Chapter 1973: Dragon and Phoenix: Part 3_3
Chapter 1973: Dragon and Phoenix: Part 3_3
Tu Shengyuan knew this rascal was just talking nonsense, but he no longer had any strength.
Wen Qingyu called over Ling Pingyang.
Ling Pingyang drew a string from his waist and tied up Tu Shengyuan, binding him to the horse. Li Guan said, “It’s been a long time, old sir. Last time we met, we didn’t have a chance to chat before you ran off, what a pity.”
“It’s interesting to reunite with old acquaintances today.”
Tu Shengyuan looked mournful, “Don’t hit my mouth.”
Li Guanyi saw that he had already learned a lesson, and chuckled, “I am not so intolerant as to be petty.”
“Qingyu, Pingyang, stop playing around, release the gentleman.”
“Yes.”
Ling Pingyang apologized and went to untie Tu Shengyuan, who breathed a sigh of relief and praised, “Though Your Majesty’s treasury may be empty, your magnanimity is vast, like the Four Seas!”
Ling Pingyang’s actions paused, and Wen Qingyu glanced at the wine pot, which contained the Truth Telling Pill that Fan Qing and others developed based on Hou Zhongyu’s residual medical records. He thought for a moment and silently moved to the back of the crowd.
Emperor Qin hesitated in his speech, then took the rope.
“I will do it myself.”
Tu Shengyuan was shocked and terrified.
“Oh, the woe, the suffering, back then the Emperor had a great spirit, but his mind was… mmm mmm mmm…”
Tu Shengyuan’s mouth was stuffed.
Wen Qingyu sighed, “Finally some peace.”
Just then, Shi Yisong leapt down from the stone tower, hurriedly pushing through the crowd with his gentle Qi Force, until he reached Li Guanyi. Bowing, he glanced at Tu Shengyuan who was mumbling, and with an awkward smile, he pleaded before Li Guanyi:
“Your Majesty, this old man is merely a storyteller who makes up tales, surely without ill intentions, but since he spreads rumors, dare I plead for your punishment?”
Punishment?
Tu Shengyuan’s eyes widened.
Little Shitou, what are you planning?!
That’s Yan Daiqing of the Western Regions!
A little punishment?
Emperor Qin knew that Shi Yisong was actually pleading, and said, “Rest assured, this storyteller is an old friend of mine, with whom I have shared over a decade of friendship. I wouldn’t get angry at such a thing; however, there’s one thing you got wrong.”
Shi Yisong was slightly startled, and the surrounding commoners instinctively gathered, puzzled.
Emperor Qin looked at the sky of the Western Regions, his eyes narrowing slightly, and said:
“It’s not a rumor.”
When this sentence fell, the crowd didn’t have much of a reaction.
It was only after several breaths later that they suddenly realized the weight of these four words. Emperor Qin tightened the reins, and the red Qilin Emperor Banner slightly fluttered under the sky of the Western Regions.
……
“This person is an old friend of mine. I will take him away for a few days. Rest assured, he will not be troubled. If anyone comes looking for me, tell them this…”
After leaving such words, Emperor Qin’s carriage left. Shi Yisong looked at the old man tied to the horse, even his mouth stuffed, yet could only sigh, “Your Majesty’s grand spirit, surely you won’t go back on your word.”
“Old man, consider it a lesson for your mouth.”
So he continued to do business in this place, as the storytelling earlier had attracted many guests, and business was good. Shi Yisong, with a hand on his sword, heard the sound of hooves again just as time passed slightly.
Looking up, he saw another Big Banner flying over there.
This time, the banner flew like a phoenix.
The Xuanjia Heavy Cavalry surrounded a woman with a striking appearance, whom Shi Yisong was stunned to recognize, this was…
The Dragon Colt stopped, and the woman on the horse sensed the aura cease here.
So she summoned the local official, asking, “The Emperor was here earlier, where is he now?”
The local city guard replied, “He went directly north, but I truly don’t know where the Emperor’s whereabouts.” Li Zhaowen bit her lip lightly, suddenly hearing a clear voice, “I wonder if this is Lord. I am a wandering samurai, Shi Yisong, passing a message from the Emperor.”
“Do you still remember, the events from when we first met in our youth?”
……
Li Zhaowen abandoned her mount, relying on her skills to soar through the air.
Back when Tuyuhun fell, marking the start of chaotic warfare in the world, on the old site of Tuyuhun, many cities were now established. One of them was the place where the last Hun King was executed by Duke Li, gaining his seal, and was exceptionally magnificent.
The people lived peacefully, with ample production of dates and melons.
The Western Regions were among the first places Great Qin pacified, enjoying longer periods of peace than the Central Plains, with guidance from the Farmer School and the Mo School, cultivating plants. Later, as more crops were developed, the old sites couldn’t contain them and were moved elsewhere, turning the original place into an amusement spot.
Thoughts flickered through Li Zhaowen’s mind, pondering where he might be, wondering if her guess was right or wrong. After much worry, her eyes scanned the crowd and suddenly caught a glimpse of a back, her gaze sharpened, then softened.
Many locals came here to relax and enjoy the scenery during their leisure time.
This attracted many who made a living here, some selling small fruits, some selling dried fruits, and others performing tricks or fortune-telling. In the Western Regions, the daytime was over an hour longer than in the Central Plains.
As the time approached 七夕, this place full of lush trees also attracted many young men and women to enjoy the scenery. With men and women together, people would often tell fortunes, say auspicious words, to earn some lucky money.
In that crowd, in front of a table, an old man was telling a fortune for a young man.
Only it seemed the young man’s fate was hard to read, the old man scratched his head, not knowing what to say.
On the table lay six copper coins, all cracked in the middle.
The old man lamented, “I don’t know what to say.”
“Your fate, I really…”
Suddenly a clear and pleasant voice said, “Such a demeanor, such freedom.”
“Surely it must be the ’Dragon and Phoenix, Heavenly Sun Appearance.’”
The old man was delighted and said, “Ah yes, yes, that’s it…”
The words slipped out, and his mind caught up, realizing what had been said.
“Oh no, that’s not right.”
He looked up, seeing a graceful woman with hands clasped behind her back, strolling over. The young man in front of him turned slightly. The woman’s presence emitted a faint ripple, and a golden phoenix reappeared, while beside the young man, a blue luan bird surged.
The fortune-teller almost thought he was seeing things, rubbed his eyes hard, then widened them, seeing the pair of phoenixes spiraling, chattering, encircled by the pair, truly splendid.
The young man’s eyes lowered slightly, looking at the woman with the golden vertical mark on her forehead, he said:
“Finally.”
“Are you willing to meet me?”