Chapter 52 A Secure Happiness...
These words silenced everyone present.
After a long silence, Wei Zhen asked, "Is this what you truly think?"
Lu Min said, "I came to Lingyin Mountain alone to hear the True Man's judgment. When I led troops to attack the Yu Dynasty, countless soldiers and civilians died under the iron hooves. I already felt guilty towards Ami. Now, because I made her self-destruct, my sins are even greater."
Shimi looked at Wei Zhenren with a pained expression, “Master…”
Master Wei glanced at her, then pulled a meteorite iron dagger from his sleeve and threw it over. “Since the Grand Tutor values loyalty so much, the agony of being burned at the stake will be waived. But he must walk the path he has chosen willingly. The knife is right in front of you, do it.”
Gu Jingguan, who was standing to the side, grabbed Wei Zhenren's sleeve and knelt in front of him, pleading: "Master, I was guilty first, please don't blame Junior Sister for my mistake. Although Banyan is more difficult to control than Yanren, they have flesh and blood. What's the difference between doing this and killing someone?"
Master Wei angrily ripped open his sleeve. “You don’t need to plead for them. Now that your puppet master is gone, there’s still a chance for us, master and disciple, to reconcile. If he were still here, do you think you could even step into our sect? The sect rules are like a mountain, unshakeable. Whoever breaks them will be punished—that’s only right. I gave them a choice. Now that they’ve made up their minds, why go back on their word?”
This was an outcome no one had anticipated. Gu Jingguan had always thought his master was soft-hearted, but who knew that after so many years, he had become as cold-hearted as those enforcement elders. He began to regret it; perhaps he shouldn't have returned. His junior sister had too much attachment to the sect, which had led to this situation. Now, one of them was willing to cut off his hand, and the other was willing to tear out her heart. If only they had stayed in Baiyujing, they wouldn't have had to endure all of this.
He turned to look at Shimi, gesturing for them to run. Only now did he realize that the tragedy of years past was repeating itself, and he would make the same choice again. So why blame Miaoruo? It was ultimately a display of powerless pride, taking advantage of her kindness and innocence. The old scars in his heart were reopened, and it seemed he had no other way but to blame himself and let go.
But Ke Shimi didn't run away. She picked up the meteorite dagger from the ground and said to Lu Min with tears in her eyes, "If you regret it, it's not too late now."
He shook his head, knelt down opposite her, raised his hand to loosen the collar of her dress, and presented the red thread to her. "I'm not afraid of pain. Meeting you is already a blessing from heaven. Ami, I've been coaxing you and clinging to you not just to survive, but because I truly love you. I've wronged you in many ways, and I hope you'll forgive me. From now on, let this body accompany you for a while longer. I've placed the token of the Sixteen Guards on the border in your dressing case. The burden of the nation is too heavy; if you can't bear it, leave as soon as possible. Don't linger, understand?"
Is this the kind of righteousness that comes with death? Shimi cried, her face streaked with tears, her vision blurred, and she could no longer see him. She wailed, "You left the token with me, didn't you plan to go back alive?"
He smiled and said, "I came to meet my grandfather. Although I was fully prepared, I was still afraid that something might happen unexpectedly. Having a backup plan will at least ensure your safety."
Shimi held up the meteorite iron dagger and gestured twice at his chest, "I'm really going to stab it in now."
He nodded. "Come on."
She suddenly raised her hand, and in the next instant, the sharp blade was about to pierce her flesh, but she stopped. Turning back to Master Wei, she said, "Master, you see, I told you he wasn't that bad, now you believe me!"
Gu Jingguan and Lu Min were both stunned, looking blankly at Master Wei. Master Wei crossed his arms and clicked his tongue, "How can you tell his true feelings if you don't try? There are too many men in the world who deceive girls. You are inexperienced. If you are kidnapped, you will be far away and I will not be able to help you."
Gu Jingguan then realized, "Are you... putting on an act?"
Master Wei said to Shi Mi, "Your senior brother is quite anxious."
Shi Mi grinned and helped Gu Jingguan up. "From the moment we started making the Holy Yuan Emperor, I wrote to my master and told him everything that had happened. My master didn't trust Lu Min, and neither did I. We agreed that if we could meet, we would definitely give it a try. I didn't expect him to actually come to us. So we can't be blamed."
Lu Min staggered to his feet, staring at her with gritted teeth, "Jie Shi Mi, you actually lied to me!"
Shi Mi sheepishly hid behind Master Wei, peeking out and saying, "It's your fault for being so stupid. Master loves me so much, how could he cripple my hands?"
Having previously played the villain, Master Wei immediately stepped in as a peacemaker, saying, "Alright, alright, when a man and woman are to be married, it is essential to test their character. I know Ami's temperament, so there's no need to test her. As for Grand Tutor, this is our first meeting, so let's be upfront about the unpleasant things so that we can become relatives in the future."
Only now did Lu Min understand where Shi Mi's strange way of thinking came from. Master Wei had fully demonstrated the excellent spirit of only judging others, not himself. His own children were impeccable, but judging others required ruthless decisiveness. Yet he dared not speak out against it. This unexpected turn of events was already the best possible outcome. He didn't need to open his heart, and Shi Mi didn't have to destroy his own hands. With such a perfect result, what more could he ask for?
So he composed himself, bowed deeply to Master Wei, and said, “I understand Master Wei’s good intentions. You raised Ami yourself, so it is natural that you would have to put in a lot of effort to choose a husband for her. Fortunately, I have passed the test and have not let Ami down. I am also grateful to Master Wei for setting aside old customs and for your magnanimity in helping me achieve this.”
Master Wei admired his cleverness and said to Shi Mi, "Didn't you say he was sharp-tongued, mean, and vindictive? Now it seems he's not so bad. After all, he's a man who can be a Grand Tutor, with some talent and magnanimity."
Upon hearing this, Lu Min turned to look at Shi Mi, a dangerous glint in his eyes, "Just how many bad things did you say about me in front of the real person?"
At first, Shi Mi dared to show his face, but later he simply shrank back behind Wei Zhenren and dared not speak again.
Of course, Master Wei had to defend his beloved disciple, advising Lu Min not to take it seriously, "A young lady is inherently weak. Since she intends to choose one person to grow old with, it is only natural for her to have some concerns and tests."
Lu Min agreed verbally, but inwardly he sighed. Was this woman truly so weak? Wasn't it himself who had always pretended to be weak? She had never seemed anxious or needed to rely on him. Whenever he thought he had everything under control, she always managed to put him at his mercy. They really were a match made in heaven. He hadn't considered marriage after achieving success; it turned out he was waiting for her.
Thinking of this, his anger at being fooled subsided, and he reached out his hand to her, saying, "What are you doing hiding behind your master? Come here quickly."
Shi Mi slowly approached and joined him in bowing to the True Man Wei.
Looking at the person before him, Master Wei finally sighed and revealed his thoughts, "Yan Shi married Ban Yan, which, in truth, is not what I, your teacher, am satisfied with. But since you two are in love, I cannot force you apart. I only hope that you can see your own hearts clearly, and that your decision today will not be regretted ten or twenty years from now, that you will still have pure hearts, still care for and love each other, and live a peaceful and uneventful life." He then said to Shi Mi, "I am in the mountains, and I occasionally hear about what is happening in the mortal world. The five kingdoms have been in chaos for so many years, with war raging everywhere. Even if there is hatred, things have come to this and cannot be changed, so don't be too attached. Being too kind can easily hurt oneself. Never go to extremes in anything, because you may not be able to survive when you reach a dead end. This is a principle I taught you when you were young. Even after you have been to the mortal world, do not forget it."
Shimi said, "I have always kept Master's teachings in mind."
Master Wei nodded slowly. “That’s good. I’m so glad you can come back. You’ve been thinking of me for so long. Stay in the mountains for a couple of days. If we part again, I don’t know when we’ll be able to meet again.”
These words left Shimi with mixed feelings. She didn't have much self-reliance and strength in front of her master, and immediately burst into tears, saying, "I can't bear to part with my master."
Master Wei smiled and wiped away her tears. "Which family raises a daughter and doesn't let her marry out? The journey may be long, but she can still come back to visit. You can't bear to part with your master, but can you bear to part with your husband?"
Shi Mi turned to look at Lu Min and suddenly understood.
“Take the Grand Tutor with you and go see the place where you used to live,” said Master Wei. “Go ahead, I’d like to have a word with my senior brother.”
Shi Mi bowed and accepted the order, then left Xuanji Hall with Lu Min.
As Shimi descended the stone steps, he said, "After what happened to my senior brother, Master's mindset has changed a lot. Even knowing that you have shortcomings, he still forgives you because he is afraid of losing you again."
"I'm also very fortunate that the real person didn't blame me and accepted it magnanimously." As he spoke, he gave her a piercing look. "But you, I didn't expect you to be so good at both being a puppeteer and a good actor. I saw you crying so sadly just now, and I didn't suspect you at all. I was wrong."
This topic is too embarrassing to discuss, so even though Shimi felt guilty, he still argued vehemently, "I just rehearsed what was supposed to happen for you. You didn't experience it because you were lucky. Don't act innocent after getting the benefit, Mr. Lu!"
Lu Min had no choice but to admit defeat. Recalling everything that had happened, he couldn't help but ask, "If you really only had two choices, what would you do? Would you be willing to have your hand cut off to save me?"
"Don't joke around, do you think I'm that stubborn?" Her first sentence disheartened him, but the second rekindled his hope. "Of course, I should betray the sect and run away as soon as possible. You can't die, and my hand can't be crippled. Anyway, my senior brother is back, and he'll put in a good word for me."
So you should never worry that Jie Shi Mi will have to bear the burden of morality and put herself in a difficult position. She is the most clever person in the world. She could have solved all the problems by simply running away, so why make things bloody and life-or-death?
Lu Min sincerely admired his wife, who was someone who disliked getting stuck on trivial matters the most.
She led him, enthusiastically exploring the entire mountainside. She recalled how he had knocked out a front tooth there as a child, how he had used a puppeteer to attach a cow's eye to a human face, and how he had been forced to kneel there for two hours as punishment. Many small, interesting anecdotes painted a complete picture of her childhood. Looking back at himself, Lu Min couldn't help but feel a pang of regret; he had no childhood. He had grown up amidst endless books and countless horseback riding and archery practices.
Shi Mi is good at comforting people, saying it doesn't matter, "So when you grew up you became a Grand Tutor, and when I grew up I could only become a Puppet Master. Although we are both 'Masters', the difference of one word is astounding. The people call you 'Sir,' but the way they address me is a bit lacking, they call me 'Demon.'"
So, the greater the effort, the greater the reward. I studied hard as a child, even if it was humiliating, so that I could hold my head high in the future. Thinking about it, I've come to terms with it.
Climbing to the top of Lingyin Mountain and gazing into the distance, the mountains stretch as far as the eye can see. It's a pity the timing wasn't right; if we could catch the sunrise, the view would be the most beautiful.
The two made a promise to get up early the next morning to see the sacred view from the mountaintop. Of course, making a promise is one thing, but whether they can keep it is another.
Having been traveling for days without even getting a bed, he was determined to make up for Lu Min's lack of sleep once he found a suitable environment. He devoted almost all his intelligence to this new discovery, working tirelessly and relentlessly, determined to give her the most secure happiness.
That's beautifully said!
The person who had been so confused was about to fall apart. When they opened their eyes the next day, the sun was already high in the sky. What was the point of watching the sunrise?
When they rushed to see their master, he was having tea with his senior brother in the Guanlan Pavilion on the back mountain. Seeing them arrive, he expressed his understanding, saying, "You must be tired from the journey; you don't need to get up so early." Just as he finished speaking, he saw the boy coming to deliver a message and exclaimed in surprise, "Eh? Is it lunchtime?"
I made up my mind to get up early tomorrow, but the weather was not cooperating. When I opened the window, I found that it was drizzling and the yard was covered in shimmering light. My plan was ruined again.
Lu Min pulled Shi Mi back and held her comfortably in his arms. "I slept late last night, so I'll take another nap. Anyway, Master and Senior Brother will understand."
When Shimi refused to agree and even tried to get up, he became interested again, "Aren't you tired? Since you're not tired..."
The bed started shaking and creaking again. When they finished and got up, they found San Yan standing in front of the door with a hammer. Ali Dao said, "Ami, we've come to fix your bed. Why does this bed keep making noise? It's been making noise all night, and it's probably going to collapse if you sleep on it again."
Shimi was startled and quickly told them not to tell anyone that the bed was broken. He added that they should make a sturdy thousand-machine bed when they had time.
On the third day, it was time to return to Baiyujing. The master saw them off at the mountain gate and all the way to the foot of the mountain.
Gu Jingguan said, "I'm not going back. The neck part of the puppet made by Emperor Shengyuan was made by you. You can bless it from now on, and it will still function smoothly. As for Fifth Sea, I left him an iron box, which can last for three months. After three months, the puppet should not malfunction again. You can send Fifth Sea back to Lingyin Mountain. My master is getting old, and I plan to stay by his side to take care of him. I have already wasted more than ten years of my life. In the future, I will slowly make up for it."
Shimi had known he would make this choice, and nodded, saying, "If I go, I won't be able to be by Master's side to fulfill my filial duties. With my senior brother here, I can rest assured." He then looked at Master Wei, "Master... Master, I'm leaving."
Master Wei's gaze lingered, his eyes filled with reluctance, but he still raised his hand and replied with difficulty, "Go, go."
Seeing him turn to leave, Shimi stopped and burst into tears, "I haven't left yet, why are you going back?"
Master Wei turned back, his eyes reddening again. "Last time you entered the mortal world, I knew you would come back. This time you've gotten married, and it's probably a long time before you return. I was afraid of losing my composure, so I wanted to leave first. You're such an inconsiderate girl, making me see you off."
Shimi sniffed sheepishly, "Fine, let's go our separate ways and not look back."
They mounted their horses, cracked their whips, and galloped off into the distance. Master Wei entered the mountain gate and began his ascent back up the steps. Halfway up, he couldn't help but turn back to look; the five figures had become very small, appearing and disappearing on the winding mountain path.
Gu Jingguan said, "Lingyin Mountain is not too far from Baiyujing. If you miss your junior sister, write her a letter and ask her to come back and visit. It will only take about ten days."
Master Wei sighed, "Back then, I foresaw that the Yu Dynasty's fate was sealed, so I took Ami away. I thought she could live a peaceful life in the mountains, but man proposes, God disposes, and she still returned to the mortal world."
“She is a princess of the Yu Dynasty, born with the fate of her family and country in her heart.” Gu Jingguan paused and asked, “I remember that our sect has a way to completely turn half-human beings into living beings. Why didn’t Master teach it to my junior sister?”
Wei Zhenren's face showed a helpless expression. "Lu Min is a ruthless and ambitious man. Ami needs a way to keep him in check to ensure her lifelong security. It's not that I don't trust Lu Min's character, but as his master, I have to consider my disciple's situation. People's thoughts change with their circumstances. Once they become unrestrained, we can only hope that they will not forget their original intentions. It's better to control the whole situation ourselves than to rely on others. Therefore, Lu Min can only be half-hearted. Only in this way can I, Ami, rest easy and be loved by my husband for the rest of my life."
Gu Jingguan understood his master's good intentions. The love between husband and wife was too unpredictable, and sometimes being cautious was the best way to prolong it. Anyway, Shi Mi was still supporting other puppeteers, and bloodshed was inevitable. Having another Lu Min wouldn't be a big deal.
Different origins and experiences make your life traceable. Gu Jingguan went into the mountains to learn martial arts in her youth and spent the best years of her life on Lingyin Mountain. Later, so many things happened, and she drifted aimlessly in the mortal world until she returned here and realized that she was born to belong here. Shimi, on the other hand, was born to belong to the mortal world. She came into the world adorned in colorful robes, and should live a magnificent life, worthy of admiration.
Three months later, Fifth Sea returned to Lingyin Mountain with news that his aunt Jie was pregnant, and the Nightmare Master had deduced from her dream that it was a boy.
Gu Jingguan breathed a sigh of relief. He knew their plan; everything was going smoothly, and everything was being completed according to plan. As long as Lu Min was around, no one could break this elaborate scheme.
The following spring, Shimi wrote a letter home to her master, enclosing a newly sprouted daisy. Looking at this flower, one could imagine a plump-cheeked woman, smiling broadly, sitting by the window, head bowed as she wrote the letter—
The spring sunshine outside the window was bright and clear. She greeted her master, her senior brother, and Fifth Hai, word by word. The letter said she had given birth to a child, and Lu Min had given him the nickname Chengyin and sent him to Longcheng to be the crown prince. Because she had been ordered by the Empress to go to Longcheng to accompany Empress Song during her childbirth, the child was registered under the Empress's name after birth, and she had become the godmother, which inevitably made her unhappy. The birth of her child could not be celebrated in a grand manner and had to be done secretly. Lu Min put aside his official duties and accompanied her to Laoyin Pass for a few days, which made up for her regret a little.
After the completion of the spirit path, the imperial mausoleum in Chong'an City was closed, and no civilians offered sacrifices. The Yu Dynasty soldiers who built the tomb passage also suffered no casualties. Lu Min planned to build another city south of Zhongdu to settle the people in the future; naturally, the money for this would be entirely provided by Lady Xie.
In short, I am doing well, so please don't worry, Master and fellow disciples. When the child is a little older, she will come back to visit and stay for half a month to burn incense and play chess with Master.
Master Wei closed the letter and turned to look out the window. Wildflowers and grasses bloomed in the mountains and forests, birds sang on the branches, and distant mountains held flowing clouds, just like ink that was not yet dry in an inkstone.
The world unfolds gently, just enough to accommodate a warm spring day, adding a tender touch to the tranquility and serenity.
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Author's Note: This novel is now complete. My next book, "Spring Days on JianShu," will be published on November 6th. Please add it to your favorites and see you next week!
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