Ink Blade Chapter 1 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver
Edited by kleio
Previous Life 1 (part 2)
A number of jade steps were laid out beneath his feet, and at the very end, a person was kneeling in the snow.
Bearing a torture rack, and wearing a black robe–the attire for criminals admitting their sins and being tortured as traitors, praying for their death.
Mo Ren crouched in the freezing snow, silent and unmoving. The heavy torture rack pushed him down to a kneeling posture with his head lowered. He knelt weakly, much akin to a corpse, his body long turned cold. Snowflakes gently drifted over to his body, but none melted anymore.
Strands of black hair cascaded down, and drops of blood slid down them, dripping on the pure white snow, spreading out like ink on paper. Alongside the blood soaked in his black robes, it dyed the snow beneath his figure a frightening crimson.
“The lowly slave Mo Ren of the side hall attempted to murder the new mistress of the Lord, Bai Hua, and was charged with treason. The thirteen tortures have been dealt out. Requesting the Palace Master to sentence him and grant him death.”
The Head of the Punishment Hall reported in a loud voice, though he couldn't help but avert his gaze.
He couldn’t bear to look at Mo Ren, nor could he bear to recall it.
For three constant days of continuous punishment, Mo Ren tasted the harshest and most severe torture in the Jiuzhong Palace. He endured and persevered stubbornly at first, however, he eventually failed to endure and couldn’t help but scream out, until at last, the very last traces of strength in him were completely used up.
Even the executioner lost count of how many times this man had passed out during the process, to the point that even freezing cold water couldn't wake him up. He only remembered that his breath had stopped, and his pulse soon followed a halt too. He looked like a dead man hanging on the torture rack.
The Head merely shook his head, but just as he ordered for him to be covered with white cloth, the man miraculously started breathing again.
Only Heaven knew, at that moment, how much the Punishment Hall Head, Master Yang, who was accustomed to inflicting tortures, wanted to just directly use a blade to slice his pale and thin neck.
The tortures from his Punishment Hall were prepared for those ungrateful and traitorous scums. Mo Ren was no doubt guilty of many crimes. He was audacious, stubborn, disobeyed orders, and attempted to assassinate the future lord…….but he was also loyal to Chu Yan from beginning to end, more loyal than any other found in Jiuzhong.
It's a pity that it had fallen to this point after all.
Above the long steps, the Master of the Jiuzhong Palace coldly glanced down at the sinner who was kneeling in the snow on the brink of death, a faint sense of distress in his chest. He opened his mouth, his tone colder than the snow in the middle of winter.
"Have you caused enough trouble? Does it feel better now?"
No answer.
Mo Ren was already very emasculated and was a mere few breaths away from death. He had lost his spirit to speak long ago, let alone make even the slightest movement.
Chu Yan looked at such a Mo Ren, and somehow felt even more irritable in his heart.
It was obviously a festive day, but the lively mood was disrupted by the person in front of him. He then thought back to the fire three days ago. Although it was not a serious problem, it still made him lose his face.
This person really……needs a beating.
"Brother Chu," a voice that sounded like clear spring, a gait that was as light and graceful as a woman—a person wearing a gorgeous red wedding dress leisurely walked out from the inner room.
Bai Hua smiled and clung to Chu Yan's arm, "Are you punishing this person again?"
"Mn." Chu Yan was obviously absent-minded. He glanced at Mo Ren again, and suddenly said to Bai Hua, "Hua’er, don’t mind what happened three days ago. This man is just a lowly waste. Since he has attempted to harm you several times, today….I’ll let you deal with him. "
"This....” Bai Hua hesitated, and there was a trace of unbearable frown in his slightly furrowed eyebrows, which made him more charming. He seemed to struggle for a long time before pulling Chu Yan's hand and persuading softly, "Brother Chu, although this person is malicious, it’s because he cares about you. Besides, in the end, he is your former bodyguard. Hua’er doesn’t want Brother Chu to be gossiped about because of him…....why don’t you just spare his life?"
"Alas, Hua’er, you’re too kind."
Chu Yan turned his back and shook his head, secretly suppressing the discomfort in his heart. He dismissed it casually, "Forget it, today is our big day, don't let this kind of person stain your eyes. As for him, I’m tired of him. Get rid of him. "
There was no need for even a single glance to know that Mo Ren’s current expression was very desperate.
That’s alright. It’s about time this guy learned to behave. If he continues to cause trouble in the future, won't the people in Jianghu only see him as a joke?
Chu Yan thought to himself, and intimately embraced Bai Hua as he took him back to the inner room, before two servants came out and dragged Mo Ren down.
Chu Yan and Bai Hua were very intimate with each other, but somehow, he didn't feel like staying in the Lianhua Hall. He put his clothes back on and went back to his own Jiuzhong Palace.
When he came out, it was snowing heavily. A plethora of soft, drifting snowflakes decorated the night sky, painting a graceful, artistic picture. Chu Yan pulled the black cloak on his body tighter and frowned.
"What time is it?" He asked his personal maidservant Qiu Jin.
"Answering to the Master, it's already midnight." Qiu Jin answered in a whisper. "Master has stayed in Young Master Bai’s room for about an hour and a half."
"Mn." Chu Yan nodded, looking at the snow, the cool breeze whistling in his ear. His mind gradually drifted.
"Master....." Qiu Jin paused, hesitation and anxiety apparent between her beautiful brows.
Mo Ren’s foundation was abolished, and his physique was worse than an ordinary person’s. In such severe, bitterly cold weather, gravely injured, on top of that…..Qiu Jin dared not think any further.
"Fine." Chu Yan rubbed his brows irritably, "Pleading again for that piece of trash, aren’t you?….Go, go ahead and bring him back. Tell him not to dare think that this Master won’t discard him. If he makes any trouble tomorrow, he’ll be sent directly to the execution room and be whipped to death! "
Qiu Jin hurriedly knelt down and said, "Qiu Jin thanks the Master on behalf of Elder brother Mo!"
Looking at the delicate figure as she hurtled away, Chu Yan's mood seemed to improve just the slightest bit.
Now, he felt that he hadn’t wanted Mo Ren’s life in the first place. Otherwise, even the kind and soft-hearted Bai Hua’s persuasion wouldn’t budge him, let alone Qiu Jin’s plea.
After all, he also cherishes their gentle friendship of the past; and Chu Yan was not unaware of Mo Ren's loyalty either.
It's just that…...accusing Bai Hua of being a spy?
Chu Yan sneered. If Mo Ren wanted to frame someone, he should have at least done it in a decent manner. He had liked Bai Hua for ten years, and Bai Hua also willingly accompanied him as a male consort for ten years. Hua’er had no martial arts and he had an untainted, pure heart. Who could he possibly be a spy for?
Contrary to his expectation, Mo Ren had suspected Bai Hua more than once. He even tried to assassinate him....
Assassinate!
Such a daring slave, if it wasn't for him considering their past relationship, he would have long ago…..
His thoughts seemed to be gradually clouding over, and as Chu Yan stared at the snowflakes being blown by a light breath of wind, he thought about how he finally married Bai Hua. It was no doubt the most resolute way to show his attitude. If Mo Ren was more sensible, he probably wouldn’t be opposed to Bai Hua anymore. In that scenario, it’s not like he couldn’t actually treat Mo Ren better.
…Speaking of which, how did he and Mo Ren get to this point? Back then, Ah Ren was so obedient, never going against him. How come he even dares to defy and rebel against him now?
Chu Yan leisurely paced around on the porch, waiting patiently for Qiu Jin to return and report back to him.
Really slow.
Chu Yan frowned, his phoenix eyes turning gloomier by the second. These years, even Qiu Jin had dared to become more and more outrageous.
Ah right, she had the shadow of that willful boy. Maybe he’s just really too used to Mo Ren.
After waiting for about half an hour, Chu Yan was becoming impatient; anxious, even. Just then, Qiu Jin's small figure appeared on the opposite side of the porch.
The maid still stood respectfully with proper posture, the hem of her pale-yellow skirt trembling in the cold wind. Through the drifting snowflakes, Chu Yan saw her pale face, and even with her trembling eyelashes veiling her eyes, he noticed they had dimmed and even seemed empty.
Chu Yan felt a sense of panic and distress creeping up his spine, shrouding his chest.
"Master." Qiu Jin's seemingly calm voice rang out, but if one paid attention, it trembled ever so slightly. "Mo Ren is dead."
"What?” Chu Yan froze for a moment. The cold wind was howling too much, he thought he heard it wrong. “Repeat your words clearly."
"Mo Ren is dead, Master. When this slave led the people there, he was already….."
——Mo Ren…..is dead?
Chu Yan opened his mouth to speak, but couldn’t find it in him to form any words.
He felt….strange.
Chu Yan raised his head, facing the sky. The zenith of that winter night blanketed in lonesome darkness, and it felt so, so distant. Snowflakes continued to descend ever so gracefully from the thick, condensed clouds. He didn't feel any sadness or joy, but only a vague sense of unrealistic hollowness that filled his heart.
How could he die?
Chu Yan began to have a headache, as if thin needles were prickling his brain. He knew he had tortured the man too harshly, ruthless and unrelenting. He was the one who commanded for him to be tortured in the Punishment Hall over and over again. He was the one who destroyed his dantian with his own two hands. It was him who demoted him to the side hall to be a slave, and ordered him to be punished for treason. But……….
Isn't that all? How could he die so easily?
"He died with grievances, Master." Qiu Jin spoke hoarsely, her voice low. "Elder brother, he….when he died, he was looking in the direction of Jiuzhong Palace, with his hand stretched out straight……his body is still preserved there, Master."
Then she suddenly dropped down on her knees, and kowtowed vigorously. After several dull thuds, her blood stained the green bricks.
Her throat was tight and constricted. She said in a pitiful, tearful voice, "Elder brother has been loyal to the Palace Master his entire life. Qiu Jin boldly dares to beg the Master, please go up and have a look at him…..”
Chu Yan watched as Qiu Jin knocked her forehead against the brick floor. It took a long time before he spoke.
"Cough." He nodded, his face devoid of the slightest traces of grief, "Then, let’s go and have a look."
