443 Weeping Willow (1/2)
Chapter 443: Weeping Willow
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
Looking back on his experience, he left the City of Wei and traveled to Chang'an, to be accepted to the Academy. Then, he read the cultivation book desperately and passed the examination of the back of the mountain. However, he had no time to learn anything and was sent to the North of Yan Kingdom as the leader of the students from the front Academy. Now, he believed that this decision was made by both His Majesty and the Academy.
When he arrived at the Wilderness, he was informed by the Imperial Center Administration that the Front Gate of the Devil's Doctrine in the deep Wilderness had opened and the Tomes of the Arcane had appeared. Therefore, Ning Que had no choice but to go towards the north. Undergoing so many tests and even torments, he finally inherited the legacy of his Youngest Uncle, which could be seen as the manifestation of the Headmaster of the Academy's will.
His Majesty and Master Yan Se also entrusted the big tactical array of Chang'an to Ning Que. All of these were solid proof of the imperial court's and the Academy's trust and expectations of him.
Ning Que had already realized this. Therefore, it was not surprising to him to hear what Li Yu had said before. However, he had never ruminated that experience on account of that even for somebody as indifferent as him, he thought that the experience was full of sorrow.
”I don't believe that this situation will become reality in the near future. ”
Ning Que said.
Li Yu bitterly said, ”Sometimes when I think about the future, I feel nervous, sorrow and a sense of being at a loss. Talking about this may sound inappropriate, but everyone will get old and pass away. Now, it seems like my father is at the prime of his life. Actually, his health condition is not that good. Before I was married to the Golden, I had inquired about his health condition from the Imperial Hospital. My father was seriously injured in those years. Henceforth, he hasn't fully recovered and has always coughed. The medicines can't do anything for him. ”
Thinking about that time when he met His Majesty in the imperial study, he recalled his straightforward criticism and his constant cough, which made Ning Que fall silent.
”Although Xu Shi is at the peak state of Martial Arts, he is old now. Besides, everyone knows that he has been suffering from a lung disease for a long time which can only be nursed but never cured. ”
”It seems like the most powerful backer of our Tang, the Headmaster of the Academy will be evergreen. But he is more than 100 years old now. Can he live forever? ”
Looking at Ning Que, Li Yu said peacefully, ”It is an irreversible rule for people to come and go. Nobody can go against the current. The Headmaster of the Academy and my father are thinking about the future. How can we leave it be?”
Ning Que took over the mulberry tea from Li Yu, which was already cold. He walked back to the desk and put both of his hands on it. Thinking silently for a while, he said, ”At least this situation can still last for many years. ”
Li Yu furrowed her brows slightly.
Ning Que said, ”The Headmaster of the Academy and His Majesty can still be alive for another 20 years at least. At that time, I will be much more powerful. Maybe Eldest Brother or Second Brother will take over the responsibility and position of the Headmaster of the Academy. I think at that time the Tang Empire will be as powerful as it is now. So I don't think we should consider too much about it.”
Li Yu said, ”My request for you is quite simple, which I have told you before. When the decision for the imperial succession to the Tang throne needs to be made by the Academy, please stand on my side.”
Ning Que did not turn back. He raised his hand looking at the ancient trees outside the window and the Yanming Lake in the remote part of the woods and thinking about what the lake should look like in the winter. Thinking of Xia Hou, and his inseparable relationship with the queen, Ning Que said, ”If that day comes, I will not support the queen.”
This was a satisfactory answer to Li Yu. But she still felt a little regret that Ning Que did not want to express his attitude directly. Looking at the view of his back, she felt at a loss and sighed softly, ”If I had known what you could achieve, I would have never left you when I first met you.”
Ning Que turned back and said, ”At that time, we were two worlds apart. Besides, I am not a person who is willing to be controlled. So don't feel regret over it. ”
Li Yu walked slowly towards Ning Que. She looked into his eyes and it seemed that she wanted to know more about him.
”I would not control you, but I can stay with you. I've been wondering that if I didn't stand up beside the bonfire then, could we have stayed in the same world?”
Recollecting the bonfire in the Northern Mountain Road, the maidservant, the fairy tale, and those conversations, Ning Que said with a slight smile, ”The main reason is that what you offered me then was too little.”
Hearing that, Li Yu clearly figured out that the experience had touched him a lot, but made him evade. With mixed feelings of pity and joy, she said, ”If I had known that your little handmaiden would one day become the Great Divine Priest of Light of the West-Hill Divine Palace, I would have offered you the highest price.”
Ning Que laughed and asked, ”What is your highest price?”
From the perspective of normal girls in the world, Ning Que's appearance was more amicable than handsome. His smile was very cute, especially for his little freckles and his small dimples. The ladies in the House of Red Sleeves were attracted by his dimples, freckles and his friendliness at the beginning.
Li Yu looked at his smile fondly. She raised her hands unconsciously and touched his small dimples in his face and said, ”You freckles look lighter and lighter. ”
Ning Que felt the smooth skin of her fingertips and was distracted. He said, ”Sangsang would give me her spare cosmetics from Chenjinji Cosmetics Store. Maybe that is the reason.”
Li Yu suddenly came to her senses and withdrew her hand.
”I am the one who was taken advantage of.”
Ning Que stared at her and said in a serious tone.
Li Yu blushed, but there was no sense of shame in her bright eyes. She looked up and teased, ”If you're not afraid of Sangsang's jealousy, you can touch my face.”
Ning Que coughed twice and curbed the impulse to feel her smooth and pointed jaw. He put his hands behind and asked, ”Where is Sangsang?”
”She must be telling stories to little Wild.”
Li Yu rolled her eyes and said, ”I shall stop making fun of you and find her.”
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Ning Que and Situ Yilan walked around the Yanming Lake and they chatted casually in the cool and gentle breeze. Sometimes, they needed to push aside the annoying willow branches in front of them.