Chapter 61 Zhuangzi Dreams of a Lonely Man Wants Her
Xiao Suheng's gaze passed through Jiang Geyun and finally landed on the palace gate behind her.
The boy lowered his eyelashes and did not answer for a moment.
He was probably lost in thought, which is why his gaze shifted; he didn't actually notice her presence.
Realizing this, Jiang Geyun breathed a sigh of relief.
If possible, she doesn't want to have too much interaction with the main villain, regardless of the era in which the main villain is.
She knew his plans and had personally experienced his relentless pressure. Dealing with him was exhausting. She didn't like him, couldn't afford to offend him, so why couldn't she just avoid him?
I don't know why she entered the illusion related to Su Heng, it's really...
Even if Shou Zhuo's "surprise attack" affected the illusion created by the white-clothed ghost, shouldn't she have entered an illusion related to Cheng Xi? What is this?
The only good news is that the current predicament has little to do with Jiang Geyun, so she can finally let her imagination run wild and doesn't have to be on edge all the time.
The atmosphere inside was somber, but she could leisurely rest her chin on her hand and look at the little Su Heng in front of her.
In the silence, the servants on the ground lowered their heads even further.
The prince before him was indeed... but he was still just a prince; a mere command could take his life. For powerful figures, the struggles within and outside the palace walls offered numerous opportunities for back-and-forth battles and mutual strife, but for someone like him, the slightest misstep could cost him his life.
Xiao Suheng put down his pen, picked up a handkerchief from the table, and wiped his hands.
He had excellent handwriting habits; his pen grip and handwriting were so neat and elegant that they were not typical of a child his age. Jiang Geyun noticed that there was actually no ink on his hands.
As he wiped his hands, he said calmly, "Get up and talk."
The people below thanked him profusely and stood up, but still bowed and waited for Su Heng's reply.
Su Heng calmly said, "The other day, my royal uncle came to see me and saw the new servant. He was worried that the servant was not quick enough, so he took him away to train him. He will be sent back soon. I dare not refuse my royal uncle's kindness."
Imperial Uncle?
Jiang Geyun pondered for a moment.
The original work did not involve much about the previous generation. The story related to Xie Jiming's old grandfather was an earlier one, and the perspective was mostly focused on the Xuandu Supervisor, not on royal secrets. Therefore, she was not very clear about this past.
However, we can work backwards.
During her time, Su Heng had no imperial uncles or anything like that. Many members of the royal family had been excluded from the center of power by the villain. All sorts of idle and nominal positions were clearly arranged, while the key positions were filled by the talents he had selected.
It seems the villains are planning to shift the blame and watch the conflict unfold from the sidelines.
Upon hearing Xiao Suheng's reply, the servant's expression did not lighten; instead, he became even more anxious. After a hasty bow, he left the room.
Xiao Suheng became a person again.
—Not counting Jiang Geyun.
He reached out and straightened the papers on the table, his gaze lowered, and remained silent.
Jiang Geyun was about to feel strange, but he didn't move at all. He had already finished his homework, so going out for a walk seemed like a good option.
She soon found out the answer.
Another servant hurried into the room and performed another round of familiar bows. The servant said, "His Majesty has decreed that more people be sent over. Your Highness, you may personally select the servants to serve you. As for the previous servants... since they did not serve well, they need not return. They shall all be executed."
Jiang Geyun's relaxed mood suddenly turned heavy because of these words.
How did the emperor raise his children? Is this something a child should listen to?
Although the servant on the ground showed some sympathy, he had no choice but to continue under the emperor's decree: "His Majesty also said that all the white silk has been bestowed, and Your Highness need not worry about this matter in the future. If there is anything inappropriate, just deal with it directly."
The earlier revelation of the murder had already made Jiang Geyun frown, and the servant's additional words made her feel even more depressed.
They even went out of their way to explain how the person was killed, as if they were afraid of leaving the person with psychological trauma.
She turned to look at Xiao Suheng.
Xiao Suheng showed no emotion regarding this bloody upheaval, only saying, "Bring it here."
The servant received the order, bowed, and went to lead the others away.
Seeing the little villain sitting in a chair with a distant and indifferent expression, Jiang Geyun felt a little sorry for him.
He wasn't very good at hiding his emotions at that moment; she could clearly see the emotions in his eyes.
He is clearly an extremely well-behaved young man. In any family, this young man would be cherished like a precious jewel. How could he feel such loneliness and pressure amidst the ultimate wealth?
No, perhaps it is precisely because of this extreme wealth that such things can happen.
Too much of a good thing can be bad; some things can easily alienate a person.
Jiang Geyun sighed softly.
Xiao Suheng raised his head.
Jiang Geyun was startled by his action and couldn't help but stare at him intently.
However, Xiao Suheng's action was because someone had arrived.
Suddenly, a series of orderly footsteps sounded outside. There seemed to be quite a few people, but not a single word was uttered, which showed how strict the discipline was, or rather, how oppressive the atmosphere was.
The footsteps stopped, and one voice entered the room again, growing louder as it approached. Jiang Geyun was getting tired of this happening three times a day.
The little villain not only has to obediently complete his schoolwork, but also has to deal with these adult affairs, being used as a tool in the struggle and pulled in the middle.
In the void, she tried to pat Xiao Suheng's head.
Of course, the two did not have any actual contact.
Jiang Geyun didn't realize that her attitude had shifted from initial wariness to sympathy. After all, what she was seeing wasn't something staged for her; it was what she had actually witnessed, and facts speak louder than words.
Xiao Suheng calmly nodded to the servant and said, "No need to bring him in, I will choose in the courtyard."
The servants naturally obeyed orders.
Xiao Suheng's choice allowed Jiang Geyun to leave the room with him and float into the courtyard.
The atmosphere in the courtyard was not good. Presumably everyone had heard about the previous deaths. No one dared to breathe loudly. Women and men stood in separate lines. Some were about the same age as Su Heng now, and others were about the same age as Jiang Geyun now.
This was the first time Jiang Geyun had acted in this ghostly form. She tried to float around and weave through the crowd.
There were requirements for appearance when entering the palace. The group of people brought up, while not all of them were peerless beauties, were at least pleasing to the eye and wouldn't be annoying to have around.
The servant in charge of reporting was of a higher rank and took on the responsibility of introducing the prince. He talked incessantly beside Su Heng, pointing to this and that, saying that this person could read and could accompany His Highness in reading, and that person had exceptional culinary skills and could make desserts for His Highness.
Jiang Geyun also spared some attention to listen to the servant's introduction.
Soon, she stopped in front of a girl who was about her age.
It wasn't because the girl was exceptionally beautiful or had any special talents, but because her downcast face revealed a deep sense of unwillingness. She seemed very resistant, not wanting to stay here at all, yet having no other choice.
"Accompanying the Crown Prince in his studies" should have been a desirable position, but now it's... The lessons of those who just died are still fresh in our minds.
It has to be said that Jiang Geyun was somewhat empathetic.
Being in a position of being chosen is extremely painful. You have no choice but to move forward or backward, and your future is controlled by others. Admittedly, some people may get a decent result, either because the person who made the choice is kind or because they are in a good mood. But what is a good result today can be completely overturned tomorrow.
As long as you are in the chosen position, you will never have peace.
As she sighed inwardly, the girl with her head down suddenly raised her head, looking straight ahead with a look of surprise and uncertainty in her eyes.
Jiang Geyun seemed to sense something and turned around to look.
Su Heng pointed to the location of the person and the "soul" and said, "I want her."
...
The reluctant girl suppressed her reluctance as she looked up and eventually obediently entered the East Palace. In addition to her, four other women and five men were also sent in.
The elders of the Eastern Palace suddenly appeared out of nowhere, each leading a newcomer down to teach them etiquette and arrange their accommodations.
As the sun began to set, and the day was over, Jiang Geyun drifted listlessly on the desk, playing with her hair as Xiao Suheng continued writing.
She didn't know how different the flow of time was between the illusion and the outside world. She was able to leave last time because she realized something was wrong and her soul couldn't accept the crudely made content. This time, she was awake from beginning to end, but there was no sign of her waking up.
Abbot You will arrive soon, and then she should be able to leave naturally.
Xiao Suheng was writing something stroke by stroke beside her.
Jiang Geyun didn't move, but turned around to look at what Xiao Suheng was writing on the desk.
Perhaps it was the lesson left by the Grand Tutor today, for Su Heng had a question beside him that read: "The Classic of Filial Piety says: 'Our bodies, hair, and skin are received from our parents, and we dare not damage them; this is the beginning of filial piety.' Then, if a commander of an army is wounded on the battlefield, is that considered unfilial?"
Jiang Geyun became interested and jumped down from the desk, floating to Xiao Suheng's side to see how he would answer.
The writing on the paper was completely unaltered. Cheng Xi once praised her handwriting for having the "charm of Zhong Yao and Wang Xizhi," probably because her handwriting at the time leaned towards running script. As for the young Su Heng in front of us, his handwriting was vigorous and his structure was regular, quite similar to Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy.
He wrote, word by word: "Your student respectfully answers your question, sir. I have heard that the Classic of Filial Piety says, 'Our bodies, hair, and skin are received from our parents; we dare not damage them; this is the beginning of filial piety.' However, in my humble opinion, the ultimate filial piety may not merely be about not daring to damage them, but rather about having one's heart and actions entirely devoted to one's ruler and father..."
Jiang Geyun fell silent.
Good heavens, you villain, you're exaggerating! How much did the emperor have to flatter you to make you look like that?!
Just as she was about to look down to see how the villain expressed his "deep affection for his children" when he was a child, Xiao Suheng suddenly stopped.
His pause caused a small blot of ink to spread across the paper, standing out starkly against his beautiful handwriting.
The servant he personally selected today was brought over by another servant.
The girl was carrying a tray with an exquisitely crafted gold bowl on it. Next to the small gold bowl was a thick white cloth, and there was something else on it, but it was too far away for Jiang Geyun to see.
What kind of snack is it?
Since it would be delivered to Xiao Suheng anyway, Jiang Geyun didn't bother to do anything and waited for the two of them to present the tray.
The metallic sheen shone on her face, then through her, and landed on the screen beside her. Jiang Geyun, who had been casually looking down, suddenly froze.
On the white cloth lay a small dagger.
The new girl was still not very good at hiding her expression, her gaze shifting between the tray and Xiao Suheng, full of confusion and disbelief.
The attendant who led her was much calmer. He gave a slight bow and said, "Your Highness, it is time."
Xiao Suheng put down his pen and said indifferently, "Come on."
A servant stepped forward and, through the white cloth, pulled open Xiao Suheng's sleeve, revealing his mottled wrist. Then, she turned to the new girl and said, "Hurry up and come here."
The new girl was reluctant to leave, but she had been told everything she needed to know before she came here.
The young prince was of extraordinary birth. At his birth, the sky was filled with nine-colored clouds, and he has since frequently displayed extraordinary abilities. His blood is naturally a rare and precious commodity. As for the person who can use this blood, there is only one person in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
But there's no need to worry. How could His Majesty possibly harm His Highness? His Highness has a special constitution; this frequency is nothing to worry about.
In fact, even if she hadn't been told, she had no way to disobey. Since she could obediently come to the East Palace, she could also obediently cut Xiao Suheng's wrist.
Jiang Geyun stared in astonishment at the scene before her.
The crimson blood flowed into the shimmering gold container, its color so vivid that, under the orange-yellow candlelight, it shone with an intense, almost blinding luster.
From unwrapping the bandages from his wrist to slashing his wrist, Xiao Suheng remained expressionless throughout, as if it weren't his hand or his blood.
Jiang Geyun unconsciously reached out her hand, wanting to touch it.
However, she was merely a wisp of spirit existing in memories or illusions; she could do nothing.
Even after the two men left, she was still somewhat dazed.
A person's character is influenced by both innate and acquired factors. She knew about the villain's plan, but this was the first time she had come into contact with the childhood that made him the villain.
Su Heng disliked having people serve him in the palace, and the same applied to new concubines.
Even the newer girl who seemed somewhat interested in him couldn't get close to him; he left her outside as well.
Perhaps he really did want to confide in that girl, but the emperor arranged for her to come and collect his blood, presumably to crush his hopes.
The topics that were recently based on the Classic of Filial Piety have become extremely ridiculous.
The lights in the hall were all extinguished. Jiang Geyun sat on the edge of Xiao Suheng's bed, unsure of how to compose herself.
She turned her head and looked at Xiao Suheng, who was lying properly. The moonlight and the light of the night watchman's lamp shone thinly on the bed and on him, casting a shadow on his face with his eyelashes.
Whether it was Jiang Geyun's imagination or not, the white light made his face appear very pale, as if he were having a bad dream, his eyelashes trembling slightly.
The next instant, her raven-feather-like eyelashes opened.
Xiao Suheng's gaze fell on Jiang Geyun, extremely precise and without the slightest error.
Jiang Geyun initially thought it was another false alarm, just like the times during the day. She turned around to see what was behind her this time.
There was nothing there.
The gauze curtains swayed gently in the breeze.
A guess that she could hardly believe surfaced.
Jiang Geyun slowly turned around.
Xiao Suheng was still looking at her, his gaze fixed on her.
Not only that.
He asked, "Sister, who exactly are you?"
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Author's Note: Although this story is about an older woman/younger man relationship, you can also enjoy a younger woman/older woman relationship – that's the freedom of a fantasy world!
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