“Chapter 143”

"Chapter 143"

"From the beginning, no one had given Rong Tang any clues."

"Su Huaijing could guess about past and present lives because Rong Tang had told him about 'dreams'."

"Ke Hongxue had his suspicions because of dreams that seemed both real and unreal, and his overly familiar relationship with Rong Tang, as if they had known each other long before."

"But Rong Tang, from start to finish, seemed to be shrouded in mystery, like being inside a large drum."

"He was kept in the dark, unaware of cause and effect, all information relayed by the system. And now, even the system seemed to have been deceived."

"All the truths of the past seemed upturned in an instant, forcing him to consider the most far-fetched possibilities."

"Hui Mian looked at him, asking gently, 'What are your thoughts, donor?'"

"Rong Tang looked straight into his eyes, seeing depths as calm and unfathomable as an ancient well, with no visible bottom or edge. But now, it seemed that apart from him, Rong Tang, no one else could voice his conjectures."

"— Not even Su Huaijing, as that would undoubtedly cause him undue worry."

"Rong Tang remained silent for a moment, as the wind rustled through the treetops, heralding the approach of summer."

"He said softly, 'I am wondering, who am I really?'"

"Am I someone who died falling down stairs in the real world, then traversed through three lives in another world on a mission, or am I just a foolish and ignorant prince native to this world?"

"Or maybe it was both, and yet not entirely either?"

"Rong Tang said, 'The world should have its rules, but now it seems everything is in chaos.'"

"First, Qin Pengxun found Shu Huaijing through a nebulous dream, then Ke Hongxue asked him about the heavy snow in his dream."

"Rong Tang didn’t know how many others had such bizarre dreams, but none of this should have happened at all."

"Not to mention the things happening to Sheng Chengli…"

"Ke Hongxue’s suspicions weren’t unfounded; Sheng Chengli indeed had changed a lot."

"Having spent two lifetimes with him, Rong Tang could describe his features even with his eyes closed, unless he chose not to remember."

"During the short journey in the covered boat, he and Sheng Chengli looked into each other’s eyes for a long time, each discerning many secrets in the other’s gaze."

"That was not the protagonist of the April of Qing Zheng's eleventh year."

"If one had to specify, it was more the appearance of the end of the eleventh year or the beginning of the twelfth."

"It's normal for young people to grow quickly, but if one’s appearance dramatically ages a year overnight, anyone would think it supernatural. This was the real reason Sheng Chengli secluded himself for three whole months."

"He didn't avoid people because of his lost eye; he just needed time to transition, allowing the world – most importantly, the Emperor – to naturally accept his growth and the maturation of his features."

"The eye that was removed had become lifeless from the start. The reason Sheng Chengli now appears unscathed is because this body itself... shouldn’t belong to him in this era."

"Verifying this would be simple; one only needs to find an assassin to open his robe and check if the wound that was made before the year’s end still exists on his body."

"But the conclusion is likely as such, and Rong Tang is unwilling to let Shu Huaijing's men risk their lives again."

"As for the question he wants to know: Is this the Sheng Chengli from the first lifetime or the second?"

"In this world, aside from Sheng Chengli himself, no one else could give Rong Tang the answer."

"At the beginning of the story, the system told Rong Tang that the 'Son of Heaven's Way' was out of place, and the order urgently needed to be corrected, which is why he was pulled in to protect the male lead."

"However, this order needed 'correction,' not 'establishment.'"

"What then, is this world that is almost entirely collapsing yet inexplicably merging?"

"What about the order that the world itself should have? How could worlds with different time flows have so many overlaps?"

"The four questions Hui Mian asked him, if summarized, all lead to: Who is Rong Tang?"

"Who is he, and why was he the one brought in for this task?"

"In the face of what Rong Tang deemed as the 'Heaven's Way's' excessive favoritism and the so-called 'male lead's' unworthiness, in their mutually destructive relationship, who exactly is Rong Tang?"

"Thinking further, why does each of his deaths lead him to a completely dark space where the world's timeline speeds up, informed of the so-called ending by the main brain, instead of adapting to this world's pace and witnessing the true ending?"

"Why does the world adjust to him, rather than him conforming to the world?"

"Even once suspicions arise and a direction for guessing is established, many things can fit into this speculative framework."

"Should anchor point traversals and a god-like perspective be the special abilities a person sent into a palace growth narrative should have?"

"And they even have no limits on their use."

"Having read many novels in the modern world, even in cultivation stories, such trans-world travels usually require spells or array formations as mediums."

"In a narrative of power and growth, how could such abilities be given to a task performer as advantages? It completely contradicts the world's setting."

"But what if… those were abilities he originally possessed?"

"Rong Tang’s thoughts were extremely chaotic, feeling on one hand that these conjectures were all absurd, yet on the other hand, thinking that if one were to follow logic, this might be the only explanation."

"— Unless this world truly lacked logic from beginning to end."

"The green tea leaves floated up and down in the cup, creating endless ripples, filling the room with a tea aroma."

"He looked into Hui Mian's eyes and asked word by word, 'Am I Rong Tang?'"

"Hui Mian answered with a light laugh, 'The donor is naturally the donor.'"

"Rong Tang then asked, 'Am I the Heaven's Way?'"

"This time, Hui Mian didn’t speak. He simply rewashed the tea, then posed a question in return, 'Donor, how do you think one should choose between entering the secular world and leaving it?'"

"Rong Tang asked him, 'Does the master wish to enter the secular world?'"

"Hui Mian replied, 'Being in the mortal world, one has no choice but to be a part of it.'"

"'To save others?'"

"Hui Mian chuckled softly, 'If it can save others, that would be even better.'"

"Rong Tang was momentarily speechless, gazing at the floating tea leaf in his cup for a long time before saying, 'The master sees more clearly than I do, and must have his own considerations.'"

"Hui Mian then said, 'The donor has clear eyes and a clear heart. When the path ahead is unclear, why not trust your own heart?'"

"Rong Tang didn’t say more. After sharing a cup of tea, he got up to leave. As he stepped out of the door, he turned back to ask, 'In these several lifetimes, what role did my brother play in watching these dramas unfold?'"

"He directly addressed Hui Mian's identity and origin, but the latter didn't refute, sitting steadily on his mat and chanting a Buddhist mantra softly, 'Those in the game are lost, while the spectators see it clear; I am, of course, one among the myriad common people.'"

"Hui Mian looked up at the sky and said with a smile, 'The day is getting late. Donor, take the shortcut down the mountain. If you quicken your pace, you might reach the main road before nightfall.'"

"Rong Tang glanced at him, nodded, and thanked him."

"Su Huaijing was waiting for him outside the courtyard. Rong Tang walked over, took his hand, and held it tightly, then they walked out together."

"Su Huaijing initially had many questions to ask, but after a round of thought, he swallowed them all, obediently accompanying Rong Tang down the mountain."

"As their carriage drove onto the main road, the sky had just turned completely dark, and another carriage entered the mountain gate on the other side."

"Rong Tang pulled back the carriage window, looking at the sparse lights flickering on the distant mountaintop, a scene overlapping with the great fire from the twelfth year of Qingzheng."

"He closed his eyes, let down the window, and leaned back in the carriage, feigning sleep."

"Su Huaijing, holding his hand, couldn't contain himself after a long time and whispered softly, 'That orb of light told me there are many things you can't say, and that I just need to trust you.'"

"Rong Tang opened his eyes, looking at him with confusion."

"Su Huaijing asked, 'Tangtang, can you at least tell me that you won’t put yourself in danger?'"

"Rong Tang was stunned, silent for a long time."

"A plea flickered in Su Huaijing’s eyes, yet his voice remained gentle, 'At least don’t make me worry every day, okay?'"

"It wasn't a coquettish tone, nor were there any manipulative tricks."

"He simply made a request to Rong Tang, straightforwardly expressing his fear."

"Rong Tang felt a pang in his heart. After a moment of silence, he leaned in to kiss him."

"For the first time, Su Huaijing dodged."

"He turned his head away, his eyes gradually filling with uncontainable obsession."

"'Don't try to placate me,' said Su Huaijing. 'Tangtang, every time you placate me, you're trying to deceive me. Just tell me the truth, will you leave me?'"

"Rong Tang felt an unbearable ache in his heart, gazing steadily into Su Huaijing’s eyes, he promised softly, 'I want to see you ascend the throne.'"

"'And after that?' Su Huaijing was uncharacteristically persistent. He asked Rong Tang, 'What about after that?'"

"Rong Tang was at a loss for words, unable to find the most appropriate answer to his question."

"Su Huaijing stared at him, his eyes gradually reddening, and a tear fell unexpectedly."

"Rong Tang was momentarily disconcerted. He couldn’t understand why the great antagonist of the original story, who was destructive and fearsome, now seemed to be either a jealous type or a crybaby."

"He couldn’t even recall how many times he had seen Su Huaijing cry."

"Especially now, as Su Huaijing cried while accusing, 'Tangtang, you do nothing but placate and deceive me. Not only do I live in constant fear every day, but now you’re even unwilling to make me a promise?'"

"Rong Tang thought to himself that there was some confusion here."

"He didn’t even know if he would live to see Su Huaijing ascend the throne, how could he make a promise."

"Yet, seeing the great antagonist with tearful, reddened eyes, Rong Tang fell silent for two seconds, then leaned in again, gently kissing his eyes and whispering, 'I won’t leave.'"

"'As long as you don’t send me away, I will always be by your side.' Rong Tang softly promised, unaware that at the moment Su Huaijing closed his eyes, all his panic and fear were replaced by another dark emotion, like battling through a dense night."

……

"After the Shehua Gathering, a significant event occurred. The Fifth Prince personally visited Tuolan Temple to pray for blessings on behalf of the Emperor. There, he fortuitously met the renowned Master Hui Mian, resulting in a conversation."

"The high monk, moved by his filial piety, agreed to leave the Buddhist order to pray and chant for the royal family in the imperial city."

"Emperor Ren Shou was overjoyed, not only repeatedly rewarding the Fifth Prince but also allocating funds to rebuild the Mahavira Hall of Tuolan Temple, which had recently suffered water damage."

"A monk that couldn’t be persuaded in two lifetimes was 'invited' in this one. The Emperor originally wanted to appoint him as the National Teacher. Hui Mian declined several times, dissuading Emperor Ren Shou. Nevertheless, he still accepted the title of 'Protector Monk of the Nation,' receiving a second-rank official salary, stepping from the temple to a meteoric rise in the imperial court."

"Rong Tang visited the Mu residence, and while chatting casually with Mu Jingxu, he nonchalantly asked, 'When we were in Suzhou Prefecture, Huaijing mentioned that his second brother was raised outside the house from a young age. As you are of similar age, do you know the reason why and where he was raised?'"

"Mu Jingxu didn't know why he was asking this but, owing to Su Huaijing, was always forthcoming with information. After pondering for a moment, he replied, 'The elders in the palace said that on the day the second brother was born, auspicious clouds drifted across half the sky, each resembling the golden lotuses under Buddha's feet. A wandering monk passing by the palace said that he had a predestined relationship with Buddhism and wouldn’t survive past three years if raised in the palace. Only by being fostered under Buddha's care could he live a peaceful life. Initially, our father didn’t believe it, but the second brother was indeed frail from a young age, suffering high fevers nightly, barely surviving several times. Only in the Buddhist temple did he show signs of improvement.'"

"Eventually, there was no other choice. When that monk visited the palace again, he was taken away by him. As for where exactly he was taken, only our father, mother, and the second brother's own mother knew."

"What is recorded in the palace archives?" Rong Tang asked.

"Slightly surprised by his meticulous thinking, Mu Jingxu candidly replied, 'The Second Prince, died at the age of three.'"

"Rong Tang nodded in understanding, 'Thank you, brother.'"

"He didn’t know if Hui Mian had changed his appearance like Su Huaijing and Mu Jingxu, but a child believed to have died at three reappearing over twenty years later as a detached Buddhist monk probably wouldn't attract much danger."

"Rong Tang's mind was somewhat eased. Seeing the camellias in the courtyard blooming to their end, he got up to leave, planning to pick a late-season camellia for Su Huaijing and keep it in water on his desk."

"He had asked Hui Mian if he was the Heaven's Way, but in reality, the answer had been given from the start."

"-'What brings you here this time, donor?'"

"-'Doesn’t the master know?'"

"-'How can I, a mere practitioner in this mortal world, presume to know the secrets of heaven?'"

"He still couldn't think of the answers to Hui Mian's four questions, but the phrase 'presume to know the secrets of heaven' said it all without words."

"From the beginning to the end, he was the one out of place."