"So I'm the youngest? Does that make sense?"
After the four people finished the trial and came out of the trial stage, Shen Qingmang was the first to complain.
Hao Xin heaved a sigh of relief after hearing her words. "So, Master is His Majesty. I was so scared when I regained my memory just now. I thought I had fallen in love with Master."
Si Rong snorted. "Why? I'm not worthy of being Yao Yi?"
"Are you really Yao Yi? But how are you like Yao Yi?" Hao Xin complained, "Yao Yi was practically created in the image of Master, except that he's a little more lively."
Shen Qingmang was also curious and asked, "How did you become like this? If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have thought that Lao Yao would be you. I thought it was just a plot character."
Si Rong put his hands on his hips. "I also want to be as great as Master, with students all over the world. Didn't I achieve that in the end?"
Shen Qingmang's words brought back memories of the past. They had spent a long life in this dreamland, from birth to death. Jiang Cenyun and Li Xiwei had never taken another concubine since their wedding, remaining a lifelong couple. Li Xiwei had not wasted her talent. Though confined to the harem, she continued to offer counsel to the empress. In their middle age, they had traveled incognito together, traversing the vast lands of the Great Zhou, aiding the needy and rectifying the bureaucracy. Under the emperor and empress's rule, the Great Zhou enjoyed peace and prosperity.
After marrying Zhuo Huanqing, Yao Yi continued to serve as the Imperial Academy's chief academic officer, teaching students and writing books, earning him the admiration of scholars throughout the world. When the emperor and empress went on incognito visits, Yao Yi and Zhuo Huanqing accompanied them. Zhuo Huanqing's years of hard work finally paid off. He protected the emperor and empress, even leading his troops to wipe out bandits, becoming the second male minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty to hold such a high position.
"Your Majesty, will you live a long and healthy life?" Gu Sui Han asked softly in her ear.
"She didn't." Shen Qingmang shook his head.
All four died in the same year. Yao Yi died at home at the beginning of the year, and Zhuo Huanqing followed her just three days later. In September, Li Xiwei died of illness, and Jiang Cenyun passed the throne to his eldest daughter, becoming the Supreme Emperor. He passed away in December.
With his best friends and loved ones gone, and his children all grown up and started their own families, Jiang Cenyun felt that there was nothing left in this world worth clinging to, only a deep loneliness that followed him like a shadow. Death was, in fact, a relief.
"She..." Gu Suihan pondered the word. "It seems that Master has escaped."
"Of course." Shen Qingmang took a small step away without leaving any trace. "That was just an illusion. I'm not my true self. Why can't I escape from it?"
"Senior Brother, who are you?" Si Rong asked curiously.
Hao Xin also came over. "Is Senior Brother not in the capital? I feel like the wife of the Shanyang prefect looks most like Senior Brother."
"That's not me."
Hao Xin scratched his head. "Who is that? Do you know? Master even married a wife, no, a queen. That man is so perfect he seems fake."
"That's me." Gu Sui Han smiled slightly.
Si Rong and Hao Xin were petrified on the spot. Shen Qingmang rubbed his face. "Hurry up and get out of this, Sui Han."
As soon as she regained her memory, she knew that Li Xiwei was Gu Sui Han. This was not even based on character judgment, but on intuition.
But she didn't want to face this matter.
"Big, big, big brother." Hao Xin said in a trembling voice, "How dare you? Is it because of the illusion that you..."
"No." Gu Suihan said in a steady voice. "I've always been fond of Master."
"Fuck..." Si Rong spat out a dirty word, then hurriedly covered his mouth, his almond-shaped eyes rolling around.
"That's not love, it's just that you misunderstood your own feelings." Shen Qingmang frowned.
"Master, are you still deceiving yourself?" Gu Suihan looked into her eyes and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "In this illusion, if we weren't master and disciple, we would fall in love."
Shen Qingmang felt as if a layer of skin had been peeled off his body by Gu Suihan, and he couldn't help but shiver twice.
The reason why she was unwilling to face the story in the illusion was because she figured this out through the illusion.
If she puts aside the so-called master-disciple relationship, she would be attracted to Gu Sui Han.
Moreover, she was not the Qiongju of the past. The knowledge she taught Gu Sui Han had actually been learned by him a long time ago. As for the age difference between the two, Gu Sui Han had lived two lives and was even older than her.
But he didn't know, did he? Since he didn't know, their relationship was still that of master and disciple. She couldn't accept this unequal relationship.
"Let's go back to Liupingyuan and hold a meeting. Let's analyze why everyone in the illusion becomes different from the reality." Shen Qingmang regained the feeling of being a teacher and said with a serious expression.
Si Rong and Hao Xin looked at each other, and one said, "I knew this would happen," while the other said, "Senior Brother is definitely going to be scolded."
On their way back, they ran into Su Miaoran, who was rushing to the love audition stage. Seeing them, she said with relief, "I heard from the kids on duty today that you're out. I was worried that it would take you a long time to adjust to reality. Now it seems my worries were unnecessary."
"Thank you Miaoran for your concern. How much time has passed?"
"Two months. It seems that the illusion you experienced was quite complete, as if you had lived through a mortal's entire life. I wonder if you are willing to disclose the details of the trial. The reward is very generous."
"We are not considering this matter for the time being. We will let you know if we change our minds."
"Okay, then you guys go and rest, Miaoran won't disturb you anymore."
Su Miaoran bowed and turned to leave. Shen Qingmang rubbed his brows and continued to rush back with his apprentice.
Liuping Courtyard had hardly changed since they left. Even the stone table in the courtyard was dust-free. Someone must have been wiping it every day, waiting for their return.
"The hospitality of Chaohua Palace is truly thoughtful." Shen Qingmang looked around and praised them, then continued, "Well, while everyone's memories of the illusion haven't completely faded, let's analyze our respective roles. I brought you to the Love Trial Stage not just for fun, but more importantly to figure out what kind of person you want to be and what kind of love you want. Only when a cultivator understands himself can his cultivation be more successful."
"How to analyze it? I don't know. Could Master please demonstrate it first?" Si Rong asked.
"Okay." Shen Qingmang said readily, "Then I will first analyze Jiang Cenyun. The reason why I became her is because I..." She paused and continued, "Because I long for a happy and complete family."
She was orphaned at a young age, and Jiang Cenyun, who had both parents, doted on her, allowing her to grow up carefree. This love also made her more daring to express her ideas, more courageous to fight, and more confident. As a result, Jiang Cenyun has a straightforward personality and is extremely relaxed in front of those close to her, even a little childish.
Just like Si Rong in real life.
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