"I'm asking for lucky money." A pair of snow-white hands opened up on the long table, holding onto a specially made red envelope. It was extremely large, with a circumference of three feet.
Squatting beside the snow-white hands was a snow-white ball, which immediately followed suit and opened up a fat pocket. The pocket was extremely wide, measuring ten inches in length and width.
The man and the mouse stared at the rich man opposite them with shining eyes.
Jin Zhu leisurely leaned against the back of the chair and tapped his fingers on the table. He first glanced at a certain ball and said, "Ingot, from you, I finally understand the meaning of 'those who stay with ink are stained black'."
The depraved Ingot went to the corner of the wall in shame.
In the dictionary of the valiant Great King Meng, there were no words like "retreating without a fight" or "feeling ashamed of one's inferiority". He continued to hand over the red envelope and said with a wretched smile, "I don't ask for much. I just want a thousand taels of silver worth of banknotes to fill this red envelope. I believe the honorable Crown Prince will not refuse my small request."
The Crown Prince smiled and glanced at her. "Don't worry, no one in the world would dare to mistreat you, King Meng."
"Oh?" Meng Fuyao rested her chin on her hand.
"I'm worried about your rabbit running around."
Meng Fuyao grinned. "Coming from that iceberg Ji Yu's mouth, it's really effective … Eh, why is he the one leading the army? Does Zhan Beiye not want him anymore? "
"Perhaps," the Crown Prince said evilly. The Crown Prince said evilly, "You should know that there are rules in every country's imperial court. Ji Yu's situation cannot be an official."
Meng Fuyao glanced at him with a smile. "Shameless, really shameless."
"You flatter me," Zhangsun Wuji said modestly.
Meng Fuyao was helpless. The Crown Prince's skin was as thick as the city walls, and his heart was as black as ink. She might as well count on Zhan Beiye to dance naked in front of everyone. She could only change the topic. "Hey, are we going to He Xuanji to ascend the throne? But you haven't told us who the female lead is. "
"I don't know. He didn't even write the female lead's name. I wonder what Fengxuan is up to, "Zhangsun Wuji said.
"Fengxuan isn't dead?" Meng Fuyao was stunned. "If she's not dead, what position will the new emperor inherit?"
There are many examples like this in the Five States Continent. Taiyuan once had too many sons, and the old emperor had no choice but to abdicate the throne. Now that Xuanji not only has many sons, but also many daughters, it's only natural that they're even more at odds. "Zhangsun Wuji smiled and said," But from what I see, things aren't that simple. "
"How many kids are there? I've only seen three. "
"Eight men and nine women. There were more before, but those who should have died are all dead."
"So fertile …" Fuyao sighed. "Litter after litter like pigs."
Zhangsun Wuji glanced at her, his eyes seeming to be smiling yet not smiling. After a while, he said, "In view of your habit of stirring up trouble wherever you go, I will first give you a simple summary of that group of pigs' information."
"There's no need for that, is there?" Meng Fuyao knocked on the table and smiled. "Is there anyone else who's being oppressed or bullied that needs my help to snatch the throne? Ah … Brother Yun Hen Yun, you seem to be quite far from the throne, right? "
"There are many things in this world that are hard to say." Zhangsun Wuji smiled, "I can't guarantee that Xuanji will cry and beg you to be the Emperor when she sees you, Great King Meng, looking handsome and elegant."
"That makes sense." Realization dawned on Fuyao and she waved her hand. "Let's hear it."
"The Empress's two sons and two daughters are the most competitive, followed by Imperial Consort Rong's two daughters and one son. The Eldest Princess and the eldest son are both under her name. Consort Ning's family is powerful, and her Third Prince also has a high status. It's said that he's well-versed in both literature and martial arts, and is doted on by Fengxuan. As for the other concubines and palace maids' children, there's no lack of outstanding talents.
Why are the Empress' children the youngest? "" That's not right … "Fuyao looked down at the Xuanji princes and princesses' information in her hands." The Xuanji princes and princesses are so old, so why are the Empress' children the youngest? After the Empress, none of the concubines had children? That doesn't make sense. According to age, Fengxuan should have been able to give birth to children at that time. Could it be that she got tired of marrying too many wives and giving birth to too many children? "
"Fengxuan's current Empress is the second empress, and she's much younger than Fengxuan and the other concubines." Zhangsun Wuji smiled meaningfully. "She's known throughout the five continents for her jealousy and ferocity."
Fuyao laughed. "Imperial Consort Wan?"
Zhangsun Wuji looked at her questioningly. Fuyao waved her hand. "Nothing, I just remembered a certain period of history. The jealous Imperial Consort Wan didn't allow other women to give birth to princes. It's really the same as Empress Xuanji, haha."
A thought flashed across her mind, but it disappeared in the blink of an eye. Zhangsun Wuji stared deeply at her and said, "Fuyao, which country and dynasty is your history from?"
Fuyao choked, thinking that she had spilled the beans again when she relaxed. Zhangsun Wuji said, "Fuyao, don't talk about your strange history in front of others in the future."
"Oh," Fuyao replied. She didn't think too deeply about Zhangsun Wuji's words, thinking that it was indeed better to speak less. She stood up and stretched. "I'm hungry. Let the innkeeper serve the dishes. Sigh, it's a lonely New Year's Eve dinner."
She stretched her head out of the window and looked at the lights outside the inn. She heard the faint noise of toasting and toasting in the distance. She sighed and said, "I've never seen a table full of people having a New Year's Eve dinner …"
"Who told you to run so fast?" Zhangsun Wuji patted her head. "You insisted on leaving Kunjing yesterday. Otherwise, Zongyue would have invited all the court officials to drink with you at Chengming Hall tonight."
"Forget it then," Fuyao sighed. Meng Fuyao sighed. "I don't want to stay in Kunjing. I don't want to see the devastation, the unwiped blood at the corner of the wall, and the half-burnt Heaven Descent Tower. It reminds me of the father and daughter hanging on the fourth floor … Xuanyuan Cheng deserved to die, but what wrong did Xuanyuan Yun do? In short … it's all my fault. "
She placed her hand on the windowsill and looked at the peaceful lights of this small city near the border of Xuanyuan City. After a while, she smiled and said, "The ruins of the buildings can be rebuilt, but the ruins of the people's hearts can't be restored … I hope Zongyue can give the people a chance to recuperate. I hope he can be a good and obedient emperor …"
"Fuyao." The voice of the man behind her was gentle, and then she felt warmth on her back. She was already in his arms. Her back was pressed against his chest, and she could feel the calm, powerful, and broad heartbeat under her clothes. She listened quietly, and in his warmth and rhythm, she felt her heavy heartbeat gradually ease. It rose and fell with the same rhythm as him, like a finger touching the strings of a zither. The clear and elegant sound dispelled the last bit of loneliness at the end of the cold night in this small city.
"No matter what, I'm here."
She smiled and looked at Zhangsun Wuji's slender silhouette on the wall in front of her. She slowly stretched out her finger and slowly drew a heart where the heart of the silhouette should be.
"Hmm … I know you're here."
The two of them did not speak. They looked at the dark night outside the window and listened to the time pass quietly in the hourglass, gradually moving towards a new year.
She smiled gently. 'It's good to have warmth instead of excitement,' she thought.
When the hourglass was about to run out, fireworks suddenly flashed in the southwest corner of the city. With a 'pop', a red light leaped into the night sky. The red light quickly lit up the green night sky, illuminating Fuyao's eyes.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
One after another, the red light shone brightly like stars all over the city. The red light was not the expensive fireworks used in the Imperial City, but the ordinary firecrackers used by the common people. However, there were many of them. Firecrackers crackled in the city. The moment the hourglass was about to run out, countless red lights bloomed in the sky above the small city, reflecting the blue dome of heaven. It was as if the sky was filled with a deep red and gorgeous eight-fold cherry blossoms. As the red light swayed and fell from the sky, it was like a red manjusha that flowed down from the clouds.
Under the bright light, the sound of doors opening could be heard from every street. Adults and children from every family walked out with lanterns in their hands, laughing and holding firecrackers in their hands. The floating lights flowed slowly through the streets like starlight spring water from the Milky Way, flowing through the small city that had just been covered in darkness and silence.
In an instant, the Border City was lit up.
Meng Fuyao stared blankly at the bustle of the city. She watched as the city's black veins were filled with bright lights. She did not think that it was a coincidence. The border city was barren, and the best inns in the city only had simple wooden beds. The white stubble on the wooden bed made a squeaking sound when one slept on it. The commoners' lives were especially poor, and it was impossible for every family to afford firecrackers. She recalled passing by the government office on her way to stay in the city and seeing the commoners lining up to receive something. At first, she thought that it was just the government's New Year's Eve, but she did not think too much about it. Now, it seemed that they were distributing firecrackers to the commoners, just for the sake of the New Year's Eve, when the city would be bustling with activity.
Because of her arrival, the entire city was lit up.
That magnificent display of fireworks was presented to her by that person in snow-white clothes. He knew that she did not want to experience such prosperity in the Imperial City where the blood had not yet dispersed. However, she yearned for the warmth of reunion and was afraid of the cold loneliness. Thus, he chose this kind of method to illuminate her eyes that had just been touched and suffused with loneliness.
Fuyao's eyes were very bright, flashing with the red spider sands that filled the sky.
That year, she had given someone a good show.
This year, someone else had painstakingly given her a good show.
All the good intentions in this world were so precious that they made one feel like sighing after being delighted.
Behind her, Zhangsun Wuji gently held her in his arms as they gazed at the city full of lights. He thought to himself, 'I actually had the same intention, but I'm in someone else's country, and Fuyao is by my side. Forget it …'
However, he could only be touched for a while.
The Crown Prince, who thought himself to be very generous, gently pulled over Fuyao, who was standing in front of the window, and admired her subconsciously parted lips with satisfaction. Then, he gave her a deep kiss.
The fireworks were like fire, and the whole city was covered in a deep red. The bright light shone on the window on the second floor of the inn in the small city. The curtains were half drawn, and the lights were like stars. A gentle breeze blew, and clothes fluttered. A tall man and a delicate woman stood there, hugging each other. They stood close to each other, like weeping willows. It was a natural scene.
= = =
Just like that, a year passed.
Fuyao stepped on the path of blood and fire when she was 18 years old, and walked to the middle of an unknown road when she was 19 years old.
Compared to the blank emptiness of a year ago, or even 3,000 years ago, she felt that she was full day by day, even though she had encountered many hardships.
She had been here, leaving behind her own most distinct mark. The Five Continents would remember her, just like how she remembered her distant past life.
Meng Fuyao chuckled softly as she led her horse along the quiet streets of the small city.
After a night of revelry, every family had shut their doors and slept. She stepped on the red firecrackers that were scattered all over the ground, feeling a warm feeling in her heart.
She smoothly exited the city gate and galloped all the way to Xuanyuan Kingdom's border. When she passed through the gate, she raised her head to look at the top of the gate.
There were three sword holes there, but the blood from that day had long been washed away. Three months ago, the other black-clothed Zong Yue had used the craftiness and fierceness of the world's number one assassin to teach her how to bluff her way through.
She was not a good student, so she had to draw a cross when others skinned her.
The steed galloped up the hill. She slowly reined in her horse and looked back. That night, she and Tie Cheng had crouched in this position, watching the black-clothed man's streamlined, sharp, and vigorous figure. They had watched his beautiful figure cut through the night like a sharp knife cutting through silk.
'Zong Yue's figure really makes people drool …'
Fuyao revealed a perverted look and laughed lewdly. 'He's probably sitting high up on the throne, busy sorting out the officials, appeasing them, and eliminating dissidents to consolidate the throne.'
'The most outstanding man in the Five Continents should be sitting where he belongs.'
She smiled and turned her horse around.
Suddenly, a leisurely melody could be heard from afar.
It was deep, simple, plaintive, and melodious. Unlike the clarity of a flute or the brightness of a flute, it reverberated back and forth, tasting like tea. It gently drifted down from the top of the city gate, blowing away the cold snowflakes that suddenly filled the sky.
Six snowflakes resembling plum blossoms, accompanied by the desolate sound of the flute, fluttered down and landed on Fuyao's jet-black eyelashes. It was as if white butterflies had fluttered over her green feathers and melted her delicate feelings.
The wind, the ancient path, the people, and the sound of the flute.
It was the song "Remembering an Old Friend".
Who was she remembering? Who was her old friend? The song that he had played for her at the top of the pavilion in the Great Han Hidden Residence and told her about the past had now turned into fluttering snowflakes that drifted over the wild grass of the city gate and melted between her eyebrows, turning into a drop of nostalgia.
At this moment, she was outside the city, travel-worn and weary. He was inside the city, dressed in a thousand miles of dust. She was outside the city, quietly looking up in the fluttering snowflakes, listening to a farewell xun amidst the fluttering snowflakes. She looked at the vast expanse of heaven and earth and thought of the man with either glassy eyes or cherry lips. He was inside the city, dressed in a snow-white robe, lightly holding an ancient xun with golden-red patterns of clouds and dragons. The smooth and heavy body of the xun glowed faintly in his palm as he played it in a trance. He thought of her eagerness in the palace … the burning fire arrow at the top of the palace … the hand that blocked his head when the long sword reached in … the painstakingly made bucket bed … the meticulous fingers when he applied medicine … the gentle kiss in his palm … the moment they hugged under the courtyard wall … the skillful slap that landed on his palm … the thump that she angrily and angrily hit his chest … the wish made by the falling red lanterns in Chongxing Palace … the first and perhaps last time in his life to spend the New Year alone with her.
The days that they had gone through thick and thin together, the days that could not be replaced in this lifetime.
The days that accompanied and supported each other on the dangerous journey.
From then on, his life had reached the pinnacle of glory, but his feelings had been washed away.
The falling snow gradually thickened, and the heaven and earth were all white. On the ancient path, there was a man dressed in white playing an ancient xun. On the Yin Mountain, there was a man with his robe half rolled up, listening quietly.
When the song ended, both of them were silent.
Meng Fuyao gazed in the direction of the city gate from afar, but there was no trace of anyone at the top of the city wall. After a long silence, she pulled out Heaven Piercing and flicked her finger on the dark blade.
"Hum …"
The sound of clearing the air and piercing through the clouds. Meng Fuyao smiled in that direction and gently turned the horse's head.
The road was winding, and the four hooves of the healthy horse galloped across the mountain snow. The clear and melodious sound that belonged to her unique temperament echoed for a long time above the empty city.
In the city, the man in white slowly put down the xun in his hand, his slender fingers gently caressing the smooth body of the xun.
Between his pure and elegant brows, there was a smile that was as cold and calm as the falling snow in the vast sky.
'Take care, Fuyao.'
= = = =
After crossing the border of the Xuanyuan Kingdom, at a reasonable distance that would not cause a commotion in the Xuanyuan Kingdom, she saw a sea of black heads from afar. Vaguely, there were some whose robes were like fire, burning the cold snow.
It turned out that the Han Emperor had been patrolling the border and had yet to leave, waiting to pick her up.
Meng Fuyao reined in her horse, feeling a headache coming on. She held her forehead and said, "There are tigers in front, wolves behind, and a fox by my side. Why is my life so bitter …"
On her shoulder was a small cape draped over Lord Ingot's shoulders. Rolling his black eyes, he thought to himself, 'You heartless brat, don't you mind having more people when you need me?'
She knew that it was easier to invite a god than to send him away. She sniffled and went forward to greet him. "Ah, the weather is so good today. Are you out hunting, Your Majesty?"
Zhan Beiye's jet-black eyes stared at her. "I'm out hunting rabbits."
The corner of Meng Fuyao's mouth twitched. It was said that hunting rabbits had become a synonym for robbery.
"Your humble servant has nothing on me. My pockets are empty." She spread out her hands. "There's really nothing that can catch Your Majesty's eye."
"You alone will do," Zhan Beiye answered simply and directly, ignoring Zhangsun Wuji, who was beside her.
Meng Fuyao looked up at the black mass of Han Emperor's troops behind Zhan Beiye and felt a headache coming on. Could he not confess so casually, regardless of the time, place, and occasion? After all, many of her future subordinates were listening attentively.
"I heard that you're going to Xuanji." Zhan Beiye did not wait for her reply. "Where do you plan to go?"
"Through Yao City, we can go to Xuanji by water," Zhan Beiye said with a smile. "Fuyao hasn't been back to Yao City for a long time."
"From the three counties of Chang Han's fief, we can directly enter Xuanji." Zhan Beiye looked up and did not give in. "Fuyao has never returned to her fief."
Meng Fuyao facepalmed again. 'It's not a good thing to have too many properties …'
"Fuyao will decide for herself." Surprisingly, it was Zhan Beiye who said this. She looked up in surprise, only to hear him casually add, "The Empress Dowager came out with me to relax. She's staying at Wuqing County, which is 50 miles away. She hopes to see you, but I dare not let her follow the troops due to her poor health. She's waiting for you there now."
Meng Fuyao glared at him. 'Zhan Beiye, you're starting to play tricks too!'
This was the closest border between the three countries. If they wanted to go through Dahan or Wuji, they could only decide from here. It was also the most convenient place to go to Wuji. Once they reached Wuqing County, there were no country gates there. If they wanted to go to Wuqing, they would have to take a detour. There was no reason to go back to Wuqing and go through Wuji.
Zhan Beiye seemed to be letting her decide for herself, but in fact, he was secretly playing tricks on her. Going to Wuqing County was equivalent to going through the Han Empire. If she didn't go there, how could she bear to let the sick Empress Dowager wait in this weather?
'Damn Zhan Beiye, how could I bring his mother out?'
Zhan Beiye understood her gaze and raised his eyebrows. "What are you thinking? The Empress Dowager hasn't been out for many years. She came out to relax."
Meng Fuyao glared at him. 'Yes, she came out to relax, but she wouldn't suddenly wake up and choose to stay at Wuqing County, would she?'
Zhan Beiye met her gaze without fear. She was helpless. She did not think that it was important where to go. She just felt that making a decision in front of so many people was not right. Just as she was hesitating, Zhangsun Wuji said, "Since the Han Empress Dowager wants to see you, let's go to Wuqing County."
Meng Fuyao heaved a sigh of relief and looked at Zhangsun Wuji gratefully. The latter smiled at her, revealing a meaningful look that said, "When it's time to take a step back, it's actually time to take a step back. When it's time to take a step back, it's time to take a step back.
Meng Fuyao grinned at him, revealing a look of disdain that said, "To you, there's no such thing as the most treacherous and black-bellied person. If you're the second most modest, no one would dare to admit that they're the first."
Zhan Beiye saw the exchange between the two of them. His eyes flashed, and he suddenly raised his whip and pointed to the Wuji Kingdom not far away. He smiled and said, "Your Highness, if the Han Army were to trample over the boundary stele and march south, inviting all of you to Pandu as guests, I wonder how it would feel?"
"Cha!"
As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of long swords appeared out of thin air, flashing continuously and intersecting to form a rippling net of light that enveloped Zhan Beiye.
As the swords flashed, Zhangsun Wuji smiled calmly. "Instead of using tens of thousands of troops to invite all of us to Pandu, why don't I invite Your Majesty to Zhongzhou as a guest? Wouldn't that be better?"
"Clang!"
The Han Army, who were three steps away from Zhan Beiye, suddenly pulled out their swords. Xiao Qi, who had been silent beside Zhan Beiye, took a step forward and slashed his sword at Zhan Beiye.
Zhan Beiye waved his hand and stopped Han Jun and Xiao Qi. He looked coldly at the Wuji Hidden Guards who had suddenly appeared from the bushes behind the hill and attacked him. His face was full of disdain. "With just these few?"
Zhan Wuji smiled faintly. "There's also the soldiers and civilians of Yao City, which is close to the Wuji Nation's border. They're known for their loyalty and courage, and their city lord has the bravery of ten thousand men. She once entered the military camp alone and took the head of a general. I think it's not impossible for her to invite the Han Emperor."
Meng Fuyao looked up at the sky. 'You two can fight all you want, but why are you dragging me into it? Zhangsun Wuji, you're too hateful. The one who offended you is Zhan Dapao, so why are you bringing up old scores? '
Zhan Beiye turned his head and glanced at her. With just one glance, the taut lines on his face loosened a little. In a daze, he saw that night in the mountains of Yao City, the woman who was crying at the bottom of the pond. He saw that jade-like body under the moonlight, and the delicate footprints with faint pink blood stains left on the stone.
Sigh … forget it.
Was he really going to beat up the Wuji Nation?
The Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty looked up at the sky and caught the cold snowflakes on his face. His burning heart cooled down a little. He forcibly suppressed the anger he had felt because of the Chang Han Fief and Zhangsun Wuji's scheme against him in Xuanyuan Lingzhu Mountain.
Zhangsun Wuji smiled. With a wave of his hand, the hidden guard went into hiding again. He withdrew his hand into his sleeve and said leisurely, "Wuji and the Han Kingdom have always been friends. I don't mind making a little joke."
Zhan Beiye smiled and reached out to lead Meng Fuyao's horse. "Of course, if we really wanted to fight, we wouldn't have opened our mouths."
The two of them looked at each other with smiles on their faces. However, Fuyao felt another 'crack' in the air, which startled her so much that she shivered.
'Damn, the lightning has hit the fire again …'
= = =
Braving the snow, Meng Fuyao met the old concubine, who was now the Empress Dowager, at the posthouse in Wuqing County. She was a little more plump and had a good complexion. It was obvious that Zhan Beiye had done his best to serve her. He had fought a thousand miles to seize the throne of a nation just to give his mother a peaceful and peaceful old age.
The Empress Dowager smiled sincerely when she saw Meng Fuyao. She opened her arms and beckoned her over. "Daughter-in-law …"
Meng Fuyao was just about to happily run over when she heard the words and staggered. She quickly turned around to see if Zhangsun Wuji had followed her. She saw him drinking tea in the hall of the posthouse and suddenly turning to look at her with a smile that wasn't a smile.
Meng Fuyao immediately gave him a confident smile.
Zhangsun Wuji smiled and raised his cup to her. He mouthed something, but before Meng Fuyao could read it out, the Empress Dowager waved at her. "Daughter-in-law, come here."
Meng Fuyao was afraid that the whole world would know if she continued to shout, so she hurriedly went over to kiss her. Zhan Beiye sat beside the Empress Dowager, his hands on his knees as he looked at her. While Meng Fuyao was contemplating whether she should symbolically bow to the Battle Emperor, the Empress Dowager had already shifted her body, gesturing for her to sit beside her.
Meng Fuyao sat down and was embarrassed. The couch wasn't big, and it was difficult to squeeze three people. 'Well, Battle Emperor, why do you insist on sitting here when there are so many seats below? Don't you think that your butt takes up the space of two of us? '
The Battle Emperor didn't think so. He pursed his lips and brought over a cup of ginseng soup. He personally tested the temperature of the soup before feeding it to his mother, spoonful by spoonful. The Empress Dowager leaned against the brocade bundle and drank, her expression calm and serene. There was an indescribable satisfaction in her. To her, being able to accompany her beloved son day and night was the greatest happiness of her life. As for whether or not she was an emperor, she didn't care.
The room was very quiet, and the gentle light illuminated the people feeding and drinking attentively. Only the faint sound of silver spoons and porcelain cups could be heard. Meng Fuyao watched silently from the side. She really liked the Zhan Beiye at that moment. Under the light, he was slightly leaning over to feed her mother soup. He was no longer as fierce and domineering as he was during the day, but instead had a silent yet touching gentleness.
A long, long time ago, she had also fed her mother black-boned chicken soup like this …
Meng Fuyao smiled faintly, but her smile was filled with tears. 'Who's cooking soup for me now?'
When the Empress Dowager finished drinking, she smiled and held Meng Fuyao's hand. She usually didn't say much, but every word that came out of her mouth made Meng Fuyao's heart tremble. "Thin," she said.
She then turned around and smiled at Zhan Beiye. Zhan Beiye was startled, and a suspicious blush appeared on his face. Meng Fuyao immediately jumped up and said, "No need, no need … I … I'm afraid of drinking ginseng soup …"
King Meng, who was fluent in speech and could scold people like a machine gun, was finally showing a rare moment of shyness and stuttering in her life …
If the Battle Emperor really followed his mother's teachings and fed her the same soup, she would have to dig a hole or hit her head against the wall …
Fortunately, Zhan Beiye wasn't Zhangsun Wuji. His face was red, which meant that he probably wouldn't do such a thing. He lowered his eyes and coughed twice to hide his embarrassment. He seemed to want to leave, but after some thought, he didn't.
Meng Fuyao felt uncomfortable all over. She had been alone with Zhan Beiye for a long time, but now that there was an elder between them, she felt restricted. Her position was restricted, her expression was restricted, and her words were restricted. She wanted to leave, but she couldn't. No matter how domineering and arrogant she was, she couldn't show it in front of a lady like the Empress Dowager. What if she scared the latter?
She could only smile foolishly at the Empress Dowager, who smiled back at her as if she was looking at a daughter-in-law. Zhan Beiye looked at the two of them smiling happily at each other, and for some reason, he smiled as well.
The three of them in the room looked at each other and laughed …
Finally, Meng Fuyao laughed until she was on the verge of collapse. Her lips twitched as she tried to think of a way to excuse herself. All of a sudden, the Empress Dowager grabbed her hand and, with the speed of light that a sick person would not be able to achieve, placed a bracelet on Meng Fuyao's wrist.
Then, he heard a "click" sound.
Meng Fuyao lowered her head and saw that there was a flat bracelet on her wrist. It was made of black gold and shone with a thick luster. It looked like it had been around for a long time. The bracelet didn't have any patterns on the outside, but on the inside, it was carved with simple and crude lines. Because it had been worn for a long time, it had been in contact with the essence of the human body. It was as smooth and soft as a nephrite.
Meng Fuyao's first instinct was that it wasn't something simple. It couldn't be a 'mother-in-law's family heirloom' kind of thing. She quickly tried to remove it from her wrist. Unexpectedly, the bracelet was quite big when it was on her wrist, but when the Empress Dowager squeezed it, it became the same size as her wrist. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remove it.
Meng Fuyao was so anxious that she almost broke out in cold sweat. She suddenly remembered the words that Zhangsun Wuji had mouthed before entering the room. In her panic, she managed to decipher that he was saying, 'Don't accept anything.'
'This person can even guess this!'
Seeing Meng Fuyao desperately trying to remove the bracelet, Zhan Beiye's eyes flashed with a trace of displeasure. After enduring for a while, he finally gave in and said in a low voice, "This bracelet has been worn by the Empress Dowager since she was young. It's her protective talisman. Why are you removing it?"
Meng Fuyao didn't think that it was that serious. She stopped and said, "I can't take her protective talisman."
"I'm the ruler of a nation now. Do you think I can't protect her?" Zhan Beiye looked at the black gold bracelet on Fuyao's fair wrist. It was so bright and shiny that it couldn't be more beautiful. Naturally, he couldn't let her take it off. "The Empress Dowager is grateful to you. This is her gift. You don't have to take it off. There's a mechanism in it. Once you put it on, you won't be able to take it off."
Meng Fuyao didn't say anything. She rolled her eyes and thought about using the Bone Shrinking Skill when she got out. However, she knew that the Bone Shrinking Skill could only shrink the muscles and fold the overlapping bones. It couldn't really change the size of the bones. Taking the bracelet off would indeed be difficult.
'Sigh … there are traps everywhere …'
= = =
Returning to her own room, Meng Fuyao pushed the door open and saw a certain someone calmly sitting in her room, reading a book. She hurriedly pulled her sleeves down in an attempt to hide them, but Zhangsun Wuji's sharp eyes glanced up and said, "Another gift?"
Meng Fuyao was depressed. What did he mean by 'another gift'? Did she often receive gifts?
Zhangsun Wuji took her hand and looked at it carefully. He didn't comment. After a while, he sighed and said, "You're soft-hearted when you succeed and soft-hearted when you fail."
Meng Fuyao agreed with him, but she didn't give in. "How do you expect me to shake off a patient's hand?"
Zhangsun Wuji glanced at her and leaned back in his chair. A bitter smile flashed across his face. "You like this scene, don't you? I'm sorry, but I may never be able to give it to you … "
Meng Fuyao was startled. Only then did she remember that he was referring to Empress Yuan. Compared to the mother-son relationship of the Zhan family, not only could Zhangsun Wuji not give her such familial happiness, but he also couldn't enjoy it.
Thinking of this, King Meng's heart immediately softened. He stepped forward and patted his shoulder. "Empress Yuan will understand you one day."
Zhangsun Wuji took the opportunity to put his arm around her waist and said in a low voice, "It's enough that you understand …"
Meng Fuyao caressed his back with motherly love and said softly, "Mm …"
Suddenly, she realized that the hand that was holding her waist was becoming more and more disobedient. Then …
"Bang!"
The sound of a table and chair crashing was heard in the room, followed by someone's angry shout.
"Zhangsun Wuji, you goddamn fox!"
= = =
After walking for a few days, they finally entered the Chang Han fief. In order to take care of the Empress Dowager, they walked very slowly. Meng Fuyao wasn't in a hurry. That woman had been trapped in the palace all her life. Now that she finally had the chance to see the vast landscape with her son, how could she bear to rush her? Moreover, they weren't in a hurry.
The palace that Zhan Beiye had chosen for Meng Fuyao was in Qiao County. The imperial court had allocated funds to supervise the construction, and the local officials worked very hard to make it look magnificent. Meng Fuyao raised her head and saw the bold and unconstrained words "Great Han Palace" on the golden plaque. She then looked at the vast palace that occupied an unknown area. She couldn't help but mutter, "Those who don't know might think that I'm trying to usurp the throne by building a small palace."
Zhan Beiye looked up at the plaque against the sunlight. His smile was even brighter than the sun. "I'll let you have the palace if you want it."
Meng Fuyao remained silent and pretended not to hear him. Just as she stepped onto the steps, the main doors suddenly opened. Ji Yu and Yao Xun each brought a group of people with them. Ji Yu and his guards got down on one knee and greeted them. Yao Xun, on the other hand, rushed over with tears in his eyes. He grabbed the corner of Meng Fuyao's robe and wailed, "Heavens, my master, you're finally back. It's a pity that I haven't had anyone to brag about the money I've earned recently. It's hard to bear …"
Meng Fuyao kicked him away and scolded, "Philistine! I haven't thanked you for killing that rabbit, Commander Ji." She helped Ji Yu up with a smile.
Ji Yu's lips curled into a faint smile. He lowered his head and said, "That's because King Han is good at raising rabbits."
Meng Fuyao laughed and patted his shoulder. "I didn't expect you to be so good at joking." She turned around and bowed to Zhangsun Wuji and Zhan Beiye, who were smiling at her. "Finally, I can entertain the two of you in my house."
Hearing her words, Zhan Beiye's eyes lit up with joy, and he glanced at Zhangsun Wuji. Zhangsun Wuji smiled, but his expression did not change, and he bowed to let Zhan Beiye go first. Zhan Beiye had never been one to bother with trifles, and in his joy, he strode in first. Zhangsun Wuji smiled and led him into the hall, through the corridors, all the way to the inner hall, and invited him to take the seat of honor. He sat at the main seat, and then ordered the maids to serve tea … Picking up the teacup, the Battle Emperor finally realized that Zhangsun Wuji had been treating him as a 'guest' the entire time!
Meng Fuyao, who had been smiling but not daring to speak, had long slipped out with her tail between her legs …
= = =
During dinner that night, the War Emperor's face was dark. The Empress Dowager looked at her son timidly, not knowing why he was like that. Realizing that he had startled his mother, Zhan Beiye quickly softened his expression. Meng Fuyao was amused. She felt that Zhangsun Wuji had gone overboard, so she had no choice but to do her duty as a host and urge them to drink. She had the intention of getting the two of them drunk, but to her dismay, the two of them did not get drunk even after a thousand cups. She poured until her hands were sore, but the two of them did not even bat an eyelid. In the end, she simply abandoned the idea that she was too slow, and the two of them started fighting.
Meng Fuyao sat by the side with a sense of proprietorship, afraid that the two of them would get drunk and start fighting. She waited and waited, and when she opened her eyes, she saw that the two of them were drinking …
She waited and waited, and when she opened her eyes, they were drinking …
She waited and waited, and when she opened her eyes, they were drinking …
Meng Fuyao was furious. She stood up and walked out. 'I'm not going to accompany you anymore. Go drink yourself to death!'
She wanted to go back and sleep, so she asked Ji Yu in the outer courtyard for the direction of her bedroom in the inner courtyard. In the end, this damned wang fu was too big. After walking around for two hours, she sadly found that she was lost in her own fu.
All the rooms looked similar, and she could not tell which one was hers. Thinking that the entire imperial residence was hers, she might as well sleep anywhere.
Thus, she casually entered a well-furnished room, took off her clothes, and went to sleep.
She was tired from the journey, but in her own imperial residence, she had a relaxed sleep and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
At this moment …
Deep into the night.
Yue Leng.
The long green street was silent.
A figure stumbled along the long street, dripping blood and sweating profusely. He could not stop falling, but could not get up again. Finally, he clung to the wall and the trees, moving step by step towards the imperial residence of the Great Han King.
A slightly drunk man was swaying slightly. He kept leaning against the wall as he walked towards the room step by step.
= = =
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