Chapter 26 Chapter 26 [VIP]
The darkness in dreams is long and boundless.
The road to the west was extremely dangerous, and they were ambushed just before entering the border of Guanzhong.
Ever since he was deposed as crown prince, countless people have wanted to kill him.
This does not mean that no one wanted to kill him when he was the crown prince.
At that time, there were countless pairs of dangerous eyes hidden in the dark, and now, all those who have a desire for power and status in the world want to know his life.
The narrow canyon is surrounded by two mountains and is a very dangerous place.
The night was dark and the march was so rapid that it was hard to avoid accidents.
When countless burning arrows came, even the best guards in the world could hardly resist.
The ambushers were very well prepared.
If it were an ordinary ambush, it would not be possible to be so thorough. It would be necessary to contact an insider to achieve this.
The emperor's current personal army is also an extremely powerful army.
But compared with the personal army he grew up with and had fought through countless life and death battles with, it was still a little inferior.
The emperor never doubted their loyalty.
Because if they wanted to betray him, they would have had countless opportunities to kill him easily when the disaster first happened.
But no one did that.
Now all this is about to end. As long as it goes on safely, I will be a meritorious official in the future.
High positions and generous salaries are just around the corner.
Why take risks now?
But that's what happened.
Countless burning arrows came from the sky and quickly disrupted the tightly-knit formation of the army.
The valley in the dense forest was dry at night, and the fire started to spread like wildfire in an instant.
The horrific scar on the emperor's shoulder must have been left at this time.
He was riding a horse when a stray arrow pierced his shoulder and he fell off the horse.
The fire was raging and there were countless pursuers.
In the end, it was the guards who sacrificed themselves as wings to escort the emperor out.
The emperor was deeply impressed by this incident. It had been more than two years since he caught the traitor, but when he carefully examined the whole process, he found that it was all so vague.
It is so vague that even in a dream it is difficult to connect the dots.
That night the emperor was seriously injured and fell into a coma before reinforcements arrived.
If Xi Rongjing had not been accompanied by a military doctor, he might not have made it to the third watch and would have died.
Do the words of a spy really carry so much weight that they can make him make a completely irrational decision to commit suicide?
It was dawn when the emperor woke up.
He didn't sleep much. He only went to bed early occasionally these days because he was with Yuan Mu.
Yuan Mu's posture was always uneasy in his sleep.
She wanted to bring the kitten to bed last night, and she held it and played with it on the couch in the outer room before going to sleep. He said it was getting late, but she was reluctant to leave and didn't want to be separated from the kitten.
Of course the emperor saw what Yuan Mu was thinking.
He probably used the best patience he could in his life to talk to her politely and reason with her.
Yuan Mu has been hugging more kittens recently and likes to hug a soft pillow when sleeping at night.
Her legs were spread apart, holding the soft pillow in her arms, her body slightly curled up, her cold face flushed slightly, and her face was also covered with sleep marks.
Yuan Mu's hand was stroking his abdomen, his slender white knuckles resting on his loose light-colored robe.
It’s hard to say which one looks more like snow.
The emperor's heart softened in an instant just by looking at Yuan Mu like this.
He pinched her little face and brushed the sweaty hair that was stuck to her face behind her ears.
No matter what, the emperor hopes that Yuan Mu can be well and happy.
The time for the court meeting was almost up, so he got up and left the tent, but after changing into court clothes, he came back to look at her.
The emperor lifted Yuan Mu's hair, held her little face, and kissed her lips lightly.
She seemed to be thirsty. She opened her eyes hazily and licked it with the tip of her tongue helplessly. The tender and soft red skin could instantly evoke all the thoughts of destruction and plunder.
The emperor pinched Yuan Mu's neck and kissed him deeply.
She was like a kitten being lifted by the neck, humming softly, but her body instinctively responded to the kiss.
Her thin arms were wrapped around the man's neck, and her legs were trying to move upwards.
The emperor relied on his extraordinary restraint to avoid pressing Yuan Mu onto the couch and kissing him. He said in a low voice, "It's still early. Let's sleep a little longer."
The fragrance from her body floated in the air, staining his clothes with a subtle fragrance.
Yuan Mu's eyes were clear. She nodded ignorantly and then fell asleep again.
The emperor left the inner hall, but after leaving the palace, he suddenly thought of where Yuan Mu's subconscious reaction came from.
Because before, he and her never separated by time.
Their pace was out of sync. The emperor went out early and came back late. To him, Yuan Mu, to put it bluntly, was just a private favorite kept in the palace.
Her greatest function was to open her body for him to kiss and plunder.
Things that we didn't take seriously before, when we really take them seriously, always become a stab in our hearts.
.
He was thinking about this matter in his mind, and after the court meeting, he summoned people from the Ministry of Rites.
, and the system science is also carried out together.
There have been many wars in recent years. Now the world is at peace, but the foreign tribes in the north are still restless.
Like the Central Plains dynasties, the leaders of foreign races will also face difficulties when they are old.
There are endless conflicts between brothers, uncles and nephews, and the crown prince.
Therefore, the imperial examinations have been very frequent in recent years. The emperor personally reviewed the imperial examinations when he was the crown prince, and he would witness the imperial examinations in person every time.
There are especially many sacrifices in spring.
The suburban sacrifice just ended not long ago, and now it is time to offer sacrifices to the gods of grain, the gods of agriculture, and the mausoleums. Now that there is no crown prince, the emperor has to do most of the work himself.
He had only been on the throne for two years, so it was not appropriate for him to ask important officials to perform the sacrifice on his behalf.
Government affairs seem to never end.
Military affairs, finance, fortifications, and personnel.
The emperor had never had this feeling before, as he was used to this kind of life, but after bringing Yuan Mu with him, this feeling became stronger and stronger.
No wonder it is said that the land of gentleness is the tomb of heroes.
Just now, when Yuan Mu hooked his neck and kissed him back, he also thought of the saying "The king does not attend the court early in the morning".
But things still need to be dealt with.
If I don’t deal with it soon, when will I be able to go back and be with her?
After discussing with the officials from the Ministry of Rites for a long time and arranging all the recent matters, it was already afternoon.
There is so much going on and it’s so chaotic, and there are other things to deal with in the afternoon and evening.
The emperor was busy all day and had no time to find Xi Rongjing to ask about the old days.
Yuan Mu had a day of leisure. She held the kitten in her arms, played with it, and leisurely ate her lunch.
Today's meal was very much to her taste.
After the last incident, the emperor seemed to have given up on Yuan Mu and continued to maintain court etiquette.
Every day's meals are to her liking.
Yuan Mu herself didn't know how the maid and the chef knew her favorite taste so well, even though she had never shown it before.
But after eating for a while, my stomach suddenly felt like it was churning.
Yuan Mu covered his lower abdomen and frowned.
She pushed the plate away, closed her eyes, and rested on the couch for a long time before she gradually recovered.
Yuan Mu didn't like being stared at all the time, so the maids were waiting outside.
When the palace maid brought the drinks, she saw Yuan Mu's pale face and hurriedly leaned over to ask, "Madam, are you feeling unwell?"
Yuan Mu shook his head and said, "I'm fine."
She picked up the cup and drank most of the hot tea.
The maid breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Yuan Mu's face gradually turning red.
Yuan Mu's purpose of entering the palace was to help her sister conceive the emperor's child and give birth to a crown prince for the Yuan family. She knew the relevant knowledge about pregnancy.
Her hands were on her lower abdomen, her head lowered, her expression unclear.
Yuan Mu's daily life ends in the middle of the month and is generally regular.
She stroked the kitten, her gentle profile revealing a hint of helplessness.
Wait a little longer.
After a dozen days, the answer will be clear.
Yuan Mu's expression was still calm, but her arms, which were holding the kitten, were trembling slightly.
She was actually not ready to welcome another life.
Especially since this child was destined not to belong to her.
-
Leisure time always passes faster.
Soon it was the beginning of February, the middle of spring, the beginning of farming, and the sacrifices at the Altar of Grain and Grain were put on the agenda.
The emperor fasted for three days.
He needed to be a vegetarian. Yuan Mu originally wanted to follow him, but gave up after having a vegetarian meal.
She couldn't help but feel fortunate that Yuan Wei still had some conscience and sent her to Qingyun Temple. If he had sent her to a Buddhist temple where people ate vegetarian food every day, her life would have been very miserable.
When the emperor heard Yuan Mu say this, he couldn't stop laughing.
He stroked her black hair, his expression gentle: "Do you still want to see your aunt and sister?"
The emperor said softly, "Let them come over again in a few days."
He solved the last problem very easily.
Yuan Mu never saw Yuan Wei again, and she didn't know what expression was on his face, but at least she sincerely thanked the emperor for this matter.
The emperor ate vegetarian food for three days, bathed, changed his clothes, put on formal dress, and went to the Altar of Land and Grain to offer sacrifices before the first day of the second month of spring.
The most important affairs of a country are sacrifices and war.
The emperor was dressed in a black suit and wore a crown on his head, with twelve jade tassels swaying in front of his forehead, demonstrating his imperial bearing and majesty.
Since it was rare for him to leave the palace, he brought Yuan Mu with him.
The Altar of Land and Grain is located in the southwest of the imperial city. Except for officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Taichang Temple, all civil and military officials must go there in person.
The honor guard and motorcade rushed over there in a mighty procession.
This is a very solemn occasion. At the end of the year, apart from offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, the next thing to do is to offer sacrifices to the country.
But Yuan Mu, who was inside the imperial carriage, was still sleeping peacefully in the emperor's arms.
She has been very sleepy recently. She went to bed early last night and couldn't wake up in the morning.
After the emperor simply helped Yuan Mu wash and change her clothes, he carried her into the carriage. She didn't even have breakfast and fell asleep again after stepping into the carriage.
She found a very comfortable position and nestled in his arms like a kitten.
The emperor laughed while discussing the details in the document with Xi Rongjing.
Xi Rongjing has a respected status and entered the officialdom very early. Even though he is not a relative of the emperor, he is already an important official who can stand on his own.
But he was the emperor's most trusted and trusted minister, so his status was much more respected.
Xi Rongjing is good at managing personnel and is also very proficient in handling tedious chores.
He is kind and gentle. He was quite trustworthy when he was young, and now that he is older, he is even more unmatched.
Xi Rongjing was the kind of person who would definitely leave his name in history in the future. His name would inevitably appear frequently in the pages of the chronicles that recorded the emperor's affairs.
The emperor was not confident in bringing Yuan Mu to see the King of Chu.
But Xi Rongjing is not a problem.
He is indifferent to matters of the sexes. In the past few years, he took care of his younger sister, and then there was a bereavement, so he still hasn't married until now.
"Tomorrow is the Flower Festival. There will be a banquet at the Nangong Palace. You must come," the emperor said with a chuckle. "It's fine if you didn't marry before, but you're still dragging it out. If you keep doing this, people will criticize me."
If we were to make a list of the people that all the women in the world most want to marry.
After the emperor, the person who can be ranked first is most likely Gaoping Xilang.
Xi Rongjing glanced at Yuan Mu inadvertently.
He smiled gently and said softly, "Compared to this, what I am most worried about now is Ayan's marriage."
Xi Rongjing's parents died early, and he took on the responsibility of the family when he was seventeen or eighteen years old. The person he was most concerned about was his younger sister Xi Lanyan.
"Then what's there to worry about?" The emperor raised his eyebrows. "She can marry whoever she wants."
Xi Lanyan is Xi Rongjing's younger sister.
The last thing she needs to worry about in this world is her happiness for the rest of her life.
Unlike Yuan Mu, a noble lady who had a rough life, Xi Lanyan grew up being loved and pampered.
She had a smooth life and was well protected by her brother even in the most difficult times.
Xi Lanyan has never suffered any hardship, and she will never suffer any hardship in the future.
Thinking of Xi Lanyan's good fortune, the emperor was jealous of Yuan Mu.
He always hoped that Yuan Mu's life would be smoother, and even during the time he was not able to participate, he still had a strong possessive and protective desire for him.
The emperor and Xi Rongjing didn't talk for long.
Because the Altar of Land and Grain will be here soon.
In early spring in February, the weather gradually became warmer, and Yuan Mu also changed into thin spring clothes, but she was a little afraid of the cold recently.
Therefore, the emperor gave her a small cloak over her light pink dress.
Yuan Mu was still dazed when the emperor carried him down from the throne.
There was a temporary palace here, and he carried her directly into the inner hall and whispered, "Sleep a little longer if you want to, and have breakfast if you're hungry. I'll come over later."
Yuan Mu nodded. She sat on the couch, her eyes clear and soft.
The red lips were shining with moisture, as if they were holding a cherry.
The emperor fasted for three days. He pinched Yuan Mu's jaw, kissed her hard, and whispered, "Be good today."
His subtext is already there.
If you don't behave, you will definitely be punished.
Yuan Mu's face flushed. He avoided the emperor's gaze and whispered, "I understand."
Her voice was soft and sleepy, like cherry soufflé drizzled with syrup.
There was a gloom in the emperor's eyes, but he didn't do anything to her.
Yuan Mu yawned slightly, then fell asleep again in the bed curtains. She was very sleepy and seemed to never get enough sleep.
She slept until the emperor returned.
Yuan Mu was woken up by his kiss. She moaned softly and her snow-white neck couldn't help but tilt back.
When the emperor was the crown prince, he was quite sincere in his sacrifices.
Things have been complicated in the past two years, so I haven't been as sincere as I used to be. This is the first time I have actually fasted for three days since I ascended the throne.
Yuan Mu couldn't bear the kiss, his knuckles dug into the emperor's hair, and he tried to push him away repeatedly.
The tassels hanging under the crown and the pearls bring a strong stimulation when they touch the soft snow-white skin.
Those jade beads seemed to be rolling over the skin.
The harder Yuan Mu struggled, the more the crown tassel shook. Her knuckles were clenched tightly together, and then forcibly pried apart by the emperor.
The man's lips and teeth kissed deeply and fiercely.
Yuan Mu couldn't bear it any longer. She cried out, "Li Congliu..."
He refused to even call you "Your Majesty".
I don’t know who spoiled him and made him like this.
But the emperor finally let Yuan Mu go. He picked her up and took her to take a bath, then changed her into a new dress.
The cool snow-blue long skirt exudes nobility in its plain white color.
Yuan Mu's eyes were still slightly red, and his voice was hoarse: "Why don't you eat in the palace?"
The emperor took up the cup and drank a little water. He rinsed his mouth first, then drank half a cup of water before answering, "I have nothing to do this afternoon, so I might as well play here for a while."
Spring is a good time to travel.
Yuan Mu followed the emperor out of the palace. She wanted to remain calm, but her eyes couldn't help but look at the emperor's face.
He leaned over and kissed her lips hard again, whispering, "What are you looking at? Do you want to be kissed again?"
Yuan Mu's face flushed red.
She was already very embarrassed, and when she looked up and saw Xi Rongjing and others, her cheeks became even hotter.
Xi Rongjing looked calm. He was a gentleman and followed the principle of not looking at anything inappropriate. Even when he was on the imperial carriage, he didn't look at it for long, let alone now.
The King of Chu's expression did not change much.
He was unusually obedient and wore a black suit. His body was as thin as a knife, and he looked like a military general.
Xi Lanyan's expression was also very normal, with a delicate smile on her lips, but the knuckles hidden in her sleeves were almost pinching her palms to the point of leaving bloody marks.
Yuan Mu was very accommodating to her. Playing with Yuan Mu was a very relaxing and enjoyable experience.
Xi Lanyan has always known Yuan Mu's identity.
Her brother didn't want to talk to her about Yuan Mu, but whenever she thought about something, the people around Xi Rongjing would always speak up.
At the beginning, Xi Lanyan was indeed frightened.
She knew best that the emperor and Empress Yuan were just a couple in name only, so she had never been alarmed by it.
But when she first met Yuan Mu, Xi Lanyan felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.
Later, when she learned that she was the plaything for Empress Yuan to bear a child, Xi Lanyan breathed a sigh of relief.
How could a woman who is truly loved by her husband be so frivolous and approachable in front of others?
But if she is a concubine, then it doesn’t matter.
People of this status can be given away for others to play with.
This was also the reason why Xi Lanyan relaxed her vigilance against Yuan Mu, but she still felt uncomfortable in her heart, uncomfortable that Yuan Mu was the first to take away the emperor.
She analyzed it rationally.
However, when she looked up and saw the two of them being so close, Xi Lanyan couldn't help but feel jealousy surging in her chest.
She suppressed her emotions and walked forward holding the hem of her skirt: "Long time no see, sister."
-
The scenery here is very beautiful.
Yuan Mu rarely left the palace, and every time he did, he was in high spirits.
The scenery in spring is the best, with peach blossoms in bud and green branches dancing in the wind.
The stream gurgles and the warm breeze blows.
They had lunch by the stream, and the kitchen utensils, seasonings and various foods were prepared in advance.
The sun was shining brightly at noon. Yuan Mu took off her small cloak, revealing her snow-blue dress.
This is a very beautiful light purple, but also a very expensive light purple.
It is the Hang brocade that is worth a thousand gold.
The palace didn't have many pieces of this type of skirt available, but Xi Lanyan didn't know how many times she had seen Yuan Mu wearing it.
Just the few times Xi Lanyan saw Yuan Mu, she never wore the same dress twice.
The girls from top noble families and high-ranking concubines such as the Four Virtuous Concubines did not have such a life as Yuan Mu. She lived in luxury without any compromise.
Xi Lanyan had actually seen Yuan Mu a few times before.
In my memory, she was a low-ranking Zhaoyi who was ignored by everyone. She always wore plain and old-fashioned long dresses with high necklines.
Although she is not very old, she looks like a woman in her forties or fifties.
Even though she was born with good looks, few people would notice her.
But now Xi Lanyan could no longer connect the favored concubine in front of her with the Yuan Zhaoyi in her memory.
The emperor doted on her so much that he wished everyone in the world could serve as her foil.
Xi Lanyan's thoughts were so complicated that she couldn't eat.
But Yuan Mu, who was sitting next to her, didn't notice it at all, and even gently handed her the roasted bacon.
Xi Lanyan really couldn't eat.
She threw the skewers onto the plate and whispered, "I'll go over there first."
The Emperor and the King of Chu had something to do, so they left first.
After Xi Lanyan ran away, only Yuan Mu and Xi Rongjing were left at the table.
Yuan Mu was somewhat bewildered, with a slight hurt on her face. She picked up the roasted bacon, pursed her lips and asked, "Is it not roasted well?"
Xi Rongjing's always gentle face had a hint of irritability.
He looked at Xi Lanyan's back with a gloomy look in his eyes.
But Xi Rongjing quickly regained his composure. He said softly, "Don't spoil Lan Yan too much. That's just her personality."
Yuan Mu was stunned. He didn't expect him to say that.
She said softly, "Ayan is still a child."
Xi Rongjing looked at Yuan Mu for a moment, and he sighed softly: "Aren't you also a child?"
These words suddenly brought them closer together.
Time seemed to have returned to the peaceful days in Qingyun Temple, when she was still worried all day about not being able to understand her books and not being able to get delicious meals.
Although life is hard, there is no pressure.
Not like now.
Yuan Mu's hand was on her lower abdomen, and her eyebrows drooped. Her movements were not obvious, but Xi Rongjing noticed it keenly.
He asked softly, "Are you...pregnant?"
Yuan Mu shook his head subconsciously and said quickly: "No, I'm just a little full."
Xi Rongjing's frown relaxed a little.
"You're not even eighteen yet," he whispered. "It's fashionable for women to marry later these days, so when it comes to having children, the later the better."
Yuan Mu had no choice in this matter.
She pursed her lips, looking a little helpless. Xi Rongjing realized that he had said something wrong and quickly changed his words.
"Don't worry," he said softly, "for things like this, just let nature take its course."
Xi Rongjing's expression was gentle, like that of a trustworthy brother. Yuan Mu's mind gradually relaxed. She placed her knuckles on the table and slowly pressed down.
"Speaking of which, Mr. Xi," she asked softly, "do you know about the attack on His Majesty?"
Yuan Mu raised his eyes and asked slowly, "He seems to have forgotten some things after that incident."
Her voice seemed emotionless, but her eyes were filled with expectation that flickered like stars.
Xi Rongjing did not answer Yuan Mu.
His eyes fell on the thin bracelet on her wrist, and his voice softened: "You still can't forget Helan Zhen, right?"
Xi Rongjing's voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for the emperor standing behind Yuan Mu to hear clearly.
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