Yu Jiao was speechless and just kept crying. She really didn't know how to respond to her senior brother's desperate, overwhelming, desperate and surging love.
She was afraid that she would never be able to repay her senior brother for what he owed her in her lifetime, but she only had one heart. Since she liked Yu Qizhe, she could not share it with her senior brother. But this meant that she owed her senior brother a lot of love for her.
Seeing her crying so sadly, Cheng Ying couldn't bear to force her any more.
He didn't want to force her like this. Before they met, apart from the hesitation and confusion, he was afraid that after he told her everything, she still didn't have him in her heart and still didn't want to stay with him. He would lose control and force her, or even hurt her.
To want something but not be able to get it is probably the most painful thing in the world. He can be cruel and cold-blooded to everyone except Yu Jiao. Only her, he can't bear to give up the slightest bit.
If he didn't love her enough, he could use every means to plot against her, even ignoring her wishes and forcibly trapping her by his side.
But he couldn't bear it. He couldn't bear to treat her like that.
The night was as cold as water. Cheng Ying sent Yu Jiao, whose eyes were swollen like walnuts, back to her room and said to her, "Go to sleep."
Yu Jiao bit her lip. She knew that she shouldn't mention Yu Qizhe in front of her senior brother at this time, but she couldn't get any news from the outside world since she was taken to Xianyang.
But at noon, her senior brother had already told her that if there was no reinforcement today, Kyoto would be captured. Yu Qizhe was the one leading the troops to defend the city, and once it was captured, he would be the first to die because he was the first to die.
"Senior Brother..." Yu Jiao's steps were unsteady. She turned around to look at him, and her expression showed what she wanted to say.
Cheng Ying smiled bitterly. He really wanted to appear indifferent, but he couldn't do it.
"Jiaojiao, if Yu Qizhe died, would you still want to leave me?" Cheng Ying asked her.
Yu Jiao didn't dare to think about this assumption. The tears that had just stopped welling up in her eyes again. She remembered the first time she saw Yu Qizhe after she woke up in the cramped, dirty, cluttered, and dusty utility room of the Yu family. He was cold-faced and soft-hearted. Even though he hated the original body's behavior of climbing into bed, he never wanted to force a woman to death.
They walked all the way from Qingyu Village to the capital, and Yu Jiao clearly remembered every detail between them.
I remember the thrill of the moment when water drops dripped from his handsome face in the morning light, I remember them walking on the country road covered with wild grass and flowers, he said that wherever I am in the future, that is your home, I remember the restrained look on his face, his strong and steady embrace, his sparkling and affectionate peach blossom eyes...
Cheng Ying waited for a long time without hearing her words. He laughed at himself and turned around tiredly: "The night before yesterday, Liu Ziqi and Xiao Ning brought troops from Datong to Beijing to quell the rebellion. Ji Wudao has already withdrawn his troops. There is no danger in Beijing anymore."
Yu Jiao's tears froze. It turned out that her senior's previous words were just to scare her.
Cheng Ying turned and walked out of the bamboo house, helping her close the door. The moon hanging high in the sky was still shining brightly, no different from an hour ago, but the moonlight now made people feel cold for no reason.
The cold wind blew his robe as Cheng Ying walked away step by step. He looked back at the candlelit bamboo house behind him, his heart feeling bitter and confused. He had stumbled alone for half his life, searching for half his life, but it seemed that no one would ever accompany him on this road.
In fact, he never felt that there was any meaning in living, and he didn't care about death.
All these years he has been supported by an unattainable delusion and his obsession with Jiaojiao, but no matter what he does, it seems that he cannot have her.
He couldn't help but blame others. Why was he always a step late? Why did he miss her by such a mistake? Why was love so beyond his control?
Cheng Ying stood in the night breeze in the mountains and took out a small porcelain jar from his arms. He was about to throw it away before Jiaojiao brought up the topic of returning to Kyoto.
After all, after his Jiaojiao knew it was him, she acted like she cared about him so much and continued to rely on him as always, calling him "senior brother" affectionately.
But at this moment, Cheng Ying was holding the porcelain bottle, and her heart was as desolate as the lonely night on the top of the mountain.
He looked up at the bright moon in the sky. If there really were gods in this world, could they tell him what he could do to win Jiaojiao's heart and keep her by his side?
He was willing to give up everything he had in exchange, just hoping that the gods would have mercy and listen to his prayers.
The next day, in Shengjing, civil and military officials gathered outside the gate of Liu's mansion. The military generals were headed by Xiao Ning and Gu Wei, and the civil officials were led by Minister of Rites Song Ling and Grand Secretary Shen Jinchun. Yu Qizhe was in the middle holding the petition of the people. All the officials knelt on the ground and shouted for Zhu Ye, the orphan of Crown Prince Chen and the legitimate grandson of the emperor, to ascend the throne in order to bring peace to the world and stabilize the government.
The ministers shouted again and again, and their voices spread. The outside of Zanmao Hutong was already crowded with common people. Upon hearing the voices, they all knelt on the ground and repeated in unison. For a moment, the voices were like a flood, resounding through the sky.
Half an incense stick later, the door of Liu's mansion finally opened, and Liu Ziqi walked out. Looking at the kneeling civil and military officials, he sighed softly, "My dear ministers, I really don't deserve this."
Yu Qizhe held the petition of all people and said loudly:
"The people of the world cannot live without a master for a day. This is the norm of the country and the key to the country. I have heard that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is a saint of civil and military virtues, pure and upright, extremely benevolent and generous, and very popular. Now, the Crown Prince Ye is the legitimate heir of heaven, with a heroic appearance bestowed by God. His virtue is enough to explore the heart of the emperor, and his achievements are enough to inherit the rule of the gods. I hope that the Crown Prince Ye will think of the difficulties of his ancestors in starting a business, and take into account the importance of inheriting the throne today, and ascend the throne early to consolidate the imperial plan forever. We, the ministers, bow down to the palace and speak together to persuade him to ascend the throne. We see six dragons rising like the sun, and wish you a long life, as long as the sky."
Liu Ziqi bowed and said: "After reading the letter you submitted, I can see that you are concerned about the country. The succession is a matter of great concern to the country, so I dare not agree."
Xiao Ning spoke earnestly: "We, the ministers, secretly believe that the vast world must be governed by one person. How can we neglect such a complicated matter for days? Now we are facing internal and external troubles. There are rebellions in the south by the Baiyue people and internal traitors. I hope you can ascend the throne as soon as possible so that we can meet the expectations of the people and maintain peace forever. We, the ministers, are earnestly waiting for your orders."
Liu Ziqi's expression was moved. "You have made your request twice and three times with sincerity. The position of heaven is so important that it is difficult to keep it vacant for long. I dare not decline and will do as you ask."
In this way, when the ministers persuaded him to take the throne, he "refused three times" and then "reluctantly followed the request". This showed that Liu Ziqi was not greedy for power, was humble and modest, and was supported by the people. He was the choice of all officials and the people.
Liu Ziqi then said in a clear voice: "Taizu founded the country and passed down the tradition to the next generation. However, there is no leader in the court now, and the rebels are causing chaos. The country is in danger. The civil and military officials, the military and civilian elders have sent me letters to urge me to ascend the throne. They have been sent two or three times, and their words have become more and more earnest. It is difficult to refuse. I will do what you ask. Now I will inform the heaven and earth, the ancestral temple, and the country that I will ascend the throne. The Ministry of Rites will choose a day and prepare the ceremony to report it."
As soon as these words were spoken, all the officials were delighted and knelt on the ground and shouted with the people, "Long live the emperor!"
The Song magistrate had already instructed the officials of the Ministry of Rites to prepare the dragon chariot and welcome Liu Ziqi into the palace.
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