After raining for an entire night, the sky cleared the next day. After being thoroughly washed by that violent storm, the blue sky appeared even clearer and fresher.
Dai Wenliang got down from his horse and handed the reins to his attendant. He comfortably took a deep breath with his arms folded. When he raised his head, he saw several pigeons flapping into the General’s Residence.
“Their quality is pretty good.” He smiled and asked the young servant at the gate, “Did Jingchen secretly raise them?”
“Oh, when has Third Young Master ever had the mind to raise these things?” the gatekeeper said. “They were all raised by Second Young Master originally. He abandoned them after only a couple of days, and now they’re all being raised by the servants.”
Dai Wenliang raised his brows. “Good old Shu Changche! He raised so many good pigeons and never told me a word! Go, catch two for me. Pick the fat ones. I’ll take them home and make soup.”
As he spoke, he walked through the main gate. He had barely taken two steps when he saw a young man standing beside the gate, his hands tucked into his sleeves, smiling at him with curved brows and eyes.
The young man wore a long stone-blue robe and had a tall, graceful figure. His facial features in particular were bright and clear, like white pigeons spreading their wings and flying across the sunny sky. Just looking at him made one feel refreshed.
“Who might this be?” He stopped and glanced sideways at the young man.
“My name is Zhao Langzhi, courtesy name Guangting.” Seeing him look over, the young man showed no awkwardness whatsoever and openly bowed to him. “I have come from the northeastern borderlands. Some days ago, I happened to encounter Third Young Master Shu in Zhili, and there was a bit of misunderstanding. Today, I have specially come to pay my respects and express my apology.”
Dai Wenliang found this interesting. His younger brother had always been kind toward others. Apart from joking around with him because they were familiar, he had never seemed to offend anyone. Thinking this over, he curiously asked, “Then what are you standing here for?”
“The rules of the General’s Residence.” He smiled awkwardly. “I am merely a commoner, so naturally I cannot casually meet Third Young Master. I just submitted my calling card and am waiting for a reply.”
At this point, his expression became dejected.
“I don’t even know whether this calling card can reach Third Young Master’s hands. If it cannot be delivered, I will come again tomorrow.”
Seeing his pitiful appearance, Dai Wenliang immediately felt uncomfortable all over. His mind was crude, but his nature was very kind. Seeing this person waiting here so pitifully, he could not bear it. After thinking for a moment, remembering how good-tempered Shu Changyu was, he said, “Don’t wait anymore. Come inside with me.”
Zhao Langzhi was stunned, then happily asked, “This young master…?”
“You’ll be waiting here until who knows when.” Dai Wenliang said, “Come on. But he’s still ill, so keep it brief. Say what you need to say and then leave.”
Zhao Langzhi was stunned for a moment, then delightedly bowed and thanked him again and again before following him inside.
Dai Wenliang entered the General’s Residence with his hands behind his back, then craned his neck to search for the pigeons circling overhead. Naturally, he did not see the deep calculation in the eyes of the person behind him.
Zhao Langzhi had already returned to this lifetime several years earlier. Relying on what he had gained in his previous life, together with the fact that he had been reborn several years before Shu Changyu and the other two, he had spent a long time making arrangements in secret. Now that he finally had an opportunity to enter the capital, he had already investigated everything thoroughly.
He had deliberately waited here today because he knew that this simple-minded Dai Wenliang would come to visit the sick.
At present, he appeared to be completely penniless. There were naturally countless people who wanted to visit Shu Changyu. Only by going through this martial general who was physically strong but mentally simple could he find an opportunity to approach Shu Changyu.
“That one! That one!” Up ahead, Dai Wenliang was still pointing at the pigeons in the sky and shouting, “It’s so fat it can barely fly! Why keep it around? Catch it for me later!”
——
By the time the two entered Shu Changyu’s courtyard, Shu Changyu was wearing an outer robe and holding a blade of grass in his hand. He stood beneath the corridor, teasing a little bird perched on a rack.
Summer was already deep. The courtyard was lush and verdant, with the grass and drooping willows all flourishing. The man stood beneath the corridor in pale-colored robes, his hair loose around his shoulders, looking like a painting.
The bright sunlight poured generously down from the clear blue sky, falling upon his hair and shoulders.
Zhao Langzhi’s expression instantly turned cold.
In his previous life, it was this very person who had married the woman he loved for his own selfish desires.
Although he himself had been mediocre and accomplished nothing in his previous life, if the King of Northern Qi had not taken a fancy to the tremendous power in Shu Changyu’s hands, he would not have hurried to separate the two of them.
At that time, there was only one month left until the imperial examination for outstanding scholars. If it had been one month later, and he had achieved the highest rank in the examination, things would not have…
He would not have needed to fake his death and flee, conceal his identity, and enter the Chancellor’s Residence as an insignificant guard.
Afterward, this person was finally devoured by his own power. He had died exactly as he deserved, to everyone’s delight.
Originally, he and Danyao and their child could have stayed together from then on. Unexpectedly, that foolish and incompetent emperor had actually transferred his anger onto his entire family, causing his child to die a tragic death while he and Danyao were separated by heaven and earth.
He had barely survived in the northeastern borderlands, all so that he could outlive that damned emperor while he was still alive, and reunite with Danyao.
Yet unexpectedly, after enduring humiliation for ten years, he was escorted back to the capital and made the ritual center of that damned emperor’s formation to defy heaven and alter fate.
And Danyao had actually died tragically ten years earlier, during the journey into exile.
In his previous life, he had died under both physical and mental torment.
Within that formation, only the ritual center had to endure until the very last moment before the formation was complete before being allowed to die.
He had been trapped in a blood formation constructed from corpses, scorched by raging flames. Layer upon layer of Buddhist prayer banners fluttered above his head, while incantations calling for his soul and life rang beside his ears.
He would never forget that moment for the rest of his life.
He still remembered the last time that damned emperor had seen him before he was thrown into the formation.
Ten years had passed. That emperor was only a little over thirty, yet his entire person was gloomy and lifeless. His brows were filled with dark, oppressive authority and killing intent. Half of his hair had already turned white, hidden beneath the twelve-tasseled crown.
His expression was as cold as water. When he saw Zhao Langzhi, he coldly curled his pale lips into a faint smile, his face full of contempt and mockery.
He had said, “You betrayed him. This excruciating pain—I waited ten years before repaying it to you. Zhao Langzhi, you brought this upon yourself.”
Brought this upon himself? What did that even mean?
Danyao did not love him at all! It was he who had forced his way between them. Why was it their own fault?!
He hated him, but he had no power to resist fate.
Carrying such overwhelming resentment, he had been thrown into the formation. After suffering for three days amid mountains of corpses, seas of blood, and raging flames, he had finally closed his eyes.
Yet unexpectedly, Heaven had a virtue of cherishing life.
Not only had that formation sent Shu Changyu and Jing Mu back, it had also sent him, filled with unwillingness and regret, back ahead of time.
He had returned five years before those two.
Five years could accomplish many things.
Whenever he tried to come to the capital, he would encounter obstacles, as though even Heaven itself were trying to stop him.
But within the fief of the King of Northern Qi, he had used his methods to win over the King of Northern Qi’s trusted subordinates. He had thoroughly changed the personnel and firmly taken control of Northern Qi’s fief.
He then kept track of movements in the capital, determined the point at which Shu Changyu had been reborn, and arranged a spotless identity for himself.
Now, he was in the dark, while they were in the light.
He knew that Heaven had given him this opportunity so that he could take revenge and settle his grievances.
However, despite his careful preparations over so many years, he still found it difficult to bear when he saw Shu Changyu.
This person… this person was the source of all his suffering.
In his previous life, Zhao Langzhi had considered himself a man of noble character, like a clear wind beneath a bright moon.
But the current him had already become an evil ghost wearing the skin of a modest gentleman.
Those more than twenty years of painful experiences, and that final fire that had burned for three days, had fiercely refined his soul in the karmic flames of hell.
Yet now, the culprit standing before him had enjoyed more than ten years of power in his previous life and had also reaped the benefits by being reborn once more, yet he remained such an upright and outstanding person.
He vaguely knew what Shu Changyu had encountered these past few days, but he had not expected…
This person’s bones seemed as though they could not be broken.
The more he was like this, the more Zhao Langzhi wanted to shatter his bones and trample him into the mud.
Over there, the little bird hopped around on the rack, repeatedly pecking at the blade of grass in Shu Changyu’s hand with its shiny black beak, chirping incessantly.
Shu Changyu had a smile on his face, completely absorbed in playing with it.
Only when the two approached did he notice that someone had come. He raised his head and looked over.
“Shu Changyu, Shu Changyu,” Dai Wenliang took two steps forward, snatched the blade of grass from him, and poked the little bird on the head. The bird, caught completely off guard, flapped its wings and chirped twice, nearly tumbling off the rack.
“Look at this paper-wrapped body of yours. You’re getting sick every other day. What are we going to do with you?”
Shu Changyu smiled and snatched back the blade of grass.
“Why are you bullying it?”
Then his gaze fell upon Zhao Langzhi. He paused.
“This person…?”
Why had Zhao Langzhi come to his residence?
Seeing him look at him, Zhao Langzhi smiled brightly and bowed.
“This one greets Third Young Master Shu. Some days ago in Zhili, I did not know that the gentleman was Third Young Master Shu. I have come today specifically to apologize to Third Young Master.”
Shu Changyu frowned.
He vaguely remembered that in his previous life, Zhao Langzhi had also possessed this same refined scholar-like appearance, which was why he had been greatly favored by Commandery Princess Danyao.
He paused before saying, “It’s nothing. It was merely a small misunderstanding. Why take it to heart?”
As he spoke, he turned around, intending to enter the room.
But his figure paused slightly.
He remembered that Zhao Langzhi was different in this lifetime.
Why had he entered the capital at this particular time, and happened to be encountered by him?
Thinking this over, Shu Changyu turned back around.
“Since you have come, you are a guest.” Shu Changyu said, “Come in and have a cup of tea.”
Zhao Langzhi did not refuse either. He smiled, bowed, and thanked him before following the two of them inside.
While Kongqing came in to pour the tea, Dai Wenliang asked curiously, “How did you end up meeting Third Young Master Shu?”
Zhao Langzhi smiled and said, “It was quite a coincidence. I accompanied Commandery Princess Danyao from Northern Qi. Passing through Zhili, we intended to purchase some personal necessities. In a shop, Her Highness the Commandery Princess and Lord Shu took a fancy to the same piece of jade pendant, and thus there was a bit of friction.”
His explanation made Shu Changyu feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Clearly, Jing Mu had come prepared and had deliberately snatched away what they wanted. Yet when it came from his mouth, it sounded as though he had been the one acting unreasonably and relying on his power to oppress others.
But Shu Changyu could not be bothered to argue with him over this.
He calmly took a sip of tea and asked, seemingly casually, “Oh? I wonder, Young Master Zhao, what position have you come to the capital to take up? Is that why you had to prepare so carefully?”
Author’s Note:
How should I put it? In his previous life, letting Shaofu be reborn meant that Jing Mumu always had to pay some kind of price~ This Zhao Langzhi is basically like an Ant Flower Huabei installment plan. Jing Mu used him as a mortgage to buy Shaofu back, so in this lifetime, he has to repay the debt little by little~
Zhao Langzhi: What the hell kind of analogy is that?!
Besides, Jing Mumu is completely love-brained, and Shaofu dotes on him, so the two of them actually have a rather difficult living situation in this lifetime. They definitely have to go through some hardships before they can live well together!
Anyway! I hope everyone will treat Zhao Langzhi kindly. He’s a little guy holding the male-lead script, but he was unlucky enough to meet the wrong people and was dragged in by Liu Gouhua to serve as cannon fodder~