National Division

Chapter 54 Shen Xian: His every step was like an avalanche... (Please continue reading, please vote!)

Guhe County

A boat with its sails billowing sails sailed along the shimmering river towards the valley, where birds sang and flowers bloomed on both banks, and willows swayed gently in the breeze.

Inside the cabin, near a long table by the window, Princess Qing, dressed in a wide, pale yellow dress, gazed out the window in a daze.

The woman was only in her thirties, with a plump figure, full and beautiful features, and radiant beauty.

She had an oval face with fair and smooth skin, resembling a delicate and beautiful peony. Her figure was exquisite, and the voluptuous Xuezi in front of her, because she had breastfed a woman, was bound in clothes, but there was still a hint of her clothes about to burst out.

"Mother." Accompanied by light footsteps, a girl wearing a pink, wide-sleeved, flowing dress came out from the inner room.

She was a young girl of marriageable age, with delicate features, an oval face, fine eyebrows, and a sweet temperament.

Princess Anyang approached and said softly, "Mother, we're almost at Guhe River."

"Hmm." Princess Qing's eyes still held a lingering resentment as she gazed absently at the scenery on both banks of the river.

"What are you thinking about, Mother?" Princess Anyang sat down next to her, her voice full of a young girl's tender and helpless longing.

Princess Qing turned her beautiful face around, the resentment in her eyes dissipating slightly. She parted her lips slightly and spoke in a soft, sweet voice: "Sweet Xia, you're thinking about your father. I wonder how he is right now."

Prince Qing has now been escorted to Dali Temple. Given the Empress's past ruthlessness, she will obviously not let this member of the imperial clan, Li Jing, off the hook. Although he may not be executed in the autumn, he will certainly be poisoned.

Princess Anyang, though beautiful, possessed a delicate and fragile air that evoked pity. She asked, "Mother, Father... could he be in danger?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Qing's face showed pain, and her voice choked with emotion as she said, "Even I don't know."

Given the ruthlessness of the empress, she certainly wouldn't let the prince go.

Princess Li Tianxia of Anyang gently leaned her beautiful head against her mother's full, broad chest and whispered, "Mother, will we be living in Guhe County from now on?"

Princess Qing sighed softly, "In two years, I will find you a good husband. When you have children, I will help take care of them."

Li Tianxia pursed her soft pink lips, a blush rising on her cheeks, and asked in a low voice, "Didn't Father and the Lu family have an engagement agreement before?"

Lu Ziling, the third son of the direct line of the Lu family of Fanyang, is only seventeen years old, yet he has already ranked 345th on the list of geniuses, and his cultivation is at the peak of the second realm of immortality, the Heavenly Gate Realm.

His martial arts cultivation was even higher; he was a Grandmaster-level expert and ranked eleventh in the third rank of the Qilin Ranking.

The Great Jing Martial Arts Qilin Ranking is divided into three grades: A, B, and C. These three grades are based on two dimensions: age and martial arts cultivation, with three milestones: twenty, thirty, and forty years old.

Compared to the cultivation path which prioritizes comprehension, the martial arts path, besides innate talent, is more like a pay-to-win game. Lu Ziling was nurtured with secret medicines from the clan elders since childhood, naturally surpassing countless peers.

Princess Qing said indignantly, "When the Lu family saw that your father was in trouble, they ran away without even mentioning that we women should be implicated. Such a family that makes promises lightly and has no sense of responsibility is not worthy of you!"

Because of her overwhelming emotions, the woman's ample bosom seemed to tremble three times, surging like an avalanche.

Li Tianxia recalled the past, and her heart sank.

Not long ago, upon learning of Prince Qing's accident, the head of the Lu family in Fanyang, in the capital city, sent a letter of annulment to Prince Qing's residence in the capital.

It can be said that, in stark contrast to Shen Xian's previous behavior, the difference in their abilities is immediately apparent.

……

……

Just as the mother and daughter were talking, a maid entered the cabin and said, "Madam, the guards say that the daughter of the Duke of Xue wants to see you."

Prince Qing was stripped of his title, so his wife was no longer called a concubine, and the servants could only address her as "Madam".

Princess Qing looked at Princess Anyang beside her, her voice filled with joy, and said, "Your sister Zhihua has arrived."

Being far from home and in a time of hardship, the presence of a familiar old friend brought the woman much peace of mind.

Upon hearing this, Princess Anyang's fair and delicate face was filled with joy as she said, "Sister Zhihua, she hasn't given me the paper crane she promised to give me before leaving the capital."

Princess Qing rose to her feet, as if a millstone had left its seat, and, holding Princess Anyang's hand, left the cabin.

Then, the mother and daughter went to the hall at the foreground.

Xue Zhihua and Shen Xian had already descended from the clouds and entered the cabin's living room to wait. Shen Xian sat down, feeling a bit curious about the widow of Prince Qing—well, Prince Qing isn't dead yet—and her family.

Just then, there was a rustling sound of the beaded curtain, accompanied by a fragrance like orchids and musk and the tinkling of jade pendants. Princess Qing and her daughter Li Tianxia entered the cabin hand in hand.

Shen Xian turned his head to look, but for a moment he couldn't see the person's face clearly, and his gaze suddenly faltered.

The saying goes, "Before seeing the person, observe the snow."

As they walked, it was like an avalanche...

"Sister Zhihua." Li Tianxia called out happily, rushing to Xue Zhihua's side like a butterfly.

The coldness on Xue Zhihua's beautiful face vanished instantly, replaced by a bright smile in her eyes. She stood up, pulled the girl into her arms, gently stroked the girl's forehead, and said with a smile, "Tianxia, ​​you've finally arrived."

Princess Qing watched this scene with a smile in her beautiful eyes, but when she turned her gaze to the young man beside her, she was filled with surprise.

Who is this young man?

However, the atmosphere in Dajing was open, and there was no saying that women did not see men.

Shen Xian felt uncomfortable sitting, so he stood up and bowed to Princess Qing.

After calming Li Tianxia down, Xue Zhihua looked at Princess Qing, who was not far away, and explained with a smile, "Madam, this is Shen Xian, the son of the county magistrate of Guhe County. He comes from the Shen family of Lanxi."

Upon hearing the name of the Shen family of Lanxi, Princess Qing suddenly realized and said, "So it is Master Shen. There is no need for formalities. The old master of the Shen family of Lanxi is very learned and talented. I often heard the prince mention him when I was in the palace."

Shen Xian felt a strange sensation in his heart.

Come on, if this is brought up too often, the Shen family of Lanxi might also be implicated in the Prince Qing's rebellion case.

However, it was clear that the princess was just being polite.

Shen Xian replied politely, "You're too kind, Madam."

He thought to himself, "No wonder she's the beauty that Prince Qing has chosen. This princess is stunningly beautiful, with an unparalleled charm. In particular, her voice is as sweet as sugar, almost melting anyone's heart."

Xue Zhihua said, "Madam, you and Tianxia will be living in Guhe County from now on, and you will have to rely on the county magistrate of Guhe County a lot. The previous residence was found with the help of young master Shen."

Upon hearing this, Princess Qing smiled radiantly and said, "That would be quite an inconvenience."

The Prince Qing's mansion is not what it used to be; it's a fallen phoenix, worse than a chicken. If the mother and daughter want to live comfortably in Guhe County, they'll probably have to rely on the help of the Shen family of Lanxi.

At this moment, Princess Li Tianxia of Anyang also turned her head to look at the tall, handsome young man.

Being a shy young girl, she only glanced at the man before turning away shyly.

Xue Zhihua laughed and teased, "Tianxia, ​​this young master Shen can write novels and storybooks. You usually like to read storybooks and such, and he recently wrote a storybook about the martial arts world."

Upon hearing this, Li Tianxia was slightly surprised.

This young man is about the same age as her, how could he write storybooks?

Listening to the conversation between Xue Zhihua and Princess Anyang, Shen Xian thought to himself, "No wonder they say Prince Qing is plotting a rebellion. Princess Anyang's name sounds like 'the world,' meaning the world of the Li family."

After giving a brief introduction to both parties, Xue Zhihua sat down again, turned her gaze to Princess Qing's face, and said, "Madam, you can stay in Guhe County for a year or two. It won't be too late to return to the capital once things have calmed down."

Princess Qing hummed in agreement, bit her pink lips, and whispered, "Miss Xue, is the Prince... is he truly beyond saving?"

As she finished speaking, the woman's eyes reddened slightly, and her sweet, soft voice choked with emotion.

Shen Xian thought to himself, "She looks so pitiful, with tears streaming down her face. It's only because the Empress is a woman that she can't control herself."

Li Tianxia also raised her fair and delicate face, looking at Xue Zhihua with the same expectant gaze.

Xue Zhihua remained silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "Madam knows the Empress's temper. This matter has blown up too much."

Upon hearing this, Princess Qing, though having anticipated it, was once again saddened.

(End of this chapter)