Chapter 3 Rebirth of His Royal Highness Prince Jin He is not dead.
The sound of the golden bell woke Xie Xuanlan from his dream.
He found himself trapped in a dark and cramped wooden box. The strong smell of death around him made him realize that this should be a coffin.
Why is it a coffin? Did he die in Xuandu Temple?
Xie Xuanlan raised his hand and touched the wound on his neck. His warm skin was as smooth as before, without any signs of cuts.
No, he is not dead.
He seemed to have really...really returned to the past.
Xie Xuanlan raised his stiff hands and knocked hard on the coffin.
“Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!”
His hands were shaking and his wrist bones were almost broken.
He had no time to think about why he was in the coffin. His heart was filled with the feeling of being reborn in a dream.
He couldn't wait to see his old friend, eager to start all over again, to tell her his feelings that had been misunderstood in the past, and to make up for the guilt and regret that had tormented him day and night for the past fifteen years.
In the rich, deadly fragrance, this thought was too beautiful, so beautiful that it was almost an illusion and a fear.
Xie Xuanlan pressed his forehead against the cold coffin several times before forcing himself to remain calm and composed.
Finally, with a "crash" sound, the coffin lid was broken open by a huge external force, and the bright autumn light rushed towards him like a golden waterfall, stirring up countless tiny dust and wood chips. Xie Xuanlan subconsciously raised his arms to cover his eyes.
The sunshine of fifteen years ago shone on him.
Life is just a dream, and everything is yet to unfold.
"Your Highness Prince Jin, what a thrilling sleep."
A young voice, like water striking jade, interrupted Xie Xuanlan's thoughts without concealing its sharpness.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin?
The voice was eerily familiar, and Xie Xuanlan opened his eyes against the dazzling autumn light.
The dizziness gradually subsided, and the face of the person in front of him also turned from dark to bright. He had a proud look on his face and looked at me with a half-smile. He was wearing the bright red cloak that he often wore in the past, and holding his favorite Yanzhi knife in his arms.
Xie Xuanlan was shocked and climbed out of the coffin, his eyes fixed on the person in front of him.
The lingering uncertainty and panic that had been hiding behind the hope just now gradually rolled up like a dark curtain, almost swallowing him up. He doubted his own eyes, doubted the reality of what he saw.
How could he possibly see his former self?
If the person in front of me is him, then who is he?
"Your Highness Prince Jin."
The self in front of him smiled and looked at him: "Your Highness Prince Jin almost slept himself into the ground. No wonder Your Highness the Princess is so anxious to announce the funeral."
Xie Xuanlan shifted his gaze and saw the eldest princess who was still stunned by shock, and Jiang Congying who was standing silently beside her.
Firefly...
The old person he had been dreaming about was his first wife.
Xie Xuanlan wanted to catch her so eagerly that he didn't notice that his hands and feet were out of control and he fell straight out of the coffin. The horse pulling the coffin was frightened and threw him out of the carriage to the ground.
No one dared to help him, and the only one who was not afraid of ghosts and gods, Mr. Xie San, just watched his attempt coldly.
Xie Xuanlan raised his stiff body from the dust and crawled towards Jiang Congying using his hands and feet. He felt that his body weighed a thousand pounds, as if he had to use all his strength to take every step.
Suddenly, he fell to the ground and coughed several times. He raised his head and saw a handful of bright red blood in his palm.
"My son!"
Accustomed to seeing him coughing up blood, Princess Xuande finally came to her senses, broke free from the maid's obstruction, rushed forward, hugged Xie Xuanlan on the ground, and burst into tears.
"It must be that God took pity on my loneliness and gave you back to me, my son, my son!"
The loss of water for many days and the huge emotional fluctuations made Xie Xuanlan's throat tight, and every word he said was like his throat was cut again.
"I'm not—"
Before he could utter the word "Prince of Jin", he was interrupted by a strange cry of "Ah" from someone next to him.
Turning around, I saw another old acquaintance, Taoist Taixiao.
Taoist Taixiao said loudly: "His Royal Highness Prince Jin is not dead at all, he was locked up by a little ghost. I came here today to rescue His Royal Highness Prince Jin. Look, the little ghost ran away, and His Royal Highness woke up. Don't you think so, His Royal Highness Prince Jin?"
After saying this, he winked at King Jin desperately, not caring whether others could see it or not.
Xie Xuanlan remained silent for a long time. Due to his own exhaustion, he couldn't even push Princess Xuande away, so he could only look around silently.
He remembered.
In the previous life, the King of Jin died, and Princess Xuande, carrying his coffin, collided with the funeral procession of the Jiang family. She wanted to force the old censor Jiang to open the coffin and whip the corpse, but he rushed over to stop her.
This was an order from his father, Prime Minister Xie. To Xie Xuanlan at that time, it was just an ordinary task, regardless of likes or dislikes. So when Cong Ying declined his protection, he chose to watch from the sidelines.
She watched as the princess whipped her twenty times, biting her lips and jaw in pain, but she still remembered to express her gratitude before fainting.
Those whip marks had not faded until the wedding night.
Now the copper-gilt-headed horsewhip with gold thread fell to the ground, not yet stained with her blood. Xie Xuanlan slowly let out the breath that was stuck in his throat.
He looked at Taoist Taixiao and spoke slowly, "A little devil had locked me up, closing all my seven orifices and making me unable to move. Just now, this...enlightened scholar has driven the devil away."
This thing is more likely to cause trouble than to help!
Princess Xuande cried out in fear and no longer cared about others. She helped Prince Jin into the sedan chair and returned to the palace, while ordering people to go to the palace to invite the imperial physician and the Imperial Observatory.
*
The night was like a net, slowly enveloping the Jiang Mansion.
Uncle Jiang and the eldest son carried the coffin south. Now, only the female members of the Jiang family are left to burn incense in the ancestral hall.
The eldest wife, Madam Cai, was also present during the day and couldn't help but complain to Cong Ying, "You're so reckless! If it weren't for Prime Minister Xie's recommendation, how could we have returned to Yunjing from Xuzhou? You shouldn't have embarrassed the Third Young Master in public!"
She knelt on the mat and bent down to add incense to the tablet of the old censor. The flames reflected her gentle eyes and eyebrows, like the silent spring water.
She replied to Cai: "Aunt, please don't forget that ten years ago, it was because of Xie's exclusion that my grandfather was demoted to Xuzhou."
At that time, Cong Ying was seven years old and already sensible. He saw his grandfather returning from court holding a scroll of imperial edict with a look of worry and anger on his face.
My grandfather's colleague, Censor Yan, came to visit, and Cong Ying hid behind the flower table to listen to their discussion.
Censor Yan felt sorry for his grandfather: "You are about to be promoted to the position of Chief Censor. You shouldn't offend Prime Minister Xie at this time. Prime Minister Xie has treated you well. If there is anything, it should be discussed in private. How can you offend Prime Minister Xie in the court?"
My grandfather said, "The selection of an heir to the throne is never a private matter. Prime Minister Xie wants to use the position of Chief Censor in exchange for my support in this matter. It's absolutely impossible. I would rather be demoted to Xuzhou!"
Censor Yan sighed: "Why are you doing this..."
"Why bother?"
Grandfather said angrily, "In this vast Yunjing, whether it's the royal family or the important officials in the court, they are all either relatives of the Xie family or their disciples. Little kids sing nursery rhymes in the streets every day, saying things like 'Day and night in heaven, the world is full of desolate Xie'. They regard the Xie family as Sima Zhao, the uncrowned ruler of our Great Zhou."
"Even with such overwhelming power, Prime Minister Xie is still not satisfied. He forces the emperor to appoint the person he wants as the heir and crown prince. I think he wants to change the dynasty's surname as well—"
Censor Yan was so frightened that he could barely hold his teacup steady: "Brother Jiang, be careful with your words!"
At that time, Cong Ying understood that his grandfather was demoted to be the governor of Xuzhou because he opposed Prime Minister Xie in the court. He stayed there for ten years until he was seriously ill and was transferred back to Beijing.
Aunt Cai said, "There's no real grudge in the court; it's just a temporary situation. If Xie can let go of the past, are we going to keep holding on to it?"
Cong Ying leaned over and added paper money to the copper basin. "Aunt, do you know why Xie is willing to put aside their past grudges?"
Cai said, "It's better to resolve a feud than to create one. It's always good to have Xie's help."
Cong Ying was about to say something, but Cai changed the subject.
He scolded her, "You are an unmarried girl, and you were once favored by the old master. Not only did you control the family's land and shops, but you also asked about the government affairs of your husband's family. How could a decent family raise a girl like this?"
She acted like an elder, and Cong Ying shut up and turned to look at her mother, the second wife, Zhao.
Zhao held her youngest son tightly in her arms and did not say a word in response to her eldest daughter's request for help. She looked back at Congying with a look that was half worried and half blaming.
Seeing this, Cai was even more proud: "Some things are against etiquette. In the past, the eldest branch of the family did not mention it because of filial piety to the old master. Now that the old master is gone, when the master and A Jing return from Jiangnan, our family should also correct the family tradition."
After saying this, he stood up, flicked his sleeves, and left the ancestral hall. The third lady from the eldest house hurriedly followed him.
Only the second branch of the family was left in the ancestral hall. Cong Ying's mother was protecting her younger brother, while her confused younger sister was standing at the doorstep.
Zhao finally spoke up and said, "Aying, don't disobey your uncle and aunt. Your brother's studies depend on them."
In the past, it was the grandfather who personally supervised the studies of his grandchildren. After his passing, it was time to find a new and reputable teacher for his younger brother. Although his eldest uncle was an official in a remote county, he was the only one in the Jiang family who was qualified to travel the diplomatic sphere.
Zhao then tentatively said, "When your uncle returns from Jiangnan, you can hand over the two cloth shops in the east of the city, along with the fifty acres of land in Dongshan, to your aunt. We are all family, and only when they are happy can we be happy."
I continued to add incense and paper to my grandfather's spirit with fireflies, watching it rise up into a high flame, shine brightly for a moment, and then fall down to ashes.
She had a lot to say, but looking into her mother's eyes, she couldn't utter a word.
My uncle will return to his post sooner or later, and my aunt will definitely follow him. My mother knows that she has no intention of managing the Yunjing family property.
My cousin has failed the imperial examinations many times, and my aunt has always wanted to donate money to help him get an official position. She is even willing to sell the trees in the yard. My mother also knows this.
He knew everything, but still asked her to hand over most of the family property.
Cong Ying lowered her eyes and said calmly, "The ancestral hall is filled with gloomy energy. Mother, please take your brother back home to rest early."
Zhao knew her limits and didn't force her to agree immediately. She nodded and said, "You haven't married yet, so don't wait too long."
After her mother and brother left, Cong Ying's thin shoulders suddenly slumped and she covered her face with her hands and sighed.
Someone gently pulled her sleeve and said in a soft voice, "Sister."
Cong Ying looked down and saw that her younger sister Cong He had not left yet. She was holding a piece of pastry in the silk handkerchief in her palm. She didn't know how long it had been hidden there, but the oil stains had soaked through her favorite silk handkerchief.
Cong He looked up at her and said, "My third sister asked the cook to make this while you were out during the day. She added half an extra lard and sugar. I hid a piece for you."
She was slow to react and spoke word by word. Cong Ying listened patiently, picked up the pastry with a smile, held it in her palm, and ate it cleanly, including the crumbs.
Cong He also smiled contentedly.
The two of them sat side by side on the futon to add incense. Cong Ying stared at the flickering flames in the copper basin in a trance, while stroking Ah He's long hair. From a distance, they looked like two cats nestling in the autumn dew.
Cong He didn't stay quiet for a moment, then looked up and asked Cong Ying, "Sister, I heard from Third Sister that the King of Jin came back to life today. Does that mean he's turned into a monster? Will he go out at night and eat children?"
When Prince Jin was mentioned, a pale, sickly face emerged in Ying's mind. His eyes were as dark as the eternal night, staring at her across the noisy crowd.
Although they were strangers, she was still shocked.
Cong Ying shook her head gently: "He's not pretending to be dead. He just overslept and forgot to wake up, so it caused a misunderstanding."
Cong He laughed: "Then he is too stupid."
"Compared to Ah He, everyone else is a fool."
Cong Ying smiled and touched her head.
After adding the paper money to the pile, the night was already getting darker. Cong Ying took the cloak and put it on Cong He, then took her back to Yunshui Garden where they lived to rest.
The bright moon shines through the red window and onto the couch where the two of them sleep.
Cong He was so sleepy that his eyelids were fighting, but he still refused to sleep, mumbling, "Sister, sister, don't be sad for grandpa, you still have Ah He. Ah He can also talk to you and recite poems to you. Although Ah He can't play chess with you yet, I am learning very quickly."
Cong Ying looked at her with his chin tilted, responding with a smile while shedding tears.
Her fingers gently stroked Ah He's forehead, and she saw the wound that had been there for years, like a black centipede crawling on Ah He's delicate skin.
When Ah He was very young, she was injured. The doctor said she had a broken head and her mind would be stuck at a young age. Now she is ten years old and still clings to me like she did when she first met me.
"Sister, sister."
Ah He remembered something else and opened his eyes wide: "Third sister also said that Third Master Xie was angry with you and would definitely bully you in the future. Is Third Master Xie a bad person?"
Cong Ying was helpless: "Don't take what Third Sister said to you seriously, she likes to tease you."
Ah He said "Oh" and put his heart at ease.
She pinched the corner of Cong Ying's sleeve, and her eyelids gradually drooped as she gently caressed her. She smelled the fragrance on her wrist, and her consciousness gradually became blurred.
I could faintly hear a sound like regret or sigh.
"The Third Young Master is like an orchid growing on withered grass, a crane bound by mud... He is actually a very good, very good person."
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