Chapter 1524 (1523): The Grand Finale (Twenty-Six) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Shen De seemed to have a tendency towards being a foolish ruler who believed that "appearances are justified," and he was very cooperative in taking care of Tan Qu. The meat broth rice that Shen Tang had coaxed her to eat for half a cup of tea had been quickly emptied in Tan Qu's hands, with every last bit of residue cleaned up.
Even fruits I don't like, I'm willing to take a few bites of.
After rinsing her mouth, she pursed her lips and waited for Tan Qu to wipe her mouth clean with a handkerchief.
Shen Tang: "..."
Tan Qu didn't have much of a appetite.
He only ate a couple of bites after Shen De finished eating.
He was distracted during the meal, but finally asked the question that had been bothering him for a long time: "The wise ruler doesn't seem to dislike me?"
Shen Tang was unwilling to reveal his identity to the public, so Tan Qu went along with it and called him a wise ruler, but his question left Shen Tang dumbfounded.
Why should we feel disgust?
Is it a showdown between the white moonlight and the cinnabar mole?
"Because of the prayer."
Shen Tang chuckled: "Do I look like a narrow-minded person?"
The key point is that she has no conflict of stance or interest with this "Tan Qu" and her only connection is Qi Yuanliang.
"No, even though Kang and Qu are separated by..." Tan Qu wanted to say that the two countries were thousands of miles apart, practically worlds apart, but considering that Kang had already conquered the central region and would soon be attacking Qu's doorstep, the distance was hard to describe. "I often hear people sing praises of wise and benevolent rulers, whose magnanimity can encompass rivers and seas..."
As he spoke, a genuine admiration was evident on his face.
It's human nature to love someone because of them.
It's only human nature to hate one's own children.
Shen Tang is the ruler of a country, and Qi Yuanliang is her trusted minister. Even if the former wouldn't openly attack the latter's enemies, she couldn't show too much goodwill either, otherwise, Qi Yuanliang would inevitably feel disheartened upon hearing the news. Expressing her opinion wouldn't make any difference.
Perhaps it's true that appearance reflects the heart, for when Tan Qu spoke these words, there was no hint of flattery or obsequiousness, but rather a candid description of a fact he genuinely acknowledged. Shen Tang became interested—not because of Yuan Liang, but purely because of Tan Qu himself.
The Investiture of the Gods was not created after Shen Tang woke up.
Long before the thief star descended from the sky and the world underwent a cataclysmic change, the Investiture of the Gods quietly appeared. In other words, from that time onward, the will of heaven and earth began selectively listing those who were destined for greatness. Although the "Tan Qu" before us died young, his fate was special, deeply intertwined with Qi Shan's destiny, and the two together led to his true spirit being added to the Investiture of the Gods.
He is also one of the most unique figures in the Investiture of the Gods.
Everyone else's spirits were complete, but his was only half intact.
Yes, the half-written message that Shen Tang had seen earlier was him.
A few days ago, Shen Tang cast the marked true spirits from the Investiture of the Gods into the Six Paths of Reincarnation. The rest of them all went smoothly. Those without any attachments celebrated their departure from the dark room with tears streaming down their faces as they went to be reincarnated, while those with attachments left messages in their relatives' dreams.
In the end, only "Tanqu" remained.
According to the account of this half-spirit, he was originally whole, but lost half of himself along the way. Shen Tang quickly calculated and realized where the other half had gone: [Someone defied the world's conventions, forcibly taking half of your spirit and resurrecting you.]
Half-formed True Spirit: [Is it Yue Zheng?]
Although he had blood relatives still alive, he wasn't close to his cousins. Who would go through the trouble of bringing him back to life? After thinking it over, he could only think of Le Zheng. Perhaps the way he died caused Le Zheng too much pain, leading Le Zheng to become obsessed.
Shen Tang's expression was strange: 【No.】
Half-formed True Spirit: [No?]
He really couldn't think of a second candidate.
His life lasted only sixteen years. Although he did good deeds and made many friends, these friendships were superficial, and few were truly heartfelt. Besides Yue Zheng, he couldn't think of anyone else who would be so determined to die. Shen Tang didn't give the half-spirit much time to think: [You now have two choices: either reunite with the other half, or go directly to reincarnation.]
The half-spirit did not hesitate for long.
He chose to reincarnate.
Of course, I didn't appear in anyone's dreams.
Shen Tang asked him why.
He said, "From the time I died until now... more than twenty years have passed, exceeding a lifetime. Old wounds have healed; why bother old friends again?"
Although the deity before him promised that he would have the chance to regain his past life's memories after reincarnation, no one knows when that opportunity will come. Is he really going to let his deceased loved ones carry this longing for another ten or twenty years? How cruel! It would be better not to mention it in the first place. Perhaps, one day in the next life, he will reunite with his former loved ones amidst mountains and rivers—wouldn't that be better?
Shen Tang disagreed with this.
But he doesn't have a penchant for forcing others to do things against their will.
I simply told him about the potential troubles he might encounter in his reincarnation: "Your true spirit is incomplete; in your next life, your wisdom may be clouded unless your other half of your true spirit returns. I just calculated that things should turn around for the better."
The half-dead spirit bows: 【Thank you, wise ruler.】
Having said that, he went off to be reincarnated in peace.
Shen Tang already favored Qi Shan, so naturally she wouldn't hide this news from him. She planned to use this good news to appease Qi Shan after they met—she was worried that conveying the message through her arm wouldn't completely calm Qi Shan down, so to be on the safe side, she wanted to take a double precaution.
When she saw half of the true spirit here, she was secretly delighted.
Good, good, that makes it triple insurance.
Old Deng can be reliable sometimes.
He just didn't expect that Qi Shan's reunion with his white moonlight would be so peaceful, without even a ripple, let alone a tumultuous one.
Shen Tang: "..."
She still doesn't really understand the human race.
Neither of them noticed Qi Miao on the side.
Qi Shan believed in his heart that he was adopting a daughter on behalf of the real Qi Shan, and that Qi Miao was meant to continue Qi Shan's family line. Therefore, he never deliberately concealed any past events or people from the past. Apart from a few people directly involved, Qi Miao was probably the person in the world who knew the most about the past.
Listening to the conversation between Lord Chen Tang and Tan Qu, her heart pounded, and an absurd guess jumped uncontrollably into her mind.
This is not a coincidence at all, that people share the same name, surname, and characters.
With this guess in mind, Qi Miao couldn't help but carefully observe the young man beside her, hesitating several times as if she wanted to speak. Shen Tang, as the ruler of Kang, didn't have much free time; after a simple meal, she left with Shen De. She still needed to follow up on the progress of negotiations between Kang and Qu.
Only Qi Miao and Tan Qu remained in the corner.
Qi Miao extended the invitation before Tan Qu could.
Tan Qu remembered what Shen Tang had implied before leaving—that the afternoon's negotiations hadn't gone smoothly and that Gui Long and the others probably wouldn't be back until the evening. Since he had nothing else to do, he accepted Qi Miao's invitation.
Then, he felt an even stronger sense of disconnect.
The top leaders of both countries argued vehemently for their respective interests, while a group of powerful figures who controlled the lifelines of their respective nations engaged in a public spat, completely lacking in decorum. Meanwhile, lower-ranking soldiers in the military camp played Cuju (ancient Chinese football). As night fell, the military training ground was filled with a group of tall and burly soldiers, men and women, all of them broad-shouldered and imposing, standing in a row like a moving, thick city wall, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.
When vying for the ball, bodies collide solidly.
Tan Qu could even hear the cracking sounds of bones and muscles.
They weren't grabbing the ball; they were practically scrambling for the enemy's head.
It was unclear how much force these people used, but even a single ball hitting the ground could create a fairly deep dent. It was also unclear what material the ball was made of, as it hadn't been destroyed despite all that. Tan Qu, being at a disadvantage in height among the spectators, had some difficulty watching the game while standing on tiptoe, but he was quickly caught up in the atmosphere. Just then, a team scored a goal, and the scoring soldiers cheered, while the spectators joined in with loud applause.
It is well known that people tend to do abstract things when they are excited.
Before he could react, someone picked him up.
Tan Qu: "..."
Fortunately, a newly acquainted friend came to his rescue.
He picked up his soldier, scratched his head awkwardly, and apologized repeatedly.
He looked as if he would be punished with a beating if he refused to agree.
Looking at the soldier in front of him, whose shoulders were even broader and heavier than his own, Tan Qu quickly waved his hand: "Your Majesty, there is no need to apologize. I am fine."
The soldier thought he was a good person.
"Why don't you sit on my shoulders and watch the game, young man?" The scholar, Wenxin, was shorter than the martial artists of the same gender, and only slightly taller than those of the opposite gender. Tan Qu was still a boy, so even standing on tiptoe among the soldiers, he could only see the scene of running and fighting on the field through the gap between the shoulders of the two in front of him. The soldiers noticed his height disadvantage and enthusiastically extended the invitation.
Tan Qu's expression froze: "How can this be?"
"Why not?"
If it weren't for the negotiations between the two countries and the doubled martial law in various places, there would be even more people watching the various camps play football right now. When there are limited spectator seats and not enough space for everyone, they would stack themselves on top of each other, sometimes as many as three or five people.
Of course, this has to be done when there is no war.
Otherwise, if the higher-ups find out, they'll definitely have to give us extra training.
Tan Qu: "...This is inappropriate."
Wu Zu: "Alright, alright, don't be shy, young man. If you won't agree, is it because you still won't forgive my offense just now?"
Qi Miao ignored Tan Qu's embarrassed and pleading eyes.
In the end, a compromise was reached—the soldiers simply conjured long weapons and carried them on their shoulders as shoulder poles, with Tan Qu and Qi Miao sitting on either side. The vantage point offered an excellent view, allowing Tan Qu and Qi Miao to effortlessly observe the entire battle.
Tan Qu almost covered his face.
Qi Miao laughed loudly to the side.
The soldier whistled loudly: "What's there to be ashamed of?"
Tan Qu: "..."
He had never experienced such a scene before.
At first, he felt uneasy, but as the intense competition on the field and the close score between the two teams drew him in, he couldn't help but become engrossed in watching.
He even couldn't help but cheer and shout like the other spectators after scoring a tricky goal. At first, he was a little reserved, but seeing the enthusiastic scene around him, he was infected and joined in.
Until a winner is determined.
The winning team receives half a pig.
The team leader held the trophy high with both hands and let out a long roar. He didn't look like he had just won a game; he looked like he had won a great victory.
By the time they dispersed, the moon was already high in the sky.
When Tan Qu calmed down, he realized that his palms were sore—he had slapped them so hard when he was too caught up in the excitement of cheering for the winner.
He said, "I have never seen such an event before."
Cuju (ancient Chinese football) was a popular pastime among the sons of aristocratic families, but those who actually played it viewed it as entertainment, more for show than anything else. The atmosphere wasn't particularly lively, and the participants were all concerned about their image. The match I witnessed today, however, was different; it was truly bloody.
This shows how intense the game was.
The more intense the conflict, the harder it is to maintain decorum.
"There isn't much entertainment in the camp, and the soldiers are all young, strong, and full of energy. It's hard for them to release their excess energy during regular training..." Qi Miao walked alongside him, pausing here, "In the past, military camps often had places for soldiers to seek pleasure, such as singers and dancers or prostitutes. The men and women who were captured had to do chores and relieve the soldiers' worries."
Tan Qu: "A wise ruler would not do such a thing."
Qi Miao nodded: "That's natural."
This kind of thing can't be solved by simply blocking it without addressing the underlying issues.
It is necessary to strengthen the soldiers' ideological awareness, but also to provide alternatives. This kind of entertainment with high-intensity competitive characteristics is the best choice. Those in charge turn a blind eye to it, and even personally participate when they have the time and inclination to join in the fun with the soldiers.
After listening attentively, Tan Qu clapped his hands and said, "A wise ruler is truly excellent."
Quguo's defeat is almost inevitable.
He soon noticed that Qi Miao beside him had stopped.
The latter's gaze was fixed in one direction.
Tan Qu followed the gaze and looked in that direction.
Caught off guard, I met a pair of deep, complex eyes.
The owner of those eyes was the old father who came late at night to pick up his daughter and take her back to camp, Qi Zhongshu, who was suspected of having a blood feud with Tan Qu.
Tan Qu paused for a moment, but felt no panic at the sight of his enemy.
I could only sigh inwardly; what's meant to happen will happen.
Little did they know, the person in front of them had already crashed.
Qi Shan had a wonderful day.
He argued with Qu Guo and his group of unreasonable bastards in the morning, and in the afternoon he continued to face Yu Hai's mean and sarcastic face, barely managing to eat a couple of bites of rice. Thinking about the argument that would continue in the evening, he stuffed himself with two throat lozenges, and then—the Lord's face suddenly appeared out of nowhere, hands raised high, shouting: "Surprise!"
"Cough cough cough—"
Qi Shan was so frightened that she choked on her throat lozenge.
The touching atmosphere that should have been present when the emperor and his ministers met again was completely swept away.
Shen Tang was so anxious that she was about to use the Heimlich maneuver on Qi Shan.
Finally, after a flurry of activity, Qi Shan managed to spit out the throat lozenge that had nearly killed him, and his face, which had been half red and half blue, returned to normal. This commotion had completely extinguished Qi Shan's temper: "When did Master arrive?"
"Just now, I came to see you right away."
Qi Shan snorted, disbelieving.
But I still felt very pleased.
Although the emperor and his minister had much to say upon their reunion, the negotiations between the two countries were the most important matter at hand. Since Shen Tang was already there, he naturally couldn't let Qi Shan suffer any more. Even after the event ended, Shen Tang calculated Tan Qu's location again and asked Qi Shan to go and fetch his daughter. Qi Shan was puzzled by this.
The military was under strict security.
Even if some soldiers had malicious intentions, they dared not commit the crime against the wind.
Shen Tang said mysteriously, "There's a surprise."
She calculated it from a different angle and realized she had made a mistake.
Knowing that Qi Shan and Tan Qu hadn't actually met, and adhering to the principle of "the more the merrier," she deliberately led Qi Shan there to receive the real surprise of the day. Qi Shan, unaware of the true situation, still accepted her kindness; he even brought his daughter's favorite cheese.
"What surprise could it be?" Qi Shan didn't stay on the main road, but chose a shady spot in the camp to wait, closing his eyes to sense Qi Miao's location. For some reason, as time went by, his heart grew increasingly restless, as if something big was about to happen.
He opened his eyes only as Qi Miao's aura drew ever closer.
Two blurry figures could be seen walking side by side in the distance.
The two seemed to be chatting and laughing, and were getting along very well.
One of them was naturally the daughter, Qimiao.
The other person looked like a young man.
Qi Shan was taken aback: "This is the surprise?"
Recalling the mysterious expression on his master's face, he found it slightly amusing, but also blamed himself for not noticing the clues immediately as a father—since Zheng Xiuchi's death, Qi Miao had not had any close male companions, and Qi Shan knew that she had not yet let go.
However, he did not urge him.
Qi Miao is considered to have mastered both literature and medicine, and she has a long future ahead of her.
The matter of marriage and raising an heir takes up too much energy and is not good for her spiritual practice. It would be better to wait until everything is stable before considering it.
But when new people appeared, he didn't stop them.
In the blink of an eye, I've already gone through countless rounds of scrutiny.
Too young, too short, too thin... I don't know what his talent and character are like, and his family background is secondary.
At that moment, the dark clouds that had been obscuring the moonlight quietly dispersed, and the moonlight poured down without reservation, its cool glow falling on the two of them like a hazy veil. At first, Qi Shan's attention was focused on Qi Miao, until the boy's voice gradually reached her ears.
He immediately recognized the man as one brought by Qu Guoyu Hai.
The people Yu Hai brought?
Qi Shan immediately became vigilant.
He glared at the boy with a sharp, menacing look.
But in that one glance, he froze on the spot, the world fell silent, everything faded, and his blood erupted in his heart like surging magma, the thunderous roar shaking the world to its core. At that moment, his eyes could only see, and could only see, the boy arriving under the moonlight. The boy was leaning to the side, whispering and laughing with Qi Miao, and even from that distance, Qi Shan couldn't see his face clearly.
Can--
They look so alike!
It's exactly like...
Just then, the boy turned his face.
Clang.
The food box slipped from his hand, and the bowl of cheese spilled all over the floor.
Qi Shan's expression was blank; he didn't even realize he had taken two steps back. Only one thought was bombarding his defenses.
This is... the real surprise the Lord spoke of?
"Father."
"Pray for the Prime Minister..."
Following Qi Miao, they witnessed a scene rarely seen in millennia.
His father, who had remained unmoved even when impeached by the entire Censorate, was now in a panic, breathing rapidly, and almost fleeing in a disheveled state. He even stepped on the hem of his clothes, staggered a couple of steps before regaining his balance, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Qi Miao: "Why are you running???"
Tan Qu stroked his chin thoughtfully.
She murmured, "It seems... I'm not at fault."
The two sides do indeed have a blood feud, but Qi Shan is in the wrong!
Indeed, there was a misunderstanding.
Tan Qu calmed down; he was waiting for an explanation.
Just as he was thinking about how to get a proper talk with this Prime Minister of Kangguo, Qi Shan, who had run away, ran back. He grabbed his wrist with what seemed like a rough but not very strong grip, stared intently at him, and gritted his teeth, asking, "What is your name?"
Perhaps it was just my imagination, but there was a hint of tremor in that shout.
“Replying to Prime Minister Qi, my name is Tan Qu, courtesy name Lezheng.”
Boom! Boom!
The thunderclouds that had been looming over Qi Shan's heart since that year finally unleashed a devastating thunderbolt, each strike causing him to lose his reason and his ability to think.
"Tan Lezheng?"
"Yes, it is I."
"Tan Lezheng? Lezheng? You are Lezheng?"
Although Tan Qu didn't know why Qi Shan was reacting so strangely, he called out to him repeatedly and responded each time. Unexpectedly, he was suddenly and firmly hugged. Tan Qu was stunned; he found his mind blank and didn't know how to react for a long time.
"This humble citizen..."
The rest of the conversation ended with a single "Yuanliang".
A memory door in my brain was violently blasted open by a blast of air.
All that has happened in the past, I can only glance at it briefly.
Tan Qu's gaze shifted from shock, confusion, and doubt to a look of sudden realization. He tilted his head slightly in disbelief, forcing back his rapid breathing, and asked, "You are...Le Zheng? You're alive? But Le Zheng, how did you become like this..."
A pair of wooden clogs arrived before the hurried footsteps could be heard.
Then came Yu Hai's outburst of curses.
Tan Qu, or rather, the real Qi Shan, reacted quickly, crouching down with her companion to dodge the flying wooden clogs, her expression strange.
“You’re not wronged by Irie’s scolding.”
His memory tells him that Yu Hai is still single.
And someone has to bear a great responsibility for this.
|ω`)
My new favorite, Story100, arrives tomorrow, but there's no space on the keyboard shelf, so I need to quickly make room for it. *sigh* (p′︵‵。) I'll just have to pick an old favorite for the lottery tonight; I'll probably still try my luck with Big Eyes again.
(End of this chapter)
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