"It depends on what you are betting on." The complacency in Hongtai's eyes aroused the deepest thoughts in Fang Zilan's heart, and she blurted out: "The prosperous age is peaceful."
Yes, mountains and rivers are forever solid, seas are clear and rivers are flowing.
This is not only their prayer, but also her only hope to get here.
Although her voice was very soft, Hongtai could still hear her clearly. He raised his smile and looked as if he was really understanding.
However, Fang Zilan quickly changed her voice, "If I want to bet, I bet that the Fang family will live forever and dominate the world's business forever."
"The little beauty is really..." Hongtai chuckled, "Insatiable."
"This is my game. If you don't dare to bet, it doesn't matter." Fang Zilan looked steadily at Hongtai, who was close at hand. He met her gaze without retreating at all, "The words you say will be poured out. . From now on, my wealth and life will be tied to the little beauty."
Fang Zilan took a deep breath, then nodded and said: "Okay, it's a deal."
After she said that, she grabbed Hongtai's wrist and pulled him in front of Li Qiyou and Zhuge Yu.
Li Qiyou's eyes fell on the two people who were not shy, and his expression was hard to describe, "Mrs. Crown Prince, this is..."
"Your Majesty, I have something I must ask you today." Fang Zilan stopped Li Qiyou's words and asked directly: "The fiefdom of Prince Rongan is right in front of you, do you really want to stay?"
Li Qiyou was stunned for a moment, "You... know everything?"
"I've probably guessed it." Fang Zilan pursed her lips, and Li Qiyou seemed to have made up his mind, nodding and saying: "In that case, I have nothing to hide from you. I want to stay."
"May I ask, Your Majesty, where is the decree to be conferred?" Fang Zilan asked very rudely. Zhuge Yu frowned slightly and said, "Mrs. Crown Prince, please be careful what you say."
Li Qiyou, as if unaware, replied: "I have not received the imperial decree."
Fang Zilan continued to ask: "Is there a talisman, an order, or a document for taking office?"
"No talisman, no order." Li Qiyou said resolutely: "There is no official document."
Fang Zilan was a little moved, "My lord, do you know what the situation in the court will be like if you insist on staying?"
"I know." Li Qiyou didn't hesitate, while Fang Zilan was almost aggressive, "You know, but you still want to stay?"
"I want to stay." Li Qiyou said loudly, and Fang Zilan grabbed Hongtai's hand tightly, but unexpectedly he held it backhand, "Little beauty, are you satisfied this time?"
Fang Zilan's expression turned cold, and she looked back at Hongtai and said, "Your Majesty doesn't know whether to live or die. It's still too late for you to regret it now."
"Mrs. Prince." Zhuge Yu couldn't help but interjected: "You know that the prince has thought carefully about this move, why do you need to pour cold water on him?"
"Lord Zhuge, you live in the capital and sit firmly on the temple. How can you think that the prince has thought carefully about this move?" Fang Zilan's face turned colder, and Zhuge Yu's expression froze, "I..."
"I'm not asking about you." After Fang Zilan finished speaking, she stopped looking at Zhuge Yu and looked back at Hongtai, only to hear him say: "Mrs. Crown Prince, I want you to get away now, but is it still too late?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? You know..." Fang Zilan was interrupted by Hongtai before she could finish her words. "Since it's too late, what kind of nonsense did the Crown Prince's wife tell me?"
He said, letting go of Fang Zilan's hand, and then gently patted the back of her hand, as if to reassure her.
Fang Zilan's expression was dark and unclear. Hongtai bowed to Li Qiyou and said: "The prince understands the righteousness and is willing to turn the tide in the crisis, which is admirable. Although I am not talented, I hope to help the prince."
As soon as he said this, Li Qiyou's expression changed imperceptibly, and she turned to look at Fang Zilan. She stepped forward and blocked Hongtai, "If the prince is interested, you might as well keep him by your side. I won’t let the prince down.”
Li Qiyou clenched his hands into fists, "I know nothing about him, why should I keep him by my side?"
"I know the prince's concerns." Fang Zilan said softly: "His Majesty kept the Duke Xianyue of unknown origin, so that the four realms were temporarily stable. Why can't the prince follow your majesty's example and keep him?"
"These are two different things." Li Qiyou said, brushing his sleeves: "How can he be compared with... Duke Xianyue?"
During the pause, what he swallowed was the word "you". The phrase "How can he be compared with you?" was a question that Li Qiyou could not say.
"Of course you can't." Before Fang Zilan could speak, Hongtai said: "No one in the world can compare with the Duke of Xian Yue, but I want to give it a try."
Give it a try? Li Qiyou had mixed feelings in his heart, and after a while he asked, "Then what do you want?"
"The prince can ask his wife about this question." Hongtai curled his lips and looked at Fang Zilan with a slightly ambiguous expression.
Then everyone's eyes fell on Fang Zilan, with inquiry, curiosity, and scrutiny.
Fang Zilan bit her lips tightly, and finally whispered: "There are some things I can't say here. Please come with me, Your Majesty."
Li Qiyou followed Fang Zilan and looked at her back. For some reason, he suddenly thought of the figure that stood in front of him on the battlefield in the northern border that year and had no hesitation.
Suddenly, Li Qiyou felt relieved. No matter what Fang Zilan said to him, she was still Fang Zilan. As long as it was her, he would be willing to listen to others.
However, following them was Hongtai.
The three of them walked to a secluded place. Li Qiyou was the first to look at Hongtai. Before he could ask questions, he heard Fang Zilan say: "Your Majesty, I want you to protect his life. No matter what happens in the future, please protect him."
"What did you say?" Li Qiyou frowned, Fang Zilan looked calm, "I said, please protect his life."
From wanting to asking to begging, she spoke sincerely, and Li Qiyou felt inexplicably frightened. The person who could make her do this must not be an ordinary person. If he agreed...
I'm afraid that the root of the disaster is so deep that there will be no turning back.
But he stayed and took over the fiefdom of Emperor Rongan's uncle, and there was no turning back. If he insists on going his own way, he will only chill the hearts of his grandmother and queen, and the courtiers who stand on his side and support him will also disperse one after another.
Princes and princes who are far away from the center of power are easily marginalized and eventually become abandoned sons.
It's not that he doesn't know, but he knows better - some things always need people to do them. Since he was born into the royal family of the capital and was worshiped by people all over the world, he should do something for them.
Seeing Li Qiyou's delay in responding, Fang Zilan panicked for no reason, "Your Majesty, you just think..."
"I promise you." Li Qiyou intercepted Fang Zilan's last words. She looked at him blankly, not expecting that he would agree so easily, almost carelessly.
