?

  In Zheng Yu's pale face and tearful eyes, the visitor slowed down his tone and continued: "The king also said that when the marriage was first proposed, it was agreed that the Zheng family would never be harsh or kill Zhang Ji or her children, and the king would help ten Zheng family sons enter the military, either as leaders. Although Zhang Ji is no longer here, the king will not go back on his promise, and he will definitely cultivate more of the Zheng family's sons." In this world, having a thousand volumes of poetry in one's chest is not as good as having a big knife in hand. This point is clear to all the aristocratic families.

  It is precisely because of this that the powerful and aristocratic families all want their sons to be able to enter the military, become generals, and have private soldiers. But the more they do so, the more difficult it becomes to enter the military, seek employment, and get promoted. If Gao Changgong were not a member of the imperial family, he would never have had the opportunity to command troops in battle!

  Especially last month, the original promise was to permit the former emperor, but now the King of Jinan, Gao Yin's first rich and noble son, Gao Yan, secretly strangled Gao Yin after learning about the inside story. The powerful officials who knew the inside story felt that things in the world are unpredictable. Therefore, Zheng Shi, who originally looked down on the Prince of Lanling, no longer cared about others' ridicule and was determined to form an alliance with him through marriage, even making significant concessions over the Zhang Gui affair.

  As he said this, the newcomer bowed and backed out without waiting for Zheng Yu's reaction.

  When Zheng You was sitting still on the couch, when the civil and military officials of the court were secretly surging for the throne, a mighty army was dispatched from the Lanling King's Mansion in JinYang City to Ye Cheng.

  To the west of Ye City, on a high mountain, there was already a black armor army with hundreds of workers who came here. In just four or five days, they excavated a magnificent tomb.

  This cemetery is not only majestic but also elegant, both in terms of its terrain and having been specially selected by a feng shui master.

  This tomb is built according to the standard of a king, but due to time constraints, only less than one-twentieth of the entire burial site has been excavated so far. It is located in the east wing of the cemetery, and later when there is more time, King Lanling plans to also excavate the main tomb and complete the entire burial site. After his death, he will reside here with Ah Qi forever. In the afterlife, they will reunite. He must have begged for her forgiveness, letting her willingly follow him into the depths of hell.

  Slowly approaching, in the funeral procession of over a thousand people. At the very front, Langling Wang wore a hemp garment. He held a pair of geese in his hands, with two pairs of young boys and girls on either side, carrying a lamb, a container of wine, millet, glutinous rice, and flour, each one dan.

  The sorcerer's soul-summoning cry, the heaven-shaking gongs and drums, amidst the fluttering paper money, the common people gathered on both sides, pointing and staring.

  "Alas! This is a funeral procession. Why are they still carrying the goose and the lamb? It seems more like they're going to ask for someone's hand in marriage!"

  "Shh, keep your voice down... Do you see that handsome man walking in the front? He is Lang Ling Wang. His concubine made a scene because he married another woman. He regrets not having fulfilled his concubine's wish earlier. If only he had married her, he would have used this kind of wedding gift."

  "What about his wife then, how can she tolerate it?"

  "Yes, I heard that the burial was all in accordance with the specifications of a princess. The King of Lanling even started building his own tomb next to it, unable to fulfill their wishes as husband and wife in this life, but willing to be together for eternity in the afterlife."

  "What is he going to do with Zheng Fei? And what about the Zheng family, why don't they come out and say something?"

  "Also, how can the Zheng family be so calm about this?"

  An hour later, amidst the mournful cries of "Hun Xiang Gui Lai" echoing through the mountains, as eight men were carrying the coffin to be buried, Prince Langling suddenly fell to the ground with a thud.

  He pressed his forehead tightly against the ground, calling out repeatedly: "A Qi, A Qi..."

  Even so, there were no tears in his eyes. The shamans dancing around him and the coffin shook their bells at the same time, and the incense for the peace of the soul slowly rose and drifted everywhere in the underground stone chamber, where the murals were painted, and the butter lamps began to be lit in the main hall of the pottery master.

  Outside, thousands of people were still whispering "Soul return", inside, the King of Lanling was still motionless.

  After a long time, he seemed to smile and cry at the same time, and then the sound of Zen was loud, and the Buddha's chanting voice came one after another.

  Divider line

  When Zhang Qi said this, Su Wei said brightly: "I'm here to help you!"

  At such a close distance, smelling her fragrance, the young man's handsome face was red all over, and the joy in his eyes couldn't be hidden. "Ah Qie, don't be afraid, I'll take care of everything."

  He said bluntly, "The mansion you are living in now is provided by Xiao Mo, and the people in the mansion are also from Xiao Mo's side. Don't worry, now that Gao Yan is critically ill, he has no time to take care of you here."

  Zhang Qi sat on the bed, her beauty was hidden, but she looked at him like that, so soft and boneless, gentle and obedient. The ripples in her eyes made him want to put a lot of effort into controlling his urge to hold her in his arms and comfort her gently.

  After hearing Su Wei's words, Zhang Qi lowered her head.

  Her lips were gradually pursed.

  The fourth step of the plan, also the last step, is the most difficult and requires the most luck... Is this her luck?

  Forget it, forget it. Now that things have come to this point, what is she still afraid of? As long as she can leave Qidi, leave Qidi forever and never see that person again, never hear any news about him, that's enough.

  Then Zhang Qi softly said: "Wu Lang..."

  She didn't expect that she still remembered her nickname, and she didn't expect that on the day they met at Yuwen Hu's mansion, she also remembered him. Su Wei was so delighted that he almost burst with joy.

  He hastily replied: "Ah." Then he responded again, "I'm here."

  In this voice, there was boundless joy, as if she had been waiting for him for too long.

  Zhang Qi looked up at him with a hint of surprise, and on Su Wei's face full of satisfaction, she suddenly felt a little warmth.

  She lowered her eyelids, and Zhang Qi smiled slightly, asking in a low voice: "Wulang, would you deceive me?" Her lips trembled, and her small face was full of vulnerability, her ten fingers tightly clenched into a fist...

  Su Wei saw her like this, his heart ached greatly. He hastily said: "It won't happen." He seriously and solemnly said: "Ah Gui, I can swear to the heavens that no matter what, I will definitely use my life to protect you and help you."

  Would you use your life to protect and help her?

  She had never heard such a sweet vow before.

  "Okay." said Zhang Qi softly.

  She stretched out her small white hand and placed it in Su Wei's palm. Trembling with voice, she said: "Wu Lang, don't disappoint me."

  Su Wei did not respond to her words, he was staring blankly at her hand in his palm.

  She felt his gaze was different, so Zhang Qi quickly withdrew her hand. Who knew that as soon as she moved, Su Wei's big palm suddenly enveloped hers, wrapping it in his palm. Just as he had wrapped it around, he seemed to think of something and hastily let go again. Then, with wide eyes, he reluctantly watched as her small hand was withdrawn.

  The young man's undisguised infatuation fell into Zhang Qi's eyes, making her heart relax a little. In these few months, had she ever truly relaxed for a moment? This relaxation was just exhaustion taking over.

  Seeing her eyes become distant, the young man said indulgently: "Ah Gui, let's go back now."

  "Good." Just arrived here, Zhang Gui asked in surprise: "Going back?"

  "I still have some men under me; let us join them and start at once, shall we?"

  Zhang Qi was completely awake now. She asked a bit nervously: "Then, where are we going?"

  The young man stood up and walked a few steps in the room before saying, "Let's go to Beiheng State first." Afraid that Zhang Gui would be disappointed, he seriously explained, "This weather is getting colder by the day. From my observation, I'm afraid there will be heavy snow soon. At this time, it's not suitable for long-distance travel." Beiheng State was located in the north of Beishuo State, with a distance of over 300 miles. Jinyang was located in the south of Beishuo State, and from Beiheng State to Jinyang, there was a journey of over 800 miles. As for Chang'an City, it was over 1,400 miles away from Beishuo State, and at this time of winter cold, with frequent heavy snowfall, going to Chang'an would be extremely unwise.

  He gazed at Zhang Yi gently and said: "When spring arrives, we will go to Chang'an. After I finish my task, I will send you back to the state of Chen immediately, is that alright?"

  Zhang Qi looked at him, and in his clear eyes, she saw her own reflection. After a long time, she softly replied: "I'll listen to you."

  Although it's just three words, for her, they are entrusting life and career...

  She couldn't go to Zhou Di, and she still had hidden worries in her heart. But she also knew that Su Wei's consideration was right, and at this time, forcibly going to Chang'an would likely result in burial in the icy snow.

  Su Wei saw her worries and said seriously: "A Qiu don't worry."

  Su Wei acted swiftly and efficiently. By dusk, a merchant caravan had already set out from Beizhao State, heading northwards.

  Sitting in the carriage, Zhang Qi only then discovered that A Lu's face was red and asked puzzled: "A Lu, what's wrong with you?"

  A Lu was lost in thought, and when she was suddenly asked this question, she jumped in fright, hastily shaking her head. "Nothing, nothing." Zhang Qi remembered that when Su Wei brought her into the wine tower room, the one accompanying A Lu was that handsome young man with deep facial features and a hint of foreign blood, who looked quite stunning. At this moment, she vigilantly opened her eyes wide and asked seriously: "Has someone bullied you?"

  It was then, when they first met, that young man's behavior towards A Lu seemed frivolous.

  A Lu saw Zhang Qi's true feelings and hastily shook her head, flusteredly saying: "No, no." Her face turned red to the point of bleeding.

  "Really?"

  "Yes, a little," Ah Lu replied in a small voice. Seeing Zhang Qi suddenly sit down, she was frightened and quickly said: "I bullied him!" Ah Lu quietly looked at Zhang Qi from under her eyelashes, "Just now at the wine tower, he said you were no good, I hit him a few punches... He jumped up in pain. So, he pulled me over and bit my mouth."

  Ah Lu pointed it out, and Zhang Qi suddenly realized that her mouth was a bit red.

  Zhang Qi looked at herself straight, Ah Lu suddenly had tears in her eyes, "Ah Qi, I've heard people say that when a man bites a woman's mouth, the woman will get pregnant. Am I going to have a baby?"

  "It doesn't matter."

  "Really?"

  "Really."

  As Zhang Qi reached out to open the car curtain, Ah Lu was startled and pressed Zhang Qi's hand, her face red and tearful, saying: "Ah Qi, don't!" Ah Lu pouted, wiping away tears with her sleeve, and said: "After he bit my mouth, I was so scared that I kicked him. He was in pain and curled up on the ground, saying that even if he became a ghost, he would still want to take me as his wife."

  A'luo added in a low voice, pointing with her fingers: "He was in so much pain that Su Wei had him carried onto the horse carriage..."

  So it seems Ah Lu has won again?

  Zhang Qi looked at A Lu and stopped her action of lifting the curtain. Seeing this, A Lu immediately smiled with a curved eye.