Liu Che laughed out loud, "If I say you can go there, you can go there, who would dare to argue?" Li Yan hugged Liu Che's neck and kissed him, "His Majesty secretly brought qieshen here to just look at the scenery and the stars, qieshen is already very happy. The most important thing here is only the two of us, you are my husband and I am your wife. Ah! Wrong, there are our children too, we as a family are here, qieshen is very satisfied. Your Majesty wants to please me, so I will not make Your Majesty's forehead wrinkle. Going to the palace is not important for me, but if people see it, maybe "They will talk nonsense, even though His Majesty doesn't care about it, His Majesty will be annoyed. I don't want you to be unhappy, but I want to be like you who always want me to always smile." After being silent for a while, Liu Che replied, "My feelings towards you are the same." After speaking, Li Yan shrank into his arms.
Li Yan, oh Li Yan, this kind of man sincerely loves you, can your heart stand it? Sincerity or charade, charade or sincerity, my eyes have become dim, can you tell the difference yourself? Actually, are you step by step attacking the palace, or are you the one trapped in it?
I wanted to listen further, but when I thought of Huo Qubing, I thought better of it, I shook my hand to signal that we were leaving. However, when we both just turned around, without realizing my dress was caught by something, "Crack!", the sound of tearing fabric could be heard clearly amidst the silence.
Liu Che said angrily, "Who is that?"
I looked at Huo Qubing in panic, he shook his head, motioning me not to worry, everything would be taken care of by him. He turned around, then took my hand and went up to the stage.
"I thought tonight would be a good time to go stargazing, but I didn't realize that I was disturbing His Majesty and Madam. His Majesty didn't bring any bodyguards, could it be that His Majesty sneaked in?" Huo Qubing saluted and spoke with a smile.
He didn't care at all that we had entered the palace without permission and acted as if we all just happened to pass each other on the street, Liu Che seemed unable to do anything, but also a little amazed, his gaze swept over me who was kneeling, then he smiled and said, "Zhen hasn't asked you yet but you have already asked Zhen first. Apparently apart from the things you mentioned, we have the same thoughts. Everyone rise!"
I bowed down solemnly, then rose along with Huo Qubing. Liu Che let go of Li Yan, after getting up Li Yan looked at me sharply, then looked at the floor. I secretly sighed, thinking about finding a chance to explain to Li Yan.
Liu Che said, "Since you have come to see the stars, you can't keep looking down, do whatever you want to do, it is said that you grew up in Xiyu, you should be brave." I bowed respectfully and said, "Okay!" After saying that I turned and looked into the distance, but I didn't see anything.
Li Yan softly said, "Your Majesty, we have finished seeing the scenery, now it is late at night, I feel a bit tired." Liu Che glanced at Li Yan's bulging stomach, then quickly got up, "We really have to go back, we left this place for them." Smiling, he glanced at Huo Qubing, picked up the sheepskin lantern that was lying on the floor, then walked to the stage steps while supporting Li Yan.
Huo Qubing and I knelt down to see them off, when we reached the stairs, Liu Che suddenly turned around and said to Huo Qubing with a smile, "Tonight I will let you go, in a few days, explain this matter to Zhen." Huo Qubing smiled and said, "Ready, Your Majesty."
Suddenly Li Yan said, "In a few days we will see lotuses at Taiye Lake, I want to ask Jin Yu to come along, so we can chat to relieve boredom." Liu Che nodded giving permission, I immediately kowtowed, "I will obey Niangniang's orders."
Liu Che and Li Yan's figures disappeared on the stage steps. "Get up!", Huo Qubing pulled me up, "It turns out that when you see the emperor you act like that, you are tamer than a rabbit that sees a tiger."
I walked to the edge of the stage, then leaned against the ledge, "Then what do you think I should do about meeting the emperor? Should I speak frankly?" Huo Qubing leaned against my side, "Your manners are already good, the palace is full of meek and docile women, the emperor is tired of seeing them. Women like that Lady Li, who have not lost the gentleness of a woman, but are actually brave and somewhat wild , can better anchor his heart."
"How about you?" I noticed the look in his eyes, Huo Qubing smiled indifferently, "I was in and out of the palace every day, the emperor often acted as he pleased, it's not like I never saw the emperor making out with his wives, but for you, an unmarried girl did."
I glared at him, "No need to talk nonsense, you know that's not what I'm asking." Even though my attitude remained calm, my face couldn't help but feel a little hot, with an expressionless face I looked into the distance.
Huo Qubing was silent for a moment, then said, "As I said, I have often accidentally seen the emperor making out with various women, but this is the first time I have seen the emperor accompanying a woman to sit without saying anything, the two of them just sitting next to each other calm, not doing anything, and also for the first time hearing the emperor and his wife only use the words I and you, when I heard that, I was secretly shocked." He sighed, then said again, "The emperor is also a man, sometimes he also needs a woman who treats him as an ordinary person, because there are too many people who worship him, otherwise, wherever his eyes look, he will only see an empty place, isn't it very lonely? Auntie is not bad, but her character is too gentle and obedient, in the past, when the emperor was still under pressure from Empress Dou and her position was still uncertain, coupled with Empress Chen's cunning and unruly character, in the midst of her suffering the emperor was indeed needs a woman like aunt, someone who can gently and caringly adore him. But the current emperor is someone who is brave and strong, when he is carrying out big plans, he needs someone who can laugh with him and sometimes look at him as an ordinary person ".
I smiled and said, "It turns out you always defend the emperor, it's no wonder he treats you special." Huo Qubing smiled and said, "Since ancient times, hasn't an emperor's love often changed? Auntie understands this principle very well, so she doesn't care about it. Now that there is Lady Li, in a few years there will definitely be Lady Wang or Zhao. Should she go against them all?"
It's true, as he said, the Back Palace is always full of flowers that bloom no more than a hundred days, if not Li Yan, other people can also get the emperor's love, as long as Li Yan doesn't bother you, you won't go against him. However, if Li Yan gave birth to a son, in order to stop the Han Dynasty's military attack on Xiyu, he would definitely support his son in taking the position of crown prince, and a fight between Li Yan and the Wei family would no longer be avoided. For the first time I sighed with a headache.
"What happened to you?" Huo Qubing asked.
I shook my head, then looked up at the sky, today we both sat shoulder to shoulder admiring the stars, but on another day will we be hostile and cold towards each other? If this warmth eventually turns into forgotten fragments, I can only remember this moment.
Smiling, I looked at him, then pointed at the Milky Way in the sky, "Do you know the origin of the Milky Way?" With a sneer, Huo Qubing said, "Even though I don't like reading books, I have heard the story of Niu Lang Zhi Nu. That's the Niu Lang star, can you find the Zhi Nu star?" I searched carefully, "That one, huh?" Huo Qubing shook his head, "No."
"That one, huh?" Huo Qubing shook his head again, "No." I looked at him uncertainly, "This must be true, aren't you mistaken?" Huo Qubing smiled and tapped my forehead, "You're the stupid one who doubts me, how can I be wrong? In war, determining direction based on the stars is a basic lesson, ever since I couldn't walk properly, I've sat on my uncle's lap and learned to recognize stars".
I stroked my forehead, then irritably said, "I'm stupid? You're not a smart person either, if two stupid people look at each other, they'll just......." Before finishing my words in annoyance I covered my mouth, didn't I? Is this like a fat pig running into a slaughterhouse looking for death? Precisely
exposing my own weaknesses? Huo Qubing leaned against the ledge, then glanced at me, as if smiling but not smiling. Being looked at by him, my heart was pounding, I looked at the sky pretending to be calm, "That one?" He laughed softly, "Your face is red." "It's summer now, I'm hot, so what?"
The beautiful view and pleasant atmosphere, we admired the stars happily, the broken voices of the two of us faintly drifted under the sky full of stars, the stars twinkled, as if they were smiling silently.
In the lake the lotus flowers bloom, on the edge of the lake there is a beauty, the lotus flower is like her face, her face is like a lotus flower, the lotus flower and her face become one, making my eyes light up.
"Did you see those women in the Back Palace? They all have beautiful faces, I was thinking, when the emperor saw so many women trying to attract his attention, did he feel happy or bored?" While slowly swinging the round fan with a picture of a beautiful woman in his hand, Li Yan said indifferently.
"It's enough as long as you are the most beautiful flower, I'm too lazy to take care of other people," I said with a smile. Li Yan took my hand, as he walked he said, "I hope you say this sincerely." I stopped walking and turned to Li Yan, then explained, "That day when I was waiting for Duke Guanjun, I didn't know who he was, after that we happened to meet in Chang'an, that night when you met us was also a coincidence, between Me and him have nothing at all."
Li Yan smiled, "You feel nothing, but he must have feelings for you, what kind of character is Huo Qubing? He never looks at people, but when he looks at you, his eyes are glued to you." Helplessly I said, "I am considered master helper, he is always polite to me, while regarding the way he looks at people, I can't do anything about it".
Looking into my eyes, Li Yan said, "It's said that you called a teacher for my second brother, and also found a study partner for him. Although Fang Ru's sales contract is no longer in your hands, he feels grateful to you, if you don't say anything, he won't leave, and my eldest brother will continue to wait for him, besides there is still the young master, Li...", Li Yan paused for a moment, then said slowly, "We all seem to be your chess pieces, Jin Yu, what exactly do you want?”
I'm speechless, what do I really want? Actually, what I want is very simple, simpler than what other people want, not power, wealth or fame, I just want to be with Jiu Ye. If Jiu Ye is willing to leave Chang'an, I can leave everything here in Chang'an. But she doesn't seem to want to leave, so I can only choose to stay, and with all my might become a tree, helping her withstand the rain and wind, and not be a flower hiding at the top of the tree while emitting fragrance, but can only watch her endure the rain and wind alone. Maybe a woman's beautiful and innocent face is the face that moves people the most, but I would rather be a tree that is neither beautiful nor fragrant, so that I can at least bear the burden on her shoulders.
Swinging her fan, Li Yan walked gracefully, "You used dance and singing to influence Chang'an, from your entertainment house endless styles of buns, clothes and jewelry emerged, making the leading ladies of Chang'an flock to follow. It's said that you and Hong Gu specially opened a high-priced dressing house that only accepts noble ladies. You seem to be just an entertainment house manager, but since you said that I'm a friend who understands your heart, I can't let you down. The drizzling rain doesn't seem to matter. You need to be afraid, but if it rains half a year, it will probably cause floods. Not all children want to listen to their father and mother, and not all husbands want to listen to their wives, but wanting to listen to two out of ten words is very good, after all women are the most chatty, as long as "You can analyze their words, maybe you know the thoughts of many officials in the palace."
It seems that Li Yan is already quite powerful in the palace. When I last met him, he only knew rumors about everything that happened outside the palace, but now he knows everything clearly. "I think this time I was careful enough, to do this, I deliberately let the entertainment houses led by Tianxiang Fang imitate me, even to the point of letting them go ahead of me, then I just followed them, you can know this."
Li Yan angrily rolled her eyes, "You are Jin Yu. I can't help but be wary of you. Besides, you also buy brothels little by little, when you are infatuated, any secret can be pried out of a man's mouth. Jin Yu, What do you actually want to do?"
I held Li Yan's hand and said, "I promise, whatever I do, our goals will not be at odds." Li Yan said, "I've always believed this, at least you won't get in my way, but after I found out there was something between you and Huo Qubing, I wasn't so sure anymore. Jin Yu, there's still something missing, we're all like "The chess pieces in your hands, but why did you deliberately not want to look at the biggest chess piece beside you? You were always scheming, advancing step by step, but why did you miss Huo Qubing? Don't tell me that you accidentally missed him."
"I........I", I can't explain it, my heart
As if struck by lightning, I suddenly couldn't explain to Li Yan that while advancing step by step, I had forgotten Huo Qubing. Nevermind, I completely forgot about it. While smiling wryly, I said, "I really can't give an explanation that you can accept, perhaps I feel that this chess piece is too valuable and cannot be carried out carelessly."
Smiling, Li Yan glanced at me, his face looked happy, he casually enjoyed the beauty of the lotus flowers, I thought for a moment, then said, "Do you still remember before you entered the palace I once asked your eldest brother? You were also the one who taught me the Song of the Yue People That". Li Yan cleared his throat, then looked at me sharply. "I learned that song for the master of the Shi Corporation. I know you must have already found out what kind of person the master of the Shi Corporation is, but I think the information you got is very little, whatever you want to know, I can tell you. Do you now believe that among There's nothing wrong with Huo Qubing and I?"
With an expressionless face Li Yan stared at me intently for a while, then slowly nodded, “Jin Yu, do you want to swear?” I shook my head, "I can't swear I won't be your enemy, but I won't harm you first, but what if you want to harm me?" Li Yan laughed, "Jin Yu, you speak frankly. I don't want you to swear about it and force you to do something you don't want. I just want you to swear not to reveal my identity and use it to pressure me in the future."
Our eyes met, I smiled and said, "If I don't swear to you, maybe I won't be able to live in peace!" Li Yan smiled blandly, after thinking silently for a while, I said, "I swear on my own life not to reveal your identity at all." Smiling, Li Yan shook his head, "Jin Yu, have you forgotten that you once praised me as a friend who understands your heart?
The most important thing in your heart is not your life, swear by the person you like."
I looked angrily at Li Yan, but her smile didn't change, while grinning furiously I nodded, "Li Yan, Li Niangniang, it turns out the palace can change a person so quickly. Looks like I don't want to know you anymore. Fine! I'll follow your wishes, I swear on Jiu Ye's life to absolutely......" Li Yan shook his head, "No, use the life of the person you like." I smiled sarcastically, "What does it matter? For the life of the person I like, I swear to never reveal your identity."
Li Yan smiled and pointed to the sky, "The sky has heard you." Without saying anything, I looked at the lush lotus leaves in the lake, the smile on Li Yan's face disappeared, "Jin Yu, don't blame me, you don't know how difficult every step I have to take is. Empress Wei controls the Back Palace, there are also outside General Wei and General Gongsun, and now with Huo Qubing added to the mix, even though I'm on the rise now, how long can the emperor's love last? He does this because the people around him can do anything for him, so he is happy to pretend to be a good person." He looked at the lotus leaves in the lake and sighed.
We were both busy with our own thoughts, stunned without saying anything, suddenly behind us we heard a man's loud voice, "May niangniang live long!" Li Yan and I turned around.
With a respectful attitude, Li Gan bowed, and Li Yan said indifferently, "Rise!" Li Gan immediately raised his head, his eyes were full of fiery pain, but he immediately calmed himself down, so that it seemed as if my eyes were the one who saw wrongly.
Third Young Master Li, who was skilled in literature and martial arts, although not as brilliant as Huo Qubing who was like the sun, was the dream man of Chang'an girls. Huo Qubing's attitude was too tough, making people not dare to approach or lean on him, and could not even guess where he was going. But Li Gan is like a mountain and makes a woman's heart feel safe.
Li Gan's eyes swept across me, he smiled frantically, I saluted him, he laughed, "We met last year's New Year, do you remember?" I answered, "Remember, Duke Guanjun invited me, on Madam's orders."
Subtly, Li Gan looked at Li Yan, although he was a little confused, he didn't ask much more, Li Yan smiled and said, "Tell me his name, maybe you don't know who he is, but if I say that he is fangzhu Luoyu Fang, I think in Chang'an There aren't many people who don't know him."
Li Gan's face suddenly changed, his eyes became eerily cold, stabbed towards me like a sharp sword, I avoided his eyes and looked at Li Yan, smiling sweetly, Li Yan looked at me, the corners of his lips moved slightly, although he didn't said anything, I could guess what he meant, 'You can't always manipulate us, you can't always get what you want'.
I stared at him, then decided to look at the floor, acting clueless. Li Gan was bored of looking at me and no longer looked at me, his eyes immediately turned to Li Yan, gesturing for Li Yan to look at something in the sleeve of his robe.
Li Yan's face was always smiling, but when he saw the 'li' letters that were like tendrils embroidered on the inside of Li Gan's robe sleeves, his smile immediately became stiff, he motioned to me with his eyes, after all this is over I will beg you, but where in this world is anything so easy?
Li Gan's eyes were full of ice blades, but Li Yan's eyes were full of tenderness, like someone who was drowning, my smile was very brilliant.
Huo Qubing's cold voice sounded, "Li San, what are you looking at?" From Huo Qubing's perspective, Li Gan seemed to be looking at me without blinking, but he didn't know what kind of eyes Li Gan looked at me with, he only saw my brilliant smile, but didn't know that I was fighting with Li Gan.
Li Gan wanted to explain, but how could he explain this incident? Why should she tell Huo Qubing that she hates me because of Li Yan? Li Gan spoke to Huo Qubing haltingly, but Huo Qubing's face became colder and colder, what exactly was the problem that Li Gan was so difficult to explain? Apparently he had thought of various possibilities.
The incident was very funny and strange, making people couldn't help but feel amused. Li Yan's eyes shifted to my face, "Hah", he snorted, he stretched out his arms and supported me, then laughed out loud. For a moment I held back, then I couldn't do it anymore and started laughing. Li Gan stood without saying anything for a while, took a deep breath, then shook his head as he laughed helplessly. Only Huo Qubing was still watching the three of us laughing with a cold gaze.
Liu Che and Princess Pingyang walked over to us, smiling and asking, "What is it that makes you two laugh so happily? It's rare for Zhen to see Madam laugh out loud like this."
We quickly saluted them, smiling, Princess Pingyang looked at Li Yan and asked, "What's actually going on? I really want to know."
Li Yan glared at me, then calmly said, "Jin Yu told me a very funny joke just now."
The emperor and the princess looked at me, I opened my mouth, but didn't say anything, then opened my mouth again, and still didn't make a sound. Triumphantly, Li Yan smiled at me, I smiled too, defeating me was not that easy, "I heard this joke from Young Master Li, it would be better for him to tell it to His Majesty and the Princess."
Li Yan frowned, then glanced at me irritably, but I looked at him with a smile. Considering what he did to me, my actions were not outrageous. The emperor and princess both looked at Li Gan, but Huo Qubing looked at me coldly, I frowned at him, this fool! When did I have the chance to become so familiar with Li Gan that I could hear his jokes?
After being stunned for a moment, Li Gan saluted the emperor and the princess, "Just show your stupidity. There was a bookworm, the neighbor's house caught fire, the owner of the house begged him to quickly go tell her husband who was playing chess with someone else. Si The bookworm went and stood next to the two people who were playing chess. After they had finished playing, the neighbor saw him and immediately asked, "Brother, why are you looking for me?" "Oh", said the bookworm, "I want to tell you something. , my good brother, your house is on fire." The neighbor was surprised and angry, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" The bookworm cheered him up, then casually said, "My good brother, don't be angry, have you never heard the old saying that reads, 'Isn't a true virtuous person always silent when watching a chess game?'"
The Emperor smiled, "The most upright virtuous people often commit the actions of petty people. This joke has a purpose, namely to satirize ambitious people." Hearing this, the princess asked with a smile, "Are there really people like that in this world?"
Li Gan said, "In this world, there are not a few selfish people who are willing to sacrifice other people's lives to get what they want. I didn't tell this joke well, Miss Jin Yu can tell it much better, it really makes people laugh." .
I felt angry, Li Gan was secretly teasing me, every word he said was clearly aimed at me. While Li Gan was talking, Li Yan always looked at the sleeve of Li Gan's robe, even though he tried his best to restrain himself, his face looked a little embarrassed, he looked back at me pleadingly, I nodded and his face gradually became relieved.
With great concern, the emperor asked Li Yan, "Are you feeling unwell?" Li Yan replied, "Perhaps standing a little too long." Princess Pingyang quickly said, “Rest in that pavilion in front!” I thought that Li Yan and the emperor would leave first, but unexpectedly, the princess had already opened her mouth, so Li Yan was forced to say, "Thank you, big brother."
The emperor supported Li Yan, the two of them walked ahead slowly, while we followed behind. Smiling, the princess asked Huo Qubing, but Li Gan did not dare to walk next to him, and deliberately slowed his steps. I slowed my steps so that I was at his side, but with a cold face he avoided me. Huo Qubing turned and stared at me sharply, but I frowned and ignored him.
The pavilion was close, but Li Gan didn't give me a chance to talk to him at all. I made up my mind and sneaked up to Li Gan's side, then caught his sleeve, but his reaction was very fast, he immediately jumped to the side to avoid me. However, I had anticipated his movements and followed him, then deliberately put force into my hands, we were both martial artists, so with a loud sound, I managed to tear Li Gan's sleeve. The four people walking in front heard the sound and turned around, looking at me and Li Gan, Huo Qubing's face became even more unsightly.