Chapter 493

Chapter 493

"Tch, tch, tch, can I stop researching this crap history?" Tcha Tcha closed her laptop in frustration.

"Who wants to study it? But the professor does," Lotus sighed.

"But this history is toxic. It's so complicated," Zhu Zhu also sighed. "Do you think Empress Zhaokang could really do cloning?"

"Also, there are legends saying Qi Zhi was her illegitimate child," Tcha Tcha added.

"Oh right, please! She was a renowned poet, calligrapher, and writer! How did she suddenly become an empress's illegitimate child?" Lotus said.

"Cloning sounds extreme, doesn't it? There's historical evidence that she wrote that travel book, right? She went traveling after becoming a dowager empress."

"Really? It's ancient times, you know. Women were supposed to be virtuous and obedient. How could she just go traveling? Dowager empresses are widows, you know. That's impossible," Tcha Tcha declared confidently.

"Yet, the evidence is there. So, it's all very confusing," Lotus scratched her head. "Should we ask someone else for help?"

"Why the hell am I studying archaeology?" Zhu Zhu asked the existential question.

"There are only three girls in our entire department studying this," Chacha chimed in.

As the trio fell into silence, another roommate returned.

It was Rui, the cool girl with short hair. "Do you guys struggle with your hair every day? Listen up, I just met an amazing girl. We've made plans to have dinner together tonight."

Chacha was speechless. "You... Are you planning on getting a girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend my foot, I already have someone. You three love-struck singles wouldn't understand. So, are you coming or not? My treat."

"Count me in! Let's have hotpot!" Chacha exclaimed excitedly.

"Then what are we waiting for? It's five o'clock. Girls, get ready, we're leaving at six." Rui tossed her short hair, confident in her natural beauty, unlike her roommates who often pulled all-nighters and struggled with their looks.

They arrived promptly at the school gate and spotted a girl standing there in a beige coat.

Under the autumn streetlights, she looked stunning.

When she turned around, the three of them were captivated by her beauty.

"Ah, beauty!"

"Hey, beauty, these are my roommates, all archaeology majors," Reed greeted her.

The beauty approached with a smile. "Hello, I'm Yun Li from the history department."

"Feng Ling, what a beautiful name. What's your surname?" Lotus asked.

"Just Yun," Yun Li chuckled. "Come on, let's eat. I'm starving."

Lotus whispered to Zhu Zhu, "Even her voice is lovely when she speaks."

They all laughed.

They ended up having Japanese cuisine; Tea Tea figured that such a beauty might not be a fan of hotpot.

As they ate and chatted, they felt an instant rapport.

When the conversation turned to history, Yun Li smiled lightly. "I tend to believe that Empress Zhao Kang did indeed write that travelogue. Qi Zhi has written several works of non-fiction, and there are subtle connections between them. Moreover, if you look into the records after Emperor Chongzheng's death, Empress Zhao Kang wasn't always present during festive occasions. And she was absent quite often. Although it was said that she was in seclusion, there's no record of where exactly she secluded herself."

Actually, there was originally, but later generations were unaware, as it was deliberately erased by Xiao Jiu.

He wanted future generations to know that his mother was different from others, to spark curiosity and investigation, leading them to uncover the truth.

"But Qi Zhi himself is indeed a bit peculiar. There's no detailed record of his birth father, only mentioning his birth mother as a palace maid. He never hesitates to share his background. That's precisely why scholars of his time didn't associate with him. He never held high-ranking positions; mostly just in charge of managing the emperor's calligraphy and paintings."

"Woah, you're right," Chacha nodded. "So, if we consider this, Qi Zhi could really be the secret son of Empress Zhao Kang, right?"

"It's not entirely impossible. We might be overthinking the conservatism of ancient people. Many dynasties had rather liberal attitudes. There were plenty who had children before marrying the emperor, and even empresses who remarried after their husbands' passing. That's how one could have an unknown father, don't you think?" Yun Li said confidently. "Otherwise, how would a palace maid continue serving if she gave birth?"

The group nodded in agreement.

Reed, however, was dozing off. Unlike them, she was majoring in Computer Science, not History or Archaeology. She couldn't follow their discussion at all.

Eventually, her friends took pity on her, and the conversation shifted to the handsome guys on campus.

Reed perked up immediately. "Let me tell you, there are several good-looking guys in school. Don't be fooled by the school heartthrob; he's not the only one. I've got a few of their WeChat IDs, and I'll share them with you. You never know until you try, right?"

The girls all laughed and agreed.

Reed wasn't infatuated; she just had a collector's streak, amassing a basketful of handsome guys' WeChat contacts. If asked to do anything substantial, she wouldn't be interested. Coming from a well-off family, she didn't take her studies seriously and spent her days aimlessly.

Chacha is an academic standout, but in the field of archaeology, being a top student is no exception.

Chacha is an avowed non-marriage advocate, but it's rather premature to label oneself as such at just twenty; who knows how things will unfold in the future.

Zhu Zhu, apart from her main career, is a renowned beauty blogger. Despite her young age, she boasts a massive following of millions.

Lotus comes from humble beginnings, but she is exceptionally talented. She was the top scorer in her small hometown's college entrance exams.

Yun Li's parents were both researchers, but they were often absent due to their work. However, the upside was that her family enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle.

The first time Yun Li hung out with these girls, she found them to be kindred spirits and quickly bonded with them.

Amidst laughter and chatter, they consumed numerous cups of plum wine.

When Yun Li returned from the restroom, she was adjusting her dress and didn't look up, which led to her bumping into someone.

Raising her head, she saw a man wearing a black mask. He was tall, with sharp sword-like eyebrows and piercing eyes that hinted at a prominent nose bridge.

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright, did I hurt you?" The person's voice was pleasing to the ear as well.

Yun Li smiled and shook her head, then passed by without another word.

Back in the private room, she didn't mention the encounter. But she imagined that this man must be handsome, just his eyes alone were captivating.

But if he had something like protruding teeth... well, never mind, she shouldn't let her imagination run wild.

On the other side, the man returned to his own private room, slightly dazed. His friend asked if he had had one too many drinks.

"Come on, you can't get drunk from sake. Did you see someone attractive?"

"Hey, it's not far from the Film Academy here, beautiful women are a common sight, right?"

"No, this one is different. She's genuinely stunning. Enchanting, even."

His friends laughed, and the man joined in, but he still found such beauty to be uncommon.

At the checkout, they crossed paths once more.

This time, she caught a full glimpse of his face. In addition to those attractive eyes and eyebrows, there was a defined jawline, lips that were neither too thick nor too thin, and a subtle smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Lü Wei's eyes widened – she always behaved this way when encountering good-looking men.

The handsome man mustered up the courage to look at Yun Li. "Miss, would you mind giving me your contact information?"

Yun Li shook her head. "I would rather not."

Lü Wei quickly interjected, "Add me, add me! Maybe you'll succeed in saving the country through a roundabout way?"

The man chuckled and nodded, indeed exchanging contacts with Lü Wei.

Yun Li smiled too.

The man extended his hand. "My name is He Li. Nice to meet you both."

Yun Li reciprocated by shaking his hand.

"Woah, what kind of special fate is this? Her name is Yun Li," Chacha whispered, divulging the information.

He Li smiled again. "Indeed, it's a coincidence."

Yun Li nodded at him. "We'll be going now."

He Li nodded in response, watching them depart.

Only then did his friend dare to speak. "I didn't dare to say anything."

"Yes, isn't she... just too beautiful?"

"And she definitely hasn't had any plastic surgery. She's genuinely stunning."

"But those other girls were pretty too. How can they all be so good-looking?"

He Li chuckled. "Try to restrain yourselves, they're still students."

"We're not?" his friend asked.

He Li was taken aback, realizing that she had forgotten...

Over on the other side, Lu Wei had her arms around Yun Li's waist. "Not tempted?"

"I don't feel anything."

Lu Wei sighed. "He obviously isn't interested in me. What should I do? Ah, ah, ah, I have to find someone who does like me."

"Stop thinking about that. Come on, let's go clubbing. What's the point of men? Aren't they just a distraction?" Yun Li laughed.

The group of girls left, chattering and giggling together.

Later on...

It was a rainy day when Yun Li, holding an umbrella, encountered that person again on the street.

He always found excuses to meet Yun Li, to ask her out. She didn't reject him every time.

He was quite nice, but Yun Li wasn't really in the mood for a relationship.

Later, he went to watch a movie with Yun Li, but she left halfway through.

There was no other reason; the film was dreadfully made.

"Hongzhen Emperor was really like that in history? And Empress Zhao Kang was that love-struck? I've decided – in my spare time, I'll become a screenwriter and save Chinese dramas from this mess. They're unbearable to watch."

On the footbridge, He Li leaned on the railing with a smile. "Should I start considering a career in directing then?"

"Hmm, not necessarily."

"No, that would be too busy. I can't afford to let it interfere with my dating life."

Yun Li chuckled, choosing not to respond.

As the evening lights flickered on, they decided to find a food street for a second meal – their eyes needed some comforting after the cinematic disaster.

The weather was gradually turning colder; any precipitation now would likely be snow.

Their backgrounds, experiences, and family circumstances were all vastly different.

At times, we couldn't see eye to eye, but we both knew how to respect one another.

Romance wasn't on the cards, but being friends wasn't bad at all.

As for the future, who can say?

Under the streetlights, our shadows stretched long, maintaining a certain distance yet consistently walking alongside each other.

"Thank you all for accompanying me through these eight months; this book has come to an end. Though there were controversies, I have no regrets. Thank you for your opinions and suggestions, whether I heeded them or not, I've mostly read them all. Whether we meet again in the next book or not, I wish you all the best."

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