19 Ye Cheng Fu

FlamingoBees

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Ye Cheng Fu

Chapter 19:

I huddled on the ground, clutching myself. After a while, the Empress returned to her desk and said slowly, “Go and receive fifty lashes. Starting tomorrow, you will go to the Wen Yuan Pavilion to assist with historical revisions as a fifth-rank scholar.”

Hearing this, I knew she had agreed to my request.

I quickly bowed in thanks and was helped out by Lintian.

“Sir, the Empress is still angry. You should return to your residence first…”

“I need to go and receive the lashes.”

“Lord Shu…” Lintian frowned.

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I hurriedly said, “It is right for the Empress to punish me; I won’t hold a grudge. Since the Empress has agreed, I need to quickly get this punishment over with, in case she changes her mind later.”

“Lord Shu… truly devoted,” Lintian said, surprised, with a hint of pity in his eyes.

I smiled, somewhat embarrassed, and went to the punishment room to receive my penalty.

The Empress sent an order to have someone personally oversee it. As I entered, although the palace staff seemed a bit apprehensive, they still made me lie down and began administering the punishment.

The board fell upon me, one lash after another. Fifty lashes—so many officials had been incapacitated by this punishment. I didn’t know the full effect of fifty lashes, but I knew that once it was over, I would be able to see Shen Ye.

I wanted to tell him that I would not marry Su Rongqing; I would marry him instead. Even if he was a courtesan with a questionable reputation, I was determined to marry him.

I had already renounced the marriage decreed by the Empress and even threatened to kill court officials. Nothing could stop me now. I had fallen for this person, and I would marry him no matter what. It didn’t matter if my family was worried or if others saw me as a disgrace to the Shu family.

The board landed on me again and again. I heard the sound of flesh and wood cracking, the pain causing beads of sweat to roll down my face. But despite the agony, I had never felt so relieved.

My vision blurred, my head grew heavier, and in my hazy state, I heard a commotion outside. It seemed like there was a dispute, and then a figure appeared against the light—dressed in white, with dark hair and unparalleled beauty.

He rushed to my side, and just as the board came down again, he caught it with his hand. The board shattered into pieces, stained with my blood. Shen Ye’s hand was covered in blood, and he glared at the others with fierce eyes, shouting, “Who dares to strike again!”

“Stop it.” I weakly pushed him away, “Let them continue... or all my efforts will be in vain... That young man,” I called to the hesitant executioner, smiling, “get another stick and keep going, don’t be afraid.”

As I extended my trembling hand, I grasped Shen Ye’s hand and said softly, “Shen Ye, once this is over, I’ll take you home. I refuse to marry Su Rongqing. I’ll marry you. My husband, now and forever, is only you.” I held his hand with care and spoke gently, “Marry me, come home with me.”

I mustered all my strength to confess to Shen Ye and, as I watched the wooden stick come down again, I could no longer hold on. My head fell to the side, and I lost consciousness.

When I awoke, I found myself in an unfamiliar bed. I gingerly got up, clutching my sore rear, and walked around a screen. To my surprise, I was in Su Rongqing’s room.

He was facing away from me, his long hair cascading down his back, dressed in white. Outside, the rain continued to fall softly. He seemed lost in thought, gazing at the rain.

A jolt of panic surged through me.

I began to seriously consider whether I had mistaken Su Rongqing for Shen Ye before losing consciousness and confessed to the wrong person. I tried to recall if I had called Shen Ye’s name during my confession and wondered if Su Rongqing would be hurt by it.

These chaotic thoughts raced through my mind as the person slowly turned around.

When I saw his profile, I realized he wasn’t wearing a mask!

I hurriedly covered my eyes, but he chuckled softly, his laugh strangely familiar, making me tense up.

He walked over slowly, his cool hand touching mine gently. “Don’t hide,” he said softly.

His voice was so familiar that I froze. He took my hand away from my face, and I stared blankly at his chest. He lifted my chin, and I finally saw his smiling face.

It was Shen Ye.

It felt like thunder struck, shaking the sky. I stared at him in a daze, and after a long while, I hoarsely asked, “Where is Su Rongqing?”

“I am Su Rongqing.”

“I’m asking where Su Rongqing is!” I shouted. Shen Ye firmly grasped my hand and said, “I am Su Rongqing.”

My breathing quickened. He lifted me effortlessly, gently laying me on the bed.

The bed was filled with his scent, and I buried my face in the pillow, feeling suffocated.

“Are you Su Rongqing?” I rasped. “Have you always been Su Rongqing from the beginning?”

“Yes,” he said, pouring tea beside me. “Do you remember the story I told you before? I had mentioned that my mother was someone of high status. Later, she did find me again, but I didn’t tell you.”

Yes, he had mentioned his background before. In the dungeon, he said he was pursued and disliked by his mother. But I could never imagine that the person he described would be the esteemed teacher I knew. I could believe she was the Empress, but I could never believe my esteemed teacher was such a despicable woman!

“You lied to me…” I clutched the pillow tightly, tears streaming down my face. “You said you didn’t want to deceive me…”

“Circumstances forced me, Shu Cheng. Relax a bit and have some water.”

“But you lied to me!” I suddenly got up and knocked the teacup from his hand. Tea spilled everywhere, and the cup spun on the ground. I looked at his handsome face, my eyes reddened. “What circumstances?

“Is being Su Rongqing a circumstance you were forced into?

“You knew very well that I liked you… you knew I liked you… but you deceived me like this! You said you liked me. Did you really like me? Is it just my foolish feelings that you like?

“You watched me struggle and agonize. Every day, you pretended to be Su Rongqing, listening to my feelings, and then you pretended to be Shen Ye, playing with my heartstrings. Is that what you call ‘circumstances’? Is that your excuse? You wanted nothing more than to see a noble lady being toyed with at your whim! As Su Rongqing, you make her like you; as Shen Ye, you also make her like you! You just wanted to prove your charm, to see her fall for you time and time again, only to reject her and humiliate her.”

“Shu Cheng,” he interrupted me, “don’t overthink it. I never meant to hurt you.”

“Shen Ye.” My eyes were red, remembering every time I earnestly shared my feelings with him, and then went to Feng Lou to find him, to think about him.

“Did you and Qin Yang deliberately play with me?”

He didn’t answer. I couldn’t help but laugh, “You courtesans and actors always have so many tricks to amuse us. Is this just another game of cat and mouse?”

“Shu Cheng!” He frowned, “I’m not as contemptible as you think. I just wanted to understand what you truly felt.”

“How I feel—you’ve always known that clearly, haven’t you?” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “I’ve been honest and open with you, pouring out my heart. I’ve never lied to you. But you? You told me you were Shen Ye. You told me I should think of Su Rongqing as a deity. I was so foolish... You just wanted to test my feelings for you. I lost my position, was demoted, and endured fifty lashes—all just to make you happy, to make you think, ‘This fool really loves me,’ didn’t you? You said you liked me… You said you liked me…” Unable to hold back, I slapped him hard, shouting, “What kind of love is it that doesn’t even know how to feel pain?”

He said nothing, his fair skin turning a deep red. I struggled to get up from the bed, painfully making my way to the door.

He grabbed my hand, pulling me into his arms.

From behind, he held me tightly, burying his head in my neck. His voice was hoarse as he said, “But if you love me, isn’t that enough? As long as you love me, I’ll treat you well. I’ll love you. Regardless of everything, the result is the same. Let me be wrong... You don’t have to call off the marriage. Just let me be Su Rongqing and marry you. I’ll spend my life making it up to you, okay?”

“Shen Ye,” I slowly closed my eyes. “Do you know, I’ve always been a very weak person. I rarely clashed with my mother, never with the Empress. I’ve always felt like I wasn’t very capable. I’m not as competent as Shangguan Liulan, nor as ambitious as Qin Yang. I’ve only ever wanted to quietly live in my own little corner of peace. That’s enough for me. I never wanted to fight for anything. I wanted nothing more than to grow old with one person.”

I slowly held his hand, my voice hoarse as I continued, “This is the bravest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Maybe you think it’s a joke... just a demotion from third rank to fifth, just a change from Inspector General to a scholar at the Wen Yuan Pavilion, just refusing a marriage, just fifty lashes... But do you understand the deeper meaning? This was forced through with the power of the Shu family. If it were an ordinary family, the refusal would have led to heads rolling long ago. But because I’m the heir of the Shu family, I’m still standing here. What kind of person is the current Empress?” I forced a bitter smile. “The Shu family has done nothing wrong, yet she already sees us as a threat to her throne. Now, as I force her hand, she will surely resent me deeply. Each time I push her, I drive the Shu family closer to ruin.”

I turned my head, looking at his furrowed brow as I continued in a hoarse voice, “Su Rongqing was someone she betrothed to me. Everyone knows, those she betroths are not likely to be virtuous. If he were just Su Ge Lao’s son, just the Su Rongqing I knew from the bamboo forest correspondence, I would have dared to marry him. I trust my teacher’s character, and I trust Su Rongqing’s character. But you, Shen Ye,” I couldn’t help but laugh, “I, Shu Cheng, am neither virtuous nor capable, and not worthy of such high regard.”

“Shu Cheng...” He held me tighter. “I will never do anything to hurt you. I will ensure your safety. I...”

“Who exactly is Feng Lou gathering intelligence for?” I demanded loudly. “The Empress has already betrothed Su Rongqing to me. Why did you approach me as Shen Ye?”

“Shu Cheng!” He shouted back, “Trust me! The things Su Rongqing didn’t do in the past, I won’t do either. And the things Shen Ye didn’t do, I won’t do!”

“I thought you liked me,” I slowly closed my eyes and forcefully shook off his hand, “But it seems it was nothing more than that.”

With that, I limped toward the door. He stood there, stunned, and just as I reached the door, he suddenly spoke up: “The Empress won’t agree to the annulment, and neither will I.”

“I’ve already pushed her to her limits,” I lowered my gaze, “I don’t mind pushing a bit harder. After all,” I looked up and smiled, “She’s already fixated on us. What do I have to fear? But I am curious,” I turned to face him, looking at him as if he were an otherworldly being, “When did you become one of hers?”

“A long time ago,” he said hoarsely, “After we parted ways, I joined the Dark Court.”

The Dark Court—I had heard of this organization. It was said to be another court created by the Empress, primarily responsible for monitoring and assassinating people within the court. Those targeted by the Dark Court never ended well. Apparently, those who had seen the Dark Court had all died, which was why no one had ever heard of anyone who had seen it.

This time, I was actually meeting someone from the Dark Court and living to tell the tale. I thought that perhaps, years from now, I would become one of those who had seen the Dark Court and then died.

I shook my head and slowly walked toward the door. He stood behind me, his voice hoarse: “She arranged for me to marry you, something I didn’t want. When you mistakenly entered my room and met me, I decided to use Shen Ye’s identity to approach you, hoping to complete the task quickly and get out. I also want to marry someone I love; I don’t want to use marriage to mix with power. Yes, even though many things between us are lies, I do truly like you. I’ve done all this not to toy with you but to find out if you like me. Shu Cheng!” He ran after me but only stopped at the door. I didn’t turn back; I was afraid that if I did, I wouldn’t be able to leave.

I struggled to move forward, and after a long while, I heard his hoarse voice: “Let me take you.”

“No need,” I shook my head. “Call a servant to escort me.”

“It’s inconvenient for the servants.” He came up and picked me up in his arms, carrying me to the door. As soon as we reached the door, I saw Bai Shaotang, drenched through in his white robes.

“Indeed here with you! Su…” Before he could finish, Bai Shaotang’s face showed shock, and he stammered, “Shen, Shen, Shen Ye!”

“Shaotang,” I forced myself to stay calm, calling out to the still-stunned Bai Shaotang, “Help me, take me home.”

Shen Ye tightened his grip around me. Bai Shaotang hesitated for a moment, then quickly stepped forward, reaching out. “Shu Cheng, you’re injured. I’ll take you back immediately.”

As he tried to take me, Shen Ye remained unmoved, holding me tightly and staring at Bai Shaotang. “I’ll take her back.”

“Shaotang!” I called out urgently. Bai Shaotang’s smile faded, and he said slowly, “I don’t know what’s going on between you, but Shen Ye, if you can take responsibility, you must also be prepared to face the consequences. Hand her over to me.”

Shen Ye still refused to let go. Bai Shaotang quickly moved, striking Shen Ye with a forceful blow. Shen Ye dodged, but before he could act again, I kicked out and used Bai Shaotang's sword, which I pulled from his waist, to brace myself. I fixed my gaze on Shen Ye, saying firmly, “I’ll go back on my own.”

“You said you liked me, didn’t you?” I smiled bitterly. “If you like me so much, aren’t you afraid this sword might hurt me?”

“Don’t you like me too?” Shen Ye’s expression was pained. “If I’m heartbroken, shouldn’t you be too?”

I didn’t respond. Bai Shaotang gently lifted me and headed toward the carriage.

“Shu Cheng,” he said softly, “do you remember when we were young, and you asked me to carry you, but I couldn’t because you were too heavy? Look, now I can carry you.”

I didn’t answer, tears streaming down my face as I lay in his arms.

He placed me carefully in the carriage, which was lined with soft bedding, making it comfortable to rest. He sat beside me, helping me smooth out my disheveled hair.

Feeling overwhelmed, I began to sob uncontrollably, confessing, “Shaotang, I’m so scared.”

I’m so scared.

I finally managed to love someone so deeply and gathered the courage to love them, only to find out it was all arranged by someone else. It feels like there’s no place left for me in this world, like time has returned to the years when my sisters were gone. I had to test every dish for poison, follow strict protocols for every sip of water. I’ve seen so many people die in front of me, and each time, I was only a hair’s breadth away from death.

I think I’ve been living too comfortably, so comfortably that I forgot how frightening and treacherous the world can be.

It turns out loving someone is hard, making the person you love love you back is even harder.

And hoping that the person who loves you feels the same way you do is almost impossible.

Right now, I can’t think about whether Shen Ye truly loves me, or reflect on how he might have manipulated me. I’m just overwhelmed with fear, trembling under Bai Shaotang’s care.

Bai Shaotang gently soothed my back, then began to sing a folk song from Yunzhou. It was a song he used to sing often when we were younger, with a simple melody that's easy to remember. He hummed it over and over, his voice covering the sound of the thunder outside.

"Shu Cheng," he sighed, "I've grown up. Don’t be afraid, Bai Shaotang has grown up."

— Now that I've grown up, I can protect and guard you, Shu Cheng.

"Even if you can't trust anyone in this world," he said softly, holding my hand with a gentle gaze, "there’s still me, Shu Cheng."

I looked at him in a daze, realizing for the first time just how handsome Bai Shaotang’s features truly were.

When we got home, as soon as Bai Shaotang stepped inside, my mother came rushing over, anxious, "Did you call off the engagement with Su Rongqing?"

•••

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19 Ye Cheng Fu

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