"Sword dance?"
The eunuch bowed even lower and wanted to bury himself in the ground, "Yes … Yes. Because of Madam Wei's suggestion, His Majesty ordered us to summon Commander Xie to the Brocade Hall."
Unexpectedly, Xie Yun did not show any anger or anger on her face. From Shan Chao's point of view, she only raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Who is this Madam Wei?" Shan Chao could not help but ask.
"She is the Empress's niece and His Majesty's new favorite."
Xie Yun answered him directly, but her voice was full of sarcasm, "She has no brain and can only walk. Don't worry too much about her."
Shan Chao was confused, "Shi … Commander Xie."
"Why?"
"The way you spoke just now was different from the way you usually talk about me …"
Shan Chao could not find the right words to say. Xie Yun did not understand and said, "Who cares about your little thoughts." She then grabbed the Tai-Ah Sword and left.
Shan Chao watched her back as she turned around the screen. He was in a daze for a moment, but he could not tell what that feeling was.
He only watched as Xie Yun walked towards the grand palace banquet. Although his impression of this person had always been extremely bad, at this moment, he couldn't help but feel worried. He couldn't help but get up and walk behind the screen.
The Emperor was currently laughing as he accompanied the Jialan Clan to drink wine. Hugging the soft and fragrant jade in his arms, he temporarily forgot all the troubles he had been having recently. All of a sudden, the Jialan Clan exclaimed, "Commander Xie is here."
The Emperor looked up and saw Xie Yun walking past hundreds of beautiful candles. She walked past the singing and dancing in the hall.
The Commander of the Imperial Army was tall and proud. He wore a snow-white official robe with dark red sleeves and a black belt with flying fish golden patterns on his waist. In his hand, he held the legendary Tai-Ah Sword that had killed more than ten thousand enemies. Although he only showed his figure, he was already out of place in this extravagant and extravagant place. It made people feel uncomfortable for no reason.
Even His Majesty himself couldn't tell what was so abrupt about it.
He looked on helplessly as Xie Yun walked through the main hall. Her steady footsteps seemed to step on everyone's hearts. Wherever she passed, even the laughter and laughter seemed to quiet down.
Xie Yun stopped in front of her seat and bowed. "Your Majesty."
The Emperor originally wanted to mention the sword dance, but before he could say anything, he felt something was wrong. Coincidentally, he caught a glimpse of the gauze on Xie Yu's forehead and asked suspiciously, "How did Commander Xie get hurt?"
Xie Yun said, "Replying to Your Majesty.
This time I left the capital under dangerous circumstances. There are many Jianghu people who are alert and cunning. Moreover, when they fight, swords and spears have no eyes. Therefore, I suffered some minor injuries. "
The Emperor nodded thoughtfully. "Since … since that's the case, did you summon the Imperial Physician to take a good look?"
"Thanks to the grace of Her Highness the Empress, she has already bestowed medicine. The imperial physician said that she would be fine after resting for a few days."
— — Anyway, it had always been like this. There was the Empress for everything, so there was nothing to worry about. The Emperor temporarily put this small matter aside. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard Xie Yun speak again.
"Her Highness the Empress is merciful and ordered me to rest today.
However, there are too many people at the palace banquet, so I was worried about the security of the palace tonight. Therefore, I took the initiative to arrange for myself to be on duty. Your Majesty, please forgive me. "
The Emperor finally realized why he felt something was wrong.
The person in front of him was Xie Yun!
The dignified head of Beiya, the commander of the imperial army, who carried an ancient divine weapon and controlled thousands of imperial guards in the palace, who insisted on patrolling the palace at night even though she was injured, was actually called to perform a sword dance to liven things up?
This was not just a little wrong, it was simply very inappropriate!
Xie Yun raised her head slightly and looked at the Emperor. Her face had a trace of modesty and curiosity. "Your Majesty summoned me. Is there something important?"
Jialan Shi shook the Emperor's sleeve. Before she could say "Your Majesty" in a spoiled manner, the Emperor suddenly smiled and said, "My dear minister, don't worry too much. I haven't seen you for a few days, so I just asked casually.
— — Come, Commander Xie is diligent in her duties. Give her tea! "
Jialan Shi was immediately stunned. Xie Yun slowly bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Jialan Shi softly snorted and turned around.
The Emperor couldn't coax her in front of his subjects, so he could only hurriedly hold her hand to comfort her.
There were people who were peeping, sympathizing, and watching the show. However, there were more people who were looking at Xie Yun with various kinds of gazes. The content of their gazes was more than just rich and interesting. However, Xie Yun ignored them. She took the Biluochun tea from the palace maid and drank it in one gulp. Then, she put down the teacup.
At this moment, she saw Queen Wu raise her hand. She seemed to casually point at Jialan Shi and then at him.
Xie Yun was stunned. She couldn't understand what Queen Wu meant at that moment. Then, she waved at him with her palm facing inward and the back of her hand facing outward.
— — That was a gesture to tell him to leave.
"…" Queen Wu opened her mouth and mouthed three words silently: Imperial, Liquid, Pool.
Xie Yun thought quickly. She bowed and said, "Your Majesty, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave first.
Outside the palace, patrol … "
The Emperor was annoyed. He casually waved his hand and signaled for her to leave.
Queen Wu suddenly asked with concern, "Commander Xie should go back and rest. Is there anything else that needs to be checked personally?"
Xie Yun paused suspiciously.
"… … The Imperial Liquid Pool," Xie Yun said in a low voice, "I'll go and check a little more. After that, I can leave the palace."
On the other side, Jialan Shi, who was arguing with the Emperor, seemed to pay attention to this side. The Empress smiled and said, "That's good. Go."
Xie Yun suppressed the doubts in her heart. She turned and quickly left the inner hall. When she crossed the threshold, she paused and turned her head slightly to look inside.
— — Behind a marble screen in a remote corner of the hall, there was a faint movement of clothes. It seemed that there was a figure standing there, but she couldn't tell if that person was also looking in this direction.
The guard on duty outside the hall bowed and asked in a low voice, "Commander, do you have any other orders?"
Should I call him over to the Imperial Liquid Pool?
Xie Yun hesitated for a moment. Then, she shook her head in self-mockery.
"Nothing," she said to the guard, "I'll be back soon."
·
At the same time, behind the screen.
The moment Xie Yun's figure disappeared outside the hall, Dan Chao's brows tightened, and he took to his heels.
Who knew that before he went out, a person suddenly appeared behind the screen.
"… … Crown Prince?"
Crown Prince Li Hong had just recovered from a serious illness. His face was still very pale. His whole body was wrapped in an inconspicuous navy blue thick cotton robe. He was sweating and panting after just a few steps. But when he saw Shan Chao, he immediately bloomed a weak but happy smile.
"Master Xin Chao, I knew you were here!
Assistant Minister Dai and Zhang Sheren didn't let me take the risk to come to the Empress' Qingning Palace. But I was afraid that you would go back to Ci 'en Temple tomorrow, so I secretly came to see you. Shh!
Don't let the people in the Empress' Palace find me! "
Shan Chao, "… …"
Crown Prince grabbed Shan Chao's hand and looked at him from head to toe. "Fortunately, Great Master helped me find the snow lotus. You really saved my life. How can I repay such a great kindness?
By the way, did the Empress and Commander Xie make things difficult for you?
Did Imperial Father confer you an official position? "
Shan Chao: "…"
Shan Chao's thoughts were like fireworks. Under the Crown Prince's piercing gaze, he could not find any suitable words to answer him.
At this moment, there was a commotion at the banquet outside.
Helan shi did not know why, but under the Emperor's coaxing, her mood suddenly changed from gloomy to sunny. However, before they could say more than a few words, she complained that she was drunk and felt stuffy in the main hall. She insisted on taking her personal palace maid outside to get some fresh air.
The Emperor tried to persuade her but had no choice but to agree. He repeatedly ordered the palace maids to serve Madam Wei well.
Helan Shi agreed without hesitation. She didn't have the patience to stay at the banquet for a moment longer. She hurriedly lifted the hem of her dress and held the hand of the palace maid. She walked straight out of the hall. From Shan Chao's angle, she was walking in the direction that Xie Yun had just left!
"The Great Master is a monk. He definitely does not want to be an official. Sigh … I don't want to force him.
However, in the past few years, there are fewer and fewer people in the East Palace that I can trust. On the day that I was poisoned in Ci 'en Temple, if it wasn't for the Great Master, there wouldn't be a second person who risked his life to save me. I will remember all of this in my heart … "
Shan Chao suddenly grabbed the Crown Prince's hand, "Your Highness."
The Crown Prince was getting emotional, "Ah?"
"I deserve to die, but I am in a hurry to go to the toilet. Can I come back to chat with Your Highness later?"
The Crown Prince: "…"
The Crown Prince was a little confused, but then he smiled magnanimously, "Why do you need to ask for forgiveness? People have three needs.
It just so happens that I also want to go to the toilet. Why don't we go together? The toilet is just around the corner of Qing Ning Palace … "
"… No, Your Highness."
Shan Chao finally interrupted him, "I still deserve to die. That … how do I get to the Supreme Liquid Pond?"
The Crown Prince stared at Shan Chao. He blinked his eyes, then blinked again.
An indescribable expression gradually appeared in his eyes, as if he had thought of something, but it was too difficult to say. After a while, he said in a trembling voice, "Great Master … could it be that you want to go to the toilet … in the Supreme Liquid Pond?"
·
At the same time, by the pond in the middle of the night.
The wind swept over the lake, gently rippling the water vapor and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus flowers mixed together.
The sound of toasting and the sound of traditional instruments was already far away. In the night, the brilliantly lit Qing Ning Palace became blurry. The light from the lake reflected the stars, sparkling and sparkling with the ripples.
The footsteps of the patrolling guards gradually faded away. Xie Yun stood by the lake for a while, then slowly walked up to the lakeside pavilion.
At this time, he had already started to feel tired. It seemed that fatigue had seeped into his bones. Perhaps it was because he was getting older?
Xie Yun thought about this and let out an almost inaudible sigh.
Normally, when a man practiced martial arts at this age, he would be in his prime. Yuwen Hu had yet to show any signs of decline.
But for Xie Yun, he had already spent too much effort on other things. Although there were no signs of it on the surface, he knew that his prime would not last for long.
The moon waxed and waned. This was something that had been difficult since ancient times.
Xie Yun carelessly stroked the jade railing and turned to walk back. Suddenly, his footsteps stopped.
"Commander Xie is injured, but you still insist on patrolling at night. No one can compare to your diligence. My Empress Second Aunt should really reward you." A beautiful figure in a green dress slowly walked out from the flowers. Her bell-like voice was full of ridicule, "What? You can go through water and tread on fire for the Empress, but you speak coldly and sternly to the Emperor. Are you a dog raised by the Empress?"
Xie Yun looked at the woman walking over under the moonlight. He frowned slightly, as if he was somewhat suspicious.
"Why don't you bow when you see me?" The woman said angrily, "Can't you see me?"
"…"
The lakeside was silent. After a while, Xie Yun finally nodded slightly and said thoughtfully, "… Mrs. Wei."