Chapter 93 E'xu is willing to build a temple for you... 5
Liu Bang regained those vague memories, recalling that he had indeed met Him when he was young, but he hadn't paid much attention to it and hadn't thought about it again. Now that his memories had been stirred up, the impression was even more profound.
Even with my eyes closed, those light golden eyes still linger in my mind's eye.
In his memory, when He fell, He thought of reaching out to help him up, but the one he saw during the day... if not indifferent, then her attitude towards him was unclear. If there was any connection between them, it was probably only their appearances.
Even their appearances might not be the same, because Liu Bang remembered that His appearance distorted and changed for a moment after He said those words.
It was as if the current Him had replaced the former Him, and the image in his memory had changed as well...
Liu Bang still suspected that these were two different deities, not the same one.
What he didn't know was that the 'god' he had been speculating about was right there in the room. She was monitoring Liu Bang's emotional fluctuations. Although she didn't know exactly what he was thinking, she was sure that he was on the right track. She had also stuffed the messages she wanted to convey into his dream.
Whenever Liu Bang had free time, he could sit down and think carefully and discover the details. After doing all this, Zhu Qing'ai left. She was going back to Lü Zhi's side to pretend to be an innocent 'mountain spirit'.
****
When she returned to Pei County, it was still dark. Zhu Qing'ai did not go directly to find Lü Zhi, as she was embarrassed to disturb her sleep in the middle of the night. Instead, she went to find her host, Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu.
However, the host was asleep at this time, and did not have the habit of the system being on standby 24 hours a day.
She thought about it and decided not to do anything immoral. She went to check on the planting progress in the fields outside and exchanged a bunch of farm tools for some, putting them in the storage room. At least she didn't make Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu practice iron training here again.
When dawn broke, she casually knocked on the door and entered the house: "Good morning~"
When Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu looked up at the person, he was also stunned for a moment. He thought he would have to farm here for several years before he could see his commander again.
His expression was too obvious; Zhu Qing'ai saw it at a glance. She cleared her throat: "What kind of leader do you take me for? Do you think I'm the kind of leader who would abandon his host?"
Bamboo, who once banished her host to farm for three years without ever visiting her again, Qing'ai: "By the way, how's your integration going? Have any of the neighbors suspected anything...?"
Speaking of which, the host's appearance is too conspicuous. Is this the kind of person you can find in the countryside? She looks like she comes from a scholar-official family. But she doesn't want to make the host look ugly. After all, she's going to be looking at her for many years, so she should be kinder to her eyes.
Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu confidently shook his head: "No, my identity documents and other documents are all in order, everything is reasonable, and they have no reason to doubt me."
Aside from those who tried to arrange marriages for him, he was quite used to living here. It was just a change of scenery and starting to farm again; he was already a skilled farmer.
Zhu Qing'ai nodded: "Then I'm relieved. You can stay here and farm in peace. If you need anything, remember to call me. I'm usually at Lu Zhi's house next door."
Of course, this "next door" isn't a real neighbor, it's just a way of saying it, but it's all in Pei County, so it's not far away. If you want to come, you can get there right away.
Wei Sheng Jiu Shi Jiu spoke up to indicate that he understood and didn't think there was anything wrong with his system running to the neighbor's house. He just needed to complete the main quest step by step.
Zhu Qing'ai didn't think there was anything wrong with a commander running around everywhere. She was trying to complete the mission, so what was wrong with her trying in a different way? A commander who can complete the mission is a good commander!
****
During the day, Zhu Qing'ai went to see Lü Zhi again, still using the guise of 'Qin'. Her appearance remained unchanged, except that the color of her dress had changed from a deep black to the verdant green of a thousand mountains.
They had known each other for about half a month and were quite familiar with each other. After Lü Zhi discovered that He had no ill intentions and was just curious about humans, she was able to relax and get along with Him.
Zhu Qing'ai would only chat with Lü Zhi occasionally while she was doing housework, but she would never help her.
That day, she casually mentioned, "Your husband is coming back from Xianyang."
After a pause, Lü Zhi managed to squeeze out three words: "...pretty fast."
She didn't know what to say. Her relationship with Liu Bang was just so-so; they weren't that close.
In comparison, she cared about Him even more. Over the past few days, she had also learned that no one else could see Him except her, probably because He did not want to.
As the chosen one, Lü Zhi felt a surge of joy; this was an opportunity for her alone.
Why did he suddenly bring up Liu Bang today?
Empress Lü frowned, wondering if He would agree if she subtly expressed her wish not to appear before Liu Bang.
I really don't want anyone else to see him...
Then Lü Zhi heard a beautiful voice: "Don't tell him I exist."
Lü Zhi happily agreed; what was so difficult about it, since she hadn't planned to say anything anyway.
****
On the day Liu Bang returned, Lü Zhi went to greet him. She had been in a good mood recently and was smiling as she spoke to him. She asked him with a smile how his trip to Xianyang had gone and whether he had any hope of being promoted.
Liu Bang scratched his head awkwardly: "This...uh..."
Could he say he only remembered the First Emperor's magnificent ceremonial guard? Cough, cough, that's impossible.
Seeing the expectant look in his young and beautiful wife's eyes, even the thick-skinned Liu Bang felt a little embarrassed for a moment. However, he quickly retorted confidently, "It's not the right time yet. In the future, I will..."
After a pause, Liu Bang did not utter the prophecy that the gods had told him in his memory. It wasn't that he didn't trust his wife; he believed in Lü Zhi but was also afraid that the walls might be overheard. Such words were not to be spoken lightly.
Lü Zhi frowned. These words meant that there was no hope for promotion, and her good mood dissipated somewhat.
Meanwhile, her husband, oblivious to her presence, continued to boast about his experiences in Xianyang, mainly describing the massive entourage and ceremonial guards of the First Emperor that he saw there.
The couple tacitly concealed His existence from each other. Zhu Qing'ai watched from the side and couldn't help but laugh. How could this not be considered a tacit understanding between husband and wife? She hadn't even changed her disguise, just her clothes. She wondered what kind of expression they would have when they found out in the future.
Empress Lü knew what kind of person Liu Bang was, and she also knew that what he said today was the truth. There was no hope of promotion... which was normal. No matter how hard you worked, it would be in vain if you didn't have connections. And Liu Bang wasn't necessarily hardworking either.
Even if he tries his best, given his nonchalant and irresponsible demeanor, few people will likely trust him.
Liu Bang didn't notice Lü Zhi's expression, or even if he did, he wouldn't have asked why. His wife hoped he would be ambitious, but it wasn't like he was temporarily unable to be...
He turned around and went out to find his friends, and his experiences in Xianyang were something he could brag about.
As night fell, Liu Bang strolled back from outside. He still remembered his duties, and besides bragging to his friends, he also remembered to handle the matters under the jurisdiction of the pavilion chief.
After returning home and eating, he fell into a deep sleep. He was exhausted after a long day of work and boasting. He wondered if he would see Him again in his dreams tonight.
If he could see Him, even if it was just an image from his memory and not Him in person, he would want to try to ask what the phrase "I have come to see the future emperor" really meant.
Empress Lü glanced at Liu Bang beside her, remained silent, turned her back to him, closed her eyes, and slowly fell asleep.
****
When Lü Zhi opened her eyes, she found herself in the fields, the place she was most familiar with for her daily work.
She saw a familiar figure sitting on the edge of the field, and she walked over.
Is that you?
Zhu Qing'ai turned her head to look at the person who had come: "It's me."
Lü Zhi was momentarily stunned, unsure whether it was because she longed to see Him too much, or because He had truly entered her dream.
Zhu Qing'ai raised her hand to support her chin, then patted the person next to her with her free hand: "Sit down, don't be shy, after all, it's your dream."
Empress Lü readily accepted and sat down beside Him. Oh right, it was in her dream. Could this be the teaching from a dream?
"You don't seem happy today." He said this as if he couldn't understand human emotions, but still looked at her with curious eyes.
Empress Lü readily admitted, "Yes, my father married me to Liu Bang in the hopes that he would achieve great things in the future, and look at him now..."
"Are you feeling unwell?" He received the message.
Lü Zhi hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, finally speaking the truth before the inhuman god: "My distress is not because of his laziness and idleness, but because of myself..."
"The feeling of being powerless and unable to control my life, having to put all my future on my husband's shoulders, is suffocating."
Just like when she cried and made a scene in front of her mother after learning that she was to marry Liu Bang, she cried and made a scene, but only her mother cared about her. But what good was her mother's care? What did it do when her mother went to talk to her father? In the end, it was still her father who made the decision and married her off to Liu Bang against her will.
Her life was never in her own hands from the beginning, and her virtuous and gentle demeanor when she came to the Liu family was only for her own reputation and for a better survival.
Zhu Qing'ai calmly raised her hand and placed it on Lü Zhi's chest, where her heart was beating. She said, "There is a wild beast here."
Lü Zhi raised her hand and covered his hand, which was as white as jade. She smiled and said, "Yes, I may not have had the chance before, but I hope to be able to take control of my own life in the future."
A restless beast dwells in her heart, waiting for the day it will leap out and roar, or perhaps it will be unknowingly consumed in the years to come.
He asked bluntly, stating in a declarative sentence: "You want me to help you."
"E'xu wishes to build a temple for you..."
Before Lü Zhi could finish speaking, Zhu Qing'ai interrupted her, saying, "I don't need these vague and ethereal things. Just remember them for now, and I will take the initiative to collect the reward when needed."
Lü Zhi agreed without hesitation. What she had in her childhood was given to her by the Lü family, and what she had after marriage belonged to the Liu family. It seemed that she had never truly possessed anything that belonged to her. She had nothing left to lose... However, she still said, "As long as it's not my daughter, it's fine."
Zhu Qing'ai smiled and said gently, "I don't eat people, don't be afraid..."
With a wave of his hand, a row of people appeared in front of the field: "I will not help you to gain without effort. All knowledge must be acquired through your own learning, and these are the teachers I have found for you."
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Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 20:56:45 on May 30, 2024 and 11:42:34 on May 31, 2024!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Fei (44 bottles); Guiming and Yianmu (10 bottles each); Shishikeke (7 bottles); Youtaoguozi (3 bottles); Xuanyi (2 bottles); fox, 69360241, Chenguangxiwei, 69588267, and Xujiafuren (1 bottle each);
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