The seventh year of the Tiansha Thousand Autumns was also the last year of the Tiansha Nation.
In the late autumn of that year, as the war flag split the Tiansha Nation like a knife, assassinations and infiltrations were carried out at the same time. The power that the person who had passed away used his entire life to store finally surfaced after many years. Under the command of Zhan Beiye's secret advisor who was hiding in Pandu, countless hardcore royalists were killed and their corpses were destroyed without a trace. Countless scholars and scholars wrote essays to defend the legitimacy of the dynasty and build up support for the new emperor. Countless insignificant officials who were hiding in various places but were familiar with the people's feelings fought for power with the help of mysterious people who had been sent to various places. They tried their best to control the military and politics of a region. The wind that rose above the Nine Heavens was born at the end of a green duckweed. While using force to sweep across the Tiansha Nation, it was also using another method to encroach on the political thoughts of the people and the will of the officials. The path of civil and martial arts was a combination of hardness and softness. Playing politics was like playing with the Eight Trigrams. Yin gave birth to Yang, and it grew and multiplied endlessly. Under the perfect arrangement and maneuvering of the deceased old official who had rich political experience, the political situation in Tiansha had basically achieved the most stable transition in a very short period of time.
Many years later, when historians summarized the death of Tiansha, they came to this conclusion through tracing the tiny clues. The people who killed Tiansha were Zhan Beiye, Meng Fuyao, and Old Imperial Tutor Zhou.
On the 16th of the ninth month of the seventh year of the Thousand Autumns, Zhan Beiye ascended the throne in the Yongde Hall of the palace and changed the name of the nation to Dahan. The seventh year of the Thousand Autumns would be the first year of Yongji.
From then on, there would be no more Thousand Autumns and no more Tiansha.
As for why the name of the nation was changed to Han, Zhan Beiye, Meng Fuyao, and Ji Yu knew the reason. The eight Black Wind Cavalrymen who had left their souls in the deep and serene forest knew the reason.
Those who had been through it together with them had never forgotten the heroic, loyal, brave, sacrificed, and great love of the past. They had used different ways to cherish and commemorate them. Meng Fuyao had hidden in the imperial court, Zhan Beiye had led his troops to the north, Meng Fuyao had overturned the universe with her delicate hands, Zhan Beiye had swept up the wind and clouds with a wave of his sleeves, and finally, the death of Tiansha and the life of Dahan had been sacrificed to the immortal heroic spirit.
On the day that Zhan Beiye ascended to the throne, the sky was clear, and the bright sunlight illuminated the resplendent Yong De Main Hall above the thousand steps. The new Emperor, dressed in a pure black dragon robe embroidered with eight golden dragons, looked back coldly from the top of the main hall. As far as his eyes could see, on the vast square, hundreds of officials were kowtowing in awe, as if they were grass lying flat on the ground.
The golden bell was rung, the jade drum was sounded, the imperial seal was conferred, and the treasured book was conferred. The founding emperor of the Great Han Dynasty sat on a bright yellow throne inlaid with ten thousand dragons.
After the establishment of the new dynasty, the first person to be rewarded was the second official, Meng Fuyao, whose name had already shaken the world.
She had quietly hidden in the imperial court to kill the Emperor and seize power, plotted to kill Xie Yu on the city wall, and used her glib tongue to subdue the guards. She had also miraculously protected the 100,000 imperial troops and handed them over to the new Emperor. In terms of contributions, she was indeed worthy of the first place, even more so than the military governors of the Jin, Yan, and Ming Lun Mansions. One had to know that it was much more tiring to talk in the imperial court, where accompanying the Emperor was akin to accompanying a tiger, than clashing with the soldiers on the battlefield.
It was a pity that the first official was somewhat arrogant. She had worked so hard to achieve such a feat, and should have performed well in front of the new Emperor. However, she had claimed that she was ill and did not attend the court. On the memorial, there were only five words: "Menopause has arrived!"
Zhan Beiye stared at the memorial for a long time. He remembered that it was meant to scold someone, but based on his understanding of Meng Fuyao, she would never scold him. It was most likely meant for him.
The pitiful new Emperor clenched the garlic in his palm and had no choice but to approve the leave. Meng Fuyao, the former commander of the imperial troops, was conferred the title of King Han, with a hereditary title of nobility. She would also have Mount Han and the surrounding six counties as her fiefdom. She would also be in charge of the military, politics, salt, iron, and customs.
Her words shocked the officials. They knew that Meng Fuyao would be rewarded handsomely, but they did not expect it to be this heavy!
There were no more princes in the Han Dynasty, and the original Tiansha Zhan Clan could no longer be conferred the title of nobility after the establishment of the new dynasty. The highest title for an official with a different surname was the Duke. Although Meng Fuyao's contributions were unparalleled, and she was equivalent to a founding official, she was only eighteen years old. She would still have a chance to contribute in the future, and the reward should have been reserved for her future advancement. Now that she was conferred the title of King, wouldn't her contributions shock the Emperor in the future?
Everyone thought that there would be no more princes in the Han Dynasty. Who would have thought that His Majesty would be so generous!
What was more generous was that this was an iron hat vassal king. The fiefdom was equivalent to that of a country, and the princes were the true rulers. They had their own armies and officials, and were not easily interfered with by the laws of the imperial court. Although there were many barren mountains, it was still a vast territory. Wasn't His Majesty afraid that he would raise a tiger that would bite back at him in the future?
There were also some who were fond of words that kneeled on the ground and dug at the cracks between the golden bricks to ponder over the title of King Han. The current dynasty was called the Han Dynasty, but Meng Fuyao had conferred the title of King Han. What did this mean? This, this, this, this was not in line with the Emperor's rules! One had to know that the Emperor's favor was like sitting in a cage of fire. If one burned too fiercely, they would hurt themselves. Could there be a deeper meaning behind this? Could it be that … His Majesty was going to keep the bow after all the birds were used up?
The officials were making wild guesses, but Zhan Beiye only cared about his throne. His face was gloomy as he pinched the garlic in his hand like it was Zhangsun Wuji.
How shameless of you, Zhangsun Wuji! Offering Buddha with borrowed flowers!
His original plan was to bestow the three most fertile prefectures closest to Pandu to Fu Yao. She was worthy of this kind of repayment. He thought that he would bestow the title on the spot to give Fu Yao a pleasant surprise. He didn't expect that Zhangsun Wuji's letter would immediately throw his wishful thinking into disarray.
In the letter, the man said that in view of Fuyao's great contributions, he begged His Majesty to make an exception and grant her the title of a vassal king. It would be a solid shield for Fuyao in the future. If His Majesty was afraid that the officials would resist and gossip about it, he, Zhangsun Wuji, was willing to privately compensate His Majesty. He also mentioned that it was a small favor that His Majesty had done for him. He said that if His Majesty remembered him, there was no need to repay him. Instead, he would just give Fuyao the credit and reward her. As for the fiefdom, he said that he had persuaded Fuyao that the vassal king was a special case. It would be embarrassing for His Majesty to ask for a better land and make things difficult for His Majesty.
After Zhan Beiye read the letter, he was so angry that he almost ordered his soldiers to kill him on the spot.
Obviously, he would not be stingy to give Fu Yao the best reward, but Zhangsun Wuji made it sound as if Fu Yao was unwilling, and Zhangsun Wuji had to use his own help to make up for it in order to give Fu Yao the title of vassal king.
It was a surprise that he wanted to give Fuyao, but now it became a surprise that Zhangsun Wuji used to please Fuyao.
It was clearly his vast territory that was under his control, but now it had become a dish on Zhangsun Wuji's plate. He rushed to give it to Fuyao first, and even took the initiative to help Fuyao choose. He chose that damned Chang Han Mountains, and he could not refuse. Not only because Chang Han Mountains was indeed a barren fiefdom that was least likely to be opposed by the officials, but also because — — Fuyao liked it.
He clearly wanted to give her something, but now he didn't want to give it. He clearly wanted to give her something good, but now he had no choice but to give her something bad. He clearly wanted to give her something good, but now Zhangsun Wuji fought for it for her.
The Crown Prince's treachery was even more treacherous than the Heavens!
And what made Zhan Beiye the most angry, helpless, and sad was that he snatched Chang Han Mountains!
What was the meaning of Chang Han Mountains? The border between the Vast Han and Wuji Kingdoms was the only military passageway through which troops could enter Wuji Kingdom. Now that Fuyao had established his kingdom, she had become a protective barrier between him and Zhangsun Wuji. In the future, if he wanted to take revenge, would it be possible to pass through Vast Han?
Fu Yao would definitely not let him pass through Chang Han to seize Wuji Country. If he really did that, he would most likely have to face Fu Yao's retaliation and anger. With Fu Yao's strength, it was more than enough to create a lot of trouble for him. At that time, he would not even be able to take care of himself, so how could he touch Wuji Country?
Even if Fu Yao did not make a move on him, she would leave in anger, and he would never be able to get her in this lifetime!
What a sinister plan to exterminate the entire family …
Everything was snatched by him, everything was calculated by him, and even her feelings were all his. In the end, he still had to offer Chang Han Mountains. He clearly knew that giving it to Fu Yao was equivalent to giving it to Wuji Country, but he had no choice but to give it.
His Highness the Crown Prince's help was indeed not for nothing …
That night, Zhan Beiye pondered over that letter until dawn. Actually, he could ignore Chang Han's request and directly give Fu Yao the three provinces that he had thought of. However, he could not help but think that Zhangsun Wuji must have hinted to Fu Yao about this. Fu Yao was well versed in politics and definitely knew the meaning of Chang Han Mountains. She did not reject it, which meant that she was willing to become a barrier between the two of them. Under such circumstances, if he rejected it, the consequences would be unpredictable.
Zhangsun Wuji's letter gave him a choice. Either he lost the chance to take over Wuji Country, or he lost Fu Yao!
Poor Zhan Beiye, his hair turned white overnight.
That gloomy heart, that hesitation, that indecisiveness, that inconsistency with Zhan Beiye's swift and decisive style, it was all because of love.
He loved her, and did not want to go against her.
In the battle of love, he was already one step behind Zhangsun Wuji. Now, if he angered Fu Yao because of Chang Han Mountains, his chances would be infinitely close to zero.
In the end, he could not have it both ways.
At dawn, Zhan Beiye finally stretched out his hand and tore the letter into pieces.
Forget it.
Fu Yao had already seized half of the Han Mountains for him. Without her, it would not have been so easy for him to sit on the throne. Now that he had sacrificed a little for her, it was only right.
He was not an ambitious person who wanted to rule the world. Seizing the throne was only to better protect his mother, and for the oath that "Tian Sha must die". Zhangsun Wuji used all his schemes, but in fact, it was only because he was seriously suspicious.
What's more, she had sealed Fuyao in Dahan. Dahan could be considered her home, and she would be his neighbor. The pavilion closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first. Not only would he be able to see her more, but with her around, wouldn't he, Zhangsun Wuji, be unable to spy on Dahan?
Zhan Beiye revealed a slight smile.
Zhangsun Wuji, don't think that you have everything planned out. As long as she is at my home, it will be more convenient for me than for you. No matter what the opportunity is, it will come sooner or later!
= = =
The new emperor had many things to do, so Zhan Beiye had not been able to come to the governor's residence. Of course, he would not forget to allocate funds for the construction of the Han Prince's residence in Pandu.
Meng Fuyao did not care about this. After the reward was granted, she casually handed over a memorial to thank him. The words on the memorial were ugly, the paper was of poor quality, and the ink was smelly. It was even covered with Sir Yuan Bao's beautiful paw print. Zhan Beiye took a long time to read it.
On the 18th of the ninth month, Meng Fuyao sent Yun Hen off. Under the whitest cloud in the autumn sky, a young man in green smiled, a smile that made Meng Fuyao cry.
She poured a cup of wine, the clear liquid reflecting the blue sky and yellow leaves on the ground, as well as the longing in her eyes. Yun Hen received the small porcelain wine cup with plum blossom engravings. His fingertips brushed against Meng Fuyao's fingers, which were as smooth as silk. He hurriedly retracted his hand and blushed.
Opposite him, the young woman smiled brightly. Her smile seemed to have been washed by the sun and dyed by the moonlight, clean and pure. Her fingers seemed to carry the fragrance of plum blossoms, which floated in the air, exuding a noble and enchanting aura.
On the shore ahead, someone was playing a pipa on a boat, brushing off the dense osmanthus flowers in the pavilion. It was a tune that belonged to a wandering traveler, but now it seemed to have touched his heart. It was as if his heart was being plucked by someone's delicate fingers. The long tune was like the sound of flowing water, resonating.
He still remembered the first time they met.
The woman with ugly makeup raised her head, her eyes clear and bright, almost scattering his Spectral Eyes. She drew her sword and stepped forward. The sword light danced like a dragon, dancing in the air and messing up his heart, which had been as cold as an abyss for 18 years.
He came with such hatred and wanted to kill Lin Xuanyuan, his half-enemy. But in the end, he returned with such a trance. Her smile shone brightly, and her sea-like eyes drowned him, making him dizzy. Then the bright red blood beads spread in his vision like a string of coral, bright and frightening like a peach blossom fan.
It seemed too easy for him to be moved. But for some people, it was really difficult not to be moved.
Until today, he had not seen her many times. Sometimes he was glad that he did not see her often. She was an existence like a poison. She was colorful, and every side of her was bright and beautiful, surprising people. Even if it was only for a moment, it was destined to leave a rainbow mark that belonged to her. They met three times, just three times, and he fell step by step into the land of peach blossoms. It was a delightful and dazzling place, but he still clearly understood that maybe he was just a passerby.
Yun Hen smiled faintly. At this time, he could still leave. If he stayed, he was afraid that he could not even be a friend.
Yun Hen spun the wine cup on his fingertips, hiding the lingering fragrance of autumn osmanthus and early winter plum blossoms deep in his heart. He smiled and drank it in one gulp.
"Take care."
Meng Fuyao smiled. "You too." She paused and tried hard to find the right words. "When you go back, if there's anything … special, don't forget to inform me. I love lively scenes."
Yun Hen looked at her, the sparks in his Spectral Eyes were as bright as the aurora. He knew what she meant. He did not rank well in the True Martial Arts Tournament, and his entanglement with the Yan Family could be exposed. She was afraid that he would get into trouble.
Yun Hen chuckled and said, "King Meng, I'm waiting for you to be crowned king and minister. How could I not borrow such a powerful friend's strength?"
It was rare for him to make a joke. Meng Fuyao squinted her eyes and smiled. She said innocently, "As an official, I have to search the imperial court and let my friend gain some glory …"
On her shoulder, Lord Ingot also smiled innocently. 'I'm tired of using the golden toilet bowl. I can ask King Meng to make me a black pearl one.'
Yun Hen smiled and waved at Ya Lanzhu, who had come to see him off. He then strode into the carriage. His guards, who had been staying elsewhere in the city, were waiting for him by the carriage. Meng Fuyao watched his carriage disappear into the depths of the official road. She sighed faintly and said, "Waving my hand and leaving, the horses galloping …"
Ya Lanzhu exclaimed, "Oh, Meng Fuyao, you actually know how to recite poetry!"
"I know a lot!" Meng Fuyao was beaming with joy. She put her arm around Ya Lanzhu's shoulder and whispered, "Let me recite an even better one for you. 'The moonlight in front of the bed, two pairs of shoes on the floor, a pair of dogs, HAVE, NOTHING, ON …'"
"Eh, what's the last line?" the innocent Princess Ya asked shamelessly.
Meng Fuyao smiled ambiguously. Just as she was considering whether to taint the little princess, someone behind her said, "It probably means that they're not wearing any clothes."
"Eh, don't tell me you're also a transmigrator …" Meng Fuyao stopped mid-sentence and quietly turned around. Ya Lanzhu, who was beside her, had already dashed over.
"Zhan Beiye, Zhan Beiye!"
A man in a black robe and a black horse stopped under a cypress tree. The shade of the green tree and the pale white trunk of the tree made him look solemn. When he looked at people, his eyes were like arrows. They were as hard as an iron wall and an abyss. They reminded people of the iron trees on the distant mountains. They stood tall and straight in the air, making clanking sounds when the wind passed by.
Meng Fuyao looked at him and thought, 'I haven't seen him for a few days. Why has his temperament improved so much?' 'Being an emperor is such a good job. It's a must-have for improving one's temperament.'
Zhan Beiye's gaze swept past Ya Lanzhu and landed on Meng Fuyao. She glared at him with a look that said, 'If you dare ignore her, I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life'. He forced a smile and said, "Princess Ya, it's been a while."
"Yes, it's been a while." Ya Lanzhu raised her head and rested her hand on her brow. She smiled at Zhan Beiye, who was bathed in the sunlight. "203 days and 10 hours."
Zhan Beiye paused, his dark eyes glancing at her. After thinking for a while, he said thoughtfully, "Why do I remember that it was 197 days and 6 hours?"
Meng Fuyao's face darkened. 'What the hell do you mean? You're counting the time we parted, aren't you? Why did you have to say it to Ya Lanzhu? '
Meng Fuyao's expression was ferocious. Ya Lanzhu tilted her head and glanced at her. Meng Fuyao quickly put away the green-faced fanged beast, but Ya Lanzhu had already turned around as if nothing had happened. She giggled and said, "Is that so? Then I must have remembered wrongly."
Zhan Beiye looked at her, his eyes softening a little. "The day before yesterday was your birthday, wasn't it? I'm sorry I didn't have the time to celebrate your birthday. "
Behind Ya Lanzhu, Meng Fuyao smacked herself on the head. 'Damn you, Zhan Beiye, can't you at least show some sincerity by admitting defeat and apologizing in such a manner? You didn't make a mistake in counting the time we parted, but how could you be so careless in calculating my birthday? It was the day before yesterday, the day before yesterday! '
"It's fine." Ya Lanzhu didn't seem to notice her mistake. She smiled happily. "You didn't remember it anyway."
Zhan Beiye didn't say anything. He took out a box and handed it over. "A birthday gift."
Ya Lanzhu accepted it in surprise. Meng Fuyao grinned in encouragement. Zhan Beiye's face darkened even more. "The Hall of Diligent Government's eunuch chose it. I don't know what it is either."
Meng Fuyao curled her lips halfway through her laughter. 'To hell with you, Zhan Beiye, can't you do a good deed till the end?'
Zhan Beiye, on the other hand, felt that he had made a huge concession, suffered a huge grievance, and expressed a huge apology. Ignoring Ya Lanzhu, he turned his head and stared at Fuyao. "I still don't know when your birthday is."
Meng Fuyao raised her nose in the air. "I was born from a rock. Go ask a rock."
Zhan Beiye swallowed his anger and changed the topic. "Let's go see your new mansion, shall we? I've already sent people to build a mansion for you in Changhan. Which county do you like? Qiao County is near the water and has a better view. Gan County has the most resources among the six counties … "
"Say, Your Majesty, are you that free?" Meng Fuyao held Ya Lanzhu's hand. "You're late to send Yun Hen off, yet you have the time to ask me which county I want to build my mansion in?"
Zhan Beiye raised his eyebrows. He was about to explode in anger, but somehow managed to suppress it. "Fuyao, I know you're angry about what happened the other day …"
"Ah, Zhuzhu, I remember there's a restaurant in the city that has really fragrant wine. Let's go drink, shall we?" Meng Fuyao's loud voice drowned out Zhan Beiye's words. She pulled Ya Lanzhu, who was listening attentively, and hurried away. "My treat, you pay …"
Zhan Beiye looked up and saw her fleeing figure. After a long time, he smiled bitterly. Behind him, Xiao Qi said in a rough voice, "Your Majesty, beat her up!"
Zhan Beiye turned around and glared at him.
Xiao Qi was not afraid at all. "There are also disobedient women in my place who don't know what's good for them. It's easy to deal with them. Tie them up, lock them up in the woodshed, and give them a whipping. In the future, they'll just be obedient and take care of their husband and children. That's the right thing to do!"
Zhan Beiye was both angry and amused. He could not help but curse, "Idiot!"
"Your Majesty, good women are made by beating them up. Listening to me is the right thing to do!" Xiao Qi insisted.
Zhan Beiye was frustrated and restless. On one hand, he was thinking about Meng Fuyao, and on the other, he was thinking about the pile of documents in the imperial study. How could he be in the mood to listen to Xiao Qi's nonsense? He impatiently urged his horse back to the palace. "If you're so capable, go ahead and beat them up!"
Feeling gloomy, he whipped his black horse and galloped away like a dragon, leaving a trail of dark yellow smoke on the official road.
Xiao Qi was a little slower. He sat on the horse with his chin in his hand, thinking about the last sentence of the imperial edict seriously …
That's why it's said that when one is unlucky, one's words will make a mistake.
That's why it's said that misunderstandings arise from the collision of words …
= = =
"I'm a pervert from the north …"
"Two tigers, two tigers run fast, run fast …"
"Zhi zhi zhi zhi zhi zhi —"
Night fell. Two men and a mouse appeared at the end of the road. They supported each other as they stumbled over the horizon. The guards followed them from a distance, not daring to get close to the two drunkards. One would hug someone and cry, while the other would grab someone and beat them up. No one was allowed to touch them.
With great difficulty, they arrived at the governor's residence. Zhangsun Wuji and Tie Cheng came out to welcome them. Tie Cheng escorted Ya Lanzhu away while Zhangsun Wuji carried the drunkard in one hand and the drunkard in the other. He dragged his two intoxicated pets back to their room.
The drunkard glanced at him and immediately retracted his half-extended fist. Beat up the heavens, beat up the earth, beat up the emperor, but not the crown prince. The crown prince was poisonous.
The last time he was injured, she had been a cook for a long time. She had been replaced by a medicine master and a masseuse … But then again, the crown prince's figure was still very good … and he was very pleasing to the eye … She looked at him to her heart's content …
A certain someone chuckled, inadvertently making a few droplets of saliva …
Zhangsun Wuji personally tidied her up and wrapped her in a blanket. He sat by the bed and looked at her worriedly. "You're such a drunkard. Your status is getting higher and higher, and no one can control you. If I'm not around, who will take care of you when you get drunk?"
Meng Fuyao chuckled and reached out to touch the beautiful face in front of her. She felt dizzy and used both her claws to hold it in place. "Beauty … I … can take care of the entire imperial court, but can't I take care of … myself?"
Zhangsun Wuji smiled, took off her wolf claws, pinched them in his palm, and used his fingertips to slowly touch her fingertips one by one. He raised his head slightly, as if he wanted to read her misty heart through their interlocking fingers.
His half-raised face was bathed in the moonlight. His calmness had a different kind of intensity. His slightly furrowed brows were filled with worldly affairs, as beautiful as smoke.
After a while, he said, "You've been struggling for half your life. Your path is in front of you, and your heart is on the other side. Yet … you're not willing to stop for anyone."
Meng Fuyao slept soundly in his palm, her saliva dripping from her mouth.
Zhangsun Wuji slowly retracted his fingertips and looked into the distance. After a while, he said, "Fuyao, I've received a message from my master. I have to make a trip back."
Fuyao flipped over and let out an "Oh".
"I might not hear from you for some time." Zhangsun Wuji frowned and patted her shoulder. "You have to be careful."
Meng Fuyao burped, grabbed Lord Ingot, and shook him.
"I'll leave Ingot to you." Zhangsun Wuji hesitated. "Just try to protect yourself and use his ability less."
Meng Fuyao snorted. 'I have to rely on a mouse to save me? Save it. '
Zhangsun Wuji did not speak. He leaned against the headboard and held her in his arms. Meng Fuyao rested her head on his thighs lazily and did not want to move. She was wrapped in his unique fragrance, half suspended and half floating, as if she was trapped in a blurry dream. In the dream, the floating clouds were endless, and the lonely city was as beautiful as a bright flower. Above the Nine Heavens, one could see the smoke and dust of 100,000 miles. Countless snow-colored flowers slowly fell, covering the 3,000 jade steps in a mess. She did not know where the flowers came from, but in the depths of the clouds, a person looked back and smiled. She was young and beautiful, with a beauty that could topple cities.
She was intoxicated in that kind of dream. In that person's arms, wrapped in his fragrance and warmth, she had the most beautiful dream of her life.
It was just like that.
When the sky shone on the bed, the temperature gradually dropped, and the faint fragrance finally dissipated.
Meng Fuyao did not get up. She closed her eyes and laid face down. The temperature seemed to be there, and the fragrance seemed to be there. That fragrance was really strange. She had always felt that it was warm, but now that she was leaning on the bed and smelling it carefully, it was like the cold scent of snow. Perhaps it was because the person who could bring warmth had left?
She was drunk last night, but she was not.
She just knew that he would leave eventually and did not want to face it.
She had always been trying to escape, but she was afraid of parting, especially after such a lively gathering. It was more and more desolate, like the end of a grand banquet. She cleaned up the empty bowls alone, and the leftovers of the lamp and the warm smell of the soup flowed between her fingers.
But some things did not mean that she had to retreat from fear. If she could not adapt to parting now, she would be even more lonely and pale as snow in the future.
May time be as sharp as a scissor, cutting away the creases in her heart, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Meng Fuyao got up and sat on the bed. There were marks on the bedsheets, left by him holding her for an entire night. She reached out to smooth the bedsheets, but stopped in the end.
After a moment of silence, she got up and washed up. Today was the day she was officially conferred the title of Emperor. After being lazy for so many days, she should at least give the new Emperor some face and go to court.
After breakfast, she called Tie Cheng over and ordered him to bring some guards to the Changhan fief. Yao Xun had already gone to Changhan with Zhan Beiye's generous rewards, but Tie Cheng did not agree. "I'll be wherever you are," he replied simply.
"Then you should stay at home today. Someone has to take care of Princess Ya, and Mr. Zong is not around. I don't know where he went. For safety's sake, I have not hired a housekeeper. Now that Yao Xun is not around, you don't have to go to court with me."
Tie Cheng thought about it and finally agreed. Meng Fuyao changed into her royal robe and stroked her hair coquettishly in front of the bronze mirror for a long time. She was so famous now that she would be surrounded the moment she stepped out. She had specially made herself a pair of black crystal sunglasses, which gave her the feeling of a celebrity from her previous life.
Life was short, and the sun was high up in the sky. It was rare for Emperor Han to attend morning court. When Meng Fuyao appeared in the main hall, all the officials, big and small, fell to their knees. Some of the new officials did not know her, so they quietly asked about her. Then, they realized that it was King Meng, the one who had publicly declared on the city wall that he wanted to be a second minister.
Meng Fuyao sat in a corner quietly, drinking tea and dealing with the endless greetings.
"Your Highness is well …"
"Well said, well said. He's dying of sickness."
"…"
"Your Highness is lucky …"
"Well said, well said. The weather is good today."
"…"
"Your Highness."
"Well said, well said …"
Meng Fuyao looked up at the familiar voice.
"His Majesty invites you to the Summer Palace after the court. He has something important to discuss."
Meng Fuyao stared at Xiao Qi suspiciously. What important matter did Zhan Beiye have to discuss with her in the Summer Palace instead of in the court or the palace? However, she could not question him under the watchful eyes of the crowd, so she could only nod.
Xiao Qi bowed and walked out with a straight face. Looking at his silhouette, Meng Fuyao found it strange, but thinking that he was never one to lie, she felt relieved. It was most likely Zhan Beiye's doing.
At that moment, the golden bell rang, and everyone entered the hall to stand guard. The hall was high up in the sky, and no one could even hear a cough. There was a golden table in the middle of the hall, with golden books and golden seals on display. Meng Fuyao stood in the middle, counting the boxes in boredom as she waited. At the same time, she estimated the weight of the golden seals. Suddenly, a eunuch called out, "His Majesty has arrived!"
All the officials knelt down again. Only then did Meng Fuyao remember this serious problem. She had to bow down to Zhan Beiye!
At that moment, everyone in the hall was kneeling except for Meng Fuyao, which made her look like an eyesore. She rubbed her nose and slowly decided to kneel. Suddenly, Zhan Beiye said in a low voice, "I heard that Minister Meng's knees have caught a cold recently. Can you help me?"
"Ah, Your Majesty." Meng Fuyao beamed and immediately rubbed her knees. "I can't, my legs are cold …"
The officials stared at the 18-year-old 'cold legs' in disdain, but Meng Fuyao remained unmoved. Zhan Beiye's dark eyes glanced at her face. "Then you don't have to kneel."
"Your humble servant thanks you!" Meng Fuyao answered cheerfully. She felt that Zhan Beiye was quite obedient at times and could be forgiven at her discretion.
The golden bell rang again, and she stood in front of the golden table. According to Tiansha's tradition, a prince would be conferred a title of First Rank and Deputy Envoy, with the First Rank and Deputy Envoy being conferred the title of First Rank. But today, Meng Fuyao was conferred the title of First Rank by two old officials from the previous dynasty. This was an additional favor. A low murmur broke out among the officials, but Zhan Beiye glanced over and the murmur stopped immediately.
Although it had not been long since the new Emperor ascended the throne, the officials had more or less figured out Zhan Beiye's character. Although the new Emperor was kind, his temperament was not benevolent. He acted swiftly and decisively, combining leniency with strictness. He was also very proficient in political affairs, which could be seen from how he managed to straighten out the already messy state of affairs in just a short period of time. Although no one could understand how an idle prince like him had learned to be so proficient in political affairs, it was a fact that the new Emperor had quickly established his authority in such a short period of time. The embryonic form of the Great Han Overlord had already appeared, and with just a glance from him, everyone was in awe.
The two old officials finished reading the imperial edict. One held the golden book, while the other held the golden seal. Under Xiao Qi's guidance, they walked towards Meng Fuyao. Other than the prince himself, no one else was allowed to touch the golden book or seal. The old official presented the tray to Meng Fuyao, who was already bowing in anticipation of the edict. She quickly reached out with a grin and accepted the tray.
She took it carelessly. She really didn't think that there would be anything wrong with the golden book written by Zhan Beiye in the imperial court under his eyes. She also didn't notice Xiao Qi's sudden grin.
The conferment of a prince was very grand, but the ceremony was simplified. Knowing Meng Fuyao's character, Zhan Beiye would definitely not be bothered by complicated formalities. Although he really wanted to take a few more glances at her from such a close distance, he had no choice but to end the ceremony early under her fierce, "Hurry up and end it, I want to pee!" stare.
After the ceremony, King Meng, who was supposed to be standing guard in the imperial court, did not do so. He took a leave of absence and leisurely walked out of the hall. Just as he turned a corner, Xiao Qi caught up to him and said, "King, His Majesty has asked you to wait for him in the Summer Palace. He has something important to discuss with you."
Meng Fuyao glanced at him and asked, "What is it? Must I go to the Summer Palace? I'll wait for him in the palace. "
Xiao Qi took out a slip of paper from his pocket and looked at it before stuffing it back. "His Majesty said that it's not convenient in the palace."
Meng Fuyao looked at him, amused and annoyed at the same time. She reached out to grab his sleeve. "There's still a trick up your sleeve?"
Xiao Qi dodged to the side and took out another slip of paper. With a straight face, he said, "His Majesty said that he wants to know why I have a trick up my sleeve. I'll wait for him in the Summer Palace."
His fingers in his sleeves quietly crushed the two pieces of paper. The paper was blank, and there was nothing on it. All the words he said, as well as the deliberate act of grabbing the small pieces of paper to read, were all strategies taught to him by the old guys in His Majesty's secret think tank. They were designed to deal with someone who was smart and cautious, but also very curious.
As expected, Meng Fuyao's curiosity was piqued. Laughing, she said, "So he knows how to play tricks now. Alright, I'll go."
She left the palace and mounted a horse, following Xiao Qi all the way to the Summer Palace on Mount Yu in the north of Pandu. The Summer Palace was not big, with only five layers. Xiao Qi led Meng Fuyao to the innermost part and stopped in front of the steps of the Huayin Pavilion in the inner palace.
Meng Fuyao saw an exquisite table and four snow-white jade stools in front of the Huayin Pavilion. They were exquisitely made and cute. She could not help but be delighted. "These stools look good. I'm not going in, it's stuffy. I'll just enjoy some tea outside." With that, she sat down.
"Boom!"
The stool suddenly caved in, and a large hole appeared in the ground. Meng Fuyao, who had complete trust in Zhan Beiye's subordinates, fell into it without any defense.
Then, the table was placed horizontally, and with a boom, the ground was sealed. Meng Fuyao's head immediately disappeared.
Meng Fuyao was shocked. When she turned around, she realized that she was in a sealed stone room with an underground passage. She quickly stretched out her palm and struck. Just as she was about to activate her Qi, the golden booklet in her sleeve suddenly fell to the ground with a clang. The booklet cracked open and emitted a faint smoke.
Meng Fuyao hurriedly held her breath. Unfortunately, the room was too small, and the smoke came quickly, so she still inhaled a little.
Feeling dizzy, she quickly closed her eyes and sat down to regulate her Qi. In the midst of her drowsiness, she heard Xiao Qi's laughter above her head.
"Haha, Your Majesty, didn't I lock her up now? I'll beat her up for you! "
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