Chapter 78 The Sky Curtain Made Me a White Moonlight in History The Sky Curtain, for publicity...

Gossip is something people always love to read, no matter the time.

While the emperor's heart pounded, fearing that Tianmu would expose the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister's tragic love affair, Tianmu obviously wouldn't reveal any historical inaccuracies. Instead, he listed several tragic couples who suffered lifelong separation and death due to the upheavals of the times, outdated ideas, and the lack of understanding of their sexuality.

That day, Yin was clearly a very skilled storyteller. He recounted historical anecdotes with the captivating power and dramatic twists of storytelling. The audience felt deeply connected, as if they too were experiencing the heart-wrenching pain of societal norms, family constraints, and the pain of separation from loved ones.

Many people felt sorry for the protagonists of the story and shed tears, constantly muttering "What a tragic couple," unable to accept the ending where lovers could not be together. In more fashionable terms, it was unforgettable; the more tragic the story, the more memorable and unforgettable it became.

Because the Heavenly Curtain is a divine prophecy, a "truth" that has been repeatedly proven, what the Heavenly Curtain says always prompts people to reflect and is taken seriously.

Just like mathematics and medicine, many things that were once not valued by the mainstream have now become things that people cannot ignore.

Because of the injustices faced by the protagonists in the story, people began to subconsciously reflect on things they had taken for granted, but now, upon closer examination, realized how illogical they were.

The fact that same-sex couples do not want to marry and have children has thus come to the attention of everyone, along with many other outdated and corrupt customs that have been criticized by later generations.

Perhaps they still couldn't understand it for a while, but at least they wouldn't be as firm in their rejection as before, and would openly say that Tianmu was wrong, or that the enlightened and knowledgeable descendants of later generations were wrong.

Especially after the emperor saw the celestial canopy, he couldn't bring himself to rebuke or stop it because his two most valued juniors were both homosexuals, and thus tacitly approved of it.

The court officials followed the emperor's example, believing they understood his meaning. In order to please the emperor, they often publicly declared that they were open-minded and would never do the kind of domineering and arrogant behavior described in the story.

Thus, this shift in attitude is happening subtly and undeniably. Many people are beginning to be more tolerant of others' views on love, at least not like Tianmu, who used public opinion, filial piety, and rules to drive a loving couple to their deaths simply because he didn't like it.

Perhaps, years or decades from now, the future depicted by the sky will become a social concept that everyone takes for granted.

But that's definitely a long time from now, not now.

At least that's what the emperor thought.

Until one very ordinary afternoon.

Two elderly ministers, both well over fifty years old, suddenly approached the emperor and requested an imperial edict to grant them a marriage.

The emperor had recently become somewhat paranoid about the term "arranged marriage," and subconsciously said, "I remember that none of you have married, have children, or any close relatives. There should be no one suitable to marry Minister Si, right?"

"It has nothing to do with Lord Si..." The minister looked strange, hesitated for a long time, and then said in a low voice, "It was I who requested the marriage for myself."

The emperor looked at the old minister with surprise. The man had white hair and beard, and deep wrinkles between his brows. He was a very serious person no matter when you saw him. Because of his cold and even somewhat harsh personality, he had very few close friends in the court.

The emperor was very curious about which beauty this eccentric minister had fallen for, so much so that he couldn't bear to part with her and had even come to him for help.

He said with great interest, "Tell me who it is. If it is suitable, I will bestow a marriage upon you."

"Yes..." The old minister hesitated, as if preparing himself mentally. Only after exchanging a glance with the other minister standing beside him, and confirming everything, did he close his eyes, steel his resolve, and blurt out, "It's Liu, Lord Liu!"

emperor:"……"

emperor:"?!!"

The emperor looked completely bewildered and uttered a single syllable: "Huh???"

He subconsciously looked at Minister Liu standing next to the old minister, only to see that Minister Liu's eyes were darting away and his head was quickly lowered. Although he was over fifty years old, he could still see a hint of shyness that was common among young people in his expression, which really stunned the emperor.

For the first time in his life, the old minister came out as gay in public. After he said it, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders, as if the mountain that had weighed on him his whole life had finally disappeared.

Having said the most difficult things, the rest of the words flowed naturally, like a tap being turned on.

Perhaps due to the bitterness in his heart over the years, the old minister couldn't help but shed tears before his eyes reddened after saying only a few words. He wiped away his tears with his sleeve and said to the emperor, "I have known Lord Liu for decades, but I have always been mindful of my family's reputation and dared not cross the line. Now we are old, and neither of us has ever remarried. I do not want to die with regrets, and I wish to fulfill my greatest wish in this life and give Lord Liu an explanation. I humbly beg Your Majesty's permission!"

After speaking, the old minister knelt down and kowtowed. His withered and aged back trembled slightly with the movement, as if he had used up the greatest courage he had ever had.

This was a secret he kept hidden in his heart, a secret that tormented him his entire life.

The emperor gazed at the old minister's hunched body, then at Lord Liu, whose head was bowed and large tears were falling to the ground, and suddenly fell silent.

No wonder the two high-ranking officials had to ask the emperor for help to marry her; it turned out that the other party was of the same sex and of high status, so her every move was under the watchful eyes of countless people.

Without the emperor's permission, this matter would certainly cause a great uproar if it got out, perhaps even leading to a court intrigue. It's not impossible that he would end up with a tarnished reputation, his past good name ruined.

Looking at the two of them, the emperor suddenly felt somewhat tired.

Even an emperor who has weathered many storms would inevitably experience some emotional turmoil after encountering two instances of familiar people coming out of the closet with him.

Honestly, if it weren't for the incident with Si Qi and Chu Feng, after the emperor saw the sky, given his character and his tendency to be soft-hearted, he certainly wouldn't have refused the pleas of these two ministers, and might even have felt pity for them.

But that's exactly what happened to him.

If he agrees to the minister's request, Chu Feng might have hope.

But the emperor simply couldn't bring himself to say such a cruel refusal.

Looking at the trembling, pleading old minister before him, the emperor's expression was complex. He said softly, "You...you may sit down and talk."

He had a lot to say to these two ministers.

He offered seats to the old ministers, who thanked him and looked at the emperor with hopeful eyes, longing for a reassuring answer.

The emperor did not answer directly, but said only, "Didn't you consider that your actions would disappoint your parents?"

"We have devoted ourselves to the family, ensuring its prosperity and growth, which has greatly pleased our parents," the old minister said hoarsely. "As for ourselves..." Of course, no matter what we did, we were criticized and beaten, as if not having children to carry on the family line made us sinners and unfilial. Meanwhile, his mediocre younger siblings, once married and had children, could rely on his power to cause him trouble everywhere. Whatever they did, they received constant praise from their parents, who openly and subtly implied that everything in the family belonged to those with descendants.

Now, their parents are gone, but the clan continues to prosper. Their nephews and nieces are obedient and docile in his presence, waiting for his death so they can inherit everything he has.

No one truly cares about him. The things he has worked so hard to build up his life seem to only make those around him look good in public, without ever allowing him to live a truly comfortable life.

So the older he got, the less he could understand who he had spent his whole life for.

Just when he thought he would spend the rest of his life in melancholy and loneliness, he suddenly saw the story in the sky and realized that the attitude of the people around him had softened. The idea that had been suppressed for decades resurfaced. He cautiously tried to contact the person he loved, but before he could even utter a word, the two of them burst into tears just by looking at each other's faces.

What is there that we don't know?

The two wept together for a long time before finally mustering their courage and finding the emperor together.

The emperor hadn't expected that the two old ministers' unwillingness to betray their parents would result in them living lonely and desolate lives, unable to find happiness even in their high positions. After a long silence, he asked, "Then why don't you want to have a child of your own to carry on the family line?"

"I do not wish to betray Lord Liu, nor do I wish to see Lord Liu have children with other men." The old minister said with shame, "I am very selfish. If Lord Liu chooses to marry, I might be able to let it go. But Lord Liu thinks the same way as me. How can I abandon his sincerity? I cannot do it."

Since he had come to the emperor's door, the old minister was undoubtedly sincere and completely willing to risk everything. Seeing the emperor's stern face and questioning tone, the old minister said, "I only realized after looking at the celestial veil that my thoughts were not wrong. I have never wronged anyone in my life, except myself and Lord Liu!"

The old minister, reflecting on the days he had spent living, felt increasingly helpless and powerless. He said sorrowfully, "I can't go on any longer. I only wish to be with the one I love before I die. Even if I die right now, it will be worth it!"

After saying this, he left his chair and knelt on the ground again, kowtowing forcefully to the emperor. He looked as if he would rather die here than not get an answer.

Lord Liu also knelt down, his head hitting the ground heavily, and pleaded, "Your Majesty—"

Upon seeing this, the emperor's heart grew even heavier.

Seeing their pitiful state, he suddenly felt a sense of fear. Given Si Qi's unwavering and principled nature, he might really end up like the old minister, silently guarding the one he loved for the rest of his life, living a lonely and miserable existence if he couldn't be with them.

As for Chu Feng… the emperor was unsure how Chu Feng, who was always self-disciplined, polite, and outwardly gentle and modest, would behave. He couldn't very well force Chu Feng to sleep with a woman he didn't love, and even if he did, seeing the old minister's pitiful state, would Chu Feng end up like that minister, unable to obtain the love he desired even with power, and never truly happy in his life?

The emperor was always satisfied with his outstanding crown prince. After Chu Feng almost encountered danger during the disaster relief efforts a while ago, the emperor was worried for several days, fearing to hear bad news about Chu Feng. He cherished Chu Feng immensely and valued him more than anything else.

He was furious that the crown prince had disobeyed him, but he also consulted historical records and discovered that there were indeed cases in history of people who were fond of male lovers, sharing meals, living quarters, and being buried with them, which was tantamount to establishing a male empress. In addition, there were many precedents of princes who were unable to bear children and had adopted princes from the imperial family to inherit the throne.

If the sole purpose was to continue the royal bloodline, the Great Qi Dynasty had many princes. The children born to these princes would also be his grandchildren, his descendants.

The next crown prince doesn't necessarily have to be Chu Feng's biological son.

The ice in the old ministers' hearts gradually melted under the old ministers' tears. The emperor sighed, rose and personally helped the two old ministers, who were trembling with sobs, to their feet. He comforted them, wrote them an imperial edict, and said that he would publicly express his stance in court the next day to put the old ministers at ease.

The old minister wept, his face streaked with tears and snot, and kowtowed to the emperor with profuse thanks.

The emperor sat back wearily in his chair, remaining silent and lost in thought for a long time.

That night, the emperor found Chu Feng.

This was the first time the emperor had seen his crown prince in over a month. The crown prince looked somewhat dejected, but upon seeing the emperor, he immediately bowed respectfully. His demeanor and attitude were impeccable.

How could such a perfect prince be so stubborn?

The emperor couldn't help but sigh once again.

Seeing his father so worried, Chu Feng felt very guilty. He said, "Looking back on what I said some time ago, I realize that I spoke without thinking and failed to fulfill my responsibilities as a prince, which made Father angry."

The Emperor: "It's good that you know."

"However, I believe that Lord Si also has feelings for me." After these days of reflection, Chu Feng had already realized Si Qi's feelings for him and said to the emperor, "I do not wish to fail my father's cultivation, nor do I wish to fail Lord Si. If my father desires a crown prince who can carry on the bloodline, I am willing to abdicate and assist the new crown prince, dedicating my life to the Great Qi as a prince."

Upon hearing this, the emperor's blood pressure spiked instantly, and he roared, "Shut up! The position of crown prince is not something you can simply give up! How can you do this to yourself, and to the expectations I have for you!"

"Father..." Chu Feng said with remorse, "Even if I am not the Crown Prince, I will dedicate myself to the Great Qi until my dying breath, and I will certainly not let Father down—"

"Enough," the emperor said, seeing Chu Feng's appearance and hearing his words, as if he saw the shadows of the two old men in Chu Feng.

Were they also forced by their parents to make such a promise when they were young? Did they think that if they didn't agree to Chu Feng being with Si Qi, Chu Feng would end up like their parents?

The emperor, struggling to breathe, found a chair and sat down, saying to Chu Feng, "If I insist that you be the crown prince, are you really unwilling to take any concubines?"

Chu Feng lowered his head, expressing his attitude with a silent gesture of guilt.

The emperor was speechless.

He remained silent for a long time, and finally said helplessly, "Forget it, I can't control you."

Chu Feng looked up in shock.

The emperor lowered his eyes, as if talking to himself, and murmured, "With your character, you will not let the Great Qi be without a successor. The Great Qi will definitely be better in your hands than in the hands of others. If the other princes become emperor, how could they easily tolerate you and let you use your abilities at will... Moreover, if you can work together with Minister Si to govern the country, it will definitely be better than the cooperation between the other princes and Minister Si."

The Emperor looked at the excited Crown Prince and said sternly, "I am a selfish man. I value the future of the Great Qi Dynasty more, and I don't care whether your heir is your child or not. Therefore, you are destined to be the future Crown Prince. Don't talk about abdication again!"

Chu Feng's eyes reddened slightly, and his voice choked with emotion: "Father..."

He took a deep breath, knelt down, and kowtowed: "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your mercy."

"...Don't make this public." The emperor paused for a moment, then added, "You can deal with it after you ascend the throne."

Otherwise, those princes and ministers who wanted to contribute to the rise of the new emperor would definitely use this matter to attack Chu Feng and seize his position as crown prince.

"Your subject understands," Chu Feng said with a smile.

Seeing Chu Feng's delighted expression, the emperor was somewhat angry, yet couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He gestured for Chu Feng to sit down and slowly recounted the things he had been thinking about during this time to Chu Feng.

"Since you are with Minister Si, you must not let him down." Seeing that Chu Feng seemed eager to explain, the emperor shook his head and interrupted, "This is not a matter of whether the two of you are in a harmonious relationship. Minister Si is a talented person with a very high reputation in Daqi."

While he might not be someone the emperor feared, many people were willing to defer to Si Qi and do things to make things easier for him.

For example, if the emperor expressed dissatisfaction with Si Qi, a group of people would certainly accuse the emperor of mistreating meritorious officials and use public opinion to demand that the emperor change his ways. Just like in the past, if an emperor did not agree with the words of some sages, he would be cursed by scholars all over the world and called a foolish and tyrannical ruler.

Or perhaps Si Qi was betrayed by Chu Feng, and a grudge arose in his heart. Even the slightest repercussions of the dispute between the two would have a huge impact, affecting countless court officials and common people.

The emperor looked at Chu Feng seriously and said to him, "You must understand that Minister Si is not one of your concubines in the harem, whom you can do as you please."

Chu Feng found it both amusing and helpless, unsure how to express his feelings for Lord Si to his father.

He was willing to give up the throne for Lord Si, so how could he possibly look down on Lord Si like that?

He solemnly replied, "Your subject understands."

Even after Chu Feng agreed, the emperor remained uneasy and kept muttering, "And what about Minister Si's family..."

"Many stubborn courtiers..."

"Those rumors..."

Seeing the emperor's concerned and worried expression, Chu Feng felt warm inside, smiled, and listened attentively to his father's ramblings, nodding in agreement from time to time.

The next morning, the emperor, having finally finished rambling on with all his pent-up words, yawned and left the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace. Chu Feng, who had also stayed up all night, was full of energy and eagerly stepped out of his study, saying to the eunuch outside, "Prepare the carriage; I'm going to the Prime Minister's residence to fetch Lord Si to court!"

The eunuch suppressed a laugh and said, "Yes, Your Highness."

Even though His Highness could have met Lord Si by simply waiting a short while in the Council Hall, he couldn't wait any longer and was eager to rush over to see him.

More than a month later, the Crown Prince finally made his appearance. Upon hearing the news, Si Qi hurriedly came out of his room and immediately saw Chu Feng standing outside the door with a big smile on his face.

Noticing the weariness lingering in Chu Feng's eyes and the slight weight loss she had experienced during their separation, Si Qi felt a pang of tenderness and couldn't contain his emotions. He quickly walked over and stood two steps away from Chu Feng, their eyes meeting.

Although they hadn't spoken a single word, their unspoken understanding told them that they loved each other deeply, to the point of obsession.

Chu Feng took a step forward and gently took Si Qi's hand in his, whispering to him, "My dear minister, I miss you so much."

Si Qi lowered his head, his face flushed with embarrassment, yet his sincerity remained undisguised: "Your subject agrees."

They gazed at each other tenderly, their unspoken love flowing in the air as they savored this precious moment of reunion.

"What did His Majesty say?"

After a long while, Si Qi took the initiative to speak, asking about Chu Feng's situation, his voice filled with worry.

“Father has already agreed,” Chu Feng said, unable to contain his laughter. He gripped Si Qi’s hand tightly and solemnly promised, “I… will never let you down.”

He abandoned his self-identified self-address and said sincerely, "Si Qi, Xiao Qi, I love you, I adore you, do you feel the same way?"

Si Qi blushed and nodded: "I fell in love with you at first sight."

Chu Feng's heart raced. He never expected Si Qi to answer like that. Overwhelmed with joy, he couldn't help but pull Si Qi's wrist and hug him tightly. He sighed and said, "What have I done to deserve this? How lucky am I?"

He never dreamed that he could be so in tune with Si Qi, and that Si Qi would love him so much...

His eyes involuntarily welled up with tears, but he didn't actually shed any on this joyous day. He smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will never let you down."

Chu Feng had pondered over Si Qi's words and requests before the Emperor repeatedly in recent days. He understood Si Qi's meaning and knew his thoughts, and he would certainly not do anything that would displease Si Qi.

He cherished the time he could spend with Si Qi.

Si Qi: "I have never doubted your sincerity."

This is a cycle that has repeated countless times, and Chu Feng has proven it to him countless times through his actions and even his own life.

Chu Feng was moved: "Little Qi..."

Si Qi blushed slightly, glanced at the guards around them who were shielding them from the outside world, and said in a low voice, "It's getting late, it's time for court."

Chu Feng estimated the time and knew it wouldn't be good for his father to see him being so infatuated with love that he made Si Qi late for court. He nodded and said, "Alright, we'll talk about it slowly in the carriage."

They walked towards the gate of the Si residence. On the way, neither of them mentioned the hands they had been holding the whole time. They got into the carriage one after the other.

-----------------------

Author's Note: [Heart][Heart]