[Junyu's Perspective]:
My father was the emperor of the Dayong Dynasty. I heard that he was a tyrant when he was young. He hated beauty and loved killing. When a foreign beauty tried to climb into his bed, he skinned her alive and made her skin into a screen to be placed in the emperor's bedroom.
I searched in my father's palace and found that there was no such screen with a beautiful woman in the Dragon Palace.
There was a screen, but it wasn't made of human skin. The painting on it depicted two men standing side by side under the eaves, watching the snow fall.
That painting was done by my father, the emperor himself; it depicts him and his father.
Without me.
Alas, Father is so childish.
They even isolate me when I try to draw.
So, the rumors about the "beauty skin screen" are just that—rumors. My father would never allow his portrait to be defiled by a bloody "beauty skin."
Moreover...
Father Emperor is so childish. At his age, he still likes to compete for favor with his father. Where is the demeanor of a dignified tyrant?
Junyu felt that if his father, who was so childish, could be considered a tyrant, then he was truly disgracing the world of tyrants.
Junyu had also heard another story.
My father had a bad temper when he was young and was indeed one of the tyrants. However, after marrying my father and becoming empress, he gradually changed his temperament and stopped killing people with his sword at the drop of a hat. This was because my father disliked bloodshed and wanted my father to be a wise ruler.
I find this explanation quite credible.
…
My father was the Empress and Prime Minister of the Great Yong Dynasty, and in my heart, he was the most handsome man in the world.
I heard that when my father was eighteen, he passed the imperial examination and became the top scholar, even surpassing the third-ranked scholar in looks.
I strongly suspect that my father coveted my father's good looks and forcibly brought him into the palace to be his empress.
After all, before her father, there had never been a man as empress in the Great Yong Dynasty.
All those temple prophecies were just the Emperor's "tricks".
Because I know that my father and Uncle Yue have a good relationship. Uncle Yue even treated me to grilled fish in the forbidden area behind the temple, saying that he had treated my father and father to it before.
…
The Emperor was extremely fond of and infatuated with his father, and was also exceptionally prone to jealousy.
When I was little, if my father held me for too long, my father would lift me away. At night, I wanted to sleep with my father, but he wouldn't allow it, saying that I was already a mature three-year-old child and should sleep by myself.
I think that's bullshit.
Even though his father is a grown man, he still needs his father to sleep with him every night.
…
Some people are gossiping, saying that I'm not my father's biological son, but just lucky to be chosen as crown prince, and that my father and father are only using me, blah blah blah...
nonsense!
Men cannot have offspring with each other, so of course I cannot be the biological son of my father and father!
Do you think I'm a 3-year-old?
I'm already 13 years old, okay?!
As for the latter—
I can tell whether my father and father treat me with genuine kindness or exploitation.
I was originally the heir to the Yanxi Prince's Mansion. My mother, Consort Shisun, died in childbirth. When my great-grandfather was still alive, he often said that if it weren't for my father, the grass on my grave would be as tall as the grass on my mother's grave.
I think that makes sense.
Father and Father have no biological children, but there are plenty of people eager to be their sons.
For example, that chubby little boy in Prince Chengrui's mansion who only knows how to eat... oh no, the young prince.
He must be so envious of me.
Especially when his father beat him until his face was bruised and swollen.
Little Fatty's father complained that he was useless and only knew how to eat, unlike the Crown Prince, who had the demeanor of a crown prince at a young age. He said, "Why wasn't he chosen as the crown prince back then?"
Little Fatty complained to me bitterly that if he had been chosen by the Emperor and Empress to become the Crown Prince back then, his father would have dragged him away and given him a beating if he dared to beat him again!
I think he's dreaming.
…
Although my father likes to compete with me for favor, in my heart, he is the second best person in the world.
The best person in the world is naturally my father.
It is my good fortune to have met my father and father after losing all my relatives.
Therefore, I will grow step by step according to their expectations, and eventually become a crown prince who can shoulder the responsibility of this country and lead the Great Yong Dynasty to a prosperous era... a true crown prince.
In the future, I will become the emperor.
However, Junyu felt that was something that happened a very, very long time from now.
*
*
When Junyu was 17, he had already firmly established himself as the Crown Prince and was praised by everyone.
The children, jointly trained by Qin Ge and Jun Chenbi, possess both the emperor's decisiveness and iron-fisted methods, and the prime minister's ability to recognize and utilize talent, as well as his extraordinary brilliance.
Even though he did not have the blood of the emperor and empress flowing through his veins, no one dared to question whether Junyu, the crown prince, was doing a bad job.
Qin Ge was very pleased.
He didn't make the wrong choice back then.
He couldn't give Jun Chenbi a biological child, so adopting a young prince from the royal family was a tacit understanding between the couple. However, seeing Jun Yu grow up to be so outstanding, Qin Ge couldn't help but feel a sense of pride, like "my son has grown up."
Raising kids is still a lot of fun.
At the age of 17, the exceptionally talented and outstanding Crown Prince of the Dayong Dynasty was already the dream man of many young ladies from noble families in the capital.
If the child you raise is too outstanding, he will always attract unwanted attention.
The memorial regarding the Crown Prince's selection of a consort drifted onto Qin Ge's desk like snowflakes.
The Crown Prince's marriage to the Crown Princess is both a family matter and a national matter, and Qin Ge, whether as Empress or Prime Minister, cannot remain uninvolved.
Qin Ge flipped through the documents and thought to himself:
'No one dared to target the tyrant with the idea of sending their daughters to the palace, so they tried to reach for the Crown Prince.'
"That's true. Being the Crown Princess, the future Empress, is far better than being an ordinary concubine."
Qin Ge called Jun Yu over and asked him what he thought.
Junyu was raised to be quite open-minded, but he was still a pure ancient man. As the crown prince and future emperor, he inevitably had thoughts of wielding power over the world and indulging in the company of beautiful women.
Qin Ge will not restrict him in this regard.
Junyu countered Qin Ge's question, "Does Father hope I will choose a noblewoman as my Crown Princess? Or does Father think anyone would be suitable as Crown Princess?"
Qin Ge knew that Junyu was a filial son since childhood. If he asked, even without feelings, he would marry a dignified and gentle woman to be his crown princess.
“If I had a preferred candidate for Crown Princess, I wouldn’t have asked you specifically; I would have had your father issue the decree directly.”
Qin Ge's voice was light and clear, and the years had left no trace on him. More than ten years had passed, and he was still like the most elegant and noble prince. He had been favored by His Majesty the Emperor for many years, but he remained calm and composed.
"Your father was already emperor at your age, and his ministers are concerned about your marriage. What are your own thoughts on this?"
Junyu was much more relaxed and at ease with Qin Ge in private, unlike the father and son of the imperial family who were bound by the etiquette between ruler and subject. He picked up a piece of pastry, took a bite, and then said, "Father, you said that Father Emperor was already the emperor at my age, and it was only a few years later that he met you."
"I greatly admire the relationship between my father and my father. They are a couple who are devoted to each other for life, unafraid of worldly opinions and gossip."
"Everyone says that Crown Prince Junyu is the luckiest person in the world, so I don't believe that with my luck, I won't meet someone I truly love."
"So, Father, please let me wait a little longer and not appoint a Crown Princess yet, okay?"
If he wasn't lucky enough to meet someone like that...
Junyu thought that he would also shoulder the responsibilities of a crown prince, appoint a virtuous and kind woman as the crown princess, have a lively and lovely child, and raise him to be a very good next crown prince, so that his father's empire would not be lost in his generation.
Qin Ge naturally agreed, saying, "It's good that you think that way."
"If you meet the person you love in the future, regardless of gender or family background, as long as you truly love them and they love you in return, you can make them your legal wife."
"If you can't find someone like that, you don't have to force yourself to settle for someone else."
"At worst, we can follow your father's example and establish a new crown prince from the royal family."
“Junyu, your father knows your temperament. You’ve been sensible since you were little, but sometimes you’re too sensible. You feel you must be a good Crown Prince. While it’s true that you should fulfill your duties in this position, you don’t have to take on all the heavy burdens and responsibilities. Sometimes I think that if you were just a prince, you would probably be much happier…”
"Father!"
The 17-year-old Crown Prince, known for his composure in the face of both honor and disgrace, unusually lost his composure and interrupted Qin Ge. His youthful yet handsome face was serious as he said, word by word, "Yu'er has never regretted being the Crown Prince, and is even more grateful to be your and Father Emperor's child."
…
Junyu took his leave.
Qin Ge noticed that he liked plum blossom cakes and asked him to take them back to the East Palace.
After Jun Yu left, Jun Chenbi came out from the inner room.
He's been here all along.
He overheard every word of the conversation between the father and son.
His Majesty the Emperor embraced his Empress, gave a soft hum, and said, "It's not a waste of your love for this boy since he was little."
He added with considerable pride, "He has the same style as his father."
The implication is that he is like that person.
Qin Ge was held on his lap, and the old married couple didn't feel there was anything wrong with such intimacy.
The couple's affection has not been worn down by time; on the contrary, it has become like fine wine, aged by the years, growing richer and more enduring.
Hearing the emperor's boast, Qin Ge rolled her eyes at him, "Your Majesty, have some shame?"
"What, does the Empress think I'm wrong?" Jun Chenbi smiled, "Haven't I remained chaste for many years before meeting you?"
Qin Ge raised her eyes and looked directly into Jun Chenbi's phoenix eyes.
His eyes burned with intense passion.
Just like back then, nothing has changed.
*
Two years later.
When the 19-year-old Crown Prince was ordered to travel outside the palace, he met a young swordsman dressed in white.
The young swordsman in white claims to be a descendant of the Baixue Mountain Manor. He ran away from home alone to roam the martial world.
He was highly skilled in martial arts, but had a naive personality. His purse was stolen, and he was in a predicament when he had no money to pay the bill at a meal.
His Highness the Crown Prince took out a silver ingot. "I'll treat him to noodles."
The young swordsman in white was deeply moved, exclaiming, "Young master, you are truly a kind person!"
In order to freeload a meal... ah, no, in order to repay a debt of gratitude, the young swordsman in white, upon hearing that His Highness the Crown Prince was going to travel the world, immediately extended a warm invitation, "Why don't we travel the world together? I can protect you, young master!"
"By the way, my name is Ying Xueyi. What is your name, young master?"
In fact, His Highness the Crown Prince, who was also highly skilled in martial arts, smiled slightly and said, "Qin Yu."
The name of Prince Junyu of the Dayong Dynasty is known to everyone in the world. When he travels around the world, he naturally cannot use his real name.
The surname in the pseudonym is taken from the father's surname.
"So it's Young Master Qin! I've heard so much about you!" Ying Xueyi said cheerfully. "I'm 16 years old. How old are you?"
His Highness the Crown Prince couldn't help but chuckle and replied, "19."
Ying Xueyi's voice was lively and clear, "Such formalities of 'Young Master' coming and going' are too much. Since we're traveling the world together, how about... I call you brother?"
…
In the end, His Highness the Crown Prince used a bowl of noodles to win back a Crown Princess with superb martial arts skills.
Many years later, their legend still circulates in the martial arts world.
*
*
"Junyu, come here."
The Dragon Palace was brightly lit all night long, where imperial physicians served the patients day and night.
The emperor on the bed coughed and beckoned the crown prince to come forward.
Junyu lifted his robe and knelt by the bed, his eyes slightly red, "Father."
"From this day forward, I entrust my empire to you." Jun Chenbi reached out and patted Jun Yu's young shoulder, saying only this one sentence.
Junyu did not refuse, but showed a look of fear and trepidation. He said some platitudes about his father's long life, but he knew from a young age what his mission as the crown prince was.
Therefore, he simply said, "Junyu will certainly live up to Father's expectations."
The ailing emperor was somewhat drowsy. After receiving Junyu's reply, he had no worries and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, everyone else may leave. The Empress is here to keep me company."
In the final moments of his life, Jun Chenbi did not wish to be disturbed by anyone.
Even Junyu.
Once only he and Qin Ge remained in the hall, His Majesty the Emperor spoke, his voice slightly weak, "Have I become uglier lately?"
The person who used to care least about appearance and hated others staring at his face is now starting to care about his looks.
Jun Chenbi had seen people emaciated from illness, and he didn't want to leave such a terrible impression on Qin Ge in the end.
He wanted to be Qin Ge's most brilliant and powerful husband.
Qin Ge stretched out her slender, jade-white hand and stroked the man's face. "No, Your Majesty is still as handsome as ever, unparalleled in the world, and the most pleasing to my eye."
Jun Chenbi smiled, but coughed first, "You're the best at coaxing me."
"I'm not kidding, I'm serious. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do."
Qin Ge wasn't just trying to coax him.
As an emperor, even in his illness, he remained handsome and powerful. Apart from looking somewhat weak, no one would have guessed that he was terminally ill.
The late emperor used a secret royal poison to control Consort Shentu, hoping to secure a way out for his beloved woman after his death. When Jun Chenbi ascended the throne, he refused to accept the antidote and immediately executed the evil consort, thus developing a chronic headache.
The secret poison was afflicting Jun Shenbi's body. Qin Ge didn't know why the cold fragrance on her body could alleviate his headache, but it was ultimately only a temporary solution.
After years of dormancy, the secret poison has returned with a vengeance.
The tyrant...
Time is running out.
Jun Chenbi said, "In my life, I have been decisive in killing and have never made a decision I regret. I do not regret killing the evil concubine, I do not regret having no children, I do not regret... meeting you and marrying you as my empress."
"And you, have you ever regretted meeting me?"
Qin Ge answered softly but firmly, "Never."
“…Alright.” Jun Chenbi coughed and laughed at the same time, coughing up a streak of bright red blood from the corner of his mouth, as if he were coughing up his lungs. His aura weakened instantly, and a look of despair seemed to creep over his handsome and beautiful eyes. “…Come here, come closer, and talk to me some more, okay?”
Qin Ge leaned down, nestled in his arms as before, and put her ear to his mouth to listen to his weak voice.
"...My Empress, Qin Ge, my darling, do you think we'll meet again in our next life?"
Qin Ge thought the tyrant was indulging in wishful thinking about the afterlife and was about to answer him.
suddenly.
Qin Ge's pupils suddenly contracted.
No, that's not right!
Jun Chenbi never called him that!
The person who would call him "baby" is always from his previous life... Huo Beiyuan!
…
We left the Dragon Palace.
Junyu turned around and looked at the vermilion palace gate.
“Ah Xue, the first time I was brought into the palace as the Crown Prince was after my great-grandfather passed away, when I was about three years old. That night, the palace was so big and dark. I woke up in the middle of the night and ran from the side hall to this place, standing right outside the door…”
"I remember my father put on his clothes and came out to open the door. He took my hand and led me inside. Although my father had a dark face, he still let me sleep with them."
“My father is the best father in the world, and my emperor is also... the best emperor in the world.”
"When I was little, I thought my father was the most upright and invincible man, as if he would never fall. How come he is like this now..."
Junyu's gaze was blank.
Like a child.
The Crown Princess Ying Xueyi, who had been brought back to the palace by the Crown Prince, silently stayed by his side, listening to him recount his past stories, and offering words of comfort with a mixture of heartache and awkwardness:
"Brother, everything will be alright."
However, at that moment, a eunuch's mournful cry came from inside the Dragon Palace: "His Majesty—has passed away!"
Crown Prince Junyu suddenly raised his eyes and looked towards the gate of the Dragon Extreme Palace!
"Father Emperor—!"
…
Emperor Qingjia passed away.
The empress died on the same night.
Some say that the emperor and empress were deeply in love, and that the empress committed suicide for love.
After the new emperor ascended the throne, he decreed that the emperor and empress be buried together in the mausoleum.
Live and sleep together, die in the same hole.
At that time, Junyu had become the new emperor of the Dayong Dynasty.
He solemnly promised, "Father, Father, I will carry your expectations and be a good emperor."
Beside Junyu was his Empress Ying Xueyi.
"Brother, don't be sad. From now on, I'll be with you..."
yes.
Father, Father, look, I have found someone to spend my life with.
Junyu held Ying Xueyi's hand.
Look side by side.
The world is vast.
·
(End of this dimension)
*
*
After returning to system space.
The system, as usual, asked Qin Ge if he wanted his emotions and memories extracted.
Qin Ge replied, "No need."
He had an idea he wanted to test, so he said, "Let's continue."
【yes.】
[Transferring to the mission world...]
—If Huo Beiyuan is you, then Jun Chenbi is also you.
--So……
—This time, wait for me to come and meet you.
I wonder, when we meet again, in what capacity will we be, and with what faces will we be? Will you still remember me...?
With a smile and full of anticipation, Qin Ge stepped into the unknown journey of destiny and time.
·
(The End)
·
— March 3, 2022, 11:57 PM, Fei Nongmo, completed in Chongqing.
·
These two worlds have been going on for a very long time, and in the end I ran out of inspiration. I was afraid that if I continued to write, it would just be filler, so I decided to end it here and put a period to it.
This is an open ending. Qin Ge will encounter her destined protagonist again in her next time travel. Their story could be a male mermaid and a movie star, an interstellar commander and an imperial prince, a Taoist priest and a fox spirit...
Though not described in my writing, it exists in different times and spaces, magnificent and splendid.
at last.
Thank you for your companionship along the way. May we meet again someday.
Perhaps I will return tomorrow.
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