After picking up the White Cut Black Prince

Song Yusheng stopped Qi Ziyuan. After hearing what he had just said, Wen Chu turned around and looked at him deeply. Surprisingly, there was no disgust or wariness in his eyes.

No one believed Wen Chu, and she was gambling her life against the sky. Even Wen Chu herself was not sure of success, but Song Yusheng said he believed her.

Wen Chu turned her gaze back to the sky not far away. The wind came from somewhere, making her clothes flutter and her hair fly. The sunlight from the sky shone on her fair face. Everyone could only see that she looked calm, as if she was not the one who swore in the bet just now.

Someone urged, "What's wrong? Why don't you just admit it? Why are you wasting time here? Aren't you just trying to delay time again?"

"A goddess is a goddess. When Taoists pray for rain, they usually have to set up a platform. You come here with nothing in your hands? Do you really think you have some ability?"

There were voices of ridicule all around. In fact, Wen Chu didn't need to prove herself. Even if she didn't gamble, she had thousands of ways to get out of here. But today she was so stubborn that she wanted to gamble with the sky. She had to gamble.

She ignored their ridicule and suddenly used the sword in her hand to cut her three raised fingers. Blood splattered and the people around her fell silent at her action.

I don't know what kind of seal she made on her hands. If someone present knew it, they would know that it was a Taoist seal used to pray for rain.

While Wen Chu was making seals, he kept chanting: "East is wood, south is fire, west is metal, north is water, center is earth. The Five Emperors and Five Dragons, send down light and wind, and spread the forest. All parties listen to my order, send down the sweet rain quickly, and those who dare to refuse will be punished severely! Wind, rain, thunder and lightning, hurry up as ordered!"

Wen Chu pointed his finger towards the sky, but after he finished the rain-praying spell, the sky remained the same, the sun was shining brightly, nothing happened, and there was no sign of rain.

That series of spells made her look like a charlatan who was deliberately trying to be mysterious.

After waiting for a few more breaths and seeing that there was still no change, the people around him began to get agitated, and Wen Chu's heart sank a little.

Or did you lose the bet?

Someone has already made a mocking sound.

"What? Just by shouting a few words, you can pray for rain. Who do you think you are? You are a liar."

"That's right. It's been dry for almost two months. If it really rains today, I will treat you like a god for the rest of my life! I will burn incense for you every day!"

"You must fight for this. Are you still refusing to admit that you are a witch?!"

The crowd became more and more agitated. They really thought that Wen Chu had some skills, but who knew that it seemed that he was just pretending to be mysterious. What was the difference between him and those deceptive Taoist priests!
How dare she make a bet with them?

Qi Ziyuan cursed, "Hurry, hurry, hurry! You are in such a hurry to be reborn! Can't you wait a while before dying? You just prayed for rain and it started raining the next moment. What? Do you really think you are the reincarnation of the Queen Mother and Thunder God? You have great powers!"

The person next to him was not to be outdone and said, "So what? Isn't this what gambling is all about? Otherwise, what's the point of calling it gambling? If you're willing to gamble, you have to accept the loss. If you dare to gamble, you have to be willing to die!"

There were echoes everywhere.

"I'm willing to accept defeat, I'm willing to accept defeat!"

Seeing that the situation around him was getting more and more outrageous, Wen Chu was not one to afford to lose, and was about to admit it.

But at this moment, something unexpected happened.

In an instant, the sky suddenly changed, and strong winds blew up. Everyone could see with their naked eyes that the originally blue sky was suddenly filled with a large mass of dark clouds, which came from somewhere and were rushing towards them. It seemed as if it could break through the air, and in just a moment, it had swept over their heads.

I don't know who started shouting first.

"Rain! It's really raining!"

First, a few drops of rain as big as beans fell, and then drop after drop of rain fell, hitting people's faces.

But within a few breaths, heavy rain began to fall from the sky, and gusts of cool breeze blew.

In an instant, the people began to shout and kneel down to worship the gods.

The clouds were heavy, but the people of Dazhao finally felt relieved.

The rain hit Wen Chu's face. She stretched out her hand, and then the rain fell from the sky, and a smile finally appeared at the corner of her mouth.

God is still on her side, isn't he?

Even though there was chaos all around her, she seemed to be the only one between heaven and earth. No matter how hard the wind and rain blew and hit her, she remained unmoved.

The woman standing in the heavy rain seemed to carry a beam of cold and lonely light. In the darkness and chaos, she was the only one with light.

"Goddess, she is really a goddess!"

The drought lasted for more than a month. During this period, there had been rain-praying ceremonies. However, no matter how big the ceremony was, not a drop of rain came. But today, Wen Chu used blood as a medium and a few urgent words to call for the wind and rain!
How could she not be a goddess!
The man who was cursing her and wishing her dead just now began to fall at her feet and call her goddess. The man who was stirring up trouble wanted to run away when he saw that the situation was not right, but Qi Ziyuan intercepted him first. He called someone over with a cold voice and suppressed him.

The rain hit Wen Chu's face, blurring her eyes, and she heard them calling her a goddess.

They can trample her into mud, and worship her as God. But the God they call her is too terrible, and sooner or later, she will make them trample into mud again.

She couldn't bear to be their god.

Wen Chu smiled and said, "I'm not a goddess. I won the bet. You just need to remember that what happened today was God's blessing. If you dare to mention the witch and the witch concubine again in the future, I won't take your life, but God will."

She asked again, "Can you recognize it?"

"Admit it, admit it!! We promise we won't say it again!"

With what happened today, how dare they deny it? If they do, wouldn’t that be going against God?

Wen Chu smiled and said, "Just admit it, that's fine."

Wen Chu walked away, and Qi Ziyuan followed her, raising his sleeves to shield her from the rain.

Song Yusheng was standing nearby, and seeing Wen Chu was about to leave, he followed him.

Wen Chu did not say anything bad to him, but just asked, "We are going back to the palace, what are you doing here?"

Song Yusheng was silent. His body was completely wet from the rain, and his hair stuck to his forehead. But even so, he didn't look miserable.

He paused, then looked at Qi Ziyuan next to him and asked, "Will the seal you just made backfire and damage your luck?"

Using blood as a medium to pray for rain from heaven, what if such a thing backfires and ends up costing you your life?

Qi Ziyuan just realized what Song Yusheng said and asked hurriedly, "Yes, making a deal with the gods, aren't you exchanging your life for rain?!"

Wen Chu had not expected that the two of them would think of this. She had just experienced something like that, and thinking that after a rain, there would be less trouble in the future, she relaxed and felt a little relieved.

Making a deal with the gods, exchanging my life for rain? That's not the case.

This time, she really just won the bet.

Someone had already come to hand them an umbrella, and the three of them walked side by side on the way back to the carriage. Wen Chu also smiled in front of Song Yusheng, which was rare.

She deliberately said, "Yes, what happened today is like exchanging my luck for rain. Who knows, I might get stabbed when I go out tomorrow, or I might get seriously ill in a few years."

She has never had any taboos about these things, and her words are quite unlucky, and she is always involved in death.

If it were in the past, when Song Yusheng heard Wen Chu say such things, he would have stopped her halfway through and told her not to say such things.

She wasn't afraid of these things, but he was.

But now, he can no longer cover her mouth like he used to, because that is too annoying.

When Song Yusheng heard Wen Chu's words, he nodded thoughtfully, suddenly threw away the umbrella in his hand, picked up the sword at his waist, cut his fingers, and imitated Wen Chu's movements of making seals, chanting the spell she had just chanted to pray for rain.

He has a good memory and can remember Wen Chu's actions just now just by watching and listening to them once.

Wen Chu didn't quite understand what he meant at first, but he soon figured it out.

If his luck is really ruined and his life is in danger, he will go along with it.

When it comes to Song Yusheng, Wen Chu suddenly feels an unknown emotion in his heart, a sour and bitter feeling with an indescribable meaning.

Wen Chu grabbed his wrist and stopped him from continuing to make the seal. For some reason, her throat felt choked. She said, "I was just lying to you. Nothing will happen. Don't learn from me."

Song Yusheng stopped moving his hands and stared blankly at the hand that was holding his wrist.

Even after being rained on, her hands were still warm, unlike his cold body. As soon as she touched them, it was like ice and snow melting.

Song Yusheng couldn't help but tremble.

She had always been a bit soft-hearted. She had treated him so cruelly in the past and had thought about leaving him again and again, all because of him, because he had gone too far.

But now that he was doing better and more normal, she would no longer look upon him as a bitter enemy.

Song Yusheng stood in the rain, his eyes turned red instantly just because of Wen Chu's action, but no one could see it in the heavy rain.

Wen Chu could clearly feel the change in Song Yusheng, so she quickly let go of his hand as if she had touched something hot.

She hadn't meant to do this to him.

Song Yusheng was not like this in the past. He would not even make a sound even when all the blood in his body was drained. But now he is so sensitive and fragile.

She let go of his hand and no longer cared about Song Yusheng's expression, and left with Qi Ziyuan.

*
The news that the goddess prayed for rain today and the rain fell from the sky spread quickly throughout Kyoto, and no one dared to say that Wen Chu was a witch or anything like that anymore.

People come and go in the world, and no one will care why you are a witch or why you are not a witch.

But at this moment, the words "witch concubine" that had been calling them mother and daughter for more than ten years were finally taken off by her own hands.

Since that day, it has rained for several days in a row. When the rain comes, spring returns to the earth. All we need to do is send out a few more batches of relief grain, and we can get through this disaster year safely.

He Hong was gathering with people from the Ministry of Revenue. He Hong asked, "What's going on? Out of the ten thousand dan of rice, why can't we take out seven thousand dan?! We can split it fifty-fifty. Can't you just add some mud and soil and stir it up and it will be done? It was always done this way before, why can't it work this time?"

Since the disaster years, they have been waiting for this time to make money from it. They take 7,000 of 10,000 dan of rice, and 30,000 of 50,000 dan. They have only a few mouths to feed, but they want so much rice, while the people have so many mouths to feed, but they can only eat so little.

In fact, it was no wonder that the people were so angry when they saw Wen Chu that day. After all, if they didn't have enough food to eat, who would be happy to see others? In addition, she was used by someone with ulterior motives, so they all blamed her for all those things.

They are the most pitiful people, but also the most unreasonable people. They throw all their hatred and grudges on others.

The Minister of Revenue said, "We don't want to do this! Why don't you go and find out how big a fuss Huang Jian made that day? Who dares to mess with this? If someone really messes with it, do you and I still want to keep our official hats? No, no, don't even mention the official hats, we don't even want our heads. You're still thinking about making money even though you're in this state. Your life is at stake now!"

Huang Jian, it's Huang Jian again. He Hong didn't expect that he would still be so determined. He thought he wouldn't be able to stir up any trouble, but who knew that he would actually make a fuss.

What is he trying to do by making such a fuss?
This person really can't stay here any longer.

He Hong was still talking. He said, "But you know, I'm not the only one who wants to take the money. Aren't the people below also eagerly waiting to take the money? If you say you don't want to take it, I won't take it either. Can you bear it? Let me ask you, can you bear it? Can the people below you bear it?"

The Minister of Finance knew this, and he said, "You have to accept it even if you can't bear it! Go ask them, ask for money or heads, and see if they can bear it!"

He Hong was so angry that he stamped his feet when he heard him say that. What kind of a hell of a day is this? Not only did Wen Chu not die, but Huang Jian also caused such a thing. On the other hand, Song Yusheng secretly met with Marquis Liang Xu and no one knew what they talked about. He got angry and tied up his family members to threaten them, and the hostages were kidnapped. In this way, Liang Xu was deeply offended.

These days, there are more and more rebels.

He had thought that God had been kind to him some time ago, but who knew that so many things would happen all of a sudden. He was so worried that he touched his head with a few white hairs and said, "Okay, you are right. Things have come to this point now. It is not good to be greedy anymore."

"What do you mean you can't be greedy? Now you can't be greedy at all. You know that? There's a man like Huang Jian watching you, and you still want to do something! He's a desperate man. If you don't get rid of him, he will make a big fuss with you if you touch even a grain of rice."

He Hong understood, and said, "I understand. After I deal with Huang Jian, no one will stop me, right?"

Seeing that he was relieved, the Minister of Revenue also responded, "Yes, the most urgent thing right now is to deal with Huang Jian. Let's put other things aside for now. There is no rush. Besides, the wool comes from the sheep. If too many people die at once, it will not be good. Let them have some food. It will be hard to explain if too many people die."

*
After He Hong left this place, he went to find Fang Xiu again to discuss how to deal with Huang Jian.

He Hong said: "We must not keep Huang Jian any longer. I thought he wouldn't cause any trouble, but now it seems that he is a desperate person. If we keep him here, he will be a disaster sooner or later."

Fang Zheng was writing calligraphy in the house. He didn't even raise his eyebrows and just asked, "So, kill him?"

Fang Xiu understood it clearly. If He Hong wanted to kill him, he could just do it himself. He came to him just to get him to do it.

He Hong indeed meant the same thing. He said, "I don't want to trouble you. I want your Jinyiwei commander Han Qi to go."

Fang Xiu didn't quite understand what this meant. He raised his sleeve to put down his pen and finally looked straight at He Hong, "Let him go? Why?"

He Hong explained, "I'm telling you, I've long suspected the man under your command. Let me ask you, where did the bodies on the polo field come from? Aren't these bodies always in his care? Besides, how did Huang Jian know about Zhuangzi's affairs? Someone must have leaked the news."

Fang Xiu's expression darkened when he heard this. Han Qi betrayed him? He thought of Qi Mo's escape again. Could it be related to him? Why did he show up so quickly after Qi Mo ran away that day? Besides, he was his man, so it was convenient for him to enter and exit his place.

It is not impossible that the Korean company let Qi Mo run away.

Fang Xiu laughed sinisterly, his voice became a little shrill, and he said, "I understand what you mean. From what you said, he is indeed a bit suspicious. These people, once they have grown wings, they want to fly away. After being by my side for so many years, how come I still can't tame them? Just like our emperor, when he got old and became more powerful, he started to torment others in various ways."

After He Hong left, Fang Xiu called Han Qi. He picked up the brush again and only looked up at Han Qi when he walked in front of him.

He asked, "Let me ask you, have you paid attention to He Hong's affairs in recent days?"

"I'm watching him. He's still not honest. Although he's moved, he's still doing his old business."

He Hong smiled after hearing this, paused his writing, and looked up at him, "Really? Then wouldn't that mean someone is dead again? The body has been handled this time, right? It wasn't lost like last time, was it?"

Han Qi's heart skipped a beat. What he said was nothing more than a reminder of the last incident with the bodies on the polo field. Judging from his tone, he probably didn't know that he had taken away two more bodies.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to stand here and talk properly.

He said, "I have my men keeping an eye on it, so nothing should go wrong."

"Oh, really?" Fang Xiu's eyes suddenly became sharper. There were wrinkles around the corners of his eyes, but you couldn't tell that he was stupid.

Han Qi faced his gaze and felt frightened, afraid that he would notice something wrong. He lowered his head to hide the look in his eyes, and said no more, waiting for him to continue his instructions.

Fortunately, Fang Xiu did not continue to pester him, and only said: "I know this matter has nothing to do with you, but do you know someone?"

"who?"

"He is a person from the Ministry of Rites. He is not famous. He is over 40 years old and lives a mediocre life. He is related to the Duke Dingguo's Mansion. Do you know him?"

When Han Qi heard the Ministry of Rites, he knew he was talking about Huang Jian. As if his secrets were touched upon, his heart could not stop beating wildly. Why did He Hong suddenly mention Huang Jian? What did he know?
Han Qi tried to remain calm and replied, "Of course I know Huang Jian. Everyone knows what happened to him at the disaster relief tent that day. Isn't it said that he is a good man who is not afraid of power?"

In addition to the story of Wen Chu praying for rain that day, many people also knew about Huang Jian's incident. Now there is a lot of talk about him among the people. Many people say that he is upright and fearless of power, but many people also say that he is just trying to gain fame and try to go down in history. There are many such remarks.

Fang Xiu didn't show any expression when he heard this, he just said: "Yes, it's this person."

"Why did the palm seal suddenly mention this person to me?"

"I want you to kill him."

Fang Xiu's words hit Han Qi's heart immediately, making him dizzy.

"kill him?"

Fang Xiu said: "Yes, I want you to kill him."

*
After Han Qi came out of Fang Xiu's place, he found an opportunity to look for Huang Jian.

The two met in a deserted alley.

Han Qi went up to him and scolded him. He said, "Are you crazy? You had to make such a big scene that day. Aren't you pushing yourself into the fire pit? Why did you have to offend them? What good will you get from offending them? Will they let you go? Huang Qingwei, you don't care about your life, but no one is as desperate as you."

Huang Jian had completely offended them that day and had done such a thing. How could He Hong and his people let him go?
Huang Jian knew this, so he asked, "They asked you to kill me, didn't they?"

Han Qi's resolute face showed a rare expression of extreme confusion. He said, "You know, you clearly know that they will not let you live, why did you do this? If you don't want to live and want to be a gentleman, don't dirty my knife!"

Huang Jian didn't get angry when he heard this, he even smiled and said, "My teacher once told me: A gentleman is a villain, but he is also a gentleman."

The rain had stopped that day, and the sunset glow was drifting in from not far away. The narrow alley was not quiet in the evening, and one could even hear the voices of maids shouting and children running outside.

Huang Jian's voice was slow and deep. If Han Qi had met the deceased Taifu, he might have discovered that Huang Jian's voice was somewhat similar to that of the Taifu.

"He told me that there are many strange things in this world, and people's hearts are different. When you look at a person, you can't just look at his true heart. You can't see his true heart. Since you can't see it, then look at what he does and what he is going to do. It is said that a gentleman is judged by his deeds, not his heart. If you judge by his heart, no one is a true gentleman. If someone can be a hypocrite all his life, what basis do you have to say that he is not kind? What if a gentleman is a villain? If a villain does gentlemanly things, what's wrong with respecting him as a gentleman?"

Han Qi knew that in a situation like Huang Jian's, where he was caught in a dilemma and faced certain death, how could he be a villain?

But Han Qi still didn't understand, so he asked, "Even if it means risking your life, you still want to be a gentleman?"

Huang Jian had a bitter face most of the time since the death of his master, but tonight he was particularly happy. Now, he nodded, then felt something was wrong and shook his head again. He smiled and said, "It's true that you don't care about your life, but it's false that you must be a gentleman."

"If everyone in this world wanted to die, then no one would be able to speak. There must be some people in this world who don't care about their lives and speak."

"But being a gentleman is not my ambition, I am aiming to be a gentleman."

Han Qi was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"Literally, your ambition is my ambition, and I will be the one who doesn't care about his life."

Han Qi probably understood what Huang Jian meant. This man was too upright.
But if it is too rigid, it will break easily.

Han Qi frowned and asked again, "Are you really going to die?"

Huang Jian said: "They want you to kill me, I know you can't do it. But I know that if I don't die, you will die. Don't be afraid, I will die tomorrow, and I will never let them do what they want!"

The sky was covered by dark clouds, and night had quietly arrived without anyone noticing.

After Huang Jian met with Han Qi, they left the place very quickly. It was not easy for the two to meet each other now. Han Qi didn't know how many tails he had shaken off along the way before he could meet him briefly.

Huang Jian bought a string of candied haws on his way home.

After returning home, he put on a skilled smile again, just like he had been showing in front of people for all these years.

At this time, Huang Ruotang was having dinner with his wife.

Seeing Huang Jian coming back, Huang Ruotang looked up at him and then went on to eat.

Huang Jian pretended not to see the disgust in Huang Ruotang's eyes, and put the candied haws next to her hand in a flattering manner. He said, "I just happened to see it on my way home from work, so I brought it back for you."

When Mrs. Huang heard this, she slammed the chopsticks in her hand onto the bowl, making a crisp sound.

"When has Tang'er ever eaten these things? She cultivates herself and doesn't eat these things. You've been a father for so many years, don't you know this?"

As soon as Mrs. Huang finished speaking, Huang Ruotang also put down her chopsticks. She stopped eating and rinsed her mouth and washed her hands.

She looked at Huang Jian and said calmly, "Father, I don't eat these. You can give them to whoever likes to eat them. Anyway, I don't really like to eat them."

Huang Ruotang's words clearly had a hidden meaning, but Huang Jian pretended not to know. The smile on his face became more and more forced. He said, "Try it. This thing is sweet and delicious. You will like it."

Huang Ruotang said this, but she didn't expect Huang Jian to continue to speak shamelessly. For the first time in her life, she did something extremely rude. She threw the candied haws that Huang Jian brought to the ground. She looked at Huang Jian and said coldly, "I said I don't like it, why did my father force me to eat it?"

Huang Jian didn't expect Huang Ruotang to be so excited, he quickly explained: "I didn't, I didn't want to force you, I just wanted to..."

He just wanted her to taste the candied haws.
But before he could finish his words, Huang Ruotang interrupted him.

"You just want to, you just want to! Everything you say is just what you want! Why don't you think about what I really want? Mother said that I am cultivating myself, why do you insist on asking me to try it?"

"Let's just not eat it. There's no need to be so angry."

"Why not? Why not? I've already started talking to them. My cousin finally found a few families for me. Do you know why? It's because of you! It's because of the incident you caused on the street last time. Those people are avoiding us like the plague! They're afraid that our Huang family will be the next Wen family! Why do you treat me like this? As your daughter, have I ever done anything wrong to you? You want to gain your good reputation, but you're trying to get me involved!"

Huang Ruotang burst into tears and looked like she was about to collapse. It was like this again, always like this, he always treated herself like this.

What did she do wrong to have such a father? !

Huang Jian has his own pursuits, but he also has a daughter, and he is still a father.

What he did as a father and husband was truly dereliction of duty.

But now that he has come this far, there is no turning back, and it is too late.

He wanted to comfort Huang Ruotang who was out of control, but she pushed him away fiercely. "I, Huang Ruotang, am not from a high family, and I never want to belittle myself. I have never felt inferior to anyone in my life. But I also know that in such a place and at such a time, as a woman, I rely on my father before marriage and rely on my husband after marriage. I'm tired of the days where having a father is better than not having one. Do you really want me to fall into the situation where having a husband is better than not having one in the future?"

Huang Jian really didn't know what to do. He just kept saying, "Father will make sure you get what you want and will make sure you're fine. Don't cry, child. If you cry, it will make your father feel bad. You've been raised in my arms since you were a child. How could your father not wish you the best?"

In the dining room, the swaying candlelight stretched the two figures taller, colliding and swaying constantly.

Huang Ruotang interrupted him and brushed his hand away. She looked at him with disappointment on her face and pointed at him and said, "It's always like this. You are always so hypocritical and so high-sounding. I've had enough of you. If you want to be remembered in history so much, why don't you just die? Why don't you just die cleanly so that the world will remember you as a loyal and honest minister who didn't care about his life but only wanted fame!"

How could Huang Ruotang not know what kind of person Huang Jian was? She knew him, at least not that kind of person. But now she was completely washed away by anger, and her dissatisfaction with him for more than ten years burst out at this moment.

She even said that she wished he would die.

Huang Jian was heartbroken by what she said. When he came to his senses again, he couldn't even see Huang Ruotang's back, and his wife had already run out to comfort him.

He could no longer hold on and slid to the ground, covering his face and choking with sobs.

He was successful at a young age. During the most difficult time of his life in the Hanlin Academy, he met Wen Lilian.

It is said that in one’s life, one should not meet someone too amazing when one is young.
This is indeed true.

He met Wen Lilian, and for the rest of his life, he wanted to follow Wen Lilian and become Wen Lilian.

His husband, how could he let go of his departure! Emperor Linghui couldn't let go, so how could he let go?

The teacher is dead, but what he wanted to do should be continued by his student.
Even if it means death, what's the harm?

(End of this chapter)