Ink Burns

Chapter 305 Bad People Get Their Retribution (Part 2)

As dusk falls, the setting sun casts its rays upon the steps.

The wide, light green skirt swept swiftly across the steps, knocking down ants struggling to hold up pieces of rotten fruit the size of fingernails from the crevices, like a swirling hurricane.

It was just half a month's worth of food gone to ashes. It was a pity, but it had no choice but to accept it. The ant was not yet intelligent, so it did not feel sorry. Before it could escape, it was trampled to the death by a soft satin embroidered shoe that fell from the sky.

Wearing a pea-green twelve-panel horse-face skirt, Fu Mingjiang stepped on the corpses of ants, held her high-rising belly, pushed open the door of the tavern Chenzui Lou, ignored the innkeeper's hospitality, and went straight up to the second floor. She saw that the door of Qiushui Pavilion was slightly open, and there was no one inside.

Fu Mingjiang let out a long breath, then pushed open the door to the private room next to Qiushui Pavilion. He turned around and immediately started cursing at Zhou Fangniang, who was following closely behind: "If you try to deceive me with this, I'll skin you alive!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he realized something was wrong.

If it was a deception, then it was just a false alarm; if it wasn't a deception, why would Yulang want to meet that vile woman? Was it "Qingfeng's" official business, or was there really more to it?
That look in Yulang's eyes as he gazed at that vile woman from afar in the mourning hall.

If she were to catch her cheating here, what should she do?

A surge of intense, bittersweet tears welled up in Fu Mingjiang's eyes.

Fu Mingjiang took a few deep breaths, tilted her head slightly, and wiped away her tears with her fingertips. She repeatedly told herself: "It's just another Lin woman. Men's tastes have never changed. Slender, delicate women with some beauty and cunning—so what if we've slept together? Can we bring her home? Xue Xiao might cause a scene in heaven!"

On the day of the funeral, even after she had pressed him so hard, that mad dog Xue Xiao still eagerly fawned over that vile woman. Rumors spread throughout the capital that day that "Commander Xue would do anything for his wife," demonstrating that the vile woman's skills and maneuvering were far beyond what a respectable young lady like herself could match—it was said that "Qingfeng" had specialized matrons who taught them how to manipulate men in bed.
Fu Mingjiang's mind was in turmoil, and she inexplicably thought of the Grand Princess Jing'an: If her mother were still alive, at least she wouldn't be bullied by a mere pawn!
Since Zhou Fangniang had acted as the informant and delivered the letter, she naturally went all the way, using the pretense of keeping Fu Mingjiang company. She stood hunched over beside Fu Mingjiang, feeling a sense of satisfaction whenever she thought of Fu Mingjiang's unbearable pain.

Zhou Fangniang didn't have to wait long. While serving tea, she heard the rustling sound of chair legs dragging on the floor in Qiushui Pavilion, followed by a familiar and dignified male voice.

"Shanyue, I thought you wouldn't come."

It's Cui Yulang!

Zhou Fangniang lowered her head, her eyes wide open, and her peripheral vision quickly swept over Fu Mingjiang. She saw that this usually domineering noblewoman was now ashen-faced, her hands hanging limply at her sides, like two branches about to be strangled by a strangling vine.

Inside Qiushui Pavilion, a pot of hot tea emits wisps of steam.

Cui Yulang wore a mustard-blue outer robe with a gold belt, rolled up his wide sleeves, and leaned over to pour tea for Shanyue. His posture was humble, but his expression was fiery.

His downfall is nothing to hide.

Even a cold and indifferent man like Xue Xiao would willingly bow down and submit to Shan Yue's charms.

He met Shan Yue earlier, so why couldn't he fall deeply in love with her and be unable to extricate himself?
Shan Yue smiled, lifted the bottom of the purple clay teacup with one hand, and then placed the teacup on the table after her slender wrist swung like a pen in mid-air: "Since you are not afraid of being killed by me, how can I not come?"

A wisp of smoke rose from the teacup, blurring Shan Yue's cool and sharp face into a hazy yet endearing image.

Shan Yue slightly raised her hand, her slender, delicate hand pointing lightly at Cui Yulang's left chest: "Is your injury fully healed?"

Cui Yulang's chest thumped like thunder, and he chuckled softly, his eyes lowered: "I was all better, but with Qingqing's jade hand pointing at me, I'm not so well again."

Shan Yue turned her head to the side, raised her eyebrows slightly, narrowed her eyes, and gave an expression of half-smile of satisfaction.

Fu Mingjiang, sitting to the side, was filled with immense panic and rage: Yu Lang's fatal wound was actually inflicted by Liu Shi!? Yu Lang was clearly referring to a group of men in black, whose fighting style suggested they were Imperial Guards. The eunuch immediately flew into a rage, believing it to be a deadly attack from the Inner Palace Envoy!
Who would have thought that Yulang had gone astray to protect Liu Shimei and the others!
Fu Mingjiang swayed precariously: It wasn't a fleeting affair, but a deep-rooted love so profound that even when she tried to kill him, he covered it up for her.

"Does Qingqing still want to kill me?" Cui Yulang leaned forward and asked.

Shan Yue's eyes remained unmoved: "Of course we must kill him; all we need is an auspicious time."

Cui Yulang sighed, "On this auspicious day and time, I have been able to marry you. I have no regrets in this life."

Shan Yue reminded him, "It's about killing you, not about forming a bond."

"A karmic entanglement is also a kind of destiny!"

Cui Yulang's voice was clear and resolute, revealing an urgency: "I've calculated that early spring after the New Year will be the perfect time for killing—perhaps killing Cui Bainian would please you more than killing me?"

Shan Yue's brow twitched slightly. In Cui Yulang's eyes, it was like a lotus-sitting Guanyin stirring his mortal heart.

Cui Yulang raised his hand to the table: "After I kill Cui Bainian, whether I keep or discard this body of mine is entirely up to you, okay?"

"Why did you kill your father?" Shan Yue asked.

Cui Yulang's smile was natural and relaxed: "Didn't you ever..."

In the moat, He Qingshu's body floated downstream.

Cui Yulang's smile deepened: "Xue Qishu may appear arrogant and unrestrained, but deep down he is a true gentleman, upholding righteousness and justice. Despite bearing the reputation of a ruthless and powerful minister, he does only chivalrous deeds."

"That night at Fushou Mountain, if I had asked you to slaughter all the civilians just to spare your mother's life, would you have been willing?"

Cui Yulang asked with a smile.

Shan Yue stared intently at Cui Yulang without moving an inch, offering no reply.

Cui Yulang pursed his lips knowingly, his expression as flawless as jade. He knew Shan Yue's answer: "You will definitely kill everyone to save your mother. You have the ruthlessness and the ability."

Cui Yulang spoke tenderly, with a hint of pride in his voice: "Shanyue, I've seen your paintings. 'Lady Jade Plate' is you, isn't it? I spent a fortune to buy that 'Spring River Flower Moon Night' painting. I could tell from the way you painted that we must be kindred spirits."

Shan Yue recalled the forsythia drawn on the invitation letter: "You paint too? Did you draw that forsythia yourself?"

Cui Yulang smiled with a hint of smugness: "Of course, my painting skills are by no means inferior to yours."

In fact, they are by no means inferior to anyone else in this world.

Shan Yue stared intently at Cui Yulang, her gaze unwavering.

Cui Yulang sighed deeply: "Shanyue, believe me, we will definitely fall in love."

A moment later, Shan Yue smiled and said, "So you're that fond of me?"

"If Xue Qishu is willing to give his life for you, why can't I?"

Cui Yulang was skilled at wearing blue; he wore light blue, navy blue, and indigo blue with impeccable style. The title of the most eligible bachelor in the capital was by no means a disgrace to his flawless face. His gold-plated sash was neatly slung over his shoulder, giving him an elegant and refined air.

Cui Yulang leaned back slightly, spreading his arms, just like when he allowed Shan Yue to assassinate him last time: "If you want me dead, I will never live a life of dishonor."

"And what about Fu Mingjiang?" Shan Yue raised her eyes, her voice mocking, "If I die at Fushou Mountain, won't you and Fu Mingjiang still be deeply in love and grow old together?"

Cui Yulang felt utterly wronged: "Never! Never! Marrying her was never my wish, it was merely a desperate act of enduring hardship and biding my time. I have never loved her!"

Fu Mingjiang, sitting in the cubicle, nearly collapsed to her knees.

Shan Yue nodded: "However, his letter to me shows that his feelings are upright and unyielding, with no middle ground for compromise."

Cui Yulang sneered: "No matter how good he is, he is nothing more than Xu Quyan's dog, controlled by Xu Quyan his whole life, and there will always be a time when he has no choice but to act against his will. But I am different. I am a dragon from the abyss, a dragon lying in the ground. In time, I will offer you the world!"

What is the Cui family planning to do?
Shan Yue raised her eyes, seemingly understanding but not quite: "You're plotting a rebellion?"

Cui Yulang did not respond directly: "Xu Quyan was never the ruler of this land, so the Nine Provinces are ownerless. How can my taking what is ownerless be called 'rebellion'?"

The Cui family is plotting a rebellion!

It's not hard to guess: the Cui family has tens of thousands of troops in the northern frontier and is colluding with the Tatars. Now it's a matter of life and death. If he doesn't make a move, he will be passively attacked and his power will be gradually eroded by the imperial power!
Now that the edict of succession has been issued, why does Cui Yulang still claim that Emperor Yongping is not the rightful ruler of the country?
Shan Yue was filled with doubts and wanted to ask more, but then she heard Cui Yulang continue, "You should believe in my utmost loyalty. Although I married Fu Mingjiang, I have never consummated our marriage!"

(End of this chapter)