Free Web NovelChapter 1678: Chapter 38: Brows Like Willows, Eyes Like the Moon
"This is rather strange." Jiang Wang raised his eyes: "Why give me a gift at this time? What is it?"
If I remember correctly, before leaving Linzi this time, he had severely offended the Crown Prince...
"The gift is a pot of flowers, clivia. It’s said to be personally nurtured by the Crown Prince. As for why it’s sent at this time..." Zhongxuan Sheng spoke with a faintly mocking smile: "Because the Chang Le Palace had been closed for a month, and the Crown Prince hasn’t had leisure days for long."
In his heart, Jiang Wang felt a chill, knowing that this "closing the palace for a month" was probably one of Emperor Qi’s warnings to Jiang Wuhua.
But he still asked, "Why was Chang Le Palace closed?"
Zhongxuan Sheng cheerfully continued: "The Crown Prince achieved God Arrives, and congratulations were endless, with Chang Le Palace hosting banquets all day. The Son of Heaven said, ’The Crown Prince’s triumph made him lose composure, frivolous and insensitive, should close the palace for one month for self-reflection’ ... so that’s how it turned out."
Closing the palace gates, forbidding internal and external connections, is in some sense almost equivalent to being dropped into a cold palace!
Although the period of this "cold palace" is only a month, for the Crown Prince, it was already a very bad signal.
"So, once he came out, he gave me a gift, what’s he trying to express?" Outside Qi Country, Jiang Wang spoke lightly, even jokingly: "Does he remember me? Expressing that he won’t forget this grudge?"
"Sending the flower he nurtured himself, of course, signifies his tolerance, shows he won’t hold a grudge against you, expresses that he will forgive your past wrongs, treating you, the genius of Daqi, without resentment. Although you treated him as a foe, he still treats you as a statesman, that’s our benevolent Eastern Palace."
"What foe, I wasn’t targeting him!" Jiang Wang retorted, then pondered: "Do you think it is believable?"
"Clivia has its significance. Gentlemen, harmonious but different. The friendship of gentlemen seeks common ground while preserving differences." Zhongxuan Sheng said: "He also doesn’t want to bear the reputation of forcing you to leave Linzi, and besides, thinking this through, he indeed has no reason to hate you."
"How do you mean?"
"The three cases you brought up, the Son of Heaven agreed to them, and handled them decisively, clearly demonstrating an intention to intimidate. Showing that whether you were involved or not, the case from seventeen years ago always had a thorn in the Son of Heaven’s heart... which has been removed this time. For the Crown Prince, blessings and calamities are yet uncertain.
The Crown Prince achieving God Arrives at this time, seemingly guilty for his deeds, gave the Son of Heaven an opportunity to admonish him. From another perspective... the Son of Heaven wanted to admonish him, and he obediently stretched out his hand, allowing the Son of Heaven to beat his palm freely. Isn’t that also a form of wisdom? If he hid his hand, and waited for the Son of Heaven to find a place to strike, it may not have been just to beat his palm..."
Zhongxuan Sheng paused for a moment, then continued: "Moreover, the less the Crown Prince hates you, the more it could signify that he has no grievances with the Son of Heaven’s handling of him. So he not only doesn’t target you, but instead continues to show goodwill towards you. Showing goodwill to you is showing loyalty to the Son of Heaven, isn’t this a business worth doing?"
Jiang Wang sighed: "You people are really complicated!"
"But whether the Crown Prince truly doesn’t resent you, or pretends not to resent you, the human heart is like an abyss, I don’t have the ability to see through it." Zhongxuan Sheng shrugged.
Recalling the scene of sharing rice porridge at the same table with Jiang Wuhua, Jiang Wang softly said: "The Crown Prince might be benevolent..."
The latter half, however, he kept to himself without saying aloud—
The current Queen, however, might not be.
He could never forget the act of throwing a father’s corpse in front of a three-year-old daughter.
That could almost be called tyrannical.
Despite the current Queen being the mother of the nation for many years, dignified and noble, never having done anything inappropriate, even having a reputation for benevolence, and often advising the Son of Heaven to be less angry.
Yet with one deft move, almost caused Concubine Lei to die with her child. After forcing Lin Kuang, who tenaciously pursued justice, to his death, she deliberately threw his corpse in front of his daughter...
How could such a person not hold grudges?
With the Son of Heaven still in power, as an outside minister, he couldn’t be much affected by the Queen.
Should the Son of Heaven one day abdicate, the Queen might no longer tolerate it.
Of course, this needn’t be said to Zhongxuan Sheng, that man already worries about many things every day. Zhongxuan Zun’s current overseas prestige may make him feel a bit suppressed...
"As long as there’s no trouble now, if someone wants to revisit old grievances one day, I will not be the same person as I am today." Jiang Wang stated.
"Of course, nor will I be the same me today! A man should not remain long under others in this world, when the time comes, it should be others watching our expressions!" Zhongxuan Sheng echoed with great momentum, then said: "In short, the matter is resolved. The trouble you actively provoked has apparently ended. Once you’ve finished with matters of Chuguo, you can directly return."
"You say it as if I was forced out." Jiang Wang muttered: "I really did have prior arrangements with Zuo Guangshu..."
Zhongxuan Sheng sneered, then directly left the Star River space.
Of course, the cost of opening the Star River space this time was settled by Jiang Wang.
...
...
Chu Territory is vast, and it has always been the most prosperous place in the Southern Territory.
After leaving Yun Country, Jiang Wang headed south, passing Song Country without entering, and after seven more days, he arrived at Chuguo.
Of course, if in the Eastern Region, the distance wouldn’t take so long to travel.
The Fourth-Rank Green Badge Constable could easily fly directly to the Eastern Region without hindrance.
In the Southern Territory, however, certain rules must be observed...
The northern border city of Chuguo is called "Lin Shang."
At first glance, the name seems nothing unusual.
But it’s worth noting that the capital of Song Country is named "Shangqiu"...
Chuguo is so undisguised even in the names of its border cities, one can imagine their usual attitude towards neighboring countries. No wonder people of Song often disdainfully refer to Chu as barbarians.
Of course, Chu people aren’t too bothered by derogatory terms like barbarians, as long as they’re not mocked face-to-face, they often just give a wry smile upon hearing them.
The etiquette that Song people uphold is most looked down upon by Chu people.
Chu people love splendid clothing and carved towers, and cherish romance and freedom. Among the six major overlord countries in the world, it can be said to be the most "relaxed" in nature.
Mugu’s children also enjoy freedom, admire the free-flying eagle, the galloping horse, the fierce and united wolf, though ultimately there is a supreme deity to revere.
Chuguo has many deities, but most Chu people actually don’t truly believe in deities.
To many ordinary Chu people, they simply enjoy the mystical atmosphere of gods and ghosts.
When happy they’ll say, "With a sincere heart, I implore the deity, the god, the ghost, to drink high."
When upset they’ll say, "Come, let’s cut the bull’s head, drinking with abandon." "Cut open the horse’s face, inquire of Yama." (1)
Overall, they are very carefree.
As for why Jiang Wang knows these...
The bulky volume of History of Chiseling the Sea, which nearly filled the Storage Box and tormented him painfully, deserves credit.
Jiang Wang dared not skip reading it, dared not avoid memorizing it.
During these days on the road, if there was spare time, it was spent either cultivating or memorizing.
As Emperor Qi might joke, he himself wasn’t qualified to treat the words of Emperor Qi lightly... ƒгeewёbnovel.com
The city of Lin Shang, as a border town, was unlike those rugged and solemn border towns Jiang Wang had seen before. Instead, it exuded sophistication, splendor, and prosperity.
Rather than a city of war, it seemed more like a city of commerce.
Yet the soldiers standing sternly at the gate tower and the resplendent military equipment displayed openly atop the city tower also portrayed this city’s military strength. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Standing below Lin Shang city, Jiang Wang pondered how to register for passing, whether to use the title of Yellow River Leader or to keep a low profile and use an alias...
Suddenly, the city gate opened, and a cavalry unit advanced, stirring up dust.
This cavalry had an undeniably impressive aura, undoubtedly the elite among elites.
Each wore armor and robes, with ornate carvings on the armor, light flowing like water.
Apart from the leading general, the fire-red robes of the soldiers burned brightly in the air.
Their fierce steeds were uniformly crimson red, their hooves the size of bowls striking the ground like thunder.
Startling pedestrians to evade.
Jiang Wang had presumed this Chu cavalry was executing some military mission, not wanting trouble, sincerely avoided along with the crowd.
Unexpectedly, this cavalry seemed to fixate on him, heading directly his way.
As they neared, the leading general with a water-blue battle robe removed his helmet, revealing a handsome young officer.
With brows like willow, eyes like the moon, remarkably clear and attractive.
Pulled the reins, the azure divine steed he rode stopped before Jiang Wang, rose to its hind legs, and roared like a dragon!
That young officer sat firmly on the horseback, full of vitality!
...
...
Ps:
1, "With a sincere heart, I implore the deity, the god, the ghost, to drink high."—spontaneously created by the author.
2, "Come, let’s cut the bull’s head, drinking with abandon."—from "The Chapter of Drunkenness"
3, Last day of the month, don’t waste your votes, cast them.
There will be updates at midnight.
