The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 498 Your Heart Is Like Mine

That night, the Qin Prince's mansion was brightly lit.

The banquet held to welcome Chi Meng was drawing to a close. The aroma of delicacies mingled with the faint scent of wine and the unique fragrances of the women, floating in the air.

The Empress sat upright beside Xiao Yan, occasionally glancing reproachfully at him as he leaned back, full and unruly. But her gaze mostly swept over the entire room with gentle warmth. She would occasionally exchange a few words, or lean down to look at little Aji, who had been placed in a cradle by the wet nurse. Recalling Chi Meng's curious way of teasing the infant, a smile involuntarily curved her lips.

Ji Ruxue's face remained calm, a gentle smile playing on her lips. She carefully looked after Chi Meng beside her, or asked her about her departure from Raojiang. Xiao Yan then followed Chi Meng's lead, briefly recounting his experiences in Jiangling. The women listened attentively, occasionally interjecting with a question or two.

Chi Meng had already changed into a Central Plains palace dress. The lively spirit of a wild mountain elf in her eyes had not diminished, but she had gained a touch of naivety as a young girl growing up.

Because she was new to the place, even though Xiao Yan had told her not to be so formal, Chi Meng still tried her best to maintain her composure, eating the snacks in front of her in small bites. Her bright black eyes would occasionally scan the room full of beautiful women, but for a moment she felt immense pressure again.

As the Empress listened to Chi Meng recount her experiences along the way, she inquired with concern:

"Sister Chi Meng has lived in Raojiang for a long time, and I have heard that Raojiang is known as the Northern Frontier and the Southern Frontier with eighty-one villages. I imagine that the customs and traditions are quite different. I wonder if the cooking in your household suits your taste?"

Chi Meng quickly swallowed the pastry, raised her head and nodded vigorously: "Delicious! Princess, it's better than any of the grand feasts I've had on the road! The chefs in the Central Plains are amazing!"

Ji Ruxue chuckled. She knew Chi Meng's appetite and that Chi Meng was a little reserved, so she added some more dishes for her: "If you like, you can ask the kitchen to make them often in the future."

Upon seeing this, Xiao Yan suddenly sat up straight and asked Qianwu to add another bowl of rice for him.

Ji Ruxue exchanged a smile with him, everything understood without a word.

Shuliduo had already put down her chopsticks and bowl, so she naturally continued the conversation, "I heard that the Holy Maiden traveled all the way north. She must have seen a lot of things in the Central Plains?"

"Mmm!" Chi Meng immediately perked up, her eyes sparkling. "I saw so much! The river is so wide and long, and the canals and waterways are so deep. The crops in the fields are growing so well, and the people all say it's all thanks to..." She paused, quickly glancing at Xiao Yan beside her, her cheeks slightly flushed, "...thanks to Xiao Guo...thanks to the King's blessing, saying that the King is a wise ruler."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan simply chuckled and raised his wine cup, gesturing to Chi Meng. Having spent time with Xiao Yan in Raojiang, Chi Meng naturally knew that this was called clinking glasses. She immediately raised her cup with great enthusiasm and lightly clinked it with Xiao Yan's, then boldly drank the wine in one gulp. However, when she put down her cup, her face was already flushed, causing everyone present to laugh.

The surrendered minister leaned back in her chair, her dark green dress accentuating her fair skin. She looked languid and uninterested, and even when Xiao Yan suggested raising a glass, she only took a lazy, shallow sip.

As Xiao Yan's gaze swept over this side, the toes of her soft satin embroidered shoes, which had been removed from under the table, suddenly rubbed against Xiao Yan's calf through the fabric, with a hint of provocation.

Xiao Yan paused almost imperceptibly with his chopsticks in his hand, but his face remained calm, as if he were only focused on the conversation between the Empress, Chi Meng, and Shuliduo beside him.

Seeing his expression, the surrendered minister seemed to suddenly become interested. He started to move his toes up and down, and even sat up straight, biting his chopsticks and giving Xiao Yan a half-smile.

Qianwu was in charge of managing the banquet, sometimes setting the dishes on the table, sometimes quietly reminding the maids to add wine, and sometimes turning to Xiao Yan's side to gently introduce the origin or story of a certain dish. She did not notice anything unusual about her husband.

At the banquet, Bago was the most honest person. He completely covered his figure with a neat and fitted modified palace dress, as if he was afraid that if he revealed even a little bit, the Empress would think that he was seducing Xiao Yan. Therefore, he kept a low profile.

But precisely because of this, she was the first to notice the surrendered minister's great interest. She was immediately stunned, then startled, and hurriedly lowered her head to pick up some food, fearing that the surrendered minister would notice her.

Whether it was Xiao Yan's imagination or not, he also felt that Shuliduo's outfit today seemed to have some special design. Her neckline, which was designed to be slightly low, was now slightly open, so every time she bent over, the collar would loosen slightly, revealing a breathtakingly white curve under her collarbone, and then it would naturally close up again when she straightened up.

The Empress was by his side, Xue'er was beside him, and jade feet kept disturbing him under the table. Opposite him sat the scheming Empress Dowager, with the gentle and considerate Qianwu beside her. Across from him was Bago, who kept stealing glances at him, and Chi Meng was talking to him with great interest.

So even Xiao Yan felt a bit cold sweat running down his face, but he still had to remain calm and composed as he navigated the group of women.

Chi Meng, however, found herself surrounded by prosperity and filled with joy.

In the past half day, she felt that the Princess Consort was noble and kind, Xue'er was gentle and considerate as ever, Qianwu Cave Master was considerate, Empress Dowager Shuli and the surrendered minister Shizu were also good in their own way, and although that Bago looked a bit fierce, he was also very kind to her.

As for the stories her mother had told her about how women from the Central Plains were cunning and good at testing people, she had long forgotten them. She only felt that the sisters in the Prince's Mansion were all very kind to her, not at all like the fierce women her mother had described.

After the banquet, everyone strolled along the waterside pavilion to digest their food. When they reached the end, Xiao Yan said, "It's getting late, and Xue'er is tired. Let's call it a day."

The Empress then said gently, "Sister Chi Meng has had a long journey and should rest early. Everyone, you may all leave now."

Seeing that Xiao Yan was about to leave with Ji Ruxue, Shuliduo bowed respectfully to the Empress, who was surrounded by Guangmu Tian and Yangyan Tian, ​​before nodding slightly to Jiangchen, Qianwu, and Chimeng, and then departed with graceful poise.

Jiang Chen stretched, revealing her graceful curves. She yawned, said "I'm tired," and strolled away. Bago nodded kindly to Chi Meng, but immediately hurriedly followed Jiang Chen.

Qianwu then walked to Chimeng's side and said kindly, "Holy Maiden, please come with me."

Chi Meng happily responded, then waved to Ji Ruxue and Xiao Yan, "Sister Xue'er, Little Pot, I'm off!"

Chi Meng was led by Qian Wu to the arranged courtyard. Along the way, she looked around excitedly, full of curiosity about everything in the palace. However, the women who returned to their respective courtyards all took baths and perfumed themselves, carefully dressing up, secretly anticipating something.

Even the surrendered minister, while saying "Who cares?" to Bago, still checked that the lights in the courtyard were bright.

Front yard study.

After personally escorting Ji Ruxue back, Xiao Yan finished reading several reports from the Ministry of Rites regarding the so-called honorific titles and ranks of the Empress and Consorts, and put down his vermilion pen in contemplation. Li Cunren then quietly entered and reported in a low voice: "Your Highness, except for the residences of the Princess Consort and the Consort of the Secondary Princess, the lights are still on in all the courtyards."

Xiao Yan rubbed his temples and sighed deeply, while Li Cunren, seeing this, simply lowered his head and remained silent.

However, Xiao Yan immediately got up and walked straight to the corridor leading to Ji Ruxue's residence without hesitation.

The news spread quickly to all places.

In the courtyard named Qixia, Shuliduo, who had only been formally taken as a wife by Xiao Yan before his journey south to Jiangling, heard the news and continued to carefully draw her eyebrows and eyes in front of the mirror. The woman in the mirror was still beautiful and even heroic. But in the end, her brush stopped at the end of her eyebrows. She reached out and touched the corner of her eye. The light in her eyes seemed to dim for a moment, but then it regained its brilliance, leaving only a soft sigh.

Inside the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, the surrendered official, who was flipping through a book, turned to the side and flicked his finger, extinguishing the lamp on the table.

Bago, after waiting for Li Cunren at the door, wasn't too disappointed. He simply pulled Thirteen Niang aside and whispered a few words in her ear. Li Cunren's face flushed red, and he simply returned to the neighboring courtyard with a stern expression. Bago glanced at the neighboring courtyard, where the lights had been turned off, and only a hint of cunning flashed in his eyes.

Not far from Ji Ruxue's courtyard, in an unnamed courtyard, Chi Meng was excitedly describing her experiences to Qian Wu, completely unaware of what was happening. Qian Wu, upon hearing the maid's report, simply smiled.

Upon hearing this, Chi Meng simply nodded in agreement, believing that Xiao Guoguo should spend more time with Sister Xue'er. At the same time, she awkwardly pulled Qian Wu to sleep with her, saying that she would tell her how Xiao Yan displayed his great power in Jiangling City. Qian Wu naturally smiled and agreed.

In the courtyard of Tingxueyuan, the moonlight, like mercury spilling onto the ground, bathed the bluestone path and lush flowers and trees in a soft glow.

Ji Ruxue refused the maids' help and told them not to disturb Miao Chengtian and the others. She walked slowly into the courtyard alone. The autumn night air was cool. She pulled her clothes tighter and looked up at the bright moon in the sky. Her figure was slender.

A cloak, still warm from her body, suddenly fell gently onto her shoulders.

Ji Ruxue trembled slightly, but did not turn around. Instead, she leaned back gently and fell into a familiar embrace. Xiao Yan's arms encircled her, and his warm hands carefully covered her abdomen.

"Xue'er." Xiao Yan's deep voice sounded in her ear. "Mmm." Ji Ruxue responded softly, resting her head on his neck, and said softly, "Chi Meng has just arrived, you should spend more time with her."

Xiao Yan didn't answer, but simply wrapped his arms around her from behind. After a long while, he said, "When I came back from Jiangling this time, I saw Ying Shui Qiu Bo... I missed you."

"I know."

The two strolled hand in hand around the courtyard. The autumn night was slightly cool, and Xiao Yan put his arm around Ji Ruxue's shoulder. The fragrance of osmanthus wafted through the air, and the faint sound of a zither drifted from afar.

"Do you know why I like to look at the moon?" Ji Ruxue asked, then answered softly to herself, "Every time I see the moon, I think of that snowy alley. At that time, I wondered why I could clearly see the phase of the moon even though it was a snowy night. Now that I think about it, if it weren't for that phase of the moon, I might have missed that alley."

Xiao Yan shook his head: "How could I possibly miss it?"

Ji Ruxue glanced at him with her eyes curved, and then said, "The snow was heavy that night, and you were covered in blood, but I inexplicably believed that you were not a bad person. Only after we got back did I realize that I had saved an extraordinary person."

Xiao Yan chuckled softly: "I still remember thinking back then, 'This girl's hair smells so good.'"

“It’s been almost five years…” Ji Ruxue stopped and leaned on his shoulder. “After experiencing so much, sometimes it still feels like a dream.”

Xiao Yan embraced her and smiled, "Back then, I never imagined that the naive young girl who was new to the world and only wanted to complete the mission of Huanyin Pavilion would be tricked into giving birth to my son today."

Ji Ruxue laughed so hard her shoulders trembled, as if she had recalled how Xiao Yan had tricked her into going out to seek revenge, and how the two of them, one ruthless and the other stubborn, walked nearly a hundred miles despite having no money.

Xiao Yan then recalled all the moments they had shared over the years, from their meeting in Caozhou to their joint rampage in Bianliang and Luoyang, from their garrisoning troops in Yingzhou to their journey to Raojiang, from the true and false Marquis of Champion to the Bianliang mutiny, through thick and thin, in the Central Plains, Guanzhong, Hebei, Raojiang, and Jingchu... through life and death.

"This long journey," Xiao Yan said softly at the end, "would have been so lonely without you by my side. And how desolate the rest of my life would have been."

Ji Ruxue listened quietly, feeling the strong heartbeat from his chest. Five years had passed, from a dying boy in a snowy alley to the emperor who now held the fate of the world in his hands and was about to ascend the throne. His facial features were more defined, his eyes more focused, and the burden on his shoulders weighed heavier than a thousand pounds.

But at this moment, as he held her in his arms, he revealed the same sincere heart that belonged to "Xiao Yan".

She turned around, cupped his face in her hands, and in the moonlight, her eyes were clear as water, reflecting his features.

"In my heart, you will always be that young man in the snowy night. Whether you were the Dark Star of the Bad Guys, the powerful King of Qin, or the emperor who will soon rule the world, you will always be my Xiao Yan. I've been able to accompany you on this journey, watching you cleanse the world of its filth step by step, restoring peace to the land, seeing smiles return to the faces of the people, and witnessing the safe birth of Aji..."

She lowered her head, her voice soft, "Power and territory are indeed important, but I only wish your heart were like mine. In this life, Xue'er has no other desires. What I love is you as a person, and always has been."

It has nothing to do with power or status.

It's all about that first encounter in the snow, and the bond we've shared through life and death over the past five years.

Her love remained pure and gentle, like the hand she reached out when they first met in the snowy alley—the only harbor where he could find refuge without reservation on his endless journey.

Xiao Yan's thousand words choked in his throat, and in the end, he simply held her tightly in his arms, resting his chin on her forehead and taking a deep breath of the familiar fragrance emanating from her hair. The courtyard was quiet, save for the rustling of the leaves in the wind, the distant ticking of the water clock, and the intertwined heartbeats and breaths of the two of them.

"Promise me that no matter what the future holds, you will never forget who you were at the beginning."

"With you by my side, how could I forget?"

Ji Ruxue gently nodded in his arms and closed her eyes. At this moment, nothing, not even the vast empire or the power to rule the world, could compare to the two of them embracing in this small courtyard.

------

Meanwhile, in Yangzhou, at the Imperial Garden of the Imperial Palace.

In the late autumn of Jiangnan, the night wind carried a sticky dampness. It was in this wind that Li Xingyun accompanied Princess Shangrao, whose belly was swollen, as they strolled in the garden.

The recent uproar in the court and among the people was also known to Shangrao. She immediately tried to find a topic to talk about, her voice light and cheerful, in an attempt to dispel the deep thought between her husband's brows.

Li Xingyun only responded half-heartedly, his gaze drifting, landing on the shadows in the distance, as if the key to unlocking his heart's knot was hidden there.

"Husband..." Shangrao's voice suddenly carried a hint of grievance.

"Huh? What did the Empress just say?" Li Xingyun suddenly came to his senses.

Shangrao opened his mouth, but before he could say anything more, a series of hurried footsteps approached from afar. It was a palace attendant reporting that Zhang Zifan requested an audience.

Knowing that a late-night audience must be for something important, Li Xingyun summoned Zhang Zifan immediately. Before long, Zhang Zifan appeared outside the moon gate.

His face was grave, even showing a rare hint of panic. He strode forward, disregarding all etiquette: "Your Majesty, I have an extremely urgent military intelligence report..."

Li Xingyun frowned: "What's the matter that you're so panicked?"

"This matter concerns unusual military activity in Huainan, and there seems to be something in the Central Plains... Please, Your Majesty, come and discuss this in detail." Zhang Zifan spoke very quickly, keeping his head down, but he didn't make eye contact with Princess Shangrao or Li Xingyun at all.

Shangrao then naturally and immediately replied, "It is I too..."

“Your Majesty…” Zhang Zifan hurriedly bowed and looked up, “The military situation is urgent and may involve frontline secrets, and… there may be bloody words. In order to avoid disturbing Your Majesty’s health and offending Your Highness, I humbly request Your Highness to wait here for a moment.”

Shangrao glanced at Li Xingyun, then at Zhang Zifan, who looked anxious. Although he was displeased, he thought of the child in his womb and finally held back, nodding reluctantly: "Then... Your Majesty, please go and return quickly. If you need anything, please tell me immediately."

"Okay." Li Xingyun gave her a deep look, then turned and hurriedly left with Zhang Zifan. Shangrao watched his figure disappear into the night, rubbing her lower abdomen, a hint of unease flashing in her eyes.

Outside the palace, an inconspicuous blue-canopied carriage was already waiting in a secluded spot. As soon as Zhang Zifan led Li Xingyun onto the carriage, it immediately started moving, winding its way through the streets before finally stopping in front of a heavily guarded, quiet residence.

"Zifan, what is it?" Li Xingyun was filled with doubts. What military intelligence required such trouble?

Zhang Zifan took a deep breath, pushed open the heavy wooden door of the mansion, and stepped aside: "Brother Li, you'll know once you go in."

Inside the main hall of the mansion, only a single lamp was lit, casting a dim light. A slender figure stood quietly in the center of the hall, her back to the entrance, wearing a long robe with a wide hood.

Li Xingyun, without suspicion, immediately stepped inside. The figure, hearing the footsteps, slowly turned around.

When the man lifted his hood and revealed his face, Li Xingyun was as if struck by lightning, completely stunned on the spot.

"Junior Sister...?"

(End of this chapter)