Chapter 44 Chapter 44 [VIP]
The emperor arrived in Shuofang the day before.
This place is a military stronghold, and preparations for autumn defense are made every year. He often sends people here, and he comes here in person quite often.
After all, they were not here to escape the summer heat and rest, so Shuofang did not have a special palace.
When the emperor traveled, he would always be accompanied by troops, so they would usually stay in the government office in the capital, which was also convenient for the handover of troops and other affairs.
Gao Shen brought his two sons and his eldest daughter-in-law, the Grand Princess of Qin, to personally welcome the royal teacher.
After being married for a long time, the eldest princess of Qin State has become more calm and composed.
The emperor had not seen his half-sister for some time.
He wasn't very familiar with his half-sister, so he exchanged a few simple greetings and said nothing more.
Dusk is approaching and the setting sun is melting into gold.
The rosy glow cast a dark red glow on the towering city gate, and the long, pale yellow river exuded a solemn and murderous air.
The scenery here is completely different from that of Jingzhao.
After entering Lingzhou, the emperor summoned Gao Shen to ride with him.
He leaned against the imperial carriage and asked casually, "Since coming here, have things been going smoothly?"
The emperor came for the King of Chu, but he has set up the Shuofang military garrison for a long time, so it is time for him to see it in person.
The distance from the city gate to the government office is not too far.
The emperor talked with Gao Shen for a while, then got off the imperial carriage. The entire Gao family was waiting for him, as well as the Lingzhou governor and others.
A group of people bowed their heads respectfully, and after he got off the car, they all knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to you."
The emperor said softly, "Stand up."
He glanced at them casually and asked, "Where's Ah Zhang? Isn't he in Lingzhou?"
The emperor did not tell the King of Chu in advance that he was coming to Shuofang, and only sent someone to inform him when he was near Lingzhou.
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the sound of hurried horse hooves.
The King of Chu was dressed in a crimson robe. He sat on his horse and raised his eyebrows. "Here."
He has grown up a lot, and his temperament has become a little more stable after he came of age.
But now he looks like a young man full of vigor and vitality.
The emperor didn't have many relatives alive, especially those close by blood. He had always been indulgent towards the King of Chu and whispered, "Have you only woken up now?"
The King of Chu got off his horse and walked naturally to the side of the emperor.
"I drank some wine at noon," he said with a smile, "an aged wine from the border states, sweet and mellow."
The old eunuch beside the King of Chu tried to smooth things over, saying helplessly, "If Your Majesty hadn't delivered the letter, His Highness would have been able to sleep until tomorrow."
The banquet to welcome the emperor was held at the government office.
He had previously instructed that everything be kept simple, so the banquet did not last too long and there were not many people.
The emperor leaned back, bent his arms, and sipped a little tea from the cup.
"What is the origin of your little princess?" He said softly, "She refused to tell me in the letter."
The emperor's almond-shaped eyes were immersed in the night.
Ever since Yuan Mu left, his temperament has become calmer and more composed than before, but on the other hand, he has also become more cold and indifferent.
Only in front of close people will I reveal some emotions.
Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, or maybe it’s because the fire that night was so tragic.
The King of Chu didn't know the answer. He held the wine cup in his hand tightly, his eyes slightly lowered. "My Royal Brother, do you think this is inappropriate?"
The emperor would not speak directly, and he would not even express his thoughts too bluntly.
He grew up in the deep palace and was trained to be an emperor since childhood, so he never showed his emotions.
The emperor smiled faintly and said, "What are you talking about?"
"You're already this old, and you still don't have a concubine," he said softly, "As long as you don't find a male concubine, what kind of woman would I find unsuitable?"
The emperor's tone was calm, but his eyes never left the King of Chu's face.
"Tomorrow," he put down his cup, "I'll go to your house tomorrow to take a look."
The emperor didn't say a single harsh word, and his handsome face seemed slightly softer in the night.
But what was revealed in his words was the most powerful and authoritarian attitude.
"If there's still time, just arrange for the bride price," the emperor said slowly, "and then return to Jingzhao to prepare for the wedding."
"You don't even have a wife, so how can you take a concubine in advance?" He glanced at the King of Chu and said, "Since you asked me to make her the princess, then I will make her the princess directly."
The emperor's gaze was not stern, but when he finished speaking, the whole table was silent.
The Gao family knew in advance why he came.
But at this moment, not to mention the female relatives, even Gao Shen’s two eldest sons dared not breathe.
Gao Han was used to being favored at home, and he often went to the palace when Concubine De was in power. But now he didn't even have the courage to raise his eyebrows.
The emperor's oppressive feeling was so strong that no one dared to argue even when he spoke in a low voice.
"Yes." The King of Chu said in a low voice, "I will obey you."
His expression didn't change much, only his eyelids drooped.
However, compared to everyone present, the King of Chu could be said to be extremely calm and composed.
The emperor said quietly, "It's getting late, and you've drunk so much. Stay here tonight and return home tomorrow."
After the banquet, he arranged things for tomorrow.
It is not easy for the emperor to come to Shuofang.
Even though it started raining early the next morning, he still went with the video as planned.
The weather is not good.
, thunder rolled, the sky was so gloomy that it was almost impossible to see the road, and then the emperor left from the outer room.
Lingzhou is the seat of the Shuofang military town and is involved in many matters.
The emperor returned to his office and continued to meet with people. Gao Shen had only been there for more than ten days and was not very clear about the situation here.
He summoned his officials.
The governor of Lingzhou was a man of great talent and character, but his eldest son was a complete fool. He was only fifteen or sixteen years old, but his mind was full of twists and turns.
The emperor took a short break during the journey and happened to hear him talking to someone.
"Why hasn't Envoy Gao come out lately?" he asked in a low voice. "Is there a new favorite around him?"
It’s not Gao Shen, it should be his younger brother Gao Shi.
In order to facilitate their handover, the emperor did not immediately transfer Gao Shi, who was originally in Shuofang.
This man had outstanding abilities. Even as a soldier, he was extremely brave and daring. However, his character was very bad, and he was particularly interested in married women.
The person who spoke should be the attendant beside Gao Shi.
The man gave a mischievous laugh and said loudly, "That's right! He's already being pampered before he even gets it."
The son of the Lingzhou governor was a fool, full of scheming, but he would not really do anything evil, and he did not understand the meaning of the man's words.
"What girl?" he muttered. "So arrogant."
"What do you know!" the man said proudly, "She's a beauty of national beauty, a stunning beauty, and has exotic blood. It's said that her eyes are blue, and she's very beautiful."
As soon as these words were spoken, the emperor's expression turned cold.
This is something he is very taboo about.
The former queen was also a rare and noble beauty. A traitor could have kept several concubines who looked similar to her.
Later, after the emperor completed the rehabilitation, he deliberately executed this man.
No more, no less, he was chopped three thousand times before he finally died.
It would be fine if others did this without knowing about it, but Gao Shi was very close to Concubine De and had met the Empress and others, so it was very likely that he knew about this matter.
Since the incident with Concubine De, a rift has arisen between the Emperor and the Gao family.
He only appears to be tolerant and generous, but in fact, he is unwilling to let go of anyone who has hurt Yuan Mu.
If the Gao family did not have so many talented generals, he would not have been so forgiving.
Who would have thought that Gao Shi would dare to act so recklessly?
It was getting dark.
The emperor had to go to the Prince of Chu's residence that evening, so he whispered to his attendants, "Find out first."
He has been extremely strict with his subordinates in the past two years, and has increasingly attached importance to the character of his subjects.
The lesson Yuan Wei taught him was truly too great.
The emperor used to think that as long as someone was capable, he could be employed no matter how bad his character was, but now he no longer thinks so.
Although it is said that clear water has no fish, he cannot allow one or two evildoers to pollute the entire water area.
By evening, the rain became heavier.
The emperor went directly to the King of Chu's residence. When his carriage stopped at the screen wall, his brows furrowed slightly.
The style of the King of Chu's residence in Jingzhao is very simple, with some flavor of Jiangnan gardens. Although he had someone design it, it was entirely based on the King of Chu's preferences.
But this mansion is different.
Compared to a prince's residence, it looks more like a princess's house.
The courtyard is planted with lilac flowers, which are particularly beautiful and graceful even in the rain.
Each of the exotic flowers and plants is exquisite, and you can tell at a glance that they have been carefully selected.
I don’t know how much he cares about that woman to be so meticulous.
The King of Chu and his men were waiting at the screen wall.
The attendant, holding an umbrella, greeted the emperor as he descended from the imperial carriage. His brows were cold and stern, and his voice was low: "Why are you alone? Where is your little princess?"
It rained heavily all day, and after nightfall, the sky was so dark that not even a ray of light could penetrate.
Such heavy rain rarely falls in the north, and there are only a few times in the whole year.
After several incidents on rainy days, the emperor developed an unusual aversion to heavy rain.
He looked at the King of Chu, feeling inexplicably irritated.
The moment the King of Chu knelt on one knee on the ground, the emperor's anger reached its peak.
He was very fond of his younger brother. After he ascended the throne, except for the grand court, he rarely performed formalities with him in private.
The King of Chu lowered his head and said in a low voice, "I am ignorant and foolish, and have committed a terrible mistake. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."
The sound of heavy rain and howling wind mixed together to create an extremely noisy scene.
The emperor stood before the King of Chu, feeling a throbbing pain in the blood spot on his forehead.
What mistake could the King of Chu make that he still needs to ask for forgiveness?
The emperor's thoughts had never been so chaotic. That almost impossible and extremely crazy idea kept jumping in his heart.
The most regrettable and frustrating thing in the world is to be told coldly that all hope is just wishful thinking after you have gained it.
The emperor often had such dreams, and he had experienced this feeling countless times.
I also gradually understood Yuan Mu's pain.
But the moment the King of Chu opened his mouth, the emperor's heart still went crazy for a moment.
"When the Qingning Palace caught fire, the Imperial Concubine was not actually dead."
The King of Chu spoke in a low voice, but every word fell on the emperor's ears like the sound of a drum.
At this moment, all the subtle clues were connected together like pearls.
The fragrance of lilac flowers in the letter, several private greetings to the little prince, and Yuan Mu's loyal servant who resolutely asked to leave the palace.
But the King of Chu changed the subject in his next sentence.
"But the Empress really wanted to commit suicide back then," he said softly, "She was seriously injured in the fire. For the past two years, the court physician has been treating the Empress."
The fire was so big that day that the soldiers didn't dare to rush in easily.
The emperor didn't know how long Yuan Mu had been in the fire. When he heard the King of Chu's words, his chest was filled with sharp and astringent pain.
Various complex emotions are intertwined in my heart.
His voice was almost full of anger: "Where is she now?"
The emperor had never been so uncalm in his life.
"The Queen heard that you had come to Lingzhou," the King of Chu said, pursing his lips. "She left the palace secretly last night, and I don't know where she is now."
My heart, which was about to burn, was suddenly poured with a bucket of cold water.
The emperor's phoenix eyes were terrifyingly sinister. He lowered his head to look at the King of Chu, and a strong murderous intent surged in his bloodthirsty eyes.
It took extreme restraint for him not to draw the sword from his waist at this moment.
"Seal off the city," the emperor said in a cold voice, "the entire Shuofang, immediately seal off the city."
This is not an order, it is an imperial decree.
His thoughts were racing like crazy, and he was about to fall into a state of morbid paranoia.
The emperor's eyes darkened to the extreme. He gave King Chu one last look and said, "A Zhang, it's better if you really don't know anything."
He whispered, "Come here, take His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu to the government office and wait."
The emperor was wearing a black cloak, and his eyebrows and eyes were also dark, as if no dark light could shine into his phoenix eyes.
"Investigate the whereabouts of everyone in this palace," he said in a cold voice, "and everyone who has had contact with the King of Chu."
The emperor was cold-hearted and murderous. He ascended to the throne by stepping on the blood of millions of people.
When he really turned cold and cruel, it was enough to scare everyone who was serving him nearby.
The entire mansion was soon put under martial law.
In less than half a night, Shuofang will be on alert.
But what the emperor didn't expect was that before the King of Chu could get any news, Gao Shi had already given the news.
"Your Majesty, Gao Shi has taken people to a private residence," the attendant whispered respectfully, "and the people in that private residence happened to have come from the Prince of Chu's residence."
The emperor's expression was frighteningly cold, and his murderous intent was so strong that it seemed tangible.
-
Yuan Mu was covered in blood.
Because it was summer, she was dressed very lightly. Apart from the cloak, she only wore a snow-white gauze skirt.
Yuan Mu's palms, face, and neck were all covered in blood, and her chest was also splattered with blood.
She was very dirty and smelled of rust.
This scene is very similar to the New Year's Eve three years ago.
Yuan Mu closed his eyes and could imagine Zhang Qin's appearance when he died.
At that time it could be said to be a mistake, but what about this time?
Yuan Mu was emotionally devastated, but it was only after the emperor broke in that she completely collapsed.
Her face was covered with tears, tears as clear as gems, rolling down in big drops.
The emperor didn't even look at Gao Shi's body, but directly picked up Yuan Mu. She was covered in blood and was in despair.
She was not yet nineteen when she left him.
In a blink of an eye, Yuan Mu has grown so much.
She was a little taller than before, and her face had blossomed, like a flower in full bloom.
Even in the most embarrassing situation, she is still so beautiful that people can't take their eyes off her.
But the emperor did not have any romantic thoughts in his mind.
The emotion of losing and regaining something was so intense that it made his brain almost blank, and only the tense feeling of fear could counteract it.
"Don't be afraid, A'luo," the emperor whispered softly, "It's okay, I'm back."
He had so much to say to Yuan Mu.
He remembered everything about being Helan Zhen. He raised their children well. He missed her very much and was willing to spend the rest of his life repenting and making amends.
But what surged in Yuan Mu's eyes was a deeper fear.
Does he understand it or not?
Is she afraid of Gao Chi? She is afraid of him——
"Please let me go..." Yuan Mu's cry was almost shrill, "I'm already like this, why are you still holding on to me!"
Her thoughts were in a tangled mess.
Yuan Mu continued to struggle, she said incoherently: "I don't understand, what did I do wrong?"
She cried so hard that when the emperor forced her into the carriage, she kicked his chest with the soles of her feet.
The emperor seemed to feel no pain and didn't even frown.
He wiped Yuan Mu's bloody face while holding her firmly in his arms, his voice slightly shaky: "I remember now, A'Luo... I remember everything."
The imperial carriage moved at an alarming speed.
The car curtains were not drawn tightly, and the night wind mixed with raindrops drifted in.
Under the lightning, Yuan Mu's tearful face was illuminated as white as snow.
The emperor hugged Yuan Mu tightly. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I really remember now. I am Helan Zhen."
"We first met at Qingyun Temple," he said, holding her on his lap. "The first time you told me about the Taoist Patriarch, you were talking about Zhuangzi's dream."
Yuan Mu told the emperor many old stories, trying to awaken his memory.
But she never told him what she said the first time, because she herself couldn't remember it all.
But when the emperor said this, those memories that had long been old and yellowed suddenly became extremely clear.
That night, Yuan Mu changed Helan Zhen's medicine.
She fell asleep quickly, and when she woke up from thirst, she realized that he had not fallen asleep yet.
Helan Zhen's injury was in the abdomen, and his injury was very serious. If Yuan Mu had not rescued him, he might have died in the mountain collapse at that time.
The medicine was replaced without any omissions.
But the problem was, he was in so much pain.
Yuan Mu sat up from the bed and said anxiously, "What should I do? I don't have any painkillers here..."
"Last time we gave out caramel," she said apologetically, "but I ate it all."
He Lanzhen's face was pale, but a faint smile still lingered on his lips. He said softly, "It's okay. It happened before. It will be fine after a while when L falls asleep."
But how could he sleep when it hurt so much?
Yuan Mu pursed his lips and said seriously: "Let me tell you a story. After you finish listening to the story, you will fall asleep."
She comes to Qingyun Temple for a period of time every year, but to this day, her skills are still not very good.
Yuan Mu stumbled over the story of the Taoist ancestor dreaming of a butterfly as he told Helan Zhen.
She pieced together stories from various sources, and made stories with just a few simple sentences from classics appear rich and colorful.
Even the scene where the little butterfly flew into the peony bushes and was almost chased by a kitten was made up by Yuan Mu.
She wanted to describe the dream more beautifully so that Helan Zhen could have the same beautiful dream.
It's been too long.
If the emperor had not spoken of it himself, Yuan Mu might never have thought of it again in his life.
"I have always missed you," the emperor's eyes trembled, "I have been looking for you for the past two years."
Maybe he really remembered everything.
The emperor held Yuan Mu's face in his hands and said in a low voice: "I'm sorry, I have done a lot of wrong things. Give me a chance to make it up to you, A'Luo..."
There was true love in his eyes that would last until death.
The emperor kissed Yuan Mu's forehead and said slowly, "Let's start over, okay?"
His voice was very soft, as if he was afraid that she would break down, and in those always cold eyes, it seemed as if something was about to fall.
But Yuan Mu was extremely confused.
She raised her head and looked at the emperor blankly: "But I don't love you anymore."
"We've been together for three years," Yuan Mu said helplessly, "Don't you know how much pain I've been through and how much I want to leave you?"
She looked at the emperor as if she were looking at a stranger.
Strictly speaking, the current emperor should be considered her ex-husband, although they have not officially divorced.
But even a fool knows that death itself severs all ties.
Even if the emperor refused to admit it, it could not change the fact that Concubine Yuan Mu was dead.
When everyone in the world believes that something has happened, even if it is not certain, it can only be certain.
This is the deepest lesson the emperor taught Yuan Mu.
"Are you hysterical?" she asked softly. "Everyone says I'm dead, why don't you believe it?"
There was a strange sympathy in Yuan Mu's eyes.
She reached out her hand and gently touched the emperor's face.
The emperor had imagined their reunion countless times in his dreams.
He thought Yuan Mu might be very angry, sad, aggrieved, and might even hate him for coming so late and remembering her so late.
But he never thought that she would be like this.
After receiving the answer that was completely inconsistent with the tone, the emperor suddenly didn't know how to reply to Yuan Mu.
He simply said, "A Fei is very smart and healthy, and he has always missed you very much."
"I've also been taking good care of that kitten you love so much," the emperor whispered. "From now on, our family of three will never be separated again."
There was extreme affection in his eyes.
The emotions are too deep, appearing paranoid and morbid.
"Don't you understand what I'm saying?" Yuan Mu's voice rose. "I'm no longer your concubine! Your affairs have nothing to do with me."
There was a coldness in her eyes.
He was as cold-blooded and ruthless as the former emperor.
The emperor held Yuan Mu's wrist tightly, suppressing his emotions: "A Luo, I know you blame me, and I also know that I have done a lot of wrong things."
"But I really didn't mean to do that," he whispered. "I was betrayed by a traitor and then ambushed and lost my memory."
The emperor's expression changed slightly, and he looked at Yuan Mu almost pleadingly.
"Let's start over, okay?" He murmured, "It doesn't matter what you want me to do."
Even in the fire that night, Yuan Mu's heart might have softened a little after hearing such words.
But now she no longer wants to face the emperor again.
Yuan Mu looked at the emperor unbearably.
"But I don't love you anymore, and I don't want anything to do with you anymore," she raised her voice. "Why do you think I want to start over with you?"
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