She was never close to anyone, not even her own parents, so she never had any close friends or any family.
At least, that's what her father, Duke Yan, thought.
Until that day, the national teacher came to visit.
Although he was flattered and confused, he still asked the imperial teacher to discuss the matter in his study.
But what the Imperial Master said left him bewildered. What symbol of a prosperous nation, what otherworldly soul, what offering of sacrifice... He even said his daughter was the most suitable body.
Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!
At that time, he didn't know where he got the courage from, but he directly drove out the highly respected national teacher who was second only to the emperor.
But Li'er heard it outside the study.
Her expression was calm and composed, as composed as an emotionless deity, yet she was no longer as unapproachable as before.
She knelt on the ground, her voice calm and clear, speaking word by word, "How can the skin survive without the hair?" As a citizen of Northern Yan and a child of the Duke of Yan, she had a public and private responsibility to do this in the face of her country's difficulties.
She said that she had run out of ideas and was unable to take the Duke of Yan's Mansion to a higher level or to advance her country. However, the Eight Kingdoms had been in a three-way stalemate for a long time, and all kinds of evil spirits had emerged. Beneath the calm surface, undercurrents had long been surging and intertwined.
Therefore, in order to prevent the fall of Duke Yan's Mansion and the immortality of Northern Yan, the best choice is for her to sacrifice herself for the soul of national prosperity. The thoughts of this other world must be extraordinary and shocking, enough to change fate and save the country.
Only then did the Duke of Yan finally understand that her daughter was not heartless and indifferent like a monk.
On the contrary, she was too affectionate and valued her relatives too much, so after learning about the embarrassing situation of the Duke of Yan's Mansion, she had been focused on protecting this family and everyone in this family.
Her daughter should be at an age where she can enjoy a carefree life playing with cats and dogs, but she is worried about the world and holds her country in her heart.
Naturally, there is no room for herself.
But as a father, a ashamed father who had misunderstood his daughter for more than ten years, he naturally did not agree with her sacrifice.
Therefore, under her repeated requests, he became furious and locked her in the boudoir, took away all the things that might cause her to commit suicide, and sent maids to serve her every day, never leaving her side.
But he still underestimated her stubbornness.
One month later, just when he thought she had given up the idea, she found an opportunity and quietly fell on the bed without a sound, without a breath left.
Her body was neat and tidy without a trace of clutter. She was so strict and meticulous even about her own death.
After hearing the news, he hurriedly took leave and returned home, but he only saw a cold corpse lying on the bed with a calm expression. There was a suicide note on the pillow, which was burned after reading it.
His wife, who was standing beside him, had already cried until her eyes were red and even her tears had dried up.
They were heartbroken and stayed by her side, calling a doctor, always fantasizing that this was just a dream, a nightmare from which they would soon wake up.
Later, the doctor said that she was just weak, exhausted, and had cold air entering her body, which caused her to faint.
They believed it.
I was so relieved and excited that I cried.
Until their daughter woke up again, they excitedly gathered around her, watching those eyes, as calm as dead water, slowly open, and seeing a little more life in those calm and steady eyes——
They knew that their daughter would never come back.
There would not be such a girlish vitality in their Li'er's eyes.
And this is the soul from another world that has sacrificed itself, right?
She took over Li'er's body, and they should hate her. But even without her, Li'er couldn't come back...
Sadness and grief intertwined, and their joyful expressions suddenly froze on their faces.
[I hope my parents treat her well. She will protect this home and this country for me. From now on, she is me, and I am her. —Unfilial son, Yan Qingli.]
What can they do?
Their daughter's last words were also her only request in this life. How could they not listen?
At first, they thought she was a monster and paid little attention to her;
Later, they treated her as a human being and treated her kindly;
Finally, they regarded her as their own child and felt concerned for her.
Matters of the heart are far from being something that people can control at will.
The affection, trust, respect and everything she gained were not due to the instructions of his daughter Yan Qingli, but were earned entirely by herself.
This is what the Duke of Yan said to her at that time.
They said:
"Child, you don't need to feel any psychological burden. We have long regarded you as our own daughter."
"If you are willing, you will be our second daughter. You deserve it. If you are not willing... after all, it is the Duke of Yan's family that is unlucky. No one else can be blamed..."
That was the first time she saw her always strict father's eyes filled with vicissitudes and tears;
It was also the first time that I saw my mother in the Buddhist temple, her eyes were red and full of love.
"I do." She said, and then performed the unfinished last ceremony on behalf of the original Yan Qingli.
From then on, she finally got rid of the inner demons that had been plaguing her.
She is Yan Qingli, because that is her original name. She is not a substitute, and she is not willing to be a substitute. The identity of the second daughter makes her feel much better.
In this way, they finally opened their hearts and eliminated the barrier.
"As for the original one, I actually admire her."
Shen Wuyou held his chin and listened quietly to her telling the story.
Yan Qingli smiled lightly: "She is indeed a person worthy of admiration."
"I just don't know where her soul is..." She looked a little worried, but soon she calmed down and said, "This trip has taken two and a half months. We have to hurry now."
"The next holy artifact? Where is it?"
"It's right here, the City of Eternal Love."
Bai Yumo took out a scroll, spread it out on the table, pointed to a spot on it, and explained:
"This sacred vessel is called the 'Moon Lotus Seat'. It says: 'As thin as a cicada's wing, as transparent as glass, accompanied by a clear glow, the same age as the sun and the moon.'"
"As thin as a cicada's wing, as transparent as glass..."
Shen Wu humorously repeated it, pondering, "Is it an artifact, or a plant?"
"A holy weapon must be an object, otherwise how can it seal Hunyuan?" Bai Yumo answered as a matter of course.
If it were a plant, wouldn't it have withered before the day it was sealed?!
"Is that so..." Shen Wuyou shrugged and shook his head, "Then it's not."
Looking at everyone's puzzled eyes, she explained:
"I know a demon named 'Night Moon Tan'. In his Hua Tan Pavilion, there are many flowers that look like Tan but aren't Tan, and look like lotus but aren't lotus. They are grown in water. When the moonlight shines on them, they are indeed covered with a layer of clear light, which is particularly beautiful."
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