A life of two souls traveling through time

There is no one in the empty mountain, but the sound of human voices can be heard. The western border of Lang State is sparsely populated, with wild sand blowing in the wind and winding mountains. Goats are leaping on the cliffs without fear of danger, and a few camels are walking slowly under the flying yellow sand, just like a vast and distant ancient painting.

King Xian Li Xu stood on the city wall of Fengling City on the border of Lang State, gazing at the mysterious and ancient mountains in the distance and could not help but marvel at the wonders of nature.

"Your Highness, it's getting late and it's windy outside. Let's go back home." At this time, a burly but rosy-faced young man climbed up the city wall and came behind Li Xu, respectfully advising him.

His name is Hua Lan. He is a loyal attendant who has been with Prince Xian Lixu since he was a child, and is now also the steward of Prince Xian's mansion.

"The landscape is so picturesque that it is so beautiful that one cannot take their eyes away even in this remote border area." King Xian seemed not to have heard the words of the butler behind him. He just continued to look at the scenery in front of him and praised it repeatedly.

Seeing that the master ignored him, the butler Hua Lan stopped talking and just stood silently behind King Xian, accompanying him to appreciate the beautiful scenery. It has been more than a month since he came to this desolate border. The prince finally stopped drinking and locked himself in the room in a depressed mood. Hua Lan felt much more at ease.

Nearing the hour of You, the carriage stopped outside Prince Xian's Palace in the city. The prince's palace in the border area could not compare with the grandeur and luxury of Xuan'anli in the capital, but it was still one of the most luxurious palaces in the entire Fengling City.

As the butler Hua Lan got off the carriage, the servant waiting at the gate of the mansion hurried forward, said a few words and handed a note in his hand to Hua Lan.

"What's wrong?" Li Xu was still in the carriage. He saw from afar that Hua Lan frowned slightly when he received the note, so he asked curiously.

"County Magistrate Qian has sent another invitation." Hua Lan came to the carriage and replied respectfully.

"When is the banquet?" the voice in the carriage continued.

"An hour later." Hua Lan replied.

"Forget it, let someone tell me to come back later." Li Xu got off the carriage and sighed helplessly.

Since arriving in Fengling City, Qian Yue, the Magistrate of Fengling County, has sent an invitation every few days. In order to eliminate the fear in his brother's heart, Li Xu deliberately avoided getting close to officials and generals from this area. But who would not want to curry favor with such a great Buddha as the King Xian? After several polite refusals, he still insisted on pestering him, and Li Xu had no choice.

As night fell at dusk, the brothel in the west of Fengling City, which was usually bustling and lively, suddenly became unusually quiet tonight. Dozens of soldiers were guarding the brothel. Fengling County Magistrate Qian Yue was waiting in front of the brothel with the county lieutenant, the chief clerk and the generals. They were all overjoyed to see King Xian's carriage from afar. After insisting on inviting the Buddha for a month, they finally got the big Buddha out.

"Your humble servant has finally seen King Xian after waiting so long." After the butler Hua Lan helped Li Xu get off the carriage, Qian Yue, along with several officials and generals, stepped forward, saluted King Xian and said with a smile.

"Lord Qian is so worried, Li Xu is terrified!" Prince Xian Li Xu looked at the soldiers guarding on his left and right and smiled bitterly. If such a big scene were to get to the ears of his royal brother, he would probably not be able to explain it clearly.

"It is always safer to take precautions before trouble occurs. King Xian is of such an honor that we dare not slack off in the slightest. Moreover, border areas have always been a place where all kinds of people gather. Since I have invited King Xian to a banquet, I naturally have to ensure his safety." Qian Yue smiled disapprovingly, and the officials and generals behind him echoed him.

After a few simple greetings, Li Xu went down to the second floor under the guidance of Qian Yue.

"Greetings, King Xian!" A row of beautifully dressed girls were waiting on the second floor. When they saw the noble King Xian, their eyes lit up. After quickly performing the formalities, they all wanted to rush forward. However, they were frightened by the warning look from Hua Lan, the steward who was protecting King Xian, and they retreated aside timidly, not daring to be presumptuous at all.

"Ahem, we don't know the etiquette in this country, I hope your Majesty will not blame me." Seeing that Prince Xian Li Xu frowned slightly, Qian Yue immediately frowned, waved his hand and sent the girls downstairs, smiling awkwardly again and again.

The madam of the brothel took the initiative to use the girl to please King Xian, but she had no idea that King Xian, who had been pampered in the capital since childhood, would never be interested in this vulgar woman from the border area.

After the women went downstairs, the pungent smell of perfumed powder gradually faded away, and Li Xu's frown relaxed. He did not speak again, but smiled at County Magistrate Qian to show that he did not blame them.

As the lights came on, officials and generals surrounded Xian Wang Lixu and took their seats in the glittering banquet hall. Then, one delicious dish after another was served on the table. Xian Wang Lixu was the first to raise his glass to thank County Magistrate Qian for his kind invitation. For a while, everyone at the banquet toasted and chatted happily.

Seeing that Prince Xian was friendly and not arrogant, and was talking and laughing, everyone gradually opened up and talked freely. When the banquet was halfway through, the usually outspoken military commander Zheng Nan got up under the pretext of being drunk and began to speak up for Prince Xian:

"I have seen that King Xian is broad-minded, wise and virtuous, and has the demeanor of a wise ruler like the previous emperor. He should be the only candidate for the throne..."

There was a "bang" sound, and before Zheng Nan could finish, Li Xu threw the wine glass in his hand to the ground with a furious look. His friendly expression suddenly turned into a fierce and murderous look, and then he said coldly: "General Zheng, you are drunk."

The banquet was completely silent for a moment. Everyone was sobered up by the shock. General Zheng Nan was at a loss as to what to do. He didn't react until he received Qian Yue's gaze. He hurriedly left the table and knelt in front of King Xian, saying tremblingly, "I was drunk and said something nonsense. Please forgive me, King Xian!"

"General Zheng, there are some things you can't say just because you're drunk. If you drink too much, you'd better go home and rest, so as not to say something disastrous and regret it later." Li Xu still had a cold face and said lightly, which was both a suggestion and an order.

"Thank you, King Xian, for your reminder. I am drunk and will take my leave now." Zheng Nan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He did not dare to stay for a moment and quickly went downstairs.

"I admire King Xian's broad-mindedness!" After the banquet became quiet again, a well-mannered middle-aged official suddenly picked up the wine glass and slowly stood up to toast Li Xu. He was Yi Shan, the county lieutenant of Fengling City.

"Lord Yi, you are too kind." Li Xu also smiled and raised his glass in return.

"As subjects, we should fulfill our duties, be loyal to the king, protect the people, and defend the country. May I ask King Xian, if the king does not value the country, does not love his subjects and the people, neglects state affairs and only pursues pleasure all day long, indulges in beauty and refuses to listen to advice, what should we, the subjects, do in the face of such a king?" Yi Shan did not drink the wine in his hand, but continued to ask Li Xu with tears in his eyes.

"No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. The king was blinded by temptation for a moment. As a minister, I should advise him again and again. Governing a country is like treating an illness. The advice of a minister is like the prescription of a good doctor. Although the medicine is bitter, it will eventually make the king wake up." Li Xu knew that Lord Yi was alluding to his royal brother, so he said seriously.

"Your Highness is such a virtuous person that we admire as a lofty mountain. His exemplary conduct is beyond our reach and we are sincerely convinced." Qian Yue saw that the atmosphere became tense again and was afraid that his men would speak without restraint again, so he hurriedly raised his glass to toast Li Xu.

Li Xu dealt with it absentmindedly. Even the officials in this border city were dissatisfied with his royal brother. He felt vaguely uneasy in his heart.