Chapter 144 I have a crush on you
As the saying goes, one's handwriting reflects one's character. A person's handwriting always reveals their personality and moral qualities. Therefore, people with keen observation skills can judge a person by their handwriting.
Moreover, before Lu Jinlan ascended the throne, she was already a universally recognized genius. Legend has it that she was the reincarnation of the God of Literature, and her manuscripts were widely circulated among scholars. Furthermore, a large number of admirers imitated her handwriting and copied her calligraphy.
Although there aren't many scholars on this mountain, Ji Yun Tieshu happens to be the one who has read the most and understands Lu Jinlan the best.
If her younger brother is a scholar who studies Lu Jinlan himself, then she can be considered an expert in Lu Jinlan's literature; she is extremely familiar with Lu Jinlan's handwriting.
Although it only contains the character "准" (zhun), every stroke of it perfectly resembles Lu Jinlan's. It is grand and unrestrained, vigorous and agile, like a dragon and a phoenix dancing, and carries a hint of arrogance that says "I am the only one who can conquer the world."
Could Lu Er be Lu Jinlan?
Ji Yun's suspicions rekindled, but she immediately remembered that she had seen Lu Er's handwriting a few days ago, and it did not resemble the character "准" (zhun).
Which one is Lu Er's real handwriting? Did she forget to hide her handwriting, or did she deliberately reveal it?
Seeing Ji Yuntieshu holding the calligraphy in a daze and remaining silent, Ji Yunyuan hurriedly asked, "Is there something wrong with this calligraphy?"
Ji Yun Tieshu glanced at him. "It's nothing. I'd like to see the Alliance Leader."
Yuanzhen thought for a moment, "It'll probably be in the council hall. Let's wait for news from the government with Mother and the others."
Ji Yun Tieshu, leaning on his cane, walked hurriedly and turned to leave.
Yuan Zhen anxiously called out, "Slow down! Your leg isn't healed yet!"
*
Ji Yun Tieshu couldn't care less; she was eager to confirm the results.
But when she staggered and swayed to the outside of the council chamber, she stopped in her tracks in a panic.
At this moment, the hall door was wide open, and a sister guarding the mountain gate rushed past Ji Yun Tieshu, shouting loudly, "Report! Reporting to the Alliance Leader, the government has sent someone with a reply."
Ji Yun Tieshu looked over and saw Lu Er sitting upright in a chair. With a slight gesture, several people beside him quickly passed the letter to her.
Lu Er glanced at the letter twice, then spread it out on the table. The moment she stood up, everyone rose from their seats and followed her to the table.
The leaders surrounded Lu Er like stars around the moon, and even You Shun, who had been beaten up and was still recovering from his injuries, stood obediently to the side, bowing his head and showing no sign of disobedience.
Lu Er seemed accustomed to all of this, calmly pointing out the flaws in the situation and confidently wielding his authority.
She was by no means a chivalrous knight-errant, for a chivalrous knight-errant would not possess the ambition to rule the world. Nor was she a scholar, for a scholar would not have the courage to contend for the world's supremacy.
She should be the emperor, and she can only be the emperor. Such a person is incredibly rare in the world; how could there be two?
Lu Jinlan is Lu Er, and Lu Er is Lu Jinlan.
Ji Yun Tieshu felt secretly ashamed: My eyesight is too poor. Even if she wasn't wearing a dragon robe, I should have recognized her. How could I have been fooled by her? Oh right, and that Third Hero Yan...
Ji Yun Tieshu's gaze swept around the council hall and landed on Yan Wuxin, who was leaning against a pillar outside the crowd, leisurely flirting with his younger brother.
Shui Sheng, who served tea, was handsome and blushed easily. Yan Wuxin held a half-eaten red apple to his lips, insisting that he eat it.
Shuisheng took a small bite, and Yan Wuxin whispered something in his ear. Shuisheng's face immediately turned redder than an apple. He grabbed the tea tray and ran away as fast as he could.
Yan Wuxin smiled smugly, leaned back in his chair with an air of superiority, and began to munch on his apple.
Ji Yun Tieshu thought to himself: This person is detached from worldly affairs, carefree and unrestrained, and quite lecherous. It must be Yan Wuxin.
These two are incredibly audacious. How did they end up in the rebels' den? Most of the women in the mountains are impulsive and reckless. If they are discovered, they don't care about the Emperor, the Grand Commandant, or the Grand Commandant; their lives are in constant danger.
The Emperor is truly bold and decisive, but after concealing this for so many days, how will this all end? The people on the mountain have probably all been deceived by these two. Did Xu Lin, who has been protecting them, know the truth or not?
As she was thinking this, someone suddenly tapped her on the shoulder. "What are you looking at?"
Ji Yun Tieshu turned around and was startled, for the person who spoke was none other than Xu Lin.
Ji Yun Tieshu composed himself and asked in return, "They're discussing something inside, why don't you go in?"
Xu Lin said, "The Alliance Leader told me to wait outside."
Ji Yun Tieshu hurriedly asked, "What are you waiting for?"
Xu Lin sighed. "I don't know what I'm waiting for; she didn't say. Is there something you need here?"
"I... I originally wanted to meet the Alliance Leader and chat with her for a bit. But seeing that she's busy, I decided against it and will wait until she's free. There's nothing urgent, so I'm leaving."
Ji Yun Tieshu said he was fine, but Xu Lin didn't believe him.
Xu Lin noticed that she looked serious and preoccupied, and didn't seem to be alright at all.
Moreover, she had just been able to get out of bed, and her leg was still injured, yet she rushed over in such a hurry. Her brow was still damp with sweat; how could she be alright?
"Wait a minute!" Xu Lin suddenly realized, "If you've come to see the Alliance Leader, then the Alliance Leader has made me wait for you. You...do you know something?"
Ji Yun Tieshu smiled slightly, "What I know is all information they gave me. I haven't asked you yet, Lao Xu, do you know something?"
Xu Lin paused for a moment, then smiled meaningfully, "I know what I should know, and I don't know what I shouldn't know. In fact, things in this world are quite mysterious. Wise people should remember that secrets of heaven should not be revealed, and everything is arranged by fate."
Before the words were finished, a voice came from down the corridor: "What tongue twister are you talking about? I don't understand."
Both men were taken aback, neither of them having noticed that Ji Yunliu was sleeping under the eaves. Fortunately, they had spoken cryptically, and Ji Yunliu, with his sharp mind, certainly wouldn't have understood anything.
Ji Yunliu stretched and came between the two of them. "Tell me about the secrets of heaven."
The two exchanged a glance, about to start making things up, when Lu Jinlan came out of the hall, coughed lightly, and attracted the attention of the three.
Lu Jinlan said to Ji Yuntieshu, "Your leg is just getting better, so don't stand for too long. Go inside and rest for a while."
Ji Yun Tieshu hurriedly said, "Thank you for your concern, Alliance Leader. I... I just met Yuan Zhen. My younger brother is the youngest child in the clan. Since he was little, all of us older sisters and brothers have spoiled him. If he has done anything wrong, please forgive him."
Ji Yunliu, listening from the side, was puzzled. "Senior Sister, why are you being so formal? Even from Yuan Zhen's perspective, the Alliance Leader should call you 'Sister'! We're family, why are you being so polite?"
As she spoke, she put her arm around Lu Jinlan's shoulder, "Alliance Leader, wasn't I right?"
Ji Yun Tieshu frowned as he looked at him. "Sixth Brother, don't be so disrespectful to the Alliance Leader."
Lu Jinlan smiled, "It's alright, everyone should be at ease. Sixth Brother is right, we're all family, no need for formalities. Now that you're better, you should get out and about more and participate in alliance affairs. There are still many important things for you to do in the future."
Ji Yun Tieshu hurriedly replied, "Thank you for your appreciation, Alliance Leader. Since my early education, I have studied diligently and wish to dedicate all my knowledge to the world. My ideal has never changed: to follow a wise and virtuous ruler and become a capable minister in governing the world."
Lu Jinlan smiled and nodded, "Then you can come with me from now on."
Ji Yunliu was taken aback for a moment, then whispered a reminder: "The wise ruler she's talking about is someone else with the surname Lu. You're not the emperor."
Lu Jinlan chuckled and said, "Different paths, same destination, more or less."
Ji Yun Tieshu respectfully said, "I am willing to follow you and serve you like a dog or a horse."
Ji Yunliu: "Ah, but we're still rebelling."
Having just declared his intention to follow a wise ruler, Ji Yunliu was now following a rebel. His mind was in a quandary; he couldn't understand it at all.
Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "The government has already sent a notice, and the prefect is requesting an imperial decree. His Majesty is wise, and the policy is bound to be adjusted. Sixth Brother, perhaps in a few days we will no longer be rebels."
As they entered the council hall, Yan Wuxin pulled Lu Jinlan aside and whispered, "When will the next letter arrive? Could you please expedite it?"
Lu Jinlan said, "Three days later, this time is calculated based on the Emperor receiving the news halfway and immediately approving it. It's already fast enough. It can't be that if you ask for the decree yesterday, you can get the result today. Even the fastest courier service can't be this fast. Too fast will arouse suspicion."
Seeing the worry in Yan Wuxin's eyes, Lu Jinlan quickly asked, "Do you think there's something wrong?"
Yan Wuxin said uncertainly, "Nothing else is wrong, it's just that You Shun. I've noticed he keeps staring at you, his eyes are so sinister, and with his face, he looks like a ghost, it gives you the creeps. He's so quiet, what's he thinking about all day long?"
Lu Jinlan thought for a moment, "I no longer have any conflict of interest with him, so he shouldn't ruin my plans. Unless, there's some hidden reason. Here's what we'll do: you find an opportunity to go down the mountain and have Zhang Siyuan try to investigate the background of the Yousang tribe, just in case we've overlooked something."
"Hmm." Yan Wuxin nodded in agreement, then suddenly added, "Maybe I'm overthinking it. Maybe his watching you has nothing to do with our affairs."
Lu Jinlan asked in surprise, "Then why is he staring at me?"
Yan Wuxin said, "I have a crush on you."
Lu Jinlan chuckled, "Why don't you just say he has a crush on you?"
Yan Wuxin said, "I didn't hit him! You don't know, there's a type of man who's different from ordinary men. He's as stubborn as a mule, he won't move no matter how you lead him, and he'll only back down when you hit him. He just likes women who can tame him. If I had beaten him until he vomited blood that day, he might have really fallen in love with me from then on. It's a pity he's ugly, I wouldn't want him even if he were given to me."
Lu Jinlan rolled her eyes at her. "I don't want it either."
*
Since Lu Jinlan perfectly adapted to local life, she has habitually excluded men from her life as a source of interference. Because they have neither power nor ability, they are utterly incapable of accomplishing anything within the tightly knit matriarchal structure.
What can men do when they gather together? Unmarried men talk about love, their aspirations for the future, and what kind of woman they want to marry; married men talk about their children, how to keep their wives' hearts, and whose wives are generous and who are lucky enough to marry a loving wife; old or widowed men talk about their helpless lives and their hopes for the next life. That's all.
The world is like a ship, and women are the ones who steer it. Men neither know where the ship is headed, nor are they qualified to participate in the voyage, nor do they have the ability to capsize it.
They live in a world dominated by women, existing in a vague and intangible way. If they want to escape this control, there is only one way—jump into the river.
In this world, Lu Jinlan peacefully enjoyed her blissful life as the emperor. She'd even glance at handsome men, but not at someone like You Shun.
But to her utter surprise, this ugly man, You Shun, actually caused her some trouble.
That day, Lu Jinlan was talking with Yan Wuxin, and the two were discussing that the second notification from the government should arrive soon.
The imperial entourage and the Ministry of Rites and Music were almost here in the next couple of days, and just when things seemed to be going smoothly, the Third Leader rushed over, "Reporting to the Alliance Leader, something terrible has happened! The Second Leader has captured two of the Emperor's consorts and brought them to the mountain! You'd better go and see!"
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