?

  Feeling the silence of the new princess, Zhang Qi turned her head and said in a low voice: "Princess, you will be an excellent wife. Remember 'Jing An' for one second." After a pause, Zhang Qi spoke seriously: "I came to see the princess this time just to ask, where is my maid Ah Lu now, and how is she doing?" At this point, Zhang Qi lowered her voice and said sincerely: "You know that I am not convenient in the palace."

  When she mentioned A Lu, the new princess raised her head and said softly: "A Wei also asked me to protect A Lu."

  She turned her head and said something to the maid behind her. The maid immediately left in a hurry.

  The newly-emerged princess turned her head and looked at Zhang Qi, comforting her: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I'll go call someone to summon A-Lu."

  Unexpectedly, Ah Lu really hid under her protection.

  Zhang Qi's long eyelashes fluttered slightly as she said in a low voice: "Thank you."

  "Princess, you don't have to thank me," said Xīn Xīng Princess: "It was Ah Wei who told me to protect you."

  It means she protected A Lu, not because of her face, but for Su Wei?

  Zhang Qi wanted to smile wryly, but at this time, the new princess said: "Your Majesty, I know that Ah Wei admires you, but I also like him, and I will make him willing to choose me."

  The girl's voice was pure and crisp, exuding a clarity and confidence. Zhang Qi raised her eyes to meet the sparkling gaze of Princess Xinxing, catching a fleeting glimpse of sorrow within.

  It's okay, she is actually also anxious, it's just that her feelings have run deep.

  But compared to Zheng Yu, this new princess is much more lovely. At least she puts her true thoughts clearly in front of Zhang Qi, with no sarcasm or guessing in her tone, only clear and straightforward expressions.

  Zhang Qi was stunned for a while before softly saying: "I know you will be a good wife."

  After finishing speaking, Zhang Qi turned her head and stared blankly at the rising steam from the tripod. Until now, neither of the two women had moved their chopsticks.

  The emerging princess obviously still had something to say, she hesitated for a moment, looked at Zhang Qi again and said: "Your Majesty. Although the emperor is young, he has his own ideas. He won't like you getting too close to Ah Wei, my father doesn't like it either." After a pause, she continued: "I know my father is not right, he's been putting pressure on Ah Wei lately, Ah Wei is very tired. But I have no choice, I like him. He can't like you."

  Zhang Qi understood her meaning, she nodded and said in a low voice: "I know, I know..."

  Feeling the awkwardness in Zhang Qi's words, the new princess was stunned for a moment and finally stopped talking.

  Before long, Ah Green's figure appeared on the street.

  From afar, Zhang Gui hastily stood up. She said to Princess Xinxing: "Please excuse me, Your Highness, I'd like to have a word with Ah Lu in the carriage."

  "Please, young lady."

  Zhang Qi hastily walked out.

  She got on her own oxcart when Ah Green also came over. Before long, she lifted the cart curtain and climbed up.

  As soon as she saw Zhang Qi, Ah Lu couldn't help but burst out laughing. She pounced on Zhang Qi and hugged her, exclaiming with joy: "Ah Qi, Ah Qi! I hear people talking about you every day. They all say that you're not only beautiful, but also loved by the Emperor, and that you're having a great time. Hehe."

  Hearing her laughter, Zhang Qi also smiled. She glanced around and saw that the car curtains were closed tightly, then leaned in close to Ah Lu and whispered: "Ah Lu, are you okay now?"

  "Alright, alright," Ah Lu laughed and said: "I and Ah Q often stroll in Chang'an City. He even took me outside the city to ride horses several times."

  It seems she is living a good life, with a round face and rosy cheeks, her eyes are dark and bright, full of happiness that can't be concealed.

  As she looked on, Zhang Qi's eyes became slightly dazed.

  A Lu finally discovered that Zhang Qi's expression was off, and she couldn't help but put away her smile, carefully asking: "Zhang Qi, what's wrong? Has the little emperor bullied you?"

  Zhang Qi shook her head.

  She thought for a moment and then said: "Today I saw a team of Chen people, they will return to Chen land soon."

  Lu immediately understood Zhang Qi's meaning, she seemed to have been startled, "Zhang Qi, are you not well now? Now everyone respects you and praises your glory, do we still need to return to Chen Di?"

  Zhang Qi raised her head.

  She stared blankly at Ah Lu, and after a while, she clenched her fists and muttered: "I...Ah Lu, I just want to let this heart truly calm down for a while, even if it's just a year or two...I don't want to run around anymore, I don't want to be anxious and worried, I don't want to be without support, and I don't want to fight with others. Ah Lu, I also don't know what will happen when I return to Chen Guo, but going to Chen Di has become my obsession. I just want to have a day, a place where I can put down all my worries and live a simple life, even if it's just for a year."

  Zhang Qi didn't say that Yuwen Yong was also a restless person like her, and two restless people together couldn't make a good couple.

  A Lu stared blankly at Zhang Qi, listened for a while, and suddenly said: "Ah Qi, we can ask the princess for help, she will definitely help us, she is the kindest!"

  Upon hearing this, Zhang Qi hastily shook her head. She placed her hand on Ah Lu's hand and comforted her, saying: "Don't worry, I'm not in a hurry... Besides, before the Emperor ascends to the throne, I can still afford not to be in a hurry."

  After the establishment, many interests and disputes will be involved, as well as Yuwen Hu's and Yuwen Yong's own calculations, and the cruel struggle in the harem, so it's better to leave before that.

  Today I came to see A Lu, only because she was heartbroken due to that person's eternal departure, and was eager to get rid of something.

  ################Divider Line######################

  Renwu year, Northern Qi Tianning second year, April.

  The Prince of Lanling and his entourage returned to Ye City.

  Looking at the city gate that gradually appeared before his eyes, the dusty Lanling King said in a hoarse voice: "We will directly enter the palace to meet the Empress Dowager."

  "Yes."

  A large number of riders rushed into the city gate like a whirlwind.

  As soon as he entered the city, Prince Langling felt that something was amiss in the city. He hastily rushed to the Imperial City and before he could enter the palace, a horse carriage suddenly blocked his way.

  The one blocking Langling Wang's way was none other than Fang Lao. He had known that Langling Wang would return today and had been waiting here for an hour already. Upon seeing Langling Wang, he called out, "Your Highness."

  As Lanzhi Wang looked at him, he climbed down from the carriage, pulled Lanzhi Wang aside and said in a low voice: "Prince. The Empress Dowager has passed away!"

  Langling King frowned, his expression not unexpected. Fang Lao looked around and said in a low voice: "The Empress Dowager has been dead for less than five days. Your Majesty took off your mourning clothes and wore red robes as usual. Yesterday, Your Majesty ascended the Three Pavilions, set up wine and music, and the palace maid brought him mourning clothes, but he threw them down from the pavilion. Sanqi Changshi and Shi Kai requested to stop the music, Emperor Wu of Chen was furious and hit him."

  At this point, Fang Lao anxiously advised: "The Duke should be careful when entering the palace at this time."

  The King of Lanling entered the palace, originally wanting to find the Empress Dowager, but now that the Empress Dowager is dead, the matter of entering the palace must be carefully considered.

  As they walked back together, Fang Lao was still worried. He sighed: "Prince, when His Majesty was still a prince, it wasn't like this... Now he doesn't even observe the mourning period. I'm really worried."

  After a while, Fang Lao turned his head and asked Lanling King: "Your Highness, why did you come back alone? Where is the princess?"

  When he asked, Langling Wang said in a low voice: "I want to divorce Queen Wang."

  Fang Lao was taken aback, he looked up at Lang Ling Wang, only to discover that his own king was not just worn out from the journey, but his eyes were desolate and cold, revealing a heart that had been reduced to ashes.

  Old Fang's eyes turned red. He choked and asked, "Chang Gong, what happened?" He remembered the purpose of his trip and asked again, "Where is Zhang Ji?"

  Hearing this, he first asked Zheng Yu and then asked Zhang Qi, the King of Lanling lowered his head.

  He stared blankly at Old Fang, suddenly let out a dull laugh, and whispered: "I really am foolish beyond measure!"

  He muttered to himself until here. He closed his eyes and slowly said word by word: "Fang Lao, I want to know what kind of person the princess is!"

  He suddenly opened his eyes, staring at Fang Lao with a piercing gaze, and said in a hoarse voice: "In the past, I followed my own nature and did many wrong things. Now, I want to clearly understand everything."

  He said calmly: "If you are not willing, Fang Lao, I will let someone else take over!"

  His courtyard has always been managed by Fang Lao, who is also an old man who has served him for many years. They are like family to each other. Unless absolutely necessary, he doesn't want to bypass Fang Lao in handling matters.

  But now he has to.

  It was his foolishness that he didn't realize that there were more than one or two people who cared about social status. Fang Lao knew that he had been thinking of Zhang Qi all along, and that he had gone to Chang'an for the sake of Zhang Qi as well. But when he saw him, the first thing he asked was about Zheng Yu, and it wasn't until he reminded him that he remembered Ah Qi.

  It turned out that Ah Qi's worries were all correct. She had no status, no identity, and even someone as kind-hearted as Fang Lao would ignore her.

  This disregard, if it were normal, would be fine. But what about when one is being bullied? What about when life and death are at stake?

  Fang Lao saw the bitter self-mocking smile on Lang Ling Wang's face, and his heart skipped a beat. He involuntarily said, "Yes, this old slave does not dare."

  "He said seriously: 'I will issue an order immediately.'"

  As soon as this was said, Fang Lao clearly felt that Langling Wangchao glanced at himself.

  It turns out he hasn't given the order yet.

  Feeling the disappointment in Langling Wang's eyes, Fang Lao suddenly became uneasy. He lowered his head, just about to make a bow and admit his guilt, when Langling Wang's low voice came, "I have proclaimed myself as the King of Langling, so I will be staying in the military camp for a long time, and my two mansions will appear less often."

  At this point, Fang Lao was a bit confused, he looked up at Langling Wang.

  The Prince of Lanling didn't look at him, he simply ordered: "Old Fang, you're also old, from now on, take care of my personal life as I did when I was in the Jin Yang Wang Fu. The two fu's affairs, I will appoint someone else!"

  Fang Lao held his hand in a salute and said softly: "Yes."

  The King of Lanling looked ahead, pondered for a moment, and then said in a hoarse voice: "Invite Yang Gui over. Go to the warehouse and fetch some gold to hire her. Tell her to teach me like she teaches those girls, one lesson every day."

  "Teach lessons?" Fang Lao was completely bewildered.

  The King of Lanling looked at him and said in a low voice: "Yang Gui came out of the palace, often taught the girls of various big families, and also understood human emotions. Before seeing Ah Kui, I had never been with any woman for a long time. Now, it's time for me to figure some things out."

  At this point, Langling Wang hesitated for a moment and said: "Also, find two old women who are well-versed in such matters to teach me together."

  "Yes."

  This time Fang Lao replied readily, he had already figured it out. With the recent death of the empress dowager, there were many things that the prince could not do, and staying in the mansion to listen to lectures was also a good thing.

  At this point, Fang Lao couldn't help but ask again: "Duke, what about Zhang Ji? Why didn't you bring her back?"

  As soon as he finished speaking, the King of Lanling was stunned, and after a long, long time, he said with difficulty: "Ah Qi... she won't be back..."

  A few simple words, yet they carried endless desolation and despair. Fang Lao's heart suddenly skipped a beat as he couldn't help but think: She really isn't coming back? If Zhang Ji doesn't return, what will the Duke do? He is still so young, how will he spend the rest of his long life?

  #..#

  The last 5 or 6 hours, everyone must help me hold on to the third place in the fan vote, please.