Chapter 36: Yao Lao gives things, no regrets in writing
"Your Highness."
"Hmm?" The woman leaned back in the gold-cushioned armchair, ignoring the blood on the ground outside. Someone would clean it up soon anyway.
The maid put away the umbrella and asked someone to take it away. She then took a large wooden box from another maid, placed it on the table, and stood behind the woman to her left.
She was dressed in bright, simple clothes, just like the other slaves, the only difference being that she had a rainbow-colored sword at her waist.
She was the only one standing beside Her Royal Highness the Princess while carrying a weapon.
"The Crown Prince wants to harm the Fifth Princess, but a slap in the face might not be enough."
"Mo Ran, when did you become so cautious? With Baijialou protecting her, she'll be fine."
The woman opened the wooden box and took out a semi-finished product from the puppets of different sizes. Then she took out a knife and began to carve it carefully.
Mo Ran hesitated and asked, "Your Highness, do you trust the people of Baijialou so much?"
"What else? Aunt Mei Han and more than a dozen Camellia girls whom I sent were all killed by them. If you really don't have any strength, you can't just rely on the luck given by God, right?" The woman blew away the sawdust.
Mo Ran was silent for a moment, then said, "According to spies, Baijialou wants to assist the Fifth Princess in ascending the throne."
"Then we'll wait and see."
As she spoke, a rare genuine smile appeared in the woman's eyes, "You are truly worthy of being the child that Xiao Tong values so much."
Although the owner of Baijialou wasn't in good health, he had a good eye. If he hadn't investigated the Shang family, perhaps they could have formed a good relationship. What a pity.
Mo Ran wanted to say something, but when he saw the eldest princess's expression, he tactfully shut up.
Mo Ran is indeed special to Princess Xiao Tong, but her status is far less than that of Xiao Qinggu in Xiao Tong's heart. She doesn't want to become fertilizer for the "Eighteen Scholars".
At this time, the Lady of the Camellias came to report, kneeling on one knee and bowing her head, "Your Highness, the Prime Minister's men have also gone to Luzhou City."
Mo Ran's mind moved, "Your Highness, do you need to send someone..."
She made a gesture of wiping her neck.
Xiao Tong didn't care much, "The prince will solve it himself."
If you can't even do this, it would be really ridiculous.
Xiao Tong's thoughts gradually drifted away, and he hadn't realized that he had carved the wrong face.
Mo Ran stood aside, looking at the puppet's face and always felt that something was wrong, but he didn't dare to disturb Xiao Tong when he was concentrating.
After Xiao Tong finished carving, she realized that she had carved the wrong person. She stared at the puppet's face in surprise, "Shang Yuwan..."
She changed the subject: "Have you found out the background of that person from Baijialou?"
Mo Ran shook his head. "No news yet. This person is a mystery. Apart from having a name that's exactly the same as Princess Qi's, we can't even find any trace of Shancha Girl before she went to Baijialou."
Xiao Tong frowned, "Add more manpower. This woman must be something special. We must find out. Also, send someone to investigate with His Majesty to see if he has found anything."
"yes."
"Your Majesty, the Longwu Army sent to Luzhou City was completely annihilated. This is due to my inadequate training. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"
In the palace, Yue Zhu, the commander of the Longwu Army, knelt on one knee at the right hand side of Emperor Chengming. Emperor Chengming coughed twice, didn't care much, and waved his hand.
"Go down, I want to play chess."
"......yes."
Yue Zhu raised his eyes and met the gaze of the old man sitting opposite Emperor Chengming. He quickly lowered his head and stood up to leave.
Sitting opposite Emperor Chengming was an old man with gray hair and dressed in blue. He stroked his snow-white beard, and his old eyes were drooping, looking gentle, tired, yet full of compassion.
Emperor Chengming dismissed all the palace servants. A breeze blew through his front hall, carrying a hint of the old man's herbal fragrance, which brought a bit of clarity to Emperor Chengming's mind, which had become turbid without him knowing when.
"Dr. Yao came all the way to Kyoto to find me, just to play a game of chess with me?"
Since Emperor Chengming ascended the throne, he has only refused to call himself "I" in front of three people: Shang Junhu, Yao Lao, and the last one... Lu Xu.
Yao Lao laughed cheerfully, "Why, we haven't seen each other for many years. Xiao Ling, are you unhappy to see that I'm old and frail?"
"Master Yao, what are you talking about? As long as you are willing to come, the palace is always welcome."
Emperor Chengming watched Yao Lao playing chess, and he felt a rare sense of relaxation in his heart, as if he had returned to the past.
"Xiao Ling, how many years have we known each other?"
"If you count carefully, it's been almost twenty-five years."
"Yes." Yao Lao nodded. "When did the moon first shine on people by the river? When did the moon first shine on people? Back then, you three... things have changed, things have changed."
Emperor Chengming smiled and said, "If Yao Lao has anything to say, please speak directly."
Seeing this, Yao Lao didn't beat around the bush and said, "Xiao Ling, if I still hold some weight in your heart, please spare those children for my sake."
Emperor Chengming was silent for a moment, "But they want to seize my power and usurp my throne."
"What about the eldest princess?"
"I have my own way of dealing with it."
Yao Lao sighed softly.
"Those kids just wanted to clear their names. They weren't blinded by hatred and wanted to find a way out for the people. They were good kids, just like you were back then."
Emperor Chengming did not speak.
Yao Lao put down the white chess piece and pulled out a small wooden box from his sleeve. On the box was a tiger carved, crooked and crudely crafted. The person who carved the tiger must have never done this before.
"Open it and take a look."
Emperor Chengming looked at the familiar carvings on the wooden box, his eyes moved slightly, and something flashed by.
Yao Lao didn't urge him, but took out a small white porcelain bottle from his sleeve and then stood up.
"I heard that your health has not been good in recent years. Here are some pills to strengthen your body. Remember to take them. If you need them, you can go to Baijialou to get them from me."
"You should recognize this wooden box. Please open it and take a look. I have something important to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
Emperor Chengming stared at the wooden box and did not answer him.
Yao Lao didn't care whether he agreed or not and walked straight out.
Emperor Chengming held the wooden box in his hand and suddenly asked, "Xu'er, is he okay in Baijialou?"
“…” Yao Lao stopped and was silent for a long time before speaking.
"My life is coming to an end, and there is nothing I can do to save it."
After Yao Lao left, the hall was empty, and the wind blowing in was even colder and chillier.
Emperor Chengming finally opened the wooden box.
There was a safety bag and a piece of letter quietly placed inside.
There was a crooked little tiger embroidered on the peace bag. He reached in and took out something from it. It was the multicolored blessing stone from Yuanhui Temple in Yanmen City.
When I opened a piece of letter, I could only see two words.
No regrets
Emperor Chengming held the peace bag in his hand, his eyes fixed on the two words for a long time.
The ink on it seemed to have existed on this piece of letter paper for many years, and had been carefully sealed for many years without any damage.
Finally, a few days before the man sensed his impending death, he handed the letter and the peace bag to Yao Lao.
Emperor Chengming knew who wrote these two words.
This is Shang Junhu's handwriting.
No regrets.
No regrets?
Emperor Chengming was silent for a while, put the two things back into the wooden box, together with the piles of letters in the secret compartment, and then asked someone to call Yue Zhu over.
"What are your Majesty's orders?"
Yuezhu bent his body and clasped his fists.
Emperor Chengming looked at the endgame on the chessboard with a calm expression.
"From now on, you don't have to ask anyone to keep an eye on them."
As long as it does not harm the country and its people, they can do whatever they want.
Emperor Chengming was originally the weakest among all the princes. He was able to fight his way out of the bloody situation to sit firmly on the throne, so he was naturally not a person who sticks to the rules.
Crown Prince Xiao Qingji has no talent or virtue, and Prince Qi Xiao Qingxu's reign will not last long.
Emperor Chengming thought, let’s wait and see.
Let's see if he should change the heir to his throne.
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