Mutated Tao

Chapter 586: Gao Zhijian

Chapter 586: Gao Zhijian

Bai Lingmiao took the lunchbox outside and Chun Xiaoman sighed. She didn’t know why Miaomiao loved Senior Li so much.

But Chun Xiaoman soon recovered and returned to her usual cheerful self. As long as Miaomiao and Senior Li were fine, she was fine too. She just hoped the two of them would be able to live the rest of their lives happily.

Miaomiao was fine, Senior Li was still alive, and Gao Zhijian even became the Emperor. Everything turned out to be fine. She felt the stone in her felt finally falling and her mind became clearer.

“Bird’s nest congee? I wonder what it tastes like?” Chun Xiaoman looked at the congee in the pot and tried scooping some for herself. “Tastes like nothing. Very bland too.”

Just then, someone entered the kitchen. It was Gao Zhijian, and he was alone.

Chun Xiaoman became nervous when she saw Gao Zhijian wearing his dragon robe approach her and block the sunlight coming in. She calmed down and pulled at his robes.

“Your robes suit you. What is it made of?”

“Gold, and cloth.”

“You could wear gold?” Chun Xiaoman was curious.

Chun Xiaoman shook her head. “No thanks. It must be heavy to be wearing so much gold.”

“Xiao … Xiaoman.” Gao Zhijian started to stutter again as he looked at the girl covered in black hair with a complicated look on his face.

He didn’t know when he liked her, and why he would like someone with long hair all over their body. He could not forget her.

Gao Zhijian’s heart was struggling as he clenched his callus-covered hands.

He suddenly opened his arms and hugged her. “The eunuchs and the Imperial Preceptor are urging me to choose an Empress so that I can give birth to a son soon. My forest thought was you, but …”

He started choking and hugged her tightly.

“I can’t choose you. If you become the queen, our children will have to kill each other next time until there is only one left. I’m sure you will be devastated then and I don’t want you to feel that because I like you! I don’t want to make you feel pain.”

Amidst his sobbing, Chun Xiaoman struggled to get out of his embrace. “Did you treat my words as nothing? I thought I’ve told you clearly that I can still live even if I don’t get married! Don’t think anything changed just because you became the Emperor! My words are final and I will not change. If you continue to do this, don’t blame me if we can’t even be friends!” Chun Xiaoman ran out of the kitchen in anger.

But after she ran out, her expression turned solemn as she slowly slid down the wall. She hung her head between her knees.

After some time, she looked up with reddened eyes and took a deep breath before she ran towards where Bai Lingmiao disappeared.

Three specific people were chilling at a faraway gazebo when they saw what was happening.

Zhao Wu looked at Puppy, “Hey, did Xiaoman turn down to become the Empress? Doesn’t that mean she prefers me?”

“Huh?” Puppy’s showed an expression of disgust as if he had swallowed a fly. “Since when does it concern you?”

“Why not?”

Lu Xiucai butted in. “I think it does concern you. Hurry up and get married to Xiaoman so that I can help you hold the horses when you get married.”

Zhao Wu opened his mouth but no words came out.

Just then, Gao Zhijian walked out from the kitchen. He looked at Xiaoman’s back before walking towards the gazebo.

“Shh! Simpleton is coming over here! Quick, pretend to do something! We can’t let him know that we are following him!”

Gao Zhijian saw the three were squatting down and looking at the same leaf on the ground. “What … Are you doing?”

“Aaah … Ahem. Your house is so big and we wanted to look around and got lost.”

Gao Zhijian nodded. “Let me find … a eunuch to guide you. You can walk around anywhere in the palace … But there are some restricted areas so please forgive me for not allowing you there.”

A eunuch floated down from above the pillars of the gazebo and kneeled in front of Gao Zhijian, “Your highness, I am available.”

It was clear that the eunuch had heard what the three had been discussing.

“Ah … Hahaha, then we would have to thank you for your help.” Puppy chuckled to cover his embarrassment. They followed the eunuch out.

They had just taken a few steps when Puppy took out some silver and shoved it into the eunuch’s hands even though the latter was reluctant.

When the three of them were gone, Gao Zhijian’s lowered his head in loneliness. He sat on the stairs of the gazebo and looked at the neatly-laid brick path.

Fifteen minutes passed when he said to the empty space, “I will follow your suggestion … To choose an Empress … So that the lineage can be continued. Prepare the consorts.”

He was now the only Emperor of the Liang Kingdom. In order to protect it, he must quickly sire children. The faster and more numerous, the better.

He actually didn’t want to get married to anyone if he couldn’t marry Chun Xiaoman, but his marriage did not concern himself only. It would affect the Dragon Vein and the people of the Liang Kingdom.

“Understood. I heed your orders.” The Imperial Preceptor appeared out of nowhere and bowed to Gao Zhijian before leaving.

He had just turned around when he saw the Chief of the Surveillance Bureau in red robes. The two of them nodded without exchanging words before walking past.

“Your majesty.” The Chief sat down beside Gao Zhijian. He was surprisingly taller than Gao Zhijian.

“As the Emperor of a kingdom, you need to focus on the pressing matters, especially after the previous Natural Disasters. The people of the Liang Kingdom barely survived it. I’ve made a divination and found out that it won’t be easy for next year either. It’s time for you to get familiar with the work of an Emperor.”

Gao Zhijian rubbed his face with his callused hands before standing up. “I understand.”

“Xuan Pin, am I really … Cured? Will that Shai Zi … Really cannot control me anymore?”

The work of an Emperor could wait for now. This was more important. It was too scary to think that he could easily get controlled by Shai Zi at any point.

He felt fear when he recalled how the Sitting Oblivion Dao controlled him and ordered the army to kill his allies.

The Chief didn’t nod or shake his head. “I’m afraid we have to ask Li Huowang. He was the one who got rid of Shai Zi. I don’t know if Shai Zi is dead or not.”