Chapter 83: The Moon Rises on the Eastern Mountain (1)

Zi Rao returned to the villa, the bright moon was in the sky, the wind fell into the bamboo forest, the sky and the earth were all faint moonlight and faint light. Where he was, it was always so quiet and peaceful.

Walking on the veranda, turning and folding, only a few steps, ahead was the four-entry hermitage hidden by bamboo shadows. Not far away, the mist was steaming, light clouds were coming out of the cave, and the secluded fragrance of bamboo branches was brought out. When she first learned that Qi Shi was hiding in the Chu Kingdom, she sent someone to find this villa, carefully organized it, and arranged every mountain, stone, grass, and tree according to his wishes, thinking that he would definitely like it, or he could feel at ease and live for a few more days.

He finally came, saw through her little trick, but rushed thousands of miles without sleep. In the drizzle, under the green bamboo and green eaves, seeing his smile, hearing his voice, at that moment, her heart was infinitely happy, only feeling that whatever he said was good. If he could really be trapped here for a long time, it would also be good.

What he wanted to do was always good...

A smile bloomed gently on Zi Rao's lips, and she sighed, stopping at the veranda. She did not walk forward again, just stood here, quietly looking up, watching the moonlit night ethereal like smoke.

There was a faint crisp laughter from the room, and occasionally his low words could be heard. Just separated by a few inches, she could feel his breath, as quiet as plum blossoms falling in the snow, as warm and cold as green bamboo in the wind, that familiar and reassuring breath, that... warm breath, but she didn't know why, she didn't dare to lift the curtain and see that person.

The words she said in anger that day were ultimately too much. At that time, he looked over, both majestic and angry, and was also angry with her, right?

The Eastern Emperor after the palace coup and seizure of power, established prestige inside and outside, and governed the world. Overnight, he reorganized the thirty-six departments and cleared the Di Du. For seven years, he did not ask about government affairs, but it only took ten days. Once the order of the Changming Palace was issued, the court and the public were silent, and no one dared to violate the heavenly power until now.

The old affairs of the Chonghua Palace, the Empress Dowager Feng Wan, issued a ban and did not mention it, just because it was a taboo in his heart. The hidden disaster of twenty years of severe poison was also a secret that should not be mentioned.

Those who speak recklessly are killed, and those who leak secrets are not pardoned.

If there was still anyone in the world who dared to go against his dragon scales, I am afraid there was only one person left.

Nine Heavens and Yellow Springs, only this one person.

Li Si carried the medicine cup around the corner and saw the Nine Princess standing in front of the veranda under the moon. Her whole body was covered in faint brilliance, setting off the green silk like water, her brows and eyes like dreams, deep and shallow, thick and light, like drifting moonlight, like condensed evening frost, only making people feel tender and lingering, with ten thousand entanglements.

She stopped her steps and held her breath. Zi Rao turned her eyes gently at this moment and turned to look.

"Princess..."

Under the green bamboo light, Zi Rao looked at her quietly for a while, and asked lightly, "Who is inside?"

Li Si replied, "It is Princess Han Xi, who came over in the evening to ask the Master for advice on formations, and has been delayed until now."

Zi Rao's gaze raised slightly, and just as she was about to speak, several crisp sounds of jade pendants came from her side, and a small white shadow jumped onto her shoulder, then jumped into her arms, rubbing and rubbing her head, but it was Xue Zhan who hadn't seen Zi Rao for several days, rushing up to seek her favor.

Zi Rao stroked Xue Zhan, glanced into the room, and reached out her sleeves. Li Si only thought she would go in and serve the medicine herself as usual, but saw her crystal-clear fingertips gently touch the jade cup, the moonlight and clear light, accompanied by the wide sleeves falling silently. She said lightly, "Go." She walked forward, her slender clothes flowing with the wind, slowly drifting into the night, and soon disappeared into the depths of the bamboo shadows.

Xue Zhan suddenly jumped out from her side, and Han Xi was startled and looked back strangely. Opposite, Zi Hao leaned on the soft couch, his cloud clothes like snow, his clear face like snow in the lamp, and the moment the little beast broke away from Han Xi's arm, he raised his eyes gently, his gaze falling outside the shadow of the overlapping light curtains.

The light footsteps entered, his warm and faint smile in the depths of his eyes faded into the depths of the lamp fire. At the moment a touch of green entered his eyes, he raised his hand to press on his chest, and coughed out a few light coughs. After a moment of blinking, Zi Hao took the medicine knelt and offered by Li Si, but did not drink it all at once as usual, just sipped it slowly in his hand. The jade cup was exquisite, and the bitter bitterness of the medicine juice was vaguely mixed with a trace of clear and enchanting tenderness, like the return of the midnight light tide, quietly rolling up the deepest waves at the bottom of the abyss.

In the following days, Zi Rao never stepped into this quiet hermitage, and was even often not in the villa. She never explained where she was going when she went out, and always brought a bit of wine when she returned, her laughter lazy and charming, her style enchanting and dusty, only making the subordinates in the villa dare not look at her. Shang Rong and others were accustomed to the wanton style of the Nine Princess, and saw more of the reactions of others who were either respectful or fearful, or envious or afraid, so they didn't care, except for Li Si.

Li Si had served Zi Rao since the Langxuan Palace, so she was naturally more intimate. Now that her medical skills were refined, she recently found that she often brought some minor injuries, which seemed to be caused by fighting with others. With the Princess's martial arts cultivation, who did she meet, what kind of fight did she have, to be injured frequently? Although they were all insignificant minor injuries, it made people worry inevitably.

Facing Li Si's questions, Zi Rao just smiled as if nothing had happened, the smile faintly revealing a sense of pleasure, and then continued to go her own way as usual. One day, Li Si became anxious and said from behind, "If the Princess doesn't tell me, I... I can ask the Master to ask."

Zi Rao stopped her steps, glanced at her. This girl had become more and more like him since she followed Zi Hao. Whatever she decided, she insisted on it, and would not stop until she reached her goal. Zi Rao raised her eyes and smiled, turning to continue walking, "Why don't you try?"

Li Si paused her steps meeting that gaze, followed into the medicine room, and asked softly again, "Princess..."

The bright moon slanted, the room was filled with medicine fragrance, Zi Rao asked casually, "Has anyone been here today?"

Li Si raised her eyes along the bright moonlight and did not answer.

The tourmaline beads flowed with secluded and clean water marks on her jade-like slender wrists. Her clear and beautiful fingertips scratched the moonlight. Zi Rao tasted a wisp of medicine juice into her lips and continued to ask, "Is it Qie Lan? Is there any movement on Huang Fei's side?"

Li Si pursed her lips and still did not speak.

Zi Rao sensed something unusual, turned her head, and saw Li Si wanting to look at her but not daring to, only staring at a tiny scratch on her wrist. In her usually gentle eyes, there was a bit of uneasy persistence. Her phoenix eyes could not help but narrow slowly, revealing a few points of clear and beautiful light, "Li Si?"

Being looked at like this, Li Si pursed her lips tighter. After a while, she lowered her eyes and did not dare to look up. After another while, she finally could not hold on, "If the Princess doesn't say it, how can I explain it to the Master..."

Zi Rao's eyes rippled, and instantly clear brilliance floated. Li Si's brows were filled with sorrow. The Master did not ask, but having been by his side for so many years, how could she not know the Master's thoughts? Every day, she would intentionally or unintentionally say something about the Princess, and the Master would always listen quietly, occasionally with a faint smile flowing from the bottom of his eyes, some joy, and some indulgence. The Master was willing to hear these, just like the Princess herself, handling various matters every night when she rushed back to the villa, asking what medicine was used every day, and having to go to the hermitage to see it after entering the night, and even sitting on the bamboo veranda for a while, until the smell of peace incense gently filled the moonlight, before she stood up quietly and walked away.

That night was always very peaceful, even the moonlight was gentle, quietly shining on the couch, the cold and clear brows in the deep sleep seemed to have soft traces, like light snow floating with dark fragrance, plum blossoms falling like dreams.

The moon was faint and the stars were hidden, and the light and shadow passed quietly. A few days passed, he never stepped out of the room, and she never took a step in. The two seemed to be stuck, but it was also incomparably perfect, as if they formed a quiet world by themselves in the heaven and earth, with nothing that should intervene, and nothing that could disturb.

Just like this, the villa soon got used to reporting matters every night. Su Ling and Shang Rong did not mention the previous events, and all matters inside and outside, except for reporting to the Imperial front, were discussed with the Nine Princess, following her decisions; Shi Niang and Nie Qi did not dare to be presumptuous in front of the Master, and tried to instigate the Princess several times, but only saw that faint smile, and every time they were helpless; Mo Heng had just returned for two days and was still somewhat confused, Li Si looked at the melancholy of her heart, but yesterday, by mistake, she let slip the fact that the Princess was injured.

Just that one sentence, the Master raised his eyes slightly from the book, looked at her, and then lowered his eyes casually. Li Si was uneasy because of that gaze, so she waited for the Princess to return this day, thinking she must ask what was going on.

But when she saw the Princess, just after meeting those phoenix eyes, that certain determination vanished and could not be lifted at all. Thinking about it, she was at a loss, when she suddenly heard the Princess in front of her smile lightly.

Her eyes were like flowing waves and her brows were like water, and that bit of enchanting drunkenness rippled with the clear and soft light. Zi Rao smiled very clearly, facing the moonlight and saying slowly, "Don't worry, I was drinking and chatting with someone, and discussing martial arts, it's nothing big."

Li Si raised her head, full of suspicion. Discussing martial arts? And what about the hour she spent adjusting her breath in the room when she returned two days ago? Zi Rao seemed to see through the doubts in her heart, but smiled and did not answer, and turned away.

Walking forward with light sleeves, the green shadows of the gauze lanterns flowed and shone. Seeing that this nine-turn veranda had reached the end, the lake light was shining in front of her, and the floating bridge was rippling, which was the place where they discussed matters in the past. Li Si followed behind and asked persistently, and she turned back and smiled, "Alright, alright, it's boring to fight with only one person, but I just found a sect that is still passable to practice, which is not worth making a fuss about?"

Li Si was stunned, but after a moment, her beautiful eyes widened, "The Robbery Gate was picked by someone several branches a few days ago, isn't it... isn't it the Princess you..."

Zi Rao raised her hand to touch her forehead, it was really incredible, the more the temperament was like, the faster the mind turned, and in a few years, she would be better than Su Ling. Looking at Li Si's surprised and inexplicable expression, the soft lips could not help but pick out a smile. Although the Robbery Gate lost its gate master and the group of dragons had no leader, the eight protectors under Yuan Lu were still characters, but it took a little effort.

The elites in the gang were dead and wounded, the Robbery Gate suffered repeated setbacks, and existed in name only. The Yue Ma Gang had no worries, concentrated on dealing with the Fuchuan disaster, distributed grain and medicine, and relocated the displaced people, which naturally achieved twice the result with half the effort. Zi Rao narrowed her star eyes, drank and whistled, rode fast, fought repeatedly, and retreated all over, which was truly a painful and dripping two days. Speaking of that person's sword technique, it was really getting more and more refined. Today, she was almost not his opponent, and she must make an appointment with him to try again tomorrow.

Walking while smiling lightly, crossing the bridge, the water pavilion was illuminated by lights, and she saw Su Ling, Shang Rong, and others waiting there long ago.

The night was deep, and the wind filled the clear lake.

Orders were issued in an orderly manner from the brightly lit villa, and by the next day, more news would continue to be sent in, continue to change, cycle, and overturn the wind and clouds of the world, and the country was amazing.

After a few days of quiet recuperation, the medicine was well-adjusted, and Zi Hao's body saw improvement, and several hand orders were issued continuously. When the second batch of merchant ships of the Yue Ma Gang arrived in Fuchuan, Jin Wu Yu led the elite soldiers in the Xi Ma Valley to secretly go north, and fifty thousand elite cavalry arrived at the border of Xuan and Chu without anyone knowing. At the same time, Su Ling visited Wanqi Boyan, informed him to return to Mobei quickly, and prepared for war. Mo Heng, who had just returned for not long, also left the Chu capital again under a secret order.

On this day, Su Ling returned from a banquet in the Chu Palace, and as usual, entered the villa to pay his respects. The monarch and minister played chess and talked by candlelight, not knowing that the moon was in the middle of the sky and the night was more than half over.

"Master," Su Ling dropped a piece, his words gentle, "The first batch of merchant ships of the Yue Ma Gang has left Fuchuan, and the people who are willing to leave have been sent to the Royal Domain for resettlement. But according to reports, many people are willing to follow the Yue Ma Gang south. Yin Xiqing spent a lot of money to establish a branch in the seven cities, and now there are nearly a thousand people in the gang."

Zi Hao raised his eyes slightly and smiled, "Taking the opportunity to expand power and win people's hearts, these dozens of ships of goods are also a huge profit."

Su Ling said, "To tell the truth, Master, when I went to see Yin Xiqing, her attitude was really surprising. Now, if it weren't for Ji Cang and Huang Fei deploying troops on the border, it would be on the verge of breaking out, she might be able to find a way to control the seven cities, and even expand her power to the Xuan Kingdom, but now she can only act cautiously, so as not to be involved in this great war."

Zi Hao's gaze swept to a corner of the chessboard, "Under the general trend, variables are inconstant. How to make good use of this war is Yin Xiqing's bet this time."

"Looking far and taking risks, this woman is extraordinary!" Su Ling praised, raised his head and said, "The seven cities are empty, the elite soldiers are in sight, the Yue Ma Gang's grain and grass are prepared, and everything is going according to plan. Now we are just waiting for Huang Fei to make a move."

Zi Hao smiled and pondered, and hit a piece casually, "The general trend has been formed, let's wait and see."

The life of the young master of the Yue Ma Gang was exchanged for the joint cooperation of this powerful force, becoming a powerful bargaining chip for the Di Du. One by one, the chess pieces fell on the chessboard according to the established fate, a piece of wind and clouds rising. Su Ling pondered for a moment, shook his head and sighed, "Master's move is to control movement with stillness, which is truly wonderful. If I respond to the robbery, even if I win the robbery, I have to exchange at least four moves, which is not worth the loss; if I don't respond, this corner of white pieces will be robbed and the game will be lost within two steps, and the future situation will be worrying."

Su Ling's chess style was calm and steady, with evidence for advance and retreat. Even with Zi Hao's ability, if he didn't deal with it with all his strength, it would be difficult to lose immediately. The jade piece was held in his fingers, and he smiled lightly, "Decisive, without losing the future."

"Choose the lighter of the two evils." Su Ling tapped the pattern with his slender fingers, and after a while, knocked the piece into the game, but chose to stick to make a double life.

Zi Hao held the piece and asked with a smile, "The situation is in a predicament, still not robbing?"

Even in a disadvantageous position, Su Ling was still calm and composed, and the layout was not messy at all, "If things are slow, they will be round. At this moment, provoking a robbery is to fight and die quickly. But if you endure for a while, try to delay it into a ten-thousand-year robbery, plan carefully, and then figure out the victory or defeat at the end of the game, perhaps there is still a turning point."

Zi Hao nodded and smiled, just about to speak, when his gaze suddenly flickered slightly, sweeping toward the window. Su Ling also looked up, only to see the host lowering his eyes, leisurely lifting a chess piece, while simultaneously flicking his sleeve toward the side in a nonchalant manner.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 84 =====