Daoist Yuanzheng gave a soft snort. "It's easy for you to say. Can you really marry Miss Jiang?"
Just thinking about what Jiang Mian had done to him, Xiao Jingcheng couldn't suppress the curve of his lips. He deliberately said, "Didn't you once tell Jiang Mian's fortune in Dongli Town and say that she would be fated with a nobleman coming from the east?"
Daoist Yuanzheng rolled his eyes and said seriously, "There are more than just you among the noblemen coming from the east. Miss Jiang is destined for wealth. No matter whom she marries, she won't live a bad life."
Xiao Jingcheng said, "Oh? Really? But I think she will surely marry me. Just wait and see."
Dahuang barked twice as if in agreement. Xiao Jingcheng said, "Look, Dahuang even agrees to this marriage, right, Dahuang?"
Dahuang barked even more vigorously: Woof woof woof woof!
[Play hide-and-seek with mother, hide-and-seek!]
...
At the Li Mansion, after Jiang Mian and Li Zhao toasted a table of guests, as they turned to the next table, she lowered her voice and whispered in Li Zhao's ear,
"Father, elder brother and the Daoist left a letter and have left Luozhou first."
Li Zhao's expression remained unchanged. He replied with a barely audible "Okay."
"What should we do about that person?" Jiang Mian asked again. She was referring to Xiao Tianchi, who had suddenly come to Luozhou to attend Li Zhao's wedding.
Li Zhao said, "Don't worry about him. Just take care of the other guests first."
Since Li Zhao had said so, Jiang Mian had no more concerns and continued to help him receive the guests in the mansion.
Li Zhao was getting married to Jiang Zhiqing. The Li Mansion opened its grand gates to welcome guests. Those who came to congratulate today included not only the common people who had received favors from the Li family, but also the old partners and customers who had had business dealings with the Li family before, as well as the people of Luozhou who had long heard of the good reputation of the Li family and came to catch a glimpse of the "Prime Minister Li".
In addition, the Li Mansion specially set up ten tables at the side gate, with wine and food on them, for the beggars in Luozhou City or the poor people who didn't dare to enter the mansion for the feast to enjoy.
Therefore, on this day, guests came to the Li Mansion in waves, like the never - ending waters of the Xijiang River, hardly ever ceasing. The congratulatory gifts they brought filled the empty storeroom of the Li Mansion.
Jiang Mian helped Li Zhao receive the guests. At first, she was still a bit concerned about Xiao Tianchi, but when she really got busy, she completely forgot about his existence.
As night fell, the red lanterns in the Li Mansion were lit one after another. After seeing off the last wave of guests and returning to the front hall, Jiang Mian saw Xiao Tianchi still sitting there alone. Only then did she remember that there was such a person, and her heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
Jiang Mian looked at the person beside her. "Father."
Patting her hand, Li Zhao walked straight towards Xiao Tianchi.
"There were too many guests in the mansion today. I've been negligent. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Although he said "forgive me", his attitude didn't seem very respectful. At least if it were someone else, they would have bent their waists two more degrees.
But Xiao Tianchi didn't mind at all. He smiled and said, "I came uninvited and disturbed your wedding, Brother Li. I'm already very satisfied that you didn't get angry and drive me away."
There was no one else around. When he talked to Li Zhao, he even didn't use "I, the emperor" but "I", which showed that he didn't want to put on the airs of an emperor in front of Li Zhao.
Li Zhao said to Jiang Mian, "Mujin, I still have something to talk to His Majesty. You go and accompany your mother first and tell her to wait for me a bit longer."
Jiang Mian looked at Li Zhao and then at Xiao Tianchi. She nodded and left with the maids behind her. Before leaving, she instructed the servants in the mansion, and the servants also retreated one after another, leaving the front hall to Li Zhao and Xiao Tianchi.
Sitting down beside Xiao Tianchi, Li Zhao fetched a pot of wine and filled the cup in front of Xiao Tianchi.
"I didn't expect that you would come in person." Li Zhao said.
Xiao Tianchi raised his eyebrows. "An old friend 'came back from the dead' and wrote such a letter to me. How could I not come? Moreover..."
"Isn't this the purpose of the letter you wrote to me?"
Xiao Tianchi smiled meaningfully. "The emperor comes to Luozhou in person to welcome the descendants of the famous Li family and announce to the world the return of your Li family. From then on, you will be honored and no one will dare to despise or bully you."
"Brother Li, you're still the same as before, planning ten steps ahead with one move."
Li Zhao also laughed.
"If I were alone, I wouldn't have to scheme so much. But as you can see now, I have a wife and children. I always have to consider them."
Their eyes met, and they both saw the same longing for power in each other's eyes.
Only by holding power could one protect the people one wanted to protect.
They laughed in unison. They both raised their glasses at the same time, clinked them, and then tilted their heads to drink the wine in the glasses in one gulp.
The strong liquor went down their throats, and the heat spread from their throats to their chests.
"Do you think, if my elder brother knew that Li Bingjun was still alive and had joined my side, what would he do?" Xiao Tianchi asked with a smile.
"He would probably fight desperately like a cornered dog," Li Zhao said. "If he takes any action, it will just give you an excuse to fight back."
Xiao Tianchi sighed softly and laughed helplessly.
"Yes. Every day, I don't know how many memorials asking for war are submitted to me. The military generals are trapped in the capital and are so anxious that they have blisters on their lips. I, the emperor, can hardly hold them back. I urgently need a prime minister who can convince everyone to sit in the town."
"I wonder when Brother Li plans to leave Luozhou?" Xiao Tianchi asked. "It would be best if we return to the capital together this time."
Thinking that half a month was almost up, Li Zhao tightened his fist and said calmly, "In two days."
"Okay. You've just married your wife. You should naturally spend a few sweet days with her." Xiao Tianchi sighed softly. "Brother Li, do you know how envious I am of you?"
Li Zhao looked at him and said straightforwardly, "Is Shen Lingyun really dead?"
Xiao Tianchi didn't answer, but Li Zhao had already guessed a bit. He pondered for a while and said, "Changhuan, when I reunited with Yingniang in Dongli Town this time, do you know what truth I realized?"
Xiao Tianchi looked at him.
Li Zhao said, "Hesitating will only leave regrets. Life can't be restarted. Not every time can one survive by luck. If you want something, you have to strive for it with all your might."
Life can't be restarted.
Xiao Tianchi lowered his eyelashes and raised his hand to touch his chest.
At that time, that hidden arrow was indeed aimed at his vital part. The reason why he wasn't killed by that arrow was that he was wearing the soft armor that Shen Lingyun had given him when he went to suppress the bandits.
That soft armor blocked 70% of the damage for him, which was why he was able to survive.
In this world, perhaps only Li Bingjun could empathize with him - what kind of torturous days the person who survived by luck was living day after day.
And how much effort it took to have the thought of competing again.
"Tomorrow, the imperial edict to confer a title will be sent to the Li Mansion." Xiao Tianchi stood up and walked outside.
"A moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Brother Li, go back and accompany your wife quickly."