The carriage sped along, yet the bumps were barely noticeable. Lin Banjian thought to himself, "No wonder all those high-ranking officials prefer to ride in carriages!"
She slowly reached out her hand, her fingers gently touching the edge of the curtain, and then carefully lifted a corner of it.
Through that narrow gap, she saw the outside world.
Sunlight spilled across the earth, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow; the trees were lush and verdant, and the once still buildings, mountains, and fields now appeared like vibrant, colorful paintings, constantly flashing past her eyes. They seemed to be racing against time, desperately trying to retreat and escape her sight.
This feeling was both new and unfamiliar to her; she had never experienced anything like it before. She couldn't help but widen her eyes, wanting to take it all in.
I have no idea how long the carriage has been galloping, I just feel a blur before my eyes. Just then, a steep cliff suddenly appeared ahead, like a huge natural barrier blocking our way. Beyond the cliff, thick clouds and mist filled the air, making it as mysterious and unpredictable as a fairyland.
To everyone's astonishment, despite the perilous situation, the carriage showed no sign of slowing down, continuing its relentless speed towards the cliff! It was getting closer and closer to the edge, poised to plunge into the abyss at any moment…
Lin Banjian was so frightened that he covered his eyes.
But the imagined fall did not happen.
Mu Jinyun chuckled softly and lifted the curtain. "Don't be afraid, just a glimpse, look."
What are you looking at?
But she trusted the man behind her.
Originally, in her eyes, the white horse was just more handsome than ordinary horses, but at this moment it was able to gallop freely in the clouds and ride the clouds!
Even more astonishingly, a pair of enormous, snow-white wings suddenly unfurled from the horse's back, shimmering with dazzling golden light. Each flap created a powerful gust of air, as if the entire sky were under its control.
"Wow--"
She opened her eyes wide in surprise.
The clouds and mist, like a thin veil, drifted in the air in a dreamlike manner, gently brushing against the vehicles like wispy smoke.
The wind tousled her unkempt bangs, sending them flying wildly. She squinted slightly, feeling an unprecedented surge of emotion.
She slowly extended her hand out of the car window, the soft clouds gently caressing her fingertips as if gliding across her skin like silk.
"Is it pretty?"
"Um!"
This was a beautiful sight she had never seen before.
That chasm should have been a formidable barrier capable of swallowing a person whole! Yet at this moment, it seemed as if it didn't exist at all. This enormous chasm stretching between heaven and earth seemed to exist solely to display its unparalleled magnificence and grandeur to the world.
This is not something an ordinary person can do.
"Jinyun, are you a deity?"
If they weren't gods, how could there be winged horses and special carriages?
"A deity? No!" Mu Jinyun pulled her hand back and then enveloped her small hand in his large one.
"However... one day, I will become a god."
Ascending to heaven means becoming a god, right?
"Banjian, you don't know, but there is actually a special group of people in the world who obtain special abilities from nature. People call them—immortal cultivators."
"Cultivator?"
Qinggeng Village was a very remote place, and no cultivators had ever appeared there, so "cultivation" was a completely unfamiliar term to Lin Banjian.
"Yes, and ascension, which you call becoming a god, is the goal they pursue throughout their lives."
"Is Jinyun also a cultivator?"
Mu Jinyun gently pinched her little nose. "Half-witted, you're really clever!"
Ascension...
Lin Banjian's gaze returned to the window.
She had also heard myths and knew that there were no gods on land; gods lived in the heavens.
so……
She looked away and turned to the man behind her who had been smiling and watching her.
So... he'll go to heaven someday, right?
She saw herself reflected in his pupils.
A humble, insignificant, and ordinary girl with big, wide eyes, yet filled with confusion.
She saw the vibrant colors in her own eyes through his.
She abruptly closed her eyes and turned away.
If he flew up to the sky, then she...
Where did she go?
She finally found someone who didn't look down on her, smiled at her, and gave her cakes. What would she do if he abandoned her?
"Does Jinyun also want to ascend to heaven?"
"certainly!"
"...Alright, then I hope Jinyun can ascend to heaven soon."
As for her, whatever she says is fine.
Anyway, she's gotten through all these years, so meeting him was just an accident.
If the long struggle in the darkness underground is just to feel the light of breaking through the soil, then even if you turn to ashes in an instant, it is worth it.
...
The carriage finally came to a slow stop.
"Welcome to Ruzhou. From now on, Banjian will live here."
Mu Jinyun got off the carriage first, where a maid was already waiting. Just as she was about to step forward to help Lin Banjian, Mu Jinyun carried her down.
A hint of surprise flashed in the maid's eyes.
The towering palace was magnificent and imposing, solemn and dignified; around it, groups of servants bustled about, each performing their duties in an orderly manner. All of this was so unfamiliar and novel to Lin Banjian, who had never left his small mountain village.
Everyone bowed their heads, showing the utmost respect to their master.
Even after getting off the carriage, Mu Jinyun didn't let go, carrying Lin Banjian as they walked through the crowd, each step firm and powerful.
And so, from the main gate to the inner courtyard, he carried her step by step.
Everyone bowed down at his feet.
It was also at her feet.
Finally, Mu Jinyun led her to the hall and placed her in his usual seat.
"Call all the people who have been assigned here."
Lin Banjian saw that there was no one in the room and did not know who he was talking to, but in the blink of an eye, a lean man knelt on one knee in front of him, said "Yes", and disappeared in the blink of an eye. Lin Banjian even wondered if he was hallucinating.
A short while later, four women entered. They were all teenagers, but one of them was clearly older, looking to be in her thirties.
The older man, upon seeing Lin Banjian, clearly smiled with delight, "Sir, this is the one you were talking about..."
"That's right, Duan Yao, I'm entrusting this child to you from now on." It was clear that Mu Jinyun respected her very much.
"Good, good." Duan Yao stepped forward and carefully examined Lin Banjian. "He's really a good child."
Mu Jinyun said to Lin Banjian, "This is your head maid, Duanyao, who will take care of your daily life from now on. You can call her Sister Duanyao!"
Lin Banjian immediately jumped off his seat and sweetly called out, "Sister Duan Yao."
Duan Yao responded with an "Eh~", her eyes glistening with tears.
Then Mu Jinyun introduced the other three: Hui Shi, Miao Hua, and Gou Yun. All four of them were her first-class maids. She also had other maids in her courtyard.
"Duan Yao, take Ban Jian back first. Replace everything in her room that she doesn't like."
Duan Yao agreed, taking Ban Jian's small hand, "Come on, Miss Ban Jian, I'll take you to see your new courtyard."
Lin Banjian turned to look at Mu Jinyun, who nodded slightly.
She took Duan Yao's hand.
After Duan Yao led Lin Banjian and the other three out, the subordinate from before reappeared. "Sir, the elders heard that you brought back the 'container' and they all want to see it. They've already arrived at the Gathering Hall."
"That's really fast." Mu Jinyun flicked his sleeve.
The subordinate remained silent for a moment, then said, "Sir, there's one more thing..."
"Speak! If you keep stammering like this, we'll go somewhere else!"
"Let's go with you to Steward Zhao in Qinggeng to ask about the gifts that were originally intended for the Lin family..."
"Throw him out! Do you even need to ask me?"
Sensing Mu Jinyun's anger, the subordinate said, "I know my crime, I take my leave!" and ran away as fast as he could.
Zhao, the emperor, is really something. Next time, he should do this himself!
The thought of the young master having to face those troublesome elders soon would probably make him throw another tantrum, and he would run away even faster.
However, judging from how good-natured the young master was to that young lady, perhaps we can start by getting things done through her in the future!
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