Chapter 136 The Dream Begins

In the fifth year of Jingyao, in the second month of spring, in Qiyang City, the capital of Jin.

A hundred years ago, a young man from the State of Jin appeared out of nowhere, bearing extraordinary signs and receiving the mandate of heaven. He pointed his sword at the four seas, commanded the three armies, and conquered the eight wastelands. He raised a fierce army and set off a prairie fire. Wherever his banners pointed, the wind and clouds changed color.

After a century of chaos, the might of thunder finally prevailed, and the seven warlords sighed like the surging waves. When the azure bell resounded throughout the world, Jin unified the nine provinces.

Because of its unparalleled achievements throughout the ages, a legendary sword of the emperor gleamed coldly, severing the chaos of the world.

Therefore, people respected him as the Emperor of Jin.

When the emperor was alive, the nine provinces dared not act rashly. But alas, flowers fall and swords rust, and people cannot withstand the passage of time. When the Jin emperor passed away, some feudal lords secretly stirred up trouble, plotting to seize Jin and replace him. Fortunately, the second emperor of Jin, Emperor Wu, was a man of great talent and military strategy, like his father, and suppressed the rebellion with absolute force, thus establishing Jin's great prestige.

From then on, the land of Kyushu was truly at peace.

Two hundred years have passed in the long course of history, and now the third generation has been established. If you do the math, the current emperor has been on the throne for six years.

...

Qiyang Palace.

At that time, Zhao Yuan had just finished practicing his sword and was annoyed that the eunuch behind him was walking too slowly. So he came up with a plan for the eunuch to take the shortcut while he took the long way. Coincidentally, after passing through this garden, they would reach the Empress Dowager's Kunning Palace.

As the young boy walked along, he suddenly spotted a little girl hanging upside down in a tree not far away. Her hair hung straight down, making her look a bit like a ghost. Upon closer inspection, her small head and face resembled a monkey's, making her both agile and funny.

His heart skipped a beat at first, and he thought he had seen a ghost. After a couple of seconds, he quickly walked over, tilted his head back, and frowned, looking up at her like a serious little adult.

"Who are you? How dare you act so insolently here!"

"oh,"

The dappled sunlight of a spring evening flickered and swayed, reflecting his feigned maturity in the girl's clear eyes. She smiled unconsciously, revealing two adorable little tiger teeth.

The leaves rustled, and in the blink of an eye, the girl turned around. Before Zhao Yuan could even say "Be careful," she had already jumped down.

She tilted her head slightly, looked at the young boy, and smiled, "My name is Lin Xiaoman... Who are you?"

Zhao Yuan: "I am... I am asking who you are! How dare you be so presumptuous in Qiyang Palace... Never mind, who brought you here?"

The little girl was dressed in pink and had very pretty eyes and little tiger teeth... It was just strange that she looked about five or six years old, climbing up and down the tree, with mud and leaf stains all over her face.

Lin Xiaoman frowned. She thought about it carefully, then said, "I came with my dad. He said I can play here. Oh, my dad's surname is Zhang, Zhang Xuan! Also, my most powerful uncle, the emperor, said I can play here too... He said so much, but who are you?"

Zhang Xuan, the general stationed in Jingnan Commandery, recently returned to Qiyang to report on his duties and will likely stay there for some time.

Zhao Yuan thought for a moment. Today was indeed the day General Zhang entered the palace. So he had such a big child... surnamed Lin. Why didn't he take his father's surname? And it seems there were no people with the surname Lin among the nobles of the Jin Dynasty.

He couldn't think of anything for a moment, so he replied directly, "I am Gongzi Yuan."

Prince Yuan, the second son of the current emperor, is seven years old this year.

Lin Xiaoman nodded as if suddenly understanding. She patted her skirt and opened her mouth, about to speak to Zhao Yuan with a smile, when she heard the eunuch's panicked shouts from behind.

"Young master! Young master! I've been looking for you everywhere! Oh dear, oh dear..."

A series of high-pitched and amusing gasps and sighs rang out. Zhao Yuan turned around and gave Xu Da Shi a helpless look. "Da Shi, didn't I tell you that your legs aren't good? You don't need to keep following me. You can take the shortcut to Kun Ning Palace, and I'll be there soon."

Two years ago, Xu Da Shi fell while rushing to get something for him, and ended up with a limp. He was also getting on in years, and the Emperor originally wanted to replace him with a younger eunuch. However, Zhao Yuan himself wanted to keep him. He said that Xu Da Shi was just a little slow, and some errands could be done by a younger eunuch. As for other things, Xu Da Shi understood him best.

"Oh, young master, you are so considerate of this old servant. But how can this old servant not be by your side to watch over you? What if he gets hurt?"

"Why,"

Gongzi Yuan sighed softly, wondering who was afraid of whom getting hurt.

Suddenly, he felt a poke in his lower back. The boy straightened up and turned around, his eyes widening slightly. "What are you doing?"

Lin Xiaoman smiled, her eyes narrowing into crescents, revealing her small tiger teeth. The little girl said, "Perhaps, I can help him?"

...

"this……"

Xu Da Shi sat tremblingly on the pavilion chair, his backside barely touching the seat. He kept glancing at the young master Yuan, who was standing not far away admiring the flowers. His bones trembled. "Miss Lin... maybe we should just forget about it..."

How can he be sitting while the young master is standing?! Good heavens! How did they inexplicably end up in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, and start examining legs? And this little girl is only a few years old, how can she take pulses... This is utterly outrageous!

"Hey, don't move!"

"It's alright, isn't he facing away from you? Relax, Master. If you relax, I can examine him more easily."

The little girl's hands were small, but her strength was surprisingly great. She skillfully took his pulse first, then reached out and giggled without showing any panic. "Don't worry, Master. I often treat the little wolf and little fox's broken bones. I'm very skilled at it. Even if I can't save you, I won't hurt you!"

Little wolf and little fox?

Little wolf and little fox!

Little wolf... little... fox...

Before Xu Dashi could even react, he suddenly stood up, nearly straining his back while still feeling dazed. The commotion was a bit loud, and even Zhao Yuan looked at them curiously.

Lin Xiaoman blinked, scratched her head upon seeing this, and smiled at Lin Dashi, "How did Dashi know I was cured... You just stood up a little too quickly, don't strain your back."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Xiaoman skipped out of the pavilion. She smiled at Gongzi Yuan and proudly patted her chest, saying, "I can cure it! I can cure it!"

Zhao Yuan raised an eyebrow and asked, "How old are you?"

Lin Xiaoman: "Six years old!"

"...You're only six years old, why should I believe you?"

Lin Xiaoman's eyes widened. "You don't believe me, and you even made me take his pulse... You're so mean!"

Zhao Yuan: "..."

Well, he was just mentioning it casually, but who knew that Lin Xiaoman would pull Xu Dashi into the pavilion and start examining him so professionally, even talking about wolves and foxes, which made him a little curious.

As they spoke, Attendant Lin stood respectfully behind Prince Yuan, a wry smile on his face, yet still very amiable.

"Thank you for taking my pulse, Miss Lin. But this is an old injury, it's nothing serious, really... Young master, it's getting late. If we don't go to Kunning Palace soon, Her Majesty will start asking about it."

Zhao Yuan nodded, and he looked at Lin Xiaoman, about to speak—

"Xiaoman? Where did this child go? Lin Xiaoman, Lin Shuyue!"

Before they could speak again, a clear, youthful voice rang out. Lin Xiaoman smiled upon hearing it and called out, "Dad! I'm here! Dad!"

Zhang Xuan strode over and immediately spotted Gongzi Yuan standing to the side. He recognized him fairly well by his clothes and appearance.

"Is Young Master Yuan well?"

Zhao Yuan also bowed and greeted him, "Greetings, General Zhang."

Zhang Xuan chuckled. The seven-year-old boy was quite amusing, so serious and methodical. Just then, he turned to look at his daughter—

"Lin, Shu, Yue,"

Look, he just changed into his new clothes this morning, and in the blink of an eye, there are mud spots and little green leaves. They may not be obvious, but Madam will notice them at a glance, and she will definitely not let him off the hook!

Lin Xiaoman smiled with her lips pursed, blinked her eyes and didn't say anything, clearly realizing that her father was angry.

"How could you cause trouble in the palace... It's almost time, come back with your father, or your mother will start to worry."

Without a second thought, Zhang Xuan looked at his adorable daughter and sighed silently. He then prepared to take Lin Xiaoman away. Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaoman nodded quickly and then turned to smile at Zhao Yuan and Lin Dashi.

"My father said we'll be staying in Qiyang for a while. Next time I come to the palace, can I visit you again?"

"Oh, and another thing, my lord, I really can heal you, believe me!"

"Father, can I come to Qiyang Palace tomorrow...? I'll be good, really!"

The little girl's smile was incredibly cute, a silly smile, and her voice was crisp and clear. Zhao Yuan was taken aback for a moment. He first glanced at Zhang Xuan and saw the young man's helpless and indulgent smile, which showed that he understood his daughter's personality very well.

Zhao Yuan smiled as well; this was the first time he had smiled since they started. "Okay."

Lin Da Shi also bowed his head and said with a smile, "This old servant thanks Miss Lin."

"alright,"

Zhang Xuan smiled and patted Lin Xiaoman's head. The young man said goodbye to Gongzi Yuan, and then took Lin Xiaoman's hand and walked away. Perhaps because he thought Lin Xiaoman's legs were too short, the young man picked her up with one hand in no time. Lin Xiaoman giggled and occasionally tugged at her father's hair while talking.

As dusk approached and the moon began to appear in the sky, Lin Xiaoman swayed gently in Zhang Xuan's arms, laughing as she watched Zhao Yuan wave high in the air.

She said, "I'll come find you tomorrow, Gongzi Yuan."

Zhao Yuan stood there, the young boy smiled softly, and then, inexplicably, he also raised his hand and waved.

...

Night had fallen. Gently, Zhao Yuan finished reading his evening book, lay down on his bed, blinked, and then closed his eyes.

Suddenly he opened his eyes again. He thought for a moment, wondering if Lin Xiaoman hadn't seen him wave his hand...

Did you see it...? No... Oh well, we'll see each other again tomorrow. Speaking of which, she's a year younger than him, and a bit silly. It was her first time at Qiyang Palace, and all she did was play with the trees... Well, Jingnan County is a wild and uncivilized place, and she's so young...

No, no, as a young master, he should take her to see something nice.

The garden is boring, and there aren't many flowers blooming in February... Hmm, and who knows, she might even climb a tree. No way.

Let's take her to the training ground, she looks pretty good... No, no, what if she climbs up the flagpole to play? He's not going to go up and rescue her.

Then let's go to the study. He keeps many interesting things in there.

Oh dear, my third brother has a bad temper. Who knows if he'll bully her when we meet tomorrow? It's okay, he's the older brother. He'll protect Xiaoman. My third brother wouldn't dare.

Oh, she likes pulse diagnosis, maybe she's a budding medical practitioner. He could take her to the Imperial Medical Bureau for a checkup. Even if she's not very skilled, letting her take a simple look would be fine.

One last thing... take her to Kunning Palace. The Empress Dowager's dinner there is the best; she'll definitely love it.

Okay, that's settled.

See you tomorrow.

With these thoughts in mind, the young master fell into a deep sleep.

...

Actually, they were young then and couldn't think of anything; they just felt that they were destined to meet.

It was just a simple "tomorrow, tomorrow, let's play together again."

Unfortunately, news of barbarian and wild beast uprisings came from the Nanjun region that night, and General Zhang set off back to Nanjun overnight, taking his family, including Lady Lin, with him, and left Qiyang City in one night.

They did not see each other again for the next ten years.