The Idle Man of Zhenguan Intercepts Wu Zetian at the Start

Changsun Dan was in a dream, as if he were frozen in a dark mountain cave. Fear surged like a tide. Even though he had killed someone today, there were shantytowns all around and living people around him. But now it was like a dead place, with only the densely packed dried corpses swaying above his head.

Dongyao lit the candle and gently shook Changsun Dan's arm:

"Young master, wake up."

Changsun Dan's initial look of fear gradually faded, and he began to breathe evenly again. In his dream, a white figure pulled him out of the cave. Below him were floating clouds, the sunlight was gentle, and a breeze caressed his face. Changsun Dan lay down comfortably, turned to his side, and picked up a floating cloud. It was soft, warm, and carried a faint fragrance. A smile appeared on Changsun Dan's lips.

Dongyao was sitting on the edge of the bed, but now her slender waist was being held by the young man, and her face turned red with embarrassment. But seeing the smile on his face, she grabbed his hand and then gently let it go, a soft smile on her face as she lay down beside him. Her eyes were fixed on his face, her heart was pounding, and she just hoped that he would keep smiling.

The candlelight illuminated the room with warmth, and Changsun Dan's originally pale face flushed crimson. As if afraid the cloud would drift away, he hugged it even tighter. The cloud became hot, yet soft as water. Changsun Dan groped his way to the surging part of the cloud and finally grasped it firmly in his hands, kneading it. At this moment, the night was deep and quiet. Dong Yao waved her hand, and the candlelight went out. Only a heart pounding wildly, rising and falling with the lake water.

The nightmare did not return. It wasn't until the sound of wine jars being loaded onto a carriage early in the morning that Changsun Dan slowly woke up. There were no clouds around him, only the quilt he was tightly clutching, and his trousers were cold and damp.

Changsun Dan sat up abruptly, pulled down his pants, glanced inside, and a look of surprise appeared on his face:

"Wow, this is something that happened years ago..."

I remember once using lucid dreaming to fool these girls, but some things are truly inexplicable—like lucid dreams. No matter how the world tries to avoid or hide them, everyone seems to know them without a teacher, as if some special energy is imparting magic in dreams.

Changsun Dan glanced around a few times. Fortunately, the two girls weren't there. Dongyao was alright, but if Chunchan knew, she would probably laugh herself to death. He quickly got up and changed his clothes, but the bathwater and clothes from last night had already been cleaned up. Changsun Dan awkwardly threw his pants under the bed. In any case, it was still necessary to check in at the military camp.

After the incident last night where the young master was besieged by Wei Guan, Dongyao would never let him go out alone again. As soon as Changsun Dan opened the door, Chun Chan and the four maids, Kan Yue, were waiting in the courtyard with their horses.

Changsun Dan knew that further words were useless. He only felt refreshed and his body was much lighter and stronger today. He picked up two jars of wine, mounted Red Hare, and turned his head with a smile:

"Let's go. After delivering the wine to Old Cheng and seeing the King of Yue, we'll head back. Later, I'd like to stroll around the East Market; I've never been to our shop even once!"

Chun Chan's wine was almost finished. Hearing that the young master wanted to stroll through the East Market, she looked up at Dong Yao, then at Changsun Dan, a strange smile on her face:

"I've already informed Youniang to negotiate with the Fangzheng about building the winery. From now on, Zhang Tao'er will manage the East Market Winery herself. Or, how about letting Kan Yue and the others stay at the paper mill, while Dong Yao and I accompany you all the way?"

Changsun Dan pulled on the reins:

"Alright, I'm a little worried since Dongyao and Youniang aren't at the paper mill. Kanyue, you two stay home. The main thing is to keep an eye on Wu Xu. Let Uncle Fu handle things like digging the waste pit. Let's go!"

With a spur, Red Hare seemed to sense its master's high spirits and trotted along the plum garden.

Spring Cicada also leaped onto the horse, letting out a series of giggles.

"Young master, all your troubles have disappeared overnight. Who was it that came here with a furrowed brow last night?"

After the group left the plum garden, Changsun Dan reined in his horse and rode slowly. It was early in the morning, and whether he bumped into pedestrians or disturbed the peace, he would be disliked. Turning back, he smiled and replied:

"I had a nightmare and a sweet dream last night. I didn't expect that all my troubles would disappear when I woke up. There is still enough time for Your Majesty's illness. It's just that Dongyao will have to accompany me to make medicine for a while."

Dongyao's pretty face flushed red, but a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She wondered if she was also in the young man's dream.

Chun Chan glanced at Dong Yao, her smile widening:

"Young master has long been biased. Why is it that Dongyao always accompanies you in carving woodblocks, making ink, and adjusting pulp and paper? Now even medicine making requires Dongyao's company."

Changsun Dan had no idea why Chun Chan was smiling so strangely so early in the morning, only assuming it was just her personality. But seeing Dong Yao's rosy cheeks, already possessing exquisite beauty, she was now even more stunning, and he sincerely praised her:

"Has Dongyao eaten all the good stuff in our manor? Look at her, she's getting prettier and prettier."

Dongyao was even more embarrassed by Changsun Dan's words, but she felt sweet inside. It seemed that, just as Chunchan had said, she alone held some of the core secrets of the Plum Garden business, apart from the young master.

The cicada hummed softly:

"Who says otherwise? Who knows what good food that girl ate last night?"

After saying that, he laughed first.

Dongyao wanted to explain something, but hesitated, as if the young master's body temperature was still there, and his body was burning hot.

Changsun Dan suddenly became serious and said:

"You two have different roles. Dongyao is introverted, while you are much more outgoing. You two complement each other perfectly, and it may not be long before your names resound throughout Chang'an."

The topic of cicadas shifts:

"I think Wu Xu is exceptionally intelligent and also has stunning beauty. Why is the young master always at odds with her? If you ask me, I'm afraid the young master wronged her first."

These two girls had never inquired about her and Wu Xu before, but now that Wu Xu had moved into the Plum Garden, she couldn't help but remind them of a few things:

"I have never done anything to wrong her, but I know that her ambition is beyond your imagination, and her cruelty is so extreme that she doesn't even recognize her own family. In the future, no matter what identity she uses to suppress you, do not compromise. The industry and technology are all in your hands. I want to see what kind of waves she can stir up with this small bookstore."

He paused, then continued:

"However, I did scheme against her. Her dream of entering the palace was shattered, so it's normal for her to hate me."

The two girls were unaware of the prophecy, and those in the court who knew about it kept it a secret. In the eyes of others, the case of Changsun Dan's debauchery with the imperial concubines had basically confirmed Changsun Dan's reputation for being absurd and lecherous. Now that the young master himself explained that there was no such thing with Wu Xu, it aroused Chun Chan's curiosity even more.

Dongyao pricked up her ears, initially thinking there was more to the story between the young master and Wu Xu than she expected. But why would the young master scheme against her?!

The cicadas simply started to act coquettishly:

"Young master, please tell us. After all, in a few days, she will become the mistress of the plum garden. If she really uses her position to suppress us, even though you will be there to support us, there will always be times when you are not around. At that time, we may have no choice but to listen."

Changsun Dan laughed heartily, knowing that these two girls were no pushovers; they were just very curious. Because of one lie, they would probably never be able to clear their names for the rest of their lives.

"Because Yuan Tiangang once told me—if Wu Zetian enters the palace, he will surely take my life within a few years!"