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  The emperor's personal expedition is not a trivial matter, and deploying troops and generals is even more complicated. Yuwen Yong had been preparing for this for over two months, during which time Zhang Gui's sixteenth birthday had already passed. Meanwhile, Zheng You and other Qi envoys set out with the Zhou envoys and successfully returned to Qi.

  Within the borders of Qi, after receiving the Zhou envoys' request for help, they have been discussing and re-discussing.

  Many ministers suggested that it would be better to take advantage of the fact that both Zhou and Tujue were wounded at this time, and strike again.

  However, the relationship between Qi and Tujue was even worse. A tribe like Tujue, once they were allowed to plunder and kill at will, all the small tribes within their territory would rush up together. In this way, the number of Tujue people would only increase, and it was impossible to talk about both sides suffering losses. It's likely that in the end, Zhou would be defeated, and Qi would also face the iron cavalry of Tujue.

  In the midst of all the discussions, Langling Wang remained silent.

  On this day, Gao Zhan and the other ministers discussed this matter again and again. He caught sight of Gao Changgong standing to one side, muttering to himself, and couldn't help but lean over, at the same time slipping a hand into the bosom of the beauty on his knee. He beckoned to Gao Changgong, saying: "Changgong, come here."

  The King of Lanling stepped forward and bowed his head in salute, "Your Majesty!"

  As soon as he spoke, Gao Zhan pushed the beauty on his knees to the ground, leaned forward, and looked at King Lanling with a playful and curious gaze, sizing him up from head to toe before saying: "You little scamp, aren't you one who usually receives military orders and rushes into battle like your life depends on it? How come you're so calm now? Tsk tsk, the chill emanating from your body is making me shiver. What are your thoughts on this matter?"

  The King of Lanling did not respond to Gao Zhan's teasing. He lowered his head, his face cold, and said in a strict tone: "Whatever Your Majesty decides is fine." After a pause, he continued: "Your Majesty can command me as you wish!"

  This is what Gao Zhan likes to hear most.

  He burst out laughing and pointed at King Langling with his hand, saying: "Alright, I'll give you 50,000 troops today. Go support the Zhou people."

  As soon as this order was given, all the officials were first stunned and then stood up one after another.

  "Your Majesty, since we are going to send troops, what is the use of 50,000 men?"

  "Your Majesty, either don't help the people of Zhou at all, or if you're going to send aid, sending only 50,000 isn't a joke, is it?"

  ……

  Amidst the murmurs of discussion, however, no minister stepped forward to stop Langling Wang from going on the expedition.

  This battle is indeed not easy to fight. Winning brings no merit, losing brings blame. The Emperor personally appointed Lanling King, and for some generals, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

  Facing the opposition of the ministers, Gao Zhan ignored them. The ministers saw that the emperor did not listen, and gradually, their voices of advice became smaller and smaller.

  Even if the Empress Dowager were dead, he could wear red robes and enjoy fine wine. Whoever advised him otherwise would be beaten. Such actions are arbitrary and dictatorial; what can they accomplish?

  As all the ministers quieted down, Gao Zhan continued to look at Prince Langya.

  Looking at this expressionless face, seemingly indifferent to everything, Gao Zhan couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for his nephew. He bowed again and said with a smile: "Why doesn't Chang Gong accept the edict? Otherwise, I'll add another 10,000?"

  The King of Lanling stepped forward, bowed his head and said in a cold voice: "There is no need to add more troops. However, I must be allowed to personally select the 50,000 soldiers."

  "Go ahead and choose if you want to." Gao Zhan yawned, stood up and shouted: "Dismiss the court! Such a trivial matter has wasted several good nights of mine!" As he spoke, he swaggered towards the rear palace under the escort of the beautiful eunuchs.

  He took over the Tiger Tally and Langya Wang left the imperial palace on horseback.

  At this time, Zheng Yu had already returned to the Wang Mansion. When she came back, he didn't go to greet her, and after returning to the mansion, he also hadn't seen her.

  He felt guilty towards her, but in Gao Changgong's view, things in the world should be cut off when they need to be cut off. Since he had made up his mind to divorce her, whether it was guilt or shame, it could only be considered later after the divorce. For now, it was better for the two of them not to have any contact with each other cleanly and neatly.

  In the Zhuangzi, from a distance, he saw the King of Lanling returning and Fang Sheng hastily went out to greet him.

  Recently, Langling Wang has assigned corresponding managers to the two large mansions. Even in this small villa, from the manager to the little servant who feeds the horses, everything has been rearranged. Fang Lao is now only in charge of Langling Wang's personal food and daily life.

  Fang Lao's intention was also to keep an eye on things and prevent anyone from secretly harming the King of Lanling in terms of food, clothing, or daily activities.

  The King of Lanling didn't notice Fang Lao following him, he returned to his room and changed out of his court attire. Seeing him put on his armor again, Fang Lao asked uneasily: "Your Highness, are you going to drill the troops again?"

  The King of Lanling nodded, buckled his sword and said: "Your Majesty ordered me to bring 50,000 troops to assist the Zhou people in fighting against the Turks."

  It seems like we really have to fight.

  Fang Lao's face turned pale, and he couldn't help but feel anxious.

  Just then, footsteps sounded outside, "Your Highness, there is news."

  "Come in," said King Lanling coldly.

  A servant came in.

  Seeing the arrival of the person, Fang Lao's expression changed, it seemed that news had come from the Princess of Ye City.

  He hastily went forward, walked to the outside of the door and shouted: "All disperse." After dismissing the servants, he carefully closed the house door.

  When he turned back, Prince Langya had lowered his head and was carefully examining the silk paper handed over by the servant.

  As he listened, Fang Lao heard Lang Ling Wang laugh, "So it was her who did it." His voice was filled with anger and disappointment.

  The King of Lanling put away the silk paper, waved off the servant and turned to Fang Lao, saying tiredly: "When Ah Gui was alive, there was a rumor that circulated everywhere, saying that Ah Gui had an affair with several people in the red building, and was caught by someone in public, and countless people saw her body... This rumor that ruined Ah Gui's reputation was spread by Zheng Yu!"

  After saying this sentence, Langling Wang turned his head to look at several faces on one side, regardless of the shocked and tongue-tied Fang Lao.

  There, scattered were several pin-up girls' pictures. Each picture had a beautiful woman with delicate eyebrows and charming smile, wearing either red or black clothes, 15 or 16 years old, that bursting youth, couldn't cover the despair between her eyebrows.

  Hearing Lang Ling Wang's words, Fang Lao stuttered and said: "Really, really, was it done by the princess?"

  The King of Lanling nodded and said, "This time she was in Zhou's land, seemingly having suffered humiliation from Ah Gui. She had a grudge in her heart, and today when Autumn Princess and others comforted her, she unconsciously mentioned this matter. Zheng Shi said that she only regretted not striking harder at the time..."

  As soon as these words came out, Old Fang's face also turned ugly.

  The King of Lanling was still staring blankly at the painting of a beauty on the wall, staring blankly at the despair between her beautiful and unparalleled eyebrows.

  When he first heard such rumors, how angry and heartbroken was he? He returned to see Ah Qi, and Ah Qi still told him that she had...

  At that moment, he was really hateful. When he fell into the wine tower and became sulky, Zheng Yu appeared again, gently comforting him not to blame Ah Gui. She said Ah Gui must have been helpless, saying that at the time if she hadn't compromised herself, she might have been harmed.

  Langling Wang let out a cold laugh at this thought.

  On one side, Fang Lao opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then closed it again.

  It seems that this queen of our own household is no ordinary person, her mind is quite deep.

  Fang Lao raised his head and looked towards Lang Ling Wang.

  At this time, Langling Wang turned his gaze towards that stack of ladies' paintings again.

  These paintings were all painted by Zhang Qi for herself last time.

  She originally wanted to keep it for her own nostalgia.

  The King of Lanling stretched out his hand, slowly took over the stack of imperial concubine paintings. With his eyebrows lowered, his slender fingers slowly stroked the imperial concubine painting, the beauty's eyebrows and eyes, slowly. He picked up a silk painting and handed it to the charcoal stove.

  With a loud bang, flames shot up into the air, and in an instant, the beautiful woman was engulfed by the fire, and in the blink of an eye, she had turned to ashes.

  At this point, Fang Lao's eyes widened. He knew that after Zhang Ji left, his master had been obsessed with these paintings. Almost every time he was free, he would stand in front of the paintings, sometimes for as long as half a day!

  With eyes wide with shock and tongue-tied, Fang Lao exclaimed: "Chang Gong, what's going on here?" In an instant, he shouted in surprise and delight: "Duke! You've let go of Zhang Ji!"

  "Let go?" Langling Wang smiled slightly, and with a wave of his hand, he picked up another painting of a lady. As he watched the flames engulf it, he gazed at the eyebrows and eyes being slowly consumed by the fire, and said quietly: "In my first half life, I was ruined by a woman. For the rest of my days, since I'm still planning to live on, I must not be ruined again by another woman... From today onwards, I will forget her!"

  The voice of King Lanling was very calm, very calm.

  Finally seeing his own king, Fang Lao made up his mind. He wanted to smile, but somehow, looking at Lang Ling Wang's eyes, he couldn't bring himself to do so.

  At this time, Langling Wang waved the silk paper in his hand and placed it in front of Fang Lao, saying lightly: "Take these over and let Zheng Shi take a good look."

  Fang Lao raised his head.

  The King of Lanling's expression was icy cold, and he said indifferently: "In this life, I dislike plots the most, yet I've always been plagued by them... You personally go tell Zhengshi that I'm very regretful and disappointed. This time on the expedition, if I die in battle then so be it, but if I can come back alive, I hope to divorce her."

  He stretched out his fingers and tapped a few times, and Langling Wang continued: "Right, the content on this silk paper, you also send it to the Zheng family, let them discuss it."

  Upon hearing this, Fang Lao cautiously reminded, "Your Highness, they probably won't mind about this, will they?"

  Towards the icy-faced Duke, Fang Lao thought that at a time when Zheng Shi had already become his own princess, spreading such things out would not gain more sympathy and support for the Duke. Even if it were to spread among the Zheng family, they would only be ridiculed!

  The entire city of Ye and the noble ladies of Jin Yang are all arrogant and domineering. Treating one's husband's concubine like this, what is that worth? Many even directly go to their doors and kill them!

  Of course, when the princess spread this rumor, she had not yet made a marriage contract with the duke, but actually got the four words of jealousy and cruelty. However, for the noble ladies of Qi State, apart from other things, jealousy and cruelty are the most common characteristics.

  How many noble ladies have rushed into their husbands' mansions, beating their concubines severely or disfiguring them, regardless of whether the marriage negotiations were successful or not?

  Compared with them, Zheng's family is really gentle.

  When Lang Ling Wang heard Fang Lao's question, he lowered his eyebrows and said faintly: "At the beginning when I made a marriage contract with Zheng Shi, the first condition was that no one could harm Zhang Ji. If at any time or place, I found out that anyone had harmed Zhang Ji, don't blame me for being ruthless."

  He waved his hand and said, "Go away. Even if the whole state of Qi says that Zheng is not at fault, it cannot change anything. Justice and injustice have never been in other people's words."

  Having spoken, the fully dressed Langya Wang turned around and stepped forward, Fang Lao picked up the silk paper, staring blankly at him as he mounted his horse, watching him charge into the rain mist that filled the sky.

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