In the silence, a horse-drawn carriage curtain opened, and a young man in a wide robe with long sleeves jumped out of the carriage.

  He strode out of the crowd and walked towards Zhang Qi.

  As soon as the young master of the aristocratic family walked out, a noblewoman behind Zheng Yu sneered: "This cheap woman doesn't even look at her own status! Humph, now someone has come to settle accounts!"

  Under the gaze of everyone present, the young master of the aristocratic family walked up to Zhang Qi with big strides.

  He suddenly bowed deeply to Zhang Qi and said loudly: "Young lady, please accept the twelve bows of Fan Yanglu!"

  He raised his head and looked at the young masters of the aristocratic families around him with a sad and compassionate gaze, saying slowly: "Zhang Shi Aqi, we are not as good as you!"

  He slowly backed away.

  He saw him retreat to one side, and another young man jumped down from the carriage that came with him, walked slowly in front of Zhang Qi, bowed silently, and retreated.

  Seeing the second young master, Li Ying's face finally changed, wanting to call out to him, his lips moved slightly, but ultimately closed again.

  Then one by one, the young masters of various families came out, bowed to Zhang Gui in turn, and retreated silently.

  After a while, among the crowd, a middle-aged man with worn-out clothes but straight waist and back, dark and thin face, yet bright eyes, and still having the elegant appearance of his former days walked out. He also walked in front of Zhang Qi, bowed deeply to her, and then said slowly: "Wang Ji, thank you for your help, young lady!"

  As soon as the sound fell, he raised his head and let out a long wail, seemingly both crying and laughing. Just as Wang Ji turned around and stumbled away, a heavily made-up woman rushed out of the red building and loudly cursed at Wang Ji: "You heartless creature! Someone has killed your daughter, and you're going to thank the avenger? Is this how you behave as a father?"

  Wang Ji, however, seemed completely unaware, still wailing loudly with a mixture of laughter and tears, and faintly, it seemed as if he was singing a sad song.

  "The only death in a thousand years of hardship..." The voice was filled with sorrow and self-loathing. He stumbled out, and in the blink of an eye, he plunged into the crowd, disappearing from everyone's sight.

  King Ji disappeared for a long time. The crowd seemed to still hear his loud wailing sound.

  The originally quiet street was now bustling with activity.

  Innumerable eyes were fixed on Zhang Qi.

  Facing these gazes, Autumn Princess sneered and said: "It's just these Han family children. They can't even get through the day. And they still care about such trivial reputations!"

  No one answered her words. Among the noble ladies who were playing with her behind her back, there were also one or two girls from aristocratic families, such as Li Ying, who was the eldest daughter of the Li family of Longxi.

  After muttering a few words, Autumn Princess turned to look at Zheng Yu and saw that her face didn't look good. She couldn't help but comfort her: "Ayu, don't mind this, that woman is so arrogant. I must report her to the Empress Dowager!"

  Just then, Princess Qiu spoke up. Zheng Yu immediately shouted "Don't!" Under the bewildered gaze of everyone present, she realized that she had become too agitated.

  At this moment, Zheng Yu bit her lip and softened her voice to explain: "In a noble family, the most important thing is the distinction between superior and inferior. Those young masters of noble families knew that Zhang Shi was just a concubine's daughter, but they still treated her with such great courtesy, which means they have acknowledged her... If this matter spreads to the Empress Dowager, it will only be beneficial for her!"

  She explained it this way, and the women immediately understood. Li Ying also said in a low voice: "Ayu is right, even my cousin has paid respects to her... After this incident, Zhang Shi will surely make a big name for herself among the scholars. If it weren't for the insurmountable difference between legitimate and illegitimate birth, and her humble origins as an illegitimate daughter, I'm afraid someone from the Taoyuan Zhang family would come to acknowledge her."

  As soon as these words came out, all the noble ladies looked at each other in dismay.

  After a while, Autumn Princess angrily shouted: "She is so bold and ruthless to kill someone, can't she be rewarded for her merits?"

  When Li Ying heard Autumn Princess's words, she slightly frowned and thought to herself: No wonder they always say that the Xianbei women are barbaric! With their background and temperament, how could they understand the words "elegance" and "dignity"?

  Zheng Yu's eyes widened in shock, she stared incredulously in Zhang Qi's direction, biting her lip and thinking to herself: Just two days ago, it was clearly the Empress Dowager who had sent someone to slap her, a calamity that would ruin her face and shorten her lifespan. Yet, as a result of this woman's meddling, not only did she emerge unscathed, but also helped the King of Lanling regain his military power. This time, it was clearly a humiliation for her, clearly she had killed someone, how could it have turned out to be a boost to her reputation?

  Thinking of this, Zheng Yu became vigilant: This Zhang Shi, he had underestimated himself!

  At this time, the city defense had arrived. They spoke with Prince Langling for a few words, some were busy dealing with the body of the red-clad woman, while others were dispersing the crowd.

  A moment later, the people who had surrounded the entire street gradually dispersed, but those who had walked far away couldn't help but turn their heads to look back at that low-key and humble beauty.

  No one noticed that in the corner, there was also a carriage ready to leave the city. At this moment, the owner of the carriage was also staring blankly at Zhang Gui.

  He was Wu Lang Su Wei. In these days, he wandered countless times outside the Lanling King's mansion, but it wasn't until today that he fortunately met Zhang Qi.

  Even though they were separated by countless people, Su Wei felt that this vast world only had those black eyes as dark as lacquer, and that slender yet elegant figure standing upright.

  Up till now, the legend of Princess Zhang, the concubine of Prince Lanling, still circulates within Xi'an city walls. Only when he saw it with his own eyes did he realize what a magnificent sight it was!

  Unfortunately, he met her too late... Will there be a day when he is in a high position and has the power to summon the wind and rain, can he also get her?

  Su Wei was dazed for a moment, then suddenly gritted his teeth and turned back to shout: "Let's go!"

  "Yes!"

  The horse carriage moved forward, heading in the direction of the city gate.

  Divider line

  As the crowd had dispersed by more than half, Zheng Yu rode forward again. She smiled brightly at Lang Ling Wang, who was hugging Zhang Qi and preparing to get on his horse carriage, and called out: "Chang Gong, we're going to race horses outside the city, want to come with us?" Her tone carried a hint of softness, which was her usual way of speaking when interacting with Lang Ling Wang.

  The King of Lanling glanced back at her and said, "No need, you all go play by yourselves."

  Rejected by him, Zheng Yu didn't get angry at all. She said playfully: "Chang Gong, you're too boring! Everyone's out now. Why don't you come and have some fun with us?" Her tone was affectionate and slightly reproachful.

  Listening to her familiar tone, seeing her clear and unadorned eyes, the King of Lanling couldn't help but look at her seriously.

  At this moment, a strong man rode up on horseback. He came to Langling Wang's side and whispered something in his ear.

  As soon as the words came out, Langling Wang immediately raised his head. He glanced at a corner dozens of feet away to one side, then whispered an instruction to Zhang Qi before following the robust man in large strides towards that corner.

  Langling Wang left, leaving Zhang Gui standing alone by his horse.

  Zheng You watched as Langling Wang's back disappeared into the distance for a moment before turning his head to look at Zhang Qi.

  Suddenly, she said warmly: "Ah Gui, your performance just now was excellent, even I want to bow down and pay my respects to you!"

  Is it?

  Zhang Qi raised her eyes, gave a faint smile, and lowered her voice to say: "I don't dare." The pride of the aristocratic family, the Zheng family, who rose to power relying on the Xianbei tribe. How could this so-called new rising family possibly understand?

  Seeing Zhang Qi and not getting what he wanted, Zheng Yu slowly withdrew his smile. He suddenly let out a soft sigh and said in a low voice: "I heard that Lou Qi also liked Chang Gong."

  Lou Qiuniu?

  Jian Qi looked up. Zheng Yu explained with a bitter expression: "Luo Qī Nǚ is the Empress Dowager's niece, extremely proud and arrogant, and likes to wield her power. Zhang Ji, Chang Gong is already twenty years old, his marriage cannot be delayed any further, at the latest by the end of this year, it will be decided."

  She looked up at Zhang Qi, with tears in her eyes. "Ah Qi, compared to other Xianbei noblewomen, I, a Han family daughter, am still much easier to get along with... Why doesn't Chang Gong want to marry me as his wife?"

  What she actually meant was, why did you insist on stopping Chang Gong from marrying me?

  At this moment, Zheng Yu is extremely sincere. She looks at Zhang Qi with a wronged yet tolerant gaze. In her expression, there is pity for Zhang Qi as well as the grievance of being misunderstood and rejected by her.

  Zhang Qi still lowered her eyes and softly replied: "Ah Qi is just a woman, how can she understand her husband's thoughts?"

  No way! Zheng Yu choked back a laugh, almost bursting out laughing.

  She let out a long sigh and said in a low voice, "Lou Qiuniang is the Empress Dowager's niece, the most favored one. Every year, she changes her maids, those poor people who sell themselves into servitude, as soon as they hear they are to serve her, they cry bitterly... Just a month ago, Your Majesty awarded her father a beautiful concubine, but she had them all flogged to death. And Your Majesty only scolded her lightly. You don't understand these Xianbei noblewomen, they are all so proud, they can't tolerate having other beauties in their own backyard. I'm sure you haven't heard that two years ago, during the previous Emperor's reign, this matter was discussed in court, and the previous Emperor even prepared to formalize it in writing, to include permission for concubines in the imperial decrees. But it was disrupted by these noblewomen."

  She looked at Zhang Qi with a warm and gentle gaze, seeing that she had been lowering her head without making a sound, and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

  At this time, Langling Wang returned.

  Zheng You turned around, bowed to Lang Ling Wang and called out clearly: "Chang Gong." With a smile, Zheng You said gently: "I was just saying that Ah Qi is indeed worthy of respect. Just now, I even wanted to bow to her in admiration."

  When he heard her praising Zhang Gui so much, the Prince of Lanling smiled. He looked at Zhang Gui gently and walked straight to her side, without turning his head, saying to Zheng Yu: "She has always been elegant and refined."

  He came over to Zhang Qi's side, put his arm around her waist and whispered: "Tired? Want to go back to the mansion?"

  Zhang Qi nodded, and Langling Wang immediately hugged her around the waist, jumped off the carriage, and ordered it to drive away. From start to finish, he seemed to have forgotten that there was someone else outside.

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

  Zhang Guiying whispered in Langling Wang's arms: "Was that just now Your Majesty?"

  The King of Lanling nodded and said: "And also the King of Guangping, they two brothers were sitting in a horse-drawn carriage, just about to go hunting, happened to see that scene just now."

  He stopped talking at this point. Looking down at Zhang Qi, the Prince of Lanling recalled that when Guangping Wang saw him, he exaggeratedly took out his handkerchief and wiped away sweat nonstop, shouting: "Chang Gong Chang Gong, you are so cruel and ruthless! Don't you fear that one day you will provoke her and she will cut off your life?" Then, he turned to the Emperor and shouted loudly: "This woman is beautiful indeed, but unfortunately too ruthless. I also like beauties, but not ones as poisonous as this. What about you, Imperial Brother?"

  What Guangping King said was very unpleasant. It seems that he had a bad impression of Zhang Gui, so Langling King thought about it and did not pass on the words to Zhang Gui.

  He never expected that if Zhang Qi knew the details, she might be overjoyed.

  Here is the translation:

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