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墨書 Inktalez
Xiao Luo glanced at Anriyan and suddenly found this refined and elegant Yamatai envoy quite detestable. How could he understand Mei Shuang's habits so well?
However, he had to admit that Anriyan was right.
Even when terrified to the extreme, she would rather lie in his arms and slowly calm down than ask him to let her go. He couldn't understand how much freedom meant to her; she would rather take the risk of going than ask him to withdraw.
For a moment, Xiao Luo's heart was in turmoil, and he couldn't sleep until late at night. He simply got up and went to Mei Shuang's palace.
Mei Shuang was still fast asleep. Xiao Luo sat at the edge of the bed, gazing at her small face, wondering when they would meet again after parting tomorrow.
At dawn, Li Gonggong sent someone with the items Mei Shuang requested. Some of the items were even hastily crafted according to Mei Shuang's drawings. Besides a sharp blade for self-defense, there were ropes, grappling hooks, shovels, and a heavy bundle of various tools.
Having not slept all night, Xiao Luo had faint dark circles under his eyes. When Mei Shuang woke up, she didn't even put on her shoes and came out barefoot. The first thing she did was check the items that had been prepared.
After inspecting everything, Mei Shuang stood up and smiled slightly at Xiao Luo. "Your Majesty, is there anything you want to say to me before I leave?"
Her relaxed demeanor was in stark contrast to her state of shock from the previous night, leaving Xiao Luo momentarily stunned. Still affected by Mei Shuang's smile, he didn't speak but instead pulled out a long black object from his sleeve and handed it to her.
Mei Shuang took it and realized it was a short sword, about a foot long and two fingers wide, entirely black with a faint gleam on the blade. The hilt was inlaid with a large blue gemstone; apart from the gem, other decorations sparkled with deep light like constellations in motion. As the sword was drawn from its sheath, it shone brightly; the sword's aura was chilling and imposing—indeed a fine weapon.
She had encountered various swords with her travel companions from different professions before. Although she didn't know their names, she understood their weight and value. Moreover, this one was carried by Xiao Luo; it must be excellent for self-defense.
Holding it in her hand, she felt that the scabbard still held Xiao Luo's warmth. She examined it several times before asking, "Does this sword have a name?"
Xiao Luo replied calmly, "Yes, this is the Zhanlu Sword. Now I will teach you how to use it."
Xiao Luo took the short sword back and demonstrated its use for Mei Shuang. She exclaimed in surprise, "It has such functions?" Her fingers caressed the gemstone on it lovingly; clearly, her affection for the gem surpassed her appreciation for the Zhanlu Sword itself.
Xiao Luo wondered aloud, "I took you to the library where there are so many treasures; why do you pay so much attention to this gemstone instead?"
Mei Shuang looked at the gem under the sunlight and asked, "Your Majesty, this gem won't fall off, will it?"
If it fell, all its functions would be completely lost.
"..." Xiao Luo, caught between laughter and exasperation, replied, "Did you really understand? Women, with long hair and short sight. Remember, you must carry it with you at all times; it cannot leave your side..."
As he instructed her, his last words took on a serious tone.
Mei Shuang no longer questioned him and carefully hung the sword at her waist. Suddenly, she heard Xiao Luo's rich and gentle voice beside her, "Also, when you think of me, you can look at this sword..."
Mei Shuang was taken aback and raised her gaze, only to find that Xiao Luo's attention had already shifted elsewhere. The words lingered in her ears, but upon reflection, they felt somewhat distorted. It was hard to believe such sentimental words could come from the lips of this lofty Sovereign.
Confirming that she hadn't misheard, a strange sense of emotion welled up within her. Surely he was expressing his concern for her and encouraging her for the journey ahead.
She struggled to suppress her inner turmoil, a playful smile creeping onto her lips as she said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will take good care of it and won't lose it."
Xiao Luo's gaze remained fixed outside the window. After hearing her response, he simply replied with a faint "Mm."
Mei Shuang gazed at the emperor before her, standing with her hands clasped behind her back. His sharply defined features remained stern; there was no softening of expression despite his earlier seemingly sentimental words.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally asked the question that had been lingering on her lips for a long time, "How is Zhao Prince doing?"
Upon hearing Mei Shuang mention Nangong Nuo, Xiao Luo turned his head. His dark eyes held a heavy gaze, like a deep valley shrouded in mist, making it impossible to discern his true feelings.
After a moment of silence, he said lightly, "You will likely see him soon..."
Mei Shuang was puzzled and wondered if Nangong Nuo would also be part of this mission.
Since Xiao Luo was unwilling to say more, she did not press further.
After breakfast, Anriyan, Anriyan's Attendant, Shijieyu, and Mei Shuang set off.
Watching the wheels kick up clouds of dust, Xiao Luo's expression darkened. After a moment of contemplation, she instructed, "Convey my orders to have them on standby at all times."
After standing in place for a while, she finally remembered to go to the Empress Dowager.
"Leaving?" Empress Dowager Mingxi noticed her son's distraction and understood somewhat, feeling a twinge of disappointment in her heart.
"Yes." Xiao Luo nodded.
"I have said before that she would never choose to stay in the palace," Empress Dowager Mingxi sighed, twisting the Buddhist beads in her hand. Her words carried a deeper meaning as she continued, "She is not the type to linger in the boudoir, only revolving around men. Knowing the dangers ahead, she still does not wish to ask you to stay, which shows that life in this palace is not so comfortable..."
Empress Dowager Mingxi's words were pointed and clearly criticized Xiao Luo for knowing yet not taking action.
Xiao Luo was well aware of what Mei Shuang had endured from the concubines in the harem, but he often chose to avoid these matters because thinking about them gave him a headache.
Having many wives and concubines enjoying shared blessings was not something everyone could experience. As a ruler commanding thousands of troops was no small feat, yet dealing with just a few dozen concubines in the harem left him feeling at a loss. The beautiful concubines were not like tough soldiers; any mistakes could lead to punishment or reprimand. To vie for favor, they were more skilled in using tears and charm tactics, going to great lengths to please him. Even if he had a heart of stone and felt no affection for these women, facing their bright faces seeking his favor softened him somewhat and made him reluctant to cause harm.
Thus, knowing that Mei Shuang had suffered grievances among the concubines, as long as it did not create too much commotion, he did not want to investigate too deeply. After all, compared to the rivalries in the harem, matters of state were far more important.
Therefore, what he could do was keep Mei Shuang isolated from those idle rumors and unpleasant concubines; naturally, she would feel more at ease.
What puzzled and also comforted him was that Mei Shuang never brought up anything regarding any concubine, even if it concerned her or if she had suffered grievances; she never spoke of it.
This time Mei Shuang weighed her options for a long time but still decided to go. It must be said that she was indeed somewhat evasive.
Lost in thought, Xiao Luo suddenly zoned out.
Seeing Xiao Luo sitting at the table, holding a tea cup and seemingly lost in contemplation, Empress Dowager Mingxi felt a surge of anger. Looking at him, she seemed to regret her earlier decisions.
"Mei Shuang didn't say she wanted to stay; can't you just force her to stay? No matter how clever she is, she's still a weak woman who can't even harm a chicken. You're putting her at such great risk. If anything happens to her, how am I supposed to live with that?"
Empress Dowager Mingxi vented her frustrations.
However, it was too late to say anything now.
The contract between the two nations had been established, and breaking it easily would not only harm the relationship between the two countries but also lead to ridicule from the world for the Great Qin Empire's lack of credibility.
Xiao Luo remained silent. Upon hearing Empress Dowager Mingxi's words, he snapped back to reality and forced a bitter smile. It sounded as if he had driven Mei Shuang away.
Empress Dowager Mingxi knew that everything was beyond repair and could only sigh again. After much contemplation, she finally articulated a profound truth: "A woman without talent is virtuous."
This was the crux of the matter!
Everything stemmed from Mei Shuang knowing too much; they felt it would be a waste not to utilize her.
Empress Dowager Mingxi shot a glance at her son, fully aware of his nature. Cold on the outside but warm on the inside, tough yet gentle, he rarely showed emotions. When he did, it was as if ten oxen couldn't pull him back—just like with Chu Xiruo before. Now, regarding Mei Shuang, she couldn't discern what he truly felt.
If he were heartless towards Mei Shuang, why did he go to the brothel in the middle of the night to rescue her? Not to mention his recent visits; yet if he genuinely cared for Mei Shuang, how could he let her take such risks?
Now observing his expression closely, she found it impossible to read him. Feeling disheartened, Empress Dowager Mingxi could only say, "Since she can't stay in the palace, perhaps it's better for her to wander outside. The outside world is far more dangerous than the palace; once she hits a wall, she'll come to her senses..."
Qishan is only a few hundred miles away from the capital city, marking the boundary of the Qizhou region, and it won't take long to reach.
This treasure-hunting trip includes six people along with the coachman, two carriages, and various tools and supplies.
The simple farewell ceremony was a far cry from what Mei Shuang had imagined—an impressive gathering with high spirits and perhaps even a solemn prayer to the heavens for protection before departure.
Even if they tried to keep it a secret, such a significant event lacked any formality; those unaware might think they were just visiting relatives.
Looking at the few people accompanying her, Mei Shuang felt speechless. The saying "many hands make light work" is an ancient adage. In the deep mountains and forests, what strange things could they encounter? With just these few people, could they really find treasure? It was likely they would return in pieces.
However, this was how it was arranged. Although one carriage could hold everything, Mei Shuang insisted on taking two carriages; she did not want to share one with Anriyan.
In her eyes, Yamataikoku represented "Witchcraft and Sorcery" and "Heterodox Practices." Even the name of the country carried an Evil Aura—how good could its people be? Just because someone appeared refined and polite did not mean they were trustworthy. Take Mei Ru, who had received the true teachings of Yamataikoku's witchcraft; she presented herself as kind and benevolent in front of others while hiding a filthy heart that was hard to face.
But Anriyan's words dispelled her thoughts: "What we need now is cooperation; working alone does not benefit unity."
Mei Shuang felt frustrated but had no choice but to comply with Anriyan's arrangements to avoid being labeled as "disunited" right from the start.
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