[Oh, what a coincidence!]
Tong Aning lifted the carriage curtain again, her gaze fixed intently on the two arguing individuals.
Her gaze was so intense that the two people who were arguing both turned to look at Tong Aning.
Tong Aning: "..."
She intended to quietly lower the carriage curtain, but the two men temporarily ceased their fighting and bowed to Tong Aning.
Tong Aning followed their example and cupped her hands in a respectful gesture towards them.
No one was arguing anymore. Tong Aning lowered the carriage curtain and touched her face, somewhat disheartened.
Tong Yibin asked, "What's wrong?"
Tong Aning said, "They've stopped arguing, and I figured there's nothing else to see."
Tong Yibin: "..."
Is it because you have no arguments to read? More likely it's because you can't find the author of "High Mountains and Distant Waters a popular online novel).
Tong Aning looked at Tong Yibin and asked curiously, "Big brother, who are those two people? Do you know them?"
Tong Yibin said, "The older one is Chen He, the Palace Attendant, and the younger one is Wang Hongkuang, the Junior Palace Attendant."
Tong Aning murmured, "Isn't Chen He Wang Hongkuang's superior?"
Tong Yibin nodded. "Yes."
Tong Aning's expression turned very strange.
Tong Yibin asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Tong Aning shook her head.
[I was just reminded of a melon from a very distant past.]
Tong Yibin looked at Tong Aobai, Tong Aobai looked at Tong Aning. Both of them felt, without prior agreement, that some people were about to be in trouble.
Chen He and Wang Hongkuang felt a chill run down their spines.
Chen He felt that Wang Hongkuang tactics against him, and he needed to take precautions in advance.
As for Wang Hongkuang, he stared at Chen He's back with a sinister look.
In the imperial court.
Xue Lin presented the Emperor with the Record of Shared Hearts" that Zeng Xingchang had been reading.
He said, "Your Majesty, the secret recipe for the elixir of immortality is on page forty-five."
Following Xue Lin's instructions, the emperor turned to that page. After reading it, veins bulged on his forehead. "Utterly absurd!" he exclaimed.
Xue Lin said in a deep voice, "It says there are seven pills of the elixir of immortality, and each pill requires the blood of seven people."
The government and the public were shocked.
If it weren't for Tong Aning's voice, Zeng Xingchang would have harmed countless more people.
The existence of Tong Aning in their Great Xia is truly a blessing for the country, its people, and all its inhabitants.
Many people turned their gazes toward Tong Aning, only to find that Tong Aning was staring at Chen He and Wang Hongkuang.
Could it be that these two are having some kind of shady dealings?
The emperor noticed it too.
Both men were promoted by the emperor, but they had always disliked each other, especially Wang Hongkuang, who had submitted several memorials expressing his desire to leave the Palace Administration, even if it meant being demoted.
For certain reasons, the emperor did not agree.
These two men were in charge of his daily life. If they were also madmen like Zeng Xingchang... The emperor frowned.
[Is it true that "High Mountains and Distant Waters " was written by Wang Hongkuang?]
The emperor paused, the High Mountains and Distant Waters —what was that?
[Host, would I lie to you? Wang Hongkuang loved Chen He but couldn't have him, so he angrily wrote about their romantic affair, which led to "High Mountains and Distant Waters." In "High Mountains and Distant Waters," Chen He remains Chen He, but Wang Hongkuang transforms into a woman, and the two are entangled in love and hate.]
The courtiers were stunned, while Tong Aning got goosebumps all over.
[Host, what's wrong?]
I just suddenly felt a little nauseous.
[...]
While Tong Aning was feeling nauseous, the court officials' minds were racing.
Wang Hongkuang's unrequited love for Chen He?
Could it be that they both have homosexual tendencies?
But don't they always argue whenever they meet, and wish the other were dead?
How does the complex relationship between love and hate originate?
Chen He's face turned ashen. He looked at Wang Hongkuang, and without hesitation, rushed forward and punched Wang Hongkuang.
Wang Hongkuang covered his face, looking at him with a complicated expression, then belatedly burst into fury. " Chen He, what are you doing?"
"What am I going to do? I'll beat you to death, you pervert!"
The two began to wrestle, and the fight was fierce.
The emperor sighed, "What are you standing there for? Separate them!"
When the two were separated, both had bruises on their faces, but Wang Hongkuang's face was more seriously injured.
[Tsk tsk tsk, is it because she can't bear to hurt him? It matches up, everything aligns with the High Mountains and Distant Waters."]
Chen He gritted his teeth in hatred. Taking advantage of the moment when the two men holding him back were not paying attention, he rushed in front of Wang Hongkuang and shouted, "If you're still a man, then hit me!"
Wang Hongkuang was stunned. He stammered, "I can't beat you."
Chen He: "...?"
Chen He's eyes were bloodshot. "I'll kill you."
"Eh eh eh eh."
The scene became chaotic again.
The emperor nearly broke the armrest of the dragon throne with his fist before the two men finally calmed down.
The emperor said coldly, "Are you pretending I don't exist, engaging in a public brawl?"
Chen He: "... I didn't mean that, it's just that Wang Hongkuang... is disgusting."
Wang Hongkuang: "How dare you say that to me?"
[They're acting out their passionate scene again. Wang Hongkuang is probably actually pleased with how Chen He treats him, because in this High Mountains and Distant Waters, the more angry he is, the more he hates, and hate is love.]
Chen He suddenly raised his hand, covering his face in agony. Had he killed Wang Hongkuang in his past life? Otherwise, why would Wang Hongkuang retaliate in this way?
[Men's imaginations can be terrifying sometimes. Chen He, a loving and harmonious marriage with his wife, who comes from a distinguished family and is gentle and talented, yet Wang Hongkuang sees her as a potential enemy... Could the villain, High Mountains and Distant Waters and insurmountable, be Chen He's wife?]
Yes, everything is taken from reality.
[... I'll burn High Mountains and Distant Waters when I get back.]
The thought that she was actually indulging in such stories made Tong Aning feel itchy all over.
What bothered Chen He even more was...
" Wang Hongkuang, I never expected you to be this kind of person."
"Who I am is none of your business, Lord Chen, to distort the truth."
Chen He was at a loss for words.
Seeing his open and frank disgust, Chen He couldn't help but wonder if he had just imagined it, or if this was still one of Wang Hongkuang's tricks.
[By becoming Chen He's enemy, he managed to attract Chen He's attention... Genius!]
Chen He: "..."
He collapsed to the ground.
Emperor: "What's wrong?"
[I'm so angry I could faint.]
emperor. "..."
"Why haven't you carried Lord Chen to the back hall yet, and gone to fetch the imperial physician?"
Wang Hongkuang looked in the direction Chen He had left with a sense of loss. He wanted to follow, but found himself to be nameless and without status.
" Wang Hongkuang!"
Wang Hongkuang looked at the Emperor on the high throne, then knelt down, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have fought with Lord Chen in the court."
"It's good that you know you're wrong. It's also my fault. You've repeatedly petitioned to leave the Palace Administration, but I haven't agreed. Today, I grant your request."
Wang Hongkuang was stunned.
[He's become so engrossed in his acting that he's almost become a character himself.]
Eunuch Wang urged, "Lord Wang, why don't you quickly express your gratitude?"
"Minister..."
"What, you don't want to?" The emperor raised an eyebrow. "Then it proves that all the memorials you submitted before were meant to fool me. Do you know the consequences of fooling me?"
Wang Hongkuang pale. His lips trembled as he said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness."
The emperor nodded in satisfaction.
First, transfer Wang Hongkuang away, then deal with him slowly. This man is too good at acting; he almost fooled him as well. Keeping him in the Palace Administration is already not safe enough, not to mention that he actually imagined Chen He, who already has a family. He is dark and twisted and cannot be trusted.
*
Upon returning home, Tong Aning threw away the book " High Mountains and Distant Waters." When Tong Siyan and Mu Yao heard about this, they also avoided such stories like the plague and declared that they would never read them again.
Tong Yi'an smiled and said, "Fourth Sister, if you're not going to read storybooks anymore, come play with me tomorrow."
Tong Aning pointed to herself, "Me?"
Tong Yi'an Tong Aning's arm and shook it. "Yes, if it's not you, who else could it be?"
It had been some time since Tong Aning had gone to Tong Yi'an, and Tong Aning said, "Alright."
Turning around, I saw Su Zhouyue and the others snickering.
Tong Aning: "?"
[Is he hiding something from me?]
Su Zhouyue said, "I'll have A Shu go with us tomorrow. There will be many people around, so make sure they don't get separated."
A Shu said, "Madam, rest assured, I will take good care of the two young ladies."
Tong Aning's attention was successfully diverted, and she asked, "Just the two of us?"
Tong Siyan, "We can go too."
The next day...
After Tong Aning returned from court and took a nap, they set off.
As the weather gradually warmed up, Tong Siyan and Mu Yao held round fans in their hands, fanning Tong Aning and Tong Yi'an from time to time.
Along with the gentle breeze came the fragrance emanating from the two of them.
It's not a jasmine balm; it seems like a new balm.
Tong Aning pestered Tong Siyan, and Tong Siyan promised to give it to her when she returned it. Only then did Tong Aning give up. In just a short while, they arrived at their destination.
Tong Aning looked up at the shop's signboard, "Jade shop?"
Tong Yi'an said, "Oh, right."
After saying that, Tong Yi'an took Tong Aning's hand and went inside.
The shopkeeper, who had come to greet them, was beaming with joy at the sight of the four wealthy and noble young ladies. He Tong Yi'an, "You've come again. My shop has just received a new batch of jade. Would you like to try some?"
Tong Yi'an readily agreed, "Okay."
This way, please.
Tong Aning was confused. She turned to look at Tong Siyan and Mu Yao, but neither of them seemed to be stopping her.
Tong Aning walked up to them and asked in a low voice, "Have you been here before?"
The two nodded.
Tong Siyan, "It wasn't just me; Mother and Father both came."
Tong Aning understood--
[This isn't asking me to play with her; it's clearly an invitation for her to show off her skills.]
Tong Siyan and Mu Yao laughed.
Tong Siyan pressed her round fan against Tong Aning's back, pushing Tong Aning forward slightly. Tong Siyan, "Go quickly, don't keep Fifth Sister waiting."
Tong Aning rubbed her hands together. "Watch me trick her into giving me the stone later."
Tong Yi'an poked her head out, "Fourth sister, come quick!"
"They've arrived."
Tong Yi'an had already chosen four stones. Pointing to each one, she said, "This is Second Sister's, this is Mu Yao's, this is Fourth Sister's, and this last one is mine."
Seeing Tong Yi'an's confident expression, Tong Aning said worriedly, " Yi'an, don't be fooled..."
Tong Yi'an blinked. "They wouldn't dare."
[After being scammed, she angrily demolished the shop... Is this still my fifth sister?]