After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 87: Chapter 88: Sunx Fuping’s Curtain Call

By the time Hee Chunhua arrived with his men, Hee Lingchuan had already leaped onto the bird’s back and was being carried away, so he didn’t get to see how the renowned Former National Preceptor met his end.

The last person to deal with Sunx Fuping was Hee Chunhua.

Ever since he saw Hee Chunhua produce Sunx Fuping’s posthumous writings, Hee Lingchuan had been wondering what he missed.

”National Preceptor Sunx was really no pushover. His Magical Power was exhausted, and his Cultivation was supposedly being heavily suppressed by the Illusion Realm, yet he still managed to kill seven of our men.” Zeng Feixiong grew somber as he spoke of his fallen brothers. ”If it weren’t for the valor of the Great Wind Army’s Heroic Spirits, we really wouldn’t have been able to finish him off.”

”I heard the Great Wind Army also suffered losses.”

”Yeah, they fought with no regard for themselves, not like us living folk who worry about life and death. The siege on National Preceptor Sunx lasted half a quarter-hour at most, and they lost... they lost... they...”

Zeng Feixiong started slurring his words.

Hee Lingchuan grabbed a slice of Motherwort Fruit and stuffed it into his mouth.

The locals called it a Motherwort Fruit, but it was really just a lemon.

Zeng Feixiong chewed on the lemon. The sharp sourness shot straight to his head, making his entire jaw go numb.

But the effect was surprisingly good. He shuddered, sobering up a little.

”How many of the Great Wind Army fell?”

”Thirty or forty? They just kept coming, one after another, and caught National Preceptor Sunx off guard.” Zeng Feixiong recalled, ”In the end, their Commander ran him through the throat with a spear. But with his profound Cultivation, he didn’t die right away. He... he even said a few words to the Prefect.”

’Here comes the important part.’ Hee Lingchuan pressed, ”You heard them?”

”Ah, his voice was very quiet, but I was right beside the Prefect, protecting him when he walked over.”

’Walked over? Dad actually approached a dying Sunx Fuping on his own initiative?’

’He’s such a shrewd man, how could he not know that a cornered snake lashes out most viciously before it dies? What if Sunx Fuping still had a trick up his sleeve?’

’So, what could have been so important that it had to be said before the man died?’

”National Preceptor Sunx said...” Actually, Sunx Fuping had been stripped of his title after the rebellion, but the name was a habit for Zeng Feixiong, and in his current muddled state, he couldn’t correct himself. ”Uh, anyway, he said his treason was justified and that he had no regrets, even in death. Something like that.”

Sunx Fuping had said quite a bit, but he couldn’t remember it all.

Hee Lingchuan was speechless. ’I got him too drunk.’

”He said that everything he did was for the good of the Da Yuan Kingdom, and then he said a lot of bad things about the Monarch.” Even half-drunk, Zeng Feixiong knew not to repeat the exact, treasonous words.

Not that Hee Lingchuan wanted to hear them. He was just reminded of what Hee Yue had said.

’Can this country still be saved? How? Are extreme measures, like those taken by the Grand Commandant and Sunx Fuping, really the right way?’

Then he shook his head. ’Let the ambitious and wise worry about that stuff. What’s it got to do with me?’

”That’s it?” Hee Lingchuan was a little disappointed.

”Oh, there’s more. He asked Hee Prefect, ’Your entire family was killed by that old, fatuous Emperor, so why do you still serve the imperial family?’” Zeng Feixiong frowned, trying to remember. ”Before Lord Governor could answer, he added, ’Unless you have ulterior motives!’”

Hee Lingchuan raised an eyebrow. ”What did Dad say?”

”Lord Governor cursed National Preceptor Sunx for talking nonsense. He said Sunx wasn’t so selfless himself, that his real reason for entering Panlong City was for his own gain, not just to help the Grand Commandant.”

”Then Lord Governor leaned in and whispered something in Sunx Fuping’s ear. I couldn’t hear it, but right after, Sunx Fuping started laughing. He laughed so hard he couldn’t stop, even with blood bubbling from his neck.”

”He told Lord Governor, ’It’s no use. What’s done is done, and you can’t go back on it, or you’ll suffer the backlash and your family will be destroyed.’ He also said something about ’you reap what you sow’ and ’every cause has its effect.’” Zeng Feixiong said resentfully, ”I don’t know what he found so funny, but he kicked the bucket mid-laugh.”

”After that, Lord Governor searched his body for anything he was carrying and then hurried back to the South City Gate to find you.”

’So that’s what happened.’

Hee Lingchuan didn’t ask any more questions. He just drank and ate with him until he was half-drunk himself, then paid someone to take Zeng Feixiong home.

Uncle Hao was sitting in the lobby downstairs. When he saw Hee Lingchuan come out, he escorted him back to the Hee Mansion.

On the way back to his own quarters, Hee Lingchuan unexpectedly ran into Hee Chunhua.

It was late, but Lord Governor was still wearing the same clothes from the morning. It seemed he had just gotten home as well, but his high spirits were a stark contrast to his eldest son’s stumbling.

”Honestly, you’re just fooling around all day, never doing any proper work!” Hee Chunhua said, pinching his nose. ”Where have you been?”

Hee Lingchuan just chuckled sheepishly.

Uncle Hao said, ”The Eldest Young Master went to Xiangsi Building with Liu Baobao and Zeng Feixiong. They drank seven jars of aged wine.”

Hee Lingchuan suddenly interjected, ”Dad, have you ever done anything to let us down?”

Hee Chunhua frowned. ”What nonsense are you talking?”

”Do I have a long-lost brother somewhere? No, a sister would be better!”

Hee Chunhua’s face was stern, but he wasn’t going to argue with a drunk. He turned to Uncle Hao and said, ”Take him back. Force two cups of sobriety soup into him before bed, or he’ll have a headache when he wakes up tomorrow.”

”Yes, sir.”

Uncle Hao helped Hee Lingchuan away. Watching their backs, Hee Chunhua suddenly let out a long sigh, and his posture didn’t seem quite so rigid anymore.

Hee Lingchuan really was rather drunk. After drinking the sobriety soup, he flopped onto his bed and fell asleep without another thought.

He didn’t wake up until noon the next day.

He’d slept dreamlessly, and very soundly.

Hee Lingchuan patted the Broken Blade on the wall. ’The little guy behaved last night and didn’t take the opportunity to cause any trouble.’

...

That evening, he ran into Hee Yue. ”Have you heard of Du Feng, the Junior Minister of the Imperial Treasury?”

Hee Yue was in a hurry to relieve himself, but Hee Lingchuan blocked his path. No matter which way he tried to go, he couldn’t get past. ”You haven’t heard of him? He’s the Assistant to the Minister of the Imperial Treasury, in charge of the granaries and markets in both the Great Capital and Shihuan City. It’s not a high-ranking post, but it comes with a great deal of power.”

”I heard he’s an old acquaintance of our family?”

”Hereditary friends,” Hee Yue said lightly. ”Father corresponds with him occasionally. I’ve even written letters on his behalf.”

Hee Lingchuan drew out a long ”Ohhh.” ’That’s a lot of information. It means Hee Chunhua and Du Feng do still have some contact, but it’s very faint. It’s not necessarily a case of old friends growing apart or the world being callous; the old Emperor ordered the execution of the Hee Family. The Du family must have been desperate to prove their own innocence, so how could they dare to get too close to Hee Chunhua, the family’s sole survivor?’

”That they still exchange letters is pretty good, all things considered.” He patted Hee Yue’s shoulder. ’The kid is only fourteen. Smart as he is, he still lacks worldly experience.’ ”A man in Junior Minister Du’s position has to be careful about his associations.”

”He does have to be careful...” Hee Yue finally couldn’t hold it in any longer. ”Can you please move?”

Hee Lingchuan pretended not to hear him. ”Then do you know who the matriarch of the Du Mansion is? Du Feng’s grandmother.”

Hee Yue spoke in a rush, ”Mrs. Hex, Hex Suqiong. She’s very well-connected in the Great Capital. I hear she’s charitable, enjoys opera and music, and likes to host garden parties and gatherings.”

”Go on, then.” Seeing that his brother’s face had turned pale from holding it in, Hee Lingchuan finally stepped aside.

Hee Yue shot off like a rabbit.