Chapter 41: The Dragon Has Reversed Scales

  Ziyan quietly shifted her gaze to Ziruo Ye and Li Yu, she couldn't hear what they were saying now, but just a moment ago, Li Yu's words had been crystal clear. A hint of amusement played on the corner of her mouth, that Li Vice General was indeed someone who didn't know when to stop. Even she herself had never spoken such words to Ruo Ye before.

  Li Yu, however, was not impressed and slightly stood up, with a smile full of disdain and contempt. "The lower official has learned again. I hope the king will show mercy." This time, she let everyone present see Ye Wang's ugly face again.

  Zi Ruoye narrowed her half-drunken eyes, and the slightly lowered eyelids covered the clear and calm light at the bottom of her eyes. This time, she didn't say much, nodded, "Okay."

  As soon as the words fell, Li Yu raised his energy and swung his palm over, with a fierce gust of wind carrying an unstoppable force. Zi Ruo Ye's eyes flashed slightly, and her steps, which seemed to be drunk and disorderly, began to become chaotic. She barely dodged Li Yu's palm wind, but in the next moment, she approached Li Yu, her voice like the darkest creature in hell: "Li Yu, this is what you asked for."

  Li Yuyi was shocked and barely retreated, looking at Ziyue Ye with a stunned expression. What she had just heard was said by the person in front of her? Why did the cold intent in his words make even her heart tremble? After taking a closer look, she determined that it must be one of Ziyue Ye's tricks to cover up, and this time she struck out with three parts of internal force.

  Zi Ruoye changed her pace, easily dodging Li Yu's palm technique. To the onlookers, it seemed like she was frantically fleeing in a panic, with every move revealing an opening, accompanied by panicked pleas for mercy from her mouth. The crowd's laughter grew even louder, drowning out what Zi Ruoye said to Li Yu.

  "You may not know that even a mud man still has three points of muddy nature, but I am the king who doesn't even have any muddy nature. However, you shouldn't have... shouldn't have..." With an air of ease, he dodged Li Yu's increasingly fierce palm techniques, his half-closed eyes full of danger.

  A thousand shouldn't, ten thousand shouldn't, yet again touched her reverse scales... Dragons have reverse scales, touching them will bring utmost anger! The hand hidden in the sleeve rotated lightly and struck Li Yu's abdomen, precisely where he had been poisoned before. "The person I care about most is hurt by you, you're not even worthy of mentioning his name, let alone insulting him."

  Li Yusheng received a slap, and suddenly felt his blood flowing backwards, with a sharp pain in his abdomen. He raised his hand to strike again, wanting to make Zi Ruoye retreat from him. But the next moment, everyone saw Li Yu's palm hit Zi Ruoye's body, and Zi Ruoye flew out several steps. Only then did they see Zi Ruoye rubbing her shoulder with a pained expression, shouting, "Ah! Deputy General Li, isn't this just sparring? Why do you hit so hard again? My bones are almost shattered!"

  Li Yu widened her eyes, staring at her palm, a bitter sweetness surged up her throat, but she forcibly suppressed it. Just now, she had swung a palm, but all of them were shaken back by Zi Ruo Ye. Her face was slightly pale, and she hadn't recovered from Zi Ruo Ye's sudden movement just now.

  Zi Ruoye shouted and jumped back, covering her shoulder. "Let's stop here, General Li is still merciful to spare me." She limped back to her seat, muttering in a low voice, "It hurts so much, my bones almost cracked."

  The minister smiled and said, "King Ye, you'd better come back and sit down quickly. If you really break your bones, it won't be good." Zi Ruoye hastily nodded and sat down beside Yun Cong, and as soon as she sat down, she started shouting loudly.

  "Cloud Cong, I'm going to die from pain. Quickly give me a massage." The scoundrel said, Cloud Cong stretched out her hand and began massaging him with a serious expression.

  Shangguan Meng cautiously approached, leaned in close to Ziyue Ye and whispered, "Sister Ye, was that the move we used last time when we fought the bad guys? I felt so familiar with it."

  Zi Ruoye was taken aback, looking at the little guy beside her blinking his eyes with a curious expression, had he figured it out? Zi Ruoye said straightforwardly, "Yes, what do you think, not bad, right?" Looking into those pure eyes, she couldn't bear to lie to him.

  Shangguan Meng was excited and almost jumped up, he really hadn't seen it before, it was indeed the boxing technique they used to defeat the bad guys last time with his wife!

  Li Yuleng's expression was cold and stern as she walked down from the stage and sat beside General Li, who disapprovingly said, "Why must you always find fault with Prince Wang? Although he is an uneducated and arrogant young master, you should still give the imperial family some face."

  Li Yuzhang opened his mouth, but couldn't explain anything. His stomach still hurt terribly, but if he left the seat without permission, it would be a great crime. He looked at Ziyue Ye with a gloomy expression, but in his heart, he was shocked by that one slap, which had caused her internal injuries... He covered his stomach, but didn't dare to show his pain on his face.

  Liu Qingyu pursed her lips and looked at Zi Ruo Ye, who was gritting her teeth and making a face. Was it really that painful? A woman, how could she be so fragile? She remembered the last time her mother came back and told him about the time Li Yu beat her up, plus all the rumors circulating in the streets, he had heard something about it. Could it be that this time she was hurt again? Seeing her seemingly pained expression, but also seeing Yun Cong gently massaging her shoulders, yet deliberately turning away, this kind of person, would rather die from pain!

  Ziyan looked at Ziruo Ye's exaggerated expression, and couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth. She coughed slightly and said, "The day is getting late, King Ye. After watching those performances just now, do you have any favorites?" If she beat around the bush, the princess would definitely lead her on a wild goose chase, so it's better to ask directly.

  Yun Cong's hand paused slightly, then continued to massage the "injured" shoulder of Zi Ruoye. However, Zi Ruoye looked around at the princes present with a flirtatious gaze, making everyone feel uneasy and their skin crawl. After a moment, she said languidly, "I like them all, each one is an invaluable beauty, how can I possibly choose?"

  Everyone's face changed when they heard Zǐ Ruò Yè say that, those young masters turned pale, but Liǔ Chéng Xiàng raised an eyebrow and continued drinking wine as if nothing was wrong. Liǔ Qīng Yōu glared at her, wishing she could stare holes through her, everyone liked this! This person is really hopeless!

  Shangguan Meng's eyes were brimming with tears, he hadn't even performed yet, and his wife was already being taken away! What to do! What to do!

  Ziyanran looked at Ziyue with a ambiguous gaze, "Royal sister, I didn't expect your appetite to be so big? Did you think that in this state, I would have no way out?" "Or else, royal sister can just marry all of them and bring them back to the palace."

  Zi Ruoye immediately stood up, her smile carrying a cold and menacing tone. "How can this be? Although they are all beauties, I still prefer the ones in the building... those are the ones that have flavor..." Her slightly drawn-out tone expressed regret, making it clear to everyone that these people did not meet Zi Ruoye's standards. The women present all knew what Zi Ruoye meant by "the building"...

  Liu Qingyou couldn't help but think of the promise made on the rooftop, when Zi Ruoye told him that he wasn't her type of man either. For some reason, as he listened, his heart felt increasingly bitter. He looked at Li Yu, whose sword was still on the table, and remembered how she had just gotten off stage to return it to her, but instead went back up to fight with that scoundrel.

  "Haha... I think so too." Zi Yanran's voice was laced with a hint of gritted teeth, she couldn't say that these men were more to her taste than the ones in the building. As soon as Zi Yanran finished speaking, the big stone in everyone's heart finally fell, their son was finally safe.

  Zi Ruoye sat down, swaying her body, and started drinking alone, restoring her usual drunken appearance. Her palace was just that big, and it really couldn't accommodate so many people, so she declined with thanks.

  "This is Upper Official Fei, who stood up and knelt in the great hall, saying word by word: 'I sincerely request that Your Majesty grant a marriage for my young daughter. My young daughter, Upper Official Meng, has taken a liking to Ye Wang, and I hope that Your Majesty will fulfill one of my wishes.'"

  Ziyan suddenly heard the color of her eyes brighten, "Haha! Minister of Justice, what you said is true!" Unexpectedly, unexpectedly, today actually brought out the most surprising thing for her!

  "Minister of Justice, sir, my palace is not that close to yours. Is your son a beauty?" Although I've long known that the glutinous rice ball sitting next to me was Shangguan Meng, but Ziyue Ye would rather die than admit it. They had only met once when he saved her, and they hadn't exchanged more than four sentences, so how could he have fallen for her?

  "Ye Wang doesn't believe it, just ask Meng Er, did she come and sit next to you right away? She didn't even care about her mother, the lower official." Shang Guan Fei turned around with a smile, her eyes hinting that Ye Wang was now in an unavoidable predicament.

  "Your Majesty!" Suddenly, Shangguan Meng stood up, startling Ziyue Ye. Seeing the determined look on Shangguan Meng's face, Ziyue Ye had a bad feeling and tried to stop him, but it was too late.

  "Please, Your Majesty, grant me to Auntie Ye, I already have a wife and children!" The little face said firmly, and the small hand patted the small belly to indicate that this was not an empty statement!

  Pfft!

  Zi Ruoye had just taken a sip of wine when she suddenly spat it out, the cup slipping from her hand and rolling on the ground in a circle. The crisp sound was drowned out by the collective gasp of the crowd.

  What did he just say?!

  What did they hear?!

  Shangguan's soft and gentle voice, however, uttered words that shocked everyone. Looking at his serious expression, could it be that the prince had a sudden beastly outburst one day and pounced on this innocent little lamb?

  Zi Ruoye was even more astonished, staring at Shang Guan Meng. Didn't she know what she had done herself? All she heard was Shang Guan Meng saying again, "Last time the mistress touched Meng'er, so Meng'er's belly has the mistress's little treasure!"

  Father said that if a woman touches a man, the man will have a baby. Last time, the wife indeed touched him, so now she must be pregnant! Moreover, Father also said that women are extremely fond of their babies! So, the wife will definitely marry me!

  Last time? They were just... She was just helping him beat the bad guys, it was just some physical contact, can't he tell the difference between a friendly touch and something else? Zi Ruoye forced a stiff smile, looking at Shang Guanfei, hoping she would give her an excuse to get out of this situation.

  At this moment, she must be the more explaining the blacker, after all, everyone's eyes on her have already determined that she is the one who has done this!

  Shangguan Fei's heart was racing, but her expression remained serious, as if entrusting a mission to her son. "I hope you will treat my son well." Zi Yan heard this and was taken aback, looking at the stiff smile on Zi Ruoye's face, she couldn't help but curve up the corners of her mouth and said seriously, "Since you've already caused someone's death... it would be unreasonable for you not to marry him." Suppressing her laughter, her expression remained solemn, "I'll make the decision for you then, Wang Shiren."

  Wang Shiren heard this and immediately walked forward, pulling out the imperial edict from his bosom. Zi Ruoye looked at the imperial edict, wondering if it had been prepared eight hundred years ago.

  "By the grace of heaven, the Emperor decreed: I see that Ye Wang and Shangguan's daughter are a perfect match, a heavenly union. Therefore, I hereby issue an imperial edict to hasten their beautiful marriage..."

  "Isn't the imperial sister coming to receive the edict quickly?" Ziyu Ruo's strained voice sounded, and Zi Ruoye looked at Shangguan Fei, then at Shangguan Meng with a determined face, before looking at Yun Cong whose eyes had a hint of sadness and dimness, pursed her lips and walked forward to kneel down and receive the edict.

  "Your Majesty's decree has been received!"

  "I'm also tired today, let's end this birthday celebration here, everyone can disperse." Zi Yanran's words were like gold and jade, and as soon as she said to disperse, the crowd began to bid farewell to her one by one. There were congratulatory voices, but also gazes that looked at Shangguan Fei with a ghostly expression. However, Shangguan Fei stood calmly on the side, ignoring all the gazes.

  Liu Qingyou walked towards Li Yu, "Just now, thank you, Deputy General Li, for lending me the Qingyu sword." He thanked him politely, but when returning the sword, Li Yu's hand seemed to unintentionally grasp his, causing Liu Qingyou to startle and quickly withdraw his own hand.

  "It's an honor to lend it to you. The sword dance just now was wonderful." Li Yu's voice, however, was exceptionally gentle, as if truly praising from the heart.

  Liu Qing's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and just now when he was dancing with his sword, she had a mocking smile at the corner of her lips that he saw clearly. When her fingers touched him, he found that he didn't feel happy at all, but instead felt annoyed. "Being able to enter Vice General Li's eyes is an honor for Qingyu." This kind of sour and rotten words could only be said by someone who was the son of Liu Xiang, the Prime Minister.

  Today... that bastard got another beauty... must be thrilled to death! Liu Qingyou bid farewell to Li Yu and followed Liu Chengxiang into the carriage, but didn't see Li Yu's eyes suddenly clouding over.

  Zi Ruoye only asked Shangguan Fei seriously after everyone left, "Minister of Justice, you don't really want to marry your son into this king's palace, do you?"

  "What's wrong with that?" Shangguan Fei still had a smile at the corner of her mouth, and she was as calm as ever. "Meng'er has your flesh and blood after all."

  "This king really didn't touch him." At this moment, there was no one else around, and Zi Ruoye looked at the smile in Shangguan Fei's eyes. Only then did she understand, "Minister of Justice, you know that this king knows martial arts?"

  "Yes." Looking at the not-too-distant Shangguan Meng who was chatting happily with Yun Ning, his expression suddenly softened, "That day, Meng'er went out alone and ran into none other than you, Your Highness? If it weren't for Meng'er, I wouldn't have known that you, Your Highness... were hiding so deeply."

  "It's nothing much, just a few punches and kicks, those three women were just too weak." Zi Ruoye smiled and flattered, but the Minister of Justice looked at her with some discomfort.

  "Whether it's true or not, I only know that Meng'er has made up his mind about you. Besides... didn't you bump into him?" The tone was full of teasing and amusement as Shangguan Fei gazed at Ziyue Ye.

  "You clearly know I didn't really touch him! How can the lifelong happiness of your own son be treated so lightly?" Zi Ruoye explained indignantly, not knowing that Nuomi Tuanzi was unaware, did Shangguan Fei still not know? Why was she still stubbornly accusing her?!

  "No matter what, the imperial edict has been issued. I'll hand over Ruo'er to Prince Wang, and since it's getting late, I'll take my leave with Ruo'er first." Looking at Zi Ruoye's reasonable yet inexplicable expression, Upper Official Fei found it quite refreshing, apparently Ruo'er had indeed found a good wife.

  At this time, Shangguan Meng was talking to Yun Ning about the details of their fight against the bad guys, his face full of excitement. He said that when Zi Ruoye took out a small wine bottle and used it to beat up the three bad eggs, his face was filled with admiration for Zi Ruoye. Yun Ning looked at the young prince in front of her, who had just been granted a new title by the king, but she couldn't get angry at all.

  "Meng'er, let's stop here for today and head back with your mother. We can come again tomorrow." Shangguan Fei walked up to Shangguan Meng and said with a smile.

  Shangguan Meng, however, was somewhat reluctant to part with her. She picked up her clothes and ran a few steps to Ziyue's side, grasped her hand, and said with a serious expression, "Wife, I'll be leaving now. The baby will come with me too. I'll see you again tomorrow." With a sweet smile on her face, she tiptoed and kissed Ziyue on the cheek. Taking advantage of Ziyue's momentary stunned state, Meng picked up her clothes and skipped out of the palace with Shangguan Fei.

  This time I don't know if Master Wang bumped into him, but he also bumped into Master Wang's... Hehe...

  Yun Cong walked over gently, lowered his head and touched the forehead of Zi Ruoye, "Wang Ye, are you silly? I've never seen you with this expression before." Although there was a slight sourness in his heart, he couldn't help but laugh at her appearance.

  Who would have thought that Zi Ruoye was looking at Yun Cong with a pleading gaze, she had just been kissed so brazenly by someone, usually it was her teasing others, but today the tables were turned. "Yun Cong, what should I do?"

  Liu Qingyu's matter has not been resolved, and Zi Yanran is already preparing to give her the tenth prince of Qinglan Country. Now another child's father has appeared... What should she do! Are all these years of pretending just fake? If it's true, why would anyone still be willing to marry her?

  Yun Cong looked at the distressed expression of Zi Ruo Ye, but in his heart, he slightly admired the courage of Shang Guan Meng. If he was also brave, would it be different?

  "Today, the king is also tired, go rest early." Yun Cong smiled slightly and took the hand of the person who was still worried, leading her to the room. Perhaps it's better to let this person worry properly, otherwise, they will definitely push them out again.

  Zi Ruoye followed Yun Ning step by step, her head lowered, but her eyebrows were slightly furrowed. The dark blue mark on her chest was throbbing with a dull ache, and her eyes flickered faintly as she raised her head to smile at Yun Ning, saying, "I'll go to the study room in a while, you go sleep first, you're also tired today."

  Yun Cong nodded despite being perplexed by Zi Ruo Ye's sudden change, "Yun Cong will accompany the prince to the study and then return."

  "Good." Suppressing the feeling of discomfort, Zǐ Ruò Yè accompanied Yún Níng as they walked slowly, sensing that the butler was still following behind them, and slightly curled up the corners of her mouth. Looking at the red jade hairpin on Yún Níng's head, she felt a slight sense of relief in her heart.

  Yun Ningguo sent Zi Ruoye to the study and then went to her own room. Zi Ruoye made a gesture behind the butler's back, and then walked into the study as if nothing was wrong.

  After entering the study, as usual, he immediately poured wine and picked up his brush to continue painting peach blossoms. The housekeeper stood respectfully by his side until the third watch of the night.

  "Your Highness, don't you feel like your chest is aching unbearably at this moment, as if a thousand ants are gnawing at your heart?" The steward had lost his usual calm demeanor and was instead gazing gloomily at Ziyue Ye.

  "Hey, steward, why are you in such a hurry? I haven't even spat out blood yet! Can't you wait a bit?" Zi Ruoye raised her head, and though her eyes were full of smiles, they held a faintly calm expression as she looked at the steward who claimed to have raised her since childhood.

  Digression

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