Immortal Travel of Longevity

Yan Ruchu was acting like a child. At his age, to still fret over such a massive undertaking—once it was done, his name would go down in infamy for ten thousand years.

Yet he insisted on doing it anyway.

His inner obsession with Great Jing cascaded like a waterfall; until the mountains were exhausted and the rivers ran dry, it would never wither. He would fight for any sliver of a chance. To outsiders, he was simply insane.

"Why didn't you say this earlier?" Chen Changsheng asked.

Yan Ruchu coughed lightly and said, "Yesterday was business. Today is sentiment."

"A clear distinction." Chen Changsheng nodded.

"Naturally, it must be."

Yan Ruchu exhaled slowly. "Sitting on this throne makes one a solitary figure. Sometimes, I have no control over my own actions."

Chen Changsheng pondered for a long time before asking, "Are you truly going to do this?"

Yan Ruchu nodded. "I have arranged everything. After I die, it will all proceed in an orderly manner."

"You don't plan to fake your death first to see what happens?"

"No."

Yan Ruchu's lips trembled briefly, but he quickly composed himself.

Chen Changsheng looked at him. "Do you not want to, or do you not dare to?"

"A bit of both."

As far as Yan Ruchu was concerned, there was no shame in admitting it. As the former Crown Prince of Great Jing, he could be utterly ruthless and unjust to achieve his goals. But as Yan Ruchu, he could not.

People were contradictory.

It was like seeing two equally beautiful bouquets of flowers: people instinctively tried to determine which one was prettier, rather than praising both at once.

Because of this, there were so many more choices to make, and so much more helplessness to endure.

Chen Changsheng turned his head back. "When the world falls into chaos in the future, the historians will record it, and you will be the architect of that chaos. You will be spurned and cursed by all."

Yan Ruchu laughed. "That will all happen after my death. I probably won't see it."

"What if you do?"

Yan Ruchu paused, then shook his head. "I feel that once I die, I will have no next life. In all likelihood, I won't see that chaotic world."

Chen Changsheng paused slightly, not taking the conversation any further.

Watching his reaction, Yan Ruchu said, "I guessed as much long ago. The City God of Shangjing City once mentioned what happened on the day Zhao Zhen died. The City God thought Zhao Zhen's soul had been stolen, but I feel that it probably shattered into nothingness right then and there."

Yan Ruchu let out a long breath. "He and I are the same. We both crossed the line. Even though we became emperors, we ultimately cannot escape the mandate of heaven."

Chen Changsheng listened to him.

He realized that no matter how much more he asked or urged, Yan Ruchu was not going to change his mind.

This Jing emperor who had led Great Xiang step by step to prosperity—he wanted to personally destroy it all, just to rebuild it anew...

Absurd!

Chen Changsheng looked up at the drifting clouds. "The mortal realm has finally found some measure of peace. This Chen does not wish to see it plunge into chaos again."

Yan Ruchu turned to look at Mister Chen. "Will Mister Chen stop me?"

"What if I say I will?" Chen Changsheng asked.

The atmosphere fell silent.

Yan Ruchu suddenly started to laugh, but the laughter came to an abrupt halt, turning into a fit of coughing.

He caught his breath, lightly patting his chest. "You cannot stop it, Mister. Even if I don't do this, the world will still fall into chaos. In the rolling torrent of history, how often is there true peace? Establishing a Crown Prince won't erase their ambitions, nor will it stop the mountains and rivers from shaking. It is all just a matter of time."

Chen Changsheng looked away.

Indeed, it was a profoundly helpless situation.

It seemed he had no way to change anything either. There were millions upon millions of people in this world, and someone would always stand out. Those trying to bring order to the world could only manage it, not fundamentally change it. It wasn't as simple as declaring something and having it be so.

That was simply the truth.

No matter how great Chen Changsheng's abilities were, he could not change millions upon millions of people.

Chen Changsheng said, "Human thought is still lacking in many ways."

Yan Ruchu did not understand why Chen Changsheng suddenly made such a remark, but he nodded. "The common folk are ignorant and struggle to tell right from wrong. There are honest people who hold fast to themselves, but it is exactly those honest people who will rise up in revolt. When the officials of the Imperial Court fail to govern the world, it falls to such people to take charge."

Chen Changsheng did not reply, maintaining his silence.

Yan Ruchu said nothing more either, his gaze fixed on the distant clouds.

There at Caishi Market.

Yan Ruchu, his hands tucked into his sleeves, felt the glare of the setting sun shining into his eyes. Unconsciously, he raised a hand to block it again and again.

Piercing. It was still piercing.

Yan Ruchu sighed. "If only the sun would set a little slower..."

"It's almost gone," Chen Changsheng said. "It won't be long now."

Their conversation did not align; it was as if each were speaking only to himself.

When dusk finally fell, Chen Changsheng departed from Caishi Market.

As for Yan Ruchu, he remained seated there, watching for a long time.

Only when the evening breeze brushed his face and the chill grew deeper did he summon his attending eunuch and return to the realm behind the palace gates.

He truly disliked the outside world more and more.

Thinking it over, it was better to stay in the palace. Out here, he could never feel truly at ease.

.

.

The meals at the Jingzhaoyin Office were much poorer today than before.

There were no rich meats or fish. The spread consisted mostly of vegetables, tofu, or perhaps a couple of extra eggs, but the group did not mind.

Mo Yuan even ate an extra bowl of rice because of it, claiming it was a nice change of pace.

Ruyi seemed to enjoy the food quite a bit, too. Perhaps it was just because she hadn't had dishes like this in a long time. She was never one to complain; just having a bite to eat was good enough.

Ping'an, however, was tense throughout the meal. He couldn't seem to put his mind at ease, causing him to lose his appetite after just two bites.

Chen Changsheng asked, "Aren't you going to eat a little more?"

Ping'an explained, "I had something to eat at the Magistrate's Office earlier today, so I can't quite manage it. The kitchen staff forgot to buy meat today, so it's all vegetarian fare. I don't know if Mister is used to eating this way."

"This Chen has never been picky about such things," Chen Changsheng replied. "I can dine on hearty meats and fish, and I can eat wild vegetables and bellflower roots just the same."

"Uncle Chen has finally returned after such a long time," Ping'an said. "I can't exactly be a poor host, can I?"

Beside him, Ruyi's arm froze at his words.

"Ping'an!"

"Sister."

Ruyi frowned. She looked at Ping'an and asked, "Are the people sitting at this table not our own family?"

Ping'an froze for a moment, then hurriedly said, "Sister, you misunderstand..."

Ruyi crossed her arms. "Then let me ask you: these past few days, every word you've spoken has been laced with the politeness reserved for hosting a stranger. What is the meaning of that?"

Ping'an grew anxious.

"I..."

He opened his mouth several times, desperately wanting to explain himself. In his panic, he stood up, glancing left and right.

Then, he suddenly dropped to his knees.

With a heavy thud, Ping'an knelt on the floor.

Startled, Chen Changsheng said, "What are you doing? Get up, quickly..."

"Let him kneel!"

Ruyi snapped coldly.

"You've been out in the world for a few years and you've already forgotten who you are!"

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