The great Han Dynasty was in its 29th year when Emperor Wu lost his companion

  "Shameless," Lü Zhi scolded, "if it's really that good, why don't you get your precious Qi Yi to go?"

  "How dare you!" Liu Bang's face changed instantly and he rebuked.

  "Hahaha," Lü Zhi laughed for a while, finally tears fell, and she knelt down on her knees, exhausted. "Liu Ji, I have never asked you for anything. I married you at 16 and worked hard for you all these years. Even if I didn't have any merits, you should still appreciate my efforts. You've been away from home for many years, I don't resent you; you had an affair with Cao Jie and had Liu Fei, humiliating me, I don't resent you; you forced me to lure away the pursuing soldiers, I don't resent you; when I was captured by the Chu army, you refused to rescue me, I don't resent you; you favored Qu Yuan and neglected my daughter, I don't resent you; you demoted Zhang Yi and reduced his rank, I don't resent you. You should at least leave me a way out. I only have one daughter, Manhua, don't force her to take the path of death."

  "Don't use up the last bit of husband-and-wife affection between us."

  Liu Bang sighed and helped Lü Zhi up from the steps.

  She thought he had finally changed his mind and couldn't help but feel delighted.

  "Ah Jiu," Liu Bang called out her nickname, "Manhua is my daughter. Do you think if I had any other choice, I would force her like this? The Great Han and Chu have been at war for years, the people's livelihoods are already wounded, and we can't afford even a little more turmoil. And to the north, Modun's Xiongnu is in its prime, often raiding our borders. If I want to go to war, both our national strength and military power are insufficient; if I want to make peace, what can be used as a basis for peace?"

  "I have only one daughter in Manchu." He said slowly, "She is the Princess of Daihan, and should make every effort for the country."

  Lü Zhi's heart was icy cold, and she raised her head indifferently. "I don't care how others contribute to the country, but my daughter won't do."

  "She should have done her part, but I've already done it for her. For the sake of this princess, she hasn't enjoyed much happiness, but instead suffered a lot. You tell me, shouldn't you compensate her?"

  Liu Bang's face changed several times in succession, he shook off her hand and scolded, "This boy is not worthy of discussion." He pulled Qi Yi back to the Immortal Hall.

  Under the moonlight, Lü Zhi smiled slowly, but found that the corners of her lips were stiff, so she looked up at the sky, and her eyes covered the snow.

  The next day, Lu Yuan woke up in a daze in the Pepper Chamber, and found that by his bedside was a small figure with a head of black hair scattered like spilled ink.

  "How did Ah Yan end up here?" she asked softly, her throat feeling hoarse.

  "Princess, you're awake," Tu Tu carefully helped her sit up and said softly, "Xiao Niangzi has been worried about you, no matter what I say, she refuses to leave."

  The noise woke up Zhang Yan, she rubbed her eyes and lifted her head to see Lu Yuan, delightedly smiled and said, "Mother is awake."

  Lu Yuan's heart felt a pang of sadness, and he almost shed tears. He quickly held back his emotions, hugged her and said, "Silly girl, don't you know to go back to sleep when you're tired?"

  "Mother, don't worry," Zhang Yan comforted her in her arms with closed eyes, "you won't go to the Xiongnu."

  Lu Yuan smiled faintly and tapped her little nose tip, "How did you know?"

  "I just know." Zhang Yan opened her eyes and stared at her intensely.

  She suddenly didn't believe it, but also willing to hurt her daughter's heart. At this time, Tu Tu spoke again, "Princess, the prince is waiting for you outside the palace."

  "Alright." Ruyuan lifted the quilt and got out of bed to comb her hair, "I'll go over right away. Oh, bring Yan'er over to me."

  The wet nurse carried the swaddled infant into the palace, speaking cautiously, "Your Highness, look, I was just about to feed the young master."

  "You're not needed today." Lu Yuan gently took the baby from her hands, tenderly focused, "I'll feed him myself."

  "Princess," Tu Tu frowned in disapproval, "which noblewoman is willing to personally breastfeed her child? It's beneath their status. And besides, the Crown Prince..." is still waiting outside.

  "Brother will understand." Lu Yuan raised his head and said, "This life may be the last chance to see Yan'er, as a mother, I want to feed him myself, can't I?"

  Her eyes reddened as she drew a picture, turned around and secretly wiped away her tears, then stepped back and stopped talking.

  Then Lu Yuan turned around and opened her collar, revealing a white breast. The child didn't understand the sorrow of adults, but smelled the milk fragrance and sucked it in, taking a mouthful. Zhang Yan turned her head away, unable to bear looking again. She had also seen her mother nurse her younger siblings several times before, but at this moment, she felt that her mother was most radiant and sacred.

  Lu Yuan couldn't help but let out a low cry, she had been taking medicine to stop lactation, and her milk was scarce. The child in her arms sucked fiercely, it was painful. But even though it hurt, she didn't want to let go of her son, tears streaming down her face.

  After a while, she handed the baby over to Tu Tu, tidied up her clothes and stepped out of the room to see her brother sitting in the outer hall.

  It had been several days since they last met, and Liu Ying seemed somewhat haggard. She was sipping from a golden cup with cloud patterns, and when she saw her come out, she forced a smile and called out, "Elder sister," with a hint of fatigue between her eyebrows.

  "Little brother," Ru Yuan walked up to him and sat down, stroking his brow, "you're already so old, next year you should be getting married, but you still don't understand. When you're tired, you should go back to sleep, do I need to teach you this?"

  "How did I sleep?" Liu Ying said with a hint of annoyance, "These past few days, the empress and I have been kneeling to beg the emperor to retract his decree, but although the emperor has shown some intention of doing so, he just won't change his mind. Eldest sister's fate is still uncertain, as her younger brother..." He was about to continue when Lu Yuan covered his mouth with her hand.

  "Father Emperor is heartless, you know that," she said. "Younger brother, I don't want you to beg him, I only ask you to help me with one thing."

  "What's wrong?"

  Lu Yuan's eyes welled up with tears, "I want to see Ao Ge. Since I gave birth to our son, we haven't seen each other again. I think he must be thinking of me until his death. Younger brother, can you help me think of a way? No matter when, where or how, let us husband and wife meet once more. Will you?"

  "This..." Liu Ying hesitated, "But according to palace rules, outer officials are not allowed to enter the inner palace, it's not good to overstep."

  "I know he's blaming me, otherwise, no matter how many reasons there are, it wouldn't be that we haven't seen each other for two months in Chang'an. Lu Yuan's voice was choked with sobs, almost on the verge of collapse. "I'm afraid Father Emperor really has a ruthless heart and will send me to the Huns' chariots, then I'll never see him again. Ah, brother, what should I do? What can I do?"

  Liu Ying nodded solemnly and promised her seriously, "Alright, sister, just wait calmly, I will find a way."

  Lu Yuan waited for three days in calmness and anxiety, and finally on the fourth day, Tu Tu came in and said to her, "Princess, the Crown Prince has come to visit you again."

  Lu Yuan was overjoyed, and he quickly ran to the outer hall in big strides, grasping his brother's hand and repeatedly asked, "Younger brother, what did Ao Ge say? Does he still miss me? Is he willing to see me?"

  "Sister," Liu Ying hastily covered her mouth, made a silencing gesture with her hand, and then smiled warmly, saying, "Look who I've brought along?"

  Lu Yuan was taken aback for a moment.

  The guard in armor behind the prince lifted his head, and under the bright red tassel helmet, he had a clear eyebrow, eyes like jade, wasn't it Zhang Ao, the one he thought about day and night?

  Liu Ying did not want to disturb them, so after dismissing the slaves and maids in the palace, she also retreated.

  In March, the sunlight is very good, shining on the steps in front of the Pepper Chamber Hall, warm and bright. It's perfect for going out to enjoy the greenery. Liu Ying looked up and saw that under the big trees in the courtyard, a swing was hung, and a girl in yellow spring clothes was sitting on the swing, her brocade shoes barely touching the ground, gently swaying back and forth.

  "Why don't you call someone to push?" Liu Ying asked her.

  Zhang Yan raised her head and smiled, "Every mood has its own way of expression. Today I just want to sit like this." Don't disturb me.

  Liu Ying looked at her silent eyes, slightly pitied, and comforted, "Don't be afraid, Uncle will not let your mother go to the Xiongnu like this."

  "I'm not afraid," Zhang Yan shook her head and said, "I know she won't go."

  "Oh?" Liu Ying was amused by her, "Where did you get so confident?"

  "Because I'm reluctant," Zhang Yan smiled, "Mother knows I'm reluctant to part with her, so she certainly won't go."

  Liu Ying smiled faintly. The logic of children is indeed simple and clear-cut, but if the affairs of the world were so simple and clear-cut, how good would that be?

  He turned his gaze to the solemn and majestic Pepper Palace, inside the western wing of the palace, where Lu Yuan and Zhang Jue locked eyes for a long time. Lu Yuan finally let out a sob and threw himself into Zhang Jue's arms, "Jue brother, I really thought I'd never see you again."

  "Ah, Manhua," Zhang Ao hugged her and stroked her hair with a sympathetic tone, "The last time I saw you, you were already looking quite haggard. How come after two months, you still haven't recovered, but instead look even more worn out?"

  "Brother Ao, Brother Ao," Lu Yuan's eyes were frantic and tearful as she said, "Don't blame Manhua, Manhua didn't want it to be like this either. For the past two months, I knew you resented me, hated me, so I didn't dare come out of the palace to see you. But," her tears rolled down her cheeks like pearls, and she covered her face, "if only I had known it would end up like this, if only I had known...I might as well have left with you after giving birth to our son. Even if you scolded me, ignored me, at least we would still be together, and these days wouldn't be wasted in vain."

  "Silly girl," Zhang Jue exerted force to pull open her hand, and then used his other hand to gently wipe away the tears under her eyes. "I've never blamed you."

  Lu Yuan's gaze suddenly became hazy and enchanting, slowly closing in on the two pairs of lips, finally sticking together, rolling and grinding. Zhang Ao stretched out his hand to shake open Lu Yuan's hair, placing her on the couch, and even explored her scorching yet warm skin, in the blink of an eye, the two were panting, their clothes disheveled.

  In the midst of confusion and infatuation, a sharp and high-pitched voice suddenly came from outside the palace, "Announce that Marquis Ping Zhang Yue privately broke into the Chang Le Palace, defiled the imperial court, now following the emperor's order, take him down immediately." As soon as the words fell, several eunuchs rushed in.

  After someone else's, my computer also crashed beautifully today, and after reinstalling the computer, I've been busy until now.

  Sorry about that.

  However, we still need to continue calling for pink votes.