【I Desire to Rule the World】【Part One】【Author: Yitian】

Volume 1, Different Paths in Different Worlds, Chapter 001:
Wu Zi'ang stood frozen in front of the dressing mirror, staring at the face he had completely accepted in it, a deep sense of bewilderment in his eyes.
This face didn't originally belong to him. Yes, just like his current name, "Wu Zi'ang," the identity of the only son of Wu Qiming, the president of the world's fifth-largest conglomerate, didn't belong to him either. His current appearance was the result of plastic surgery, and his identity was an imposter.
He clearly remembered one night three years ago when an elderly man in a wheelchair approached him, asking him to play the role of 'Wu Zi'ang,' offering an extremely tempting reward—three million US dollars! And this elderly man was none other than Wu Qiming, the president of the Wu Group, a global powerhouse known as the number one real estate tycoon among Chinese!
Yes, even though he himself found it absurd, it still happened. A billionaire father asked a penniless young man to play his son who had been dead for more than two months.
"Why did they come to me?" he had asked 'his father' more than once in private.
“Because I need you, and you need money!” Wu Qiming’s face revealed a knowing smile, his gaze no longer dull and lifeless as it had been in front of others, but sharp and shrewd.
Wu Zi’ang knew very well that the old man’s frail and sickly appearance in front of others was all an act. Perhaps he really was sick, but he was definitely not senile! Absolutely not!
For three whole years, as time passed, he had become completely immersed in the role of the eldest son of the Wu family, busy with the conglomerate’s affairs and socializing at various high-society parties, wearing a fake smile and dealing with equally fake faces.
Gradually, he gained a certain understanding of the inner workings of the Wu family and vaguely guessed Wu Qiming’s intention in having him play this role.
Besides 'Wu Zi’ang,' Wu Qiming also had a son, Wu Zijian, born to his current wife. He was three years younger than Wu Zi’ang, handsome, and shrewd, and currently in charge of real estate development in Hong Kong.
Wu Zi'ang had always kept his distance from this half-brother. Although Wu Zijian was extremely respectful to him and addressed him affectionately as "elder brother," Wu Zi'ang could see the barely concealed resentment in the other's eyes. The reason wasn't hard for him to guess. Wu Zi'ang, the eldest son of the Wu family, who had always been seen as a spendthrift and idle young master, had undergone a dramatic change in temperament after surviving a "very unexpected" car accident. He became humble and studious, achieving numerous successes in just three years, thus becoming a legendary rising star in the real estate industry, far surpassing Wu Zijian, who was also attracting public attention. This fact was unlikely to be easily accepted by the other.
Disputes over inheritance and sibling rivalry were commonplace in wealthy families. Clearly, Wu Qiming didn't want to pass his empire to Wu Zijian; otherwise, he wouldn't have hired someone to impersonate his deceased eldest son. But to whom would he pass the Wu family business? Wu Zi'ang couldn't guess, nor did he care to. Ultimately, he was just an outsider, no, merely a pawn in someone else's game!
"Sir, dinner is ready!"
A voice broke Wu Zi'ang's thoughts.
Turning his head, Wu Zi'ang composed himself, a gentle smile appearing on his face. He looked at the young maid who had reminded him to start dinner and said, "I know!"
Reaching the table, seeing the empty seat opposite him, Wu Zi'ang frowned slightly and instructed the maid standing nearby, "Go and call Madam down for dinner!"
"No need! I have a business dinner tonight, so I won't eat at home!"
Before the maid could reply, a voice as beautiful as heavenly music answered clearly.
Wu Zi'ang looked up and saw a stunningly beautiful woman in a white evening gown, gracefully descending the stairs.
Slightly arched eyebrows, dark and clear eyes, a delicate and straight nose, and soft, full cherry lips formed an incomparably beautiful face. A well-fitting white evening gown further accentuated her graceful curves, while her high-piled hair added to her noble aura. Such a captivating beauty would be the center of attention wherever she went.
Even though he had known her for a long time, Wu Zi'ang was still momentarily stunned by her breathtaking beauty.
"Yiyi, where are you going?"
Regaining his composure, Wu Zi'ang asked with slight surprise.
"Attending a friend's banquet!" Li Yiyi replied coldly, her beautiful face showing indifference.
"Oh!?" A strange expression appeared on Wu Zi'ang's face. He reached for the glass of red wine on the table and asked casually, "A birthday party?"
Li Yiyi paused slightly, then gave a blank, indifferent "hmm" in response.
"You're not allowed to go!"
Wu Ziang gently swirled the wine in his glass, clearly uttering these three words.
"This is my freedom, you have no right to interfere!" Li Yiyi's delicate brows furrowed slightly, a hint of anger appearing on her jade-like face.
"You are my wife, of course I have the right to interfere!" Wu Ziang said calmly, "And don't forget the conditions we agreed on! In this year, everything you do must be approved by me!"
Li Yiyi didn't speak, but her clear, beautiful eyes held immense anger. This despicable man, a year ago, used the promise of saving her father's nearly bankrupt company as bait to force her to marry him. At the time, although she despised his opportunistic behavior, she didn't hate him. But when she later realized that even her father's bankruptcy crisis was orchestrated by this man, and the whole incident was a conspiracy to get her, she vowed that she would never forgive him in this lifetime.
"Come, Yiyi, sit down!" Reading the hatred in her eyes, Wu Zi'ang felt a pang of pain in his heart, but a faint smile appeared on his face. He pointed to the dishes on the table and said, "These are all your favorites. Come, sit down and try them!"
Li Yiyi seemed not to hear him, standing there motionless.
"Today is our first wedding anniversary, hmm, I suppose you don't remember!" Wu Zi'ang poured some red wine into the empty glass opposite him, then looked gently at her beautiful face and said softly, "Yiyi, think about it. After tonight, our agreement will expire. Tomorrow, you'll be free to do whatever you want, whether it's a birthday party or a gathering with friends. I have no right to interfere with you anymore. Why bother arguing with me about tonight?"
Perhaps finding his words reasonable, Li Yiyi's expression softened slightly. She coldly said, "I'm going to change my clothes!" and turned to go upstairs.
"No need to change, this outfit is beautiful! It suits you perfectly!" Wu Zi'ang said sincerely.
Li Yiyi hesitated for a moment, but finally turned back and sat opposite Wu Ziang. Well, it was the last night anyway, so she figured she might as well listen to him.
Under the soft lighting, the atmosphere at the table seemed to soften as well. Wu Ziang's handsome face wore a faint smile as he attentively served her food and casually chatted about light and interesting topics.
Looking at this charming and elegant man before her, a hint of confusion appeared in Li Yiyi's clear eyes. What kind of man was he? He had married her using despicable means, yet he kept his promise not to touch her body, and even promised to let her leave unconditionally if their relationship didn't improve within a year. He didn't marry her for her body, so what did he want?
"What do you want?" Seemingly without thinking, Li Yiyi blurted out the question that had been buried in her heart for a long time.
Startled, Wu Zi'ang's smile faded. He gazed deeply into her beautiful eyes and said softly, "I want you to fall in love with me!"
"That's impossible!" Li Yiyi reflexively denied.
"I know, that's why I chose to let you go!" Wu Zi'ang's eyes darkened, but a smile returned in an instant. "I spent a year trying to get you to accept me, and I failed!"
"You're lying, aren't you? You only saw me once at that banquet, how could you fall in love with me!" Li Yiyi bit her lower lip, her beautiful eyes fixed on his face, trying to find any trace of his lie.
"Can't it be love at first sight?" Wu Zi'ang smiled, but a sharp pain shot through his heart.
"Love at first sight?!" A mocking expression appeared on Li Yiyi's face as she said disdainfully, "Isn't that reason too cliché?!"
"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore, let's eat!" Wu Zi'ang habitually shrugged, unwilling to continue the conversation.
“You really look like an old friend of mine!” Li Yiyi watched the other man shrug, a strange glint in her beautiful eyes. It must be her imagination, but in Wu Ziang, she had seen more than once the shadow of that man she longed for—similar name, similar expression, similar mannerisms—making her sometimes truly believe that the man before her was that man, the man she couldn't forget.
“Really? What kind of friend? Boyfriend?” Wu Ziang's body stiffened, and he asked after a long pause.
“Yes!” Li Yiyi hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded gently, a rare blush appearing on her cheeks. She didn't need to hide anything; in her heart, that man was her boyfriend.
*Clatter*, Wu Ziang accidentally knocked over the wine glass beside him, spilling wine everywhere, some even onto his trousers.
“Xiao Qing!” Startled, Wu Ziang quickly called to the maid.
“What happened?” After the maid cleaned up the table, Li Yiyi looked at her with a questioning gaze.
"It's nothing, just an accident!" Wu Ziang wiped the wine stains on his pants with a tissue, speaking casually.
"You're acting strange tonight!" Li Yiyi raised her glass, took a sip of red wine, her beautiful eyes still filled with doubt.
"Well, maybe it's because tonight is the last time we'll eat face-to-face like this!" Wu Ziang smiled slightly and said softly.
Perhaps it was just her imagination, but Li Yiyi seemed to sense a subtle sadness hidden in his gentle smile. A feeling of pity welled up in her heart, and after a moment, she whispered, "We can still be friends!"
"Really?" Wu Ziang chuckled and asked, "Don't you hate me the most? Besides, aren't you afraid I'll keep bothering you in the future?"
Li Yiyi glared at him and said coldly, "Why do I hate you? It's because you did something that I hate! Even if you really like me, you should pursue me openly and honestly. Why do you have to use such despicable methods?" Mentioning that incident made her unable to hold back her anger.
"Okay, I admit it was my fault. Let's not talk about it anymore, let's eat!" Wu Ziang raised his glass, his voice full of apology. "I sincerely apologize for what I did, and I hope you can forgive me!"
Li Yiyi hesitated for a moment, but finally raised her glass and accepted his apology.
This dinner was the only harmonious moment for the two of them in their year of marriage, and this harmony only lasted for an hour and a half.
At 9:30, the empty wine bottles on the table indicated that the dinner was about to end.
Wiping his lips with a tissue, Wu Ziang looked at the beautiful woman under the soft light, his eyes filled with undisguised affection, and whispered, "Yiyi!"
"Mmm!" Li Yiyi responded naturally, but when her eyes met his, she couldn't help but be stunned, and her heart skipped a beat for no reason.
"Yiyi, can I hold you to sleep tonight?" Wu Ziang asked softly, seemingly emboldened by the alcohol.
"Stop dreaming!" Li Yiyi was startled, instantly snapping out of her strange mood. Her beautiful face hardened with wariness as she coldly said, "Alright, that's enough for tonight. Thank you for dinner!" With that, she stood up and turned to walk upstairs.
"Yiyi!" Wu Zi'ang stood up, about to say something, when a sharp pain shot through his abdomen, instantly stopping him.
Damn it! It's happening again! Wu Zi'ang cursed under his breath, clutching his stomach and slumping back into his seat. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. If Li Yiyi had turned around, she would have seen Wu Zi'ang's pained expression, but unfortunately, she didn't!
Suppressing the excruciating pain in his liver, Wu Zi'ang gazed at the figure that haunted his dreams, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. He murmured, "I also wanted to pursue you openly and honestly! Unfortunately, I don't have time!"
(Chapter 2 of Volume 1, Different Paths in Different Worlds)
The next morning, Li Yiyi opened her sleepy eyes, lazily sitting up in bed. Looking at the large expanse of sunlight streaming through the French windows, she felt quite cheerful. The weather was nice today, quite sunny and breezy! A smile appeared on Li Yiyi's lips; it was a beautiful day!
"The phone's ringing!"
The pleasant ringtone of her cell phone suddenly sounded. Li Yiyi reached for her phone on the bedside table, glanced at the number, and a complex expression appeared on her beautiful face.
"Hello! Yiyi, why didn't you come last night?"
A magnetic male voice came from the other end of the line.
"I'm sorry! Brother Ding, last night was my and Zi'ang's first wedding anniversary, so…!" "Li Yiyi explained apologetically.
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before he said, "I see. How about tonight?"
"Tonight?" Li Yiyi paused, then asked hesitantly.
"Yes! You didn't come last night, so you have to make up for it tonight! Okay, Yiyi, it's settled then. I'll drive to your company to pick you up this afternoon!" Without giving her a chance to refuse, the man finished speaking in one breath and hung up the phone.
"What a headache!"
Li Yiyi put down her phone and sighed helplessly. She did have feelings for Ding Yiqun. A year ago, he had pursued her passionately. Although she was forced to marry Wu Ziang, Ding Yiqun's enthusiasm for her remained undiminished, and he often asked her out to dinner. Handsome, steady, thoughtful yet full of masculine charm, he was indeed the object of many women's affections. If she didn't already have someone she liked, she probably would have agreed to date him too, right?
"What should I do?" "Li Yiyi muttered to herself, if Zi'ang knew, he would definitely be unhappy. No, that's not right, why should she worry about him being unhappy? From today onwards, she was a free woman! He had no right to interfere with anything she did!
Long live freedom!" Li Yiyi exclaimed softly, got out of bed, went to the bathroom to wash up, changed into a beige business suit, and then went downstairs.
"Where is Master?"
Not seeing Wu Zi'ang in the living room, Li Yiyi couldn't help but ask the maid, Xiaoqing. Usually at this time, he should be waiting for her to have breakfast together!
"Master went out early this morning!"
Xiaoqing said, her head slightly lowered. "Master instructed me to prepare breakfast, and after Madam finishes eating, Old Wang will drive Madam to work!"
"Where did he go?!" Li Yiyi frowned slightly, muttering to herself.
***
Step by step, Wu Zi'ang, clutching his abdomen, laboriously moved towards the large rock. The mere dozen or so steps felt like an eternity to him; waves of excruciating pain nearly made his vision blur and he almost fell off the rock.
Finally, he reached the top of the high rock. The cool, salty sea breeze invigorated him. Wave after wave crashed against the rock beneath him, making a crisp, resonant sound.
Finally, he had come this far! He wasn't a coward; otherwise, he would have chosen this path a year ago! He endured this torment, simply hoping to spend some beautiful time with her. He admitted he was selfish; to avoid regrets, he had used despicable means to force her to marry him. Now that he was dead, would she grieve for him?
Probably not. Wu Zi'ang gazed at the surging waves below, his mind drifting to the distant past. In a hazy vision, he seemed to see that pure and shy face—his first love, and the love of his life! Though his life had been far too short.
Reflecting on his twenty-seven years, he realized that the time truly at his own disposal was minuscule. He hadn't even had time to realize his ambitions, nor time to fully possess the woman he loved. "My fate is in the hands of heaven, not my own!" Wu Zi'ang silently cried out in his heart. With outstretched arms, he jumped without hesitation from the high rock. Not far away, a group of people who had arranged to watch the sunrise witnessed this scene and gasped in unison.
All day long, Li Yiyi was restless, a vague sense of foreboding creeping in. After work, as soon as she left the company, she saw Ding Yiqun's car parked there. Through the window, he smiled at her and gently waved.
As Li Yiyi's slender and alluring figure approached, Ding Yiqun's eyes revealed a hint of infatuation. She was the most perfect woman he had ever seen in his life—her looks, her temperament, her knowledge—flawless. If he couldn't possess her in this lifetime, it would be the greatest regret of his life.
Wu Zi'ang? Thinking of this man, Ding Yiqun couldn't help but smile coldly. Although nominally he was Li Yiyi's husband, he knew the inside story perfectly well. Li Yiyi could never love Wu Zi'ang. Once the agreement expired, this stunning beauty would eventually be his again.
"Yiyi!"
Ding Yiqun got out of the car, a charming smile blooming on his face, and reached out to open the car door for her, saying, "Get in!"
"Where are we going?" Li Yiyi asked after getting into the car.
"The Aegean Sea!" A strange look flashed in Ding Yiqun's eyes as he smiled and said.
"Oh? This...isn't it a little inappropriate?" Li Yiyi frowned slightly; she knew this Western restaurant was only suitable for couples.
“The environment there is very nice, I think it’s perfect for us!” Ding Yiqun gazed at Li Yiyi’s exquisite face and said softly.
“Just us?” Li Yiyi asked, slightly surprised.
“Yes, just us!”
Ding Yiqun’s intense gaze and deep tone made Li Yiyi feel a little uncomfortable. She understood his feelings, but the problem was that she couldn’t accept him, because she already had a man in her heart.
Who was it?
Suddenly, Wu Ziang’s face appeared in her mind, startling her. No, it wasn’t him. However, no matter how hard she tried to concentrate, the image deep in her memory gradually merged with Wu Ziang, becoming indistinguishable.
“Yiyi!”
Seeing her lost in thought, Ding Yiqun couldn’t help but call out.
“Oh!” Li Yiyi snapped out of her daze, composed herself, and said thoughtfully, “Excuse me, I need to make a phone call!”
With that, she took out her phone from her purse and dialed a number.
"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently unavailable!"
The voice from the phone startled Li Yiyi, intensifying her unease. She knew that Wu Zi'ang, the president of the Wu Group, would never turn off his phone at this time!
"Can we go now, Yiyi?"
Understanding that the other party was calling Wu Zi'ang, Ding Yiqun couldn't hide a hint of jealousy in his tone.
"Where did he go?!" Confused, Li Yiyi fiddled with her delicate little phone, muttering to herself, seemingly oblivious to the question.
Just as Ding Yiqun was about to speak again, Li Yiyi's phone rang.
Li Yiyi felt a surge of joy and quickly answered the phone.
"Yiyi? Cough cough!"
Hearing the aged voice on the
other end of the phone, Li Yiyi felt a vague sense of disappointment. She said, "Dad, it's me!" "Come back! Zi'ang is in trouble!" Wu Qiming, suppressing a violent cough, calmly told her this shocking fact.
"What?!"
Li Yiyi exclaimed in shock, her hand on the phone frozen, her mind blank, only the words "Zi'ang is in trouble!" echoing in her ears
. "What's wrong, Yiyi!" Seeing the other party's agitated expression, Ding Yiqun asked in surprise.
"Zi'ang is in trouble!" Almost using all her strength, Li Yiyi said in a trembling voice, "Please take me home!"
Half an hour later, Li Yiyi returned to the villa. Everything seemed normal, but she felt increasingly panicked and fearful. Pushing open the door, she saw an old man sitting in a wheelchair in the living room, quietly gazing out the window as if lost in thought.
"You're back! Yiyi!" The old man didn't turn his head, but spoke in a low, hoarse voice.
"Dad, what happened to Zi'ang?" Li Yiyi was most anxious to know what had happened to Wu Zi'ang. She didn't understand why she was so worried about someone she had always deeply disliked, and at this moment, she had no time to think about finding out the truth.
"He's gone!"
Wu Qiming turned his head, his thin face calm and expressionless, his tone indifferent.
"Gone?" Li Yiyi's beautiful face froze, a look of confusion in her eyes.
"Yes, gone! To be precise, he left this world!" Wu Qiming said calmly.
"You, you mean...!" Li Yiyi's heart clenched, staring incredulously at the old man's calm face, her voice trembling.
"Sunrise Rock! Do you know it?" Wu Qiming seemed to be asking a question, yet also talking to himself, "This morning, he jumped from there!"
"No, no! That's impossible!" Li Yiyi shook her head, her beautiful eyes fixed on the old man's calm face. She couldn't believe that someone so close to their son would be so calm, nor could she believe that a perfectly healthy person would have such thoughts of suicide.
"Aren't you wondering why I'm not sad, and why Zi'ang, the president of the Wu Group, would suddenly choose to commit suicide?" Wu Qiming's worldly-wise eyes immediately discerned her thoughts. He pointed with his withered hand to the paper bag on the table and said, "Those are all Zi'ang's things. Look at that, and you'll understand!"
Li Yiyi came to the table, reached out her delicate hand, picked up the paper bag, and opened it.
Inside were few things: an agreement, a medical record, and a photograph.
Picking up the photograph, Li Yiyi's face instantly drained of color. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on the young couple in the photo, smiling so happily and sweetly. No, how could this be? How could he have this photo?! This was clearly a picture of her and her beloved boyfriend. Heavens, could anyone tell her what was going on?
"Three years ago, my eldest son, Zi'ang, died in a car accident!" Wu Qiming closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Do you know what this means? It means that after I die, Wu's hundreds of billions of assets will be entirely inherited by Wu Zijian!"
"Wait, you mean Zi'ang…!" Li Yiyi covered her cherry lips with her hand and asked in a trembling voice. Suddenly, a terrible thought appeared in her mind, shocking her beyond belief!
“However, this is what I didn’t want!” Wu Qiming ignored Li Yiyi’s words and continued, “So I blocked the news of Zi’ang’s death and found him, a young man who looked extremely similar to Zi’ang. I paid him three million to sign the agreement you have. After plastic surgery, he appeared in the Wu Group as Wu Zi’ang and became the president. You should be very familiar with this young man’s name; it’s Lin Zixuan!”
“Lin Zixuan!” Upon hearing those three words, Li Yiyi’s heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. The world spun around her, and her delicate body swayed precariously, almost collapsing. At that moment, the terrible thought that had flashed through her mind finally became a reality, and this reality was so cruel to her. She finally understood why Lin Zixuan’s shadow was present in Wu Zi’ang, and why Wu Zi’ang always said he had loved her for a long time! It turned out that the man who had always been by her side, whom she had always despised, was the very man who had been missing for three years but whom she had always longed for.
"Zixuan, Ziang! Heh!" The old man opened his eyes, letting out a low laugh. "If only he were truly my son, such an outstanding young man. I even considered entrusting the Wu family business to him after my death. Alas, heaven is jealous of talent! So young, and he's already afflicted with liver cancer! Do you know, he had contemplated suicide a year ago, but for you, he endured the torment of the disease and lived another year!" "
Coward!"
Li Yiyi's beautiful eyes filled with tears, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably, yet she still suppressed the urge to burst into tears, speaking with hatred. Yes, he was a coward. Why didn't he dare tell her the truth? Then she would have stayed with him through his final moments. She knew he was afraid of hurting her, but now, her heart ached even more!
“He’s not a coward! Do you know how much courage it takes to make a proud man give up his ambitions, give up his love, and contemplate suicide?!” Wu Qiming sighed softly. “What a pity. If he hadn’t been terminally ill, even without the CEO position at Wu Corporation, he would have forged his own bright future! What a pity!”
With a thud, Li Yiyi could no longer bear the excruciating pain in her heart. Her vision went black, and she collapsed to the ground.
Looking at the unconscious Li Yiyi, a trace of pity appeared on Wu Qiming’s aged face. How cruel fate was, separating a loving couple by death. He sighed deeply, clapped his hands gently, and the door creaked open, revealing a kind-looking middle-aged man.
“Adai, help Yiyi to the sofa!”
Wu Qiming instructed.
Adai responded and gently helped Li Yiyi to the sofa.
“Let’s go!”
The old man reached out and turned his wheelchair towards the door. Adai quickly followed, supporting the wheelchair and pushing the old man out the door.
Stepping out of the villa, Wu Qiming gazed at the setting sun and murmured, "To live as a hero, to die as a ghost! Perhaps in another world, you will realize your life's ambitions!"
Volume 1, Different Paths in Another World, Chapter 003:
"Water, water!" In his drowsy state, Wu Zi'ang felt intensely thirsty and unconsciously groaned.
"Young Master is awake! Young Master is awake! Quickly inform Master and Madam, Young Master is awake!" A clear, joyful voice reached Wu Zi'ang's ears, making him more alert. Immediately afterward, a sweet liquid entered his mouth, instantly clearing his mind.
"I'll go!" Another woman's voice came, followed by light footsteps, clearly someone had gone out to deliver the news.
Opening his eyes groggily, he saw a woman with her hair in a bun, dressed in a blue robe, looking at him with delight. Wu Zi'ang was instantly stunned.
He wasn't surprised that his suicide attempt had failed and he had been saved; what surprised him was the woman's attire—it resembled that of a maidservant from an ancient official's household in a movie.
Where...where was he? Upon regaining consciousness, Wu Zi'ang suddenly sat up in bed, his gaze sweeping over the woman before him, then scanning his surroundings, his expression even more astonished. He now realized he was in a classically styled bedroom, and he was even wearing an antique-style sleeping robe.
"Am I dreaming?" Wu Zi'ang bit his tongue hard, trying desperately to wake himself from this 'dream,' but the distinct pain clearly told him that this was no dream, but reality, an undeniable reality.
"Young Master, you're finally awake! Do you know? You've been unconscious for three whole days! Master and Madam were terrified!" The rather pretty maidservant seemed still shaken, patting her chest, her concern overflowing.
"Is that so?" Wu Zi'ang murmured. He vaguely remembered that the seawater suddenly became scorching hot the moment he jumped into the sea. Then he felt as if he were in a huge whirlpool, being pulled by several powerful suction forces, and finally swallowed by something indescribable! Could it be that he had accidentally traveled through a time tunnel to ancient times, just like in a science fiction movie?
Before he could think any further, he heard hurried footsteps. Wu Zi'ang looked in the direction of the sound and saw a middle-aged couple, around forty years old, quickly entering the room, led by another pretty maid.
"Ang'er, you scared your mother to death!"
Before Wu Zi'ang could react, the elegant middle-aged woman rushed to the bedside, stretched out her arms, and pulled him into her embrace.
Who was this? His mother? Wu Zi'ang stood there dumbfounded, letting the beautiful woman who called herself his mother hold him in her arms. His mind was a tangled mess, and he couldn't make sense of it at all.
"Let your mother see, are you really alright?" After a moment, the middle-aged woman helped Wu Zi'ang up, gently stroking his cheek with one hand. Her eyes were filled with unspeakable concern, and that heartfelt love stirred Wu Zi'ang's heart, giving rise to a strange sense of filial piety.
"I... I'm fine!" Wu Zi'ang answered softly, subconsciously.
"That's good, that's good!" The middle-aged woman wept with joy, turning to the middle-aged man standing silently to the side, saying, "Tianyao, thank God, Ang'er is alright!"
"Hmph!"
The middle-aged man snorted coldly, his angry eyes sweeping over Wu Zi'ang's face. After a long while, he said coldly, "This kind of good-for-nothing would be better off dead!"
Hearing this, Wu Zi'ang looked at the middle-aged man, who was wearing a black robe with plain silver trim. His tall figure exuded a heroic aura, and beneath his sword-like eyebrows, a pair of tiger-like eyes gleamed with a sharp light, inspiring awe in those who beheld him!
"Tianyao...!" The beautiful woman glanced helplessly at the middle-aged man, then turned to Wu Ziang and said softly, "Ang'er, don't blame your father for being angry. What you did this time was really reckless. Sigh, you...!"
"Stop talking! Arguing with this unfilial son is like casting pearls before swine. Forget it! My Wu family has produced outstanding individuals for generations, yet I, Wu Tianyao, have given birth to such a worthless brat! I truly don't know what sins I committed in my past life!" Looking at Wu Zi'ang's bewildered face, Wu Tianyao's anger intensified. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and stormed off.
"Tianyao!" the middle-aged woman called out repeatedly, but Wu Tianyao ignored her. Helpless
, she turned to Wu Zi'ang and sighed, "Ang'er, you rest well. I'll go and persuade your father!" "Xia Shi, Dong Hua, you two take good care of him!" Still worried, she instructed the two maids in the room before reluctantly glancing at Wu Zi'ang and leaving.
After the middle-aged woman left, Wu Zi'ang composed himself and began to carefully consider his current situation. He was now certain that he had indeed arrived in another era, and he seemed to have been reborn as a completely different person.
What exactly was going on? Had he truly traveled through time? Wu Zi'ang tried his best to suppress his chaotic thoughts, turning his gaze to the two maids standing timidly to the side.
"Xia Shi!" Wu Zi'ang called out tentatively. He had just learned the names of the two maids from his 'mother', but he couldn't be sure which one was Xia Shi and which one was Dong Hua!
"Young Master, what are your orders?" The pretty maid who had been in the room immediately stepped forward and answered with a smile.
"Who am I?" Wu Zi'ang asked softly.
Xia Shi was startled at first, but when she met Wu Zi'ang's bright eyes, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, "Young Master, don't pretend to have amnesia to scare me!"
"I really can't remember anything! My head is throbbing!" Wu Zi'ang's intention was to use the excuse of amnesia to find out his current identity, so he held his head in his hands, looking very pained.
Seeing Wu Zi'ang's pained expression, Xia Shi and Dong Hua realized the seriousness of the problem. Their expressions changed, and they rushed to Wu Zi'ang's side, exclaiming in surprise, "Young Master, do you really... really not remember who you are?"
"I really don't remember!" Wu Zi'ang rubbed his head, feigning confusion in his eyes, and said, "I remember those were my parents just now, and I remember you are Xia Shi and Dong Hua, but I just can't remember who I am!"
"You are Wu Zi'ang!" Dong Hua exclaimed anxiously, grabbing Wu Zi'ang's arms with both hands, "Young Master, you are Wu Zi'ang, the mighty general of the Great Qin Kingdom! Do you really not remember anything?"
"Wu Zi'ang!" Wu Zi'ang was stunned upon hearing this, and then he couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself. Even though he had come to another world, he was still playing the role of another "Wu Zi'ang." It seemed that the name 'Wu Zi'ang' was truly destined for him!
"Bring me a mirror!" Wu Zi'ang pondered for a moment and said slowly.
"Yes!" Xia Shi responded, turning to fetch a bronze mirror for Wu Zi'ang.
In the mirror, Wu Zi'ang saw a familiar face—yes, it was still that surgically altered face, a face that wasn't originally his!
He hadn't expected that even in this strange world, he couldn't escape the fate of impersonating Wu Zi'ang! Well, now that the question of who he was had been answered, the next step was to figure out what dynasty this so-called Great Qin Kingdom actually belonged to! However, he didn't intend to question the two maids further. Asking too many questions, even with the amnesiac Akiko, would still arouse suspicion. So he decided to inquire slowly later!
"I remember now!" Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly at the two maids, Xia Shi and Dong Hua, who looked anxious. "Don't worry, I just had a headache for a moment, I'm much better now!"
"That's good, Young Master really scared Xiao Shi and Hua'er!" Xia Shi breathed a sigh of relief, a smile returning to her pretty face. Having served the young master for over ten years, she vaguely felt that something was amiss with him, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. This gave her a strange feeling. "I'm fine now, you can go now! I need to rest for a while!" Wu Zi'ang instructed in a gentle voice.
"Yes! Xiao Shi (Xiao Hua) takes her leave!" Xia Shi and Dong Hua bowed in unison and obeyed the order to leave. In the blink of an eye, only Wu Zi'ang remained in the bedroom.
Unbelievable! Wu Zi'ang slowly lay down, his gaze sweeping over every antique object in the room. He couldn't help but sigh. He couldn't imagine that he, who had committed suicide by drowning, would inexplicably come to this space to continue playing the role of 'Wu Zi'ang'!
Was this a chance for me to be reborn by heaven? Wu Zi'ang murmured softly, and suddenly Li Yiyi's beautiful face appeared in his mind. His heart ached. Without her, what meaning would it have for him to be reborn? If, if she could also come to this world like him…! Wu Zi'ang sighed softly and slowly closed his eyes. Of course, he knew that his thoughts were just wishful thinking.
After thinking about this for a while, drowsiness gradually came over him, and he finally drifted off to sleep.
***
The bright moon hung high in the sky, and a night breeze caressed his face.
Wu Zi'ang stood by the window, gazing at the moon high in the sky, a feeling of loneliness and helplessness rising in his heart.
He had been in this strange world for over ten days. Through subtle questioning of two maids and other servants in the mansion, he had learned that he was currently in the Great Qin Dynasty, a dynasty not recorded in his known history.
His father, Wu Tianyao, was indeed the Great Qin Dynasty's Grand General, wielding considerable military power, and his mother, Lady Ling, was the daughter of the former Right Chancellor of the Qin Dynasty. He was the only son of this extremely distinguished couple.
Thinking of this, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had learned from the servants and even his "parents" that the "Wu Zi'ang" he was currently impersonating was a complete wastrel, spending his days indulging in food, drink, and merrymaking. In his spare time, he would gather a group of dissolute friends to cause trouble and create countless mishaps in the capital.
Take this recent predicament, for example. The reason was that Wu Zi'ang, upon hearing of the beauty of the talented woman Su Qimeng, harbored wicked thoughts and sneaked into her pleasure boat on the Li River at midnight. However, his plan failed, and he was thrown into the river by Su Qimeng's protectors, narrowly escaping death.
In this respect, he was exactly the same character he had played in his previous world, except one was the son of a modern-day tycoon, and the other the son of an ancient powerful minister.
"What should I do?" "Wu Zi'ang muttered to himself. Living in such an era, leading a life completely different from modern civilization, he felt utterly unreal. What was he? Time travel? Or reincarnation?
Confusion! These two words were Wu Zi'ang's only state of mind at that moment. He didn't know what to do! Continue playing the role of this spoiled brat? Yes! Did he have any other choice?
Wu Zi'ang shook his head inwardly. Oh well! He'd just have to take it one step at a time! Lost in thought, he suddenly heard a melody from a zither.
The music was low and murky, the somber notes creating a sense of oppression. Moreover, judging from the smoothness of the music, the player..." The player was clearly a novice.
Curiosity stirred within Wu Zi'ang, and he turned and left his bedroom, heading straight for the source of the music.
Walking through winding corridors and narrow passageways, Wu Zi'ang stopped before a half-open gate in the backyard.
Although he had spent over ten days in the general's mansion and had a general understanding of its various courtyards, there were still a few he hadn't explored, and this 'Quiet Garden' was one of them.
Hearing the music so close, Wu Zi'ang hesitated for a moment, but finally stepped inside.
Under the bright moonlight, in the ancient pavilion standing in the west of the courtyard, a person was bowing their head and gently playing the guqin, from which the obscure music emanated.
Gently ascending the stone steps, Wu Zi'ang quietly approached the man a few meters away. By the moonlight, he could clearly see that the person playing the zither was a middle-aged man. Seemingly
sensing someone approaching, the middle-aged man suddenly looked up, his sharp, sword-like eyes shooting directly at Wu Zi'ang, accompanied by an abrupt halt to the music.
Wu Zi'ang was startled. Although it was night, he could still feel the sharpness hidden within the man's almost tangible gaze.
"I…!"
Wu Zi'ang was about to speak when he suddenly saw the middle-aged man's eyes flash, and with a slight extension of his right hand, he felt a powerful force descend from the sky, as if an invisible giant hand was pulling him towards the man.
Wu Zi'ang was terrified. Images of martial arts movies he had seen flashed through his mind, and he exclaimed inwardly, "Could this be martial arts?"
Just as he was horrified, the middle-aged man's cold voice rang in his ears: "Useless thing, I've already warned you, from now on you're not allowed to set foot in 'Jingyuan' even half a step. What? Do you want me to break your legs?!"
Before the words were finished, a loud 'bang' was heard, and Wu Zi'ang was thrown heavily to the bottom of the hard stone steps. A sharp pain shot through him, and Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.
"How lamentable! How could Wu Tianyao, a hero of his generation, have such a worthless son like you!" The middle-aged man stood up and slowly walked to the bottom of the stone steps, looking at Wu Zi'ang lying on the ground. His tone contained a hint of pity, but even more so, mockery.
Wu Zi'ang inwardly cursed his bad luck. How innocent he was, suffering this punishment in place of that 'Wu Zi'ang'! Moreover, judging from the other party's tone, it must be related to the original owner of his body. If he stayed here any longer, he might give himself away. Thinking of this, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but blame himself for being too curious. If he had stayed in the room obediently, how could he have suffered such a disaster?
"Uncle! I know I was wrong, I'll leave right away!" Wu Zi'ang endured the pain and stood up from the ground, apologizing sincerely, and then carefully retreated.
"What did you call me?" A sharp glint flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes, and his figure approached like a ghost. 　　Wu
Zi'ang only felt a blur before his eyes, and then his wrist tightened. The middle-aged man had already seized his pulse point. A strong force came, and his whole body immediately went numb and weak. He couldn't help but kneel down. 　　"You're not that brat, who are you?" the middle-aged man shouted sharply, his gaze sweeping over Wu Zi'ang's face. 　　Hearing the question, Wu Zi'ang panicked, realizing he had made a mistake in how he addressed the man. Helpless, he could only bite the bullet and say, "I...I am Wu Zi'ang!" 　　"Hmph!" The middle-aged man snorted coldly, his right hand flashing across Wu Zi'ang's face. 　　Wu Zi'ang felt a burning pain on his face, but he endured it without uttering a sound. With the bright moon high in the sky and the two men close together, he finally saw the middle-aged man's appearance 　　clearly. His face was almost eerily handsome, with a high, straight nose and a pair of eyes that flashed like lightning, radiating a chilling light. What impressed Wu Zi'ang most was the demonic aura emanating from the man's imposing, towering figure. 　　Alas! The middle-aged man let out a soft sigh, clearly surprised that he hadn't found any disguise, including a human skin mask, on the other man's face. With a thought, he subtly lifted Wu Zi'ang from the ground with his left hand, coldly saying, "If you were truly that useless thing, how could you not recognize me?" 　　"I, I—!" Wu Zi'ang inwardly groaned. How could he possibly know who this man was? While stammering, he suddenly heard someone softly call from outside the door, "Senior Wei!" 　　Wu Zi'ang's heart leaped with joy; he recognized the voice as that of the maid, Dong Hua! 　　"What is it?!" The middle-aged man, seemingly already aware of someone approaching, asked in a deep voice without raising his head. 　　"This servant has come on the orders of the Madam to find the young master. Is he with you, Senior?" Dong Hua asked respectfully. 　　The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, then said, "Come in! I also have something to ask you!" 　　"Yes!" 　　A moment later, Dong Hua's petite figure appeared before Wu Zi'ang. 　　Seeing Wu Ziang in this state, Dong Hua showed no surprise, as if it were commonplace. 　　"Is this really your young master?" The middle-aged man's cold gaze swept across Wu Ziang's face as he asked in a deep voice. 　　"Yes!" A look of doubt flashed in Dong Hua's eyes, as if she didn't understand why he would ask such a question. 　　"Then why doesn't he recognize me?" As he spoke, the middle-aged man tightened his grip on Wu Ziang's left hand, and Wu Ziang immediately groaned in pain. 　　"This?" Dong Hua suddenly realized and quickly lowered her head to answer, "Senior, you don't know, a few days ago, the young master accidentally fell into the river. Fortunately, he survived, but his brain was damaged as a result, so...!" 　　"Accidentally fell into the river?!" 　　The middle-aged man's face showed a mocking expression, and he sneered, "Just spying on women, yet you've made such a mess of yourself. I really don't know what use you are, you good-for-nothing!" 　　With that, he gently released Wu Ziang's left hand, and Wu Ziang staggered towards Dong Hua. Dong Hua reacted quickly and reached out to support him. 　　"Take him away!" 　　The middle-aged man waved his hand, signaling Dong Hua to take Wu Zi'ang away. 　　Dong Hua respectfully replied, "Yes!" and then helped Wu Zi'ang turn and walk out of Jingyuan. 　　Watching Wu Zi'ang's back, a hint of confusion flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes. Although Dong Hua's reasoning had some merit, he still felt that Wu Zi'ang tonight was fundamentally different in temperament from the useless good-for-nothing he usually was. Could it be that after experiencing a tribulation, this good-for-nothing had changed his nature? 　　After leaving Jingyuan, Wu Zi'ang still breathed a sigh of relief. Under the pressure of the middle-aged man's aura, the physical pain he had suffered seemed insignificant! 　　"Young Master, why did you go to Jingyuan? Aren't you usually most afraid of seeing Senior Wei?" On the way back, Dong Hua couldn't help but ask with a smile. 　　"Senior Wei?" Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but repeat softly. 　　"That's the master Master invited back for you half a year ago. He's said to be a very powerful figure in the martial arts world!" Dong Hua explained with a smile. She had long since become accustomed to Wu Zi'ang's 'intermittent amnesia' over the past ten days. Although she and Qiu Shi sometimes noticed Wu Zi'ang's unusual behavior, they still assumed it was due to his injuries. They never imagined that the young master they had served for over ten years had become a completely different person! 　　"Oh! So he's my master!" Wu Zi'ang finally understood. The man he called 'Uncle' was his master. No wonder the other party had become suspicious of him! 　　"No, young master usually addresses Senior Wei as 'Uncle'!" Dong Hua explained patiently, then gently urged, "Alright, young master! Let's hurry up and go. Master and Madam must be getting impatient!" 　　Upon returning to his residence, Wu Zi'ang saw Wu Tianyao and his wife sitting upright in the hall. He quickly went over and respectfully bowed, addressing them as, "Father, Mother!" "For the past ten days or so, he has been carefully observing people's words and actions, imitating the titles and etiquette of the ancients, and fortunately, he has not yet given himself away. 　　"Ang'er! It's so late, why aren't you in bed? Where have you been?!" Madam Ling reached out a hand and gently took Wu Zi'ang's hand, her face showing affection. Although this son was not good enough, as a mother, she still loved and cared for him very much. 　　"I couldn't sleep, so I went to Uncle Wei's place!" Wu Zi'ang said vaguely.

"Hua'er! Is what he said true?!"
Wu Tianyao asked from the side, clearly not believing Wu Zi'ang's words.
"Hua'er did indeed find the young master from Senior Wei!" Dong Hua quickly replied, bowing her head.
"You always made excuses when I asked you to go to Jingyuan, why have you changed your ways now?" Wu Tianyao asked, frowning.
Hearing his 'father's' question, Wu Zi'ang could only brace himself and say, "Recently, I've been reflecting on my actions and deeply regretting my past foolishness, so I went to Uncle Wei for guidance!"
"Tianyao, listen, Ang'er has become much more sensible!" Madam Ling seemed very pleased to hear Wu Zi'ang's words.
"How could he possibly reflect on his actions!" No one knows a son better than his father. Wu Tianyao knew Wu Zi'ang's character perfectly well. However, even so, upon hearing Wu Zi'ang's words, his expression softened, and he sighed, "I don't expect you to achieve great things, just don't bring shame to the Wu family!"
"Tianyao?!" Hearing her husband belittle her son like this, Madam Ling glared at Wu Tianyao reproachfully.
"Enough! If you truly wish to repent, go to Jingyuan more often these next few days! Take advantage of the fact that Brother Wei hasn't considered leaving yet and learn as many skills as possible! Alas, I don't have much hope for you anymore!" Wu Tianyao sighed again, his tone unable to conceal his disappointment, and said to Madam Ling, "Tell him about that matter!"
Madam Ling nodded and turned to Wu Zi'ang, speaking softly, "Ang'er, tomorrow your father will be hosting a banquet at the manor to entertain some important guests, including Miss Su Qimeng, whom you offended. You will need to attend and publicly apologize! This time, you must not make any frivolous moves again; you must show sincerity, understand?"
"Mother, your son…! Your son obeys!" Upon hearing this, Wu Zi'ang initially wanted to refuse, but seeing Wu Tianyao's stern gaze, he reluctantly changed his mind and agreed.
Wu Tianyao remained silent, but his gaze towards Wu Zi'ang carried a warning. Although he was a powerful and valiant general, Su Qimeng was a woman of unparalleled talent and beauty, renowned for her exceptional abilities. Furthermore, her teacher, the renowned scholar Wang Xiuzhi, often referred to as a semi-immortal, further enhanced her prestige. All the feudal lords, including the Qin imperial family, treated Su Qimeng as an honored guest, showing her utmost respect. Now, his son's disgraceful act forced him to swallow his pride and personally invite Su Qimeng to the general's mansion. He decided to have his son publicly apologize at the banquet to mitigate the negative impact on the mansion.
Seeing Wu Zi'ang nod in agreement, Wu Tianyao and his wife said no more and left. Their maid, Donghua, also took her leave, leaving Wu Zi'ang alone in his room, lost in thought.
He had a strong premonition that tomorrow's banquet would be a test for him!
***
The next morning, Donghua and Xia Shi arrived early at Wu Zi'ang's residence to help him wash and change.
Looking at the elegant clothes prepared by the two women, Wu Zi'ang could only smile wryly to himself, letting them help him change. Having been in this strange world for over ten days, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable in these wide-sleeved robes. Gazing at the ancient-style youth in the bronze mirror, Wu Zi'ang looked at him as if he were a stranger for a long time. In reality, he didn't look bad in the robes; on the contrary, he even possessed a more refined, scholarly air. It was just his own imagination playing tricks on him.
After changing, Wu Zi'ang went with Xia Shi and Dong Hua to Wu Tianyao and his wife's place for breakfast. Next, they headed to Yiqing Garden to prepare for the arrival of their distinguished guests.
Yiqing Garden was located slightly to the left of the General's Mansion's backyard. The garden was planted with dozens of exotic flowers and rare herbs. In early summer, the willows were green, and hundreds of flowers were in full bloom, with a faint fragrance of flowers and herbs floating in the air—a scene of vibrant life. At this moment, a dozen or so servants of the General's Mansion were busy setting up tables and arranging food and wine in the pavilion.
As noon approached, guests began to arrive. Led by Liu Fu, the steward of the General's Mansion, a group of high-ranking officials and dignitaries in brocade robes and jade belts arrived at Yiqing Garden.
Wu Tianyao greeted them with a smile, "Ninth Prince!" "Grand Secretary Wang!" "Lord Yang!" One after another, these titles, no less prestigious than those of the General's Mansion, indicated the extraordinary nature of this luncheon.
Many of the visiting dignitaries were not merely there to watch the spectacle; more importantly, they were there to witness the unparalleled beauty of this talented woman. Su Qimeng had been in the capital for half a month, but had consistently claimed illness and declined invitations from numerous dignitaries. Now, however, she had suddenly accepted the invitation of General Wu Tianyao to come to the General's Mansion, which made the dignitaries, including the Ninth Prince, quite resentful. However, resentment aside, such an opportunity to witness the talent of a woman was one they absolutely could not miss!
Wu Zi'ang stood behind Wu Tianyao, mechanically bowing to each guest. Clearly, in the eyes of many, he was an insignificant figure; even those who glanced at him mostly wore malicious mockery. Wu Zi'ang didn't care. Looking at the smiling faces and polite words of the dignitaries, he felt a sense of déjà vu. Yes, back in the day, when he frequented high-society banquets in modern society, hadn't he often participated in these kinds of social gatherings with their masks of pretense? The times were different, but the nature seemed no different.
"Haha, I've come uninvited, I hope Tianyao won't be offended!"
Just as Wu Tianyao was feeling bored, a deep, resonant laugh drew his attention. Turning around, he saw an elderly man in a purple robe striding towards him, followed closely by two middle-aged men in gray.
"Prime Minister Wei, what are you saying? I only came because I heard you were unwell, so I didn't dare to disturb you!" Wu Tianyao quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and laughed heartily.
Prime Minister Wei stepped forward and warmly grasped Wu Tianyao's right hand, smiling, "The talented Miss Su is here at the General's Mansion! Such a grand occasion, how could I possibly miss it!"
Wu Zi'ang secretly observed this Prime Minister Wei from the side. He saw that his face was like the ancient moon, his voice was like a booming bell, and his every move exuded official authority. Although his hair and beard were all gray, he showed no signs of old age. Although he was all smiles and amiable at the moment, his narrow eyes flashed with a fearsome light when they opened and closed.
This man must be Wei Ruoxuan, the current Right Prime Minister of the Great Qin. Although Wu Zi'ang had only been in this world for half a month, he had already heard of the name of this Right Prime Minister, who was second only to the emperor in the Great Qin.
Noticing Wu Zi'ang's gaze, Wei Ruoxuan turned and smiled, "This must be your son?"
"It is indeed my good-for-nothing son!" Wu Tianyao replied with
a wry smile. "Ah, truly a dragon among men, a handsome young man!" Wei Ruoxuan casually praised.
"Your Excellency flatters me, I am ashamed!" Wu Tianyao knew this was just polite talk, and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Please come in, Your Excellency!"
Wei Ruoxuan nodded with a smile, his eyes sweeping over Wu Zi'ang's calm face, and he couldn't help but raise a slight brow, a hint of surprise in his expression. He had long heard that Wu Tianyao's son was a good-for-nothing scoundrel, but judging from his current demeanor and expression, it seemed to contradict the rumors, which made him slightly suspicious.
"Prime Minister, please take a seat!"
At this moment, the crowd already inside the pavilion rushed forward to greet Wei Ruoxuan. Wei Ruoxuan had no choice but to temporarily set aside his doubts, return the greetings, and after several rounds of polite refusals, sit down to the left of Prince Wu Shang.
"Prime Minister, I heard you're unwell. I was just about to visit you at your residence," Prince Wu Shang said, seemingly concerned, as Wei Ruoxuan sat down.
Wei Ruoxuan cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and chuckled, replying, "It's just a minor ailment! How could I dare trouble the esteemed Prince Wu Shang?!"
"Prime Minister, you mustn't be careless. You are, after all, quite old. If anything were to happen to you, wouldn't our Great Qin Kingdom lose a pillar of strength?!" Wu Shang continued with a forced smile.
"Ninth Prince, rest assured! I will take better care of my health from now on!" A flash of murderous intent crossed Wei Ruoxuan's eyes as he looked at the Emperor's youngest brother. Throughout the court, even among imperial relatives, who didn't show him respect? Only this Ninth Prince not only showed him no respect but also opposed him at every turn! He wasn't stupid; how could he not sense that the other's apparent concern for his health was actually a plea for his early demise?
Taking in Wei Ruoxuan's expression, Wu Shang sneered inwardly. Old man, let's see how long you can maintain your arrogance?
Guests gradually took their seats, the food and wine were served, and it was already noon. However, the protagonist of this banquet, Su Qimeng, hailed as the most talented woman of our time, was still nowhere to be seen. Even so, none of the prominent figures, including Wei Ruoxuan and Wu Shang, showed any sign of impatience.
Wu Zi'ang observed coldly, a sense of curiosity stirring within him. He really wanted to see what kind of woman this talented woman, whom 'he's' failed attempt to spy on, truly was.
"Miss Su, Young Master Pei has arrived!"
With the announcement from the steward, Liu Fu, everyone in the pavilion perked up, craning their necks and looking westwards, their eyes fixed on the source of the voice.
Under their watchful eyes, a stunningly beautiful woman, accompanied by a man in white, gracefully approached the pavilion. (
Chapter 5 of Volume 1, Different Paths in Different Worlds)
When the graceful figure of the woman in white entered everyone's view, all the guests, including Wei Ruoxuan and Ninth Prince Wu Shang, couldn't help but feel a sense of amazement.
Her delicate face, as beautiful as a mountain breeze, had bright, clear eyes that shone with captivating charm. Beneath her straight, delicate nose, her slightly pursed lips held a faint smile.
Her elegant, pure white dress, as white as clouds and snow, added to her ethereal beauty. Her beauty was like the lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without any artifice—genuine, natural, and without a trace of affectation.
Her ethereal beauty, her swan-like neck, her flawless, snow-white skin, and her graceful, slender figure created a breathtakingly beautiful scene that captivated everyone present.
Even though he had only seen her face once before, Wu Tianyao was still momentarily stunned by Su Qimeng's beauty, and the others were even more speechless, practically lost in their own world!
Wu Zi'ang gazed at her exquisite face, his mind seemingly transported to another realm. How familiar that feeling was! Wasn't it the same feeling he had when he first met Yiyi? He remembered it was by the flowerbed in the city park, amidst a profusion of blooming flowers; a fleeting glimpse, and her flower-like face was etched deeply into his heart. Recalling
that most beautiful time of his life, and then comparing it to their current different worlds and paths, Wu Zi'ang felt a pang of pain in his heart, and a somber expression appeared on his face.
Su Qimeng was already used to this kind of situation. Her beautiful eyes, smiling, swept over the faces of the crowd. But when she saw Wu Zi'ang, who was gazing at the sky and smiling to himself, a slight change appeared on her jade-like face. Was this man deliberately ignoring her beauty to attract her attention? Or did he truly possess extraordinary self-control, indifferent to beauty? However, neither the former nor the latter seemed appropriate for this纨绔子弟 (a spoiled, dissolute young man) she had only met once .
"Talented Lady Su!"
In a short moment, Wu Tianyao regained his composure and quickly bowed.
Almost simultaneously, Wei Ruoxuan and Wu Shang's eyes also returned to their usual calm. They couldn't help but feel a chill; even with their experience with beauty, they had been captivated by her beauty for so long, indirectly proving that Su Qimeng's charm was indeed extraordinary.
They then turned their gaze to the white-robed man beside them, and were also moved.
The man in white was tall and slender, exceptionally handsome, with bright, sparkling eyes and an elegant, composed demeanor that captivated all. Standing side-by-side with Su Qimeng, they resembled a divine couple.
"General Wu!"
Su Qimeng bowed slightly, her voice as melodious as heaven's music, "Qimeng is late, please forgive me, General and all the esteemed gentlemen!"
"No need for formalities, Miss Su, please take a seat!" Wu Tianyao gestured with his right hand, then smiled at the man in white beside him, "Young Master Wuji, please come in as well!"
Pei Wuji smiled slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping over Wu Zi'ang beside him, before following Su Qimeng into the pavilion.
Watching Pei Wuji's retreating figure, Wu Tianyao couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Both were in their early twenties; his son was worlds apart from Pei Wuji. He didn't expect his son to become the top young talent in the martial arts world like Pei Wuji; he only hoped his rebellious son would avoid trouble, even if he lived a life of mediocrity. Just then, he noticed Wu Zi'ang still lost in thought, and his anger flared. He called out softly, "Zi'ang!"
Lost in thought, Wu Zi'ang was abruptly pulled back to reality by the slightly angry call. Composing himself, he realized his father was looking at him sternly.
"Come with me to your seat!" Wu Tianyao suppressed his anger and said in a low voice.
"Yes, Father!" Wu Zi'ang replied, bowing his head and following Wu Tianyao to his seat.
After the officials present had been introduced one by one and everyone was seated, Wu Tianyao raised a cup of wine from the table in front of him. His eyes swept over everyone, finally settling on the smiling Su Qimeng, and he said slowly, "I have failed in my duty of discipline, causing my son to lack manners and offend Miss Su. Today, I, Wu, will drink this cup in front of all of you gentlemen to apologize to you."
With that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp.
"General, you flatter me. Although Young Master Wu's behavior was inappropriate, he did not cause any harm to Qimeng. On the contrary, it was Qimeng's people who acted recklessly and almost killed Young Master Wu!" Su Qimeng's beautiful eyes flickered as she glanced at Wu Zi'ang beside Wu Tianyao and said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Wu Tianyao turned and gave Wu Zi'ang a stern look. The latter, understanding, stood up and bowed deeply to Su Qimeng, saying, "I was momentarily blinded by greed and acted rashly. I hope Miss Su will forgive me!" After saying this, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself. He had just suffered on behalf of this 'Wu Zi'ang' last night, and today he was apologizing on his behalf. To be reduced to this state was beyond description.
Su Qimeng stood up and accepted the bow gracefully, saying softly, "I appreciate your sincerity, Young Master Wu. I hope you will think carefully before acting in the future to avoid harming yourself and others!"
"I will certainly remember your words, Miss Su!" Speaking in a refined manner while bowing, Wu Zi'ang felt extremely awkward, but he still had to grit his teeth and do the job properly.
Seeing this, Wu Tianyao felt a slight sense of relief. No matter how outrageous his son was, this response was at least appropriate.
"Haha, Miss Su's magnanimity is truly admirable!" Wei Ruoxuan stroked his silver beard and praised Su Qimeng with a hearty laugh.
"You flatter me, Prime Minister!" Su Qimeng lowered her head slightly and smiled at Wei Ruoxuan.
"However, even if Miss Su is unwilling to hold a grudge, such a verbal apology seems rather insincere, doesn't it? General Wu, what do you think?!"
Just as Wu Zi'ang breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to sit down, an untimely voice reached his ears.
Looking in the direction of the voice, he saw a middle-aged man in a purple robe fiddling with a wine cup, while two cold gazes shot towards him and Wu Tianyao, who were about to sit down.
Having heard the introduction, Wu Zi'ang knew this man was none other than the Emperor's brother-in-law, Xiao Wanluan. Hearing the man's unfriendly tone and undisguised hostility, he knew this man had come to cause trouble.
Wu Tianyao's thick eyebrows furrowed slightly upon hearing this, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "What the Emperor's brother-in-law says is quite right. Actually, there's no need for the Emperor's brother-in-law to remind me; I had already prepared a small gift to show my sincerity in apologizing to Miss Su!" He then turned to the steward Liu Fu, who was standing by waiting for orders, and said in a deep voice, "Bring it up!"
"Yes!" Steward Liu responded softly, then turned and called out loudly behind him, "Bring it up!"
A moment later, a maid from the General's Mansion appeared, carrying a guqin (a seven-stringed zither), seemingly unnoticed by the crowd. She gracefully walked towards the pavilion. Wu Zi'ang looked closely and recognized the maid holding the guqin as Dong Hua.
At Wu Tianyao's signal, Dong Hua slowly walked to Su Qimeng and presented the guqin with both hands. Upon seeing Su Qimeng's appearance, Dong Hua, herself a woman, was stunned by her unparalleled beauty and stood there speechless.
"This guqin is named 'Listening to Dreams,' a family heirloom of the Wu family. I have long heard of Miss Su's unparalleled guqin skills, so I, Tianyao, present this guqin as a token of my apology. I hope Miss will accept it!" Wu Tianyao said with a smile, extending his right hand to gesture for Su Qimeng to accept it.
Although Su Qimeng had never heard of the name 'Listening to Dreams,' the guqin's elegant body and the subtle shimmering light between its ice-white strings and jade tuning pegs clearly indicated it was no ordinary instrument.
"General, I appreciate your sincerity, but this is such a precious item that I cannot accept it!" Su Qimeng gently shook her head, softly refusing.
“As the saying goes, ‘A fine sword is given to a chivalrous hero, and a zither is offered to a kindred spirit!’ If Miss Su were to refuse, wouldn’t she be letting down General Wu’s sincerity?” Wei Ruoxuan chuckled. “Moreover, all the gentlemen present are eager to witness Miss’s unparalleled zither playing. Would Miss Su be so kind as to grant our request?” Su Qimeng hesitated for a moment, realizing she couldn’t
refuse
, and said, “Thank you, General Wu. I dare not refuse the kindness of General Wu and all the gentlemen. In that case, I’ll make a fool of myself!”
Hearing Su Qimeng’s words, everyone present couldn’t help but smile and said, “Miss Su is too modest! We respectfully listen to Miss’s celestial music!”
Seeing that the other party had accepted the zither, Wu Tianyao felt relieved and smiled as he gestured to Dong Hua.
The latter understood and stepped back a few paces, placing the zither on the stone table in the pavilion, then bowed her head and stood aside.
“Miss Su, please!” Wu Tianyao gestured for her to enter.
Su Qimeng smiled and gracefully moved to the stone table, sitting down slowly. Her slender wrists touched the ancient zither, and a melodious sound, like a dragon's roar, resounded through the air.
A strange light shone in Su Qimeng's beautiful eyes; upon hearing the music, she knew the zither was indeed a masterpiece.
Wu Zi'ang, standing nearby, also brightened upon hearing the music and exclaimed, "What a fine zither!" As soon as he spoke, several mocking gazes shot towards him, and several adults scoffed, their faces full of disdain. Seeing this, Wu Tianyao
's eyebrows furrowed, and he hissed at Wu Zi'ang, "Shut up! What do you know?!" Wu
Zi'ang was stunned for a moment, then realized that he was currently playing the role of an ignorant and dissolute young master, and had no right to comment on the quality of the zither. No wonder these people were looking at him strangely.
He smiled bitterly to himself and lowered his head. He decided not to say another word for the rest of the time to avoid trouble.
"I didn't expect that Young Master Wu is also a master of the zither. I am truly sorry for my rudeness!" A clear voice came from the side. It was Pei Wuji, who had come with Su Qimeng, sitting upright and smiling.
"My son is talking nonsense. Please forgive him, Young Master Wuji!" Wu Tianyao bowed to Pei Wuji.
"General, you are too modest. Your son has the ability to identify zithers by sound. It seems that he must be a master of the zither. After Qimeng finishes playing, I will definitely listen attentively to Young Master Wu's zither skills! I hope that Young Master Wu will not be stingy with his knowledge and allow me to feast my ears!" Pei Wuji wore a seemingly sincere smile on his handsome face, but his seemingly peaceful words were filled with an aggressive intent.
Looking into Pei Wuji's eyes, which concealed mockery, Wu Tianyao understood that the other party's intentions were not good. Hearing that the other party addressed the talented Su as "Qimeng," it was enough to prove that Pei Wuji and Su Qimeng had a close relationship. Therefore, he vaguely guessed that the other party was deliberately seeking revenge because of Su Qimeng, wanting to embarrass his son.
Just as he was pondering this, another voice echoed, "I wholeheartedly agree!" Wu
Tianyao looked up at the sound and met the gloating gaze of the Emperor's brother-in-law, Xiao Wanluan. Anger surged within him. Ever since he had petitioned the Emperor three times to prohibit "foreign interference in politics," various powerful relatives, including Xiao Wanluan, had united to make things difficult for him at every turn. He also resented his own son's incompetence, which made him feel inferior among his colleagues.
"Alright, everyone, let's first appreciate the unparalleled musical talent of the talented Su!" "Wei Ruoxuan smiled and looked at Xiao and Pei, then spoke.
Since the Right Prime Minister had spoken, Xiao and Pei could only nod. In truth, if they continued to argue, it would be disrespectful to Su Qimeng, who was about to play the zither.
Su Qimeng seemed oblivious to this, her beautiful eyes fixed on the zither, her jade-like hands gently caressing and plucking, instantly filling the entire Yiqing Garden with heavenly music.
The music was melodious and graceful, filled with a comfortable tranquility, flowing like clouds and water across the hearts of everyone present, making even these high-ranking officials, who had spent years vying for power, yearn to shed their worldly burdens and enjoy a life of simple elegance like a gentle breeze and a bright moon!
Wu Zi'ang listened intently to the lingering music, his mind also drawn to the serene atmosphere it created. 'The sound of the zither is the sound of the heart!'" "From this, it seems that this beautiful woman, possessing both talent and virtue, is of a tranquil nature and dislikes extravagance. Her attendance at this banquet is likely due to an inability to refuse the invitation.
After Su Qimeng finished her piece, the entire hall fell silent, everyone still immersed in the atmosphere created by the music. After a while, the Ninth Prince, Wu Shang, was the first to clap his hands and praise, 'This music should only exist in heaven; how often can one hear it on earth! Today, I have truly broadened my horizons!'
Wei Ruoxuan also stroked his beard and smiled, 'The Ninth Prince is absolutely right; I feel the same way!'
At this moment, the others seemed to awaken from a dream, and immediately, exclamations of praise and applause rose and fell.
Su Qimeng rose gracefully, her bright eyes sparkling like autumn water, and smiled, 'Your Excellencies are too kind! I am humbled!'" Wu
Zi'ang secretly praised her, this beautiful Su was known for her exceptional talent, and now it seemed she truly lived up to that reputation!
Just as he was pondering, Xiao Wanluan's gloomy voice rang out again: "Next, should we ask Young Master Wu to play a piece for us, to feast our ears!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Tianyao was furious, his eyes flashing like lightning as he glared at Xiao Wanluan, and said in a deep voice: "Uncle, you know my son is ignorant and incompetent, yet you keep provoking him. What is your intention?"
Even though Xiao Wanluan was usually incredibly arrogant because of his sister being the Empress, he was still intimidated by Wu Tianyao's imposing eyes. He let out a soft hum but dared not answer. "
General Wu, you are mistaken. As I just said, your son has the ability to distinguish the sounds of a zither by ear, so his zither skills are naturally beyond question. Moreover, Qimeng and I are both lovers of zither music and wish to make friends with those who are proficient in this art. That is why we wanted you to play a piece. Mencius said, 'It is better to share joy with others than to enjoy it alone!' With such talent, you should share it with everyone!" Pei Wuji looked at Wu Zi'ang, who was bowing his head and remaining silent, a cold smile playing on his lips. According to his usual self-cultivation, he should not be so aggressive, but just thinking about how this纨绔子弟 (spoiled brat) dared to make a move on Su Qimeng, he could not suppress the anger in his heart.
Wu Zi'ang had already realized that the other party's intention was to embarrass him, and he was secretly angry. However, he thought that it was because he was playing the wrong role of 'Wu Zi'ang' in the first place, so he suppressed his anger, raised his head and smiled, and said, "I was just talking nonsense just now, why should Young Master Pei take it seriously?! I am indeed not good at the zither, does Young Master Pei have to force me to embarrass myself in front of all the officials before he will stop?"
"Young Master Wu is too modest! This zither 'Tingmeng' is a family heirloom of the General. As a member of the Wu family, how could Young Master Wu not be proficient in this art? Young Master Wu's excuses, could it be that you disdain to play it for me, Qimeng and all the officials to hear?" Pei Wuji was still not going to let him go, pressing him step by step. By the last sentence, his tone was clearly provocative.
Seeing this, Su Qimeng frowned slightly. Although she knew Pei Wuji was making trouble for Wu Zi'ang because of her, such aggressive behavior still displeased her. Therefore, she said softly, "Since Young Master Wu is unwilling, Brother Pei, please don't force him!"
Seeing Su Qimeng's words, Pei Wuji had no choice but to give up. He glanced coldly at Wu Zi'ang and then turned his gaze elsewhere, his disdain evident on his face.
"Tianyao, if your son truly has such talent, why not play a piece for these officials?" For some unknown reason, the Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan, who had been observing the situation, spoke up with a smile.
"Right Chancellor, I have already said that my son is ignorant and incompetent, and knows nothing about music!" Wu Tianyao's face flushed with shame. Although he had never intended to hide it, it was still a disgrace to have his son openly declared useless twice in front of so many high-ranking officials.
Seeing Wu Tianyao's embarrassed expression, Wu Zi'ang felt a pang of sympathy. He understood the other's feelings; although the man wasn't his real father, he couldn't bear to see Wu Tianyao so humiliated. He
steeled himself, stood up, and bowed to the crowd, saying, "Since the Right Chancellor and Young Master Pei value me so highly, I have no choice but to make a fool of myself!"
These words startled everyone, followed by expressions of surprise. They all knew that this son of the Mighty General was a useless, good-for-nothing, notorious troublemaker throughout the capital. His willingness to offer his talents was truly unexpected!
Wu Tianyao couldn't help but sternly rebuke, "Zi'ang, what nonsense are you spouting? Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?"
"Father, Young Master Pei is right. It's better to share joy than to enjoy it alone, and better to share it with many than with just a few! Even if I make a fool of myself, if I can bring a smile to the faces of you gentlemen, then I will have achieved my goal!" Wu Zi'ang smiled and met Pei Wuji's sharp gaze, speaking calmly.
"Well said!" Upon hearing this, Ninth Prince Wu Shang clapped his hands and laughed, saying, "Regardless of whether your zither skills are good or bad, just for your words, my nephew, I must drink a cup with you!" With that, Wu Shang raised his wine cup and smiled at Wu Zi'ang, "Nephew, please!"
"Thank you, Your Highness! I'll drink first as a sign of respect!" With that, Wu Zi'ang tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.
King Wu Shang smiled slightly and drank his wine. He knew, of course, that Wu Zi'ang was notoriously ignorant and incompetent, but firstly, he was Wu Tianyao's son, and secondly, his performance just now was indeed remarkable. Therefore, he spoke to encourage him.
Wu Tianyao sighed softly upon seeing this. He could no longer stop him and could only think to himself, "So be it. At this point, the worst-case scenario is that I'll lose face.
" "Then, please, Young Master Wu, demonstrate your zither skills and let us feast our ears!" Seeing that the other party dared to agree to play the zither, Pei Wuji was overjoyed. He couldn't wait to see the other party make a fool of himself!
How could Wu Zi'ang not guess Pei Wuji's intentions? He sneered inwardly and took a step towards the stone table.
Volume 1, Different Worlds, Different Paths, Chapter 006:
Just as Wu Zi'ang moved, a servant from the general's mansion hurried over from afar, quickly approaching the steward Liu Fu and whispering a few words in his ear.
Liu Fu's expression changed slightly. He waved for the servant to leave, then quickly went to Wu Tianyao's side and quietly reported the news he had just learned.
Upon hearing this, Wu Tianyao's body trembled, and his face changed color. After a long pause, he regained his composure and said softly, "Please come in!"
"Yes, Master!" Liu Fu bowed and replied, then turned and left.
"Zi'ang, wait a moment!" Wu Tianyao called out to Wu Zi'ang, then turned to the crowd and said, "Please forgive me, everyone, a distinguished guest will be arriving shortly. Therefore, I must ask my son to pause for now, and he can play again after we welcome the guest!"
"A distinguished guest?" Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan's face showed interest, and he asked with a smile, "I wonder which distinguished guest could have moved my mighty General of Great Qin to such a state?!" It seemed that he had noticed Wu Tianyao's moved expression earlier, hence his question.
"Right Chancellor, please be patient. I will keep you in suspense for a moment, and you will all know in a moment!" Wu Tianyao smiled slightly and replied calmly.
"Oh? In that case, I'm even more curious!" Wei Ruoxuan habitually stroked his silver beard and said with a smile, "Then let's wait and see!"
A moment later, the steward Liu Fu indeed led a woman in white towards the pavilion. Everyone couldn't help but widen their eyes, eager to see who this person, whom Wu Tianyao called a distinguished guest, was!
As the woman in white approached, everyone gasped in surprise, their faces showing astonishment. It turned out that the newcomer was another stunning woman who was no less beautiful than the talented Su Qimeng.
With skin as white as jade and eyes as bright as the moon and stars, her elegant and ethereal face shone with an incomparably holy radiance. Her figure was slender and graceful, with a straight waist. Like Su Qimeng, she wore a snow-white dress, but exuded a completely different temperament.
Su Qimeng's beauty was dreamlike and poetic, possessing a fresh and ethereal grace like a lotus emerging from water. This woman's beauty, however, was imbued with solemnity and sanctity, like a fairy descended from the Jade Pool, inspiring awe and reverence.
The crowd gasped, several whispering, "Fairy Wei! It's Fairy Wei!"
Upon hearing "Fairy Wei!", Su Qimeng immediately recognized her. Her beautiful eyes gazed intently at the otherworldly beauty before her, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. She thought to herself, "The successor of 'Tianchi' is indeed extraordinary, a celestial beauty. No wonder the martial world calls 'Tianchi' 'Jade Pool'!"
Just as Su Qimeng was scrutinizing her, the white-clad beauty's wise gaze also settled upon her.
Even the elegant and beautiful Yu Rong was slightly taken aback, clearly surprised by Su Qimeng's beauty. Even though she had cultivated Taoism since childhood and had long since lost any competitive spirit, as a woman herself, she couldn't help but make a judgment about the appearance of another woman.
The two stunningly beautiful women appeared simultaneously in the blooming Yiqing Garden, their beauty and grace complementing each other, making everyone present feel refreshed and as if in a fairyland.
With a crisp "bang," Wu Zi'ang accidentally knocked his wine cup to the ground. He stared blankly at the stunning beauty before him, whom everyone called Fairy Wei, his eyes filled with disbelief. He wasn't surprised by her celestial beauty, but rather shocked by her appearance.
"Yiyi, is that you?!" Wu Zi'ang's eyes shone with wild joy, his voice trembling as he asked, his body moving uncontrollably towards the beautiful woman.
"Zi'ang, what are you doing?" Wu Tianyao, regaining his senses, was both shocked and angry at the sight, shouting sharply.
But Wu Zi'ang seemed possessed at this moment, ignoring Wu Tianyao's reprimands and running towards the woman in white without stopping.
This situation left everyone present dumbfounded, and the woman in white was also slightly flustered by Wu Zi'ang's erratic behavior, a look of surprise flashing across her beautiful face.
*Thump!*
Just as Wu Zi'ang was about to reach the woman in white, a sudden change occurred. Wu Zi'ang felt a numbness in his legs, and then his entire body lost its momentum, instantly falling to the ground at the woman's feet!
The crowd was stunned at first, then burst into laughter.
"You unfilial son!" Wu Tianyao felt he had completely lost face. With a furious shout, he appeared beside Wu Zi'ang in a flash, grabbed him by the chest with his right hand, and with a swift movement, two crisp slaps were heard, leaving two bright red handprints on Wu Zi'ang's cheeks.
"Liu Fu, take this unfilial son away!" Wu Tianyao waved his hand, immediately throwing Wu Zi'ang away.
"Yes, sir!" Liu Fu, his seemingly fat body swaying slightly, steadily supported Wu Zi'ang. As he turned around, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he shot two sharp gazes at Pei Wuji, who was watching the spectacle with a smile.
Upon meeting the other's gaze, Pei Wuji's smile vanished, a slight jolt of surprise washing over him. Had this unassuming steward seen through his earlier attack? As the thought crossed his mind, he saw Liu Fu's left hand lightly brush past Wu Ziang's legs, causing the latter to immediately straighten up.
Indeed, this short, stout steward was a hidden master; it seemed the General's Mansion truly was a place where hidden talents lurked! Pei Wuji's heart tightened, and he abandoned his initial contempt.
"My son has been rude; I hope Fairy Wei will forgive him!" Wu Tianyao smiled bitterly at the woman in white, bowing apologetically.
"General, you must have misunderstood your son. In my humble opinion, Young Master Wu has mistaken someone for someone else, hence his unusual behavior!" the woman in white, Wei Lingyao, said with a smile.
"Enough!" Wu Tianyao shook his head and sighed, "As long as the fairy doesn't take it to heart! Fairy, please take a seat!"
"Fairy Wei, please!" Wei Ruoxuan and Ninth Prince Wu Shang rose in unison and bowed to Wei Lingyao.
The Right Prime Minister and the Ninth Prince's respectful manner showed that the white-clad woman known as Fairy Wei was indeed extraordinary. However, Wu Zi'ang was no longer concerned with such things. His heart was filled with the great disappointment that followed his great joy. She was not Yiyi! Her voice, her expression, her movements were completely unfamiliar to him. She was just a woman who looked very much like Yiyi! Thinking of this, he was filled with despair and walked out of the pavilion with Liu Fu, feeling utterly lost.
"Young Master Wu, please wait!"
Just then, someone was unwilling to let him go. Seeing that he was about to leave, they stopped him.
"Young Master Pei, may I ask what you need?" Wu Zi'ang turned around and asked expressionlessly.
"I wouldn't presume to offer guidance, but I do wish to remind Young Master Wu that you still owe everyone here a fine piece of music!" Pei Wuji's eyes swept over the two stunning beauties, Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng, as he deliberately raised his voice.
Wu Zi'ang was currently extremely dejected and disheartened; he had no desire to play the zither. Moreover, facing this fairy Wei, whose face was identical to Yiyi's, only intensified his heartache. Just as he was about to refuse despite the sarcasm, he suddenly noticed the somber expression on Wu Tianyao's face and felt a pang of pity. Although they had only known each other for a little over ten days, he already knew how strong his 'father,' a mighty general, was. He had fought countless battles and achieved numerous merits, ranking first among the four great generals of his time. Yet, he had such an incompetent son as 'him'. The heartbreak and disappointment were unimaginable. Now, in front of these high-ranking officials, he had made a fool of himself again…!
Thinking of this, Wu Zi'ang abandoned his refusal, bowed silently to everyone, and said, "In that case, I will make a fool of myself!" With that, he walked to the stone table.
At this moment, Su Qimeng had already risen and returned to her seat, while the maid Donghua, standing to the side, looked at her young master with astonishment. Having served him for over ten years, she had never heard of him being knowledgeable in music, let alone playing the zither.
Wu Zi'ang sat upright before the zither, his eyes fixed blankly on the shimmering strings, a slightly trembling hand slowly reaching for the instrument.
How long had it been since he last touched the zither? Probably a full three years! Since learning of his terminal illness and deliberately disappearing from Yiyi's world, he had never touched the zither again. Strangely enough, born into a materialistic modern society, among the many popular modern musical instruments, he was uniquely fond of the ancient seven-stringed zither. Perhaps only the serene sound of the zither could allow him to find a sliver of himself in his numb life!
Now, in this strange world, though a woman before him bore a striking resemblance to Yiyi, she was not the one he deeply loved. He knew very well that in this life, he would never have the chance to play the zither for Yiyi again.
Thinking of this, a bitter smile appeared on Wu Zi'ang's face. With a light wave of his right hand, the zither immediately emitted an incredibly dull and unpleasant sound.
"Hmph!" Several experts in zither music couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing the sound. As the saying goes, "A master's touch reveals their skill!" Just looking at Wu Zi'ang's opening move made everyone secretly shake their heads.
'Thump, thump!' A series of dull zither notes rang out. This time, even Wu Tianyao, who knew nothing about the zither, frowned deeply. Wei Ruoxuan and Ninth Prince Wu Shang shook their heads slightly and sighed softly. The others, including Pei Wuji and Xiao Wanluan, wore mocking expressions.
Witnessing this, Su Qimeng's beautiful face flashed with a thoughtful expression. For some reason, this纨绔子弟 (a spoiled young master) who had once tried to spy on her gave her an unfathomable feeling. Knowing that he was no match for him, he still dared to come up and perform. Could it be that Wu Zi'ang truly had no sense of shame?
Wei Lingyao's beautiful face remained calm, but her beautiful eyes also revealed a hint of doubt. It seemed that the other party's clumsy zither playing had greatly exceeded her expectations.
"Dong, dong, dong!" Wu Zi'ang seemed unaware of everyone's expressions. With a wave of his right hand, one low zither note after another rapidly came.
Wu Tianyao's anger intensified, and he considered stopping Wu Zi'ang. However, at that moment, he suddenly sensed something familiar in the music.
"It's the sound of drums!" Wu Tianyao exclaimed almost aloud. Having fought on the battlefield for years, he was intimately familiar with the sound of war drums and was the first to recognize the source of the dull melody.
"Boom boom boom boom!" As Wu Zi'ang's right hand moved faster, the seemingly dull music transformed into an unexpected melody.
At this moment, Su Qimeng and Wei Lingyao also noticed the change in the melody, their beautiful faces showing surprise.
With each flick of his fingers, the music became more rapid, yet also clearer. The previously dull and monotonous notes instantly transformed into the booming sound of war drums, reaching everyone's ears.
Faced with this sudden turn of events, astonishment filled everyone's faces. Pei Wuji and Xiao Wanluan, who had been waiting for Wu Zi'ang to embarrass himself, were especially shocked.
The war drums beat loudly, gradually increasing in speed and intensity, each beat resonating in everyone's hearts. Just as the music reached its peak, Wu Zi'ang's left hand pressed down sharply, while his right fingertips swiftly swept across the strings, instantly unleashing a thunderous melody that echoed through the pavilion.
The thunderous sound lingered, but then the music abruptly shifted. The clash of swords, the neighing of warhorses, the clanging of drums and horns, and the earth-shattering shouts of battle erupted from the powerful, resounding melody like a storm. If the war drums had just opened the prelude to a war, then this thunderous melody was now pushing the war to its climax.
Without experiencing it firsthand, almost no one would believe that those slender hands could perform a stirring piece so exquisitely, as if bringing the battlefield of a decisive battle between thousands of troops to life right here in Yiqing Garden.
In an instant, the majestic sound of the zither rose like waves to the heavens, inspiring a surge of heroic spirit in the listeners and making their blood boil.
Even those as usually calm and composed as Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng were not immune to the awe-inspiring melody.
However, as the music grew increasingly intense and relentless, the two women couldn't help but worry. They knew that extreme strength is easily broken; if they didn't address the issue by the very peak of the scale, it would inevitably lead to a disjointed and ultimately unsatisfying ending, potentially ruining the atmosphere they had painstakingly created. They were sure Wu Zi'ang understood this. Sure
enough, as the music reached its zenith, Wu Zi'ang unexpectedly paused, and the vast, surging energy instantly subsided. Then, the music shifted, and a soft, delicate note slowly emerged from Wu Zi'ang's fingertips, reappearing in the Yiqing Garden.
Unlike the previous music, the current notes were mournful and melancholic, filled with a poignant longing, as if one were sitting alone in the dead of night, softly reciting poetry to their shadow. The boundless loneliness and sorrow brought tears to the eyes of the audience.
In this imperceptible transition, the melody shifted from extreme strength to ultimate gentleness, without any abruptness. The stark contrast between strength and gentleness only further captivated the listeners, drawing
them into a melancholic and enchanting atmosphere. Wu Zi'ang's music was like a spell, manipulating the emotions of those present, stirring feelings of either exhilaration or heartbreak. In fact, as the piece neared its end, Wu Zi'ang himself was also moved by his own melody, completely immersed in its poignant beauty.
In a daze, he seemed to glimpse Yiyi's exquisite face and the captivating smile on her cheek that made his soul tremble. But in an instant, that smile vanished like falling petals, gradually disappearing from his sight.
"Yiyi!" In his turbulent emotions, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but call out softly. Immediately afterward, a sweet taste rose in his throat, and a warm current almost escaped, but he swallowed it back down. The
mournful sound of the zither suddenly trembled, its melody growing softer and softer until it finally faded into a sob and disappeared.
The music fell silent, and the entire room was quiet. After a long while, Wu Tianyao, Wei Ruoxuan, Wu Shang, and the others came to their senses. They suddenly realized that they had unknowingly filled their eyes with tears, and some of them, with weaker willpower, had already soaked their clothes with tears.
Observing this scene, Wei Lingyao was secretly astonished. It was one thing for others, but for someone as resolute as Wu Tianyao, Wei Ruoxuan, and Wu Shang to be moved by the music was proof enough that Wu Zi'ang's skill had truly reached a divine level. In fact, she herself was also stirred by the poignant melody, something that had never happened in her eighteen years of cultivation. What kind of woman could so deeply move someone? Could it be that the woman truly resembled her? For a moment, Wei Lingyao's curiosity was piqued.
Gazing at the sorrowful face, Su Qimeng's beautiful eyes flashed with confusion. Was this the same scoundrel who had tried to spy on her? No, although it was the same face, the aura was completely different. Could it be that the other person had been deliberately concealing their talent? This disguise had actually fooled her as well. If that were truly the case, she, with her keen eye for judging people, really needed to reflect on her judgment.
"Good, good, good!"
Ninth Prince Wu Shang uttered three "good"s in succession, his thin face filled with astonishment. His eyes scanned Wu Zi'ang from head to toe, and he sincerely praised, "Truly, he remains silent until he speaks, and then astounds us!"
Right Prime Minister Wei Ruoxuan then turned to Wu Tianyao and said, "You, Tianyao, your son's zither skills are so superb, yet you kept making excuses and refused to let him play for us. What is the reason for this? If it weren't for Young Master Pei's discerning eye, wouldn't we have missed the opportunity to hear this wonderful piece today?"
"Prime Minister, I…!" Faced with Wei Ruoxuan's 'interrogation,' Wu Tianyao couldn't help but smile bitterly. He himself didn't even know when his son had learned such excellent zither skills; otherwise, why would he have refused such a prestigious opportunity? It was truly strange; he had never heard his son play the zither before, so how could he suddenly produce such a stunning performance today?
Meanwhile, Pei Wuji, standing to the side, had a grim expression. He hadn't expected that Wu Zi'ang, rumored to be a notorious troublemaker in the capital, would possess such exquisite zither skills. His intention was to embarrass him, but the opposite had happened, leaving him utterly frustrated.
"Wonderful! Wonderful!" The others also began to clap and praise, their eyes filled with astonishment and admiration as they looked at Wu Zi'ang. Clearly, Wu Zi'ang's performance had impressed these high-ranking officials and dignitaries.
"I've made a fool of myself!" Wu Zi'ang stood up, his face unusually pale. He bowed slightly to the crowd and said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you all for your praise, but I'm feeling unwell and must take my leave now! Please forgive me!"
"Oh!?" Seeing Wu Zi'ang's pale face, Wu Shang quickly said, "Since you're unwell, nephew, please go and rest!"
"In that case, I'll excuse myself!" Wu Zi'ang bowed again and then turned to walk out of the pavilion.
"Donghua, escort the young master back!" Wu Tianyao also noticed his son's unwell appearance and quickly instructed Donghua.
"Yes, Master!" Donghua responded and followed behind Wu Zi'ang.
How could this be? That guy? Xiao Wanluan stared intently at Wu Zi'ang's departing figure, muttering to himself in disbelief. He had dealt with this young master of the General's Mansion more than once, and he knew the man's background very well. It was simply unbelievable that a playboy who spent his days indulging in pleasure and causing trouble could play such exquisite music. Yet, with the facts right before his eyes, he had no choice but to believe it. (
Chapter 7 of Volume 1, Different Paths in Another World
)
As soon as Wu Zi'ang stepped into his room, he felt a burning sensation in his chest and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Young Master! What's wrong?!"
Dong Hua was shocked and quickly reached out to support Wu Zi'ang, exclaiming in alarm.
After spitting out the blood, Wu Zi'ang felt much better. Composing himself, he turned to the pale-faced Dong Hua and smiled slightly, saying, "I'm fine, Hua'er, you can go out now!"
"But, Young Master, you, you coughed up blood!" Looking at the bloodstains on his lips, Dong Hua stammered in shock.
"I told you it's nothing, don't worry!" Wu Zi'ang said softly with a smile. "Go out quickly, I need some peace and quiet!"
"Yes!"
Having received her master's order, Dong Hua could only nod helplessly and turn to leave.
After Dong Hua left, Wu Zi'ang slowly walked to the bronze mirror and used a silk handkerchief to wipe away the bloodstains from the corner of his lips.
Looking at his pale face in the mirror, a deep sense of loss welled up in Wu Zi'ang's heart. Why wasn't she Yi Yi? Why wasn't she? If she wasn't, why did he have to see her? Damn it! Her appearance shattered the peaceful state of mind he had painstakingly cultivated over the past ten days.
"Yi Yi!" Wu Zi'ang called softly, tears glistening in his eyes.
Meanwhile, at Yi Qing Garden, the officials were enjoying their drinks and conversation.
Amidst the clinking of glasses, everyone praised Wu Zi'ang's musical skills, repeatedly requesting Wu Tianyao to arrange another opportunity for them to enjoy his music. Wu Tianyao readily agreed. Wu Zi'ang's outstanding performance today had finally allowed him to shine in front of his colleagues, making the usually composed and calm Wu Tianyao secretly delighted, a smile of satisfaction appearing on his face.
In contrast, Xiao Wanluan stood to the side with a gloomy expression, silently drinking and pouring his own cup. Pei Wuji, on the other hand, had regained his usual carefree and easygoing demeanor, chatting and laughing amiably at the banquet. His profound knowledge and unique insights earned the admiration of everyone present, including Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng.
When everyone was in high spirits, Wei Ruoxuan wanted to invite Su Qimeng to play another piece, but the talented Su Qimeng politely declined, saying, "It's not that I'm being pretentious, but I just heard Young Master Wu's wonderful piece, which made me feel ashamed of my own inferiority. Therefore, I really dare not embarrass myself again. Please forgive me, Right Prime Minister and all the officials!"
"Talented Su Qimeng, you flatter me. My son can never compare to you!" Wu Tianyao quickly said.
Su Qimeng gracefully rose from her seat, her beautiful eyes sweeping over the faces of the crowd. A captivating smile bloomed on her cherry lips as she said, "I am truly honored to have been invited by General Wu today, and to have been accompanied by all of you gentlemen and Sister Wei. I had intended to leave with you all, but unfortunately, I have other matters to attend to. Therefore, I must take my leave now. Please forgive any rudeness!"
Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this, clearly not expecting Su Qimeng to take her leave early. However, knowing that she had other matters to attend to, they could not persuade her to stay. They could only say, "Since Miss Su has other matters to attend to, we will not hold it against you!"
"Then, I will take my leave!" Su Qimeng bowed to the crowd and turned to leave.
As the host, Wu Tianyao hurriedly rose to see her off, but Su Qimeng said with a smile, "General, you still have many guests to accompany you, so please stay. Your steward can lead the way!"
"Liu Fu, escort Miss Su out for me!" Seeing her say this, Wu Tianyao could only bow and say, "I apologize for my lack of courtesy!"
"Please tell your son that if she has time, Qimeng will definitely come to learn from you!" As they walked out of the pavilion, Su Qimeng suddenly turned and whispered this to Wu Tianyao, then gracefully departed.
Watching Su Qimeng's infinitely beautiful figure recede into the distance, Pei Wuji's handsome face flashed with a complex expression. He wanted to leave with Su Qimeng, but firstly, she had already stated she had other matters to attend to, and he couldn't go with her; secondly, there was another beautiful woman, Wei Xian, present, and he couldn't give up this good opportunity to get to know her. Therefore, after much consideration, he decided to stay.
Su Qimeng's departure dampened the enthusiasm of those present. If it weren't for the presence of the stunningly beautiful Wei Lingyao, the gathering would likely have ended long ago.
Throughout, this successor of Tianchi rarely spoke, only uttering a few words when directly questioned. The rest of the time, she listened serenely to the conversation. It wasn't
until late afternoon that Wei Ruoxuan, Wu Shang, and the others finally dispersed, but to their slight dismay, Wei Lingyao remained seated, showing no intention of leaving.
"Lingyao still has something to ask General Wu for help!"
Wei Lingyao explained with a smile, facing the puzzled gazes of the others.
Pei Wuji's handsome face flashed with disappointment. He had intended to invite Wei Lingyao to accompany him, but she hadn't expected her to stay, thus thwarting his carefully laid plans. After
personally escorting Prime Minister Wei, the Ninth Prince, and the others to the gates of the General's Mansion, Wu Tianyao returned to Yiqing Garden and went to the pavilion he had just been in.
"What brings you here, Fairy Wei? If it's within my power, I'll gladly oblige!" Upon learning that the other party had a request, Wu Tianyao readily agreed.
"Since General is so forthright, then Lingyao need not beat around the bush! Lingyao has only just arrived to inquire about someone!" Wei Lingyao's beautiful eyes, brimming with boundless wisdom, gently focused on him as she spoke softly.
"Oh? May I ask who you are inquiring about, Fairy?" A strange glint flashed in Wu Tianyao's eyes as he asked.
"This person's surname is Wei, and his given name is Xuanyi. Does General know his whereabouts?" Wei Lingyao asked with a smile.
“Wei Xuanyi!” Wu Tianyao frowned slightly, repeating the name several times in a low voice, then looked at the other party apologetically and said, “Forgive my ignorance, I have never heard of such a person, let alone know his whereabouts!”
Upon hearing this, Wei Lingyao shook her head slightly, a faint smile appearing on her jade-like face, and said, “General, you should already know Lingyao’s purpose, right? If Lingyao hadn’t already known that Wei Xuanyi was hiding in the General’s residence, why would she ask so rashly? The General is a smart man, and surely he wouldn’t misunderstand the meaning behind Lingyao’s words! So why do you still pretend not to know?”
“Fairy must be mistaken. I have indeed never heard of Wei Xuanyi, and it is impossible for such a person to be hiding here!” Wu Tianyao’s expression remained unchanged, his bright eyes meeting the other party’s clear and seemingly penetrating eyes, and he answered word by word.
Hearing the other party's firm tone, Wei Lingyao's jade-like face showed a thoughtful expression. After a moment, she bowed slightly and said softly, "Lingyao has been presumptuous, please forgive me, General! Since that's the case, then Lingyao will take her leave!"
"You flatter me, Fairy, I'll see you off!" Wu Tianyao quickly said.
The two walked to the gate of the General's Mansion. Wei Lingyao took two steps, then suddenly turned around and asked, "Why would someone risk everything to protect another person? General, could you tell me?"
Wu Tianyao smiled slightly upon hearing this and replied loudly, "A scholar dies for one who understands him! Do you understand what I mean?"
Wei Lingyao's jade-like face was slightly taken aback, then a captivating smile appeared on her face. She said softly, "Lingyao understands!" After saying this, she turned and left.
"Sigh!" Watching Wei Lingyao's departing figure, Wu Tianyao sighed softly, his face also showing a solemn expression. Although he was the Protector General of the Great Qin Kingdom, he dared not underestimate this successor of Tianchi. He knew very well that to be an enemy of Tianchi was to be an enemy of the entire righteous path of the world. But now, he could no longer care about such things.
That night, at Jingyuan.
Wu Tianyao stood tall beside the stone table in the pavilion. Beside him, another middle-aged man sat upright on a stone bench, his right hand gently raised and placed on the guqin on the stone table.
"Xuanyi, are you really planning to leave? Although they have found out you are here, so what? As long as you are here with me, I can guarantee that no one can touch you!"
Wu Tianyao turned to look at Wei Xuanyi and said in a deep voice.
"Have I really fallen to such a level? To rely on the protection of others to survive?" A smile appeared on Wei Xuanyi's strangely handsome face as he asked in return.
"Times have changed, Xuan Yi. Don't blame me for being blunt, but you're injured now, and your strength is less than half of what it usually is. On the other hand, Tianchi has sent their top expert, Wei Lingyao, which shows their determination to win. To be honest, the situation is far from optimistic for you!" Wu Tianyao sighed, a deep worry creeping onto his face.
"Do you really think that I, injured as I am, am no match for the little disciple trained by 'Jingguan'? Tianyao, when did you become so lacking in confidence in me?" Wei Xuanyi chuckled, her seemingly calm words revealing boundless arrogance.
“Xuan Yi!” Wu Tianyao couldn’t help but smile bitterly upon hearing this. “You infiltrated ‘Tianchi’ this time and stole its supreme internal energy cultivation method, ‘Xuanxin Jue’. Did you really expect them to fight you one-on-one? Even if you are stronger than Wei Lingyao, you should know that behind her is the entire righteous path of the world! Even the supreme ruler of our Great Qin Dynasty treats ‘Tianchi’ with great courtesy and dares not be negligent in the slightest! Xuan Yi, how can you possibly contend with them alone?”
“Does Tianyao mean that my only way out is to surrender and try to get leniency from ‘Tianchi’?” Wei Xuan Yi asked with a smile.
“If you were willing to admit defeat, you wouldn’t be Wei Xuanyi!” Wu Tianyao shook his head and sighed, “I still stand by what I said! As long as you’re in my General’s Mansion, I can guarantee your safety! Xuanyi, please don’t put yourself in danger. Just stay here and recover!”
Wei Xuanyi slowly stood up, standing shoulder to shoulder with Wu Tianyao, and looked up at the crescent moon hanging high in the sky, saying softly, “It’s not that I don’t want to stay, but because you, Tianyao, are also preoccupied with your own problems. If I stay, it will only make things more chaotic, which will be of no benefit to either of us!”
Upon hearing this, Wu Tianyao was first stunned, then said, "I know my own situation. Although a group of relatives of the empress dowager have attacked me, it's like an ant trying to shake a tree; they can't touch me at all!"
"Tianyao, you know that's not what I'm referring to!" Wei Xuanyi turned to look at Wu Tianyao, his eyes flashing, and said in a deep voice, "The world is currently divided into four: Eastern Qin, Western Jin, Southern Wei, and Northern Liang! Now, the territory of Great Qin has expanded northwest to the Tianshan Mountains and south to the Luo River. Not only has it suppressed its neighbor, Northern Liang, to the point of being powerless to fight back, but it also poses a strong threat to Southern Wei, which is across the river. Great Qin is showing signs of unifying the world among the four kingdoms."
At this point, Wei Xuanyi paused, looked deeply at the other party, and continued, "You are the most powerful of them all, the Great Qin's Guardian General, commanding hundreds of thousands of the most elite troops in the world..." "Your armored cavalry, coupled with your divine military prowess, has been invincible since the ten years of war, earning you the reputation as the foremost of the four great generals of our time. It can be said that the Qin Dynasty's current status owes more than half to the merits of your Wu family's three generations of renowned generals! Under these circumstances, if the current Qin Emperor can trust you completely and let you do as you please, then I dare to predict that within ten years, the half of the country north of Luojiang will belong to Qin, and within twenty years, Qin will surely unify the world!"
Hearing this, Wu Tianyao vaguely understood the other party's implied meaning and couldn't help but interject, "Xuanyi, you're overthinking it. The current Emperor is wise and intelligent, and is definitely not a foolish ruler who blindly believes slander!" "
Although Wuwei is not a foolish person, he is definitely not a wise ruler either. Three years ago, during the battle of Fengcheng, if he hadn't issued three imperial edicts urging you to return to the capital, I'm afraid half of Northern Liang would have already fallen into your hands!" Wei Xuanyi's eyes flashed with disdain as he sharply retorted.
Upon hearing this, Wu Tianyao couldn't help but smile bitterly. What the other person said was entirely true, but as a subject, he couldn't comment so freely.
The current emperor was indeed far too timid and conservative in his actions. During the Battle of Fengcheng, the Northern Liang army defending the city had already suffered more than half its casualties after seven days and nights of relentless attack. He was fully confident that he could capture this crucial gateway city of Northern Liang within three days, thus ceding most of the defenseless Northern Liang territory to the Qin Dynasty. However, at that very moment, the allied forces of Western Jin and Southern Wei were preparing to cross the Luo River and threaten the Qin capital, Hengcheng. In fact, this strategy of "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao" was already too late. He was confident he could capture Fengcheng first and then move his troops back to the capital to establish defenses, but the emperor, fearing the strength of the allied forces, issued three imperial edicts urging him to return to the capital, thus causing him to miss a golden opportunity to destroy Liang.
“No one from the imperial relatives can do anything to you, and no one from the court can do anything to you either. In the Great Qin, you are truly second only to the emperor and above all others! In fact, among all the people in the world, there are those who do not know the Qin Emperor, but there is no one who does not know you, Wu Tianyao!” Wei Xuanyi’s speech became faster and faster, and his tone became particularly solemn and serious.
"Xuanyi, you…!"
Before Wu Tianyao could finish speaking, Wei Xuanyi waved his right hand slightly and interrupted him, saying in a deep voice, "Tianyao, you should understand better than anyone that no matter how incompetent the emperor is, no matter how loyal you are, the royal family will ultimately not allow someone to surpass imperial power. Throughout history, countless famous generals have not fallen on the battlefield, but died at the hands of the royal family they served! There is only one reason: their merits overshadowed the emperor!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Tianyao slowly lowered his head, remaining silent for a long time. The other party's words were indeed wise. In fact, the current emperor had already begun to suspect him. Otherwise, why would he have summoned him back to the capital when the southeastern front was at its most critical? Ostensibly, it was to show compassion for his years of hardship in battle, but in reality, it was to make him relinquish his military power. But as a subject, what could he do knowing all this? When the emperor commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die. This is the tragedy of a loyal subject, a helpless tragedy!
"Compared to you, I'm in a better position! At least I can fight my opponent with my life, while Tianyao, you've already lost without even having to fight!" Wei Xuanyi shook his head slightly, a look of regret on his face.
"In your opinion, my only strategy should be to raise an army and rebel against the capital, or even follow in the footsteps of my ancestors and don the yellow robe to become the founding emperor?" After a long silence, Wu Tianyao raised his head and asked the other man seriously.
"If you really did that, then you wouldn't be Wu Tianyao! At least not the Wu Tianyao I know!" Wei Xuanyi lightly tapped a pillar with his right hand and chuckled.
"Haha!" The two looked at each other and couldn't help but burst into laughter, their laughter filled with mutual understanding and appreciation.
After a long silence, the laughter subsided, and Wei Xuanyi sighed, "I truly wish you would do that, but I know that if you truly had such a heart, you could have replaced him three years ago!"
"Enough, let's not talk about this!" Wu Tianyao smiled slightly, gazing calmly at the bright moon obscured by dark clouds in the night sky, and said indifferently, "Since ancient times, who has not died? I am not worried about my future fate. My only worry now is that the essence of military strategy, accumulated by generations of my Wu family, will have no successor!"
At this point, a trace of sadness appeared on Wu Tianyao's face, and he sighed deeply, "A son should be like Sun Quan, but unfortunately, I have given birth to a useless fool!"
"Useless? Not necessarily," Wei Xuanyi turned and walked back to the stone table. He gently plucked the strings of his zither, producing a soft 'zheng' sound. He continued, "Your son's performance at Yiqing Garden today truly impressed me! Tianyao, did you sense anything different about him?"
Wu Tianyao nodded slightly, a hint of doubt in his eyes. "It is indeed strange. I've been away on campaigns all year round, so I didn't know he learned the zither. But even his mother and the two maids who serve him daily have no idea where he learned such skill?"
"I can sense it. Ever since he survived the ordeal on the Li River, your son's demeanor has changed drastically, like he's been reborn. You know, that night when he came to me, I initially suspected he was someone in disguise!" Wei Xuanyi said slowly, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"No, he is definitely Zi'ang, there's no doubt about that!" Wu Tianyao said with absolute certainty. After all, he was his own son whom he had raised for over twenty years, and he was confident he could tell the difference.
"That's right, I didn't find any trace of disguise on him, so I really can't understand it! What caused such a huge change in him!" Wei Xuanyi took a few steps and turned to Wu Tianyao.
"Perhaps it's because he survived this ordeal that Zi'ang's character has changed!" Wu Tianyao offered a reasonable explanation.
“No!” Wei Xuanyi shook his head. “One’s temperament can be changed, but what about musical skills? Learning the zither is not like studying, where one can practice secretly without being noticed. Once the zither sounds, someone will inevitably notice. But for years, no one in the entire mansion has heard the zither. So where did he learn it?”
“I’ve already asked him, but he won’t tell me!” Wu Tianyao said with a wry smile. “The child looks very unwell now, so I don’t want to press him!”
“Interesting! Tianyao, do you know? I’m becoming more and more interested in your good-for-nothing son! For this reason, I’ve decided to stay for another half month!” Wei Xuanyi stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the vast night sky, a faint smile of interest appearing on his lips.
Chapter 8 of Volume 1 Different Paths in Another World
For three days in a row, Wu Ziang spent his time in bed. He fell ill after the luncheon at Yiqing Garden.
However, this saved him a lot of trouble, at least preventing others, including his 'parents,' from questioning him about the reason for his zither skills. Thinking about it, he realized he had acted impulsively, without considering the consequences of playing the music.
"Phew!"
Wu Zi'ang sighed softly, sat up in bed, and after three days of herbal medicine, his high fever had subsided; he could no longer lie still.
"Young Master!"
Seeing him about to get up, Dong Hua, who had been attending to him, quickly dissuaded him, "The doctor said your fever has just subsided; you should rest in bed!"
"I'm fine now! Hua'er, go and rest! You don't need to serve me anymore!" Looking at the utterly exhausted Dong Hua, Wu Zi'ang felt a pang of pity. These past few days of illness had worn the little girl out, and there were also his 'parents' with whom he had spent half a month; in them, he had felt a long-lost sense of kinship.
"Young Master, I'm not tired!" Dong Hua gently shook her head, a strange light in her eyes as she looked at Wu Zi'ang.
Wu Zi'ang's heart skipped a beat. He could sense countless questions in her gaze; it seemed his actions three days ago had aroused the suspicion of this charming maid.
"Go and rest, that's an order!" A thought flashed through his mind, and Wu Zi'ang said softly.
"Yes!" Dong Hua hesitated for a moment, then finally gave Wu Zi'ang a slight bow before turning and leaving.
After Dong Hua left, Wu Zi'ang got up from the bed, walked to the window, and gently pushed it open. Instantly, a fresh, fragrant breeze carrying the scent of flowers rushed in, invigorating him.
What a beautiful day! The warm sunlight bathed his face, bringing him an indescribable sense of comfort, and he couldn't help but feel the urge to go for a walk.
After washing his face and changing into a purple robe, Wu Zi'ang pushed open the door and stepped out. His residence was located in the center of the General's Mansion, with pathways all around.
He had been to most parts of the mansion before, so he didn't feel unfamiliar with the area. He strolled along, the warm breeze caressing his face, making him feel exceptionally pleasant, and his previously gloomy mood eased considerably.
After wandering aimlessly for a while, he suddenly looked up, and the words 'Jingyuan' suddenly appeared in his eyes. As if by some strange twist of fate, he found himself at the entrance of Jingyuan.
Startled, the memory of that night still vivid in his mind, he stopped abruptly and turned to leave. Unexpectedly, a deep, powerful voice reached his ears: "Since you're here, why not come in!"
Wu Zi'ang was taken aback. He clearly recognized the voice coming from the Quiet Garden. His footsteps were so light, yet the other person could hear him. Moreover, judging from the other person's words, they had clearly identified him from the sound of his footsteps. This demonstrated the other person's astonishing hearing. His deduction seemed correct; the middle-aged man residing in the Quiet Garden was indeed a martial arts master. The thought of such a master, previously only seen in novels and movies, being beside him filled him with a strange excitement.
With mixed feelings, Wu Zi'ang pushed open the door and entered the Quiet Garden.
Still in the pavilion on the west side of the courtyard, the middle-aged man stood tall, his gaze fixed on him. Although the distance was considerable, Wu Zi'ang could still feel that the gaze seemed to pierce through his very soul, causing him a sense of unease.
Forced to walk over, Wu Zi'ang bowed slightly and respectfully said, "Uncle Wei!" He had learned this address from Dong Hua; that was how the previous "he" addressed the other man.
Wei Xuanyi didn't respond, but instead sized him up. Indeed, the man's physique and appearance were the same as before, but the aura he exuded made him feel as if he had mistaken him for someone else.
His demeanor was composed, his brilliance restrained; compared to the Wu Zi'ang of the past, the current Wu Zi'ang resembled more the son of the renowned general Wu Tianyao.
How interesting! A faint smile appeared in Wei Xuanyi's eyes. After a long silence, he finally spoke, "Zi'ang, would you like to learn something from me?"
"What?" Faced with such an unexpected question, Wu Zi'ang was visibly stunned, looking up at the other man and exclaiming in surprise.
Compared to that night, Wei Xuanyi's appearance before him seemed more real, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding extraordinary bearing. However, he seemed to lack the astonishing aura of that night, and therefore, the oppressive, suffocating feeling he had felt then was gone!
"Want to learn something from me?" Wei Xuanyi repeated.
"This…!" A look of hesitation flashed across Wu Zi'ang's face. He truly couldn't fathom the other's intention in asking such a question, so he didn't dare to rashly agree or refuse.
As if seeing through Wu Zi'ang's inner thoughts, Wei Xuanyi smiled slightly and said, "Zi'ang, you're twenty-one years old this year, aren't you?"
"Hmm!" To be honest, he didn't know his exact age either, so he could only give a vague reply!
"You're twenty-one! Your father, at your age, was already a renowned general of the Great Qin, his fame rivaling that of your grandfather, General Wu Tieyi. Compared to him, Zi'ang, don't you feel ashamed?"
Although Wei Xuanyi's tone carried a hint of reproach, it was infinitely gentler than his stern expression that night. Therefore, Wu Zi'ang wasn't afraid and lowered his head, saying softly, "Zi'ang is ashamed. More than twenty years have passed in vain! I have truly disgraced the Wu family!" In fact, at twenty-one, he was already the sales manager of a large company, considered quite promising for his age. However, he always remembered his identity in this strange world—an uneducated and dissolute playboy. Therefore, he could only speak with a tone of shame.
"Now we live in a chaotic world, with constant warfare between the four kingdoms. A man who wishes to achieve great things should choose either literature or martial arts. Which path do you wish to choose?" Wei Xuanyi asked in a deep voice.
"I want to learn martial arts!" A sudden inspiration flashed through Wu Zi'ang's mind, and he blurted out. He suddenly realized that the person standing in front of him was a martial arts master. Moreover, he had always had a strong curiosity about these 'martial arts techniques' that he could only see in novels and movies. Therefore, after weighing his options, he quickly chose the latter.
"Hmm!" Wei Xuanyi nodded upon hearing this, his face showing no unusual expression. It seemed that he had already expected Wu Zi'ang to say this. He turned around and walked back to the stone table. He pointed to two thin books on the stone table with his right hand and smiled, "Come here!"
"This is...!" When he came to Wei Xuanyi's side, his eyes fell on the two books, and Wu Zi'ang's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, could this be the legendary martial arts manual?
"Take these two books back and read them. Come back to me in seven days and tell me your thoughts!" Wei Xuanyi handed the two books to him, a faint smile on his lips as he spoke softly.
"Thank you, Uncle Wei!" Wu Zi'ang accepted the two books and bowed again to Wei Xuanyi to express his gratitude.
"Alright! Go back now, and remember to come again in seven days!" Wei Xuanyi watched as Wu Zi'ang put the books into his pocket, smiling as he dismissed him.
"Nephew takes his leave!"
Watching Wu Zi'ang's departing figure, a thoughtful look appeared in Wei Xuanyi's eyes. Although it was somewhat unbelievable, the fact was undeniable: Wu Zi'ang, whom he had once considered a good-for-nothing
, had indeed undergone a complete transformation. A person's appearance can be changed through disguise, but a unique temperament formed over a long period is not easily altered. The fact that had occurred to Wu Zi'ang defied this common sense, and he truly couldn't fathom what strange thing had happened to him.
"Interesting!" He uttered those two words for the second time, chuckling softly to himself, "Let me see if your comprehension has also changed!"
***
Carrying the two books, Wu Zi'ang left Jingyuan, no longer in the mood for a stroll, and hurried back to his residence.
As soon as he entered, he saw his mother, Madam Ling, sitting upright in a chair, with her two maids, Dong Hua and Xia Shi, beside her.
"Ang'er, why aren't you resting in bed? What are you doing running around like this!"
Seeing Wu Zi'ang return, Madam Ling quickly stood up to greet him, reaching out to take his arm and gently scolding him.
Though it was a scolding, it was filled with more tenderness and affection. Wu Zi'ang's heart warmed, and he said from the bottom of his heart, "Mother! I'm fine now, you don't need to worry!"
"Then don't run around. Mother told Xia Shi to make ginseng soup, drink it while you can!" With that, she waved her hand, and Xia Shi immediately understood and served the ginseng soup.
Watching him finish the soup, Madam Ling smiled with satisfaction and said softly, "Ang'er, be good, go to bed and rest a while!"
"Okay!" Although he wasn't sleepy, Wu Zi'ang was touched by his mother's words and did as she said.
"Let's all go, let Ang'er rest well!" Madam Ling waved her hand, signaling Xia Shi and Dong Hua to leave with her.
After the three of them left, Wu Zi'ang, who was lying on the bed, slowly got up and took out the two books that Wei Xuanyi had given him from his bosom. The thought that these might be the legendary martial arts manuals made him excited.
Neither book had a cover, so he couldn't know the title of the books. The only thing the two books had in common was that the paper was old and the style was very antique.
He first opened one of the volumes, and his eyes were immediately drawn to the dense, tiny characters in regular script. Wu Zi'ang narrowed his eyes and softly recited: "Observe the Way of Heaven, uphold the Way of Heaven, the wonders of Heaven and Earth originate from the profound mind!"
He paused, then looked down: "The Tao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, and all things emerge, life and nature emerge. In the primordial chaos, all things were one, and humanity and Heaven were one. What is Heaven? That which unites all things as one is called Heaven. What is Earth? That which divides all things into two is called Earth. What is Humanity? That which unites all things as three is called Humanity. What is..." The so-called Mysterious Mind is one that understands Heaven, Earth, and Man, without observation or transformation, without things or self, returning to emptiness, returning to the primordial Dao—this is the Mysterious Mind!
Recalling this passage, which resembled a general outline, Wu Zi'ang was completely bewildered. He could only vaguely discern that this book was close to a Daoist text on Qi cultivation, perhaps containing profound techniques, but for him, it was far too obscure and difficult to understand.
When he reached the passage, "Transformation is observation, observation is transformation, observation and transformation unite, one enters the primordial chaos; to be without observation is to be without self, to be without transformation is to forget Qi. Forget self to nourish emptiness, forget Qi to nourish spirit!" Wu Zi'ang was yawning incessantly, his eyes almost closing. He gently shook his head, put the book aside, and then casually picked up a second book.
"Alas!" His gaze fell upon a lifelike image on the page, and Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation, a look of surprise on his face. Turning the page further, he was astonished to find that the entire book contained no words, only portraits of figures.
Intrigued, Wu Zi'ang carefully examined the pages. The first page depicted a tall man in black, legs naturally apart, head tilted back to the sky. Though only a few simple strokes were used, the man's soaring arrogance was vividly conveyed.
Whether it was an illusion or not, Wu Zi'ang seemed to see a hidden... He could vaguely make out Wei Xuanyi's shadow.
Looking down, the second portrait also depicted a man in black, in the same pose as before. The slight difference was that his right fist was now subtly clenched, and his body leaned slightly forward. Although there was no dramatic movement, he resembled a black panther poised to pounce, giving off a strong sense of danger.
In the third portrait, the man in black had taken a step forward, his body thrusting forward, his right fist already raised to his chest, yet still poised to strike.
Unconsciously, he had the illusion that the man in the painting was about to pounce on him. As if influenced by the force of the fist, he felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.
"Hoo!" Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but exhale softly, muttering, "How strange!" "By this time, he had roughly figured out that this was a boxing manual, but to his surprise, the seemingly simple images exerted such immense pressure on him, as if they were real people.
The further he turned the pages, the more complex the movements in the images became, and the greater the pressure on Wu Zi'ang grew. He had only turned halfway when he felt his blood surging in his chest, and a wave of irritation instantly washed over his entire body.
Startled, Wu Zi'ang quickly looked away, but the images remained swirling in his mind, refusing to leave.
After a long while, Wu Zi'ang finally managed to suppress this nauseating feeling, letting out a long sigh. He stared at the book, but dared not look at it closely any further.
One book was incomprehensible, and the other was so strange; it seemed that these legendary martial arts manuals were not easy to learn." "I can't even understand it, how can I talk about insights? Sigh, I'd better take a nap!" Disappointed, Wu Zi'ang placed the two books aside, put his hands behind his head, lay down on the bed, and slowly closed his eyes.
He slept until noon, and only got out of bed lazily when Xia Shi brought him lunch.
Chewing on the delicious food, his mind was still on the two books. The first one, needless to say, he had no interest in the dry text, while the other, though somewhat strange, frankly, aroused his great curiosity.
After quickly finishing lunch, and after Xia Shi cleared the dishes and left, Wu Zi'ang opened the seemingly magical book again and gently placed it on the table.
This time, he didn't rush to turn the pages, but instead focused intently on the three pictures on the first page.
"Huh! What's this?" Upon closer observation, Wu Zi'ang suddenly noticed several faint red lines on the portrait of the man in black, resembling blood vessels.
When his gaze fell upon the red dot at the dantian (lower abdomen) of the portrait, a strange thing happened: Wu Zi'ang felt a sudden warmth in his lower abdomen, as if a warm current was flowing through him. He was slightly startled, but didn't look away. Instead, he continued to observe the direction of the red lines on the portrait, and correspondingly, the warm current in his dantian spread throughout his body, a very comfortable and smooth feeling.
"So that's how it is!" Wu
Zi'ang suddenly realized that the red lines on the figures in the portrait represented the meridians of the human body, and the numerous red dots corresponded to acupoints throughout the body. In other words, this was not a boxing manual, but a genuine internal energy cultivation method.
Excited, Wu Zi'ang didn't continue practicing his internal energy according to the diagram. He knew very little about acupoints and meridians, except for a few major acupoints like the dantian. He knew that internal energy cultivation was something that couldn't be taken lightly, so after careful consideration, he put the two books back in his pocket, got up, and went out.
As soon as he stepped outside, he saw the steward, Liu Fu, walking quickly towards him.
"Young Master, where are you going? Master wants to see you!" Liu Fu called out hurriedly upon seeing Wu Zi'ang about to leave.
Wu Zi'ang had no choice but to stop. He had originally intended to go to 'Jingyuan' again to seek instruction from Wei Xuanyi, but he hadn't expected his 'father' to want to see him.
"Uncle Fu, do you know what it is?" "Wu Zi'ang asked curiously.
"A joyous occasion, a truly joyous occasion!" Liu Fu smiled mysteriously at him and said, "You'll find out soon enough, young master! Please come with me, young master!"
"Alright!"
Seeing that Liu Fu was unwilling to tell him, Wu Zi'ang could only nod, suppressing his doubts, and followed Liu Fu.
A moment later, the two arrived at Wu Tianyao's study.
"Master, the young master has arrived!" Liu Fu bowed slightly and said respectfully to Wu Tianyao, who was sitting at the desk.
"Hmm, you may leave now!"
Wu Tianyao put down the book in his hand and gave a soft order.
"Yes, Master!"
Liu Fu turned and left, leaving only the father and son in the large study.
"Zi'ang, I called you here because I have something to discuss with you!" Wu Tianyao's tone was different from his usual sternness, and he spoke with a gentle smile.
"Father, please speak!" Wu Zi'ang replied respectfully with his head bowed, but a sense of unease rose in his heart for no reason.
"The Ninth Prince just came by and discussed your marriage to Xueqing. His intention is to set the wedding date for the sixth day of next month! Zi'ang, what do you think?" Wu Tianyao asked, his gaze fixed on the other man.
"Marriage?!" Wu Zi'ang's expression changed upon hearing this, and he exclaimed in surprise.
"What? Have you forgotten? I had already given up hope on your engagement to Xueqing, the daughter of the Ninth Prince, but I never expected the Ninth Prince to bring it up again today!" Wu Tianyao paused for a moment before continuing, "If you have no objections, then I will prepare to make the arrangements. Although it's next month, there are only about twenty days left. If we don't hurry, it will inevitably seem a bit rushed!"
Hearing this, Wu Zi'ang was in a state of turmoil. He had never been mentally prepared to get married. How could he agree to this? But what could he do if he didn't agree? His 'father' had made it clear that he had to agree whether he agreed or not. The so-called consultation was just to inform him to make preparations.
"It's all up to Father!"
After a long while, Wu Zi'ang finally managed to squeeze out a sentence.
"Hmm, alright, nothing else, you may leave!"
"Your son takes his leave!"
With extremely complicated feelings, Wu Zi'ang left the study.
Chapter 009 of Volume 1 Different Paths in Another World
"Uncle Fu, do you know what's going on? When did I arrange this marriage?"
After coming out of the study, seeing Uncle Fu waiting outside, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but ask.
"Young Master, you are a nobleman with a bad memory. Last year, when you went out, you met Miss Qiu Xueqing, the adopted daughter of the Ninth Prince, and were immediately captivated by her beauty. So you knelt down and begged your master and mistress to propose marriage to the Ninth Prince's mansion! Although the Ninth Prince agreed at the time, he kept postponing the wedding date. Now he has come to bring up the old matter again! So he has arranged a wedding date with your master! Young Master, this old servant congratulates you in advance!" Liu Fu's old face was full of bright smiles as he bowed to Wu Zi'ang and congratulated him.
"This...! Sigh!" Wu Zi'ang was truly at a loss for words, both amused and exasperated. Heaven knows how much trouble this 'former him' had caused him. Oh well, oh well! He'd just have to take it one step at a time. Thinking this, he said listlessly, "I remember!"
"Good! Good!" Liu Fu nodded and said, "If there's nothing else, young master, this old servant will take his leave!"
"Hmm! Uncle Fu, take care, I'm going back to my room too!" Wu Zi'ang suddenly remembered that he had things to do, so he quickly said goodbye to Liu Fu and hurriedly left.
"How strange!" Watching Wu Zi'ang's departing figure, Liu Fu shook his head slightly, a puzzled expression on his old face. He had watched the other grow up, and due to his wife's pampering, Wu Zi'ang had developed an arrogant and rude personality, especially towards servants, and had never been so humble and polite before.
"It seems that Master was right, young master has finally changed his ways after surviving this ordeal!" Liu Fu's old face showed a gratified expression as he murmured to himself.
Wu Zi'ang returned the way he came, passing by his own residence but not entering, instead continuing eastward towards 'Jingyuan'!
As he reached the entrance of 'Jingyuan', a low, melodious zither tune drifted in, reaching his ears.
He remembered it was the same piece he had heard that night, paused for a moment, and gently pushed open the door.
Wei Xuanyi was still sitting in the pavilion, head bowed, playing the zither, his focused expression a stark contrast to the effect of the music.
Seemingly unaware of his approach, Wei Xuanyi continued playing with concentration, and Wu Zi'ang, not wanting to interrupt, quietly waited a short distance away after taking a few steps. Finally,
having endured the low, unpleasant melody, Wu Zi'ang stepped forward, bowing slightly, and said, "Uncle Wei! I have something to ask you!"
"Ziang, how was my playing?" Seemingly not hearing Wu Zi'ang's words, Wei Xuanyi withdrew his hands, looked up at him, and asked.
"This...!" Wu Zi'ang hesitated for a moment, then spoke frankly, "Forgive my impertinence, Uncle Wei, but this piece is obscure and somber, and the pitch is also off, which inevitably makes the listener feel agitated!"
"You are quite straightforward!" Wei Xuanyi smiled slightly upon hearing this, "However, what you said is not wrong. I myself only have a slight understanding of the zither, yet I have tried to play such a difficult piece. It is indeed presumptuous of me!"
After speaking, he gently plucked the strings with his right hand, and the zither immediately emitted a soft sound.
"Uncle Wei, you flatter me!" Wu Zi'ang quickly said, "I was just speaking carelessly, please don't take offense!"
"But I know you are the most qualified person to comment on my qin skills!" Wei Xuanyi stood up, his eyes fixed on Wu Zi'ang, and smiled, "Three days ago, in Yiqing Garden, your performance astonished everyone present. Even someone as proud as Su Yatou felt inferior. Zi'ang, you should be proud!"
"Yes, yes!" Hearing the seemingly complimentary words, Wu Zi'ang felt no joy. What he feared most was being asked about the origins of his qin skills—a headache-inducing question he couldn't answer and couldn't fabricate a lie to answer.
Sure enough, just as he was thinking of this, he heard Wei Xuanyi say, "To be honest, I'm very curious about where you learned your qin skills!"
Here it comes! Wu Zi'ang's heart skipped a beat. He vaguely guessed that the other party's next words would be questions, but he couldn't think of a reasonable explanation. Could he say that he had been resurrected or reincarnated? Even if he were to tell the truth, others would think he was crazy!
"However, I don't want to ask!" As if seeing through Wu Zi'ang's nervousness, Wei Xuanyi changed his tone and said something unexpected.
"Everyone has their own secrets, so I won't ask, and you don't need to be nervous!" Taking in the other party's surprised expression, Wei Xuanyi smiled and continued. "
Uncle Wei, I am very grateful that you understand my difficulties!" Wu Zi'ang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time, he felt a sincere respect for the middle-aged man in front of him.
"Hmm!" Wei Xuanyi nodded, his thick eyebrows slightly raised, a smile appearing in his eyes. "You mentioned earlier that you had something to ask me! What is it? Could it be that in just half a day, you've already gained some insights into these two books?"
"I wouldn't call it insights, I just wanted to trouble Uncle Wei to find me a detailed diagram of acupoints and meridians!" Wu Zi'ang stated his purpose directly.
"Oh! That's easy!" Upon hearing this, Wei Xuanyi immediately took out another scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Wu Zi'ang, saying, "This is what you wanted, take it!"
After a moment of surprise, Wu Zi'ang realized that the other party must have anticipated his request for the diagram and had already prepared it.
Looking at the other party's smiling face, Wu Zi'ang couldn't reconcile the Wei Xuanyi before him with the cold and ruthless middle-aged man from that night. A feeling of unfathomable mystery quietly welled up in his heart.
Upon returning from 'Jingyuan', the first thing Wu Zi'ang did upon entering his room was to open the book Wei Xuanyi had given him. He was overjoyed at the sight of it; besides the acupoints and meridian diagrams he desired, there were also some Qi cultivation formulas, and judging by their simplicity, they seemed to be basic introductory formulas. This largely solved his problem.
Having grown up in modern society, he was quite unfamiliar with these internal energy cultivation methods, but fortunately, these methods were only basic and rudimentary, so mastering them shouldn't be too difficult.
Having this book was like building a bridge to the path of martial arts, making his Qi cultivation twice as effective.
Not in a hurry to practice according to the diagrams, Wu Zi'ang's plan was to first thoroughly understand the acupoints and meridian diagrams, then systematically master the remaining Qi cultivation formulas, and finally delve into that strange internal energy cultivation manual!
For half a day, Wu Zi'ang locked himself in his room, meticulously studying the human acupuncture point chart and memorizing the locations of each point on his own body.
There are as many as 365 acupuncture points throughout the body. Each of the five internal organs has its own Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, and Shu-Stream meridians, totaling five Shu points, fifty points in total on both sides; each of the six Fu organs has its own Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, and Yuan-Source meridians, totaling six Shu points, seventy-two points in total on both sides; on the head, there are five rows of five acupuncture points, twenty-five in total; each of the five internal organs has five acupuncture points on either side of the spine on the back, ten points in total; there is one acupuncture point on each side of the Dazhui point, two points on each side; below these are the Tongzi, Fubai, Huantiao, Tinggong, and the major forbidden point five inches below Tianfu—the Wuli point!
Even with Wu Zi'ang's exceptional memory, he felt completely lost facing such a vast number of acupuncture points. By the time the lamp was lit, he had only managed to memorize a little over a hundred.
That evening, Xia Shi brought him dinner as usual. After quickly finishing his meal, Wu Zi'ang eagerly buried himself in his books. When all the lights in the General's mansion were extinguished, only the candle flickered in Wu Zi'ang's room. He studied by lamplight until nearly midnight before the light went out.
***
The next morning, after being helped by Xia Shi to wash up and eat breakfast, Wu Zi'ang took out the acupuncture point chart again.
"Young Master, what is this?" Xia Shi, who was clearing away the dishes, asked curiously.
"Oh, it's an acupuncture point chart. I was bored, so I looked at it!" Wu Zi'ang replied casually.
Xia Shi said nothing more, but her gaze towards Wu Zi'ang was filled with disbelief. Everyone in the General's mansion knew that when the young master was bored, he would go out, meet up with some friends to cause trouble, and even spend the whole day in brothels. Yet he would never read a book, or rather, he would never touch anything related to paper. What's wrong, Shi'er? "Wu Zi'ang asked in surprise when he saw the strange look in her eyes.
"Nothing. Young Master, please continue your reading. I'll take my leave!" "Having said that, he bowed slightly, picked up the food box, and withdrew.
"Strange!" Wu Zi'ang shook his head, turned his gaze back to the book, and continued his acupoint memorization practice.
After three days of this, Wu Zi'ang finally memorized all the acupoints on the diagram. Overjoyed, he casually flipped through the pages, preparing to practice the following incantations.
However, upon closer inspection, Wu Zi'ang felt somewhat disappointed.
The incantations were not wrong in the entire text; on the contrary, because they were simple and easy to understand, and because they also had small annotations, they were most suitable for a novice like Wu Zi'ang to practice.
Wu Zi'ang's disappointment stemmed from a passage: "The dantian is like the source of water, and the meridians are like the flow of water. When the source is full, all the streams are full; when the source dries up, all the streams dry up. Therefore, in the initial stage of qi cultivation, the most taboo thing is to be impatient, and everything should be viewed with calmness! After one hundred days, the qi in the dantian will take shape, and then one can carefully circulate it. In this way, one can achieve minor success in about three years, and major success in ten years. The timing of this process will vary depending on the individual's aptitude!" "
It takes a hundred days to take shape, three years for minor success, and ten years for major success!" Wu Zi'ang shook his head and chuckled. It seemed he had made the mistake of being impatient for quick results before even reading this passage. He knew that any field of knowledge required gradual progress; some people spend their entire lives without ever reaching its full potential, while he had previously harbored the idea of instant mastery—truly laughable.
Understanding this, his disappointment faded, and he calmly picked up the book, carefully studying it.
When he seemed to grasp something, he sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, lowered the curtains, pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth, and focused his mind on his dantian, beginning the first stage of qi cultivation—the union of spirit and qi. This involves cultivating one's foundation and strengthening the Qi in the dantian.
Initially, Wu Zi'ang felt nothing unusual, but as time passed, he faintly sensed a warming sensation in his dantian. Remembering the mantra's instructions, "Avoid joy and agitation, remain calm!" Wu Zi'ang continued to concentrate on his dantian, using his mental power to strengthen it.
After an unknown amount of time, Wu Zi'ang slowly opened his eyes. The room was exceptionally bright, and he felt a warm and comfortable sensation all over his body. Although he had only just begun practicing Qi cultivation, he had already experienced its benefits, and his confidence increased.
"Interesting!" A slight smile appeared on Wu Zi'ang's face as he picked up the book again and began to read intently.
Just as he was completely absorbed in Qi cultivation and meditation, he suddenly heard Xia Shi's melodious voice outside the door: "Young Master, the talented Miss Su requests an audience!"
"I will not see her!" "Almost without thinking, Wu Ziang spoke casually without even looking up. At this moment, he was completely absorbed and hadn't even heard what Xia Shi said!
"Young Master!" Xia Shi outside the door couldn't help but feel anxious. The renowned Su Zicai had personally come to visit, what an honor this was! Yet, she never expected that the young master would refuse with just the word 'I won't see you.'
"Qimeng has come to visit with sincere intentions. I wonder if Young Master Wu would condescend to grant me an audience!" After a moment 's
pause, a voice as melodious as celestial music entered Wu Zi'ang's ears again, startling him and finally snapping him out of his reverie about Qi cultivation.
Who? The talented Su! A thought flashed through Wu Zi'ang's mind, and instantly a stunningly beautiful face appeared in his head.
Alas! After a three-second daze, Wu Zi'ang finally came to his senses. Without time to ponder why the other person had suddenly appeared, he put down the book in his hand and hurriedly went to open the door.
The moment he stepped out, Wu Zi'ang's eyes found that beautiful and captivating woman... His figure froze for a moment, the words of apology he had intended to utter instantly vanished.
Under the golden sunlight, Su Qimeng, dressed in snow-white, stood quietly, her exquisitely beautiful face shimmering with a captivating glow. Her bright, spirited eyes were like a clear, sparkling autumn lake, radiating a mesmerizing light. Qimeng, Qimeng, truly lived up to her name. Bathed in the golden sunlight, she was indeed like a sweet dream, seemingly close yet actually far away, evoking a sense of powerlessness that one could never truly possess.
"Young Master Wu!"
Seeing Wu Zi'ang open the door to greet her, Su Qimeng gave a slight bow and said softly, "Qimeng has come uninvited; I hope Young Master Wu will not take offense!"
"You flatter me, Miss Su! It is truly my honor that you have deigned to come!" Wu Zi'ang composed himself, pulling himself out of the breathtaking beauty before returning the bow with both hands, "Miss Su, please come in!"
Su Qimeng smiled slightly upon hearing this, and gracefully entered the room, followed by Wu Ziang and Xia Shi.
After they took their seats as host and guests, Wu Ziang softly called out, "Shi'er, bring tea!" Wu
Ziang was very particular about the etiquette of ancient times, and sometimes he even realized that he was becoming more and more like a person from this era.
"Yes, young master!"
Xia Shi replied, turning and leaving. A moment later, she brought in two cups of fragrant tea, placed them on the wooden table beside the two, bowed to them, and then left.
After taking a sip of the tea, Su Qimeng turned her beautiful eyes to Wu Ziang, a faint smile appearing on her face, and said, "Qimeng has come here today to sincerely learn the art of the zither from Young Master Wu. I humbly request your guidance!"
"This…!" Having understood the other party's intentions, Wu Zi'ang felt somewhat embarrassed. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Miss Su, you flatter me. In truth, your skill in playing the zither is far superior to mine. If anyone should be seeking guidance, it should be me asking you for it!"
"Qi Meng is not an arrogant person. Three days ago, your performance at Yi Qing Garden far surpassed mine, which is why I have the audacity to come and ask for your guidance today!" At this point, Su Qi Meng gazed deeply into his eyes and said, "But your words just now made me feel that you were keeping me at arm's length!"
"Miss Su, you misunderstand!" Seeing that she had misunderstood, Wu Zi'ang quickly explained, "What I said is not untrue. To be honest, your skill in playing the zither is indeed far superior to mine! At Yi Qing Garden that day, I was merely performing beyond my usual level!"
"Young Master's words are truly unbelievable to me!" Su Qimeng shook her head slightly, her delicate brows furrowing. She had come sincerely to learn from him, but he kept making excuses. Even with her magnanimity, she couldn't help but feel displeased.
"If you don't believe me, I can't help it!" Wu Zi'ang smiled bitterly. "Back then, I was simply moved by something, so I poured my emotions into the zither and played that piece. Today, I could never play it!"
"Poured my emotions into the zither!" Su Qimeng repeated softly, seemingly pondering for a moment, then nodded gently. "I believe what you say, Young Master!"
"As long as you don't misunderstand this as an excuse!" Wu Zi'ang breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "However, speaking of insights, my master did say something when he taught me the zither!"
"Oh, which thing?" Su Qimeng's beautiful eyes lit up with interest as she asked.
"Only by reaching the pinnacle of emotion can one reach the pinnacle of the zither!" Wu Zi'ang shamelessly changed one word of a sentence he had previously seen and passed it on to her.
Su Qimeng's beautiful eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she repeated it softly several times before focusing her gaze on Wu Zi'ang again, saying, "Could you explain this in more detail, sir?"
"Well," Wu Zi'ang pondered for a moment, then said, "Most zither players have this understanding: the color of a piece depends entirely on one's state of mind. When a person is happy, the zither sounds happy; when a person is sad, the zither sounds sad. The so-called 'the sound of the zither is the sound of the heart' is this principle!"
Su Qimeng nodded and said softly, "I naturally understand what you mean, sir. What I would like to ask is, how can one achieve what you mean by 'reaching the pinnacle of emotion, reaching the pinnacle of the zither'? Is it simply a matter of maintaining a suitable state of mind before playing the zither?"
"No, no!" Wu Zi'ang shook his head and replied, "I've always believed that forcing emotions onto one's mind is a inferior approach. Joy is joy, and sorrow is sorrow. Playing the zither is about genuinely expressing one's inner feelings. If one deliberately pursues a certain mood while playing, it goes against the original intention of 'singing to express one's aspirations'!"
"What you mean, sir, is that everything should return to nature. Play joyful music when the heart is joyful, and sorrowful music when the heart is sorrowful. Only by possessing genuine emotions can one play music that transcends one's own limitations!" Su Qimeng's beautiful face blossomed with joy as she spoke with a sense of enlightenment.
"Indeed, just like the piece that the talented lady Su played back then, tranquil and elegant, it contained the true meaning of 'picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, leisurely gazing at the southern mountains.' And I believe that is what the talented lady's heart truly yearns for!" After saying all this in one breath, Wu Zi'ang smiled apologetically and said, "The above are all my personal opinions, and there are bound to be some biases. The talented lady should not believe them entirely!" "
Volume 1, Different Worlds, Different Paths, Chapter 010
" "Young Master is too modest. I find every word insightful and enlightening!" Su Qimeng's beautiful eyes flashed with a strange light as she softly said, "Forgive my bluntness, but with your erudition, how could you have done something so presumptuous? This truly baffles me!"
"Ahem!" After delivering his long speech, Wu Zi'ang, who was drinking tea to quench his thirst, nearly choked on his tea upon hearing this. He hadn't expected her to ask such an embarrassing question. It seemed this talented Su woman's curiosity was truly extraordinary. "
Well, shouldn't knowledge and character be two different things?" After a long pause, Wu Zi'ang finally managed to stammer out, his face flushed.
"Pfft!"
Hearing the other party's explanation, Su Qimeng couldn't help but chuckle.
In an instant, like a hundred flowers blooming and spring returning to the earth, her sweet smile left even the seasoned Wu Zi'ang speechless, stunned. "
Young master, does Qimeng mean that despite your exceptional learning, your character is flawed?" Su Qimeng asked softly, her lips still curved in a charming smile.
"Ahem, ahem!" Wu Zi'ang's face flushed red, and he coughed twice, saying awkwardly, "Please, talented lady, have some face for me. If you continue, I'll truly be utterly ashamed!" As Wu Zi'ang said this, he had already cursed his former self countless times in his heart. He was innocent; he was merely taking the blame for someone else.
Looking at the other person's embarrassment, Su Qimeng felt a strange sensation. Although she was only in her early twenties, she had seen many strange and unusual people in her life, but she had never met anyone with such inconsistent temperament.
The first time they met was on the Li River, when the other person, failing to spy, tried to escape, fleeing in a panic like a stray dog. The second time was at Yiqing Garden, where the other person ignored her beauty but completely lost his composure when faced with Wei Lingyao, who was just as beautiful as her. What surprised her even more was the heartfelt music he played on the zither, filled with endless longing. Now, at their third meeting, the other person's embarrassment only revealed his true nature, a straightforwardness that made it impossible for her to connect the person before her with the spy from that night.
"What kind of person is this?" As Su Qimeng pondered to herself, her beautiful eyes inadvertently swept across the table, her attention drawn to an object. She gracefully rose, moved to the table, and picked up a scroll. After glancing at it for a few moments, she exclaimed in surprise, "Is Young Master cultivating his inner energy?"
"Just passing the time out of boredom!" Wu Zi'ang replied casually, his words not entirely sincere, as he saw her pick up his scroll of basic cultivation techniques.
"Oh!" Su Qimeng nodded thoughtfully, put down the scroll, turned, and smiled, "I have truly benefited greatly from Young Master's guidance today. I thank you in advance!" She bowed gracefully. "You
are too kind, Miss Su. I am unworthy of such praise!" Wu Zi'ang quickly rose to return the bow.
"I will be staying in Hengcheng for some time. If Young Master has the leisure, you are welcome to visit Qingli Xiaozhu. However, if it is like last time, then I will not be welcome!"
Looking at the other person's kind smile, Wu Zi'ang knew that her last sentence meant no harm. Even so, he couldn't help but blush and said, "If I have time, I will certainly pay you a visit!" "
In that case, Qimeng will take her leave!"
"Please take care, Miss Su!"
After personally seeing Su Qimeng off from the General's Mansion, Wu Zi'ang returned to his residence. The intoxicating fragrance of the talented Su Qimeng still lingered in the air.
Was he dreaming? Wu Zi'ang shook his head slightly, unable to help but chuckle. He truly hadn't dreamed that such a talented woman would personally visit him, and that he had even dared to give such a long and presumptuous speech. However, his insights on the zither were not unfounded; they were indeed his genuine experiences.
Could there really be such a woman of both talent and beauty in this world?! Wu Zi'ang sighed inwardly. If he hadn't already fallen for someone, he probably would have also considered pursuing her.
At this thought, another exquisitely beautiful face suddenly appeared in his mind, causing a pang of pain in his heart and his expression immediately darkened.
Different worlds, different paths, how could they be separated by death! In this life, he would never again see the one who haunted his dreams.
With a soft sigh, Wu Zi'ang forced himself to compose himself, picked up his book, and knew that only practicing Qi cultivation could help him forget the world.
***
Four more days passed in the blink of an eye. Wu Zi'ang's Qi cultivation had made some progress, but he remained at the initial stage of Spirit Refining and Qi Integration. He had no time to carefully examine the two cultivation manuals Wei Xuanyi had given him, let alone gain any insights from them.
The seven-day period was over, and Wu Zi'ang arrived at 'Quiet Garden' carrying the two books!
Wei Xuanyi was still dressed in black, standing in the pavilion. This puzzled Wu Zi'ang slightly. Although 'Quiet Garden' wasn't large, there were many places to go. Yet, every time they met, Wei Xuanyi had stood here. Was there something unique and attractive about this pavilion?
"Uncle Wei!"
Approaching Wei Xuanyi, Wu Zi'ang took out two books and respectfully handed them to him, saying, "Your nephew is foolish and has not gained any insight from these two books!"
"Is that so?" Wei Xuanyi smiled slightly, looking him up and down before speaking after a long while, "But I see that Zi'ang is in high spirits, so he should have some understanding of the path of Qi cultivation!"
"To be honest, one of these two cultivation manuals is too obscure and difficult to understand, while the other is barely understandable, but my basic skills are too poor for me to practice for the time being! As for your high spirits, Uncle, that is thanks to that basic Qi cultivation manual!" Wu Zi'ang told the truth without any concealment.
"Haha!" Wei Xuanyi laughed heartily upon hearing this, "Zi'ang, do you know that these two cultivation manuals I possess are considered supreme treasures by both the demonic and spiritual paths? Even if one were to study them for seven days, let alone seven, some would still gain nothing!"
"Uncle Wei, you…!" Wu Zi'ang was stunned, thinking to himself, "If that's the case, why did you take them back to study, and even offer these so-called insights! Isn't this just mocking me?
" "The reason I gave you these two books was simply to let you choose between these two cultivation methods! Now, the answer is clear!" Wei Xuanyi gently stroked the scroll filled with images, his eyes fixed on Wu Zi'ang as he said, word by word, "You chose the demonic path!"
"The demonic path?" Wu Zi'ang's expression changed slightly, and he exclaimed softly.
"Indeed, if one day you truly comprehend this 'Record of the Demon God,' then you will become a true Demon God! From then on, the universe will be in my hands, and all things under heaven will be at my disposal!" As he spoke, Wei Xuanyi's expression was solemn, without a trace of jest.
Looking at the other's serious expression, and then at the 'Record of the Demon God,' hailed as the supreme cultivation method of the Demonic Sect, in the other's hand, a fervent glint flashed in Wu Zi'ang's eyes. A thought suddenly surged into his mind: since he couldn't realize his ideals in the modern world, why not unleash his ambitions in this other world? In the past, when reading ancient martial arts novels, he always yearned for the solitary adventures in the martial world, the joys and sorrows, and now all of this might very well become reality!
Upon realizing this, Wu Zi'ang immediately made up his mind and bowed deeply to Wei Xuanyi, saying, "I beg Uncle Wei to teach me!"
As if sensing the change in Wu Zi'ang's thoughts, Wei Xuanyi narrowed his eyes, a faint smile appearing on his lips, and repeatedly said, "Very good, very good!" The young man now harbored lofty ambitions, truly resembling himself in his youth! He was also willing to pass on all his knowledge to him, not only because he was Wu Tianyao's son, but more importantly, because Wu Zi'ang, whose temperament had undergone a significant transformation, indeed possessed the potential to inherit his mantle. However, what he found regrettable was that although the young man had excellent aptitude, due to starting martial arts too late, he probably wouldn't be able to surpass young masters like Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng, who had devoted themselves to cultivation from a young age, in his lifetime.
He didn't intend to tell him this, because what Wu Zi'ang needed most right now was confidence.
"Zi'ang, from today onwards, you will move in with me! I will explain to your father!" After a moment's thought, Wei Xuanyi said to him, "
Yes! Yes!" Wu Zi'ang nodded repeatedly, unable to contain his joy.
"Alright, go back and prepare!" Wei Xuanyi waved his hand, signaling the other party to go back first.
After Wu Ziang left, Wei Xuanyi put his hands behind his back, a complex expression appearing in his eyes. Actually, 'Jingyuan' wasn't far from Wu Ziang's residence. The reason he had Wu Ziang move in with him was because he knew his time in this general's mansion was running out, so he planned to give Wu Ziang as much guidance as possible during this period.
Ten days? Or half a month? How much longer could they endure? Thinking of the people in 'Tianchi', a cold smile appeared on Wei Xuanyi's handsome face. His straight body straightened slightly, and a chilling killing intent instantly filled the entire pavilion.
***
Inside the study, Wu Tianyao held a scroll of military strategy, sitting at his desk reading it. When he reached a certain passage, he shook his head and sighed softly, feeling something in his heart!
"Therefore, there are three reasons why a ruler can harm his army: First, he does not know when the army should advance but instead orders it to advance; second, he does not know when the army should retreat but instead orders it to retreat—this is called 'tying the army down'; third, he does not know the affairs of the three armies but yet interferes in their administration, thus confusing the soldiers; fourth, he does not know the authority of the three armies but yet interferes in their responsibilities, thus causing the soldiers to doubt. When the three armies are confused and doubtful, then the troubles of the feudal lords will come. This is called 'disrupting the army and inviting defeat'." "
Three years ago, if the Emperor hadn't issued three imperial edicts ordering the withdrawal of troops from Fengcheng, Northern Liang would likely have become a vassal state of Qin. Now, Northern Liang has a chance to breathe. On one hand, it has formed an alliance with Western Jin through marriage, and on the other hand, it has amassed a large army to garrison the important town of Fengcheng. If Qin wants to march west again, it will likely gain nothing. When
the empress's relatives interfere in politics, the emperor's power will ultimately be lost; when the emperor harasses the army, the army will inevitably be defeated.
Thinking back, if I had insisted on my own opinion back then, 'a general in the field may disobey the emperor's orders,' then the situation north of Luojiang today would likely be very different!
Thinking of this, Wu Tianyao felt troubled. He threw the military book aside, got up, went to the window, and looked at the green trees and red flowers outside, the bright sunshine, his mood..." A gloomy atmosphere prevailed.
Since his return to the capital, aside from the Emperor's audience upon his return, he had been largely idle at home for over a month.
No one could comprehend his burning anxiety; hundreds of thousands of troops were deployed along the Qin-Wei border, awaiting his command.
Of the four kingdoms, aside from Qin, Nanwei possessed the strongest military force, and the Luocheng area, bordering Qin, had always been a contested territory for Qin.
Earlier this year, he had launched a surprise attack, leading his army across the Luo River at night, ultimately capturing Luocheng, a key city in southern Luojiang, at the cost of 30,000 casualties. This broke Nanwei's long-standing defense of the river, drawing Qin-Wei's battle line into Nanwei territory.
Yet, at this critical juncture, the Emperor had summoned him back to the capital.
"Unfamiliar with military affairs, yet involved in military politics!" "His Majesty is currently making this very mistake, and as his subject, I am powerless to change it. Although before returning to the capital, he had temporarily entrusted military affairs to the veteran general Geng Yi, and with the assistance of experienced generals like Yan Heng and Zhou Yuan, holding Luoyang should be no problem.
However, even so, the battlefield situation is ever-changing, and with the fall of Luoyang, the Southern Guard has dispatched Huo Qinghou, a general of equal renown, to confront him.
I have always been deeply wary of Huo Qinghou; his military tactics are known throughout the land for their 'steadiness.' I have fought him three times before, and neither side gained the slightest advantage. If Huo Qinghou were to defend Luoyang this time, I would never resort to such a risky tactic as a sneak attack.
Alas!" After much deliberation, Wu Tianyao sighed deeply. While the Qin Dynasty appeared increasingly powerful, it faced numerous internal crises: interference from the empress's relatives, factional strife, and internal strife within the royal court. Furthermore, his years of conquest had seized vast territories from the other three kingdoms, Jin, Liang, and Wei now harbored a shared hatred of him—the best evidence being the allied forces of Western Jin and Southern Wei crossing the river to aid him during the last siege. With
such internal and external troubles, if the Qin emperor continued to doubt him and abandon him, the Qin Dynasty would truly be in grave danger!
Just then, he heard Liu Fu's aged voice outside the door: "Master, Eunuch Zhao requests an audience!"
"Oh!" Wu Tianyao was initially startled, then a look of joy appeared on his face, and he exclaimed, "Quickly, invite him in! Quickly, invite him in!" Having said that, he strode forward and opened the door.
Outside stood a tall, thin, pale-faced, beardless man. Seeing Wu Tianyao open the door, a smile appeared on his pale face. He bowed slightly and said in a high-pitched, shrill voice, "General!"
"Eunuch Zhao, please come in, please come in!"
Normally, he disliked such eccentric people, but today he found the other man inexplicably endearing. The reason was simple: this Eunuch Zhao was the chief eunuch of the palace, a trusted confidant of the emperor.
In other words, his presence meant the emperor must have something to discuss with him.
Sure enough, upon entering the room, Eunuch Zhao declined Wu Tianyao's offer of a seat and tea, and said in a high-pitched voice, "The emperor has urgent business to discuss with you, General. Please come with me back to the palace to meet him!"
"Good, good! Allow me to change into my court robes, and then I will return to the palace with you, Eunuch!" Wu Tianyao couldn't hide his excitement, repeatedly saying "good."
A moment later, Wu Tianyao, dressed in his court robes, accompanied Eunuch Zhao in a
sedan chair to the palace. It was well past court time. Wu Tianyao and Eunuch Zhao entered through the Meridian Gate, crossed the ornately decorated inner river bridge, and headed straight for the eastern part of the palace, where the Qin emperor received his close ministers and reviewed memorials—the Imperial Study.
"Your Majesty, General Wu has arrived!"
Passing through a long corridor, arriving at the door of the Imperial Study, Eunuch Zhao reported in his distinctive voice.
"Let him in!" A gentle male voice came from inside the study.
"General, please!"
Eunuch Zhao stepped aside, gave a slight bow, and gestured for Wu Tianyao to enter.
Wu Tianyao nodded with a smile, straightened his court robes, and gently pushed open the door.
Inside the Imperial Study, a desk made of fine ebony wood sat in the center of the room. A middle-aged man in a jade robe and brocade belt, topped with a golden crown, sat upright on the dragon throne. This was the ruler of the Great Qin Dynasty—Emperor Wuwei of Qin.
Contrary to his name, Wuwei's face possessed a refined elegance, like a well-read scholar. His eyes were long and piercing, and his figure was somewhat overly thin, but the imperial robes accentuated his regal bearing.
Upon seeing Wu Tianyao enter, the handsome man couldn't help but smile, saying, "Tianyao, you've come at the right time. I was discussing important matters with the Right Chancellor and several other officials, and I was just about to hear your insightful opinions!"
Wu Tianyao had already noticed that besides the Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxiang, the Left Chancellor Zhang Zhongshu, and the two generals Feng Chang and Tian Guang, the Grand General Gong Yan and his son Gong Qi, who were guarding the western border, were also present in the imperial study!
He was taken aback, thinking to himself, "They've been recalled too? What is the Emperor's intention in sending two Grand Generals guarding the border back to the capital!"
The Great Qin Dynasty had three Grand Generals. Apart from the old General Zhao Qi, who remained in the capital due to old age and frailty, the other two, Wu Tianyao and Gong Yan, were responsible for the southern and western wars respectively. Now that the Qin Emperor had recalled both of his Grand Generals to the capital, there must be something fishy going on!
Suppressing his doubts, Wu Tianyao first performed the courtly rites to the Qin Emperor, then bowed to the crowd, and finally looked at General Gong Yan with a slight smile
, saying, "It's been three years since we parted in Fengcheng. General Gong, how have you been?" "Thanks to the Emperor and General Wu's good fortune, I've been well lately!" Gong Yan replied calmly, his thin face expressionless.
After speaking, he turned to his son, Gong Qi, and said, "Why don't you greet the General?"
"General!"
Gong Qi bowed slightly, acknowledging the greeting.
Wu Tianyao secretly sized up the man. He was handsome and robust, possessing the air of a great general, but the undisguised arrogance on his face significantly diminished his impression of him.
In the way of a general, arrogance is the greatest taboo! Even with genuine talent and learning, pride and complacency will inevitably lead to defeat.
"Tianyao, His Majesty is discussing the replacement of generals with us. Why don't you share your opinion?"
At this moment, Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan spoke up, following the meaning of the Qin Emperor's words.
"Replace generals?!" Wu Tianyao was startled upon hearing this, and then, noticing the strange expressions on the faces of Generals Feng Chang and Tian Guang, a bad feeling suddenly arose in his heart.
Volume 1, Chapter 11:
"Exactly!"
Left Prime Minister Zhang Zhongshu replied in a deep voice, "The important southern city of Luoyang has fallen into our hands, and the overall situation in the south is settled. The Grand General has fought for many years, achieving great merit, and should rightfully rest in the capital for a while. Moreover, your son's wedding is imminent, and as a father, the General should personally handle the arrangements. Therefore, His Majesty intends to promote Gong Qi to Supreme General, replacing the Grand General and taking over the southern campaign."
Upon hearing this, Wu Tianyao was furious. What kind of nonsense was this? The south was at a critical juncture. Although the Great Qin had temporarily captured Luoyang, their position was not yet secure, and the Southern Wei army could launch a counterattack at any moment. At this crucial juncture, the Emperor actually intended to replace the general on the eve of battle! How could he not be angry?
"What are the opinions of the generals?" Replacing a general on the eve of battle was a taboo in military strategy. Even if the Emperor was unaware, these generals who had fought for many years should know it, right? Therefore, Wu Tianyao suppressed his anger and asked Feng Chang, Tian Guang, and Gong Yan, among others.
To his surprise, four generals, including his close associates Feng Chang and Tian Guang, simultaneously nodded and said, "Your Majesty is wise and compassionate towards the General's hard work. We deeply believe this is a feasible move!"
Looking at the insincere expressions in Feng Chang and Tian Guang's eyes, Wu Tianyao suddenly understood. The Emperor must have exerted pressure on them. In other words, whether he agreed or not, the replacement of the general was already a done deal. Summoning him was merely to give him face as the General!
This action clearly showed that the Emperor no longer trusted him, and therefore forced him to relinquish his military power!
Thinking of this, Wu Tianyao's anger vanished, replaced by a deep sorrow. He wasn't sorrowful for himself, but for the fate of the hundreds of thousands of Qin soldiers. If it were Gong Yan replacing him, it would be fine, but in reality, it was the inexperienced Gong Qi. Even with his abilities, he wasn't confident of defeating Huo Qinghou, let alone this young upstart.
The Wu family, spanning three generations, had fought countless battles for the Qin Dynasty, with his grandfather and father even dying on the battlefield. Yet now, they were relegated to a state of idleness and disillusionment.
Disheartened, Wu Tianyao raised his head, smiled at the Qin Emperor and his entourage, and said, "Since Your Majesty is so kind to me, I can only accept your offer. I will hand over my command seal and military tally tomorrow!"
"Excellent!"
The Qin Emperor, seemingly surprised by the other's quick agreement, paused for a moment before immediately smiling and saying, "Tianyao, I've heard of your marriage to the Ninth Prince. Congratulations! On your auspicious day, I will certainly accompany all of you to invite your son for a celebratory drink!"
"Yes, yes!" As if to ease the tension, Wei Ruoxuan, Zhang Zhongshu, and others echoed with smiles.
"It is an honor for Tianyao that Your Majesty and all the esteemed officials have come. On behalf of my son, I thank you!"
After speaking, he paused and added, "If there are no other important matters, I would like to take my leave. My son's wedding is approaching, and I need to begin preparations!"
"As a father, this is only proper. In that case, I will not keep you any longer! My beloved ministers, please disperse!" "
We take our leave!" Everyone bowed in unison and then withdrew one after another.
After leaving the Imperial Study, Wu Tianyao walked side by side with Wei Ruoxuan and the others.
Along the way, General Feng Chang said jokingly, "Tianyao, I've heard that the Ninth Prince's adopted daughter is as beautiful as a celestial being. Even compared to beauties like Fairy Wei and Talented Lady Su, she is in no way inferior. My nephew is truly blessed with good fortune!"
"Indeed, on the current list of beauties, Miss Qiu Xueqing ranks fourth! Tianyao, my nephew Zi'ang has really struck gold this time!" Tian Guang also said with a smile.
The two sang in harmony, their faces beaming with joy, as if Wu Ziang were their own son, and they would occasionally glance at Gong Qi standing to the side.
Wu Tianyao immediately noticed that Gong Qi's expression changed upon hearing the name Qiu Xueqing, and he lowered his head.
"I'm afraid my son is unworthy of Miss Qiu!" Wu Tianyao thought to himself, but said calmly.
"What is the 'List of Beauties'?" Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan asked curiously.
"Chancellor Wei, have you heard of Ning Changxiao?" Tian Guang asked with a smile.
Wei Ruoxuan pondered for a moment, then said, "Is it Ning Changxiao, hailed as the greatest painter of our time?"
"That's right, it is!" Tian Guang nodded with a smile. "This man enjoys traveling and spends his days touring the four kingdoms. Because of his superb painting skills, even the emperor and other kings have invited him to paint portraits of their concubines. Confident in having seen countless beauties in his life, he created a 'List of Beauties,' claiming that all the beauties in the world are included!"
"Oh?" Wei Ruoxuan showed interest, then asked, "I just heard General Tian mention that the Ninth Prince's adopted daughter, Qiu Xueqing, is ranked fourth. Who are the top three?!"
"First, there's Fairy Wei Lingyao, renowned as the Fairy of Yaochi; second, there's Su Qimeng, whose talent is unparalleled; third, there's Shui Qingqing, revered as the 'Holy Maiden' by the Demonic Sect!" Tian Guang recounted everything he knew, finally laughing, "In my humble opinion, in terms of appearance and temperament, Miss Qiu is no less than the top three. The reason she's ranked fourth is because of her aloofness. Prime Minister Wei, you must have heard that Miss Qiu is known as the 'Ice Beauty,' right?"
"I've heard of her. General Tian is right!" Wei Ruoxuan chuckled, "We're both officials in the same court, yet I've never heard of these things. I'm truly ignorant! Shame on me!"
"Prime Minister Wei, there's no need for shame," Feng Chang interjected with a smile, "Don't forget that Tian Guang is always collecting such strange and interesting tales!"
The group left the court and prepared to part ways.
After exchanging farewells, Gong Qi, looking grim, left in a sedan chair with his father, Gong Yan.
Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan and Left Chancellor Zhang Zhongshu also left one after another, leaving only Generals Feng Chang and Tian Guang with Wu Tianyao.
"Tianyao, don't blame us! You must know we had no choice!" Tian Guang and Feng Chang said with a guilty look on their faces.
"It's too late to say anything now!" Wu Tianyao sighed deeply, "I don't blame you, I understand, this is all the Emperor's will!"
"Today, Feng Chang and I were on tenterhooks, afraid that you would be concerned about the soldiers on the battlefield and refuse to hand over military power. If things had escalated, the consequences would have been unimaginable! To be honest, Tianyao, today's outcome is a happy one for everyone. You have handed over military power, and the Emperor no longer needs to doubt you. From now on, you can live a peaceful life like General Zhao Qi. Isn't that wonderful!" Feng Chang patted Wu Tianyao's shoulder, seemingly to comfort him, but also to make him face reality.
"I am a general. The entire meaning of my life lies on the battlefield where thousands of troops clash. I can retire after achieving my goal, but I will never give up halfway!" Wu Tianyao said in a deep voice , his tiger-like eyes radiating a piercing light.
"Tianyao, do you... do you intend to defy the emperor?" Tian Guang and Feng Chang were taken aback, glancing around before lowering their voices.
Wu Tianyao shook his head, a bitter smile appearing on his face. "I will not defy the emperor. I will wait until the emperor reinstates me!"
"Alas!" Tian and Feng exchanged a glance and sighed in unison. They understood that he was in his prime, and it was truly unwilling for him to leave the battlefield like this. Unfortunately, they were powerless to help him. The emperor had already decided to relieve Wu Tianyao of his command and replace him with someone else. This move was undoubtedly self-destructive, leaving them deeply resentful.
"Enough. You two don't need to persuade me. If you have time in the future, come visit my residence more often!" Wu Tianyao's face regained its composure as he smiled and invited them.
"There's no time like the present! Why wait until later? Old Tian and I are free today, let's go to your mansion and have a few drinks!" Feng Chang's rugged face revealed a sly smile. "I heard that you held a banquet at Xiqing Garden a few days ago and brought out some fine wine that had been buried underground for over twenty years. Old Tian and I will have a taste!"
"You two drunkards!" Wu Tianyao couldn't help but laugh and scold.
"Haha!" The three of them smiled at each other, then each boarded a sedan chair and headed straight for the General's Mansion.
***
"Father, please think of something! No matter what, I can't let Xueqing marry into the Wu family!"
As soon as they returned to the Gong Mansion, Gong Qi grabbed Gong Yan's hand and pleaded bitterly.
"Now that things have come to this, I have no other choice!" Gong Yan shook his head and sighed. "The Ninth Prince and Wu Tianyao have already set a wedding date. The matter is settled. Qi'er, you should give up this idea!"
"No, Father, you must have a way!" Gong Qi's expression became even more panicked upon hearing this, and he continued to plead.
"Enough, Qi'er, there are plenty of beautiful women in the world. I'll find someone else for you!" Gong Yan gently advised.
"No, I don't want anyone but Xue Qing! I'll go and beg the Emperor right now! Even if my General doesn't want her, I'll ask the Emperor to issue an edict to betroth Xue Qing to me!" In despair, a thought suddenly flashed through Gong Qi's mind, and he blurted it out hysterically.
"You scoundrel!" Gong Yan's hand moved with lightning speed, and with a "smack," he slapped Gong Qi hard across the face, shouting sternly, "Just for a woman, you're willing to ruin your future? How could I have given birth to such a worthless thing like you!"
"Father!" After being slapped, Gong Qi sobered up a bit. Looking at his father's furious face, he still stammered, "I truly love Xue Qing!"
"Qi'er!" Gong Yan said in a low voice, "Remember this: in this world, only power is what we truly desire, and women are merely accessories! With supreme power, all the women in the world are at your disposal. Why hang yourself on one tree?! Now, you have become a general and have replaced Wu Tianyao in taking charge of the southern army. You and I, father and son, one in the south and one in the west, command most of the Qin army. Think about it carefully, whose world will Qin rule in the near future?"
"My son, I know I was wrong!" Although Gong Qi's face showed resentment, he agreed with his father's words in his heart. In fact, he himself was an ambitious man, and after careful consideration, he immediately made a wise choice.
"Hmm!" Gong Yan's expression softened slightly and he said, "I heard from the Left Prime Minister that the Emperor intends to betroth the Third Princess to you. Once you are married into the royal family, the Emperor's trust in you will increase even more. After that, go to the south and perform well. I believe that you will soon surpass Wu Tianyao and become the youngest general in the history of the Great Qin!"
"Yes, my son will definitely work hard!" At the thought of becoming the commander of tens of thousands of troops, Gong Qi's eyes lit up, and his previous frustration and disappointment seemed to have vanished.
"If you're truly unwilling to accept this, why not use your methods to snatch the prize from Qiu Wanqing? Given the Ninth Prince's power, even if the Wu family brat finds out later, he won't dare to speak out. This way, the Wu family will suffer in silence, unable to express their bitterness, while also relieving your own resentment. Wouldn't that be
a win-win situation?" A sinister glint appeared on Gong Yan's thin face as he spoke in a low voice. "Let me think about this some more!" Gong Qi still harbored some affection for Qiu Wanqing, so he hesitated for a moment, unable to make a decision.
"This is all your own business, do as you wish!" Gong Yan waved his hand and said, "You may leave now. I need some peace and quiet to consider some things!" "
Your son takes his leave!" With that, Gong Qi bowed slightly, turned, and left.
After Gong Qi left, Gong Yan paced back and forth in the room for a few steps, finally stopping and lost in thought.
The replacement of generals is now a foregone conclusion. All that remains is for the Emperor to announce Gong Qi's appointment as Supreme General and bestow upon him the military seal and command token during tomorrow's court assembly. Then, the 180,000 elite troops of southern Qin (including 100,000 iron cavalry) will fall entirely into the hands of the Gong family.
The reason things have progressed so smoothly is partly due to the Emperor's growing suspicion of Wu Tianyao, and partly due to the strong remonstrations of Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan and Left Chancellor Zhang Zhongshu, which finally convinced the Emperor to make the decision to replace generals on the eve of battle!
This matter is rather strange. Left Chancellor Zhang Zhongshu is from the same faction as him, and the plan to replace generals originated from him. However, Wei Ruoxuan's enthusiastic support and full support for this matter are somewhat baffling to him.
What exactly is this old fox up to?! It should be noted that the biggest beneficiary of removing Wu Tianyao is the Gong family father and son, while Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan will gain nothing.
Gong Yan shook his head, temporarily setting aside his doubts. Regardless, the current situation was extremely favorable to him. If things continued this way, it wouldn't be long before his Gong family would replace Wu Tianyao's position. No, he wanted to replace not just a military commander, but also…!
Thinking this, a fanatical light shone in Gong Yan's eyes, and he let out low, triumphant laughs.
***
That evening, Wu Zi'ang moved into 'Jingyuan', residing in the room next to Wei Xuanyi, thus beginning his internal energy cultivation journey.
With a renowned teacher guiding him, he was spared much of the trial-and-error process, undoubtedly avoiding many detours. Therefore, Wu Zi'ang made rapid progress in the early stages, mastering the basic methods of internal energy cultivation, including 'Qi Condensation' and 'Exhalation,' within ten days.
Busy with Qi cultivation all day, Wu Zi'ang had no time for anything else. However, whether he liked it or not, the thing he had been trying to escape was gradually approaching—his wedding was approaching.
He had heard Feng Chang and Tian Guang say that this adopted daughter of the Ninth Prince was an ice beauty, ranked fourth on the list of beauties, her beauty needless to say. From the eyes of these two uncles, he could clearly read this message—you're incredibly lucky to have married such a wife!
But the problem was, Qiu Xueqing was a complete stranger to him; he didn't even know her height or weight. A complete stranger, with whom he had no feelings, was inexplicably becoming his wife, which was hard for him, who grew up in modern civilization, to accept. Moreover
, there was only one woman he wanted to marry in his life, and that was Yiyi! However,
no matter what he thought, he couldn't escape this fact. In three days, it would be one of the four great joys of Wu Zi'ang's life—his wedding night.
"Hoo!"
Wu Zi'ang let out a soft sigh, a troubled look on his face.
"Zi'ang, why are you so restless today? You must know that this is a major taboo in Qi cultivation!" Noticing Wu Zi'ang's abnormality, Wei Xuanyi frowned and asked.
“Uncle Wei!” Wu Zi'ang forced a bitter smile. “Don’t you know that my wedding day is in three days?”
“Of course I know!” Wei Xuanyi smiled faintly at the mention of his marriage. “I’ve also heard that your fiancée is a stunning beauty, no less beautiful than Wei and Su, whom you’ve met. You should be overjoyed to have such a beautiful wife, so why are you sighing like this?”
“I know she’s beautiful, but… we’re complete strangers. How can we marry so hastily?” Wu Zi'ang’s annoyance deepened. Spending his life with a complete stranger was something he found hard to accept.
“I heard from your father that you were the one who saw her beauty and begged him to personally propose to the Ninth Prince’s mansion. Now that your wish has come true, why are you having such strange thoughts?” Wei Xuanyi’s smile remained, but his eyes were sharp as he looked at Wu Zi'ang.
"This…!" Wu Zi'ang was startled. His anxieties had made him forget to conceal his true thoughts, and now, hearing the question, he stammered.
"I almost forgot! You suffered memory loss when you fell into the water, so you probably don't remember what you did! Is that right, Zi'ang?" Wei Xuanyi's sharp eyes faded, replaced by an unfathomable smile.
"Yes, yes!" Hearing the other man's offer of help, Wu Zi'ang quickly nodded and agreed. He felt he couldn't hide anything from this man; it seemed everything about him had been thoroughly investigated.
"Things have come to this, there's no point in worrying!" Wei Xuanyi turned his gaze to the window and said calmly, "Know that everything in this world has its own destiny, so let nature take its course. Zi'ang, you should focus on your training. I don't have much time left to guide you!"
"Yes, Uncle Wei!" He already knew from his father that this Uncle Wei was about to leave, so he nodded gently, closed his eyes again, and tried his best to put aside his troubled thoughts.
Volume 1, Different Paths in Different Worlds, Chapter 012
Just as Wu Zi'ang's wedding was approaching, the battle situation in Luocheng in the south underwent a dramatic change. The newly appointed commander-in-chief, General Gong Qi, eager to achieve merit, refused to adhere to Wu Tianyao's defensive strategy and rashly launched an attack. However, he fell into Huo Qinghou's trap, and all 50,000 elite cavalry were annihilated in the plains sixty miles from Luocheng.
The plains, where the cavalry could exert great power, were now hampered by thousands of horse traps laid by the Southern Wei.
The Southern Wei, with three times the strength of the Qin army, completely surrounded the 50,000 elite Qin cavalry. They then adopted a strategy of steady advance, gradually tightening the encirclement, and ultimately annihilated the Qin's 50,000 elite cavalry at a heavy cost.
For many years, the Qin had dominated the four kingdoms with its iron cavalry. Fully armed and well-trained, equipped with superior warhorses and heavy, single-edged swords, the Qin cavalry had been a nightmare for the armies of other states.
In this battle, the renowned Southern Wei general Huo Qinghou meticulously planned a strategy, using thousands of traps arranged according to a battle formation to completely eliminate the cavalry's mobility advantage. He then advanced slowly with heavily armored spearmen, ultimately winning the battle after incurring enormous losses.
Most of the 50,000 cavalry were wiped out. General Zhou Yuan fought desperately to cover his commander Gong Qi's breakout, but died on the battlefield. After Gong Qi escaped back to Luoyang under cover of night, instead of reflecting on his own mistakes, he blamed the veteran general Geng Yi for refusing to come out of the city to rescue him, which led to the annihilation of 50,000 cavalry.
Geng Yi, hot-tempered, retorted sharply, "You ignorant brat! How do you know that the Southern Guard, with its 100,000 elite troops, has already laid a trap thirty miles west of the city, waiting for our army to come to their rescue so they can wipe us out in one fell swoop?! Our 50,000 cavalry have been surrounded for half a day, yet Lord Huo Qing has hesitated to act, precisely to lure our defending troops to the rescue. Military strategy says: 'He who does not plan for the whole cannot plan for a part!' With such shallow vision, how can you shoulder this great responsibility of commanding an army?"
Publicly reprimanded, Gong Qi, enraged and humiliated, ordered Geng Yi imprisoned. His generals pleaded for his life, but he remained unmoved. He knew that to shirk responsibility for the defeat, he needed a scapegoat, and Geng Yi, who had always disobeyed his orders, was the perfect candidate.
When the news reached Hengcheng, the capital of Qin, the officials were immediately alarmed. Since its founding, Qin had never suffered such a crushing defeat. The complete annihilation of 50,000 elite cavalry was a shock and infuriating blow to the officials, including the Qin Emperor.
Meanwhile, Gong Qi's trusted confidant had already rushed back to the capital. Following Gong Qi's instructions, he shifted all blame onto the veteran general Geng Yi, claiming that General Gong Qi had risked his life, personally leading 50,000 cavalry as bait to lure the main force of the Imperial Guard north. However, General Geng Yi had shown cowardice in battle, failing to implement the pre-arranged pincer attack, thus missing the crucial opportunity and ultimately leading to the annihilation of the 50,000 cavalry, with General Gong Qi severely wounded and General Zhou Yuan killed in action.
This battle report, riddled with flaws and distorting the truth, became an indisputable fact under the combined pressure of the Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan, the Left Chancellor Zhang Zhongshu, and their cronies. Despite the vehement rebuttals from loyal ministers like General Feng Chang and Tian Guang, it was to no avail. Enraged, the Qin Emperor immediately ordered Gong Qi to execute Geng Yi.
"Your Majesty, please rescind your order!"
Wu Tianyao, who had learned of the news later, rushed to the palace that night, attempting to persuade the Qin Emperor to withdraw his command.
"My mind is made up. You need not say more!" The Qin Emperor's face was ashen, his tone still filled with fury.
Seeing Wu Wei's attitude, Wu Tianyao knew that persuasion was futile. He was heartbroken, thinking of the old general Geng Yi, who had devoted his life to loyalty and performed countless merits, only to meet such a fate! The Emperor's gullibility in believing the slander of petty men further fueled his indignation. He couldn't help but recall Wei Xuanyi's words: "Throughout history, countless famous generals have not fallen on the battlefield, but died at the hands of the royal family they served!"
Perhaps, one day, he too would suffer such a fate!
Seemingly realizing his tone had been too harsh, Wu Wei's expression softened slightly, and he said gently, "Tianyao, I know you and Geng Yi have a close personal relationship, but Geng Yi has committed a heinous crime, one that cannot be tolerated by the law. If I do not punish him severely, how can I face the 50,000 soldiers who died?" "Then
, now that Luocheng is besieged, how will Your Majesty resolve this stalemate? Know that there are still 60,000 elite Qin troops within Luocheng!" Hearing the other party's distorted words, Wu Tianyao suppressed his anger and asked in a deep voice.
"I have already ordered Xiao Yuan, stationed on the north bank of the Luo River, to lead 100,000 troops across the river to reinforce! This will surely relieve the siege of Luocheng!" Wu Wei replied confidently.
"Xiao Yuan?" Upon hearing this name, Wu Tianyao frowned and asked, "Why not send Feng Chang and Tian Guang?"
"The eastern barbarians are causing trouble. I have already arranged for Generals Feng and Tian to head east on a chosen day to relieve the Qin's worries! Alright, it's late, I need to rest. General, please leave as well." A look of displeasure flashed across Wu Wei's face. After answering the other's question, he dismissed him.
"Your humble servant takes his leave!" Wu Tianyao bowed and withdrew.
Filled with immense resentment, Wu Tianyao returned to the general's mansion. It was late at night, yet he felt no sleepiness.
The emperor was no longer the same emperor. In the years of his campaigns, the emperor had become accustomed to listening to the slander of petty men, neglecting his loyal ministers.
Xiao Yuan? Thinking of the name the Emperor had mentioned, a look of disgust crossed his face. This man was none other than Xiao Wanluan's cousin, the Emperor's brother-in-law. Though not a complete incompetent fool, relying on him to lift the siege of Luocheng was nothing short of delusional. The Emperor's decision to employ such a mediocre person instead of the capable generals Feng Chang and Tian Guang was disheartening.
The more than 100,000 soldiers deployed in the south were elite troops he had personally trained over a decade! Now, he could only watch helplessly as the troops he had built were wiped out piece by piece by these incompetent men.
No, he couldn't stand idly by! As Wu Tianyao's tiger-like eyes flashed, he had already made up his mind. He turned and swiftly headed towards 'Jingyuan'.
"Have you decided?"
After listening to Wu Tianyao's words, Wei Xuanyi pondered for a moment before speaking. In truth, he knew the other's mind was made up, but he still couldn't help but ask.
"Hmm!" Wu Tianyao nodded slowly. "If possible, I only ask that you take them, mother and child, away!"
"Why are you doing this? Great Qin is not just your Great Qin. Why risk your life for this?" Wei Xuanyi shook his head and sighed.
"Great Qin is not just my Great Qin, but those soldiers are the culmination of my decades of hard work! I cannot stand by and watch them be wasted by a bunch of mediocre people!" Wu Tianyao gave a bitter smile and said, "I know the consequences of this action are certain death, but if it can save the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers, I am willing to sacrifice this useless and idle body."
"Enough! I will not try to persuade you anymore. Rest assured, I will ensure their safety no matter what!" Wei Xuanyi stared at him and solemnly made a promise.
"Thank you!" Although it was only two short words, the gratitude contained within them surpassed a thousand words.
"Take care!" Wei Xuanyi replied with the same two words, his gaze filled with regret but also with deep admiration. Only a man who values the lives of his soldiers more than his own deserves the title of "famous general."
"I'm leaving!"
Entrusting his wife and children to Wei Xuanyi, Wu Tianyao, now free from all worries, clasped his hands in a fist salute, smiled slightly, and resolutely turned and strode away. At this moment,
his back was as straight as a spear, his steady steps exuding the aura of a thousand troops. Now free of all attachments, he was like a divine weapon unsheathed, its sharpness about to be revealed once again to the world.
Watching Wu Tianyao's retreating figure, Wei Xuanyi sighed softly. With such a good general, yet not knowing how to use him, the fall of Qin is not far off!
"Come out!" After a long sigh, Wei Xuanyi pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned to the half-open door on his right and said.
The door opened, and Wu Zi'ang slowly walked out of the room, his expression complex as he approached Wei Xuanyi.
"You heard what I just said, didn't you?" Wei Xuanyi asked softly, looking at the other man.
"I heard it!" Wu Zi'ang nodded and whispered.
"What are your thoughts?" Wei Xuanyi continued.
"Father is a man of both loyalty and righteousness. He is a good minister and a good general. It's just a pity that he didn't encounter a wise ruler, which only adds to the lament of being born in the wrong era!" This time, Wu Zi'ang did not hide his true thoughts at all. Having learned what had happened, he felt genuinely sorry for his 'father'.
"If it were you, would you have done the same?" Wei Xuanyi slowly took a few steps, turned around, and asked.
Wu Zi'ang slowly but firmly shook his head, answering each word clearly: "What use is there in assisting such a foolish ruler? If I were his father, I would surely replace him!"
Even Wei Xuanyi, whose heart was as calm as the sea, was slightly startled by Wu Zi'ang's words "replace him." With his ability to judge people, he had long seen that Wu Zi'ang, after surviving a great calamity, harbored lofty ambitions, but he never expected that the other party would intend to vie for the throne!
"Zi'ang, do you speak such words because you are the son of a great general, relying on your father's power?" Wei Xuanyi's sharp gaze pierced into the other's eyes, as if trying to see through his true thoughts.
“Even if I were a commoner, I would do the same!” Wu Zi’ang met the other’s gaze directly and slowly replied, “Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?”
“Good, good, good!” Wei Xuanyi uttered three “good”s in succession, his eyes flashing with an unusual light, and said in a deep voice, “Zi’ang, tonight you have so openly revealed your thoughts. Aren’t you worried that I will become suspicious?”
“Can I hide it from Uncle Wei?” Wu Zi’ang said with a wry smile, “Every time I am in front of you, I feel like I have nowhere to hide, as if all my secrets have been seen by you! Rather than that, I might as well tell the truth, and that will make me feel better!”
“Hmm!” Wei Xuanyi nodded, a faint smile appearing on his handsome face, and said, “To this day, I still do not know the reason for your change, but as I said, I will not ask. You don’t need to be nervous. I am a very pragmatic person. I value the result, not the process. Therefore, you are still able to live in this ‘Quiet Garden’ now, but if it were you in the past, the only outcome would be that I would break your legs!”
“Nephew understands!” Wu Ziang said with a smile. He still vividly remembered the first time he met the other party and almost had his leg broken, so he knew that what the other party said was definitely not false.
"Your wedding is in three days, and during these three days, you must ensure that the General's Mansion remains as normal as ever, without revealing the slightest flaw!" Wei Xuanyi's face was solemn as he said, "Your father will arrive in Pingyang, a major town in northern Qin, in three days. Whether he succeeds or fails will be known on the first day after your wedding!"
Wu Zi'ang remained silent, gazing at the dark night outside the window, his heart filled with worry. Although he had only been in this world for nearly a month, he had already developed feelings for his 'parents'.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Wu Zi'ang's wedding day finally arrived.
Riding a tall, fine horse and dressed in a bright red wedding robe, amidst the lively sounds of ceremonial procession and music, Wu Zi'ang, with extremely complex emotions, carried his bride, whom he had never met before, from the Ninth Prince's Mansion back to the General's Mansion in an eight-bearer red sedan chair. Amidst the
sound of firecrackers, according to ancient customs, the newlyweds bowed to heaven and earth, to their parents, and to each other before finally entering the bridal chamber.
The scene was exceptionally lively. Although Wu Tianyao had lost power, many high-ranking officials and nobles still dared not underestimate him and came to offer their congratulations. However, what displeased them slightly was that Wu Tianyao, who was known for his heavy drinking capacity, claimed to have a headache and went back to rest after a few drinks, leaving only the formidable Lady Ling and the groom Wu Zi'ang to keep him company.
As night fell, the guests gradually dispersed, and Wu Zi'ang, slightly drunk, staggered back to the bridal chamber.
Pushing open the door and staggering in, Wu Zi'ang saw a woman in a red veil and wedding dress sitting upright on the bed under two pairs of large red wedding candles. Hearing someone enter, the woman's delicate body trembled slightly, then she straightened up.
Is this the person I will spend my life with? Wu Zi'ang came to the bedside, his eyes fixed on the woman before him, a bitter feeling welling up in his heart.
He reached out, his fingers trembling. His fingertips lingered on the veil for a long time before he gently lifted it.
Through his drunken haze, beneath the phoenix coronet and wedding robes, a beautiful, ethereal face appeared before him. Beneath the crimson wedding gown, her skin was as white as snow, and her beautiful eyes, though bright, held a chilling coldness. The unintentional radiance of that coldness seemed to sober Wu Zi'ang somewhat.
She was indeed a beauty no less stunning than Wei Lingyao or Su Qimeng; her beauty was like the ancient snow of the Tianshan Mountains, aloof and cold, inspiring a sense of unapproachability.
Qiu Xueqing gazed at the drunken man before her, her beautiful eyes filled with disgust. Though she harbored a thousand unwilling thoughts, she could not change the fact that this man would become her husband. She knew very well that she was a victim of a political marriage between princes and ministers, but facing her adoptive father who had raised her from childhood, she could not refuse him with words of denial.
"Yiyi!" The alcohol took effect, and in her hazy state, the cold, jade-like face before her gradually transformed into a radiant smile, causing Wu Zi'ang's heart to flutter. He called out softly, his right hand already caressing the other's smooth, delicate face.
Even with some mental preparation, being touched by a man for the first time in her life, especially by a man she despised, still filled her with a sense of disgust that she couldn't accept. She slightly turned
her head, dodging his hand. But no sooner had she dodged than his arms suddenly wrapped around her, pulling her firmly into a hug, and the two of them fell onto the bed.
Qiu Xueqing was startled and tried to break free, but his arms were like iron, preventing her from escaping. The man's head was pressed against her chest, his burning breath relentlessly assaulting her smooth neck. All signs indicated that this despicable man was eager to possess her.
So be it! Marrying this纨绔子弟 (a spoiled, dissolute young man), losing her virginity was inevitable; why should she make any futile resistance? Thinking this, Qiu Xueqing stopped struggling and lay there motionless, letting him do as he pleased.
Fueled by alcohol, Wu Zi'ang rolled over and pinned Qiu Xueqing's soft, boneless body beneath him. His hands roamed freely over her body, his unfamiliarity with ancient clothing inevitably causing damage as he removed her garments.
To Qiu Xueqing, all of this appeared extremely rough. Her slightly trembling body revealed her extreme tension. No woman could remain calm when facing the loss of her virginity, not even someone as hardened as her.
Her robes were removed, her jade-like body lying prone. In the soft candlelight, a perfectly sculpted jade-like form was finally revealed to the air. Qiu Xueqing clenched her teeth, her beautiful eyes tightly closed, two crystal tears streaming down her cheeks.
At this moment, Wu Ziang, as if parched for a long time, pressed his burning lips against Qiu Xueqing's cool, soft cherry lips, desperately sucking their sweetness. His other hand heavily caressed her firm, smooth, full breasts, eliciting a pitiful, helpless moan.
His desire intensified, and he hastily stripped off his clothes. Wu Ziang lifted Qiu Xueqing's full, moon-like, glistening buttocks, parted her long, slender, snow-white legs, and pressed down heavily upon her.
"Ah! Ugh!"
Feeling a burning heat pressing against her lower body, about to penetrate, Qiu Xueqing finally cried out, but her cherry lips were immediately swallowed by his lips and tongue. It
had finally come! Although he hadn't fully entered yet, the sharp pain from her lower body made her acutely aware that even greater pain was to follow.
Wu Zi'ang's waist slowly sank down, the feeling of his lower body advancing like a force cutting through thorns sending him soaring to the heavens. He groaned comfortably and quickened his pace, wanting to penetrate Qiu Xueqing's warm, moist depths.
Her cherry lips were already captured in his kiss, her fragrant tongue drawn into his mouth. Qiu Xueqing's mind was in turmoil; the stinging sensation of each penetration filled her with terror. Her delicate hands weakly pushed against his bare chest, while her legs struggled fiercely, leaving only shallow marks on the blanket.
Finally, Wu Zi'ang's burning heat touched that thin barrier. At this moment, nothing could stop his advance; his desire was like a flood bursting its banks, unstoppable.
Volume 1, Different Worlds, Chapter 13:
"Boom!"
Just as he thrust forward, preparing to penetrate the deepest part of Qiu Xueqing's body, a thunderclap suddenly rolled down from the sky, producing a deafening roar. The entire house seemed to tremble from the shock of the thunder. Immediately afterward, a storm raged, with torrential rain pouring down, large raindrops pattering against the window frames and roof tiles.
Wu Zi'ang's thrusting motion froze instantly, the lust in his eyes fading, and his lips and tongue ceasing their assault on Qiu Xueqing.
Staring blankly at the tear-streaked, panting beauty beneath him, Wu Zi'ang felt his brain explode, all his drunkenness vanishing. What was he doing? What was he doing? That's right, he was preparing to rape a beautiful woman, a woman who should have been his wife! No, no, since she was his wife, how could it be rape? He tried to absolve himself of guilt, but when his gaze fell upon her breasts and legs covered in red bruises, he involuntarily closed his eyes, filled with unbearable shame.
Noticing the man's unusual behavior, Qiu Xueqing forced open her beautiful eyes, enduring the humiliation. The scene before her startled her; the man about to assault her had his eyes tightly closed, a look of shame on his face, yet he remained frozen in that penetrating position.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" Wu Zi'ang, opening his eyes, met her gaze guiltily and apologized softly.
After a moment, Qiu Xueqing's face returned to its usual coldness. She looked at Wu Zi'ang coldly and said, "This is what a wife must do, therefore, you don't need to apologize to me!"
"I was too rough! I…!" Looking at the bruises on her body, Wu Zi'ang felt immense shame. He wanted to express his apology, but didn't know where to begin.
"No need for anything else, let me ask you, do you want to continue?" Qiu Xueqing's tone remained icy, but when she said the word 'continue,' a hint of nervousness and shyness inevitably appeared on her jade-like face.
"No, no!" Wu Zi'ang quickly shook his head.
"Then take it out!" Qiu Xueqing's cheeks flushed, but she still spoke coldly.
"Oh!" Hearing her say this, Wu Zi'ang realized that his thing was still inside her body, so he quickly and gently withdrew it, which caused her to let out a soft cry.
"You should rest well!" Wu Zi'ang covered her with a blanket, then put on his own clothes and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?"
As he reached the door, a cold voice sounded from behind him.
"I'm going to sleep in another room!" Wu Zi'ang answered without turning his head; he had already decided to spend the night at Wei Xuanyi's place in Jingyuan.
“No need, you stay. On our wedding night, we'll sleep in separate rooms; I'm afraid people will gossip!” Qiu Xueqing said expressionlessly, her naked body huddled under the covers.
“Then, I'll stay by the table!” Wu Ziang hesitated for a moment, then turned and sat down in a chair, burying his face in the table.
Qiu Xueqing's beautiful eyes flickered, but she didn't speak, seemingly tacitly agreeing to his decision.
The night deepened, the candlelight flickered, and a storm raged outside the window, but the man and woman inside remained silent, seemingly fast asleep.
However, in reality, both were preoccupied with their own thoughts, unable to sleep.
Qiu Xueqing lay on the bed, her beautiful eyes turning to Wu Ziang, who was burying his face in the table. A complex expression appeared on her face. She didn't understand why he had hesitated when he was about to give in. Wasn't he lusting after her beauty and wanting to possess her? She clearly remembered his lecherous and repulsive expression when they first met. What were this lecherous man's true intentions?
Wu Zi'ang lay slumped on the table, his heart filled with an overwhelming sense of unreality. He had actually gotten married, in this unfamiliar world, to a beautiful stranger. It all felt like a dream, yet the lingering fragrance on her lips and the memory of his near-victory at the city gates reminded him that it was all real. A wave of
intoxication washed over him, and drowsiness crept in. Wu Zi'ang finally closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.
In his hazy dream, he seemed to find himself back on the rock where he had thrown himself into the sea—Sunrise Rock. A slender, familiar figure stood on the rock overlooking the sea, the howling sea wind billowing her snow-white dress, like a fairy about to ride the wind away.
"Yiyi!" he called out, both surprised and delighted, rushing forward.
Li Yiyi, however, seemed not to hear him, gently moving her delicate body forward.
"Yiyi! Come back!" His heart raced with anxiety. He rushed forward, reaching for her delicate arm, but as his fingers touched her, he was astonished to find his hand passing by her body as easily as transparent air.
"Zixuan, I'm here!" A faint smile flickered across Li Yiyi's beautiful face. Just like Wu Zi'ang had done that day, she opened her arms and leaped lightly into the rolling waves.
"Yiyi, no!"
He cried out in despair, suddenly opening his eyes and sitting upright.
Whew! It was just a dream! Awakening from the nightmare, Wu Zi'ang breathed a sigh of relief, touching his face to find it wet with tears.
Looking up, he saw that it was already bright daylight, rays of sunlight streaming through the window and illuminating the floor. Suddenly, he remembered there should be someone else in the room and turned to look at the bedside.
Before him sat Qiu Xueqing, dressed in a snow-white dress, at the head of the bed, her beautiful eyes filled with a strange expression as she looked at him.
"You're awake!" Wu Ziang quickly turned his head away, secretly wiping away the tears on his face, before turning back to face her with a smile. He
hadn't seen clearly last night due to being drunk, but upon closer inspection today, Wu Ziang realized that Feng Chang and Tian Guang's words were true; the woman before him was indeed exceptionally beautiful, especially now that she was dressed in a snow-white dress, which further accentuated her unique , serene, and aloof temperament.
Wearing white dresses, Wei Lingyao appeared even more holy, Su Qimeng even more ethereal, while Qiu Xueqing appeared even more aloof!
"Hmm!" Qiu Xueqing responded expressionlessly, secretly observing the man before her. While not exceptionally handsome, his appearance was still above average, and his eyes were particularly bright. Combined with his straight nose and tightly pursed lips, he gave off a sense of calm and reliability. This person made it difficult for her to reconcile with the playboy who had harassed her on the street that day.
Thinking of how he had spent the night hunched over his desk, tears streaming down his face in his sleep, softly calling out "Yi Yi," her keen intellect immediately told her that "Yi Yi" must refer to a woman, a woman who haunted his dreams, a woman etched in his heart. Could someone so infamous as this playboy truly yearn for someone so deeply?
Qiu Xueqing, though outwardly cold, was actually warm-hearted. Seeing the other woman's genuine emotions, her hatred lessened somewhat.
"Let me freshen up so we can meet my parents!" Noticing the strange look in her eyes, Wu Zi'ang mistakenly assumed Qiu Xueqing was still resentful about the previous night and quickly changed the subject.
After quickly washing his face and changing into his usual purple robe, Wu Zi'ang asked Qiu Xueqing, "Have you washed up?"
Seeing her nod, he added, "Then let's go!"
The two left the room and, according to the wedding customs of the time, went to pay their respects to their parents.
Upon arriving at the residence of Wu Tianyao and his wife, they found only Madam Ling present.
After the two exchanged greetings, Madam Ling carefully examined her daughter-in-law, a satisfied expression appearing on her face. While her temperament was slightly aloof, her appearance was first-rate, and her speech and manners were impeccable. Ang'er was indeed fortunate to have such a beautiful wife. However, if her husband were to be implicated, she wondered what fate awaited the Wu family. It would be one thing if her own family suffered misfortune, but if this young lady were to be implicated, she would inevitably feel guilty!
Holding Qiu Xueqing's hand, Madam Ling asked a few questions softly, her heart filled with complex emotions. At this moment, 'Wu Tianyao' also returned from outside.
Following protocol, Qiu Xueqing bowed to her father-in-law again. This was her second time meeting this renowned general.
Unlike her first meeting at the Ninth Prince's residence half a month prior, Wu Tianyao, while still exuding authority, lacked the commanding presence of a general leading thousands of troops, yet possessed an arrogant and domineering air. The change in the demeanor of both father and son within just a few days truly puzzled Qiu Xueqing.
After a short while, Qiu Xueqing attempted to take her leave, but 'Wu Tianyao' used the excuse of having other business to keep Wu Zi'ang behind, ordering Dong Hua to escort Qiu Xueqing home first.
Once Qiu Xueqing had left, 'Wu Tianyao' slowly removed a thin mask from his face, revealing Wei Xuanyi's strikingly handsome face.
It turned out that after Wu Tianyao left, to prevent any slip-up, Wei Xuanyi had hastily made this mask overnight, in preparation for the events surrounding Wu Zi'ang's wedding day.
The two were of similar height and build, and Wei Xuanyi, who was disguised as Wu Tianyao, had left early on the pretext of feeling unwell, thus easily deceiving the guests, including the Ninth Prince.
"Uncle Wei, three days have passed, and there is still no news from Father. Could something have happened?" Wu Zi'ang asked with a hint of worry in his eyes.
“No, even if Tianyao’s plan fails, there will definitely be a major commotion in Pingyang. But right now, everything is calm, so there must be two possibilities!” Wei Xuanyi said after a moment’s thought.
“Which two?” Madam Ling asked hurriedly. As a wife, she was the one most worried about her husband’s safety.
“One is that Tianyao hasn’t made a move yet; the other is that Tianyao has already silently taken over Xiao Yuan’s army, and is probably planning to cross the river to reinforce them! In my opinion, the actual situation is more likely the latter!” Wei Xuanyi smiled and said to the two of them.
“Uncle Wei, why are you so confident?” Wu Zi’ang looked doubtful. He couldn’t understand how Wu Tianyao, who had no military seal and no soldiers, could have silently taken over 100,000 troops from Xiao Yuan!
"Zi'ang, do you know that the 100,000 elite troops stationed in Luojiang are the culmination of your father's efforts over the past ten years? Millions of soldiers regard your father as a god. Wherever Tianyao commands, even if there are mountains of knives and seas of swords ahead, your soldiers dare to risk their lives and charge forward. The armies of the four kingdoms tremble at their sight, often referring to the southern Qin army as the 'Wu Iron Cavalry'! Therefore, as long as Tianyao goes personally, these 100,000 soldiers will obey his every command, and taking over the army will be no difficulty whatsoever!" At this point, Wei Xuanyi shook his head and sighed softly, "This is also one of the reasons why Tianyao has fought countless battles without a single defeat. Similarly, it is precisely because of this that Wuwei has become suspicious of him, fearing that your father will raise an army and seize power from Qin!"
Wei Xuanyi's words caused Wu Zi'ang's heart to surge like waves. Hearing the other's words, he could almost imagine the power of his 'father' in the army, and for a moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.
"So, the only thing we can do now is wait?" Lady Ling asked softly.
"That's right. We're also prepared. As soon as Tianyao's affair happens, we'll leave immediately! During this time, everything must proceed as usual, without revealing any clues!" After a pause, Wei Xuanyi seemed to remember something and smiled at Wu Zi'ang, "Zi'ang, there's something you did very well!"
"What is it?"
Wu Zi'ang asked, puzzled.
"On your wedding night, a night of great joy, you remained calm and composed, which truly earns my respect!" Wei Xuanyi said with a meaningful smile. He was skilled at observing women, and seeing Qiu Xueqing's firm buttocks and smooth movements, he guessed that the two had not consummated their marriage the previous night.
Wu Zi'ang immediately understood the implication of the other party's words and couldn't help but feel ashamed, saying, "Knowing that my family is about to face disaster, it was already wrong of me to marry her. To further ruin her reputation would be an unforgivable sin!" In fact, recalling what had happened last night, it was practically the same as sexual intercourse, so hearing Wei Xuanyi's praise made him feel somewhat ashamed.
Madam Ling looked at Wu Zi'ang with delight upon hearing this. She could feel that her son was becoming more and more sensible!
"Zi'ang, you should go back and be with your wife. If you stay here too long, you'll inevitably neglect her!" Wei Xuanyi said with a smile.
"I'm afraid if I go to be with her, she'll find it annoying!" Wu Zi'ang said with a wry smile. He wasn't stupid. Having spent years navigating the business world, he had long since developed the ability to read people. Although he had only spent one night with Qiu Xueqing, he knew very well that she not only had no good feelings towards him but also harbored hatred!
“That being said, etiquette must not be neglected!” Madam Ling said softly from the side. She knew this was not Qiu Xueqing’s fault, given her son’s past reputation was truly tarnished!
“Yes, I will go back now!” Having lacked maternal love since childhood, he had no desire to disobey his loving mother.
“Hmm!” Madam Ling’s face showed a relieved smile. Since surviving the ordeal on the Li River, her son had suddenly become a different person, sensible and law-abiding, staying at home for a month without venturing out—something unimaginable before. It must be the spirits of the Wu family ancestors that allowed Ang’er to repent and embark on the right path! Her previous doubts immediately found the most suitable reason!
After leaving Madam Ling, Wu Zi’ang returned to his residence. To his surprise, Qiu Xueqing was not there!
After thinking for a moment, he went out to look around and called out to a servant who was sweeping the courtyard.
"Young Master, Miss Hua'er accompanied the Young Madam to Yiqing Garden!" Although they were all servants, Xia Shi and Dong Hua held a much higher status than these cleaning servants. Therefore, they addressed them respectfully as "Miss" and dared not call them by their given names. It was
early summer, and the garden was in full bloom, a truly delightful place to visit.
Having learned where Qiu Xueqing had gone, Wu Zi'ang was about to head there when he suddenly remembered that since she disliked him, going there would only spoil her enjoyment. He decided to wait for her in his room.
With that thought, Wu Zi'ang returned to his room alone. Having nothing else to do, he decided to practice his Qi cultivation. He sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and focused his mind, slowly circulating his Qi in his dantian as instructed by Wei Xuanyi. At this moment, his dantian was not yet full, so he could not perform the full circulation of Qi, but even so, Wu Zi'ang felt a warm sensation in his lower abdomen, which he found extremely pleasant! Her mind drifted to a serene and formless place, all thoughts vanishing.
Chapter 14 of Volume 1, Different Worlds, Different Paths:
Qiu Xueqing strolled among the flowers, the fragrance filling her senses, the vibrant colors a feast for the eyes. Her worries instantly eased, and her usually icy face softened with a gentle smile, like spring returning after a long winter.
"Young Madam, you look so beautiful when you smile!" Dong Hua, standing beside her, couldn't help but sincerely praise.
"Is that so!?" Hearing this, Qiu Xueqing's face showed no joy, but instead, a layer of melancholy settled upon it. Any other woman born with such beauty would be overjoyed, but she was constantly troubled by it!
Although she was an adopted daughter, the Ninth Prince treated her like his own. With her illustrious family background and beauty, a host of suitors constantly pursued her, causing her endless annoyance. Therefore, she always wore a cold expression, giving off an aloof and unapproachable aura!
"I never imagined I'd get married so suddenly!" Qiu Xueqing gazed at the vying beauties, a touch of melancholy rising in her heart. She was no different from other ordinary women; she too had hoped to find a suitable partner and experience the joy of mutual love.
In a daze, the image of Gong Qi suddenly surfaced in her mind. He was the only man who had ever moved her heart—handsome, promising, and though somewhat arrogant, his personal charm remained undiminished!
But their fate was ultimately shallow; now that she was married, thinking about it was pointless.
Seeing the young mistress's melancholy expression, Dong Hua immediately followed obediently to the side, refusing to utter another word.
The mistress and servant walked in the garden for more than half an hour. Donghua finally couldn't help but remind the young mistress, whose mind seemed to wander the heavens, though she was out enjoying the scenery, "Young mistress, it's almost noon. After lunch, you still need to return to the Ninth Prince's residence with the young master."
"Oh!" Qiu Xueqing responded softly, the melancholy on her face gradually fading. Only after being reminded did she remember that, according to wedding customs, she was supposed to return with Wu Zi'ang to visit her adoptive parents in the afternoon.
"Let's go back!" Qiu Xueqing's jade-like face returned to its usual coldness, and she spoke in a tone devoid of any emotion before turning back towards the garden gate.
Donghua secretly shook her head. She couldn't understand why her new mistress always wore such an icy expression. If she could smile like she did just now, she would probably charm countless men!
With a puzzled heart, Donghua followed behind her towards Wu Zi'ang's residence.
"Master...!" As Donghua entered the room, she was about to call out when she suddenly noticed that Wu Zi'ang was sitting cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed. She stopped herself in her tracks and whispered to Qiu Xueqing, "Young Madam, the young master is meditating!"
"Meditate!" Qiu Xueqing's jade-like face froze. Although she was unfamiliar with martial arts, she knew about meditation and qi cultivation. However, she had never imagined that a good-for-nothing playboy like Wu Zi'ang would bother with such things.
Seeing his peaceful expression, a hint of a smile on his lips, and an aura of tranquility emanating from him, she suddenly realized that he wasn't as unpleasant as she had imagined.
"Don't disturb him!" Qiu Xueqing said softly, moving quietly to the table and sitting down.
Dong Hua also stood quietly to the side, waiting for Wu Zi'ang to wake up.
After an unknown amount of time, Wu Zi'ang opened his eyes, feeling unusually bright and light-hearted. He was slightly pleased and slowly got out of bed.
However, his gaze shifted, and he suddenly noticed Qiu Xueqing and Dong Hua at the table, four pairs of bright eyes fixed on him.
"You, when did you get back!?" Wu Zi'ang's face showed surprise. He felt like he had only been sitting for a short while, and when he opened his eyes, he found the two of them already back!
“Young Master, the Young Madam and Xiao Hua returned half an hour ago. Seeing that you were meditating, the Young Madam said there was no need to disturb you!” Dong Hua quickly replied.
“Oh!” Wu Zi’ang smiled awkwardly at Qiu Xueqing and said, “The scenery in Yiqing Garden is truly beautiful. If you are feeling bored, you can go for a walk there!”
“Hmm!” Qiu Xueqing responded noncommittally and then remained silent.
Seeing that the other party’s expression was still indifferent, Wu Zi’ang felt embarrassed, but he had nothing else to say, so he could only remain silent as well.
Dong Hua was quick-witted and, seeing that the atmosphere was not right, she quickly said, “Young Master, it’s already noon. You and the Young Madam should have lunch. Afterwards, you have to go to the Ninth Prince’s Mansion to pay your respects to the Prince!”
Hearing this, Wu Zi’ang also remembered this matter, so he said to Qiu Xueqing, “You didn’t eat breakfast. You must be hungry. I’ll tell someone to prepare some food right away!”
Qiu Xueqing nodded slightly, which was taken as agreement.
Instructing Donghua to prepare the meal, Wu Zi'ang sat opposite Qiu Xueqing. He felt a sense of guilt towards this aloof and beautiful woman. Firstly, the marriage was entirely due to his own foolishness that day, though the "himself" of that time was not the "himself" of today. Secondly, seeing the Wu family in trouble, he had no choice but to marry her to protect his father's safety. If things went wrong, she, being the daughter of a prince, might escape punishment, but if he fled, she would be left to live a life of loneliness and widowhood.
It was because of these two reasons that he had been so accommodating to Qiu Xueqing, even if she gave him a cold shoulder.
The meal was served, but Wu Zi'ang and Qiu Xueqing remained silent, eating their food listlessly, much to the dismay of Donghua, who was serving them.
After the meal and a short rest, Wu Zi'ang and Qiu Xueqing left the General's Mansion, boarded the prepared carriage, and headed towards the Ninth Prince's Mansion.
Inside the carriage, the two sat side by side, their bodies inevitably touching. Qiu Xueqing instinctively shrank back, trying to avoid Wu Ziang.
Noticing her subtle movement, Wu Ziang couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself. This showed how pathetic his past self had been. Even with a beautiful wife, they were like lovers in bed, what pleasure could there be?
He sighed inwardly and moved his body further away, closing his eyes slightly and silently practicing the "Stability" and "Tranquility" techniques of Qi cultivation, banishing all thoughts from his mind.
Qiu Xueqing took in Wu Ziang's gaze out of the corner of her eye, a complex and inexplicable feeling rising in her heart. Was it that her charm was insufficient? Had this notorious lecherous young master, known throughout the capital, lost interest? Otherwise, why would he treat her this way? Logically, last night's actions should reveal this lecherous man's true nature!
However, that didn't seem right either. Although they had been intimate last night, she hadn't ultimately lost her virginity!
Thinking of last night's events, Qiu Xueqing's beautiful face unusually flushed with shyness, two rosy clouds appearing on her cheeks. If Wu Zi'ang were to open his eyes at this moment, he would surely be stunned by her beauty.
The more you pester her, the more displeased she becomes; but if you ignore her, she will care about you more!
Most beautiful women who are usually proud and arrogant have this common flaw, and even Qiu Xueqing, who always presents herself as aloof, is no exception.
Of course, this does not mean that she has any affection for Wu Zi'ang; it is merely her pride and curiosity at play.
Qiu Xueqing is currently in this situation. If Wu Zi'ang were to pester her as he usually does, she would definitely feel even more disgusted. However, this behavior of ignoring her and actively keeping her distance is unacceptable to her pride and has also aroused her curiosity.
When a woman becomes curious about a man, there are usually two outcomes: either she discovers the truth and finds him unremarkable, losing interest; or she becomes increasingly attracted to him, feeling he possesses endless depth, ultimately becoming a prisoner of love!
What determines these two outcomes, besides the man's inherent qualities, also includes chance, luck, and other accidental factors!
Wu Zi'ang, resting with his eyes closed, was completely unaware that the beautiful woman beside him had become curious about him. At this moment, he sat as still as an old monk, his mind wandering in the void.
Suddenly, the carriage paused slightly and then came to a stop.
Wu Zi'ang abruptly came to his senses, opened his eyes, and thought, "Could it be that we've arrived at the Ninth Prince's Mansion?!"
Qiu Xueqing, beside him, also showed surprise. She knew very well that the carriage was on the road, but she didn't know why it had stopped.
"Liu Quan!" Wu Zi'ang immediately called out to Liu Quan, the servant driving the carriage!
"Young master, young master, fairy, fairy, fairy!" After a long pause, Liu Quan's incoherent voice came from outside the carriage.
"What?" Wu Zi'ang was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then bent down, lifted the carriage curtain, and leaned out to look.
He saw that this extremely bustling street, usually filled with the sounds of hawkers' cries, had fallen silent after the appearance of one person.
Under the warm sunlight, a woman in white stood quietly not far in front of the carriage. Her exquisitely beautiful face radiated a gentle smile as warm as a spring breeze, and her beautiful eyes shone like the rising sun in the morning glow, giving a sense of gentle tranquility!
Her appearance miraculously transformed this bustling and noisy world into a realm of ethereal beauty; her otherworldly, sacred beauty was truly indescribable!
"Yiyi!"
Wu Zi'ang blurted out, then suddenly snapped back to reality, exclaiming in surprise, "Fairy Wei!"
Hearing the name "Fairy Wei," Qiu Xueqing, sitting in the carriage, looked on in astonishment, lifting the window to peer out.
"Young Master Wu, Lingyao has abruptly blocked my way; please forgive her rudeness!" Although Wu Zi'ang's "Yiyi" was soft, it didn't escape Wei Lingyao's ears. Her suspicions deepened; could there truly be someone in this world who looked so remarkably like her?
"It's alright! Fairy Wei, is there something you need?" Wu Zi'ang slowly stepped out of the carriage, bowing with both hands, but his gaze avoided her face.
"Lingyao does have something to ask of you!" Wei Lingyao smiled slightly, speaking in an incredibly beautiful voice.
"Please speak, Fairy!" Noticing the countless gazes of passersby, Wu Zi'ang felt somewhat uneasy, but still spoke with his head bowed.
"Here is a letter. Please give it to Senior Wei Xuanyi!" Wei Lingyao said softly, and then presented a sealed letter with both hands.
Wu Zi'ang was startled upon hearing this. His father had repeatedly warned him never to reveal any information about Wei Xuanyi's presence in the General's Mansion to anyone. Now, Wei Lingyao had entrusted him with a letter, which was likely related to this as well!
After a moment's thought, he calmly replied, "Fairy, you must be mistaken. I have no idea who Wei Xuanyi is. Therefore, I'm afraid I cannot help you with this letter!"
"Young Master, there's no need to hide it from me. If Lingyao wasn't confident, why would she rashly ask you to deliver the letter?" Wei Lingyao's beautiful face showed no surprise, as if she had expected this response. She smiled and said, "Moreover, you didn't dare look up at me when you spoke. Is it because you feel guilty?!"
Wu Zi'ang's heart trembled. In fact, the reason he dared not look up was because of her beautiful face, which was identical to Yiyi's. He was afraid he would lose control, afraid that the longing he had painstakingly suppressed day and night would overflow like a flood, uncontrollably.
Slowly raising his head, Wu Zi'ang's gaze finally met the other's jade-like face, the face he had dreamt of a thousand times, the face etched in his heart.
No! Wu Zi'ang abruptly lowered his head. Although he had reminded himself a thousand times that the fairy-like woman before him was not his Yiyi, gazing at that face, so identical, he still couldn't help but be captivated, unable to help but mistake her for her.
Though it was only for a moment, Wei Lingyao clearly saw the affection hidden in the other's eyes, that genuine expression of emotion from the heart, which stirred even her, whose heart had been as still as water since childhood through cultivation. But she immediately understood that this affection was not directed at her, but at another woman who resembled her!
“Very well, since that’s the case, I won’t force you, young master!” Looking at the general’s son, whose appearance wasn’t particularly handsome but whose temperament was quite unique, Wei Lingyao’s beautiful eyes showed a thoughtful expression. After a moment, she changed her words, saying, “Please pass this letter on to your father; the effect will be the same!”
“Alright!” To refuse again would be too impolite, so Wu Zi’ang nodded and took the letter from her.
“Thank you for your trouble, young master! In that case, Lingyao
will take her leave!” Wei Lingyao gave a slight bow to express her gratitude and prepared to leave. “It’s just a small matter, nothing to mention. Please take care, fairy!” Wu Zi’ang returned the bow.
Wei Lingyao smiled slightly, her beautiful eyes lingering on the still-lowered man for a moment before she turned and gracefully walked away.
Chapter 15 of Volume 1: Different Paths in Different Worlds
Only after Wei Lingyao had gone far away did Wu Zi’ang dare to raise his head. Gazing at her infinitely beautiful figure, he was momentarily stunned before turning and boarding his carriage.
"Liu Quan, we can go now!"
He instructed Liu Quan to continue, while he toyed with the letter in his hand, his mind still lingering on Wei Lingyao's exquisitely beautiful face.
"Hmph!"
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he vaguely thought he heard the beauty beside him let out a cold snort. He turned his head, only to be met with Qiu Xueqing's disdainful gaze.
It must be a misperception! He hadn't provoked her, so why was she looking down on him like this? Thinking this, he couldn't help but turn his gaze back to the letter in his hand.
"Hmph!"
This time he heard it clearly; the cold snort definitely came from Qiu Xueqing's mouth.
"Ahem, is there something you need?" Although he knew he should address the woman before him as 'Madam!', firstly, he wasn't used to it, and secondly, she might not like it! Therefore, he could only address her as 'you' for now!
Upon hearing Wu Zi'ang's question, Qiu Xueqing's disdain deepened in her beautiful eyes. She gave him a cold look but did not answer.
Wu Zi'ang, having met with a rebuff, felt utterly bored. Even with his magnanimous nature, seeing this icy beauty consistently giving him the cold shoulder, he grew resentful, thinking to himself, "If you disdain speaking to me, I won't bother with you either!"
With that thought, he turned his head away, put the letter in his pocket, and remained silent, eyes closed in concentration.
Qiu Xueqing, seeing this, was even more furious. She had clearly seen Wu Zi'ang bowing and scraping through the carriage window and mistakenly assumed he was servile and lacked any manly backbone!
Of course, this was only a small part of her anger. What truly infuriated her was that this man, who was now practically her husband, ignored her completely, while appearing infatuated with another woman. For a proud and arrogant beauty like herself, this was a significant blow to her self-esteem! She admitted that the woman known as Fairy Wei was indeed as beautiful as a fairy, but she wasn't necessarily inferior to her. However, the behavior and attitude of the man beside her indirectly proved that she was far inferior to Fairy Wei, which was the root cause of her resentment!
Wu Zi'ang, on the other hand, was completely unaware of all this. He never dreamed that the icy beauty beside him would have such complicated thoughts!
The two ignored each other all the way until they arrived at the Ninth Prince's residence.
"Haha, my good son-in-law! I was just thinking about you two, and you've arrived just in time!"
Upon seeing Wu Zi'ang and Qiu Xueqing arrive, the Ninth Prince Wu Shang, who was having a meal, was extremely pleased. He personally stepped forward and took the arms of the two who were about to bow, laughing, "Come, come, quickly sit down and have a couple of drinks with me!"
Although he had already eaten, seeing the Ninth Prince's hospitality, Wu Zi'ang couldn't refuse and took a seat.
Upon hearing that her son-in-law and daughter had arrived, the Ninth Princess, who was in the inner room, came out to greet them. Wu Zi'ang and Qiu Xueqing naturally rose and bowed in greeting.
Not bad at all! Not at all as terrible as the rumors suggested! The Princess was a discerning woman. Although Wu Zi'ang wasn't exactly handsome, his appearance was still pleasing, and his demeanor was humble and polite, possessing a maturity and composure that other young men lacked. Her daughter marrying him was not a bad match!
After the greetings, the Princess called Qiu Xueqing to her side, affectionately taking her hand, her face overflowing with tenderness.
"My dear son-in-law, come, try this wine, a tribute from the Northern Barbarians!" The Ninth Prince, Wu Shang, poured Wu Zi'ang a full cup of the reddish wine, smiling as he spoke.
As soon as Wu Zi'ang picked up his wine cup, the pungent aroma of the liquor assaulted his nostrils, almost making his eyes water. He was slightly startled; if even a mere whiff was so strong, the effects would be far more intense once it reached his mouth!
"Some things can't be trusted by appearances!" Seeing Wu Zi'ang's hesitation, the Ninth Prince smiled and said, then picked up his own cup and downed it in one gulp!
Wu Zi'ang took a small sip, his brow furrowing slightly. Though it was only a small sip, it was almost as he had imagined—extremely spicy. The liquor numbed his tongue and burned his throat, causing his face to flush red, and he nearly coughed.
Looking at the Ninth Prince, who was chewing with his eyes closed, seemingly savoring the taste, he couldn't help but wonder, "Isn't he resistant to spiciness?"
Just as he was thinking of this, he suddenly felt a change in his mouth. The numbness disappeared, replaced by a rich aroma of wine. Although it was still a bit spicy, it was a pleasant spiciness. The wine flowing into his stomach felt like a small stove warming his heart, making him feel extremely comfortable and giving him a sense of pride. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Good wine!" "
This wine is called 'Man's Wine,' a specialty of the Eagle Tribe, the most powerful tribe in northern Qin. It smells spicy, but upon tasting, it has a rich aroma that leaves a lingering aftertaste. Locals drink it to ward off the extreme cold, and there is a saying that 'one sip of Man's Wine is equivalent to several layers of cotton!'" The Ninth Prince slowly opened his eyes and explained to Wu Zi'ang with a smile, "This time, Generals Feng Chang and Tian Guang led a northern expedition and won three battles in a row. The Northern Barbarians were greatly weakened and sent envoys to sue for peace, promising to pay tribute with animal hides, strong liquor, and other specialties every year. What you and I are drinking is the first tribute from the Northern Barbarians!"
"They won?" Wu Zi'ang's face showed a hint of surprise as he asked in astonishment. He had heard his father mention the two generals' northern expedition, but he hadn't expected them to return so easily in just half a month.
"What's so strange about that? Generals Feng and Tian are both renowned generals of our time, their prestige second only to the Four Great Generals. Whether defending a pass or attacking the enemy, they can handle anything independently. For my brother to send them both to attack the Northern Barbarians is truly a waste of their talents!" The Ninth Prince shook his head and sighed softly.
"The Four Great Generals!?" Wu Zi'ang suddenly remembered that his father was also among the Four Great Generals, but he didn't know who the other three were.
Seemingly sensing Wu Zi'ang's thoughts, the Ninth Prince picked up the wine pot, poured himself a cup, and said, "Of the four great generals, your father, Wu Tianyao, is first for his 'unconventional' and 'unorthodox' military tactics. Next is Huo Qinghou, a famous general of the Southern Guard, whose military tactics are steady and reliable. He fought your father three times, and each time they returned empty-handed. Then there is Ling Xiaofeng, a famous general of the Western Jin Dynasty, who is skilled in ambushes and adept at field battles. Finally, there is Mo Buwei, also a general of the Southern Guard. He is taciturn and his military tactics seem unremarkable, yet he always wins a complete victory in battle. Feng Chang and Tian Guang have both suffered losses at his hands, but they have to admire his military tactics, which are wise yet seemingly clumsy, skillful yet seemingly foolish. They appear simple and unadorned, but in reality, they contain endless mysteries!" "
The Southern Guard actually has two of the four great generals?" Wu Zi'ang was slightly surprised and asked in astonishment.
"Indeed!" Ninth Prince nodded with a smile. "Nanwei, guarding the natural barrier of Luojiang, has always been our Qin's strongest adversary. Not only is its nation prosperous and its people strong, but it also boasts many elite soldiers and generals. Your father's capture of Luocheng this time is truly a remarkable achievement, but alas…!"
At this point, a strange glint flashed in Ninth Prince's eyes. He changed the subject, seemingly casually glancing at Wu Zi'ang and asking, "How has your father been lately?"
"My father is well!" Meeting the strange gaze, Wu Zi'ang's heart skipped a beat. He added, "Didn't my father-in-law meet my father at the wedding banquet yesterday?"
"Is that so?" Ninth Prince's eyes grew even more mysterious. He held the red 'men's wine' in his hand and chuckled softly, "Some things cannot be trusted on the surface!"
Hearing this, Wu Zi'ang felt a chill run down his spine. Although he remained outwardly calm, a storm was brewing within him. What did this old father-in-law mean? Could it be that the other party already knows that the current 'father' is actually Uncle Wei in disguise? Impossible! With Uncle Wei's unparalleled skill in disguise, even his mother wouldn't easily tell the difference, let alone others!
"Come, come, Zi'ang! Let's drink this cup to the last drop!" The Ninth Prince abandoned the formulaic address of 'son-in-law' and addressed him as Zi'ang.
Seeing the Ninth Prince raise his cup in invitation, Wu Zi'ang had no choice but to pick up his cup as well. The two clinked their cups together briefly and each drank it down in one gulp!
"That's refreshing!" Putting down his cup, the Ninth Prince reached for the wine pot, but Wu Zi'ang quickly stepped in first and refilled his cup. In his opinion, there was no difference between ancient and modern times when it came to drinking at the table; seniority was still important, so it was inappropriate for an elder to hold the hand when refilling the wine.
"Hmm!" Ninth Prince narrowed his eyes, watching the other's actions with satisfaction, and said with a smile, "You fill your cup too. Usually, no one drinks with me, but today I'm going to drink to my heart's content!"
The two drank several cups in a row. Wu Zi'ang, confident in his drinking capacity, was not intimidated at all, emptying his cup in one gulp, which made Ninth Prince exclaim with delight.
Meanwhile, the Princess and Qiu Xueqing sat in a corner, watching the two drink like this, and couldn't help but frown secretly.
"Zi'ang, although Xueqing is my adopted daughter, she is even more than a biological daughter. You must not wrong her!" After drinking another cup of wine, Ninth Prince seemed to be a little drunk, and reached out to pat Wu Zi'ang's shoulder.
"Father-in-law, please rest assured, I will definitely not let her suffer the slightest grievance!" Wu Zi'ang smiled bitterly to himself. He was just grateful that Qiu Xueqing didn't give him a hard time, how could he dare to wrong her?
"I know that Xueqing may seem a bit aloof and unapproachable, but if you spend more time with her, you'll find that my adopted daughter is warm-hearted beneath her cold exterior!" the Ninth Prince said with a smile.
"Father!" Qiu Xueqing couldn't help but chide him slightly when the Ninth Prince mentioned her, trying to stop him from continuing.
"Alright, alright! Your godfather won't say anymore!" The Ninth Prince laughed heartily, raising his cup to Wu Zi'ang and saying, "Zi'ang, let's continue drinking!"
After three jugs of wine were finished, both the Ninth Prince and Wu Zi'ang's faces were flushed. After a burp, the Ninth Prince affectionately put his arm around Wu Zi'ang's shoulder and said with a smile, "Zi'ang, the other day in your esteemed Yiqing Garden, I heard you play a wonderful piece of music that lingered in my ears for three days! Now that you're here, you can play another piece for me, so that Xueqing and the others can also enjoy the music. What do you say?!"
"This...! Your son-in-law will gladly accept!" Taking advantage of his slight drunkenness, Wu Zi'ang readily agreed. In fact, at this moment, he also felt as if his chest was on fire, and his heroic spirit surged up, making him want to express it as soon as possible!
"Good, good, Xueqing, bring your zither!" The Ninth Prince's face immediately lit up with joy, and he hurriedly said to his goddaughter.
Without hesitation, Qiu Xueqing rose and gracefully left. A moment later, she returned carrying a guqin (a seven-stringed zither), placing it on an empty table.
"Zi'ang, please come in!" the Ninth Prince gestured, inviting her to join him.
Swaying, he staggered to the table and sat down. His obvious drunkenness made Qiu Xueqing doubt his ability to play.
Glancing sideways with his drunken eyes, he noticed Qiu Xueqing's suspicious expression and felt a surge of annoyance. Remembering the cold look he had received, he blurted out, "I'm very thirsty, quickly pour me a cup of tea!"
Qiu Xueqing was slightly startled, then looked in surprise at Wu Zi'ang, who was giving her orders. She hadn't misheard; he was speaking to her in such a commanding tone. Annoyed, she met his gaze coldly, remaining motionless.
"Xueqing, what are you standing there for? Go pour some tea!" The Ninth Prince seemed oblivious to the standoff between the two, casually siding with Wu Zi'ang.
Seeing her adoptive father speak in the same manner, Qiu Xueqing had no choice but to stand still. She glared resentfully at Wu Zi'ang and turned to leave.
A while later, a fragrant breeze returned, and Qiu Xueqing returned with a teacup.
Taking a sip of the tea Qiu Xueqing had brewed, Wu Zi'ang raised his eyebrows defiantly before setting down the teacup and gently touching his guqin. His tendency to lose his composure after drinking was a long-standing flaw of his; in his sober state, he would never intentionally provoke Qiu Xueqing.
Seeing Wu Zi'ang's detestable expression, Qiu Xueqing felt even more annoyed. If it weren't for her adoptive parents' presence, she would have already stormed off!
The Princess Consort, observing this scene, smiled silently. In her view, this was nothing more than a pair of bickering lovers, utterly harmless!
"What piece would you like to hear, Father-in-law?" Before playing the zither, Wu Zi'ang sought the Ninth Prince's opinion.
"Nothing too sad, hmm, something a bit more uplifting would be best!" The Ninth Prince said after a moment's thought
. "Alright, something uplifting. We were just talking about the Four Great Generals, so I'll play 'General's Command'!" Suddenly remembering a popular tune from the modern era, Wu Zi'ang made up his mind.
"General's Command?!"
The Ninth Prince, the Princess, and Qiu Xueqing exchanged surprised glances. None of them had ever heard of this piece.
With a soft 'zheng' sound, Wu Zi'ang's hands touched the strings, and he began to play.
"Proudly facing countless waves, my blood burns like the red sun, my courage is like iron, my bones like steel, my ambition soars a hundred thousand feet, my vision stretches ten thousand miles, I strive to be a hero!"
The stirring melody flowed freely through the room as Wu Zi'ang's hands danced. This piece was intimately familiar to him, so even with a slight intoxication, it didn't hinder his performance. Hearing the familiar, passionate melody, fueled by the alcohol, he felt his blood boil, and his heroic spirit soared. He couldn't help but sing along with the music.
Although his voice was slightly hoarse, it didn't diminish the soaring spirit emanating from his singing and playing.
Watching Wu Zi'ang play and sing, his brows revealing his undisguised ambition, Qiu Xueqing was stunned. Although her adoptive father had previously mentioned Wu Zi'ang's exceptional musical skills, she had assumed it was an exaggeration to persuade her to marry into the general's family. Now, she realized her adoptive father's words were true.
The lecherous playboy, the courteous general's son, and the passionate singer before her—which one was the real Wu Zi'ang? For a moment, Qiu Xueqing stared intently at the other person's figure, her beautiful eyes filled with deep confusion.
"Let the sea and sky gather energy for me, to create a new world, to forge my ideals, to see the towering blue waves and the vast blue sky, my spirit soaring, I am a man, I should be strong! I stride forward, let us be pillars of society, let us be heroes, let my hundred points of heat shine a thousand points of light!" As the song gradually rose higher, Jiu Wang Wushang seemed to be infected by the music, his eyes radiating a strange light, and he couldn't help but reach out and strike the table to join in.
After the piece was finished, the Ninth Prince's eyes shone with heroic spirit, and he proclaimed, "The ancients said: 'Singing expresses one's aspirations!' Today, after hearing this piece, I realize that Zi'ang is also a fellow traveler with lofty ambitions. It's a pity that this man's wine is finished, and other wines are not worthy of this heroic spirit!"
After the piece was played, Wu Zi'ang's heroic spirit subsided slightly, but the effects of the wine surged up. This man's wine had a strong aftereffect, making even a heavy drinker like him somewhat unable to resist. He didn't even hear the Ninth Prince's words clearly before his body swayed, and finally he slumped to the side, drunk and lying on the zither table.
"A tiger cub from a military family, indeed extraordinary!" The Ninth Prince looked at the drunken Wu Zi'ang with a satisfied smile, then turned to the Princess and Qiu Xueqing and whispered with a smile, "Do you still consider him the ignorant, lecherous fool of the rumors?"
The Princess and Qiu Xueqing exchanged glances and slowly shook their heads. To Qiu Xueqing, who was unfamiliar with martial arts, someone as skilled in the zither as Wu Zi'ang undoubtedly belonged to the ranks of talented individuals.
"According to Godfather, were his previous lecherous behavior all an act?" Qiu Xueqing asked softly.
The Ninth Prince slowly nodded, his face showing a solemn expression. "I once said that some things cannot be trusted on the surface! In my opinion, this boy's previous lecherous and absurd behavior was actually a facade to conceal the sharpness within him!"
"Why is that?!" Qiu Xueqing asked in confusion.
“Throughout history, countless famous and virtuous figures have kept a low profile like him. Firstly, they dislike fame, and secondly, they avoid the trouble of attracting attention. His past actions were likely intended to alleviate the court's suspicion of the Wu family!” The Ninth Prince calmly analyzed, “The Wu family has held military power in our Great Qin for three generations, each generation surpassing the last. With Wu Tianyao, their reputation has reached its peak. Under such circumstances, if he, as the son of a general, does not conceal his brilliance, it will inevitably make the Emperor even more uneasy. In fact, the Emperor's original intention was not simply to strip Wu Tianyao of his military power. There are many who do not know the Qin Emperor, but few who do not…” Those who know Wu Tianyao, just this one fact alone would have been enough to make the Emperor want to kill him! But now, the Emperor is taking a more conciliatory approach, largely because Wu Tianyao has such a useless fool. The Wu family has no heir; simply confining Wu Yao in the capital like General Zhao Qi would ensure their safety!
Qiu Xueqing couldn't help but look at Wu Zi'ang, who was hunched over the table, with a questioning gaze. She found it hard to believe that he had such foresight, deliberately feigning madness for three years, and even more remarkably, portraying such a lecherous, ignorant, and infamous character so convincingly. But after hearing her adoptive father's analysis, she found it quite reasonable, and her curiosity about Wu Zi'ang grew even stronger.
If the drunken Wu Zi'ang heard the Ninth Prince's words, he would surely burst into laughter. Of course, it wasn't the Ninth Prince's fault for misinterpreting; who could have imagined that while Wu Zi'ang's physical body remained the same, the soul within him had been replaced by someone else!
"Xueqing, your godfather's judgment is sound. This child is destined for greatness. Do you really think your godfather would disregard your lifelong happiness and rashly let you marry someone else?" The Ninth Prince looked at Qiu Xueqing with a confident expression.
Qiu Xueqing's jade-like face flushed slightly, but she remained silent. In truth, she had harbored resentment towards the Ninth Prince.
"Alright, Xueqing, help him back to his room to rest! Alas, if I'm not mistaken, a great calamity is about to befall the Wu family!" As he spoke, the Ninth Prince's face displayed an extremely strange expression, a mixture of solemnity and unusual excitement.
"A great calamity? What great calamity?" The Princess and Qiu Xueqing were shocked upon hearing this and quickly asked.
"It's not convenient to say for now, you'll know in time!" The Ninth Prince, unwilling to reveal the truth, added with a smile upon seeing the worry on their faces, "Don't worry, even if it's a great calamity, I have a way to resolve it. Now that the General's Mansion and the Prince's Mansion are one family, how can I stand idly by?!"
"Master, are you absolutely certain?!" Unsure of the nature of the calamity, the Princess was filled with anxiety. She doted on her adopted daughter, and if anything happened to the Wu family, wouldn't it harm Qiu Xueqing, who had just left home?
"I wouldn't dare say absolutely certain, but I'm about 70-80% certain!" The Ninth Prince reassured her with a smile, "Don't worry, if the General's Mansion and the Prince's Mansion join forces, we'll be the ones bullying others, not the other way around!"
Hearing this, the Princess and Qiu Xueqing felt somewhat relieved.
Two maids were summoned to help Wu Zi'ang back to his bedroom, and Qiu Xueqing also took her leave of the two elders and returned to her room.
Volume 1, Different Worlds, Chapter 016:
Sitting at the table, Qiu Xueqing gazed at Wu Zi'ang, who was fast asleep on the bed, and sighed softly. She was intelligent and perceptive, and she knew that her adoptive father's choice to marry him at a time when the General's Mansion was losing power was not merely because he valued Wu Zi'ang's talent, but more importantly, because he valued the influence and appeal of Wu Tianyao, the leader of the Four Great Generals. In short, her adoptive father wanted to use this opportunity to recruit Wu Tianyao for his own purposes, and his ultimate goal was nothing more than to seize the dragon throne in the imperial palace, a throne symbolizing supreme power!
"Becoming a marquis is not a matter of life; my heart can only hold the heavens!" A mere marquis was no longer in her adoptive father's eyes; what he wanted was the throne! Internal strife and brotherly discord were most evident in the royal family, and the root cause was nothing more than coveting the chair carved with a dragon.
Thinking back to when Gong Qi left for his post in the south half a month ago, bidding her farewell before leaving, she could see the excitement and fervor in his eyes as he was about to seize power, as if power was the only woman he truly loved!
"Power?! Is it really that important?" Qiu Xueqing's beautiful eyes showed a hint of melancholy. "Are all men like this, willing to abandon everything, including love and family, in pursuit of power?"
***
That night, Luo City.
Gong Qi drank alone in his temporary residence, feeling dejected. He had come here full of ambition, but hadn't expected to suffer such a crushing defeat right from the start. Although he now had Geng Yi as a scapegoat to take the blame, and he didn't have to worry about being punished, he was still humiliated. When he returned to the capital, he would inevitably be ridiculed by his colleagues.
"Gulp!" He tilted his head back and drank a cup of wine in one gulp. Instead of getting rid of his troubles, he felt even more annoyed. He felt that everything had been going wrong lately. First, the woman he loved married someone else, and then he suffered a defeat as soon as he took office. In his frustration, he slammed the cup to the ground and shouted, "Someone come here!"
"What are your orders, General?" A lieutenant rushed over upon hearing the shout, bowing his head and asking respectfully.
"Find me two beautiful women from the South!" Gong Qi desperately needed to vent his frustration, and women, especially beautiful ones, were undoubtedly the best option.
"This…!" The lieutenant looked troubled. Ever since this young general moved into the mansion, he had demanded two women from the South every two or three days, requiring not only beauty but also virginity. This was truly a difficult situation for him, as virgins were rare among courtesans. To satisfy the young general's needs, he would have to send people to search among the city's residents, which was tantamount to abducting women. Although the Qin army had occupied Luoyang for nearly three months, under General Wu's strict orders, no soldier dared to harass the residents. This new general had broken this prohibition upon taking office, and the issue of the women from the South had already caused strong dissatisfaction among the local residents. If this continued, things might change.
"Hurry up! What are you dawdling for?" Gong Qi shouted impatiently.
"Yes, sir!" The lieutenant, not daring to disobey his commander's orders, shook his head inwardly and went to carry out the order.
"Reporting to the General, General Zhao and General Yan request an audience!"
Before the deputy general had gone far, a Qin soldier rushed in, kneeling on one knee to report.
"I won't see them!" Gong Qi waved his hand, his face full of annoyance. These two must be pleading for that old codger Geng Yi again.
"But…!" The soldier's expression was extremely strange, his words trailing off.
"I said I won't see them, are you deaf?" Gong Qi was furious. He stood up, stormed to the soldier, and kicked him.
"Gong Qi!"
A sharp shout suddenly rang out in the hall, reaching Gong Qi's ears.
His body trembled involuntarily, and Gong Qi's kick froze in mid-air, his posture extremely awkward.
Slowly lowering his foot and turning around, Gong Qijun's face showed disbelief as his gaze fell upon the newcomer. He pointed forward, stammering, "General Wu, General Wu!"
The newcomer was none other than Wu Tianyao. After taking control of Xiao Yuan's army in northern Luojiang, he led a small retinue across the Luojiang River at night and infiltrated Luocheng. He first found Generals Zhao Yiheng and Yan Heng, and then rushed to the temporary general's residence where he had previously stayed.
Seeing Wu Tianyao's furious face and the cold glint in his tiger eyes, Gong Qijun couldn't help but shiver. He was both shocked and puzzled as to why the other party had suddenly appeared in Luocheng!
"You seem quite at ease, General Gong. You've lost 50,000 elite cavalry of my Great Qin, yet you're still here sipping fine wine as if nothing happened!" Wu Tianyao slowly stepped forward, his rhythmic footsteps radiating endless pressure. His cold eyes stared at the other party, his rage evident. These troops, trained by his own hands, were like the apple of his eye. The loss of 30,000 men in the battle to capture Luoyang had grieved him so much that he couldn't eat for three days. Now, 50,000 iron cavalry had died in vain, causing him even greater heartache. He wished he could kill this brat before him immediately.
"No, that's not how it is!" Seeing the other man approaching, Gong Qi panicked, stammering incoherently.
"What crime has Geng Yi committed? The defeat at Pingyuan was entirely due to your impatience and greed. Why are you distorting the truth and framing someone else?!" Approaching the other man, Wu Tianyao suddenly grabbed Gong Qi by the chest. Without any apparent movement, Gong Qi's body was flung through the air, crashing into the wine table with a series of loud thuds before landing heavily on the ground.
"I...I...don't come any closer! Don't come any closer!" Seeing the terrifying expression and murderous intent in the other party's eyes, Gong Qi, who was scrambling to his feet, was filled with fear. Although he was skilled in martial arts, he knew he was no match for his opponent. His eyes suddenly fell on Generals Yan Heng and Zhao Yiheng, and he couldn't help but cry out, "General Zhao, General Yan, come and save me!"
Seeing that the two were unmoved, he was even more terrified. He looked
around and shouted incoherently, "Guards! Guards!" After a moment, more than twenty soldiers responsible for protecting the mansion rushed in from all sides, armed with spears and halberds. However, upon seeing the scene in the hall, they were all stunned.
"What are you all standing there for? Quickly, take him down!" Gong Qi pointed at Wu Tianyao and ordered the soldiers.
Faced with Gong Qi's actions, Generals Zhao and Yan simply stood there, but their faces showed a mocking and sarcastic expression.
"General, General!"
"The General is back!"
The soldiers suddenly recognized Wu Tianyao in civilian clothes, and cheered, dropping their weapons and kneeling down in unison, saying, "General!"
"Rise, all of you!"
Wu Tianyao said softly, extending his hands.
"Yes!"
Including the soldiers who had been scolded by Gong Qi, the soldiers picked up their weapons and lined up neatly in two rows. The high morale they exuded was truly admirable.
Generals Zhao Yiheng and Yan Heng exchanged a smile, each reading admiration and respect in the other's eyes. No one else would ever understand the lofty position Wu Tianyao, the soul of the army, held among these countless soldiers. Not to mention this young general who had only recently taken office, even if the two of them, along with all the other generals, commanded these soldiers, the result would be the same! In their hearts, in the hearts of these soldiers, the General was nothing short of a god! And this was also the main reason why the current emperor was suspicious of the General!
Gong Qi stared in disbelief at the scene. He finally understood that even if Wu Tianyao relinquished military power, he was still the commander of hundreds of thousands of troops in the south, and his unshakeable influence was far beyond what he could match.
"Impulsiveness and rashness in engaging the enemy, resulting in a crushing defeat—that's your first crime; your lack of remorse, your confusion of right and wrong, and your framing of others—that's your second crime; your selfish desires, your violation of my prohibitions, and your abduction of women—that's your third crime. Gong Qi, what do you have to say now?!" Wu Tianyao's tone had become calm, but to Gong Qi, it felt even more terrifying.
"You...you have no right to punish me! You left the capital without permission, a capital offense! If you intend to interfere in military and political affairs again, you will only face death!" Gong Qi said, his voice a mixture of bravado and fear.
"Finished speaking?!" Wu Tianyao asked calmly, then waved his hand and said, "Take him down! Execute him at noon tomorrow to appease the spirits of the fallen soldiers!" At
Wu Tianyao's command, four spears were immediately pressed against Gong Qi's vital points, and two soldiers bound his arms tightly behind his back with ropes.
"General, no, Uncle Wu, please spare my nephew for my father's sake!" Gong Qi was terrified. He no longer cared about his reputation and knelt on the ground with a thud, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for mercy!
"Take him away!" Wu Tianyao turned around and said coldly. Zhou Yuan had died in battle, and 50,000 iron cavalry had been wiped out. Even if the culprit was his own son, he deserved to be executed without mercy!
"Yes!" The soldiers obeyed the order and escorted the bloodless, still pleading Gong Qi away.
"Zhang Yun, do you know your crime?"
After Gong Qi was taken away, Wu Tianyao turned his stern gaze to the deputy general.
"Your subordinate knows his crime, please punish me, General!" Deputy General Zhang Yun, tears welling in his eyes, slowly knelt down. Although he knew he might face severe punishment, he was overjoyed. The reason was simple: the General had returned! The General had finally returned!
Seeing the general's tearful joy, Wu Tianyao's heart softened, and he gently said, "The General has given orders, and you cannot disobey! But ultimately, you have ruined the chastity of several women, and you cannot escape the crime of accomplice. A year's salary deduction and one hundred strokes of the cane—are you satisfied?"
"Your subordinate is completely convinced!" Zhang Yun kowtowed repeatedly, his voice trembling, "If the General could return, even if it meant offering my head, I would have no complaints!"
"Alright! How can we fight if we lose our heads?" Wu Tianyao smiled slightly, but thinking of Zhou Yuan and the 50,000 iron cavalry who had died in battle, a look of grief flashed across his face. He said, "You may leave now. Come back tomorrow to receive your punishment!"
"Yes, Your subordinate takes his leave!" Zhang Yun kowtowed again and then bowed and withdrew.
"Sigh!" Wu Tianyao sighed softly. Although things were progressing smoothly, he felt no joy. The loyalty of his soldiers was something he had expected, something he had anticipated since he set off from Hengcheng. He was not worried about the current predicament. The 100,000 reinforcements he had brought, plus the tens of thousands of elite troops still remaining in the city, were enough to deal with the current crisis.
His only worry was his wife and children far away in Hengcheng. Once the news of his taking over military power reached the capital, what methods would the emperor use against his family? Although he had entrusted his wife and children to Xuan Yi before leaving, Xuan Yi's own situation was not optimistic either!
Shaking his head, he tried his best to suppress his worries and turned to Zhao Yiheng, saying, "Yiheng, pass on my order: all officers must come here immediately for a meeting!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Yiheng replied and immediately turned to leave.
Wu Tianyao turned his head to look at the dark night outside the hall, muttering, "Your Majesty, please don't force me!"
***
After an unknown amount of time, Wu Zi'ang opened his eyes, only to find himself in complete darkness. He rubbed his throbbing temples, sat up in bed, and after calming himself, realized he was in a bedroom.
"Where am I?" Wu Zi'ang shook his head, trying to recall his memories. He suddenly remembered that he had returned to the Prince's mansion with Qiu Xueqing to visit her family, and then drank a few cups of 'men's wine' with the Ninth Prince at the banquet, and then got drunk. Hmm! It seems, it seems he played a piece of music before, so he should still be at the Ninth Prince's mansion! As he pondered, a delicate fragrance, like orchids, suddenly wafted to his nose. A sudden realization struck him; the woman sleeping there must be Qiu Xueqing's boudoir.
Turning his head, Wu Zi'ang's gaze fell upon her, and he froze.
Beside the candlelight on the table, a beautiful woman lay asleep, her head bowed. The flickering candlelight illuminated her exquisitely beautiful face, making it appear exceptionally radiant. Qiu Xueqing's cold demeanor had vanished; her expression was serene and peaceful, like a begonia in spring slumber, radiating a beauty different from that of the daytime.
A thought struck him, and Wu Zi'ang suddenly recalled a poem by Su Shi, blurting out, "I fear the flowers will fall asleep in the deep night, so I burn a tall silver candle to illuminate their red beauty!"
After reciting the line, he paused, then chuckled to himself. He didn't know many classical poems, but this one, recited so casually, felt remarkably fitting. In a daze, he seemed to have truly become a great scholar of ancient times, like Su Shi!
He quietly got out of bed and tiptoed to the table. Seeing the beautiful woman on the table trembling slightly, seemingly unable to bear the cold of the night, he felt a pang of pity. He wanted to take off his clothes to cover her, but suddenly realized that ancient times were different from modern times; she wore a long robe and had no upper garment to remove.
"Let her go to bed!" After a moment's thought, Wu Zi'ang reached out and gently picked her up, carrying her to the bedside.
He gently placed Qiu Xueqing's soft, boneless body on the bed, then pulled the covers up for her. Wu Zi'ang gazed at her beautiful face, brushed a few stray hairs from her forehead,
and sighed softly, "Why wear such a cold face all day? Isn't she more beautiful like this!" With a slight smile, Wu Zi'ang turned and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him. However, he didn't know that at the very moment he turned to leave, Qiu Xueqing, who appeared to be fast asleep, slowly opened her eyes, looking at his retreating figure with a hazy expression in her beautiful eyes.
It was late at night, and unfamiliar with the Prince's residence, Wu Zi'ang dared not wander around rashly, pacing back and forth in the courtyard.
A bright moon hung high in the night sky, its cool light illuminating the courtyard.
Wu Zi'ang lowered his head, gazing at the long, slanted shadow on the ground, a growing sense of loneliness creeping into his heart. In this unfamiliar world, he had no friends, no one to confide in. He could endure that, but he could not bear the almost maddening pain of unrequited love.
He dreaded nights like these; the clearer the moonlight, the quieter the surroundings, the more he couldn't help but yearn for Yiyi, who was far away in another world!
"It would be better if I were dead!"
Wu Zi'ang murmured to himself, knowing full well that this thought was wrong, yet powerless to change the despondency in his heart.
Just then, the door gently opened, and another petite figure appeared beside Wu Zi'ang.
Turning around in surprise, he saw Qiu Xueqing, dressed in white, leaning against the door. Her jade-like face held a cool, moon-like radiance, but her beautiful eyes had softened considerably; at least, he didn't detect any disdain or disgust.
"It's late, go back to your room and sleep!"
Qiu Xueqing said, her tone still as cold as ever.
"I'm not sleepy yet!" Wu Zi'ang quickly replied, snapping
out of his daze. "Do you want to stand here all night?" Qiu Xueqing gave him a light glare, her tone tinged with reproach. "If others see this, they
'll think I'm a shrew, not letting you go back to your room!" "Yes, yes, I'll go in right away!" Although she still feigned coldness, the subtle, almost human anger and the reproachful tone of a wife made Wu Zi'ang feel somewhat flattered. He responded twice and stepped back into his room.
"Come sleep in tonight!"
Closing the door, Qiu Xueqing turned her back and said casually.
"What?" Wu Zi'ang, who was consciously resting his head on the table, was stunned upon hearing this. What did she mean? Was she asking him to get into bed with her, to sleep under the same covers as another man? Wouldn't that be asking him to commit a fundamental error?!
"Don't get any funny ideas. We'll each sleep separately!" Qiu Xueqing said coldly, walking straight to the bedside, lying down fully clothed, and trying to curl her body as close to the edge as possible.
"I... I'll sleep here!" Wu Zi'ang hesitated for a moment before slowly saying.
"You don't appreciate my kindness, humph!" The beauty on the bed snorted softly, saying coldly.
"Thank you!" Not wanting to disappoint her, Wu Zi'ang considered it carefully and finally got into bed fully clothed, lying back to back with Qiu Xueqing.
The candle was still lit, so the room wasn't very dark, but Qiu Xueqing still felt extremely awkward and nervous. She could almost hear her heart pounding wildly. This was the first time in twenty years that she had shared a bed with someone, and that person was a man!
Why had she let him into bed? Perhaps it was because she saw him sighing softly under the moon and felt a pang of pity! Thinking of the poem the other person had just recited, and the gentle way he had carried her to bed and covered her with the blanket, Qiu Xueqing felt her face burning, a strange and indescribable feeling welling up inside her.
As for Wu Zi'ang, even sleeping in the same bed with a beautiful woman required considerable effort to suppress his lustful thoughts. With such a stunning beauty beside him, if he could maintain a calm demeanor, wouldn't he be a saint?! Well, even a saint might not be able to resist!
Smelling the faint fragrance of her virginity, the ecstasy of their wedding night flashed through his mind, and Wu Zi'ang's heart fluttered, inevitably becoming somewhat restless.
"Yiyi!"
Suddenly, a beautiful face flashed before his eyes, instantly extinguishing his lustful thoughts, replacing them with deep shame. Just because there was a beautiful woman beside him, he couldn't control himself; what talk of a deep longing for Yiyi?! Such fickleness is utterly shameless; he might as well just kill himself.
Filled with remorse, Wu Zi'ang suddenly bit his lip hard, letting the stinging pain punish himself for his earlier infidelity.
Before they knew it, the candles had burned out, and the room was plunged back into darkness. (
Volume 2, Chapter 17 of Night Rain in the Martial World)
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Wu Zi'ang got out of bed, straightened his clothes, and sat at the table.
A moment later, Qiu Xueqing also got up and sat upright at the head of the bed.
They exchanged a glance, both noticing the other's dark circles under their eyes, clearly exhausted from lack of sleep. They guessed that neither of them had slept soundly all night.
After sitting in silence for a while, Wu Zi'ang felt the atmosphere become awkward. He got up and took a few steps, then, realizing it wasn't appropriate, sat back down, his unease evident.
Qiu Xueqing wasn't much better off. Although she maintained a cool and aloof demeanor, her hands were nervously twisting together. She wasn't afraid of the awkwardness itself; she was afraid of something strange hidden beneath it that stirred her emotions.
Just then, light footsteps approached, followed by a knock on the door. A melodious female voice entered the room: "We have come to assist the young master and young lady in changing and washing!"
"Come in!"
Qiu Xueqing quickly replied, a sigh of relief washing over her.
The door creaked open, and two pretty maids in emerald dresses carried copper basins. Their bright eyes darted over Wu Zi'ang, then they exchanged a strange glance.
Wu Zi'ang and Qiu Xueqing were fully clothed, so changing was unnecessary; only washing remained.
Wu Zi'ang, unaccustomed to being served, washed his face and waited outside.
A moment later, Qiu Xueqing, carefully groomed by the two maids, gracefully emerged.
The two went together to pay their respects to the Prince and Princess, and after breakfast, prepared to return to the General's Mansion.
"Zi'ang, since you have nothing else to do, why not stay a few more days?" the Ninth Prince earnestly urged.
"I wish I could stay longer, but I have some matters to attend to at home, so I must decline your kind offer, Father-in-law!" Wu Zi'ang politely declined the other party's offer to stay. Given the ever-present threat of misfortune, it was truly inconvenient for him to remain at the Ninth Prince's residence. Moreover, he carried a letter entrusted to him by Wei Lingyao, so he had to return to the General's residence.
"Very well! In that case, I will not insist!" The Ninth Prince did not continue to try to persuade him, but looked at him meaningfully and said, "However, if anything happens, do not forget to consult me. Remember, remember!"
"Yes!" Wu Zi'ang's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Although he did not understand the meaning behind the other party's words, he could only nod in agreement.
After bidding farewell to the Ninth Prince, Wu Zi'ang and Qiu Xueqing boarded a carriage and returned directly to the General's residence.
At that moment, at the south gate of Heng City, the guards saw a rider galloping in the distance, hooves flying and dust billowing in the air.
In no time, a cavalryman in a uniform bearing the inscription of the Great Qin army rode up to the city gate, holding a command flag
and shouting, "I am Jiang Fan, the deputy general under Prefect Xiao Yuan of Pingyang. I have important military intelligence to report to the Emperor! Quickly, send someone to lead the way!" Having verified the command flag in Jiang Fan's hand and the prefect's seal he presented, the city guards dared not delay and immediately dispatched one of them to mount a warhorse and lead Jiang Fan to the imperial city!
It was a special rule in the Great Qin that those with extremely urgent military intelligence could ride into the imperial city to avoid missing opportunities. This rule was established by Emperor Hui of Qin, Wu Guangfang, on the advice of Wu Tianyao's father, General Wu Tieyi.
Shortly after the two riders departed, another soldier from the city guards went into a nearby pawnshop. A moment later, the soldier returned, but a shop assistant in blue robes emerged from the pawnshop and hurriedly headed east towards the city, precisely where the Ninth Prince's residence was located.
Inside the imperial city, in the main hall, Emperor Wuwei of Qin was discussing the war in Luoyang with his ministers when Eunuch Zhao approached, his voice shrill: "Your Majesty, Jiang Fan, the deputy general under the Prefect of Pingyang, requests an audience, saying he has important military intelligence to report!"
"The Prefect of Pingyang? Oh, he's Xiao Yuan's subordinate! Summon him!" Wuwei hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly.
"His Majesty has decreed that Jiang Fan be summoned!" Eunuch Zhao announced in his distinctive voice.
A moment later, a travel-worn Jiang Fan strode into the hall, kowtowing and saying, "Your humble servant Jiang Fan greets Your Majesty!
Long live the Emperor!" "Rise !" Wuwei
said calmly. "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Jiang Fan rose and stood respectfully.
"What important military intelligence is it? Speak quickly!" Wuwei stared intently at him, asking in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, General Wu Tianyao secretly arrived in Pingyang yesterday and took over the military command of Prefect Xiao. One hundred thousand elite troops are now stationed at the Luojiang ferry, and they will soon march south to reinforce the city!" Although he knew in his heart that Wu Tianyao's actions constituted deceit and would likely result in his death, Jiang Fan dared not reveal any disrespect for Wu Tianyao in his words. Instead, he cautiously reported the facts without revealing any personal opinion.
"What?" Wu Wei's face showed disbelief
. He abruptly stood up from his throne and shouted sharply, "Say it again!" "Your Majesty, General Wu Tianyao has taken over the military command of Prefect Xiao and is about to lead his troops south to relieve Luocheng!" Jiang Fan dared not delay and repeated the report.
"How could this be?!"
"General Wu, wasn't he at his residence yesterday?"
"Impossible!!"
This time, the ministers, including the two prime ministers, Wei Ruoxuan and Zhang Zhongshu, also clearly heard Jiang Fan's words and their faces showed surprise. They began to discuss among themselves!
"Your Majesty, yesterday we all attended the grand wedding of the Wu family and saw General Wu in person. The journey from Hengcheng to Luocheng is long; even with the fastest horses and lightest cavalry, it would take three days. Therefore, what Jiang Fan said cannot be easily believed!"
At this moment, General Feng Chang could no longer contain himself and stepped forward from the crowd to speak out in defense of Wu Tianyao.
Another General, Tian Guang, and several officials who attended the Wu family wedding banquet stepped forward to testify for Wu Tianyao.
"Jiang Fan, do you know that deceiving me is a capital offense?!" Wu Wei stared intently at Jiang Fan in the hall, asking each word with utmost severity.
"This humble subject would never dare to deceive Your Majesty. It is indeed true that General Wu has taken over military power in Pingyang. This humble subject has a letter written by Prefect Xiao!" With that, Jiang Fan took out a letter from his robes and presented it with both hands.
"Bring it here!" Wu Wei ordered sharply.
The eunuch Zhao immediately stepped down from the hall, took the letter from Jiang Fan, and presented it to Wu Wei.
After quickly reading the letter, Wu Wei's previously refined face was replaced by a ferocious expression. He tore the letter to shreds and threw it to the ground, shouting at Jiang Fan, "Wu Tianyao has neither the seal of command nor my secret decree. How dare Xiao Yuan hand over military power to him without authorization? Could it be that Xiao Yuan is also an accomplice?"
"Your Majesty, Prefect Xiao is innocent! Although General Wu has neither the seal of command nor the secret decree, and came to Pingyang alone, but, but…!"
Jiang Fan paused, seemingly remembering something, and glanced at Wu Wei's expression, hesitating to continue.
"But what? Spit it out!" Wu Wei, disregarding imperial decorum, roared angrily.
"However, when General Wu took over the army, not a single person in the army, from the generals to the soldiers, objected. Prefect Xiao wanted his soldiers to overthrow General Wu, but unexpectedly, he was overthrown by his own soldiers!" Jiang Fan stammered as he reported this fact.
"Wu Tianyao, you're something else!" Wu Wei's eyes were bloodshot, and his face showed a look of rage and jealousy as he gritted his teeth inwardly.
The assembled officials exchanged bewildered glances. They had never anticipated that Wu Tianyao's prestige within the army had reached such a high level; even without the commander's seal and military tally, he could easily mobilize hundreds of thousands of troops in the south!
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Even with Prefect Xiao's letter, it's only one side of the story. In my humble opinion, we should send someone to the General's residence to invite General Wu. This way, the truth will surely come to light!" At this moment, Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan stepped forward and advised Wu Wei.
"The Right Chancellor's words are absolutely correct! Please, Your Majesty, investigate thoroughly!" The other officials echoed Wei Ruoxuan's opinion.
In truth, at this point, the officials all understood the situation. Unless Xiao Yuan had lost his mind, framing Wu Tianyao with this matter would be a certain death sentence, because as long as Wu Tianyao appeared in the court, all accusations would crumble on their own!
Of course, Xiao Yuan wouldn't have lost his mind, and therefore, it was highly likely that what Jiang Fan said was true.
That being said, the matter still needed to be verified, and sending someone to the General's Mansion to summon Wu Tianyao was undoubtedly the best way to resolve the problem.
"Good, good, convey my decree, summon Wu Tianyao to the palace immediately!" Wu Wei's anger had not subsided, and he also understood that if he wanted to convict Wu Tianyao, he needed sufficient evidence. Therefore, he adopted Wei Ruoxuan's advice and immediately ordered Eunuch Zhao to go to the General's Mansion.
At this time, Wu Zi'ang and Qiu Xueqing had already returned to the General's Mansion.
He left Dong Hua with Qiu Xueqing and hurriedly went to 'Jingyuan'!
"Uncle Wei, this is the letter that Fairy Wei asked me to pass on to you yesterday!" As usual, Wu Zi'ang also addressed Wei Lingyao as Fairy Wei. In his opinion, with Wei Lingyao's unparalleled beauty and otherworldly charm, calling her a fairy was indeed not an exaggeration.
Wei Xuanyi took the letter from Wu Ziang's hand, a slight smile appearing on his lips. "Fairy Wei?! Hmm! All the successive generations of 'Tianchi' disciples are said to be as beautiful as immortals, so the title 'Fairy' is quite fitting!" He paused, then added jokingly, "Ziang, seeing this beauty, have you felt any attraction?"
"Yes!" Wu Ziang blushed slightly but answered truthfully.
"That's only natural! However, I advise you not to fall in love, or you'll be the one who suffers!" Wei Xuanyi looked at him with a half-smile, speaking in a half-serious tone.
"I'm already married, of course I wouldn't have such a thought!" Wu Ziang quickly replied.
"So what if you're married? A true man roaming the world, how can he not have three wives and four concubines?!" Wei Xuanyi smiled slightly and countered.
"Three wives and four concubines? This, I've never even considered!" Wu Ziang was stunned. He was telling the truth; born into modern society, such a thought had never even crossed his mind.
"Let me think... If I were to marry Wei'er, Jingguan, who always prides himself on seeing through the ways of the world and understanding the ways of heaven, would probably be quite displeased, wouldn't he? Haha, just thinking about it is quite amusing!" Wei Xuanyi's face showed a strange expression as he scrutinized Wu Zi'ang, uttering words that greatly surprised Wu Zi'ang!
"Uncle Wei, you should read the letter first!" Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Wu Zi'ang tried to divert his attention.
"Actually, I can guess even without reading it that she's issuing a challenge to me!" Wei Xuanyi opened the envelope, slowly unfolded the papers inside, glanced at them, and couldn't help but chuckle, "Sure enough, she invited me to Qingyin Temple in the southern suburbs of Hengcheng tonight. It seems those two old monks are also preparing to make their move!"
"Uncle Wei, do you have a grudge against them?" Wu Zi'ang asked in surprise.
"Yes, and it's a major grudge!"
Wei Xuanyi smiled calmly, clapping his hands lightly. The letter turned into ashes as if struck by fire, floating in the air and vanishing instantly in the wind.
"This is...!" Wu Zi'ang stared in disbelief at the magical skill the other had displayed, barely able to finish his sentence.
"Practice hard. One day, when your internal strength is perfected, you'll find this is nothing but a trivial skill!" Wei Xuanyi clapped his hands, speaking casually
. "Yes, yes! I will work hard!" Wu Zi'ang nodded repeatedly, his excitement overflowing at the thought of becoming a martial arts master like Wei Xuanyi.
"Zi'ang, would you like to come with me tonight?!" Wei Xuanyi, seeing the other's excited expression, suddenly had this idea and asked Wu Zi'ang for his opinion.
"Me!?" Wu Zi'ang was stunned for a moment, then hesitated and said, "I can't help, and I'm afraid I'll just be a burden to you, Uncle Wei!"
"It's alright, you can just watch from afar. Besides, someone like Wei Lingyao, who considers herself a member of a prestigious sect, wouldn't attack someone who doesn't know martial arts!"
Wei Xuanyi's words dispelled Wu Zi'ang's concerns. In fact, he was also curious whether the fairy-like Wei Lingyao had martial arts skills. And what would it be like to have a duel between experts like Wei Xuanyi? Thinking of this, he nodded excitedly.
***
"His Majesty has decreed that General Wu must enter the palace immediately without delay!" Eunuch Zhao, holding the imperial decree, stood at the gate of the General's Mansion with a team of golden-armored guards and shouted in a high-pitched voice.
"Please wait a moment, Eunuch, I will go and report to the General right away!" Liu Fu said respectfully, then turned and hurriedly ran into the mansion.
A moment later, Wu Tianyao, dressed in black, strode out with Liu Fu.
"General Wu, His Majesty has decreed that you come to the palace immediately!" Seeing Wu Tianyao standing before him, Eunuch Zhao was filled with doubt. Could it be that Xiao Yuan and Jiang Fan were truly plotting to deceive the Emperor and frame him?
Facing the imperial edict, Wu Tianyao neither knelt nor bowed. He swiftly snatched the edict from Eunuch Zhao's hands, tore it in two without even glancing at it, and threw it on the ground.
"General Wu, you…!" Faced with such treasonous behavior, Eunuch Zhao took a step back in shock, pointing at Wu Tianyao, barely able to speak.
"Tell Wu Wei that I, Wu Tianyao, will no longer serve him!" Wu Tianyao stood with his hands behind his back, his face cold.
"Rebellion! Rebellion! How dare you address the Emperor by his name! Seize him at once!" Eunuch Zhao roared in fury. With a wave of his right hand, sixteen golden-armored guards pounced like tigers and wolves, wielding swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, forks, clubs, whips, maces, and claws! Sixteen different weapons attacked Wu Tianyao simultaneously, some first, some last, some to the left, some to the right.
Though clad in heavy golden armor, the sixteen guards moved with the agility of rabbits, their movements perfectly coordinated, displaying a highly sophisticated encirclement tactic. The moment their weapons were drawn, they instantly sealed off all of Wu Tianyao's escape routes.
These sixteen golden-armored guards were originally dedicated to protecting the Emperor. Wuwei had sent them today intending to capture Wu's family if they discovered he was truly absent, but they hadn't expected him to be present and suddenly rebel!
Seeing the sixteen weapons raining down like a storm, Wu Tianyao smiled coldly. With a swift movement, he effortlessly broke free of the encirclement.
His attack missed, but the sixteen golden-armored guards remained composed. Eight turned to defend, while the remaining eight used the momentum to propel themselves into the air, lunging at Wu Tianyao again.
A slight admiration flickered in Wu Tianyao's eyes at their lightning-fast reaction. However, he didn't want to linger with such guards; time was of the essence, and he needed to finish the fight quickly.
With a low whistle, Wu Tianyao's right hand shot up to his chest. In an instant, a crimson light burst forth, a wave of heat surged through the air, and a tangible, leaping flame instantly appeared on his right fist.
His figure shot out again like lightning, rushing into the guards at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye. A flash of red light erupted, and countless fiery red palm prints transformed into crimson wings, instantly engulfing the sixteen golden guards. Muffled groans echoed, followed by complete silence.
Eunuch Zhao only saw a blur before the sixteen once-vigorous golden guards lay sprawled on the ground, their fates unknown. What horrified him most were the palm prints on the backs of each golden-armored guard, as if scorched by flames! The golden armor worn by the guards was made from a rare 'diamond sand' refined from the northern mountains of the Great Qin Dynasty. Ordinary swords and blades could not harm it in the slightest, yet it could not withstand 'Wu Tianyao's' palm strikes.
"The Phoenix Nirvana Technique!"
Witnessing such power, a look of horror flashed in the aged eyes of the steward Liu Fu, who stood to the side. Although he knew his opponent's martial arts were profound, he had not expected him to be proficient in this supreme mental technique.
"No, you, you're not Wu Tianyao! Who are you?"
Looking at the man standing with his hands behind his back, exuding an aura like a demon god, Eunuch Zhao suddenly cried out in alarm. Although the man before him looked exactly like Wu Tianyao, his demeanor was completely different; he radiated a kingly aura that commanded the world.
Wu Tianyao smiled coldly, peeling off a thin mask to reveal a strangely handsome face. He turned to Liu Fu and said, "The rest is up to you! After you're done, don't forget to dismiss the servants!" "Don't
worry, Mr. Wei, I, Old Liu, will arrange everything properly!" As he spoke, Liu Fu flashed forward, and Eunuch Zhao's slender neck was already in his grasp. Looking at the fear in the man's eyes, he chuckled, "Don't be afraid, Eunuch, I won't take your life, I'll just let you take a nap!"
Before Eunuch Zhao could even beg for mercy, he felt a numbness in his neck and fainted.
Inside the manor, Wu Zi'ang looked at Qiu Xueqing with unusually apologetic eyes. What was bound to happen had finally arrived. In just one month since he came into this world, his life was about to undergo a major turning point. He himself had to escape, but what about his newlywed wife? The best solution was to send her back to the Ninth Prince's manor.
Qiu Xueqing now understood the trouble her adoptive father was referring to. Seeing Wu Zi'ang's apologetic expression, she was somewhat annoyed by his actions, but with the crisis imminent, she had no time to scold him.
"Come back with me. My adoptive father told you to consult him about something; he must have a reason!" Qiu Xueqing was quick-witted and immediately remembered the Ninth Prince's words before their parting.
“Uncle Wei has already made arrangements here. You should go back to the Prince’s Mansion!” Wu Zi’ang shook his head and said softly, “I’m so sorry to have dragged you into this!”
“Never mind!” Qiu Xueqing’s icy expression melted away, replaced by a bitter smile. “A woman follows her husband wherever he goes. If you have somewhere to go, take me with you!”

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/187429.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=187429&aspx=1

Previous Page : 【I Desire the World】【Part Three】

Next Page : Remembering my aunt

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

【I Desire to Rule the World】【Part One】【Author: Yitian】

comment Open a new window to view comments