Chapter 1516: The Grand Finale (18) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Since Shen Tang went to repair the four broken pillars, there have been few happy events in Kang Camp. Chu Yao then proposed to hold a banquet, firstly to welcome the lord back and celebrate her safe passage through the tribulation, and secondly to give the officials a break.
Shen Tang naturally wouldn't refuse.
"That's fine too."
"Would the lord like to meet Xiahou Zikuan and the others?"
Xiahou Yu led his troops to camp seventy li away. Chu Yao immediately sent someone to deliver the message, but whether or not to meet with him still required consulting the lord's opinion. Times had changed; the lord's energy was limited and he couldn't be overworked. Xiahou Yu and the others would understand if they knew.
"Of course I will see him."
It would be a while before Xiahou Yu and the others arrived, so Shen Tang took the opportunity to take a bath, deeply experiencing the inconvenience of not having both literary and martial energy. Before, she could just have someone bring her water, and she could use her martial energy to heat it up before jumping in to wash. Now, she had to ask others to help heat the water.
After washing, you can only wring your hair dry with a cloth.
There are reasons why ordinary people don't like to take a bath in winter.
Long, thick hair is hard to dry, and the temperature is low this season; it's not worth getting sick and dying just to take a bath. It was only in recent years, with the government vigorously promoting perfume sales throughout the country, that the hygiene awareness of ordinary people gradually changed, and the hygiene level of Kangguo improved somewhat.
Shen Tang came out wearing a plain-colored inner garment.
The furnishings inside the tent were different from before, and the temperature was also much higher. Seeing her looking around, Ji Moqiu knew what she was thinking and thoughtfully explained, "It was Commander Chu who had the four corners of the main tent re-inspected, and any leaks were re-wrapped with animal hides."
They even ordered people to dig temporary fire channels under the camp.
Wu Hui has always been meticulous.
Shen Tang struggled with her hair, but was no match for it, and became angry.
"I really want to cut it in half with a pair of scissors."
Ji Moqiu moved the drying rack closer, took the cloth, and gathered a suitable amount of martial energy in his palm. He carefully and meticulously dried and smoothed her long hair. She leaned back, using Ji Moqiu's lap as a pillow, and stretched lazily: "I'm going to lie down and take a nap."
"Um."
"Don't you want to ask something for yourself?"
Ji Moqiu paused, and just when Shen Tang thought he wouldn't ask, he said, "Does Your Highness still want me to leave?"
Shen Tang opened her eyes.
The first thing that caught her eye wasn't the face that looked exactly like she remembered, but rather a few braids that hung down from his shoulders, just inches from her eyelids. She tugged at the braids and sighed, "He's as clingy as ever. I don't know who raised him to be like this."
During her tribulation, Shen Tang's emotional ties were closed, so she could not and would not develop romantic feelings for Ji Moqiu, even though Ji Moqiu was actually on her list of ideal husbands—one who not only didn't spend her money, but also gave her a huge fortune, regularly offered gold bricks as tribute, was highly capable, hardworking, and didn't receive a salary, and had a generous and unambitious personality, and even offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal. By all accounts, he was the best candidate for the first wife.
What a virtuous and unassuming wife!
Before Shen Tang regained her memories, she planned out each stage of her future. First, she would govern the country, then bring peace to the people, spending twenty years laying a solid foundation to usher in a golden age. Only after everything was on track would she consider an heir. Perhaps she would have her own child, or perhaps she would use the method of Gongyang Yongye and Xiang Zhao; in any case, she needed one.
She did consider adopting one from the general public.
Chu Yao and his group refused to acknowledge it, finding it impractical—in this era of low productivity and unenlightened populace, should people be chosen based on morality or ability? And how should they be chosen?
Power, selfishness.
Aren't there enough examples of people abusing their power for personal gain?
Those who wield power naturally develop the illusion that it belongs to them, and then want to pass it on to their next generation, ensuring that power only flows through their bloodline. To put it bluntly, even an old farmer would want to give his children a thatched hut.
Moreover, this "thatched hut" belongs to the whole world! Shen Tang is willing to give it up, but Qi Shan and the others don't believe that the successor is willing to do the same.
They were more convinced of Shen Tang's bloodline, which was still unborn.
Oh, so it's not like it's vanished now.
Isn't Shen De that girl?
In other words, if Shen Tang really needs a husband who can bear children, Ji Moqiu is indeed her first choice.
Let alone Shen Tang, if Qi Shan and the others were to choose, they would also give him priority—his talent and strength are barely worthy of the title, his background is simple and he is not involved in the interests of the court factions, his personality is kind, reserved and unambitious and he does not care about titles, so his overall conditions are indeed acceptable.
Shen Tang has now regained all her memories, and the threads of her emotions have been untied.
Looking at Jimo Qiu again evoked other feelings.
The idea that someone is generous, reserved, uncompetitive, and unconcerned about titles is a misconception.
"You—"
Shen Tang did not respond directly, but only sighed softly.
Ji Moqiu lowered his eyes slightly, and the two looked at each other for a long time. He took the initiative to bend down and lean close to Shen Tang's shoulder, and whispered in a barely audible voice, "Your Highness, for all eternity, you are all I have now."
Poor thing, filled with anxiety and fear of being abandoned.
Shen Tang raised her arm and gently patted the back of his head: "Don't be afraid."
She remembered.
This personality was something she raised herself.
In a daze, she seemed to return to that majestic and serene temple hidden in the woods. Time seemed to have blurred within the temple, and a desolate silence pervaded its interior and exterior; even the most vibrant colors could only fade helplessly here. In the eyes of Heaven, she was His most satisfying creation, allowing her no resistance whatsoever; in the eyes of the believers, she was a deity who had protected them for countless years, granting all their prayers.
Shen Tang had a deep bond with the first generation of her clan, who sincerely worshipped, liked, and trusted her. But time changes everything, and even the laws of nature can change, let alone these living beings. Even she herself had lost her vitality over the years.
The panda hero said he preferred her aloof demeanor.
Shen Tang replied that she was not born with a life full of bitterness and hatred.
That's true.
Because she knew her original appearance, Shen Tang was even less inclined to believe Shao Bai, who had made such a boastful promise to her in the temple.
High Priest Shao Bai, the last high priest of that clan.
He is also a descendant of that clan.
Do not make promises to God lightly.
The price you pay is too high.
The high priest ultimately fulfilled his promise by being born in every day and dying in every lifetime, and that if he regretted it even once in a lifetime, he could regain his freedom and have his soul liberated.
In that past life, when she was undergoing her tribulation, the Heavenly Dao declared that she possessed the constitution of plants and trees, devoid of heart and emotion, and unable to overcome the tribulation of love, thus causing her death. Even now, Shen Tang still refuses to accept the Heavenly Dao's judgment. Who says plants and trees are without emotion? Does something that doesn't conform to the Heavenly Dao's stereotypical view of love not possess emotion?
Ji Moqiu was willing to follow her through countless lifetimes, and she was willing to accept his promise. Wasn't that love? Heaven is the most heartless of all. If He understood anything, He wouldn't have ruined ten children, ultimately spoiling Yaozu, who was even more useless than a good-for-nothing.
She wouldn't do that.
Perhaps she was really tired, Shen Tang gradually felt sleepy.
Before long, a presence quietly approached.
Ji Moqiu looked up and saw a head quietly sticking into the tent.
A round face and round almond-shaped eyes.
Ji Moqiu exchanged glances with Shen De, and then waved goodbye.
Shen De smiled, revealing his teeth, and trotted in.
Shen Tang didn't open her eyes, wanting to see what the two of them were up to.
result--
Her stomach suddenly felt heavy.
The force almost choked him.
She suddenly opened her eyes: "You—"
Chubby Shen De straddled her belly, unafraid even when she was awake, and dared to bounce on her belly: "Mom."
Shen Tang: "..."
She grabbed Shen De in annoyance and lightly pinched the chubby girl's face.
"Didn't you even check your weight before you sat down? Luckily I didn't eat, otherwise I would have squeezed out the leftovers from last night."
This force wasn't even as painful as Shen De's usual falls. Her head swayed left and right with Shen Tang's force, her three little pigtails bobbing back and forth. How could Shen Tang still be angry? The moment she let go, the child tried to take advantage, grabbing Shen Tang's clothes and neck to climb up, still giggling and calling out in a soft, sweet voice, "Mommy."
Shen Tang paused for a moment, then turned her face away.
Shen De climbed up on top of her, bringing his head close.
She called out again in a soft, sweet voice, "Mommy."
Her features resembled hers, yet she possessed an undisguised stubbornness.
They adopted an attitude that they absolutely needed a response.
Shen Tang: "..."
My feelings are complicated.
From a causal perspective, this child has little to do with her; from an appearance perspective, the child is very attractive to her; and from a worldly perspective, the child is indeed her flesh and blood. The thought that Shen De would receive no special treatment beyond worldly considerations from her, and might even be targeted by the Heavenly Dao, while she could only give her the world and the heavy burden it inherently carried, filled Shen Tang with a sense of guilt.
"Like a jade tablet."
She lifted the chubby girl up by her armpits.
Shen De reached out and hugged her neck: "Mom."
"Like a jade tablet."
"Mom."
"Ru Gui..."
Shen De looked up, puzzled, at Shen Tang who was only repeating himself.
Her new brain couldn't process anything too complicated, but her intuition told her that simply copying was a disease. So she raised her chubby little hand and stroked Chen Tang's face. Listening to what the other students had said, her mother needed more and more companionship and love. She pouted and leaned in for a kiss.
"Mom."
Shen Tang was stunned for a moment by the kiss.
When she met Chu Yao, she asked him about the issue she was worried about.
"Is Ru Gui not very bright?"
Other children, even if they can't speak clearly, will still babble; only repeating and copying is a kind of illness. As an ancient god with a long string of zeros in her age list, Shen Tang had never raised such a young child before. Every high priest selected to study at the temple was already of age where they could take care of themselves, and they didn't bother her in any other way besides cultivation. Shen Tang really didn't know what a three- or four-year-old child was like.
Chu Yao: "Your Highness is very intelligent."
Although her innate talent isn't great, and she won't achieve much in martial arts in the future, remaining at just an average level, her mind is sound. She'd be better suited for a literary career, which would also be more convenient for governing the country. Chu Yao didn't understand why his lord had such concerns.
Shen Tang told her about Shen De being a broken record.
Chu Yao: "...Your Highness is only half a year old."
Rounding up, one year old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning).
Shen Tang's concern was genuine: "...But this is normal?"
Chu Yao, a single man: "..."
Honestly, he wasn't sure; he'd never raised a child who was six months or three or four years old. When he took over Lin Feng and Tu Rong, neither of them had given him any trouble. They hadn't even experienced the rebellious adolescence of the stubborn Lin Feng, let alone the more mature Yu Zi. Chu Yao said, "I'll go ask my other colleagues."
Not all civil and military officials in Kangguo were single.
There are also many officials who contribute to the population through normal marriages.
Shen Tang: "...Ask, there's nothing shameful about asking."
Xiahou Yu and his entourage arrived and were already waiting outside the tent.
This was, in fact, the first time they had ever seen Shen Tang in person.
The bond between ruler and subject wasn't as deep as that with the elders, but they had still shared the early days of the dynasty. Shen Tang's words of comfort only brought more tears to the group's eyes. Some were genuinely overjoyed at Shen Tang's return, weeping with happiness, while others were grieving for themselves.
The sky that had been pressing down on them—she had returned.
If the other party finds out that I had ulterior motives, I'll be in big trouble in the future. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry.
The camp was bustling with activity that day.
During the period of relative calm in the war, the pigs were fed better and grew quite fat. The camp's cook slaughtered more than three hundred pigs in one go.
The air above the camp was filled with the aroma of meat.
All soldiers, regardless of rank, received some.
Everyone was beaming with joy, and the sorrow of the past six months was nowhere to be seen.
The soldiers below were confused. It wasn't a holiday or any major victory, so why were they suddenly celebrating?
"Don't worry about all that, just eat."
"That's right, there must be some good news from above."
"We're all benefiting from this, why bother figuring out what the happy occasion is?"
The pork in the pot had been stewing for just the right amount of time, the broth was incredibly fragrant, and the pork itself was so delicious you'd want to bite your tongue off. Paired with a sip of fine wine, the sheer pleasure would send a rush of pleasure straight to your head. The banquet was ready; all that was missing was the host's appearance. Shen Tang grabbed a dagger.
"Wu Hui, have you sent someone to deliver a message to Yuan Liang?"
"It has already been dispatched."
It's not just for praying for good.
Many people realized that the battle against Qu was the last chance to gain a lot of military merit, and almost everyone rushed to go. If it weren't for the fact that they didn't want to stretch the battle lines too far, and didn't want to send out all their troops to give the remnants of the central army a chance to counterattack, Chu Yao's troops should have gone too.
The joy of the Lord's return greatly boosts the morale of the army. With the army's morale as firm as Mount Tai, their fighting spirit can soar like a raging fire. They will advance with the courage to break through enemy lines and defend with the fortifications of an iron wall, making the entire army invincible and unstoppable.
Shen Tang: "Call them back."
Chu Yao was puzzled.
Shen Tang skillfully manipulated the dagger with her fingers.
"I'm faster on my end."
Chu Yao disagreed: "How can His Majesty's noble body be lightly injured?"
It was fine before; martial artists are tough and resilient, so they could still bounce around after all the falls and fights. But now he's so fragile. How much suffering will he endure from bleeding and injuries? What if the plague invades his wounds? Sending someone to deliver a message is a bit slow, but it's safe and reliable.
"Well, that's different."
"What's different?"
Shen Tang scratched her nose awkwardly: "Sending someone to deliver a message would not make me seem pitiful, cute, and approachable, and would not be able to soften Zhongshu's heart."
Chu Yao: "..."
Shen Tang said, "I won't carve any more."
Chu Yao reluctantly agreed and urgently summoned a physician from the medical field.
Shen Tang: "..."
She suspected that if she carved the words with her dagger too slowly, the wound wouldn't heal as quickly as it opened. Chu Yao had an expression that left no room for negotiation, so Shen Tang could only concede and agree, "Alright then."
I originally wanted to tattoo my entire forearm, but now only one sentence of three words remains.
Return home, do not worry.
Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.
In a camp a thousand miles away, someone suddenly cried out in alarm.
"Grand Tutor, Grand Tutor, your arm—"
A small, winding red snake flowed from his sleeve, gathering at Qi Shan's wrist and staining his palm and fingers red. This scene took place in the main tent of the camp, where a group of civil and military officials were discussing matters. Someone keenly smelled a fresh scent of blood and followed the smell to its source.
Qi Shan's arm began to bleed without warning.
|ω`)
Qi Shan: No wonder you have the appearance of an old friend; it turns out that the old friend is not dead.
The ultimate surprise is coming.
There should be an extra chapter in the IF storyline where Tang Mei awakens during the Wu Kingdom period.
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