Seven

I will leave shortly

When the maidservants brought up the water basins, they saw the eldest son suddenly turn around, lift the heavy battle spear, and stride out the door

That is a fortune-telling lamp, a small gadget used by the boy when he was fifteen to predict his fate, and the poetic essence derived by Chang Ye does not seem to be an auspicious sign

However, he realized that no one truly cared about these matters

The maid glanced fearfully at the expressionless Young Master Chang and hurriedly went down to fetch a dustpan. Ji Qian was filled with anger and did not even spare Ji Ye a glance. The serving maids entered in succession, passing by Ji Ye one by one, with no one speaking to him or even looking his way. He stood there quietly, as if he were completely unrelated to everything before him

It is already dusk, and the residence is adorned with colorful lights. The aroma of cooking wafts through the kitchen. The maids and servants have each received a reward of ten silver coins, their faces filled with joy as they bustle about preparing the feast. In the main hall, a large vat filled to the brim with clear oil sits, with a thin wick floating on top, ignited with a small flame. According to Tang customs, this is known as the 'Longevity Lamp,' which is lit during birthdays. A person is assigned to guard it, and if it burns for ten days, it signifies an addition of ten years to one's life; if it burns for twenty days, it signifies an addition of twenty years, embodying auspicious meaning.

"Do you not know his temperament?" Ji Qian did not believe in such rustic customs, he pressed down on his wife's shoulder and waved his hand to the maid, "Go and tidy up a bit"

Thirsty, I come to drink from the clear spring, and at night I stay at the home of the wild people

"Are you out of your mind? Stop mentioning her!" Ji Qianzheng's roar was low and pressed in his throat, as he rarely glared at his wife with wide eyes, looking both terrified and restless, as if he were about to swallow her whole, his expression fierce, "That woman... she is a demon!"

However, he did not remain stunned for long, smiled, and extended his right hand towards Ji Ye: "There is always enough money for drinks, let's go!"

The child did not intentionally set the lamp on fire; the flame does not have eyes. He was merely playing with it in his hands, and after all, it was just a toy. Why take it so seriously?

Madam Ji was so frightened that she became dazed, unknowingly stopping her sobbing, and stared blankly at her husband, who seemed to have transformed into a different person

What to do? What to do? There is no way to go on! Lady Ji cried even more fiercely

He silently turned his head to fiddle with the fortune-telling lamp, the galloping horse on the lamp spinning under his fingers, his vacant eyes watching the lines of fate flash by one after another. He was already seventeen years old and had never played such a game of fortune-telling. In that moment, he suddenly felt a strong desire to know something about his future. The lamp came to a stop, barely pausing between two poems, and what Ji Ye saw was merely a galloping horse. He stood there in a daze. The lamp came to a stop, barely pausing between two poems, and what Ji Ye saw was merely a galloping horse. He stood there in a daze.

Ji Ye silently gazed at her friend's smile, suddenly grasped his hand, and leaped onto Lu Gui Chen's warhorse

Madam Ji frowned slightly: "What omen is this? It does not bode well!"

In the setting sun, opposite him, a young man on horseback with a sword at his side faced him from a distance

Chang Ye is a perceptive child, quickly leaning in and wrapping his arm around his mother's.

The worship of the palace, the imperial crown, all signify the omen of nobility

Chang Ye is also clever; with another flick of her fingers, she has already switched to a different song.

With a sword against the yellow sands, I ride alone across the horizon

The Ji Family Mansion

"Hehe, you have quite the reputation. As a father, it is rare for you to honor me with your presence, yet you are leaving so soon." Ji Qian was holding the hands of Chang Ye and his wife, not turning back as he stepped into the main hall and sat down at the table, without greeting his eldest son.

Ji Qianzheng did not believe this, he merely smiled: "It is not necessarily a bad thing. Although it is not a sign of wealth and nobility, to travel the world with a sword in hand, drinking from clear springs and resting at people's homes at night, also embodies the spirit of a hero."

"Good!" Lady Ji clapped her hands and said, "This is good."

"Do you still know how to come back?" Ji Qian coldly waved his sleeve. Ji Ye had not returned home for half a month; ever since he took up the position of commander of the Qingying Guard under the Martial Hall, he rarely came home, and his monthly salary was nowhere to be seen. Ji Qian was not concerned about a few small coins, but his son's wild and unruly behavior, showing no filial piety, made it difficult for him to care for this son.

The sea boils and the mountains crumble under the startling evening sun, borrowing the dragon's clouds to enter the vast sky

She shouted so loudly, yet she did not notice the sudden change in her husband's expression. Ji Qian's comforting wry smile froze in place, gradually replaced by another kind of emotion

Ji Qianzheng did not expect things to become so difficult, and could only rub his hands together, lowering his voice to comfort his wife: "Sigh! It's all in the past, let the kitchen prepare the dishes again. Today is Changye's birthday, and the three of us should celebrate it well."

Ji Ye nodded: "Do you still have any money?"

The door behind him was tightly locked, and with a loud crash, it seemed as if someone had violently smashed some porcelain against the door. Ji Ye felt a chill in his heart, as if the shards of porcelain were cutting through him, causing his warmth to slowly dissipate. He silently faced the setting sun. What he wanted to say was only one sentence: tomorrow he would go to battle. This opportunity was hard-won, and it was possible to achieve great accomplishments or to die on the battlefield. He might bring glory to the Ji family, and if possible, he also wanted to say that he wished to become a hero like his great-grandfather. What he wanted to say was only one sentence: tomorrow he would go to battle. This opportunity was hard-won, and it was possible to achieve great accomplishments or to die on the battlefield. He might bring glory to the Ji family, and if possible, he also wanted to say that he wished to become a hero like his great-grandfather.

Lü Guichen was taken aback for a moment. His monthly expenses were covered by the palace, and the two hundred gold zhu lost at the gambling table had already been confiscated by Xiyan, making it impossible to recover. Moreover, even though he was the heir of the Northern Land, he was still detained in Nanhua as a hostage, and it was not as if he could immediately obtain money.

"You still protect him!" Lady Ji's hair was disheveled, her voice hoarse, and she shouted without regard for her demeanor, "Aren't you still thinking about that lewd and shameless woman? You think of her beauty and seductiveness! You cannot forget her! You even show favoritism towards her son! You cannot forget her in your heart; all you men cannot forget her!"

I am not his mother, who is his mother? His mother is that wretched woman! Does he have me in his eyes? Does he have you in his eyes? Does he have his brother Changye in his eyes? It is all your indulgence that has fostered his bad habits! What is he here for this time? Intentionally ruining his brother's birthday, even the fate lantern was burned by him, his disposition is truly malicious! Isn't this wishing death upon Changye?" Madam Ji said, leaning on the table and sobbing. Intentionally ruining his brother's birthday, even the fate lantern was burned by him, his disposition is truly malicious! Isn't this wishing death upon Changye?" Madam Ji said, leaning on the table and sobbing.

At dusk, the streets were bustling with pedestrians. Lü Guichen suddenly pulled the reins and, with a whip, his northern steed let out a long neigh, scattering the crowd and charging straight towards the blood-red setting sun. The people on the street stepped aside, and the laughter of the young echoed through the clamor.

It was not Ji Qianzheng, the master of the Ji family, who was celebrating his birthday, but rather the second son, Ji Changye. At that moment, Mr. and Mrs. Ji were accompanying their second son as he played with a lantern that turned under the eaves. The lantern had poetry inscribed on all eight sides, but only one side was open for viewing. Ji Changye gently nudged it, and the lantern began to spin rapidly, making it seem as if a horse was galloping. After a moment, it stopped, revealing a side with a short poem:

"Just now, the Ministry of Internal Affairs conveyed the imperial decree, allowing me to accompany the army to observe the battle." After a long while, Lu Guichen said, "This time, the two of us will still go together."

Madam Ji paused at this point, her expression suddenly changing as joy faded away, and her face gradually grew cold. Ji Ye, the eldest son of the Ji family, had silently stood at the foot of the steps, coldly watching his parents and younger brother's family in harmony. Ji Ye was not the biological child of Madam Ji; he was older than Chang Ye but was born of a concubine. The concubine had passed away many years ago, and Madam Ji had never liked this child, nor did Ji Qianzheng appreciate his cold and stern demeanor. The family seemed to avoid acknowledging the existence of this child, allowing him to come and go as he pleased, living and dying on his own. The concubine had passed away many years ago, and Madam Ji had never liked this child, nor did Ji Qianzheng appreciate his cold and stern demeanor. The family seemed to avoid acknowledging the existence of this child, allowing him to come and go as he pleased, living and dying on his own.

"What use is it to have a heroic spirit?" Lady Ji scolded, "What my son wants is a life free from worries, safe and sound. Chang Ye, that one just now doesn't count, let's try another one."

Sigh! Ji Qian, feeling utterly frustrated, reached out to grasp his wife's wrist. "Why are you also breaking things? Today is Chang Ye's birthday; breaking things is always an inauspicious sign. You are a mother, how can you be angry with a child?"

"What are you doing!" Lady Ji was furious, "Do you not know that today is your brother's birthday?"

As Ji Ye stepped out the door, a plate thrown by Madam Ji shattered against the back of the door

Lu Guichen had just brought his horse out of the palace and arrived here, without having the time to ask a servant to report, when he saw Ji Ye step out of the gate. Then the gate closed tightly, followed by a loud crash from inside. Facing his friend, Lu Guichen noticed the look in Ji Ye's eyes, sensing a gradually solidifying sense of desolation and bleakness. Not knowing what to say, he stood there immediately, watching, as if observing a sword slowly turning its edge.

I have come back to discuss something..." Ji Ye stepped onto the stairs

Oh no! A serving maid was accidentally bumped into by him, causing a porcelain dish filled with food to fall to the ground and shatter into pieces

In purple robes, one bows before the palace gates, as the hundred peaks and thousand mountains pay homage to the imperial crown

Ji Qianzheng cast a glance and saw his eldest son standing dazed in front of the lamp. Suddenly, a burst of flames erupted, igniting the surrounding lamp fabric, and the fire spread rapidly, turning the lamp into a pile of ashes in no time. Throughout this, Ji Ye showed no intention of reaching out to extinguish the fire.

In the customs of the Tang Dynasty, breaking bowls and dishes during one's birthday is considered an ominous sign

Ji Qianzheng forced a smile and said, "Where is the coherence when the beginning does not match the end?"