"You scared me to death! When did you put on that muscle suit?" Meng Zhelan asked her in a low voice.
"I wore this before entering the palace, just in case. I never expected it would actually come in handy," Li Xi replied with a slight smile.
Upon hearing this, Meng Zhelan breathed a sigh of relief.
Those who knew her true identity also breathed a sigh of relief.
Emperor Wenyuan, in particular, never expected that his princess would be so audacious as to propose marriage to a man.
If it were an ordinary man, he might be happy to see this happen, after all, his daughter has grown up and has her own thoughts and choices.
But Li Xi is a woman, and this is something he secretly approves of, because in his view, his daughter's happiness is the most important thing.
However, if we refuse to let Li Xi undergo a physical examination now, wouldn't that immediately arouse suspicion from others?
It must be understood that the country is currently at a critical juncture with many troubles. If the news that she is a woman were to spread, what would become of his authority as emperor?
Furthermore, this could very well provide ammunition for those with ill intentions, allowing them to exploit the situation and create trouble such as the Yellow Shirt Army or the Green Shirt Army.
Fortunately, Li Xi is usually an extremely quick-witted and intelligent person with a very sharp reaction, and she can always make the most appropriate response at critical moments.
Shen Xu sat at the table opposite Li Xi. He hadn't expected Li Xi to be able to disguise herself like this. However, he hoped that the fact that Li Xi was a woman would be revealed so that he could find someone to propose marriage.
He had been troubled for a long time because he didn't know she was a woman.
But ever since he learned her true identity, a strong desire arose in his heart: he longed to spend his life with her.
The palace banquet finally came to an end, the noisy atmosphere gradually dissipated, and the crowd began to leave.
Li Xi, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, quickly left the magnificent hall.
Just then, Qin Xiaolin was about to call out to her, wanting to talk to her about some recent events. But in the blink of an eye, she had vanished.
Since she woke up from her coma, she has always had a faint sense of distance from him, which makes him feel very confused and disappointed.
He had wanted to find an opportunity to have a proper talk with her and understand her inner thoughts, but he didn't expect her to leave so quickly, as if she was intentionally avoiding him.
Shen Xu looked in the direction Li Xi had left, feeling a little disappointed.
He also really wanted to chat with Li Xi for a bit, even if it was just a simple greeting.
Left with no other choice, he could only turn his gaze to Qin Xiaolin beside him, gently tug at his sleeve, and say, "Xiaolin, come on, let's go to my house. I have something important to discuss with you."
Meng Zhelan was summoned to Cining Palace by the Empress Dowager, and Qi Yu went with her.
On the other side, after leaving the palace, Li Xi did not return to her residence as usual, but instead walked involuntarily in an unfamiliar direction.
Pedestrians came and went on the street, and the noise echoed in her ears. But she felt as if she were in another world, with past images and scenes she had never seen before constantly appearing in her mind.
Inside a rather quiet house in Kyoto.
The slightly aged man narrowed his eyes, a barely perceptible glint of shrewdness flashing within them, and slowly said, "I have made all the necessary arrangements. Tomorrow at midnight, the two of you must quietly leave the city through the Azure Sparrow Gate. The journey is long and fraught with unknowns, so you must not be careless."
Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve, a time when families should be reunited and enjoying each other's company.
The streets and alleys were filled with the festive atmosphere of fireworks and firecrackers, and the guards at each city gate would change shifts precisely at midnight.
That was precisely the moment when the city's defenses were at their most lax, and also the best time for us to take action.
Upon hearing this, the old woman quickly lowered her head and said, "Thank you for your thoughtful arrangements, young master. I will do my best to ensure that Yunchao is well-prepared and arrives at the designated location on time."
At this moment, the atmosphere inside the room became heavy.
Jiang Yunchao, the leader of the Red Lotus Sect, remained silent. After several months of recuperation, his health had recovered.
The thought that Li Xi had uprooted all of the Jiang family's schemes in Jingyuan over the past decades made his heart ache. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palms without him realizing it.
But he still nodded obediently, "Thank you, brother!"
Seeing this, the old woman felt a mix of emotions. She gently stroked Jiang Yunchao's hand to comfort him.
As night deepened, the occasional sounds of children playing and firecrackers drifted in from outside the window. Compared to the hustle and bustle outside, the room was unusually quiet, with each person carrying their own burdens.
“It’s getting late,” the man stood up, his tone decisive and leaving no room for argument. “You should all get some rest. Tomorrow, proceed as planned. Remember, no matter what difficulties you encounter, stay calm.”
Jiang Yunchao slowly walked to the old table and laid out a slightly yellowed map.
He stared intently at the map, seemingly lost in thought about something of destiny.
"Get some rest, Yunchao. Your elder brother is doing this for your own good. Xuan'er is no longer alive, and you are in the prime of your life. When you get there, find a wife and live a peaceful and happy life."
The old woman's voice, tinged with a hint of helplessness, echoed in the quiet room.
However, Jiang Yunchao seemed to be immersed in his own world, still staring at the map without moving.
Seeing this, the old woman sighed softly, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes.
Thinking that all of his important strongholds in Jingyuan had been wiped out by Li Xi and his men, Jiang Yunchao felt an overwhelming surge of anger and resentment.
He never expected that the seemingly ordinary Situ Feng would possess such amazing abilities, shattering everything he had meticulously planned.
He spent over a decade raising the child, only to find that he had shot himself in the foot in the end.
If it weren't for the fact that this rebellious son was a member of the Xuanming Sect and had some use to them, Jiang Yunchao would have killed him without hesitation long ago.
Now, he is in an unprecedented predicament, and the road ahead of him seems exceptionally difficult.
After a fierce internal struggle, Jiang Yunchao finally made a decision.
He knew that in order to get out of the current crisis, he had to seek outside help.
Xuan Yue Kingdom or Bei Ji Kingdom might be his only hope. After all, those are places where the emperor's power cannot reach for the time being, where he can replan and look for opportunities to make a comeback.
Jiang Yunchao stood by the window, gazing at the bustling street lined with shops.
As night fell, lanterns were lit in the shops along the street.
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