Chapter 46 World 2 (Twenty-two)

The little prince's birthday banquet was exceptionally grand, with tables filled with delicacies and fine wines extending from the main hall to the nine-curve corridor.

The warm orange lights illuminate the lake under the long bridge.

As if the Empress had specifically instructed, Baoshan was seated in a small pavilion overlooking the lake, sitting with the other female members of the family. This place was neither too far nor too close to the main hall, and from a distance one could see figures in the distance, singing and dancing.

However, if people sitting in the main hall did not take the trouble to look at the small pavilion, they would not be able to notice that there were women gathered here.

The seat next to Bao Shan was reserved for Chang Ming Jian. The women, finding Bao Shan unfamiliar, were about to ask where she came from when several powerful guards placed a long sword beside her. The sword shone with a faint chill. The women's minds shifted slightly. Besides Yu Wenxuan, no one else could bring a sword into the palace. They fell silent, abandoning any thought of conversing with Bao Shan.

Baoshan pulled a soft embroidered handkerchief from her bosom and carefully wiped the Changming Sword. The lake beneath the pavilion was calm, reflecting a hazy figure and a few glazed lanterns. Miss Deng arrived late, just as the banquet was about to begin. She hurriedly sat down at her table, looking distracted. Baoshan saw her brow furrowed, her fingers curled together, as if she were hesitating and struggling, and she imagined it was related to the Empress's "reminiscence."

The eunuch's long and slender voice of the banquet came from the main hall. Everyone raised the golden cups in front of them and saluted the emperor from afar.

Seeing that Miss Deng looked dazed, Baoshan made a slight sound and signaled with her eyes. Miss Deng was slightly startled and raised the cup in front of her.

She covered her face with the precious fan with her sleeve, raised her delicate head slightly, and when she put down the golden cup, it was empty. The same was true for everyone else.

After everyone's gaze shifted away, Baoshan frowned slightly, moved her palm slightly, and put away the embroidered handkerchief that had just been placed on her knees to wipe the Changming sword.

The embroidered handkerchief was extremely dark in color, and under the dim light, it was difficult for anyone to distinguish that the color was now a bit darker than before.

Baoshan took the embroidered handkerchief with the scent of wine into her arms. It would be disrespectful not to drink up the first glass of wine offered to the emperor.

But Baoshan smelled the mellow taste of the wine and was afraid that she would be a little tipsy after drinking a glass. She was in the palace at the moment and was unfamiliar with the place. For her own safety, it would be better for her to stay sober.

The rich aroma of wine made Miss Deng relax her brows slightly.

Just now, the Queen asked about the prescription, and Miss Deng answered truthfully.

These days, Yuwen Xuan took the medicine according to the prescription every day. The herbal medicine tasted bitter, and even Miss Deng's yard was filled with the scent of coptis water.

Although the court doctor felt that this prescription was very effective, Yuwen Xuan's arm had recovered a lot.

But tendon and vein damage is a serious matter and it is difficult to completely heal in just a few months.

Upon hearing this, the queen inquired in detail about Yuwen Xuan's temper these days and whether he treated Miss Deng differently.

Seeing Miss Deng's hesitation, the Queen immediately guessed her current situation.

The queen dismissed her personal maid, took out a red sandalwood bracelet from under the soft pillow, and put it into Miss Deng's palm.

"This item can be used for pleasure in the boudoir and is a secret item in the palace."

Seeing Miss Deng's face flushed, the Queen said leisurely: "Of course you don't have to, but it is normal for men and women to use some insignificant tricks.

I looked at the maidservant who served the sword. Her eyes were full of affection and her cheeks were rosy. Has she been taken into Yuwen Xuan's room?"

Miss Deng immediately denied it: "She is just a servant who takes care of Changming Sword."

The Queen chuckled softly, "Is it taking care of the sword, or the sword's owner... It's a man's nature to be lusty about beauty. If you don't use some tricks, that beautiful little maid will be well loved..."

Miss Deng said no more and clenched the red sandalwood bracelet in her hand. It had the fragrance of pine wood. After smelling it for a moment, her anxious heartbeat slowly calmed down.

Miss Deng looked up at the precious fan. She was looking sideways towards the main hall. The light of the colored glass lanterns shone on her delicate profile, and her soft hair stuck to her slender and delicate neck, which made people feel palpitations.

Miss Deng seemed to have made a decision, and the hesitation in her eyes was replaced by determination.

In the main hall, the emperor and the queen sat on the upper seats, and between them was a child dressed in golden brocade.

In front of the little prince, there were a dazzling array of birthday gifts. He presented the largest gem to the queen like a treasure, which drew good-natured laughter from everyone.

The eunuch leaned over and whispered something into the emperor's ear.

The emperor frowned instantly, and his gaze fell on Yuwen Xuan, who was wearing a deep blue python robe and had a stern look in his eyes.

Lord Xu, who was forced to lead the troops to war, failed to expand the territory.

Instead, he was captured by the enemy country and his head and body were separated. In order to provoke him, the enemy country sent Lord Xu's body as a gift.

The emperor was dissatisfied with Lord Xu's uselessness, as he had encountered such a dirty thing on such a happy day. He also blamed Yuwen Xuan for not knowing how to appreciate his kindness.

In the past, Yuwen Xuan had fought and made great achievements, but the emperor was displeased. Now that he was unwilling to lead the troops, the emperor was not happy at all.

Seeing this, the Queen gently reminded the little prince. The little prince immediately searched for the gift on the table and asked in confusion, "Where's the sword?"

The Queen chuckled and said, "The Changming Sword weighs a hundred pounds, how could it be placed on the table? If you want to see it, you need the prince's approval."

The little prince ran in the direction the queen pointed. He wanted to throw himself into Yuwen Xuan's arms, but Yuwen Xuan raised his head, silent, his eyes as cold as winter frost staring at him. The little prince's feet suddenly felt frozen to the ground. Avoiding Yuwen Xuan's gaze, he asked loudly, "I want to see that sword."

Yuwen Xuan nodded slightly, and the guards of the palace went to get the Changming Sword.

Several guards walked towards the pavilion by the lake. Baoshan stood up shakily and saw the guards taking the Changming Sword away. She said in a low voice, "Do you want me to go with you?"

The guard held onto the precious fan and smelled the strong odor of alcohol on her. He shook his head and said, "No need—don't drink too much."

The wine in the palace is not that delicious, but because there are other people around, the guards can't say much. Fortunately, although Baoshan doesn't know the tricks, she is very well-behaved and nodded slightly.

The Changming Sword was sent to the main hall. Since Yuwen Xuan was unable to lift the sword, he asked several guards to draw it.

A white light flashed, and the bronze and black iron had indeed forged a fine sword, its entire body flowing smoothly. However, because it often accompanied Yuwen Xuan on the battlefield, the sword's ferocious coldness made people tremble with fear.

The little prince was very close to the Changming Sword. He felt that the Changming Sword was as majestic as the legend said, but also really scary. He really didn't dare to get close.

The little prince only took a glance at the Changming Sword, then turned and snuggled into the queen's arms.

The Queen smiled and said, "It seems my son really likes this sword and can't bear to look at it any longer."

The emperor said slowly, "Since you like it, why not leave the Changming Sword in the palace for a few days? When the little prince has had enough of it, then return it to His Majesty."

Before Yuwen Xuan's tendons and veins were severed, the Changming Sword had never left his body.

Ever since he got this sword at the age of nine, Yuwen Xuan has regarded it as another self, cherishing it immensely, wielding it and practicing it every day, never slacking off.

He brought the Changming Sword to the battlefield, watched it get stained with the first drop of blood, and escaped from his tent with it.

The emperor naturally knew the significance of the Changming Sword to Yuwen Xuan, but he still asked for it.

He just wanted Yuwen Xuan to understand that the distinction between the ruler and his subjects was a chasm that Yuwen Xuan could never cross.

Even if Yuwen Xuan had made great military achievements, he was still working for him.

The emperor even expected Yuwen Xuan to get angry and refuse coldly. The more he did so, the more it would highlight Yuwen Xuan's current helplessness.

But Yuwen Xuan didn't even raise his head, and his tone was steady.

It seemed that the emperor's anger was like a child's play to Yuwen Xuan, and was nothing to worry about.

"Okay, okay, okay! In this case, I'll leave the Changming Sword in the palace!"

Yuwen Xuan was drinking by himself. He seemed to notice someone's eyes were on him, so he turned sideways to look.

Not far away, there is a clear lake with a small pavilion standing on the lake.

Yuwen Xuan had sharp eyes and saw a graceful figure in the pavilion, looking for him.

Yuwen Xuan suddenly stood up, and the originally noisy banquet suddenly became quiet.

Yuwen Xuan had no time to pay attention to them and walked towards the pavilion.

The main hall and the small pavilion are connected by a long stone bridge.

Just as Yuwen Xuan reached the middle of the bridge, the figure in the pavilion recognized him, lifted her skirt and walked towards him, her steps steady but hurried.

"Your Majesty?"

It is an uncertain inquiry.

Yuwen Xuan looked at the dim long bridge and understood what was going on. He remembered that Baoshan's eyes were not used to the darkness.

He replied in a deep voice, "It's me."

Bao Shan walked to Yu Wenxuan's side, her tense brows obviously relaxed, and she staggered slightly. It was Yu Wenxuan who grabbed her arm, and Bao Shan was able to stabilize herself.

But the moment her arm touched the treasure fan, Yuwen Xuan noticed the panic in her eyes. After she stood firm, she hurriedly took a few steps back, keeping a considerable distance from Yuwen Xuan.

Yuwen Xuan frowned, puzzled by Baoshan's sudden defensiveness.

Smelling the aroma of wine in the air, Yuwen Xuan asked in a deep voice, "Have you been drinking?"

"A little bit."

Yuwen Xuan stood up to leave and asked Baoshan to go back home with him.

Baoshan looked around at the half-finished banquet, hesitated to speak, and finally nodded in agreement.

When returning home, Baoshan did not see the Changming Sword. She asked in panic and found out that the Changming Sword was left in the palace by Yuwen Xuan.

Bao Shan's expression was gloomy, and she was a little uneasy. The Changming Sword was left behind, so what about her, the little maidservant who served the sword...

Yuwen Xuan frowned: "Why don't you leave?"

"This servant... This servant serves the Changming Sword..."

Yuwen Xuan walked to Baoshan's side, remembering her strangeness and intentional alienation tonight. He ignored her trembling body, raised his small white chin, and said coldly: "Your master is me, not Changming."

Baoshan said timidly, "Yes."

When Yuwen Xuan returned to the palace, Yunqi handed him a secret letter, which was received shortly after Yuwen Xuan entered the palace.

Looking at the plans and calculations on the letter, Yuwen Xuan chuckled.

——They really are all so calculating. The maid who gave birth to the emperor's child, hiding from everyone's gaze, is so self-centered.

She wanted Yuwen Xuan to help her and push the baby, who was less than a hundred days old, to the throne. She could live a peaceful life, and Yuwen Xuan could have tremendous power. In the future, no one would dare to humiliate him with the matter of the Changming Sword.

Yuwen Xuan folded the secret letter and put it in a book.

Hua Qing and Jin Xiu helped the drunk Miss Deng onto the bed. Hua Qing smelled her body and said, "Take care of Miss Deng and then go to rest."

After saying that, she left quickly.

Jinxiu took off Miss Deng's clothes, and heard the sound of "dong dong" falling to the ground. Jinxiu bent down to pick it up, and it was a red sandalwood bracelet.

This doesn't seem like something Miss Deng would carry with her.

Jinxiu put the bracelet to the tip of her nose and took in the fresh and quiet scent.

She sniffed a few more times, and the fresh scent gradually became stronger, making Jinxiu feel a little dizzy.