The next day.
The time spent together is always too short, while the time spent waiting is always too long.
Waiting is the most desolate thing, and also the most mentally and physically exhausting thing. If there is anything in this world that is most frightening, it is waiting.
Because it always seems like it's a long way off!
In Guantao County, Li Qiji and his group were all ready to board the ship and leave. Li An, who was standing to the side, was happily carrying his bundle and a sword, walking briskly ahead.
He glanced back at his imperial nephew, and seeing that he hadn't said anything, he felt reassured and, like a wild horse, headed towards the large ship ahead.
Guan Zhiyue and Li Qiji walked to the side, their hands tightly clasped together, inseparable and reluctant to part.
Li Qiji kept rubbing Guan Zhiyue's hand, reluctant to leave, but what did feelings matter in the face of national duty?
"Alright, Yue'er, remember what I said. If I..."
Guan Zhiyue raised her hand and sealed his lips with hers, gently shaking her head. Today, she was dressed in a red robe, a sign that their lives would be prosperous and smooth, and that they would return in triumph soon.
"I will wait for you to come back, until you come back. You won't keep me waiting long, right?"
Li Qiji did not answer directly, but simply nodded.
Guan Zhiyue let go of his hand, walked up to Guan Hongsheng and Guan Chengzhuo, gently took their hands, and tried to keep her voice calm, "Father, elder brother, take care, Yue'er will be here waiting for your triumphant return!"
"Alright, Yue'er, take good care of yourself in the military camp. And you brat, you have to take good care of Yue'er too!" Guan Hongsheng punched Guan Chengheng in the chest, his voice full of reluctance.
Nobody knows what will happen next.
What will happen to them is unpredictable. The only thing we can do now is to make sure our son takes good care of his precious daughter.
After about an incense stick's time, Li Qiji and the others boarded the warship, stood on the deck, looked at the crowd on the shore, and waved vigorously. Parting always carries a touch of melancholy.
----
Inside the cabin, Li An was still gesturing excitedly. He was about to go and attack Japan. He was determined to kill all those traitors and rebels. Once he returned, he could marry the Empress Dowager. He was already feeling very happy just thinking about it.
Just as I was about to leave, I was knocked unconscious with a blow to the head.
"Qi Ji... has..." Before he could finish speaking, he collapsed into Ji Shang's arms. Li Qi Ji stood on the deck and walked over, seeing that his royal uncle had already fainted.
He quickly ordered, "Take him away and have someone keep a close watch on him. Once he wakes up, send him back to the capital along with the imperial edict."
Ji Shang replied, "Yes, Your subordinate obeys."
And so, Li An was carried on Ji Shang's shoulder in a grand manner, striding down from the cabin, followed by a henchman holding Li An's bundle and longsword.
*****
"Seventh Prince? What does this mean?" Guan Zhiyue looked at Li An, who was being carried off the boat, and then looked at Ji Shang with some confusion.
Ji Shang placed the man aside and laid him on the ground, then clasped his hands in a fist and replied, "Your Majesty, this is His Majesty's will."
Guan Zhiyue nodded and sighed, "He's always like this. Has he ever thought about himself? Has he ever thought about me?"
Ji Shang didn't know how to answer that question, so he simply said, "Then, I will take Your Highness back first!"
Guan Zhiyue waved her hand and walked alone to the shore, watching the warship gradually disappear into the distance, where she could still see figures at first.
Gradually, it became blurry and eventually disappeared from her sight. Only when she could no longer see the warship did she come to her senses.
Yuan Ningsu arrived at her side after an unknown period of time, dressed in a fiery red robe, which suited her quite well.
"Little Yue'er, what a coincidence! I didn't expect you to be wearing red today too. Does this count as matching outfits as you mentioned?" Yuan Ningsu held a fan in his right hand and fanned it up and down, the fishy smell of the sea blowing towards Guan Zhiyue.
"The sea smells so fishy, and you're still fanning yourself? Don't you find it disgusting?"
Yuan Ningsu snapped the fan shut and said, "No, no, my fan is made of sandalwood, how could this fishy smell compare?"
Guan Zhiyue tilted her head and looked Yuan Ningsu up and down, then said indifferently, "Show-off!"
“It smells good, how could it smell bad? Smell it for yourself, doesn’t it smell good?” Yuan Ningsu said, handing the fan to Guan Zhiyue.
Guan Zhiyue didn't want to talk to him; he was just too flirtatious and provocative.
"Give me a break! Don't let me smell it. I don't want to smell it!"
Yuan Ningsu looked at Guan Zhiyue walking forward with a smile on her face and quickly followed after her, saying, "Little Yue'er, you look very beautiful right now."
"It reminds me of when I first met you. You should smile more often to look your best."
Guan Zhiyue raised her hand and touched her cheek, unable to help but laugh at herself, "Yes, how can a modern person like me be so sentimental?"
Now I'm outside the palace again, this is the freedom I've always longed for, this is a time when the sky's the limit!
"Yes, you're right, why should I look so gloomy?"
"Come on, I'll take you to get something to eat."
Yuan Ningsu looked at Guan Zhiyue in disbelief, then said, "My dear Yue'er, your change of expression is a bit too fast, isn't it?"
"It's like turning the pages of a book!"
Guan Zhiyue didn't respond, but instead changed the subject, asking, "Are you going or not? Do you want to eat?"
"Wow, how could I not go? Of course I have to go! I've heard so much about the Queen of Nan Ding Kingdom. Today I finally have the chance to taste all the delicious food!"
Guan Zhiyue lifted her skirt with both hands and ran to the shore, watching the fishermen on the beach unloading various kinds of seafood from their boats.
Quickly get Yuan Ningsu to pay for the seafood.
"Seriously? You're treating me to dinner, and you're making me pay for the seafood? That's way too domineering!"
Although Yuan Ningsu said that, he still obediently took out his money bag and counted out the money to give to the fishermen.
"Young master and young lady, look at these fresh shrimp, they're as big as your palm!"
"I'll take them all," Guan Zhiyue said generously.
The fisherman was overjoyed and quickly replied, "Yes, yes, I'll pack it up for you right away, Miss."
Yuan Ningsu was speechless. Could they possibly finish eating three or four baskets of shrimp?
"Yue'er, isn't this too much?"
Guan Zhiyue waved her hand and said, "It's not much. It's not like there's only one way to eat it. Besides, this thing only weighs about a hundred pounds."
The fisherman quickly waved his hand and said, "Miss, this weighs three hundred catties."
Guan Zhiyue nodded and said, "Buy it, just deliver it to my military camp."
"Just settle the bill at the military camp, and mention my name, Guan Zhiyue."
Upon hearing this, everyone around immediately knelt down, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."
Guan Zhiyue: I just wanted to buy some seafood.
"Fellow villagers, get up, get up! I'm here to buy seafood today, don't keep kneeling."
The old man selling shrimp got up from the ground and said with a smile, "I have long heard of the Empress's reputation, and seeing her today, I can confirm that she is indeed extraordinary."
"Your Majesty, the old man has sent the shrimp to the military camp."
Guan Zhiyue nodded and said, "Send all the seafood we caught today to the military camp. You should all pack up and go home as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, the fishermen were even more grateful...
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