In a blink of an eye, it was the day before New Year's Eve. Fang Zilan had breakfast in the early morning and sat on the porch to watch everyone in the house being busy. They hung lanterns and put up window grilles. It was so lively.
The sky was dark, and fine snowflakes had been flying all night. A thin white velvet blanket was spread on the ground. Fang Zilan raised her foot and stepped on it, leaving a shallow footprint.
Awan came with the medicine and saw Fang Zilan looking bored, so she couldn't help but said: "If you ask me, you might as well go to the palace to pay respects and prepare for the year-end ceremony. There will be something to do. Otherwise, you can't sit still. I'm afraid I'll get sick from boredom."
"What can't you do?" Fang Zilan casually took the medicine from Awan's hand, "It's rare to be clean."
She spoke in a drawl, and Awan sneered, "Qingjing? You don't know that there is a rumor in the capital..."
"What's being passed on?" Fang Zilan picked up the medicine bowl and drank it all in one gulp. Then she looked at A Wan and covered her mouth in silence, unable to help but become curious.
"It's nothing." A Wan quickly waved her hand, and Fang Zilan said thoughtfully: "I haven't seen Miss Xiao in the past few days..."
"Sister Xiao's best friend in Wanhua Tower was sick, and she went to take care of her." A Wan quickly intercepted Fang Zilan's words, which made her feel quite funny, and she called out "A Wan" in a moderate tone.
Hearing this, Awan seemed to be deflated, and said angrily: "Don't say I told you."
Fang Zilan nodded in agreement, and Awan leaned close to her and whispered: "I heard that people in the capital have been saying that you are a disaster star recently."
"Me?" Fang Zilan pointed at herself with her finger. Awan hummed and muttered: "It's all baseless nonsense for me to say, but it's still unsettling if it's spread to so many people."
Fang Zilan finally understood and asked directly: "Why is it said that I am a disaster star?"
"Because since you appeared, first the Shangguan family and then the Xiahou family have either been destroyed or retired." Awan said while cracking his fingers, "There is also the Fang family. The original head of the family, Fang Liren, has disappeared. The dandy Fang Lihui has been replaced. Now, The Pei family and Ouyang family are experiencing constant setbacks and are unable to survive."
Fang Zilan nodded and said, "It sounds a bit unreasonable."
Awan was furious, "That's not all. They say that as a woman, you hold the position of a public minister, which will attract the attention of the people around you, and wars will continue all over the world."
Fang Zilan laughed out loud, "Are all the rumors like this now? It used to be said that women who conquer the country are a disaster. When will a Yaksha Shura like me be able to bring disaster to the country and the people?"
Awan clearly heard the joke in her words, but he was still aggrieved, "Why do you think they have two faces? During the war, you were an invincible general who protected the country and the people. Now in the peaceful age, you But how come one or two little things like sesame and mung beans become a disaster?"
"Little things?" Fang Zilan seemed to be smiling but not smiling. Awan frowned and said, "Isn't it true? Whether it is rescuing Miss Fang Er or favoring Miss Ouyang, it is an act of justice..."
She stopped suddenly as she spoke, and opened her eyes wide as if she suddenly reacted, "Did you do it on purpose?"
Fang Zilan smiled, said nothing, and just handed the medicine bowl back to Awan.
Awan wanted to ask something more, but she saw a young boy running over in a panic, trembling and saying: "Master Fang, Your Majesty... Your Majesty has come to our house..."
Even though it was Fang Zilan, she was stunned when she heard this, "Your Majesty, what is he doing here?"
"I don't know." The boy shook his head like a rattle, "Your Majesty, he..."
"Okay, please step back." Fang Zilan stood up and looked at the person walking not far away, who was Li Shengxuan.
In order to avoid being noticed by others, Li Shengxuan wore low-key casual clothes, and Xia Houzhang who was following him was also dressed simply. The two of them were inconspicuous among the bustling crowd.
However, Fang Zilan's eyes fell on Li Shengxuan, but she couldn't move away for a long time. For some reason, she always felt that the figure in black clothes and cloak in front of her was inexplicably familiar.
It seemed like they had known each other many years ago.
A Wan and the boy bowed to Li Shengxuan in the distance, then turned and left, leaving Fang Zilan alone, staring closely at the people from far to near, without making any move for a long time.
Li Shengxuan seemed to be relieved when he saw Fang Zilan. He didn't even care that she stayed where she was and forgot to salute. He said warmly: "I heard that you took a few days off and thought you were sick..."
He paused and finally said: "It's okay."
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.
"It's okay that you don't know." Li Shengxuan's face looked indifferent, but there was a bit of chill in his eyes, "They are just ignorant and ignorant opinions."
Fang Zilan did not comment, but heard Li Shengxuan say: "But I came here today, and I do have something to ask you."
