Chapter 444: Your Majesty is More Beautiful Than Peach Blossoms

The Empress is coming?

In front of the martial arts hall, the two sides who were on the verge of a tense situation were stunned at the same time. Without Zhao Duan's instructions, a group of priests led by Tang Jinzhong had already swiftly put their drawn swords back into the scabbards, and bowed their heads and stepped forward to receive the emperor.

As the strength was circulating to every part of his body, Chai Keqiao, who was about to break into the door, froze in his tracks. He forced himself to calm his blood and put away his axe.

——He didn’t have the courage to take action in front of the “pseudo-celestial being” realm.

"Your Highness, I (the common people) respectfully welcome you!"

Then, under the gaze of Zhao Duan and others, the emperor's carriage, which was traveling along the long street, slowly stopped.

On the luxurious imperial carriage accompanied by a group of female officials holding lanterns, the bright yellow silk curtain was lifted, revealing Xu Zhenguan's majestic and graceful face.

The empress stepped down from the carriage, glanced at both parties in the night lights, and said calmly, "No need to be polite."

After everyone raised their heads, she frowned and asked:

"What happened?"

Chai Keqiao hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to explain. What if he complained? But Xiao Ran did break into the harem... This was also the reason why he did not go to find Eunuch Hai or report to Mo Chou after he got the news.

"Your Majesty, it's just a slight misunderstanding." Zhao Duan said with a smile.

Then, in the face of Chai Keqiao's surprised gaze, he explained:
"I am quite curious about Qingshan martial arts, so I had a private discussion with Miss Xiao from Qingshan before, and gained a lot. Later, I simply invited her to the martial arts hall to exchange martial arts experience. I don't know how Brother Chai misunderstood and came to ask for someone, which led to this misunderstanding. Do you think it is true or not?"

After he finished speaking, he looked at the other offerings with a questioning look.

"..." All the eunuchs said in unison: "What the young master said is absolutely right."

Chai Keqiao choked and didn't know how to continue.

Xu Zhenguan glanced at him calmly, as if he didn't hear the absurdity in his words, and said:

"It's late at night. Xiao Ran is a woman after all. It's inconvenient for her to stay outside."

Zhao Duan flattered:

"Your Majesty is right. We originally wanted to keep Miss Xiao for dinner and then send her back. Come on, why don't you go and ask Miss Xiao to come out?"

Immediately, the shocked worshipper returned to the courtyard. After a while, Xiao Ran was untied and his bamboo hat, dagger, soft sword and other weapons were returned to him, and he was sent out.

At first she was surprised at Chai Keqiao's skill, but when she saw the empress outside the courtyard, she was stunned.

"It's getting late. If it's just a misunderstanding, let's just let it go." Xu Zhenguan's words were golden.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chai Keqiao pulled the confused Xiao Ran to salute, then left quickly.

The brother and sister walked briskly and soon left the crowd.

Then they told each other the situation.

"...So, that guy wanted to imprison me for one night? He released me because the empress came to visit?" Xiao Ran couldn't hide his surprise.

Chai Keqiao looked relieved: "I guess Zhao doesn't want to leave a bad impression on the empress, especially... he is the empress's favorite."

The implication is: The thief Zhao must take the impact into consideration and firmly draw a line between himself and Xiao Ran to avoid misunderstanding by the empress.

Xiao Ran nodded thoughtfully.

Chai Keqiao thought for a moment and asked, "You fought with the man surnamed Zhao. How strong was he?"

Xiao Ran made a fair assessment: "It's much stronger than the rumors say, but it's still a long way from us."

Chai Keqiao was not surprised and smiled:
"Yes, this person has only been promoted for a short time and has been traveling everywhere. His martial arts heart is far less pure than ours. This is reasonable. From this point of view, this person is not worth being too afraid of.

In the future competitions, you should still pay attention to Tang Jinzhong, Song Jinxi and a few others. Senior sister, don't be impulsive. Zhao's methods are insidious and he uses tricks. You can't beat him.

It would be better to defeat him in a fair fight, so that he can vent his anger. People who are so mean in their hearts are most afraid of a fair fight."

Xiao Ran nodded, turned his head in the night wind to look back at the lights behind him, and nodded vigorously:
"Today's humiliation will be repaid in half a month!"

……

Martial Arts Hall.

The eunuchs dispersed. Xu Zhenguan left the female officials holding lanterns waiting outside, gave Zhao Duan a look, and the emperor and his minister walked towards the courtyard.

After entering the inner hall and closing the door, the emperor and his ministers sat down in the light of candles.

Zhao Duan picked up the teapot eagerly and asked, "Why is your majesty here?"

Xu Zhenguan sat in the main seat, her beautiful eyes filled with ambiguous emotions:
"Didn't you ask me to come?"

Zhao Duan chuckled and did not refute. He did not explicitly send any message to the empress, but only ordered someone to report the matter of the cold palace to Mo Zhaorong.

But how could he not have thought that if Mochou knew, the Empress would definitely know as well?
Therefore, Xu Zhenguan's seemingly coincidental arrival was also the result of his hint.

"Your Majesty and I truly understand each other." Zhao Duan sighed.

As expected, Xiti Zhenbao rolled his eyes.

Xu Zhenguan sighed softly, took a sip of water, and said helplessly:

"So, you are playing the good cop and letting me play the bad cop?"

"Your Majesty has a keen eye. I cannot hide my thoughts from you at all." Zhao Duan put away his playful smile and explained seriously:

"The people of Qingshan are perverse, as shown in the martial arts arena during the day. If they are not punished, they will not behave themselves for the next half month. And Xiao Ran, who witnessed Concubine Xiao's madness, must be dissatisfied with Your Majesty...

In this case, I will simply play the role of the bad guy and beat them, while Your Majesty comes to the rescue and shows mercy. This way, you can use both kindness and power. Next, these guys should be much quieter and more obedient. "

The two looked at each other across the red candles on the table.

Xu Zhenguan listened in silence, and suddenly said, "You don't have to do this."

Zhao Duan smiled and said, "Why should we separate you and me as a family?"

Who are we family members...Xu Zhenguan spat and didn't bother to pay attention to him.

The warm orange light of the candlelight shone on her fair face, like soft jade.

The room suddenly became quiet, the emperor and his subjects stopped talking, and the atmosphere became a little strange. "It's suddenly so hot," Zhao Duan looked at the empress's rather conservative clothes that perfectly covered her body curves, and seriously suggested, "Your Majesty, aren't you hot?"

"My cultivation has long been immune to cold and heat."

Xu Zhenguan said indifferently, seeing through his little thoughts but not exposing them.

Yes, you are immune to cold and heat, but fairies also have to pee... Zhao Duan recalled the last time he spent the night in the palace and became a little distracted.

"What do you think of your fight with Xiao Ran?" Xu Zhenguan coughed lightly and took the initiative to bring up the topic.

Zhao Duan did not hesitate and said seriously:
"I have no impression of that woman. I don't remember her."

"..." Xu Zhenguan said unhappily: "I am talking to you about something serious, not eating..."

Zhao Duan's eyes were like torches: "What to eat?"

"……nothing."

You are jealous, right? This must be it, right? Zhao Duan pondered for a moment and bargained:
"Your Majesty wants to know? Tell me what to eat and I will tell you."

Proper teasing and offensive posture are an indispensable part of picking up girls, because almost all women have a passive mentality and hope to be conquered. Zhao Duan lacks experience, but has rich theoretical knowledge.

Xu Zhenguan sneered and stared at the little imperial guard: "Say it again?"

Oh no, the theory failed in the implementation process. Zhenbao is indeed a remarkable woman, different from those ordinary women... Zhao Duan said seriously:
“When I was sparring with Xiao Ran, although I deliberately concealed and suppressed my martial arts level, I could clearly see that the three people from Qingshan were indeed not simple people.

There are many worshippers in the martial arts hall who are similar to him in terms of their cultivation level, but when it comes to their understanding and comprehension of martial arts and their solid foundation... they are far inferior to him.

Even if I have the same level of cultivation as him and do not deliberately hide my strength, if I fight him head-on, my chances of winning are only fifty-fifty at best. "

Xu Zhenguan was stunned by his light-speed change of tone. After listening to his review of the battle, he nodded secretly and said:
"In fact, even if you didn't hint tonight, I would have come over."

"what?"

"During the day, you released all the internal energy you had accumulated for a month. How do you feel now?"

Zhao Duan thought about it and said seriously:

"I feel like I'm being stretched. Um, I mean the Qi sea and meridians."

Why do you need to explain so much more... Xu Zhenguan was slightly confused, but still nodded slightly and said:

"That's the benefit. Next, you should rest and recover from the minor damage to your meridians caused by that blow..."

"I have finished my recuperation," Zhao Duan said.

"Not long after I was injured, the green lotus in my body helped me to warm up my body."

Yes, I almost forgot... You got the Blue Lotus from the "Buddha", and your ability to recover from injuries is far superior to others... Xu Zhenguan gritted his teeth, suddenly feeling a little jealous, and clenched his delicate hands in his sleeves, saying with a straight face:

"Don't interrupt me."

After saying this, she realized belatedly that for some reason, she was particularly emotional tonight.

It’s all because of this guy, yeah, that’s it.

Zhao Duan closed his mouth silently.

Xu Zhenguan paused for a moment, then stood up and said:
"Next, you can practice normally. Within half a month, you will be able to enter the high level. This is enough for a small realm. In the past, your martial arts foundation was too shallow. Now, according to what you said, you enter the "Six Chapters Sutra" every night, fight with the female sorcerer in the Taizu scroll, and fight Xiao Ran to a draw. It shows that your foundation is strong enough.

But your control of the Qi is still not enough. If you can keep the Qi from leaking out during the day, like the seven nights, and condense it into a line, the power will be more than fifty-six armors? Come out, I am in a good mood tonight, and I will teach you martial arts in person. "

Zhao Duan's eyes lit up and he hurriedly followed.

……

The Martial Arts Hall was made up of several nested courtyards. The king and his minister came to the backyard alone. It was quiet and deserted, with only lanterns hanging around the courtyard.

Light up the entire courtyard.

There is also a hundred-year-old peach tree planted in the courtyard. The trunk is very thick and the crown is huge. Under the night sky, the pink peach blossoms on the tree are extremely beautiful. When the empress walked under the tree, she was like a flower fairy.

“In the past, Emperor Taizu’s wife, the first empress of our Xu royal family, loved peach blossoms, so many peach trees were planted in the palace.” The empress stood under the gorgeous tree and suddenly felt emotional.

Tsk, Old Xu's wife? I've never heard Old Xu mention her. I wonder what she looks like... Zhao Duan's curiosity was aroused.

However, the wife of the founding emperor must not be a simple person.

"What kind of flowers does Your Majesty like?" he suddenly asked.

Xu Zhenguan said unhappily: "I'm teaching you martial arts, so concentrate on it and don't think about other things!"

"Oh……"

Xu Zhenguan took a deep breath to calm himself, then suddenly raised his right hand, and let his robe sleeve slide down, revealing a piece of his arm as white as jade, and his slender fingers lightly stroked it.

A straight peach branch from the peach tree fell into her palm and said calmly:
"It is not easy to gather Qi, but Emperor Taizu once devoted himself to creating a sword technique. You can practice this technique. Come and stick behind me, and I will guide you to master it."

"Yes."

Zhao Duan walked closer and also used a flying knife to cut a straight piece of peach branch in his hand.

"Come closer, you need to carefully capture the changes when I circulate my Qi."

"How close?"

"…Just like…the day I taught you to paint."

"Oh." Zhao Duan blinked, took a step forward and put his chest against the empress's back, his arms flush with hers:
"Is this okay?"

"..." Xu Zhenguan felt the familiar hot breath spraying on his neck, as if he was embraced in an embrace, and his body stiffened:
"you……"

Zhao Duan said aggrievedly: "We can't get any closer. If we get any closer, we will be at a disadvantage..."

"Shut up!"

"Oh."

One teaches swordplay, the other learns swordplay, it's like a poem or a painting.

In the darkness, the empress's face had turned as rosy as a peach blossom without her knowing when.

(End of this chapter)

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