Jing’s life, was high in the clouds and also in the dust, passing through storms and whirlpools, only to return to the ordinary world. As for Ye Shiqi, his identity resembled a phoenix reborn, blossoming alone in the soil of Qing Shui Town, atop wounds that had yet to heal. If love is an unsolvable riddle, Tushan Jing answered it with the gentle undertones of his being.
From ancient times to the present, they have been engaged in commerce for generations, with businesses spread throughout Da Huang. They have so much money that they don’t even regard it as money. It’s said that even the kings of Xuanyuan and Shennong once borrowed money from them. They are truly wealthy enough to rival nations. “
“I am Tushan Jing. Even if the Emperor Jun were here, he would need to think carefully before deciding to kill me. No other general would dare to act on their own.”
…
It seems that although Zhuanxu was very angry that Shiqi helped Xiaoliu escape and wanted to make Shiqi suffer a bit to teach him that the dignity of the Xuanyuan prince must not be offended, he still had to consider the Tushan clan. So, he only dared to imprison Shiqi without daring to humiliate him.
Xiaoyao nodded. If the nine-tailed fox is the king of the foxes clan, then the head of the Tushan clan is the king of the king of foxes. No one in this world could understand how to harness the power of the nine-tailed fox demons better than Tushan Jing.
Xiaoyao anxiously and fearfully asked You, “You can smell Hou’s death aura, but… what about others?”
Huya replied, “The Clan Leader is the King of the fox clan; You doesn’t have the ability to determine his life or death.”
Seeing Xiaoyao’s pale face and the anxiety in her eyes, as if she might burst into tears at any moment, Huya couldn’t bear it and added, “For now, only Hou’s death aura is detectable; there’s no sign of death for Fangfeng Yiying.”
Bì Jun approached them head-on, and Xiaoyao said to Jing, “This is Ah Bì, whom I’ve often mentioned to you before.”
Jing bowed, but Bì Jun quickly stepped aside to avoid it. Xiaoyao, aware of the strict hierarchy within the demon clan, understood and smiled, saying, “You’ve come at just the right time; accompany us to pay our respects to the Queen Mother!”
长相思第48章 相逢犹恐是梦中(2)
Bi Jun is the fox demon adopted by Chiyou/Chichen ; being part of the Fox clan, he cannot bring himself to accept the King’s bow. He accepted Jing’s bow at the yaojing wedding as Xiaoyao’s older brother.
小六问：“你没有去看比赛？” “涂山氏并不善于与人打斗，每次来这里的主要目的是谈生意和招揽人才。”
Xiaoliu asked, “You didn’t go to watch the competition?” “The Tushan clan isn’t skilled in fighting. Our main purpose in coming here is usually to conduct business and recruit talent.”
长相思第29章 盛会在何时(3)
这就是小夭想出来应付相柳的法子，全天下到处都有涂山氏开的车马行，只要小夭有钱，什么都能送到清水镇。
This is the plan Xiaoyao came up with to deal with Xiangliu. The Tushan family has carriages and transport services everywhere in the world. As long as Xiaoyao has money, anything can be delivered to Qingshui Town.
Renovating the palace involves not just craftsmen but also key materials. The Tushan family is a major merchant group, and regardless of what is needed, they can provide the highest quality goods at the most reasonable prices. After careful discussion, the advisers suggested that Zhuanxu should procure as many of the raw materials as possible from the Tushan family. Even if the prices are slightly higher, the quality and delivery time are guaranteed, and if any issues arise later, they can hold Qingqiu accountable.
长相思第1章 青梅赋相思(1)
涂山氏的商铺遍布中原，从男人用的兵器到女人用的脂粉，什么生意都做。
The Tushan family’s shops are spread across the Central Plains, dealing in everything from weapons for men to cosmetics for women—they do all kinds of business.
Qingqiu City is very close to Zhi Yi, yet it is completely different. Due to the Tushan clan, the people of Qingqiu City live in prosperity, and the pace of pedestrians on the streets is much slower, creating a leisurely, unhurried atmosphere.
The Yellow Emperor said wearily, “It’s best if you know what you’re doing. The Tushan clan’s business spans across the entire Great Wilderness. If something happened to the clan leader, it won’t just affect the major clans of the Great Wilderness. If you don’t handle it well, it could impact the entire Great Wilderness and jeopardize the current peace.”
长相思第28章 魂梦安能定(3)
TUSHAN FAMILY NAME
As Tushan Jing, he only has to do standing bow to Kings even before he was officially clan leader.
S1 E31
Of course, the King of Haoling might have also taken into consideration that Xiaoyao would want Jing to live, so he agreed to this request.
“为了给公子续命，太夫人已经想尽一切办法，都请求了俊帝陛下允许公子进入圣地归墟的水眼养病…
To extend the young master’s life, the Grand Madam had already tried everything she could think of, even going so far as to request permission from His Majesty the Jun Emperor for the Young Master to enter the sacred land of Guixu to heal in the waters there…
长相思第14章 但感别时久(3)
Jing paid his respects with full kneeling bow to the King of Haoling
Jing said, “The world believes that His Majesty treated Xiao Yao as his own daughter because he was unaware of the truth, but they don’t know that His Majesty knew the truth all along and still regarded Xiao Yao as his own. If I could deduce that it was the Black Emperor who spread the rumors across the Great Wilderness, someone as wise as His Majesty surely saw through it as well; if I could speculate on the Black Emperor’s intentions, someone as cautious as His Majesty surely thought of them too.”
Jing then knelt and performed a grand bow, “Jing thanks Your Majesty for the care and protection shown to Xiao Yao.”
As the clan leader of Tushan, Jing only needed to perform a bow when meeting the Yellow Emperor and the Jun Emperor, without the need to kneel. Yet now, he knelt before the Jun Emperor.
长相思第9章 花开花谢故人别(1)
Jing paid his respects with full kneeling bow to Ah Heng
The Emperor Jun said, “His name is Tushan Jing, the clan leader of the Tushan Nine-Tailed Foxes from Qingqiu.”
Jing knelt down in a full bow to Ah Heng. “This junior pays respects to the Princess.”
Ah Heng raised her hand slightly. “You are the Leader of your clan; such formalities are unnecessary.”
The Jun Emperor said, “He wants your most precious thing, so naturally, he must act this way.”
A-Heng saw Jing kneeling behind Xiao Yao, refusing to get up. She understood everything immediately, her emotions became mixed and for a moment, she couldn’t say a single word.
长相思第11章 花开花谢故人别(3)
Jing paid his respects with full kneeling bow to the Queen Mother of Mount Jade
Jing knelt down and said, “Before heading off to war, Xiaoyao’s mother entrusted her to you, and you raised her for seventy years, and have continued to look after her since. It’s only right that Xiaoyao serves you, but she is my wife, and I cannot let her take over Mount Jade.”
The Queen Mother snorted coldly, displeased. “Do you think that one can decide to become the Queen Mother of Mount Jade on a whim?”
Xiaoyao sat down beside the Queen Mother, shaking her arm and said, “My dear great-aunt, please stop teasing him!”
The Queen Mother sighed helplessly and said to Jing, “Get up! When a daughter grows up, she sides with her husband; there’s no keeping her!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Jing respectfully kowtowed three times before standing up.
The Grand Madam pointed to the female physician standing by her side and said, “Her name is She Meier. She is from the Jiuli tribe and once studied about poisonous bugs under the tribe’s shaman. She later became a female slave, and I happened to rescue her and brought her back to the Tushan clan.
I found renowned teachers for her to study medicine.
Although she may not be famous in the Great Wilderness, her medical skills are certainly not inferior to the Court Physicians of Gao Xin and Xuanyuan.”
长相思第20章 爱恨两依依(1)
涂山氏不愧是天下首富，准备的东西比王族所藏都好。 一切准备妥当后，小夭开始炼药。
The Tushan Clan truly lives up to its reputation as the wealthiest in the world; the medicinal ingridients they prepared are even better than those stored by royalty.
Once everything was ready, Xiaoyao began refining the medicine.
Ever since Xiaoyao learned that Yiying and Hou might harm Jing, she wanted to refine some life-saving medicine for him. Making poison was easy for Xiaoyao, but refining life-saving elixirs was much more difficult, especially since the pill she intended to create must be extraordinary. It had to be capable of restoring at least a third of vitality in any kind of situation.
Otherwise, with the abundance of elixirs in the Tushan Clan, Xiaoyao wouldn’t need to go to such lengths.
长相思第48章 风不定，人初静(3)
TUSHAN JING , Master Qingqiu
His father carried the Tushan family’s ‘purest’ bloodline, with only two sons borne to him – Hou and Jing.
His mother is from Shen family, the head of the 6 major families in Central Plains. 曋氏是中原六大氏之首 – 长相思第26章 风回处，寄珍重(1)
In the bright and radiant sunlight, amidst the vibrant and lively flowers, there stood a gentleman, as noble as gold and as steadfast as tin, as precious as jade scepters and discs. Everything was pleasing to the eye and brought joy to the heart.
A bamboo shoot has nodes even before it emerges from the ground, and when it grows tall enough to reach the clouds, it remains humble at heart. This describes not only bamboo but also a virtuous person.
A person of talent and virtue maintains their integrity even when not in use, unaffected by vulgar trends. When they achieve great accomplishments, they remain humble and treat others with modesty.
His colors 青色，天青色 Green, Sky Blue
有船从河上过，一个青衣男子坐在船头，背对着小六，和另一个蓝色衣衫的男子欣赏着岸边的风景。
熟悉的背影让小六立即认出是璟，小六知道他看不到自己，所以明目张胆地盯着他看。
A boat passed by on the river. A man in a green robe sat at the bow, with his back to Xiaoliu, admiring the riverside scenery with another man in a blue robe.
The familiar back made Xiaoliu immediately recognize Jing. Knowing that he couldn’t see her, Xiaoliu boldly stared at him.
Suddenly, a few fireworks burst into the sky over the Chishui River, lighting up the night. It turned out that fireworks were being set off from a boat, drawing people to the shore to watch. In the surge of the crowd, Xiaoliu was pushed all the way to the front.
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet… Fireworks of all colors and shapes bloomed above the boat, illuminating the two figures standing at the bow with striking clarity.
The man was dressed in sky-blue robes, standing quietly with an air of elegance, like a graceful pine or bamboo in a mountain stream.
Jing, dressed in a sky-blue robe, stood between the thatched hut and the pond, gazing at the rolling mist and waiting quietly. Under the bright moonlight, he was like a slender bamboo growing on a sheer cliff, graceful and pure in demeanor.
Jing was never like white jade, so there was no question of white jade being tarnished. Tushan Jing was like the bright moon—though the moon may wax and wane, its light remains untainted by the dark night. He did not need anyone’s pity.
Xiao Yao walked into the ancestral home and saw Jing sitting beside the Xiling clan leader. Dressed in a green robe, he looked slender and refined, with a reserved and courteous smile on his face, but there was a weary, sickly pallor in his features.
Xiao Yao’s heart skipped a beat—was he ill? He looked very unwell, so why did he insist on attending the wedding in person? Did he come because he wanted to, or was it out of fear that Fenglong might think he harbored resentment and felt compelled to attend? Did anyone know he is ill…?
For a moment, Xiao Yao’s thoughts were in turmoil.
Xiaoyao stood in front of the bamboo house, watching Jing approach in green robes, walking through the snow. From afar to near, from blurred to clear, he stood right in front of her. Jing extended his hand to brush off the snowflakes from her cloak and smiled, saying, “Xiaoyao, I’ve come.”
The man before her had elegant features and a slender figure, like a clear spring in a secluded valley or tall bamboo in a mountain stream, calming anyone who saw him. “I’ve seen you before. You are the Young Master of Qingqiu—the Tushan Clan Leader.”
Amidst the sky full of rosy clouds and shimmering lights, a white crane gracefully approached. Atop the white crane stood a person in green, poised and elegant, as ethereal as floating clouds, as radiant as the bright moon.
Zhuanxu’s expression changed abruptly, and he involuntarily took a few steps forward. Xiao Yao also stood up suddenly, eyes wide open, body trembling uncontrollably.
The person in green leaped down from the white crane and stood before the altar. He looked as if he had just recovered from a long illness, his complexion pale and figure slender, but his features were delicate, his demeanor composed, naturally graceful and charming.
长相思第48章 相逢犹恐是梦中(2)
颛顼和璟，一个岿然不动如山岳，一个长身玉立如青竹。
Zhuanxu stood steadfast like a mountain, while Jing stood tall and elegant like a bamboo.
长相思第48章 相逢犹恐是梦中(2)
颛顼转身，在看到小夭时，也看到了另一个人，有匪君子、如圭如璧、宽兮绰兮、清兮扬兮。
Zhuanxu turned around, and upon seeing Xiaoyao, he also saw another person—an extraordinary gentleman, as flawless as jade, graceful and noble, clear and distinguished.
长相思第48章 相逢犹恐是梦中(2)
璟对颛顼行揖礼：“见过陛下。”
起身时，他握住了小夭的手，一白一青两道身影，犹如皓月绿竹，相依相伴。
Jing bowed to Zhuanxu: “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
As he stood up, he held Xiaoyao’s hand. The two figures, one in white and one in green, were like the bright moon and green bamboo, supporting and accompanying each other.
长相思第48章 相逢犹恐是梦中(2)
Tushan Jing’s wedding gown has bamboo with embroidered gold threads
TUSHAN JING’S FLYING MOUNT
Cranes are often used as symbols of tranquility, peace, or patience.
Is such a perfect gentleman boring? Hardly. Jing’s flying mount – a crane is impishly named 狸狸 from 狐狸 ( fox). fanart cr to artist
Xiaoliu fled toward the northeast, holding up a jade fox sachet. A large celestial crane descended, and Xiaoliu climbed onto its back. The crane carried him as it continued flying northeast.
The Zijin Palace had many halls, but most had been deserted for several hundred years, leaving many of them desolate. A small white fox hopped along, leading Xiaoyao through the most secluded paths until they reached a grove of maple trees. A white crane gracefully approached Xiaoyao.
Xiaoyao recognized it as Jing’s mount, named Lili.
With a smile, Xiaoyao greeted Lili and climbed onto its back.
Jing took out a jade tube about a foot long, unscrewed the lid, and a few spiders crawled out, waving their eight legs as they busily moved between the trees.
Xiaoyao recognized them and asked, “Pansi spiders? Are you planning to spin some silk?” Pansi silk, which was as famous as Jiaoxiao in the Great Wilderness, was spun from the silk of these Pansi spiders. It was as thin as a cicada’s wings, soft like flowing clouds, resistant to water and fire, and impossible to cut with a knife, making it extremely precious.
Jing leaped to Xiaoyao’s side, holding her close to shield her from the cold mountain wind. “These are the Pansi spiders I raised when I was young, but I didn’t raise them for their silk.”
Xiaoyao watched intently as the eight spiders spun their silk and wove a web, like the most skillful weavers in the world. In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they had completed an intricate web.
The eight spiders crawled back to Jing, who fed each of them a drop of jade essence. The spiders seemed satisfied, swaying as they returned to the jade tube.
Xiaoyao examined the web. She wondered what Jing had been feeding the spiders over the years, as the silk they spun was a deep sea blue. The sea-blue web was in the shape of an octagon, with eight corners attached to the tree branches. The center hung in mid-air, with the threads arranged in an orderly grid, yet intertwined in a rippling pattern, resembling delicate blue silk under the dim starlight.
Xiaoyao looked at it from every angle, unable to figure out what Jing intended to do with the web, and asked in confusion, “Are you planning to take it back and make clothes out of it?”
Jing laughed and suddenly grabbed Xiaoyao, leaping down. Before she could even cry out, she found herself landing softly on the web, as if lying on a comfortable bed.
Xiaoyao curiously touched the web. It wasn’t just soft; it also had a bit of warmth. She laughed out loud, “Jing, you were quite the mischievous child, coming up with such a way to sleep in the wild. But then again, only someone from Tushan could afford to do this.”
Jing’s eyes reflected a mix of nostalgia and sorrow as he smiled and said, “Mother and my elder brother had always indulged me.”
This was the first time they truly saw his appearance clearly.
He had long, jet-black eyebrows, bright, clear eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. Despite wearing simple coarse linen clothes, he carried himself with an air of elegance and nobility. Instantly, both Pimply and Skinny felt ashamed and overwhelmed with a sense of reverence.
The man obediently sat on the stone steps to the side, slowly tearing off a piece of licorice root and putting a small piece into his mouth. Even though he was merely eating licorice root, his actions were so refined and noble that it made one feel as if he were consuming a divine fruit from a sacred mountain.
Mazi consoled, “Brother Liu, some people are born like clouds in the sky, while others are like mud on the ground. There’s no comparison. We just need to stay within our means and be the mud on the ground.”
Xiaoliu became furious, “I will call him ‘mud on ground’.”
When the time was right, Xiaoliu took out the hard-baked clay, giving it a strong whack, causing the clay to crack open and release a fragrant aroma. Xiaoliu divided the mountain pheasant into three portions. He wrapped one portion and put it into his basket. The slightly larger portion he handed to Shiqi, saying, “You must finish it; you’re too thin.”
As Xiaoliu gnawed on his own portion, he watched Shiqi.
Shiqi remained the same, every move elegant and noble, as if he were sitting at the finest dining table, savoring the most exquisite feast.
Xiaoliu sighed. In reality, Shiqi’s condescension was of a different kind. A’Nian’s made Xiaoliu want to hit her and bring her down.
But Shiqi’s made Xiaoliu want to knead him, to let her own muddled energy rub off on him, so he wouldn’t truly turn into a white cloud and drift away with the wind .
Xiaoliu said to Shiqi angrily, “I will eventually find his weak spot. If I can’t poison him, I’ll walk backwards.”
Shiqi’s eyes held a slight smile. Seeing his transcendent demeanor, Xiaoliu couldn’t help but want to give him a good squeeze. Unable to resist, he poured a cup of poisoned wine and handed it over, “Drink it!”
长相思第5章 前路未可知(2)
十七垂下了头，小六微笑着说：“我还是比较喜欢药草的味道，下次你来看我时，我给你个药草的香囊吧。”
十七抬起了头，眼眸中有星光落入，绽放着璀璨的光芒。
小六笑着继续散步，十七快走了几步，和他并肩而行。
Shiqi lowered his head, and Xiao Liu smiled, saying, “I still prefer the scent of medicinal herbs. Next time you come to see me, I’ll give you a sachet with that scent.”
Shiqi looked up, and starlight seemed to fall into his eyes, shining brilliantly.
Xiao Liu smiled and continued to walk, while Shiqi quickly took a few steps to walk by his side.
Only then did Xiaoliu notice a gentleman sitting in the corner opposite, dressed in exquisite clothing and wearing a veiled hat. Although his face was hidden and he wore no expensive accessories, his elegant posture and dignified demeanor commanded respect. Xiaoliu tilted his head, wondering when such an important figure had arrived in Qingshui Town. Just then, a beautiful servant hurried in, bowed to the gentleman, and stood behind him—it was Jing Ye disguised as a man.
Gaoxin is warm all year round, and its clothing is very light and emphasizes flowing beauty. People there like to wear wooden clogs. At this moment, Shiqi was dressed in sky-blue Gaoxin attire, with wide sleeves, a light robe with a loose belt, and his hair tied with a jade crown. He wore wooden clogs, and as he walked, his steps were as fluid as clouds, and his garments fluttered gracefully. He truly appeared as though he was bright as the moon, and moved with the grace of flowing water.
Two maidservants were stunned by the sight, and Xiaoliu couldn’t take his eyes off him either. Shiqi felt a bit embarrassed and lowered his gaze slightly, yet he seemed to enjoy being looked at by Xiaoliu. Meeting Xiaoliu’s gaze, he walked up to him.
The Emperor Jun did not eat much and did not drink alcohol. His demeanor was proper, and his actions were perfect.
Cangxuan and Shiqi were equally elegant and pleasing to the eye in every bite and sip, every move they made. Chewing, drinking, raising their cups, placing their bowls—everything was done without making a sound, displaying impeccable grace.
“From childhood to adulthood, I was always a favored child of heaven. There was a woman who practiced dancing for ten years just to catch my eye. A renowned scholar traveled thousands of miles to Qingqiu and stayed for seven years just to play a game of chess with me. Some would spend a fortune to buy a painting from me, while others regarded me as a master of writing.
Ah Nian said to Xiaoliu, “Father is well-versed in music and is said to be especially skilled at playing the zither. He personally taught my brother music. Although my brother can’t compare to Tushan Jing, the young master of Qingqiu, he’s still quite talented.”
Xinyue sighed, “It’s not that I’m belittling myself, you just haven’t heard Brother Jing play the qin. Back in the day, the music played by the Young Master of Qingqiu captivated countless people!
My mother had hired two excellent teachers for me, but in truth, it was Brother Jing’s guidance that allowed me to truly grasp the art of the qin.
However, after he went through a calamity, I heard from my brother that his fingers were severely injured and are no longer as nimble as before, so he no longer plays the qin.”
After a few moves, Xuan realized that Jing was truly deserving of his reputation.
Move after move, Xuan gradually stopped chatting and began to focus intently on the chessboard. People say that meeting a confidant is worth a thousand cups of wine, but meeting a worthy chess opponent is an even more exhilarating experience. Xuan had been taught chess by the Yellow Emperor, and when he first learned, he played against the famous generals and capable ministers of the Great Wilderness. As a result, Xuan rarely encountered a worthy opponent, often only showing a fraction of his skill. However, today, he found himself gradually becoming fully engaged in the game.
With the Yellow Emperor’s permission, Jing could come and go from Shennong Mountain with ease. He visited Little Moon Peak every day, but not to accompany Xiaoyao.
Instead, at the Emperor’s request, he played chess with him. Using a specially crafted divine chessboard, the board was a world unto itself, with landscapes and terrains within it. Battles and hunting across the world could take months to complete a single game.
Xiaoyao nestled beside them, reading medical books and dozing off.
One evening, a game of chess finally concluded.
The Yellow Emperor gazed at the board and sighed,
“It’s a pity that your aspirations does not lie here; it’s fortunate that your aspirations does not lie here!”
Although Xiaoliu had wandered for a hundred years within the Great Wilderness, she had only roamed around the Central Plains and had never truly explored Gaoxin.
Jing was different. He had been rigorously trained from a young age as the future clan leader and had traveled within the Great Wilderness with the Tushan clan’s caravan since he was a child. Whether it was Jiuli filled with the poisonous creatures and fierce beasts or the ever-changing seas, he had traversed them all.
This time, taking Xiaoliu on a journey was like revisiting old haunts. He knew exactly where the beautiful scenery and delicious food were, arranging everything meticulously so that Xiaoliu didn’t need to worry about a thing.
Zhuanxu, Jing, and Xiaoyao changed into Gao Xin attire. Zhuanxu and Xiaoyao spoke fluent Gao Xin dialect, and Jing spoke it convincingly as well. As they walked down the street, all the vendors believed they were Gao Xin natives.
长相思第17章 却道相思苦(1)
He also wanted to change the world for the better.
“At the time, I didn’t think much about it. I simply thought that all I wanted was Xiaoyao, so it was better to give everything to Fenglong and help him achieve his goals.”
“Why help me? Because of Xiaoyao?”
“No! When I first started traveling and learning to do business, it was not long after His Majesty the Yellow Emperor unified the Central Plains. I followed the trade caravans across the vast wilderness and saw too many people displaced and homeless.
I deeply realized that the world needed a truly benevolent ruler. The ruler of a nation affects the lives of countless people. I could adhere to the clan rules for Xiaoyao and not support Canglin and Yuyang, but I could never go against my ancestors’ teachings, break the clan rules, and unite the four great families and the Central Plains clans to support His Majesty’s ascension. I did it because His Majesty’s vision and talent convinced me that what I was doing was right! To this day, I have no regrets about my choice, and I believe Fenglong doesn’t either. Our choice and persistence were entirely correct.”
长相思第48章 相逢犹恐是梦中(2)
GREAT AT EVERYTHING
黄帝凝视着棋局叹道：“可惜，你志不在此；可庆，你志不在此！”
The Yellow Emperor gazed at the chessboard and sighed, “It’s a pity that your aspirations doesn’t lie here; it’s also a relief that your aspirations doesn’t lie here!”
长相思第9章 花开花谢故人别(1)
Tushan Jing is a literal genius.
His excellent memory meant he could learn anything quickly. He can do business, learn medicine. The Yellow Emperor, judging from his deity’s chess skills, even thought he could govern the world.
It turns out he is great at almost everything, except how to woo Xiaoyao. Self esteem issues notwithstanding after his traumatic tribulations, he truly becomes a clumsy man when he tries to express his feelings to her.
Shiqi still appeared weak and thin, but his strength was surprisingly great.
He could carry water, chop wood, plant herbs, and grind medicine with ease, and his memory was particularly remarkable. Ma Zi and Chuan Zi had been following Xiao Liu for about ten years, yet they still couldn’t remember many of the herbs.
Shiqi, however, was different. No matter what herb it was, as long as Xiao Liu explained it to him once, he would remember it perfectly.
Gradually, Xiao Liu took him everywhere. Strong, with a good memory, silent and obedient, Shiqi was absolutely the ideal partner for committing all sorts of misdeeds.
长相思第4章 前路未可知(1)
小夭道：“你倒是没忘记我教你的东西。”
“永远都不会忘记。”
Xiaoyao said, “You haven’t forgotten what I taught you.”
Every day, Shiqi would go out and bring back some small game. When Shiqi returned, Xiao Liu would give instructions, and Shiqi would do the work, cooking together.
It was evident that Shiqi had never done such tasks before; he was clumsy and kept making mistakes, which made Xiao Liu laugh heartily. However, Shiqi was incredibly smart. It only took a few tries before he was doing things properly, which took away much of Xiao Liu’s amusement.
Life in the mountains was very lonely, even more so for someone who couldn’t move. Xiao Liu would grab Shiqi to keep him company and talk about everything: from places far and wide, mountains and seas, to a delicious dish, or a sunset he once saw in a certain valley. Shiqi listened quietly.
长相思第5章 前路未可知(2)
小夭说：“我更想吃你做的。” 老木卤肉的一手绝活，小夭和桑甜儿都没学到手，十七却全学会了。
Xiaoyao said, “I would rather eat what you make.” Lao Mu had a special knack for braised meat that neither Xiaoyao nor Sang Tiaer could master, but Shiqi learnt it all.
长相思第8章 岁月静好与君同(3)
FIGHTING POWER
Even with his spirit power cultivation halved, Jing’s powers are still stronger than a bodyguard for the Haoling Princess.
Haitang tightly grabbed the young girl and whispered, “The opponent’s spiritual power is stronger than mine. We’ll wait until Lord Xuan returns to discuss everything.” Haitang hurriedly pulled the girl back into the inn.
Xiaoliu’s heart pounded wildly as he stammered, “You… you knew all along that I could change my appearance?”
The art of shapeshifting might not be a particularly advanced skill, but only those with great spiritual power could perform true shapeshifting, effectively deceiving others. Given Xiaoliu’s level of spiritual power, no one would believe he could perform such a technique, let alone deceive any divine artifact’s scrutiny.
Jing replied, “The Tushan Clan doesn’t only have purely divine blood. Our ancient ancestors were nine-tailed fox demons with great powers, so the direct bloodline of the Tushan Clan is often born with the ability to change forms.
I possess the Spiritual Eye, which allows me to see through almost all illusions and transformation techniques. That’s how I can see Ah Nian’s true appearance, but I can’t see through yours. Everything about you appears genuine, yet my intuition tells me that your appearance is entirely false.
That’s why… I can’t leave you. If I do, you’ll vanish forever, leaving no trace behind.”
Xiaoliu was stunned—Jing had known all along that he wasn’t real.
Jing possessed a natural spiritual vision, able to see through all illusions and transformations. With the assistance of the discerning little fox, he tracked Xiao Yao to another valley.
Before him lay a deadly formation combining the elements of water, wood, and fire. However, the ground was covered in snow, which worked to his advantage. Jing picked up a handful of snow and held it in his palm. White mist emanated from his hand, enveloping him and making him disappear completely.
长相思第10章 生相依，死相随(2)
Even breaks Silencing Spell.
TALENT: TRACKING
Ye Shiqi tracked Xiaoliu to the secret Chenrong army camp, a camp that no outsiders, no Xiyan army has ever been able to discover for centuries.
“十七，你怎么找来的？”
“有迹、可查。”
“哦，你很善于追踪，是以前学的？”小六想起他肯定不想回忆过去，“对不起，你不想回答就别回答了。”
“Shiqi, how did you find me?”
“There were traces to follow.”
“Oh, you’re very good at tracking. Did you learn it before?” Xiaoliu suddenly remembered that he probably didn’t want to recall the past. “Sorry, if you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to.”
“My ancestors were foxes; I only track others, and rarely does anyone track me.”
Xiao Liu remembered the first time Xiang Liu captured her, it was he who found her. The second time when Zhuan Xu took her into the dungeon, it was also he who found her. It seemed he truly was very skilled at tracking.
长相思第29章 盛会在何时(3)
小夭很老实地承认：“是不明白，可我总得说点什么安慰你啊！”
璟轻声笑起来，叹息道：“他们要回来了。”
小夭看看天色，“天都快亮了，也该回来了。”
Xiaoyao honestly admitted, “I don’t understand, but I still need to say something to comfort you!”
Jing chuckled softly and sighed, “They’re coming back.”
Xiaoyao glanced at the sky, “It’s almost dawn, so they should be coming back.”
Xiaoyao quickly sat up, while Jing continued to lie lazily. Xiaoyao gave him a push, and only then did Jing sit up and ask, “What is it?”
Xiaoyao began to tidy her hair, and Jing gently pulled out her crooked hairpin and reinserted it properly.
Jing Ye said, “Miss Xinyue’s maid just came to ask if the princess is here. I told her she was, and she left to report back. I think Miss Xinyue will be here soon.”
Xiaoyao became anxious and immediately stood up. Jing pulled her back down, “There’s still time. Take your time getting ready.”
Xiaoyao finished combing her hair and checked her clothing. She asked Jing, “Is it okay?”
Jing gazed at her and smiled, nodding his head.
Xiaoyao stood by the window, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself.
Jing grew increasingly anxious and summoned the little fox. Together, they followed the traces left behind by Xiao Yao. The nine-tailed fox, naturally adept at tracking and concealing, helped Jing, who was deeply concerned for Xiao Yao. No matter how many other scents were mixed in, he could always discern even the slightest hint of Xiao Yao’s presence.
Xinyue suddenly said, “I’m really very happy that you can marry Jing.”
Xiaoyao looked up with a radiant smile and said without any reservation, “I’m also very happy.”
Xinyue said to Xiaoyao, “Look! It’s only been a little over an hour, and he’s already come over anxiously. Xiaoyao, you’re very fortunate. Make sure to cherish your good fortune!”
Xiaoyao felt that Xinyue’s words had a deeper meaning, but upon closer thought, she found no hint of malice. With a smile, Xiaoyao replied, “I will.”
Fenglong looked at Jing. Jing said, “With his abilities, he should be fine. I’ll have Little Fox go look for him.” As he spoke, a nine-tailed fox that seemed to be made of mist emerged from his sleeve.
However, instead of leaving, the nine-tailed fox called in a certain direction before retreating back into Jing’s sleeve and disappearing.
She had always told herself that losing a man wasn’t a big deal and that she could still live well. She had also managed everything well with her willpower, but at this moment, the emotions that had been building up in her chest suddenly spiraled out of control.
Xiaoyao went into several streets, eventually entering an underground casino run by the Lirong tribe through a narrow alley.
The underground casino didn’t accept just anyone; Xiaoyao had previously come here only with Xiangliu. This time, when she came alone, the two men at the gate tried to drive her away.
As they were about to holler at her, they saw a tiny nine-tailed white fox floating above Xiaoyao’s head, threatening them sternly with its little claws.
The two men immediately became polite, handing Xiaoyao a dog-headed mask. After she put it on, they activated a mechanism, revealing a long, dark corridor.
At night, the little nine-tailed white fox came looking for Xiao Yao, but she pulled the blanket over her head and ignored it.
…
The whole day, no matter what Xiao Yao did, the little white fox followed her everywhere. Xiao Yao was so overwhelmed by its clinginess that she completely stopped being angry.
That evening, Xiao Yao and the nine-tailed white fox sat facing each other.
Xiao Yao held her head in her hands, feeling troubled. The little white fox hadn’t left her side for an entire day and night.
That fool Jing isn’t still waiting at Cao’ao Ridge, is he? Xiao Yao thought a bit stubbornly, “If I never show up, would you really wait forever? No one in this world can wait for someone else for a lifetime!”
The nine-tailed white fox held its pointy little fox face in its tiny paws, its big black eyes focused intently on Xiao Yao, as if it too was deeply troubled.
长相思第4章 风露立中宵(1)
I am not sure if this fox is the little fox scout or the Tushan guardian fox spirit that appeared with Jing in the burning desert arc.
Jing forced a smile, unable to speak, and just nodded to indicate that he was okay. The guardian nine-tailed white fox emerged, its brows tightly furrowed, and it lay on Jing’s shoulder, causing his complexion to improve slightly.
Shiqi summoned water into mist and transformed into Wnn Xiaoliu. He walked to the window and pushed it open. Zhuanxu said, “If you come out obediently now, I might consider letting you suffer a bit less.”
The mist gradually spread from the room, growing thicker and forming an illusion that enveloped the entire inn.
Frustrated, Zhuanxu immediately ordered his men to break the formation.
长相思第20章 式微式微，胡不归(2)
Jing’s skill could also create time for romance haha
Jing glanced at the wine jar beside him and placed one hand on it. White mist began to seep from the jar, gradually enveloping the entire boat. From the outside, it appeared as if the boat had been swallowed by the sea, leaving nothing visible.
Jing looked down at the sleeping Xiaoyao, gently tracing the marks on her face with his fingers, then slowly outlining her features with his fingertips.
He traced them over and over until, even if his eyes were to be gouged out, he could still see her clearly.
Hou was secretly relieved that he had destroyed Jing’s throat and hands, preventing him from using his enchanting voice.
The world only praised the young master of Qingqiu for his unparalleled zither skills and singing, not knowing it was Jing’s Enchanting Technique that he had learnt from young.
If Jing could use his enchanting voice now, Hou would have to block his ears. A tiger that was both blind and deaf wouldn’t know how to kill the nine-tailed fox.
Xiaoliu closed his eyes, but his hand continued to fidget with Shiqi’s sleeve. Shiqi picked up a cup of water and held it in his palm. White smoke rose from the cup, swirling around Xiaoliu, causing his hand to gradually become still.
长相思第21章 式微式微，胡不归(3)
颛顼含着丝笑，说道：“我刚问了船上的侍从，他居然和我说昨夜睡着了，你和璟玩得可好？”
Zhuanxu smiled slightly and said, “I just asked the attendants on the boat, and he actually told me that he fell asleep last night. Did you and Jing have a good time?”
Jing anxiously grasped Xiao Yao’s wrist with one hand while holding a wine cup in the other, transforming the wine into mist. Everyone knew that the Tushan clan’s illusion techniques could cloud the five senses, making it the most convenient method for relieving pain…
长相思第26章 风回处，寄珍重(1)
S1E37S2E14
WEATHER CONTROL
Was it really a coincidence that lightning struck the old palace? Seeing how Tushan Hou can summon lightning, it would seem that controlling the elements is a skill the Tushans have.
“All descendants of the Tushan family who have truly inherited the ancestral bloodline possess a certain ability. It’s difficult to explain and impossible to describe clearly, but it undoubtedly exists—they can vaguely sense when something significant is about to happen. From ancient times until now, the spiritual power of the Tushan clan leaders hasn’t been exceptionally high, yet our family has always been one of the most powerful clans. A key reason for this is this ability, which allows the Tushan clan to avoid disaster and seek fortune.”
The Grand Madam glanced at Hou and then looked at the painting of the nine-tailed fox on the wall, speaking with deep emotion: “Jing is the destined leader of the Tushan clan!”
Hu Long was a steady and reliable person, so there was no doubt about the accuracy of the information. There were still more than twenty days before the wedding, so making a round trip wouldn’t cause much delay.
However, Jing felt a vague sense of unease, as if he shouldn’t go. But even though Tian’er wasn’t his son, he was still his nephew, and in Tian’er’s heart, Jing was his father. If anything were to happen to Tian’er, Jing wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.
After thinking it over for a while, Jing decided to take Hu Zhen and head to Qingshui Town, while also ordering You to bring along all the secret guards.
This was the first time Jing had requested the most stringent protection.
You hesitated for a moment and said, “The wedding is next month. If the chief has a bad feeling, it might be best not to leave.“
Jing asked, “If something were to happen to Tian’er, could Xiaoyao and I still have our wedding as planned?”
You bowed and said, “Understood! Rest assured, Chief. We will make sure you return safely to hold the wedding. That is the very reason for our existence.”
Before leaving, Jing wrote a letter to Xiaoyao, explaining that he had to go to Qingshui Town. He detailed the situation and reassured her not to worry, as he had secret guards with him and would return to Qingqiu as quickly as possible.
Xinyue briefly recounted the major events of the past thirty-seven years, focusing primarily on the Tushan clan.
Ever since Jing fell into a coma, Hou had been attempting to assume the role of clan leader. However, the Grand Madam had not made a statement, the clan elders were strongly opposed to it. Both the Chishui and Xiling clans from the Four Great Families showed little support for Hou. As a result, Hou had been unable to take over as clan leader.
The Grand Madam clutched her chest, crying out, “You ungrateful child! Tell me, do you think the Chishui, Xiling, and the Six Families of the Central Plains will agree to you not being the clan leader?”
Jing kowtowed and said, “I can go and beg them, one by one, to gain their consent.”
The Grand Madam wept, “All the Elders of the Tushan family only recognize you. Do you think I don’t know what you’ve been doing behind my back all these years? Even after all the things you’ve stirred up, which Elder would agree to you not becoming the clan leader?”
Jing had no answer and could only continue to kowtow, pleading, “Grandmother, I truly have no desire to be the clan leader, but my elder brother is willing to take the role!”
The Grand Madam looked at her two grandsons kneeling before her, her voice hoarse as she said, “A clan leader must be respected within the clan and recognized by the world; only then can they truly lead the family. It’s not a position anyone can take just because they want to!”
The Grand Madam pulled Hou up and had him sit beside her. “Hou, my dear, I know your abilities are no less than Jing’s. However, the position of clan leader is crucial to the prosperity or decline of the entire clan, even its very survival.
If you become the clan leader, the nine Elders will not be satisfied, and the Tushan family will be divided internally. In that case, you won’t get external support, and the Chishui and the Shen families will make things difficult for you at every turn. It takes several generations of hard work to build up a clan, but its downfall can happen in an instant.”
The Tushan clan held a ceremony for the succession of the clan leader. Although it wasn’t considered on a grand scale, it was very stately.
Representatives from the Yellow Emperor, the Jun Emperor, the Four Great Families, and the Six Major Clans of the Central Plains were all present to witness the event.
The Jun Emperor sent the Grand Princess and Rushi as emissaries. Xiaoyao couldn’t help but silently thank her father for allowing her to be here officially, to witness this significant event in Jing’s life.
Perhaps because the nine-tailed foxes are white, the Tushan clan also holds white in high esteem. The altar was pure white, and the white jade railings below the altar were carved with nine-tailed foxes in various expressions.
Jing was dressed in the most formal attire. He first made offerings to heaven and earth and the ancestors, then expressed gratitude to the Grand Madam, and finally ascended the altar to receive the Nine-Tailed Fox jade seal from the elders. Two elders draped a white fox fur cloak over Jing. This cloak was said to be made from the pelts of ten thousand foxes, symbolizing that the Nine-Tailed Fox is the king of the foxes, indicating that the Tushan clan can command the fox tribe.
Drums and music played, and the elders announced the completion of the rites.
Jing turned around, walked to the edge of the altar, and looked down at the Tushan clan members.
Behind him, a giant white nine-tailed fox appeared. Its nine furry tails fluttered like nine great dragons, almost covering the entire sky, showcasing the powerful magic and divine abilities of the nine-tailed fox.
Such an auspicious sign did not appear for every clan leader’s succession. All the Tushan clan members could not help but kneel and bow to Jing. Even the Grand Madam knelt, tears in her eyes, silently praying: “May the ancestors bless the Tushan clan with eternal inheritance and prosperity for generations.”
All the major clans in the Great Wilderness sent people to offer their condolences, but there were few who were truly saddened by Fangfeng Yiying’s passing.
What everyone was really concerned about was who the future wife of the Tushan Clan Leader would be. According to Central Plains customs: when a wife dies, the husband mourns for a year before he can remarry. However, some impatient clan leaders had already sent people to inquire with the Tushan Elders, trying to find out Jing’s preferences.
长相思第9章 花开花谢故人别(1)
Even during war and while the King of Haoling was ill, the Tushan name can open doors.
到五神山时，小夭不能露面，颛顼更不能露面，只能璟出面，求见俊帝。
涂山族长的身份很好用，即使俊帝在重病中，侍者依旧立即去奏报。没多久，内侍驾驭云辇来接他们。
When they arrived at Wushen Mountain, Xiaoyao couldn’t make an appearance, and neither could Zhuanxu, so only Jing stepped forward to request an audience with Emperor Jun.
The status of the Tushan clan leader proved very useful. Even though Emperor Jun was gravely ill, the attendants still promptly went to report the request. Shortly after, a court attendant arrived with a cloud carriage to escort them.
长相思第21章 天下本一家(2)
Thousands of people were searching for Jing. The drama execution was terrible. Did you feel Jing was very important?
It was a night without stars or wind, yet the moon in the sky was exceptionally bright, casting a serene light over the tranquil sea.
Thousands of people were still searching for Jing. Each one wore a luminous pearl urgently brought in by the Tushan clan, and as these thousands of pearls scattered across the sea, they resembled countless stars, flickering and swaying in the water.
长相思第27章 魂梦安能定(2)
THOUGHTFUL 心细
E3E7S1 E15
Jing had indeed noticed that Xiaoliu was more affected about meeting the emperor than being afraid of his power. But he was still not prepared for the magnitude of the truth.
Finally, the person on the cliff saw her. Without waiting to walk down from the shore, he leaped off the cliff, jumped into the sea, and swam with all his might to Xiaoyao’s side, lifting her up.
Both of them were half-submerged in the seawater. Xiaoyao, exhausted, was trembling uncontrollably, and Jing, for some unknown reason, was also shaking.
Neither of them could speak through their shivering. Xiaoyao could hear her teeth chattering. She found it both amusing and frustrating that, despite intentionally dressing up, she ended up in such a pitiful state.
Shivering, Xiaoyao said, “Don’t, don’t… in the water.” After soaking in the seawater all night, she really didn’t want to be immersed any longer.
Jing carried her up onto the rocks, but after taking a few unsteady steps, he slipped and fell. To avoid injuring Xiaoyao, he landed on his back with a loud thud, taking a hard fall.
“I originally wanted to find you a red one, but even though this isn’t particularly valuable, it’s still hard to come by. I only managed to find a purple one.
I thought about carving something, but I figured you probably wanted it to hold in your mouth while swimming. No matter the shape, nothing is as comfortable to hold in your mouth as a smooth, round bead. If you want a specific design, I can carve it for you later.”
Hou said, “So this Purple fishcore ended up with you. Jing gave it to you, didn’t he? Back then, everyone said a mysterious person bought it, but so it turns out it was Jing himself.”
Xiaoyao replied nonchalantly, “Yes, Jing gave it to me.”
Hou remarked, “It seems you’re not indifferent to jewels after all. Jing sure knows how to cater to your tastes.”
Hou rowed the small boat into the cluster of lotus flowers. Amidst the endless green of lotus leaves stretching to the horizon, Hou stopped the boat and said to Xiaoyao, “May I take a look at your fishcore?”
Xiaoyao took off the Purple fishcore and handed it to Hou. Hou played with it in his hand for a moment, secretly mocking Jing for truly putting in the effort—this fishcore was likely crafted by Jing himself.
长相思第3章 东风恶，欢情薄(3)
S1 E24S2 E9
S1 E17
Even after he made his careful long term plans for Cangxuan, he still cared to know if Xiaoyao herself minded going to the Central Plains.
“No, I once particularly hated nine-tailed foxes. It’s said they come from Qingqiu, so I ended up disliking Qingqiu as well. I took a detour both times I passed by.” Xiaoyao suddenly became a bit worried. “The nine-tailed fox demon I killed wasn’t one of your relatives, was it?”
“I’m afraid it was.” Nine-tailed foxes are rare, and the few that exist are indeed distant or close relatives of the Tushan clan.
“Really?” Xiaoyao’s mouth opened in surprise.
Jing couldn’t help but laugh. “Relatives or not, he brought it upon himself by doing such things. Even if it gets mentioned to Grandma, you would still be in the right.”
Xiaoyao patted her chest. “You almost scared me to death!”
Jing spoke gently, “Actually, Qingqiu is a lot of fun. After you arrive at Shennong Mountain, I can take you to visit Qingqiu.”
Xiaoyao said nothing, making Jing uneasy. He asked, “Xiaoyao, don’t you want to go to the Central Plains?”
Xiaoyao shook her head. “It’s not that.” When she wandered the world, she had reservations about both Emperor Jun and the Yellow Emperor, so she spent most of her time in the Central Plains and did develop feelings for it.
Jing had also taken some time to analyze the situation. It seemed that Zhuang Xu’s change in attitude started after Yi Ying’s pregnancy and Xiaoyao’s serious illness. Perhaps because he had hurt Xiaoyao deeply back then, and compared to Feng Long, who was clean and accomplished, Jing felt he was not worthy of Xiaoyao in Zhuang Xu’s eyes. However, Zhuang Xu still agreed to the engagement, and Jing could only hope that with time, Zhuang Xu would see that he would cherish Xiaoyao and never make mistakes again.
Indeed, when Jing proposed to marry Xiaoyao soon, both the Yellow Emperor and the Black Emperor were smiling, but Jing felt that the Black Emperor was not genuinely pleased.
The entire Tushan residence was renovated, and the courtyard where he and Xiaoyao would reside was designed and built entirely according to Xiaoyao’s preferences: Xiaoyao liked snacks, so there was a small kitchen in the courtyard; Xiaoyao liked to drink plum wine, so two plum trees were planted on the hillside; Xiaoyao loved water, so a hot spring was directed to fill a pond…
Although Elder Yue had already considered everything thoroughly and meticulously, when Jing began to see the courtyward as his and Xiaoyao’s home, his standards changed. He personally rearranged the furniture and items. Seeing Jing enjoying the process, Elder Yue let him be.
By noon, Qingshui had been turned upside down in the search, but neither Jing nor Hou and Yiying were found. The only discovery was a jade bracelet. It was made of soft green jade, with no carvings, just pure jade—its color was lustrous, and its texture was delicate. Since it hadn’t been completed yet, the shape wasn’t fully formed.
Upon seeing it, Jing Ye cried and said, “The Clan Leader mentioned that Miss didn’t like wearing jewelry, but she wouldn’t find a bracelet cumbersome, so he was making this bracelet himself.”
By the time Miao Pu finished making breakfast, Jing and the White Emperor had finished their conversation. The White Emperor no longer spoke coldly to Xiaoyao. Xiaoyao discreetly tugged on Jing’s sleeve, mouthing the words without making a sound, “Did you tell Father the truth?”
Jing smiled but didn’t respond, instead, he served Xiaoyao a bowl of soup.
Finally, after finishing the meal, and just as someone came to do some blacksmithing work, the White Emperor went to greet the customer. Xiaoyao quickly asked Jing, “Did you tell Father the truth?”
“Of course not! Since you don’t want anyone to know, how could I say anything?”
“My father passed away shortly after I was born. I have an elder twin brother named Tushan Hou. He was different from me since childhood; he loved raising birds of prey and fighting fierce beasts, full of energy and rebelliousness.
I, on the other hand, enjoyed the more refined pursuits of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Despite our differences, we were both skilled in business, each excelling in our own ways without a clear winner.
As twins, my brother and I studied and worked together, inevitably leading to comparisons. In truth, my brother was not inferior to me. While my talents in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting surpassed his, his spiritual power and cultivation were stronger than mine. He could master any technique instantly, yet our mother was always cold towards him, deeming everything he did wrong. Because of her attitude, others naturally praised me and belittled him.
My brother worked extremely hard, almost desperately, to earn our mother’s approval, but she only showed disdain. In fact, from childhood to adulthood, she constantly belittled and humiliated him in various ways, while I received praise for anything I did. As we grew older, under our mother’s support, the family’s power gradually fell into my hands. Mother chose a young lady from the Fangfeng family as my wife but arranged for a maid to marry my brother. I protested on his behalf, but my brother, eager to please our mother, married the maid he didn’t like without hesitation. Yet, our mother remained cold to him. When she was critically ill, my brother served her medicine, but she threw the bowl at his face, telling him to get out as his presence disgusted her. Finally, my brother couldn’t hold back and tearfully asked why she was so biased. She insulted him, saying, ‘Because you are simply inferior to your brother. Your mind is filthy, your character is vile, and you’re not even worthy of your brother’s toe.’
Soon after, our mother passed away. I was deeply saddened, but I felt my brother’s pain was even greater, not just because of the loss but because he would never receive our mother’s approval. After her death, my brother began drinking heavily. No matter who tried to dissuade him, he would say the world only needed one Tushan Jing, not a worthless Tushan Hou.
Our grandmother, unwilling to see him destroy himself, finally revealed that my brother was not our mother’s biological son. He was the son of our father and our mother’s personal maid. After giving birth to my brother, the maid committed suicide. Since my brother and I were born just eight days apart, our grandmother decided to announce to the world that our mother had given birth to twins.
Upon learning this, my brother stopped drinking and began to pull himself together. Out of guilt, I treated him with great respect. Our grandmother was pleased and often praised my kindness, urging my brother to assist me more. In the fourth year after our mother’s death, our grandmother planned to hold my wedding and announce to the world that I was the clan leader of the Tushan family.
One day, my brother came to me urgently, saying he had something important to discuss. Suspecting nothing, I followed him. When I awoke, I found myself in a sealed dungeon, my spiritual power suppressed, and my limbs bound by dragon bone chains.”
Xiaoyao asked, “You still don’t want to kill Hou?”
“Although our mother was always biased, my elder brother has never treated me badly from childhood to adulthood. We grew up without a father, and since he never received any affection from our mother, he placed all his longing for family on me. Even though we’re the same age, he always said that an elder brother is like a father, always giving in to me, always taking care of me. When others praised me, he would feel proud too. I once asked him why, unable to understand. He told me that he felt hurt for himself, but because I am his brother, it didn’t stop him from being proud of me.
We were the kind of brothers everyone envied, with a deep bond of brotherly love. He was once an excellent elder brother, and we were good brothers for more than four hundred years. Xiaoyao, I can’t bring myself to kill him!”
Jing’s tone was deeply apologetic, because by making this choice, he not only restrained himself but also restrained Xiaoyao.
长相思第1章 青梅赋相思(1)
私下里，只有篌和璟两人时，篌张狂地承认了是他派人去刺杀璟，让璟来找他算账。
璟依旧狠不下心除掉篌，不过，他开始剪除篌的羽翼。
随着清查刺客，涂山氏的不少铺子都换了主管，这场风波持续了三个多月才慢慢平息。
In private, when it was just Hou and Jing, Hou brazenly admitted that he had sent people to assassinate Jing, daring Jing to come and settle the score with him.
Jing still couldn’t bring himself to eliminate Hou, but he began to remove Hou’s influence.
As the investigation of the assassins continued, many of Tushan’s shops changed managers. This upheaval lasted for over three months before gradually calming down.
Jing looked at Hou. Since returning to the Tushan family, he had tried many ways to resolve the animosity between them, but Hou had never accepted. Could Hou really put aside his hatred for their grandmother?
In that moment, Jing couldn’t clearly articulate his feelings. He said, “Since big brother knew that I didn’t want the position of clan leader, why didn’t you cooperate with me decades ago? I told you back then that I didn’t want to be the clan leader, and I didn’t hate you. If you had been willing to cooperate, you would have smoothly taken over as clan leader long ago.”
Hou sneered, “The things I want, I will fight for myself. I don’t need the noble and perfect Master Jing to bestow them upon me! Why don’t you come for revenge? Is it because forgiving me makes you feel superior? Can you look down on me, the twisted person consumed by hatred, with pity?”
Hou advanced step by step until he was right in front of Jing, forcing him to retreat with every step, leaving Jing speechless.
Hou grabbed Jing’s shoulders with such force that it felt like he wanted to crush him. “Why don’t you come for revenge? I’d rather you come for revenge than see you pretend to be benevolent and hypocritical! Why don’t you hate me? Look at your disgusting scars, look at your revolting limp, even your woman despises you and doesn’t want you. Do you really not hate me at all? Come and seek revenge! Come for revenge…”
Jing grabbed Hou’s hand and shouted, “Big brother, I really don’t hate you!”
After Jing returned to Qingqiu, he did not immediately convene the elders of the clan. Instead, he first arranged a private meeting with Hou and Yiying. The contents of their discussion were not uncovered by the spies, but Xiaoyao could guess that Jing intended to offer Hou and Yiying a way out. However, someone had unleashed a storm of lightning and fire, attempting to destroy the Ape Mirror and kill Jing.
Jing was not a fool; his repeated concessions were due to his lingering kindness. This time, Jing was well-prepared, and Hou and Yiying’s counterattacks were entirely in vain.
Jing convened all the Elders and revealed the secrets of Hou and Yiying. The nine Elders were astonished and disbelieving until they reviewed the memories of the Ape Mirror. They were left in shocked silence.
What followed was a lengthy and tedious process of interrogation and debate. Yiying remained silent, refusing to speak, while Hou confessed everything. It turned out that they had begun their clandestine affair in the first year after Jing’s disappearance, and by the fourth year, it had become an actual relationship. Hou shifted all the blame onto Yiying, claiming that Yiying, unable to endure loneliness, had seduced him.
Jing silently followed behind Hou. From childhood to adulthood, he had followed behind Hou countless times: sneaking out to play with his brother, going to school with his brother, hunting with his brother, paying respects to their grandmother with his brother…
Back then, they never would have imagined that one day, they would be in a life-and-death duel.
The Grand Madam sighed deeply and said, “It’s a pity she’s a princess of Gaoxin and the granddaughter of the Yellow Emperor! You should know that the first rule of our clan is to avoid involvement in any royal conflicts. The Four Great Families have thrived by staying out of such matters. Xiaoyao, as a Gaoxin princess, should be staying at the Five Sacred Mountains of Gaoxin, yet she is always by Xuanyuan Prince Zhuanxu’s side, deeply involved in Xuanyuan’s struggle for the throne. She is clearly not a woman who brings peace of mind. I don’t want the Tushan clan to be dragged into this. Besides… although the Great Wilderness is peaceful now, based on my judgment, a war between the Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor and the Gaoxin Emperor Jun is inevitable. Xiaoyao will bring trouble to the Tushan clan.
It’s not that I dislike Xiaoyao, but for the sake of Tushan, even if you and Yiying were not engaged, I still wouldn’t agree to you marrying Xiaoyao.”
Jing had hoped that his grandmother might change her mind after meeting Xiaoyao, but to his surprise, she remained firm in her stance. He knelt down and pleaded, “The Four Great Families do have rules to protect themselves, but those rules were set by our ancestors tens of thousands of years ago. The circumstances back then are completely different from now, and those rules may not always be right. We should adapt to the current situation…”
The Grand Madam’s slight affection for Xiaoyao instantly vanished. She harshly rebuked him, “You are the head of the clan, how can you say such nonsense? You’ve always been steady since childhood. When did you become as reckless as Fenglong? Has the Gaoxin princess been influencing you?”
“No, Xiaoyao has never said such things. These are my own thoughts after observing the situation in the Great Wilderness.”
The Grand Madam, however, didn’t believe him, convinced that Xiaoyao was manipulating him to use the Tushan clan to help Zhuanxu seize the throne.
“Tushan Jing, you are now the head of the clan. Do not forget the rules set by our ancestors for the sake of a woman! Can you face…” The Grand Madam’s face turned pale with anger, clutching her chest as she struggled to breathe, unable to continue speaking.
Jing quickly channeled spiritual energy into the Grand Madam’s body. “Grandmother, grandmother, please take care of your health!”
The Grand Madam said, “Promise your grandmother that you will give up the Gaoxin princess.”
Jing knelt by her bed in silence, bowing his head heavily again and again.
Seeing the sorrow in his eyes, the Grand Madam sighed bitterly, “You wretched child!”
She stroked Jing’s head, tears falling as she said, “Jing’er, don’t blame your grandmother. I have no other choice!”
This strong and domineering woman lost her husband in her youth and her son in her middle age. She endured the century-long war between Xuanyuan and Shennong, and with her frail body, she protected the Tushan clan for more than a thousand years.
After her passing, the nine elders of the Tushan clan unanimously decided that all Tushan shops across the Great Wilderness would hang mourning banners for the Grand Madam and observe a month of mourning. This was the first time in tens of thousands of years that the Tushan clan did this for a woman who was not the clan leader, but not a single member of the Tushan clan objected.
Zhuan Xu did not want Xiao Yao to have any more entanglements with Jing, so he did not tell Xiao Yao about the passing of the Grand Madam of the Tushan clan. However, there were Tushan shops all over Zhiyi City. When Xiao Yao went to the carriage shop to send poison to Xiang Liu, she saw the mourning banners hanging outside the shop and knew that the Grand Madam had passed away.
Fenglong said to Zhuanxu, “Do you happen to know Tushan Jing?”
Zhuanxu vaguely replied, “I’ve certainly heard of the famous Jing, the young master of Qingqiu.”
Fenglong continued, “To cultivate my business acumen, my grandfather once sent me to Qingqiu, where I lived and studied with Jing. We got along very well; you could say Jing is both my mentor and a close friend.”
One day, while Xiaoyao was preparing herbs, Xinyue came to find her and said with a smile, “I need to consult you about something in advance. Brother Jing is coming to Zhi Yi. My brother used to study with him when they were children. They ate and lived together and have always been close friends.
Although Brother Jing has many residences in Zhi Yi, whenever my brother is here, he always invites Brother Jing to stay with us. But this time, since you’re here, my brother is worried you might mind, so he asked me to check with you first.”
“Brother Jing’s mother is from the Shen clan, and my maternal grandmother is also from the Shen clan. My maternal grandmother is his mother’s aunt, and Brother Jing’s maternal grandmother is also from the Chishui clan, who is my grandfather’s first cousin. So, we are indeed actual relatives with Brother Jing.”
Feng Long remembered that when they were young, Jing was always polite and well-mannered, his clothes always neat and clean. Unlike him, who often looked like a little monkey. But once, when he insulted Hou and Jing overheard, Jing immediately got angry. He raised his qin and smashed it at him. They had a fierce fight in the mud. Although Feng Long was better at fighting, Jing fought desperately, forcing him to swear never to insult Hou again. At that moment, he began to envy Hou. How happy he would be if he had a younger brother who would fight for him like that! He was upset for half a year, but one day, when his cousin told him to get along with Jing like real brothers, he suddenly realized that if he didn’t have a younger brother, having Jing as his older brother would be just fine!
Over the years, Jing had never disappointed him. His ambitions, desires, and personal interests, he could share with Jing, who never thought he was just daydreaming. When he secretly told Jing he wanted to break the family rules of the Four Great Families, Jing only smiled and said, “Since rules are set by people, people can break them too.” When he pressed, “Will you help me?” Jing sighed, “I don’t want to get into trouble, but I certainly can’t watch you die.”
Over the years, no matter what he was thinking, Jing understood and supported him, never minding to clean up his mess. He was secretly pleased to see the estrangement between Hou and Jing. From now on, it would just be him and Jing as brothers!
In truth, he wasn’t angry that Jing took Xiaoyao; he was only angry that Jing didn’t treat him as a brother. If Jing wanted Xiaoyao, he should have just told him. Why wouldn’t Jing tell him? If Jing considered Xiaoyao as important as his own life, how could he not yield her to him?
Jing’s voice suddenly rang out: “Even before Xiaoyao was Xiaoyao, I already liked her. You must be wondering why I didn’t tell you earlier, but I simply couldn’t. Often, I was very conflicted. I felt I was not worthy of Xiaoyao. You and Feng Long are better choices. Whoever of you gets close to Xiaoyao, I would think it’s good for her. Whoever Xiaoyao chooses, maybe she would be happier than being with me. I often told myself to give up, but I couldn’t…”
Feng Long felt the anger inside him dissipate, but another kind of anger surged up: “What do you mean you’re not worthy of Xiaoyao? Tu Shan Jing, when did you become so cowardly and useless? Has Hou’s torment really softened your bones?” Feng Long grabbed Jing’s collar and said, “Listen to me! My brothers are the best. Don’t talk about one Xiaoyao, even if it were ten Xiaoyaos, you deserve them!”
Jing asked, “Do you still consider me your brother?”
长相思第19章 相煎何太急(3)
丰隆对璟说：“颛顼在神农山里藏了两万精兵。”
璟没有丝毫异样，只是颔首，表示知道了。
丰隆难以置信地摇摇头，这家伙可真是天塌下来，也能面不改色。
Fenglong said to Jing, “Zhuanxu has hidden twenty thousand elite soldiers in the Shennong Mountains.”
Jing showed no reaction, simply nodding to indicate that he understood.
Fenglong shook his head in disbelief, thinking to himself, “This guy really can remain unfazed even if the sky were to fall.”
Fenglong irritably pulled Jing up and led him away, while Xinyue lingered behind.
Xiao Yao caught up with Fenglong. “Fenglong, Fenglong!”
Fenglong stopped and she looked at his expression. “Are you still angry?”
“My anger comes quickly and goes quickly! I know he was drunk and didn’t mean it, but…”
“But what?”
Fenglong looked a bit at a loss. “When Jing attended my ceremony to take over as clan leader, I told him you had agreed to marry me. He even congratulated me. I thought he had moved on, but tonight, he got drunk and lost control. I’ve known him since we were kids and have never seen him like this. Clearly, I am your fiancé, but I can’t shake the feeling that I took something he cherished.”
Xiao Yao looked at the unconscious Jing. “Don’t think that way.”
Xiao Yao was momentarily stunned before realizing that it was her wedding with Fenglong. A deep, indescribable bitterness welled up in her heart. From now on, what would Jing’s affairs have to do with her?
Fenglong said in a low voice, “Two months ago, Jing came to see me despite being ill and actually asked me to cancel the wedding. I was so angry that I stormed out. I hope that after we get married, he can truly let go.”
Xiao Yao remained silent. Fenglong asked quietly, “Xiao Yao, are you happy?”
Xiao Yao smiled and asked, “What do you think?”
Seeing Xiao Yao’s smile, Fenglong felt somewhat reassured and said, “Jing told me that he asked me to cancel the wedding not because he has feelings for you, but because he felt that you were unhappy and unwilling to marry me. At the time, I was quite conflicted and went to discuss it with my sister. She said, ‘It’s not as if any of the emperors are forcing you to marry me. You agreed to this marriage yourself, so how could you be unwilling?'”
“He seems fine, but he’s always been proud and accustomed to having everything go his way. This is the biggest setback he’s faced from birth until now; he’s just holding on. I’m afraid he might direct his anger towards the Fang Feng family if he can’t find Fang Feng Bei. I’ve already admitted to him that it was I who instructed Fang Feng Bei to stop the wedding.”
“Ah?” Xiao Yao looked at Jing nervously. “Did you… get into a fight again?”
“This time it wasn’t a fight; he really wanted to kill me, but my guards stopped him. As of now, he has cut ties with me.”
“Why did you admit it? The Tushan clan would have protected the Fang Feng clan anyway.”
“Fenglong is my brother. Because of my negligence, Xiang Liu exploited the situation. I already feel guilty towards him and can’t afford to be dishonest and make him hate the wrong person.”
Xiao Yao said, “To Fenglong, women are like clothes. He’s known you since childhood; he’ll probably forgive you after a while. But for me, he must hate me deeply.”
“Don’t worry too much. This is just a temporary insult. It’s indeed difficult for Fenglong to get over it in two or three months, but with his open and straightforward nature, he’ll come to terms with it in two or three years.”
When no one else was around, Fenglong said to Jing, “Back then, although I thought Zhuanxu was a decent choice, I hesitated to support his bid for the throne because he seemed weak and lacking in power.
Fortunately, you kept persuading me, which made me finally decide to support him. Thank you!” To convince him, Jing even said, “Precisely because Zhuanxu is weak, you should choose him. If you choose Chui Liang or Yuhao, you’re just adding to their already strong support; you’re just one of many backers. But if you choose Zhuanxu, you would be the first and would hold a special place in his heart.”
Jing smiled and said, “I was merely analyzing the situation; you made the decision based on your own judgment.”
Fenglong gazed into the distance toward the Lishui River and sighed, “You’re always like this, never wanting to take credit for anything! You were the one who devised the strategy for competing for the throne, suggesting that we abandon Xuanyuan Mountain and instead choose Shennong Mountain. You explained to me that since His Majesty lacked a strong foundation, it would be better to show weakness, give up Xuanyuan City, and move to the Central Plains to gain the support of the clans there. With your and my help, it became a real possibility. Once the Central Plains were secured and with the support of the Four Great Clans, given that His Majesty is the legitimate grandson of the Yellow Emperor and Leizu, the old clans of Xuanyuan couldn’t strongly oppose his ascension. Your persuasion and strategy convinced me to support His Majesty. Even now, His Majesty believes that the strategy was mine, and that I was the one who recognized his potential. Because of this, he’s always had a degree of gratitude and trust in me, allowing me to be both his minister and his friend, holding an exceptional position.”
Fenglong then asked, puzzled, “Jing, why don’t you ever compete with me?” Both he and Jing had the same background—one was the future leader of the Chishui Clan, and the other was the future leader of the Tushan Clan. On the path to Zhuanxu becoming the Black Emperor, Jing’s contribution was no less than his own, yet Jing always stayed in the background, playing the role of his follower, letting him take all the credit and fulfill his ambitions.
Jing replied, “Who says I didn’t compete with you? I only gave up what I didn’t want. What I truly desire, I would never give up to you.”
“Are you talking about…” Fenglong frowned, thinking for a moment, then suddenly realized, “Are you talking about Xiaoyao?”
Jing sighed and said, “You’ve always seen me as a brother, but I’ve not been entirely honorable with you. Even though I knew you had feelings for Xiaoyao, I still pursued her while staying at your residence. Even though I knew you wanted to marry her, I had Fangfeng Bei help me steal her away. I’ve never done anything in my life that I regret, except for these two things, and both were to you.”
Fenglong recalled those events and still felt a bit aggrieved. “Back then, when Xiaoyao called off the engagement, I was miserable for a long time, feeling like I couldn’t face anyone.”
Jing said, “I thought I could let go, but I overestimated myself. I’m sorry!”
Fenglong stared at Jing for a moment, then suddenly laughed. “I always thought you were calm and magnanimous, your actions as clear as day. Every time I saw you, I felt ashamed of myself. Turns out you’re just as selfish, petty, and dark-hearted as any other man!”
Jing responded, “When Xiaoyao and I got engaged, you were off fighting in Gaoxin. The congratulatory gift you sent was probably prepared by the elders of the Chishui Clan, cursing me the whole time. Over the years, we’ve kept in touch, but we’ve never mentioned this matter, pretending it never happened. But I truly hope to receive your sincere blessing.”
“Does it really matter to you?”
“It matters a lot. You know that I’ll never get my eldest brother’s blessing in this life, and I don’t want to miss out on yours either.”
Fenglong couldn’t help but feel amused. Jing compared him to Hou, showing that he truly regarded him as a brother. However, he put on a troubled expression and said, “I’ll consider it.”
Jing and Fenglong had spent over thirty years together, and Jing could easily tell from Fenglong’s eyes that he was teasing him. Jing smiled and said, “Take your time to think about it. Anyway, Xiaoyao and I won’t be getting married for a while.”
Fenglong dropped the act and laughed. “To be honest, when I first heard about your engagement with Xiaoyao, I was a bit upset. After all, it’s hard not to think about the past. But more than anything, I admired your courage. Xiaoyao is no longer the same as before. She used to be a treasure that everyone wanted, but now she’s a big problem that no one dares to have anything to do with. At least, I don’t have the courage to deal with her. So, after a few days of being upset, I got over it. But I wasn’t happy about it, so I told the elders to prepare a simple gift for you.” Fenglong patted Jing on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, when you do get married, I’ll personally prepare a gift for you. As long as that old corpse Rushou isn’t fighting me, I’ll make time to attend the wedding.”
“Thank you!”
“What are you thanking me for? If anyone should be grateful, it’s me thanking you. Everyone envies the position of clan leader in one of the Four Great Clans, but to me, it’s like a prison. In the past, you were the only one who would listen to my ramblings, and the only one who wouldn’t criticize me for being reckless. Not only did you not criticize me, but you always supported me. Now, I’ve finally broken the ancestral traditions, entered the court as an official, and become a general, pursuing my dreams!
Jing, you helped me achieve what I truly wanted. Xiaoyao was never really mine to begin with, and even if she was, if you took her, so be it. She wasn’t what I wanted, but she was someone you were willing to trade your life for.”
Fenglong hooked his arm around Jing’s shoulder and sighed with a smile, “Actually, I should be grateful that what you wanted was Xiaoyao. If you had wanted the same thing as me, two tigers can’t share one mountain, and I’m afraid we wouldn’t have been able to remain brothers.”
Jing didn’t, as he used to, quietly pull away from Fenglong’s physical contact. After going through so many ups and downs, he understood that at their level of power and position, a moment of close camaraderie wasn’t easy to come by. At this moment, Fenglong and he completely trusted each other, giving each other the opportunity to strike a fatal blow if they chose.
Fenglong said, “Today, I met with some old friends from the Shen and Jiang clans. In the past, they were always overly respectful toward me, and now it’s even worse—whatever I say, they just go along with it. It was so dull that I found an excuse to leave early. I was just wandering around with no intention of coming here, yet somehow I ended up here. I’m deeply saddened by what happened to Jing.”
Xiaoyao lowered her gaze.
Fenglong continued, “When I was young, I always looked forward to growing up, thinking that adulthood would bring freedom and the ability to do many things. But now, I often think about my childhood. Back then, Jing and Hou were so close that it made me jealous. Hou and I were both active, but we never played together. Whenever I got scolded by my master, I would sneak into Jing’s room and talk to him indignantly about my grand ambitions. And then there was Chang, that scheming strategist, who always clashed with me. Whenever we went out to play, if Jing wasn’t around, Chang and I would end up fighting… We were just a bunch of mischievous boys, fighting and playing, and before we knew it, we grew up. Now, when Chang talks to me, he’s all smiles and politeness, as if I were his client. Hou is dead, and Jing is gone too. Suddenly, I realize there’s no one left to just eat, drink, and ramble with.”
Fenglong smiled bitterly, “I don’t even know why I’m telling you all this. Maybe it’s because I used to go to Jing whenever I was troubled, just to talk nonsense. Today, I ended up talking nonsense to you instead. I hope you don’t find it annoying.”
Xiaoyao replied gently, “Lending an ear is no trouble at all.”
Fenglong stood up and said, “I’m leaving now. Don’t be too sad; life is long, and Jing would surely want you to live well.” Fenglong found it absurd—Xiaoyao had once been his bride, and after she ran away from their wedding, he thought he’d never forgive her and wished for her to live a miserable, lonely life. But now, seeing her like this, he felt unhappy too.
Zhuanxu slowly walked up to Xiaoyao and Jing, staring at Jing and said, “Fenglong told me before he died that the strategy of ‘abandoning Xuanyuan Mountain and occupying Shennong Mountain’ was proposed by you, and that you persuaded him to accept it.”
Jing replied calmly, “It was me.”
“Why did you keep it a secret?”
“At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I simply thought that what I desired was only Xiaoyao, so it was better to give everything to Fenglong and help him achieve his goals.”
……I ran out of her room, ran to Zhiyi, but I did not dare to go see you. I hid in Lirong Chang’s underground casino, getting drunk every day. After more than ten days, Lirong Chang angrily kicked me out to Xiaozhurong’s residence. Only then did I learn that you had already gone to Gaoxin.”
Xiaoyao thought, no wonder Jing had been acting so strangely those three months, not contacting her at all.
Xiaoyao was unaware that in another room, the clan leader of the Lirong Clan, Lirong Chang, was sitting in front of a water mirror, watching her every move with great interest.
As he watched, he asked Jing, “Who exactly is this girl? Last time you were hiding here, getting drunk every day, could it have been because of her?”
Jing said nothing, just watched Xiaoyao, knowing she was as beautiful and unattainable as a reflection in the water or a flower in the mirror.
Lirong Chang said, “Young lady, Fengfeng Bei and that old fellow cooking donkey meat are both no good. There’s no point in sticking with him. Why not consider my brother instead? My brother just got caught up in a woman’s scheme and ended up with a son, but it’s not an unforgivable mistake…”
“Chang!” Jing glared at Lirong Chang, his tone filled with anger.
“Warning me is useless. Even if you hold a knife to my throat, I’ll still say what I want!”
Lirong Chang leaned forward and said to Xiaoyao, “Nothing in this world is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. Jing made a mistake, but it’s not something unforgivable. Think about it—because he made this mistake, he’s sure to never make it again. After you’re married, you’ll have peace of mind! If you find a man who’s never made a mistake, who knows if he’ll mess up after marriage? That would cause you even more trouble!”
Xiaoyao asked, “Are you done talking?”
Lirong Chang replied, “No!”
Xiaoyao turned away and poured a drink for Fengfeng Bei, showing she had no interest in listening.
Lirong Chang continued, “If you don’t like that mother and son from Qingqiu, you can settle down in Zhiyi, and Jing can stay there with you. To be honest, Fengfeng Bei’s days are numbered. Even a flawed Jing is better than Fengfeng Bei…”
With a loud bang, Xiaoyao slammed the wine bowl onto the table and stared at Lirong Chang, saying, “I’m already engaged, and my fiancé isn’t him, so—please, stop putting him down!”
“What?” Lirong Chang was stunned for a moment, then angrily demanded, “Who is it? Who dares to steal my brother’s woman? I’ll go have a talk with him! If he doesn’t back out of the engagement, I’ll break his legs…”
Xiaoyao and Bei walked out the door, and Chang chased after them, calling, “Miss!”
Xiaoyao stopped and turned around, asking helplessly, “What else do you want to say?”
“Now that I know your identity, what could I possibly say? I just wanted to tell you that Jing’s child was a result of a trap set by his own grandmother and Fengfeng Yiying. For all these years, Jing has been living alone, not allowing Fengfeng Yiying to get close to him at all.
I swear on my life as Lirong Chang that Jing is deeply in love with you; you are the only one in his eyes and heart.”
When Chang saw Xiaoyao, he kept nudging Jing with his elbow. Jing didn’t move, so Chang simply dragged Jing over to Xiaoyao’s side.
Chang brazenly said, “Princess, why not reconsider my brother?”
Xiaoyao leaned against the railing, smiling without saying a word.
Chang continued, “You’ve already abandoned Fenglong, and with Fangfeng Bei ruining your reputation, it’ll be hard to find a decent man now. My brother has been deeply in love with you all along. Why not just be with him?”
Xiaoyao casually ran her fingers through her hair, smiling softly. “Deeply in love with me? I can’t see it.” Her light spring clothing outlined her delicate figure, and her nonchalant laziness had an innocent allure, like a weeping haitang blooming unconsciously in the spring breeze by the water’s edge.
Chang almost gritted his teeth in frustration. “What more does Jing need to do for you to see it?”
Xiaoyao bit her lip, thought for a moment, then pointed to the distant shore. “I want a branch of haitang blossom.”
Chang was about to say, “That’s easy enough,” when Xiaoyao, still smiling, added, “No using spiritual power or magic. I want a blossom picked by hand, right now.”
Chang was stunned. It was such a small, simple request, but just because something seems small and simple doesn’t mean it’s easy to do. Often, the simplest things are the hardest to accomplish.
Chang glanced at Yiying and Consort Fang Lei, then at Hou and Chun, and finally at the other boats on the lake, before laughing awkwardly. “Princess, you’re deliberately making things difficult, aren’t you?”
Xiaoyao said nothing, only looked at Jing with a bright, expectant smile.
Just as Chang was about to try persuading her again, there was a splash—Jing had jumped off the boat and started swimming towards the shore.
Someone familiar with Jing called out loudly, “Chief of Tushan, do you need our help? Just say the word if you need anything.”
As Jing swam, he replied warmly, “Thank you, but this is something I must do myself.”
The crowd, curious, asked, “What task requires the chief to handle it personally?”
Jing responded candidly, “Picking a flower.”
The crowd was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Chang, leaning against the railing, helplessly covered his eyes as if he couldn’t bear to watch anymore. He glared at Xiaoyao and asked angrily, “Demoness, are you satisfied now?”
Jing swam to the shore, chose a branch with the best crabapple blossom, picked it, and then swam back.
When he climbed back onto the boat, soaking wet, everyone’s eyes were on the dangling crabapple blossom in his hand. The tender vines were gracefully spread, the green leaves glistened with dew, and under the drooping petals, a dozen or so blossoms exuded a fragrant scent, their delicate beauty and vibrant color captivating.
Jing handed the crabapple blossom to Xiaoyao. Smiling slightly, she casually picked the two most beautiful flowers, tucked them into her hair, and then wrapped the remaining branch around her wrist, making a haitang blossom bracelet.
Everyone had initially thought that the Chief of Tushan had picked the flower for Fengfeng Yiying and had laughed kindly. But now, the laughter abruptly stopped, and all eyes were on Xiaoyao.
Lirong Chang laughed loudly and said, “We made a bet with the princess and lost. The bet was to pick a haitang blossom by hand, without using any spiritual power or magic. I wanted to back out, but Jing is a man of his word and accepted the loss!”
Everyone knew Lirong Chang’s carefree and unruly nature, so they laughed and teased him a bit before dispersing. However, those on the same boat as Xiaoyao knew it was far from just a playful wager.
Chang dragged Jing over, fuming as he immediately asked, “What is your relationship with Hou?”
From spring to summer, Xiaoyao had met with Hou dozens of times, which couldn’t have gone unnoticed by the clan leaders of these powerful families.
Xiaoyao feared Jing would ask about it and also worried that Hou might become suspicious, so she hadn’t visited Jing in a long time.
Xiaoyao glanced at Jing, then replied to Chang impatiently, “What business is it of yours what my relationship with Hou is?”
Chang indignantly said, “If you are now close with Jing, you shouldn’t be secretly meeting with Hou.”
Xiaoyao smiled coldly and replied, “Jing and I are just ordinary friends, and Hou and I are also just ordinary friends. Don’t meddle in things that don’t concern you!”
Consort Lirong said, “Chang asked me to tell you that whether Jing is alive or dead, his wish remains the same—he hopes for your happiness. Even if that happiness doesn’t come from him, he will only wish you well.”
Xiaoyao’s eyes welled up with tears. So this was the reason for Consort Lirong’s warm invitation; she was helping Chang convey his message.
长相思第34章 故人心易变(2)
TUSHAN TIAN : NEPHEW
杀了篌和意映，不难！但璟想要的是真相。
否则，即使篌和意映死了，璟也无法释然，更无法面对那个孩子涂山瑱。
想要真相，就必须要篌和意映活着。可篌和意映活着，就意味着璟会有危险。
小夭蹙眉，这可真是个难解的结！
“Killing Hou and Yiying isn’t difficult! But what Jing wants is the truth.
Otherwise, even if Hou and Yiying are dead, Jing won’t be able to find peace or face that child, Tushan Tian.
To uncover the truth, Hou and Yiying must be alive. But if they are alive, it means Jing will be in danger.
Xiaoyao frowned; this is indeed a difficult problem to solve!”
Jing said to Xiaoyao, “I don’t plan to publicly deal with Hou and Yiying. Tian’er will still be officially known as my son, so he won’t grow up in disgrace. Xiaoyao, if you don’t agree…”
“No, I agree with you and Grandpa’s decision. The more discreetly it’s handled, the better. “ Understanding the right and wrong for ourselves is enough; there’s no need to lay it out for everyone to discuss, nor should we let this matter create a divide between Jing and the honor of the entire clan.”
“What my mother did has already shown me that hatred can never end hatred. Killing you is not punishment; it’s merely venting anger. I don’t want our enmity to affect the next generation and turn Tian’er into a second Hou.”
Yiying, dazed, pointed to the bed without saying a word. Hu Zhen stepped forward to take Tian’s pulse, while Jing bent down and gently said, “Tian’er, Daddy is here.”
Half-conscious, Tian saw Jing and immediately burst into tears, reaching out to be held, his voice hoarse, “Daddy, I feel so awful. Am I going to die?”
Jing cradled Tian in his arms, “Don’t cry, don’t cry! You have to be strong. Daddy brought the best doctor, and when you get better, Daddy will take you to see the ocean.”
Tian weakly murmured, “I want to see the ocean.”
Both Jing and Tian looked expectantly at Hu Zhen, who frowned as he let go of Tian’s wrist and checked his tongue and eyes. Seeing Hu Zhen’s worried expression, Jing smiled at Tian and said, “Why don’t you take a nap, alright?”
“Alright, Daddy will stay with you.” Jing placed his hand on Tian’s forehead, and Tian soon fell asleep.
Only then did Jing ask Hu Zhen, “What is it?”
Hu Zhen replied, “It’s not an illness, it’s poison.”
Jing, too concerned to inquire further, urgently asked, “Can it be cured?”
Hu Zhen shamefully admitted, “This is fox trap poison, a tricky one. I can’t cure it, but Miss Xiling can, although time is tight…”
Yiying, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, “Hu Zhen, you’ve improved over the years, recognizing fox trap poison. But why look so far for help? Why not just get the antidote from the one who poisoned him?”
Jing said, “That’s a good idea. But who is the person who did it? Do you have any clues?”
Yiying pointed to herself, “Right in front of you.”
Hu Zhen gasped and instinctively stepped in front of Jing, angrily asking, “Even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs, yet you poisoned your own son?”
Jing stared at Yiying in disbelief, his eyes full of shock.
Yiying laughed, “The people you stationed here are as cunning as foxes. If I hadn’t used this tricky poison to make them believe Tian’er was dying, how could I have brought you here?”
Jing coldly said, “I’m here now. You can detoxify Tian’er.”
Yiying was momentarily stunned, then asked with a smile, “Aren’t you going to ask why I lured you here?”
Jing suddenly grabbed Yiying’s arm and dragged her to the bed, demanding, “Detoxify him!” His voice was dark with anger, and his refined features looked a little frightening.
Yiying weakly slumped on the bed, looking up at him with tears welling in her eyes, “You truly care for Tian’er.”
Jing coldly repeated, “Detoxify him!” His grip tightened, causing Yiying to tremble in pain.
Yiying struggled to speak, “The antidote is with the one who ordered me to poison him.”
Jing threw Yiying to the ground, shouting, “Tushan Hou!”
Hou walked into the room, smirking at Jing, and said flippantly, “It’s my son who’s poisoned, and I’m not even worried. What’s got my dear brother so worked up?”
Xiaoyao asked about the situation with the Tushan clan, and Zhuanxu replied, “It’s quite chaotic. Tushan Tian is the legitimate heir, but the elders know that Tushan Tian isn’t Jing’s child, so they’re all playing their own games with selfish intentions.
To the major clans, the Tushan clan is a juicy piece of meat, and everyone wants a bite. They wish for more chaos and are doing everything they can to make things even messier.”
When it came to matters related to Jing, Zhuanxu never brought them up on his own, but if Xiaoyao did, he never avoided the topic. His approach was akin to a doctor’s treatment of a patient’s wound—neither provoking it nor hiding it. When necessary, even knowing it might hurt Xiaoyao, he would do what needed to be done, just like cutting away dead flesh. For instance, although he knew Xiaoyao was sensitive about people mentioning Jing’s death in her presence, Zhuanxu never deliberately avoided the topic when it needed to be addressed.
Xiaoyao asked Zhuanxu, “Is it convenient for you to intervene in the Tushan clan’s affairs?”
“Of course, it’s not convenient! But is it convenient for those other clans? Yet, everyone is secretly meddling, aren’t they?”
Xiaoyao said, “As long as I’m alive, I don’t want to see the Tushan clan fall.”
Zhuanxu asked, “His parents caused Jing’s death—don’t you hate him?”
Xiaoyao was silent for a moment, stung by Zhuanxu’s words, before she responded, “If Hou were still alive, I would have torn him apart, but Tushan Tian is just a child—he hasn’t done anything wrong. You and I both grew up without parents, so we understand the hardships of being an orphan. Given his dishonorable origins, simply staying alive is difficult for him.
If he isn’t established as the future clan leader, someone might try to eliminate him, since he is the legitimate heir. I wouldn’t want Jing to return one day and find him gone.”
Zhuanxu was quiet for a while, stung by Xiaoyao’s words, then smiled and said, “Very well, let Tushan Tian become the leader of the Tushan clan.”
“Good, very good!” Hu Zhen recounted everything that had happened since Tushan Tian became the clan leader, and then added, “Although the clan leader is the son of Young Master Hou and Fangfeng Yiying, he has been under the guidance of Young Master for a long time. From my observations, he behaves very much like Young Master, and I’m sure he will be a good clan leader.”
Jing Ye, who had been quiet until now, added, “Originally, we didn’t plan to tell him why Young Master went missing, but with so many people around, it’s inevitable that someone would mention it in front of him. Rather than letting him speculate wildly, it was better to tell him the truth. After discussing it with Hu Zhen, we gave him the letter left by Fangfeng Yiying and told him everything honestly.
After learning about his background, he was quite distressed for a while. I was worried that he would resent Young Master, but he said, ‘It was my uncle and mother who made the mistake,’ and even said, ‘If it weren’t for coming to see me, my father wouldn’t have gone missing.’ Even now, he still refuses to call Young Master ‘father,’ and continues to address him as ‘uncle,’ while calling Young Master ‘father.’”
Jing said, “When someone has already passed, everything else becomes irrelevant. Make sure to find more opportunities to talk to him about the things Elder Brother did when he was young, and also explain more about the past between our brothers and the current situation, so that he understands that Elder Brother’s actions were also driven by circumstances and that it was his grandmother who first made a mistake.”
长相思第49章 结发两不疑(1)
XILING JIUYAO : WIFE
Jing sets Xiaoyao’s heart ablaze. Xinyue said that Tushan Jing is Xiaoyao’s fire.
Xinyue scooped up the tea and slowly poured it into the tea bowl. “Once, I was chatting with my mother, and she said that a woman will encounter two types of men in her life—one like fire, the other like water. In youth, most women desire fire, craving a passionate and intense burn. But in the end, most choose water, to live in quiet companionship, flowing gently together through life.
My brother may not be your fire, unable to ignite your heart, but he should be able to be your water, sharing a peaceful and steady life with you, growing old together.”
Xiaoliu picked up the dung from the ground, deliberately took a few steps away, and carefully smeared it on his exposed skin. While applying it, he said to Shiqi, “Doesn’t it feel a bit disgusting? You’ve probably never seen anything like this in the environment where you were born and raised! It’s actually not that dirty. Many good medicinal herbs are made from animal dung. Wangyue sand comes from wild rabbit dung, white dingtang from sparrow dung, and wulingzhi from flying squirrel dung…” Xiaoliu looked up, and there was Shiqi standing right beside him.
Xiaoliu froze for a moment, forgetting what he was going to say next.
Shiqi’s voice came through softly, “I will just imagine it’s you. I’m willing to… carry you.”
Xiaoliu was startled for a moment and mumbled, “That works too. Just imagine that I’m a me.” After saying this, Xiaoliu realized what had just been said and chuckled awkwardly. The laughter trailed off halfway, followed by a whimper, “Shiqi, my back really hurts. Can you talk to me for a while?”
…
“You must listen only to me!”
“Okay.”
Xiaoliu was happy like a mouse that had managed to steal some oil, feeling the pain on his back ease. Lying on Shiqi’s back, he gradually fell asleep.
The smile in Shiqi’s eyes had not yet faded, but his body slumped weakly. Xiaoliu fumbled to administer the antidote, scolding him, “You fool!” Yet, in her heart, a faint, indescribable ripple of emotion began to stir.
Amid the woman’s moans, a flush gradually spread across Shiqi’s pale cheeks. Xiao Liu was almost laughing his head off, but he became even more wicked, leaning in closer, nearly touching Shiqi’s face, and asked in a low voice, “Do you want it?”
Unexpectedly, Shiwi slowly raised his head. Though a bit shy, his eyes were bright, even filled with a hint of a smile!
Xiao Liu was stunned. After a moment, the thought finally came to him: a wolf in sheep’s clothing!
Xiaoliu was both embarrassed and annoyed, her face flushed red. She directed all her frustration at Chuanzi and charged directly at him.
“Haha, thank you—” Xiaoliu laid in Shiqi’s arms, and for some reason, her voice grew softer and softer.
Xiaoliu reached for the cane in Shiqi’s hand, trying to stand up, but the cane fell to the ground, and Xiaoliu missed it, falling back into Shiqi’s embrace.
The two stared at each other in a daze. Suddenly, Shiqi scooped Xiaoliu up in his arms, stepped onto the stone stairs, crossed the threshold, walked through the courtyard, and steadily set Xiaoliu down in front of his room.
“Alright!” She stood up and slowly strolled back to the inn along the riverbank. Knowing that someone was watching her the entire time, what would have been a solitary walk felt as though she had company all along. Instead of loneliness, there was a constant sense of warmth.
Xiaoliu’s mouth was covered by Shiqi. Xiaoliu made a few muffled sounds, but Shiqi didn’t let go. Playfully, Xiaoliu used the tip of his tongue to lick Shiqi’s palm. Shiqi recoiled as if electrified, immediately pulling away. Xiaoliu was also startled by his own action, his mouth half-open, his face burning hot with embarrassment.
At this moment, Shiqi was dressed in sky-blue Gaoxin attire, with wide sleeves, a light robe with a loose belt, and his hair tied with a jade crown. He wore wooden clogs, and as he walked, his steps were as fluid as clouds, and his garments fluttered gracefully. He truly appeared as though he was bright as the moon, and moved with the grace of flowing water.
Two maidservants were stunned by the sight, and Xiaoliu couldn’t take his eyes off him either.
长相思第21章 式微式微，胡不归(3)
“我是丑八怪，你竟然觉得很好？”
“形之美，人人可见，心之美，非眼能看到，我愿意独享。”
小六一下子有些脸热心跳，十七现在是不开口则已，一开口总能让她败退，“我心墨黑墨黑的，哪里美了？”
“If I am ugly you actually think that’s good?”
“Outer beauty is visible to everyone, but inner beauty cannot be seen by the eyes. I wish to enjoy it alone.”
Xiao Liu suddenly felt her face flush and her heart race. Its fine when Shiqi stayed quiet, but whenever he spoke now, he could always leave her at a loss. “My heart is as black as ink, where is the beauty in that?”
Xiaoyao had just woken up and was eating when she heard a servant report, “Shiqi is waiting outside Dragonbone Prison.” Xiaoyao felt a mix of emotions—some joy, some annoyance, and some nervousness—unable to pinpoint exactly what she was feeling.
Xiaoyao took a few steps and felt a bit burdened, but the maids around her were full of admiration, clapping their hands in unison. “Princess, hurry and go see the person you want to meet. We guarantee he won’t be able to forget you after this.”
Xiaoyao’s face felt a bit hot. “What nonsense are you all talking about? I’m just going to meet an ordinary friend.”
All the maids stifled their laughter. Ordinary, indeed—ordinary enough to make the princess put in the effort to dress up.
长相思第35章 桃之夭夭，灼灼其华(2)
S1 E19
小夭闭着眼睛，仰着头，双颊酡红，身子在轻颤，“璟……璟……”
Xiao Yao closed her eyes, tilted her head back, her cheeks flushed, and her body trembled slightly. “Jing… Jing…”
长相思第37章 此情无计可消除(1)
小夭笑问：“为什么不是这里？”她指指自己的唇。
璟低声说：“还不是时候。”
“那什么时候才……可以。”小夭半闭着眼睛，用手掩着脸，掩饰着羞意。
Xiao Yao smiled and asked, “Why not here?” She pointed to her lips.
Jing whispered, “It’s not time yet.”
“Then when… will it be?” Xiao Yao half-closed her eyes, covering her face with her hand to hide her embarrassment.
Jing stood up, casually removing his hairpin, allowing his long black hair to cascade down his back like a galaxy falling from the heavens, flowing freely in the sea breeze. He leaned against the ship’s railing, looking lazily and casually at the first light of dawn in the eastern sky.
Seeing this, Xiaoyao’s heart instantly raced like a startled deer, pounding wildly. Zhuanxu called her several times, but she didn’t hear, causing everyone to look at her.
Zhuanxu gave her a shove, “What are you thinking about?”
Xiaoyao quickly replied, “Ah, you’re back.” Her face turned bright red, but luckily it was covered by a veil, so no one could see.
Xiaoyao then realized that in her restless state this morning, she had taken the wrong heavenly horse. This horse’s bridle was made of gold and bore the royal insignia, likely meant for pulling the Yellow Emperor’s chariot.
长相思第46章 思君恨君君不知(3)
“嗯，我试过了。”
小夭正拿着珠子，凑在唇边欲含不含，听到这话，忙把珠子收到手里，可拿在手里，也觉得那珠子变得滚烫。
“Hmm, I’ve tried it.”
Xiao Yao was holding the bead close to her lips, about to put it in her mouth. Hearing this, she quickly put the bead in her hand, but even holding it in her hand, she felt it had become scorching hot.
Jing picked up a brush and began to paint. On one handkerchief, he painted a picture of coastal rocks; on another, he painted peach blossoms. There were no green branches or leaves, just one delicate peach blossom after another, as if the blush on Xiaoyao’s forehead had fluttered down, imprinting itself on the snow-white silk.
Xiaoyao blushed. “You’re at it again! It’s like you’re afraid people will forget!”
长相思第47章 思君恨君君不知(4)
小夭抿着唇角偷偷笑了一会儿，对璟说：“上次在海上，你趴在栏杆上，头发散在背上，我就想摸一下。”
璟唇边绽开笑意，想睁眼看她，小夭盖住了他的眼睛，“别，就这样。”他睁开了眼睛，她会不好意思。
璟很听话地闭着眼睛。
Xiaoyao pressed her lips together, secretly smiling for a moment, then said to Jing, “Last time on the sea, when you were leaning against the railing with your hair draped over your back, I wanted to touch it.”
A smile spread across Jing’s lips, and he tried to open his eyes to look at her. Xiaoyao covered his eyes. “No, just stay like this.” If he opened his eyes, she would feel embarrassed.
Xinyue said, “You go ahead and get busy. I’ll quickly send someone to deliver the message to my brother and also tidy up the garden where Brother Jing will be staying. Once Brother Jing arrives, I’ll come find you.”
Xiaoyao looked at the herbs in her hand and suddenly couldn’t remember what she had been planning to do.
Xiaoyao bit her lip and was about to speak when she suddenly felt Jing’s breath quicken. His body leaned towards her, and she immediately forgot what she wanted to say.
Xiaoyao’s body went limp, her head tilting back weakly. She didn’t understand why, even though it was Jing who was sucking on her, she still felt the sweetness, sweeter than the nectar of the poinciana flowers. It spread from her lips to her throat, from her throat to her heart, and then from her heart to her limbs, leaving her completely powerless.
Xiaoyao gradually collapsed onto the couch. Jing lifted his head to look at her. Her hair was disheveled, her lips slightly parted, her cheeks flushed, and her eyelashes fluttered like startled butterflies.
Xiaoyao shyly opened her eyes but didn’t dare open them fully, her eyelids half-lowered, her lips curved in a smile.
Xiaoyao’s heart raced, realizing how different men and women were when it came to intimacy. She might appear bold and proactive, but once a certain line was crossed, she couldn’t help but feel shy, nervous, and flustered. Despite a faint anticipation, she also instinctively felt fear.
He looked at the zither, while Xiaoyao looked at him. Jing couldn’t help but smile, lifting his gaze to meet Xiaoyao’s. His eyes traced her brows and eyes, slowly settling on her lips. Xiaoyao’s cheeks reddened, and she quickly averted her gaze, pretending to pluck the zither strings.
长相思第7章 岁月静好与君同(2) – (3)
小夭羞涩地笑了笑：“就弹那天晚上我唱给你听的那首歌吧，你还记得吗？”
怎么可能忘记？
Xiao Yao smiled shyly, “Just play the song I sang to you that night, do you remember?”
Xiaoyao leaned over and gazed at Jing, murmuring to herself, “Did you really grieve so much for me that you cut off your own will to live?”
Xiaoyao found it hard to believe, but the hardened shell around her heart completely shattered. That lingering threads of attachment, which she had tried to sever several times without success, had finally woven itself into a net at this very moment.
Xiaoyao picked up the bowl of medicine, took a sip herself, then kissed Jing, slowly passing the liquid into his mouth. Although Jing’s consciousness hadn’t yet returned, like vines clinging to a tree, once they meet, they entwine. His body instinctively began to respond, subconsciously sucking as if seeking that honey-like sweetness. The entire mouthful of medicine gradually slid down Jing’s throat.
In this way, kissing him and drinking the medicine alternately, Xiaoyao continued until the entire bowl was finished.
Jing’s face remained pale, but Xiaoyao’s cheeks were flushed. She leaned against Jing’s shoulder and whispered softly, “Please wake up, okay? I like it when you are the big bad wolf.”
Jingye quickly asked, “Princess, how exactly did you give the medicine to the Young Master? Please, teach it to me!” If Xiaoyao were an ordinary person, Jingye might have let her stay to care for him, but since Xiaoyao was a princess, no matter how Jingye hoped, she didn’t dare to expect Xiaoyao to serve the young master and feed him his medicine.
Xiaoyao’s face flushed slightly, and she replied, thick-skinned, “My method of giving medicine is a secret technique—it can’t be taught to others.”
Xinyue invited Jing and Xiaoyao to sit down, and once they did, she suddenly felt that the scene before her seemed familiar. Realizing why, she couldn’t help but laugh as she said to Fenglong, “These two—so it turns out they’ve had feelings for each other right under our noses all along! No wonder that day Xiaoyao’s song was so full of deep emotion, tugging at the heartstrings.”
Xiaoyao’s face instantly flushed with embarrassment, and she lowered her head.
Not willing to let it go, Xinyue teased her, “You were bold enough to do it back then, but now you’re shy?”
璟微笑：“我不是谢你做了什么，而是谢你对我的心意。”
小夭甩掉他的手，嘟着嘴说：“少自作多情，我哪里对你有什么心意？”
璟笑看着小夭，不说话，小夭红了脸。
Jing smiled. “I’m not thanking you for what you did; I’m thanking you for your feelings toward me.”
Xiaoyao shook off his hand and pouted, “Stop flattering yourself. When did I ever have feelings for you?”
Jing continued to smile at Xiaoyao without saying a word, and Xiaoyao’s face flushed red.
Jing stepped forward to greet the Yellow Emperor, who carefully examined him from head to toe before saying, “You and Xiaoyao can talk under the shade of the tree.”
Jing followed Xiaoyao to the shade of a locust tree. Xiaoyao removed her bamboo hat and smiled at Jing, appearing very calm.
Perhaps due to the sun, her face was slightly flushed, and a fine layer of sweat covered her forehead.
Jing handed her a handkerchief and said, “Wipe your sweat.”
Xiaoyao took the handkerchief with her right hand but used her left hand to wipe her sweat, smearing mud all over her face without realizing it, and continued to wipe.
It was only then that Jing noticed how much tension and anxiety lay beneath Xiaoyao’s seemingly calm demeanor. He felt both joy and guilt—joy that Xiaoyao was so concerned about him, and guilt that he had caused her such unease.
Jing said, “Xiaoyao, I won’t let anyone hurt you again, and I certainly won’t hurt you myself. Please give me another chance.”
After a moment, Xiaoyao lifted her head and looked at Jing, smiling brightly. Jing couldn’t discern her thoughts and nervously asked, “Will you?”
Suddenly, Xiaoyao threw herself into Jing’s arms, hugging him tightly.
Jing held Xiaoyao close, feeling a bittersweet emotion that left him speechless. He could only tighten his embrace, silently expressing that he never wanted to lose her again. . . . The Yellow Emperor approached and gently cleared his throat. Jing, feeling embarrassed, immediately straightened up, while Xiaoyao, her cheeks flushed, looked at the Emperor nonchalantly.
长相思第4章 东风恶，欢情薄(4)
黄帝笑笑，对小夭说：“你去送送涂山族长。” 璟眼中闪过惊喜，这表示黄帝认可他了吗？
小夭带着一抹羞色，对璟道：“走吧！”
The Yellow Emperor smiled and said to Xiaoyao, “Go see off the chief of the Tushan clan.”
Joy flashed in Jing’s eyes. Does this mean the Yellow Emperor acknowledges him?
With a hint of shyness, Xiaoyao said to Jing, “Let’s go!”
Xiaoyao blushed slightly and exclaimed, “I’m not in a hurry to get married!”
“You may not be in a hurry, but someone else is. Why else would he rush to hold a funeral when Fangfeng Yiying is still alive?”
Xiaoyao quickly glanced at Jing and muttered, “He only came up with this plan because he felt sorry for Fangfeng Yiying. With her passing, there’s no need to continue the ritual of sustaining her spirit, and she can watch her son grow up.”
But Jing responded openly, “Helping Fangfeng Yiying was just incidental. My main goal is to marry Xiaoyao as soon as possible.”
Xiaoyao wanted to glare at Jing, but the moment their eyes met, her heart started pounding. She felt a mix of shyness and annoyance, but mostly sweetness. She lowered her head, pretending to focus on drinking her sour plum soup, while her cheeks flushed a deep red.
长相思第9章 花开花谢故人别(1)
阿珩能理解小夭的心结，并未对小夭的称呼动气，却也未回答小夭的问题，而是问道：“你身后的男子是谁？”
小夭回头看璟，一阵心慌紧张，一阵羞涩甜蜜，就像是和情郎幽会，被父母当场抓到的小女儿，又羞又怕。
俊帝说：“他叫涂山璟，青丘九尾狐涂山氏的族长。”
Ah Heng understood what weighed in Xiaoyao’s heart and wasn’t upset by how Xiaoyao addressed Chiyou. However, instead of answering Xiaoyao’s question, she asked, “Who is the man behind you?”
Xiaoyao turned to look at Jing, feeling a wave of panic and nervousness, followed by shyness and sweetness. It was like a young girl caught in a secret rendezvous with her lover by her parents—both embarrassed and scared.
Emperor Jun said, “His name is Tushan Jing, the clan leader of the Tushan family of the Nine-Tailed Foxes from Qingqiu.”
长相思第11章 花开花谢故人别(3)
黄帝的笑声突然传来，小夭和璟忙站开了一些，黄帝咳嗽了两声，说道：“我来喝口水，你们继续玩你们的。”
“谁跟他玩了？是他在欺负我！”小夭脸色发红，跑到廊下倒了杯水，端给黄帝。
黄帝看着小夭，笑道：“我看倒欺负得好，璟不在时，你蔫搭搭的，璟一来，有生气了许多。”
The laughter of the Yellow Emperor suddenly came from behind. Xiao Yao and Jing quickly stepped apart. The Emperor coughed twice and said, “I’m just here to get some water. You two continue with your play.”
“Who’s playing with him? He’s bullying me!” Xiao Yao’s face turned red as she went to the corridor to pour a glass of water and handed it to the Emperor.
The Emperor looked at Xiao Yao and smiled, “It seems like the bullying is working well. You were listless when Jing wasn’t around, but now you’re much more spirited.”
Jing smiled and said, “Xiaoyao, you were right earlier—you may not have the most beautiful face, but you are…” Just as Xiaoyao’s nose started to wrinkle, Jing tapped the tip of her nose. “In a world full of countless flowers, none compare to your unique charm.”
Xiaoyao’s face instantly turned bright red, and she stood up to leave. “I really don’t know what’s gotten into you today, saying such strange things!”
Jing said, “This is the place where your father once lived. Today, I brought you here because I want to tell you, in front of your parents, that Tushan Jing of Qingqiu wishes to marry Xiling Jiuyao.”
Xiaoyao froze.
Jing asked, “Xiaoyao, will you marry me?”
Back then, when Xiaoyao and Fenglong discussed marriage alone in a secret chamber, she didn’t feel embarrassed at all. But now, she was both shy and flustered, wanting to run away immediately. She muttered softly, “If you want to propose, you should ask my grandfather and Zhuanxu.”
“I will, of course, talk to them, but before seeking their approval, I wanted to ask you first. Xiaoyao, will you marry me?”
Peach blossoms fluttered down like the rain in Jiangnan, and Xiaoyao seemed to see her father and mother again, smiling at her.
“I do!” Xiaoyao shook off Jing’s hand and fled into the thatched hut, feeling her cheeks burning and her heart pounding. She looked at herself in the mirror, her face flushed as if she had drunk wine. Covering her cheeks with her hands, she said to her reflection, “You are so useless!”
Under the setting sun, Jing and Xiaoyao were sitting on a green stone by the stream. Xiaoyao chattered away, while Jing listened with a constant smile.
Suddenly, Xiaoyao quickly planted a kiss on the corner of Jing’s lips. Before Jing could react, she casually sat back down and smiled as she looked elsewhere.
Zhuanxu stomped heavily, breaking a dry twig beneath his foot with a crisp snap.
Xiaoyao turned around immediately, her face flushing guiltily upon seeing him. “Brother.”
“If you live in Qingqiu, it would certainly be more convenient in Qingqiu City.”
“Huh? I live in Qingqiu?” Xiaoyao momentarily failed to understand his meaning.
Jing smiled and said, “The Tushan residence in Qingqiu has already been prepared and decorated. We can hold the wedding at any time.”
A blush gradually spread across Xiaoyao’s face. Jing took her hand and said in a low voice, “Xiaoyao, let’s get married! Since the engagement, I’ve been looking forward to marrying you.”
Xiaoyao’s heart was filled with sweetness as she gently nodded.
The Yellow Emperor said, “You’ve been engaged for so many years, it’s about time to get married. I’ve already prepared the dowry on my side, so as soon as the Tushan clan is ready, the wedding can be held anytime.”
Jing immediately responded, “Everything is ready. We could even have the wedding tomorrow.”
The Yellow Emperor and the Black Emperor both laughed, and Xiao Yao blushed and smiled as well. Jing quickly added, “Tomorrow… tomorrow definitely won’t work. What I meant is… everything is already prepared.”
Jing smiled in relief and bowed to the Yellow Emperor and the Black Emperor, saying, “Thank you, Your Majesties.”
The Yellow Emperor glanced at Zhuanxu and said teasingly, “If you’re going to thank someone, you should thank Xiao Yao. We are reluctant to marry her off to you, but she only has eyes and heart for you and we dote on her, naturally, we have to fulfill her wish and let her marry you.”
Jing laughed and really bowed to Xiao Yao, saying, “Thank you, my lady, for agreeing to marry me!”
Xiao Yao, both embarrassed and annoyed, said, “Why can’t any of you be serious?” She quickly left the table and stepped outside.
Feeling her face flush and her heart race, Xiao Yao became a bit restless. Not wanting to return to the house, she walked along the path by the creek, heading towards the hillside filled with poinciana trees.
Xiaoyao’s gaze shifted from the muxi flowers to Zhuanxu. Her eyes were dreamy, her cheeks flushed, and her lips held a sweet smile.
Since Jing was gone, it was the first time Zhuanxu had seen Xiaoyao smile so sweetly. In that moment, Zhuanxu felt as if he had become a young man on his first romantic rendezvous, with his cheeks burning and his heart pounding uncontrollably.
He quickly walked to Xiaoyao’s side, knelt down, and said, “I’m sorry, I came back too late!”
Xiaoyao’s gaze was dreamy, and the most beautiful smile spread across her lips. “Jing, you’ve finally come back!”
After they quietly embraced for a while, Xiaoyao asked, “You just said one sentence, and it made Father stop being angry with me. But you talked for so long—what were you discussing?”
Jing smiled, “I thought you weren’t going to ask. What do you think could make two men talk for such a long time?”
“Me?”
“Smart!”
Xiaoyao frowned, “I feel like you’re up to no good. Come on, confess what you really talked about!”
“We were discussing when I could start calling His Majesty ‘Father.'”
Xiaoyao’s face flushed red, but she tried to maintain a serious expression as she asked, “Did you reach a conclusion?”
Jing lightly pinched her cheek and, always in a mock-serious tone, said, “This blush is lovely, but it’s not quite enough to dye a wedding dress.”
Xiaoyao couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing, covering her face with one hand while playfully hitting Jing with the other. “Just say it! If you don’t, I’m leaving! Who cares to listen?”
Jing caught her fist and said, “I have no parents, no power, no influence—nothing but myself. You only have a few family members. I discussed with His Majesty, and four days from now, on an auspicious day, we can have a small wedding ceremony on Zhaoyun Peak. What do you think?”
Hundreds of years later, Ah Bi and Lieyang returned to their old home, the Zhaoyun Palace, for the wedding of Ah Heng’s daughter. There, they reunited with their old friend, the White Emperor, but many other old friends were no longer around. The mix of emotions overwhelmed them, and they drank as if consuming water.
Xiaoyao also drank a lot with them. Despite her high tolerance, she ended up feeling quite tipsy and seemed to have had a tearful moment with Lieyang about her mother. Later, it appeared that Jing had carried her back to their room…
Xiaoyao suddenly sat up, exclaiming, “Did we get married?”
Jing touched Xiaoyao’s forehead and feigned puzzlement, saying, “I haven’t heard that getting drunk causes amnesia.”
Xiaoyao stammered, “Last night… last night I… you… we…”
Jing smiled and said, “You were quite drunk last night, so I let you sleep. There’s plenty of time ahead; I’m not in a hurry. What about you? Are you in a hurry?”
Xiaoyao shot Jing a glare, her face flushed as she began to wash up and get dressed.
长相思第52章 委心任去留(1)
Yes Xiaoyao, at last for you and Jing : I + You = We!
Long post Part 1 of 3 : will continue in another post
if tv drama followed everything in the novel it will be fantastic 👌 even if they splice it in 2 seasons. Along with good cgi effects it will be more satisfying. Of course, I can understand the production budget is not as high, so the 2nd part is quite lacking of the fantasy side & too compressed. Maybe if this is adapted to animation, it maybe more realistic, ‘coz there’s limitless approach on cgi effects, but of course with the use of the image & voice of the drama cast.
I found your blog today from reddit and have been reading all your post about Lost You Forever. Thank you so much for including so much insights about the story. I only read the translated version from Koala-sensei’s and I never thought that there were so much more with Jing and XY dynamics. Thank you so much!
To be very honest, I was really disappointed with how S2 was directed and I couldn’t understand their reason of deviating so much from the source material. The S2 didn’t justify why Jing was the end game and how much he meant for XY. I felt really bad reading the comments saying Jing was useless T.T
I will definitely re-read your posts since I haven’t gotten over the story yet. Again, thank you so much and wishing you good health!
The way you create your posts clearly shows how much love you have for the novel and I’m really really grateful for that. As someone, who doesn’t understand Mandarin Chinese, it’s difficult to find contents and insights about the story in English so I was really over the moon reading all your posts. I would love to read more of your upcoming posts if you do have time.
If I may ask, is there an official English translation of the novel? I tried searching it online but I haven’t gotten any good results.
ChickenNuggetsDaisuki, I totally agree. They took so much away from Jing and gave it to Cang Xuan. Cang Xuan was the one who spread the rumour about XY’s birth Father which brought her so much pain, and Jing was the one who risked his life to defy CX and take her to get closure and end the pain. Yet in the drama, they made CX a part of it. Also it was Jing who made her feel safe when camping outdoors, not CX, yet in the drama they also shared that with CX. I was also really looking forward to Jing’s proposal, which was for me, a highlight in the book, they completely left that out. And I would have liked to see that sweet moment the morning after they got married when she couldn’t remember if they had had a wedding night because she was so drunk. They also took away so much dialogue from Jing, they basically only had him saying hao. And there’s so much more I could complain about but yeah, S2, total disappointment.
whysoDrama 
if tv drama followed everything in the novel it will be fantastic 👌 even if they splice it in 2 seasons. Along with good cgi effects it will be more satisfying. Of course, I can understand the production budget is not as high, so the 2nd part is quite lacking of the fantasy side & too compressed. Maybe if this is adapted to animation, it maybe more realistic, ‘coz there’s limitless approach on cgi effects, but of course with the use of the image & voice of the drama cast.
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Hello!
I found your blog today from reddit and have been reading all your post about Lost You Forever. Thank you so much for including so much insights about the story. I only read the translated version from Koala-sensei’s and I never thought that there were so much more with Jing and XY dynamics. Thank you so much!
To be very honest, I was really disappointed with how S2 was directed and I couldn’t understand their reason of deviating so much from the source material. The S2 didn’t justify why Jing was the end game and how much he meant for XY. I felt really bad reading the comments saying Jing was useless T.T
I will definitely re-read your posts since I haven’t gotten over the story yet. Again, thank you so much and wishing you good health!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for taking the time to write me to tell me you liked reading the compilations! I am so happy that you enjoyed the posts!
S2 was really a huge disappointment and ruined the flow of the story. Even non-novel readers felt something was wrong with the drama’s pacing.
Thanks for being so sweet again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The way you create your posts clearly shows how much love you have for the novel and I’m really really grateful for that. As someone, who doesn’t understand Mandarin Chinese, it’s difficult to find contents and insights about the story in English so I was really over the moon reading all your posts. I would love to read more of your upcoming posts if you do have time.
If I may ask, is there an official English translation of the novel? I tried searching it online but I haven’t gotten any good results.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ChickenNuggetsDaisuki, I totally agree. They took so much away from Jing and gave it to Cang Xuan. Cang Xuan was the one who spread the rumour about XY’s birth Father which brought her so much pain, and Jing was the one who risked his life to defy CX and take her to get closure and end the pain. Yet in the drama, they made CX a part of it. Also it was Jing who made her feel safe when camping outdoors, not CX, yet in the drama they also shared that with CX. I was also really looking forward to Jing’s proposal, which was for me, a highlight in the book, they completely left that out. And I would have liked to see that sweet moment the morning after they got married when she couldn’t remember if they had had a wedding night because she was so drunk. They also took away so much dialogue from Jing, they basically only had him saying hao. And there’s so much more I could complain about but yeah, S2, total disappointment.
LikeLiked by 1 person