Chapter 179 Wealth and Glory That Are Both Out of Reach and Within Reach
Ji Chen rubbed his eyes, and the woman in front of him disappeared. He felt his soul suddenly float into the air, looking at his disheveled appearance in the prison cart. He had become a cold corpse and was lying there.
Only then did fear arise in him. His eyes widened, as if they were about to bulge out of their sockets, and his throat felt like it was being choked, as if he was about to suffocate. He tried to reach out and touch his own body, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't reach himself.
He suddenly flew into the sky and entered the dark clouds. It was like another world. Except for the black sky, everything here was what he wanted.
A magnificent mansion, hundreds of servants, unrestrained singing and dancing, and sweet wine—the intoxicating atmosphere of wine and women led him to indulge in singing and dancing in the wine pool.
The words "Prince Ji's Mansion" were dazzling and imposing. He felt that the wealth and honor before him were both within reach and indistinct.
What's going on? Why does he feel like he deserves such good days?
The scene before him was vivid in his mind, like a fleeting cloud, and he was captivated and longed for it.
He was born into an ordinary family. He studied hard from a young age, determined to pass the imperial examinations and change his fate. He traveled to many places, believing that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.
He found the right path, and he learned far more than he could from books. For example, he made friends, ate delicious food, drank fine wine, and saw beauties like those in books. He enjoyed it all.
Until he met a woman, a beautiful young woman dressed in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse. She traveled the world alone with her horse and sword. She had a very nice name, Su Tingwan.
He was attracted by her charming and bright personality. He asked her where she came from and where she was going.
She replied that she came from the border region and was going to Shengjing City to find her aunt, who lived in the imperial city.
The Imperial City—who can live in the Imperial City? Naturally, it's for the most noble people, a place that ordinary people can never even dream of visiting in their entire lives. Yet, she can go there with ease.
They became friends and traveled together. He witnessed the prosperity of Shengjing City and learned that her father was a great general and her aunt was the emperor's most beloved concubine.
He saw that her eyes were shining.
One day, Su Tingwan suddenly brought a distinguished man with her. She became friends with the man, and later Su Tingwan secretly told him that the man was actually the emperor's son, Prince Heng, a person who was born without having to study or take exams and who had the privilege of being rich and powerful.
Prince Heng didn't want to reveal his identity; he just wanted to live an ordinary life with Su Tingwan.
Although Prince Heng said he didn't want to reveal his identity, he was very generous and never fussed over trivial matters. They went sightseeing together. Ji Chen knew in his heart that Prince Heng never worried about having enough to eat or keeping warm in winter. He certainly didn't want to live the life of an ordinary person.
He knew that Prince Heng never associated with the noble young masters of Shengjing, nor with his brothers; their relationships seemed to be strained.
He immediately had a plan in mind.
So he began to try his best to please him, to take care of his feelings, and to treat him like a younger brother. Eventually, they became close friends who could talk about anything.
To avoid suspicion, Su Tingwan took the initiative to call him "Big Brother," at which time she and Prince Heng were still just friends.
Later, they became sworn brothers. He was a little older, so he became the eldest brother, Prince Heng became the second brother, and Su Tingwan became their third sister.
He pretended not to know his identity and continued to travel and study. From then on, he no longer worried about food, lodging and clothing, and unknowingly lived the life of a wealthy person.
When he saw Su Tingwan again, he found that Prince Heng was holding her hand. He felt a pang of pain in his heart, but when he thought about the fact that she was Prince Heng, he deliberately suppressed this relationship.
If he were a woman, he would definitely choose the noble Prince Heng.
He knew that Su Tingwan also liked him; the way she looked at him was different. The Prince of Heng was just someone with an additional identity.
From then on, he went out to travel and enjoy himself, and met many beautiful women, more beautiful than Su Tingwan. He indulged in sensual pleasures with them and had a great time.
He received news that Prince Heng was about to get married. The woman he was marrying was not Su Tingwan, but someone else. He was very upset at the time and came back to persuade Su Tingwan, but she was willing to be a concubine and stay with him. Did she love him that much?
Could it be that she, like him, cares about the status of Prince Heng?
Su Tingwan relied on him a lot, so she would tell him everything, and they talked about everything.
Her aunt told him that Prince Heng was of noble status and that his future was bound to be bright and promising. What they were betting on was Prince Heng's future position.
Fortunately, they made the right bet. Although Prince Heng married a princess, he never stepped into her courtyard. Jiang Fenghua was left alone in her empty room. Prince Heng still doted on Su Tingwan and eventually made her empress, while he rose through the ranks to become Prince Ji.
The Emperor bestowed upon him a royal palace, where he enjoyed wealth and luxury. He had countless beautiful concubines to choose from and enjoy. The magnificent courtyard he had just seen was his royal palace. He wanted to rush down, but his body could only float in the air, unable to touch or reach it, as if he were in a dream.
Then, another scene appeared before his eyes...
King Heng had already become the emperor of the Great Zhou Kingdom. At this moment, a banquet was being held in the palace. Under the bright palace lanterns, the hall was filled with joy. Officials mingled, drank and made merry, indulging in extravagance and revelry. It was quite a lively scene.
Even Yunfang was dressed like an empress. It turned out that Yunfang had become Xie Shang's woman, and he wanted to ask Yunfang what virtue or ability she had to become Xie Shang's concubine.
Suddenly, he saw a figure dressed in brocade robes and wearing a golden crown; it was Ji Chen from his dream.
He followed him all the way to the inner palace, and they ended up right in front of the Kunning Palace.
Ji Chen pushed open the door and entered, where he saw Su Tingwan dressed in a magnificent phoenix robe. She was radiant and exuded nobility, with gold and silver jewelry adorning her head.
Ji Chen had already drunk some wine at the banquet. The moment he saw Su Tingwan, he praised her without any hesitation, "Third Sister, you look so beautiful today, like the Queen Mother of the West in the Heavenly Palace."
"Big brother, what brings you here?" Su Tingwan smiled, her face full of coquettish charm.
"I walked in by accident. Since my third sister started living in the palace, I haven't had many opportunities to see her. Now that I have a rare chance to enter the palace, I'm just following my heart. There are people I want to see." Ji Chen said provocatively.
Su Tingwan glared at him, "Even as a prince, you still can't keep your mouth shut."
“Third Sister is different now that she’s become Empress,” he said.
She dismissed her maids, leaving only herself and Ji Chen in the palace. A strange glint flashed in her eyes. “My brother has never lacked female companions and has countless concubines in his household. Yet, he has never thought of marrying a princess.”
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