A Thousand-Mile Exile, An Encounter with an Old Friend

Zhu Qinghou was spoiled and arrogant, acting like he owned the world and throwing his family's weight around.

When the Zhu family fell from power, the entire clan was exiled. As luck would have it, they were sent to the fief of Prince Su.

Everyone knew that Prince Su had lost his sight because of Zhu Qinghou, and hated him to the bone.

Surely Zhu Qinghou would be dead at Prince Su's hands within three days.

Just as expected, that very night, the prisoner cart holding Zhu Qinghou was delivered to Prince Su's residence.

Prince Su stood above him with a white silk blindfold over his eyes, ready to savor the dying man's pathetic display.

Barely clinging to life, Zhu Qinghou showed not the slightest desire to survive. Instead, his voice was full of suppressed, restrained love. "I love you. I couldn't bear to see someone else in your eyes, and so I made a terrible mistake all those years ago."

He gave a bitter laugh. "Now that I can die by your hand, I have no regrets."

The residence fell silent.

Prince Su listened without expression, then bent down and spoke in a gentle, eerie tone:

"You feel so deeply for me. How could I bear to let you die like this?"

*

Many people waited to see when Zhu Qinghou would meet his end. They waited year after year, only to see the Zhu family exonerated and a new emperor ascend the throne.

Zhu Qinghou was more splendidly dressed than ever, lounging in the imperial carriage with carefree abandon.

He mused idly that the new emperor really was a fool to believe his lies.

Beside him, the new emperor watched him without moving, his eyes frighteningly calm. "Qinghou, who are you thinking about?"

Beautiful, cunning shou x truly dark-hearted, cold gong

The gong is genuinely blind at first, but will recover later.

Blurb dated 25.10.12

Theme: Whether I am condemned or praised, let history judge me.