"Bang!"
The sound of the courtyard door being kicked open.
“Plop!”
The sound of Gu Yanran jumping into the cesspool.
The two voices sounded almost at the same time, seeming particularly abrupt in this quiet courtyard.
The cold and sticky sewage instantly flooded Gu Yanran's mouth and nose. She bit her lips hard to prevent herself from screaming, and just let the filth wrap around her body.
She buried her face under the water, leaving only half of her eye looking out through the gap in the straw.
When she saw the soldiers searching towards her, she took a deep breath and slowly sank to the bottom of the pool.
Gu Yanran held her breath and felt someone standing on the edge of the manure pit. A long pole was inserted into the manure with a "splash", only an inch away from her head.
"Report to the Major General, there is nothing here!"
"Report, there is none here either."
Li Linyuan dismounted himself and swept the yard with a sharp gaze.
Half an ear of corn had been knocked off the windowsill, and the kitchen door was still shaking, obviously someone had just come in.
After looking around, I found that I had indeed searched all the places where people could hide.
The only thing left is——
Li Linyuan's gaze finally fell on the cesspool, and he walked slowly towards it.
Below, Gu Yanran clenched her fists, her whole body tense.
She could feel Li Linyuan walking towards her and his eyes fell on the manure pit.
"Report—"
At this moment, a burst of rapid horse hoofbeats came from afar. A scout hurriedly dismounted and reported to Qin Yuan outside the courtyard gate:
"Your Highness, Princess Zhaoyang has returned to the capital, but..." The soldier swallowed, his voice trembling, "Rumors are circulating that King Rui of Great Chu is not of royal blood. The King of the Western Regions is mobilizing his cavalry to attack Great Chu, and there are also unusual movements in the State of Chen."
Qin Yuan's expression changed instantly.
The next second, he turned his horse around, whipped it with a whip, and galloped towards the capital.
"Your Highness!"
Behind him, Li Linyuan hurriedly shouted, "That witch..."
"Pass the order down, set off for the capital immediately! I will go ahead!"
His voice was more urgent than ever, as if Chu Qingluan would be in danger if he was even a second late.
Li Linyuan looked back at the dirty cesspool again, and finally raised his hand, signaling everyone to retreat first.
The sound of horse hooves was like thunder and soon disappeared in the distance.
In the cesspool, Gu Yanran emerged from the water with filth all over her head and face, revealing a hideous and terrifying smile.
It’s true, even God is helping her!
——
Soon, three days passed in a flash.
On this day, the sun was shining brightly and the sky was cloudless. It was also the fiftieth birthday banquet of the King of Chu.
Although the Great Chu was not the strongest among the seven countries, its status and influence had never been underestimated. Therefore, in addition to the surrounding countries like the Western Regions, the neighboring Qi and Zhao countries sent envoys to congratulate the birthday, and some surrounding vassal states, such as the Rouran and Oirat, also sent representatives to congratulate.
At the first light of dawn, the front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the imperial palace was already decorated with splendor.
The vermilion palace gates opened one after another, and the palace walls were covered with bright yellow brocade with the word "longevity". In the square in front of the palace, the imperial guards, dressed in bright silver armor and holding long spears, stood in two neat and uniform rows, extending from the palace gate to outside the palace, which was magnificent.
Gifts from various countries were placed in the open space in the center of the square.
There are Hetian jade ornaments from the Western Regions, pearl screens from Qi, bronze ritual vessels from Zhao, fox furs from Rouran, scimitars from Wala, etc., which are dazzling and show sincerity.
According to the etiquette, the birthday banquet is divided into three parts.
At three quarters past noon, envoys from various countries, led by ceremonial officers, entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony in turn, wearing the distinctive attire of their respective countries.
The King of Chu, wearing a dragon robe with twelve emblems, sat on the dragon throne in front of the hall with a smile on his face. On his left and right sat the concubines and the royal family.
Concubine Jiang was wearing a lavender palace dress and sitting quietly in her seat with a calm look.
As the legitimate princess, Chu Qingluan sat in the front seat. Her lake blue dress highlighted her gentle temperament. She would occasionally glance outside the palace inconspicuously, as if waiting for something.
Chu Hong stood among the court officials as King Rui. He had a handsome face, a slender figure, and a perfect smile on his lips. He looked calmly at the envoys who came to congratulate him.
At the exact time of 9:00 PM, the birthday banquet officially began. As the ceremonial officer sang loudly, envoys from various countries came forward one by one to congratulate him.
Some were dressed in gorgeous clothes, some in exotic styles, but they all bowed respectfully and presented gifts.
The Emperor of Chu had a solemn yet majestic smile on his face. He raised his hand slightly, and the sound of ceremonial music began. The chimes sounded melodiously, and the pianos rang out. Suddenly, the hall was filled with celestial music, as if it was a banquet in heaven.
The maids came in one after another, holding golden plates and jade cups in their hands, and presented the delicacies of the Great Chu one by one.
Soon, the envoys from the previous countries finished presenting their gifts, and it was the turn of the Western Regions.
Amur first took a big sip of wine, then threw the golden cup on the table in a heroic manner.
Then, she came to the center of the hall, holding a gilded wooden box in her own hands, and said in a loud voice:
"Your Majesty's fiftieth birthday is a blessing for the whole world! Although the Western Regions are far away, we are grateful day and night for your Majesty's protection."
"The gift I brought this time may not be as dazzling as the pearls of Qi, but it carries the sincerity of the Western Regions for three hundred years."
Soon, the eunuch came forward, took the wooden box from his hand, and presented it to the Emperor of Chu.
However, the moment the wooden box was opened, the hall suddenly became quiet...
I saw that the box was covered with a layer of velvet, on which were placed three luminous pearls the size of pigeon eggs. The pearls were transparent and emitted a warm luster under the candlelight.
On the other side, there was a scimitar inlaid with gems, and a layer of parchment was laid on the bottom of the box.
The King of Chu reached out, picked up the parchment scroll and unfolded it. It turned out to be the deed to one-third of the grassland in the Western Regions.
"Is this the Moonlight Pearl from the Western Regions?"
Soon, someone recognized the three pearls of unusual size and exclaimed in shock.
The Moonlight Pearl from the Western Regions is a rare treasure. It is said that it can illuminate a road of ten miles in the dark night.
As soon as these words were spoken, all the civil and military officials of the Chu State gasped.
The envoys from several other countries also opened their eyes wide, their mouths wide enough to fit an egg.
Even the Emperor of Chu couldn't help but sit up straight.
Such a gift is equivalent to offering half of the Western Regions.
But soon he thought of something, and the Emperor Chu's eyes suddenly darkened, and his fingertips stroked the huge moonlight bead.
At this time, Amur spoke, and his loud voice spread throughout the hall.
"These are merely external possessions. Today, I offer you a valuable gift, not asking for a reward, Your Majesty, but only for your grace. I am willing to exchange these three night-shining pearls, the imperial scimitar, and that piece of pasture for one person."
His gaze suddenly passed over the courtiers and fell directly on the seats of the concubines in the harem. He said in a loud voice, "Your Majesty, please grant me permission to take Alia back to the Western Regions!"
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