The weather was getting colder and colder. Wen Chan stood by the window, wearing a thick velvet cloak, and the scarlet colour made his skin look bright and white. After over half a month of healing, his face had gotten smoother and rounder.
The heater was burning brightly, and it was placed by the side. The steady stream of heat contrasted with the cold outside the window.
Wen Chan exhaled lightly, breathing out a little white mist, and raised his eyes slightly, looking into the distance, “November……”
“What is Your Highness doing standing in front of the window? Be careful not to catch a cold.” Ah Fu suddenly jumped out of nowhere and stood in front of the window.
Wen Chan was startled by him, “You walk so silently, ah. Are you trying to scare me to death to change your master?”
Ah Fu hurriedly said, “This slave deserves to die then! It is a blessing for this slave to have Your Highness as my master in my eight lifetimes! How dare this slave have other thoughts.”
Wen Chan had long been immune to Ah Fu’s boot-licking, and he directly ignored it, “It’s already November. The day is coming soon, right?”
“Replying to Your Royal Highness, the day is almost here. The court started the preparations more than half a month ago.” Ah Fu replied.
“This is actually a good opportunity.” Wen Chan looked pensive.
The “big day” that they were talking about was the annual sacrifice in Xi Liang.
More than a hundred years ago, the ancestor of the Wen family broke into the Imperial City of Xi Liang with a very powerful army, killed all the people of the previous dynasty, and ascended to the throne.
Since then, Xi Liang began to become stronger and stronger and over the years became a dominant country to which ten thousand nations came to pay tribute, and the Wen royal family has inherited it to this day.
After the founding of the country, every year on November 23rd, the emperor personally led hundreds of officials to make sacrifices to achieve prosperity and peace in Xi Liang and peace in the whole world.
It was strange that although it was forbidden to worship gods in Xi Liang, there were many activities such as offering sacrifices and praying for blessings there.
In the past, on that day, the emperor set up an altar in the palace to burn incense and worship the Buddha. Later, the rules were gradually changed. During this dynasty, the emperor set up the altar at Yanxiang Temple, led hundreds of officials to worship during the day, and stayed overnight at Yanxiang Temple at night.
Wen Chan stood in front of the window and thought for a long time. Ah Fu, who was standing by the side, didn’t dare to disturb him. Wen Chan endured the nip in the air until the tip of his nose turned red, and only then did he say, “Why is it so cold? Now that it’s cold, you should put on more clothes. You nag me all day long, but why do you neglect yourself?”
“It’s not the winter season yet, and the cold-resistant clothes haven’t been distributed yet. This slave is wearing three layers of autumn robes, and I still don’t feel very cold.” Ah Fu shivered.
“Go directly and ask for it. If anyone dares to stop you and not give it to you, you can directly come report it to me.” Wen Chan frowned slightly.
Ah Fu got the order, complied with it happily, and immediately dispatched someone to pick it up.
After Wen Chan’s injury was healed, he didn’t let Liang Yanbei risk coming to the palace again, no matter what he said. He asked Ah Fu to find a sword, and every morning and at sunset, he practiced it in the inner courtyard for half an hour.
In the first few days, the wound on his left arm was still faintly painful. Wen Chan endured it with great difficulty, and then it gradually got better. The motions of his body and the exercises to benefit the internal organs when he practiced martial arts in his previous life were all engraved in his mind. Although he was a little out of practice, he regained the feeling of the past after practicing continuously for a few days.
After Liang Yanbei created a unique footwork in his previous life, Wen Chan was his first apprentice. In order to be proficient in the pose, he did the same steps for several days in a row. Even if he was bored, he had to bite the bullet and persevere.
Later, Wen Chan learnt that set of footwork perfectly, and it was as if they were ingrained in his bones. After Wen Chan practiced them for several days with this body after rebirth, his limbs also memorised the steps.
In the blink of an eye, it was the 23rd day, and the sacrifice was held grandly.
Wen Chan got up early that day, and Ah Fu brought people into the palace hall to wash and dress him.
A jade crown, a brocade fur coat, and a wide belt.
A golden dragon with no horns was embroidered on the dark black cloak with gold threads, and snow-white fox fur was attached to the neckline, sleeves, and bottom of the robe, slightly revealing a pair of brocade boots. The formal attire made him appear more delicate and dignified.
Wen Chan stretched out his hand and brushed his sleeves. Then, when he looked up, he saw a palace maid holding a tray of clothes by the side.
The palace maid had her head lowered, and she stood in a very orderly manner. She was so quiet that she almost held no sense of presence.
Wen Chan walked up to her in a few steps and said in a gentle voice, “Raise your head so I can see you.”
The palace maid’s body stiffened slightly, and she slowly raised her head, her eyes looking down till the end.
The people around were stunned, and they didn’t know what Wen Chan was meaning.
“Raise your eyes too.” Wen Chan continued.
The palace girl raised her eyes slowly when she heard what he said, and she looked straight at Wen Chan. There was a touch of nervousness inside her black eyes, and she murmured, “Your Highness……”
Wen Chan looked at her for a moment and suddenly smiled with his eyes bent. The warmth of spring and summer melted into his eyes, and it was beautiful enough to make one’s heart beat, “Your eyes are very beautiful. They are like the Asiatic apples1
in autumn.”
None of the palace servants who served Wen Chan had ever heard him praise people so bluntly. There were also restless little palace ladies who had the thought of hitching a ride to the sky on the dragon and phoenix2fig. currying favour with the rich and powerful in the hope of advancement. But Wen Chan was indifferent to them, and it was too difficult for them to approach him. So, over time, those thoughts faded away.
But at this moment, he praised a palace maid, saying that her eyes looked like Asiatic apples, which surprised people and made them feel a little jealous.
After Wen Chan finished praising her, he turned around and walked outside the palace hall. He then said as he walked, “Ah Fu, these people who are serving today seem very smart. So reward them well.”
Ah Fu responded very fast and hurriedly beckoned to the palace servants, who were still standing in a daze. He made a gesture to them to leave the hall and replied, “This slave followed your orders.”
The colour of the Asiatic apples in autumn was as deep as blood. Although it was gorgeous, it was also deadly.
He stood under the eaves and glanced at the dusky sky.
“Your Highness, the carriage is ready.” Ah Fu reminded in a low voice.
Wen Chan nodded slightly, “Then let’s go.”
The sacrifice at dawn was meant for the ascension of the dynasty. It was to pray for the Xiliang Empire to be like a vibrant sun and never decline.
Hundreds of civil and military officials in the capital pinched their times and rushed to Yanxiang Temple. Ordinary people also got up early and stood on both sides of the road to watch the powerful, high-ranking court councillors. If they were lucky, they would even be able to see the Son of Heaven’s3the emperor carriage.
Yanxiang Temple was located in the southernmost part of the capital. It was built on a low peak. If you wanted to enter the temple, you need to walk up seventy-seven stone steps. These stone steps were not continuous. After every ten steps there was a two-meter-long flat stair, so walking up them didn’t make you exhausted.
One carriage after another was parked at the foot of the stone steps, and the guards were heavily standing guard. Ordinary people were not allowed to approach even half a step, so they could only watch from a distance.
When Wen Chan arrived, it was neither early nor late. He lifted the curtain of the carriage and came down. As soon as his feet landed, a gust of cold wind blew in his face, curling up his long hair, and the cold made him shrink his neck.
Qin Qi and Shu Hua guarded his left and right, and Wen Chan led his people from the place where the carriage was parked to the foot of the stone steps.
After walking in, he saw a very conspicuous figure.
It was not that their clothes were brightly coloured, but that the view of their back was unique and unmatched in Wen Chan’s eyes. He could recognise it at a glance, and it was particularly prominent in the vast crowd.
“Liang Yanbei.” Wen Chan hadn’t seen him for several days, and he called out to him subconsciously.
The sound passed through the noisy crowd and reached Liang Yanbei’s ears. He turned his head and smiled slightly when he saw Wen Chan, who was wearing very exquisite clothing.
It just so happened that the first ray of golden light from the rising sun broke through the clouds and reflected on his face. It was so beautiful that Wen Chan’s heart stopped beating.
Liang Yanbei was also dressed quite decently today. His long hair was still tied up high, and he was now wearing a dark rosewood and white jade hairpin. The black-blue cloak was embroidered with billowing ruyi patterns4
A symbol of power and good fortune., and the dark clothes added a bit of noble coldness to Liang Yanbei.
Wen Chan couldn’t find any words of praise to describe him for a while.
Liang Yanbei walked over, all smiles and bathing in the golden rays, “Your Highness, I have been waiting for you for a long time.”
These words pulled Wen Chan’s consciousness back. He raised his eyes and said, “Why are you here so early?”
“I was afraid Your Highness will go up earlier.” Liang Yanbei told him the truth.
“Why do you insist on going with me? The sky is cold and the earth is frozen5It’s bitterly cold..” Wen Chan lowered his voice and forcibly held down the throbbing in his heart.
Liang Yanbei turned his head and looked at the unceasing crowd of stone steps, “There are seventy-seven steps, and each step brings luck and fortune. The abbot of the Yanxiang Temple said that every time you step on a step, you can make a wish in your heart. Of the seventy-seven wishes, one will inevitably be heard by the Buddha.”
He turned back again and looked at Wen Chan intently, “I want to go with Your Highness and make seventy-seven wishes for Your Highness’ luck and fortune. Maybe one will come true.”
Wen Chan felt his ears suddenly quiet down, and only the pair of beautiful dark eyes were in his sight. His heartbeat was getting faster and faster. He opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.
Liang Yanbei took advantage of his moment of distraction to reach into his cloak and hold his hand. He immediately frowned slightly, “Why are your hands so cold? Are you not wearing enough?”
Feeling the warmth in his palm, Wen Chan had no time to yearn. But instead, his body reacted one step ahead. He suddenly took out his hand and whispered fiercely, “Don’t mess around. Can’t you see where this is!”
Hundreds of civil and military officials from all over the city were gathered there, and with so many eyes staring, this was not a place to play around.
Liang Yanbei took his hand back as if nothing had happened, “Okay, I won’t hold it if you don’t want me to hold it. So let’s go up first?”
Wen Chan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in response, “Let’s go.”
They followed the sparse crowd up the stone steps, at a moderate pace, and Wen Chan was fully focusedly staring at the stone steps.
Liang Yanbei looked sideways at him a few times and saw that he looked serious. It looked as if he was really making wishes, so he didn’t make any sound and disturb him but quietly watched him walk through the seventy-seven steps.
When the stone steps came to the top, there was a large stone gate, and the stone pillars on both sides were engraved with large characters with bold cursive calligraphy — — Yanxiang Temple.
Because Wen Chan had been practicing martial arts for days, he walked all the way without getting red in the face or getting out of breath, and he looked into the distance with a calm expression. Although this short peak was not very high, when one stood on it, they could still see the first rays of the rising sun, shining brightly.
Looking down at the seventy-seven stone steps, Wen Chan was silent.
With each step he took, he made a wish for Liang Yanbei on each of these steps. He wanted to leave a few wishes for the people of Xi Liang, but he reached the end without noticing.
As the former Emperor of Xi Liang, Wen Chan had a trace of shame in his heart.
Seeing him in a trance, Liang Yanbei quietly touched his arm, “Your Highness, what are you thinking about so intently?”
“I was thinking,” Wen Chan pointed to the stone steps, “If I walk it again, I wonder if my wish will still come true.”
Liang Yanbei, “……”
“Your Highness, you can’t be too greedy as a human being.” Liang Yanbei sighed softly and then said, “Why don’t I accompany Your Highness to walk it again another day.”
Wen Chan nodded.
The two of them only said a few words, and in order not to block the way for the people behind them, they continued to walk in.
“Your Ninth Royal Highness!” As they were walking, there was a shout from ahead.
Translator’s corner
Thank you so much for reading the chapter. If you liked my translation and wanna support me, you can comment down your thoughts or send me a Kofi.
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