?

  Please subscribe and vote with pink tickets./[Source of this book: 56 Bookstore]

  ￥￥

  Watching Xiao Mo leave, King Lanling stepped forward after a while and entered the courtyard.

  Zhang Qi was dazed again, and when she found out he had arrived, she quickly stood up, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at him. After a slight pause, she walked swiftly to his front, tidied up his clothes with her hands, hugged his waist, buried her face in his chest, and said softly: "I just wanted Xiao Mo to leave Qidi."

  "Why?"

  "Because Emperor Qi was not a wise ruler, you see that even Prince of Henan Gao Xiaoyu was poisoned by him just for offering advice, and Prince of Hejian Gao Xiaojuan knew about it but could only cry bitterly and leave."

  What she said happened just three months ago, and it was also the biggest change that occurred in the Qi State during these few months.

  The King of Lanling fell silent, he knew that Ah Qi was reminding him that Gao Zhan was not to be relied upon.

  After a while, Langling Wang stretched out his hand and stroked her raven hair, which had been cut short when they escaped from Wuwei City and still hadn't grown back to its original length. He stroked it gently and said in a low voice, "Don't worry, this time I will protect you no matter what, no matter what!"

  "En." Zhang Qi softly responded, she wrapped her arms around his waist, happily rubbing against his chest. Smelling his familiar body scent, Zhang Qi felt warmth in her heart, as if drunk, with her beautiful eyes narrowed, she lifted her feet and blew a breath into his ear, her small tongue gently licking the ear hole, her soft murmurs said: "Chang Gong, I want to give you a child, our own child..."

  Her voice was the best aphrodisiac, so as soon as her voice fell. The Lanling King's breathing suddenly became coarser, he stretched out his hand to hold her waist and walked towards the bedroom in big strides.

  After Gao Zhan replaced Lanling Wang to host the dust banquet, Lanling Wang became busy. With the news of Zheng Yu being moved to Xiyuan and Zhang Qi staying in the main hall, many noblewomen came to visit her.

  That day, Zhang Gui received a note. Looking at the note, Zhang Gui furrowed his brow.

  Yang Shoucheng walked behind her and said softly: "Madam, what do you think?"

  Zhang Qi lowered her eyes and said, "What did Zhang Gong say?"

  "The king said that we should be ready to serve you at any time, it is the order of the empress. Your Majesty will also not leave."

  "Good!" Zhang Qi responded crisply, turning her head. "Then let's go see the Empress Dowager." Having arrived at this chaotic place, she couldn't help it. No matter how many difficulties lay ahead, she would exhaust all her strength to build an unshakeable fortress for both Chang Gong and herself, a stronghold that no one dared to invade or pry into!

  After accepting the queen's invitation, Zhang Gui returned to her bedroom and dressed up. Looking at the magnificent clothes that Langling Wang had specially sent over this morning, filling a whole room, Zhang Gui looked through them one by one, slowly thinking in her heart.

  These clothes, all of them were remade, whether it was the style or the fabric, they were made according to the specifications of the princess. As he looked at them, Zhang Gui suddenly discovered that these clothes had been made a long time ago. Some of the clothes even had one or two strands of spider silk left in the corners.

  Dazed for a moment, Zhang Gui called out: "Please ask Fang Lao to come in."

  Before long, Mr. Fang came over and asked with a smile: "A Gui called me?"

  Zhang Qi turned around and asked softly: "Master Fang, when was this garment made?"

  Fang Lao walked over and took a look, chuckling: "It's been two years, hasn't it? That year when we found out you weren't dead yet, Chang Gong had someone prepare these clothes for you. He said you would definitely like them. What's wrong, A Qie, don't you like them? Don't worry, tell old master and I'll have someone make some more right away."

  In the past, Fang Lao was also polite to Zhang Gui, but this time's politeness had a kind of closeness, a kind of treating her like a niece or nephew. Zhang Gui was taken aback and suddenly understood: it was because her identity had changed? So Fang Lao had accepted her from the bottom of his heart and was ready to get close to her.

  She smiled gratefully at Old Fang and exchanged a few more pleasantries before he left, then she stared blankly at these clothes.

  She slowly buried her face in a garment and muttered softly: That scoundrel Zhang Gong!

  He had long wanted to marry her, and had thought of marrying her since the day she left. But he never said it, and after rescuing her in Wuwei, he let her indulge in her own thoughts!

  She walked over, picked out a set of black clothes and put them on. Zhang Gui said to the maids who were dressing her: "Go tell Old Lady Fang that from now on, all my seasonal clothes will be made in black."

  "Ah?" The maids looked at Zhang Yi, who was dressed in black from head to toe. One of the maids couldn't help but say: "But madam, this black color can't bring out your elegance."

  It cannot show off her beauty, or rather, it covers up her beauty. But she likes the coldness and indifference after wearing this dress, she thinks that maybe this coldness and indifference can make Gao Zhan feel uncomfortable at first sight, and also prevent Empress Hu from teasing her at will. So she thought to herself, from now on, she would show this face to people.

  "Going is preparing."

  "Yes."

  She dismissed the maids, and casually hid a short sword in her sleeve. Zhang Gui got into the carriage under the escort of ten black-armored guards led by Cheng Shi, heading towards the Drunken Fragrance Building on the street.

  Empress Hu invited her to meet here.

  Zui Xiang Lou has always been one of the favorite restaurants for the noble ladies of Ye City. The two-story wooden building is modeled after the architecture of the Epang Palace during the Qin Dynasty, with a luxurious atmosphere amidst its simplicity. Some of the wood used in the construction is even sandalwood, which fills the air with a subtle fragrance. The waitresses and servants are all young and beautiful, and the food and drink served are all exquisite delicacies from the Three Kingdoms period, making it a place where people linger and forget to leave.

  When Zhang Gui arrived at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, there were not a few people dining on the first floor, and the sound of laughter and conversation filled the air. As she listened to the waves of human voices, Zhang Gui's heart calmed down, and she pulled her gauze hat tight, taking steps towards the second floor pavilion.

  As soon as he stepped onto the loft, a round-faced, extremely affable man in his forties with a hint of elegance between his eyebrows and eyes walked up to him. He fixed his gaze on Zhang Qi, who was walking towards him with a steady pace, completely ignoring Cheng Shi and others who were closely following her. He smiled and said: "Are you Mrs. Zhang, the wife of King Langling? I am He Shikai, and I have been waiting for you here under the order of Her Majesty."

  He smiled warmly, but his small eyes were fixed tightly on Zhang Qi's face.

  After saying that, he waited for Zhang Yi to pay homage to him. This is the world of Qi. I suppose no one doesn't know that he is the most trusted person by His Majesty? The stunning woman in front of him must not dare to be disrespectful to him.

  Zhang Qi didn't dare to be disrespectful, under her veil. She smiled slightly and nodded at He Shi before turning to Zhang Qi and saying coldly: "Thanks for your trouble, He Da. I don't know about the Empress Dowager."

  Suddenly hearing her voice, Shi Kai's bones were all numb, and after a while he said: "The princess is inside, Madame Wang of Lanling. Why don't I take you over?"

  "I don't dare."

  "Please, this way." Da Wei Ke's demeanor in front of Zhang Qi was completely different from when he faced Zheng Yu. Now, Da Wei Ke was polite and courteous, with a warm and friendly smile. Even though his eyes were glued to the other person, it was hard for people to feel any disgust.

  He led Zhang Qi to the second wing of the house. Today, all the other rooms on this floor were wide open, with no one inside.

  In the second room, Empress Hu sat in the center, with five or six noble ladies by her side, as well as a dozen young and beautiful servants. Seeing Zhang Gui come over, Empress Hu turned her head to stare at him.

  Zhang Qi slowly removed her veil, and in the instant that Heshi Kai and the other servants' eyes widened, the noblewomen also stared blankly as she bowed to Empress Hu and said in a clear voice: "Zhang Shi Ai Qi has seen Your Majesty the Empress." At this time, she and Prince Lanling had not yet formally acknowledged their relationship. Therefore, it was also acceptable for her to address herself by name.

  The Empress Hu did not expect that, but in two years, she had become beautiful like this. After being stunned for a while, her eyes glanced over and stared at He Shi Kaithe way a fool would, slowly furrowing her brow, with a hint of annoyance in her heart.

  Furrowing her brow, Empress Hu spoke coldly: "So it's Zhang Shi after all. I've heard that you're quite pleased with yourself, and as soon as you returned to Jin Yang, Gao Chang Gong got rid of his original wife just to curry favor with you?"

  Empress Hu's words were not polite at all, and as soon as she spoke, the other noblewomen also burst out laughing coldly. Especially the four words "wife with whom one has gone through thick and thin" that Empress Hu said, actually stirred up the common hostility of the noblewomen.

  Zhang Qi seemed to be unaware that Empress Hu was angry, she shook her head and looked at Empress Hu with a pure gaze, smiling: "Empress, you are wrong, Zheng Yu is still a virgin now, if you say this, it will make it difficult for her to marry a good husband."

  Zhang Qi's blunt and even familiar tone shocked everyone, and the noblewomen stared at her, thinking to themselves: It's said that this Zhang woman has a humble background, it turns out she's really foolish, speaking so casually in front of Her Majesty the Empress.

  Contrary to their expectations, Empress Hu seemed not to have taken offense and instead argued back with her, "Anyway, you drove her away, isn't that a fact?"

  Zhang Qi shook her head and walked to the queen's side, sitting down opposite her. She poured a cup of wine for herself and the queen, saying: "Your Majesty, I brought back a special kind of wine from Chen Di this time. It's extremely unique, and after drinking it, one feels as if they're floating on air, experiencing the greatest pleasure in the world. Would you like me to send some over later?" In the three kingdoms, when it came to indulging in pleasures, no one was more skilled than the people of the south. The fine wines they produced were indeed a coveted treasure among the nobility of the three kingdoms.

  In the wide eyes of the noble ladies, Empress Hu hesitated for a moment, then pulled her mouth and hummed: "Well, let's try it." Although her tone was hard, she had actually accepted her bribe.

  How can this be? The noble ladies, you look at me and I look at you. Normally they try to please in every way, the empress dowager scolds and beats them, how come this Zhang Shi is so rude, so casual, yet she doesn't get angry at all?

  They didn't know that this Empress Hu was someone who had also lived a life of luxury in the brothel. Such a person wouldn't care about rules, dignity and etiquette, nor would they distinguish between high and low.

  Zhang Qi heard Empress Hu say this, and immediately smiled and said: "Alright, I'll have someone send over some fine wine right away." Saying this, she stuck her head out and loudly called out: "Cheng Shi, send two people to the mansion to bring over some fine wine, remember to take a little of each kind."

  In a sudden silence, Cheng Shi responded loudly with a "Yes", then waved his hand and the two guards descended from the wine building.

  It seems that Empress Hu has started to have a subtle good impression of Zhang Gui. Shi Kai, who was standing on one side, responded with a smile: "To say the truth, it can't be said that Ah Gui is driving away Zheng Shi. That Gao Chang Gong spoke of divorce, and it's been two whole years now. Tsk, tsk, from the night of their wedding, they've been talking about divorce; there's probably no other couple like this in the world."

  This was actually helping Zhang Gui. Feeling his attitude towards Zhang Gui, Empress Hu's expression turned cold and she let out a heavy hum, saying to Zhang Gui in a cold voice: "You still have to answer the questions of this palace."