Chapter Ninety-Five: On Having a Good Character

“Brother... I believe he would never violate the Noble Consort.”

The Emperor frowned, his face full of impatience. “Enough. You should focus on your wedding half a month from now.”

In half a month, she would be married off to the Xia Kingdom. Indeed, she was like a clay idol crossing a river—unable to protect herself. Soon, she would no longer belong to this country.

After a moment of sadness, she looked resolutely at her weary elder brother. “Brother, this matter must be thoroughly investigated. Do not wrong an innocent man. Yu Hualiang is blameless.”

“Enough! I don’t need you to teach me how to handle this. Since when did you get so close to that painter? Let me tell you, you will be the Empress of Xia! What if you end up tainted by scandal?”

“Brother!” The princess interrupted him. “I only hope... you won’t wrong a good person. I take my leave.”

She returned to her chambers, reflecting on her recklessness. She must not let anything happen to Yu Hualiang because of her.

Late at night, the Emperor, exhausted from recent days, was just about to fall asleep when he suddenly felt a weight on his blanket. Reaching out, he pulled the visitor into his arms and chuckled softly, “So late... what brings you here? Seeking something?”

Lin Tang stared at him for a long moment before saying, “Don’t kill him...”

Hearing this, the Emperor realized Lin Tang had also come to plead for Yu Hualiang. Irritated, he loosened his hold and turned away coldly, “We’ll discuss this tomorrow. I’m tired.”

Lin Tang persisted, abandoning the cold, aloof demeanor from earlier to snuggle close and slip into his embrace, holding his hand and asking him to hold her.

Like a cat craving its master’s attention, Lin Tang’s actions pleased the Emperor despite his silence. The more he tried to evade her, the closer she pressed in.

Only when Lin Tang’s face rested against his chest did the Emperor hold her tighter with affection. He had found Lin Tang among refugees when he was very young. The first time they met, Lin Tang even bit him. But over time, Lin Tang let down his guard and often insisted on sleeping beside the Emperor at night.

From then on, the Emperor began to care deeply for him. Especially as a child, when he said Lin Tang resembled a cat, Lin Tang would meow and rub against him like one.

Unable to resist Lin Tang’s pleading, the Emperor smiled, “Give me a reason why I should plead for him.”

“He saved my life,” Lin Tang said plainly.

The Emperor stroked his hair affectionately. “Those who do great things must be ruthless and forget loyalty.”

Lin Tang replied, “You saved my life... I will protect you forever.”

This made the Emperor laugh. Holding Lin Tang close, he tacitly agreed to her request. Yet he wondered, besides sparing Yu Hualiang, how else could he expose the Seventh Prince’s treachery?

Killing Yu Hualiang seemed like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. If he could be used, it would be even better.

With a mischievous smile, the Emperor whispered into Lin Tang’s ear, hinting at a plot. Lin Tang nestled closer, kissed the crown of the Emperor’s head, and fell asleep peacefully.

The next morning, Yu Hualiang awoke shivering. Near him, the princess arrived with several maidservants carrying a food box to deliver his meal.

Yu Hualiang joked, “Is this a ‘last meal’ delivery?”

The princess looked sad. “You’re thinking too far ahead.”

A young maid chimed in, “Don’t worry! The princess has already pleaded for you!”

Yu Hualiang knelt in gratitude, “Thank you, Princess.”

“Don’t thank me just yet. Given the Emperor’s temper, whether your life is spared remains uncertain.”

Clutching his chopsticks, Yu Hualiang said, “Still, thank you. I am but a humble painter, yet the princess cares so much for me. I’m content.”

“Hey! What are you saying? The princess will be the Empress of Xia—you’d better not be disrespecting her!”

Yu Hualiang was momentarily stunned. “Married into Xia?”

The princess nodded without a word. Yu Hualiang then asked, “When do you leave?”

“Half a month from now.”

Suddenly, a wave of melancholy swept over Yu Hualiang. Even the finest food held no taste for him.

“Princess... please take care of yourself and be happy.”

Hearing his blessing, the princess felt an unfamiliar surge of sorrow, a desire to flee the palace.

“Yu Hualiang?”

A shrill voice called out from afar—it was a eunuch. The princess wiped her tears and smiled as the eunuch approached.

Yu Hualiang recognized him as one of the Emperor’s attendants. It seemed the Emperor had made his decision. After the eunuch spoke privately to the princess, he finally unfolded the imperial edict and began reading aloud:

“Upon investigation, Painter Yu is innocent of violating Noble Consort Zhou. However, for disturbing His Majesty and the Imperial Consort, the death sentence is spared, but a severe punishment remains. Penalty: kneel at the Zhengyang Gate for one full day.”

Yu Hualiang accepted the sentence stoically; at least he was spared death.

He thanked the princess and was led by the eunuch to kneel at Zhengyang Gate. At first, it was bearable, but soon his knees felt as if millions of ants were crawling and biting them, his feet numb. By noon, the scorching sun burned his skin painfully.

Yet, under watchful eyes, he dared not move—truly a torment. Growing hot and thirsty, his vision blurred and doubled. He was likely suffering from heatstroke.

Just as he considered feigning faintness to rest, a shadow blocked the sunlight, bringing immediate relief.

He looked up to see a pair of familiar black embroidered shoes, then a dark blue dragon-embroidered robe.

Before he could see the face, the man bent down and lifted him up. Enduring the pain in his legs, Yu Hualiang frowned at the Seventh Prince. “Hey! What are you doing? This is the palace.”

The Seventh Prince gazed at him worriedly and sighed, “Don’t move, don’t speak.”

Yu Hualiang thought, is he really so foolish as to openly take me away? I’m still being punished—this is outright rebellion against the Emperor!

“Are you really trying to rebel?”

“Put me down!” Yu Hualiang whispered anxiously.

The Seventh Prince warned him seriously, “If you move again, don’t blame me for kissing you in public! Everyone knows about your ‘broken sleeve’.”

Faced with this threat, Yu Hualiang gave in, gritting his teeth. “Scoundrel! Bastard!”

The Seventh Prince smiled and carried him back to the painter’s residence.

Once lying down, Yu Hualiang’s condition worsened. His face paled, and he became delirious.

The doctor was summoned. “My lord, Painter Yu has heatstroke. With medication and rest for a few days, he will recover.”

The Seventh Prince held his hand, gently wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. Yu Hualiang remained unconscious, murmuring in his sleep—causing the prince unease.

Perhaps he was having a nightmare.

The Seventh Prince squeezed onto the small bed, holding Yu Hualiang close. Only then did he seem to calm down.

As night deepened, Yu Hualiang finally fell into a deep sleep. Yet the Seventh Prince could not rest. For his sake, he had even surrendered his military token.

This left only the Fourth Prince to rely on—and... Yong Cheng must die.

The thought filled the Seventh Prince with a growing sense of guilt, as if the hands and feet of hell were reaching out to drag him down with one misstep.

He stayed awake all night. Yu Hualiang stirred awake slowly, sensing someone beside him. He was secretly glad.

Taking a breath, he said without preamble, “I dreamed... we were just characters in a novel, and the author told me... you would die...”

The Seventh Prince hugged him tightly. “If that’s true, I’ll find the author and make him stop killing anyone... we’ll live in seclusion, leading the life we want.”

Yu Hualiang laughed softly. “Do you even understand what an author is?”

The Seventh Prince kissed his forehead. “Just Yu Liang’s nonsense.”

Yu Hualiang sighed, murmuring, “I hope it’s only a dream.”

After lying together for a while, Yu Hualiang suddenly sat up. “Hey? Where’s Han Wu?”

The Seventh Prince replied, “Would I call someone else to watch us while we sleep?”

“No! Where is he sleeping then?”

The prince gave him a suspicious look, like a cuckolded husband. “Yu Liang, why are you so concerned about him?”

Seeing the prince’s little scheme, Yu Hualiang explained, “He’s my roommate. You and I share a room, but you won’t let anyone watch us... doesn’t that just raise more suspicion?”

The Seventh Prince got up and pressed Yu Hualiang back onto the bed. “Everyone knows about us. Do you like being watched while enjoying your pleasures?”

Yu Hualiang could no longer bear the teasing look on the prince’s face and pushed him away. “Go to hell with your ‘pleasures’!”

“Get out! I don’t want to see you!”

The Seventh Prince laughed and got off the bed. “In a few days, I’ll come to take you away.”

With that promise, the prince left smiling, and Yu Hualiang grinned, seeing him off.

Feeling a bit dizzy, Yu Hualiang slowly sat at the table. He noticed that during his confinement, Han Wu had made a mess of the place.

Everywhere was piled with his paintings. Holding his breath, Yu Hualiang began tidying up. At first, the paintings seemed strange.

But the more he looked, the more suspicious he became. Han Wu’s paper was smaller than usual, and the brushwork more careless than when they first met.

This showed he was anxious... But why would a palace painter be in such a rush? Yu Hualiang couldn’t understand until he pieced two paintings together and saw that the lines connected invisibly, like a puzzle.

Thinking this through, Yu Hualiang assembled more pieces and finally realized—it was a map... surely a secret map for sneaking out of the palace.

Just as he suspected, Han Wu returned urgently searching for his paintings. Yu Hualiang sat sternly at the table and said, “Here.”

Han Wu, seeing the paintings neatly arranged, relaxed instantly.

But Yu Hualiang’s next words dragged him into deeper trouble: “Who are you planning to take away?”

Han Wu was momentarily stunned, then tried to feign ignorance with a mouthful of saliva, “What are you talking about? Take who away?”

“Don’t play dumb. These are maps, aren’t they?” Yu Hualiang accused bluntly.

Han Wu dropped the act, showing the expression of one caught red-handed. “You know? Then don’t expect to live!”