The Talk

Chapter 589: The Talk

Ji Zai was the name Zhuge Yuan had deliberately given Li Huowang back then to cover his true identity.

Now, that name belonged to the Siming who presided over the Way of Bewilderment—the future Li Huowang.

Li Huowang didn't yet know that the future version of himself was called that, but the moment the name surfaced in his memory, his instinct told him it was his.

And the figure who had just scattered like desert sand… that should have been Ji Zai, or at least a part of him.

Li Huowang wasn't entirely certain. When dealing with a version of himself that had become a Siming, he could only guess at the broad strokes.

But more than the man's identity, what troubled him now was the meaning behind those parting words.

“His name should be Ji Zai.” Li Huowang’s words left the Chief Astrologer confused.

If he remembered correctly, wasn't Ji Zai a false name Li Huowang had used? Was he talking to himself just now?

While he was still processing this, Gao Zhijian and Bai Lingmiao hurried back from behind. Seeing that Li Huowang was unharmed, both let out a sigh of relief.

After learning that the other Chief Astrologer had been a fake, they had been terrified that the impostor would do Li Huowang harm.

“Guards! Station the Imperial Army here! Anyone who approaches must have their identity verified!” Gao Zhijian’s voice rang out, and a dozen or so eunuchs who had appeared from nowhere dropped to their knees, kowtowing in acceptance of the order.

“Don't make such a big fuss. I'm fine. You all go about your business; there's no need to crowd around me.” Li Huowang pulled the blanket back over himself and lay down again, resting his head lightly against the pillow.

“Brother Li, that Chief Astrologer was a fake!” Bai Lingmiao stepped closer again, carrying a food box.

“I know, I know.” Li Huowang reached out and gently patted her hand. “Don’t worry. I might look badly wounded, but if anyone really tries to make a move on me, they might not win.”

After all, he was now Ji Zai’s Heart-Pan.

Gao Zhijian heard this and, after thinking it over, realized it was true. If Li Huowang could deal with the Dice so easily, what kind of sneak attack could possibly threaten him?

“Brother Li, then… who was that man just now?” Gao Zhijian stepped forward and asked.

“Just a friend. You don’t need to worry about it. It’s none of your concern.” Li Huowang studied Gao Zhijian—now changed beyond recognition—and a flicker of approval passed through his eyes. He deflected the topic. “Not bad, Gao Zhijian. That outfit really suits you.”

He didn’t want the others to know he had become a Siming’s Heart-Pan. He didn’t want them worrying on his account.

Because even he himself didn’t know when he would turn into the future Ji Zai.

Maybe a year from now. Maybe a decade. Maybe after his death.

But Li Huowang didn’t care. Before he had come up with this way to deal with the Dice, he had already foreseen what the price would be.

Hearing Li Huowang’s words, Gao Zhijian felt the urge to scratch his head again. The Brother Li in front of him looked perfectly normal, but he somehow seemed different from before.

His appearance hadn’t changed at all, but the feeling he gave off… it was as if he had become far more at ease with things.

Glancing at the Chief Astrologer, who hadn’t interrupted, Gao Zhijian remembered why he had come to see Li Huowang in the first place.

“Brother Li, is the Dice… really gone? Will it never be able to control me again?”

Li Huowang thought of the eighteen-sided die that Yi Donglai had taken away, then nodded slightly. “Don’t worry. It shouldn’t be coming back anymore.”

Hearing this, Gao Zhijian finally let out a breath. He trusted Brother Li’s word. If Brother Li said the Dice would never return, then it would never return.

“By the way, Zhijian, call for a carriage and send me back to Niuxin Village. This wound of mine is about healed.”

Upon hearing this, Gao Zhijian shook his head repeatedly. A man reduced to nothing but a head and a mouth was hardly someone who looked “about healed.”

“No. There are imperial physicians here. They can take care of you. You’re still badly hurt. You need rest.”

“I’m just about fully healed. Why would I need more rest? Do you really think I can’t handle a little injury like this?” Li Huowang threw off the blanket and stood up.

Gao Zhijian immediately rushed over in alarm, his large hands carefully shielding Li Huowang’s lotus-root-like neck, terrified that he might accidentally shake the head loose.

But just as Li Huowang was about to leave, Bai Lingmiao grabbed hold of him firmly.

“Brother Li, please. Wait until you’re healed before you go. You really can’t travel far like this.” Seeing the plea in Bai Lingmiao’s eyes, Li Huowang didn’t insist. He sat back down.

“Fine. I won’t leave. But it’s stuffy in here. I want to go for a walk. Get some fresh air.”

Gao Zhijian certainly wouldn’t stop that. As long as Brother Li stopped running around and nearly getting himself killed, he could do whatever he wanted.

After they chatted for a while, Gao Zhijian couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Li, Sister Bai told me your illness is cured?”

“Ah, it’s cured.” Li Huowang nodded calmly. “Somehow, it just got better on its own.”

Hearing this, a genuine smile of joy spread across Gao Zhijian’s face. Brother Li was perfect in every other way, but that illness had been the most severe in the entire Qingfeng Temple.

If the illness was truly cured, then Brother Li could finally live a normal, good life.

And now that he was the Emperor of Great Liang, he could give Brother Li whatever he wanted.

“Zhijian, how does it feel to be emperor?” Li Huowang asked him again.

Gao Zhijian broke into a simple, honest laugh. “Good. Being emperor is really good. I like it. I get to eat so many things I’d never even seen before. Once you’re healed enough and off the restricted diet, I’ll have the chefs cook for you.”

“And I’m going to have lots of wives soon. Over a hundred.”

“That many? Then don’t tell Gouwa. If he finds out, he’ll be green with envy.”

Gao Zhijian’s grin widened. “No can do. With that many wives, I have to show off in front of him.”

The atmosphere in the room lightened considerably. For a moment, they forgot their current stations and slipped back into their old roles as junior and senior brothers at the temple.

After a little more small talk, the Chief Astrologer urged Gao Zhijian to leave the sickroom. He was the emperor now—a new emperor who still knew almost nothing—and there was much to learn. He didn’t have time to waste.

But after they had walked a short distance from the building, the Chief Astrologer spoke slowly.

“I can no longer see through him, Your Majesty. You should be cautious when dealing with him from now on.”

Gao Zhijian turned his head to look at him, his expression darkening with displeasure. “Why? He’s my Brother Li. He wouldn’t harm me.”

“It’s not about harm, Your Majesty. Human hearts are hard to fathom. Remember, the Dice was once the emperor of Great Liang. Now that he’s dealt with the Dice, it would be just as easy for him to deal with you. Can you truly sleep soundly with someone like that by your side?”

“Furthermore, there’s his relationship with the White Lotus Saintess…”

“Of course. The White Lotus Society defended the throne and rendered meritorious service. I’ve already removed the White Lotus from the Supervisory Heavenly Office’s hunt list. They should still be courted. I’m only laying out the pros and cons for you.”

“The final decision is yours. After all, you are the emperor of Great Liang, and I am merely in charge of the Supervisory Heavenly Office. But for the sake of Great Liang, I had to say this.”

Gao Zhijian’s face darkened. He strode forward in long, heavy steps.

“Being emperor seems hard, but it’s actually simple. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can go ask the Dragon Vein. They can teach you everything—how to balance the civil and military officials, how to handle memorials, how many factions and parties exist in the court.”

The Chief Astrologer instructed methodically. Gao Zhijian listened in silence.