Liu Yan stared into her watery eyes, his eyes dark and deep: "You always say that you want me to take care of you, but in fact, when have you ever needed my care? You are full of talent, and you can shine even without me. Others are prejudiced and despised, but you have your own ways to make them like you. Even if someone deliberately wants to hurt you, you can rely on yourself to turn the situation around and resolve the crisis. To you, I am dispensable. You have never really gotten anything from me, right?"
Mu Zhuohua laughed dryly and said in a hoarse voice: "Your Highness, you are joking. I still got a lot of money from you..."
"Heh." Liu Yan smiled faintly and interrupted her, "I was deceived by you before. You just wanted to pretend to be greedy, flattering and fawning in front of me, so that I could use you but not guard against you. You succeeded. I didn't guard against you, but you are still guarding against me until now."
Mu Zhuohua was silent for a moment, and smiled helplessly: "Your Majesty is wise, I can never hide it from you. If Your Majesty wants to punish me, please punish me lightly for the sake of my doing something."
Liu Yan pressed his fingertips on the smart lips, slowly approached, and pressed against her slightly hot forehead, with an ambiguous breath entangled. He sighed softly: "You are so smart, you should know that I can't bear to punish you..."
Mu Zhuohua sat stiffly, lowered her eyes and looked at her knees, and her thick eyelashes hid the panic in her eyes.
She was thinking, if Liu Yan forced her... what posture should she use?
As a person who is determined to remain single until death, she has long regarded chastity as nothing. Living is the first priority, and getting rich is the second. Liu Yan is the king of the council. If he really wants to force her, she really has no way to escape. She bets that Liu Yan is a gentleman, but what if she loses?
This young and charming body, if used as a bargaining chip, what kind of conditions can she negotiate with Liu Yan?
Liu Yan could never have imagined what Mu Zhuohua was thinking at the moment, but he felt strong resistance and fear from the other party's stiff body.
"Look, you are really on guard against me and don't trust me." Liu Yan chuckled, unable to hide his bitterness, "Zhuohua, at any time, I will not hurt you as long as you don't want to." Liu Yan paused and said, "I kissed you by the river that day, I lost my composure... I thought you had me in your heart."
Mu Zhuohua pursed her lips and said in a hoarse voice, "The prince is a good man."
Liu Yan sneered, "Good man?" He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, lowered his voice and said, "I hope you can understand that I am also a man, with feelings and desires. I want to possess you. Why do you think I don’t really like you? "
Mu Zhuohua stared at Liu Yan in a daze, and said slowly: "Prince, you have the world in your heart and great talent. You should understand that in the officialdom, people never talk about likes and dislikes, but only about pros and cons. Like is just a fleeting feeling with a very short flowering period. It is illusory and uncontrollable. You don’t know when it will disappear. In comparison, only interests are real and reliable. Prince, I know... "Mu Zhuohua lowered his head, "but... the Sun family is your best choice. "
"What if I just want you?" Liu Yan lifted Mu Zhuohua's chin, "Today in the villa, I have already told Miss Sun clearly that I have someone in my heart and I will never marry her, so I asked the guards of the palace to send her back to the palace, and I went back to the villa to find you."
Mu Zhuohua stared at Liu Yan in shock, her heart turning into an emotion she didn't know whether it was joy or melancholy. She sighed, "Your Majesty, why do you have to do this..."
"I was reprimanded in the garden, and I was wrong." Liu Yan interrupted, "Your Majesty is willful..."
"Your Majesty." Mu Zhuohua laughed, "Aren't you more willful than His Majesty for rejecting Miss Sun?"
Liu Yan froze, frowned and said, "It's different..."
"The same." Mu Zhuohua smiled faintly, "Empress Dowager Zhou is on guard against you and wants the Sun family to restrain you. Of course, she has bad intentions, but now you are no longer someone that the Sun family can restrain. Your Majesty wants to stabilize the aristocratic family, so he needs to marry the daughter of aristocratic family, and as the king of the council, the aristocratic family also wants your goodwill. Marrying into the Sun family is a good thing for His Majesty, for you, and for the infatuated Miss Sun."
"What about you?" Liu Yan stared into her eyes, trying to see some sincerity under her mask, "Do you think it's good too?"
"Yes." Mu Zhuohua smiled, "Your Highness asked before, if you only want me... then I... can only tell Your Highness one thing, I don't want to, I don't like it."
Liu Yan looked quietly at those moist and clear eyes, the corners of her lips slightly raised, with a three-point smile, but her eyes were calm, without the slightest emotion.
"Heh..." Liu Yan suddenly laughed softly. He hugged Mu Zhuohua, half of his body weight pressed on her shoulders. She felt the vibration of his chest, as if he had heard something funny. His thin lips curled up slightly, touching her earlobe, his hot and humid breath hitting her delicate and sensitive skin, and he said slowly and firmly in a low voice, "Zhuohua, you lied to me again... At first you had other intentions and lied to me that you liked me. Now you still have other intentions, but you lied to me that you don't like me."
"If you didn't have me in your heart, why didn't you dare to look at me in the villa today?"
Mu Zhuohua's heart jumped suddenly. She turned her head away and tried to make excuses, but her lips opened slightly and were blocked by Liu Yan.
Her soft pink lips were pressed against each other, and the man's hot breath invaded her mouth with a sense of plunder. She leaned against the round table, and was held between his arms. His restraint and gentleness were forced to collapse by her. It turned out that everything that was not forced was fake. He was a general who would use any trickery. If soft tactics didn't work, he would use hard tactics. The drug effect that had faded away seemed to be stimulated again. She was soft all over, and was forced to slightly raise her head in his strong invasion, enduring his long-suppressed plunder.
But she knew that this had nothing to do with the drug. It was the deepest desire in her heart.
She slightly opened her moist eyes, sighed softly in her heart, raised her arms and hooked them around Liu Yan's neck, and responded to his kiss clumsily.
Liu Yan was shocked, and Mu Zhuohua's blushing face was reflected in his deep and dark eyes. His breathing suddenly became heavy, and his arms tightened, kneading her into his arms. A ball of fire spread from him to her heart.
Until the tip of his tongue tasted a faint taste of rust, he reluctantly let go of her slightly swollen red lips and pressed against her forehead.
That face that was not easily exposed to the public was extremely beautiful, and the flushed corners of her eyes added a touch of charm. She pursed her swollen lips and said in a sweet and soft voice, half aggrieved and half complaining: "You said... you won't force me."
Liu Yan laughed softly and said in a hoarse voice: "If you are ruthless to me, I won't force you. If you are affectionate..." He gently rubbed her lower lip with his slender index finger, and said slowly and firmly, "I will take the step you dare not take, and I will make the decision you dare not make!"
Mu Zhuohua's body shook slightly, and she was almost moved by his persistence.
But she closed her eyes and still shook her head: "Yes, I like you, but I said that the love between men and women is an illusory emotion, it is not enough for me to give up everything to be with you."
Liu Yan frowned in confusion: "I won't let you give up everything, you will be my only princess."
Mu Zhuohua shook her head and smiled: "That's not what I want. Prince... I swear I won't be a canary raised by others, just waiting for the master to tease and feed me when he has nothing to do. Being your princess is just a bigger and more luxurious cage. The so-called only one is just your feeling at the moment. You dare to say it, I dare not believe it."
Liu Yan smiled bitterly: "You can't speculate every man based on your father's romanticism."
"I know, but I can't afford the gamble. The price of losing is too high." Mu Zhuohua's eyes flashed through A Niang's lifeless eyes, and her heart ached. "Even if you can really promise me to be with you for the rest of my life, I am unwilling to accept it. You know how difficult it is for me to get to where I am today. I have paid so much, not to become someone's wife, to bear his surname, and then to lose myself. Once I become the Princess of Ding, all my efforts will go down the drain. I can only be hidden by you in the Ding Palace, dealing with wealthy ladies, taking care of the backyard for you, and living a life of wearing flowers, tasting perfume, and applying makeup. I have seen and endured such a life for eighteen years! Some women like such days, but I just don't like it."
She has thought more than others since she was a child. Her husband always said that her ideas were unorthodox and shocking. A girl should look like a girl, take good care of her husband and children, and be a good wife and mother. This is the best way out. But she knew that she was born with a rebellious nature, and she just didn't like to follow the arrangements of others and take those old paths that were deadly at a glance. What kind of person she wants to be is up to her, and no one else can influence her! She has hidden her ambition for eighteen years. Even Ju Li is confused and cannot understand her, but she knows that Liu Yan will understand her.
"Even if you become Princess Ding, I will not lock you up in the inner courtyard. You can still do what you like." Liu Yan held Mu Zhuohua's hand tightly and said, "You have talent for managing the world, and I don't want you to suffer behind me."
Mu Zhuohua smiled happily: "But the world will not allow it. The court system allows a woman to be an official, but the royal etiquette will not allow a princess to show her face and be unfaithful to her husband. The State of Chen has no prince, so it can allow a female emperor to succeed to the throne, but the existence of the female emperor cannot change the still humble situation of women. I am just the daughter of a merchant, a small official, and you are a prince. Secular etiquette is greater than heaven, the prince is second, and I am the last. If one of the three has to give in and sacrifice, it will only be me."
Liu Yan listened in amazement as she analyzed her inner heart. This was the most truthful words she had said since they met, but the truth is often the most hurtful.
She sighed and whispered, "This kiss is my way of repaying your love. There is no such thing as having both. Between love and future, I choose the latter."
She gently pushed Liu Yan away, and this time, Liu Yan let her go.
"Your Majesty." Mu Zhuohua bowed with his hands down and bent his waist. "I am selfish and cold, and I don't deserve your love."
It turned out that he was not disliked, but abandoned.
Oh, he loves beauty, but beauty loves the country...
When Guo Juli returned home, only Mu Zhuohua was drinking in the room. She was drinking warm water, but she looked drunk.
"Wow...Miss, I was scared to death. Brother Zhimo and I just went to arrest the county magistrate Zhuang. He didn't do anything to you..." Guo Juli burst into tears, "Did the prince send you back? Were you bullied?"
"No." Mu Zhuohua pinched Guo Juli's face with a smile, "Miss, I bullied people again."
Guo Juli didn't believe it: "Miss, don't force a smile to comfort me. If you have any pain in your heart, tell Juli. You drink water like this, it's obvious that you are worried."
Mu Zhuohua's smile froze, and he rubbed Guo Juli's head: "Silly girl, you are getting smarter and smarter."
"Where exactly are you injured?" Guo Juli was anxious, and pulled Mu Zhuohua's collar and wanted to take off her clothes to check. Mu Zhuohua hurriedly pulled her collar, smiled and sighed: "I'm really not injured, don't you still believe me?"
Guo Juli was still half-believing and half-doubting, "Miss, why didn't you tell him your identity at the time? You are now in a higher position than him, how dare he bully you!"
Mu Zhuohua poked her forehead, smiled and sighed: "To put it simply, he kidnapped me at the time, which was already a serious crime. What if he knew that I was a doctor in the Ministry of Revenue, do you think he would admit his mistake respectfully? He relies on his connections in Beijing and will only secretly kill me to silence me, and there will be no evidence for this matter! Even if he is caught afterwards, he will only say that he didn't know, and he still has my marriage certificate in his hand. He is just dealing with a runaway concubine. Even if he is punished, it won't kill him. How unfair it is for me to die."
Guo Juli was shocked. Mu Zhuohua looked at her expression of doubt about life and shook his head helplessly: "People are treacherous, you won't understand."
"Then Miss, you were also fooled by Miss Eight..." Guo Juli muttered.
Mu Zhuohua frowned: "I can only blame myself for underestimating the fickleness of human hearts. Although Miss Eight was vain before, she was not so vicious... I don't know what she has been through in the past year?"
Guo Juli nodded repeatedly, and said with lingering fear: "Fortunately, I met the prince this time. It is true that a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor."
Guo Juli's unintentional words pierced Mu Zhuohua's heart. She was silent for a moment, then smiled and said: "You are right."
"Miss, although Dingjing is under the emperor's feet, it is really not peaceful. You have been in danger twice now." Guo Juli's small face wrinkled, and he said very seriously, "Today I made a decision to learn martial arts from Brother Zhimo so that I can protect you in the future."
Mu Zhuohua was startled and looked at Guo Juli sideways: "You... want to learn martial arts?"
Guo Juli nodded carefully: "I have thought about it carefully. Miss can't be the only one working hard for this family. I also want to do more for you!"
Mu Zhuohua was in danger during the day, which made Guo Juli feel guilty and in danger. After arresting the county magistrate Zhuang, she asked Zhimo to learn some martial arts to protect her. Zhimo looked at her small body with some suspicion, and with the mentality of giving it a try, he tried Guo Juli's foundation.
Zhimo was a martial arts expert, and worried that Guo Juli would be injured by his body-protecting true qi, so he took off his guard and tried Guo Juli's fists and feet. Unexpectedly, Guo Juli, who was skinny and small, was as fierce as a calf when he got angry. He punched him with one punch after another, making a "bang bang" sound, almost causing him internal injuries. Zhimo, who was always cold and taciturn, blushed for a rare time - it was because he was hurt.
Guo Juli asked him how he was, panting slightly with bright eyes. Zhimo took a few deep breaths, raised his thumb and said, "You are a real man."
Zhimo accepted Guo Juli as his apprentice.
Seeing Guo Juli was happy, Mu Zhuohua smiled bitterly in her heart.
She just wanted to draw a line between herself and Liu Yan, but now the little girl has joined the enemy camp...
"Practicing martial arts requires a lot of hardship." Mu Zhuohua rubbed Guo Juli's little head.
Guo Juli's dark eyes looked at Mu Zhuohua with sparkling eyes: "I'm not afraid of hardship!"
Mu Zhuohua felt warm in her heart. Seeing Guo Juli so persistent, she could only smile and agree.
The night was as thick as ink. There was no moon or stars. In the silent night, a knock on the door woke up the master and servant.
Mu Zhuohua's heart jumped suddenly. Guo Juli muttered to answer the door: "Who is knocking on the door so late? Did the prince send someone?"
Mu Zhuohua leaned against the window and watched Guo Juli walk to the door, open the door, say a few words to the person at the door, and then lead the person in.
Mu Zhuohua looked down at the slender figure in the yard. Just then, a gust of wind blew away the clouds that covered the moon. A cold light fell on the man's face. Mu Zhuohua was startled.
How could it be him?
The next day, the news that Magistrate Zhuang from Huaizhou was beaten and taken away by Prince Ding in the posthouse spread throughout the court. Prince Ding rushed into the posthouse with great momentum, broke the door and injured Magistrate Zhuang. Later, the guards from Prince Ding's mansion took Magistrate Zhuang and a group of attendants away and locked them up in the prison of Jingzhao Yin, not allowing anyone to visit. There were no less than ten witnesses to this incident. No one dared to say a word on the spot, but there was a lot of discussion behind the scenes. Before dawn, the matter spread throughout the court. Before the morning court, all officials lowered their voices and talked about it. They were all speculating how Magistrate Zhuang, who was far away in Huaizhou, had offended Prince Ding, so that he was retaliated by Prince Ding on the first day of entering Beijing.
These discussions stopped abruptly when Liu Yan walked in with an expressionless face. Many people turned away with a guilty conscience, but some who claimed to be upright frowned at Liu Yan.
Mu Zhuohua stood in the crowd, lowered his head and bowed his head respectfully like everyone else when Liu Yan passed by. Liu Yan left without any pause.
"The prince seems to be in a bad mood today." Standing next to Mu Zhuohua was the assistant minister of the Lifan Temple. He had been with Liu Yan for a long time and could guess Liu Yan's thoughts to some extent. "The prince usually treats people gently and smiles even when he doesn't speak, but today he looks indifferent... I'm afraid that the magistrate of Zhuang County has offended the prince badly."
Mu Zhuohua touched her nose and smiled bitterly in her heart - I'm afraid she has offended the prince badly.
There was still half a quarter of an hour before the morning court began. Everyone kept a distance from Liu Yan, who seemed unhappy, but saw an official walking up to Liu Yan with a smile and a hunched back.
"Your humble servant greets His Majesty."
Liu Yan glanced at him and said calmly, "You are the Chief Censor Zhuang Zixian."
Zhuang Zixian smiled and said, "Yes, your humble servant."
"What do you want from me?"
Zhuang Zixian naturally felt the indifference of Prince Ding, but at this moment he had to bite the bullet and negotiate with Liu Yan: "Your humble servant heard last night that Your Majesty dealt with a County Magistrate named Zhuang from Huaizhou at the post station. I don't know how he offended Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will forgive his unintentional mistake as he has just arrived in Kyoto."
Liu Yan lowered his eyes, brushed the fine folds on his wide sleeves, and said with a smile, "I guess this County Magistrate Zhuang and Lord Zhuang are relatives."
Zhuang Zixian said, "To be honest with Your Majesty, this man is very similar to Although I am not from the same clan, I am still uncle and nephew. His father was a meritorious official of the Yuanzheng Dynasty. He worked hard for the court and died in office. Emperor Yuanzheng also praised him. Now he is the only one left in this line. If he has made any mistakes and made the prince unhappy, please forgive him this time for the sake of the Zhuang family. I will let him come to apologize. "
Although their Zhuang family is not as good as those noble families, they have produced five Jinshi and three high-ranking officials in the past few decades, and they have some face in the court.
"Zhuang family's face..." Liu Yan smiled: "What face do you have in front of this king?"
Zhuang Zixian's face suddenly turned livid.
Liu Yan ignored him and turned to walk towards the hall.
No one knew how the Zhuang County Magistrate offended the Ding King, so although some people were angry, they did not dare to impeach him easily. First, the official position of Zhuang County Magistrate was low, and it was not worth it for them to offend Prince Ding. Second, even if Prince Ding was arrogant, they had to think twice before they acted, and they dared not offend the Prince of Political Affairs who was trusted by the emperor and had a large number of troops.
Yesterday, Liu Yan rescued Mu Zhuohua and left through the window. The people in the post house heard a scream from inside, and saw that the door was closed, so no one dared to step forward to investigate the situation. After a while, the guards of the Prince of Political Affairs came with a murderous look on their faces. A thin and small girl rushed in like a cow. Another young swordsman with a stern face asked where the prince was, and then he led people into the room of Zhuang County Magistrate and dragged the unconscious Zhuang County Magistrate away. There was also a favorite concubine of Zhuang County Magistrate and one of his men in the post house, and they were all taken away by the people in the Prince of Political Affairs.
Therefore, no one knew that a girl had been tied up in the room of Zhuang County Magistrate.
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