Chapter 182
"Liu Yun, what exactly do you want to do?" Yan Chaoji didn't make any move, but the killing intent in his eyes was unmistakable.
He had dealt with Liu Yun before, and probably no one knew Liu Yun's ruthlessness better than him.
“Your Highness, His Majesty has decreed that you must remain in the Qiankun Palace.” Liu Yun played with the strange musical instrument in his hand, and continued, “If you wish to go and find Princess Zhaoning, that is also possible.”
“You may leave, but Yan Jinfu must stay.” Liu Yun glanced at Yan Chaoji. Although there was a huge difference in their status, so what?
Even such a prodigy can be controlled by his own venomous insects.
Liu Yun's eyes were filled with barely concealed malice as he continued, "Your Highness is probably planning to go to Lingyun Palace, isn't he?"
Yan Chaoji was seen through, but he didn't show anything unusual: "I've only met that princess from the Western Regions a few times, what does it have to do with her?"
Upon hearing Yan Chaoji's words, Liu Yun immediately retorted, "I'm afraid... Your Highness and Princess Zhaoning did not meet by chance."
“Your Highness, to tell you the truth, Princess Zhaoning is suspected of being involved in the Fourth Prince's affairs, and His Majesty is furious.” Liu Yun took a step forward, unlike the others who were respectful to Yan Chaoji, and there was no fear in his eyes.
Liu Yun naturally knew the severity of the Gu worms that had been implanted in Yan Chaoji's body.
"It seems that the princess from the Western Regions is indeed quite capable, making both the Fourth Prince and you willingly take the risk." A profound meaning flashed in Liu Yun's eyes.
"Hand over the Wild Goose Ember Talisman, and His Majesty might feel more at ease."
"Princess Zhaoning might be alright," Liu Yun stated bluntly.
"You want to use her to threaten me?" Yan Chaoji sneered, his hawk-like eyes brimming with killing intent. He did not back down after hearing Liu Yun's words: "I advise you not to waste your efforts."
"useless?"
"Does this humble servant know... that His Highness is most susceptible to threats?" Liu Yun smiled and took a step back, leaving Yan Chaoji with a somewhat gloomy expression upon hearing this.
When the assassination attempt in Biancheng failed and the struggle for the throne ensued, Liu Yun had a backup plan, causing Yan Chaoji, who had the best chance of winning, to voluntarily withdraw...
And... he made Yan Chaoji "willingly" take the Gu worm.
The once carefree and brilliant young prince ultimately became nothing more than a puppet of imperial power.
Liu Yun knew Yan Chaoji's personality. He valued sibling affection in his childhood, but it was destroyed by His Majesty. In recent years, with the passing of the imprisoned Empress Dowager, His Majesty had become somewhat powerless to control Yan Chaoji.
But heaven unexpectedly bestowed this great gift upon the princess of the Western Regions.
It seems that Yan Chaoji is really an unlucky guy.
Thinking of this, Liu Yun felt extremely pleased: "Your Highness, Princess Zhaoning is in the palace. You should think carefully about this."
"I suppose Your Highness truly loves the princess. Let's not let Princess Zhaoning suffer any hardship for no reason."
Yan Chaoji lowered his eyes, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking, and said softly, "It seems that my brother is unharmed tonight, and he can still be plotting against Yan Jinfu at this time."
"No need for Your Highness to trouble yourself with that," Liu Yun nodded and said.
"Liu Yun, do you think you'll let innocent people go if I hand over the Wild Goose Ash Talisman to you?"
The person being questioned continued to fiddle with the black musical instrument in his hand, but instead looked towards the Qiankun Palace. Liu Yun shook his head:
“I am merely a messenger; there is no question of letting someone go or not.”
"Your Majesty has praised Princess Zhaoning highly before, and I reckon Your Majesty might want to keep the princess in the palace for a while longer."
As soon as he said this, Yan Chaoji understood.
Would the one in the Qiankun Palace easily let go at this moment?
she...
Will he then become a puppet to blackmail him?
After all these years... how could he not know what it's like to be a puppet?
Yan Chaoji took a step abruptly, and the several blue-robed flute-wielding men around him immediately raised their bone flutes. Liu Yun, standing in front of them, had a strange expression, as if he was waiting for something.
Following the countless palace lanterns in the Qiankun Palace, the man in black glanced at the magnificent palace with its carved railings and jade steps. He felt that the palace was like a giant beast exuding a foul stench, which had trapped him beneath the base of the dragon throne.
Let people trample on it...
He couldn't break free any longer...
He did not want her to end up like him.
Everything began with the throne, and it will end with him.
When he heard that she had been attacked in Biancheng, he immediately went after her, but he recognized the faces of those people during the chase.
Those people were assassins who came to kill him...
When the small, pale yellow figure saw him, she seemed to want to reach out in his direction, but stopped when she saw him instinctively hide.
He was exceptionally intelligent in his youth and rarely made mistakes.
However, he hesitated when he narrowly escaped death in Biancheng. The setback made him cautious, and he wanted to find a better opportunity to save her. But he never expected that a moment of hesitation would almost separate them by life and death.
He already owed her.
But then...
The border general, who had already sided with another prince, was relentlessly pursuing them...
The Empress Dowager's life...
He became the famous "Regent," but in reality, he was nothing more than a puppet...
He didn't have time...
To repay that debt...
*
Mingchen Palace.
"Your Highness!" Sui Feng merely relayed Ying Ning's words to his master, but he did not expect that after a moment of silence, his master would turn around and prepare to leave Mingchen Palace.
Judging from his appearance, he still intends to seek out Princess Zhaoning.
"Your Highness, the Emperor has already laid an ambush."
"Princess Zhaoning risked her life to lure them away."
"If you go to find the princess now, aren't you just heading towards death?!" Sui Feng's voice was urgent, showing genuine concern for Yan Qizhen.
Yan Qizhen didn't stop walking, but said, "Suifeng, you should leave through the secret passage first."
"I then followed them."
How could Sui Feng possibly believe Yan Qizhen's words?!
"Your Highness!"
"Princess Zhaoning has a way to leave the palace, so why take such a risk?!"
"Your Highness!"
"Your Highness!"
Mingchen Palace was located in a remote part of the palace, and there were almost no lights here. When Sui Feng caught up with Yan Qizhen's back, he could only catch a glimpse of Yan Qizhen's profile by the dim moonlight.
His brows furrowed suddenly, and a pool of plum rain fell.
There seemed to be some fragments at the corner of his eye.
"Your Highness!"
Why do you have to do this?!
Why bother...
He didn't understand either...
Yan Qizhen's figure paused for a moment, seemingly pondering Sui Feng's question, but the commotion not far from the palace didn't give him much time. The lonely moonlight melted away the fragments of tears at the corners of his eyes in an instant, and in the end, he only threw out one sentence to Sui Feng:
"With the wind, along this journey..."
Thank you.
*
Wu Mo's figure hid at the corner of the palace wall, stumbling into the darkness. He coughed, covering his chest with his right hand, suppressing the pain. Yan Chaoji slowly opened his palm, revealing a pool of blood.
Yan Chaoji glanced at it only once before helplessly looking away.
With his back pressed against the cold palace wall, his whole body felt like it was being gnawed and torn apart, and the pain was so intense that he could hardly tell which way was which.
The flute in Liu Yun's hand was clearly specially modified. Even though he could no longer hear the flute's sound, the Gu worms in his body were still not asleep, but seemed to be gnawing at the flesh and blood in his chest cavity.
*Pfft...*
Yan Chaoji spat out another mouthful of blood. This time, before he could even cover his voice, he left a trail of blood in the darkness.
He leaned against the wall, his right hand slipping weakly off the palace wall once again.
Pfft...
Another mouthful of blood...
The surrounding sounds grew closer, and Liu Yun's fierce voice could be faintly heard: "Go find them quickly!"
"His Majesty has decreed that the Regent must go to protect him tonight!"
"Find it for me, everyone!"
Liu Yun was shocked to discover that Yan Chaoji, under the influence of the Gu worms in his body, had managed to break through the encirclement all by himself!
Miscalculation!
Liu Yun's eyes gradually hardened.
He beckoned to one of the imperial guards and asked, "Has there been no reply from the Western Regions princess yet?"
"Lord Liu, no, that's not true." The man answered honestly.
Liu Yun's eyes darted around, but a sense of unease crept into her heart.
Could it be that Yan Qizhen hasn't appeared yet?
"His Majesty has decreed that the Fourth Prince be captured alive. Tonight's fire in the Qiankun Palace is no coincidence; it is likely the Fourth Prince's doing. We cannot let our guard down with the Western Region Princess."
Liu Yun had long anticipated that Yan Qizhen would create chaos, and had already made preparations.
"Your subordinate obeys." A figure immediately vanished.
Liu Yun took out a blood-red Gu box from his pocket, carefully opened it, and inside was a blood-red Gu worm soaking in a medicinal solution. The Gu worm seemed to sense something and moved slightly to the southeast.
"Go find this way!" Liu Yun closed the Gu box, his eyes filled with ferocity.
......
Yan Chaoji had left many damp traces on the road he had traveled, but he still wandered through the palace alleys, big and small, as if trying to shake off the people chasing him.
But upon closer inspection, it seems we are getting closer and closer to Lingyun Palace along the way.
His once upright figure suddenly stumbled, revealing himself to the dim light of a palace lantern. He looked up and saw three familiar words.
Cishou Palace.
The footsteps around them were getting closer and closer...
Yan Chaoji held the blade in his right hand, and blood dripped slowly down the relief on the dagger hilt, while a faint crimson tinge appeared in his eagle eyes.
He held fast to the footsteps, gathering his last bit of strength in his right hand, intending to strike at the opponent's vital spot the instant the opponent stumbled into the darkness!
His hawk-like eyes gleamed with murderous intent until a dark figure appeared in front of him!
Even though Yan Chaoji had multiple wounds on his body, he still attacked very quickly, with a move that was almost fatal.
The dagger flashed with a cold light!
The shadowy figure immediately leaned back to dodge the attack, and then instantly threw a punch at him. Yan Chaoji dodged the attack by sidestepping.
But if one strike fails, the next one will be even faster!
However, she slipped past in the dim light of the palace lanterns, allowing Yan Chaoji to catch a glimpse of her extremely beautiful phoenix eyes.
At the same instant, Yan Chaoji subconsciously withdrew his dagger and then used his left hand to block her second punch without hurting her.
"Bai Yingning?!" His voice was urgent, mixed with a faint sob as he swallowed blood.
The shadowy figure seemed to have noticed his appearance at this moment. She withdrew her hand and leaped forward, half of her figure landing outside the darkness. A delicate female voice appeared: "Yan Chaoji?"
"Why are you here?"
The footsteps in the distance grew closer and closer, and judging from the sound, it was definitely not just one or two people. This was not the time to reminisce, and the two of them naturally realized this.
Upon hearing the voice, Yan Chaoji's hawk-like eyes turned cold: "Let's go."
With his unstained left hand, he immediately grabbed Yingning's upper arm and pulled her into the palace behind, which was the Cishou Palace, which had been vacant for several years.
Cishou Palace, the palace of the deceased Empress Dowager.
After several twists and turns, Yan Chaoji pushed open the door of a side hall. As soon as the two stepped into the hall, he immediately turned around and closed the door. He leaned against the door, panting heavily, and his once upright figure seemed somewhat lonely at this moment.
Tick-tock.
Tick-tock.
The faint sound of dripping blood was particularly noticeable in the silent palace, and the stench of blood, along with the putrid smell that had been sealed away for many years, gradually spread out.
Yan Chaoji ignored his still-bleeding wounds and focused all her attention on the person in front of her. She lifted her hood, revealing a dark, inky face hidden in the shadows.
The Imperial Guards hadn't searched this place yet, which gave Yan Chaoji a rare moment to catch his breath.
The two remained silent.
Yan Chaoji continued to watch her quietly until the bloodshot look in his eyes added a hazy, vibrant color to the figure before him. Only then did Yan Chaoji slowly withdraw his gaze, his thin lips moving as he uttered an unexpected word: "I'm sorry."
The latter was clearly taken aback.
Yan Chaoji continued, "What happened back then, even if there were many reasons... was nothing more than my own selfish speculation."
Even if it cannot be made up for, I will apologize later.
"Bai Yingning, I'm sorry."
He whispered her name, as if they were no longer the princess of the Western Regions and the princess of the Min Dynasty, but had become the two little people in Biancheng back then.
Even if the sea dries up and the rocks crumble, it is inevitable that one day it will happen.
But time has passed, and it can never be relived.
The girl in front of him seemed to finally raise her eyes to look at him: "Yan Chaoji, it was you who stayed in Biancheng back then, and it was you who left, yet you say these words now. Don't you find it ridiculous?"
Hearing Ying Ning's words, his chest tightened, followed by a piercing pain that seemed to gnaw at his heart, making his chest almost constantly clench. Then Yan Chaoji heard Ying Ning speak again:
"And what happens after we leave Biancheng?"
Is there a reason for this?
Upon hearing this, Yan Chaoji forced himself to regain some strength amidst the pain, and then used the palace door to prop himself up: "The reason?"
When he returned from Biancheng after narrowly escaping death, he never expected that what followed was the beginning of hell. His father suddenly fell seriously ill, and his brothers seemed to have just torn off layer after layer of masks, beginning to fight and devour each other for the throne.
As a prince, he naturally could not escape the events of that year.
"Do you know who lived in this Shouci Palace before?" Yan Chaoji suddenly asked, propping himself up and walking through the hall, past the sandalwood table, the chaise lounge, and the long-dusted phoenix-shaped gauze screen.
Even with his eyes closed, he could still recall the table, chair, lamp, and candle in Shoucikong, the countless tender moments, and the echoes of weeping in his ears:
"Ji'er, your mother only wishes that you live well."
"You should leave...don't worry about the Empress Dowager."
......
"You're not listening to me anymore?!"
"Ji'er...don't obey Yan Sui's orders...Mother doesn't care..."
......
"Ji'er, why can't you live a little more freely?"
"Don't stay by Mother's side anymore, leave."
"It is I who have harmed you. I am so sorry, Mother."
"My lifelong wish... is simply that you live a smooth and happy life, Ji'er... after your mother dies, you must live happily..."
......
pity...
That person is no longer here.
"Cishou Palace is naturally the Empress Dowager's bedroom."
"It is said that Empress Dowager Wen was of noble character and high moral standing, and had one son named Chaoji."
Under the moonlight, Yingning touched the auspicious cloud bronze lamp standing to the side, and a large amount of dust fell silently. This dilapidated auspicious cloud lamp seemed somewhat out of place in the Empress Dowager's palace.
Moreover, the Cishou Palace seemed unusually empty.
Even though the Empress Dowager had passed away, the atmosphere inside the palace still felt somewhat strange.
The Empress Dowager had only been gone for a year, and all the objects in Cishou Palace had already been moved out... Even the palace had been fitted with simple copper lamps that even nobles wouldn't use.
Yingning followed the gaze and looked around, the light in her phoenix eyes gradually dimming.
Meanwhile, another tall figure staggered to the back hall. Yan Chaoji seemed oblivious to the strangeness around him before stopping and saying, "You're right."
“This was originally my mother’s residence…” He paused for a moment before finishing his sentence.
"It is also her prison."
It's a real prison.
He pulled down the long veil from the hanging gauze screen, revealing the appearance of the rear hall.
As Yan Chaoji looked at the enormous square cage built in the rear hall, a turbulent surge suddenly appeared in his hawk-like eyes, and an aura of deathly stillness burst forth from his body almost simultaneously.
"This is...?"
Hearing her question, Yan Chaoji's hawk-like eyes gradually deepened:
"Yan and Sui threatened my mother's life, forcing me to swallow a Gu worm that could take my life at any time, thus forcing me to withdraw from the struggle for the throne."
"His greed for the throne far exceeded what others could imagine."
"Whether it's Gu worms or the throne."
"I did whatever he wanted."
"But... he said he would let Mother go." Yan Chaoji's voice gradually turned cold as he helplessly stroked the cold metal of the cage, only to let go of it powerlessly.
After mentioning the name of the Min Dynasty emperor, his voice suddenly turned cold.
Yingning walked to the back hall and did not make a sound when she saw the square cage. It seemed that the answer to the strangeness of Cishou Palace was finally found in this cage.
Yan Chaoji then turned around and said to Ying Ning, who was a few steps away, "After Biancheng, I was unable to find you, but it was simply because I had no choice."
This Cishou Palace is a prison...
But...when is he not in a cage?
Yan Chaoji paused for a moment, then walked around the cage. Seemingly unwilling to be trapped by the past any longer, he slowly walked to the right side of the hall, reaching out to carefully feel for something in the darkness, his mind constantly focused on the person not far away:
"I recently sent people to investigate your relationship with Bai Lirong..."
"Cough cough cough..."
Yan Chaoji coughed up a large amount of blood again. Liu Yun's attack had made the Gu worms in his body go berserk. As long as the Gu worms did not fall into a deep sleep again, his wounds would not heal on their own.
At this moment, his injuries were getting worse and worse, but as his back remained straight, it seemed as if he was still the decisive and ruthless regent.
Yan Chaoji was groping for something on the right side.
That day, Yan Chaoji saw the message Bai Lirong sent to her in her room and took note of it. The next day, he sent his secret guards to investigate. After several investigations, the guards reported a secret matter of the Western Regions royal family.
The current emperor of the Western Regions, Bai Lirong, grew up under the care of Princess Zhaoning in his childhood, but for some unknown reason, he parted ways with her one day.
It's not exactly a pleasant thing to think about.
......
Yan Chaoji seemed to have triggered a mechanism.
"Clang." The sound of the metal object hitting the ground was particularly jarring in the empty Shouci Palace. The object, which had been sealed away for many years, finally saw the light of day again.
Yan Chaoji bent down, picked it up, brushed off the dust, and then slowly stood up to look at the people in the hall.
She stood in the hall, and he was only a few steps away from her, but there seemed to be an insurmountable chasm between them, which had been forcibly separated by the passing years.
Even so, Yan Chaoji still wanted to get close to her.
With each step he took, his gaze grew more intense.
His once solemn and cold eagle eyes now held a hint of regret and an inexplicable resolve.
His voice was a little hoarse: "After you leave the palace tonight, if you do not wish to return to the Western Regions, you can take this token to Mount Buming. The people there will not make things difficult for you. With this token, you can live out your life in peace."
"It's fine if you don't want to go."
"But it's still useful."
He walked up to her, stretched out his hand, and in his palm was a black iron token.
On the front of the token is a wild goose covered in flames, screeching as if struggling to break free of the flames and soar freely into the sky. His palm is covered in blood, which now also stains the wild goose with vibrant colors.
This is the token left to me by my father – the Wild Goose Ashes Talisman.
Seeing that she didn't move, but looked at him with some confusion.
"Yan Chaoji, what are you going to do?" Yingning asked.
A helpless smile appeared on Yan Chaoji's thin lips. The two of them had already reached this point, and it seemed there was no time left to resolve her inner turmoil.
He then offered no further explanation.
That's fine...
It's better to hold a grudge against him and have resentment towards him.
I will never forget him.
Whether it's the Western Regions or Mount Ming, it doesn't matter.
Though the world is vast and the land is far, as long as he has time, he will surely go to find her.
"This is for you."
"My father gave it to me," he said with a light laugh, gently placing the token into her hand. His eyebrows were slightly raised, just as unrestrained and dashing as he had been in the past.
In an instant, it seemed that the once unrestrained and brilliant young prince of the Min Dynasty had returned.
After handing the Wild Goose Ash Talisman to her, Yan Chaoji could no longer conceal the resolute look in his eyes.
Footsteps could be heard outside Cishou Palace, and Liu Yun's voice could even be faintly heard.
They've caught up with us.
Yan Chaoji gently touched her brow bone one last time, tracing her features along her eyes, as if bidding her a final farewell: "You've taken good care of yourself all these years."
"It wasn't for nothing that I taught you the swordsmanship."
Whether it's Biancheng or the Western Regions.
And now, in the Min Dynasty, she is still standing right in front of him, perfectly fine.
Buddha is indeed compassionate, granting people all their wishes.
"I hope that everything will be peaceful for you in the future." Yan Chaoji touched her lips with his fingertips, but without any desire, he just stared at her phoenix eyes with reluctance.
He failed to protect her back then, but she protected him every time.
"noob."
Yan Chaoji called out the old name he used for her, his eyes shining, as if he had countless things he wanted to say to her, but he only said one sentence:
"Let me protect you this one time."
After he finished speaking, he resolutely turned and left.
Yan Chaoji pushed open the palace door of Cishou Palace, and outside the palace, snow was falling heavily. Although his eyebrows and eyes were hidden in the darkness, they were exceptionally bright and dazzling, making it impossible to look away.
He prayed before the Buddha for her lifelong peace...
Now we can carve a bloody path for her...
It can be considered...
My wish has come true...
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