The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 420 Treasure, Connection

Inside the room, the lights flickered, casting indistinct shadows, creating a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere.

This is a humble abode, yet it is warm and inviting. Books lie across the desk, and a sense of comfort enters my dreams.

Zhao Ti was fast asleep, his face gentle and peaceful. The crystal coffin beside him was quiet, inside which was a tiny, exquisitely beautiful person, immersed in a dream that seemed to last forever.

Zhao Ti's breathing was even and clear, as if he had never had such a sweet rest before.

Time passed slowly, and I don't know what time it was, but it was well past midnight.

Suddenly, his left hand twitched, and then, like a child secretly doing something naughty, both worried about being discovered but determined to do it, he stealthily pulled it out little by little from under his head.

Then, he raised his left hand halfway up on the table, looked at the crystal coffin next to him, and showed a trembling expression.

At this moment, the crystal coffin was left open. Zhao Ti was fast asleep, and the coffin lid was not closed. The Feathered Demon inside was exposed, looking incredibly sweet and pitiful.

But his left hand seemed to be afraid of a tiger. After hesitating for a few moments, it actually tried to pull Zhao Ti's body, as if it wanted to pull him to the ground and wake him up.

But this time, unlike last time when he walked all over the room with Zhao Ti and dug a hole in the corner, he couldn't budge him.

Zhao Ti swayed and staggered a few times, but did not stand up or fall off the chair.

Seeing this, his left hand stopped and started circling on the table, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Then it looked at Zhao Ti's face, which was facing the crystal coffin. Its breath went into the small crystal coffin, and it was unclear how much time had passed.

His left hand immediately jumped up from the table, seemingly startled. He then lunged forward to try and pull Zhao Ti's head, but no matter what he did, he couldn't budge it. Finally, exhausted, he fell backward and sat down on the table like a person.

At this moment, it looked somewhat like it wanted to cry but had no tears, as if it was terrified that Zhao Ti's breath was directed towards the small coffin, but it was also helpless and had no way to do anything about it.

Finally, it stood upright again, but this time it did not continue to move Zhao Ti's head. Instead, it took a desperate measure and directly covered Zhao Ti's mouth and nose. It was unclear whether it wanted to stop him from breathing and wake him up, or whether it wanted to prevent his breath from reaching the small crystal coffin.

But after covering Zhao Ti's face for only ten breaths, Zhao Ti's right hand suddenly reached out, grabbed his left hand and pressed it down, then put his head on it, making it unable to move an inch, and then continued to sleep.

At this moment, the left hand is like a monkey trapped under the Five Elements Mountain, only the fingertips can move, slightly stretched out, as if calling for help, like a drowning person asking for rescue, with no other feasible way but to swing and exert force.

As dawn broke and the first light of day appeared, Zhao Ti remained unconscious.

The rooster behind the house crowed loudly, but he still didn't wake up.

After washing her face, Zhao Ling'er ran around in the courtyard. She came to the window and peeked out, knocking on the window frame. A crow gently pecked at her arm with its long beak. She pushed it aside and called out, "What are you doing? Why hasn't Da Guo woken up yet?"

The crow scraped its thin face with its wings, its red eyes darting around, not daring to speak, but thinking to itself, "Humans are such a hassle, why do they make so much trouble?"

Zhao Ling'er knocked a few times, but there was no response from inside. She wrinkled her nose at the crow and threatened, "Don't mess with me, or I'll pluck all your feathers and roast them to eat!"

The crow blinked, wondering to itself, "Do humans eat crows? This is the first time I've ever heard of it."

Seeing that the crows were not moving, Zhao Ling'er thought they were frightened, so she hopped and skipped to the back of the house and went to fight with the two roosters.

By this time, Zhao's mother had already prepared the meal. Seeing that Zhao Ti had not yet gotten up, she called out in surprise, "Ti'er, get up and eat. You'll be late for school if you don't get up soon."

Zhao Ti then moved his shoulders slightly in the room, slowly raised himself up, yawned, and stretched.

He opened his sleepy eyes and immediately saw the tiny Yu Ling in the crystal coffin on the table, and couldn't help but smile.

At this moment, the morning light shone through the doors and windows, casting delicate, pale gold hues on the crystal coffin, blurring the outline of the tiny figure inside and making it appear ethereal, as if time itself had been frozen in place, a serene beauty that tugged at the heartstrings.

Her long hair cascaded down the velvet pillow like a waterfall, with a few dried flower petals still entwined among the strands. A gust of wind blew the ends of her hair, causing them to fall to the edge of the coffin and tremble slightly with the passing breeze, as if she were about to awaken at any moment.

Yu Ling's eyebrows were as delicate as finely drawn lines in a traditional Chinese painting, curving into a soft arc. Her eyelashes were slightly curved like small fans, casting a light shadow under her eyelids. Each eyelash was like a butterfly wing covered in morning dew, so fragile that one dared not touch it.

Her cheeks were the most perfect masterpiece of the Creator, with skin as smooth as cream and a pearly luster. Her lips were pale pink, like flower buds just blooming on branches in early spring, and there was a faint smile at the corners of her mouth, as if she was dreaming of some sweet scene. Her nose was small and straight, with a slight red tip, adding a touch of delicacy.

The tiny figure was wrapped in an exquisite colorful dress, the hem layered like blooming petals laid at the bottom of a coffin. The six wings behind her, three on each side, were edged with a faint gold trim, as if a gentle flap could stir up a sky full of stars and gather around her to protect her in the center, both sacred and gentle.

Bathed in the morning sunlight, the crystal coffin reflected the tiny figure, a beautiful interplay of reality and illusion, like a dreamlike scene. Like a painting that never fades, it sleeps quietly in time, waiting for the sweet arrival that can awaken her and make her exquisite face bloom with vibrant radiance once more.

Zhao Ti was so captivated by the sight that he stared intently, his face flushing slightly. But when his mother called out again from outside, he was jolted awake. He quickly responded, then closed the lid of the small crystal coffin, got up, placed it in the box, and began to wash up.

After finishing breakfast, he carried his book bag to the state school. As soon as he entered the classroom, he saw Mo Xun wink at him. He walked over and whispered, "Brother Zhao, Miss Luofu is back."

Zhao Ti was taken aback, wondering why he had been told this.

He said, "Brother Mo, you..."

Mo Xun winked and asked, "Brother Zhao, don't you want to see Miss Luofu?"

Zhao Ti said, "We're not close friends, so it's not a question of whether I want to see you or not." Upon hearing this, Mo Xun couldn't help but show a mocking expression: "I didn't expect Brother Zhao to be such a hypocrite."

Zhao Ti asked in bewilderment, "Brother Mo, what makes you say that?"

Mo Xun's gaze fell on Zhao Ti's belt, and he chuckled, "Brother Zhao has always worn the jade pendant given to him by Miss Luofu, how can you say that you don't have a close relationship with him?"

Zhao Ti was taken aback, then suddenly remembered the matter and felt embarrassed, saying, "Brother Mo, this..."

Mo Xun said, "In our Great Qian Dynasty, it is customary for men and women to express their feelings to each other. Women give men purses and sachets, while women from official families and noble households give men jade pendants and pearls. Brother Zhao, do you have anything to say?"

"What? There's such a saying?" Zhao Ti was stunned. He really didn't know about this custom. Although he had read stories where female knights gave male protagonists purses, he never knew it was a custom. He just thought it was an expression of affection. He didn't expect it to be a folk custom.

“Brother Zhao, don’t pretend you don’t know. Tell me, who in the school doesn’t know about this right now? Ask one or two classmates and you can prove it…” Mo Xun said with an ambiguous expression.

"I am..." Zhao Ti looked around and saw that the classmates who had overheard the conversation were all winking and watching the show. He knew that he was right and couldn't help but put his hand to his forehead, showing a troubled expression.

He recalled that Zhuge Qingqing had given him a pearl as a return gift. Could it be that she had the same intention behind it? But he had developed feelings for her and had touched her body, so he would have to take responsibility. What should he do about Luo Fu?
I didn't have much of a entanglement with Luo Fu. Apart from writing two poems at the poetry gathering, we didn't really have any interaction. Although I wrote a poem about Luo Fu, it was just the background of the poetry gathering and was completely different from the song about Mo Chou that Fu Yao Gongzi wrote for Mo Chou.

Or... perhaps the other party wanted to thank him for writing the poem, and also apologized for being kidnapped by Zhuge Qingqing. He wanted to give a gift to make amends but didn't know what to give. Gold and silver were too vulgar, and he was afraid that the other party would think that the other party was contemptible and would think too much about the writing materials. So he gave jade. Among jade, jade pendants are the most practical and can be used as decoration. The other party did not consider feelings or anything like that.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at Mo Xun and said, "Miss Luo Fu was only expressing her gratitude, and given the unexpected events that night, giving her the jade pendant was just a way of thanking her and apologizing. It's definitely not what Brother Mo is thinking. How could giving a jade pendant only have this one meaning?"

Mo Xun smiled and said, "Isn't that the meaning behind a woman giving a gift to a man?"

Zhao Ti shook his head: "I don't believe it."

Mo Xun said, "I can't do anything about Brother Zhao's stubbornness, but speaking of which, something big might happen in Yuzhou soon."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti couldn't help but think of his trip to the blacksmith's shop yesterday to buy things. Crow had overheard the conversation between the two members of the Xiao family from Shanzhou, who were pretending to be father and daughter, and wondered, "What important matter is it?"

Just as Mo Xun was about to speak, the bell for class rang, and he said, "I'll talk to Brother Zhao about it after class."

Zhao Ti nodded, and then the teacher entered, tapping the teaching table in front of him with a ruler. Everyone stood up and bowed, and then began to talk about the scriptures.

The day passed quickly. After school, Zhao Ti and Mo Xun walked together, heading towards the Yujiang River after leaving the state school gate. Mo Xun said, "Actually, the important matter mentioned this morning has little to do with Brother Zhao, after all, Brother Zhao has never practiced martial arts."

Zhao Ti asked, "Is it related to martial artists? Could it be some kind of trouble in the martial world?"

Mo Xun said, "There are both martial arts worlds and aristocratic families. Now, Brother Zhao is somewhat connected with an aristocratic family, after all, Miss Luofu is very fond of Brother Zhao..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti hurriedly waved his hand and said seriously, "Brother Mo, this kind of joke is not to be taken lightly. I have only a very superficial relationship with Miss Luofu, so how could she possibly have any connection with me? Brother Mo, please don't tarnish Miss Luofu's reputation."

Mo Xun looked at Zhao Ti with a half-smile: "Miss Luo Fu is a fairy-like person, so why does Brother Zhao keep clarifying things like this, speaking like a gentleman? It's really puzzling. Could it be that Brother Zhao already has someone else in his heart?"

Zhao Ti's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he said, "A gentleman is naturally open and honest, Brother Mo, you should hurry up and tell me the important matter."

Mo Xun nodded and said, "Then I will talk about the important matter. Recently, the eight great families and some martial arts sects may gather in Yuzhou to compete for something. At that time, they may fight each other, causing mountains to collapse and the earth to crack. Yuzhou will be in chaos for a while."

Zhao Ti blinked, thinking that it was indeed what the blacksmith shop had said, but he wondered what they were fighting over.
Mo Xun continued, "I estimate that many have already arrived and are hiding in various parts of the city. Brother Zhao does not know martial arts and is powerless to protect himself. It is best to avoid going out recently, except for going to and from school, to avoid unnecessary trouble and harm."

Zhao Ti asked, "Do all eight great families have members serving as officials in the court, and do they also fight each other to the death over items?"

Mo Xun said, "Brother Zhao doesn't understand. When such a treasure appears, it doesn't matter whether you're an official in the same court or not. Even the imperial court will send people to compete for it."

Zhao Ti said, "Wouldn't the imperial court... order the officials of Yuzhou to lead troops to surround the location where the treasure was found, so as not to give the aristocratic families and martial arts practitioners any chance?"

Mo Xun laughed and said, "Brother Zhao's thinking is too simplistic. In the entire Great Qian Dynasty, apart from a few rare prefectures, where is there no powerful family? In Yu Prefecture, who has the greatest power? It is the Qin family. If the officials of Yu Prefecture were to lead troops to handle this matter, let alone whether they could stop so many experts from the powerful families, there are also Jianghu people. This is not a battle, it is completely different from the front line. It is very difficult to truly stop them. But even if they really did stop them, wouldn't the items eventually fall into the hands of the Qin family? Do you think the Qin family would hand them over to the imperial court?"

"Won't the Qin family hand it over to the imperial court?" Zhao Ti nodded, already understanding the situation.

“That’s right.” Mo Xun said, “This is neither a military secret nor a major national affair. Since ancient times, rare treasures have always been obtained by the capable. The court cannot directly take them for itself. If we cannot seize them, we can only watch. Moreover, if they really fall into the hands of a certain force, they will not make a fuss and will hide them. The court has no good solutions.”

"I understand," Zhao Ti said. It seems that the court and the aristocratic families are mutually restraining forces, not the kind of power the aristocratic families have been talking about. It is a process of balancing power. After all, it was the eight aristocratic families that helped the founding emperor achieve his imperial career. So even though the eight aristocratic families are not on good terms, if the court targets a certain aristocratic family, the other aristocratic families will inevitably unite to fight against the court.

“However…” Mo Xun said meaningfully, “If the Qin family does not take the initiative to use military force and form an alliance with other aristocratic families, then I’m afraid that in the end, the treasures will most likely fall into the hands of the imperial court.”

"Why do you say that, Brother Mo?" Zhao Ti asked in surprise. Even if the imperial court did not send troops, its individual power would certainly be greater than that of a certain aristocratic family, but it was not certain that it would be able to seize the treasure. After all, such things are unpredictable, and there are also the Jianghu (martial arts world) besides aristocratic families.

“Isn’t this obvious?” Mo Xun shook his head: “The Yang family of Huazhou, one of the eight great families, will definitely support the imperial court. And the people or forces that the Yang family supports openly or secretly are also supporting the imperial court. When the Yang family obtains the treasure, it is equivalent to the imperial court obtaining the treasure, and when the imperial court obtains the treasure, it is also equivalent to the Yang family obtaining the treasure.”

"Brother Mo, why is the Yang family the only one helping the court in this matter, while other aristocratic families are not?" Zhao Ti asked in confusion.

"Hmm?" Mo Xun glanced at Zhao Ti, looking puzzled. "Brother Zhao, don't you know that Emperor Taizu was a member of the Yang family? Back then, he rose up in rebellion by slaying the dragon in Luoshui, unified the north and south, and ascended the throne. Only then did the family genealogy begin again. But the current imperial family is actually a branch of the Yang family."

(End of this chapter)