Dreaming

Prince Zhou's Mansion ultimately did not issue an order for Martyrdom Sacrifice today. When the Princess Consort emerged with Nanny Qin supporting her, Madam Shi and the others had already changed clothes and knelt on the ground weeping.

She paused before saying, "You all heard the argument inside just now. Wait until the Heir submits a memorial and asks the Emperor to approve it before making a decision. For these next few days, mourn properly before the coffin. Do not let your thoughts run wild, and even less so take your own lives for Martyrdom Sacrifice."

Half-crouching, she looked straight into their eyes. "I know you fear waiting for death. I have waited all these years, and I am afraid too. But you six are now bound as one. You may not fear dying yourselves, but do not, at the very end, bear the burden of another's life as well."

Madam Shi trembled and hurriedly said, "Rest assured, Princess Consort. We will certainly not take our own lives for Martyrdom Sacrifice."

At a time like this, if even one person killed herself to be buried with the dead, the others would be forced to follow. They would live together or die together.

Indeed, under such crushing pressure, some were close to breaking. They thought that death would come sooner or later, so they might as well die early and be free, rather than live each day in fear and trepidation.

But though they might be willing to die themselves, they did not wish to bear responsibility for someone else's life.

They would have harmed a life for nothing. What if, in the next life, they were once again concubines of the imperial family, with life and death beyond their control? How miserable would that be?

Prince Zhou stood at the Princess Consort's side at that moment. Hearing this, he sighed. The liveliness around him vanished, and he seemed gloomy and ghostly.

He drifted back to Pan Yun's side. "This system damages both virtue and people's hearts. I wonder when it will finally be abolished."

Wasn't this all the sin your ancestors had wrought?

Pan Yun said nothing.

Prince Zhou felt terrible too, so he wanted to say it aloud. He did not necessarily need a response.

Prince Zhou's mourning shed had already been erected. Zhu Zijin kept vigil with Zhu Tongqie, while Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zifang silently remained with them. When night fell, the two persuaded Zhu Zijin to send Zhu Tongqie back. "He is still young and should not keep vigil all night. His health must come first."

After declining twice, Zhu Zijin had Madam Gu carry Zhu Tongqie back to rest.

As Zhu Tongqie was carried out of the mourning hall, he saw Pan Yun standing at the doorway and pointed to the empty space beside her. "Grandpa, Grandpa..."

Madam Gu wiped away tears as she coaxed him. "Grandpa is asleep. Our Qie'er must be good..."

Zhu Tongqie tilted his head at the grandpa standing beside his sister and thought his mother was lying. Grandpa was clearly standing right there. When Grandpa looked over, he happily waved.

Prince Zhou was astonished once more. "He can see me? Does my grandson possess extraordinary talent for cultivating the Dao?"

Pan Yun was unsurprised. "Children's eyes are clean. Their Heavenly Eyes have not completely closed, so they can see some things."

After a pause, she added, "But this child truly does have some talent. Why not give him to Sanqing Temple?"

Prince Zhou hesitated before shaking his head. He could not bear to.

Zhu Zijin now had only one son. If the Daoists took him away, what would become of Prince Zhou's Mansion in the future?

His eyes rolled as he said, "We can visit each other often. He can become a lay disciple first. When he is older, if he still has this talent and achieves something in Dao cultivation, Sanqing Temple can accept him then. It will not be too late."

He now completely believed in Sanqing Temple's abilities. There were so many swindlers in the world, and it was difficult to find someone with genuine skill. This time, he had luckily encountered one, so naturally he was unwilling to let her go.

First, he would forge a good connection. Later, they could visit one another often and remain in contact. If Prince Zhou's Mansion faced trouble in the future, they could ask her for help.

Prince Zhou said, "Help me send another dream to Zijin."

Pan Yun said, "Dreams are not so easily sent..."

"I'll have him send you another tray of silver."

Pan Yun said, "That can be arranged, that can be arranged."

Pan Yun led him toward the guest courtyard. Seeing that both Doctor Zhang's and the eunuch's rooms had gone dark, she formed hand seals and began weaving a dream, then sent Prince Zhou into it.

Prince Zhou vanished from where he stood. Xuan Miao, standing beneath a tree, watched the entire process, and her brows furrowed tightly.

Pan Yun's gaze precisely swept toward her. The two met each other's eyes in the darkness for a moment, and Xuan Miao stepped forward.

Neither spoke. They simply waited quietly.

At that moment, Prince Zhou was weeping bitterly in Doctor Zhang's dream, repeatedly bowing with clasped hands as he begged Doctor Zhang to return to the Capital City and help fulfill this final wish of his.

"This matter has become an obsession. If it cannot be done, my heart cannot rest. Even in death, I will not find peace."

Doctor Zhang turned over, deeply vexed. He wanted to drive Prince Zhou from his dream, but Prince Zhou kept chattering nonstop inside his head.

Doctor Zhang grew so irritated that he rolled over and abruptly opened his eyes. The dream lure Pan Yun had placed on him instantly shattered.

Prince Zhou shot back to Pan Yun's side. Still somewhat dazed, he asked, "How did he wake up?"

Pan Yun said, "It is fine. The dream has already been dreamed. If he does not do as asked, tomorrow I will make him sleep unconscious for an entire day, dreaming without end until I force him to believe the dream was real and leave him no choice but to fulfill Your Highness's wish."

Prince Zhou nodded. "Next should be that Eunuch Qian, yes?"

Just as Pan Yun was about to form hand seals to weave another dream, Xuan Miao pressed down her hand. With an indescribable expression, she asked, "The dream-sending you spoke of is you weaving the dream yourself?"

Pan Yun said, "What is the problem?"

Xuan Miao glanced at Prince Zhou, formed a hand seal with one hand, and sent a streak of spiritual light into his soul. With a sweep of her hand, Prince Zhou shot away, drifting lightly into Eunuch Qian's room.

Pan Yun's eyes widened. Opening her Heavenly Eye, she saw Prince Zhou smoothly enter Eunuch Qian's dream.

Prince Zhou immediately noticed the difference as well. Back with Doctor Zhang, he had been in Doctor Zhang's room, bowing and pleading to him. That had been a dream woven by Pan Yun. But here, with Eunuch Qian...

Eunuch Qian was having a splendid palace dream. Wang Zhen, whom Prince Zhou found somewhat familiar, was kneeling at his feet and helping him put on his shoes. Both his hands were covered in gold rings, and he was sipping tea while affectingly pinching the cup between his fingers.

Prince Zhou suddenly appeared before him, startling Eunuch Qian.

But Eunuch Qian quickly steadied himself, affectedly curling his fingers as he said, "Prince Zhou, what are you doing here?"

Prince Zhou deeply disliked Wang Zhen, but that did not mean he liked Eunuch Qian.

This thing treated Wang Zhen like that in his dream. He must be a hypocritical, pretentious, arrogant tyrant as well. Once he gained power, he might prove even worse than Wang Zhen.

So he did not beg. With a grim face, he said directly, "I need Eunuch Qian to make a trip for me."

Seeing Prince Zhou acting so arrogantly even in his own dream, Eunuch Qian instinctively inflicted all manner of calamities upon him. For instance, the Emperor discovering his rebellion, stripping him of his title, then exiling him, beheading him, confiscating his household—never mind the logic; he made the dream as miserable as possible.

But Prince Zhou was not made of clay either. Before Eunuch Qian could even imagine the beheading being carried out, the dream shifted. Prince Zhou directly joined forces with the Imperial Clan Court and slaughtered in all directions. Not only did he capture Eunuch Qian, he even killed Wang Zhen.

This dream was free as the wind. Unlike the previous one, rigid and inflexible, where neither he nor Doctor Zhang could escape the dream, here they could unleash themselves as they pleased. And Prince Zhou seemed better at it than the dream's owner, so Eunuch Qian became the one being tormented.

Eunuch Qian vaguely knew he was having a nightmare and wanted to wake up, only to find that he could not open his eyes or move his limbs.

He told himself this was only a dream and there was no need to fear. He just had to open his eyes, but he found that his eyes seemed to have opened and he could see the pitch-black room, yet his eyelids had not lifted...

He tried to move his limbs again, but half his body was numb and aching, as though a thousand-pound boulder weighed upon him. Forget turning over—he could not even move a finger.

Cold sweat drenched Eunuch Qian. Then it suddenly struck him: Prince Zhou was already dead. He was being pinned down by a ghost.

The scene in the dream changed. The palace instantly vanished, turning into the room where Eunuch Qian was currently staying. Eunuch Qian knelt on the floor and wept bitterly as he begged forgiveness. "My lord, this lowly one failed to recognize Mount Tai before my eyes. Please spare me. Whatever you require, just say it. I will certainly obey."

Prince Zhou, who had been slaughtering in all directions in the dream, reluctantly stopped. After looking down at Eunuch Qian, he said, "It is nothing major. I merely ask that you return to the Capital City tomorrow and plead with the Emperor on my behalf..."

Prince Zhou forced Eunuch Qian to agree, then made him repeat it twice. Only after confirming that he would not forget did Prince Zhou reluctantly leave his dream.

The moment he drifted out, Eunuch Qian's foot kicked into the air. His whole body jolted, and he suddenly opened his eyes.

But he was drenched in sweat, his hands and feet icy, his heart racing wildly. Trembling, he sat up from the bed and confirmed that he had indeed been pinned down by a ghost and dreamed of Prince Zhou.

Terrified out of his wits, he dropped to his knees with a thump and bowed in every direction. "Prince Zhou, please do not take offense. This lowly one did not know it was you in the dream just now. I thought it was only a dream..."

Prince Zhou drifted back to Pan Yun's side, fully satisfied. He first gave Xuan Miao a respectful bow, then said, "Little Friend Pan, can Doctor Zhang be given a dream like that as well?"

Though he addressed Pan Yun, his eyes could not help turning toward Xuan Miao.

Xuan Miao smiled faintly. This time, she did not even form hand seals. She directly waved him away. Prince Zhou happily tumbled through the air and plunged into Doctor Zhang's room.

Doctor Zhang had just fallen asleep, and his dream had only just begun. He was at home before a table laden with rare delicacies when Prince Zhou suddenly sat down across from him...

The moment Doctor Zhang saw Prince Zhou, his experience told him to open his eyes and wake up, only to discover that this time, he could not wake no matter what...

Pan Yun had gone expressionless. Inwardly, she marveled, Xuan Miao is incredible. Is this a spell from this world? It seems a little more powerful than my dream-weaving.

"Meow—" Pan Little Black took two steps along the branch and lay down, looking down at the two below as he replied, "Your previous life's civilization was incomplete. You know many things only in part, not in full. Who knows how many vast quantities of cultivation methods and spells had been lost by the twenty-sixth century? Dream-weaving is said to be a restored ancient spell, but how much of it was created by yourselves? You know that in your hearts.

Clearly, here there are better, superior spells that allow ghosts to enter dreams."

Xuan Miao heard the incessant meowing. She looked up at the cat on the branch and, unusually talkative, said, "I noticed long ago that you seem able to communicate with this black cat through speech.

Is it limited to this cat, or can you communicate with other animals as well?"

Pan Yun said nothing.

Xuan Miao said, "You are very young, yet your cultivation is not shallow, and the spells you know are a mixed bag. I do not know who your master is, but you have gone astray along many paths. Before returning to Mount Sanqing, I advise you not to cultivate further, lest you harm your body and leave behind lasting trouble."

She glanced back at Doctor Zhang, who was still dreaming, then said to Pan Yun, "To send a ghost into a dream, there is no need to place a lure upon the person. Ghosts already exist in the third space, and dreams are another dimension as well. Place a lure upon the ghost, and it can connect to dreams. Whose dream it wishes to enter, it can enter."

Today's and tomorrow's ten lucky numbers all end in 5. Screenshots serve as proof.