Someone knocked on the door carefully, and Yue Qi said in a deep voice, "Master, the master knows that you are back, and the palace has sent someone to summon you to the palace."
Zhao Che picked up the fur coat and put it on. With the black hood on, his face was completely invisible. He said in a deep voice, "I should leave now. Be careful."
"You too, go through the secret passage and take care."
The two nodded, and Zhao Che opened the door and walked into the snow accompanied by Huan'er and others.
“Young Master.” Yue Qi walked in and saw Zhuge Yue standing in the room. He had a slender figure and a calm expression. For a moment, no one knew what he was thinking.
It really feels good to have friends.
Zhuge Yue was a solitary person, and he didn't even have much affection for his brothers.
Zhenhuang is now under very strict security, but Zhao Che still takes the risk to come and see him under such circumstances. This must have moved him.
"Young Master? It's getting late." Yue Qi reminded.
Zhuge Yue smiled brightly and said in a deep voice, “Prepare the car.”
Yue Qi was stunned for a moment, "Where are you going, Master?"
"Go to court."
"Going to court?" Yue Qi asked blankly, "Young Master, don't you need to bathe and change clothes before going to see the emperor? Besides, you are a Sima, and military generals cannot ride in carriages. You should ride horses."
Zhuge Yue lowered his head, a cold light slowly emanating from his slender eyes. He said with disdain, “Not only am I the Sima of Daxia, I am also the Prince of Qinghai with 500,000 soldiers under my command. I think they have almost forgotten this.”
The sun pierced through the clouds in the sky, and Zhuge Yue strode out of the room. Fang Chu followed behind him and draped the black gold fur coat over his shoulders. Eighteen doors inside and outside Zhuge's mansion opened at the same time, and light shone everywhere. Zhuge Yue had a handsome face, red lips, and a straight back. He walked out of the Zhuge family's door in a cold and icy manner. The officials gathered at the door rushed forward when they saw him coming out, but were pushed aside by the Moon Guards and kept a distance of ten feet from Zhuge Yue.
Zhuge Yue looked straight ahead as he stepped onto the mounting stone and boarded the magnificent eight-horse carriage. He said in a deep voice, “Let’s go.”
"Where are you going, young master?" the coachman turned around and asked.
Fang Chu's face was as gloomy as water, and his voice was calm and cold. He replied on behalf of the other party: "Shengjin Palace, Shengjin Palace."
The cold wind blew into the car. Zhuge Yue's face was calm as he slowly leaned back in the soft chair.
He has always had the ability to muddy the waters. In this case, let's make the situation even more confusing. No one can stay out of it, and no one can sit on the sidelines and watch the fire.
As night fell, the banquet outside had not yet been cleared away, and a grand banquet began inside. Even though Bian Tang was warm, it was still a bit chilly in the first month of winter. When the night wind blew, even if one was wearing a cloak, one could still feel a hint of chill coming up from under one's feet, chilling one's spine.
There was a light rain at noon and it didn't stop until the evening, adding a bit of chill to the dark night.
However, the ladies in gorgeous clothes and long hair still frankly exposed their snow-white chests, with seductive eyes and graceful arms. Occasionally, a bold lady would come forward to toast and accidentally reveal a small part of her smooth and delicate calf.
Li Ce drank a lot of wine and leaned back in a soft chair with his eyes squinted. The door of Roufu Palace was wide open, and in front of him was a gorgeous scene of bright palace lanterns. A pleasure boat carrying musicians playing musical instruments was wandering in the center of the lake, and the soft and luxurious tunes blew into the palace along with the cold night wind.
The waist swayed like a water snake and danced flexibly in front of my eyes. The long legs danced in a lingering and provocative manner from time to time, and the honey-colored skin was stained with sweat. A bold dancer spun lightly and fell into Li Ce's arms. Her eyes were slightly raised and swirling cloud patterns were painted upwards with gold powder. Her lips were plump, her neck was slender, and her round breasts were wrapped in thin cloth. Through the cloth, one could even see the pinkness inside.
The dancer picked up a glass of rich grape wine, raised her snow-white arms high, and then with a flip of her wrist, the wine poured out, slid down her swan-like neck, and flowed into the two greasy snow hills.
"Your Majesty, are you drunk?"
She was indeed a rare beauty. Her red lips parted slightly, her voice was lingering, and the dancer rubbed Li Ce's chest lightly with her bare shoulders, then slid in through his slightly open collar. Her white and tender little hand moved all the way down, but stopped at the critical moment. She raised her eyes and looked at him provocatively.
This is Madam Ziming, who has been enjoying the emperor’s favor in the Jinwu Palace over the past year. Li Ce was a romantic man and seldom doted on a woman for a month. However, Madam Ziming, who came from a poor noble family, was favored for a whole year, which shows that she must have a unique charm.
Li Ce looked down calmly with his slightly drunken eyes. He was wearing a gorgeous blue-purple brocade robe with a jet-black mink fur at the collar. The collar was slightly open, revealing a winding gap. The man's muscular body looked somewhat seductive under the chaotic lights. He narrowed his eyes habitually, his brows furrowed playfully, and a quiet light flowed in the depths of his eyes, like a fox who was thinking.
Several young dancers in the hall were still dancing vigorously. They were dancing the Donghu's whirling dance, bold and unrestrained. They only wore a light gauze on their bodies, with a few tiny pieces of leather sewn on their private parts. Their breasts and buttocks swayed, and they were sweating profusely.
"Your Majesty, you haven't been to Roufu Palace for half a month. Have you forgotten me so quickly?" Madam Ziming leaned forward gently, her eyes as clear as water, staring at Li Ce tenderly, like a charming goblin.
Li Ce's eyes were drunk, and even his hands and feet seemed to be drunk, but there was always a clear mind between his brows.
The woman's scarlet nails crawled up from his lower abdomen, winding all the way to gently rub his brow, and whispered in his ear with a sweet breath, "The emperor is unhappy, because of whom?"
Li Ce raised the corner of his mouth and smiled quietly. He put one hand around her slender waist, caressing the intoxicating smoothness with his fingertips, and chuckled, "You little devil."
"Will the emperor be so cruel again tonight and leave Ming'er alone in the empty room?"
Li Ce's expression suddenly became dazed, and a figure quietly emerged in his mind. He frowned in annoyance, and his mood could not remain as peaceful as usual.
I have been crazy for half a month. Do I have to continue to be crazy?
He turned his head to look at Madam Ziming's charming face. A trace of turbidity rose from the bottom of his heart, as if he had suppressed something, like bitterness, and like desire. There was no joy or anger in his heart, but he smiled evilly, returning to his usual state, and chuckled: "When have I not been kind to women?"
"Your Majesty." A calm voice suddenly sounded outside the palace.
Li Ce looked up and saw Tie You standing outside the door. He smiled and greeted him. The guard leader in leather armor came up to the palace with a sword in hand. He ignored the expressions of the women around him, knelt on the ground and said in a sonorous voice: "Your Majesty, Miss Chu is back."
Li Ce was stunned, his face expressionless, but the wine in the glass swayed slightly and almost spilled out.
The singing of actors could be heard in the distance, the tune was long and lingering, like a melodious song. The wind on the lake was cool, carrying a few wisps of fragrance. Li Ce had a slender figure and thick black hair, and he looked extremely handsome standing in the brilliant lights.
"When did it happen?"
"just."
"Where are you now?"
"I have already returned to Miheju."
"Let's go." Li Ce stood up and walked out.
Tieyou was stunned and asked quickly, "Where is the emperor going?"
"Mi Heju." From afar, Li Ce's voice drifted in the luxurious night of gold and powder.
Tieyou hurriedly followed with his guards.
Madam Ziming stood up slowly, her soft gauze dress swaying quietly in the night breeze, but she no longer had the charm she had just now. She looked at Li Ce's gradually receding figure with a cold look, without any joy or sadness.
"Madam." A maid came over carefully, took a cloak and put it on her shoulders, then waved her hand quietly, "Go away."
The palace ladies dispersed like water, and amid the vast aroma of wine and orchids, only the actors by the lake were still singing melodiously.
The flowers in the lotus pond had already withered, and the plane tree in front of the door was also in a decadent state. The moon was just a crescent, shrouded in a hazy light, quietly sprinkling on the white stone steps.
The beaded curtains touched each other lightly, making a crackling sound, and Qiu Sui, who was keeping watch in the outer room, was awakened. Li Ce made a gesture for silence, and the little palace maid quickly lowered her head and knelt on the ground, not daring to make another sound.
The weather was cold and the windows were closed, but there was still a faint moonlight shining through the white window paper. Chu Qiao was sleeping, with a moon-white quilt covering her body, only her small head showing. Her brows were clear and her expression was rarely peaceful. Li Ce leaned against the door frame, tilting his head slightly. For a moment, he just stood there, motionless.
Presumably, that person is really her best choice. There are no such heavy burdens and responsibilities, nor such heavy hatred and obsession. You can just leave freely.
He stared at her intently, his eyes glistening with a smooth glow. The surroundings were so quiet, and the thin light fell on the hair at her temples, with a bright and cool luster. The wind blew through outside, and I could vaguely see the shadows of the trees swaying outside the window, like a woman's lingering hands, gently caressing this cold and lonely palace.
"The girl fell asleep as soon as she came back. She seemed very tired."
Qiu Sui was talking quietly to Tieyou outside. Her voice was so soft, but it still reached Li Ce's ears.
Li Ce stood there, seeming to understand something. The charcoal fire in the corner cage gave off a faint heat, and the nightingale perched on the tree outside the window chirped, the sound was very clear and pleasant.
"Anyway, take a rest if you're tired." Then, the man turned and walked out of the hall. His footsteps echoed in the empty hall, so deserted.
The night was getting colder, and Chu Qiao slowly opened her eyes. In the darkness, her eyes were like pitch-black stones, and her slender white fingers grasped the quilt so tightly.
After a while, the singing and dancing in Roufu Hall started again, even more grand than before.
The night was as cool as water. She slowly closed her eyes, feeling really tired.
Three days later, she decided to leave Tangjing without disturbing anyone. She just took Meixiang with her and said hello to Li Ce.
Li Ce didn't say he wanted to see her off at first, but when her carriage walked out of the gate of Tangjing City, there was a clean and tidy teahouse under the sycamore trees in the distance. Tie You, Sun Di and others were standing behind Li Ce. When they saw her coming, they all greeted her with a smile.
After the crowd dispersed, Li Ce and Chu Qiao sat in the teahouse and finally started their first conversation since she came back.
"Where are you going?"
"have no idea."
Seeing Li Ce's doubtful expression, Chu Qiao suddenly smiled and said, "Don't look at me like that. I'm not trying to be polite. I just really don't know where to go."
"Then you're leaving?"
"Want to go out and take a look?" Chu Qiao took a deep breath, looked at the beautiful scenery around with a smile on her face, and said in a crisp voice, "Look, the weather is about to get warmer. Simon is so old, but I have never relaxed and gone out for a walk. This time, just take it as a vacation for myself."
Li Ce brewed the tea expertly while asking, "How long do you plan to keep it?"
"I don't know. It depends on my mood. Maybe one day when I am poor and destitute, I will come back to you to ask for food. So you should be a good emperor and don't wait for me to come back and ruin your family."
Upon hearing this, Li Ce quickly picked up an envelope on the table, pulled out a stack of banknotes from it, took away most of them and put them in his arms, muttering, "You came back in poverty? Then I can't give you more money, otherwise who knows if you will be a toothless old lady when you come back."