Filial Piety

Shangguan Dandan has a very deep memory of Chang'an, just like Liu Chang'an's memories of Junsha and this neighborhood over the years.

For Liu Chang'an, the years in Chang'an were more than two thousand years ago, but for Shangguan Dandan, it felt like yesterday.

After the witchcraft incident, Chang'an was thrown into chaos, rivers of blood flowed, and the Empress, the Crown Prince, the two princesses, and the Wei family were all executed.

Everlasting Palace is not a place for relaxation and joy. Even the young Shangguan Dandan could sense the solemnity and indifference of this palace in the fragmented private conversations, the few words exchanged, and the names of those who have already passed away.

The people here always act with extreme caution, listening carefully to every word others say and scrutinizing every subtle expression and movement.

From her childhood entry into the palace to her coronation as empress, becoming the most honored woman in the empire, Shangguan Dandan neither hated nor tried to change anything. Because this was how she was when she was a child, and this was how she was when she grew up, so she had become accustomed to it.

At least she could ride in her own little carriage, touring the vast palace, listening to the clatter of the miniature horses as they ran, always feeling her heart leap with joy, and the flowers and animals in the garden remained brightly colored and lively.

Until the eighteen-year-old King of Changyi ran into Chang'an, disrupting all the rules and the atmosphere of violence, he didn't care that his uncle had been killed there, nor did he care that his grandfather's oppressive aura still hung over everyone's hearts like a dark cloud. He had no respect or gratitude for the uncle and stepfather who suddenly appeared and could let him inherit the throne. He even dared to show his teeth and smile at the Empress Dowager when he was named Crown Prince, his eyes as unrestrained as a wild horse galloping across the desert.

Shangguan Dandan was not an easily angered person, so she tolerated his insolence. She also knew that a new emperor who followed the rules and regulations, obeyed his grandfather and maternal grandfather, and was completely subservient to her was not of much use to her.

But he was being far too presumptuous, showing no intention whatsoever of biding his time or waiting for the right moment to strike. Shangguan Dandan gradually realized that her "son" truly treated the emperor as a mere amusement.

"Does this coffin possess artificial intelligence?" How was this hallucination triggered? Liu Chang'an felt that even Shangguan Dandan might not know, because she obviously didn't know at first. This scenario of actively triggering hallucinations for Liu Chang'an should be considered intelligent, right?

Liu Chang'an recalled the robot next to Professor Crick in the cave in the Bow Family Realm.

Artificial intelligence...

Shangguan Dandan snapped out of her reverie. She had heard the term "artificial intelligence" before. Liu Chang'an had mentioned it to her in class, and she had also seen it in novels. However, that was not her understanding of it in her daily life. It was like many people seeing some English words and feeling that they knew their meaning, but they often did not naturally and clearly know their usage and purpose.

So Shangguan Dandan lifted her skirt and stepped onto the small stool, finally tall enough. She stood on tiptoe and reached out to pinch Liu Chang'an's cheek, her expression wary. "You're still up to no good. I won't tell you."

Liu Chang'an grabbed Shangguan Dandan's cheek with his other hand. It was too smooth, so he had to use more force to pull her cheek away.

Shangguan Dandan pushed his hand away, glared angrily at Liu Chang'an, opened her mouth panting, but couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. This rebellious son is arrogant and disrespectful to everyone. What if she angers him and he rapes her again?

After all, men are unpredictable; they act recklessly, are self-righteous, and arrogant.

Shangguan Dandan clenched her fists, trying to suppress the urge to pinch his cheek again, and took out her phone. "I'm out of money for books."

Liu Chang'an topped up her account, took her phone to check her reading history, and casually cast the minimum monthly vote for her.

"You... how much do you think you know about modern life?" Liu Chang'an asked. With the internet, Shangguan Dandan learn on her own, and she probably knew how to use the internet... because she would send messages to Liu Chang'an, but never ask him any questions about modern life. No one can suppress their curiosity about living in an environment that feels like another world. The fact that she didn't show her curiosity to Liu Chang'an meant that she had other ways to learn about it.

"I've already learned how to live in the modern world." Shangguan Dandan looked at her Qidian coins in the Qidian Reading app, in a good mood, and no longer looked at Liu Chang'an with a forced and wary gaze.

"Um?"

"Modern life is all about cell phones and... and... and..."

"Are you stuttering?"

"And that thing you bought for me." Shangguan Dandan's cheeks flushed.

Modern life is all about cell phones and sanitary napkins... Liu Chang'an nodded in agreement, "I'll buy you some more tomorrow."

Shangguan Dandan bit her lip, suppressing her shame, and nodded, finding it hard to refuse. This was his way of showing filial piety.

"I'm going to play cards." Liu Chang'an was fairly satisfied with their conversation tonight. He needed to proceed step by step. Shangguan Dandan didn't have the kind of open and trusting feelings she had for him, so she still wouldn't tell him anything he wanted to know.

But Liu Chang'an was not in a hurry. He could move her, and time would tell. Sooner or later, she would discover that he radiated kindness, benevolence, and an open and honest Lux.

"Would you like to go for a walk?" Liu Chang'an suggested again.

Shangguan Dandan shook her head. She was just looking at her phone, tapping away with her fingers. The world seemed extremely dangerous, and lying in the coffin playing on her phone made the newly awakened girl feel safer.

Liu Chang'an originally wanted to teach her how to use the bathroom, but then he thought that she hadn't taken a bath in over two thousand years, so why was she still as fragrant and soft as she had been back then? She probably had her own methods. Liu Chang'an didn't interfere, closed the door, and went out to play cards.

Old Man Qian was already waiting for Liu Chang'an at the mahjong parlor. Although he had lost at a game of Pao Hu Zi last time, he was willing to get his revenge at the mahjong table. After all, being good at mahjong was a real skill that made him stand out in the neighborhood. Why was Liu Chang'an so popular in the neighborhood? Everyone gave him gifts for his college entrance exams, and he had more face than Old Man Qian when he bought money on credit from Auntie Xie. When playing cards, people preferred to stand behind him and watch, not daring to make any moves on their own. Wasn't it all because Liu Chang'an was good at mahjong?

If he had gone ten years earlier, he would have been the number one mahjong player here. Old Man Qian refused to admit he was getting old and challenged Liu Chang'an again tonight... He lost another thirty yuan when the game ended.

Liu Chang'an hadn't actually won or lost, but Old Man Qian had pinned the score on him. Liu Chang'an felt wronged, but he was quite satisfied. Then he went to the convenience store with Old Man Qian to buy beer and chat for a while about the exciting card games they had just played before they parted ways.

The armored transport vehicle under the sycamore tree had been stolen, but neither Liu Chang'an nor Qin Yanan intended to pursue the matter. The vehicle that had brought back the coffin had also been driven away by Zhong Qing, who was efficient in his work. Liu Chang'an looked down at the shadow of the sycamore tree. Under the bright moonlight tonight, the shadow cast by the sycamore tree looked remarkably like a bat with outstretched wings.

Liu Chang'an took a swig of beer from the bottle. If Professor Crick hadn't died, then if Liu Chang'an had asked him to deliver it, he probably would have already done so.

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Hello everyone, I'm updating so early so that you can use your guaranteed monthly votes. There will be another major chapter tonight, a three-in-one chapter.

P. S., I'd like to recommend a new book to everyone, <The Lord of Mystical Witches>, a novel about the revival of spiritual energy. It's quite original.