Chapter 1, The Return of the Prodigal (Part 2)
It is precisely because of the one hundred repetitions of "Murong Qi" that left a profound impression on people, even her parents relented, and from then on, everyone no longer called her by her original name, but referred to her as "Qi Qi"
Gazing at her wrinkled face, it seemed to him that another identical visage appeared before him, smiling at him with a wicked charm: "I know you can do it, A Che, I trust you completely with this."
For a long time, nine, one two three four five six seven□□, in order, it is considered the end, she must have a name that is bigger than his
In folklore, some even describe her as the embodiment of the river goddess of Dianjiang, who descends to the mortal realm for training, ultimately severing her earthly ties, returning to the water to reclaim her essence, and shedding her physical form to return to her divine status.
Just at this moment
Among the whispered secrets of the imperial court in the capital, the story of Princess Yanrong seems particularly tragic. It is said that she possessed unparalleled beauty, exceptional talent, and a gentle, agile nature, earning her the deep affection of the late Empress, who was reluctant to marry her off. She was raised in the inner palace until the age of sixteen, and only after the Empress's passing did Emperor Chongji begin to seek a husband for his beloved niece. Unfortunately, Princess Yanrong's beauty was accompanied by a short life; after much deliberation, she ultimately married a treacherous rebel with ulterior motives. Tragically, on a stormy day, she met a miserable end in the Dian River.
It can be seen that rumors are mostly unreliable
Father and mother finally agreed: "That's more like it. You two follow Ah Che and do not cause him any trouble."
Father is very sad: "Xiao Jiu, how can you say that about your sister? It doesn't matter if no one wants her; we will take care of her for a lifetime..."
Seeing her bewildered expression, he decisively ceased his inquiries and issued a direct command: "Starting today, you must memorize the names, appearances, and personalities of all the officials, nobles, wealthy merchants, and famous courtesans in Liaoyang within two days."
"Since the age of thirteen, he has never lost to you, and he has never resorted to force." Ji Che glanced at her lightly, and before she could explode, he added, "What, have you finished copying the Buddhist scriptures? www.hetushucom.com"
So, apart from needing to smile a bit more charmingly, where else do I not resemble that?
The woman who pretends to be the first dandy of Liaoyang, Prince Xun of the Murong clan, Murong Jiu, is none other than his twin sister, Murong Qi, who was born of the same mother.
She is still so spirited, vibrant, and full of strength, like a flower blooming in the sunlight; just looking at her can brighten one's mood
After careful consideration, she decided to call herself "Murong Qi"
Murong Qi, who was listening in, couldn't help but sneer inwardly: "Murong Jiu, aren't you ashamed?"
Ji Che leaned back in his chair, holding a cup of tea, listening silently as the girl dressed like a boy across from him recounted her life over the past two years. She ate quickly and in large quantities, completely forgetting her earlier worries about having "gained weight".
Xiao Jiu: "She is skilled in martial arts, capable of protecting herself, and can also conveniently protect me"
Why haven't you eaten yet
However, it was ultimately Ji Che who accomplished this matter. At that time, Murong Qi had made a mistake and was punished to copy her name one hundred times. She was quite fearful of the task of copying, so she offered to gather ten snow mountain spiritual mushrooms for Ji Che in exchange for transferring this task to the young leader of the gang who was staying at her home. However, when Murong Qi's teacher received the list of names to be copied, he discovered that what was written one hundred times was not "Murong Yan" but rather "Murong Qi".
She quickly flashed him a charming and seductive smile
In the past, Murong Qi excitedly shared the rumors of this version with Ji Che, the young deputy leader of the Hongshui Gang, who had grown up together with him, and his biological brother Murong Jiu. Unfortunately, one of them remained expressionless as ever, while the other was fast asleep at his desk, causing the "unparalleled beauty, exceptionally talented, gentle and agile" Princess Yanrong to angrily overturn the table
Mother: "Murong Jiu, do you not know that the trouble caused by Qiqi has made it impossible for her to appear openly in Liaoyang? With your capabilities, how can you protect your sister?"
Wei Nan, at https://www.hetushu.com, is known for being low-key. Since childhood, he has been a companion to the current crown prince, and when the prince ascends the throne, he is sure to be valued even more. Ji Che watched the carriage disappear into the distance, and suddenly remembered something, turning back to her: "Xiao Jiu has a good relationship with Wei Nan Ge. You will inevitably encounter him in the future. Do you know how to handle it? Furthermore, there are many officials and nobles in the capital..."
Ji Che suddenly stopped in his tracks and glanced back at her
Murong Qi, feeling parched, picked up the teacup to moisten his throat and casually asked a question
After finishing his laughter and still chuckling, Ji Che suddenly took out a silver ingot and placed it on the table, saying: "Let's go"
Finally, the esteemed Prince of Xun, who was renowned in Liaoyang, made a decisive statement: "Women are naturally delicate and precious, and thus should be given more care. It is only right for brothers to take care of their sisters, so let the boys be the eldest."
Xiao Jiu thought for a moment and added, "We are together with A Che, so you can rest assured."
What?
Initially, in order to promote this name, she indeed thought of many ways, such as coquettishly telling her father that the character "嫣" sounds lifeless and lacks spirit; or telling her mother that the character "嫣" is too delicate and would be looked down upon in the world; and when her brothers and sisters called her by her real name, she pretended not to hear; and furthermore, she even embroidered a "七" character clumsily on the chest of her garment to attract attention.
Murong Jiu, the troubles you have thrown at me will definitely be repaid to you double in the future
In the past two years, she has either been copying Buddhist scriptures or practicing martial arts and studying every day, feeling so lonely and bored that she is almost on the verge of becoming moldy
She has returned, this is very good
... ...
Before the words were finished, they were halted by Ji Che's warning gaze
shameless
His cold and ruthless response was: "Since you are here, you must be aware of the reality."
Unfortunately, although the name has been changed, the status remains unchanged, which leaves Murong Qi in a state of great confusion
The current Liao Yangjing is indeed a moment of transition between the old and the new, with the situation being unpredictable. Murong Jiu's identity is already quite delicate, and he does not wish to provoke any trouble with *Tu* *Shu*.
This refers to Princess Yanrong, who was determined to have drowned and whose body was never found during the "Quxia Rebellion" two years ago
"He is the newly appointed Prime Minister Wei Nange of the Wenyan Pavilion." Ji Che looked thoughtfully at the carriage, "Wei Nange advocates 'learning knows no social class', spearheading the establishment of charity schools, and inviting doctors from the Imperial Academy to give free lectures, providing equal opportunities for the children of poor families to enter officialdom, thus winning the hearts of the people."
Xiao Jiu: "Let me take her to the capital."
After much anticipation, Murong Jiu, who remained in the capital for the New Year, clung to him like a spirit, and eventually, Xiao Jiu succumbed, going to plead with his parents to let him go.
Devil
Just as he was contemplating the profound meaning of these three characters, a sudden commotion arose ahead, and the people in the street began to retreat to the sides. Ji Che pulled Mu Rong Qi along and, together with the crowd, stood by the roadside.
Ji Che remained unmoved: "As for Xiao Jiu's words and actions, you only need to remember three words."
Murong Qi pondered for a moment, then suddenly clapped her palm, saying: "I remember this name! When I was still in the palace, I overheard the palace maids chatting. It is said that he and Murong Zheng's legitimate wife... I mean, the current Crown Princess, grew up together, and it seems there are some unspeakable secrets..."
It has been two years, yet she still cannot learn to hide; she is completely unaware of how dazzling her smile is. However, the true Prince of Xin Jun, Murong Jiu, is not like this. Murong Jiu is like a flower blooming in the darkness, enchanting and alluring, yet difficult to approach
She furrowed her long brows and said, "How many times have I told you that we are siblings! Murong Jiu can't even defeat me, so why should I call him brother?"
The matter was exposed, and the instigator Murong Qi naturally faced an increased penalty. However, the young leader Ji not only escaped punishment but also profited from her by acquiring ten spirit mushrooms. Therefore, during those two days, whenever Murong Qi saw him, her gaze was like a knife, sharp and piercing. The young leader Ji kindly comforted her, saying: "Calling Murong Qi is not bad; at least the penalty of copying is easy."
Walking on the bustling street, Murong Qi closely followed Ji Che, persistently questioning with a sense of dissatisfaction
He sneered a hundred times in his heart at the picture book
Indeed, the name "Murong Qi," which lacks depth, could never be the true name of Princess Yanrong. The princess's birth name is Murong Yan, with "Yan" from "a charming smile." As for how such a graceful name came to be changed, there is a story behind it. Murong Qi and Murong Jiu are siblings born of the same mother, arriving one after the other. By the time the wet nurse had washed them, dressed them, and brought them out, their mother was already exhausted and asleep, while their father was left in a daze, as he could not remember whether the boy or the girl had come out first.
The distinction of brother and sister is hereby established
Such a significant difference can be easily discerned by those who are observant
She finally burst into tears: "Father, why did you not show any concern when you said that, but instead seemed quite excited..."
Originally, she intended to name it Murong Ba, but when she shared this ambitious idea with her good friend Ji Che, he cast a cold glance at her with his beautiful eyes that had shimmered with a unique luster since childhood and said, "This name is nice; it could be friends with the chef's pet."
Ji Che appeared somewhat languid: "No need to guess, it must be for a woman."
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Father is very melancholic: "One or two are running over there, are you planning to dismantle Liaoyang Capital to make a gift for your father?"
"Who is it?" Murong Qi leaned forward and asked, "Is it the esteemed magistrate?"
He unceremoniously pulled her away, glancing around before leaving. Those who were secretly watching, with either astonishment or curiosity in their eyes, all averted their gaze under his cold stare.
Although as the two siblings grew older, their relationship drifted further away from their father's initial expectation of "the older brother taking care of the younger sister," Murong Qi still had to bear the identity of "younger sister," which made her quite dissatisfied. In her view, Murong Jiu's martial arts skills were poor and his character was not commendable, making him unworthy of being her older brother. In order to gain the upper hand over him, Murong Qi pondered for a long time and decided to start with his name.
Aren't you curious where Xiao Jiu has gone
Murong Qi also did not insist, and with one hand, he tore off a leg of lamb and began to chew on it vigorously: "These past two years have truly been unbearable; let me tell you..."
She was taken aback for a moment, and then vaguely recalled that the cook had a Pekingese dog, which was named "Abba"
Drink less. The tone is flat, lacking any sincerity
In the fleeting moment of lowered eyelashes, a subtle smile flickered in those deep, dark eyes.
In the distance, a very ordinary green felt cart slowly passed through the street, accompanied only by a coachman and a young scholar. There were no boisterous bodyguards clearing the way, nor were there beautiful maidservants following along. Yet, the common people still voluntarily made way for it, and there were murmurs all around, suggesting that they held the person in the cart in great respect
The daughter patted her father's shoulder, her expression unchanged: "Murong Jiu, get to the point."
Xiao Jiu: "Father, Mother, Qi Qi has not been outside for two years. If she continues to copy scriptures and practice martial arts, she will either become a nun or a martial arts fanatic, and in the future, no one will want her."
Back then, she took it upon herself to marry Shen Qianchi, but there were other reasons behind it. Nevertheless, it was a reckless act that involved taking great risks. Therefore, after Ji Che rescued her from Qu Gorge, her mother took her back to the Land of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Lanruo, located to the west of Dayou, where she was kept under house arrest in the Guokai Kasyapa Palace for two years.
A sound of inhalation came from behind: "A Che, this is an impossible task to accomplish!"
... ...
Speaking of this, she felt a bit gloomy again. Reflecting on the past two years, it was filled with much bitterness and many tears, a story that could not be fully told. Unconsciously, she picked up the osmanthus wine in front of her and took several sips, until the wine jug was pressed down by Ji Che.
This time it is Miss Ye Er from Liuyun Fortress. Murong Qi clapped his hands and said with a smile: "You truly are the person who understands him the most in this world. In fact, you two are a couple, aren't you?"
The situation at that time can be described in two words - "asking for a beating". Of course, the one asking for a beating was Murong Jiu