Waiting for you online - - - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Song Zi Heng formed a core when he was 10 years old. When he went travelling since 12 years old, he subdued an evil mountain spirit that harms people all by himself. Since then, he became famous as a young man. Virtuous and handsome, he has always been a model for comparison among his peers.

Soon after, the once-every-4-years Jiaolong assembly is about to begin. It is a competition held especially for talented young people. It is a tradition in the cultivation world for hundreds and thousands of years. Only young children aged 12 to 18 are allowed to participate. Anyone who left their names on the way to immortal Dao were almost in the limelight since young.

Song Zi Heng has always been preparing for this upcoming Jiaolong assembly because Emperor Ninghua had high hopes for him and ordered him to take first place in Jiaolong assembly. He trains diligently every day, not giving up day and night. He knew that the Emperor didn’t care about him and his mother before, and only got his attention after he displayed his talent. Even if it’s for his mother, he didn’t dare to disappoint her.

In fact, it is solitary and uninteresting to ask Dao and cultivate. As the eldest son, Song Zi Heng dare not to goof off and be lazy. But what he really yearns for is neither ascend after getting Dao nor have royal ambitions. He loves flowers, birds, mountains and rivers. He loves instruments, chess, books and paintings. He loves delicious food. There are so many interesting things in this world, and he wants to be more knowledgable. It is probably more meaningful than blindly pursuing cultivation and swordsmanship.

It’s a pity this kind of thought cannot be said, otherwise even his mother will reprimand him for being ignorant.

This afternoon, the Golden Crow (the sun) starts to set and it’s not too sunny. Song Zi Heng remembered that there had been lots of snails growing in his orchid garden recently and gnawed his flowers in a mess, so he led Song Zi Xiao to catch snails and weed.

His orchid garden is built in a secluded area in the palace. The insides were planted with hundreds of species of orchids and other plants he’d collected over the years. During the season of flower blossom, all the beautiful flowers became scenery in the palace. Although there are servants taking care in the usual days, yet Song Zi Heng loves to do it himself. This is his hobby outside of cultivation.

While Song Zi Heng was squatting down and catching snails on the ground, Song Zi Xiao was running around in the flowering shrubs barefooted. He occasionally kept an eye, terrified: “Xiao Jiu, be careful, be sure not to step on my flowers.”

“I won’t.”

“You should stop running, quickly come here.”

Song Zi Xiao smiled cunningly, suddenly tripped his foot, and his whole body fell forward.

“Ah—”

Song Zi Xiao supported himself with one hand, and his body flipped up, somersaulted in the air once, steadily landed outside of the flower bed and laughed heartily.

Song Zi Heng said angrily: “You dare to trick your big brother? Is your skin itchy?”

“Song Zi Xiao opened his small hand: “Aren’t I helping you to catch snails. So I throw it back?”

“Throw it into the bucket.”

Song Zi Xiao bounced and ran to Song Zi Heng, his whole body pressing against Song Zi Heng’s back: “Big brother, why are you always managing these flowers.”

“Aren’t flowers beautiful?”

“Beautiful.”

Song Zi Heng handed him a shovel: “Come, get to work.”

Song Zi Xiao squatted one side, mimicking his brother and got to work. Originally, he felt hot and dry from sun exposure. Now he’s actually slowly cooling down.

Song Zi Heng turned his head and looked at him, revealing a very attractive smile: “Xiao Jiu, Confucius said, orchids have the virtues of a gentleman, the fragrance of kings, big brother loves orchids the most, do you like orchids?”

Song Zi Xiao nodded his head: “I will like whatever big brother likes.”

“This orchid garden has 171 types of orchid. Jiangnan is the orchid’s hometown. year, big brother plans to go to Jiangnan to collect even more orchid species.”

“When I can go out of palace, I will accompany big brother to travel around Jiuzhou, bring all types of orchid in the world and plant them in this orchid garden.”

“Really? ” Song Zi Heng smiled and said, “You didn’t say these nice things to pacify me just for food right?” He took a clean handkerchief and wiped Song Zi Xiao’s sweat.

“Of course it’s real.” Song Zi Xiao’s eyes sparkled like shooting stars, “You always said gentleman like an orchid. Big brother is a gentleman. Big brother is exactly like an orchid.”

Song Zi Heng said dotingly: “What do you want to eat tonight?”

“I want to eat braised pork!”

While Song Zi Xiao was ordering food with mutters, he heard footsteps and conversation coming closer just outside the wall. The two are cultivators, so they have sharp ears and keen eyes. If they concentrate on hearing, they can listen very far away. When they vaguely catch the words “Consort Shen” in the conversation, they paused.

“When empress said those words today, did you notice Consort Shen’s expression?”

“Aiya, I saw it, if it’s not because everyone thought highly of Your Highness, how would she dare to show a black face in public?”

“Yeah, Consort Shen has changed, she’s just an orphan with no one to depend on. That year she almost made that hot-tempered empress regret getting married, now she’s depending on her son’s rank*.”

“If Your Highness gets the first prize in Jiaolong assembly, that would be even significant. Sigh, it’s a pity that Second Highness is not as good as Your Highness.”

Song Zi Heng’s expression became unsightly. Before he flares up, Song Zi Xiao already leapt over the wall. The two girl servants were surprised.

Song Zi Heng rushed out and the two servants already knelt down on the ground begging for mercy: “Your Highness, 9th Highness, servant is wrong, servant is wrong.”

Song Zi Xiao flicked his robe sleeve high up in the air and flung those two servants on the ground: “Loquacious slaves, do you still want your tongue?!” The voice young and tender yet filled with intimidation.

“Your Highness have mercy, 9th Highness have mercy.”

Song Zi Heng was burning with anger: “As servants, still dare to have absurd opinions behind your master’s back. Do you know this is a serious crime?”

“Your Highness have mercy ah, servant is wrong, please punish us lightly.”

Song Zi Xiao raised his head and looked at Song Zi Heng: “Big brother, I’ll slit their tongues.”

Song Zi Heng saw those two who were just slightly over 10 years old, so terrified that they were curled up into a ball, and his temper has cooled off halfway. He took a deep breath: “I punish you…kneel here for one night. If you commit again, I will not tolerate it.”

“Thank you, Your Highness, thank you for showing mercy!”

Song Zi Xiao frowned and said: “Big brother, just let them go like this?”

Song Zi Heng pulled Song Zi Xiao’s hand: “Let’s go.” He lowered his head and saw Song Zi Xiao barefooted, so he carried him, returned to the orchid garden and let Song Zi Xiao sit on his thighs while silently putting on the child’s shoes.

Song Zi Xiao’s lips pursed into a line and suddenly wrapped his arms around Song Zi Heng’s neck, the two of them so close together that he seemed to be able to experience a quiet sadness through the tremor of his big brother’s suppressed breathing connecting his chest. After putting on his shoes, Song Zi Heng stood up, looking as normal: “Let’s go.” 　　 Shen Shiyao was taken in by the previous emperor since her family fortunes declined, and because of her superior talent, she became Song clan’s enrolled disciple, considered as Song Ming He’s senior sister. But in their teens, the two of them had a secret knot*. At that time, Song Ming He’s fiancée had not even passed through the door*, and that matter embarrassed the two families, so they had to take her as a concubine. After giving birth to their eldest son, both mother and son were treated coldly. 　　 Song Zi Heng was not unaware of their status and situation in the palace, but as he grew older and came to prominence, after he had formed a core, the emperor thought more highly of him. He did not expect that after all these years, these palace people would still be unforgiving behind his back. If these words reached his mother’s ears, how hard it would be for her.

“Big brother.” Song Zi Xiao whispered, “Don’t be sad, when you win the championship in the Jiaolong assembly, see who still dares to disrespect Consort Shen.” 　　 Song Zi Heng sighed, “Zi Xiao, you are still young, you don’t understand, the most powerful method in this world cannot block the mouth of others.” 　　 “If you are a dragon, why do you need to care about the ants.” 　　 Song Zi Heng lowered his head, looked at Song Zi Xiao and smiled faintly. Song Zi Xiao’s mother’s beauty was comparable with heavenly immortals and was highly favoured, and he himself was born with superior roots, so he had never suffered a single aggravation since he was a child. Such an unworn pride is truly enviable. 　　 Song Zi Xiao said seriously, “Big brother, don’t be unhappy, when I grow up, all the people and things that make you unhappy, I will make them all disappear.” 　　 Song Zi Heng rubbed Song Zi Xiao’s fleshy little round face to the point of deformation: “If you skip lesser classes, slack off less, and eat more green vegetables, big brother will be happy.” 　　 “Then I’m not happy!”

“You dare to justify?” 　　 The two brothers laughed and joked, washing away the gloomy atmosphere. 　　 —-

As everyone expected, Song Zi Xiao formed a golden core shortly after his ninth birthday, six months earlier than Song Zi Heng.

If the age of fifteen is the proletariat’s coming age of ceremony, then the attainment of the golden core is a sign that a person has officially entered the path of immortality. As long as one forms a core before reaching adulthood, it represents superior qualifications and unremitting efforts, not to mention that the Song family has produced two geniuses in one generation. Emperor Ninghua announced this happy news to the world and even hosted a banquet for the occasion. Whether as a father or as a king, this is an extremely proud moment.

During the banquet, everyone was overflowing with joy, but only the empress looked dull and absent-minded. She comes from a wealthy family, even the Song’s have to be courteous. It’s a pity that her son’s roots cannot be said to be bad, but compared to the elder brother and the youngest brother, it is not good enough.

Shen Shi Yao took Song Zi Heng’s hand, smiled and said in a whisper, “It’s good that my son is striving, otherwise it would be hard to sit in that seat and watch other people’s sons being better than my own.”

Song Zi Heng secretly smiled bitterly. The bright and dark contest between the concubines had always made him feel helpless. In fact, he and his siblings have good connections, even the second brother. The two are the same age and grew up together. There is never any bad blood between each other. In the future, when second brother inherited the throne, he and his siblings will support with all their hearts to build the Song’s hundred-year foundation. So whether it’s the empress or the mother, there’s really no point in comparing.

But Song Zi Heng is also not good at sweeping his mother’s face, so he remained silent.

“Zi Heng, the Jiaolong assembly, you must win the championship.” Shen Shiyao held her son’s hand tightly, “Although Zi Xiao is still young, one day, he may also overshadow you.”

Song Zi Heng said warmly, “Mother, your son will definitely give his best in the Jiaolong assembly, but Zi Xiao and I… The sun and the moon will each become brilliant, there is no one to overshadow anyone.”

“How can the sun and the moon be compared to each other.” Shen Shi Yao glared with her pair of almond eyes, her voice was still her usual soft, but the tone had changed, “The sun and the moon cannot be in the same sky.”

Song Zi Heng did not expect that a casual analogy would be interpreted by his mother in this way, he frowned and said, “Mother, Zi Xiao and I are brothers, there is no need to compare us like this.”

Shen Shi Yao gazed at her son for a long time, let go of his hand and said faintly, “You are still too young.”

After the banquet ended, the guests gradually dispersed, and only the Song clan’s people remained in the main hall.

Emperor Ninghua Song Ming He beckoned Song Zi Xiao to his side and looked at his young son with eyes full of pride and doting: “Xiao Er, today is the celebration of your core formation, father is proud of you, if you have anything you want, just ask.”

“I want a good sword.” Song Zi Xiao’s attitude was natural and at ease, obviously, his request most likely could be satisfied.

“Haha, I have long been prepared for you, this sword is…”

“I want a sword quenched by Shen Nong Ding.”

The hall was suddenly quiet.

Song Zi Xiao’s mother, Consort Chu Ying Ruo, scolded, “Zi Xiao, don’t talk nonsense.”

One of the four ancient magic weapons, the Shen Nong Ding, can refine all things in the world. The swords that this Ding quenches, are rare and famous. It is a treasure that every sword cultivator could only dream of, just that opening a furnace once requires great consumption of energy, at least hundreds of high-ranking cultivators are needed to sustain the fire with spiritual power at the same time,. A little mistake midway will lead to abandoning all previous effort. So this Ding may not be opened once in a few decades, even the Song clan, will only open the furnace for the family.

Song Zi Xiao was young and only wanted a good sword that everyone wanted, so he didn’t know what waves his words would stir up in the hearts of the adults.

Song Ming He stroked Song Zi Xiao’s head: “Does Xiao Er know that the sword quenched by Shen Nong Ding is not something that ordinary people can obtain?”

“I’m not an ordinary person.”

Song Ming He laughed out loud, “My son naturally is not an ordinary person. Good, I promise to quench a sword for you with Shen Nong Ding.”

Several suppressed huffing sounds rang out in the hall.

“But…” Song Ming He tapped his finger on Song Zi Xiao’s forehead, “you have to win the championship at the Jiaolong assembly.”

“That will take another four years.” Song Zi Xiao pouted.

“Four years? You want to win the championship at the age of thirteen?” Zong Minghe laughed, “So confident.”

“Just four years.” Zong Zi Xiao said arrogantly.

Song Zi Heng looked at Song Zi Xiao’s confident look, his face subconsciously revealed a smile, whether this is big words or not, at least these four years Song Zi Xiao will strive to be work hard.

“Good, I will wait for you for four years.”

“By the way, Father, I have one more thing.”

“Speak.”

“I have never been out of the palace before, big brother promised me last time that he could take me on a trip out of the palace when I have formed a core, as long as Father agrees.”

Song Ming He gave Song Zi Heng a look, “Really, where is your big brother going to take you to have fun?”

Song Zi Heng said, “I can take ninth brother to exorcise evil so that he can gain experience.”

“Also good, you can take him out, just in time to go with you to the Jiaolong assembly.”

“Yes.”

ask Dao and cultivate* — [问道修仙] ask the way (to walk the right path) and cultivate [the true definition is really complex, so I just simplify it into few words xDD]

depending on her son’s rank* [母凭子贵] —idk how to really translate this, basically, it means…In the past, in a family with multiple wives and concubines, if a concubine (regardless of ranking) gives birth to a son first, her position in the family will be higher, or if her son became a government official, her position will also become prominent.

secret knot* [珠胎暗结] —a human embryo was formed in the woman’s body.; a woman conceives, having had illicit intimacy with a man.; be pregnant; become pregnant out of wedlock

passed through the door* [过门] —meaning she hasn’t officially married yet