Chapter 21: The Fifth Year of Tian You (1/2)

Translator: Flying Lines

Edited by Lord Immortal

In the summer of the fifth year of Tian You, it was clear in the memory of Xie Mengxuan that there was no fragrant scent of lotus but funeral music and the disgusting smell of rotting corpses.

At that time, she was only five years old. In the scorching heat, she stayed at home from day to night, waving the fan and drinking cold sweet-sour plum juice. How pleased she was.

Gu Yusheng came to play with her every day. However, on that day, he didn’t come. Instead, his manservant delivered the message to her that he could not come in the following days due to what happened at home.

Although Xie Mengxuan, at that young age, was unhappy and even a little sad about not meeting with brother Sheng, she was aware that he had a lot to deal with as he was in the crown prince’s company.

One day, two days, three days, five days… About half a month had passed, but there was not a peep from him. Her servant girls and manservants failed to bring her more messages. All she knew was to wait for him.

Finally, on the fifth day of June, she went out of her yard to the main hall. Hiding behind the door, she saw her parents cuddle up together while sobbing.

“Is that kid really dead?”

“Yes. He was poisoned and then discarded in the wild. In addition, his corpse has already been found, from which white bones could be seen. The Gu family is keeping his coffin in a temporary shelter before burial.”

“There’s a good relationship between Mengxuan and him. Should we tell her?”

“Xuan is too young to learn about the truth. We should not tell her in case she is scared.”

Inside the room, her parents both gave out a sigh. Xie Mengxuan felt cold from head to toe. Although she was only at the age of five, she already knew what “pass away” meant.

She wiped the sweat from her brow but felt no warmth. Despite the blazing sun, she quickly ran to the Gu family while hitching up her dress.

Under the hot sun, the small figure ran with all her might. When she arrived at the Gu family’s manor, no one stopped her due to her unique identity. Regardless of the propriety, regardless of anything else, she broke into the empty mourning hall. There was a scent of candles, behind which an awful stench of rotting things hung in the air.

In a short while, her parents became aware that she had run out. They came in a hurry to take her away after making an apology.

Xie Mengxuan pushed her parents away and went straight to the Gu parents. “Is Brother Sheng dead?”

“Xuan, I know you’re in a good relationship with Sheng, but he… without the blessing… in order to save the crown prince… It might also be the blessing of the Gu family.”

With red eyes, Mrs Gu spoke while sobbing. Her lips curved into a smile at the end.

Having only a hazy notion, Xie Mengxuan nodded. She attended the funeral like a puppet manipulated by her parents. However, she failed to recall what happened in those three days. Only the smell of candles and of the rotting corpse were left in her mind.

As a matter of fact, it always came back like a receding tide on the fifth day of June each year.

“Xuan?” Noticing Xie Mengxuan lost in thought, Gu Yusheng paused and waved his hand in front of her.

Xie Mengxuan returned from her thoughts and wore a subtle smile. “Sorry, I was in a daze. At that time, even the Gu family had admitted the death of Brother Sheng. How did you survive?”

Gu Yusheng gave out a deep sigh. “On that year, the crown prince went out to pray for God’s blessing with me. Nevertheless, we were attacked halfway, so we got separated. I fell onto the hillside by accident and lost my consciousness. When I woke up, there was a boy of the same age as me nearby who had already died. In order to survive, I had to change my clothes with him.”

He sighed, but when he noticed Xie Mengxuan was wearing a worried look, his lips curved into a smile. “When I was running for my life, I met my master, Uncle Luo.”