The sound was like a clap of thunder in Meng Fuyao's ears, almost deafening her.
She had lost her skills!
Xuanyuan Cheng, who was smiling and talking with assurance, suddenly stopped and looked around suspiciously.
Meng Fuyao remained calm and immediately lifted the finger that had been placed on her knee. She looked at it awkwardly and muttered to herself, "I'm really not used to wearing armor, so I broke it again."
Half of the armor on her left middle finger had broken off.
Xuanyuan Cheng's gaze shifted as he retracted his wandering gaze.
Meng Fuyao was afraid that the sound would come again. Her armor could not be broken again, so she quickly coughed and covered her mouth with her sleeves. "Your Highness, you must be joking. I'm not used to the weather in Kunjing and have caught a cold." She turned to Chun Mei and ordered, "Go get Little An 'zi to bring me one of my Ginseng Calming Pills."
Chun Mei bowed and turned to leave. Xuanyuan Cheng suddenly said, "Empress has caught a cold? How can this be? Chun Mei, go to the front yard and get the doctor here. "
Meng Fuyao knew that An Mei was obviously unable to support the bone shrinkage. If she still had to walk to the front yard, there would be an accident. If that happened, she would not be by her side and would be entangled by Xuanyuan Cheng. It would be too late to save her.
"It's just a small cold. The palace has already given her a prescription to recuperate. I'm afraid it will clash with other medicines. Besides, it's late at night, so it's inconvenient." Meng Fuyao emphasized the word 'inconvenient'. 'It's also inconvenient for you, the Regent, to stay in my room.'
Xuanyuan Cheng still did not understand. He smiled and said, "Speaking of which, Her Highness is my sister. We're family, so what's the inconvenience?" He turned to Meng Fuyao and shouted at An Mei, "What are you waiting for?!"
The anger in Meng Fuyao's heart was burning so much that her temples seemed to be popping. She forcefully suppressed it and slowly walked over. "If that's the case, Chun Mei, you should go …" Xuanyuan Cheng's expression relaxed slightly. Suddenly, Meng Fuyao's body tilted and fell on An Mei's body. An Mei reached out to support her, but Meng Fuyao had already straightened herself and slapped him.
"Stupid girl! How many times have I told you not to leave the small incense burner under the table? You accidentally kicked it out and tripped me … Hurry up and clean it up! "
Her slap was extremely skillful. It sounded loud and clear, but the wind from her palm hit nothing but air. The long enamel and ruby nail sheaths on her fingers slashed down and tore An Mei's collar. An Mei hurriedly tried to cover it up. "What a disgrace! Where is this place for you to make a fool of yourself? An Zi, drag her out and let the nanny teach her properly! "
Her words were spoken as fast as the wind. Just as her voice fell, An Zi had already bowed and fiercely dragged 'Chun Mei' away. As he walked, he scolded: "You have been by Her Ladyship's side for a long time, how can you still be so careless? When we reach the Palace …" His voice gradually faded away, and in the distance there was the faint sound of a woman's sobbing.
Meng Fuyao 'angrily' turned around and forced a smile at Xuanyuan Cheng. "I've let you see a joke, Your Highness. Chunmei is a maid I brought from Chang Ning. She's not very nimble, but she's been serving me since young. Keeping her around is just a way to keep her around …" As she spoke, her eyes reddened.
Xuanyuan Cheng looked at her. He had indeed heard that although this Yuwen Zi was the eldest daughter of the Yuwen family in Chang Ning, because her mother died early, her concubine was quite neglected. Since her childhood, her treatment was not very noble, but her temperament was a bit fierce. Now it seemed that they were compatible, so he quickly smiled and said: "The Empress is filial and generous, I understand."
Meng Fuyao placed her hand on the table and raised her sleeve to cover her yawn. She glanced at the Golden Ziming Clock and smiled. "This Styrax is so tiring …"
Xuanyuan Cheng was shocked. He looked at the time and smiled apologetically. "I was too worried about the Empress and forgot the time. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
"You're too kind, Your Highness." Meng Fuyao returned the courtesy. "I admire Your Highness' way of talking. When we enter the palace, I hope you can give me some pointers." She then called for a servant. "Send His Highness off."
Since she had already asked someone to send Xuanyuan Cheng off, Xuanyuan Cheng did not want to stay any longer. He stood up and smiled. "Rest early, Your Highness. I will order the medical officer to move to the inner court and be at Your Highness' disposal."
At that moment, all she wanted was for him to leave as soon as possible, so she quickly agreed. Xuanyuan Cheng continued to nag at her, causing her to clench her fists. However, her expression did not change at all. Smiling, she gracefully escorted Xuanyuan Cheng to the second door. When she heard the commotion behind her, she blocked the door and stood still with a smile. Sure enough, Xuanyuan Cheng took a few steps forward and suddenly turned around. "Please go back and rest early, Your Highness."
His gaze swept across her face like a bolt of lightning. Finally, he relaxed a little because of her unhurried attitude and walked out.
Meng Fuyao slowly closed the door and called out to An, "An Zi, put down the curtain." "Chunmei, clean up and get some water to remove my makeup!"
Her voice was crisp and clear, but it was blocked by the closed door.
Once the door was closed, Meng Fuyao immediately turned around and rushed out.
She rushed inside and pushed the door open silently. An Mei was still standing behind the door in his Chunmei costume. He had not even changed out of his clothes.
Meng Fuyao saw that he had not returned to his original form and anxiously stomped her feet. "You, you, you … Why aren't you recovering?"
Only then did the sound of joints cracking could be heard. An Mei whispered, "What if he turns around …" Before he could finish his sentence, he had already collapsed.
Meng Fuyao reached out to support him, but before she could say anything, An Mei spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, dyeing half of her body bright red. In a moment of panic, Meng Fuyao sealed his major acupoints and moved him to the bed. Just as she was about to treat his injuries, the door behind her opened and An came in. "The Regent is outside the courtyard. He seems to be instructing someone, but I can't hear him."
"Is it possible for you to contact His Majesty?" Meng Fuyao turned around, her eyes bloodshot. "Xuanyuan Cheng is still suspicious, and he will definitely make a move tonight. It's most likely to be an assassin coming to my place to ask me to search for him. I have to think of a way first."
An thought for a moment and said, "There is a way, but …"
"I don't care how you do it, but you have to think of a way to get Xuanyuan Min here. Otherwise, I'll just walk away, and all conditions will be for naught." Meng Fuyao interrupted him impatiently. "Be quick!"
An thought for a moment, bowed, and left.
= = =
It was another sleepless night.
In the middle of the night, the quiet Regent's Residence was suddenly interrupted by a shout of "Assassin!" Following that, a beam of fire swept across the night sky, instantly illuminating the dark Prince's Mansion.
Everyone moved very quickly, exceeding the efficiency of normal situations. The guards were all neatly dressed and appeared where they should be. The regent quickly came out of his bedroom. His robe buttons were not out of place, and his eyes were wide awake as if he had not slept at all. The crowd quickly surrounded him in an instant, not leaving a single blind spot.
The appearance of the 'assassin' was very strange. It seemed to be everywhere, and yet it also seemed to be everywhere. The guards were in a mess, gradually moving from the front yard to the back yard, from the back yard to the inner yard, and from the inner yard to … the real destination.
"Your Majesty! An assassin has infiltrated the inner yard of the Regent's Residence. For safety's sake, this humble subject requests that you move. This humble subject accepts his punishment for alerting you. " Xuanyuan Cheng's strong voice resounded throughout the backyard after the guards surrounded Yixin Residence.
There was no movement from Yixin Residence.
Xuanyuan Cheng raised his eyebrows. After a while, he repeated his words. His voice did not sound loud, but it lingered for a long time. Not only the entire Regent's Residence, but even the palace could probably hear him.
This time, there was finally movement. After a while, a lazy and charming female voice came from Yixin Residence. She said lazily, "I am very safe here. Why move around in the middle of the night? Just stay here. "
Xuanyuan Cheng raised his eyebrows, suspicion flashing in his eyes. He said in a low voice, "Since Your Majesty is in Prince Cheng's Residence, this humble subject is responsible for Your Majesty's safety. I dare not relax. Your Majesty's wedding is imminent. If anything were to happen to this humble subject in the Regent's Residence, this humble subject would not be able to absolve himself of the blame.
The courtyard was silent again. After a while, Meng Fuyao replied, "It has nothing to do with Your Highness. If there is anything wrong, I will accept it myself."
The suspicion in Xuanyuan Cheng's eyes deepened. Previously, when he stepped out of his daughter's room, he vaguely saw something flashing on top of the wall of Yixin Residence. It was so fast that it seemed as if it had never appeared. Later on, in Yuwen Zi's room, he seemed to have heard something strange. At that time, he couldn't figure out what it was. Later on, when he thought about it, he felt that it was the sound of joints moving. He was sure that the sound did not come from Yuwen Zi, so who could it be? At that time, the room was full of people. There was no doubt that he had brought those with him. The rest must have been Yuwen Zi's people. When he thought about the shadow on top of the wall, how could he not be afraid?
Although this Yuwen Zi was impeccable and very compatible with his memories, what about the people around her? Moreover, Yuwen Zi had repeatedly refused to let him enter, which made Xuanyuan Cheng even more suspicious.
If it was just a cloud of suspicion before, it was now a heavy haze that had to be broken.
"You must be joking, Your Highness. You are a woman. If an assassin were to break in and hide, how could you protect yourself?" Xuanyuan Cheng said in a clear voice, "Your Highness's safety is my responsibility and cannot be neglected. Please come with me!"
He waved his hand, and the thousands of guards shouted in unison, "Please come with me! Please come with me! "
The deafening sound wave enveloped the entire courtyard, causing the copper bells under the eaves to ring slightly.
"Sigh …" a helpless female voice sounded. After a while, Meng Fuyao sighed and said, "Then please come in alone, Your Highness."
Xuanyuan Cheng was stunned. She continued, "Your Highness is my brother, and there is nothing to avoid. It's just that … it's just that … please come in."
She stuttered, which made Xuanyuan Cheng's eyes flicker. After some thought, he said, "Your Highness understands."
The leader of the guards hurried over and tried to dissuade him. "Your Highness, your precious body …"
"It's fine." Xuanyuan Cheng smiled politely, but there was a hint of arrogance in his tone. "There is no one in the world who can take my life in one move, not even Senior Brother."
Under the illumination of the torches, he pushed open the door of Yixin Residence alone. The courtyard door opened soundlessly, and the three entrances to the courtyard were shrouded in darkness. The light from outside the walls only illuminated the area in front of the door. Beyond that was a deep and mysterious darkness. His heart skipped a beat.
But he quickly calmed down. What could it be? Killing? Assassins? Spies in hiding? Very well, he would not be able to return.
His green satin boots tapped on the marble floor, and the sound of his footsteps faded away. The courtyard was strangely quiet, so much so that after three entrances, there seemed to be a faint chuckle.
Xuanyuan Cheng stopped in his tracks, his eyes filled with doubt.
'Laughter?'
It was in the middle of the night, and the lights were not lit. Surrounded by thousands of murderous soldiers, it was indeed strange to hear laughter.
Xuanyuan Cheng snorted coldly in his heart. 'Is this a diversion? Do you want to force me to retreat? '
He lifted the sleeves of his robe and walked a little faster with all the zhenqi in his body. Wherever he walked, the stone floor was as flat as it was before, but after he walked away, faint cracks appeared, extending all the way to the bottom.
He quickly entered the third courtyard, but there was still no one.
The laughter suddenly disappeared.
The courtyard was so quiet that it seemed as if there was no one there, but it also seemed as if the entire courtyard was filled with people's spying eyes. They were lurking in the corners, behind the walls, and in the depths of the flowers and trees. Xuanyuan Cheng took a deep breath. Was the opponent very good at psychological warfare? He could not help but feel nervous without making a sound.
He was not willing to be manipulated like this, and suddenly shouted in a low voice, "Empress, I have been impolite!"
His palm came first, and his voice came later. Before he could finish saying "Empress", he had already smashed open the tightly shut door of the inner room with his palm!
"Boom —" The heavy door of the hall hit the wall, and even the room seemed to shake. All the windows were smashed open by this sound, which was not surprising but contained a subtle force. The scene inside was completely exposed to Xuanyuan Cheng's eagle-like eyes.
"Cha —"
After a low sound, the lights were turned on, and the entire room was instantly filled with light.
Then he heard the soft voice of a woman murmuring, "I'm here … Let me get up … What a scandal …" Halfway through her words, she seemed to be blocked by something, and then there was a burst of soft laughter, which seemed to be accompanied by a man's deep laughter.
Xuanyuan Cheng was stunned.
Under the bright light, the lustful man with half-naked upper body and a pajamas draped diagonally, revealing half of his jade-like shoulders. He walked over and leaned on the frosted window with a smile, "Regent, you're such a killjoy. I'm just joking with you."
Behind him, there was a room with pink curtains and a half-closed screen. Behind the screen, "Yuwen Zi" sat up, her hair in a messy bun and the corners of her eyes reddened. She was barely able to maintain her dignified demeanor. She was shy and silent, but from her scattered brows and slightly red eyes, one could tell that she had just gone through a storm and a spring breeze.
Xuanyuan Cheng didn't expect to see such an awkward scene. He stood there in a daze for a while before looking away and bowing. "This subject is sorry … But why is Your Majesty here …"
"We have been here for a long time …" Xuanyuan Min poked his cheek with a finger and smiled. "Mm … We even heard you talking to our empress."
Xuanyuan Cheng was startled again, and he said suspiciously, "You have been here for a long time."
"Yes." Xuanyuan Min smiled. "One day apart from Zi 'er feels like three years. We have been here for a long time. We have been mixed in with the guards that escorted her into the palace. Your Highness, you went to see Yun' er after receiving the empress. You didn't notice us, did you?"
Xuanyuan Cheng didn't speak. His eyes flashed as if he was thinking. After a while, he said, "Your Majesty, this behavior is not appropriate. You … are too absurd …"
"Alright, alright." Xuanyuan Min waved his hand, and the loose outer robe fell off. He didn't try to cover himself, and calmly stood naked. He called for the maids, "Your palace has three rooms, and it is also part of my imperial palace. Zhen is visiting my empress, what can't be done … Chun Mei, help niangniang to take a bath. An Zi, bring zhen's clothes. Zhen will wear them and talk to the regent."
Someone responded with a sweet voice and came in to help "Yuwen Zi" up. It was a pretty and ordinary maid who looked exactly like Chun Mei. She helped "Yuwen Zi" dress nimbly, while An Zi quickly stepped forward to help the yawning Xuanyuan Min put on his clothes.
Xuanyuan Cheng took a step back, and his eyes swept across the three rooms. The windows were all open, and he could see everything. The bedding in the small room was open. It looked like the place Chun Mei had just slept in. An Zi's eyes were closed. There was a short couch at the entrance of the inner hall that he slept on — everything looked very normal.
So normal that he had no excuse to stay any longer.
Taking a step back, Xuanyuan Cheng said, "It's late, and we still have court tomorrow morning. Your Majesty, rest early. This humble subject will take his leave."
"You're not going to talk?" Xuanyuan Min stopped, and said with a little disappointment, "I heard you and the empress talking about the seven kingdoms. Zhen was very interested in hearing about the witch of Xuelun." He patted his cheeks and said excitedly, "Every time after I have sex, I feel especially refreshed. Right, I have a prescription, a secret prescription to strengthen my sex drive and give birth …"
"Your Majesty, please take care of your dragon body. This humble subject will take his leave." Xuanyuan Cheng finally couldn't bear this topic anymore, but He Ya resolutely interrupted him. She bowed slightly and left. Then, they heard his order, and the guards who had been busy guarding for most of the night left dispiritedly.
In front of the window, Xuanyuan Min stood for a long time, watching Xuanyuan Cheng's silhouette disappear into the darkness. The three gates of the courtyard closed behind him. His eyes revealed a trace of a sneer.
That expression disappeared in a flash. Then, he lazily turned around, waved his sleeves, and pounced on "Yuwen Zi" on the bed. "Aiya, my Zi Tong, let's fight for another 300 rounds …"
"Bang!"
Meng Fuyao stomped on him, flattening the emperor who had come to save her in the middle of the night …
"If you dare to make it real, I'll beat you into a fake phoenix!"
She kicked away the clingy emperor and flipped over the bed that was inlaid with gold and jade. Then, she carried the semi-conscious An Mei out from underneath. She recalled how she had pretended to be intimate with the dead emperor on the bed, and how she had pinched her throat and pretended to be lewd. Did the unlucky fellow under the bed hear her? Did he hear her? Did he hear her? How embarrassing! I've never made such a flirtatious sound in my entire life, and I even did it in front of another man. My reputation has gone down the drain … '
Seeing that An Mei's eyelashes were trembling, but he did not seem to be awake, Meng Fuyao heaved a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to examine his injuries, Xuanyuan Min suddenly came over and took An Mei. "Let me take a look."
"You?" Meng Fuyao cast a sidelong glance at him, not trusting him.
"I won't let you take a look? Don't you know that men and women shouldn't touch each other? "
'Now this damned actor knows how to say that men and women shouldn't touch each other.' Fuyao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She stepped out of the room, but in the blink of an eye, she gestured to Lord Ingot, who had been hiding, to climb onto the roof beam and help her keep a close watch.
There was no helping it. Everyone in Xuanyuan was wearing a mask and was unfathomable. She could not fully trust anyone and had to be vigilant at all times … Meng Fuyao propped her chin on her hand and looked at the flickering candlelight in the cold wind. She thought about Tie Cheng, who had been chased out of his residence in order to help her enter the palace. She thought about the Wuji Hidden Guard who had yet to approach her. She suddenly felt a strange sense of loneliness.
She did not know that as a troublemaker, her loneliness had always been temporary. In the neighboring country, someone was looking up at the dark Xuanyuan Weave with his dark eyes and was about to approach her …
= = =
The world was vast, and everyone had their own way of living. Prince Regent Xuanyuan's residence was filled with trepidation, while the capital of another country thousands of miles away, a famous city that should have been damaged by the flames of war, maintained a stable and peaceful transition to prosperity because of a certain person's contributions. Of course, this also had something to do with the Emperor's extraordinary diligence. The Hall of Diligent Government was really diligent, and the lights were often turned on throughout the night. Ever since the War Emperor had disappeared from the world, he had forgotten to sleep.
The twenty-sixth day of the eleventh month of the first year of the Great Han Dynasty. Night.
The Hall of Diligent Government was still brightly lit even after the fourth watch. Ji Yu, who was personally keeping watch, looked at the unextinguished light and the reflection of the iron-black figure bent over the table. He let out a long sigh for the 1,300th time.
A eunuch hurried over from the front, bringing with him an officer from the Intelligence Division. Ji Yu looked at the officer's frightened expression and couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
The officer handed over two letters and said with a bitter face, "One of them was placed at the bottom of the file by a new lowly official who didn't know the importance of it. It was only discovered today … I hope that you can put in a few good words for His Majesty …"
Ji Yu silently took it and nodded. His Majesty had indeed been in a bad mood recently, so he was reluctantly willing to listen to him.
He entered the hall and handed over the secret report.
"Your Majesty, the Intelligence Division has sent a secret pigeon report."
Zhan Beiye, who was frowning and deep in thought, had his eyes lit up. He grabbed the report and opened it. After reading it quickly, he slammed the secret report heavily on the table and said, "What does the Xuanyuan Empress have to do with This Emperor? Is this even worth sending a secret pigeon report? "
Ji Yu was silent … It seemed like all the movements of the Imperial Family were within the scope of the Intelligence Division's investigation …
"Your Majesty, there's another one." Seeing Zhan Beiye tossing the letter aside, not intending to read it, Ji Yu reminded him. Zhan Beiye frowned and reluctantly opened the second letter. He glanced at the date and immediately frowned. "What took you so long to send it here?"
Without waiting for Ji Yu to answer, his eyes suddenly narrowed. He quickly finished reading it, then turned back to read it again. He stared at the words closely, as if he wanted to swallow every word into his heart. After a long while, he finally shifted his gaze.
The hall fell silent, so quiet that it was a little strange.
"Pa!"
The letter was suddenly thrown with a thunderous force, like a steel plate, onto Ji Yu's face!
Zhan Beiye's roar could be heard throughout the entire Hall of Diligent Government.
"What took so long to send it here?!"
It was the same question, but the tone was different. Zhan Beiye's face was ashen, his eyes bloodshot, and his entire body was trembling.
Such an important secret report was actually delayed for an entire month!
Ji Yu silently knelt down and bent over. He had already seen the contents of the letter. As the head of the intelligence bureau, he could not escape the blame.
He prostrated on the ground and said bitterly, "This subject … is crippled, and it is difficult for Your Majesty to control the intelligence bureau. Your Majesty, please punish this subject, demote this subject from my position, as a warning to others …"
Zhan Beiye was shocked. He turned around and saw Ji Yu's empty sleeves hanging on the ground. His slouched shoulders were as thin as a knife, and his hair was already white. He suddenly thought of Ji Yu in the past. He was a handsome man, the most handsome commander of the Black Wind Cavalry. The ladies of Geya flocked to him like ducks. Even the most beautiful Hua Mu Zhenzhen of the Fufeng Roast Clan gave him a precious Hawksbill Turtle Pearl … In an instant, the world of mortals changed, and the young man was no longer there.
And the reason why he neglected his duty was because after Fu Yao left, he was afraid that something would happen to him, so he stayed by his side day and night, neglecting his duty as an intelligence bureau officer. In just a few short months, Ji Yu was even more haggard than him.
"Get up …" Zhan Beiye's heart was in turmoil, and after a while, he said tiredly, "It is just a trick of fate by the damned heavens …"
Ji Yu did not get up, but kowtowed again. "Your Majesty, a crime cannot go unpunished. This subject requests to be demoted from the position of the intelligence bureau officer."
"Even you are going to leave me?" Zhan Beiye looked at him bitterly, then turned around. His heavy and slender back was projected in front of the large landscape map on the wall, a hundred thousand miles of land, and a lonely person in front of a lone lamp.
Ji Yu looked at his back, and finally, tears flowed down his cheeks. He barely held back his sobs, and said in a low voice, "The imperial court is a place of honor, and we cannot allow crippled people to become officials. Ji Yu would rather die than let my Emperor be mocked by the world …"
"Who dares to mock you?" Zhan Beiye suddenly turned around. "You are a meritorious minister of the country, and have left your name in the Merit Pavilion. Anyone who dares to mock you will feel their head itching!"
"Your Majesty …" Ji Yu said softly, "This subject wishes to go to King Han's fief."
Zhan Beiye was stunned, and suddenly understood the painstaking efforts of this old subject. He looked at Ji Yu in a daze, then took a step back and sat down on the throne, his eyes red.
"Little Seven will eventually come back. He will definitely improve after this experience. This subject … is relieved." Ji Yu kowtowed again, then looked up and smiled. "This subject has been sending people to follow him. There is news from Xuanyuan that he has entered the Prince Regent's Residence … Your Majesty …"
"Hmm?" Zhan Beiye heard Ji Yu's words, and suddenly felt that something was wrong. He was thinking carefully, so he answered casually.
"King Han is in Xuanyuan, and …" Ji Yu's words were shocking, but it confirmed the suspicion that flashed in Zhan Beiye's mind. "This subject suspects that the new Empress that Xuanyuan suddenly appointed is her!"
Zhan Beiye suddenly stood up, and with one hand, flipped over the mountain of memorials in front of him.
"How dare she!"
= = =
The moment Zhan Beiye flipped over the table, on a distant mountain, a celestial cloud floated, and among the floating flowers, someone gently lifted a table.
"Junior Sister, you have really improved a lot. In a few days, I will not be your opponent anymore." In the jade pavilion, Zhangsun Wuji smiled, and placed the table that had been destroyed by Tai Yan neatly. He stretched out his hand and said, "I admit defeat, can you stop now?"
Tai Yan stood in front of him, but her face was green. After a while, she gritted her teeth and said, "Zhangsun Wuji, can you not be so disgusting? I've said it ten thousand times, I don't want you to give way! "
Zhangsun Wuji smiled and did not say anything. He walked to the railing of the bridge and looked at a distant place with a slight frown. The mist in the mountains beside him flowed like a brocade, rising from the jade white snow lotuses all over the ground, making him look like a celestial being.
"Whether you want to give way or not, it's up to you; whether you give way or not, it's up to me." He could always use the most understated tone to anger Tai Yan to death. Smiling as usual, he flicked his sleeves and walked away. "If you are not satisfied, just jump down from the sky."
He left Tai Yan, who was trembling with anger, behind him and turned around the corridor. When he looked up, he saw the old man in green standing there with a smile. He immediately bowed down respectfully.
"Master."
The old man looked at him with a smile. At first, his eyes were full of smiles, but when he looked again, he felt that there was nothing. He said, "Competing with Tai Yan again?"
Zhangsun Wuji smiled and said, "Junior Sister has improved a thousand miles every day. I am also happy for her."
The old man frowned and said, "Tai Yan's talent is limited. In the end, she will not be the most talented person in our sect and can be carried forward."
Zhangsun Wuji was silent.
The old man looked at him, his eyes like the mist in the mountains. He said lightly, "Are you still not willing?"
Zhangsun Wuji was silent for a moment and answered, "Uncle-Master's branch is a Heavenly Traveler. They have experienced the world for many years, they should …"
"That's my business." The old man interrupted him and stared at him for a while. Then, he said in an even more indifferent tone, "Wuji, you have always been my favorite disciple. You have never disappointed me. Why have you changed so much in less than a year?"
"Your disciple is unworthy of your painstaking efforts, Master." Zhangsun Wuji lifted his sleeves and knelt on the cold white jade ground. He did not say anything else.
The old man bowed his head slightly and looked at his proud disciple's gentle yet invulnerable posture. A trace of anger flashed in his eyes. After a while, he coldly flicked his sleeves.
"You can think about it here! You can get up when you understand. "
Zhangsun Wuji smiled. His robe spread out like snow, and he gently bent down in the cold and damp air.
"Yes."
= = =
The good luck belonged to Fuyao, and the bad luck belonged to her unlucky pursuers.
Some flipped tables, and some knelt. Two emperors had painstakingly tried to snatch her to be Empress, but she had run off to an unrelated country to be the Empress.
Fuyao's 13 days in the Prince's Mansion were finally over with suspicion, probing, spying, and being spied on.
Xuanyuan Cheng couldn't find anything suspicious about Yuwen Zi, and the appearance of Xuanyuan Min that night also explained the movement on the wall and the sound of the joints — Xuanyuan Min was very smart and didn't deliberately explain these two suspicious points. He left the answer blank and let Xuanyuan Cheng figure it out himself, which was more credible than his explanation.
It had to be said that Xuanyuan Min was not someone to be trifled with. He had actually remembered to bring along a palace maid with a similar figure to Chun Mei that night. He had replaced Chun Mei's mask and put it on her, allowing her to play the role of 'Chun Mei' for a while.
She could tell that Xuanyuan Min had been hiding his strength and biding his time for many years. Now that his wings had matured, he was planning to fight it out with Xuanyuan Cheng. Xuanyuan Cheng seemed to have noticed as well, or else he would not have been in such a hurry to appoint an Empress. What they were fighting for now was freedom and time. Xuanyuan Min needed her, the fake Empress, to help him get rid of the shackles in the palace. As for what his overall plan was, he would not say it, and Fuyao would not ask either. She had always cared about her friends who had been kind to her.
She did all these things for Zong Yue. But when she thought about it, she could not help but worry. Once Xuanyuan Cheng was dealt with, the relationship between Zong Yue and Xuanyuan Min would also be difficult to resolve. Once their common enemy was gone, internal trouble would arise. What would happen then?
The game of the world was like placing a chess piece on a chessboard. One wrong move and the whole game would be lost. Fuyao no longer took the lead in Xuanyuan Cheng's game. She was willing to be a chess piece in order to help Zong Yue in the future.
Even if she was a chess piece, she had to be a valiant one. That was her principle. Only when she was strong enough could she move forward in the dark, bloody, and conspiratorial world of the Five Continents. She had been training harder and harder lately. She had seen Xuanyuan Cheng's quick, nimble, and powerful steps on the sixth level of the Cleaving Nine Heavens, the Cloud Steps. She had gradually grasped the profundity of the Emperor and Empress's fast, nimble, and powerful steps.
On the sixth day of the twelfth month of the twelfth year of Xuanyuan Zhaoning, an auspicious day, the Emperor and Empress' wedding.
In the middle of the night, Fuyao woke up to do her makeup. After cleaning her skin, she twisted her face with a golden thread and applied a layer of pearl powder. She then used a delicate, silver scissors to trim her already neat and beautiful eyebrows. Using a brush as thin as a bamboo finger, she dipped it into Luozi Dai and applied it bit by bit. The color was as green as the distant mountains, a hazy yet noble beauty. After finishing her eyebrows, she casually lifted the corners of her eyes to form a beautiful arc. Like a phoenix spreading its wings, she smeared the powder on the corner of her eyes with a light purple deep-sea pearl powder mixed with oil. With a little smear, her already resplendent eyes were accentuated by the eyeshadow. She then used a slightly spoon-shaped golden hairpin to gently sip the powder from a jade box inlaid with rubies and sapphires. She then used her palm to dissolve the powder and spread it on her cheeks. Amidst the sweet fragrance, her complexion became brighter and brighter. After that, she dipped her lips in rose oil and combed her hair. She then changed into a bright yellow robe with five-colored patterns. She then coiled her hair into a bun and put on a phoenix coronet, adorned with kingfisher feathers and jade-like clouds. Eighteen plum blossoms made of pearls and gemstones encircled her, while a golden phoenix dragon held a jeweled tassel in its mouth.
Meng Fuyao held onto the even heavier phoenix coronet on her head. She felt as though the weight on her neck and the powder on her face were enough to crush her to death. 'Damn it, the Empress is really not meant for humans. I don't want to be the Empress anymore!' She touched her face.
She had to admit that Xuanyuan Min's mask making skills were almost on par with Zong Yue's. The masks they made were as thin as a cicada's wing and as exquisite as the real thing. She didn't know what kind of medicine was used to make them, but the pores were still able to be ventilated, allowing her to apply makeup directly on the mask. She remembered that she had once seen Zong Yue cleaning out his medicine box. There was a kind of mask that was so thin that one could clearly see one's fingerprints when holding it, and water droplets could seep through it. It was already a miracle that a mask could be made to such a degree.
The dressing nanny seemed to be very proud of her skills. She helped Meng Fuyao to the bronze mirror to fix her makeup. Meng Fuyao stared at the person in the mirror in a daze. She was luxurious, beautiful, and radiant. The entire room seemed to be illuminated by her beauty … It was too bright and dazzling.
Suddenly, a figure slowly appeared in the bronze mirror. She was dressed like a maid, but had a pair of bright, glass-like eyes. "She" silently sized up Meng Fuyao, who was dressed as the Empress. Her gaze was a little strange. It was so deep and distant that it surged like waves, as though it wanted to drown the person in front of it.
Meng Fuyao gave "Chun Mei" a big, heartless smile. She was in a good mood today. She had been worried about An Mei. That night, he had forced himself to shrink his bones. After half an hour, he continued to do so for her safety. His injuries had worsened, and Meng Fuyao was afraid that he would be left with a permanent illness. She had offered to take his pulse several times, but he had refused. She was also worried that An Mei would be a 'personal maid' on the day of the wedding. How could his body take it? Fortunately, there was a hair-combing nanny from the palace that day, so "Chun Mei" didn't have to do anything. She could just follow him to the carriage later. Meng Fuyao was relieved, and her mood immediately improved. She didn't have many objections to being the Empress.
She scratched her ears and cheeks, thinking that it was a pity that she was unlucky. Xuanyuan Cheng was too smart. Otherwise, she would have thought of a way to escape from the palace within these three days … Sigh, forget it. There were some things that should be done to the end.
Outside the courtyard, the Prince Regent had already led the Minister of Rites and the Imperial Censor to urge them. An incense table had been set up in the courtyard. Meng Fuyao received the imperial edict to confer the title of Empress and casually placed it on the golden plate in the hands of the matron of honor. She thought that it was better not to take too many golden books. The last time she had a vassal king in Da Han, he had caused her to end up in Xuanyuan. If she were to accept another one, even if it was someone else's name, she would probably be blown to Fufeng.
After the conferment ceremony, it was time for the welcoming ceremony. Meng Fuyao first sat in the imperial sedan in the inner courtyard, and then went to the front courtyard to change into a bright yellow sedan. The sedan slowly passed by, and Meng Fuyao casually lifted the curtain to take a look. On both sides of the road, there were some workers who had been working overnight to decorate the flowers. They carefully avoided the sedan, kneeling behind the flowers or walls. Meng Fuyao's gaze swept past, and she suddenly felt a familiar figure. However, the sedan passed quickly, and she didn't have the chance to see it clearly.
That figure was Xiao Qi. He was busy fixing a crooked flower while deep in thought. He hadn't seen Meng Fuyao since entering the palace for a few days, and he didn't know where she was either. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't care about the so-called Empress' imperial sedan. Instead, a worker beside him pulled him and whispered, "Hey, the Empress is here. Kneel!"
Xiao Qi raised his head and glared at him fiercely, causing him to shrink back. Xiao Qi slowly knelt down, still not lifting his head. He felt the sedan pass by, and a pair of eyes seemed to glance at him for a moment before disappearing in the blink of an eye. He raised his head indifferently and continued with his work.
The sedan stopped in front of the screen wall, and the bright yellow sedan waited for Meng Fuyao to change to it. She got off the sedan and looked at the eunuchs and palace maids standing with their heads lowered, not even coughing. Although the drums and trumpets outside the gate were loud, they were only filled with the solemn atmosphere of the royal family. She couldn't help but laugh, and suddenly felt playful. She placed her hands behind her waist, and pointed at Chun Mei, who was sitting in the carriage behind her, with her index and middle fingers forming a pair of scissors.
It was a gesture of victory that belonged to her alone.
Xiao Qi suddenly straightened his back.
He recognized this gesture!
During the battle outside Pandu City, he had been beside His Majesty, and the young man in black had silently plotted to kill Xie Yu. After he had succeeded, he had also made the same strange gesture to His Majesty!
It was her!
Xiao Qi was stunned, clutching the flowers in his hand tightly. She … How could she become the Empress of Xuanyuan?
What would happen to His Majesty if she became the Empress?
He watched as she reluctantly accepted the Ruyi and apple from the royal matron of honor, who was waiting beside the sedan, and entered the sedan. The moment the sedan's curtain was lowered, Meng Fuyao's eyes rolled around like a lively koi fish in clear water. Xiao Qi no longer had any doubts. It was indeed her!
The music started, and the sedan went far away amidst tens of thousands of people kneeling on the streets. Xiao Qi threw away the flowers in his hand and strode out.
His companions behind him seemed to be calling him anxiously, but he didn't hear them at all. He was only thinking about his next target.
He was going to find Eunuch Zhao. He wanted to enter the palace!
= = =
The moment the sedan rose in front of the Prince Regent's Residence, the Han Emperor and his entourage were respectfully welcomed by the Ministry of Rites at the gates of Kunjing.
Although the Xuanyuan officials secretly wondered why the Han Emperor, who had just succeeded the throne, would take time out to attend His Majesty's wedding, they didn't show it on their faces and led the way with a smile.
Zhan Beiye reined in his horse at the city gate, and his dark iron-wood eyes met the brilliant palace in the center of the city. The wind and clouds surged in his eyes, and a storm was coming.
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