The Black Dragon thought, humans are all the most shameless tricksters, or else I wouldn't have to suffer in this ghostly abyss for so many years. Although I'm black, that doesn't mean I like the darkness. Those first few nights were truly very dark, Mother…
Wait, how did I start thinking about this?
Fine, on the surface, this youth looks very sincere, and he smells very nice, not like a swindler. He's just like that man surnamed Wang from back then, but I don't even know if that man surnamed Wang is keeping his word to me, so how can I trust this youth?
You want to trick me into letting you go and definitely won't come back. Saying that after finishing with your matter, you'll come and chat with me? You think I can't see that you were also tricked by someone into this place? After you escape, how will you come back? Moreover, above us is the Imperial Palace; you think can come back as long as you wish it? Saying you're going to come back is just trying to comfort me, no, to trick me. Yes, humans are all tricksters, you are all tricksters!
I've suffered alone underground for so many years, and besides that terrifying woman, I haven't seen any living thing—that terrifying woman doesn't even count as a human, and I'd prefer to not meet her. Finally, after so many hardships, I met a person I could speak with. How can I just let you go?
If you leave, it will be dark days once more!
"I understand what you're feeling, your unease, but you should believe me," Chen Changsheng said to it.
The Black Dragon's eyes were cold and somewhat mocking as if wanting to say, you're only ten-some years old. You have no idea of the tortures of time.
Chen Changsheng knew that the benevolence the Black Dragon had just shown to him was no guarantee of his safety. It was recorded in the Daoist Canon that these dragons, although powerful, were all very fickle. This Black Dragon had been imprisoned by humans for so many years—who knew how deep its resentment was?
"I truly understand, even if I definitely haven't suffered for as long you have. But at the very beginning, I told you my story—my fate also isn't good. Fine, I understand that it's very difficult for you to believe, so just count it as a gamble. If you let me go, there's a chance that I'll fulfill my end of the bargain and try and find a method to see you in the future. But if you kill me, I'm confident that it will be very difficult for anyone else to appear before you. No matter how you see it, it's best to take this gamble with me."
Chen Changsheng said with utter sincerity and solemnity, "This is your best choice."
The Black Dragon remained silent. Suddenly, it raised its head towards the ceiling, its gaze resting somewhere amongst the several thousand Night Pearls.
...
...
Within Weiyang Palace, the Ivy Festival was continuing. In reality, though, it had already ended. The literary test that should have taken place tonight was pushed back to later, but no person cared about its results. How could the competition between the Ivy Academies possibly compare to the grand occasion about to take place?
Everyone was reserved and mild because what was about to take place was a happy occasion, a marriage. Even Mount Li's Guan Feibai, the coldest and most arrogant Fourth Law of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws, had a sort of smile on his face. This was because he knew that this was a major occasion for his eldest brother, and also for his sect and the entire south. Crucially, even he felt that his eldest brother marrying Junior Sister Xu was a grand occasion truly worthy of being proud and celebrating over.
Mount Li Elder Xiao Songgong was already standing and speaking. The southern diplomatic mission was formally offering a marriage proposal to the Great Zhou Dynasty. Some processes had already begun—after only going through a few more steps, this marriage anticipated by the entire world would move from the discussions held by countless people over these past few years into reality.
The archbishop's eyes were closed as if he was once more on the verge of sleep. Prince Chen Liu had on a gentle expression as he chatted with Xiao Songgong. Mo Yu had a calm look as she gazed out of the palace into the darkness. Luoluo watched these people, her right hand tightly clutching the silk bag in her sleeve. She had already decided to open it.
...
...
There was another prolonged silence, the underground cavern as silent as a grave.
Chen Changsheng gazed at the Black Dragon, nervously awaiting its decision.
The Black Dragon glanced at him and then suddenly began to fly backwards.
The several thousand Night Pearls on the ceiling instantly extinguished, leaving only some surplus light to illuminate the forward part of the Black Dragon's body.
It seemed that it was gradually vanishing into the darkness.
Chen Changsheng understood the meaning of its glance. It wanted him to remember his promise and come visit.
Entering the Imperial Palace was very difficult, much less breaking through the Tong Palace to enter the underground cavern so that he could see it, but without any hesitation, he nodded his head.
He was very grateful to the Black Dragon and wanted to say something. The dragon could understand human language, but he had no idea what he should call it.
'Teacher'? He had a master. 'Senior'? This seemed too distant. 'You'? Too disrespectful. 'Hi'? Was he seeking death? …They all seemed inappropriate.
Chen Changsheng pondered this problem, then called out to the gradually vanishing Black Dragon, "Dragon…Uncle."
The Black Dragon turned stiff, its eyes somewhat at a loss. It was clear that it was quite shocked by this address.
"Uncle Dragon." Chen Changsheng did not know what else to say. Words of thanks on their own seemed too little. He suddenly thought of a matter and pointed up towards the ceiling. "I have to take that Night Pearl up there back with me."
The Black Dragon gave a low roar, seeming extremely angry. It had simply not imagined that this despicable fellow would actually want a foot after gaining an inch.
Chen Changsheng was very firm. "Uncle, it belongs to a girl. In the future, I have to return it to her."
...
...
In the garden of a side palace in the Imperial Palace was an extremely small pool.
The darkness lay heavy and the lanterns within the palace hall had already been extinguished. Standing by the pool was a middle-aged woman, her appearance very ordinary, her clothes very plain. She was clearly not one of those imperial concubines who only knew how, and were only allowed, to waste time on dresses and makeup. Nor was she was one of the palace maids in the prime of their youth.
She stood by the pool, perhaps preparing to wash her hands or wash some clothes.
Just then, the water in the pool began to slosh and surge upwards as a youth was flushed out in a very sorry condition.
It was precisely Chen Changsheng.
In the underground space, his clothes had been covered in frost and ice. Now, after being flushed out of the waters of the pool, he was utterly drenched and looked most miserable.
The middle-aged woman had never expected that a person would appear in the darkness. Seemingly frightened, she took a step back.
The woman was wearing wooden clogs, so when she took a step back on the gray stones lining the pool, there was a soft clop.
In the trees by the pool was a squirrel eating a snack. Startled by this sudden noise, it cast away the fruit it was holding in its forelimbs and jumped from the tree to the second-floor balcony of the palace hall, speedily running out of the courtyard. Its bushy tail waved around in the air, coincidentally bumping against a flower pot on the edge of the balcony.
The flower pot tottered, on the verge of falling from the balcony.
Coincidentally, the middle-aged woman was standing right below.
If the flower pot were to fall, it would certainly fall on her body. Let alone injuries, it might have an even more dangerous result.
Chen Changsheng left the underground space and returned to the surface, ending up in the pool. His face was covered in water, and when he wiped it away and was able to see again, the first thing he saw was this extremely coincidental scene, and also an extremely unfortunate scene.
Without even thinking, he rushed over to the middle-aged woman.
He knew that this was deep within the Imperial Palace. There were countless experts here, and if he were to alarm them, it would probably be very difficult for him to reach Weiyang Palace.
He still rushed over, not because he was afraid the fall of the pot would alarm someone, but because the middle-aged woman was in danger.
If he carefully thought about it, he had even better choices, better choices with regards to leaving and getting to Weiyang Palace promptly, but he did not consider them.
He hugged the middle-aged woman to his chest and curled around her.
If the flower pot were to fall, it would shatter on his back.
But the flower pot did not fall.
Consequently, this scene was rather awkward, rather difficult to explain.
Not hearing the sound he had imagined, not feeling any pain from his back, Chen Changsheng raised his head towards the balcony and saw that the flower pot was standing there just fine.
He naturally did not see the middle-aged woman draw back her finger.
Chen Changsheng gazed at the middle-aged woman in somewhat of a panic…if this middle-aged woman were to shout, he would be in trouble. And it was so late at night, if a youth were to suddenly rush out of a pool and embrace one to his chest, anyone would probably shout, right?
At this time, the first thing he should have done was knock this middle-aged woman unconscious, just like in the novels he had read.
But there was a problem: he didn't know how to knock someone unconscious.
Thus, he was currently confronting a very troublesome problem.
The palace shrouded in darkness, the waves in the pool, and the flower pot on the balcony all looked at each other.
He and the middle-aged woman looked at each other.
Very speechless.
Silent and speechless.
He was just a youth.
She was a middle-aged woman.
There was none of the awkwardness between a man and woman.
Only awkwardness.
The middle-aged woman slightly creased her brow, slightly opening her mouth, but closing it again without saying anything.
Chen Changsheng was somewhat surprised, thinking, no way, right?
He released his hands, bowed in apology, and then used his hands to gesture, his movements very adept.
The middle-aged woman looked at him and also made a gesture. Chen Changsheng thought, it truly is this way. He then gestured to say that he was sorry. Seeing that the woman had no intention of prying into this matter, although he did not understand why, he had no time to ponder this question as he hurriedly took his leave.
...
...
"Dragon language, sign language, he knows quite a lot."
Watching Chen Changsheng's back fade into the darkness, the middle-aged woman smiled and spoke.
She naturally was not really mute. She said to the darkness, "Weiyang Palace is far. Escort him there.
"Truly a good child."
The middle-aged woman's smile gradually faded as she indifferently commented, "If he did not have the surname Chen, he would be even better."
After saying this, she turned and entered the palace hall.
The previously pitch-black and seemingly deserted side palace was instantly brightly lit.
Several dozen eunuchs and palace maids, as well as several Guardians of the Imperial Court, kneeled on both sides in welcome. None of them dared to raise their heads, all of them holding their breaths.