“Meng Qingzhou, what brings you here?” Meng Qingzhou stopped and turned around.
Dongfang Liuli cleared her throat, hesitated for a moment, and then said calmly, “In consideration of our past relationship as ruler and minister, I am willing to take a step back. How about you serve as my personal bodyguard for a year?”
Hearing this, a slight smile appeared on Meng Qingzhou’s lips. He had guessed correctly; the Great Jin was in urgent need of his help due to the critical war situation.
So, Meng Qingzhou had deliberately told Su Qingqiu that there were other ways to obtain the Emperor Grade divine medicine, showing that he was confident and fearless. This would certainly throw the Empress into disarray, giving him the upper hand in negotiations.
“When I served as the Vice Minister of Rites in Great Jin, I made it clear that I did not wish to live under someone else’s roof. I only want to spend the rest of my life peacefully with my wife.”
“The Empress’s conditions are too harsh. They would separate me from my wife, forcing us to live apart. I cannot agree to that.”
Meng Qingzhou paused, saying no more. Negotiations require a balance, with both sides leaving room for maneuver.
Dongfang Liuli inexplicably smiled, her beautiful eyes sparkling like stars as she gazed at the young man below.
The reason he didn’t want to be the Empress’s bodyguard was because he couldn’t bear to be apart from his wife.
Thinking of this, Dongfang Liuli pouted. Hmph… I’ll forgive you for repeatedly forcing me to change my orders.
“Then how about we reduce it to six months?” the Empress asked.
“No,” Meng Qingzhou remained resolute, ready to leave at any moment.
This made the Empress both anxious and frustrated. She picked up a pillow from her throne and secretly clenched her delicate fists in anger.
Stupid salt fish! Dead salt fish! Stubborn salt fish!
She had thought she could firmly control Meng Qingzhou, but he had turned the tables on her, like a seasoned hunter, precisely targeting her weak spot.
‘Stupid salt fish, if I weren’t worried about you doing something foolish, I wouldn’t care about you. No one in the world dares to threaten me like this!’
Dongfang Liuli raised three fingers, extremely aggrieved, and said in a suppressed voice, “Reduce it by half again, three months!”
Meng Qingzhou frowned, puzzled, “Why do you insist on me being your personal bodyguard?”
Dongfang Liuli pondered for a moment and said, “With the national war imminent, I plan to lead the army personally. Assassination attempts are inevitable. Qin Fenghuo is in seclusion, and in the entire Great Jin, you are the only one qualified to protect me.”
The court officials exchanged glances, most of them showing extremely complex expressions.
The Empress and the Emperor were negotiating, neither willing to give in. It seemed that the Emperor had the upper hand in the end.
Some uninformed ministers couldn’t help but advise Meng Qingzhou, “Sword Saint, Emperor Grade divine medicine is incredibly precious. Serving as a bodyguard for just three months is already a sign of the Empress’s consideration for old times. Why push her further?”
Meng Qingzhou nodded slowly and said, “The Empress’s personal expedition this time is likely to be against the Northern Sejong Alliance. I can serve as her bodyguard until this national war is over.”
Hearing this, Dongfang Liuli’s face lit up with joy, and she secretly clenched her fist in excitement.
“But the Emperor Grade divine medicine must be given to me now,” Meng Qingzhou said.
Who knows how long this war will last? Dongfang Liuli has only one or two months left to live. If it’s delayed, Meng Qingzhou will regret it for the rest of his life.
Dongfang Liuli remained silent, her expression calm but with a hint of displeasure.
In truth, she was panicking inside, trying to maintain her composure. “The divine medicine… I have already sent someone to deliver it. By now, your wife’s injuries should be healed.”
“Is that so?”
Meng Qingzhou was silent for a while before finally conceding, “Then I’ll go back and check. If my wife’s condition has improved, I’ll return.”
“You don’t trust me?” Dongfang Liuli’s smile stiffened, feigning anger.
The illness was real, and every word was true. But this illness couldn’t be cured with medicine alone; only by breaking through to the Sky-Reaching Realm and aligning the Divine Soul with the cultivation level could it be alleviated.
If Meng Qingzhou went back now and checked her pulse, the truth would be revealed immediately.
By then, Meng Qingzhou might think the Empress was deceiving him, and the plan to restore the Empress’s image would not only fail but also further tarnish it.
This was not the result Dongfang Liuli wanted to see.
“It will only take me a few minutes to go back and forth. It won’t delay anything,” Meng Qingzhou shook his head.
Dongfang Liuli was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, unable to sit still on her throne, moving around, her body covered in fragrant sweat. She wished Jiang Canghai were here to offer advice.
Su Qingqiu, standing by, comforted, “Master, the Empress has been searching for Emperor Grade divine medicine to cure your wife’s hidden illness for a long time. She wouldn’t deceive you. Don’t worry.”
“It’s not that I think the Empress would deceive me, but I’m worried the medicine might not be effective. I want to see for myself to be sure,” Meng Qingzhou said calmly.
With that, he turned to leave.
Before leaving, Meng Qingzhou asked Su Qingqiu, “By the way, which direction is Present Village? Point the way.”
Su Qingqiu scratched her head, looking around awkwardly, then looked at the Empress, her big, watery eyes full of pleading.
Your Majesty, please think of a solution.
“Ahem…” The Empress had a sudden inspiration and thought of a compromise. “Actually, your wife has already been brought to the Imperial Capital, in my palace. It wasn’t intentional to keep it from you, but during the treatment, she needs to be naked and soak in the pool, combined with a Celestial Grade technique, for three months. It might not be convenient for you to go.”
Meng Qingzhou was shocked.
Soaking for three months!? Wouldn’t she get all swollen!?
“Please take me to her,” Meng Qingzhou said firmly. He could be careless about anything else, but when it came to his wife, he wouldn’t allow any negligence.
After all, she was his only weakness in this world.
“She’s naked, and you still want to go?” Dongfang Liuli’s voice trembled, a hint of panic barely noticeable.
Meng Qingzhou tilted his head in confusion, “Why not? We’ve been married for years. Besides, I’m just a blind person. I just want to ensure her safety.”
Dongfang Liuli rubbed her forehead and sighed silently.
After a long while, she finally responded, “I… approve. A female court official will take you there shortly.”
“No need to delay. Send someone to take me now,” Meng Qingzhou said.
Dongfang Liuli, exhausted, waved her hand, “Someone, take Meng Qin to the Fengming Pavilion.”
The Fengming Pavilion was the Empress’s palace, at least officially.
Internally, everyone knew the Empress’s palace was just for show.
The ‘cold and aloof’ female court official who had led Meng Qingzhou to the Imperial Capital before walked over gracefully, curtsied, and said, “Sir, please follow me.”
“Thank you,” Meng Qingzhou cupped his hands.
Dongfang Liuli leaned forward, watching Meng Qingzhou walk away toward the Fengming Pavilion. She quickly lifted her skirt and hurriedly waved her hand, “Court dismissed, court dismissed!”
“Su Qingqiu, quickly find me a set of clothes and accompany me to the Fengming Pavilion!”
……
The court officials looked at each other, those unaware of the truth were naturally puzzled.
But some villagers from Present Village were shocked, realizing something was amiss.
The Minister of Personnel was dumbfounded, stammering, “The Empress is… going to impersonate Madam Meng, naked… to meet the Sword Saint??”
Good heavens!
What’s going on? The wise and mighty Empress, how could she play with fire and burn herself, digging her own grave?
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