Chapter 22
As soon as Ji Tang took out his sword from the storage bag, it made a clanging sound.
"This is my sword Jiyao."
Su Jinzhou smiled and said, "Follow your last name?"
Jitang also smiled, "Of course I have the same last name as you."
The sword has a slender body and the hilt is carved with a sea of clouds pattern.
Ji Tang drew his sword, which was as smooth as a mirror. As it flipped, a bright light flashed across the faces of the two men.
Su Jinzhou exclaimed, "Nice sword. Are you a sword cultivator?"
Ji Tang: "No, I'm used to using nightmare energy, and I don't have any offensive weapons that bear the mark of the soul. This good sword is wasted. Except for using it when flying, it usually stays in the storage bag."
Su Jinzhou: "Why don't you practice sword skills with me next time?"
Ji Tang: "You entered the Dao through sword cultivation?"
Su Jinzhou: "I already had the habit of practicing sword before I became your disciple. After practicing, I entered the Dao with sword."
"It's quite easy." Ji Tang said with a smile, "but your cultivation is too low now, you can't fly the sword, so you have to come with me."
Jitang grabbed Su Jinzhou's wrist and brought him to the sword.
The sword body was limited, so Ji Tang and Su Jinzhou stood sideways, one in front and one behind.
Ji Tang pinched his fingers and said "rise", and the sword floated steadily in the air and gradually rose higher.
Su Jinzhou soon saw the entire picture of the royal hunting ground.
The wind blew on my body, making the hem of my clothes rustle.
The flying sword rose again, and Ji Tang used nightmare energy to protect the two of them.
For the first time, Su Jinzhou felt other powers coming from his body. He raised his hand and touched it, and it easily passed through the nightmare and landed on his chest.
The nightmare only surrounded him, weightless, but it blocked out the wind completely.
After a while, Su Jinzhou looked around and saw the entire palace.
Ji Tang said with a smile, "Mortals only have a lifespan of a hundred years, but as cultivators advance in their realm, they can live for thousands or even tens of thousands of years. When they reach great perfection, overcome tribulations, and ascend to become immortals, their lifespans will be even longer. No one will lament the fleeting nature of time. There's plenty of time to accomplish what you want to do, and enough time to love the people you want to love for a very long time."
Su Jinzhou looked at her and asked, "Do you also want to become an immortal?"
Ji Tang said happily: "I am from the Nightmare Clan, how can I become an immortal?"
Su Jinzhou: "Why can't the Nightmare Clan become immortal?"
Ji Tang thought for a moment, "No one in my clan has become an immortal in nearly ten thousand years. Perhaps it's because the Nightmare Clan doesn't have the concept of becoming an immortal. I have heard that there are one or two mortals who have become immortals through cultivation."
"What good is there in being a crown prince or an emperor? A hundred years pass by in the blink of an eye. If you practice hard, maybe you can ascend to become an immortal!"
This was the second time she had said this.
Ji Tang observed Su Jinzhou's reaction and said, "I'm not just saying this casually."
Su Jinzhou laughed: "Why do you always want me to give up the mortal world and enter the path of cultivation?"
Ji Tang: "You are my junior fellow apprentice...brother!" It's better than him looking like he doesn't care about anything but actually keeps everything in his heart.
Ji Tang asked, "You can't choose the status of the crown prince, and you haven't succeeded to the throne yet, so you still have a choice! Or do you just want to be the emperor?"
Su Jinzhou looked off into the distance. "I was born the legitimate son of the royal family and raised as the crown prince. I learned a wide range of knowledge, including strategic thinking and statecraft. I was ignorant when I was little, and my mother was strict and often punished me. I studied diligently to make her smile when she examined me, nothing else."
"Later, it became a habit. I was strict with myself, so I was rarely criticized by my mother. Studying became a way to please my father and set an example for my brothers."
Ji Tang had a conflicted expression: "Just listening to it is painful, what happens next?"
Su Jinzhou smiled, "Later, my father entrusted me with important tasks, and I was able to leave the palace when I was on duty. Even in a peaceful and prosperous era, I could still see the suffering of the people. I understood my father's concerns and realized that being an emperor is not easy. I thought that if I become the emperor in the future, I must live up to the prosperity of this era and the people."
Ji Tang was shocked.
She thought that if there had not been any mistake, Su Jinzhou would be a completely different place now.
Ji Tang: "So, your father and mother are very good to you?"
Su Jinzhou: "As blood relatives, they naturally treat me well. But my father is not only my father, he is also the ruler of a country, and my mother is not only my mother, she is also the mistress of the harem. They can't treat me as simply as they treat their son."
Jitang seemed to understand but not quite.
Su Jinzhou raised his chin slightly. "The Imperial City is prosperous, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. Even in distant places, they are growing prosperous under the rule of the Emperor. The market is bustling with merchants, the economy is booming, and the people are safe and happy. Do you think I could make the country even better if I became your ruler?"
Ji Tang said without hesitation: "Of course!"
Su Jinzhou's eyes were filled with a hint of bewilderment: "But what I wanted to do in the past is now about to be accomplished."
Ji Tang: "When you were little, you served your father, the emperor, and your mother, the empress, and you were sensible and caring for the common people. So, have you ever thought about what you want to do? It can be something for the sake of your family and country, or something you want to do yourself, even something small, like poetry, wine, calligraphy, or painting?"
Su Jinzhou: "I have no addiction to alcohol, I drink tea to quench my thirst, and I already know calligraphy and painting..."
Ji Tang: "How about walking the bird in the morning and appreciating the moon at night?"
Su Jinzhou shook his head.
Ji Tang spread his hands: "You have never lived for yourself in your life until now! Then why do you want to take Master Wu Shu as your master?"
Su Jinzhou: "It was my master who took a liking to me in the beginning, and my father, the emperor, and my mother, the queen, were also very supportive. If I succeed in my cultivation, I can also protect the people and keep my country safe."
Jitang: "What about you?"
"Me?" Su Jinzhou was silent for a moment, then replied, "Same here."
"If you don't like it, all of this will become a restriction and a burden. Look at me, I really enjoy practicing. When I become stronger, I can protect myself, travel across the Kyushu Continent, and explore many ancient secret realms. In short, I can do whatever I want and be free!"
Su Jinzhou smiled and said, "Just playing around."
Ji Tang looked into his eyes and asked, "Do you think I'm unreliable?"
Su Jinzhou: "No, being playful is not a bad thing."
Ji Tang lowered his eyes, "In fact, I traveled all over the Kyushu Continent and entered the ancient secret realm in order to replenish my soul."
This was the first time Su Jinzhou heard: "Your soul is incomplete?"
"Yes, it's because my soul is incomplete that I can't remember many things. My parents only branded a spiritual seal on the life-protecting magic weapon they left me. Once I can find my soul in its entirety as instructed above, I will be able to recover as before."
Ji Tang said: "Although it seems that the incomplete spirit soul has no effect now, but if I want to cultivate to a higher level, the spirit soul is crucial."
She frowned slightly, "Actually, the level of realm is not that important. What I really want to get back is my memory."
Su Jinzhou asked, "Is this a test from your parents?"
"A test..." Ji Tang smiled, "I guess so. I don't have any parents in my memory, only the spiritual seal on the magic weapon. This is why I want to retrieve my memory. They must be there."
Su Jinzhou was stunned.
So traveling around the country and exploring secret places is not for fun, but to regain the memories of having parents.
Ji Tang didn't like this kind of silent occasion, so he said, "But following my heart and being free is my way of life. I have always been like this."
Su Jinzhou laughed: "I know, you left at your own will eight years ago."
A mere palace cannot hold her.
Su Jinzhou: "At that time, I suddenly heard the nightmare of my mother. Although I was shaken, I believed that she would not do that. So I was very excited and angry, and my words to you were very harsh. My previous apology was not sincere. I apologize to you again now."
Jitang was just about to say no when he heard Su Jinzhou's words.
"I'm sorry, I was rude and didn't think about you. You must have been very angry, so you left the palace without saying a word. I couldn't control my emotions—"
"Oh, don't apologize. Anyone who hears that nightmare would be horrified. And that was your mother. It's strange that you don't trust her and trust a stranger like me. But I was only concerned with my own temper at the time and didn't put myself in your shoes... I was wrong too, so neither of us should apologize!"
Su Jinzhou felt warm in his heart, "Okay."
He looked at Jitang: "Jitang, you are not an outsider to me."
Jitang: "What is that?"
Su Jinzhou smiled and said, "Junior sister."
Ji Tang snorted, "I actually hope it's Senior Sister."
She took a deep breath and then said cheerfully, "Let's go, let's go back!"
The flying sword slowly landed back at the royal hunting ground. As soon as the two men stepped off the flying sword, Tan Qingyue ran over.
"Aren't we going hunting? Why did you go there on flying swords?"
Su Qianchen was behind her, looking at the flying sword with more fear than envy - because he was afraid of heights.
"Go breathe some fresh air." Ji Tang smiled and took Ji Yao back.
Tan Qingyue shrugged and didn't believe what she said.
The royal hunting grounds are full of trees and the environment is of course beautiful.
She didn't ask any further questions. "Since we're already here, it feels like something's missing if we don't have a picnic. We're almost ready now, why don't we take a break?"
They didn't choose a pavilion or attic, but found a flat open space as if they were going on a trip.
Jitang followed and saw a small bonfire made of branches. He felt warm as he got closer.
Su Qianchen: "Brother, I asked Xiao Fuzi to get the meal, it will be delivered soon."
Tan Qingyue sat down against a tree trunk and said, "We're right here at the hunting grounds, yet you need food delivered to us. Even if you could just hunt a rabbit, it would be great!"
She said this and looked towards His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Ji Tang nodded and said: "That's right, both of you two brothers are not very good at archery."
Su Jinzhou then smiled.
Ji Tang turned to tease Su Qianchen, "Why aren't you calling me 'this king' and 'royal brother' all the time now?"
Su Qianchen waved his hand: "There are only four of us here, why should we care about all those red tape?"
Xiao Fuzi brought a few people and quickly brought the meal over. Seeing that the four people were all sitting on the ground, he was so scared that he knelt down on the spot.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, Your Highness, the Seventh Prince, the ground is cold and dirty in autumn. Would you please move to Eagle Feather Pavilion as soon as possible? And so do the two nobles!"
Su Qianchen: "It's okay, bring the food over quickly."
Xiao Fuzi obeyed orders.
After the meal, Xiao Fuzi led people to collect the food. No one moved and drank a few glasses of wine while they were in a good mood.
Su Qianchen couldn't drink much, and after a few drinks, he leaned against a tree trunk and dozed off.
Someone came to tell Su Jinzhou that the emperor had summoned him to the Yangxin Palace to discuss matters.
Jitang planned to play in the hunting ground for a while before going back.
In a short while, Su Qianchen fell asleep. Tan Qingyue winked at her and fell asleep.
Ji Tang was bored and planned to take a walk in the hunting ground. However, before he had gone far, Tan Qingyue called him back.
Ji Tang laughed and said, "Such a short dream?"
Tan Qingyue pulled her to Su Qianchen and said, "No, go to sleep!"
"How do you let me dream?"
"It's a dream about the prince!"
Jitang became interested and controlled the nightmare energy to enter his dream.
In the dream, Su Qianchen hid outside the window, sticking to it to listen to the movements inside the hall.
Inside were the voices of Su Jinzhou and the Queen.
The queen had lost her former elegance, and her usually gentle tone became sharp and even a little harsh.
"What nonsense! Who is this bastard that is gossiping in front of you and you actually believe it?"
Su Jinzhou's suppressed voice came: "This son does not believe it, so I came to Queen Mother to seek the truth. Mother, the third prince was pushed off the rockery by Concubine Yao's men, right?"
There was a sound of teacups falling to the ground in the house.
Then there was a sound of people kneeling on the ground, "Empress, please calm down!"
"You don't believe me, or you don't believe the emperor!"
There was another sound of someone kneeling heavily.
Su Jinzhou: "This son just wants to hear it from the Queen Mother in person. If the Queen Mother says yes, this son will never mention it again!"
The nanny who had served the Queen all year round cried and advised, "Your Highness the Crown Prince... You know that His Highness the Third Prince is a scar in the Queen's heart. The wound seems to have healed, but the scar remains. By asking this now, aren't you tearing off the scar that the Queen has already healed? Can you bear it?!"
Su Jinzhou said hoarsely: "Mother!"
His voice was choked with sobs, but he forced himself to hold it in. The few words he said trembled like a stretched string.
The Queen wept, "Why do you keep pressing me like this? Why..."
Su Qianchen retreated repeatedly until he hit the wall behind him.
The dream fluctuated for a moment, and the scene turned into night.
Su Qianchen was only wearing his inner clothes and somehow avoided the patrolling guards and ran to the queen's bedroom.
It was still the same window, and the queen and the nanny were talking in low voices inside.
The Queen's voice was as cold as the night wind. "The Crown Prince has already become suspicious. Go and find out for me where the news leaked from!"
Nanny: "Not many people knew about this matter. I dealt with it all at the time, leaving no room for future trouble. Perhaps it's just the Crown Prince himself who has doubts?"
Nanny: "That Miss Jitang said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince dreamed of His Royal Highness the Third Prince. Perhaps it was because of that dream?"
The Queen: "Dream... How can I be assured if you only use dreams to explain things?!"
Mammy: "Yes, I will send someone to check right away."
The Queen: "I have already lost a son, I cannot be alienated from the Crown Prince again!"
Mammy: "Your Majesty, please don't be too sad. You must not hurt yourself!"
The Queen: "You blame me for being incompetent, and you even want the child to give me a chance to secure my throne..."
Su Qianchen stood there in a daze, his eyes bloodshot.
“Who is it?!”
Many footsteps came running.
The guard saw who it was and knelt down immediately: "Your Highness the Seventh Prince, why are you here?"
The lamp stand in the bedroom fell heavily to the ground.
The Queen's panicked voice trembled as she spoke, "Is the Seventh Prince here?"
The guard looked behind Su Qianchen and saw a stone door that looked the same as the wall.
If the stone door had not had a tiny crack, they would have had no way of discovering it.
The window lattice was pushed open from the inside, and the Queen looked out with her hair loose.
"This secret passage..." Her pupils trembled violently and she seemed to be hesitant to speak.
Su Qianchen was in a daze, his eyes red as he looked at the queen.
"Mother..."
At the same time, Mammy's anxious scream suddenly rang out from inside the house, "It's on fire! Quick, quick help! There's a fire, quick help, quick help, quick help!"
Figures intertwine and voices overlap.
The dream fluctuated again.
What appeared before Jitang's eyes was a raging fire.
Thick smoke billowed upwards, and a fire dragon broke through the roof of the temple, as if it was going to burn up the dark sky.
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