Huai Tree’s Repayment (6)
According to what the maids and servants on the way said, after passing through a stretch of shade, they arrived outside the Minister’s bedchamber. Unlike Lu Wanting’s empty and lifeless room, this one was full of vitality.
Su Qingtang followed behind Yin Gu Huai, observing the bushes and leaves around them that glowed faintly green. It feels like that same energy from the Spirit Locust Tree… but these aren’t locust trees, just ordinary flowers and grasses. What’s going on?
Yin Gu Huai noticed the old maid at the door and asked, “Is the Minister’s wife unwell as well, like my royal father and mother? Coincidentally, the Patrol Division has related personnel—why not have them come take a look? After all, we’re relatives; it wouldn’t look good to ignore it.”
The old maid’s face turned unpleasant as she watched the movement inside. After a moment, the Minister’s wife opened the door, pale-faced, and said, “Must Your Highness insist on this?”
“It’s you, Madam, who treats me—and the people of Yingyue City—as nothing,” Yin Gu Huai replied.
The Minister’s wife suddenly laughed and raised the locust tree branch in her hand. “The city’s barrier has broken—must be Your Highness and the Princess’s doing, right? As expected of those favored by Heaven. Then, naturally, I must fight for my daughter’s sake.”
As she spoke, she swung the locust branch, and faint phosphorescent light spread outward. Su Qingtang took a step closer toward Yin Gu Huai. “Your Highness, this should be the locust tree’s final power. It can’t cast Dream of Nanke again so soon, so it must be a small-scale illusion.”
Yin Gu Huai nodded, grasped Su Qingtang’s hand, and said to the Patrol Division members behind him, “Hold firm to your true heart—break this illusion.”
“Yes, sir,” they all answered in unison.
Light gathered all around them, but before it could reach Yin Gu Huai, it dissipated.
Every living thing has an instinct to survive. The lights flew toward the others, and the moment they touched Su Qingtang, she felt a wave of discomfort wash over her. Her head grew dizzy and heavy. “Huai… brother…”
Yin Gu Huai noticed her change and suddenly recalled the words of the Bodhi Tree Spirit. Hadn’t he already given the dragon’s fang? Did it really need the dragon pearl? As he pondered, he heard the familiar voice of the Locust Tree Spirit from the Qiányuán Hall and saw a small figure appear amid the green light.
[Heaven Qian, Lake Dui, Water Kan, Fire Li, Wind Xun, Earth Kun.]
The tree spirit uttered the six directions. [Step on them simultaneously.]
Yin Gu Huai immediately noticed a stone near him that was a different color. The others saw similar stones.
“Your Highness,” they called out.
Now wasn’t the time to question why he could see and hear this tiny figure. Their consciousness was growing hazy—they needed to act fast.
“The five closest people, step on the stones with me!” Yin Gu Huai commanded, scooping Su Qingtang up by the waist.
Almost at the same instant his words fell, six of them leapt out together. As the stones shattered beneath their feet, the gathered mist vanished, leaving only the faint flickering of green light.
The Minister’s wife stared in shock—especially since the Locust Tree had revealed the weak point of the formation. “You… you traitorous thing! Our Lu family gave you life, and now you help outsiders?”
The Locust Tree Spirit ignored her, stepping forward instead to look at the unconscious Su Qingtang.
[Your Highness, the reason I can appear before you and communicate is due to the Su family’s innate talent. But this ability is too much for Miss Su’s mortal body to bear. You must avoid invoking it again.]
Yin Gu Huai had guessed as much. “Then what about you? You told us to save you at the Qiányuán Hall—but gave the wrong location.”
If they’d known she was here in the Minister’s courtyard, all this trouble might have been avoided.
The Locust Tree Spirit smiled. [I wanted to tell you directly. But you had to learn about Miss Lu’s situation first to truly understand.]
At that moment, Gu An, Gu Quan, and Zhiyang returned with their squads, witnessing the strange scene.
Without turning, Yin Gu Huai asked, “Did you find anything? What’s the Lu family’s situation?”
Gu An, suppressing his shock at his lord’s composure, quickly reported, “We investigated along the way. Xiao Cui fled fast, and her goal was clear—she meant to cause a commotion where the crowd was thickest. Tianxiang Pavilion was her target.”
Gu Quan continued, “We also checked the Fuguang Brocade. The Lu family did purchase a large batch back then. Each set Miss Lu made had two sizes—it looks like she was preparing for today’s situation.”
Yin Gu Huai looked up. “And Xiao Cui’s family? What’s their story?”
Gu Quan hesitated before replying, “It’s not quite as told before. We confirmed through interviews that Cui’s younger brother was to be married this year but lacked the betrothal money. His father tried to earn extra through part-time work but recently fell and got injured. The mother had to care for both while still saving for the wedding, so in desperation, they sought help from Xiao Cui.”
The rest was obvious—Xiao Cui knew she faced certain death and thus agreed to Lu Wanting’s plan, using her death to secure her family’s safety.
Yin Gu Huai gazed at the silent Locust Tree Spirit. “Do you have anything to add?”
[Hasn’t Your Highness already guessed? My life force was nearly spent. To preserve their family’s fortune, the Lu family gathered my remaining energy and transformed it into a fetus within Miss Lu. Before that, I had already cast Dream of Nanke. Anyone who interacted with the Lu family would follow the path shaped by their will.]
“And the original version of the story?”
[Naturally—it was the maid who secretly took a lover, got pregnant, was discovered, and unable to bear the shame, died—one body, three lives lost. The Lu family planned to cover it with money, but the groom’s family ran off with it. In desperation—it ended in tragedy.]
That still didn’t sound right. Yin Gu Huai frowned. “Three months?”
[Humans and spirits are different. Three months—if it succeeds, it’s life; if not, it’s waste.] The Locust Tree Spirit spoke gently, yet what it revealed was a plan that deceived an entire city.
It must have failed, so they used the maid’s scandal as cover. Yin Gu Huai’s brows furrowed, but the tree spirit continued:
[Miss Lu’s pregnancy could still have been discovered with proper investigation. No wall is without cracks. So they made two preparations—the maid’s suicide to stir public outrage, and poison as backup.]
Everyone felt a chill. So this was the truth.
The Minister’s wife, still standing outside the green light, shouted, “You ungrateful monster! How could you betray the Lu family like this?”
The Locust Tree Spirit looked at her calmly.
[My life was saved by Brother Lu, that I admit. I’ve aided your family for years—while not making you soar to heaven, I ensured a smooth career. That repaid his kindness. But you sought to drain my remaining life force to preserve your fortune, and I cooperated. Miss Lu’s body couldn’t bear it. So when I go to see Brother Lu, I’ll have no guilt.]
[It’s you who should feel guilty. Brother Lu was a man of great character, yet his descendants succumbed to greed and power, step by step turning into this. I am grateful, however, that you bound my spirit all these years—until today, I finally awaken, remembering only the memories of those years beside him. Ah, if only life were as it was at first sight.]
[Brother Lu, I’m coming to find you. In this world, the sun, moon, and stars turn and overlap endlessly. Even if I’ve wronged everyone else… I’ve never wronged you.]
With those final words, the Locust Tree Spirit’s figure faded into the air, and the surrounding green light slowly disappeared.
In Yin Gu Huai’s arms, Su Qingtang stirred and groaned, “What happened… my head hurts.”
“Maybe you’re sick,” Yin Gu Huai said softly—an unusual trace of concern in his tone—then set her down and turned to the Minister’s wife. “Do you have anything else to say?”
The Minister’s wife glanced around at the aftermath and recalled her husband’s warning. She gave a bitter smile. “Doesn’t Your Highness already know everything?”
“Then let’s continue this at the Patrol Division,” Yin Gu Huai ordered, then turned to Su Qingtang. “Do you want to go back first? I’ll have Zhiyang escort you.”
Su Qingtang only wanted to find a place to sleep. She nodded. “Alright. But… could you give me another dragon fang? I want the first one you shed. If I don’t see you, I’ll feel terrible.”
The tense air froze for a moment. Without asking further, Yin Gu Huai handed her a string of dragon fangs. “A gift for future festivals.”
That answer was acceptable enough. Su Qingtang immediately took the fangs, feeling the heaviness in her chest lift. “Thank you, Brother Huai. Sister Zhiyang, let’s go.”
After returning to the Prime Minister’s estate, Su Qingtang fell straight into bed and slept deeply.
That evening, just before the palace gates were locked, the estate received a distinguished visitor—Eunuch Fu, who served beside Emperor Xide. He brought with him an imperial decree:
“By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Today, Su Qingtang of the Su family, pure of heart and virtuous in conduct, of radiant beauty and noble spirit—shall be appointed Deputy Director of the Patrol Division. Perform your duties faithfully, uphold integrity, govern with diligence, and do not fail Our expectations. Thus decreed.”
Su Qingtang stood frozen. Who is he talking about? Pure of heart, virtuous in conduct? Who? Me? Does my father have another daughter named Qingtang?
To stop his daughter’s wild imagination, Prime Minister Su said quickly, “Thank His Majesty,” and nudged her with his elbow.
Su Qingtang’s brain finally caught up. “Your humble daughter accepts the decree. Thank His Majesty.” She bowed properly and received the decree.
As Eunuch Fu prepared to leave, Prime Minister Su chased after him, discreetly handing him a pouch of silver. “Eunuch Fu, this…”
Eunuch Fu weighed the pouch, then returned it with a wave of his whisk. “His Majesty values talent. There’s no need for worry, Prime Minister. Best discuss tomorrow’s arrangements with the young lady instead.”
Reassured by those words, Prime Minister Su let out a slow breath and returned to the main hall.
When his family saw his grim expression, both Madam Su and Su Qingtang rushed over. “Father! / Husband! How did it go?”
Prime Minister Su took one of their hands in each of his. “Don’t worry. It’s fine. I’m here.”
The three of them exchanged looks, then finally sat down to dinner together.
Su Qingtang picked up a piece of lean meat and placed it in her father’s bowl. “Father, eat.”
Prime Minister Su looked at her warmly and ate it. Madam Su pouted. “Oh? Now that you’re going to work tomorrow, you’re trying to curry favor with your father? What about me? Have I raised you for nothing?”
Su Qingtang laughed and picked up another piece, as large as her father’s, and put it into her mother’s bowl. “Here, see? I share the love evenly.”
“Hahaha, you little rascal.”
…
(End of Chapter: Huai Tree’s Repayment 6)