Standing on the fifth floor of Tongqu Garden, looking at the Zhang River, I only feel that the river water is surging, turbid and wide, with an imposing momentum that presses in on me.

  Zhang Qi grasped the railing with both hands, her black clothes fluttering in the wind. The wind lifted her hair and blew up the deep purple cloak, as if in the next second, she would be swept into the river by the wind and disappear forever!

  The King of Lanling glanced at her and suddenly reached out to support her slender waist.

  Feeling his warm body, Zhang Qi turned around and smiled at him, continuing to focus on the river water flowing rapidly below.

  "What are you looking at? Why so focused?"

  "Nothing." Zhang Qi's lips curled up into a smile as he lazily withdrew his gaze, "Chang Gong, let's head back."

  The King of Lanling gazed deeply at her, and found himself becoming quite absurd, actually wanting to know every unspoken thought in her mind.

  "After a while, he said: 'Let's go for another walk.'"

  "Alright."

  Dividing line ###########################

  As the two of them stood on top of the Ice Phoenix Platform, having finished taking in the scenery around them and were just about to head back down, they suddenly heard a burst of laughter coming from below. Before they knew it, a group of people appeared before their eyes.

  This is a group of noble ladies, walking in the front is Autumn Princess, Li Ying's two daughters, they are chatting and laughing with their companions behind them. Seeing Langling Wang and Zhang Gui, they stopped simultaneously.

  Just then, a gentle voice called out, "A Qiu, A Ying!"

  In the midst of shouting voices, Zheng Yu, carrying a skirt cover and running with a red face, appeared in the stairwell at the same time as a handsome young man.

  This young man is elegant and refined. His appearance is dignified and worth watching, every gesture and movement is elegant and refined, looking like a noble gentleman.

  This young man is named Yang Jing, the second son of the late Prime Minister Yang Yan. Yang Yan took the wrong side in the struggle between Empress Li and Empress Lü over the Hu-Han issue, although he had been in power for many years. He was widely praised in both the imperial court and among the people, but was also killed.

  However, Yang You had already died. The crime did not extend to his family members, and the current emperor, Gao Yan, was a magnanimous and ambitious person, so he reused Yang Jing, who was like his father in appearance, reputation, and talent.

  Due to family circumstances, Yang Jing's previously arranged marriage had been called off. Now at the age of eighteen, she was still unmarried. And yet, at this moment, she was following Zheng Yu with a lovesick expression, her every move hesitant and uncertain.

  Zheng You arrived at the side of the noble ladies, and only then did she see Lang Ling Wang and Zhang Qi. In an instant, her gaze stiffened, and soon she lowered her eyelids. She quietly made a silent bow to Lang Ling Wang, and when he looked over, she calmly retreated to one side.

  She looked worried. Yang Jing softly called out from behind her: "A You." He quickly stepped forward, standing in front of her. Concerned, he asked: "What's wrong?"

  Zheng Yu didn't respond, she just raised her eyes and looked over. And when Yang Jing followed her gaze, he finally saw Lang Ling Wang, as well as Zhang Qi.

  When he saw the stunning beauty Zhang Qi, Yang Jing didn't even bat an eyelid. He simply nodded at Lang Ling Wang and smiled elegantly: "Long Gong good elegant mood."

  He turned to Zheng Yu again, his expression full of tenderness and infatuation. He stretched out his hand to take Zheng Yu's, "A Yu, let's go over there and take a look."

  Zheng You didn't respond, she just held his hand and followed Yang Jing to the side. As they passed in front of Langling Wang, no one noticed that her eyes flickered and she quietly glanced at Langling Wang.

  Unlike what she had expected, Lang Ling Wang saw her and Yang Jing holding hands, but his expression didn't change... He glanced at Yang Jing lightly, nodded slightly to Zheng Yu, then put his arm around Zhang Qi, walked past the crowd of noble ladies, and headed downstairs.

  These two are absolutely stunning, standing together is breathtaking. As they stepped forward, the noble ladies involuntarily made way for them. After going down a floor, it's unknown what Zhang said, but he burst out laughing loudly. Out of the corner of his eye, Zheng Yu saw Lang Ling Wang embracing Zhang around the waist, and the two descended the Jade Phoenix Pavilion intimately.

  Zheng Yu expressionlessly shook off Yang Jing's hand and walked to the side. At this time, Li Ying walked out from among the noblewomen and approached her, saying anxiously: "Ayu, I didn't know it would be like this..."

  Zheng You smiled bleakly, and whispered: "I knew it was useless... He's always been like this, once he gives up, he completely lets go, never hesitating! Even if he knows I'm beneficial to his future, and the future of many men!" This Yang Jing, is still a guilty soul. To restore the glory of his father's time, relying on himself is extremely important... Everyone in the entire city of Ye knows this, it has been spread around, even within his own family, there have been hints about marrying into the Yang family... But he saw it with his own eyes, and still remained unmoved!

  Li Ying saw her smile wistfully, thought for a moment, and finally said: "Chang Gong is so infatuated with beauty, even if he has great talent, it will be wasted. Ah Yu, give up on him. He's not worth your affection!" She proudly said: "Our Ah Yu, as long as he's a great man!"

  Give him up?

  Zheng Yu looked down at the stairs and remained silent for a long time.

  Dividing line ###############################

  The two men from Lanling Wang left the garden and returned directly to the palace.

  He had just returned to the mansion when Old Steward Fang hurried over. He didn't know what he said, but King Langling took a dozen guards and hastily departed on horseback.

  An hour later, they arrived outside the mansion of the Duke of Jun.

  Facing Fang Lao Guan Shi, an inner attendant walked out and called out in a shrill voice: "Is Zhang Shi here?"

  Did you come specifically looking for Zhang Ji?

  Old Fang was taken aback for a moment, then bowed and said: "Yes."

  "By order of the Empress Dowager, Zhang has been summoned."

  Old Fang's heart tightened as he replied, "Yes."

  Leading the group of people to the main hall, after summoning Zhang Gui, the eunuch looked her up and down and suddenly ordered: "Guards, give this woman fifteen slaps on the mouth!"

  What?

  Master Fang was shocked, and the guards of the county prince's mansion, as well as the maidservants and waiting women, were also stunned!

  The eunuch glared at them with a strange and eerie gaze, his voice shrill as he said, "What? The empress's orders, you dare not to obey?"

  In a state of shock, two tall and sturdy maidservants had already emerged, striding straight towards Zhang Qi.

  Just as the two maidservants arrived in front of Zhang Gui, stretching out their hands to grab her arm. Zhang Gui, who had been quietly standing there, without a hint of surprise or panic even after hearing the order to slap her, calmly opened her mouth and said, "The words of the Duke, do you dare not listen?"

  The tone was exactly the same as that eunuch's words... Not only calm, but also arrogant!

  Zhang Yi ordered. Naturally, it was one side of the Wangfu guards!

  What did the king say?

  The guards immediately came to attention, and at the same time woke up from the empress's pressure. Ah, they were the prince's troops. That was not ordinary strictness. Once his orders were disobeyed, it was feared that death was near!

  At this point, they stepped forward in unison, surrounding Zhang Qi from all sides. Two of the guards even forcibly pulled open the hands of the two maidservants and pushed them backward!

  Two maidservants stood up, their faces simultaneously turning pale! The eunuch let out a disbelieving shrill cry: "You, you dare to defy the imperial edict?" He turned to Zhang Gui and cried sharply: "Zhang Gui, if you don't want to die, leave now!" At this point, it was just a matter of slapping ten or so mouths. Daring to disobey, one's life might not even be spared!

  In the face of that eunuch's anger, all the guards' faces changed color in unison. And on one side, Old Fang was so frightened that his face turned pale.

  At this moment, Zhang Gui quietly waved her hand, signaling the guards to stand behind her. She took a step forward and fixed her gaze on these people from the palace.

  Looking at them, Zhang Gui bowed his head, a black robe fluttering in the spring breeze. "Please report back to Her Majesty that our Duke has said he is a member of the imperial clan and that going to war is merely a hobby. If there's a battle to be fought, he can gallop across the battlefield and fulfill his lifelong wish; if not, no one in the world can deny him a meal!"

  Transcending, taking the place of Langling Wang to say this, Zhang Gui said solemnly, "My family's king also said that since ancient times, it has been difficult for monarchs and ministers to get along. As a minister of the Qi royal house, with the favor of the emperor, what benefit is there in having the wife of a high-ranking aristocratic family?"

  This is indeed a demonstration of loyalty! It's actually saying that in order to be loyal to the Emperor, he is willing to become a solitary minister, a minister who wholeheartedly relies on the Emperor!

  At this time, when the Empress Dowager ordered to give her a slap in the face, she was actually not talking about anything, but inexplicably, once again took the initiative to speak on behalf of Prince Langling!

  Under Fang's astonished gaze, the eunuch widened his eyes. After a while, he shouted in a shrill voice: "You this cheap servant girl, how dare you have such a big nerve!"

  He had come at someone's behest to give Zhang Gui a dozen slaps, but hadn't expected Zhang Gui to have someone protecting him, so the slapping couldn't be done. Now,

  Zhang Qi suddenly said this out of nowhere, what's going on?

  Upon hearing the eunuch's rebuke, Zhang Qi smiled and curtsied, "I dare not!" She said softly: "It was just a response on behalf of the Duke."

  Seeing the eunuch hesitate, as if still wavering between whether to return to the palace to report this or continue carrying out the empress dowager's orders, Zhang Gui reminded him kindly: "Eunuch, I am right here... why not report back to the empress dowager before speaking?"

  The eunuch glared at her, thought for a moment, and also felt reasonable. He shouted sharply: "Let you go for the time being, wait for our family to report back to the empress dowager, and then make a decision. Let's go!"

  A group of people came in a mighty and majestic manner, full of doubts as they left.

  Looking at their backs, Fang walked towards Zhang Qi in big strides. Just as he reached her front, Zhang Qi turned around to look at him.

  Looking at her clear and bright eyes, Fang Lao swallowed the words he was about to say: Let's wait until the Duke returns before speaking.

  Divider line

  The eunuch hastily returned to the palace.

  As soon as he arrived at the palace gate, he met Autumn Princess and several noble ladies coming out of the palace.

  Upon seeing the eunuch, Princess Qiu's eyes lit up. She hastily signaled for the carriage to draw closer and asked: "Did you just go to the Wangfu of Lanling to deliver an imperial edict?"

  The princess of autumn spoke, and the eunuch immediately replied respectfully: "Yes, Princess."

  The autumn princess's eyes lit up, and she hastily asked: "Did you give that cheap woman fifteen slaps?" Her voice was trembling with joy. "Were any of her teeth knocked out?"

  She turned to Zheng Yu and smiled: "Ah Yu, do you think there are any beautiful women in this world who are still lovely even with a few missing teeth?"

  As soon as these words came out, a burst of soft laughter spread.

  Without waiting for Zheng Yu to respond, Autumn Princess again complained to the eunuch: "You're moving too fast, not even giving us a chance... Honestly, how can you let us miss out on something so much fun?"

  Actually, it was Zheng Yu who dragged things out on the left and right, causing them to be late for the meeting... Zheng Yu didn't want to be present when Zhang Qi got beaten up. Even if she had ten mouths, she probably wouldn't be forgiven by Prince Langling in this lifetime. As for these matters, Autumn Princess naturally wouldn't understand, and there was no need to explain it to her either.

  Among the expectations of all the girls, the eunuch had a bitter face. He said with a sigh: "Report to the princess, it was blocked and didn't work!"

  "What?"

  The princess was furious. She shrieked: "What's going on?"

  The eunuch wiped the sweat from his forehead and recounted the events.

  As soon as his voice fell, Autumn Princess immediately sneered: "She really dares to say it...... Go quickly and pass this on to the Empress Dowager! Bah, who does she think she is, daring to bypass Long Gong and take charge like this?"

  It was Li Ying who shook her head at this time and said, "This Zhang Shi is really despicable! She fabricated such a ghost story just to monopolize Chang Gong!"

  Among the sarcastic remarks of the two women, Zheng Yu also curled up the corner of her mouth and said softly: "Her courage has never been small."

  Several other noblewomen burst out laughing loudly. One of them shouted, "This is exactly what's needed - someone with such great audacity! Look at Gao Zhang Gong now, does he still want to protect her? That woman will ride on his head and defecate on it! It's simply infuriating!"

  "Whatever."

  "That's hilarious!"

  The sound of laughter rose and fell. Amidst the mocking voices, not a single woman believed that Lang Ling Wang was truly a military genius who would one day stand firm in court solely on his own immortal merits without any external help.

  Even fewer people believed that Langling Wang himself was deeply convinced of his own talent!

  They simply thought that Langling Wang was a young man who had achieved success by luck and won one or two games.

  With this military achievement, if utilized properly, he can lead the Black Armor Guard and enjoy the prestige of having private soldiers for a lifetime! Of course, the premise of such prestige is that it must be used properly, such as having a good father-in-law, a group of skilled staff who are good at creating momentum and publicity for him, and helping him maintain his reputation.

  Several women were getting impatient as they spoke. Autumn Princess was excited and said, "Hurry up and go in, remember to tell the Empress Dowager everything without missing a single word." This mother of hers was very fond of Gao Zhang Gong, just by looking at how she always mentioned him over the past year, it was clear.

  How could the empress dowager, who doted on Lang Ling Wang so much and always thought of her children and younger generations, tolerate such a cheap and vicious maidservant!

  With a humble body doing great evil deeds, she deserved that lowly woman looking for death!

  Of course, this is not the key point. The key point is that Gao Changgong himself knew about it afterwards and how disappointed and disheartened he was!

  This is a move that only the enemy would make. It seems that after this tune, Gao Zhang Gong was momentarily mesmerized by beauty and couldn't wake up, but those idle words and veiled sarcasm will also help him sober up!

  The more they think about it, the more eager all the girls become.

  Divider line

  Under the urging of Autumn Princess Ji, Empress Dowager rushed into the palace hastily.

  In the palace, the empress dowager and the emperor were chatting together. Upon hearing that the eunuch had returned, the empress dowager smiled and said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, I heard about the Zhang woman's affair last night. I don't like this kind of arrogant woman." She herself had once given up her position as first wife to help her husband achieve his ambitions!

  What?

  The emperor's expression changed slightly, and he asked uneasily: "Empress Dowager... what have you done with her?"

  The empress narrowed her eyes, glanced at him, and slowly said after sipping her tea: "Nothing much, just gave her a dozen or so slaps, knocked out a few teeth."

  What?

  The emperor's hand on the armrest trembled, and he couldn't help but think of that one in black clothes, an absolute beauty with a proud and cold demeanor. For a moment, his mouth felt bitter beyond words. Distracted for a while, he hastily lowered his head to drink wine under the gaze of Empress Dowager.

  Just in the process of drinking, the wine jar was shaking a bit.

  The emperor, with his head hung low, heard the empress dowager say: "Let him in."

  "Yes."

  Before long, footsteps were heard approaching.

  "After the courtesy was over, the Empress Dowager said gently: 'Speak.'"

  "Yes."

  That eunuch raised his voice and recounted in detail everything that had happened after arriving at the Langling Wangfu.

  When she heard that Zhang Gui dared to order the guards to block, the Empress Dowager's eyebrows furrowed, while the Emperor quickly raised his head, staring at the eunuch without blinking.

  The eunuch lowered his head and continued to speak, when he had explained the whole situation, the great hall was completely quiet.

  After a while, the voice of the Empress Dowager came, and this voice had no hint of anger.

  "Go ahead."

  She dismissed the eunuch and turned to the Emperor, smiling: "My son, it's a good thing that Chang Gong is this kind of child, he can be reused!" Just now she was furious, but now she only had the joy of discovering loyal ministers and good generals. After all, Empress Lü was just a mother who wholeheartedly thought about her son's great cause.

  Seeing the Emperor frowning and remaining silent, Empress Lü thought he didn't believe her, so she let out a long sigh and said: "Imperial Son, in this world there are always too many clever people, but those clever people always think that having fewer powerful connections is not enough. Like Zhang Gong, who clearly wants to be a lone minister, there aren't many like him in the entire court!"

  The Empress Dowager laughed from the heart and said: "That child, Chang Gong, has been loyal and honest since he was a child. Now it seems that his loyalty is already in line with the legacy of the ancients!"

  To the emperor who was still deep in thought and silent, the empress dowager said kindly: "Imperial son, that woman... since Chong Xiang has this hobby, let him be." Although she didn't like that woman, Chong Xiang, who was loyal at heart, liked her. It seemed that as long as she was here watching, that woman wouldn't cause any trouble, so she might as well let Chong Xiang pamper her. She only needed to care about the emperor's great undertaking and reign.

  The emperor lifted his head.

  Unlike the Empress Dowager of Lanling, who was single-mindedly convinced of her innocence, he thought to himself at this moment: Was it really Chang Gong who said these words, or did that woman take it upon herself?

  Most people who heard this would not think that a small concubine dared to replace her husband and say such things. So this must be the will of King Lanling himself. But the emperor was different, after seeing Zhang Gui several times, he always felt that the woman was very unusual, very unusual...

  Although he was thinking so, he still nodded and said, "I'll listen to mother."

  It's not just that the empress dowager spoke up, but also because he was really frightened earlier... He didn't want anything to happen to the woman, and following the empress dowager would be the safest.

  "With such loyal ministers, why should the emperor's son have any worries about using them?"

  This is what he wants to return power. The emperor thought for a moment and nodded: "The child will issue an edict now."

  Back in old home, need to adjust state update late. Send up five thousand words to apologize.

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