Jinting Han people

Chapter 50 Green Pearl (4k)

The strong smell of blood jolted Liu Xian awake instantly. He stared at the scene in astonishment, unable to believe it: had a life been lost just because of a glass of wine? The maid was so young, judging by her appearance, she must be in her early twenties, a blooming age. How could she be destroyed like this?
He watched as the guards lifted Ah Qing's body, like a bird with broken wings, and dragged her out of the house. Her feet left two horrifying bloody streaks on the ground, as if these were her last traces in the world. The rich smell of blood permeated the room, a smell that even the thickest spices couldn't mask.

Liu Xian looked at the people around him and found that everyone's expressions were as expected.

Not only the guard who had killed the murderer, but even the guards who had watched from the sidelines wore a cold expression, as if their companion had merely killed a rat. Shi Chong drank, his face gentle as ever. The previous scene was merely a side dish for him, and a sweet smile even curled around his lips. The maids before him trembled, yet their eyes held only a trace of relief. Even Shi Chao ignored it, as if it were a trivial matter.

Liu Xian felt a chill run down his spine. He couldn't understand why the people before him remained so indifferent. At the moment Ah Qing was killed, many images flashed before his eyes: his mother, Xiaomei, Zhu Fu, Ah Chun, Lai Fu... They appeared in Ah Qing's lifeless eyes, in her faint breaths, in her snow-white skin, her cold hands and feet, in the pool of blood beneath her...

These images lingered before his eyes, briefly plunging him into a trance. But in the end, these distracting thoughts were washed away, leaving Liu Xian with only a condensed sadness. He didn't even have time to ask if this girl, Ah Qing, was Xiaomei's sister...

Shi Chong picked out a maidservant in front of him and said with a smile: "Alan, go and clean up the mess for my nephew and persuade him to drink again."

Alan responded, sauntering over to Liu Xian and cleaning the blood from his desk. As if she were accustomed to it, Alan swiped the table and then leaned in close, wiping the blood off Liu Xian's face. Liu Xian choked. Then, she lifted the wine glass, attempting to pour out the blood-stained liquid. Liu Xian stopped her, saying, "This contains the blood of Miss Ah Qing. Don't pour it out! I feel bad for her." He took the wine and tipped it back.

The taste of blood mixed with the warm wine was not only astringent but also sour and bitter. After Liu Xian swallowed it, he felt like the bitterness of wronged souls seeped into his soul. He was not drunk, but more sober. Then he turned to Shi Chong and asked bluntly:
"Is this how Uncle Shi killed people by persuading them to drink?"

Liu Xian did not hide his dissatisfaction in any of his words, but Shi Chong remained calm. He raised his glass and said with a smile:

"Why is your nephew so angry? According to the Taishi Code, the inferior resisting the superior is a crime of treason. As the master, I am legally bound to kill her. But your nephew is so angry, could it be that he has taken a fancy to her?" Shi Chong easily shirked responsibility and said jokingly, "What a pity! If your nephew had told me earlier, I would have given her to you."

Shi Chong's words were completely nonsense. Liu Xian had spent the past six months studying law with Li Mi, and he had memorized both the "Shu Code" and the "Taishi Code" by heart. According to the "Taishi Code," usurping power over a mausoleum is considered treason, and beheading without warning is considered thiefism. Ah Qing was completely innocent, and Shi Chong was guilty of thiefism!

What Shi Chong relied on was nothing more than the "Eight Discussions" system that had been established since the beginning of the Cao Wei Dynasty, namely, discussing relatives, discussing old friends, discussing virtue, discussing ability, discussing merit, discussing nobility, discussing diligence, and discussing guests:

As long as the criminal is a royal relative, an old friend of the emperor, a highly respected person, a person with outstanding talents, a person with outstanding merits, a high-ranking official of the fourth rank or above, a hard-working person, or a descendant of the royal family of the previous dynasty, and as long as he has not committed the heinous crime of treason, minor illegal acts in daily life can be exempted from punishment through redemption, demotion, etc., or even not pursued.

According to these eight criteria, Shi Chong met at least five of them: discussing the past, discussing the virtuous, discussing the capable, discussing the meritorious, and discussing the noble. As long as he did not cause trouble for the scholars, even if he killed people and shed blood, no one would hold him accountable.

Liu Xian was already feeling rather uneasy. Suddenly, a remark from his father rang in his ears: "Liu Bei's descendants mix with the descendants of Jia Chong, Shi Bao, and Wang Shen, and they're not afraid of being laughed at!" He hadn't quite understood it before, but now it was a revelation.

He decided to end the banquet early and leave quickly, but before that, he had one thing he had to do.

Liu Xian asked Shi Chong, "Uncle, please forgive me for laughing, but I do have a request that I would like to make. I hope you will agree to it."

"What is it? Feel free to tell me, nephew."

"I do want to ask my uncle for someone."

"people?"

"Excuse me, is there a maid named He Qing in your uncle's house? I want to take her away. I'm willing to pay any price."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the mansion became strange. Everyone looked at each other. Although they didn't say anything, the mischief and jokes in their eyes were clear: Liu Xian made an impossible request.

Liu Xian's heart sank, and he thought to himself: Could it be that He Qing is already dead? Or is that Ah Qing from earlier really Xiaomei's sister?
However, Shi Chong's expression was different from everyone else's. He didn't seem to be joking, but asked seriously, "Where did you hear this name, nephew?"

Liu Xian replied, "I was asked by this girl's younger sister to see how her elder sister is doing."

"Oh? Sister?" Shi Chong glanced behind the screen, then turned and asked, "What's your relationship with this little sister from the He family? Is she your concubine?"

Liu Xian shook his head and said, "It's nothing. She's an ordinary farm girl and we're just ordinary friends."

"Ha? Hahaha!" Shi Chong shook his body and burst into laughter as if he had heard some incredible joke. He said, "Interesting, interesting. As the son of a duke, your nephew would be friends with an ordinary peasant girl? Isn't he afraid of tarnishing her innocence? Hahaha."

Faced with such questioning, everyone in the hall began to whisper, even Shi Chao, standing nearby, looked skeptical. Liu Xian, however, remained calm. He smiled and said, "I am a descendant of the late Emperor Liu Xuande. I don't care about distinctions of status. I am also a disciple of Young Master Ruan, and I don't care about rumors. As long as I am honest and upright, a friend is a friend. What is there to deny?"

He then asked Shi Chong, "Could you please tell me, uncle, if Miss He is in your house? Whether noble or common, apes, birds, or beasts, all creatures in the world share the five relationships of love. Longing for one's family is a natural virtue. If Miss He is in your house, as long as uncle can help, if you have any instructions in the future, Liu Xian will be willing to do it with all his strength, regardless of his own life."

These words were spoken so openly and forcefully that everyone around them took a breath.

Shi Chong's smile faded. Seeing Liu Xian so sincere and calm, he felt that if he continued to make things difficult for him, it would only undermine his reputation as a scholar. So he said seriously, "My nephew, any other request is easy to agree to, but I cannot comply with this one."

"Why?"

"Although there are many treasures in the Golden Valley Garden, there is only one that I cannot give up. Even if I have to trade the throne for it, I will not give it up." After saying this, Shi Chong turned to the screen beside him and said, "Lüzhu, you should also meet Master Liu."

"Yes." The woman behind the screen nodded slightly and sighed, "I never thought I would see you here again."

After saying that, Luzhu slowly walked out from behind the screen.

Liu Xian felt a bright light streaming in from the entrance, as if a snow lotus had suddenly blossomed. A stunning woman in a plum blossom-patterned pleated fairy dress suddenly appeared before him. She lowered her head slightly, but her peerless aura could not be concealed. She greeted Liu Xian:

"My humble concubine, Green Pearl of Jingu Garden, formerly known as He Qing, greets you, sir."

Liu Xian was now almost fifteen, and while his social circle wasn't extensive, living in the capital, next door to the bustling Tongtuo Street, he'd naturally seen many beauties. But none could compare to the woman before him; the difference was truly worlds apart.

This girl, Luzhu, was about eighteen or nineteen years old, with bright eyes, white teeth, crimson lips, and a beautiful face. Her long black hair was tied into a lovely heart-shaped bun, and her face was adorned with silver hairpins. Her beauty made her seem like that of a fairy. But what concerned Liu Xian even more was that her eyes and eyebrows no longer had the youthful passion and vitality of a young girl, but instead a certain pity. The sorrow in her eyes was like the shimmering waves, and her slender body was like a willow swaying in the wind. The jade flute in her hand gave her an indescribable romantic charm. Liu Xian was slightly stunned, and then felt a little incredible. He looked Luzhu up and down, but didn't see any trace of Xiaomei in her, so he couldn't help but ask, "Is the girl really Xiaomei's sister?"

Lu Zhu guessed Liu Xian's doubts and explained softly, "I was sold to the Shi Mansion by the master when I was twelve years old. Time flies, and it has been six years now. During these years, I have lived a life of luxury and practiced my manners diligently, so naturally I no longer have the demeanor of my youth."

This is indeed the truth, but when Liu Xian looked at Lu Zhu, who was dressed in gorgeous clothes and spoke quietly and politely, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unreality: I'm afraid that even the ladies from the families of the founding fathers would not have such a frightening temperament.

However, he quickly adjusted his demeanor and replied carefully, "I'm sorry, I judged you based on your background."

"Why should you apologize, sir? It was I who was disrespectful."

After saying this, she sat down beside Shi Chong again, waiting for her master's instructions like a jade doll.

Shi Chong lifted Lu Zhu's hair in public and said to Liu Xian with a smile, "Nephew, I have shown you my treasures. What do you think?"

Liu Xian answered sincerely, "She is a beauty that captivates the whole nation."

Shi Chong was very satisfied with this answer and sighed, "That's the truth. Sometimes wealth is easy to obtain, but beauty is hard to come by. Beauty fades quickly, and beauty fades quickly. Now that I have a treasure like Lu Zhu, what's the point of giving up this Golden Valley Garden? So I will never give her to you."

The moment he saw Lu Zhu's appearance, Liu Xian knew that this was absolutely impossible. However, hearing Shi Chong comparing people to animals still made him grit his teeth. He suppressed his dissatisfaction and asked, "How about asking Miss Lu Zhu to come home to visit her family?"

Shi Chong sneered and gave the choice to Lu Zhu, asking, "Lu Zhu, what do you think?"

Lu Zhu said calmly, "When I was twelve years old, my father sold me here. I was already heartbroken and thought of myself as an orphan without a father, mother, home or relatives."

Liu Xian fell silent upon hearing this. He really didn't know what this feeling was, but when he thought of the quarrel between him and Anle Gong and his violence against his mother, he vaguely felt a sense of empathy.

But Liu Xian still refused to give up, because he didn't believe that a maidservant, who was treated as a plaything and could be killed so easily, would not miss her family. So he said, "But when I came here today, Xiaomei cried to me for a while. She missed you very much."

Lu Zhu was slightly moved, but this trace of sadness was like a fleeting light, passing by quickly and then covered up again. She said, "Then please tell her that I am doing well here."

"Is it really that good?"

"I'm living in luxury here, clothed in silk and satin, what more could I ask for?"

Lu Zhu said, "My lord, you don't understand the suffering of the common people. For a common person, it is very good to be able to eat well and wear warm clothes every day, and not worry about tomorrow."

This was the truth, and Liu Xian had no objection. The most profound lesson he'd learned this year was that some hardships were unimaginable, and only through experience could one truly understand the torment. In this process, he thoroughly understood why people were willing to sacrifice their lives for righteousness. Because some lives are worse than death, it's better to live a short, vibrant life and then die a glorious death than endure a long, tormenting existence.

It was precisely because Shi Chong saw through this that he was able to play with the lives of mortals in the Jingu Garden.

Liu Xian closed his eyes slightly. Despite trying to control his emotions, he became increasingly angry at himself for coming here.

This anger suddenly made him understand Li Mi's painstaking efforts: only by truly experiencing the hardships of life can one feel sincerely sad about the many unfair things in the world, truly believe in the way of a gentleman, possess a noble spirit, and love the people.

He suddenly made up his mind to distance himself from the people in front of him.

The banquet went on as usual until late at night. When Liu Xian came out, the stars in the sky were blinking at him. It seemed that he was really drunk. Shi Chao wanted to persuade Liu Xian to stay overnight at his home, but Liu Xian declined. He said that his teacher was sick at home and the disciple should be by his side.

Shi Chong kept his promise and had his servants bring Qianlixue to Liu Xian. It turned out to be a fine horse, its body a pure white with no other color, and its body and limbs as strong as iron. Liu Xian liked it very much, but he still refused it. He said, "Right now, I have no official position, and I don't have enough wheat and beans at home. Even if I had a thousand-mile horse, I would be useless. I'd better let my uncle keep it. At least it won't starve."

So, Liu Xian went to the stable to get his horse, intending to go back the way he came. The maids and servants of Jingu Garden were coming and going on the road, watching him whispering to each other, and Liu Xian felt a little amused.

While lost in thought, he reached a deserted corner when a maid suddenly bumped into him and took the opportunity to press something into his hand. Liu Xian was startled. He saw the maid was a complete stranger, and she had already left in a hurry, wondering what her intentions were. The object in his hand looked like a ball of silk, and he was afraid of being seen, so he quickly grasped it in his palm.

After he left Jingu Garden and rode for about five or six miles, he saw that there was no one around. He then unfolded the silk that had been clenched in his sweaty hands and brought the torch closer to it. He saw a few lines of beautifully written small characters on it, which turned out to be a quatrain:
"The dodder grows with the wind, its roots and rhizomes never break.

If the heartless ones won’t leave, how can the affectionate ones leave? "

Below the poem, the characters "Lüzhu" were signed, and another line of text read: "The young master is virtuous, and Lüzhu is moved."

There was also a silver hairpin wrapped in the silk, the same style that Luzhu wore on her head.

It turned out that this silk was sent by Miss Lu Zhu. Liu Xian was surprised and relieved. He understood that Miss Lu Zhu was certainly not a heartless person. The words she said in front of the hall might just be to deal with Shi Chong. Judging from the meaning of her poem, she hoped that he could help the family more.

But thinking of Ah Qing, who had died before his eyes, and the cold expression on Lu Zhu's face, Liu Xian felt a pang of gloom in his heart. He looked back at Jingu Garden in the distance. In the dark night, the lights in the garden looked like stars in the sky, but when Liu Xian listened carefully, he could clearly hear the sound of a gentle rain, that was the sound of ghosts weeping in the wind.

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(End of this chapter)