Chapter 220

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Tang Jia had been especially anxious lately.

The source of his anxiety was that he had recently noticed signs of mental unrest and inability to sleep or eat in the Sixth Prince.

Looking back on everything they had been through, even major events that he himself considered extremely dangerous and terrifying—such as this latest scheme involving the sacrificial wine—he had been terrified, while the Sixth Prince remained completely unmoved and undisturbed—

Tang Jia had once suspected that this child had been physically and mentally scarred by events of that year, that hatred had grown so strong it covered all other emotions, so his excessive calm was a sign of emotional deficiency.

Recently, however, he saw the young man faintly showing unease, with signs of restlessness; although this added a touch of human color, it also alarmed Tang Jia, giving rise to the ominous guess that "perhaps the sky was about to fall."

But then he thought again: usually, everything gave him a feeling of the sky falling, yet it was still not enough to shake the Commandery Prince; now, this was probably even more terrifying than the sky falling, showing signs of the universe's destruction.

That morning, Tang Jia came to look for him and learned that the Sixth Prince had not slept all night and had risen early to practice swordplay; finally unable to hold back, he said: "Your Highness... has some great misfortune occurred, or do you have new plans?"

Could it be that after being filial for many days, he could no longer bear it, and was about to change his plan, preparing to act with the most direct and crude method... and next time he was filial, he would borrow the position of Chancellor beside the sovereign to carry out a regicide plot?

Wearing only a lead-white undergarment, clearly the boy had suddenly risen in the night unable to sleep to practice swordplay; his undergarment was half wet, a few strands of hair fallen across his forehead were damp with sweat, and at this moment he sat on the steps, his legs in long boots stretched out long, hands propped on either side of his body, the three-foot sword not yet returned to its scabbard; hearing the hidden worry in the Changshi's words, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Changshi need not be tense; I currently have no thought of taking my own life." Liu Qi lifted his sweat-streaked face and looked at the sky: "My recent worries are private matters; I can only seek my own fortune."

Tang Jia's heart was instantly greatly relieved; after observing and pondering for a moment, he had already formed a vague guess, and suddenly felt a sense of hasty impropriety at having intruded upon the Imperial Family youth's heart.

But thinking that this child's mother was dead, his uncle dead, his brother and sister-in-law all gone early, with no trustworthy adult around to offer plans, he felt he should take on some responsibility; yet racking his brains, he could only say: "Jia will burn a few more sticks of incense for Your Highness these days, to seek the protection of ghosts and spirits..."

Liu Qi: "No need for such trouble; in this day and age, presumably no ghost or spirit can surpass her; better not to trouble and implicate ghosts and spirits of all quarters."

Tang Jia broke into a sweat on his back, and could all the more understand the true meaning of "seek your own fortune"; for a moment he could only silently pray.

Not long after, an attendant came to pass word that His Majesty had summoned the Sixth Prince into the palace.

The Sacrificial Wine Grand Ceremony had passed ten days ago, and the shock and discussion it caused had not yet completely ceased; Liu Qi did not continue to stay in Jianzhang Palace to be filial, giving the excuse: 【They will surely lodge a complaint with Imperial Uncle; Your Child Minister avoids him, so as not to put Imperial Uncle in a difficult position.】

This was so that even though the action of being filial had stopped, this stopping was dressed up as another form of filial piety.

However, this time when Liu Qi was summoned to Jianzhang Palace, he still unexpectedly met a certain King uncle who was fond of lodging complaints.

The Gaomi King looked at the youth walking toward him, and evil fire rose in his heart; he hated to give him a sweeping kick and knock this lame child, who had nothing but a pretty skin but was lacking in virtue within, to the ground.

The spirit of the Taizu ancestor, ghosts and spirits guiding—true and false in this matter he could not conveniently question or flare up over, so he could only temporarily swallow this silent grievance; but this lame child's words and deeds that day had been arrogant and fierce, and he had even had someone restrain him in public; this resentment, as an elder, he could well express openly, so at this moment he gave Liu Qi no good face at all.

Liu Qi's complexion, however, was not bad: "Ten days without seeing, King Uncle looks rosy and full of vigor, with abundant qi and spirit; presumably your heart of self-reflection has moved heaven and earth, earning the protection and care of the Taizu ancestor's spirit."

Upon hearing this, the Gaomi King, whose qi and blood surged even more, squeezed out a laugh from between his teeth.

Liu Qi: "King Uncle is so mighty and vigorous; when the autumn hunt comes, your nephew will still ask King Uncle for instruction."

"Good!" The Gaomi King gritted his teeth in secret, and on his face cheerfully agreed: "By then, don't say King Uncle bullies the young!"

Most of these princes and marquises had been left behind by the Emperor for the autumn hunt, and would leave the capital only after the autumn hunt.

Liu Ming had already left the day after the Grand Ceremony ended; his request to lead troops in place of his father to attack Liang was not mere words; she bade farewell to Shaowei, and agreed with Shaowei that they would meet again after this vengeance was repaid and this battle won.

That day, rain and mist were dim; Shaowei stood before the Shen Dian and watched her off seriously, watching this Commandery Princess of Zhao Guo who had died young at the palace banquet on the fifth day of the fifth month in her previous life depart with long strides, going as a variable to a place of variables.

The Liu Guo Shi Zi was far less free and unrestrained than Liu Ming; on the day of the Grand Ceremony he kowtowed and wailed without sparing effort from beginning to end, and was finally carried out of the Shen Ci, after which he fell seriously ill.

On the third day of his illness, Liu Qi came to visit him; he refused to let attendants tidy his appearance, meeting him in a bedraggled and weak state, dismissing all unrelated people, and with tears begging: 【Brother Qi... is my performance enough to exempt me from death?】

Blame only his father, a poor man suddenly rich, who learned to weave grass shoes only halfway before becoming a king midway; lacking foundation, having no aesthetic of his own, he loved chasing upper-class fashions; a few years ago he first learned from His Majesty to take elixirs, and in recent years, who knows which ambitious, overly urgent guest's slander he listened to, and learned from others to plant and operate spies in the Capital City... but somehow something went wrong, and that eerie, terrifying spy uprooted his father root and branch!

This was originally a great crime sufficient to doom the state.

His father sent troops to attack Liang; he cooperated with the Sixth Prince and the Wu God to set a trap for the princes and marquises—this was remedial atonement after the matter came to light... His father, not yet driven to jump the wall like a cornered dog, had already that very night stayed at an inn and mustered troops to attack Liang; and he was like a true dog trapped within this high wall of Chang'an, wagging his tail and begging for mercy, acting as a tame house dog, with no thought of leaving within a year or two.

But upon hearing Liu Qi's one sentence 【Brother, rest well and heal your injuries】, his heart and mind suddenly relaxed, and he couldn't help but weep like rain.

Facing this Sixth Prince cousin, he was both afraid and grateful; the reason for gratitude was that if not for the other's devising a peerlessly vicious scheme to trap the princes and marquises, he feared he would have had no chance to live at all—if the Court issued a decree to doom the state, his father was far away in Liu Guo and could still resist like a cornered dog jumping the wall, but he himself was in Chang'an and would only end with blood spilled in a foreign land.

When people are fragile and uneasy, they always unconsciously want to cling to something, to calm the spirit and steady the body; since they must long act as dogs, choosing the right Master is very important.

Or perhaps, having bled and wept at the Grand Ceremony that day, the water in his brain had thereby been drained dry; the Liu Guo Shi Zi Liu Yue looked at the cousin before him and suddenly thought: His father had committed such a great error; even if the Liang Guo rebellion were pacified, the Emperor's suspicion had already been planted; he must choose a long-term path for himself...

Unlike his father's bandwagoning, he had a strong sense of self-aesthetic; after this matter, in his view at this moment, this cousin who simultaneously possessed the fierce bloodlines of three surnames was truly a dragon's markings and phoenix's posture, with heaven-bestowed wisdom.

More importantly...

Before the eyes of the Liu Guo Shi Zi flashed the scene from that day's Grand Ceremony: behind his cousin stood the figure of Choose Zhu, the great female Wu, the Heavenly Opportunity Divine Pivot, as if naturally formed.

【Brother Qi, henceforth in all matters, wherever there is dispatch, your Brother will certainly obey...】 Liu Yue made a promise, expressing loyalty.

He originally should also have gone to the Shen Ci to express loyalty to that Wu God together, but unfortunately the Wu God was going into seclusion for ten days, so he could only postpone this matter.

"Let's calculate; the Tai Puzhe has been in seclusion for nine days by now..."

At this very moment, in Jianzhang Palace, the Emperor saw Liu Qi and casually mentioned this matter.

Liu Qi answered, "Exactly."

The Emperor leaned against a headrest and smiled: "She did this on My behalf... thinking that acting in the name of ghosts and spirits is a sign of insincere reverence for the gods."

When this plan was proposed that night, his Divine Pivot Marquis was originally unwilling to agree; it was he, this Emperor, who persuaded her.

"I told her: it was I who had her do this, and I will personally apologize to the Taizu ancestor." The Emperor: "But she insisted on going into seclusion to reflect on herself."

In Liu Qi's mind flashed Shaowei's excuse for deciding to go into seclusion—if she agreed so easily to cooperate in the deception, the Emperor would inevitably suspect her every action before and after; she did this to avoid making the Emperor think too much.

To placate the Emperor, deception piled upon deception; Jiang Fu also highly praised his disciple's action as truly considerate and humane, and further sighed: if deceiving in the name of ghosts and spirits required seclusion and reflection, then his disciple would probably have to open and close this gate from the time Pangu created heaven and earth.

Liu Qi said at this moment: "This plan was proposed by Your Child Minister and has nothing to do with Imperial Uncle; the one who should most go before the Taizu ancestor to apologize is Your Child Minister."

The Emperor laughed once, looking at this son before him who truly and genuinely dared to bear the state's ill omen.

"This matter was done very beautifully; you handled it properly, advanced and retreated appropriately, not a step amiss..." The Emperor said: "You and the Tai Puzhe have both rendered great merit, but cannot be openly rewarded; but I know in My heart... I still owe you a proper and aboveboard reward here; you may make a request along with this, and ask for something big, and I can satisfy you."

Liu Qi smiled and said: "Then Your Child Minister will truly have to think it over well."

The Emperor didn't know what he thought of; he closed his eyes to rest his spirit, his voice somewhat scattered: "I remember, ever since you were young you wanted to be a general, to lead troops in battle, to pacify rebellions and expand territory. Your study of military strategy was better than your other learning, and you have always followed the Ling Family Army to gain experience and knowledge..."

He actually mentioned childhood, actually mentioned the Ling Family Army three words.

Such an ordinary tone, just like father and son chatting idly: "Si Tui, do you still want to be a general now?"

Liu Qi: "Your son's resolve remains unchanged."

"Worldly affairs, human calculation falls short of heaven's calculation..." the Emperor murmured with inscrutable meaning: "We also do not know how much lifespan remains, many things have become somewhat unclear to remember..."

Speaking to this point, the Emperor closed his eyes, saying with a hint of jest: "If you have any request, do not make Us wait too long... We can wait at most until after your autumn hunt; any later, and We cannot guarantee We will still remember this matter."

Liu Qi smiled at the corner of his mouth, lowering his eyelids.

Mentioning rewards, mentioning old matters, revealing a trace of seemingly present yet absent warmth and humanity... was he hinting that his accumulated merits were sufficient, the timing had also arrived, and he could try once more to propose re-investigating the Deposed Crown Prince Treason Case?

Using this as exchange, pushing out some irrelevant Wang Hun to settle his worries, wanting him to become Liu Cheng's general, to protect this Liu Family Jiang Mountain?

A setting-sun-like Emperor, night after night surely scheming for this Jiang Mountain and posthumous affairs, probing, pondering, wavering, uneasy, hesitant, weighing...

He seemed indeed to be at the time to speak up and raise his heart's wish again, was it not so?

Liu Qi raised his eyes, revealing a smile.

But said: "Your son remembers, at most only considering until after the autumn hunt."

The Emperor opened his eyes, late autumn sunlight glowing with bright translucent golden light, reflecting brilliance throughout the palace interior; the youth's handsome face bore a composed laziness, his eyes brilliant from smiling.

Outside the palace, the afternoon sun shadows roamed, inch by inch withdrawing the golden light bestowed upon the earth, covering it with shadows carrying autumn chill.

The smile in the youth's eyes vanished, eyes closed, surroundings also darkened; the person was already in a tightly sealed dark chamber, leaning against a table resting his head on one hand to nurture his spirit, a table and a candle before him, a short-bearded man in dark robes kneeling before the table.

This person was precisely Zhuang Yuanzhi; at this moment he spoke in a low voice about recent rumors and movements from various places.

Having finished speaking everything, he quietly waited for that voice from above.

"Good, you may add fuel to the fire." The youth's voice was decisive, without any hesitation.

In the dimness, Zhuang Yuanzhi's eyes brightened, he bowed solemnly and saluted: "Understood."

As he straightened, Zhuang Yuanzhi looked at the youth above with considerable surging emotion in his heart.

The Zhu Jin scheme was not targeted at the various princes; this youth was no good sort, possessed extraordinary courage, did things never fearing dirty hands, and this was precisely why he had fallen for him at first sight in the Wuling Commandery Prince's Mansion back then.

In his bones he was radical goods, believed in the broad-axe way of saving the world and governing the world, only submitting to a true Heroic Lord, often even unscrupulous in means only looking at results; therefore back then he often clashed politically with the Ling Empress.

Yet how could he have imagined at that time that, after twists and turns, one day he would actually choose his former political enemy's son as master... at this very moment, yet again unable to resist searching on this youthful face for traces of his old political enemy's gentle remnants.

Zhuang Yuanzhi felt a momentary sigh in his heart; this Young Master acted with enough decisive ferocity, yet he inexplicably also hoped to see some remnants of humanity, lest in future he fall into extremes, a Heroic Lord becoming a Violent Lord.

Finished speaking the subsequent arrangements, Zhuang Yuanzhi spoke of another major matter that had weighed on his mind for long.

"That Great Witch God, originally entered the capital aided by Your Highness, yet unexpectedly encountered this heaven-great fortune, truly surprising; merely unknown whether this person..."

Zhuang Yuanzhi spoke on and on, his voice gradually fading; because the youth before him who had been resting with eyes closed suddenly opened his eyes, making him suspect whether he had accidentally cultivated some great immortal art of transforming living people, even with the divine efficacy of achieving whatever one wishes...

Just now in his heart he still wanted to find some remnants of humanity on the other; at this moment he saw the youth's eyes clear and shining, gloomy calculation swept clean away.

The chamber interior seemed to have gained an extra person out of thin air; two tea bowls were no longer enough.

Zhuang Yuanzhi, always most skilled at speaking, only felt his mouth was also not enough; his tongue turned for a while before he could continue: "... merely unknown whether this person is controllable?"

Liu Qi smiled, lowered the hand propping his head, sat more upright: "Lord Zhuang still does not understand her enough; she does not need to be controlled, nor will she be controlled by anyone, I also cannot."

"From the start I knew she had strange abilities; at that time I indeed had thoughts of utilization." Liu Qi rejoiced immensely in his heart: "Fortunately she generously reminded me, causing me to awaken and repent in time."

Zhuang Yuanzhi was surprised, opened his mouth: "But, but she is so extraordinary; if..."

"Lord Zhuang." Liu Qi interrupted his words: "She is not my pawn; she is one I have received countless favors from, difficult to count; on the long distant road ahead, she must also always watch over and save me."

Liu Qi said seriously: "Therefore I ask Lord to absolutely respect her, not doubt her."

Zhuang Yuanzhi's heart and spirit were both shaken; never before had he prepared for such a thing; yet this order, not lacking in autocratic decisiveness, made him love it to the extreme; truly the master he himself had chosen; no matter what, at this moment he also had to bow and salute, solemnly agree: "Yes, Yuan Zhi will remember."

Not long after, someone knocked on the door; the messenger said: "The person has entered the city smoothly, reception has arrived, currently waiting in the Back Courtyard Quiet Room."

Liu Qi heard this and immediately rose to go meet them.

Zhuang Yuanzhi need not follow to disturb, still dazed in the chamber until Tang Jia came seeking him, caught him to vent this emotion, questioning in a low voice: "... how did you guard the Commandery Prince? That incomparable flower fox — what exactly is her situation? Could it really be some secret unsurpassed witchcraft, cast upon His Highness?"

Tang Jia, upon reacting to what he was saying, could not help but sigh lightly: "Brother Zhuang also said it; this fox is incomparable, so how would she deign to cast a spell on His Highness?"

?? Tomorrow is Double Ninth Festival, Shaowei's birthday~ haha see you tomorrow everyone.