Chapter 8: The Ups and Downs of Life and Love

  Tian Du Yi Ge is situated at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, with Mount Qi as its screen and barrier. To the east, it spans across the Miao Jiang River, and to the south, it extends to the Yi Shui River. The city is built on a mountain, with grand and majestic walls and moats. The highest peak of Mount Qi is over 20 zhang high, while its base stretches for 70 zhang. The imperial palace of the Son of Heaven is founded upon this mountain, encircled by a perimeter of 48 li, towering above the city of Yi Ge. Its grandeur is awe-inspiring, with a majestic and resplendent beauty.

  Yi Song City followed the momentum and went straight down. The streets were flat and straight, forming a grid pattern that divided the entire city into 81 large and small wards.

  The Shangjiu Fang is slightly lower than the Imperial Palace, surrounded by a circle of walls, with mansions and official residences scattered throughout. The Chujiang River, formed by the confluence of the Lushui and Yishui rivers in the distant suburbs of Baomiao Mountain, runs through the Tiandu Street Fang, dividing into two branches within it, one of which flows into the Imperial Palace, known as the Shangjiu River, with golden water and jade-like banks, flanked by carved balustrades, exclusively for the use of the royal family.

  At this time, a golden and colorful Danfeng Feiyun boat sailed out of the Imperial Palace, with eight smaller Huabao boats guarding in front and behind, opening the way with bright purple sails, slowly turning into the Chujiang River and heading west.

  In the spacious corridor of the upper layer of Yunzhou, Lotus Consort slowly walked out with her long hair flowing down to her shoulders, tied up with a light green silk ribbon into a cloud-like bun, which swayed gently with her steps. Her long lotus-green skirt trailed behind her, emphasizing her slender figure.

  As the river breeze caresses her gently, she seems to tread on ripples and walks to the side of the carved railing, holding onto the window frame to look out. The clear wind brushes against her face, and a light gauze sweeps across her features, flying away with a fleeting glance from a startled swan.

  She gazed at the sky outside the curtain, her expression cold and detached, with a hint of emptiness in her eyes. Her face had a captivating noble beauty, like the distant snow-capped mountains, yet she stood quietly, her clothes fluttering as if the Goddess of the River was descending upon the water, but there was an icy chill that seeped into one's bones all around her.

  In this space, the hustle and bustle of the riverbank retreated far away in her icy elegance and ethereal charm, quietly slipping away without a sound.

  "Lotus Princess sister, standing for so long, what are you looking at?" A gentle voice came from the boat, and Su Shu Fei pushed aside the bamboo curtain with her hand on the maid.

  Lotus Concubine turned her head and said lightly: "Nothing." Her voice was calm, like her eyebrows.

  The Empress Su gently dismissed the maid and stepped forward. Her lotus-embroidered skirt, surrounded by a soft mist, her clear eyebrows and beautiful eyes, gentle as water, her slender willow-like figure swaying in the breeze, every move was soft and elegant, like a spring dawn. She was no longer young, but time seemed to have left no mark on her, she had a beauty different from that of Empress Lian.

  "It's been a long time since I've left the palace, and this bustling street has a different flavor compared to the scenery in the deep palace." She said with a smile, as if she was used to Lotus Concubine's indifference.

  The sound of footsteps echoed on the deck, and a young man with flying eyebrows walked up in big strides. He stood in front of the exquisite ship railing, unfolded his fan to open the curtain, smiled and stepped forward to pay respects to Empress Su and Empress Lian: "I have ordered people to prepare fresh melons and fruits, would the two empresses like some? I'll have them sent up."

  Su Shu Fei's eyes showed a gentle and soft expression: "Liu Er, you're always so impulsive, when can you be like your fourth brother, calm and steady?"

  Lotus Consort nodded slightly in greeting to the Twelfth Imperial Son, Ye Tian Lie, and when her own son was mentioned, she pretended not to hear, still leaning quietly against the screen.

  Ye Tian Xiao smiled and said: "If Her Majesty allows me to lead troops like Fourth Brother, I will have to be steady even if I'm not."

  Whenever the war in Mo Bei is mentioned, Su Shu Fei frowns slightly. The eleventh prince Ye Tian Chen led the army to conquer, but now there has been no news from the front for a long time, and as a mother, she worries day and night.

  She glanced around, this time the expedition was still led by Ling Wang, but Lotus Concubine treated him indifferently, as if the King who had achieved great military success but was cold to her was not her biological son, and even had nothing to do with her, like a stranger.

  The mother's indifference and the son's coldness are like a connected chasm, separated yet so alike.

  Today at the Lotus Pool Palace, the Emperor decreed that Consort Lotus and Consort Su should go to the Temple of Degrees to pray for blessings. Consort Lotus quietly looked at the Emperor with a detached attitude, bowed her head in response, and led the way onto the boat, but not even half of it was for the sake of her son?

  But this is not a day, Ling Wang has been raised in the palace of the Empress Dowager since birth, and the relationship between mother and son is very distant. Su Shu Fei sighed softly and said to Ye Tianhui: "You can talk about it when you have the ability like your fourth brother."

  "My mother only allowed my eleventh brother to follow my fourth brother for training, and kept me by her side." Ye Tianhui chuckled: "But can't bear to part with me?" Just as they were chatting, the boat suddenly shook violently, and several people lost their balance, taking a step back. The servant girls behind them rushed forward to support them.

  Lotus Concubine's face was calm and unruffled as she gently pushed away the maid's hand.

  "Empress Dowager be careful!" He then furrowed his brow, displeased: "What's going on?" he asked sternly.

  At this moment, looking around, there was a painted barge breaking through the water and colliding with their Danfeng Feiyun boat, although the force was not great, it blocked the ship's forward progress.

  The lower level had already sounded the voice of the guards' rebuke, Ye Tian Lian said: "Let the queen mother be startled, I'll go take a look." He turned around and coldly snorted, taking big strides to walk down.

  The exquisite and beautiful small painting boat is now in a mess, Qīng Chén and the others were brought here from the big ship, unaware of what their companions who had been possessed by evil spirits had done to make the boat suddenly lose control.

  The people of the Changmen gang were desperately trying to turn the boat around, but the two boats were evenly matched and a huge force was created, causing them to crash into each other. The Danfeng Feiyun boat was passing by and unfortunately collided with it head-on. The small boat was tossed about by the massive cloud boat and nearly capsized in the river.

  The ship's body shook violently, and Mingying grabbed the air for support. The dust was thrown against the opposite cabin wall, several cases were displaced inside the cabin, and golden cups and jade bowls fell to the ground one after another.

  A figure flashed by with a sword's cold glow, a man in black appeared beside Ming Wei: "Go!"

  A shout came from outside the cabin, the ship's hull slightly sank, and a guard had already fallen onto the ship.

  Ming looked at Qingchen with a glance, turned around and rushed to the rear cabin with that person, taking advantage of the chaos, they both jumped into the water and disappeared.

  In an instant, a sudden change occurred. Hu San Niang and several others saw that the situation was not good, so they withdrew and retreated. The large ship anchored not far away quickly set sail, taking advantage of the chaos to leave this place.

  You dusted off the same Bi Yao, they supported each other to stand firm. The long gate guards on the boat who couldn't escape were caught by the imperial guards and taken aside.

  The cabin door was wide open, and Ye Tian stepped into the cabin, his eyes scanning the chaotic scene before him. "What happened?"

  A slender and beautiful woman, wearing a danxiang feishui skirt, hastily knelt beside him and said in a charming voice: "This servant has seen the twelfth prince."

  "Ah? Isn't this Wu Pingting from the Tianwu Zui Fang? You have a big nerve, causing such a commotion!" He glanced over at Qingchen and the others, while the guards beside him quickly cleaned up the overturned objects to clear a path.

  Your heart moved slightly in the dust, and the man in front of you had a heroic spirit with someone, giving her a familiar feeling.

  Wu Pingting's heart was racing, this twelfth prince being the youngest son of the current emperor, had always been favored and spoiled, with a temperament that was arrogant and unruly. Normally, everyone would give way to him by three parts, but today he actually collided with her. She forced out a somewhat charming smile: "This servant...this servant brought the young ladies...to stroll along the river...who knew they would disturb Your Highness..."

  Before she could finish speaking, Ye Tian Leng's expression turned cold and he shouted: "How dare you! Wu Pingting, do you think I'm someone to be trifled with? You're allowed to deceive me? Is this how you people usually behave?"

  "What's going on with you and who, Twelfth Brother?" a voice suddenly came from outside the cabin.

  Like pearls and jade hitting lightly, the sound is smooth and melodious. The chaos in the cabin seems to have dissipated with this sentence, and it has truly become a elegant and refined atmosphere of touring the river and appreciating the scenery.

  "Seventh Imperial Brother, how did you end up here?" The person who had arrived was Ye Tian Xiao's imperial brother, the Seventh Imperial Son Ye Tian Zhan.

  The curtain was slightly lifted, and he walked in with a slow pace under the night sky. Everyone's eyes were on him as he wore a long shirt with a color like a clear sky after a rain shower. The fabric of the brocade was elegant and comfortable, blue like a quiet river with clear waves. As he walked with an idle gait, it seemed as if people saw a gentle breeze passing over emerald water, a bright moon rising over the eastern mountain.

  He held a white jade flute in his hand, and his smiling eyes swept over the crowd. Qingchen raised her eyes to look at him, and her whole body shook, standing still on the spot. Dazed by the person smiling in front of her, she suddenly turned her head, with waves surging wildly in her heart.

  "I was on my way back to the palace when I saw that Princess Shu's boat had stopped in the middle of the river, so I came over to take a look." Ye Tian Zhan scanned the messy boat and asked, "What happened?"

  Ye Tian Liao said: "This is exactly within the jurisdiction of the Jing Qi Si, it's just right that I have to trouble you, brother. You've crashed into the imperial mother's boat, now give me an explanation."

  Yè Tiān Zhàn smiled and said: "What kind of person would dare to provoke you, this tyrant?" Jùn Mù's gaze swept forward, looking at the person who had fallen to the ground.

  Wu Tongying met his gaze and curtsied, hastily unfolding a smile as she said in a delicate voice: "Seventh Prince...", but Ye Tianhui on the side interrupted her bluntly: "If you're still going to play dumb, then don't say anything!"

  Wu Tong saw the two princes intervene, knowing that today's matter could no longer end well. Despite having seen many things before, she couldn't help but become flustered and for a moment didn't know how to explain herself.

  At this time, Ye Tianjing slightly raised his head towards Xiang Yun and several other women: "Let them speak."

  On the boat these past few days, Bi Yao and the others had unconsciously taken Qing Chen as their mainstay, their eyes all turning to her.

  Your eyelashes cast a faint shadow on the bottom of your eyes, and the two deep lake-like gazes are cool and indifferent to the night sky. These eyebrows, this expression, this figure, like the moon and jade, handsome and elegant, it is clearly Li Tang.

  Seven emotions and six desires are in turmoil, the inexplicable joy and hatred after the pain is like a shadow following one's form. To say that it doesn't hurt is to deceive oneself. The bitter taste congeals into cold, sharp ice that pierces the heart, making her chest ache with difficulty. She listlessly lowers her eyes again, gazing at the broken porcelain and spilled water on the floor in disarray, and says faintly: "These people use despicable means..."

  Before she could finish speaking, someone suddenly exclaimed beside her and before she could even lift her head, she was roughly pulled to one side.

  A white shadow flashed before his eyes, and after a loud "ding" sound of gold and jade colliding, something fell onto the cabin floor. The white shadow turned around and landed in Ye Tian's hand.

  The chaotic noise filled the cabin again, while that white jade flute lay quietly between Night Sky's fingers, its luster soft and gentle, as if the sharp edge just now was only a temporary illusion.

  The night sky was dark and deep, with a hint of a smile still on his lips: "Be careful, miss."

  You took a step back, retreating from his arm. What fell to the ground was the hilt of a knife. Someone in the long corridor had taken advantage of the guard's momentary distraction to suddenly launch an attack, perhaps making a desperate gamble, planning to kill and silence him.

  She gazed at the person who was being forced to retreat by the night sky, struggling under the knife of the guard, with a look of disdain in her eyes, like a cold and detached light. "Kill me, one more person, how many people are left, what are you afraid of others saying?"

  The night sky was deep and dark, with a hint of a smile, he looked her up and down again, asking: "What exactly happened?"

  "Those people have no qualms about abducting many women and selling them along the way, all the way to this place, Tian Wu Zui Fang. It's probably not a good place. They are all innocent daughters of good families, forcibly taken away from their homes, and their parents must be worried sick. They also suffered a lot on the road, please... Your Highness, take charge for them."

  A faint glimmer of light flashed across his warm and gentle eyes, like the cold moon reflecting on the water for a moment. However, Ye Tian remained expressionless, staring at Qing Chen for half a day before asking, "Them? And what about you?"

  You raise an eyebrow, lower your head and suppress the annoyance in your heart: "I have no ties or attachments, alone with nothing to rely on, it's all the same wherever I go."

  "Are you asking me to save you?"

  "Yes."

  "A gleam of excitement flashed in Ye Tian's eyes: 'Since it's all the same wherever we go, why bother seeking help?'"

  "You're the same, they're different."

  She finished speaking and didn't see a response for half a day. Just as she was about to lift her head, she heard that careless voice slowly say: "Why should I save them?"

  Your eyes moved slightly, and the hidden anger in your calmness was barely visible. With a gentle lift of your phoenix-like eyes, you spoke with a steady and elegant demeanor: "Under the feet of the Emperor, within the Imperial City, there are people who disregard the law, relying on their power to bully others, doing evil and forcing good people into prostitution. Where is the country's legal system? Where is the dignity of the imperial family? As a prince, you are noble and born with heavenly grace, above you is the Emperor's benevolence, below you are the common people, surely you won't just stand by and do nothing."

  The night sky was still the same, unchanging and calm: "Of course, it's necessary to take care of this matter, but since it happened within the boundaries of the capital, it should be handled by the Metropolitan Procuratorate. We need to conduct a thorough investigation and interrogation before making a decision. You ladies will have to be detained in prison for now and wait for trial. Looking at your delicate appearances, can you really withstand the hardships of prison? Moreover, my fifth brother, who is in charge of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, has been ordered to lead troops outside and may not return for some time, making it difficult to handle this case."

  "You seem to have some leeway in your tone: 'Your Highness, what will it take for you to agree to save him?'"

  Ye Tianzhan played with the jade flute, his slender fingers white as jade, shining with elegant luster: "Let's see if he's worth saving or not."

  You slightly fell silent, your gaze falling on the jade flute in his hand, and then you looked up and said: "If so, I don't know if Your Highness is willing to make a bet with me? If Your Highness wins, everything will be at your disposal. If I win, then please help me rescue those few people."

  Ye Tian Zhan was interested in listening to her proposal, "How do you bet? Tell me and I'll listen."

  "You, sir, since you carry a jade flute with you, must be well-versed in music. There is a zither on this boat; if I play a tune and you can harmonize with your flute, then you win; otherwise, you lose. Is that acceptable?"

  As soon as this was said, Ye Tian on the side shook his head and smiled, Wu Pingting also showed a slightly relaxed expression. Everyone in Yige City knew that the Seventh Prince Ye Tianzhan's jade flute was famous in the capital, and no one could surpass it. Your move is no different from cutting off your own path.

  At this time, Ye Tian looked at Qing Chen quietly for a while and said, "Alright, you go try the zither."

  Two guards helped to put the fallen zither in order, and Qingchen retuned it and tried the strings. The zither was not a good one, but it was barely passable.

  She sat on the floor in front of the long case, her white dress spreading out behind her, calm and elegant, her eyes gazing up at Ye Tianchen. Ye Tianchen raised an eyebrow and slightly lifted his hand, indicating that she could begin.

  She quietly tilted her head, countless melodies flashing through her mind, her slender fingers lightly gliding over the fine strings, her left hand like an orchid, stroking one end of the guqin.

  She no longer paid attention to the crowd, her calm and peaceful gaze fell on the empty space in front of her, and her right hand slowly rose with the current mood, suddenly plucking the strings.

  A crisp, metallic sound, slightly hoarse, seemed to cut through everyone's heart, and with the intense vibration, their minds involuntarily trembled.

  With a single strum, the strings sang out in tight harmony, and a simple yet unadorned ancient zither suddenly gave rise to the aura of golden spears and iron horses.

  It seems as if everyone sees the marching troops stretching for thousands of miles, the neighing of horses and the clashing of arms, the decisive battle is imminent, the wind and clouds are in turmoil, and one's heart is slowly lifted by this solemn and stirring sound to an unbearable extreme.

  Suddenly, in the dark, I heard a sudden burst of urgent strings. "The silver bottle suddenly broke and the water splashed out, the iron cavalry rushed out with knives and guns ringing", thousands of horses and soldiers swept across the vast desert, the wind and sand surged wildly, and the sky and earth lost their color.

  The sound of the qin is majestic and powerful, with a heroic spirit that startles the heart; when the fine strings vibrate, the sword-like energy overflows, astonishing all who hear it.

  Under a pair of slender fingers, there are thousands of atmospheres, and sometimes the strings are light and low, with fleeting and lingering entanglements, ups and downs.

  The night sky was filled with the sound of the jade flute, but it never reached his lips, he just held it quietly and listened to the melody, as if he had already followed the seven-stringed zither to the vast battlefield, where the winds howled and the swordsmen besieged the city.

  When the low-pitched sound of the Xiao and Suo returned, the piano sound followed suit and rose high, opening up a grand scene, with a momentum that seemed to pierce through the clouds, causing everyone on board to change color upon hearing it.

  Your fingers drooped, the sound of the guqin rose higher and higher, your fingers suddenly applied force, but heard a dull "bang" sound, the guqin could no longer withstand this turbulent atmosphere, the long strings snapped violently, the music disappeared and the sound scattered.

  Fingers as white as jade were cut by the broken string, a wound was torn open, and fresh blood gushed out instantly, dripping onto the zither, like splashing red plum blossoms.

  She remained unmoved, only staring intently at the piano, her serious expression making it seem as if all her emotions were poured into it, so focused that it made people feel uneasy.

  After a while, a pair of white-soled boots stopped in front of the piano. She looked up along the light blue long shirt and met a pair of eyes as clear as a spring night.

  He handed over a silk handkerchief, seeing that she didn't take it, he grasped her hand and wrapped the wound for her, his movements gentle. At the same time, he ordered: "Someone come and find a place to settle these few young ladies first, treat them well. Take the remaining people and throw them into the capital prison, bring my token and seal off Tian Wu Zui Fang, if anyone dares to resist, take them down together."

  As soon as this was said, Wu Pinting was shocked and lost her color. She did not expect that the King of Zhan, who had always been known for his warmth, would be so ruthless. She knelt down and begged: "Your Highness, please consider...considering Mr. Guo's position..."

  "This king will not forget Guo Qi, let him wait for his punishment at the Temple of Great Justice."

  After finishing speaking, he turned a deaf ear to the crying and begging behind him, only staring at your dusty and slightly questioning eyes when you looked up.

  The deep eyes with a quiet ink color shocked him, and his heart seemed to have emptied out a space, with an indescribable aftertaste quietly spreading.

  After a long time, he smiled and shook his head, saying in a low voice: "I lost. Even if I can finish this song, I still can't match your mood."

  A gentle and delicate woman, what kind of thing could have made this piano piece so full of vastness and passion, with a fierce and sorrowful atmosphere, and that lingering desolation, how deeply it is.

  She gazed at his handsome face, her lips slowly curving up into a bitter smile. She lightly rose to her feet, "Thank you, Qi..." Before she could finish speaking, her heart suddenly skipped a beat, and the world in front of her began spinning. She fell forward, landing on the guqin.

  My heart is exhausted, like a broken string, and I can no longer hold on.

  He quickly supported her with his hands and took a look at her condition, furrowing his brow slightly. He then scooped up her slender body in his arms and headed out of the cabin.

  After a daze, you struggled to open your eyes and saw Ye Tianxuan leaning over, gazing at you with a gentle expression that was so similar to Li Tang's. In the midst of confusion, time seemed to rewind, and you found yourself embracing each other, whispering softly, and sinking into a gentle intoxication.

  She moved her hand to touch those vaguely familiar eyes, but gave up in exhaustion, the feeling of being overwhelmed slowly drowning her.