met free Page 128
Page 128
Fan Jian watched Wu Zhu turn his neck, wishing he could just twist his head off for him. "But what?"
Wu Zhu continued, "But with me around, things might not be so certain."
"Just beat up Ku He and make him hand over his unique method to dissipate his sword intent."
Fan Xian wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Only Uncle could beat up a Grandmaster like that."
Wu Zhu suddenly felt something was wrong. "But I can't leave Fan Xian. What if someone tries to kill him again if I leave Fan Xian?"
At this moment, a dark shadow flashed in front of Wu Zhu, and the shadow knelt on one knee, looking at Wu Zhu with admiration.
"The Shadow of the Oversight Council has met with the Fifth Secretary!"
Wu Zhu stared at the shadow for a while, then said, "With you here, at least Yun Zhilan can't beat you."
Shadow's thinking was clearer: "Fifth Master, the academy has already started investigating whether there is anyone behind Iron Prime Minister."
"With me here, and with some more experts from the academy and the palace, we should be able to keep Fan Xian safe!"
Fan Jian nodded and said, "That's a good idea. Shadow, you go find Chen Pingping, and I'll go to the palace to see His Majesty."
into the night.
Yun Zhilan and Zhuang Mohan sat in the inn, both of them looking rather unwell.
"Master Yun, I am truly sorry."
Yun Zhilan sighed deeply, "Who would have thought that a Grandmaster would suddenly appear, and one who is not even from Hong Sixiang?"
"Since my master has agreed to this matter, we should naturally bear the unexpected consequences."
"Only my master, you and I, and General Uesugi Tora know about the Iron Prime Minister's matter. All other matters are handled in a very secretive manner."
"Even the Oversight Council won't be able to find anything out in a short time."
Zhuang Mohan said, "Tie Xiang is dead, and he was killed by a Grandmaster from Nanqing. Nanqing can't keep us here for long either."
Yun Zhilan said with some anger, "It was just a normal martial arts competition. If Tie Xiang crippled Fan Xian, that's just a matter of swords having no eyes."
"Their grandmaster suddenly intervened and even caused a death. The people of Nanqing are in the wrong!"
"Our two delegations will send representatives to the Court of State Ceremonial tomorrow to lodge a protest!"
Zhan Pianpian's room.
The eldest princess of Northern Qi removed her disguise and was tidying her appearance in front of the mirror.
She was very satisfied with her trip to Nanqing, mainly because of her satisfaction with Li Chang'an.
Zhan Pianpian is currently unaware of Emperor Qing's reply to Northern Qi: if she chooses to marry Prince Yong, she can only become a concubine.
She was humming "Linjiang Xian" and fantasizing about the wonderful days of marrying Prince Yong when suddenly a figure appeared at the door.
Zhan Pianpian turned her head and saw that it was actually Prince Yong, whom she had been thinking about!
"His Royal Highness King Yong!"
Zhan Pianpian instinctively curtsied, but then noticed something was amiss.
I did not disguise myself; this is my true appearance.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, covering her face.
Li Chang'an found a chair and sat down, then slowly said, "Your Highness, I know it's you, there's no need to hide it."
When Zhan Pianpian heard Li Chang'an say that, she peeked her big eyes out from between her fingers.
"Huh? How did you know?"
Li Chang'an said, "The Empress Dowager has already spoken to my mother about the marriage alliance, and I have also seen the princess's portrait."
"I thought of your eyes again that day. I recognized you from your eyes."
Zhan Pianpian lowered her hands and placed them neatly in front of her, looking dignified and composed.
"So, my eyesight is quite discerning?"
Li Chang'an smiled slightly, "Your Highness's eyes are very expressive; one look is enough to make you unforgettable."
This rambling nonsense delighted Zhan Pianpian, who completely believed it.
She carefully tidied her hair, straightened her chest, and made herself look more like a princess.
However, she soon discovered a new problem!
How could I let a strange man into my room so late!
Although, this man may become very familiar with you later.
"Your Highness Prince Yong! How did you get in?!"
"It's so late? How dare you enter my room so arbitrarily?"
"What about the dignity of the Great Qi royal family if you do this!"
Li Chang'an suddenly realized what was happening and slapped his thigh.
"I only wanted to see the princess, but now it seems that I was indeed presumptuous."
"Then I'll go?"
As soon as Li Chang'an stood up, Zhan Pianpian quickly pulled him back.
"You...wait!"
Li Chang'an sighed, "For the sake of the Qi royal family's reputation, I should leave."
Zhan Pianpian cleared her throat twice. "You've already made a mistake by stepping through this door."
Even if we go out now, the mistake can't be undone.
"So, the most important thing is that you recognize your mistake, know that doing so was rash, and don't make the same mistake again next time."
Li Chang'an sat back down in his chair and asked in confusion, "Should I leave or not?"
Zhan Pianpian straightened her posture and said seriously, word by word, "You came to see me so late at night, there must be something urgent. I will forgive you this time."
Li Chang'an nodded seriously, "Your Highness is indeed sensible. Next time I come, I will definitely knock on the door first."
Zhan Pianpian sat down across the table from Li Chang'an. She glanced at Li Chang'an and suddenly blushed.
It was so late, and she was sitting opposite a man—she had never experienced anything like this before.
What's more, this man is her childhood idol and the person she admires now.
Zhan Pianpian clasped her hands together, suddenly so nervous that she didn't know what to say.
Li Chang'an said frankly, "Your Highness, you haven't gone out to see much of the city since you came to Kyoto, have you?"
"I have been busy with many matters, and I have finally found some time today, but you are about to leave."
When the topic came up, Zhan Pianpian said eagerly, "Not only Kyoto, but I haven't even been to the capital city itself."
"I was born into the royal family and never had the chance to see the outside world."
"We came to Qingguo with our teacher this time, and we dared not reveal our identities."
Li Chang'an smiled calmly, "If you trust me, I can take you out without anyone knowing."
"Moreover, with my cultivation level, no one can harm you."
Taking Zhan Pianpian out for a stroll is more than enough with Lao Wang's light-footed skills.
Most importantly, one must use the keen eyesight and the hearing of a half-step master to avoid acquaintances and secret agents in time.
Therefore, taking Zhan Pianpian out will not reveal his cultivation level.
Zhan Pianpian was clearly moved by this bold idea.
For a caged canary, the thought of going out to see the outside world is simply too tempting.
However, Zhan Pianpian, who was always strictly controlled, was still somewhat resistant to going out with a man late at night.
Seeing Zhan Pianpian hesitate, Li Chang'an continued, "As long as you have an open mind, there's no need to be too cautious."
Zhan Pianpian tapped the table and said, "But my heart is not at peace..."
As soon as she said it, she immediately regretted it and changed her words, "The Northern Qi royal family has always been open and aboveboard!"
"Tell me, where are some good places to go this late?"
Both the Southern Qing and Northern Qi dynasties had bustling night markets, and in one area of the capital, the night market would not stop until the second or third watch of the night.
Of course, all the brothels and entertainment venues are located within the night market area.
In addition, there are restaurants, snack shops, teahouses, dance halls, and many more.
Li Chang'an said leisurely, "The night market in the capital of Nanqing has a lot of food from vendors who come from all over the country."
"At this time, the barbecue restaurants in the East Market should be open, offering fresh lamb, beef, venison..."
"If you don't like grilling, there's also hot pot with mutton and beef tripe, or you can have a bowl of pork trotter rice and a sweet dish."
"And the roast duck from Yishiju is even better at the night market, with crispy skin and tender meat; you can smell the aroma from dozens of feet away..."
As Li Chang'an was speaking, he noticed that Zhan Pianpian's big eyes were staring straight at him, and she had already swallowed several mouthfuls of saliva.
"Your Highness Prince Yong wishes to invite me out, but I have a request."