Chapter 19 Chapter 19 "Hush, Your Majesty wants to take me out...
The two of them exchanged glances, but Xu Qing'an was the first to recover. He slowly stood up, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Her Majesty the Queen Mother."
Now that there was no one around, Xu Qing'an recalled her identity.
His posture was respectful, and there was no trace of his usual smile on his face.
But even though he was unusually serious, Shangguan Xu's eyes were still alert: "What a coincidence today, meeting Master Xu again."
Xu Qing'an finally smiled and said, "I've heard for a long time that there's a forest of trees on the hill behind Jingming Temple. If you walk through it, it must be quiet and charming. Today I see it, and it's indeed true."
Shangguan Xu still stared without saying a word.
Xu Qing'an raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly, answering her doubts. "Didn't Your Majesty tell me that Jingming Temple is not only a great temple, but also has beautiful scenery? Your Majesty suggested that I wander around more to improve my health, so of course I will obey."
"Really?" Shangguan Xu asked back, not believing what he said.
Xu Qing'an sighed helplessly, as if unable to bear such scrutiny, and could only admit it in a tone of acknowledgment: "As expected, nothing can be hidden from Her Majesty. In fact, I came here just to try my luck and see if I could run into Her Majesty and travel with her for a while."
It's not something I did on purpose. It's just that as I walked along this road, I thought of the many things in the past and it was hard for me to leave.
However, he chose to use empty words to cover up this only encounter that was not planned at all, and gave it a layer of calculated meaning.
But this was not only what she wanted to hear, but also what he needed to say from his own mouth.
He shouldn't have dwelled on those past events.
Xu Qing'an smiled, suppressing a bitter feeling. "They say Buddha values sincerity. It seems my sincerity has paid off today, and indeed, I have finally achieved my wish in this Buddhist land. I wonder what Her Majesty thinks? Would you allow me to accompany you and grant me this honor?"
Shangguan Xu met his smiling eyes.
In the past, when she visited this place, she was always accompanied by old friends, and they enjoyed the scenery. However, things are different now. Whenever she passes by the old place, what she thinks about more is just revisiting it. She does not have anyone to accompany her, does not talk with anyone, but only reminisces alone.
But if he really needs someone to accompany him, then...it's not impossible for him.
Even though they are very different in many aspects, the universe is so vast that it is difficult to find anything similar in the world. Now that there are only one or two that are similar... it is indeed rare.
It is indeed enough.
——
On the way up the mountain, neither of them spoke, each with their own thoughts.
Xu Qing'an was standing a little behind, so he could better observe Shangguan Xu's expression and movements while walking.
Now that they had reached the second resting platform at the foot of the mountain, he had gradually come to his senses from the past. He felt that they could not continue to get along like this, otherwise she would easily discover something.
Just as he was about to speak, Shangguan Xu suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at him coldly, and suddenly asked, "Master Xu, why are you waiting here today? What exactly do you want to say to me?"
While Xu Qing'an was coming back to his senses, Shangguan Xu had already had enough of the self-deceiving companionship, so she asked directly to break the unreal atmosphere between them.
Xu Qing'an raised his eyes and looked at her, his hands clasped together and hanging in front of him, still with a slight smile on his face.
But he looked at her with a smile, but she did not respond. She just looked at him with a dim gaze, quietly waiting for his answer.
He then bowed respectfully and said, "I am waiting here today not to say anything to Your Majesty, but to hear your answer."
He recalled the past and reminded her, "A few days ago, Your Majesty came to my residence. I expressed my loyalty to Her Majesty, but in the end, Her Majesty didn't seem to give me a clear answer."
"No?" Shangguan Xu smiled playfully. "I remember I should have expressed my opinion on what you said."
Xu Qing'an said, "Your Majesty did say that she was reluctant to kill me and would not let me down."
He raised his eyes, his face showing grievance, and said, "But Your Majesty, if I am innocent, you have no reason to kill me. And if I have made meritorious contributions, even if Your Majesty does not reward me, the Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel will always reward me according to the rules. So, what Your Majesty said really makes me feel uncertain."
His eyes were humble as he approached her step by step. "I have treated Her Majesty with all my sincerity, and have given Her Majesty all my weaknesses and all my shameful past. Can't I get a single word of sincerity from Her Majesty in return?"
Although his tone was affectionate and his posture was very humble, the shortening of the distance between them seemed like a gradual temptation, forcing her to answer.
But Shangguan Xu stood there, not blinking, letting him approach, letting his aura envelop her.
It wasn't until he stopped in front of her that she smiled faintly and told him everything directly: "Are you sincere to me? Have you handed everything to me? But why are you still hiding some things from me and refusing to tell me?"
"For example, your relationship with Zhang Fan, and what you actually said to Liu Chang in prison."
The eyes of both of them dimmed at the same time.
Shangguan Xu took slow steps, each word pushing him back. "Zhang Fan is your teacher, a lord-in-law. You said Su Wang had too many confidants to consider you, so why didn't you go find Zhang Fan? You're Zhang Fan's direct descendant, so he should be your first choice. Why did you go to me when you're so close?"
"You said earlier that you deliberately provoked Liu Chang by relaying those words to the person behind him. But even though Liu Chang is a fool, he's not a complete idiot. Not only did he know that the person behind him wouldn't save him, he also knew that if he said those words, he would die immediately."
Shangguan Xu stopped and looked up at him, his eyes burning brightly, as if illuminating all his secrets hidden in the dark.
She scoffed, "Could it be that Lord Xu was trying to tell me that he felt he would die sooner or later anyway, and rather than endure his execution in fear, he might as well ask the people behind him to give him a quick death? But if he really had such an understanding, why would he have ended up like this?"
She sarcastically questioned, "Master Xu, is this the sincerity you give me?"
Looking at Shangguan Xu's half-smiling eyes, Xu Qing'an's eyes were deep, like obsidian hidden in the darkness, pure and cold, and impossible to see through. However, if there was light, they would reflect a sparkling light.
"Sir, are you going down the mountain and back to the temple now?"
"Let's go for a walk again. She shouldn't have left yet."
Suddenly, the sound of conversation echoed from the mountain path, approaching from afar, breaking the tense atmosphere of the confrontation on the platform. The voices were familiar, and Shangguan Xu's heart tightened. Without waiting for Xu Qing'an's response, he turned to look, but suddenly a force was applied to his waist, pulling him out.
Xu Qing'an hugged her tightly, turned around and took her to the wild path on the hillside behind him without consulting her.
Shangguan Xu was shocked and subconsciously pushed him, trying to struggle out while preparing to laugh.
But he hugged her tighter and tighter, leaning closer, making a silencing gesture with his fingers: "Shh."
Facing her slightly irritated expression, he smiled again and whispered, "Central Chancellor Su is here. Your Majesty, do you want to take me out to meet him?"
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