Chapter 31 Two-Way Running
Princess Li Yao returned to the mansion, and her mind was full of that figure. She couldn't help but think about that person all the way.
Princess Li Yao just came back to her senses and thought she might have gone crazy for thinking about that woman the whole way.
After entering the mansion, he went straight to the water tank, scooped up a handful of water and splashed it on his face, only then did he wake up a little. The servants were stunned and didn't know what disease their master had. He didn't even bother to remove his makeup and went to wash his face.
Everyone was asking about the princess's well-being, worried that her delicate golden body might be damaged. Princess Li Yao dismissed the servants and went to her bedroom. She sat at the dressing table and looked at herself in the mirror, who looked like a calico cat. She sighed, smiled helplessly, and said to herself, "Wu Xin, Wu Xin, you will also have a day when you are tempted by worldly desires."
Li Liuxiu naturally didn't know that her "hunting plan" was a success, but she went to Baihua Theater not only for the plan, but also for another reason.
Li Liuxiu, as Princess Li Yao said, was born into a commoner family with a humble status. If he wanted to enter the officialdom and make a name for himself, the only way was to take the imperial examination.
Li Liuxiu lost his father at a young age, and the family's only source of income was cut off. Li Liuxiu's mother, Madam Li, had no choice but to come to the Baihua Opera House to make a living by performing comedies, relying on the few singing voices she had learned at the Baihua Opera House when she was young.
Li Liuxiu studied hard for fifteen years and finally made a breakthrough at the age of twenty-eight, gaining the appreciation of the current emperor.
If we talk about the noble person in Li Liuxiu's life, it must be Wu Huai. If Wu Huai had not been on a good note to inspect the examination room that day, and if that person had not happened to walk next to her and saw her examination paper, how could she have taken the position of the head of the civil officials so quickly.
Madam Li naturally became the mother of the prime minister, but she was addicted to opera and couldn't extricate herself. She believed that the pain of losing her lover should be forgotten throughout her life. Li Liuxiu stopped persuading her mother. This was the only hobby her mother had from young to old, and she really couldn't stand the feeling of taking away someone else's love.
For this reason, the Baihua Opera House was very considerate of Madam Li, giving her the role of an old woman, arranging a special person to teach her techniques, and even setting fixed performance dates. All of this was naturally done for the sake of the Prime Minister's face.
Whenever her mother performed a play, Li Liuxiu would come to the Baihua Theater and be a loyal listener, patiently listening to her mother's ups and downs in half a life.
"Xiu'er, I'm really grateful to you for this. It's my first time performing on such a big stage, so I'm a little nervous."
Mrs. Li was backstage, and the makeup artist was removing her makeup. She held Li Liuxiu's hand and said.
This performance was the first one arranged by Baihua Theater for Mrs. Li.
Before this, Madam Li had only played supporting roles, but today she finally played the leading role. Even on this small stage, Madam Li's face was filled with joy.
Li Liuxiu looked at her mother in front of her, whose temples were gray and whose old age could not be concealed even with heavy makeup, and felt melancholy.
He said, "Mother, there will be many opportunities like this in the future. Please get familiar with them. We will have to rely on you for this stage in the future."
Madam Li glared at her and scolded her with a smile, "You little bitch, I'm not even seventy or eighty years old yet, my mind is not clear, Xiu'er, there's no need to say that.
"I naturally understand why I was suddenly cast as the protagonist. It's not because of my acting skills, but because Xiu'er has a high career."
Li Liuxiu's pretty face flushed, she didn't expect that her intention to curry favor with others would be seen through.
Madam Li glanced at her and knew what was going on. She asked, "What's the matter, Xiu'er? Is there something on your mind?"
Li Liuxiu was startled, then smiled and said, "As expected, nothing can be hidden from mother."
She dismissed the others, sat down next to her mother, and said, "Mother, I seem to have fallen in love with someone."
Mrs. Li smiled brightly after hearing this and asked, "Who is so lucky to have won the heart of this young lady?"
Li Liuxiu blushed and said, "It's Princess Li Yao who lives in the north of the city."
Madam Li suppressed her smile and asked, "If mother remembers correctly, then the princess is the emperor's biological sister, right?"
Li Liuxiu was startled and nodded in response.
Madam Li smiled again and said, "Everyone says daughters are treasures. If you marry her, wouldn't I have two treasures?"
Li Liuxiu then realized that she had actually forgotten that the person was the emperor's sister.
Madam Li looked at her daughter, her face instantly turning pale. She asked tentatively, "Xiu'er, you know that Princess Li Yao and the current emperor are sisters, don't you?"
Li Liuxiu lowered her head even lower. Seeing this, Madam Li understood what was going on. She took her daughter's hand and said gently, "What are you afraid of? Think about when your father was pursuing me, he was truly penniless, broke as a shill, yet he still dared to pursue me. Didn't I fall for him just the same?"
"So, don't be afraid. Everything is in your hands. As for the outcome, it all depends on whether the red string tied by the matchmaker is thick enough."
Li Liuxiu brought her mother back to the Prime Minister's Residence. They now lived there. The five-story, garden-style mansion exuded grandeur in Chang'an, a city where land was at a premium.
Late at night, Li Liuxiu lay in bed, tossing and turning, thinking that the woman was the emperor's biological sister. If he could catch up with her, wouldn't he be stealing the emperor's girl?
His Majesty is a noble person whom I have respected all my life. If this is true, is there any need to carry out my plan?
"Alas~ What should I do?"
On the second day, during the morning court session in Xuanzheng Hall, Li Liuxiu yawned repeatedly. Wu Huai repeatedly signaled her to make a report, but she didn't notice.
Wu Huai was helpless and said, "Does Li Tingxiang have anything important to report?" The person he chose could not be replaced even if he begged for it.
Only then did Li Liuxiu organize his thoughts and report on his work.
Since Wu Huai returned to the court, Li Liuxiu's workload has been reduced by more than half, and he finishes his work for the day before noon.
Li Liuxiu had nothing to do, so she took a walk in the huge Daming Palace. Although Wu Huai gave her this authority, she did not dare to walk around randomly. After all, that person also came to the Daming Palace today.
"Princess, Princess! This is too dangerous. Please come down quickly." The servants' noisy comforting voices flew into Li Liuxiu's ears.
Princess? Is that her?
Li Liuxiu unconsciously quickened his pace. When he turned around the palace wall, he saw Princess Li Yao climbing the wall with her bare hands and was almost reaching the top.
Li Liuxiu narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at the delicate figure on the city wall, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
Princess Li Yao had already found out Li Liuxiu's walking route, so climbing the city wall with bare hands naturally attracted her attention.
Her plan can be said to be very successful, and Li Liuxiu was so attracted that she couldn't take her eyes off it.
Princess Li Yao was breathing heavily. She was about to reach the top of the city wall. She thought that the man should be here. Maybe he was looking at her heroic figure.
Humph, I, Wu Xin, learned martial arts with my royal sister when I was young. Climbing the city wall with my bare hands is nothing.
After thinking about it, he was about to go up again, but his feet suddenly slipped and his whole body was suddenly suspended in the air.
Princess Li Yao's pupils suddenly shrank, and the feeling of weightlessness surged over her like a tide, leaving her feeling weak all over.
When the servants saw their master slipping, they were horrified. If he was killed, their heads would be in danger.
They all rushed forward, trying to catch the falling Princess Li Yao.
However, they didn't expect that a figure had already arrived at the foot of the city wall. Their attention was focused on their master, so they didn't notice when this person came.
The man stood in a tight horse stance, opened his arms, and held Princess Li Yao steadily in his arms.
The servants then breathed a sigh of relief.
Princess Li Yao fainted, and Li Liuxiu couldn't continue holding her, so she carried her into the carriage. When the servants saw that it was Li Tingxiang, they were immediately grateful.
Li Liuxiu waved his hand to indicate that everything was fine. The group then drove away.
Princess Li Yao instinctively felt that she had arrived in the underworld. Before she even entered the Hall of Yama, she was forcibly pulled back to the human world by two hands.
She suddenly woke up, looked at the maid beside her, and asked, "Did anyone catch me yesterday?"
The maid said respectfully, "Yesterday, when the princess fell off the city wall, Li Tingxiang happened to be passing by and caught her."
Princess Li Yao's eyes suddenly lit up, thinking that all the trouble she had yesterday was not in vain.
When I went out today, I didn’t feel any soreness in my limbs. I just felt proud in my heart, like a child who shared his treasure with his friends and was praised.
Since Li Tingxiang came to my rescue, I must go and thank him.
On a sunny weekend, Princess Li Yao arrived at the Prime Minister's residence with two large carts of gifts.
Li Liuxiu led people to the living room, where Madam Li was sitting in the main seat, and she and Princess Li Yao were greeting each other.
Li Liuxiu sat on Madam Li's left, and Princess Li Yao naturally sat opposite Li Liuxiu.
Princess Li Yao had a feeling that Madam Li looked familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen her.
The three of them exchanged greetings for a while, and soon Mrs. Li went to the backyard on the pretext of being tired.
There were only two people left in the main hall.
Princess Li Yao said, "Thank you very much, Li Tingxiang, for saving me that day. I am deeply grateful."
Li Liuxiu glanced at her and said, "It's alright. I just happened to be passing by that day and I couldn't bear to watch someone die without helping."
Princess Li Yao secretly complained in her heart, how could anyone happen to take a walk under the city wall? It was obvious that he was trying to please me.
Princess Li Yao changed the subject and said, "When I first met Li Tingxiang, I thought you were the kind of person who would do anything to get a position."
"Now it seems that he does have some real talent and knowledge."
Li Liuxiu said, "Oh? Princess, could you please tell me what real talents and knowledge I have?"
Princess Li Yao blurted out, "His methods of governing the country are indeed appropriate, so let's call it a good governance. He handles affairs impartially in the court, so let's call it upright and honest. As for the rest, it remains to be considered."
Li Liuxiu smiled as the person in front of him praised him, then asked, "Princess, why don't you tell me what else you want to consider?"
Princess Li Yao raised her eyelids and glanced at her, then said in a stern tone, "For example, as a prime minister, you stayed at the Baihua Theater for a night. I wonder how Li Tingshang would explain it?"
Li Liuxiu had anticipated her question and did not answer directly. Instead, he said, "My Lady, let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lost her father, the only source of income for her family, when she was young."
After a while, the story was finished and Princess Li Yao was stunned. She was not a fool and could naturally tell that the little girl in the story was Li Tingxiang sitting in front of her.
Did I completely misunderstand the good person?
She felt extremely regretful in her heart. How could she have such a preconceived notion towards someone, especially such an outstanding person?
Thinking about this, she looked up at Li Liuxiu and saw that she was also looking at her with a smile. Her cheeks immediately blushed. She pretended that she didn't understand the deeper meaning of the story. Her eyes were erratic and she said, "Well, it's a very inspiring story. But it's getting late, so I'll take my leave first."
Li Liuxiu didn't push people too hard. After all, love can't be rushed. It should ferment slowly and proceed step by step.
She sent the man out the door and watched him get into the car with messy steps as if escaping.
Li Liuxiu curled her lips slightly and waved towards the car window.
Princess Li Yao looked at her. Even though she knew that the car window was one-way glass and that no one outside could see inside, she unconsciously avoided eye contact.
What's wrong with me? I've lived for over twenty years, and I've never felt so embarrassed before.
The more embarrassed I was, the more I wanted to see her again. Could it be that I had fallen in love with her?
Realizing this, Princess Li Yao calmed down a bit. Since she's already moved, don't blame me for being rude. After all, those who only stir up trouble, never put it out, are commonly known as hooligans.
The author has something to say:
Finally, the New Year is over. Back home, there are so many kids begging me to play with my computer. It's really tough on my computer. (Laughing and crying)
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