Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Prince Longevity (End)
 

The Emperor was obsessed with immortality, stuffing himself with all sorts of rubbish. In just two or three years, his body was already failing.

The more this happened, the more irritable the Emperor became.

The Little Taoist Priest, fearing entanglement, took the money and ran.

He had always been in disguise in the palace; once outside, he changed his appearance, and nobody could catch him.

“Princess Consort Jin, do you think all this mischief will come back to haunt you?”

The Little Taoist Priest lamented in the Juyuan Pavilion.

He might have made a good sum of money in the Imperial Palace.

What a pity, now the Emperor is like a ticking time bomb.

He wouldn’t dare make a joke at the expense of his own head.

Chuzheng seriously asked, “What mischief?”

The corner of the Little Taoist Priest’s mouth twitched; she wouldn’t even admit it.

Alright then.

She had never admitted it.

Yet here was Cheng Xiao’s current plight.

Ye Yang, secretly executed.

He didn’t believe these were unconnected to her.

This Princess Consort Jin sure knew how to hold a grudge.

Thank goodness he hadn’t crossed her back in the day.

The Little Taoist Priest felt relieved at the thought.

After chatting nonsense with Chuzheng, he set out his stall to swindle money.

He had no choice; to maintain his lifestyle, he had to swindle money.

Chuzheng’s money?

All spent.

The Little Taoist Priest was a big spender; he gambled it all away.

But not Chuzheng; according to Bastard rules, gambling is considered an illegal way to squander wealth.

Illegal squandering didn’t count as completing the task and he had to pay double.

Infuriating!

He lost the money fair and square, why shouldn’t it count!

The Little Taoist Priest hummed a tune as he went downstairs.

On the staircase, he collided with Yan Gui and flashed him a grin, “Prince Jin, how about it, was I wrong before?”

Yan Gui’s lashes fluttered downward, “Taoist speaks the truth.”

The Taoist Priest chuckled, “Pay up.”

Yan Gui fiddled in his sleeve, “That’s all there is.”

“Tsk, Princess Consort Jin is much more generous than you,” the Taoist Priest snorted as he walked past Yan Gui, “I shall take my leave.”

Yan Gui turned around and watched the Taoist Priest dart out of the door, vanishing into the bustling crowd.

“Your fate may not be great, but you will meet a noble person who can protect you for a carefree life.”

Those were the words the Little Taoist Priest had once caught up to him to say.

How had he responded then?

He asked—what should he do?

At that time, it was just a casual question; he didn’t believe in this Taoist Priest who obviously looked like a swindler.

The Taoist Priest said he would believe.

They even made a bet.

“Yan Gui.”

Snapping back to reality, Yan Gui looked up at the girl standing above him. He curved his lips slightly and ascended towards her.

He would believe.

And now, he did.

–

The Emperor passed away a year later.

Prince Jin, who had planned to rebel, seemed to have no intention of doing so as he was constantly pampered by Chuzheng.

The Court Officials eventually put another Prince on the throne.

Three years after the new Emperor’s ascension, there was peace throughout the land, the people were safe and content, and all praised him as a wise leader.

In the Imperial City, the most enviable were not the concubines in the Harem nor the emperors and generals, but the carefree Prince Jin without power or influence.

Princess Consort Jin changed the city’s trees with each season.

In spring, she planted crabapples.

In summer, Chinese Scholar trees.

In autumn, crape myrtles.

In winter, red plum trees.

All year round, she made sure Prince Jin could see a city full of colors.

A bunch of tree merchants made a fortune.

The Prince Jin Mansion became a bottomless pit of gold and silver.

It was rumored the floors were paved with warm jade.

Since Prince Jin was sensitive to the cold, the whole Prince Jin Mansion had an underfloor heating system—Earth Dragon—installed, providing warmth even in the corridors.

Squandering resources?

The Princess Consort has money to burn, and no one can stop her.

In the Imperial City, all the girls wish they could marry into Prince Jin Mansion.

Prince Jin?

What about Prince Jin? They want to marry Princess Consort Jin.

This really distresses the scions of noble families in the Imperial City, who find their beloved girls think they’re not romantic enough.

Can they even hope to emulate the romantic gestures of Princess Consort Jin?

Those are all bought with money, okay?

If Princess Consort Jin keeps this up, they’ll never get brides!!

Listening to Xiao Guizi recount the interesting stories from outside, Yan Gui chuckles lightly, “They all want to marry the Princess Consort?”

“Exactly, now all those wealthy daughters wish they were born as boys,” Xiao Guizi sighs.

Not to mention the others, even some scions of noble families seem a little tempted.

Princess Consort Jin truly dotes on the Prince with all her heart.

Xiao Guizi always feels that someone as delicate as the Prince should live just like that.

And now, there really is someone who has achieved it…

“Then I need to keep a closer eye on the Princess Consort.”

“…” Who would dare to compete with you?

“Prince, the young miss invites you to the Flying Star Pavilion,” comes Lv Zhu’s voice from outside.

Yan Gui stands up, and Xiao Guizi quickly fetches a cloak, fastening it on Yan Gui.

Outside, the wind and snow are harsh, but the chilled breeze does not seem biting.

Yan Gui gathers the cloak around him, following behind the servants carrying lanterns on the way to the Flying Star Pavilion.

Today is New Year’s Eve, and the entire Prince’s Mansion is also very lively, with lanterns hung along the corridors.

“Prince.”

“Prince, may you live a thousand blessings.”

The servants greet Yan Gui with laughter and smiles.

“What is the Princess Consort summoning the Prince for so late?” Xiao Guizi and Lv Zhu lag behind.

“I don’t know.” Lv Zhu has an honest face.

“You must know.” Xiao Guizi doesn’t believe her.

The Princess Consort issues all her orders through Lv Zhu, how could she not know?

“Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you.” Lv Zhu sticks out her tongue at Xiao Guizi and catches up to Yan Gui, “Prince, please slow down, the young miss said there’s no rush.”

Yan Gui’s gentle voice drifts back, “I don’t want to keep her waiting too long.”

Flying Star Pavilion was built last year by Chuzheng; it is the tallest building in the entire Imperial City, from which one can overlook the entire cityscape.

Yan Gui climbs up to the Flying Star Pavilion.

Snowflakes flutter down, adding a chill to the pavilion.

Chuzheng stands at the edge of the pavilion, extending her hand to him.

Yan Gui places his hand in hers, and she pulls him into her embrace, her body always radiating warmth, enough to dispel the cold.

“Did you call me here for something?”

“Cold?”

“Not really, you’re very warm.”

Chuzheng pulls him in a little tighter, “Is it beautiful?”

Yan Gui looks down following Chuzheng’s gaze.

The Imperial City is ablaze with lights, exuding joy.

It used to be a view from below, but now, looking down from above feels completely different.

“Truly beautiful.”

He never thought that one day he would stand at the highest point, overlooking the Imperial City with someone.

Bang—

Majestic fireworks explode in the dark night sky.

The colors, vibrant and resplendent, reflect in Yan Gui’s eyes, the fireworks bloom like flowers, illuminating the entire night sky.

One after another, they spread from Flying Star Pavilion toward the distance.

The whole sky is filled with blooming fireworks, dreamlike and ephemeral.

“The Princess Consort is always pleasing the Prince,” Xiao Guizi comments nonchalantly, poking Lv Zhu, “How much money did the Princess Consort spend?”

“Anyway, even if you sell yourself ten thousand times, it still wouldn’t be enough,” Lv Zhu snorts.

“…”

Lv Zhu gazes at the fireworks in the night sky, “If someone set off fireworks across the whole city for me, I would probably cry for a long time.”

Xiao Guizi genuinely laments, “The Princess Consort is so good to the Prince.”

Chuzheng: “…” Not really, I’m just breaking the bank.

Yan Gui tightens his grip on Chuzheng’s hand, his heartbeat unusually fast.

Even after being with her for a long time, he still finds his heart racing every time she does things like this.

The two stand together, watching the fireworks bloom across the night sky.

Amidst the fluttering snow, a faint voice is heard.

“We’ll always be together, right?”

“Mm.”

*

The sixth dimension has concluded.