After My Death, The Villain Blackened Again: Chapter 8
ARC 1: THE EMPEROR SCHEMES TO GRAB A MAN’S WIFE (5)
Even by dining casually, he could warm the heart and delight the eye, as if the person in front of him was not a person, but a magnificent painting in motion.
After a chat, Emperor Yuan felt a desire to befriend the youth. He learned that Yan Ge had stayed in the capital the past few days and so volunteered to be a tour guide during 'his' visit to the famous national academy tomorrow.
Emperor Yuan may have been born in the royal family, but his appearance was imposing in its own right. He had a tall frame, handsome features, as well as sword-shaped eyebrows.
Yan Ge was on the slender side in terms of appearance. 'His' features were as sharp as an unsheathed sword, and there was a sense of toughness in the frailty that did not allow others to look down on 'him'.
Two beautiful men of different styles walked together, and it was strangely harmonious. At first glance, outsiders could not be sure who was better.
The students at the academy had organized an event to make friends over poetry. The two individuals mixed in and defeated their opponents all the way. Unexpectedly, Emperor won in the end.
The prize was a rare set of chess pieces carved out of mutton jade.
Emperor Yuan gifted them to Yan Ge.
Yan Ge was so enamored by the set that she kept staring at the pieces. In the end, she passed them back to Emperor Yuan. "While it's a pity, my family has no suitable jar. It would be best for Qi Xiong to keep them. We can try the pieces should we meet one day.”
Emperor Yuan heard the unspoken implications in her words: "Yan Xiong is leaving?"
Yan Ge nodded, and her face appeared reluctant: "En, I’m leaving."
After those words fell, she laughed brightly: “Even the finest feast will come to an end. It was the blessings of three lifetimes1 to meet Qi Xiongin the capital like this. The trip here was not made in vain.”
Emperor Yuan tried to persuade Yan Ge: "A man of character is one who establishes himself in the world. It’s a for Yan Xiong not share his talent or stand in Chaotang to help the world. I know people in the Imperial Hanlin Academy. I can really help you should you have any difficulties."
Yan Ge shook her head with an expression of regret: "Thank you for your kindness, but I have an unmentionable illness. I'm afraid I cannot stand in Chaotang in this life. Qi Xiong holds the world in his heart. In the future, you will be a good prime minister for the people. Now, let's go have a few drinks."
Emperor Yuan has been praised as a good prince and a good emperor after that. This was the first time he was commended as a good prime minister.
Naturally, the Prime Minister was not as good as an Emperor, but he was smug at heart. See, he had this position through real skill.
The two people had many worries, and when they found a restaurant, they simply drank wine as they played a few games. They drank considerably and talked abundantly.
It was uncertain when it began to rain outside. The pattering rain grew louder, and the raindrops struck the window ledge. The two used this opportunity to fight several rounds on the battlefield of chess. Although there was no outcome, they felt like they had found a bosom friend in the other.
Yan Ge let out a carefree laugh after placing a chess piece. Picking up Emperor Yuan's sword, she banged it on the table and sang: "Spur the horse to leap across the vast desert, chatting merrily as the nobles look on askance, going to the ends of the world like this, so hard to find such a bosom friend..."
There was a bit of desolation in her clear and bright voice, and when paired with the sound of the rain, it caused those who heard her to feel a sense of despair and frustration.
Emperor Yuan held a chess piece in his hand and was motionless the entire time he listened to Yan Ge.
He sat Chaotang for so long, yet he could not be like this young man who laughed when he wished to laugh and sang when he wished to sing. His heart gave birth to some envy.
Suddenly, loud sounds of fighting came forth from the heavy rain outside the window. Emperor Yuan’s eyes narrowed.
The next moment, several men in black broke in through the window and their cold double-edged swords went straight for him.
- Blessings of three lifetimes (三生有幸 — sān shēng yǒu xìng)idiom that means to be extremely lucky/fortunate. It’s kind of like an enhanced version of the English idiom, ‘a stroke of luck’↩︎
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