Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Dinner Gathering

As soon as Jiang Yuyan finished speaking, an uncanny silence settled over the dinner table. Even the least perceptive person would have realized something was amiss in her words, let alone Jiang Yuyan herself.

Yet everyone present had been among the few friends Jiang Yuyan had made before she locked away her heart. She had many ways to deal with people, but when it came to truly solving problems—especially those involving friends—she found herself inexperienced and at a loss.

She glanced around the room, and finally, her eyes settled on Zhu Yu, silently seeking his help.

Just as Zhu Yu was about to speak, Xiao Yuer broke the silence and answered Jiang Yuyan’s question.

“Tiexin Lan… she’s dead,” Xiao Yuer said, bracing himself as he watched the darkening expression on Hua Wuque’s face.

“What! How could someone as kind as Sister Xinlan die? Who killed her? Do you know? The Emperor will see justice done for her!” Jiang Yuyan exclaimed, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. Regaining her composure, she began to press anxiously for answers.

In response to Jiang Yuyan’s questioning, Hua Wuque looked up at her with lifeless eyes and said, “It was my master who killed Xinlan.”

This answer took Jiang Yuyan completely by surprise. Suddenly, she realized the matter was more complicated than she had imagined. Her thoughts spun, but she said nothing more.

“Xinlan is dead? Where did you hear this? Isn’t Lady Tie alive and well?” Zhu Yu’s words instantly drew everyone’s attention.

“Your Majesty, what are you saying? Xinlan isn’t dead? Where is she now? How do you know?” Upon hearing Zhu Yu, Hua Wuque seemed possessed. He sprang up, hurried over, and seized Zhu Yu’s arms, shaking him relentlessly as he demanded answers.

Seeing such disrespect—even for a friend—Jiang Yuyan’s expression darkened. She mustered what little internal strength she possessed and struck Hua Wuque squarely, knocking him to the ground. At the same time, she shouted, “Hua Wuque, have you lost your senses? Sister Xinlan is everyone’s friend, and we all care for her. What were you just doing? If you so much as harm His Majesty, you will never see Sister Xinlan again in this life.”

But Hua Wuque paid her no heed. Instead of rising, he crawled toward Zhu Yu and knelt before him, pleading, “Your Majesty, you know something of Xinlan’s fate? I beg you, tell me!”

Seeing such a once-mighty figure reduced to this state, Zhu Yu found himself recalling those old romantic sayings he once thought merely poetic.

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What is love in this world, that it drives one to give life and soul for another?

After a brief moment, Zhu Yu recovered and personally helped Hua Wuque to his feet, then spoke lightly, “The State of Jing has a department dedicated to geographic surveys. Some time ago, they spotted a lone woman living in seclusion beneath a certain cliff. Growing suspicious, they sent her description to the Eastern Depot.

As it happened, I was wandering the Eastern Depot out of boredom and came across this information. The portrait of this woman is still there—it’s Lady Tie.”

“Where? Where is Xinlan now?” Hua Wuque’s voice was trembling with excitement, barely coherent.

“I’ve forgotten the name of the cliff,” Zhu Yu replied, “but I remember it’s near the Palace of Shifting Flowers.”

“Brokenhearted Cliff? Brokenhearted Cliff—it must be Brokenhearted Cliff!” Hua Wuque muttered the name, already heading for the door.

“Much as I admire and respect your devotion to Lady Tie,” Zhu Yu called out, “are you really going to leave Princess Taka all alone in the palace? That wouldn’t be right, would it?”

Zhu Yu's words halted Hua Wuque in his tracks. He turned to look at Zhu Yu, clearly at a loss. He hesitated for a long while, unable to find the words, his gaze darting nervously about the room.

Zhu Yu couldn’t help but find it amusing—few ever saw a master of Hua Wuque’s caliber look so lost.

“If you’re truly anxious to find Lady Tie, I could help by issuing a decree to send Princess Taka home. She won’t accomplish what she came for anyway.”

“No!” Hua Wuque’s answer was instantaneous, almost reflexive.

Noticing everyone’s surprise, Hua Wuque forced himself to explain, “Life in the Kunlun tribe is truly difficult. Your Majesty, could you perhaps waive a year’s tribute for them?”

Zhu Yu made no reply, only smiling as he looked at Hua Wuque.

At this, Xiao Yuer sensed something was off. He stepped between Zhu Yu and Hua Wuque and said, “Wait a moment, old Hua. We’ve been discussing our own matters, but we haven’t asked you yet—what’s this about you becoming a prince consort? Even if Xinlan were dead, you shouldn’t rush into such a position so quickly.”

Hua Wuque met Xiao Yuer’s gaze unflinchingly. “There are reasons for it, but it’s a long story. I’ll explain everything in detail later.”

After studying Hua Wuque for a moment, Xiao Yuer chose to trust him.

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“Well, you all go ahead and talk,” Zhu Yu said, “Friendship is friendship, but it’s not so easy to change my mind. Hua Wuque, if you don’t go looking for Tiexin Lan now, you and Princess Taka have ten days to persuade me otherwise.

If you fail to change my mind in ten days, palace rules dictate that all foreign courtiers will be expelled. Think it over. I’ll take my leave now.”

With these words, Zhu Yu turned and departed.

Jiang Yuyan glanced at Zhu Yu’s retreating figure, but decided to stay and hear Hua Wuque’s tale—after all, curiosity is a woman’s nature.

What followed did not disappoint her. Hua Wuque’s story was the very stuff of every romantic young woman’s dreams.

In short, Hua Wuque and Tiexin Lan fell in love, but his master, Mistress Yaoyue of the Palace of Shifting Flowers, opposed their union. After many trials and tribulations, they finally won her blessing—or so they thought.

Yet all had been part of Yaoyue’s schemes. She poisoned and plotted, and in the end, Tiexin Lan was beaten to death by her.

After Tiexin Lan’s death, Hua Wuque was left utterly desolate, wandering without food or drink until he finally collapsed.

When he next awoke, he found himself in the Kunlun tribe. What followed was a series of events within the tribe, with debt upon debt of gratitude piling up, leaving Hua Wuque no choice but to impersonate a prince consort and journey to the Central Plains to help the Kunlun tribe secure a reduction in tribute.

Now the situation was like something out of a storybook: lovers reunited at last, Tiexin Lan alive and waiting for Hua Wuque to find her. Yet there remained one unresolved debt—the kindness that had saved his life.

The choice before him now was whether to seek out Tiexin Lan immediately or to repay the debt that had saved him.

When Hua Wuque finished his tale, everyone fell into deep thought.

After a while, Xiao Yuer broke the silence. “Old Hua, as the Emperor said, Xinlan has lived at the bottom of the cliff for some time—a few more days won’t matter. But the matter of the tribute—there are ten days left. I suggest you repay that debt first. After all, a life-saving debt is greater than the sky itself.”

Hua Wuque nodded slightly, but added, “It’s very hard to change the Emperor’s mind—at least for now, I see no way.”

“You may not, but I do! Everyone here will help, won’t you?” Xiao Yuer looked around the group with confidence.

Su Ying and Hua Wuque naturally voiced no objection, and when Jiang Yuyan noticed everyone’s eager gazes upon her, she couldn’t help but nod as well.

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