Chapter 1801 – Reactions from All Sides (Part 2)
“Now that’s what I call a certain outcome.”
Huang Song sat on the porch, watching his son and daughter diligently studying, alongside his beloved wife; he certainly felt like a winner in life.
The warmth of family time was shattered by the news of Jiang Pengji.
Huang Song paused for a moment, then revealed a relieved smile, raising his hand to ruffle his youngest daughter’s hair, murmuring, “Time flies… Lady, in another ten years or so, our generation will be old, and this world will belong to the next generation of young people.”
Qi Chaolan placed her hand over Huang Song’s, playfully toying with his fingers.
“Ten years is still a long way off. Are you already feeling old?”
Huang Song replied, “It’s unavoidable to feel old. Even the iron tree that never bears fruit has finally blossomed… With such a mother and such a prominent background, the future is destined to be extraordinary. I actually hope time speeds up a bit to see what these young folks can achieve.”
As Jiang Pengji’s domination of the world drew near, Huang Song and his companions would slowly fade from the stage.
Qi Chaolan sensed the melancholy in her husband’s words and couldn’t help but gently comfort him by stroking his shoulder.
“Does Young Master blame me for back then…”
If Qi Chaolan hadn’t retained Huang Song with their children, he might have committed suicide during that battle.
For him, dying before losing could indeed be a kind of happiness.
If that were the case, he wouldn’t have to remember for years on end that he was a loser while the victors moved further away, creating a wider chasm between them.
If Huang Song’s life wasn’t good, Qi Chaolan also felt guilty.
Huang Song said, “What nonsense are you spouting? Your husband isn’t that petty!”
At first, there were indeed various inconveniences, like back when he went to Golden Scales Academy to pick up his wife and children and was stopped by the gatekeeper.
If he were still a feudal lord, who would dare to block him?
However, after so many years, Huang Song had both gotten used to it and come to terms with it.
Everyone has their ambitions; caring for one’s wife and children for a lifetime may not be unhappy, and ascending to great heights doesn’t guarantee everything will go smoothly.
The higher up you go, the colder it gets; once a person’s position changes, changes are bound to follow.
He only hopes that his young friends can maintain their initial intentions even after becoming the rulers.
If there were to be any guilt—
“I do feel somewhat guilty toward you, my lady…”
Huang Song abruptly said this, prompting a look of surprise and confusion from Qi Chaolan.
He chuckled, “Do you remember what you said when Meng Zhan wanted to adopt a clan girl as a daughter and offer her to me as a concubine?”
Qi Chaolan’s face showed embarrassment, and she laughed while concealing her sleeve, “That was years ago; how could I still remember?”
Huang Song said, “You may have forgotten, but I still remember.”
Back then, Qi Chaolan had threatened Huang Song with a dagger—if he dared to take a concubine, she would divorce him and keep male lovers.
At that time, Qi Chaolan’s aura nearly reached two meters eight, almost scaring Huang Song into kneeling.
【If your esteemed self, Huang Bo, could achieve that, then Qi Chaolan certainly could as well! Liu Xi became a feudal lord despite being a woman; I have three thousand elite troops under my command. Can’t I start from scratch too, maybe even become a feudal lord myself, allowing for three or four concubines and a household of male lovers? I have brothers from my maternal family supporting me, coming from a prestigious background, and have studied military tactics with my father since childhood. If not for being a woman, I would have already dedicated myself to warfare! Do you really think I’m just a woman guarding a small plot of land in the backyard? You think I can or cannot do it!】
The words were still fresh in his mind.
Looking back, Huang Song indeed delayed her progress.
With capability but no opportunity to see a broader world, she was confined to the backyard, and it felt like a waste of her talent.
Marrying him might very well be the worst decision of Qi Chaolan’s life.
However, Huang Song was still grateful for Qi Chaolan’s fleeting glance back then, which led him to wholeheartedly pursue her and insist on marrying her.
Speaking of which—
Huang Song asked Qi Chaolan, “My lady, do you think I still look as handsome as before?”
Qi Chaolan raised an eyebrow and retorted, “What do you think, Young Master?”
His face had matured, and he was starting to show signs of middle-aged bulge.
Considering Huang Song was now in his thirties, it was common to put on some weight, so Qi Chaolan didn’t think too much of it.
Huang Song took a deep breath, feeling his belly still hanging out, and he felt a wave of dismay wash over him.
He still didn’t believe those literary folks who claim that being plump is beautiful; it was all nonsense.
“At this age, I still have to worry about whether my old wife will dislike my face… Sigh…”
Determined to lose weight, Huang Song also invited his buddy Feng Jue to join his middle-aged fitness weight-loss group.
Feng Jue declined.
He still looked as handsome as ever and was getting more charming with age; did he really need to lose weight?
Huang Song clutched his wounded little heart and left, while Feng Jue gazed at the now quiet courtyard, a hint of dazedness flashing in his eyes.
For some reason, while the common people outside were celebrating joyous events, roaming the streets sharing their joy, he couldn’t help but feel a hint of unexplainable loneliness.
Feng Jue’s wife gently said, “Young Master, why are you standing in the porch? The sky is getting dark, and the courtyard is damp.”
“I’m thinking about some things… But I just can’t make sense of them.”
His wife said, “Then save it for tomorrow.”
Feng Jue asked her, “What if I still can’t figure it out tomorrow? What if I never understand?”
His wife said, “Then just don’t think about it; some things are destined to remain unsolvable. Why waste time on them? Isn’t it better to cherish the present?”
Her words resonated deeply with Feng Jue, as if all the fog before his eyes had vanished.
“Indeed, my lady always sees through things so clearly.”
His wife: “???”
When the news broke, Liu Zhi and Liu Zhao were having tea on the porch.
Today’s palace exam was attended by high-ranking officials, and Liu Zhi and Liu Zhao, one retired and one still a newcomer, found it inconvenient to attend.
Liu Zhao sighed in relief, “Finally, my eldest sister has a child; the son is finally safe.”
Liu Zhi took a sip of tea and said, “Safe? Not necessarily.”
Liu Zhao nearly choked on his tea at his father’s words.
“What?”
Is there still danger after all this?
Why was it so hard to just keep a life safe?
Liu Zhi looked at the beautifully blooming courtyard, his dark eyes shrouded in thick fog, making it impossible for anyone to fathom his inner thoughts.
The only one capable of doing that was long gone.
Liu Zhi suddenly remarked, “It’s about to get windy; a change in the weather is coming.”
“Change in weather?” Liu Zhao looked at the sky in surprise, “The weather looks fine, and it hasn’t been announced that there will be high winds, heavy rain, or fog tonight…”
Murmuring, he abruptly stopped speaking.
Wind is rising, change is coming…
Is it the weather above their heads, or…
“Father!”
Liu Zhao suddenly dropped his teacup, the clattering sound ringing particularly loud at that moment.
Liu Zhi straightened up and said softly, “No matter who wins or loses, don’t get involved. It’s always the case that when gods fight, family ties don’t matter.”
Liu Zhao’s heart raced at a sudden ominous premonition spreading through him.
“Father, do you intend to go after Eldest Sister?”
Liu Zhao clenched his fists.
Liu Zhi abruptly laughed, “How could that be? I’m just here, like you, to watch the divine beings duel.”
As the world was set to unify, how could Jiang Pengji be the only one preparing to gather her nets?
