Knock knock knock.

A rhythmic knocking sounded from outside the courtyard.

Cui Hui thought it was Qi Yuanliang who had left and returned.

She threw on some warm clothes and went to open the door, but the face of the person outside sent a chill down her spine. If she hadn't retained some reason, she would have slammed the door shut long ago. Cui Hui secretly gripped the door latch, feigning suspicion, and carefully examined the person by candlelight: "Who are you?"

Cui Hui, somewhat uncertainly, revealed the true identity of the visitor.

"Lady Mei?"

The plum blossoms in the candlelight appeared even more beautiful than usual.

Like a red plum blossom in full bloom on a branch, it is stunningly beautiful.

"Please forgive my late-night visit, Madam Cui." Mei Meng, standing outside the door, parted her red lips slightly, her smile as gentle as a spring mountain. She raised her slender hand and completely lifted the veil that had been partially covering her, revealing a pair of alluring eyes that seemed to gaze with affection even at a dog. Cui Hui was captivated by her stunning beauty and was unable to utter a word of refusal or reproach.

Cui Hui swallowed hard.

I stepped aside to let the other person in.

"No, I'm just surprised that the Queen is here."

Cui Hui knew that Mei Meng was a scholar of the literary mind, and she also knew that ordinary people could not hide their true feelings in front of a scholar of the literary mind. She restrained her own thoughts to avoid revealing anything that should not be revealed.

Mei Meng removed her veil and followed Cui Hui inside.

"For some private matters."

Cui Hui and Mei Meng were merely nodding acquaintances, occasionally bumping into each other, and tacitly avoiding each other because of the relationship between Mei Meng's lord and the head of the Cui family. Their relationship was not such that Cui Hui could pry into each other's private affairs, and this topic could only be touched upon briefly. Cui Hui changed the subject: "I wonder what brings Your Majesty here so late at night? If it is for the Cui family, I have been divorced from him for many years."

Mei Meng said, "That's not it. I've come for the lady."

Cui Hui looked down at himself, puzzled: "For me?"

She had no connection with Mei Meng.

Mei Meng's visit at this critical juncture is probably not for good intentions.

Cui Hui could only hope that the people Qi Yuanliang had arranged would be smart enough to deliver the news of Mei Meng's visit as soon as possible, and that he wouldn't be implicated. Mei Meng was, after all, a genuine scholar with a refined literary mind; if she harbored ill intentions, even ten of his lives wouldn't be enough for her to kill him!

"It is a joyous occasion to meet an old friend in a foreign land! I heard that Madam and Master Cui divorced and have been out of contact for many years. I never expected to meet you here. During the day, my servant told me that he saw you in Fugu City. I thought he was mistaken, but it turns out it was true."

Cui Hui didn't believe her nonsense at all.

Who visits someone late at night?

Were their relationship so close that Mei Meng couldn't wait to find out where he was? Despite her disbelief, Cui Hui still exchanged pleasantries with Mei Meng. If we disregarded the awkwardness of their identities and the timing, the conversation was quite pleasant.

Mei Meng is a very talkative person.

The two talked almost without any awkward silences.

Even though reason told Cui Hui that Mei Meng had a problem, he unconsciously forgot about it during the conversation. Overall, Mei Meng was someone impossible to dislike. Cui Hui himself liked beautiful people, and Mei Meng's looks definitely scored high!

There was a lot of chat content.

This includes, but is not limited to, the situation in the Qi state and gossip about aristocratic families.

Mei Meng also brought news about Cui Hui's two sons and one daughter.

Madam Cui intended to find a suitable wife for her eldest son, whose academic performance was excellent, and whose youngest daughter had gained a reputation in aristocratic circles. It was rumored that many matriarchs from prominent families were interested in marrying into the Cui family, and some had even begun to probe the Cui family head's intentions, but he had politely declined all offers. He also kept his three children by his side to raise them. Speaking of the Cui family head, Mei Meng casually mentioned that the Cui clan elders hoped he would marry another matriarch.

The Cui family is large and powerful; they really can't function without a mistress.

Cui Hui asked in surprise, "He's not married yet?"

Mei Meng said, "The conditions aren't very good."

Stagnant goods in the marriage and dating market.

Cui Hui's expression was subtle for a moment.

This was the first time she had heard someone say that her ex-husband wasn't very well-off, but since it was Mei Meng who said it, it made perfect sense.

Her ex-husband's strengths are obvious: he's in his prime, the head of the Cui clan, and has reached the pinnacle of power and status at his current stage. However, these only prove he's a successful man, not a suitable husband. His weaknesses in the marriage market are also apparent: two divorces, two sons and a daughter, all legitimate children. What benefits could a young woman of equal social standing gain from marrying him?

Rather than marrying him, I'd rather set my sights on his son.

They look down on those who are of equal social standing, and they don't even consider those from less affluent families.

Besides that, there's another crucial point.

The first wife of the Cui family head was the ruler of the Qi Kingdom.

Who knows what the King of Qi's attitude is towards the men he's used to, or whether he still has any feelings for them? If my daughter marries him, won't it offend the King? Won't the King secretly make things difficult for my family?

For these reasons, the head of the Cui family is still single.

Cui Hui nodded in agreement with Mei Meng's words: "That's true. He's already the father of three children, two sons and a daughter. His eldest son is starting to arrange marriages, and in a few years, people will be calling him 'Grandpa.' It's really not appropriate for him to marry a beautiful and talented woman..."

The mistress of the Cui family may not necessarily be the wife of the head of the Cui family.

She could also be the wife of the eldest son of the Cui family.

Cui Hui knew that Mei Meng loved wine, and coincidentally, there was wine in the kitchen.

He poured her a full glass, and the room was instantly filled with the aroma of wine.

Mei Meng sniffed twice, her eyes lighting up.

"Excellent wine! This is actually the most authentic spirit wine!"

"Spiritual brew?"

Mei Meng couldn't wait to take a bite, and soon two light pink blushes appeared, making her look incredibly charming. Cui Hui hadn't even drunk any alcohol, but just looking at Mei Meng's face made him feel intoxicated.

"Lingniang is a specialty of Kangguo and is extremely difficult to buy."

The spirit brews available on the black market are mostly diluted with water.

Even Mei Meng hadn't drunk authentic Mei Meng's ...

In other places, they've already been sold for a fortune.

Cui Hui thought of the dozen or so dusty wine jars casually piled up in the kitchen and became skeptical of Mei Meng's claim that they were "extremely hard to buy".

Before long, Mei Meng had finished two jars of wine all by herself.

Her eyes were filled with a misty haze, her posture languid and casual, even her hair seemed to exude a seductive charm. Cui Hui stared at her intently. Mei Meng pulled up her clothes, which had somehow slipped off her shoulder, and smiled with a touch of coquettishness.

"What is Madam looking at?"

"Seeing a beautiful woman under the lamplight and moonlight is ten times more beautiful than in daylight." Cui Hui swallowed hard. "Even in daylight, the Queen is a rare beauty in the world. Now, seeing her again, even I, a woman, am moved."

Mei Meng was amused by her straightforward praise. She leaned closer to Cui Hui with a smile and exhaled a light breath of wine: "If I had known that you were so interesting, I should have made friends with you sooner. Perhaps we could have become close confidantes."

Cui Hui said, "It's not too late now."

Mei Mengxin agreed with delight: "What you say is very true, Madam."

The undiluted spirit wine was very intoxicating, and Mei Meng was reluctant to use her literary energy to sober up. After three or four jars, she was already half-drunk, her eyes blurry with intoxication. Cui Hui, being an ordinary person, got drunk even faster.

Feeling dizzy, he leaned against Mei Meng's shoulder.

The two chatted casually.

Cui Hui didn't even know when she fell asleep. She only knew that when she woke up, Mei Meng was sleeping soundly with her hands on her forehead and her elbows resting on the table. Her sleeping face was serene. Cui Hui herself was resting her head on Mei Meng's calves, which made obvious wrinkles on Mei Meng's skirt.

The smell of alcohol in the room had faded considerably.

Cui Hui got up, rubbing his temples, which were throbbing from a hangover.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, leaving a sliver of light.

Upon seeing this, Cui Hui wanted nothing more than to berate Qi Yuanliang for being unreliable.

Little did they know, Qi Shan had already arrived.

They arrived half an hour before dawn.

Cui Hui was not awake, Mei Meng was pretending to be asleep, and he could not barge in.

With a creak, the door opened.

Qi Shan couldn't bear to look at Cui Hui, who was still hungover. Cui Hui's habit of judging by appearance hadn't changed over the years, and as an ordinary person, he must have uttered countless words when he met Mei Meng.

He gritted his teeth and whispered, "Heh, you've finally arrived."

Qi Shan's gaze passed over Cui Hui and fell on the woman behind her.

She nodded in greeting: "Miss Mei, it's been a long time."

Mei Meng tucked her loose hair behind her ear, trying to ignore the scorching gaze that seemed to burn her through, while maintaining a lazy and casual smile: "Mm, good morning, Qi Jun."

Qi Shan's smile was almost impossible to maintain.

He considered several possibilities, but he never expected Mei Meng to reveal her whereabouts and approach Cui Hui immediately upon arrival. Her attitude clearly showed no hostility, and he couldn't just confront her right away.

"What does Your Majesty mean by this? Are you waiting for me?"

Mei Meng: "Otherwise what? Lord Qi killed two of my trusted servants without explanation, and I'm not even allowed to come and ask him for an explanation?"

He immediately turned the tables and accused us.

They simply admitted that their informants and contacts were all their people.

Qi Shan almost laughed in anger upon hearing this.

It's rare to see someone cry "stop thief!" and act so self-righteously.

He laid it bare: "Lady Mei, please don't joke. Neither you nor your servants are citizens of Kang. Our country is currently at war with the Northern Desert and the Gao Kingdom, and our relations with the northwestern kingdoms are also tense. Shouldn't Your Majesty be more cautious in your sudden visit?"

Mei Meng readily admitted her mistake without even blinking: "It was indeed my oversight. Given Qi Jun's character, he certainly wouldn't wrongly kill an innocent person. This misunderstanding has caused you trouble."

She admitted it was so fast that Qi Shan almost couldn't react.

Qi Shan: "What brings Lady Mei to Kangguo?"

Mei Mengdao said, "We will offer sacrifices to our ancestors."

Qi Shan: "..."

This reason is indeed irrefutable.

Mei Meng's ancestral home was in Sibao County of Kang State. Although he had moved away, his roots remained in Kang State, so it was perfectly reasonable for him to return regularly to pay respects to his ancestors. However, anyone with discernment knew that this was just an excuse for Mei Meng.

Qi Shan sneered: "Is it really necessary to make such a fuss over ancestral worship?"

If he hadn't made any underhanded moves, would he have killed her people?

Small actions that cross the line will naturally lead to death.

"Why is Qi Jun so hostile?" She looked at Qi Shan with a smile, her voice still hoarse from a hangover, like a lover's murmur, the ending of her sentences still carrying a hint of intoxication, as if a feather were gently tickling her heart. Seeing Qi Shan's indifferent attitude, Mei Meng had no choice but to say seriously, "To be honest, I'm traveling to find opportunities for breakthroughs. With my beauty and grace, even if I were flesh stained with blood, what jackals or tigers wouldn't want to take a bite? Isn't it normal to bring more people with you when you travel for self-protection?"

While this statement may seem narcissistic, it is also true. In this world, women, especially stunning women, without sufficient self-defense capabilities, can indeed become spoils to be pursued.

Qi Shan asked, "What is the opportunity for a breakthrough?"

Mei Meng stretched, revealing the graceful curve of her waist and the glimpse of her shoulders, which only intensified the burning gazes in the shadows. She smiled inwardly and casually remarked, "The opportunity to perfect the path of a scholar. Someone like Qi Jun should know how precious it is."

Simply put, I went out to look for opportunities.

Passing through my hometown, I decided to pay my respects at my ancestral graves.

She was a frail woman, far from her homeland for so many years. Of course, upon returning, she would send someone to inquire about the situation back home; it was all for self-preservation. Qi Shan, as an old friend, wouldn't even allow that?

Qi Shan: "Is that all?"

Mei Meng smiled and covered her mouth: "Otherwise what? Could it be that Lord Qi suspects me of harboring ulterior motives and plotting against Kang? Let's not even talk about the fact that Qi and Kang do not share a border, and there is no conflict between the two countries. Even if there were, what benefit could I possibly gain by venturing into danger alone?"

All actions are purposeful.

While Mei Meng's appearance in Kangguo in a private capacity was inappropriate, she took no actions detrimental to the country. Her actions were solely for the purpose of seizing opportunities, and would be permissible anywhere. The two servants overstepped their bounds, leading to their deaths; Mei Meng was in the wrong from the start, and the matter is settled. If Qi Shan were to attempt anything against her in Kangguo's official capacity, it would only provoke a war between the two nations.

Qi Shan: "There's really no benefit to it."

Without obtaining the evidence, there was indeed nothing that could be done to the other party.

Qi Shan had no intention of breaking off relations now.

Instead, he was very interested in the breakthrough opportunity that Mei Meng mentioned.

If you do the math, Mei Meng has been cultivating for at most ten years. Going back in time, she must have started cultivating at a rather old age. To start so late and still manage to reach the threshold of perfection in the Path of the Scholar in ten years is quite remarkable, making her one of the best among the scholars of the Literary Heart School.

Qi Shan took the initiative to soften her attitude.

Mei Meng naturally knew when to stop while she was ahead.

Sometimes, the most dangerous place is actually the safest.

It would be wiser to proactively expose yourself.

If Mei Meng continues to conceal her actions, given Qi Yuanliang's ruthless nature, he will definitely take advantage of the situation and kill her on the spot if he catches her. Afterwards, when the truth comes out and Qi Guo questions her, a simple "I don't know" will be enough to absolve her of all responsibility.

If a high-ranking official from another country who entered the country concealed his identity and was mistakenly killed, his death would be meaningless. How could Qi State prove that Qi Shan knew her identity when he killed her? Since they couldn't prove it, they naturally couldn't convict him.

The greatest mistake was an unintentional error made while praying for good.

Qi Guo could only suffer in silence.

"Meeting an old friend in a foreign land, would you like to have a drink with me?"

Authentic spirit wine isn't always available.

Mei Meng can also be considered a benefactor of Qi Shan.

Since my benefactor invited me, there was no reason for me to refuse.

Cui Hui got up and went to a nearby restaurant to order wine and dishes.

When they returned, Qi Shan and Mei Meng chatted happily, their conversation revolving around the cultivation of literary scholars, occasionally interspersed with obscure and difficult-to-understand methods of incantation. This gave Cui Hui a disconcerting feeling—as if the two corpses were merely her imagination.

"Each has their own ulterior motives."

Four words are enough to describe the two of them at this moment.

Qi Shan didn't get any advantage from Mei Meng, so after sitting for a while, she got up to take her leave and secretly sent someone to keep a close eye on her.

"General Lü?"

The carriage had been traveling for quite a while when Lü Jue did not appear.

Qi Shan called out twice more, "General Lü?"

After searching the surrounding area, they found no trace of Lü Jue.

He thought of something, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

"How utterly disappointing!"

ヾ(ゞ)

I don't know why, but every time I write about Lü Jue and Mei Meng, I feel like I'm making a sexual innuendo.

PS: On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, we welcome the God of Wealth. The God of Wealth is coming! The God of Wealth is coming! The God of Wealth comes from all directions. I, a devout woman, will eat a balanced diet of meat and vegetables throughout my life. I do not seek a single-minded person, but only great wealth and prosperity.