Chapter 154
Volume Four: The Chapter of Love
Chapter 154: Sorrowful Geese Carry News of Love and Hatred
Alone, I listen to the wind's whispers, leaning against bamboo, gazing at the capital; hesitantly watching the
banana leaves, a solitary shadow trimming the red candle.
Looking down at the west pavilion, I see only the tips of lotus leaves; yet I laugh at the mandarin ducks playing,
sadly asking, how can I bear such deep affection?
I wish I had wings to fly with you! Alas, I can only be the west wind, my remaining life ending in your embrace.
Flowers bloom, bamboo sways, old sounds are heard; flowers fall, bamboo dies, questioning the sorrow of lost love.
Remembering this life, a misplaced love, a broken heart, ultimately leads to regret; I wish for the next life, to hold
your hand and end this heart!
Not long after Si Cang Qing returned from his 'Buddhist pilgrimage,' he announced that he would soon marry
Qi Shuangran as his concubine, with the investiture ceremony to be held on the second day of the fifth month.
Upon the imperial decree, all the officials celebrated, but the other concubines showed no particular reaction.
Shoes creaked on the stone path. Si Cang Qing gazed at the dark red lanterns hanging high in the distance, pursed
his lips, and quickened his pace.
It had been some time since he'd been here. Si Cang Qing glanced indifferently at the words 'Tianluan Palace' on
the plaque, raised his hand to stop the palace servants' announcement,
and, based on his understanding of that person, headed directly for the side hall. Not long ago, a servant had
brought news that Cheng Tian Yang was packing his bags, planning to return to Hongdu in the next few days.
Pushing open the door, he saw the man reclining on the soft couch, a book in one hand. Upon seeing him enter,
he smiled sweetly.
"Your Majesty has finally remembered me?" Cheng Tian Yang greeted him with a smile, habitually wrapping his
arms around Si Cang Qing's neck. "Here to see you off again?"
Si Cang Qing picked him up, walked back to the couch, and said casually, "Don't go!" It wasn't a request, not a
demand.
Hearing this, Cheng Tian Yang chuckled, his fingers tracing the man's face, gently rubbing the beauty mark under
his eye, and softly said, "You can't bear to part with me, can you?"
Si Cang Qing didn't say anything more, only quietly gazing back at him.
“Heh,” Cheng Tian Yang leaned his head against the other’s shoulder and asked softly, “If Your Majesty wants to
keep me, you’ll have to show some sincerity…”
“What?”
His hand slid down the man’s face to his chest, where Cheng Tian Yang gently pressed it. “Here… I don’t like
anyone sharing this place.” He tilted his head back, looking earnestly into the man’s cold eyes. “Before, it was a
done deal, and I couldn’t change anything; but from now on, I won’t allow it… Your Majesty, can you do that?”
He knew Si Cang Qing wasn’t a sentimental person, but now that he knew about Si Cang Qing and Mo Qing Jue…
he didn’t want more people around this man, especially Mo Qing Jue. Thinking of what that man had done to
Si Cang Qing, the suffocating, hopeless three months of waiting, the love that had been forcibly separated from
him, he wanted nothing more than to tear that man apart!
Besides Mo Qing Jue, there was also the Prime Minister, who also required caution. Liu Yi, nearing thirty,
remained single. Whenever he gazed at Si Cang Qing, his eyes, though seemingly indifferent, were always
unusually focused, to the point that almost everyone except Si Cang Qing noticed his intent. Although
Cheng Tian Yang knew Si Cang Qing harbored no other feelings for him, the other was, after all, Liu Ziwen's son,
and their relationship was undeniably delicate. If the Emperor and the others were inclined to bring them together…
“Alright!” Si Cang Qing agreed without hesitation.
“If,” Cheng Tian Yang moved closer to the other’s neck, grinding his teeth against it, “you break your promise
today, and I will truly leave, and never forgive you!”
It wasn’t a threat; it was simply because this man harbored feelings for him, so he shouldn’t be so arrogant.
Si Cang Qing silently tightened his arms, his other hand gently stroking Cheng Tian Yang’s disheveled hair.
He bit down hard on the other’s neck, and after a long while, Cheng Tian Yang released his teeth, stepping back
slightly. Looking at the faint red teeth marks on Si Cang Qing’s neck, he smiled with satisfaction.
“Aren’t you busy tonight?”
In the brightly lit palace, the two whispered, their necks intertwined.
"I'll accompany you."
"Accompany me?" One person chuckled and said, "Then sit still, head tilted like this... feet like this, ah, hold a
book in your hand... um, just like that... I've long wanted to paint a portrait of you..."
The day of the Consort’s coronation ceremony arrived quickly. At Qi Shuangran’s request, this wedding was
celebrated with extraordinary pomp and circumstance, not because it cost more silver than the previous ceremony,
but because the entire capital was effectively hosting a grand celebration in honor of the new Consort.
It was shortly after the war and internal strife had ended, and the people were happy to wash away the bad luck
with a joyous occasion. And what everyone looked forward to most was that their revered young emperor would
parade through the streets and alleys of the capital with his new consort, supposedly to share the joy with the
people.
A dozen or so magnificent chestnut horses strode leisurely through the streets, each carried by an imperial guard
in full armor. On the innermost flank were palace attendants and musicians in festive attire, playing drums and
gongs, creating a lively scene. On the outermost flank stood the heavily armed imperial guards, shields in hand,
separating the throng of onlookers.
"They're here! They're here!"
The crowd suddenly stirred, growing even more densely packed. The imperial guards on the outer flank held
firm, preventing the flow of people from entering the procession.
On the imperial horse, the newlywed emperor and his new concubine rode together. Qi Shuangran, beaming with
joy, thoroughly enjoyed the adoration. Occasionally, he would nod and smile at the noisy crowd, eliciting bursts
of screams from them.
Ignoring the surrounding clamor, Si Cang Qing simply pulled on the reins, quietly watching the smug-looking
man sitting at the front.
Behind the crowd, at the unnoticed entrance of a dark, narrow alley, stood a simple yet eerie black sedan chair.
Its window, draped in black cloth, faced the slowly passing ceremonial procession, like an empty eye silently
observing this bustling world.
His body trembled slightly. Si Cang Qing abruptly turned his gaze, looking through the throng at the black sedan
chair.
“What are you daydreaming about?”
Interrupted by Qi Shuangran's slightly displeased words, Si Cang Qing withdrew his gaze, staring at the back of
his neck, and replied indifferently, “Nothing.”
With a scoff, Qi Shuangran didn't press further.
When Si Cang Qing turned back to look at the alley entrance again, it was empty.
The exhausting, noisy celebration of the entire day was finally over. Si Cang Qing rubbed his temples; he was
about to break down from all the noise!
“Qingqing, pour this one a cup of tea!”
Inside Qixia Palace, after dismissing the palace attendants, Si Cang Qing hadn’t even had a chance to sit down and
rest before he was ordered around again. Glancing at the man leaning back smugly in a plush chair, he was about
to turn and walk out when a series of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the hall.
Frowning in annoyance, Si Cang Qing opened the door and glared coldly at the guard who had burst in.
The man gasped for breath and collapsed to his knees with a thud. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, an assassin...
an assassin has broken into the palace! Consort Qiu... Consort Qiu has been taken hostage!"
Upon hearing this, Si Cang Qing's eyes turned icy cold. He asked in a deep voice, "Where?"
"Outside Huan'ao Palace..."
Watching the man's hasty retreat with uncertain eyes, Qi Shuangran pursed his lips, then vanished in a flash.
"Si Cang Qing, come out now! If you don't come, I'll kill him!"
The night, which had been pitch black, was now illuminated by countless intertwined torches. In the center of
the crowd, one man gripped Wei Pingtian's neck, his other hand holding a dagger tightly against his jaw. Behind
him, another man held a long sword, facing off against the soldiers.
Glancing at Feng Mo, who was covered in wounds, Si Cang Qing exuded a chilling aura and shouted in a deep
voice, "Get back!" His eyes were fixed on Qiu Ping Tian's neck, and in the interlacing light, he could vaguely
see a trace of blood.
These two assassins are no ordinary people! Si Cang Qing instinctively reacted. Even Feng Mo was injured so
badly, so it was clear… A glance at the person holding Qiu Ping Tian hostage sent a shiver down his spine. This
person…
Upon spotting Si Cang Qing, the man shouted, “Si Cang Qing, tell your men to retreat, or else…” He thrust his
dagger forward.
“All of you, retreat!”
The cold, sharp command silenced everyone.
The scene cleared, leaving only Si Cang Qing standing with his hands behind his back, coldly eyeing the two
assassins. Judging from their posture, he knew they wanted something from him, but… having injured Qiu, he
would show no mercy, even if these two were Mo Qing Jue's subordinates!
However, the assassins only stared at him silently for a moment before suddenly releasing Qiu Ping Tian and
flinging him forward. The two flew away swiftly. Si Cang Qing moved quickly, catching Qiu Ping Tian and
checking his injuries. His expression relaxed slightly. He spoke, stopping Feng Mo who was pursuing him, and
said coldly, "Escort Consort Qiu back to Cuiping Palace!"
"QingDi," Qiu Ping Tian's voice was weak as he gently tugged at his sleeve, whispering, "Be careful." He had
been careless; having just returned from outside the palace, he hadn't noticed and had fallen for someone's
diversionary tactic.
Nodding slightly, Si Cang Qing channeled his inner energy and chased after the two who had left. After about a
quarter of an hour, he suddenly stopped, indifferently surveying the dark alleyway, and said coldly, "Come out!"
"Heh, truly worthy of the Shadow Master's favor!"
A person emerged from the shadows, smiling at Si Cang Qing, but the person beside him was not so friendly; his
eyes held an undeniable anger and hatred.
With a slight movement, Si Cang Qing instantly appeared before the two. Before they could react, he grabbed
one of them by the neck, and with a twist of his wrist, he was about to snap both their necks.
At this critical moment, the man who had previously held Qiu Ping Tian hostage managed to speak with difficulty,
his voice hoarse and harsh: "Kill us, and you'll never find Mo Qing Jue's body!"
His movements abruptly stopped, and Si Cang Qing coldly asked, "What did you say?"
Those who had initially been somewhat uncertain became even more arrogant upon seeing the man's reaction,
saying, "I said, Mo Qing Jue is dead—dead because of you!"
The moment the man spoke, Si Cang Qing’s grip tightened abruptly, causing both men’s eyes to roll back in their
heads. With a flick of his arm, he flung them aside, sending them crashing into the cold, hard wall, whereupon
they began coughing violently.
He refused to believe that Mo Qing Jue was already dead!
Si Cang Qing turned away, gazing into the endless darkness at the far end of the alley, and suddenly recalled those
two months they’d spent together—how that person would “have episodes” from time to time. He also
remembered the inexplicable shiver that had run through him when he’d seen that black palanquin during the
daytime procession…
“Where is he?”
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