Shaojun riding the sea

Chapter 233 Imprisonment in the Cold Palace
The setting sun was blood-red, the endless sea was sparkling, a bamboo raft covered with flowers was slowly floating on the water, and a man and a woman were lying on the raft——

Their eyes were closed, with a faint smile on their lips, and their faces were peaceful and tranquil, as if they were fast asleep. They were the Lord of Zhongli Island and Madam Wan who passed away together on the top of Jixue Cliff.

Before her death, Madam Wan mentioned to Zhongli Sheng that if she passed away one day, she didn't have to be buried in the earth. A sea burial ceremony could be held for her. This was the custom in her hometown, and her soul also wanted to float back to her hometown on the sea breeze.

Now Zhongli Sheng followed his mother's last wish, but he didn't expect that the sea breeze took away not one person, but his parents.

A heavy and sad atmosphere permeated Yunzhou Island. Waves hit the rocks. A group of people stood on the beach in silence. The group of white-clad maids in Qinglin Garden were all crying.

Although Madam Wan is no longer with us, she handed her jade token to Shi Xuanling. She is now the new owner of Qinglin Garden, and everyone in the garden obeys her orders.

But now she was in a state of fake death and could not show her face in public, so Qinglin Garden was handed over to Madam Wan's two most trusted disciples to take care of it temporarily.

In short, Madam Wan had made arrangements for the future of the group of girls who had always followed her. Those who were willing to stay could continue to regard Qinglin Garden as their home, and those who wanted to leave could receive money and leave on their own. However, no one wanted to leave Qinglin Garden after her death, and the girls still stayed together, just as they did when Madam Wan was still alive.

The sea breeze swept across the sky. Zhongli Sheng, as the new island master, was at the front. He still tightly grasped the black iron folding fan given to him by his father, and his purple robe fluttered in the wind. However, he was no longer as youthful and unrestrained as before, but had a more mature and steady temperament.

Wen Yanru, wearing a silver robe and holding a spear, stood beside him with Ji Zhiyue. Looking at Zhong Lisheng's pale face, he couldn't help but whispered to comfort him:
"Ah Sheng, cry if you want to. After crying, you must cheer up. Now you are the master of an island and have many responsibilities and missions. But don't be afraid. I am here. I will protect Yunzhou Island with you and fulfill your father's wish, okay?"

Zhongli Sheng trembled, turned his head, looked into Wen Yanru's sincere eyes, couldn't help but raise the corner of his lips, and gently hit him on the shoulder.

"You stupid mosquito, you are also learning to say such sour things. Who said I was going to cry? I am the island master now, and there are still many things to do. Forget about anything else. Even the wolf cubs of Chi Nu are still eyeing Yunzhou Island covetously. I will not indulge in sadness. I will definitely cheer up and guard Yunzhou Island and protect the people here. Otherwise, how can my parents in heaven rest in peace?"

"Ah Sheng, you..." Wen Yanru looked at the purple-clothed boy in front of him with some disbelief. He was surprised and delighted that the boy, who was usually cynical and unruly, could say such a thing. He was so excited that he said:

"Okay, Ah Sheng, you will be the island master and I will be the defender. With you and I guarding Yunzhou Island, we will be able to resist foreign invaders and stand firm in the face of wind and rain. I will accompany you on this journey!"

Zhongli Sheng nodded, and the two of them reached out their hands tacitly and held them tightly, smiling at each other in the sunset, with many things flowing in their hearts, self-evident.

Behind them, a pair of eyes hidden behind the reef passed through the crowd and watched the scene quietly, and a smile of relief could not help but overflowed from their eyes.

At the end of the crowd, next to a huge reef, there was a slender figure wrapped in a cloak, wearing a crane mask, pushing a wheelchair with both hands. The young man in the wheelchair had white hair and a cold and extraordinary temperament. He was the owner of Feng Tower, Feng Shuxing.

And the "Crane Girl" who pushed him forward and accompanied him to bid farewell to Madam Wan for the last time was Shi Xuanling.

She was now in a state of fake death, and could not openly participate in the sea sacrifice ceremony or appear in public to bid farewell to her master. She could only disguise herself as a maid beside the owner of Fenglou and look at him from afar through the crowd.

Although her outfit was a bit strange, the people in Fenglou always kept to themselves, so no one would pay much attention to her strange behavior.

Now Shi Xuanling looked at the seashore and saw Zhong Lisheng and General Xiao Yan holding each other's hands in the sunset. White mist was lingering on their shoulders, and a small purple shark and a small silver flying dragon appeared respectively. The two spiritual creatures smiled at each other, as if they had made some oath and agreement, and there was a firm strength between them.

Although Shi Xuanling didn't know what they said, she understood the burning belief in their eyes. She knew that the depressed Ah Sheng should be... alive at this moment.

For some reason, she could still vaguely hear the words he had said to her over and over again when he was in the most painful and helpless state, when he was sick and dazed, and when she had stayed by his side and taken care of him. When he held her hand, he repeated, "Little Bell, my nightmare has come true. The thing I feared the most has happened. God is really an asshole and has not been kind to me at all. In the end, I have become... a child without a father or a mother."

At that time, her heart was broken, and she only hoped that Zhongli Sheng could get out of the grief as soon as possible. This moment came faster than she had imagined. After all, her little shark was still the strong and unyielding overlord of the sea who was difficult to be defeated.

"Little Shark, you are not a child abandoned by God. There are many people by your side. You will not be alone. The road ahead is long but bright..."

Facing the gorgeous sunset in the sky, Shi Xuanling looked at the woman in purple at the seaside and blessed her silently in her heart.

The sea sacrifice ceremony was coming to an end, and the last farewell in the world was about to end. Just as Shi Xuanling was pushing the wheelchair and wanted to return to Feng Tower with Feng Shuxing, she suddenly saw a familiar figure rushing towards her not far away.

The man was dressed in white, with his hair tied up, a tall and elegant figure, and gentle and clear eyes. He also had a sandalwood medicine box slung over his shoulder. He staggered over and saw the bamboo raft covered with flowers drifting farther and farther away on the sea. When it was so far away that he could no longer see it, he finally fell to his knees and tears suddenly fell:

"Senior Sister, I'm late, I'm sorry..."

The setting sun was blood-red, the waves were roaring, and just as the man in white was crying sadly, a familiar sound of bells jumped into his ears. He looked up, only to meet a pair of clear brown eyes.

"Uncle Youming, you are finally here."

The girl in strange attire squatted down, and gently pulled the mask down a little bit.

"it's me."

-

On the ninth floor of Feng Tower, in a quiet secret room, the lingering aroma of tea can be smelled with a hint of bitterness.

You Ming looked at the heavy red-lettered iron ticket on the table for a long time before he sighed, "It turns out there was such a secret back then. We didn't know about it, and we never expected that there are still people from our clan on this island..."

Shi Xuanling has told Junior-Master Uncle You Ming everything. His idea coincides with hers, which is to return to one's roots, resolve grudges, and bring the tribesmen in Qingli Mountains back to Yunzhou Island.

"But these inside stories cannot be revealed to the Restorationists yet. They won't listen and will only become more crazy. Everything has to wait for the right time and be done slowly."

You Ming looked at Shi Xuanling and said firmly, "Xiao Lingdang, you can hide in Fenglou for the time being and don't worry. After all, Yunzhou Island is still the territory of the Zhongli clan, and General Yinxue is in charge. Pei Shixi's hand cannot reach out completely, and they can't find you for the time being. Besides, the Restoration Faction is now in a state of panic and can't take care of itself."

"What do you mean?" Shi Xuanling was shocked.

You Ming frowned slightly and said in a deep voice: "Because of the changing situation in the imperial city, many major events have occurred. The original crown prince has been deposed, and the new crown prince has been selected. The palace will soon hold a ceremony to confer the title."

"A new crown prince?" Shi Xuanling's expression changed slightly. She naturally knew Pei Shixi's plan. The position of crown prince was extremely important to their Restoration Party. "Who was finally decided? Is it Concubine Rou's... twelfth prince?"

"No, it's the third prince born to Queen Wei. Concubine Rou is now confined to her own palace, and the twelfth prince has been locked up in Yuanwu Palace, which is remote and cold, just like a cold palace. He must reflect on himself there for half a year and copy the Heart Sutra of Prayer to atone for his sins."