Does it look like it?
"Eunuch Xiao is coming down!"
The performance on the terrace had just ended, and a large number of people who were standing on it all turned to the side, causing the sturdy frame under their feet to creak.
As soon as Eunuch Xiao came down from the city wall and stood in the crowd, a path was spontaneously cleared around him.
Sun Xuerong was standing in front of him.
"Sister, I've come to see you!"
Sun Xuerong stood there stunned, clearly caught off guard. Zhi Qiu was even more excited than her. The sisters next to her pushed each other and congratulated her, saying, "The princess must have sent someone to summon you because she was not here."
With a smile on his face and a steady pace, the distance between the two grew shorter and shorter.
She slightly curtsied, "Xue Rong greets Eunuch Xiao!"
Eunuch Xiao remained unfazed, saying, "We are honored to have you here."
"What is it you wish to discuss, sir?"
Those around couldn't help but shake their heads; it was too modest, a question they already knew the answer to.
"His Majesty summons the servants to an audience!"
Seeing that he only had eyes for her, a hint of expectation flashed in Sun Xuerong's eyes, and she unconsciously straightened her back.
Eunuch Xiao walked directly behind her, cleared his throat, and announced, "Summon Wen Ruoqi Guanlan to an audience!"
The surroundings were deathly silent.
After finishing his sentence, Eunuch Xiao simply walked away on his own!
Apart from a few friends who were stunned and dared not move, those who came to their senses began to look around. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Wen Ruo pulled Qi Guanlan along, leaving them with no way to avoid it.
Why are you two wearing masks?
When did He An become so fond of joining in the fun? Wen Ruo's lips hung in mid-air, neither rising nor falling.
The Crown Prince truly is vengeful!
Qi Guanlan noticed a momentary stiffness in his hand, then immediately tightened his grip. "We can run!"
Wen Ruo naturally couldn't back down in front of everyone.
"Your Majesty is not so terrible. I have already accepted the decree, and I haven't even knelt down to thank Your Majesty for your grace yet."
"Wen Ruo!"
Sun Xuerong walked over, her pale face contorted with rage, veins bulging on her forehead. "You did it!"
Wen Ruo: "I'm not bold enough to impersonate His Majesty."
"You were the one who said those words!"
"What kind of skill is it to gossip behind someone's back!"
Wen Ruorun pursed her lips, then instantly removed her mask and smiled, "It's not too much to say something for a fellow disciple, is it?"
"Isn't it better than your lies!"
Sun Xuerong: "They really know how to pat themselves on the back."
"It's better for you to speak recklessly. I advise you to think before you speak, or the person involved might hear you and sue you for spreading rumors and slander!"
Qi Guanlan removed his mask, a smile on his face, "I really will sue!"
"You've gone too far!"
His slender body trembled slightly, and the tassels in his hair rustled softly. Unable to bear it any longer, Sun Hao rushed out.
"Qi Guanlan, are you even human? Xue Rong wasted her best years for you, and not only do you not appreciate it, you even made her lose face!"
Qi Guanlan laughed out loud as if he had heard a joke. He turned his head and said incredulously:
"It wasn't her friend who said it?"
Did I make a move?
Wen Ru shook her head.
Qi Guanlan slowly raised the mask in front of his face, completely covering up anything that was in his way.
"How have I bullied you?"
"Isn't it you who repeatedly slandered me, causing me to drift apart from my mother?"
Sun Xuerong paused, then suddenly lowered her voice, "I just wanted to help you! If you don't like it, I won't do it again."
Advancing by retreating, using softness to overcome hardness—a good tactic.
Wen Ruo glanced around, her sympathetic gaze sweeping over Sun Xuerong, before her gaze toward Qi Guanlan gradually turned hostile.
"Alright, you've been turned away by the Princess's residence several times already. Since you've made a promise today, I'll trust you this one more time. If I see you in front of the residence again, I'll assume you have ulterior motives."
Wen Ruo suppressed a laugh and took the mask he offered. Qi Guanlan actually went along with it. Had he learned something from his battle of wits?
She was also worried that she would fall into Sun Xuerong's trap.
Sun Xuerong looked stunned, her eyes slowly reddening as if she had been greatly betrayed. She bit her lip tightly, leaving a mark, and looked like she was about to cry.
Just as Sun Hao was about to speak, Qi Guanlan kicked him with tremendous force, leaving him lying on the ground, pale-faced, unable to get up for a long time.
"This is what happens when you mess with me!"
He dusted off his clothes and pressed closer, "Why are you pretending to be so surprised?"
"Isn't it you who damaged Wen Ruo's reputation?"
"Wasn't it you who got the princess's door closed?"
"You've already seen that my mother and I have reconciled, haven't you?"
"Cao Xi made an appointment with Wen Ruo? You're a complete liar."
Sun Xuerong was speechless. She looked around anxiously. With Sun Hao in front and He You in the back, no one dared to approach.
"My mother declined out of politeness, but you have pretended not to hear me time and time again. I am a playboy, not Sun Hao. I'll say it one last time."
"This young master doesn't have any messy sisters."
"What brother-sister relationship? If you go around spreading rumors and ruin my mother's reputation, I'll have to ask Lord Sun if he's not capable enough in disciplining his son."
In the dim and hazy night, the voice sounded unusually deep and cold.
Fireworks suddenly burst into bloom, golden flowers like golden wheels shining above the two of them. Qi Guanlan's features, hidden in the shadows, were clearly visible. His handsome face, with its sharp features, exuded a terrifying chill, devoid of any warmth.
Sun Xuerong's pupils constricted, and she subconsciously took a few steps back. Tears streamed down her face, and her thin shoulders trembled uncontrollably.
Wen Ruo stood there, stunned, lost in thought.
Is this Qi Guanlan? Or...?
"Summon Wen Ruoqi to Guanlan for an audience!"
Eunuch Xiao's voice rang out again.
Wen Ruo snapped out of her surprise, felt a warmth on her hand, and saw Qi Guanlan's face appear before her, calm and gentle, "Let's go, your uncle is getting impatient."
Wen Ruo followed beside him, glancing at him every now and then, her expression turning serious as she pondered something.
Qi Guanlan slowed his pace and chuckled, "Did I do a good job just now?"
How did you meet Gu Ying?
Qi Guanlan paused for a moment, "When he first arrived, he was ridiculed for wearing a mask, and then he beat a group of people to a pulp. I was feeling down at the time, but after watching a good show, I felt much better. Suddenly, I wanted to fight him."
"You?" Wen Ruo was taken aback: "Fighting?"
Qi Guanlan was dissatisfied, "I have also practiced the Six Arts of a Gentleman, but he left without even looking at them. I think he is a good person, and we became acquainted after a while."
"Will you spend a lot of time together after that?"
So you picked up some bad habits?
"You still haven't told me if my imitation was accurate or not."
Wen Ruo nodded, "It looks like it!"
It looked so much like her. Despite her repeated denials, a chill still crept up from her feet.
He suddenly turned around, blocking the wind from the city wall as well. "You still prefer Gu Yu's type. I only made a slight move to test the waters, and you've been savoring it for so long."
For some reason, upon hearing this, Wen Ruo felt a sense of relief and even rolled her eyes at him, saying, "You're overthinking it!"
"I'm jealous!"
Wen Ruo thought for a moment, "This is actually a misunderstanding. I prefer good looks to kung fu skills!"
"For example, if you look at it a few more times, you can eat one less bowl of rice."
Qi Guanlan smiled but remained silent.
"Really, I was just trying to make you angry."
"I'm really a bit wronged. Mr. Yi only heard about the kung fu skills. I clearly chose the first two people who were handsome and had flamboyant personalities. Looking at it this way, isn't it you!"
"real?"
"I swear! This is absolutely the truth. Kung Fu Jun is the least important person."
Just as Wen Ruo raised her hand, she heard a soft cough. She turned around and realized that the two of them had already reached the city wall. Cao Xi was reminding her.
His Majesty and the Empress looked mischievous, while General Gu stood beside the Princess. Princess Rongjing looked to be in good spirits.
Qi Mingshuo walked over and grabbed Qi Guanlan, saying, "Cousin, tone it down!"
"Wen Ruo, Judge of the Court of Judicial Review, pays respects to Your Majesty and Empress! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the princess!"
"Your subject, Qi Guanlan, greets Your Majesty and the Empress!"
"Rise!"
Wen Ruo stood up, and everyone present wore ambiguous smiles, especially Zhao Heng, whose face was full of sarcasm, probably having heard everything.
Choosing friends poorly!
Qi Guanlan is like a dead pig that's not afraid of boiling water. It's all Tao Yan's fault for passing down this lineage. What kind of person is he, with his glib tongue! All the composure he painstakingly cultivated over five years has vanished just like that!
"How is Dali Temple settling in? How is Chi Xu Ke doing?"
Wen Ruo composed herself and nodded slightly. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Your Majesty and I are both well."
The Empress visibly breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. With the imperial examinations just around the corner, having two of you set a good example will surely boost their morale."
Cao Xi lowered her eyes and said calmly, "Yes."
Despite this, Wen Ruo could detect a hint of seriousness and worry in their voices. She secretly raised her eyes and glanced at the people in front of her, understanding the situation.
If Chi Xuneng were to have something going on with the Crown Prince, there must be someone behind the scenes giving him hints or being wary.
Even those who hadn't read the classics knew about the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, not to mention that most officials were old-fashioned and rigid, with the ideas of the head of the household being practically sacred decrees in the inner quarters.
A woman suddenly appeared by the Crown Prince's side, while the Crown Princess remained undecided.
It's like a plate of delicacies being smashed on a beggar's head.
Perhaps in their eyes, Chi Xu was in their way!
"I have heard about it. Since you two ministers are so capable, I will issue an edict to temporarily transfer you and Chi Xu to the Ministry of Rites to help out."
Wen Ruo bowed deeply, "Your humble servant receives the imperial decree!"
Fortunately, Chi Xu was slow to react, and she was shameless. Zhu Fei was an old acquaintance, and she was also wary of Qi Guanlan.
Qi Mingshuo seemed to remember something and teased, "If anything happens then, cousin, don't act like you just did in front of outsiders."
Qi Guanlan instantly suppressed the corners of his mouth and nodded reluctantly.
After the lantern festival ended, Wen Ruo and Cao Xi left together, while Qi Guanlan and Zhao Heng were all kept behind by His Majesty, their purpose unknown.
"On secondment!!!"
After seeing her father-in-law off, Zhu Fei held the imperial edict with an incredulous expression. "How come you get good news just by climbing the city wall? The city wall will probably be trampled down next year!"
"However, our Dali Temple also contributed this time, and it was fair and square in our demand for people."
In the past, if you wanted to recruit truly talented people, you had to beg and plead until you were hoarse to get them.
He An: "We're family, it's nothing to help out!"
He instantly calmed down, "I almost forgot that you and Qi Guanlan are engaged!"
Wen Ruo picked up her teacup and said obsequiously, "My lord, may I borrow He An?"
Zhu Fei paused for a moment, "Reason?"
"His handwriting is excellent and fast; the courtyard just happens to be short of someone in charge!"
Zhu Fei shook his head, "The Crown Prince has no shortage of people!"
He hasn't even brought in any investors yet, and he's already losing money. What kind of person is he!
"Lord Zhu is truly insightful and discerning."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com