Ancient Secret Realm (9)
"On the fifth day of the ninth month of the fifteenth year of Kangding,
Today, my mother and I went to Huguo Temple to pray. She got two amulets for peace, and when I saw them, she seemed a little embarrassed. Even without her saying it, I knew she was praying for the safety of my father and my older brother. My mother always said, "If my father and older brother are well, the Chang family will be well, and if the Chang family is well, then my sisters and I will be well."
I felt it was wrong, but I didn't want to argue with my mother. I still remember the last time I told her she should make some plans for herself and stop thinking about my father and my older brother. She just burst into tears and asked me who she was doing this for. She said it was for me.
I can’t tell.”
"On the tenth day of the first lunar month in the eighteenth year of the Kangding reign, I reached the age of marriage.
My mother seemed delighted, saying my jigui ceremony was perfect. But I wasn't happy. She said that after my jigui ceremony, she would choose a husband for me. He couldn't have a high official rank, or the family would suspect me of climbing the social ladder. He couldn't have a low official rank either, or he wouldn't be able to provide much support for the family.
I don't like it. Why is it that the criterion for choosing a husband is not whether he can treat me well?
My grandmother once told me about a great-aunt of hers who never married. Even though she was criticized for not marrying, she lived a life of unbridled freedom. I wanted to be like her, too.
Never mind, just think about it.”
"The new emperor ascends the throne, the first year of Mingchang."
"In the first month of the second year of Mingchang, there was a Lantern Festival in the palace. I hate the palace and I don't want to enter it.
My father would definitely agree. His career is more important than anyone else's, not to mention that it's just sacrificing a daughter."
"I can't disobey the order. There are so many people in my family, and they can't take the blame for my willfulness. I promised him that I would enter the palace."
"If possible, I don't want to be born into a noble family. Because I am the legitimate daughter, I must be dignified enough to support the Wuyang Marquis's residence. Because I am the eldest daughter, I cannot have any willful behavior or even thoughts.
I only envy the mountain birds and yearn for freedom."
Lin Zhuo flipped through the notes left by Chang Junning and slowly sorted out her thoughts. She called Chun He and asked her to put the notes away and take them back to show Xie Zhitiao.
As the sky darkened, it was time to return to the palace. After strolling around the mansion and chatting with his family in the backyard, Lin Zhuo prepared to return to the palace.
Wu Yangbo put his hands behind his back, looked at her and said, "Bring your second sister into the palace."
Miss Chang Yang, who had just reached the age of marriage last year and had yet to be promised a husband, presumably understood what Marquis Wuyang meant. Lin Zhuo, not wanting to argue with him, simply agreed. With more people around, perhaps some progress could be made.
Miss Chang Er moved into a side hall of Guanju Palace under the pretext of accompanying her elder sister. Chang Junning herself wasn't particularly close to her sisters, so Lin Zhuo didn't get close to her either, only asking Chun He to keep an eye on Chang Yang to prevent any trouble.
"After this trip to the Wuyang Marquis' Mansion, at least I understand Chang Junning's obsession." Lin Zhuo sat at the desk, reviewing memorials while talking to Xie Zhitiao.
"I always feel that this illusion was set up for Qiu Ji and Chang Junning. But the breakthrough point is contradictory."
"Qiu Ji is undoubtedly mentally twisted. He wants Chang Junning to be completely dependent on him. He hopes to gain Chang Junning's love...so he won't let Chang Junning go free."
When it came to love, Lin Zhuo paused, then spoke with a nonchalant air. But talking about love all the time was truly... embarrassing. Her ears blushed slightly.
"Chang Junning is like a captive bird. How could a captive bird truly fall in love with the one who imprisoned her? I guess their first quarrel was related to this."
Xie Zhitiao's eyelids drooped, and he felt a little tired, but he still managed to answer her: "But now, you are Chang Junning, and I am Qiu Ji. We can't just pretend that you are in love with me to deceive the illusion, right?"
Lin Zhuo paused and asked, "What did you say?"
Xie Zhitiao was a little puzzled and blinked: "Act out a scene where you fall in love with me...to trick the illusion?"
She put down her pen and thought carefully: "I think... it's feasible."
Xie Zhitiao was somewhat discouraged. "What are you thinking, Senior Sister? He must be able to see our words and actions. Can we deceive Him with our acting? Besides, Senior Sister, you..." He turned his gaze and muttered, "Can you talk about love?"
"...I can't do it, but can you?" Lin Zhuo smiled gently.
Xie Zhitiao: ...
"So what if He can see it? We all know this is an illusion. What happens in reality cannot be changed. Isn't this illusion something He created, yet He is obsessed with it?"
"...Senior Sister, what you said makes sense." Xie Zhitiao hooked his finger, and the scattered books on the chaise longue flew over, "Then Senior Sister, you should learn from it."
Lin Bo:......
————
Pretending to be in love was not an easy role to play. Lin Zhuo was patient enough and read the storybooks for a few days.
Chang Yang lived in a side hall and would come to the main hall every day to pay her respects to Lin Zhuo. She was rather timid, and if she were not the only eligible young lady in the mansion, the Marquis of Wuyang would not have allowed her to enter the palace.
When Chang Yang came to pay his respects, Lin Zhuo would curl up on the chaise longue, reading a storybook, while Chang Yang would sit quietly beside him, reading a book of his own. The two of them seemed to get along peacefully.
Both of them knew what Wuyang Bo was thinking, but neither of them pointed it out. Chang Yang didn't mention it, so Lin Zhuo let her live in the palace. Whenever Xie Zhitiao had some free time, he would go to Guanju Palace, and Chang Yang would just pay her respects and leave.
Lin Zhuo heard from Chun He that Chang Yang usually lived quietly in the side hall and rarely went out. However, the Nanny Zhou who accompanied her into the palace was restless and had already mastered the Guanju Palace inside and out.
On the fifth day after Chang Yang entered the palace, Lin Zhuo finished reading all the storybooks and decided to put them into practice.
Xie Zhitiao came to Guanju Palace as usual at night. The next morning, he got up and prepared to pack up for court, but Lin Zhao had already put on his clothes and got off the bed.
Xie Zhitiao looked at her doubtfully as she slowly approached him: "What's wrong? Did I wake you up? It's still early, sleep a little longer."
Lin Zhuo shook his head. She already gave people a gentle and kind impression, and now that she was in the role of a young lady lovingly associated with her husband, it made people feel even more tender.
She raised her hand, straightened Xie Zhitiao's clothes, and carefully reminded him: "It's hard to go to court, A Tiao, remember to rest and don't push yourself too hard."
Xie Zhitiao stiffened, somewhat unresponsive: "Master... Senior Sister?"
Lin Zhuo pulled him to wash up, and asked with a smile: "Didn't A Tiao say that she wanted to be a loving couple with me? Why do you still call me senior sister?" Of course she had to act out the whole thing, and she had finally gotten into the role.
Xie Zhitiao blinked at her. Her slender fingers gripped his wrist, warm and strong. He suddenly smiled, then took her hand in his palm, looking at her with gentle eyes.
"...Zhao Zhao." He had stopped wanting to call her senior sister a long time ago.
Lin Zhuo turned her face away, hiding her other blushing ear. Many people called her by her nickname, but this was the first time she felt it was so painful.
After packing up and about to leave, Xie Zhitiao suddenly stopped at the palace gate. He turned around and looked at the girl, who was simply wearing a coat and standing there to see him off.
Lin Zhuo was confused by his gaze and was about to ask something when the man turned back and hugged her tightly.
"If you're a loving couple, asking for a hug before leaving the house isn't too much, right?"
“…” Lin Zhuo didn’t say anything, but raised his hand and hugged him back.
For several days, Lin Zhuo imitated the stories in the novels and became close to Xie Zhitiao. To the palace people, it seemed that the Imperial Concubine and the Emperor had not quarreled in a long time, and their relationship was even stronger than before.
As long as the master is good, the servants will naturally follow suit.
Lin Zhuo practiced for several days, but the illusion didn't seem to be loosening, and he finally grew impatient. Chang Yang came to pay her respects as usual, but she sat for a moment, then said she wanted some snacks from the kitchen, and asked Madam Zhou to get them.
This was the first time she had made a request in the main hall. Lin Zhuo glanced at her and said nothing.
After Nanny Zhou left, Chang Yang suddenly stood up and knelt in front of Lin Zhuo. Lin Zhuo was stunned for a moment, but did not stop her. He picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip of tea.
"Eldest sister, please be careful of Madam Zhou."
Chang Yang knelt on the ground, obviously a little timid, but still insisted on reminding her.
Lin Zhuo gestured for Chun He to help her up, then said, "Madame Zhou is your wet nurse, Yangyang, do you know what you mean?"
Tears welled up in Chang Yang's eyes: "Sister... I don't want to do that, but Sister, Father..."
She was unable to continue and choked up. Lin Zhuo understood what she meant and was stunned for a moment, then asked her, "Why did you choose the eldest sister?"
Why did you choose to stand with your elder sister when faced with your father who has the final say and your elder sister with whom you are not very close?
"Eldest sister... do you remember? The year my mother passed away, you told me that she had never lived for herself." She blinked and looked up, trying hard to force a smile, "So, you want me to live for myself."
She was only eight years old that year and cried all day long after losing her mother. Her thirteen-year-old elder sister stayed with her for three days and told her to live for herself.
"But elder sister, I am too cowardly." She sniffed, "I dare not resist father. He wants me to enter the palace, so I have to go."
"I know father is unhappy with you, and I also know he wants me to replace you, but elder sister, I can't do it. Nanny Zhou is under father's orders. I don't know their plan, but I guess it's nothing more than drugging, framing, and slapping the bed."
"Eldest sister, I also want to make a decision for myself."
Lin Zhuo couldn't quite put his finger on what he was feeling. The longer he stayed in this dreamland, the more he felt connected to the people around him. Her childhood world was too simple. Aside from her teachers, siblings, and junior fellow apprentices, she was the only one who truly cared for her.
But at this moment, she suddenly felt an indescribable feeling. She raised her hand and pressed it against her chest, feeling a soreness and swelling. Chang Yang's words were stirring her emotions.
Lin Zhuo accepted Chang Yang's kindness. Not long after Chang Yang sat down again, a voice announced from outside the palace: "The Emperor has arrived!"
Chang Yang stood behind Lin Zhuo and greeted him. She wanted to leave as usual, but was stopped. Xie Zhitiao didn't even look at her. He pulled Lin Zhuo to sit down and said:
"I came here at an unfortunate moment today. I happened to see the Chang family's maid tampering with the food. Chang Er, how do you explain this?"
Chang Yang's face paled instantly. She hadn't expected that just yesterday, after learning that her father had contacted Madam Zhou, Madam Zhou would take action today. How could she dare? Her elder sister was the Imperial Noble Consort. She could clearly see that the Emperor loved her very much.
Chang Yang fell to her knees, knowing that hiding the truth was pointless, and confessed everything about how Nanny Zhou had contacted Marquis Wuyang without her knowledge.
If she hadn't happened to see the unfinished letter in Nanny Zhou's room yesterday, I'm afraid her elder sister wouldn't believe her now.
Xie Zhitiao naturally knew that Chang Yang was not lying and had no intention of making things difficult for her, so he had Nanny Zhou brought up.
As a tyrant, he naturally followed his own will. He had long disliked the Wuyang Marquis family, so this was a ready-made excuse. He could retaliate first and then make him feel good.
"Pass on my decree. As a father, the head of the Chang family should have been kind to his children and set an example for the clan. Instead, he abused his own family, killing his own flesh and blood. This is against human ethics and has lost all conscience.
Now I strip him of his title, demote him to a commoner, and confine him to his home forever, forbidding him to interfere in foreign affairs."
Before the eunuch beside him could step forward to receive the order, the illusion suddenly fluctuated. Lin Zhuo was startled and subconsciously stood in front of Xie Zhitiao.
Xie Zhitiao pulled her back, half hugged her, and said in a deep voice: "The illusion is broken?"
The illusion shattered on its own.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
