# Chapter 8: Unbearable
Wei Yang leaned against the window of the pavilion, gazing at the Yaoj极 Palace in the distance, her expression blank and dazed. Her gaze shifted, and the Zhongbi Residence came into view. Wei Yang froze, and an odd warmth suddenly stirred in her heart—that handsome, extraordinary man had somehow crept into her thoughts again. His faint smile, his clear and gentle voice, the peaceful light that shimmered in his crystal-clear eyes...
Wei Yang stared at the Zhongbi Residence, lost in thought.
"Your Majesty, the Queen..." the palace maid Suxin called softly, startling Wei Yang.
A flush of embarrassment crept across Wei Yang's face, and she quickly covered it, nodding dismissively.
Suxin said, "Your Majesty, Ying Shan followed your orders and has already sent the gifts to General Ruifeng's residence."
Wei Yang responded indifferently. Just as Suxin was about to withdraw, Wei Yang called her back. "Suxin, do you know why only this Rongxi Garden has a pavilion added to it in the entire Ruyi Palace?"
Suxin shook her head.
"Then do you know who used to live in this garden?"
Suxin replied timidly, "I heard it was Princess Yunyao, the late King's sister."
Wei Yang nodded, then asked, "Which kingdom did Princess Yunyao marry into? Or did she marry some prince or general?"
Suxin lowered her voice. "I heard... she never married. She died."
Wei Yang was stunned. "How did she die?"
Suxin hesitated and lowered her head.
Wei Yang seemed to understand something: back when Zhang Shun bloodied Ruyi Palace, every garden here was filled with corpses lying on the ground. It was likely that Princess Yunyao also died at Zhang Shun's hands. Thinking of this, she murmured to herself, "Zhang Shun was truly brutal. He even killed his own sister."
"Huh?" Suxin looked astonished. "Princess Yunyao wasn't killed by Prince Zhang Shun. I heard from Chief Steward Fu that Princess Yunyao and Prince Zhang Shun were rare twin siblings. Prince Zhang Shun was very naughty as a child, but he always listened to his sister. After Princess Yunyao died, Prince Zhang Shun changed as if he were a different person. His temperament became sullen and irritable."
The more Wei Yang listened, the more confused she became. "Then how did Princess Yunyao really die?"
A mysterious expression appeared on Suxin's face. She lowered her voice and said, "I heard that in the third year after the late King ascended the throne, Princess Yunyao hanged herself—that happened right here in this pavilion."
Wei Yang's hair stood on end. She glanced around warily, as if Princess Yunyao's spirit might be lurking in this room.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong?"
"Nothing." Wei Yang's beautiful face had gone pale. She stood up and prepared to leave. "Suxin, come with me to the Zhongbi Residence. I want to seemandu."
"This..." Suxin's face showed fear.
Wei Yang immediately understood and said gently, "Forget it. I'll go myself."
Wei Yang arrived at the Zhongbi Residence and, familiar with the way, turned past the screen and entered the inner courtyard, where she encountered Man Cheng sitting in the front hall.
A few days ago, she had heard Xiu Yi expose Man Cheng's failings—saying he drank, whored, and gambled, among other things. Somehow, this had left her feeling quite uncomfortable. In her impression, this man had been clean and refined, someone who kept himself respectable. Who would have thought he was such a debauched, licentious person! Then again, it had nothing to do with her, yet she couldn't let it go. Now that she saw him, feeling somewhat awkward, she heard him laugh and say, "Has the Queen come to see Man Du? He's asleep."
Wei Yang was disappointed. "Why is it that every time I come, I catch him sleeping?"
Man Cheng said, "You happen to arrive right after he's taken his medicine. He'll be unconscious for an hour."
Wei Yang stamped her foot. "Why didn't you mention that before?"
"Ah, the Queen is冤枉ing Man Cheng. That kid never takes his medicine on time. How would I know when he drinks it? Besides, Your Majesty didn't ask." Man Cheng gave a knowing smile, watching with great interest as Wei Yang's face gradually flushed red. All those previous times Wei Yang had come and heard that Man Du was asleep, she hadn't asked further and just sat in the front hall chatting with Man Cheng. Hearing him say this now, it was as if he could see through her thoughts, leaving her somewhat annoyed. She stood frozen for a moment, then turned to leave.
Unexpectedly, Man Cheng quickly stood up and grabbed Wei Yang's hand. Wei Yang felt that warmth surge from her palm straight to her heart, making her breath stop. She hastily pulled away, looking at him like a startled deer.
Man Cheng was unruffled and asked with a smile, "Is the Queen angry at Man Cheng?" Seeing Wei Yang remain silent, he continued, "Every time the Queen comes, she comes to see Man Du. When will you come to see me?"
Wei Yang said angrily, "What is there to see about you? If you dare to be so presumptuous again, I—"
Man Cheng quickly apologized with a smile. "I'm wrong, isn't that enough? Please don't be angry, Your Majesty!" When Wei Yang refused to respond, Man Cheng smilingly changed the subject. "Why isn't your handmaiden following you today?"
Wei Yang steadied her breathing and slowly replied, "I sent her to General Chang's place to deliver some gifts."
"Oh, it's Captain Qiong's birthday today." Man Cheng smiled faintly. "It's good to be a child. There are always people remembering your birthday."
Wei Yang smiled slightly. "Why doesn't General Xia go join the fun?"
"If I go, all of Jinli's guests will run away. People like me are like a plague wherever we go. Everyone avoids us." Man Cheng said this lightly, then smiled again. "I had Zhong Shan send the gift over on my behalf. Will the Queen be going to Jinli's banquet later?"
Wei Yang looked at him and suddenly realized that this powerful, high-ranking man was so pitiful, so lonely.
"Your Majesty, why are you looking at me like that? Am I that good-looking?"
Wei Yang came back to her senses, her face flushing red once more.
Man Cheng burst out laughing. "Why is the Queen so shy? Today, don't go to the banquet at Jinli's place. Stay here and have a meal with me, okay?"
Wei Yang hastily declined.
Man Cheng reached out and tugged at Wei Yang's sleeve,撒娇ing like a child. "Your Majesty, look—only Man Du and I eat meals here. It's so lonely... What if I have Lanxing make some really good food? Won't that do?"
Wei Yang couldn't help but laugh and had to agree.
Seeing that she had agreed, Man Cheng grew bolder, slowly moving his hand and clasping Wei Yang's. "Why does the Queen always blush when she sees Man Cheng? Is it the same when she sees Zhang Zhou?"
"I..."
"Your Majesty, in the future, when you come over, don't bring your handmaiden..."
Zhong Shan entered the Zhongbi Residence and saw Man Du sitting in the front courtyard on a rocking chair, reading a book.
Man Du was getting thinner and thinner! The serene, lazy expression on this thirteen-year-old boy's beautiful, delicate face was completely unfitting for his age. Zhong Shan stared, mesmerized: Man Cheng was like this when he was little, wasn't he...
Man Du raised his head and smiled faintly. "What is there to look at in me?"
Zhong Shan swaggered over with a swaggering gait. "Is it a crime to look a couple more times? Kid, what are you reading?" Then, without asking, he snatched the book from Man Du's hands and flipped through it, laughing. "Military strategy! Very promising! Learn more so you can teach your brother! Where's your brother?"
Man Du said coolly, "He's out."
Zhong Shan waved his hand at Man Du. "Get down. Let old man have a rock on this chair!" Seeing Man Du pouting and shaking his head, Zhong Shan threw a tantrum and picked Man Du up horizontally.
Man Du cried out "Ah!" as he was hoisted onto Zhong Shan's shoulder. He could only laugh and beg for mercy. "Fine, you can have it! Hurry and put me down!"
Zhong Shan set him down gently, then reached out and pinched his flushed little cheek. "You're as light as a little chick! How dare you not listen?"
Man Du sat on a stone bench nearby, eyes full of smiles. "Shameless!"
Zhong Shan lay down on the rocking chair triumphantly, swinging his legs with his feet crossed, laughing even louder at Man Du's words. "Ah哈哈哈哈... I'm shameless. What about it? You不服?"
"Tsk!" Man Du leaned against the table, picked up the book from the ground and placed it on the table. "Zhong Shan, I want to go out for some fresh air!"
"Did you take today's medicine?"
"Not yet."
"Then do you think it's allowed?" Zhong Shan said this and, not hearing Man Du撒娇 as he usually would, felt somewhat puzzled. But then he heard Man Du sigh, and Zhong Shan couldn't help but laugh: this little rascal was putting on a deep, mature act!
"Zhong Shan, Sister Queen is a good person."
Zhong Shan laughed. "Whether she's a good person or not, what business is that of yours, little rascal?"
"Zhong Shan! Please persuade my brother." Man Du tugged at his sleeve and said earnestly, "Tell him to stay farther away from Sister Queen."
Zhong Shan's expression darkened. He forced a smile and said, "What are you thinking, little rascal? Don't meddle in adult affairs."
Man Du clung to his arm and begged, "Zhong Shan, if Sister Queen gets hurt, my brother won't be fine either. Please persuade my brother. It's not too late to turn back now."
Zhong Shan smiled bitterly and said slowly, "How could I not have tried to persuade him? It's no use, Man Du."
Man Du fell silent in disappointment, his eyes filled with worry.
Zhong Shan quickly changed the subject and teased, "After you take your medicine and take a nap, I'll take you out for a walk. By the way, what about that hawk I caught last time?"
Man Du's expression relaxed. "I let it go."
"Ah!" Zhong Shan夸张地 grimaced and sighed. "I told Man Cheng you shouldn't keep it! That thing, with proper training, would have been a first-rate hunting hawk! Eh, why did you suddenly lose interest? Really! If you didn't like it, you should have returned it to me!"
"I did like it!" Man Du protested. "But it didn't like me. It would panic and jump around whenever it saw me!"
Zhong Shan scooped him up, feigning anger but actually laughing. "You傻瓜! If you're sincere and kind to it, over time, it will like you!"
Man Du gave a half-smile. "Are you talking about the hawk? Or my brother?"
"Dare to耻笑 me? You little rascal, you don't want to live anymore? I'm not taking you out!" Zhong Shan opened his mouth and bit Man Du's cheek.
Man Du shrunk his neck and quickly begged for mercy. "Okay, okay, I won't dare next time!" Seeing Zhong Shan leaning on the rocking chair with his eyes closed, Man Du could only cling to his neck and撒娇. "I've already apologized. Don't be so petty!"
"Hehe..." Zhong Shan grinned wickedly, but only pretended to be serious, occasionally humming and hawing.
"General Cheng!" Lanxing ran in, her face full of smiles. "The Princess Consort is here."
Zhong Shan leapt up, flustered, and tried to escape by climbing over the wall.
Seeing his狼狈 appearance, Man Du couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Cheng Zhongshan! Get down here." With a sharp reprimand, Xiu Yi entered the front courtyard and looked at Zhong Shan on the wall, laughing.
Zhong Shan had no choice but to jump down, walked over with exaggerated deference, and bowed. "Princess Consort."
Xiu Yi ignored him and took Man Du's hand, sitting down beside him. "Oh, Man Du, why is your face covered in saliva?" She then shot a glare at Zhong Shan. "Bitten by a dog again?"
Zhong Shan put on an apologetic smile. "Princess Consort! What brings you here today?"
"Oh, from your tone, it seems the Zhongbi Residence belongs to your vicious dog general?" Xiu Yi immediately began lecturing Zhong Shan.
Zhong Shan had long been accustomed to her sarcasm and quickly said, "Then Zhong Shan will leave immediately."
"You are not permitted to leave." Xiu Yi stopped him. "I came specifically to find you! Think you can escape? No way!"
Man Du wiped the saliva off his face and nodded triumphantly. "Right, right! What else have you done wrong? Think you can escape? No way!"
Zhong Shan was caught between laughter and tears.
"That Qu Xue was a perfectly good, clear-headed child, and now he's been corrupted by you!" Xiu Yi said coldly, scolding, "You good-for-nothing, why didn't you try to stop him? Tell me, where have you hidden him?"
"Huh?"
Xiu Yi glared at him. "Stop pretending!"
Zhong Shan looked wronged. "This is冤枉, Princess Consort! I don't know where he is either!"
Xiu Yi cut him off. "Bull! If you don't know, then who does? For so many days, who gave him money to go find that woman at the brothel? Can he conjure silver out of thin air?"
Zhong Shan was speechless.
Xiu Yi continued to scold, "You and Man Cheng are notorious and unrestrained. Can Qu Xue be like you? Jian Huih raised her son through hardships and difficulties. Now, for a woman of ill repute, he ignores his family entirely. What are his parents supposed to do? If you don't tell me where Qu Xue is today, hmm..." Xiu Yi laughed coldly a few times. "Zhong Shan, you're no longer young. You should marry a virtuous wife to manage you. What do you think?"
Zhong Shan wore a dejected face and had no choice but to reveal Qu Xue's whereabouts.
Xiu Yi's expression softened. She reached out and poked Zhong Shan's forehead,嗔道, "You dead rascal! How long are you going to keep playing with Man Cheng? Sigh! I'm not trying to say this, but giving any decent, good girl to you would be ruining her!"
Zhong Shan lowered his eyes,漠然不语. Man Du tugged at Xiu Yi's sleeve and quietly pleaded, "Sister Xiu Yi, please don't scold Zhong Shan."
An expression of faint pity appeared on Xiu Yi's face. She then embraced Man Du and asked, "Man Du, did you take your medicine today?"
"Not yet." Man Du hooked his arm around Xiu Yi's neck, his face full of innocent joy, and laughed. "I'll take it right away! When I wake up, Zhong Shan is taking me out to play!"
"Good child." Xiu Yi's eyes reddened. She quickly held back her emotions and managed a smile. "I'll wait here. When you wake up, come play at my place. Peng Kai and Xiaoyue miss you too."
Man Du beamed with joy and nodded repeatedly.