Chapter 96
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Chapter 96:
Li Zhexuan called Jian Yi to go to the brothel and ask the security guard to fetch hot water, then he got up and lit the lamp himself.
Li Chunzhou suddenly opened her eyes wide and asked, "A’xuan, is your Dark Guard still by your side?"
"Don’t worry," Li Zhexuan looked at her slightly flustered expression, chuckled, helped Li Chunzhou put on her clothes and said, "I have shielded them, and they won’t see what they shouldn’t see, they also know not to listen."
It was only then that Li Zhexuan brought up the main topic, gently brushed aside a strand of sweaty hair from Li Chunzhou’s cheek, and slowly said, "Jian Hou and Qi Leyuan are both in the palace now, Lady Chun, do you want to go see them?"
Li Chunzhou’s expression turned serious, and she pondered, "Have new players entered?"
Li Zhexuan lazily propped his head up and gazed affectionately at Li Chunzhou, replying, "No."
Li Chunzhou lowered her head in thought, realizing that this cycle was actually a restart based on the previous one. Therefore, the existing players in Dungeon World should be the same as before, except those consumed by Li Zhexuan wouldn’t return to their original position because their consciousness wouldn’t separate from Li Zhexuan’s body when Dungeon restarted.
"Okay, let’s go see them," Li Chunzhou said without hesitation.
Li Zhexuan looked surprised and glanced at the dark sky outside, "Now?"
Li Chunzhou nodded, "There are many things we need to confirm with them — like whether Li Li and the other players still remember their past lives; if the players who are still alive after the Dungeon will be able to leave this world safely; and whether Jian Hou is really following us… These things are still uncertain."
Deep down, Li Zhexuan wanted to spend some time alone with Li Chunzhou and not meet so many people at once, but since it was Li Chunzhou’s idea, he didn’t object.
Looking at Li Chunzhou loosely dressed, Li Zhexuan couldn’t help but gently touch her cheek with two fingers, he leaned in and kissed her lips, then stood up with his bare upper body, his lean and strong arms wrapping around her waist and legs, lifting Li Chunzhou up.
His skin was illuminated by the flickering candlelight, the muscles on his back were smooth and well-defined, exposing his body like white jade with no care in the world.
Li Zhexuan carried Li Chunzhou to clean herself, then used silk to gently dry her hair. After her hair was almost dry, they changed into fresh clothes and left.
Outside, a carriage arranged by Jian Yi was waiting in advance.
Although there was a curfew in Shengjing City, no one dared to stop the Second Prince’s carriage. Their journey into the palace went smoothly, only encountering General Gu Jianxi inspecting people at the main gate with the Jinwei Guard.
The guard in charge of driving handed over the Token representing the Second Prince’s identity to General Gu, but instead of letting them through, Gu Jianxi boldly approached, opened the carriage curtain, and examined the interior with the torchlight.
Li Zhexuan’s cold gaze fixed on Gu Jianxi’s hand resting on the carriage frame, and he casually asked, "General Gu, causing trouble, anything wrong?"
Gu Jianxi’s gaze finally settled on Li Chunzhou, who was sitting in the carriage. She was not dressed up, with thick dark hair piled on her shoulders like dark clouds. Her beauty was mysterious and alluring.
Gu Jianxi smirked slightly, his sharp eyes staring at Li Chunzhou as if trying to dissect her layer by layer. He deliberately asked, "And who might this young lady be?"
Li Chunzhou met Gu Jianxi’s teasing yet regretful eyes, realizing he probably didn’t recognize her yet. She decided not to say much, just shyly hid behind Li Zhexuan, looking timid and shy.
Li Zhexuan squinted unhappily as Gu Jianxi dropped the curtain just before he lost his patience. With a meaningful tone, Gu Jianxi said, "You may pass… safe travels to both of you."
Gu Jianxi’s voice was just loud enough for Li Chunzhou to hear, but she paid no attention. As the carriage moved forward, the grandeur of the palace slowly unfolded before her eyes.
As she got off the carriage, Li Chunzhou felt a strange sensation in her inner thigh. Li Zhexuan raised an eyebrow, lightly chuckling as he carried Li Chunzhou on his back.
Li Chunzhou was so familiar with this place that its magnificent decorations within the palace only hinted at its royal splendor. The moonlight shone on the glazed tiles, but couldn’t conceal the darkness and secrets hidden within.
Having spent six years here, Li Chunzhou was well aware of the deceit and power struggles both inside and outside the palace. Every small change could signify a shift in power dynamics. Resting on Li Zhexuan’s back, Li Chunzhou’s cheeks puffed up from being squished. She asked, "Growing up here must be exhausting, right?"
Li Chunzhou could grow up with Liang Yongyuan, but can never accompany Liang Changfeng again.
"It’s okay…" Li Zhexuan’s voice was calm as he adjusted Li Chunzhou higher on his back, holding her more securely.
Li Zhexuan suddenly became more reserved, thinking to himself, "The days after killing Yunxiao were quite difficult, but it’s okay."
Because if I didn’t endure all that growth, I wouldn’t have met you. Pain was actually the path that led me to you.
Li Chunzhou hugged his neck from behind, feeling the evening breeze rustle through the dense leaves of the trees, surrounded by the peaceful sound of rustling wind. After all the commotion and the time spent on the road, it was almost dawn.
Li Chunzhou pressed her cheek against the slightly cool skin on the back of Li Zhexuan’s neck and asked, "Where is that maple tree now?"
Li Zhexuan looked up and said, "It’s still there, but the emperor sealed off that palace a long time ago, not allowing anyone to enter… Perhaps thinking that you might appear there one day."
Li Chunzhou lowered her eyes, lost in thought. After a while, she softly murmured, "Hmm."
She suddenly remembered how Liang Yongyuan used to share everything with herself and Gu Chenxin. Perhaps for him, only the two of them truly considered his well-being.
In the first half of his life, all the important choices Liang Yongyuan made were almost all made by Li Chunzhou for him.
Perhaps it was because of this that young Liang Yongyuan really believed Lady Chun was a fairy, and trusted Li Chunzhou for so many years because her brief and perfect presence in his life made a deep impression on him – beautiful and capable of everything.
Li Chunzhou was indeed very good to him. When Liang Yongyuan had a low status and no recognition, only Li Chunzhou was willing to help him seek justice, bring him candied fruit from outside the city, and explain many things to him in a broken down manner… things that no one had ever done for him before.
After Li Chunzhou left, Liang Yongyuan only had Prime Minister Gu. Even now, in his fifties, he still behaves like he never grew up, always asking Prime Minister Gu what to do.
Because Liang Yongyuan wasn’t really that foolish, he knew that after Li Chunzhou left, only Gu Chenxin was his true pillar of support.
Gu Chenxin took on Li Chunzhou’s responsibilities, carrying the burden of taking care of Liang Yongyuan. But perhaps because of his bias, Gu Chenxin rarely reprimanded him for anything.
So Liang Yongyuan never took on any responsibilities proactively, becoming more like a spoiled child who never grew up. He only thought about eating, drinking, and playing all day long, neglecting his duties. Faced with the palace concubines and children, he was not a responsible father; facing the court and the country, he was not a competent king.
Logically, Li Chunzhou felt disgust and displeasure towards such a person, but emotionally, she couldn’t help but instinctively tolerate him, because he was very good to those close to him at least. Upon closer inspection, there were consequences that she had sown herself in this situation.
Before meeting Jian Hou and Qi Leyuan, Li Chunzhou first met a Liang Yongyuan who was entirely different from the one she remembered.
When they entered the palace for the royal meeting, a eunuch from the ceremonial department approached, but then quietly stepped back after seeing the Second Prince’s face.
The leading Cabinet Ministers were enraged and almost came forward to confront the Emperor. Prime Minister Gu sat silently on the side, not saying a word.
The scene was so absurd. Regardless of whether they followed the royal etiquette, even if Liang Yongyuan lacked authority, as subjects, daring to raise their hands against the current Emperor would be seen as madness.
Li Chunzhou felt strange but still silently walked up among the group of madmen. From Liang Yongyuan’s stunned to pleased, and then uneasy looks, she was the first to give him a slap.
With a crisp slap sound, the Cabinet Ministers below suddenly quieted down, looking at the sudden appearance of the little girl with uncertainty. They did intend to advise the Emperor earlier, but only in words. Before they could act, Li Chunzhou’s sudden move stunned everyone. Only Prime Minister Gu, who had been calmly watching the commotion, couldn’t hide a smile.
Before doing this, Li Chunzhou had anticipated Liang Yongyuan’s reaction to being slapped. After so many years of living an indulgent life above all, the ten-year-old Liang Yongyuan might have calmly accepted Li Chunzhou’s slap. But what would Emperor Daliang, who had been in power for over thirty years, do? Would he get angry or be displeased?
But Liang Yongyuan just weakened his demeanor, covering his face and forcing a pleasing smile, he lifted his head to look at Li Chunzhou’s face, which was no different from the one in his memory, and with a mix of nostalgia and unease, he said softly, "Lady Chun… Long time no see…"
His trembling gaze, as if he had done something wrong, allowed Li Chunzhou to glimpse a bit of the young Liang Yongyuan.
To Liang Yongyuan, Li Chunzhou was a person who left without a word and suddenly reappeared. She hadn’t aged at all, just like before. But for Li Chunzhou, she had only not seen Liang Yongyuan for a day. In just one day, he had transformed from that clumsy child into the incompetent Emperor he was now.
Li Chunzhou looked at Liang Yongyuan’s face and said disappointedly, "Either you don’t be the emperor and let someone else take this position, or you take responsibility properly, instead of being a worthless and incompetent person."
Deep down, Li Chunzhou knew that after more than thirty years, searching for the old Liang Yongyuan in the emperor was like looking for something that no longer exists. However, she couldn’t help herself.
Liang Yongyuan couldn’t say a word, he stared blankly at Li Chunzhou’s face, his expression a mix of shame, grievance, or sadness.
Li Chunzhou remained silent as she gazed at Liang Yongyuan for a moment, then her hand slowly touched Liang Yongyuan’s weary face, worn out by the passage of time and indulgence.
"Ahu." She softly called out, the first time in thirty years, Liang Yongyuan had asked her before his illness worsened if she could call him ‘Ahu’ again.
Back then, Li Chunzhou only felt disdain and disgust towards the emperor, who was overweight and indulgent. So when she heard Liang Yongyuan’s unexpected request, she didn’t react or call him by the name ‘Ahu’.
Though she knew Liang Yongyuan’s time was short and that he truly wanted her to call him ‘Ahu’, Li Chunzhou never did until she left.
Now thinking back on it, Li Chunzhou felt guilty for the first time in her life, believing she should have fulfilled his simple wish earlier.
"Ahu," Li Chunzhou gently touched the loose skin under his cheek, softened by obesity and aging. Despite the changes, she still carried out the familiar gesture of wiping away tears for the weeping child and whispered, "I’m sorry."
Liang Yongyuan’s eyes slowly turned red, after many years, he found himself back in a moment of his suppressed and painful childhood.
"And," Li Chunzhou turned around, stood straight in front of the throne, just like over thirty years ago, stood in front of Liang Yongyuan, and raised her thin chin towards the stunned ministers below saying, "You are not allowed to bully my child."
I have already scolded him, so you cannot scold him anymore.
Her protective posture was just like over thirty years ago, Liang Yongyuan looked at Li Chunzhou’s back in dismay, tears streaming down his face.
In a daze, he seemed to see again under the moonlight, the purple sea of flowers resembling a waterfall about to cascade down. Li Chunzhou’s long black hair shimmered softly in the moonlight, she tilted her head and softly asked, "Hey, what’s your name?"