Huangfu Qing looked confused: "Why, why do you need to make such a choice? There is no conflict between you and the Venerable..."
Zhao Changhe couldn't help but laugh at her strangely cute expression and said, "How can there be no conflict? Don't you know that since we met, the Venerable has been trying to win me over by letting you win me over?"
Huangfu Qing said: "That's to win you over, not to monitor you! What are you thinking about?"
"If we need to win them over, it means that our interests are not the same, we are just partners..." Zhao Changhe sighed, "Qing'er, I said it was the Fire Pig, but in fact, the two venerables never really regarded me as a subordinate. My identity was just a reason for the cooperation between the two parties. They knew from the beginning that I did not believe in religion."
Huangfu Qing was silent. Zhao Changhe was telling the truth. Both sides knew what this Fire Pig was like. Xuanwu would not regard him as a "direct subordinate", and she, Suzaku, would not regard him as a high-level official in the sect. It's just that there's no need to reveal this. It's OK for everyone to be nice and joke around...
Is it time to face it now
"They won't discuss important church affairs with me. For example, you are definitely going to appoint a leader this time. Will you ask me to attend the ceremony? It's impossible. They won't even think of me. In theory, it has nothing to do with me. Right?"
Huangfu Qing sighed and said, "Yes... Actually, they don't even treat you as a member of the Holy Church. If you feel that you are not trusted, I will help you talk to the Venerable. It is not difficult to participate in this kind of ceremony..."
Zhao Changhe smiled and said, "Am I here to attend the ceremony? The key is that His Majesty and I are not of the same mind, and there must be conflicts on some issues."
Huangfu Qing tried to say, "Are you just after the things here? I don't think you are a person who covets treasures, so why do you care so much about it this time... If you really care so much, I will talk to the Venerable. I don't think the Venerable is a stingy person, so it's okay to give you all of it..."
Zhao Changhe laughed: "I just need a handful of sand and the use of the stove... Strictly speaking, I may not need this handful of sand, I really don't care, I'm afraid it's the Venerable who is anxious."
Huangfu Qing didn't understand the meaning behind this, but the superficial meaning was clear. Zhao Changhe was not trying to fight for anything, but he just thought that the relationship between the two sides needed to be put on the table and sorted out.
She thought about it and understood why Zhao Changhe wanted to sort out the relationship between them at this juncture. After all, it was a major event in the founding of the country, and such an important political issue as whose opinion should be the main one could not be vaguely dealt with. Zhao Changhe was willing to help his woman Xia Chichi, but that did not mean he was willing to work for the Four Elephants Sect.
Suppose the Four Symbols Sect were to hold a massacre ceremony to welcome the gods, how would Zhao Changhe respond
We need to sort these things out before they happen. Being vague now will only lay mines for the future.
If the dispute over something is the cause, it is not for the thing itself, but the meaning lies in who has the right to dispose of and distribute the thing. I may not want it, but it cannot be distributed by you. At the very least, it must be distributed through negotiation.
Huangfu Qing had to admit that even though she was his woman, she would not follow his opinion.
I am Zhuque, representing the interests of the Four Symbols Sect. Not only will I not put your interests first, but if I find that Chi Chi dares to show such a tendency, I will beat her up. This is one of the reasons why I blocked Chi Chi's feelings. Why a saint must be pure is because it is easy to turn her elbow outward when she has a man. I can't say it directly to Chi Chi, I can only talk about doctrine and human nature. Those who actually understand will understand.
Unless Zhao Changhe himself represents the interests of the Four Symbols Sect, the two sides will no longer have any differences.
However, Huangfu Qing's identity itself is the "middleman" between Zhao Changhe and Zhuque... Huangfu Qing thought of this and sighed softly: "Changhe, please don't embarrass me... I am also one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions of the Four Symbols Sect. Your question is simply instigating me to betray the sect."
Zhao Changhe said: "Why is it so? There is not a serious conflict between me and the Four Symbols Sect. It is not like we cannot reach an agreement."
Huangfu Qing said, "Yes, of course we can reach a consensus. I once asked you if you wanted the Suzaku Venerable to kneel before you. I hope you can continue the legacy of the Night Emperor, and then even the leader will kneel before you. The Venerable himself also has some hidden expectations. The Night Emperor's sword blank is in your hands, isn't it? The Venerable did not say that he would take it back, but let you forge it. This is actually obvious."
Zhao Changhe said, "Among her expectations, is it more about the Night Emperor's return or my success?"
Huangfu Qing was silent, she couldn't tell.
Originally she thought there was no need to distinguish, but when asked this question, it seemed that there was indeed a difference.
Zhao Changhe said: "If I really have nothing to do with Ye Di, then is it impossible for me to have the same interests as you?"
Huangfu Qing had to admit: "Yes."
If he continued to say this, it would seem like a precursor to "Let's break up", and Huangfu Qing sighed secretly in his heart.
Zhao Changhe smiled brightly: "Alright, alright, since you are in a difficult situation, how can I force you to make such a statement... I will think about this matter again and try to reach an agreement with His Majesty."
Huangfu Qing heaved a sigh of relief. Although she stood on the side of the Four Elephants Sect, she really didn't want to fall out with Zhao Changhe. Whether it was personal feelings or the current situation, she really didn't want to be without Zhao Changhe. She thought Zhao Changhe was going to force her to express her position, but somehow he suddenly gave in.
"You... why did you suddenly let go?"
"Because I can't bear to force you. Why should I put my lover in the dilemma of love and friendship? This is a matter between me and the Venerable. I will figure out the solution myself." Zhao Changhe sat down on the ground, put his hands around her, and kissed her cheek. "In fact, even if you want to side with her, I won't blame you... Your loyalty to the Holy Church is a great advantage. How can I blame you?"
This is the truth. If Zhuque is determined to be Zhuque, Zhao Changhe really doesn't blame her. Everyone has their own ideas, and no one lives for men. Putting aside their positions, Zhao Changhe respects Zhuque's persistence. In a sense, she is the same as Tang Wanzhuang. Huangfu Qing's heart softened when she heard this. She leaned softly on his shoulder and whispered: "I know that in your heart, the persistence of the Venerable is foolish, especially under the premise that you have killed gods yourself, the gods are nothing special... But Changhe, the faith since childhood is difficult to shake easily. If it is so easy to waver, the Venerable would not be qualified to be here today. Moreover... The Venerable has spent a lot of effort to make the Four Symbols Sect what it is today. How would she feel if she was told that everything she has fought for in this life is not worth sticking to?"
"You too?"
"... Yeah, me too." Huangfu Qing finally said, "Changhe, if I ask you to be more considerate of the Venerable for my sake, and try not to have a big conflict with her, would you be willing?"
Zhao Changhe said without hesitation: "Of course I am willing."
Of course I am willing. This is the fact. If it weren't for you being Suzaku, I would have confronted Suzaku head-on. How could I be so indirect... He thought for a moment and added, "As long as it's not a matter of principle, I am willing to listen to her instructions for you. It's not a big deal. Just like the things here, she must distribute them, and I will let her do it and not argue with her."
Huangfu Qing smiled: "Hmm..."
She won't challenge your bottom line...
Huangfu Qing was very happy that Zhao Changhe was willing to express his opinion like this, and took the initiative to kiss his face: "How do you want me to reward you?"
Zhao Changhe's heart was slightly moved, and he whispered: "Hey, since you let me feel wronged by her, why don't you let me feel good behind her back?"
Huangfu Qing was stunned: "How do you want to feel good?"
Zhao Changhe whispered in her ear: "Why don't you put on a mask similar to hers and serve me for once? It will make me feel better if I feel like I am blaspheming Suzaku."
Huangfu Qing's expression became very strange.
"It's fake anyway, just for fun." Zhao Changhe urged: "As long as you don't tell her, she won't know... Only we two are secretly having fun, is that not okay?"
Huangfu Qing asked angrily: "What do you think of the Venerable?"
Zhao Changhe said: "Didn't I tell you how beautiful Suzaku is in my heart?"
He lowered his voice again, kissed Huangfu Qing in the ear and whispered: "To be honest, I want the Suzaku Reverend, I really want him... That is the deepest desire hidden in my heart..."
Huangfu Qing didn't know what to feel after hearing this. He was angry, amused, and a little proud.
The little man actually likes me in person, you little pervert, I knew you had bad intentions.
My ears felt itchy from his kisses, and my heart felt numb.
After a long while, he panted and said, "You know how to humiliate me. If you have the guts, do it to the Venerable..."
"Give me some interest first..." Zhao Changhe suddenly reached out and grabbed a ball of special soft red metal from the chamber materials. He rubbed and pulled it for a while, making it into a shape similar to the Suzaku half-face mask: "It's not very similar, can you give it a rough shape?"
It would be better if they were not extremely similar. If they were exactly the same, I wouldn't dare wear it in front of you. Everything would be exposed as soon as I wear it.
Now I don't know if I dare...
Huangfu Qing was hesitating when Zhao Changhe put the mask over her face. "This is soft gold used to refine stars. It also belongs to fire. The meaning of the stars will not disgrace you, sir. Why don't you try it?"
Huangfu Qing was helplessly covered with a mask. How could he care about soft gold or fire? Watch his expression carefully, don't recognize him...
Fortunately, the mask was indeed different. Zhao Changhe didn't seem to think about it at all. He clapped his hands happily and said, "It has a bit of flavor... Only his eyes are not as sharp as the Venerable's."
Huangfu Qing didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She glanced at him and said in a charming voice, "Well... look carefully, this is the Suzaku Reverend serving His Majesty..."
As she spoke, she slowly lowered her head and kissed her red lips.
Zhao Changhe took a deep breath, leaned back tactically, touched her hair, and was speechless.
(End of this chapter)