Chapter 34
Tan Xiaoque is a troublemaker.
This is a fact that all the brothers of Black Cloud Stronghold tacitly agree on.
With her exceptional skills in controlling poisons and creating venomous concoctions, she caused countless troubles. However, with Granny Tian backing her up, the second-in-command turned a blind eye.
In addition, she was young, sweet-talking, and good at acting cute, and Lin Qiang was very tolerant of her, which further contributed to her unruly nature.
This time, Lin Qiang originally said he wouldn't stay in Beijing for more than a few days before returning to the village. But Tan Xiaoque waited and waited in the village for many days without any news!
Upon inquiring, I learned that the head of the gang had actually stayed in the capital and wasn't going back for the time being? What a disaster!
If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain!
Without saying a word, Tan Xiaoque led her donkey away from Black Cloud Village, determined not to return until she found the chief!
The cheerful sound of bells reflected the little girl's radiant smile, as beautiful as a flower in March, attracting the attention of many people as soon as she entered the city.
Among them were those with good intentions, and naturally, some with malicious intent. In the crowd, a middle-aged man with a reasonably decent appearance but an extremely lewd demeanor fixed his lustful gaze on the young girl.
That gaze was like a maggot clinging to one's bones, impossible to shake off, and nauseating.
"Oh, young lady, is this your first time in the capital?"
The man blatantly blocked the path of the brightly colored donkey, his malicious intent blatantly obvious. His henchmen surrounded the donkey, and pedestrians hurriedly made way for it.
Tan Xiaoque didn't care at all, seemingly completely unaware of the man's sinister intentions, and said innocently, "Yes, this is Xiaoque's first time in the capital."
"Does Miss Little Sparrow have a place to stay? Hehe, my home is right next to Erhuan. If Miss Little Sparrow doesn't mind, you can come and rest at my house."
Upon seeing the young girl's naive and innocent appearance, the middle-aged man became extremely excited and immediately began to flaunt his status! (The text then abruptly shifts to a seemingly unrelated anecdote about a young girl, followed by a mention of Erhuan.)
"Going to your house?"
Tan Xiaoque lay on the donkey's head, pretending to be deep in thought. Her moist cat-like eyes were so alluring that they made people itch to look away. After a while, she nodded happily.
"Okay!"
"Quickly, please take Miss Little Sparrow back to the manor!" Fearing she might change her mind, the man personally grabbed the donkey's reins and pulled her home.
Feng Zhi, who was still unwilling to accept this bad news, was met with another piece of bad news.
"Wind Envoy, Miss Little Sparrow has been taken away by Cheng Biao, the notorious playboy and lecherous devil in the capital!"
"Fuck!" Feng Zhi couldn't help but swear.
She's already causing him trouble as soon as she arrives in the city. This little miss is really something!
"Quickly, send men to bring her back! We must be quick!"
"promise."
The subordinate thought he was worried about Tan Xiaoque's safety and rushed to snatch her without delay.
In fact, Feng Zhi wasn't worried about what Cheng Biao would do to Tan Xiaoque; he was worried that Tan Xiaoque would kill Cheng Biao! Then he'd have to clean up the mess!
**
The spring river tide rises to meet the sea, and the bright moon rises with the tide.
Rippling waves stretch for thousands of miles; where on the spring river is there no moon shining?
If there is anyone in this world who shines as brightly as the moon over the sea and possesses unyielding integrity, it must be Guan Shengran, the only son of General Guan Xiao, the Grand General Who Protects the Nation.
Born into a military family, he was well-versed in literature. His father held military power and was the only person in the court who could oppose the Prime Minister Yuan Su. However, Guan Shengran himself had no interest in power and spent many years traveling and studying, enjoying the patronage of the gentry.
Someone once used these words to describe Guan Shengran:
"Guan Shengran is selfless and undifferentiated with others; when he wants to be with someone, he will act like that person. When he meets a wine lover, he will sing Manqing's seal; when he meets a poet, he will chant the Mahayana chant; when he meets a swordsman, he will dance like an ape; when he meets a chess player, he will calculate like a kudzu; when he meets a Taoist priest, he will be a crane soaring to the sky; when he meets a Buddhist monk, he will be surrounded by lotus flowers; when he meets a debater, he will be like pearls and jade fluttering in the wind; when he meets a quiet person, he will be taciturn all day long; when he meets an old man, he will be a babbler; when he meets a child, he will laugh and cry with a smile."
This carefree and gentle spirit is precisely the sentiment highly praised by scholars.
A year ago, he went out again and only returned yesterday. The first thing he did upon returning was not to visit his teacher or classmates, but to go directly to the palace to pay his respects to the Empress.
"Guan Shengran greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years."
Dressed in a long white brocade robe adorned with jade, with a simple scholar's hairstyle and a translucent white jade hairpin, Guan Shengran exuded an aura as clean and harmless as his handsome face. His mere presence seemed to illuminate the entire palace.
"Shengran? Get up quickly." Yuan Qiong was slightly surprised and gestured for Xiao Jin to help him up. "When the palace servants first reported it, I didn't quite believe it. Why did you return from your study tour so early?"
Although their families were rivals, Guan Shengran was Yuwen Jing's study companion, and they had known each other since childhood, so she naturally spoke to him without much formality. However, Yuan Qiong had never truly let her guard down around Guan Shengran. After all, even one's own family name couldn't be entirely trusted, let alone someone from a rival family.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"This is a gift I brought back for Qiong..." Suddenly remembering her current status, the habitual form of address was swallowed back: "This is a gift I brought back for Your Majesty the Empress."
He didn't hand it to Xiao Jin, but instead stepped forward and personally placed the book on the table in front of her. It was his travel journal. Wherever he went, whatever he saw, whatever interesting things he heard, he would write them down and then pass them on to her.
He always selfishly thought that this was equivalent to her accompanying him on a journey through half of the Great Yan.
"I really like it. You're always so thoughtful." Yuan Qiong's smile became more genuine; she truly loved these fascinating travelogues.
"Your Majesty the Empress..."
Yuan Qiong, who was flipping through her notes, stopped and looked at him with a puzzled expression: "What's wrong?"
"Is His Majesty good to you?"
This is quite an interesting question. Yuan Qiong raised an eyebrow, her fox-like eyes curving slightly.
"His Majesty is naturally good to me."
lie.
Guan Shengran recalled the letter that Prince Cheng had sent him, saying that Yuwen Jing had slept with Yuan Zhen.
When Yuwen Jing got married, he promised to protect her for life. However, only a year after the emperor and empress got married, and before the empress had a child, he slept with another woman.
Heartbroken, Guan Shengran turned back to the capital without a word, determined to seek justice for Yuan Qiong!
As a result, before he could even go to Weiyang Palace to question them, he saw Yuwen Jing arriving with a woman, his face cold.
Golden palace with red pillars, jade bricks paving the ground.
Yuan Qiong, seated at the head of the table, showed little change in expression. She calmly rose and bowed, as did Guan Shengran behind her.
"Your Majesty, I greet you. Long live the Emperor!"
"Sheng Ran?!"
Yuwen Jing was just as surprised as Yuan Qiong, not knowing when his study companion had returned to the capital.
When did you get back?
"Your Majesty, we just returned to the capital yesterday."
As Yuwen Jing called out, Yuan Zhen, who was standing to the side, was unhappy that Yuwen Jing was distracted by something else. She immediately tugged at his sleeve and said in a coquettish voice, "Your Majesty, if you don't believe what I say, you can search the Zhaoyang Palace and see if what you find is true or false!"
"This..." Yuwen Jing was in a dilemma. To be honest, he was still a little hesitant.
He stole a glance at his empress, then hesitantly stepped forward and tugged at her sleeve: "Sister Qiong..."
Yuan Qiong directly pulled her sleeve out of his hand, took a step back, and nodded: "Your Majesty, please give your orders."
"Consort Yuan said that you have a green stone here, which is something you cherish. I wonder if you may let me see it?"
A green stone? The one the guy with the big black beard gave her?
Yuan Qiong looked up, glanced at Yuan Zhen who was trying hard to hold her head high but was actually weak inside, and sneered: "No!"
Even if I did have it, why would I show it to you? Are horses galloping on your foreheads?
Is your face big enough?
"Today I'll see who dares to touch anything belonging to my Zhaoyang Palace! If anyone does, I'll take their claws!"
In front of so many palace servants, she spoke without any politeness, ruthlessly humiliating Emperor Yuwen Jing. The young emperor couldn't take it and his face turned pale instantly.
"Sister Qiong..."
"Please give your orders, Your Majesty," she said respectfully.
Instructions? How should I instruct them?
"What if I insist on searching?"
Yuan Qiong's lips curled slightly: "Your Majesty may give it a try."
Try? Would he dare? In this situation, of course... he wouldn't!
"Someone come here."
Yuwen Jing, his face pale, called out, struggling to maintain his last shred of imperial dignity. A tall, burly imperial guard entered, bowing low.
"Surround Zhaoyang Palace completely. No one is allowed to enter or leave without my permission!"
"promise."
The man raised his head, a gentle smile on his deep and dignified face, and glanced at the queen, whose eyes were wide open.
He nodded, and in a direction only she could see, mouthed a smug look:
Fate is truly wondrous!
Author's Note: Lin Qiang: Oh my, what a wonderful coincidence! ^_^
Yuan Qiong: Man, you're playing with fire...
**
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the [landmine]: White Dew Turns to Frost 1;
Thank you to the little angel who watered the [nutrient solution]:
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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