Unrepentant 24

The news that Lin Size wanted to go to Hu prefecture slowly spread, everyone was extremely perplexed, but at the same time they all felt a bit more irregularity in the air than usual.

First, Lin Size announced that Consort Ning had died from sickness, that the harem was once again empty without a single person, but some people had obviously seen Zuo Ning Hao bring a woman who looked somewhat like Consort Ning away, but this was a small matter in front of what was to come, so nobody mentioned it.

Originally, Lin Size wanted to summon Zuo Ning Hao to announce a few things, so that he could better go to Hu prefecture, but suddenly, the issue with Zuo Ning Yan arose, so everything became thoroughly messier.

Gu Hongjian actually didn't know how the situation was when Zuo Ning Hao and Zuo Ning Yan reunited, only on the second day, when court was in session, she saw that Zuo Ning Hao's facial expression was exhausted, entirely not seeing any joy from having been reunited with his resurrected sister, but his eyes were a bit red and swollen, probably because yesterday their reunion caused him to be too happy, and he probably wept in Zuo Ning Yan's embrace, or maybe because he was too excited and thus had a sleepless night, thus when he attended court in the morning he was so listless.

And also, uncertain as to whether or not it was becomes of Zuo Ning Yan's reappearance, but as to Lin Size's desire to head to Hu prefecture, he actually didn't have any objections, only deeply requesting that he would also accompany him there.

Hearing that he also wanted to accompany the expedition there, Gu Hongjian was unrivaled in her surprise, this guy had probably discovered that she, Gu Hongjian actually didn't cause her sister's death, then thinking on how he was that mean to Gu Hongjian, therefore he felt a bit guilty, thus behaving this way.

But Lin Size naturally wouldn't let him follow along, dismissing him with two or three phrases; Zuo Ning Hao expressed that he was a bit disappointed, but didn't say much more.

And Zhao Yun Yuan perhaps had the biggest reaction.

Knowing that Lin Size wanted to go to Hu prefecture, he spent the night writing a long, detailed and thick memorandum, generally and specifically detailing the reasons as to why Lin Size couldn't leave the capital, but Lin Size didn't even bother looking at it, saying only a, "Beloved official Zhao, what you've said is reasonable, but I have my own considerations," dismissing him this way.

Of course Zhao Yun Yuan wasn't that easy to dismiss, and he didn't give up at all, continuing to attempt to persuade Lin Size.

Lin Size still continued to ignore his high officials, and already begun to prepare for the expedition; Zhao Yun Yuan really didn't have any way, and  pulling Jiang Haifu, inquired him, but Jiang Haifu, having been pestered the whole day, managed to only think of one thing, clapped his hands saying, "There's probably one person that can dissuade the emperor."

Zhao Yun Yuan asked, "Who?!"

"In the past, official Gu once informed us, that she and the emperor had a common master, the two both respected that master very much. His name was... something... Mister Meng...... only that Mister Meng, not long before the emperor ascended the throne, had left and afterwards was traveling about the world, never even so much as sent a letter...... so we totally couldn't find him......"

Zhao Yun Yuan thought for a long time, and decided on a very simple and crude method-- he let people print a massive amount of announcements to place in public areas, on it, he would only write, "Master Lin is in danger, asking for Mister Meng's assistance."

Jiang Haifu secretly helped, but was still anxiously asking Zhao Yun Yuan, could this really bait Mister Meng out?

Zhao Yun Yuan stated, "Right now, official Gu... the news of her death has already spread abroad, and if that Mister Meng is still alive, he would definitely know that things are not ideal, and rush to return to the capital; he will definitely see these announcements, and as long as he has seen them, he will definitely come."

And luckily Zhao Yun Yuan predicted accurately.

Three days later, Gu Hongjian managed to see Mister Meng, whom she had not seen in six or seven years.

Seeing him, he hadn't changed at all, it was as if it was many years ago-- he drank a mouthful of wine, turned to leave, but right after leaving the palatial grounds, he turned around to come back.

Gu Hongjian suddenly decided that life was truly mysterious, many aspirations, when she was alive, she couldn't make come true, but after she had died, they came true one by one.

Mist Meng had probably seen the news that Zhao Yun Yuan had assigned people to spread out, but didn't bother searching for Zhao Yun Yuan, but had rather entered the palace.

The imperial palace was just like the way it was in the past, for Mister Meng, there weren't any obstacles for his entering or leaving. He came deep in the night, standing atop the roof tiles, right as Lin Size was standing outside Zhang Gan palace, gazing at the moon, and behind Lin Size, there was actually the female ghost of Gu Hongjian, who was also deep in thought, but could perhaps better be described as staring blankly.

Mister Meng just called out Lin Size's name, and then lightly drifted to the ground.

The accompanying Jiang Haifu received a fright, and right as he was going to summon guards, Lin Size already motioned him to stop, and then lightly, very surprised, and finally having been a bit happy for the first time said, "Mister Meng?"

Jiang Haifu, upon hearing this name, immediately retreated away.

Mister Meng faced Lin Size, smiling a bit, "Size, it's been many years since we last met, you've really grown into an adult."

Lin Size happily said, "Mister had already left for seven years... indeed, it's already been a really long time."

Mister Meng said, "I've wandered the four seas, and have long not had a stable residence, never was convenient to get married, never noticed the passing of time, and thus I haven't bothered counting it."

Lin Size slightly nodded, "Thus, mister looks just like he did in the past."

Mister Meng waived his hand, "Let's not talk about this; Size, I came because of the matter with Hongjian."

Lin Size's mood soured instantly, crestfallen, "She..."

"Her matter, I've learned all about. Unfortunately I learned of it too late, after I learned that you actually sent her to Hu prefecture, I had wanted to rush to Hu prefecture, but unfortunately I was one step too slow. Thus, I figured I would just return to the capital." Mister Meng sighed, "Size, you were too befuddled."

Lin Size honestly replied, "What mister has said is true."

"Back then, before you ascended, I had said, Hongjian is a good young lass, but is also a naive lass, if she followed you for a single day, she would follow you for her whole life. As to the matter that came between you two, I haven't wanted to speculate much on it, and I don't want to ask more on it, only, losing her, is perhaps the biggest loss in your life." Mister Meng shook his head.

Lin Size said, "Yes. I've already...... had this type of feeling."

Mister Meng said, "But this is already the past, you have already lost Gu Hongjian, your right arm, so you need to be even more careful. Hongjian's loss, I've already been very sorrowful over, but regarding the matter of life and death, nobody can alter it. Many years ago, when I learned of your mother's death, I chased after her crazily and recklessly for half a month, but other than almost dying of wine intoxication, there was no change at all; in the end, I came to find you, which turned out to be some settlement with your mother. Now, as the country's ruler, the more you are sorrowful, the more you have to calm down; a place like Hu prefecture, is it the type of place you should go to? And where would you find the time to go there, to throw everything aside to rush to Hu prefecture? Do you want to recover Hongjian's corpse? Then you can totally send people to do it, and even if you went, what use is there? What, do you think that once you arrived there, Hongjian's missing corpse would magically appear?"

Lin Size probably already knew that Mister Meng came to dissuade himself not to go to Hu prefecture, so he didn't have any particular reaction, only pondering for a bit, and then saying, "Mister Meng, do you also think that Hongjian has really died?"

Mister Meng furrowed his brows, "What do you mean by this? Didn't they say, many eyes were present when Hongjian was knocked off her horse, and was subsequently pierced thoroughly be the opposing side?"

Lin Size said, "Mmmh...... but, I still insist that I want to see the person if they're alive, and the corpse if they're dead. Even if she's really dead, I still want to bring her back...... she died for me, can't possibly keep her from returning home even after she's dead. After all, I keep having this feeling, that Hongjian hasn't actually died......"

Gu Hongjian stood behind Lin Size and rolled her eyes--really sorry about this, but my soul is just standing behind you......

Mister Meng stated, "Your feeling? What if it's not accurate? After all, even if Hongjian hasn't died, you wouldn't necessarily be able to find her. How do you know, that after experiencing these things, if she could fortunately live, that she would still want to return to your side?"

Gu Hongjian stood behind Mister Meng and rolled her eyes-- really sorry about this, but even my soul has returned......

Mister Meng sighed, saying, "I've already returned to the palace, and already visited Bai Fu palace. I've thought that you probably wouldn't have gone to that place again."

Lin Size said, "Bai Fu palace? What's there?"

Mister Meng said, "I thought that based on Hongjian's personality, prior to her expedition, she would have prepared for the possibility of death, and would definitely have left something behind...... so, I searched Bai Fu palace in and out, and finally managed to find this."

He took out a sheet of paper, and lightly unfolded it, on it was Gu Hongjian's lettering, only owe you my death in this life.

Lin Size stared at that phrase for a long time, and suddenly clenched his teeth, beating the stone table with his fist, "Gu Hongjian......Gu Hongjian! What do you owe me?! In this life only owing you me death......you don't owe me! Why did you have to die?!"

Gu Hongjian was really shocked, looking at it, that letter didn't have tears or sorrow, and it was indeed really written by her in Bai Fu palac previously, but really, she just wanted to curse Lin Size a bit, because back then, Lin Size blamed her for getting Zuo Ning Yan killed, and that's why she had written that she owed him a death flippantly, and wanted to submit it as a memorandum to Lin Size, but later, thinking on it more, there wasn't a need to, so she had crumpled it up, and stuffed it in the gap in the desk.

Who would have thought Mister Meng actually managed to find it... this is really......

This type of statement, Lin Size would definitely overthink it......

Gu Hongjian could only helplessly look at Lin Size studying this phrase, sitting there until dawn of the next day. She didn't have a way to tell Lin Size, that she didn't actually blame him now.

This life, after all they had passed it together.

She's already dead, and doesn't know when she will completely disappear, but right now, Lin Size was still alive, both young and standing at the pinnacle, his future looking promising and good.

Previously, for him, she had gotten rid of a lot of shadows, and now, she didn't actually want to become that biggest shadow.

Lin Size had stared blankly for a full night, the result of which was his cold getting much more severe.

Although amidst this, Jiang Haifu had had servants add additional coverings, but in the end, the nights were cold and the wind frigid, and as his cold had originally not even recovered, after this, his sickness got worse by a non insignificant amount.

Gu Hongjian, just floating around Lin Size, would feel that she could be coughed blown far away just by the sound of Lin Size's coughing.

Unfortunately, this night didn't just add to Lin Size's sickness, but also made firm his determination to go to Hu prefecture.

Perhaps it was because the shock of Gu Hongjian's letter being too large, Lin Size already couldn't bother with  anything else, and wanted to go to Hu prefecture, no matter that he was very sick.

Gu Hongjian actually had a very mysterious feeling, like he already no longer cared about the condition of his own body.

Because this type of situation, Gu Hongjian was very familiar with, naturally remembering that time when she was in Hu prefecture, she also had this mood.

On one hand, she was thinking of how to win a victorious battle so as to not let Lin Size get disappointed, and on the other hand she was thinking that if she ended up dying, it would also be good, sparing her from having to return to watch Lin Size and He Fang Ning having such strong interactions, and having to deal with Lin Size's ignoring of her.

It's not that everyone will end up wishing for death, after all, wishing for death also requires courage.

But distantly looking lightly upon one's own life was actually really easy.

She didn't intentionally want to go and die, but she also didn't particularly want to work hard in order to live.

That was the her then, and also the Lin Size now.