The king’s words sent a shiver through both Zhan Bie and Queen Huang Bei Shuang. Zhan Bie clenched his fists, his eyes burning with hatred. Huang Bei Shuang, meanwhile, turned to the king with a growing sense of foreboding.
“I’m leaving!” Zhan Bie roared.
The king smiled faintly. “Wu Ji Hai, return his black bow to him, give him a warhorse, and issue an order that no gates are to block his way.”
Zhan Bie bowed deeply to the king, then grabbed the belt from Saman’s hands and strode out of the palace.
Saman stood frozen in the hall, unsure of what to do.
At that moment, Huang Bei Shuang nodded toward Ye Pei, who gently led Saman forward.
“You poor child. Where is your home?” Huang Bei Shuang asked, her voice full of sympathy.
“I don’t have a home,” Saman replied.
“No family either?” Huang Bei Shuang asked, unsurprised.
“No,” Saman answered.
“Would you like to stay with me?”
“If I follow you, can I live in this beautiful place?” Saman asked, staring blankly.
“That’s something you’ll have to ask His Majesty!” Huang Bei Shuang smiled.
Zhan turned his head, chuckling. “What can you do? I don’t want useless people!” Clearly in a good mood, he teased the boy. Upon hearing this, Saman, thinking that if he proved himself, he could stay in this heavenly place, quickly knelt and said, “Your Majesty, my name is Saman, and I can sing!” Over the past few days, he had been well taken care of, and his voice had returned to its clear, bright tone.
“Oh?” Zhan laughed, and the ministers and generals in the hall laughed along. “Then sing a song for us!”
Thus, young Saman stood in the grand hall of Guanghan Palace and began to sing the dirge his grandmother had taught him. Though he didn’t fully understand its meaning, his innocent voice deeply moved Huang Bei Shuang’s heart.
Heavenly God! Heavenly God!Why do you laugh without end?The yellow sand blows, the blood and tears flow,Old and gray, mortals are like dogs,Still in dreams, they search for porridge.Earthly Ghost! Earthly Ghost!Why do you weep without end?The cold wind kisses, the blood rain drenches,Gaunt and bony, human life is seen,Waking, they stitch their tattered robes.The calamity will come,The fate is already sealed!Clutching their wretched lives,They await the gods and ghosts to take them!Who are these gods and ghosts?Look to the palace to see the one who commands!Who has never knelt three times?Whoever has not, rules the world!
The boy sang passionately, his voice ringing out, but the expressions of those in the hall grew increasingly grim. No one dared to interrupt, each lowering their head, wishing they could dig a hole and crawl into it. Only Huang Bei Shuang turned her head, staring deeply at Zhan.
Who has never knelt three times? Of course, the king! By the end of the song, it was clear that the boy had unknowingly compared the king to the gods and ghosts!
The king orders the troops, the soldiers go to battle, and the people are sacrificed. Who, then, is innocent?
The boy’s song echoed through the silence of Zhan’s contemplation and Huang Bei Shuang’s gaze, resonating throughout the afternoon until his voice grew hoarse.
That night, Ye Pei arranged for Saman to stay in the quarters of the royal guards of the Guan Ying Palace, where he would train with Lian Huan in martial arts. For Saman, this was likely the greatest reward for his gratitude. After all, while struggling to survive among the refugees, he had never imagined he would one day live like this.
Fate often turns in ways we do not understand.
Meanwhile, Huang Bei Shuang stood by the window, her face full of worry. After a long time, a shadow flitted to her side, blending with the tree’s silhouette. Holding his breath, the figure whispered, “Na Xiu! Why have you summoned me?”
Huang Bei Shuang frowned, clearly struggling internally, before quietly speaking, “Jiang Lei! Stop Zhan Bie. Don’t let him leave the gates!”
Jiang Lei didn’t ask any questions, disappearing instantly.
“Lady Shuang!” Suddenly, Ye Pei appeared behind her, startling her.
Ye Pei walked over and gently closed the window. “It’s cold. Don’t catch a chill.”
Huang Bei Shuang hurried over to the bed, pulling the blankets around herself, looking a bit helpless. Ye Pei waved, signaling Zai Ping and Dao Qiu to bring hot water to wash her.
The three of them didn’t ask any more questions, but Huang Bei Shuang, like a frightened bird, curled up under the blanket, leaving only her icy feet exposed. After a long silence, she finally expressed her unease. “His Majesty is intentionally provoking Zhan Bie. If he leaves the gates, he’ll surely go to assassinate Qing Yun!”
The three servants exchanged complex glances. Ye Pei said, “Lady Shuang, by doing this, you’re breaking the tacit understanding between you and His Majesty, and you’ll never be able to win Qing Yun’s favor. Why bother?”
Huang Bei Shuang buried her head deeper into the blanket in frustration. “Even if it’s possible, can’t I follow my heart just this once?”
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