Chapter 62: Seeking a Ferry (4)
The room was illuminated by the flickering red glow of candles, their orange-red hue perfectly complementing the furnishings and enhancing the misty atmosphere created by the rising steam. Fine ambergris seeped slowly along the roof beams, turning the room into a hazy, dreamlike paradise.
Li Linfu, wearing only a silk undergarment, lay on the large ebony bed covered with cotton cloth, closing his eyes in pleasure. He hadn’t expected Shen Er’s skills to be so exceptional—her massages instantly relieved the fatigue from his entire body after a long day. Her techniques—pushing, rubbing, kneading, pinching—were all masterful and precise. It was a shame he had only encountered such a beauty so late.
With his eyes closed, he inhaled the strong scent of incense, enjoying this pleasant moment. Gradually, he felt his head grow heavy and his body weak and limp. The scent seemed different from usual. Sensing something amiss, Li Linfu wanted Shen Er to massage him again to relieve his exhaustion.
“Shen Er, rub my back again. Bring the wood oil and fine salt from the wooden cabinet by the sink—use the same strength you used just now.”
Before he could finish speaking, the flickering candlelight trembled for a moment before going out. The room plunged into darkness, as if back to the chaotic state at the beginning of creation. The wooden door creaked open, but no one entered. It was too dark inside for him to see what was happening, but by intuition, he realized these people had ill intentions.
“Ugh!”
“Ugh!”
Li Linfu instinctively opened his mouth to call for help. Although there were no guards outside, there were several maids. If he made a sound, they could immediately summon the guards of the mansion.
But his dreams were shattered. As soon as his throat moved, a warm towel was stuffed into his mouth, silencing him.
“Mmm!”
“Mmm!”
Li Linfu didn’t know how these people had found him. His whereabouts were kept secret even within the mansion—why had they targeted him? He hadn’t told anyone except Shen Er. Could it be… could it be that Shen Er had betrayed him? At this thought, he was both shocked and enraged. He had trusted her so much, only to be betrayed by this bitch!
In a fit of anger, he tried to get up, only to find his hands and feet tied to the bed, leaving him completely immobile.
“Mmm!”
“Mmm!”
The rope bound around his wrists and ankles caused excruciating pain, prompting Li Linfu to emit cries like a slaughtered pig. But with a towel in his mouth, all that could be heard from outside were faint moans.
Who are they? Who wants to harm me? My residence has always been heavily guarded; trying to sneak in at night is nothing but delusion. It happens to be my birthday today—so are they among the guests I invited? But I invited so many guests that I can’t think of anyone who holds such a grudge against me.
Li Linfu was tied spread-eagled on the wooden bed, his mind racing for a plan. If these people could easily reach this courtyard without being noticed by the guards, they must be working with that bitch. Do they want money or to kill me?
If it’s for money, I would undoubtedly order a ransom sent right away. But if it’s to kill me…
The scent grew stronger, and Li Linfu’s head hurt even more. He shook his head violently to clear his thoughts and analyze the situation carefully.
They were acting so cautiously and seemed to know exactly where I was—so they probably weren’t after money. Besides, which bold thief would dare to scheme in the residence of the Tang Dynasty’s prime minister?
Once he figured it out, Li Linfu’s body slumped like a deflated balloon on the wooden bed. Am I going to die today? That bitch—she’s to blame for everything. If only I could get free, I would skin her and pull out her tendons! But right now, I’m tied to this bed like a pig—how can I carry out my plans?
The thought of being deceived without even being able to take that bitch’s virginity filled Li Linfu with rage. His chest swelled like an inflated raft, pushing his body upward.
With his legs apart and buttocks protruding, the once-mighty prime minister now looked utterly ridiculous, like a pig about to be slaughtered—angry yet helpless.
The silence was terrifying, especially in the darkness of the night. Li Linfu struggled for a while before suddenly going still, listening carefully to any sounds around him.
Why haven’t the murderers acted yet? Is there still a chance?
His head grew dumber and more painful. There’s something wrong with this scent—definitely something wrong! He bit his tongue hard to stay awake.
In the darkness, Li Linfu could only hear his own rapid breathing and heartbeat, which nearly drove him crazy. If the murderers had said something, even just some vulgar curses at him, he wouldn’t have suffered like this. But the night was eerily silent, like a dead land.
“Huh!”
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his eyes; amidst the lingering fragrance, a glint of light flashed by. Li Linfu instinctively closed his eyes to protect himself. After a long while, the expected pain did not occur. He slowly opened his eyes again, only to be dazzled by the light before him.
A fire starter—it was a fire starter! Such things only existed in the military. Could these assassins be from the army? He had connections with various military governors—which commander might want to kill him?
Seemingly realizing something, Li Linfu abruptly raised his head and looked upward. In the dim light, he noticed that the figure clad in white had no head! What? Could it be a ghost? A ghost indeed?
Like a trapped beast, Li Linfu struggled desperately. His bulky body writhed on the wooden bed like a silkworm.
“Ugh!”
“Ugh!”
Li Linfu was near despair. Indeed, if it weren’t a ghost, who else could enter the Prime Minister’s residence as if no one were there? If it weren’t a ghost, why was there no sound throughout? And if it weren’t a ghost, then why was there no head beneath that white robe?
Could it be… could it be Su Zhen coming to collect her debt? Was Shen’er then Su Zhen’s ghost? It had to be—absolutely!
Li Linfu’s thoughts were in complete chaos. Trembling violently, his gaze fixed rigidly on the white robe.
“Whoosh!”
The fire starter flashed swiftly, and Li Linfu saw the white robe drifting slowly toward him. He shook his head violently but couldn’t dispel these “illusions.” This wasn’t a dream—definitely not!
Only when the white robe got closer did Li Linfu realize the person wasn’t headless; their complexion was simply too pale, preventing him from seeing clearly. Blinking, he looked more intently—and his heart nearly leaped out of his throat!
It was Shen’er… no, it was Su Zhen! The white robe she wore was identical to the one Su Zhen loved to wear—the same brocade with diagonal bamboo patterns. It was Su Zhen who had come to collect her debt. Shen’er was nothing but Su Zhen’s ghost!
Li Linfu shook his head frantically, pleading desperately for her not to come any closer. But the ghost seemed to ignore him, stepping slowly toward him one step at a time.
“Whoosh!”
The fire starter flashed again, and the white brocade robe vanished instantly. What appeared next was a young man dressed in a magnificent robe. He was tall and slender, with a handsome face that resembled the current emperor strikingly. Except for the streak of black blood at the corner of his mouth, he could almost be called a vision of perfection.
Suddenly, Li Linfu seemed to remember something, as if a loud noise erupted in his mind.
In this Great Tang Dynasty, aside from the emperor, only the crown prince could wear such magnificent robes. Could this person be… could it be Crown Prince Li Ying? (Note 1) It must be him. Don’t come over! Don’t come! It was Empress Wu Hui and the emperor who killed you; I merely passed on a message and offered a strategy. Everyone has their own cause for suffering—go after them if you want to blame someone!
A gust of wind blew, causing the flames to flicker. The young man dressed in splendid robes turned into a middle-aged man with a thick beard, holding an official tablet. In the light of the fire, he could see the man’s appearance clearly. Throughout the entire Great Tang Dynasty, there was probably only one middle-aged man with such a beard who held a position in the court—Li Shi.
Had he come to avenge himself? No, it wasn’t me who harmed you. I… I did it for my family. The one who truly harmed you is the emperor!
Though he shouted his explanations, with a warm towel stuffed in his mouth, he could only emit faint murmurs, which were of no use in driving away the ghosts.
With each flash of the torch, a new ghost appeared—seven ghosts in total. All seven were those who held grudges against him and had died directly or indirectly because of him. Were they here to avenge themselves now?
“Li Linfu, why did you slander my father and scheme to kill me? Give me back my life!”
“Ge Nu, you made me love you in vain my whole life. You made me miss you until my death! You killed me—give me back my life!”
“Li Linfu, why did you harm me? Why did you seize everything in my household? Do you know I still have a wife and a son? Give me back my life!”
No, it wasn’t me! I didn’t kill you! Li Linfu cried out loudly, but the ghosts couldn’t hear him at all.
“Li Linfu, give me back my life!”
“Ge Nu, go be with Su Zhen.”
“Give me back my life!”
“Give me back my life!”
“…”
Only a scream was heard, and amidst the lingering fragrance, everything returned to silence.
Note 1: Li Ying: The first crown prince of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji. Due to his humble origins, he was framed by the then-powerful Empress Wu Hui and Li Linfu, leading to his execution along with Princes Li Yao and Li Ju in the 25th year of the Kaiyuan era. Thus, Li Linfu was one of his enemies.