After instructing the guards, the chief eunuch immediately thought of the news that had just been sent back from Lu County a few days ago.
After a hefty reward was offered, someone finally provided information, saying that they had personally witnessed the woman in the portrait entering and leaving the camp with King Xuanyuan Han of Qin, and that the two were behaving very intimately.
King Xuanyuan Han of Qin had never been interested in women, and having been away on campaigns for many years, he never allowed women to exist in his military camps, except for the queen who had suddenly died half a year ago.
Upon learning this news, Emperor Jing immediately and decisively placed Yi Shangkun and Yi Shangjun under house arrest.
He was certain that the cloud on his clothes was that mysterious woman.
It was as if by some strange twist of fate that she ended up in his hands and was taken back to the palace, but for some reason she had lost her memory.
Upon realizing this, the chief eunuch was filled with surprise.
"The legitimate daughter of the Yi family..."
"Princess Consort of Qin..."
"The most beloved of King Xuanyuan Han of Qin..."
"The legitimate princess of Dongning Kingdom..."
"Descendants of the guardians of Western Qin..."
"this……"
"this……"
"It's over, it's over."
"It seems that all of this was actually true!"
The truth has finally come to light.
Suddenly, he seemed to have been frightened, as if he had lost his soul, and muttered to himself, "Chaos, chaos, it seems the world is really going to be in chaos!"
He then turned around and hurriedly went back into the palace to report. In his anxiety, he almost tripped on the threshold when he entered.
He finally managed to stand up, but he was incoherent and couldn't finish a single sentence.
"emperor……"
"emperor……"
"It's her..."
"It really is her..."
"she……"
"She's back..."
"She really came back..."
Emperor Jing, still unaware of what had happened and engrossed in his own copying of calligraphy, caught a glimpse of the eunuch stumbling and staggering into the room.
Without even looking up, he questioned, "In broad daylight, under the emperor's very nose, have you encountered a ghost? Why are you so frightened?"
The chief eunuch then realized his lapse in composure. After calming down somewhat, he spoke again, "Your Majesty, she has returned!"
All of this was within his expectations, and Emperor Jing's face showed absolutely no emotion.
However, the pen in his hand, which was about to make the final touch, paused slightly on the paper.
Once the painting was finished, he held it up with both hands, gently blew on it to dry the last bit of ink remaining on the paper.
Then, with a look of extreme satisfaction on his face, he said, "They look so alike! They're so incredibly alike, almost identical! It's impossible to tell them apart!"
Then, he called out again, "Grand Eunuch, come and see what I think of the painting I just finished?"
The Grand Eunuch was stunned for a moment, until he met Emperor Jing's persistent gaze, then he hurriedly stepped forward and took a look at him.
After a moment's thought, as he often did in the past, he began to cater to the emperor's tastes, commenting: "It is currently the season for the persimmon harvest in all parts of Western Qin. In this painting by Your Majesty, a pair of magpies perch on the trunk of this sturdy persimmon tree, one above and one below, seemingly whispering to each other, adding a touch of warmth and romance to this bleak winter day."
After saying that, he began to praise Emperor Jing's painting: "The brushstrokes used to depict the tree trunks are vigorous and powerful, showing the unique texture of the branches. The skin of the persimmons, which seems to be a simple drawing, actually contains a profound skill in brush and ink. The texture of the persimmons' surface is expressed through different brushstrokes and variations in the density of ink. Its color is mainly orange-red, like the warm sun in winter, warming people's hearts."
Finally, he added, "They hang high on the branches or cluster together, each with a different shape, symbolizing the various wishes of the people of Western Qin. May everything go smoothly for them next year."
However, this time, Emperor Jing disagreed: "The Grand Eunuch has indeed misjudged the situation this time!"
Upon hearing this, the chief eunuch quickly looked back at the painting in front of him, but indeed found nothing amiss: "Hmm?"
Emperor Jing smiled and explained, "The one at the top is indeed a magpie, but the one below looks more like a lonely, solitary crow..."
The chief eunuch looked at the two magpies in front of him, which were clearly identical, and asked in confusion, "A crow?"
Emperor Jing said meaningfully, "But if this crow lands on this tree, all the fruit on the tree will probably rot immediately."
Upon hearing Emperor Jing's words, the Grand Eunuch seemed to finally realize something, and he froze on the spot, his face turning unusually ugly.
Just then, Emperor Jing once again uttered a harsh statement: "If you want to preserve the abundant fruit of this tree, it is time to get rid of this crow, eradicate it completely, and make it disappear forever."
The Grand Eunuch had served Emperor Jing for many years and had not been unaware that this event would eventually happen; he simply felt that everything had come too quickly and too suddenly.
For a moment, it seemed as if his legs suddenly lost their strength, and the eunuch almost fell to the ground. Emperor Jing noticed this and grabbed him tightly, and the two looked at each other.
On the passageway.
To prevent them from encountering acquaintances again, they covered Yi Shangyun's face with a white veil, and the guards led her slowly toward the Imperial Study.
The events that happened at Yuntai Temple are still vivid in my memory.
“Xuanyuan Han…”
“Wei Mingxuan…”
"They are... from past lives and present lives?"
"Does the concept of past and present lives really exist in this world?"
She kept muttering to herself, but in the end, she still couldn't escape it all.
At this moment, she suddenly remembered the scene when she first entered the palace that year, when she was also wearing a veil and afraid of being recognized.
Now it seems like we've returned to square one, but things have changed, and it seems like everything has changed, yet nothing has changed at all.
Looking at this vast palace complex, everything was resplendent in gold and jade.
Against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, it appears even more solemn and magnificent.
From the lifelike glazed tile beasts on the roof to the intricate and exquisite dougong (bracket sets) paintings under the eaves; from the delicate and elaborate carvings on the doors and windows to the gleaming gold bricks paving the ground, every detail embodies the hard work and wisdom of countless people.
Every blade of grass, every tree, every brick and tile along the way seemed so sacred, something I had never felt before.
Yes! That is the glory and splendor forged by countless people with their lives and blood over hundreds of years!
Among them was the original owner's birth mother.
She risked her life to enter the palace to see the late emperor one last time and to protect him as the sole heir to this beautiful land.
I imagine she may have walked the same path as I am now, and perhaps she felt the same way I do.
Finally, he decided to disregard everything and complete his mission.
Now, I too am doomed and have no other choice.
In an instant, the old Taoist in green robes spoke again in his ears: "The true dragon emerges from the sea, the spiritual realm is unified, the phoenix is reborn from the ashes, life is death, and death is life."
After much deliberation, she finally made up her mind and said silently, "King Qin, Xuanyuan Han, since you and Wei Mingxuan are beings from past and present lives, then in this life, I will protect you, help you reclaim everything that is rightfully yours, and unify this continent! Only in this way, including between us, will everything return to normal!"
Just then, the two arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Study.
When Yi Shangyun looked up, she saw that the Grand Eunuch was already waiting outside the door.
Seeing her approach, the chief eunuch personally lifted the curtain for her, saying with utmost politeness, "We've finally waited for you to return. You must have had a long journey. Please come in. His Majesty has been waiting for you for a long time!"
Yi Shangyun nodded slightly, then stepped over the threshold and went inside.
Now that all the mysteries have been solved, as soon as Emperor Jing saw Yi Shangyun slowly enter, he spoke first in a sarcastic tone.
Who is this?
"I wonder if I should address you as Princess Consort of Qin?"
"Or is she the esteemed Princess Yongning of Dongning Kingdom, the only heir favored by the King of Dongning Kingdom?"
"Or perhaps, they are descendants of the guardians of my Western Qin who have been lost for many years?"
Everything about this showdown—the tone, the wording—was exactly what Yi Shangyun had anticipated.
Unexpectedly, Yi Shangyun smiled and said, "If I said that I am nobody but myself, would you believe me?"
"Ha ha"
"Hahaha"
Hahahaha
Suddenly, a cold laugh echoed from the vast hall.
Then, the eerie laughter abruptly stopped, and Emperor Jing asked her again, "Having gone to such lengths, where is your child?"
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun silently swallowed and did not reply.
Emperor Jing chuckled and said, "Indeed, Prince Qin, Xuanyuan Han, does he even deserve an heir?! It seems even Heaven itself will not allow it. This world can only belong to me alone!"
At this point, Yi Shangyun wanted to calm down, but because Emperor Jing had repeatedly provoked her with his words, especially by bringing up her dead child, she could no longer suppress her anger and clenched her fists tightly in her sleeves.
Next, Emperor Jing said sarcastically again, "You broke your promise and didn't return to the palace within the agreed six-month period! I have no choice but to send those two from the Yi family..."
Before she could finish speaking, Yi Shangyun, not to be outdone, finally erupted, angrily saying, "What have you done to them? As the ruler of a country, the supreme sovereign, when have you ever kept your word? I ask you, where is Dingxiang? And now, what have you done to my father and brothers?"
Emperor Jing, however, calmly took a sip of his tea and said, "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. A few servants are just surviving in this world, like ants. What is there to care about in terms of life or death?"
Yi Shangyun was taken aback and said, "Ants? As the ruler of a country, is this how you view your people?"
Emperor Jing looked at Yi Shangyun with equal surprise and said, "Otherwise what? They should be grateful and thankful that without my protection, they would probably be lying dead in the wilderness long ago! But not only do they not know how to be grateful, they also dare to oppose me. It is simply repaying kindness with enmity and is extremely rebellious!"
Only then did Yi Shangyun realize the truth and find it laughable that such a person had been able to occupy that sacred position for so many years!
It's pointless to talk to someone like that. So Yi Shangyun said, "Release my father and brothers, and I promise you I'll stay!"
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