“I think your conversation with the Duke of Zhenguo today was quite profound,” Xu Yuehuai broke the silence. Her voice was slightly low, but carried a hint of solemnity.
"What kind of person do you think the Duke of Zhenguo is?" Qi Guze turned his head slightly to look at her, his eyes flashing with a deep light.
“He’s a man with a story. I saw many unknown aspects of his past in his eyes. I think the reason he takes such good care of us is perhaps because he sees some qualities in us that are similar to his own.” Xu Yuehuai was silent for a moment. She recalled the way the Duke of Zhenguo looked at her during the day. It was a deep gaze, and a ripple of emotion stirred in her heart.
“Yes, I felt that too. He seems to know how to read people’s minds. Perhaps we should learn more from him.” The two chatted for a while, and before they knew it, it was late at night.
Outside the window, a gentle breeze carried the fragrance of distant flowers. In this tranquil night, their conversation was like a soft, gentle rain, nourishing silently.
The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains. Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze got up early, tidied themselves, and prepared to bid farewell to the Duke and Duchess of Zhenguo.
In the main hall of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, the Duke and Duchess had been waiting for some time. Upon seeing Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze approach, they smiled warmly.
"You've finally come back, so I've prepared some gifts for you," said the Duke of Zhenguo, gesturing for his servants to present the gifts.
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze accepted the gifts, their hearts filled with emotion. They knew that these gifts represented not only the Duke of Zhenguo's care for them, but also his blessings for their future.
Farewell words always carry a heavy tone. The Duke and Duchess of Zhenguo stood before the gates of their mansion, watching Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze depart. Their eyes revealed a deep sense of reluctance.
Qi Guze took Xu Yuehuai's hand and embarked on the journey back to the palace once again.
Behind him, the gates of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion slowly closed, leaving behind a profound silhouette.
Back at the palace, a banquet prepared by the emperor had been waiting for them in the main hall for some time. The hall, illuminated by palace lanterns, appeared magnificent, and countless delicacies were laid out for the feast.
The emperor watched with a smile as Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze entered the main hall.
“You’ve arrived.” His voice was loud and warm. “Today’s banquet is to celebrate your triumphant return from the battlefield, and also to wish you all the best in the days to come.”
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze bowed respectfully to the emperor and said in unison, "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty."
As the banquet began, the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air. The dancers' graceful movements added a touch of joy to the hall. Amidst the lively banquet, Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze sat facing each other, their eyes occasionally meeting.
They have endured so many hardships and trials, and now they have finally ushered in a moment of peace and happiness.
"Yuehuai, thank you," Qi Guze looked at her affectionately, "I can't imagine what I would be like without you."
Xu Yuehuai smiled and shook her head: "You made me stronger. We went through so many storms together to finally have everything we have today. It's just a pity that our child can't be by our side to witness it."
"Don't worry, once this is over, I'll take you back to get the child."
"Um."
Xu Yuehuai's mood improved a bit, but she still missed Xiao Ping'an very much.
Qi Guze left in such a hurry that he didn't give Xiao Ping'an a proper name. They planned to name the child after they brought him back.
The dazzling candlelight illuminated the magnificent hall, where elegantly dressed figures mingled and shone. Qi Guze, dressed in a dark brocade robe, sat regally in his seat.
A graceful dancer, with captivating eyes, was slowly approaching him.
"Your Majesty, you've worked hard."
The dancer parted her lips slightly, her tone carrying a hint of provocation.
Qi Guze remained expressionless and was about to speak when he was interrupted by another voice.
Xu Yuehuai stood up from his seat, coldly staring at the dancer. A fruit pit flew from his sleeve and struck the dancer's knee squarely.
With a cry of "Ouch!", she fell to the ground. The once lively banquet instantly fell silent, and everyone's attention was focused on this sudden turn of events.
"What's going on?" The emperor slowly descended from his throne, his gaze sharp. "Why the sudden commotion?"
Before anyone could answer, the emperor had already seen the dancer who had fallen to the ground. "How dare you cause such a scene at a royal banquet!" he roared. "Guards, drag her out!" The guards immediately stepped forward and dragged the dancer away.
Qi Guze remained expressionless, pretending that everything was none of his business, but he held Xu Yuehuai's hand tightly. Xu Yuehuai responded with a reassuring smile.
The banquet returned to its climax, but it was clear to everyone that the atmosphere had become much more subtle.
The emperor's gaze kept shifting between Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai, as if he were pondering something. Finally, when the banquet ended, the emperor suddenly announced that Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai would stay in the palace.
Upon hearing this, everyone revealed a meaningful smile.
Night fell, and the palace was quiet. Xu Yuehuai tossed and turned in bed, a sense of foreboding creeping into her heart.
She knew the emperor wouldn't let them off so easily. Sure enough, around midnight, a strange fragrance wafted on the breeze.
Xu Yuehuai immediately sat up alertly, took out a pill and swallowed it.
Then, she went to Qi Guze's bedside and put the pill into his mouth.
"This is..." Qi Guze was woken up and looked at Xu Yuehuai with some confusion.
"For self-defense." Xu Yuehuai's tone was solemn. "This palace is not simple."
As the two were talking, a series of chaotic footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.
"Run!" Xu Yuehuai grabbed Qi Guze and jumped out of the window to escape. They ran wildly along the palace wall, with the shouts of their pursuers behind them.
Drawing on her experience in the border regions, Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze darted through the night, dodging traps and pursuers. Finally, they escaped the palace and arrived in the commoners' quarter of the capital.
The lights were dim here, and the people were already fast asleep. Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze found a secluded inn to stay in. The room contained only a simple wooden bed and a dilapidated table.
"What should we do now?" Xu Yuehuai sat wearily on the edge of the bed, panting heavily. "The emperor is clearly going to deal with us." Qi Guze walked to the window, opened it, and looked at the dark night sky outside.
His gaze was resolute. "We cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom. We must find a way to expose the emperor's true colors."
Xu Yuehuai looked at him, "Do you have any plans?"
Qi Guze turned around, a cold glint in his eyes. "Of course, I've been in the borderlands for many years and I still have some resources at my disposal. As long as we can gather some trustworthy people, we'll have a chance to overthrow the emperor."
Upon hearing this, a hint of appreciation flashed in Xu Yuehuai's eyes. "Alright, I support you. Let's expose that hypocrite's true colors together!"
So, on this dark night, the two discussed their future plans and decided to fight for the interests of the country and its people.
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