Chapter 70: The Flesh and Blood of Sheng Niang

  Tonight, the emperor is hosting a banquet for all officials. He won't show up and can't not attend, I'm afraid he'll drink again. As I help him change his clothes, I remind him: "Try to drink less, if you really can't, use your handkerchief to wipe your mouth and spit out the wine on it, then throw it away!" I buttoned his shirt for him, turned around and said: "Look, I've hidden a handkerchief here, this side too, they're all the same style, others won't notice."

  Xuanyuan lowered his head and looked at me, then suddenly hugged me and kissed my forehead.

  I just realized I've been talking too much. "Is it annoying? It's all Xue Qiufeng, being with him has made me learn to nag."

  "No! I like it when you nag, if only I were a normal person, how great that would be, we'd have many children and every day listen to your nagging, growing old together with you, you call me husband, I'll call you wife." Xuan Yuan Mu said.

  He let out a soft sigh, so gentle, yet it pierced my heart.

  "No way, I'll go with you tonight, it's better to have someone to take care of you. That Xue Qiufeng guy, I don't trust him." After saying that, I went to change my clothes.

  An Mingzhu also followed, and I was just a personal maid, standing behind him.

  The banquet began, with drums and music competing for attention. The prince had just finished praising him, and the ministers took advantage of the occasion to toast and congratulate him one after another. Xuan Yuan Wu smiled and drank each cup, some swallowing it into his belly, others spitting it onto the handkerchief I had prepared for him.

  Anmingzhu saw it with her own eyes and was also very anxious, wanting to help him block the wine, but considering her identity as a woman, she had no choice but to give up.

  At a banquet, a high-ranking official asked when the wedding ceremony for the marriage between the two countries would be held. The emperor replied: "Soon, after the Double Ninth Festival, we will hold their wedding."

  Everyone began congratulating Xuan Yuan and An Mingzhu again.

  I didn't know about this all along, are they getting married?

  I foolishly listened to those congratulatory words, looking at everyone's smiling faces, feeling that I suddenly became very distant from them...

  Xuanyuan had a stomachache and went out to vomit for a while. Anmingzhu didn't follow him, so I caught up with him and helped pat his back. I wanted to ask him about getting married, but seeing how uncomfortable he was, I endured it.

  Back in the East Palace, Xuan Yuan fell onto the bed.

  "Crown Prince? Have some iced tea?" An Mingzhu poured him a cup of iced tea and helped him sit up.

  Xuanyuan took over the teacup and drank a few mouthfuls: "I'm fine, you can go out now!"

  "Alright, Lingxue, you take care of him, I'm leaving!" An Mingzhu gazed at him reluctantly, her eyes reddening as she walked out.

  I looked at her back and felt a sour heart, I knew long ago that An Mingzhu, although she said she was not interested in Xuan Yuanmu on the surface, actually liked him in her heart. But why is my heart still so painful? Is it just because they are getting married? Is it just because I will never be the woman standing beside Xuan Yuanmu?

  We returned to the Ghost Bamboo Forest, Xuan Yuan Mu lay in the stone coffin for a night, I talked with that blurry little Xuan Yuan Mu all night, we talked a lot, this is the most talkative night of my life, I said how I entered this ghost house at that time, my fate, Xuan Yuan Mu's body, just didn't mention his wedding...

  I stood in front of the door, looking at the dark and gloomy forest of ghost bamboos. Xuan Yuan Mu came from behind me and hugged me: "Didn't sleep all night? Are you worried about me?"

  I turned around to look at the corpse spots on his body, still not good. My nose was sour, and I actually had a feeling of wanting to cry. I rushed into his arms and hugged him tightly: "Mu, are you really going to marry An Mingzhu?"

  "Fool? Didn't I say so? That was just an act!"

  Is this an act? So many times it's all just an act, but when will this act end? I suddenly feel like I'm being overly sensitive, the me who used to not care about anything has become so cautious.

  "What's wrong? Are you jealous?" Xuan Yuan Mu rubbed my hair.

  I shook my head: "No, I'm just worried about your injuries!"

  Xuanyuan heard this and held me tighter, laughing happily "I like it when you worry about me"

  Back to the East Palace, everyone has already started decorating with lanterns and streamers. Tomorrow is the Double Seventh Festival, one of the three major festivals in Tiancang Country. In the past, when I was at the Left Prime Minister's estate, even during festivals, I didn't have any feelings because I was always within the scope of everyone's exclusion.

  "Lingxue, I made a holster for you, and also one for Taizi!" As she spoke, she had already happily hung the holsters on Xuan Yuan's waist.

  I also have a handbag in my arms, which is prepared for him, but I think it's better to give it to him on the Double Ninth Festival tomorrow. However, now it seems unnecessary.

  In the evening, a message came from the front hall, asking Xuan Yuan Mu and An Mingzhu to go over. It seemed to be about the wedding, I didn't go with them, feeling that going would also be awkward.

  At night, the cool breeze blows gently. I stroll to the Purple Bamboo Temple, where some virtuous women live. Although they are not favored by the prince, they are content with their lives. From some houses, the sound of ancient zithers drifts out. Thinking about the zither, I realize that it has been a long time since I last played one.

  Zhang Ayi walked over, saw me strolling here, slightly stunned, turned around to leave, and then came back.

  "Is Ling here?"

  "Yes! Zhang Niangniang, where are you going? Why do you want to hide from me?" I asked, looking at the basket in her hand and wondering what was inside.

  Zhang's nanny pulled me up and walked towards the back door of the East Palace. When we reached a deserted area, she let go of me: "To be honest, I want to take a look at Her Majesty the Empress. I heard that she is seriously ill now. I'm afraid you might misunderstand my presence in the East Palace and think of your former master..." Zhang's nanny said, lowering her head.

  I lifted the lid of the basket and found it was full of food: "How is this possible? Come on! I'll go with you..."

  "Good, good!" Zhang's nanny looked very pleased.

  Zhang Ayi and I arrived at the Golden Phoenix Palace, where the former glory had long since faded, replaced by a gloomy atmosphere. With the festival approaching, surprisingly not even a single lantern was lit here, and it was pitch black everywhere.

  Zhang's nanny carefully pushed open the palace gate, peeked inside, then reached out to pull me in, and we both entered the Golden Phoenix Palace.

  The hall was very quiet, not even a shadow of a person, it was all dark and gloomy. Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew from the left side, I tensely grasped Zhang's hand and looked to the left.

  "Ah!" I was startled and took two steps back. At the window, there was a dark figure standing there, staring straight at this side.

  Zhang Ayi looked at me with a glance, turned her head nervously and covered her mouth in fright: "Who? Who's there?"

  "What do you want to do?" The other party asked in a cold and abnormal tone, without any pause or slowness, sounding not like a human voice.

  "I am Zhang Mama, are you Li Cui?" Zhang Mama took two steps forward and under the moonlight outside, she saw that it was a palace maid wearing loose clothes, slightly plump in figure.