Chapter 38, No More Than That:
She thought she should act according to her heart and leave the decision to time.
She calmed herself down and asked, "When did you join the Imperial Guard?"
"Your second day in the palace."
"Are you feeling better?"
"It's not a big deal."
That's still not good. Thinking of the brocade robe that Granny Huaying made, she wondered why she was so self-satisfied. Perhaps the two of them had been in contact for a long time.
It's unclear whether An Shulan's brother's imprisonment is related to him, but no wonder An Shulan glared at her with a knife in her eyes; she's just a victim of this situation.
However, it cannot be denied that she was slightly arrogant.
Meng Qingshan didn't want to live in fear all day long. He felt dissatisfied with the environment of Jingsi Palace. He didn't want to experience the possibility of things going wrong again. It was best to settle her properly in the manor. "After staying here for two more days, I can take you back to the manor."
Compared to returning to her residence, Qingli would rather see her aunt, and it would be even better if she could have a conversation with her. However, she knew that the palace was fraught with danger, but it was not convenient to tell her, so she nodded.
As the atmosphere relaxed, the two spoke very amicably. Meng Qingshan had not seen her so compliant in a long time, and he tried to coax her into saying something. However, he had few things to do around him, so he had to stop after saying a few words and changed the subject to what had just happened.
He spoke with a hint of anger, his words revealing no mercy: "Even the most esteemed scholars and gentlemen in the world are no better than him; he can sing, act, recite, and fight with ease."
To be honest, he was usually cautious and taciturn, but today he was inexplicably antagonized, which is why he spoke so sharply, completely unaware that Qingli had lost face.
She looked at him coldly and said sarcastically, "All the soldiers in the world admire General Meng for his bravery and wisdom in fighting the enemy, and for his divine command of troops."
Meng Qingshan couldn't help but smile when he received such praise.
"It's nothing special."
The smile froze on her face. Meng Qingshan's eyes were fixed on her face with surprise. Her eyebrows were slightly raised, and her clear eyes were filled with a coldness. Suddenly, she was in a daze, and Huang Pu's face overlapped with the pretty face in front of her.
Meng Qingshan suddenly stood up, causing the round stool to veer off course and fall to the ground. The carpet, woven with lotus scrolls and crane patterns, was damaged for no apparent reason, making a dull thud, but it did nothing to alleviate the rapidly escalating tension.
Today was truly unlucky; he had been inexplicably ridiculed time and time again. Meng Qingshan swallowed his anger, thinking, "I'm nothing special?!"
"Speaking ill of someone behind their back is not the behavior of a gentleman!" Qingli was furious. What was wrong with her grandfather saying a few words to her? And what right did he have to talk about her grandfather?
If outsiders overheard this, they could use it as an excuse for disrespecting elders, and he would be accused of a crime he could not defend himself against.
The bright sun after the heavy snow shone with a blinding white light, shining through the window and illuminating the space between the two people, as if a natural chasm separated them, while their faces were obscured in the shadows.
A vein on the side of Meng Qingshan's forehead seemed to be being stimulated. He stood while she sat, and in the shadows, her slender, white neck, raised high like a swan, swayed so much that it made her mouth dry.
The bed curtains seemed unable to withstand the pressure and slipped from the plum blossom-shaped silver hooks, falling rapidly. A gust of wind blew the ginger-yellow gauze into an arc, dimming the light for a moment before enveloping him as it fell.
The space suddenly felt cramped, and the two people's breaths filled the air. Qingli pulled her hand away from her knees, and the light blue lotus-patterned skirt beneath her hand wrinkled slightly, like lotus petals falling into the water and forming a small boat. Ripples spread, and the small boat swayed gently.
The armor on his body exuded a cold, dark iron scent, stiff and sharp. For some reason, she thought of that hazy night at the Prince of Dingxi's mansion, feeling the same sense of unease and awkwardness as she did now.
I dare not imagine if it were true, nor can I verify whether it is real or not. Just thinking about it makes my eyelashes tremble incessantly. Suddenly, the darkness deepens, and a strong and intense aura rushes onto my eyelashes. Like a cicada's wings encountering a strong wind, they cannot withstand it.
Meng Qingshan stopped abruptly, catching a glimpse of her bewildered and inquisitive gaze. Their eyes met, a sudden surprise flashing in their hearts, yet they seemed to understand each other perfectly. His entire body tensed like a fully drawn bowstring, his voice low and murmured, "Nothing special? What makes you think I'm nothing special! How could you have such a misconception!"
A breath wafted into her ear, sending a tingling sensation through her. Qingli desperately suppressed the urge to rub her earlobe, her heart pounding like a drum. As the distance between them closed, the horrifying thoughts in her mind made her panic. Now, thinking back, she realized the flaw in the story. How could it be him! It shouldn't be him?
"The strategy of using softness to overcome hardness is surely a way to preserve oneself."
Before Meng Qingshan could even catch his breath, she asked, seemingly with a hint of doubt, "Are you sure everything you've done is honest and straightforward?"
He leaned down to look at her. Her eyes were deep and dark, like an ancient well, reflecting his image. He saw the momentary hesitation in his own eyes. It was the first time he had done something petty, but it was also the first time he had ever gotten what he wanted.
On that day, he believed that they would never meet again. After a long separation, he appeared calm and collected, but inside he couldn't deceive himself that he was already overwhelmed with turmoil, which made him lose his mind.
The Prince of Dingxi was merely a dying vassal king; how could he possibly receive her sweet words and flattery? He was the one who went to take the Prince of Dingxi's life!
He had simply stumbled into this situation, underestimating her influence on him. He went with the flow and, after many schemes, finally managed to get a single glance from her. Just having her by his side was enough.
He suddenly stepped back, lifted the curtain, and separated the two of them. Before Qingli could examine it closely, she saw him open his broad palm and stride out.
A series of exhalations came from inside the room, coming from Qingli, for reasons unknown.
Lu Yunye was holding a peony in full bloom, its soft branches tucked into his palm, and was walking aimlessly when he suddenly spotted a familiar face ahead. Just as he was about to lift the flower, he saw the icy expression on the face and sighed, "Oh no."
"stop!"
Lu Yunye stopped in his tracks as he turned around, muttering about his bad luck. Ever since Meng Qingshan brought the Imperial Guards, the rules and regulations had become even stricter than those of monks. His men had already been beaten to a pulp by the men Meng Qingshan brought, and were complaining endlessly.
Lu Yunye stepped forward with a smile, glanced at the palace gate, then looked at Meng Qingshan's discomfitured face. He leaned closer and whispered, "Commander Meng, what happened... were you ridiculed by the girl?"
Lu Yunye gave him a cold look and chuckled twice, but then leaned closer and said in a friendly tone, "Speaking of which, I have many female confidantes. I can understand a bit about women's thoughts."
Meng Qingshan tried to pull his arm away, but instead pulled Lu Yunye from the left to the right, still not letting go.
Qi Zhaoxin and Yun Xiu reported that Lu Yunye was a stubborn and unyielding man, and there was nothing they could do about him.
Since that's the case, and he's in a bad mood anyway, let's let him have his say.
An hour later, Lu Yunye clung to the thick tree and refused to let go, grimacing as he said, "Commander Meng, spare my life! How can my precious body withstand your iron fist?"
Having vented his pent-up frustration, Meng Qingshan tightened the arm guards on his wrists and ordered, "Go and inspect the east side."
Having said that, without waiting for Lu Yunye to wail, he left the palace gate and rode back to his residence.
As soon as we entered the alley, firecrackers went off, drums and gongs resounded, and crowds of people gathered to offer their congratulations.
Dust billowed as he stood at the alley entrance, not moving forward.
Standing next to Tang Ce was a thin man who looked at everyone with a slightly uncomfortable expression as they clasped their hands in congratulations. He was wearing a brand-new dark red brocade robe with auspicious cloud patterns. He touched the smooth sleeves of the robe uncomfortably, but the rough calluses on his hands caused a cut from the silk threads. He panicked and carefully checked his hands.
In an instant, realizing that he was no longer a poor and destitute scholar, he stopped bowing his head, tilted his neck slightly, forced a smile, and met the eyes of the imposing figure on a tall horse in the distance through the crackling firecrackers.
He instinctively looked away.
"Yanqing, how are you?" Tang Ce's face crinkled with laughter. Today he was genuinely happy. As the Imperial Censor, he was responsible for supervising all officials and investigating any malpractices. He was usually stern-faced, and these days he wished he could send letters to the officials he had impeached in the past.
Some officials, upon receiving the invitation from the Tang family, were so eager to trample it underfoot. However, upon hearing the steward's report that the Tang family's long-lost son had been found, they held the invitation tightly between their fingers, their expressions unreadable. After a moment of contemplation, they said, "Reply to the invitation and come to offer your congratulations."
Many people died or were injured back then, but they actually managed to find one!
Beneath the calm surface of Kyoto, undercurrents are stirring.
The air around Song Yanqing's nostrils swelled with the smell of gunpowder. Looking at the face that resembled his own, he already believed that the man had encountered such a strange thing, so he said, "Father, I'm fine."
Upon hearing the word "father," Tang Ce's eyes instantly welled up with tears after many years. He quickly turned his gaze away and saw Meng Qingshan at the alley entrance. His face lit up with joy. He had originally intended to personally deliver the invitation to the Meng residence, but Meng Qingshan had been in the palace and had not yet returned. Their family reunion was thanks to Meng Qingshan's help, and he had been regretting not being able to see his benefactor in person. Now that he saw him, he felt completely at peace.
Tang Ce pushed through the crowd, strode to his horse, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, "Commander Meng, I am deeply grateful for your presence."
Meng Qingshan sat upright on his horse, tilting his head in confusion. This was the way back to the manor. What was he doing here?
The deafening sound of firecrackers filled the air. Not only Meng Qingshan, but also the families of the officials who came to offer their congratulations were all dumbfounded as they watched the scene, wondering if Tang Ce had gone mad after finding his son.
Unexpectedly, Tang Ce, seeing that Meng Qingshan did not understand, bowed even lower and, with the air of someone remonstrating with the officials, began to flatter and fawn.
The sound of firecrackers had long since stopped.
Only then did the officials and commoners who were watching realize that the Tang family's son had been found by Meng Qingshan. The people stood up one after another, and the applause lasted for a long time. They all praised General Meng for not only being a brilliant strategist, but also for helping the poor and needy and being humble and polite.
In the following days, rumors about him spread like wildfire, making him seem almost supernatural.
At this point, the officials were already quite sensitive about the matter, and the fact that Meng Qingshan had found him made them even more puzzled, unable to figure things out for a while.
Meng Qingshan understood; Tang Ce regarded him as a benefactor.
He dismounted, helped Tang Ce to his feet, and said calmly, "Lord Tang..."
Tang Ce, like a hopping parrot, excitedly led Meng Qingshan into the banquet, respectfully escorting him to his seat. Raising his glass, he said with great emotion, "As my colleagues know, my only regret over the years is that I have been separated from my son for many years. I am filled with sorrow and have even asked if it is an injustice to heaven and earth. I am also saddened and have given up the search."
"Can..."
Everyone took a deep breath, and then they heard someone continue, "Lord Meng, you are like a god descended from heaven, not only are you a friend of our neighbors, but you also have the grace of finding your son."
"I have nothing to repay you with, so please drink three cups first!"
After finishing his drink, Tang Ce's face was flushed, and he was so dizzy that he could hardly stand. Tang Yanqing, who had also stood up, immediately helped him up.
Their gazes fell upon him, a complex mix of scrutiny, observation, and speculation.
Tang Yanqing tried her best to maintain her composure. Just as she was feeling embarrassed, she looked at Meng Qingshan sitting in the middle. He was upright and robust, with broad shoulders and thick arms. His eyes were sharp, and he calmly swept across the banquet.
Meng Qingshan's heart stirred slightly. He gently swirled his wine glass, and after a long while, he asked casually, "Was the journey smooth?"
Tang Yanqing handed his father over to the steward and sat down to one side. He was thin with prominent shoulder bones. Years of being cautious and prudent had caused his back to be slightly hunched, but his face was well-maintained. Although he did not know the details of the capital, the first thing the people who came to find him asked about was his jade, but his jade was not usually displayed in front of others.
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