Chapter 3.1 - This is Not Her World (1/2)

So she stared at the charcoal fire in the stove suddenly brighten and suddenly darken, and sleepiness came slowly.

However, Li Jingnan in the quilt was very restless. He saw that Hua Qingxue hadn’t slept yet. He pushed her with his elbow, “Hey, tell me a story.”

Hua Qingxue curled her lips, “Where can I find so many stories to tell…”

A few days ago, Li Jingnan had a nightmare in the middle of the night. After waking up, he wouldn’t dare go back to sleep. Hua Qingxue kindly told him a story to coax him to sleep. Unexpectedly, he kept thinking about it.

“Talk, talk, talk about anything.”

Through the weak and dim light, Hua Qingxue saw Li Jingnan’s jet-black pupils brightly shining, and her heart slowly softened.

“…Fine, I’ll tell you one.” Hua Qingxue pondered and said slowly, “But, today we won’t tell a story. Anyway, you are also a prince. Let me tell you about Parkinson’s law.”

Li Jingnan blinked and laid next to Hua Qingxue, exceptionally well-behaved.

While Hua Qingxue recalled the knowledge in her mind, she said continuously: “Parkinson’s law, also known as officialdom disease or organization paralysis disease, Parkinson’s law talks about such a phenomenon…Once incompetent people occupy leadership positions, complex institutions and excessive staff will be inevitable. The phenomenon of mediocre people occupying high positions will also be inevitable. The whole institutional system will form malignant expansion…Falling into a quagmire that is hard to be freed from…” (1)

The night gradually got darker, and in the warm and simple hut, only the woman murmured slowly and softly…

……

That night, Hua Qingxue had a bizarre dream.

She dreamed of Li Jingnan.

Different from the usual arrogance in front of her, Li Jingnan in the dream looked weak and helpless. He kneeled on the ground, his upper body bent over in front of a large bed, and he lowered his head and sobbed incessantly.

Hua Qingxue went over to comfort him, but when she shouted several times, Li Jingnan, in her dream, didn’t seem to hear her voice at all.

Li Jingnan cried and said: “Imperial Father, this son will listen to your words. I will study hard and never make Grand Tutor angry again…Imperial Father, you will definitely get better…” (2)

Only then, Hua Qingxue saw that there was a person who was lying on the bed——

It was a very haggard looking middle-aged man. Although he was haggard, his clothes and looks were very refined. Even the beard on his chin was groomed very elegantly.

Since Li Jingnan called him Imperial Father, then, was he the emperor of Daqi?

Hua Qingxue looked at him curiously.

The emperor seemed to be very ill and weak. Still his expression was very calm, and his speech was naturally dignified.

“…I have been guarding Daqi for 14 years. The Liao people in the north are closing in on us step by step. The barbarians in the west are eyeing us covetously. (3) The Japanese pirates in the east are also revolting. I am very tired…However, I am not resigned, ah!…Mozhou has already been lost. The Panlong mountain is on the edge of Mozhou. If the Liao people find that weapon! I think that!…Ke, ke! Ke, ke, ke, ke!…” (4)

“Imperial Father, Imperial Father!” Li Jingnan’s face was flustered. He reached out his small hand to lightly stroke the emperor’s chest.

The emperor’s cough slowly subsided.

“Imperial Father doesn’t need to worry. This son will go and find the weapon. I will never let the Liao people find the weapon!”

When the emperor heard the words, he actually smiled miserably.

“My son is filial, I’m gratified. But it’s not easy. It’s just that once it gets out, I’ll be a laughing stock. I am not afraid of being a laughingstock, but I am afraid to be a sinner of my people. My son, Jingnan, please remember my words- Panlong mountain contains the national weapon. If you can’t get it, you must destroy it! Never let this weapon fall into the hands of the Liao people!”

“Yes, this son will carefully obey the order!…”

Then, the weak emperor said something off and on again, and Li Jingnan nodded with tears.

Hua Qingxue looked at the scene and felt very uncomfortable. She knew that the emperor was explaining his last words. Xiao Jingnan also must know that in his heart…

As soon as the emperor on the bed finished speaking, his momentum weakened a lot, and his eyelids sank slowly.

Li Jingnan was still crying beside the bed. The sad and grave atmosphere was all around her. Hua Qingxue’s mood also became heavy.

But suddenly! The emperor’s eyes opened quickly!

He looked straight at Hua Qingxue; the light of his eyes shot at her! His pupils subsequently enlarged!

Hua Qingxue was scared by the emperor! She only thought that the pair of eyes was going to see through her! In her heart, she was extremely shocked!

Crash! —

Hua Qingxue opened her eyes. She saw the dim dawn coming from the crack of the window. She relaxed and sat up slowly.

Li Jingnan, who was beside her, was sleeping soundly. Hua Qingxue didn’t want to wake him up. She thinks it’s crucial for a child of his age to sleep so they can grow tall and develop the brain.

Hua Qingxue got up and poked the fire in the stove until it was roaring. She went further inside to add charcoal. She then took the clothes in the wooden basin and quietly went out.

Last night, it was snowing for half the night. Now there was a thick layer of snow in the yard, reflecting the morning sun. It was dazzling.

Hua Qingxue’s mood had been relaxed a lot because of the beautiful weather. The weather was excellent, and the clothes could also be dried faster.

Her red and swollen hands have already cracked with several gashes, itching badly. It was excruciating when touched.

Hua Qingxue has no time to think about it. As she was drying the clothes, she thought about her experiences during this period.

Eid Mubarak and also have a wonderful day. Happy reading ~