Eight

Hmph! Yuran made a face at Changye while lying on Jiye's back

"Hey! Are you that domineering? You belong to this family, and he belongs to this family too. Does what you say count?" Yuran leaned directly in front of Changye, her skin was milky white under the sunlight, and a faint scent of wood wafted through the air. Changye's face turned slightly red; he had come out to seek this trouble, mostly to catch a glimpse of this girl on the wall.

Ji Ye did not care about the pine cones that fell on him, "I still want to read."

"This is our family matter." Chang Ye was quite displeased that she was speaking up for Ji Ye, and he stepped forward to try to push Yu Ran aside

The creaking sound of the wheels rolling over the ground swallowed his words, as the dust of the post road rose. The third person in fate was treading the long road of a thousand miles, journeying from the land of grasslands to the southern city of Nanhua in the Tang dynasty.

Ji Ye stood there, silently watching his fallen hand.

"Nothing much," Yu Ran said, "Let's go to the lakeside to see the colorful boats."

Taxes continuously flow into the hands of the national public, while the region of Yuezhou suffers from famine

Ji Ye stared blankly at Yu Ran, as if completely unresponsive

Yuran displayed a wary expression and forcefully knocked Changye's hand away; apart from those she was very familiar with, she detested being touched by others the most

Ji Ye had not yet taken a seat when Chang Ye suddenly waved his hand and said, "Dismissed"

Ji Qianzheng, dressed in a loose silk robe, passed by the flower rack and, through the lattice filled with grapevines, looked at his eldest son with a puzzled expression. He always felt that his eldest son had a solitary temperament and had been reluctant to teach him to read, even disapproving of him practicing martial arts too diligently. However, recently, his son had become less diligent in practicing with the spear but had developed a fondness for reading, quietly going out each time and returning with a number of books from the bookstore.

Yuran rolled her eyes and said, "I won't take an idiot."

The bamboo whip struck repeatedly against Ji Ye's back, accompanied by Ji Qianzheng's scolding: "Do you even know who they really are? Raising you is simply the misfortune of the Ji family! If our Ji family perishes after my time, it will surely be the fault of you, this ungrateful son..."

At this moment, on the distant Central Plains plateau, the silent cavalry advances gracefully under the banner of the leopard

"Ji Ye," Yu Ran called to him from under the tree, "Are you going to the Confucian Temple? Let's go to the Confucian Temple today. The shops there are selling many small items, all transported from the He Luo area by the merchant association. You definitely wouldn't have imagined them."

Yuran finally quieted down, and the two of them sat silently facing each other. For some reason, as she looked at him, Yuran felt an impulse to cry.

How could you do this? You clumsy thing!" Chang Ye jumped up from the table, shouting loudly, with leftover soup and water all over his silk pants.

"It doesn't matter," Ji Ye said as she brushed aside Yu Ran's hand that was touching his face. "It will be fine in a few days. What brings you here?"

In a fit of rage, Ji Qian struck for a full hour, commanding everyone to leave, leaving only Ji Ye alone in the front hall

Ji Ye looked at the bouncing Chang Ye and the anxious maid, quietly turning around to exit. She gazed up to see the sky painted in a deep blue, where a vibrant kite, as bright as fire, soared high with two long tails trailing behind.

"Look, look! The kite has fallen!" another boy shouted

Ji Ye was taken aback and took a step back

After hesitating for a moment, Ji Ye said softly: "I am sorry... I did not mean to say that about *Tu* *Shu*... I just said it accidentally..."

The Grand Tutor pondered for a long time and said with a bitter smile, "Can these words be passed down?"

"Don't pull me!" Yu Ran exclaimed as she slapped his hand away with a 'pop'. She rolled her eyes and said, "You squat down."

Yuran suddenly took a step forward and pushed him on the shoulder, "Hey! Are you looking for trouble? You still talk about studying, but what’s the difference between you and those who block the road for money? Is buying something really that impressive?"

Emperor Jingde remained silent for a long time, extending his hand to form a knife shape, and made a feigned slash at the neck of the historian before turning away with his hands behind his back. This final passage, along with other manuscripts of King Yulie, was published and openly displayed on the shelves of the Ancient Mirror Palace.

The girl, dressed in a light blue dress, sat on the swaying branches, her long legs resembling those of a slender blue-feathered bird. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted at the children holding the kite strings, her eyebrows raised as if she were somewhat angry

Ji Qianzheng furrowed his brows, and the fire that had been smoldering in his heart flared up again. However, he did not have time to reprimand Ji Ye, as the sovereign was recently seeking talents. Ji Qianzheng was in a hurry to visit the nobles during the morning hunt. If he could obtain a letter of recommendation, it would be as easy as pie for Chang Ye to secure an official position. The revival of the Ji family, which Ji Qianzheng had been waiting for, would no longer be a dream.

Ji Ye never mentioned the embarrassment of that time again, and the subsequent twenty years passed like a fleeting stream.

Isn't it enough to just fly a kite?" a boy said indignantly

King Yulie nodded and said, "Since these rare and detestable words are thus, let the Grand Tutor record them for me, so that they may be passed down in the annals of history."

"It is a bit cold at night," Ji Ye said, "You should go back and get some sleep early."

Ji Ye leaned against the artificial hill, lying in the garden, turning a page under the shade of the trees. He was reading. Although Ji Qian had never explicitly stated it, the study was solely for Chang Ye's use. Therefore, Ji Ye had never set foot inside.

The boy crouched down. Yu Ran suddenly leaped up and lightly stepped on his shoulder. With a gust of wind, Yu Ran was lifted gently, and everyone's gaze followed her azure dress as it soared into the sky. She ascended nearly ten feet, rising high above the walls of the Ji family mansion.

Yuran glared fiercely with wide eyes, "If you can't even fly a kite, aren't you just a fool?"

However... I am a bit tired, and I would like to go to sleep." Ji Ye stood up

In the cold moonlight and clear breeze, there was a profound silence, reminiscent of that night long ago when Ji Ye sat quietly on the rooftop, hugging his knees.

It is a matter of public record; the historians only record the truth. The Chief Historian said, "The late Emperor and Your Majesty are brothers. What kind of person the late Emperor was, Your Majesty knows better than your subjects. The truth of this statement is known to Your Majesty. How long can I live? However, the historians of each generation write with the precision of engraving gold and iron, leaving no words unrecorded and no falsehoods spoken. The family traditions must not be destroyed by my hands. If I do not change, then Your Majesty may kill me." However, the historians of each generation write with the precision of engraving gold and iron, leaving no words unrecorded and no falsehoods spoken. The family traditions must not be destroyed by my hands. If I do not change, then Your Majesty may kill me.

"Who is the fool?" a boy mumbled

"Jiye! Jiye! It's time to fly the kite!" Her voice was crisp, echoing between heaven and earth

The line of the firebird kite was held in the hands of a spirited young man, who glanced sideways at the irate Yuran and the three boys, speaking in a languid tone, "I have bought up this entire area; do not enter or exit casually if there is nothing going on"

At first, Ji Qianzheng thought that he was merely envious of his younger brother's studies. Although he was unwilling to teach, he did not mind his eldest son learning on his own, thinking that if he tried, he would realize that one cannot master learning without a teacher, and would thus retreat in the face of difficulty. However, Ji Ye held onto his books for over half a year. He was not one to speak much, and aside from running wild outside, he either practiced shooting or read at home, presenting a demeanor of both literary and martial prowess. Unfortunately, Ji Ye did not read classics such as "The Strategies of Jiuyuan" and "Commentaries on the Five Classics." Ji Qianzheng occasionally flipped through his pile of books, which were filled with works like "The Chronicles of the Rose" and "The Long History of the Four Provinces," as well as various historical anecdotes. Faced with these books, Ji Qianzheng could hardly suppress his disdain, feeling that even a glance at them would tarnish his eyes.

I have already become yours, what more do you want? You are the most foolish, the most stingy, the most impolite, and you embarrassed me in public. You trampled my butterfly kite, and you lost the hairpin I liked. You ate all the dates we stole by yourself... But I still ran out in the middle of the night to see you. If my grandfather finds out, I will be scolded! Is this how you treat me?" Yuran felt very wronged, "You are just a fool, a stubborn mule, a thick and clumsy piece of firewood!" But I still ran out in the middle of the night to see you. If my grandfather finds out, I will be scolded! Is this how you treat me?" Yuran felt very wronged, "You are just a fool, a stubborn mule, a thick and clumsy piece of firewood!"

She waved her arms, jumped on the roof, and fell down, nearly crushing the tiles.

What does it matter to you whether I come or go? Let's talk about flying kites now

How dare you come out and speak after secretly associating with the traitor's family? This land, this house, everything here does not belong to you; it belongs to your father. What ability do you have to speak on her behalf? Do you expect her to be grateful to you and eventually marry you, the esteemed son of the Ji family?

Ji Ye remained motionless, leaning against the table, quietly gazing at his father. His gaze was not one of anger or fear, but rather one of disdain, cold and devoid of any emotion

The vassal lords were in turmoil, and memorials flew to the imperial capital like snowflakes. The red-armored cavalry of Li State raised the flag of the Minister of the Imperial Capital and advanced directly to the vassal states to collect tribute. Duke Aotaiquan of Chun State, known for his fierce temperament, stationed thirty thousand Wind Tiger Iron Cavalry at Dangyang Valley to resist the envoys sent by Li State to levy taxes.

Do not pay attention to me anymore, I am not as you think, I am actually of no use... I know I have nothing, Chang Ye is right, "Ji Ye said softly, "I can read and write, and it is all thanks to you.

"As long as it is the same," the boy said softly, "then we can always see the same moon as Father and Mother."

I do not feel cold

Everyone was stunned, Yuran was held by him, her face flushed with blood, the boys' gazes all fell on her face. She could no longer endure this scene and forcefully shook off Ji Ye's hand, "Who do you belong to?"

In April, the 3,000 light cavalry of the Duke of Li Guo marched north, engaging in a night battle that resulted in the death of Ao Taiquan, leading to the submission of Chun Guo as a marquisate. Ao Taiquan's young son was sent to Tianqi for detention, while his ten-year-old nephew, Ao Zhirun, ascended to the throne. The court and the public lamented the loss of yet another loyal vassal dedicated to the king.

He let out a heavy grunt and turned to leave the room

Someone ... ... hit you ... ... " Yuran was astonished to see the blood marks on Ji Ye's face from being struck by a bamboo whip

A round moon flickered between the flags, as a ten-year-old boy lifted the leather curtain of the carriage and silently gazed at the moonlight. An elderly maid hurried over to close the curtain, saying, "Young Master, the weather is still cool, and your health is not well; you must not let the cold air affect you."

Chang Ye suddenly felt uneasy; he had truly never encountered such brazen behavior from street children, nor had he anticipated that this girl, who resembled a snowdrop when she first arrived in Nanhuai, could become so aggressive

"Reading books, we have been reading for many days. I have accompanied you in reading so many books, you should at least accompany me to have some fun!" Yu Ran said, feeling quite upset

Ji Ye had long been accustomed to it, not even raising an eyebrow, and continued to read her book, turning a deaf ear to the surroundings

The emperor held up his cup and gazed into the distance, "That was the first time in my life that I realized there could be something in this vast world that belonged solely to me and not to Chang Ye. I could not sleep that night, and when the sun rose, I made a resolution. I do not want to be my brother's deputy; I want to pursue my own path. If Yu Ran stands with me, then even the myriad gods may not solely favor Chang Ye. I want more and more of what belongs to me in this world, and I will no longer follow in the footsteps of others. I will no longer follow in the footsteps of others!" If Yu Ran stands with me, then even the myriad gods may not solely favor Chang Ye. I want more and more of what belongs to me in this world, and I will no longer follow in the footsteps of others. I will no longer follow in the footsteps of others!

Chang Ye's hand seemed to be trapped, and he became both ashamed and angry, pointing at Ji Ye's face, "What right do you have to protect her? What are you to her? You have no shame, thinking that others value you highly?"

I apologize, it is my fault

Nanhuaicheng is located in the southern region of Wanzhou, characterized by a long and mild spring and autumn, with a pleasant and temperate climate

Yuran jumped up, lifting her skirt as she ran over, with the children chasing after her. Ji Ye hesitated for a moment but still followed.

The female slave accompanied with a smile, "Alas, can the moon be any different? The celestial deity of the Panshi only created one moon for us."

"I don't want to go, anyway we don't have the money to buy it," Ji Ye shook his head, "I heard that He Luo Yi Sheng can hardly produce a few items in his lifetime, how could it be transported? Was it taken by the warriors of the merchant guild?"

"Are you not afraid of death, my dear minister?" asked King Jingde to the Chancellor.

I... I just came out to play. " Yu Ran felt embarrassed to admit that she had run out to see Ji Ye. Just as she had guessed, Ji Ye was sitting on the rooftop where they had their first night encounter. She shifted her position, unsure whether she should sit a little closer to Ji Ye, but Ji Ye showed no signs of movement. Feeling shy, she pouted her cheeks in frustration.

"What are you talking about?" Yu Ran became angry; this was the first time she felt that Ji Ye could sometimes be so fussy.

The maid shouted from a distance and then turned to leave. Everyone in the house, regardless of their position, harbored some fear of this indifferent eldest son. Moreover, it was well-known that the eldest son was not favored, and the servants treated him with a certain casualness.

The teachings of the sage dictate that every action and movement, every detail, must adhere to established rules. There are regulations regarding when to serve meals and when to clear them away. Our Ji family is of the gentry, and thus we have the customs of the gentry. "Is it time to serve the meal now?" Chang Ye earnestly assumed a serious demeanor.

However, no matter how much she fussed, shouted, or waved her arms, Ji Ye remained silent. The child quietly watched her, with starlight reflected in her pitch-black eyes

She turned around and ran away without looking back. Several boys also chased after her.

Then looking at the lake water is also acceptable

On a patch of grass-green flatland, three children are strenuously pulling, but the enormous kite is difficult to control. Even the slightest change in wind direction high above causes it to tremble as if it might crash down. The three children are competing to pull, each refusing to yield to the others.

The maid swiftly tidied up, while Ji Ye stood at the door, silently watching them. When the maid turned around with a stack of plates, her gaze met his eyes, and unable to help herself, her hand trembled, causing the plates to crash to the ground in a shattering mess

This is unacceptable! Yu Ran became anxious and asked, "What exactly do you want?"

Upon the suggestion of the Guardian of Tianqi City, Duke Ying Wuyi of the Li Kingdom, the Emperor issued a vermilion edict to restore the "Eleven Sect Tax Law" established by the Martial Emperor. For the lords of the Eastern Land, those with fiefdoms at the marquis level and above, from the silk and grain collected each year, after deducting the taxes of the imperial capital, they must additionally pay one-tenth as a special tax for the royal family.

Her expression suddenly changed, and he tightly grasped Yuran's hand, pushing forward a step, "She is mine! So what?"

It is late at night, and the colorful boat has no lights on.

The Grand Tutor pondered for a long time, "It is merely eight characters: worthy of respect and fear, yet also deserving of disdain and terror"

Yuran was momentarily taken aback

Until the sixth year of the reign of Da Xie Shen Wu, King Yu Lie was seated in the Feng-ling area of the Taiqing Pavilion, enjoying a banquet. He recounted this past event to Xie Taifu, one of the eight pillars of Xie Chu.

When Master Xie passed away, this record was made public. The historian recorded it in the "Annals of Emperor Yu Lie"

At her call, Ji Ye swooped down from the top of the wall like an eagle, rushing over without a word. The boys seemed somewhat afraid of him, instinctively stepping back. Ji Ye took the string from Yu Ran's hand. He ran swiftly across the grass, with the children chasing after him

He gazed quietly, and suddenly started running, nimbly leaping over the stone pillar by the door. Chang Ye glanced sideways, and his brother's silhouette flickered by a section of the half-broken wall before disappearing

She landed lightly, went up and grabbed the kite string in her hand, "Fool, fool, fool, Ji Ye hasn't even let it go yet."

"I let them fly kites here, how about that?" Ji Ye's deep voice suddenly sounded from behind, "I don't like reading, I like flying kites!"

Ji Ye stepped in front of her, blocking Yu Ran behind her, and grasped Chang Ye's hand, "Dare you to move her?"

After hesitating for a long time, Ji Ye finally turned around to look, and those deep rose-red eyes were indeed behind him again

At last, Yuran yielded under Jiye's gaze. She tugged at Jiye's hand and said, "Alright, alright, I am yours. Is that enough? I am yours, that's it."

Three boys surrounded her, watching as she raised her hand high, running with the kite, darting gracefully left and right across the grass. The kite seemed like the child of the wind; no matter how the wind changed direction, it soared higher and higher steadily in Yuran's hands. The line in Yuran's hand was nearly exhausted, and the strong wind at high altitude blew against the large kite, making her feel as if she might take flight into the air.

The young master has not yet ... ... " The maid hesitated

I knew you would jump out! Father said we are not allowed to associate with their family!" Chang Ye pointed at his brother's nose

A few boys suddenly became spirited and surrounded Chang Ye at midnight, asking, "What do you want to do?"

Hi, hi, are you all foolish? Do not use brute force, if you pull it with brute force, it will fall down!

Only after finishing the remaining few pages did Ji Ye tuck the book under his arm and silently walk into the front hall. Chang Ye, with his legs crossed, was leisurely sipping tea at the table, where only remnants of the meal remained in the bowls and dishes.

In the third month of the eighth year of the Xi Emperor's reign

The emperor smiled, "What does the Grand Tutor think?"

"It's not like I'm robbing you, nor are we going to rob you," Yu Ran pouted. Wearing a skirt made it inconvenient for her to climb the tree, and she couldn't reach Ji Ye, so she picked up a pine cone from the ground that had fallen two years ago to throw at him.

Beng! Yuran finally couldn't hold back and jumped down

"It won't happen," the young man smiled, his face pale. "It turns out that the moon in Donglu is the same as ours on the grassland. It really is the same."

Ji Qianzheng finally used the family heirloom bamboo whip

No one will know, for he always keeps his head down, and thus no one sees the loneliness in his eyes

"Jiye, Jiye..." It seems that someone is softly calling him from behind

Ji Ye finished letting out the last line, leaving only a short end in his hand. He tied the end to a stone and threw it aside, then lay flat on a branch, staring blankly at the blue sky. The red kite rose and fell in the sky, and his gaze followed the kite.

His family is in commerce; although they are not a family of immense wealth, they do own several joint venture shops and are usually quite arrogant. However, he knows the second son of the Ji family and has heard his father speak of this family, which was originally a prominent clan in the capital. The noble aura that Chang Ye possesses, distinct from that of a merchant, makes him feel somewhat ashamed, and he cannot raise his voice.

His lingering power is still formidable! Many years later, Emperor Jingde said to that historian, "You are not wrong; these words were intentionally left for me to hear. Ever since he was very young, he has been like this, filled with anger and resentment, looking coldly at others. But who would have known that such a person could ultimately unify the world?"

Young Master, it is time for breakfast

Ji Ye looked at Yu Ran, who had pouted, with his dark and deep eyes

At that time, it was during the reign of Emperor Jingde and Empress Ji Changye. After reviewing the manuscript, the emperor became furious and executed seventeen historians within three months. However, the eighteenth chief historian still included this passage in the "Annals of Emperor Yulie" and submitted it.

Ji Ye hesitated for a moment, pointing at the other three boys, "I don't want to go to the Confucius Temple, let them go with you."

Hahaha... After a moment of daze, Chang Ye burst into loud laughter, running in a stumbling manner while laughing.

In the year , Xie Yu Lie Wang was twelve years old

"I will pull you." A chubby boy hesitated for a long time, wiped his hands on his clothing, and reached out to pull Yu Ran.

Yuran's patience finally reached its limit. The little girl jumped up in anger, pointing at Jinye's nose and said: "Why are you so petty? I just ran away for a moment and you ignored me. I even sneaked out at night to see you!"

He was not a father who resorted to violence, but after hearing Chang Ye's accusation, the once-quelled fear of that old man began to trouble the head of the Ji family again. He felt that his eldest son was simply an ominous person

I have already mentioned the matter of the kite

Do you know what this residence is called?" Chang Ye pointed to the house behind him, "It is called 'Du Yi Building', a place for quiet reading. With all your noise and commotion, how can others read the sacred texts? Flying kites is a trivial matter.