Chapter 118 The Timeline of Splits (1) The C of a Sober Girl in the Human World...

When the imperial envoy went to the Gao residence to read out the imperial edict demoting Gao Shilian to the position of Registrar of Zhuyuan, he couldn't help but glance a few more times at Changsun Qingjing, who was standing behind the former Chief of Ceremonies.

As a survivor who still has memories of the prosperity of Ye City, the envoy felt great sympathy for the fate of the Northern Qi royal family.

Gao Shilian looked serious, but he was not overly panicked. After loudly thanking the emperor for the imperial decree, he remained calm.

As someone who had once received favors from the Gao family of Qi, the imperial envoy couldn't resist chatting with Gao Shilian for a few minutes after his routine business. He dismissed all his entourage and the women of the Gao family.

Gazing at Changsun Qingjing's figure, partially obscured behind the screen, the imperial envoy couldn't help but ask, "How old is Gao Zhili Lang's daughter this year? Is she betrothed?"

This was not just a simple greeting, but a well-intentioned act made in a moment of urgency.

Gao Shilian accurately grasped the envoy's earnest advice and said, "I understand the envoy's good intentions. However, this child is actually the youngest daughter of Changsun Jisheng, the former Right General of the Valiant Guard, and my younger sister. Due to her father's early death, she was raised by me and is not Gao's biological daughter. I have no right to decide her marriage..."

Changsun Wuji stood beside his uncle, not daring to interrupt, but he clearly saw his uncle's eyes furrow slightly, his lips move, and his fingers unconsciously clench and unclench. It was the prelude to his uncle's immense anger.

There was a faint rustling sound behind the screen, and the figure of the younger sister, Changsun Qingjing, flashed by.

"Farewell." The envoy realized he might have overstepped his bounds. He respected those gentlemen who refused to compromise their principles even in adversity, so he could only offer one final word of comfort: "Take care!"

The final edict made Gao Shilian feel that everything had settled down. He didn't have much time to be sad. He simply instructed his men to inform his relatives and friends while calling his mother, wife, and sister, who were weeping uncontrollably, to his side.

“Mother, things have come to this point, and it will be of no use for me to act like a child again. I misjudged people and mistakenly associated with the traitor Hu Sizheng, which led to such a disaster. I am ashamed before our ancestors and have brought shame upon our family. It is too late for me to regret this.” After saying this, Gao Shilian kowtowed to the old lady to beg for forgiveness.

Old Madam Gao's eyes were red and swollen, but she was more composed than her daughter and daughter-in-law: "A-Jian, go in peace. Wuji is almost an adult and can take care of us on his own."

"Uncle, please rest assured, leave the family affairs to your nephew. Our whole family is waiting for you to return to Daxing for a reunion." Changsun Wuji also knelt in front of his uncle and maternal grandmother, making a solemn promise.

“Wuji, remember this…” Gao Shilian sighed, “Guanyinbi’s marriage must be handled with utmost care. This child is talented and proud; we must not waste her talent.”

"yes."

"If there really isn't a suitable candidate, then you should take care of her for the rest of your life and not compromise yourself..."

"Yes," Changsun Wuji bowed and said, "Uncle, just give the order, and I will do as you say..."

"Where is Guanyinbi? Guanyinbi!" Gao Shilian was already sobbing uncontrollably, searching for his most worried child through his blurry, tear-filled eyes.

“Uncle…” The young girl rushed over and knelt before Gao Shilian, displaying a calmness detached from the sorrow of parting among the crowd. “I heard the envoy say just now…”

Gao Shilian sternly stopped his adopted daughter: "Shut up! I didn't raise you to be a decorative canary in the palace, entertaining the emperor. The envoy's words are not to be mentioned again in front of me or the whole family. You must immediately erase every single word he said from your mind. Every single word he uttered is an insult to my noble character!"

It was a night filled with fear and uncertainty, yet one that forced one to brace oneself and consider the next course of action.

Her maternal grandmother's sighs, her mother's lamentations, and her aunt's mournful weeping occasionally reached Changsun Qingjing's ears, but she could only passively accept the unpredictable arrangements of fate.

The Ashes of Roses!

She lowered her head, propped her chin up with one hand, held a letter in her hand, and asked her maid, A-Cai, "A-Cai, how long has it been since the Li family sent a letter?"

“It’s been half a month.” A Cai was afraid that her wife would be angry, so she lowered her head and said, “Don’t worry, my wife. I’ll ask Xiao Zhi from the Li family when I have time. She goes to Liren Market to buy things every few days, and I always run into her.”

“No need…” Changsun Qingjing murmured, “He’s right next to the Emperor, so he should know about Husi Zheng’s situation. Since he knows Husi Zheng’s fate, he’ll naturally find out about my uncle’s demotion. It’s only natural to avoid suspicion, and he’ll have better options. Don’t force him. A person should know their own limitations, and I should respect myself.”

The youthful dreams eventually fade away with reality, interests, calculations, and the inherent gaps between people. Then everything returns to calm, without causing a ripple.

In the past two weeks, she had come up with countless reasons why the white hawk "General" might not be able to deliver the message on time: perhaps Li Shimin was at a crucial moment of promotion, perhaps the "General" had unexpectedly fallen ill or gotten lost, perhaps the imperial entourage was on its way back to Xijing from Luoyang...

In the eyes of the Duke's second son, she was no different from the daughters of any minor official.

Being good-looking, well-read, and eloquent doesn't bring her any extra benefits; it only adds to her troubles.

She was a dispensable diversion in his tedious life, but she mistakenly regarded him as the only savior who could pull her out of the vortex of time.

She was completely wrong!

After reflecting on her painful experience, the precocious girl quickly calmed down and began to plan her next move.

Changsun Qingjing recalled Empress Ma of the Eastern Han Dynasty, whose father died unjustly, whose brothers died young, and whose mother went mad.

By comparison, she's not too bad off.

No one could easily shake the reputation of her father, Changsun Sheng. Her uncle had caused trouble, but he was only implicated and demoted, not plotting a rebellion. Although her mother was almost assassinated by her half-brother, she did not change her mind because of it. Fortunately, she had a capable older brother.

When Empress Ma was thirteen, she followed her cousin's advice and broke off her engagement with the son of the Dou family. Then, her cousin submitted a petition to enter the palace. After some twists and turns, she gained the favor of the crown prince and thus revitalized her family.

She hasn't fallen to such a state of despair, so why worry about a bleak future?

In her life, Li Shimin didn't even qualify as a member of the Dou family, a figure whose existence is vaguely mentioned in historical records, and he wasn't worth her continued concern or longing.

The young man who disappeared during her time of hardship was no longer important; what mattered was rescuing her uncle, who had raised her, from the miasma-ridden land as soon as possible.

At present, the old friends of the Qi state who are on good terms with the Gao family are either of low status or have fallen out with the Gao family, so it is not appropriate to entrust them to plead on behalf of the Gao family.

What if we were to plead with the elders of the Changsun family?

His beloved uncle, Changsun Chi, had passed away, and his son, Changsun Anshi, might not have much influence with the emperor. Even if Changsun Anshi did have influence, he would remain silent in the face of the major case of Husi Zheng's rebellion and escape.

After much thought, she realized that there was only one person who could get close to Emperor Yang Guang: her uncle, Changsun Chang.

Whether as the former Treasury Officer of the Prince of Jin's Mansion or the current Junior Supervisor of the Palace, the uncle always had the opportunity to meet the ambitious emperor. In the eyes of the headstrong emperor, Changsun Chang was a witness to and participant in his past years, and a contributor to and architect of the grand undertakings of the Daye era.

The emperor must be treating Changsun Chang differently. Let's go find him!

Changsun Qingjing guessed that her uncle was busy organizing the official land accounts and looking for a new house these days, and was afraid that his family would misunderstand her as a sycophantic little vixen, so she had no intention of visiting Changsun Chang in person.

She summoned several children from her servants' households and ordered them to spread rumors in the neighborhood where her uncle lived that Gao Jian had been demoted and that his adopted children were as destitute as stray dogs.

Rumors could reach Changsun Chang's ears overnight. Even if his uncle was truly a heartless and ungrateful person, he would not feel good standing on the moral low ground, and he would definitely take the initiative to pick her up!

When Gao Shilian was dealing with his land in Zhongnan Mountain, his wife and nieces and nephews followed him silently.

"Do you remember the last time we climbed the mountain?" Changsun Wuji pointed to Taiyi Peak. "I wonder how Shimin is doing in Luoyang?"

“He is ultimately not on the same path as us,” Changsun Qingjing said softly.

She was no longer sad, but worried that her brother would have a hard time accepting the cruel fact that his close friend was avoiding him.

The sound of rumbling carriages and neighing horses drew closer to them; the newcomer was none other than Changsun Chang.

After exchanging a few words, the uncle and maternal uncle approached the two children.

Everyone knows how willful a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy can be, so let him be.

All eyes then fell on Changsun Qingjing.

"I'll listen to my uncle," she said calmly.

“That’s easy.” Gao Shilian and Changsun Chang exchanged a smile.

Changsun Minxing brought good news that Lu Fayan had found two adjacent small houses in Chongde Lane, Daxing.

Changsun Qingjing gave Changsun Minxing a strange look, thinking: The last link in this shoddy imitation of the Fubo General's young daughter has been attached.

My scholar cousin, who had petitioned the emperor to enter the palace, was right before my eyes.

A solar halo appeared again on Taiyi Peak, resembling a blooming peony, which suddenly changed color.

The Ashes of Roses!

After experiencing numerous bizarre events, including the attack on Luoyang Palace by refugees and the attempted assassination of Emperor Yang Guang, Li Shimin finally returned to Xijing.

After wandering around Lizhengli and Chongde Lane several times, he finally found the new gate of the Gao family.

Only Lady Xianyu was in the mansion.

The young man hurriedly greeted Lady Xianyu: "Is Wuji alright?" This indicated that he already knew that Husi Zheng was involved in the unfortunate case of Gao Shilian.

“He went to see Shi Lian off. You should know that by now.” Lady Xianyu was unsure whether the young man’s absence during those days was a deliberate avoidance or an inability to escape. “If he’s lucky, he should have reached Luokou.”

As Li Shimin stumbled away from the Gao family's new residence, he subconsciously took out a dried peony he had treasured for many days from his bosom. The remaining thorns pricked his palms, drawing blood, but he was completely unaware.

The faded petals, blown by the wind, scattered across the streets, never to gather again.

The gray of roses.

Author's Note: Director Yu: In today's Eastern Han Dynasty cosplay game, everyone should have received their own tasks. Please report your tasks.

Changsun Sheng: I played Ma Yuan, not bad, not bad.

Changsun Heng'an: I'm playing Ma Keqing?

Director Fish: If you find it offensive, you can live in the dialogue.

Changsun Heng'an: No need for that. It's just that I might look a bit mature. Please don't mind.

Li Yuan: Ta-da! I'm playing Liu Xiu, that's great!

Changsun Qingjing: I played Empress Mingde, so no one understands her better than me.

Erfeng: Why are you looking at me! Although, if you sincerely invite me to play Liu Zhuang, of course I will agree.

Erfeng: ...How many times have you pranked me now? [Angry]