Ya She

Chapter 41 Heavenly Blessing

Just like eight years ago, when he waited for Ludi, Ruyi would never come back.

Diliupo, Jurong County, Yingtian Prefecture, 1390 AD
Li Dingyuan, held in the arms of his head maid Pipa, staggered through the garden of the Duke's mansion and arrived at Xuan Garden, where his grandfather lived.

Although he was still half asleep when he went to pay his respects to his grandfather, which was impolite, Li Dingyuan was always favored, so no one dared to say a word against him.

Li Dingyuan is only ten years old this year. Although he doesn't fully understand things, he knows that his grandfather is extremely remarkable. The first person after the emperor of the Ming Dynasty is his grandfather, Li Shanchang, who previously held the position of Left Prime Minister, ranking first among all officials. The phrase "second only to the emperor, above ten thousand others" is the most fitting description for his grandfather.

Li Dingyuan was unaware of the affairs of the imperial court, but he knew that his grandfather had nine sons, fifteen grandsons, and twelve granddaughters, and he was the only one his grandfather favored. Otherwise, he had never seen his grandfather dote on anyone. Even his second uncle, who had married a princess, did not receive any special treatment from his grandfather. Apart from his second uncle's family living in the princess's residence, all his other uncles, cousins, and siblings lived in the main Li family residence in Jiujiang, Jiangxi. Only he was raised by his grandfather.

Spoiled and pampered, Li Dingyuan, aside from feeling a little distressed about rarely seeing his parents, contentedly enjoyed the decadent life of a so-called playboy. Even his daily morning greetings to his grandfather were just a perfunctory formality, half-asleep and half-awake.

His grandfather lived in a genuine Duke's mansion, with a hall built to the standards of a first or second-rank official, featuring five rooms and nine bays, exuding grandeur. Li Dingyuan slightly opened his eyes, but was immediately stung by the sunlight reflected off the glazed tiles on the eaves, and lazily closed them again.

After walking for a while, Li Dingyuan sensed that Pipa's breathing had deliberately softened, and he also smelled a rich, calming fragrance. He knew that he had entered his grandfather's study. He rubbed his eyes, intending to act spoiled with his grandfather as usual. His grandfather would helplessly take him and hold him in his arms. Even if he tugged at his grandfather's beard, his grandfather would indulge him in his mischief.

But today, that familiar, warm embrace did not appear as expected. Li Dingyuan opened his eyes in a daze and found his grandfather sitting on a rosewood official's hat chair with a gloomy face, holding an underglaze red teacup, staring at him with a sinister gaze.

"Look at you, you shameless scoundrel! What kind of behavior is this!"

Li Shanchang was a veteran figure who had served Zhu Yuanzhang since the thirteenth year of the reign of Emperor Shun of Yuan. Although his duties were similar to those of Xiao He, who served Liu Bang during the Han Dynasty, involving internal affairs and military and political coordination, he remained as imposing as ever despite retiring from officialdom twenty-two years prior to protect himself. He usually restrained his fierce demeanor in front of his beloved grandson, but now he made no attempt to hide it; his imposing presence, like a tsunami, swept over Li Dingyuan.

Even those holding Li Dingyuan's pipa were affected, trembling with fear, almost dropping the thirteenth young master in their arms, and instinctively kneeling on the ground.

Li Dingyuan, startled by the head maid's kneeling, stood up as well. He wasn't frightened by his grandfather's sudden change in expression. He straightened his clothes, tidied himself up, and then took a few steps forward, kneeling respectfully before Li Shanchang, offering his greetings and bowing.

Li Dingyuan was very familiar with this set of etiquette. Every year during festivals, he would visit his uncles, cousins, and other relatives, and each person would perform it once a day. Although he had never actually done it so diligently, after watching it so many times, he could imitate it quite well. Li Shanchang looked at Li Dingyuan with special regard, not just because he was particularly cute, but because Li Shanchang liked his cleverness even more, feeling that this boy was most like him. So even when naming him, he didn't follow the rule of using only characters with the grass radical, and instead gave him a grand and imposing name.

Li Dingyuan obediently finished kowtowing, but didn't get up. He knelt upright in front of Li Shanchang, looking up at him innocently.

Looking at his grandson's tender face and clear, bright eyes, Li Shanchang quickly lost his nerve. His initial bravado vanished like a burst dam. He sighed, pulled the child up, and stroked his forehead, saying affectionately, "Yuan'er, Grandpa's in a bad mood today. Did you bump into anything? Grandpa heard a 'thud'." To outsiders, Li Shanchang was truly the undisputed Duke of Xuan, whose every word was law. If he so much as frowned, people would tremble and kneel down in droves. If they saw this chief minister behaving so humbly, their eyes would probably pop out of their sockets.

Li Dingyuan's big eyes darted around, inwardly cursing his grandfather, who was probably in a bad mood again. He had been tormenting the guards a few days ago, and now he was tormenting him too? This wouldn't do. He would have to call his fourth and sixth brothers over to share the hardships with him, since they lived in the princess's residence next door anyway.

Li Shanchang knew this little brat perfectly. Just by looking at his expression, he could tell what the rascal was thinking. He spat and said, "Trying to cause trouble for Xiao Si and Xiao Liu again?" Li Shanchang always addressed his other grandsons by their birth order, and he couldn't even remember some of their names. So, he was indeed different when it came to Li Dingyuan.

Li Dingyuan's fourth and sixth brothers, Li Fang and Li Mao, were cousins, sons of his second son, Li Qi, and Princess Lin'an. Both were thirteen or fourteen years old, far too young to stoop to the level of ten-year-old Li Dingyuan. Their mother, Princess Lin'an, was Zhu Yuanzhang's eldest daughter. Li Shanchang had previously felt particularly secure because of this princess's wife, believing that even if Zhu Yuanzhang were to persecute meritorious officials and veterans, he would never harm his in-laws. Therefore, he was quite close to his two grandsons. Of course, the degree of closeness differed from that towards Li Dingyuan.

Li Shanchang rubbed the child's slightly red forehead, his heart softening even more. He softened his voice and said, "It's all Grandpa's fault. What does Yuan'er want? Grandpa will make it up to you." His words contained an indescribable tenderness and pain, but he hid it very well.

Li Dingyuan was speechless inside, thinking to himself, "Just as I thought!" Grandpa was always being cheeky! He loved to use things to make him happy! But after a moment of scheming, he decided to give it a try, saying, "Grandpa! I want that bronze box!"

That bronze box was a treasure that Li Dingyuan had longed for. He had tried countless times to get it by begging and throwing tantrums, but his grandfather would only lend it to him for a look and never give it to him. He would give him any other treasure he wanted, but over time, this bronze box became an obsession for Li Dingyuan. He didn't know if he really liked the bronze box or if he was just trying to prove a point.

"it is good."

"Grandpa, if you don't want to part with it, then forget it... Huh? Grandpa, you agreed?" Li Dingyuan was dumbfounded.

"Konghou, go and fetch that bronze box for Yuan'er." The child's rare expression of surprise pleased Li Shanchang. He raised his hand, and immediately someone went to the study to fetch the bronze box and placed it in Li Shanchang's hands.

Li Dingyuan stared intently at the bronze box he had been longing for, unable to look away. This was no ordinary bronze box; though only the size of a palm, its exquisite carvings and thick patina indicated its considerable age. The lid was made of glass, and beneath the translucent green glass, one could vaguely see a white jade ruyi scepter firmly placed inside. What captivated Li Dingyuan was that the box was impossible to open! The glass lid was completely sealed; to obtain the small ruyi scepter and play with it, one would have to smash the priceless glass lid.

Even Li Dingyuan, who treated money like dirt, knew he absolutely couldn't do something like destroying a treasure. He couldn't understand why anyone would seal a white jade ruyi in a bronze box. Was there some kind of mechanism to open it? But everything else was perfectly sealed, and Li Dingyuan's attempts to open it each time only fueled his curiosity.

When his grandfather placed the bronze box in his arms, Li Dingyuan was not as overjoyed as he had imagined. Instead, he turned his gaze from the box to his grandfather's face and asked with unprecedented seriousness, "Grandpa, what happened?"

Li Shanchang's kind expression stiffened for a moment, then he smiled and said, "It's nothing, it's just that Grandpa has been a bit busy lately. How about Yuan'er goes to the Tangshan villa for a few days? This bronze box will stay with you for the time being, and Grandpa will take it back when you come back."

Li Dingyuan, his chubby cheeks puffed out, clutched the bronze box tightly with a look of resentment. He knew his grandfather hadn't told him the truth, but he also knew that although his grandfather doted on him, he would never allow him to go against what had already been decided.

Li Shanchang patted the child's head affectionately and casually instructed the person beside him, "Lüdi, I'm entrusting Yuan'er to you." A lean young man next to him immediately knelt down.

When Li Dingyuan saw the young man get up and hug him after responding, he turned around in surprise. Wasn't his head maid, Pipa, going with him? Only Lüdi was with him? Although he knew that Lüdi held a very high position by his grandfather's side, the whole thing felt strangely unsettling.

Pipa had already handed the packed bundle to Lüdi, then quickly stripped Li Dingyuan of his fine silk and satin clothing, including his floral and jewel-patterned vest, and dressed him in ordinary gray-brown clothes. She also removed all his precious ornaments, leaving only the inconspicuous white jade pendant at his waist.

Li Dingyuan was dumbfounded. By the time he reacted and wanted to scold Pipa, Lüdi had already picked him up again and quickly left the backyard. Pipa also bowed respectfully to Li Shanchang, took Li Dingyuan's clothes, and turned to leave.

Li Shanchang closed his eyes and sighed deeply: "Dongxiao, do you think I could have protected my family's safety if I had died long ago?"

“Lord Duke…” A middle-aged man emerged from behind the screen and knelt down on the ground in grief.

“Humans are indeed greedy; who wouldn’t want to live a long and healthy life?” Li Shanchang sighed. “When Yuan’er was born, I wanted to live a few more years to see him grow up. But year after year, the more I look at him, the more reluctant I am to leave. Alas, I am not afraid of death, but if I die now, the Emperor will think I committed suicide out of guilt. Qi’er’s family may be spared, but Yuan’er… I really can’t bear to part with him…”

"Lord Duke, you still have the imperial edict and indebtedness, which can spare you two lives and your son one..." Dongxiao reminded him unwillingly.

"A written decree? Who bestowed it upon this old man? If he can bestow it, he can naturally take it back as well." Li Shanchang harbored no illusions whatsoever. He knew his old friend sitting on the dragon throne all too well, just as the other knew him.

Just as Dongxiao was about to offer some advice, a commotion arose in the front yard, followed by the faint sound of orderly footsteps.

"They even mobilized the Imperial Guards. They really think highly of me." Li Shanchang smiled contemptuously, calmly straightening his clothes. Dong Xiao also stood up, towering behind him, his earlier panic gone, replaced by a blank expression.

Holding Li Dingyuan in Lü Di's arms, they had just left the Duke of Xuan's mansion through the side gate when they saw squads of Imperial Guards rapidly approaching. The rows of armor and iron spears exuded a chilling aura, sending a shiver down Li Dingyuan's spine and filling him with an overwhelming sense of fear.

He discovered that the Imperial Guards were heading in the direction of the Duke of Xuan's residence.

"Don't look," Lu Di whispered, pressing down on Li Dingyuan's head.

“Not looking would only arouse suspicion,” Li Dingyuan retorted confidently. He was extremely familiar with all the guards and maids around his grandfather, so he naturally wouldn’t be polite to them.

Lu Di was taken aback. Such a grand display of power, though the passersby all lowered their heads and remained silent as if trembling with fear, were still filled with curiosity as they secretly peeked out. After all, it was the Duke's mansion, the Duke's mansion that seemed destined to stand forever.

Li Dingyuan nearly cried out in alarm the next second, for he saw Pipa stealthily emerge from the side gate, carrying a child of about seven or eight years old in her arms. The clothes were clearly the same ones that had just been stripped from him, and at first glance, they looked just like his. Pipa looked at the Imperial Guards not far away in terror, and immediately ran in the opposite direction with the child in her arms. The Imperial Guards also spotted Pipa at this moment, and quickly split into a small squad to give chase.

Even if Li Dingyuan was stupid, he would understand that something must have happened to his grandfather, otherwise why would he let Pipa do such a deceptive thing?
"I want to go back!" Li Dingyuan struggled through gritted teeth. But Lu Di held him tightly and left the area as inconspicuously as possible, weaving through the streets and alleys of Yingtian Prefecture.

"Thirteenth Young Master, this is the Duke's will," Lu Di said in a low voice as he walked, "This time, the Duke is probably in grave danger."

Li Dingyuan's fingers dug into the bronze box in his arms, the force almost breaking his nails. He hoped it was just his grandfather's overthinking, but the hurried Imperial Guards on the street and the occasional passing of the Embroidered Uniform Guards in their flying fish robes and embroidered spring knives made Li Dingyuan's face grow paler and paler. Those Embroidered Uniform Guards were demons in Yingtian Prefecture, capable of stopping children from crying at night. Although the Embroidered Uniform Guards had been abolished three years ago, in reality, it was merely a formality by the emperor to appease his ministers. Behind the scenes, the guards still wore their embroidered robes and walked at night, secretly gathering all sorts of intelligence.

Li Dingyuan gritted his teeth and, with all his might, managed to say, "Don't call me Thirteenth Young Master anymore, just call me... Jie'er." Li Jie was originally the name his father gave him according to the rules of the Cao generation. But later, his grandfather decreed that the name Li Dingyuan be included in the family genealogy, so no one knew this name anymore.

Lu Di nodded, inwardly praising the Duke's favorite thirteenth young master for quickly regaining his composure and pointing out the flaws. Lu Di turned left and right through the alleys, then somehow managed to get a carriage and put Li Dingyuan inside. Unable to see what was happening outside, the young Li Dingyuan was terrified, but he still managed to remain calm and quiet. Lu Di continued wandering through the city until nightfall before finally arriving at a dilapidated mansion.

According to Lü Di, this was a private residence his grandfather had acquired years ago, which had remained unrenovated for many years to avoid arousing suspicion. After Li Dingyuan ate something hastily, Lü Di said he needed to go out and investigate the Duke's mansion. Li Dingyuan, also anxious, said he could manage alone and urged him to go quickly. Although Lü Di was worried, he knew that if he randomly found someone else to take care of the thirteenth young master, there would be a risk of exposure. He also knew that staying by Li Dingyuan's side was his duty at this time, but his years of loyalty to the Duke made him uneasy.

In the end, Lü Di still went, while Li Dingyuan trembled in the dark, dilapidated house, clutching the bronze box.

He dared not light the lamp, because at this time, the sudden appearance of a person in a house that had been uninhabited for many years would definitely alert the ever-present Imperial Guards.

He sat quietly in the darkness, thinking of his grandfather, his parents, his uncles, his brothers and sisters, and the happy days of the past, his heart growing colder and colder.

Watching the sun rise and set again, repeating this several times, Li Dingyuan knew that Lü Di would never return.

"No...don't leave me alone..." he murmured, and finally everything went black as he fell into a coma.

The bronze box in her arms fell off the bed, its priceless glass lid hitting the bluestone slab and shattering into several pieces with a crisp sound. The white jade ruyi scepter inside the bronze box rolled out, emitting a soft white light in the moonlight.

"Li Shanchang was convicted as a member of Hu's faction. It was said that he was a meritorious official and relative of the emperor, who knew of the treasonous plot but did not report it, was suspicious and hesitant, and harbored two-faced intentions. This was a heinous crime, and more than seventy members of his family, including his wife, daughters, brothers, nephews, and others, were all executed. The emperor issued an edict listing his crimes, circulated the prison records, and issued the 'Three Records of the Treacherous Party' to proclaim it to the world..."

A clear female voice echoed in the dilapidated house. A ten-year-old girl with pigtails was tilting her head and reading the notice in her hand word by word. On the bed next to her, a haggard boy was covered with a tattered quilt, sitting against the wall, his parched lips pressed into a straight line.

In just a few days, Li Dingyuan had become extremely thin. His round cheeks had become gaunt, and his chin had become pointed. He looked completely different. Even his family members probably wouldn't recognize him as the Duke's most beloved thirteenth young master.

His grandfather was said to have been given a white silk robe by the emperor and hanged himself that very day. His family members were arrested from Jiujiang, Jiangxi, and beheaded three days prior. He forced himself to watch the entire process, witnessing his family members' heads fall one by one, blood flowing like a river. More than seventy people? Far more than seventy! Many ministers and marquises connected to his family were also implicated. It is said that the emperor used this as an excuse to execute over thirty thousand meritorious officials and their families. Yingtian Prefecture was shrouded in a bloody gloom; the entire capital was permeated with a suffocating stench of blood that lingered for a long time.

"Jie'er, are you hungry again? I have some steamed buns here!" The little girl put down the notice in her hand and reached out her little hand to touch Li Dingyuan's little belly with concern.

"Ruyi, I'm not hungry." Li Dingyuan forced a smile at the little girl, a glimmer of warmth appearing in his cold eyes. He had been unconscious in this house for several days while waiting for Lüdi, and the first thing he saw when he woke up was Ruyi. She was beautiful and lovely, but she was dressed in ordinary boys' clothes, yet her demeanor and speech were quite refined. Li Dingyuan was convinced that Ruyi, like him, was a descendant of a noble family who had escaped from a family implicated in a scandal; otherwise, how could a ten-year-old girl from an ordinary family know how to read? Moreover, when asked her surname, she wouldn't answer, perhaps her surname wasn't as common as his, Li.

During his illness, he was fortunate to have Ruyi's meticulous care. The thought that her family had been implicated and destroyed because of his family filled Li Dingyuan with increasing guilt. But this guilt soon turned into hatred.

Yes, his grandfather did nothing wrong! The one who was wrong was the person sitting on the dragon throne!

"Jie'er, are you unhappy because the bronze box is broken?" Ruyi held the bronze box in front of Li Dingyuan and asked cautiously.

“No.” Li Dingyuan glanced at the bronze box he had brought from home, but he no longer felt the same fondness for it as before. The glass lid of the bronze box was broken, and the white jade ruyi inside was nowhere to be found. He didn’t know if it had rolled away somewhere or been stolen by a burglar while they were away. He vaguely remembered that when he was seriously ill, he had smashed the bronze box on the ground, but none of that mattered anymore. “Ruyi, read the proclamation to me again.”

Ruyi nodded, secretly placed the bronze box in an inconspicuous corner, and a smug smile appeared on her little face.

Li Dingyuan didn't notice Ruyi's little movement because her clear voice rang out again.

"Li Shanchang was convicted as a member of Hu's faction, and it was said that he was a meritorious official and relative of the emperor who knew of the treasonous plot but did not report it, was suspicious and hesitant, and harbored two-faced intentions, which was extremely treasonous..."

Li Dingyuan clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot.

Outrageous...outrageous...how dare he say his grandfather is outrageous! Well then, he'll show him what outrageousness is!
AD 1398

After confirming that he had shaken off the Imperial Guards following him, Li Dingyuan deliberately circled around several times before scaling the wall and entering a quiet courtyard.

This was no longer the dilapidated house where Lü Di had initially settled him. Eight years ago, he and Ruyi had a very difficult time. The two children had no money, not even food or clothing. He had exchanged his white jade pendant for some silver, which was quickly spent. Later, Ruyi dug up a box in the backyard of that dilapidated house, filled with silver notes and gold leaves, which improved their situation. During these eight years, the two of them disguised themselves as children who had come to Yingtian Prefecture to seek refuge with relatives but to no avail, moving from place to place. Although they knew that the capital had become a killing field, Li Dingyuan had no intention of leaving.

Eight years ago, he already knew that not all of his family members had been executed. His second uncle and two cousins ​​had been spared by the emperor because of Princess Lin'an, but they could not stay in the capital and could only live in Jiangpu, a suburb of Yingtian Prefecture. Not long after, they were relocated to Nanchang County, Jiangxi Province. Princess Lin'an also went with them, but Li Dingyuan knew that his second uncle and the princess would definitely be estranged, and the whole family would be only superficially harmonious. Although he knew that it was irrational to take his anger out on her, he couldn't help but feel emotionally charged.

He didn't dare to acknowledge his second uncle's family, because he knew that there would definitely be Imperial Guards watching him there. Even though his appearance was different from his former round face, and the child had become a teenager, as long as his second uncle and his family treated him differently, he would eventually be killed.

Moreover, he wanted to stay in Yingtian Prefecture to avenge his family!
Recalling the assassination attempt that had failed tonight, Li Dingyuan felt a surge of murderous intent. "It's alright," he thought, "this time I've improved compared to last time. I'll try even harder next time." Clutching the wound in his waist, he slipped into the moonlight and walked to the shadows of the trees. With a creak, the lit window was pushed open, and a cold female voice said indifferently, "Come in."

Li Dingyuan shrank his neck. Ruyi must be angry. If he were to lecture her about the proper conduct between men and women now, she would probably explode in a moment... The murderous aura on the young man vanished completely. He lowered his head and bent over as he pushed open the door and entered the room without any backbone.

This was an extremely simple boudoir, with few furnishings or decorations. The only highlight was a young girl sitting at the table, resting her chin on her hand. Her features were exquisite, and although she wore simple clothes, it did not conceal her beauty. In particular, her skin was as delicate and smooth as white jade, dazzling his eyes under the dim oil lamp.

It wasn't until the girl glared at him fiercely with her beautiful eyes that Li Dingyuan realized he had been staring at Ruyi in a daze again. He immediately lowered his head to cover himself, and just then he saw the girl's feet peeking out from under the table.

Those were natural feet; the girl hadn't bound her feet despite running around with him all these years. This was precisely what Li Dingyuan was most satisfied with, because because Ruyi hadn't bound her feet, even though she was so beautiful, very few people came to propose marriage. If someone persisted, they would resort to their last resort: moving house. Of course, he would never look down on Ruyi; he had occasionally caught a glimpse of her natural feet, those perfect jade-like feet were simply breathtakingly beautiful.

Li Dingyuan didn't know what was going on in his mind, but from the moment he introduced Ruyi to outsiders eight years ago, he never once thought of pretending to be her brother and sister.

They're not siblings!

He saw her feet, so shouldn't he take responsibility? Once they've avenged themselves, he'll definitely propose marriage in a serious manner!

Ruyi squinted at Li Dingyuan's face, which was slowly turning red in front of her, and suddenly realized that this kid was not reflecting on his actions at all. She stood up and, to the boy's astonishment, directly ripped off his night clothes and tore off the bandages. When she saw the hideous wound, she couldn't help but be stunned.

"I've already treated my wounds with medicine," Li Dingyuan explained quietly, knowing that Ruyi was worried about him. If he were still bleeding, he certainly wouldn't be able to avoid the Imperial Guards.

Ruyi slowly pulled his clothes together, lowered her eyes and said softly, "Why is it always like this? He's already seventy years old, he won't live much longer. You're still young, he'll never outlive you."

Li Dingyuan's eyes turned cold, and he clenched his fists: "That's different."

"Is revenge... really that important?" Ruyi raised her head, her girlish face filled with confusion.

“It’s very important,” Li Dingyuan said, emphasizing each word. He spoke slowly and deliberately, as if trying to persuade Ruyi, or perhaps himself. “I can’t take the imperial examinations because all successful candidates have their ancestral records checked for three generations. I don’t even qualify to take the exams, let alone become a palace guard. Joining the army is an option, but it would take me many years to rise through the ranks. I originally wanted to observe the situation in Yingtian Prefecture…”

The situation is dire; they're trying to incite other ministers to rebel, but three years ago even the last surviving member of the six founding dukes, Feng Sheng, was killed. The entire court is incredibly cowardly; I doubt they'd even dare to utter a fart during court ceremonies.
Ruyi frowned slightly, unsure whether it was because of Li Dingyuan's crude analogy or because of his unwavering determination over the years.

Under the lamplight, the girl's delicate brows were slightly furrowed, her face filled with worry and unease, which softened Li Dingyuan's heart. He and Ruyi had grown up together, and although he didn't know her true identity, he could guess that she must have come from a distinguished family. When he was eleven, he realized that studying and taking the imperial examinations was unrealistic, so he sought out a master to learn martial arts. After learning of his wish, Ruyi directly gave him a martial arts manual and answered his questions one by one. She even found him an incomparably sharp Green Destiny sword. Among the generals who accompanied Zhu Yuanzhang in his campaigns across the north and south were many martial arts masters, and seeing that Ruyi didn't want to talk about it, Li Dingyuan didn't inquire further about her background.

"Your wish is still revenge? To what extent? To kill that person with your own hands? Or... for the Ming Dynasty to be completely overthrown?" Ruyi parted her lips slightly, her tone calm, but the words she uttered were enough to condemn her to the death penalty. Although Li Dingyuan was certain that no one was around the room, he still shuddered nervously. He imagined it for a moment and muttered to himself, "Killing him with my own hands would be too easy for him. He ruined my whole family. I'd rather his descendants kill each other... I know I can't overthrow this dynasty, but if I could cause some trouble for his rule... Heh, what a pipe dream."

"Even though it's wishful thinking, you probably still really want it in your heart, right?" Ruyi teased irritably.

Li Dingyuan nodded solemnly; this was indeed his wish.

His grandfather, parents, uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters all died unjustly overnight. For the past eight years, he has hardly slept a peaceful night. Every time he closes his eyes, he seems to see the wronged spirits of his loved ones crying out to him, and he always wakes up from nightmares of endless bloodshed. He is still alive, but he is suffering agonizingly. Hatred is like a poisonous insect that gnaws at his soul constantly, leaving him no peace.

Over the past eight years, he had thought countless times that if his grandfather hadn't let Lu Di take him away at the last moment, letting him die with his family, he might have been happier.

But he couldn't die so weakly. His grandfather protected him as he fled, not because he wanted him to do anything, but simply because he wanted him to live. But he couldn't pretend that nothing had happened.

Even if he is trapped in the mire of hatred for the rest of his life, he will grit his teeth and persevere.

Thinking of this, Li Dingyuan felt a chill run down his spine, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. He had just been thinking that once they had avenged themselves, he would propose to Ruyi. But was that hatred so easily avenged? How many years could his Ruyi wait for him? How could he bear to drag her into that filthy quagmire as well…?

Li Dingyuan's heart felt like it was being sawed back and forth by a sharp saw, causing him excruciating pain.

Why did Ruyi ask him so many questions tonight? Was she tired of this kind of life? Was she already considering abandoning him completely and finding a new life for herself?
Li Dingyuan looked up, his mind in turmoil, and saw Ruyi staring intently at him.

A tender smile bloomed on the girl's lips. She gently stroked his cheek and said softly, "Your wish will come true..."

Li Dingyuan lowered his eyes, concealing the reluctance in them.

When she said that, she must have completely given up on him...

Li Dingyuan returned to his room in a daze. Instead of sleeping, he sat in the dark, staring blankly at the light in the room across from Ruyi's.

She didn't sleep either...

Li Dingyuan dared not think too much, fearing he might not be able to withstand the torment and do something he would regret for the rest of his life. Whatever Ruyi decided, he should accept it.

As dawn broke and Li Dingyuan felt a tingling numbness in his legs, he realized he had been sitting there all night. He stood up and stretched his stiff body. He had just changed out of his night clothes into ordinary clothes and was about to go out to fetch water to wash up before making breakfast when he saw Ruyi push open the door and leave through the back gate.

Li Dingyuan's first reaction was to worry about Ruyi's safety. Although it was already dawn, the streets were still sparsely populated, and the place where they lived was a mixed bag. Without hesitation, he followed them.

Ruyi may have been exposed to martial arts from a young age, so she can recognize acupoints and understand some martial arts knowledge, but she has never practiced martial arts herself, so Li Dingyuan can follow her very easily.

Watching Ruyi's slender figure appear and disappear in the morning mist from afar, Li Dingyuan couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Does Ruyi leave home every morning before he wakes up? How long has this been going on? What is she going to do? Or... who is she going to see?

Li Dingyuan's question was answered shortly afterward; he watched, pale-faced, as Ruyi walked toward a man on the street corner.

He was quite far away and couldn't hear what Ruyi said to the man as she walked over, but he could see that the man was wearing a flying fish robe and had an embroidered spring knife at his waist.

It was actually the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

Li Dingyuan almost thought he was dreaming. He pinched his thigh hard and realized with despair that it was all real.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard... he didn't even have the right to stand up and compete, question, or test the other party.

Li Dingyuan still held onto a sliver of hope that the Imperial Guard might be hostile to Ruyi, but seeing the two of them talking so familiarly and calmly, he knew that this wasn't their first meeting.

Despondent and heartbroken, Li Dingyuan stumbled away, unaware that the moment he turned around, the Imperial Guard looked directly in his direction, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.

"Have you made up your mind?" The Imperial Guard withdrew his gaze and asked calmly.

Ruyi smiled weakly, and said bitterly, "There's nothing I can do... that was his wish..."

"What a fool he is..."

Li Dingyuan stood blankly in the courtyard, not even going inside. He wanted to wait for Ruyi to return so he could ask her the truth himself.

But he stood there from dawn until sunset without hearing the door open again. After the noisy commotion outside the courtyard subsided once more with the setting sun, Li Dingyuan suddenly had a premonition.

Just like eight years ago, when he waited for Ludi, Ruyi would never come back.

A biting night wind blew by, and Li Dingyuan, who hadn't had a drop of water all day, was almost blown off balance, but it also made him a little more awake.

No, something must have happened to Ruyi, otherwise she wouldn't have disappeared without telling him.

Li Dingyuan regretted leaving so early in the morning. If anything happened to Ruyi, he would never forgive himself.

He quickly slipped into the house, changed into night clothes, and had just picked up the Green Destiny sword when he heard a noise at the courtyard gate. Thinking it was Ruyi returning, he immediately flew out, but upon seeing who it was, he warily drew his sword.

The newcomer was none other than the Imperial Guard Li Dingyuan had seen that morning. His flying fish robes appeared even more noble and magnificent under the moonlight, yet they exuded a chilling aura. Having not seen his face clearly before, Li Dingyuan, even with his preconceived notions, had to admit that the young man was handsome and didn't resemble the ruthless Imperial Guard at all; rather, he seemed more like a refined young gentleman.

"Where's Ruyi?" There was no one behind the man, and Li Dingyuan's heart sank. But he also felt that this man didn't seem to be there to arrest him, otherwise why would he come alone?

"I'm here to retrieve that bronze box." The man didn't answer, but instead stated his purpose directly.

"A bronze box?" Li Dingyuan was taken aback, hesitating for a moment before remembering what the bronze box he was referring to was—the one he had brought from the Li family years ago. He had long since grown tired of it, but Ruyi always took it with her when they moved, and treasured it dearly, though rarely letting him see it. "What do you need that for?" Another gust of night wind swept by, causing the hem of the other person's flying fish robe to flutter. Li Dingyuan glimpsed a black robe beneath it, and could vaguely make out the outline of a crimson dragon, its scales shimmering...

He must be seeing things. Otherwise, who would dare to wear a dragon robe? Not even a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

The man gave a cold laugh, then sighed deeply and said, "You actually didn't know... you actually didn't know..."

"What do I not know?" Li Dingyuan was startled and subconsciously asked.

"During the reign of the First Emperor of Qin, there was a rumor that there was an aura of an emperor in the southeast. So the emperor traveled east to suppress it. When he arrived in Jinling, he saw that the land was a dragon vein, with a crouching tiger and a coiled dragon. The terrain was steep and the imperial aura was extremely strong. So he dug the Qinhuai River to release the dragon aura. This is the origin of the 'Qin' in the Qinhuai River of Yingtian Prefecture."

What on earth is all this? Li Dingyuan had no idea why this person was suddenly bringing this up, but he had been pampered since childhood, and his grandfather hadn't expected him to amount to anything, so he hadn't forced him to study. After his family was destroyed, he had even less opportunity to learn, and his life was filled with martial arts and revenge. These few words from the man had piqued his interest, and although he felt it had nothing to do with Ruyi, he couldn't help but prick up his ears.

The young Imperial Guard glanced at him and continued to speak eloquently: "Actually, what the First Emperor did back then was not only to excavate the Qinhuai River, but he also cut down Tianyin Mountain and buried a treasure at the foot of the mountain."

"A treasure?" Li Dingyuan frowned, instinctively feeling that something was amiss.

"During the Three Kingdoms period, Sun Quan was digging in Jinling when he accidentally found a bronze box, two feet seven inches long, with a glass lid. Inside was a white jade ruyi scepter, the handles of which were carved with dragons, tigers, and cicadas, the origin of which remained a mystery. He sent someone to ask Zong, who replied, 'In the past, the Qin Emperor believed that Jinling possessed the aura of an emperor, so he leveled the mountains and buried treasures there to counteract this royal aura. Could this be it?'"

"A bronze box!" Li Dingyuan was shocked. Could it be that his bronze box had such an origin? The sword he was holding was too weak to fall, its tip touching the ground, which was what kept him standing.

The young Imperial Guard smiled and scoffed, "Ruyi...do you know what Ruyi is? Ruyi, in Sanskrit Anuruddha, was called Ruyi in the Qin Dynasty. Its handle can be about three feet long. If someone has an itch on their back that their hand can't reach, they can use it to scratch it, just as they wish, hence the name 'Ruyi'. But can the Heavenly Ruyi, formed from the royal aura, truly grant one's wishes? Over the years, have you made any wishes to it that haven't come true?"

Li Dingyuan seemed to have been hit on the head, staggered back a few steps, and almost fell to the ground.

Long-forgotten memories surfaced in his mind.

Eight years ago, in that dilapidated house, the last thing a little boy saw before he fell unconscious was the broken glass lid of a bronze box that had fallen from his arms. Looking at the gleaming white jade ruyi, the little boy murmured, "Don't leave me alone..." When he awoke, he saw a little girl.

The scene shifts back to that dilapidated house, where the little girl tenderly strokes the little boy's head: "Jie'er, what do you want?"

The little boy touched his empty belly, his face contorted in a pained expression, and said, "I don't want to go hungry..."

"I know where there's money!" The little girl smiled and led the little boy to dig up the money box that his grandfather had left him in the dilapidated house. The two children stared blankly at the stack of silver notes and a handful of gold leaves.

The scene shifts again, and the little boy and girl are a year older. The little boy is throwing a tantrum and tearing up the Four Books and Five Classics in his hands, while the little girl stands aside, watching his behavior indulgently. After he calms down, she walks over, pats his shoulder, and softly asks, "Jie'er, what do you want?"

The little boy rubbed his face and said sullenly, "I can't study. I don't have a proper household registration, so I can't even take the imperial examination for children. But if I want to learn martial arts, I can't find a good master. Those martial arts schools only teach superficial techniques for strengthening the body."

The little girl smiled and said, "I have a martial arts manual here! I can also find you a sword that suits your taste..." The little girl took the little boy to a mountain forest, where they dug out a peerless martial arts manual and a Qingming sword that could cut through iron like mud from a cave.

……

Memories flashed through her mind frame by frame, from large sums of money or martial arts manuals to small things like new clothes or delicious food. In the eight years they spent together, as long as Li Dingyuan asked for something, Ruyi would always wear that calm smile and easily do what he asked for.

He used to think Ruyi was too virtuous and too smart, but now... this person actually said that Ruyi was that white jade ruyi? So that's why she could fulfill all his wishes?

This is utter nonsense!
But...does he really have no doubts at all?
Ruyi never talked about her own affairs, never complained about him or made any demands, and never... never disappointed him...

Could it be... that this is all true?

Li Dingyuan suddenly remembered Ruyi's lingering smile from last night, and his heart trembled with fear.

What wish did he make to her?
Oh, right, he insisted on revenge... Over the years, no matter how many times she questioned him, he always maintained that he wanted revenge...

Li Dingyuan threw down his Green Destiny sword, not caring at the iron sword he so dearly loved falling into the mud. He frantically grabbed the man's collar, anxiously demanding, "Where's Ruyi? Where is she? What do you need the bronze box for?"

The man didn't seem to care about being held hostage. He simply said, "She couldn't bear to see you injured any longer. Even with me secretly covering for you last night, you were still so clumsy. She was afraid you wouldn't be able to come back next time. She had been sealed in the bronze box, but after you accidentally broke the glass lid and released the seal, she began to recover her royal aura while slowly growing up alongside you. It's just a pity, such a fine Heavenly Ruyi."

“You mean…” Li Dingyuan was struck dumb.

"Who are you trying to impress with that expression?" The man's words were utterly sarcastic and mocking. "I've seen plenty of people like you. Even if Ruyi told you the truth, you probably wouldn't change your mind. You might even make her an even more difficult request. Hmm? Am I wrong?"

Li Dingyuan gripped the other man's clothes tightly, his arms bulging with veins from the force, but he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Yes, what right does he have to be angry?
A sense of panic rose in Li Dingyuan's heart. Could it be that he was really like what people said, that after knowing Ruyi's true identity, he would actually use her?

Hatred... wishes... which is more important...?

A scale swayed in his heart, the tragic deaths of his family members and the gentle smile of Ruyi kept alternating in his mind. Li Dingyuan was horrified to find that he really didn't know how to choose.

Has Ruyi seen through his heart clearly?
So that's why she made that decision...?

“Ruyi, she…” Li Dingyuan struggled to find his voice, but he could only say three words before he could no longer continue.

"I've come to retrieve the bronze box, to give her a peaceful resting place." The young Imperial Guard waved aside the stunned Li Dingyuan, frowned, straightened his flying fish robe, and after making sure his inner robe wouldn't be visible, flicked off non-existent dust from his clothes, saying calmly, "I don't know what you wished for, but she voluntarily severed her body, and the dragon energy of Nanjing's Yingtian Prefecture has been completely severed. Although the Ming Dynasty may continue, this place will likely cease to be the capital in a few years." He glanced around, finally settling on a spot, and continued, "And it will never be the capital again."

Having said that, he ignored Li Dingyuan, who had fallen to the ground, and went straight to Ruyi's room. He took out the copper box with the broken lid and left gracefully.

They completely ignored the heart-wrenching cries coming from the small courtyard.

"So that's why Nanjing couldn't be the capital?" The doctor whispered to Lu Zigang beside him, looking at the boy in agony in the courtyard. They hadn't arrived early, but they had heard most of what they needed to hear. They couldn't help but sigh for the unfortunate boy and the determined Tian Ruyi. It was impossible to judge who was right and who was wrong; after all, the hatred of a family's massacre couldn't be erased with a simple sentence. Tian Ruyi's character was just as fierce, preferring to shatter like jade rather than survive like a broken tile. She would rather risk her life to fulfill the boy's wish than stand by his side and watch him repeatedly take risks.

“From a scientific point of view, you can’t think of it that way, but it’s very strange. Since the 3rd century AD, ten dynasties or regimes have successively established their capitals in Nanjing, including the Eastern Wu, Eastern Jin, the Southern Dynasties of Song, Qi, Liang, Chen, Southern Tang, Ming, Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and the Republic of China, but none of them lasted long. We are now in the era of Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty, and not long after, his son Zhu Di will move the capital to Beijing.” Lu Zigang stroked his chin and sighed, “Perhaps it was really Qin Shi Huang who depleted the dragon’s energy and severed the dragon vein, otherwise, there’s no reason why such a strategically important place would be cursed, with every dynasty that established its capital there being short-lived. Of course, the Ming Dynasty is an exception, but even if Zhu Di hadn’t moved the capital, it might have been dangerous.”

The doctor felt a chill run down his spine after hearing Lu Zigang's words and urged him, "The compass is wrong again. Let's go back quickly. By the way, how come the boss was once a member of the Imperial Guard? That flying fish uniform was so cool! But why do I have a feeling that the boss just spotted us?"

"He probably didn't find it... otherwise he should have come over to check." Lu Zigang didn't sound very confident. He looked down at the compass in his hand and found that the pointer wasn't spinning very fast and would take a while to return to its original position.

"How much longer? I don't want to keep prying at the window like this. What if that kid gets inside? How are we going to explain this... Ah!"

The doctor suddenly gasped in surprise, making Lu Zigang look up. He saw the boy holding a sword horizontally, intending to commit suicide. The doctor couldn't bear to see such a disregard for human life and immediately tried to rush out to stop him, but Lu Zigang grabbed his arm and said in a deep, solemn voice, "Have you forgotten? What did I tell you before we set off? You are not allowed to interfere with history that has already happened!"

"But..." The doctor's face flushed with anxiety. He immediately wanted to shout to stop the boy's suicidal act, but before he could finish speaking, the boy's sword, which was swinging in mid-air, froze. Then, the boy took off running and disappeared out of the hospital gate. The doctor was stunned and asked, puzzled, "What's wrong with him?"

“Let’s go after him and find out. He might think the boss is lying to him, but based on my experience, the boss is definitely telling the truth.” Lu Zigang shrugged, feeling relieved. Regardless of whether the boy ultimately committed suicide, at least it didn’t happen in front of them. And frankly, that boy is already history; they were just bystanders.

Looking at the doctor's worried expression, Lu Zigang felt a little uneasy.

He could easily treat these time travels as holographic movies, but could a doctor do that?

"What do you think will happen to that boy in the future?" The doctor asked hesitantly, pushing up his glasses.

A white light flashed on the compass, and Lu Zigang calmly said, "Anyway, as far as we're concerned, he's already dead."

(End of this chapter)