Chapter 74 Galaxy

The vast Milky Way is like a silver thread, running silently across the sky. The rustling of grape leaves is like the whisper of a lover.

After experiencing the initial shock, Ming Huazhang soon calmed down. In fact, he had already had a premonition in his heart.

On a spring night in Luoyang, when he pushed the door open and saw her drenched in the rain, his heart seemed to be pulled down by something; on Mount Zhongnan, he hugged her exhausted, feeling both pity and self-blame; in the dark room of Tianxiang Tower, an uninvited guest was just a few steps away, and when he looked down and saw Ming Huashang's eyes, he even forgot to hide.

At those times, he had vague impulses in his heart, but each time he interpreted the restlessness as worry and tension about the feelings of a brother towards his sister. Until today, when Ming Huashang was staring at another man's back and was distracted, and even proposed to move out of the Ming family and draw a clear line between them, Ming Huazhang could not control his emotions and finally burst out.

A brother should not be possessive of his sister. When Ming Huazhang realized his thoughts, he felt shameless and despicable.

Before he was four years old, Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang lived together, eating and sleeping together, and even used the same blanket for naps. It was difficult for him to recall the details, but he only remembered the feeling of warmth and fulfillment, and that he felt at ease knowing that someone was there to accompany him no matter what he did.

After the age of four, Ming Huazhang was taken to the outer courtyard by Duke Zhenguo to be raised. He rarely saw Ming Huashang, and his childhood ended.

In the following years, they had little contact, but Ming Huazhang had been following Ming Huashang's news. She lost her mother at a young age and grew up alone, with only maids and old women around her, and no one to talk to. Ming Huazhang was worried that she would be wronged in the inner house without anyone to protect her, and was also worried that she would be instigated by evil slaves and go astray. Fortunately, she was much kinder and braver than he imagined. Even without anyone to care for her, she grew into a shining little sun.

Ming Huazhang was both relieved and guilty, so he tried harder to be a good brother and treat her well. However, the inner house and the outer courtyard did not have much interaction, and she was very smart and sensible, so she really didn't need him. The only thing Ming Huazhang could do was to join the Xuanxiao Guard, prove the loyalty of the Mingming family, and restore the power of the Zhenguogong Mansion as soon as possible.

At the beginning of the year, she suddenly chased him out and took the initiative to talk to him, which really flattered Ming Huazhang. He heard about the secret return of Prince Luling to Beijing in Xuanxiao Guards, and knew that Feihong Banquet was not a good thing, so he naturally wanted to go, but he couldn't let Ming Huachang be in danger.

Ming Huashang, however, was determined to follow him, and Ming Huazhang had no choice but to give in and take her with him.

Many things changed at that banquet. They met Ren Yao and Jiang Ling, met many princes from the Li and Wu families, and were unintentionally involved in the conspiracy of the King of Wei. Ming Huazhang had expected all this. He had already put life and death aside before going up the mountain, but he did not expect that the biggest variable would be her.

She described the murderer's appearance as if with divine help, which greatly accelerated the process of solving the case. In the end, the conspiracy against Luling Wang was successfully solved, but she was targeted by someone with ulterior motives.

Ming Huazhang still can't figure out what conditions Han Jie used to convince Ming Huashang to join Xuanxiaowei. He tried to stop her, but Ming Huashang was surprisingly determined. Ming Huazhang tried to stop her many times but to no avail, and he almost failed in the mission because of his own prejudice.

After that, Ming Huazhang learned his lesson and felt that it was better to guide than to block. Instead of gambling with Han Jie's conscience, it would be better to keep her under his nose, which would at least ensure that she would not be assigned to do a mission that was too dangerous.

Ming Huazhang tried hard to be a good brother, wishing he could tie her up in front of him and watch her all the time. But he didn't know when he went too far.

Their interactions have repeatedly exceeded normal limits, but they were just wrapped in the shell of brother and sister, so they and the people around them ignored it. However, Ming Huashang didn't know, but Ming Huazhang couldn't pretend not to know.

His thoughts turned around a thousand times, but reality only passed a few breaths. Ming Huazhang stood silently under the grapevines. His education since childhood did not allow him to have such emotions as procrastination and luck. Now that he had discovered the problem, he had to take responsibility.

Ming Huazhang thought quietly about how to resolve this inappropriate delusion.

Needless to say, it is best to pretend that you know nothing, continue to maintain the etiquette between brother and sister, slowly distance yourself from each other in private, and let time wash away everything. But Ming Huazhang is only sixteen years old no matter how calm he is. He couldn't help the impulse in his heart and asked, "Shangshang, what kind of person do you want to marry?"

Ming Huashang was slightly startled. The maids often teased her about her husband, and Ming Huashang was used to it, but when this topic was brought up by her young and handsome brother, the impact was completely different.

Ming Huashang suddenly felt sad. She also knew that her sadness was groundless. Her brother cared about his sister's life and actively introduced young talents to her. What was wrong with that?

Ming Huashang even felt that if she took advantage of her temper to force him to marry her, Ming Huazhang would agree in order to prevent her from suffering.

But Ming Huashang couldn't do that. Yu Gong was the only son of the Duke of Zhenguo and would inherit the Duke's Mansion in the future, while Ming Huashang was a fake daughter who was swapped. Holding the wrong child was controversial enough, and if the former siblings got married, it would become a topic of conversation on the streets.

He has worked hard since he was a child, and is good at both civil and military affairs. Now he is a famous man in Chang'an, and his road to success is just ahead. How could Ming Huashang ruin his reputation and delay his career because of her own selfish desires?

Personally, the real daughter will be back next year, and no one who has been swapped for sixteen years will be able to calmly treat the culprit. Ming Huashang's continued stay in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will only make Su Yuji, the Duke of Zhenguo, and Ming Huazhang embarrassed.

He is a very good brother, Ming Huashang cherishes this friendship very much, she really doesn't want to make things worse and blame each other.

It would be better for her to just stay in the relationship of brother and sister and leave quietly. At least in the future when he thinks back, she is a not very smart but still lovely sister.

Ming Huashang avoided Ming Huazhang's gaze and said softly, "Marriage is too far away. I haven't thought about it."

Normally, Ming Huachang would chase after Ming Huazhang relentlessly, while Ming Huazhang would remain indifferent. It seemed that Ming Huachang was the active one and Ming Huazhang was the passive one. But at this moment, their roles were completely reversed. Ming Huachang lowered her head and huddled into a ball, while Ming Huazhang pressed on step by step, his eyes burning and full of aggression.

Ming Huazhang would not allow Ming Huachang to be ambiguous, and he was determined to achieve his goal: "If you haven't thought about it, think about it now. You are young and have everything going your way. You are not born with a heart of Buddha and want to convert to Buddhism, right? There is no need to consider the actual conditions. You just need to say what kind of person you like and what kind of husband you want to marry."

Normally, if her grandmother or aunt asked this question, Ming Huashang would just smile and let it go, but this time it was him. He pressed her to find out what kind of man she liked, and then what? Would he help her find a partner?

Ming Huashang also became angry and said angrily: "Second brother, don't bother to find one for me. The person I like is not from a wealthy family. He doesn't have to have a prominent family background or outstanding talents. It doesn't matter how much land, servants, and property his family has. As long as he is gentle and kind, and can stay with me all his life, and live a stable and happy life with me, that's enough. Fame, wealth, high position and generous salary, I don't care at all."

Ming Huazhang fell silent. He simply felt that Ming Huachang was deliberately speaking in a sarcastic way to anger him, because almost every point here was contrary to his opinion.

A person immediately flashed before Ming Huazhang's eyes—Su Xingzhi.

Ming Huazhang tried to evaluate Su Xingzhi as fairly as possible. Although he came from a poor family, he was talented and ambitious, and he would be a good son-in-law, especially for a girl from a wealthy family like Ming Huashang.

If she married Su Xingzhi in the future, Su Xingzhi had no relatives and his parents were both dead, so he was almost half-married to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Ming Huashang would not have to leave her family, serve her mother-in-law, or please her sister-in-law. With the Duke of Zhenguo around, Su Xingzhi would not dare to take a concubine. For Ming Huashang, this was not the best marriage, but it was the most suitable one for her.

And with Ming Huachang's temperament, she would not be arrogant and lead to the separation of husband and wife, or be weak and incompetent and let the son-in-law drain the family property. Marrying Su Xingzhi, she can live the stable, happy and worry-free life she dreamed of.

And what about Ming Huazhang? He couldn't even guarantee his own future.

Ming Huazhang was silent for a long time, his sharp gaze gradually dimmed, and reason took over again. Ming Huazhang smiled bitterly, returning to the bottom line of brother and sister, this was originally the best solution, but he was obsessed and wanted to test her feelings.

Now it's all fine, it's just the result of the trouble caused by the mediocre people.

The wind blew through the hall, bringing a little chill. After all, it was already autumn, and the night was different from summer. Ming Huazhang brushed the fallen flowers off her bun and said softly, "Sleep well, your father will be back tomorrow."

Everything will be back on track.

Ming Huachang lowered her head and responded briefly. Ming Huazhang was unusually uncharacteristic today. For the first time, he turned around and left without waiting for her to enter.

Ming Huashang stood in the empty courtyard, with only starlight and cool breeze around her. She raised her head and looked through the layers of overlapping grape leaves at the vast Milky Way.

The master at the base had taught them to identify directions based on the stars, and Ming Huashang searched for a long time but couldn't find where Altair and Vega were. She suddenly lost her strength and squatted down with her knees hugged in exhaustion.

When her father came back, she would resume her seclusion and spend the last six months as a young lady of a noble family. After that, it would be very difficult for them to meet again.

Were the four months she spent in Mount Zhongnan, the four months she spent with him day and night talking about everything, just a dream?

·

The old mansion in Chang'an had just been renovated. Except for a few slaves who were in necessary positions to keep things running, the rest of the place was empty. Fortunately, Ming Huashang had already gotten used to being self-reliant after four months in the mountains. She woke up naturally at 11:00 a.m. the next day and dressed and washed up quickly. She looked at the sunlight gradually climbing higher outside the grapevines, thinking that the sun would rise as usual, and there was nothing to worry about.

The Empress was supposed to enter the city today. Ming Huashang, like many other ladies in Chang'an, harnessed her carriage and set out early in the morning to wait for the Emperor at the corner of Zhuque Street.

Zhuque Street was already crowded with people, with carriages from the mansions of nobles and officials and common people watching the excitement crowded together. It wasn't long before Ming Huashang's carriage could no longer move.

Ming Huazhang rode his horse to the side of the carriage, frowning and looking ahead, trying to find a new way. Ming Huashang opened the curtain and said, "Second brother, there are too many people here. I'd better get off and walk."

All he could see was a sea of ​​heads, and he couldn't find a way out. Ming Huazhang sighed, and was the first to dismount and stop the flow of people: "This is the only way."

Ming Huashang came out with her skirt lifted up, and just as she was about to jump off the carriage, a slender, white hand reached out from the side. Ming Huashang glanced at him quickly, silently held his hand, and jumped off the carriage.

There were crowds of people on both sides, and people kept pushing towards Ming Huachang. At this time, Ming Huachang's advantage of being tall was undoubtedly revealed. He stood in front of her and easily blocked the crowd.

He held her hand and made a way through the crowd. Ming Huashang couldn't see the direction clearly, she just followed him closely.

She looked up in between moments and saw that his shoulders seemed thin, but were as majestic as a mountain, splitting the waves like a sharp sword, and the noise from both sides did not affect Ming Huashang at all.

Ming Huachang curled her fingers and touched his palm. Her mood, which had been adjusted with great difficulty last night, became depressed again.

The Empress, who had moved the capital for many years, returned to Chang'an. The streets were empty and the scene was unprecedented. The further you go, the harder it is. At this time, it is particularly ostentatious to clear a large area of ​​land in a prime location. Ming Huashang recognized the person under the tree and asked in surprise: "Jiangling?"

Jiang Ling seemed to sense his gaze, and when he saw them, he turned around and was very surprised, and waved his hands vigorously: "Come here quickly!"

There were too many people on Zhuque Street today, and it was not safe. Ming Huazhang took Ming Huashang to the shed built by the Marquis of Jiang'an Mansion without hesitation. Ming Huashang stood in the shade, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and looked at Jiang Ling in front of her, who was dressed in gorgeous clothes and smiling foolishly, and fully understood that power was really a good thing.

Ming Huashang asked, "Why are you here?"

"I'm here to wait for my father." Jiang Ling said, "The emperor, the prince, and the princess will all pass by here today. My father specifically told me to find a conspicuous place to stand. I think this place is conspicuous enough."

Ming Huashang nodded, speechless: "You are right."

They went out early in the morning and waited until the sun set in the afternoon before they finally heard the sound of the gong. Ming Huashang stood on tiptoe and saw a majestic procession of guards winding past, followed by a chariot with nine dragons and a phoenix.

Needless to say, the decoration on the roof was enough to tell who was inside. Ming Huazhang reminded her to salute, and Ming Huashang bowed her head hastily, with the sound of "Long live the emperor" in her ears, and her momentum was overwhelming.

When the wheels of the carriage passed by, Ming Huashang could not help but raise her eyes to take a peek. The brocade curtains on both sides of the chariot were drawn up, revealing a woman wearing a dragon robe inside. Her hair was neatly tied in black, her eyes were sharp and vigorous, and her every move was imposing without any anger.

In fact, one could sense that she was quite old, but that didn't stop her from looking dignified and strong. Ming Huashang took one look and quickly looked away, her heart pounding.

It turns out that this is the world-famous empress. As expected of a woman who could abolish three sons, she is truly extraordinary.

Behind the empress's chariot came the carriages of the princes and princesses. Usually, the prince of Liang and the prince of Wei accompanied her, but this time, the first carriage behind the empress belonged to the prince and his wife.

The Crown Prince and Concubine Wei sat side by side in the carriage. The Crown Prince had been imprisoned for many years, and seeing so many people suddenly made his hands tremble slightly. Especially when he thought of so many pairs of eyes, if he showed any indecency, it would be a disgrace to the Li family.

Thinking of this, the prince became more nervous. Concubine Wei felt her heart surge as she listened to the roaring "Long live the prince" and "May the princess live forever" from both sides. And how glorious it must be for the empress to sit in the front?

At this time, Concubine Wei felt the people around her trembling. She quickly glanced at the prince, feeling very disappointed that they could not make it. She used her sleeve to cover up and pressed the prince's hand hard, and said with a slight movement of her lips: "Your Highness, so many people are watching, you must not lose your composure."

This was their first battle after returning to Chang'an, and it was also a crucial battle to prove the prince's status, so he must not remain silent. The prince felt his wife's determination, and finally found support, and slowly calmed down.

Following the carriage of the Crown Prince and his wife were the Prince of Liang and the Prince of Wei, and then the Prince of Xiang, Princess Taiping, and the Prince of Ding.

When Prince Xiang's carriage passed by, Prince Linzi's brothers were guarding their father's side of the carriage. When the people on both sides saw the young and heroic Prince Linzi, dressed in gorgeous clothes and riding a handsome horse, they cheered in a different tone. Many women, married or not, enthusiastically threw sachets and handkerchiefs to the horse.

The women of the Tang Dynasty were so passionate and bold.

Jiang Ling stood with his arms folded, and said with a sigh, "Did they put stones in their sachets to throw them so far? Look at that purse, it made a clanging sound when it fell to the ground! If you throw something this heavy at your face, you can't even walk the whole street if you're not strong enough. Tsk, I won't even go for a parade even if you invite me."

Ming Huashang glared at Jiang Ling and said, "If you can't eat the grapes, you will say they are sour. Apart from the royal family, the only people who can walk on the streets are the generals who have returned in triumph and the scholars who have passed the imperial examinations. Don't worry, you won't have such troubles."

"Hey!" Jiang Ling raised his eyebrows, unhappy, "Who do you look down on?"

"Then tell me which one you can achieve? Marry a princess, pass the imperial examination, or win a battle?"

With Jiang Ling's brain, the path of literature was completely closed to him. After all, he could only rely on his face to get a royal consort. But Jiang Ling seemed to be irritated and said, "Who said that? Why can't I lead troops to fight?"

Ming Huashang laughed but didn't answer. The meaning was self-evident. Jiang Ling was annoyed and rolled up his sleeves to have a fight with Ming Huashang. At this time, Ming Huazhang's cold voice came: "Marquis Jiang An is here."

Jiang Ling was instinctively shocked when he heard his father's name. He looked up and saw Princess Taiping's carriage rumbling past. Marquis Jiang An and her husband, Prince Ding, were riding horses and following on both sides of the carriage.

When Marquis Jiang An saw Jiang Ling, he glared at him silently. Jiang Ling was instantly deflated and turned his head away with boredom.

After the royal relatives left, the ordinary dukes and marquises followed. Ming Huashang soon saw the Duke of Zhenguo and jumped up excitedly and waved: "Father!"

By this time, the empress's carriage had already returned to the palace. The people were mainly looking at the princes and princesses, and their half-ranked titles were dispensable. The crowd on the roadside had already dispersed a lot, and they did not need to go to the palace to report, and could disperse and go home on their own.

Duke Zhenguo saw from afar a handsome man standing by the road, and next to him was a lively and charming little girl. Duke Zhenguo felt very sad when he saw his two children, and he quickly dismounted and walked towards Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang: "Erlang, Shangshang, it's been four months, why didn't you reply to my letter? I miss you so much!"