War Prisoner - Chapter 90

With that, the convoluted and scandalous case of the Empress who had been framed finally came to a close and Su Yi had finally come to the end of his trials. As for Wanyan Xu, the lingering sadness in his heart aside, he was still feeling endless guilt and self-recrimination and Su Yi often had to ease his anxieties before he could even smile.

On this day, the weather was sunny and cloudless. When Wanyan Xu arrived at the Garden of Merriment after holding court, he found that Su Yi was nowhere to be found. After questioning a palace maid, he learned that Su Yi was with the Empress Dowager in the Pavilion [1] of Cold Frosts, drinking tea and playing the flute. At that, he hurried off to join them. However, before he was even near to the pavilion, a mellifluous tune that came from a flute wafted by his ears. The sound was clear and distinct as if it had circumvented the trees and pierced through the clouds. He halted his steps and listened closely to the song and found that it was actually a common tune. But somehow, although it was extremely moving, it could not hold a candle to the tune that Su Yi had played in the Plum Blossom Grove on that winter's day. Therefore he walked inside the building and said smilingly: “Although this song is also enjoyable, it still pales in comparison with the composition you played that day in the hall set among the red plum blossoms. Su Su, it’s better if you play that one again for me [2] to listen to.”

Su Yi smiled and said: “On that day, a hundred different feelings were mingling in my heart, which was the reason I was able to channel my emotions into the music. But today, since I don't have the same feelings anymore, if I were to force myself to play that tune, it would also be insipid. Not to mention, that song is very intense, it doesn't match the joyful scene that is in front of our eyes now, making it feel even more tedious to play.”

The Empress Dowager smiled and said: “Just now, I [3] had wanted him to play that tune too, but he said the same thing. From that, we can tell that it is really an awkward request.” 

Before she could speak further, Zi Nong, who was standing by the side, laughingly said: “Naturally, it is a difficult request to fulfill. At that time Young Master had been wrongly condemned and was being subjected to injustice, his heart must have been full of grief and indignation. Today, his heart is full of honey-like sweetness; of course he cannot play that tune.” 

When she had finished, the Empress Dowager as well as all the attending palace maids and eunuchs had all broken into big smiles and were obliged to hide them behind their sleeves. Only, Su Yi and Wanyan Xu were left with faces that were flushed a brilliant scarlet. Wanyan Xu pretended to be offended and scolded: “Zi Nong is getting bolder and bolder, she even dares to make fun of Su Su and me.” And then he said to Su Yi: “It's all because you have been spoiling her consistently. Originally, she was already not someone who is easy to deal with and now she is even more undisciplined and out of control.” 

Su Yi game a “humph” and said: “You also know that even from the start she was already not someone who is easy to deal with? How many days has she been with me? If she hadn't been used to conducting herself in an unbridled fashion while serving you, would she be so bold now? Don't go pushing all the blame on to me.” 

His speech left Wanyan Xu with no way to make a riposte. When everybody saw that the day had come when someone got the better of this aloof Emperor --- who always said one thing and meant just that --- they could not help but to find the joke even funnier. Even Zi Yan could not help but to wear a genuine smile upon her face, thinking in her heart:Truly, there is a rock to every scissor, a scissor to every paper and a paper to every rock. If I had not had the opportunity to spend so many days in his company and come to understand what sort of person he is, I think I would still not dare to let him be by His Majesty's side.

As the coterie of people carried on chatting and laughing, a few palace maids delivered some freshly made snacks from the Imperial Kitchen. At that, the Empress Dowager asked: “Why do we not see Shuo Er here, isn’t spending time with his Empress Mother his favourite thing to do?” 

Wanyan Xu laughed and said: “I think he must be working on his lessons.” With that said, he hugged Su Yi close, not caring at all that they were in the presence of others. He said: “Speaking of this, I must give you my full admiration. Previously nobody in the entire palace, including myself, could make him sit still and devote himself to reading. But you do have this ability; truly you are worthy of being called my good wife.”

Su Yi quickly pushed him away and said: “It is because Shuo Er is becoming more sensible, I do not dare to take credit for his transformation.” He did not have time to say anything else; a cheerful and lively voice could be heard coming from outside: “But it is really due to Mother Empress's efforts, so why don't you dare to claim credit? Are you afraid that should you receive recognition for this meritorious deed, Imperial Father will really give you much thanks?” Only Wanyan Xu and Su Yi understood the double entendre that he was making, everybody else failed to detect the suggestive undertones hidden in his words. At once, the two of them were both embarrassed and annoyed, but they could not do anything with this little fellow.

And so, they had their lunch sent to the Pavilion of Cold Frosts and after their meal they went back to the Garden of Merriment only to find that Wanyan Xia had been waiting in the reception hall for quite a while. When he saw that they were back, he stood up and said: “You all are still so happy. Are we still going to treat the leg or not?”

Wanyan Xu was overjoyed. Rushing over, he said: “Treat it, naturally we are going to treat it. But didn't you say that you still needed a few more days before you can come up with a plan that was absolutely certain to be successful?”

Wanyan Xia said: “There’s no need to wait any longer, the plan has been drawn up. But as I told you before, this medicine is extremely potent. Once you have started taking it, you have to stick with it till the end. Su Yi, I am not doubting your toughness, but are you sure that you will persevere till the end?”

Not answering the question, Su Yi instead asked Wanyan Xia: “How is the rabbit that you used as a test subject? Did it die of pain?”

Wanyan Xia could not help but to let a slight smile show on his otherwise impassive face. He said: “No, in fact it has been feeding so well that it has gotten very fat and there are no indications that there are any lingering problems.”

Su Yi smiled and said: “There you have it, even a little rabbit did not die of pain. Even if there is some pain, how bad can it be? Besides, it is to heal a crippled leg. By itself, that is already to be considered a miraculous feat, it is only right that there should be some sacrifices required to achieve this.”

Wanyan Xia nodded and said: “Since you have said that, then let's begin the course of treatment today. In antiquity, Guan Yu talked cheerfully and wittily while Hua Tuo scraped the poison off of his bones [4]. I think your resilience will not be much less than Lord Guan’s, but I fear that there is somebody else who cannot bear it…” He look at Wanyan Xu and suddenly gave a mischievous smile and said: “You have to understand, the wound is on your body, but the pain is in somebody else’s heart.”

Wanyan Xu could only give a stiff smile. When he heard Wanyan Xia say that the treatment would be so painful, he had indeed began to worry and fret in his heart. Looking into Su Yi's smiling eyes, he knew that his beloved was really unafraid. But as for him, he was afraid, very afraid. Just the very thought of his Su Su having to undergo untold depths of torment made him so afraid that his heart felt like it was seizing up. Why, why was it that even now Su Su still had to endure such suffering when obviously... obviously the one who should have to suffer and endure punishment should be Wanyan Xu himself… it should be himself. With complex feelings of unease, distress, guilt and heartache, he went along as Su Yi and Wanyan Xia proceeded into the inner room.