I am born a beauty, and I am supreme

Chapter 214

They endured hunger and grazed with the horses, unwilling to kill them. Firstly, because soldiers naturally had a special bond with horses, and secondly, so that in an emergency, such as when bandits were chasing them, they could ride horses to escape.

A chilling howl echoed in my ears; sure enough, the savages were chasing after us.

Chu Ge Xun was seething with hatred. For the past few days, they had been circling this place, but they could never break through. The thieves seemed to be playing a cat-and-mouse game, watching them but not killing them. After a while, Chu Ge Xun realized that these people weren't trying to trick them, but rather to use them as bait to lure the people in the city to rescue them. Then they could...

Chu Ge was filled with despair, but he dared not tell his brothers about it, otherwise... these men who had risked their lives for him...

"Sir, hurry up!" someone called out.

Chu Gexun realized that the savages behind him were already close at hand. He felt a pang of sorrow and stopped his horse. He turned it around and roared, "If I don't show my power, you'll think I'm a pushover. Today I'll show you the might of a man of the Great Shun!"

He leaped from his horse and engaged the pursuing savages in battle. Seeing this, Chu Ge's hundred-plus men were also roused to fight, turning to join the fray.

Although Chu Ge Xun was full of enthusiasm, they hadn't eaten for days and were busy escaping, so they were all exhausted and weak. How could they possibly defeat the strong and well-rested savages?

Chu Ge Xun was filled with despair. A savage beside him recognized him as Nao Tou. A flash of light appeared in his hand as he slashed at Chu Ge Xun. Chu Ge Xun couldn't dodge in time and was about to be cut down when a clear, cold voice rang out from afar: "Who dares to hurt him!"

The voice, as clear and cold as ice and snow, came through clearly, like parting the dark clouds overhead to see a ray of sunshine.

Chu Ge Xun shuddered, hardly believing his ears.

To borrow a line from a song lyric, "My liver is trembling..."

Meeting in the Distant Heaven Chapter 287 Unreserved

A troop of men rolled across the vast snowfield, with one man and one horse leading the way. Suddenly, he leaped from his horse like a thunderclap across the grassland, his feet barely touching the ground as he traversed the crowd and arrived at the center of the battle. Without even landing, he unleashed a flurry of screams as the savages fell to the ground! Yet, the Shun army remained unscathed.

The rest of the people stood there, trembling with fear, wondering if the newcomer was a god or a demon, whose attack was so ruthless and precise.

Ignoring everyone else, the man leaped to Chu Gexun's side, kicked away the savage who was lying on top of Chu Gexun, and pulled Chu Gexun up.

Chu Gexun almost thought he was dreaming. Looking at the person in front of him, he asked uncertainly, "Brother?"

The newcomer reached out and pulled down the veil covering her face, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face. Two streams of tears welled up in Chu Gexun's eyes, and she roared, "Brother! Brother!" Without further ado, she jumped three feet high and turned around, shouting again, "We're saved! My brother is here! We're saved! My brother is here!"

"Oh my god!! There's hope! There's hope!" The hundred-plus men seemed to wake up from a nightmare and shouted excitedly.

Shi Shu lazily carried a basket and stood at the entrance of the Military Council.

"Make way, I said I'm here to see our young master."

"Excuse me, ma'am, we are under orders not to allow unauthorized personnel to enter."

"You scoundrel! Do you think I'm just a bystander? Don't you have eyes? Look carefully, I'm Shishu! Our young master is here, I've come to take him home!"

Who is your young master?

The maidservant was furious: "Why should I tell you the young master's name? Go find your master, he'll know!"

Seeing her arrogant tone, the guards exchanged glances before finally turning back into the mansion to report the situation to Chu Zhen.

Upon hearing this, Chu Zhen knew they were there to see Tang Leyan, and immediately ordered them to let them pass.

The maidservant entered carrying a basket. Upon seeing Chu Zhen, she didn't bow, but rolled her eyes and said, "Your Excellency is above. This humble one pays her respects. Where is our young master?"

Seeing his expression, Chu Zhen smiled slightly and said, "Le Yan has already gone back."

"Going back? How come I didn't know?" Shi Shu pouted, staring at Chu Zhen with a disbelieving look.

"You just left, you probably took the wrong path," Chu Zhen said with a slight smile.

"Oh..." Shi Shu finally agreed, without bowing, and glared at Chu Zhen fiercely before reluctantly walking towards the door.

Chu Zhen was very composed; seeing that her demeanor was quite different from usual, she did not get angry. However, Beitang Yujian, who was standing next to her, said, "I say, maidservant, you have a much bigger air about you than your young master does."

Upon hearing this, Shi Shu immediately bristled, turning around and shouting, "Yes! I'm much more arrogant than our young master. If our young master were as arrogant as me, he wouldn't be bullied to the point of near death!" Chu Zhen frowned slightly upon hearing this.

Beitang Yujian asked, "Who bullied your young master?"

Upon hearing his question, Shi Shu burst into tears of grievance, throwing down the basket she was carrying. Ignoring the vegetables, she pointed at Chu Zhen and said, "You, you! You bullied our young master! I thought you were a good person before, but I never expected you to be such a hypocrite!" Seeing her insulting Chu Zhen, Yu Jian angrily called out, "Hey, don't be so rude!"

Shi Shu wasn't afraid at all. Instead, she said loudly, "My young master wouldn't dare to speak. I dare to speak, so what? I don't like him, and I don't have to be subservient to him. Lord Chu is so good to my young master, yet she doesn't even give him a second glance. She missed out on a great marriage. It's all your fault! If you liked our young master, that would be fine, I, Shi Shu, would accept it. But you just don't like her. You not only harmed her, but you also harmed Lord Chu. Tell me, aren't you a complete fake swordsman?" (frowning)

“Every word I’ve said is true, you’re the one spouting nonsense!” Shi Shu roared.

Beitang Yujian clasped his hands together and said, "Don't think that just because you're a woman I won't dare to hit you."

Shi Shu's voice didn't quiet down at all; she still spoke loudly, "Don't think I won't scold you just because you're a man! You're no good either! Always smiling, hanging around with him, you must have ill intentions!" Bei Tang Yu Jian shook his head, "This is truly an injustice to me, sir, you must do me justice." He looked at Chu Zhen, pretended to rub the corner of his eye, and then said, "Sir, do you agree to let me beat her up?"

Shi Shu pouted: "Even if you hit me, I'll still say the same thing!"

Just as Beitang Yujian was about to speak, Chu Zhen waved his hand from the side, telling Beitang Yujian to shut up.

Chu Zhen looked at Shi Shu, smiled, and remained silent.

Shi Shu felt uneasy under his gaze, and her anger gradually dissipated, but she remained defiant, saying, "Why are you looking at me like that? Don't smile at me! Humph, humph, I... I'm not like our young master, I won't fall for him!"

Beitang Yujian said. Chu Zhen turned his head, coughed lightly, and his smile faded slightly. When he looked up again, he asked with a smile, "I say, Shishu, how did you know that Leyan doesn't like Lord Chu?"

When Shi Shu met his gentle, smiling eyes, she inexplicably felt a little afraid to look him directly in the eye.

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

"Your Majesty," Tang Leyan bowed, "what brings you here?"

"Come here," Tang Shaoxuan said softly, looking at her.

Tang Leyan hesitated for a moment, then walked towards the dragon table.

She walked right up to the case, stopped, and looked at the emperor hesitantly.

Tang Shaoxuan looked her over, his eyes smiling.

"Your Majesty..." she called softly.

Tang Shaoxuan suddenly reached out and grasped her hand, and Tang Leyan did not struggle.

Tang Shaoxuan stared at her injured hand and said, "When we first met, I felt a strong connection with you, and I had a vague feeling that something was amiss. Leyan, do you still need to be so reserved with me?"

Seeing his words, Tang Leyan lowered her head and said, "Your Majesty... please forgive me, Leyan just..."

"What crime have you committed?" Tang Shaoxuan sat down to the side, took her hand and pulled her to lean against him. Tang Leyan refused to sit down, so Tang Shaoxuan reached out and hugged her shoulders. "I told you to sit, so sit. After all, I am your elder. Just like my good-for-nothing brother told you not to reveal your identity, you must also listen to me, understand?"

Seeing that he had spoken so frankly, Tang Leyan could only reply, "I understand."

Tang Shaoxuan looked her over and said, "Actually, Leyan, you don't look much like Shaosi, but your temperament is similar to his when he was young."

Tang Leyan was speechless.

Tang Shaoxuan chuckled again: "You do look somewhat like... haha." He didn't say the name, but just smiled.

Seeing how gentle he was, Tang Leyan couldn't help but look up at him.

The emperor of Shun, the supreme ruler so close at hand, the one the empress had described to her when she was a child, with the aura of an emperor and an extraordinary handsome face... Tang Leyan suddenly remembered the absurd things she had done when she first entered the palace, and couldn't help but blush slightly.

Heal, heal, heal! I need tickets!

Meeting in the Vast Heaven Chapter 288: A Duel of Heroes

"Your mischievous personality is something Shao Si can only dream of; you've probably learned bad habits from her," Tang Shaoxuan said with a smile as he watched her blush.

Tang Leyan felt a little embarrassed and said, "It's because Leyan herself is not good enough."

"It's strange," Tang Shaoxuan said, "you've been wandering around all by yourself, why haven't you seen your father and mother?"

“They have other important matters to attend to,” Tang Leyan replied.

"What is it? I haven't seen them for so many years, I really miss them."

"My father often told me that being born into an imperial family is not necessarily a happy thing. He was fortunate to meet the Empress, and he felt that this was the happiest and most worthwhile thing in his life. As for the country and the world, he didn't care much about it," Tang Leyan said slowly.

Tang Shaoxuan remained silent for a moment before saying, "I didn't expect Shao Si to see things so clearly."

Tang Leyan nodded and said, "That's why Father insisted that I conceal my identity, because he didn't want to cause any more trouble. Father also said that the saddest thing in his life was the few days he spent in the palace... Father also praised Uncle Xuan, saying that he had the world in his heart and was a good emperor."

Tang Shaoxuan's body trembled slightly: "Shaosi, is that really what you said?"

“Yes, Uncle Xuan,” Tang Leyan replied.

Tang Shaoxuan looked at her, a hazy smile on his face: "Leyan, you are a good child."

Tang Leyan felt a warmth in her heart: "Uncle Xuan, please don't blame me for my past mischief." Tang Shaoxuan shook his head: "How could I? I'd rather have someone always being mischievous in front of me."

Tang Leyan was slightly taken aback. Tang Shaoxuan chuckled softly and said, "I heard you like Chu Zhen very much?"

Tang Leyan blushed: "Yes, I really like Uncle Zhen." ^^

She jumped up quickly, dressed herself neatly, and rushed out of the mansion. Hearing a distant cannon blast, she disregarded the fact that it was broad daylight and seemed outrageous, and leaped onto the roof. Using her light-footed skill, she raced towards the entrance of the martial arts gate.

The person was in the air, gazing at the distant city gate. A rider was in front of them. The rider was dressed in black, with a tall crown of the same color on his head. Black ribbons hung down from his temples and fluttered in the wind with the horse's movements.

Chu Zhen flicked his sleeves and spurred his horse out of the city.

He didn't see someone rushing towards him from behind.

Or perhaps he didn't want to give himself a chance to turn back.

Tang Leyan took a deep breath. She took a few steps forward, and as she gracefully landed on the rooftop at an incredible speed, ignoring the gasps of the crowd around her, she watched his departing figure, took two steps forward, and then stopped again, a cold wind blowing past. Her heart was filled with sorrow.

He left the city very quickly, surrounded by soldiers.

She stood there, utterly desolate. (Open.)

Tang Leyan temporarily assumed the duties of the Nine Gates Commander, and Emperor Shun inexplicably showed great favor to this young man who was famous for being a newly appointed martial arts champion.

The favoritism bordered on indulgence.

They showed concern and care, asking after our well-being.

Rumors are already circulating.

Emperor Shun, however, continued to do as he pleased.

Tang Leyan had no choice but to try to reduce the number of times she entered and left the palace.

She held the official title of Commander of the Nine Gates and entered and exited the Commander's office.

Every day I wander through places that are either familiar or unfamiliar, and face faces that are either known or unknown.

The two most important men in her life were no longer there.

And time passed little by little.

News of Chu Zhen's troop deployment quickly spread throughout the northern frontier, the eastern sea, and the border region with Feng Shun.

Deep within the Phoenix City Palace, atop a high tower, a man gazed northward and laughed heartily: "You've finally arrived, Your Excellency. Please don't disappoint me!"

Approaching the border of Fengshun, Chu Zhen stationed his troops there.