Chapter 136: Clear Sky Day Chapter 115: Contradicted and Bewildered

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Liu Qi suddenly fell silent.

The Emperor still leaned on the desk, his body slightly bowed, looking at his son kneeling dazedly before him, his voice growing ever lower, hoarser, and slower: "Back then, he was also merely an ignorant child; We originally never thought to take his life……"

As he spoke, he looked toward the memorials and secret letters on the desk: "The old matter is settled, yet now war breaks out frequently, army morale is low, and the Court has no reason to make things difficult for his descendants at this time."

This word "he" was spoken extremely lightly, an old sound unwilling to linger.

Whether out of sentiment or constrained by the situation, the Emperor expressed an attitude of not killing indiscriminately.

"We know that you and Congnan grew up together from childhood, your bond especially deep. Your temperament, We also understand; if he turned to you, you would preserve his life no matter what…… so this matter, We do not blame you."

The Emperor's gaze lowered again: "But since We have opened Our mouth to ask you, if you dare deceive Us again, hereafter We shall never be able to trust you again."

This is an opportunity given by a father, concerning right and wrong, pros and cons, and even more concerning trust.

Liu Qi raised his head; beneath his pitch-black eyelashes a trace of moist tear-light appeared, the fingers braced before him clenched silently, meeting his sovereign father's gaze, he finally prostrated himself, choking out the truth:

"Your child minister indeed deceived Imperial Father!"

He said: "These years, your child minister secretly went against the Sacred Will, constantly trying to investigate whether Congnan and Yu'er are still in the mortal world……"

"Only your child minister is useless, to this day obtaining no audio information whatsoever…… but your child minister knows, Yu'er and Congnan are certainly still alive! I have dreamed of them many times, the blood-kin resonance has never been severed!" The youth kowtowed without rising; beneath his blue-green robe a stubborn, obsessive spine was outlined.

After a moment, that spine straightened once more, he raised his head again, eyes brimming with tears, hands folded before his forehead, unable to conceal his joy: "Your son has always known, Imperial Father is absolutely not a heart-of-iron-and-stone person. Since Imperial Father has spoken these words, in the future when your son finds a clue, there will absolutely be no concealment!"

The Emperor watched him for a long time, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.

When the youth lowered his hands, the tear-light in his eyes was distinctly moving; he seemed to have thoroughly confirmed the cognition that his Imperial Father had never changed, only been deceived by others.

Even facing his sovereign father's gaze, obstinacy remained in his eyes, yet his tone had become childishly admiring as in infancy: "Your child minister understands, the matter of that year also caused Imperial Father ten thousand parts of heartache……"

The Emperor interrupted his words: "We said not to mention this matter again; though We are unwilling to quarrel with a child, that does not mean those people were without fault…… their faults are certain, already recorded by the historiographers, no one shall think to exonerate them based on conjecture."

This is not the time to push one's luck; the youth kowtowed again: "Yes…… before there is irrefutable evidence, your child minister will never mention this matter again to displease Imperial Father."

The Emperor's chest slowly rose and fell; he laughed a sound of unclear meaning, raised his eyes, and saw a peach-wood sword hanging on the opposite wall.

He had never had anyone deliberately replace the furnishings here; only the guilty-hearted would deliberately avoid, and he was without fault, he saw the evidence, he did what ought to be done, merely that.

His gaze passed through that peach-wood sword, glimpsing the old scenes of playing and frolicking with his mischievous young son; at that time, how could he have imagined that one day it would become this present scene.

Looking at this child who grew up in the distant South, he said: "Rise."

The youth answered "Yes" and stood; his left leg moved sluggishly and clumsily, yet his expression was more radiant than when he came, resentment and hostility dispersed considerably, for a moment he seemed to have turned back into that child who took up a sword and went to the Cangchi bank to night-hunt fierce ghosts.

This already grown-open face carried too many old shadows impossible to avoid.

The Emperor saw his own youth, and also saw many shadows he did not wish to see.

Not having met for many years, today obtaining a trace of lenient emotion revealed by his father, the youth seemed to have many words he wanted to say, but the father had no intention of speaking further, merely saying wearily: "Before the reconstruction of Changling ends, you need only abide by your duty and stay in the Capital; some of your uncles and brothers will also arrive in succession…… many people, many affairs, do not stir up trouble again."

Abide by your duty, do not stir up trouble.

Hearing these seemingly pointed words, Liu Qi did not argue, merely assented.

Not long after, Liu Qi withdrew from the palace interior, his eye rims slightly red, not yet fully faded.

He turned his body, blocking all gazes behind him, brows and eyes lowered in the sunlight, brow bones and eyelashes instantly casting a layer of shadow.

"Come out?" Inside the Shaofu Office, Guo Shi knelt behind the desk, flipping through the name list on the bamboo slips.

"Yes." His adopted son knelt and answered: "His Majesty entered the inner hall alone with him; unknown what they discussed."

"In any case, true or false……" Guo Shi sighed: "Being able to walk out properly is already very troublesome."

Recently rumors spread in the city: the Sixth Prince suddenly appeared at the Shangsi Festival Grand Sacrifice, shot and killed Zhu Zhi, a heaven-sent auspicious omen.

So eager to vie for momentum? This desperate, simply reckless.

"The Jiaofang Dian side, invited that newly appointed Tai Puzhe to go over……"

Hearing his adopted son's words, Guo Shi laughed a sigh: "Rui Guo Shu also cannot help but be anxious."

He muttered again: "And Our Emperor, though he both punished and scolded, is not anxious in the slightest…… being the Emperor is naturally not anxious."

Adopted son Guo Yu only followed with a light sigh, not rashly replying, until he heard his adoptive father click his tongue: "This name is not bad, Xiangzhi…… looks auspicious at a glance."

Guo Yu echoed agreement.

Guo Shi continued flipping through, suddenly thought of something, asked: "Did that Sixth Prince and that newly appointed Tai Puzhe run into each other today? One forced the evil spirit to manifest, one shot and killed the evil spirit…… there is actually some fateful connection."

Guo Yu slapped his forehead: "This memory of mine, was just about to say it."

Hurriedly reported the news coming from Weiyang Palace.

Guo Shi listened and laughed: "Right, he is the person in this world who should hate shamans the most."

"No matter, this little Tai Puzhe will surely receive good favor inside Jiaofang Dian." Guo Shi said smiling: "Our Empress is so gentle and pleasant; no matter how much grievance and vexation, at this time it should all be gone."

Rui Huanghou's appearance was peerlessly beautiful; even in illness, she unexpectedly added a different kind of ethereal beauty.

Shaowei had finished examining her; she did not expect this Empress, gifted beyond measure in beauty, to have truly suffered a fright, her heart and emotions still unwell to this day.

This is not some difficult miscellaneous disease; Shaowei therefore prescribed a basic prescription and gave basic doctor's orders.

Rui Huanghou leaned on the bed, saying in a pleasant voice: "Many thanks to you……"

In Shaowei's cognition, one noble as the Mother of the Nation should not thank her; she harbored a guess, showing nothing: "The matters this humble minister does are not worth mentioning, cannot bear Empress's this thanks."

"No, you are very different." Rui Huanghou: "Even if you did not write this prescription, just looking at you, this Palace's heart is already much lighter and steadier. The Shangsi Festival Grand Sacrifice, this Palace was especially moved; it is something this life can never forget."

Shaowei: "Empress over-praises, Huali is terrified."

Rui Huanghou looked at that young girl, paused a moment, then said softly: "This Palace also heard…… Jiang Tai Zhu once prophesied before His Majesty that a Chi Ba would cause a great drought this summer?"

Shaowei stared blankly for a moment, did not rush to speak.

Empress Rui soothed her: "This Imperial Mother is the Empress of Great Qian, with the authority to inquire into state affairs; since I ask you, you need not fear. This Imperial Mother merely wishes to ask whether this omen can still be altered now?"

Shaowei shook her head: "Replying to the Empress, there is no alteration."

Empress Rui's face revealed worry: "The Chi Ba is also a calamity ghost; unknown whether it is likewise like the Changling evil spirit, attaching to someone's body... inviting even more calamity?"

Shaowei still shook her head: "This humble official has no way to know yet."

Empress Rui: "Then can you once more invoke the deity to enter the body, making the calamity ghost manifest?"

"Invoking the deity requires resonance between heaven and man, cannot be forced; it requires the gods and ghosts to bestow an opportunity." Shaowei seriously spoke nonsense.

"That is so, one must wait for the opportune resonance." Empress Rui nodded, gazing at those spiritually bright yet also mixed with a trace of innocent girl's eyes, said: "This concerns the state's fate and the common people; one imagines the gods and ghosts would also be willing to bestow guidance... what do you think?"

Shaowei: "The Empress's words are reasonable."

Empress Rui smiled faintly: "This Imperial Mother likes you very much; remember to occasionally come keep this Imperial Mother company and chat."

"Acknowledged."

Empress Rui had a palace maid bring a pair of jade ruyi.

Shaowei knew this was a bestowal that could not be refused, so she saluted, received it holding the box, and took her leave.

Just whose wishes must this jade ruyi fulfill? And how can one make the other party satisfied?

Shaowei harbored suspicions in her heart, while also regretting it was a jade ruyi and not a gold or silver ruyi; otherwise she could take it back and hammer it flat or melt it down, and at least exchange it for money.

Carrying this worldly worry of supporting the family, Shaowei was about to step out of Jiaofang Dian when a figure hurried over; had Shaowei not reacted quickly, she would have collided head-on.

That person halted; Shaowei glanced once and lowered her head: "Crown Prince Your Highness."

She held the box, bent over to salute; Liu Cheng reached out to support her arms; Shaowei stepped back one step, hugging the box to avoid him; Liu Cheng reacted, momentarily awkward: "Jiang Tai Zhu... you are leaving?"

Shaowei's lowered head nodded.

In this palace, she has always spoken little; Liu Cheng feared she would leave immediately, hurriedly asked: "How is your injury recovering? I heard you were extremely badly injured... thank you for your hardship in coming to diagnose my Imperial Mother."

"Much better." Shaowei answered with head lowered, while feeling this Tai Zhu role had pros and cons; dealing with so many people, even perfunctory responses cost much effort; she had just finished dealing with the mother, not yet had time to extricate herself, and now must deal with the son.

And both mother and son are somewhat strange; Empress Rui gave her a feeling sometimes detached and reserved, sometimes scheming and hinting, as if after a few words she was possessed, switching personalities intermittently, exuding an indescribable contradiction.

While this Crown Prince Cheng's attitude contained hidden fervor, making her feel an indescribable strangeness even more.

Shaowei appeared calm and silent, but in reality her every pore stood alert like ten thousand armies, each preparing to dodge urgently, only fearing one careless moment would again fall into a human-nature trap like the one experienced in that tomb.

After a few more perfunctory sentences, Shaowei quickly took her leave and departed.

Liu Cheng stood in place, dazed for a while; before his eyes he still seemed to see that section of nape revealed when the girl lowered her head; the air still retained the herbal fragrance from her body. Unknown what herb, strangely fresh; though fresh, it inexplicably made him dazed, heartbeat trembling; by his ear he faintly seemed to hear again that night's drum sounds, konghou sounds, bird cries.

Outside Jiaofang Dian, several birds called as they flew past.

Shaowei left this place, boarded the palace carriage, traveled not far, and distantly saw ahead on the palace corridor a tall green-clad figure being supported by a palace attendant.

Just seeing that sorrowful-clouds-pale back one knew who it was; Shaowei conscientiously tightened her expression, hugged the box and sat upright, eyes not glancing sideways.

But the other party walked slowly, heard the sound, stopped and looked back.

The carriage-bearing attendants must alight and salute toward the imperial prince.

Quan Wa led two palace attendants bowing; Liu Qi's gaze passed over them, looking toward the person inside the carriage; the canopy tassels hung low, only her lower half of the face visible, tensed extremely convincingly.

"How is it, Jiang Tai Zhu does not intend to alight and salute to me?"

The youth's tone was provocative, yet the demand conformed to his status; Shaowei threw down the box in her hand, just about to rise, then heard the other say: "No need; it is heard the Tai Zhu repeatedly claimed to have invoked Our Imperial Grandfather's deity into the body; if I receive your salute, would that not be great impiety?"

These words that sounded reverent but were actually the opposite made Quan Wa's back sweat; he thought one was a newly returned to the capital, physically and mentally unwell, down-and-out imperial prince; the other a proud, Emperor-favored youthful Wu Zhu; if the two young hotheads quarreled and fought, he truly wouldn't know how to mediate?

The person inside the carriage had already straightened up; though her features were still obscured, her voice was clearly unkind: "I observe Sixth Prince walking with such difficulty, why no carriage to ride? How about I lend this carriage to Sixth Prince?"

This openly mocking remark made Quan Wa's scalp feel as if a nest of ants were crawling; he turned back with difficulty, wanting to use his eyes to dissuade, but unfortunately separated by the curtain tassels.

And that mocked Sixth Prince, one hand resting on the attendant's shoulder at his side, slightly turned his head, as if wanting to see clearly the face of the person in the carriage; this bearing could not help but give a sense of provocation.

The palace carriage was tall; Shaowei stood motionless; she thought, since this person displays such arrogant and intractable attitude, then simply seize her carriage!

Hearing no response, Shaowei flung up the tassels before her; as the colorful tassels swayed, the youth's aloof face appeared; separated by seven or eight steps, he stood in the sunlight, turned his head provocatively sizing her up; the instant he saw her looking, a smile flashed across his cold, gloomy brows.

Strangeness and familiarity, hostility and sincere delight, made this eye contact contradictory and bewildering.

Shaowei still kept her face taut, only heard him coldly laugh: "No need, I cannot bear such favor."

Tassels dropped; the girl sat back, coldly snorted and ordered: "Since Sixth Prince does not appreciate the kindness, then let us go."

Quan Wa and the others again saluted to Liu Qi; seeing Liu Qi standing without moving, they then lifted the palace carriage and departed.

Third-month flying flowers drifted past the palace wall; Liu Qi watched that palace carriage slowly recede, only feeling this palace corridor short again and again, short to the point of being just as she said last night — she would soon leave.

Shaowei sitting in the carriage thought instead: this road is truly long; when coming she also didn't notice it was this long; she wonders how long a lame, injured person must walk.

Next, no more people requiring alighting to salute were encountered; only distantly seen a long procession, a youth wearing court robes, a jade flute hanging at his waist, striding in front, followed by several palace attendants, leading many women all wearing identical curved-hem robes, also styled with identical hanging hair buns.

Those people seeing the palace carriage approach, early moved toward the palace wall side to yield; the palace attendants and women all lowered their heads, not daring to look more; only that youth raised his head to look toward the carriage interior, without much restraint.

But the tassels blocked the view; he could not see clearly; Shaowei instead occupied the high position and sized him up thoroughly; seeing his facial features somewhat familiar, she couldn't help slight puzzlement.

After the palace carriage went a bit farther, Shaowei asked: "Who was that person just now? A palace musician?"

?? Everyone good night good night.