Chapter 67: Bond Skills, Brotherhood Memories + Black Falcon's Cuteness + Shadow Chase...
That cough successfully bought Ying Xi some time to recover.
After coughing, Yingxi said she really should see a doctor.
With the emperor and his minister now one wounded and the other sick, there was no reason for the wounded to send the sick to the injured, so Ying Xi was able to escape on her own.
After leaving the cabin, Ying Xi didn't summon the military doctor. Instead, she returned to her room early, her mind unsettled for a while.
Because he was a weak person with an unhealthy body, the sensation of being completely pressed against Xie Qianli was even more shocking to him.
He felt a burning sensation from his back to his lower back, especially where the other person's palm had touched him.
Perhaps, he longed too much to have such a physique.
If it really could...
So back in Fanglan Palace, if Shadow was wary of him, Emperor Yuantai wouldn't have harbored any wicked thoughts. And today, when they meet Shadow again, he could even personally take action against him.
He still thinks about Koma, and will probably need to rely on Koma's strength for a long time to come.
There's no time to cultivate a new general, and we don't even know their background.
Yingxi told herself: Ju'er can still be used.
"Your Majesty! I'm here!"
"Your Majesty, I have upgraded myself."
Sweetie seemed to be circling around him.
A sweet and clear voice echoed in my mind, and a romance system popped up in my field of vision, changing the interface.
If the dialog boxes used to be elegant, now they're all about luxury, with intricate and elaborate cloud patterns on the decorative borders and a subtle golden glow emanating from the interface.
How to put it? It feels more upscale than before.
Is this what our valued consumers are like?
Ying Xi smiled: "It looks good."
No little girl dislikes hearing others compliment her on her looks, and Tian Tong was overjoyed.
Sweet Leader showed Ying Xi the latest features of the Romance System: "Our system closely follows the trends and has developed a Bond Skill Engine. This feature is being launched with an invitation to our valued users to try it out. You are already eligible."
Ying Xi: "What are synergy skills?"
"When your bond with a character exceeds a certain threshold, a new skill will be unlocked, which will have different effects when used."
Ying Xi: "For combat?"
“They have different functions,” Sweetie said. “The main purpose is to leverage each role’s strengths to deal with your current crisis.”
That sounds pretty good.
However, upon closer examination of the wording, and considering the inherent characteristics of the romance system, it becomes clear that...
Ying Xi had a vague feeling that something was wrong: "This character, in other words, it wasn't me who used the skill?"
Sweetie: "Mmm-hmm!"
Sweet Leader: "It's all for the sake of bonds and interactions. If you were to fight alone, we would become a battle system."
Ying Xi: "..."
After a long silence, Ying Xi finally said, "Is it really impossible for you to become a combat system? I can provide financial support."
Sweet Tong replied decisively, "Absolutely not. Hehe."
Ying Xi: "..."
Communication with the system was unsuccessful once again.
Ying Xi pondered this synergy skill and thought it was rather useless.
First, as the emperor, he naturally had to avoid danger as much as possible. Second, it was inappropriate for him to show signs of danger in front of his subjects. Finally, his danger might very well come from them.
Ying Xi shook her head slightly.
He couldn't think of how to use this skill for the time being. He rested his chin on his hand.
The dim yellow light on the desk flickered slowly, and the sounds of water and rocking boats could be heard, along with the tranquil river breeze.
Under normal circumstances, the waterways in the south at night should never be so deserted.
If land routes are the backbone of the North, then waterways are the lifeblood that flows through the Jiangnan region. The South is entirely bordered by rivers, and Ying Xi, hailing from the South, has witnessed this to be true.
Just in their hometown of Guangling County, there are many families who built their homes along the river.
There is a road in front of the Yongning Prince's Mansion, and a stream of water is introduced into the mansion.
The father was a refined man, and the mother was well-read. The two of them worked together harmoniously and designed all the landscapes of the palace.
Artificial hills and stacked rocks, winding streams and floating wine cups... each scenic spot has a unique name.
Every bay and every pond holds precious childhood memories.
As a child, Yingxi loved boating, and her younger brother loved swimming.
Yingxi and her mother took a boat trip to enjoy the lotus pond in the palace, while her father took her younger brother to play in the water.
If the father and son blocked the mother and son's small boat, Dang'er would splash water on the boat.
Afraid of getting her clothes dirty, Yingxi snuggled into her mother's arms, and Dang'er would giggle.
Seeing that things were about to get heated, the father would always naturally steer the conversation in a different direction, suggesting that they pick lotus flowers and roast frogs together...
Their family used to be so harmonious.
The father was gentle, the mother was virtuous, and the brothers were harmonious.
If it weren't for his summons to Chang'an, which implicated his innocent parents...
Given his father's prestige and the popularity he enjoys in the local area, Li Yilong simply cannot make a difference in Yangzhou.
Guangling still stands, but things have changed and people are no longer the same.
The more Ying Xi stepped into Jiangnan, the more it stirred up memories that she had forced herself to bury for many years.
Memories flooded back, and Ying Xi slumped onto the table.
He didn't want his eyes to fill with tears, because once his emotions were triggered, it was hard to stop.
If his vision becomes blurred at this moment, Tian Tong will definitely be able to sense it.
As a dignified emperor, I cannot allow a young girl to laugh at me.
But he is a human being; his heart is not made of wood or stone, how could he be without feelings?
Of course, Yingxi would also miss her father and mother, and her real home.
That day, leaving Guangling turned out to be a separation of life and death.
What wrong have my father and mother done?
Did you suffer when you were killed?
Are you worried about us? Do you regret giving birth to me?
Tears blurred Yingxi's sleeves.
His throat felt like it was being burned by strong acid, and he was alone with the profound sorrow of being unable to see his loved ones.
However, Ying Xi did not utter a single sob; he remained dignified and composed, concealing his emotions perfectly.
Therefore, Tian Tong did not know what was going on and thought that His Majesty had fallen asleep due to exhaustion.
Sweetie whispered, "Your Majesty, are you tired?"
"Yes, I'm tired. You should rest too."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At that moment, the dragon boat gently touched the riverbank, and Yingxi heard a loud bang.
He did not arrange any stops during his southward journey, and by that time he should not have reached the war zone between the two states.
What's going on?
A soldier outside the dragon boat shouted, "Enter the ferry crossing for the dragon boat to undergo maintenance."
Lian Qing, outside the cabin, lightly knocked on the cabin door to transmit a message: "Sanjindu is the last crossing point before reaching the combat zone. The main ship has just been damaged by the bandits, and the general is worried, so it has temporarily stopped for repairs. Your Majesty may continue to rest; you do not need to move."
When he heard Xie Qianli's detailed arrangements during his most emotionally turbulent moment, Ying Xi calmly adjusted his breathing.
He murmured to himself: "Colt."
Ying Xi sighed softly, "I understand."
***
Bang, bang bang!
Clang, clang clang, ding-ding-ding
The sounds of construction were incessant.
Even if it was said that the emperor was personally leading the expedition, Xie Qianli could not possibly have told the craftsmen at the ferry that the emperor himself was on the dragon boat.
The craftsmen were unaware that there were important figures on board.
Therefore, the dragon boat becomes very noisy when the boatmen are doing maintenance.
The ferrymen chatted as they worked, some even singing fishing songs and chanting work chants.
These are all unique customs and traditions of Jiangnan. Yingxi doesn't find them completely unfamiliar, but she has seen them rarely.
He got up and leaned against the window to listen, slightly opening the window a few inches.
His deep gray eyes reflected the lights of the ferry crossing, adding a touch of warmth to his refined features.
The craftsmen talked loudly and without any attempt to hide their voices, saying, "Yangzhou is at war with Jingzhou, and Guangling City is refusing to come out. Guangling is different from other places!"
"How are they different?"
"The city has water, and the people are prosperous. Even if the city is sealed off, it will be useless!"
"Danyang is easy to fall, but Guangling is difficult to capture. I wonder what the court should do?"
"Who is that prefect?"
"I heard that his surname is Jia and he is extremely resistant to the imperial court. General Xie Meng first sent an envoy to persuade him to surrender, but he killed the envoy!"
In war, envoys are not to be killed.
The death of the envoy signifies Guangling's determination to fight the imperial court to the bitter end.
Who exactly is Prefect Jia?
Ying Xi pondered carefully and had a slight idea about the person's identity—Shadow.
The world is vast, but Shadow cannot remain a carefree hermit under his own rule. He pursues a life of enjoyment and craves fame and fortune, and therefore must rely on the support of the local ruler.
Therefore, he chose to join the rebel army in Jiangnan!
If he can help Li Yilong kill me, he can become the emperor's confidant and enjoy great favor!
"dream."
Yingxi hooked her fingertips back to the window, and the firelight shining on her face gradually became a line.
He didn't want to listen anymore and was about to go to bed when he heard the flapping of birds' wings outside the window, and saw a dark mass moving around outside the window.
He had no choice but to open the window again, thinking it was just Xiao Hei being naughty.
Sure enough, the black falcon darted into the cabin like lightning, raising one talon to kick in a carrier pigeon.
The pigeon struggled, something attached to its leg—a brocade pouch. Ying Xi's heart skipped a beat. There must be heavy guard outside the cabin door, and the only way to send a message was through this window. He instinctively felt it was nothing good.
The pigeon had been firmly pinned down by the raptor.
Despite the pigeon's fierce struggle, the black falcon, which held the upper hand, tilted its head and let out a cry even softer than the pigeon's.
"Coo coo coo coo".
"Your Majesty, I think this bird has a bit of tea in it," Sweet Tong retorted.
Yingxi took off the brocade bag, and the tea bird picked up its claws.
The carrier pigeon struggled to its feet and fluttered away.
Ying Xi touched the brocade bag through her hand and felt a hard object about an inch in size inside, but she didn't know what it was.
He opened the brocade pouch, and the light illuminated its contents. The moment his eyes met it, the pouch slipped from his grasp, and Ying Xi stumbled back several steps!
The jade seal fell to the ground.
Clang.
This jade seal is smooth and lustrous, shimmering with a translucent glow under candlelight. The top of the seal is carved with a Qilin (a mythical creature), and the bottom has traces of cinnabar indicating that it was once used.
The seal script characters—Yongning King's Seal—were drawn with cinnabar.
The jade seal has a small, rice-grain-sized corner missing from its bottom.
At that time, Dang'er had just been born. His father was holding him while writing, and Dang'er kicked the royal seal away. That's how the complete seal got this missing corner.
The black falcon used its beak to pull a slip of paper from the brocade bag, then flung it in front of Ying Xi, presenting it to her like a treasure.
The note contained only sixteen small characters, written in a crooked and illegible hand, clearly not the work of someone with a formal education.
The wording of the note was utterly shameless:
"Kill your father and humiliate your mother."
"If you want revenge, see me alone."
shadow! ! !
My father guarded the local area; his name is etched in the hearts of his people.
Only the last person to see the King can obtain his seal.
It was Shadow who slaughtered the entire Yongning Prince's Mansion, forging an irreconcilable blood feud with him.
When Ying Xi realized the truth, he lost control and staggered to the ground.
He held the jade seal, which he had just dropped on the ground, in his hands, his knuckles trembling violently.
He seemed to want to glimpse the scene of the Yongning Prince's Mansion's demise from behind the seal, and to see his biological parents one last time, but this kind of imagination was unbearable for him.
Even as an emperor, I cannot turn back time.
Ying Xi gripped the jade seal tightly, his heart filled with hatred. The chipped jade seal almost broke his bones, but he couldn't feel the pain.
All the pain was concentrated in his heart.
Ying Xi slowly got up, his mouth filled with the taste of rust. He looked toward the hatch and took a step forward.
Sweetie cried out in a shrill voice, "Your Majesty, don't go!!!"
"His Majesty faces immense risks traveling alone. Moreover, this person wrote such a vicious letter, precisely to incite His Majesty's anger. Without General Xie and the others' protection, His Majesty will be killed!"
"Besides, we are currently at war, and His Majesty's life is crucial to the outcome of the war..."
The letter, written by a seemingly wicked but highly empathetic romance system, ironically played the role of the rational party.
Sweet Tong was afraid that the host would act impulsively.
Ying Xi carefully tucked the jade seal into his sleeve, his voice a little hoarse.
He steadied himself and said, "I suspect that my enemy might be the governor of Guangling County, whose background is unclear."
"If it is him, and he lured me into ending the war, wouldn't I also want to kill him and take this city?"
Ying Xi fiddled with her sleeve, taking the paper and pen with her.
"Besides, I have ordered someone to follow me secretly. They can send messages by wild geese and return to the capital at any time. It is nothing more than a battle with the rebels in Jiangnan."
He rationally dispelled Tian Tong's concerns.
A firm confidence emanated from her, and Ying Xi gave a cold laugh as she pondered: "If I were afraid of danger, I wouldn't have personally gone down to Jiangnan."
"I will definitely kill him."
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