Entering the game
The dispute between the imperial court and the powerful families was ultimately settled by the Empress Dowager with a single punch, which landed at the Shanhai Academy.
On a dark and windy night, Sui He stood on the edge of the cliff at the academy, watching the figure rapidly receding at the foot of the mountain.
"I heard you gave her the family head's token?"
Fu Mingguang emerged from the darkness and stood behind Sui He.
"Well, it's going to be given to her eventually anyway, so it doesn't matter whether you give it to her sooner or later."
"That's not what you said at the beginning."
Sui He: "Oh, I've changed my mind."
"You!" Fu Mingguang was so angry that he flung his sleeves, wishing he could turn around and leave so he could never see her again.
She took a few steps and then came back, standing angrily in front of Sui He. "Just because I'm not your family, you don't care about my life, is that it?"
“Mingguang, this is different.”
"How is it different! The significance of her obtaining the family head's order is completely different from that of her being the young master of the Sui family. She has power in her hands, and once it falls into Sima Xian's hands, the entire Sui family will perish with her."
"No, this will save her life. Fan Zirong has also given her the Fan family's patriarchal authority. Now she possesses both the Sui family's power and the Fan family's wealth. The more bargaining chips she has, the more wary Sima Xian will be, and the more secure her life will be!"
Sui He raised his round eyes and shouted at her, each word spoken extremely quickly.
“Ah Xu is my only child. She was predicted to die before she turned eighteen at birth. Eighteen!”
"What were we doing at eighteen? You know best. How can I accept that such a beautiful spring day is the end of her life?"
"I had no choice but to send her away with a heavy heart. I haven't seen her once in the past eighteen years!"
She tilted her head back, closed her eyes, wiped away the tears, and tried to calm herself down.
"The Taoist temple outside Chang'an wasn't far, but it felt too far for both of us. She was confined to that small temple for eighteen years, and during those eighteen years, I missed her day and night, reading every letter she sent home. I knew her personality had changed. But I didn't know what had happened to her."
"I thought that for those eighteen years she was at least safe, that even if she was far from the world, she was at least carefree, but none of that is true, none of that is true..."
Sui He burst into tears. She had been unable to bear it since she received Cong Lan's letter and learned that her daughter had personally admitted to her past.
Lu Kou, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lu family, lived in the Xuanping Prince's Mansion for many years and rarely went out. She was extremely beautiful. She married Fan Lang at the age of seventeen. The couple's love was stronger than gold. She passed away two years after their marriage.
Such rumors circulated widely, but the truth was different. She did not go out because she grew up in Miao territory, and her marriage was forced upon her by Sima Xian. After her "death from illness," she wandered the world alone.
Sui He had also wondered how the lady who served the Emperor and Consort Zhou was also her child—was she a reincarnation? But she quickly dismissed the thought. No, she was indeed her child. Mother and daughter were connected at heart, and she could feel it clearly.
Perhaps it's related to the "great tribulation at eighteen" mentioned by the child.
Ultimately, her child suffered a great deal behind her back.
He has even died once.
How could she accept it? She couldn't accept that she would make even the slightest mistake.
Sui He collapsed into Fu Mingguang's arms. "You hate it, don't you? You hate that I didn't save you. I hate myself too, I hate that the Sui family had no right to resist back then."
A moment later, she broke free from Fu Mingguang's embrace and turned to leave.
Fu Mingguang held her in his arms, the cold wind blowing on her face. This time of year must have been two years ago when he accompanied Zhixu to the capital.
Does she really hate Sui He?
She hated him, hated him to death at first. As time passed, she rose to the position of Imperial Tutor. At the pinnacle of power, she was well aware of Sui He's helplessness, and hatred almost became her instinct.
She had no other way but to hate; it seemed that only in this way could she survive, and survive in the treacherous court.
She had no relatives or powerful backers. The Emperor was her mentor and her only support. As a lone subject, she could not afford to have any dealings with the head of the Sui family, a prominent clan.
At the same time, she also longed to say a word to He Tong, just one word.
But none of them spoke.
He hated her, hated that she didn't love him enough.
Before Xu left, Fan Lingzhang accompanied her all the way.
Cong Lan was entangled by the Emperor, the heads and young masters of powerful families, and various representatives, and could not get away. Sui Zhixu did not want everyone to know about her affairs, so she simply left quietly by herself.
"Why are you dressed so nicely? It's all jingling and clanging. I didn't even notice. When did you secretly get dressed up?"
Fan Lingzhang stood in front of her, tilting his head and smiling slightly. His black hair was loosely tied up with a jade hairpin, with a few strands hanging down at his temples. His eyes were watery, with the corners of his eyes drooping slightly, like water droplets falling on a lotus flower.
The cool moonlight served as a backdrop, adding to his ethereal beauty, like a lotus emerging from the water.
She wore a jade-inlaid belt around her waist, adorned with a small jasmine sachet and a jade pendant. A mermaid pearl earring hung from one ear, jingling as she walked, filling the air with fragrance. She was clearly dressed up meticulously.
He laughed, "Of course I can't let you see it, otherwise all my efforts would be in vain."
“It looks just like a mermaid pearl.” She touched the pearl with her hand. “I almost thought the pearl wasn’t in Yueling’s hand.”
“You brought the beads home with you back then, and now I’m here to give them to you. After thinking it over, I decided to wear them.”
She chuckled, "The stories circulating in the neighborhood are all about beauties giving gifts to generals, but between you and me, it's become you giving gifts to me."
"Is there anything wrong with that? It's my honor, my wife is amazing."
Fan Lingzhang placed his hand on the side of her face, his thumb gently brushing across the corner of her eye. She held a sword in her hand, and her clothes were simple and neat.
"They look quite similar."
"What?"
Although Xu's voice was cold, and sounded even colder in the cold winter wind, Fan Lingzhang could hear a hint of blankness in it, which was cute, very cute.
Like a general going into battle.
"Do you read any stories where a beautiful woman offers a kiss to help a general achieve victory?"
Sui Zhixu tilted her head, "I don't remember. I haven't watched it in a long time."
"You did this on purpose."
She would never admit, "I didn't."
Fan Lingzhang was unhappy and hugged Sui Zhixu tightly, feeling the coldness of her skin.
"You're so cold, why don't you wear more clothes?"
"The reason I'm exposed is that I'm not actually cold." She circulated her internal energy, and her exposed neck became warm.
"Put it on." Fan Lingzhang still had a cloak in his hand. "I knew you wouldn't wear it. I've already taken it, so don't even think about letting me take it back."
Sui Zhixu took the clothes, feeling rather helpless, because for someone who practiced martial arts like her, it really wasn't cold.
"Alright, alright. I'll take it, I'll take it. Is there anything else you need to tell me, pretty little hibiscus?"
“This.” Fan Lingzhang nodded.
The lips are beautifully shaped and smooth, making them look very kissable.
"You said the beauty kissed the general goodbye, so why am I being asked to kiss you instead? Shouldn't you be the one kissing me?"
"I would be delighted."
Fan Lingzhang's eyes lit up, his gaze filled with affection, and he lowered his head to press his lips to hers.
A scorching heat emanated from one end of the lotus flower. Sui Zhixu shrank back slightly, but was pressed down by his large hand, and the plundering and exchange continued.
A surge of emotion welled up in Sui Zhixu's mind, and the corners of her peach blossom eyes were imbued with the breath of spring.
She forcefully pushed away the blooming hibiscus, patted her burning cheeks, and said, "No, no."
She's leaving.
If this continues, she won't be able to leave.
Xiao Furong across from her was still in a daze, unable to extricate herself from the affection she had just felt.
His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and specks of fluorescent light exploded before his eyes, the white light almost stealing all the thoughts from his mind.
"Ah Ling".
His tone was very dissatisfied, as if the scene shouldn't end here.
It should continue to unfold until the end of time, until the end of his life.
"Fan Zirong!"
As Xu raised his voice, the sound startled the deep, tranquil forest in the silent night. The branches of the trees swayed in the wind, becoming the only spectators in this stage play.
"I have to go." She said in a flustered tone, leaping onto her horse and looking down at him.
She shouldn't have believed Fan Lingzhang's habitually nonsensical mouth.
They're all crooked and unethical practices.
There's not a single decent thing among them.
The cold wind blew his carefully styled hair into disarray, and a few strands of long hair floated in the air, making Sui Zhixu's heart itch a little.
"You wait patiently for me to come back, and when I return, we will get married."
Fan Lingzhang laughed, "It's even more like a storybook now. But you have to keep your word. My family business is waiting to be used as betrothal gifts or dowry."
I'm leaving!
Knowing that Xu no longer lingered, she raised her whip and quickly rode away, gusts of cold wind brushing against her face, her gaze fixed on the road ahead.
"Yes, I believe we'll have the chance to meet again next time."
Fan Lingzhang watched her departing figure and slowly spoke. He grabbed the sachet at his waist, and the scent of jasmine lingered on his fingers.
The flower room in the Fan family was only created after the lady married into the family. Her mother was a devout Buddhist, and her body was always surrounded by the scent of incense, which even tainted him.
When Lu Kou entered the mansion, in order to please her, Fan Lingzhang found the best flower seeds in the world and moved them into the flower room, including jasmine from Lingnan.
The climate for growing flowers is different from that in Chang'an, so Fan Lingzhang hired a large number of experienced gardeners to ensure the flowers could thrive.
Jasmine flowers bloom in May and June, just after Lu Kou's birthday. The pure white buds slowly unfolded, and his wife placed them in his hand with her slender, pale fingers.
His heart was completely out of his control, pounding wildly.
My mind exploded like fireworks. Jasmine, does that mean Mo Li?
Are the woman and he in sync?
His wife has finally reciprocated his feelings!
Even though Lu Kou did not give a formal answer, Fan Lingzhang secretly regarded jasmine as a token of their love.
How could there be a flower as pure white and pristine as jasmine, as beautiful as a woman, as lovely as the moon?
Fan Lingzhang clutched the sachet tightly. He had waited and longed for this for a long time, and all he wanted was to be with A Ling forever.
His beloved was a very capable woman; she was intelligent, had strong moral principles, and cared deeply for the world.
She has worries, sadness, struggles, and pain, but he thinks these are all part of her lovable side.
She went ahead without fear, even if it was a perilous journey. He believed she would find a way to solve the problem, just as she said, she would come back, and they would always be together.
However, there is one thing: the people from the aristocratic families pose no threat to him, and Ah Ling is still too concerned about him.
"Ah Lu, has the matter with the Fan family been resolved?"
“Aman has already moved the old lady, so please rest assured, my lord.”
Fan Lingzhang nodded. "Where's Afu?"
“The Prince of Xuanping has sealed off Yunlai Tower, but has not taken direct action yet; he is currently observing the situation.”
"Alright, first mobilize manpower from other regions, and keep a close eye on Afu's situation." Fan Lingzhang calculated in his mind that his grain wouldn't be so easy to obtain.
"Select a group of people from the martial arts world to infiltrate the grain transport team heading to Chang'an, keep an eye on the movements of the Prince of Xuanping's residence, and contact the people planted around Sima An."
Sima Xian was too cautious and it was difficult for him to place his own people. So he had to settle for Sima An instead. This time, he thought that the pawns he had placed for many years should finally take effect.
As expected, the security outside the city gates of Chang'an was even tighter.
He then reined in his horse outside the city gate and walked forward to spy from a distance.
She hesitated for a long time before deciding to sneak in through the secret passage.
Gu Qingyi has a wide network of informants; she might even have people lying in wait for her to fall into her trap.
Sui Zhixu glanced at the guards, and a plan came to him.
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