The Villain Has Blackened Again

Such a big jade sculpture!

Everyone knew that Donglin Kingdom was teeming with all kinds of jade, however, this big jade sculpture was extremely rare to be seen, also one can determine that it’s a superb quality fine jade with just a glance, even just a little chunk of it was priceless, even more so with such a big one!

The jade was carved into two mountains joined together, there were trees on both of the mountain, there was also a waterfall between the mountains coming down in torrents as well as a pavilion on top of the mountain, inside the pavilion, there were two people playing chess, each of the carving was so life-like.

The old monarch also felt that it was exceptionally beautiful, he walked straight in front of the jade carving, looking left and right, he gave high praises again and again, “Good, good! The king of Donglin really is observant and considerate!”

Qi Hengqing cupped his fist and said, “These two mountains are closely interdependent, just like Nanyun and our Donglin’s relationship, both countries be as close as lips and teeth, close friends with each other, don’t know what Your Majesty perceive the two people playing chess in the pavilion as?”

The old monarch said a playful ‘oh?’, he promptly got closer and looked it up and down with careful attention, after that, he said with a very pleased countenance, “The two people playing chess inside the pavilion are both young, but are they Us and old Brother Qi?”

Nanyun Kingdom’s old monarch and the now reigning king of Donglin Kingdom had friendly relations when they were young, it’s just that later on they became busy with their own life, their friendly relation little by little wore down. However, recalling the past events, the old monarch’s expression became a lot softer.

Qi Hengqing smiled lightly, “Answering Your Majesty, it is indeed this minister’s father.”

Father?

The old monarch was somewhat astonished, “Young man, could it be that…”

“This minister’s father’s seventh son, Donglin Kingdom’s seventh prince Qi Hengqing.”

The old monarch looked at him up and down, he then laughed out loud, “Haha! We didn’t know why you looked quite familiar, but when we think about it, you look 7 to 8 parts the same as Old Qi when he was young! Good, very good, like father like son, you’re even more outstanding than your dear father.”

Qi Hengqing’s expression changed slightly, if these words were heard by father, wouldn’t he [Qi King] detest him [Qi Hengqing] even more? Such a wretched old fox!

Qi Hengqing was annoyed inside, but he was calm on the outside, “My father is a genius both in literature and military, this minister isn’t even as good as a thousandth of him.”

Later on, other two kingdoms ambassadors also successively submitted their congratulatory gifts, but because of the previous jade sculpture that had seized all the limelight, these things became even less rare in comparison.

The monarch and his subjects smoothly chatted for a while when Qi Hengqing seemingly brought up a subject accidentally, “This minister heard that Nanyun’s State Teacher magic is exceedingly high, even Your Majesty has to give three parts precedence to him, it’s just that this minister doesn’t know why the State Teacher is nowhere to be seen now? Is it that… this minister’s waiting for a few days is still not enough for the State Teacher to be kind enough to descend here?” [T/N: he’s implying that State Teacher was acting like a high and mighty god that he’s not there to welcome those envoys, even though the monarch was there.]

When the old monarch heard this, his hand stopped as he was about to drink wine, he then explained, “It isn’t that State Teacher isn’t giving you face, it’s just that he recently received a new disciple and he’s leading a parade on the street today.”

Qi Hengqing hummed a surprised ‘oh’, “So it’s like this, it’s this minister that blamed the State Teacher wrongly, Lord State Teacher is only fond of parading the street with his disciples, this matter is indeed important, this minister can wait for a few more days to see State Teacher.”

The old monarch placed extreme trust in Gong Moran, he wouldn’t be set against him just because of Qi Hengqing’s one or two sentences, but nevertheless, there’s a little bit of discontent growing in his heart.

It’s okay to parade on the street, but must it be right on this day? Hearing that the new disciple came from a humble background, bringing her to parade on the street, is it really that important?

Qi Hengqing poured a cup of wine and made a gesture to the king, “Your Majesty, this cup of wine is for this minister to respect Your Majesty, wishing Your Majesty happiness as boundless as the eastern seas, live as long as the Zhongnan Mountains. This minister heard that State Teacher posses a technique to live a long life while preserving his youth, with him here, he will definitely be able to let Your Majesty to live to be a hundred.”

After the old monarch drank that one cup, his gaze became even more deeper.

This boy was clearly instigating his and State Teacher’s relationship, if it weren’t for State Teacher’s Replenishing Life Technique previously, afraid that the other person would succeed on sowing discord between them.

However, Qi Hengqing’s words still produced a little bit of resentment within the deep recesses of his heart. Since State Teacher already knew about this kind of secret art from long ago, why wouldn’t he tell him earlier but waited until he was in the brink of death before bringing it out?

He still remembered how he threw his dignity that day to beg him to replenish his life, a kingdom’s ruler was driven to such a low state like that!

Moreover, did the State Teacher really not conceal any personal secret?

However, just as quick as it came, the old monarch waved that resentment away, if there’s no State Teacher, there wouldn’t be a Nanyun Kingdom which was so prosperous and strong like now, how can he doubt State Teacher’s loyalty?

When Qi Hengqing saw that composed look as still as a mountain on the king’s face, he gave a sneer in his heart.

He firmly believed that there’s no indestructible relationship between a monarch and his subject, especially with this one minister who can cover the sky with just a sweep of his hand, endangering the monarch of his position.

Right now, the Lord State Teacher really was bringing his little disciple to parade around the streets.

Tomorrow was the day to offer sacrifice to the Heaven and pray for good fortune, today was parading around the street, sure enough the State Teacher was really willful.

State Teacher was still riding on that pretentious white gauzed palanquin lifted by eight people, Nan Xun imitated the others and trying to catch up with the parade. Walking and walking, she quickly caught up until she was near the palanquin.

Nan Xun only knew now that State Teacher big boss wasn’t parading the street for no apparent reason.

There were two reasons for him to parade on the street, one was when he received a new disciple, the first time Nan Xun saw big boss three years ago was also because he just received Gong Shiba.

The second was the king’s order. Several months ago, the old monarch’s chronic condition wouldn’t become better, it’s hard for common people to not be agitated, but once State Teacher came out, no matter even if he was just strolling through the street, he can appease those people’s heart in a flash.

Nan Xun stood inside the group, following her senior brothers to act like a pretentious prick, experiencing the feeling of being revered by people from both sides of the street, feeling like she’s really becoming an immortal.

Nan Xun slightly tilted her head, blocking her lips with her hand, she mewed softly to big boss, “My Lord, are you thirsty?”

That voice was so soft that it was almost like she’s just moving her lips silently, but Nan Xun felt that big boss would still hear it clearly.

Indeed, Gong Moran heard it from inside the palanquin.

He was originally sitting still, but when he heard what she said, his closed eyes opened slightly as he faintly casted a sidelong glance towards her, asking, “Duoduo, are you thirsty?”

With one instruction from Lord State Teacher, the whole parade slowly stopped.

The crowd of people thought that State Teacher was about to instruct some kind of big, important matter, but they didn’t expect that he only wanted to ask whether his little disciple thirsty or not, their expressions immediately became colorful ah.

Gong Moran’s disciples were still faring well, because they had already seen how the Lord had been protecting the little girl’s various kinds of shortcomings in Moran Hall, so they still can keep their calm in the face of unexpected event like this, but those imperial bodyguards from outside simply didn’t dare to believe what they heard, did State Teacher ever asked something like this when they were parading before?

Nan Xun awkwardly coughed a bit, she thought that big boss’s reply would be as soft as her question, who knew that he not only not lowers his voice, instead exposing her small secret out.

That’s right ah, parading like this was quite impressive, nevertheless, with such a long time walking without a sip of water in the middle really made her so thirsty.

They have been parading for the whole afternoon, before leaving, Nan Xun this rice bucket ate so much pastries and right now her mouth was so dry that it felt like there’s no saliva left to wet her parched throat.

Suddenly, the sound of tea pouring was heard from inside the palanquin, it was like the sound of nature in the ears of those people who had been wandering on the street from morning to afternoon.

A light tea fragrance floated in the air from inside the palanquin.

A corner of the palanquin’s curtain was opened by a slender hand, and a cup of freshly poured tea was handed over to where Nan Xun was standing.

TL NOTE:

'the sound of tea pouring was heard from inside the palanquin, it was like the sound of nature' - my mind immediately thought of toilet business...(。ヘ°)