Chapter 158 - 155: A Couple’s Conversation
"Then did your master never tell you what path to take in the future?" Elder Ping asked with concern, gratified by his old friend’s good judgment as he looked at the perfect couple before him.
Li Xiu smiled and said, "Elder Ping, you know what my master was like. He never cared about external things. He just hoped I could live freely, with a clear conscience, and be happy. That’s all. Elder Ping, I’m doing very well right now, and I’m very happy. You, sir, are occupied with countless state affairs, working tirelessly for the nation and its people. You don’t need to trouble yourself with trivialities like this."
Nodding, Elder Ping smiled in gratification. ’Ah, well. Since the boy has such a clear view of reality, I’ll just have to look out for him a little more on my old friend’s behalf.’
Watching the young couple’s retreating figures, Elder Ping smiled and asked, "What do you make of that kid?"
His aide glanced at Elder Ping and said with a smile, "You’re curious because they were too composed when they saw you, not as nervous or excited as one might expect, right?"
Elder Ping gestured at him with a pointed finger and said with a laugh, "Indeed. It’s rare to see a young man in his twenties with such self-possession!"
"It’s just as they say: strength comes from a lack of desire. They want nothing from you. In their eyes, they were just meeting a respected and admired elder, so naturally, they wouldn’t act out of place," the aide said calmly. ’I never met that old man whose wisdom was said to be almost supernatural, but I’ve certainly heard the legends. How could the prized disciple of such a man be anyone ordinary?’
"You have a point. As Yun Qi’s favorite disciple, how could he not possess some of his master’s backbone? It’s just a shame I never saw him one last time," Elder Ping said, his voice turning somber. ’Such a pity. The peerlessly brilliant and preternaturally wise Yun Qi... he retired from the world so early, only to pass away so soon.’
"What’s past is past, sir. Please don’t be too sad. If you really miss him that much, you can always see more of this young man. He’s quite an interesting person himself," the aide gently persuaded.
Back home, Li Xiu and Zhou Lian let out a simultaneous sigh of relief. Seeing that something was off with their mood, Sister Fang took Nuonuo and went outside, leaving the two of them alone.
"Bao’er, what’s on your mind?" Seeing Zhou Lian sitting there in silence with a furrowed brow, Li Xiu stood up, pulled her into his arms, and gently smoothed her brow as he asked softly.
"What do you want to do in the future?" Zhou Lian asked softly, looking up at Li Xiu.
"Me? What I want most is for Bao’er to call me Jin Chen, not my full name, Li Xiu," Li Xiu said with a wide grin. ’The way Bao’er says "Jin Chen" is the most beautiful sound in the world, like a lark’s song.’
Zhou Lian shot him a look and said, exasperated, "You know what I’m asking."
"So from now on, you’ll call me Jin Chen, right? I love hearing you say it."
Seeing the expectant look on his face, Zhou Lian couldn’t help but smile. "Li Jincheng, how old are you, anyway!" ’Still, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse him. She loved seeing that brilliant smile bloom on his face, like a child who’d just gotten the candy he’d been dreaming of.’
"Then it’s a deal," Li Xiu said with a satisfied smile. Then, looking at Zhou Lian’s own smile, he sighed. "Bao’er, don’t worry. Our lives aren’t going to change. We just met an old friend of my master’s, that’s all. Sure, this old friend is pretty high up and powerful—okay, not ’pretty,’ he’s at the very top—but that’s it. You know what I want most, what’s most important to me. Besides, look at Master. It’s no exaggeration to say he stepped back at the height of his power, right? He’s the one who taught me everything I know. Do you really think I care about that sort of thing?"
Zhou Lian looked at Li Xiu and said playfully, "’Wield the power of the world by day, and rest on a beauty’s lap by night!’ Li Jincheng, don’t you ever fantasize about a life like that? Isn’t that supposed to be every man’s lifelong ambition?"
"Oh, give me a break, Bao’er. Anyone who says that must be a complete idiot. You think ruling the world is that easy? One wrong move and you’re condemned for ages. And a ’beauty’s lap’? If it’s not your own wife, which ’beauty’ isn’t poisonous? Aren’t they afraid of being poisoned to death? My master was preternaturally wise and cunning as a fox. He’d been through life and death on the battlefield and lived a tumultuous life; there was nothing he couldn’t see through. ’Insight into the ways of the world’ was the very first lesson he taught me. I’m a stubborn person, so sometimes I can be blinded by family ties, but aside from that, what is there that I can’t figure out or see through? You hold on tight to what you want. I’m not about to lose a watermelon just to pick up a sesame seed. If my head ever got so muddled that I actually did something that stupid, I’m afraid Master would climb out of his grave, find me in my bed, and break my legs!" Li Xiu rolled his eyes and said in exasperation. ’Can’t we let this ’beauty’s lap’ joke die already?’
"Alright, alright, alright, I won’t bring up that joke again!" Seeing Li Xiu getting so worked up, Zhou Lian quickly soothed him. ’I shouldn’t have tested him.’ "Jin Chen, I believe you!"
Kissing Zhou Lian on the forehead, Li Xiu murmured, "Just this once. Don’t say things like that to test me again. It really hurts."
"I won’t. I’ll never say it again. By the way, Jin Chen, about that pass Elder Ping gave us... will it be a problem?" Zhou Lian quickly changed the subject. ’Before they left, Elder Ping had his aide give them a pass. But won’t a pass for the Imperial Palace attract trouble?’
"It’s fine. We don’t have anything to ask of the old gentleman anyway. Oh, right, Bao’er, at lunch today, I noticed that the old gentleman is used to a simple and frugal life. At his age, he can’t eat too much meat, but there aren’t many vegetables available right now—just cabbage, radishes, that sort of thing. What do you think about sending him some of our vegetables? I don’t mean anything by it, I just truly respect him for his devotion to the nation and its people," Li Xiu said gently.
’To be honest, seeing the food at lunch, his heart really went out to the old gentleman. After a lifetime of service to the country and its people, the four dishes he’d had prepared were a special accommodation for them. It was just one meat dish, a fish, some cabbage with tofu, and a potato-chicken stew. On a normal day, he probably only ate two dishes—one meat, one vegetable.’
Zhou Lian thought of the lunch as well. ’That old man normally ate worse than they did. Who could imagine that a great man, destined to be revered for a thousand generations, lived so simply?’ She said softly, "Okay. I’m afraid the old gentleman wouldn’t accept anything else. Don’t go see him yourself; just give it directly to his aide. Write a letter explaining everything. Just say it’s a small token of respect for an elder from the junior of an old friend, that you grew them yourself, and you sincerely hope he will accept them."
"Okay. We still have plenty in the kitchen. Let’s go pick some to send over," Li Xiu said happily, helping Zhou Lian to her feet.
"Jin Chen, you go write the letter, and I’ll do the picking," Zhou Lian said softly. ’It was getting late; splitting up would be faster. If they hurried, maybe the old gentleman could have the vegetables they sent for dinner that very night.’
Li Xiu thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I’ll go write the letter. Don’t pick too much of any single thing; let’s let the old gentleman have a taste of everything we’re growing."
"Alright, you go on!" Zhou Lian grabbed a small bamboo basket and headed into the kitchen. She glanced back at Li Xiu. ’He’s so fussy. Of course I’m going to let the old gentleman try a bit of everything! Just the thought of it is exciting. That old gentleman... he can stabilize the nation with his words and defend it with his sword. He spent half his life in the saddle, suffered a sudden fall from grace, and after being reinstated, dedicated the rest of his life to working tirelessly for the nation and its people. The entire country is endlessly grateful, revering him almost as a god!’