White Fence Dream

Chapter 299 Extra
In the third year of the new emperor's reign, he changed the name of the era to Kaiping and announced many reforms, especially the imperial examination. In addition to the usual ones, he also added military examinations and self-examinations. For a time, the place was bustling with students from all over the country, regardless of their background, rushing to study. The officials in charge of education suffered, as they were so busy that they were overwhelmed and complained bitterly.

However, compared with other prefectures, the academic supervisors in Bozhou had it easier. This was thanks to the recent arrival of Supervisor Zhou Jingyun. Compared with Your Majesty, Zhou Jingyun had implemented the new education policy earlier, both overtly and covertly.

At that time, officials in Bozhou had many discussions in private. But on the one hand, Zhou Jingyun was very famous. Although he had been in jail, he had a close relationship with the emperor. He was ordered to supervise education and travel around. The officials could not figure out the temper of the new emperor for the time being, and they did not dare to offend Zhou Jingyun, so they turned a blind eye and let him do it. Anyway, if there was any problem, they could just push Zhou Jingyun out.

Unexpectedly, His Majesty really implemented the new policy. They have sorted out their affairs and it has become much easier to do things. This also proves that Zhou Jingyun has a close relationship with His Majesty.

The government office was a bit desolate in early winter, and the idle officials of Bozhou gathered in the corridor, chatting and laughing.

"When your majesty was still Shangguan Yue, he wandered around the capital, eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, and making friends with a bunch of bad people."

"Many of those dandy young men still want to become officials, saying that if one person succeeds, everyone in the family will benefit."

"That Xuan Chengzi in Shengzu Temple is just this kind of chicken and dog."

"I heard that in addition to the imperial examination, the Ministry of Revenue also has new policies. No one objects to this?"

"Yes, of course. There was a huge uproar in the court, but do you know what His Majesty said?"

Hearing this, the others stopped for a moment and looked at the person who was speaking. That person looked a little proud and a little cautious.

"Your Majesty said that this new policy was not his idea, but was implemented by Empress Chiang."

During the time of Empress Chiang, officials had complicated expressions, and some even felt a little melancholy, as if it happened a long time ago. But when you think about it carefully, indeed, this new policy was not new, but was shelved when Empress Chiang was executed.

But Your Majesty actually wants to use the policies of Empress Chiang at that time
this.
"Your Majesty pointed at the officials in the court and said, 'You didn't oppose Empress Chiang's new policies, but you oppose me when I implement them. Are you bullying the weak and afraid of the strong?'"

Some officials couldn't help but burst out laughing when they heard this.

This, this is really
The other officials also shook their heads, and it was really hard to know what to say in response.

"Your Majesty will use Empress Jiang as a shield."

His Majesty is no longer shy about mentioning Queen Chiang, and the past seems to have become less bloody.

At this point, several officials came out from inside and one of them snorted.

"That is to say, now that Zhang Ze is gone, His Majesty has also withdrawn the Supervisory Council. Otherwise, if you all criticize His Majesty's government affairs, you will be thrown into jail tomorrow."

Hearing this, the officials in the corridor sneered and their eyes fell on one of the officials. He was not wearing an official uniform, but a black embroidered casual dress. The clothes were not bright, but they made the bleak autumn day suddenly bright.

"Oh, Prince Zhou."

"Zhou Jianxue."

Everyone greeted and saluted enthusiastically.

Zhou Jingyun smiled and returned their greetings without saying much. He clasped his fists to the officials around him and said, "I'll take my leave first."

The officials nodded with a smile.

"Zhou Jianxue," an official could not help but call out, "You know that the governor Song will host a banquet at Wangchun Tower tomorrow?"

Zhou Jingyun looked back and smiled: "The governor told me the day before yesterday that I have something to do in Xishan tomorrow, so I won't go there."

After saying this, he walked out. The officials in the corridor looked at his back in a daze.

"Mrs. Song the Magistrate will be disappointed again this time. How can she act as a matchmaker if no one is coming?" said an official.

Another official put his hands in his pockets and said, "It's time for the governor's wife to give up. If the prince of Zhou wanted to marry, why would he come to our place? The first two prefectures have been snatched away."

"Zhou Shizi refused to attend nine out of ten banquets. In his free time, he would either read or write indoors, or go to temples and Taoist temples to meditate."

Hearing this, an official in the corridor couldn't help but interrupt: "Prince Zhou is only in his early thirties, why is he always going to temples and Taoist temples? Is he going to become a monk?"

An official immediately waved his hands and said, "No, no, you don't know, he actually has a lover who is hiding in the house."

This is impossible, the others don't believe it. Although Prince Zhou was born into a wealthy family, his food, clothing, housing and transportation are very simple. He did not buy a house, but lived in the residence provided by the government, a small courtyard. Over the past year, many people have come and gone, so there is no way to hide someone.

"There is a picture of a beauty hanging in the prince's room." The official gestured in a low voice, "A servant saw that the prince often looked at the picture of the beauty and talked to the beauty in the picture."

Another official also squeezed over and whispered, "I've heard that too. It's said that the prince will ask that beauty, what's your name?"

Isn't this crazy? The officials were stunned, but they felt it was impossible, because the prince's words and deeds were not crazy at all.

"This is not madness, this is elegance." An official said, "It is said that there was a famous scholar who married plum blossoms and had cranes as his sons. It is not strange that the prince married the person in the painting."

Isn't that strange? The officials looked a little complicated.

It is indeed strange to be familiar with a person in a painting but not be able to remember her name.

Zhou Jingyun stood in the study and rolled up a scroll of calligraphy hanging on the wall, revealing a painting behind it.

The woman in the painting smiles sweetly.

Zhou Jingyun turned his head and saw a figure sitting in front of the desk writing. The figure raised his head and smiled at him.

"Sir, do you think my handwriting is good?"

Zhou Jingyun slowly walked to the desk, and as he sat down, his figure disappeared.

If people knew that he often had hallucinations, they would say he was truly insane.

However, he knew he was not. He raised his head and looked towards the bedroom next to him. He saw a woman's figure swaying, and she seemed to be making the bed.

"Prince, please read this book tonight."

The female voice echoed and then faded away the next moment.

The two rooms were quiet and empty.

Ever since he saw the portrait, he always saw the woman appear inadvertently, doing some very daily things, eating with him, writing beside him, and reading beside him.
This shows that the woman was once very familiar with him and had lived with him, but neither his family nor his relatives and friends mentioned it.

It's like there's this one person that everyone has forgotten.

I don’t even know his name.

The emperor must know, Zhou Jingyun thought, but he didn't ask.

He was keenly aware that the emperor was hostile toward him, especially regarding the people in the painting.

It seemed that she made a great decision before giving him the painting, otherwise she could have given it to him on the spot when they met the emperor that day, instead of staring at him with a strange look for a moment, and then having someone deliver the painting to him after he left and walked out of the palace.

If he asked, the emperor would not tell him, and might even change his mind and take the painting back.

Zhou Jingyun turned to look at the portrait on the wall. Although he felt a little confused, when he looked at the painting and had it by his side, he felt more joy. He didn't want to lose this painting.

"The latest news in the court is that the emperor uses Empress Jiang as a reference." He said, just as he told her the interesting things before, "It can be seen that he is not afraid of Empress Jiang, and even regards her as the previous emperor. This is all."

Is this all your fault?

He almost blurted out these words.

Is this also something that has been forgotten? Zhou Jingyun remained silent, staring at the portrait in a trance.

If a servant came in at this time, he would see this scene and rumors would definitely spread.

Zhou Jingyun laughed to himself.

But this was not a rumor. He raised his hand and gently stroked the face of the woman in the portrait.

He thought he must like her very much.

One day he will remember everything about her and find her.

Zhou Jingyun withdrew his hand, sat back at the desk, spread out a piece of paper, and picked up a pen to write.

"I can only remember that you like to write, but it's probably not as good as mine." He smiled slightly and looked across the desk. It seemed that there was a woman smiling at him over there. "I'll write and you learn."

"Sir, we can't go up the mountain road here."

The bailiff of the government office pointed ahead and said.

Zhou Jingyun jumped off his horse and looked at the West Mountain in autumn. Although it was not yet late autumn, the mountain scenery was already very beautiful.

"That Qingjing Mountain Man lives in the mountains. There is a Taoist temple on the mountain wall." The two yamen runners enthusiastically led the way. "But he rarely goes down the mountain. We have never met him. I don't know if he is a Taoist master."

Zhou Jingyun said with a smile: "It's nice to have a quiet place to visit mountains and scenery and chat. I'm not here to smash the gate of the mountain or to find a master." There are many scenic spots in the city, and the gardens of the noble families are exquisite, with many invitations, but the prince did not show up. The runners thought, instead, he only asked monks and celebrities, which shows that it is definitely not as simple as just talking.

But no one asked any questions and just led the way enthusiastically, and the group walked up the mountain road.

Zhou Jingyun did stop from time to time to look at the scenery. In fact, he did want to find someone to talk to. He once wanted to ask what the situation was and whether it could be solved. A monk told him not to force it, and that the solution would come when the time came. If you keep thinking about it, there will be a response.

Never forget.

Zhou Jingyun thought, he didn't even know what he couldn't forget.
Suddenly, the sound of a flute came to my ears.

Zhou Jingyun paused and subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound. He saw a skinny donkey walking slowly on the mountain road ahead. There was a man sitting on the donkey, playing the flute.

Because she was sitting sideways, I could only see her profile, but her black hair was tied up high, her plain dress hung to the ground, and her wide sleeves slipped down, revealing her fair forearms.

As if she noticed someone was looking at her, she raised her eyes slightly and looked over.

When their eyes met, Zhou Jingyun felt a buzzing sensation in his head.

The person in the painting walked down.

"You--" he couldn't help but shout.

The woman riding the donkey looked at him, smiled slightly, and then looked away.

Is this an illusion again? Just like before, he would occasionally see the shadow of a woman following him when he was walking, sitting or lying down, Zhou Jingyun thought, but this time, it was not as blurry as before, but very clear.

He couldn't help but shout to the yamen runners beside him: "Look at that woman——"

The two yamen runners followed his pointing and looked in confusion: "Where is the woman?"

They can't see it, it's an illusion. Zhou Jingyun was stunned, feeling a little disappointed, but the sound of the flute in his ears became more and more melodious. The illusions that appeared in the past always disappeared quickly, but this time, a woman riding a donkey on the mountain road was looming in his sight, her dress fluttering in the mountain breeze, graceful and agile, and lingered for a long time.

Zhou Jingyun stared at it for a moment.

"Madam, wait a moment." He shouted and ran after her.

The two yamen runners were startled. Before they could react, they saw Zhou Jingyun running towards the small path and disappeared into the woods in the blink of an eye. They came to their senses and hurriedly chased after him, but the woods were so dense that they couldn't see him and almost lost their way. After they finally got out, they hurried to the Taoist temple in the mountains to ask, but the temple said they had never seen Zhou Jingyun. The two were stunned.

"Oops!"

"The prince is lost!"

The two hurried down the mountain and gathered people to search the mountain. After a night, they still couldn't find him. At that time, rumors spread everywhere. Some said he fell down the mountain and died, some said he was taken away by wolves, and some said he was taken away by mountain foxes. Some people said that he was taken away by immortals. The prince of Zhou was actually an immortal who came down to earth.
When the news spread, Zhou Jingyun also stopped in the mountains and forests.

By this time, the sky was already slightly bright and his vision had returned to normal. All he could see was the dense forest. He had no idea where he was and the woman riding the donkey had long disappeared from his sight.

Zhou Jingyun was not too panicked. When he went to ask the monk for advice earlier, many people were worried that he had entered a maze.

Now it seems that he was in a state of confusion yesterday.

Forget it, Zhou Jingyun sat down on a rock. Now that he had entered a maze, he might as well break through it and get out.

The sound of footsteps rang out among the mountains and forests.

Zhou Jingyun turned his head and saw a woman walking out from behind a tree. She was wearing a long skirt dragging on the ground, holding a bamboo flute in her hand, and looking at him with her head slightly tilted.

Hallucination, Zhou Jingyun smiled.

The woman smiled back at him.

"You," Zhou Jingyun said. The forest was different from before. It wasn't writing or eating snacks. What should I say? His eyes fell on the flute in her hand. "What song are you playing? It's very nice."

Since this hallucination occurred, it must have happened before, and he must have heard her playing the flute.

The woman raised her flute and said with a smile, "I'm just playing it randomly. It has no name."

Zhou Jingyun smiled and said, "It sounds very nice."

The woman asked, "Do you like playing the flute, too?"

"It's not like, but I do." Zhou Jingyun said, hesitating for a moment, looking at the woman. This time, the hallucination had more questions and answers than before. He couldn't help but ask, "Why are you here?"

The woman still did not disappear, but looked at him, slightly thoughtful.

“I don’t know either,” she said. “I always felt like someone was looking for me, so I kept walking and walking, and I didn’t know how I ended up here.”

Zhou Jingyun stood up suddenly.

The woman still did not disappear.

He wanted to take a step forward, but was afraid that he would make a noise and the person in front of him would disappear.

He took a deep breath and clenched his hands.

"You," he asked, "what's your name?"

In the past, this question would never be answered. Even he himself didn’t know, and the person he imagined naturally didn’t know either.

"You, do you still remember your name?"

The woman still did not disappear.

She looked at him.

"I have indeed forgotten a lot of things," she said, smiling, turning the flute in her hand, "but I still remember my name."

Zhou Jingyun took a step forward, and his footsteps made a crackling sound on the fallen leaves and dead branches.

The person in front of me still hasn't disappeared.

"What's your name?" Zhou Jingyun asked.

The woman smiled and said, "My name is Bai Li."

White fence.

Bai Li, so her name is Bai Li, Zhou Jingyun thought, and he remembered.

He was walking in a forest on his way to the academy ahead, and he could hear the melodious sound of a flute in his ears.

Although he was worried, a thought flashed through his mind the moment the sound of the flute came. It sounded really beautiful, but he didn't know what it was called. He looked up and saw a faint figure among the mountains and woods.

It's a woman.

But there was a bigger thought weighing on my mind, and this thought flashed through my mind.

Then he stood before the gentleman and told him what he was willing to do to protect that person. The gentleman agreed, and after everything was discussed, the woman was asked to come out.

"I am willing to do so too." She lowered her head and said softly, "Zhuang Li thanks you, Your Highness."

Zhuang Li, Zhou Jingyun thought, actually her name is not Zhuang Li.

Her name is Bai Li.

But at that time, it didn't matter to him what she was called. She was not in his thoughts, not in his heart.

Zhou Jingyun took another step closer and looked at the woman who was closer. It was as if she was hanging on the wall before, and he could touch her face with just his hand.

"Bai Li." He said with a smile, "My name is Zhou Jingyun."

　I added a special chapter for Chapter 299. What I want to express is that from that thought to this thought, the two people truly met, and Bai Li finally became the real Bai Li.

　　But it’s certainly not perfect.

　　There are many ideas hidden in the text and I don’t know if you have realized them.

　　Of course, there are a thousand Hamlets in the eyes of a thousand people.

　　So, I tried my best to write what I wanted to write, and everyone can read what they want to read.

　　In short, as long as you enjoy reading it, it's fine. If you are not happy, it's my problem. My writing skills are limited. I will summarize my experience and hope that the next book will make up for the shortcomings and bring you a better reading experience.

　　That’s all, thank you everyone, good night again, and have a sweet dream.

　　(End of this chapter)