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Yun Zhong Ge Chapter 42- Blood dyes the love knot, tears land on jonquils

Happy new year everyone! Hope everyone had a great holiday. I've changed jobs, which explains my conspicuous absence over the past weeks and just came back from a family holiday to Turkey. I'm starting my new job tomorrow, so wish me luck! Any resolutions from the rest of you?

I'm not exactly sure what I feel about this chapter yet, since I've taken to translating on my phone now that I've got a lot less time. As a result, I've haven't properly re-read this chapter. Thoughts will be posted after I'm done. It definitely is another sad chapter though ): When Liu Fu Ling died, he seemed to have taken all the light and fluff away as well.

Update: CHAPTER COMPLETE

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On the 26th day after Liu Fu Ling's death, the Grand Marshal Huo Guang presented Empress Dowager Shang Guan's edict, placing Liu He under house arrest and ordering Fan Ming You to lead the imperial guards in arresting every official that accompanied Liu He from Chang Yi.

The command Huo Guang gave Fan Ming You the night before was : make it look like an arrest, but kill them all. Due to the unexpected occurrence in their plans, the subjects of Chang Yi would never take this lying down and would have protested so Fan Ming You could just take this opportunity to kill them in the name of 'defying orders'. However, the news seemed to have been somehow leaked. When Fan Ming You arrived with his troops, it was as if Liu He had warned them ahead of time - no matter how his men provoked them, everyone kept mum, and their heads down. With no fault to be found, Fan Ming You had no choice but to first arrest those men.

On the 27th day of Liu Fu Ling's death, Empress Dowager Shang Guan issued an edict, disposing Liu He, and crowning Liu Xun.

Liu Xun entered the palace to pay his respects to Liu Fu Ling, acknowledging him as his grandfather, and addressing himself as Liu Fi Ling's grandson. Then he went to visit Empress Dowager Shang Guan to perform his bows, acknowledging her as his grandmother.

After the grand bow, Empress Dowager Shang Guan ordered for tea to be served to Liu Xun. Liu Shun made use of this chance to ask softly ”My lord marquis, would you like a change of clothes?”

Liu He froze for a moment, accepting the tea without showing any reaction, then bent to express his thanks to the Empress Dowager. After a few sips, Liu Xun asked to be excused, hinting at an urgent need to change his clothes. The moment he stepped out for the hall, a pretty palace maid with an egg-shaped face smiled and bobbed a bow. ”Your servant Cheng'er will a.s.sist my lord in the Shang Yi pavilion.”

Liu Xun nodded, silently trailing behind Cheng'er. They really did end up in Shang Yi pavilion for him to change. Cheng'er gestured for Liu Xun to sit ”Please sit for a moment while your servant prepares the fragrances.”

Liu Xun sat on the perfumed couch, his mind whirling with questions, what was Shang Guan Xiao Mei really trying to do? Suddenly a line from the ”Record of a Grand Historian” flashed through his mind ”When the Emperor rose for a change of clothes, Zi Fu waited in the Shang Yi pavilion and gained favour!” He only thought that the scene in front of him seemed uncannily familiar and couldn't help but laugh drily. Princess Shang Ping used Wei Zi Fu to gain favour, enticing Liu Che, bringing forth the phrase ”The balladeers enter as the Emperor only entertains Zi Fu.” If Shang Guan Xiao Mei intended to use Princess Yang Ping's ploy to curry favour then she would be totally underestimating him. However....could he afford to offend Empress Dowager Shang Guan at this point? Could he not accept her favour?

In that instant, he somewhat understood the ”urgent l.u.s.t” Liu Che must have faced then. l.u.s.t wasn't just l.u.s.t, favour wasn't favour. Liu Che might have slept with Wei Zi Fu but the true message he was sending was that he was accepting Princess Yang Ping's loyalty. This was a wordless alliance, showing that from that point on, besides the Empress' Chen clan, he was also acknowledging Princess Yang Ping's power. If he had refused Princess Yang Ping then, and not bestowed his favour on Wei Zi Fu, what would the power s.h.i.+ft at court have looked like? Before having a clear understanding of Liu Che's intentions, Princess Yang Ping would definitely not have gone against the Chen clan, then the rest wouldn't have happened.

Cheng'er entered with the fragrance, and instruments to cleanse his hands. Liu Xun looked at her with a ghost of a smile.

She bent her head low and raised the wooden tray, bringing the handkerchief to Liu Xun, then softly said ”My lord marquis, please cleanse your hands.”

Liu Xun didn't move, and Cheng'er felt a little awkward, since she now had to lift a corner of the handkerchief herself.

The moment Liu Xun caught a glimpse of the national seal, his eyes grew round as he looked at Cheng'er in shock. Cheng'er felt herself calm down in the face of his shock ”Your servant is giving them to my lord marquis on the Empress Dowager's orders.”

Liu Xun opened his mouth to speak, but his throat seemed to have dried up, and nothing came out.

Cheng'er placed the tray by his side and retreated with a bow ”Please make yourself at home, my lord marquis. Your servant will wait outside.”

Liu Xun gripped the national seal tightly, the last of his worries fading. He should have been happy, but he felt strangely uncomfortable, as Liu Fu Ling's peaceful face flashed across his mind.

He had entered his shabby hut, changing his life forever; he gave him an official position, and the t.i.tle of Marquis; he personally taught him the format of imperial edicts, the types of edicts, what seal should be used for each, giving him the education a prince of his blood should have received, how to manage the officials at court; speaking slowly as he stood in front of a sprawling map of the Han empire.....

When Liu Xun returned, Shang Guan Xiao Mei's face showed signs of tiredness as she commanded him to follow the officials back.

Liu Xun knelt in front of Shang Guan Xiao Mei, and kowtowed three times. He said with sincerity ”Your majesty, I will do my best to be filial to you as your grandson.”

Xiao Mei have him a small smile and said very graciously ”I have long since been accustomed to being alone in my hall, and do not like disturbing others, nor do I like being disturbed. After I move to Chang Le palace, you do not need to come pay your respects every day. The best way to show your filial piety would be to govern wisely. ”

Naturally, Liu Xun agreed without hesitation.

After leaving Jiao Fang Hall, Liu Xun said he wanted to walk alone and all the other officials immediately chose to wisely take their leave.

It wasn't long before Liu Xun was left alone in the grand hall.

In the clear blue sky, the round sun hang proudly from it, casting it's light across the land. The sunlight was strong, so strong others had to squint but Liu Xun didn't avoid it. On the contrary, he welcomed it, walking towards it as he took in the surrounding palace walls. From this day on, everything here belonged to him!

He started towards Xuan s.h.i.+ Hall, commanding Qi Xi who was headed towards him ”Summon Meng Jue to the palace.”

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Meng Jue came, bearing the edict. The moment he stepped foot into Xuan s.h.i.+ Hall, he saw Liu Xun sitting on the dragon couch. He remembered how there was someone else sitting on that couch just the last time he was here and smiled, proceeding to kneel and give a grand bow to Liu Xun. Liu Xun only spoke after his kowtows were over ”You were my old friend when I was poor, why fore the formalities?”

Meng Jue replied respectfully ”Your majesty is high above all else, your subject would never scrimp on formalities.”

”I still have to thank you for being able to sit here right now. Without your people helping to mobilise the Prince of Guang Ling into heading for the capital, I'm afraid Huo Guang would never have come to a decision so quickly. I must also thank you for being cooped up at home gardening during the past twenty odd days.”

”Your majesty is where you are today purely because of your bravery and wit, this has nothing to do with your humble subject.”

Liu Xun laughed ”Henceforth, my every move will be under scrutiny; if the people find out that my wife has been missing for twenty odd days, there will be enquiries. What is my beloved subject Meng Jue esteemed opinion?”

Meng Jue only smiled coolly ”If Yun Ge is safe, then naturally Xu Ping Jun and Liu s.h.i.+ will be too.”

Liu Xun remained silent for a moment ”You actually have no need to threaten me. I will not harm Yun Ge. I was only forced to do it to keep you at home, ensuring that you wouldn't interfere in my plans. I will release her very soon.”

”Many thanks for your majesty's graciousness.” Meng Jue kowtowed. ”Your subject wishes to make one more request, please allow your subject to meet with the disgraced subject - Liu He”

”He is in Huo Guang's hands.”

”Which is way your subject has come

to beg your majesty, to grant this one favour.”

Liu Xun looked torn ”I'll do my best!”

Meng Jue left Xuan s.h.i.+ Hall after kowtowing again.

Liu Xun remained for a while longer, then got up and left.

Qi Xi and two junior eunuchs hurried to catch up with him.

Liu Xun walked silently, heading further and further. As he wasn't wearing the imperial robes, no one recognised him other than the palace maids and eunuchs serving in the bigger halls like Xuan s.h.i.+ Hall or Jiao Fang Hall. When their entourage pa.s.sed them, they all quickly paid Qi Xi their respects, conversely ignoring Liu Xun. Qi Xi wanted to rebuke them a few times but was stopped with a look from Liu Xun. He could only follow uneasily.

The tiled path was rather b.u.mpy, with weeds peeping through the cracks, the tallest of them falling just short of knee-length. The original colour of the pillars lining the corridors can no longer be seen; only random smudges of black and red remained, emphasising the place's dilapidated state. Only the tall walls tightly wrapping the area served as a reminder that this land was imperial ground.

Standing outside, one could already feel the cold draft. Not even the bright sunlight could penetrate through the gloominess of this place.

A few guards blocked the door, coldly admonis.h.i.+ng ”This is the Cold Palace, the quarters for concubines found guilty of crimes. You can't just enter as you wish.”

Qi Xi quickly went up to the guard and flashed his seal hanging from his waist. When the guard saw that he served the Emperor, he became a lot more polite ”Since you are from Xuan s.h.i.+ Hall, you would naturally know the rules. The people imprisoned here are not just the concubines and palace maids of Emperor Xiao Wu, but also the relatives of guilty officials. Since they are all women, not even we can enter.”

Qi Xi tried persuading him but the guard would not budge, telling him that he either needed the Supervisor of the palace's token, or an imperial edict.”

This angered Qi Xi, but Liu Xun only smiled ”What is your name?”

The guard answered steadily ”Gong Sun Zhi.”

Liu Xun unfurled his fingers, and there was a seal nestled in his palm.

”Now may we enter?”

Gong Sun Zhi saw that it was the Supervisor of the Palace's token and was struck dumb. He moved aside. ”Please enter.”

As Liu Xun walked, he nonchalantly pa.s.sed the token to Qi Xi. Qi Xi hesitated before accepting the token, hurriedly getting on his knees and kowtowing to Liu Xun's back ”Thank you for your favour, your majesty. Thank you for your favour, your majesty.”

Liu Xun never paused, heading straight ahead. A few old palace maids yawned while leaning against the wall. When they saw him, they opened their mouths to admonish him when two men in black ran out, bowed, and started to lead the way. The old palace maids quickly shut their mouths.

Liu Xun told Qi Xi ”Wait here for me.”

The men in black led Liu Xun for a whole before stopping and pointing to the house on the left, saying softly ”That's where she's kept.”

A dilapidated house, the weeds had grown well over the threshold. The tattered curtains hanging by the windows howled when the wind blew, like a woman sobbing.

Liu Xun asked ”Has she been well?”

The man in black replied ”She hasn't spoken. To our surprise, she has been very obedient, never fussing or making too much noise. Miss Huo visited once and used a whip to whip her.”

Liu Xun's brows knitted together almost imperceptibly as he asked coldly ”Was she very badly whipped?”

”In any case, she is still alive. We found a old palace maid imprisoned here and asked her to take care of her.”

With a wave of his hand, the men in black were dismissed. He walked towards the window and looked inside.

A person lay sleeping on the pallet, unmoving, her black hair spilling across the pillow, and her face covered.

Liu Xun stood there for a while before he sensed something was wrong and walked into the room in a few strides, grabbing the person on the pallet. To his surprise it was a woman of about forty. Angered, he shouted ”Men!”

A man in black rushed in and knelt immediately when he saw the woman on the pallet. ”Your servant...your servant...” But he just couldn't figure how to explain the situation.

Liu Xun was an exceptional man. He calmed himself down immediately, knowing that his servant wasn't the cause of the problem. He dismissed him with a wave and looked at the woman on the pallet. ”Do you wish to live, or die?”

The woman smiled, a cynical coldness in her eyes. ”Someone had already asked me those exact same words earlier this morning. So I lay here and changed the girl out.”

People who didn't care about anything were the hardest to deal with - Liu Xun started to think of what he should do to make this woman talk.

As the woman stared hard at Liu Xun, the coldness in her eyes slowly ebbed away, to be replaced with shock ”Your family name is Liu? Your eyes really resemble the emperor, but your chin, your nose look somewhat like the crown prince....you....you...”

Liu Xun replied ”My family name is Liu, and my name is Xun.”

Suddenly, she started to tremble uncontrollably. She raised a shaky hand to caress his face, tears falling swiftly from her eyes ”You...you...”

Liu Xun wasn't alarmed at all, allowing her to caress his face ”I'm alive.”

She grabbed him in an embrace, crying and laughing all at the same time like she was a mad woman ”You're so big now. The last time I saw you, you were still cradled in the Crown Prince's arms. His highness would have been happy, so very happy....”

Liu Xun already understood what was going on, and only stood there, allowing her to hug him.

After her crying and laughing subsided, she looked anxiously outside. ”What are you doing here? You have to leave! You can't be discovered!”

She had been imprisoned in this palace for so long that she was completely unaware of the changes outside. Liu Xun felt his heart tighten, and he gently told her everything. It was only then that she found out that Liu Xun was the new emperor; although she was long used to the huge changes blowing through the palace, and the changes of people's fortune, she was still shocked beyond belief. She started to cry and laugh again, unable to comport herself.

Through her choppy narration, Liu Xun was able to find out this woman's ident.i.ty. Her family name was Xia, and she was the late emperor's palace maid, serving in his palace. He was certain that wasn't all to it from her expression, but he let it slide. Let her say whatever she wished to! His body and bones had long grew cold, but the living must still continue living. Everything that has been buried in the past shall remain buried.

After she had calmed down somewhat, Liu Xun asked ”Granny, where did the person imprisoned here go?”

”I didn't know she was your majesty's

woman and I owed the Huo family a favour, so....so I let them take her away.”

”Huo Guang?”

”In this court, who else may freely enter and leave the palace besides his men?”

Liu Xun said ”I'll have to ask Granny to condescend to staying here for a few more days. Once everything has settled down, I will send someone to receive you.”

She had spent close to twenty years under house arrest, and had always thought that this bleak part of the palace would be her home forever. To see that she had a day to leave this place didn't bring her the joy he thought it would, only a vacant blankness in her eyes as she nodded slightly.

He just reached the door when she said ”Your majesty, please wait! I just remembered...”

He turned back.

She chose her words carefully ”When I was younger, I had read a few medical books and thus have some medical knowledge. I saw that woman seemed to be with child, please try to bring her back to the palace as soon as possible, your majesty!”

Liu Xun's face changed as a flash of coldness crossed his face ”What did you say?”

Granny Xia said apologetically ”I'm not sure myself either since I only cared for her for twenty days, but I think she is. I know I shouldn't voice my conjecture, but if she is really bearing an Emperor's child, this matter would be of utmost importance....so I didn't dare to hide it.”

Liu Xun walked out with his head heavy but still with light steps.

Liu Fu Ling has a child!

Liu Fu Ling has a child!

....

Granny Xia's words kept repeating in his head.

If Liu Fu Ling has a child, then what would become of everything he had done this past month? Does Huo Guang know that Yun Ge is pregnant? If Huo Guang knows that there is an impressionable child that he can control, would he still need a p.a.w.n like him? If Zhao Guo Cong and the rest ever finds out that Liu Fu Ling has a child, would they still be loyal to him? If...If..