Officialdom, Volume 77

Yunqing was stunned for a long time before she finally spoke. “What on earth is happening here?”

Zhushu had just opened her mouth to answer, but Yunqing heard footsteps approaching, and before she could react, Zhushu pulled her up, both of them leaping into the air and concealing their presence. Below, two or three household attendants passed by. One of them remarked, “Strange, I could have sworn I just saw bamboo sprouting here.”

“Nonsense, boy. This place is clean—where would bamboo come from? You’re just scared of being reprimanded and seeing illusions. Go on, get some rest before you continue your patrol.”

“Alright… I suppose.” The three black-clad servants doubled back, and only then did Zhushu descend with Yunqing, moving away from the main residence and toward the outer wall. After confirming that no one else was around, Zhushu spoke. “Before you and Brother Qin left, Kang Sheng brought his servants to pay respects to the then Assistant Chancellor once more. Not only did he kneel and apologize, but he also offered generous gifts. I’ve mentioned this before, so you must remember it.”

Yunqing nodded, prompting Zhushu to continue. “After that, Kang Sheng swiftly became the Governor of the Capital. Seizing an opportunity to meet Emperor Luo, he deliberately presented his own poetry and writings, successfully drawing the emperor’s attention. He then exposed the incident regarding the swapped examination papers during the imperial exam. Emperor Luo was furious and ordered Kang Sheng to confront the top scorer that very night. Naturally, Kang Sheng proved himself to be the true author of the winning paper. The emperor immediately dismissed the top scorer’s official position, implicating several examiners as well. Kang Sheng’s rank was promoted, but he never exposed the Assistant Chancellor, and the two eventually became allies.

“Emperor Luo was delighted by Kang Sheng’s talent and promoted him again and again, making him the fastest rising official. At that time, Kang Sheng was restrained, focusing solely on serving the emperor, with no thought of revenge. Yet, when someone secretly reported the Assistant Chancellor’s accumulated crimes to the emperor, Kang Sheng was tasked with investigating. The Assistant Chancellor thought he could escape, casually instructing Kang Sheng before returning home, unaware that Kang Sheng had preserved incriminating evidence and gathered more, ultimately convicting the Assistant Chancellor completely. Furious, the Assistant Chancellor tried to present evidence of their collusion, but none implicated Kang Sheng, adding to his own crimes of slander and false accusation. Emperor Luo, mindful of the Assistant Chancellor’s years of service, dismissed him, confiscated all his property for the treasury, and sent him back to his hometown, forbidding him ever to leave.

“Once the Assistant Chancellor’s case was settled, Kang Sheng was promoted to Prime Minister. Only then did he reveal his thirst for revenge, orchestrating an accidental fire in the suburbs and the felling of the bamboo grove. Afterwards, he spread rumors in the capital about Emperor Luo’s unstable fortune. The emperor sent investigators, and, without exception, the blame landed on those who had wronged Kang Sheng in the past. Some were exiled, others sentenced, many guessed Kang Sheng was behind it and cursed him, but nothing could stop him, and the emperor continued to trust him. Once most of these people were removed, Kang Sheng advised the emperor to build the Daoist River—measures that benefited the country and the people, so the emperor had no reason to object. Yet Kang Sheng enriched himself, amassing great wealth.

“Kang Sheng’s brilliance lies in always finding ways to keep himself spotless. If I hadn’t stayed by his side and witnessed everything, I doubt I’d ever believe it. Still, the people saw through him; though they had no evidence, they knew he was behind the mischief. Public resentment grew, but Emperor Luo remained unaware.”

Hearing this, Yunqing looked at Zhushu again, suddenly realizing the cause of her extreme weakness. “You used your own magic to shield him from the people’s resentment?”

“If not for me, he wouldn’t have become what he is now…” Zhushu lowered her head. “Naturally, I am responsible for protecting him.”

“Protect him? Can you really do that? If he continues down this path, sooner or later he’ll face retribution—how will you protect him then? Besides, what does this have to do with you? It’s his own choice!” Yunqing said angrily, at which Zhushu raised her eyes and asked, “If I hadn’t tricked him into taking the Love Elixir, would he have turned out this way?”

Yunqing was speechless.

She could not deceive Zhushu with the answer. Without that Love Elixir, Tang Li would have remained the simple Kang Sheng he once was. The resentment he once harbored would have been dissolved by Zhushu’s companionship; he would have taken her home and lived out a simple life… But the elixir robbed him of his feelings for Zhushu, causing those grievances to resurface and entangle him, impossible to resolve, leading him to choose the most direct path—letting them grow until they consumed him completely.

“So how could I just stand by and do nothing?”

Yunqing’s heart ached, filled with regret.

“Bright Moon, go back. Guarding him like this is best; at least, when he dies, he won’t have debts to repay. Accompany him through these three lifetimes, and I can depart in peace. You needn’t worry.” Zhushu curved her lips into a smile, forcing herself to reassure Yunqing.

Unable to find words to comfort Zhushu, Yunqing could only leave for now. Returning to the inn, she collapsed on the bed, stifled and gloomy, recalling how Qin Shi had stopped her from destroying the Love Elixir. Her resentment toward him surged once more.

That night, Yunqing snuck into the Tang residence again and went straight to Tang Li’s study. Upon entering, she saw the painting still hanging on the wall. Moving closer to take it down, her wrist was suddenly seized by a hand.

“Let go.”

Fei Ling frowned. “Even if you destroy the Love Elixir now, Kang Sheng’s fate won’t change. His old illness never healed, and resentment haunts him—he’s beyond saving, with little time left. Why meddle further?”

“If destroying it now won’t change things, what about back then?” Yunqing sneered. When Fei Ling gave no answer, she pressed on. “Why did you stop me in the first place? Simply because you feared the soul within my body would be damaged and unable to return safely, isn’t it? Ninth Prince, you truly haven’t changed in all these years, always thinking only of yourself! Did you ever consider Kang Sheng, or Zhushu? Even when Bright Moon was missing a soul, she wanted to destroy that faulty Love Elixir. Why did you only try to stop her? If you had agreed, if you had helped her destroy it, would Tang Li and Zhushu be as they are now?!”

“Yes! I stopped you.” Fei Ling pressed Yunqing’s shoulders. “But I only said one thing. If you were determined to destroy the Love Elixir, how could Qin Shi’s identity have stopped you?”

Yunqing broke free from Fei Ling’s grip, stepping back and laughing bitterly. “Ha, that’s right, not a word of it is wrong. Bright Moon was selfish then, thinking only of herself, but she was missing a soul, so now I regret it! I regret it, do you hear me? I want to change these two fates!”

“Three feet of ice is not formed in a single day. Even if you destroy the Love Elixir, you won’t bring back the old Kang Sheng! And don’t forget—you’ve already changed Qi Chuxue’s fate. If you meddle with Tang Li’s, do you think those in the heavenly realm will let you get away with it? Zhushu now uses her magic to draw all of Tang Li’s karmic debts onto herself. She is a demon—if handled properly, she may have another chance. But if you rashly interfere with Tang Li’s fate, who will bear the consequences? You?”

“So what if I do? Zhushu is a demon, I am an immortal—a Divine Lord, am I not more capable of resolving karmic debts?”

Fei Ling’s lips curved slightly. “It’s good you remember you are a Divine Lord. In the heavenly realm, those who alter the fate of others risk having their immortal bones stripped and being doomed to endless reincarnation. As a Divine Lord, your punishment wouldn’t be so severe. But don’t forget—what happens to those whose fate is altered?”

Yunqing froze, the biting sarcasm bringing her to her senses. Yes, she had forgotten this.

“Qi Chuxue and Emperor Que’s fates were unsettled, so your meddling caused little harm. But Tang Li is different. If you interfere, after his death he’ll face even greater suffering, possibly a hundred years to repay these debts. Is that what you want? A few fleeting years of happiness exchanged for a century of torment after death?”

Yunqing retreated step by step, suddenly feeling so cold, while Fei Ling continued, even advancing toward her. With nowhere left to retreat, Yunqing flung her sleeves and fled Tang residence in disgrace, rushing back to the inn. She curled herself under the covers, desperately trying to still her trembling body.