The Lord God is kneeling on the washboard again

Across the vast, lush, grassy hunting grounds, the blazing sun scorched the earth mercilessly. The sun hung high in the azure sky, like a blazing fireball, mercilessly pouring its scorching rays down upon it. The earth seemed encased in a giant steamer, steam rising from the ground, filling the entire space with an unbearable heat.

They were sweating profusely, yet they remained erect, their gazes fixed on the horizon with eager awe. Their sweat-soaked clothes clung to their bodies, and beads of sweat continuously rolled down their foreheads, trickling down their cheeks and dripping onto the dry earth, disappearing in an instant. Yet, even so, they remained erect, their backs as strong as steel, their gazes toward the distance filled with eager anticipation and deep awe.

They stood there in silence, as if time had frozen, waiting for the Supreme Being to speak. Each one was as still as a statue, motionless, and everything around them seemed to be still, with only the rising and falling sound of their breathing proving their vivid existence.

Everyone's face was filled with anticipation and nervousness. Some people kept wiping beads of sweat from their foreheads. The handkerchiefs in their hands were already soaked, but they still mechanically repeated the wiping action, with a hint of anxiety in their eyes; some people tightly grasped their weapons, their knuckles turned white due to excessive force, and the veins on their arms bulged, as if they were ready to receive the upcoming orders at any time. The tense expression seemed to tell of their inner uneasiness and determination; others trembled their lips slightly, praying silently in their hearts for an exciting instruction. Their eyes sometimes looked into the distance, and sometimes looked at the supreme person, their eyes full of desire and dependence.

The entire scene was solemn and dignified, broken only by the occasional chirping of birds and the rustling of the grass. The clear chirping of birds stood out against the stillness, like nature's unique embellishment of this solemn moment. The rustling of the grass by the wind, on the other hand, was like a gentle whisper, attempting to soothe the restlessness within.

At this moment, an adult suddenly stepped forward, stood in the center, and bowed to the Supreme One. He said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the sun is about to set, and the Regent Prince and Princess Regent have not returned yet. Did something unexpected happen?" His voice broke the long silence, echoing in the empty hunting ground, making everyone's heart tighten, and their already tense nerves were now like a taut bowstring.

Emperor Nanyuan said to the guards calmly, "Go and take a look." His voice was calm and low, yet it carried an undeniable authority. It sounded as if he were merely ordering a trivial matter, yet in the tense atmosphere, it was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

Upon hearing this, the guards immediately clasped their fists in acceptance, their expressions solemn and dignified. With swift, synchronized steps, they raced swiftly into the distance. Their armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and the weapons in their hands swayed slightly with their movements, making subtle noises.

Emperor Nanyuan remained seated on his magnificent throne, his posture erect and his expression stern. His gaze was deep and distant, as if he were lost in thought, or perhaps simply waiting for news from his guards. Those around him, awed by his majesty, dared not utter a word, and the entire hunting grounds fell into an eerie silence.

The wind blew quietly, ruffling the sleeves of Emperor Nanyuan's robe, but it couldn't shake his imposing demeanor, as steady as a mountain. He narrowed his eyes slightly, following the retreating figures of the guards. His face was expressionless, yet the tightly pursed corners of his lips betrayed a subtle hint of worry deep within him.

Time seemed to stretch indefinitely at this moment, every minute and every second consuming a sense of anxiety. Everyone's gaze flickered back and forth between the direction of Emperor Nanyuan and the guards' departure, their hearts filled with speculation and anxiety. Emperor Nanyuan, however, maintained his imperial dignity and composure, as if he could control the situation no matter what.

At this moment, someone suddenly exclaimed, "Look, the Regent is back!" This exclamation broke the tension and silence in the air, and everyone's eyes instantly looked in the direction of the voice.

Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) and Xing Xuanli (Duanmu Li) walked out of the forest hand in hand. Their figures were particularly eye-catching in the mottled light and shadow. The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves and shone on them, as if covering them with a layer of golden gauze.

Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his resolute face radiating calmness and composure, his deep eyes gleaming with confidence. He held Xing Xuanli (Duanmu Li)'s hand tightly, his steps firm and powerful, as if declaring to everyone the unbreakable bond between them.

Xing Xuanli (Duanmu Li) wore a face filled with shyness and happiness, her beautiful features even more captivating against the backdrop of the sunlight. Her hair fluttered gently in the breeze, her skirt swaying gracefully, like a fairy from a painting. She tilted her head slightly, gazing at Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) beside her, her eyes filled with tenderness and affection.

Seeing their close bond, everyone was stunned for a moment, then smiled with relief. Some couldn't help but whisper, "See how affectionate they are, they're truly a match made in heaven." Others sighed, "The Regent and Princess Regent have such a deep bond; it's truly a blessing for our dynasty."

When Emperor Nanyuan saw that they returned safely, his originally tense expression gradually relaxed, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) and Xing Xuanli (Duanmu Li) walked towards the crowd hand in hand, step by step. They seemed to exude a warm and powerful power, making the atmosphere of the entire hunting ground relaxed and pleasant.

Luo Lingshan stood in the crowd, staring at Yun Mohan and Xing Xuanli who were walking hand in hand. Her eyes were full of jealousy and unwillingness.

Luo Lingshan bit her lip so hard her teeth almost broke it, her heart burning with anger. She had originally thought she had a chance to get close to Yun Mohan and become the one who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him, but the scene before her mercilessly shattered her fantasy.

Her hands unconsciously clenched the corners of her clothes, her knuckles turning white from the force. Luo Lingshan's face turned extremely ugly, and she kept cursing Xing Xuanli in her heart, thinking that she had snatched away the position she had dreamed of.

The laughter and praise of Yun Mohan and Xing Xuanli by the people around them were particularly jarring to Luo Lingshan. She wanted to rush forward and separate the two, but she knew she couldn't do that. She could only suppress her anger and stood there, shaking with rage.

Luo Lingshan's personal maid noticed something was wrong with her young lady, and whispered cautiously, "Young lady, please don't get yourself sick from being angry." But Luo Lingshan couldn't hear her at all. At this moment, her heart was filled with only resentment and jealousy, and she couldn't calm down at all.

Suddenly, the system rang in Luo Lingshan's mind: "Host, how about changing the target? According to this system, Prince Dongling and Nangong Han are equally matched."

Luo Lingshan was startled, her brows furrowed as she replied in her mind, "No! I want Nangong Han, and no one can change my mind!"

The system said helplessly, "Host, you must think carefully. Nangong Han and Xing Xuanli are currently in a deep relationship, and it will be extremely difficult for you to win him over. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince of Dongling is equally powerful and seems to be somewhat interested in you."

Luo Lingshan snorted coldly: "So what? I, Luo Lingshan, must get what I want. No matter what the price, I will not give up Nangong Han."

The system was silent for a moment, then continued to persuade: "Host, your persistence is likely to put you in trouble. Prince Dongling may be a better choice and can help you complete the task faster."

Luo Lingshan's eyes became more determined: "Don't say anymore! I have made up my mind. You just need to help me find a way to get Nangong Han. No need to say anything else."

The system sighed: "Okay, host, I hope you don't regret your decision."

Luo Lingshan no longer paid attention to the system, and once again cast her gaze towards Nangong Han and Xing Xuanli in the distance, secretly swearing in her heart: "I will definitely make Nangong Han belong to me."

Prince Dongling saw Luo Lingshan clench her fists, and a smile curved up his lips. There was a hint of amusement in that smile, and a hint of subtle cunning.

He walked towards Luo Lingshan, his eyes gleaming with insight. Prince Dongling whispered, "Miss Luo, this doesn't look very good." Luo Lingshan shuddered slightly at the words and glared at Prince Dongling fiercely, but couldn't bring herself to react.

Prince Dongling didn't care and continued, "However, this prince can understand your feelings. But some things cannot be obtained by anger and jealousy." His words were like sharp thorns, piercing straight into Luo Lingshan's heart.

Luo Lingshan bit her lip and said, suppressing the anger in her heart: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, please don't say sarcastic words here. There is no need for you to worry about my daughter's affairs." Crown Prince Dongling laughed with his head back. The laughter echoed in the air, making Luo Lingshan's face even uglier.

"Miss Luo, you have quite a temper. But, in this situation, having a temper is useless." Prince Dongling restrained his smile and his eyes became deep.

Luo Lingshan turned her head away, no longer looking at him, but her mind was swirling with thoughts. She knew that Prince Dongling's words must have a deeper meaning, but her heart was filled with resentment towards Yun Mohan and Xing Xuanli, and she had no time to think about it.

Prince Dongling looked at Luo Lingshan's stubborn back, and the corners of his mouth rose again, but this time, there was a bit of unfathomable mystery in his smile.

A minister said to Duanmu Jin, "Master Duanmu, your daughter really has the Regent under her thumb!" The minister had a flattering smile on his face, but his eyes revealed a hint of elusive and complex emotions.

Duanmu Jin raised his head slightly, his face filled with pride, and responded: "It is a blessing for the Duanmu family that my daughter has won the favor of the Regent."

The minister went on to say, "The Prince Regent has always been cold-hearted, but now he is so affectionate towards your daughter. The head of the Duanmu family is really a good teacher." As he spoke, he observed Duanmu Jin's expression, trying to find more information from it.

Duanmu Jin smiled slightly and said, "No, no, it's just my daughter's blessing."

The minister came closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Master Duanmu, now that your daughter and the Prince Regent are so affectionate, I'm sure the Duanmu family's status in the future will be unmatched."

Duanmu Jin's expression straightened, and he said, "This family head only wishes for my daughter's happiness. As for other things, I dare not think too much."

The minister nodded quickly and said, "Yes, yes, the Duanmu family is a man of high moral character. But the facts are before our eyes. Everyone knows that the Duanmu family is about to rise to great heights."

Duanmu Jin simply smiled faintly and didn't respond. The minister stood aside, secretly thinking about how to establish a relationship with the Regent through the Duanmu family and gain more benefits.

One of the ministers sneered inwardly, "Duanmu Jin is really good at flattering himself." Everyone in Kyoto knew that Duanmu Li had a hard life in the palace before.

The minister secretly complained in his heart: "Huh, Duanmu Jin seems to be acting like a loving father now, but who doesn't know how cold and indifferent he was to Duanmu Li in the past. Duanmu Li's life in the mansion is simply worse than death. She lives in a dilapidated house that leaks in the winter and rains in the summer. She eats leftovers and is often deducted by the servants. How can she be treated like a lady from a wealthy family?"

Thinking of this, the minister's mouth curled up in a mocking arc: "Now that Duanmu Li is in power, he is busy showing off and trying to cling to this glory. It's really shameless."

He continued to think in his mind, "Duanmu Jin is such a sycophant, he might betray others for personal gain one day. When working with someone like him, I need to be extra careful to avoid being stabbed in the back by him."

The minister took a deep breath and tried to calm his emotions, not letting his discontent show on his face. But his slightly narrowed eyes and tightly pursed lips still revealed his disdain and contempt for Duanmu Jin.

Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) and Xing Xuanli (Duanmu Li) listened to other people's discussions and turned a deaf ear to them.

They held hands, their expressions calm and composed, as if the surrounding words of envy, jealousy, and speculation were just passing clouds. Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) tilted his head slightly to look at Xing Xuanli (Duanmu Li) beside him, his eyes filled with tenderness and determination, as if telling her not to pay attention to the gossip.

Xing Xuanli (Duanmu Li) responded with a faint smile, which was filled with a sense of relief and freedom. She knew that the relationship between her and Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) did not need to be explained to others, nor did it need to be influenced by outside opinions.

The two of them stood there quietly, their postures upright, a scene in themselves. Their eyes met, and it was as if, in that moment, the whole world was left with only them, and all the noisy sounds were isolated from their world.

Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) held Xing Xuanli's (Duanmu Li) hand tightly, conveying silent strength and comfort. Xing Xuanli (Duanmu Li) felt the warmth of his palm and felt more at ease.

In their hearts, each other's companionship and trust are the most precious things. Other people's comments are just insignificant dust that cannot shake their rock-solid relationship.