"Wu Shang, don't worry, it's not me who's going to start a rebellion. The throne is nothing but a passing cloud to me, so you can rest assured." Nan Xu Cong sighed softly, "Don't worry about these things, everything will be alright."
"You still haven't placed me on the same level as you." Ji Wushang felt a slight sense of desolation. She walked to the bedside, and Nan Xuzong's hand was still trying to help her untie her belt.
Looking at her somewhat cold face, Nan Xuzong thought for a moment, then went forward and sat down next to her, holding her shoulders with both hands. Ji Wushang had already turned her back to him and refused to look at him.
He shook it gently, "Wu Shang".
She ignored him. This man carries too much on his shoulders; he doesn't understand how to share some burdens with others! Doesn't he know how tiring it is to carry everything alone? She really wants to share the burden with him! Yes, she might worry after knowing the situation, but if she didn't know about his affairs, she would definitely start guessing, overthinking, and becoming even more uneasy. Why doesn't he know what she's thinking?
"My dear wife, please don't be angry, okay? I'll tell you the truth, okay? Wu Shang, don't treat me like this, boohoo!" Nan Xu Cong saw that Ji Wu Shang was ignoring him, so he gently shook her arm, said all sorts of nice things, and finally even used a coquettish trick.
Ji Wushang frowned.
"Wu Shang, I, Nan Xu Cong, only think about how to protect you and make you happy under my protection. I, Nan Xu Cong, can swear to heaven that I will only be good to you."
“You’ve changed the subject,” Ji Wushang said at this moment.
Nan Xuzong was slightly taken aback, but this meant that she was at least paying attention to him, so there was hope!
“I’m afraid you’ll worry about me if you find out these things, but I don’t want you to worry,” he said, getting to the point.
"So you didn't have to tell me? You just had to bear it all by yourself? You have no idea how worried I was about you! My heart is always uneasy, it's like it's telling me that you're in danger, in danger! But what about me? I can't do anything, I can't do anything at all. It makes me feel so sad, so sad, you know that, Nan Xuzong!" She turned to look at him, and as she said these words, tears inexplicably streamed down her face.
Nan Xuzong's breath hitched. He looked at the woman in front of him, the woman who was driving him crazy, the woman with tears streaming down her face, the woman who was always worried about him. Hearing her words, his heart seemed to soften and warm.
He leaned forward and pulled her into his arms. "Don't worry, okay? Don't worry about me. You can rest assured that no one can hurt me! No one can, not even my second or third brother, not even the Crown Prince, not even Empress Yao, not even the King of the Western Regions, not even anyone!" Except... you.
Nan Xuzong held her in his arms and gently kissed her forehead. "So you don't have to worry, understand?"
"Mmm." Ji Wushang sobbed softly in his arms.
Nan Xuzong pulled her up, looked at her with his eyes, and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with his large hand. He sighed inwardly and told her everything except what was about her.
Ji Wushang nodded as he listened, feeling excited and relieved that Huangfu Ting was finally able to be completely honest with him. His bright eyes sparkled as he looked at Huangfu Ting with a hint of excitement. "Huangfu Ting's days are numbered!"
"What do you mean?" Nan Xuzong was slightly taken aback.
Ji Wushang smiled and leaned in to whisper something in his ear. Nan Xuzong listened with a smile. After she finished speaking, Ji Wushang looked at Nan Xuzong with a smug expression. Nan Xuzong gently flicked her nose and said, "I'll listen to you!"
"From now on, you'd better consult with me more often, or I won't let you off the hook!" Ji Wushang immediately transformed into a fierce tigress. "Look, I solved your problem in no time!"
"Yes, my lady, your plan is brilliant! Hehe, we'll definitely have to discuss this more often in the future! Here, can I have a whiff of your fragrance?" The man's shamelessness had reached a new level.
"No, I need to rest, hmph!" Ji Wushang immediately dodged his large hand and nimbly slipped into the quilt inside.
Nan Xuzong smiled, feeling pleased. He slipped into bed and scooped her into his arms. Holding her as they fell asleep, Nan Xuzong's face was full of smiles.
What she thought of was similar to what he had thought of, but initially he hadn't considered the subsequent scheme, while she had thought everything through.
In the depths of night, within a palace, Huangfu Ting anxiously awaited the return of his messenger. His heart was filled with worry.
"I should never have cooperated with him! He's infuriating! How dare this androgynous monster scheme against me? Does he think I'm a pig? Killing him would be satisfying, hmph!" Huangfu Ting sneered, sitting on the edge of his bed, looking at the wound on his severed arm. His heart clenched with anger. Those six savage Japanese pirates were incredibly powerful! If he hadn't run away quickly, he really wouldn't be back!
I wonder if the people Yao sent will be able to bring back their heads.
If I cannot, I will surely die at the morning court tomorrow!
Huangfu Ting frowned, picked up the bowl with his intact arm and drank it all in one gulp. He had to think of a way to deal with it, otherwise he would be helpless!
Just then, a eunuch rushed in from outside, knelt down as soon as he entered, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, someone has come to report." Huangfu Ting trusted eunuchs greatly and often had the eunuchs around him act as his intermediaries for secret reports.
"Bring it here!" Huangfu Ting sat up straight, but had all six envoys of Fusang already been wiped out?
"Yes." The eunuch immediately took out a letter from his bosom, knelt down, and presented it to Huangfu Ting, holding it high above his head. Huangfu Ting took it, waved his hand, and the eunuch quickly knelt down, bowed his head, and waited for orders.
Huangfu Ting opened it, his eyes scanning all the words on it. Instantly, his face lit up with joy! The eunuch glanced up and saw Huangfu Ting's expression, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
"Good!" Huangfu Ting immediately put the letter away, his dark eyes turning to the eunuch. "Pass down the order: proceed according to the original plan without any mistakes!"
"yes!"
Unable to contain his joy, Huangfu Ting paced back and forth in the hall several times, pondering how to successfully implement his plan to secure his position as crown prince, and if necessary, to use extreme measures!
When it was still dark, Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong got up.
After the storm, the air became even more refreshing. Ji Wushang carefully helped him loosen his clothes, tighten his belt, and tied up his black hair to put on a jade crown.
"Cong, be careful in everything. I'll be waiting for you to come back at the manor." Ji Wushang looked at his reflection in the bronze mirror, where he appeared even more handsome.
However, the vermilion mark between his brows had faded. Ji Wushang noticed this and went to the cabinet to find a vermilion brush.
He frowned slightly. "Looking for what?"
"It's nothing, it'll be fine in a bit." Ji Wushang found the vermilion brush in the cabinet, and Nan Xuzong finally understood what she meant. However, looking at the vermilion mark between her eyebrows, now dim, he felt a strange unease.
Is my life coming to an end?
Nan Xuzong was slightly taken aback, while Ji Wushang, unaware of his thoughts, stepped forward to explain on his behalf, but he grabbed her hand with one hand and said, "No need." His deep black eyes looked at Ji Wushang.
He was no longer the Prince of the South; now, he was Huangfu Zong, the Fourth Prince, the Prince Zong, but still her husband.
"Why?" She raised her eyebrows slightly.
"For no reason." He smiled, put one arm around her waist, and pulled her into his arms. "You're tired, you don't need to help me anymore."
"I'm not tired. Doing all this for you is very simple." Ji Wushang smiled. So she was worried about him getting tired? But let's see... Actually, it's fine without the cinnabar. If he doesn't like it, then we won't do it!
Nan Xuzong watched as her bright eyes moved, looking at his face, and the corners of his mouth turned up. "Have you had enough of looking at your husband?"
"No," Ji Wushang blurted out, but her face immediately flushed red, and she covered her lips. "I didn't say that word!"
Nan Xuzong was in a good mood as he watched her playful and quirky demeanor. Now, seeing her cover her mouth and deliberately say what she had just said, he instantly smiled and asked, "Who said that?"
"It wasn't me!" she stammered, covering her lips, her face flushed.
Nan Xuzong's lips curled into a smile. "Alright, I should go to the morning court." If it weren't for the time constraints, he would definitely tease her.
“Yes, that’s right!” Ji Wushang immediately escaped from his embrace and stood aside.
Nan Xuzong stood up and gently embraced her. "Wait for me. If anything happens that you can't handle, just remember to hide in the secret room. I'll come back and deal with the rest."
"Okay, I'll listen to you. Go on your way!" Ji Wushang hugged his waist and whispered in response.
He gently patted her shoulder, then let go of her and walked out.
Ji Wushang stepped forward, and as she watched him walk out of the Moxuan Garden, she couldn't help but follow him.
Today was his first time attending court as a prince, and there would be many more days like this in the future, but Ji Wushang felt a pang of reluctance. Ji Wushang quickly caught up with him.
They were following right behind him.
He smiled, knowing that the little woman behind him was chasing after him, so he slowed down.
Meanwhile, the maids and guards working in the palace couldn't help but smile and make way for Ji Wushang as he hurried along while Nan Xuzong walked ahead.
The two maids, Hongfei and Cuiwu, rushed forward, "Fourth Imperial Consort, please slow down."
Ji Wushang immediately stopped and turned around. Her two maids, Hongfei and Cuiwu, stopped and looked at her. "Fourth Imperial Concubine."
"Don't follow me for now," Ji Wushang said before quickly stepping forward.
Why were they chasing me so urgently and so loudly? Weren't they just trying to let everyone know that they wanted to follow Nan Xuzong? Ji Wushang looked around and, seeing that there wasn't a single maid or guard paying attention to him, breathed a sigh of relief and immediately hurried to the front courtyard.
But when they went outside, Nan Xuzong was nowhere to be seen.
He must have already left the mansion to attend court.
That's all.
Ji Wushang sighed and turned to walk back, but when he saw a pair of black boots with dragon trim in front of him, he immediately looked up and said, "Cong."
"If you want to see me out, just say so." Nan Xuzong smiled and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Chasing me so fast will exhaust you, I'm worried." He said in a voice that the two of them could hear.
Ji Wushang stuck out her tongue, then looked up at him. His handsome face didn't show much expression, but she could still see the curve of his lips.
He guessed that her legs were still tired, so he slowed down even more.
"A lady from a respectable family like you, be careful not to run around recklessly in the future. Although I like you very much, I don't want others to see you acting so impulsively. This beauty is enough for me to see." He moved his large hand to her waist, gently squeezed it, and said.
"Yes, I am." Ji Wushang steadied himself.
The two had already reached the doorway. Ji Wushang stepped forward, straightened his robe, and then smiled, "Go on!"
"Mm." Nan Xuzong nodded, took out a silk handkerchief from his pocket and carefully wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, then folded it up and put it in his pocket. "I'm leaving."
Ji Wushang nodded seriously.
He loves himself and is always so thoughtful and considerate.
Nan Xuzong boarded the carriage and then slowly disappeared from Ji Wushang's sight.
Ji Wushang stood there for a while before Hongfei and Cuiwu came forward to urge him to turn around and enter the palace.
Ji Wushang sat alone in the Moxuan Garden, sewing children's clothes with her hands. The needle and thread were dense and numerous, which made Hongfei and Cuiwu, who were standing to the side, feel that Ji Wushang was very attentive. However, they had a slight speculation in their hearts: was the Fourth Princess Consort pregnant?
The two maids exchanged glances. But Ji Wushang said, "Don't make wild guesses. I'm preparing for the future."
"Yes." Hongfei and Cuiwu immediately bowed.
"I have something for you to do immediately, or you can send someone to do it, but it must be reliable." Ji Wushang put down his needle and thread.
"We would go through fire and water without hesitation!" Hongfei and Cuiwu immediately knelt down to pay their respects.
The main hall of the Zhou Dynasty of the Great Xia Dynasty.
At this moment, all the civil and military officials were already in position, with Nan Xuzong and others standing at the front. In order were the Crown Prince, Huangfu Xuan, Nan Xuzong, and Huangfu Yu. There was an empty seat between the Crown Prince and Huangfu Xuan, naturally reserved for Huangfu Ting.
Although people around them were talking about it, they didn't dare to say much.
This is the first time I've seen so many princes attending court. I suppose Emperor Zhou is starting to consider his heir. Although the crown prince has been chosen, there have been cases of deposing crown princes since ancient times. Besides, this crown prince has only been awake for a short time, and he might fall asleep again!
The time was almost up when Emperor Zhou emerged from the side. He wore a dragon robe, his face cold and stern, revealing neither joy nor anger. The crowd immediately adjusted their demeanor, straightening their clothes, bowing, and clasping their hands in greeting.
At this moment, Emperor Zhou's cold gaze fell on the several princes standing in a row to the side. He looked at the empty seat with some displeasure, but he did not show it on his face.
He sat on the dragon throne and announced, "Attend court!"
"Attend court!" a eunuch immediately shouted.
Everyone knelt down and shouted three times, "Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"My beloved ministers, rise!" Emperor Zhou raised both hands from bottom to top.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The crowd rose, the ministers bowed and clasped their hands, while Nan Xuzong and the other three stood upright and solemnly.
"Today is the day Prince Fusang Lin returns to his country. We must not fail to observe the proper etiquette of our Great Xia Zhou Dynasty!" Emperor Zhou said, turning his head to the eunuch beside him, "Summon Prince Lin and the envoy."
"Yes." The eunuch bowed and immediately stepped forward slowly, then announced in a long voice, "Summon Prince Fusang Lin and his envoy to an audience!"