Zi Liu, Zi Nan and Wanyan Xu were all on edge as they looked at him. After waiting for what felt like half a day, finally they saw him give a mocking laugh and say: “Worthy little brother, hahaha, I am going to laugh myself to death. That an object of shame such as I can become the Emperor"s worthy little brother, where do I begin to start enumerating how ridiculous this is?”
Zi Li stepped forward and said: “Second Prince, His Majesty has come in person just to beseech you which demonstrates his sincerity. As the saying goes, healers should care for their patients like their own children, on account of His Majesty"s steadfastness in love, I hope that you will consent to aid us in saving the Empress.”
Wanyan Xia gave a “humph”, looking at Wanyan Xu, he said: “So one should be rewarded just for steadfastness in love? My parents were steadfast in love too, all those years ago, but who could have predicted that my mother would end up being sent as tribute to the King of Jin Liao? The two of them were parted by mountains and rivers, but my father was undaunted by the ten-thousands of miles that separated them and made his way to Jin Liao and infiltrated the palace so as to reunite with her. But in the end, what did they reap? Ultimately, the pair of star-crossed lovers was still ordered to commit suicide, do you people think that I do not know of it? I was spared only because you wished for me to live out my life in unremitting pain, so that my father and mother cannot be at peace even in the netherworld. And now you have the gall to mention steadfastness in love to my face? My parents are dead, and I am unable to think of a way to avenge them, but it seems that Heaven has taken pity on me. Now, you also have to endure being parted from your loved one, hahaha, how could there be a more satisfying way for me to have my vengeance?”
Wanyan Xu was silent, it would seem that the Empress Dowager"s words had been proven right, Wanyan Xia did indeed bear a deep-seated hatred for him and Wanyan Xu was afraid that he would only be too happy if Su Yi died. Wanyan Xu could only a.s.sume a deferential manner and say humbly: “Worthy little brother, what happened to your parents is indeed a tragedy, but it has already occurred and nothing can be done about it. Do you really have the heart to look on as the same type of tragedy is re-enacted? I"m afraid that in her afterlife if Her Ladyship Concubine Hua comes to learn that her son has grown up to be so callous, she will also...”
Before he could finish, Wanyan Xia coldly interrupted: “There’s no need for you to say anymore. I said I won’t save him, and I meant it. Today is the first day of the New Year, the shops selling coffins are probably all closed. My advice to you is that you should order somebody to go and source a suitable coffin and make preparations to give your lover a good funeral. Haha, there has not been the need to make funerary arrangements for a long time within our palace, is that not so?” He concluded his speech viciously and turned to leave but he suddenly heard Wanyan Xu say loudly: “Stop right there.”
Wanyan Xia slowly turned his body around to face them, articulating each word clearly, he said: “You can use me as a sacrifice at your Empress"s funeral but it is impossible for you to compel me to lift a finger to save your Empress.” Behind his simple but firm words, there was endless enmity.
No matter what, saving Su Su was the most important thing. Wanyan Xu gulped a few times, swallowing all the anxiety and ire that threatened to erupt out of him and said: “If you have any conditions, you can state them freely. As long as you can save Su Su, I can agree to any of your demands.”
“No need for that, what I need the most is to see the lot of you suffering.” After Wanyan Xia said that, he made to go back into the house, but he abruptly halted his steps and turned back, as if he had suddenly thought of something. With the hint of a sneer playing at the corners of his mouth, he said: “Big Brother Wanyan, are your feelings for that Empress of yours really as deep as the ocean? For her [2] sake, are you willing to kneel down and beg me?” He had barely finished speaking when Zi Nan and Zi Liu --- both greatly outraged --- rebuked him: “What audacity!”
Wanyan Xu waved a hand at them to prevent them from speaking further and said in a grave tone: “Xia Er, if I am willing to kneel down in front of you, will you then be willing to go and save the Empress?” Without hesitation, he gave voice to the most pressing thought in his mind. Zi Nan and Zi Liu said urgently: “Your Majesty must not, as the most honoured Son of Heaven...” Once again, Wanyan Xu stopped them from finishing their speech. Staring fixatedly at Wanyan Xia, he said unequivocally: “Tell me, if I kneel, will you go save the Empress?"
Wanyan Xia was stunned for a moment; he had never expected to hear an answer in that vein. A fleeting look of astonishment danced across his face before he gave a cold laugh and said: “No, I will not promise you anything. But Big Brother Wanyan, if you are really willing to kneel down for the sake of your Empress, there is a possibility that I might change my mind. Of course, I cannot say for certain how long you might need to kneel before I might relent.”
As soon as his voice faded, he saw that Wanyan Xu had bent his knees and knelt down without any hesitation at all. A faint clap of thunder could be heard coming from the horizon, snowflakes that were reminiscent of goose feathers floated and swirled down from the Heavens, falling onto the body that was kneeling firmly in the snow like an embedded javelin.
Zi Nan and Zi Liu were as dumbstruck as wooden chickens as they gazed, transfixed, upon their Master. They looked on at their Emperor who was kneeling down resolutely in the snow. Wanyan Xia also looked on in stupefaction, for a long time, his face wore an expression of surprise that he was unable to expunge. Only after expending some conscious effort, was the contrary Prince able to force an icy sneer and say: In that case, you should carry on kneeling here.” So saying, he turned and went into the house.
With a bang, the wooden doors closed behind him heavily. Only at this juncture did Zi Nan and Zi Liu recover their wits. Crying they said: “Your Majesty... how could you... oh, you are the Emperor... you are to be above all others...”
“Zi Liu, hurry back to the Garden of Merriment and attend to Su Su, find some way to rein in his illness, do not let it deteriorate further. Although Xia Er may hate me, I can tell that he is actually a good and kind-hearted person. His anger will abate if I kneel for long enough and he will definitely save Su Su then.” Wanyan Xu cut in as his trusted aides were protesting, and gave his command calmly. Actually he had said the last two lines solely for their benefit, wishing to offer them some comfort in light of their distress. He really did not have the slightest idea whether Wanyan Xia would ultimately go and save a life or not, but as long as there was a glimmer of hope, he would never give up. “Zi Liu, go now. Don’t let the Empress Dowager and Su Su know what I am doing. So as not to rouse their suspicions, Zi Nan, you will stay here with me.”
As he watched Zi Liu"s figure sprint away, Wanyan Xu could not help but to close his eyes, putting his hands together, he prayed earnestly: “Heaven, I beg of you to bless Su Su, so that he can hold on long enough for Xia Er to treat him after Xia Er"s heart has softened. Su Su he... he has already suffered too much. If there is still more suffering for him in store for him in his future, I beg that you transfer all the trials he must endure to me, let me endure them on his behalf.” He then heaved a long sigh. Although his person was still kneeling at the same spot, his heart had long ago flown to the Empress’s bedroom in the Garden of Merriment.