QTEBS Chapter 99

Thank you to Tomiki for the ko-fi~

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The people in the capital were originally thinking that the two teams should have met, given the Third Prince’s speed; they were anxious not to miss him and also worried about any danger the Third Prince might encounter.

An official in a green official robe led a group of attendants to pay respects to Hua Chengyun as he exclaimed, “Minister Wang Shouping pays his respects to His Highness!”

The people behind him also followed suit with the salutation, and a large crowd squeezed into the narrow lobby of the inn, all bowing in unison.

Hua Chengyun sat upright, flanked by the Zong Yuan and the group. Apart from Zong Yuan, the rest were at a loss, watching the situation unfold nervously. They turned their heads like turning a rattle drum, focusing on whoever spoke.

How did this Mister Chenghua become the Third Prince?

Hua Chengyun nodded expressionlessly, “Rise, no need for excessive courtesy.”

He kept a constant eye on Zong Yuan, but from upstairs to now, Zong Yuan hadn’t uttered a single word, nor had his expression changed in the slightest.

From birth until now, he had never felt so uneasy.

A guard named Zhou stepped forward and bowed to Hua Chengyun, saying, “Your Highness, now that you have obtained the turtle shell and returned safely, why not set out for the capital tomorrow?”

Hua Chengyun’s face remained unchanged.

The guard Zhou tried to get closer, but then he heard a cough nearby. Hua Chengyun instantly pushed Zhou aside and walked to Zong Yuan, worriedly asking, “A’Yuan, what’s wrong with you?”

Zong Yuan glanced at him, rigidly refusing, “The Third Prince doesn’t need to worry.”

People familiar with the Third Prince’s character couldn’t help but gasp. They looked at Zong Yuan with a mix of sympathy and schadenfreude.

It seemed this monk was in for a severe reprimand.

Those who relied on rumors alone could already guess Hua Chengyun’s reaction, let alone those serving in the capital.

Guard Zhou sighed secretly and stepped forward to advise, “Your Highness, this monk speaks without restraint. The wise forgive the mistakes of the foolish. Please, Your Highness, do not be angered.”

“Speaks without restraint, the wise forgive the mistakes of the foolish?” Hua Chengyun became more and more enraged. Why did people everywhere speak nonsense in front of Zong Yuan? He warned, “Guard Zhou, do you have the courage to say that again?”

Guard Zhou hesitated, “I dare not. I will take this monk out for punishment.”

Hua Chengyun’s face darkened, and Zong Yuan smirked, “Sure, I will go with you for punishment.”

He truly stood up and walked with Guard Zhou towards the exit, with two other guards planning to assist. Hua Chengyun could no longer endure; he shouted, “Release him!”

He briskly drove away Guard Zhou and the two guards, ignoring the horrified looks from others. He rudely clutched Zong Yuan’s waist, burying his face in his chest, muttering, “I didn’t mean to.”

Zong Yuan tried to push him away by gripping his shoulders, but Hua Chengyun held on firmly. He couldn’t budge an inch. Zong Yuan said, “There are so many people here, and you are the dignified Third Prince. In front of so many people, aren’t you afraid of losing face?”

Hua Chengyun continued to mutter, “I was wrong.”

“No, you’re not wrong,” Zong Yuan suddenly sighed deeply, frightening both Hua Chengyun and 0046, causing a shiver to run down their spines. “The one who’s wrong is me.”

With his melancholic and affectionate gaze, trying to resist Hua Chengyun’s actions and his ambivalent words, 0046 could tell that this guy was playing hard to get.

Hua Chengyun reluctantly turned into the deceitful heartbreaker big boar’s trotters.

The people led by Guard Zhou were all dumbfounded. Someone asked the composed Ming Jue and his companions who were sitting with wooden faces, “What happened between our prince and this monk?”

Ming Jue waved his hand, sighing deeply.

Abbot, I’m sorry. Such a talented person ended up in the hands of the Third Prince like this.

Hua Chengyun earnestly continued Zong Yuan’s lines, looking anxious, “No! It’s all my fault. It has nothing to do with you!”

“Oh,” Zong Yuan suddenly said, “Where did you go wrong? The renowned Third Prince?”

Silence followed. Where was the seriousness in sticking to the script? It became quite awkward.

The two of them naturally understood each other’s intentions. Despite a slight hiccup, they reconciled that evening, returning to a harmonious and affectionate state.

While the Emperor didn’t express urgency to see the turtle shell, the group used up all the time they could afford on their journey. So, starting from the next day, they hastened their pace.

The group set out grandly, and Ming Jue and his three companions were supposed to return to the Dabao Monastery. However, they were persuasively kept back by Hua Chengyun with a sly smile, stating, “Don’t you want to witness the holy countenance?”

Ming Jue and his companions obediently followed. How could they not want to witness the holy countenance? It was the Emperor, after all!

After a five-day hurried journey back to the capital, many were astonished by the unpredictable and capricious Third Prince and the monk named Zong Yuan. Leaving aside the atmosphere between them that didn’t allow for a third person, just the ever-changing, willful, and indulgent Third Prince made them uneasy for over ten days.

After returning to the capital, without taking time to rest, they directly carried the turtle shell and went to pay respects, accompanied by people from the Dabao Monastery and the Xiangguo Monastery.

The Emperor sat high on the dragon throne, with a benevolent expression and imposing demeanor. Although kneeling and bowing rituals were not in vogue during this era, the Emperor had once said, “Fearing to demean the spirit of talents throughout the realm.” This showed that he was indeed an admirable person. Unfortunately, the older he got, the more confused he became. At this moment, he was wise, but in five or ten years, he would listen to the slanderous words of treacherous officials, disrupting the norms of his reign.

Zong Yuan’s mission was directly related to this.

Before they could finish their salutations, the Emperor waved his hand curiously, walking down from the high platform. “No need for excessive courtesy, Yun’er, is this the turtle shell from the Dabao Monastery?”

Hua Chengyun replied, “Yes, Father.”

The Emperor examined him up and down several times and said with satisfaction, “Indeed, my Yun’er is worthy. You’ve handled this matter very well. Is there anything you would like as a reward?”

Hua Chengyun looked a bit embarrassed, “Well, there is one thing. I’ll explain it to you later.”

“Oh?” The Emperor looked at him with surprise. “Alright, alright. I want to see what request Yun’er, who has acted so unusually, will make.”

After saying this, he began to carefully observe the turtle shell. It was as long as a seven-foot-tall man, and while such a turtle shell might be astonishing to people living near the sea, its significance changed when it was found under the ancient tree in the Dabao Monastery.

The Emperor praised, “Good stuff! Did people from the Dabao Monastery come with you? Who discovered this thing?”

Hua Chengyun slightly proud, said, “It’s A’Yuan.”

The Emperor, using the tea handed to him by a eunuch, curiously asked, “Who is this A’Yuan? Yun’er, it seems you have a good relationship with him.”

Hua Chengyun smiled, and Zong Yuan stepped forward from behind him, neither humble nor arrogant, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor scrutinized him for a moment, “Yun’er has finally made a decent friend.” He asked Zong Yuan, “What would you like as a reward? Yun’er mentioned you’re as determined as him and won’t make things difficult for me.”

Hua Chengyun spoke up eagerly, “Father, how about you grant A’Yuan a request as well? Like me, he surely won’t trouble you.”

Zong Yuan chuckled, understanding that Hua Chengyun was looking out for him. Hua Chengyun noticed his gaze and responded with a radiant smile.

The Emperor agreed with a nod, knowing well that no one would dare make difficult requests in his presence. Therefore, he readily accepted.

After circling the turtle shell twice, the Emperor’s interest waned. He beckoned for a fresh cup of hot tea. Once the eunuch efficiently replaced the tea, the Emperor said, “Let’s place this turtle shell in the national treasury.”

Right after saying this, his hand holding the cup suddenly felt a sharp pain. His fingers cramped, and he couldn’t hold the cup anymore. It crashed onto the turtle shell with a loud sound, splashing hot water over it. Eunuchs hurriedly massaged the Emperor’s fingers as he sighed, “Getting old, more and more ailments.”

The eunuch who had just massaged his fingers raised his head, but was so scared that he sat on the ground, trembling and pointing at the turtle shell, “Yo-Your Majesty…”

The Emperor was puzzled and looked at the turtle shell, suddenly inhaling sharply.

Steam slowly rose from the turtle shell that had been splashed with hot water, and on the deep green shell, a row of golden characters emerged from dark to light!

Hua Chengyun subconsciously glanced at Zong Yuan, who had a profound look in his eyes, signaling him to observe the servants in the hall.

Hua Chengyun ordered, “Everyone, leave!”

The people who hadn’t yet seen what had happened quickly retreated, including the guards who had entered the hall together. In the end, only the monks from the Dabao Monastery and the Xiangguo Monastery remained.

Though they spoke auspicious words all day long, when such an extraordinary event truly occurred, they were all both amazed and fearful. Even before the characters on the turtle shell had fully emerged, the Emperor had already calmed down. He invited the monks to come closer, sharing in the revelation of these divine words.

Once this incident spread, the court historians wouldn’t need to exaggerate it!

Zong Yuan and Hua Chengyun stood behind the crowd. Nervously, Hua Chengyun held Zong Yuan’s hand, and Zong Yuan reciprocated, gently stroking the back of his hand. Hua Chengyun’s heart immediately settled.

Regardless of what those characters said, Hua Chengyun felt it was related to Zong Yuan.

As the characters remained somewhat blurred, causing anxiety among those, including the Emperor, Zong Yuan suddenly spoke up, “Is the hot water still not enough?”

Everyone suddenly realized, quickly bringing another pot of hot water and pouring it inch by inch onto the turtle shell, not missing any corner.

Once again, a mist rose, but this time the golden characters manifested quickly. The Emperor solemnly recited, “Wei Xu Shen, traitor harming the state, the king believes; you claim eternal life, but in the end, your sins are grave.”

!

The Emperor’s expression darkened. He repeated the recitation, his dragon-like eyes wide open, and his eyebrows furrowed. “Wei Xu Shen, traitor harming the state, the king believes; you claim eternal life, but in the end, your sins are grave… the king believes, the state is in chaos… Wei, Xu, Shen!”

The people present turned pale, exchanging glances filled with despair.

If this was a warning from the heavens, those who knew this secret were likely, very likely, to escape death.

The Emperor erupted in anger. He genuinely harbored murderous intent. If this was a future event that would unfold, it would undoubtedly become a stain on his legacy. The only ones who knew about it were these people. Yun’er need not worry; for the others… killing them would be just.

Hua Chengyun suddenly asked, “Father, who is this Wei Xu Shen?”

His question immediately jolted the Emperor. The turtle shell was buried in the Great Treasure Temple and discovered by the people there. It wasn’t certain that these people were protected by the turtle shell. If he recklessly killed them, there might be divine intervention…

The Emperor, looking as if he had aged a dozen years, sighed heavily. “As for this Wei Xu Shen, I really do not know.”

As he said this, the atmosphere in the entire hall relaxed.

Zong Yuan had a faint smile.

 

Author’s note:

Zong Yuan: Satisfied.