Chapter 120

Since the beginning of autumn, the rain has been falling on Daming. The sky is thick with black clouds, and in the evening, it is even darker.

It is said that spring is the plan of the year, and morning is the plan of the day. Then in contrast, autumn and sunset are the coolest, so "since ancient times, autumns are sad and lonely*", the autumn dusk combined with the overcast rain makes the earth feel apathetic.

Zong Zi Heng also disliked autumn. Although autumn has its own beauty, his orchids will wither. Plus, he is afraid of the cold.

He remembered again that he no longer had any orchids.

He stood on a high building and looked far away, but his eyes were drawn to the raindrops bouncing off the eaves.

Sweet dew fell from the sky, yet became mud when it landed on the ground. Why do they still strive to be first for fear to be last and scramble down?

A cold wind swept through the curtain of rain violently, blowing into the high building as the rain followed the wind and turned the corner. Zong Zi Heng felt a chill on his face.

"Emperor, it's windy and cold at night, go back."

Cai Cheng Yi used to be the Head of Housekeeping at Qinghui Pavilion. When he first entered the palace, he had good looks, and strength. He originally had a good future, but unfortunately, he hurt his back once and could not serve his master properly, so he was transferred to Qinghui Pavilion. Everyone in the Palace knew that the Consort of the Qinghui Pavilion had offended the late Empress and was not well received by the late emperor, so he was equivalent as being "exiled".

But he resigned to his fate. Although this job was a poor one, he had no family and no troubles, so he's satisfied with a mouthful of food. Plus, he also sympathized with the mother and son of the Qinghui Pavilion who had no one to rely on.

Fortunately, the eldest prince was determined not to fall short, and was born with a natural talent that is rarely found in a hundred years. The status of Qinghui Pavilion in the palace climbed to a higher point steadily, and they were not bullied much.

As a bystander, he has watched the eldest prince grow from an infant to a well-behaved and sensible child, to a clever and gentle teenager, to a youth like a eucalyptus against the wind*, and finally to the reserved, powerful and dignified Emperor Zong before him. At the same time, he has witnessed the feud between two generations of the Zong clan. How they have stirred up the sea and shook the mountains in Jiuzhou until there is no more peace.

The young emperor was no longer as gentle and smiling as before, nor did he tend to flowers. The people in the world were free to imagine how sinister and malicious a person, who killed his father, killed his younger brother, seeking power and usurping the throne, should be, but he clearly remembered that Emperor Kong Hua had been a pure and gentle child, filial and sensible, caring and protecting towards his younger siblings, loved by all, and never ever shouted at his subordinates. Why did that eldest prince turn out to be like this today?

Perhaps it was because he had grown old, and ordinary people without spiritual energy accompanying them had become dizzy and eyes dimmed at this age, so he could not see clearly with his conscience and naked eyes.

Zong Zi Heng's slender body remained unmoving, allowing the autumn breeze and rain to blow on his gold-encrusted imperial robes. He said softly, "This is the highest point of the Wuji Palace. When the weather is good, you can see dozens of miles away."

"Yes."

"When Zi Xiao returns, I can see him from afar." Zong Zi Heng's voice was so light and thin, as if it would diffuse when the wind blew. A layer of gentleness appeared on that pair of eyes that were always frozen with a sorrow that was too thick to melt.

Cai Cheng Yi sighed in the dark.

"It's been ten years. It's so fast ah."

"In these ten years, we haven't met each other, and I don't know if I can recognize him at first glance."

"When he was a child, he always said that he would grow taller than me. Is he taller than me now?"

"Has he been married yet? I don't think so."

"Everyone in the world says that the image of him riding the demon foal Wuya with thousands of Yin soldiers behind him is horrifying to the extreme. Everyone in the world also says that he will definitely lead the Yin soldiers to trample down Wuji Palace. I rather think that he will not use the Xuanyuan Heavenly Secret Talisman against me."

Cai Cheng Yi listened quietly to these undulating words, thinking that the young emperor did not need an audience and was only speaking to himself.

But then the emperor suddenly asked him, "Eunuch Cai, do you know why?"

“This old slave doesn’t know."

"Because he has been competitive ever since he was a child. He wanted to defeat me with the Zongxuan Sword." Back then, after Zong Zi Xiao had escaped, he then took advantage of their departure to Kunlun to sneak back into Wuji Palace and steal the Zong's greatest treasure, the Shanhe Sheji Map. At that time, no one thought that a teenager could master an ancient divine treasure, yet ten years later, he had manipulated two. If he had used this magical weapon, he would have won too easily and would have an unfair advantage in a battle.

"Emperor, aren’t you ... going to get prepared?"

Ten years ago, the ninth prince, Zong Zi Xiao, fled from Daming and disappeared without a trace. Ten years later, the Supreme Demon, Zong Zi Xiao, reappeared with two ancient magical weapons, sweeping the immortal cultivation world, and no one could beat him. Everyone knew that he would definitely return to Daming because he wanted to take revenge on his big brother.

"Prepare for what?"

"Uh ..."

"Escape? Do you think I will be defeated too?"

"No, that's not what this old slave meant." Cai Cheng Yi explained in a flurry.

Zong Zi Heng said indifferently, "I would like to see how much he has grown in ten years."

"Ninth Highness he ..."

"Don't call him Ninth Highness." Zong Zi Heng interrupted him, "He is no longer the Ninth Highness."

"This old slave’s tongue had slipped, this old slave’s tongue had slipped." Cai Cheng Yi said in fear, "Emperor, this old slave is just very worried about you."

"There is nothing to worry about. Life and death are dependent on destiny." Zong Zi Heng looked far away through the dreary rain. The shadows seemed to be the darkness that Zong Zi Xiao would bring to the Wuji Palace. His chest seemed to be pressed with muffled thunder, "Every emperor wants to build a legacy that will last forever, but the period between dynasties kept transiting. The Daming Zong Clan’s time has come."

Cai Cheng Yi felt awful in his heart, and he did not know how to comfort the emperor. The Supreme Demon's irresistible force was so overwhelming that he beat the entire immortal cultivation world until it didn't have the ability to fight back. In today's immortal cultivation world, the imperial power of the Zong Clan already exists in name only, and the various immortal clans are divided and fighting all the time. To put aside grudges and prejudices and join forces against the enemy is not something that can be done overnight.

There was no one left to fight against the Supreme Demon.

Cai Cheng Yi thought that a better ending would be for the Supreme Demon to take away the throne and crown himself emperor, and a worse ending would be for the majestic palace that stood here today to be reduced to a shovelful of yellow earth the next. No matter what, his emperor would bear the deepest hatred and anger for the Supreme Demon, so how could he be preserved?

However, he clearly felt that the emperor still remembered his brotherly love in his heart.

The emperor was usually cold and reticent, yet he would occasionally talk to him about stories from his childhood, stories that included Zong Zi Xiao, and only at that time would the emperor's tightly furrowed brow be relaxed.

Also, the only orchid pot that the emperor kept in his bedchamber ...

Zong Zi Heng stretched out his hand and caught a small handful of rainwater in his palm. He looked down at his reflection in the water. That small water mirror was unable to illuminate his full appearance. He could only see a grey, hazy eye with a layer of vapor appearing underneath it, as if it was also raining.

Xiao Jiu ...

You're on your way here, right? We'll meet very soon.

It's been ten years. The world has changed. You and I have both changed beyond recognition.

How have you been in these ten years? My body is in a cold, deep palace and my heart is in the infernal hell. How about you? You must have suffered a lot too, right? Has anyone asked about your health, fed you and clothed you?

It is a pity that when we meet again in ten years, you and I as brothers are destined to fight to the death. After all, the sun and the moon cannot shine together.

If I die, will I be able to revive your heart’s nature and cleanse you of your demons in your heart?

If I die, would you not hate me anymore?

I often think, if I had been as strong as I am today ten years ago, I would have been able to protect you.

Yet there is no if.

Xiao Jiu, big brother has always missed you.

 

 ----

PS: T___T

 

since ancient times, autumns are sad and lonely*[自古逢秋悲寂寥]----a poem: http://chinesepoetryinenglishverse.blogspot.com/2013/06/single-crane-shoots-through-clouds-up.html

eucalyptus against the wind*[玉树临风]--- means handsome, generally, it's not only good looking, but also tall and good shaped. This word is only used to describe a man

 

Edited on 22 Apr. 21 (Emzie)

 

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