Cry of the Midnight Jackdaw

Chapter Thirty-six,
A Bright Moon

The one waiting at the front reception was a young eunuch, that person observed Xiao Zuo from head to toe, then said, “Per his Majesty’s instructions, he has decreed the Nan Hun Duke to enter the palace, please follow me, Duke.”

Xiao Zuo received the decree, then saw Zi Wan tightly clutching her handkerchief, with knitted eyebrows and a look of wanting to speak up. That eunuch flung his horsetail whisk impatiently, so Xiao Zuo could only turn his head and smile at her, and signal that she didn’t need to worry, then followed the eunuch out the door.

The palace path was narrow and long, planted with big and tall cedar trees on the two sides, creating sparse and scattered shadows of branches on the ground. Xiao Zuo recalled when he entered the palace last time, it was still autumn- at that time, he was just imprisoned, was extremely pessimistic, and when he knelt on the ice-cold tiles at Jin’s palace, he pretty much never thought about the future.

The spacious imperial palace were sparse with sounds of people, he could only hear the occasional bird calling out, hidden behind the layers of buildings. Xiao Zuo lightly sighed, the small eunuch leading him in front was walking very fast, he hung his eyes down and followed behind the eunuch step by step, but could not help but faintly have some worry and fear. Xiao Zuo suddenly thought of He Xuan at this time, if he were here……

“Duke, his Majesty is just inside, go in.” Xiao Zuo’s thoughts came to an abrupt stop, that he did not even realize at this moment, perhaps in this half a year’s time, the dependence and perhaps the feelings that couldn’t be called love towards He Xuan grew with long roots in his heart early on.

“Greetings to your Majesty.”

He Heng was sitting at the top, while another two people sat in the seats. Xiao Zuo recognized the one on the left was the current prime minister Yu Shu, but the one on the right, he could not recognize.

When He Heng saw him come in, he beckoned him over, and smiled, “Why do you look to have thinned so much? Does Jin’s food not suit your tastes?”

Xiao Zuo’s heart tightened, and hurriedly answered, “To answer your Majesty, this subject lately had a fever, Jin’s food is very meticulous and refined, this subject likes it very much.”

“Then that is the best.” He Heng’s fingers lightly knocked on the throne’s gold dragon armrest, and his gaze fell onto his body, “No need to be so nervous, someone.”

Just as his voice fell, a maid outside answered and came in, her hands held up a tea bowl, she hung her head down and respectfully stood there.

“[I] hear that Nan Liang’s tea ceremony is unique, and it so happens that Xiao Zuo is here today.” He Heng looked over to that person on his right hand side, “You have the fortune of tasting it now.”

“Here, brew tea for Imperial Duke Yue.” That maid took one step forward, and placed the tea bowl in front of Xiao Zuo.

Xiao Zuo froze, he slightly lifted his eyes up, and met gazes with He Heng who was watching him from above. If it was half a year ago, he would definitely not bear such disgrace, even if his life was lost to this, he would resolutely shatter the bowl then leave. As Nan Liang’s monarch, how could he bend his knees and serve someone? However…… suicide was the most simplest task, once a person dies, all matters would empty out, he would turn into a mound of yellow dirt, but what about Zi Wan? What about De Qing? What about the Nan Liang commoners who suffered right now? He promised them, he promised Fu Run.

The king’s words are to be taken seriously, Xiao Zuo.

Xiao Zuo took a deep breath in, then curled his lips like he was extremely humble, and answered with a smile, “This subject obeys.”

“Look, you were clamouring just before to kill him, but how about now?” He Heng seemingly jokingly pointed at Duke Yue, “Does the tea taste good?”

Xiao Zuo’s eyes slightly contracted, he did not think that the probe just now really hid with a murderous intent, he hung his head down, and hid his slightly shaking hand inside the sleeves, while the cold sweat on the back already soaked the back of his clothes.

Afterwards, He Heng did not trouble him any further, and when he returned to the residence, the moon already rose to the middle of the sky. The wind in the night was cold, and when blowing on Xiao Zuo’s wide sleeves, it was like he was walking on wind from a distance. The ducal residence was already in front, Xiao Zuo had the small eunuch who sent him back to the residence return to the palace, while he himself slowly walked forward through the moonlight.

He seemed like he came to many realizations in this kind of water-like clear moon night. After half a year of leaving his home country, today, he finally came face-to-face with his own embarrassing identity. He long should have realized the throne of the past already turned to clouds of dreams, why should he still be stubborn with those ephemeral delusions, also……

The head occasionally passed by with a jackdaw that returned late, accompanying some hoarse cries. Xiao Zuo lifted his head up to look, and lightly smiled.

At least, there was still such a bright moon to accompany him.

❀

“A few days ago, his Majesty summoned the duke into the palace.” Li Fu Hai fiddled with the lantern wick, “And had the duke make tea for Duke Yue. this matter has already spread out.”

He Xuan stopped writing for a moment, that page was then dyed in a small blot of black thick ink, like dark clouds pressed over a city about to destroy it. He slightly knitted his eyebrows, then tore that paper and tossed it in the paper basket, then once again spread open one, yet did not put his brush down for a long time.

“Your Highness?” Li Fu Hai glanced at him, “Gao Shan Prince’s eldest son[1] sent an invitation to the duke at noon, the eldest son is typically in good relations with his Fourth Highness, who knows……”

“Ig know.” He Xuan placed down the brush, “Didn’t Ig say to not mention him?”

“Your Highness.” A sliver of cold wind suddenly leaked in from outside the window, Li Fu Hai went up to help He Xuan drape on an outer robe, and said, “Since this old servant has said it, will your Highness punish this old servant?”

He Xuan tied the straps, and his eyes emitted a slight smile, and raised his eyebrows and looked at him from the corner of his eyes, “Your courage is quite big today.”

“Your Highness jests with this old servant.” Li Fu Hai bent down, and also smiled.