Chapter 477: Bridal Chamber

Chapter 477: Bridal Chamber

Chapter 477: Bridal Chamber (Double Monthly Ticket Request)

Urgent report?

Prince Jing's breathing tightened, and he quickly took it with his big hands, took the paper roll out of the bamboo tube on the falcon's feet, and unfolded it facing the river breeze.

However, the words that came into his sight were like a heavy hammer, hitting his heart hard!
Sad news! The spy leader and his entourage died tragically, suspected to have been killed by Zhao Duan.

"Dead?! How is that possible?" Prince Jing's face suddenly changed. He read the words on the paper three or four times, his expression as gloomy as dead water.

If it was simply another failed arrest, it wouldn't have made him like this.

But this time, it wasn't just the defeat of that team of elite cavalry, the more crucial thing was the tragic death of Ouyang Ye, who was in charge of the secret spy system of Prince Jing's Mansion!

This loss is far more serious than that of a team of soldiers!

However, what really moved Prince Jing was not the news of Ouyang Ye's death, but the possibility that Zhao Duan had entered the secular realm as speculated in the intelligence.

"The world... the world..."

The gentle and refined Xu Wen's face turned grim for a moment, as if he had eaten a fly and felt disgusted.

Is this Zhao Duan really blessed by heaven and earth? He is still alive? Can he go further?
But apart from this explanation, who else around the king and his ministers could have the ability to massacre the entire team?

"Father? What happened?"

The prince standing nearby noticed that the atmosphere was not right.

Xu Wen took a deep breath and tried his best to suppress his shock - as the commander-in-chief, his every move would affect the morale of the entire "Jiancheng Army".

After handing the secret report to the prince, Xu Jinglong's face changed several times after reading it. He was shocked and stunned, and felt a strong jealousy.

"This Zhao Duan... He has been born from a mortal body for only one year... There is definitely something wrong with him. I am afraid that the fake emperor has some life-saving trump card. On him, yes, the Tai'a Sword!
Just like when he was able to master Taizu's magic weapon, it must have been like this!"

Xu Jinglong's chest heaved as he tried his best to explain the situation with logic.

Prince Jing snorted coldly:
"It doesn't matter what method was used. What's important is that the stronger these two are, the more they can't be kept alive! I originally wanted to capture them before the Shenlong Temple took action, but now it seems that it's better for them to die."

Xu Wen faced north and silently calculated the days. The team from Shenlong Temple that was heading south to assassinate the empress should have entered the Huai River.

Different from the Eighth King who was thinking of taking the Emperor with him to rule the world, Old Monk Xuanyin definitely did not want the Empress, who was a huge hidden danger, to live.

"Send the order to deliver the secret letter to King Mu. Also notify the Law God Faction that it's time for them to make more efforts. Humph, the eradication they promised that day has not been fulfilled yet." Xu Wen said after thinking for a while.

"Tell Prince Mu? Father, aren't you afraid that the fake emperor will be obtained by Prince Mu?" His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was a little reluctant.

"Just do it when I tell you to!" Xu Wen shouted angrily. What he was most dissatisfied with his son was that he was hesitant and lacked courage.

In order to hunt down the empress, even Ouyang Ye died. He didn't want to lose any more generals, so he simply let King Mu, who also entered the Huai River, bleed.

"Do you think that if we don't report such a big thing, King Mu won't get the news?" Xu Wen's stupidity syndrome came back.

Yes, although the intelligence system of Prince Mu’s Palace in Yunfu is not as good as his own, it is not too bad either. I believe they have learned the whereabouts of the empress by now... Xu Jinglong was embarrassed and turned around to do his work.

Princess Lu Yan'er hesitated and said, "Why don't I go there?"

Xu Wen shook his head: "Just stay and protect me, and you don't need to worry about the rest."

Lu Yan'er remained silent. The situation changed too quickly and she could no longer intervene at will.

However, with the siege from three forces, even if Zhao Duan broke through, he would not be able to survive, right?
……

……

The southern end of the Huai River, the other end of the canal.

A ship was travelling from north to south.

Inside the cabin, a burly old monk was sitting cross-legged in meditation, with a heavy Zen staff placed across his knees. The top of the staff was crescent-shaped and weighed over a hundred pounds.

Around the old monk's neck hung a string of thirty-six jade beads in the shape of Buddha heads. He had sparse eyebrows and his eyes were a strange golden color.

It was Nagarjuna, one of the three great Bodhisattvas in Shenlong Temple.

"Master."

Suddenly, the door of the cabin was knocked open, and a young man about sixteen or seventeen years old walked in. He was wearing a yellow-brown monk's robe, without any Buddhist beads on his body. He was a little thin, with an ordinary appearance, dressed like a standard "warrior monk".

The forehead is wrapped with a yellow silk ribbon, which is quite eye-catching. Behind him is a hexagonal Zen staff "Six Paths Stick" slung diagonally.

It turned out to be the young monk Tianhai who had defeated Jin Jian in last year's Buddhist-Taoist competition and was later seriously injured by Zhao Duan with the Taia sword!

More than half a year had passed, Tianhai's injuries had long since recovered, and he was promoted to "Shijie" around the end of the year - he could have been promoted earlier, but was deliberately suppressed for the competition.

"What's the matter?" Bodhisattva Nagarjuna raised his eyes and looked at the sea of ​​​​sky with satisfaction.

The young Tianhai said with a stern face:

"A message has been sent, giving the location of the empress. If we hurry, we can arrive in two or three days at most. The message also said that it is suspected that Zhao Duan has entered the world."

The man with the surname Zhao entered the worldly realm?

Long Shu, who was calm and composed, was startled, his brows furrowed into a shape of a "川" (river) and he said with emotion:

"What the abbot said is true. If this child is not eliminated, he will become a great trouble in the future."

This time, Nagarjuna Bodhisattva brought Tianhai, the head of the Discipline Hall and other masters and quietly went south with only one goal, which was to kill the fugitive empress.

"As long as the empress is in power, she will not stop suppressing my Shenlong Temple and my Buddhism. She first banned Buddhism, then supported Prajna and split the Shenlong Temple. If we give in blindly, we will just sit there and wait for death! If we let her return to the capital, my Sheng Shenlong Temple may face a catastrophe."

Nagarjuna's eyes were firm and sharp:
"Pass the order down, hurry up and kill the empress."

"Follow the law!"

The young Tianhai walked out without hesitation, carrying the six sticks on his back. After walking a few steps, he stopped and added:
"That Zhao Duan belongs to me."

Implication:
Tianhai considered his defeat in the ring a disgrace in the past, but now that they meet again, he wants to take back the lost victory with his own hands.

The corners of Nagarjuna's lips curled up: "Of course."

……

Huaishui Road, in a county town.

A dreamy starlight suddenly crossed the long street and entered a private room of a restaurant.

The starlight condensed, and Jin Jian's figure slowly emerged. The young priestess pushed the crystal-ground glasses on her nose and looked at the three people sitting at the square table in the box.

The first person was the short and fat young man Gongshu Tianyuan. He was still wearing a wrinkled Taoist robe. There was a big bamboo tube in the corner behind him, and he was flipping through the "menu".

The second person was wearing a black robe and had an extremely ferocious and ugly appearance. He was holding a blue and white covered bowl in his hand. Next to his chair was a huge sword with a very wide blade, blood red all over, and engraved with words.

Also an old acquaintance, “Little Heavenly Master” Zhong Pan.

The third person was a female Taoist priest whose age was hard to tell. She looked like she was in her thirties but had no wrinkles on her face.

She was wearing a loose, plain grey Taoist robe with pure white cuffs on both sleeves. She had a golden rope-like belt around her waist and a jade dagger slung across her body.

The female Taoist priest's appearance was not outstanding, but she had an excellent temperament. The four words "Zhong Ling Yu Xiu" coined by the ancients seemed to be tailor-made for her.

At this moment, the female Taoist priest closed her eyes and breathed in and out. The moment the golden tablet appeared, she opened her eyes, smiled calmly and said:
"How about getting information?"

Jin Jian yawned, looking listless from staying up all night:
"Second Senior Sister, I got the news. Zhao Duan should be near Baihua Village. He seems to have become more powerful. He may have entered the world of the living."

She "robbed" a scout from Prince Mu's palace.

On the day of Fengshan, Zhang Yanyi sent a message to his disciples scattered across the country in the capital, promulgated the Heavenly Master's decree, and rescued Zhao Duan.

Jin Jian and Gongshu Tianyuan were the first to respond, followed by "senior brother" Zhong Pan and second senior sister, Yuxiu, who was also traveling in the Central Plains.

As for the third and fourth disciples, they have not gathered yet.

According to Zhong Pan's calculations, the third and fourth brothers were most likely not in the State of Yu, or were active in the border areas. Even if they received the message, they would not have enough time to rush over.

Brother Zhao has entered the worldly realm? Gongshu Tianyuan was shocked, but then he took it for granted:

With Brother Zhao's extraordinary talent, this small achievement is not surprising.

That kid, has he already reached the worldly realm? His growth is so amazing? No wonder the master favors him... Zhong Pan's ferocious face showed surprise.

"Baihua Village? I know this place. In that case, let's set off immediately after this meal." Second Senior Sister Yuxiu's voice was soft, but her actions were quite decisive.

Those who are familiar with this second disciple know that the sword on Yuxiu's waist is countless times sharper than her.

Yuxiu's gentle and generous appearance forms a strong and sharp contrast with her inner madness and fighting attributes.

Jin Jian had heard gossip from an old priest in the Tianshi Mansion, saying that Zhang Yanyi had accepted the first pair of "red-dot boys".
When it came to Zhong Pan and Yu Xiu, Yu Xiu had originally lost the election, but she still picked up the sword and forced a duel with the candidate at that time. The fight lasted for seven days in a row. Both sides were seriously injured. The opponent was the first to give up, surrendered, and withdrew from the election.

However, although he was replaced, that person had no hatred towards Yuxiu at all. Instead, he was convinced.

The ferocity of the second sister can be seen from this.

"Senior sister is right. Even we can get the news, which means there are countless enemies out to surround and kill Brother Zhao. We have to hurry." Gongshu Tianyuan seconded.

The young Taoist priest Zhong Pan frowned:

"You said that King Mu's spies also knew about this? Have they sent it out?" After receiving a positive reply from Jin Jian, Zhong Pan said:

"Prince Mu has been in Yunfu for many years and has recruited many martial arts masters. He is particularly close to the Baiyi Sect. With the help of Zhao Shixiong, he is very likely to send masters to Baihua Village."

Yuxiu glanced at him: "What do you mean?"

Zhong Pan said:

"Master only wants us to save Zhao Duan, but I'm afraid he won't abandon the empress. If Prince Mu's Mansion, Prince Jing's Mansion, and even other forces all attack to kill us, should we intervene in the internal strife of the royal family?"

Yuxiu was a woman who never wasted her energy, so she stood up and walked out:

"If he doesn't leave, just knock him out. Why is that so troublesome?"

……

……

Push the timeline back.

As the night grew darker, the villagers of Baihua Village packed up their belongings and loaded them onto the undestroyed donkey carts, preparing to flee in all directions.

Avoid war.

After all, Zhao Duan did not do anything with the empress among the flowers... Well, Xu Zhenguan obviously did not think in that wild direction at all.

Instead, he took Zhao Du'an and left Baihua Village, heading towards the manor of a wealthy country gentleman nearby in the same area.

"Yes, fight against the local tyrants and divide the land... I almost forgot that there must be landlords near the village, and the houses of these gentry are often far away from ordinary farmers. The housing conditions are also better."

Zhao Duan silently admired Zhenbao's choice of place to stay, and at the same time he was wondering if Zhenbao had already set his eyes on this place many days in advance.

Taking advantage of the night, the emperor and his minister arrived at a country gentleman's garden, and were surprised to find that the doors and windows of the entire courtyard were closed, and there was no one inside.

Zhao Duan broke the door lock and entered the house. Judging from the traces, there were signs of human activity not long ago.

“I have inquired with the villagers. Because they had foreseen the war, the owner of this house had already fled, leaving only a few servants to guard the yard.

There are fresh wheel tracks at the entrance. If nothing unexpected happened, it should be that not long ago, the people here saw the scene of Baihua Village being burned, and they were terrified and afraid of being involved, so they fled overnight. "

Xu Zhenguan stood in the yard, analyzing calmly.

That makes sense... Zhao Duan's expression relaxed a bit, and he joked with a smile:

"Isn't this convenient? It's as if this entire house is reserved for us."

"..."Xu Zhenguan didn't say anything. In the darkness, her cheeks seemed redder than usual.

At this time, the night was quiet, and there were only the king and his minister in the whole house. The pursuit from the enemy would surely come soon, and the time left for the king and his minister was not much.

Every minute and every second is precious.

"Your Majesty?" Zhao Duan felt that the atmosphere was too depressing and wanted to break it. He looked up at the moonlight and said:

"It's getting late. Can I... help you get some rest?"

"……kindness."

Zhao Duan swallowed, feeling nervous for no reason. He turned around, closed the gate, and then locked it from the inside.

Then the king and his minister walked towards the back house. Zhao Duan's spiritual sense swept throughout the house, and any unusual movement could not escape his perception.

The back house is where the master lives. The conditions there are much better. After the master leaves, the servants dare not move around.

There are more than a dozen rooms in the entire compound, and there are six rooms in the backyard including the wing rooms, and no outsiders are allowed.

Logically, they could each choose one room, but under some tacit understanding, the king and his minister only opened the door of the east wing.

Lighting the candlestick on the table, the whole antique room became clear. Zhao Duan locked onto the big bed in the room. Well, it was big enough for three people... The evil landlord must have built it specifically for his wives and concubines to sleep together...

"Your Majesty...it's getting late..." Zhao Duan turned his head and looked at Xu Zhenguan.

However, the Queen of Yu State seemed to have adjusted her mentality and regained her former majestic and graceful appearance... Well, Zhao Duan suspected that Zhenbao might be pretending...

Trying to maintain the dignity of a superior on this special night... Well, unfortunately, Zhao Duan only likes to bully the weak and flatter the strong, so if nothing unexpected happens, there will be a tough battle tonight.

Under the candlelight, the fairy-like emperor was stared at by Zhao Duan's burning gaze. He suddenly stood up and walked out with slightly messy steps:

"I'm going to take a shower. You... wait in the room."

The tone was forced to be calm.

Your Majesty... We had bathed together before in the palace... I don't think it's time to do that... Zhao Duan muttered in his heart, with a clever expression on his face:

"Do you want me to fetch water for your majesty?"

"No need... I can do it myself..."

Xu Zhenguan fled in a panic.

……

Zhao Duan sat at the round table with a bit of amusement, thinking that he was probably the only one in the world who had seen Zhenbao so panicked?

Then, he realized that his body was also shaking slightly...

Due to tension.

Zhao Duan's smile froze. Well, it seemed that he was not much stronger. He tried to remain calm, but he could hear the sound of water splashing from next door.

He had noticed before that the servants in the house left in such a hurry that even the firewood in the stove was still burning and the water in the pot was still hot.

So, he even boiled hot water for the two of them... As for bathtubs, spare clothes and the like, there would definitely be no shortage of them in such a big house.

However, listening to the sound of the rushing water, Zhao Duan's restless heart gradually calmed down.

Then he suddenly realized:

Isn't it a bit strange to just wait like this? This is ancient times after all, not a modern city with corrupt etiquette and music.

An ordinary woman in the mortal world needs a set of grand gifts for her wedding night, let alone a dignified empress?

Originally, if the empress got married, it should be the most grand ceremony in the world. However, things are unpredictable and the situation forces them to complete their dual cultivation as soon as possible to cope with the dire situation.

It would have been fine if the complicated rituals were omitted, but even such an important event as the "bridal chamber" had to be hastily completed by occupying the house of a country landlord.

Would she...really not mind?

"It makes me look like I have bad intentions." Zhao Duan suddenly felt ashamed and realized that he had overlooked this point.

Fortunately, it’s not too late to wake up.

It would take a while for a woman to finish bathing, so he immediately got up and got busy.

First, I tidied the house carefully and made the bed.

Then he walked out of the room and began to search through the boxes and cabinets in the house. He found red lanterns and hung them on the eaves. He also found red candles and gold paper. He used scissors to cut the word "囍" (囍) and pasted it on the candles as wedding candles...

"It's a pity that there is no wedding dress, red veil or anything like that..."

Zhao Duan searched in vain, and suddenly he slapped his head and tried to visualize and summon Pei Niannu.

As space twisted like ripples, Pei Niannu floated in the air, staring at him unkindly:
"What... are you doing..."

She didn't like the feeling of being forcibly recruited. In the past, this guy begged her to help and made promises, but now he could force her.

Zhao Duan rubbed his hands together and stared at her with fiery eyes:
"Senior Pei, can you take off your wedding dress and lend it to me... Just for one night, I'll return it to you after I use it, and I promise not to get it dirty..."

? ? ? Pei Niannu's eyes widened under the mask, and then spurted out with anger. The knuckles of his hands holding the scale bar crackled, and after saying "Get lost!", he turned into smoke and dust and disappeared without a trace.

"no……"

Zhao Duan was turned away. He stretched out his fingers in mid-air and then dropped them helplessly.
"It seems like she won't lend it to me even if she can... She's just being stingy..."

However, he did not really expect that the clothes he visualized could actually materialize.

In the end, I could only give up regretfully and turn around to look for wedding wine and dishes.

……

By the time the empress finished her bath, it was already dark and the night was deep.

She changed into a clean women's dress she found in the house, walked out of the bathroom and came to the corridor.

She seemed to have something on her mind and forgot to use the Qi to steam away the water. Her hair was wet and disheveled, and her face was white and rosy, with an unconcealable charm.

Then, when she looked at the master bedroom in the wing, she was stunned.

……

Today's 9,000-word update is complete

(End of this chapter)