"Tell me." The emperor's smile was gradually disappearing. "I want to hear the truth."
Chang'an looked at the emperor's vicissitudes of life, and there was not a single ripple in his eyes. She didn't know if the man in front of her was really calm and without anger, or if he was hiding it so deeply that she couldn't see it. "I wonder what kind of person the emperor is. Maybe Chang'an has offended the emperor in some way, and he will kill her in a rage."
"Haha." The emperor laughed, "How do you think you have offended me? Why did I kill you?"
Changan had a smile on his face and thought to himself.
As expected, which emperor throughout history was not like this? Every word they said had a purpose, even a smile or a cough. Have they ever been sincere to anyone in their hearts, or even had the intention of using anyone for a moment?
Changan knelt down, "Changan was terrified."
The emperor watched Chang'an kneel down. He said nothing and let Chang'an kneel there.
He even stopped looking at Chang'an, looking up at the sky and muttering to himself, "Throughout the ages, all saints and wise men have lived in loneliness; only drinkers leave their names behind. This is what the Ninth Prince often said."
Chang'an raised her eyes, and she actually saw envy on his face. This was something Chang'an had never dared to imagine. As an emperor, he had the whole country in his control. What else could he envy?
"Many times, I envy Old Nine.
I envy his uninhibited and free-spirited nature, the quietness in his house, and his little willfulness. However, every time he is in front of me, he does not act as if he does not care about anything. He is afraid of me, and is still cautious in his words and actions.
But when you think about it carefully, it seems that Lao Jiu is only free and easy in front of your father and in his own house. When facing his brothers and the emperor, he is very quiet unless there is wine. He is a drunkard.
I wonder if Lao Jiu talks more when he's with you?"
As he spoke, the emperor suddenly turned his head to look at Chang'an, only to see that Chang'an's eyes were full of doubt. The emperor was stunned and thought to himself, could it be that I guessed wrong?
Were Chang'an and the Ninth Prince really unfamiliar with each other? Did they not understand each other?
"You should get up too."
Changan stood up and asked, "Why is the emperor looking at Changan like that? Is there something dirty on Changan's face?"
As he spoke, Chang'an took out a handkerchief and wiped it.
"It seems you're no exception." The emperor raised his lip. "I thought you wouldn't care too much about your appearance, but think about it, how could a woman not care about her appearance? Even on the throne of power, what do you think?"
"How could Changan not care about his appearance?" Changan said, "Before, I had a scar on my face and I had no confidence.
He speaks in a timid manner and feels like everyone dislikes him.
But now that I have regained my original appearance, I feel happy just looking at myself. When I wake up in the morning, sometimes when I see myself in the bronze mirror, I always stare at myself for a while. My aunt who takes care of Chang'an even jokes that I am mesmerized by my own appearance.
"Yes." The emperor smiled. "I think you are beautiful. When I saw your appearance just now, I was envious. I envy my princes for having the opportunity to marry a beautiful woman like you. It's a pity that I am old, otherwise I would have let you live in my harem."
Chang'an knew that the man in front of him said this on purpose, so he cooperated and pretended to be surprised, "Ah? Your Majesty, you... Chang'an is guilty."
Sure enough, the emperor was even happier. "Haha, did this scare you?"
Chang'an had an expression that said, "I'm very worried, don't scare me." She followed the emperor obediently into a warm room in the imperial garden.
"Sit down." The emperor gestured for Chang'an to sit across from him. The chessboard separated the two of them. The emperor, holding the white chess piece, placed it. "I'm lonely. Today, just treat me as an old man and talk to me. Okay?"
"Lonely?" Chang'an asked, "With so many people in the palace, will the emperor feel lonely?"
"Yes! As the saying goes, it's lonely at the top."
"Changan's father is also lonely, but he is lonely because my mother, Nangong Qiuya, is gone."
"Your father was a man of deep affection and nostalgia," the emperor sighed. "Since ancient times, heroes have been unable to resist the temptation of beautiful women. Your father was both a hero and a loser. He ruined himself."
Changan smiled and said, "If Changan is lucky, maybe in the future he can find someone as loyal as his father and grow old with him.
Isn't it a blessing for a woman to have a man of this character?"
"After all, you're a woman, so your perspective on things is different." The emperor smiled. "Let me ask you, do you have a favorite among my princes? I'd like to arrange a marriage for you, such as the Fourth Prince, the Crown Prince, the Ninth Prince, the Fifth Prince, and the Sixth Prince. They're all around your age."
Changan, the black chess piece fell, "Your Majesty, Changan is telling you the truth. Changan lost his mother when he was young. Although he has a father, he is as good as dead since many years ago.
It was only in recent years that his father began to care about Chang'an. He told Chang'an that Chang'an's marriage was not decided by herself, nor by him, and even less by his grandfather.
Only the emperor and Chang'an's grandfather can decide Chang'an's marriage.
Now that the emperor has mentioned it, Changan will no longer say nice things just to save face."
"Since I'm asking you, what I want is your truth." The emperor ate one of Chang'an's sons.
Chang'an looked at the chess piece that was eaten by the emperor and smiled brightly, "Haha, Your Majesty, you have fallen into Chang'an's trap."
The emperor frowned, "No! You girl did it on purpose. Do it again!"
"No regrets after making a move!" Chang'an stopped him.
The emperor was helpless and seemed a little angry. "Okay, let me show you how I will kill you without leaving a single piece of armor."
Changan smiled, continued playing chess, and continued talking, "Changan doesn't want to marry any prince, and doesn't want to marry into the royal family."
The emperor looked puzzled and asked, "You don't want to marry into the royal family. Can you tell me why?"
"Chang'an, tell the truth. The emperor is not allowed to blame Chang'an." Chang'an looked serious.
"Okay!" The emperor agreed and summoned Eunuch De. "Little Dezi, draft an edict. No matter what Gu Chang'an says, I will pardon her. Chang'an, how about this?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Chang'an smiled happily, "For the sake of the imperial edict granted by Your Majesty, Chang'an will let Your Majesty write a word."
After saying that, the emperor immediately looked at the chessboard, then gave Chang'an a fierce look, his face showing helplessness. "As expected of you, you are Gu Qingfeng's daughter. I am not ashamed to have my piece taken away by you."
"Tsk tsk tsk!" Chang'an teased, "The emperor is so shameless."
The emperor stopped talking and just glanced over. Chang'an immediately became serious and said slowly, "Among the many princes, the age difference between the eldest prince and Chang'an is too big.
The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince are both handsome and are the ones favored by the Emperor. If Chang'an were to choose, he would also choose the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince.
Including the eldest prince, the crown prince, and the fourth prince, all have the potential to become the heir to the throne.
In the royal family, whether it's the court or the harem, there are too many intrigues. They are originally blood relatives, but in the end it's a life-and-death struggle. Chang'an doesn't like such a life."
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