Мир боевых искусств — это яма

Глава 87

Zi Jin didn't speak. She sat down silently in the chair, pondered for a while, and then asked, "Where did the former master of Weiyang Palace go?"

Xiaopu stepped forward respectfully and performed a standard palace salute: "Your Highness, this Weiyang Palace was built by the former Empress for Your Majesty. To date, Your Majesty has been the only master to have ever lived here."

"Sikou Xunxiang..."

“Although you are a citizen of Yue Kingdom, you should know that the Emperor’s name is a taboo in the palace,” Xiaopu stepped forward and said, his voice soft but full of reproach.

Zi Jin rubbed her forehead and smiled sheepishly, "I've been so busy these past few days that I got a little confused."

"Aunt, the water is ready," a palace maid said from outside the hall.

Xiaopu lowered his head and said, "The water is ready, young master, please take a bath first."

Once everything was ready, Zi Jin, dressed in her undergarments and holding the brand-new men's clothing, looked at Xiao Pu with a mournful expression: "Could I change into women's clothing? I've only ever worn women's clothing once before, and you..."

"Young Master, please have some self-respect. The Prince says you are a young master, and this servant dares not act on my own." Xiaopu did not look up, but picked up the dry cloth in her hand and routinely wiped Zi Jin's wet hair.

“But I’m clearly a woman, why should I wear men’s clothes?” Zi Jin retorted indignantly.

“Young master is mistaken. Here, the prince says 'young master,' so 'young master' is 'young master.' How could 'young master' be a woman?”

The servants kept coming and going, giving Zi Jin a headache. It's just wearing men's clothes, right? She's been doing it for years, what's a few more days?

"What would you like to eat for dinner, young master?" Xiaopu asked respectfully, bowing his head and putting away the cloth in his hand.

Zi Jin suddenly felt annoyed. If it were Yu Luo, she would never treat herself like this: "I'm not eating anymore. I want to sleep."

"Then young master should rest early." Xiaopu bowed his head and withdrew with impeccable manners.

Zi Jin collapsed weakly onto the bed, staring at the bed curtains above her. She remembered how respectful Xi Bao and Yu Luo had been when they first arrived, only to be swayed by her persistent pleading and cajoling, and never bowed again. The three of them ate and laughed together, as happy and carefree as a family. Yu Luo always complained that she didn't eat enough, and Xi Bao was always worried that she would suffer losses outside… If Yu Luo were here, she certainly wouldn't let her sleep on an empty stomach… She had so heartlessly abandoned them back then; she wondered how they were now…

As the moon rose above the branches, the even breathing of Zi Jin echoed throughout the vast palace…

A lifetime of love and hate, hard to understand, reincarnation begins again. The bamboo grower is heartless, the past is but a dream. (Nine)

The Past is a Dream (Nine) Zi Jinxiao stood among the pavilions and towers, already used to this bizarre dream.

Not far away, the Empress, dressed in a bright yellow formal suit, with a mysterious smile on her face, held tightly to the Emperor and Empress and ran happily toward the East Gate.

The emperor and empress were also dressed in a rare bright yellow formal suit. Although it was a magnificent color, it looked more elegant and unassuming on them.

For some reason, Zi Jin couldn't make out his face, but she was absolutely certain that the Emperor and Empress were looking at each other with a mixture of helplessness and doting affection. Without thinking, Zi Jin quickly followed the two of them.

"Brother... quickly close your eyes!" Empress Yanzai pulled the Empress to a corner and stopped, panting.

The Emperor and Empress reached out and patted Empress Yanzai's back: "Jin'er, stop making a fuss. Today is an important day for ancestor worship. Don't miss the appointed time." Their gentle voices were like a cool summer breeze, soothing and comforting.

"Brother..." Empress Yanzai shook the Emperor and Empress's arm relentlessly, drawing out her words.

The Emperor and Empress shook their heads helplessly and closed their eyes as instructed.

Although Zi Jin couldn't see the Emperor and Empress's facial features, she knew for sure that their expressions at that moment must have contained a mix of helplessness, doting affection, and sweetness.

When Empress Yeonjae saw that the Emperor and Empress had indeed closed their eyes, a triumphant smile appeared on her lips. She took the Emperor and Empress's hand and carefully led them around the corner.

"Brother, it's done." Empress Yanzai's clear voice was filled with anticipation and pride.

The Emperor and Empress looked up at the Empress and coaxed her gently, "Why are you still so naughty? You've had your fun and your fuss, come back with me now."

"Brother, why aren't you looking?" Empress Yeonjae stomped her foot angrily and pointed into the distance.

The emperor and empress followed Empress Yanzai's hand and looked into the distance, stunned in place.

A vast, winding, interwoven corridor in the distance encircles a massive artificial lake. Nestled against the distant green hills, the lake gleams like a precious mirror fallen to earth. A long embankment surrounds the lake, lined with stone boats, and several uniquely styled pavilions dot the water. A breeze ripples across the surface, and rows of willows along the shore sway their newly sprouted branches. A colossal black-and-white palace sits before the lake. The palace is elegant yet grand, lacking the affected airs of typical palace buildings.

"Of course, Jin'er knows that today is a grand day for ancestor worship, but Jin'er also knows that today is Brother's twentieth birthday... Does Brother like it?" Empress Yanzai stood proudly beside the Empress, looking like a little animal seeking favor. "That's Chang Le Corridor, and opposite it is Weiyang Lake. Brother, do you see that palace? That's Weiyang Palace, which Jin'er built for Brother. Chang Le Wei Yang... May Brother have this day every year, and may every year be like this day. Does Brother like it? Brother! Brother..." After Empress Yanzai finished speaking with great enthusiasm, she noticed that the Empress was still standing in the same place, seemingly lost in thought. She immediately tugged at the Empress's sleeve in dissatisfaction and pouted.

As if waking from a dream, the Emperor and Empress turned sharply to look at the Empress. He gazed at the woman before him silently, his eyes flashing with a multitude of emotions, his lips trembling slightly: "Jin'er... for such a trivial birthday, why go to such lengths, wasting the people's resources and manpower?"

Empress Yanzai did not see the expected joy, but instead received a light rebuke. She retorted defiantly, "On our wedding day, Jin'er could tell that Brother disliked the effeminate airs of the Empress. This garden has been under construction for two years, hoping Brother would like it, but instead, Brother blames Jin'er. Brother is Jin'er's Empress; Jin'er gave Brother the best things in the world, what's wrong with that?"

"Jin'er, how can a king disregard the well-being of the people for the sake of personal feelings? Such wasteful and extravagant actions are truly inappropriate. Every action of an emperor will be recorded in history. Jin'er, if you do this for me..."

"Jin'er doesn't care about history books! Since brother doesn't like it, I'll have this place demolished tomorrow!" Empress Yanzai angrily shook off the Empress's hand, her eyes red and full of grievance, and ran back the way she came.

The Emperor and Empress were shocked and hurriedly chased after her. Without thinking, they pulled the Empress into their arms: "Jin'er, don't be angry... I was too harsh. Jin'er is not wrong... I was wrong." The Emperor and Empress's gentle voice was full of self-reproach and reluctance.

Empress Yanzai embraced the Empress, nestled in his arms, and smiled through her tears: "Jin'er is the supreme ruler, and everything in this world belongs to Jin'er. Jin'er loves brother, so naturally she wants to give brother the best. Even if she doesn't have this beautiful land and the vast empire, she hopes that brother can be happy every day. Brother, don't blame Jin'er, it will make Jin'er sad."

The Emperor and Empress trembled slightly. He closed his eyes tightly and said, "Jin'er, don't talk nonsense. As the Emperor, you have responsibilities and a future to bear. You can't speak so recklessly. I understand how good you are to your brother."

Empress Yanzai's tear-washed eyes shone with an unusual brightness as she tightly embraced the Emperor and Empress's waist: "Jin'er loves her brother the most."

The Emperor and Empress closed their eyes tightly, their trembling intensifying. He tightened his grip, as if trying to meld the person in his arms into his very bones: "Jin'er... Jin'er... I'm so afraid... so afraid... so afraid that you, at such a young age... can't distinguish between love and infatuation..."

Zi Jin clearly saw the ruthlessness and humiliation flashing in the Empress's eyes. Although they were two different people, Zi Jin clearly understood the Empress's intentions.

Weiyang Palace... Weiyang Palace... a promise made by a young emperor in a childish manner.

When Emperor Wu of Han was six years old, he made a vow to keep Empress Chen in a golden house for her. Therefore, the future Empress Chen, upon moving into Weiyang Palace, saw this vow as proof of Emperor Wu's lifelong loyalty. This, however, became her greatest mistake. Empress Chen's arrogance made her completely forget that the person who made the promise to her was the emperor, and a mere six-year-old one at that. Empress Chen was far too naive. Why did Emperor Wu obey her? It was because his throne was not yet secure; he needed the power of Empress Chen's mother to consolidate his position. In the heart of an emperor, power always trumps everything. Therefore, Empress Chen's deposition and expulsion from Weiyang Palace were entirely predictable.

After Empress Chen was deposed, Wei Zifu was made empress, and to show her favor, she was still allowed to reside in Weiyang Palace. From a lowly singer to empress, Wei Zifu's life was an immortal legend. However, how much better was she than Empress Chen? She served as empress to Emperor Wu of Han for thirty-four years, but spent twenty of those years in loneliness—the greatest tragedy for a woman. Everyone said her ascension to the throne was due to her fertility, but few knew that her favor was actually built on the achievements of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. An emperor will never lack women who bear him sons, but he will never lack truly capable ministers who can bring peace to the empire. Wei Zifu's tragedy lay in her excessive longevity; she lived too long, causing her beauty to fade and her youth to wither away. When the prominent men of the Wei clan passed away, and only a weak crown prince remained by her side, how could she, at such an advanced age and so alone, possibly compete with the likes of Lady Gouyi?

The Weiyang Palace once housed two of the most noble women. Empress Chen, after being deposed, went mad for love and was buried with the rites due to a commoner. But Empress Wei Zifu, despite her status as empress, spent twenty years in solitude in the palace, ultimately meeting a tragic end, her bones crushed and her body reduced to ashes.

The emperor's favor became a huge joke.