Untouchable Lovers-Chapter 201 - 181 Knowing Fate at This Moment
Chapter 201: Chapter 181: Knowing Fate at This Moment
Chapter 201: Chapter 181: Knowing Fate at This Moment
Upon hearing Chu Yu’s request, Tian Rujing froze for a moment.
He instinctively felt something was amiss, yet that slight premonition melted away upon seeing Chu Yu’s beseeching gaze.
The two sat opposite each other, a one-and-a-half-foot-wide black, short-legged table between them. Kneeling down, their robes fanned out on both sides, making them look like two butterflies bowing to each other from afar.
Graceful, extended, beautiful, and sorrowful.
Chu Yu gently grasped Tian Rujing’s hand, fought off the urge to snatch away the ring forcefully, and took great care not to reveal her true intentions. With a trace of light concern between her brows, she murmured softly, “Tian Rujing, I know I don’t have many days left to live. Please consider this as fulfilling my final wish before death, alright?”
Perhaps it was the too somber look in her eyes, perhaps the touch of her hand was too soft and warm, or perhaps it was the thought of her impending departure from this world that caused a tight pain in Tian Rujing’s chest, and his judgment greatly diminished. He thought it over and concluded that Chu Yu indeed couldn’t do much now. Even if she disclosed the details of the political conspiracy, her words would not be believed by anyone.
Liu Ziyue’s heart had drifted away from her, and the young Emperor would no longer easily trust or follow her words, and all Tian Rujing needed to do was make one or two suggestions on the side. Even if Chu Yu disclosed the subsequent events to Liu Ziyue, he could make the Emperor indifferent to them.
As the Heavenly Master, he held an esteemed and supreme status in the presence of the Emperor, and his words were worth ten times that of others.
Having thought this through, Tian Rujing somewhat relaxed. Seeing Chu Yu’s hopeful expression, he eventually couldn’t help but soften his heart, “Alright.”
No sooner had Tian Rujing spoken than a glimmer of light brightened in Chu Yu’s eyes, then quickly she lowered her eyelids and whispered softly, “Although you created this situation, you’re willing to agree to my request… I’m still very thankful to you.” Her voice suddenly became so faint toward the end that it was almost inaudible.
Tian Rujing felt her hand, holding his, tremble slightly. Her downcast expression conveyed a pitiable air. His heart softened again involuntarily, and he patted the back of her hand in response. He thought she was frightened by the prospect of her imminent death, not knowing how to comfort her except by awkwardly patting her hand.
Chu Yu suppressed the joy in her heart with great effort because this uncontrollable emotion made it difficult for her to hide her true feelings. In this script, she was someone about to die, and she shouldn’t appear too happy about any news, as it could raise Tian Rujing’s suspicions.
She needed to exhibit a sense of resigned acceptance, while occasionally showing bright sorrow, to perfectly evoke Tian Rujing’s guilt and deceive him completely.
This was preparation she had started making since her conversation with Tian Rujing yesterday; she had deliberately displayed a sorrowful expression in front of him, claiming he was too cruel—not at all in her nature. Even if she felt pain and sorrow, she would never reveal it in front of an enemy without an ulterior motive, let alone say such sappy words as “You’re so cruel.”
Now, as Chu Yu recalled it, she felt a bit embarrassed, but at that moment, she had performed beyond her abilities, reaching the acting standards of a tragic heroine.
With so few resources at her disposal, she had to resort to capturing his heart.
Though the sound of Chu songs could be heard all around, signaling an impending downfall, Chu Yu had not the slightest intention of giving up. She proceeded with greater caution and determination than before.
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“Taizong, with Ruan Dianfu, Wang Daolong, Li Dao’er, and Shou Jizhi, Jiang Chanzi, and ten others, plotted to depose the Emperor. On the night of Wu Wu, the Emperor was exorcising ghosts in the bamboo hall of Huailin Garden. The witch claimed ‘there’s a ghost in this hall,’ prompting the Emperor to shoot an arrow himself. Shou Jizhi entered with a blade concealed, and Jiang Chanzi was his deputy. When the Emperor tried to flee, Shou Jizhi pursued and struck him down; he was seventeen.”
—— Book of Song, Annals Chapter 7: The Former Deposed Emperor
The Emperor had already secretly conspired with his confidants, such as Ruan Dianfu and Li Dao’er. At that time, those around the deposed Emperor constantly feared calamity upon themselves, and everyone harbored their own scheming thoughts. Only General Zhi Hao Song Yue, Tan Jin, Tong Taiyi, and a few others were truly his confidants, with the vigor of fierce tigers, having been in the palace for a long time, commanding awe and respect from the masses, thus no one dared to act. That evening, Yue and the others stayed outside the palace. Seizing the opportunity, Dian Fu and Dao’er, along with Jie Shou Jizhi and others, killed the Emperor in the back hall on the night of the twenty-ninth day of the eleventh month.
—— Book of Song, Annals Chapter 8: Emperor Ming
What Tian Rujing calls the “Heavenly Book” contains more orthodox historical records, rather than the folk tales found in the countryside. The ancient text is not easy to understand, but the meaning can be grasped. Chu Yu suppressed the euphoria in her heart, slowly taking in the content she had once dreamed of possessing. She read very slowly, wishing she could study each character ten times over and deeply etch it in her mind as if that was the only way to have truly read it. Eventually, she focused on two critical sections of the text because these related to the specific process by which Liu Ziyue met his death.
The “former deposed Emperor” refers to Liu Ziyue, who was so brutal and tyrannical during his life that after his overthrow and death, he was not granted any posthumous title. And Emperor Ming, who was the succeeding Emperor after Liu Ziyue, is currently the one imprisoned in the palace by Liu Ziyue, the one among the three princes with a more portly figure, nominally their Imperial Uncle, named Liu Yu.
The historical record states that Liu Yu conspired with his close officials and contacted Liu Ziyue’s attendants Shou Jizhi, Jiang Chanzi, and eleven others to plot against the Emperor.
Liu Ziyue was rather cautious about his safety, but one night, while performing an exorcism in the bamboo hall of Huailin Garden, his defenses were slightly neglected. This allowed Liu Yu to collude with those near him to assassinate Ziyue, “killing the deposed Emperor in the back hall.”
The date was the evening of the twenty-ninth day of the eleventh month.
It is now the latter half of the ninth month of the lunar calendar, with just over two months remaining.
Finally confirming the exact time, Chu Yu couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief: thankfully, there were two more months. She would have more leeway to maneuver and could prepare defense measures more targetedly.
Chu Yu silently noted down the names involved in the assassination plot and reviewed them twice more to ensure she had memorized them. Only then did she let go of Tian Rujing’s hand and gave him a small smile, “Thank you.”
Her gratitude was sincere. Although she had resorted to deception, had Tian Rujing not shown her pity, she would not have succeeded so smoothly. Half the credit for this should be attributed to Tian Rujing.
As the skin that had been in contact with his palm parted, a touch of melancholy arose in Tian Rujing’s heart. At this moment, because of her relaxed state, Chu Yu revealed a flaw. Having read the date of her own death, she normally should not have been so calm. But because she was happy in her heart, she overlooked this. Yet at this time, Tian Rujing was somewhat distracted and did not notice Chu Yu’s anomaly.
Still a bit reluctant to let go, Chu Yu looked at Tian Rujing with eager anticipation, “Since I’m about to die anyway, could you let me see the other functions of your bracelet… no, Divine Artifact, if you don’t mind?”
At this point, with the heavy stone in her heart having been lifted, her request to see other features was merely an attempt to take further advantage and snatch a little extra for herself. The holographic screen of the bracelet was still open, and she casually pointed at one of the functions: “How about showing me this one?”
To Chu Yu’s surprise, Tian Rujing did not hesitate much and quietly satisfied her request, perhaps because he was offering a big discount in view of her “approaching death.”
Initially, Chu Yu glanced over it casually, but after focusing, she scrutinized it more carefully. However, when she fully understood what was displayed on the screen and comprehended its implications, her face revealed an utterly shocked, amazed, and incredulous expression.
