Chapter 720 - 720 Sisters Meet, Little Sly Jiang Is Here
720 Sisters Meet, Little Sly Jiang Is Here
This Eldest Princess had been burdened with a curse since she was born and was forced to leave Nanzhao for many years. Not long ago, she had returned to the Imperial Capital with her family. However, she seemed to be different from the rumors. She was said to be a jinx, but she was a mother with two children and a happy family.
They really couldn’t wait to see her true appearance.
The commoners waited anxiously, and a certain Eldest Princess, the real Little Sly Jiang, was also anxious. She tossed and turned. She did not sleep well all night and woke up early. There were two pitiful dark circles on her face.
This made Yu Shaoqing’s heart ache.
His Ah Shu had grown up among the commoners and had never experienced such an occasion. These few days, he could always feel that Ah Shu was unable to sit still and tossing and turning. She must have been frightened.
Yu Shaoqing looked at his wife, who was clearly trembling with fear, but was still stubbornly dressing up, “Ah Shu, why don’t you not go? Let Ah Wan go on your behalf.”
“How can this do?!” Little Sly Jiang slapped the table.
Yu Shaoqing was stunned.
Madam Jiang picked up a small handkerchief and covered the corner of her mouth. She covered her chest with her other hand and said sincerely, “Ahem, ahem, ahem. We’ve already accepted the invitation. Of course we have to go. What if they renege on their debt?”
“It’s really hard on you.” Yu Shaoqing walked forward with heartache and gently comforted her. “Ah Shu, don’t be afraid. You only need to show your face. You don’t have to fight them.”
Madam Jiang nodded obediently. “Okay!”
After a pause, she said, “What if they hit me?”
Yu Shaoqing said solemnly, “I’ll protect you.”
Madam Jiang’s eyes darted around. “Oh.”
“I’ll go see how Ah Wan and Jiuchao are preparing.” Yu Shaoqing went to the couple’s room, and the two of them also woke up. Yan Jiuchao was putting on shoes for Xiaobao, and Yu Wan went to Xixia Garden.
As they were going to compete in Gu techniques and sorcery, Ah Wei and the others were naturally in the group. What was worth mentioning was that Yu Wan still did not know the identity of Ah Wei and the others, but Ah Wei’s Gu technique was so brilliant that everyone could see it. Grandma… Grandma was more omnipotent. It was said that he also knew some sorcery.
This was a serious matter, and the civil and military officials also rushed over to watch the battle.
At the end of the bamboo forest, Nangong Yan and the Empress were also dressed neatly, planning to go to the altar. Ever since Nangong Li found out about his background, he had locked himself in his room. Just as the Empress thought that he was going to continue being insensible, he finally appeared.
“Li’er, are you alright? You’ve lost weight.” The Empress walked forward and stroked his cheek.
Nangong Yan glanced at him indifferently. “Don’t look like someone owes you a debt. Quickly pack your things and prepare to set off.”
The carriage outside the door had already been set up. Nangong Li picked a high-grade Ferghana horse. The moment she got on it, Bai Qianli walked over.
Bai Qianli looked at him in a daze. “Li’er, you… be careful.”
“None of your business!” Nangong Li did not even look at him. He grabbed the reins and walked out of the forest.
Prince Yan held Dabao’s hand and walked out.
Dabao raised his head and blinked at Prince Yan.
Prince Yan patted his little head dotingly. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
Dabao nodded.
Prince Yan brought Dabao into the carriage. Nangong Yan bade farewell to the Empress.
The Empress was worried and asked her, “Yan’er, do you really not need me to accompany you?”
Nangong Yan said, “No need. Mother, wait for my news. Someone will come and bring you to a safe place later.”
The Empress said worriedly, “Can’t I wait for you here?”
Nangong Yan said, “This place won’t be safe once we leave.”
Without Asura’s protection, this bamboo forest lost its strongest barrier.
The Empress was now relying on Nangong Yan, so she naturally did as she was told. The Empress watched as Nangong Yan boarded Prince Yan’s carriage. It was not until the carriage disappeared at the end of the forest that she sighed and returned to her room.
The carriage swayed towards the altar. Prince Yan and Nangong Yan sat on both sides. Dabao’s round little body was lying in Prince Yan’s arms, and from time to time, he would glance at the window with his little head.
“Do you want to see it?” Prince Yan lifted the curtain.
Dabao widened his eyes and curiously sized up the scenery along the way. Nangong Yan recalled that when this child came with her, he was as calm as a stone. Only then did he have the childishness of a three-year-old child beside Prince Yan.
Dabao saw something and laughed.
Prince Yan also smiled.
It was a smile that Nangong Yan had never seen before. It was different from the appearance he put on to numb her. The gentleness of lowering his head melted the entire winter.
If her children were born safely, would he dote on him so much? Nangong Yan touched her flat stomach. A pain twisted her heart. She turned around angrily and stopped looking at Prince Yan and this child!
“Dabao, are you hungry?” Prince Yan opened the food box and gave Dabao a piece of chestnut cake.
Dabao did not eat it himself. Instead, he gave it to Nangong Yan. Nangong Yan was stunned for a moment before she turned her face away coldly. “I’m not eating.”
Dabao did not move from handing it to her. In the end, Nangong Yan accepted the snacks expressionlessly. Dabao gave another piece to Prince Yan before eating heartily.
Nangong Yan noticed that Dabao gave her and Prince Yan the big one, but he ate a small one. Although she was unwilling, she had to admit that this was indeed the most sensible child she had ever seen.
Unfortunately, it was the flesh and blood of her enemy.
Her eyes turned cold.
The carriage did not bring Dabao and Prince Yan to the altar. Halfway there, Nangong Yan changed carriages and asked the sacrificial soldiers and guards to escort Prince Yan and Dabao to a place that no one knew about.
By the time Nangong Yan arrived at the altar, it was already surrounded by the commoners.
The Emperor’s medicine had yet to wear off, so he could not speak or act. Therefore, the three dukes, the State Preceptor Hall, and the Gu Hall were in charge of the overall situation. The Censor, the few Gu Elders of the Gu Hall, and the State Preceptor who had rushed out of seclusion last night sat on both sides of the altar.
Helian Beiming and the three generals sat on the other side of the altar.
“The Little Princess has arrived—”
“Commandery Prince Li has arrived—”
Accompanied by the servant’s message, Nangong Yan and Nangong Li slowly walked over from the back of the crowd. After not seeing each other for many days, the two of them had lost some weight. The haggardness on their faces was vaguely covered by makeup. They were dressed in luxurious clothes and looked noble. As expected of the royal family who had been raised in the palace since they were young.
The commoners knelt on one knee.
Under everyone’s kneeling, the mother and son walked to the altar.
“The Little Princess is already here. Why isn’t the Eldest Princess here yet?”
“That’s right. It’s already so late. Could it be that she doesn’t dare to appear?”
“She was raised by the commoners and is not presentable. She’s probably afraid.”
“The Eldest Princess and Commandery Princess Wan both grew up among the commoners. Could they be shameful?”
There were unpleasant voices in the crowd. Helian Beiming frowned and was about to stop them when he heard the loud and clear voice of the imperial eunuch not far away.
“The Eldest Princess has arrived—”
“Commandery Princess Wan has arrived—”
Everyone turned around!
A young woman alighted from a carriage that was not too eye-catching. She was wearing a light yellow dress. Her figure was slender and she had a quiet and graceful temperament. She looked noble, but she did not have the arrogance of being superior.
“It’s Commandery Princess Wan!”
Some commoners recognized her.
Yu Wan was not wearing the clothes of the royal family, but her every move exuded a noble temperament. She reached out a fair wrist and helped another woman down from the carriage.
The woman was wearing a white shirt and a translucent golden gauze dress. The morning light enveloped her body. For a moment, everyone was in a daze, as if they could see a phoenix flapping its wings.
However, it was only for a moment. She held her handkerchief and coughed softly.
Everyone instantly came back to their senses. They heard that this Princess’s health was not good. It seemed to be true.
When everyone heard the heartbreaking cough, they felt their hearts ache for her. However, even though she was sick, she still had a calm temperament and was elegant.
Compared to the overbearing Little Princess, the Eldest Princess’s weakness and quietness was even more deeply rooted in people’s hearts.
Everyone held their breaths. There was no need for the guards to clear the area at all. They spontaneously made way for her, afraid that they would accidentally touch her and damage this weak Princess.
The altar that was previously noisy instantly became silent, leaving only Madam Jiang’s occasional low cough.
Grew up among the commoners? Unpresentable?
Other than being weaker, the Princess did not lose to Nangong Yan.
Yu Wan helped her mother to the altar. Everyone bowed to them.
“Give her a seat,” the censor said.
A guard brought a chair over. Yu Wan helped Madam Jiang sit down. Yu Shaoqing alighted from the carriage with the mother and daughter and also came to the scene. He sat beside Helian Beiming.
“The State Preceptor has come out of seclusion?” Yu Shaoqing saw the State Preceptor on the altar.
Helian Beiming said, “He came out of seclusion last night.”
Yu Shaoqing snorted. “He knows how to make it in time!”
Helian Beiming said, “Nangong Yan probably calculated the day he came out of seclusion before daring to set a three-day agreement.” Otherwise, she could also set a ten-day agreement.
Yu Shaoqing raised his eyebrows and said, “But so what if he comes? The first thing is Gu technique. They’ll definitely lose!”
The most powerful Gu Master in Nangong Yan’s hands was surnamed Meng, and he was a seventy-feet Gu Elder. Ah Wei’s Gu technique was above his, so there was almost no suspense in the first round.
Helian Beiming looked at the calm State Preceptor. “I keep feeling that things aren’t that simple.”
As expected, when the Censor announced that both sides would send out their respective Gu Masters, Nangong Yan’s opponent was not Gu Master Meng at all. It was a man in a black cloak. He was in his late twenties, tall, and had dark eyes.
The moment he walked onto the altar, the Gu Elders of the Gu Hall widened their eyes.
“Ten-hundred feet Gu Elder!!!” Gu Elder Song said.
The man’s lips curled up. He untied his cloak and casually threw it away. A powerful aura covered the sky.
Elder Song Gu’s expression changed. “Gu-Gu Venerable!!!”