Chapter 259

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

"Accompanying the Prince on a distant journey is quite arduous." Jiang Fu sighed. "Though the spring and summer scenery is fine, there are also many days of scorching sun. This master now finds himself at odds with the daylight; traveling thousands of miles back and forth is inevitably troublesome... How can it compare to drinking wine and sleeping peacefully at home? If one wishes to admire the scenery, would it not be more carefree and pleasant to go reside at the Taoxi Mountain Villa for ten days or half a month?"

By the time he finished speaking, he had contentedly closed his eyes, letting out a carefree, lazy sigh.

Shaowei's brows drooped, her cheeks puffed out in dejection. These past days she had urged and questioned Jiang Fu no fewer than twenty times; to be refused once more now made her feel she had lost face, and she secretly vowed never to utter another word of persuasion. With an "Oh," she turned and went back into the house.

The next morning at breakfast, Shaowei did not speak a word the entire time, burying her head in her food; she drank a full three bowls of kale soup.

When Shaowei finally set down her empty bowl, she heard Jiang Fu let out a self-pitying, mournful sigh: "Pity this old body of mine that takes medicine daily — so undependable. Though I have the desire to travel far, I resent having the will but not the strength. My heart was already stifled and gloomy; my words just now were merely forcing a smile... Yet I've even drawn my disciple's cold resentment. How can one bear such bitterness upon bitterness?"

"..." Shaowei immediately sat up straight: "When did I?"

Shaowei strove to change her expression, and in her heart she hurriedly self-reflected. Forget it, forget it; indeed she should not have turned the regret of being unable to travel together into sullen complaint.

Doing so is very much not worth it; one careless move might brew an even greater regret — Shaowei reflected to this point, and her thoughts turned to that parting at Taoxi Township years ago. Jiang Fu had ridden a green ox out to buy wine, and her own stiff tone and demeanor at the time had afterward brewed a huge, poisonous bitter fruit, leaving her just short of regretting until her intestines pierced and belly rotted.

"If you won't go then don't go; I won't get angry for no reason. You take good care of your health first; once you're better, there will be plenty of chances to go out together in the future."

As she spoke, Shaowei rose and went to Jiang Fu's food table, sat down cross-legged, picked up her chopsticks, and desperately piled meat and vegetables into Jiang Fu's bowl, while sternly instructing the house servant: "When I'm not home, make her eat more meat, drink less wine."

The house servant took a sip of wine and agreed indifferently.

"If you won't go then don't go." Shaowei repeated this sentence again, to show she completely didn't care: "When I return, telling you what I saw and heard will be just the same."

She asked very magnanimously: "Is there anything you want? I can very well bring it back for you."

Jiang Fu narrowed his eyes and smiled: "Speaking of it, there really is one thing that needs you to bring back."

Shaowei lifted her chin slightly: "Speak."

Jiang Fu described solemnly: "This thing exists only one in all heaven and earth; it gathers the splendor of heaven and earth, a peerless treasure of ten thousand generations..."

Shaowei listened seriously, her heart gradually pounding. Such a treasure, if hidden in Mount Tai, must be enshrined with great care; to bring it back would surely be fraught with difficulties.

Yet she still said: "You tell me first what kind of treasure it is, and roughly where it is hidden."

"Right before your eyes." Jiang Fu unfolded his brows in a smile, raised his hand and lightly stroked the top of his stunned disciple's head: "Under heaven, there is no treasure more wondrous than my disciple. The only thing this master needs you to bring back is this one intact little imp."

Shaowei's face reddened somewhat; her heart swelled with secret delight. She casually muttered "This matter is naturally easy to handle," then scrambled to her feet in a tumble, turned and headed out, saying as she went: "Forget it; when the time comes I'll just bring you whatever I see!"

Jiang Fu watched from outside the door first, then from the window, his gaze following the departing figure of his disciple — who walked with an air of self-importance, as if she had inexhaustible bull-strength — until she disappeared from sight, only then smilingly withdrawing his gaze.

"Truly not going?" The house servant, who now very much didn't want the child to be disappointed, asked in a low voice: "She very much wants you to go together."

Jiang Fu let out a long sigh: "The Patriarch does not permit it."

This world is already a brand new world; before the Qi mechanisms truly settle, all fortune and misfortune cannot be divined. Including this journey to Mount Tai, Jiang Fu can only see that this trip is an inevitable trend under the transformation of all things, and a necessary path, but cannot know anything else.

Jiang Fu's body, which has suffered multiple severe traumas, is still recuperating; the white-hair ailment on her body also requires daily medicine to suppress at this time. This medicine needs to be refined in advance, yet recently she has ruined several furnaces of medicine in a row — an unprecedented strange occurrence. At night she has also dreamed repeatedly of the Patriarch's immortal shadow; clearly this is a hint that she should not follow to Mount Tai.

Seeing Jiang Fu had something on her mind in her eyes, the house servant also spoke no further; everything depended on her decision.

Shaowei had already hurried out of the mansion and boarded the carriage heading for the shrine.

For this Mount Tai grand sacrifice, several hundred wu practitioners under the Taichang Temple are accompanying; everyone in the shrine feels honored, and amid great anticipation all departure preparations have been readied.

Besides the wu practitioners, there are also over a hundred Taoists accompanying the carriage; and in accordance with past custom, a hundred boys and girls were selected in advance from the common people to practice rites and immortal arts in the Xian Tai Gong.

The Fengshan journey is far; the number of attendants must be controlled. Many imperial clan children are following, but official and aristocratic family members are very few. Among them, Feng Zhu is the most special existence —

To express sincerity in thanking heaven and earth for the manifestation of heavenly secrets, in accordance with this Mount Tai grand sacrifice, the Emperor issued an edict not long after making the decision, bestowing generous gifts upon Feng Zhu of the Lu Hou Mansion. Because she gave birth to the heavenly secret, her merit lies with the state; she was specially granted the honorable title "Lady Dai Hua," her status equivalent to a Guanzhong Marquis. Henceforth she need not bow when meeting officials, and was also granted a fief, to manifest heaven's favor.

The two characters "Dai Hua," Shaowei felt deeply matched Mother perfectly. Mother, who had undergone nirvana and rebirth in Taishan Commandery, had a character heavy and resilient like Mount Daiyue, possessing a radiance that outshone pearls and surpassed the moon.

But as for whether Mother should go along, Shaowei was initially apprehensive — no matter good or bad, matters related to herself must never be used to force Mother to do what she doesn't want to do. This is Shaowei's eternal taboo.

So that very day she ran to find Mother: if Mother doesn't like it then don't go; she herself has a way to resolve it.

【My child may go; why can Mother not go?】 Feng Zhu said: 【The past is already a defeated general; what does the victor have to fear.】

Feng Zhu, whose mind grew ever more stable, had a calm, proud smile in her eyes; the graying hair at her temples flashed with silver light.

Heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers ought to have this sacrifice, to honor her child's wondrous merit.

And whether as Feng Zhu herself who survived a great calamity, or as Qingniang's mother, she ought to personally participate and bear witness.

Lady Shentu held a child in each hand, one big and one small, at her sides; she also had the rare inclination to go out on such a distant journey, personally managing all departure matters. Lu Hou listened attentively, identifying his primary duty as acting as bodyguard for his daughter and granddaughter.

The Emperor's travel security arrangements, aside from the established imperial ceremonial guard, are mainly handled by the troops led by Yueyang and Yan Tian.

Xue Yang, who has resumed the post of Langzhong Ling, commands the Imperial City Forbidden Army and remains in the Capital.

Commander of the Fine Clothes Guard He Pingchun was also retained by the Emperor to assist Xue Yang in patrolling and guarding the Capital region.

The Emperor left the Fine Clothes Guard — the sharp sword belonging solely to the Son of Heaven — behind, while the remnants of the Ling Family Army escort him all the way. The silent entrustment and letting go contained herein have all been seen by everyone.

Among the Three Excellencies, the Grand Commandant's post is temporarily vacant, its corresponding powers temporarily exercised by Xue Yang; Chancellor Yan Mian accompanies on the eastern journey; Yushi Daifu Tai Yan remains in the Capital.

Worth mentioning is that Tai Yan fell ill again in late January, and his subordinate affairs have been replaced by his student Zhuang Yuanzhi.

Before the sickbed, Tai Yan once asked his student alone: 【Guoyu, speak a word from your heart to your teacher. The Crown Prince Qi is a descendant of the Ling clan; do you still harbor...】

The old man's panting words were not finished when Zhuang Yuanzhi already knelt with hot tears in his eyes: 【Teacher is unaware; the student returned to the Capital precisely for this lord.】

At these words, the dying Tai Daifu startled upright, one hand gripping his sleeve, the other fiercely slapping his student's head, three slaps in a row, simultaneously uttering three accompanying cries: 【I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!】

Tai Daifu, who had long seen the signs, now beat his student who had deceived him inside and out; his anger dissipated, he lay back on the bed and closed his eyes to rest, murmuring: 【With this, hearts align, your heart finally has something to rely on, and I too can close my eyes in peace...】

Tai Daifu, having beaten his student and set his mind at ease, recuperated with a widened heart, letting go of all affairs, only waiting for the Mount Tai journey to return, for all matters to settle, to welcome a new court, new monarch, new atmosphere — at which time he can formally retire and resign.

On the eve of the imperial carriage's departure, Shan Gu's adoptive parents were sent to the Capital. The two elders had originally been sent to Wuling Commandery for refuge; this year, taking advantage of the spring warmth, they were transferred back to the Capital.

The sudden immense wealth and honor caught them off guard; fortunately they had been treated quite well in Wuling Commandery, which laid a certain psychological foundation for enjoying blessings, so they weren't scared away on the spot.

It's just that the two elders pondered repeatedly and still felt that as adoptive parents receiving such wealth and honor from a General Star's family was truly shameful; better to take a step back in status and become old servants managing fields and estates. This way the two of them wouldn't have to serve in corvée anymore, and could be with Shan Gu morning and evening — truly peace of mind and the best of both worlds. Shan Gu, about to depart the Capital, had a splitting headache; there was no time for more counseling and comforting, so she temporarily handed her adoptive parents, who were eager to become slaves, over to Father and Mother at the Qingwu household to manage and persuade.

Bearing the rumor of the General Star, Shan Gu naturally was also on the list of those accompanying to Mount Tai. Since her return to the Capital, she has been busy beyond measure; besides her duty shifts, she also needs to familiarize herself with and learn various affairs. Having barely squeezed out some time, her whole heart only wants to run to Elder Sister to sweep floors and split firewood. This act appears to be a kind of forced physical exertion, but in reality it connects to a profound discipline called stress relief.

Therefore Lu Ding could only manage, amidst fitting things into cracks, to complete with difficulty and roughness the viewing plans for his two daughters and one niece; the remaining two nieces' needs could only be scheduled for after the Great Sacrifice of Taishan.

Accompanying Shan Gu's adoptive parents on their return to the capital from Wuling Commandery was the green-robed monk.

News from the South was blocked; the green-robed monk lacked internal intelligence channels, and since Liu Qi returned to the capital, the Middle Attendant no longer sent letters painting cakes for him to build a temple. He cultivated alone in Wuling Commandery, unable to develop a stable following for a long time, his confidence suffering setbacks day by day, feeling only as if he were in exile.

He wanted to return to the capital; thinking back and forth, there seemed to be only two roads he could take. The first road required him to walk in the literal sense, to make his way back to the capital by his own two legs in bitter practice. However, not to mention the South teemed with snakes, insects, and walking beasts, he also lacked a map in hand. True, he could ask directions and beg alms along the way, but Great Qian's civilians treated monks with extreme strangeness; he was of foreign bloodline, hairless atop his head, such strange appearance — whether he could beg food was hard to say; rather, he might well become new food in a barbarian wild man's pot.

This road, unless absolutely necessary, truly could not be rashly walked; after all, there was still another road to wait for: that Sixth Prince was full of ghostly qi, baleful slaughter qi entangling his body and entering his soul; this trip to the capital held more ill fortune than good; afterwards, if the Wuling Commandery Prince's Mansion ceased to exist, he could follow everyone and be dismissed back to the capital.

Upon hearing the imperial envoy had arrived in the capital, on the day the Wuling Commandery Prince's Mansion plaque was taken down, the green-robed monk pressed his palms together and let out a "as expected" sigh, chanting a "Amitabha" imbued with transcendence meaning.

The green-robed monk felt he bore responsibility for this too; it was his cultivation not enough, unable to transform the person, causing heaven and earth to gain one more soul fallen to a fierce ghost, unable to reincarnate.

Waiting to draw near the crowd, seeing joyful color on everyone's faces, the green-robed monk couldn't help but sigh for that Sixth Prince who was so not winning people's hearts.

Only upon listening closely did he hear things like "must change address to Crown Prince His Highness," "don't know if we can enter the Crown Prince's Mansion to serve after returning to the capital"……

The green-robed monk, startled and confused, listened carefully; upon hearing the end, the answer was clear in his ears, his thoughts horrified — if the one full of ghostly qi were the Human Emperor, what would become of this world's common people?

Harboring this immense fear, the green-robed monk neglected his appearance on the return journey; upon reaching the capital, a layer of green stubble topped his head, and he was temporarily packaged together with everyone to the Palace Outside Sixth Prince's Mansion, which was precisely today's Crown Prince's Mansion.

Formerly in Wuling Commandery, the Sixth Prince could only be seen by fitting into cracks; yet on the very night of his return to the capital, he actively summoned him, and the green-robed monk, seeing a long-missed face in the study, couldn't help but be greatly startled.

The youth sat cross-legged behind the lamp-lit desk; the gloomy ghostly qi entwining his body was already gone, the haze in his eyes fully dispersed, leaving only a wisp of slaughter qi growing ever more unstoppable.

The green-robed monk, astonished, saw the youth smile and say: "Having killed all who should be killed, I naturally also removed the haze. Upon reaching this time, I can then discuss Buddhist law freely with Master."

This was something Liu Qi had said back when in Wuling Commandery; now repeated verbatim, it dealt the green-robed monk a tremendous shock.

As the green-robed monk chanted Buddha softly, a figure walked out from behind the screen at Liu Qi's back; the girl wore a hanging hair bun, dressed in skirt and blouse, seemingly conventional, yet her bearing was almost blinding; when her round eyes swept over, she gave an impression of extreme unprovokability, stubborn wildness absolutely refusing to be transformed... compared to her, the Sixth Prince actually appeared relatively domestic and docile.

And as the two sat cross-legged side by side, it was simply like twin sha combined, as if possessing power to shake heaven and move earth, even to change heaven and earth.

The green-robed monk helplessly chanted a Buddha; he had already guessed this girl's identity — on the journey he had already heard many tales about heavenly secrets; upon seeing her now, he knew what was meant by heavenly secret.

As the green-robed monk stood bewildered, he heard that Sixth Prince, now unlike his former self, discuss "Buddhist law" with him: "Master has been away from home many years; have you ever missed your tribe and native soil?"

The green-robed monk blanked for an instant; Liu Qi smiled at him and said: "I know Master's knowledge is broad and Buddhist law profound; it originates from being originally of Great Yuezhi royal bloodline."

When in Wuling Commandery, Liu Qi had already, through the Ling Family Army responsible for northwest border defense, paid attention to inquiring about the green-robed monk's origins.

Ten-odd years ago, the Great Yuezhi suffered Xiongnu harassment and plunder, forced to migrate westward; a tribal chief died in battle, and this chief's only son lost his tracks.

The Great Yuezhi was composed of five tribal alliances; this chief's tribe's descendants had been trying to find the chief's son's whereabouts.

Yet unknown was that this "prince," fearing endless bloody battles, after wandering and displaced, had already shaved his head and entered Great Qian, devoting himself to spreading the Buddhist law of stopping war and stopping killing.

The green-robed monk's silent reaction confirmed Liu Qi's guess.

"Master's Buddhist law can solve one person's trouble, but cannot solve the common people's plight." Liu Qi said: "The Xiongnu's invasion of the Great Yuezhi has not stopped; evasion is not liberation; common people are originally evil; if no rites and order intervene, unable to protect the calm lake surface, then unable to blossom peaceful lotus flowers."

The green-robed monk's expression changed; wanting to speak but stopping, looking at the youth before him possessing vigorous power, he actually felt this very saying was the best proof.

This time re-entering the capital, he had already sensed people's heart-breath differed from the panic and turmoil when he left the capital years ago; it actually gradually bore a peaceful aspect.

"Master can slowly consider and observe; after we two return from Taishan to the capital, then discuss Buddhist law in detail with Master."

The green-robed monk fell silent for the first time like this, until leaving, merely chanting a Buddha number.

Shaowei and Liu Qi also left the study; walking down stone steps, Liu Qi held Shaowei's one hand, hearing Shaowei say: "I also once heard Jiang Fu speak of Great Yuezhi rumors... if able to communicate with this person, it seems whether future campaign against Xiongnu or trade with Western Regions, both would be of great benefit."

"Precisely." Liu Qi smiled: "Lingqiu Marquis has high gaze and far sight."

Shaowei "tsk" once, jumped down the last platform step; Liu Qi was brought by her taking big strides down the steps, hearing her unable to restrain curiosity and yearning: "Western Regions have many novel things, right?"

"Yes, last time's pomegranate was." Liu Qi said: "If in future the Western Regions road can truly be opened, then more fresh fruits can be planted into Shanglin Park... at that time all managed by you, just like we agreed last time, you award me what I eat."

"This matter easy to say, hard is how to get things back..." Shaowei, interested in novel things others have but she lacks, the two speaking softly, walked into the moonlight.

Under this same patch of moonlight covering, in a mansion's main hall, Qing Wu and Ji Jin were listening to family elders admonishing: "When going out, must mutually look after..."

Tomorrow is departure time; Ji Jin, as Chancellor's Junior Scribe, naturally follows. Qing Wu manages sacrificial vessels, also among the accompanying shamans.

Aunt and uncle's words, whether useful or not, Ji Jin agreed to all.

After this entry to the capital, Ji Jin still resides in aunt's house; his merit not less than Shan Gu, but rewards sufficient to purchase family residence; however aunt defaults he alone properly should live at home; if he refuses, not appearing sensible, rather estranged.

And now aunt brought up the two's marriage matter: "Now we also count as settled; after this return from Taishan, why not just settle the marriage... Yan Family Brother, how do you think?"

Ji Jin naturally busy saying: "Everything follows aunt and uncle's arrangement."

Mentioning this matter, Qing Wu couldn't help slightly reddening face; she quietly turned head to look Yan Family Brother, only seeing Yan Family Brother embarrassed lowering head, attitude respectful, gentle, keeping promises.

"Then your uncle and I will first arrange things; wait for you this trip back to betroth, before new year have matters fully done!"

"Yes." Ji Jin answered, subconsciously turning head to look A Jie, only seeing A Jie face red lowering head, attitude respectful, gentle, keeping promises.

In a trance, this moment Ji Jin almost felt looking in mirror at self, heart bottom also having an indescribable bewilderment.

Qing Wu sensed, turned head meeting Ji Jin's eyes; he hurriedly showed smile; she then also smiled, increasingly like mirror.

House outside bright moon also like mirror.

Before bronze mirror returns to box, reflects scene of red sun rising east; red sun shining through, massive troop embracing dark banners slowly moves, like dark dragon on eastern journey.

?? Five thousand word big chapter.

? (Some character lines slowly collected, Taishan journey, everyone please save chapters to read~)

? Good night!