The team made haste and indeed reached the capital city at the end of summer. 

A-Ning opened the carriage curtain a little and looked curiously at this densely populated, bustling, and noisy capital city of Dayan. Compared to the tranquility and elegance of Baihe City, this place was really as bright and dazzling as a worldly dream, with carved and painted buildings everywhere. The windows were decorated with colorful window sills, and the ridges of the roofs were engraved with auspicious animals and flying clouds. The gate bore silver nails and vermilion lacquer, and a huge wooden pillar was suspended in the air to form a bridge, decorated with red paint. From far away, it looked like a flying rainbow piercing the sun, grand and magnificent.

Thus, he turned around to ask his young master to look together, but Liu Xian’an had already fallen asleep again, sleeping soundly and with great skill. Not to mention the cheers of the common people on both sides of the street, even if they were all carrying gongs, it would be difficult to wake him up. As for why he was so tired, one must ask His Royal Highness Xiao Wang outside.

Liang Shu was dressed in luxurious clothing as he rode a horse slowly down the long street. His deep features were softened by the sunlight, and the bloody, murderous aura of the past was also reduced. Even a bit of a friendly smile could be seen, having been soaked by the gentle rain in Jiangnan. When he turned the corner, he looked back and watched as the carriages in the procession turned onto another inner street and headed to Xiao Wang Palace.

He himself led people to the Imperial palace. Liang Yu went out to receive him in person. The civil and military officials were originally worried about whether His Royal Highness Xiao Wang’s old illness could be cured in Jiangnan. He must not be weak and frail, or be brought back by others, so they all craned their necks to look. With great difficulty, they found the person in question—the wide sleeves of his black robes were blown high by the wind, and he rode on a tall horse that was also pitch black. The peaks of his eyebrows were slightly raised, the corners of his lips pulled into a smile, which immediately reminded the white-bearded old men of the familiar feeling of chest tightness and heart pain from back then. 

If they were ordinary people, the elder brother might immediately go looking for a stick when he saw his younger brother who deserved a beating. But considering that this family was indeed unusual, Liang Yu still expressed the generosity and kindness that an emperor should have. He and his brother returned to the palace in a respectable manner and went through all the official procedures. Then, when the officials had dispersed and there was no one around, he unleashed a flying kick and cursed angrily: “What great prospects you have. Why didn’t you just move into Baihe Mountain Village? Where is Second Young Master Liu?”

“He went back to the palace first. I’ll bring him to see Emperor Brother later.” Liang Shu said, “Why didn’t I see Lu-daren today?”

“He retired and returned to his hometown. After you beheaded Lu Xiang, he aged more than ten years overnight.”

Liang Shu approved: “He is already seventy or eighty years old, and if you add another ten years, he really should return to his hometown. It’s not easy for such an old man. I will bring two jars of good wine to visit him another day.”

Liang Yu had a headache: “He was so ill that he was only hanging on by a breath. You want to bring wine over just because you fear he will die too late. Don’t make trouble for me. If you really want to visit, then take Second Young Master Liu with you.”

Liang Shu’s eyelid twitched: “Then he would be even more angry, and may point at my nose and curse me for rebelling against orthodoxy before he faints.”

Liang Yu was furious: “Must you enter the bedroom together? Let Second Young Master Liu go in alone!”

Liang Shu: “Oh. I’ll obey the decree.”

He was very honest after being yelled at. 

Liang Yu was so angry that he wanted to laugh. Out of sight, out of mind. He waved his hand to chase this person away: “Go back. Gao Lin has nearly repaired your broken house, go and take a look. Bring that person to family dinner in the evening, and be careful of your second sister.”

Since it was a family dinner, Princess Ning Yi must be invited to the palace. Liang Shu took exception to this: “The person is already mine, how can Second Sister take him away by force?”

Liang Yu said: “Then you give it a try.”

Liang Shu recalled the arguments where his second sister made a terrible scene, and gave a hiss. It was best to not give this kind of thing a try if possible. So before returning to Xiao Wang Palace, he made a special trip to the princess’s palace. As a result, he was hit in the shoulder by a peach when he entered the door, leaving him with a fruity smell all over his body.

“So arrogant and unreasonable, I’m going to complain to Emperor Brother, ah!”

“Halt!” Princess Ning Yi held up her skirts and stepped over the threshold, breathing hard. “I asked myself why you went to Jiangnan without a trace and didn’t come home for two or three years. It turns out you were trying to steal a person from me.”

Liang Shu found a big chair for himself and sat down: “The two of us are in love, and have established a relationship that will last into marriage. He is talented and beautiful, how can this be called stealing? This is called a destined marriage. Sister, accept it.”

Princess Ning Yi: “…..Get out of here.”

“I won’t go. Are there any good things in the Princess’s Palace? I’ll pick a couple to give to Xiao An.” Liang Shu stood and walked on a familiar route to the warehouse. Princess Ning Yi was so dumbfounded by his shameless actions that she almost couldn’t hold back from ordering her servants to beat her unlucky brother out. But she didn’t do so because firstly, no one had the courage, and secondly, it was true that no one could beat him. Thirdly, although His Royal Highness Xiao Wang spent a lot of time in the warehouse like a bandit, he didn’t take much in the end. He only picked out a thin bamboo and jade wind chime and said: “Thank you, Imperial Sister.”

Princess Ning Yi was surprised: “Why did you only choose this?”

Liang Shu asked: “Why, is this wind chime special?”

“It’s not fancy, but simple and elegant. It’s not really something that can be appreciated.” Princess Ning Yi pointed out, “That’s more your aesthetic category.”

Liang Shu turned his head and glanced at the many golden jars and vases that looked to be worth a lot of money, and reluctantly accepted it. Imperial Sister was right. He had already come, so it was fine to take two.

Princess Ning Yi couldn’t endure it, and kicked him out of the Princess’s Palace.

Liang Shu was in a good mood. He carried the jingling bamboo and jade wind chime all the way home and hung it under the eaves of his bedroom, then knocked on the window lattice lightly.

Liu Xian’an opened the window, and there was a crisp sound in front of him, two magpies chirping on the eaves. Liang Shu handed him a bouquet of wildflowers he had procured from who knows where, and asked: “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Liu Xian’an disputed this: “It’s not like I have to sleep all the time.”

“Not so, you really have to sleep all the time.” Liang Shu said, “You sleep when you should sleep, sleep when you shouldn’t sleep, and bite people with your eyes closed if they don’t let you sleep.”

Liu Xian’an: “I don’t bite.”

Liang Shu turned his head and showed him a circle of teeth marks on his neck.

In this position, there was no way to say that the other party was trying to blackmail him. Liu Xian’an turned around lightly. I feel sleepy, I’m going to sleep.

Liang Shu grabbed him by the back of his collar and forced him back to the window. Gao Lin was carrying two jars of wine. When he entered the door, he saw the jade-like couple flirting and his eyes suddenly hurt. It didn’t matter if he stood where he was or walked away, he needed to reflect deeply on why he had come here at all.

Liang Shu said: “Leave the wine. You can go back and change your clothes, you’ll be coming with me to the palace for the banquet later.”

Gao Lin turned pale with fright. As if he had seen a phantom, he turned around and ran away.

Liang Shu turned around and asked: “He’s the commander of an army, after all. How can he be so disgraceful?”

“Lieutenant General Gao’s roots and soul are with the desert.” Liu Xian’an raised his hand to touch the string of wind chimes. “The capital city is beautiful, but the northwest is more unrestrained.”

“Then what about your roots and soul?” Liang Shu asked.

He originally brought this up for the sake of love words, because wherever the other’s soul was, it had to be tied to him. As a result, he suddenly choked upon receiving the sentence “on the clouds 80,000 li away.” He was silent for a long moment, then said in distress: “Can it be lowered a little? You’re too high, and not easy to catch.”

Liu Xian’an smiled and leaned his upper body out of the window, closing in to kiss him.

There was no Lieutenant General Gao this time, so they could kiss a little longer.

The palace banquet in the evening was held at the Lotus-Viewing Pond. Princess Ning Yi entered the palace early. Perhaps the maid felt that she was too aggressive, because she whispered: “The princess only had a quick glance into the sedan chair last year and didn’t have time to take a closer look. Perhaps when we meet him this time, we will find that Second Young Master Liu is not as good…..as we remember…..”

“Good” went without saying, because Liang Shu had already walked over with Liu Xian’an. There was a main path next to them, but the two of them didn’t walk on it, and instead stepped onto a white jade boardwalk in the middle of the lake. 

It was rare for Liu Xian’an to enter the palace, so he couldn’t dress too casually. Therefore, Liang Shu had prepared a new set of light green robes for him. Standing there, his entire temperament was like the wind passing through a bamboo forest, and also like the endless sky washed away by rain in the depths of summer, both immortal and graceful.

The maid: “……” Aiya, why did His Royal Highness Xiao Wang snatch away such a handsome treasure!

Princess Ning Yi was also angry, and felt that the fault did not lay with the handsome man, but mainly with her unlucky brother who had no sense of morality.

Liang Shu took two steps and stood in front of Liu Xian’an. Princess Ning Yi withdrew her gaze and became even more angry. Why couldn’t she look twice?

But it couldn’t be helped, because His Royal Highness Xiao Wang was so narrow-minded. Never mind looking at him twice, even once was only for the sake of family ties.

When Liang Yu arrived at the Lotus-Viewing Pond, what he saw was this harmonious scene of deep affection between brother and sister. He was angry and amused for a moment. Raising his hand, he indicated that everyone should not be too polite, and sat at the head seat, saying: “I was pestered by Li Mi and his group in the Imperial study for half a shichen. All that chatter has given me a headache.”

Liang Shu asked: “Were they scolding me again?”

Liang Yu was puzzled: “You just returned. What can they scold you for?”

“That’s not accurate.” Liang Shu turned to look at the person next to him. “Haven’t I gotten used to being scolded? Who told those old men to scold me no matter what happens? They won’t listen to reason.”

His tone actually sounded a little aggrieved.

Princess Ning Yi: So this is how you deceive such an immortal!

But the immortal actually believed it and said quite earnestly: “The next time someone scolds you, I will go and reason with them thoroughly.”

Liang Shu said: “Okay.”

The emperor was left with his mind buzzing. One person was enough to give him a headache. Why had he brought this one back to not only fail to bring peace, but also to provoke him together. He rubbed his temples and decided not to discuss political matters tonight. And Liu Xian’an was also looking at the emperor. His facial features were similar to Liang Shu’s, but his expression was much softer. Generally speaking, he would definitely never take a ruler out of his sleeve if he had nothing to do.

He held the cup of wine and smiled.

Liang Yu asked: “What is Second Young Master Liu so happy about?”

“I just think it’s very good here.” Liu Xian’an said: “It’s refreshing and comfortable, and the breeze brings the fragrance of the lotuses in the pond.”

Liang Yu smiled and said: “Since you are at ease, let’s have a few more drinks. We won’t talk about political affairs at today’s family dinner. When I have time another day, I will come back to thank Second Young Master Liu for his great contributions to the Baihe River and the Southwest.”

Liang Shu also wanted to drink, but was kicked under the table gently. Your old injury is not fully healed!

His Royal Highness Xiao Wang, who had practically forgotten what wine tasted like: “……”

Perhaps seeing that he was so pitiful, Liu Xian’an dipped his chopsticks into some and dabbed it on a piece of chicken in front of him: “Eat.”

Princess Ning Yi nearly laughed out loud.

Liang Yu also held his forehead with one hand. He couldn’t endure any longer, so he cleared his throat as if nothing had happened and said: “Let’s eat.”

Liu Xian’an continued to guard the wine cup. Just like this, the most troublesome devil in the royal family was made docile, doing whatever he said.

This made the whole family feel very comfortable.

After dinner, the two of them did not rush back to Xiao Wang Palace, but walked around the Imperial gardens again.

Liu Xian’an asked: “Is that the ancient book tower the emperor mentioned tonight?”

“Yes, it is full of strange books. Apart from you, most people are probably not interested in it.” Liang Shu said, “I’ll say in advance that you can read them, but you cannot read so much that you don’t even want to come home. You also need to bring two more bodyguards, so that Imperial Sister won’t cause trouble again. Never mind, I’ll accompany you personally.”

“Then we must install a bed in the ancient book tower first.”

“Am I so ignorant that I’ll fall asleep whenever I read a book?”

“I don’t know. Will you install one?”

“…..Yes.”

Liang Shu caught a fallen flower from a treetop, inserted it into the other’s collar, and changed the subject: “In the future, you will help me deal with those white-bearded old men. Emperor Brother heard it, so you are not allowed to default on your debts.”

“What is so complicated about this?” Liu Xian’an yawned. “It’s only speaking sense. Just leave it to me from now on.”

Liang Shu was satisfied. No matter how old the white-bearded old men were, they would only be eighty years old at most, and a forty-eight thousand year old had six hundred eighties.

Such wisdom was incomparable.

This time around, he would definitely win.

[The End]

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T/N: I’ll start posting the extras soon!

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Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Six << Table of Contents >> Extra 1