Chapter 50: Chopped Chili Fish Head (Part 1)
"A thought conceived within the mind,
Heaven and Earth are both aware.
If vice and virtue go unrewarded,
The cosmos surely is unfair."
— Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en, Ming Dynasty
Jing Yi obediently stayed bedridden for several days. By the time he could nimbly leap about again, the weather had turned cooler, the autumn judicial review had concluded, and the remaining loose ends of the case had all been settled.
Leng Yue's promised three-day deadline allowed Bi Xiao to barely catch the tail end of the autumn judicial review. Because the case involved imperial dignity, it wasn't tried publicly. After the Emperor quietly approved Prince An's memorial, the executioner discreetly hanged Bi Xiao in prison. Afterwards, news quietly spread through the capital's streets and alleys that the Emperor's fourth son, Prince Jing Xiao Zhaoxuan, had died of smallpox.
Reportedly, the one who wept most bitterly for Prince Jing wasn't his birth mother Consort Jin, but rather the Jing Zhaoyin who had spent vast sums of money greasing various connections to finally secure marriage ties with Prince Jing, only to watch it all go up in smoke. Before Consort Jin had even fainted from crying, he had already collapsed in tears multiple times.
Cui Niang, who was still waiting bitterly for Prince Jing, had been properly settled by Prince An's estate. As for what exactly "properly settled" meant, the specific arrangements were handled by Prince An himself, and Leng Yue wasn't entirely clear on the details. She only knew that given the severity of the festering poisonous sores on Cui Niang's body, no matter how meticulous her care, she certainly wouldn't live to see the New Year.
According to news from the person Leng Yue had instructed, Ji Qiu had already settled in a small village on the capital's outskirts and had truly begun working honestly as a night soil collector. However, she had somehow become mute—even after the swelling in her face subsided, she still couldn't utter a single intelligible word. Being illiterate as well, no one could understand what she was trying to express through her constant tearful whimpering.
Additionally, Wang Tuo, the fifth prince of Goryeo who was both Consort Jin's full-blooded younger brother and Prince Jing's maternal uncle, came to visit his sister upon learning of his nephew's death. He brought the Goryeo diplomatic mission to complete their annual tribute presentation and reward-seeking mission.
As for Feng Si'er...
Feng Si'er had passed away before Bi Xiao's case was solved. To ensure security, Leng Yue had only used trusted personnel from Prince An's estate to handle matters at the Feng residence that day. Since Prince An had instructed her to keep this matter strictly confidential, she hadn't breathed a word of it to Jing Yi.
In fact, Jing Yi hadn't taken to heart any of the things Leng Yue had told him about either.
Over these past few days, only one matter occupied his thoughts—Leng Yue saying she wanted to learn to play the qin.
Although Leng Yue had only mentioned it once that night and hadn't brought it up again since, Jing Yi kept thinking about it. The more he pondered it, the more he felt it represented a completely avoidable catastrophe for the entire Jing household.
Therefore, when Leng Yue suddenly said to him over breakfast on a crisp autumn morning, "There's something I nearly forgot," Jing Yi's hand trembled, and he dropped a spoon.
Leng Yue simply assumed his hand still wasn't fully functional. Bending to pick up the spoon's remains, she said conversationally, "I nearly forgot—His Highness told me that once you woke up, we should both go to his estate."
Jing Yi slowly exhaled, then halfway through realized he might have breathed that sigh of relief too soon.
Pursing his lips slightly, Jing Yi pushed his bowl away, got up and returned to the bedside. He threw himself back onto the bed fully clothed, burrowed under the covers, closed his eyes, and feebly moaned, "Not going..."Leng Yue finished the bun in a few bites, contentedly licked her fingers, then asked, "Why aren't you going?"
Jing Yi curled up in the quilt, letting out another sickly whimper like an ailing cat. "Not feeling well..."
Leng Yue's heart clenched.
Jing Yi had been holed up in bed for so many days not just because of the Drunken World's effects, but also because Bi Xiao hadn't been careful about the wound on his leg while washing him. The wound got wet and infected, causing Jing Yi to run a high fever for three days and nights before finally recovering. He'd lost weight, his face thinning noticeably, nearly scaring Leng Yue out of her wits.
Although Jing Bai had sworn to her in front of all the ancient emperors that his younger brother was completely fine, hearing Jing Yi say so listlessly that he wasn't well made Leng Yue dart to his side in an instant, her voice trembling slightly with tension. "Where don't you feel well?"
"My head..."
Leng Yue hurriedly pressed her hand to Jing Yi's forehead. His forehead wasn't cold or hot, but her palm was slick with a thin layer of sweat. "What's wrong with it?"
"It's bald..."
"..."
Leng Yue smacked Jing Yi's forehead. Jing Yi let out a clear "ow!" and shot upright from the blankets like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, clutching his forehead with both hands. His fox-like eyes welled up with tears from the pain, making him look utterly pitiful.
"Get out of bed right now, change your clothes, and let's go!"
Jing Yi shook his head firmly, tilted sideways, and rolled inward to a corner where Leng Yue couldn't reach him without getting on the bed. He crouched into a ball, hugging his head. "I'm not going... I won't go anywhere until my hair grows back!"
Leng Yue took a slow, deep breath, silently repeating three times that peaceful days were priceless, then managed to keep her patience and said in a reasonable tone, "It's fine. Prince An has already seen you at your baldest."
Jing Yi silently lifted his head from the corner, his gaze at Leng Yue screaming a heart-wrenching question—Am I really the husband you married yourself?!
Leng Yue felt an inexplicable pang of guilt. She took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and sat beside Jing Yi, running her hand over his head, which now had a faint stubble, as if soothing him.
The head no longer felt as smooth as it had days before; it was a bit prickly, like sandpaper, with an oddly pleasant texture.
Jing Yi didn't move or make a sound, completely submitting to her touch. Unable to resist, Leng Yue leaned down and kissed his scalp.
"Mmm... you're not really bald anymore. It's even a little prickly on the lips."
"..."
Leng Yue immediately regretted her words.
Not for saying that, but for climbing onto the bed.
Jing Yi had no Inner Cultivation, but his lightness skill was exceptional, and his movements were far quicker than Leng Yue's. The moment her words left her mouth, just as she noticed something off in his eyes, he had already pinned her flat on the bed.
"...Get off of me!"
The wound on Jing Yi's leg hadn't fully healed yet. Though Leng Yue had plenty of strength, she only dared to glare and yell at him.
If glaring and yelling were effective, Jing Yi wouldn't be Jing Yi.
Looking down at her from above, Jing Yi smiled with pure innocence. "You've taken care of me from head to toe all these days, and I haven't properly thanked you yet."
"No need... I'd thank your entire family if you'd just get off me!"Jing Yi seemed not to have heard the latter half of Leng Yue's words, still blinking those clear fox-like eyes with an innocent and obedient expression as he said, "You're already full, right?"
Leng Yue suddenly recalled the tragic incident that occurred after Jing Yi last asked if she was full—a case that remained unresolved to this day. She was about to say "I'm full," but the words lingered on her lips as she pondered Jing Yi's question once more.
That night, he had asked, "Have you eaten your fill?" No matter how she thought about it, that question didn't seem to carry the same meaning as the one he just asked. After careful consideration, Leng Yue cautiously replied, "No."
"Then," Jing Yi gently kissed Leng Yue's forehead, "let me feed you today, alright?"
"Alright."
After saying "alright," Leng Yue didn't manage to get out of bed until the sun set behind the western hills.
When Uncle Qi rushed in frantically to report that Prince An had arrived, Jing Yi was still lingeringly kissing Leng Yue's eyes, which she was too lazy to even open.
At this point, even if he were summoned to the palace to meet the emperor, he would have been delighted.
Thus, for the first time, Leng Yue was helped to walk before Xiao Jin Yu.
"Your Highness..."
"You..." Xiao Jin Yu was momentarily stunned. Setting down his teacup, he carefully observed Leng Yue, whose complexion was rosy but whose steps were unsteady, with one hand consistently clutching her lower back. Unable to determine her exact ailment, he finally asked, "What's wrong?"
Leng Yue glanced sideways at Jing Yi, who was supporting her carefully as if nothing had happened, and said, "Exhausted from... serving him."
Xiao Jin Yu looked at Jing Yi, who was now agile and beaming with joy, and nodded approvingly at Leng Yue. "It seems you served him very well. You've worked hard."
"..."
"Take a few days to rest properly at home." After saying this, Xiao Jin Yu shifted his gaze to Jing Yi, who seemed to radiate sheer delight from head to toe. "I came to ask for your help."
The joy on Jing Yi's face faded slightly.
"Your Highness... could you wait until my hair grows back before I help?"
"Don't worry," Xiao Jin Yu said calmly, looking at Jing Yi's shaved head. "The people you'll be working with are all bald. You won't stand out as... conspicuous among them."
Jing Yi was stunned, but it was Leng Yue who reacted first.
"Your Highness, do you want him to go to Anguo Temple?"
Xiao Jin Yu nodded. "I've already spoken with the abbot. He will be tonsured tomorrow morning."
Jing Yi was even more bewildered.
Although Anguo Temple wasn't the largest monastery in the capital, it was the most prosperous and prestigious. For those seeking monastic life, ordination at Anguo Temple was a great honor.
But...
He had never once considered becoming a monk since the day he was born!
"Wait..." Jing Yi looked seriously at the equally serious Xiao Jin Yu, pushing Leng Yue forward. "Your Highness, this is my wife, my own wife. You know her... I'm still entangled in worldly attachments and impure in mind—I'm really not fit to become a monk!"
"..."
If Leng Yue hadn't been too sore and unsteady to stand, she would have elbowed Jing Yi flying.
Even Xiao Jin Yu's usually calm lips twitched involuntarily. His voice and expression grew stern. "I'm not asking you to actually become a monk... A few days ago, Anguo Temple conducted a Buddhist ritual. After the ritual, one of the deceased's relatives died in front of the coffin. The capital investigation office ruled it a suicide, and I reviewed the case file—it initially seemed unsuspicious. But now, some complications have arisen, and we need to send one of our own to the temple. You look..."Xiao Jin Yu paused, casting a deep glance at Jing Yi’s head before stating with unwavering certainty, "It’s the most convenient."
"……"
Leng Yue had only heard about the incident at Anguo Temple to the extent that someone had died by crashing into a coffin. As for what other troubles there were, she had no idea.
However, if it were a matter related to the case, Xiao Jin Yu could simply send an official document to the Dali Temple. There was no need for him to personally visit their home and use the word "help."
Xiao Jin Yu was unaware that Jing Yi had just recovered from a serious illness. Leng Yue couldn't help but feel a little worried. "Your Highness... You know very well how capable he is. What if he not only fails to handle the matter properly but also ends up causing chaos at Anguo Temple? If the abbot reports it to the emperor, wouldn’t that implicate you as well?"
Jing Yi was so moved he nearly burst into tears. "Yes, yes, yes... My wife is absolutely right!"
Xiao Jin Yu’s expression stiffened slightly, but before he could speak, he saw Leng Yue bow her head respectfully toward him.
"Your Highness, let me go in his place."
The word "yes" caught in Jing Yi’s throat, nearly choking him.
OpenNovel