My wife has a secret

Chapter 186 Going to court
"I heard that the Liao people are uncivilized barbarians who eat raw meat and drink blood. It would be worse than death if they fell into the hands of this group of people."

Hearing that this female hero was against the Liao people from the bottom of her heart, Xu Qing was overjoyed and made up an excuse to stay.

But this casually made up reason was too bizarre, and no one would believe it.

The ferocious image of foreigners was usually used by the people of Qi to deceive timid children. The real Khitans or Jurchens all looked the same as the Han people.

Yang Xianning felt that the official in front of her had lived in Kyoto all year round and was not aware of the dangers the two of them faced living in the open air, so he acted so relaxed and casual.

After he has experienced the pain of being stared at by ferocious beasts and not being able to eat normal meals, he will naturally begin to want to retreat.

So Yang Xianning did not stop him too much, but just reminded Xu Qing about the things to do during the overnight stay.

"It's getting late. I'll sleep in the first half of the night and you'll sleep in the second half."

"Do we need to keep watch in this desolate mountain?"

Yang Xianning's eyes were calm, and she patiently explained, "It is precisely because of the wilderness that we need to take turns to guard the night... There are not only mosquitoes, tigers and leopards in the mountains, but also roaming bandits and deserters. The former are generally afraid of open flames, but the latter are just the opposite. They will search for travelers sleeping in the mountains."

After hearing these words, Xu Qing's face changed slightly and he suddenly realized.

He had previously thought that since the place was filled with firewood, ordinary wild animals would not dare to approach it rashly.

But he ignored the public security of this era. The ancient times were not as stable as in the previous life. The more sparsely populated the mountains and forests were, the more likely it was that thieves and bandits would occupy the area.

He and a young woman who was still seriously injured were almost like fat meat that was delivered to his mouth.

"As you say."

Hearing that Xu Qing approved of her proposal, Yang Xianning simply regulated her breath, then fell into a deep sleep with her head resting on the rolled square towel.

Although the man next to him had a bad criminal record, the two of them had lived and died together and had experienced many things.

If you want to survive now, you can't focus on suspicion and vigilance. You can only adjust your body's condition as soon as possible so that you can have more chances of survival in this unknown place.

Xu Qing also didn't expect that this female hero had such a broad mind and trusted him completely.

The firewood crackled, and the firelight and moonlight blended together, making the other person's delicate face look perfect and bright.

Also, because of the long journey they had traveled before, the nightgown that the heroine was wearing had already been damaged beyond recognition.

From the side, you can see a bellyband under the tulle lining, with a pair of delicate pigeons hidden on it. If you lean forward slightly, you can glimpse the faint pigeon tips along the edge of the bellyband.

Even though Xu Qing had not seen it with his own eyes, he could still imagine this beautiful scene through the smooth and translucent skin of the heroine.

But he just looked down at the other person's beautiful sleeping face for a while, then slightly shifted his gaze away.

One has to admit that this female hero's appearance and figure are impeccable. And unlike Qin Shuying, who is gorgeous and charming, her beauty is reflected in other aspects.

But at this moment, he had no desire in his heart, he just mechanically broke branches and rekindled the bonfire.

……

In the magnificent and brightly lit imperial palace, civil and military officials were crowded everywhere, holding their tablets and whispering to each other, discussing things.

Most people were at a loss as to what to do with this sudden summons, such as the newly appointed Minister of Works Gao Huai.

The continuous working hours for the coronation ceremony have prevented this nearly fifty-year-old man from getting a good night's sleep. His cheeks have become more and more sunken, and the neat short beard under his chin now looks a little messy, as if it has not been groomed for a long time.

Even though he was 15 feet away, I could sense the deep fatigue and sleepiness in his seemingly bright and solemn eyes.

The chubby Liao Yue, dressed in the uniform of a first-rank official, stepped over the threshold and walked in.

When he saw the appearance of this old friend in the officialdom, he came up to him with a smile and greeted him.

"Please take care of yourself. You are the pillar of Da Qi."

Gao Huai tightly grasped the tablet, frowned and waved his hands, saying: "The Saint's coronation ceremony is so important, don't make fun of me... But you, how come you look fine?"

Liao Yue restrained his smile, raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Aren't you the saint's confidant? Why are you asking me?"

Gao Huai became furious when he saw the fat man.

Liao Yue had been a member of the Queen Mother's faction as early as when Emperor Xuan ascended the throne and Prince Kang intervened in state affairs.

But because this guy was cautious in his work and never offended others easily in official circles, Liao Yue was still able to hold the position of Minister of Justice when the royalist party was at its most powerful.

Now that Emperor Xuan has passed away and the Queen Mother is preparing to ascend the throne, how could Liao Yue not know the inside story?
"Look at this scene. Officials from the six ministries, the deputy commander of the imperial guards, the military commander of the five cities... almost all of them have been called here by the Saint. In the past, if you didn't hold an official rank of 5th rank or above, how could you have the opportunity to enter the palace and meet the Saint?"

Officials at Gao Huai’s level have basically become very shrewd people.

Even if there is no intelligence agency like Chengxuanfang to send letters, they can still get some information by observing the words and expressions.

For example, the court meetings of the Great Qi Dynasty had strict rules. Only meetings on important holidays might summon all officials. Officials and generals of lower ranks were not qualified to set foot in the palace on weekdays.

And because of the large number of people attending the conference, it would basically be held on the jade-white stone steps in front of the imperial palace.

This is the first time I have heard of summoning everyone to the main hall like today.

"really do not know."

Liao Yue spread his hands and shrugged.

Although he was regarded as a member of the Queen Mother's faction in the court, he was the only one who knew how difficult it was to guess the mind of a saint.
At the beginning, Shen Shuangxu was in charge of Chengxuanfang and was taught everything by Shen Nianyan. He was dismissed and liquidated. I have only been the Minister of Justice for a few years. How dare I belittle myself and say that he is his confidant?

Gao Huai saw that Liao Yue's expression didn't seem to be fake, so he sighed and shook his head.

The officials who had pricked up their ears, ready to hear some secrets from the two ministers, were discouraged when they saw that the conversation ended in vain.

However, only a moment later, there was a louder noise at the entrance of the palace.

"Strange, when Brother Liao came over just now, there wasn't such a big noise at the door, right?"

"Who am I? Isn't Princess Danyang's reputation much greater than yours?"

Liao Yue smiled and joked, then shifted his gaze to the door.

They thought it was Princess Danyang visiting the palace, but they didn't expect that after the two of them cast their eyes on a figure, they were all stunned and almost thought they were seeing things.

The visitor had intelligent and easy-going features, and was about forty years old, younger than Gao Huai and Liao Yue.

But his steps were calm and unhurried, holding an ivory tablet in his hand, and he ignored the gazes around him.

(End of this chapter)