Chapter 175
“A-Ning.”
Yan Qizhen's voice was almost trembling. When he woke up, he found himself in the Western Regions State Palace, and there was even a faint smell of blood around him.
"You saved me."
He stated a fact in a casual manner.
Yingning, who was being held in Yan Qizhen's arms, gently turned her head and said:
"Your Highness, you are in a real sorry state now."
Upon hearing this, the already somewhat dim and watery eyes suddenly stopped shimmering, and Yan Qizhen pulled her even closer into his arms.
He let the fragrance of her hair envelop his nose.
"Yes, I really have nothing left now."
Yan Qizhen had to admit that he was extremely lucky to have escaped from Yan Jingxu's clutches that day.
but...
The old emperor didn't gain much advantage either, and the effects of the Worry-Free Powder will likely kick in in a few days.
Yan Qizhen took a small step, gently pressing against her back, trying his best to suppress the restlessness within him, and lowered his voice slightly: "So..."
"Ah Ning, will you take me in?"
His gaze drifted down, tracing the back of her fair neck, seemingly oblivious to the growing intensity of his gaze.
She cares about him, right?
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to save himself.
The fragrance of the pirimica flowers grew stronger and stronger, threatening to overwhelm those in front of them.
The scent of flowers lingered around Yan Qizhen's nose, and his once captivating, watery eyes gradually turned crimson—this was the umpteenth time he had ever done so.
Every time I think of her, every time I see her.
He could smell the odor emanating from his body.
At first, he thought it was just the scent of flowers on his robe.
But I kept smelling it again and again.
...
Then Yingning's voice, seemingly distant, appeared: "Then, what can the Fourth Prince give me?"
"I remember Your Highness once said that my role was no longer needed."
"Given your current status, what use do you think you are to me?"
After Yingning finished speaking, she gently turned around to look at the snow-white figure behind her, her dark phoenix eyes filled with a smile.
Yan Qizhen was taken aback.
A slender hand gently lifted his chin.
It's rare to see Yan Qizhen, who usually prefers understated colors, dressed in a dark robe. His hazy eyes lacked a hint of pity, but instead gained a touch of stubbornness.
The pale moon watched this scene with indifference.
Yan Qizhen is like a figure on the riverbank in a painting of misty rain in Jiangnan. The moonlight gives the famous scenery of Jiangnan in the painting a snowfall, and the person in the painting is a stunning beauty.
He looked up at her, and upon hearing her words, the crimson at the corners of his eyes suddenly turned somewhat manic.
Then Yan Qizhen lowered his head slightly, parted his still somewhat pale lips, and bit her fingertip.
An unspeakable sound escaped his lips, breaking the silence.
His unique physique caused his body to become burning hot at this moment, and he could even feel the old injury on his side almost screaming for comfort.
He wanted her.
Those old memories longed for her comfort.
Even if it meant reopening those bloody memories, he was willing.
Much later.
He suppressed the overwhelming urge to be close to her that was rising in his chest, and looked up at her:
"Besides this body, I have nothing else to give Your Highness."
"If the princess takes a liking to it, then take it."
“But Qizhen thinks the princess probably wants something else more.” He paused, his voice trembling slightly.
"Your Highness, don't you want..."
"Is there any medicine that can save Bai Chuning?"
He used his last straw to beg for his beloved's mercy.
Pity his life.
Pity his feelings.
That's how things are; he has no control over anything, not even the smallest detail.
What are his chances of winning against her?
*
The heavy snow had not stopped, and the people of the capital were filled with anxiety.
At this time, rumors circulated that the emperor had been ill for a long time and was prone to mood swings, and that he had repeatedly sent troops to search for the fourth prince.
In recent days, he has even gone so far as to kill many palace servants in a fit of rage.
Qiankun Hall.
"Drag him out!" A dragon's mighty voice terrified the surrounding palace servants, who dared not raise their heads and instead trembled and prostrated themselves on the cold ground.
"Your Majesty, spare my life!"
"Your Majesty, this servant really didn't... really didn't see it!"
"His Majesty!"
"Spare this servant!!"
The younger eunuch struggled desperately, but was still carried away by the guards.
None of the palace servants in the Qiankun Palace dared to raise their heads; they could only lie on the ground and observe the movements behind the curtain out of the corner of their eyes.
This was the scene that Yan Chaoji saw when he stepped into the Qiankun Palace.
"Your Majesty, the Regent has arrived." Li He bent down and said to the figure behind the curtain, his expression inevitably showing some nervousness.
"You may all leave."
An old, hoarse voice came from behind, and then Li He gave a signal to the palace servants around him.
The palace servants immediately retreated in fear.
Just as Li He was about to leave, the emperor's voice unexpectedly brought him back:
"Li He, you stay."
He stopped and continued to endure the ordeal in the Qiankun Palace.
Yan Chaoji didn't speak first. It wasn't until a few coughs came from behind the curtain that the aged figure behind it paused, then asked:
"Your Highness, has that rebellious son been found?"
Yan Chaoji coldly replied, "Not yet found."
Then came the sound of a teacup shattering, followed by a furious roar:
"Where could a prince like him possibly run off to?"
"You can't even find your own men?!"
"Yan Chaoji!"
"Are you defying me?!" The emperor had been tormented by the Worry-Free Powder for some time, and the rumors circulating outside about His Majesty's unpredictable temper were not entirely unfounded.
Yan Chaoji, however, showed no change in expression and solemnly spoke:
"If even His Majesty cannot find him, how can my younger brother possibly find him?"
"You...!" The person behind the curtain was clearly furious, almost unable to catch their breath.
"Your Majesty, please don't be angry," Li He said boldly, seeing that things were not going well.
His Majesty's men searched the sacrificial mountain and the surrounding imperial city area several times, but could not find the Fourth Prince.
How did the fourth prince, who was injured and had no martial arts skills, manage to leave the sacrificial mountain?
Li He also had his own questions, and naturally understood that the emperor was anxious.
The "Worry-Free Powder" that the Fourth Prince had given His Majesty was now showing signs of trouble. Just as the Fourth Prince had said, the "Worry-Free Powder" was almost enough to torture a person to death.
No one knew where the Fourth Prince got the poison from, and both the imperial physicians and folk healers were at a loss.
The army that went to search for the person also returned empty-handed, and the successive clear skies gradually drove His Majesty's temper mad.
Kill this today...
Which one will be punished tomorrow...?
Where is the dignity of an emperor now?
Li He only dared to think these words in his heart, but dared not say them out loud.
*
"Yan Chaoji, can't you find him even with the Yan Jin token?" the emperor said coldly. Then, he noticed the mark on his right hand out of the corner of his eye and almost lost his temper again.
This unfilial son...
Once we find him, we'll force him to hand over the antidote, and then we'll make him wish he were dead!
"The Wild Goose Ash Talisman is not for finding people." Yan Chaoji, dressed in a court robe, had a black jade crown on his forehead that made him look even more extraordinary.
"Is even my safety not worth using the Wild Goose Ash Talisman?" The emperor stared intently at Yan Chaoji.
The Wild Goose Ember Talisman was originally the token of a ruler of a country. After ascending the throne, he first obtained the Imperial Seal, but he could not find the whereabouts of the Wild Goose Ember Talisman.
Finally, it was learned from the official in charge, who was mentioned by the late emperor, that the Yan Jin Fu had long been bestowed upon Yan Chaoji.
Although the Yan Jin Talisman is publicly claimed to be just a private military talisman.
However, after he ascended the throne, he learned that the Wild Goose Ash Talisman actually held a hidden meaning.
The Wild Goose Ash Talisman was originally an ordinary royal private army talisman, but the late emperor had secretly cultivated a powerful army over the years to replace the original army.
This army does not obey military orders.
They only submit to the one who holds the authority.
In fact, there were quite a few barbarians in the army who could fight a hundred men each.
Thinking of this, the emperor couldn't help but feel a surge of determination.
Since it belongs to the ruler of a country, it should be owned by the ruler of the country!
Yan Chaoji slightly raised his gaze, seemingly catching his ruthlessness through the curtain, his hawk-like eyes showing no intention of backing down: "I will have my men search again."
But the emperor needed Yan Chaoji to find that rebellious son, so he couldn't touch him for the time being. He could only give a harsh reminder:
"Then I will give the Regent a few more days."
"I want to see that rebellious son."
"Alive."
*
After Yan Chaoji left, the emperor behind the curtain began to cough violently.
"It seems that my younger brother... doesn't take me seriously either."
Li He quickly came over and whispered to the side of the curtain, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician said you must not get angry."
"Your health is slightly unwell, please take good care of yourself."
After that, the person behind the curtain remained silent for a long time.
Just as Li He was about to leave, the emperor's voice suddenly rang out again:
"Li He, can you find the antidote?"
These words startled Li He so much that he immediately fell to the ground, his shrill voice rang out: "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, how could you be harmed by such poison?"
"When the Regent finds the four...those who harmed Your Majesty, this old servant will surely find the antidote for Your Majesty."
As soon as Li He finished speaking, he felt a cold gaze fall on his back, which startled him so much that he broke out in a cold sweat.
He had seen His Majesty's appearance at that moment, and the thought of it made Li He tremble all over.
That day, when His Majesty's body underwent a strange change, he heard a cry of alarm and went to His Majesty's side.
"Your Majesty, but..."
As Li He approached, he witnessed a scene that terrified him and left an indelible mark on his memory.
His Majesty's body has... become such a terrifying state?!
......
The emperor stared intently at Li He's back before slowly speaking, seemingly somewhat weary.
"Since the regent was disobedient, we sent them to give him some pointers."
"But...Your Majesty's health." Just as Li He was about to remind the emperor that the regent was still needed, the emperor added.
"But let him suffer a bit first."
Upon hearing this, Li He shut up.
"I want my brother to know that his life is in my hands." The emperor chuckled, a sound that momentarily filled the empty hall with a sense of unease.
"As for that rebellious son..."
The emperor withdrew his gaze, revealing boundless killing intent.
"Isn't he planning to marry the princess from the Western Regions?"
"Let's use the Princess of the Western Regions to force him to show himself."
*
The intrigues and schemes within the imperial city are temporarily dormant beneath the surface of calm, while the situation in the Western Regions is quite different.
The sword stopped, and the snow fell.
"Royal sister, how was A-Chu's sword strike?" Bai Chuning, covered in sweat, sheathed her sword.
The commotion in the courtyard had just subsided when the monk, who had been sitting on the stone stool, slowly rose and walked to a few blood plum blossoms that were in full bloom.
He raised his hand, his fingertips gently touching the snowflakes on the branches.
Wuwei narrowed his long, narrow eyes and carefully examined a deep red plum blossom.
Yingning gently wiped the young man's forehead with a handkerchief, then beckoned a servant to bring a mink cloak and draped it over him.
"His swordsmanship has become much more refined, but he has lost some of his killing intent."
Bai Chuning looked closely at the woman in front of him, her face heavily made up, and her expression of concern for him remained one of extreme joy. Then he heard her speak:
"But you are weak, so you must proceed slowly in everything you do."
Don't be impatient.
Bai Chuning reached out and fastened his cloak, his clear phoenix eyes reflecting Ying Ning's image. He nodded.
“I know, Your Majesty.”
"However, Ah Chu's health has improved considerably, so Your Highness need not worry."
After Bai Chuning finished speaking, the corners of his mouth turned up, and he looked every bit the spirited young man in the snowy landscape.
If one day, when the young man loses his youthful vigor, what kind of charm will he possess?
The monk glanced at the scene of the two interacting, his rather bony fingers kneading a petal of blood plum until it turned into a thick layer of floral mud.
After Yingning gave the young man a few pointers on swordsmanship, he ran to a nearby spot and drew his sword again.
Wuwei walked up to Yingning's side.
"Benefactor Bai is quite interesting." He said this inexplicably.
"interesting?"
Yingning turned around, her phoenix eyes catching that alluring glimpse.
“This humble monk has left the mountain many times and has encountered countless people who have made requests to him.”
"A wish?"
"Then, will you give in to their wishes?" Yingning noticed the overly intense blood-red floral mud on his fingertips, but she simply brushed it away without asking.
"If the world has wronged this humble monk in any way."
"This humble monk will naturally comply." Wuwei lowered his gaze, his words carrying a Zen-like quality.
"Once you owe someone, you will fulfill that promise."
When he lowered his gaze, all that could be noticed was his overly flamboyant face, followed by an aura of menace emanating from him.
It's difficult to tell whether this person is good or evil.
But when he looked up at people, the silence in his eyes was like a stagnant pool.
Let people know about his Buddhist nature.
"People beg me to grant them wealth, official positions, to remove their misfortunes and illnesses, and even to bring the dead back to life."
His words seemed to pique the interest of the person in front of him.
"So, in that case..."
"Can inaction bring someone back from the dead?"
When she asked the question, the monk shook his head, which was an honest answer.
"Resurrection?"
"Those who pray for the dead to come back to life are simply indebted to the deceased."
"But this humble monk is not a deity."
"Then why would they beg you?"
"This humble monk does not understand either."
"Perhaps they want this humble monk... to grant them a fleeting, illusory dream." There seemed to be an ambiguous meaning in his eyes, and his narrow eyes slowly turned to Ying Ning.
“But Benefactor Bai is truly interesting.”
"He actually placed this humble monk's wish on someone else."
Wuwei looked at the young man practicing swordsmanship not far away, but there was a hint of confusion in his voice.
Unexpectedly, the woman beside him chuckled softly, her charming voice ringing out once more:
"Don't those who pray to you ask for the protection of those around them?"
"have."
"But...when they learned that their own life was about to end..."
"I don't know how to ask."
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