Immortal Travel of Longevity

Xianle had chattered on for quite some time. Without waiting for Chen Changsheng's reply, she stood up and walked silently forward.

She left just like that.

Chen Changsheng watched her retreating figure.

He thought he might never see this girl again.

The little brat who had stolen play scripts in the Library Pavilion back then had now chosen a path of death for herself. Perhaps she would quietly pass away along the road, or perhaps she would become a wandering ghost without a single worldly tie.

That play script was also nearing its end.

"She wants to die..." Ruyi murmured, then asked, "Aren't you going to stop her, Uncle Chen?"

Chen Changsheng could not answer her. In truth, he was exactly like Xianle. Just like her, he lived for the sake of others. Hardship wracked his body, devastating and tormenting him until every day dragged on like a year.

He did not even dare to ask himself: if, far in the future, everyone he cared for and everyone who cared for him were gone, would he choose this same end, just as Xianle had?

Ruyi felt a little dazed. After a moment of thought, she felt she understood why Uncle Chen acted this way, yet she didn't completely understand it either.

She knew Uncle Chen had always been a difficult person to figure out.

...

After returning, Chen Changsheng slept for a long time.

He slept straight from noon until the sun went down.

Leaning against the long wooden bench, he slept the entire time.

Glancing over, he saw that Ruyi had fallen asleep leaning on the table. Mao'er was curled into a ball, sleeping right there on the tabletop.

The setting sun spilled through the window and illuminated the floating dust in the room, making it look like specks of starlight and adding a sense of tranquility.

Chen Changsheng let out a long breath. The nap seemed to have vastly improved his mood.

The chirping of cicadas from Huaixu drifted in from outside.

Chen Changsheng slowly stood up and walked out the door.

He looked up, only to see a green cicada suddenly fly right at him, landing directly on his clothes and clinging tightly.

Its buzzing sounded right next to his ear.

Chen Changsheng carefully scooped the cicada into his hand.

When he opened his palm, the cicada spread its wings and flew off.

"In the end, I'm the one who harmed that girl."

Chen Changsheng let out a long sigh, unable to help blaming himself.

Ruyi walked out of the room, yawning.

Rubbing her eyes, she asked, "What are you muttering about, Uncle Chen? What girl did you harm?"

Chen Changsheng glanced at her. "This Chen thought you were going to sleep a lot longer," he said.

Ruyi stretched lazily. "If I keep sleeping, it'll be completely dark. Lihua, on the other hand, will probably sleep until midnight. It's always like that—incredibly energetic at night."

Chen Changsheng smiled. "Aren't cats all like that?"

"True."

Chen Changsheng paused for a moment, then asked, "Speaking of which, why hasn't Miss Dong come looking for you lately?"

"Her..."

Ruyi finally realized it. "You're right. I haven't seen her recently."

She froze for a second. "Could something have happened to her?"

Chen Changsheng glanced at her, but said nothing.

Ruyi was startled, immediately realizing what he meant.

"I'm going to go check!"

With that, she ran out the door in a panic, without a shred of calm.

Chen Changsheng shook his head. He didn't follow her; he merely found a place to sit and began to drink his wine.

...

Ruyi rushed out in a hurry.

It wasn't a good idea to carry her spear outside. Even though practically no one was investigating her anymore, walking down the street with a spear would inevitably draw attention. She had no choice but to swipe a sword from the steward of Tang Manor before leaving, just in case something happened.

Dong Chiyu's home was right here in Shangjing City.

Strictly speaking, hers could be considered a major aristocratic family.

Ruyi had heard that her ancestors had once followed the Grand Ancestor of Xiang to conquer the realm, serving as fierce generals. After the Grand Ancestor ascended the throne, he laid the foundation for the Dong family's estate. However, ever since those ancestors passed away, the Dong family had never produced another person of true talent. Without a capable figure to manage the massive estate, the family had slowly fallen into decline.

To make matters worse, these descendants had grown used to throwing their weight around, relying entirely on their ancestors' merit of aiding the founding emperor. Even though the family estate had dwindled, they remained just as arrogant and full of themselves.

And Dong Chiyu was born into this very Dong family.

Her mother had originally been a country woman who met her father in her early years. Her father was the illegitimate son of General Dong and a brothel courtesan, so he was never favored growing up. After General Dong passed away, his life became even more difficult. When her mother married into the family, she suffered the household's constant cold shoulders, despised by everyone for being a rustic country girl.

Her father and mother lived a bitter life in the Dong Estate. Her mother suggested leaving several times, but her father refused. He swore he would pass the imperial examinations and make a name for himself. However, the results fell woefully short of his desires. He failed time and time again, completely shattering his confidence. Coupled with the endless gossip from the people of the Dong Estate, her father spiraled into depravity. Skipping meals, he spent his days drowning his sorrows in brothels and gambling dens. Once he had squandered all their money, he lamented the futility of life and threw himself into the river.

At that time, her mother was already pregnant.

Having married into the Dong Estate, she no longer had any chance of leaving.

Dong Chiyu was born under these exact circumstances.

Her mother raised her within the Dong Estate. Although they suffered endless scorn, they were at least still alive. Putting aside whether the Dong Estate would even allow them to leave, even if they did, a mother and daughter wandering through this chaotic world would likely not survive.

This situation continued until Dong Chiyu was six years old.

Her mother passed away.

The hardships of those years had long since turned her hair white. Dying felt almost like a release.

From then on, Dong Chiyu was left all alone in the world.

...

Inside the Dong Estate.

The servants were busy dressing Dong Chiyu and doing her makeup.

She was dressed in a crimson bridal gown, and the entire estate was steeped in a festive atmosphere.

"Raise your arms, Miss."

"Mhm, done. You can put them down now."

She didn't resist. She simply accepted it all in silence, though every movement of raising and lowering her arms was completely stiff.

Tomorrow was the day she would be married off.

Even though she didn't want to marry at all, it was completely out of her control.

She had been drugged. Unable to mobilize the qi and blood in her meridians, her body was completely sapped of strength. She couldn't fight back at all. Now she was entirely at their mercy, unable to even step out of the Dong Estate.

She heard that her future husband was a young master of the Yun Family in Shangjing. Dong Chiyu had actually heard of this person before; he was a cripple. Years ago, while seeking pleasure in a brothel, he offended someone and had his legs broken. The Dong Estate wanted to dip their fingers into the mining business and needed to rely on his family's influence, leading to this arranged marriage.

But in truth, it was completely unnecessary.

It was just that certain people didn't want her to have an easy life.

Dong Chiyu understood it perfectly. There were simply too many people in the Dong Estate who couldn't stand her. She just wasn't exactly sure who was secretly plotting these things.

"You should be happier, Miss. Tomorrow is your wedding day."

"That's right, Miss. It's a joyous occasion. You can't wear such a long face."

Dong Chiyu let out a cold laugh and said, "A joyous occasion?"

She couldn't help but find it hilarious.

But she didn't blame the two servant girls.

The two of them knew nothing; they simply thought it was a happy event.

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