The early morning sun shone on the endless official road.
It was almost February, and the winter ice was breaking. The spring wind was like a pair of scissors, cutting out dark green leaves and swaying like green flags. Between the fluttering flags, a bird with pale yellow beak and dark blue wings flitted by, carrying a soft cloud in its beak.
Because it was too early, there was no one on the official road except for a pair of figures. They were Meng Fuyao and Zhangsun Wuji.
Only Tie Cheng and the three thousand guards followed behind them. Meng Fuyao felt that following them would be a burden, so she ordered them to stay a mile away from her. The Han Army elites, who were used to galloping, could only rein in their horses and stare at her from behind.
Other than secret guards, Zhangsun Wuji did not bring anyone else with him. It seemed that he was the only one in the Five Continents' imperial family who did not have any trusted aides by his side. On the one hand, he did not need any guards. On the other hand, he probably had too many secrets and could not trust anyone, right?
Oh, no, he did have a personal guard, but he had basically become her bodyguard toy and a tool for her to work as a performer.
Suddenly, her conscience struck her. She turned to Lord Ingot, who was enjoying the scenery with his arms crossed over his chest. "Haozi, I've deposited the money you earned last time into my bank. I'll give you 6% interest. Let me know when you need it, and I'll withdraw it for you."
Lord Ingot's eyes lit up. He waved his claws and spit flew everywhere. Meng Fuyao looked at Zhangsun Wuji, who said, "It's nothing much. It wants candies and preserves, the best in the world, the 'Fragrant Snow Pavilion'. The kind that costs ten taels of silver for a palm-sized jar."
"Oh," Meng Fuyao replied, thinking that the money earned by Rat, including the interest, should be enough to buy a jar.
"It doesn't have to be much, just fill up a palace," Zhangsun Wuji continued to translate.
"…"
"The palace doesn't have to be too big. The main hall of the Xuanyuan Imperial Palace, Jiuyi Grand Hall, will do."
"…" Meng Fuyao was speechless.
After a while, Meng Fuyao sighed and said, "Rat, you'd better sell me and see if you can get half of the biggest hall in the world."
Lord Ingot was dissatisfied and scolded, "Zhi zhi zhi zhi zhi zhi zhi!"
Zhangsun Wuji translated, "It said that you snatched the mud from the swallow's mouth, scraped the oil from the mosquito's belly, and chopped the meat from the heron's leg. You were born to be a miser. You had a heart but no humanity. You bullied a man from a good family and hurt its pure, young, kind, and fragile heart …"
Meng Fuyao shoved Haozi into her sleeve and yelled, "You should be a talk show host!"
Zhangsun Wuji said unhurriedly, "Actually, I personally feel that the last dozen or so words are quite correct."
She looked up at the sky. 'I didn't hear you, I didn't hear you.'
Zhangsun Wuji glanced sideways at her with a smile and sighed slightly, but did not say anything. He pointed ahead and said, "We've arrived at the border of Xuanji Kingdom."
The city gates of this border faced the direction of the Vast Han and Wuji. From afar, they could see the city gates opening. Two platoons of soldiers in bright armor rode out, escorting a brown-robed man on horseback. The purple cloud pattern on his sleeves was very conspicuous. Zhangsun Wuji narrowed his eyes and said, "The Prince of Jade Pearl."
"Who is it?"
"I can't tell, but judging from his age, he should be the Ninth or Twelfth Prince. He's probably here to welcome us. "
Meng Fuyao replied with an "oh" and stopped her horse with a smile, waiting to greet the man. However, the man galloped away with his guards without stopping. When he passed by Meng Fuyao and Zhangsun Wuji, he casually glanced at them and continued on his way.
Meng Fuyao was stunned. She lowered her head to look at herself, then at Zhangsun Wuji. Pointing at her nose, she asked, "Do I really not look like a prince?"
Zhangsun Wuji calmly raised his whip and said, "There are many people who only recognize clothes and not people."
Both of them were dressed in ordinary embroidered robes commonly worn by the nobles of the Five Continents. Their styles were simpler and neater than the average person's. Zhangsun Wuji's silver embroidered robe was luxurious but low-key, so ordinary people would not be able to recognize it. Meng Fuyao did not even care about the quality of her robe — she was used to being thrifty in her previous life.
The Prince of Jade Pearl galloped past them and suddenly thought of something. He reined in his horse and lashed out with his whip. "Hey, where are you from? Why are you swaggering along this road? Get out of my way! "
Caught off guard, Meng Fuyao's horse neighed in shock and reared up, wanting to throw her off. Meng Fuyao tightened her fingers and snorted coldly. She forcefully pushed the horse back to the ground, anger flashing across her eyes.
She lowered her head to look at the horse's body and saw that it was swollen. Her anger deepened. She had always loved horses and had always chosen the best of the best. She did not even bear to use her whip on them, but now she was whipped by this bastard for no reason at all!
She turned to stare coldly at the man. The Prince of Jade Pearl did not notice, but his eyes lit up when he saw how she had suppressed the horse. He praised, "Good strength!" His gaze then shifted to Meng Fuyao's horse and exclaimed, "Good horse! Peerless horse! "He then looked at Zhangsun Wuji's horse and praised," Good! This one is good too! "He turned to stare into Meng Fuyao's eyes and said," How can you use a horse like this? "
He moved quickly, spoke quickly, and reacted quickly. His words and actions were over in the blink of an eye.
Meng Fuyao laughed and waved her hand to stop the enraged Tie Cheng. She said with a smile, "Do you think that I'm not worthy of using this horse and that you're the only one who is?"
"You're right!" The Prince replied calmly. "But I don't need it either. If I wanted to give it away, I wouldn't snatch it from you. Little Four …"
A guard stepped forward.
"Reward!" The man waved his hand and the guard immediately took out a brocade pouch embroidered with purple cloud patterns and threw it at Meng Fuyao's feet.
"See that? Aren't you going to thank the Twelfth Prince for his generous reward? "
Meng Fuyao bowed on the horse and smiled. "So it's the Twelfth Prince. I apologize for my rudeness. I should offer the horse, but I have a question for you."
"Ask away!" The Twelfth Prince waved his hand again.
"I have a lot of feelings for this horse, but I can only part with it because you like it. I just want to know who its new owner will be."
"As a gift for the Everlasting Crown Prince and the Meng King of the Han Dynasty." The Twelfth Prince answered without any reservations, "I'm going to pick them up. I heard that they're traveling together. The royal families of the five continents all know martial arts, and good horses are hard to come by. I didn't expect to see two of them along the way. I'm sure the Crown Prince and the Meng King will be very satisfied. "
He seemed to be very happy as he laughed heartily. Meng Fuyao smiled and gave up her horse. "The carriages of those two are about 500 meters behind us. Your Highness will see them when you get there," she said kindly.
"At least the two of you know what's good for you. Your martial arts skills aren't bad either." The Twelfth Prince cast a sidelong glance at them. "If you enter the capital in the future, you can look for me or my eleventh brother!"
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness." Meng Fuyao bowed and modestly said, "This way, this way …"
The Twelfth Prince nodded with his nose in the air. With a whip, he led his welcoming team to gallop away angrily. However, the noble guest he was supposed to welcome today had his horse stolen by him and had even eaten a pile of his dust by the roadside …
Tie Cheng got down from his horse and gave up his horse. He said angrily, "Master, why did you stop me? This brat deserves a beating! "
"Yes, he deserves a beating," Meng Fuyao answered with a smile. "So how can you vent your anger by beating him up alone? You might as well let Ji Yu and the rest of the 3,000 men beat him up! "
The corner of Tie Cheng's mouth twitched. Only then did he remember that when the 12th Prince, Zhangsun Wuji, and Meng Fuyao's horses had collided with Ji Yu's army, they would have beaten them up without a second thought once they recognized that the horse belonged to Meng Fuyao.
That was the real deal …
Meng Fuyao smiled and asked Zhangsun Wuji, "I wonder how your secret guard will react?"
"I left a mark on the horse, so the secret guard will probably break the belts of all his subordinates," Zhangsun Wuji said faintly. "Under normal circumstances, it would be a human leg that would be broken, no matter who he is."
Meng Fuyao was speechless. It seemed that offending the Zhangsun Family was really bad luck …
The pouch was still on the ground when Meng Fuyao picked it up with the tip of her foot. Weighing it in her hand, she smiled and threw it to Tie Cheng. "Go buy some snacks."
Tie Cheng waved his hand and threw the pouch far away. "No!"
Meng Fuyao laughed and shrugged. "Child, you're not smart. Why don't you want it? You should spend more of other people's money. " She retrieved the pouch, weighed it in her hand, and sneered. "Is this enough to buy your Snow Shadow and my Violet Moon? Pfft! "Looking at the patterns on the pouch, her eyes flashed, and she put it away.
Tie Cheng gave up his horse so that Zhangsun Wuji and Meng Fuyao could share it. However, they got into an argument over who should sit at the front and who should sit at the back.
"I want to measure your waist to see if you've put on weight recently." Meng Fuyao insisted on sitting at the back.
"I want to test your shoulders to see if they've become thinner." Zhangsun Wuji insisted on sitting at the front.
At the side, Tie Cheng was speechless … This was worth fighting over!
Unable to come to an agreement, Zhangsun Wuji finally said, "Then let's not ride horses."
"Alright." Meng Fuyao felt that this was a good solution.
"Let me carry you."
"…"
Meng Fuyao obediently got on the horse. "I think only a fool would not ride a horse."
"That's true!" The Crown Prince agreed with great satisfaction. Another victory.
The two of them sat on the horse's back. After the argument just now, it was surprisingly quiet. Meng Fuyao did not say a word, but slightly squinted her eyes and swayed. Zhangsun Wuji lazily controlled the reins, and as expected, unconsciously placed his chin on her shoulder. After a while, he switched to another shoulder, and Meng Fuyao was slightly tickled by his hair. She could not help but scold him jokingly, "Can't you be a little quieter?"
"I can't." It was rare for the Crown Prince to directly reject her. He gently said on her shoulder, "Being too quiet might make you forget my existence. I've decided that from now on, I'll frequently disturb you and make you flustered for me."
Meng Fuyao's neck immediately flushed. She was not used to such straightforward words of love, but the guy behind her was becoming more and more shameless. She could not help but rub her neck and say, "What flustered? You're so narcissistic. Can't you see that I have goosebumps all over my body? "
"Is that so?" Zhangsun Wuji smiled and gestured for her to receive it. "Why do I feel like I've caught a sweet fragrance?"
'Mushy … mushy …' Meng Fuyao rolled her eyes and looked up at the sky. She was eloquent with words, but she was not good at emotional ones.
"Actually …" Zhangsun Wuji's faint fragrance lingered beside her ear, and his voice was as soft and gentle as the clouds. "It's better to let you have goosebumps than to be indifferent."
He gently blew on her earlobe and looked at it. He had already taken off her earring, but a small bamboo stick was stuck in it to prevent it from growing too long. "Where's the earring I gave you? Why don't you wear it? "
Meng Fuyao rolled her eyes at him. "Please, do you really think that yours is made of jade and will never wither?"
Zhangsun Wuji laughed. "As long as you have the heart, nothing can wither."
Meng Fuyao was silent. She shifted her body forward and said softly, "We're here."
They were indeed here. It was only a short stretch of road, but Zhangsun Wuji had the ability to use this short stretch of road to attack the city.
Meng Fuyao had built a high wall to store grain to stop the emperor, while the crown prince had climbed over the wall with a flick of his sleeve.
When they passed through the city gate, the three shabby travelers who only had one horse and were covered in dust were severely despised. The city guard officer sat high up in the government office in the side door. He stretched out his hand and said, "Pass!"
Meng Fuyao raised her eyebrows and looked at Zhangsun Wuji. "No …" she said slowly.
"No?" The city guard waved his hand. "No one is allowed to pass without a pass. Get out of the way, and don't block the way when there are important guests coming."
The room was not small, and it was filled with officials in red robes and purple waists. They lazily glanced at the two and chatted with each other. It seemed like they were waiting for someone. The city guard pushed the two away and hurriedly walked away. He bowed to a man who was sitting in the middle of the officials and talking cheerfully. "Your Highness, this place is simple and crude. Please take a seat in the tower."
"They'll be here soon. Let's wait here." The man's tone was very friendly. "Father has ordered the princes to lead the officials from the Ministry of Rites to each country's pass to welcome the important guests. Twelve has already come out to welcome them and should be here soon."
Meng Fuyao saw that he was in his twenties. He was wearing a simple yellow brocade robe with a light coffee-colored cloud pattern embroidered on his collar and cuffs. The color matched him, gentle and comfortable. His appearance was not outstanding, but his temperament was not bad. Judging from his status and tone, he should be a prince, but she could not tell which rank he was.
The city guard bowed and pushed Meng Fuyao. "What are you still standing there for?"
The prince chided him with a smile, "If you don't have a pass, just let them go. Why do you have to be so rude? It makes me, Xuanji, look like I don't know any etiquette."
Meng Fuyao glanced at him and felt that he was not bad. She did not want to tease him anymore. "I mean, I don't have a pass because …"
She waved her hand, and Tie Cheng stepped forward. He slammed a gold-inlaid invitation card on the table.
Meng Fuyao smiled. "… The Xuanji pass is too low-class!"
The wind blew the gold-inlaid invitation card open, revealing the brilliant brocade inside. It was handwritten by the Xuanji King and stamped with his imperial seal.
The city guard gasped and opened his mouth wide enough to fit an egg. Meng Fuyao looked into his mouth and said, "Your Excellency, your tonsils seem to be inflamed? I suggest you soak a big sea of honeysuckle in water. "
That person hurriedly closed his mouth and bit his tongue with an "Ah" sound.
Among the shocked crowd, the prince was the first to react. He glanced at Meng Fuyao's invitation card from the corner of his eye and quickly stepped forward. He bowed deeply to the ground and said, "Your subject is ignorant and disrespectful to King Meng. Please forgive me, King Meng."
Meng Fuyao giggled and returned the greeting. "I dare not. Your Excellency, you are kind, graceful, and magnanimous. Truly admirable."
Everyone in the hall looked at each other in embarrassment. The prince quickly tried to smooth things over and invited Fuyao inside to rest. He then glanced at Zhangsun Wuji, who was hiding in the dark with his hands clasped behind his back and a smile on his face. "Are these two your esteemed subordinates, Your Highness? Please enter the city together … "
Meng Fuyao immediately turned around and bowed respectfully. "Your Highness, please go ahead."
"…"
The Xuanji City Pass officials, who had been embarrassed, froze. The prince also froze for a second, but he quickly turned around and bowed to Zhangsun Wuji. This time, he bowed for a longer time. "I didn't know that the Crown Prince would come … That … I apologize …"
Zhangsun Wuji smiled. "Not a problem, not a problem. Please lend us two horses, Your Highness. We are still hundreds of miles away from Tong City. Although King Meng and I don't mind walking there, we are afraid that it will damage the prestige of Xuanji Nation."
"Crown Prince, you are too kind!" The prince was obviously puzzled as to why the two of them did not even have horses, but he did not ask. He quickly ordered his men to prepare horses and tried to break the awkward atmosphere. "My twelfth brother has already gone to welcome the two of you. Did the two of you not meet him?"
"Oh?" Meng Fuyao sat down slowly and crossed her legs. "Did I? The two of us only met a robber who robbed our horses. "
"That's true!" The prince was taken aback. His brows furrowed in anger as he shouted, "Who dares to rob the Crown Prince and King Meng in broad daylight in front of our country's borders? Does he really think that there is no one in Xuanji? "
"That's right." Meng Fuyao, who had been drinking her tea bitterly, put down the teacup angrily. "We are also filled with righteous indignation and are deeply ashamed of Xuanji. However, we are in Xuanji territory, and it is not appropriate for us to overstep our bounds. We can only report the case to Your Highness and ask that Your Highness uphold justice for us."
"Of course." The prince felt that something was wrong with her words. His eyes flashed, but he had no choice but to express his stance. "I will immediately order the border guards to send someone to investigate. We will definitely give an explanation to the Crown Prince and King Meng, and bring the robber to justice …"
"It's a robbery!"
A loud roar interrupted the conversation. Everyone looked up in surprise and saw a cloud of dust outside the door. Red flags were fluttering in the dust, and the glint of swords was shining. The sound of galloping horses was loud and uniform, as if a large group of well-trained men and horses were galloping madly towards them. A little further in front, there were two small groups of people, holding their pants and running with bruises on their faces, throwing away their helmets and armors. Some were already bare-legged, some were rolling around on their crotches like gourds. The ground was littered with shoes, torn clothes, and dropped pants. There were also some who were left behind, stumbling and crawling, rolling left and right under the choppers of the riders on horseback.
Everyone stood up and raised their heads, thinking, 'It's a robbery. Could it be that the daring robbers who just robbed the Crown Prince and King Meng are attacking passers-by again?' 'Look at how fierce these robbers are, stabbing their crotches with their knives …'
The prince suddenly cried out, "Twelfth Brother!"
Everyone jumped in shock. Who else could it be other than the esteemed twelfth prince? His hair was in a messy bun, his clothes were tattered, and he was covered in blood?
Meng Fuyao jumped up and pointed outside, shouting, "The robbers are here, the robbers are here! It's them, it's them! "
"Eleventh Brother, someone's robbing me! Someone's robbing me!" the twelfth prince shouted from the outside.
Suddenly, Meng Fuyao stopped shouting.
The eleventh prince!
Bribing the forces of the underworld, murdering Feng Yuchu, chasing after Hua Yan for thousands of miles, and even daring enough to enter her territory!
Was this the simple, elegant, and good-tempered guy in front of her?
Meng Fuyao started grinding her teeth.
'Why are all the children of the domineering, violent, and jealous Empress Xuanji all natural actors?'
'Do you know that I hate actors?'
She squinted at the eleventh prince, who was indeed calm. He had obviously noticed that something was wrong, but his expression did not change. "Twelfth Brother, what's going on?" he asked.
The twelfth prince rushed over, panting as he held onto the door frame. Even his voice was hoarse as he said, "That group of people … they didn't say a word. They attacked me as soon as they saw me, and my men … their belts were all broken for no reason … Eleventh Brother, help me beat them up, beat him up …"
"Smack!"
The crisp sound of a slap made everyone jump. The eleventh prince, who had been slapped, touched his face in a daze.
He had never thought that he would be robbed for no reason. Just as he was about to vent his anger upon seeing the eleventh brother, the eleventh brother would slap him for no reason as well!
"Eleventh Brother! You've fainted! "he yelled after a long while.
"You're the one who's fainted!" Despite his rage, the eleventh prince's expression did not change. He pointed at the majestic cavalry outside, who had already stopped their horses with their swords pressed to a halt. "You're blind! Can't you see who they are? Are they robbers? They're obviously the Han Royal Army! "
The officials who had come to greet Meng Fuyao and Zhangsun Wuji were startled once again. They looked up and realized that the other party was well-organized. Their armor was bright, and they looked fierce and murderous. Their robes were embroidered with a fiery-red phoenix. That was the unique symbol of the Han Meng King, which the Han Emperor had announced to the world immediately after the founding of the Han Empire.
What was going on? Was the Han Army robbing the Han King? Or …
Everyone turned to look at Meng Fuyao. She crossed her arms and squinted at the stunned twelfth prince. "Yes, yes, it's a robbery. Our horses were robbed by him."
"…"
The pitiful Xuanji officials finally understood the meaning of embarrassment after being humiliated by the shameless Han Meng King. Their faces turned pale as they shrank into the shadows, not daring to make a sound. The eleventh prince stood rooted to the ground for a while, his expression changing. After a while, he forced a smile and said, "You must be joking …"
"What robbery!" Only then did the twelfth prince see Meng Fuyao and Zhangsun Wuji. "I gave you money!" He turned his head to look at her again and suddenly came to a realization. He pointed at her and shouted, "So it was you who deliberately led me into the Han Army and caused me to be beaten up. How dare you plot against a noble? You're really courting death, courting death, courting death …"
Meng Fuyao burst out laughing. 'This prince is really a prince. Even in this situation, he still doesn't know who I am. He can't be compared to the agile eleventh prince.'
The twelfth prince was still shouting 'courting death, courting death', while the Xuanji officials covered their faces with their sleeves. They couldn't face Meng Fuyao and Zhangsun Wuji, who were smiling faintly. It was really embarrassing for a prince to face a distinguished guest from another country …
What's more, the two of them were top politicians in the Five Continents. One was a young and famous politician, while the other was a newly risen lord of three countries. They were among the top political figures in the Five Continents. How could they look down on the clown prince of Xuanji, and how they, the princes and officials, were fooled again and again without being able to retaliate?
A few of the more knowledgeable officials exchanged glances with each other, their eyes filled with worry. Now that the Xuanji Kingdom was in chaos, once these two famous figures who were fighting for power saw it, would there be another unexpected upheaval? 'What is His Majesty thinking?' 'That Meng Fuyao is famous for ending the throne. She first destroyed King Wuji, then killed the Han Army's Nan Cheng, and recently killed Prince Regent Xuanyuan. Isn't His Majesty afraid that even the Xuanji Nation will end in her hands?'
Listening to the twelfth prince's series of courting death, the eleventh prince finally couldn't take it anymore. He patted his shoulder and said, "Twelfth brother, shut up. Be careful not to be rude in front of His Highness the Crown Prince and King Han!"
The twelfth prince's voice stopped abruptly. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Meng Fuyao and Zhangsun Wuji looked at each other, and a trace of amusement flashed across their eyes.
'Not bad at martial arts.'
"So it's Your Highness." Meng Fuyao stepped forward with a 'sudden realization' and carefully studied the twelfth prince. Her gaze lingered briefly on his crotch, which was about to fall, until the twelfth prince hurriedly covered his crotch with shame and anger. "It's a small world indeed. Our own people are fighting each other. I really don't understand, Your Highness. Why did you steal our horses and give them to us?"
The twelfth prince coughed …
She sighed, full of regret. "Your Highness, you stole my horse and gave it to my army. Isn't that equivalent to stepping on my face? It doesn't matter if you step on my face, but my loyal subordinates are concerned about my safety. They can only step on your subordinates to ask for clarification. See, this is how the misunderstanding started. "
"You …" The twelfth prince could no longer speak and could only vent his anger.
"It's a misunderstanding … a misunderstanding …" The eleventh prince smiled bitterly.
"Your Highness previously promised us that you would definitely bring the robber to justice." Meng Fuyao dragged out her words unhurriedly, causing the Xuanji officials to feel anxious. They didn't know what she was up to this time. The eleventh prince frowned and was about to speak when Meng Fuyao smiled and said, "There's no need to mention it now."
The eleventh prince smiled bitterly. "Thank you, Crown Prince and King Han, for your magnanimity."
"But if a prince breaks the law, he will be punished the same as a commoner." Meng Fuyao said solemnly, "I've heard that Xuanji has a strict legal system. I've also heard that you, the eleventh prince, are in charge of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Religion, and are especially fair and prudent. Anyone who commits a crime will not be let off lightly. All the surrounding countries have long admired you. I believe that Your Highness will definitely punish the twelfth prince for his act of robbery."
She did not wait for the eleventh prince's expression to change. Instead, she said politely, "I'm just asking for some leniency. There's no need to punish me too harshly. Just a small gesture will do. Also, the whip wounds on my horse, the cuts made by my guards, the hardship suffered by the Crown Prince and I while we were running, and the small injuries I suffered when Your Highness robbed me …" She carefully found a small cut on her fingernail, which she had accidentally bitten off because she thought it was too long. She showed it to the eleventh prince and the officials. "It's very painful, just give me some appropriate compensation."
The officials looked at the Twelfth Prince and his guards, who were covered in blood and had bruised faces as they ran away. They looked at the guards of the Han Army, who were sitting high on their horses and holding their sabers. They looked at the horses parked outside the city gate, and then they looked at the "painful wounds" on King Han's fingernails that were so small that they could barely be found. They covered their faces again.
They had seen shameless people, but they had never seen such a shameless person …
The victim was reduced to a robber, the attacker was still demanding compensation, and the pitiful twelfth prince was even forced to accept some punishment under the label of 'a prince who breaks the law is as guilty as a commoner' …
"I will definitely give both of you an explanation." The eleventh prince's face was ashen as he turned around and ordered, "Twelfth, get back to Tong City now! You are not allowed to go out for two months and reflect on your mistakes! "
"Eleventh Brother!" The twelfth prince's voice was choked with grief.
"Go!"
"You!" The twelfth prince stomped his foot and glared at Meng Fuyao, then at the eleventh prince. He pulled up his pants and slammed into the officials, causing them to fall into a pile.
Meng Fuyao smiled and leisurely admired her fingernails. She waved her hand, and Ji Yu and the rest dismounted from their horses and carried a big box over.
The box was huge, and its contents did not seem small either. When the guards carried it over, they could hear the sound of it colliding with each other. The Xuanji officials stared at the box, trying to guess what kind of gift this Great King Meng, who was rumored to be rich enough to rival a country, would give.
"Since the eleventh prince is so courteous, I have to return the favor." Meng Fuyao smiled. "This is just a small gift, please accept it."
The eleventh prince's expression softened. He smiled and said, "I do not dare to accept your gift."
In order to show how important he was, he personally opened the huge box in front of everyone.
When the lid of the box was opened, a strange odor, mixed with thick blood Qi and lime immediately rushed out without any obstruction.
The Eleventh Prince's expression changed dramatically. An official from the Ministry of Rites next to him swayed and silently fell to the ground. The people behind him quickly went to support him, but the people who were supporting him inadvertently glanced at him and immediately loosened their grip. With a swoosh, they rushed out. Then, they heard the sound of retching coming from the corner of the room.
"Bam!" The unlucky official's head hit the ground …
Amidst the vomiting, Meng Fuyao smiled and said,
"I heard that the eleventh prince has been ordered by the Xuanji King to patrol the Northern Region and guard the Northern Lands. He is in charge of cleaning up the local forces of the Greenwood Forest. I happened to meet a bunch of thieves who blocked the road to rob and harm the people's livelihood. I took care of them and suddenly had a flash of inspiration. What better gift could there be for Your Highness?"
She smiled and reached out to sweep the dozens of heads in the box. "They are well preserved, and their faces are recognizable. I heard that they are famous figures in the Greenwood Forest. Your Highness, I am sure you know them."
The eleventh prince pressed his hand against the side of the box and stared at the heads that had been preserved perfectly with lime. The shock and fear on their faces had been carefully preserved. The light in their eyes had dissipated, but they still seemed to be trying to tell him about the sudden massacre that night and the sinister intentions of the 'gift-giver' … His fingers trembled slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. After a while, he gently lowered the lid of the box.
The lid of the box was lowered with a soft click, causing all the Xuanji officials to tremble in unison.
The eleventh prince, however, had already recovered his simple and elegant temperament. He smiled and said, "Yes, I do. He is one of the leaders of the Changtian Sect that I have issued a bounty for. He is extremely cunning and has repeatedly escaped from the authorities. Thank you, King Han, for helping me eliminate a threat for the people."
"You are too kind." Meng Fuyao returned the gesture. Raising her head, they looked at each other and smiled.
= = =
That night, the eleventh prince, Feng Jingrui, hosted a banquet to welcome Zhangsun Wuji and Meng Fuyao at the best restaurant in Taiyuan County near the city gate. Zhangsun Wuji had always been a noble and aloof person. Other than showing warmth to Meng Fuyao, he had always been polite to outsiders but kept them at a distance. Meng Fuyao, on the other hand, was so hot that she could not wait to set people on fire wherever she went. During the banquet, she was the only one who talked and laughed wittily, while the other officials sat like wooden blocks. They were still traumatized by King Meng's punishment that day, so how could they still eat?
A crystal lion's head was served. Feng Jingrui introduced, "This was made by a famous chef in Xuanji. It is famous for its fresh flavor. Your Highness, King Han, please —" Meng Fuyao picked up the chopsticks excitedly. The officials raised their chopsticks in unison, and Meng Fuyao smiled and praised, "What a beautiful bright red head!" The officials threw away their chopsticks in unison, their faces pale.
A bowl of Seven Treasures Winter Melon was served. Just as the hungry officials raised their chopsticks, Meng Fuyao praised, "Open the lid and take a look, it's red and white inside!"
The officials threw away their chopsticks in unison and pretended to vomit …
A peeled roasted chicken was served, its aroma filling the air. The officials continued to raise their chopsticks. Meng Fuyao picked it up, and with a shake of her hand, the chicken skin was completely peeled off. She praised, "Oh, good job! Look at this skin, it's as white as lime!"
The officials threw away their chopsticks in unison and pretended to fly away …
The entire meal was delicately prepared, but in the end, not a single chopstick was touched. This was all thanks to King Meng's powerful imagination. No one could hold their chopsticks for more than a second.
The chef who had rushed over from the capital and prepared for three days looked at the table of dishes that no one was interested in. He wanted to cry, but no tears came out …
During the meal, Meng Fuyao heard that the Queen's coronation ceremony would only be held in April. She could not help but be surprised. Feng Jingrui explained, "According to the customs of our country, April is the month of the birth of the Holy Goddess Polo. It's the most auspicious month, and it's also the most auspicious month. That's why all the major ceremonies are held in that month."
"Then who is your Queen?" Meng Fuyao asked with a smile.
"This …" Feng Jingrui smiled again. "We don't know either. His Majesty's edict will only be read out by the Joyous Palace before the Queen ascends to the throne."
"Then how do you know it's the Queen?" Meng Fuyao cast a sidelong glance at him.
"That's His Majesty's will." Feng Jingrui's smile remained unchanged.
"What a pity, what a pity." Meng Fuyao sighed. "Isn't it clear that the prince has no rights? I feel that Your Highness, with your extraordinary talent and knowledge, is worthy of being the ruler of the people. "
"Don't mention that, Your Highness." Feng Jingrui's expression changed. "His Majesty is wise and wise. The new emperor he chooses will definitely be the wise ruler of our dynasty. I don't dare to listen to such presumptuous words."
"Why so serious?" Meng Fuyao's eyes sparkled as she smiled. "Emperors take turns. It's your turn next year."
The entire table was filled with coughs. Everyone turned pale. They had heard that King Meng was extremely daring and specialized in rebellion. Not bad, he actually dared to incite a rebellion in someone else's territory!
Feng Jingrui coughed a few times and changed the topic. "I didn't expect the Crown Prince and His Highness to visit my country so early. It's a great honor."
"Uh …" Meng Fuyao flipped through the invitation and looked inside and out. "Your Majesty didn't write a date at all. I thought it would be soon."
"Is that so?" Feng Jingrui's eyes flashed, and she said with a smile, "Since you've come, why don't you enjoy the scenery around my country for a while? There are several counties in my country's interior, such as the red platform in spring, the sunset on the peak of the mountain, the beautiful water of the golden river … these scenery are all famous in the various countries. This little prince will send someone to accompany the two of you."
"In that case, thank you." Meng Fuyao smiled and put down her chopsticks. She then asked Zhangsun Wuji, who had been drinking his tea with a smile, "Is Your Highness full?"
"I'm more than satisfied!" answered the Crown Prince, who had clearly not eaten anything but tea.
As the two of them stood up, the table of empty-bellied officials also stood up to send them off. Feng Jingrui watched as the two of them disappeared from the hall. Her eyes flashed, and after a while, she tilted her head in a certain direction.
= = =
"Is Your Highness full?"
Meng Fuyao leaned against Zhangsun Wuji's window and knocked.
"I'm starving." The window opened and Zhangsun Wuji poked his head out. "It's a pity that I have to lie and starve to be with you."
"Come out, there's good food." Meng Fuyao waved at him, her eyes shining.
"What good food can you have?" Zhangsun Wuji didn't believe her, but he still floated out of the window and sighed. "Do you think you can conjure something better than a table full of delicacies?"
"You don't say. I dare say it's definitely better than those damn delicacies." Meng Fuyao smiled slyly and pulled him to the backyard. There was a small vegetable field in the backyard of the posthouse. She had already cleared out a piece of mud and set up a fire on the ground.
She squatted on the ground and kept fiddling with the fire. She looked up and smiled, her jet-black eyes sparkling and translucent in the light of the fire. However, the soot on her nose ruined her image a little.
"You're bragging again. Instead of eating delicacies, you came here to burn your eyebrows and eyes black." Zhangsun Wuji laughed and raised his hand to wipe away the soot on her nose. He vaguely smelled a strange, sweet fragrance. It was strange, but it had a simple, sweet allure. He sniffed again. He wouldn't feel hungry even if he didn't eat for three days and three nights, but he suddenly had an appetite. He didn't know if it was because of the aroma of the food or because of her smile.
"This is what you said is better than delicacies?" Zhangsun Wuji's interest was piqued. He squatted down to watch her fiddle with the fire and asked, "What is it?"
"Something common in a farmer's house. I found it in a cellar in the backyard. Hehe, I'm sure you haven't eaten it before." She casually wiped her blackened claws on her robes. Beside her, Lord Ingot's eyes lit up as he grabbed a twig and poked it. He had never smelled it before, so he wanted to eat it.
"I was wondering where you were. So you were hiding here to cook." Zhangsun Wuji helped her light the fire and laughed. "Aren't you afraid that Feng Jingrui will send someone to kill you?"
"Does he have that ability?" She curled her lips. "It's more likely that he killed Hua Yan and his wife."
"What did Hua Yan say to you that night?"
"Nothing much," she said thoughtfully. "I asked him why he crossed the border to look for me. He said that he was being chased and Feng Yuchu died on the road. He escaped from the Northern Region and the first place he entered was my fief. He remembered that we had met once and that I was the most powerful person in the vicinity to protect him, so he went straight to Qiao County. But I felt that he wasn't finished. For example, he didn't tell me what the assassins said Feng Jingrui was looking for."
"He couldn't have talked so deeply with you the moment he met you," Zhangsun Wuji said. "Fuyao, what are your plans? Are you going to send him back to Tong City or avenge him? "
"It's not a question of my plans now." She smiled. "You know that Feng Jingrui will never let me go from the moment I gave the order to kill him in front of the Prince's Mansion. Unless I leave Hua Yan to die in front of my mansion, there will definitely be enmity between us. Since we are destined to have enmity, I'll … make the first move."
Zhangsun Wuji laughed. "That's why you're trying to stir up trouble today. You're indeed a top troublemaker."
"It's done!" Fuyao laughed heartlessly before suddenly cheering. She extinguished the fire and dug out a few black things from the ashes. She raised her hands high above her head and respectfully presented them to Zhangsun Wuji.
"Your Highness, please use the 'Unparalleled Super Invincible Sweetness of the World' … Roasted Sweet Potato '!"
Roasted Sweet Potato …
Zhangsun Wuji raised his eyebrows and looked at the black things in a daze. He knew about sweet potatoes, but he had never had the chance to taste such food. Besides, he had seen sweet potatoes when he was inspecting disaster relief in the past. They were all sliced and cooked in a pot with porridge. How could the yellow slices be so ugly? How could they be eaten in this state?
Meng Fuyao retracted her hands and looked at his expression. She laughed disdainfully and said, "Sigh, I knew the noble Crown Prince wouldn't know how to eat such delicacies."
She carefully peeled off the charred skin of the roasted sweet potato, revealing the bright yellow color of the sweet potato. The unique sweet fragrance of the roasted sweet potato immediately filled the air and assaulted the nostrils, bringing with it the unique warmth of the mortal world. It was so strong that it stimulated one's taste buds and stirred up one's appetite.
"Does it smell good?"
"Hmm …" Zhangsun Wuji smiled. "I didn't expect it to smell so good."
Meng Fuyao immediately handed over the roasted sweet potato as if it was a treasure. Zhangsun Wuji smiled and opened his mouth. She hesitated for a moment, her face blushing under the light of the fire. Then, she unceremoniously stuffed the sweet potato into Zhangsun Wuji's mouth.
"Stuff yourself to death!"
Zhangsun Wuji bit off half of it and ate slowly. He looked at her as he ate and smiled. "Oh … so beautiful …"
"What's beautiful …?" Meng Fuyao asked, her mouth full of yellow and black.
"I mean … there really are delicacies for the commoners." Zhangsun Wuji gazed at her with a smile, his eyes rippling like water. Suddenly, he reached out and gently brushed his lips across hers.
His slender fingers swept up the golden roasted sweet potato. Zhangsun Wuji raised his finger and looked at her with a smile. It was only when she blushed that he brought the roasted sweet potato to his lips and ate it.
"Thank you for letting me taste … such a beautiful taste."
His tone was gentle and charming, each word containing a hint of a smile. It was unclear whether he was referring to the simple and honest taste of the roasted sweet potato or the natural fragrance of her delicate red lips.
Fuyao's face was on fire …
'Ancient people … Ancient people … actually know how to kiss indirectly?'
'Or is the Crown Prince a natural expert?'
Meng Fuyao started to move her butt, deciding to stay away from the dangerous, seductive, flirtatious, and beautiful Crown Prince who could even eat a roasted sweet potato …
Just as she moved, she suddenly heard a strange sound from the horizon. Then, the top of her head lit up, followed by the sound of an explosion.
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