Chapter 225: Meeting a Clear Day Chapter 202: Dreams of an Autumn Outing

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

The destination of this outing is a mountain villa outside the city belonging to Marquis Lingzhu, a mountain granted by the Emperor; one side of the mountain's foot is farmland, the other faces a lake and has a separate courtyard.

This is also Shaowei's first time here; Jiang Fu called this autumn outing "the flower civet's mountain patrol."

When the flower civet arrived before the separate courtyard and surveyed the surroundings, a sudden thought arose, and she named this place "Taoxi Mountain Villa."

The household servant holding a black umbrella to shield Jiang Fu from the light looked around and felt the name was forced upon the mountain; he couldn't help but remind them: "There are no peach trees here."

Shaowei: "Plant them and there will be."

Such artificial creation is truly the style of a house cat; the household servant couldn't help but nod.

Feng Zhu, sitting on a carriage and being pushed closer by Pei, said: "Leave this matter to your grandfather; within three years, he will surely turn this mountain into a peach forest."

Also riding a carriage, pushed by Mo Li, Madam Shentu smiled and agreed "Good"—the carriage Madam Shentu rode was prepared for Jiang Fu; Jiang Fu's health had improved greatly, so he gave this carriage to Mo Li for honoring the elderly, using sweet words to coax Madam Shentu into beaming with joy and sitting down at ease.

Madam Shentu found it inconvenient to go out, and today there was also the arrangement to hear the household accountant report accounts; she originally did not want to come join the younger generation's liveliness, but because she heard Jiang Nu Jun would also go along, she changed her mind just now, nailed her husband at home to manage accounts alone, and went out the door with her daughter.

Jiang Fu, deeply loved and respected by Madam Shentu, now nodded and praised the little ghost for naming with much sentiment and clever thought, and also sighed that this old mountain villa was truly worthy of Marquis Lingzhu's ownership—truly possessing natural rustic charm, extraordinary.

Shaowei, walking in front, was praised until her head grew hot; her back generous, she opened her mouth and said: "Since you like it, I'll give it to you, enfeoffing you as the Taoxi Mountain Man."

"The teacher instead seeks enfeoffment from the disciple—isn't that turning the world upside down?" Jiang Fu smiled faintly: "But since it is a piece of your heart, this master will accept it impolitely; for now, I'll accept this title of Taoxi Mountain Man."

Everyone laughed together and walked into this mountain villa, old in form but new in name, to admire the scenery.

Speaking truthfully, this trip was facilitated by Liu Qi—within three days he sent five letters to Shaowei, three apologizing, two requesting to visit his niece—one written by Ling Congnan, its content especially sincere, stating he had re-verified through that midwife's clues and confirmed it was the lost niece without mistake; separated many years, heart full of shame, if unable to meet, sleep and food would be uneasy.

Shaowei asked Xiao Yu's opinion, then agreed to the other party's request to visit.

Only Shaowei had never met Ling Congnan, was not the least bit familiar with this person; rashly inviting him into the Jiang residence's interior always felt like a breach of territorial order.

Shaowei would not let her conflict with Liu Qi implicate and hinder others, nor would she lose her habitual boundaries with others because of intimacy with Liu Qi; it happened that Jiang Fu nagged about going out, so she simply set the location at the suburban villa.

To avoid public attention, Liu Qi and Ling Congnan would leave the city later; Shaowei and the others arrived first to wander leisurely.

Jiang Fu truly loved this place's rustic charm, already thinking how to arrange it, half treating it as a retirement place, and said: "No need to plant any rare flowers or exotic trees; besides peach trees, just a field of peony flowers will do—the roots and stems enter medicine, and when the flowers bloom they can attract the Peony Female Monarch to visit frequently—"

Thus Shaowei saw her own Mother coaxed into beaming with joy.

Again heard Jiang Fu spouting nonsense: "A mountain lord's years are dull; perhaps collect a hundred or eighty disciples to relieve boredom…"

Shaowei tsked: "Last New Year's Day, you still said I was a closed-door disciple."

Although the explanation given was that this disciple ground the mill too diligently, exhausting this master who fills the mill eye with grain until her waist ached and back pained; this life no strength to accept a second disciple, so closed the door and settled it.

"At that time, where would I know there were still so many years to live?" Jiang Fu said with mock seriousness: "This master's gate is so wide; accepting a hundred eighty disciples as door bolts, only then can this door be shut tight."

Shaowei knew this person's lazy nature; it was probably just verbal sparring. Moreover, if she truly accepted many door-bolt disciples, she would still be the unshakable Senior Sister; at that time all would obey her commands—quite imposing.

Leisurely wandering and chatting, when tired they stopped, found a cool pavilion; maids immediately spread mats and set up tables in the pavilion, and brought a chess board as instructed by Feng Zhu.

Brewed a pot of top-grade tea, set out two colors of chess pieces, cut five colors of melons; outside the pavilion accompanied by three colors of chrysanthemums, inside the pavilion the two female monarchs played chess—one in a blue fur coat, one draped in snow-white hair.

Wild birds occasionally visited to join the fun, chatted a good while with Zhan Zhan, got the news that the new villa owner was very imposing and very generous, and flew off to announce it widely.

Shaowei, who hadn't slept well recently, lay on the cool mat; Madam Shentu sat close by, listening to Pei explain chess on one hand, gently patting the top of Shaowei's hair on the other.

Shaowei closed her eyes, expression calm and composed, but her heart cherished this moment incomparably; she couldn't help thinking of the vastly different previous life—Mother died resentfully, Grandmother died heartbroken, Jiang Fu mostly indeed didn't live past thirty, and she herself wouldn't live long either.

The two contrasted, giving rise to a determination to clutch the present everything tight and not let go—no one must be allowed to destroy or seize it.

Shaowei was nearly asleep, but because of this determination she subconsciously clenched her teeth, temples tight and bulging; Madam Shentu's fingers touched them, sensed something, felt infinite pity, gently patting this child who was finally in peace and happiness yet still habitually bared her teeth to guard her food.

The old woman patted, clear breeze and bird songs, chess piece sounds, urging Shaowei into dreams.

Perhaps from pre-sleep thoughts, she dreamed of the previous life's scenes again—Mother, Grandfather Grandmother, Liu Qi, even her own ending clearly reappeared; finally she saw the chaotic world scenes seen before her previous death.

At that time, near death seeing chaos, Shaowei felt not a shred of touch; now reappear in dream, she was likewise detached—the scenes merely gray-white colors, like watching a phantom play of unknown truth.

Scenes flowed past like a water curtain: lords rebelled, war flames spread, commoners displaced; then saw foreign invasion, Xiongnu iron cavalry entered the scene, horsemen threw lassos, bound a woman holding an infant; infant fell to ground, woman dragged away, desperate tears washed gaunt face—the revealed face was Qingwu's.

The watching Shaowei abruptly changed color; the scene also changed color—instantly the bloodstains of the dragged woman turned bright red; also saw an emaciated man pounce forward, body pierced by several long spears—it was Ji Jin…

Shaowei furious and frantic, wanted to rush in to stop everything; but having a soul without form, could only pass through figure after figure, watching helplessly as Qingwu and Ji Jin died tragically; that infant also trampled by horse hooves; blood more and more; gray-white receded; every suffering face, whether recognized or not, began to become incomparably clear; people crying, blood flowing; everything came alive, yet everything was about to die.

Shaowei eyes full of tears, suddenly turned head, resentfully gazed at the incapable Chang'an City.

Where her gaze passed, all rapidly shed gray-white and turned bright red; inside Chang'an City also became purgatory; the Son of Heaven forcibly escorted to abandon city and leave; palace heads rolled, one from Quan Wa.

A high minister stripped official robes, blankly walked into Feng Family Ancestral Grave, went before Mother's tomb; back seemed crying yet laughing, shoulders trembling, drew dagger and slit own throat; fresh blood flowed into soil; person knelt before tomb.

Many noble graves also dug up; great fires started everywhere; many shamans fled in shrines; the Chief Shaman resolutely threw into the great fire; temple golden statue crashed down; all things burned clean; ghosts rotten, gods charred.

Shaowei abruptly opened eyes; a golden dragonfly hovered before her eyes.

Tiny dragonfly, wing veins also exquisitely fine; through those thin wings, could see loved ones sitting peacefully, green ox swishing tail, sky high clouds pale, autumn colors variegated, all things breathing quiet and orderly.

Body still unable to move, eyes still holding angry tears; amidst confused alternating thoughts, a clear thought erupted in her heart—this thought still had no distinction of righteous or evil, only a vast life thought: I want to live, I want loved ones to live, I want humble myriad things to live; only let those who obstruct me die.

Jiang Fu seemed to sense and looked over; intuition told her a sudden chivalrous enlightenment had occurred here.

In Jiang Fu's view, true chivalry is never merely benevolence and kindness.

Empty six thousand, because of the word "emotion," ten thousand thoughts arise; chivalry originates from emotion; what is righteous and what is evil—this righteousness willing to illuminate dust motes is the greatest compassion, the supreme knight-errant.

"Snap."

Jiang Fu smiling, a piece fell from her fingers, breaking open a path of life.

The dragonfly vibrated its wings; Shaowei released it with her gaze, watching it fly high, quietly land on a corner of the pavilion eaves.

Under the same pavilion eaves where a dragonfly perched, Xiao Yu, led here by a household servant to wait in this pavilion, saw yet another youth claiming to be her uncle.

"Yu'er, I am your maternal uncle." Ling Congnan, kneeling on the mat, smiled and spoke: "I am the uncle from the Ling family."

Xiao Yu stared unblinkingly at the youth before her.

The Ling family — she had heard of this surname.

It was a surname that seemed soaked in fresh blood, yet the person before her was like a strand of clear, pure breeze, gentle and detached.

"Uncle brought you some things..."

Xiao Yu looked at the malt sugar box and a polished pepperwood small sword the youth placed on the table.

Xiao Yu picked up the sword first, only saying it was too light, a thing to coax children with; she herself usually used very thick, very heavy sticks.

Ling Congnan laughed and praised: "Yu'er is actually this strong and vigorous; Uncle will definitely send something else next time."

Not far away, behind a clump of grass and trees, watching the two people in the pavilion — one big, one small — conversing quite well, Liu Qi quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

The terrible shadow of being treated as a thief by his niece still lingered; Liu Qi feared that if he approached, he would provoke ghostly wails and wolfish howls, heaven and earth changing color, so he sent Congnan ahead first to stabilize morale.

Specialization in one's field — indeed, Congnan, who had not a trace of gloom or aggression, was more suited to winning a child's liking.

Liu Qi's eyes held a smile; gazing at the scene in the pavilion, he lingered for a long time, unwilling to leave.

Ling Congnan in the pavilion was apologizing to the child before him: "Back then in the palace, it was all Uncle's fault for losing his head, failing to rendezvous as planned, which implicated Yu'er into fleeing in excessive haste, nine deaths one life, her whereabouts also tightly watched, so much so that Ji He dared not pass any word, causing all word to be cut off afterward, harming Yu'er so she could not be found for a long time..."

Seeing his guilt-ridden eyes, Xiao Yu thought for a moment, then said: "I don't remember any of these things, so I won't blame you."

Ling Congnan's eyes grew slightly wet; then he heard the child before him, like a survivor sharing experiences, curiously ask: "But how did you escape that calamity?"

"Me..." Ling Congnan's voice was as hazy as his tear-filled eyes: "So many things I don't remember anymore... Perhaps an immortal saved me, letting me avoid calamity in an immortal chamber."

"What a coincidence, my Young Master now is also like an immortal!" Xiao Yu sat ramrod straight, rather proud: "You must have heard of my Young Master's fame, right?"

Ling Congnan laughed in reply: "Like thunder piercing the ear."

As he spoke, he turned his head to look outside the pavilion, only to see that silently standing deep-blue figure, who had stood for a long time, finally willing to leave — most likely going to pursue that thunder-piercing-ear person.

Xiao Yu prattled on endlessly, boasting about her Young Master to the skies.

After speaking of the most important person in her heart now, Xiao Yu asked about the important person she could never see again: "Cousin Uncle... what kind of people were my Mother and Father?"

Meeting the child's crystal-bright eyes, Ling Congnan suddenly lost his voice.

How to say it? The Crown Prince and his wife died as traitors...

The child was still waiting for an answer; her bright, bright eyes seemed like the light refracted from a dagger.

Ling Congnan suddenly realized that he had forgotten much pain, cultivated Immortal Arts to isolate hatred, yet ultimately could not shield the child before him from the enormous harm that had already occurred.

That formless dagger-like light sliced a tear through the white heart-cloth with which he isolated hatred, and a drop of blood welled out.

Such blood — Si Tui had been flowing all along.

"Your Mother and Father were very good people."

"As for what the world says, you must not believe any of it." Ling Congnan looked again at that clump of grass and trees, now empty of people, and suddenly understood the significance of Si Tui's obstinacy: "Your Uncle is finding the truth for them; he will certainly make this world return you a pair of true Mother and Father..."

Xiao Yu subconsciously followed his gaze, also looking toward that silent grass and trees.

The person originally behind the grass and trees had already passed through a fruit forest, arrived before another pavilion, and saluted three elders inside.

Only elders were in the pavilion; the person he wanted to see was not there. Jiang Fu raised a hand to point the way; Liu Qi saluted again and left in quick steps.

The game was no longer being played. Feng Zhu held tea in her hands, pondered back and forth, and asked: "May I ask the Female Monarch, how do you judge this Sixth Prince's physiognomy?"

Jiang Fu answered seriously: "It is a rarely seen double-perfection physiognomy."

Feng Zhu was slightly startled, rummaging through her known physiognomy knowledge: "Double perfection... could it be the physiognomy of absolute doom and absolute extinction of lineage?"

Jiang Fu revealed a smile: "Physiognomy of peerless beauty — it is skin appearance and bone appearance, both perfected."

Feng Zhu froze for a moment; Madam Shen Tu laughed out loud; Feng Zhu reacted and followed with a stifled laugh.

After they finished laughing a round, Madam Shen Tu comforted her slightly vigilant daughter: "Enough, enough. As long as she's at ease, let it follow the child's heart."

Feng Zhu helplessly: "On Qingniang's birthday, after Father returned home, he kept saying this Sixth Prince is full of intrigue, infuriating him to death — absolutely cannot have him..."

"Anyway, his words don't count; let him rage until the sky breaks." Madam Shen Tu smiled: "But if Shaowei cannot dispel her anger, that is what absolutely cannot be had."

Shaowei had that dream in the pavilion, had more thoughts to organize, so she came to the lakeside, sat cross-legged in the grass bush, and was throwing stones into the lake.

Though in a trance, she did not miss the careful footsteps behind her; Shaowei turned her head, looked toward the narrow path behind, and met a face that instantly revealed a smile, smiling very beautifully: "Shaowei, I am not deliberately disturbing you; this time it is for proper business — this should count as a chance encounter, right?"

Shaowei immediately stood up, didn't even bother to throw the stone in her hand, and jumped straight onto a small boat at the lakeside.

Before she could push the boat far, Liu Qi flew onto the boat after her, seized the punt pole first, and said laughing: "You enjoy the lake at ease; I'll punt for you!"

?? Good night everyone.