In the Xiangsheng Restaurant, Mo Han looked at Fang Zilan who was sitting at the table absentmindedly, looked at each other with the Wheel King, and couldn't help but said: "Sister Lan, since you are here, do you want to..."
"No." Fang Zilan interrupted him, "I can't care about the affairs of the Ouyang family and the Huangfu family, and I don't want to."
"Then why did Sister Lan follow Miss Ouyang and General Huangfu here?" Mo Han couldn't help laughing, and the Wheel King also raised the corners of his lips.
"I heard that the food in this restaurant is good." Fang Zilan changed the subject, "It's just that the food is served a little slow."
She looked around boredly as she spoke, then suddenly thought of something and said, "Today is the Lantern Festival, and we forgot to buy lanterns."
Mo Han also glanced at the guests in the hall. Almost everyone had a lantern in hand, which made the whole hall look like daylight.
"It's okay." The Wheel-Winning King comforted him: "It's too late to go out and buy some later."
Fang Zilan nodded. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Xia Houzhang walking towards her and saluted, "Master Fang, my master has invited me."
"Your master..." Fang Zilan took a deep breath, "He is here?"
Xia Houzhang nodded slightly and raised his hand in a gesture of invitation. Fang Zilan hesitated for a moment, then said to Mo Han and the Wheel King: "You two don't have to wait for me. You can go back home on your own after buying lanterns later."
After saying that, she stood up and followed Xia Houzhang to the private room on the top floor of Xiangsheng Restaurant. The moment the door opened, she saw clearly that the person sitting next to the banquet was undoubtedly Li Shengxuan.
"Master Fang, please." Xia Houzhang stood at the door. After Fang Zilan entered, he closed the door.
Fang Zilan walked up to Li Shengxuan and was stopped by him just as she was about to salute. "I left the palace incognito in order to avoid being seen and heard. You don't have to be polite."
Hearing this, Fang Zilan was not polite and sat directly opposite Li Shengxuan, "Why is your Majesty here?"
"In the capital, outside the palace walls, Xiangsheng Restaurant is the highest point." Li Shengxuan explained simply, and Fang Zilan agreed: "It is indeed a good place to enjoy the scenery."
Seeing that she didn't want to say anything, Li Shengxuan changed his voice and said, "During the New Year's social opera, I saw that you didn't look well. Later, I heard from Zhuge Yu that you rarely went out during the first month of the year. Is it because you haven't recovered from your illness?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Fang Zilan said softly: "My illness is an old illness and it is difficult to recover. I just need to take care of it carefully. It will be okay."
Li Shengxuan was noncommittal, "Since you need to recuperate, why do you have to work so hard to send Zhezi to the palace, and even go to the prison of the Ministry of Punishment in person?"
"I just follow my heart and do what I should do." There was no expression on Fang Zilan's face, and Li Shengxuan asked thoughtfully: "Really?"
Fang Zilan responded: "Yes. I think your Majesty has already read the document I sent to the palace. The cause and effect are clear. I have nothing to say."
"That's not what I'm asking about." A helpless look flashed in Li Shengxuan's eyes, "I said that I hope to see the most real you, including your heart."
Fang Zilan was a little surprised. On the Double Ninth Festival, she thought Li Shengxuan was just talking nonsense, but she didn't know he was so serious.
She was silent for a long time, and then said: "I want to ask a disrespectful question, and please don't blame your majesty."
"Just ask." As soon as Li Shengxuan finished speaking, she heard her say: "May I ask, Your Majesty, in what capacity are you asking me now?"
Li Shengxuan didn't speak, and Fang Zilan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. However, before she could settle down, she heard his voice, saying word by word: "Friend, I treat you as a friend."
It was just a short sentence, but it was no less than a thunderbolt striking down in the air, and Fang Zilan was unable to react for a long time.
She looked intently at the person in front of her. He was the one he called himself, and it was as if the layers of gauze between the two of them were suddenly torn apart, and even his face became much deeper.
She looked at it for a long time, then turned her head and looked away, "If there are no His Majesty and Duke Yue here tonight, but only Li Shengxuan and Fang Zilan, then you can ask whatever you want. However, there are some questions that I don't know how to do. answer."
"Okay." Li Shengxuan said slowly, "What I want to ask about is not the past, but the future."
The future? Fang Zilan was stunned for a while and then said: "Let me tell you something."
Li Shengxuan hummed and listened to her: "When I was studying, I particularly admired a general in the book. This general became a captain at the age of eighteen. He galloped on the battlefield and made great achievements. It's a pity that God is jealous of the talented man who will not live forever. He is only 2 years old. He died of illness at the age of twenty-four.”
She paused, poured a cup of tea, took a sip, and continued: "This general's uncle is also an extremely heroic general, but it turns out that I never had any feelings for him when I was studying, but who can Now I admire him even more."
"Why?" Li Shengxuan asked, and Fang Zilan pursed her lips, "Since ancient times, beauties are like famous generals, and they are not allowed to grow old in the world. Everyone in the world thinks this is about beauties, but they forget that the same is true for famous generals. Young generals are brave and good at fighting in bright clothes. Ma was young and energetic, and had never experienced any turmoil in the world's human heart or family. He remained an upright and good man until his death, as if he was a light without any shadow."
Li Shengxuan understood what she meant and sighed, "But behind the light, there is always a shadow."
"Yes, a person who is so proud that he is almost domineering will eventually be consumed by the world if he does not die young." Fang Zilan's voice became a little darker, "Since I was favored by God and did not die on the battlefield, I can't envy such a young man. Lang. But if he is like his uncle, standing upright and holding on to the lintel of the front door, I think it will be difficult for him to do it."
Hearing this, a look of understanding flashed in Li Shengxuan's eyes, and he said: "Is this the real reason why you want Cao Hong to serve as the general of the government, and you don't have generals or soldiers?"
Fang Zilan lowered her eyes and said: "If someone follows me sincerely, but I can't even save their property and life, wouldn't it be a betrayal? I can be the sharpest sword in the world to shock everyone, or I can be a target for a poor family in the eyes of aristocratic families. , but no matter which one it is, it is a danger, and there is no need for others to share it with me."
Li Shengxuan calmed his expression and said solemnly: "What if I said, I am willing to share the burden with you and keep you safe for the rest of your life?"
"I believe your words and the meaning of your words." Fang Zilan said quietly: "But things are unpredictable. Maybe one day I will become a chess piece that you have to abandon. If that happens, I can still protect myself. , you don’t have to embarrass me.”
Li Shengxuan's expression was dark and unclear, "Fang Zilan, why do you have to think of the future in such a dangerous way?"
Fang Zilan suddenly smiled. At that time, Li Qiyou asked her similar questions outside Yanzhou City, and her answer never changed.
She heard her own voice very clearly, "This way I won't be too disappointed."
Li Shengxuan looked at the person in front of him and saw her bright eyes smiling slightly: "However, although I don't ask you to share the burden with me, I still want to ask for something."
