Martial Cultivator

Autumn had arrived.

The autumn wind blew, covering the ground with fallen leaves and filling the city with desolation.

A common horse-drawn carriage set off from the academy’s small courtyard, slowly heading towards the imperial city. Inside the carriage, a man and a woman sat facing each other in silence.

A young man dressed in black looked somber. From time to time, he lifted the curtain to look outside. Occasionally, the autumn wind blew through the window, ruffling the hair of the woman opposite him.

The woman looked at the young man in front of her, wanting to speak but hesitating.

As the carriage traveled further, Chen Chao finally asked in a low voice, ”Did the letter get delivered? Did that guy really not get up?”

Xie Nandu nodded and said calmly, ”I asked many times, and the answer was always the same. Nothing different.”

Chen Chao frowned, wanting to say something. But in the end, he just opened his mouth and closed it without speaking. Thus, the carriage remained silent.

It was not until the carriage had traveled nearly half the journey that Chen Chao finally spoke slowly, ”Actually, thinking it over carefully, it makes sense. Even if there was once a romantic relationship, he has a family now. Traveling thousands of miles to the Divine Capital to see a woman he perhaps has never truly let go of might be fair to her, but what about the other woman? Isn’t that a form of hurt for her too? When faced with a dilemma, it’s really difficult to choose.”

Xie Nandu was about to speak when Chen Chao shook his head and said with a bitter smile, ”Not every woman in the world is like you, Xie Nandu. Just because you don’t mind doesn’t mean other women in the world won’t mind. So this matter is indeed difficult. His not coming doesn’t really leave much room for criticism.”

Saying this, Chen Chao let out a turbid breath, ”But since she is my elder sister, if he doesn’t come, I will definitely be angry. The next time I see him, I might really give him a good scolding.”

There were many times in this world when reasoning was not necessary.

”I have learned some things about what happened back then, but not very clearly. That man should be my senior brother.”

The Xie Family had eyes everywhere, and since the matter back then was not considered a big secret, Xie Nandu naturally found out the true identity of the man who lived opposite Chen Chao when she looked into it.

”That guy is also a scholar?”

Chen Chao found it hard to believe. He had dealt with Zhou Gouqi for more than a day or two, and the two would often curse at each other. Plus, with his fear of his wife, Chen Chao could never associate such a crude man with a scholar.

Xie Nandu said calmly, ”Before me, Teacher had seventy-one disciples. Among them, there were a few whom Teacher considered as potential candidates for the next dean of the academy, like Senior Brother Wei, Senior Brother Liu, and this Senior Brother Zhou.”

Chen Chao laughed in disbelief, ”Except for Mr. Wei, one went to train in the sword, while the other left the Divine Capital. It seems the Dean is quite troubled too.”

It was a disappointment for any teacher when their highly regarded disciples, due to various reasons, failed to become what he wanted them to become.

”But why did that guy leave the Divine Capital? What’s the reason?” Chen Chao was curious about these old stories, but lacked the means to find out, so he could only ask Xie Nandu.

”It had something to do with the foreign lands. I don’t know the specifics, and even the Xie Family is very secretive about it. But one thing is certain: Senior Brother Zhou’s life was saved by the Princess at the risk to her own life. Without her, Senior Brother Zhou would probably be dead by now.”

Chen Chao glared, ”Since that’s the case, why isn’t that guy coming? Your Father really wants to cut him a few times!”

Xie Nandu shook her head, ”He has his difficulties.”

Suppressing his anger, Chen Chao was about to speak when Xie Nandu suddenly said, ”Even the Princess probably wouldn’t want him to come see her.”

”Impossible! Elder Sister definitely wants to see him!”

It had been a long time since Chen Chao had refuted Xie Nandu like this.

Xie Nandu remained indifferent and said calmly, ”Wanting and being willing are clearly two different things.”

Chen Chao was left speechless.

”Chen Chao, I want to ask you something. If one day I am about to die, just like Her Highness the Princess is now, and you’re in a difficult situation, what would you choose?”

Xie Nandu quietly looked at Chen Chao, but before he could respond, she said, ”You don’t need to choose. When the time comes, don’t worry about me.”

……

……

The Great Liang Emperor walked alone into the princess’ bedchambers.

Li Heng, who had been serving at his side, stopped at the palace doors. Inside, when Liu Yan saw the Emperor, she quickly bowed and led the other palace maids out.

Princess Anping was sitting alone at her dressing table, applying her makeup. This Princess Anping looked extremely similar to that of her mother, but now she looked haggard, and even the cosmetics on her face could not conceal it.

The Great Liang Emperor stood at a distance, naturally thinking of the Empress who had accompanied him for many years.

”Yuan’er...”

The Great Liang Emperor opened his mouth but found it difficult to continue.

Princess Anping turned her head to look at her father. Seeing the undisguised sorrow on his face, she was a bit surprised. She rarely saw such emotions on her imperial father’s face. In the early years, when they were still in the Prince’s Manor, her imperial father would occasionally smile. But later, when he became the Great Liang Emperor, his facial expressions became increasingly stoic. Except for when he saw her imperial mother, even when looking at her and her siblings, there were hardly any emotional fluctuations.

”Imperial Father, give me a smile. Why pull a long face all the time?”

Princess Anping smiled and said, ”Birth, old age, illness, and death are inevitable for everyone. Imperial Father, as a great cultivator, haven’t you come to terms with this yet?” ”I happen to miss Imperial Mother as well. Going to accompany her isn’t something to be sad about.”

The Great Liang Emperor was silent, simply looking at his only daughter.

Princess Anping changed the subject and asked, ”You didn’t tell the Youngest, did you?”

The Great Liang Emperor nodded, but then said, ”You and Ol’Third are the closest. Don’t you want to see him one last time?”

”Imperial Mother didn’t even want to see any of us at the end, she just wanted to speak with you. The person that this daughter wants to see the most hasn’t come, so I don’t want to see anyone else. But there are a few things that this daughter would like to say to that rascal Chen Chao and that girl he likes.”

Princess Anping smiled, ”I can’t be bothered to watch Ol’Third cry. I’ve watched that rascal cry too many times already, I’m tired of it.”

”Imperial Father, there are some things this daughter wants to say too. You’re the ruler of a nation, bearing the weight of the country and the hopes of the people of Great Liang. Often, you must prioritize them. When it comes to matters of the state, the country comes first. It’s an unfortunate truth, but this daughter understands. Regarding what happened back then, Imperial Father did the best you could.” ”Keeping him alive was already quite an achievement. I’ve been resentful all these years, feeling that such an extraordinary person like you should have been able to handle it perfectly. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how difficult it must have been for Imperial Father. I’m first a princess of Great Liang and then your daughter. Over the years, while coming to terms with this, I often cursed you in secret. Please don’t be angry, Imperial Father. After all, I’m just a girl. Can’t I be a little petty?””

Princess Anping smiled at the Great Liang Emperor and said, ”The people of Great Liang are fortunate to have you, Imperial Father. I admire you very much too.”

The Great Liang Emperor thought for a moment and said softly, ”Sometimes We wonder, if they hadn’t pressured us so much back then, our family might have lived much easier lives. Your mother wouldn’t have been so overworked and wouldn’t have left so early. As for you, you could have married whomever you liked, and We wouldn’t have stopped you. By now, you might have had children of your own. Living like that would have been wonderful.”

Princess Anping shook her head and said, ”We carry the blood of the Emperor Lingzong and the ancestors of Great Liang. The responsibility is ours. These are the things you must do, Imperial Father.”

“There’s no such thing as what should or shouldn’t be, there was simply no choice.”

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