The first time in history

"What?" Qian Mingduo was stunned.

"You also gave me something." Zheng Dan turned his head slightly. "It seems to be something very mysterious."

Qian Mingduo's head buzzed, and the lust in his body disappeared instantly as if a basin of cold well water was poured on it.

The bright red peony on Zheng Dan's hook is no longer an ambiguous messenger, but more like two strange ghosts in the dark night. The original beauty has turned into an elusive and gloomy atmosphere. The bright red seems to have been cast a spell, turning into a terrifying bloody charm.

If Zheng Dan betrayed him and Xi Shi, they would be doomed.

"What did you hear?" Qian Mingduo looked at the empty hall, his hand involuntarily reaching behind his waist.

"Don't worry. I am also from Yue." Zheng Dan's eyes were full of tears. She said slowly, "I will never betray you."

"Why should I believe you?" Qian Mingduo asked quietly.

"Because..." Zheng Dan closed her legs and sat up slowly. She walked gracefully to Qian Mingduo and looked at him calmly. "I want you, or you all, to do something for me."

"What's the matter?" Qian Mingduo stared at Zheng Dan's eyes.

"This may be easy for you." Zheng Dan's eyes revealed a hint of helplessness and sadness, "But I... can't do it."

"Your Majesty, please feel free to tell me what you want to say." Qian Mingduo nodded.

"Ever since I left home and came to the royal palace of Wu, I have had no news from my family. It's as if they have completely disappeared from my life." Zheng Dan walked slowly to the wall, turned around and slowly sat on the ground.

She wrapped her elbows around her curled legs, resting her chin on her knees, looking sadly at the bluestone beneath her feet, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I want to ask you a favor." Zheng Dan said sadly, "I hope you can help me!"

"Your Majesty, please speak!" Qian Mingduo's panic had gradually subsided, replaced by a calm and firmness. He looked at Zheng Dan, his eyes revealing a trace of pity and understanding.

At this moment, Zheng Dan was no longer the majestic empress, but a helpless woman, her face showing deep worry and uneasiness.

"If possible..." Zheng Dan raised her head, and after a moment, she slowly said: "My mother has been weak for many years. When I left my hometown, she couldn't even get out of bed to see me off. I have two younger sisters and a younger brother, and they are still young. My father is the only one who supports the family."

At this moment, Qian Mingduo's heart had been completely melted by Zheng Dan, just like ice and snow illuminated by the spring sunshine, slowly becoming soft and gentle.

His eyes became soft and warm, like a clear spring, revealing deep tenderness and sympathy. At this moment, Qian Mingduo was no longer the cold and hard man, and his feelings of sympathy for women arose spontaneously.

He walked slowly to Zheng Dan's side and sat down with her.

"Although I enjoy wealth and splendor in this palace, my family..."

"What do you need me to do, young lady?" Qian Mingduo glanced at Zheng Dan's soft, snow-white feet. His heart was moved again.

"Sir, can you help Zheng Dan find out about my family's situation? I miss them every day." Zheng Dan looked at Qian Mingduo, and his earnest eyes made Qian Mingduo dare not look directly at him.

"Okay," Qian Mingduo sighed, "I promised you, young lady, that I would send someone to your hometown to visit your family on your behalf and inform you of their current situation."

"Really? Zheng Dan opened her eyes wide with excitement. She hugged Qian Mingduo's arm tightly and pressed her firm chest against it.

"Of course it's true." The faint fragrance rushed into his nose, and Qian Mingduo's heartbeat quickened a little, as if his desire was rekindled at this moment.

"My Lord, please wait for me." Zheng Dan stood up and walked behind the gauze curtain. After a while, she came over quickly with a small brocade bag in her hands, handed it to Qian Mingduo, and said shyly, "I haven't saved much money in this palace. These are the rewards from the King of Wu. I hope you can give them to my parents and exchange them for some money... to get by!"

"Is this what the Queen wants?" Qian Mingduo held the brocade bag while also holding Zheng Dan's hand.

"Yes." Zheng Dan smiled slightly. "Do you think I would ask you for something?"

"I thought the girl... would make a request related to what happened last night?" Qian Mingduo said stutteringly.

"I don't know anything about what happened last night." Zheng Dan wanted to pull back her hands, but she was not as strong as Qian Mingduo and couldn't do it. She looked up at Qian Mingduo and said, "I got drunk at Sister Xishi's Guanwa Palace last night and went to bed early. I don't know what happened last night at all!"

Zheng Dan was as beautiful as Xi Shi, and she was strong-willed and versatile. Qian Mingduo stared at Zheng Dan, as if time had stopped. He felt her gentleness, and her gentle eyes flowed through his heart like a spring; he breathed in her breath, and the fresh fragrance intoxicated him.

Zheng Dan also blinked slowly and looked at Qian Mingduo with a smile. Her eyes were full of shyness and tenderness, like a blooming flower, exuding charming fragrance. Her smile was like a spring breeze, warming Qian Mingduo's heart.

"Sir," Zheng Dan said shyly, "It's so hot, but our hands are tightly intertwined... We are already sweating."

"A beautiful person like you, with beautiful hands..." Qian Mingduo sighed, "I don't know if I'll have the chance to touch your hands again after today?" He said jokingly, "Touch them as long as possible now!"

"Sir," Zheng Dan gently pulled back her hands, with a hint of a smile on her face, "You are the most daring person I have ever met."

"It was the peony flower on your hook that gave me the courage." Qian Mingduo leaned close to Zheng Dan's ear and whispered, "Hook means buttocks."

"Ha, ha, ha," Zheng Dan laughed happily. "I know." She also leaned close to Qian Mingduo's ear and whispered, "I heard what you and Sister Xishi said yesterday. I didn't hear anything else!"

Zheng Dan slowly took a few steps back. She said in a voice that had regained its dignity and grace, "I hope that you will not tell anyone about what happened today. Including Sister Xi Shi in Guanwa Palace. The reason... you will understand it yourself, and there is no need for me to say more."

"It seems that the queen is ordering us to leave?" Qian Mingduo nodded and said in a serious tone: "I promise you that I will never tell anyone about what happened today. But I also hope you will promise me one thing..."

"You don't have to say anything, sir," Zheng Dan said leisurely, "I won't tell anyone about what happened last night, sir, please rest assured."

"Okay." Qian Mingduo sat on the ground, took out his socks from his trouser pocket, and put them on one by one.

Seeing the big toe exposed, Zheng Dan smiled again.

At the moment when Qian Mingduo was about to open the palace door, Zheng Dan's voice came from behind him: "Tonight... I will ask Zhen'er to go to the adults' residence."

Upon hearing this, Qian Mingduo turned around quickly. Zheng Dan had disappeared, leaving only her vague figure floating behind the gently swaying veil.