A year later, they were on the run again. It was as if they had returned to that dilapidated temple, full of holes, with freezing rain falling outside and pursuers everywhere.
Shen Mei had gripped Shen Ling by the shoulders and laid down three rules for him to follow.
“You must—you absolutely must—listen to me. I’m your older brother; I would never harm you.”
Now history was repeating itself.
Shen Mei crouched in front of Shen Ling and said earnestly, “Tingting, I won’t hurt you.”
Shen Ling met Shen Mei’s gaze, staring hard into his cheap big brother’s eyes.
They stared at each other. Shen Mei’s irises were very dark, filled with concern and even a trace of sorrowful pleading, making him look utterly devoted.
He really did have those soulful eyes that made even looking at a dog seem sincere.
But Shen Ling wasn’t about to be swayed in the slightest.
He tilted his head and he muttered expressionlessly, “Last time, you said we’d depend on each other for life, but then you turned around and sent me into the palace to sell my ass. You even said that if Dad hadn’t died, you would’ve sent him to the Emperor’s bed too. I remember every word, big brother. If I run away with you this time, and you run short of money or lose your power, will you send me off to be fucked by someone else?”
Shen Mei: “…”
His expression turned awkward in an instant.
He raised a hand to rub his nose and said guiltily, “Oh, come on, things are different now! Back then, wasn’t it all for revenge? I just had to use whatever means I could. All right, all right. I swear on Dad’s grave that after we escape, no matter what happens, I won’t abandon you. I’d offer myself up before I’d send you off. If I break my word, may Dad be unable to rest in peace in the afterlife and will come back to haunt me, okay?”
Shen Ling was half-convinced, half-skeptical.
Sometimes, he really had no idea what went on in this cheap big brother’s head.
But the dead were gone, and the living mattered more.
Li Sui’s death had jolted him as if waking him from a dream. Once the grief passed, a wave of dread washed over him.
The palace really was no place for him to stay any longer. Someone like him would be recorded in the history books as a nìngxìng1*Translator’s Note:* Ningxing (佞幸) refers to a person who gains an emperor’s favor through flattery, personal affection, or intimate relations rather than through merit or official accomplishments. In imperial China, the term often carried a derogatory connotation, describing a favored courtier who used the emperor’s personal favor to gain power and influence.—a disreputable favorite who rose through the Emperor’s favor, and the only person who could protect him was the Emperor. And now that the Emperor was dead, wouldn’t the officials hesitate to tear the two brothers limb from limb?
It was fine to die of old age, to die from an illness, or even be poisoned to death, but he absolutely couldn’t be tortured to death.
Shen Ling gathered himself and said in a muffled voice, “All right. I’ll trust you one more time.”
Shen Mei let out a sigh of relief.
“Let’s go.”
The two left the Imperial retreat and went on the run again, though this time they were much better off than when they’d fled in the heavy snow the year before.
The Hot-Spring Palace was under heavy lockdown, with imperial guards everywhere in iron armor, their blades gleaming coldly.
Cloaked, Shen Ling followed behind Shen Mei, watching his cheap big brother flash a token and clear the way, passing through without obstruction.
Shen Ling wondered when his cheap brother had acquired such an imposing air. As they reached the last palace gate, they ran into the minister who had accused him of being improper at the palace banquet.
Lin Zangzhi blocked the road. “His Majesty’s condition is unknown, and the Imperial retreat has been locked down. Shen Mei, where do you think you’re going?”
His gaze passed over Shen Mei and caught a glimpse of a pale pink hem beneath the black cloak. His brows knitted at once. He strode forward, trying to drag out the evil consort hiding behind Shen Mei.
“His Majesty is ill. As a concubine, aren’t you supposed to tend to him instead of attempting to escape?”
Shen Ling dodged him again and again, circling around Shen Mei like they were playing hawk and chicks.
Lin Zangzhi hadn’t expected the evil consort to be so nimble. He snapped, “What are you standing around for? A palace concubine is trying to escape! Seize him at once!”
“I’d like to see who dares!” Shen Mei raised an arm to block him, pressing a token right against Lin Zangzhi’s face.
He rebuked coldly, “Minister Lin, mind yourself! Don’t offend this noble person! This token was personally bestowed by His Majesty and grants me authority to act as I see fit. To see this token is to see the Emperor. Are you planning to defy an Imperial Edict today?”
Whoa! What an imposing display of authority!
Shen Ling had never seen Shen Mei act so serious before. His cheap big brother even seemed to have grown taller.
Lin Zangzhi was indeed cowed. He stared at the token, brows drawn tightly together, then said in a low voice, “The Imperial retreat is sealed. You may have a token, so you may leave. But he’s a palace consort. He cannot!”
Lin Zangzhi pointed at Shen Ling and shouted, “Come out! Do you think you can use the chaos to sneak out of the palace? Unless His Majesty comes here in person, you are not crossing this gate today, you evil consort!”
It was Shen Ling’s first time being pointed at and called an evil consort. He clenched his sleeves and poked his head out from behind Shen Mei’s shoulder. “Who are you calling an evil consort?”
He’d cried half the night, and his eyes were swollen red, like a rabbit’s.
“What have I done to deserve being called an evil consort?”
Other ‘evil consorts’ at least threw the court into chaos or sold official posts and noble titles. At the very least, they harmed the imperial offsprings or schemed against other palace women.
Since entering the palace, all he’d done was sleep with the Emperor or coax him to sleep. He’d even secured his older brother an official post, only to be treated coldly himself.
He got fucked so often his bones nearly fell apart—what about that was evil?
He wasn’t exactly a paragon of virtue, but even if he hadn’t done anything great, he had worked hard for it!
Shen Ling already had a fire burning inside him.
It was horrifying enough to watch the person who had shared his bed day and night cough up blood and die right in front of him. He hadn’t done anything—if anything, he’d tried over and over to stop him.
Li Sui had insisted on drinking that cup of wine. And when he died, he hadn’t even left any last words. He could at least have left behind an Imperial Edict… Why did he have to die so suddenly? He didn’t even have a final burst of strength!
Besides, life is hard enough as it is—what’s wrong with not wanting to die?
Especially a death by burial sacrifice. You either hanged yourself or took poison. It must have been agonizing.
At the thought, Shen Ling’s tears spilled down his face.
Choking back sobs, he said, “How have I wronged His Majesty? Why are you treating me like this?”
Overwhelmed by grievance, Shen Ling began to speak without thinking.
“Go get His Majesty. Go right now! Bring Li Sui here and make him tell me to my face whether I’m an evil consort! Whether I’ve wronged him!”
As he broke down, Shen Ling choked and coughed. He couldn’t catch his breath and began hyperventilating. He clutched his chest and collapsed, gasping for breath, and his face twisted in pain.
Shen Mei hurriedly caught him, his face dark with anger. His voice carried an unmistakable fury. “That’s enough, Lin Zangzhi! His Majesty gave me this token and granted me freedom of movement. You’re a censor, not an imperial guard. You have no right to block our way. Move!”
Lin Zangzhi was about to say more when someone noticed the commotion from a distance.
The commander of the imperial guards, clad in armor, rode over. His face was hidden behind a mask, making his features impossible to discern. Looking down at the three by the gate, he waved a hand.
“By His Majesty’s order: to see this token is to see His Majesty himself. Let them pass.”
Lin Zangzhi: “…This is against all reason!”
Commander of the imperial guards: “Are you questioning His Majesty, Minister Lin?”
A single rank difference could be enough to crush him. Lin Zangzhi could only retreat resentfully.
Shen Mei helped Shen Ling leave. The imperial guard on his tall horse even asked, “Would you like a carriage?”
Shen Mei had meant to refuse, but after seeing Shen Ling’s pained expression, he softened his voice. “Thank you, General.”
The commander of the imperial guards asked again, “Would you like a coachman to drive it?”
Shen Mei: “I can ride. No need.”
The commander of the imperial guards simply said, “Oh.”
＊
Shen Mei drove the carriage along the main road, leaving the Hot-Spring Palace. Shen Ling finally recovered partway through the journey. He couldn’t sit still in the carriage, so he climbed out to talk to Shen Mei.
With tears and snot streaming down his face, he sobbed, “Shen Mingming, you’ve really ruined my life. My reputation! If there are history books in the future, they’ll probably record me as an evil consort, and I’ll be infamous for generations.”
Shen Mei said helplessly, “Let them say what they want. As long as you’re alive and well, what does it matter if they curse you a little? You’re not taking the Imperial examinations or becoming a high official.”
Shen Ling: “What about you?”
Shen Mei: “People are targeting me every day. I might as well quit being an official. I could live as a hermit, free as the clouds and wild as the cranes, or perhaps teach a little. That wouldn’t be bad.”
Shen Ling gave an “Oh” and wiped his face with Shen Mei’s sleeve. “Where are we going next?”
“We’re short on time. First, we’ll go back to the Shen residence. I need to fetch some things.”
Shen Ling suddenly remembered the seal Xie Zhen had given him, still tucked beneath his pillow, and perked up. “I need to get something, too.”
After leaving the palace this time, he would have to seek out Xie Zhen—no matter how long it took. If Senior was still alive, they could search for a way home together when they reunited. He’d have someone to accompany him, too. At least… at least he wouldn’t be so lonely.
Shen Ling sniffled twice. He’d only been here a year, and he’d already become a widower. That was kind of sad.
Shen Mei drove fast. Several groups of soldiers stopped them along the way to ask questions, but when they saw the token and the palace carriage, they all let them pass.
It was well past midnight when the two returned to the capital.
Shen Ling’s bones felt as if the ride had shaken them to pieces. The city was brightly lit and heavily guarded. This time, Shen Mei pulled out another jade token from his robes and held it high.
“By order of Prince Jing: the bearer of this token is to be admitted to see His Highness. Let them pass.”
The soldiers saw the token and immediately opened the way. Shen Mei drove the carriage straight through, with imposing grandeur.
Hidden behind his cloak, Shen Ling gave Shen Mei a thumbs-up beneath the hem of his sleeve. “Big brother, you’re something else.”
Shen Mei: “When you’re running for your life, you have to be prepared.”
The two hurried back to the Shen residence. Shen Mei tossed Shen Ling a set of clothes and told him to change into whatever he liked, then went to change into a light, practical outfit himself.
He had barely finished changing when Li Zhen arrived on horseback.
Through the window, Shen Ling heard him ask Shen Mei how the Emperor was doing.
Shen Mei replied, “The poison has been administered. It’s a poison that kills the moment it touches the blood. His Majesty has passed away. The Prince only needs to eliminate the remaining forces and obtain the Imperial Jade Seal before he can ascend the throne.”
Li Zhen’s maniacal laughter rang throughout the courtyard.
“Lord Shen, you deserve the greatest credit for this!”
Shen Mei replied, “I wouldn’t dare claim the credit. It was all thanks to the Young Lord’s excellent arrangements. Now that I have finally avenged my father’s death, I feel strangely empty inside. Today, I plan to take my younger brother up the mountain to offer incense and kowtow at our father’s grave.”
Li Zhen granted his request. “You’re certainly filial.”
Shen Mei dropped to his knees, weeping so hard he could barely speak.
Li Zhen offered a few more words of encouragement, then hurried off to attend to his grand endeavors.
Shen Ling packed his things in the room. He slung a small bag over his shoulder, with a dagger and the gold ingots Li Sui had given him inside. He tied Xie Zhen’s seal to a cord and hung it around his neck with the birthday gift Li Sui had given him.
Before they left, Shen Mei called him to the Ancestral Hall. Shen Ling lit a stick of incense before Lord Shen’s memorial tablet, then the two of them knelt and kowtowed together.
Shen Mei said, “Your son has been unfilial.”
Shen Ling echoed him. “Your son has been unfilial.”
Then he watched Shen Mei crawl beneath the offering table. Shen Ling: “…” Was there a secret passage?
He crawled in after him and saw Shen Mei rummage out a bundle. It was very heavy. When he opened it, Shen Ling was dazzled by the sight.
Money. Nothing but money.
Gold ingots, silver ingots, and banknotes. At a glance, there had to be at least ten thousand taels.
Shen Ling: “…Did you become a bandit?”
Shen Mei: “Don’t ask so many questions.”
He stuffed some of the banknotes into Shen Ling’s boots, then divided the gold and silver between them. Each carried a share. After locking the door, they traveled light and set off toward Grave Hill outside the capital.
Past the Chou hour, heavy snow began to fall, and the cold wind howled.
Li Zhen stood atop the city wall, watching the two frail figures ride out of the city. He turned to the retainers behind him and said, “Send someone after them. Leave no one alive.”
