Chapter 235: Extra ━ Past Life, Chen Xu’s Death （The End）

Chen Xu deeply hated the aristocracy, and this hatred intensified after he met Xie Yuqing.

In this era where aristocratic families held the highest esteem and monopolized all political resources, commoners could never rise to prominence unless they possessed extraordinary talent and surpassed all others in intelligence.

“No commoners in the upper ranks, no aristocrats in the lower ranks.” Even the least capable scions of aristocratic families could be assigned a sixth-rank official position during evaluations, while commoners, even those with far superior talent, could only reach the sixth rank at most, which was already the highest attainable rank for them.

Aristocratic offspring could serve as pure officials, high-ranking officials, and enter the central government, while commoners could only start from the lowest and most corrupt official positions.

This was the injustice of this era towards commoners.

And the most ironic thing was that the original founder of the “Nine-Rank System” was actually Chen Qun, an ancestor of their Chen clan. Chen Qun probably never imagined that two hundred years later, his descendants would also become commoners, unable to join the ranks of the aristocracy.

Chen Xu secretly vowed that one day he would break this unfair rule of “no commoners in the upper ranks, no aristocrats in the lower ranks,” and he would make these lofty aristocrats fall from the clouds into the dust.

That day, he came to Jiankang with this ideal and ambition. On the banks of the Qinhuai River, he witnessed many elegant aristocrats gathered on pleasure boats, engaging in pure conversation. These aristocrats were arrogant and aloof, as if they were immortals, unattainable and out of reach.

And among this group of aristocrats, one person was particularly fresh and eye-catching. “He” was not like other young masters who applied powder to their faces and dressed in spotless white. Instead, “he” wore simple, narrow-sleeved black clothes, with “his” black hair tied up in a bun, secured only by a white jade hairpin.

“His” face was handsome and refined, with the gentleness of a woman but also the heroic spirit of a man.

More importantly, as soon as this person stood among the crowd, a unique aura made “him” impossible to ignore.

“He” was also engaging in pure conversation, but seemed to speak very little. After everyone else had spoken at length, they asked for “his” opinion, but “he” only smiled without answering.

However, “his” arrogance and impoliteness did not offend anyone. On the contrary, it made the other aristocrats even more respectful and admiring of “him.” Even though “he” was sparing with words, every word “he” uttered was widely circulated and regarded as a golden saying.

“What? Taken a fancy to him? Although it’s not uncommon to favor men nowadays, don’t think ‘he’ is some young master. ‘He’ is Xie Yuqing, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Chenjun Xie Clan, and also the most talented woman in our Southern Liang. Even the Crown Prince and His Majesty hold her in high regard.”

The sounds of laughter from several young masters reached Chen Xu’s ears. He followed the sound and saw several aristocratic youths privately discussing this cross-dressing noblewoman.

“If she’s the eldest legitimate daughter, why is she dressed in this androgynous way?”

“You don’t know? It’s called being willful and unconventional, free and easy. The Xie family has pooled all its resources to cultivate such an amazingly talented eldest daughter. They no longer treat her as a daughter and let her do as she pleases. Now she even serves as an official by the Crown Prince’s side, specializing in selecting talents for him. If you can earn a word of praise from her, it’s like adding gold to your crown. It’s highly possible to soar to success overnight and become a favorite by the Crown Prince’s side!”

“However, it’s really difficult to get a word of praise from her. Look at those people, they’ve talked their lips off, but have they received even a single word in response?”

Hearing these words, Chen Xu’s gaze could not leave Xie Yuqing. He had an unusual longing for this talented woman with a legendary reputation. So, he made a decision in his heart, deciding to take a gamble.

Just as Xie Yuqing and the other aristocrats disembarked from the pleasure boat, Chen Xu boldly rushed towards Xie Yuqing, who was surrounded by the crowd. He blocked everyone’s path and shouted at the unattainable figure, “The Nine-Rank System is nothing but a decadent and declining system. Are the talents selected through it truly useful to the country? In the past, Wang Yan’s pure conversation led to the downfall of the state, and He Yan even created the Five Minerals Powder that poisoned the world, causing many famous scholars to die prematurely from improper use.”

“Not to mention, Wang Ningzhi, as the Governor of Kuaiji, foolishly believed in the Way of the Celestial Masters. During the rebellion of Sun En, the leader of the Way of the Celestial Masters, instead of leading the army to resist, he stayed at home practicing rituals and invoking deities, resulting in the city being captured and his own beheading. And Xie Daoyun, the talented woman who married him, ended up with her entire family slaughtered and her descendants all perished in her later years…”

“Stop—”

A personal guard stepped forward from the crowd, swiftly approaching him and placing a sword against his neck.

“It’s alright, Ling Ye, let him go, let him speak!”

Ling Ye knew that Xie Daoyun was Xie Yuqing’s ancestor and had always been a role model for the Xie clan’s descendants. Now, for this commoner to bring her up like this was disrespectful to their ancestor!

Seeing that Xie Yuqing was indeed interested in his words, Chen Xu cupped his hands and bowed to her, saying, “Chen merely believes that the Nine-Rank System cannot truly select talents for governing the world. If this continues, dynasties will change, and wars will never cease. If we want the dynasty to last, reforms must be implemented. This is Chen’s humble opinion!”

“Farewell!”

Having only spoken half of what he wanted to say, just as he had piqued Xie Yuqing’s interest, Chen Xu flicked his sleeves and left. Some aristocrats were indignant and wanted to order someone to chase after him, but Xie Yuqing stopped them.

“He’s just a commoner trying to attract everyone’s attention. There’s no need to stoop to his level. Please let it go, gentlemen.”

With Xie Yuqing’s words, those aristocrats had to pretend to be magnanimous on the surface and no longer bother with Chen Xu.

Chen Xu knew that he had successfully caught the attention of this most talented woman in Southern Liang.

Sure enough, not long after, someone from the Xie family found him and said that Xie Yuqing had invited him to a pavilion to drink and talk.

He got his wish and stood before this noblewoman of the Xie clan. He also seized this opportunity to display his talent and ambition in front of her.

Later, when Crown Prince Xiao Tong held a pure conversation gathering in the Eastern Palace, he received an invitation obtained for him by Xie Yuqing. He also displayed his poetic talent in front of all the scholars in the Eastern Palace.

His reputation spread from then on, and he had the opportunity to be evaluated and enter officialdom.

Initially, he only served as a county magistrate, but during his tenure, his achievements were remarkable, and he was deeply loved by the people. He also received affirmation and praise from Xie Yuqing.

“Many of the current aristocratic offspring, although they hold official positions in the court, do not actually do practical work. They travel around, claiming to be above mundane affairs, calling it the demeanor of a distinguished scholar!

Although my Xie family is also aristocratic, I know that if this continues, the aristocracy will only be a beautifully adorned shell guarding withered bones. Eventually, it will decline, and the country will not prosper in the long run. However, I am the only one who thinks this way, and I cannot change anything.”

“Fortunately, Master Chen is a man of action who shares the same ideals as me. If Master Chen is willing, I can recommend you to the Crown Prince again to serve as an official in the court. Would you be willing?”

Feeling Xie Yuqing’s recognition and appreciation, Chen Xu was ecstatic, but he was very good at controlling his emotions. He paused for a moment and finally mustered the courage to ask what was on his mind, “Xie Yuqing, if I go to your house and propose marriage to you, would you be willing to marry me?”

Xie Yuqing only froze for a moment before laughing, “Grandfather does not intend for me to marry but rather to have someone marry into our family. However, you can try.”

He knew that the implication of “try” was that she agreed. As long as the head of the Xie family, her grandfather Xie Jing, agreed to this marriage, he could marry this noblewoman of the Xie clan.

From then on, he could also break free from the constraints of being a commoner and become someone of high status.

So, he later mustered the courage to propose marriage to Xie Jing, but unexpectedly, he was met with harsh scolding.

Xie Jing even spoke harshly, severely criticizing him, saying, “Even if my Xie family’s daughter never marries, she will never marry a commoner.”

This was the unwritten rule of no intermarriage between aristocrats and commoners. He originally thought that Xie Yuqing would speak up for him in front of her grandfather, but he did not expect to be so humiliated.

From then on, he dared not step foot in the Xie family’s house again, but he hated these lofty aristocrats even more.

Until one day, Hou Jing led his troops and attacked Southern Liang. The Buddhist Emperor Xiao Yan, in order to appease this surrendered general from Eastern Wei, constantly promoted him, provided him with supplies, and so on. As a result, Hou Jing’s appetite grew larger and larger, and he even made a request to Xiao Yan, wanting to marry the daughter of a prominent aristocratic family, specifically naming Xie Yuqing, the most talented woman in Southern Liang.

Xiao Yan did not dare to offend the aristocratic families and also knew that the Xie family would never marry their painstakingly cultivated daughter to a Sinicized Jie person who had no redeeming qualities. So, he tactfully refused him.

This incident enraged Hou Jing!

He knew his opportunity had come. If he could use Hou Jing’s hand to eliminate these lofty aristocrats, then there would no longer be an insurmountable gap between aristocrats and commoners. He would not face opposition from her family if he wanted to obtain Xie Yuqing. He could even achieve something else amidst the chaos in Southern Liang.

So, he sent people to carefully observe the movements of Hou Jing’s side and even had people deliberately provoke him, leading Hou Jing to finally attack Jiankang with his troops. Along the way, many commoners who, like him, hated the emperor and the aristocracy, joined Hou Jing’s army.

Hou Jing’s destructive power was indeed formidable. Once he arrived in Jiankang, he quickly took control of the imperial city and led his troops to burn, kill, and plunder everywhere. He first ordered the extermination of the Wang and Xie clans and the capture of Xie Yuqing.

He had sent a message to Xie Yuqing beforehand, urging her to flee Wu Yi Alley immediately.

Everything went according to his plan. Xie Yuqing indeed escaped, and except for a few children, the rest of the Xie family died in the chaos.

But he was captured by Hou Jing!

However, Hou Jing did not kill him because he also expressed the same hatred for the aristocracy as Hou Jing, and he made Hou Jing believe him.

✿✿✿

People with a common enemy quickly become allies.

The first task Hou Jing gave him was to capture Xie Yuqing!

Of course, he went, trying to use messenger birds to track Xie Yuqing’s whereabouts. He finally found her surrounded by enemy troops in Guangling. Seeing her desperately fighting against a group of enemy soldiers, he was somewhat shocked. He had never seen such a resolute and determined side of her.

It was also at the moment he saw her that he realized the rest of the Xie family had already escaped. Currently, he could only take her back to claim credit, thereby eliminating Hou Jing’s suspicions.

Although he was now also a spy, a spy who wanted to help his uncle achieve his ambition.

He struggled and hesitated for a long time. He had also thought about bringing her alive to Hou Jing, but then she would know that he had betrayed her family. He did not want to leave a despicable and hypocritical impression in her heart.

Moreover, he could not bear to send his beloved to the enemy and watch her be humiliated.

So, he came up with a bold idea. He had heard that there was a kind of coffin in the Qi State that could preserve a dead person’s body from decay forever. If a sorcerer was then used to summon the soul, it could bring the person back to life.

If that were the case, he could make her no longer Xie Yuqing, the noblewoman of the Xie clan, but have her come to him with another identity.

Then, there would be no distinction of social status between them, and he could completely possess her.

After this thought arose, he stabbed her with that knife. Although he also felt pain, he believed this pain would not last long, and they would eventually meet again.

Moreover, the purple jade ring on her body, which was said to grant its wearer all kinds of power, was also a great temptation to him.

After killing her, he brought her to Hou Jing and told him that this woman had committed suicide rather than suffer humiliation.

Hou Jing believed him and agreed to leave the body to him as a memento.

Afterward, he placed her in an extremely cold ice cave. Then, he collaborated with Princess Liyang, who had become Hou Jing’s concubine, to set up an ambush, luring Hou Jing into a trap and then having his uncle lead troops into the city to kill this Sinicized Jie person who had thrown Liang into chaos.

After Hou Jing’s death, he took Princess Liyang to the Qi State and exchanged her for that coffin with Prince Bohai, Gao Cheng.

The past between Princess Liyang and that Prince Bohai was a secret he had inadvertently learned from this princess of a fallen state.

He had also worried about whether this princess of a fallen state held more weight in Gao Cheng’s heart than a coffin. The subsequent outcome naturally fulfilled his wish. Gao Cheng did not hesitate to exchange this priceless coffin for her and did not pursue him afterward.

After he brought the coffin back to Jiankang, he laid her inside. But by then, her body had completely frozen stiff, and it was even difficult to discern her original appearance.

He became somewhat afraid. Could he really bring her back to life?

Later, Western Wei troops captured Jiangling, and he was taken to Chang’an as a hostage. He stayed there for more than ten years until his elder brother Chen Qian ascended the throne and he returned to Jiankang.

But he never gave up looking for her. Even if her body could not wake up, would there be an afterlife?

As long as he found those who resembled her, there would always be one who was her, right?

So, any woman who bore even a slight resemblance to her, whether in appearance or temperament, was brought into his harem.

But he knew that none of these women were her. It was just that he himself was unwilling to admit it, unwilling to accept this reality!

Until he saw that painting and then met a young girl at the Eastern Palace banquet who looked nothing like her but had a very similar temperament. He vaguely felt that she must have returned!

Later, when he saw Xie Zhen at the pure conversation gathering on Mount Fahua, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

But he clearly saw disdain and coldness towards him in Xie Zhen’s eyes.

So, he became afraid again, afraid of recognition, afraid of losing her once more…

Later, when he learned that Xiao Jinyu was Xie Zhen, he became even more certain that this girl of unparalleled beauty was her reincarnation.

Greed arose in him again. He wanted to possess her and even sent Fan Yi to pursue her.

But in the end, he was still disappointed. It was he himself who personally promised her to Prince of Lanling, Gao Changgong. From then on, they were separated by a river, never to meet again!

As the emperor, his words were final and could not be retracted!

But he spent every day in regret, not knowing whether he regretted killing her or regretted sending her away himself!

Five years later, in order to suppress the aristocracy once more, he wanted to execute Xiao Xian in the imperial city, thereby eliminating the forces that supported Xiao Xian.

Unexpectedly, an envoy from the Qi State arrived and rushed into the execution ground without regard for anything, rescuing Xiao Xian from the imperial city and hurling insults at him in front of the Duan Gate!

That was the last time he saw “her.” Although it was only a side view or a back view, it struck him deep in his soul like a thunderbolt, making him feel unbearable pain once more.

Afterward, it seemed that the rumors of “hypocrite” constantly echoed in his ears. Coupled with the onset of his headaches, it tormented him even more.

Empress Liu Jingyan still served him medicine by his bedside, but she was no longer as gentle as before.

She even dared to boldly criticize him by his bedside, “Your Majesty, we cannot be people who go back on their word. If you really kill Xiao Xian, will the hearts of the people still be with you, Your Majesty?”

“Your Majesty is so unpopular and insists on taking action against the aristocracy again. In this way, our Chen State will lose Xiao Xian and will surely face its downfall one day!”

Taking advantage of his serious illness, Liu Jingyan allowed Xiao Xian and the envoy from the Qi State to leave. But afterward, his illness worsened, and sometimes he even experienced auditory hallucinations, hearing the ridicule and curses of the people, hearing her mocking laughter.

One day, he could no longer bear it and went to the coffin hidden in his underground secret chamber, wanting to see her again!

He once again summoned several sorcerers to perform a soul-summoning ritual for her.

Several times, he felt the wind whistling in his ears, as if she had come, but when he searched everywhere, he could not see a single person.

Finally, he asked the sorcerers to open the coffin, saying that he wanted to see her face again. But after the coffin was opened, he discovered that there was nothing inside, or rather, she had already turned to dust.

“So, Gao Cheng lied to me. This coffin cannot bring the dead back to life at all. He lied to me, he actually lied to me, hahaha…”

“Your Majesty, this lady’s heart is not here. No matter how you summon her soul, she will not return!”

“So, Your Majesty, it is not that we are incompetent, but that her heart has already departed!”

The sorcerers, fearing that the emperor would become enraged and have their entire families executed, all sought excuses to explain. After they finished explaining, they discovered that the emperor’s black hair had suddenly turned white, and blood was gushing from his mouth. He had collapsed on the coffin, motionless.

Several sorcerers panicked and ran to Empress Liu Jingyan to report, explaining the entire incident. Liu Jingyan did not punish them but only ordered someone to carry him, barely alive, back to his bedchamber and began to prepare for the Crown Prince’s ascension to the throne.

On the day the Crown Prince ascended the throne, Chen Xu finally breathed his last. It seemed he saw Xie Yuqing walking towards him, and he joyfully took her hand, walking towards a place he did not know…

This is truly the end. I am very, very grateful for the support of all my dear readers, Yanzhihu1, Zizhuha, Huohuohuo, Xiaomeng0304, Losing Weight in Dreams, and so on. Thank you all for accompanying me all the way to the end!