In the years of Emperor Liang Ming’s reign, the court was rife with the abuse of power and bribery, the selling of offices and titles was widespread, and Grand Preceptor Qi Yutai further spoiled his nefarious son, formed cliques and obscured the worthy. There were no few within the court who detested this in secret. The Privy Council and the imperial guards’ power were unified, and with Prince Ning initiating the palace coup, it was accomplished more smoothly than one could have imagined.
The Third Prince and the Crown Prince were engaged in an overt and covert struggle, and to this indifferent prince, they had never taken into concern. Lost in indulgence on one hand, he had been lying in wait for a long time.
In the midst of the slaughter, Emperor Liang Ming, trembling, pointed at him: "Pei Yunmeng, dare you commit treason?"
He smiled faintly, "Speaking of treason, who can surpass Your Majesty?"
"You..."
"You, such a man," Pei Yunmeng said coldly, "also fit to be a sovereign?"
"Why am I not?" the Emperor roared. "Where do I fall short compared to Yuan Xi? Just because he is the Crown Prince, does this empire and throne have to end up in his hands? He has loyal subjects and brothers, he has the best of everything. The Emperor, my father, deceived me, always saying that I was his most beloved son, but in reality, he was still partial, wanting to keep the best for him!"
"They all deserved to die!"
"I should not have spared you back then!" gasped Emperor Liang Ming, his face twisted with rage as he stared at Prince Ning, who was closing in. "And you! You’ve been biding your time for years just for this moment... well done, indolent prince!"
"And isn’t that the same with you, elder brother?" Prince Ning sneered, "You should be grateful that you’ve occupied something stolen for so many years."
"A mere thief, ludicrously coveting the throne."
The edge of the blade fell, and all grudges came to an abrupt halt.
Years of plotting for revenge finally came to an end, a deep vengeance was settled, and looking back, he could scarcely remember the path he had walked, his heart empty and vast.
He wondered if on the night when Lu Tong’s vengeance was attained, he looked up at the fireworks at the Edge of Chang Le Pond, did he feel the same as him?
After dealing with Yan Xu’s aftermath in Shengjing, Yuan Lang sent him to Qi Shui, knowing well enough that it was intentional. This Prince Ning who had accompanied him for many years, even after ascending the throne, still retained a bit of the old gossip and common touch. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
He went with the flow.
Pei Yunmeng understood clearly that the interactions between people were like walking face to face, some walked fast, and some walked slowly.
It didn’t matter if she walked slowly; he was willing to walk a few extra steps.
He rejoiced that he had taken those extra steps.
Only then did he realize how much she had suffered, how much pain she had endured, how alone she had been.
He had been arrogant and aloof, disdaining others’ invitations, and his mother would tell him: "Ah Ying, like this, you’ll end up with no one to talk to."
"I don’t need anyone."
"But, Ah Ying, in life, whether you are happy or unhappy, if there’s only one person to experience it, it’ll be very lonely."
Lu Tong had once been that lonely.
Luckily, that would not be the case in the future.
From now on, whether it’s joy or sorrow, separation or love, hatred or affection, he would share them all with her.
He walked into the study where Lu Tong was sitting at the desk, seriously constructing his Wooden Pagoda. The Wooden Pagoda towered high, assembled into a cluster, but the top piece would not stay in place no matter what. She repeated the attempt several times, and impatience began to show on Lu Tong’s face.
He quirked his lips, approached her from behind, and took her hand to place the wooden piece on top, saying, "Don’t rush, building a tower requires focused calm."
Enveloped in his embrace, her head brushing against his chin, she paused before saying irritably, "How can I stay calm with you here?"
"Tsk, are you blaming me for distracting you?"
"What else?"
"It must be this face’s fault," he mused.
Lu Tong turned her head to frown at him, and after a moment, said seriously, "Indeed, this face does resemble someone from my past."
"What someone?"
"Someone who owes me silver," she said.
He raised his eyebrows: "I don’t have silver, but I have someone here, do you want him?"
Lu Tong feigned disdain: "He’ll do, the face is acceptable."
"...Then I’ve made a profit."
She looked up at him, and after a while, couldn’t help but laugh.
Pei Yunmeng also began to laugh.
The Wooden Pagoda stood quietly on the table, once piled up piece by piece by someone, then suddenly knocked down, over and over again, from past to present, witnessing his fragility and strength.
The days ahead are long, not daring to claim there will be no more doubts, but he hasn’t built a Wooden Pagoda in a very long time.
She is the last piece.
And the most significant.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com