Chapter 43 - 043 Demoness

“Yes, as long as he kills me, he will live a little longer.”

He Ying looked over with a heavy gaze, “Ah Yan, I’ve said you’re smart, and I’ve never been wrong about anyone.”

Sang Yan: “…”

It wasn’t that she was smart, but that she had watched too many palace dramas and understood the patterns within.

“The late Emperor was a good brother.”

She remarked.

He nodded, “Yes. He was a good brother and also a fine scholar. Idle sorrows scatter like snow, upon drinking, they melt away the soul. He and Wan Zhang were the same, consumed by their love for liquor. His drunken calligraphy carried the air of a master.”

Listening to him, Sang Yan thought of Li Yu, the last Lord of the Southern Tang, and the line that later generations would use to evaluate him: “As a talent, truly peerless, poor fate to be thrust upon a king.”

“Ha ha, that poetry is exquisite.”

He Ying laughed heartily, praising her, “Ah Yan is clever and quick-witted, abundantly talented, of all the women I’ve seen, none can match you.”

Sang Yan: “…”

Er… awkward.

She was merely borrowing the words of the ancients.

She couldn’t quite accept such praise.

Sang Yan fell silent and glanced sideways at him.

He wore a plain white brocaded robe, his black hair cascading down, his features as fine as jade, reminding her of a verse: “Stands as noble as the orchid and jade tree, his smile like the bright moon embraced.”@@novelbin@@

Hence, her fondness for him was mostly because of his face.

Again, who doesn’t like a powerful and handsome leader?

Soon, they arrived at Qingning Palace.

Sang Yan said goodnight and entered the side hall.

Leaving He Ying standing under the moonlight, quietly watching the direction she had gone.

For a long time.

He withdrew his gaze, looked towards Pei Muyang, gestured with his hand, and said in a low voice, “Go bring Wan Zhang here. Don’t let others know. You go personally.”

What exactly did Wan Zhang see in Sang Yan’s facial features?

If there was any ill omen, he alone should know.

Pei Muyang understood his intention, nodded immediately, and set off to fulfill the command.

*

Sang Yan slept well.

All the way until dawn.

After washing up and remembering to ask Wan Zhang to read her face, she quickly ate her breakfast and, taking Qiuzhi with her, went to the Observatory.

The Observatory by day seemed even more desolate than at night.

Not a single guard stood outside the Starlight Hall.

She found it strange, thought for a moment, and still decided to push the door open and enter.

“Hello? Is anyone there?”

“Hello, is somebody there?”

No response came.

And no one was inside the hall.

It was eerily empty and cold.

She looked around and then stepped back out.

Just then, she saw a group of guards passing by and approached them to inquire, “Hello, why is there no one at the Observatory?”

The captain of the Guard Team recognized Sang Yan and respectfully replied, “Lord Sang, Director Wan of the Observatory indulged in drink and neglected his duties, and has been punished by the Emperor to guard the Imperial Mausoleum. The rest at the Observatory share the same punishment.”

Sang Yan was stunned: When did the tyrant issue the decree? After they parted last night? In front of her, he had pardoned Wan Zhang, but behind her back tallied up his account?

Such a petty vindictive man!

Wait—

It wasn’t that simple.

Had He Ying summoned Wan Zhang afterwards? And had Wan Zhang spoken of her odd facial features, which led to his punishment? What exactly did Wan Zhang say?

Sang Yan grew both curious and panicked, lifting the hem of her dress as she hurried to find the Emperor.

At the same time

In Taihe Hall

He Ying let out an inelegant sneeze up in the hall.

The civil and military officials shivered thrice.

Among them, the Minister of Rites, Cui Shao, said, “The hot summer has come, and the Emperor should be careful with the use of ice at night, mindful of the dragon’s health.”

He meant well, with concern, but by saying so, he accidentally reminded everyone of something.

The Imperial Censor, Feng Ji, took the lead in urging, “Please, Emperor, take good care of your dragon’s body, favor your concubines, and soon extend the royal succession.”

Following suit, the Minister of Revenue, Qu Zhi, echoed, “The Imperial Censor is right, Emperor, you are nearing the age of thirty, and it’s inappropriate to delay the heir any longer.”

“Yes, indeed. With the birth of the heir, the nurturing of a Crown Prince is also a long-term heavy responsibility.”

“This old servant dares to say something unpleasant at the risk of his life, but the disaster of Pei Zhen must not be repeated.”

The disaster of Pei Zhen stemmed from the Emperor’s advanced age and impending birth of an heir, resulting in entrusting his legacy to a young emperor who was completely unable to hold on to power.

He Ying was particularly averse to this and snapped angrily, “Are you cursing me with an early death?”

“This humble servant dares not.”

All the ministers knelt down.

He Ying sneered, “I see you dare quite freely. One by one, you start to worry about the length of my life. Unfortunately, to your disappointment, I am in robust health, certain to outlive you all.”

“This old servant has no such thoughts.”

It was the Imperial Censor, Feng Ji, who had brought up the disaster of Pei Zhen.

He had white hair, a face marked by the passage of time, and was very emotional, pounding his chest with his hands and crying out, “Emperor, your words are like driving a knife through this old servant’s heart. My loyalty to the Da He Royal Family is witnessed by heaven and earth. The late Emperor—”

The late Emperor, during his lifetime, had held this veteran of three dynasties in high esteem.

No, it is now four dynasties.

“This old servant is incompetent, unable to persuade the Emperor, cannot see the Da He Royal Family flourish, deeply ashamed in front of you.”

Feng Ji cried out to the heavens, his tears flowing freely, a sight too pitiful to behold.

Except for He Ying.

He looked at the scene with indifference and even some annoyance, “Leaning on old age to peddle influence, utterly despicable!”

He darkened his face and slammed down on the Dragon Table, “This is the Great Hall of Deliberation, how dare you show the behavior of a woman? Guards, drag him out!”

He was angry and showed no consideration for the Imperial Censor.

“Emperor, please reconsider!”

“A man may be killed, but not insulted!”

“Emperor—”

…

The other ministers pleaded in succession.

He Ying ignored them completely and ordered the Imperial Censor’s dismissal.

“Who else is urging for heirs?”

Nobody dared to respond.

However, the Assistant Minister of Rites, Zhou Mao, mentioned the Observatory, “Emperor, the Observatory was established by the late Emperor himself, protected by his edict; it must not be neglected.”

He Ying didn’t take his words to heart, responding coldly, “To my knowledge, the Observatory has been neglected long ago.”

Zhou Mao said, “That is due to the Emperor’s lack of supervision. With additional manpower and the selection of the capable and virtuous, the Observatory can indeed flourish again.”

He Ying wasn’t interested in the prosperity of the Observatory, waving his hand and saying, “Enough. I have my own arrangements. This matter shall not be discussed further.”

Zhou Mao, persisting, knelt down, “Does the Emperor hold such an aversion to the Observatory because the Director Wan Jianzheng has discovered something? It is rumored that the Emperor visited the Observatory last night to consult on the fate of the Sang Family’s daughter—”

“Vice Minister Zhou, you are quite well-informed, aren’t you?”

He Ying chuckled sarcastically, cutting off his words, and also changing the subject abruptly.

Zhou Mao ultimately grew fearful and was led away, “This humble servant is just concerned about the Emperor, worried about Da He.”

“Enough! If everyone thought and acted like you do, would not my Imperial Palace become your personal backyard? Allowing you to peer into matters thus; it seems I have served as Emperor in vain!”

The more He Ying thought about it, the angrier he became, and he ordered an investigation, “Guards! Who leaked the information? Find them! Upon discovery, show no mercy!”

“May the Emperor calm his anger.”

The ministers knelt down en masse.

He Ying’s anger intensified as he grabbed a petition from the table and threw it, “Get out! All of you, get out!”

He was somewhat enraged.

The ministers did not dare to say more, quietly retreating from the hall.

Ever since the Emperor arrived for the morning court, he had been in a bad mood, and just last night, he had ordered the dismissal of all staff from the Observatory, surely something had happened, but what?

As they left the Great Hall and whispered to each other in muted tones, they lifted their heads and saw Sang Yan waiting outside the hall, and instinctively sighed in unspoken agreement, “That demoness brings disaster upon the nation!”

Sang Yan: ?