Chapter 886 That's More Like It

Ah, that explains everything.

Looking at the two figures not far away, Song Chunxue's mind automatically conjured up all sorts of strange things about that person, and then, thanks to a single sentence from Master Han, she had a sudden realization.

A mocking and helpless smile curled at the corners of her lips, mixed with a hint of amusement and curiosity.

She crossed her arms and stroked her chin, watching the emperor approach Xie Zheng step by step, and couldn't help but sigh, "Since ancient times, emperors and nobles have been fond of both men and women. I've seen it all now."

Master Han urged, "How about we go and play the hero to save the damsel in distress?"

"Let's wait and see. Lord Xie is not a parasitic vine. If he can't escape this entanglement with his current skills, it proves that he is playing hard to get and that his attitude towards the Emperor is not firm. Wouldn't it be pointless for me to go over there?"

Master Han nodded, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "That makes sense."

"Xie Zheng, you have disappointed me greatly. You can't even fulfill such a simple request?" The Emperor stood before Xie Zheng, tilting his head slightly like a lion eyeing its prey. "You would rather bear the accusation of colluding with foreign enemies than clear your name with a Daoist nun?"

Xie Zheng stood still, his cold face indifferent and aloof. "She is not an evil cultivator. You know she is Lord Zhao's junior brother. My affairs with her have nothing to do with the court."

"You..." The Emperor raised his hand to Xie Zheng's chest, but Xie Zheng deftly avoided it.

"Your Majesty's decision to imprison or interrogate me is entirely up to you. If word gets out that I am imprisoned here, it will damage Your Majesty's reputation." Xie Zheng glanced at the Emperor. "Although I have heard that many high-ranking officials are indiscriminate in their relationships with men and women, I never expected that Your Majesty would have such a hobby."

He rarely spoke like that; he had a smile on his face, yet he kept people at arm's length.

The Emperor walked towards him again, "My dear minister..."

"Your Majesty," Xie Zheng said, bowing. "I have dealt with such matters before. Although I do not despise homosexuality, those who have confessed their feelings to me have all suffered."

As he spoke, he took out the Snowdrift Sword from his storage ring and casually touched the blade.

"In recent years, I, Xie, have begun to practice swordsmanship. Doesn't Your Majesty wish to exchange a few blows with me?"

"How dare you!" the eunuch at the door shouted angrily. "Carrying weapons in front of the Emperor, Lord Xie, are you perhaps planning to assassinate him?"

Xie Zheng looked at the Emperor with a half-smile, "Whether or not an assassination is carried out is up to Your Majesty."

"You scoundrel, step back!" the Emperor snapped, turning his head to the side. "Get out!"

"yes."

The Emperor's expression softened as he took a step forward. "Xie Zheng, you know perfectly well what I..."

His smile froze as he watched the golden sword tip point towards his chest, while the once handsome scholar gripped the sword with imposing force.

As the weather warms up recently, Xie Zheng's spring clothes reveal a surprising amount of strength.

"Ugh, I can't bear to look," Song Chunxue covered her eyes and peeked out through her fingers. "Senior Brother Han, honestly, what do you think I should do right now?"

Master Han chuckled, "Weren't you watching it with great interest?"

“But Lord Xie doesn’t think so. He’s probably furious.” Song Chunxue had a sudden inspiration. She looked up at the roof beam, took out a clod of earth from her storage ring, and flicked it onto the roof beam.

The clod of dirt landed smoothly on the emperor's forehead, and Master Han's smile widened. "If it were me, I would go up and knock him unconscious, then carry Lord Xie away."

"who?"

The emperor suddenly shouted in a low voice, looking around, "Who's there? Show yourself!"

Master Han laughed uncontrollably, "This little emperor is really stupid. Why didn't he just pretend to be confused when he knew the truth? He had to get himself into trouble."

In the end, the smile on his face vanished completely, and he suddenly raised his hand and struck out in the direction of the emperor.

"Come……"

Before the emperor could summon his men, Master Han knocked him to the ground.

The next moment, Master Han tore off the soundproofing spell and stepped out of the shadows, looking at Xie Zheng, who seemed a little flustered.

"Lord Xie, what's the panic? Don't treat him like the emperor or some superior deity. He's just a grasshopper in autumn. If we really can't do anything to him, then this empire will remain in his hands for eternity."

He waved his hand, "You two go first, leave the rest to me."

Song Chunxue walked over, patted the stunned Xie Zheng, and said softly, "Don't worry, Master Han and Lord Zhao wouldn't have made a move if they weren't confident."

Xie Zheng snapped out of his daze and looked at Song Chunxue with a slightly embarrassed expression.

"That's not what I'm worried about. Just now..." His expression was hard to describe; it was mostly awkward, and he also seemed a little guilty.

Song Chunxue couldn't help but laugh; this expression was just... incredibly cute.

But she looked at him seriously and asked, "Hmm? What happened just now?"

Xie Zheng grabbed her arms with both hands, looked down and pondered with a smile how to explain to her.

"Me and him..."

"Hmm?" Song Chunxue looked at him expressionlessly.

Could there really be a story behind this?

"He had a childhood sweetheart who served in the same court as me, but she died young at the age of thirty..."

Seeing his troubled expression, Song Chunxue thought to herself, "I can't tease him anymore, or he'll crawl into a hole and start crawling away."

"What's wrong with that? Everyone loves beauty, regardless of gender. He's the one who lost his sense of propriety, not you. The fact that a man has taken a liking to you shows that my Lord Xie is exceptionally charming and talented. Even though he's over forty, he's still unforgettable. I'm even more proud that such a fine bamboo has come to grow in my garden."

She said seriously, "I didn't understand why he insisted on stopping us before, but now I finally understand. He's jealous. I won't hold it against him for now."

"..." Xie Zheng rubbed his thumb together. "You really think so?"

"Alright, hurry up and go, someone's coming." Master Han threw out a remark, "If you want to flirt, go home. Aren't you ashamed to do this in front of that old vixen?"

Xie Zheng's ears turned bright red.

As Song Chunxue flew on her sword, she said, "You old monster, you've seen and heard so much. This is nothing. You've worked hard. I'll make you buckwheat rings when we get back."

"That's more like it."

The Zhao residence.

Song Chunxue was ordered to rest in bed. She thought she wouldn't be able to sleep, but she fell asleep after drinking a bowl of soup.

Zhao Jin and Xie Zheng sat in front of the chessboard, their eyes fixed on the pieces, each lost in their own thoughts.

"Don't feel burdened by the Emperor's affairs. I'm never surprised if it happens to you," Lord Zhao teased. "Han Qingfeng will handle it. The Emperor is afraid of him. In the next few days, Lord Han will frequently visit the palace to deal with that fake Imperial Advisor."

"But there's something I need to inform you. Things are unsettled in various border regions. Next month, we will be returning to the capital with our junior brother, but the return date is uncertain."

As he spoke, Zhao Jin handed a sword manual to Xie Zheng.

"Now that things have come to this, you know that the fate of this empire is coming to an end. Don't push yourself too hard. Do what you can and cultivate diligently. No one can turn the tide, but being able to save a few people is already a great merit."

Holding the sword manual, Xie Zheng's once vague idea gradually became firm.

"Take this pouch. When the opportunity arises in May, you should join the army and march north. Only then can you achieve both goals."

Xie Zheng felt uneasy. He opened his mouth, but finally couldn't help asking, "Was the person who saved her that day a monk?"

P.S.: Sorry, my darlings, it's almost Chinese New Year, you know what I mean.