To see Wanyan Xu like that shocked Su Yi. Suddenly, Wanyan Xu rushed over to Su Yi, grabbing him hard with his large hands. His eyes were totally bloodshot as he said vehemently, with fury etched into each distinct word that he uttered: “You only have eyes for your people, no matter the occasion, they are all you are concerned about. What about me [1]? Have you ever considered my feelings at all? Even if only a little bit, even if it was only for the same amount of time as it would take for you to snap your fingers, have you ever spared a thought for how much heartache you have put me through? Your people are perfectly fine, but I am about to die from the pain, do you know that? Sometimes, I really wish that I could die immediately, it"s fine even if it means that I will be called incompetent, even if they call me weak it would be worth it. To die just like that would be better than having to endure this kind of pain. But I can’t die; the people, Shuo Er, Mother Empress and... and you... no matter who it is, I have to live on for your sakes. You can rest a.s.sured that I won’t take action against your people because I want you to continue living. I want you to live on with misery, humiliation and heartache as your companions. If I hurt a minute, then you shall hurt for ten. Su Yi, since you already hate me, then I’ll let you hate me to the utmost.”
Su Yi looked at him mutely; his shoulders were being clutched by Wanyan Xu with almost crushing force, as if he wished to transmit all the hatred he felt to Su Yi"s body through his pair of hands. His shoulder blade felt a fiery pain as if it had been shattered, but when compared to the anguish Su Yi felt in his heart, that physical pain faded into insignificance.
For a spell, the two stood there in silence, face to face, looking into each other"s eyes but unfortunately both of them were circ.u.mspect, refusing to let any hint of their true feelings show in their eyes. At length, Wanyan Xu suddenly released Su Yi. He was reeling and stumbling as he backed away from Su Yi, when he reached the door, he gave a couple of acrid laughs and muttered, as if speaking to himself: “That’s right, hate... only hate... is the feeling that ought to exist between the both of us.” With that said, he turned his back to Su Yi and walked away with determined steps.
Only when Su Yi could be sure that he had already gone far away, did he finally give in to his despair and let his whole body collapse lifelessly onto the bed. He sorely wanted to have a bout of hearty, unrestrained, ugly crying; to find a release for all the burdens, pains and injustices he carried in his heart through his tears. But after a few whimpers, he found that he couldn"t shed even a single tear. He laughed sardonically at himself, perhaps his sins had been so contemptible that even Heaven could not forgive him and had gone as far as to revoke the one freedom he thought he had left.
“Wanyan Xu, I’m sorry.” Even after the incapacitating agony in his heart had pa.s.sed, he found that this was the only thing he could say. Su Yi closed his eyes, and resigned himself to another night troubled with dark and harrowing dreams.
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“Ah Crown Prince, we had better go back. The weather is so cold yet you are unwilling to put on a cloak. If you should catch a cold, your subject cannot answer for it.” At the rockery by the edge of the Imperial Lake, Xiao Yan was trying to advise his master. With the solemn look he wore on his face, he seemed to be like a little adult.
Wanyan Shuo gave a stubborn “humph” and said: “Xiao Yan, you are getting more and more annoying. So long-winded and nagging, just like an old granny. You should be careful not to provoke me, lest I tell Imperial Father to dismiss you. Hmm, I"ll make up more details too, and say that you always complain to Official Yue about me, that as a subordinate you do not respect your superiors, and that you specialize in hurting my pride. He he, let’s see if your father will give you a thrashing or not if he hears of this.” When he finished, he saw that Xiao Yan"s face had flushed a bright red and could not help but to burst out in hearty laughs.
Xiao Yan was both alarmed and vexed, and could only keep stamping his foot in an impotent rage. Much aggrieved, he said: “Crown Prince, you are getting more and more unreasonable, if Su Yi were still the Empress, would you still dare to behave like this?” Only after the words had left his lips did he realise that he had spoken unwisely and slapped his hand over his mouth. But it was too late, Wanyan Shuo"s face had darkened ominously and he said: “Xiao Yan, don’t you think that you should cut off your tongue? How many times must I say this, you are not allowed to bring up that person in front of me. Humph, I will go and make a report to my Imperial Father now. He"ll dismiss you for sure, in addition to punishing you for this crime.” So saying, he really stood up and walked off.
Xiao Yan was both scared and disgruntled at the treatment he had received. By nature, he was guileless and not very good with words. Not knowing how to inveigle himself back into Wanyan Shuo"s good graces, he could only stammer as he followed behind him. With horror, he saw that in two more turns of the path, they would reach the Emperor"s study. At that very moment, they suddenly heard loud, un-m.u.f.fled shouts of abuse being carried to them by the wind.
Wanyan Shuo was stunned for a moment, which of the denizens in this palace could be so rude as to scold their servant so loudly while still outside? Even if they had wanted to teach their servant a lesson, they should have restrained themselves until they were inside their residence. He was cold-hearted by nature, apart from Su Yi, he did not care about the life or death of anybody else in the palace. But this time, his curiosity was piqued, and made his mind up to go and investigate who was the concubine or n.o.ble who dared to be so impolite.
Xiao Yan heaved a small sigh of relief at the reprieve, and hurried to follow behind Wanyan Shuo. Suddenly, he saw that Wanyan Shuo had suddenly ducked behind a large tree. Xiao Yan"s heart was overtaken by surprise, poking his head out to take a look, he almost cried out in shock. Surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs, the person who was standing bent over with his hands held in a gesture of respect while being loudly berated was none other than Su Yi. And the master who was conducting herself in such a high and mighty fashion could not be anybody else; it was none other than Wanyan Xu"s favourite concubine, Imperial Concubine Lady Yin.
He darted a quick look at Wanyan Shuo and saw that there were many complicated emotions in his eyes but he made no move to go forward. He understood clearly in his heart that Wanyan Shuo"s feelings towards Su Yi were really very complex and peculiar. Because he had loved and respected Su Yi so much, when he was deserted by Su Yi, the betrayal had cut him to the quick and the hate that followed was also similarly intense. In addition, if he were to step out now and go to Su Yi"s defence, he would surely earn the mockery of the crowd, even if they did not dare to show it to his face, they would deride him for being spineless because he could not give up his feelings of affection for a traitor.
As for Concubine Yin, before Su Yi had come into their lives, she had been much favoured and pampered by Wanyan Xu. His clear favourite among all his consorts, she had thought that the position of Empress would soon be conferred upon her. Counting her chickens before they had hatched, her wishful dreams had been shattered by Su Yi. How could she not hate him? Nonetheless, the Emperor had concentrated the love meant for three thousand on the one Su Yi [2], therefore, she could only swallow her hatred, unable to retaliate against Su Yi. But who would have thought that within a blink of an eye, the high and mighty Empress had been reduced to the status of a slave.
She was still revelling in Su Yi"s misfortunes when, as enemies sharing a narrow road, she crossed paths with Su Yi on this day. Lady Yin was a spoiled concubine after all, how would she ever be magnanimous enough not to cause a fuss using a pretext so as to vent some of her resentment? Su Yi had been crippled in one leg, and his mobility was compromised. Lady Yin quietly directed one of her eunuchs to b.u.mp into him so that he would fall right into her path. Subsequently, she ordered the eunuchs and palace maids to haul him up, and insisted that he had deliberately thrown himself in front of her so that she would trip. Not caring to preserve her own dignity, she began to curse loudly at him on the spot.
Of course, Su Yi would not get angry over the spiteful actions of a narrow-minded person or take her words to heart, but what he did not know was that his expressionless face would stoke Concubine Yin"s fury. With a loud shout, she ordered the eunuch to fetch a whip, saying that she was going to teach this lowly slave who had no respect for his betters a lesson. In her mind, she was just beginning to antic.i.p.ate the enjoyment she was going to derive from the vicious idea when she suddenly heard the sound of a cold voice drifting pa.s.s her ears: “Just one day back into my Imperial Father’s good graces, and my Mother Concubine’s bearing has indeed become very impressive.” In great fright, she turned her head only to be met with the sight of Wanyan Shuo emerging from behind a tree, wearing a grim expression on his face.