The third volume of Linglong Dice An Red Bean 142 Long Tian

  On the second day, the rain had just stopped, and in the Peony Palace, there were still some wet marks on the ground among the flowers.

  As Liu Ying was on an outing and didn't have to attend court, she took the opportunity to be lazy and leaned against the couch, watching Zhang Yan do her hair.

  The maid scattered Zhang Yan's long black hair, and with a white jade comb, she combed it out along the hairline, coiling it into a bun on top of her head. Then, taking a dark stone, she drew a pair of slender eyebrows for Zhang Yan, high, delicate, and clear.

  Because Liu Yingxu dislikes heavy makeup, Zhang Yan's makeup has always been very light.

  When it was Liu Ying's turn to apply lip color, she suddenly became interested and said, "Let me apply the lip color."

  She was startled and hastily retreated.

  "Has Your Majesty ever kissed anyone on their lips?"

  "Never mind." He walked over and felt that he was indeed a bit idle, but since it had already been said, he added, "If you really didn't get it right, just wipe it off and try again."

  "It's rare for Your Majesty to have such a refined interest," Zhang Yan said with a smile, "I'm afraid I won't be able to part with it."

  The palace maid presented the rouge box, Liu Ying opened it and immediately smelled a faint elegant floral scent, which was the same as the subtle fragrance Zhang Yan usually wore. She slightly closed her eyes, added some cinnabar powder, mixed well, took up the brush, dipped it in, and approached Zhang Yan. Suddenly, she saw her own reflection in Zhang Yan's slightly raised clear eyes.

  "What's wrong?" Zhang Yan asked after waiting for a long time.

  "It's nothing." He came to himself with a smile, carefully kissing her lips up and down, each one lightly. Looking closely, he shook his head, "This cinnabar color has faded somewhat."

  "What's wrong?" Zhang Yan couldn't help but glance at the bright red cinnabar in the cosmetics box, its color like cherry blossoms.

  "Uh-huh."

  Zhang Yan suddenly had a bad premonition and hastily grabbed the mirror to take a look. Seeing herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but let out a burst of laughter.

  "What's wrong?" Liu Ying asked awkwardly, "Isn't it good?"

  "No way." Zhang Yan shook her head and pretended to be serious.

  The fashionable lip makeup of the time, unlike later generations who applied it to the entire lips, only dotted a small amount on the upper and lower lips. It was about the size and color of a cherry, which is where the term "cherry mouth" came from in later times. This doesn't mean that there were actually women whose mouths were as small as cherries.

  This cherry blossom makeup is good to dot. It's extremely particular about the force of the brush.

  It turns out that Liu Ying didn't lie, and she wasn't familiar with makeup at all. Her strength was a bit too much. If there were any noble women from Chang'an who were well-versed in popular fashion trends, they would definitely laugh at her.

  But she was delighted in her heart. She smiled and said, "I like it very much."

  "That's good." Liu Ying said with relief, putting down her pen, and suddenly said, "A Yan,"

  "Hmm?" She smiled and looked at him.

  "In two more days," said Liu Ying, "we should return to Chang'an."

  She let out a sigh and looked lost. "Is it time to go back now?"

  "It's time to go." Liu Ying smiled. "It can't be that I'll stay in Pei Tu forever, I've lingered for so long, it's time to return."

  She suddenly felt an unbearable sense of reluctance and softly responded with a low "en".

  In the afternoon, Zhang Yan walked in the Pei Palace and suddenly heard someone behind the corridor say, "It's been years since I returned to my hometown, but the Pei County has already changed its appearance."

  Turning around, it was actually Wu King Liu Bi, Dai King Liu Heng, and the Crown Prince of Qi, Liu Zhang. Seeing Zhang Yan, they all bowed and said, "Your subjects pay their respects to Your Majesty."

  Zhang Yan said, "The two princes and the crown prince, please rise."

  "It's rare for us to meet, so I invite the three of you to sit in the pavilion for a while."

  Liu Sanren, as an outer king, was not allowed to enter the court frequently, while Zhang Yan, as the empress, rarely saw external officials. It was not easy for them to meet, but in the Pei Palace, they coincidentally sat together in a pavilion.

  When the Han Dynasty was first established, enfeoffment and prefectures existed side by side. The State of Qi was a rich and prosperous land in the world, with 70 cities, making it the most among all vassal states. After Wu King Liu Bi took over his state, he refined sea salt, cast private coins, and summoned brave and fierce warriors from all over the world. On the other hand, although Prince of Dai Liu Heng was not prominent, Zhang Yan would never forget that this honest prince inherited the Han Dynasty.

  The three princes in front of you are the leaders among all the vassal kings.

  Zhang Yan was observing the three of them at the same time, and these three Liu surname relatives were also unintentionally watching her.

  As the emperor's niece, she entered the Un央 Palace as an empress at the age of thirteen. This young empress seemed not to be weak and ignorant as imagined, but instead, she was deeply favored by the emperor on her way to the palace. Moreover, her behavior and speech in front of people were all dignified and proper.

  The palace maid wiped the small pavilion clean, spread out a mat of woven grass. After entering the pavilion, Zhang Yan sat in the main seat, and the palace maid boiled tea under the pavilion and served it to the four of them.

  Liu Bo took a sip and smiled, "Since the news of Your Majesty's good tea spread from Chang'an, Lu Shi went to Shu to collect tea leaves, reselling them to various countries, earning a huge income, with people following in her footsteps. But I dare say that when it comes to brewing tea skills, Empress Dowager is still the best in the world within the imperial palace."

  "This tea is indeed very fragrant."

  Zhang Yan said, "The King of Wu is mistaken."

  He then turned to ask Liu Heng, who was still holding his cup without drinking, "What, does the King of Dai dislike tea?"

  Liu Heng was taken aback and hastily said, "I don't dare."

  He was somewhat stunned.

  Starting from Ruyu, Zhang Yan was also supposed to be called Uncle. However, he had not been favored by Emperor Gao since childhood, while Zhang Yan was the darling of Empress Lü. After several contacts, he always felt that this young girl seemed to have some intention of targeting him everywhere, but she used to be a small noble lady and had nothing to do with him. But unexpectedly, she later became the master of Weiyang Palace, and he had to call her Imperial Sister-in-law.

  This cannot be taken lightly.

  He thought carefully, and felt that from childhood to adulthood, he should have never offended this little princess, and couldn't help but feel puzzled.

  "The palace is young and has never been to Pei County before. This time I came, I found that the people of Pei County are outstanding and the land is spiritual." Zhang Yan said with a smile.

  Liu's family was from Pei Commandery, but Liu Heng and Liu Zhang were both younger generations and had never been to Pei Commandery. Only Wu King Liu Pi grew up in Pei Commandery when he was young, smiled and replied, "Your Majesty is absolutely right."

  King Qi Liu Fei was ill and had not come forward, so he sent his son Zhang to replace him to return to Pei to pay respects to the emperor. Zhang Yan asked again, "I don't know how King Qi's body is?"

  Liu Zhang's heart was slightly relieved. He didn't dare to show any disrespect on his face, and with a downward glance of his peach blossom eyes, he replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My father heard that Your Majesty had returned to Luoyang and was overjoyed, with tears streaming down his face. He very much wants to return home to serve Your Majesty. However, due to his serious illness, it is difficult for him to travel. Although I am currently abroad, I too worry about my father's health. After Your Majesty returns to Chang'an, I will hurry back to Linzi to attend to my father by his bedside."

  Zhang Yan comforted, "The prince's filial piety is commendable. King Qi will surely be pleased." However, in her heart, she actually felt somewhat uneasy. She recalled the first year of Emperor Hui's reign when she had narrowly escaped Liu Zhang's molestation at the Longevity Palace on Empress Lü's birthday, thanks to Liu Ying's timely arrival. At that time, both Empress Lü and her mother had intentionally tried to matchmake between Liu Zhang and herself. She couldn't help but take another look at Liu Zhang. Although he was handsome, there was always a hint of slyness about him, which she didn't like. No matter how she looked at him, he couldn't compare to her husband.

  King Wu Liu Bi smiled and said, "I will continue to trouble Your Majesty and the Queen for a while. My younger sister is about to get married, so I have invited Your Majesty to return to Chang'an to attend her wedding."

  "Hmm, is it the marriage between Wu Guo Weng and Yanmen Duiwei?" Zhang Yan's eyes sparkled as she said, "I was acquainted with Zhang Xie since I was young. We were like siblings. Now that he has formed a lifelong bond with Wu Guo Weng, it's truly a joyous occasion."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty." Liu Bi bowed his hands. He smiled self-deprecatingly and said, "Although I have the honor of residing in Wu State, my mother and younger sister are attached to Xin Feng and refused to follow me to another country. Now that three years of filial piety have been fulfilled, the wedding date has been set. As I only have this one younger sister born of the same mother, I naturally want to see her off properly on her wedding day."

  At night, in the bedroom, Liu Ying casually asked, "I heard that you met with Wu Wang and others today."

  "Hmm." Zhang Yan nodded, "We met by chance in the palace and had a conversation. Your Majesty, don't you think I acted improperly?"

  "No way," said Liu Ying, shaking her head. "We're all family, and it wasn't easy to see each other in the past. Now that we're in Pei County, let's get closer and it'll be better."

  Zhang Yan pouted, while Liu Ying always thought of the good. She didn't have that much free time, as Emperor Gao had enfeoffed many members of the Liu clan, thinking they could protect the Han dynasty, but in reality, the Marquises and Kings of the Liu clan were actually the greatest threats to the Han. Although everyone was still on good terms for now, they would eventually become enemies, and she wanted to meet these people in person, aside from knowing them through historical records, so that she could know herself and her enemies.

  Three days later, the Emperor's excitement subsided and he returned to Chang'an. The elders of Pei County saw him off all the way to the border of the county.

  Zhang Yan gazed out at the distant land of Pei County, and let out a soft sigh.

  Liu Ying also felt a bit downhearted. Seeing her like this, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "How is it that you're even more reluctant to leave than I am?"

  "Wait." Zhang Yan pulled on Liu Ying's sleeve and called out softly.

  I am not nostalgic for the Pei soil.

  I'm not nostalgic for this land, but for you on this land.

  In your eyes, you always unintentionally smile, and the color of your pupils reveals more warmth than usual.

  In Weiyang Palace, there won't be those consorts from the imperial harem. From start to finish, it's just you and me. We can hold hands like a peasant couple in the mortal world.

  I'm reluctant to part with these ten days in Putuo.

  But I know that no matter what, we will eventually have to go back. It's like the dream I stole, but dreams always wake up and we ultimately have to return to reality.

  On the last day of the journey on the speedway, Zhang Yan lifted the car curtain, and in the distance, the outline of Chang'an City of Wei River was already in sight.

  Zhang Yan turned back and shouted, "Hold on."

  A thick stack of documents was held in Liu Ying's hands, and she replied casually, "What's wrong?"

  She smiled and said, "Come closer."

  He thought she was going to say something to him, so he leaned over slightly.

  She lifted her foot and kissed Liu Ying's lips once.

  Liu Ying was taken aback for a moment and smiled bitterly in her heart.

  Their lips were pressed together, silent for ten seconds, feeling each other's warmth. Zhang Yan turned back, saying sadly, "If only we could stay in Pei County forever, how great would that be?"

  Liu Ying patted her, "Silly child."

  The city gate soldiers knelt down in unison to pay homage to the emperor, and the announcement was made that the gates of the city were open. The Son of Heaven rode his carriage into the city, proceeding along the main street, and finally returned to the palace from the northern gate of the Weiyang Palace.

  "Your Majesty has finally returned." In the Weiyang Palace, two beautifully dressed palace women walked side by side in the Cangchi Pool. The woman on the left, who was stunningly beautiful, gritted her teeth and said, "It's all because of Empress Lü that the named consorts in the harem were sent to Changle Palace to nurse the illness, but she allowed her own granddaughter to accompany Your Majesty on the tour. Not to mention that Zhang Mengxian is not a match for Your Majesty as an aunt and nephew, and at just fourteen years old, this ignorant and unknowing young girl, how can she bring joy to Your Majesty and take care of you along the way?"

  "Queen Wang." Madame Ding was startled and hastily covered her mouth, saying, "In any case, Empress Zhang is the mistress of the harem, with a noble status, and has the support of the Dowager Empress and the Eldest Princess. You speak so recklessly, if someone were to hear you, it wouldn't be good."

  "What's there to be afraid of?" Wang Jing's eyes flashed with disdain, and she said lightly, "You're also one of the eight sons favored by His Majesty. Being so timid is really shameful. We're just talking privately, who would go tell the Empress Dowager and Empress Zhang about it? Even if it gets out, will His Majesty side with the untouchable fourteen-year-old little empress in the Pepper Chamber or his beloved concubine?"

  Roll over.

  I seem to have carded.

  No matter what, please take a moment to move to the book page and click on the pink ticket mark below.

  Comfort me.

  I will try my best to recover from this condition.