Chapter 30: Guardian Divine Beast
Background
The Great King's favoritism toward the newborn Xiao Prince Xiangguang was no secret throughout the city—nor were the resulting rumors. Yet Zhang Zhou took it all in stride: whether doting on Xiangguang or Mandu, to him it was simply loving the roof along with the house. Besides, this gossip gave him a perfectly legitimate excuse to visit Langjing Garden, so he was secretly delighted about it.
With Zhang Zhou's frequent companionship, Mancheng's mood improved greatly, and he had long forgotten about the miserably deceased Yang Daochun of Fengmu City.
When Zhang Zhou entered Langjing Garden that day, Mandu ran over with a beaming smile, climbing onto his back and whispering in his ear: "Brother went out."
Zhang Zhou's expression darkened. "Did he go with Cheng Zhongshan?"
"Of course not. He went alone." Mandu pouted, complaining: "Zhongshan hasn't been coming to play with me lately. It's all your fault."
Upon hearing that Mancheng hadn't gone out with Zhongshan, Zhang Zhou felt relieved. Smiling, he said: "Now you're only close with Cheng Zhongshan. I've wasted my affection on you."
Mandu rolled his eyes and blurted out: "Tch, you don't even have time to be affectionate with my brother, yet you dare say you care about me?"
Zhang Zhou was stunned.
Jinyin nearly burst out laughing beside them. She pinched Mandu's ear and lightly scolded: "You little rascal, shooting your mouth off without a care. Would Sister Xiuyi die of shock if she heard you talk like that?" She pulled Mandu down from Zhang Zhou's back, her eyes sweeping sideways: "But this person is extremely dangerous. We should stay far away from him. When your brother was your age, he was already seducing your brother."
Zhang Zhou was mortified. He forced a laugh and said: "Jinyin, why are you telling a child these things?"
Jinyin immediately retorted: "When Mandu was still a child, you did far more than just say things—you made moves too."
Zhang Zhou was rendered speechless, caught between laughter and tears.
Lanxing hastily intervened, smiling apologetically: "Your Highness, please don't tease the Great King so mercilessly. He was just a child back then too."
Feeling her words had been too sharp, Jinyin softened her expression. She said: "Lanxing, take Mandu to play. I have something to discuss with the Great King."
Lanxing gathered Mandu and coaxed and coaxed until she finally coaxed him away.
Zhang Zhou was somewhat puzzled: what could be so mysterious that Jinyin needed to discuss with him?
Jinyin looked around to confirm no one was nearby, then sat on a stone bench. "Zhang Zhou, I have a favor to ask of you."
"Well, well! Breaking new ground!" Zhang Zhou was flabbergasted—after knowing her for over twenty years, this was the first time he'd heard her ask a favor of anyone.
Jinyin snapped: "Don't joke around. Sit down and listen to me first."
Zhang Zhou teased: "Your Highness, is this how one asks a favor?"
Normally, Jinyin would have glared and cursed, but now her face was etched with dejection. After a long silence, she slowly said: "Zhang Zhou, Mancheng already knows about me taking the labor-inducing medicine. He's now investigating Xiangguang's biological father."
Zhang Zhou wasn't surprised in the slightest: aside from Mancheng, who else would be capable of such murderous acts that silenced the entire family of Physician Li, who had brewed the medicine for Jinyin, their bodies left brutally slaughtered outside Humon?
Seeing Zhang Zhou's silence, Jinyin sighed sadly. "Mancheng isn't the same anymore. If he finds out about me and Peng Hong, he'll definitely raise his sword and secretly kill Peng Hong to force him into marrying me..."
Zhang Zhou said coolly: "Let Mancheng make a move. Peng Hong has suffered with you all these years—he should marry you too."
Jinyin急切地说："不行啊，现在修仪姐也快临产了，这个时候闹起事来会出人命的。章周，你劝劝满城，别查了，好不好？"
Zhang Zhou苦笑反问："你认为满城会听吗？我叫他别查，这不就是告诉他我知道祥光的爹是谁了还瞒着他？"
Jinyin bit her lip, then suddenly said: "You tell him Xiangguang is your son, and he won't investigate anymore."
Zhang Zhou had just sat down but leaped up in shock, stammering: "You—you can't be serious!"
"Zhang Zhou!" Jinyin grabbed him, pleading: "I've never asked anything of you my whole life. This is the only thing I'm asking..."
Zhang Zhou refused flatly: "No! I'd agree to anything else, but not this. If I follow your request, Mancheng and I will be finished."
Jinyin was in tears. "Peng Hong promised me that after Sister Xiuyi gives birth, he'll tell her the truth and then marry me. When that time comes, Mancheng will understand everything and won't blame you!"
"Jinyin!" Zhang Zhou's anger flared. "Did Peng Hong send you to ask this of me? He's too spineless!"
"No, he doesn't know about this. Zhang Zhou! Zhang Zhou..." Jinyin's beautiful, enchanting face was filled with heart-wrenching sorrow and desolation. Her voice trembling, she begged desperately: "I'm begging you. For Peng Hong's sake, please help us. Peng Hong has been your sworn brother, who would walk through fire for you, utterly loyal to you. Can't you help him just this once?"
Zhang Zhou's gaze wavered.
He remembered the words he'd said the night before Mancheng left for Xiongzhou—
"Mancheng, from the very beginning, you've been the only one I've ever had. I'm not lying to you."
Truly, you were the only one I've ever had...
After what felt like an eternity, Zhang Zhou said heavily: "Jinyin, Mancheng and I have already suffered so much..." Then he sighed deeply, hands clasped behind his back, and walked out of Langjing Garden.
Jinyin leaned against the warm pavilion window, gazing into the distance. A figure in crimson armor walked through the gate—his rigid pauldrons made his shoulders appear broader, his gait carrying a hint of audacious swagger. Within those refined brows and eyes lurked an air of contempt for the world.
"Sister..." He looked up at his kin who was gazing down at him, lost in admiration. A faint smile played on his lips, and within those misty eyes beneath his lashes, there flickered a trace of worldly hardships and sorrow. "Don't come down. I'll come up."
Jinyin floated over like stepping on clouds, swaying toward the steps. Through the veil of mist in her eyes, she gazed hazily as her brother ascended.
"Brother." Mancheng's smile was no longer as flawless as before—now filled with heartaching tenderness. "Sister..." he called, pulling this only remaining family into his embrace.
Jinyin rested against his shoulder, tears flowing. "Man...cheng... Sister misses you so much. Sister... only has you left..." Jinyin looked up, and as she always had, stroked his cheek, examining any changes.
Mancheng noticed his sister's slightly swollen belly. His eyes reddened. "Sister, sit down and rest. Don't tire yourself." As he spoke, he helped Jinyin into a chair, himself kneeling on one knee at her feet. "Sister, I... am going to be an uncle again..."
Jinyin nodded through tears.
"Unfortunately... Mandu won't get to see this..."
Jinyin was overcome with sobs, unable to speak.
"Sister... I was the one who gave Mandu the poison. Do you blame me?"
"You saved Mandu. How could I blame you... If I hadn't let him go early, how much suffering would he have endured..."
Mancheng felt relieved upon receiving her forgiveness. He exhaled softly. "Sister, have you been well here? Has the Duke of Deng mistreated you?"
"He... he's been very good to me..."
Mancheng murmured to himself: "Since that's the case, I'll definitely drive out the Yongzhao Army for him so he can sleep peacefully."
"Mancheng, be careful." Jinyin paused, asking: "Where is Zhongshan?"
"He's waiting outside."
"With him accompanying you, I feel at ease."
Mancheng made no response. Like when they were children, he leaned his cheek against his sister's lap. The siblings sat in companionable silence. Then Mancheng spoke: "Sister, I'm sorry. It's my doing that brought you to this point... If not for me, you could have stayed by Zhang Zhou's side."
Jinyin shook her head, pleading: "Mancheng, can't you forget about what happened before? If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me. Just forget it... don't keep dwelling on it, okay? That dull clodpole—besides you, who else would like him? I don't like him at all, not one bit!"
Mancheng's lips twitched, an infinite sadness and bitterness surfacing.
Sister, how can I believe you? How can I possibly forget? My tyranny and cruelty ruined your entire life. If I hadn't stood between you, you would have been Queen of Yuanliao. Without me, you could have grown old together with him, living a blissful life...
And he wouldn't be suffering in regret.
Sister, do you know... I feel like he and I are about to end.
All my persistent clinging throughout my life... has finally made him disgusted.
What... am I supposed to do? What do I do?
This man who could command the wind and rain on the battlefield was now so fragile and helpless, tears soaking through Jinyin's lap. "Sister... I know I loved the wrong person, but... I can't turn back..."
From a corner of the garden came the faint sound of a child crying. Zhongshan followed the sound through the covered walkway and found a little girl in luxurious clothing by the rock garden.
"Pretty little one, why are you crying?" Zhongshan approached and crouched down beside the little girl.
The girl was probably only five or six years old. Her clothing was luxurious yet stained with dust and grime, her hair uncombed and messy like a bird's nest. She stared with teary eyes at the tall man in crimson armor before her.
Zhongshan smiled, his eyes filled with tenderness. His smile was as warm as sunshine against the backdrop of his crimson armor, instantly warming the cold, desolate autumn garden.
The little girl stared at him blankly, not the slightest bit afraid. Instead, she found this stranger inexplicably familiar and warm.
"Heh, you're so beautiful. It'd be a waste if your pretty eyes got swollen from crying. If you stopped crying, you'd be even prettier." His low, magnetic voice carried a hint of gentle warmth, drifting over.
The little girl timidly asked: "Who... who are you?"
"Me? I'm a deity. When the heavens heard you crying, they sent me down to comfort you."
The little girl gasped in amazement.
Zhongshan reached out to wipe her tears. "I'll give you something. Don't cry anymore, okay?" As he spoke, his finger slipped behind her earlobe. The little girl felt a ticklish sensation behind her ear. When Zhongshan drew back his hand, a delicate little piece of white jade hung from his fingers, tied on an intricately woven red cord.
"Oh..." The little girl touched her ear. "Did this come from behind my ear?"
"Your tears brought it forth. The cord is woven from your hair." Zhongshan smiled as he hung the pendant around her neck.
The little girl examined the little thing carefully. It was a small creature she'd never seen before, with four eyes, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws—a rather interesting form. She stopped crying, puzzled: "What is this?"
"His name is Taotie. He's a very powerful divine beast. From now on, he'll accompany you and protect you. If you have any grievances, whisper them to him, and he'll keep them in his heart, sharing your burdens." Zhongshan smiled as he took the little girl's hand. "So, don't just cry over nothing from now on, okay?"
The little girl looked up at him, her eyes glistening...
Jinyin approached the windowsill, took one look, and smiled. "Mancheng, Zhongshan is entertaining another child."
Mancheng gazed down at Zhongshan chatting with the little girl in the distance, an involuntary rapturous expression appearing on his face.
Jinyin said slowly: "That's the daughter of the deposed queen. She was once the jewel of everyone's eye, but now, not only have the nobles abandoned her, even the palace maids slight her. The warmth and coldness of this world can only be truly understood when you have nothing left."
"I know. That's why people with nothing are prone to obsession, refusing to change until death."
"Mancheng, you don't have nothing. Look..." Jinyin smiled at the rock garden, her voice gentle: "You've monopolized the best men in the world. Why must you still be so obsessive?"
Mancheng's heart suddenly stirred.
"Mancheng, when will you finally wake up? The one who loves you with profound devotion, who never exploits you, is Zhongshan... He never cares about others' idle gossip. His whole heart belongs to you alone. He only wishes to accompany you, willing to sacrifice everything for you..."
"Brother..."
"Mancheng, if you don't cherish him well, once you lose him, you'll only have endless regret."
Across at the rock garden, the man held the little girl's hand, occasionally glancing up toward the queen's chambers.
"Mancheng, if he waits for you too long, he'll grow weary." Jinyin pulled away from Mancheng's supporting arm, smiling meaningfully, and gently pushed him. "Don't make him wait any longer."
Mancheng crossed the winding stream, standing on the bridge. In the garden, chrysanthemums of every hue were wilting—red, pink, yellow, white petals scattered like stars... He gazed at the elusive figure beyond the withering leaves, and for a moment, the world stood still.
Deep within his soul, what was churning and surging in the river of time flowing drop by drop...
The little girl's clear, childish laughter mingled with the rustling of leaves, lingering in his ears.
He parted his lips. That name hovered in his throat, yet no sound emerged—as if calling out in a dream, kept only in the heart, unwilling to share with the breeze.
"I hear him calling me..." Zhongshan released the little girl's hand, his smile unchanged. "Pretty little one, I must go now..."
"I didn't hear anyone call you," the little girl clutched his fingers, a hesitant expression on her face. Then reluctantly, she let go. "I understand—is the heavens calling you back?"
Zhongshan laughed silently. After a moment, his gaze suddenly clouded over. "Yes..."