Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Mei Shuang pulled Lin Tian'er and said, "Look at you, usually so bold, but now you're so timid!"
Lin Tian'er was provoked by Mei Shuang and decided to join in. She realized she had indeed been frightened. Regardless of whether Lin Shoutong knew that person or not, even if he did, who knew where that person was? It wasn't something immediate, and even if she agreed now, by the time they met again, today's bet would have long been forgotten.
So she relaxed and retorted with a laugh, "As long as you can name him, I dare to do it. The premise is that I have to be lucky enough to run into him!"
"Oh, how fresh! What made you suddenly come to your senses?" Mei Shuang thought to herself, amused, wondering how Lin Tian'er didn't realize that the person was far away yet right in front of her.
"What does it matter!" Lin Tian'er boasted.
"You have your conditions; I have mine too. As long as he's not an old man!"
While speaking, Lin Tian'er felt quite pleased. Such a grand project could hardly be the work of some young man; she was sure she would win.
"Come on, who is this wise old man who designed such a magnificent canal?" Lin Tian'er looked at Mei Shuang's strange expression and said proudly.
An old man? You will soon find out which "old man" it is.
Mei Shuang took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the laughter that was about to burst out. She glanced at the dark-faced Nangong Nuo and said with a smile, "What if he really isn't an old man?"
Being called an old man to his face must have set a precedent in Nangong Nuo's life history. Listening to the two women chattering and betting for fun while he was looking out at the scenery, Nangong Nuo remained expressionless on the surface; however, he would definitely remember this debt against Mei Shuang.
Lin Tian'er thought to herself that just because Lin Shoutong pretended to be mysterious didn't mean she could be treated like a child. She bluntly said, "How could that be?! If he weren't an old man, I'd marry him!!"
Her words nearly made Mei Shuang spit out her tea; the pace was just too fast.
She looked at Lin Tian'er, who thought she had the upper hand, in surprise. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Nangong Nuo's muscles twitching on her face. Deliberately widening her mouth, she exclaimed, "Are you kidding me? At first, it felt like you were losing a piece of your flesh just by letting him kiss you, and now you're directly remarrying! Lin Tian'er, words once spoken are like water spilled; this is a lifelong matter and not something to joke about..."
Lin Tian'er glared at Mei Shuang with ill intent. "Who’s joking around with you? I'm more afraid that you’re the one playing games. Lin Shoutong, do you really not know? Huh? What are you planning to do?"
"Ha! If I didn't know, I'd rather marry him!" Mei Shuang patted her chest confidently, took a delightful sip of tea, and squinted her eyes casually. In her peripheral vision, she noticed Nangong Nuo's face turning green.
"Oh, it seems you do know..." Lin Tian'er said with confusion. "So who is it?"
"Alright, let me explain it to you in detail."
Mei Shuang leisurely set down her cup and was about to speak when she suddenly bent over and held her stomach, frowning. "Sorry, my stomach doesn't feel well... I think I drank too much water. I'll be right back..."
Without waiting for a response, Mei Shuang ran out while clutching her stomach, not forgetting to whisper to Lin Tian'er as she left, "Actually, Zhao Prince knows too. You should ask him..."
As Mei Shuang reached the door, Lin Tian'er’s anxious and bewildered voice called after her, "Do you want me to accompany you...?"
"Uh, no need... I'll be fine soon."
"Make it quick!" In the background, Lin Tian'er’s shy voice could be heard asking, "Excuse me, Zhao Prince, do you know who it is?"
Mei Shuang stifled a laugh until she reached the stern of the boat and then burst into laughter. "Hahaha!" She laughed so hard that her stomach hurt.
...
After laughing, Mei Shuang felt refreshed. No wonder people say that laughter can sometimes be a great remedy; it turned out to be true. With that hearty laugh, all the negativity sank away, and she felt invigorated.
Mei Shuang propped her elbows on the ship's railing, resting her chin on her hands as she watched the boats coming and going on the canal. The distant waves rolled away, and a gentle breeze blew, lifting her spirits considerably.
Mei Shuang had already changed back into women's clothing. Her long hair was loosely tied up with a white jade hairpin, and her light blue long dress fluttered in the wind, accentuating her curvaceous figure.
A uniquely attractive woman stood alone at the stern of the boat, her subtle melancholic aura quickly drawing the attention of many passing vessels. Some romantic young men even felt inspired to recite love poems to her.
The loud voices startled Mei Shuang, pulling her from her thoughts. She lazily lifted her gaze and looked around. On a large ship parallel to theirs, a man with a refined appearance and elegant demeanor was playfully waving his folding fan while looking over with interest.
The distance was only a few yards, making their gazes clear.
The man across from Mei Shuang, Gao Guan, had his hair tied back and wore luxurious clothing, exuding a calm demeanor. Overall, he gave Mei Shuang a particularly special feeling at that moment. However, she couldn't quite articulate what made him feel special; it just seemed very familiar.
As he gazed at Mei Shuang, she curiously examined him in return. Their eyes met, and he unexpectedly smiled gently at her.
That smile was incredibly captivating; Mei Shuang felt her heart skip a beat, and warmth spread across her cheeks.
Just as she was about to politely return the smile, an unwelcome voice interrupted from behind, "What are you looking at?"
Oh no, why is it that someone always comes to ruin the mood at crucial moments?
With a sigh, Mei Shuang turned around to see Nangong Nuo approaching with a sullen expression, standing beside her.
"Just admiring the canal you built. With all this trade going on, who wouldn't be thinking about your good work?" As she spoke, her gaze shifted back to the large ship, but the man had already vanished from sight.
Nangong Nuo was no fool; he had been standing behind Mei Shuang for quite some time and had heard those nauseating love poems. Fortunately, this woman seemed unaffected by them. However, when the merchant ship passed earlier, she had been glancing left and right at that man as if she had never seen one before. This made him quite angry; she seemed distracted while talking to him, stealing glances in that direction—wasn't that an indication of interest?
Without saying a word, he pulled Mei Shuang into his arms.
Caught off guard, Mei Shuang didn't even have time to comprehend what was happening before Nangong Nuo tightly wrapped his arms around her waist, and as his face suddenly loomed closer, her lips were sealed.
This was in front of so many people! Embarrassed and furious, Mei Shuang struggled to break free but was no match for Nangong Nuo.
The passionate, storm-like French kiss continued until Mei Shuang was nearly breathless.
Gasping for air, Mei Shuang looked up to find Lin Tian'er standing at the cabin door, holding a piece of clothing.
Perhaps startled by the earlier scene, Lin Tian'er's face turned crimson as she stood frozen in place, unsure whether to walk away or stay.
Mei Shuang felt awkward and forced a smile. "You... you came?"
"Uh, um, I brought you some clothes. I was worried you might be cold."
Lin Tian'er lowered her head as if she had done something wrong, staring at her toes. Earlier, Nangong Nuo had told her to stand there, claiming he needed to punish Lin Shoutong. After all that commotion, it turned out the punishment was something so... embarrassing!
Nangong Nuo stood there nonchalantly, even attempting to wipe the traces from Mei Shuang's lips with his hand, only to be blocked by an annoyed Mei Shuang.
Look at this! Clearly, he was the one who initiated this situation, yet it felt as if they were two thieves caught red-handed.
Inside the cabin, Mei Shuang and Lin Tian'er sat facing each other while Nangong Nuo listened to his attendants outside discussing something.
"Hey, do you know the answer now?" Mei Shuang asked Lin Tian'er.
While serving food to Mei Shuang, Lin Tian'er chuckled and asked, "Did the prince punish you as he said he would?"
Mei Shuang choked a bit, realizing that his sudden arousal earlier was indeed a punishment directed at her.
"Alright, let me ask you again. Have you made up your mind?" Mei Shuang said seriously.
"What?" Lin Tian'er replied, handing the bowl of rice to Mei Shuang.
"Who was it that just said they wanted to marry someone?" Mei Shuang took a sip of soup and praised, "This soup tastes great..."
"Hehe, be careful or you might get punished by the prince again..." Lin Tian'er emphasized the word "punished," looking at Mei Shuang's slightly swollen red lips with amusement.
Mei Shuang felt embarrassed; damn it, this sharp-tongued girl had learned to retaliate in kind.
After this little interlude, along with Mei Shuang's body showing no signs of worsening, the atmosphere lightened up a bit during their journey. Although they didn't dare to delay for a moment, they finally arrived in the capital three days later.
Purple Dawn City was still bustling with activity. The willows along the Grand Canal swayed gently, summer lotus flowers bloomed, and reeds stood like snow, weaving together a beautiful natural tapestry.
It was hot but not stifling; a refreshing breeze brushed past, bringing with it an invigorating fragrance.
Sitting in the carriage, Lin Tian'er looked out through the small curtain and couldn't stop praising the scenery outside.
Seeing Lin Tian'er’s excitement reminiscent of Liu Laolao entering Grand View Garden, Mei Shuang thought that no matter how wealthy one might be at home, there were always new and interesting places outside. Just as she was about to share her excitement with Lin Tian'er, a sudden thought dimmed her spirits; her future was uncertain, and she still had to worry about these matters.
With the badge exempting them from layers of questioning, the carriage sped through the palace gates, heading straight for a particular palace.
Outside the palace, Li Gonggong anxiously watched the distance with a whisk in hand, occasionally urging the young attendant beside him to check on the arrival.
Finally, a young attendant returned with news. "The person has arrived..."
Li Gonggong's heart finally settled, his brows relaxing as he instructed, "I will wait here; quickly go report to the Emperor..."
Inside the Hall of Governance, Emperor Xiao Luo of the Great Qin Empire was gazing out at the blue sky, lost in thought.
Upon receiving the report that Mei Ru had been captured, he was not surprised. In the web he had woven, no matter how far one flew, it would only be a futile struggle.
Recalling what he had heard about Mei Ru—sensitive and precocious, harboring resentment towards Chancellor Mei for his favoritism, and having suffered bullying from Mei Shuang—her psyche had long been twisted. Over the years, she had assisted the false Left Chancellor Li Tang in many misdeeds. With her exceptional intelligence, she easily manipulated Mei Shuang. Many of the wicked ideas originated from her mind, while Mei Shuang's arrogant nature had led to enmity with many noble ladies from various palaces, likely due to her relationship with Mei Ru.
Comment 0 Comment Count