Chapter 76: It's not a beating, it's a fight [Seeking follow-up reading]

In front of the Phoenix Couch, Wu Tongtong blinked in confusion. The woman then pressed her face close to hers and explained in a low voice with gritted teeth: "Wanrenshan, I don't think he is loyal."

"..."

Hearing that 'Wanren Mountain' and 'infidelity' were linked together, Wu Tongtong was confused for a moment, and even instinctively felt that her aunt was blinded by family feuds.

'A Dragon City' Wanren Mountain, this is not just a name in the martial arts world.

He was Jingzong's childhood playmate, the latter's intimate steward and right-hand man in the first half of his life, and the first responder when Suzong decided to return to Beijing to fight the enemy. He was a mentor, a comrade-in-arms, and a trusted aide before his death.

At that time, the ruler was young and the country was in chaos. Even her aunt was young and ignorant. Wan Renshan could have become a powerful eunuch, but he didn't. He always behaved within his authority and never used his power as a regent.

It is no exaggeration to say that the late emperor's resentful decision before his death to raise a daughter to the throne was made possible by this 'eternal name'.

Now my aunt actually said that this person was unfaithful...

The woman in front of her also saw her doubts, so she explained to her what "everything has a shelf life" and "a moment of sincerity" meant.

"People change. You are still young. When I first took over the throne and knew nothing, he taught me how to judge and employ people. For many years, I have always regarded him as my teacher in my heart."

"But times have changed. Ever since Wei Mingqi entered the palace, I gradually felt something was wrong. That kid called me grandpa a few times. Wan Renshan often went to see him, took him out to eat, played with him, taught him martial arts, and even watched you get beaten with a smile."

"..."

Wu Tongtong couldn't help herself and corrected him: "It's not a beating, it's a fight."

The emperor was good in other matters, but he was extremely eager to win over that villain. His mind was distracted when he heard any word related to him.

"He knocked half of your clothes off and you're still fighting!"

The Zhao family woman said with a look of regret: "When I mentioned his name, your eyes changed. Is he really that good?"

“…I hate him.”

Wu Tongtong lowered her head and whispered, "He has hurt my aunt so many times, and he doesn't have me in his heart, so I won't think about him anymore."

When she talked about this, she couldn't help feeling a little sad.

She had no feelings for that so-called cousin, but only for her aunt. When Wei Mingqi beat and bullied her, Wu Tongtong felt that it was a hundred times more painful than when he bullied her.

"Tongtong——"

Seeing her eyes getting redder, the woman from the Zhao family said in a trembling voice: "Auntie is really scared. Wanrenshan has changed so much. He doesn't care about the safety of the country for Wei Mingqi. Do you think this is like him? What on earth does he want to do?"

Wu Tongtong understood what she meant, so she hesitated for a moment and said, "Aunt, you are overthinking it. Wan Gong just likes him and would not do such a rebellious thing."

And it's not just Wan Renshan, Wei Mingqi is also the same in her heart, even though the latter has been doing things to hurt her during this period, making the promise he made on the chariot seem like a joke.

But Wu Tongtong was beaten since childhood...she got along well with him and actually understood him.

If he is asked to fight and chop people, Wei Mingqi is very good at it. He can chop all the way from the West Palace Yamen to Zhuque Avenue. He is also a man of loyalty and righteousness. If anything happens to his friends, he will pick up a knife and fight in the most dangerous places without even a frown.

But there is one thing: he won't tolerate anyone getting angry at him. When they were fighting as kids, even when the dragon bellyband underneath was visible halfway through the fight, he would still pull up his clothes and pretend he didn't see it and continued fighting.

Whether such a man slapped her aunt or killed her cousin in public, although Wu Tongtong was sad, she could understand from the bottom of her heart why he did this.

The only two points about breaking a promise and betraying a friend were something Wu Tongtong couldn't even imagine, let alone believe.

But just like she understood Wei Mingqi, the Zhao family woman also understood her childhood 'mentor', so she forced a smile and asked, "Tongtong, let me ask you, in your heart, is Wanrenshan someone who would shake the country for his personal preferences?"

"..." These words immediately left Wu Tongtong speechless.

What kind of person is Wanrenshan? After introducing his past, let's go deeper and say that he is a person who values ​​the country more than the emperor, and more than himself.

It was as if he and Jingzong were childhood playmates, close and intimate, more like close friends than master and servant, but when Jingzong fled to the southwest and was in the most desperate situation and needed support, he still resolutely responded to Suzong after his persuasion failed, and "betrayed" his former master to become a traitor.

Is this betrayal?
Yes.

Is this speculation?
No.

He had already achieved power second only to the emperor and above everyone else. Going to join the then illegitimate and uncertain Emperor Suzong would not have brought him anything, but he did it anyway.

Such a person could give the greatest convenience within his power to the young people he admired, but after the civil and military officials in the court were extremely dissatisfied and even the people in Beijing were resentful, he risked shaking the country and was unwilling to give a decent treatment.

Even if it's just suspension from work for reflection?

Seeing that she had reacted, the woman reached out and grabbed her shoulders, and solemnly warned her: "Just keep this in mind, don't try it for now. After all, we have no one to rely on, and if we make a wrong step, it will be all over."

Wu Tongtong knew what she meant.

Since ancient times, human hearts cannot stand temptation. If the other party has really changed his mind, once your so-called temptation is exposed, there will be no room for maneuver.

Therefore, after comforting her aunt, Wu Tongtong did not go to Wanrenshan to ask for an explanation, but returned to her residence and called her maid Yudie.

"Leave, leave the palace!"

Yudie was so scared that she stammered, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you can't do this, Your Majesty. If the Holy Queen knew about this, I would be beaten to death!"

Wu Tongtong frowned upon hearing this and shook her fist at her: "If you keep talking nonsense, I can beat you to death right now."

"..."

Anyone who walks on two legs in this palace will be beaten by the emperor, but since he is the emperor, he can only serve carefully:
"Then how do we get out? The people guarding the palace gate won't let you leave the city."

"I'll change into your clothes, and then we'll go around the section of the palace wall from the Imperial Garden to the Suzaku Gate. There's a secret guard who's only loyal to me who's responsible for guarding that section, and then—"

Wu Tongtong, who was well prepared, made a "leg" gesture with two fingers:

"Let's climb the wall."

"..."

Yudie felt that the well outside the palace was her future destination. Her pretty face wrinkled pitifully as she said:

"Your Majesty, we must have a reason to leave the palace."

"Yes, I have."

"Where do you want to go for fun? Or to go on a secret visit?"

"I want to use clever means to protect the great country!"

"what?"

In the afternoon, in Garnet Lane, two people, one tall and one short, who looked like sisters, knocked on the gate in front of them.

(End of this chapter)