Chapter 21: God's Day
Wen Yao changed her clothes and turned around to see Hao Chunhe's strange face. His face was full of wrinkles, and now it was almost wrinkled like an orange peel.
"What's wrong?" She walked a few steps closer to look at the fruit in Hao Chunhe's hand and asked sincerely, "Is there a thorn inside?"
Zhao Xuanxu came over from behind. The maid behind him took advantage of this opportunity to quickly clear the cloth on the table, then quietly left with the steward and the box that had quietly arrived from outside the courtyard.
Hao Chunhe felt a little stiff all over, and under Zhao Xuanxu's gaze, he could only shake his head: "It's okay, it's okay."
"Master." Gao Shaoshan came hurriedly from outside with a sword in hand, relieving his embarrassment at the moment.
Wen Yao looked towards Gao Shaoshan and saw him handing Zhao Xuanxu an exquisite piece of paper.
Zhao Xuanxu took it with one hand, opened it, and glanced at it casually: "Celebrating God's Day?"
"Yes." Gao Shaoshan said, "The Ministry of Rites reported back that His Majesty had specifically instructed that you must go this time."
Legend has it that Taizu, the founder of the Tianshui Dynasty, rose from humble origins. During times of chaos, he joined the army to suppress the last emperor of the previous dynasty, and his prestige grew. One autumn night, while on a march, a phoenix, its emerald feathers shimmering, descended from the valley. Before a crowd of people, it spoke in human language and declared Taizu king, ending the chaos. Following heaven's will, Taizu conquered every frontier, ultimately establishing the Tianshui Dynasty on the Bian River. Later, emperors of Tianshui would offer sacrifices to the heavens and ancestors on the day the phoenix descended. At the hour of Xu, they would lead their princes and concubines to the city walls and burn the grain, receiving homage from the people.
This legend of being appointed by heaven was well known to almost every citizen of the Tianshui Dynasty, and Wen Yao had naturally heard of it as well. She didn't quite believe it, after all, every founding emperor would fabricate a background story about himself, claiming to have someone from heaven; it was standard procedure.
She held the sword and looked at Zhao Xuanxu: "You never went to such an important occasion before."
"It's boring to watch people perform, so I won't go." Zhao Xuanxu looked at her: "Ayao, are you willing to go?" From her tone, it seemed that she wanted to let Wen Yao make the decision.
Your father, the emperor, has specifically asked you to go, so how can you not go?
Wen Yao was skeptical about the strength of the royal family's father-son bond under the feudal system, and felt there was no need to anger the emperor over a banquet. She shrugged and said, "Just go. I enjoy joining in the fun."
Zhao Xuanxu nodded, raised his hand and threw the post back into Gao Shaoshan's arms, saying lightly: "Then go."
It was decided to go to celebrate the God's Festival in two days. Wen Yao was satisfied after having the usual high-quality dinner at Prince Yan's Mansion, and he strolled alone in the garden.
Zhao Xuanxu had a job, after all, and he had to stay in the study late every night. After Wen Yao rejected his suggestion to widen the study beams and install cushions, and refused to sit next to him, Zhao Xuanxu stopped Wen Yao from staying in the study as a personal guard, leaving her alone outside with nothing to do.
So during this period of time, it was rare for Wen Yao not to have Zhao Xuanxu by his side.
She squinted her eyes, humming a song as she walked along the gravel path in the garden. When she reached the corner, she casually broke off a small branch and flicked it with her finger. A moment later, a grinning Hao Chunhe emerged from the bushes behind her, clutching his butt and scrambling towards her. He complained, "If you'd found me, just shout. I wouldn't have come out if you'd shouted. Why did you have to do this? You're so cruel."
Wen Yao pretended to be surprised: "Hey, why is it Chunyanzi? She has been following me for so long without making a sound, I thought she was a wild swallow that sneaked in from somewhere."
Hao Chunhe snorted coldly, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings. After confirming that there were no secret guards following him, he approached Wen Yao and asked in a low voice, "Tell me honestly what you think. Give me a clear answer, and I'll feel at ease."
"What are you thinking about?"
Hao Chunhe waved his hand: "Don't play dumb! You don't really want to stay here for three years, do you? Don't be so foolish! Look at those assassins last night, and then look at Prince Yan - the Three Divisions and the Twelve Guards, how many jackals and tigers have torn this flesh from their teeth? I don't think he is willing to be a vassal king, he seems to be rebelling! There have been cases of sons of foreign races like Prince Yan who killed their fathers and brothers to ascend to the throne. There will be more and more such things in the future, I advise you to get out of this as soon as possible!"
His tone was a little aggressive, and he was obviously really anxious.
"What happened last night? It was just a few assassins." Wen Yao smiled, patted the old man's shoulder and comforted him, "Okay, I know you are worried about me."
She was not a fool. She had long realized from the attitudes of others and the way Zhao Xuanxu killed people twice that Zhao Xuanxu might not be a harmless person, but she just didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
After all, Zhao Xuanxu, caught in the vortex of the struggle for imperial power and holding immense power, couldn't remain unaffected even if he wasn't destined for the throne. As long as he didn't explicitly declare his intention to fight for the most honorable position in the world, Wen Yao could view his cruelty or kindness as a means of preserving his life.
Wen Yao lowered his voice and spoke sincerely, "I don't really care if he rebels or not... He's in poor health, so I've tried my best to eliminate his Burning Heart problem. He'll be old enough to leave for his fiefdom within three years, and I'll ensure his safe passage to Nanzhao. If he insists on fighting for something, that's none of my business. The debt of saving my life is wiped out. As for the world, I can continue to live my life freely and at ease, okay?"
These words were well-reasoned and Hao Chunhe was speechless and could not be persuaded.
He knew what kind of person Wen Yao was: easygoing and patient. But once she got stubborn, she would be so bold as to rebel that she'd even risk her life in hell. Given that, there was no need to tell her Prince Yan's feelings just yet. It would be better to take it one step at a time and leave it to fate, so as to avoid unnecessary trouble.
"Alright, alright, don't be so unhappy." Wen Yao smiled and put his hand on the old man's shoulder, then lifted him up and flew up lightly: "Come on! Let's have another match!"
The two of them ran around the imperial city and went back to sleep, ending Hao Chunhe's second attempt at exhortation. A few days later, the autumn chill intensified, and the Heshen Festival arrived as scheduled. Wen Yao woke up early in the morning, only to realize that Zhao Xuanxu's "go" meant a swift and decisive skipping of the day's boring and solemn mountaineering ceremony, opting instead to attend the tower climb and the palace banquet.
Logically speaking, it is not easy to refuse ancestor worship even among ordinary families, but from Zhao Xuanxu to Gao Shaoshan and the servants and maids in Prince Yan's mansion, no one thought that this was wrong.
As the sun set, Wen Yao leaned against the door and ate some snacks.
Zhao Xuanxu walked towards her. She chuckled and casually tossed him a piece of walnut cake. "This is delicious. Didn't you say you'll be eating late tonight? Let's fill our stomachs first."
Zhao Xuanxu easily gathered the pastry in his hand and glanced at Wen Yao. She was wearing a dark, patterned dress, her hair tied with a red string, and looked bright and energetic. However...
He was slightly stunned: "Why isn't Ayao wearing a mask today?"
"No more." Wen Yao clapped his hands. "I've thought it through these past few days. Xingyi Sword Wen Yao, I'll just be your retainer for three years. After three years, I'll earn enough money from you and follow the Daluo caravan west to see the Mediterranean. The troubles in Tianshui Central Plains won't touch me."
This was the nth time that Zhao Xuanxu had heard Wen Yao mention the words "traveling west with the caravan".
He lowered his eyes, and the smile that had just appeared naturally froze. The smile on his face suddenly became fake, like flowers on rice paper.
"What's the Mediterranean?" Zhao Xuanxu said slowly, sounding somewhat puzzled. "I've only heard that to the west is a desert Gobi, uninhabited except for a few deserted towns along the border."
Strangely enough, the history and customs of this world were similar to those of Wen Yao's previous life, even the rivers and lakes were similar. If the experiences of her past life hadn't been etched in her mind, she would have doubted whether she was originally a person in this world, and that her previous life was just a dream of a butterfly.
"Go through those deserts and Gobi, and there is an inland sea further west. There are white sand beaches and coconut trees, and the sun is especially bright." Wen Yao smiled: "If I come back, I will bring you some local specialties."
As Zhao Xuanxu listened, he seemed to be moved by the scene described by Wen Yao. He slowly began to smile and said, "It's almost time. Let's go, Yao."
Prince Yan traveled in a carriage, flanked by feathered guards. Common people crowded together on both sides of the street, most holding wooden prayer signs.
Wen Yao wasn't in the carriage with Zhao Xuanxu. She sat outside, legs bent, holding the reins. Glancing through the crowd, she spotted a little girl in her mother's arms. The girl, with a babyish face and round eyes, stared blankly at Wen Yao, a candy figurine in her mouth.
Although it was a royal sacrificial ceremony, the atmosphere during the festival was not overly solemn, and most people still treated it as an ordinary holiday. Most of the shops along the street were decorated with lights and colorful decorations, making the place very lively.
Um?
Wen Yao raised his eyebrows and suddenly looked towards the second floor of the restaurant on the street.
Chu Yutang leaned against the railing, dressed in splendid clothes and holding a jade fan, looking handsome. When Wen Yao looked over, he opened the fan in his hand and blocked it in front of his face, revealing only his charming fox eyes, which seemed to be half-smiled. It was obvious that he already knew who the Yan Cang apprentice Wen Yao mentioned was.
Wen Yao didn't mean to hide this from Chu Yutang on purpose. There was nothing to hide. She just didn't find the right opportunity to tell him.
Wen Yao felt a little uneasy and turned her gaze away from Chu Yutang. She gently tapped the horse's butt with the reins and sped the carriage towards the imperial city gate.
The main gate of the imperial city was Fengming Gate, located at the southern end of the Imperial Street. It was three zhang high and two zhang and three chi thick, imposing and imposing. This area was already heavily guarded by the Imperial Guards. Civil and military officials, dressed in formal attire, were to dispose of their carriages, horses, and swords two streets away and march on foot to the city walls.
Gao Shaoshan rode a few quick steps to the right front. Seeing him, the imperial guards knew a bad omen had arrived and quickly sheathed their swords and let him go. The princes and princesses who had already left the palace and established their own residences could approach closer and disembark at the Fengming Gate intersection. But in reality, aside from the Prince of Yan, the Prince of Yong, the Prince of Qin, and the Prince of Xiang, no one stood up their ancestors. They all accompanied the emperor during daytime sacrifices. This rule was established specifically for the Prince of Yan, who suffered from annual convulsions.
Wen Yao handed the Xingyi Sword to the Lingyu Guard, then turned to watch Zhao Xuanxu gracefully exit the car, clothes in hand. The corner of his mouth twitched, "Didn't you pretend you were sick during the day? You're so energetic now, is that reasonable?"
Zhao Xuanxu said softly, "Don't worry, Yao, they will keep quiet and no one will ask."
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