A Wan left without knowing when. Li Shengxuan and Fang Zilan, who were hugging each other in the room, could not see each other's faces, so they could hide their thoughts temporarily and enjoy a moment of silence.
Although neither of them spoke anymore, they had their own hidden agendas.
Li Shengxuan knew that Fang Zilan's words might be meant to test, but they were not empty words. He and Fang Ziqin have no children, and the throne will fall into the hands of his nephews sooner or later. With his deliberate training and support, Li Qiyou is the most suitable candidate.
But, did he tell Fang Zilan himself or was Xizuo not high enough to know the news about the emperor's disappearance that day?
No, if you can collude with mountain bandits, betray military intelligence, and cause the capital to retreat steadily, your rank will never be low...
"Why can't you go up?" Awan's voice suddenly sounded. Fang Zilan looked over and saw that she and Mingxiang were stopped by the soldiers guarding the stairs.
"We are conducting a search under military orders, and the rest are retreating." The sound of the soldiers was like a loud bell, which caused silence and silence all around.
However, Awan has been following Fang Zilan in the army since the northern border. He is not afraid at all. "Master, you have your military orders, and I also have my master. Please make it convenient for you. I just need to take a look to confirm my master." …”
"The military order is like a mountain, how can I allow you to mess around?" The soldier glared angrily, and when he saw this, Fang Zilan came quickly, "Awan, Mingxiang, I'm fine."
Hearing the sound, the soldier looked back at Fang Zilan and said in a formal manner: "Are you the master? Have you registered at Zuiyue Tower? How many servants are there in total?"
Fang Zilan nodded slightly and said, "Yes, I am the master. I am registered in Zuiyue Tower and have four servants in total."
"Four people?" the soldier frowned, "Where are the other two?"
"Well..." Fang Zilan looked around, and then asked Awan and Mingxiang: "Where did Ah Da and Ah Er go? Why didn't they come with you?"
Ah Da Ah Er refers to Li Shengxuan and Xia Houzhang. When they changed their names while concealing their identities, they were not satisfied with the choices they made. Fang Zilan thought they were too picky and deliberately chose the two most ordinary names. On a corresponding document.
At this point, there was no room for regret. Li Shengxuan and Xia Houzhang could only accept it. However, the name and their easy-going appearance had indeed become the best protection. No one paid attention to it along the way, and no one became suspicious.
However, if it were placed under the sharp eyes of the soldiers in the Jiangnan camp, I'm afraid they might not be able to get away with it.
Awan and Mingxiang also knew this, so they hesitated and answered questions incorrectly. Fang Zilan frowned and pretended to be surprised: "What are you talking about? Ada and Aer are not in the building. Could it be that they went to buy sesame cakes?"
"It's not sesame cakes, it's some kind of flower cake." Awan cooperated with a distressed look, "They spoke too fast, I didn't even hear clearly, what kind of flower cake is it..."
Those two words, as light as a feather, made Fang Zilan feel a strange emotion in her heart, which was both unexpected and soft. She never thought that Li Shengxuan would miss her.
"I...it's okay." Fang Zilan opened her mouth hesitantly. Many thoughts flashed through her mind, but none of them could explain why Li Shengxuan appeared here.
The atmosphere was tense for a moment, and Xia Houzhang stepped back with good sense. Li Shengxuan looked at Fang Zilan steadily, without digging into the details or explaining his purpose, and the two fell into silence.
"you……"
"His Majesty……"
Suddenly they both spoke at the same time, but stopped at the same time. After looking at each other and smiling, Li Shengxuan said first: "I want to see you."
He spoke so bluntly that Fang Zilan was startled and blurted out: "On the day before New Year's Eve, Your Majesty should prepare for the year-end ceremony..." She stopped as soon as she spoke, as if she was out of control.
Seeing that she hesitated to speak, Li Shengxuan raised the corners of his lips and asked with a smile: "What?"
"Nothing." Fang Zilan pursed her lips, "What did your Majesty want to say just now?"
"This is my fourth year on the throne. Except for the first year when you stayed in the north, I will see you every New Year's Eve thereafter." Li Shengxuan said seriously: "I don't want to make any exceptions."
Fang Zilan looked at Li Shengxuan in disbelief, unable to tell whether he was unconscious or whether he had taken the wrong medicine. But his eyes were calm and eager, making her unable to avoid him.
"I'm afraid I will disappoint His Majesty." Before Fang Zilan finished speaking, Li Shengxuan said: "So, I'm here."
Fang Zilan's expression was stagnant. Although since the Lantern Festival about a year ago, she felt that Li Shengxuan's attitude towards her was ambiguous. It was more sincere than buying people's hearts, but less greedy than the affair between children.
She pretended to be deaf and dumb, but Li Shengxuan took advantage of her. At this point, if she continues to pretend to be confused, it may not work. So she simply asked: "What does your Majesty mean by this?"
Li Shengxuan did not answer her question, but changed his voice and said: "There are many rumors in the capital. I will deal with it myself. You don't have to worry."
"What rumors?" Fang Zilan pretended not to know and asked.
"Why don't you buy flower cakes in Zuiyue Tower? Do you have to go out to buy them?" Fang Zilan deliberately raised her voice. Ah Shi downstairs understood. He waited at the door for Li Shengxuan and Xia Houzhang who were hurried back upstairs and gave them one. Flower cake.
Li Shengxuan didn't understand why at first, but he still let Xia Houzhang take over the steaming flower cake. It wasn't until the two of them came to the stalemate in front of Fang Zilan and the soldiers that he completely understood, "Master..."
"You still know how to come back?" Fang Zilan said coldly: "I can't find anyone so early in the morning. If you don't know, you would think you are my master."
Hearing this, Li Shengxuan blinked innocently, snatched the flower cake from Xia Houzhang's hand, and handed it to Fang Zilan, "I bought this specially. It's delicious. Master, try it quickly!"
His appearance as if he was flattering and offering a treasure made the soldiers less alert. After confirming his and Xia Houzhang's identities, he waved them away.
Unexpectedly, Li Shengxuan and Xia Houzhang had just taken two steps and before they reached Fang Zilan, they heard "Wait a minute" shouted from downstairs.
Li Shengxuan and Xia Houzhang stopped, Fang Zilan looked stern, Awan and Mingxiang exchanged glances, and finally the five of them looked at the person who made the noise in tacit understanding.
"I wonder which flower cakes you two bought from?" The commander who spoke was smiling, "I have been coveting the flower cakes from Suzhou Prefecture for a long time, but I don't know which one is the most delicious. You two placed the flowers from Zuiyue Tower. If you don’t want the cake, you have to go to the store where you buy it, I think it tastes really good.”
"General, if you like it, you might as well try it." Fang Zilan raised the flower cake in his hand, but the commander shook his head, "How embarrassing is this? Please tell the name of the store and I will buy it myself."
