Half in the river wind, half in the clouds

Chapter 122: Drink and Relax

Yuan Ying's enthusiasm is different from that of a singing bird.

Mingque's stubbornness stems from her loyalty to Yuan Ying. She is like receiving instructions and has no independent thinking of her own. She is like a puppet. If Yuan Ying says east, she will never say west. She will do whatever Yuan Ying says!

Yuan Ying's enthusiasm is only loyal to her own heart.

That enthusiasm stemmed from her deity-like worship of Wu Zetian. The insights she had honed by being by the emperor's side, her superior knowledge, her ups and downs in life and even her sufferings, all caused a chemical reaction between her ambition and her individual self, forging her spirit and body into one.

Just as she said, "Every word of the Empress's will is the meaning of my life."

Ever since she met Yuan Ying, she has been calm and composed, never as aggressive as a songbird, nor as sharp.

That's because she doesn't need some aggressive appearance to hide and protect herself.

Her determination was so strong that Jiang Feng felt that it was an insurmountable and unbreakable wall.

Jiang Feng sighed and said, "If Prince Ning Li Chengqi can never become the crown prince, let alone the emperor, what will you do?"

Yuan Ying showed sarcasm on her face and raised her hand to pour another glass of wine for Jiang Feng.

The burns on the back of my hand are shocking.

As if she had noticed Jiang Feng's gaze, her fingers trembled slightly and she concealed them with her sleeves.

Then he filled his own cup and made a gesture of invitation to Jiang Feng, still with a disdainful tone: "That timid little girl from Liangzhou City can now talk about national affairs. It's true that when you've been away for three days, you'll look at her with new eyes."

Jiang Feng never hid what he was like before.

Even though she is now being ridiculed, she doesn't think it's inappropriate.

She picked up the wine and drank it all in one gulp.

Yuan Ying poured the second glass of wine onto the ground again and said, "Cheers to Jiang Feng."

Yes, in Yuan Ying’s view, this river wind is not that river wind.

Maybe it was because of the wine, Jiang Feng was still moved. She seemed to have forgotten Yuan Ying's request for her to call her by her name, and she spoke, still addressing her as sister, and said: "Sister, if you already knew the result, what would you do?"

Yuan Ying's tone was light, but it did not affect the weight of her words. She said, "I will not sleep unless my body and soul are destroyed."

Jiang Feng had already prepared for Yuan Ying to follow him to the end. If she could have turned back, she wouldn't have had to wait until now.

But after hearing her say it so decisively, she still felt a little hesitant.

After thinking for a long time, he said, "Sister, you are determined. I have always known that."

Yuan Ying said nothing.

Jiang Feng said: "If my guess is correct, Prince Ning Li Chengqi now has the support of Princess Taiping, and even His Majesty's favor is growing day by day. The original intention of making him the crown prince is no longer there."

Yuan Ying said: "You are the adopted daughter of Princess Taiping, you know her mind better than me. As for His Majesty, he has always valued Prince Ning. If you hadn't harbored selfish motives and intercepted the Empress's will, what would have happened to Li Longji! Why would Prince Ning have to give up the position of Crown Prince three times!"

The sound finally rose and fell.

It's still her fault.

How can I not blame you!

Jiang Feng ignored her blame. Even if she explained that the imperial edict was hidden by Chu Yan, Yuan Ying would just think she was quibbling and would not believe her.

Jiang Feng had no choice but to continue asking: "What if Prince Ning himself gives up fighting for the throne?"

Yuan Ying raised her eyebrows and asked, "What are you going to do?"

Jiang Feng said: "Your Majesty, the five sons have always been brothers and sisters. As long as there is an opportunity, how can we not find the friendship of brothers and sisters in the past."

Yuan Ying said: "You are much more naive than when you were in Liangzhou."

Jiang Feng said: "During the Zhongyuan Festival this year, when the five princes were still princes, they made a huge lantern tree and named it Huaye Xianghui Lantern. When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he will also build a magnificent Huaye Tower in the current Five Princes' Residence to show the friendship between brothers who help each other and support each other."

Yuan Ying listened quietly.

Jiang Feng added: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will also make a huge quilt. When the Crown Prince and the five kings are drunk, they will sleep on the same bed and cover themselves with the same quilt."

Yuan Ying seemed impatient again.

Jiang Feng still said: "After the crown prince ascended the throne, Prince Xue Li Longye fell ill, and he made medicine for Prince Xue and burned his beard."

Yuan Ying looked at Jiang Feng strangely.

Jiang Feng said: "Ning Wang Li Chengqi changed his name to Li Xian after the crown prince ascended the throne. After his death, he was named 'Rang Emperor' by his younger brother. For thousands of years, the only one who has the title of emperor without ascending the throne is Ning Wang!"

Yuan Ying asked as if she was treating a patient, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Jiang Feng mustered up his courage and said seriously: "Sister, this is not nonsense. This is something that will really happen in the future."

Yuan Ying looked annoyed and said, "You actually made up such a lie to make me give up! Do you think I'm still so easy to fool?"

Jiang Feng knew that she didn't believe him, so he said, "Sister, there are many ways to make you give up. Forget about the violent means. With the power of the Crown Prince and the Prince today, it's not difficult to lock you and Ming Que away from the court, where you will have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of your life, but never get out."

Yuan Ying laughed at herself: "So? Why not do that? Am I not even worth your effort to deal with now?"

Jiang Feng knew that she had misunderstood his meaning, so he shook his head and said, "No. Because I know that the longer I imprison you, the longer you will suffer. My sister has suffered enough."

Yuan Ying snorted coldly and said, "So, just because of your nonsense just now, I will believe that Prince Ning gave up the throne, ignored the Queen's high hopes, and was willing to be an idle prince?"

"I'd like to make a bet with my sister!" Jiang Feng suddenly said.

Yuan Ying asked: "What's the bet?"

Jiang Feng said: "Next year, Your Majesty wanted to pass the throne to Crown Prince Li Longji, but was dissuaded and ordered the Crown Prince to govern the country instead."

Yuan Ying was shocked.

Jiang Feng said: "If what I said is true, my sister will stay away from the disputes in the court forever!"

Yuan Ying said, "What if it's not allowed?"

Jiang Feng said firmly: "I will bear the thorns and plead guilty. I will personally beat the drum to open the Xuankui and pass on the Emperor Wu's will to the heaven and all officials."

Yuan Ying was stunned, and actually believed what Jiang Feng said to some extent.

After a moment, I felt that I was naive and was still being played around by a little girl.

He poured a third cup of wine and said, "No matter what your purpose is, I want to see whether Your Majesty really abdicated the throne to Li Longji!"

The bet takes effect!

Jiang Feng drank it all again.

Yuan Ying sprinkled the wine on the ground again and said, "Cheers to us."

Yes, we are no longer the same as before.

After three cups of wine, I feel relaxed and at ease. Green hills are in the twilight, and the autumn sky stretches across thousands of miles. It is hard to talk about the past.