Big brother?
Qi Yuansi stared at the woman’s radiant eyes for a long moment, his expression changing drastically.
“You… how dare you come…”
He looked around, considering whether his family guards could handle this demon king, whether he should call for the house generals. Turning his head, he saw his grandmother had already been helped over by servants to watch the excitement, calling to him repeatedly.
Qi Yuansi’s expression changed again—why had grandmother come out!
Recalling this person’s temperament, sweat immediately beaded on his forehead.
Qi Yuansi had personally witnessed this person kill like cutting grass, seen his madness in stabbing himself with a knife, and been strangled by him with life-threatening force. Ever since, he’d developed a condition called “Rong Wei PTSD.”
Within three feet of Rong Wei’s presence, he maintained respectful distance, retreated three li, never competing or contending.
Previously, he’d vaguely heard that this person had injured the Crown Princess and learned his true identity, thinking that surely they’d never meet again in the jianghu—when they next met, it would definitely be on the battlefield.
Who knew that in such a short time, this fellow would haunt him like a restless spirit, actually appearing on his family’s roof!
Qi Yuansi first found it absurd, then remembering his father’s recent misunderstanding and the daily joyful words he’d been spreading throughout the court, cold sweat broke out all over him again.
This extremely jealous, mad, and venomous demon king—surely he hadn’t heard something and come to burn down his house?
Turning to see his approaching brothers and sisters, plus his aged grandmother, his whole being felt terrible.
Old Madam Qi looked up, squinting at the two people above, saying: “Yuansi, is this your friend? The wind is strong up there—please come down for tea.”
Murong Yi, who was selecting fireworks on the roof, heard this and looked down with a smile, seeing the kind-faced Old Madam Qi, greeting her: “Ah, Grandma Qi, hello! I’m Qi Yuansi’s friend, came over to set off some fireworks for you to enjoy watching.”
Old Madam Qi fumbled in her bosom for Western-style glasses, slowly put them on, and looked up to carefully examine Murong Yi. Her face grew even more radiant: “What a beautiful child. Good, grandma will watch you set off fireworks.”
Qi Yuansi held his forehead.
His grandmother’s fondness for beautiful people was acting up again.
Murong Yi seemed surprised that Old Madam Qi had this style. This time his smile became even more dazzling: “Alright! Watch this—I’ll perform a magic trick for you.”
With that, he lit a huge firework.
A golden light shot into the night sky, its trajectory transforming mid-air into a giant heart. Stars sparkled in the heart’s center, slowly condensing into the character “Ci.”
Qi Yuansi: “…”
No way—if you’re confessing to the Crown Princess, why are you doing it from my family’s roof!
So annoying!
Old Madam Qi looked at that “Ci” character, somewhat puzzled: “Young lady, what does this mean?”
“Praising how kind and benevolent you are, Grandma!” Murong Yi answered smoothly.
Mu Si rolled his eyes.
…
In the Imperial Study, a young eunuch pushed open the door. Tie Yan looked up at the “Ci” character in the sky, his brow slightly furrowed.
In Dianfang Palace, Consort Jing put down her needlework and pushed open the window, mouth agape in astonishment.
In Ciren Palace, the Empress Dowager coldly watched that “Ci” character, saying: “Investigate.”
On the spacious white marble platform on the second floor of Yuxiu Palace.
Tie Ci stood by the railing, looking up at the sky.
That giant heart-shaped “Ci” character, even more golden and glittering, reflected in her glass-like eyes.
Such fireworks were rare in the market, but her master could make them. This was also the treasure of her master’s shop, not easily sold, each sale conducted as an auction with frantic bidding.
Yet he had obtained them.
There was nothing he dared not do.
No one he could not pursue.
He filled the capital’s bookshops with love pamphlets he’d written, overnight capturing the book market.
He moved freely through the Rong residence, smashing Rong Pu’s purple jade ruyi that hadn’t even warmed yet.
He wrote a large, brilliant “Ci” character in the night sky of the capital in March.
For all to see.
All the gulfs, chasms, obstacles, visible and invisible barriers standing in the way.
To him were nothing but clouds and smoke.
I want you, I like you, so I come.
You are a mountain, so I move mountains; you are water, so I build dikes; you are distant, so I journey to you. Mountains shift, waters move, I traverse all the mortal world.
…
In the Qi residence, the old lady looked at that “Ci” character, smiling so broadly her teeth weren’t visible.
Qi Yuansi’s hand supporting his forehead never lifted.
The old lady found this young lady increasingly pleasing and began chatting.
“Young lady, where do you live?”
“Juyue Tower on West Street.”
Qi Yuansi’s expression turned ashen.
The old lady didn’t know what Juyue Tower was, thinking it sounded like a restaurant: “Oh, are you a female innkeeper?”
Qi Yuansi: “Murong Yi, shut up!”
Murong Yi: “No, Grandma, Juyue Tower is a brothel.”
Old Madam Qi: “…”
The old lady turned to look at her beloved grandson.
Qi Yuansi: “Grandmother, don’t listen to his nonsense! He has nothing to do with me!”
Murong Yi: “How can we have nothing to do with each other? Grandma, didn’t you notice? As soon as I mentioned Juyue Tower, he knew what it was. How does he know about brothels!”
Old Madam Qi asked cautiously: “Yuansi, is this your… intimate female friend?”
“More than that.” On the roof, Murong Yi selected another confession weapon, tearfully declaring: “He also abandoned me after seducing me!”
Qi Yuansi: “Murong Yi, don’t think I won’t dare kill you!”
Murong Yi: “Ah! A scoundrel who seduces and abandons, then wants to kill to silence witnesses!”
Old Madam Qi: “Yuansi! How could you do such a thing! The Qi family maintains upright family traditions—we don’t allow consorting with prostitutes. But since you’ve wronged this young lady, you should take responsibility. Young lady, have you left Juyue Tower? Would you be willing to become my Yuansi’s concubine?”
Qi Yuansi: “…”
Please, Grandma.
I cannot afford this person.
“No, I want to be the primary wife!” Murong Yi selected a firework and lit it. “Otherwise, I’ll burn down your house today and immolate myself—one corpse, two lives!”
Qi Yuansi: …You might as well kill me for entertainment.
Unable to deal with this person, he gritted his teeth and ordered the guards beside him: “Go to the palace gates and request an audience with the Crown Princess. Tell her my home is about to be burned by someone, and I’m being forced into marriage. Ask her, for the sake of our former schoolmate relationship, to intervene and rescue me.”
The guard swiftly took the order and left.
Here, Old Madam Qi frowned in thought for a long while, then said gently: “Young lady, you mustn’t act so extremely—it damages your good fortune. Come down first, and we’ll discuss this slowly. Look at your delicate frame—the roof is slippery. What if you hurt your back?”
“Whoosh”—another emerald light shot straight into the sky, transforming mid-air into a huge green hat with three equally large characters flashing above it: “I Don’t Want.”
Murong Yi thought this green hat looked very nice.
When spending heavily on fireworks, the hat-wearing female shopkeeper said green hats represented unwavering loyalty. A green hat with “I Don’t Want” written on it meant that in this life, besides the beloved, one would want no other woman. Once this hat appeared, it would surely move the beauty to tears.
…
Tie Yan murmured: “What does the green hat mean?”
Consort Jing: “This hat’s shape and color are quite distinctive. Come winter, I’ll make one to give His Majesty.”
Tie Ci: “…”
The moment of emotion instantly dissipated. Now she only wanted to muster troops and attack the Qi residence, capture someone and throw him in prison, lock him in an iron cage, and make him wear a green hat every day, 365 days a year, each one different.
…
On the roof, Murong Yi declared righteously: “No way! If you trick me into coming down, you’ll definitely imprison me, beat me, even kill me. I want Qi Yuansi to swear right now to marry me as his primary wife and never look at any other woman in this lifetime!”
Old Madam Qi looked at him, then at the black-faced Mu Si beside him, whose eyes were rolling skyward.
“Fine. I agree.” Old Madam Qi said readily. “Child, come down first.”
Qi Yuansi couldn’t believe his ears: “Grandmother!”
Though grandmother had grown gentler with age, she was still the widow who had raised Governor Qi and personally sent her son to battle—hardly an ordinary woman.
How had this scoundrel fooled her with just a few words?
Though Murong Yi’s female disguise was indeed masterful…
He wanted to say this was a man, but he feared provoking the killer star on the roof. He didn’t care if he died, but if grandmother were harmed, he’d be guilty of an unforgivable crime.
He dared not gamble his grandmother’s life on that demon king’s humanity.
Murong Yi was also surprised, but wasn’t in a hurry to come down. He casually set off one last firework.
Countless starlight clusters rushed into the sky, bursting and spraying in groups, sketching countless peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, peonies, roses, wild roses, lilacs, and spring jasmine across the azure sky dome, blooming in sequence into a giant bouquet spanning the night sky.
Beside the bouquet was a line of text: “You bloom, and the world has its April spring.”
Everyone in the Qi residence was struck speechless with awe.
Under the capital’s night sky, in streets and alleys throughout the city, countless people walked out their doors, looking up and exclaiming in infatuated amazement.
Brilliant flowers reflected in Murong Yi’s shimmering eyes as he looked up and smiled, all the fireworks in the sky seeming to fall into his gaze.
Eighteen, did you see?
…
In Chongming Palace, Tie Yan looked furious: “Go investigate who’s setting off fireworks!”
Consort Jing was dazzled and enchanted, whispering: “If His Majesty could set off such a display for me, I’d die content…”
Nanny Qin behind her said coldly: “Your Majesty, haven’t you noticed who these fireworks are for!”
In Ciren Palace, the Empress Dowager stared blankly at that illusory yet magnificent giant bouquet, suddenly turning to address someone behind her: “Those who dare speak loudly are admirable. I too wish I could one day shake heaven and earth like this and tell you everything.”
Behind her, curtains hung deep and silent.
On the Yuxiu Palace platform, the night was cool as water, jade steps white as snow.
Tie Ci reached out to cup the void, as if catching those flowers.
Her expression was calm, but her eyes were very bright. She said softly: “This is also plagiarized… Murong Plagiarist!”
…
The sensational citywide fireworks display was over.
Mu Si secretly calculated that this single display had consumed several years’ worth of grain for all the capital’s citizens.
Murong Yi lay contentedly on the roof tiles looking at the sky, his legs crossed high, sighing: “She must have cried from emotion. What a pity—I should be by her side to wipe away her tears…”
Mu Si: …Then a full set of moves afterward, right?
Below, Old Madam Qi called: “Young lady, are you finished? The fireworks were truly beautiful. Come down and we’ll discuss this properly, alright?”
Murong Yi suddenly remembered the fictional debt he’d concocted.
Originally planning to leave after bullying Qi Yuansi, he now found it interesting. He got up and jumped down, Rong Yi on his shoulder gripping his clothes tightly, cleverly avoiding touching his skin.
Old Madam Qi leaned on her walking stick and personally came to take her hand kindly: “Good child, come, come here to grandma. Don’t worry—as long as the child in your belly is Yuansi’s, grandma definitely won’t let him wrong you…”
“Primary wife, must be primary wife. I won’t be a concubine, won’t share my husband with those random cats and dogs.” Murong Yi emphasized.
Qi Yuansi received his pointed glare.
Got it.
I’m that random cat or dog.
“Fine, fine, all negotiable.” Old Madam Qi smiled as she waited for Murong Yi to approach. Suddenly, with lightning speed, she grabbed her walking stick and struck Murong Yi hard on the back with a loud thwack.
“Ow!” The great demon king Murong, who moved freely and killed like hemp, let out a cry of shock and pain, jumping up suddenly.
Old Madam Qi’s second strike was already sweeping out, agile beyond belief for a seventy-year-old pampered lady.
How could Murong Yi let her hit him twice? He whooshed away three zhang in an instant.
Angrily shouting: “Old hag!”
Qi Yuansi hadn’t reacted at all. When he saw grandmother’s stick strike, his heart leaped to his throat—he wasn’t afraid of Murong Yi getting hurt, but feared this demon king would be enraged and kill his grandmother.
At this moment, he rushed over in one stride, spreading his arms to block in front of Old Madam Qi, slightly puzzled.
Just now, the old lady hadn’t managed a second strike, but there was time enough for Murong Yi to kill grandmother ten times over.
Yet he only got angry, jumped away, and cursed—he didn’t strike at all.
Old Madam Qi planted her walking stick down, stirring up dust, declaring with full vigor: “Stinky brat, dare to fool your grandmother! Dare to blackmail my grandson—watch grandma not beat the egg yolk out of you!”
Murong Yi immediately felt his eggs ache.
Laughter came from overhead—without looking, he knew it must be that wicked servant Mu Si.
Murong Yi rarely suffered such a big loss and couldn’t really argue with an old lady.
He rubbed his chin: “How did you see through it?”
“Adam’s apple, mannerisms, height, posture—flaws everywhere. You dare ask?” Old Madam Qi waved her stick. “If you’re willing to befriend my Yuansi, stop making trouble and change clothes to serve tea in the front hall. If not, get lost immediately.”
Murong Yi raised an eyebrow. Today’s female disguise was half-hearted—no disguise or bone-shrinking techniques, so it was indeed easy to see through. But it was dark and he was high up—at least those servants hadn’t noticed. This old lady was playing pig to eat tiger—formidable.
He laughed heartily, casually removed his skirt, flicked his fingers to send the dress flying. Everyone’s vision blurred, and when they looked again, both figures had vanished.
Old Madam Qi gazed at the night sky, having put away her previous composed expression, looking somewhat serious.
She ordered servants to return to their positions and forbade any further discussion or spreading of what had just occurred—violators would be immediately expelled from the residence.
Qi Yuansi came over with wholehearted admiration, supporting her back to the courtyard.
His reverence and love for grandmother flowed like the endless Yellow River—this was the first time he’d seen Murong Yi suffer a loss.
Truly delightful!
Old Madam Qi returned to her courtyard and had someone call Governor Qi back. While waiting, she asked if anyone had come from the palace.
Indeed, someone had come from the palace—His Majesty sent someone asking who had been setting off fireworks.
Old Madam Qi ordered Qi Yuansi to go out and report truthfully. After Qi Yuansi returned, she questioned him carefully, confirming that only the Emperor had sent someone. Then she fell into silence.
After a while she said: “Keep your distance from the Crown Princess in the future.”
Qi Yuansi said: “Grandson never had any…”
“Your father’s wishful thinking. Misunderstandings don’t matter, but misunderstandings with the imperial family are improper.”
Qi Yuansi bowed his head in shame.
“How did grandmother see through…”
“That ‘Ci’ character—isn’t that the Crown Princess’s given name? The palace was alarmed, His Majesty sent someone to inquire, yet the Crown Princess whose reputation was affected made no move—isn’t that tacit approval?” The old lady smiled. “Someone who dares create such a commotion pursuing the Crown Princess without fearing consequences—such a person, our Qi family cannot afford to provoke. When your father returns, I’ll speak with him properly. Later we’ll find you a good match—it’s time you married.”
Qi Yuansi kept his head down, finally saying quietly after a long while: “Yes.”
Governor Qi returned quickly. He too had seen the fireworks from his home’s direction and hurried back, entering the old lady’s courtyard.
After a while, he emerged with a dark expression.
He casually grabbed a wooden stick from the corner, flourishing it with a couple of stick-flower moves. Seeing this, Qi Yuansi covered his head and fled like a rat.
Governor Qi had earlier been drinking with others and nearly got into an argument because his companion implied that the Rong family son would definitely be the future Imperial Consort, while he scoffed, stating that it was all rumors—the Crown Princess had already secretly pledged herself to his Yuansi!
He’d spoken with such righteousness that he’d intimidated that group of colleagues.
Recalling this now, Governor Qi felt utterly humiliated.
The higher his previous advantage, the louder his face was now being slapped.
Governor Qi’s roaring could be heard throughout the Qi residence: “Qi Yuansi, stop right there! You owe your old father his dignity back!”
…
Those who rushed to the Qi residence that night naturally arrived a step too late. Governor Qi had contained his anger, putting on a serious face, telling the palace messenger that some unknown madman had run to his family’s roof to set off fireworks, speaking incoherently that no one could understand, then ran off after finishing—they couldn’t catch up in pursuit. He would immediately dispatch Five Military Commission府军 to search the entire city.
At the same time, Qi Ling very respectfully told the eunuch that the other party’s actions might involve palace affairs, but his family’s old lady had immediately dispersed the servants, so there was no fear of improper words spreading. He asked His Majesty and the Crown Princess to rest assured.
When the eunuch returned and reported this, Tie Yan immediately frowned.
What did Qi Ling mean by this? Such sarcastic undertones.
For military figures like Governor Qi, the imperial family naturally needed to win over. The Emperor immediately bestowed pearls, jade, and silk to the Qi residence to calm their shock, and sent someone to ask Tie Ci.
This person obviously had connections to Tie Ci, and with such outrageous behavior, remembering Pingzong’s words about “little uncle-in-law,” Tie Yan felt his heart jump with alarm.
After waiting and thinking that those eunuchs couldn’t get a word in before Tie Ci anyway, Tie Yan really couldn’t sit still and simply went to Yuxiu Palace himself.
This hour wasn’t particularly late, but when the Emperor rode his palanquin over, he almost thought he’d taken a wrong turn. Had he somehow reached some cold palace?
Only a few lamps were lit in Yuxiu Palace. The vast palace appeared pitch black from a distance, and contrasted by the still-unrepaired burnt Ruixiang Palace nearby, it looked desolate, cold, and lifeless.
Fine evening rain had begun falling, rustling softly, light as ox hair. Through the rain curtain, Tie Yan saw the glazed tiles cold and white in the dim lamplight, iron wind chimes pushed by the wind chiming lonely notes. He suddenly remembered Ruixiang Palace from a year ago.
At this hour, it would definitely have been brightly lit with melodious laughter, sometimes even the sounds of music and singing carried on the wind, even the wind-blown curtains dancing with joy.
The happiness then might have been false, but now Tie Yan felt such heartache he wished even false happiness was better.
It was his selfishness—placing this heavy burden of the empire on Tie Ci’s shoulders so early, making even her happiness pretense and her loneliness wordless. Her life was constantly calculating and bearing burdens, eternal legacy on her shoulders that couldn’t be set down.
In the distance, from the corridor, he could see Yuxiu Palace’s unique small building observation platform. On the platform stood a slender figure, standing alone for a long time.
Someone hurried up with a large umbrella, but the person standing alone on the tower waved them away, and the umbrella-bearer quietly retreated.
The fireworks in the sky had scattered. No matter how soul-stirring, beauty lasted only a moment. The long life afterward was often spent alone.
Tie Yan sat silently in the palanquin, suddenly saying: “Return.”
The palanquin turned around without entering Yuxiu Palace.
Tie Yan had lost interest in getting to the bottom of things.
What did it matter to know who it was?
Her recent occasional dazes, silences, the loneliness hidden in her smiles—others couldn’t see it, but he could.
He had already chosen the most difficult and arduous path for her. What right did he have to interfere with her love and choices?
If nothing could be as desired, then he hoped this child could at least live freely and contentedly in matters of love, unburdened by anyone.
…
Tie Ci didn’t sleep well that night.
She kept dreaming.
In her dreams, someone rode a broom flying in the sky, trailing starlight behind the broom. The starlight scrawled chaotically across the sky dome, sometimes forming “Tie Ci, marry me!” and sometimes drawing erotic pictures with him and Tie Ci as protagonists.
This witch visited rooftops throughout the capital, with citizens throughout the city pointing and gesturing at the sky.
In the dream, Tie Ci deeply experienced the taste of social death.
She woke with a start at midnight, covered in cold sweat. After thinking for a while, she realized this was indeed a nightmare.