Lifetimes
Wu Qi handed the flower in his hand to Yi Shen and smiled at everyone, saying, "It seems that apart from me, no one in the world can create a weapon to defeat Pao Lin."
If there is anyone in the world who can defeat Pao Lin, that person must be Wu Qi himself.
Lin Kuo nodded and bowed exaggeratedly, saying, "You're too modest... Do you think that cannon scales can be easily manufactured?"
Ning Xunxu also nodded and bowed in admiration, just like Lin Kuo, and said, "You are too modest... What do you think we mortals can create... We can't even make a cannon unicorn."
Wu Qi was amused by the two of them and said, "That's settled then." She stood side by side with Yi Shen, looked around at everyone, and said, "I know what you're going to do, and I know where you'll fail, but I'm here. I will do my best to create the Phoenix Feather to break the Cannon Scale and help everyone."
Li Jiandao said, "This is no longer just a helping hand... this is the power to win."
If the phoenix feather appears in the world, they will be like tigers with wings, with no more worries. Their great cause will be right before their eyes, and they will only be waiting for the phoenix feather to appear.
"It's not exactly the decisive factor," Wu Qi said frankly. "In fact, I only know how to make weapons. I am ashamed of my lack of political acumen and imperial skills compared to you all. Moreover, Changru Town is remote and safe, but Liuge weapons are scarce. In this regard, we still need the help of those of you in the capital."
Everyone readily agreed.
“Then it’s settled,” Wu Qi said.
Yi Shen held the flowers Wu Qi had given her, silently looking at Wu Qi. He didn't want Wu Qi to be in danger, and all his current actions were simply to protect her.
Quietly, Wu Qi pulled his hand over, and her fingers traced patterns on his palm. Yi Shen immediately realized that Wu Qi was writing words on her palm. He looked down and recognized that Wu Qi had written a single word—"stupid."
Yi Shen pursed his lips and remained silent.
Wu Qi wrote and drew on his palm again, this time two words—together.
Then, Yi Shen grasped Wu Qi's hand and asked her in a deep voice, "Are you sure?"
Wu Qi did not directly answer whether he was sure or not, but instead said softly, "Yi Shen, I feel like I'm no longer moldy."
Mold doesn't heal so easily. Yi Shen knew this in his heart. After everyone left, he pulled Wu Qi onto his lap, took her hand, and asked, "Xiao Qi, what happened?"
Wu Qi said, "Nothing has happened."
Yi Shen shook his head slightly, indicating disbelief. He thought that Xiao Qi's change had happened just last night, and last night, he happened to be drunk. He asked, "Did I say anything or do anything that hurt you when I was drunk last night?"
Wu Qi looked at him silently for a while before snuggling into his arms and answering, "I do feel a little sorry for you."
He didn't have to sacrifice so much for her.
Yi Shen stroked her hair, put an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, and said softly, "Xiao Qi, I don't think it's a waste to do things for you. Whether it's worth it or not depends on my heart. I am indeed willing to do things for you. Even if you don't like me, I will still insist on doing these things."
"Besides, among so many men in the world, only I can give to you, only I can hold you in my arms. This is the greatest blessing of my life."
What does it matter if there are thousands of men in the world? Wu Qi is only in his arms.
Yi Shen continued, "Let's talk about the matter of scheming for power. As children of noble families, we face countless constraints and difficulties. Our fathers established the rules and regulations of noble families to protect our lives, so what we need to do is perhaps to break down those rules and regulations."
Yi Shen was unusually talkative today. He stroked Wu Qi's hair, knowing she was listening intently in his arms, and his tone softened further. He said, "Do you really want to see Zhenzhen grow up as restricted as we are?"
Wu Qi shook his head.
Yi Shen lowered his head and kissed the top of her head, unable to help but say, "Good girl."
Wu Qi nuzzled his neck, signaling him to continue.
Yi Shen kissed her lightly again before saying, "This is a small matter. If we talk about the greater good, from the moment the practice of buying official positions came about, the common people have unknowingly become the victims. There are many beggars in the capital, but in remote towns like Changru, everyone lives in peace and contentment. Just considering these two points, the world should have changed hands."
Wu Qi understood that there were far more issues than just the two points Yi Shen had mentioned. She frowned, looked up at Yi Shen, and said, "But, anyone would run into trouble bearing such a heavy burden, unless..."
“Unless, it falls not on one person, but on everyone.” Yi Shen kissed the corner of her mouth, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration and surprise.
"So, you win people's hearts with this?" Wu Qi asked.
Yi Shen admitted, "Yes. Everyone wants to touch the throne. Winning people's hearts through this is the most time-saving and effortless way. Which is more tempting and more advantageous to them: the throne being divided among the people or the throne being in the hands of a hereditary successor?"
The reason why the students of Cizige Middle School were able to switch sides so quickly was twofold: firstly, they were intelligent and insightful, and their parents were not dull or foolish; secondly, if this matter succeeded, it would be entirely beneficial.
However, intelligent people like the students at Gezhong Middle School are clearly in the minority.
There are many people in the world who crave power. If you give them one part of power, they will want two, three, and so on. If everyone does this, the idea of decentralization is extremely easy to collapse.
Wu Qi said, "Therefore, you not only need to divide power, but also to check and balance it."
Yi Shen said, "Both are indispensable."
People have been trapped in hereditary succession for too long. The repeated calls of "Son of Heaven" are like an insurmountable chasm, separating people from one another. Some beg for a living, some live in luxury and wealth, some are high above others, while others have to struggle for survival... All of this has become deeply ingrained in people's minds.
Changing this will not be easy.
Yi Shen said, "This plan is far-fetched and unrealistic."
Wu Qi said, "But someone has to take the first step."
Perhaps centuries later, they will realize whether this plan was right or wrong for the people. At this moment, they stand in the long river of history, with their ancestors and heroes behind them, and layers of mist before them. No matter how intelligent they are, they cannot escape the turbulent waves of the river. Only by walking side by side with like-minded people and stepping into the mist, regardless of whether the road ahead is a cliff or a flat road, can they succeed.
Since what one thinks in one's heart is true, whether one's name is remembered in history or one is infamous for eternity, one has paved the way for future generations and has no regrets.
“Brother Chong,” Wu Qi suddenly spoke.
She hadn't called him "Brother Weichong" in a long time, and the sudden and long-lost address almost caught Yi Shen off guard.
However, after realizing what had happened, I was naturally in a very good mood.
He smiled and asked, "What's wrong?"
“I like you as you are,” Wu Qi said. “I like how you risked everything to protect me. It makes me feel that the so-called ‘heart’s joy’ is not just empty words, but a profound feeling that combines life and death and the rest of my life. I also like how you, with the demeanor of a young master from a noble family, think about the peace and well-being of the people.”
"By the way, do you remember the half-finished love poem I owe you?"
"I made up my mind last night."
Once, Yi Shen wrote half a love poem: I lean against the frost and snow, and glimpse the scene through the window.
Wu Qidao said that when two people in love compose a love poem together, they are destined for a three-lifetime bond, and she accepted the second half of the poem. She kept thinking about how the second half should be written, but no matter how much she thought about it, she was never satisfied.
She has always been easygoing; if she can't figure something out, she'll just let it go and leave it to fate.
However, this half-finished love poem always remained in a soft yet heavy place in her heart, and she would take it out to think about it from time to time. Back in Lanbing City, when she took that shot for Wei Mao, she dared not speak of life or death, nor did she have time to pray to the Bodhisattva or the gods for protection.
She was just thinking—what would happen to the half of the love poem if she died?
Is Yi Shen destined to live a miserable life guarding half a love poem?
Afterwards, upon waking, the unfinished love poem weighed heavily on her heart, unlike the romance that bound them together across three lifetimes, it only overshadowed this life-or-death choice. Perhaps she had already unknowingly become moldy, perhaps when Master Sun died tragically, perhaps when she witnessed millions fall on the battlefield... perhaps, she had already quietly become moldy as early as when the bodies of the two were discovered buried in the peach blossom forest.
However, he only discovered this misfortune after waking up from the cannon.
She dared not compose even half a love poem, and even avoided composing one. She didn't want to give Yi Shen too much to worry about; what if, what if, her moldy skin deteriorated? Too much worry would definitely not be a good thing for Yi Shen.
Whether Yi Shen follows her or spends his life longing for her, it is not the ending she foresaw.
Therefore, she kept the matter to herself, neither mentioning it nor thinking about it.
However, last night, when Yi Shen's tears fell onto the back of her hand, she suddenly realized what had happened. They had grown up together without any suspicion; her mother had told her that when she was born, Yi Shen and her mother, Wen Ru, had been waiting outside the door.
Even now, he is still by her side.
She was moldy, and Yi Shen felt heartbroken for her too. But this mold wasn't the kind that would make her feel half as much better if someone else shared it with her. It only brought Yi Shen worry and pain.
Perhaps, while she was contemplating leaving, Yi Shen was suffering greatly, wondering how to keep her in the world.
Otherwise, why would they have arranged this empty courtyard like this?
She is still moldy, but the mold will not spread. Perhaps in this lifetime, the mold will never fade, but so what? What does it matter if she becomes a moldy witch?
Are all these good days not enough to overcome this bad luck?
She wants to stay by Yi Shen's side and also turn the world upside down.
In that instant, without any warning, she had no paper or pen beside her, and Yi Shen was crying in her arms. She was only focused on comforting Yi Shen and didn't have a single thought left for writing a love poem, but that half-written love poem just barged into her mind.
It was like a blessing, or an exemption.
"Don't you want to know what it is, Brother Weichong?" Wu Qi said.
"I do." Yi Shen's gaze was deep, seeing through her struggle and sudden realization. He felt no blame, only heartache.
"I lean against the frost and snow, and glimpse the scene through the window." Wu Qi held Yi Shen's hand, gently yet firmly, "It's like holding hands for a thousand years, and we will never forget each other in the next life."
Yi Shen grasped her hand in return, suppressing his pounding heart, "Didn't you say it was a love story spanning three lifetimes?"
Wu Qi kissed his cheek and said, "Say it once in every life, and that will last for lifetimes."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
