The years I was in the human world

Chapter 161: Happy with You

"Pa--" the sound of a slap hitting the face rang out heavily. Chu Zhaoli was seen kneeling there, his head tilted by the emperor's blow, the corner of his lips was cracked and bleeding. Everyone could only hear the emperor angrily scolding: "Waste, how can you be a big brother? You don't know how to stop your brothers from fighting too much?"

The Fifth Prince needed to be explained, and Xie Yang could not deal with him, but someone had to pay the price for today's farce, so Chu Zhaoli, who was the fuse of the incident, suffered. Anyway, he had no power behind him and he himself was useless, so the emperor did not hesitate to blame him.

Chu Zhaoli seemed to have anticipated this. Even though he was slapped in the face by his father and emperor in public, which was extremely humiliating, he was able to raise his hand and salute calmly, saying, "I know my crime, but I will allow you to punish me."

Xie Yang, who was kneeling there waiting for his punishment, widened his eyes when he saw this. He didn't understand why the emperor put the blame on Chu Zhaoli when this matter was not the prince's fault from beginning to end. It was obvious, obvious that the prince was also a victim.

Xie Yang had just returned from the army and had heard rumors about Chu Zhaoli all over the capital. He thought he was indeed a coward. Now that he saw him being wrongly accused, he was about to say something, but he saw Chu Zhaoli kneeling there upright like a pine tree and calmly admitted the guilt.

"As the crown prince and the eldest son, you do not set an example and restrain your younger brothers and sisters-in-law. Instead, you allow them to cause trouble because of you. Today's incident is all your responsibility. You will be punished with thirty military sticks and confined for half a month. Do you have any objection?!" The emperor issued an order to deal with Chu Zhaoli in a stern voice, intending to put today's incident behind him.

The emperor's decree was so harsh and merciless that Lu Zhouxue, who was kneeling on the side, couldn't help but stand up and look at the emperor when he heard the verdict, but was quickly suppressed by Juan Gu beside him.

Xiao Fengzhuo was not the type to let others manipulate him. The Ding'an King Chu Zhaoli whom Lu Zhouxue met in the flashback was not a person who would compromise. Lu Zhouxue thought he would defend himself, but no, Chu Zhaoli did not even say a word in his defense. He just bowed his head deeply and said, "Your son obeys your order."

Chu Zhaoli was actually thinner than anyone else present. His back was bent, and the outline of his spine could be seen through his not-so-thin autumn clothes. It was this man who endured thirty military sticks in public without saying a word, and was finally carried away with blood all over his back.

Xie Yang watched the whole process in silence. Something in his mind was quietly changing. He stood up to apologize and left, and his steps suddenly became as heavy as a mountain. He looked at the blood dripping on the ground. He thought that he owed Chu Zhaoli for what happened today.

When he returned home from leaving the palace, he was met with his father Xie's worried look because of his late return. He did not explain the reason, but asked: "Father, why does His Majesty dislike the prince?"

"If I don't like it, then I don't like it. What's the reason?" Regarding this question, Xie's father could only sigh helplessly. In his opinion, the emperor's dislike for Chu Zhaoli was too arbitrary and biased.

"The prince is very good. If he chooses a wise leader, he will be a hundred times better than others." Xie Yang looked at his father and told him the plan he had carefully thought out along the way. Even if he was notorious in the capital, so what? He only believed what he saw. How could such a proud and upright person be compared to the Fifth Prince who disrespected his brother and the Third Prince who was unfeeling and cold?

"What do you know today?" Xie's father looked serious when he heard his son say this.

"No, it's just an ordinary friction." Xie Yang said, and told his father everything that happened today. As for what Xie's plans are in the future, that is another story.

Xie Yang was not the only one who was worried. The emperor looked at the prince, whom he disliked, without saying a word until he fainted. He suddenly felt an indescribable emotion in his heart. That child had never done anything wrong, had he?

The Fifth Prince was horrified when he saw what happened to Chu Zhaoli. A child who was not favored, even if he was a prince, could become a victim in this palace. Fortunately, he still had his mother and a strong family. As for his father, he could be sure that he was definitely not the child that this man loved the most.

The Third Prince had never thought that the Emperor would punish the Crown Prince in this way. He did not want his elder brother to be caned. He felt guilty, but then he became angry. He was angry at why Chu Zhaoli did not argue. It was clearly those people who verbally insulted him, and it was Xie Yang who did it, so why did he plead guilty?

Lu Zhouxue knelt there with a pale face. The pain in his back reminded him all the time what kind of life his Ah Zhuo was living when he couldn't see. Just like before, he wanted to use a magic trick to save Chu Zhaoli from physical pain, but today the magic failed.

Xiao Jin told him in the voice transmission that the way of heaven is ruthless, he can change the facts with a wave of his hand, but it is unfair to others, everything has a price, if he wants to change something, he must pay something, just like when he secretly helped Su Qing, the price was a fall in realm.

Xiao Jin said: "You have been stripped of your qualifications to follow the Heavenly Path because you interfered with old matters."

"Isn't this a good thing?" Lu Zhouxue replied. At least he no longer had to worry about forgetting to love Xiao Fengzhuo as time went by.

"The Samsara Mirror is a power that belongs to the Heavenly Dao. You are no longer qualified. If you interfere again, you will be expelled." Xiao Jin said in a serious tone, with earnest advice, "I asked you to look for Senior Sister's past to break the confusion in her heart. What has already happened, why bother to change it and ruin your own practice for nothing."

"But seeing him suffer, how can I bear to stand by and watch?" Lu Zhouxue asked, "Cangwu, you have been in the human world for many years. Do you have a way to solve my current situation? When everything is settled, I will repay you."

Xiao Jin sighed softly: "Except for Senior Sister, don't mess with other people's fate rashly, maybe there will be a turnaround."

So, Lu Zhouxue secretly took half of the pain for Chu Zhaoli from the twenty military sticks. The latter's skin was torn and flesh was broken, and he was in pain at the same time. However, the Samsara Mirror had not yet restricted his spiritual power, so he was able to endure the pain without showing any flaws on his face and followed the Third Prince back to the palace.

"Aunt Juan, go check on my brother and deliver these medicines to him." The Third Prince gave orders in a hurry, asking people to take out many precious medicinal materials from the storehouse. The anxious look on his face did not seem fake, and it was obvious that he cared a lot about his elder brother, whom he usually looked down upon.

"Your Highness, let me go. Juan is your personal maid. If she goes there in person, it will really attract attention." Lu Zhouxue really needed a legitimate reason to go see Chu Zhaoli. Upon hearing this, the Third Prince thought about his recent plan to use Lu Zhouxue to attract attention and agreed.

At this time, the lights in Changle Palace are still on. It is not as dilapidated and desolate as the underground royal tomb, with no one around. But it is still desolate and no one cares about the warmth or coldness. The human feelings are like the autumn grass in front of the courtyard. The rituals and music on the high platform remain the same. A red door cuts off the remaining warmth, and one is afraid that the flowers will fall asleep late at night and no one will hear it.

Palace servants came and went with palace lanterns, passing by Lu Zhouxue again and again, as if everyone was busy with their own things, coming and going in a hurry. He walked around the front yard. Chu Zhaoli's bedroom was dead silent and dark. The air was filled with the smell of blood, like a rotten tomb burying a body of helpless bones.

But Lu Zhouxue lit the lamp, and the abyss-like night faded away. Chu Zhaoli looked up and saw him, as if he saw the obsession of this life. He looked at him, and a very shallow smile appeared on his pale face: "Lu Zhouxue, I knew you would come."

"Does it still hurt?" Lu Zhouxue sat down beside Chu Zhaoli's bed, her fingertips trembling as if she wanted to touch his back, waist and buttocks that were beaten to pieces, but she was afraid of hurting him and did not dare to let go, "It still hurts..."

Lu Zhouxue's eyes trembled, and tears fell down, hitting Chu Zhaoli's hand hotly. The latter's fingertips trembled, and his heart seemed to be touched. He reluctantly raised his hand and said: "Don't cry."

Then his hand was grabbed by Lu Zhouxue, who held it against his heart with great care, and kissed him closely. At this moment, they seemed to have known each other for a long time. The reason for their unhappy parting on the night of the Ghost Festival became insignificant. Chu Zhaoli looked at him and asked pleadingly: "Will you leave me too?"

"No." Lu Zhouxue closed his eyes and shook his head heavily. He said, "I will never leave you. I will stay with you until death."

"But who are you?" Chu Zhaoli asked. He was floating in the cold abyss, who would come to save him?

"The one you love." Lu Zhouxue said. He gently removed the gauze wrapped around Chu Zhaoli's back, revealing the scarlet flesh underneath. The bright spiritual power covered it, repairing the broken skin bit by bit. He asked, "Why don't you argue? It's clearly not your fault."

"It's useless to argue. No one will do justice for me. I am just a tool for him to temporarily occupy the position of crown prince." Chu Zhaoli said indifferently. He had seen his own fate clearly long ago. "When my third brother is fully grown, it will be the time for me to lose my virtue and be deposed."

"How could this be... How could this be..." Lu Zhouxue felt heartbroken after hearing this, and the skin under her hands gradually became smooth as before.

"Mianmian, my father doesn't love me, that's all." Chu Zhaoli said calmly and numbly. At this moment, he was not the free and unrestrained Xiao Fengzhuo, nor was he the powerful Prince Ding'an. He was just Chu Zhaoli who had no choice. He had no room to refute his grievances.

"Why do you call me 'Mianmian'?" Lu Zhouxue gently pulled the quilt over Chu Zhaoli. He had wanted to ask this question for a long time.

"It's unspeakable." When he was young, Chu Zhaoli liked to be mysterious just like when he grew up.

"You are a banished immortal, why did you enter the palace to be a eunuch? But seriously--" Chu Zhaoli's wound healed, and his carefree nature was exposed again. He stared at Lu Zhouxue's crotch with a playful look.

"Stop imagining nonsense." Lu Zhouxue patted the boy's head in amusement, put down the things that the Third Prince asked him to bring, stood up and prepared to leave, "I'm going back now. I'll come to see you another day."

"Are you with the third brother now?" Chu Zhaoli asked.

"Well, don't worry, I will find a way to transfer to your place as soon as possible." Lu Zhouxue looked at his eager expression, reached out and touched his head, and coaxed him softly, "Be good and wait for me."

"In fact, it's better for you to stay with the third brother." Chu Zhaoli said. Seeing Lu Zhouxue's puzzled expression, he explained, "I can't protect you. The third brother is favored by the emperor and has the support of the Xie family. He is safer than being with me. His personality is a little awkward, but his nature is not bad. You talk to him and he will protect you."

Chu Zhaoli's evaluation of the Third Prince surprised Lu Zhouxue. He still remembered Xiao Fengzhuo's attitude when he met Chu Zhaoyun in the underground royal mausoleum. It was not as friendly as it is now. So what happened later? What made Chu Zhaoyun's image in Xiao Fengzhuo's heart become so hateful?

……

The Western Dynasty had weak soldiers and horses, and they relied on giving gold, silver and women to maintain peace with the Wuxian people. Therefore, the autumn harvest was a major event every year. The three states in the south of the Yangtze River were important grain-producing areas in the Western Dynasty, among which Jiangzhou was the largest.

A few years ago, the governor of Jiangzhou, Zhao Yi, was dismissed for corruption. Regardless of various true or false reasons, Jiangzhou has since fallen into the hands of aristocratic families. A prestigious branch of the Du family was sent to assassinate him, but Du's health is not good. It has been getting worse in recent years. This year, he is seriously ill in bed and may not be able to preside over the autumn harvest.

The court intended to replace the governor, but because of the issue of the candidate, the imperial power and the aristocratic families were caught in a tug-of-war. This year's autumn harvest was similar to the year when Zhao Yi was dismissed, with a bumper harvest. At this critical juncture, no matter who temporarily took over the autumn harvest, it would be a merit picked up for nothing, and naturally very popular.

The noble families, led by the Du family, tried their best to nominate the fifth prince. However, the emperor favored the third prince more. He intended to let his most beloved child take advantage of this opportunity, but he was afraid that his favoritism would be too obvious and would bring disaster to the third prince. For a while, the situation was deadlocked.

"My son, your uncle is seriously ill now. The responsibility of autumn harvest must not fall into the hands of others. Your father wants to lead us to compete with the Xie family. Do you have any plans?" Madam Du talked to the fifth prince while dyeing her nails.

"Mother, in my opinion, there are three strategies for this matter. The first is to make father suspicious of Xie. Xie already controls the army, and if she controls Jiangzhou, she may threaten the court. If Xie is not in charge of Jiangzhou, let alone the post of autumn harvest, even the successor of the governor will be decided by our Du family. This is the best strategy."

"Secondly, the emperor, Father, is trying to use my third brother to suppress me by inciting Du Xie to fight with me because he is afraid that I am too popular now. If my third brother himself is not virtuous, how can he be qualified to take on the responsibility of the autumn harvest? This is the middle strategy."

"Third, it is true that my uncle is seriously ill, but the severity of his illness is not out of control. We can send someone to Jiangzhou to take care of his affairs and claim to the outside world that he has recovered. Jiangzhou is still under our control, but it is inappropriate to deceive the emperor, so this is the worst option."

"Since my son has three plans, I believe he has already thought them out?" Mrs. Du looked at him with satisfaction.

"Yes, it's true that nothing can be hidden from mother. I think that the appointment of Jiangzhou is planned by my grandfather, so I will not add to the chaos and only focus on the autumn harvest. Father intends to let the third brother balance the forces, so I will think of a way to let him 'reflect on his moral shortcomings'." The fifth prince said.

"The eunuch who has been with Third Brother recently is a good breakthrough point. I have already arranged for someone. When the time comes, we just need to have someone report him for the crime of rape and robbery in the court. The Dali Temple will slowly investigate for three to five months. By then, the autumn harvest will have passed, and whether he is guilty or not will not matter."