Chapter 222
**Chapter 220: His Sister is No Simpleton**
Mo Shenyi's reputation in the martial world was resounding. It was said that he came and went like a shadow, shrouded in mystery.
Shen Xiuming had only heard of him; he had never seen his true face.
He couldn't help but ask in surprise, "You... you really are Mo Shenyi?"
Shen Xiuming was utterly confused. The legendary Mo Shenyi of the martial world was actually an official from the Yue Kingdom? And he looked so young?
Mo Xun clicked his tongue, a broad smile on his face. "Of course not! I was just pulling your leg—come on, let’s go drink! I’ve heard that the peach blossom wine at Anguo Temple is clear and fragrant, even Princess Zhaoyang enjoys it."
...
...
Meanwhile, Shen Mieyue was leading his small team towards the palace of the Qing Kingdom. Half a mile away from the palace, on a long bridge, Shen Mieyue pulled on the reins.
"Get off your horses," he commanded.
The team dismounted in unison.
Shen Mieyue's dark eyes gazed at the towering palace walls in the distance, magnificent and imposing, exuding a sense of solemnity and pressure.
He recalled leaving Liangzhou City, where Sun Qingmei had repeatedly warned him: "When you meet the Emperor, do not bring your team, do not carry weapons, and you must remove your armor."
Shen Mieyue took her words to heart. He knew Sun Qingmei would not harm him.
He dismounted, handing his large sword to the captain of the guard, then removed his armor and donned a proper court robe.
Shen Mieyue instructed his team, "Wait for me outside the palace."
After checking his appearance several times, he finally stepped towards the palace gate. Upon reaching the first gate, the city guards respectfully clasped their hands together. "General Shen, please wait a moment; His Majesty has sent someone to escort you."
Shen Mieyue paused to wait.
Having fought valiantly in Liangzhou City for a long time, he exuded an air of authority and grandeur. The guards at the gate stole glances at him, their eyes filled with admiration and respect. One of the guard captains approached him respectfully, holding a cup of hot tea. "General Shen, you must be tired from your journey. Would you like some tea?"
Shen Mieyue waved his hand to decline.
However, the guard captain stubbornly offered the teacup, swiftly slipping a note into Shen Mieyue's hand and lowering his voice. "A letter from Consort Chen."
The guard captain was named Liu Erniu.
Three years ago, when Shen Wei and Li Yuanjing were attacked, the Liu brothers had saved them. Later, Liu Erniu had made his way to Yanjing City, successfully becoming a city guard and rising to the rank of captain.
He was, in a way, a helper to Shen Wei.
Today, having received a letter from Consort Chen, Liu Erniu anxiously waited at the palace gate, seizing the opportunity to pass the note to Shen Mieyue.
"It’s quite hot today; I am indeed thirsty," Shen Mieyue said, his brow twitching as he accepted the teacup.
He pretended to sip the tea while discreetly opening Consort Chen's note.
Inside, there were only a few concise words: **[Remove armor, remove sword, go alone.]**
The handwriting was fluid and elegant.
Shen Mieyue silently crumpled the note and tucked it into his sleeve. He was somewhat surprised; in his memory, his third sister Shen Wei was timid and simple-minded.
On the way back to Yanjing, Shen Xiuming had repeatedly mentioned how hard Shen Wei's life was in the palace, how she was bullied.
So much so that Shen Mieyue believed Shen Wei was living in dire straits.
But today, Shen Wei had managed to send him a secret message through a mere city guard?
"My sister... seems to be quite clever," Shen Mieyue murmured to himself, a glimmer of appreciation in his eyes.
After a while, the sound of shuffling footsteps approached the palace gate. The Emperor's chief eunuch, De Shun, came personally to greet him. "General Shen, please follow me into the palace."
Shen Mieyue nodded and stepped into the imperial city.
The palace path was wide and long.
Shen Mieyue glanced at De Shun, who was dressed in a brocade robe, recalling Sun Qingmei's advice.
As a general, Shen Mieyue had little regard for dealing with eunuchs in the imperial city; he even looked down on them from the bottom of his heart.
However, Sun Qingmei had solemnly told him that eunuchs were still human, not all of them were deceitful and sly, and they should not be underestimated. Especially those serving the Emperor, who, though not high in rank, wielded considerable power.
If he encountered the chief eunuch in the palace, he must treat him with respect.
Shen Mieyue kept Sun Qingmei's words in mind, showing no hint of disdain on his face. He even politely asked, "May I ask your name, Eunuch?"
De Shun replied, "I am De Shun, the deputy chief eunuch of the palace."
Shen Mieyue took out a small pouch and handed it to De Shun. "So it’s you, Deputy Chief De. How has His Majesty been lately?"
The pouch was prepared by Sun Qingmei.
She had prepared thirty small pouches filled with silver and gold leaves, instructing Shen Mieyue to carry a few whenever he went out in Yanjing City to facilitate dealings with palace servants.
De Shun hurriedly waved his hand to decline, smiling brightly. "General Shen, you are too kind! I cannot accept such a gift! His Majesty is in good health."
Shen Mieyue had no choice but to retract the pouch and ask, "And how is Consort Chen?"
De Shun replied, "Consort Chen is also well."
After a pause, De Shun lowered his voice to inform him, "Consort Chen wishes to remind you that there is a distinction between ruler and subject, and etiquette must be observed. When you meet the Emperor, General Shen, do not be overly proud, but also do not be overly cautious; just be at ease."
Shen Mieyue was taken aback.
He looked at De Shun suspiciously; the young eunuch had a sincere expression, his face adorned with a warm smile.
Shen Mieyue was secretly astonished!
His sister was no simpleton! Even the deputy chief eunuch beside the Emperor was willing to act as her eyes and ears. And his foolish brother Shen Xiuming still naively believed Shen Wei was suffering greatly—how foolish!
Following De Shun, Shen Mieyue arrived at Chang'an Palace, where the Emperor handled state affairs. De Shun entered the hall to report.
Before long, Li Yuanjing, dressed in a dark golden robe, personally emerged from the hall, calling out, "General Shen, I have been waiting for you."
Shen Mieyue recalled Shen Wei's reminder—**[There is a distinction between ruler and subject; etiquette must be observed.]**
He knelt on one knee, clasping his fists together, performing a standard fist salute. "I, Shen Mieyue, pay my respects to Your Majesty!"
The etiquette was proper, and he knelt correctly.
Li Yuanjing raised an eyebrow, his hawk-like gaze sweeping over Shen Mieyue. Seeing that Shen Mieyue had removed his armor and weapons, changed into a military court robe, and even performed the salute flawlessly, Li Yuanjing's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
He stepped forward, gently assisting Shen Mieyue to rise. "We are family; there’s no need for formalities."
Shen Mieyue stood up, his gaze lowered, not daring to meet the Emperor's eyes.
Li Yuanjing glanced at Shen Mieyue's face, noting that he bore a resemblance to Shen Wei. His fondness for Shen Mieyue grew even more.
The ruler and subject entered the hall.
Li Yuanjing offered a seat and inquired about the situation at the border. Shen Mieyue answered calmly, his demeanor neither servile nor arrogant. He maintained the dignity of a general while demonstrating his unwavering loyalty to the Qing Kingdom.
Li Yuanjing was in a good mood, bestowing generous rewards upon Shen Mieyue and even gifting a large residence in Yanjing to the Shen family.
After chatting for two hours, Li Yuanjing waved his hand, allowing Shen Mieyue to leave the palace and rest at home.
Inside Chang'an Palace, the scent of sandalwood wafted through the air as Li Yuanjing sipped the freshly served spring tea.
A Tiger Guard quietly entered the hall, kneeling on one knee to report, "Your Majesty, today General Shen returned to the capital, and the citizens welcomed him with open arms. Even the youth and children are proclaiming their loyalty to General Shen."
Li Yuanjing set down his teacup, a faint smile on his lips. "Shen Mieyue hasn’t changed a bit."
Back when Li Yuanjing was still the Prince of Yan, both he and the Prince of Heng had tried to win over Shen Mieyue but had failed.
Shen Mieyue was steadfast; he did not involve himself in the struggles of the princes. He only followed the Emperor of the Great Qing. Whoever was the Emperor, he remained loyal to them.
Today, Li Yuanjing tested him and found that his loyalty remained unchanged.
Such steadfastness was rare.
As for the rumors circulating in the streets, Li Yuanjing pondered for a moment and found them increasingly strange. He ordered the Tiger Guard, "Investigate who is spreading these rumors and sowing discord between the ruler and his subjects."
The Tiger Guard clasped his hands. "Yes!"
Li Yuanjing's gaze grew cold.
The new Emperor of Yue, Tuoba Hongchuan, was both cultured and martial, commanding elite troops and formidable generals, not to be underestimated. Fortunately, the Qing Kingdom also had brave generals like Shen Mieyue, capable of matching Yue Kingdom's strength.
Li Yuanjing needed Shen Mieyue as a capable general, and Shen Mieyue needed Li Yuanjing as a wise ruler.
Mutual trust between ruler and subject was essential for the nation's stability.
Yet, at this critical moment, rumors were surfacing in Yanjing City, maliciously attempting to undermine the relationship between the ruler and his subjects.
Li Yuanjing narrowed his eyes; he had to root out the instigator behind the scenes and punish them severely.
...
...
At Anguo Temple. Anguo Temple was where the princes studied and also served as the royal temple.
Princess Zhaoyang had opened several large courtyards on the back mountain of the temple to take in orphans from Yanjing City.
Today, as usual, Zhaoyang visited the courtyards to see the orphans. The children joyfully ran over, surrounding Zhaoyang and chattering non-stop.
"Princess Zhaoyang, you look well~"
"Princess, I memorized a passage today; let me recite it for you."
"Sister, I can write now!"
"The pastries are delicious; thank you, sister."
Looking at the pure and innocent faces of the children, Zhaoyang felt her heart soften.
"Princess, General Shen Mieyue and the Yue Kingdom's envoy have arrived in the capital. There will be a welcome banquet at the palace tonight," the palace maid Yun'er whispered, her tone filled with concern.
Zhaoyang lowered her eyes, seemingly sighing. "They came so quickly."
Yun'er, feeling distressed, said, "The Emperor of Yue wishes to marry a princess from the Qing Kingdom... If you are unwilling, we can plead with the Emperor."
Zhaoyang fell silent.
At that moment, a monk from the temple came to report that Shen Tongpan had brought a Yue envoy to seek an audience with the princess.
Zhaoyang knew that Shen Tongpan was Shen Wei's brother, so she summoned the two into a meditation room.
The back mountain of Anguo Temple was picturesque, and the meditation room was elegant and simple. Zhaoyang instructed the palace maid to prepare some snacks and hot tea.
Moments later, her close maid Yun'er brought the two into the meditation room. Zhaoyang casually glanced around and, upon seeing the handsome Mo Xun, suddenly froze mid-sip.
Zhaoyang quickly stood up, scrutinizing him again, and exclaimed in surprise, "Mo... Mo... Mo Shenyi! What brings you here?"
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