Chapter 121: The Daughter of the Duke of Wei State Has Been Found

  Eastern Qingxuan's face slightly sank, her phoenix eyes narrowed, and the bright red robe under the soft light became even more enchanting like dripping blood. Her eyes embedded a pool of rippling water waves. Under the misty vapor rising from the bathtub, it was as if thousands of trees and millions of flowers were blooming, or thousands of arrows silently pierced her heart.

  "Miss Qi, a woman's virtue lies in having no talent; being too clever is not good."

  Seeing him not directly answering her question, Xia Chuqi already knew the answer

  She slightly pursed her lips, quietly gazing at Dongfang Qingxuan, and hummed in a cool tone, "The Grand Commander's words are indeed interesting. A clever person won't be bullied, what's wrong with that?"

  "Clever people don't live long."

  "But I won't always be alive."

  "You're alive, not because you're clever."

  "Huh? What does it mean?"

  The smile was retracted, and Dongfang Qingxuan slightly narrowed his eyes. The gently swaying sleeves of his robe stirred up a room full of cold air. Step by step, he walked closer to her, "You're alive because I don't want you dead."

  She let out a soft "oh" and Xia Qiuzi gazed straight into his eyes that had lost their smile, took a step back, then another, raised her chin to look at him, "Then I should thank you, General Du? No, wait, it's not necessary to thank you. As for value, I know my worth is beyond cities. But, General Du, when can we develop this value together?"

  Dongfang Qingxuan looked at her, smiled faintly, and almost imperceptibly pinched his fingers. He didn't respond or approach her again, but instead walked past her to personally re-light the candles she had extinguished earlier. His movements were elegant, with each slender white finger and each blink of his long eyelashes seeming to bewitch like a thousand-year-old demon from some mountain cave. Even a small movement could make one's breathing uneven. Xia Chuyi slightly turned away, her gaze shifting from his smiling face.

  "What the Grand Commander doesn't want to say, Chu Qi won't ask. The people the Grand Commander wants to protect, Chu Qi understands too. Thanks for today's matter, Chu Qi is grateful. But, can the Grand Commander give another convenience?"

  Dongfang Qingxuan turned his head, lightly humming a sound of affirmation. Hearing the rare low tone in his voice, Xia Chuqi's heart skipped a beat, and she smiled with a mischievous yet innocent grin.

  "Can we borrow some horses? We need to hurry."

  He didn't answer immediately, remaining silent for a while before speaking in a faint tone, his voice like a fire separated from the ice. Both cold and hot, complex and indistinguishable, "Seventh Miss, if I don't agree to you going north, would you be willing?"

  This sentence says... he disagrees? What qualifies him?

  On the seventh day of summer, she really wanted to coldly "hiss" at him, but couldn't help saying that he was really too good-looking. He looked so good that any female creature who loved beauty would have their heart skip a beat in his focused smile, and wouldn't dare to "make fun of a smiling face".

  She couldn't help but admit that a person's appearance was too important, if Dongfang Qingxuan wasn't so good-looking, she wouldn't have been so struggling to face him. But this guy was really a scourge, he would smile at you, raise an eyebrow at you, and curve his lips at you, any unintentional action could easily make her misread, thinking he was a good person, thinking he just cared about her.

  She raised her head and took a deep breath before she could smile with ease.

  "I'm going to find him, I have to."

  "That's a battlefield, it will be dangerous."

  "I'm not afraid of danger, with him by my side, danger doesn't count for anything."

  The Eastern Blue Mystic fell silent.

  The eyes under the lamp had sparks jumping in them, quietly, one word came out. "Good."

  At the beginning of summer, she didn't expect him to agree so readily. Slightly stunned, she curved her lips and pulled out the brocade-clad Wei's secret decree from her bosom, walking over to hand it to him.

  "I was originally going to use this thing to exchange for a few horses, but now I don't need it anymore. Here you are, thanks to the great commander's kindness."

  Dongfang Qingxuan quietly looked at her, neither taking the token nor speaking. Xia Chuyi furrowed his brow, unsure what he was thinking, and again pushed it forward, indicating for him to take it, but he still didn't speak.

  "Hey, what's wrong with you? Take it!" She reminded herself, suddenly feeling a bit strange. The man in front of her seemed not to be the Jin Yiwei Da Dudu she knew, who could kill people with a smile on his face. Even though the corners of his mouth still held a smile and his eyes were as gentle as spring breeze, he was quiet in a way that left her bewildered.

  "This token, you've been carrying it with you all along?" he asked suddenly.

  "Really? What's with you? What's wrong?"

  It's even stranger that he asked such a question. You know, the Jin Yiwei are all over Daxing, she privately went north, and on her body, she would rather not bring silver but bring this thing. Such a useful thing, isn't it stupid if she doesn't bring it? What kind of eyes does he have?

  She thought for a moment and then handed it forward, "Not happy? Alright, don't put on that face. I didn't really take it to ask your family for horses, I'm giving it back to you."

  "You don't have to pay it back."

  Dongfang Qingxuan looked at her, suddenly raised his hand, and when she didn't react in time, the white jade-like fingertips swept across her forehead, sweeping across the tattooed corner of her forehead, then paused, like a slow-motion shot, withdrew his fingers, and put them down.

  。

  "I'm glad you put it on."

  It's just a token, what's he so happy about?

  Xia Zhiqiu couldn't understand his logic, pouted and casually stuffed it into her bosom. "Oh, then I won't be polite. This time, although we can't exchange it for a horse, next time when we're hungry, we might be able to use it to exchange for food."

  Dongfang Qingxuan looked at her mischievous face and smiled lightly, "You're lucky to have met me, you won't go hungry again. However, the road to Kai Ping is treacherous, it's better if you follow me."

  Actually, I had such an idea on July 7th as well.

  If it weren't for him making the atmosphere so ambiguous, she would have been happy to take Old Meng and a few others on the "free ride" of the Imperial Guard, safe and domineering, with many handsome men in the Imperial Guard, that's simply the treatment of the emperor. But now, she suddenly feels a little afraid to be alone with this man, feeling too dangerous.

  As soon as she thought of it, she touched her nose and laughed, "Hehehe, I'm quite lucky, there's always a noble person to help at critical moments. But I think, Commander, you're the noble one, you have many important things to attend to, it's not very convenient for me to follow you around. So, just helping me get a few horses would make Chu Qi extremely grateful."

  "Miss Qi..." Dongfang Qingxuan smiled at her, his narrow eyes gleaming with a hint of chilliness. "I rarely help people, and I hate it even more when others reject my good intentions."

  "Oh, really?"

  At the beginning of summer, Qi Qi smiled stiffly under his beautiful and demonic gaze, feeling a gentle breeze brushing against her face, cool and refreshing. After a moment of silence, she finally asked out loud the biggest doubt in her heart.

  "Dongfang Qingxuan, I'm getting more and more confused about you. Which side are you on? Why do you always help me? And who is the person you said I should meet? Is there still some connection between us?"

  She suddenly called out his name, Dongfang Qingxuan was taken aback at first, but then, in her one question after another, he seemed to be in a good mood, raised an eyebrow, and smiled playfully.

  "What's the origin? If I say we've slept together before, would you believe me?"

  In his ambiguous gaze when he said "sleep with", Xia Chuyi's cheeks flushed hotly.

  。

  "I believe you're possessed! Tell me, what's going on?"

  He let out a low, stifled laugh and seemed very pleased with her embarrassment. The gloom in his eyes dissipated, but he didn't behave himself and walked over to her. He suddenly hooked his arm around her small waist, and as she stiffened, he lowered his head and gazed at her softly, asking, "You don't need to know this, just tell me how you plan on thanking me?"

  Xia Qiqi struggled free with a twist of her body, glared at him and said, "A gentleman does not repay kindness with malice, let go."

  Eastern Qing Xuan smiled lowly, "Knowing gratitude but not repaying it is a petty person, I won't let you go."

  Xia Zhi Qi didn't like this ambiguous entanglement, so she stopped struggling and fixed her gaze. With a cold smile, she raised the corner of her lips and said, "Alright, alright, I'll repay you. Tell me, what do you want?"

  Her eyes were clear and bright, with a hint of mockery, but she didn't expect that Dongfang Qingxuan would suddenly grasp her hand, his long white fingers seemingly unintentionally hooking around her palm, and smiling lightly.

  "I want you."

  On the seventh day of summer, her heart skipped a beat, her eyebrows raised slightly, and she fiercely pulled back her hand.

  "Sorry about that, you can queue up earlier next time. General Commander, if you don't want to be despised by me, please let go of your paws and stop using force to take a woman's tofu, that's called hooliganism, which doesn't quite fit your identity."

  Dongfang Qingxuan smiled and let it go, not explaining the previous sentence, nor getting angry because of her sarcasm, but slowly releasing his hand, "Good profit mouth."

  No longer oppressed by his body, Xia Qiuyi secretly let out a sigh of relief.

  "Alright then, Grand Commander. I'm a bit tired and want to sleep."

  He looked at her with a faint smile, then turned his head to gaze calmly at the blood on the ground and the hot water bucket that was slowly cooling down. He furrowed his brow, suddenly lifted his hand and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her into a tight hug. Xia Chuqi was startled, her eyes widened in surprise as she struggled to free herself, but her palm ended up slapping against his smiling face instead.

  "Dare to come down, I'll take care of you right now."

  Xia's hands stiffened, his eyes filled with anger, but he was small and weak. Compared to Dongfang Qingxuan, a master of this level, Xia's skills were like a small trick, not even worthy of being considered an opponent.

  。

  "Let me go, you bastard."

  Watching her glare and scowl and curse, Dongfang Qingyun couldn't help but smile slightly. He subtly exerted force with both arms, holding her close as he strode out the door, whispering a low warning to Rufeng waiting by the entrance.

  "Have Xiao Er bring another bucket of hot water and send it to my room."

  As the wind slightly paused, her fingertips retracted, "Great Commander!"

  Dongfang Qingxuan turned his head and glanced at him, "Go."

  At the beginning of summer, Qi Ye thought that she had just escaped from the wolf's den and was about to enter the tiger's lair. However, Dongfang Qingyun simply held her steadily and entered his room, then gently placed her on the bed and let go of his hands, retreating a few steps back.

  "You sleep here tonight, I'll sleep next door. The little girl has smelled too much blood and it's not good."

  Is that so? Just a few steps away, Xia Qi's heart was almost tightened. Relying on her intuition as a woman, she felt that something was off about Dongfang Qingyun tonight, but she wasn't self-absorbed enough to think he had taken a liking to her. But if he hadn't taken a liking to her, why would he be living right next door? And why would he "coincidentally" appear when she was in danger?

  Xia Zhong Qi couldn't see through his intentions and since he didn't overstep any boundaries again, it wasn't good to appear too artificial.

  "Well... thank you. You can leave now."

  She finished speaking with her eyelids lowered, but didn't hear Dongfang Qingxuan's voice. She raised her head in surprise and followed his line of sight, only to discover that the focus of his gaze was actually her bare feet.

  These days, in order to transform herself into a "nation-toppling, city-overturning" beauty, she has not forgotten to take care of her feet while taking care of her face and body. This pair of feet, which had once been trodden on muddy ground by Xia Chu in Langyuan Village, now looked very beautiful, with slender shape, rounded toenails, each toe plump and pink, looking like delicate jade, so lovely that it was hard not to adore them.

  As a modern person, going barefoot was nothing to Xia Qi. However, she knew that nowadays women couldn't show their feet in front of anyone except their husbands. Almost instantly, she realized what had happened and quickly pulled her foot back, grabbing the bedding to cover herself. To hide her embarrassment, she glanced at him.

  "Doesn't the Grand Commander ever get to see a woman's feet? Doesn't he find it novel?"

  Dongfang Qingxuan opened her eyes, seemingly even more embarrassed than she was. A rare hint of "awkwardness" appeared on that enchanting face of hers.

  He smiled faintly to find a reasonable and sufficient reason for his brief loss of composure.

  "How long has Miss Seven not washed her feet?"

  "My dad just took a bath!" Xia Chuyi raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"

  A sour taste.

  On the seventh day of summer, they hummed and understood each other's minds without intentionally making things difficult for him.

  "Who let you come here and smell the stench? Get out of here quickly!"

  Looking at her with a deep-seated hatred, like a small wild cat baring its teeth and claws, Dongfang Qingxuan smiled slightly, "Alright, alright, rest now. Tonight there's the Brocade Guard on night watch, you don't need to be on high alert." Having said that, he turned and left.

  Looking at his back, Xia Chuqi let out a long sigh, hugged her knees and sat up, thought for a moment, and felt a little amused. Dongfang Qingxuan was actually in the next room? This feeling was so strange...

  ……

  The next day, Xiaochi woke up on the seventh of summer, and the sunlight was already sprinkled on the windowsill.

  It's May already, and it's really summer now.

  She stretched her waist, pursed her dry lips, and suddenly had a feeling of not knowing what day it was. For more than a month, she hadn't slept comfortably in the camp, and after many days of fatigue from traveling, she hadn't had a good rest either. To think that last night was actually the most sound sleep she'd had.

  She didn't realize until she came out after dressing up that the lobby downstairs had been occupied by the Imperial Guards.

  A group of tall and handsome Jin Yiwei brothers sat at the table downstairs eating breakfast, the scene was so beautiful that people didn't dare to look directly. The inn owner and the little servant probably also knew that these people were not easy to mess with, shrinking their hands and feet to serve on the side, they didn't even dare to breathe loudly. Except for the Jin Yiwei masters who were eating and drinking fragrantly, the five people of the Dingzi flag also sat at another table eating a hearty breakfast, seeing her come down, their eyes looked over, filled with "question marks".

  On the seventh day of summer, I suddenly had a headache.

  How did she explain her relationship with Dongfang Qingyun to Lao Meng and the others?

  。

  No, how to explain it, she and Dongfang Qingyun actually have nothing to do with each other.

  "Xiao Qi has come down, come and sit."

  Suddenly hearing the title of the Grand Governor of the East, Xia Chuyi was taken aback for a moment. She stood on the corridor, he sat in the guest hall downstairs, their eyes met, and she threw him a grateful glance. Because he didn't expose her identity, she couldn't refuse either, so she nodded to Lao Meng who was confused by the sudden fog, and walked straight to his table.

  The breakfast was already set on the table, a simple porridge and steamed buns, which didn't look sumptuous but was actually very suitable for her current spleen and stomach. Without picking up a spoon, she held the bowl of porridge and "gulped" down half of it, then licked her lips and smiled as she asked.

  "Great Commander, when shall we set out?"

  Dongfang Qingxuan gazed at her with a hint of a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "If it weren't for waiting for you, I would have been thirty miles away by now."

  She came to herself with a start and asked: "What time is it now?"

  Dongfang Qingxuan pushed a small dish of pickles in front of her, "Chen Shi."

  "Ah!" Yu Qiqi rubbed her forehead in embarrassment, looking at them with some apology, "Sorry, we've delayed your journey. Let's eat and hurry up and leave."

  Dongfang Qingxuan didn't say much, his lips curled slightly. Xia Chuyi also stopped looking at him and just buried her head to eat. At this time, a brocade-clad guard rushed in, bowed down beside Dongfang Qingxuan's ear and whispered something. He narrowed his eyes slightly and said "I know", then waved his hand, after the person left, he took out a white silk handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to her.

  "Wipe your mouth."

  "Thanks."

  Before she took over the handkerchief, she was lifting her head and wiping her mouth with her sleeve.

  These days in the army, she had gotten used to it and didn't have a way to be particular about anything, so wiping her mouth with her sleeve was the most convenient thing to do. But after all, she was a woman, and normally when facing Old Meng and those few rough men, it didn't matter, anyway they also treated her as "one of the boys". But Dongfang Qingyun knew her inside out, such sloppy behavior made her feel somewhat "mentally uncomfortable".

  If it were Zhao Shi Jiu, Baoguan would give her a disdainful look, but Dongfang Qingxuan just smiled and shifted his gaze away before standing up to leave.

  It was probably related to what he had heard before, and he led a group of people out of the guest hall, and didn't come back for a long time.

  At the beginning of summer, he was curious about what "task" he had, but there was no way to investigate. And as soon as he left, Lao Meng and Hei Pi surrounded him with several people, throwing all their doubts at him.

  Brocade-clad imperial guards, the most mysterious and favored group of people by the emperor. The title of Grand Commander of the Brocade Guard, Dongfang Qingxuan, is a legendary figure in the eyes of the soldiers under the T-shaped flag, a close minister to the Son of Heaven. But now, waking up early and having breakfast with him, these logistics soldiers who were knocked unconscious last night and knew nothing, felt like they were dreaming.

  "Xiao Qi, how did you come to know Da Dudu?" Hei Pi's black teeth seemed to have turned even darker.

  "That's right, today's breakfast was also invited by Generalissimo."

  "Xiao Qi, judging from your relationship with Da Duzong, it's still pretty good. Want to help us brothers get a position in the Imperial Guard? Hehe... The Imperial Guard is really arrogant, wherever they go, handling cases, that embroidered spring knife is waved around, and many women fall in love with them."

  Several people spoke one after another, bombarding her with questions like firecrackers, leaving Xia Chuyi unsure of which one to answer first. In the end, it was Lao Meng who remained calm, glancing at her and shouting softly to help her out of the predicament.

  "Shut your mouths."

  "Lao Meng, aren't you curious?" Hei Pi sneered, showing his teeth and humming.

  Lao Meng hummed and didn't respond, but Xia Chuqi smiled, resting her elbows on the table, raising her chin, half-jokingly and half-seriously teasing them, "What's the big deal about knowing Dongfang Qingyun? If I said that not only do I know Dongfang Qingyun, but I also know Zhao Zhu, and even the Emperor, would you believe me?"

  Hei Pi's several open mouths couldn't close at once.

  "Really?"

  Staring blankly at her, several people sized her up from head to toe, and then Niu Er shook his head, chuckling, "Forget it, you're obviously bragging. If you really knew the King of Jin, would you still be a cook in the logistics camp? Don't be ridiculous."

  Hehe smiled and blinked at Xia Chuqi.

  Indeed, the true words in this world are unbelievable.

  "If I said that I not only know the King of Jin but also slept with him in the same bed, you would be even more unbelievable, wouldn't you?"

  With a "pfft" sound, the words were too ridiculous, Hei Pi spat out a mouthful of porridge, and her several "comrades-in-arms" also burst into loud laughter. Xia Chuqi rubbed his nose, and followed them in laughing. It was precisely because she knew they wouldn't believe her that she dared to be reckless, and could continue being reckless.

  "Oh my, look at you guys, it's like someone has cheated you. Alright, let's not talk about Zhao Zhu for now, didn't you see that Dongfang Qingxuan is extremely respectful to me? In front of me, he's just a junior."

  She burst out laughing and teasing, but the laughter stopped abruptly as she saw that the faces of several black-skinned men had frozen. Feeling that the atmosphere was not quite right, she suddenly turned her head around and saw Dongfang Qingxuan standing behind her, smiling faintly at her. Thinking about the bragging she did earlier and the phrase "grandson", she coughed awkwardly with a strange expression on her face.

  "Grand Commander, you're back? Is everything taken care of?"

  I thought this guy was going to ruin her show, but he smiled gently and actually made a "respectful" gesture, opening his hands and lightly supporting her.

  "The carriage is ready, Xiao Qi, let's set off."

  "Carriage? Didn't you say ride a horse?" Xia Chuyi's heart was saying she had seen a ghost.

  "No hurry, take your time going north, I'm afraid horseback riding might be too much for you."

  "Uh..."

  At this moment, Lao Meng and Hei Pi were all silenced. Dongfang Dazong admired her appearance, with eyes that saw the truth, it was really too easy to dazzle people's eyes. But Xia Chuqi was extremely embarrassed, she didn't know if Dongfang Qingxuan had a sudden attack of conscience, these two days he seemed like a different person.

  She walked a little further away from him, taking big strides ahead.

  He hadn't gone many steps when he caught up and said something in a low voice.

  "They've found him."

  "Who?" Xia Chuqi didn't react for a moment.

  Without explaining who "he" was, Dongfang Qingxuan's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, with a hint of deep meaning in his smile. "Earlier, I asked you, if I didn't agree to let you go north, would you be willing? Now it's him who wants to send you back to the capital, are you willing?"

  …………

  In early May in Beijing, the weather has already warmed up.

  Unlike previous years, due to the war in the north and countless young men from the capital being on the northern front, the cool summer air seems to carry a hint of gunpowder.

  The pavilions and kiosks, the dense woods and deep grasses, the lanterns on the corridor of Dong Gong's "Ze Qiu Yuan" still shone brightly. On a summer evening, the cool breeze blew gently, the windows in the house were not closed tightly, and the tassels on the canopy above the bed swayed rhythmically, as if blown by the wind or shaken by the movements of the people on the bed. The light and shadow passed through the thin silk curtains and into the screen, revealing the faces of two men and women entangled in a web of love and desire.

  "Manzei..."

  Xia asked Autumn to hold Zhao Mianze's shoulder tightly in the ripples, looking at him with deep affection, enjoying this rare moment, staring at the sweat dripping from his face in the light and shadow, also watching him suddenly close his eyes when he reached the peak, and a faint whisper was heard during the eruption.

  "Meng Ze, you're calling my name."

  Her voice was mixed with a hint of breathlessness, carrying a faint tone of pleading.

  It wasn't a luxury before, but she didn't know when it started, she found that she couldn't grasp this person's mind more and more. He was still good to her like before, but he no longer stayed in her room every night, and the times he asked for intimacy were getting fewer and farther between. She, who usually blushed at matters of the bedchamber, had to take the initiative, again and again... until he couldn't refuse. But he always closed his eyes at the last moment, not looking at her face.

  He always makes her secretly suspect that he is thinking of someone else.

  "I'll get someone to fetch water for you to wash up!"

  He turned over from her body, his tone was light, and he didn't even hold her in his arms.

  Women are different from men, after physical satisfaction, they actually want the man to hold them and say a few words, not necessarily tenderly, not necessarily lovingly, even if it's just a simple chat, at least they won't feel that the previous intensity was only related to desire.

  Xia asked autumn, and her heart suddenly cooled down. She grasped his arm, leaned in close, and lay on his chest, listening to the rapid beating of his heart. The words she wanted to ask had reached her lips but turned into a low sigh instead.

  "Mei Ze, if I hadn't saved you back then, would you have fallen in love with me?"

  This trick had been tried and tested, Zhao Mianze opened his eyes, looked at her, stretched out his arm and hugged her a little tighter, with the palm of his hand comforting her smooth bare back.

  。

  "Don't think nonsense, I'll be good to you."

  "Mian Ze, I want to be your legitimate wife."

  Her heart was still racing, she knew she shouldn't say it at this time, but she said it anyway.

  Zhao Mianze paused for a moment, lowered his head and looked at her, "Qiuer, you know."

  Here is the translation:

  "Another excuse like this! Xia asked Qiu, sniffing her nose, her voice choked with sobs. "Why must it be her? But now she can't follow you anymore, she's your 19th uncle's woman. Can't your rightful wife's position just remain vacant, even if you ascend to... the throne, still lacking a queen?"

  Before she could finish, Zhao Mianze covered her mouth with his hand. "Don't talk nonsense." Seeing that she widened her eyes and nodded, Zhao Mianze slowly let go of her and said something unrelated.

  "Qiū ér, you didn't use to say it like this, how come you've changed now?"

  Xia asked Qiu's heart was shocked at the same time, and it also hurt terribly.

  Is it her who has changed, or is it him?

  Yes, she used to tell him that once he found Seventh Sister again, she would be content to be his concubine for the rest of her life. She was magnanimous and never quarreled or fought with others back then... But that was because at that time, she occupied his heart, and in his heart, there was only her.

  A man giving you his heart is what matters most; with a heart, social status is only a matter of time.

  But previously, Zhao Mianze had risked his life to give her the position of a legitimate wife, while now he was starting to shirk and drift away in front of her. When they were together, even when they shared the same bed, he would still drift away, looking at her as if he wasn't really seeing her... She couldn't help but feel afraid.

  Biting her lower lip, she couldn't answer this question, so she shifted the quilt and slowly crawled up his naked body like a snake, her lips kissing his Adam's apple.

  "Mian Ze, give me some more..."

  A low, stifled gasp was heard, followed by the sound of He Cheng'an coughing outside.

  。

  "Your Highness, the Emperor has summoned you urgently."

  "Got it." It's not a big deal, He Cheng'an wouldn't come to disturb him at this time. Zhao Mianze took a deep breath and pushed away Xia Wenqiu who was on top of him, wanting to get up. However, Xia Wenqiu quickly wrapped herself around his waist, her face flushed red, her lips stained with lipstick.

  "Mian Ze, don't..."

  "You go to sleep first."

  Zhao Mianze furrowed his brow, without hesitation, quickly got up and dressed, under Xia Wenqiu's disappointed gaze, walked out of the room, took a long sigh, and followed He Cheng'an, who was holding a lantern, towards the Qianqing Palace.

  The night color in the Forbidden City was extremely deep and rich. As he walked on this supreme place of imperial power, his mind suddenly became a bit confused. It seemed that he had everything under control, but in his heart, he always felt empty, as if there was nothing at all.

  He stood outside the warm pavilion for a long time before he calmed down and pushed open the door to enter.

  "Grand Emperor, you're looking for me."

  Hong Tai Di was leaning on the couch, his face a bit pale, with a thin blanket draped over him, and he hadn't fallen asleep yet. The whole person's spirit looked not very good. Seeing Zhao Mianze come in, he waved his hand.

  "Get down, all of you."

  The eunuchs responded with a "yes" and went down with a bow.

  Hong Tai Emperor was helped up by Zhao Mianze and leaned against the headboard, hesitating for a moment before speaking in a warm voice, "Mianze, you know I called you here late at night, what's the matter?"

  Zhao Mianze lowered his eyelids, "The grandson doesn't know."

  Hong Tai looked at this carefully cultivated grandson, his eyes heavy, "Mian Ze, what's been going on with you these days?"

  "Grandfather..." Zhao Mianze smiled slightly, "I'm fine."

  "Really?"

  Zhao Mianze didn't dare look into his sharp eyes, "Really."

  "Alright then, take a look at this."

  Hong Taiji suddenly handed a military report on the bedside table to him

  The above is a telegram from the Northern Expeditionary Army. The report says that Kaiping and Yongning have been won, and the two routes of the Northern Expeditionary Army are gathering in Kaiping, preparing to cross the Luan River and head straight for Dading, where they will engage in a decisive battle with Zhang Zuolin.

  Zhao Mianze finished reading, put it away properly, and congratulated Emperor Hong Tai with a smile.

  "My nineteenth ancestor was indeed a god of war and did not disappoint the emperor's trust."

  Hong Tai Emperor rubbed his forehead, slowly lifted his eyelids and suddenly said, "Mian Ze, you should understand my thoughts. But do you know why I insist on making you the crown prince?"

  Zhao Mianze didn't dare to respond, only looking at him and shaking his head silently. Emperor Hong Tai coughed and continued, "In this life, I have done many things, all for the sake of the country's prosperity. Mianze, being in the imperial family is like being in a whirlpool. Every decision is like a gamble, with unknown outcomes. I want to make you the crown prince, but I hope you won't disappoint me."

  The matter of Li Chu had not been brought up for a long time, but tonight, Emperor Hong Tai suddenly summoned him. Zhao Mianze knew in his heart that this imperial grandfather had made sufficient preparations. He fixed his gaze, walked to the front of the bed, brushed off his robes and knelt on the ground, knocking his head against the floor.

  "The grandson does not dare to disappoint his imperial grandfather."

  Emperor Hongtai raised his hand, letting him get up. "Since ancient times, the way of being a ruler is to value virtue and ability. These are things that I don't need to teach you again. For the sake of peace in the imperial court, I had no choice but to ruthlessly remove the obstacles for you in the past. But there is one more thing that I want you to promise me."

  "Grandpa Emperor says."

  "Since ancient times, the power of Jiangshan has been prone to fratricide. I have allowed your uncles to be enfeoffed as kings and stationed on the borders; you must agree that when you ascend to the throne, you will not make things difficult for your uncles, nor use imperial authority to harm your flesh and blood. They are all my sons, and I do not want to see such fratricide occur a hundred years from now. If your father were still alive, I would not have to worry about this so much. But you, being a benevolent person, are after all of the younger generation; in the future, how you will get along with your imperial uncles is something you must understand and handle with discretion."

  "Grandson knows."

  Hong Tai Emperor let out a long sigh, his tone carrying an unspeakable desolation.

  "I am old, and the throne in the Temple of Heaven will eventually have to be handed over."

  He then took out an imperial edict from the case on his desk and handed it to Zhao Mianze. The ink was still wet, obviously written not long ago. Zhao Mianze looked at him and took it over, unfolding it to see that it was indeed an edict appointing a crown prince, clearly written

  。

  "The Emperor's grandson, Mianze, being the eldest son of Yi De, is intelligent and kind-hearted by nature, making him the most suitable candidate for the throne. We hereby announce to Heaven, Earth, the Ancestral Temple, and the Altar of the Land and Grain, that we have appointed the Emperor's grandson, Mianze, as the Crown Prince, taking his rightful place in the Eastern Palace, to ensure the stability of the imperial lineage and to bring prosperity to the four seas... Let this be proclaimed throughout the empire, so that all may know."

  Moreover, what comes next is even more crucial.

  "I have been suffering from a serious illness for a long time, and my body is weighed down by sickness. I hereby appoint the Crown Prince to hold the imperial seal and ascend to the Wenhua Hall, to take charge of state affairs, to oversee the government, and to comfort the army and the people. All matters presented by officials shall be decided by the Crown Prince."

  His fingers trembled slightly, Zhao Mianze looked up at Hong Tai Emperor.

  "Grandpa Emperor..."

  Emperor Hong Tai's eyes were half-closed, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to have deepened under the lamp light. "Tomorrow morning, I will issue an edict. Mian Ze, as a benevolent ruler, you should be generous and virtuous. I hope you won't disappoint my imperial grace and go against my wishes, and assist me in bringing peace and prosperity to our great nation."

  Inside the hall, the candlelight flickered, and Zhao Mianze suddenly slowly knelt down and kowtowed, then got up.

  "Imperial grandfather, daughter of Wei Guogong...the grandson has found her."

  Digression

  My body is a bit uncomfortable, stomach hurts, waist sore... sitting for a while is unbearable. Not many words today, please forgive me everyone.

  During this period of time, I have to deal with family matters at home and the time is tight. After mid-December, I will adjust it. Thank you for everyone's understanding and support. Muah!

  (Note: The emperor's son as heir is called "Crown Prince". The emperor's grandson as heir is called "Grand Crown Prince". Hmm, I see some classmates always say to establish Zhao Mianze as Crown Prince, here's an explanation)

  ——

  Special thanks to the following people:——

  Dear [Xiao Yin ￡23_09], [Xiao Yin ￡23_09] has been upgraded to San Ding Jia - Da Zhuangyuan (the 18th and 19th champion in this book, I'm so excited that my heart is still racing - everyone despises: it was already racing anyway).

  Dear [Mēi Mēi 2011] and [C X T C X T], congratulations on becoming a contributor! —— Thanks to the sisters! Kisses!