Minglong

Chapter 189 Moving
Imperial City, Royal Study.

White lanterns swayed gently under the eaves, the warm autumn light was blocked by the screen, and incense smoke curled inside the room.

Cao Fo'er stood by the door, holding his whisk, gazing towards the Imperial Observatory where he could faintly hear some noise.

On the soft couch in the study, Crown Prince Zhao Jinghuan took a midday nap, holding a jade pendant in his hand. The pendant was carved with a double-pupiled bird, which is believed to ward off evil and bring good fortune.

This pendant was a gift from the Emperor's father-in-law, He Xiu. Zhao Jinghuan loved flowers and birds in his childhood and cherished it dearly, but it was confiscated by the strict Emperor Qian. He only got it back a few days ago.

Zhao Jinghuan held the jade pendant and played with it, not for entertainment, but to reminisce about his dearest relatives who had been by his side since childhood but were now separated from him by death.

Perhaps what you think about is what you dream about; in his half-asleep state, he seemed to see his always strict father again.

Emperor Qian, dressed in a dragon robe, sat down beside the soft couch and spoke softly:

"Your father and mother are doing well in heaven, don't worry about them..."

"From this day forward, you will be the Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty. Your father wished to see the world unified and all people living in peace and happiness, but unfortunately, I have not achieved my ambitions in this life. This responsibility will now be entrusted to you..."

Zhao Jinghuan looked at his deceased father, who was so close to him, and tears welled up in his eyes:

"Your son will certainly live up to your expectations, Father."

Emperor Qian chuckled softly and then said:

"Among all the religions and schools of thought, only Confucianism advocates the rule of the king, respecting the king and repelling the barbarians, and maintaining order between superiors and inferiors."

"Immortals, Buddhas, warriors, sorcerers, and demons, though divided into good and evil, have no heart for the world, but for 'heaven.' What they seek is nothing more than for one person to attain enlightenment and escape the cycle of reincarnation..."

Zhao Jinghuan responded in a half-dreaming state:

"My son, 'Suppress all other schools of thought and exclusively honor Confucianism'?"

"Eh." Emperor Qian waved his hand: "Taking too big a step can easily lead to chaos in the country. You are Fan Li's student, so you should talk to Fan Li and Mu Yunling about these matters more..."

The familiar voice lingered in my ears, then vanished without me noticing.

Zhao Jinghuan awoke abruptly from his afternoon nap, only to realize with a start that his old friend had long since departed, and it had all been a dream. He wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, sat alone for a moment, and then gave the following instructions:

"Buddha'er, make preparations to summon Mu Yunling of Danyang Academy, Li Yanru of Hualin Li Clan, and Xu Tong of Jiangzhou Xu Clan to the capital in the coming days. I would like to meet them."

Cao Fu'er was somewhat puzzled when she heard that the Crown Prince had suddenly summoned several prominent Confucian scholars. However, since the Crown Prince was about to ascend the throne, it was reasonable for him to discuss the principles of governance with renowned Confucian scholars. She nodded in agreement.

"promise."

……
-
As night falls, the Danyang Marquis's Mansion, located on Zheng'an Street, is brightly lit.

Xie Jinhuan stood at the door, bidding farewell to the drunken Uncle Fei, Da Biaozi, and other relatives and friends, before looking up at the stars and moon in the north.

After resolving the sectarian dispute at noon, Zhang Guan retrieved his spoils from the abbot of Fanyun Temple—thirty-six drops of Vajra Dew.

Although it was just a small victory, with the landlady who always finds an excuse to party, it was definitely time to celebrate. Coincidentally, the new house was almost ready, so the group decided to move!
Since it was still during the national mourning period, it was not appropriate to hold such a grand event. Duoduo simply transferred servants and cooks from the Prince's Mansion to prepare a few tables of family banquet in the new residence.

He invited acquaintances such as Fiji, Yang Dabiao, and Liu Qingzhi to come over, while Wanyi, Zisu, Qingmo, and others had a separate table in the back courtyard. He had originally wanted to invite Bingtuozi over so that he could meet his sisters.

Unfortunately, Bing Tuozi was busy and couldn't be found, which is a bit of a shame.

Xie Jinhuan was all alone, with only a big lump of coal by his side. He was quite moved to have so many relatives and friends supporting him. He went all out, preparing more than a dozen jars of "Hero's Tears" and placing them on the table so that Uncle Fei and the others could drink to their hearts' content.

After several rounds of drinks and the guests had left, Xie Jinhuan couldn't help but think of his old friend Deng, who was serving as an official far away in the north.

If the old man were here today, the atmosphere would definitely be much more lively. I wonder what he's doing right now...

After pondering for a moment, Xie Jinhuan returned to the mansion and went to the lakeside in the back courtyard.

There is a teahouse by the lake, but the landlady has turned the interior into an 'entertainment room,' with shelves around it displaying dice, musical instruments, and other entertainment equipment.

In the center was a velvet carpet and a nanmu wood table, large enough for a dozen girls to sit around. It was covered with snacks to go with drinks, and cushions were placed around it.

The landlady, still dressed in mourning clothes, was stunningly beautiful despite her lack of makeup. She sat to the side of the main seat, rolling dice with Poison Hand Medicine Girl, one of the "Twin Beauties of the Academy."

"Four, five, six big!"

"Hehe~ Three sixes!"

"what?"

Lin Zisu looked especially beautiful today. Her light blue dress accentuated her budding figure, and her aunt had styled her hair into a charming braid adorned with small flowers. As she gambled with the princess, Zisu seemed to have taken some kind of drug to enhance her senses, and she won more than she lost.

Wanyi sat beside her, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. Her hair was styled in a very intellectual updo, and she had somehow acquired a butterfly hair clip to tie it up. Combined with her dignified and intellectual demeanor, she looked very much like the First Madam. Perhaps fearing that the mischievous maid might accidentally drug her and cause some kind of scandalous gathering, she kept her eyes on Zisu's hands.

Naiduo, who was playing the pipa and watching the fun, noticed him coming over and her eyes lit up. She pouted and gestured to him from the side.

Seeing this, Xie Jinhuan did not disturb the enjoyment of his guests and turned to go into the main room.

The main house has two floors, with a double-height hall in the middle, where a plaque with the words "Upright Gentleman" hangs. To the left and right are a study, bedroom, bathroom, and so on.

At this time, a weapon rack appeared under the plaque, with a nine-foot-long spear placed horizontally on top, and two sword stands on the left and right, used to display the Tiangang Mace and the Zhenglun Sword.

After glancing around, Xie Jinhuan heard a noise on the second floor on the east side, so he went up the stairs to the second floor and saw an empty room with a cat tree, rattan ball, small swing, and a display cabinet full of dried meat and dried fish.

There was even a painting of a 'bird sword immortal' wearing a straw hat and a cloak hanging on the wall, which looked like the landlady's handiwork.

Coal Ball has never seen such an extravagant place in its life. Perhaps feeling that it has no more pursuit in this life, it squats on the cat tree in a daze, and no one knows what it is thinking.

Linghu Qingmo, unable to hold her liquor, wandered around distributing wine with Meiqiu. At this moment, she stood to the side, admiring her best friend's masterpiece.

Because she was there to attend a housewarming party, and today was a special surprise, Mo Mo couldn't help but dress up for the man she loved. She changed into a flowing white dress, her long black hair was tied in a half-up bun, and her long black hair was draped over her back, adorned with the hairpin he had given her. She also wore a jade bracelet on her wrist. Her figure was tall and graceful, elegant and otherworldly.

Xie Jinhuan tiptoed behind, glanced at him briefly, and then:

Snapped--

"Ugh?!"

Linghu Qingmo was startled and trembled. She had just turned around when she was silenced by a kiss. Her eyebrows shot up, and she wanted to scare this lecherous man.

But considering their current relationship, he hesitated to make a move, so he took a step back and frowned, saying:
"Why aren't you entertaining the guests? What are you doing here? I'm just taking a stroll with my coal briquettes..."

Seeing that Mo Mo wasn't angry, Xie Jinhuan was about to push her luck! She reached out and pinched Mo Mo's fair cheek.

"If you dare to yell at me again, believe me, I'll go to Ziwei Mountain and complain!" This was exactly what Linghu Qingmo feared. Now that even her master probably wasn't on her side, her face flushed red, and she tried to leave.

"I didn't yell at you, I'm going to the tea room..."

"Eh~"

Xie Jinhuan pulled him by the wrist and led him down the corridor:

"I did put in some effort today, can't you at least offer something in return?"

Linghu Qingmo tried to pull his hand away, but before he could, he was pulled along. After a moment's consideration:

"Hmm... You won beautifully in today's competition, congratulations."

"and then?"

"Then……"

Linghu Qingmo knew what Xie Jinhuan wanted. After hesitating for a moment, he moved a few steps closer and, with lightning speed, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Okay?"

Xie Jinhuan shook his head, went to the window, and looked at the garden and lake outside.

Linghu Qingmo, unable to escape with his hand being pulled along, could only stand at the second-floor window, letting the wind blow through him. After a moment of silence, noticing Xie Jinhuan's silence, he glanced at Xie Jinhuan's cold, handsome profile out of the corner of his eye.
"What are you thinking?"

"Waiting for you to lean on my shoulder."

"?"

Linghu Qingmo's eyes turned cold, and she turned her head away, refusing to cooperate. But after a moment of stalemate, her older brother insisted on waiting and even held her hand, preventing her from leaving.

Left with no other choice, Linghu Qingmo could only lean to the side without making a sound, resting his cheek on her shoulder, his gaze serious, as if he were thinking about slaying demons and monsters...

……

Meanwhile, on the rooftops in the distance from the house.

Nangong Ye, dressed in a black dress and wearing a veiled hat, peeked slightly from the rooftop and looked at the white-clad man and woman leaning against each other at the window, feeling that she had come at the wrong time.

After the matter at the Imperial Observatory was settled, she naturally had to hold a meeting with Zhang Guan and others. After finishing her work, she returned to Fengyi River to tidy up, but by nightfall, the boy still hadn't come.

She was dueling with the demoness at the end of the month and couldn't handle the situation, so she came over to check on things. To her surprise, she found her apprentice and the blond-haired man in a sweet and loving relationship.

Seeing the young man and woman experiencing their first stirrings of love, Nangong Ye's expression became somewhat complicated, and he was about to leave.

But Xie Jinhuan's housewarming party, even if she doesn't eat, she should at least offer her congratulations, right?

Therefore, Nangong Ye chose to wait for an opportunity in the shadows, and as a result, he learned a lot!
Just then, Qingmo and the boy were gazing sweetly at the window when a stunningly beautiful woman with glasses suddenly appeared outside the main room. Pretending to admire the scenery, she was actually searching for her rival who had cheated on her husband. She tiptoed upstairs and then stopped behind them.

"Cough cough~"

Hearing the commotion, Qingmo was startled and immediately stood up straight. However, upon discovering that only Miss Lin had arrived, he didn't back down but instead said:
"Dr. Lin, are you drunk and here to sleep? The bedroom is in the west room."

Upon hearing this, Miss Lin raised her eyebrows and quickly stepped forward, seemingly wanting to have a little sparring.

As it turned out, Xie Jinhuan was also mentally strong. Despite being caught in a pincer movement, he did not panic but instead raised his hand:
"Wanyi, you've come at just the right time. The scenery here is beautiful..."

"The princess is a guest at your house, why aren't you keeping her company? What are you doing here? Hey, hey..."

"Xie Jinhuan! You...you let go!"

The two girls were held in the arms of the white-robed young man, one on each side, and he kissed them on the cheek. Even though he pinched their lower backs and stepped on their toes with electric shocks, they had no complaints. The two girls blushed with embarrassment, but they had no choice but to close their eyes and hide everywhere.

Seeing this scene from afar, Nangong Ye couldn't help but show a hint of disdain in her beautiful phoenix eyes, muttering to herself:
"Such a proper gentleman! How come he becomes like this in front of a young lady..."

But that wasn't all. After such a brief moment of intimacy, the shy Qingmo couldn't take it anymore and fled to find her best friend for protection.

Miss Lin tried to run away, but failed. She was picked up horizontally and carried into a room with the windows closed.
"Xie Jinhuan! We have guests at home..."

"I won't do anything reckless..."

"I do not believe……"

Crackling...

Since there were indeed guests at home, the boy obviously didn't dare to be too presumptuous and came out shortly afterward, but his movements were obviously very swift.

When the beautiful Miss Lin came out, everyone was a little dazed, their faces flushed and muttering to themselves, but they were clearly still enjoying it...

Nangong Ye's eyes were very strange. He wanted to just leave, but he never expected that this kid would keep showing off his tricks!

After returning to the tea room, Xie Jinhuan picked up his pipa again and began playing Daqian electronic music.

Ding ding ding~~

Ling'er was pulled into dancing by Duoduo, Zisu Daxian Momo was also dragged up, and finally Doctor Lin was forced to join in. Even Meiqiu ran over to dance like a shaman, and the tea room was instantly filled with chaotic dancing:
"Gurgle gurgle..."

“Yes, make big movements, Wanyi, don’t be shy, look at Momo…”

"Wow~ Xie Lang truly lives up to his reputation as Empress Dowager Guo's favorite. With looks like that, who wouldn't be bewildered..."

"Zisu! Don't talk nonsense..."

……

Upon seeing this scene, Nangong Ye took a deep breath and sighed inwardly:
Can you jump any more wildly?
A sorcerer, a male favorite of the Northern Zhou Dynasty...

Even the most extravagant playboys in the capital wouldn't be this extravagant...

……

Although the image of the righteous young hero has been shattered, to be honest, this scene is far more conservative than what this boy did to her.

Nangong Ye felt his head buzzing. He didn't know how many times he had recited the calming mantra before he could suppress his distracting thoughts and secretly made up his mind that he must not indulge this child again today. At most, he would touch him with his hand.

He's only eighteen or nineteen, and he's already so dissolute. When he reaches the pinnacle of power in the future, won't he become the 'Ancestor of Joy'?
No, it should be 'Ancestor Jinhuan'.

The name of this child is truly exceptional; I wonder who the mastermind behind it is...

(End of this chapter)