Nathan Ye was utterly baffled as he found himself unceremoniously shoved out the door.
Lady, isn't this a bit extreme? Just kicking me out like this? Aren't you worried I'll go shouting in the streets or report you to the authorities?
Nathan couldn't comprehend where Clara Xiao got her confidence. In truth, Clara had simply been overwhelmed, her composure shattered, and pushed him out before he could see through her act.
But Nathan had no way of knowing this.
"Girl, with moves like this, you call yourself a spy? Way too green! If it were anyone but me, you'd be in serious trouble." Nathan muttered to himself as he walked away.
Would he really report Clara Xiao? Of course not. He was about to die, so why would he bother with such trivial matters?
Finally, his wish was about to come true, and he felt as if he were floating. Joy surged within him.
At last, I'm going to die.
The only disappointment was that he couldn't die immediately and had to wait three days. However, on further reflection, Clara's reasoning made sense. If Nathan were to die in her quarters, she'd have no way to explain it.
Relieved and exhilarated, Nathan accepted the situation without hesitation.
"Home to wait for death! No way, I'm making it through this time!" he thought, humming cheerfully as he strolled down the stairs with his hands behind his back.
As he made his way down the street, people noticed and began whispering.
"Already out?"
"Look at Mr. Ye, truly looking as though he's riding high on success."
"Could it be that he and Miss Xiao...?"
"Could be. Miss Xiao probably found it hard to resist Mr. Ye's charm."
"How could she? Miss Xiao is my goddess!"
"Save it, she's got no place for someone like you in her life."
Surrounded by envious gazes, Nathan moved farther and farther away.
He would never know that, as he left, Clara Xiao slipped into the palace under the cover of night. Nor would he realize that, overnight, a few seemingly ordinary figures—peddling pastries, selling flowers, sweeping streets—appeared around his house, all spies from the Imperial Intelligence Bureau, charged with monitoring his surroundings for any possible threats.
And he certainly wouldn't know that there was no poison in the wine.
Sometimes, the less one knows, the happier they are.
Nathan, eagerly awaiting his "journey to the other side," slept soundly that night, his mouth curled in a smile as he dreamed of the gallant life he'd have as an emperor.
...
Night hung over Clara Xiao like a cloak as she moved like a specter toward a secret gate in the palace wall. Displaying a special token, she gained entry and soon found herself face-to-face with Sirius Ji in the Imperial Study.
"I've heard a bit about this matter already. He wrote a poem of remarkable talent," Sirius Ji remarked, showing some familiarity with the situation.
However, Clara shook her head and said, "No, Your Majesty, there's more you don't know."
She recounted her experience from earlier that day. The poetry itself wasn't the main point.
For scholars, poetry was indeed important, a medium that could carry profound truths and wield the power to move the world. But for the state, poetry was merely a means to an end.
Clara had no intention of belaboring the point. After a brief description of Nathan's impromptu poem, she handed over the scroll of Butterfly Loves the Flower to Sirius Ji and continued her story.
"This is the national treasure poem?"
Sirius Ji slowly unrolled the scroll. It truly was a masterpiece. Each word was a gem, the scroll itself so substantial it felt like a thousand pounds, with the lingering scent of ink that revitalized the senses. The poem itself was priceless.
She took her time admiring it, captivated by both the work and Clara's recounting of the day's events.
"...At the time, I thought his mind was thoroughly enchanted, and then I revealed my identity as a Rasian spy, expecting him to hesitate. But without a second thought, he pushed me away, discarding me like an old shoe."
At this point, Clara's face broke into a grin. Although she had been rejected, she was oddly pleased by it.
Sirius Ji, intrigued, set aside the poem and listened attentively.
"Then, I tried to lure him to Rasian with promises of beauty and high rank, but he shouted insults, even calling me a wench."
Clara's smile grew wider, as if she enjoyed being called such a name. Sirius Ji, observing this, couldn't help but marvel; she'd never seen Clara like this before.
"After that, I threatened him. One choice was beauty and riches, the other was death. Surely, he'd give it some thought? But still, he refused."
Clara took a deep breath. He had only said one thing in response:
"'A true general would never compromise to survive, a martyr would never discard honor to live.'"
Such a simple statement, yet imbued with immense strength.
"I truly wasn't wrong about him," Sirius Ji murmured. Nathan Ye's integrity far exceeded her expectations.
He feared neither death nor disgrace, nor did he covet wealth, power, or beauty. Could such an impeccable person really exist?
Clara's account continued.
"When he said those words, I felt a profound shock, but I was also deeply puzzled. What force drives him to possess such unimaginable courage? I had to ask why others would surrender and compromise, but he wouldn't."
"What did he say?"
Sirius Ji was completely absorbed.
"He told me, 'Depravity is the pass of the base; nobility is the epitaph of the honorable!'"
"He said that what doesn't kill him would only make him stronger."
"He also said that if he did die, his spirit would live on, unyielding."
Clara was overwhelmed by admiration as she finished. Even hours later, she was still shaken by his words.
Sirius Ji, hearing them for the first time, was equally moved. Nathan's words held an unyielding strength, and given his situation, they were priceless.
"Your Majesty, Da Zhou has truly found a treasure," Clara said, her tone sincere. After a moment, she added, "But Your Majesty, after learning more about Mr. Ye, I now believe he should not be involved in our plans."
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