WAYCAC Extra 4

TL: Hua

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Extra 4: A Past Kiss (1): Ancient Times If Line: “Ghost” Pei and Prince Zong

In the winter of the thirteenth year of Xining, the Crown Prince was accused of poisoning the emperor and was tragically placed under house arrest, shocking the entire country.

That night, a fierce wind howled with snow. The night sky felt like the maw of a beast, suffocating Zong Suiyang. He galloped back to the capital, stopping just outside the thorny gate of Yejing. The gate guard shouted, “Who dares to trespass late at night!”

“Presumptuous!” Yu Shaoyun, who was close behind, held up a token and said sternly, “The Fifth Imperial Prince is here! How dare you be so rude! Open the gate immediately!”

The guard’s expression changed slightly. He saw the person in the torchlight, immediately bowed, and announced loudly, “My vision was poor in the snow! Please forgive me, Your Highness! Open the gate!”

The city gate slowly lowered. Zong Suiyang rode into the city, followed closely by Yu Shaoyun, Bai Tang, and a group of guards.

The streets were incredibly quiet. Zong Suiyang took the main road, turned onto Lanyin Street, and headed directly for the palace gates. He was frozen from head to heart, his gaze fixed forward, completely unaware of the figure floating in the air above him.

Earlier that evening, Pei Xiting had been snuggled on Zong Suiyang’s lap, reading a storybook. He had fallen asleep at some point and woke up to find himself floating in the air. He thought he had traveled back to the modern era and was terrified, his heart stopping. But then he turned his head and saw a group of people riding toward him.

The one at the front was none other than his boyfriend… Wait, this was a younger, well, even younger, Zong Suiyang.

The group seemed unable to see him and rode straight through. Zong Suiyang’s horse passed right through Pei Xiting, and Pei Xiting felt no pain.

What… what was happening to him?!

Pei Xiting quickly followed, floating right above Zong Suiyang’s head.

Never mind, he had to figure out what was going on first.

“Stop!” Two night-duty guards fiercely blocked the palace gate with their spears.

Lin Fang, the commander of the Left Imperial Guard, stepped forward to stop them. “Fifth Prince, entering the palace without a summons late at night is considered a transgression.”

So this was Zong Suiyang when he was a prince. Pei Xiting stared at the cold, pale face of the younger Zong Suiyang, his heart aching.

Zong Suiyang looked at Lin Fang and said, “Please inform His Majesty. I have an urgent matter and must see my father immediately.”

Lin Fang knew why the Fifth Prince had returned to the capital overnight and was trying to enter the palace so late. His eyebrows furrowed. “Fifth Prince, His Majesty is furious and has ordered that no one is to be admitted. I dare not pass on the message.”

With the Crown Prince’s incident, Emperor Xining knew that Zong Suiyang would rush back immediately. Zong Suiyang knew who the emperor’s decree was meant to stop.

Furious.

Zong Suiyang pondered the word, believing that Emperor Xining shouldn’t be furious.

“I need to see my father immediately.” Zong Suiyang slowly drew the saber from his waist, turned it, and pointed the tip at Lin Fang, his gaze icy. “Commander Lin, please inform him immediately.”

“…” He’s lost his mind. Lin Fang took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, “Fifth Prince, trespassing late at night and pointing a blade at the palace guards—do you know what crime that is?!”

“Treason?” Zong Suiyang chuckled, his tone cold. “Of course, I know what kind of charge I can be framed with. I don’t care. But, Commander Lin, tell me, does my father truly wish to see me ‘commit treason’ at this very moment?”

Daye currently had only two imperial princes. The Crown Prince had just been placed under house arrest. If the Fifth Prince were to be charged with “treason” as well, who would inherit the throne? Besides, would His Majesty truly be willing to pin such a charge on the Fifth Prince?

Sweat dripped from Lin Fang’s forehead. After a moment of silence, he decided to take a gamble. “Your Highness, please wait. I will immediately pass on the message.”

Zong Suiyang sheathed his saber. “Thank you.”

Lin Fang sighed inwardly, turned, and ordered someone to open the gate. To his surprise, he saw a group of people approaching in the snow, carrying palace lanterns. The one leading them was none other than the head eunuch of the Chenning Palace.

Head Eunuch Quan led the palace servants to the gate. He ignored Lin Fang and bowed to the person on horseback. He then raised his head with a smile and said, “Your Highness, please follow this servant into the palace.”

Zong Suiyang dismounted, took off his saber, and tossed it to Yu Shaoyun. He followed Head Eunuch Quan through the palace gate. Pei Xiting quickly floated in behind them.

Yu Shaoyun and his group all took a sharp breath, their hearts filled with extreme anxiety and worry, but none dared to move without orders.

The wind and snow roared toward Zong Suiyang. Head Eunuch Quan took an umbrella and personally held it over Zong Suiyang. “His Majesty is in a great rage. When you see him, will you soften your stance?”

“A great rage,” Zong Suiyang said as if he didn’t understand. “Why?”

“The Crown Prince harbored evil intentions and poisoned the emperor. How could His Majesty not be worried or angry?” Head Eunuch Quan’s voice trailed off. He looked up, meeting Zong Suiyang’s downward gaze. He was stunned into silence by the mockery he saw in it.

But Zong Suiyang said nothing. He turned his head expressionlessly and walked quickly toward the Chenning Palace.

He stood in the wind and snow, looking through the thick curtain of snow at the magnificent palace. He felt that the palace servants and guards in front of the hall were like little devils at the gates of hell. The candlelight faintly visible through the doors and windows looked like the fires of sin in the hall of the King of Hell. If he went in, he would be doomed forever.

The hall doors were open. Emperor Xining was not asleep. He had just started a game of chess. How could he sleep when he was so excited?

Zong Suiyang’s lips twisted in a cynical smile. He took off his cloak, and Head Eunuch Quan quickly caught it. Zong Suiyang had already stepped into the hall.

Emperor Xining sat on a raised platform, with a mountain of official documents on a small table. Hearing the footsteps, he turned his head to look at Zong Suiyang.

The young man had not yet reached adulthood. His long hair was tied into a ponytail with a hairband, but because of his overnight journey, the band was loose, and the ponytail swayed on his head. His bangs were a mess, and he looked incredibly disheveled.

“What a sight,” Emperor Xining said with displeasure.

What are you talking about! Pei Xiting suddenly floated in front of Emperor Xining and slapped him four times.

“What do you want?” Zong Suiyang didn’t bow or kneel, getting straight to the point.

Such disrespect, but Emperor Xining was not angry. He said, “What do you think?”

“My brother would not poison the emperor,” Zong Suiyang said.

“How do you know he wouldn’t?” Emperor Xining said. “The so-called poisoning is supported by evidence. But you say he absolutely wouldn’t. What guarantee do you have?”

“Is the so-called evidence really evidence?” Zong Suiyang asked.

Emperor Xining laughed and said, “If catching someone red-handed doesn’t count as evidence, then what does? Fuchuan, you should understand that your so-called ‘he wouldn’t’ is just your selfish desire, and it’s impossible to prove it in court.”

Zong Suiyang stared at Emperor Xining. Although he was looking down, he felt breathless and weak. He had held his breath the entire way here, but now it suddenly released. He felt exhausted and a biting cold.

“Do you really have to let my brother die?” Zong Suiyang said in a hoarse voice. “He is also your son.”

Emperor Xining was noncommittal. “In the imperial family, the relationship of ruler and subject comes before that of father and son. There are so many documents here, all petitioning me to severely punish the Crown Prince. Do you know why they dare to do this?”

Emperor Xining smiled at Zong Suiyang, his voice gentle and malicious. “Because the heir they favor in their hearts… is you.”

Zong Suiyang shivered and said nothing.

Pei Xiting pursed his lips and wildly slapped Emperor Xining’s mouth. This damned old man! You’re clearly the one with the selfish motives, yet you dare to morally blackmail Zong Suiyang!

“You weren’t willing to compete with your brother. Not only that, you were willing to help him secure his position and ease his burdens, even going so far as to fight on the battlefield, getting hurt all over. But in the royal family, your willingness doesn’t matter.” Emperor Xining pointed at the documents on the desk, his tone a strange mix of relief and pity. “Fuchuan, if you’re going to blame anyone, blame yourself for being so capable.”

“I don’t want to be the Crown Prince,” Zong Suiyang said. “Even if my brother dies, I will not be the Crown Prince.”

Emperor Xining looked at Zong Suiyang as if he were struggling prey, an innocent and pathetic child. He said, “You are not without power. You have no right to say that.”

Bang! Zong Suiyang knelt to the ground. His half-frozen knees screamed in pain, but he seemed not to feel it. As if he could hear nothing, he stubbornly repeated, “My brother is innocent. Please investigate, Father.”

Pei Xiting had no time to be angry with Emperor Xining. He floated to Zong Suiyang, reaching out to touch his knees, but his fingertips passed right through them, unable to even stir the air.

Zong Suiyang had knelt, softened, and pleaded, but Emperor Xining was not happy. He looked at the son he had raised and placed so many hopes on, this little hawk that was always trying to break free of his control and fly away. His head began to ache violently. Bang! Emperor Xining pressed down on Zong Suiyang’s neck. His head went straight through Pei Xiting’s hand and hit the cold ground.

“Innocent? Did he not bring the poisoned pouch into the palace? The evidence is conclusive, and you still dare to say he’s innocent!” Emperor Xining’s voice was filled with anger and disappointment, so condescending. “My fifth son, get rid of your useless emotions and soft heart, or you’ll never be able to hold the sharp blade of power!”

Zong Suiyang roared in a broken, hoarse voice, “I never wanted to hold it!”

The hall fell silent for a moment. Zong Suiyang’s chest heaved, and his vision went black. Suddenly, the cold hand on his neck released. Emperor Xining’s hand gently stroked his shoulder, his voice becoming kind and eerie:

“Fuchuan, you were born to sit on this throne.”

Emperor Xining’s light, confident tone was like a silk ribbon tightening around Zong Suiyang’s neck. He felt dizzy, gradually suffocating and looked up to meet that cold and ruthless face.

“Cry. You guessed right. Your brother died because of you.”

Emperor Xining was like the King of Hell. With a stroke of his brush, he could erase a life, even one as noble as the Crown Prince’s. Power, power was truly a good thing.

His throat felt like it was being choked by a silk ribbon. Zong Suiyang closed his eyes and suddenly fainted.

“Suiyang…” Pei Xiting leaned over and pressed his face against Zong Suiyang’s, his eyes a little red.

Emperor Xining looked at the person who had collapsed in front of him, his gaze complicated, but he said nothing.

The next day, Zong Suiyang woke up in a side hall.

Emperor Xining had not imprisoned him or even confined him to his quarters, which made Zong Suiyang even more uneasy.

His forehead and knees were bandaged. When Zong Suiyang stood up, his knees were in sharp pain, but he ignored it completely. He walked to the door and saw that the snow had stopped, and the sky was terrifyingly dark and gloomy.

He couldn’t see it, but Pei Xiting was standing behind him, watching him with a face full of worry.

Eunuch Quan brought over some medicine and said, “This is medicine for the cold, Your Highness. You must take care of your noble body.”

Zong Suiyang did not take it. “Where is the emperor?” he asked.

“He’s in a meeting with the officials. Your Highness has just woken up and probably doesn’t know yet,” Eunuch Quan sighed. “Censor Wang went to the East Palace for questioning today and unexpectedly found poison in a hidden compartment in the Crown Prince’s bedchamber. The evidence is now irrefutable.”

Upon hearing this, Zong Suiyang slowly turned his head, his dark eyes shifting stiffly. Before he could say anything, he suddenly saw flames soaring into the sky.

The fire was in the direction of the East Palace.

“Your Highness!” Eunuch Quan exclaimed.

Emperor Xining and the officials came out of the hall and saw Zong Suiyang running wildly in the night. He was running too fast and stumbled on the unmelted snow on the palace path.

The officials all lowered their heads, not daring to look, but Emperor Xining’s gaze followed him, as if he could hear the sobs buried by the wind.

Pei Xiting floated in front of Zong Suiyang, wiping away the tears from under his eyes, sighing with regret.

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