Chapter 145
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Han Jiao wrapped his arms around Xie Duo’s neck, lost in a passionate kiss. The piece of paper in his hand fluttered to the ground, its scribbled text resembling the ancient script he had seen on the day he first met Xie Duo.
Han Jiao couldn’t recognize the characters at all, yet he refused to admit it, just like that first day they met.
Therefore, Xie Duo was sure that the person in his arms hadn’t changed. He had simply forgotten him.
The imperial physicians said that this kind of ailment usually afflicts those over sixty, so Han Jiao’s condition was likely temporary.
His breath grew short, but Han Jiao was reluctant to part his lips from his.
It was Xie Duo who released him first, pulling him into an embrace, whispering in his ear, “Han Xiaobai, I can’t bear to be forgotten like this. I’ve saved you twice. You mustn’t forget my kindness in your two lifetimes.”
Han Jiao looked up at him with joy. “I have a good memory. My father taught me to memorize poems, and after hearing them twice, I can remember. Just tell me your name, and I won’t forget.”
“You’ve already forgotten once,” Xie Duo said, looking down at him. “I want you to remember it on your own.”
Han Jiao made a frustrating hump but didn’t dare to argue.
Xie Duo let him go back home.
Because he couldn’t see his mother at night, Han Jiao would get scared and couldn’t sleep.
But during the daytime, he wanted to see Xie Duo.
So, the reigning Emperor began a humble routine of personally leaving the palace after finishing his official duties for a daily rendezvous.
These encounters didn’t bring much satisfaction to Xie Duo. Although the little child prodigy was quite proactive now, his advances were limited to kisses and hugs.
Xie Duo attempted to take things further, but when the little child prodigy looked at him with innocent eyes and asked why he needed to undress, Xie Duo’s impure thoughts retreated into the depths of his heart.
“Once you remember my name, I will collect the debt you owe me for these days,” Xie Duo promised fiercely.
Han Jiao felt nervous. “My family is very poor. My mother has already given me to you, and I have no more money to repay you.”
“You’ll repay me with yourself.”
Over a month later, news arrived that Zhang Mushan had voluntarily surrendered in Luozhou. The news quickly spread throughout the capital.
The Great Chu dynasty’s centuries-old troubles came to an end, and the people believed the new ruler was a heaven-sent War God. With the War God’s presence, they could live in peace, and the nation’s prosperity would endure.
Even in the countryside, many villagers spontaneously constructed a shrine for the Ninth Prince, treating him as a deity to be worshipped.
The refugees previously rescued by Han Jiao established a new county, where they placed the statues of Righteous Master Han and the War God in the same temple, worshipping them together.
On the first day of summer, several village leaders from the new county walked to the capital early in the morning, bringing chickens, ducks, geese, and eggs as gifts for Righteous Master Han. They warmly invited him to visit the new county for a few days.
The people of the new county regarded Han Jiao as their benefactor. While news of Han Jiao’s promotion and residence in the capital was known to everyone, they remained unaware of his peculiar illness.
This was the first time Han Jiao didn’t receive visitors. The village leaders were a bit puzzled, not feeling neglected but concerned about Righteous Master Han’s well-being.
Master Han welcomed the guests on behalf of his son but was reluctant to reveal his son’s current condition. He vaguely mentioned a bout of cold and the inadvisability of meeting visitors.
Surprisingly, as he saw the guests off, Han Jiao curiously ran outside and joined his father in waving goodbye.
The village leaders, seeing Righteous Master Han’s good spirits, exchanged puzzled glances with Master Han, but they didn’t press further. They gathered around Righteous Master Han, expressing concern and inviting Han Jiao to visit the new county again.
Han Jiao, excited about hearing of the water-powered windmills built in the county, expressed his eagerness to go there. However, Master Han stopped him.
Mrs. Han also went out to restrain her son. The couple had unspoken worries, determined not to let their simple-minded son travel with the villagers.
The village leaders, misunderstanding the situation, quietly discussed among themselves, thinking that Righteous Master Han’s parents were concerned they were seeking some favor by paying a visit.
A straightforward farmer made a solemn vow to Master Han and Mrs. Han, swearing he would never bring any trouble to Han Jiao.
This left Master Han red-faced. He wanted to explain, but how could he articulate the sudden transformation of his accomplished son into a simple-minded one who had gained fame in the capital?
Mrs. Han, seeing her husband’s dilemma, couldn’t hold back her tears. She covered her face, choked up, and excused herself, rushing back home.
Master Han, who was naturally thin-skinned, couldn’t find a way to evade this situation. He could only sigh and lower his head.
Just at this difficult moment, the newly crowned Great Chu monarch, traveling incognito, paid another “official visit” to Han Jiao’s home.
“What are you all doing?” Seeing a few elderly men spitting venom outside the Han residence and pulling on Han Jiao’s sleeves, Xie Duo swiftly stepped forward, pulling Han Jiao behind him and addressing the approaching group.
Only a few children from the new county had seen the real Ninth Prince up close. The village leaders couldn’t recognize the visitor but were intimidated by his presence. They instinctively took a few steps back, nervously looking at Xie Duo.
Master Han, worried that Xie Duo might blame the well-intentioned villagers, hurriedly approached and explained the situation.
Xie Duo, with a hint of puzzlement, asked in a low voice, “You didn’t tell them that Han Jiao is unwell?”
Before Master Han could respond, Han Jiao, annoyed, argued, “I’m not unwell! I want to go and play in the county!”
Xie Duo turned to look at him and asked, “You want to go?”
Han Jiao nodded joyfully.
Xie Duo considered for a moment, then turned to Master Han. “I’ll take him.”
Master Han hurriedly said, “Your Majesty…”
“Shh.” Xie Duo placed his index finger on his lips and whispered, “The imperial physician said we should take him to places he remembers from the past. If he recalls even a part of his memories, it might help him gradually remember everything.”
After half a year, Han Jiao returned to the new county.
Concerned that the locals’ enthusiasm might overwhelm Han Jiao, Xie Duo brought only a few attendants and took a detour into the county.
He didn’t visit the county magistrate or the villagers. Instead, he took Han Jiao to the same hill they once climbed together, riding the horse-drawn carriage.
However, Han Jiao appeared as if he were visiting the place for the first time and couldn’t recall any past memories.
“I don’t want to climb the hill. I want to see the windmill!” Despite his memory loss, Righteous Master Han’s aversion to climbing remained unchanged.
The attendants inquired along the way and led Xie Duo and Han Jiao to the southern part of the hill. From a distance, they saw villagers gathered by the river, surrounding the newly constructed windmill.
The children and some young adults in the village wore masks resembling lions, tigers, wolves, and dogs. It seemed they were participating in some kind of festive ritual, filling the mountains with cheerful laughter.
Xie Duo turned to give a few orders to the attendants but realized that the little child prodigy had disappeared when he looked back.
By the river, a more excited round of cheers erupted.
Righteous Master Han was finally reunited with the villagers!
As soon as Han Jiao appeared, he was surrounded by a crowd of villagers, but he didn’t feel afraid. He could sense their warmth and goodwill.
Unable to hear what the people around him were excitedly saying, Han Jiao simply continued to grin.
Xie Duo swiftly made his way to Han Jiao, brushing past a child and removing the mask from the child’s face.
The child touched his cheek, feeling that something was missing, and immediately began preparing for an explosive cry.
Right after that, the mischievous War God who had taken the mask performed a magical act, offering a candied hawthorn to the child.
The child’s cry was abruptly halted as he reached out and accepted the candied hawthorn without hesitation.
Soon, the War God with the mask was forcibly leading Han Jiao away, but the enthusiastic villagers continuously blocked their path.
Seeing that Han Jiao also wanted to stay and join the celebration, Xie Duo had no choice but to accompany him in the villagers’ festive ritual.
Unmarried men in the village took part in the “Deer Head Competition” as part of the festival.
The rules involved all participants standing on a large circular mound of earth. The goal was to push opponents down the mound without harming a deer and retrieve a silver mask from the deer’s antlers. The winner would then be allowed to present the mask to any unmarried girl in the village.
If a young lady accepted the gift, it signified a commitment between the two, and they could be wed without seeking parental consent.
This was a unique local tradition, seen as somewhat uncivilized by ordinary scholars for its lack of proper etiquette.
Upon hearing the rules of the competition, Han Jiao displayed great excitement, as if he understood the significance of a commitment and marriage.
Xie Duo sat beside him in the “guest seats” next to the mound, watching the young men on the mound display their skills.
One tall, strong man demonstrated exceptional agility and strength, pushing down more than a dozen others.
The surrounding villagers cheered, and some young ladies, disregarding their shyness, shouted the man’s name.
“Brother Lin! Brother Lin!”
The girls’ shouts were pleasant and rhythmic, and to everyone’s surprise, Han Jiao, who was engrossed in the spectacle, unconsciously raised his hand and joined in with the rhythmic chants. “Brother Lin! Brother Lin! Brother Lin!”
Completely unaware of a certain War God with a sinister wolf mask at his side, he dangerously turned his head, locking eyes.
“Do you know him?” The War God’s voice carried a beastly quality.
Han Jiao, with no sense of self-preservation, excitedly replied, “Of course! He’s the most formidable one on the stage!”
Beneath the evil wolf mask, those pale eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint. “The most formidable one? In your eyes, doesn’t Master Han know more than one ‘most formidable’ person?”
Han Jiao tilted his head in thought and honestly shook his head. “There’s only one,” he pointed his index finger fearlessly toward Brother Lin on the stage, unequivocally telling Xie Duo, “I’ve seen the most formidable person, and it’s him!”
Brother Lin on the stage had already eliminated all his opponents and was happily approaching the deer. Suddenly, a cold, challenging voice came from behind.
“Please enlighten me, Brother.”
Brother Lin turned around, looking puzzled. He wasn’t wondering how he had missed someone but rather questioning where this pretentious scholar came from and why he dared to challenge him on stage.
However, in the split second he turned around, he felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
The man standing across from him was taller than Brother Lin but less burly. His face was masked, but it couldn’t hide the sharp glint in his eyes that peered through the holes.
Just the feeling of being locked onto by those eyes sent a shiver down Brother Lin’s spine.
Astonishingly, the girls in the audience weren’t shouting Brother Lin’s name. Their attention was entirely drawn to the unfamiliar man with the wolf mask.
The man’s mask concealed his face, but his neck was as fair as porcelain. His well-built stature combined with the mask gave him a distinctive and charismatic look, similar to the noble young masters in the city who couldn’t hold their own in a fight.
“You’re not from our village, are you?” Brother Lin impatiently waved his hand. “Jump down yourself, or if you get hurt, don’t blame me!”
In the crowd below, a young girl who had once been hit in the face by Ninth Prince’s soccer ball stared wide-eyed. She excitedly whispered to her companions, “It’s him, it’s the War God! That young man in green is the War God, the Ninth Prince!”
A moment of silence fell, and the girls’ gaze collectively focused on the stage!
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