frowned when he heard this. “You just believe it that easily? No one dares to say they know everything about the truth back then.”

“I believe in my brother,” Bai Su said.

“Why are you so like your brother…..” He didn’t know what to say.

Bai Su gave a brilliant smile, just as pure as Bai Yu’s smile back then.

“In any case, I’ll do my best. Whatever I can do. I’ll wait until I feel it’s enough, and then draw a map of the entire territory!”

When Bai Su finished speaking, he told Liu Zhenqing to have a good rest. As soon as he went out, Huo Fenglie came in.

“Did you hear that?” Liu Zhenqing asked helplessly.

Huo Fenglie nodded.

“You’d better have your people take care of him. This kid is as willful as his brother.”

Huo Fenglie said abruptly: “Do you not think the emperor will believe you and help clear your name?”

Liu Zhenqing was taken aback. He looked at Huo Fenglie in thought, then said seriously: “In fact, strictly speaking, I was a traitor, ah. Because back then, I could no longer look at gains and losses on a personal level, and could only look at the country as a whole. I indeed ignored the suffering of the common people. It was as if I was no longer me. I can’t make excuses for myself, and I’m not perfect. It was painful at the time, but I gradually became numb. So does anyone need to understand when I didn’t care back then? It’s even less possible now, and Yuan Jue won’t care either.”

“He is your disciple, and he respects you. How could he not care?” Huo Fenglie thought of Yuan Jue’s demeanor every time he talked about Liu Zhenqing these years, and couldn’t believe that Yuan Jue didn’t care.

Liu Zhenqing said abruptly: “He is a good emperor. He knows how to do things that are beneficial to the country.”

Huo Fenglie froze at once, remembering Magistrate Yao’s words.

“Cheng Xi is a good official, but he is not a good person.”

Huo Fenglie’s expression changed. There were things he didn’t understand, and he wanted to ask more questions, but Liu Zhenqing looked very tired and seemed unwilling to talk anymore.

“Qing-ge…..” Huo Fenglie said, lost for words.

Liu Zhenqing raised his head. It was uncertain whether he was confused from the fever or still stunned as he said: “Actually, I didn’t do enough. If I had done better, the situation might have been better back then, and fewer people would hate me. Wangshu and…..many, many people would not have been in danger. It’s me…..I didn’t do enough, I didn’t…..”

Before Liu Zhenqing could finish speaking, he was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace. The almost suffocating hug made Liu Zhenqing feel like he was a turtle hiding in its shell, and he calmed down in an instant.

Liu Zhenqing looked up and met a pair of deep black eyes. Those eyes had a mesmerizing dark red in them, and his heavy emotions turned into the wisp of a spring breeze against his face.

“Qing-ge, you did very well, extremely well. No one could have done it better than you.”

Liu Zhenqing suddenly went silly.

His mind was blank.

No one seemed to have said such a thing to him.

And now, he heard Er-gou say this.

The tip of his heart began to tremble.

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but hug Huo Fenglie tightly, burying his head in the other’s chest with a smile.

“You foolish dog, what do you know?”

Huo Fenglie patted Liu Zhenqing gently. His eyes were full of heartache that could only turn into a silent kiss that fell on the top of Liu Zhenqing’s head without him knowing.

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Chapter Fifty-Two << Table of Contents >> Chapter Fifty-Four