The man who had just reached the entrance of Shoukang Palace twitched the corners of his mouth and entered with a gloomy face.
"The vice-general seems to have a penchant for sowing discord. When did this happen? I'm quite unaware. But if you could use such tactics against the enemy, that would truly be remarkable."
Lan Xi curled his lips and had no intention of conceding defeat in front of the man.
"The national master is ignorant of many things. As for how we subdue the enemy, that's none of the national master's concern."
"Then I wish the vice-general a triumphant return and hope there won't be any more mishaps."
His words earned him a disdainful look, and the man decided not to argue with him.
"The time is almost up. I wish the vice-general a safe return."
"You just wait and see. In the end, the Empress Dowager will still be with me."
These words were met with ridicule.
"I'm rather curious. Where does a mere vice-general get such confidence? Moreover, she's the current Empress Dowager. Does the vice-general no longer care about the rumors outside?"
It had to be said that the man really knew how to hit the nail on the head.
Lan Xi fell silent for a long time because of his words. Just when both of them thought he had given up, he uttered a shocking statement.
"The Empress Dowager had no feelings for the late emperor and was once held back by him. The emperor respects the Empress Dowager deeply. The great state of Daliang owes its prosperity today to the Empress Dowager's arduous efforts. If such a person cannot find happiness, then I don't mind being an enemy of the world."
He blinked at Shi Muwǎn and walked away gracefully and casually.
But this back view seemed heroic to Shi Muwǎn.
She never expected that in this feudal era, there would still be someone who would go to any lengths for love.
Although she didn't have romantic feelings for Lan Xi, she still hoped that he could find happiness. Well, perhaps his feelings for her were just a passing fancy. By the time he returned triumphantly, everything would be settled.
...
Two years passed in a blink of an eye. During this period, Xiao Xiao quickly married Qin Feng. As agreed, Shi Muwǎn served as the wedding witness for two years.
However, even after they got married, Xiao Xiao still visited the palace frequently.
At first, Qin Feng thought it was because she couldn't bear to part and didn't stop her. But as time went on, he became dissatisfied.
So he went to talk to Shi Muwǎn in person. Later, after many admonitions, Xiao Xiao didn't visit the palace so often.
Zi Yi received cultivation, and Concubine Rui didn't have a chance to cause trouble. She became Shi Muwǎn's confidant.
The most exciting thing was that Ji Huang was about to return triumphantly from the northwest.
He had taken those people under his wing, and the northwest had achieved peace. This time he came back to receive his rewards.
In the main hall, he was dressed in a long robe, and his handsome face showed a hint of sharpness.
"Brother Emperor, I've finally lived up to everyone's expectations and led the soldiers back triumphantly, fulfilling the promise I made two years ago."
Everyone's face was filled with joy. The young emperor smiled and helped him up personally.
"You're a hero, so you don't need to perform these complicated rituals. It hasn't been easy for you and General Lan. Well, tell me. I can grant each of you a reward."
"Is Brother Emperor serious?"
"Why has my brother become more humorous after being away for two years? When has Brother Emperor ever lied to you?"
The two looked at each other and almost spoke at the same time.
"Please, Brother Emperor, bestow a marriage on me and Lady Hui."
"Please, Your Majesty, bestow a marriage on me with the Empress Dowager. I'm willing to enter the palace and accompany the Empress Dowager. I don't need any other rewards."
These words plunged the main hall into silence.
At first, the young emperor thought he had misheard, and the smile on his face looked a bit forced.
"What kind of joke are you two playing? Why aren't you speaking properly today?"
But the two didn't intend to take the hint. Instead, they knelt on the ground with determined looks in their eyes.
"We only want this reward. Since Your Majesty has already spoken, please, Your Majesty, fulfill our wishes and let true lovers be united."
Cui Qizhou, standing on the side, had a gloomy face and stepped forward to scold.
"This is the main hall, a solemn place. How can you two act so frivolously? Your Majesty, in my opinion, let's just forget about the rewards today. They must be exhausted from the long journey, which is why they've said such absurd things."
Finally, someone came out to smooth things over. Ji Heng didn't want to ruin the happy occasion.
"Alright, I'm tired. Don't play such jokes next time. Step back. I'll hold a banquet another day."
The two seemed determined and knelt firmly on the ground.
"Please, Your Majesty, fulfill our wishes. Besides, didn't you promise the rewards long ago? How can you go back on your word now?"
Fu Lu couldn't stand it anymore. Did these two people in the hall want to anger the emperor to death today?
"Presumptuous! Prince! General! Don't think that just because you've made contributions today, you can say such absurd things. Hurry up and step back. The emperor has more important things to attend to."
"No! We won't leave today until we get the emperor's answer."
At this point, all the ministers watching the show were in an uproar.
"Your Majesty! The prince and the general seem to have forgotten their own identities just because they've made contributions. It might be better if they just stay in the northwest and never come back."
"Yes, how can they have such wild thoughts about the Empress Dowager and the concubines in the harem? It's simply nonsense. There's no precedent in our ancestors' times, let alone today. If this gets out, how will the common people view it?"
"I think they don't take imperial authority seriously at all. Your Majesty, you'd better give them a small punishment to teach them a lesson. Otherwise, anyone will be able to make absurd requests to the emperor in the future."
The chattering around was really giving Ji Heng a headache. He couldn't help but roar.
"Enough! Do you all think I'm a fool? Fine! A younger brother dares to covet his sister-in-law, and a minister even has designs on the current Empress Dowager. It seems that if you two don't suffer a bit, you won't know your place. Guards! Drag them down and give them a hundred strokes of the cane to teach them a lesson."
Just like this, the court session ended unhappily. But news couldn't be contained. Even though an order had been issued, the whole of Changjing City still knew about it.
In many teahouses, there were common people discussing it.
"Do you think the prince and the general have gone crazy? Why do they have their eyes on married women? There are so many eligible women in Daliang, yet they've said such things. It seems they really don't take the emperor seriously."
"Humph, who says it isn't so? I've lived my whole life, and this is the first time I've heard that someone dares to propose marriage to a concubine in the harem and the Empress Dowager. Isn't this just asking for the emperor and the late emperor to be cuckolded? It's really pitiful for this father and son."
Shi Muwǎn had planned to go out of the palace for a stroll with her entourage today. Unexpectedly, as soon as she came out, she heard these gossips. Coincidentally, she was at the center of the gossip.
Zi Yi had a black line across her forehead. "My lady, do you want me to tear these people's mouths apart?"