Chapter 137 Dream Inheritance
In the fifteenth year of Jingyao, in the eighth month of autumn, a grand Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was held at Qiyang Palace.
By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
General Zhang defended Nanjun and rendered meritorious service in protecting the territory. Though he has passed away, he is still honored. In recognition of his loyalty and bravery, I hereby confer upon his daughter the title of Lady Jing'an, granting her a fief of three hundred households, and bestow upon her a residence, gold, and silk.
Prince Yuan is kind and intelligent, while Lady Lin, the Lady of Jing'an, is virtuous and upright.
This marriage is a testament to loyalty and righteousness, and also a sign of the Emperor's favor. I hereby grant this auspicious day for their marriage, hoping they will work together in harmony and bring glory to their family.
So be it!
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Gongzi Yuan stood in the center of the hall. The cold and handsome young man lowered his eyes, his calm demeanor masking his shock and resentment. Lin Shuyue stood calmly to the side, her expression equally serene, though her inner thoughts remained unknown to others.
They eventually accepted the imperial edict quietly, without saying a word.
...
The next day, in Qiyang City, at Wangshu Pavilion.
Zhao Yuan quietly looked at the chessboard before him, feeling that there was no way out but he was unwilling to accept the path to death.
Five years ago, the Empress Dowager angered the Emperor. During the argument, the Empress Dowager collapsed in the Shide Hall in a fit of anger.
He didn't know what his parents were arguing about. He only knew that when he was twelve, at his mother's funeral, he saw his eldest brother's wary look and his third brother's disdainful smile.
It wasn't that he wanted to fight, but that if he didn't, he would surely die.
Now, all three sons of the current dynasty are sixteen years old, but the matter of who will be the crown prince remains unresolved. In recent years, the emperor has arranged a marriage for the eldest brother with Guo Xiang, a civil official, and for the third brother with a woman from the Luo family, a military family.
Only he remained silent, and out of desperation, he secretly began to plan and develop the matter himself.
Until yesterday's Mid-Autumn Festival feast, an imperial edict caught everyone off guard.
General Zhang is dead, and the Lin family is an unknown small clan in the south... It's not that he dislikes them, but this marriage alliance truly shows everyone in the court that the Emperor's heart is not with Prince Yuan.
"despair,"
The soft sound of chess pieces falling rang out. Lin Shuyue sat down in front of Zhao Yuan and smiled, thinking that this family was really boring.
"Young master, did you summon me here today just to play a dead end game?"
Her voice was clear and bright, yet it carried a hint of etherealness. Zhao Yuan looked up at her; her bright eyes, beautiful face, and gentle yet composed demeanor, though upon closer inspection revealed a touch of coldness, seemed to perfectly match her name, Lin Shuyue.
Perhaps it was the pain of losing his father, but when Lin Dashi mentioned his childhood memories last night, he seemed a little dazed. In his memory, it seemed to be a lively and silly little sister.
Zhao Yuan: "Now that the imperial decree has been issued and our marriage is settled, I only wanted to invite you to play a game of chess today. Why must you do this, Lord Jing'an?"
Lin Shuyue smiled upon hearing this. She and Zhao Yuan looked at each other quietly.
"Clatter".
With another sound of a chess piece falling, Zhao Yuan lowered his eyes to look at the chessboard. It turned out that Lin Shuyue had not made any more moves; she had simply thrown the piece aside, disrupting the game.
"Zhao Yuan, I never wanted to marry you, so don't act like you're forcing me to marry you."
"I'm not a smart person. I'll just ask you one question: can you change this engagement?"
Zhao Yuan was silent for a moment, then spoke with a hint of apology, "No."
"good."
As she spoke, Zhao Yuan unconsciously looked up at her.
"I have no interest in the affairs of your imperial family, but my father has served the court his whole life, and in the end, all he got in return was this ridiculous marriage to me."
"I know what you're fighting for, and I know what will happen if you lose."
I will help you.
"Zhao Yuan, you will win."
Zhao Yuan was stunned. Lin Shuyue's confident tone even sounded somewhat ridiculous, but at that moment, he really wanted to believe her.
At that time, Zhao Yuan didn't know where his "stupidity" came from, but he actually started discussing things with her. She could talk about everything, from court infighting to border affairs and even supernatural cultivation.
They talked for a long time that day, so long that when they looked back, they wondered if the time had changed too quickly.
Finally, the woman got up and left, smiling as she said...
“My master often said that being born into the heavenly family means being unable to control one’s own destiny; whether to fight or not is not something that you or I can decide.”
"I have heard about your affair with Miss Gao. I feel sorry for you, but I am not sorry."
"I have no intention of being your husband. Compared to that, the relationship between ruler and subject is more suitable for us."
See you tomorrow.
Her voice was clear and proud, yet utterly sincere. With a smile, before leaving, she even left a prescription for his eunuch, and specifically instructed him where to obtain the medicine—
I told you when you were children to trust me.
Lin Shuyue, Lin Shuyue.
At that time, Zhao Yuan murmured her name softly, just in his heart.
They were young then, both excellent young men, and on a whim, they began their affair in Qiyang under the guise of a loving couple. Pretending, putting on an act, amidst the chaos, genuine feelings unknowingly crept in.
...
In those years, everyone knew that Prince Yuan and Lord Jing'an were a young couple, deeply in love. From the emperor to the common people, everyone said they were a perfect match, a union made in heaven.
In the morning, she would tie up her black hair; at dusk, she would trim the candle wick. When he finished his shift, he would remember to bring her her favorite pastries. When she closed the window, she would remind him to put on more clothes for the day. In the dim light, the young man would hold his pen, and the beautiful woman would grind the ink. Sometimes, under the moonlight, they would be lost in thought, wondering if they were husband and wife, or ruler and subject.
In fact, they had a really hard time back then. The emperor's mind was unpredictable, brothers were fighting amongst themselves, and there were undercurrents inside and outside the court for the position of crown prince on the high platform. Various forces were vying for power, and everyone was guessing the emperor's intentions. Everyone was fighting for it.
Occasionally, when they are too tired or suffering, they will quarrel and refuse to give in to some insignificant things, such as clothes, food, and time. It seems that only at those times are they truly a young couple who are trying to make the best of each other to spend their lives together.
Zhao Yuan would deliberately stay busy outside for a long time, deliberately circling around the house without going in. Lin Shuyue was so angry that she didn't want to eat, and kept practicing calligraphy to calm her mind. When she did speak, it was always sarcastic. Zhao Yuan couldn't get a reply when he called out to her. He could only angrily grab the blanket, and in the end, he would helplessly cover her up with it.
When they argued, the one who suffered the most was actually the older Xu Dashi, who would always try to comfort them with a wry smile.
“Young master, your wife came to Qiyang City alone from Nanjun. You should be more accommodating to her. Why are you throwing a tantrum like a child?”
“Madam, the young master hasn’t had a good night’s sleep for days, and he’s kept me up too. You see, you don’t care about the young master, but you should have pity on this old man… Please, say a kind word to him.”
In truth, they didn't need Xu Da Shi's advice. They were in love back then, and after their arguments, they would regret it, and repentance was the beginning of a heart-to-heart talk. In the vast city of Qiyang, amidst the chaotic and dangerous situation, how could they bear to let go of each other's hands?
...
In the twentieth year of Jingyao, the Di people invaded from Bei'an County, and the southern barbarians repeatedly probed the enemy. The calamities of war and conflict were intertwined, and the emperor seemed to be seriously ill. Amidst the storm, they fought against the strong with the weak, and traveled together with affection. In their gazes, they found the breath of the final outcome.
At that time, Qiyang was still in a state of "peace and tranquility". Lin Shuyue and Zhao Yuan had a big fight in front of everyone. The jade shattered and the bell fell. They said hurtful things to each other, and the whole city knew about it. It seemed that this loving couple had become a bubble.
Not long after, Prince Yuan went on an outing with the daughter of the Gao family of the Northern Army. At the banquet, Lord Jing'an personally saw the two of them together and argued with Prince Yuan.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Gao's daughter repeatedly provoked them, but Gongzi Yuan's words were mostly protective of her. In the end, Lord Jing'an made a scene at the banquet, acting like a shrew.
Ultimately, Lady Gao showed disdain, her words implying an insult to her father, Zhang Xuan. Lord Jing'an was enraged, and before anyone could react, the two began to fight and argue. Lord Jing'an possessed medical and cultivation abilities, while Lady Gao was merely a mortal. Thus, amidst the chaos, Prince Yuan carried Lady Gao away, leaving Lord Jing'an alone.
What was supposed to be a scene of a couple turning against each other took an unexpected turn when Lord Jing'an suddenly collapsed as he was leaving. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that his skirt was stained with blood...
In a confused and dazed state, Lin Shuyue was picked up. Her skirt was stained with blood, her forehead was covered in sweat, and she was too weak to open her eyes. She thought it was him, feeling both anxious and inexplicably happy. It wasn't until a fragrance of flowers wafted over that she managed a bitter smile.
"Master..."
...
When Lin Shuyue opened her eyes, Gongzi Yuan still hadn't returned. She knew that, according to the arrangement, he couldn't come back at this time either.
When the Northern Barbarians invade, Zhao Yuan seeks to quell the rebellion with the help of the Gao family, while Lin Shuyue is embroiled in the chaos in Qiyang. Ultimately, they await their triumph.
At that moment, she touched her abdomen and felt happy, but not quite that happy.
It was so close, so very close. If her master hadn't arrived in time, her child would have been lost.
"Xiaoman, as a member of the imperial family, it's true that you're not in control of your own destiny, and it's also true that power is alluring. You're too foolish."
Wen Guheng stood by the window, the young man calmly and gently tending to the flowers and plants. He didn't look at Lin Shuyue, but simply spoke of her predicament.
"Today, Prince Yuan is relying on the Gao family's power. To ascend the throne in the future, he will definitely make Gao a concubine in order to stabilize the court. You, on the other hand, have no family support and only Prince Yuan's sincerity today."
"Xiaoman, sincerity is the most useless thing to the imperial family."
Lin Shuyue lowered her eyes, thought it over and over, and finally looked up at her master and said, "Master, I believe in him."
"I didn't actually think that much about it,"
She paused, then said earnestly to her master, "Master, you know, my father served the Great Jin Dynasty his whole life. When he died, besides my mother and me, what he cared about most was the people of Nanjun."
"Now that I have met all three young masters of Qiyang, I believe that Zhao Yuan is a good emperor who is both a scholar and a warrior and cares about the people."
"He will win, I hope he wins, and the Great Jin needs him to win."
"As for him and me... I believe in him, Master."
Her face was pale, and she spoke haltingly, some words sincere, others seeming more like words of self-consolation.
She is pregnant at the moment, so there's no point in saying anything more.
The fragrance of flowers was faint. The composed Wen Guheng looked up at her, at the daughter his old friends loved most, and finally said helplessly,
"Your mother is speaking in the mountains, foretelling great chaos in Qiyang soon, and you may face bloodshed."
He was a cultivator from Jianxue City. He traveled from north to south all the way to Nanjun. Ten years ago, he met Zhang Xuan. Based on their long-standing friendship, Zhang Xuan asked him to take Lin Shuyue as his disciple.
He is a cultivator, not entrenched in the mortal world. What could he possibly teach Lin Shuyue?
"Xiaoman, all your parents ever wanted in their lives was for you to be safe and sound."
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