Tan Hua - Chapter 99: You Really Have a Heart of a Bodhisattva

Chapter 99: You Really Have a Heart of a Bodhisattva

 

The key was that after Jun Qiyu lost his sight, his other senses became extraordinarily sharp. The sensation of Song Liqing’s hair brushing against him made him itch, the gentle breath on the back of his hand, the warmth of his skin—all of it was extremely clear and distinct.

 

Every pore of his body was being teased, stirred.

 

Jun Qiyu had endured a journey of deep distress, with no outlet for his emotions, unable to get close yet yearning for closeness. To him, it was a form of delightful torture.

 

A day later, upon reaching the gate of the mansion, Jun Qiyu felt that this journey had been even more exhausting than recuperating. He was mentally drained, and as he got out of the carriage, he actually sighed in relief.

 

Song Liqing had been lying on the side, soundly asleep. He woke up only when they arrived, seeing the three golden plaques at the entrance of Qilin Mansion.

 

Song Liqing was still groggy from sleep, staring at the familiar characters, and for a moment, he couldn’t tell where he was.

 

“Already in the capital?”

 

“We’re still in the northwest. This mansion is modeled after the Qilin Mansion in the capital. You’ll see when you go inside,” Jun Qiyu said, spreading his arms.

 

Song Liqing was confused. “What for?”

 

“You didn’t hold onto me, and if I trip and fall, I’ll die,” Jun Qiyu said with a bitter laugh.

 

Song Liqing wasn’t too happy about it.

 

“If you fall and die, just have your servants help you. You have so many people in your mansion.”

 

Jun Qiyu pressed further, “Weren’t we so in sync before? Why don’t you want to now?”

 

Song Liqing refused to agree. “It was necessary before, under special circumstances. Now that you’re blind and deaf, I don’t need to serve you anymore.”

 

“You’re too heartless, Liqing,” Jun Qiyu whined. “If I die, who will save your Xingxu brother?”

 

Jun Qiyu’s words were so cheesy it was unbearable.

 

But he hit Song Liqing’s weak spot, and since he still needed something from him, he had to relent.

 

“Fine.”

 

Reluctantly, Song Liqing grabbed his arm and helped him up the stone steps.

 

“Can you still lead an army in this condition?” Song Liqing thought to himself but didn’t say it aloud, worried that Jun Qiyu, being untrustworthy, might change his mind again.

 

Jun Qiyu led him directly to their courtyard, and everything there was indeed arranged like before. Every blade of grass, every tree, though newly placed, seemed as if it had always been this way, unchanged, untouched.

 

Jun Qiyu kept talking about old memories in his ear, and when Song Liqing stepped into the courtyard, he suddenly stopped and refused to go further.

 

“What’s wrong?” Jun Qiyu looked pleased. “Come on, you can live here now. Everything inside and outside has been cleaned daily. If you need anything, just tell me, and I’ll have it sent over. By the way, I’ll move a bookshelf here for you. You can read books to pass the time.”

 

He did all this, thinking of pleasing Song Liqing, wanting to keep him around.

 

“No need,” Song Liqing shook his head. “I don’t read books.”

 

Jun Qiyu was stunned. “Hmm? Didn’t you always like reading and writing?”

 

“Not anymore.” Song Liqing suddenly smiled. “Who likes reading those boring books all day? If you’re worried I’ll be bored, you might as well build me a swing.”

 

“Eh?”

 

Jun Qiyu was taken aback, unsure whether he was being serious or just expressing lingering resentment.

 

Song Liqing looked around and said, “Why are there two pine trees planted here? They’re trimmed so neatly, like an old, frail scholar. Why not dig them up and plant some flowers instead?”

 

When Jun Qiyu heard this, he realized he was serious. But since Song Liqing had made a request, he didn’t object. That was already good enough.

 

“Alright,” Jun Qiyu replied cheerfully. “Someone, dig up these two trees and plant flowers. What flowers should we plant, Liqing?”

 

“Anything.” Song Liqing thought for a moment and added, “Just no peonies. Peonies are tacky.”

 

Jun Qiyu nodded along.

 

“Right, peonies are the most vulgar, flashy! Then what about…?”

 

“Lotus flowers! I’ve only seen lotus flowers in books, except for a couple in water jars. I’d like to have a whole pond full of them, a sea of lotus flowers.”

 

Song Liqing gazed dreamily, thinking it sounded nice.

 

“Good, as you wish.”

 

The housekeeper coughed and leaned in to remind Jun Qiyu, “Your Highness, lotus flowers like warm and wet conditions. They thrive in the south. Our northwest is cold and barren, and we don’t even have ponds. I’m afraid… afraid they won’t grow here.”

 

Jun Qiyu frowned and clicked his tongue.

 

“Is it hard to dig a pond? Go invite the best gardener… If it doesn’t work out, I’ll plant you in the soil.”

 

“Yes, yes,” the housekeeper nodded nervously.

 

Song Liqing added, “There must be frogs in the pond. In summer, they’ll croak and make it lively.”

 

“Alright, alright. We’ll raise frogs, ah, I mean, frogs in the pond,” the housekeeper wiped away a cold sweat.

 

Song Liqing stood with his hands on his hips, still not satisfied.

 

“And this wall, it blocks all the views. We don’t even know what’s happening outside.”

 

Jun Qiyu was slightly confused and said, “Didn’t you say before that it’s nice and quiet, without the noise from outside, helping you focus on your own things?”

 

“Can we tear it down?” Song Liqing asked.

 

“Alright! Tear it down!” Jun Qiyu said, smiling. “This wall is really in the way, right Liqing?”

 

“Uh… well…” The housekeeper hesitated.

 

“Is there a problem?” Jun Qiyu asked coldly.

 

“No.” The housekeeper straightened up. “It’s your home. You can even tear down Qilin Mansion if you want…”

 

Song Liqing felt a bit embarrassed after hearing this.

 

He quietly asked, “Jun Qiyu, isn’t this a bit too wasteful?”

 

“How could it be? Everything in the world belongs to me. Don’t I have money?” Jun Qiyu retorted.

 

“Yes,” Song Liqing added, “but it shouldn’t be too ostentatious or extravagant…”

 

Jun Qiyu said solemnly, “Isn’t it the right thing to do, taking from the people and using it for the people? We’re helping the common folk by hiring craftsmen and buying materials, right?”

 

“Well… that’s true.”

 

Jun Qiyu didn’t hold back on his praise, “Liqing, you’ve done a great service for the people. You really have the heart of a Bodhisattva.”

 

Song Liqing still had some doubts. “Really?”

 

Jun Qiyu, without changing his expression, said seriously, “Yes! Alright, let them start working in the next few days. You stay somewhere else for now. I have a place in mind. Let’s go check it out.”

 

Song Liqing was persuaded, and before he could figure out the logic, Jun Qiyu pushed him away.

 

The housekeeper watched their retreating figures, stunned for a long time, unable to recover.

 

“Really… really no end to it. Your Highness, look at how sycophantic you’ve become. You’re no longer the powerful and imposing person from before…”

 

The housekeeper stamped his feet in frustration, but since it was the Crown Prince’s orders, he couldn’t be negligent. He immediately commanded the workers to start digging up the trees, and the mansion became noisy. A beautifully dressed woman in unusual clothes was attracted to the commotion. It was Hu Yue’er.

 

After offending Jun Qiyu, Hu Yue’er had expected to be kicked out, but Jun Qiyu didn’t order her departure. Furthermore, the Crown Prince had been away for a while, and no one paid attention to her.

 

So, Hu Yue’er stayed in the mansion awkwardly, always hoping that when Jun Qiyu returned, she could regain his favor. As soon as she heard that Jun Qiyu had returned to the mansion, she hurried over.

 

“Housekeeper, what is going on here?”

 

The housekeeper crossed his arms and said with a blank expression.

 

“Tearing down the house.”

 

“Why tear it down?” Hu Yue’er asked in confusion. “Isn’t this the former Princess Consort’s residence? This is the most important place to His Highness. Outsiders aren’t allowed inside.”

 

“If someone dislikes it, then tear it down,” the housekeeper said helplessly. “At least it’s not the palace…”

 

“Oh?”

 

Hu Yue’er’s eyes lit up.

 

Over the past few days, Hu Yue’er had inquired and analyzed that the Crown Prince’s actions most likely indicated he still had some feelings for the deceased Princess Consort. Whether it was love or regret, she didn’t know, but the fact that Jun Qiyu had immediately torn down the main courtyard meant what?

 

It meant the Crown Prince had let go!

 

Once the Crown Prince had let go, her past offenses toward the late Princess Consort no longer seemed like a big deal.

 

After all, men are fickle, fond of novelty, and always tire of the old for the new. Perhaps Jun Qiyu might miss her for a while, but he wouldn’t remember her forever.

 

Hu Yue’er’s hope was reignited.

 

Author’s Note: My family has been discharged from the hospital! Thank you for your blessings.