Chapter 71: The Emperor's Whim
As His Majesty advanced in years, his patience for palace life dwindled considerably. He increasingly followed his whims, bringing officials and guards on impromptu journeys to various prefectures. While officially claiming to inspect local conditions, everyone understood that His Majesty was merely bored, creating upheaval and disregarding court opposition to escape the palace for entertainment. This time, he had simply abandoned the Spring Sacrifice ceremonies to venture to Liyang.
Wei Xianyu had governed Liyang Prefecture for many years. Though he concealed his true thoughts, he had been diligently arranging His Majesty's entertainment these past days. Today, with festivities outside the city, His Majesty expressed interest in watching the dragon boat races, so Wei Xianyu had made proper arrangements and even specially prepared beautiful entertainers to sing and dance by the lakeside.
However, upon arrival, His Majesty showed little interest in the dragon boats. He sat beside the water, listlessly fidgeting with a jade pendant at his waist.
Having maintained his position for nearly half the day, Wei Xianyu, standing in dutiful attendance, could barely endure the strain any longer. His back was drenched with perspiration, and his legs ached terribly. Accustomed to comfort and luxury, he found this discomfort unbearable, so he cautiously attempted to persuade His Majesty to return and rest, hoping to alleviate his own suffering as well.
The sixteen-year-old emperor possessed a face as exquisite as the finest woman, with skin like powdered jade, obsidian hair, and dark eyes—truly breathtaking in appearance. Yet his features carried an inexplicable aura of malevolence, and when he regarded others, there was always the unsettling sense that he could peer directly into one's soul, filled with ominous severity.
He appeared not to have heard Wei Xianyu's words, his expression remaining undisturbed, lost in contemplation.
"Your Majesty..." Wei Xianyu, who had long resided in Liyang with limited interaction with this rumored tyrant, found himself ignored and couldn't help attempting persuasion once more.
Sima Jiao, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly and unpredictably swept his sleeve without even glancing up, flinging a cup of tea from the table directly at Wei Xianyu. The porcelain struck his forehead and drenched him with tea leaves.
Wei Xianyu's eye twitched involuntarily, but he dared not protest, lowering his head to conceal his expression.
Just then, he witnessed Sima Jiao rise abruptly and tear open the semi-transparent embroidered curtain hanging at the window, peering outside as if searching for something specific.
The jade hooks and tassels supporting the curtain were yanked down, with jade beads scattering across the floor and rolling beneath a nearby tea table.
Not only Wei Xianyu, but even the eunuchs attending His Majesty displayed expressions of surprise.
One of them nervously swallowed and stepped forward, softly inquiring, "Your Majesty, what troubles you? Are you seeking something?"
Sima Jiao suddenly pressed his brow and declared, "Just now, I glimpsed a woman in an ornate carriage by the roadside. Go find her for me immediately."
"What? He's now the emperor of Hu Kingdom?"
Liao Tingyan felt initial surprise, but then found it entirely fitting. She had always thought this ancestor resembled a natural-born tyrant, and now he truly lived up to that impression.
But what should she do now? Should she directly take Sima Jiao back to the Demon Realm, or should she first approach him to test whether his memories had returned, then gradually reveal his past?
The black snake had remained in the Demon Realm to intimidate subordinates and hadn't accompanied them. Liao Tingyan had brought only Hong Luo and a contingent of demon generals and cultivators.
Hong Luo declared firmly, "Naturally, take him back first. He's merely mortal now and cannot resist. You can bring him back and do whatever you wish. Besides, you need to restore his cultivation. Even if his physical aptitude proves inadequate, with that ancestor's comprehension, he'll surely achieve remarkable progress."
Liao Tingyan listened but remained silent for an extended period.
She appeared lost in profound thought.
In the courtyard where they were temporarily lodging, massive clusters of gardenias flourished, with dense green leaves and pristine white flowers just outside the window. She gazed at the blossoms for some time, then suddenly announced, "No, let's remain here. I won't take him back to the Demon Realm, nor will I force him to cultivate."
I want to let him live one lifetime as an ordinary mortal.
Hong Luo couldn't comprehend this decision at all. She widened her eyes and exclaimed, "Not allow him to cultivate? A mortal's existence spans merely a few decades. Do you intend to watch him live through these brief years and then simply perish? What will you do then?!"
Liao Tingyan wanted to explain that she too had once been mortal. She had never imagined that one day she would possess extended life. She didn't desire such longevity—frighteningly endless years. Even in just these ten-plus years, she had already felt utterly exhausted.
Being mortal was admirable. A few decades of life proved sufficient.
Perhaps for Sima Jiao, existing as an ordinary person represented his most fortunate circumstance. He was originally destined to perish completely, soul and all, but she had forcibly preserved him. If they were to pursue immortality, it would seem excessively greedy.
She didn't voice these thoughts but looked at Hong Luo. Hong Luo understood that she wouldn't change her mind. Regarding stubbornness, she might prove remarkably similar to Sima Jiao as a couple.
Although Hong Luo still couldn't understand Liao Tingyan's reasoning, she couldn't persuade her. She could only address the current dilemma: "Since you refuse to take him away, you'll need to remain here with him. But what identity will you use to approach him? What will you do afterward? Have you considered this? You've been searching for him for so many years—surely secretly observing him from the shadows won't suffice."
That definitely wouldn't work.
This was indeed a significant problem.
Liao Tingyan considered the matter briefly. "How about this: I'll use magic to create a dream for him, then enter that dream." Wasn't it common to dream of a beautiful woman and fall in love at first sight?
She recalled the "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River" and decided to improvise using this timeless template: "In the dream, he'll be enjoying leisure by the water when suddenly he sees a water goddess standing by the river and is struck by her divine beauty."
After several such dreams, she would find an opportunity to recreate this scene in reality. This was simple for her abilities. With such a dramatic entrance as a goddess, if she later displayed any supernatural abilities, they would be easily explained.
Perfect.
Liao Tingyan nodded with satisfaction, feeling that this approach possessed excellent mythical characteristics.
Hong Luo thought: I don't think this is particularly reliable, sister. Are you truly going to attempt this?
Liao Tingyan replied: This is basic strategy. What could possibly go wrong?
The two discussed in detail how to masquerade as a fairy descending to the mortal realm and effectively enchant a tyrant when suddenly they heard a demon general announce from outside: "Demon Master, a squad of mortal soldiers has arrived."
What soldiers? They had just arrived and hadn't had time to cause any disturbance. How could soldiers have located them?
Could it be because they hadn't obtained proper entry permits for the city, or hadn't yet created false identities, resulting in an investigation? But were the household registration systems in these mortal kingdoms truly that strict?
Liao Tingyan became even more perplexed when she saw the group of guards because the person leading the soldiers was a delicate, effeminate man. He wasn't there to check for illegal residents but smiled at Liao Tingyan, who was seated in the position of authority, and said: "My lord observed the young lady by the river, and his heart was captivated. He has dispatched us to locate the young lady's whereabouts and hopes the young lady will accompany me to meet my lord."
"Young lady" was a term in Hu Kingdom specifically for unmarried young women, while "young lord" referred to men.
Liao Tingyan: "..."
She understood now. While walking on the street, she had encountered a libertine who was attracted by her appearance, so he sent people to find her, intending to forcibly take her.
To think she would experience such a scenario in her lifetime? Honestly, Liao Tingyan had almost forgotten that she was considered a great beauty.
Hong Luo and the other demon generals and cultivators disguised as servants and guards looked at each other in bewilderment. This... Liao Tingyan had previously been the companion of Sima Jiao, the world's foremost demon king, and later became the Demon Realm Master herself. Who would dare set their sights on her? Even if they harbored such thoughts, they wouldn't dare voice them. How could such a thing occur?
Perhaps because it was so absurd, Liao Tingyan didn't even feel anger. Only the group of tall, fierce-looking demon generals beside her displayed offended and murderous expressions.
What insignificant wretch dared covet their leader? Tear out his tendons! Flay his skin! Refine his soul!
Perhaps sensing their hostility, the previously arrogant pale-faced man now trembled and stuttered involuntarily: "Our lord is no ordinary person. If the young lady is willing, immense wealth and status can be easily obtained..."
Liao Tingyan wanted to laugh. "Oh? How much wealth and status?"
The pale-faced man straightened his back slightly: "My lord's surname is Sima, from Yan City."
Yan City was the royal capital, and Sima was the royal surname. Only one person could claim this—the ruler of Hu Kingdom, Sima Jiao.
Liao Tingyan: "..."
Who? Who did you say?
Liao Tingyan: "...Sima Jiao?"
The pale-faced man's expression changed dramatically: "How dare you directly address the king by name!"
Hong Luo and the demon generals all fell silent. No one felt angry anymore; they all found the situation somewhat surreal.
Liao Tingyan thought: I haven't even had time to create the dream and establish my persona, have I?
In the strange silence, Hong Luo patted Liao Tingyan's shoulder and whispered: "Well, you know, a thousand miles of fate connected by a thread... cherish this connection?"
Liao Tingyan suddenly realized: "!!!" Sima Jiao! He had become someone who spots a beautiful woman by the road and sends people to forcibly bring her to him! So practiced at this, it probably wasn't his first time!
Damn you! Sima Jiao! You're finished!
I'm telling you, you're going to pay for this!
Liao Tingyan boarded the carriage that had come to fetch her, traveling in contemplative silence to Wei Xianyu's mansion in Liyang Prefecture.
She pondered how to vent her anger when she saw Sima Jiao—slap his pretty face, kick him away first, or deliver a few choice words before taking action...
But when she finally saw his familiar face again, Liao Tingyan found herself completely paralyzed. She simply stared at him, a rush of chaotic emotions welling up inside her.
She recalled a line of poetry:
Long separation in this world does not bring sorrow.
Not sorrowful, until the sudden reunion brings tears.
With thousands of words to express, yet not knowing where to begin, Liao Tingyan looked at the man sitting there, nonchalantly glancing back at her. When she saw his eyes, tears instantly streamed down her face.
She wanted to say, I've been searching for you for so long. She also wanted to say, I often dream, but rarely of you. She wanted to scold him, scold him harshly. She wanted even more to approach and embrace this person she had found with such difficulty. But whether to embrace or berate him, she couldn't move toward him, only standing fixed in place, looking at him with tears flowing freely.
Sima Jiao: "..."
He had been sitting there, expressionlessly watching her cry, but eventually the jade cup he had been manipulating fell to the ground and shattered. He stood up, walked to Liao Tingyan, and rather roughly wiped away her tears with his thumb. "Why are you crying?"
He irritably looked at the attendant who had brought her. "I told you to find her, not to coerce her."
The servant was terrified by his glance. "Your Majesty, this young lady truly came willingly!"
Came willingly? Would someone who came willingly cry as though she had lost her husband?
Sima Jiao felt his head throbbing from all the weeping. He hesitated, rubbed the tear stains on his fingers, and felt his headache about to intensify, his brow pulsing with pain.
Liao Tingyan, still crying, found a place to sit, supporting herself on a small table by the couch.
Sima Jiao, pressing his brow and ready to explode: "..."
How are you so familiar with making yourself at home?