Feng Guang glanced at Gu Yan without responding, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly as she asked, “Uncle Wang, what do you think of the stage play?”
The play being performed was the famous story of Cao Cao using the emperor to command the warlords. This was an alternate history, and in this world, there was no Romance of the Three Kingdoms. This entire play was something she had written for the troupe to perform, and of course, she had added a note saying “written by Luo Guanzhong.”
Gu Yan objectively responded, “The plot is intricate and engaging.”
“Then, Uncle Wang, what do you think of Cao Cao as a person?”
“A charismatic warlord.”
“Exactly, a warlord. If it were you, Uncle Wang, I believe you could certainly conquer the world without bearing any of the infamy.” Feng Guang rested her chin on her hand, smiling. “Then, at that point, you would be a hero, not a warlord.”
Gu Yan lowered his gaze. “Your Majesty, be careful with your words.”
Feng Guang placed her other hand on his chin and smiled softly. “Uncle Wang should know that I always speak honestly in front of you. You wouldn’t betray me, so why the need to be cautious?”
Gu Yan maintained a stoic expression. “No matter how much Your Majesty speaks, today we still need to practice writing.”
Feng Guang withdrew her hand with a deep sigh, turning her head away with an exaggerated pout.
This display, far from her usual carefree demeanor, caught Gu Yan’s attention. His brow furrowed slightly. “You’ve had enough of the play, Your Majesty. Let’s begin today’s lesson.”
“Gu Yan, you don’t understand romance.”
“My duty is to assist Your Majesty, not to engage in romance.”
“Hmph, you’re such a blockhead.”
Gu Yan gave a faint smile. Whether he was a blockhead or not didn’t matter to him.
Three days later, the empress set out for her expedition with her attendants and a team of soldiers for protection, with Gu Yan, the Regent, at her side, making the journey seem secure.
The route to the north passed through several towns. In these remote areas, local officials rarely traveled to the capital, let alone had the chance to see the emperor in person. So, when news spread that the empress would be passing through, all the local magistrates were nervous and took every precaution to ensure their defenses were flawless.
Of course, there were always some who saw this as an opportunity for advancement.
At this very moment, as Feng Guang was about to retire for the night at the magistrate’s residence, she suddenly heard the sound of a flute playing. The melody was mournful and lingering, conveying an indescribable sorrow and melancholy.
The maid said, “Your Majesty, I’ll go and have the flutist removed.”
“No need.” Feng Guang raised her hand and smirked slightly. “In the past, there were some who played the zither and sang, but they never impressed me. Today, however, this person is playing my favorite tune, Liang Xiao Yin. A lot of effort was put into it. Since Uncle Wang has forbidden me from teasing him these days, I’ll go meet this person who has put so much thought into it.”
Feng Guang put on her robe and followed the sound to a courtyard. Underneath a parasol tree, she saw a slender figure. His back, illuminated by the moonlight, appeared particularly forlorn.
When he heard her footsteps, the flute ceased, and he turned to face her. The moonlight allowed her to see his sorrowful face. While not extraordinarily handsome, there was a unique charm to his appearance, the kind of look that once seen, was hard to forget. His green robe fluttered in the night breeze, almost as if he were about to take flight.
Feng Guang suddenly thought, that if he were wearing white, he might resemble Gu Yan—not in terms of looks, but in terms of their presence.
Interesting.
She lifted her fan, painted with peach blossoms, and with a carefree air said, “Oh, which young master is this?”
Loveguy On CFRFGC Chapter 1