Chapter 304: The lord's grace is like a thin splash of cold water

Didn't you just take a bath?

How come you're bathing again!?

Du Shanü was momentarily slow to react; Fucuzi seemed afraid she'd change her mind, and without waiting for her answer, he gleefully turned, opened the door, and ran off stumbling.

That brat, while running, also shouted:

"Master, Grandmaster, Grandmaster Sir... I've finally made it, all my hard work wasn't for nothing, and now I can finally rest my head on your knee and sleep!"

"Earlier I was too hasty! I'll go wash my body three more times, incense nine times, and come see the female lord, all fragrant and fresh——(? ˙? ˙)?"

What the hell is he shouting about!

If overheard, people would think she was some heinous evil woman who forces a Daoist to break his vows!!!

Du Shanü couldn't bear it any longer and instinctively wanted to intercept him.

However, after a few steps she reached the corridor and realized her physical condition was nowhere near what it used to be; she couldn't keep up with Fucuzi's pace, and she promptly decided:

"Good slave, go watch him, don't let him get away; I still have other things to ask him."

Not only does Chen Weifang protect Chinu, but Chinu also protects Chen Weifang.

Chinu, after hearing Fucuzi's prophecy, was also annoyed with him; seeing the Wife Master with Afang nearby, he immediately stepped forward to follow.

Du Shanü stood in the corridor, leaning on the window and relaxing a little, but the breath in her chest hadn't fully eased; lifting her eyes, she saw Afang already standing inside the window, gazing far at Fucuzi's retreating back, seeming somewhat absent-minded.

After a long while, the two eventually reenacted the scene of their first meeting from days past.

Du Shanü stood outside the window, peeking at Chen Weifang; Chen Weifang stood inside the window, tranquil all over, her brows and eyes like an ancient moonlit deep well.

There is a kind of flower whose blooming season differs from that of other flowers.

At the same planting time, other flowers have already bloomed to their peak, even to the point of withering, while these have just sprouted and formed buds.

And only when other flowers have passed their longing and are slowly aging does the world see the graceful appearance of this clumsy flower arriving late.

Chen Weifang......

Exactly this kind of flower.

Du Shanü had heard from Chinu about Chen Weifang's affairs, and also knew that in his youth his appearance was merely handsome.

But the older he gets, the more his demeanor resembles aged wine, becoming ever more rich and mellow.

Now he resides inside the window, clearly only a pane of glass separating him from Du Shanü, yet blocked by the window, her gazing at him is like gazing at a famous painting that is wounded and withering.

Heaven's will is slow; sunlight cannot pierce the corridor, nor can it conceal the brows and eyes of the beauty in the painting.

Chen Weifang stands within that 'picture frame,' also allowing himself to fall into the obscure, hard-to-understand shadows.

"Afang."

Du Shanü called out softly, trying to support the beauty before her who was about to collapse.

She wanted to say, "Don't listen to Fucuzi's words."

She wanted to say, "Fucuzi's words are not heavenly decree, not to be fully trusted."

She guessed that Chen Weifang might still care about what Fucuzi said, so it would be better to speak up and interrupt, letting her Afang forget this matter.

However, however.

In the end, she still couldn't say it.

Because Chen Weifang, on the contrary, spoke first, cutting off her hesitant words.

He said, he said:

"...... Don't let me down."

In the past, when he was happy he called Du Shanü Wise Lord, when angry he called her Female Lord.

He rarely used 'you' as a form of address, let alone now staring directly at Du Shanü, even using his height advantage to gaze down at her.

Yet, for some reason, it inspires no feelings of hatred.

After all, what he said is, '【Don't let me down】'.

What Chen Weifang said, however, is '【Let me down】'.

Du Shanü had heard before that aristocratic clans, for wealth and status, employ any means necessary.

They often, upon seeing someone who vaguely bears the makings of an emperor, will do everything possible to marry off a daughter to form alliances through marriage......

In short, as long as the family has enough daughters and a wealthy foundation, by investing in many people, no matter who eventually prospers, they will always reap rich returns.

However, while many are opportunistic, those who are taken advantage of are not fools.

One family sends a daughter over, and they accept her.

If another family then sends another daughter, should they accept her or not?

If they were to accept them all, one per family, ten families ten......

There will always be times of favoring some and neglecting others.

From ancient times to the present, all emperors who ascended the throne have been men; men's prime years are extremely long, whereas those women whom families use as betting chips have only a few years, or perhaps over a decade, of good times.

They may have once received favor, or in the dead of night heard tender words, enjoying endless grace and honor.

However, after the years of their peak beauty pass, and after their own family declines, offering no help whatsoever to the sovereign......

Among them, how many can achieve a good end?

Du Shanü once felt pity for them; wherever she looked, she was even unwilling to see any young woman suffer, otherwise she wouldn't have earlier rescued Zhao Yunniang.

However, today's Chen Weifang gave her a wake-up call, reminding her of a matter of utmost importance——

Women, it seems, are not merely a gender but a certain 【situation】.

When the holders of power are men, women are women; they must strive for themselves, for their families, and even for a future good end by seeking favor and pleading.

When the holders of power are women......

Men then become women.

They too must strive for themselves, for their families, and for a future good end by vying for favor and pleading with soft words.

Du Shanü had previously told Chinu that she wasn't some delicacy, that not so many people liked her.

However, the fact is, in her previous life, those who loved her came in an endless stream.

In this life she came because of calamity; those who admire and covet her power and influence are destined only to increase.

They come in haste, and perhaps will also disperse in haste.

And she will forever sit high upon that chair, listening to people fawn over her......

Even someone like Afang was no exception.

He seemed like an old servant who had once served her in the old manor.

He followed her even before she attained high rank and prominence, his looks unremarkable, his disposition unpleasant, his background obscure......

He relied solely on his sincere heart to wholeheartedly assist her, yet he could not withstand the influx of newcomers entering the household, left to guard the old, ungrateful retainers of former years.

He clearly knew he could not resist the fate of being abandoned, yet he still put on a heartbroken, grief-stricken old face, begging her to consider past affection and not let him down......

Damn it.

Damn it.

Such days have been endured by those in power for thousands of years.

They have such an old custom.

Therefore, Du Shanü, as a woman, will become emperor, and others will naturally treat her only in this way.

Men rely on marriage alliances, relying on the things obtained from the families behind those women......

Now these also all point to her.

What ruler-subject, husband-wife?

None, there never was.

In those histories piled like mountains and seas, there are only individuals who, after exhausting their worth, are betrayed.

Chen Weifang fears becoming such a person.

And Du Shanü also fears becoming someone who uses everything up and then discards everything.

She understands that in this life she may still meet many people, perhaps even many loyal ministers and capable generals, and confidantes of blue beauty who stop at propriety......

However, at present.

But, right now under this blazing sun.

Du Shanü, with all her sincerity, word by word, earnestly comforted the person in the painting, saying:

"It won't happen, Afang."

"I swear that in the future I will surely treat you well; I will absolutely not let you down."

?? The ruler's grace is like thin, cold water.

? The sovereign may perhaps love his subjects, but this is false, temporary; all those sweet words arise from predicament, and if one believes them, one may sacrifice a lifetime.

? Therefore, subjects had best not place full trust, and everyone likewise should not place full trust~