Min Kong sighed long: "There is one person who struggled in the sea of suffering for three full years, unable to forget, unable to let go, unable to find back. But the spiritual thing didn't even entrust a single dream to him. His mind was confused, he begged all the gods and buddhas in the sky, until finally numbly killing all his enemies, ascending the throne, watching with his own eyes as the lotus his master loved most died completely before him... Ten years without growing—how cruel."
"You think why did I singly help His Majesty erase all memories? Lian Yu, it was he who couldn't forget your master in life or death. It was the seemingly heartless person who was most affectionate..."
The noisy sounds of the marketplace suddenly intruded into his ears. The flame in the Buddhist lantern slowly weakened, but stubbornly didn't extinguish, as if having endless vitality.
Lian Yu opened his mouth, his throat hoarsely making an "ah ah" sound, but still couldn't make a voice.
He hated Shang Cizhou to the extreme, hated him for implicating his master. But compared to Shang Cizhou, he couldn't even call out "Tingzhi". In that youth's eyes just now, he was probably just an extremely ugly, pitiful fish...
Lian Yu drew a deep breath, seeming to smell a faint, elegant fragrance on the fortune bag.
He tightened his fingers. The anger was forcibly suppressed. Without his master, if he lost control, it would only be a dead end.
Back then, this black-hearted Emperor was also about to die. Who knew what price he paid with Min Kong to revive the spiritual thing. How could he now easily shift his affections?
Unless... there was some strangeness he didn't know inside this. A red light flashed through Lian Yu's eyes. Just as he wanted to casually open the bag, he somehow recalled that youth's appearance of propping his cheek and smiling at him.
So lively, so kind—just like his master...
The mute fish slowly withdrew his action.
Then properly tucked the bag against his chest, picked up the Buddhist lantern, turned and disappeared into the noisy sea of people.
***
"Ah, I just gave that little mute a silver bell. Why are you still angry?" Rong Mu hugged the flower lantern in his arms, chasing and calling: "Hey, hey, ah—"
The man walking in front stopped his steps, turned around and quickly pulled him with sharp eyes.
Rong Mu smiled embarrassedly when touched by someone, using Shang Cizhou's force to steady himself.
"Besides, didn't I also give you something before?" Rong Mu squeezed his eyes.
Shang Cizhou looked at him with a cold face: "Are you speaking of that flower lantern with an ugly flower painted on it? The lantern materials were mine, the bamboo strips were mine, even the ink for writing was mine. You used my things to give to me—do you think that counts?"
Rong Mu paused, guilty: "Where is the lotus I painted ugly? Be a man, be generous, don't be so petty—"
"I took you out to play, gave you food and drink, even helped you comb your hair. In the end, I'm still not as good as a hairy young boy you only saw once... Tingzhi, have you ever truly treated me?"
Rong Mu was slightly startled: "Shouldn't I be the one asking this? I still remember you choking me back then!"
Shang Cizhou's fingers slightly moved, his eyes lowering without speaking.
Rong Mu thought about it. When this tyrant got jealous, it really could kill someone. If he saved that mute youth today, and Shang Cizhou secretly uprooted his whole nest later, what then?!
Rong Mu looked at the flower lantern in his hand, pulled Shang Cizhou to a street corner with few people: "...A Zhou, A Zhou?"
Shang Cizhou slightly paused, his face still unchanged as he looked at him.
Rong Mu had no choice but to try his best to balance this bowl of water evenly: "A Zhou, that child doesn't look good and is a mute. I wanted to help him so I gave him a small gift. But look at you—what do you lack? One, you don't lack money. Two, you don't lack power. Not to mention your outstanding appearance, you also have the most powerful family background in all Great Shang. Even if I wanted to give you something, I would need to know what you lack, right?"
Crowded people flowed past from beside them. The lanterns on the high-eaved towers swayed left and right in the night wind, casting a shallow light on Shang Cizhou's face.
He was clearly in the prosperous human world, yet his whole person exuded a thick sense of isolation and gloom.
Rong Mu didn't know if the Shang Cizhou at this moment was real, but he himself treated people sincerely. As long as he opened his mouth, he wouldn't lie.
He was very seriously asking Shang Cizhou, also thinking that if the other's request wasn't excessive, he could conveniently satisfy this heartless tyrant.
Just when Rong Mu thought Shang Cizhou was going to end this childish jealous behavior, he heard the other's delayed response.
"...Tingzhi, I don't want bells."
Rong Mu was slightly startled, laughed and said: "Then what does A Zhou want?"
Shang Cizhou looked at him with deep eyes, as if looking at a treasure that only he could grasp and appreciate.
He turned his eyes: "Tingzhi, look at these passing crowds, and these wine shops and towers. Have you not noticed anything strange?"
Rong Mu made a confused "mm" sound, carefully looking around. His beautiful brows slightly furrowed: "It seems to be missing something..."
Shang Cizhou's voice was low: "Yes. The whole city is bright as day with lanterns, but lotus is nowhere to be seen. I fought for the throne for three years, reigned for seven years—ten full years without seeing that thing in Great Shang. But I see you seem to have exceptional talent, able to easily grow lotus stalks that couldn't survive. So I want you to..."
Rong Mu raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?"
The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone expectant: "I want you to give me a lotus flower. Compared to a small bell, I prefer a spiritual thing personally touched by Tingzhi."
In those few seconds, Rong Mu didn't react to what Shang Cizhou said.
He tilted his head, pointed at the other, then pointed at himself: "What did you say? You huffed and puffed thinking for half a day, and only want a bloomed lotus flower?"
Seeing his expression, Shang Cizhou imitated him tilting his head and said lowly: "If you're reluctant, then I won't want it... That flower is as easy as lifting a hand for you, but for me it is as hard as ascending to heaven. After all, in Tingzhi's heart, one Emperor is still not as good as a lowly mute slave... In this city, everyone has fresh flowers to match their face, only I have hands full of snacks and food."
Rong Mu hissed. He always felt something was not right, but couldn't say what that taste was... Like two incompatible people taking turns selling misery before him.
He threw all the things in his hands to Shang Cizhou, looked at the other's slight pause and said: "Wait here for me. Don't move. I'll go think of a way for you."
Shang Cizhou fixed his eyes on him: "What is Tingzhi going to do?"
Rong Mu felt his surroundings were suddenly hot and cold, his scalp somewhat tight, not knowing if it was from balancing water until tired.
Rich lotus fragrance quietly spread. On both sides of the street, fresh flowers rapidly sprouted and grew. Flower buds heavily drooped to the ground, yet they looked submissive, wanting to bloom but not daring to.
Flower branches worn by passersby at their heads were blown up by an elegant fragrance wind. Colorful petals swirled up three-storied high towers, causing waves of exclamations and chasing from children.
The youth smiled slightly, turning back to look at the Emperor with his radiant face in the city full of lantern light: "Although it’s just a mere lotus, Azhou has waited a full ten years for it. Don't be jealous of that bell anymore. I have exceptional talent, and will go find you a lotus in this city right now."
Shang Cizhou chased a few steps forward, his eyes following the youth's running figure. He looked at the various snacks in his hand. After a long while, the corner of his mouth slightly hooked up a curve.
He wasn't worried at all that Rong Mu would get lost. Long before Rong Mu asked to come to the Flower Festival, Shang Cizhou had already ordered Li Suichuan to turn this place into an inescapable net.
He was insatiably greedy, burning with jealous fire. But his Tingzhi was lively and cute, kind-hearted and beautiful, skilled at drawing people's love. So many people coveted him—how could he not use some methods?
And yet, just a single meeting had brought another person back into his orbit.
A black shadow quietly followed Shang Cizhou: "Your Majesty, we followed just now and have basically confirmed that mute is that day's Eastern Palace thief. Only, the other seems to have used disguise techniques to cover his true appearance..."
Shang Cizhou smilingly made an acknowledging sound, his eyes looking in the direction where Rong Mu disappeared: "Where did he go?"
The hidden guard said lowly: "Still the Huguo Temple direction."
Shang Cizhou withdrew his gaze, his eyes containing sharpness.
...Min Kong.
"Continue watching. If he comes out again, directly kill—" Shang Cizhou thought of something and paused. No, cannot kill.
If he killed that mute, how would he explain to Tingzhi?
No, perhaps he should change his strategy as he did just now. Utilizing the other might be a better way to checkmate them.
"Huguo Temple shall remain closed. After the Flower Festival, I will go to find Min Kong to pay respects to Buddha," Shang Cizhou looked at the hidden guard. "Didn't he say last time only when the lotus blooms can I find him?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, yes."
The sinister gloom in Shang Cizhou's smile faded, as if adding a trace of expectation. He murmured like a child: "Just a lotus flower. With him, I am no longer that tyrant who couldn't raise lotus. Ten years... I will have one very soon."
Comments Box