The Star Lord Chang Sheng of the Palace of Trials - Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Rumor has it that Shujing, coveting the beauty of Lord Lianyue, resorted to both soft and hard tactics. After successfully forcing a marriage, her scheme was seen through by Lord Lianyue, who then called off the engagement. Who would have guessed that Shujing would harbor a deep resentment, steal a weapon capable of slaying gods, and strike out against Lianyue in the mortal realm?
Lord Kongqi, tracking the stolen weapon, followed the trail all the way down to the mortal world. Seeing that a catastrophe was about to unfold, he immediately subdued Shujing. Although grazed by the weapon, Lord Kongqi possessed extraordinary cultivation—a rising star among the Qilin—so his injuries were of no great concern.
Thus far, this was the most bustling and widely circulated rumor in the Heavenly Palace. At the mere mention of Kongqi’s name, every celestial maiden’s eyes would turn into heart shapes, and the guards would express their boundless, cascading admiration, like the rushing waters of the Tianshan Mountains. Not a single soul stopped to wonder when exactly Kongqi had been assigned to handle stolen artifacts.
As for Shujing, under the crime of creating chaos in the mortal world, she was sentenced to undergo one lifetime of trials in the mortal realm, followed by three hundred years of solitary confinement at home to reflect upon her misdeeds. Consequently, Star Lord Changsheng’s vacation was canceled once again.
Fortunately, the gossip trend in the Heavenly Palace had shifted. When Star Lord Changsheng and his entourage returned overnight to the Ministry of Annals, hardly anyone paid attention—a blessing in disguise, you could say.
However, even upon returning to the Ministry of Annals, it was still impossible to let Jufang go down to deploy the trials. If she didn’t go, then Star Lord Changsheng would have to go himself.
***
Shujing’s mortal trial this time required her to experience both the trials of life-and-death and romantic heartbreak. Therefore, she was reincarnated as the daughter of a destitute commoner family. Orphaned by the age of ten, she was passed around among relatives, enduring a miserable childhood marked by hunger, inadequate clothing, and the cold, cynical remarks of living under someone else’s roof.
In this year, Shujing’s mortal vessel, Zhang Yuechan, turned sixteen. She made a meager living in the bustling market by selling the cloth she wove herself. Meanwhile, Star Lord Changsheng approached her under the guise of a wealthy young master named Liang Zhong.
In the bustling market, Liang Zhong took a single look at Zhang Yuechan’s cloth and bought the entire lot on the spot, uttering only a single line: ‘It’s lovely; I’ll take all of it.’
For the next eight months, every single time Zhang Yuechan came to sell cloth, Liang Zhong would buy it all up.
Watching this from the heavens, Jufang couldn’t help but complain: ‘You’re just acting like a total sucker! She’s never going to fall in love with you like this!’ Yet Star Lord Changsheng remained utterly convinced that he was leaving a fantastic impression in a young woman’s heart.
Clearly, Star Lord Changsheng was not a natural at flirting.
On this day, Liang Zhong was trotting happily toward the bustling market as usual when he was suddenly dragged into a back alley. The person who pulled him in was none other than Jufang.
Unable to watch any longer, Jufang scolded, ‘My good sir! If you keep going like this, even if you buy her cloth for eight whole years, Zhang Yuechan is never going to fall in love with you!’
Seeing that it was Jufang, Star Lord Changsheng replied rather unhappily, ‘I let you do whatever you wanted when you descended to the mortal realm! Why can’t you just sit still?’
Ignoring his protest, Jufang pressed on, ‘You need to prescribe the right medicine for the illness! If Zhang Yuechan were a gold-digger, she would have long since become a rich man’s mistress—do you really think it would be your turn to buy her cloth? You need to figure out what you have that can actually attract her!’
Thinking there was some sense to this, Star Lord Changsheng asked, ‘Then what do you suggest?’
Jufang smiled, reached out to stroke Star Lord Changsheng’s face, and said, ‘Look at this pretty face of yours! Lord Lianyue has a face like jade, with clear brows and bright eyes. Shujing fell for his scholarly, refined demeanor. If you don’t play into her preferences and instead act like some overbearing tycoon, how could you ever expect to succeed?’
Star Lord Changsheng laughed heartily. ‘You’re so superficial!’
Jufang retorted, ‘Just do as I say! I guarantee you’ll be able to return early and crack sunflower seeds with me!’
And so, Liang Zhong behaved differently on this day. Walking up to Zhang Yuechan’s stall, he picked up a bolt of cloth, examined it for a moment, and then asked, ‘Did you weave all of these yourself?’
Zhang Yuechan smiled politely and replied, ‘Yes, young master, I wove them all myself. Are you buying the whole lot today as well?’
Liang Zhong slowly reached out and took hold of Zhang Yuechan’s hand. Looking at the calluses on her fingertips caused by years of long weaving, he said slowly, ‘No matter how beautiful these fabrics are, they are not worth your hands turning out like this.’
Sighing toward the heavens, Liang Zhong continued, ‘To think that because I happen to love these fabrics, it has brought you such suffering. Liang shall burn all of these cloths right here and now! Ah, the falling blossoms have no intent, but the flowing waters are filled with passion…’
Though Star Lord Changsheng delivered his performance with a composed expression, internally he was dying of awkwardness. These nauseating lines gave him goosebumps all over; if this didn’t work, he swore he would skin Jufang alive.
True to form, Zhang Yuechan looked nervous and hurriedly said, ‘Young master, please don’t! Without these fabrics, Yuechan will have no income! Yuechan’s life is humble, and she can only earn these bitter labor wages—how could she ever compare to someone like you, young master?’
With eyes full of tenderness, Liang Zhong said, ‘Untainted by the mud from which she rises—surely that must be describing you, my lady!’
Zhang Yuechan’s eyes welled with tears, deeply moved.
This scene made Star Lord Changsheng feel like vomiting. Who would have thought that young maidens actually liked this routine? None of these random poems hit the point at all, yet somehow they could still move someone into a complete emotional mess? Surely Lord Lianyue’s literary talent amounted to more than just this!
Yet things were indeed progressing precisely as Jufang had predicted. Liang Zhong offered a bow, took his leave, and did not forget to sigh as he walked away. The moment he turned the corner into an alleyway, unable to hold back his nausea, Star Lord Changsheng actually vomited. Truly, it was tough being such a straightforward, unromantic fellow.
Star Lord Changsheng looked at the Matchmaker’s half-strand of red cord. Although it wasn’t glowing yet, its color indeed seemed less dim than before. As cringe-worthy as the tactic was, Zhang Yuechan had swallowed it hook, line, and sinker.
Having demonstrated literary flair, the next step was to highlight his pretty-boy charm.
This time, Jufang had put careful thought into the design. She gave Star Lord Changsheng strict, repeated warnings to follow every instruction to the letter without changing a single detail, or else the effect wouldn’t work.
She deliberately chose a sunny day and had Liang Zhong wear a pale cyan scholarly robe. Since Star Lord Changsheng usually wore pale cyan attire in the Heavenly Palace, he didn’t mind it at all.
About two blocks away from Zhang Yuechan’s stall, Jufang asked, ‘Are you ready?’
Star Lord Changsheng took a deep breath and answered, ‘Let’s do this!’
Jufang took a sip of tea and then spat it onto Star Lord Changsheng’s forehead and hair tips to simulate sweat. With that, Star Lord Changsheng hurried off toward Zhang Yuechan’s stall.
When Liang Zhong reached the stall, he was already (falsely) out of breath. Leaning against the table laden with bolts of cloth, Liang Zhong kept his head down and panted.
Seeing this, Zhang Yuechan asked, ‘Young master, are you alright?’
Still keeping his head down, Liang Zhong replied, ‘I’ve thought of a way!’
With that, he raised his head, locked eyes with Zhang Yuechan, flashed a row of clean, neat teeth, and beamed brightly: ‘I’ve figured out a way to possess these beautiful fabrics without hurting your fingers!’
The sunlight happened to catch the falling drops of simulated sweat (tea), refracting them into a tiny rainbow. In that exact instant, Zhang Yuechan suddenly understood the true meaning of a glance that could topple a city. Everything outside of Liang Zhong’s face began to blur as if out of focus, and his brilliant white teeth shone so brightly that she could hardly keep her eyes open.
Still smiling, Liang Zhong continued, ‘Might I trouble you to teach the weaving methods to the maids in my household?’
Captivated by his dazzling looks, Zhang Yuechan nodded unresistingly. Meanwhile, Jufang was concentrating hard, using magic to weave an aura of light and rainbows around Liang Zhong.
***
And so, Zhang Yuechan began visiting the Liang estate once a week to teach the household maids how to weave. Naturally, the Liang estate provided her with generous compensation. Following Jufang’s instructions, Liang Zhong would drop by whenever he had the chance, offering warm greetings and displaying his radiant smile.
On this day, Zhang Yuechan had come to the Liang estate for her lesson as usual, only to find Liang Zhong sitting in front of a loom, clumsily trying to weave.
Seeing him struggle, Zhang Yuechan walked over with a smile and kindly explained the technique.
Liang Zhong worked as he listened, asking from time to time, ‘Is it like this?’
Whenever he asked, he would tilt his head at a forty-five-degree angle and look up at the standing Zhang Yuechan. This made his naturally almond-shaped eyes appear even rounder and more innocent, much like a lost puppy, easily eliciting maternal instincts.
Of course, this angle was an undefeated posture carefully selected by Jufang after thoroughly reviewing Star Lord Changsheng’s face from every possible direction, all to maximize the lethal charm of his pretty-boy looks.
Jufang had instructed him: look into Zhang Yuechan’s eyes, keep your mind blank yet not vacant, remain still, but maintain a tension that felt as though it could explode at any second.
Such complex instructions were obviously beyond Star Lord Changsheng’s capability; managing three or four parts of it was already quite an achievement. If he could genuinely pull off something like that, he would have long since caused a riot among the celestial maidens—why else would the Ministry of Annals only have strict disciplinarians like Niyan?
As expected, the red cord showed no particular reaction.
‘How do we make Zhang Yuechan feel that you hold her in your heart?’
Back at their ‘Operation Base for Conquering Zhang Yuechan’—namely Liang Zhong’s study—Jufang muttered to herself in deep thought.
Star Lord Changsheng replied, ‘Can’t I just tell her directly?’
Jufang hurriedly shot back, ‘Of course not! Constantly talking about romance is something a playboy would do. Is Lord Lianyue a playboy?’
Star Lord Changsheng thought for a moment and said, ‘Lianyue is exceptionally talented. How about I paint a portrait of her? It would both hint at my romantic intentions and showcase my literary talent.’
Hearing this, Jufang replied, ‘You actually have to have talent for that! If you paint her looking like a turtle, you’ll only make things worse!’
Indignant, Star Lord Changsheng retorted, ‘Just how useless do you think I am?!’
Without another word, Star Lord Changsheng fetched a brush and ink, and with a few hasty strokes across the paper, he outlined Jufang’s profile. Although the composition was extremely simple—no more than five strokes—the spiritual essence was captured, the likeness was striking, and it was remarkably exquisite.
Seeing it, Jufang praised in amazement, ‘Not bad! A true talent of the Ministry of Annals!’
Star Lord Changsheng gave a cold snort and said, ‘It’s yours!’
And so, when Zhang Yuechan came to the Liang estate for her lesson that day, she happened to see Liang Zhong sketching in the gazebo. Approaching quietly, she realized Liang Zhong was actually drawing her, and she ran off with a blushing face.
Hearing her footsteps, Liang Zhong gave chase and called out, ‘My lady, please do not misunderstand! It’s just that your parting glance was so unforgettable, I simply wanted to try capturing that peerless beauty. I was just sketching for fun. If you don’t like me keeping it, I’ll give all my finished drawings to you?’
Blushing shyly, Zhang Yuechan said, ‘I’m not taking anything you give me!’
Seeing Zhang Yuechan turn and run, Liang Zhong took a swift step to block her path and said, ‘Not taking them is fine. Then, how about we go watch the lantern festival together next month?’
Seeing the red cord begin to emit a faint glow, Liang Zhong knew Zhang Yuechan was going to nod.
He thought that would be enough, but when he returned to the base, Jufang declared, ‘The bracelet is already glowing and you’re still waiting till next month? Go and win her over right now!’
Star Lord Changsheng argued, ‘Do you think you’re capturing monsters with a gourd? How am I supposed to just win her over?’
With a cheeky smile, Jufang said, ‘By stealing a kiss from her, of course! Haven’t you ever read romance picture-books?’
With a look of disdain, Star Lord Changsheng scoffed, ‘I would never read trash like that!’
Jufang insisted firmly, ‘Trust me! Every girl longs to be swept into the arms of the man she fancies and kissed without any escape!’
Feeling hard done by, Star Lord Changsheng protested, ‘You didn’t have to go through any of this when you descended to the mortal realm! Why do I have to sacrifice my looks?’
Jufang clicked her tongue and replied, ‘What’s wrong with a big man sacrificing his looks? Have you never kissed a girl before? Don’t be so indecisive and motherly!’
Her words reminded Star Lord Changsheng of the time he fed her his blood, and he thought to himself, ‘Didn’t I literally kiss you back then?’ Meanwhile, seeing Star Lord Changsheng deep in thought as if he really did have someone in mind, Jufang figured, ‘It looks like Kongqi wasn’t lying when he said Star Lord Changsheng has a girl he likes.’
Jufang advised, ‘Just pretend she’s the girl you like, close your eyes, and it’ll all be over in two seconds!’ This left Star Lord Changsheng feeling a subtle wave of anger, though he had no idea how to protest.
Since his tutor had spoken, however, he had no choice but to follow through; after all, everything Jufang had said so far had proven fairly reliable.
And so, on this day, after finishing her lesson and tidying up her tools, Zhang Yuechan was approached as Liang Zhong (falsely) happened to walk by.
According to Jufang’s plan, she would use magic to cause an antique vase on the shelf to slide, manufacturing an opportunity for Liang Zhong to play the hero saving the damsel in distress. Sure enough, an antique vase on the shelf began to move.
‘Couldn’t that girl have picked something lighter? What kind of person tries to kill someone with a heavy vase?’ Star Lord Changsheng thought to himself.
Timing his move, Liang Zhong cried out, ‘Careful!’ and made a swift dash forward. With one hand, he swatted away the falling vase, while his other arm swept around Zhang Yuechan’s waist, catching her securely in his embrace.
Clatter. The vase smashed onto the ground, shattering into pieces.
Yet Zhang Yuechan lay safely nestled within Liang Zhong’s single arm, without even swaying an inch.
Hiding in the shadows to watch, Jufang was equally surprised. Star Lord Changsheng looked as thin as a chopstick, yet he actually possessed quite a bit of strength, catching Zhang Yuechan so smoothly that she didn’t wobble at all.
Of course, if it had been Niyan, he probably could have caught five Zhang Yuechans without breaking a sweat—though Jufang wouldn’t have been surprised if Niyan looked like he could lift mountains and overturn the Ministry of Annals with one hand.
They say there is a particular kind of charm known as gap moe (contrast charm). When you see a domineering CEO gently feeding you medicine, when you see a frail bookworm stepping up to beat up thugs for you, or when you see a rough-around-the-edges tough guy patiently playing house with a little girl, that kind of feeling naturally wells up inside us.
Seeing the slender Liang Zhong catch her so steadily, Zhang Yuechan fully experienced the sense of security a man could provide, as well as the feeling of being protected as a woman. Suddenly, her head felt a little dizzy with emotion.
Going along with the atmosphere, Liang Zhong slowly leaned in toward Zhang Yuechan’s lips.
‘It’s just a kiss! It’s not like I’m pledging my life to her! No backing down!’ Star Lord Changsheng cheered himself on internally.
Caught up in the atmosphere, Zhang Yuechan felt her legs turn to jelly. Just like in every romance drama across the world, she was entirely powerless to resist what was unfolding before her. The kiss should have been a complete success, winning her heart, after which they could finally move on to the angst-filled plot points.
Liang Zhong’s eyes locked onto Zhang Yuechan’s red lips, yet his expression looked as grim and resolute as a frontline soldier heading off to sacrifice his life, completely devoid of any tenderness. While Zhang Yuechan, caught up in the moment, couldn’t tell, Jufang—watching the show from the sidelines—was almost laughing out loud.
‘Are you trying to kiss her or eat her?’ Jufang muttered mentally.
The distance between their lips was now less than four fingers’ width. Remembering how his head had been tilted sideways when feeding her blood earlier, and realizing that a straight-on approach might lead to their noses colliding, Star Lord Changsheng tilted his head slightly.
What was meant to be a farce suddenly shifted in atmosphere because of that slight tilt.
Jufang remembered that day in the woodshed when Star Lord Changsheng had suddenly leaned in close. ‘Back then… was he trying to kiss me?’ she wondered.
As for Star Lord Changsheng, his thoughts drifted back to that feeding-blood incident. At the time, the situation had been too critical for him to overthink anything, but afterward, he had replayed it in his mind endlessly. With that thought, the fellow actually grew bashful, lowered his chin, and turned his head away with a blushing face.
Though they hadn’t actually kissed, that shy, evasive expression was unmistakably the shyness and awkwardness of someone in love. That exact expression struck straight into Zhang Yuechan’s maiden heart, and the red cord lit up with dazzling brilliance.
Meanwhile, at the very moment he tilted his head, Jufang suddenly felt an urge to jump out and stop them. She couldn’t quite explain why—perhaps it was because Star Lord Changsheng hadn’t actually kissed her back then in the woodshed, and she didn’t want to lose!
Seeing that he ultimately hadn’t kissed her either, Jufang smiled to herself, thinking, ‘How could he possibly actually kiss her? He’d never kiss anyone! Such a massive iceberg—whoever he kisses is bound to get frostbite!’—selectively forgetting that Kongqi had once mentioned the existence of a woman for whom Star Lord Changsheng would gladly risk his life.
