In the darkness, his Ming’er’s bright eyes shone before him like twin stars, radiating confidence and calmness. Hearing those words from his Ming’er, he felt a sense of peace and contentment well up within him unlike anything he had ever known before. Even when he had once dominated the Jianghu, then returned to the Imperial court to seize Cang He from the hands of his father and elder brothers and ascend the Imperial throne
九五之位
Jiǔ Wǔ zhī Wèi
Literally means ‘the Nine-Five position’, a reference to the most auspicious line in the I Ching (易經), also know as the Book of Changes, an ancient Chinese divination text.
9 represents the highest level of yang energy, symbolizing ultimate power and authority, while 5 represents the central position of balance and order. Together, it signifies the ideal seat of supreme rulership, associated with the emperor’s throne.
1 , it had all been little more than a game to him. None of it had stirred even the slightest excitement or anticipation. Having known countless men and women, he had found them all uninteresting. Only his Ming’er had overturned everything he thought he knew. Since his Ming’er’s appearance, he had finally realized that there was still something in this world capable of moving his heart. From that moment on, he found himself helplessly drawn in, sinking ever deeper. By now, his Ming’er had become indispensable to him. That sense that they belonged to one another made him unwilling to let go, no matter what.
Jiǔ Wǔ zhī Wèi
Literally means ‘the Nine-Five position’, a reference to the most auspicious line in the I Ching (易經), also know as the Book of Changes, an ancient Chinese divination text.
9 represents the highest level of yang energy, symbolizing ultimate power and authority, while 5 represents the central position of balance and order. Together, it signifies the ideal seat of supreme rulership, associated with the emperor’s throne.
“Ming’er always leaves his Father Emperor speechless,” Qi Xutian sighed softly, gently stroking the person in his arms as he turned over and pulled the other to his side. “Ming’er, you must be exhausted after several days of traveling. Rest early. Your Father Emperor already ordered Liu Yi to postpone your coming-of-age ceremony. Starting tomorrow, there is no need to rush. Shall we take a carriage back?” Along the journey, he had been receiving reports, letting him know his Ming’er had scarcely stopped to rest, all to hurry back to YeYao City. With no one to care for his Ming’er on the road, he did not know how much hardship the other had endured, which made Qi Xutian’s heart ache.
With his Imperial father here, he no longer needed to worry about anything else. Qi Mingyue nodded, relaxed his mind, and drifted peacefully into sleep in the familiar embrace.
Stroking the hair of the person in his arms, Qi Xutian’s eyes showed tenderness. Although still fully clothed, seeing his Ming’er fall into a deep sleep, he remained still, afraid of waking the other. Holding his Ming’er in his arms, he covered them with the quilt and lay down to sleep without removing his clothes.
The next morning, when Qi Mingyue woke up, he suddenly found himself already inside the carriage. He knew his Imperial father must have pressed his sleeping acupuncture point while he was fast asleep, wanting him to sleep a little longer. Glancing outside the curtain, he saw it was already nearing noon. Helplessly, he looked at the person beside him, “Father Emperor……” He feared, he probably wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.
Qi Xutian shrugged innocently. “Your Father Emperor was just afraid Ming’er would be tired and didn’t want to wake you.” He gave Qi Mingyue a light kiss on the lips, then smoothed the other’s slightly disheveled hair and picked up a robe from the side. “Come, let your Father Emperor dress you. We’ll rest at an inn for a while, wash up, and then have lunch. If Ming’er is hungry now, there are some snacks here.”
“Does Father Emperor truly take Mingyue for a child? Such trivial matters, there is no need to trouble Father Emperor.” Though he said this, he did not actually refuse, raising a hand to allow Qi Xutian to dress him in the robe. Though it was something he could do himself, after being apart for many days, and knowing his Imperial father wished to take extra care of him, how could he not understand this intention. Leaning against his Imperial father’s embrace, listening to the bustle outside the carriage, he thought of the upcoming coming-of-age ceremony and the investiture rites of the Crown Prince, with a pile of tedious rituals waiting for him in the palace. He felt that in the coming days he would surely be busy, so perhaps he should take advantage of this moment of leisure to rest a little more.
Please read The Elegant Dancing Years Chapter 79 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
After a while, the carriage slowly came to a stop. Looking up and gazing outside, Qi Mingyue saw that Wu Yao, who had been riding alongside them, had already entered the restaurant ahead of them to wait. He could not help but feel slightly surprised. In recent days, Wu Yao seemed to have changed somewhat, as though he had gained a trace of human warmth, no longer carrying the same emptiness as before. He wondered whether it had anything to do with the person he had seen outside the inn that day.Getting out of the carriage, Qi Mingyue turned to look at Qi Xutian, only to find that he had already put on that half-mask. Its light golden surface gleamed dazzlingly in the sunlight. Remembering that this was how his Imperial father had dressed when he roamed the Jianghu, Qi Mingyue could not help but sigh inwardly. The strange beast engraved upon the mask was so imposing and enigmatic that it was unforgettable at a glance. Combined with his Imperial father’s usual methods, it was certain to leave a lasting impression on anyone who met him. Even though he had not appeared in the Jianghu for many years, if any person of the Jianghu were to see him, they would likely still recognize him, and trouble would surely follow. Though Qi Mingyue did not mind others seeking trouble, they were hurrying back to the palace, so this was not the right time for it. On the other hand, very few people knew what the Emperor of Cang He actually looked like. Just as he was wondering whether his Imperial father should remove the mask instead, a startled cry suddenly came from inside the restaurant, “Good heavens! It’s him!”
Qi Mingyue walked inside and noticed a group of people from the Jianghu gathered around a table not far away. They had clearly seen his Imperial father and recognized his identity in the Jianghu. Hearing other people discussing his Imperial father, Qi Mingyue couldn’t help but listen more closely.
“What do you mean it’s him? Who are you talking about?”
“Look how frightened you are. Just who is it? Are they really that terrifying?”
“Shh, quiet! Are you trying to get us killed? If he hears us, we’re doomed!”
“Who could possibly make an old hand of the Jianghu like you so frightened? Didn’t you say last time that even if the Huosha Pavilion Master showed up, you wouldn’t be afraid? Don’t tell me that this person is even more formidable?” As he spoke, someone had already leaned forward to take a look, only to be pulled back by the one who had spoken earlier.
“You are courting death! If you offend him, even several Huosha Pavilion Masters combined wouldn’t be able to withstand that person. Although Fan Hao back then could indeed rival him, Huosha Pavilion is merely an organization in the Jianghu, and Fan Hao was only showing off his might within the Jianghu. That person is no ordinary figure, because that man even dared to oppose the court directly, and the court has still been unable to do anything about him. Tell me, with such a person, shouldn’t we all be more cautious when we see him?”
“Could it be…… you’re referring to what happened back then……” The person seemed to suddenly think of something, their expression shifting to one of shock and faint fear.
“That’s right, it’s him! I saw him just now. That man has actually reappeared in the Jianghu. Whether it’s a blessing or a curse, who can say……”
“Who exactly are you all talking about? Is he really that terrifying?”
Please read The Elegant Dancing Years Chapter 79 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“Young lad, you don’t know. But back then, that person was a dominating presence in the Jianghu, stirring up one storm after another, and no one could ever tell whether he stood on the side of righteousness or evil. If you were to provoke him, you’d be better off ending your own life quickly. Otherwise, if one of his subordinates of the Blood Shadow appears, no one will survive. There is only one fate for those who anger him, and that is death.” The self-proclaimed old hand of the Jianghu shook his head with a sigh, looking as though he still carried lingering fear from those days.“You make him sound so terrifying. Who exactly is he? Why have I never heard of him?”
“Those are events from more than a decade ago, so it’s only natural that you have never heard of them. Back then, wherever he appeared, no one dared challenge his word. His ways were secretive and inscrutable, and he killed countless people. Yet as long as no one provoked him, he would not trouble them. Unfortunately, many simply followed the path to their own doom. Some feared him to the core, while others were won over by his abilities and chose to follow him. He had many capable subordinates, and his standing in the Jianghu was beyond compare. For that reason, many came to call him the Dark Emperor.”
“Dark Emperor? That’s his title? He’s got some nerve! Isn’t that just openly defying the court?”
“He has no official title,” said the old hand of the Jianghu with a laugh, continuing in a deliberately mysterious tone. “No one knows what he looks like or how old he is, nor does anyone know his background or origins. Even the name Dark Emperor is only used in private. In his presence, those who revere him, like his subordinates, address him as Supreme Lord.”
“You said you saw him just now? If no one knows what he looks like or how old he is, how could you be sure it was him?”
“I have seen him once back then, how could I possibly not recognize him? His mask is so distinctive, who in the martial world wouldn’t recognize him? And his bearing, his presence, how many like him are there in the Jianghu? Young lad, when you reach my age, you’ll understand. In the Jianghu, you can’t just rely on your eyes when judging people, you need something more than that.” The old hand of the Jianghu chuckled proudly, clearly very confident in his judgment.
From behind the screen, Qi Mingyue set down the wine cup in his hand. After hearing this, only then did he begin to gain a rough understanding of his Imperial father’s past affairs.
“Ming’er heard it all?” Qi Xutian added some dishes for him. Seeing Qi Mingyue hadn’t touched his chopsticks, he took the other’s wine cup and drank the remaining wine in one gulp. “You haven’t eaten yet, so it’s not suitable to drink wine. Your Father Emperor will drink for you.”
Just as Qi Mingyue was about to reply, the wine cup before him was already taken away. The corners of his brows lifted slightly, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes. Leaning forward, he took the wine cup in front of Qi Xutian into his own hands. “Courtesy demands reciprocity. Since that is the case, Mingyue will drink for Father Emperor too.” Before Qi Xutian could stop him, he had already unhurriedly drank the wine from the cup. Running his tongue lightly over his lips to savor the lingering taste, he looked up with a smile. “Father Emperor hasn’t eaten yet either, has he? Why only worry about me? Mingyue isn’t that delicate. A few cups of wine won’t knock me down.”
Please read The Elegant Dancing Years Chapter 79 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
Qi Xutian shook his head, a smile in his eyes, and continued serving Qi Mingyue dishes. He chided lightly, “Eat quickly. If Ming’er goes hungry, it will be your Father Emperor who feels heartache.”Qi Mingyue picked up his chopsticks. Seeing the mask on the person before him, and recalling what he had just heard, he said, “Only today did I learn just how formidable Father Emperor was back then, to the point that even the wild and unrestrained figures of the Jianghu still turn pale at the mention of you. As for Mingyue, I am not as capable as Father Emperor. Having just entered the Jianghu, I’ve only earned the title of Lord Shuiyue, which is far less impressive than the Dark Emperor.”
Hearing Qi Mingyue’s teasing words, the corners of Qi Xutian’s lips lifted into a faint smile. “Does Ming’er think his Father Emperor doesn’t know? In just a few days, Yun Jinghao already follows your every lead, treating you as his savior. You saved his son, resolved the crisis at the manor, and as the successor of Tianyin, though you have only appeared in the Jianghu for a few days, you have already earned everyone’s admiration.” From the reports he had received, Yun Jinghao, Yan Qing, and Yan Zhen all held his Ming’er in the highest regard. Within Yunhao Manor, there were already faint signs that everyone was beginning to regard his Ming’er as their leader. Having only just entered the Jianghu, he had already gained the support of the highly respected Yunhao Manor. His Ming’er’s abilities were only just beginning to reveal themselves. Thinking back to his own past, Qi Xutian continued, “As for your Father Emperor being addressed as Supreme Lord that came about simply because I happened to kill more people than most. If you wish to establish yourself quickly in the Jianghu, killing is certainly an effective way. I couldn’t begin to count how many died by your Father Emperor’s hand in those days. Now that Ming’er knows all this, do you think your Father Emperor is bloodthirsty?”
“How could Mingyue not know what kind of person Father Emperor is?” His Imperial father had never paid much heed to others. Whether he killed or spared someone was decided in a single thought, so how could anyone call his Imperial father bloodthirsty? “Besides, Mingyue has never been softhearted. What concern is it of mine whether others live or die?” Back when he was still in the organization, he had taken lives while carrying out missions. The number of people who had died at his hands might not have been much fewer than those his Imperial father had killed.
“What concern is it to you indeed. Ming’er truly shares the same mindset as his Father Emperor. No wonder your Father Emperor can never bear to let you go.” Setting down his wine cup, Qi Xutian leaned over and licked and kissed his Ming’er’s lips, savoring the rich fragrance of the wine lingering there and the softness of the other’s lips. Unable to resist, Qi Xutian deepened the kiss.
Qi Mingyue parted his lips without resisting, even meeting Qi Xutian’s advances with a kiss of his own. There was no one else in the private booth behind the screen, yet the sounds from outside still carried in. Allowing his Imperial father to kiss him here, within earshot of others, filled him with a subtle sense of unrestrained exhilaration.
Their lips parted. Still catching his breath, Qi Mingyue took a sip of wine. Suddenly, he heard a vaguely familiar voice coming from beyond the screen.
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