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  The Lanling King's mansion, Zheng You is hosting a banquet for Autumn Princess and Li Ying and other good friends.

  As spring deepens, willows and peach trees produce small buds. When the spring breeze blows, the sky is filled with a soft, moist and refreshing atmosphere.

  The maidservants arranged a plate of pastries and snacks, Zheng Yu smiled wryly, looking much worn out compared to before: "Try some, these are all good things, made by the new chef from the south that I just hired."

  When she mentioned the two words "South Land", there was a hint of bitterness in her voice.

  Autumn Princess looked at her with concern and said softly, "Ayu, you'd better sit down and eat something too." Li Ying on the other side was also looking around, sizing up every corner of the courtyard. She said, "Every time we met Zhang Shi in this place before, she always had an air of superiority, as if she really became the legitimate wife of Long Gong! Alas, it's a pity that she escaped too far and couldn't be caught to pay her respects to us."

  She was still shouting beside her: "Ayu, sit down!" Seeing that she wouldn't, *she took a step forward and pressed Zheng Yu onto the couch. After pressing several times, Zheng Yu still didn't move. Autumn Princess couldn't help but get annoyed, she angrily said: "It's you who insisted on marrying! You've seen how High Long Gong is with that lowly maid, any woman would be heartbroken, yet you're so stubborn and want to jump into this!"

  Scolding and scolding, Autumn Princess's voice choked with sobs as she looked up at Zheng Yu.

  She weakly sat down on the couch and didn't speak for a long time before finally saying, "Alright, I'll say it. You deliberately called us here, it's not just to see you pretending to be happy, is it?"

  Zheng Yu put down what was in his hand, took two steps forward, and bowed slightly towards Autumn Princess.

  The autumn princess was startled and hastily asked: "What are you doing? Get up quickly."

  Zheng Yu remained kneeling. She looked at Qiu Gongzhu and said in a clear voice, "Qiu, I want to ask the Empress Dowager for an edict, allowing me to go on a diplomatic mission to Zhou with the Duke."

  "What?"

  Not just Autumn Princess was shocked, but also Li Ying was stunned.

  Zheng Yuqing said in a clear voice: "Chang Gong has been thinking of going to Zhou every day. I want to help him with this."

  With a wave of her hand, indicating that all the maids should retreat, Princess Qiu called out in a low voice: "Are you crazy?"

  At this time, Li Ying on one side suddenly clapped her hands and said: "Great idea!"

  To the confused Autumn Princess, Li Ying smiled and said: "It's still Ah Yu who is clever. Ah Qiu, think about it. If we let that cheap woman be carefree and happy outside, and let Gao Changgong keep thinking of her and not return to this mansion, wouldn't it be better to grandly and magnificently bring her back? Even if the legitimate wife puts aside her pride to welcome back a concubine, even the most vicious person would praise and affirm Ah Yu's words. And when she returns, is it to let her live out her days in peace or to slowly wear away her beauty and radiance, isn't that still up to Ah Yu?"

  Li Ying continued to smile and say: "If at that time, that cheap woman refused to come back, then my family's Ayu had done his utmost in benevolence and righteousness. He still wanted a divorce? Just saliva could drown him!"

  Autumn Princess listened and immediately giggled: "Still, my family's AYu is the smartest."

  Zheng Yu forced a smile, seemingly a bit distracted.

  Seeing this, Autumn Princess called out: "Ayu, I'll go with you to see Mother Empress soon... Hmm, why are you still unhappy?"

  Zheng Yu raised his head.

  To her two friends who were beaming with smiles, she bit her lip and said in a low voice after a while: "I don't know why, but I feel guilty no matter what I do lately."

  As she spoke, her tears came out again. Zheng Yu sobbed: "Ah Qiu, I'm so scared...I'm afraid that no matter how hard I try, no matter how much effort I put in, no matter how much I make the whole world like me, it's all in vain. His heart is gone, not even a little bit is left, and I can't warm up a stone."

  She took out her handkerchief and wiped away her tears, continuing to sob: "Chang Gong, that person, I've known him since childhood. He's actually the one who can't let go. Once he thinks of someone, he'll always think of them; once he likes someone, it's for a lifetime. In the past, he thought of me and the friendship we grew up with together, thought of my kindness and warmth towards her, no matter how many noble ladies wanted to marry him, he wouldn't even see them and would reject them immediately. He only thought that I was good enough. Now it's the same, he fell in love with that seductress and has been loving her ever since, unable to forget or let go. No matter what I do, no matter if I'm good or bad, he can't see or hear me anymore. And his temper is stubborn, once he makes up his mind, nothing can change it, not even a nine-headed cow could pull him back. I'm afraid, I'm afraid of making things worse!"

  She felt for the first time that men and women's affairs might be different from fighting for favor, fighting for favor is that no one has feelings, it's just who can get more of a man's affection or material rewards by means. But men and women's affairs are not like that, whether you like it or not, it comes from the heart, and having means and plans doesn't necessarily mean you'll get it. If that man doesn't love, then no matter what you do, he just won't love.

  The autumn princess was dizzy from her words. After Zheng Yu's voice stopped, she said dully: "What to do? Not going to ask for instructions?"

  Zheng Yu wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, shook her head and said: "No, I still have to go. If I go, I might win; if I don't go, I'll definitely lose." At this point, her voice was laced with a hint of ruthlessness!

  That afternoon, Zheng Yu asked Empress Dowager for an edict, saying that he was going to be sent on a mission to the state of Zhou together with Prince Langya, and this news reached the ears of Prince Langya.

  Lady Lanling Wang stared at herself, and Fang Lao said: "The Empress Dowager said that the new emperor ascended to the throne and should receive congratulations from all over the world. Originally, there was another excellent envoy, but since you insisted on this, I agreed."

  Fang Lao carefully looked at Lang Ling Wang and said in a low voice: "The Empress Dowager has already agreed, saying that the Princess Consort will go on a mission to Zhou with you."

  The King of Lanling thought for a moment, then raised his head and said: "I ordered people to pay attention to the queen's every move, how come there is still no news until now? Old Fang, pass down the order, let them be more careful."

  "Your Highness, what's going on?"

  The King of Lanling waved his hand in annoyance and said, "This time on the diplomatic mission, whether she is invited or not, I can participate in it. She suddenly inserted herself, I don't like it, Ah Kui will also not like seeing her."

  But it's come to this, Lang Ling Wang furrowed his brow and turned around in a circle before saying: "Forget it for now, we'll talk about her later. First let's see A Qie."

  Before long, the day of departure arrived.

  Watching willow branches sprout, watching the world take on new green, Zheng You's anxious heart also calmed down.

  She began to look forward to Lang Ling Wang.

  She thought they were a couple and since they were sent on a mission together, their superiors would also arrange for them to live together.

  In her eager anticipation, until the team set off. She also didn't see the figure of Langling Wang.

  As the envoy team left the city gate and walked onto the official road, Zheng Yu's eyes were fixed on them. Finally finding the leader of this trip, she asked with a blush: "Where is my king?"

  That old man smiled and said: "The county king said that there are many bandits. He has taken people to go ahead and clear the way for the troops."

  What's with clearing out the bandits? He obviously wants to see that cheap person sooner!

  It's not easy to have a chance to get along with him, she has made a lot of preparations, even the best medicine is ready, but unexpectedly, she can't even see his face!

  Zheng Yu was already dizzy and vomiting, but after this incident, she suddenly fell ill. However, since she had received the Empress's order to set out on a journey, no matter how much she suffered, she couldn't just turn back now. The group had to leave her at a village house by the roadside, quietly waiting for the Empress's permission to return to the palace. After Zheng Yu herself refused, the group could only continue onward. And so, Zheng Yu endured the hardships and sufferings of this journey, tormented by illness and exhaustion.

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  From that day on, Zhang Qi settled down in the wooden house.

  At that time, Yuwen Hu gave all the affairs of the court to Yuwen Hu, and he spent his days hunting, playing chess, and fishing, enjoying himself immensely.

  After Zhang Gui came, Yuwen Hu also came once. At a glance, he recognized that this Zhang Ji was the one who had been favored by Gao Changgong of Qi State. At the same time, he also knew that the one who had confused his son-in-law was also this girl in front of him.

  Zhang Gui's age is young, but her demeanor is elegant and refined. Her every move is full of charm, with both the purity of a maiden and the allure of a mature woman. Moreover, her skin is so tender it seems to be dripping with water. At first glance, she appears to be an expert in the art of love. Yuwen Hu smiled at the young emperor and said, "What a beautiful woman! Your Majesty is truly fortunate."

  In her expression, she was extremely pleased with Zhang Qi and Yuwen Yong being together.

  Yuwen Yong saw that the respected Da Zai also liked her, and he was both delighted and had an inexplicable shyness. Yuwen Hu saw this and teased him a few more times before leaving. Before walking away, he pointed at Zhang Qi and said: "Take good care of Zhang Ji..."

  As soon as these two words came out, Yuwen Yong immediately called out: "The Grand Chancellor is wrong, her surname is Li, and she is Li Ji."

  "Alright, good, surname Li is good, surname Li is good." Yuwen Hu also didn't ask Zhang Ji how she became Li Ji and left with a big laugh.

  Sitting in the wooden house, looking at the young and handsome Yuwen Yong, who was carefully flattering Yuwen Hu in front of him, Zhang Gui secretly sighed: This world is like this, even if one becomes an emperor, they will still be uneasy.

  She vaguely remembered that Yuwen Yong's days were still very long.

  Thinking of this, Zhang Qi shook her head: what did these have to do with her? She only knew that under Yuwen Yong's protection, her days were unusually peaceful and carefree.

  She stood up, holding a water pot from one side, and floated to the garden behind her, starting to water the flowers.

  Under the sunshine, her exquisite features emitted a faint luster, serene and distant.

  Yuwen Yong suddenly said: "How is Gao Changgong to you? Is it just because you don't want to be suppressed by the mistress that you want to escape?"

  They had been together for several days, and this was his first time asking about her personal affairs.

  She was taken aback, and she stopped moving, saying softly: "He is very good to me, spoils me, pities me... Once I was slightly ill, he stayed by my bedside all night without sleep, giving me medicine and tea, taking care of every detail." Yuwen Yong noticed that she used the word "feeding".

  Zhang Qi turned around, she quietly looked at Yuwen Yong like a lily in a secluded valley and said: "The reason I wanted to escape is because I liked him... Liking someone but not being able to have them all to myself, liking someone yet having to watch my unworthy opponent become his legitimate wife. He's willing to do anything for you except give you respect and status. This feeling makes me feel like I'd rather die than live, so I escaped."

  Zhang Qi said this, Yuwen Yong furrowed his brow.

  Seeing him slightly displeased, Zhang Qi turned her head back, smiling as she continued to water the flowers with the watering can.

  She had actually wanted to say these words for a long time... She couldn't let Yuwen Yong have feelings for her. And the only thing that could stop this proud, introverted and strong-hearted man was her unconventional views.

  A man like him, how can he tolerate a woman who is not to his liking? But with a temperament like mine, once I like someone, I want to monopolize them, and once I like someone, I demand the status and honor of a legitimate wife without regard for anything else. Clearly, men spoil and indulge women to this extent, but she still becomes arrogant because of it - how can he stand such a woman?

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