Unrepentant

Chapter 17:They parted ways and began walking different roads.

Wànshùn Year 41, February 10th. Emperor Xuanwen died within Ren He Palace. All the state affairs and Emperor Xuanwen's burial arrangements were left to Crown Prince Lin Si Ze to handle.

Gu Hong Jian had also finally seen the tired face of baggy-eyed Lin Si Ze.

Seeing him like this, Gu Hong Jian did not want to trouble him and only said, "Go rest; after that, make these people let me go."

Lin Si Ze said, "Teacher Meng."

Gu Hong Jian startled and asked, "What?"

In retrospect, she had last met Teacher Meng in spring of Wànshùn Year 40. They had discussed eliminating the second prince then.

Afterward, Teacher Meng did not appear again and only sent two extremely brief letters once in a while to inform them of his well-being.

"Teacher Meng is coming to tomorrow night's feast." Lin Si Ze waved a piece of paper. "Don't you want to see him?"

Very sullenly, Gu Hong Jian finally admitted, "Yes."

Lin Si Ze nodded indifferently and said, "I'll go rest first."

He then turned around and left, leaving behind Gu Hong Jian as she fumed with rage between gritted teeth.

With this, Gu Hong Jian had no choice but to wait until tomorrow night. In the meanwhile, Lin Si Ze would probably be resting the entire time, so the two of them would not run into each other until dusk tomorrow. Lin Si Ze pushed open Gu Hong Jian's door himself to bring her to the back gardens of De Ze Palace.

That tent shack Gu Hong Jian had made for gambling had not been torn down; instead, the wooden table and chairs had been removed for what seemed to be well-made stone tables and chairs.

On the table was a pot of wine and three jade cups.

Gu Hong Jian straightforwardly poured herself a cup and drank readily. Smacking her lips in satisfaction, she asked, "When will Teacher Meng arrive?"

Lin Si Ze said, "Probably soon."

He also sat down on a chair after he answered.

No more words were spoken between the two. The mood remained awkward but not for long, as Teacher Meng arrived right on schedule.

Teacher Meng wore ink-black clothes like before and appeared to be older. Although he radiated health and vigor, remaining just as elegant and straightforward, wrinkles had still begun forming at the corners of his eyes, and his temples had become the color of frost.

Gu Hong Jian suddenly stared at Teacher Meng as she realized: While she and Lin Si Ze had grown very little, Teacher Meng had become quite old. After all was said and done, they had left Teacher Meng's protection; in other words, during this absence of over a year, they had long left Teacher Meng's protection. She suddenly became enlightened as to why Teacher Meng abruptly disappeared for so long.

This was because he had absolutely no control over the previous events, which had snowballed with irresistible force.

As if to confirm Gu Hong Jian's thoughts, Teacher Meng opened his mouth to speak. "Si Ze, Hong Jian, I'm leaving."

Gu Hong Jian dumbly said, "To the south to have fun? Where have you been for the past year?"

Teacher Meng smiled and shook his head. "Everywhere, that's all. You have done very well and no longer need my help. I know it all. As for this time, I also don't know where I will go, but I regard all four corners of the world as home and will simply roam far and wide."

Gu Hong Jian suddenly understood and exclaimed, "Why? You're growing older, and Lin Si Ze will soon be the emperor. You can stay and live leisurely as a government official, living in ease and comfort! Even if you have ambitions elsewhere, do you need to wander the four oceans?"