"What a... rare guest," Liu Mei said, raising an eyebrow as she looked at Shen Qingfeng standing at the door. She reached out and pulled down her shawl, revealing her cleavage. "I'm quite busy today and can't accompany you, Young Master Shen. If you're eager for some entertainment, I can let you feast your eyes?"
Shen Qingfeng ignored the seductive glances Liu Mei threw at him. He scanned the various packages on the ground and frowned slightly before stepping inside.
As soon as he took a step, Sen Ya beside Liu Mei placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist. Seeing this, Yu Shuang beside Shen Qingfeng also showed a killing intent and slightly drew out his sword with his thumb.
"It's okay," Liu Mei nodded at Sen Ya, signaling him to put down his sword.
Shen Qingfeng also calmed Yu Shuang's killing intent and stepped forward. "Boss Liu, are you leaving?"
Liu Mei laughed a few times. She puffed out her chest and gracefully walked to a couch to sit down. She took out a pipe from her bosom, put it to her lips, and took a puff. "What do you think, Young Master Shen? Can I still stay in Lige City?"
Shen Qingfeng pursed his lips and remained silent.
If Liu Mei left, it would mean that the Shifang Zhai she had managed for half her life would soon be destroyed. It also meant that this place, which almost covered nearly half of the market in Lige City and had an extremely powerful network of connections, would be casually abandoned by her like a fallen leaf.
But Liu Mei seemed not to care at all. She waved Yu Shuang and Sen Ya away and said with a smile, "Young Master Shen, you don't need to continue to negotiate with the Lu family on my behalf. I've made up my mind to leave."
Shen Qingfeng looked at her deeply, sighed, and then walked to the opposite side and sat down.
This was the Shifang Pavilion of the Shifang Zhai, the very place where they first met in this life. In just one year, everything had changed. He knew that it was all in vain no matter what he said now.
Liu Mei picked up the teapot and poured two cups of tea, one for herself and one for Shen Qingfeng.
"I'm here to thank you," Shen Qingfeng picked up the cup of tea and toasted Liu Mei. "Boss Liu, if you hadn't saved me, I would be in the underworld by now."
"Hehe..." Liu Mei said coquettishly, "You're welcome. I should thank you, Young Master Shen, for telling me that I've trusted the wrong person."
They looked at each other. After a while, they smiled at each other, picked up their teacups, and drank them up.
Xia Chuli's disappearance was like a breaking point. They let go of their restraints and started chatting.
"What are you going to do with the Shifang Zhai?" Shen Qingfeng asked. "There are all 'Wuhen' experts here. No one dares to take it over."
"Right in front of you," Liu Mei said with a smile. "Isn't your Tingfeng Ge short of people? Besides, except for Sen Ya, the others are just in a relationship of interest with me. They recognize money, not their master. You know what to do."
Shen Qingfeng said, "What about the shops of the Shifang Zhai? Are you going to move them?"
"No. It's not as easy to do business in Xirong as in Lixia. Besides, I've made enough money. It's time for me to take a break."
Shen Qingfeng was stunned. "You're going back to Xirong?"
"Yeah," Liu Mei said cunningly, leaning back. "Anyway, my father already thought I was dead. After all these years, no one remembers what I look like. I won't be exposed. It's quite convenient."
Shen Qingfeng paused for a moment and then asked hesitantly, "Don't you want to go back and continue to be the princess of Xirong?"
Liu Mei shook her head. Leaning against the window, a trace of sad melancholy flashed in her eyes, as if she was recalling some unpleasant memories.
"It's not necessary. Moreover, after my sister's incident, I've already fallen out with my father."
Shen Qingfeng put down his teacup, sat up straight, and said, "Boss Liu, can you tell me what happened back then?"
Liu Mei's body visibly stiffened. She looked out of the window for a long time. Finally, she let out a long sigh, slowly turned around, and quietly looked at Shen Qingfeng.
Shen Qingfeng was slightly stunned because he saw the long - suppressed remorse and pain in Liu Mei's eyes, which often showed a charming expression.
"Fine... It's not something that can't be told..."
Liu Mei lowered her head slightly.
"Seventeen years ago..."
Seventeen years ago.
The king of Lixia passed away due to illness, and the crown prince ascended the throne. Because he was good at fighting and strict with others, he was named King Xia Jie.
That year, when Cen Shuning went to the palace to report on his duties, he saw Liuli, who came to Lige City with the king of Xirong, in a corner of the imperial garden.
At that time, Liuli was only fourteen, in the prime of her beauty.
With bright eyes and white teeth, and fair and delicate skin, she captivated the general at first sight.
He invited her to go on a tour with him. On the Winter Festival, they exchanged ice flowers with each other, fell in love, and privately promised to be together for life.
However, just when Cen Shuning was about to propose marriage to the kingdom of Xirong, war broke out.
At that time, Lixia was far from as powerful as it was now. The Donghu tribe was strong and powerful. Every year when the spring grass began to sprout, they would send their troops southward, intending to annex Lixia, this fertile land.
At that time, Lu Jiang was the god of war in the northern country. The northern country had the strongest city walls and the bravest soldiers in Lixia at that time. The Donghu tribe did not dare to provoke them rashly, so they had to bypass and attack Yushan.
Cen Shuning had to rush to Yushan on horseback to resist the enemy. Thus, the loving couple was separated.
After Princess Liuli returned, she insisted on marrying no one but Cen Shuning. Ignoring Liu Mei's persuasion, she took a bold move. Taking only a few guards with her, she traveled across most of the Central Plains from Xirong and finally reached Yushan.
The lovers finally met.
The story should have ended here, but Cen Shuning was no match for the Donghu tribe. Four cities in Yushan were captured. King Xia Jie was furious and personally led his troops on an expedition. He joined forces with Cen Shuning.
The beautiful Liuli carried a bowl of lotus seed soup into the military tent. She wanted to nourish Cen Shuning's body, but she saw King Xia Jie sitting in the tent.
Liuli was startled. The bowl in her hand fell and shattered on the ground with a crash.
She quickly knelt on the ground. Seeing this, Cen Shuning also knelt beside her to plead for mercy.
King Xia Jie narrowed his eyes. He sized up Liuli for a long time and said in a deep voice, "Duke Wen of Cen, is Princess Liuli your wife?"
The two people kneeling on the ground blushed. Although they had privately promised to be together for life, they had not yet gotten married. Liuli was only temporarily staying in Yushan as the princess of Xirong.
So they both denied it.
But they didn't expect that all the evil had planted its fruit from then on.
After the war was won, along with King Xia Jie's departure came an imperial edict conferring Liuli as the queen of Lixia.
Cen Shuning was extremely angry, and Liuli wept day and night. However, the king of Xirong was overjoyed because he could form a marriage alliance with Lixia.
Under the double pressure from Lige and Xirong, with a sword at his neck, Cen Shuning watched helplessly as Liuli was taken away by the imperial guards.
"There is a beautiful lady, whom I can't forget once I see.
The phoenix soars in the sky, missing her madly."
Cen Shuning missed her so much that he fell ill and could not get out of bed.
He wrote letters to her every day, but due to the ban, he never received a reply.
"I wish to be with her in virtue, walking hand in hand.
If I can't fly with her, I will fall into despair."
One year later, Liuli gave birth to a son. Cen Shuning looked at the memorial of congratulations that should have been sent to King Xia Jie. He went crazy and tore it to pieces.
A few years later, Princess Liuli suddenly died of a sudden illness in Bian Palace.
The phoenix's pursuit of his mate finally ended in failure.
Sima Xiangru was able to win Zhuo Wenjun's heart, but Cen Shuning was pushed into the abyss.
After that, Cen Shuning never went to Lige to report on his duties again. Yushan also began to be separated from Lixia from then on.
Shen Qingfeng looked back at the Shifang Zhai whose door had been firmly locked. He slowly let out a sigh.
The past is like a misty sea. The leaves fall and the flowers wither.
The events of that year have planted the fruits of today. But perhaps only the people of that year can tell right from wrong.
Yu Shuang silently followed behind Shen Qingfeng. Suddenly, he stopped and said, "My lord, I have a request. I want to settle a personal grudge."
Shen Qingfeng gave a soft grunt. After thinking for a while, he nodded in agreement. "Go ahead."
On the official road outside Lige City, Yu Shuang stood in front of Liu Mei's carriage, holding his sword horizontally and pointing it at Sen Ya on horseback. He said in a deep voice, "Sen Ya, we still have an account to settle."
Liu Mei lifted the curtain. She silently glanced at Yu Shuang and said with a bitter smile, "She's my only guard left."
Yu Shuang said in a deep voice, "I know you saved my lord."
Liu Mei stared at him for a while, then looked at Sen Ya. "Go ahead, Sen Ya. This is an internal matter of 'Wuhen'. I've brought some medicine. It can keep you alive."
Sen Ya pursed his lips and looked at Liu Mei. Then he dismounted as ordered and stood in front of Yu Shuang.
"Deputy Leader," Sen Ya said. His eyes were still cold.
Yu Shuang's eyes became sharp. "I won't pursue the matter of 'Wuhen' serving different masters, but you've killed so many of our comrades. I'm here to seek justice for them."
Yu Shuang turned his sword horizontally and said coldly, "Draw your sword!"
After a series of clashing sounds of weapons, Sen Ya covered his chest and fell to one side. His sword had long been knocked out by Yu Shuang, and his entire left arm had been cut off by Yu Shuang. Gurgling blood was spurting out from the severed arm.
Sen Ya gritted his teeth and propped himself up with his remaining right hand. He reached out and pressed several major acupoints on his chest to stop the bleeding. He said weakly, "Thank you, Deputy Leader, for sparing my life."
Yu Shuang stabbed his sword into the ground forcefully and said coldly, "You should know that if it weren't for your master, I would definitely kill you today."
Sen Ya twitched the corner of his mouth. He didn't seem to know how to smile. He just silently turned his head and looked at the woman sitting in the carriage with the curtain lifted. A trace of sadness flashed in his eyes.
"Get in," Liu Mei said calmly on her face. "I'll stop the bleeding for you."
Sen Ya paused for a moment. He looked at Liu Mei gratefully, propped himself up, and obediently got into the carriage.
Yu Shuang watched the back of the slowly moving carriage. The tight muscles of his jaw relaxed. He looked up at the gray sky and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.
Late at night, Xu Ruhui, who was sleeping soundly, suddenly woke up. There was a body behind him that was a bit cold from the night wind. He was so scared that he shivered.
"Where have you been?" Xu Ruhui asked. He could clearly feel that Yu Shuang's hand holding him was so tight and seemed to be slightly trembling.
"I've taken care of some things," Yu Shuang kissed the back of his neck.
"Are you done?" Xu Ruhui let him hold him. His eyes sparkled in the darkness.
"Yeah."
Yu Shuang's hand slowly lifted his clothes. As if seeking warmth, gradually, the temperature in the whole room became hot...
"A Yan..." Shen Qingfeng gasped and leaned in Lu Yan's arms after they were done. Extreme fatigue made it even difficult for him to lift a finger. "When are you going to let Xia Yanhe abdicate? He can't be the regent king forever, right?"
Lu Yan bit his earlobe and said somewhat unhappily, "What's wrong with being the regent king? If he becomes the king of Lixia, he'll still have women forced on him."
Shen Qingfeng thought of the ten beautiful women that a courtier was eagerly offering to Xia Yanhe in the court today. He couldn't help laughing. "Didn't Lan leave a note on how to manipulate Xia Yanhe? Why don't you manipulate him to consummate his marriage?"
Lu Yan reached out and pinched Shen Qingfeng's thigh. He laughed and said, "Aren't you jealous?"
"Jealous of what?" Shen Qingfeng exaggeratedly groaned a few times. He reached out and stroked Lu Yan's cheek. "You're already mine."
Lu Yan's eyes flashed. He looked at Shen Qingfeng deeply, then lowered his head and kissed his lips.
"Feng'er, I've thought it over about what you told me before."
Shen Qingfeng smiled and said, "You've finally figured it out."
"Yeah." Lu Yan tightened his arms around Shen Qingfeng and rested his head on his shoulder. He whispered, "If you become my queen, you'll be locked in Bian Palace forever. But I don't want you to be like this. I want you to be the renowned Young Master Ruwei, the meritorious official who will be remembered in the history of Lixia. I don't want the word 'queen' to bury your talent in the history books in the future."
Shen Qingfeng's eyes were filled with tears. He looked at Lu Yan deeply and said in a trembling voice, "A Yan..."
Lu Yan smiled and held his hand. "But I have a condition."
"What condition?"
"I want to have a proper wedding with you."
Shen Qingfeng's body paused. Both of them couldn't help but think of their wedding in the prison cell a year ago. Shen Qingfeng felt a pang in his heart. He reached out and tightly hugged Lu Yan's waist, buried his face in his chest, and remained silent.
Lu Yan stroked his head and comforted him, "What do you think? We won't make a big deal out of it. I'm not the regent king, and you're not the prime minister of the Qingxiang Mansion. I'm just Lu Yan, and you're just Shen Qingfeng."
Lu Yan's words were as gentle as a gurgling stream, slowly moistening the corner of Shen Qingfeng's heart that was filled with regret. His nose felt sour. He suddenly raised his head and looked at this man who had engraved himself in his heart.
"Okay."
In this second life, he had stumbled along and finally met the right person.
The past has faded away. In this mortal world, people may live an ordinary life, rise and fall in the world, or make a great impact. The world is full of ups and downs. No matter what the future holds, now that he is lying in his arms, he has enough courage to accompany him to enjoy this vast land.