LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 207: Cannon Fodder
After the banquet, Gu Lan and Mu Yuyan returned to the imperial palace to continue enjoying flowers and wine.
Beneath the winter snow, only the wintersweet blossomed bravely, sprinkling red stars amidst the snowy landscape.
"My dear, your poetry deeply resonates with my heart," Mu Yuyan's eyes sparkled with affection as she teased Gu Lan with a playful smile.
Gu Lan, feeling slightly overwhelmed by Mu Yuyan's teasing gaze, steadied himself with a sip of clear wine.
He looked at the wintersweet garden and remarked with a smile, "Sometimes, Madam, I feel you're much like this wintersweet—independent, unafraid of harsh winds and frost... 'A lonely phoenix soars to claim the dragon throne,' fits you perfectly."
"Do you have any new poetry for me?"
Mu Yuyan's expectant and greedy eyes looked at Gu Lan.
Each time she listened to Gu Lan recite poetry, it was her greatest pleasure.
"By the broken bridge outside the post, loneliness reigns without a master. As dusk falls, sorrow abounds amidst wind and rain. Unintentionally, I cease to vie for spring, letting myriad flowers envy me. Scattered and ground into dust, only the fragrance remains," Gu Lan recited, feeling Mu Yuyan's admiration as if she were his devoted fan.
With a faint smile, he asked, "Madam, do you like this verse?"
"Very much!"
Mu Yuyan, enchanted, replied without hesitation.
She adored the image of Wintersweet portrayed in the poem, its aloof and proud demeanor resonating deeply within her.
"If you like it, perhaps you should reward this humble servant a little?"
Gu Lan teased, seeing Mu Yuyan's blush at his mischievous grin. "Ahem..."
Seeing Gu Lan's mischievous smile, Mu Yuyan understood his implication.
Blushing, she responded, "But it's still daytime, Your Majesty!"
"Haha... Are you afraid of daylight, Your Majesty, ruler of the world?"
Gu Lan joked, lifting Mu Yuyan into his arms and disappearing behind a folding screen.
...
Soon, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month arrived—the Lantern Festival.
The capital city buzzed with excitement as the night curfew was lifted, allowing the people to stroll through lantern fairs, guess riddles, and admire the illuminated lanterns.
"I'll teach you how to make dumplings. We can go out to the lantern fair together tonight!" Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire
Gu Lan personally took charge in the kitchen, smiling as he spoke.
"Great! Thank you, Your Highness!"
Both Liu Yexi and Xiao Fei'er wore happy expressions, especially Liu Yexi, who knew about Gu Lan's culinary skills.
The dumplings he made were exceptionally delicious, and she couldn't refuse.
Furthermore, being taught to cook dumplings by a prince himself was an honor, even if she couldn't quite grasp it—it was still a matter of pride.
Not only Liu Yexi and Xiao Fei'er, but even the palace maids accompanying Mu Yuyan didn't forget to join in making dumplings.
Since they were making dumplings anyway, they might as well do it together.
"Thank you for teaching us, Your Highness!"
After the palace maids finished, they didn't dare join Gu Lan and Mu Yuyan's table to eat dumplings.
They smiled and carefully carried the dumplings to a side table, just like Liu Yexi and Xiao Fei'er.
Soon, only Mu Yuyan and Gu Lan remained at the table.
They exchanged glances, and Mu Yuyan, with a tender gaze, scooped up a spoonful of dumplings.
"My Lord, have some dumplings."
"Your Majesty, feed me!" Mu Yuyan blushed even more, coquettishly saying, "The dumplings are here, why should I feed you?"
"Master Gu, you can't take advantage of my favor like this," she teased, poking Gu Lan's cheek playfully.
"Because the dumplings you feed me are sweeter. Why choose something less sweet?"
Gu Lan grinned as Mu Yuyan fed him a dumpling.
"Naughty!"
Despite her words, Mu Yuyan fed Gu Lan another dumpling, and his smile grew even brighter.
"The dumplings you feed me are indeed sweeter. Madam, would you like to try?"
"Yes!"
Although Gu Lan rarely cooked these days, his culinary skills hadn't diminished.
Mu Yuyan was extremely satisfied, and she didn't mind Gu Lan's affectionate gaze.
Under his feeding, she ate many dumplings.
During this period of pregnancy, Mu Yuyan's appetite gradually increased.
Despite being a peak-level cultivator, she maintained her normal eating habits, adding a touch of worldly life, reminiscent of their days in Lang Province...
"My Lord, shall we go to the lantern fair tonight? Since childhood, I haven't been to the Lantern Festival since I went with my father," Mu Yuyan, almost done eating, had a hint of girlish longing in her eyes.
Once upon a time, she was a carefree princess.
However, the weight of the entire dynasty now rested solely on her shoulders, making her feel the burden and compromising her carefree nature.
Thinking of this, Mu Yuyan looked at Gu Lan with even deeper affection.
Ever since meeting her Lord, everything had changed!
Not only had she encountered the greatest happiness in life, but the fortune of the Jing Nation had also improved significantly, no longer as tumultuous as before...
Counting it all, her Lord had resolved countless major issues of the dynasty.
Gu Lan was unaware of Mu Yuyan's contemplation at that moment.
After finishing a dumpling, he said, "Of course! From now on, I'll accompany Madam to the lantern fair every year. Later, we'll make a few sky lanterns. If Madam has any wishes, she can write them on the lanterns and let them fly together into the sky."
"Good!"
Mu Yuyan's eyes sparkled with joy, her beautiful face radiant with a smile, her eyes shining like countless stars, momentarily mesmerizing Gu Lan.
Satisfied with the delicious dumplings, Mu Yuyan took some leftovers to the Gu Mansion, generously giving them to Old Yang and Zhongren, who remained at the mansion.
Old Yang was astonished by her grace and demeanor, feeling that his mistress was becoming more impressive day by day...
He was unaware of Mu Yuyan's true identity, but he felt that even if his young master became a prince, his mistress was still worthy of him, born with such grace and nobility.
Zhongren knew Mu Yuyan's true identity, but he wouldn't spread it around.
Mu Yuyan had considered confessing to Old Yang and others directly before, especially since she and her Lord often stayed in the palace now.
Not explaining might lead to misunderstandings among Old Yang and the others.
But she ultimately felt too embarrassed...
Because of her previous words urging her Lord to enter the palace and offer herself to Mu Yuyan, she didn't want to speak further...
It felt like betraying herself!
Even though there had been some groundwork before.
Saying it out loud felt like experiencing another death!
In the end, Mu Yuyan chose to go with the flow...
If Old Yang and the others became too puzzled and asked her about it, she would explain then.
Yes, she had to be casual about it...
On the other hand, at the Luo Chen's residence...
"For this year's Spring Exams plan, General Wu will be in charge, and I will support him quietly from behind. What do you think?"
Luo Chen smiled sincerely, but Wu Fan frowned upon hearing this.
He said, "Now that I'm wanted by Her Majesty, it's inconvenient for me to go outside and bribe officials from the Ministry of Rites. It's better for you, General Luo, to handle the bribing, and I'll be responsible for mobilizing private troops to besiege Gu Lan. How about that?"
This had been discussed between them earlier, with a fair division of labor.
However, if it weren't for the Empress Dowager's instructions, Luo Chen might have readily agreed.
Recalling the Empress Dowager's repeated emphasis, Luo Chen didn't dare make decisions rashly.
He refused, "General Wu, don't rush. It's been quite some time since the warrant was issued. It shouldn't attract too much attention now. We just need to be careful and disguise ourselves."
"And General Wu's previous connections and relationships are still intact. It should be easy to bribe some officials from the Ministry of Rites. If I were to act, it would be like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut—a waste," Luo Chen explained.