Tan Hua - Chapter 115: The Old Demon, Jun

Chapter 115: The Old Demon, Jun

Two years later, in the capital of Jing Kingdom.

Inside a carriage sat a young man with fair skin, jet-black hair, crimson lips, and pearly teeth. His handsome appearance was enough to make passing women blush. Beside him sat a child dressed in luxurious clothing, pink and tender.

Those with an eye for such things would recognize this as the carriage of the rising star of the court, the Song residence. The capital now had two Song residences, one civil and one military, both held prominent positions. To differentiate them, Song Qing’s residence was referred to as the Grand General’s Mansion.

The carriage belonged to the younger Master Song’s residence, and inside sat Song Liqing, the youngest Prime Minister in history, and Song Guansheng, the youngest prince ever granted a fiefdom.

Song Liqing was animatedly telling a story:

“…That great fire burned for three whole days and nights. The black ash and dust were carried by the wind for dozens of miles. Inside the Loulan royal city, everything flammable was utterly consumed. All that remained were fragments of tiles and collapsed brick walls; even gold, silver, and bronze had melted in the blaze.”

The child, no more than five years old, listened intently. He held a stick of candied hawthorn, but seemed to have forgotten to eat it. His little face was serious, as if he fully understood every word.

“Did everyone die?” Guansheng asked, his big, dark eyes wide.

“About eighty percent of the city’s residents survived,” Song Liqing explained. “But without homes, they tried to rebuild. Yet something strange happened—the water sources, including the moat around the city, began drying up day by day. Without water, life was impossible. The people of Loulan, despairing, had no choice but to leave their homeland in search of new lands.”

Guansheng said seriously, “It must have been divine punishment for something so terrible even the heavens couldn’t tolerate it.”

Song Liqing pinched Guansheng’s nose.

“What do you know about divine punishment? Who told you that?”

Guansheng didn’t answer but curiously pressed on. “What happened next?”

“That’s the end of the story,” Song Liqing said after a moment. “Your Uncle Su Zhao told me this—the Western merchant who secretly hid you. Do you remember him?”

Guansheng nodded. “I do.”

“You remember nothing. You were barely this tall then,” Song Liqing gestured. “How could you possibly recall?”

“I do! He gave me a gemstone ring to play with and told me to stay quiet and not cry,” Guansheng insisted. “So what happened to Loulan?”

Song Liqing sighed. Guansheng might really remember; the child was precocious.

“Later, opportunists visited the ruins of Loulan and unearthed large melted gold nuggets, making a fortune. That sparked a gold rush, with many digging up treasures. But those who went to Loulan developed strange sores all over their bodies that no treatment could cure. People called it the curse of Loulan’s dead royalty on the greedy. Since then, no one dares to go near the place. By now, the ruins are likely buried in sand, becoming part of the desert. Even the most experienced camels can’t make it through.”

Guansheng’s eyes sparkled with fascination. “I want to go.”

Song Liqing teased, “Aren’t you afraid of boils on your head and sores on your bottom?”

“That land is mine; the curse won’t affect me.”

Loulan had vanished from history, but its territory had been granted to Guansheng by Jun Qiyu, fulfilling a promise made to the late king of Loulan.

“Father, you’ve worked hard at court. Here, have a candied hawthorn,” Guansheng said, his tone soothing.

Song Liqing gladly accepted, taking a bite. The sweet and sour fruit, wrapped in a thin layer of sugar, was delicious.

“You eat some too,” he said, offering the skewer back.

Guansheng wrinkled his nose. “I don’t like childish things like that.”

Song Liqing: “…”

“Eat slowly, or you’ll choke on the seeds again like last time,” Guansheng admonished, “and only one skewer a day. The neighbor’s child ate too many and got cavities.”

“Yes, yes,” Song Liqing relented.

This was a role reversal if there ever was one.

When they returned to the Song residence, Xiaodi, a maid, was waiting by the wall. Seeing them, she immediately rushed forward, crouching to embrace Guansheng.

Guansheng raised a hand to stop her. “Sister Xiaodi, please behave. I’m not a three-year-old anymore.”

Xiaodi rolled her eyes but was used to this by now.

“You little rascal, even at ten, what difference does it make?”

“Men and women shouldn’t touch,” Guansheng declared solemnly.

“What if I were a man?” Xiaodi teased.

“Then men shouldn’t touch either,” Guansheng retorted.

Xiaodi burst out laughing, leaving Guansheng fuming as he stomped off to the study.

Trailing after Song Liqing, Xiaodi muttered, “Why does that kid act like such an adult? Were you this prim and proper as a child?”

Song Liqing hesitated. “I was probably a bit better. Sometimes, I wonder if the underworld’s Meng Po gave him less reincarnation soup.”

Guansheng was unusually mature, practically a little adult. Song Liqing didn’t have to worry about raising him; if anything, Guansheng took care of him more often.

“Young Master, the Ning Duke’s family sent a visiting card, saying they want to bring their granddaughter by. Looks like they’re trying to marry her to you,” Xiaodi said with a giggle.

Song Liqing accepted the card but tossed it into a drawer without looking.

“I’ll write a reply later to decline.”

“And the Duke of Qing’s family? A matchmaker camped at our door all morning.”

Song Liqing rubbed his temples, unsure how to handle this when Guansheng suddenly burst in, having heard everything.

He began rummaging through the drawer, dumping its contents onto the desk.

“This is an important life matter, Father. Let me help you choose.”

Under Song Liqing and Xiaodi’s stunned gazes, Guansheng began sifting through the cards.

“This one won’t do—her family is mediocre, her father’s only a fourth-rank official, and there’s no title. This one’s worse—she has three useless brothers who’d drain our resources. And this one—just look at the portrait! Oh, and this family, this family sent a card for a man! Father, he says he’s willing to marry you with full rites!”

Song Liqing, exasperated, dragged him away by the ear.

“Children meddling in their parents’ affairs—when did that become a thing? If you’re so clever, I’ll find you a family to marry into.”

Xiaodi laughed so hard she doubled over.

“Who told you your father is such a coveted prize?”

Their laughter was interrupted by a servant’s arrival.

“My lord, he’s here again…”

Before Song Liqing could respond, Guansheng’s eyebrows shot up, and he bristled like a cat.

“Jun, the Old Demon!”