The Empress was used to having a gentle personality. She rarely spoke so harshly. Qin Yining looked at the Empress's behavior from the side and felt it was strange.
Why did it seem like the Empress wanted Pang Xiao to help her up the mountain?
Qin Yining smiled and said, "Niangniang, you are of noble birth. This mountain path is dangerous. Since the guards can't touch you, the palace servants can't do anything. You have already begged Huichuan County for the rain to stop and the weather to clear in the temple. As long as you are sincere, the gods won't care where you are. This mountain path is dangerous. Chenfu feels that it's best if you don't take the risk. "
The Empress suddenly looked at Qin Yining. She felt that her sweat-drenched face was flushed red. Her complexion improved and she looked as lively as a sixteen or seventeen year old girl. The Empress was nearing the age of forty, and she was old. Originally, when she saw Pang Xiao taking Qin Yining with him, and she could only watch helplessly, she was already a bit jealous. Seeing her like this, her heart became even more stifled.
"Wang fei's words are reasonable, but ben gong has already come this far. People say that Wan Fo Temple is very effective. If ben gong gives up halfway, will ben gong punish me? Who could say for sure about such things? If this consort retreats for a moment and the rain comes again, who can take responsibility for that? "
Hearing the Empress's words, Qin Yining knew that she had made up her mind. If he tried to persuade her, it would turn from conflict to hatred.
Thinking of this, Qin Yining didn't say more and left the decision to Pang Xiao.
Pang Xiao's brows were furrowed and he said disapprovingly: "Niangniang's sincerity in praying to Buddha is admirable, but taking too much risk may not be a good thing."
The Empress had been repeatedly persuaded and had accumulated anger. She could only suppress it in front of Pang Xiao, her uncle, "Ben gong has made up my mind."
"All right." Pang Xiao sighed, "Since it's like this, niangniang should come with this subject."
When the Empress saw Pang Xiao nod, her expression relaxed a little and her mood calmed down a little.
Pang Xiao held Qin Yining's hand and walked up the steps that could not be considered steps. She stepped onto a rock and turned around to hold Qin Yining's hand. She smiled gently and said, "Sister Yi, can you climb up?"
"Come up." Qin Yining was tall and slender, and she had lived in the mountains for many years. Whether it was her physical strength or experience, she was far superior to ordinary women. Although she was tired now, it was not to the extent that she could not even walk.
She grabbed Pang Xiao's hand to borrow strength and nimbly jumped up the stone steps. Due to the limited space on the stone steps, she let go of his hand and climbed up the next step made of logs. She leaned over and held onto it with her hand to climb up another big stone.
Jing Zhe and the other three followed closely behind Qin Yining, walking in front, behind, left, and right of her.
She climbed up so deftly that the Empress, who was standing below, looked up and felt a bit of confidence. She also lifted her leg and stepped up. However, just as she stepped up, her other foot touched the ground. She felt pain in her foot and her leg was sore. She had no strength left and almost fell backwards.
"Niangniang!" The bodyguards following closely behind wanted to help her up, but because of what the Empress had said, they did not dare to touch her body.
Pang Xiao quickly grabbed the Empress' sleeve and lifted her up.
The Empress was still in shock. Her face was pale as she patted her chest. She turned and thanked the stalwart man who was much taller than her, "Many thanks."
Since Pang Xiao had agreed to help, he naturally would not show the Empress a sour face. He smiled and said, "Niangniang is too polite."
His appearance was very beautiful, with sword-like eyebrows and phoenix eyes. When he smiled, there was some softness in the curve of his eyebrows. This softness appeared on a famous general who had fought on the battlefield. It was especially precious. The two stood on the same stone step. The distance was so close that the Empress could even smell the faint fragrance of sesame and jasmine on Pang Xiao's robes.
She knew that it was the fragrance of the rouge cream and hair oil that Qin Yining often used. It must have been on Pang Xiao when he hugged Qin Yining.
The Empress' cheeks heated up and her heartbeat inexplicably sped up. She turned her face and walked up the next step.
Pang Xiao could only walk at the back to protect the Empress and Qin Yining.
Sun mama anxiously walked in circles on the gentle slope. She was old and weak and could not climb to the top of the mountain. The guards tightly protected the Empress and could not help her. She could only bow to Pang Xiao: "Wang Ye, I beg Wang Ye to protect niangniang. Nubi thanks you."
Pang Xiao turned his head and said condescendingly: "Sun mama does not need to worry. This King's guards are walking at the back. They will take you up the mountain later."
"Many thanks Wang Ye, many thanks Wang Ye!" Sun mama was overjoyed. She knelt down and bowed to Pang Xiao.
Pang Xiao nodded slightly and followed the Empress' footsteps.
He was worried that Qin Yining would take the lead. He wanted to stay close to her, but he couldn't leave the Empress behind. Therefore, he walked very close to the Empress.
The Empress could even feel the heat coming from the strong and tall man beside her.
"Sister Yi, be careful. The soil above is a bit loose. Don't step there. Yes, step on the soil next to it. "
Pang Xiao was worried that Qin Yining wouldn't be able to step steadily, so he easily jumped in front of Qin Yining. He bent down on the stable rock and hugged Qin Yining with both hands. He directly carried her up.
Qin Yining hugged Pang Xiao's neck and was gently put down. The Empress was looking at them from behind. Her gaze was a bit strange. She couldn't help but feel her cheeks heat up.
"I'm fine." She was a bit out of breath. She wiped her sweat and continued to climb.
At this time, the Empress had already climbed to where Qin Yining was standing. She looked up at Pang Xiao and reached out her hand.
Pang Xiao reached out and pulled her up with his arm strength. However, he respected etiquette and didn't touch the Empress anywhere else. He couldn't directly carry her up like he did with Qin Yining because he was worried that she would bump into something. The Empress's leg scraped against the rock. It was burning with pain.
The Empress was a bit disappointed. She sighed softly.
The group of people continued to move forward with difficulty.
At this time, Bing Tang and Ji Yun were following Huzi and Tang Xiu to start walking the last section of the steep path. Sun momo saw Huzi and Tang Xiu and asked for their help.
Huzi smiled and said, "Don't be anxious, Sun momo. Wang Ye arranged for the bodyguards to escort the elders. They will arrive here soon. The two of us have to protect the two older sisters by Wang Fei's side. It's not convenient to bring you along. You can rest here for a while. When the other bodyguards arrive, they will bring Sun momo up the mountain."
Sun momo had no choice but to nod and continue to wait.
At this time, Jing Zhe had already reached the top of the mountain. He climbed down again to welcome Qin Yining. "Wang Fei, we are very close to Wanfo Temple. Just go around this section of the road and cross the wooden bridge in front."
Qin Yining nodded. He hung his sore legs and put his hands on his waist to catch his breath.
"My body is not as good as before. I didn't expect to be so tired before even climbing a mountain. In the past, I ran around the mountain all day, picking herbs and hunting. I often encountered wild beasts. If my body was so weak in the past, I would have been eaten by wolves." Qin Yining wiped his sweat and asked Jing Zhe with a smile, "Later, why don't I wake up early to practice martial arts with you? You can also teach me a thing or two. "
Jing Zhe smiled and said, "Wang Fei wants to learn martial arts. Isn't there the best master?"
Turning around to follow Jing Zhe's gaze, they saw Pang Xiao expressionlessly pulling the red-faced Empress up a flight of stairs made of round wood.
Pang Xiao had already heard Qin Yining's words. He let go of the Empress's hand and gently said to Qin Yining, "If you want to learn, I can teach you at any time."
Qin Yining nodded and said, "That's good."
The Empress panted and clenched her fists, as if she was holding onto the residual warmth of Pang Xiao's hand when he pulled her. Looking up at Pang Xiao who was gently talking to Qin Yining, the Empress couldn't help but think about how Li Qitian usually treated her.
How long had it been since she saw Li Qitian gently chatting with her?
Even serving him in bed on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month was routine. They didn't even chat. She couldn't find common topics to talk about with Li Qitian now.
This was their current life. Li Qitian was focused on the affairs of the court.
If he had any other thoughts, he would be with those young and beautiful concubines. She was the noble Empress, but she was just chafing chaff.
Unlike Pang Xiao and Qin Yining.
Their love was not an illusion, but a true love from the bottom of their hearts. The Empress felt envious when she looked at them. A sour feeling filled her heart and gradually turned into more obvious jealousy.
"Niangniang?"
A sudden voice pulled the Empress back to reality. She looked up blankly and found that Pang Xiao had already jumped up a step and was looking down at her. The person she was jealous of had already climbed up a step.
The Empress bit her lower lip and reached out her hand to Pang Xiao.
The group of people spent a tremendous amount of effort and finally arrived at the top of the mountain. Below their feet was a bridge made of round logs. Not far away on their right was a large stretch of dense forest and mountain range. On their left was a large lake after walking for half an hour. From afar, they could still hear the splashing sound of the waterfall.
"So there's a waterfall here?" Qin Yining said in surprise.
"Yes, I think the water source on the mountain comes from here." Jing Zhe said with a smile.
Qin Yining opened her arms and took a deep breath. She looked happily at the green mountains under the blue sky and the clear lake that looked like a piece of jade.
Amidst the fragrance of flowers and trees in the air, one could already smell the faint fragrance of sandalwood. The Myriad Buddha Temple stood in the middle of this beautiful scenery. A two-story tall Bodhisattva statue stood in the courtyard of the Myriad Buddha Temple, next to the tall tower, mercifully looking at the vast mountains and rivers.
"This trip was really worth it."
"Yes." Pang Xiao had already walked to Qin Yining's side and wiped her sweat with his sleeve. "Are you tired? How about I carry you over? The round wooden bridge in front is not easy to walk on. "
The round wooden bridge was made of three thick logs tied together with a thick hemp rope. It was casually placed in the middle of a crack. Although it was only a few steps away, there were no handrails on either side. If she accidentally fell into the crack, she would fall directly into the flowing water at the bottom of the mountain.
Qin Yining didn't try to be brave. She smiled and said, "Okay, my legs have been sore for a long time."
Pang Xiao chuckled. He didn't carry her on his back. Instead, he carried her horizontally and said, "Look at how thin you are."
He walked towards the round wooden bridge step by step and whispered in Qin Yining's ear, "Huzi and Tang Xiu are going to be happy later."
Qin Yining couldn't help but laugh when she thought of Huzi's words when he was teasing Bing Tang at the bottom of the mountain. She patted Pang Xiao's shoulder and said, "Why are you so bad?"
Pang Xiao laughed loudly.
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