红颜乱: Chaos Of Beauty Chapter 26 (Part Two)

To those wondering how Lou Che was able to enter the palace so easily, in chapter 24, it is mentioned that rumours were spread stating that Lou Che has merely left the Capital to visit his hometown for a while. The fact that he ran away with a consort will only bring shame to the entire imperial family, so the emperor could not possibly announce his crime to the world. This also means that him casually entering the palace to visit the emperor is completely normal in the eyes of others, and so the emperor is not able make a big deal out of it either.

Also a fair warning for the weak hearted, you may want to prepare some tissues……

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Crushed Jade (Part Two)

“What’s wrong? Not feeling well?” Lou Che raises his hand and places it on Gui Wan’s forehead, finger lightly tapping the in between of her knitted brows, those eyes filled with warmth locked onto her, seeming to want to find some sort of clue.

Lifting a corner of the carriage curtains, seeing the path ahead heading towards Xuan Yu Gates, her heart is slightly settled, Gui Wan turns her head to Lou Che, a face of beautiful jade, an air of pure nobility, sincere concern, a man of such elegance, of graceful movements, just what kind of heart does he carry? Heart feeling a little conflicted, she takes a deep breath, asking: “Where have you taken Consort Ying to?”

Lou Che was struck into a light daze, he did not expect Gui Wan to abruptly throw out this question, containing a smile as he says: “Yao Ying and I are already a matter of the past, difficult to mention, do not let it burden you.” His voice carrying a light chuckle, seeming pleased.

“Husband, where have you taken her to? Is……is it Prince Duan’s place?” Stuck in her heart, compelled to speak of it, Gui Wan continues to ask, even if the truth is difficult to accept, she still wants to personally hear him say it again.

Smile gathered away, surprise flashes by Lou Che’s eyes, “Who was it that wagged their tongue at you?”

Deeply sensing his displeasure, Gui Wan melodic voice sounds with a shallow smile: “That means, it’s true then?”

The look in his eyes and the creasing of his brows deepening, Lou Che lightly presses his lips together, those deeply still and cold eyes looking at Gui Wan dead on, seeing her melodious state, light like the wind, he could not hold back his sigh, overflowing with tenderness, “I’m willing to explain, are you willing to listen?”

Looking at Lou Che confused, Gui Wan nods. Lou Che seeing this, once again spreads a faint smile, a deep voice saying: “That day, I came into the palace……”

“Lord Prime Minister!” A sound of loud calling, reaching their ears like thunder, cutting off the conversation between the two inside the carriage, Lou Che’s pupils flashes a cold sharpness, that calm face slightly alarmed. Gui Wan is able to make out from Lou Sheng’s voice, shock, Lou Sheng has always been a man who maintains his calm, is the pillar amongst the guards, what could possibly make him panic like this?

“Lord Prime Minister, there’s an ambush at Xuan Yu Gates……” Amongst the loud shout, the sound of hooves from the guards seems a little chaotic.

Lou Che immediately raises his hand to lift the curtains, looking outside.

The curtain highly raised, entering the eyes were a scene of dark red, Gui Wan’s heart instantly jumps. In the evening of the Capital City, sunset glow still lingers, covered in misty rosy clouds, dense like an ochre stone dyed red, occupying half the sky, the gathering of soldiers below the Xuan Yu Gates coloured under such picturesque scenery, coldly ready to kill as they stand in rows, blocking the way out. The leading commander is of petite stature, heroic air overflowing but is covered behind that delicately pretty face, a posture of howling autumn wind, bearings of rippling green water, as a woman she does not fall short of a man’s charismatic leadership.

“Prime Minister Lou, his majesty has decreed, may Madam remain here, and stay in the palace for a few more days.”

Sat high on the horse, Lin Ran Yi loudly announces her reason for coming, clad in a body of black battle gear, complementing her heroism, solemn just like a female warlord.

Gui Wan feels anger and surprise invade her body at the same time, hand clenching onto the floor cushion, pulling herself together without saying a word, she looks over the unfamiliar scene beyond the curtains.

Alarm flashing past his pupils, Lou Che remains by the carriage window, a shallow smile containing a dark chill, ridiculing: “A parade like this, is of hospitality? The Lin family has been flaunting righteousness for generations, never bully the weak, never disgrace goodness, such style of doing things today, this Lou can also be considered to have gained enriched knowledge, truly a loss of respect ah, Great Lin.” Harsh words spouting from his mouth, smile floating into the air, not showing any panic at all.

Heng Dao 横刀 a type of sword from the Tang Dynasty

Mo Dao 陌刀 a type of sword/blade with a long handle

Sudden silence, Lin Ran Yi’s face turns red then white, heng sword 横刀 pointing forward, voice stiffly following a given pattern of speech: “Prime Minister Lou should not blame me, I too am acting upon imperial orders, if Madam may step off the carriage now.”

The soldiers blocking off the gateway are the Lin family’s soldiers, their military capacity very orderly, the front row holding long handled weapons (陌刀), the back row lined with prepared archers,  although they are making not the slightest movement, the oppressive air is already intensely spreading out.

Gui Wan attentively observes Lou Che’s expression, afraid to miss the most subtle change, but that deeply still look of firmness is nowhere to be seen, his deepest thoughts unrevealing. Hand sensing warmth, she finds that Lou Che’s big hand is tightly wrapping hers, resolute without the slightest of doubt or hesitation, at the same time he orders Lou Sheng who is closely following the carriage’s side: “Charge through.”

To actually receive no answer from outside the carriage, Lou Sheng appears somewhat absentminded as he looks at the pretty figure on the horse in front, his face displaying an unfamiliar emotion, even the sound of shouting scraping past his ears was not heard by him, nor did he know what kind of feeling this is, up until he hears Lou Che’s short shout of “Lou Sheng”, did he finally snap out of it, the command entering his ear being “charge through”.

Charge through? Forcefully charge through? Raising his head to look in front, he seems to hold all sorts of difficulty as he looks towards Lin Ran Yi, suddenly finding that she too seems to similarly have a vague look of confliction flashing by her expression.

Heart hit with pain, without the chance to carefully think over it, his hand already habitually grips onto the handle of his sabre, a sharp sound of metal, with a flash of silver, he brandishes the sabre forward, shouting out: “Protect Lord Prime Minister and Madam, head forth.” Legs clamping onto the horse’s body, arrows launched, the guards unsheathes their weapons in response to his call, all charging forward at the same time.

Shocked by this forceful momentum, Gui Wan watches the guards beside the carriage courageously leap forward; before her touched feelings came into play, the originally stopped carriage wheels once again starts to crazily spin, violently hurtling forward. She hurriedly holds onto the carriage railing to stabilise her body, her back seeming to have something to lean on, the fluctuating bumpiness did not seem to be too much either. Turning her head to the side, she meets that half hidden half sunken expression, Lou Che has his arms wrapped around her body, pulling her into his embrace, heart slightly settled, his mind moves to the outside of the carriage, a scene of chaotic confrontation, clashing of weapons, sound of ruthless slashing, practically makes one dare not to believe this place is inside the imperial palace.

The Emperor seems to be determined to have her stay behind, perhaps there is also the meaning of having Lou Che stay behind altogether. Armed forces of the Lin family are originally brave and fierce troops, operations following the law, vigorous momentum like a rainbow^[1], and the personal bodyguards of the Prime Minister Estate are all highly skilled individuals carefully picked out by Lou Che himself, with both sides clashing, it is actually difficult to distinguish which side stands higher. One side firmly defending their ground, one side attacking with full force, such battle that originally still had room for the carriage to gradually approach Xuan Yu Gates becomes a brutal scene, murderous intent diffusing into the air, infectiously sinking into the people’s minds. The Lin family’s military troops have always been warriors on the battlefield, ferocious like a tiger; the guards of the Prime Minister Estate has gained the chance to take a plunge, vigorous like a leopard; a battle between tiger and leopard fierce and tragic, sorrowful howls, sounds of furious killing grows increasingly louder the more that it is heard.

Gui Wan is sad to see this, in the moment she shakes her head, she sees Lin Ran Yi and Lou Sheng fighting each other. The two people fiercely fighting, each swing of the blade alarmingly dangerous, each attack thrown vicious, fighting it out like their lives are on the line; but amongst all this there are also other factors that are affecting them, so every time they hit a moment of life and death, the blade skims past, not harming the other person, the two of them continues to fight on like this, in a situation where they themselves have not become aware of, they have already given up the opportunity to inflict any harm on the other person.

Taking this entire scene into her eyes, Gui Wan’s brows weighs down with hidden concern, she has entered the palace for a long time, Lou Sheng has been staying in the Prime Minister Estate, and the one who was guarding the Prime Minister Estate would unfortunately be Lin Ran Yi right? Not knowing what exactly happened between the two people, but the affection flowing out from them cannot fool others, even if that love is hidden behind a thick layer of curtain. Allies and enemies, the haunting entanglement of love, has gained relief amongst this one fight to kill, amongst the light of the sabre and shadow of the sword, all sentiment and grievances have been reduced.

Eyes spotting the carriage almost reaching the Xuan Yu Gates, Lin Ran Yi swings her blade, the light flashing past his eyes, pushes Lou Sheng back, pulling at the horse to turn around, retreating back at the same time, upon seeing the unfavourable situation, she grits her teeth and loudly shouts: “Release the arrows–––“

The back row of archers that have not made a move yet, immediately pulls back the strings of the bow upon receiving orders, releasing the arrows, because they already received orders, not to harm the people inside the carriage, the arrows like a meteor shower all aims towards the guards of the Prime Minister Estate, avoiding the carriage location. Arrows descending like rain, the sharp sound of piercing through the air constantly comes charging towards the guards. The pointed arrowhead, difficult to guard against, no matter how skilled the guards are, they still struggle to cope, the team slightly scattered, their pacing starts to become chaotic, the horse carriage unable to move forward.

Inside the carriage, Lou Che deeply furrows his brows, eyes stilly looking outside the carriage, sweeping past the entire scene, shouting: “Kill your way past, first capture Lin Ran Yi, dead or alive.”

Once the words got out, the guards loudly accepts their orders, Gui Wan struck with fright, a chill running up her body, Lin Ran Yi is not like others, is the friend she shared laughter with amongst the light breeze of the Green Sea grasslands, is the saviour she once went through thick and thin with, to treat her like this, that sound of “dead or alive” clearly carries the deep meaning of go for the kill with nothing at expense, heart slightly twitching, she shouts out: “No, not allowed to harm her……” Body tightening, firmly held back by Lou Che, the arm looped around her body strong like iron.

The guards did not necessarily not hear it, but they are only loyal to one person, that is Prime Minister Lou, the words of others, be it Madam, be it the Emperor, they do not have the necessity to care for, and so they still continue to charge towards Lin Ran Yi.

Lou Sheng is the one who is most at loss in this battle situation, his ears unable to hear other voices, only the sound of whistling from the biting cold of the western wind, the clash of armoury and blades, vigorous roars, all seeming to stop once it hits his eardrums, unable to pass on into his mind. Suddenly a large number of men and horses comes charging over, shattering his state of loss, the scene of blood red returning to his vision, looking forward, that delicately pretty figure on the horse, clad in black armoury, of brisk and neat heroic form. Riding his horse in approach, for a moment, he too did not know whether to listen to orders and capture her, or to protect her from the harm of others, a sharp shadow suddenly pricks his face, with a wave of his hand, the light and shadow diverts to the side, scraping his face as it passes. A warm feeling comes flowing down his cheek, and only then did he realise, just now it was an arrow that grazed past him, as though he cannot sense the pain at all, he continues to ride his horse towards Lin Ran Yi, the dark liquid continuously flowing down his face, but he does not have the leisurely time to bother with it, bit by bit……he is almost reaching……

“No–––––” A woman’s scream pierces the ear.

All of a sudden, just how much of a light scattering sight this is, breaking through the air, blowing against his face, he could not react in time, everything blurring before his eyes, the black figure leaping over, he was just about to reach out to catch her, when their bodies collided, forceful impact, Lou Sheng holds onto the warm body, falling off the horseback together, the instant they land on the ground, his stunned soul also seems to have broken following the fall.

No……this high-pitched scream remains in Gui Wan’s mouth, someone has called it out before her, the woman’s voice filled with panic that shook the entire scene. No one knew what had happened, all happened in that one moment, the archers of the Lin family troops were all stunned on the spot, because of Lou Sheng’s approach, they thought he wanted to harm Lin Ran Yi, thus sent arrows charging at him. Upon seeing he is to be killed under the shower of arrows, Lin Ran Yi suddenly jumps out, blocking the arrowheads, even if the Lin family troops wanted to withdraw the arrows, there was nothing they could do.

Enemy and ourselves, in this moment is difficult to distinguish now……

Why did she save him? The entire sea of figures froze at the same time, everyone asking this same question.

Lou Sheng tremblingly holds onto Lin Ran Yi’s body, his face so contorted, one cannot make out his expression, half his face absolutely blurred from the nonstop bleeding, wide open eyes containing nothing at all, only monstrous fright and regret. Hand stroking Lin Ran Yi’s back, on it were clearly three heart piercing arrows pointing at his eyes, his heart, how he wants to reach out to hold onto the handle of the arrows, but finds that his hands were trembling so much, even the slightest bit of strength has been lost.

The person in his arms painstakingly raises her hand, bright red blood soaking into her black armour, only by devoting all efforts, did she manage to lightly struggle her way up to Lou Sheng’s face, the corners of her lip squeezing out a smile with great difficulty, “Tired?”

Everything was invested into this one word……

She actually has a lot of things to say, want to tell him to wear an armour under his military robes in future, because of the dangers of fighting, he needs to know how to protect himself, this boorish man lacks attentiveness, and would not be able to pay attention to such things; and want to tell him not to mind the first time they met, because she already does not mind anymore; also want to tell him not to practice martial arts during the wee hours of night again, the deeper the night, the heavier the dew, chilly air easily harms the body……also……want to tell him to do many many good things on her behalf……but, there is no chance to anymore.

Lin Ran Yi’s eyes very gently closes, leaving behind no conveyances at all, containing a smile, she gradually slips away from all contact with this world, life driven away, burnt out……

The entire sea of people silently watches.

Tears have already blurred both her eyes, Gui Wan silently chokes back her tears, heart feeling like a hole has been drilled through, such emptiness that can no longer be filled again, stomach lying on the carriage railing, everything before her eyes sometimes blurred sometimes clear, the dragon above that wall is baring its fangs and brandishing its claws, such magnificence as though it is about to fly into the skies, but that Lou Sheng’s expression is blurred, a scene of bright colours, covering everything, a scene of blood red, grows larger the more it melts out, flowing onto the ground, half a sky of red sunset glow, seeming to blend together with the ground, other than red there is still red, other than blood there is still blood……

Blood red filling the entire sky……

“Quickly open the gates, exit the palace.” Amongst the entire scene, only one voice is cold, calmly seizing the opportunity, wisely commanding.

The carriage wheels once again starts spinning, bumpily rushing out of the palace, Gui Wan’s gaze is fixed dead onto the centre of the scene, Lou Sheng is still motionlessly holding Lin Ran Yi, that poignancy, silences the entire land, everything sinking into solemnity.

The western wind once again rises.

Suddenly a cry as frightful as it is sorrowful roars out: “Ah–––––” Lou Sheng laments to the heavens, for the heavens to hear, for the earth to hear, for……her to hear……

Straight to the skies……

Who says heroes shed no tears, who says heroes have no regrets……?

This love can become a memory to reminisce in time, just that by then it is already inconsolable……

******

Capital City, Lin Estate.

Since early morning onwards, there has been a constant stream of people coming to the estate, amongst them are officials in the Capital, there are soldiers who guards the frontier for many years, there are also small pedlars and menial servants, all without any exception rushing into the Lin Estate, to light some incense in offering to the Lin family’s eldest daughter Lin Ran Yi, sending her on her final journey, occasionally there are people hiding their faces as they silently weep, sorrowfully expressing such regrets.

Just when the servants of the Lin Estate busy themselves with red eyes on this occasion, another lightweight horse carriage stops outside the estate. All eyes were attracted over, it is not that this horse carriage is any way luxuriously out of the ordinary, but because the coachman, a burly figure, on the left side of his face, from the corner of his eyes to his lower jaw, has two deep slashes, the wound with no dressing at all is only treated with some powdered medicine, from the wound that has not yet healed up, blood red flesh can be seen, horrifying to the extreme.

Descending the carriage to see this scene, everyone observing Lou Sheng with a strange look from time to time, Gui Wan looks around, was just about to call Lou Sheng, but sees the muscles of that injured side of his face tremble, desperately trying to suppress something, not at all caring about everyone’s reaction around him.

“Why the suffering……” Unconsciously, Gui Wan softly whispers, her voice slightly chokes back.

Why the suffering…..clearly knowing that coming would also deepen your wound that has not yet healed, why must you still come? During the deep night of the chosen date, the half-moon appears like a hook, night dew sinking into the clothing, Lou Sheng soullessly returns to the estate, his mouth containing sounds of mumblings to himself. Up until he sees Lou Che, does he bend his body and kneels down, his clothing covered in paint-like bloodstain, an entire face of devastation, using this kneeling posture, he masks himself within the sparse and blotchy shadows of the trees. Even Lou Che who never reveals his inner emotions, reveals feelings of deep sorrow.

After that, Lou Sheng stands alone in the courtyard, Lou Che solitarily sits inside the study room, silently spending the night. On the second day, master is still the master, servant is still the servant.

“Lou Sheng……” Calling him back to reality, Gui Wan steps through the doorway of the Lin Estate, to find that he is still dumbly standing outside the door, simply allowing the observing and gossiping to circle around him. Black pigmented brows lightly raising, she suddenly catches glimpse of the pain in his eyes, his dried eyes like a scene of emptiness.

Originally should not have brought him along. It was Lou Che who said, allow him to send her on her final journey, if not he will regret it for the rest of his life. A phrase of no regrets, in exchange for two times of heartache, feelings of sourness faintly surges up the heart. Gui Wan follows the Lin family’s servant towards the ancestral hall, entering her eyes were white mourning dresses, a gloomy sight.

The death of Ran Yi, exchanged three days of calm, seeming to have washed everything clean……

When leaving the palace, Lin Rui En was guarding Yu Xuan Ji Gates, Lin Ran Yi was guarding Yu Xuan Yu Gates, listening the Empress’ words, they avoided Lin Rui En, this is fortunate for Lou Che, but for Lou Sheng it is a pain that has been carved into his bones, imprinted in his heart, amongst the two, which is more important?

She is growing increasingly confused, worldly matters are never complete, never regular, never reasonable, what the eyes see and what the ears hear, are not necessarily the entire truth, just like the explanation Lou Che has given these past three says. Back then when he encountered the encircling in the palace, he planned to escape through the secret passage inside the imperial palace, in the situation he was in at that time, how could possibly abandon Consort Ying, abandoning her, would cause the Emperor to immediately turn the spearhead towards her instead. The love he had for her is no more, with good faith in surviving, he has promised to attend to her safety, thus would not be forsaking her in times of crisis. Taking Consort Ying along as he escapes the palace, he immediately orders to send a message to the Prime Minister Estate, before any reply was received, the Prime Minister Estate has already been besieged, he painstakingly waited at the mushroom garden for more than six hours, seeing that the Capital is immediately going to be closed off, he had no choice but to leave the Capital City.

These words resolved almost half a year of doubts, the burden in her heart has been lifted, but was replaced by chilling sorrows, all of this today, came in exchange for Ran Yi’s life, this explanation was fulfilled by a bloodstained heroine.

Sinking into deep thoughts, she passes by the inner courtyard, wave after wave of sobbing sounds from the large hall, a black wooden coffin stood in centre, on top of the coffin, is a single deeply engraved seal “福” _{(blessing/good fortune)}, passing through the heavy crowd, Gui Wan looks stunned at the figure stood stationed by the coffin’s side.

Lin Rui En silently stands at the side of the mourning hall, expression even colder than usual, the lighting inside the hall is slightly dim, the slightly weak candlelight next to the memorial tablet reflects across his eyes of impassive waves, other than silence, there is only indifference.

Gui Wan passes by a few people, heading straight to the middle of the hall, sincerely offering incense, faint smoke forming waves as it diffuses before her eyes, the view of snow white before her eyes seems to have transform into a shroud. In this scene of pure white, a colour of bright yellow partially enters her vision, turns out that a long case is placed right in centre of the hall, it takes only one look, for Gui Wan to guess the significance behind it, it is the imperial edict the Emperor has just issued, claiming the eldest daughter of the Lin family died a sudden death due to severe illness, and personally written an order to bestow Lin Ran Yi with the title of “Princess Hu Guo”. The truth is thus effortlessly buried within that long case just like that, with no one ever to speak of it again. _{(Hù Guó / 护国 means protecting the country, Ran Yi’s title of Hù Guó Gong Zhǔ / 护国公主 literally means princess who protects the country.)}

“Ran Yi……” Slowly lowering her hands that offered incense, Gui Wan raises her head towards the memorial tablet, “Do protect and bless him a lot……”

That boorish man who never let slip a single drop of tear is crying for you, can you hear it? Ran Yi……

“Madam.” Lin Rui En takes a few strides forward, facing the side of Gui Wan’s face, “May I invite Madam to venture into the back courtyard for a talk?”

His extraordinarily determined demeanour tells Gui Wan that she cannot reject him, Gui Wan does not utter a word, following him in quietly withdrawing out of the mourning hall. The light breeze knows not of sorrows, carrying three points of sweetness as it brushes the face. Their steps coming to a stop in the back courtyard, an entire courtyard filled with chrysanthemums, the flowers flourishing and the stems stands strong, dancing along to the movement of the wind, an elegant brilliance.

“Sister loves chrysanthemums most, says chrysanthemums are noble, just like an extraordinarily famed person unyielding towards flattery with great integrity.”

Looking to his half depressed half clear eyes, Gui Wan discovers a feeling called “pain” in them, “General……” Just like how she is with Lou Sheng, she is unable to speak up in consolation.

“Our father passionately loves the art of war, an entire life spent on a battle horse, hoping for future generations to inherit such ambition, but his firstborn is actually a daughter, because of this, our father took not even a step into the house for a half a year, and later gave birth to me outside, bringing me back home. Sister has since never even gotten an ounce of love from our father, but Sister is very strong, contending for first place in everything, giving up on all things girls should care for, clearly of female body, yet insists on learning the aspirations of men.” Lin Rui En strolls in front of the chrysanthemums, extending his hand to lightly hold a chrysanthemum flower, half open like a firework, “Sister complied with the Lin family’s motto, her entire life for the country, resolutely fighting in battlefields, resisting foreign enemies, guarding the imperial power……”

The Lin family’s blood, should be shed whilst resisting the enemy in the battlefield, should be shed whilst defending the motherland, their flesh and blood, exists for the monarch, exists for the people, exists for the country……

Slightly filled with sorrow, Gui Wan remains frozen for a long while, lowering her head to look at the entire courtyard of chrysanthemum, speaking with realisation: “General may speak directly……”

Silently glancing over at Gui Wan, Lin Rui En’s entire face of solemn desolation, “Monarch and subjects at odds in the imperial court, certainly due to the division of power, everyone unable to become one at heart, is regarded as a great taboo to a country. The Nu Tribe resides in the far north, a tiger carefully gazing over, the borders cannot have a day of relaxation, military governors of several areas holds great numbers of their own troops, difficult for the imperial court to control, six government divisions in the imperial court looks to Prime Minister Lou’s command, and newly promoted intimate ministers listens to the orders of his majesty, wanting to reform the institutional system, such a deadlock, for such a long time, is unfavourable to the country, Madam……what should be done from henceforth?”

Hearing his speech, Gui Wan was oozing with cold sweat, the current situation has been charted within her heart, but has never been as clear as this before, Lin Rui En spoke of the question she has been desperately evading, this game of chess, played to this point, how should the following moves be played? There is no tie in the imperial court, the finale can only be determined by win or lose, who is the loser? And who is the winner?

Taking a look at the cold and stern general before her, she suddenly discovers, he is a silent tiger, coldly watching everything unfold, not make the slightest move, armed forces in his palm, heart like still water. It is not that he does not understand how to play with power, rather, he does not wish to play with power, Zheng Liu and Lou Che’s heart is placed on the imperial court, and his heart, perhaps remains above in the vastness of the skies. The sword in hand, is not for himself, nor for power, it is for the people, the country, this is the pride of military personnel, his achievements, his mightiness all comes from every sword and sabre fought on the battlefield.

This entire courtyard of chrysanthemum seems symbolic of the Lin family, unyielding, unbending, cleanly standing proud.

“General’s meaning……is [you are] loyal to his majesty, with absolute unwavering heart?” Faintly speaking with leisure, Gui Wan’s eyes reflecting his figure of pure white.

“Yes.” With not the slightest of hesitation, Lin Rui En answers, “Madam, I know you are in a difficult positon, but you certainly hold influences on both Prime Minister Lou and his majesty, I hope that for all the officials, regardless of rank, within the Capital, for the people living in the borderlands, Madam will take careful consideration, to slow down this battle. This Lin does not wish, that one day, I will have to point my sword at Prime Minister Lou, at Madam.”

These words, he originally would never have spoken of in this lifetime, but the death of Ran Yi, has clearly declared the future prospects of the imperial court, a vast scene of bloodiness. Looking at this scene of early autumn, he could not help but to nobly decide, to be able to pledge loyalty for the lord of tomorrow is one of his lifetime aspiration, he has once guarded the frontier when he was younger, and has also developed deep feelings towards the people of there, towards this land he has gained a sense of honour and disgrace as well as duty, seeing the dispute in imperial court grow increasingly fierce, he is also faced with choices, although the current Emperor cannot be considered a brilliant ruler, but the word loyalty is something he definitely cannot abandon, this is the steeled bones he has as someone of the Lin military family. Scholars cannot have no integrity, soldiers cannot have no righteousness.

Rounded eyes staring at Lin Rui En, Gui Wan can sense the sudden suffocating atmosphere, the tone of these words is clearly telling her to persuade Lou Che to give up on power, lips forming a bitter smile, Lou Che’s intentions is already resolute, who is able to shake him? With power in hand, how is one able to easily give it up? What exactly should she do?

Under the rather brilliantly shinning sun, showering onto Lin Rui En, whose shadow greatly expands, Gui Wan half lowers her eyes, avoiding the light, opening it a moment later, her eyes contains a scene of brilliant clearness.

“General, please give me a year, if I am unable to resolve this situation of deadlock, then a year later, I shall flee to a place faraway from here, leaving this contentious land.”

Seeming to have not expected her to speak words of such ambition, Lin Rui En is clearly stunned, his face somewhat eased, but also carries slight worry.

Ending the conversation, Gui Wan nods her head, saying a word of goodbye, she leaves the chrysanthemum courtyard and heads out.

“Madam……” A sound of quiet calling once again stops her, this tone seems a lot softer than before, all of a sudden she did not know whether to turn back or not.

“If Madam is met with any difficulties at all, this Lin is still the person who picked up the handkerchief for you.”

The view of plum blossoms seemingly sparse, the drifting fragrance dejected, he was willing to bow down and pick up her handkerchief……this scene, this circumstance, not once has she forgotten……

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[1] Vigorous momentum like a rainbow or qì shì rú hóng / 气势如虹 – means that their vigorous spirits and strong momentum seems to be able to charge across a long rainbow.

I actually quite like how Lou Che steeled his resolution to get Gui Wan out of there, just that it had to come at the cost of Ran Yi’s life Poor General and Lou Sheng needs all the hugs they can get T_T