Quick Wear: Cousin, Come to the Bowl Quickly

"If I find someone to share my bed with, I will give her the best of everything in the world, and I will never have any jealousy."

As a child, Wang Zhuo nestled in his mother's arms, making beautiful wishes in a daze. Years later, Wang Zhuo picked up a pen and tremblingly signed his name on the divorce papers.

Soon after, Lin Xi was carefully lifted onto the carriage of the Duke of Anguo's mansion and left Kuaiji, leaving behind the place that had witnessed her brief marriage and tragic nightmares.

The prefectural governor's mansion fell into a deathly silence. Wang Zhuo remained in his quiet room, his cigarette relit and the chanting of scriptures continuing. But behind the smoke, his eyes were blank and desolate.

He recalled that many years ago, when he nestled in his mother's arms reading the poem about jealousy, he did not understand its meaning. Now he understood it, but only after such an absurd ending.

The phrase "Alas, we shared the same bed, yet our ambitions were not aligned" was like a cold prophecy, piercing straight into his brow through the long passage of time...

……

The last time I saw Lin Xi was at the coming-of-age ceremony of the Duke of Anguo's heir.

At that time, the old Duke of Anguo, He Tongguang, had already passed on his title to his eldest son, He Lanting, and he and his wife, Xie Lingyi, went to enjoy their retirement in the mountains and rivers.

Several years have passed, and the newly appointed Duke of Anguo, Helan Ting, has inherited his father's ambition and become the most powerful figure in the court. Moreover, thanks to his teacher-student relationship with the current emperor, he has become the most illustrious and favored figure in Jiankang City.

But none of these things mattered to Wang Zhuo. What mattered most was that He Lanting, the Duke of Anguo, was Lin Xi's husband.

Everyone said that Duke Anguo and his wife were a perfect match, and deeply in love. Duke Anguo was known for loving his wife dearly and never had another woman by his side for many years.

Amidst the adorning flowers, it seems no one remembers that this favored Lady Anguo once had a marriage that ended in a disgrace.

Faced with absolute power and perfect happiness, no one mentioned her status as a second husband. As for her ex-husband, Wang Liulang, who had long since faded into obscurity, he was like a speck of dust thrown into a deep pool, unable to stir even the slightest ripple.

At that time, Wang Zhuo had already been dismissed from his post because of the Kuaiji incident. If it weren't for his uncle pleading for him before the emperor and guaranteeing the Wang family's long-standing reputation, he would probably have lost his life.

Although he was ultimately spared the death penalty, he was never allowed to pursue an official career. He lived a secluded life in his mansion, rarely venturing out and almost never seeing outsiders again.

He thus became increasingly engrossed in alchemy, and after more than twenty years, though he was not yet forty, he was already emaciated, with gray hair and cloudy eyes, looking like an old man.

When the heir of the Duke of Anguo came of age, all the prominent families in Jiankang were invited.

Although the Wang family is no longer as prosperous as it once was, its foundation remains, and it naturally received an invitation. Because of the awkward marriage between him and Lin Xi last year, the Wang family originally only planned to prepare a generous gift and send it to them.

But when the gold-embossed invitation was handed to him, Wang Zhuo, who always kept to himself and rarely concerned himself with outside affairs, inexplicably appeared in the study of his third cousin, who was in charge of the family.

Naturally, he did not go as "Wang Liulang".

In fact, even if he introduced himself, probably no one would be able to connect the thin, pale, and timid old man in front of them with the youngest son of the Wang family who, although plain-looking, still had a certain quiet and scholarly air.

He disguised himself as an inconspicuous old servant by his third brother's side, mingling in the outermost corner of the congratulatory guests, craning his neck to look over the throng of heads towards the joyous main hall.

His gaze swept over the spirited, upright young prince in the hall and landed on the main seat.

Sitting side by side there were Duke Anguo Helanting and his wife Lin Xi.

Nearly twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. The young girl of yesteryear has long since shed her naivety and blossomed into a graceful and dignified noblewoman.

Time seemed to have been exceptionally kind to her; apart from a few fine lines around her eyes that were only noticeable when she smiled, her face and figure were almost identical to when she left Kuaiji.

No, it's still different, Wang Zhuo thought blankly.

On the day she left Kuaiji, her face was pale, her eyes were empty, and she looked like an orchid that had lost its moisture and was about to wither completely.

The woman before me had radiant skin, bright eyes, and a gentle smile on her lips. Every gesture and movement exuded a sense of composure and tranquility nurtured by a carefully nurtured, peaceful, and joyful life.

She was tilting her head slightly, listening to Helan Ting whisper something beside her.

He Lanting, standing beside her, was tall and handsome. Although he held a high position and was no longer young, he possessed a refined and elegant demeanor. When his gaze fell on his wife, it was filled with undisguised tenderness.

Seeing that Lin Xi was listening intently, he slightly curved his lips, and very naturally reached out and gently placed his hand on the back of her hand, which was resting on her knee, and stroked it soothingly.

Lin Xi looked up at him, her smile deepening. She reached out and intertwined her fingers with his, then quickly let go, her face slightly flushed, and went to pick up the teacup in front of her.

Helan Ting immediately noticed her movements, reached out and picked up the teacup first, tested the temperature, and then handed it back to her, whispering something, which seemed to be "Be careful, it's hot."

The coming-of-age ceremony was completed, and guests came forward to offer their congratulations. Lin Xi and her companion also stood up.

Prince He Yuanjun walked to his parents with a smile and naturally took his mother's other arm.

Lin Xi looked up at her son, who was more than a head taller than her, her eyes filled with pride and love. She raised her hand to straighten the newly added jade hairpin in his hair and whispered some instructions. He Yuanjun nodded with a smile, his posture natural and affectionate.

He Lanting stood aside without saying a word, only smiling as he watched his wife and children with gentle eyes. The scene was as harmonious as a carefully painted family portrait.

Upon seeing this, the surrounding guests immediately uttered exclamations of admiration and envy.

"The Crown Prince possesses the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix; he will surely become a pillar of the nation in the future!"

"The Duke and his wife are truly admirable for their excellent parenting skills."

"Look at this happy and harmonious family, they are truly a match made in heaven, blessed with good fortune..."

Wang Zhuo stood frozen in the shadows of the crowd, looking at the scene inside the hall. He felt a dull, persistent pain rising in his chest, a pain he had thought had long since faded away.

Perhaps it was because his gaze was too direct, but Lin Xi, who was smiling and talking with the Duke of Anguo and his son, seemed to sense something and looked in Wang Zhuo's direction.

Wang Zhuo's heart skipped a beat, as if it had been burned by fire. He hurriedly lowered his head and quickly shrank back, hiding his figure in the crowd.

From ahead came the cheerful invitation from Duke Anguo to move the guests to the banquet hall.

Wang Zhuo glanced through the crowd one last time and saw He Lanting supporting his wife, while the heir apparent He Yuanjun followed half a step behind his parents. The family of three walked towards the more lively banquet hall amidst the crowd's cheers and blessings.

He withdrew his gaze, and against the cheerful flow of people, awkwardly squeezed out of the gate of the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

Three days after He Yuanjun, the heir apparent of the Duke of Anguo, underwent his coming-of-age ceremony, a notice of death was issued from the Wang family of Langya, saying that Wang Zhuo, the sixth son of the family who was once known for his calligraphy but later became obsessed with Taoist alchemy, had passed away peacefully while meditating at home.

When the news spread, most people in Jiankang, whether they knew each other or not, were slightly taken aback. They would utter a casual remark, and then nothing more, like a small pebble thrown into a calm lake, without even causing a decent ripple...

(Finish)