Chapter 10: Obsessive Love
The full moon hung like a plate, its light suppressing all the stars' radiance across the dark sky. Beneath the osmanthus tree, a small pond reflected the round moon. Occasionally a leaf would drift across, disturbing that cold, clear moonlit image.
A man half-submerged in the water leaned leisurely against the pond's edge, the moon's glow casting a deep, serene luster across his tanned, healthy skin.
"You're back." He heard the familiar footsteps and smiled before even turning around.
Mancheng walked over and sat cross-legged on the stone path beside Zhongshan, as if with something on his mind, silently quiet.
Mancheng continued without addressing him directly: "I really struggled to drag Mandu out of this pond just now. That kid nearly kicked me to death!"
Mancheng laughed. "It's so hot, let him soak a while longer to cool off."
"That's what I thought too, but he wanted to sleep in the pond."
Mancheng looked puzzled. "How can he sleep?"
"I was wondering the same thing, so I asked him, 'Are you a little turtle? Can you even sleep in water?' You know what he said? He said, 'Just carry me on your back and don't move!' ... What are you laughing at? You stop that!" As Mancheng spoke, he couldn't help but laugh too.
Mancheng laughed so hard he nearly choked, and only after catching his breath did he ask, "And then? Then what?"
"Then I said, 'Fine, come here, I'll carry you.' That kid swam over grinning like a fool, and I took the chance to grab him and pull him out of the water."
"Hahaha... you're so sneaky!"
"You're calling others sneaky? He and you are the same—your brains are only thinking about how to torture me..." Mancheng laughed, then turned and took Mancheng's hand.
Mancheng had nowhere to escape. With a splash, he was pulled into the water. As the two were splashing around, Lanxing rushed in and whispered softly, "Keep your voices down. The young prince just fell asleep with such difficulty. If you wake him, he'll insist on soaking in the pond again..."
The two immediately quieted down. Lanxing covered her mouth with a smile and withdrew.
"Aren't you hot? Take off your clothes already." Zhongshan held Mancheng tightly and freed one hand to undo his clothing buttons. Before even removing Mancheng's outer garment, he eagerly pressed close and kissed Mancheng's exposed shoulder wildly.
Mancheng gently bit Zhongshan's ear, his tongue sliding across his earlobe, his lips slightly parting against his ear. "You... stop touching me randomly. Let's go inside first and then..."
"I can't wait anymore. Right here..."
"Hehe... that tickles... why are you so impatient?"
"Mancheng, you've been cold toward me lately." As Zhongshan said this, his hand had already slipped into Mancheng's pants.
"Zhongshan... Zhongshan, be gentle..." Mancheng's breathing grew chaotic, and he couldn't help but moan softly.
Zhongshan grinned smugly and wickedly. "Then you need to compensate me well." After saying this, he domineeringly pried open Mancheng's lips with his tongue and probed inside to take his fill...
The spacious rear hall of Yaójì Palace was filled with heavy, stifling air. Behind layers of golden brocade curtains lay more layers of translucent silk gauze.
A woman half-raised herself, gazing affectionately at the man sleeping beside her. But he was oblivious, staring at the dim ceiling beams as if lost in memory, his gaze dazed and sorrowful.
"My lord, are you hot?" Her voice was like smoke, lingering softly within the curtains.
For a long while, whether it was sweat stinging his eyes or something else, his eyes gradually reddened. He slowly closed them and uttered two heavy words: "I'm hot."
What is searing my skin?
What is burning my body?
What is smelting my soul?
Whose gentle voice, whose clear eyes, whose presence rooted in my heart—is all tangling and tearing apart in memory.
My heart is so hot it might stop beating!
A gentle breeze, carrying a hint of fragrance, blew against him. It was the woman, on this summer night, fanning gently, wishing to bring some coolness to the one she loved.
"What's... your name?"
The woman's eyes were like water, full of tenderness, yet with deep despondency. "This servant is Yiqing."
"Did I... ask you this before?"
"This servant answers, you did."
He furrowed his brow and said nothing more.
Weiyang went to Xiuyi's room and saw delicate painted flowers on the table by the window. She picked one up to look and silently admired Xiuyi's skill.
With a "Weiyang, sorry to keep you waiting," Xiuyi entered, apologizing, "I was visiting the Lei family across the street. When I heard you had come, I hurried back."
Weiyang put down what she was holding and smiled. "It's fine. I was just looking at the little flowers you painted." She pointed to the painting on the table and asked, "Xiuyi-jie, what flower is this? I've never seen anything like it. So exquisite!"
Xiuyi smiled gracefully. "I just thought it up myself. There's no original design to copy."
"Really?" Weiyang exclaimed in delight, "Xiuyi-jie, you're amazing! No wonder Lord Penghong is so devoted to you."
Xiuyi looked at Weiyang's excited smiling face,愣了一下, then smiled faintly, "Silly girl, men don't really care whether women can do these things. Could it be that you've heard Zhangzhou praise your embroidery?"
Weiyang's face immediately fell.
Xiuyi took her hand and sat beside the table, self-blaming, "Oh, it's this sister's bad mouth. Don't take offense."
Weiyang forced a smile.
Xiuyi observed her expression and poured her tea while saying, "That闷葫芦 Zhangzhou is busy all day at Yaójì Palace, probably doesn't have time to accompany you. But don't resent him. Men always put great achievements first. He's the nation's ruler, carrying a burden no one knows how heavy. Besides, my own dumb bear is the same way—serious and silly-looking!"
Hearing Xiuyi describe Penghong as a dumb bear, Weiyang couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Xiuyi also covered her mouth and smiled, taking the opportunity to advise, "Weiyang, although Zhangzhou doesn't talk much, he's a righteous and sincere good man."
Weiyang felt a pang of guilt and quickly changed the subject, sighing, "I know... but I miss home."
"Ai... this world has so many ropes that bind people. You can only go along with them. Wait a while. After a year, you can go back to see your family." A trace of pity showed on Xiuyi's face. "I miss my family in Dongzhou too. I just got back, and already I'm missing them."
"Then why didn't you stay in Dudong? The prince listens to you so much. If you hadn't come, he definitely would have gone back to Dudong."
Xiuyi shook her head and said, "He's in Yuanliao managing military affairs, a prince who stands second to none and above all others. But in Dudong, no matter how outstanding he is, he's still a son-in-law dependent on a woman. How could he be at peace!"
Weiyang looked at her, admiration showing on her face. "Xiuyi-jie, you treat the prince so well..."
Xiuyi smiled lightly, but with a hint of imperceptible sorrow, she slowly said, "Penghong was originally a prince of Dubei, a neighbor of Dudong. His father was young and hot-headed, waging war against the powerful Yongzhao for the sake of a woman, and ended up destroying Dubei. Penghong's father took his own life, and his brothers and sisters all scattered. Fortunately, a palace maid secretly carried him out of the palace and fled to Dudong to seek help from my father. At that time, he was still in swaddling clothes, and my father kept him in the palace. Although he had fine food and clothing in the palace, he had only one person to rely on since childhood—that palace maid. We all called her Aunt Yun. Later, Aunt Yun died of illness, and he became even more alone and helpless... In this chaotic world, pointless wars never cease. What is left behind, besides thousands upon thousands of pitiful people?"
Weiyang comforted her. "Xiuyi-jie, how could the prince be alone and helpless with you!"
Hearing this, Xiuyi couldn't help but beam. "Speaking of which, when I was little, I was terrible. I was always bullying him, and he just took it. Once on a snowy day, I was too cold to go out, and he didn't dare come find me at my mother's place. He just waited foolishly at our agreed meeting spot all day. Later, Aunt Yun came looking for me with tears in her eyes. That's when I learned he was still waiting in the snow. My heart was broken..." As Xiuyi spoke, her eyes were filled with sweetness and warmth.
"The prince grew up with you as childhood sweethearts. No wonder he's been so devoted to you his whole life..." As Weiyang listened to her stories, she thought of another pair of childhood sweethearts—Zhangzhou and Princess Jinyin, who had to leave Yuanliao.
But Xiuyi sighed faintly. "To love someone, if you love just a little, you can be happy for a lifetime. If you love too much, too deeply, Heaven will surely become jealous. You will surely be punished by Heaven..."
Weiyang was greatly astonished at her words, and Xiuyi, with a sorrowful face, continued on her own, "Weiyang, how many obstinately devoted people there are in this world! These people struggle bitterly. If they die, it's over and done with. But these people have no courage to let go. They can only face endless suffering and torment, unable to be free..."
Weiyang's eyes reddened. She knew Xiuyi was speaking of Princess Jinyin and Zhangzhou. Unexpectedly, Xiuyi softly spoke a name: "Like Mancheng..."
Weiyang's hand trembled, and tea spilled out. Xiuyi immediately stopped speaking, wearing a strange expression.
Weiyang was flustered and quickly lifted her teacup to take a sip, hoping to cover her loss of composure.
A flash of surprise crossed Xiuyi's eyes, and after a moment of silence, she asked, "Weiyang, has Zhangzhou said you resemble someone?"
"Hm? He's never mentioned it." Weiyang asked curiously, "Who do I resemble?"
Xiuyi cradled Weiyang's face and looked carefully, then nodded. "I felt before that you looked like my younger sister Yingyou. Very similar in the brows and eyes..."
"Yingyou? Xiuyi-jie's younger sister?"
"Our mothers were different. I was born of the queen. My mother is Mancheng's aunt. Yingyou was born of a concubine. Her mother died giving birth to her, so she was raised by my mother." Xiuyi paused, gazing at Weiyang, then said, "She was the same age as Mancheng. When she smiled, she looked like you—sweet and乖巧的样子."
"Really? I'd love to meet this Princess Yingyou. Is she staying in Dudong now, or has she married into another country?"
"She died before she turned sixteen. She fell from the watchtower in Dongzhou..." Xiuyi saw Weiyang's shocked expression and said calmly, "She took her own life. Perhaps she wasn't satisfied with the marriage my father had arranged for her."
Weiyang asked quietly, "Who was the son-in-law the Dudong king chose for this princess? How could it have driven her to take her own life?"
Xiuyi hesitated for a moment and said, "The person my father chose was Zhangzhou."
Clatter clatter! Weiyang's teacup knocked to the floor. Seeing Weiyang had gone pale with shock, Xiuyi quickly held her hand to comfort her. "This had nothing to do with Zhangzhou. It was that poor child's heart had already belonged to someone else." After pondering, she added slowly, "That person... was Mancheng."
Weiyang was even more shocked and blurted out, "Him? Why him?" After asking, she felt her expression was too agitated and quickly stopped.
But this time, Xiuyi completely ignored her loss of composure. She merely tilted her head, recalling the past. "When they first arrived in Dudong, Zhangzhou followed my third brother Bohe on campaigns everywhere. Later, he achieved great merit repeatedly and was invincible in battle, deeply earning my father's favor. My father treated him like his own son, devoted to cultivating him, and promoted him extravagantly. In just two or three years, Zhangzhou rose to become Dudong's foremost general, commanding one-third of the army. But Mancheng was still an ignorant little troublemaker, causing mischief all over the palace every day. Yingyou was close to Mancheng in age, so they got along well. They were always together. Everyone in the palace knew they had deep feelings for each other. There were several princesses of marriageable age in the palace at that time, but no one expected my father to betroth Yingyou to Zhangzhou."
Weiyang felt complicated emotions churning within her. She murmured, "Why would the Dudong king do this?"
Xiuyi smiled bitterly. "At that time, my mother cried and pleaded for Yingyou, hoping my father would betroth her to Mancheng. But my father flew into a rage, saying Mancheng was only a亡国之君 living under others' roof. What future could he possibly have!"
Weiyang sat stunned, silent.
Xiuyi's eyes grew red as she sighed softly. "When Yingyou died, Zhangzhou only reddened around his eyes. But Mancheng fell seriously ill. He cried even while unconscious. When he woke up, he cried desperately, breaking everyone's heart."
Weiyang listened in a daze, remembering how Mancheng had stroked her brow and said gently with a smile, "You're so pretty when you smile. Don't furrow your brow."
Recalling these sad memories, Xiuyi couldn't help but shed tears. "In this world, some pitiful people simply cannot escape fate's teasing. If Yingyou hadn't died, perhaps Mancheng wouldn't be the way he is now. Although I curse Mancheng every time I see him, I've cried behind his back God knows how many times. This brother of mine—how lovely he used to be! Although he was mischievous, he was very kind. But how did he become like this!"
Weiyang's eyes also filled with tears. The sorrow was real, yet she didn't know whether she pitied Mancheng or pitied herself.
Only now did she realize that everything Mancheng said was false.
She hadn't forgotten a single word Mancheng had said to her. Every word made her utterly devoted, willing to risk destroying her entire life to be with him. But every one of those love words was spoken for that Yingyou who smiled just like her.
All this tenderness, this intimate affection, was simply picking up where he left off with that dead girl.
This wasn't the suspicious overthinking of a girl in her first love. Weiyang understood clearly: in Mancheng's crystal-clear, deep gaze, the one he saw was not her, Weiyang, but that Yingyou who had already been shattered to pieces.