Zhan Beiye stood silently.
His eyes were hidden in the shadows of the torches. Only his silhouette could be seen, but his eyes were still shining brightly in the blurry darkness.
His gaze fell on Ya Lanzhu, who was crying on the ground. Her thin back was curled up into a ball, like a young bird that had lost its wings, struggling and shivering in the harsh winds of the mortal world.
This was not Ya Lanzhu.
This was not the Ya Lanzhu he knew.
The one he knew was brightly colored, waving a small knife around her waist as she chased after him all over the world. He scolded, he ran, he glared at her, and he mocked her. She merely shook her pigtails and smiled as if she didn't care at all. She was still as flamboyant as before.
She said, "Hey, I like you."
She said, "If you want to be, then be the first, the only one."
She said, "I like you, the rest are all crooked melons and cracked dates."
She was not afraid that he would see it, not afraid that anyone would see it.
Every time she appeared in front of him, she was neat, gorgeous, and bright. Every time she appeared, she was happier and brand-new.
He did not know the evaluation of the world, the bitterness of the mortal world.
Only today did he know how deep the cracks in her heart were. It was a bloody mouth that had yet to heal, bleeding in a place where there was no one around.
He was careless, but Ya Lanzhu wasn't him. Men were born with the innate ability to endure hardships and beatings, but she was a woman. She had been born with the heavy pressure of the secular world. Many years of chasing had long since exhausted all of her mental and physical strength.
Moreover, there was an even deeper and heavier blow. He had fallen in love with Fu Yao.
If there was a glimmer of hope for the distant future in the despair of chasing, then his gaze on Fu Yao was the real fate that extinguished her last hope.
The pain of bereavement, the control of her will, caused the last perseverance that was on the verge of collapse to collapse in an instant. She unconsciously muttered in front of the world, pouring out all the regret, despair, loss, and sorrow in her heart.
Zhan Beiye closed his eyes.
The corners of his eyes were slightly wet, reflecting the faint light of tears.
In the silence, whose heart was silently constricting? A dull, dull sound like the beating of a drum, the pain hidden in the depths of his heart quietly surged, twisting, and convulsing.
He was in pain.
But he could not tell who was in pain? Ya Lanzhu's, or his? That feeling of helplessness and desolation mixed together, that sour and astringent feeling surged up and drowned his throat, as if it was blocked by a clot of blood that would never dissipate.
Wasn't Ya Lanzhu's pain also his pain?
He and Ya Lanzhu were actually the same. They were both hopeless pursuers who were wallowing in the pain of love.
He was ostentatious as he chased, and through his ostentatiousness, he experienced the sorrow of distance.
Just like this moment.
'Meng Fuyao, look at me! You don't have to look at me!'
We are all selfish people. We love what we love and walk in our own direction, ignoring the scenery along the way.
There was no turning back.
If I turn around easily, then she won't be her, you won't be you, and I won't be me.
Love is never charity.
= = = =
As soon as she turned to look at Zhan Beiye, she knew that she was wrong.
At this moment, it was a subconscious reaction, but for Zhan Beiye, it was another level of damage.
Why is she looking over? Could she plead for Zhan Beiye's acceptance for Zhuzhu? Zhuzhu wouldn't want it, and Zhan Beiye wouldn't accept it.
She met Zhan Beiye's dark and heavy gaze, and the moment she read his thoughts, she knew his choice.
He would help Zhuzhu withstand the storm and sweep away her enemies. He would treat her as a friend for life, but he wouldn't take her into his arms and personally bandage her wounds.
There was a kind of touching that had nothing to do with love, and there was a kind of love that was irreplaceable.
She was in pain because of him, and he was in pain because of the other her. The nine chains of love were intertwined, and one could not understand them.
As for her, she was destined to stir up trouble and hurt the innocent.
Meng Fuyao lowered her eyes, clenched her fingers, and took a step back. Amid the heavy helplessness and pain, she could only remain silent.
So what if he dominated the seven countries? In the face of Heaven's will, he would still be mercilessly manipulated.
= = =
Ya Lanzhu's cries gradually became softer.
The depression that had settled in her heart for many years exploded in an instant. She was broken and empty.
Her consciousness was only left with the last bit of support. It fluttered in the summer wind like a fragile gossamer, about to snap in an instant.
"Mother …" she murmured as she bowed to the ground, repeatedly kowtowing in the direction of the palace gate. "Take me away …"
"Take me away …" she repeated over and over again, gradually calming down amidst her tears. "… I will always be with you from now on …"
Sighs could be heard in the square. The people's expressions gradually changed from disdain to deep thought and shock. Some of the women were already sobbing softly.
Even if they didn't agree with that kind of pursuit, the people were still moved by the girl's bleak and desperate emotions.
Persistence and perseverance were the noblest emotions in the world. They emitted an eternal radiance, causing people to raise their heads in respect.
The only one who remained unmoved was Kang Che. He put all his effort into the technique, focusing all his attention on controlling it. He was very confident in his technique and believed that no one would be able to stop him from controlling it.
He wanted to get rid of this woman once and for all.
In the instant that Ya Lanzhu murmured, a cold smile blossomed on his face. He was about to open his mouth to say his last words.
His last words, which destroyed Ya Lanzhu's already shattered consciousness, smashed her consciousness into flying ash, never to be collected again.
He was about to open his mouth.
Suddenly, a man in a long robe walked towards Ya Lanzhu. He placed his hand lightly on her shoulder and lifted her up.
He had originally been standing behind Ya Lanzhu. His appearance was very natural, and his action of lifting her up was also very natural. There was nothing out of the ordinary. The people in the square were still immersed in their shocked emotions. No one felt that there was anything wrong with such an action.
Kang Che's heart, however, suddenly jumped.
Then he saw the man pat Ya Lanzhu's shoulder. His fingertips emitted a faint light at an angle that no one could see. The layer of darkness in Ya Lanzhu's eyes was instantly swept away, and light reappeared.
Then the man raised his head and looked at him.
His long sleeves hung down, hanging over Ya Lanzhu's shoulder. Ya Lanzhu raised her head and turned her gaze towards Kang Che.
But in this moment, Kang Che suddenly discovered that Ya Lanzhu's gaze had changed.
If it had been a bright and transparent crystal just a moment ago, then it was now a sunlit sea. The splendor of Heaven and Earth had been condensed, and the light of the waves was deep and boundless.
The sea calmly floated in front of him, illuminated by the eternal light of the sun.
He was slightly dazzled, and couldn't help but stare into it. He wanted to trudge into that vast and bright deep blue.
But the sea suddenly began to churn. Wind stirred on the water, sweeping up thousands of waves. Each wave was shallow at first, then deep, and then surged over endlessly, trapping him step by step within.
He vaguely felt that something was wrong. He struggled to return, but his mind suddenly buzzed, as if a taut string had suddenly snapped.
Then he heard Ya Lanzhu ask, "Where is the Faqiang royal family?"
"At …" He opened his mouth to answer, but then he felt a tug somewhere. It was as if a giant hand from beyond the heavens had firmly grasped his heart, preventing the answer from leaving his mouth.
Ya Lanzhu asked again, "What did you do to the Faqiang royal family?"
The will in his mind roared, "Answer her! Answer her!" Kang Che's heart was tightly twisted into a bloody mess. Kang Che's heart was torn apart in this kind of struggle where neither side would give in to the other. He opened his mouth wide and breathed rapidly. His face turned green and white, and cold sweat rolled down his forehead. However, he could not say a single word.
The people in the square also reacted at this time. They watched in shock as the world turned upside down in that instant. Princess Ya had clearly been completely controlled, and the deepest thoughts of a woman had been poured out. It looked like they were going to lose. How could it be that the Prime Minister had suddenly fallen into a state of mind control?
No one noticed that the man with his sleeves on Ya Lanzhu's shoulder frowned slightly. Then Ya Lanzhu suddenly changed the way she asked.
She asked, "What was the last thing you did that you were guilty of?"
"I … I …" This question did not touch on the controlled soul, and it made Kang Chi feel a little more at ease. He answered vaguely, "With my sister-in-law …"
There was an uproar in the plaza. Everyone was shocked. Ya Lanzhu asked, "What are they doing together?"
"Between a man and a woman …" Kang Chi smiled. "The woman I like … will be mine sooner or later …"
"Then what did you feel guilty about?"
"She committed suicide …"
Amidst the uproar, Ya Lanzhu smiled coldly and asked again, "What was the happiest thing?"
"Being with my sister-in-law …"
"What was the most favorite thing?"
"Being with my sister-in-law …"
"What was the happiest thing?"
"Being with my sister-in-law …"
"What was the most annoying thing?"
"Why did Big Brother come back at that time …"
"What was the most helpless thing?"
"I didn't want to kill my nieces and nephews …"
The square was already in chaos. The question answered in the mind control spell was absolutely true. In other words, forcing his sister-in-law to rape him? Killing his brother and exterminating his family? The Prime Minister?
Ya Lanzhu's smile became even colder. She asked again, "How did you cultivate such a powerful witchcraft?"
"Practicing with young boys and girls … I have the foundation of Yin and Yang Dual Cultivation …"
"How many young boys and girls did you kill?"
"I can't remember …"
A few arbitrators suddenly stood up and walked away in large strides. Although Fufeng advocated witchcraft over martial arts, they still adhered to the orthodox path of witchcraft cultivation. Witchcraft that killed and harmed people were called "Black Witchcraft" and were never allowed to hold office in the royal court. Everyone despised killing for pleasure. Moreover, using young boys and girls to practice witchcraft was the cruelest and most inferior of all "Black Witchcraft".
After Kang Chi said these words, it was already impossible for him to stay in the Qiang King's Court any longer. He was completely unaware of this, and a carefree smile even appeared on his face — the deep blue sea that shone with the sunlight was truly relaxing and relaxing …
Ya Lanzhu still did not relax. Amidst the angry curses of the crowd, she took a roundabout way and threw out the last crucial question.
"Among the people you've killed, who has the deepest memory and the most feelings?"
"The Queen … She's old but still charming, and her status is still noble …"
With a boom, the crowd exploded.
"Ah!" Ya Lanzhu screamed and jumped up, jumping several feet high. Her face turned pale in an instant, but Zhangsun Wuji, who had been standing behind her, pressed her down.
He pressed Ya Lanzhu down and immediately sealed her acupoint, tossing her to Zhan Beiye, who caught it instinctively.
"Go to hell!" She had already rushed forward.
She was so angry that she was about to burn up. She charged forward like a ball of black fire, her body colliding with the air in mid-air with a thunderous sound. Zhangsun Wuji hurriedly called out from behind, "Spare your life!"
Meng Fuyao gritted her teeth in mid-air. She knew that if she made a move now, Kang Chi, who had yet to regain consciousness, would definitely become a pile of mush. She still hoped to interrogate him about the whereabouts of the Qiang royal family.
She raised her hand, and two furballs shot out simultaneously. "Go! Scratch him! Be ruthless! "
The Nine-tailed Raccoon had always been obsequious. With a flash of golden light, it actually scratched Kang Chi's face. With a swoosh, ten deep grooves appeared, and fresh blood flowed like ink.
Lord Ingot, on the other hand, leaped over with genuine hatred. He raised his claws and kicked with all his might, causing Kang Chi's left eye to explode.
Kang Chi shrieked in pain. A dark green four-legged snake flew out of his sleeve, its fangs sharp and its tail as hard as steel.
The Nine-tailed Raccoon and Lord Ingot turned in mid-air, their gazes meeting. It was rare for them to reach a tacit understanding. With a wave of their claws, they each grabbed the four-legged snake's legs and leaped in the opposite direction.
"Hiss!"
Kang Chi's beast did not even have time to lift its claws before it really became a four-horned snake, its four legs landing in four corners.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye. In the blink of an eye, Kang Chi's face had completely changed. Meng Fuyao also fell to the ground amidst his screams. She raised her hand and strangled his neck.
"How do you want to die?" She glared at the man under her palm. "Happily? Tragically? "
However, Kang Chui could no longer make the choice. His face was filled with a pitiful expression, but his body began to convulse soundlessly. He shrunk into a small ball in Fuyao's palm, then suddenly bounced away. A loud slap could be heard.
A large amount of blood flowed out of his mouth, mixing with the blood on his face and dripping to the ground. His body no longer shrank or bounced, but went limp and limp.
He was dead.
Meng Fuyao glared at the man who had died in an inexplicable yet expected manner. In that instant, she felt only anger and helplessness. When she made her move, she had already pressed against Kang Chi's throat and sealed his acupoints. There was no way he could have consumed poison or committed suicide. It was obvious that he was still under the control of some sort of Fufeng Strange Art and was killed to silence him.
She threw Kang Chi's corpse to the ground and stood up angrily. Suddenly, a cloud of doubt floated in her heart. Kang Chi had already been under the control of Zhangsun Wuji's will. Even he did not reveal the key secrets, which meant that the other party's sorcery was quite powerful. Then, why did the other party not save Kang Chi when he was invaded by Zhangsun Wuji? Was it because he was incapable, or was there another reason?
However, Kang Chi was already dead. He did not die when he was supposed to, but when he was not supposed to, he died faster than anyone else.
Meng Fuyao sighed. She looked back at the surging emotions of the crowd, who were at a loss as to what to do. She looked back at Ya Lanzhu, who was in Zhan Beiye's arms, whose acupoints had been sealed. She then looked back at Zhangsun Wuji, who seemed to be deep in thought, and Yun Hen, who had a cold look in his eyes. She thought about how she had originally wanted to help Zhuzhu establish her authority, but by a freak combination of factors, she had ended up with a heart full of pain.
Further away in the sky, layers of dark clouds surged over.
= = =
On the 29th of the sixth month in the 18th year of Fa Qiang's reign, the youngest princess of Fa Qiang, Ya Lanzhu, challenged Prime Minister Kang Chi in front of the palace's square. She exposed the Prime Minister's evil deeds of plotting against the royal family and seizing power. With the support of the court officials, she took control of the palace.
Ya Lanzhu found the monarch of Fa Qiang in the secret chamber of the palace. He had always claimed that he was "cultivating in seclusion and that his dragon body was in poor condition." However, his cultivation was fake, and his poor condition was real. He was delirious, and it was obvious that he had been bewitched. The rest of the princes and princesses were nowhere to be seen. Ya Lanzhu wantonly searched for Kang Chi's remaining supporters, replaced Kang Chi's trusted officials, and readjusted the palace's defenses. After this incident, the little princess seemed to have extricated herself from her past pursuits. She focused more of her attention on the responsibilities of the royal family, which she had always neglected.
In fact, those who knew how to persevere were born with a strong character. As a daughter of the royal family, when her attention shifted from love to politics, she was able to emit the brilliance of fortitude that belonged to her.
The duel in the square and the crying incident had also washed away the shameful image of the "shameful" princess in the hearts of the citizens of Gale City. The infatuated princess had become affectionate, and the pursuit of love was seen as courageous. It was witchcraft, after all. Even the Prime Minister had been controlled to expose his crimes on the spot. Was such a princess not the glory of Fa Qiang?
Princess Ya's image gradually improved, and the number of female supporters grew. They were moved by the words "a couple for life" in the square. They strongly requested to reform the husbands of Fufeng who had "kicked over their wives' feet washing basin" under the princess's leadership.
On the 9th of the seventh month, due to the monarch's incapacity and the disappearance of the princes and princesses, Ya Lanzhu became the regent under the request of the court officials.
During this period of time, Meng Fuyao stayed by Ya Lanzhu's side. She distributed the various good things that she had obtained from the Lost Valley and sped up her training. The five-colored flower and the jade paste that she had picked in the Lost Valley were split between Lei Dong and her. This item was very useful for the light and ferocious type of True Power that she was practicing. Meng Fuyao could already feel the surge of vital Qi, and there were signs that she was about to make a breakthrough.
Since the effect was good, she wanted to share it with her companions. She first sent a portion to Ya Lanzhu, but Ya Lanzhu rejected it.
"I don't need to practice martial arts anymore." Ya Lanzhu focused on the Fufeng Geomancy Map on the desk and kept drawing. "You gave me quite a number of the Inner Cores of the strange beasts in the Lost Valley. Those are very useful to me. I'll just focus on practicing witchcraft from now on."
"Zhu-zhu." Meng Fuyao looked at her focused face and did not want to disturb her. However, she had been so busy recently that she did not have the chance to talk to her. Today, she could not hold it in any longer.
"You … you seem to be treating me like an outsider."
Ya Lanzhu's head was still lowered, but the brush in her hand suddenly stopped. After a moment of silence, she put it down and signaled for the officials to leave.
"How could that be?" She walked over from behind the desk and hugged Meng Fuyao's shoulder. She smiled apologetically. "I was just a little busy."
Meng Fuyao stared into her eyes. Her gaze was still as bright as ever, but it seemed to have lost some of its former indulgence. Was this the growth that she had to go through? In the eyes of the world, such growth was gratifying, but Meng Fuyao felt sad. She missed Zhuzhu, who had brandished a knife at Zhan Beiye to "kill you first". She missed Zhuzhu, who had knocked wine glasses on her birthday and told her about love and perseverance. She missed the cute and intelligent little princess who had hugged her in the Heaven Fiend Golden Palace and pretended to sing a two-man show with her.
The past had died a day before today, and the future had been born a day after today.
The joys and sorrows of the past would eventually be buried by time and fate.
Meng Fuyao sighed and reached out to hold Zhuzhu's shoulder, which had become thinner. Zhangsun Wuji had once told her that the person involved would not remember the actions of the mind control. This comforted her, as she felt that it was better for Zhuzhu. She could vent the haze in her heart without getting hurt again. However, seeing how tired Zhuzhu was, she had some doubts. Did she really not remember?
The girl on her shoulder was shorter than her. She leaned on her shoulder lightly. Her skin was cool in the summer, and the wind blew through the open window, bringing with it the fragrance of gardenias and water lilies in the distant lotus pond.
The papers on the table rustled in the wind. Meng Fuyao unintentionally glanced over, and her eyes twitched.
"You want to use troops against Xiandang?"
The ink on the map indicated that there were three separate troops heading straight for Xiandang's largest city.
"Yes." Ya Lanzhu straightened up. "If they can attack me, why can't I attack them?"
"Zhuzhu," Meng Fuyao muttered, "are you sure Xiandang is your enemy?"
"Why not?" Ya Lanzhu said, "In the Lost Valley, the Shao Dang Sorcerer had my Life Plate on his waist. In Gale City, Kang Che, who controls the court, was originally from the Shao Dang Clan. Indeed, he had secretly planted many of the Shao Dang Clan's trusted aides in the process of eliminating dissidents. The spell that my father was afflicted with is similar to the Dream Worm that the Shao Dang Clan specializes in. All the clues point to the Shao Dang Clan, so why should I let them go?
"Zhuzhu, I don't think things are that simple. Think again …" Meng Fuyao frowned.
"There's no time to think again!" Ya Lanzhu interrupted quickly. "The members of the royal family are probably in their hands. If I don't do anything, I'll be in a passive position. It's better to take action now that they think I've just become the regent and haven't stabilized my position. It's better than waiting for them to state their conditions!"
Meng Fuyao felt that this was the right point, but a vague sense of uneasiness made her speak up. "Zhuzhu, the country has just fallen into chaos, and Tal is eyeing us covetously. It's not appropriate to take action now …"
"Don't stop me!" Ya Lanzhu shouted.
Meng Fuyao stopped abruptly and stared blankly at Ya Lanzhu.
"Think again, think again! That's you, Meng Fuyao, not me!" Ya Lanzhu placed both hands on the table, tightly gripping the geomancy map in her hands. The paper was folded and wrinkled in her hands, and the black arrowheads shot out in all directions. It was as if the country had lost its color, and smoke was rising from all directions. Her fingers trembled, and her voice trembled with emotion. "Your brother and sister have not been kidnapped, and it is unknown whether they are dead or alive. Your father is not bedridden, and his mind is not clear. Your mother has not been humiliated and killed, and her grievances have not been avenged. You have succeeded, you are powerful, you are omnipotent, and with a single call, hundreds will answer. How can you understand my anxiety, my pain?
She pointed at the compartment behind the study, her face pale. "Do you know why I've always been here? Behind this study is the place where my mother was humiliated and killed. My Soul Lamp is hidden here! I suddenly collapsed at the border of Great Wan, not because I was harmed, but because she used a spell to control me before she died. She didn't want me to return to the country to face danger. She didn't want me to take revenge, and she decided to let me chase after men outside! If it wasn't for the spell protecting me, she might have been able to escape from Kang Xi! "All these years, what have I given her? How many days have I accompanied her? If I can't even avenge her now, what's the point of living? "
Meng Fuyao leaned against the table, her face as pale as Ya Lanzhu's. After a while, she said, "Zhuzhu, it's not that we don't want you to take revenge, but we'll remember it …"
"No," Ya Lanzhu rejected. "You've already helped me too much. No need! "
Meng Fuyao took another step back, her eyes dark and moist. After a while, she said with difficulty, "Zhuzhu … do you … hate me?"
Ya Lanzhu shuddered, as if she had suddenly awoken from her anger, agitation, and confusion. Her gaze was blank for a moment, fixed on the opposite wall. After a while, she retracted her gaze and grabbed her hair in annoyance, murmuring, "… Ah … No … I … I'm just too tired …"
Her fingers were stuck in her hair, clutching it nervously. Meng Fuyao raised her hand to caress her, but stopped in mid-air. Ya Lanzhu had already raised her head and squeezed out a smile that was uglier than a crying face. "No … No … I … I'm just too tired …" she said in a low voice.
She hurried over and hugged Meng Fuyao. Without saying a word, her tears were already dripping down her face.
Meng Fuyao patted her gently and said, "Don't push yourself too hard …" Before she could finish her sentence, a tear fell on the back of her hand.
It was cool and moist, and wet to the bottom of her heart.
In the Boundless Thousand Worlds, men and women in the secular world, and those who had fallen into the trap, no one made a mistake, but they hugged each other and shed tears.
= = =
Coming out of the study, Meng Fuyao felt as if there was a huge rock pressing down on her heart, making it hard for her to breathe. She wanted to sit in an open space, so she took a detour to the lotus pond.
There was someone fishing by the pond. From afar, he looked like an immortal.
He was sitting cross-legged on a thin, transparent rock beside the pond. He looked even more elegant than the rock. His light purple robe fluttered in the wind, giving off a noble fragrance that was slightly cool after snow.
He held a white jade fishing rod and a black silk fishing line in his hand.
But there was no bait or hook.
Actually, there was bait, but it was a little different. It was fat and round, with a few white hairs.
Lord Ingot held the fishing line in his mouth and swayed it. His tail quivered as he looked around for fish. Unfortunately, the bait was too big and cumbersome, and the tail was too hairy. None of the fish that passed by were interested in it.
When Meng Fuyao saw this pair, her first reaction was to go around them.
Her eyes were still red. If Zhangsun Wuji saw it, it would most likely cause more trouble.
She turned around and walked away. After a few steps, her clothes were tugged. Looking back, she saw a fishing line hooked on the back of her collar.
The person behind her laughed. "What a big fish!"
Meng Fuyao had no choice but to go over and squat under the rock. "Who are you fishing for?" she asked.
"You." Zhangsun Wuji scooped her up and placed her in his arms. Meng Fuyao was displeased. "The rock is only so big. You can squeeze. I think it's good if you fall and wet your clothes," he said.
Meng Fuyao knew that he was a man of his words. If he really wanted to throw her into the water, it was possible that he would see her wet. She could only stay still and stare blankly at a water lily in the pond. After a while, she sighed and said, "It's good to be a flower. It's so much better than being a human."
"Who made you unhappy?" Zhangsun Wuji pinched her cheeks, pulling left and right in an attempt to make her smile. She slapped him down and scolded, "You're a nuisance!"
Zhangsun Wuji ignored her and hugged her. "I miss your heartless smile, showing your two front teeth and molars …" he said.
She turned around and showed him a sinister smile, revealing four front teeth and six molars.
"When will you stop going against me?" Zhangsun Wuji buried his head in her shoulder and sniffed her fragrance. It smelled much better than the lotus pond. "Ah, no. You wouldn't be Meng Fuyao if you stop going against me."
Meng Fuyao smiled. After all, she had a lot on her mind. She could not help but tell Zhangsun Wuji about Ya Lanzhu's plan. Instead of asking about Ya Lanzhu's plans, Zhangsun Wuji asked, "Did you suffer? Did Zhuzhu suffer because of this? "
Meng Fuyao glanced at him. Helpless against his crystal heart and protective heart, she could only explain, "It's nothing. She's under too much pressure. If she were to joke around with me without any ill feelings, I would think it's abnormal."
"Fuyao …" Zhangsun Wuji seemed to be thinking about something. After a while, he said hesitantly, "Let's avoid her a little … I'm always worried …"
"What do you mean?" Meng Fuyao straightened her body, her eyebrows raised. "You suspect Zhuzhu? How is that possible? "
"If I really suspected her, I would have told you long ago." Zhangsun Wuji was still deep in thought. "It's just that this kind of relationship isn't appropriate."
"You're still suspecting her." "Zhangsun Wuji, you really have the noble heart of a noble person," she said with a cold laugh. "You look like you're high up in the clouds, looking down on all living things. What kind of person is Ya Lanzhu? You know it, I know it, and you know it even better. If she were pretending, she wouldn't have been able to keep it up until now. She's already sad enough, what are you still suspecting? "
Zhangsun Wuji remained silent. After a while, he said, "Fufeng is strange and has many mind-controlling techniques. Princess Ya and you have a complicated relationship. It's hard to guarantee that no one will take advantage of you."
"So, is she being mind-controlled?" Meng Fuyao asked directly. "Although you don't know witchcraft, your martial arts seem to be related to mystical mystical techniques. You should be able to tell if there's anything wrong with her, right?"
Zhangsun Wuji was silent for a while. "No."
"Very well, very well." She pushed him away and walked away. "Your Highness, I know that I should be grateful for your concern for me, but I don't want you to treat your concern for me as the only thing in your life. As a result, you should forget the consideration, sympathy, understanding, and other ordinary but indispensable emotions that a human should have. I only hope that you can be an ordinary person, not a god in the clouds."
She raised her leg and pushed aside Lord Ingot, who was trying to block her way. Without another word, she walked away, leaving Zhangsun Wuji to face the lotus pond in silence. After a while, he slowly wrapped the fishing line around his hand.
Those entangled thoughts, one round after another …
After a long, long time, he sighed softly and said, "I'm not sure.
"Perhaps I used to be a god in the clouds …"
"But ever since I met you, I became a soul without a home."
= = =
On the fourteenth day of the seventh month in the eighteenth year of Faqiang Tianzheng, Ya Lanzhu sent troops to launch a surprise attack on Faqiang Kingdom in an attempt to snatch back the hostages. However, Faqiang Kingdom seemed to be prepared for this and responded with a speed that was unimaginable. They fought for three days in the Blazing Sun City at the border of Faqiang Kingdom, resulting in a stalemate. The peace and balance that Fufeng had enjoyed for many years was quickly broken. The surprise attack turned into a siege battle on the plains. The thousands of miles of land that had been split was silently ignited with the flames of war.
The snow-white gleam of knives illuminated the vast mountains and valleys. Ya Lanzhu was burning with anxiety. She spent all day in the study discussing military matters with her ministers, blisters forming at the corners of her mouth. At the busiest point, she did not sleep for days. Her eyes were completely red, but she did not ask Meng Fuyao for help. In the end, Zhan Beiye could not stand it any longer. He barged into the study of the palace and tore apart all the strategies drawn up by his advisors. He redrafted a new strategy and sent Xiao Qi, who had followed him here, to the Faqiang Kingdom's army as an assistant general.
Meng Fuyao conveniently sent Tie Cheng over as well, so that the guard, who had never fought in a war, could learn from Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi had not fought in a long time and was itching to fight. He did not care who he helped, as long as there was a fight to be had.
On the seventh of the eighth month, Xiao Qi feigned defeat at the Blazing Sun City, luring the Burning Dang Kingdom's army out of the city to pursue him. They were led all the way to the lake outside the city, where the lake was foggy on an autumn night. The Burning Dang Kingdom's army could not tell which direction to go and were ambushed by Tie Cheng, who had been lying in ambush.
From then on, with Zhan Beiye presiding over the central command and Xiao Qi facing the enemy, the battle situation took a turn for the worse. The Burning Dang Kingdom's army retreated step by step, their morale plummeting. Ya Lanzhu was finally slightly relieved from the immense pressure, and a smile appeared on her face. Meng Fuyao looked at her, feeling gratified. The two of them once talked about the war situation, and Ya Lanzhu rejoiced. "Come to think of it, it's all thanks to you, Fuyao. If it weren't for the coincidence of us getting to know each other and your influence on the surrounding countries, I would not have dared to fight this war. Let's not talk about anything else, the neighboring Xuanji, Wuji, and Fufeng clans would definitely take advantage of the internal strife.
"How could I bear to hit you?" Meng Fuyao laughed heartily. As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly thought of something. Compared to Dawan, which only shared a border with Faqiang, Wuji Nation and Fufeng were countries that truly shared a border. To Zhangsun Wuji, who placed political interests above all else, Fufeng was the best opportunity to take advantage of the situation. Would he … make a move?
Her heart started thumping wildly at the thought. As a man in this world, he would wield the power of the world when he was awake and lie on the knees of a beauty when he was drunk. To a top political official like Zhangsun Wuji, there was no reason for him not to care about the world. He was so calm. Zhu Zhu's experience was so heart-wrenching, and they were all affected by it. Only he remained aloof and indifferent when he made such a suggestion to her. From a standpoint, making a move seemed to be an inevitable choice.
However, on second thought, she felt that it was impossible. If Zhangsun Wuji was really so realistic and cold, Zhan Beiye and Zong Yue would not have been able to inherit the throne without any interference. He did not even make a move on his rivals in love, Zhan Beiye and Zong Yue, let alone Zhu Zhu, who held a different meaning to her.
She relaxed at the thought and could not help but laugh at herself. How could she have thought of this? It was most likely because of that fellow's suggestion a few days ago, which made her feel a little bitterly disappointed. Recently, he seemed to be a little distracted, so she began to suspect him. No matter what, based on her understanding of him, even if it was for her, Wuji would not have done this.
A few days later, it was the fifteenth day of the eighth month. Although it was a festival of reunion, none of them were afraid of touching Ya Lanzhu's heart, so they did not mention it. In the evening, a palace maid came to invite them to the Liushui Pavilion to admire the moon.
When they arrived at the Liushui Pavilion, crystal lamps hung in the pavilion, reflecting the moon in the water. The moon and clouds in the sky were overflowing with colorful lights. Ya Lanzhu was waiting in front of an exquisite table in the pavilion with a smile. When she saw them, she came out to welcome them.
Meng Fuyao strode over and smiled at the moon in the sky. "The moon today is really round. Not only is it round, but it's also beautiful."
Everyone raised their heads to look. Sure enough, the moonlight was a faint red, like a sparkling coral pearl. Ya Lanzhu looked at the moon and revealed an astonished expression. She said, "I don't really care about this year's moonlight. This seems to be our Fufeng's legendary Rakshasa Moon."
"The Month of Rakshasa?" Meng Fuyao quickly grabbed a seat and pulled Yun Hen and Zhangsun Wuji to sit down, squeezing Zhan Beiye and Ya Lanzhu together. However, the two of them looked at each other. Zhan Beiye sat sideways while Ya Lanzhu lowered her eyes. For a moment, no one could see her expression. In the blink of an eye, she raised her eyes again and began to eagerly serve everyone the pot.
Meng Fuyao was confused. She had thought that Zhan Beiye had been helping Ya Lanzhu with military planning recently and that the relationship between the two of them had loosened. But now, she could not see anything.
Ya Lanzhu deliberately diverted her attention and answered her question, "There is a legend in Fufeng. This light red, coral-like moonlight is the day when witchcraft in Fufeng flourishes. On that day, when top-notch sorcerers use their spells, even gods and ghosts will avoid them."
"Aha, what kind of spell is it?" Meng Fuyao laughed. "Moving mountains and overturning seas?"
"Do you think it's a Daoist spell?" Ya Lanzhu rolled her eyes. "The most miraculous one I've heard of was 30 years ago on the night of the Rakshasa full moon. The Grand Magus God of Fufeng battled with a leader of a foreign race. His race was wiped out in a single night, but he never returned. Some people say that he had already cultivated an immortal body before the battle. I'm not sure if it's true or not."
"Grand Magus God …" Meng Fuyao laughed. "How arrogant."
Zhangsun Wuji suddenly asked, "What's the name of the Grand Magus God? Which race was he fighting with?"
"I forgot." Ya Lanzhu smiled apologetically. "I'll check when I get back to the palace. It should be in the Fufeng Strange Annals."
"Let's drink, let's drink," Meng Fuyao toasted. "It's irrelevant. Why are you looking for it?" She pulled Ya Lanzhu to a drinking contest. "Come, come, let's drink deeply. Whoever doesn't get drunk tonight is a turtle."
She rolled up her sleeves in an attempt to cheer Ya Lanzhu up.
"Come, Yun Hen, drink to the fortune of three lifetimes …"
"Zhu Zhu, four seasons of fortune!"
"Zhan Beiye, five blessings!"
"Zhangsun Wuji, six blessings!"
"Eh, Yuan Bao, treasures from all directions …"
"Nine tails … come, nine by nine return to one …"
She pushed the drunk Zhan Beiye to Yun Hen and pushed Zhangsun Wuji, who was about to pull her away, to the side. She held Ya Lanzhu in her arms and stumbled out of the room. Zhan Beiye, who had been drunk for a long time, was still pouring himself a glass of wine and drinking by himself.
Zhangsun Wuji caught up to her and whispered in her ear, "Fuyao, tonight is the Month of Rakshasa. You have to be careful. Come stay next to me."
"Pfft, it's just a legend. Do you think I'm afraid of the moon?" She pushed him away and dragged Ya Lanzhu away, whispering into her ear, "Hey, Zhuzhu, since it's the Month of Rakshasa tonight, how about I sleep with you? In any case, you have to protect me. What if a strong person has evil intentions? "
"Forget it. It's good enough that you don't have evil intentions." Ya Lanzhu was also a little drunk. She did not push her away even though her face was flushed.
"I'll go get my pillow." Meng Fuyao walked back and met Zhangsun Wuji on the way. He was guarding outside her door and heaved a sigh of relief when he saw her return. "Don't sleep over there."
"What are you thinking about?" Meng Fuyao pushed him away. She wanted to say that she came back to get her pillow, but a drunken hiccup drowned her words. She stumbled into the room and lay on the bed, unable to get up.
She felt Zhangsun Wuji follow her in and sit beside her, gently caressing her hair. He seemed to stare at her for a long time, and a faint sigh echoed in the room. Then, he got up, took off her boots, covered her with a blanket, blew out the lights, and quietly walked out.
Meng Fuyao was so drunk that she could not get up. She buried her face in the pillow and dozed off. She did not know how long she had slept. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and saw a strange, pale red moon in the sky.
She felt thirsty, so she grabbed the teacup on the table and gulped it down. Her mind cleared a little, and she remembered that she had come back to get her pillow. How did she fall asleep? Could Zhuzhu still be waiting for her? She looked at the time and did not sleep for long. She hugged her pillow and went out again.
It was quiet along the way. There were not many guards in Faqiang Palace, and there were all kinds of formations and special techniques. The red moon above her head shone, and the ground was suffused with a faint silver-red luster, like a layer of unclean blood. Meng Fuyao felt agitated for no reason. She stood still under the moonlight.
As soon as he stood still, he opened up his five senses and suddenly heard a voice coming from the wind.
It was Zhangsun Wuji's voice.
"… Don't let her know …"
"… The border army has been mobilized …"
"… Maintain it for me, wait for me …"
What did he mean? What did he mean by that? What was he hiding from her? Why would the border army be mobilized? What was he going to do?
And tonight, he seemed a little distracted. Usually, when she was drunk, he would definitely take advantage of her, but tonight, he left without doing anything. When she came back, he was guarding the door with a pillow. She thought he was going to steal another kiss, but he looked like he just wanted to witness her return.
Meng Fuyao frowned and stood there. She thought about how he had repeatedly tried to stop her from staying in Ya Lanzhu's palace, and how she had thought about it a few days earlier. She felt her whole body explode, and under the cool moonlight of the Mid-Autumn Festival, she suddenly felt a chill run from her fingertips to her toes.
Just as she was distracted, a shadow floated in front of her. Judging by the figure, it seemed to be Zhangsun Wuji.
Meng Fuyao immediately followed.
The shadow's light purple robe fluttered in the wind as if it was weightless. In an instant, he leaped over the layers of eaves. In the entire Faqiang, no one except Zhangsun Wuji could match his level of Qinggong.
He went straight to Ya Lanzhu's palace.
Meng Fuyao chased after him, her heart thumping wildly. With every step she took closer to Ya Lanzhu's chamber, her heart tightened. It was as if an iron chain had been dropped onto a huge rock. With every inch she dragged, the chain sank deeper into her flesh, all the way to the bottom.
Zhangsun Wuji … What are you doing?
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