Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 35 Giving Gifts
Lu Chenyuan picked up the manual, his fingertips stroking the plain paper, remaining motionless for a long time.

After a long pause, he scratched his head, looking somewhat exasperated: "Is this 50? 60? Why can't the 'Insightful Eye' show the level of favorability?"

Based on his experience, he could see through the emotional fluctuations of ordinary women with just a glance—whether they were happy or angry, worried or afraid, it was as clear as reading the lines on the palm of his hand.

But Li Lingyue is an exception.

She secluded herself for ten years, cultivating to the highest level. During this long period of seclusion, she also suppressed her emotions and desires very deeply. After emerging from seclusion, she naturally adopted an unapproachable demeanor, exuding natural majesty and unassailable aura. No one in the court or the country dared to act presumptuously in front of her.

Lu Chenyuan saw it clearly—the more she tried to maintain a composed demeanor, the more lonely she appeared.

Empress Wu's expectations, the resentment of the Li Tang imperial family, and the criticism of the people...

She stood in the eye of the storm, her face expressionless, but she was undoubtedly tormented inside.

This was already evident during the last test.

He only mentioned the fate of the Li Tang imperial family briefly, and her eyes immediately reddened.

"Once the mask is broken, there are only two possible outcomes..."

Lu Chenyuan narrowed his eyes, his fingertips lightly tapping the table. "Either take the opportunity to drop the pretense, or..."

—Outraged and ashamed.

Li Lingyue, on the other hand, is clearly the latter.

This is troublesome.

Whether you're trying to gain or lose favor, you need to figure out the other person's emotional changes first. But she only has two extreme states: either icy cold or furious. The emotions she evokes are all hidden in anger. Adding 1 is being embarrassed and angry, adding 10 is being embarrassed and angry, and subtracting is also anger. The degree of expression is also about the same, so it's impossible to tell where you've gotten to.

Damn it, what a difficult customer!
"That's all."

Lu Chenyuan sighed: "Don't flatter yourself. Maybe she's just a good person, maybe she's not even 40 yet... She's already been rewarded for catching the thief: gold and silver treasures, cultivation manuals, divine weapons, and even this house. Since she's given us such a generous gift, we should show some appreciation. Let's prepare a return gift."

Lu Chenyuan first read through the cultivation technique, memorized it, and then put it aside.

There's no rush to cultivate.

The second chapter requires the cooperation of divine sense, but he is still in the second realm, his meridians are not yet open, and he doesn't even have divine sense yet. It's not too late to break through the realm and cultivate after entering the Xuanji Pavilion to select treasures tomorrow. He should prepare a gift for the rich woman first.

He took out the jade piece of the Lü Lü Yi he had taken from Wang Yizhi from his pocket, and gradually began to have an idea.

……

Princess House.

Inside the deep dungeon, the damp, cold air was filled with the smell of rust and rotting blood.

The torches embedded in the walls flickered erratically, and the distorted light and shadow on the ground seemed like writhing ghosts.

Li Lingyue, dressed in a black brocade robe, stood on the stone steps, coldly looking down at the torture chamber below.

The maid, Yuan Qingshuang, stood quietly beside her, holding a blue gauze palace lantern.

"Your Highness, this man is stubborn; we need to use some methods."

A thin man in a dark red official robe bowed respectfully. His voice was hoarse, like the friction of rust. His name was Zhao Wujiu. He was originally from the Inner Guard and had served as the chief executioner in Lijing Prison. Now he had been transferred back to Yuantai, where he was specifically responsible for prying open the mouths of those who were difficult to pry open.

Li Lingyue nodded slightly and said calmly, "Let her speak."

"Yes."

Zhao Wujiu grinned, revealing a few uneven, yellow teeth, and turned to walk towards the rack.

In the center of the torture chamber, Hui Yeqing was suspended by iron chains, his arms outstretched and his toes barely touching the ground.

Before her lay a long table displaying various instruments of torture, each gleaming with a chilling light.

Zhao Wujiu slowly picked up the first instrument of torture—the "Stabilizing Hundred Veins" cangue. The three-foot-long iron cangue was covered with barbs, and the round hole in the center was just right to trap a person's neck.

"This thing is called 'Stabilizing a Hundred Veins.' Once you put it on, the slightest movement will cause your skin and flesh to be hooked, and blood will gush out." He said casually, his fingers tracing the edge of the shackles, his fingertips stained with a trace of dark red, whether it was rust or dried blood, he couldn't tell.

Hui Yeqing, covered in wounds, watched coldly, his Adam's apple bobbing, gritting his teeth and remaining silent.

Zhao Wujiu didn't take it seriously and picked up another pair of iron pliers shaped like a beast's mouth—"Can't breathe."

"This thing is designed to clamp the ribs. Once it tightens, it's as if your lungs are being gripped by iron claws. You can't inhale or exhale, and you'll suffocate to death. It's one of Lord Lai's proud creations." He casually snapped the jaws shut, and the "click" of the metal clamping together was particularly jarring in the deathly silent dungeon.

Hui Yeqing's breathing became rapid, and cold sweat seeped from his forehead, but he still clenched his teeth tightly.

Zhao Wujiu sneered and picked up the third instrument of torture—"Sudden Roar," a pair of iron boots covered in sharp nails. He flicked the boots lightly, and the nails clanged together, making a crisp "clanging" sound that was particularly jarring in the deathly silent dungeon.

"Wearing it, you can't stand up straight and can only keep spinning until you faint." He said slowly, his eyes fixed on Hui Yeqing like a venomous snake. "The last person who used it spun around three hundred times, vomited until his bile was dry, and finally begged to confess."

"..."

Hui Yeqing stared intently at the iron boots, then suddenly chuckled softly, his voice hoarse and filled with deep-seated hatred.

"brute……"

She murmured, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

The next second, she suddenly looked up, her eyes bloodshot, and roared at Li Lingyue, "You beasts! You're worse than beasts! Li Lingyue—you're unworthy of being a descendant of the Li Tang dynasty! You're unworthy of being a descendant of Emperor Taizong!"

Her voice echoed through the dungeon, making the torches tremble slightly.

"The Han King's lineage is filled with loyal martyrs! My grandfather, Li Yuanjia, would rather die than surrender in order to reclaim the legitimate Tang dynasty from the wicked empress. And you, Li Lingyue! You have the blood of Emperor Taizong flowing in your veins, yet you willingly become Wu Zetian's henchman, slaughtering your own relatives! In your midnight dreams, have you ever seen those souls of the dead? Have you ever heard their cries?!"

Her voice was trembling, each word a tear of blood.

Li Lingyue's fingertips trembled slightly, but her face remained calm.

"That venomous woman Wu Zetian actually changed our surname to 'Hui,' using the name of snakes and insects to insult my Li family! She slandered the royal family as having the heart of a venomous snake, but little did she know that she is the most venomous, the most shameless, and the most disgusting!"

Hui Yeqing suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, a laugh as shrill as a ghost: "She slandered us as poisonous snakes, so we showed her how poisonous we could be! Unfortunately, heaven is blind; the [Yuanrong Divine Crossbow] didn't kill that venomous woman! And you, you think you can gain favor by doing all sorts of dirty deeds for her? She even killed her own son for the throne! How did Li Hong die? How was Li Xian deposed? You're nothing but..."

"shut up!"

Zhao Wujiu shouted angrily and raised his hand to begin the torture.

Li Lingyue gently raised her hand to stop him.

She slowly walked down the stone steps, stepping across the damp ground, and stopped in front of Hui Yeqing.

"Are you done talking?" she said calmly.

Hui Yeqing stared intently at her, her chest heaving violently.

"Your nephew is imprisoned in the Imperial Household Department. He is six years old this year."

Her voice was very soft, "It should have been called Li Wei, but now it's called Huinu."

Hui Yeqing's eyes were bloodshot, and his whole body was trembling.

"You can keep cursing."

Li Lingyue bent down, the tassels of her hairpin brushing against Hui Yeqing's blood-stained face. "But for every curse I utter, I have someone chop off one of the child's fingers."

Hui Yeqing stared intently at Li Lingyue, his teeth grinding together.

“Li Lingyue…”

Her voice was hoarse, each word seemingly squeezed out from between her teeth: "You...you have such a cruel heart..."

Her lips trembled, and suddenly she let out a low growl, almost like a wild beast, violently struggling against the chains, oblivious to the blood streaming from her wrists: "You're threatening me with a six-year-old child?!" Her voice rose sharply, almost shrill, "He's just a child! You—"

Her voice suddenly choked, as if it had been abruptly cut off.

The next second, she began to tremble violently, and a broken sob escaped her throat.

Tears mixed with blood rolled down her face and hit the cold ground.

"……brute……"

She murmured, her voice growing softer and softer, filled with a profound despair.

Li Lingyue looked down at the limp Hui Yeqing expressionlessly: "Tell me who's behind you, tell me about the other remnants!"

"...Okay...I'll talk..."

Hui Yeqing gasped for breath, her body slumping down like a puppet with its strings cut, her voice broken and fragmented: "It's the Netherworld Palace, Xiao Hanchuan..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it turned into a silent sob. She curled up under the rack, like a shell whose soul had been emptied.

After hearing all the answers, Li Lingyue turned away indifferently and walked out of the dungeon.

A night breeze swept over me.

She stopped abruptly, slightly out of breath. Looking up, she saw a sky full of stars, dazzling like diamonds, which only made her feel more lonely.

"Your Highness."

Shangguan Wan'er's voice came from behind, her tone grave: "The details of the Netherworld Palace have been investigated."

Li Lingyue didn't turn around, but slightly tilted her head, signaling her to continue. Shangguan Wan'er whispered, "The Netherworld Palace was secretly formed by the descendants of those who failed in their rebellion against Wu Zetian. Although the families of Empress Wang and Consort Xiao were almost completely slaughtered, some collateral branches still survived. In addition, there were the remaining members of the imperial family, such as Prince Han Li Yuanjia, Prince Lu Li Lingkui, and Duke Huang Li Ai, and their relatives and friends... They have been lying low for many years, and now, under the pretext of 'exterminating the Wu Zetian rebels, saving the people from suffering, and restoring the imperial power of the Tang Dynasty,' they have secretly colluded with the Turks to launch this assassination attempt."

The night breeze blew by, but Li Lingyue remained expressionless.

"Xiao Hanchuan is Consort Xiao's grand-nephew. He wandered the martial world since childhood and was later found by Xu Guhong, the leader of the Wuxiang Sect, who taught him unique skills, enabling him to acquire unpredictable and treacherous martial arts. He is the one who has been capturing mechanical masters for Ashina Yan and Hui Yeqing these past few years. He is still in Jiannan Road making arrests, and more needs to be done..."

As Shangguan Wan'er spoke, she raised an eyebrow, keenly sensing that Li Lingyue's emotions were off.

She gestured to a maid behind her, instructing her to present the information to the Empress first. She then changed the subject, smiling, "The night dew is heavy and chilly. Why doesn't Your Highness go to the hot spring to relax? Let Wan'er have a good soak too. It's been a long time since I've had a proper bath. Qing Shuang, prepare some calming herbs."

Yuan Qingshuang glanced at Li Lingyue: "Yes."

Li Lingyue closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her gaze had returned to calm: "...Alright."

The hot spring pool in the princess's residence is located in the "Warm Fragrance Pavilion" behind the sleeping quarters. It is an independent double-eaved hip-roofed building surrounded by a white marble corridor. Gilded palace lanterns hang under the corridor, and when the night wind blows, the lantern shadows sway, reflecting the scattered gold on the surface of the pool.

The pavilion is divided into three sections.

The outer room features a carved sandalwood screen and a gilded incense burner, providing a space for changing clothes and resting. A stream is channeled into the central courtyard, spanned by a white jade arched bridge, with seasonal flowers and trees planted on both sides, including red plum blossoms against the snow in winter. The inner chamber is where the hot spring bath is located, its dome adorned with glazed tiles arranged to form a star map, allowing for celestial observation at night.

This was Princess Taiping's most private resting place.

Amidst the misty steam, Li Lingyue leaned against the edge of the Jade Pool, her cascading black hair spreading out in the water. A maid was carefully combing her hair with a rhinoceros horn comb, and water droplets slid down her slender neck before disappearing into the rippling blue waves.

Shangguan Wan'er removed her official robes, leaving only a light, plain gauze bathrobe. As she stepped into the pool, ripples spread across the surface, reflecting off her snow-white skin.

Amidst the misty haze, two stunning beauties appeared as if goddesses had descended to earth; one was as graceful and noble as a peony in full bloom, while the other was as pure and ethereal as an orchid in a secluded valley.

When Shangguan Wan'er's gaze swept across the wall behind the screen, she suddenly paused—there hung an exquisite scroll there.

In the painting, the golden lion stands on auspicious clouds, with a bright moon and a solitary peak appearing behind it, creating a pure and lofty artistic conception.

A short poem was inscribed beside the painting:
-

The autumn rain swells the pond at Lishan at night, and the golden lion spews mist as the moon sets.

Do not say that paintings are easy to alter; the hardest thing to depict is a beautiful woman's infatuation.

-

The handwriting is upright and strong, written in the Feibai style, with strokes as sharp as if carved by a knife and axe, clearly the work of a man.

Shangguan Wan'er secretly praised his remarkable talent, a knowing smile flashing in her eyes.

She turned her head to look at Li Lingyue, deliberately drawing out her words: "The brushwork is extraordinary, and what's even more remarkable is this line, 'The hardest thing to depict is a beauty's infatuation,' every word is truly crafted with care."

"..."

Li Lingyue's skin, which had been immersed in warm water, immediately flushed with a thin layer of red, and even the tips of her ears turned crimson.

"What nonsense!"

Li Lingyue forced herself to remain calm, as if it were none of her business: "It's just..."

"But what?"

Shangguan Wan'er winked mischievously: "There's clearly a hint of grievance hidden between the lines." She lowered her voice and imitated a man's tone as she softly recited: "'The hardest thing to describe is a beautiful woman's infatuation,' is Lord Lu complaining that a certain prince is too difficult to please?"

Li Lingyue's face grew increasingly red: "Stop making up nonsense!"

"Then, Your Highness, what is the meaning of the word 'foolish'?"

Shangguan Wan'er's eyes flickered, "Is it anger? Infatuation? Or..."

Li Lingyue was utterly enraged and threw a handful of water at Shangguan Wan'er.

"Hahaha, is Your Highness planning to kill us to silence us?"

Wan'er smiled and dodged, but then Yuan Qingshuang quietly appeared outside the screen, holding a gilded box.

"Just in time."

Shangguan Wan'er glanced meaningfully at the box: "It seems there are people who understand His Highness's thoughts better than we do."

Li Lingyue was taken aback and looked at Yuan Qingshuang: "What?"

Yuan Qingshuang said solemnly, "Lord Lu is grateful for the princess's reward and has prepared a small gift to express his gratitude."

Li Lingyue's face darkened: "You asked him for it?"

"Do not."

Yuan Qingshuang immediately knelt down: "Your Highness is wise, how dare Qingshuang overstep her bounds!"

Li Lingyue glanced at the sky; it was almost midnight. Why would he choose to send a gift at this time? If he was going to send one, he should have sent it tomorrow. She understood that Yuan Qingshuang must have some information about what he had done that afternoon, and seeing that she was in a bad mood after the trial, she went next door to remind him, which was why he sent the gift at this time.

Li Lingyue rolled her eyes at her: "Mind your own business!"

Yuan Qingshuang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that she wasn't angry.

Shangguan Wan'er laughed and said, "Come, come, Your Highness doesn't want to see, but I do. Let's see what good things Lord Lu has made."

Yuan Qingshuang gave Li Lingyue a wronged look.

Li Lingyue pretended not to see it.

Shangguan Wan'er knew that this master and servant were a mix of things: one wanted to see but didn't want to say anything, and the other wanted to give but didn't dare to. She chuckled to herself.

She simply reached out and grabbed the box, placed it by the pool, and opened it.

A gilded birdcage stands quietly.

The cage pillars are slender as willow branches, wrapped entirely in gold wire, interspersed with orchid patterns outlined in silver thread. Under the candlelight, they gleam with a soft halo. On the top of the cage stands a nightingale with outstretched wings, its beak holding a small golden peony. At the bottom of the cage rests a white jade disc, with a relief of surging clouds and seas, as if to lift the entire golden cage into the heavens.

It's somewhat similar to the musical instruments available on the market.

Shangguan Wan'er was somewhat disappointed: "It's a very exquisite item. Are you just passing off something as a mere borrowed flower? This is a bit perfunctory."

Even the most exquisite items are still bought; it's better to give away a painting as a gift.

Li Lingyue was subtly moved, looking at the birdcage and the nightingale, feeling a sense of unease.

This wasn't bought!
"Then listen to what song he picked for you."

Shangguan Wan'er casually flicked a hidden button at the bottom of the cage, and with a very soft "click"—

The cage door slowly opened, and as the mechanism turned, a porcelain doll less than two inches tall rose out of the cage.

The little girl hugged her knees, looking up at the nightingale on the cage ceiling. Her round face was delicately sculpted, with two faint blushes on her cheeks. Her almond eyes were painted with dark blue, but her round shape made her look childish. Her hair was tied in a crooked bun, with a small gold hairpin the size of a grain of rice inserted diagonally. She wore a crimson ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a small Taiping flower embroidered on the lapel.

"ah!"

Yuan Qingshuang clearly didn't know what was inside either, and was surprised when she saw the little figure: "How come this little person looks so much like His Highness, it's just..."

Shangguan Wan'er covered her lips with her sleeve, but couldn't hide the smile in her eyes: "It's just that your face is a bit rounder and your eyes are a bit bigger, making you look like a lucky doll that was given as a New Year's gift in the palace—" she deliberately dragged out her words, "or rather, the kind whose cheeks were pinched."

Li Lingyue blushed and was about to reprimand him when a melodious tune suddenly began to play—

At first, a flute melody, clear and melodious like a secluded spring under the moon, gently pierced through the sandalwood incense in the hall.

The sound seemed familiar yet utterly foreign, as if drifting from a distant mountain, carrying the coolness of night dew, and then transforming in an instant into the melodious and ethereal song of a nightingale, reaching straight to the heart.

The music flowed on, like pearls falling onto a jade plate. Li Lingyue unconsciously closed her eyes. In a daze, she seemed to see a gray-feathered nightingale skimming over the glazed tiles of the forbidden garden and flying towards the vast twilight beyond the palace walls. The bird did not stop or look back, but simply scattered its song to the sky, so free that it made people's hearts flutter.

Li Lingyue's heart skipped a beat.

As the strings began to play, they washed over her thoughts like a tide, reminding her of her mother—the empress who sat regally on the dragon throne. Beneath her majesty, had she ever experienced such loneliness with no one to listen? And she herself was no different—a nightingale trapped in a golden cage, her song beautiful but ultimately unable to escape the ninefold palace.

The three of them were stunned.

They were both discerning individuals, and they almost immediately grasped the meaning conveyed by the music.

Yuan Qingshuang's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth.

Shangguan Wan'er looked at the small and cute Li Lingyue on the box, her eyes filled with envy, and even a hint of barely perceptible jealousy.

As the music ended, the lingering notes faded away, and the hall was so quiet that one could hear the soft crackling of the candle wick.

This gift conveys just three words: I understand you.

The room was filled with silence.

Only the golden hairpin of the little girl in the cage still swayed slightly, reflecting the candlelight and displaying four lines of poetry at her feet:
"The orchids are so beautiful, their fragrance is so sweet."

"If one does not pick it but wears it, what harm does it do to the orchid?"

　P.S.: The music box piece is Yanni's "Nightingale," which is very beautiful. I recommend everyone to try it; it's perfect for this occasion.

　　PS2: To avoid arguments, the last four lines were written by Han Yu, not made up by me. If you think they're bad, then criticize Han Yu.

(End of this chapter)