Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Caesar was filled with sorrow, not out of jealousy, but simply sadness.
When the news of Xu Zhen's impending marriage to Li Mingda broke, it was a mix of joy and sorrow for many. Figures like Changsun Wuji and Murong Hanzhu were certainly considering how Xu Zhen should be valued, knowing that this would inevitably lead to more open and covert struggles for power.
For Xu Zhen's friends and family, this was undoubtedly a great blessing.
At thirty-five years old, Xu Zhen had many beautiful companions around her, yet she had not been formally married. Such a situation was rare in the early marriage culture of the Tang Dynasty, especially since Xu Zhen was a prominent figure in court, holding a high rank and immense respect.
However, Caesar could not find happiness in this news. Although she still possessed enchanting beauty and a curvaceous figure with no signs of aging, she felt that she was getting older and feared that Xu Zhen might neglect her.
In the past, she had been stubborn; even when Xu Zhen showered her with affection, she only kept those feelings to herself without showing them. Now, however, she hoped that Xu Zhen would cherish her more.
She quietly watched Xu Zhen's room until she saw Li Mingda leave with a flushed face, shy yet reluctant to say goodbye. Only then did she enter.
Xu Zhen was tidying up some disheveled clothes. Upon seeing Caesar enter, she paused her movements and a sly smile crossed her lips.
The Female Knights stood guard outside; naturally, Li Mingda could not achieve anything with Xu Zhen today. After all, they would soon be married, and there would be plenty of time ahead. After sharing some tender moments together, they sent the girl away. Now that Caesar had entered, how could Xu Zhen not be pleased?
"Sister, come help me change my clothes?"
Interestingly enough, whether it was the frosty Caesar, the proud and willful Li Wushuang, the quirky Zhang Suling, or the gentle and clever Li Mingda, none of these women had ever helped Xu Zhen change her clothes.
This was partly due to their personalities but largely because Xu Zhen did not hold any notions of male superiority over females. Often, it was Xu Zhen who playfully insisted on helping them dress, scaring them into thinking that perhaps she had indulged too much and lost her mind...
However, this time when Caesar heard Xu Zhen's half-joking words, she actually walked over quietly and slowly began to remove Xu Zhen's outer garment to replace it with a clean robe.
Xu Zhen was slightly taken aback but quickly sensed the melancholy emanating from Caesar. She sighed softly and took Caesar's hand, pulling her into her embrace.
There was no need for them to speak any heartfelt words; they no longer required much conversation between them. Caesar looked up with tears welling in her eyes.
Xu Zhen gently lifted her chin and gazed deeply into her eyes as if they were back in Liangzhou during the time of competing for the poplar trees while silently crafting a Carved Bow for herself. She leaned close to Caesar's ear and whispered softly, "I know... I know everything..."
Upon hearing " Xu Zhen," Caesar's heart stirred, tears welling up in her eyes. However, a wave of anger surged within her, causing her to gag involuntarily.
Xu Zhen panicked and quickly began to gently pat Caesar's back. Once Caesar calmed down, he felt relieved. However, a troubling thought soon occupied his mind, one that he could not shake off.
"Sister, did you eat something unclean?"
Caesar shook her head lightly and replied softly, "I don't know what's wrong; I just can't stand the sight of meat lately..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Caesar seemed to realize something. She had been anxious about Xu Zhen's upcoming marriage to Li Mingda for the past few days and hadn't thought deeply about it. Now, recalling Xu Zhen's bright gaze, she suddenly understood and gasped, quickly covering her mouth.
Xu Zhen laughed heartily, saying "Sister, wait a moment!" Without waiting for Caesar's response, he put on his clothes and left. After a little over half an hour, Xu Zhen returned with someone else.
Liu Shenwei was doing quite well at the Imperial Medical Office. His master, Sun Simiao, was about to complete the compilation of Qianjin Fang, gaining considerable fame. As a disciple of this renowned master, Liu Shenwei's status naturally rose as well.
He was studying medical texts at home when Xu Zhen suddenly pulled him to Xu Manor. The two were already familiar with each other as brothers who had gone through hardships together and did not need to observe formalities. Since returning to Chang'an, Xu Zhen had not found time to visit his old brothers; he hadn't even seen Li Chunfeng or Yan Lide, Qingxiazi or Moya, which made him feel somewhat guilty.
However, this was not the time for small talk with Liu Shenwei. He hurriedly brought Liu Shenwei over; Caesar had been waiting in the room for quite some time, her heart racing with nervousness and her palms sweating.
Liu Shenwei had already spoken with Xu Zhen on the way over. At this moment, he wasted no time in taking out a small pillow for Caesar to rest her delicate wrist on. His slender and clean fingers gently rested on Caesar's pulse.
"Hmm..." Liu Shenwei nodded lightly and carefully examined the pulse before smiling and saying, "The pulse flows smoothly and feels round like pearls rolling on a jade plate. Young Master, congratulations!"
Even though Caesar was as cold as frost and her mind was in turmoil, she tightly covered her cherry-red lips as tears filled her eyes. Xu Zhen murmured, "You... you mean... she... is she really expecting?!!!"
Liu Shenwei was taken aback by Xu Zhen's excited grip on his shoulder but couldn't help but smile as he nodded and said, "Based on Madam's pulse condition, it indeed seems she is expecting."
After receiving confirmation, Xu Zhen laughed heartily and patted Liu Shenwei on the shoulder vigorously. Without caring that there were guests present, he embraced Caesar tightly.
Liu Shenwei had never witnessed such a scene before; he hurriedly covered his face and exited the living room with an expression of not wanting to see anything inappropriate. He understood Xu Zhen's straightforward nature; seeing the couple embrace and weep did not seem indecent to him—he simply felt genuinely happy for Xu Zhen.
Xu Zhen was indeed overjoyed. During Li Wushuang's time of happiness, he was not by her side, and even during the childbirth, he could not accompany her. When Zhang Suling had her joy, he was also unaware until later.
It can be said that today was the first time he tasted such joy. This was not favoritism; rather, he understood very well what this child meant to Caesar.
Caesar shed tears of excitement, while Xu Zhen gently stroked her back and comforted her, saying, "Sister, don't get too excited; it wouldn't be good for the baby..."
These words were indeed effective. Upon hearing them, Caesar immediately stopped crying. Xu Zhen quickly left the living room to ask Liu Shenwei about some lifestyle taboos for pregnant women. Meanwhile, Caesar listened intently from behind a screen, unable to contain her inner joy.
After becoming pregnant, Caesar seemed like a different person; her smile had increased. Li Wushuang, being an experienced person, took the initiative to take on the responsibility of teaching this new expectant mother. Zhang Suling, now with a prominent belly, also smiled brightly, creating a warm atmosphere in the residence.
Xu Zhen set aside one worry and finally had time to visit Yan Lide and the others. He took along the unsolved Cipher Tube, mounted his Azure Steed, and happily rode out of the city.
Once outside the city, Xu Zhen followed the downstream of the Dragon Head Canal. The weather was clear and his spirits were high; he felt like he was riding on a spring breeze.
Around Chang'an City, there are "Eight Waters and Five Channels." To the south are the He River and Xi River; to the north are the Jing River and Wei River; to the west are the Ling River and Lao River; and to the east are the Shen River and Ba River. These are known as the Eight Waters surrounding Chang'an. Within the city are also the Qingming Channel, Dragon Head Canal, Yong'an Channel, and Yellow Canal, among others.
As Xu Zhen traveled down the Dragon Head Canal, the water level gradually rose. The banks were lush with green locust trees and willows swaying gently in the breeze.
After galloping for about half an hour, a verdant mountain appeared before Xu Zhen. It was none other than Taiyi Mountain, located just outside Chang'an City.
This area is known as Shanglin Garden, where Emperor Taizong built the Qin Sheng Palace as a summer retreat. The mountain houses the ancient Taiyi Palace, a sacred site of Taoism.
Here, Yan Lide, along with Li Chunfeng and others, established their secret base—a truly clever choice that ordinary people could not access, ensuring both safety and secrecy.
Looking at the lush mountain before him, Xu Zhen thought of the ultimate project that was about to be put into practice, feeling elated. Noticing that his Azure Steed seemed a bit tired, he dismounted to let it drink from the canal water before leading it along at a leisurely pace.
The mountain path was secluded, so Xu Zhen did not dare to wander around aimlessly. He waited for someone from Li Chunfeng's group to come for him. Just as he was waiting anxiously, he heard faint shouts and sounds of fighting coming from within the forest. Frowning slightly after hesitating for a moment, he finally tied up his horse's reins and crouched down to sneak into the thicket.
The mountain was densely covered with evergreen pines and cypresses. Following the sounds, it wasn't long before he spotted an open grassy area where a man and woman were engaged in fierce combat. Although short in stature, the man was fierce in his attacks, wielding a narrow long knife with precision that left no openings.
The woman in the blue Dao Robe stood tall and graceful, exuding a heroic presence. Her hair was let down, cascading like a waterfall, and although her complexion was not particularly fair, her features were striking, especially her long legs that left a lasting impression.
She wielded a three-foot Azure Edge, with silver flowers blooming all around, yet she could not match the man's overwhelming and fierce swordsmanship. After several exchanges, the man suddenly revealed an opening. The Daoist Robe Woman, unaware it was a feint, pursued him. However, he abruptly turned and struck down with his blade!
With a sharp reprimand, the Daoist Robe Woman felt a deep gash open on her left arm. Fortunately, she had dodged in time, so the wound was not too severe, but blood still flowed profusely. The man, seizing the advantage, struck again. The woman raised her sword to block, but it was knocked away!
The man sneered as he kicked her squarely in the chest, sending her flying backward to crash onto the ground. As she looked up, she found the tip of his blade pressed against her throat!
Xu Zhen was confused by the situation but recognized that the man was no good. Seeing the woman in the Dao Robe made her think she must be an Immortal Mistress from the mountains. Thus, she discreetly concealed two throwing knives in her left hand while placing her right hand on her sword's hilt.
The Daoist Nun's left arm was slashed open, leaving her in a dire state. During the fight, her Dao Robe had been torn apart at the front, revealing the Bodice underneath—a thin garment that could barely contain her ample bosom. The sight of her pale skin with a hint of red made the Knife-Wielding Man swallow hard.
This man was indeed blinded by lust; pressing his blade against the Daoist Nun, he reached out to tear apart her Azure Robe. The Daoist Nun felt both shame and anger but found herself powerless to resist. Yet instead of showing fear or embarrassment typical of a woman in such a situation, she displayed an overwhelming fury!
The man paid no heed to her glare and began to unfasten his belt with one hand to bind the Daoist Nun's wrists for his vile intentions.
Xu Zhen let out a cold laugh and suddenly leaped out from behind the bushes. With her left hand, she threw knives in quick succession while drawing her long sword with her right!
Comment 0 Comment Count