Chapter 116: Finale, Checkmate. (This is the final chapter, the rest...
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The inner courtyard of the imperial palace is the most prestigious hall.
Emperor Heng knew that he could no longer change the outcome - Prince Yan could bring up this matter now because he knew that the outcome was already decided.
"You insist on bringing up such an old story. It seems you really have killed nearly all of your brother and nephews."
Emperor Heng spoke in a calm tone, and he didn't seem too sad about the deaths of his descendants.
It could also be fake.
It is common for emperors to not show their emotions on their faces.
Prince Yan: "From a young age, I've known my father's unwavering will and his wrath to be unstoppable. Ultimately, whatever you desire, or don't desire, must be done according to your wishes. From our own fiefdom to our ascent to the Supreme Realm, there has never been any dissenter. Perhaps our only setback was when Queen Xie, whom you thought was defeated, escaped your control, leaving you feeling deeply humiliated."
A woman would rather die than give birth to the bloodline of an emperor who is already the supreme ruler, even if the latter may promise her huge benefits or even the status of "future queen".
Regardless of whether she saw through the fact that his promise was just a show or an old man's ancestral craft of deceiving women.
She chose to refuse.
He lost both his money and his life, and was in complete disarray.
This was indeed a huge blow to Emperor Heng's arrogant character at the time.
Emperor Heng naturally understood his eldest son's mockery. He narrowed his eyes and smiled, "It's not just her. Your mother surprised me, too. I thought she could pretend to be a good wife and mother for long, but in the end, she was driven by selfish interests and wanted to kill Empress Xie and her son, which resulted in the escape of the remnants of the previous dynasty. She was also being used by Empress Xie, otherwise the Yan family wouldn't have helped that evil creature Chen escape."
"Now think about it, how could the Yan family, a mere family, burn down the underground palace?"
"You are also determined to become an emperor. If you were in my position, you would know what she did wrong."
Emperor Heng had an extremely cold expression on his face, which was inappropriate on the face of any husband or father. However, if he put himself on the emperor's side, it seemed natural and legitimate.
Prince Yan was silent, then said softly, "You know very well that it wasn't because of a relationship, nor was it because you thought you were a threat to her position as queen. At that time, you had already accepted many women sent by aristocratic families and had many sons. Otherwise, how could I have so many younger brothers who were already in their teens?"
Emperor Heng frowned and looked at Prince Yan coldly as he handed over the spoon.
The medicine is brown and black, and seems poisonous at first glance.
He did not move, and listened to Prince Yan's subsequent words in an even colder tone.
"As a mother, she simply couldn't tolerate the fact that her husband, after ascending to the Supreme Realm, had the intention of exterminating his mother's clan."
Emperor Heng: "If she is a good mother, she should know that her powerful and well-established maternal family becoming a relative of the empress is definitely a bad thing for you. After you become the crown prince, or even the emperor, it will be a serious threat. I am just an emperor and a father..."
From his tone, it seemed that Empress Yuan should have exterminated her own family for the sake of Jiang and tolerated all the interests of her husband's family.
If there is right or wrong in historical records, no one has ever recorded it based on the personal pain at the time, only success or failure.
No one cared what the Empress Yuan was thinking at the time.
There is only the judgment of others on her - right or wrong.
In this whole world, if even a son like him cannot face up to his mother's pain and difficulties, who else would care?
But Prince Yan knew that it was pointless to tell this to Emperor Heng.
Everyone had their own stance on what happened back then.
His son was in the most embarrassing situation.
There is only one thing to say.
Prince Yan: "Then am I the crown prince?"
Come to an abrupt end.
Prince Yan smiled and put the spoon in front of Emperor Heng's mouth.
"Father, at the most opportune moment, after I've ascended the throne, and in what everyone assumes will be a matter of course, have you made me the crown prince?"
"Since you're accusing my mother and my maternal grandfather of their crimes based on their considerable capabilities and threats, you should know that my mother is also intelligent. How could she not see that your original intentions have changed and become murderous?"
Emperor Heng: "I have no intention of killing you, so you think I'm worse than a beast?"
He said this without looking at King Yan.
Averting eye contact.
Anyway, he didn't really execute his son at that time, so how could he be judged guilty?
What’s more, he was judged by his own son.
For a man as brave and powerful as Emperor Heng, such a thing would not be allowed to happen.
Prince Yan didn't care and said leisurely, "Logically speaking, if the father wants the son to die, the son must die, especially since your father is no longer just a father, but the King."
"You held me high and lavished me with honors. You even led everyone on the battlefield to believe that I was your undisputed successor after you conquered the world. I had numerous supporters. This is because during the period of striving for supremacy, you needed extreme stability to maintain the loyalty of your followers. But once you succeed, if you change your mind, you won't have to answer to anyone. All you need to do is eliminate the hidden dangers. Just like you just said, eliminating the in-laws is the only way for an emperor to succeed. So, eliminating me, your eldest son who poses a threat to you and has many supporters, is also reasonable."
"But from the Queen Mother's perspective, that was more than just giving up her only son."
"It's murder."
Emperor Heng didn't say anything.
The father-son situation is clear after all.
It’s just that some things cannot be said too clearly, otherwise it will be very hurtful.
Prince Yan continued woodenly, "You will have countless sons, but she only has one child."
"It's only for her only child that she would do anything—even things that would seem completely wrong to you and everyone else."
A muscle twitched in his cheek, reflecting the countless twitchings in his heart over the years.
Father and son, mother and son, the love between the closest relatives.
From smooth to turbulent and then back to smooth again, in a blink of an eye.
Prince Yan had long passed the time of emotional upheaval, especially towards his father. He had observed him for more than 20 years, repeatedly polished his plans, and hesitated in his decision.
Now that the arrow has been released, he is calm instead.
It was as if something in my heart had died.
Even if you poke it with a knife, it's just dead flesh, how can it feel anything?
Emperor Heng refused to swallow the medicine, but continued to stare at him. "Even if you kill the other Jiang family descendants who could threaten you, without my imperial decree, it will be difficult for you to inherit the throne openly. How will those old foxes in the history books and the cabinet use this flaw to control you?"
Being an emperor was not difficult for Prince Yan.
How to eliminate the many hidden dangers and do it with justification is the real difficulty.
"You didn't just let me die of illness, but you were hoping that I would leave behind an imperial edict."
"I can give up my throne so that you and the future Chi Lin can have a legitimate claim to power. When you become the Son of Heaven, you will know if I am wrong or not."
"I want to see Yan Siqing again."
After a pause, he added.
Hoarse, but clear voice.
"Take her daughter with you."
Wei Tingzhong remained silent. He did not go out because he was on guard against Prince Yan killing Emperor Heng after completely breaking off relations with him, and then announcing his death from illness to the outside world.
He has his loyalties.
But he can't control anything else.
This is a game between father and son, and also a game between the emperor.
Prince Yan did not agree. Emperor Heng was waiting, and Wei Tingzhong was also waiting.
But before Prince Yan could make his choice...
The palace maid outside delivered the message.
Yan Siqing and Jiang Hui have already arrived.
The news that Jiang Hui had returned to the capital with Yan Siqing, who was rumored to be missing or poisoned, had spread throughout Chang'an.
The turmoil that had been rising and falling finally calmed down.
Just as the troops passed the main street and Xie Juansi had not left the place, some families came to the door on their own initiative. The young man who was driven to come and test his evil intentions was also brought to the door by his clan elders... Of course, they didn't just come to the door.
They soon learned that this guy had been sent out of Chang'an, and was only staying in another place to earn some spare money from the family, with no hope of fame or future - they were afraid that Yan Siqing would punish him.
Xie Juansi just sat down and arranged for her subordinates to find out the news of Yan Siqing and his group's return journey. She would not refuse them entry since the situation was not yet completely certain. Even though she felt disgusted, she did not want to cause trouble for Yan Siqing, so she allowed them in.
Faced with the other party's profuse apology, she remained calm and said slowly, "Your Highness and the Prince just happened to be passing by. They have nothing to do with the dispute between us. Sir Zhang, don't worry about it."
The other party learned from many people at the scene that although Yan Siqing did not ask anything at that time, and did not even look at his own son, but...
"Her Highness is such an intelligent person, nothing can be hidden from her."
"My previous actions were all due to my petty intentions. Now I know I am wrong. I should express my gratitude. Miss Xie is a talent that His Highness values. Many large transactions in Chang'an have passed through your hands. You are one of His Highness's decision-makers in the business world, which is very important."
"There is a glorious future ahead."
"We have absolutely no other intentions, so please be merciful..."
A truly mature official may have some evil intentions, but once he realizes that he has made a mistake, he should take the initiative to make amends before disaster strikes. There are two main points to this kind of compensation. The first is to admit the mistake honestly so that the other party does not think you are quibbling or shirking responsibility. The second is to bleed when necessary, and bleed heavily to make the other party calm down and show their sincerity.
Of course, the most important thing is that they also know the position that Yan Siqing and Prince Yan's Mansion will reach in the future... If business matters go against the constraints imposed by the old ministers of the cabinet on the masters of the Eastern Palace and even the harem.
Since he couldn't overcome the taboo that in-laws were not allowed to get involved in politics and economics, Yan Siqing would most likely have to find a respectable person to take charge.
This person is Xie Juansi.
The head of the Xie family may have changed his decision earlier and made concessions, and these aristocratic families and officials were willing to lower their stance for the sake of sufficient benefits and self-protection.
He was betting that the other party also wanted them.
Xie Juansi drank her tea, her eyes sweeping over the other person, "Your Excellency is joking. I am just a woman, and I don't have the ability to seek revenge and disrupt the order of Chang'an. Your Highness the Princess is not that kind of person either."
"She always convicts people based on evidence. The matter concerning your young master is, frankly, a minor matter. We don't need to prejudge it as a major event."
"Nothing big has happened yet."
The other party was stunned for a moment, unsure of her attitude, but after thinking about it carefully, it seemed that he had already answered - if he hadn't really done anything wrong, there was no need to worry about being retaliated against.
Yan Siqing, a chess piece that no one cared about at the beginning and even felt would die sooner or later, seemed to have very little desire for revenge.
The temperament is almost perfect.
How could such people plot and scheme for their own selfish gain as they did?
The man felt relieved, but also had complicated feelings.
This world is really going to change.
——————
When Jiang Hui learned that Emperor Heng only wanted to see Yan Siqing, he was very resistant to this and did not agree. Prince Yan did not force him, but did not ask him, but asked Yan Siqing whether she was willing.
The son's attitude is not important.
The attitude of the daughter-in-law is very important.
Yan Siqing agreed and didn't seem surprised by it.
Jiang Hui hesitated to speak, and in the end he didn't even try to persuade her, because he knew that she would never change her decision because of others.
"Yes, for safety, I have to control the security around me."
"After all, she is my wife and my grandfather, both my beloved relatives. How can I stay out of this?"
Jiang Hui said this so frankly that the two generals and Wei Tingzhong couldn't say anything more.
But they didn't expect that the place where Emperor Heng wanted to meet Yan Siqing was not in the palace.
——————
Dali Temple, Tianlao.
Under the guidance of Jian Wuliang, Yan Siqing walked past Jiang Hui and Wei Tingzhong who were guarding outside, and walked into the deepest secret cell, crossing the threshold that represented the death penalty.
In the dim light, the moss and blood on the wall have been deposited calmly over the years, leaving stains that remain firmly in place.
She looked straight ahead with an indifferent expression as she saw the old emperor sitting in a wheelchair at the end of the corridor.
She approached step by step and finally stopped in front of him.
Jiang Hui saw the situation at the door and put one hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist. Two generals and a commander-in-chief noticed his action.
They even suspected that this man had a crossbow under his sleeve.
——————
After Jian Wuliang brought them to the place, he lowered his head and backed away until he reached a similar position.
Looking up, I saw a man and a woman with a big age difference looking at each other.
It seems like a game, but also like a reunion across time and space.
He had never imagined that Yan Siqing could reverse the situation of the chess piece in the emperor's hand.
Now, it’s different.
——————
Emperor Heng leaned against the back of his wheelchair, breathing slowly, glancing at Yan Siqing's approaching figure. He was also looking at her.
He looked at her for a long time, and no one knew what he was thinking, but his expression kept changing. This change was even greater than the emotional fluctuations when he had a falling out with Prince Yan.
Finally, he said hoarsely, "After such a short time, do you realize that I've grown old?"
Yan Siqing: "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and your life span is as long as the heavens. How can you be old?"
Emperor Heng sneered, "You are better at talking than Chi Lin."
Yan Siqing remained silent. Emperor Heng said, "What about your daughter? After all, she is my great-granddaughter in name only. Even though she is my successor, why don't you bring her to see me?"
"I should like this child very much."
"Assuming she looks like you and is as smart."
Yan Siqing: "Come to the Heavenly Prison? That's not appropriate."
Emperor Heng: "Really? I thought you still had concerns."
Yan Siqing: "Emperor doesn't need the truth. Even the slightest suspicion is enough to destroy an entire family."
She knew who the real murderer was in the Yan family affair.
So when she came to Chang'an early in the morning, she didn't expect the Dali Temple to investigate the case.
She didn't explain, she just attacked.
Even an emperor, when he was old and sick, lost his former majesty.
She did not mean to show respect and fear as usual.
That's right. Despite the deep blood feud, she could be tolerant towards Prince Yan and his son, but she didn't have to do the same towards the current Emperor Heng.
Emperor Heng was quiet and turned his face away. "Don't you plan to let her come to see her biological father?"
Yan Siqing followed his gaze and looked inside the prison door.
The smell of blood, decay, and stench.
This was a disgusting place that the emperor should never set foot in his life, but when he came, he also asked Yan Siqing to come and take a look.
What caught my eye was a disheveled man hanging there with his skin torn and blood dripping like a river.
Half dead.
But he is definitely still alive and can hear tomorrow's conversation.
He tried to look up and saw Yan Siqing.
She was looking at him.
After just a quick glance, Chen Cangyu lowered his head.
The breathing rose and fell, and the dying life was like an ant struggling to survive.
Yan Siqing remained noncommittal. "General Qi has his own wife and children. In life, there must be a choice that is worthy of his unrepentant devotion. If he keeps changing his mind every day, it will be difficult to be perfect."
Emperor Heng: "It sounds like you are mocking me."
Yan Siqing: "As a parent, we are just protecting our children."
Emperor Heng looked at Chen Cangyu and said, "I am speaking to you. I am sure of this. Chen Cangyu, what do you think?"
"If you want to threaten her with your identity, you can do it - after all, her daughter is also your child, and the crime of rebellion is enough to implicate her."
"If you force her to save you, she will give in."
"That way you can survive."
Why not kill him and let him live? This is the emperor's last trick.
He wanted to use the hidden jade to threaten Yan Siqing, of course he had a purpose.
Yan Siqing had this guess when he learned that the emperor had chosen the Dali Temple's Heavenly Prison as the venue for the meeting, so it was not surprising at the moment. He just looked at the prisoner like the emperor, as if waiting for his choice.
Chen Cangyu held on to his breath, said nothing, and still kept his head down, but his body was agitated and more blood was flowing from his hanging legs and feet to the ground.
A pool of blood accumulated.
Emperor Heng: "I want you to make two choices, Yan Siqing."
Yan Siqing said: "Your Majesty, please speak."
Emperor Heng: "Either you leave Jiang Hui for your daughter's sake, let him resign himself to his fate, choose a more suitable woman to be his wife, and ensure the safe inheritance of the royal family in the future. Or you promise me that you will be willing to bear heirs with him."
Yan Siqing was surprised by the second choice and thought thoughtfully, "Your Majesty, are you afraid that your family will be extinct?"
Emperor Heng said, "My descendants are even less ruthless than I am. They are likely to fall into the hands of women in this life. I really can't guarantee their future. For now, the country can only be entrusted to them. We must consider the future. Do you want the little girl born to you and that lowly man among you to inherit my family's kingdom?"
"Do you think this kid is hesitating now? Is he having such a delusion?"
No one can accept this.
Yan Siqing looked at Chen Cangyu and said, "He is indeed a person who could have such a grand dream."
Chen Zangyu looked up and stared at her.
For someone who had been completely defeated, it would be ridiculous to continue to speak harshly. He simply used his eyes to tell her: Why didn't you make this arrangement? Is it because you hate me? Our child... If this future really has this, it would be a huge opportunity...
Even if he dies,...
Yan Siqing said, "But Your Majesty overestimates him. People like him only care about the power and wealth that are most beneficial to them in the short term. Only what they get belongs to them. As for the long-term future of the family and the country, it must be based on the premise of not harming his interests and life."
"He was just planning how to effectively blackmail me."
Emperor Heng: "His thoughts are not important. It depends on your choice. You have not responded to me."
The words seem to be silent.
Emperor Heng's eyes gradually darkened, and a strong emotion emerged again.
Yan Siqing: "In this world, there is only one man who can make me willingly bear children."
Emperor Heng was stunned and looked at Chen Cangxin. Chen Cang Yuye looked at Yan Siqing and was almost moved.
On the other side of the corridor, Jiang Hui, who was walking back and forth with his ears perked up, glanced sideways.
He didn't leave, just stared at Yan Siqing.
Yan Siqing: "That man's name is Jiang Hui."
Jiang Hui was originally agitated and had a murderous aura, so the three military officers had to be on guard as well.
Just like that, with just one sentence, he was flattered.
The smile on his lips couldn't be suppressed.
Wei Tingzhong and the other two were his elders, and they were quite speechless.
But Chen Cangyu couldn't stand it anymore and finally screamed, "What am I? You married me and gave birth to my daughter. Wasn't that your will...?"
Yan Siqing: "I regret it."
Four simple words: a sure kill.
When Chen Cangyu's face turned ferocious, Yan Siqing added, "You are really far inferior to him."
She didn't mean anything else by saying this, but Jiang Hui quickly compared it everywhere and found that it was right!
Chen Cangyu seemed to have made the connection as well, because when he saw her today, he hadn't seen her for a long time - but he found that she was far more beautiful and charming than before, with an extraordinary charm.
The more I feel that the time I truly possessed her was just a fleeting dream.
It also makes his later choice seem so ridiculous.
But he had no chance of turning the tables.
He finally collapsed, spitting blood from his mouth, and suddenly shouted: "I want to identify myself. I am Chen Cangyu, and you are my wife. We have a child. If I am convicted of rebellion, then you and your daughter will not have an easy life..."
His ugliest face was completely exposed without any reliable calculations. He wished to drag Yan Siqing and her daughter into hell and die with him...
Emperor Heng's face darkened.
In fact, he had already received a satisfactory answer from Yan Siqing, and it was impossible for him to make the worst plan - if the lowly Chen Cangyu really dragged Yan Siqing into the water and caused more trouble, it would definitely not be a good thing for the Jiang royal family.
The chess pieces should follow his will. How can they act independently without his order?
court death.
To put it bluntly...Yan Siqing is indeed impeccable.
The emperor glanced at Wei Tingzhong and others.
The three of them came over immediately, but Jiang Hui was faster.
Jiang Hui rushed in directly, full of murderous intent.
But before they could make a move.
Yan Siqing raised his hand.
Crossbow arrow under the sleeve.
Bang!
A small arrow pierced Chen Cangyu's throat.
The screams and cries turned into the struggling cries of a dying duck. He opened his mouth and tried to say something, but he only saw the calmness on Yan Siqing's face.
Jiang Hui stamped his feet, and Emperor Heng also frowned in surprise.
Before this, Wei Tingzhong and the others did not search Yan Siqing to see if she was carrying any weapons out of respect for her.
I didn't expect she actually brought it.
She just didn't attack the emperor, but...she killed her ex-husband.
The move was clean and neat.
Merciless.
Everyone was shocked by this.
Jiang Hui was stunned for a moment.
You should know that Zhaozhao and Zhou are both in Chang'an.
Just like that...she killed Chen Zangyu.
Emperor Heng: "It's really... unexpected. Aren't you afraid of angering me?"
Yan Siqing took off his weapon and handed it to Wei Tingzhong. He looked at the sick and dying pale old man, who seemed to have even more power.
"Your Majesty, when was the last time you were absolutely satisfied, absolutely happy, without anger towards others, and felt at peace and at ease?"
Emperor Heng was still testing his suspicions, but he suddenly fell silent upon hearing this. His expression changed several times before he finally became expressionless.
He couldn't recall when he started to become suspicious and fickle, nor when he began to be wary and suspicious of his first wife and eldest son, and later of everyone else...
But the day we really start to take action is the day we reach the summit.
Because at that time, he thought that no matter what he did, no matter what he destroyed or lost, there would be new people or things to replace it.
Everything you need.
Yan Siqing looked at Chen Cangyu's body, which had begun to cool but was still bleeding, with an expression of neither sadness nor joy.
"Greed, anger, ignorance, fame, wealth and power have no end."
"I also thought about growing old with him."
“But regret is also real.”
It's true that I've wanted to kill him for a long time.
Jiang Hui stepped forward, not daring to touch her, feeling a little helpless.
Emperor Heng saw it and was silent for a while, not knowing what he was thinking - was it Empress Yuan looking at him, and then looking at that last gentle smile after drinking the poisoned wine?
Or something else?
He looked at Wei Tingzhong, who stepped forward and pushed the wheelchair.
"Let's go out together."
"Family dinner."
His tone was cold and commanding.
But the three senior officials all breathed a sigh of relief. Jiang Hui did not comment and looked at Yan Siqing.
Yan Siqing wiped his fingers with a handkerchief, and walked away without even looking at Chen Cangyu's body.
Jiang Hui originally reached out to hold her hand, but when he saw that she didn't notice, he was silent for a moment and silently hid his outstretched hand back into his sleeve.
Everyone left Chen Cangyu's cell one after another.
It was quiet all the way, but when I was about to leave the dungeon, I inevitably ran into the other endings behind the "family dinner".
The past is heavy and the past is swept away.
Whether it was the fight caused by Liaochen or the factional struggles caused by other princes, they are all in the past and must come to an end.
The emperor's family affairs have come to an end.
Those things that are detrimental to reputation and unity...
As Yan Siqing was walking, he saw the person in front of him who was being quietly executed by Jian Wuliang.
Zhan Tianli.
He is the least worthwhile pawn.
If he is a chess piece of Lechen, then for the emperor or Prince Yan's Palace he is a chess piece among chess pieces.
No one cared about him, and few people even remembered why he was controlled by Lechen in the first place.
Is it the story of the countless people kneeling and worshipping Buddha in the White Horse Temple?
Or is it Liaochen's ability to see into people's hearts?
Because of the great crime of Lechen who almost overthrew the imperial court by using poison, the general of Jinwu Guard and others hated him to the core, and also had no good feelings towards this man. The general of Jinwu Guard saw it first and asked Jian Wuliang to execute him simply inside to avoid being an eyesore.
Originally, Jiang Hui and Emperor Heng did not care about this man, because in the previous game, the border generals that Lechen thought he had captured had actually been discovered by Prince Yan and his son. Those generals were harmless, and they were only used to lure the Beiyu Kingdom to send troops.
But these are all previous national war strategies and there is no need to mention them here.
Yan Siqing didn't care at first, but Jiang Hui asked Zhan Tianli to sign.
The previous one was a fake death, and now the file has been re-prepared to cooperate with Chen's case for future generations to comment on.
The affairs of the royal family are both family affairs and national affairs. They must be included in the history books of future generations, so Jian Wuliang has to prepare the case files beautifully.
Zhan Tianli's condition was not much better than Chen Cangyu's before. After all, he had been imprisoned for a longer time and looked very weak and embarrassed, but he had no intention of resisting at all. He was like an obedient puppet, doing whatever he was told.
Emperor Heng stopped at this moment, because he had personally interrogated him once before, and now he encountered him again, and the other party was going to be executed. Although it was also his order and could not be delayed any longer, he was also worried about other things.
"The arrested individuals also revealed another fact—their closest confidants, and Empress Xie's true original team, are now on the run. The imperial scouts haven't been able to apprehend them, and there's no news of them. Among them are the black-robed figure who resembles the military advisor, as well as the dead soldiers."
"These people are a serious threat."
"Zhan Tianli, if you are willing to tell me the information about them, I may be able to spare your life."
Emperor Heng hated these hidden dangers and had always been prepared to wipe them out. Now that what needed to be dealt with had been dealt with, even though he was at a disadvantage to Prince Yan and his son, and he was unwilling to do so, it was ultimately his family's business, and he would not allow foreign threats to endanger his royal power.
So he stopped at this moment and took the initiative to extend an olive branch to Zhan Tianli.
Yan Siqing did not comment on this, but he stopped and looked at Zhan Tianli through the prison door.
Zhan Tianli looked up and said, "He gave me money and promised to sacrifice your son's head. He told me to do anything. I don't know anything else."
"My wife is dead. I don't want anything anymore. What's the point of living?"
"Don't interrogate me again."
Emperor Heng was not happy about this, but there was nothing he could do. The general of the Jinwu Guard could not bear to see this man show no respect for the emperor.
"Why do you keep mentioning your wife? I've read your case file. Your wife's body was autopsied and found to have been killed by someone slitting her throat. You've never mentioned wanting to catch the real culprit in exchange for information, which shows you know who the murderer is, and it's you."
"He killed his wife, yet he keeps saying that he obeyed the evil deeds of that thief Chen in order to bury her. Don't you think it's ridiculous?"
"I see you're still hiding a lot of secrets and just refusing to tell us!"
Jian Wuliang actually also suspected this matter, otherwise he would not have mentioned the suspicion in the case file. What he could not understand the most was that since this man killed his wife, how could he do so many things for his wife's burial? He would also be punished in the Sky Prison, and it was not a good thing to just eat.
He doubted it, but the person involved in this case was Lechen, who was the most important. Compared with the party struggles, this lowly musician and his wife were just insignificant things, and no one seemed to care about their life and death.
Now that it was mentioned, Emperor Heng also frowned.
Zhan Tianli was thin and bony. Facing the questioning of the strong and powerful general, he should have been weak and embarrassed, but he remained indifferent. Instead, he shifted his gaze to Yan Siqing.
"They are all stupid, only you are the smartest. You have been to my house, right? Do you also think that I killed my wife?"
Yan Siqing: "When I found knife wounds on the bed, I knew you had killed her. But you were panicked and devastated. Did you kill her out of necessity?"
"Her illness has entered the late stage, and she's in great pain with no medical help."
"You can't bear to see her suffer."
In fact, it is a very simple logic, not a huge suspense.
Zhan Tianli sat there, and it only took a moment for him to go from being numb to dejected.
"I knew you were the only one who could see through it."
"They are so high and mighty that I find them disgusting."
Emperor Heng raised his eyebrows and raised his hand to stop the two angry generals. Turning around, he found that his grandson had a heavy expression and frowned as if with sympathy.
He was surprised and suddenly remembered: This child was almost raised by me. He was not so understanding and kind before. Instead, he was cold and unfeeling like me.
He was changed by people.
It was not his parents who seemed to be in harmony but were actually at odds with each other who changed him, but a woman.
It has a more human touch.
Zhan Tianli knew he was dying and laughed, "Do you know what the monk promised me?"
Yan Siqing didn't know and said frankly: "I'm not as powerful as you think, and I won't always stand on your side and understand the pain of your evil deeds."
"He's not a good person, and neither am I."
Zhan Tianli had already signed the confession. He held the pen and looked at it, thinking of the past, as if the shy and guilt-ridden woman was still in his arms.
"I know there are no good people in this world forever."
"Just like me. If I hadn't once wanted to make a name for myself and study hard, she wouldn't have carried me back to the brothel... She had already escaped, but she wanted to earn money to help me, so she went back on her own. But she chose Fanxianglou."
Everyone was stunned.
At first they all thought it was Fanxianglou...
"You don't know, making money is really hard."
Zhan Tianli smiled and looked up, "She used her body to earn enough money for me to study."
"I wasn't a good student, and I hadn't achieved much. It's no wonder—I didn't realize how much she'd paid to help me. I actually thought it was money she'd earned from her music."
"So stupid."
"I don't understand why she refused to marry me openly, or even sign a real marriage certificate, and later even refused to sleep with me."
"Later, when I learned she was ill and had gone back to that, I was filled with resentment... She didn't cry."
"Why doesn't she cry?"
“When people feel wronged, they should cry.”
"She's not wrong."
"I was wrong. She just smiled and wanted to leave me. I wanted to keep her. At that time, I thought, let's treat our illness well and live a peaceful life. Since it's mediocre, why force it? With a meal, a meal, and flowers and plants in the yard, we can live a good life."
"Later, you all knew it."
Zhan Tianli spoke of the past in a very ordinary tone, which was actually just the simple life of an ordinary couple, staying together and parting.
Who cares?
He himself seemed indifferent, as if he had no feelings for his wife.
Jiang Hui: "Why are you saying this?"
Zhan Tianli: "Because there is one last thing left to do."
Everyone was shocked.
Everyone was on guard.
Just because this person had planned that horrible thing before, it proved that he was not a stupid person, but actually a top-notch person in some ways.
Does he have any other tricks up his sleeve?
Everyone protected Emperor Heng, Yan Siqing and others behind them.
Yan Siqing was a little surprised. She admitted that everything she had done before was more important than this person's past.
This is secular.
But now...she was a little confused and looked at Zhan Tianli seriously.
"What do you want to entrust?"
Zhan Tianli: "Because of your actions, I can't escape. In fact, I have never had time to do one thing - to find a proper way to get a marriage certificate between her and me from the government. Then, after her funeral and grave are built...if I die, I will be buried with her."
"I want to be a proper husband and wife with her, and have a legitimate status in this life."
"That's what the monk promised me before, but he's been defeated now, and died before me. It's really disappointing. I guess he wasn't completely sure at the time, and was just bragging to me..."
"Can you help me?"
This man has long been insane. Unlike a normal person, he doesn't care about anything in the world and doesn't distinguish between high and low. However, he always insists on his paranoia.
He looked at Yan Siqing with pleading in his eyes.
Everyone looked at Yan Siqing.
Yan Siqing: "Why me?"
Zhan Tianli lowered his head, stroking the brush, and spoke weakly, "Because I know you must have been the first to notice the tomb on the mountain. The Dali Temple went up to investigate and finally uncovered the monk's plan... But after their investigation, they didn't destroy my wife's tomb. Later, when they interrogated me, they mentioned her real name."
"She has very low self-esteem."
"It's just like me, it's rare for people to look up to you."
"Everyone is stepping on our flesh and drinking and having fun, and the world is happy."
"Even that monk is like that."
"Only you."
"Her soul will be happy for a long time if she sees it."
"You know her name, don't you?"
Yan Siqing was stunned, hesitant to speak, but finally spoke.
"Yes, I know."
"I saw it on your family's calligraphy. It's her real name."
Yes, she saw it, wrote it down, and asked Jian Wuliang to check it out.
This was a very common thing, and even someone as sensitive as her didn't take it too seriously.
Even though I felt sad for this woman at that time, the feeling faded later.
Now that the person involved mentioned it, she felt uncomfortable and frowned.
"I promise."
"Thank you very much."
Then silence.
Everyone present was a prominent figure, and such trivial matters, even just the matter between a musician and a prostitute... were more than insignificant.
The reason they were able to listen patiently was entirely because Emperor Heng did not move and Yan Siqing responded gently.
The Heavenly Prison is strict and can restrain even the most serious crimes, bringing down the most authoritative punishment in the world.
But he has always been the humblest person.
Jian Wuliang looked at Zhan Tianli and felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"If there's nothing else, then..."
He would be executed.
Jian Wuliang didn't want Yan Siqing to see this scene.
Emperor Heng also planned to leave.
He was thinking about the most important things in his mind, and these little things could not distract him, but he was surprised that Yan Siqing seemed to care too much about this matter - he had never had such a melancholy look when he was playing games with him before, or when he killed Chen Cangyu.
It was as if she was remembering something very painful in the past.
Jiang Hui also had a very bad premonition, "Let's go."
He wanted to take Yan Siqing away.
But Yan Siqing suddenly asked.
"I can understand loving couples in difficult times."
"Zhan Tianli, if you become the top scorer in the imperial examination and become famous, will you still marry her?"
Everyone was surprised and looked at Zhan Tianli.
However, Jiang Hui knew that Yan Siqing was extremely pessimistic about love.
Perhaps people who are almost as intelligent as demons or have extremely strong minds are good at making choices.
Yan Siqing sometimes looks very much like his royal grandfather.
It’s just that the latter always chooses himself.
Zhan Tianli paused, "That monk also asked me this question."
The words sounded like you were speechless.
Zhan Tianli: “I didn’t know at the time.”
"Life is unpredictable."
“People’s hearts are fickle.”
“But there are no ifs.”
"This is the end."
Zhan Tianli stroked the confession letter, and his fingertips stopped at the ordinary and rustic name in the content.
"I can die, but can you return my harp to me?"
——————
Yan Siqing and the others left. Not long after they walked out of the prison threshold, the sound of a piano came from inside.
The sound of the piano is melodious, touching and sad.
Everyone could hear the sound of the piano on their way out, mixed with the faint sound of men's opera.
The tone was somewhat feminine.
until....
There was a cry of surprise!
Jiang Hui suspected something had happened and immediately took his men back.
But just as he arrived outside the prison gate, he saw Jian Wuliang and others retreating in panic. It turned out that the person sitting cross-legged and playing the piano inside... was ignited!
From his body, the golden phosphorus insect larvae that had been nurtured for a long time had reached maturity, awakened, and burned, burning out red light little by little, and burning out the flesh little by little.
His fingers were still moving.
Still singing.
Tears of blood fell.
Steamed dry.
In the firelight, burning ashes.
Finally, the piano music stopped abruptly.
Yan Siqing was standing outside and had not seen this scene, but after being shocked, she turned half sideways and looked back at the deep corridor, as if she was swallowed up by this dark world.
Wei Tingzhong, who was guarding in front, turned around and saw the ugly and cold face of Emperor Heng, and also saw the intense and turbulent eyes of Yan Siqing when he looked back.
No one knows for whom her pain and tears are for.
There is no eternal love in the world, just like a painted skin of mandarin ducks.
In the secular world, husband and wife are doomed to die.
But there are couples like that, and there are couples like that.
Each one is different.
——————
Later, the scriptures that Lechen had promised to copy for Zhan Tianli were found in the White Horse Temple.
It's not a very serious scripture, maybe even a bit evil.
Buddhism does not have such a way.
"Zhan Tianli was talking about being married to Zhang Xiaohua for the rest of his life."
"He didn't plan for the next life."
"There is no afterlife. After seventy-two days of building the tomb, I will burn myself as a sacrifice as promised. My soul will fly away and I will exchange my life for hers, hoping that she will be reincarnated in peace. This is the ending."
Yes, this is the end.
An ending that no one cares about.
The Chang'an Painted Skin Lantern Case ended here.
——————
That evening, dusk disappeared and heavy rain fell.
The palace gates were tightly closed, and the small wind chimes with dragon heads and phoenixes hanging from them were swaying in the rain, looking particularly pitiful and helpless.
The fire was burning brightly, and the hall was warm.
The medicine that was brought over again was still brown and smelly. Emperor Heng lay there with his eyes closed to rest until Wei Tingzhong came in the rain to bring a piece of drawing paper.
"The spies just got it."
After several turmoil, many troops have been reshuffled and the court is united. This spy has just been recruited and is not recognized by Prince Yan's Palace.
"It's the appearance of that child."
"His Majesty."
Emperor Heng looked at the rolled-up scroll with his brows slightly lowered. He did not look at it anxiously, but had a confused and tired look on his face.
Wei Tingzhong did not urge him, but just waited silently.
Emperor Heng stretched out his hand, held it, and tried to exert force with his fingertips, but seemed to be very weak.
Wei Tingzhong had no intention of rushing to help open it.
He also looked a little depressed.
"Do you want me to open it?"
Wei Tingzhong raised his eyes, "Your Majesty."
Emperor Heng: "You don't want to hurt her."
Wei Tingzhong lowered his head and said nothing.
Emperor Heng: "Just like you didn't want to hurt Empress Xie back then."
Not mentioning the person's real name is out of respect or taboo.
They are all like this.
Wei Tingzhong sighed, "Your Majesty, I am quite old now, perhaps because I am getting old. I have been thinking about the past a lot lately."
Emperor Heng seemed touched.
"That's really old."
"Same as me."
"Paranoia, suspicion, and a need for a result."
Wei Tingzhong: "Your Majesty's is still bigger."
Now that things have come to this, Wei Tingzhong will start to joke.
Emperor Heng sneered, but he was also tired. He squeezed the scroll and opened it.
When I saw the girl above, she looked nothing like the one I had seen in Qinghuang Courtyard that year.
“Not really.”
"It really doesn't seem like it... I've really lost my mind. Why do I keep doubting her?"
Wei Tingzhong actually breathed a sigh of relief. "Your Majesty simply feels that there is only one person in the world who resembles Empress Xie, so he's inevitably suspicious."
Emperor Heng remained silent, stroking the scroll and looking at it for a long time. Finally, he closed it and threw it aside casually.
"Those remnants actually hid away after the death of Prince Lechen... They are impossible to find. They are such a serious threat. My grandson Chi Lin will definitely catch them all in one fell swoop..."
"But I'm still confused. Lechen said she would die from the poison, so how come she's fine? Is she smart and dodged it, or did she detoxify herself..."
"But I should have thought of this earlier. If she were the Crown Prince Qing Huang, how could she allow herself to be committed to such a despicable man?"
"Women like them are very arrogant."
"She is, Yan Siqing is, and she is also..."
Emperor Heng mentioned the name of the girl behind him in a daze with a flushed face.
Wei Tingzhong knew that was the name of Empress Yuan.
Husband and wife, this pair of emperor and empress are the most noble couple in the world.
The bright moon is the highest and closest relative, and the closest and most distant relatives are husband and wife.
Suspicion, fickleness, and loneliness are common traits of the supreme rulers of all dynasties.
"It's all my fault."
"He's so heartless... You really think that little man is so good? He's so easily afraid of his wife, and even left a will to be buried alive with her... So what if he regretted it in the end, and died for his country to protect her... The emperor and empress... are so many like this..."
“Who can be faithful to one person…”
"Awu."
"I am the rightful ruler of the world, the Son of Heaven!"
"I am not wrong..."
As he recited, he turned his head to look at the medicine soup, raised his hand to take it, and drank it in one gulp.
He slept with the imperial seal in his arms that night.
——————
That night, Yan Siqing also fell ill and had a high fever.
There was chaos in the palace.
Jiang Hui was so anxious that he knelt beside the bed and held her hand to comfort her.
Yan Siqing was having a nightmare.
He was sweating profusely and seemed to want to shout, but he kept it to himself. He opened his mouth several times but refused to make a sound.
It seems to hide great pain that is unspeakable.
She was in the sea of fire and in the rain.
Xu Junrong hurried over, hugged her and comforted her.
"Junjun, Junjun, my mother is here..."
Xu Junrong was also very scared, but he stayed calm. In the second half of the night, Yan Siqing calmed down after the effect of the medicine.
Xu Junrong went down to rest at Jiang Hui's suggestion.
"If you're tired, she'll feel guilty when she wakes up."
"I have a good physique, very rough, and can defend."
"Mother, I just hope that I will be the first one she sees when she opens her eyes."
Jiang Hui went from suggesting to pleading, and Xu Junrong had no choice but to leave. But as soon as she went out, she stood under the eaves, looking at the garden scene with heavy rain, and in a trance, she saw people rushing in and getting wet in the rain.
The palace maids holding umbrellas behind him couldn't catch up with him.
Jiang Rong looked at her in the rain, his eyes filled with shock.
It turned out that Xu Junrong had already burst into tears without realizing it.
Seems scared.
When I looked at him, I was filled with confusion and sadness.
Jiang Rong stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "It's all right now, right?"
Xu Junrong didn't answer, but just nodded, but kept saying, "I only have this one daughter, Jiang Rong."
She calls him by his first name.
Jiang Rong lowered his head, "I know."
"Whatever happens."
"She and your granddaughter will be fine."
"Don't be afraid."
Xu Junrong didn't really trust her, she even felt resentful towards her.
She didn't believe that Yan Siqing had a nightmare after meeting Emperor Heng once, and it had nothing to do with the other party.
She knew there must be a connection.
The Yan family, the Yan family...
Xu Junrong turned his eyes away and didn't look at Jiang Rong.
Jiang Rong did not press him. He just stood there and said again, "I promised you, and I will not break my promise."
Then, the palace maids came anxiously from behind and knelt on the ground.
Emperor Heng summoned civil and military officials, as well as the entire royal family.
——————
At the beginning of autumn, Emperor Heng appointed Prince Yan as the crown prince and later abdicated.
Seven days later, he died.
——————
ancestral temple.
Jiang Hui was in charge of affairs outside. Later, when he arrived outside the ancestral hall, he caught a glimpse of Jiang Rong standing under the densely packed tablets, looking up at the ancestors.
"Father?"
Jiang Rong turned around and looked at him.
He looked indifferent and seemed aloof.
Jiang Hui paced twice and stopped at an appropriate distance, no longer acting as disrespectful as before.
He followed Jiang Rong's gaze and looked at what was in his hand.
genealogy.
Turned to the page of great-grandfather.
"What does Father think of this?"
Jiang Rong's expression was indifferent. "Your grandmother once told me that in the early days, when the tyrant emperor brought chaos to the country, your grandfather was determined to seize the throne and take the initiative. Your great-grandfather did not support him and, in order to protect himself, was even prepared to depose your grandfather from his position as Young Master."
"It's a pity that I passed away first."
Jiang Hui paused and said calmly, "What does Father want to say?"
Jiang Rong: "You know Chen actually didn't have time to poison him."
Jiang Hui looked at him.
Jiang Rong: "If he can kill his father and son, so can I. So you still want to request to be transferred to inspect all the roads in the country? Leaving Chang'an is a long way away. If I have a new child, your position may not be stable."
“No one dares to say that he has not changed.”
Jiang Hui thought for a moment and touched his nose, "That person seems to be similar to you..."
Jiang Rong's face darkened.
Jiang Hui was embarrassed, but still admired him.
Jiang Rong never touched Xu Junrong, nor imprisoned her in the palace, nor had any other women around her. He allowed her to live freely in the Prince's Mansion, the former Prince Yan's Mansion, or anywhere else in Chang'an.
As long as you don't leave Chang'an.
Free, but also unwilling to let go, as if pulling against it.
Yan Siqing never interferes in the affairs of his elders, and neither does Jiang Hui.
Jiang Rong: "It's up to you to decide."
Jiang Hui agreed, but he had no intention of changing his original intention.
Later, King Yan ascended the throne.
Thousands of temples rang their bells 30,000 times in honor of the late emperor, to inform the world.
In the same month, Jiang Hui was made Crown Prince, and Yan Siqing was made Crown Princess...
Three months later, the Kingdom of Beiyue was incorporated into the territory of the Celestial Empire, and the Kingdom of Dashi requested to be annexed by the foreign countries... All the roads in the country were harmonious, and the prosperous scene ushered in a golden age.
In the same year, the Crown Prince and his wife inspected various regions on behalf of the Emperor and handled economic affairs... Accompanying them were Zhao Zhao, who had been studying for a while and had a huge amount of homework to do, and... Xu Junrong.
Zhou originally felt that she was too old and if her health could not keep up, she would not be able to go on such an outing.
The result...well...seems like I'm in good health.
She thought about it and decided to pack up her things and follow Madam Qin.
"Hey, I've been doing business for most of my life, I'm not short of money, so what's wrong with having some fun?"
"The world is too big."
"As Siqing said, there are so many delicious foods out there."
"Walk around, look around, eat everywhere... Zhaozhao, bring the teacher's homework with you! Don't put it under the bed, I saw it!"
On top of the imperial city, Jiang Rong watched the army leaving Chang'an in a mighty procession. Huai Xuan, standing beside his brother who had become the emperor, couldn't help but feel sad.
"Brother, don't you regret it?"
She was one of the few royal relatives who did not suffer during that purge.
Brothers and sisters like them were relatively well-behaved and had never done anything bad in the past, so they were spared their lives.
But Huaixuan felt that it was also because he was sensible and grateful.
Jiang Rong watched the carriage that Xu Junrong was riding in sail away, and finally left Chang'an, where she had been trapped for more than ten years.
There were great waves in his eyes, but they eventually calmed down.
He turned around.
"She doesn't have me in her heart."
"I can't let go of the hatred of my family being wiped out."
"What I have is never what she wants."
"As for you, you haven't been playing around lately. Just do some serious work. The official position has been given to you. Don't neglect your duties."
Even if you are an emperor, there are things you cannot get if you force it.
Lessons from the past.
Huaixuan suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"elder brother."
Jiang Rong was surprised and looked back at her.
In the morning light, Huaixuan looked sad.
"Actually, I know you knew full well that I didn't plagiarize back then, but you covered it up for me."
"Although my father dotes on me, he doesn't like me to be too strong. My second brother and his brothers already have ambitions."
"A princess like me, who has no advantages at all, could fall into an abyss in an instant if I take one wrong step. It is you who has been protecting me and all of us all these years."
"You have always been a good brother."
I have never taken the initiative to harm any of my brothers and sisters.
Until the other party wanted to kill him quickly.
Who would have thought that the new emperor who finally took the bloody action to participate in the insurance could actually be the only gentleman in the Chiang family's generation.
Neither Jiang Hui nor Emperor Heng is one of them.
No one is.
Only Jiang Rong.
He was a true gentleman who was "intentionally" educated by Emperor Heng and taught seriously by Empress Yuan.
Because he is a true gentleman, Emperor Heng believes he can control him.
Because she was a true gentleman, Empress Yuan knew that her son could not defeat his ruthless father, so she forced him to fight at the cost of her own death.
This is why there is such an outbreak today.
If it weren't for the death of Empress Yuan, if it weren't for the only son.
Jiang Rong was not lying. He would really seek death the moment Emperor Heng wanted to kill him.
He could not transcend his moral heart which had long been tamed.
But in the end, he still killed him cruelly.
Retaliate with poison.
This was something that Emperor Heng never doubted until his death, but Emperor Heng also made a second mistake in his judgment of him - he thought that Jiang Rong would be like him, indulging in greed and forcing his desires after ascending the throne.
But he still let Xu Junrong go.
It’s like letting the butterflies in my heart fly away.
Jiang Rong was silent for a while and turned around.
The back figure is the highest, but extremely lonely.
But the butterfly still flew out of Chang'an.
——————
Five years later, it was winter and snowing.
The emperor abdicated on the grounds of overwork and illness, and let the young prince, who had been regent for a year, ascend the throne.
Originally, the prince and his wife lived in the palace, and were like the emperor, and everyone in the court and the country was used to it.
After three years of inspecting the directors, improving the economy, and enriching the world through trade, people in and out of the government were no longer opposed to Yan Siqing's involvement in business.
The country has taxes to enrich the country and the people, and there is nothing wrong with it.
The ascension to the throne was smooth and logical.
The snow in winter is as white as cotton.
The officials went up to the library to meet the emperor, but the emperor was playing with his two children outside, while the empress was inside the house.
Wei Tingzhong was holding the secret letter sent by the spy outside, and happened to see the old ministers in the cabinet saluting Yan Siqing who was playing chess among themselves in the study.
Incense is burned in the house.
It's snowing outside.
The sounds of the mighty and heroic emperor, the eldest princess, and the little prince playing together are still ringing in my ears.
The respect and fear of the old ministers in the room were also visible.
Wei Tingzhong suddenly had a very strange feeling, as if a real goose feather was sweeping across his heart.
But he still waited for a while, and only after these ministers left did he go in and deliver the secret letter.
"This is the result of the court's investigation into the remnants of the previous dynasty over the years, but there has been no success."
Yan Siqing did not comment on this and asked him to stack the secret letter together with the memorials submitted by the ministers.
"Your Majesty will look at it later and deal with it later. There's no rush, right?"
Wei Tingzhong was silent for a moment and replied, "Don't worry, it's just a small matter."
Just a small matter...?
Yan Siqing picked up a white chess piece with his fingers and placed it. "Master Wei looked at my daughter with a strange look five years ago, but he didn't move that spy. Is he wavering?"
Wei Tingzhong looked up, his eyes full of emotions, but he didn't show it on his face.
In fact, that day was an extremely ordinary day.
It was the day when Prince Yan ascended the throne, and Yan Siqing was bound to attend. It was at that moment that he caught a glimpse of the so-called Yan Siqing's only daughter - and found that she was different from the girl in the scroll that night.
At that moment, his heart was in turmoil, just like it is now.
But he did nothing, or rather, it was meaningless.
But he knew that the spy must be Yan Siqing's man.
She had unknowingly...
"Why don't you tell the prince about this?"
Yan Siqing asked curiously. She was really curious because she had been observing this person over the years.
Just like the man was observing her back then.
Wei Tingzhong: "Then why didn't Your Highness kill me?"
Yan Siqing: "Then maybe your reason is the same as mine."
No ill will towards each other.
Are willing to give in.
Wei Tingzhong lowered his head, "That jade seal..."
Yan Siqing replaced the black piece and slowly asked, "Do you think the imperial seal represents the power and legitimacy of the former dynasty, or the will of the people?"
Wei Tingzhong: "All of them."
Yan Siqing: "I feel like nothing."
Wei Tingzhong was surprised, but he couldn't ask or refute because Yan Siqing no longer had any intention of explaining.
Some truths are destined to be buried.
Jiang Hui, who was playing outside, came in with his two children.
The game is paused.
Until the day he ascended the throne.
The emperor and empress stood together at the top, smiling at the civil and military officials below.
————
Light incense again in the study.
Yan Siqing put an ancient list into the stove and watched it gradually burn, engulfing the names of the old ministers of the previous dynasty.
Jade seal?
The pledge of allegiance made by Empress Xie and her party was the real imperial seal.
She watched it all happen, destroyed, like a fire that she no longer dreamed of.
The handwriting above belongs to only one person.
She watched them disappear, as if she was having a conversation with someone across the air, softly and gracefully.
"Do you know what I was thinking when they just knelt down to worship me?"
“It turns out that the greatest enemy of the highest ideal is oneself.”
"People will be intoxicated and corrupted by power and status..."
"Is this why you chose to leave completely?"
“Watch yourself being changed.”
"Being assimilated into a world you don't like and whose systems you can never change."
"Mother, I am only beginning to understand you now."
She lowered her eyes and picked up a black piece casually.
The final move.
Endgame, checkmate.
——————
Outside Chang'an, the man in black was finally found by Fu Yi.
The latter knelt down and offered to die in apology.
The man in black robe glanced at her sideways without explaining anything, but after the bell for the coronation ceremony in the city rang.
Kneel down.
This kneeling and kowtow.
The etiquette between the monarch and his subjects.
Fu Yi was shocked.
Why wasn't she poisoned? Because it was impossible to poison her. Why did Lechen's chess game step by step expose the Third Prince, but also ultimately ruin himself?
It wasn't him who was playing chess.
The Kingdom of Dashi, Hai Fugui, also knelt down across the distant mountains and seas.
Everywhere, those who are dormant, those who have gone far away, are all at some point in time.
Respect their past, respect their future, and respect their unparalleled strategies that have weathered many ups and downs over the years.
To the new world.
——————
Fuyi later returned to his parents' hometown and settled in Chang'an. He looked through some records and learned some inside information from his neighbors.
For example, my parents once set up a stall to sell cakes during the bustling Spring Festival in Guanzhong. Later, they received a gift from some noble person, and suddenly they had money to expand their business...
"It seems to be in the hot spring villa. Oh, you know the people who live there are all high-ranking officials and nobles, and they are very generous!"
She was confused, and seemed to suddenly realize something. Many years later, she also supported the man in black robe as her elder and asked a question.
"Then, who is Liaochen?"
The man in black robe didn't smile and looked into the distance.
"The emperor is heartless. How could he care about me having sex with a spy girl?"
"Queen Xie was simply fulfilling her ambition, willing to betray everyone, so that her child could become a prince as she wished."
"As for the fate of this prince, I have already burned paper to tell her."
"It can be considered a complete ending."
"People have no limits, but politics has no morals. She should know that."
——————
——————
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The author has something to say: Regarding the new book, you can take a look at the pre-collections, it is most likely Little Tyrant.
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