Любовь сквозь время

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After a long silence, he said softly, "An old friend."

Everyone has their own forest; those who are lost remain lost, and those who are meant to meet will meet again.

Chapter 135

Chapter 136 Jin Kingdom

The rise of the Jin Kingdom.

Jin is a country that has suddenly risen from the shadows in the past four years.

In the Kingdom of Jin, all subjects are equal, without distinction of rank, and benevolent governance is practiced. Jin has established a sound system. Although its ruler is the young Prince Jin, assisted by four prime ministers—Chen, An, Yan, and Gu—Jin also has a system of people's representatives. Subjects from each region elect individuals of high moral character, ability, and prestige to serve as representatives. At a general assembly every three months, these representatives report on their region's development and offer their opinions and suggestions on the current situation and important national affairs. The four prime ministers then lead a vote to decide the final decision. Because the representatives of each region wield significant power, have important responsibilities, and influence, any instances of bribery, corruption, abuse of power, or oppression of the people are immediately investigated and confirmed, resulting in their immediate removal from office. The affairs of state in Jin involve the subjects, striving to consider the needs of everyone and ensure fairness.

The Kingdom of Jin also established a system dividing the country into districts, counties, and townships. Officials in each district, as well as the officials in the counties and townships under its jurisdiction, were elected by the people. Those who violated the law or failed to achieve any political success during their term of office were dismissed. The Kingdom of Jin was vast, spanning the entire continent. Its subjects were the ancient Mayan people. The Kingdom of Yan, along with some neighboring countries such as Qiuchi, Houliang, Daxia, and Wuhuan, had become vassal states of Jin. There were also people who could not survive in the countries ruled on the continent's surface. They loved the Kingdom of Jin and their young master, Jin.

Unlike other countries, the people of Jin Kingdom genuinely love their young master.

However, this young master was also particularly mysterious. In fact, apart from the four Grand Chancellors, none of the other officials had ever seen his true appearance. He would always float in during major meetings or when giving instructions, wearing a silver mask. After speaking, he would leave without lingering.

But his eyes were unforgettable. Silver shimmered, purple was alluring, radiant with light, and seemed to flow with water, sparkling and shimmering, yet they were chillingly indifferent. That soft yet detached gaze always gave one the feeling of having their heart laid bare; before him, everything would crumble, leaving no room for concealment. The young master rarely praised anyone, but if you did truly well, he wouldn't hesitate to bestow praise. Those praised by the young master became the most respected and envied people, so every official worked diligently, hoping only to receive the young master's praise one day. That would be the most glorious thing.

However, they also witnessed the young master's cold-blooded cruelty. He never showed leniency towards officials who failed to serve the people or even harmed them, often punishing them in ways they would never forget, making their lives a living hell. Therefore, very few officials dared to have selfish motives or fail to wholeheartedly serve the people during their tenure.

If you say this is unfair to officials, that their meager salaries are barely enough to support their families, you're wrong. The young master's salaries for officials are not small at all; on the contrary, they are quite substantial. The more honest and capable an official is, the higher their bonuses and stipends. Officials without achievements receive very little, and even if given a few opportunities, if they still cannot alleviate the people's suffering, then a decree will soon be issued to dismiss them.

That white poster, exuding a faint floral fragrance, was called the White "Angel." (It is said that this name was given by the young master's daughter, after hearing many stories about angels, and it was said casually. The legend of the young master's angelic daughter is especially prevalent in the Jin Kingdom.)

Anyone who receives that notice will likely faint on the spot. It's like a summons from the King of Hell.

In the early days of Jin Kingdom's rise, none of the monarchs paid much attention to this scattered nation hidden beneath the veneers of other states. However, by the time they realized their fatal mistakes and oversights, it was too late.

The rapid rise and power of the Jin Kingdom is beyond their control. The Jin Kingdom has long been famous throughout the world.

However, what gave them a glimmer of hope was that the Jin Kingdom had no intention of annexing any other country. It had simply established a new world, a new dawn, a new realm, beneath the surface of the existing world.

This time, several countries on the mainland felt fear about the existence of the Jin Kingdom and decided to hold a conference to discuss how to eliminate it.

This conference was held in the Later Qin state. Participants included the then largest state, Jin, as well as the Xiongnu, Tu-Tun-Hun, and Yan. Some hidden states, also vassals of Jin, were also invited. Clearly, the Later Qin rulers, who initiated this conference, knew much that needed to be known.

"Chen Wen, have they all started their journey?" The man's increasingly alluring face held a playful smile.

"Yes, Master. The Xiongnu ruler was the first to depart and has already arrived at the border. The King of Yan has also set off, and I heard that even the usually mysterious eldest princess has come along. The others will arrive in a few days," the man in black replied respectfully.

"Hmm." The man's face darkened slightly. "Do they really think this conference will yield results? I suppose this is just another scheme by that old scoundrel from Later Qin."

The man in black remained silent.

A slight ripple stirred in the cold, empty eyes of the alluring man, and he said softly, "We should also set off. To keep this appointment."

"Yes. I will go and prepare immediately."

The man in black quickly disappeared into the empty hall, leaving a desolate man sitting alone in the shadows. He gently stroked the jade pendant in his palm; he had spent countless days and nights like this, thinking of her face, of everything about her, unable to sleep.

Was her departure meant to make him think of her day and night, unable to forget her, and unable to find peace for the rest of his life?

He let out a long sigh, his face looking even more desolate.

At this moment, a figure resembling a eunuch respectfully entered and said softly, "Your Majesty, are you ready to rest?"

Sima Rui nodded in the darkness.

The young eunuch turned and left, then hesitated for a moment before turning back to ask, "Does Your Majesty wish to summon a concubine?" It had been a very long time since he had summoned any concubines to his bedchamber. The harem was filled with lamentations. Although he protected his master, he had suffered enough punishment over the years.

He saw his bitterness, his regret, his pain clearly every day. He never knew that love could make a person like this, as if he had become desolate overnight, as if he had become a different person, as if he had lost his soul, as if he had lost the will to live.

If this is the punishment, then all these years have truly been enough. He stood by his side, grieving for his master, grieving for him. Even his own heart ached.

Sima Rui was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting him to ask such a question. Wasn't he the one who loved his master the most? Wasn't he the one who should hate him the most? He had caused his master's death. Sima Rui forced a bitter smile.

"Is it Consort Wang, Your Majesty?" Xiao Quanzi asked softly.

Sima Rui felt bitter. He had forgiven him, but he still couldn't forgive himself.

Years ago, although he served him closely and was very respectful, even this servant possessed the same dignity as his master. His respect and humility were merely superficial; he simply followed orders and never truly cared for him, never paid attention to his new master. He was almost distant and indifferent towards him. This constantly reminded him of his actions and the lifelong debt he owed her, a debt he could never repay.

"Not today, let's talk about it later." The dry voice sounded somewhat helpless.

137. Go to the theater

"Young Master, the four kingdoms, along with other smaller states, are holding a grand gathering in Later Qin to attack Jin. Interestingly, Yan is also among those invited." Lian Bao's blue eyes seemed to flow with bottomless spring waves, and with a slight turn of his gaze, countless undercurrents were already rippling.

I had always wondered why he had such beautiful blue eyes. Later I learned that his mother was from another tribe, a woman from another tribe whom his father had taken away. His father deeply loved the woman with such beautiful eyes. That woman was gentle and serene, and her blue eyes were like the clear sky over the grasslands, rippling with boundless blue waves, or like the ocean, clear and blue, encompassing all things in the world.

However, although Lian never mentioned his past, we learned many unbearable truths from the messages: his escape, his rebellion, and how he became the most tragic person in history, the prince who was abandoned and hunted down, all because of those unbearable nightmares.

After his mother's death, his father mistook him for his mother several times when he was drunk. The woman with beautiful blue eyes was such a humiliation to him, and to his father who had doted on him since childhood and whom he respected the most, he almost chose to die.

But in the end, he chose to escape and forget everything.

This escape marked the beginning of his life. Later, he was chosen as the high priest of the Maya people. He had no attachment to his original identity, and so, Murong Han died.

Leave behind the reborn lotus.

The lotus, rising from the mud unsullied.

Ge Kong said in a cold voice, "Do these fools really think that old thief Yuwen of the Later Qin Dynasty really wants to destroy the Jin Kingdom? He can't even estimate the strength of the Jin Kingdom, and he doesn't dare to challenge it. He's just using this opportunity to destroy the other three kingdoms. He wants to dominate the Central Plains."

Qingci glanced at me and asked, "Will the young master go?"

I smiled faintly, "Why not go if there's a show like this to watch? Lian and I will go with you, blending in with the Yan Kingdom delegation. Xiao Qi, Qing Ci, Ge Kong, I'll leave things here to you for now."

Mai Qiyuan's face was full of calm smiles at this moment, "If it weren't for the dispute in the city of Cyathea and the fact that the young master's new product is about to be launched, I would really like to go to the theater with the young master."

I chuckled.

Looking at them with a smile, I realized that after four years, not only had I changed, but they had also become more composed and reserved, and their abilities had become stronger. The four kings of Jin Shao and the four prime ministers of Jin Kingdom had come together all the way, and the feelings between us were closer than those between relatives. We were companions who depended on each other, comrades-in-arms who fought for each other in life and death, and family members who supported each other.

“Xiao Qi, there will be opportunities. Perhaps we will need to direct a play ourselves for those people to see, and they will believe that all the fantasies we create for them are real. Xiao Qi, that day is not far off, in the near future,” I said calmly, my tone light, as if I were talking about something insignificant, but it was related to the safety of the entire continent.

Their expressions were restrained and silent, suggesting they understood the deeper meaning behind my words.

I will direct a play, letting the entire Jin Kingdom era continue, hidden in the tide of history, hidden in an unseen world.

The atmosphere was tense and turbulent. We sat there, seemingly chatting, looking relaxed, with faint smiles, but we were actually discussing the life and death of an entire continent.

Suddenly, a smiling face appeared. It was Yi Jun's innocent and mischievous smile. She waved to us as a greeting, and then said happily, "Is Mom going to run it? Hehe, I want to go too." She said it for sure without asking if I agreed. The other four were already used to her mischievousness and just smiled gently at her.

I didn't mean to refuse. Since she is my child, she will have to stand on her own one day. I have always raised her according to the current educational methods. Although I am her mother, we have always treated each other as equals. When we talk to her, we never ask her to do anything just because we are elders. Instead, we let her understand on her own and let her choose what is right to listen to. She has been very independent since she was a child. This is my goal. She needs to learn how to survive. Even if I disappear or die one day, she can still live well on her own. This is my requirement for her.

From a young age, I told her how precious life is, and that no matter what she encounters in the future, she must learn to be patient and let go. Life is precious and fragile, and only by surviving can we talk about other things. I also told her about the dignity, integrity, goals, and ideals of a person.

Most importantly, I hope she can live an ordinary and peaceful life. However, it seems that this girl is not content with that. With her intelligence and wit, it seems impossible. So, I will let her choose her own way of life and her own future. After all, those things are her own, and the road ahead is hers to walk.

However, kindness, kindness from the heart, has always been the most important thing I taught her. This little girl seems to have understood from a young age that kindness is important, but one should not be soft-hearted. When dealing with things, one should consider their nature. If one is blindly kind, it is cowardly. If one is too cruel, one loses the magnanimity and open-mindedness of having a broad mind.

“Oh, right, Mom, four handsome uncles,” she climbed into my arms, her beautiful eyes sparkling slightly, and said sweetly, “Aunt Yunying asked me to call you for dinner. She’s probably already going crazy with worry, it’s been so long.”

Looking at her mischievous appearance, a hint of doting affection welled up in my eyes. She is my bloodline, the person in this world who is related to me by blood. She will live on in place of me, and in the future, new bloodlines will continue to carry on.

I remember the first time I held her in my arms, I shamefully burst into tears, tears of joy mixed with tears of happiness.

That poignant portrayal of life still resonates deeply within me.

"Let's go," I said, taking her soft hand in mine, and asked gently, "Did you call Grandpa Ten Eccentrics?"

She pouted, "Grandpa Shi got up early and went out to play without taking me with him."

I chuckled. Uncle Shi was already speechless with her annoyance. Her pranks were no ordinary tricks. Every time she went out, she would make Uncle Shi come back looking disheveled, bruised, and covered in dirt.

Fortunately, they genuinely loved her and were more tolerant and doting towards her than concerned about her. However, they felt embarrassed to be constantly teased by a four-year-old child, so they often went out without Yijun's knowledge.

Walking along the road bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, a stunningly handsome young man dressed as a man held the hand of a little girl with a radiant smile, equally beautiful as an elf. The setting sun cast long shadows of them, and behind them followed four equally handsome and elegant men who looked at them with smiles in their eyes.

As if stepping out of a painting, the scene is harmonious and warm, beautiful and gentle.

The girl skipped and hopped alongside the boy, asking curiously, "Mom, will it be fun going there?" A sly, mischievous glint flashed in her eyes, unlike that of a child her age.

The boy smiled slightly, "Yes, Yijun will have a lot of fun."

The conversation was strange, yet surprisingly warm.

Warmth deep in the heart.

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138. Vast Sky

The water gurgled and splashed down from the cliff, creating a melodious sound like the bronze bells on the ancient city wall.

Below the cliff was a clear pool of water, surrounded by swirling mist and layers of white vapor. The pool was supported by a platform of bluestone, and various shaped pebbles glistened on the bottom of the water. The pool was surrounded by trees, and the flat surface of the water was like a huge mirror, reflecting the brilliant sunlight. The water was as smooth as silk and as clear as a mirror, and the air was filled with the chirping of birds and insects.

Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the peaks rise majestically and stretch endlessly, presenting an imposing and proud appearance.

The valley was somewhat stuffy, and the crowd that had been moving forward began to stop. I saw that the water was clean and clear, so I quickly walked over, scooped up a handful of water and drank it. I felt a refreshing coolness that soothed my head and heart, and the gloom that had been hanging over my heart from the dizziness of the long carriage ride lessened considerably. When Yijun saw me like this, it was as if he had also drunk a mouthful of this clear mountain spring. Such clean and unpolluted mountain springs are no longer available nowadays.

Along the way, I was shocked to discover that I, who can usually tolerate anything, was actually suffering from severe motion sickness in the carriage. I started vomiting shortly after we set off, vomiting so badly that my stomach felt like it was going to come out. For the next few days, I vomited everything I ate. I became numb to it; all I had to do was eat and then throw it up. In this bumpy ride, we finally arrived at our agreed destination.

This is the seventh day since we left Jin, and we are about to reach the border of Later Qin, the day we agreed to meet with the people of Yan and travel together.

It was at this moment and in this place that I met her again.

Actually, even today, I haven't told them—not Qingci, Xiaoqi, Lian, Gekong, or even my master. Yunying, I've gradually started to remember many things, and the things I did as An Jin are starting to come back to me one by one. But I can't remember anything about being Xie Weiying. Every time I force myself to think about it, my head throbs. In my dreams, I only vaguely see a man with silver and purple, bewitching eyes looking at me with a mournful expression. He's even crying. Every time I dream about him, my heart aches. But I can't see his face clearly, and I can't remember who he is. I've always been puzzled. When I asked others, they all gave vague answers, saying they didn't know either. After asking several times without any results, I simply stopped asking. Later, when I dreamed about him, I got used to it and let it be, not wanting to think about it anymore.

Qingci once said that part of my memories were caused by great harm and trauma, which I forced myself to forget in my mind and consciousness.

I can't remember anything that hurt me or caused me harm, but the matter of An Jin is becoming clearer day by day. It's been four years, and I haven't said anything because now that I've started a new life, I shouldn't disrupt this tranquility or the harmony and beauty of this moment.

So, I chose to continue forgetting.

As for the person I used to be Xie Weiying, I can't remember anything, just like I've never believed that I was once an emperor's concubine. That's too absurd. How could I possibly be an emperor's concubine? That's too far-fetched. I've never believed it. However, since I've already forgotten, there's no need to think about it anymore. In that kind of murky place, there probably wouldn't be many pleasant memories.

It's better to forget about it.

Seven years have passed.

Now I finally remember her, this alluring and strong woman.

We've been apart for seven years, but I still remember the woman who cried on my back, the amazement I felt when I first saw her enchanting dance, everything she did for me when she left, her stunning beauty, the joy I felt every time I saw her, the days we drank and recited poetry together, the promise she made to me when she left, and her saying "I love you."

The once dashing and handsome young man has grown up and become the stunningly beautiful ruler of the Jin Kingdom, while the once gorgeous and alluring woman has become a mature and noble princess.

I was dressed in coarse linen clothes, disguised as a woman and child, and accompanied by Yi Jun, who was also dressed in dirty clothes, and Lian, who was wearing a gray robe. We looked like an ordinary family. However, my makeup made me look older, so I disguised myself as Lian's personal maid. But what was a little strange was that I was holding a child's hand and holding a white pet in my arms—Little White, who was sleeping in my arms.

"They're here," Lian whispered in my ear.