56 Ye Cheng Fu

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Ye Cheng Fu

 Chapter 56: 

 

“I’m not playing with you or deceiving you, Shucheng,” his voice grew hoarse, “I just love you too much, love you so deeply that I can’t be honest.”

“I know,” I spoke with a tremor, “I don’t care, just don’t say any more…”

“Not saying it,” he chuckled softly, “But if I don’t say it now, what if I can’t say it later… I don’t want to go back to the capital. I want to stay in the Valley of the Medicine King or wander the world. But you need to be the Young Master of the Shu family and take good care of your family.”

“I don’t want to!” I shouted, “I’ll stay with you, wherever you go, I’ll go with you! We won’t be separated!”

“But…” his voice carried a note of amusement, “I’ve harmed you. I’ve harmed Shangguan Liulan…”

At these words, I stiffened, but he continued to smile, “Although it wasn’t intentional. At that time, the Empress had people chase us, and there were too many of them. The Empress gave me two choices: hold you back or kill you. Between you and Shangguan Liulan, I chose you. I took you into the secret passage because I knew the Empress wouldn’t allow you to bring five thousand private soldiers to the Valley of the Medicine King. If I didn’t keep them above ground, the Empress would have pursued them all the way to the Valley.”

I was stunned by his words. He continued with a light laugh, “I have nothing to do with Qin Yang. She loves her brother Qin Shu, who is in my hands, so she follows my orders. When she came to see me, it wasn’t a secret meeting. She was just anxious to find Qin Shu but couldn’t, so she rushed to me. I didn’t know where your Shu family’s secret palace was. As for your auntie Shu Huang’s matter, I didn’t leak it. I don’t know who did… but it wasn’t me. I…”

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

“Don’t say any more!” I interrupted him, “Don’t explain, I don’t care. I just want you to stay alive! Shen Ye…” I held him tightly, “If you’re not here, no one will protect me. I’m so foolish, I’ll be bullied to death.”

He didn’t speak, carrying me on his back, struggling with every step.

“Yes…” he said, bewildered, “You’re so foolish. How can you outwit the Empress with just being the Young Master of the Shu family… But it’s alright,” he comforted me again, “I left Shen Cong behind. He will help you.”

“I don’t want Shen Cong…” I shouted through my tears, “I only want you! I only trust you!”

He didn’t reply, only laughed softly. As the sky gradually brightened, he spoke gently, “Shucheng, don’t love me. The Empress placed me by your side with the ultimate goal of making you love me. Even if you do love me, don’t do foolish things for me.” His voice choked with emotion, “From the moment I learned about the Empress’s plans, I understood. The Empress wanted you to fall in love with me, kill me, and then feel guilty, using the blood contract to save me after I’m dead. That’s the true reason behind her scheme—to render your Shu family’s blood contract useless. Don’t do anything foolish, I’ll be fine, alright?”

Hearing this, I was stunned. He seemed to be barely holding on, moving with immense difficulty.

His voice grew faint, but he kept repeating, “Don’t save me… don’t love me… don’t remember me… Shucheng…” Suddenly, he staggered and fell to the ground, but he still tried to support me, ensuring I didn’t hurt myself.

I was on top of him, the smell of blood filling my nostrils. I quickly sat up and tried to channel my vital energy into him.

But he had no internal strength left; his body was empty and his limbs had turned cold.

I was at a loss, only able to cling to him tightly.

“You can’t be hurt…” I croaked, “Shen Ye, you can’t be hurt… What will I do if you’re gone? Are you going to leave me… Shen Ye…”

He didn’t respond, his brow furrowed, and his breath grew weaker.

I desperately tried to focus, continuously channeling my vital energy into him, but he remained motionless, murmuring softly. After a while, I finally realized what he was saying and carefully leaned down to listen.

He said, “Shu Cheng, don’t be afraid.”

Then, he fell silent. I stared at him, lying there on the ground, covered in blood. The sky gradually brightened, the sunlight spreading across the land. Yet, the man I loved and hated, the one I had yearned for all my life, would never open his eyes again.

He wouldn’t see the sunlight illuminating the mountains and rivers or witness the awakening of all things and the morning dew’s chill.

He had promised to take me back to Chu Capital, to return to Medicine King Valley to recover, and to live a long life. But now, he lay here, unmoving.

He had managed Junzimen at twelve, took control of Dark Court at seventeen, and became the Dark Emperor. I had never seen anyone as intelligent or as skilled as him. He had witnessed the harshest darkness and endured the most terrifying hells of this world, yet because he loved someone, he quietly lay here.

He was destined for an extraordinary life, standing at the world’s peak, looking down upon all beings. But simply because he loved someone…

I trembled as I held him close, whispering his name, “Shen Ye…”

But he did not answer.

I knew with certainty that this time, he truly, truly would never open his eyes again.

I trembled, lowering my head to kiss his brow. It was marked with dried blood, like a vermilion mole.

“Shen Ye…” I cried out in anguish, “I’m afraid.”

Without you, I am afraid.

I fear that there will never be another man like Shen Ye, as beautiful as the spring mountains and as vibrant as the heavenly fragrance of flowers.

I had imagined his death and thought I might feel happiness or sorrow, but when he truly could not open his eyes again, I realized that his death felt like this.

It was neither pain, nor sadness, nor joy.

It was as if the world had turned empty and silent, as if everything had lost its color and meaning.

He cannot die.

At that moment, I forgot everything else, quietly gazing at him.

Everyone else in this world can die, but he cannot.

If he must die, then I must die first.

This thought appeared so clearly that I could not even remember his last words.

He had told me it was the Empress’ scheme, using my hand to kill him, using my love and guilt to revive him, and then destroying the blood contract, which was the hope of our Shu family. I knew it was a plot… but I couldn’t help it.

I bit my lower lip until it bled, holding him tightly, trying to push away the terrifying thought in my mind. I buried myself in his embrace, motionless. My tears flowed relentlessly, and after a long time, I finally heard the sound of horse hooves.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

People rushed over and tried to pull me away. I couldn’t hear their voices, I couldn’t see who was coming. I only knew I couldn’t let go. I clung to him tightly, motionless. No matter who came to pull me away, I would not move.

My world had nothing but him.

I had already given enough to the Shu family... I have lived over twenty years, twenty years of being what others wanted me to be.

I had never been reckless, never been willful. I feared bringing shame to my family, feared causing trouble for them.

I spent my whole life learning to like things I didn’t care for, living a life I didn’t want, constantly compromising and tolerating, becoming the model of a noble child.

For the sake of the Shu family, I abandoned him. Even after marrying him, I never treated him well. For the sake of the Shu family, I wanted to kill him, to personally put poison into his soup. That was my first attempt to show kindness to him after our marriage. Even though he was cold and wanted to refuse me then, I knew that he must have been happy seeing me cook for him.

For the sake of the Shu family, I let go of everything I wanted. Now I just want to stay with him, to remain by his side. Is that too much to ask? Is it too unreasonable? I don’t want to let go of his lifeless body. If I can’t be with the living him, is it so wrong to stay with him in death?

I held onto him tightly. After a long time, I suddenly heard a familiar voice. He said coldly, “He’s dead. Even in death, you won’t let him rest in peace?”

I looked up in a daze and saw Shen Cong standing in front of me.

After all, Shen Cong had been with Shen Ye for more than ten years, and his eyes and demeanor resembled Shen Ye's so much. He frowned, looking like the young Shen Ye. I stared blankly at him as he spoke, “Shu Cheng, do you know why he suddenly distanced himself from you in the palace? It’s because he learned about the Empress’ ultimate plan, which was to use your love for him to achieve her goals. He didn’t want you to like him, let alone love him. He didn’t want you to suffer because of your love for him. So, Shu Cheng, do you think you’re honoring him by being like this now? Do you know how much he endured?!”

Shen Cong's voice carried anger as he continued, “This poison is incurable. He could only temporarily suppress it, but suppression still carries toxicity. Every time he used his internal energy, he felt his meridians tearing apart with pain. His skin became exceptionally sensitive, and every touch felt like being cut with a knife. He could have suppressed the poison and gone to Medicine King Valley. Maybe with Zheng Can's help, he could have been saved. But he insisted on saving you. He asked me to take care of you... You want to die, you’re torturing yourself, do you think I don’t want to die?”

Shen Cong closed his eyes, trembling. “I want you dead, more than anyone. But…”

“I was traded for his life,” I said softly, a bitter smile on my lips. “But did he ask me?” I cried out, “Did he ask me if I was willing to trade my life for his? He should have killed me. He should have lived and done everything he wanted to do! Do you think I want to live...” I closed my eyes, letting tears fall, and continued hoarsely, “Do you think... I wouldn’t be willing to trade my life for his...”

Before I could finish, a slap landed on my face. I looked up in shock to see Shangguan Wanqing standing in front of me. 

Her eyes were red as she looked at me, her voice trembling as she said, “Give him back to me…”

“What…” I questioned, confused. She suddenly lunged at me, hitting me repeatedly with her fists, shouting, “Give Shen Ye back to me! Give him back!”

Her fists struck my body and face, causing me to convulse in pain.

Shangguan Wanqing howled, crying like a wild beast, “He loves you... He loves you. I thought you would treat him well. I thought you two would be happy, so I let go... How could you do this to him! How could you! I shouldn’t have let go…”

My head buzzed, and I slapped her in return. I clutched her collar tightly, flipping her over and pinning her down, hitting her with my fists. “He is my husband!” I roared. “Even in death, he is still mine!”

Before I could finish, Shangguan Wanqing pressed me down again. We struggled on the ground, fighting fiercely.

In my pain, I vented my anguish until we were both exhausted. She pressed my face into the dirt, delivering punch after punch.

“If you don’t love him, why didn’t you let him go? If you hate him this much, why didn’t you let him go?”

“Who says I don’t love him!” I sobbed. Shangguan Wanqing froze. I curled up, covering my eyes with my hands, and cried out, “Who says I don’t love him!”

I loved him so much that I neglected myself, loved him so deeply that I forgot everything else.

I thought he hated me. I thought he didn’t care. I thought he had harmed me, and for the sake of my family, I used that poison out of love turned to hatred.

But who said... I don’t love him?

If being willing to die for him isn’t deep affection, then what could be?

Shangguan Wanqing stopped moving. She stood there in silence for a long time, eventually crying out like a child.

Shen Cong watched us quietly, then walked slowly to Shen Ye’s side. He knelt down and gently held Shen Ye’s hand, a smile forming on his face.

But that smile made tears fall from his eyes.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

The teenager seemed to grow up in an instant, speaking softly, “Elder Brother, I’ll take you home.”

Just as Shen Cong finished speaking, the sound of hooves approached. We turned to see my aunt, Shu Huang, riding alone. She galloped up to us, looked around, and then at Shen Ye lying on the ground, her brows furrowing tightly.

I remained silent, huddling on the ground. Aunt Huang rode up to me and looked down, her voice gentle and soothing, as when she used to comfort me when I was a child, calling out, “Cheng’er.”

I stayed motionless, embracing myself.

Aunt Huang called again, “Cheng’er.”

“Don’t say anything…” I rasped, “Auntie, go back and tell Mother that I’m fine.”

Aunt Huang didn’t respond immediately. After a moment, she said, “Cheng’er, if I leave, you won’t come back, will you?”

I didn’t reply because I knew she was right. I couldn’t go back; I couldn’t face Mother, Shaotang, or myself. We had all contributed to Shen Ye’s death, which had become the greatest burden on my heart.

My silence confirmed Aunt Huang’s words. After a moment of silence, she told the people around us, “Can you give us some space? I need to speak with Cheng’er. Perhaps, there is still hope for Young Master Su.”

At these words, I looked up in shock, and the surrounding people were also stunned. Shen Cong was the first to react, quickly moving away. Shangguan Wanqing, realizing the situation, wiped her tears and hurriedly left as well.

Once they were far away, Aunt Huang asked, “Cheng’er, do you want to save him?”

"He's already dead..." I forced a bitter smile. "Auntie, please don't joke about this..."

"I'm not joking," Aunt Huang said, pulling out a parchment from her chest. After hesitating for a moment, she handed it to me.

I stared at the parchment in confusion. "What is this?"

"You are the next head of the Shu family," Aunt Huang said with a steady gaze. "Your mother said that our family does not rely on demonic arts. Everything must be decided by you."

At that moment, I began to understand what it was.

I opened my mouth but couldn't find the words. After a long pause, I finally looked up with trembling eyes and asked incredulously, "Did Mother foresee this when she came here?"

She must have anticipated that Shen Ye loved me, that he was a good man, and that I would be heartbroken.

Aunt Huang shook her head and said slowly, "It was your mother who first discovered your condition. She saw you and hurried back to fetch this item for me to give to you."

"And her?" I asked, my eyes reddening.

Aunt Huang smiled gently. "She has many things to handle. Cheng’er, there is still your mother and me."

"Auntie... I..."

"Your mother is right. The Shu family will not rely on demonic arts. We've feared nothing in terms of power and fame. This item has been a burden on the imperial family for hundreds of years, and it has also burdened our family for centuries. Because of this, the Shu family has always been suspected by the imperial family. Our lives are intertwined with theirs, so we cannot withdraw or leave. We must remain at the center of the storm, just like the Emperor, to safeguard our own lives. Whether you choose to use this blood contract today or not, both your mother and I support you."

"If I choose to use this blood contract," I asked, "what will be the cost?"

"The blood contract was obtained by our ancestors from the Moza tribe. It is essentially a covenant signed with the heavens, sustained by blood. With this contract, you can make a wish. If that wish is granted, it becomes void when a subsequent wish is fulfilled. The contract allows for three modifications, and if you use it, it will be the third."

"If I wish to save Shen Ye, will it mean that the Shu family will lose its leverage over the Empress?" I looked up, forcing a bitter smile. "Auntie, I killed him for the sake of the Shu family."

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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