Chapter 270 The Creation of All Things

Yun Chen had no idea how the mutton banquet ended.

She only knew that the entire Kyoto city was now going crazy over the news that General Xiaoyun had publicly confessed his love for General Xiaohuo.

Standing on the high roof, General Xiaoyun seemed to be standing on the top of this old-fashioned and silent Kyoto, covered in the sunset glow, bathed in golden light, and smiling at his lover.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, General Xiao Huo did not shy away from responding to General Xiao Yun in the same way, then leaped onto the roof and hugged General Xiao Yun tightly.

It's really shocking to the world!

It’s so sweet!

Such explosive news spread throughout Kyoto in just one night.

No matter how Ye Yan and the others from the Huo Gang ran around the streets spreading the news that "Anian is not Huo Gannian".

The common people obviously did not buy it and were very happy to see the handsome General Huo and the feminine and handsome General Yun perform a sweet love story.

Later, some people said that General Xiao Huo and General Xiao Yun kissed passionately in public on the roof that day.

Some people say that General Xiao Huo knelt down on his knees and proposed to General Xiao Yun.

Some people also said that "Anian" was the adopted child of General Xiao Huo and General Xiao Yun, and they even described clearly how many noses and eyes the child had.

Yun Chen did not hear these rumors in person, but heard them from Yun Wang who told them with a smile and gritted teeth.

Not daring to look at Yun Wang's expression, Yun Chen supported his aching head from the hangover, sat on a small bench in the yard, and whispered:

"I remember that I almost fell off the roof yesterday, and Ah Nian just caught me. How did it get spread like this..."

Yun Wang glanced at Huo Gannian, who was concentrating on playing marbles with Yun Liancheng, and sighed helplessly, thinking:

Took one? One?

I really want to draw it now and show it to you two!

That's called a princess hug! And those two pairs of affectionate eyes when you're holding them! I really want to dig them out for you two, let them air dry for a while, and then put them back!

Huo Gannian's lips were flushed with elation as he used his inner strength to shoot marbles, accurately destroying the "I"-shaped marble city of Yunlian City, while saying:

"It's okay. Yun Wang has already written a memorial overnight impeaching Su Zhengyang for his outrageous behavior and assaulting an imperial official. Public opinion will soon shift to the Su family. It's okay."

Yun Chen said happily, "How about changing 'beating the imperial official' to 'being beaten by the imperial official'? Hehe, I don't have any injuries on my body, so I definitely didn't lose!"

She was grinning, but when she saw Yun Wang frowning, she quickly stopped and continued to sit there obediently, only daring to glance at Yun Wang from the corner of her eyes and asked:

"By the way, at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, when the adults were proposing marriages for me, what did you say after I left the table? Why do I feel like everyone's looking at me strangely lately?"

Yun Wang said calmly, "It's nothing. They just said that you injured your waist and kidneys during the war and can't continue the incense. I was always in charge of the Lion Army's emergency reports, and they all believed it."

After a while, Yun Chen finally understood what "unable to continue the incense" meant.

Does it mean you can't have children? Half eunuch?

No wonder everyone felt so sorry for her and gave her roasted kidneys. Even the old Earl Song Lu, who had always wanted to marry his daughter to her, always looked regretful.

Yun Chen was a little depressed. "How am I supposed to live my life in the future? I have to save face, right?"

Yun Wang ignored it completely, raised his eyes slightly and said:

"Sister Chen, go back when you're sober. Don't stay here with me for too long. It'll easily attract criticism."

"Okay! I'll leave in a quarter of an hour!" Yun Chen looked happy again, like a child.

Before Yun Wang asked why it would take another quarter of an hour, he saw Yun Chen excitedly joining the marbles playing team.

They had agreed to fight for a quarter of an hour, but Huo Gannian and Yun Chen fought for more than an hour.

In the end, they beat Yunliancheng so hard that he cried loudly, and then the two of them ran away.

After the two "tasteless generals" who bullied the children left, Yun Wang ordered his servants to prepare a pot, ten pounds of the best Nanshan lamb meat, a bottle of green plum wine, a box of horse musk candles, etc.

All the things were loaded into an ordinary horse-drawn carriage, which was driven by the most trusted servant. It quietly came out from the back door, circled around for more than an hour, and finally stopped at the back door of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Hearing three short and one long knocks on the door, the servant of the Ni Mansion opened the back door and welcomed Yun Wang in with a smile.

The two servants were busy moving things from the carriage, while Yun Wang personally carried a pound of red beans and lotus seeds and walked along the familiar path to the study.

From a distance, Yun Wang saw Ni Kun writing at the desk.

He asked when An came in. Ni Kun was too focused to say anything, so he walked to the table to take a look, only to see that the densely packed letter paper was filled with last words.

Yun Wang's expression changed, "Teacher, what are you doing..."

Ni Kun continued writing, speaking in a normal tone:

"Judging from the recent situation, I don't have much time left. I can't let my friends and servants be implicated because of my own misfortune. Many things need to be arranged in advance so that I can go without worry."

Yun Wang's expression was solemn. "Teacher, is there really no room for improvement between you and His Highness?"

Ni Kun did not answer. He stopped writing and looked out the window at a lush and flourishing white rhinoceros plum tree.

On the thin but vigorous and upright branches, there grow jade-white rhinoceros plum flower buds.

Among the golden flowers, plants and trees in the golden autumn, only the rhinoceros plum flowers are pure white.

When everything withers in late autumn, rhinoceros hornbeams will bloom with new life and hope.

Ni Kun felt a little regretful and sighed:

"It's a shame. I probably won't be able to see the rhinoceros plum blossoms this year."

Yun Wang followed Ni Kun's gaze and his eyes gradually became moist.

Seeing Yun Wang's mood, Ni Kun smiled and said:

"Don't be sad. The sooner I die, the sooner I can give you the position of Prime Minister!"

Yun Wang couldn't help but frown, and called out "Teacher!" with a nasal tone, which made Ni Kun laugh again.

Yun Wang sniffed and lowered his eyes. "Fifteen years ago, when I was studying at Jimen, I couldn't fully grasp the meaning of the passage in The Book of Lord Shang, 'Governing the world is not the same, and benefiting a country is not based on the ancient ways.'"

Fortunately, my teacher’s words, “If you follow the ancient ways, you will be behind the times; if you practice the present ways, you will be blocked by the current situation,” opened my eyes and enabled me to continue my study. From that moment on, I have always been loyal to you. I will never forget your kindness.”

Ni Kun said cheerfully, "At that time, I was traveling in Dongshan and passed by the Jimen Academy. I happened to see you deep in thought over the Book of Lord Shang, so I made a comment. Who knew you would remember it for over ten years?"

Yun Wang had a familiar look of complaint on his face and said:

"Students remember for more than ten years, but teachers forget everything about them."

"Haha..." Ni Kun laughed. "That's right. Back then, you had just arrived at the Censorate. Every time the Crown Prince needed to stamp an order, you insisted on coming with the young eunuch. You never spoke, just stared at me with tears in your eyes. I was puzzled until you said, 'If you don't follow the ancient ways, you won't improve the present.' Then I suddenly remembered. It's truly a fate sent by heaven that you and I, teacher and student, could serve in the same court."

Speaking of this, Ni Kun couldn't help but sigh:

"Luckily, I discovered it early. Otherwise, if others had noticed and labeled you as one of 'Ni Kun's followers,' your brilliant talent would have been tarnished."

Yun Wang shook his head and said firmly:

“Students don’t care!”

"Silly child." Ni Kun couldn't help but sigh, "Wang'er, from now on, when I'm gone, you have to be careful about everything. His Highness is very suspicious and has many concerns. The treacherous officials in the court will never be eradicated. You must stand tall and steady."

After that, a servant came and knocked on the door, saying that the mutton pot in the inner hall was ready.

Ni Kun put down his brush and spread out a large piece of "last words" written with elegant and vigorous strokes, which could be called art, under the window. He watched the pine soot ink dry up bit by bit and smiled:

"This ink was given to me by the late emperor when he wanted to appoint me as his imperial tutor. I've been reluctant to use it, but now that I'm using it, it's truly a rare and fine ink. You can take the rest with you later, don't waste it."

Yun Wang remained silent and followed Ni Kun to the inner hall to have dinner.

Ni Kun picked up a piece of meat from the hot pot with chopsticks and ate it, sighing:

"The meat is very good. Fortunately, I didn't see it alive, otherwise I really wouldn't be able to eat it."

Looking at the fragrant mutton pot in front of him, and thinking about Ni Kun's current situation, which is not much better than that of the lamb, and that he might not even have the chance to meet his mentor secretly in the future, Yun Wang finally couldn't help but shed silent tears.

Ni Kun pretended not to see it and put the vegetables into the pot while saying:

"The late emperor was diligent and wise, yet he made only two major mistakes. One was his schemes against the Empress, which led to her leaving the palace in frustration. The other was his fear that the Princess would follow in his and the Empress' footsteps, filled with schemes and calculations. He pampered her without teaching her, leaving her gifted but lacking understanding, and a high position without the authority of a monarch."

Yun Wang knew that Ni Kun was going to give him some final instructions. Even though he felt upset, he didn't dare to interrupt. He just sat respectfully and listened carefully.

Ni Kun continued:

"The late emperor originally intended for me to be the Imperial Tutor, assisting His Highness in governing the country for ten years, to help him mature and truly accumulate the power to rule the world. However, judging by the current situation, His Highness can no longer wait to ascend the throne, and my time is running out.

I do not want to use the 80,000 imperial troops left to me for protection, because once I use them and confront the Imperial Guards, it is likely to cause great suffering to the people of Kyoto and hurt too many innocent soldiers.

Wang'er, next, His Highness will probably plan to withdraw the troops from the capital and take my life. Remember, you must not show any emotion at all. You must give your all to His Highness and advise him to punish me severely. Even if it means killing me, it would not be too much to be torn into pieces by five horses.

After this, you will surely hold a place in His Highness's heart. Only by killing me, the 'traitorous minister who has colluded with the Yu family for so many years, can His Highness secure his throne."

"What do you mean by 'colluding' with the Yu family?" Yun Wang said anxiously: "The late emperor wanted to catch all the treacherous villains in one fell swoop, so he asked you to join the conspiracy! Anyone with a discerning eye knows it!"

As he said this, Yun Wang felt his heart trembling and he couldn't stop crying. But then he heard Ni Kun say:

"Wang'er, don't be sad for me. This has been the way of ministers since ancient times. Don't blame His Highness. She must make a great comeback and kill 'the treacherous minister Ni Kun' before she can truly gain a firm foothold in the court and be convincing.

Although things may seem a bit hasty right now, with you, General Huo, and your sister, General Yun, here, the Huo and Yun families will be able to support each other and maintain a stable foundation. But remember, a large tree attracts wind, and you must not overstep your authority.

I am the stepping stone that will help Your Highness ascend the throne, and I must also serve as a lifelong warning to your wise ruler. I have already written a final letter of admonition, filled with sincere counsel. After my death, someone will present it to Your Highness. When Your Highness sees that after my death, the imperial army remains intact and the court remains in turmoil, you will understand my earnest intentions.

"From now on, whether it's ten or a hundred years, whenever Your Highness feels the urge to kill a minister, he will remember my final words of advice and feel guilty about killing a loyal and honest minister. He will carefully consider the imperial decree and not act arbitrarily or be easily swayed by treacherous ministers. The virtuous and loyal officials in the court will also be preserved."

When a Kun falls, all things come to life.

I only hope that loyal ministers will not be disgraced, and that all the gentlemen in the court will not keep silent.