In the Grand Emperor’s life, he regretted allowing the relationship between him and his sons, as well as amongst themselves, to deteriorate the most.
“Imperial Father, I am at fault. I said the wrong thing, you should guide me. I am willing to let you scold and hit me. Please don’t ruin your health out of anger.” Grand Prince Liang quickly admitted his mistakes.
“It is not your fault. You were born late and did not even get a chance to see your Fifth Brother. What brotherhood could you possibly have? My Zhiyun has been intelligent since young. When he was young, he loved to hang out by my side and ask me to teach him how to shoot. Actually, he was not at all talented in archery but was much better at drawing. Before he turned ten, he could already draw beautiful pictures of skylarks. Everyone who saw his drawings could not help but praise him. During the final years of the Sui Dynasty, I was gathering an army to suppress the uprising. Because Zhiyun was still young, I did not want him to suffer in the army. Therefore, I left him at my native town, Hedong. I never thought that the local government would covet riches and abduct him. They sent him to Yin Shishi. Yin Shishi lost to me on the battlefield and killed your Fifth Brother. My poor Zhiyun. At that time, he was only fourteen years old.”
Grand Prince Liang became aware. “So Fifth Brother was good at drawing skylarks. He is similar to me, I also love to draw. However, I am better at drawing eagles.”
Grand Emperor nodded. “You and your Fifth Brother are talented in drawing. If your Fifth Brother could live till your age, he would have similar eyes, nose and side profile as you do. When I see you, I often think of him.”
“No wonder you have always doted on me all these years. It is because I am standing in Fifth Brother’s spotlight. When I have children, me and my children will be filial to you on behalf of Fifth Brother. Speaking of which, in order to have children, I will have to have a woman that can bear me children, right?”
The Grand Emperor did not know whether to get angry or to laugh. “You will never change. You talk about women every few sentence.”
“I am worried that after Master Yuan reads Fu Siyan’s face, he will say that Fu Siyan cannot be with me. What will I do then? The Empress might be thinking of this and is going to leave me hanging.”
“Master Yuan is an old priest. His physiognomy is unique. He consults heaven and earth and must be revered. No one can change that.” The Grand Emperor was confident. “I even came over personally. The Empress will not dare to order Master Yuan to change the will of the heaven’s under my watch. Moreover, Master Yuan is famous and is unafraid of influential people. He treats gold as if it were the ground and he is not someone that the Empress can control.”
Chapter 43.2: Wish
Sheng Chujun was wearing a sour face as he looked at the Fuan Temple at the top of the mountain. It was as high as the heavens. The uncountable number of white gleaming stairs was making him dizzy.
It is all his Elder Brother’s fault. He was always coming up with tricks and had spent the past few days sewing flowers. Their mother got frightened that Sheng Chumu was not thinking straight again and has been serving him carefully. When Elder Brother left the house, their mother had also kicked Sheng Chujun out and given him a difficult task. For every ten steps he took, he had to kowtow. He was to head to Fuan Temple to pray that Sheng Chumu will be able to marry the one he wants.
“For brotherhood…” He breathed in deeply as he rolled up his sleeves and climbed. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten...bow...this year the worst thing to be is someone’s younger brother. Why shouldn't my brother be the one bowing and praying for me while I go out with girls? My mother is so biased.”
A fragrant wind blew past him as someone lightly bumped into him. After spending so much time amongst the flowers, he was particularly sensitive and immediately turned to look. Oh, a pretty lady. Deep black eyes, refined eyebrows and a white powdered face. It made one feel like squeezing her cheeks.
“Sorry.” The pretty lady was Sun Lingwei.
Ever since Chen Ji’s accident, she had wanted to ask her sister for forgiveness but her sister refused to meet her. She heard that praying at Fuan Temple was very effective and specially came here.
“It...it’s okay.” Sheng Chujun was suddenly filled with energy as he walked in synchrony with Sun Lingwei. With shoulders side by side, he kneeled, bowed and thanked the heavens for being fair.
“My surname is Sheng. I like to read, ride and shoot. I have yet to marry. What about you?”
“My mother said that I should not talk to strangers.” In the end, Sun Lingwei still glanced at him. His eyes were bright, his nose was high and when he smiled, his teeth shined in white. He was handsome.
“We even kowtowed together, how are we strangers? Who have you bowed sided by side before? There isn’t anyone, right? I am the only one, right? That proves that our relationship is not average.” Sheng Chujun’s greatest talent was smooth talking. It could even be considered the gift of gab.
“Who has a relationship with you? Rude.” Sun Lingwei laughed dryly. The way he put it was new and interesting.
“I was wrong. It is not a relationship, it is fate. Our fate is not ordinary. Hence, we are able to meet and kowtow together at the same place and time.” He managed to make her smile. It was worth it.
“Frivolous. I am not going to talk to you.” Sun Lingwei sped up.
“You can choose not to speak to me. You just have to listen to me…” Sheng Chujun followed tightly as he chirped on deviously, “...then I picked up my father’s famous large hatchet and chased away the two men that dared to make fun of the ladies. Tell me, don’t you think I stand up for justice? I really hate it when men bully women. There was another time when I was walking in Chang’an’s main street and saw a thief…”
Unknowingly, they had reached that seemingly high and unreachable mountain top.
“You talk the entire way here. Aren’t you afraid that your mouth will dry up?” On the entire way, Sun Lingwei never looked at him straight in the face.
“You are so considerate. You worry that I get thirsty.” Sheng Chujun always found a way to draw their relationship closer.
“I am despising you for talking so much…” Her ankle suddenly twisted and he caught her.
“I wanted to ask you, what are you wishing for that you kowtow so sincerely the entire way?”
Women tend to say the opposite of how they feel. They complained that he talked too much but actually loved to hear him talk.
Sun Lingwei naturally did not wish to tell others.
“I know. You wish for a good marriage right? Oh my god, this Fuan Temple is too effective.” He was finally going to be blessed like his two older brothers.
“How do you know that it is effective?” Sun Lingwei did not understand.
“You came here to wish for marriage and met me as soon as you stepped on the stone stairs. Isn’t it effective? I am right in front of you.” He was better than his Elder Brother and Second Brother. It was a marriage bestowed by heaven.
“Nonsense. Who said that I am here to wish for marriage?” Sun Lingwei blushed.
“You are easily embarrassed. You are blushing just because of this?” He felt a tingle in his heart.
Sun Lingwei ignored Sheng Chujun and walked into the temple. She wanted to take a wishing charm. However, Fuan Temple only gave out a hundred pieces every day and the last piece had just been taken. Sheng Chujun did not care. However, as he saw Sun Lingwei about to cry from disappointment, he went to pester the monks. Unfortunately, it was of no use. In the end, it was Sun Lingwei that had to ask Sheng Chujun to stop making things difficult for the monk.