After rebirth, I became a treacherous minister Black Moonlight

The next day, Meng Qianqian overslept.

When she came downstairs, the lobby of the inn was already packed.

Half of them were guests who stayed overnight, and the other half were new faces who arrived this morning.

There were chivalrous men, merchants, and nobles.

Aymulan sat at the innermost table on the east side with Mo Yi and Shan Cheng.

Aymulan changed her full-face mask to a half-face mask, revealing her deep eyes, red lips, and delicate chin.

She said, "It's so covered up, it's not convenient to eat."

Aymulan was slowly eating her mutton stew.

Looks like we're almost done eating.

Meng Qianqian walked over unhurriedly and sat down opposite Aymulan.

Mo Yi and Shan Cheng sat on her left and right sides, respectively.

When Mo Yi saw Meng Qianqian, he was completely displeased.

Meng Qianqian smiled at him and said, "Good morning, Lord Mo."

Mo Yi glared at her.

Meng Qianqian didn't greet Aymulan. She picked up the mutton soup in front of her, which had almost cooled down, and slowly drank it.

Dan Cheng asked with a smile, "You got up late this morning. Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Meng Qianqian said indifferently, "You can sleep in a pile of sand, but I can't. After all, I was also spoiled when I was young."

"Oh?"

Shan Cheng smiled meaningfully, "Were you this pampered when you went to fight on the border?"

Meng Qianqian said, "Yes, I went to war with a cart full of dried meat. Don't you know how much military pay my Meng family gave to the imperial court?"

Shan Cheng smiled and said, "It seems that Lu Yuan has treated you well."

Meng Qianqian took a bite of her paomo (a type of flatbread soaked in broth): "Don't attribute all the credit to men. I'm doing well because of my own abilities, and it has nothing to do with anyone else."

"Humph."

Mo Yi let out a disdainful snort.

Meng Qianqian smiled and said, "Of course, with Lord Mo here, I am willing to give up the credit. I wonder if I could trouble Lord Mo to take good care of me once we enter the desert?"

Mo Yi wanted to draw his sword again.

Shan Cheng reminded him, "Mo Yi, this isn't good. It will affect your cultivation. Have you already forgotten the lesson you learned from when you lost your composure in Xicheng?"

"That's not it..."

Mo Yi wanted to say that it was because this woman was too infuriating.

He held back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Since he knew this woman was deliberately trying to provoke him, he shouldn't have fallen for her trick.

"Your Highness, I'll go prepare the horses."

He left the inn.

Meng Qianqian said with a smile, "Aunt, you have to keep a close eye on your guard, lest he turn against you one day."

Aymulan put down her chopsticks and said, "Let's get going as soon as we're done eating."

Meng Qianqian: "I didn't finish eating."

"You have fifteen minutes."

Aymulan issued her final ultimatum and then got up and left the inn.

Only Shan Cheng and Meng Qianqian remained at the table.

Shan Cheng smiled and looked her over.

Meng Qianqian ignored his gaze and ate heartily.

Shan Cheng: "Mo Yi will never betray the Princess. If you want to sow discord between the two of them, I advise you to give up on that idea."

Meng Qianqian said casually, "The purpose of stirring up trouble is not necessarily to succeed; sometimes it's just to annoy the other party."

Shan Cheng: "..."

Meng Qianqian ate slowly not only to compete with Ayimulan, but also to find an opportunity to leave a secret signal.

Unfortunately, Shan Cheng watched her the whole time, leaving her unable to make a move.

Would you like another bowl?

Dan Cheng pointed to the empty bowl in front of Meng Qianqian and asked.

"No need."

Meng Qianqian wiped her mouth. "Let's go."

Shan Cheng told Meng Qianqian to go first.

Meng Qianqian's eyes flickered slightly. What a cautious fellow.

On their way to the desert, they changed their mounts, each taking a camel.

"Did you bring enough food?"

Meng Qianqian asked while riding on a camel.

Shan Cheng pointed to the several large bundles on the camel: "That's enough for you to eat, and we've also brought water."

"Let me see."

Meng Qianqian said.

Mo Yi said coldly, "You think you're something special just because you're a hostage?"

Meng Qianqian said, "Even your princess hasn't said anything, so it's none of your business."

Mo Yi choked.

Meng Qianqian opened the bundle; steamed buns, naan bread, dried meat, barley, milk curds... even her favorite dried fruit was included.

Shan Cheng asked with a smile, "Are you satisfied?"

Meng Qianqian said indifferently, "So-so."

A little boy came skipping over. He was very handsome, but he was a bit tanned and had a snot bubble hanging from the tip of his nose.

He had been watching Meng Qianqian intently ever since she started unpacking.

He couldn't resist any longer when the aroma of dried fruit wafted out.

These dried fruits were preserved in sugar by Meng Qianqian herself along the way, and soaked in a lot of honey and flower petals, making them incredibly sweet.

"Want to eat?"

Meng Qianqian asked him.

The little guy nodded.

"Hand out."

Meng Qianqian said.

Mo Yi said sternly, "You are not allowed to give it!"

Meng Qianqian's face darkened: "It's just a child wanting some dried fruit. It's mine, I can give it to him if I want!"

Mo Yi gripped the Tang sword tightly.

The two men instantly became tense and ready to draw their swords.

At this moment, many guests who were also planning to enter the desert looked over at the two of them.

Aymulan winked at Shan Cheng.

Shan Cheng understood, grabbed a handful of dried fruit and placed it in the child's palm, saying with a smile, "Here, have some."

The child thanked them happily, then sat on the stone stool by the door with the dried fruit in his hands and began to eat it with gusto.

Shan Cheng nodded to Aymulan.

Aymuran, her face veiled, said, "Let's go."

Meng Qianqian and Ya'er, the sisters, also wore veils.

It wasn't to cover their faces, but to protect them from the wind and sand.

Several teams traveled with them.

Meng Qianqian asked Shan Cheng, "Are they also going to Liuli Island?"

Shan Cheng smiled and said, "Yes."

Meng Qianqian paused, then asked with a curious look, "It's not also because of that so-called seven-star alignment rumor, is it?"

Shan Cheng said, "Guess."

Meng Qianqian said, "I guess so, but I don't think everyone is like you, wanting to get something."

Shan Cheng laughed and said, "That's hard to say."

Meng Qianqian said, "Maybe they're just going to join in the fun."

Shan Cheng said, "The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is bustling, all for profit. Seemingly ordinary people may have ambitions greater than anyone else's."

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly: "Are you talking about yourself? You're loyal to the Princess, but you can't be truly loyal, can you? With your talent, you have a good chance of succeeding in assisting anyone, right? Have you ever thought that since she was defeated by me, it means that perhaps she wasn't destined for it? Shouldn't you consider assisting someone more capable?"

Shan Cheng laughed and said, "Since you can't sow discord between Mo Yi, you're trying to sow discord between me and the Princess?"

Meng Qianqian smiled: "Did you manage to sow discord?"

As Shan Cheng rode on his camel, he looked toward Liuli Island: "If you mean Chenlong—he has the purest Loulan royal blood flowing through his veins, and he is indeed qualified to compete for the title of King of the Western Regions. Unfortunately, you don't know what I want."

Meng Qianqian: "Just tell me, and I'll know."

Shan Cheng: "Meng Qianqian, you are not qualified to know what I want." (End of Chapter)