Chapter 3, Former Big Pot

Then I ... ...

Li Qinzai did not want to see him, yet he had no choice but to meet him

Those familiar relatives, friends, and various people and matters from a past life were abruptly severed overnight, a reality that no one could accept.

Wu Tong hesitated for a moment, his tone increasingly helpless: "The disaster has already occurred, and that flying horse jade sculpture is most likely irretrievable. The loss of a gift from the late emperor cannot go unnoticed. If the matter cannot be resolved, I fear... Young Master Wu will be held accountable, and neither the master nor Erlang will be able to take sides."

With a sigh of pity, Wu Tong said with concern: "In these past few days, Erlang has been excessively ruthless. A fine young man has been left in a daze. I shall go and invite a doctor to examine your condition and, by the way, treat your ailment caused by excessive heat."

Wu Tong sighed and said, "There are rumors in the court. If this matter cannot be settled, Your Majesty will have no choice but to summon the Fifth Young Master for questioning at the Dali Temple, and he may be sentenced to exile in Lingnan for three to five years without the possibility of returning to the capital."

Even if Emperor Li Zhi and Empress Wu Zetian appreciated the achievements of the Li family and wished to suppress this matter, they would likely find themselves powerless to do so

Not to mention that after arriving in this world, he inexplicably bore a heavy burden, leading Li Qinzai to uncontrollably doubt whether the heavens were determined to bring about his demise before they would relent

"Who are you?" Li Qinzai squinted his eyes and scrutinized him

Standing in the garden for a long time, I couldn't come up with a solution, but I did feel a strong urge to urinate

Finding a half-person-high thicket, Li Qinzai lifted the hem of his garment, and a stream of urgent yellow urine gushed forth.

Wu Tong suddenly called out to him, with a strange expression, pointing behind him and saying: "Fifth Young Master, you have taken the wrong path; the main hall is to the east..."

Li Qinzai instinctively covered his face, then felt something was amiss, so he adopted a Marilyn Monroe-style pose to cover his groin, yet still sensed that something was not right

Looking around, this house feels too unfamiliar, and I cannot find the restroom

Burdened with a significant trouble and dragging the entire family down, Li Qinzai became the sinner of the Li family from the very beginning

The beauty of Lingnan lies in its lychees, its primeval forests, the monkeys that roam the mountains, and the local indigenous people dressed in animal skins, roasting human flesh around a bonfire, creating a picturesque pastoral scene reminiscent of a utopian paradise

The item bestowed by the late Emperor has been sold, and that buyer, a merchant from Hu, is most likely no longer in Chang'an. If one wishes to retrieve this item, it would be akin to searching for a needle in the vast ocean, thus this path must be severed.

When matters are laid bare on the table and become widely known, often accompanied by a clamor and uproar, it is usually very difficult to resolve the issues through personal connections and minor maneuvers

Li Qinzai walked alone in his family's backyard, gazing at the clusters of vibrant flowers and shrubs before him, yet his mood grew increasingly agitated

Ah, I know, the scenery over there is quite nice; I will enjoy the view before going to see my father

However, it does not matter; a man, after all, not only makes the world his home but can also urinate anywhere.

After taking two steps, Wu Tong called out to Li Qinzai again, hesitating to speak. After a moment, he said softly: "Recently, Erlang has been quite anxious. Fifth Young Master, please bear with it a little longer. There are too many petitions in the court criticizing the Li family, and His Majesty is also struggling to cope. With things having reached this point, our Li family may have to make some sacrifices to provide an explanation to the world..."

"Wu Guanjia, go fetch a rope; I want to hang myself at the front door."

Wu Tong said softly: "Young Master Wu, do not deceive this old man. Your precious urine is so distinctly bright yellow, and the pungent odor within a radius of half a zhang lingers for a long time. How could it be that you are not suffering from heat?"

Having adapted to his body and the surrounding environment, Li Qinzai has yet to come to terms with the changes within his heart

Suddenly turning around, he discovered an elderly man in a blue robe, around fifty years old, staring intently at his lower regions, with a face full of affectionate concern

"Is there something regarding the books?" Li Qinzai asked succinctly

"Alright, I will go right away." Li Qinzai turned and left

This person's private life is likely not so pure, as he has been severely harmed by indulgence in alcohol and lust

High flow, long range, clearly a strong and vigorous young urine

What does it matter to be born into a powerful family? What does it matter to have no worries about food and clothing? If given the choice, Li Qinzai would rather return to his previous life as an ordinary young man, working from nine to nine in obscurity as a corporate drone

Even if the road is barren, it ultimately presents a landscape that belongs solely to oneself. It is not like today, where the journey may be adorned with vibrant flowers, yet it is merely traversing someone else's path

Li Qinzai was startled, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back

The old man looked at him in astonishment, then lowered his head and clasped his hands, saying: "I am Wu Tong, the steward of the residence. Young Master Wu..."

Recently, Wu Shaolang seems to be a bit overheated, would you like me to help you find a doctor to take a look?

No matter how much one feels, the troubles must still be resolved, and they can only be resolved by oneself, without burdening others

Those familiar people and events from a past life, there was not enough time to embrace and bid farewell with all my might

Although it is easy to blame the ex-partner, this incident must ultimately be attributed to oneself, unavoidable and inescapable, and cannot be shifted onto the books.

Li Qinzai sighed, thinking that if he could have drunk a bowl of Meng Po soup before coming here, perhaps he would not have so many untimely sentiments, and would instead be living a brand new life in a state of confusion and ignorance

In the previous half of life, choked by the struggles of existence, despite not being appreciated, one still stumbles and grows. Suddenly arriving in this brand new environment, one must unexpectedly sever all ties with the past.

A faint voice came from behind.

Li Qinzai is a laid-back and aloof individual; he does not appreciate others disturbing his life, nor does he intend to cause trouble for anyone else

Standing in the picturesque garden, Li Qinzai felt an unprecedented sense of loneliness

Li Qinzai subconsciously sniffed, as if, indeed, it was true... No, isn't "sensitivity" a term that describes the inner self?

Li Qinzai frowned and asked, "What is the cost?"

The corner of my mouth twitched, ha, it's again the fault of my ex.

Wu Tong respectfully said, "Er Lang has invited you."

Public opinion surged from both the court and the opposition, leaving the emperor unable to show favoritism. At that moment, Li Qinzai could not think of any other way to resolve this calamity.

Is this dear father going to hit him again? Aside from the father-son banter last night, they are not familiar with each other at all

Li Qinzai felt a weight on his heart: "What punishment will be imposed for the crime? Surely they won't execute the head of the *Tu* *Shu*?"

Li Qinzai felt a sense of relief; as long as he was not beheaded, it was good. Although this unfamiliar world lacked everything, being alive was certainly better than being dead. After all, it is better to live poorly than to die well, and a meal of dumplings is preferable to a feast...

Li Qinzai decisively declined, saying: "No need, I am neither confused nor agitated"

"Er Lang" refers to Li Qinzai's biological father, Li Siwen, who is the middle-aged man that violently beat Li Qinzai last night. Li Siwen is the second son of Li Zhen, and all the servants in the household address him as "Er Lang".

Gazing intently at Wu Tong's face, this old face is quite ordinary, lacking any outstanding features; of course, it cannot be described as handsome. Judging from his act of peeking while I was urinating, perhaps his character is also open to question

Li Qinzai felt a heaviness in his heart, and his expression immediately turned somewhat unpleasant

Wu Tong shook his head, saying, "That will not happen. The Li family has served three generations with merit, and the master is still alive. His Majesty would never kill members of the Li family, for that would surely dishearten the loyal subjects who have rendered service to the state"

Under the accusations of more than ten supervisory officials, public opinion in the court has already become tumultuous. Even though the Li family has contributed to the Tang dynasty, they cannot escape the law and the voices of the people.

Having inexplicably arrived in this unfamiliar world, Li Qinzai felt a surge of frustration within, unable to articulate the reason, yet distinctly sensing a myriad of discomforts.