Chapter 89 "Melancholy," he exhaled a breath of stale air...

“I want it,” Cui Yao stared at Ji Chengning, her pale eyes like a deep spring, so bright they almost made one dizzy, “Your Highness allows me to apply the medicine to Your Highness.”

A soft, lingering voice entered my ears.

Ji Chengning was startled.

It looked as if a snake had crawled out of the spring.

It meanders around the neck bone.

The tighter it gets, the more it tightens.

"Men and women should not touch each other!" Ji Chengnin suddenly pulled his neck back.

It's unreasonable to trouble Ah Yao, a young woman, to apply medicine for him again and again. He may not care about his reputation, but Ah Yao has to consider hers.

Seeing Ji Chengnin's serious expression, Cui Yao suddenly smiled and said softly, "It was just a joke, why must you be like this, Your Highness?" He leaned closer, and the cool but very strong fragrance filled Ji Chengnin's nostrils. "Nervous."

Ji Chengning swallowed.

He thought to himself, "I don't think you're joking."

He smiled and said, “Then I’ll consider it a debt I owe A-Yao. But whatever you ask for, I will give you without hesitation.”

Cui Yao looked up. "Oh?"

“The son of a wealthy family already wields immense power,” Cui Yao’s voice grew softer and softer. “I simply cannot imagine how much benefit the Crown Prince’s promises could bring me.”

Ji Chengning looked up.

The soft moonlight fell into Cui Yao's eyes.

The cold moon shines on the chilly spring.

As if guided by some unseen force, he said softly, "Then, cousin, you must think carefully and ask me what you want."

What do you want?

Cui Yao thought.

He wanted too much, and every single thing concerned Ji Chengning, yet none of it could be openly and honestly stated.

Cui Yao's breath hitched for a moment.

After a violent tremor in my chest came an indescribable anger.

Is it okay to say such things to other people so casually?

If he were to encounter someone with ulterior motives, Cheng Ning would suffer a terrible lesson.

Fortunately, it was said to him.

Cui Yao would never take advantage of someone in distress.

Cui Yao suppressed his chaotic thoughts and smiled slightly, "Your Highness, I will certainly not disappoint you. I must think this through carefully. I hope that when the day comes that I ask Your Highness for it, Your Highness will not hesitate to part with it."

He stood up and reached out his hand to Ji Chengning.

He didn't wait for Ji Chengnin's reply.

"Your Highness, it's time to go back."

Ji Chengning subconsciously offered his left hand, which was less painful.

Immediately, it was gripped by five icy-cold objects and tightly gathered in his palm.

"Whoosh—"

Cui Yao helped him up.

He thought he had concealed the truth perfectly, but as soon as he stood still, he heard Cui Yao say in a sarcastic tone, "Knowing that your arm is injured, you still swung the knife so hard. If you don't take care of your body when you are young, I'm afraid that you won't even be able to hold chopsticks in the future."

Ji Chengnin grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, and asked cheekily, "Will my cousin just stand by and watch me starve to death?"

Cui Yao remained silent.

Ji Chengnin, however, became increasingly smug.

He could see the answer.

Half an hour later, the two returned to their respective rooms.

Ji Chengning was exhausted. He had been on the brink of life and death in a single day. Overwhelmed by disappointment and anger, he lay in bed feeling weak and listless. His eyelids were heavy, and he soon fell into a deep sleep.

"Ning'er".

A voice rang in his ears.

Ji Chengnin's eyelashes trembled slightly.

He frowned, turned away impatiently, and waved his hand dismissively.

Immediately, his hand touched something wet and supple, and Ji Chengning was startled awake.

He grabbed the knife beside him and sprang into action!

"Whoosh—"

The blade stabbed forward fiercely.

However, there was no one in front of him.

Of course there was no one there. Ji Chengning narrowed his eyes. The thing in front of him was less a person and more a tall, vaguely shaped white mist.

It wasn't the usual fog, but a thick, grayish-white mass.

Ji Chengning held his breath.

He faintly smelled a fishy odor, as if someone had smeared blood on the tip of his nose.

Is it poison?

Or is it some other strange skill or trick?

Ji Chengning's back tensed instantly, and he arched his back slightly, a posture that made him very adept at attacking.

As far as the eye could see, there was only this white mist, which enveloped everything inside the barracks, obscuring all outlines.

"Ning'er." The voice came from the mist, gentle and mellow, the tone of a Confucian general in a storybook.

Ji Chengnin narrowed his eyes, "Who's playing tricks?" He pressed the hilt of his knife tightly in his hand and shouted sharply, "Get out!"

The voice in the mist sighed softly and said with a helpless smile, "Atu, how come your temperament is not even as good as it was when you were three years old?"

Ji Chengning abruptly stopped his movement as he was about to draw his sword.

What?

No one else knew this nickname except his closest relatives. How could this strange thing call it out? Who is it?

Ji Chengnin's pupils constricted sharply. Just as he was about to speak, the misty cloud moved closer to him, gently reaching out its "hand" and lightly stroking his forehead.

It was very cool, but the movements were incredibly gentle.

It felt like a drop of dew rolling across the skin.

The voice of the creature within the fog was smiling, yet tinged with a barely perceptible sadness: "We've been apart for so long, A-Tu no longer recognizes me."

Ji Chengnin stared blankly at the fog in front of him.

The only man with whom he had not seen for years and had become extremely close was Marquis Yongning.

He was utterly incredulous; his Adam's apple bobbed several times before he finally managed to utter two stiff words, "Father?"

The thing inside the fog laughed.

Light and gentle.

He did not answer yes or no, but only said, "You are so old now."

"Bang!"

Ji Chengning heard this.

"Bang bang bang—"

It became increasingly urgent and noisy.

He suddenly lowered his head and realized that the noise was his heartbeat.

Ji Chengnin was stunned for a moment.

He was too young when he lost his mother and father, and had only a symbolic concept of the legendary Marquis of Yongning, who was renowned for his military exploits. He never felt that "father" was a living person.

At this very moment, his soul suddenly entered his dream. Ji Chengnin's throat tightened for a few seconds before he suddenly realized that his "father" must have something to ask him in his dream.

He sat up straight and asked, "You wanted to see me... what's the matter?"

Compared to his awkwardness, the Marquis of Yongning's attitude was incredibly gentle and loving. He chuckled, "I've come to see you."

The misty air mimicked his posture and sat down in front of him, saying, "Come and see my Ning'er's pacification of the rebellion and her unparalleled achievements."

Ji Chengnin's brow furrowed slightly, as if pricked by needles.

But he immediately smiled and asked, "Father, are you satisfied with what you've seen today?"

The mist replied softly, "With such a son, I have no regrets even in the afterlife."

Ji Chengnin couldn't quite describe the feeling in his heart.

There was a sense of joy at being recognized, but more than that, there was a lingering sense of unease.

What exactly is wrong?

He stared intently at the fog.

A hand gently brushed against Ji Chengning's temples, causing the latter's shoulders to stiffen slightly.

A non-physical finger gently curled a strand of hair. "But, Ning'er," the sigh in her voice was more pronounced, "you are kind-hearted and never doubt others, which is good. However, being too unguarded will attract villains who will mislead you and shake your mind."

Ji Chengnin raised a long eyebrow.

He finally realized something was wrong with this fog—the way it spoke. Although he had no interest in the Marquis of Yongning, he knew without thinking that the Marquis of Yongning's words and actions couldn't possibly be like a charlatan, proceeding step by step and patiently persuading people!

Ji Chengning smiled.

His handsome, sharp features exuded a murderous aura and a strong sense of bloodshed.

He didn't immediately expose the truth, but instead smiled gently, "Father thinks too kindly of me. As a general, how could I be manipulated by others? Does Father not trust me? Or was Father just lying to me when he said he would die without regrets having a son like me?"

The fog lingered for a moment.

A cold smile crept across Ji Chengning's lips. He wanted to see what else this ghostly thing could say!

A moment later, the voice rang out, "Ning'er means that no one has misled you?"

Ji Chengnin gave a cold laugh and raised his chin. "Everything I do comes from my heart. Who can sway my mind?"

No one will do.

This pretentious thing in front of him is even worse!

The next second, her voice suddenly turned cold, "My Ji family has received the emperor's favor and eats the emperor's food. We should share the emperor's worries. How can you have such a rebellious idea? Ning'er, if you do not repent, your whole family will surely be brought to ruin one day!"

Before Ji Chengning could answer, the voice said urgently, "I know you have suffered many grievances since you entered officialdom, but His Majesty has it hard too. The entire country is under His Majesty's control, and every single thing requires people to exhaust their energy and effort. Chengning, His Majesty knows everything you have done. His Majesty cherishes you, which is why he allowed you to take command of an army at such a young age. Even the emperor has his own helplessness."

You must listen to me.

Ji Chengnin opened his mouth to speak, but the voice was faster than him.

Her voice softened, filled with sorrow and grief, "Even if you harbor resentment towards His Majesty, this empire will belong to the Crown Prince in the future. Can you bear to betray the Crown Prince who has always treated you with sincerity and kindness, like a brother?"

Ji Chengning couldn't be bothered to open up to this inhuman creature.

Upon hearing Him mention the Crown Prince, Ji Chengning paused before speaking, then changed the subject, saying, "If the day truly comes when extraordinary things need to be done, I will make arrangements for the Crown Prince."

The fog was furious. "How can you be so stubborn?"

Ji Chengnin suddenly stood up. “The current emperor treats the people as slaves. For many years, he has neglected state affairs but is skilled in political maneuvering, which has led to the corruption of officials and caused great harm to the people. It is only natural that they regard the emperor as an enemy. Yet you still want to serve this muddle-headed emperor. You are the one who is stubbornly clinging to your delusions!”

He drew his sword, a murderous smile playing on his lips. "You are not the Marquis of Yongning. You are nothing but a demon who takes advantage of my clear mind, enters my dreams, and disturbs my thoughts."

"I am a demon?!" The fog trembled violently.

Ji Chengning stared at him warily.

Immediately, a burst of loud laughter came from within the fog.

The size of the object in the mist: "The demon is within arm's reach of you, but unfortunately, you cannot see it."

An arm suddenly stretched out from the fog.

A real, human arm.

The hand gripped Ji Chengnin's chin tightly, and an indescribable chill instantly emanated from the point where their hands touched.

Ji Chengning slapped his hand away.

However, in the instant he lowered his head, Ji Chengning felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

From wrist to fingertips, every joint of this hand is stitched, as if it had been cut off inch by inch along the bone by a blade and then pieced back together.

His skin was bloodless, with thick, bluish lines clinging crookedly to his deathly white arms.

The voice suddenly burst into laughter.

The voice was both tender and vicious.

He said, "You are the monster."

The next second, the fog was suddenly torn apart by "It".

Ji Chengnin's pupils dilated sharply.

It was a face exactly like his own; their eyes met, as if they were looking in a mirror!

However, this body, which looked exactly like his, was ripped to shreds from the corner of his eye to his lips, with the scarlet flesh turned outwards and needles inserted into the skin, barely managing to sew up a human-like appearance.

A blue line pierced through the corner of his mouth, making his lips appear to be smiling at all times.

Eerie, yet ferocious.

The fishy smell that Ji Chengning had just caught was from the blood on this "person".

Ji Chengnin felt a churning in his stomach. He had seen many gruesome corpses, but seeing a dead person who looked exactly like him, hacked to pieces and then pieced back together, was still too much.

"Whoosh!"

The cold blade was drawn from its sheath.

He rushed towards the sky, enveloped by a thick white mist.

For a moment, everything went completely black before his eyes.

Ji Chengning suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed the knife at his side!

But it didn't budge.

He was stunned for a moment, still feeling as if his soul was not in his body. He slowly raised his head and looked at the thing pressing down on his knife.

He was met with a pair of dark eyes.

It was like running headfirst into a hungry wolf ready to pounce.

Ji Chengnin's tense shoulders relaxed instantly.

“Meimei,” he exhaled a breath of stale air and made a gesture toward Zhong Mei that seemed to be asking for affection, “you’ve come at just the right time.”

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Author's note: Good night.