'What do you mean by screaming miserably? ' Miao Yi was feeling a little uneasy. He asked, "Is the Heavenly Consort going to attack me?"
The red-armored general replied, "How would I know?"
Miao Yi retorted, "Then why did you ask me to scream miserably?"
The red-armored general replied, "Who doesn't know you've offended the Heavenly Consort before? I kindly asked you to mentally prepare yourself, and you don't appreciate it, do you? Stop dawdling. The Heavenly Consort is looking over here … "
Miao Yi looked over. As expected, the woman in a fluttering dress turned her head to look in his direction.
Miao Yi stumbled as the red-armored general gave him a push. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow the general into the sky.
After they both landed, the red-armored general cupped his fists and said, "Reporting to the Heavenly Consort, Niu Youde is here." He then stepped aside.
Miao Yi followed suit and cupped his fists. "Greetings, Heavenly Consort!"
"Niu Youde. Do you still recognize me?" Zhan Ruyi asked.
Yin Shuang and Bai Xue stared at Miao Yi and sized him up. This was the first time they were looking at the famous Niu Youde up close, and their gazes were a little unfriendly. Firstly, it was because Miao Yi had offended their master, and they thought their master was here to settle the score with Miao Yi. Secondly, they thought this Niu Youde was a little foolish. Heavenly King Ying had intended to recruit him to resolve their differences, but he had chosen to side with Heavenly King Kou. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gotten into this mess today.
The red-armored generals at the side secretly exchanged glances, knowing full well what was going on. They could all hear the unfriendly tone in the Heavenly Consort's voice, and guessed that Niu Youde was about to get into trouble. They began to think about how to show mercy later.
During this time, almost all the normal generals guarding the Heavenly Palace had gotten to know Miao Yi after drinking together. In the past, none of them would give a damn about Miao Yi, and it was even more impossible for them to take the initiative to get to know him. To Miao Yi, this was probably the biggest surprise after being demoted.
"..." Miao Yi looked up in shock. He was now truly looking at Zhan Ruyi face to face. In that instant, he felt like he was seeing things. The person in front of him was clearly Zhan Ruyi, but at the same time, it didn't seem like Zhan Ruyi.
His thoughts instantly went back to when he first met Zhan Ruyi many years ago. The image of that moment suddenly became clear in his mind, and they were looking at each other just like this...
It was the time before they entered Purgatory. It was raining heavily, and the rain was dripping non-stop under the eaves of the hut. In the rain, a tall woman wearing a general's purple armor walked over alone in the mud. Under the helmet, her features were picturesque, valiant, and valiant. She was full of vigor and arrogance. Her bright eyes scanned the surroundings before landing on him. The visitor did not come with good intentions. He immediately asked, "Are you Niu Youde?" Miao Yi had forgotten how he had responded. The woman added, "A straightforward person doesn't do underhanded things. Niu Youde, listen to me carefully. When you enter hell, I will definitely take your life!"
Soon, the scene changed to another room. It was the same woman, but she had given up all her dignity. She took off her clothes, revealing her voluptuous upper body. She trembled as she begged him, saying that she did not want to enter the harem as a concubine. She begged him humbly, begging him to take her away.
When he refused, he saw the despair in the woman's eyes with his own eyes. He had seen that familiar despair many years ago when he was trapped in the Demon Refining Gourd. He did not expect to see it again at that moment, so when he turned away, his heart ached a little. Before he regained it, he did not have the ability to help. After regaining it, he did have the ability to help, but for his own benefit, he did not help.
After that, he watched as this woman boarded the phoenix carriage in a grand manner and became the high and mighty Heavenly Consort Ru Yi.
Since then, he had only seen her again now. But now, this woman had changed so much that he almost did not recognize her. There was an inexplicable sense of unfamiliarity. Her figure was still tall and proud. She was Zhan Ruyi, but not the Zhan Ruyi of the past. She no longer had the picturesque features under the helmet, the valiant bearing of the battle armor, the vigor, and the arrogance. Her bright eyes had become quiet, and the sharp edges of her aura had become gentle.
She wore a long silver dress that trailed on the floor. The belt accentuated her slender waist, accentuating her full breasts, and outlining the graceful curves of her tall figure. Her hair was tied up in a bun with dazzling ornaments, earrings, and pearls hanging from her ears. Her body was adorned with jingles. Even if this woman took off her battle armor in the past, she would never wear these accessories.
The Zhan Ruyi who used to clamor for a duel to the death with him was gone. She was more like a pure woman now.
She had changed drastically from head to toe. Miao Yi did not know how she had lived all these years. He guessed that she must have lived a life of luxury in the Heavenly Palace. That was why she had become like this. But he also knew that with her personality, she could not adapt to the Heavenly Palace. Yet, she would always have to live within those high palace walls.
His heart clenched for some reason. His lips tightened, and he cupped his fists again. "Greetings, Heavenly Consort!" He did not say if he still recognized her.
'Not answering?' Zhan Ruyi stared at his reaction with her bright eyes. The two of them were silent for a while. Her gaze swept over Miao Yi's battle armor, and her lips curled into a mocking smile. "A Silver-armored Heavenly Soldier! If I remember correctly, this is the second time you've been demoted, right? "
"Yes!" Miao Yi replied. He had also been demoted once after the Purgatory Trial. If he were to include the time in the small world, it would not be the second time.
Zhan Ruyi continued, "Other officials get higher and higher as they go, but you get lower and lower. You were demoted from a Silver-ranked General to a Silver-ranked Heavenly Soldier. You are probably the first in the Heavenly Court."
"This is all because of this lowly general …" He suddenly realized that he was no longer fit to call himself a lowly general. He did not even have the right to call himself a lowly officer. Because he did not even have a position, his rank could not be any lower. He corrected himself, "This lowly one deserves it!"
Zhan Ruyi looked into his eyes and said, "I am now the Heavenly Empress, and you are just a lowly soldier. How do you feel when you see me again?"
The red-armored generals exchanged glances again. Yin Shuang and Bai Xue also looked at each other. It seemed that the Heavenly Empress was going to make things difficult for Niu Youde.
Due to etiquette, Miao Yi did not dare to look her in the eyes. He lowered his head slightly and said, "I dare not compare myself to the Heavenly Consort."
Zhan Ruyi turned and walked towards the green field. "It has been a long time. Walk with me." She walked softly, her dress fluttering in the wind.
Was it appropriate to walk with the Heavenly Consort? Miao Yi hesitated. Yin Shuang and Bai Xue extended their hands and said in a low voice, "Please!"
Miao Yi braced himself and slowly followed behind. He did not dare to get too close. Zhan Ruyi's dress fluttered in the wind, so it was inconvenient for it to come into contact with the Heavenly Consort's clothes.
Yin Shuang and Bai Xue followed behind, followed by the red-armored generals.
Unexpectedly, Zhan Ruyi turned around and said, "I didn't ask you to follow. I want to walk with him alone."
Yin Shuang and Bai Xue were stunned. The red-armored generals were stunned.
"Heavenly Consort, this is not appropriate!" Yin Shuang shouted anxiously. The Heavenly Consort was walking alone with another man. What was going on?
One of the red-armored generals also cupped his fists and said, "Heavenly Consort, we are under orders to protect your safety. We dare not stray too far away!"
They were indeed worried. If the Heavenly Consort wanted to take revenge and provoked Niu Youde to retaliate, they would not be able to save her in time if anything happened. If something really happened to the Heavenly Consort, they would probably lose their heads as well.
Miao Yi was shocked as well. Walking alone with the Heavenly Emperor's consort? What kind of joke was this? He quickly stopped and cupped his fists. "If Heavenly Consort has any orders, I am all ears." What he meant was that she could just say it here.
"I will say it again. I want to walk with him alone. I have something to ask him. You are not allowed to follow!" Zhan Ruyi said and continued walking.
What could they do if she insisted on doing this?
Miao Yi had no choice but to keep a distance from him, following behind him at a distance that was neither too far nor too close.
When they reached a small mound of green grass, Zhan Ruyi stopped on it, her dress fluttering in the wind.
Miao Yi stood at the foot of the mound and kept his distance.
"I've already met Yun Zhiqiu," Zhan Ruyi, who was standing on top of the mountain, suddenly said.
"..." Miao Yi looked up in surprise, not knowing what she meant.
"To be honest, after seeing her, I couldn't help but want to ask you something."
"I am all ears."
"I am all ears? When did the Niu Youde I know become so lowly? Where did the insufferably arrogant Niu Youde who dared to go against the nobles of the Imperial Court go? A piece of Heavenly Weapon. Is this the future you gave up on me for? " Zhan Ruyi turned around and looked down at him. "That's why I don't understand. She's just a widow. I don't see how good she is, and I don't see how she can be stronger than me … Don't worry, I don't mean anything else. The past is the past, and I won't pursue it. I'm just confused about what happened back then. If you can do this for a widow, it means you're not afraid of trouble, nor do you care about your future. Why did you reject me back then?
Am I worse than you? "Hearing that she wouldn't pursue the past, Miao Yi secretly sighed in relief." Some things can't be explained clearly. "
Zhan Ruyi asked, "Is it because I've caused trouble for you so many times that you hate me?"
Miao Yi replied, "I wouldn't dare!"
Zhan Ruyi continued, "This matter has troubled me for many years. I just want to know the answer for my peace of mind. I don't have any ulterior motives. There are no outsiders here. Why don't we be honest?"
Miao Yi nodded silently.
Zhan Ruyi continued, "If you could go back to that moment and be given another chance to choose, would you take me with you?"
Miao Yi paused, then slowly spat out two words, "No!"
Zhan Ruyi asked, "Why? I want to know why. Tell me the real reason. "
Miao Yi slowly said, "You entered the palace because you have a responsibility that belongs to you. I rejected you because I have a responsibility that belongs to me."
Zhan Ruyi replied, "I have a responsibility to my clan behind me. What responsibility do you have? For your former subordinates? How many of them did you kill in the battle of Youding Region? For that concubine of yours? You can take her with you. You know I will agree. Or rather, you just can't wait for me to enter the palace. "
Miao Yi replied, "No! That's the reason I said just now. You might understand in the future. "
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