The flickering red lamp light, the lingering fragrance of ink, the hazy veil and Lin Qingyu who almost cried the entire nightâŚthey all disappeared. But physically, the feeling from the dream remained. It seemed as though he could still feel Lin Qingyu holding on to him so tightly. Lin Qingyu begging him, begging him not to leave; even cursing at him, asking him why he was lying to him again.
After a dazed moment, Jiang Xing sat up abruptly. He looked down at his chest and with trembling hands, he placed them over it.
His heart was beating fast and powerfully, again and again, unburdened by the soreness of poison or the pain of being pierced by thousands of arrows.
He wasnât dead; he was alive. And unlike the previous two times, being in this new body didnât feel at all strange; he even had an indescribable sense of belonging. It was as if⌠as if he was back in his own body.
However, the joy of having survived a disaster was short-lived. Jiang Xing didnât have time to think about the reason why he was back from the dead again. He got out the bed and still barefooted, looked at everything around him.
Please, this has to be the Dayu. It has to be the world with Lin Qingyu in it. I beg you.
A terrifying thought flashed through his mind. What if itâs not? If itâs not, if he dies again, would he have a chance to go back?
Beside the bed was a dozing eunuch. The room was surrounded with exquisite palace lanterns, covered in soft carpets and bounded by pillars engraved with the nine-clawed dragon pattern. Hanging nearby was a black and gold dragon robeâhe knew this dragon robe, only the emperor of the Dayuâs dragon robe had black and gold like this.
Jiang Xingâs limbs seemed to go numb. Before this moment, he had never dared to imagine that one day he would have such a strong feeling of regaining what heâd lost.
He had transmigrated into Xiao Jie.
It didnât matter. He could transmigrate into anyone so long as he was still here.
Jiang Xing subconsciously raised his hand to cover his eyes. Tears spilled from between his fingers. He wanted to wipe away the tears, but the more he wiped, the more the tears overflowed. Through the blurriness, he began to have double vision leading him to wonder if this new body could bear such strong emotions.
It was impossible to bear; a normal person simply couldnât bear it.
F*ck, talk about tormenting a person. He really thought he was going to die. He thought he would never see Lin Qingyu again. HeâŚhe even slept with Lin Qingyu. Lin Qingyu had been crying nonstop. Damn it.
Now was not the time for his legs to go numb. He had to get back to Lin Qingyu and he had to get back as quickly as possible. Lin Qingyu was still waiting for him.
In the dream, Lin Qingyu had been in Qinzheng Hall. The place he was currently in should be Xiao Jieâs bedroom. The two places werenât that far apart.
When Jiang Xing rushed out of this sleeping chamber, he was only wearing a close-fitting robe. The wind was bitingly cold but he felt none of the cold as he stepped on the icy steps.
A palace maid was walking towards him but he had no time to stop, nor did he want to stop.
It was almost time for the emperor to wake up. Xiu Jiao momo was carrying a basin with hot water, preparing to help His Majesty wash up once he wakes up. Before she could even take a step into the bed chamber, she saw the emperor rush out from inside. The expression on his face was no longer the usual empty and numb expression, rather it was a kind of impatient eagerness. Even normal people running for their lives wouldnât be able to match the anxiousness on his face.
Xiu Jiao momo was stunned. When the little emperor was about to fly past her, she came back to her senses. âYour-Your Majesty?! Servants, come quickly! His Majesty-His Majesty seems to have gone crazy!â
Weâre sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so weâre going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
âYour Majesty!â Xiu Jiao momo rushed over, still carrying the washbasin. Seeing Jiang Xingâs feet red from the cold, she said anxiously, âWhy did you run out by yourself?!â
She has taken care of the emperor for a long time. She knew that although the emperor was a dullard, he was an obedient child. He was extremely slow in everything; it was unthinkable for him to move so fast now.
From out the corner of his eye, he caught sight of his own reflection on the water. Jiang Xingâs heart almost stopped beating again.
This was not Xiao Jieâs face. It seemedâŚit seemed to be his own face.
The young man in the reflection had long loose hair. Traces of tears had pooled at the corner of his eyes. Though not exactly the same as his original face, it was extremely similar. The slight differences were mostly due to the hairstyle and ancient fashions.
The Dayuâs emperor was Xiao Jie but this body was obviously not Xiao Jieâs.
Fear spread from his cold feet to his entire body. He had never seen any of these palace maids or eunuchs. The faces of the guards were also unfamiliar.
Who was he?
Could it be that he was still in the Dayu but not in the same time period as Lin Qingyu?
Amidst his desperation, he finally heard a familiar voice. âWhatâs the matter? What has happened to the Emperor!â
âEunuch Song!â Xiu Jiao momo went to the doctor in a hurry, âThereâs something wrong with the Emperor. Eunuch Song, hurry up and find Master Lin!â
When Xiao Songzi heard this, he became anxious. âLooking for Master Lin is no use. Master Lin canât cure the Emperorâs soul loss disease. We should call for the National Teacher.â
A eunuch said, âThe National Teacher has been busy praying for the war in the Northwest for the past couple of days. So heâs staying in Yanfu Hall. Iâll call him right away!â
So heâs transmigrated into Xiao Li?
At this time, no matter how well his bearing, he couldnât help but swear, âWhat the absolute f*cking f*ck! Youâre really toying with me!â
Jiang Xing pushed away Xiu Jiao momo and Xiao Songzi. He pushed all the eunuchs and maids out of his way and heedlessly rushed out of the crowd. The imperial guards could certainly stop him, but he was the emperor now. Seeing how desperate he was, who would dare to go up and stop him. In case His Majestyâs dragonâs body was injured, the empress dowager would make sure that heads would roll. They could only follow after him and protect him from every side.
âYour Majesty, Your Majestyâ!â
Someone yelled, âHurry up! Go to Ciâan Palace and report to the Empress Dowager!â
Jiang Xing has lived three lifetimes but he has never run so fast, so fast that afterimages of the surrounding scenery begun to appear, so fast that a trace of blood begun to sneak out the corner of his mouth. The doors of Qinzheng Hall were getting closer and closerââ
Baobei, donât cry. Youâll ruin your eyes from crying. Your husband will be there soon.
The eunuch on duty in Qinzheng Hall felt only a gust of wind as an unknown object flew past, followed by a large group of people from Xingqing Palace. Those who didnât know about this commotion would have thought that the Xixia had reached the capital and even broken into the palace.
The furnishings in Qinzheng Hall were exactly as in the dream, even the scrolls spread out on the table were the same.
But what about his wife? Where did his wife go!
He wasnât in the main hall; not in the side hall either. He was nowhere to be found. Had Lin Qingyu really done something stupid?⌠Impossible, his Baobei wouldnât do anything with the word âstupidâ.
Xiu Jiao momo saw that he seemed to be looking for something and asked, âYour Majesty, what do you want?â
Jiang Xing has transmigrated twice, so he naturally he knew the necessity of keeping in-character. But right now, his heart was burning so badly that he had long put aside maintaining his character settings. Seeing that there were brushes and paper on the table, he ran forward without hesitation, picked up the brush and was about to write whenââ
Xiao Songzi had a flash of inspiration and cautiously probed, âYour Majesty, do you want to see Master Lin?â
As they all knew, the newly enthroned emperor only ever has a special reaction to just one person â He will smile only at Master Lin.
Jiang Xing nodded abruptly. Without him needing to write, Xiao Songzi said, âMaster Lin has left the palace. He must have returned to the Generalâs mansion.â
Jiang Xing lowered his head again. He dipped the tip of the brush into the ink. A drop of sweat slipped from his forehead, smearing the paper.
âLook,â Xiu Jiao momoâs voice trembled, âDoes the Emperor want to write?â
Everyone was dumbfounded. They were just about to gather around to see what would happen, when a voice said, âThe National Teacher is here!â
Jiang Xing paused and looked towards the door.
Ciâan Palace and Yanfu Hall werenât too far from Qinzheng Hall. Xu Junyuan had suddenly been summoned. Without bothering to change into more appropriate clothing, naturally he arrived faster than the empress dowager. Looking at Jiang Xingâs eyes, his face changed slightly and he ordered, âI myself will be enough. The rest of you, withdraw.â
Xiu Jiao momo hesitated, âBut, the EmperorâŚâ
âThere is nothing you can do even if you stay,â Xu Junyuan smiled meaningfully, âI am the only one who can cure the emperorâs illness. If the empress dowager comes, please remember to announce her arrival.â
Xiu Jiao momo and Xiao Songzi exchanged glances then led all the palace maid and eunuchs back. Only Jiang Xing and Xu Junyuan were left in Qinzheng Hall.
Xu Junyuan saluted and said politely, âMight I ask who Your Excellency is?â
Jiang Xing frantically wrote two words: ăJiang Xing. ă
Xu Junyuan revealed surprise on his face. He pondered for a moment and couldnât help sighing. âSo thatâs how it is.â
ăWhat do you mean? ă
Xu Junyuan smiled and said, âJiang Gongziâs soul has returned to his old body and his soul and body are matched. Allow me to congratulate you.â
ăWhy canât I speak? ă
Xu Junyuan said, âJiang Gongzi, do not worry. You are not mute. It is merely that this body has not spoken for seventeen years. It will take some time for the body to get used to it.â
Jiang Xing no longer concerned himself over this matter: ăTake me out of the palace. Take me to the Generalâs Mansion. ă
Xu Junyuan showed an embarrassed expression. âIâm afraid this is a little difficult.â
ă? ă
Xu Junyuan couldnât understand this symbol but he could guess what Jiang Xing wanted to express. âThe empress dowager is coming. Does Jiang Gongzi think she will let you out?â
Jiang Xing thought about it calmly. Empress Dowager Wen loved her son like her own life. Obviously, she would not let her son run away from the palace under such circumstances.
ăThen you bring Qingyu here. ă
After Jiang Xing finished writing, he added another sentence: ăTell him first that Iâm not dead. ă
âThis is possible.â Xu Junyuan murmured, âBut simply saying so would be no use. What evidence does Jiang Gongzi have to prove that youâre not dead?â
Jiang Xing picked up a pen and pondered. He had so many things he wanted to say to Lin Qingyu but this wasnât the time to talk nonsense. The less time he wasted here, the less time Lin Qingyu will be sad.
He first had to let Lin Qingyu know that he wasnât dead. Heâll save the other words of love for later.
Fortunately, they once again had a future together.
Jiang Xing wrote.
ăIf odd, change. If even, remain the same. For the symbols look to the quadrant. ââ Jiang Xing. ă
â
Translatorâs note: Minor correction in Chapter 100, I wrote Lin Qingyu getting the post Minister of Rites; the correct one is Minister of Ceremonies. It has already been corrected. orz