198 Untitled (2/2)
”Where is she?”
This time, Meng Fuyao remained silent for a long time before replying, ”In a place far away.”
Zhangsun Wuji gazed at the sadness in her eyes and the tears threatening to spill out as his eyes too stung slightly. Finally, he slowly said, ”Fuyao, can't I help you at all?”
Meng Fuyao didn't reply.
Help? How could he help? It would be too painful.
She wanted to go against the heavens, how could he give up a life of happiness to follow her?
'No matter what, I always hope that you will be well… The position as the Emperor of the Five Regions Continent is the only title most befitting for you to revolutionize the world and be an excellent… emperor.”
Meng Fuyao closed her eyes and tried to imagine Zhangsun Wuji in the Emperor's dragon robes, and what kind of empress would be beside him. However, no matter how hard she thought, the woman's face remained a blur, and she couldn't fit anyone in it.
She let out an empty laugh.
”Sleep now, you've not been resting well these past few days.” Zhangsun Wuji patted her, his voice soft as he continued, ”Don't make things difficult for yourself. If you make things difficult for yourself, it's the same as making things difficult for me, and combined together it would be double the suffering. Think about it, is it worth it?”
Meng Fuyao couldn't help but let out a laugh. Zhangsun Wuji leaned forward and kissed her forehead, saying, ”You little fool, it's no use trying to convince you. Let's just… take it one step at a time.”
Meng Fuyao finally returned to her usual self.
She smashed the wine jar, donned new robes and gaily went to work.
Sitting at one side, Ya Lanzhu and Lord Yuan Bao watched her retreating silhouette and glanced at each other. Their meaning was clear in their eyes:
”She deserves a beating!”
Meng Fuyao rode a horse through the streets. At the moment, Pandu was peaceful and quiet, but it was the kind of peace that made one inevitably feel that there was something sinister brewing, especially at the east wing assembly point of the nobles. The feeling of unease was even more apparent, and there were people attempting to escape, attempting to collect grain. The country that had been at peace for so many years was beginning to panic at the impending entrance of a single person.
Meng Fuyao looked up and gazed at the dark clouds which refused to part. She wasn't sure why, but she felt a nagging uneasiness in her heart as though uncontrollable things were happening far away, that there was an insidious change which couldn't be detected, cumulating like the dark clouds before a storm. And very slowly, without changing its course, it was making its way towards her.
No matter how she thought, Meng Fuyao couldn't think of a way to avoid it. After a long time, she gave the horse's side a little kick and continued moving forward.
Pandu had already begun preparing for war, and all the troops had been gathered and were awaiting orders. Zhan Beiye and the great Black Dragon army had already crossed the river and powered forward with tremendous force. Although the great Black Dragon army was formidable in combat and overwhelmed the rusty Tiansha army like a pack of wolves descending from the desert, they were merciful and avoided frightening the people and killing the innocent. Cities that took the initiative to surrender were given special treatment as well. As such, the small yet powerful group moved forward with speed, and there was but a day left before they descended upon Pandu.
Due to that, Tiansha had conducted numerous discussion conferences, the topic of their discussion being whether they should send the troops out to the city of Danshui sixty miles from Pandu and take Zhan Beiye head-on with their infantry and prevent the enemy from reaching Pandu, or centralize their forces within Pandu to defend the imperial city. Both sides debated heatedly and refused to concede to each other. Today, they were debating again. Zhan Nancheng was sitting on the throne, wearily watching both sides argue. Recently, he had not been looking well, and everyone thought that it was because of Zhan Beiheng's betrayal that affected his mood. Only Meng Fuyao watched him gleefully, trying to guess what kind of disease he had contracted.
At the discussion, everyone speaking were high officials who had the power to decide national affairs, and someone like Meng Fuyao had no authority to speak, so she simply stood there nonchalantly looking at her fingernails.
Suddenly, Zhan Nancheng called out to her. ”General Meng, what do you think about it?”
Everyone present shut their mouths and hastily turned around, their eyes full of curiosity and suspicion.
'This silly rascal, what could he possibly know?'
”Ah?” Meng Fuyao hurriedly put down her hands and stood at attention as she replied, ”Your Majesty, with your power, regardless of whether at Danshui or Pandu, we will always secure victory and overcome all obstacles and send the treacherous thieves fleeing…”
”Tch!” Everyone turned away—How shameless!
Zhan Nancheng massaged the spot between his eyebrows wearily and said, ”General Meng, just say what you really want to say.”
”Although my parents are the ones who gave birth to me, Your Majesty is the one who knows me truly.” Meng Fuyao smiled and said, ”Then your servant shall speak?”
Zhan Nancheng smiled bitterly and nodded.
Meng Fuyao suddenly turned around, and spread her hands wide as she roared, ”You fools!”
All the officials turned green with rage—how could this rascal just open his mouth and curse like that!
One of the three great officials rebuked angrily, ”Meng Fuyao, is this royal court a place for you to let loose?”
Meng Fuyao jumped onto the steps and pointed at his nose as she retorted, ”Old Man Xi, His Majesty has allowed me to speak my mind, yet now you're not letting me speak? Are you defying His Majesty's orders? Why are you defying His Majesty's orders now? Unless you harbor malicious intent? Why would you harbor any malicious intent? Unless you're trying to switch to Zhan Beiye's treacherous faction…?”
Old Man Xi lowered his head and coughed slightly as he shook his head and shrank back, utterly defeated.