Chapter 134 – Bonus Chapter Two

Chapter 134 - Bonus Chapter Two

Gongye Zhong knew he was about to die.

He had experienced death before, the first time filled with anticipation, hoping to meet his mother again. The second time, it was tinged with sorrow as he left behind his parents in that previous life to return to this one.

But this time, he was at peace.

Ascending to the throne at the age of twenty, sixty years had now passed. A full cycle of sixty years had flown by like a shuttle, and he was now an old man on his last breath. Looking at his eldest son kneeling before his dragon bed, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

His eldest son was kind-hearted and fit to maintain the dynasty's stability.

He had ruled for too long, and his eldest son had served as crown prince for a full fifty years. The prince, now of advanced age, had more than half his hair turned silver. Grandchildren and granddaughters knelt all around, weeping as they called out to their Imperial Grandfather.

For a fleeting moment, he felt disoriented. Despite still being the child in his parents' eyes, how had he become the Imperial Grandfather spoken of by others?

So many years had passed, but his mother's image was still vivid in his mind, and his father had been gone for several decades. The memories of their family's togetherness remained fresh.

Reflecting on his life, it had been both extraordinary and fortunate. During his sixty-year reign, he had worked tirelessly, never allowing himself a moment of complacency. Under his rule, the state of Chu had flourished, and people hailed him as an eternal enlightened monarch.

In this life, he had no regrets.

Yet, if given the chance to choose again, he would still want to be his parents' child. He didn't desire eternal fame or a large family of descendants; all he yearned for was to live with his parents, to play and act spoiled by their side.

On the night his father passed away, the peach blossom tree in Ren'an Palace withered.

Master Diviner once asked him to acknowledge that tree as his mother, claiming they had a maternal bond in their past lives. It was then that he realized Master Diviner might have spoken the truth – that peach tree was indeed his mother.

Mother had transformed into a tree, accompanying Father until the end of his days.

They both left, leaving him alone.

As he closed his eyes, he still hoped that if there truly was reincarnation, he would willingly be reborn in Mother's womb once more, to become their son again.

Endless darkness engulfed him, but his consciousness remained intact. Trapped in the dark, it felt as though something was propelling him forward. Suddenly, a burst of light illuminated his surroundings. Before he could open his eyes, he sensed someone lifting him up, followed by gentle pats.

He intended to scold the audacity, but discovered that what emerged from his lips was a sob.

His vision was blurry, and he couldn't make out the person holding him, who seemed to be an old nanny. Through the haze, he heard the nanny congratulate the emperor and empress on the birth of a prince.

A jolt of realization struck him; he vaguely sensed that he had been reincarnated.

Unfortunately, as a newborn, he was at the mercy of others. A midwife carried him away for cleaning, surrounded by a crowd. Through his blurred vision, he caught sight of a familiar figure—Spring Moon, who served by his mother's side.

After being cleansed and swaddled, he finally heard his mother's voice. Overwhelmed with emotion, he was passed into another pair of arms and saw his mother, identical to his memories, as well as his young father.

"Chong'er."

He heard his father calling him, and he froze in surprise.

His mother wept and laughed, seemingly aware of his rebirth. She gave him the courtesy name "Bu Hui," a name he greatly cherished. Despite the many joys and sorrows life held, he never regretted any of his choices.

As he grew day by day, he basked in the love of his parents. His every need was cared for by his mother, from clothing to food, and even the garments he wore throughout his childhood were sewn by her own hands.

Occasionally, he would fix his gaze on a corner of Ren'an Palace's wall, where no longer stood the peach tree from his memories. Perhaps he stared too intently, lost in thought for too long, because his mother noticed.

She said nothing, instead gently placing a finger to her lips in a silent "shh."

All was left unsaid.

Before his parents, he was their beloved son. In the hearts of officials and the people, he was the exceptionally gifted Crown Prince. His mother said that even though he wasn't mentally a child, she still wished for him to enjoy his childhood to the fullest.

So he indulged in mischief with his cousins, acting as their king among children.

Pei Ji had already entered the court as an official, along with Shen Changyin from the Shen family. Over the years, Marquis Xuanping had kept a low profile, and the Pei family had behaved modestly, never abusing their power or bullying others. The Shen family had also been quiet for several years; even when Shen Changyin regained his influence, he did not display any arrogance.

The Pei family had elder and younger cousins, while the Zheng family had his elder sister and younger brother. Once, he had asked his mother why they had never considered having more siblings for him.

His mother replied that they were content with just him.

At the age of six, his father took him to the First Academy.

The First Academy remained the true premier academy of the Chu dynasty, where students were admitted regardless of their social status, solely based on their academic prowess. Those from humble backgrounds could apply for scholarships or work part-time at shops bearing the name "First" to support their studies.

In his previous life, there was no First Academy but an intact Tongtian Terrace.

After waking up in that other world, he had privately discussed this matter with his father. All the treasures within the Tongtian Terrace were moved into the national treasury. The kingdom that his father entrusted to him was one of abundant wealth and peaceful stability. People hailed him as a wise ruler, yet few knew that without his father's groundwork, such a prosperous era would not have been possible.

In this life, the Tongtian Terrace no longer existed; instead, there was the first academy that gathered the finest talents from across the land.

He still vividly remembered that day, amidst the fireworks, when he and his mother were filled with despair, believing that he was destined to never have both parents by his side due to an inauspicious fate.

His father's survival was beyond his wildest dreams.

Father had escaped through another exit, one piled high with ancient skeletons, atop which stood an empty grave. Perhaps for convenience, the Cheng family hadn't sealed that exit back then. Years of weathering had caused one side of the empty tomb to collapse, allowing Father to crawl out from its depths.

Death could lead to life, a lesson he had learned profoundly.

Father had arranged for him to become Master Scholar Xie's final disciple. Master Scholar Xie was Master Diviner's elder brother, and he respectfully performed the ceremony of apprenticeship.

His family's destiny was intertwined with Master Diviner Ye's lineage. Without that enigmatic immortal gate hidden from the world, his mother would never have come into this existence. Without her, neither his father nor he himself would have been possible.

He tried to find similarities between Master Scholar Xie and Master Diviner Ye, but the two brothers might have inherited different traits from their parents, rendering them unalike in appearance.

The academy was permeated with the scent of books, as the sounds of recitations and poetic compositions echoed endlessly. The students, refined and courteous, were bound to become pillars of the state in the future.

Talent was more valuable to a nation than gold or silver. The once-desolate Tongtian Terrace had now drawn ambitious scholars from all corners of the land. These individuals, in their unwavering pursuit, would eventually shine brightly in the annals of history.

Master Diviner had once told him: virtue reigns supreme.

Perhaps it was because in his previous life, he had dedicated himself to governing with diligence, fulfilling his father's expectations by ensuring the people had shelter and food, thus earning him virtue. It was precisely due to this virtue that he was given the chance to live again.

Cause and effect revolve in the Heavenly Dao, while right and wrong lie in the hearts of men. Those who win the hearts of the people receive the blessings of the Heavenly Dao. In this life, he would remain true to his original aspirations and govern with virtue throughout the world.

Centuries later, when chronicled in history books, his accomplishments would be lauded as those of a virtuous and enlightened ruler.

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