249 Chapter 249, Untitled (1/2)
Zhangsun Wuji lifted a brow. ”Is the Taoist priest better looking than the nun?”
Meng Fuyao laughed, thinking, 'The Crown Prince is swamped with work, yet he remembers the dirty jokes I told Lord Yuan Bao.' She turned and saw a drenched Lord Yuan Bao staring at her resentfully.
Meng Fuyao sat up and gazed down from the mountains and wondered, ”How strange, why is the distance between them increasing?”
Zhangsun Wuji calmly combed Lord Yuan Bao's fur and replied carelessly, ” The imperial gardens are a forbidden segment of Lingzhu Mountain. The commoners cannot enter and know that full well. However, there remains the possibility that some lord or envoy might have accidentally stumbled in while hunting and touring.”
Meng Fuyao blinked, and it dawned upon her suddenly. ” Zhan Beiye?”
Zhangsun Wuji smiled.” And that famous little tail.”
”Did Zhuzhu come too?” Meng Fuyao remarked happily. ”All us fools have gathered once more.”
After pondering the issue for a while, she realized something was amiss. ”Are you up to something again? For example, luring the people who are out to find me to Zhan Beiye so that you have the opportunity to kidnap me?”
Zhangsun Wuji smiled but did not deny it. He looked into the distance.” The Emperor of Dahan isn't too stupid either. He lured himself to Ya Lanzhu.”
Meng Fuyao facepalmed. ”Poor Zhuzhu...”
”Why do you not take pity on me?” Zhangsun Wuji sighed. ”Ever since I met you, I haven't managed to rest.”
Meng Fuyao nudged him. ”Why not return to Wuji? You haven't been there in ages.”
”I have returned,” said Zhangsun Wuji expressionlessly. ”I returned to Wuji before coming to Xuanyuan. My apologies, I am unable to abandon my responsibilities.”
”Why should you apologize?” replied Meng Fuyao. ”Your home country is, too, your responsibility. A responsible man is a true man.”
Zhangsun Wuji smiled and looked at her solemnly, sighing. ”Fuyao, you are so perfect sometimes that you make me both proud and afraid…”
Proud that she was such an open-minded and cheerful girl, born to be a queen and looked up to, yet afraid that she would soar to such heights that many others could not help but to follow and chase after her.
Meng Fuyao merely smiled, thinking, 'There is no perfect being on this Earth, only two halves of a whole that fit so well that they are perfect in each others' eyes.'
”Let's go. People are coming.” She pushed Zhangsun Wuji. ”Since you are here, you probably know what I want to do. Whether you want to help, plan to help, it is all up to you. Zong Yue is no Zhan Beiye. The effects of Zong Yue taking back the throne, and his revenge is something I cannot predict. So, please use an objective perspective to deal with Xuanyuan and don't have any reservations because of me.”
”Okay.” Zhangsun Wuji rubbed her forehead and stood up. ”Remember I am in Kunjing, by your side.”
Meng Fuyao smiled, sitting on the floor as she watched him leave. Under the dappled light, the gaze of the man who turned back was filled with so much love. Meng Fuyao's eyes followed his back as it gradually disappeared in the horizon. She slowly took off the pair of tree leaf earrings, trying to read the words carved on them.
A miniature carving. Meng Fuyao squinted her eyes, reading what was carved onto one of the earrings, Meng Fuyao.
The other earring, Yuan Zhaoxu.
Under the glorious sunset, her lips curled up into a smile as she previously encapsulated the pair of earrings in her palms.
When the guards of Xuanyuan found the Empress, they spotted her squatting in the forest and skillfully waving her knife to peel away the skin of the deer.
Seeing the sweaty guards rushed over, the Empress lifted her bloody knife and proudly declared, ”This deer looks delicious. We have meat to eat tonight.”
Xuanyuan Min quickly arrived too with a bunch of concubines following behind him. Meng Fuyao immediately served up a pail of deer blood to Consort Xian that was stuck to Xuanyuan Min like chewed gum.
”Deer blood is the best for nourishing your health. It is also renowned for its beautifying effects. Would Consort Xian like some?”
The dignified and honorable Consort Xian's gaze landed on the bucket of blood and then onto the smiling Meng Fuyao's face, which was covered in splatters of deer blood. Without a word, her eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she fainted.
She really fainted this time round.
Meng Fuyao signaled the same to other concubines, but with the exception of Tang Yi Guang and Jian Xue who sipped a little, the rest avoided it like the plague.
”Consort Xian has a weak constitution. Consort Jade, you share the same tent with her so please take care of her,” said Meng Fuyao.
Jian Xue quickly agreed and personally brought Consort Xian back.
Xuanyuan Min pointed his whip and excitedly asked, ”My Empress, I've heard that this Lingzhu Mountain has plenty of strange beasts in deep parts of this forest. That white deer is one of them. I've heard that you have great archery skills and horse-riding skills, are you interested in competing against me?”