Mu Yuchengs Abkommen

Kapitel 76

He was still dressed in red, standing there quietly looking at me, his deep gaze as purple as the vast lavender fields of Provence. We stood far apart, not getting close, just gazing at each other from afar.

One of his beautiful phoenix eyes was gone because of his longing for Jun, and now he wore an eye patch. The black patch was embroidered with a totem, a gift from Xiao Qi through a third party. It was Jun Jin's work, specially designed for him.

Yet, that didn't diminish his bewitching charm in the slightest; the absence of that phoenix eye only made him appear more mysterious and alluring. He possessed a kind of flawed, exquisite beauty. For some reason, I suddenly thought of that sculpture, the armless Venus de Milo, breathtakingly beautiful, its sorrowful compassion heartbreaking. It seemed to possess a power, like starlight in the dark night, like broken wings, leaving behind a trail of sorrow.

This is the price he paid for everything he did.

One eye, a heart that has fallen.

His expression was listless, as if he had become much more haggard, yet his pale face possessed a striking beauty. You seem like that Yuwen Ruojian, yet you also seem not.

We gazed at each other for a long time, neither of us speaking, neither breaking the silence. Petals drifted down onto my shoulder, and I brushed them away gently, as if brushing away dust.

I had thought I would hate him. If it weren't for everything he did, none of this would have happened. Yi Jun wouldn't have been cursed, and Qing Ci wouldn't have left for me. But unexpectedly, I feel more indifferent towards him now, a mixture of resentment and forgiveness—an emotion I myself don't even recognize. He truly astonished me. He made me look at him seriously for the first time, making me begin to understand him in a new light.

His love is terrifying.

I took a deep breath and said indifferently, "Goodbye."

After saying that, he turned and left.

“Wait,” he said with difficulty. He seemed to be still recovering from his injuries, coughing in the wind.

I stopped walking, without looking back.

The wind blew my long hair, making it loose and flowing.

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't know he was you. I didn't know."

I chuckled softly; none of that seemed to matter anymore.

I gazed at the still dazzling blue sky, as if the heavens and earth would not change in any way because of what had happened to us.

I turned my back to him, nodded, and then left.

Your beautiful figure is like the wind.

I won't stay for anyone

I want to catch your shadow

But you vanished in an instant...

Who shattered the sky's giant glass?

Falling from the sky

I cut you, I

Whose face...is wet with tears?

Amidst a profusion of flowers, bloomed the moment that woman turned her head; her white dress embroidered a butterfly that belonged to him in his life.

Back in Jin, back at Junjin Manor, I couldn't wait to rush to the bottom of the valley to find her.

Everything that's happened lately has left my mind in turmoil. I feel like I'm trapped in a giant net, being watched and bound, yet powerless to struggle. Qingci's departure has left me heartbroken, almost to the point of death. And there are these inexplicable questions that I can't shake off. Why do I have so many strange feelings when I see that person? Why do I always feel that what I've forgotten is so incredibly important?

"Old priest, even now, you still won't tell me the truth?" I sneered.

"The truth?" The old priest's expression was indifferent. "I wonder what kind of truth my master wants."

I said in a deep voice, "You know perfectly well."

"So, what if, after I tell you, the master finds that the truth is far different from what he thought?" The old priest's expression was indifferent, as if he didn't care.

What have I forgotten?

“Your master has forgotten what you should have forgotten.”

"Why should you..." I looked at her arrogantly and sneered, "Why should you control my destiny? My destiny is determined by myself. You are not qualified..."

I looked at her, no longer beating around the bush, and sneered, "Who is he? Why have I forgotten everything about him, even my life in the palace?"

"Do you really want to know?" she asked with a sigh, feeling helpless.

I nodded. For the past four years, I hadn't had the slightest desire to think about the past. But since returning this time, my heart has been restless and anxious. I feel like I'm expecting something, like I need to know something. This desire torments me day and night, keeping me awake at night and making me uneasy.

She looked at me intently and said calmly, "Alright, I'll tell you. The truth is, after you woke up, you were in unbearable pain, and then you begged me to give you a pill to forget everything. If you want the truth, then this is the truth. You yourself wanted to forget everything."

I stared at her, dumbfounded. How could this be?

"This can't be?!" I exclaimed in panic. "You must have done something. You're lying to me."

She said blankly, "I told you long ago that the truth that Master wants is far from the real truth. I reminded Master that it is because Master is too persistent."

"Why would I do this?" I stared blankly at my hands, panicked. No, I wouldn't do this. Why would I do this?

A flicker of pity crossed the old priestess's eyes, but she still said, "After Master woke up, she was heartbroken and didn't want to remember the hurt, didn't want to remember those who hurt her. So, you asked me to erase your memories." She sighed softly, "After Master took the medicine and woke up, everything seemed normal, but she remembered nothing. Because of the overwhelming grief, she only intended to forget everything about that person, but even her other memories were damaged. You even forgot yourself. However, Master should be gradually remembering things, shouldn't she? She should remember everything about An Jin. Otherwise," a strange light appeared in her cloudy eyes, "otherwise Master wouldn't have told those stories and prophecies. They were all true, weren't they?"

I gazed at her, my eyes growing deeper and deeper. She was more insightful than I had ever imagined, and she understood far more than I had ever thought.

However, I won't believe her. How could I possibly choose to take the Forgetfulness Pill and forget everything just because I'm afraid of getting hurt or remembering those memories?

Moreover, I remember that man's warm gaze and forgiving eyes. How could he hurt me?

Every time I meet his gaze, my heart flutters involuntarily.

I don't remember him, but I can feel the tender love and warmth in his eyes.

I gave her a cold smile: "What else are you hiding? I'll find out one day." With that, I turned and left.

She watched my departing figure and gave me a strange smile.

Then he suddenly muttered to himself in a strange tone, "Master, everything I've done is for your own good. Even if you knew something, you would only suffer more."

Chapter 159 The Prince's Mansion (Part 1)

Inside the Ninth Prince's Mansion.

A courtesan softly sang "Return" on stage, a song that Empress Zejin had sung before her death. It is said that when Empress Zejin, dressed in white, sang this song, everyone present was astonished. The music was like celestial music, beyond the reach of even immortals, truly unprecedented and unparalleled. Therefore, after her death, the palace musicians recorded the melody from their memories, composed it, and it quickly spread throughout the court and among the common people. However, the courtesan on stage now looked melancholy, lacking the serene and open-mindedness of Empress Zejin.

After the song ended, all the ministers present applauded and laughed enthusiastically.

Today's banquet really does resemble the Feast at Hongmen.

The Ninth Prince smiled and asked me, who was disguised as Nalan Liye, "I wonder what Nalan's opinion is on this song?"

I lowered my head and said calmly, "Your Highness is too kind. Nalan is just a commoner with shallow knowledge. How could he possibly have any insights?"

"Hmph, is that so?" Suddenly, the Tenth Prince, who had been silent all along, let out a cold snort with a look of disdain.

He looked at us with disdain in his eyes, and suddenly suggested, "I think the moon is extremely beautiful tonight. It's such a fine time and a beautiful scene, why not compose a poem to add to the festivities? Gentlemen, does anyone have a poem to share with us?"

"This...this..." Everyone present suddenly looked troubled. Everyone knew that merchants were generally illiterate, barely literate, and only had a basic understanding of accounting. The Tenth Prince's words were clearly an attempt to embarrass and humiliate them, leaving the merchants with no face. His intentions were truly cunning.

I frowned slightly, but remained calm as I drank. I took a small sip. The Hundred Flowers Plum Wine—I don't know why, but every time I drink it, the lingering fragrance on my tongue makes me crave it.

The merchants present all shook their heads and said, "We have disappointed Your Highness. Please forgive us. We are all ignorant of these refined literary pursuits."

"Hmph," the Tenth Prince suddenly slammed his hand on the table and roared, "You are disrespecting me! You are so ungrateful! You bear the heavy responsibility of the nation's economy, yet you can't even read a few words! Won't you become a laughingstock! Guards—" As he spoke, he wanted to use this as an excuse to call in the guards who were already waiting outside to arrest them.

They had planned this all along, just wanting to find an excuse to trap us all in one fell swoop. What a joke! I knew their intentions as soon as I arrived today.

They're just trying to plunder us. Under the guise of military donations, they want to extract a huge amount of money from us. And they want to leave us with nothing. Why be greedy! Getting any money from me, An Jin, won't be so easy.

Since I established this business association, we have been responsible for the interests of all merchants in Jin, and we are their representatives. Do they think their court officials are so easy to bully? That's the biggest joke in the world. When I entered and saw the guards lying in ambush around the palace, I knew that getting out wouldn't be so easy.

However, what they should worry about in a moment is why so many hidden guards suddenly vanished into thin air.

Xiao Qi, who was standing behind me with his head down and not saying a word, wanted to stand up, but I stopped him.

"Your Highness—" I suddenly called out loudly, then stood up with a smile, bowed to them with utmost elegance, and said with a smile, "Since Your Highness is in such a refined mood, then Nalan has a fine poem here, which I will recite for everyone to hear. Please excuse my poor performance."

Then, he confidently and loudly proclaimed:

"When did the moon first appear in the blue sky? I pause my cup to ask this question: Man cannot reach the bright moon, yet the moon follows man as he walks."

Bright as a flying mirror over the crimson palace, its clear light shines forth as the green mist dissipates. We see it rise from the sea at night, but who knows where it sets among the clouds at dawn?

The white rabbit pounds medicine autumn after spring, while Chang'e dwells alone, with whom as her neighbor? People today do not see the moon of ancient times, yet the moon of today once shone upon the ancients.

The ancients and the people of today are like flowing water, all alike gazing upon the same bright moon. My only wish is that, when singing and drinking, the moonlight will forever shine within my golden cup.

For a long time, everyone was silent, except for gasps of shock.

"Hmph," I thought disdainfully. "The poems of the Poet Immortal Li Bai, aren't they enough to amaze you?!"

"Well said, well said! What a wonderful line, 'The ancients and the moderns are like flowing water, all alike gazing at the same bright moon!' You truly deserve to be the representative sent by the wealthiest merchant in our Jin Kingdom. Indeed, you are both talented and beautiful, and your wisdom is captivating!" The Ninth Prince praised without reservation.

I bowed slightly to the Ninth Prince and said respectfully, "Your Highness, I have made a fool of myself. However," I glanced coldly at him and the Tenth Prince, then suddenly smiled strangely, "Your Highness, I have another fine poem here. Please write it down and present it to the Tenth Prince, and ask him to read it aloud for me. Would that be alright?" Damn it, daring to make things difficult for us? Well then, I'll use something even a modern child knows to shatter your noble pride, you prince.

The Ninth Prince glanced at me, puzzled, and finally said in a deep voice, "Alright. Someone, bring paper and pen."

I took the paper and pen handed to me, bent down, and wrote in a flowing style.

They were out in just a few minutes.

I respectfully handed it over. The Ninth Prince glanced at the poem written on the snow-white Xuan paper, his eyes shining, and praised, "A fine poem. Tenth Prince, come and take a look." He then handed it to the bewildered Tenth Prince.

The tenth prince took it, glanced at it with a puzzled look, and then read aloud in his loud voice: "Lying in Spring".

The fragrance of plum blossoms is faint and subtle, lying on the branches, a sign of sorrow and resentment. From afar, the scent of plum blossoms seems to flow like water, easily penetrating the verdant spring.

The bank is green, the bank is translucent green, the bank is translucent dark green. ..."

Before he could finish reading, the audience burst into laughter.

Even children in the 21st century know that this poem means: "I'm stupid".

I'm uncultured, I have a very low IQ, and if you ask who I am, I'm a big, stupid donkey.

I am a donkey, I am a donkey, I am a stupid donkey.

"Hmph," I sneered. "Someone who's not even as good as a child dares to threaten me."

I stood up, straightened my posture, and coldly surveyed the assembled officials. My face was expressionless. “Your Highness,” I said, “let’s be frank. Today, Your Highness has invited our Business Association to this banquet, and I, on behalf of all my colleagues, thank you for your kindness. Since the court has matters to attend to, we certainly will not stand idly by. It is getting late, and I should take my leave. On behalf of my master, I will present five thousand taels of gold to the court. My steward will bring the silver upon my return. Now, please forgive me, I take my leave.”

"How dare you!" The Tenth Prince, his face ashen with humiliation, roared, "Do you think you can come and go as you please?! Not so easy!"

I looked at him arrogantly and said coldly, "Then what else do you want?"

"Guards! Arrest all these unruly commoners and throw them into the dungeon!" the Tenth Prince roared.

Just as Ge Kong was about to draw his sword, a familiar voice suddenly rang out: "Why are there so many people here? Ninth Brother, are you all leaving because you heard I'm here? Come, tell me, who made Tenth Brother so angry?" Just as we were about to leave, an uninvited guest arrived.

It turned out to be the emperor traveling incognito!