Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 911 - 886: Mistaken Identity
Fang Chuning found himself speechless, tilting his head and thinking for a moment, "I try to make you leave, yet you won’t. In that case, it’s up to you. When you decide to leave, you will naturally go, and I won’t have to rush a guest."
Xie Jue thought to himself, answering the wrong question. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
The opera downstairs quickly came to an end, concluding in tragedy. In the opera, Xie Jue journeyed far away to guard a bitterly cold frontier, while Fang Chuning sacrificed himself in his prime. The two parted in life and death, never to see each other again, with lifelong regret.
Fang Chuning inexplicably disliked such an ending. Did Xie Tingfeng like it?
His beloved didn’t get a happy ending. He probably wouldn’t be happy, having never smiled since the opera began. But Fang Chuning wanted the person in front of him to have a fulfilling ending—such a strange mindset.
A pot of Nu’er Hong was quickly finished, and Fang Chuning didn’t want to be too greedy. The opera downstairs always sang about Fang Chuning and Xie Jue, and he grew tired of listening. "Come with me to stroll around Yangzhou City."
"Alright!!"
Xie Jue happily agreed. He hadn’t properly toured Yangzhou City before, and late spring in Yangzhou had its own charm: drooping willows and flower rain, small bridges and flowing water, clear skies and blue waters, all were beautiful sights. Fang Chuning took Xie Jue aboard a painted boat. The long river in Yangzhou City encircled the entire city, and a painted boat could drift half around the city. The shores were lined with Yangzhou’s unique architecture, Jiangnan-style gardens visible everywhere, the riverside busy with youth enjoying spring outings—all drinking tea and admiring the scenic beauty of both shores inside the boat, making for a delightful experience.
The beauty of Jiangnan differs from Yangzhou. Xie Jue watched Fang Chuning’s relaxed and smiling face. "Do you like Jiangnan very much?"
"Who wouldn’t like Jiangnan’s splendid scenery? Each season has its own merits," Fang Chuning chuckled, "Don’t you like it?"
"I do!" Xie Jue replied, "Living here is quite an enjoyment indeed."
"The splendid landscape is a gift from heaven. You see, even the people within Yangzhou City now live in prosperity and stability, without fearing unrest. The current emperor manages well. Though there was initial unrest when the new policies were implemented, now the common folk praise it. The lives of the lower class are safeguarded, and there’s no longer a need to supply Ningzhou with grain annually. With reduced taxes, everyone’s lives visibly improved—something unprecedented in previous years."
"You’ve lost your memory; how do you know this?"
"I may have amnesia, but I’m not deaf or blind. I used to meet some old men by the river while fishing, who often spoke of how frightened they were a few years back, how oppressive the taxes were, and how life got worse by the day. This year, though, was much easier. The land was fertile, with abundant crops, and there were no natural or man-made disasters. They all say the current emperor is wise; otherwise, even the affair of Xie Jue and Fang Chuning would have people gossiping behind the emperor’s back." Fang Chuning scoffed.
"Ha!" Xie Jue chuckled coldly, making no comment.
"It’s only unfortunate that Xie Jue was born in the wrong place. If he were from Sannan, there’d be no fear of gossip, as the people there wouldn’t find it strange at all."
Xie Jue remained silent.
Fang Chuning realized he didn’t want to hear this, so he dropped the topic. After their lake tour, they disembarked, where a vendor was selling lotus seeds. The seeds were peeled clean and round, and a young girl selling them cheerily asked if they wanted to buy some. Upon seeing Xie Jue’s countenance, she covered her mouth in surprise, then quickly gathered herself and knelt to the ground, kowtowing, "This girl greets the emperor... long live the emperor, long live!"
The young girl was not very old, looking twelve or thirteen, not knowing how to properly salute, mimicking phrases from storybooks while lying on the ground, daring not to look up.
Fang Chuning, "..."
What?
Xie Jue bent down to help her up, "You’ve mistaken me for someone else, stand up!"
The little girl trembled in fear, explaining, "I’m not mistaken. The year Yangzhou had a great epidemic, the emperor’s benevolence saved Yangzhou City and my family. How could I forget the emperor’s face after seeing it for so many years? I’m sure I’m not wrong."
