In the bustling streets of the capital, people still discussed the matters concerning Song Jin as if it were an intriguing story.
As the carriage passed by the Virtuous Purity Archway, a sudden incident occurred. The archway began to collapse from the top, with bricks and debris falling down. The startled horses reared up, causing Song Jin to bump into the walls of the carriage.
Thankfully, there were no serious injuries.
In the chaos, two round bracelets rolled off in haste. Song Jin hurriedly picked them up, blowing off the dust.
These were the bracelets given by Huo Du. Song Jin had tightly wound them with fine red threads, adorned with several golden beads, altering their original appearance.
Touching the bracelets, Song Jin seemed to feel something, lifting the curtain of the carriage to see the collapsed archway engraved with the words “Virtuous Purity,” its bricks shattered on the ground, broken into pieces.
Surely, this was a construction disaster he had been waiting for!
A wry smile tugged at Song Jin’s lips. Was this a sign from the heavens, indicating he could break free from his constraints?
Exiting the carriage, he looked up at the plaque of the Princess’s residence, reminiscing about his reunion with Huo Du here. He chuckled softly, pondering whether their encounter was fate or misfortune, considering the battles Huo Du would face on the battlefield.
When Song Jin arrived, he coincidentally encountered the Princess Consort exiting the house. They exchanged nods, but there were no further words exchanged.
The Princess Consort seemed hurried, her expression solemn, suggesting that the Princess might be in some danger.
This worried Song Jin. With Huo Du currently on the battlefield, he hoped for the safety of their family in the capital, allowing Huo Du to focus without distractions.
Despite the Princess’s advanced age and graying hair, she wasn’t bedridden but sat upright, appearing in good spirits.
Accompanied by three maids and two guards, the Princess observed Song Jin with a gaze that seemed to penetrate his soul.
Song Jin’s heart sank at her stern gaze. Perhaps their affair with Huo Du had been exposed.
“If you have any genuine feelings for Huo Du, you should know what’s best for him,” the Princess continued, her tone harsh.
Indeed, why should Huo Du waste his potential on him, someone burdened by the Virtuous Purity Archway?
Song Jin suddenly confronted the Princess, asking, “Did you ask for Song Jin’s consent before erecting the Virtuous Purity Archway for him?”
The Princess’s response was evasive, leaving Song Jin to suspect that the Princess Consort might be behind this revelation.
In fact, had Huo Du written to him? He just never received the letters. And he never would.
What would Huo Du write in those letters…
The narrative continues with Huo Du’s departure for battle, his urgency to return upon hearing of Song Jin’s supposed suicide, and his subsequent discovery of the truth. The story delves into the aftermath of Song Jin’s death, Huo Du’s turmoil, and the repercussions on those involved.
Huo Du’s anguish intensified as he read the short letter repeatedly, wishing he could devour every word!
A despairing, agonized howl echoed from the camp, momentarily silencing the soldiers. Everyone watched as the general, who had just confidently announced victory and promised rewards, dashed out on horseback, whipping the reins and leaving everyone behind, galloping straight towards the capital.
Huo Du, the mastermind strategist, had never shown such loss of composure. Soldiers began to speculate whether something terrible had happened to the Huo family.
The vice-general rushed out after him, shouting, “Pack up camp! We’re heading back to the capital!”
Riding on a single horse with another following, Huo Du didn’t rest for several days. When he finally arrived at the capital, his eyes were bloodshot, lips parched, and beard unkempt. He was unrecognizable to even his close friend, General Liu Jin, guarding the city.
“Has Song Jin come to find you?” Huo Du asked with urgency.
“No,” replied Liu Jin.
Huo Du’s heart sank.
Walking his horse step by step back to the Huo residence, he recalled a few months ago when he had intercepted Song Jin, who was attempting to flee. Huo Du blinked, wondering if someone had done the same to him on that day. Was someone blocking his escape route now?
Passing by the Princess Consort’s residence, he overheard snippets of gossip.
“Song Jin is dead.”
“Another suicide for love.”
“For her unfaithful husband.”
Huo Du sneered. Her husband? He was now Song Jin’s husband!
He had once confronted the senior members of the Huo family and the Princess Consort, demanding the truth about Song Jin’s death.
Everyone claimed it was suicide, with convincing arguments.
Huo Du knew the truth, but it felt like he was drowning in deep waters, unable to find his way out.
The coldness pierced to the bone. Huo Du knew that Song Jin hadn’t committed suicide, but he lacked evidence to demand justice for him.
Huo Du’s gaze turned icy. Evidence? He would provide it!
He told everyone how he had coerced and seduced Song Jin, how they had developed genuine feelings for each other. He looked at the uncomfortable expressions on the faces of the Huo family’s parents and the Princess Consort as he referred to Song Jin as “Mrs. Huo.”
“He promised to wait for me to return, and he wouldn’t break his word. I was the one who pursued him. Instead of coming after me, this shameless and unfilial son, why didn’t you go to him?” Huo Du regretted deeply, gripping his long sword tightly, the blade ringing with determination.
The authority of the Princess Consort had never been so challenged. Her face hardened, veins bulging on the back of her hand. “Outrageous!”
General Huo, overwhelmed with anger, accused Huo Du of being incapable of protecting his loved one and now playing games.
“It’s true, I’m incapable,” Huo Du’s eyes glistened with tears. He took a deep breath and addressed the Princess Consort, “Song Jin cannot be buried with his uncle. He belongs to my Huo family.”
Coughing violently, Huo’s wife nearly fainted.
The Princess Consort, the most senior figure present, had weathered many storms in her decades of life. She wasn’t afraid of her grandson’s defiance. With a light tone, she said, “Huo Du, don’t even think about it.”
If Huo Du dared to proceed, the whole city would mock them.
Without hesitation, Huo Du went to the palace to seek imperial decree.
It was a promise he had secured before his expedition.
But the Emperor had never issued such a foolish decree. Huo Du was asking for the Emperor to marry the two!
Absurd!
His nephew marrying a man who had attempted suicide three times and was already buried, and all this with the Emperor’s blessing of a virtuous monument.
This was a blatant slap in the face!
Marrying a prostitute would be better than this!
Huo Du knelt outside the imperial study for a whole day, finally persuading the Emperor. He was a brave and talented general, rare in his lack of attachment to power. He yielded his military authority as long as he could have his “uncle” as his spouse.
Huo Du knelt outside the imperial study for a whole day, finally persuading the Emperor. He was a brave and talented general, rare in his lack of attachment to power. He yielded his military authority as long as he could have his “uncle” as his spouse.
The Emperor valued this aspect of Huo Du’s character. After much deliberation, he chose to embarrass himself rather than risk losing the loyalty of his general. After all, it would be widely known that Huo Du was the foolish one, while the Emperor would appear as a benevolent ruler.
Moreover, the Emperor was already wary of Huo Du forming alliances with other noble families to consolidate power. Now that Huo Du wanted to marry a man, effectively ending his family line, the Emperor saw an opportunity to prevent further complications. If the situation hadn’t been so convoluted, the Emperor might have agreed sooner.
Huo Du, accompanied by his personal guards, directly broke through the siege at the Princess Consort’s residence and ordered the coffin to be exhumed.
The weight of the coffin felt wrong. Holding onto a faint hope, Huo Du opened it, wishing that Song Jin had somehow escaped. However, considering how passive Song Jin had been, unable to even resist the Princess Consort’s dominance, how could he have confronted her?
A porcelain urn stood inside the coffin, silent and still, just as when Huo Du first laid eyes on it. It seemed to be observing the passing merchants and generals from the street corner. The disturbance from the digging slightly lifted its lid.
Huo Du stood there in disbelief, reaching into the ashes and retrieving two bracelets.
The silver bracelets had turned black from the fire, but their patterns were still visible.
They were the ones he had given to Jin.
Huo Du looked at the Princess Consort incredulously, his voice barely audible, “Did you have him cremated?”
“Why couldn’t we? He would have defiled your family’s tomb. Why not leave him to me?” Huo’s wife hesitated, looking at Huo Du’s distraught expression. She wanted to say something, but she believed that Huo Du was still young. With time and experience, he would forget about Song Jin.
Moreover… where else could they find him?
On the day of their wedding, Huo’s parents made excuses to leave the house.
“Jin, we’re married.”
Without inviting anyone, Huo Du bowed before the urn containing Song Jin’s ashes. That same day, he left the capital, alone from start to finish.
Song Jin — a legend in the capital.
The story even reached a distant town in Jiangnan, where it was embellished by merchants and travelers, portraying Song Jin as a celestial being.
If anyone hadn’t heard this story, they must have just arrived in the city, inexperienced and in need of a crash course at the teahouse.
“Brother, I see you’ve made such a big business, yet you’re so ignorant!” exclaimed the middle-aged man, shaking his fan.
The young man across from him smiled, “I’m new here, please take care of me, brother.”
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