The shadow of the country

32. Soil

Outside Lanling Hall, two eunuchs on duty were whispering. "Hey, have you heard? Yesterday the emperor and the empress dowager had a falling out. I heard that this is the first time the emperor has disobeyed the empress dowager."

"Really? Keep your voice down, talk about the emperor behind your back, that's a death penalty!"

"There is no one else here. I got the news from the maids in Shoukang Palace. It is said that the Empress Dowager took a fancy to the daughter of the prime minister's family and the niece of Dr. Zuo Jianyi's family, and wanted the emperor to make them queens." And concubines. The emperor insisted on refusing, so he fell out with the empress dowager..."

"No way, the emperor and the empress dowager have always been in harmony, how is it possible?..."

Mu Yanben was admiring the bird of paradise in the hall.Hearing the whispers outside, I felt restless in my heart, and I no longer wanted to enjoy the flowers.Pushing open the palace door, he frowned and said, "What nonsense are you talking behind your back? There have always been many gossips in the palace, and you still spread them all? Can't you believe them all?"

The two eunuchs on duty didn't expect Lord Hou to hear it, and they knelt down in fright: "See Lord Hou. The younger one is convicted! The younger one is convicted!"

Mu Yan was still annoyed at first, but now seeing the two kneeling and kowtowing to admit their mistakes, his heart softened.He waved his hand and said, "Forget it. Don't spread any more rumors about it in the future. Get up." After saying that, he turned back to the hall.

Two days later, when Mu Yan heard Yilan say that was the truth, he was shocked.He still didn't believe this two days ago, but the truth was like a head-on blow, which was unacceptable for a while.It was as if the happiness in the previous scenes had changed drastically in just a moment.Yi Lan also knew that this matter would have a big blow to Mu Yan.But this matter is unusual, and rumors are spreading wildly in the palace, and it is impossible to hide it if you want to hide it, so it is better to explain it to him truthfully.

The emperor looks like he is above ten thousand people, with unlimited scenery, but in fact he is full of fetters.These days, the ministers of the imperial court have also written like crazy to suggest that the emperor register a concubine to continue the royal blood.The emperor is not the ruler or owner of the country, but a guardian, who can never do whatever he wants.Yi Lan knew all of this in her heart, she just felt that having Mu Yan alone in this life was enough.That's why she just wanted to hide the wedding if she could, and tried her best to live up to Mu Yan.

Ever since Mu Yan found out that Yilan and the Empress Dowager had a falling out during their wedding, she felt even more uncomfortable.Even when Yi Lan comes to him sometimes, he is still very taciturn, and his temper is much more restrained than before.Even sometimes find various reasons not to see him.Even he himself didn't know why he was so afraid of seeing Yilan.Maybe it was because he was afraid that he would not be able to stop being soft-hearted in front of him, and all his preparations would be wasted, or maybe it was because he himself was afraid and hesitated in that decision...

Yi Lan noticed his strangeness, and wanted to explain to him, but she didn't know how to talk about it, let alone how to make him change back to his original appearance.Even if Mu Yan is arguing with him, or playing a petty temper, he can understand and tolerate.But Mu Yan is now sometimes absent-minded and sometimes thoughtful, which makes Yilan at a loss.The relationship between the two had to be so stiff, and there was no way to break it.

Mu Yan is currently in Lanling Hall, wondering what he is thinking.Just as he was thinking about it, someone knocked on the palace door suddenly, breaking his train of thought.But Mu Yan didn't want to be angry at the moment, but his heart immediately tightened into a ball, and he asked nervously, "Who is outside?"

A familiar male voice came: "Mu Yan, it's me. Wen Cheng."

"Oh, come in and sit down." Mu Yan heaved a sigh of relief, as long as it's not Yilan.

Wen Cheng pushed the door open, closed the door gently, looked at Mu Yan with concern, and sat down beside him. "I'll come and see you. Have you made up your mind about that?"

Wen Cheng is Mu Yan's closest person besides Yi Lan, and Mu Yan regards him as a close friend and a confidant.Mu Yan took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind: "Well, I've made up my mind. I still want to do that."

Wen Cheng's hand holding the teacup suddenly tightened, surprised but whispered: "You are crazy! What is the identity of the current emperor, how can he not solve this matter? He has survived like this for 23 years. He has been like this since he was a child. The situation should be quite clear. This time, the Empress Dowager is intervening, but if the Emperor insists on refusing, what can the Empress Dowager say?!"

"I know." Mu Yan said, and raised his head with his head down, his eyes were clear: "It's just Wen Cheng, do you believe that there will be retribution in this world?"

"what?"

Mu Yan chuckled, and said with a wry smile: "He had fallen out with the ministers because of me before, and I can't let him be at odds with the Empress Dowager anymore. Now, this should be regarded as my retribution. I used to be willful with him Playing with my temper. I would be unreasonably angry if any woman on the street looked at him twice. Maybe God destined me to pay the price for every waywardness. I have lost my temper with him, and I have long since lost my qualifications."

After hearing this, Wen Cheng couldn't help feeling bitter for him. "So, you are willing to be misunderstood by him? The emperor doesn't know anything, maybe he will blame you and hate you..."

"I'm not that great. Of course I don't want him to hate me." Mu Yan said calmly.But the hands in the sleeves were suddenly clenched. "It's just that I can't let anyone hinder him." He said softly, and added in a barely audible voice: "Including myself."

With Wen Cheng beside him, there was a lingering sadness in his heart.But still stopped the impulse, trying to maintain a flat tone: "Well, you can decide on this matter."

The author has something to say: I have always felt that Mu Yan is the most ordinary person in this book. He has his own stubborn decisions or selfish flaws, and it is impossible to be perfect.He doesn't have any outstanding abilities, and he even thinks that he can turn things around and go his own way, desperate to do what he thinks is right for Yilan.A hundred deaths without regret, willingly.Even if Yilan doesn't understand, or even misunderstands him.But I can't avoid it, I love him the most in the whole book, even surpassing Yi Lan in many cases.I just feel that it is my honor to have such a person in my writing.

☆, 33. Paradox