Chapter 239 The King of a Lost Nation 39

Nan Liujing’s sleep quality has always been very good, but he had insomnia this night, and he tossed and turned in bed.

After lying down for a long time, he still didn’t feel sleepy at all. Nan Liujing closed his eyes and touched the pillow with his hand, and finally touched the angular star that exuded warmth.

He held the star tightly in his palm, and the warmth spread from his palm to his heart, driving away all the hesitation in his heart.

Not long after, Nan Liujing fell into a deep sleep.

In the endless space.

As a spiritual body, Yao Rong does not need sleep. Usually at this time, she always likes to read some books and familiarize herself with the skills she had learned before, but today she quietly nestled in the sofa with a thoughtful look in her eyes.

The system flapped its wings and flew to Yao Rong: [Are you thinking about what wish he will make?]

Yao Rong shook her head: [I am not thinking about this question. Anyway, he will tell me his wish tomorrow.]

[Then what are you thinking about?]

Yao Rong was about to speak, and suddenly, her expression changed slightly: [It is almost dawn.]

As soon as the sky turned pale, Guisheng walked into the hall quietly to wake up Nan Liujing. The court meeting would be held in half an hour.

Nan Liujing woke up with almost no sleep. He hid the wishing star in his sleeves and washed and changed his clothes with the help of the palace maids.

The topic to be discussed at today's court meeting was mainly about Jiang Ding's memorial.

After a long discussion, with the eunuch shouting "adjourn the court", today's court meeting finally ended.

Nan Liujing changed out of the cumbersome and heavy wedding gown and put on a comfortable and loose brocade dress.

Guisheng smiled and brought Nan Liujing a cup of tea, and asked Nan Liujing if

he wanted to have dinner. Nan Liujing nodded: "Go ahead. I have other things to do later, so I have to eat early today."

After lunch, he did not take a nap like usual, but said: "I'm going out for a walk, you don't have to follow me."

Nan Liujing waved away all the palace servants who wanted to follow him, and walked out of his bedroom alone in ordinary clothes on this equally ordinary afternoon.

It was the hottest time of the day. The early summer wind blew in his face, bringing a sense of heat.

Nan Liujing walked along the shade of the trees for a long time. Suddenly, he stopped and looked straight ahead: "Mother, we are almost there."

Yao Rong followed his line of sight.

To her surprise, what she saw was not a palace, but a blue lake.

The water quality of the lake was very good, so clear that you could see the bottom. Yao Rong could clearly see the goldfish swimming and playing under the lotus leaves. Curved

corridors and waterside pavilions were built on the lake, and there were several small boats docked by the lake for people to go boating. Along

the lakeside, a plum forest was planted.

It was not yet the season for plum blossoms to bloom, but it could be seen that the plum forest was very well taken care of. When the cold winter month arrived, the sky would be covered with snow, and the red plum blossoms would be reflected in the white snow, which would be a beautiful sight.

[Is this the abandoned lake outside the cold palace? Yao Rong was a little afraid to recognize him

for a moment.

"Yes."

Hearing the surprise and astonishment in Yao Rong's voice, Nan Liujing finally couldn't help laughing out loud, and a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment rose in his heart.

This emotion was even stronger than the day he ascended the throne.

In order to vent this emotion, Nan Liujing introduced to Yao Rong with a very obvious boastful tone and a subtle hint of asking for praise: "The cold palace area has been abandoned for decades. When I ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs to build the Zhaixing Palace, I thought of renovating all the nearby areas, so it took so long."

Yao Rong said: [I am looking forward to seeing the Zhaixing Palace more and more. "

Then let's go through the lake from the curved corridor."

Nan Liujing walked up the curved corridor and came to the beautiful and exquisite hexagonal pavilion in the center of the lake.

There were a lot of fish feed on the stone table. Nan Liujing picked up a plate and sprinkled a small amount of feed into the lake.

Yao Rong saw a dense crowd of goldfish swimming towards the pavilion, and then all dispersed after finishing the feed.

A turtle as big as a washbasin was swimming in place not far away, exuding an air of non-competition.

Farther away, on the willow bank, a dozen swans flew up from the lakeside and fell into the deep lotus flowers.

While feeding the goldfish, Nan Liujing said to Yao Rong: "I went to my uncle the other day and asked him about your past."

"He said that before you entered the palace, you always liked to stay in the waterside pavilion every summer. You usually sat by the window reading, and when you got tired of reading, you picked up the feed to feed the fish."

"Sometimes when you were in the mood, you would take a pot of your own wine to row the boat."

"Every time you would row the boat deep into the lotus, hide it in a place where no one could find it, and drink. When you were a little drunk, you would sleep in the sun for a while, and would not come out until the sun went down."

As Nan Liujing narrated, past memories floated to Yao Rong's mind.

No one would dislike those innocent years when they were ignorant of the world.

Nan Liujing smiled mysteriously: "There is a secret that you, the Queen Mother, must not know."

Yao Rong raised her eyebrows and deliberately said: [There is a secret that I don't know?]

Nan Liujing reported to Yao Rong and revealed the little secret he knew to Yao Rong: "My uncle said that he was afraid that you would accidentally fall into the lake after drinking and getting drunk, and he knew that you didn't like to be disturbed by others when you were boating on the lake, so every time you went to row a boat, he would secretly go to the lake to practice sword for an afternoon."

"He didn't leave until he saw your boat coming out of the lake. Then when you returned to the shore, he pretended to have just rushed over and angrily dragged you to dinner."

Yao Rong smiled, imitated Nan Liujing's tone just now, and lowered his voice: [Then I will tell you a secret too.]

This time it was Nan Liujing's turn to be curious.

[I actually always knew that he was practicing swordplay on the shore, so I was able to hide in the lotus pond to drink and sleep without worry.]

Nan Liujing was slightly stunned, and he seemed to be able to imagine the scene at that time: the younger brother on the shore who thought he was hiding well, and the older sister who had already discovered him in the lotus pond deep in the center of the lake. It was because she knew that he was protecting her that she let her temper do what she wanted.

For some reason, Nan Liujing suddenly felt a little sour on the tip of his nose.

"My uncle definitely doesn't know this secret. When he told me, he looked very proud."

[Then next time you see him, tell him this little secret for me, and see if he still dares to be proud.]

Nan Liujing promised: "Okay, I will definitely tell him."

He is familiar with dreaming.

It's not the first time he has done it.

Yao Rong changed the subject: [So you transformed the lake into its current appearance according to his description?]

"Since it is a birthday gift for your mother, of course it should be built in your favorite style." Nan Liujing said this as a matter of course.

[Then why don't you go down and try it. Drinking and sleeping in the lake, it would be nice to feel as if you are the only one left in the world.]

Yao Rong smiled and supplemented: [I will protect you. [

Of course, you have a special status. If you go boating on the lake, it is better to call more guards to guard the side.]

Nan Liujing was a little tempted, but he did not forget the main business of today: "Today is your birthday, I'd better come back next time."

After pouring the last bit of feed in the bowl into the lake, Nan Liujing continued to move forward along the curved corridor, crossed the lake, entered the plum forest, and continued to introduce: "The lotus flowers all over the lake are the scenery in summer, and this plum forest is the scenery in winter."

[Then according to what you said, are there any scenery that belongs to spring and autumn?]

Nan Liujing nodded: "There are scenery of all four seasons."

Yao Rong also saw a rockery: [You are building this area according to the standards of building a garden. Nan Liujing

was very modest: "This place is not big enough, and it is far from meeting the standards of a garden."

Yao Rong couldn't help but smile.

Nan Liujing raised his hand, pushed away the branches blocking his way, and walked out of the plum forest.

In front of him was the Zhaixing Palace.

***

Red walls and white tiles, with flying corners and eaves, the Zhaixing Palace is located under the shade of green trees, quiet and deep.

At first glance, the Zhaixing Palace is not much different from other palaces, but the effort has been put into the details. For example, the auspicious beast carved on the high flying eaves is actually a phoenix with its wings spread.

The phoenixes are located in all directions, with different shapes and vivid, as if they are afraid that others can't guess who this palace was built for.

Nan Liujing stood there until Yao Rong said, "Let's go in." Then he slowly came to the palace gate.

A plaque with the three characters "Zhaixing Palace" was hung above the palace gate.

The handwriting was almost the same as Yao Rong's, but it was not written by Yao Rong.

Yao Rong asked, "Did you write this plaque?"

Nan Liujing asked back, "Is my handwriting becoming more and more like my mother's?"

When he was a teenager and just started to learn to read and write, he saw his mother's handwriting, which was iron-painted and silver-hooked, and the handwriting of a solitary family was very difficult for him to appreciate.

After that, he often imitated his mother's handwriting.

After more than ten years, he didn't dare to say too much, but his handwriting was definitely 50% of his mother's level.

Yao Rong smiled and coaxed: "It is normal for students and teachers to have similar handwritings, isn't it?"

Nan Liujing's eyebrows jumped with consciousness, and the corners of his lips couldn't help but rise slightly.

The palace gate was not locked, but only half-closed.

Nan Liujing pushed the door open with a little effort.

The first thing he saw was the two persimmon trees in the center of the courtyard.

The big one is more than 20 years old, and the small one has been planted for more than 10 years. Both are lush and tall.

When the sun shines down, the two persimmon trees cast a large shade, which can provide shade for everyone and shelter from wind and rain.

Now is the flowering season of persimmon flowers, and the light yellow flowers are full of branches, indicating that this year will be another good year for harvest.

"Let's take a walk around the courtyard first." Nan Liujing took the initiative.

Yao Rong certainly had no objection.

The courtyard was decorated very elegantly, with daylilies, asparagus ferns, peonies, and various flowers and plants that were either famous or had special meanings arranged in an orderly manner.

Nan Liujing even spent a lot of money to transport a bunch of purple bamboo from Jiangnan.

The whimpering sound made when the wind blows through this kind of bamboo is very much like the sound of a flute, and the color of this kind of bamboo is green with a little purple, hence the name.

Yao Rong's objective comment: [This place doesn't look like a wealthy residence, but more like a place where a hermit lives.]

Nan Liujing said happily: "My mother knows me."

"Is there anyone in this world who is more like a hermit than my mother?"

The people of Daye will never know the contributions his mother has made to this world.

Later history books would not record the merits of his mother.

So when he designed the layout of the courtyard, he deliberately arranged it in a quiet style rather than the magnificent style commonly seen in the imperial palace.

Yao Rong did not expect that there was this meaning: [No wonder.]

[So you planted daylilies and asparagus fern to imply that I am both your mother and your teacher?]

Nan Liujing smiled but said nothing.

The long wind blew from afar, and the purple bamboo played a melody in the wind.

This irregular melody is a gift from heaven and earth.

Nan Liujing and Yao Rong listened together, and when the long wind returned to silence, they both spoke at the same time:

"Let's go into the hall and take a look."

[Can we go in? ]

Nan Liujing walked back to the front hall from the back hall and asked, "What do you think the layout of the palace will be like, mother?"

Yao Rong thought to no avail and shook his head: "I can't imagine it."

Nan Liujing smiled and said, "You will find it very familiar."

Because the layout of the first floor of Zhaixing Palace is a complete replica of the library in the system.

It can be said that Nan Liujing copied the library in the system space into the real world.

Yao Rong was very surprised: "Why did you think of this idea? ]

The system also lay in front of the water mirror, watching curiously. If

its host wants to build a scene in the system space, he only needs to use his mental power to imagine the scene, and then use the points to redeem the items. The whole process is very convenient and fast.

But if Nan Liujing wants to build the same scene in the real world, he will undoubtedly have to pay a huge price.

Nan Liujing replied: "I think the library in the system should be arranged according to your aesthetic taste, mother. So you should like it here too."

It's the same sentence. Since it is a birthday gift prepared for his mother, it is natural to try to suit his mother's preferences as much as possible-even if his mother can't use it, but his intention must be there.

Nan Liujing took Yao Rong through the four major areas of classics, history, philosophy, and collections.

In the middle of the four major areas, there is a study room separated by a screen. Nan Liujing pointed at the blank plaque above the study: "Mother, do you want to give your study a name?"

Yao Rong was stunned for a moment, and the next moment, she smiled and said: [You named your study the Northern Study, so my study will be called... the Southern Study. One south and one north is just right.]

"Mother, you are in a hurry again." Nan Liujing was helpless, knowing that Yao Rong was teasing his poor naming ability, "But as long as you are happy, I will order the people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs to make the plaque soon."

In addition to the reading area, there is also a leisure area on the first floor.

This is also a complete replica of the leisure area inside the system.

[He can actually do this. ] The system exclaimed.

Yao Rong took a deep breath.

Yes, she never thought he would actually do this.

***

After taking Yao Rong to visit the first floor, Nan Liujing went to the second floor of Zhaixing Palace.

The layout of the second floor of Zhaixing Palace is completely different from that of the first floor.

The things placed and stored here are all things that Yao Rong used when he was alive.

Nan Liujing said: "After I told my uncle about my idea, he gave me all the things he had about you."

"So here are all your relics that I can collect."

Yao Rong's eyes swept over these items one by one.

It can be seen that these items have been well preserved.

Finally, Yao Rong's eyes fell on a room at the end of the second floor: [What's in there? ]

[What's in there? ]

Nan Liujing pursed his lips: "...some portraits of you."

[My portraits?

"......Yeah." Nan

Liujing walked through the corridor to the end and pushed open the tightly closed door.

This room can be said to be a huge studio.

But unlike ordinary studios, all the portraits hanging here are about Yao Rong.

The scenes of each portrait are different.

"There are many employed painters in the palace. I ordered them to paint the portrait of your mother according to the description of my uncle and Guisheng..."

Ever since Nan Liujing introduced the Zhaixing Palace to Yao Rong, he has been in a state of extreme excitement.

This is the first time today that he has shown such a lost look, as if all his emotions were drained away the moment he stepped into this studio.

"They painted a lot of portraits."

"Each portrait has slight differences."

Nan Liujing pointed to the painting closest to him, and then pointed to the one next to it: "My uncle and Guisheng said this one looks like you, and that one also looks like you..."

His eyelashes, as dense as crow feathers, rose and fell rapidly.

Nan Liujing raised his eyes and stared into the void, as if he wanted to depict Yao Rong's figure through the void.

"How can every one of them look like you, and no one of them is completely you?"

When he said this, his chest rose and fell violently.

He clenched his fists at his sides tightly, and he tried to suppress the surging emotions, but he couldn't suppress the stubbornness and grievance in his voice.

He repeated and emphasized: "They said these paintings are good, but I don't think they look like you..."

"I have never seen what you look like, how do I know if they look like you, and how do I know if they paint well?"

From the moment Nan Liujing walked into the studio, a huge sense of weightlessness completely overwhelmed Yao Rong.

The scene that emerged in her mind was not the present, but an event that happened in the original historical line.

When the young emperor named Nanli decided to build the Zhaixing Palace, he also did another thing - he asked the most outstanding painter in the country to paint a portrait of his deceased mother.

In the original historical line, the first floor of the Zhaixing Palace was definitely not what it looks like now.

But what about the second floor of the Zhaixing Palace?

Are her relics still stored on the second floor of Zhaixing Palace?

Are all the portraits he drew placed here?

So when he decided to die for the world, he chose Zhaixing Palace as his burial place...

A tear fell from Yao Rong's eye socket as she blinked. She raised her hand, covered her eyes, and then buried her whole face in her palms.

Her cold palms were wetted by the warm tears, and her shoulders couldn't help but tremble slightly.

[Zhaixing Palace...]

"Huh?"

[Why was this palace named Zhaixing Palace?]

Nan Liujing took out the wishing star he had hidden in his sleeve.

"Because of this star."

The star's light shone on Nan Liujing, and he stared at it quietly: "I noticed it when I first opened the system mall, and then I have been accumulating points."

[So what you want to wish for is...]

Yao Rong actually guessed the answer, but she still asked.

"I want to use the wishing star and wish to see you today, in this Zhaixing Palace, to celebrate your birthday."

This wish, which had been repeated countless times in his heart, was finally spoken out by Nan Liujing for the first time.

But the moment he finished speaking, he followed up with a cautious question.

"...Excuse me, can this wish be fulfilled?"

Yao Rong's emotions, which had originally calmed down, surged again.

If Nan Liujing wished for a long life, or wished for someone who was only breathing to come back to life, there was a 50% chance that the Wishing Star would fulfill his wish.

But its effect was not so amazing that it could allow her to break through the barriers of time and space and the restrictions of the Time and Space Administration.

Looking at the expectation and uneasiness on Nan Liujing's face, Yao Rong took a deep breath and tried to smile: [I think there will be no problem.]

What the Wishing Star could not fulfill, she could fulfill for him.

According to legend, every dead person will turn into a star in the sky. What the master of the Star-Picking Palace wanted to pick was never a wishing star, but the star that had already returned to the sky.

From the beginning to the end, whether it was his life as Nan Li or as Nan Liujing, he just wanted to see her once.

The system sat aside, listening to the conversation between Nan Liujing and Yao Rong, hesitating to speak.

At first, its host chose to carry out the mission in the form of the "Wise King Cultivation System". Considering her special situation, the Space-Time Administration gave her a lot of permissions.

Therefore, Nan Liujing, who is not a member of the Space-Time Administration, can enter the system space and use the system mall.

Enjoying the corresponding benefits, of course there are corresponding restrictions. Under normal circumstances, Yao Rong cannot cross the space-time barrier to see Nan Liujing.

Of course, since we are talking about normal situations, there are naturally some special situations.

For example, when spending money and using some extremely precious and rare special items, one must be careful not to be discovered by the Spacetime Administration Bureau and the main system.

In the end, the system's dove-like face revealed a very human melancholy.

After accompanying its host through so many worlds, it has roughly figured out its host's personality. It is a typical soft-hearted person who cannot resist a child's request.

Therefore, the system not only did not persuade Yao Rong, but also took the initiative to help the evil: [I will help you block the Spacetime Administration Bureau and the main system, but do you have special items that can break through the spacetime barrier?]

Anyway, there is absolutely no such thing in the system mall.

[I have a way to get it.]

Yao Rong did not have this thing in her hand, but she knew which tasker had it. As long as she paid enough, the other party would be willing to trade with her.

After reaching a consensus with the system, Yao Rong said to Nan Liujing: [The stars can only appear at night. It’s getting late now. Do you want to use something first, and then use the wishing star at night?]

"Okay."

Nan Liujing's face regained its smile, with a sense of relief as if the dust had settled.

"Then I will take my mother to the third floor of the Zhaixing Palace to watch the moon."

"I built a very large observatory on the third floor. I went up to see it in advance. The view is excellent."