The Regent rose at dawn today, with two gigantic dark circles hanging under his eyes. He had been troubled by many things lately. State affairs of big and small came one right after another. He would patch one problem just for another to pop right up, as if the problems had coordinated among themselves. At first, he didn’t think much of it. After all, there is always something needing attention when it comes to running a nation. But gradually, he began to sense something was amiss. Some of these situations were occurring at rather sensitive junctures. He became doubly cautious. On his birthday, it seemed that someone had infiltrated the celebration crowd. His men gave chase, but the person committed suicide, leaving no clues behind. He was beset with a vague feeling that somewhere in the darkness, a net shimmering with cold killing aura was silently and slowly closing in behind him. Because of this, he strengthened his defenses until his protection was impenetrable.
Yet, just when his suspicion was at its height, that feeling of being watched abruptly vanished. It was as if the other party had abandoned their plan and withdrawn their probing hand. Or perhaps he had simply been paranoid. However, instead of feeling assured, this made it even harder for his taut nerves to relax. Prolonged heightened vigilance was very draining, and soon, though the Regent still laughed and talked as usual, there gradually was a fatigue in his eyes.
Besides, there was the disappearance of Wei Zhi. With such an important person going missing right in Xiliang, it instantly became a great headache for him. With Tiansheng massing troops at the border, he had no choice but to mobilize the border troops. He had suspected Jin Siyu, but this was a suspicion he absolutely could not tell Tiansheng. What was he going to say? That Marquis Wei might have been kidnapped by Prince An of Dayue? Wouldn’t that be as good as admitting that there was secret collusion between Xiliang and Dayue?
Burdened with a chest full of worries, the Regent got up early, planning to send the people from Changning off as soon as possible once the birthday ceremonies were over, so they can’t stir up any more trouble.
His royal procession, guarded by three thousand guards, set out from the Regent’s manor, traveled along the West Water Avenue, Panlong Avenue, and South Market Avenue, past Six Archway Pavilion, and entered the palace through the Wuyuang Gate. This route was the most open and safest path. This route, without any blind spots or hiding places, was one that had been drafted and repeatedly refined by the Regent’s strategists over three sleepless days and nights. Along the rooftops of the surrounding houses, there was an elite archer stationed every three feet. At the slightest stir or disturbance, they are to shoot to kill, no questions asked.
With such iron-clad defenses, no one in the world could get within three feet of the Regent’s carriage.
The Regent’s procession moved slowly along the predetermined route, while three street corners away, Lu Zhi Yan held a small scroll of paper, turning it over and over with great interest.
Wei Zhi, that guy, is finally willing to use this thing.
Even with his life on the line, he refused to use the promise he had given him, so what kind of momentous event could make him seek him out without any hesitation?
Opening the scroll, on it, in a very sloppy writing, were the words: “Entice him to change his route and take the road by the Flower Diety Temple. Delay him for at least a quarter of an hour. As for how, you can figure that out yourself.”
Truly rather impolite.
Lu Zhi Yan listened intently to the sound of the road being cleared in the distance. A playful smile appeared on his thin lips. He was born into royalty and was the crown prince in Changning, so naturally, he understood well that while delaying a royal procession for a quarter hour might sound simple, but to do so under these circumstances would be a monumental task. The slightest disturbance would cause the royal guards to release a rain of arrows. They wouldn’t care who you are or give you the chance to say anything. Besides, he is being asked to change a route that had been perfected after endless deliberation? Did Wei Zhi think he was some celestial immortal being?
Wei Zhi, are you testing me, or just making things difficult for me?
I never said I had to definitely execute my promise.
Leaning against the wall, Lu Zhi Yan gently stroked the paper roll. His expression was a mixture of excitement and annoyance. He sniffed the air softly, as if he could smell the scent of an approaching storm. His peach-blossom eyes lifted slightly, and with a flick of his fingers, he crushed the paper scroll into powder.
But…
He smiled faintly, like a fox.
This risky task is quite interesting. Why not have a little fun!
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The moment the Regent’s carriage left the palace, Feng Zhi Wei and Helian also left the inn. Dressed discreetly, they parted ways once they were about three streets away from the inn.
Helian headed toward the Flower Goddess Temple, while Feng Zhi Wei headed toward the palace.
Before they parted, Helian hesitated and asked Feng Zhi Wei, “Are you sure that brat Lu Zhi Yan will actually do what you asked? From what I know, he is not an easy one to handle.”
“Don’t worry.” Feng Zhi Wei turned and gave him a smile, “Precisely because he is not easy to handle, he will definitely do what I want. I have given him a stomach full of pent-up frustrations; he has been waiting for the opportunity to one-up me and hear my admiration, so how can he give up such a chance?”
Helian smiled and said, “You have never been wrong when it comes to reading other people.” He looked deeply into her smiling face, his eyes softening as he turned his head. A section of her snow-white neck peeked out from her collar, delicate and slender, immediately causing his heart to stir. He couldn’t help but want to take her hand and tell her to be careful. But before he could reach out, Feng Zhi Wei had already extended her hand first and frankly clasped his hand, and said sincerely, “Be careful.”
Helian froze for a moment, looked into her eyes before immediately turning his gaze away, and smiled, “What danger could there be for me? I am just delivering a gift. You should go quickly and not lose time.”
Feng Zhi Wei released her hand, smiled, and departed. Helian, however, did not leave immediately. He stood at the street corner, watching her departing silhouette for a long, long while. Finally, he let out a sad laugh.
Third Brave (one of the Helian’s guard) came up to him. The honest, guileless-looking man was looking at him with a strange smile. He saw that Feng Zhi Wei was the one who took his king’s hand first and instinctively felt happy for his king. Helian looked at him strangely and said, “What are you smiling about?”
Third Brave couldn’t hold back his smile and pursed his lips towards Feng Zhi Wei’s direction.
Standing in the late-autumn wind surrounded by withered yellow leaves, Helian gently shook his head and said, “No, there is nothing worth smiling about.”
The simple, straightforward man scratched his head in confusion.
“I would rather she be shy and avoid me, than take this kind of initiative with such calmness…” Helian sighed and walked away.
Behind him, his guiless guard asked blankly, “Why?”
But his king had already gone far ahead, his tall, straight figure disappearing further and further down the alley. Only one sentence was left behind, swirling with the autumn wind over the ground covered in pale, withered leaves.
“You don’t understand.”
——————————————————
Feng Zhi Wei turned a street corner, where several people were waiting silently with horses. She mounted a horse and headed straight for the palace. She didn’t enter through the magnificent front gate used by the official, but instead, she went to the north gate, which was reserved for coffins and corpses. There, Grand Marshal Lu Rui was personally waiting for her.
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I must confess, as I am translating, I do wonder if our heroine could’ve had a happy life with either of our two male second leads. My personal opinion is that Helian was never a contender since being a queen was not something our heroine ever wanted. Helian was born to be the king of his Wild Grassland. It is a duty he can’t and won’t shun from, so as passionate and pure his love is for our heroine, he can’t ride off into the sunset and give her the life she wants. Besides, as Helian is well aware, as important as he has become to our heroine, he is unfortunately firmly planted in the friend zone.
I am in Team GNY. I think those two together could have a wonderful life.
I wonder how much longer before Ning Yi comes back into the story? Is he really allowing our heroine to have so much face time with the other 2 male leads?