Chapter 107: Son of the Emperor and Empress (Three chapters in one, one chapter yesterday, today and tomorrow...
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Liao Qing led the way in front, his steps were neither fast nor slow, but it was not because his steps were even, but precisely because they were sometimes fast and sometimes slow. Yan Siqing, as a guest of higher status, was led by his hosts and slowed down by two steps. With a quick glance, he could see that the back collar of the clothes of this usually cheerful and travel-loving young man of the Liao family had become darker, soaked with sweat.
None of the previous incidents had caused him to be so panic-stricken and hesitant.
The panic is because this pressure comes from irreversible authority.
The reason for the dilemma is that this meeting led by this authority may be disadvantageous to oneself.
The Liao family was grateful and did not want to harm themselves, but they could not disobey the other party.
Well, I guess I understand.
Yan Siqing only glanced at it twice, then looked away, attracted by the garden and mansion that the Liao family had carefully maintained, and looked at it carefully.
Until we arrived at a quiet and leisurely courtyard.
This is not a residence, but a guest house. It is definitely not used frequently. It has high standards, is simple and leisurely, but has been cared for all year round. Generally, this kind of place is used to entertain distinguished guests who cannot be disclosed to outsiders.
Many aristocratic families have such a courtyard.
It is also appropriate to use it to greet her who now has the status of a royal princess behind her, but it is not appropriate to use the little girl from the Liao family as a gimmick.
Weird from head to toe.
At this time, the window at the back of the courtyard was not bright under the cover of the leaves growing on the rocks in the pond. Others could not tell what was inside, but some people could see clearly who was coming.
Yan Siqing walked closer and his appearance was clearly visible.
It was dark inside the window, and the person looking out could only hear sounds behind him.
"Can you recognize it?"
"She was really young back then. I only know that she was exceptionally beautiful, with the elegance of her parents, and beautiful features, especially her eyes. Looking back now, it's hard to imagine what she looked like back then, as girls change so much as they grow up. But I do remember her eyes, and she certainly resembled Yan Que, with her refined and scholarly demeanor. I can imagine that the child born to Yan Que and Madam Xu would look like this when they grow up."
The people behind me are quiet.
After a while, he said, "You still have to be more cautious. Ask her some more questions... Yan Que has a child, don't you too?"
The man was silent.
——————
Yan Siqing did not point out such strangeness, but just calmly stepped over the threshold and looked inside at the Liao family father and daughter.
The eldest son of the Liao family, who is the head of the Liao family this generation, does not hold a high official position, but he has real power. He is a doer in the Ministry of Revenue. He is not extremely important, but he has to be relied upon. He has the support of his family and is somewhat respectable in the eyes of the emperor. He has no ambition and is considered the most popular official in the officialdom.
This man is steady and can balance the overall situation. For the sake of the family, he can also give up his daughter's happiness. This is a last resort and everyone can understand it.
Few feudal families would be willing to sacrifice family interests or even their lives for the sake of a few of their children.
But Yan Siqing knew that this man had only one daughter, and his intention to marry her off from the beginning was the best plan for his daughter, but unfortunately it did not go as he wished.
Now...something has changed.
The father and daughter were originally silent, but when they heard the voice, they both looked sideways, and their expressions were surprisingly consistent.
He was also embarrassed and nervous, but he was calmer than Liao Qing, who was not as talented in showing his emotions on his face.
I bowed to you in the morning.
Yan Siqing responded tactfully, saying a few words and politely declining the other party's thanks. "In the final analysis, I just can't bear to see people like that get what they want. And it just so happens that they are people I can afford to offend."
"You can understand this casualness as the arrogance that other powerful people can do at will."
"It's not a big deal."
"You're too nervous."
She can be honestly scary sometimes.
But the last sentence seems to be saying something...
Liao Qing was stunned for a moment, confused and uncertain. The Liao father and daughter had indeed noticed it, and their original nervousness was relieved by Yan Siqing's gentle kick.
Liao Yuan asked tentatively, "What does Your Highness mean..."
Yan Siqing: "Little girl, you have been very unlucky today. Go to bed early. If you have anything to discuss, we adults can discuss it."
She looked at the eldest granddaughter of the Liao family. She never asked her name, but she was very casual.
Although he was of marriageable age, he was still a child in her eyes.
It has nothing to do with age, it’s also because we are in different stages of life.
What Yan Siqing meant by this was that she knew something was going on behind the scenes, and she didn't agree with using the little girl as an excuse and bringing her to the table to cooperate.
If the matter is serious, the child may not be able to bear it.
To put it bluntly, he was only eighteen years old.
Yan Siqing was a little distracted, as he was about the same age when he got married.
Liao Yuan smiled bitterly and agreed. Liao Qingbi, the eldest granddaughter of the Liao family, wanted to say something but stopped herself. However, she did not have the lively personality of her younger granddaughter. She knew that this situation was actually very important - to Yan Siqing, her role was not even a chess piece, so no matter what she thought, it was not important.
So she silently prepared to retreat, but after taking two steps, she turned back and said, "Your Highness."
Yan Siqing turned around, thinking something had happened to her, but the child took out a amulet from under his sleeve.
"I really want to thank you for saving me."
"This is for you. I got it when I was a child when I first went to Fushan to pray for Buddha with my elders. I have been in peace for the past ten years. I think it will always be useful. Good fortune will always come."
"For you."
Ten years ago, Fushan prayed to Buddha.
That was the first time to worship ancestors and pray to Buddha after the founding ceremony.
The whole country celebrated.
It refers to the imperial power.
Yan Siqing glanced at the little girl's innocent eyes and eyebrows, and became more and more aware of her intelligence and sharpness.
"If you give it to me, won't you be unlucky?"
"Can I have it?"
Liao Qingbi was at a loss for a moment, not knowing how to convince him. When he felt awkward, Yan Siqing reached out and took the amulet.
Liao Qingbi and the Liao brothers were all stunned.
Yan Siqing stroked the amulet and said softly, "I am under the protection of the majesty of the Heavenly Family, with the world at my back. I am naturally blessed. I have taken your blessings from the Buddhist family, and my own blessings will flow in balance, and you will also be protected by them."
"It's level, go ahead."
The little girl left.
Liao Qing was silent. Liao Yuan then began to introduce: "Your Highness, I have brought you here because an old friend of mine has encountered disaster and has no choice but to come to see you."
After his introduction, the small door opened and a servant pushed out a wheelchair with a man sitting in it.
He was over forty, but looked older, with a pale complexion and thick clothing.
A smell of medicine hit me in the face.
Yan Siqing's brows cleared and he was silent for a moment. He didn't ask who he was or why he came. He just looked at him silently and waited for him to speak.
He was also looking at her.
I looked up and down for a long time.
There was an overly quiet atmosphere between the two of them, and there was an eerie atmosphere.
The Liao brothers were nervous, but they didn't dare to say anything. They were distracted and no one knew what they were thinking. They just looked at the pond and bamboo forest outside.
until.....
"Junjun, I'm your father's old friend, Tan Xinzong. I asked you for medicine back then... Don't you recognize me?"
"When you were a child, you were sick and your parents were anxious, so they brought you to me..."
Yan Siqing had been looking at him the whole time, and frowned when he heard that. "Uncle Tan? I was indeed sick then, but I was too young to remember anything. Father did mention it... but I don't remember what you looked like, and I didn't recognize you. What are you like now?"
She did not recognize him directly and seemed to have doubts, which was consistent with her answer to Emperor Heng: she was too young to remember people.
Tan Xinzong: "I encountered some problems, offended people, and was injured. I had no choice but to come to you for help."
"It's about your father's death."
Having said that, since it was the Yan family's business, the Liao brothers pretended not to hear it and continued to stay by the side without saying a word. However, Liao Qing became even more nervous.
Yan Siqing was silent for a moment, then asked, "Is someone chasing you? Or is they trying to interrogate you?"
Tan Xinzong: "I want to know if your father entrusted me with something, but I really don't know. I only prescribed some medicine for your father back then... There can't be anything wrong with these medicines."
He smiled bitterly and mentioned the contact they had that year, as if he couldn't understand the purpose of the person behind it.
But this corresponds to the plans of both Emperor Heng and Lechen towards her: they could have killed her, but they kept her alive and did not dare to break up with her. They wanted to spy on her or even force her to hand over the jade seal and the huge treasure in the hands of Empress Xie.
The imperial seal is the legitimate symbol of the world, and the latter is the only core that supplies the operation of the empire.
It is indeed worth the patience of ambitious people.
But, they weren't really sure...it was just that there were no other suspects?
A great fire destroyed everything, leaving no trace.
Now she went to Tan Xinzong to find out her true intentions through him.
If you suspect that she is not really Yan Xie's daughter, then whose child do you suspect she is?
Yan Siqing suddenly said, "Maybe there's something wrong with the medicine."
What?
"It was an old illness that was diagnosed as fatal by various sources. Uncle Tan and my parents worked together to save me. Although I luckily survived, my father was very concerned about it and continued to study this technique. He was also afraid that something might happen to him. My mother wasn't very skilled in this technique, and we lived far away, so we couldn't support ourselves. So he asked my mother and even memorize the original prescriptions so that if something happened and he wasn't around, we would be able to find someone to buy the medicine."
"So there is indeed one mistake in the prescription you just recited. It's one coin of Kuxinruo, not one coin of Kujianguo. Both are rare herbs, but their medicinal properties are different."
"But doctors like Uncle Tan and my father would never make a mistake in remembering the medicine. After all, it's a matter of life and death."
"You are not Tan Xinzong."
Yan Siqing told the story slowly and leisurely, but came to a terrible conclusion.
Ah, not me?!
Liao Qing was stunned, but Liao Yuan's eyes flashed. He pulled his brother to the other side and stood in front of Yan Siqing on the left.
Regardless of whether they knew the other party's origin, the person in front of them was not Tan Xinzong. This was not known in advance, so how could they not be wary!
What if it’s a bad guy?
The three of them retreated collectively, avoiding the other party, and prepared to call the guards outside.
Sudden!
"Tan Xinzong" and the servant who pushed him both lowered their heads, and the servant pushed the wheelchair to the side.
The small door opened.
Another servant pushed out another wheelchair with another person on it.
Similar, but this person was more seriously injured, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Yan Siqing was deeper and more helpless, with a surge of blood in his body.
With a smell of blood.
And after they came out.
Wei Tingzhong walked out, and another tall and heroic figure appeared behind his tall body.
The Liao brothers immediately knelt down.
Yan Siqing followed the other person as he walked out, and also bowed his head to salute.
Emperor Heng raised his hand to excuse himself, which meant that Yan Siqing should excuse himself, but with a flick of the back of his hand, the Liao brothers understood and stepped back. Liao Qing took one last look at Yan Siqing with worry in his eyes, but there was nothing he could do.
They went out with the fake "Tan Xinzong" and others.
Only Zhen, Wei Tingzhong and Hengdi were left.
They are naturally on the same side.
Only Yan Siqing is alone.
The windows were closed, and the slanting light reflected the shadows.
She looked across at the other side alone.
Emperor Heng did not sit down, but walked over.
"Just now, your Uncle Tan saw you from afar in the hut. He said that girls change a lot when they grow up. He couldn't recognize you anymore. Are you still the little girl you were back then?"
Yan Siqing looked at the real Tan Xinzong and said, "That's normal, but it's my fault that I don't look too much like my parents."
Emperor Heng: "Generally speaking, sons resemble their mothers, and daughters resemble their fathers. He said your eyes might be like your father's."
Yan Siqing: "Probably more like my father."
Emperor Heng: "Which father?"
unexpected!
Very abrupt.
When Wei Tingzhong and Tan Xinzong both realized this sentence belatedly and were puzzled, Emperor Heng had already arrived in front of Yan Siqing. He suddenly lowered his head and looked into her eyes right at her.
The Jiang family members are tall, much taller than ordinary men. Even though he is over fifty years old, Emperor Heng's heroic and tall figure is enough to force Yan Siqing.
He is also suspicious.
Those eyes were like a dormant tiger or lion lurking in the hunt.
At that moment, the pupils might be vertical.
When ordinary small animals are targeted, there is no way for them to dodge or resist. Their bodies are already frozen with fear and unable to move.
The two men were unable to react because they were not strong enough to confront the Lord of the Empire.
Yan Siqing didn't react at all. She just stood there motionless, staring at the emperor.
There was no panic, no step back, no panic to the point of kneeling down to beg for mercy, and then trying hard to explain...
She only stared at him for a moment before softly saying, "Your Majesty seems to have intensified his suspicions of me. He still believes I'm not Yan but you. Whose child do you think I am?"
"If you think about it carefully, the only thing the Yan family can get involved in is Empress Xie's past."
"You, do you suspect that I am the child of someone on Empress Xie's side?"
"It's still Queen Xie's child."
Tan Xinzong's muscles trembled, and his eyes were full of horror.
Not to mention the weird and terrifying conversation between the emperor and the princess, just take the final guess...it's unbelievable!
Thank you for not having any children!!
At least she had no children with the deposed Emperor Ye of the previous dynasty.
Tan Xinzong's mind was a mess, and his severely injured body was originally unable to move, but now out of panic and suspicion, his fingers groped for the armrests of the wheelchair.
Mechanical things cannot hide hypocrisy any more than human beings.
A crackling sound just started.
Wei Tingzhong raised his foot and stopped the wheelchair from behind.
But the sound still happened, causing Emperor Heng and Yan Siqing, who were originally looking at each other, to look at him sideways.
There was no ripple in Emperor Heng's eyes, and his expression was calm.
To Tan Xinzong and Wei Tingzhong, they were surprisingly similar - they had a similar cold quality.
It seems as if no one in the world is qualified to move them.
This cold-blooded, powerful, and ability to control others...
Quiet.
It was eerily quiet again.
Wei and Tan remained silent and subconsciously lowered their heads.
This is the submission and fear in their hearts.
Emperor Heng did not comment and looked at Yan Siqing again.
Yan Siqing, a mere merchant girl and medical girl, became known to the world for her intelligence and scheming because of several murders, which made her silence and calmness seem not strange at all.
There is a strange harmony.
Emperor Heng was not even angry at her offense and presumption, and continued in the same tone, "Empress Xie and Emperor Ye have no children."
"you do not know?"
Yan Siqing: "I know, so I don't understand."
“Am I like them?”
"Your Majesty, although this is treasonous, I am indeed curious - am I really like them?"
"This resemblance is so great that Your Majesty has repeatedly doubted it."
If there is no substantial evidence, and he keeps testing a meritorious person, who is even his granddaughter-in-law, it will more or less damage the emperor's status.
Will Emperor Heng admit his suspicion?
Emperor Heng chuckled and said calmly, "On the boat from Yancheng to Chang'an, you seemed to have a confrontation with Chi Lin. Chi Lin asked about the Yan family case, and you replied that you were young back then and had long forgotten everything. Now, you can remember even the smallest details like the prescription clearly."
"I can even recognize that Tan Xinzong is not himself."
"Is this my fearlessness and suspicion?"
He actually knew everything about the conversation between Yan Siqing and Jiang Hui! !
How long ago was that...
What is an emperor? An emperor is one who controls his subordinates. The art of controlling his subordinates requires one to know everyone's secrets and grasp their trends.
So, there were only three types of people on that ship.
The King’s people, Jiang Hui’s people, and the Emperor’s people.
One family, three generations, three types of confidants, this is the imperial family.
The emperor's pressure is still there, how will she deal with it?
Wei Tingzhong looked up slightly.
Yan Siqing then said, "If a man and a woman can be completely frank and honest with each other, there won't be any messy things going on afterwards."
"But even if you're completely honest and keep everything you know to yourself, it might not last long."
"It's nothing more than relying on lies to keep going, or turning a blind eye."
"Most boys and girls who are older and not naive know about this."
Forehead......
Speaking of which.
really.
Tan Xinzong was embarrassed. Emperor Heng was stunned for a moment and said slowly, "That's true. I think so too."
"Most couples in this world are like this."
He might be thinking about himself and Queen Yuan, or someone else.
The emperor had too many affairs of love and romance.
Wei Tingzhong: "Perhaps I am the only one here who disagrees. I cannot agree with this."
The atmosphere suddenly...
Um....
Even more embarrassing.
Emperor Heng turned around and glanced at him, speechless.
Wei Tingzhong had a blank expression on his face.
Even an emperor would have to forgive a eunuch's sensitivity in this matter.
Yan Siqing lowered his head and straightened his sleeves, pretending that his statement had not offended anyone.
I forgot for a moment, I'm sorry.
The originally solemn and tense atmosphere was eased a lot because of Wei Tingzhong's intervention.
Emperor Heng walked away and did not come closer to force Yan Siqing, but walked to the window, picked up the crispy candy on the small table for entertaining guests, opened the crispy wrapper, and ate it casually.
"So you remember what happened back then."
"Have you seen the assassins who killed your Yan family?"
Yan Siqing: "No, at that time, my mother did put me in the carriage's secret compartment to protect me. Your Majesty can confirm this through the guards my uncle brought with him. I didn't lie."
If the emperor wants to investigate something, he will dig three feet deep into the ground even after many years, and all the old people will be dug out.
She knew he could be sure of that.
Emperor Heng: "It is confirmed, but if you cannot understand my suspicion, I cannot understand your behavior either - you knew that Jiang Hui's grandmother was the real murderer who destroyed your Yan family, yet you still married her. With your pride, why?"
Yan Siqing paused, stopped stroking his sleeves, and spoke in a dull tone.
"Is it possible that Your Majesty could change the person you grant me marriage to? I would marry him/her, no matter who he/she is, and I would accept him/her as my husband."
"This has nothing to do with whether he is the Crown Prince or not."
The son and grandson asked for marriage one after another, and the grandfather really arranged the marriage.
An eldest grandson of the emperor and an emperor.
How could she refuse?
Emperor Heng: “…”
This time, Wei Tingzhong felt that Yan Siqing was really wronged and the emperor was really unreasonable.
Emperor Heng was quiet for a moment, then folded the crisp paper and said slowly, "I am indeed old and have forgotten."
"You are indeed a person who can consider the overall situation."
"Then as the granddaughter-in-law, please forgive the old stubborn grandfather once again."
He raised his hand.
Tan Xinzong and Yan Siqing both saw the person brought in from outside - Zhou Li brought an old woman.
Zhou Li escaped and rushed over after the emperor personally visited the Liao family, carrying out some orders. Now he brought people in, glanced at Yan Siqing quickly, and then stood aside with his head bowed.
Tan Xinzong glanced at the old woman and his expression twitched.
Emperor Heng: "Did you recognize her? The female doctor who helped you with your prescriptions sometimes used medicine and you asked her to come. She also saw the young girl back then."
He turned and looked at Yan Siqing.
"You don't recognize this either?"
"That's fine. I hope she can recognize you—recognize whether you are the same girl from back then."
"Because of his friendship with your father, Tan Xinzong might still be loyal and trustworthy, but others might not."
Tan Xinzong remained silent, and his words seemed to be silent.
Wei Tingzhong looked back and forth at the two of them, rubbing his fingers.
Could it be that Yan Siqing’s identity is really in doubt?
The female doctor is old now. She has nothing to do with the old events and they have no friendship. Due to the life and death of her family, she cannot help Yan Siqing.
This time I came here to really recognize people.
I would never dare to lie.
Tan Xinzong was extremely nervous and his face was flushed. When the female doctor came in, although she was nervous, she still looked at Yan Siqing and identified him carefully. After a while, she looked confused and uneasy.
"Your Majesty, judging by his appearance, I can't really recognize his younger self, but his eyes are very similar."
A person's eyes are most like when they were young because their facial features and bones change dramatically.
This statement is exactly the same as Tan Xinzong's. Even doctors and other people who are good at bone reading would find it difficult to recognize the difference between a child of a few years old and a woman in her twenties.
so....
But the doctor remembered another thing, and she carefully asked if she could check Yan Siqing's wrist.
"I remember that Lord Yan's daughter had a small red mole on her wrist."
After saying this, Tan Xinzong looked sideways.
He had felt the girl's pulse to diagnose her illness, so he didn't have to examine her entire body. However, the doctor and Xu Junrong helped apply the medicine and rub it on...
Apart from being a parent, she was the only one who had seen the little girl's entire body.
Yan Siqing looked at the female doctor, and the female doctor had done her best to save the lives of her family, otherwise she would not have brought up such a private matter.
The emperor took a glance and said, "Go into the back room..."
Not finished yet.
Yan Siqing didn't want to make things difficult for others and had already rolled up his sleeves.
"You mean this?"
Right above the snow-white elbow, there is a tiny red mole that is so beautiful that it makes your eyes water.
Roses contain snow, and cinnabar in the snow.
The doctor said, "Ah, yes, it's right here! You really are the Miss Yan from back then!!"
"Your Majesty, she is."
"I guarantee it with my life."
Zhou Li was the first to turn around. Wei Tingzhong stretched out his hand and pushed Tan Xinzong's wheelchair to the back.
The words are like you or the words are like you.
As long as it involves life and death, fame and honor are trivial matters to her.
This also fits in with her willingness to compromise on the engagement in order to protect the lives of her mother, daughter, and others.
She always has a fixed method in doing things and being a person.
It was just an arm, but the emperor frowned and looked away without even looking at it, saying in a cold tone: "That's enough, put it down."
It seems like you let go and your sleeves fall down.
It was just her arm, she didn't feel anything.
She dared to verify it because it was originally her - she was the sick child of Yan Que and Xie Junrong.
"Since Your Majesty is suspicious, I will also testify to your own mistakes. Whether it's Uncle Tan or this female doctor, I was young back then and can't really remember your appearances. But I do remember there was a loquat tree outside Uncle Tan's medicine house. I've eaten loquats from there before, and they were very sour. My mother also mentioned this, and later she even joked about it with Uncle Tan, saying that you always have a way of making people laugh by giving my father such sour loquats."
"Is it right?"
Tan Xinzong was embarrassed for a moment, but his eyes also turned red.
Only brothers would insult each other like this, how shameless.
Therefore, how can we not feel sad when we talk about the past and think of the old people?
"In the past, we doctors studied medicine with him. He was good-looking and had a superb talent. He was very impressive when he walked around, and we looked like pumpkins. We always pissed him off and beat him up."
"The sour loquats were given to him on purpose."
"He knows it, and he's always happy to eat it."
"But I didn't know that an honest man like him would take it back to amuse his wife and daughter."
Later, the best friend whose handsome face was distorted by eating sour loquats from his yard was chopped open by a villain.
No longer as handsome as before.
————
The atmosphere fell into silence again.
Because there is really nothing to check.
These repeated tests should have confirmed her identity.
It was incredible to suspect that she was not Yan Que's daughter.
Even the emperor's confidants couldn't understand it.
However, the emperor does not need others to understand what he does.
He raised his hand.
"Everyone get out."
Everyone was shocked.
But no one can disobey.
They went out one after another.
The door closed again.
This time, only Emperor Heng and Yan Siqing were left in the room.
Yan Siqing remained motionless and quiet.
Emperor Heng: "With your intelligence, you must have guessed it."
Yan Siqing raised her eyes and asked, "Does Empress Xie really have a child?"
This matter is confidential and no one else can tell.
Because... after the new emperor who was vying for the throne won the world, he had an affair with the queen mother of the previous dynasty and got her pregnant. This was a scandal in itself, and if he was forced, it would be even more unbearable.
Therefore, Lechen's identity was attributed to the spy palace maid, not Empress Xie.
Emperor Heng: "Don't you suspect that one of you or Lechen is the child of me and Empress Xie?"
"You, actually, look a lot like her."
"Just as smart and powerful, with great style."
......
Yan Siqing frowned, his expression unpleasant. "I think even if Your Majesty possesses great political skills, you wouldn't allow your daughter to have an affair with your grandson."
This is not the mind of an emperor.
Although the affair between aunt and niece was a scandal in the dynasty and there were old precedents in the royal family, it was the act of a tyrant and a chaotic clan, and it would be infamous for eternity.
It is really impossible for a person like Emperor Heng, who is so strict and loves reputation, to do such a thing.
Emperor Heng laughed, "Of course. No matter how shameless I am, and no matter how much I betray the father-son relationship with Prince Yan, I will never destroy the bloodline of our family, nor will I insult you like this."
Yan Siqing bent her fingers and looked at the emperor.
"So you suspect that Empress Xie and Emperor Ye had a child before the fall of the kingdom?"
"They even hid the existence of this child during this period."
"Is this possible? One of the key reasons Empress Xie and Emperor Ye's unstable positions and the officials' rebellion was that Empress Xie never conceived an heir, and Emperor Ye refused to take concubines. Officials saw this as a sign of a broken heir. They couldn't tolerate such a hidden danger and were also worried that the sovereignty of the country would fall into Empress Xie's hands."
One of the reasons why Emperor Heng was able to successfully conquer the country was that he had the most powerful army.
Secondly, the emperor and empress themselves were facing the risk of having no heirs, and they were extremely weak in the military because of the evil deeds of the previous emperor and the harm done to military generals by treacherous ministers. After the emperor and empress came to power, they had no time to make amends.
Third, Emperor Ye was weak and ill, and the court suspected that Empress Xie had drugged him in order to control the government and rule the country.
Fourthly, Empress Xie suddenly came to court alone and broke the news that Emperor Ye had taken poison and was dying, causing chaos in the court.
No one knows whether this is the right time and place or the right people.
But the results are the results.
No one can reverse history.
Emperor Heng still proclaimed himself emperor, and the world belonged to the Jiang family.
Yan Siqing: "If they had a child, it's impossible for it to survive. Even if it survived, Your Majesty, why do you think I am?"
"Just because I look like Empress Xie?"
"Do I really look like her?"
When there were only two people left.
Many secrets can be discussed without involving any leakage or targeting any specific issue.
Yan Siqing had also used this kind of confrontation on King Lie.
The scandalous secrets that Emperor Heng would not tell others could be discussed with her, but Yan Siqing's frankness was a great offense, yet Emperor Heng allowed it.
It was because we had to discuss confidential matters that we asked others to leave.
The most important thing is that Yan Siqing has shown enough intelligence before. It would be ridiculous if he just pretended to be stupid and pretended to be ignorant of these secrets.
Emperor Heng turned around, put his hands behind his back, and looked at her seriously.
In fact, he had seen it many times, but every time, he still looked at her carefully, as if he was looking through her to see another person.
Try your best to find that person's shadow.
"Actually, she doesn't look like it. She's more ambitious and solemn, and has a certain... unusual aura that doesn't align with our ancient system. You should have heard about her. Many of her ideas are... bizarre. If she hadn't achieved the highest position, any one of them would be enough to get her executed."
"Reformer, I have only seen such courage in her."
"Women's rights, the marriage system, the imperial examination system, slavery, the wages of workers and farmers, the official system, hereditary official titles, weakening aristocratic families, education. She has many ideas. Some I don't understand and reject, but some I accept. Some I initially rejected, but now I agree with, and some I initially agreed with, but now I also reject."
He seemed to have many thoughts about Empress Xie, which he had never been able to tell anyone else, and he only spoke to her like Siqing.
Even emperors feel lonely.
Yan Siqing listened and then cooperated.
"Because you were once only the lord of a fiefdom, the Grand Duke of a noble family."
"Now, you are the emperor."
Different identities represent different interests, and different interests naturally lead to different demands.
Emperor Heng raised an eyebrow, "Indeed."
"You don't look like her in appearance, but your personality and abilities are similar, but you're more subtle and can blend in with this world. She's too idealistic...she doesn't fit in."
Yan Siqing: "Your Majesty once doubted me?"
"Because they do have a child."
"Empress Xie was a person with long-term plans. She probably knew that once she and her husband ascended to the throne, they wouldn't actually have complete control over the empire. Instead, ascending to that position would mean they would be at war with the world. She was especially loyal to her own ideals and ambitions. She didn't just want to be a man, a woman behind the emperor. She wanted to change the world, to improve the conditions of all its people. So, she could see the risks of failure. She and Emperor Ye had a child, and that child had been hidden from outsiders. This naturally brought risks to the succession of the nation, but it was also beneficial to the child. If the reforms failed, or if the outcome of the already chaotic times was unfavorable to them, then there was a chance that the child would escape and ascend to heaven."
Empress Xie and Emperor Ye were naturally a generation younger than Emperor Heng, and were almost considered two generations apart back then. Moreover, Emperor Heng got married early and had his eldest son, Prince Yan, when he was eighteen.
But this emperor and empress married late, and their only child was already quite old when they had him.
At that time, Empress Xie was already in her thirties, and outsiders had never thought that she would have a child.
If there is, it should have been there long ago.
"She probably didn't expect that her confidant, her best friend...had already revealed this secret to me."
"But I don't know whether the child is a boy or a girl. Empress Xie is a very thoughtful person. After the child was born, she sent him away directly regardless of gender."
"Afterwards, not even the spy saw the child."
Emperor Heng smiled slightly: "But, I have seen their children."
Yan Siqing was surprised.
"When I first received the king's order to return to Chang'an to attend the ceremony, I went to see the child quietly."
"Because no matter how meticulous she is, she always misses the child. She is also very concerned about the child's upbringing and cannot completely put him aside. When the couple goes out to play, the child is quietly taken away and goes with them."
"That time, I got the news and made comprehensive arrangements, even using a substitute. I secretly rushed to Guanzhong Hot Spring Mountain and spied on it from a distance."
When children are young, it is difficult to tell the difference between boys and girls in their clothing.
He only saw the child's general appearance - in fact, he knew that Tan Xinzong and the female doctor were not lying, because most children under the age of four are difficult to distinguish from adults.
They were so sure of recognizing him that he doubted it.
Since he himself couldn't recognize it, how could he trust their certainty in identifying it?
"That child—his eyes look like Emperor Ye's, and also like yours."
"Guanzhong Hot Spring Mountain, Qinghuang Courtyard."
"Then Qinghuangyuan was named after them."
"If it were back then, I would have to kneel down and salute you."
"Is that you?"
"Your Highness, Crown Prince Qinghuang."
Regardless of gender, the only child of the emperor and empress is indeed the only heir to the empire.
So, he said before: like which father.
Actually, I'm waiting here.
Yan Siqing, are you Yan Siqing? Are you like your later father Yan Que, or like your real father Emperor Ye?
——————
It is because I have seen it with my own eyes and have a deep memory of it that I still have doubts.
Try again and again.
The emperor's almost stubborn suspicion did not require any further verification. As long as he had the suspicion, the charge was established.
She couldn't hide at all.
Nor could she prove herself - her intelligence was directed towards discovering the truth, and could never dispel the selfishness of human hearts, let alone the selfishness of an emperor.
Not killing is still because of concerns and demands.
Yan Siqing frowned and said nothing, as if he was thinking of a way to escape, and was worried about the emperor's malice.
Emperor Heng was not in a hurry and waited patiently for her to struggle to save herself in the cage.
until.....
Yan Siqing asked, "How did Your Majesty find out about Uncle Tan?"
"It's actually not a good time to catch up with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prince Yan's protection. It shows that we didn't find any traces back then. Otherwise, we would have taken action earlier and would not have had the concerns we have now, and would not have hurt your royal family's ties."
"Things that were originally unintelligible have suddenly been discovered. Evidence after evidence is laid before me, allowing you to continue examining me."
"This is neither in my interest nor your timing. With your cunning mind, you can naturally guess that there is a third party waiting to profit."
Emperor Heng looked calm.
Yan Siqing: "You know that someone is pushing all this. When you're investigating me, you're actually also investigating the person behind the scenes. It's a two-pronged approach. But on my side, you can actually confirm that I'm most likely Yan Que's daughter. As for the Emperor and Empress' child, you can't even be sure of the gender. So, rather than suspecting me, it's better to say that you suspect someone else more."
"We even have more clues and flaws, waiting to be exposed."
"It's just that you don't want to leave any hidden dangers."
Whether she is or not, as long as there is a slight possibility that she is.
There is no need for Emperor Heng to leave any hidden dangers.
Emperor Heng raised his eyelids and asked, "Are you afraid that I will kill you here?"
"Or are you waiting for Chilin to rescue you?"
Yan Siqing: "Once you take action, if Prince Yan's Mansion resists, they will be the winner."
"You would never let anyone take advantage of you."
"Even if you want to kill me, you will wait until I'm caught, or everything is under your control..."
This is the mature mentality of an emperor.
It is also the dignity of the emperor.
Emperor Heng laughed, "You know me so well? It seems that since ancient times, those who understood the emperor too well and showed it all ended up badly."
Yan Siqing was silent, then said, "On the way to Chang'an, I knew that I would not have a good ending."
"If I were the Crown Prince Qing Huang, I would surely die."
"If I were not, but just a merchant's daughter, just a daughter of the Yan family, whose status was not worth mentioning and whose life or death was irrelevant, then I would have to die."
Because the Yan family was exterminated because of this.
Because it doesn't matter.
Because death is irrelevant, death is necessary.
These are the insignificant lives of many people and countless ordinary people in this world.
Yan Siqing stood alone, with an extraordinary loneliness about him.
He and Emperor Heng also formed the cruelest opposition in the world.
The emperor and the people.
Emperor Heng probably also sensed the deeper meaning behind this. He fell silent, his thoughts drifting away.
This grand theme runs through history.
Why do foolish rulers fail and why do wise rulers decline? The creation of an empire and its decline are issues that every emperor must face.
He is not a mediocre person, otherwise he would not have achieved great things.
He is not a saint, otherwise he would not have fallen into the emperor's desire for hegemony.
But who will win between the two?
Which imperial instinct will prevail?
In the silence, there was suddenly a noise outside.
They both looked outside the closed door.
Outside the door, Wei Tingzhong whispered, "Your Majesty, it's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince... He's here."
Yan Siqing looked tired, lowered his eyes and pursed his lips, feeling reluctant and sad at the same time.
Emperor Heng raised his eyebrows, then sneered, glanced at him and said, "It looks like you."
"Don't criticize my arrogance and use my pride to force me to be a wise ruler."
Yan Siqing: "Your Majesty is a good grandfather."
Emperor Heng was speechless. He stood up and flicked his sleeves: "He is useless, but I am not."
"I wouldn't treat your life as a game."
"Otherwise, it would seem that your achievements and talents are not worth cherishing."
"I have no shortage of granddaughters-in-law."
"There will be many grandchildren and grandchildren and descendants in the future."
"But this is one last try."
"Yan Siqing, get your daughter to Chang'an."
"I want to see her."
Emperor Heng walked past her, and at the moment her face darkened, he said, "If she is like you, then I might be able to transcend time and see the truth."
"Whether it is or not, you can tell at a glance."
"Your life or death will be decided then."
"If she doesn't look like him, you don't have to be so shy. Accept the fate you have already stepped into. Become a member of the Jiang family and become my descendant along with Chi Lin. Stand at the pinnacle of power and unleash your talent and grace."
"That's not too hard on you, is it?"
In the end, he still found the most abnormal flaw in all Yan Siqing's words and deeds - she had always kept her daughter in another place and could not bring her to Chang'an, no matter how her situation got better or worse.
Some people suspected that the political situation was unstable and she was worried that her daughter would be implicated.
Some people suspected that she didn't have Jiang Hui in her heart, had no confidence in this marriage, and simply avoided her daughter's future.
Some people suspect...
Because of her usual dangerous situations, no one questioned her intention to protect her daughter. One could only assume that she loved her daughter's life the most and could calmly weigh the pros and cons.
Even Jiang Hui suspected that she wanted to leave him.
Only Emperor Heng thought of it - perhaps she wanted to avoid exposing Zhao Zhao to the public and letting them know the secret.
Now that he proposed, if she still refused.
Then there is no need to ask, there is only one answer.
Both mother and daughter must die, and all those involved will be executed.
If you don't refuse, you accept.
Take the child to Chang'an...the emperor will make his own judgment.
"Unless you offer something else in exchange. Sometimes human life is worthless. Something else is what I want."
"Others may not see through this, but someone like you should understand my dilemma. The empire is unstable because those reactionaries have always believed that I came to power illegitimately. They even suspect that I poisoned Emperor Ye through that female spy. Even now, some officials in the court and the previous dynasty share this suspicion."
Yan Siqing said, "Actually, I don't understand. Your Majesty is the ruler of the world. You conquered the country through strength. You haven't made any major mistakes in governing the country over the years. Even if there are rebels, there have always been such people in every dynasty. Why does Your Majesty care so much about a mere jade seal?"
Emperor Heng was silent, hesitated for a moment, and looked at her, as if he was curious whether she was asking deliberately despite knowing the answer, or if she really didn't know.
"Most people probably don't know this now, but some veteran officials and elders do know. Counting the previous Central Dynasty, the ancestors of the Northern Yue Kingdom and the previous dynasty all came from the same origin. Although they were separated by hundreds of generations, ever since I ascended the throne, they have been deliberately disturbing the border areas under the pretext of restoring orthodoxy and entering the Central Plains to establish the True Dragon. There are even vassals among the people. They haven't mentioned it publicly in recent years because our dynasty's military strength is still quite strong. When the Snowman Ditch case came out, the Northern Yue Kingdom intended to bring it up again, believing that they had an advantage in entering the Central Plains. However, if our dynasty's military strength were to prevail, they were also afraid that we would bring it up and go over to take over the mountains and rivers of the Northern Yue and unify the world."
"Look at the recent negotiations, they haven't mentioned a single word about it."
"When the Snowman Valley was defeated and occupied, they didn't look like this."
"Whether to mention it or not depends on the strength of the army, but with the imperial seal, the significance is extraordinary."
In fact, these are all secrets that even the people and the court dare not mention. Mentioning them would be considered a great rebellion.
"The imperial seal will allow me to settle the world."
Emperor Heng spoke frankly about politics, with a warm attitude but clear purpose.
This is also the truth. Emperor Heng did not lie, nor was he using any tricks to inflict pain on himself.
The importance of the imperial seal to the interests of the family and the country is self-evident.
He also saw through Yan Siqing's inner heart - she did not want her country to fall into chaos again.
Yan Siqing raised his eyes and looked at Emperor Heng.
If she were Qinghuang, or if she had the jade seal and treasure in her hands.
If you surrender in advance, he might promise to let you go.
——————
So does she agree or refuse?
Does she have the imperial seal, or not?
There was a lot of commotion outside. Jiang Hui had already arrived and someone was stopping him.
If we delay any longer, there might be a fight.
This is a desperate situation.
For a mother, it is an irreversible desperate situation.
final.
The silence in the room was broken, and Yan Siqing spoke in a low voice.
"I don't have those things, especially the imperial seal."
"If you had it, you should have done something with it long ago. As Your Majesty said, now is not the best time for you to act. It has been delayed for too many years. In fact, the same is true for Crown Prince Qinghuang, who possesses the Imperial Seal. If he had the Imperial Seal and could prove he was the only child of the Emperor and Empress, he could defect to the Beiyue Kingdom, borrow troops and raise his power, disrupting our internal affairs. This would be far more advantageous to him than the current situation. Even if he doesn't become a traitor, the old forces of the previous dynasty still exist, as do the other fiefdom lords who were defeated by Your Majesty. If he all came together, he could command the support of hundreds and become a formidable force."
"If he didn't do that, it means he really doesn't have the imperial seal, and he can't prove his identity."
"Rather than waiting until now—Your Majesty's empire is at its peak. Military power is strong, talented individuals abound, and the government and the people are united. There are no treacherous officials or corrupt officials. Even if there are some dirty and chaotic things, Your Majesty has ruthlessly eradicated them. Your determination is known to everyone."
I'm talking about people like King Qi and King Lie.
"Your Majesty, Yunei, you no longer have any enemies."
Emperor Heng: "Really? The one outside, your husband, do you think he wants to be your husband or my enemy?"
His rhetorical question was somewhat frivolous.
Yan Siqing: "All you have are your descendants."
He also said this.
He has many descendants.
A double entendre.
For emperors, descendants can be enemies or just descendants.
Looking back at history, the situation of both actually depended on the emperor, not on his descendants.
Emperor Heng remained silent, unable to refute for a moment.
When you have a private conversation with an intelligent person, you can speak freely, but he will always be incisive and insightful, and will kill you with his heart.
But Yan Siqing also said: "Your Majesty has ordered, we must obey, Your Majesty will send someone to pick up my daughter."
"I was reluctant before because I am also a suspicious person. I always felt that you would kill me sooner or later, unlike Your Majesty who has many descendants."
"I only have one daughter."
"She is indeed my biggest flaw and weakness."
Emperor Heng stared at her, his eyes filled with deep emotion.
——————
Jiang Hui strode forward, and it was no longer the turn of Liao Yuan brothers to intercept him. The hidden leader of the Inner Guard and Wei Tingzhong both came out.
But it certainly can't stop him.
Jiang Hui didn't stop walking, even though he was aware of the dangers lurking nearby. His robe fluttered with his steps. Until...
Crash!
Archers appeared from the nearby eaves.
All aimed at Jiang Hui.
“No!”
“Oh my God!”
The Liao Yuan brothers were terrified when they realized that their home had already been guarded by the inner guards' secret archery team.
This also means that the emperor is ready to shoot someone at any time.
Life and death are just a matter of one thought.
Inside the house, Yan Siqing also noticed the archer's movements and looked towards Emperor Heng.
Emperor Heng had no expression on his face.
Outside, Wei Tingzhong frowned and glanced at the leader of the inner guards.
A little bit...
Jiang Hui still took a step forward.
The chief of the inner guards frowned, with cold sweat on his forehead, and he dared not move his raised hand for a moment.
Jiang Hui took another step closer.
Wei Tingzhong also stepped forward to stop him, and also blocked the angle of the arrow.
"Your Highness."
Jiang Hui stared at him and gripped the jeweled dagger tightly - he had given it to Yan Siqing, but Yan Siqing thought it was too heavy and didn't take it, so it returned to his hand.
“Get out of the way.”
Wei Tingzhong whispered, "Your Majesty won't."
Jiang Hui: "I know."
"But I'm afraid of what might happen."
Wei Tingzhong's expression was moved until Jiang Hui suddenly drew his sword.
Crazy?!
Wei Tingzhong was about to stop him.
The head of the inner guard said: "Your Highness, how insolent!"
Sudden!
Jiang Hui drew his sword and simply slashed his palm with the blade.
Flesh and blood burst out, and the blood boiled.
“Your Highness!!”
"Your Highness is injured!!"
Wei Tingzhong and the Liao brothers shouted loudly.
Jiang Hui knelt down. Wei Tingzhong and others immediately stepped aside when they saw this, while Jiang Hui faced the ground.
Forehead touches the ground.
The door opened.
Yan Siqing saw Jiang Hui kneeling there, his palms full of blood.
He's such a proud man.
Now I feel like an ant with no dignity.
She was startled, her face turned much paler, her lips trembled slightly, but she endured it.
Behind him, Emperor Heng saw it and his face turned unhappy.
"Nothing."
He looked at her with disdain, glanced at her and said, "It seems like you."
"Not going yet?"
Yan Siqing stepped over the threshold and walked up to Jiang Hui.
Her expression was a little distressed, as if she was angry, but not.
She squatted down and put her arms around his neck.
Don't speak.
Jiang Hui avoided the blood on his hand and put his arm around her waist and back.
His breath trembled against her neck.
He would be afraid too.
——————
Emperor Heng stood in the house, hidden in the dimness, watching coldly, but his hands behind his back were slightly clenched, and he was a little distracted.
I don’t know what he is thinking.
After the couple left, he said to Wei Tingzhong, "They are a good match, aren't they?"
Wei Tingzhong was stunned for a moment and said, "Yes, they are a perfect match."
"I seem like a tyrant."
Wei Tingzhong: "Your Majesty is considering the empire."
Emperor Heng sneered, "How I made things difficult for the former Empress, and how I forced her to do so, is shameless. You witnessed it with your own eyes, so why are you pretending?"
Wei Tingzhong was speechless.
"Unfortunately, she doesn't want to bear my child."
"So proud."
"How am I weaker than that sickly person? Am I older?"
Wei Tingzhong: "......"
Indeed, age is old.
But this cannot be said.
Emperor Heng brought up the matter himself, which meant he knew it all. Perhaps Empress Xie had also expressed her disapproval to her face at that time.
He was very upset about it.
That person has always been a person who never suffers any loss. Her status is originally high. She came from the common people and entered the Xie family, then the royal family, and finally ascended to the throne of emperor and empress. In the end, she even controlled the government and was worshipped by all officials including Emperor Heng. How could she possibly bow down to Emperor Heng?
Even if you lose, you will just die.
If his weak spot had not been grasped and the existence of His Highness Qinghuang had not been exposed, he would not have been forced to compromise.
But he did not show any respect to Emperor Heng verbally.
Back then, just a few words of slander against Emperor Heng were enough to scare the people of the world.
—Old, less handsome than Emperor Ye, rude, less learned and elegant, pedantic, old-fashioned, and mean-spirited…
Hit wherever you point, every word hits the point.
Wei Tingzhong had personally heard the words that made Emperor Heng most furious.
Empress Xie said at the time: "I never mess with men who have been touched by others."
“It’s not clean.”
From beginning to end, she maintained a clear position on female sovereignty and never became a vassal of men. Whether she was choosing Emperor Ye or someone else, she would only choose the one who belonged to her.
What she wanted.
She also only believes that the man she chooses must belong to her completely.
This was absolutely unorthodox at the time.
Even though Emperor Heng was the ruler of the world and the winner at that time, she still looked down on him.
But she was defeated, Qing Huang was exposed and was about to be hunted down.
Emperor Heng was not as elegant as Emperor Ye. He was ambitious and looked down upon everything after he ascended the throne, as long as it was what he wanted.
No matter if it was a woman, a jade seal, or the whole world, he even wanted her to surrender and give birth to a child that carried the noble bloodline of the two top families, Xie and Jiang.
He wants all of these.
The life and death of everyone depends on his thoughts.
That was the most ambitious and reckless act of a new emperor at that time.
It is the most indulgent posture in going from a subject to the supreme position.
This is also the most terrifying aspect of the imperial throne, which is that it corrupts people's hearts.
Wei Tingzhong thought to himself that the emperors Yan Siqing and Jiang Hui had seen so far were generally gentle.
In those days...
If Yan Siqing hadn't died, she might not have just been the royal granddaughter-in-law.
Finally, a fire broke out in the underground palace, burning everything.
It also woke up the arrogant and arrogant Emperor Heng at that time.
He is the emperor, but he does not have the final say on everything in the world.
There are also things that you cannot get or keep.
"Your Majesty, was the Qinghuang Princess a man or a woman?" Wei Tingzhong asked.
Emperor Heng: "Such a young child, how can he tell the difference?"
"However, I did hear Emperor Ye holding the child and saying: My Crown Prince Qinghuang will be the sole ruler of the empire in the future."
"Then he's a man."
"Moreover, when it comes to controlling those old figures from the previous dynasty and getting Empress Xie's confidants to work wholeheartedly for her, it's much easier for men than for women."
"If it were a daughter, she would be more thoughtful and protect her at every turn. After all, she is such a young girl, and she is in the cause of restoring the country. Who knows how many dangers she will face and how many people will covet her. It would be better for her to hide and enjoy the rest of her life, or to plot secretly."
This is the inherent idea of the world, but Emperor Heng is suspicious and does not dare to underestimate other possibilities, so on the one hand he takes action against Yan Siqing, and on the other hand he investigates others.
"The seal definitely exists. She admitted it herself and even used it to pressure me to release the child. Although it was a negotiation tactic at the time, she would not bluff when it came to the safety of her only daughter. If she was exposed, she would die."
He was still curious about where the jade seal could be hidden and who knew its whereabouts.
Did Yan Siqing really not know? Was his suspicion wrong?
But there was indeed no one from the previous dynasty around her, after checking again and again.
Clean and tidy.
Even in the business dealings over the years, he only used clean people with no involvement from the previous dynasty.
If he continues to doubt and investigate, it will seem that he is being unreasonable.
Everything today was quite boring to him, as if the younger generation was making a fool of themselves.
If that woman named Xie was still alive, she would probably laugh at him again.
——————
Emperor Heng didn't know that Wei Tingzhong was recalling the past, and he was also a little distracted and depressed.
He whispered, "If my child with her grows up, do you think he'll be like Liaochen or like Yan Siqing?"
Wei Tingzhong lowered his head.
“It must be the best.”
Emperor Heng also paced towards the door.
"I heard that Yan Siqing's daughter is very smart and cute. Maybe she's like that."
His words were incomprehensible.
If Yan Siqing is Qinghuang, then she is not his bloodline. If she is not, then the child cannot be Empress Xie's bloodline.
After all, history is cruel, and the dead are dead.
Only the emperor himself knows what he truly wants.
"Close the internet."
We have to bring the child to Chang'an to confirm it one last time.
We also need to take a two-pronged approach to determine the situation on the other side.
Yan Siqing was indeed right—the emperor cannot be used as a tool to kill others.
——————
Palace.
The doors and windows were closed, and Yan Siqing was applying medicine to Jiang Hui's palm.
She hadn't spoken for a long time, and Jiang Hui also remained silent until the wound was bandaged. The smell of medicine was hidden in the cotton gauze, and the smell of blood was suppressed.
Jiang Hui looked at her, "Are you angry?"
"I'm mad at you for not listening to me and insisting on going there..."
"You have the confidence that you can get away with it even without me."
"Or, you are also prepared to die over there."
"You don't want me to interfere with your life or death."
Yan Siqing raised his head, his eyes soft and gentle, "You are the one who is angry."
Jiang Hui: "I didn't."
Yan Siqing: "Why do you have to ask me this?"
"Can't you see that I feel sorry for you?"
"Or do you think I'm hard-hearted?"
Jiang Hui was quiet for a moment, but his eyes gradually turned red, and his other hand wrapped around her waist.
"I thought... you only compromised because you had no choice."
"It doesn't matter to me whether it's me or not."
Yan Siqing was quiet for a moment, "Marrying you, that's true."
The truth was so unpleasant that she didn't even intend to lie to her.
Jiang Hui was discouraged and listless. He was about to let her go to ask her about the inside story and to confirm future plans.
As a result, the man bent down and kissed his forehead gently and delicately.
"But I won't engage in such pleasure-seeking and disobey etiquette as others do."
"Your Highness Chilin, you seem to have no idea of your own style."
"You overestimated me too."
Jiang Hui was stunned and couldn't help but feel a throbbing heart. His mind was in a mess and he couldn't remember what he wanted to ask her before. He also forgot about confronting her about his future plans and asking her for a result.
My brain is on fire.
Joy overwhelmed all reason.
Pull her to sit on your lap, hold her in your arms, and kiss her neck.
"you....."
Yan Siqing allowed him to be intimate and offended, stroked his cheek, and sighed softly while panting.
"Please don't ask. It's hard to explain, and there's no need for us to get to the bottom of things."
"Talking too much doesn't benefit anyone."
"Step by step to the end."
"There will be consequences."
Jiang Hui didn't say anything because he couldn't stand her being so gentle and yielding.
The house was quiet for a moment.
Yan Siqing comforted him and prepared to get up and pack the medicine box.
but.
Pulled back again.
After a while, there were whispers in the house.
"Your hand is injured, stop making trouble..."
"You started it, shouldn't there be a conclusion?"
"It's just lust, Your Highness, don't you have any interest..."
"What's the point of being interesting? Who knows when you'll be cold and indifferent again? Who knows when another Hai Fugui will appear... Yan Siqing, you come... you decide the outcome yourself. Am I not enough for you to play with... How can they compare to me?"
“…”
We agreed to restrain ourselves and do it tomorrow.
Clothes were scattered all over the floor, it was still daytime, everything was in disarray and chaotic.
The thin red quilt swayed on the snow-white surface and finally slipped off.
Finally, cover it again.
The peaks are covered with fog, like clouds and rain.
By the time it was over, Yan Siqing had already fallen asleep exhausted, but Jiang Hui was still awake. He looked at the delicate girl in his arms, and then at the slightly bloody wound on his palm. He didn't feel any pain, just a little dazed.
——She is willing to use this method to paralyze me. I think she has prepared for the worst.
Thinking of the archers deployed outside the yard.
Jiang Hui's eyes were full of coldness.
He couldn't just sit there and wait for death.
Three days later, Yan Siqing went to the Dali Temple to return the books and, by the way, made a confession about the shameless master and apprentice, because the Li family's mess had already been solved - some cases are like this, it's not that there is no result, but it depends on whether it is worth investigating and who wants the result.
Whenever there is a lot of noise and pressure, the case will be investigated quickly.
The truth is just the truth.
It has been like this since ancient times. Yan Siqing knew the outcome long ago, so he showed up in the past to support the victims at the scene of the incident. The faster the case is settled, the faster the criminals of the Li family will die.
However, just as she finished her work and was about to leave, she smelled a strong smell of blood as she walked through the corridor. She turned her head and saw the morgue in front of her was crowded with people.
"Your Highness."
"Your Highness, there is terror inside, you..."
When Jian Wuliang learned of her arrival, he called for his men to move away, muttering, "She's seen everything, even human skin lanterns."
Yan Siqing had indeed seen many horrific corpses, but when he raised his eyebrows and saw the newly collected corpse, he was still stunned.
"Has it been eaten by wild animals?"
Li Yu, Jian Wuliang and other old people from the Dali Temple were looking at the corpse. It seemed that a lot of people were mobilized for this case.
That was certainly not an ordinary case, and it was definitely not just a case of wild beasts gnawing at the food.
Yan Siqing took a quick glance and confirmed that it was just a corpse, which had been eaten to a horrible state.
Generally, even if such a body is discovered by local people, it will be reported to the government office first, and treated as missing and killed by wild animals, and sent to the Dali Temple. This means that it is either confirmed to be a homicide or it is related to other cases and there are suspense points.
She was curious and looked at Jian Wuliang, who touched his nose and smiled bitterly.
"I'm afraid you might be interested."
"The place where the body was found is connected to another case."
He signaled with his eyes and his subordinates handed him a file.
Yan Siqing saw the font above.
"The disappearance of the owner of Xu's Cake Shop in Yong'anfang...Pipa Wild Forest in the southern suburbs of Chang'an."
"This new skeleton was found in the same place?"
Jian Wuliang smiled bitterly, "Yes, and the way of death is exactly the same."
"They were all eaten by wild beasts. There is no liver left. There is no trace of human beings at all."
"The deceased's identity is still a merchant on the road. He has identification documents, so his identity is clear."
"It's the same with the missing property and the missing servants."
"Ten years later, the same case happened. Either the beast has become a spirit, or the servants have made a living from this method."
Even if you want to kill people and steal treasures, you don't have to choose the same place.
If this is a coincidence, it would be unbelievable.
Could it be the same servant?
Before Jian Wuliang could say anything, Yan Siqing flipped through the document and then looked at the so-called beast's bite marks.
"The rodent bite marks are real, and the flesh being eaten is also real. It was definitely done by a wild animal."
Li Yu nodded. "We thought so too, but the autopsy revealed that if the victim was killed by a wild beast, the throat would have been bitten and the victim would have died of suffocation. The deceased's facial features would have been bloodshot, with bruised, cyanotic, and swollen skin. He shouldn't be as peaceful and normal as he is now. It would be more like the body was gnawed after being dumped."
Yan Siqing: "And this document is very clean, without any blood stains, it looks like the person and the bag were disposed of separately."
Wild beasts cannot distinguish the value of objects, nor do they know how precious property is. They only care about flesh and blood. If they attack and eat, the flesh and blood will inevitably be messed up.
It's not that only the documents are extremely clean and not stained by blood.
So it's man-made.
The other party committed the crime intentionally and deliberately abandoned the person in the Pipa Forest. It is even possible that they left the documents behind on purpose.
This is a provocation, a provocation to the Dali Temple.
"Want to check it out? I'll come with you?"
Jian Wuliang: “…”
He wanted to refuse, but he couldn't resist the desire.
"In case of danger..."
Yan Siqing chuckled: "We are still in Chang'an. If there is any danger, it would be terrible."
That’s true.
But Jian Wuliang was still meticulous, so he and his group disguised themselves and traveled secretly.
We soon arrived at the deceased's home.
————
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