Chapter 102 I will not refuse

The purse in Liu Quan's hand was heavy, and the copper coins inside jingled. It was not lavish, but for his family, it was a heart-pounding fortune. Xu Luo took it, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, deliberately shook the purse in his palm, and joked: "Haha, Brother Liu's kindness, I will not refuse it!"

"But, Brother Liu, there is something I need to tell you first," his tone suddenly became a little low, "I may have to leave this place soon."

Liu Quan was stunned, his mouth slightly open, as if he was shocked by the sudden news.

"I may not be able to make it to the baby's full moon banquet. So, consider this money as a gift from me in advance. Brother Liu, please don't refuse it!" Xu Luo's words were filled with determination.

"What? Brother Han, you said you are leaving?" Liu Quan's voice was full of confusion.

He really couldn't understand it. Xu Luo was very good at divination and had long been well-known in this small town. Even if he died here, he would not have to worry about food and clothing. Moreover, this business was more popular as people got older, but Xu Luo suddenly wanted to join the army, which Liu Quan couldn't understand.

Xu Luo just smiled faintly, his eyes deep, as if looking at the other side of the distant shore, and gently uttered two words: "Join the army."

Liu Quan looked at Xu Luo with a complicated expression on his face, a mixture of reluctance and doubt. At this moment, the beauty in Ganlu Palace also bit her lips gently, with similar worry and loss in her eyes. Her chest rose and fell slightly, and she seemed to be disturbed by the sudden news.

After the morning court session ended, Emperor Li II sat there alone, holding the memorial in his hand, but he didn't read a single word. His eyes were blurred, staring straight ahead, as if he was out of his mind. This state lasted the whole morning, accompanied by sighs from time to time. The eunuchs and palace maids were so worried that they almost burst into tears. They thought that if this continued, the emperor's dragon body might not be able to bear it.

Just as everyone was frowning, a scent of food wafted in, and the woman from the Lan family walked in lightly with a food box in her hand. "My second brother didn't look very well when he came back yesterday, and I was very worried." She spoke with concern and a gentle smile on her lips, "So I cooked some food for my second brother today." As she spoke, she had already neatly arranged the four side dishes in the food box, and each one was exquisitely cooked and delicious.

The Lan woman's eyes were rolling, her eyebrows were picturesque, she gently brushed the hair beside her ears, revealing her fair neck, her skin was like sheep-fat jade, making people unable to help but look at it a few more times. Although His Majesty the Tang Dynasty understood her good intentions, he could not muster up any appetite in front of the delicious food.

"This Wang Decai is really a headache." Emperor Li II shook his head and smiled helplessly, "I was just a little late for dinner, but he went to tell on me right away." The Lan woman smiled gently, and that laughter was like a spring breeze blowing across the water, which made people's hearts soften, "Second brother, if it were someone else, I'm afraid he would have been impatient a long time ago." As she spoke, she inadvertently stroked her hands, those hands were slender and soft, as if they could soothe all the troubles in the world.

When Empress Changsun saw the worry that was hard to conceal on Li Shimin's face, ripples appeared in her heart. She walked towards the emperor slowly, her gorgeous clothes swaying gently with her steps, and her eyes were full of concern. She smiled slightly, and joked in a magnetic voice: "The emperor is busy like ants every day with those court officials, but you, second brother, are the emperor, but you still have to worry about these trivial matters. It's really distressing." She picked up a piece of dish with elegant movements and slightly opened her lips, as if even the dish seemed more tempting because of her touch. When she handed it to Li Shimin, her eyebrows were full of tenderness, "Second brother, if you have any troubles, others can't tell others, but you can always tell me, right? Maybe I can share your worries."

When Li Shimin saw the empress like this, he felt warm in his heart, but he still shook his head and sighed: "Empress, you always see through my mind." He pondered for a while before continuing, "But even I am helpless about this matter." Empress Changsun gently stroked the back of the emperor's hand. The jade-like skin touching her hand seemed to convey endless comfort.

"Which minister in the court has caused Second Brother to be so upset?" Empress Changsun deliberately joked, "Could it be that Prince Songfei who always likes to frown, or someone else? Although I don't ask about the affairs of the court, I can't sit idly by and watch Second Brother's troubles."

Li Shimin was amused by her words and finally let out a sigh of relief: "Queen, are you making fun of me? But since you asked, I will tell you the twists and turns."

"Hey, have you heard? Xu Luo, who was setting up a street stall in Chang'an, is actually going to give up everything to join the army!" Before Empress Changsun finished speaking, the plate of carefully prepared food in her hand almost fell. She widened her eyes, with an incredible look on her face. Xu Luo, who usually just set up a stall leisurely in Chang'an City, was actually planning to join the army, which made her feel mixed.

Xu Luo's decision was like a huge rock hitting a calm lake, causing ripples in Empress Changsun's heart. She remembered that she had entrusted her sister to him personally, and she had the hope of recruiting him into the court. At this moment, those past expectations vanished like smoke, leaving only regret.

She looked at the direction where Xu Luo left, her eyes showing reluctance, as if she had a thousand words in her heart. The eyes that had admired Xu Luo countless times were now filled with sorrow. "After he leaves, I'm afraid it will be three to five years, or even longer before we see each other again." She sighed softly, with an unconcealable sadness in her tone.

Li Shimin, who was standing next to him, had a calm expression at first, but when he heard this, he immediately became gloomy, as if dark clouds had covered the sun, and his face was full of displeasure. He stood up suddenly, and his voice was filled with unquestionable majesty: "Tell Xu Luo that I, Li Shimin, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, am not so easy to get rid of!"

Empress Changsun looked at Li Shimin's reaction and was secretly anxious. She knew that this separation was equally difficult for Li Shimin to accept. She bit her lips gently, and her lips, as soft as flower petals, showed a hint of determination at this moment: "If it really doesn't work, I will go to him myself." As soon as she finished speaking, Li Shimin was already ready to recall Xu Luo immediately.

I thought to myself, I have tried every possible means, even at the cost of exposing my true identity, all to keep Mr. Han by my side. And you, Li Er, are actually thinking about driving him away. Just as Li Er was about to explode, Empress Changsun had seen through it all and said with a smile: "Second brother, don't be angry, listen to me slowly."

(End of this chapter)