Chapter 315: I agree readily, but I really won’t do it

Royal villa, Langhuan Pavilion.

It was early autumn and the courtyard was deep.

The sweet fragrance of osmanthus is intertwined with the cool autumn breeze.

The leaves of the tall sycamore trees have been dotted with golden color, shining like broken gold in the afternoon sun.

Pavilions and towers are arranged in an orderly manner, with vermilion-painted columns, bluestone paths, rockery and gurgling water.

But this tranquility and elegance is enveloped by the ubiquitous solemnity:

The imperial guards, dressed in black armor and wearing long swords at their waists, stood in every key corner, their eyes scanning the surroundings like hawks from time to time.

Deputy Commander Meng Jian personally took charge of the main courtyard beside the moon gate.

He was not wearing full armor, only a light chain mail.

He was wearing the black uniform of the imperial guards, which made his shoulders look broad and his waist narrow, making him look more imposing.

One hand was on the hilt of the sword at his waist, and the other hand was casually placed on the stone lantern beside him.

Although he seemed casual, his eyes were actually gazing calmly into the depths of the courtyard, and his whole body exuded a cold aura that kept strangers away.

After lunch, the second princess of Shuofeng, Xiao Yunshuo, walked out of the main house.

After the audience, she changed into a moon-white cloud brocade skirt and covered it with a light green gauze half-sleeve embroidered with lotus flowers.

Her hair was loosely tied up with a plain jade hairpin, restoring her former elegant look.

His eyes swept across the courtyard, finally landing on Meng Jian, and he walked towards him calmly.

"Commander Meng."

Meng Jian leaned slightly aside upon hearing the voice, clasping his fists in a formal gesture that revealed a hint of distance: "Princess Xiao."

Xiao Yunshuo seemed unaware, with a smile on his lips, looking at the other person calmly.

"The autumn scenery in Fengjing is delightful. I have long heard of the prosperity of the imperial capital, and Yun Shuo longs for it.

Could you please allow Yunshuo to go out for a walk?"

Meng Jian replied in a businesslike manner, "His Majesty has decreed that if Princess Xiao wishes to travel, she must be accompanied by the Crown Prince to ensure safety."

"I see." Xiao Yunshuo nodded in understanding, his smile still gentle.

"Then I'd like to ask Commander Meng to pass on the message, asking which prince would like to spare some time to accompany you?"

"yes."

Meng Jian agreed readily.

However, his feet seemed to have taken root and stood firmly in the same place, not moving at all.

The courtyard fell into a brief silence, with only the rustling of the treetops in the wind adding to the tranquility.

Xiao Yunshuo stared at Meng Jian quietly, and he looked back calmly.

Meng Jian's mission was merely to guard.

The second princess only holds an idle position in charge of Yunhui Pavilion in the Shuofeng Dynasty and does not have much real power.

As for his influence in the literary world, what does it have to do with him being a martial artist?

It doesn't matter to Meng Jian what she is like, what her purpose is, or even what the attitude of the Shufeng Dynasty as a whole is.

No matter from which angle, it doesn’t matter what Xiao Yunshuo does. What’s more important to him is that she is not dead.

Meng Jian had no interest in doing such a troublesome task as going out for a stroll, which was both laborious and risky.

Unless summoned by His Majesty, just stay quietly in the other courtyard.

So Meng Jian had a very good attitude and agreed readily, but he just didn't do anything.

Xiao Yunshuo sighed almost inaudibly, with a helpless smile on his face, and a hint of understanding flashed across the depths of his eyes.

"Commander Meng...you really don't understand romance."

The tone was gentle, like a sigh and a complaint, with a touch of the graceful charm unique to the North.

Upon hearing this, Meng Jian looked at his nose with his eyes and then his heart with his nose, like an old monk in meditation.

On that angular and handsome face, not even an eyebrow moved, as if he didn't hear the words full of temptation and complaint at all.

If she doesn't want to chat, then she doesn't have to, as if no one wants to bother with her.

At this moment, a clear and cheerful sound, like pearls falling on a plate, pierced the silence of the courtyard.

"Where's Xiao Yunshuo? Come out, let's go shopping in this beautiful autumn weather."

Not long after, a slender figure rushed into the moon cave door in a hurry.

The afternoon sun was at its peak, pouring down from behind her, giving her entire body a dazzling golden hue.

In the backlight, the flying skirt and the outline of the black hair are clearly visible, like an elf walking out of a halo.

When she completely stepped into the shadow of the courtyard, her face became clear, and it was the Sixth Princess Qin Zhaoyue.

Her eyebrows are curved and her smile is as bright as a blooming autumn begonia.

His whole body exuded a cheerful aura of "I am in a very good mood", which was out of place in this heavily guarded villa.

The moment he caught sight of Qin Zhaoyue's figure, Meng Jian's deep eyes seemed to flash with an extremely faint light.

Like throwing a stone, it causes ripples.

The tightly pursed lips relaxed for a moment, and the tense lines of the jaw softened a little.

Although the change was subtle, Xiao Yunshuo, who was standing close to him, keenly caught the fleeting change.

Although her heart was slightly moved, her face remained calm, with a gentle and appropriate smile.

Qin Zhaoyue did not come alone, she was followed by the fourth princess Qin Zhaoshu and the fifth prince Qin Jingzhan.

As for the third princess, she was unable to spare time as she was in charge of the preliminary examination for the supplementary enrollment of the women's provincial examination.

Although it was a supplementary examination, nothing was trivial when it came to the imperial examination, and it was also a great opportunity to demonstrate his abilities in front of the empress and the court officials.

The first two have been conferred the title of prince and are not in Fengjing, so Qin Zhaowan is full of energy at this time.

The fourth princess, who was supposed to be her deputy, followed her for some reason.

The three of them came closer.

Qin Zhaoshu looked indifferent, as if he didn't care about anything.

Qin Jingzhan seemed a little absent-minded, his eyes casually looking around the courtyard;

Only Qin Zhaoyue was like a walking little sun, full of enthusiasm.

"Well, do you want to go out for a walk?"

Xiao Yunshuo was quite surprised.

Logically, the relationship between Shufeng and Dagan was strained, and this year, the fragile peace that had lasted nearly a decade was shattered, with troops deployed at the border. The Fourth Princess's indifference and the Fifth Prince's perfunctory attitude were only natural, and Meng Jian's previous attitude had confirmed this.

But the Sixth Princess...is a little too enthusiastic.

Why is this?

But Meng Jian did not feel the slightest bit surprised.

The little thrill I felt when we first met had now turned to dust, and I secretly clenched my back teeth.

"Your Highnesses!" Meng Jian saluted with his fists clasped together, his voice low.

"Oh, Deputy Commander Meng is here too."

Qin Zhaoyue waved casually as if she had just seen him, then turned to Xiao Yunshuo with great interest.

Meng Jian:!!!

Xiao Yunshuo thought of the description of the "absurd" Sixth Princess in the intelligence, and thought to himself that she was really unique.

With a slight smile, he asked, "Sixth Prince, would you like to take me around Fengjing City?"

"Of course I am willing," Qin Zhaoyue answered firmly, "Anyone coming from afar is a guest."

He was so enthusiastic, as if he was taking his own sisters out for a trip.

Xiao Yunshuo didn't understand why, but he was even more unwilling to give up such an opportunity.

If I miss it, you can imagine that under Meng Jian's supervision, I will be trapped in the other courtyard and can't take a single step before the provincial examination.

"Okay, I'll get ready. Please wait."

I turned around and went back to the house. Actually, there was nothing to prepare.

He just took his purse and called the only personal maid he brought with him.

As if afraid that the other party would go back on his word, he quickly walked out again and said, "Sorry for the wait. Let's go."

Eh…

Qin Zhaoyue glanced behind Xiao Yunshuo and saw only a maid. "Just the two of you?"

"Yes, there are too many people and we're afraid it will cause trouble for Commander Meng."

"Oh, what's there to be afraid of?" Qin Zhaoyue waved his hand disapprovingly.

"It's a rare trip to our Great Gan Capital, so I have to see and taste everything I should see. It's worth the trip, because more people means more fun!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunshuo glanced at her thoughtfully.

If it wasn't directed at her, then what else could it be...

Uh, considering the intelligence and the people in this team, Xiao Yunshuo immediately had a guess.

No way...

So...direct?