The Prince of Lanling jumped off his horse and handed the reins to his attendant, then walked up to the servant in big strides and asked in a low voice: "What is she doing now?"

  Guan Shi raised his head and looked at Lang Ling Wang, who had lost a lot of weight and looked even more solemn. He said worriedly: "In the embroidery, Your Highness?"

  He hadn't finished speaking when Prince Langling waved his hand and strode in.

  Before long, he arrived at the main hall.

  Looking at the courtyard gate that appeared in his field of vision, for some reason, he hesitated a little. After hesitating for a while, he walked over with light footsteps.

  Zhang Qi was in the courtyard, she swung a peach branch in her hand, humming a tune while dancing and floating towards the embroidered pavilion under another peach tree on the other side.

  Today's her, after careful dressing, although born with a beautiful face, never applied white powder, the small and delicate cherry lips were painted with rouge, and the forehead was also pasted with a yellow forehead sticker.

  Her raven-black hair was styled in a high bun like the beauties in the palace. She wore a Jin dynasty-style skirt, with an upper garment made of linked pearl brocade and narrow sleeves, and under it, a multicolored skirt with golden yellow embroidered flowers on her shoulders.

  She was still young and beautiful, with a hint of innocence on her face. But now, after dressing up, she seemed to have grown three or four years older, exuding an aura of a mature and elegant lady.

  As if she knew he was coming, she stopped dancing, slightly tilted her head, with a gentle and reserved smile on the corner of her mouth, quietly watching him like a stranger.

  Her smile, he had seen countless times, her face, he was also familiar with.

  But at this moment, Zhang Yi felt a sense of estrangement from her. It was as if she had become one of the beauties in the palace, and he was just a passing guest. Their reunion was nothing more than a distant and reserved smile, a brief encounter before they went their separate ways, one to the east and one to the west. She had her own man to treat her with tenderness. The charms she displayed in bed were also for someone else to enjoy alone.

  He would go to great lengths to see her, but it was just a polite inquiry from her. A reserved smile, that's all!

  The King of Lanling felt as if he had been struck heavily in the chest!

  He unknowingly turned cold and walked towards her with big strides.

  Zhang Qi didn't move. She still stood there with a faint smile, quietly facing him.

  The King of Lanling stopped in front of her.

  Zhang Qi didn't look up at him with her head tilted back, a joyful and dependent gaze. Instead, she stood straight, quietly looking at the collar of his clothes, and smiled slightly: "The king has returned?" She called out happily: "Someone, help the lord change his clothes."

  After summoning the maidservants, she gave him a deep curtsy and then turned around and walked away with quick steps.

  She fluttered down like a butterfly and danced to the peach blossom tree. Then she knelt on the stool, picked up the needle again, and embroidered with concentration.

  The King of Lanling arrived in a flurry, his imposing aura pressing down on her. Yet she seemed completely nonchalant, oblivious to his exhaustion and ignoring his displeasure. She opened her mouth to hand him over to someone else, then went about her own business.

  Although he had a lot to say, Langling Wang was also speechless at this time.

  He gazed at her intensely, and after a while, he slowly said: "Zhang Shi Aqie, what are you doing?" He was her man, her heaven, how could she be so rude to him?

  Zhang Qi put down her embroidery needle and gently wiped it with a smile, saying softly: "Embroidery!"

  That's not what he asked!

  The King of Lanling felt that the depression in his chest was even heavier. He said in a low voice, "What do you want to do?"

  "What do I want to do?" Zhang Qi turned back, she smiled shallowly, as if it was strange that he knew but asked anyway, looking at him with a hint of blame, "Doesn't the Duke know? Ai Qi is embroidering, waiting for the Duke's decision on how to deal with Ai Qi."

  The King of Lanling's face turned dark, and he said coldly: "Why should I deal with you? Zhang Shi Aqi, stop using these despicable tricks. I've told you before, I won't let go. Just give up those thoughts!"

  That day in the palace, she didn't care that His Majesty was in the study and said those words while hugging him. At the time, he was shocked, but soon he understood her cunning.

  She is in General Zheng's army, leading him and the Zheng clan's troops!

  He couldn't blame her, nor could he even think about it. He was helplessly trapped in her passionate confession and the heartless treatment that followed the next day...

  Zhang Qiu Xiu stitched another needle, her eyes focused on the embroidery frame, and her response seemed a bit absent-minded. "Is this something that the Duke can decide?" She smiled lightly, with a hint of mockery in her bright smile: "Isn't the Duke's in-laws wanting him to drive me out? And as for His Majesty, isn't he also hoping that the Duke will be understanding and willing, and let me, Ah Qiu, take the initiative to offer myself?"

  So lightly written, so indifferent, so sarcastic!

  The King of Lanling only felt a wave of humiliating pain in his chest, and he stared at Zhang Gui with cold eyes. The killing aura, the death aura, which had intimidated countless men on the battlefield, seemed to have no effect on her. She continued to embroider calmly, without even raising an eyebrow.

  The King of Lanling's face turned blue with rage.

  But what can he do? Such sarcasm and disdain, almost insult, was not from others, but from his own Ah Qiu. He had never laid a finger on her, except for staring at her with these eyes and threatening her a few times, what else could he do?

  The air was tense to the extreme, and in the courtyard, only the sound of Langling Wang's heavy breathing remained.

  After a while, he said in a low voice: "I am a man of great integrity and will not offer my wife to please others!"

  His words were sharp as a knife, but Zhang Qi's eyebrows didn't move at all, as if he was completely unmoved.

  With a stifled breath, Langling Wang thought resentfully: Hmph! This world doesn't only have this woman!

  He swung his sleeve and strode out in big steps.

  Listening to his footsteps, Zhang Qi didn't lift her head, calmly and lightly reminding him: "Prince, don't forget that you promised Ai Qi a way out... You should prepare money and manpower. Use the prisoners as manpower, some strong and capable ones would be good. I want to return to Chen territory, but I'm afraid the road won't be peaceful."

  The King of Lanling had just rushed to the gate when he heard these words.

  In an instant, he stopped abruptly and turned around.

  He looked at Zhang Yi who was still focused on her embroidery.

  Somehow, the resentment from just now has dissipated by more than half.

  She didn't want to enter the palace either, nor did she want to go back to Xiao Mo... After leaving him, she hadn't thought of being with any other man again.

  She just planned to leave from here and take all her people and belongings back to Chen's place!

  From Ye City to Jiankang, it's at least a thousand miles. This long and arduous journey. She thought that just because she had given her money, she could control those convicts? What a joke!

  He looked at her seriously. After thinking for a moment, he asked casually: "Do you like the embroidery you do every day?"

  Zhang Qi bit off a thread. Then picked up another purple silk thread. Squinting her eyes against the sunlight, she began to sew.

  "While threading the needle, she smiled slightly and replied: 'I like it too, I still want to exchange some silver coins!'"

  Do you still want to exchange some silver coins? How much are these embroidered goods worth? It's worth her not sleeping day and night, embroidering them, just to avoid ruining her eyes!

  The King of Lanling turned his head sideways, his low voice somewhat hoarse, "You can ask me directly."

  She has been with him for so long, and apart from a few winter clothes, he hasn't given her anything. The warehouse is full of gold, silver, brocade... but he forgot to give her some.

  She's so lovely, as long as she opens her mouth, he won't be stingy with her. Even if it's Xiao Mo's place, he'll also be willing to give her money to spend. But she has never opened her mouth before. Not only hasn't she said anything, but she hasn't even hinted at it in the slightest. As a result, he forgot about it. She also needs money by her side, needs to pay the servants' monthly wages, and needs to go shopping for things she likes.

  At first in Jiankang, he still remembered to give her gold, but after she followed him, he himself forgot completely. He also had to let her rely on embroidery to make a living for herself.

  She has always been so tenacious and self-reliant in places where she can't see herself. She never coveted his glory, nor did she covet Xiao Mo's wealth.

  He gazed at her, at the gentle and carefree Zhang Yi under the warm sunlight, at her breathtaking beauty that was flawless in every way. His Adam's apple rolled slightly as he finally spoke in a low voice, "You don't have to do this!"

  "He lifted his head and said seriously: 'You will never have to be like this!'"

  Having said that, he turned around and walked out of the courtyard with big strides.

  Until he walked very far away, Zhang Qi was still concentrating on embroidering, never looking back, never moving.

  Divider line ###############################

  The place where King Lanling went was a wine tower in Ye City where King Guangping was.

  This time, on the attic of the wine building, a middle-aged woman dressed in luxury was kneeling and sitting, with several tall and elegant husbands scattered around.

  In the side room of the attic, Zheng Yu was pacing back and forth restlessly. Seeing her like this, Autumn Princess said softly: "A Yu, you don't have to worry, he will definitely agree."

  Zheng Yu's face turned pale, and he said in a low voice: "But I'm still afraid."

  "Don't be afraid." Autumn Princess stood up and grasped her hands tightly, as if to lend her strength and support through this action.

  "He will definitely agree. Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager have already made up their minds, he is one of the most loyal people, and he will not reject the good intentions of the two." As she said this, Autumn Princess turned to Li Ying beside her, "Ah Ying, don't you think so?"

  Li Ying looked at Qi Gongzhu and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Still can't be too forced."

  The autumn princess was a little angry, "A Ying, why don't you comfort A Yu?" Zheng Yu interrupted the autumn princess's accusation and sighed bitterly: "He refused to go to the Zheng mansion to discuss this matter, nor did he allow my mother to come to the Wang mansion. Instead, he chose this kind of place... This shows that he is rejecting! I'm afraid that thing, he won't agree so easily."

  "It's all because of that Zhang!" Ayu's voice suddenly turned heavy.

  At this moment, a sound of footsteps came, and then a maid rushed in and whispered: "He's here, Prince Langling is here!"

  The King of Lanling has arrived!

  Zheng Yu's three daughters quickly quieted down, each sitting properly, not even daring to breathe loudly, only perking up their ears to listen to the increasingly clear footsteps coming from the stairs on the side. The sound of these footsteps was crisp and powerful, each one pounding against Zheng Yu's heart.

  Before long, a clear voice of an attendant came, "The Duke requests your presence!"

  Then came another burst of footsteps. Next, there was the sound of a few stools being moved and the gurgling of wine flowing.

  After all the voices had disappeared, Zheng Yu heard her mother say: "Xiao Gui has become thin! In the past, Xiao Gui's demeanor was impressive, and every time she saw him, people would sigh in admiration. The whole city of Ye, regardless of old or young, male or female, all passed on the words, 'The King of Lanling is elegant and refined, with a bright and clear temperament.'"

  She said as much and then stopped.

  Although no one said anything, everyone here is not a fool. She thought to say that her Zhang Ji was a demon? With her, the family will be restless, and men will be tired of running around. Even he, Lanling King, was worn out and his elegance was greatly diminished. Such a woman would hinder a man's career prospects, wouldn't she?

  She'd better say these words directly, or else it would be unpleasant. Saying only half of them still works.

  The King of Lanling did not respond, there was only the sound of drinking coming from time to time.

  "Madam Zheng remained silent for a moment before breaking the deadlock. 'Xiao Gui, what is the purpose of our meeting this time? Are you aware of it?'"

  Without waiting for a response, Madame Zheng said seriously: "The Empress Dowager and Your Majesty summoned me yesterday. Their views are the same as ours in the Zheng family."

  This is bullying after taking advantage of the empress and the emperor.

  "Did the gentlemen Zheng and Duan also send someone to meet with Xiaoyi? The two gentlemen are the country's good generals, the pillars of Qi. They have always thought highly of Xiaoyi. If Xiaoyi shows a more positive attitude, they will give him another chance. As for those black armor guards who were transferred to the King of Henan and ordered Xiaoyi to disband his private army, my husband is working on it, and I think it won't be long before Xiaoyi can lead the army again."

  Xie Daoren is also known as Hu Lu Guang, and Duan Daoren is called Duan Shao. These two are the top generals of Northern Qi, veteran marshals. In Northern Qi, they were the pillars of the country, respected by both the court and the people, with great prestige. The newly risen King of Langya had to get the approval of these two before he could go on an expedition or participate in major military campaigns.

  Madam Zheng personally poured a cup of wine for Langling Wang and said kindly, "Child, you also came from a difficult background, so you should know that in this world, when a husband loses his power, he is like a tiger without teeth, and anyone can bully him. If you really can't bear to part with Zhang Shi, you might as well set up a house outside for her. Child, there isn't a single noble family in the entire city of Ye that allows this kind of thing. Our Ayou even knelt in the ancestral temple for three days and three nights to fight for you!"

  Upon hearing this, Autumn Princess suddenly turned her head, disbelieving and somewhat infuriated as she glared at Zheng Yu: How could she be so soft-hearted? A woman like that should be eliminated, allowing her to become the concubine of Lanling King wasn't it indulging Lanling King and favoring that lowly maid?

  Zheng You didn't look at her, but instead perked up his ears and listened intently to the movements outside, waiting for Lang Ling Wang's response.

  ￥￥

  Another update of over 4,000 words.

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