Chapter 52 My dear minister, Xie Qianli was completely unaware; he was already deeply moved by the word "love"...
The summons ceased, and someone arrived!
However, it wasn't just Lang Xun who came; there were two of them.
They didn't run in, they fought their way in!
The two men fought and argued, their weapons clanging together, casting two blurry shadows outside the not-so-spacious doorway of the study.
It was Ying Dang's voice, ornate yet frivolous: "Guard Lang, injuring a prince is a serious crime. How dare you stop me?"
"It is my duty to guard the palace. Your Highness committed the crime of trespassing into the study of Weiyang Palace first, and I was merely fulfilling my duty afterward. If I am guilty, Your Highness is also guilty!!!"
"I am deeply concerned for Your Majesty's health. I haven't seen you for several dozen days. If we hadn't fought our way here, I would have already climbed into your bed to visit you!"
The phrase "climbing the dragon bed" seemed to trigger a sensitive switch for Lang Xun, who instantly became furious and roared, "Your Highness's words are disrespectful; don't blame me for being ruthless!"
After he finished speaking, the study door suddenly opened with a bang—
Dong Gu staggered to his feet and swung his sword at Ying Xi. Ying Xi retreated to the side.
Upon seeing Dong Gu, a stranger with weapons pointed at the emperor, the two fighters immediately had differing thoughts. One exclaimed, "Hey, another assassin!" The other said, "Boy, come and help me, and I'll reward you with a thousand taels of gold!"
Dong Gu was arrogant by nature, and besides, how could he possibly know that he would be taken into Weiyang Palace by the emperor?
Dong Gu spat and drew his short sword, immediately engaging in battle, shouting fiercely, "I..."
"That thieving assassin dares to call himself 'I'?!"
"Who do you think you are, acting like some kind of boss in front of me?!"
Chang'an is a place of deep waters, filled with nobles and high-ranking officials. Who can truly submit to whom?
Unfortunately, Dong Gu provoked two of the most ill-tempered individuals. Instead of uniting against a common enemy, the two turned their fight into a duel to see who could kill the assassin first, a three-way sword battle ensuing in the cramped study. The flashing blades and dazzling swordsmanship filled the imperial study.
"Look at the knife!"
"Look at the knife again!"
"Don't look at his knife, look at mine!"
"What's so great about your broken sword? My sword is made of steel tempered by spring water from the Tianshan Mountains, and the hilt is inlaid with a rare pigeon's blood. The issued Mo Dao can't compare at all."
"..." Dong Gu was caught in the middle, frantically trying to counter the moves, and was instantly thrown into a frenzy.
His ability to run rampant in Luoshan was indeed due to his superb martial arts skills, but the key was his ruthlessness and the fact that he had hostages in his hands.
Now Dong Gu is all alone, and these two wielders on the other side are blind.
Therefore, Ying Xi silently withdrew from the battle, stretched wearily, and walked gracefully out of the imperial study. She didn't bother with the ongoing clanging and banging inside, or Dong Gu's screams of agony!
"Jade mirror".
"Your Majesty." Under the moonlight, Yu Jing, impeccably dressed, stood outside the study, head bowed, listening attentively.
Ying Xi said, "Tell me about what has happened recently."
"Yes." Yu Jing nodded and replied in a gentle voice, "Thanks to Prime Minister Su's presence, everything in the court is in good order. However, after the envoy left, he brought back many specialties from Chang'an. The barbarian king saw them and greatly admired the strength of our Great Qin. He wants to come and visit us in person."
Princess Huachao was married off to a distant place.
In that instant, Ying Xi's brows furrowed. Thinking of this part of the story from her past life, she couldn't help but suspect the Barbarian King's intentions.
He had already made up his mind, but he didn't show it on his face. He continued to ask, "Is there anything else?"
"The Xiongnu wanted to exchange fine horses for our Qin's new tea. Spring tea has already hit the market, and the price wasn't ideal, but Prime Minister Su agreed."
Su Xueyi can accept it; the loss shouldn't be too great.
As for the small loss, Ying Xi didn't care much, since his focus was still on the country, and it was best for the Xiongnu to stay put.
But Yingxi thought for a moment and then made another arrangement: "It would be best to make the Xiongnu think that we desperately need good horses. Every steppe horse that comes to Qin can improve the local horse breeds and make the Qin cavalry stronger and stronger."
Trying to take advantage of others? I'll make sure you don't have a peaceful time.
Ying Xi harbored a mischievous intent.
At this moment, Dong Gu was completely silent in the imperial study.
More guards rushed in and dragged out Dong Gu's body, which had been hacked to pieces. Anyone who used a knife in the emperor's study was doomed!
However, despite the guards having the upper hand, they only dared to surround Prince Yong, a man with extremely powerful connections, and shout at him:
"Your Highness, put down your weapon!"
"Your Highness, put down your weapon!"
"..."
Logically speaking, Prince Yong should have been in dire straits. His best course of action would have been to throw down his knife and plead guilty to the emperor, then follow the usual procedure of being reprimanded by the emperor, or being punished by someone sent by the emperor, and having his salary reduced or being confined to his quarters.
This approach has been used for many years; it is not very insulting and causes almost no harm.
After all, confinement wouldn't stop Ying Dang from running around, and a fine would be as good as no fine at all. If Prince Yong wanted to spend money, who wouldn't be eager to pay for him?
Thus, the two sides were locked in a standoff in the study, shouting back and forth while still trying to persuade each other. Ying Xi was getting a headache from listening to this.
He had been away for over a month and now just wanted to rest. The final battle at Los Angeles had completely exhausted Sweet Tong's strength.
He was exhausted, and punishment was neither appropriate nor unacceptable.
"Sheathe your sword," Ying Xi ordered.
Lang Xun exclaimed incredulously, "This—"
This is a thief who broke into the palace in the middle of the night. Even if he is the prince's own brother, he cannot be tolerated like this: "Your Majesty!?"
Ying Xi ignored him and went back to her palace.
Who could defy Ying Xi's imperial decree?
Therefore, the guard sheathed his longsword and glared fiercely at Prince Yong. The other guards quickly sheathed their swords, their silver gleam fading.
There were many people in front of Prince Yong, but now there is no one. He has even been given his study and his short sword has not been confiscated!
To outsiders, this was an immense favor, even bordering on pampering. Tell me, which official in the court didn't secretly envy Prince Yong?
But as the emperor left, the guards followed and left. Prince Yong, alone with a short sword in hand, looked at the shadows on the ground that were gradually receding, and at his elder brother outside the study, whose robes he could only see... He did not feel free at all.
Prince Yong lowered his eyelids slightly, raised his gaze, and that little bit of robe was about to disappear!
Prince Yong's heart skipped a beat.
Ying Dang suddenly used his lightness skill to shout, "Stop—" and in an instant, he leaped in front of Ying Xi, startling the guards into once again standing at attention and forming a tight human wall.
"Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!!!"
Lang Xunmo's blade gleamed as he coldly said, "Does Your Highness wish to provoke the Emperor's wrath?!"
The Emperor of Qin was usually not angry.
However, after being reborn, both her mindset and the nation's strength have changed. If Ying Xi were to lose her temper again in this life, it would definitely be even greater than in her previous life.
Ying Xi lowered her voice: "Arrest him and send him to the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs to be punished according to the law."
Sending someone to the Imperial Clan Court is not as simple as just giving them a reprimand.
According to ancestral rules, the Imperial Clan Court was responsible for educating the imperial family members, and this included not only the use of sticks but also severe punishments.
When was Prince Yong ever sent to the Imperial Clan Court?
His Majesty finally realized he needed to teach his brother a lesson, and the guards were secretly delighted. They immediately drew their swords and rushed forward, blocking Prince Yong's path from all sides!
Lang Xun has recently improved his martial arts skills, and has already risen several levels since the flower appreciation banquet. He is also angry about Prince Yong deliberately provoking him. Since the emperor ordered him to beat him, he did so without mercy, regardless of whether he had the advantage of numbers.
So the swordsmen surrounded the Prince Yong and cut off his retreat. Lang Xun thrust out his swords with both hands, slashing upwards and cutting through the insignia on the Prince Yong's royal robes, wounding his flesh with a sharp rip in the night!
Ying Xi couldn't help but take a half step forward, as if squeezing into the battlefield, to observe Prince Yong's wounds.
But the movement was so subtle that it was difficult to capture.
Prince Yong's heart tightened again.
He wouldn't admit that it was a secret joy. With blood on his body, Ying Dang shouted angrily, "How dare you! You dare to harm this king?"
Since the emperor hadn't given the order, the fighting continued. Lang Xun was exceptionally vengeful and, having already fought, wasn't afraid of offending him completely. He brandished his sword and charged again: "We are acting on His Majesty's orders to send Your Highness to the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs to await punishment!"
The guards narrowed the battle circle, and Prince Yong quickly dodged.
Every inch shorter, every inch more dangerous; anyone daring to wield a short sword must be exceptionally skilled in agility. Prince Yong darted and leaped through the net of swords wielded by the guards, his movements ethereal and nimble, as swift as a rabbit and a falcon. But the number of guards from Weiyang Palace was steadily increasing, and he was further wounded by Lang Xun, who slashed his left arm and side. The brocade tore with a hissing sound!
Ying Xi: "Stay..."
Ying Xi forced herself to swallow the word "stop" when she wanted to.
His word was law; he had already ordered the punishment of Prince Yong, and it was not appropriate to change it immediately.
Ying Dang was, after all, a younger brother brought from the Yongning Prince's Mansion. Even though she was disappointed in Ying Dang, she couldn't bear to draw her sword and watch him bleed on the spot.
Ying Xi's voice was weak as she tried to stop the guards, but Ying Dang keenly caught it.
Prince Yong's face stiffened for a moment, a sharp pang of sorrow surging in his heart, a complex storm of thoughts raging in his mind: Did his elder brother, whose heart was set only on the empire, still care about him? — His brother was a petty, scheming man chasing fame and fortune; who needed his feigned concern!
Ying Dang frowned and sulked, then suddenly shouted wildly, "Brother won't let me climb onto the dragon bed! I'll climb even if I'm bitten to death by a mad dog! I'll climb even if I become a ghost! I'll climb in my dreams when you sleep, brother! I'll climb again and again! To die under the peony is to die a romantic death!"
Ying Xi took a deep breath.
"..." Lately, I've been using my brain too much, and I can no longer tell whether I want to kill someone or hit someone.
The guards exchanged bewildered glances, wishing they had ears, fearing they would be silenced. They wanted to immediately silence Prince Yong, but they couldn't.
This completely lacks the demeanor of a prince; it's more like a child throwing a tantrum.
If he were allowed to continue shouting, the entire palace would be surrounded by his clear and awe-inspiring image of climbing the dragon bed.
Then one of the clever kids suggested, "Let's use sleeping gas! Let's use sleeping gas!"
Amidst the chaotic array of blades, a cloud of smoke billowed.
Ying Dang and Gai Xin's guards were eventually bewitched. The dignified imperial guards of the Qin Dynasty had to resort to low-class methods to deal with the scoundrel prince.
***
The next day, on the way to the surrender ceremony, we arrived in Luoxian County.
Under a clear blue sky, Zhuzhao temporarily took over the affairs of Luoxian County, while Xie Qianli was in charge of the local city defense.
This might be the most prestigious time for Luo County, with its administrators being top-tier civil and military officials of the Qin Dynasty. The sense of security has increased a hundredfold.
In addition, the vast majority of the people who had been abducted to the mountain stronghold came down safely. The mission to offer amnesty had accomplished something almost impossible. As a result, the people were overjoyed, and every household set off firecrackers. Even the city was much more crowded than before.
The white warhorse trod slowly, its feet treading on the cannon casings on the ground. The red and white colors complemented each other.
Xie Qianli was patrolling the city when, in a moment of distraction, his gaze met that of several civilians admiring the Longwu Army on both sides of the street, which startled two or three girls away.
He felt helpless inwardly, knowing that he exuded a fierce aura, but the profession he was in meant that he couldn't have a very friendly image.
Meanwhile, out of Xie Qianli's sight, around the corner, the girls simultaneously peeked out warily, their sweet voices whispering among themselves as they faced the tall, imposing figure of the British Duke, his silver-armored cloak draped over a hawk.
"Did you see that? The armor plates are all bas-reliefs, and the craftsmanship is even better than that of Wang the silversmith in the county town."
Another girl chuckled, "My brother hunts in the mountains but has never caught a hawk. They say hawks are the most agile and intelligent creatures, yet he keeps one as a pet. Does being a Duke of England mean he has to keep a hawk?"
"That Marquis of Ping'an County, who's known for his might, doesn't seem that mighty at all..."
The girls chattered and laughed. Since they hadn't dared to look the court officials in the eye, their conversation had been limited to Xie Qianli's attire. Even this small topic of conversation could keep them talking for a long time.
A clear spring breeze swept through the long street, and blossoms fell from the roadside trees.
The Longwu Army soldiers patrolling the streets had their plain white cloaks fluttering in the wind.
As the British Duke and his silver-armored soldiers receded into the distance, the girls' pupils grew brighter and brighter.
And at that very moment, from the far end of the long street, a clumsy goose flew in from the distant sky.
The wild goose seemed to have traversed mountains and rivers, its wings barely fluttering, flying and calling out in a harsh, unpleasant voice: "Caw—caw—..."
Geese are birds that eagles hunt, especially plump geese; it would be a waste not to eat them.
The girls all thought they were about to enjoy a falconry show as a bit of entertainment, so they all stood on tiptoe and craned their necks. What they saw, however, was that the eagle reluctantly moved aside to make room for the geese.
Then, Daiyan stood tall and proud, extending its long legs as it stood on Xie Qianli's shoulder armor: "Gah!"
It's upside down, upside down! It's astonishing!
The girls have once again found the latest topic of conversation.
This silly goose was the messenger, bringing a message carried by wild geese. Xie Qianli's fingertips trembled slightly.
The thin, floral-patterned stationery carried a faint, lingering imperial fragrance that Ying Xi often wore. The cover read: "To my beloved subject."
Xie Qianli was unaware of this; he had been repeatedly stroking the word "love."
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