Chapter 43 [43] Not only fate, but also the enchanting beauty...
【43】/First release on Jinjiang Literature City
Yun Ran slept for an exceptionally long time.
When she woke up in a daze, she found that the carriage was still moving. When she opened her eyes, she saw a perfect and beautiful face.
Sima Jing supported his forehead with one hand, his eyes closed. Although the royal blue curtain beside him was hanging down, a little light leaked out from time to time as the carriage swayed.
The faint light sprinkled on the cold, jade-white face, as if covering it with a dreamy veil, making his already delicate facial features even more revealing a faint, otherworldly color.
What a nice view.
Yun Ran didn't have time to think about how she ended up lying on the man's legs. All her attention was attracted by this face.
From the first time she saw Sima Jing, she knew he was a great beauty.
Even after spending so many days together, I am still amazed by this face from time to time.
Especially when she saw the man's thick black eyelashes, she couldn't help but think that if His Highness wore a dress and a pearl hairpin, he would be a hundred times more beautiful than her...
Sima Jing was very sensitive to gazes. When he opened his eyes with a frown, he met a small round face that was staring at him intently.
When their eyes met, the air seemed to be still for two breaths.
Sima Jing: "You..."
Yun Ran: "I..."
Sima Jing pursed his lips and said, "Get up when you wake up."
Yun Ran: “…Oh oh!”
She sat up quickly, but when she stood up, she heard a soft groan.
Yun Ran turned around in surprise. When she saw that it was her own hand supporting the man's thigh, she wondered, "Your Highness, what's wrong with you?"
Sima Jing: "...Take your hands away."
My legs are numb from being pressed.
Yun Ran realized what had happened belatedly. Her cheeks flushed instantly and she said embarrassedly, "I didn't mean to do that."
She said, "Your Highness, if you stamp your feet hard and move them a bit, the numbness will go away."
Sima Jing did not listen to her and just sat there quietly.
Seeing this, Yun Ran didn't understand, but he didn't try to persuade her. He just raised his hand to straighten his cloak and asked, "Why did I end up sleeping on your lap? We haven't even reached Danfeng Gate yet, and it feels like I've been sleeping for a long time."
Sima Jing said, "We have already left Chang'an City."
Yun Ran: "Ah?"
Sima Jing: "Since you were sound asleep, I didn't wake you."
Yun Ran hurriedly lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked outside. Sure enough, he saw that the fields outside were vast and the winter mountains were sleeping. The vast and desolate land was no longer the prosperous scene with numerous markets and bustling crowds of people.
"But didn't Aunt Lan Gui say that when we get to Danfeng Gate, we have to pay our respects to the Queen Mother and our cousin, the Empress?"
For this, she was forced to sit in front of the dressing mirror early in the morning to put on makeup, rouge, eyebrows and lipstick, which took a lot of effort.
Sima Jing looked at her rosy face after a good sleep and said calmly, "I sent someone to tell them that I'm not feeling well and need your care. I don't have time to greet you."
Yun Ran was shocked: "Is this possible?"
Sima Jing asked in return: "Why not?"
Yun Ran: "...Okay."
He was lying anyway.
But considering that he helped her sleep a little longer, if the Queen Mother and her cousin the Queen pursued the matter, she would take half the blame for him.
Thinking of this, she opened her arms, stretched her waist, shook her head to stretch her muscles, and said to herself:
"Madame Lan Gui said it takes most of the day to get to Mount Li and we won't arrive until the evening, so I asked the kitchen to prepare a lot of food yesterday, including wax noodle tea, ginger honey water, lily pastries, jade bean cakes, and fragrant tea osmanthus cakes. If your highness is hungry, please feel free to eat as much as you want. Don't be shy."
"I also packed some assorted steamed buns, pork and leek pancakes, and marinated duck legs. Mammy said we'll be stopping by the roadside for half an hour, which is perfect for building a fire and making some hot soup to warm our stomachs. When we stop, I'll heat up those steamed buns, leek pancakes, and duck legs and have them for lunch."
"By the way, I also brought a bag of roasted melon seeds. Would you like some, Your Highness? They're delicious."
She bent down and took out the bag from under the seat.
In the blink of an eye, Sima Jing saw her take out a bag of melon seeds, a bag of preserved fruits, a storybook, and a deck of cards from her bag.
Sima Jing glanced at the cover of the storybook and saw that it was written "Guiyuan Unofficial History". The title of the book was quite decent, but he didn't know the content of the book...
Yun Ran also noticed Sima Jing's gaze: "Your Highness, are you also interested in this story?"
Sima Jing: "What did you say?"
It was rare for him to ask this question, so Yun Ran sat up straight immediately. "This story is about a poor boy named Liu Wu, who had no parents. He was originally a tenant in the household of Mr. Guo. But there was a particularly bad guard named Wang Liu in the mansion. Seeing that Liu Wu did a good job and was valued by Mr. Guo, even his daughter looked at him differently. Wang Liu became jealous and framed Liu Wu for stealing. Liu Wu was beaten half to death and kicked out of the mansion. Just when he was about to freeze to death... Your Highness, guess what he did?"
Meeting the young lady's bright eyes full of expectation, Sima Jing said, "He's dead."
Yun Ran was startled, then frowned: "Your Highness, why are you making such wild guesses? He is the protagonist. If he died, there would be no further story."
Sima Jing: "Then he is not dead."
Yun Ran: “…”
She curled her lips but continued, "Just when he was about to freeze to death in the snow, Taishang Laojun appeared and said that he was a genius in cultivating immortality. If he could do more good deeds, practice diligently, and survive the nine thunder tribulations, he would be able to ascend to immortality and achieve immortality! This book tells the story of his cultivation to immortality. It's so interesting, I've already read the third volume! If I had known Your Highness was interested, I would have brought the first two volumes so you could read them."
Sima Jing: “…”
Not necessarily.
"See for yourself."
Sima Jing said calmly, "I brought books."
Yun Ran was curious: "What books did Your Highness bring?"
Sima Jing was silent for a moment, then took out a book from the secret compartment in the carriage and handed it to her.
Yun Ran frowned as he read "Strategies of the Warring States." He flipped through the pages and saw the densely packed, difficult-to-understand text, so he immediately closed the book. "I'm already dizzy from riding in a car, and reading this will definitely make me even dizzier. I'd better just read my immortal cultivation storybook."
Sima Jing pondered for a moment: "You also want to cultivate immortality?"
"I don't even think about it. Although the highest pursuit of us Taoists is to cultivate the Tao and become immortal, but..."
Yun Ran shook his head. "The path to immortality is arduous and full of obstacles, and there are many strict restrictions. It's not something that ordinary people can achieve. For example, I can't drink dew and eat breeze, let alone those who fast for years... I get starving if I don't eat for one meal, and I'd even want to eat myself if I don't eat for three."
"Also, my master has long said that for ordinary people like us, we shouldn't be too greedy or have too big ambitions. We should just live a down-to-earth life, calm our minds, and cultivate our bodies and minds. Living to a hundred years old is already great. There's no need to go far to find heaven. Just be at ease and be at peace. Everywhere is a fairyland!"
Seeing that she was speaking so logically, Sima Jing curled his lips slightly, "Then I wish you all your wishes come true and you live a long life."
Yun Ran chuckled and said "Thank you very much", then said: "Then I also wish Your Highness a long life and peace for many years."
Sima Jing paused for a moment as he held the book in his long fingers. He lowered his thick eyelashes and said, "No need. I don't want to live that long."
Yun Ran: "Why?"
Sima Jing raised his eyelids and said, "Everyone has their own aspirations. You find the world full of diverse forms and endless interest, but I find it full of ghosts and monsters, and extremely boring."
Yun Ran: “…”
What a pessimistic person.
Her rosy lips moved twice, and she really wanted to tell him that this world was really interesting, with delicious food, beautiful scenery, and so many lovely people and things.
But the man in front of him had already turned sideways, opened the book and started reading, making it clear that he didn't want to talk anymore.
Yun Ran could only swallow those words silently, and she realized that the devastation that Rong Di had brought him over the past ten years was far more serious than she had imagined...
Alas, it’s difficult.
By noon, the huge army found a flat ground with a wide view and stopped.
Yun Ran had been huddled in the carriage for the entire morning, and Sima Jing was a stubborn person, so as soon as the carriage stopped, she couldn't wait to get off.
Only then did she realize that the imperial procession was so long.
After all, it was the emperor's outing, and the pomp and circumstance was a hundred times more magnificent than the governor's outing she had seen in Yangzhou before. There were hundreds of carriages alone, and thousands of guards accompanying him.
Aunt Lan Gui also joined them on this trip.
As soon as she saw the princess get off the carriage, she immediately went forward and asked, "Princess, do you have any instructions?"
Yun Ran shook his head: "It's okay, I just sat in the car for too long, so I got out to stretch my arms and legs."
As she spoke, she looked forward and saw that the gorgeous carriages in front of them were parked quietly with no one getting off.
As for the long line of carriages behind them, quite a few people got off, and Yun Ran also saw several familiar figures -
"Mother, Fourth Brother?!"
Yun Ran rubbed his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating because he had been sitting in the car for so long: "Mammy, is that my mother and fourth brother?"
Nanny Lan Gui looked in the direction and chuckled, "Indeed. In previous years, His Majesty would bring a group of trusted ministers with him when he went to the Hot Spring Palace. As relatives of the royal family, the Marquis' Mansion was naturally among them."
This was a pleasant surprise for Yun Ran. She was just about to run over to find her mother and brother when Nanny Lan Gui reminded her, "Now that the princess has gotten out of the carriage, according to etiquette, she should go and pay her respects to the Queen Mother and the Empress first."
Yun Ran paused and said awkwardly, "I almost forgot."
After thinking for a moment, she turned and walked to the carriage, lifted the curtain and said, "Your Highness, I'm going to pay my respects to the Queen Mother and my cousin, the Queen. Do you want to come with me?"
Sima Jing held the book in his hand and said without looking up: "You can go."
Yun Ran hadn't expected anything, so after receiving this response, he nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go then."
Before lowering the curtain, she added, "Don't sit there all the time. Get out of the car and stretch your muscles. Not only will your butt hurt if you sit for too long, but it will also make your butt flat."
Sima Jing in the carriage: "..."
Aunt Lan Gui outside the carriage: "..."
Yun Ran went to see Queen Mother Zhao first.
The empress dowager's carriage was spacious and comfortable. Not only was it decorated luxuriously, but it was also filled with warm fragrance, making it like a mobile warm room.
After seeing each other again after many days, Queen Mother Zhao looked at Yun Ran with an even more loving gaze, as if she was looking at a priceless treasure, and her love for him was almost overflowing.
She spoke in a gentle voice, which made Yun Ran feel flattered. She waved her hands repeatedly and said, "Mother, please don't be polite with me. In fact, I didn't do much. It's mainly because His Highness wanted to go out on his own. If he didn't want to, there would be no point in my persuading him."
When Queen Mother Zhao heard this, she loved her daughter-in-law even more.
What a humble and honest child! He did a great job but he didn't seek credit for it and he wasn't complacent.
"Don't be so modest. I have always been clear about rewards and punishments. You are the one who deserves the most credit for Jing's willingness to come to Mount Li this time."
Queen Dowager Zhao smiled. "A few days ago, Jiaozhi sent a jade ruyi of exquisite color. Upon returning to Chang'an, I ordered it to be delivered to Prince Jing's mansion. Also, the imperial court has issued a commendation for your master. The emperor has bestowed upon your master the title of Xuanyue Zhenren, and bestowed upon him a thousand taels of silver, along with a golden statue each of the Jade Purity, Upper Purity, and Great Purity Heavenly Venerables, in recognition of his benevolent deeds and contributions to education."
Yun Ran didn't expect that the Queen Mother and His Majesty would actually reward his master. Not only did they bestow a title on him, but they also rewarded him with so much gold and silver.
She was so overwhelmed with joy that she couldn't speak clearly. She lifted her skirt and was about to kneel down: "Thank you, mother!"
"We are family, don't kneel down at every turn."
Queen Mother Zhao reached out to help her. "Besides, this is what your master deserves. If it weren't for her kindness, where would I have found such a good wife like you?"
Yun Ran, whose mind was still dazed by the real money, was flattered by the Queen Mother's praises. Her cheeks were flushed, "Your Majesty, you are too kind..."
Although she was pretty good, she was not as praised as much as Queen Mother Zhao.
"Good boy."
Queen Mother Zhao stared at her delicate, rosy face and whispered, "As long as you are devoted to Ajing and you two live happily together, I will leave all my gifts, not to mention titles or gold and silver, to you and Ajing."
Yun Ran was stunned when he heard this.
Queen Mother Zhao patted her hands again and said, "What I'm looking forward to most now is the happy news from you and Ajing."
As she spoke, she glanced at Yun Ran's slender waist meaningfully.
This is no longer a hint, it is a clear statement.
Yun Ran smiled awkwardly but remained silent. Queen Dowager Zhao, thinking the young lady was too shy, said softly, "It's okay. They say a man chasing a woman is like a mountain, but a woman chasing a man is like a layer of gauze. Besides, you're so beautiful. Just a little teasing and I doubt Jing will remain indifferent."
Yun Ran didn't dare to respond at all.
After all, it wasn't His Highness who was indifferent, it was she who was too timid. She was scared after just a glimpse through her clothes. If she really saw her true face, she...
She closed her eyes and tried to clear the mess in her mind.
After finally getting off the Queen Mother's car, Yun Ran went to pay his respects to the Queen.
Empress Zheng was much more easygoing. When she learned that Yun Ran hadn't met Zheng Shi yet, she didn't keep him any longer. She asked her maid to bring a tray of golden milk pastries and pass it over. "Ran Ran, please also say hello to my aunt for me."
Yun Ran readily agreed, and after saying goodbye to Queen Zheng, he headed straight for the carriage at the Marquis of Changxin's mansion.
Unexpectedly, when the carriage passed by his house, he saw a familiar tall figure.
"Your Highness?"
Yun Ran lifted her skirt in surprise and walked over: "Are you willing to get off the car?"
Sima Jing was wearing a dark blue brocade robe today, with his black hair tied up in a crown. When he got out of the car, he put on a black fox fur cloak. Standing in the wilderness with a biting cold wind, his handsome face looked even whiter like jade.
Hearing the clear voice behind him, he slowly turned sideways and saw his princess wrapped in a fluffy pink cloak, running towards him like a pink ball of fur.
"When did you get off the bus? Isn't the air outside much fresher than inside? Standing like this for a while will definitely help your legs and feet feel better."
She was always chattering. Sima Jing was silent for a moment and said, "She's been down here for a while."
Then he glanced at the maid behind her who was carrying a food box. "Just returned from the Queen's place?"
"Yes, my cousin the Queen knew I was going to see my mother and brother, so she gave me a basket of cakes."
Yun Ran was so focused on seeing his family that he didn't chat with Sima Jing for long. "Then your highness, please continue standing. I'm going to go find my mother and the others first."
Seeing her turn around and leave without any hesitation, Sima Jing's eyes dimmed slightly.
The next moment, his hand reached out and grabbed her cloak.
Yun Ran felt the rope around her neck tighten. She turned around and saw the young man pulling at her collar expressionlessly. "Your Highness?"
Sima Jing: "Why didn't you ask me to come along this time?"
Yun Ran: "Ah?"
After a moment of hesitation, she reacted: "Are you going?"
She had asked him if he was going to see the Queen Mother and the Empress, and he had said no. She had thought that he didn't even want to see his own family, let alone hers.
Sima Jing saw that her eyes were clear and her arguments were well-reasoned, and his jaw tightened slightly.
After a moment, he said, "I'll go with you."
Yun Ran frowned, feeling that this man was really awkward. If he wanted to go, he should just say so directly. She was not a worm in his stomach, so how could she guess so accurately?
He didn't say anything: "Okay, let's go."
The carriage of the Marquis of Changxin's Mansion was some distance away from the carriage of Prince Jing's Mansion. Yun Ran and Sima Jing walked all the way there and passed by carriages from several other mansions.
Some of the officials and female relatives in the mansion got off the car, while some did not.
Those who had disembarked from the carriage were all amazed to see a pair of jade-like figures approaching from afar. When they realized it was Prince Jing and his wife, they immediately bowed in fear, saying, "Greetings to His Royal Highness Prince Jing and His Royal Highness the Princess."
Sima Jing did not look around, and did not even pause for a moment, and continued to walk forward.
Yun Ran, however, couldn't ignore the others. He hugged Sima Jing's arm, asking him to walk slower, and smiled as he nodded to the officials' wives on the roadside: "No need for formalities."
But even though she said this, the people on the roadside still lowered their heads and did not dare to look up.
Only after the couple walked away did he breathe a sigh of relief and look up.
Amidst the vast expanse of heaven and earth, the dark figure stood tall and straight, like a pine or a cypress, proud and upright. Beside him stood the petite and delicate pink figure, tightly clinging to his arm. Her face tilted slightly, her lips moved slightly, and a clear, crisp voice drifted faintly towards her.
"Your Highness, please don't always have a stern face."
"...and if someone greets you, you should at least respond, even a nod. Otherwise, that would be too rude."
"Hey, walk slower, I can't keep up..."
"Sima Jiu! If you don't slow down, I won't let you tonight... um!"
What was not allowed? No one heard it clearly.
But Prince Jing, who had been walking without any expression or movement, raised his hand and covered the princess's mouth.
The officials' wives and children beside the carriage looked at each other, silently sharing their surprise.
I thought King Jing was willing to come to the hot spring palace this time, but the sun had already risen in the west.
I didn't expect that Prince Jing actually accompanied the princess out of the car. Judging from the situation, was he going to the Marquis of Changxin's Mansion?
And those ladies who had only heard of King Jing's bad reputation and had never seen his true appearance were so shocked that they could not calm down for a long time.
People outside only say that King Jing has a bad temper and hangs out with snakes, but no one says that King Jing is actually born with a graceful figure, like a god.
It turns out that the "reincarnation of evil spirits" mentioned outside is not only about fate, but also about the beautiful appearance like a demon!
At this moment, Yun Ran didn't know how shocking this appearance, which was only a short distance away from him by carriages, would cause to people.
She only knew that Sima Jing was a rude and arrogant person!
It would be fine if he was just arrogant, but when she corrected him, he covered his mouth!
It's really hateful!
So when she saw Zheng and her fourth brother Yunshang, she let go of Sima Jing's hand and ran straight to Zheng: "Mother."
Although Zheng wanted to hold her daughter, due to etiquette, she took Yun Shang to pay her respects to the couple first: "Your humble servant greets His Royal Highness Prince Jing and His Royal Highness the Princess."
Facing his mother-in-law and brother-in-law, Sima Jing nodded rarely: "Mother-in-law and uncle, there is no need to be polite."
After he finished speaking, he clearly saw that his little princess's expression had lessened a bit, but she still didn't look at him anymore. She just held Zheng's hand and started chatting with her affectionately.
Sima Jing was left aside.
Silang Yunshang wanted to interrupt but couldn't, but if he were to chat with this handsome and imposing brother-in-law...
Uh, he chose to try to interrupt again: "Ranran, your cloak is really beautiful, and the rouge on your face is beautiful too. Is it new? Where did you buy it from?"
Although Yun Ran didn't know why her fourth brother, who was single, suddenly became interested in women's clothing and rouge, she hadn't seen her fourth brother for a long time, so she answered enthusiastically.
During the conversation, Yun Ran also learned that Marquis Changxin was originally going to come this time, but he was busy with official business at the Ministry of War and could not refuse.
My eldest brother and his wife did not come because A Zong was young and they were afraid that the child would not be able to bear the fatigue of the journey. As for my third brother and his wife, she was unable to come because she was pregnant.
"My third sister-in-law was so angry because she couldn't come this time that she even beat up our third brother."
Yun Shang talked about this with a gloating smile on his face: "It is said that if she got pregnant two months later, she could also come out and see the royal palace."
When Yun Ran heard this, he could see the angry look of his third sister-in-law in front of him, and he couldn't help laughing: "It's okay, I'll come back next year after I give birth. The hot spring is there anyway, so it won't run away."
The family of three talked and laughed, and time passed quickly.
After the main force set off again, Yun Ran was still reluctant to leave. He held Zheng's hand and said to Sima Jing, "Your Highness, I want to talk to my mother again. You can go back by yourself. I can take the carriage of the Marquis' Mansion."
Sima Jing: “…”
He pursed his lips and looked at the young lady leaning against Zheng with an admiring look on her face. Although he knew that it was human nature to be attached to one's mother, a trace of sourness still arose in his heart.
Seeing that Prince Jing had a cold face and was hesitant to speak, Zheng said awkwardly, "Ranran, why don't you just go back with His Highness and sit down. I'll talk to you again when we get to the palace."
Yun Ran didn't want to.
She has been sitting with him for the entire morning, and during this morning, they have been reading books separately and not talking. What's the difference between that and sitting separately?
"Your Highness, it's much more spacious for you to take one by yourself, and I won't disturb you while you're reading. Isn't that great?"
Yun Ran said sincerely: "What do you think?"
Sima Jing looked at her deeply.
After a long moment, he turned his head to look at Yun Shang who was standing beside him: "My uncle and I are riding in the same car."
Yun Shang, who hadn't dared to utter a word the entire time, was startled. He then pointed at himself in disbelief, his voice trembling: "Me...me?"
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The author has something to say: Fourth Brother: No! [bursts into tears]
My third brother and his wife who are far away in Chang'an: It's time to [eat melon]
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「1」Mu Changchao's "Nanxiangzi·Ben□□Sparse and Lazy"
Sorry for the long wait, I will also draw a small red envelope in this chapter~~[Blue Heart]
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