Pray

The rising sun spilled a golden glow onto the porcelain vase on the table, its glaze glinting with a dazzling light. It was clearly no longer early morning.

Chen Weichen was still asleep, showing no signs of waking.

Ye Jiuya recalled that in recent days, this person had been going to bed early and rising late, getting drowsy as soon as evening fell, sleeping longer with each passing day.

He would usually wait for Chen Weichen to wake up on his own, but today the Emperor was setting off for the Feng Shan sacrifices hundreds of miles away, with many officials and prominent families accompanying him. With Old Master Chen and the eldest son of the Chen family away from the capital, the second young master needed to go out and make an appearance. Xiao Dao had already urged them several times from outside.

Gently calling out a few times, the person did wake up, but leaned against his shoulder half-dead. After a struggle to get him dressed, Chen Weichen sat in front of the mirror, looking as if he were about to fall asleep at any moment.

Xiao Dao called out a few times from the outer room. Seeing that they were still not up, she likely went to do other things and did not come in to attend to their washing up. Ye Jiuya had no choice but to pick up the sandalwood comb.

The silky black hair slipped around his fingertips like flowing water, but as the comb passed through, it revealed a few snow-white strands amidst the black.

As if touching something in the void, he suddenly heard his own heartbeat. Looking up at the bronze mirror, he saw that Chen Weichen still had that youthful countenance. Only then did he gradually let out a sigh of relief for some reason.

Most likely, white hair was connected to the passage of time, like a talisman hastening one's demise.

Half an hour later, they were finally ready. Chen Weichen had completely woken up. The carriage hurried out, barely catching up with the imperial procession leaving the city.

Wen Hui lit some incense in the carriage to refresh the mind: "This can't go on, Young Master. You should go see a doctor."

Chen Weichen merely said: "It's a matter of cultivation, nothing serious."

With that, he leaned against Ye Jiuya, fanning himself with a painted fan, eyes smiling, the very picture of a romantic beauty reclining on her lover's lap: "I've always had trouble sleeping since I was young. These past few days I've made up for it, which is quite delightful."

Xiao Dao gave Wen Hui an exasperated look, then looked at Chen Weichen: "Young Master, he's also been a bit off lately. Several times when I called him, he didn't respond. When I went to the front to check, he was in a daze, not knowing what he was looking at - it's best to tie him up and send him to the doctor soon."

Wen Hui looked at her in bewilderment: "When did you call me?"

Xiao Dao spat: "Heartless one, now you're pretending not to know."

The servant boy still looked very confused: "How come I don't remember?"

Chen Weichen pondered for a moment, then said: "We'll discuss this matter when we return. For now, listen up. When we get to the grand ceremony, only the few of us will go. Xiao Dao and Ah Hui, stay at the camp with the other servants, don't come along."

"Why is that? Missing out on such an exciting event would be a lifelong regret," Wen Hui clearly wanted to go.

"Something might happen," Chen Weichen was obviously not swayed. "Even if we don't know how serious it might get, it's still best to avoid it."

"But everyone else is putting on a grand show. If only a few people from our Chen family go, won't we lose face?" Xiao Dao was thinking very comprehensively.

"No need to worry about that," Young Master Chen smiled. "We'll go together with Xing Qiu. With his lackeys standing together with us, our prestige won't be lacking."

Xiao Dao nodded. Wen Hui was still unwilling: "Young Master..."

Xiao Dao pulled him over: "Being with the immortal masters, isn't that enough for you to brag about for most of your life? You're not missing out on this excitement!"

Only then did Wen Hui give in.

Chen Weichen laughed very happily, tapping Wen Hui's head with his fan: "Well now, Xiao Hui, not listening to the young master anymore, only listening to Xiao Dao."

Wen Hui chuckled and scratched his head: "How can those be the same."

The young master sighed in an exaggerated manner: "Alas, Xiao Dao doesn't fancy me, otherwise how could she let you have the advantage."

Xiao Dao then made a move as if to hit someone, not knowing who to hit for a long time. She herself blushed and laughed first, turning her head away, not looking at them.

The young master then counted the dowry: "Ask Old Cripple to calculate an auspicious date. You two can be considered done. Xiao Dao, when you get married, take whatever you want from my room, no need to leave anything for Ah Hui."

The carriage was filled with lighthearted joy for a time.

After they had their fun, he asked Wen Hui if there had been any developments with Zhuang Baihan recently - with the Emperor bestowing a residence and servants upon the scholar, it was not as easy to investigate as before when he was at the inn. Wen Hui said there was nothing unusual, except that he liked to play the flute in the middle of the night, tunes that were not very pleasant.

This was an ordinary matter, nothing worth noting, so they didn't say much more. Chen Weichen, with nothing to do, picked up an exquisite rose-colored pastry from the small table, examined it, and said: "The people here call this the luoshen flower. Young ladies love this the most."

Xiao Dao offered a pastry to Lu Hongyan, who bit into it but, not fond of the taste, said, "Too sweet."

Chen Weichen, however, ate slowly, narrowing his eyes, looking very content.

Xiao Dao took a plate of non-sweet ones over: "Lady Lu, try this."

With that, she glanced at Chen Weichen: "My young master is easy to please, not picky about food, so I prepared some of each flavor."

When they reached the place where the imperial procession stopped to rest, their accompanying carriages also stopped. Although they had the windows open the whole way, it was still a bit stuffy. Many people in the carriages got out for some fresh air.

When only the two of them were left in the carriage, Chen Weichen picked up another pastry, smiling: "Lord Ye, open your mouth."

Ye Jiuya always indulged him. Wen Hui had even said, "I see that although Swordmaster Ye doesn't speak, he spoils the young master even more than Xiao Dao."

Chen Weichen fed the pastry into his mouth.

The sweet, delicate fragrance permeated his lips and teeth, gently dissolving. For him, it was a bit too sweet, but it also made the fragrance linger longer.

Seeing him eat it, Chen Weichen smiled with satisfaction: "The mortal world does have some merits after all. These foods, the immortal realm doesn't have them."

Ye Jiuya replied: "One must not indulge in the desires of the tongue and stomach."

Chen Weichen stuffed another one into his mouth: "Indulge for a bit, it's not a problem - you're better off not talking. As soon as you speak, you make people angry."

He sighed again: "I'm not just indulging in one desire of the tongue and stomach."

He no longer spoke, quietly leaning against Ye Jiuya's shoulder and looking outside. The sky was extremely blue, with a few soft white clouds drifting about, floating here and there. When they obscured the sun, it would suddenly darken, ever-changing and inconstant.

The imperial procession started again, continuing on the road. Along the way, the people shouted, "Long live the Emperor!" After resting in a city for a night, the grand ceremony officially began the next day.

First, the document announcing to heaven and earth was sealed with gold and silver ropes and buried in front of the Temple of Heaven. Then, they ascended the mountain. In the altar of the Five Emperors lay soils of five colors, arranged around the central three-tiered altar. The mountain was filled with rare birds and exotic beasts. White deer, white pigs, white yaks, and other animals were slaughtered on the spot as sacrifices.

Solemn music resounded from all directions. The scene was extremely grand and lively, and the weather was beautiful—a perfect, sunny day.

Xing Qiu pretended to be ill very convincingly, curled up on the side and not coming out. It was not until noon, when the prayer text was announced, that they saw Zhuang Baihan.

The scholar who once wore plain clothes was now dressed in splendid attire, wearing a tall crown. He carried himself with a steady demeanor. Even the old officials who were previously dissatisfied had to admit that he was a good candidate.

However, in the eyes of the immortals, it was not like this. They only looked at his fate, which grew stronger each time they saw it. The crimson brought by the Kaiyang Blood became more and more condensed, even showing a hint of purple.

With the sound of music, Zhuang Baihan began to slowly recite the prayer text.