Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Since ancient times, power struggles have been devoid of parents, brothers, or sisters, and history is often written by the ultimate victor. As for the truth of who was a hero and who was a coward, it has long since become desolate with the passage of time. The once-buried castles in the desert, seen by those with ulterior motives, have become nothing more than a source of amusement.
Luzi understands Li Yuan's character well; he is a typical person who seeks power at any cost. He would even sacrifice the happiness of his own relatives to achieve his goals, showing no hesitation in stepping over their corpses to rise to power. For someone who can disregard his own family, what does Chunshen Jun mean to him? Just a ladder! A stepping stone! With this alone, is there really any need to say more?
Do not be fooled by Huang Xie's current high status; it all relies on the friendship he established with the current King of Chu. Such friendships can change, especially when there is a scoundrel nearby. As Li Yuan's sister, she is likely not a good person either. If she were a virtuous woman, how could she follow her brother's orders and associate with this one and that one? To fulfill her brother's obsession, it would be miraculous if she did not speak ill of Huang Xie while whispering in the King of Chu's ear about his merits. This indecisive sister seems to be a tragic figure, believing that relying on her brother's schemes and her own looks could help her realize her dreams. Does she think that seizing the right to inherit the throne will grant her control over the Kingdom of Chu? If that is truly her plan, then the tragic fates of some individuals are already foreseeable!
When Luzi saw Chunshen Jun merely reprimanding the Internal Guard Commander before letting him leave, he could only sigh inwardly and say nothing further. It is said that life is a tragedy; however, it is not so. When you look back and reflect, you will realize that the path beneath your feet has been forged by your own choices. At every crossroads in life where decisions must be made, heaven does not tell you which way to go. The ultimate decision has always rested in your own hands, not in the mouths of others. Isn't that true?
Chunshen Jun did not understand why Luzi was looking at him; he thought Luzi was dissatisfied with how he handled things. So he approached and put his arm around Luzi's shoulder in a friendly manner, saying grandly, "Luzi, rest assured! This matter will not end like this! When I return home, I will definitely seek justice!"
Such official talk is merely a way to placate people; Luzi did not dwell on it but sincerely expressed his gratitude. After such an uproar earlier, both men felt there was little left to discuss about their past friendship. After thanking Chunshen Jun for his generous invitation once more, they decided to enjoy drinks in this humble place.
Having many people makes things easier! With the help of staff from the Prime Minister's Residence working busily, the disheveled hall was tidied up again. They also brought out the Keeper and cook from their hiding place in the cellar; business resumed with great enthusiasm. Chunshen Jun was generous as well; after taking his seat, he ordered his subordinates to give the innkeeper a gold piece as compensation for renovation costs since they had almost demolished his establishment earlier.
No matter who it is from whom this money comes, it cannot be refused. This is an age-old custom that must not be broken. The Innkeeper naturally smiled widely; with the weight of that gold piece, he could afford not just renovations but even a complete rebuild if necessary. After expressing endless thanks, he personally took several soldiers to the kitchen to prepare food and drink while leaving only brave waiters in the front hall to serve their two esteemed guests.
To say one isn't tired after running around all day would be simply unhuman! The Guard Captain arranged shifts for duty and allowed those off duty to prepare for meals and rest. Once this dilapidated inn was secured until further notice, the prepared food and drink were served at last. At this moment, there was only one table in the middle of the hall with just two people seated beside it. Since they were old friends reuniting, their subordinates felt it inappropriate to disturb them.
Luzi's chief guard had just come over to report that Shisan had indeed been detained by people from the Internal Guard Office. Due to the Chancellor's influence, he had now been released and was currently feeding horses in the backyard. There were three people involved in this matter; upon receiving news of safety regarding Shisan, Luzi finally relaxed. He signaled for his chief guard to wait until Shisan finished before they all ate together afterward without needing to come back into the front hall. It wasn't that he was careless; rather it was due to sitting across from someone as powerful as Chunshen Jun. Despite Chunshen Jun being kind-hearted, it depended on who he was dealing with. The ground they were on was in Chu; even if someone wanted to take his life, without this Chancellor's nod of approval it would be nothing but wishful thinking. The current situation could also be understood this way: security measures here might even surpass those in the capital.
Upon learning that the Chancellor was present, local troops and officials quickly dispatched a team for protection. This action resembled an officer inspecting local forces; naturally only elite soldiers were sent out for such an occasion. If they were to send incompetent soldiers at this time as well, they could hardly complain about why heaven never gave them opportunities for promotion. The area surrounding the inn was filled with soldiers; at this rate they seemed more than capable of engaging in small-scale combat.
Deploying troops requires a Tiger Tally; without it, unauthorized military action would draw scrutiny from the King of Chu. When Luzi expressed concern about this issue, Chunshen Jun had already pulled out a token from his pocket indicating that his younger brother need not worry about him at all. Rules must still be followed; everything is under control!
Reuniting after a long time naturally brings back memories, and as emotions run deep, both of them end up crying loudly. Fortunately, there are only two gentlemen left in the hall, so they can indulge themselves without concern. During this time, Chunshen Jun noticed Luzi frequently glancing at the waiter serving dishes and jokingly asked, "Are you taking her home?"
Luzi was unsure of what he was thinking and inadvertently nodded at the comment.
Seeing that Luzi didn't respond with a lecture, Chunshen Jun felt puzzled. It was just a joke earlier, but now it seemed he couldn't take it back! He called over the innkeeper to inquire about the price, hoping the innkeeper would recognize the situation. Even if it was his own daughter, it wouldn't matter; such a son-in-law would be hard to find! This was a great fortune that had fallen from the sky; the girl would enjoy a life of luxury.
Not to mention the gold piece from earlier as a foundation, even if the Prime Minister didn't pay and took her away on the spot, no one would dare to say anything. The innkeeper was perceptive and immediately called for the waiter to bow to the two gentlemen. He instructed that from now on, she would be considered part of an official family and should serve them diligently.
Upon hearing this, Chunshen Jun nearly choked on his drink. Once he caught his breath, he waved his hand for the innkeeper to go rest in the back. After all, this was his brother Lü's woman! If she continued to serve him, how could he face others?
As they continued drinking, Chunshen Jun clearly began to struggle with his alcohol tolerance. Just as he lifted a ceramic bowl to propose another toast, he collapsed onto the table, unconscious before he could say a word. Seeing him so drunk left Luzi feeling helpless. He had no choice but to call over the minister's bodyguard to carry their leader back to rest while he gazed out at the flickering lights of the barracks through the broken window. Hearing the distant sounds of horses from the patrol squad, he muttered, "What is night like? The night is not yet over; Ting Liao shines bright. A gentleman stops here; the sound of phoenixes echoes."
Looking at the pitch-black night, Luzi sighed deeply. What was wrong with this night? Why had it not yet ended!?
"What is night like? The night is still young; Ting Liao has its glow. A gentleman stops here; observe its banner."
As the last line of "Ting Liao" echoed in his mind, Luzi's consciousness suddenly cleared. Was this a reminder that dawn was approaching? Following the sound, he saw a frail figure standing alone. The sight of that figure was so pitiful that it tugged at his heart.
"Waiter!?" As soon as he spoke, Luzi felt his face flush red. He had just seen that she was clearly a woman; one sip of alcohol had muddled his mind! He shook his head with a wry smile and raised his hand to rub his forehead but instead touched something soft. Just as he intended to grasp it, he realized he had caught nothing.
"Lu Gongzi has had too much to drink!" The girl pretending to be a waiter mumbled with her head down.
In truth, his earlier reaching out had been entirely unconscious due to having consumed too much alcohol. Hearing her words made Luzi sober up significantly. He quickly explained that he had simply drunk too much earlier and did not mean to offend.
To be able to recite verses from the Book of Songs is certainly not something that comes from an ordinary household. Due to years of warfare among various nations, many once-small states have long since turned to dust. The noble families and ministers of those fallen states have also perished along with their countries, with many wives, concubines, and children being taken as spoils of war by the victors. Those who could be brought back home were fortunate; even if their status was lowly, at least they had a place to belong. More often than not, they were sold by human traffickers as commodities, filling the brothels and entertainment districts for others' amusement.
It is precisely because of these well-educated women scattered across various regions that occasionally one might encounter literate commoners. This observation is not made lightly; it merely illustrates that during that time, there were very few children from poor families who could afford to read and write. Especially in terms of poetry and song, these pursuits could not provide for a family. When basic sustenance was a struggle, who had the leisure to let their children neglect work to learn such things?
Luzi has been wandering through the various states of China over the years, and what he has seen and heard has only strengthened his belief in national unification. What he encountered was not just the opulence of nobles, merchants, and scholars but also the heart-wrenching reality of families torn apart and homes destroyed. War brings only suffering to the common people; the beneficiaries are always those who hold the fate of the nation in their hands. Defeat comes with a price, but victory fills one's coffers. The wounded returning from the front lines undoubtedly add further burdens to families already struggling to make ends meet. The compensation for those who died in battle is pitifully small, barely enough to buy a single dish on a wealthy family's table.
Luzi is not a native of the Qin State; he still remembers vividly what his master said when they first sought refuge there: "I do not know if Qin can provide a good life for its people, but I do know that only Qin can achieve unification all day long." Although it is currently located in a remote area, he firmly believes in the principle that effort determines outcome. As long as Qin maintains a humble stance, it will eventually become a force that embraces all rivers; its future strength will be unmatched! Looking at today's world, no other state can achieve such a thing. We assist Qin's prosperity not for worldly fame or profit but solely for the betterment of all people!
Comment 0 Comment Count