Любовь сквозь время

Глава 73

I looked at Yuwen Ruojian, who was smiling wickedly at me, with a hint of pity. What I wanted was for him to willingly give me his eyes.

He had no idea what I was thinking. He simply leaned close to my ear and said in a wicked tone, "Are you ready?"

I nodded with a radiant smile.

Chapter 152 Playing with the Lords (Part 3)

As soon as the drums sounded to signal the start of the assembly, the crowd began a heated discussion, listing the various threats posed by the Jin Kingdom and the many unorthodox things they had done.

I laughed heartily as I listened.

Just as everyone was discussing the most heatedly, their faces flushed and necks red, and they were about to start arguing, I suddenly stood up gracefully.

A smile in the eyes is nothing but a cold laugh; an upturn at the corners of the mouth is nothing but a mocking twitch; a gentle expression is nothing but an innate aloofness.

I walked gracefully to the center of the banquet.

She greeted everyone with a graceful, European-style greeting. Her posture was elegant and refined, causing everyone present to pause and stare at me, their eyes filled with a mixture of amazement and bewilderment.

They all looked at Yuwen Ruojian, who was sitting leisurely in the main seat, but he seemed to be doing nothing.

I beckoned to the servant beside me, who quickly brought over a thick silk cushion so I could sit down.

When I took a look, I was surprised to find that it was actually a top-quality product from Junjin. Not bad, not bad, you have good taste.

I looked around at everyone, then suddenly asked, "Did you all come here for the Kingdom of Jin?"

The others didn't understand whether there was a deeper meaning in my words, and looked at me in silence with complicated expressions.

I suddenly covered my mouth and chuckled softly, lowering my charming head and looking like a wronged and sorrowful little woman with a worried expression. "What should I do? My Jin Kingdom is still doing well. It doesn't seem as bad as everyone says. My subjects live happily, and every family is prosperous and healthy. Even if Jin Kingdom is destroyed by you, I suppose they are used to living a free and joyful life, and that their hard work can bring them happiness. I suppose no one would want to be a prisoner of any of your countries. So what should I do?" I pouted, as if I had encountered a very difficult problem, my brows slightly furrowed, and I said with utter innocence.

I spoke casually, but in an instant, it was as if a time bomb had been thrown into the area, and everyone around me exploded. The effect was excellent; half the people were stunned, half screamed as if they'd seen a monster, and a handful stared at me in disbelief, a mixture of shock and anger.

Funny, funny. I gave a mischievous, wicked smile.

Someone shouted, "The most mysterious, powerful, awe-inspiring, and revered young master of the Jin Kingdom is actually a woman!" Immediately, the entire assembly went wild. The whole world went crazy, it was in an uproar.

I knew that the news would spread throughout the entire continent in less than a day.

That young master Jin, the young master of Junjin Manor, the young lord of Jin Kingdom, that legendary figure in the world, was actually a woman!

But why should I care? What does it matter if I am a woman or the master of a country? No one in this world can stop me, threaten me, or bind me anymore. I, An Jin, will be my true self from this day forward.

A true Anjin!

I saw Xiaoqi, Lian, and Qingci looking at me with calm, smiling expressions. Murong Danyi and Murong Han, on the other hand, stared at me with complex, strange, and astonished expressions. Sister Danyi even widened her eyes, covered her mouth with both hands, and looked at me with tears in her eyes. We stared at each other for a long, long time, so long that I thought time had stood still.

Yes, she is still my beautiful, enchanting, and talkative older sister. She is still the same person.

Everything seemed unchanged; we returned to the past, back to being the simple girl and me, back to being ourselves. There were no barriers of status, no worldly concerns; we only had eyes for each other.

However, I still keenly noticed a strange gaze. That gaze was so deep, so penetrating, that I couldn't decipher it at all.

It was that man, that strange man.

Who exactly is he?

Why did he look at me with that gaze that seemed to travel through a thousand years? Why did he smile so calmly? Why did his gaze look at me as inclusive as the ocean? Why did he smile at me with such happiness, as if he had found a precious treasure?

Thinking of my other identity before I lost my memory, remembering their hesitation and strange expressions when they talked, remembering Qingci's momentary daze when she saw him, I knew that something very important must have happened. They were all hiding it from me, and I had forgotten, completely forgotten.

Suddenly, amidst the astonished gazes of the other nations and the increasingly somber stare of Yuwen Ruojian, one by one, the people dressed in dark robes at the banquet slowly rose to their feet. Representatives from several countries, as well as countless figures hidden among the major powers present, all stood up.

Their expressions were solemn. A round-faced youth rose respectfully first, holding in his hands a mysterious flower, coiled with a strange and inexplicable bloom—a black lotus totem and a fiery red, alluring flower, intertwined like dragons and phoenixes playing together, a symbol of auspiciousness, or perhaps a kind of rebirth. He slowly walked to the side of the graceful and beautiful young woman, knelt devoutly at her feet, and said sincerely and reverently, "I wish to follow you, young master, for eternity."

The crowd that stood up one by one was densely packed, a sea of people. Even below the city wall, countless people had unknowingly arrived and enveloped the entire city wall. They all knelt down respectfully at the same time, falling to the ground in a dense mass of heads, almost covering the entire city of Xianyang.

They bowed their heads, their expressions extremely devout, as if worshipping their god, and said in unison, "We are willing to follow our young master for eternity!" Their voices resounded through the sky and lingered above the entire city of Xianyang for a long time.

The girl stood there, facing the wind, her skirt fluttering. She smiled faintly, her face serene. She took the holy staff from the boy's hand, then slowly raised it. Standing there calmly, her gaze as serene as still water, she looked at the crowd and said softly, "May I be with you all. May the Kingdom of Jin last forever."

Suddenly, a dazzling light burst forth from the girl's arm, piercing the sky and illuminating the entire heavens. That light enveloped the whole earth, and those who had sincerely prostrated themselves at her feet.

This is a declaration, and also a silent promise.

The legacy of Jin Kingdom will endure forever; no one can destroy it.

An Jin coldly turned to look at the red-clad man whose face was ashen and whose eyes were filled with the expression of being deceived and betrayed. His long hair flew wildly, making his face even more ghostly.

Then he looked at those whose faces were ashen, whose bodies trembled, and whose legs were so weak they could barely stand. At first, they had been excitedly discussing how to destroy the Jin Kingdom, how to tear its young master, Jin, to pieces, how…

When they met that icy, devoid of any warmth in their eyes, when they heard that sound more deafening than thunder, when they saw everyone around them prostrate on the ground, their hearts trembled, their courage shattered, and their very being, their very soul, was shaken!

Even more than a decade later, people still remember that scene: that legendary girl, like a miracle, descended upon the entire continent, bringing light to this ravaged land.

Suddenly, a strange, unwilling, almost dying voice rang out: "I have heard that Jin Shao was once known as the Twin Demons, who played the zither well and sang beautifully. I wonder if today I can give you all a treat for your ears."

The interrupted girl suddenly laughed, a laugh so eloquent it moved the heavens and the earth.

She turned around, looked at the man in red with thin lips slightly pursed, and said coolly, "What's so fun about singing? How about I tell you all a story? A story that will make everything clear. Is that alright?"

Chapter 153 Playing with the Lords (Part 4)

I paused for a moment, walked to the end, and sat down on the stool that had been prepared for me next to Xiaoqi.

I took the cup of tea Xiaoqi handed me; it had a faint chrysanthemum fragrance. I took a small sip, then smiled slightly and said coolly, "I'll start with the first story for the Tutunhun Kingdom. I've heard that those who dream of their ruler also dream of the sun. But in the Tutunhun Kingdom, your ministers dreamed of their ruler, but also of the Kitchen God. Does Your Majesty know why?"

The King of Tutunhun shook his head blankly.

I ignored him, gave a cold laugh, and continued, “The sun shines on the whole world; nothing can obscure its light. But the Kitchen God is different. If someone warms themselves by the fire in front of the stove, those behind cannot see it. Now, your ministers may suspect that someone is warming themselves by the fire in front of the king, hence their dreams of the Kitchen God.” I took a sip of tea and continued, “When my subjects lived in Tu Tun Hun, they only heard of the Empress Dowager, the King of Huayang, and the King of Jingyang, but never the king. The Empress Dowager acted arbitrarily and recklessly, and they had no scruples, arbitrarily disposing of others, showing no respect for the king. With those people around, Tu Tun Hun would have long since lost its king. Internally, the Empress Dowager held absolute power, and externally, several of her direct brothers acted as accomplices. You're already too busy with so many things, yet you still have time to come here and join in the fun. I really don't understand, Xiao Jin.” At the end, I sighed softly, as if I were worried for him, but my eyes were filled with contempt and disdain.

King Tutunhun turned ashen-faced, slumped into his chair, and could no longer utter a word.

Regardless of the terror on everyone's faces, I nodded and smiled with Xiao Qi and Qingci, then shifted my gaze and continued, "How about we give the next story to the King of the Huns?"

The Xiongnu king looked at this devilish woman. Her wicked smile and icy gaze filled him with despair, making him, who had been so proud and determined, feel hopeless.

Ignoring everything else, I simply smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty need not worry. An Jin is merely making a comparison on behalf of Your Majesty as an observer."

"Which was more powerful, the Xiongnu or the Jin state?"

His lips trembled slightly. "The Xiongnu are not as good as the Jin state."

I asked, "Which has more people, the populace or the state of Jin?"

The Xiongnu king replied, "The Xiongnu state cannot compare to the Jin state."

I asked, "Which is richer, money or food?"

The Xiongnu king, his face ashen, said, "The Xiongnu are no good."

I calmly asked, "Which country is more stable?"

The Xiongnu king said, "The Xiongnu are not as peaceful as other people."

Without changing my expression, I continued, "Which country's prime minister is more capable?"

The Xiongnu king nearly fainted: "They are not as good as us."

"Which country's general is more valiant?"

He whispered, "The Xiongnu won't do."

I asked, "Which country has stricter laws and regulations?"

The Xiongnu king said, "The Xiongnu are not as good as the Jin state."

"Not as good as you? Hmph, you're quite self-aware," I sneered, pressing on, "Since you know you're not as good as me, then trying to attack Jin will only be a waste of time. Therefore, An Jin has already driven the tens of thousands of elite cavalry that the king brought back to the Xiongnu."

The Xiongnu king's vision went black, and he nearly fainted on the spot. A demon! This man is a demon!

However, I still wouldn't let him off the hook, and continued to ask, "So, regarding everything I just asked, which country is more powerful, Jin or Jin?" When I asked this question, I also looked at the emperor of Jin.

The true meaning of this story is that it kills two birds with one stone.

Unexpectedly, the emperor of Jin smiled slightly and calmly said, "Jin is not as good as Jin."

Upon hearing the answer, the Xiongnu king could no longer hold on and fainted on the spot.

I stood up, looked at everyone, and suddenly smiled charmingly, covering my mouth with my hand and saying alluringly, "Since everyone already knows the result, why did you all have to come here to hear An Jin tell you the answer in person? By the way," I turned my head, my smile captivating.

I laughed heartily, as if playing a fun game, and continued, "The third story, An Jin would like to present to today's host. Yuwen Ruojian, the Ninth Prince of Later Qin."

Looking at his stubbornly pursed thin lips and his cold gaze scrutinizing me, I smiled serenely: "There was once a poisonous snake that killed a person, and Yama, the King of Hell, sentenced it to pay with its life. Upon hearing this, the snake pleaded, 'I have committed a crime, but I also have merits! Please atone for my sins and spare my life!' Yama asked, 'What merits have you committed?' The snake replied, 'I have snake gall in my belly, which can cure people's illnesses.' Yama ordered a little devil to investigate, and it was indeed true, so he released the snake. Not long after, the little devil brought a cow that gored a person to death with its horns, and Yama declared that it should pay with its life. The cow also pleaded, 'I have bezoar, which can cure...'" "All ailments, please allow me to atone for my sins." King Yama, upon hearing this, ordered his minions to investigate and found it to be true, so he released the creature. Just then, a masked demon brought in a fierce-looking man and, upon questioning him, the demon said this man had committed numerous evils and intended to kill. King Yama, upon hearing this, was furious and sentenced him to death. The man protested, shouting, "I also have bezoar! Please allow me to atone for my sins!" King Yama asked doubtfully, "Aren't you human? Do you also have bezoar like a poisonous snake has snake bezoar, or a cow has bezoar to cure all diseases?" The man stammered, finally saying with a mournful face, "I don't have any other bezoar, only some panic and fear."

I gazed silently at the man sitting opposite me, lounging lazily on the couch just like me, and said earnestly and coldly, "I said that anyone in this world who has harmed Yijun will pay the price. Poisonous snakes, oxen, anyone who has hurt me, anything can be forgiven, I don't care about them, but those who have hurt her, no."

Just when everyone thought I was done with this farce, I took a sip of tea. Qingci, Xiaoqi, and Lian smiled knowingly. They really knew me; what I had just done was just me having fun. It was just a small prelude.

The real story hasn't even begun. The truly interesting part is yet to come.

I looked around at everyone, my face deathly pale, as if I had walked into a grave. Silence reigned. They stared at me blankly, their eyes wide with astonishment, speechless.

Only one person was different: that man. From beginning to end, he looked at me with a gentle smile, full of affection and tolerance, without fear or panic.

He seemed to understand me, as if he knew what I was going to do. It was as if we had known each other for a very long time.

But I don't know anything.

I suddenly remembered someone, someone from a very, very long time ago. Perhaps I can find the answers to all my questions with her.

However, my story continues.

I smiled slightly and said softly, "I'm sorry everyone, Xiao Jin was being naughty just now. She interrupted your enjoyment of the story. Xiao Jin's real story, the only and last one, is about to begin."

My brows furrowed, a thin layer of bluish-gray mist clouding my eyes. My gaze became empty and distant, as if I had returned to a past life, as if I were trapped in bottomless memories. I sat quietly, letting the wind ruffle my long hair and clothes. Then I spoke: "In the past, in the world I knew, there was also a continent, and there were also countries like this one. That period was called the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties..."

Chapter 154 Prophecy (Part 1)

I sat there quietly, slowly and silently flowing into everyone's heart, infiltrating their souls little by little, leading them into a completely unfamiliar world that filled them with countless fears.

The world I created and built with my own hands.

I will ensure that no one can harm Jin Kingdom, no one can try to destroy the people, things, and everything in Jin Kingdom.

After thinking it over, I smiled softly, like Satan descending upon the world. I continued unhurriedly: "...After the Battle of Fei River, a famous historical battle where a smaller force defeated a larger one, the Qin state was defeated by the Jin state and never recovered... Among the various states, the Song state enjoyed a period of great prosperity during the Yuanjia era, riding the winds and breaking through thousands of miles of waves, but it too soon declined... The Empress Dowager of the Northern Wei dynasty ruled, seizing power. After her death, the Wei emperor took control, creating the glorious Xianbei miracle... After the cruel and foolish Liang dynasty emperor, and the fickle Hou Jing... the tragic fate of the great poet Chen Houzhu, whose kingdom was destroyed... The world, after a long period of division, will unite; after a long period of unity, will divide." After nearly a century of conflict among the various states, one nation unified the country. Although that nation was later overthrown and replaced by a new one… at least all the turmoil was overthrown… the great cause of unification began, and a new dynasty rose. “But,” I said coldly, taking a sip of my now-cold tea, “no nation can exist forever without heeding the voices of its people, no ruler is absolutely right, no one is absolutely guided by divine will… there is no sun that never sets in this world!”