c115 (1/2)

Chapter 115: Happiness Is A Circle

After Qing Feng was brought out of the Palace, she was immediately taken to the prison of the Board of Investigations and locked in a very big cell. It was empty inside and there were straws spread out on the floor as the sunlight shone in from the large square window, brightening up the area. At the same time the cold wind also blew in from there making the entire cell feel cold. Qing Feng lean at the corner of the cell and laugh self-deprecatingly. Once again Yan Hong Tian threw her into a cell. The only consolation is that this was much better than the Imperial Prison but unfortunately her mood was very much different.

When she was thrown to the Imperial Prison, even though she felt pain all over and worried about her Youngest Sister’s situation, her heart was calm. But currently now her heart was in utter chaos and grief. Yan Hong Tian’s distrust made her disappointed and at the same time felt resentment. Shouldn’t she be happy when she saw him spitting out blood when she was leaving? Why then was her heart feeling pain like it was being hammered?

Her feelings towards Yan Hong Tian was like having a thin fish bone stuck in one’s throat. One was unable to swallow and it may not be very painful but every time one swallow or breath, it would hurt her without any peace.

When the cell doors were pushed open, Qing Feng knew that someone came in but she stubbornly kept her eyes closed as she lean against the corner. She did not want to be bothered by anyone.

Zhuo Qing and Gu Yun entered the cell and saw Qing Feng curling herself in a corner. Zhuo Qing asked softly, “Qing Feng, are you alright?”

Qing Feng did not answer which made Zhuo Qing worried that she was injured. She walked over to take a closer look and found her with her eyes closed with a look of indifference.

Zhuo Qing also just gave birth a few days ago and was currently in confinement. Gu Yun gathered the straws on the floor and piled up the other corner before supporting Zhuo Qing to sit. Zhuo Qing half leaned on the heap of straws to sit. Even though it was not all that comfortable, it was very warm. Zhuo Qing look towards Qing Feng’s direction and gave a look and Gu Yun lightly nodded. Gathering another pile of straw, she walked to Qing Feng’s side and made another pile as she asked, “What happen in the Palace? Why were charges of being spies suddenly emerge?”

Qing Feng still remain silent with a look of cannot be bothered about anything. Gu Yun was not in a rush. After she piled up the straw, she then talked to herself, “This should be related to the Empress’s secret.”

The person leaning against the wall moved a little but still remained silent. Gu Yun continued, “Maybe it can be said that it is related to Guo Yi.”

Qing Feng open her eyes big as she looked towards Gu Yun, “You… Found it out?”

Seeing her reaction, Gu Yun had confirm her theory that Qing Feng was not unaware of everything. Pulling her to the heap of straws to sit, Gu Yun lean against the wall in the middle of them and said softly, “I was initially speculating and did not have conclusive evidence but it seems now that what I said was correct. I have investigated the cloth material in the hands of the deceased and found that it was part of the uniform that the leader of the Imperial Guards and above rank would wear. Like that only four people including Guo Yi was suspected. When the Imperial Prison caught fire, the other three had an alibi for it but Guo Yi did not have one. In such a coincidence, he was also on duty that day. This person was too suspicious so I started to focus on investigating him. Apparently he used to be Xin’s residence guard and…”

Gu Yun turn the other side to look at Zhuo Qing as she smiled in delight, “Remember the letter that Hui Jun mentioned about? I found it.”

“Where?” Zhuo Qing also smiled and asked, “Really at Yi Lan Palace?”

“No. She was all along hidden in the Imperial Prison. After the fire, I went back to the scene of the fire many times and once to see if Hui Jun had left behind anything, I found that there was nothing much in the cell after the fire but I discovered that in the deepest corer of it the dirt was particularly higher and especially firm. If Hui Jun often squatted there then it justify why the dirt have harden but because of the long term of pressing, the area should be concave in so I felt that there was something wrong at that time. I dug down for more than a Che (1 che = 1 foot) and found the letter.”

Zhuo Qing nodded her head and asked back, “What did the letter say?”

“After so many years and going through a fire, most of the areas were destroyed but one can probably see the meaning which is the Empress commit adultery with someone. With the clues combined, the adulterer is most likely Guo Yi.” After Gu Yun finished, she turned to look at Qing Feng at the corner.

Listening to Gu Yun’s a.n.a.lysis and meeting her seemingly all-knowing eyes, Qing Feng was lauding her as she also felt that there was nothing else to hid. She replied, “What you say was not wrong. Yan Jing is not Yan Hong Tian’s son. He is the child of Xin Yue Ning and Guo Yi.”

“How did you know?” Xin Yue Ning actually committed adultery and Yan Jing was not Yan Hong Tian’s child was not anything strange but Gu Yun was curious how did Qing Feng spoke so clearly of the matter. She had been investigating for months before able to find out that the Empress committed the adultery only.

Gu Yun stared at her as if she wants to see her through. Qing Feng suddenly laughed, since they have come to this point and want to know so she would tell them. She leaned deeper into the stack of straws and replied slowly, “Yi Yue was discovered after hearing the conversation between Shui Xin and Guo Yi. She b.u.mp into me when running away and told me everything. I had seen Hui Jun when I was confined in the Imperial Prisons and after investigating a little, I then know her ident.i.ty. Thus I was suspicious of the Consort’s death. I also went to look for Hui Jun and according to her, that year the Consort was also suspected that the Empress was having an affair and sent someone to investigate but at the end she was killed. This letter was sent into the Palace from the person that the Consort sent to investigate but it was intercepted by Xin Yue Ning. Hui Jun wanted to steal it but was caught. Actually Hui Jun was not that insane as you have previously seen. When I pressed her for the letter, she was unwilling to disclose. After that she suddenly shouted and became crazy so nothing else can be dug out.”

Zhuo Qing stared at Qing Feng calm and indifferent face and asked, “Since you know everything, why not tell Yan Hong Tian or us?”

“Tell?” Qing Feng looked at her with eyes full of irony, “How could I tell? Just based on a low rank palace maid or a female who was imprison for seven to eight years till she is delirious to testify? Will Yan Hong Tian believe me? Tell you both? You all will not believe me. Xin Yue Ning murdered my Zi-er, I want her to die! So I can only set everything up and wait for you to slowly tear open Xin Yue Ning true colours. You all have Lou Xi Yan and Su Ling as your backing and if you dug out anything, the results would make others believe.”

“You…” The Qing Feng in front of her was unfamiliar. Zhuo Qing looked at her and for a moment did not know what to say.

“You no need to put on that look.” Qing Feng stared fiercely at Zhuo Qin and laughed coldly, “I had already known that both of you are not my sisters at all. All the things I have done from the start to the end was only using you.”

Qing Feng turn her face away and not look at them as she waited for both of them to accuse or scold her. As the time pa.s.sed, the cell became much calmer. They actually did not even want to scold her? Qing Feng slowly turned her head over and saw Gu Yun half leaning against the wall and look at her calmly. Zhuo Qing was even smiling as she said softly, “Using us but you still feel a.s.sured to hand me your own child.”

Just one sentence was able to break Qing Feng’s indifferent pretence into many pieces. Yes, she had handed the most importing person in her heart to them. In fact, even though in her heart she knew that they were not her real sisters, she could not help by trust and rely on them but was also scared that once the truth was exposed, they would look at her with despise thus she could only cover herself up with an icy exterior.

“What you have all done was just to take revenge for the child and we can understand it. Moreover we had never thought of deceiving you. Since you had guessed that we are not your sisters, it was also what we also wanted you to know. As for the so-called making use, if it was to find out the truth then it would not be considered as making use.” Gu Yun dissolved all of Qing Feng’s guilt, anger before squatting down to look at her at the same level to ask, “Qing Feng, I will only ask you one question. Did you kill the women in the well?” She sympathised with her and can tolerate her but if she kill someone due to her own selfish interest than she would be a murderer. No many how much difficulties and reason she had, it would still be punishable by law.

“No.” Qing Feng answered very quickly and firmly, “That is someone I found in the death row which has a similar stature with Yi Yue.”

“Where is Yi Yue?”

“I have sent her out of the Palace.” Under Gu Yun clear eyes, Qing Feng felt glad the first time that she did not do the wrong things for the sake of revenge at that time, else this pair of eyes that she was facing would be filled with rejection.

Gu Yun nodded her head lightly, “Alright, I believe you.”

A word believe made Qing Feng’s heart tremble as her eyes were lightly affected when looking into Gu Yun’s eyes. Lowering her eyes, Qing Feng took a deep breath and asked, “I also want to ask you both a question. My Eldest Sister and Youngest Sister, are they… Already dead?”

Gu Yun look at Zhuo Qing and after Zhuo Qing wrestle with how to respond for quite some to minimise the damage to Qing Feng, Zhuo Qing then whispered, “We are not your sisters, we do not know where Qing Ling and Qing Mo went to. When we woke up, we were already in these bodies.”

“They left me after all.” Zhou Qing did not use the word death but the ending speaks for itself. The night at the ruined temple became a farewell. The gentle Eldest Sister and the shy Youngest Sister would never come back to her. In this world, from now onwards, she will be the only one left.

As tears filled her misty eyes, Qing Feng stared at the two persons in front of her as their face blurred. They were after all not… Not…

Tear wet that beautiful face and the endless grief and despair filled her eyes. Even though it was separated by tears, it still hit both Zhuo Qing’s and Gu Yun’s heart. Both of them look at one another, as they could not bear it. Zhou Qing stood up and Gu Yun went forward to support her. Both of them walk to Qing Feng’s side and reached out to hold onto Qing Feng’s ice cold hands before softly saying, “If you are willing, we are still your sisters.”

With eyes filled with tears, Qing Feng was unable to see both of their expressions and could only hear their low voices in her ears and felt the warmth from their pairs of eyes. Qing Feng closed their eyes and leaned gently against Zhuo Qing’s shoulders as her tears continued flowing silently but she had a place to rely upon.

Gu Yun could see that even though Qing Feng could not let it go, she did accepted them and she was secretly relieved. She also did not want to see that even though they were in the body of three sisters but became enemies with one another. As for the knot in Qing Feng’s heart, it finally was able to unravel slowly. Qing Feng cried until she was tired and looked up, even though three of them were not emotional people, at this moment they were also lost for words. Gu Yun lightly coughed and changed the subject, “Alright, now let’s discuss about what exactly is the spies issue?”

Qing Feng recapped what happened the entire morning in Qing Feng Hall. Gu Yun listened seriously and her brows tighten as she reached the end, “You say that Yan Hong Tian spit out the poisoned blood?”

Thinking of the scene when she turned her head, Qing Feng’s heart tighten as she softly made an “En” sound.

Gu Yun shook her head, “This is not quite right. If one were to set you up, one do not need to poison Yan Hong Tian.” A flash of thought crossed her mind and Gu Yun looked towards Zhuo Qing and urgently said, “Did Lou Xi Yan went to Bian City yesterday?”

“Yes.” And he left in a hurry saying that there was a sudden influx of refugees that the local government cannot handle.

“Su Ling had been sent to the Northwest border half a month ago to handle the unrest, Lou Xi Yan was sent away yesterday and today Yan Hong Tian vomited blood due to poisoning. All these are too coincidental.” Gu Yun’s expression became solemn. There were not so many coincidences in this world.

Yes. These were too much of a coincidence. As Qing Feng listened to Gu Yun’s words, her expression turned pale as she whispered, “Yan Jing is not Yan Hong Tian’s son. The more you all investigate, this secret would be dug out sooner or later. Could it be that the Xin family are cornered and bit back by attacking Yan Hong Tian?” If it is like this then the one who was most dangerous is Yan Hong Tian. Just now she was angry because of Yan Hong Tian’s mistrust but now she was filled with anxiety, fearing that her prophecy was true.

Gu Yun lightly pat Qing Feng trembling back and consoled, “Things might not be as bad as you think. Both of you just gave birth recently and should not think too much. Lay down and rest for a while. Now what we can do is to wait and observe.”

Three of them were trapped in this little cell and after discussing for the entire day, many unclear areas were straightened out. Zhuo Qing and Qing Feng was after all in their confinement period and their body lack of energy. When the skies turned dark, both of them lean against one another and fell asleep as Gu Yun sat near the door with her eyes closed.

When it was almost fourth of the five night watch periods (modern timing: 1 – 3 am) Gu Yun heard light footsteps in the large quiet prison. When Gu Yun heard that it did not sound like the bailiff, she opened her eyes in alert and call out softly, “Who is it?”

Gu Yun shout awakened both Zhuo Qing and Qing Feng who was lightly sleeping and three of them stared alertly at the dark pa.s.sage.

“Fu Ren, it is us.” The deep voice sounded as Jing Sa’s and Mo Bai’s figures appeared at the cell door.

Three of them sighed in relief at the same time and Zhuo Qing asked, “Mo Bai and Jing Sa? Why it is both of you?”

“Master let this subordinate to fetch you all out.” Jing Sa took a strike with his sword and the strong locks on the wooden door broke and fell on the floor.

“Xi Yan has returned?”

“Yes.”

Hearing that Lou Xi Yan had returned, Zhuo Qing was first delighted but after some thought, she guessed that Xi Yan must have returned after receiving the news. It stood to reason that three of them were only framed as spies and Yan Hong Tian only handled them to the Board of Punishments and not imprison them in the Imperial Prison so they should not be in any danger temporarily. For Xi Yan to return this anxiously, the matter was not as simple as they thought. Zhuo Qing was still rearranging her thoughts when she asked, “We were only in jail for a day and not even interrogated, how can we leave like this?”

Gu Yun glanced at the broken lock and frowned, “Is this a prison break for us?” At that time she obediently let the officials lock her into prison was first to figure out what was happening and second, not to blow things up and make things difficult for the Su family. If they were to escape now, wouldn’t they be further mired in controversy?

Jing Sa opened the cell doors and even though his voice was suppress lowly, one could hear the impatience. “The situation is critical and cannot be explained easily. Will speak more after leaving.”

Usually Lou Xi Yan had a stance and position when he did things and within this entire day and night, they did not know what was happening to the situation outside. Three of them finally decided to leave the prison first before saying more. Under Mo Bai’s and Jing Sa’s s.h.i.+elds, three of them smoothly got out of the prison and sat on a small horse carriage. The carriage was not big but its’ speed was very fast. The carriage speed all the way and only stopped after a s.h.i.+chen (1 s.h.i.+chen = 2 hours).

When three of them open the curtain up, they discovered that they were already in the suburbs. The skies were not bright yet and they were surrounded by darkness as Lou Xi Yan stood waiting for them by a large horse carriage.

Lou Xi Yan stepped forward to support Zhuo Qing out the horse carriage. When her feet were firmly on the floor, Zhuo Qing immediately asked, “Xi Yan, what exactly is going on?”

Lou Xi Yan shook his head as his expression was never this solemn, “The situation is now very tense. The Xin family is mostly forcing the Emperor to abdicate.”

Forcing the Emperor to abdicate?!” Three of them were taken aback. Just a day pa.s.sed, how could it become like this!

“Yesterday evening, I requested an audience with the Emperor immediately after I came back but was unfortunately unsuccessful. The Empress said that the Emperor is ill and refused all the audiences of all ministers. Ming Jian was also given a sentence of ‘unable to protect the Emperor’ and was imprisoned.”

Ming Jian was also imprisoned. Then… Qing Feng urgently said, “Now the Imperial Guards are currently in the hands of Guo Yi?”

“En.” Lou Xi Yan kneaded his brows and replied tiredly, “If there was not another existence of Prince Han, I’m afraid it would not be forcing the Emperor to abdicate but to kill the Emperor and crown Prince Jing as the Emperor.”

At this moment the Imperial Guards were in the hands of Guo Yi, wouldn’t Han-er be in danger? Qing Feng’s heart immediately tugged, “How is Han-er?”

“Yesterday evening, Prince Han escaped the Palace under the protection of Ming Ze and Fu Ling and is currently hiding in the General’s Residence safely.”

If the Xin family really want to force the Emperor to abdicate then Prince Han is the biggest obstacle. How would they let him escape the Palace with a guard and maid? And the three of them were sent at the same time to prison which was very strange. Gu Yun felt that this was already longed planned. Gu Yun looked at Lou Xi Yan and speculated, “Could it be that this imprisonment was arranged by Yan Hong Tian?”

Under Gu Yun sharp watchful eyes, Lou Xi Yan’s bright eyes s.h.i.+mmered as he nodded as frankly replied, “Yes. The Emperor made use of their plans to defeat them. The Emperor was already determined to get rid of the Xin family, and the Xin family must have felt it thus they took such a risk. The Xin clan’s influence must not be underestimated. At that time me and General Su was not in so the Emperor felt that he would not be able to protect you all thus he imprison all of you all and handled over to Dan Daren. Like this, first to temporarily stabilise the situation with Xin family, second since all three of you will be at the same place, it would facilitate the rescue. I am afraid that as it goes on, you all would be in danger, thus decided to save you all out first.”

So he sent her to the prisons was not because of not trusting but was for protection. This made the pain in her heart that she felt the entire day lighten. Lou Xi Yan had been secretly watching Qing Feng’s expression all along and seeing her furrowed brows loosen, Lou Xi Yan suddenly took a step forward and consoled, “Your Ladys.h.i.+p shouldn’t be too worried as the situation today have yet ended. You all should leave the capital to hide and wait till everything pa.s.s. The Emperor instructed this official to protect you and the Prince well. This official will definitely…”

“What?” Qing Feng gradually relaxed face became pale after listening to Lou Xi Yan’s words, “You are saying… He… He knows… That I exchanged the child?”

Lou Xi Yan thought for a moment before he sighed softly, “Naturally he knows. Else how would a official like me would dare to place an Imperial line under the Lou clan. How would Qing Mo able to bring the child out of the Imperial Palace out so easily.”

Gu Yun thought back of the situation that day and exclaimed, “No wonder when I took the child out of the Palace, coincidently Ming Jian came to my rescue. So it was all not a coincidence.”

He knew… He knew everything!

How nice would it be if our child is able to grow up in an ordinary family and not as a Prince or Princess?

Qing Feng thought about that day when she told him that sentence, the look of both anger and pained expressions that Yan Hong Tian had and her numbed heart since two days ago started to heart and her feet weaken so much that she almost could not stand. Gu Yun, who was standing beside her, quickly supported her as she gave a slightly disgruntled look to Lou Xi Yan. He must have done that on purpose. Gu Yun did not understand why would Lou Xi Yan deliberately agitate Qing Feng at this moment?

After finally steadying her mind, she suddenly thought about the scene of him spitting out blood and Qing Feng hurriedly seized Lou Xi Yan’s hands to ask, “He was really poisoned? Or was it also something that he had arranged?” Qing Feng truly wished it was the latter. Unfortunately Lou Xi Yan shook his head and replied with some concern, “The Emperor is indeed poisoned and is feared to be under house arrest. This one do not know what is the current situation.”

When the two words house arrest was heard by the three persons, it was automatically interpreted to three different meanings. Qing Feng’s heart was in chaos as she thought of Yan Hong Tian being poison and also under house arrest. With his violent temper, she was afraid he would suffer a lot. Gu Yun had a thoughtful look on her face while Qing Feng felt that if Yan Hong Tian was under house arrest, it meant that his life was currently not critical.

Lou Xi Yan seemed like he did want to give them too much time to think and say after looking at the skies, “Alright, the skies are about to brighten, you all should change to another carriage. Chen-er and Xi-er is already inside and it will leave immediately.”

Gu Yun who had been silent all this time suddenly spoke, “I will not leave with you all. I want to head to the barracks of the Su family army.”

When Qing Feng recovered to her senses, she pulled Gu Yun’s hand and said urgently, “If you return now, I am afraid that there would be danger.” Even though this person was not her doted Youngest Sister, she knew that this girl was kind-hearted and tenacious good female. In her eyes, she already treated them as family and did not bear to see her take risks.

Zhuo Qing also had a concern look on her face which made Gu Yun’s heart warm. She turned towards them and smiled, “Do rest a.s.sure. If it wasn’t me willing, they would not be able to catch me so easily. Now Su Ling have yet to return and Yan Hong Tian is poisoned, Su Ren would not dare to pa.s.s down certain orders but it would be better with me there.”

Finis.h.i.+ng, Gu Yun looked at Lou Xi Yan and asked in a not heavy nor light tone, “Elder brother in-law, what do you say?”

Lou Xi Yan slightly raise his eyebrows but did not stop her as he replied, “That is also good. Go ahead.”

“No need to be too worried, everything will pa.s.s.” Gu Yun had always been someone who respond with action she said those words by Qing Feng’s ears before removed a horse from the horse carriage. She got on the horse and lightly kicked the horse and the black horse immediately galloped away. Zhuo Qing did not have a chance to tell her to be careful when the person and horse disappeared into the night.

Lou Xin Yan lead Zhuo Qing towards the side of the large carriage but Qing Feng still stood at her original place thinking of something. Lou Xi Yan gently called, “Imperial Concubine Qing, let’s go.”

Qing Feng remained motionless and it was fast approaching Chens.h.i.+ (modern timing: 7 – 9 am). The sunlight had not yet pierce through the clouds and the skies were greyish blue. Qing Feng looked up like she was searching for something. She finally found that brightest star and looked at it foolishly for quite some time before a light smile dawn on her very pale face.

Lou Xi Yan did not call her again and stood by the horse carriage with Zhuo Qing quietly. After a long time, Qing Feng finally walk to them but faced Zhuo Qing to say, “I would like to speak to you.”

Zhuo Qing loosen the hand holding Lou Xi Yan and followed Qing Feng to another side. Both of them stood face to face as Qing Feng look at Zhuo Qing for a while, as if she was looking at her own Eldest Sister yet also like she was looking beyond the body and seeing the person inside. She only spoke softly after a long time, “In the future, would have to bother you with Xi-er.”

“What do you want to do?” To say these things at such a time like this, Zhuo Qing had already guessed that she would not leave with them.

“I… Want to return to the Palace.”

Sure enough as she had expected, Qing Feng still wanted to go back. Zhuo Qing’s brows twisted as she wanted to persuade her but Qing Feng suddenly smiled brightly. That smile had too complex emotions behind it that Zhuo Qing was unable to say what was it but she could not seem to say any words of persuasion. She only hear a light soft voice speaking, “Me and him are all too stubborn. I put up a brave appearance, he is overbearing and both of us did what we thought were correct. Both of us are like hedgehogs. When anyone come closer, we will close our hearts and hurt the other but… Every time we would not be able to help but to be closer.”

“You love him?” Zhou Qing asked in doubt. This kind of helpless and sad tone, was it love?

She did not even need to dwell if it was love or not, she only wanted to return back to see him now. Can this be counted as love? Qing Feng shook her head, “I do not know. In this world, if one is able to fall in love at first sight and hold one’s hand for the entire life together, it should be the most fortunate thing. But just how many people would have this kind of luck? It is predestined fate to meet him in this life.”

Predestined fate? To Zhuo Qing, a person from the modern world, those words were mysterious but she did not know how to refute them.

Qing Feng directly bypa.s.sed her and walked to Lou Xi Yan calmer than previously, “Lou Xi Yan, I want to request something from you.

Lou Xi Yan seemed to have guessed that she would say that and replied, “What is the matter?”

“I want to return to the Palace.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“Is your Ladys.h.i.+p worried about the Princess?” Lou Xi Yan’s voice had always been gentle and had the ability to console others, “The Princess should currently be by the Empress side. The Xin family did so many things in order to force the Emperor to abdicate and not to rebel so they would not harm the Empress Dowager openly. As the Princess is not a Prince, her life is not in danger, thus you need not worry.”

Qing Feng shook her head gently, “I want to go back and see him.”

Lou Xi Yan was silent for a while before he replied, “You should know that if you were to return now, nine out of ten would die.”