Chapter 133 [VIP]
The carriage moved smoothly.
Shen Xu suddenly slammed his hand on the coffee table.
He used a bit too much force, flipping the coffee table over. Gu Zhizhuo was prepared, grabbing the compass and scattering the counting rods all over the floor with a clatter.
The cat leaped up and slammed one down with its paw, letting out a triumphant "meow."
This set of counting rods is made of peach wood and has a particularly good chewy texture; the cat chews on it with a "crunch crunch".
Shen Xu poured himself a full glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp.
Then, with a flick of his sleeve, his wide sleeve covered the seat, his gaze dark and menacing.
Sheng Jiang shrank back and shivered, only to see Gu Zhizhuo still lying there calmly, and he was filled with admiration.
Gu Zhizhuo calmly bent down and picked up a counting rod, saying, "Kan represents water, and the hexagram is Wind Mountain Gradual Progress."
She turned the compass in her hand, staring at the direction indicated by the magnetic needle of the Heavenly Pool, and said, "This is the Kun hexagram. Interpreting it with the compass, it means that she was severely hampered and, in order to avenge her blood feud, was trapped and died in a desperate situation."
"In the end, they will perish, their soul and body destroyed."
When he said "utterly annihilated," Gu Zhizhuo hesitated slightly.
Even if an ordinary person dies, they should be reincarnated; it's impossible for their soul to be completely annihilated. Yet, the divination shows it this way.
*Smack*
Shen Xu crushed the wine glass, and shards of porcelain pierced his palm.
He seemed oblivious, gripping the porcelain shard tightly, blood dripping from between his fingers and spreading across the bamboo mat.
"master."
Sheng Jiang was startled. His heart pounded, and he signaled the driver to drive more steadily. He tiptoed into the carriage, knelt down next to Shen Xu, and then carefully pulled open his palm, picking out the porcelain shards stuck in his palm one by one.
Gu Zhizhuo sighed inwardly.
She placed the compass on her lap and comforted her, saying, "According to the divination, even in dire straits, she is struggling to survive. She is still alive."
Gu Zhizhuo emphasized again: "She is alive, and her death is not yet imminent."
Shen Xu remained silent, his eyelids drooping, his peach blossom eyes losing some of their vibrancy and filled with a deep sense of gloom.
Sheng Jiang silently bandaged his hand and then sat down in the corner of the carriage.
The carriage was large enough to accommodate three people and a cat without feeling crowded at all.
After a long while, Shen Xu spoke up: "Does 'eastward' mean eastward from Yongzhou?"
Gu Zhizhuo put the compass back into his sleeve pocket: "Yes."
“The capital is east of Yongzhou.” A low laugh escaped Shen Xu’s throat, his soft voice laced with malice. “If my sister were still alive, she would definitely be in the capital now.”
After escaping from that sea of blood, he came to the capital to seek revenge.
Gu Zhizhuo didn't know why he was so sure.
Perhaps it's the unspoken understanding between siblings?
She did not refute it; the divination only indicated the east, and if the person was really in the capital, the scope could be narrowed down considerably.
Shen Xu picked up a counting rod and handed it back to her.
A faint smile played at the corners of his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes: "A place of debauchery, a brothel?"
Gu Zhizhu pondered, "Singers, dancers, musicians, and opera troupes all belong to the world of prostitution."
Shen Xu didn't even look up and said, "Find someone who is good at painting."
This was clearly said to Sheng Jiang.
Sheng Jiang immediately agreed.
Gu Zhizhuo added, "Also, look for Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries."
Shen Xu raised an eyebrow and looked at her. Gu Zhizhuo thought for a moment and said, "The divination indicates that her death will be a complete annihilation of her soul. I guess it might be related to Buddhism or Taoism. To put it this way, if you and I die—no, if you die—we will be reincarnated. In Buddhism, this is called the Six Paths of Reincarnation, and in Taoism, there is the saying 'Three Realms, Five Paths, and Six Bridges.' Anyway, it all means the same thing."
Shen Xu snorted coldly, displeased: "Why is it me who dies, and what about you?"
The cat pounced on the counting rods in the carriage, and the black counting rods rolled to Shen Xu's feet.
Shen Xu frowned as he picked up the counting rod, pinched one end of it between two fingers, brushed off the cat hair with disgust, and tossed it to Gu Zhizhuo.
"Me?" Gu Zhizhuo pointed to himself, smiling nonchalantly, "I might be completely destroyed and unable to enter reincarnation with you."
Shen Xu paused for a moment while picking up the counting rods, then tossed another one to her.
This one has two clear cat tooth marks on it, small and adorable, and it's even covered in drool.
Shen Xu trailed off with a mocking tone, saying sarcastically, "What, you've committed so many sins that you can't even get into reincarnation after you die?"
Gu Zhizhuo rested his chin on his hand. This person was not only suspicious, but also sarcastic.
"If we're talking about committing numerous sins," Shen Xu chuckled softly, spreading out his hands to show her.
His fingers were slender and long, with distinct knuckles. There were no calluses or scratches on his fingers, and they were fair and flawless, like the finest white jade.
"These hands...the hands that have killed, skinned, and ripped out bones...ha, at least several thousand." He chuckled mockingly, the blood seeping from his palms staining the white silk crimson. "You think I can enter the cycle of reincarnation?"
Sheng Jiang shrank back.
"I think so," Gu Zhizhuo said frankly. "I'm different."
Shen Xu stared at her with a cold gaze, wanting to see what she could say.
"I'm dissatisfied with my fate, I want to take a gamble, to fight for it." She packed up her counting rods and put them in a cloth bag, her voice tinged with alcohol. "Those who cultivate the Tao know their destiny, yet they defy it. They always have to pay a price, don't they?"
The price... Shen Xu lowered his eyes: "Yes."
"If we lose, it's only natural that our souls will be scattered and our spirits will be destroyed, right?"
Gu Zhizhu smiled naturally, as if he were talking about what to eat for dinner.
"However, I will not lose."
The one who will admit defeat first is Heaven.
"Ah, I've arrived." Gu Zhizhuo called out, reminding the driver outside, "Just turn right into this alley."
Gu Zhizhuo tucked the compass into his clothes and patted the cat's head.
After the carriage stopped, she bowed and took her leave, then jumped off the carriage.
"Stop right there."
Gu Zhizhuo: "..." Has this person never learned to speak properly?
Shen Xu opened his mouth, wanting to ask her what she meant by "knowing one's destiny." Why did defeat lead to the destruction of his soul? Many questions rose to his lips, but finally, they condensed into two words: "Farewell."
Gu Zhizhuo: ?
She tilted her head and looked at him suspiciously.
*Smack*
The carriage curtain was pulled down heavily, blocking her view, but she could still hear sweet meowing sounds coming from inside.
Gu Zhizhu shrugged, feeling full of sympathy for Sheng Jiang.
He must have a tough time having such an unpredictable master.
"Jade Lion, come."
The white horse that had been following the carriage back walked up to her, and Gu Zhizhuo went up to knock on the door.
Although the Wang family rarely lived in the capital, their residence was one of the best in the city.
The Langya Wang clan was a powerful family that had existed for hundreds of years and through several dynasties. Even amidst war and chaos, they remained steadfast and undiminished. Although emperors changed their surnames several times, the Wang clan remained the Langya Wang clan.
At the end of the previous dynasty, the capital city changed hands several times, but no one ever touched the Wang family's residence.
The five-courtyard complex is renovated every year, with beautiful scenery at every turn and picturesque views, reminiscent of the elegance of gardens in southern China.
As a cousin of the Wang family, Gu Zhizhuo could come and go as she pleased without needing anyone to announce her arrival. Upon entering the gate, the gatekeepers respectfully greeted her as "Cousin." She handed her horse to a servant, inquired about Xie Danling's whereabouts, and then walked briskly towards the waterside pavilion.
Following the gravel path, past swaying flowering trees, you'll find a gourd-shaped pond.
Xie Danling stood by the waterside pavilion by the pond, engrossed in painting.
The night was already getting dark, and the waterside pavilion was lit with glass lanterns, the light reflecting off her.
Gu Zhizhu tiptoed in and approached the table. The painting on the table depicted a summer pond with lotus flowers and leaves, the water rippling. She dipped her finger in vermilion and gently touched the pond, leaving a beautiful crimson mark.
"Hate."
Xie Danling gave a reproachful look, then sketched a few lines on the vermilion paper, and a fish leaped onto the paper.
Gu Zhizhuo leaned closer to look: "How can a pond be without fish?"
"It's not finished yet."
With a thought, Xie Danling took a brush and drew a fish-shaped floral pattern on her forehead.
"It's so beautiful."
She put down her pen with satisfaction and asked excitedly, "How did it go?"
Huh?
Something's not right!
Xie Danling sniffed, circling around her and then sniffing again.
"I understand!"
Xie Danling clenched her fist and slapped her palm, then exclaimed in realization, "You...you...you've been drinking?"
"I drank it."
"How much did you drink?"
Gu Zhizhu gestured: "A pot. And a little tipsy."
She shook her head. She had felt a little dizzy in the carriage, so she asked Shen Xu to take her back.
This wine is sweet on the palate, but it has a strong aftertaste.
"It's delicious." Gu Zhizhuo squinted her eyes with pleasure. Unfortunately, Shen Xu didn't tell her where he bought it.
"You didn't even take me with you when you went drinking," Xie Danling said angrily. "I thought we were the best of friends in the world. You've really hurt my feelings."
She pouted, turned her head away, and then secretly glanced at Gu Zhizhuo, her whole being seeming to say: Come and coax me.
Gu Zhizhuo covered his mouth and smiled, skillfully changing the subject: "The Ji family is dead."
ah!
Xie Danling's shoulders trembled slightly.
Gu Zhizhuo: "I'm so thirsty right now, I really want to drink water. Is there anyone kind enough to pour me a glass of water?"
"A kind person has arrived."
Xie Danling considerately poured her some water, shook her shoulders, and asked sweetly, "Tell me quickly."
After finishing his water, Gu Zhizhuo pointed to himself and said, "Fanning myself."
Xie Danling picked up a round fan from the side and started fanning her happily.
Gu Zhizhuo started by talking about the marriage talisman and told the whole story of what happened in the palace, including Wan Mama's accusations against Ji Nanke at the Meridian Gate.
After finishing her explanation, she drank another glass of water, finally quenching her thirst. She said, "So, it's all her own fault. I was right, wasn't I?"
"Mmm!" Xie Danling threw down her fan and clapped for her.
“I’ve lived in the palace since I was a child, and I’ve seen all sorts of vying for the emperor’s favor. You don’t know how many tricks those concubines use to compete for the emperor’s favor. Singing and dancing are nothing new. Sometimes they’ll even deliberately make the children sick. They’re not good at tormenting the princes, but they’re quite willing to treat the princesses well.”
"My fourth sister has been sickly since she was little. She's always getting minor illnesses every three days and major ones every ten days. You can hardly see her walking around outside for more than a few days a month. Her biological mother was Consort Li's maid. She died in childbirth, and Consort Li raised my fourth sister from a young age. Consort Li looks like she could be blown away by the wind in public, but in private, she's fierce and wicked."
"The Fourth Princess?"
"Yes. Fourth Princess is so soft-hearted, anyone can bully her. It's driving me crazy."
If Gu Zhizhuo remembered correctly, in her previous life, the fourth princess was married off to the Liang Kingdom. In order to appease or reward Consort Li, the emperor promoted her to Consort Li.
The Liang Kingdom has a tradition of succession by sons after the death of their fathers. After the fourth princess's husband, the King of Liang, died, she remarried her stepson.
A year later, a civil war broke out in the Liang Kingdom. The marshal killed the Liang King and declared himself king. The fourth princess then married the new king.
From the time of the marriage alliance to his death, less than three years had passed, and he was only eighteen years old when he died.
Gu Zhizhuo sighed inwardly.
Xie Danling sighed dramatically and said, "The Ji family is too stupid to listen to Ji Nanke's instigation."
"If she behaves herself in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, she will at least have enough to eat and drink. Even if she enters the palace, as long as she doesn't listen to Ji Nanke, she will at most fall out of favor. The Empress is not a bad person to the concubines in the harem. She treats them all according to their due and will not deliberately mistreat anyone."
She shrugged and said, "She won't choose either of the two paths; she insists on choosing a dead end."
Gu Zhizhuo nodded vigorously, indicating that she was right.
"Now that the person is dead, she left behind a son..." Xie Danling thought of something, "By the way, what about Gu Yan? What will happen to Gu Yan?"
Speaking of Gu Yan, Gu Zhizhuo felt regretful. If he had known that Ji Shi would die so quickly, he would have sold her to the emperor along with her last time.
Gu Zhizhuo rested his chin on his hands, hesitatingly saying, "I'm thinking, should I give it to Prince Li or to the Ji family? What do you think?"
Xie Danling earnestly joined her in thinking: "Grand-uncle should be willing to spend money."
"Then should I wait two more days?"
You can't get a good price if you actively seek them out.
"Yes, yes!"
The alcohol was taking effect again. Gu Zhizhu yawned and leaned drowsily on Xie Danling's shoulder: "Cousin Danling, are you going back to the palace?"
Xie Danling paused, her hand holding the round fan still, and asked in a low voice, "Will Father be alright?"
"His Majesty is fine," Gu Zhizhuo affirmed. "Now that Lady Ji is dead, the marriage talisman cannot be broken. His Majesty is obsessed with Lady Ji and is making a fuss about posthumously honoring her as Empress, establishing a Crown Prince, and having the whole country observe mourning. Prince Li can only temporarily use 'illness' to keep him away from the court. Everything else is fine, and the imperial physicians check his pulse every day."
"Then I won't go back," Xie Danling said sullenly. "Actually, I know that Father has always been wary of Mother... Mother has the rank of Consort and the support of the Wang family, but her life is really not easy. Sigh."
Of course, Gu Zhizhuo twitched the corner of her mouth. If the emperor had even a shred of sincerity towards her aunt and cousin, they wouldn't have died so young in her previous life.
"Would you like to stay with me for a few more days?" Xie Danling said, linking arms with her. "I'll go back to the palace when Cousin Xing arrives."
Gu Zhizhuo nodded and closed his eyes drowsily.
“Cousin Zhuo…”
Xie Danling turned around and saw that she was already fast asleep. She made a shushing gesture to Awu and said, "Call an old woman. My cousin and I will stay together."
Both of them had their own courtyards in the Wang family home, which were cleaned daily and repaired every year.
Xie Danling had the maid carry her back, and the two of them slept in the same room as when they were children.
The two stayed at the Wang family's house. For several days in a row, Gu Zhizhuo slept until noon before getting up, and then accompanied Xie Danling to build the swing and hang the beaded curtain.
In their courtyard was a pavilion called Ziyuting. Xie Danling had people use thin gauze to cover the canopy around the pavilion, and she also found two white jade mats in the storeroom and laid them on the gauze.
"Let's enjoy the cool air!"
Xie Danling was very patient and spent five or six days making the yard look comfortable.
As expected, no one from the palace came looking for her. Instead, someone from Zhengmu Pavilion came to say that the Taihu stone that Gu Zhizhuo had ordered had arrived.
The two went to Zhengmu Pavilion with great interest.
These two Taihu stones were indeed top-quality, with caves within caves and the appearance of overlapping mountains. Gu Zhizhuo liked them at first sight and bought them all with a wave of his hand, and had them sent to Prince Chen's mansion.
After spending a large sum of money, Gu Zhizhuo felt refreshed and invigorated.
She generously replied, "Let's go eat, it's on me!"
Xie Danling looked around and pointed casually: "Go here."
She was referring to the Flower Jade Shop across the street.
This is probably newly opened, decorated with flowers and the faint sound of music.
The waiter courteously led them to a private room on the second floor and said, "Ladies, would you like to hear a little tune?"
“Every musician in our Huayufang is exceptional.”
Gu Zhizhuo casually glanced around and suddenly spotted a familiar figure holding a pipa.
"Oh, is that Lady Gui?" Her eyes lit up, and she said to the waiter, "It's her."
Xie Danling also leaned over to look: "Who is it?"
"Her storytelling on the pipa is beautiful. My second sister and I heard her sing it last time. I guarantee you'll love it!"
As they spoke, they entered the private room, sat down, and ordered dishes. Just as the waiter poured tea, Gui Niangzi, wearing a veil, walked in.
“Miss.” She recognized Gu Zhizhuo, her amorous peach blossom eyes sparkling.
She smiled, her voice gentle and captivating: "What piece of music would you like to hear today?"
A note from the author:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
