Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 62

What Qin Kun came to report was a major, yet insignificant, matter.

The Prince of Runan had died.

A wind rose, rattling the window, and the thin layer of paper covering it rustled. The news came so suddenly that both Wei Xiu and Puyang were taken by surprise. They exchanged a glance, and Puyang asked, “What was the cause?”

The Prince of Runan, the last emperor of the former dynasty, held a very awkward position at court. Though a prince, he had never once attended court and rarely even left his residence. In the blink of an eye, nineteen years had passed, and the capital had all but forgotten such a person existed. Only when the former dynasty was occasionally mentioned would his name pass through people’s lips.

The fate of the former dynasty was sealed; his life or death had long been inconsequential. But for an emperor, his life had been a difficult one.

Qin Kun appeared to sigh with emotion, yet showed no alarm or great concern. Instead, he seemed rather indifferent as he respectfully reported to Puyang, “I hear it was a sudden acute illness. His Majesty has already dispatched an imperial physician to investigate. We should know the details later.”

Later, it would likely amount to nothing. The imperial physician would make a trip, but it would probably be a perfunctory affair.

Once a man dies, the final verdict is passed. When he was alive, everyone avoided him like the plague. Now that he was gone, few in the court would care how he died. In the streets and alleys, even if he were discussed, it would only be as idle gossip after a meal. The Son of Heaven of yesteryear, now a mere prince, had become fodder for conversation—a truly pathetic fate.

Puyang’s gaze was grave. She looked at Qin Kun and said, “Issue a strict order throughout the residence. No one is to discuss this matter!”

Qin Kun immediately bowed his head, his expression suddenly solemn, a stark contrast to his earlier carelessness. “Yes!”

Wei Xiu had remained silent the entire time. Only after Qin Kun had taken his leave did she look at Puyang, her expression softening. “Your Highness always has a spark of benevolence.”

“Merely hypocrisy,” Puyang said with a light laugh, her expression faint. What she could do was but a small effort, hardly qualifying as benevolence.

But most people would not even extend a hand for something within their power. Wei Xiu sometimes found it very strange. Her Highness was decisive in her actions, never one to hesitate, yet she always maintained a thread of kindness. She was ruthless toward those who stood in her way, but always retained goodwill for those uninvolved. Cunning and benevolence coexisted in her without the slightest conflict.

Compared to her, Wei Xiu felt she was a person who would forever live in darkness, while Puyang was like the only light, drawing her closer.

“A single thought of benevolence can benefit the entire world. I hope Your Highness will not forget your original intentions,” Wei Xiu said gently, but an irrepressible sorrow welled up in her heart.

She had paved Puyang’s path with her own hands. The one she served ought to be an enlightened ruler capable of bringing blessings to the world. How rare that was! Wasn’t this what a scholar sought their entire life? She had fallen for Puyang, bit by bit, and come to love her. As she paved the way for her future, she couldn’t help but imagine the future Her Highness, full of spirit, bringing clarity to the nine provinces. Yet at the same time, she was plotting to destroy that future her.

Disloyal to her lord, she was unfaithful and unkind! Disingenuous in love, she was unworthy of being loved! Wavering toward her family, she was unfilial and unjust!

Under Wei Xiu’s gentle gaze, Puyang felt quite shy. She stood up and said, “There are still some matters I must attend to. I will take my leave.”

Wei Xiu suppressed the churning frustration that threatened to erupt from her chest and nodded with a smile.

Puyang walked out quickly, and A Rong entered right after. As Wei Xiu watched Puyang’s back disappear behind the door, a sudden sweet, metallic taste rose in her throat, and she could no longer hold back a mouthful of bl00d. The prolonged suppression, the prolonged hatred, the prolonged dilemma had hollowed out her very lifeblood.

A Rong was horrified and was about to cry out when Wei Xiu immediately looked up, silencing her with a glance.

A Rong choked back her cry and rushed forward, wiping the crimson bl00d from Wei Xiu’s lips with a handkerchief.

A wrenching pain seized her chest, and her throat and mouth were filled with the metallic taste of rust. Wei Xiu struggled to catch her breath, pushed A Rong’s hand away, and said weakly, “Her Highness has not gone far… do not let her know.”

Tears were about to fall from A Rong’s eyes. She said with a sob, “Your health…”

Wei Xiu clutched her chest, which felt tight with pent-up frustration, as if a great stone were pressing down, making it hard to breathe. She shook her head, her expression still calm, but her face was as pale as paper, her lips were dry, and cold sweat dripped down her forehead. After a long moment, she said, “It’s nothing. Let me rest a while.”

She was very tired. She wanted to rest, to rest without thinking about anything.

A Rong nodded repeatedly, rose, and began to push her toward the bedroom. Halfway there, Wei Xiu suddenly remembered something. She was terrified, and the pain in her chest made her vision go black in waves, but she still managed to part her lips and say in a faint voice, “Chen Du’s place, Chen Du’s place, quick… go and check!”

She spoke the sentence in several parts, using all her remaining strength, barely able to maintain even a semblance of calm.

When A Rong understood her words, she was overcome with sorrow. She quickly settled Wei Xiu in the room and then hurried with some servants to Chen Du’s residence.

Wei Xiu remained worried, unable to rest peacefully even while lying on the couch. Her mind was muddled, but she fought to stay clear-headed, recalling her conversation with Chen Du that day.

He prided himself on being a virtuous scholar of Zhou, yet he had accepted an official rank from Wei. The world considered him a hypocrite, speaking of him only with scorn. He was proud and arrogant, valuing righteousness over his own life. He was pained and powerless about the state of the world, but his heart had always remained with the House of Zhou. Now that the Prince of Runan was dead, if he were to die for his principles…

Wei Xiu was anxious and worried, her mind filled with the image of a youth from long ago, riding alongside her brother on the sand-swept frontiers, galloping freely and laughing heartily. She feared that this youth, now a proud and stubborn virtuous scholar, would vanish from the world.

People connected to the Zhong Clan were dying off, one after another. Fewer and fewer remained. Wei Xiu cherished every person who remembered her father and brother. Even if they had no contact, it was good to know that there was someone else in this world who, like her, remembered her parents and brother.

Once a person died, their presence in the world grew fainter by the day. After so many years, the people in her memory seemed as if they had never existed, completely forgotten by all. She did not want to be alone, did not want to struggle by herself, did not want to one day think about what she was doing only to be met with confusion and retreat. Chen Du was more to her than just an older brother she had known in her youth.

Cold sweat soaked through her inner shirt. Her face was transparently white, her lips devoid of color, so frail she looked as if she might faint or pass away at any moment. Still, Wei Xiu forced herself to hold on, waiting for an answer.

Time stretched on, as if it had stopped moving.

The tightness in her chest was nearly suffocating, and a dull ache began to throb in her head. She held on, letting the pain consume her.

Finally, A Rong returned, her face relaxed. Seeing this, Wei Xiu let out a sigh of relief, propped herself up, and asked urgently, “How is he?”

A Rong replied, “Sir Chen is fine. When I arrived, he was changing his robes, intending to go to the Prince of Runan’s residence to offer condolences. He said to thank you for your kind intentions.”

Wei Xiu was relieved, and her headache subsided. “That’s good.” She then asked, “Is that all he said?”

A Rong thought for a moment and said, “He said one more thing. Sir Chen said that he didn’t expect that to this day, the one who understood him was a Sir he had only met once.”

While at Chen Du’s residence, A Rong had been worried about Wei Xiu, so she had rushed back after confirming he was alright. Now, repeating his words, her expression slowly changed, the relaxed smile turning into terrifying panic.

The world spun around Wei Xiu. She grabbed A Rong’s hand, desperately steadying herself, and said, “Prepare the carriage. We’re going to the Prince of Runan’s residence.”

“It’s too late!” A Rong quickly tried to stop her. “I left at the same time as Sir Chen.” The Chen residence was much closer to the Prince of Runan’s residence than to Princess Puyang’s.

Moreover, Sir’s body was in no condition for travel.

Wei Xiu said calmly, “Go and prepare the carriage at once!”

If one didn’t look at her face, one would think she was her usual self. But A Rong worried that Sir might collapse at any moment.

She dared not disobey. Blaming herself for being too careless, her eyes filled with tears. She stood up, and just as she was about to leave, a servant who had gone with her to the Chen residence came to report: “Sir, Sir Chen died by striking his head against a pillar before the funeral bier.”

It was as if her head had been struck a heavy blow, and it buzzed loudly. The last glimmer of hope was extinguished. Wei Xiu looked at A Rong, her gaze gradually losing focus, as if her soul had departed. A Rong quickly supported her, calling her name repeatedly.

Wei Xiu closed her eyes and fell into a faint.

Chen Du’s death by striking the pillar enraged the Emperor, who denounced him as an ungrateful traitor. However, Chen Du’s fame soared among the literati. No one dared to discuss the matter openly, but many scholars secretly admired Chen Du’s loyalty and righteousness. Perhaps influenced by such a tragic event, several more scholars followed suit and died for their principles, causing a great uproar in the capital.

The Emperor was furious. He had originally intended to give the Prince of Runan the derogatory posthumous name “Huang,” meaning Desolate, and now he was even more determined. The Chancellor and a group of benevolent ministers were greatly alarmed. They repeatedly advised him that he could not ignore the will of the people, and with the Prince of Yuzhang still in the capital, they could not let another country witness internal strife, becoming a laughingstock among the three kingdoms. The questionable legitimacy of the dynasty’s founding would surely be brought up. The best course of action now was to show magnanimity, to display the new dynasty’s benevolence. Everyone still remembered the suffering of the people in the final years of the previous dynasty; a comparison between the two would naturally sway their hearts. But if the court pressed too hard now, the people would surely pity the Prince of Runan and see the court as hypocritical. At this time, dredging was better than damming.

In his rage, how could the Emperor listen? The Chancellor was at a loss. Fortunately, the edict had not yet been issued, so there was still time to change it. He sent someone to request Puyang’s presence.

Puyang always knew how to handle the Emperor. After a private talk, she finally managed to have the posthumous name changed to the compassionate “Ai,” meaning Lamentable.

After a long time persuading him, it was already night when she returned to her residence. Puyang wanted to ask Wei Xiu if there was a way to quell the public discussion, but upon arriving at the small courtyard, she was told that Sir had already gone to sleep.

Puyang was puzzled. “Sir is resting early today.”

When she came here, Wei Xiu would usually greet her. In the past, even if she had already gone to bed, she would get up, fearing she might miss an important matter.

A Rong replied respectfully, “Sir has been a bit tired these past few days, so she rested early as there was nothing urgent today.”

The explanation was perfectly reasonable. Puyang stared at A Rong, who acted as if nothing was amiss. After a long moment, Puyang said, “I have an important matter to discuss. Go and fetch Sir.”

She was usually most considerate of Wei Xiu and never forced her. Her insistence today threw A Rong into disarray. Could Her Highness have seen through something? She looked at Puyang, but Her Highness’s expression was faint, revealing nothing of her thoughts.

A Rong steeled herself, deciding to take a gamble. She bowed respectfully. “Yes.” She turned and walked toward Wei Xiu’s bedchamber.

Puyang watched her from behind. A Rong suppressed her panic and walked steadily. Sir had instructed her not to let the princess know. She had already failed at one thing; she could not defy Sir’s wishes and fail at a second.

Puyang observed A Rong’s gait, her posture.

As A Rong reached the door of the bedchamber, she raised her hand. The princess’s gaze enveloped her from behind, a gaze that seemed to see through everything, leaving her nowhere to hide. She forced herself to remain steady. Her knuckles were just an inch from the door when a voice finally came from behind her: “Never mind.”

A Rong finally let out a breath of relief, her body nearly going limp.

Puyang looked at the door with a soft expression. Inside, Sir was sleeping peacefully. She had suspected something was wrong with Sir, which was why she had pressed A Rong. Now, seeing that A Rong was not afraid, she believed her.

Since Sir was already resting, it was best not to disturb her.

Puyang left. A Rong quickly went inside. They couldn’t call for a physician, so they could only watch over Wei Xiu without leaving her side. Walking to the couch, she saw Wei Xiu’s brows tightly furrowed. Her lips moved, uttering faint, indistinct murmurs. A Rong moved closer and bent down to listen carefully.

“Your Highness…” Wei Xiu’s eyes were closed, she was long unconscious. She called out the name again and again, pained and distressed. “Your Highness…”