Xia Niangniang - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

The young Monarch put down the official document in his hand. Slowly, he moved backward to lean on the Imperial Seat. It was windy on the outside. He was staring blankly at the leaves which waved in the wind through the window. Recalling the first time he met The Blind Concubine’s sight.

At that time, the weather hadn’t been hot like today. The sun was still warm and gentle. The narrow stone path to the Cold Palace was covered by dark green weeds which grew all over along the path. Continuously growing. Extended until reaching The Blind Concubine’s little yard’s gate. A spell of wind brushed through. Blowing the fully bloomed flowers of different colors. He lifted his sleeve to cover his face at once. Through the limitless scattered in all direction flower petals, he saw a figure in that yard.

Simple but neat clothing. Black hair. Among the scattered flower petals, slightly smiling.

The Emperor closed his eyes. That very same scene on that day appeared vaguely before his eyes.

There was a time when the sight of The Blind Concubine during that rainstorm appeared. In that bamboo forest. Covered with mud from head to toe. Cheeks were deathly pale. Motionless.

He knew that The Blind Concubine had a warm temper, soft spoken and would smile when he met someone. But he also felt that the Blind Concubine was treating him coldly. His words weren’t truly from the bottom of his heart. Without any clear reason he would get angry at him.

Asked him why, he wouldn’t say. Alone, he stared blankly with his big eyes. Not uttering even a word.

It was as if nobody could get close to him.

Yet, he loved Yu Li and Rui Ze so much.

Seemingly he was only indifferent towards the Emperor himself.

The Emperor knitted his brows into a frown. Suddenly, the entire stack of official documents which were on the table, with a rushed movement were swept away unto the floor.

Jue Yue pushed the door and entered. Unexpectedly, he caught the sight of the Emperor who just had his fit of anger. Jue Yu was unable to restrain his laughter, “What’s wrong?”

Jue Yu in the Palace was entirely without any honorable status nor an emblem. Yet, he still was able to come and go freely. In the Palace as if strolling in a flower garden. The Imperial Bodyguards were unable to block him, to the extent that they simply didn’t notice him.

The Emperor lifted his face, answered him irrelevantly: “I remembered, from long ago, your air kung-fu was the best among the brothers.”1

Jue Yu narrowed his eyes, not responding to the Emperor’s comment.

He actually never took the Imperial family seriously. Towards the internal conflict or the power struggle inside the Palace, he never had the slightest amount of interest. He only looked forward to his free and unrestrained days, comfortable and at ease, thus he could leisurely walk on the green and blue mountain path.

His childhood was filled with illness. Thereupon, he followed his father to practice the martial arts. At that time, Qi Sheng already had become his father’s student, hence he could be counted as his elder brother who learnt under the same master. And then, one day, a man led a kid who was about the same age as him to their mountain. That man wanted his father to become the master for this kid.

Father gave his consent and agreed to be his Master.

At that time, Jue Yu still wasn’t aware about this kid’s actual background. He only knew that this kid’s name was Rui Xuan.

Afterwards, he knew from his father, Rui Xuan was a prince. The man who brought him to the mountain that day was actually the Emperor himself.

After the former Emperor’s demise, Rui Xuan succeeded the throne and became the new Emperor.

Two years ago, there was a critical hostility at the borderline. Rui Xuan recruited Qi Sheng to enter the court as a General. To go to the battlefield. Qi Sheng agreed.

On the day Qi Sheng went down the mountain, Jue Yue, for the very first time in his life had a great quarrel with his elder brother. He stood in the rain on the narrow path of the mountain. His clothes soaked. His eyes were very red. In his fiercest tone: “If you go, I don’t want to admit you as my elder brother anymore!!!”

In the end, he still wasn’t able to make him stay. Couldn’t stop his steps from going down the mountain.

Henceforth, the court had added a leader who led his troops to become the terror that stricken the enemy’s troop, General Qi. In the Pear Flowers Garden, there was no longer the broad figure that he knew so well.

In a blink on an eye, several years had passed.

Jue Yu took a mouthful of air before he heaved a heavy sigh.

Towards the Emperor’s family, he never had any good sentiment. Upon seeing the Blind Concubine, it was as if he was looking at the reflection of himself.

That pair of desperate, deathly stillness, without any liveliness eyes, not so long ago that was also embedded on his own face.

Jue Yu without saying anything walked out from the Imperial Study. Under the dim light of the night, he went to the direction of the serving quarter.

His steps were extremely light. Quietly without any noise he walked into the yard.

Xiao Bao was in the yard. Sprinkled the water. Suddenly, there was a warm body approaching from his back. He was frightened and opened his mouth about to scream. But was interposed by the hands which firmly covered his mouth.

Jue Yu inched closer to his ear and said lightly: “It’s me.” He brought his index finger closer and put it in front of his lips, making a keep-silent gesture.

Xiao Bao followed him to go to outside the courtyard. Just stopped after going so far.

The moonlight lit the earth with its layer of silver color. Jue Yu stood under the white and clean moonlight. His posture was tall. His black hair flew swiftly. Making his appearance picturesque. As if absorbing the spiritual influence in the world.

Xiao Bao was in a daze for a while.

Jue Yu lifted his eyes and smiled: “You knew about this matter, didn’t you?”

Xiao Bao was startled, “Knew about what?”

“Regarding the Blind Concubine, as well as about why the Empress Dowager wanted to harm him again and again.”

Xiao Bao hung down his head. A little bit difficult to breathe, “Why did Young Master Jue Yu think that I knew?”

Jue Yu quietly measured Xiao Bao who was facing downwards with his eyes: “That day in the serving quarter when I made a guess that the one who put in the poison was the Empress Dowager, I realized that your expression was unusual. I presumed, the Blind Concubine might have told you about this matter.”

Xiao Bao was still facing downwards. With a soft voice, he said: “Young Master Jue Yu is exceedingly smart.”

Jue Yu firmly looked at him closely, his eyes were sharp and penetrating, “Seven years ago, what actually had happened? How did the Blind Concubine’s eyes become blind?”

Xiao Bao hurriedly shook his head, “I… I couldn’t say.”

Jue Yu told him: “You are just looking on helplessly as your Master suffers this hardship?”

Xiao Bao shook his head with all his might, “Master, he, he didn’t allow me to say.”

Jue Yu said: “If you tell me, I could think of a way to save him. If you don’t say anything, if one day someone wanted to harm him again, we all could only helplessly look at him when he dies.”

Xiao Bao closed his eyes tightly. His voice trembled: “Master said, seven years ago, he accidentally witnessed something he shouldn’t have seen. Because of that, his eyes were blinded then he was casted away to the Cold Palace.”

Jue Yu slightly weaved his brows, “This matter, was it related to the demise of the former Emperor and the coronation of the new Emperor?”

Xiao Bao paused, gritted his teeth and nodded his head.

Jue Yu asked: “Did your Master tell you, what this kind of not supposed to see thing was that he witnessed?”

Xiao Bao shook his head, “Master didn’t tell me. Perhaps because of the weight of the matter, it was not appropriate to let me know. Perhaps because he was afraid that it would make me involved and put me in danger so he didn’t tell me about that.”

Jue Yu nodded his head. His pair of eyes under the moonlight had shifted slightly: “That day, the one who tampered with his eyes and made him blind, who is that person actually??”

“This…….” Xiao Bao retreated a step, Couldn’t help but look away, “I…..”

Jue Yu watched closely at his reaction, for quite a while, then lightly said: “It’s alright. You can go back.”

He also warned: “Do not say anything to your Master.”

Jue Yu turned his body. Under the shaded dim light of the night he went to the inner Palace, to the storehouse where the files were stored. He leaped onto the roof lightly, soundlessly he slipped into the storehouse. Each and every folder were placed neatly according to its particular time of record. Stack upon stack were piled up. He searched among the lined up shelves, occasionally extending his arm to get some more files. Under the trifling moonlight, he browsed and looked over the files.

A long while later, on his exquisite face appeared a satisfied smile.

It was already deep in the night.

-----

The Emperor was alone in his Imperial Study, drowned in his thought. The door was creaking, followed by a stepping sound which treaded towards him in the room.

Without opening his eyes, he spoke: “Regarding this matter, you are extremely careful and concerned. Come and go. Go and come.”

Jue Yu pursed his lips, said: “I do this for my own satisfaction.”

The Emperor paused briefly, “Did you find some sign of a positive outcome?”

Jue Yu said slowly: “This matter is only one of the Palace’s piling grievances. It had been buried for a very long time. If Your Majesty didn’t know, it is better to stay not knowing. After all, the suffering one will only be The Blind Concubine. With Your Majesty, it is of no importance. Your Majesty still wants to know?”

The Emperor opened his eyes, his pupils shone sharply, “I want to know.”

Jue Yu conveniently pulled a chair in front of him and sat: “If so, please Your Majesty listen to Jue Yu’s story.”

End of The Blind Concubine chapter 24.