It’s hard to break a phoenix’s destiny

Chapter 495: If you want to be strong, you must guard it with softness

"It's just a dirty spot here." Sima Chi's hand finally pointed at Yang Xianrong's cuff, where there was a not-so-conspicuous ink stain, which should have been stained just now.

"Oh." Yang Xianrong looked down and wanted to explain something, but in the end she didn't say anything.

Sima Chi sighed and whispered, "After all these things, you still don't trust me?"

He suddenly changed the way he addressed her, causing Yang Xianrong to take another half step back.

"Forget it, let's just call it a day today. There will be a cockfight on New Year's Day, and Queen Hui must come." Sima Chi stood up, turned around and left Tianyuan Palace. Just as he came suddenly, he left suddenly.

Yang Xianrong stood there without moving or speaking. Her ears were buzzing, but her mind was blank.

Cui Xi didn't dare to speak, but just stood by and protected her.

Qin Chaoge and Zhang Liangchu were originally standing at the door, and only turned back after they followed Sima Chi out of Tianyuan Palace.

At this time, Yang Xianrong was still standing there, not knowing what she was thinking.

"Master, the emperor has left." Zhang Liangchu said in a very light voice, "Just now I saw a large group of people coming, but the emperor came in alone, without bringing anyone else..."

"I failed to stop him, please forgive me, Your Majesty." Qin Chaoge lowered his head.

"Nothing." Yang Xianrong retracted his gaze, thought for a moment, and then said, "Let's ask Chief Mao to come over and talk."

"Yes." Zhang Liangchu responded immediately.

Tianyuan Palace held a New Year's Eve banquet, and all the guests were from the family. Except for those on duty, everyone else could sit in the main hall of Tianyuan Palace and eat and drink with Yang Xianrong. This made the palace people and guards feel flattered and they didn't dare to sit down.

However, Yang Xianrong smiled and said, "You have all been with me for so long, can't we sit together and eat together? At a moment like this, it's a family reunion. Aren't we a family?"

In the Imperial Palace of the Great Jin Dynasty, there was still a strict hierarchy. This group of people did not dare to act presumptuously and still kowtowed and saluted, but they always felt warm in their hearts.

Tonight, everyone eats the same food, without any difference between masters and servants.

Yang Xianrong also had a good appetite. She kept eating and drank a few glasses of wine, but she didn't get drunk. Even after the banquet ended, when Sun Ying, Yang Xianlian, Sima Jing and others went back to sleep, she was still very sober. Mao Hongmao brought over the sobering soup and laughed at Yang Xianrong's appearance: "It seems that my wine is not as good as the winter wine made by my brother. The Queen didn't even get drunk."

"Yes, back then my face turned red after just one glass of wine." Yang Xianrong also recalled the grand occasion of Mingyue Tower in those days, and couldn't help but sigh, "At that time, Lord Mao used excellent ingredients. Now these millets are really too bad."

"That's not bad. The soldiers in the northwest can't even get food now. I heard that Sima Yue was defeated again. However, Liu Cong and his men are out of food, so they haven't attacked us yet." Mao Hongmao sighed, "Our embroidered envoys reported that Liu Yuan's health is getting worse. I guess his family will be in chaos for a while."

"Why is this?" Yang Xianrong thought of that cheerful and bright face, and felt a little sad.

"Liu He, the son of Liu Yuan, is set to inherit the throne, but it seems that the other brothers are not convinced. An embroidered robe envoy said that Liu Cong even had an argument with his brother in front of Liu Yuan, and even drew swords against him. If Liu Yao hadn't intervened, I'm afraid they would have been killed on the spot."

"What is Liu Cong going to do?" Yang Xianrong frowned.

"It's just a fight between brothers... Liu and Liu Cong are brothers, but Liu Cong has hated his elder brother since he was a child. He thinks that if his elder brother becomes emperor, his life will be difficult. Now he is the King of Chu, and he is also a prince with a large army. If he unites the forces of Wang Mi and Shi Le, Da Jin may not be able to resist." Mao Hongmao's face was full of worry. "If that's the case, then Master Xu said that it would take four years, and Da Jin would be almost done."

"So, we still have to find a way to leave." Yang Xianrong put the sobering soup aside, grabbed the wine pot, poured herself a large bowl, and drank it directly, which scared Mao Hongmao and Cui Xi so much that they hurried to grab the wine bowl from her hand.

"Let me drink to my heart's content today." Yang Xianrong refused to put down the wine bowl. "It's a rare opportunity to still have you by my side. Who knows what things will be like next year?"

Cui Xi, Lu Zhu, Zhang Liangchu and Qin Chaoge knelt down. Xu Henian had already fallen asleep because he drank too much. Mao Hongmao and Lao Zhang had tears in their eyes. They looked at Yang Xianrong and didn't know what to say.

"It's okay, let's have two more drinks." Yang Xianrong picked up the wine pot on the table and poured it for everyone. "Who said that? Let's drink while we can. I'm sure tomorrow's cockfight will be a great spectacle to watch."

Now the people who stayed by Yang Xianrong's side were all her die-hard fans, so she felt more relaxed. "You guys are too cautious. Sima Chi won't do anything to me now. After all, he also wants the world and the imperial power. How could he ruin his reputation because of me? So, don't worry, just go there openly. But he... is really in danger."

"What do you mean?" Mao Hongmao also drank a large glass of wine and sat next to Yang Xianrong.

"Don't you think it's strange? The death of Yang Zongguan was very strange. Is it a coincidence? But if someone died in the palace, it would be a very important matter. But now? The chief steward beside the emperor died, and he was dragged away without saying anything. Then what? How many people envy this position and want to fight for it? Those secret battles must exist, but we haven't seen it yet. If Zhang Zongguan was here, maybe we can know something."

"According to the distance, Zhang Zongguan and Daxi Cao Tong should have walked less than halfway." Qin Chaoge counted on his fingers, "There is no news now."

"No news is actually good news." Yang Xianrong finally felt dizzy, but she also laughed, "Anyway, let it be. If we don't feel good, they won't feel comfortable either. So many people want to fight for the throne, but it actually doesn't make any sense. Why can't we just find a place to live quietly instead of fighting?"

"Because of greed." Xu Henian suddenly raised his head, his face flushed, and he was very drunk. "They all think they are very powerful, but in fact they are nothing. Master said: 'If you want to be strong, you must protect it with softness; if you want to be strong, you must protect it with weakness.' In the world, only by using softness to overcome hardness can you succeed."