Chapter 45 Chapter 45 [VIP]
Yuan Mu looked at the emperor and said loudly, "I have always liked the gentle man named Helan Zhen."
She said word by word, "It's not you, Li Conglu."
There are not many people in this world who dare to address the emperor by his name, but Yuan Mu dares.
The emperor never understood why she was always so bold.
Now he understood, because Yuan Mu treated them as two people.
In Yuan Mu's heart, Helan Zhen and Li Conglu are two completely different people. She loves the elegant and humble He Rou military household.
Rather than a cold-blooded emperor who is cruel, murderous and powerful.
Yuan Mu would rather travel around the world with Helan Zhen than be Li Conglu's queen.
The emperor's thoughts were in a mess, and the only clear thing was the sharp pain in his chest that penetrated his lungs.
He grabbed Yuan Mu's wrist and wanted to hug her tighter: "But I am Helan Zhen, A Luo..."
But Yuan Mu's body was trembling, and he couldn't even accept the emperor's hug.
She was so excited that she broke down. Now that she had calmed down a little, the familiar feeling of rejection came over her again.
"Don't touch me." Yuan Mu said in a trembling voice.
Her posture was clearly defensive, and the way she looked at the emperor was as if she was looking at some ferocious beast.
Yuan Mu looked fragile. She huddled in the corner of the carriage, trying her best to keep a distance from him.
This is not a normal reaction.
The emperor was shocked. He almost instinctively pulled the curtain tightly, fearing that Yuan Mu would suddenly jump out.
Her body was still covered in blood, her slender arms were hugging her knees, and her face was buried deep in her arms.
Something is wrong with Yuan Mu.
The emperor wanted to ask her, but considering that they were in the imperial carriage, it was of no use.
Fortunately, the carriage soon stopped at the government office.
The heavy rain was still falling outside, with thunder and lightning flashing in the sky.
Yuan Mu refused to go down no matter what. She cried and said, "Please let me go."
Her consciousness was disordered and her thoughts were completely unclear.
The emperor leaned over to look at Yuan Mu and lowered his voice: "A Luo is covered in blood, let's take a bath first."
His voice was gentle, but he completely ignored Yuan Mu's struggle and forcibly lifted her up from the carriage.
Yuan Mu's legs kicked wildly and she struggled violently.
The emperor took the umbrella from his attendant and walked towards the inner room with her in his arms. He was so concerned about keeping her from getting wet that half of his shoulder was soaked by the heavy rain.
When Yuan Mu gets angry, he acts without restraint.
She was like a willful child, and the tone of her words became heavier and heavier: "You bastard, Li Conglu!"
It was not until they entered the inner room that the emperor stopped holding Yuan Mu.
He asked the maid to come over, then took off Yuan Mu's bloodstained robe and said in a low voice: "I won't touch you, but take a bath first, okay?"
The emperor seldom allowed maids to serve him, and all the maids in Ziwei Palace used to serve Yuan Mu.
This person is still in the Prince of Chu's mansion.
When Yuan Mu saw the familiar face, his emotions finally calmed down.
After the emperor stood up and left, the maid hugged her tightly, suppressed her tears and said, "My lady, what's wrong with you?"
Yuan Mu's body was immersed in hot water.
The blood stains gradually melted away, revealing the snowy skin, which was so white and lustrous that it was almost glowing.
Yuan Mu covered his face with his hands and said in a low voice: "Don't ask me for now."
Her body kept sinking, and her thoughts seemed to gradually sink into the abyss.
After leaving Yuan Mu, the emperor first changed into his outer robe and then lifted the decree to seal the city.
Even though Yuan Mu said that just now, the emperor was still filled with strong emotions that he could not control.
The joy of regaining what was lost is enough to overshadow all other thoughts.
While Yuan Mu was bathing, the emperor called someone over. He would not stay in Shuofang any longer. When Yuan Mu woke up tomorrow, he would take her back to Jingzhao immediately.
Fortunately, there are quite a few people brought here this time.
The emperor arranged the personnel and adjusted the remaining plans, letting his close ministers complete the inspection on his behalf.
Then he personally met the maid who was extremely loyal to Yuan Mu.
Jinzhi knelt on the ground, her hair disheveled, and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, can I see the Empress? She must be alone..."
Yuan Mu's condition has not been good. Since entering the palace, she has collapsed many times.
The emperor could remember the scene of her attempted suicide even with his eyes closed.
When Yuan Mu is emotional, he must be alone.
The emperor knew this better than anyone else.
"Don't worry about that. Someone is waiting by her side," he said softly. "What you need to do is tell me everything that has happened in the past two years without reservation."
The emperor's words were gentle, but his eyes were filled with the coldest coldness.
He had just read the confession of the King of Chu.
.
Jinzhi knelt on the ground, her body trembling constantly.
"If you do," the emperor's voice was icy, "you'd better confess honestly."
He sat in the armchair with a dark look in his eyes.
There was a torrential downpour outside, and the dark interior was filled with extreme depression.
However, no matter how oppressive the environment was, it could not compare to the overwhelming imperial power, and the sudden pressure that came down was even more terrifying.
Those who have served closely with the emperor know clearly what kind of person he is.
He appears to be respectful and dignified, often showing leniency, but in reality he is vindictive and can be said to be extremely vicious.
However, no matter how cruel the emperor did, he always covered it up and never revealed it openly.
At this time, there will be no good outcome if you go against him.
Jinzhi raised her face, and the first two lines of tears that fell were: "Your Majesty, the Queen's health is not as good as before. Many of her ideas were thought up by us. Please do not punish her..."
After all, I am serving a noble person.
Jinzhi spoke clearly and concisely explained everything that had happened over the past two years.
The emperor's expression went from cold and sullen at first to increasingly ugly.
When he heard Jinzhi mention Gao Chi, a strong murderous intent almost surged in his eyes.
It would be too easy to die like this.
The emperor's eyes were dim, but before he could ask someone to come over and tell him something, the attendant said that Yuan Mu had finished bathing.
The maid helped her to dry her long hair. The black hair that fell like a waterfall fell behind her waist, silently emitting a rich fragrance.
Yuan Mu's hair was this long when he left him.
The emperor stood beside the screen, staring at her back. At that moment, he suddenly had an illusion.
Time has not passed, they are still stuck in two years ago.
But the next moment, Yuan Mu sensitively noticed his gaze and looked back hurriedly.
Those clean, clear eyes were still as translucent as when she was young, faintly blue, as if reflecting a pool of moonlight.
Yuan Mu calmed down a lot.
But her hands were still placed in the porcelain basin in a sick manner, rubbing and washing them continuously.
The bloodstains had been washed away long ago, but even after rubbing his finger bones until they turned red, Yuan Mu still couldn't completely escape from the almost nauseating smell of rust.
She felt extremely disgusted by everything she saw. Even though she hadn't eaten anything, her stomach was churning.
The moment Yuan Mu's eyes met the emperor's, his body almost trembled uncontrollably.
His almond-shaped eyes were extremely dark, as if no light could ever penetrate them.
When the emperor walked over, Yuan Mu tried his best to restrain the desire to retreat.
She lowered her eyes and said softly, "I want to see the King of Chu."
Yuan Mu's face was pale, with only his lips showing a sickly red. In the candlelight, he also looked obviously weak.
If it were in the past, the emperor would never have allowed her to see the King of Chu again.
But he has changed a lot in the past two years.
The emperor looked at Yuan Mu with a look of pity and respect. He said softly, "Okay, but you have to see the doctor first."
"A Zhang is still in the mansion," he said softly, "He just happened to come over after taking my pulse."
Compared with his previous obvious strength, the emperor's methods have become a gentle knife that is not easy to detect.
Yuan Mu looked at him for a moment and finally nodded.
The government office did not have any clothes for women to change into.
Yuan Mu was only wearing the emperor's outer robe. Her snow-white face was pale and the tip of her chin was bloodless.
The whole person was thin and slender, wrapped in a black and gold coat, and his black hair was simply tied up with a silk ribbon.
Yuan Mu sat in a sandalwood chair, her face turned to the side, revealing only her white wrist resting on the pulse pillow.
She is graceful and cool like the moon.
There is a hint of detachment in her coldness, like a lady painted by a painter, or a goddess that only appears in poems and songs.
The emperor always brought his imperial physician with him when he traveled.
The medical officer frowned slightly after examining the patient for a moment.
But Yuan Mu didn't even listen to the doctor's verdict. He just stood up, put on his outer robe, and asked in a low voice, "Is he here?"
The emperor frowned and subconsciously pulled Yuan Mu.
"Not yet. The servants will report him when he arrives." He lowered his eyes. "Your maid said you had nothing to eat in the evening. I asked someone to prepare your favorite meal. Please enjoy a little first."
Not everyone has the courage to eat a meal in peace after killing someone.
At least Yuan Mu can't do it.
"No," she said irritably, "I can't eat."
Yuan Mu refused like this, but the emperor's expression did not change.
He personally poured her a cup of tea and said softly, "You just finished taking a bath, rest for a while."
The emperor lowered his brows, as if he was in the best of moods.
Yuan Mu said nothing. She held the tea and sat back in the armchair.
The medical officer briefly told the emperor about Yuan Mu's condition. The fire had left a profound impact on her.
The hurt is deep inside, deep into the bones.
Even after being carefully cared for for so long in the Prince of Chu's Palace, it would be difficult to restore the damaged foundation.
The emperor looked unhappy. He knew that Yuan Mu was in poor health, but he didn't expect her to be so weak.
After sending the medical officer away, he looked at her gently.
"What kind of medicinal diet have you been taking lately?" The emperor tapped his knuckles on the table. "Are there any new dietary restrictions or new favorites?"
His eyes showed brotherly concern.
"I don't eat medicinal food," Yuan Mu said with a cold expression, "and I don't take medicine for recuperation."
The emperor thought she was just being angry and said in a low voice: "A Luo!"
He frowned, but the next moment he realized that what he said was too harsh, and immediately relaxed his expression.
But Yuan Mu stood up directly.
Her eyes were gloomy and her voice was cold: "I don't like taking medicine or eating medicinal food."
"If you like, you can eat it yourself," Yuan Mu said indifferently, "I'm not Yuan Ying, I'm not that fragile."
"Besides, isn't my current situation entirely due to you?" Her eyes were almost hostile. "You are pretending to be a kind person now. What else do you want from me?"
Every word Yuan Mu said was like a sharp blade stabbing into the emperor's chest.
But he couldn't say a word in defense.
Because what Yuan Mu said was true. The fact that he had hurt her was a past that the emperor could not cover up no matter what.
There was a rusty smell in his heart, but he still tried to soften his words to her: "I will never do that again, A Luo..."
Yuan Mu couldn't even bear to be in the same room with the emperor. She just looked at him and felt all the dark memories coming back.
It was so heavy and oppressive that she couldn't breathe.
Fortunately, the servant finally came over at this time.
Behind him was the King of Chu, dressed in a crimson robe.
After Yuan Mu left the palace, he became extremely averse to contact with the opposite sex.
But the moment she saw the King of Chu, she could no longer bear it and ran into his arms.
Yuan Mu's eyes were slightly red. He had been panicking the whole night, and only when he hugged him did he completely calm down.
She was slender, but she rushed forward with great momentum.
The King of Chu raised his finger and gently supported Yuan Mu's waist.
The two people are of similar age and their postures are very intimate, just like a newly married couple, so close to each other that no one else can get in.
Yuan Mu's voice was filled with tears: "Why did you come here just now?"
She suffered a lot of injustice, was very scared, panicked and helpless.
"I'm sorry," the King of Chu said softly, "I'm late."
The emperor sat in a royal chair with a tall porcelain vase beside him. His posture was elegant and noble, as if he was untouched by the dust of the world.
The divine demeanor is lofty and brilliant, like a magnificent cloud.
But in the emperor's eyes, there was a dark and unbreakable coldness.
He stared intently at the hands of the King of Chu that were holding Yuan Mu's waist. His expression was gloomy and paranoid, revealing an uncontrollable hostility.
After Yuan Mu stood firm, the King of Chu quickly loosened his knuckles.
But her eyes were always looking at him, and her little hand was holding his tightly.
"I want to go back home," Yuan Mu's eyelashes trembled, "Please take me back."
When she was in front of the King of Chu, her eyes were full of trust, like a proud kitten wanting to return to a familiar place.
From a distance not too far away, the King of Chu met the Emperor's gaze.
He lowered his eyelashes and said softly, "Regarding Gao Chi's matter...I'm sorry, I was negligent."
The King of Chu immediately changed the subject.
The light in Yuan Mu's eyes gradually dimmed.
At the same time, the emperor walked up behind her and said calmly, "It's okay. I will have someone deal with it."
When he said this, his tone was calm and indifferent.
But like some kind of bird in Nanzhao that can spread its feathers, it fully demonstrates the calmness and power of a superior and an adult man.
The emperor didn't touch her, but just the shadow he cast made her body tense.
The King of Chu spoke in a gentle voice, lowering his brows and eyes, "I am truly sorry to trouble you, my Royal Brother, with this matter."
As he said this, he let go of Yuan Mu's hand without leaving a trace.
Yuan Mu was caught between two men. The man she wanted to avoid was getting closer and closer to her, while the man she wanted to get close to was pushing her further and further away.
She was wearing the emperor's outer robe, and the corners of her sleeves smelled of incense.
Yuan Mu was wrapped in the expensive fragrance of saliva, but he felt increasingly breathless.
She wanted to hold the King of Chu's hand eagerly, but when she raised her knuckles, it was the emperor who naturally gripped her finger bones.
"Are you a little tired?" the emperor said softly, "Let's get some sleep first."
Yuan Mu was tired and exhausted. After taking a bath, she was extremely tired. She was able to endure until this moment only because of her desire to see the King of Chu.
The moment the emperor picked her up by the waist, she almost fell into his arms.
The emperor picked up Yuan Mu naturally and took her directly to the inner room. She was really too tired today, and the incense on her clothes had the effect of helping her sleep and calming the mind.
Not long after being carried into the brocade quilt by the emperor, Yuan Mu fell into a deep sleep.
Only after seeing that her long eyelashes had stopped trembling did the emperor stand up.
However, he still left a maid in the inner room to watch over Yuan Mu at all times to prevent him from waking up in the middle of the night.
The King of Chu stood outside, staring at the half-drunk cup of tea on the table.
The scented tea was steaming, with faint lip marks on the edge.
Yuan Mu should be curled up in the armchair, drinking water from a cup. She likes to drink sweet tea, even if the sweetness is too strong and greasy, she still likes it.
This was something the King of Chu only realized much later.
Yuan Mu never reveals his preferences, and almost never shows them even in the smallest details.
She was raised very well by the emperor. She was dignified, polite, quiet and elegant. She didn't look like a child raised by a concubine in a farm at all.
If judged from the perspective of a noble lady, Yuan Mu is undoubtedly extremely compliant.
But the problem is, the vitality in her body seems to have been extinguished.
From childhood to adulthood, Yuan Mu had never been as happy as a child. The first time the King of Chu took Yuan Mu to ride horses, pick lotus flowers, and swing on a swing, she was very happy.
She was really happy when I gave her some very childish little gadgets.
Yuan Mu's childhood, girlhood, and the best years of her youth were all very depressing.
The King of Chu wanted her to be happy and free.
But he didn't expect that such a simple wish would be so difficult.
The emperor then ordered people to dispose of Gao Chi's body. He didn't even cover up for Gao Chi and directly sent the blood-stained body to the residence of the Shuofang Jiedushi.
Except for Yuan Mu's identity, he told Gao Shen everything else in detail.
Gao Shen needs to take responsibility for his reckless behavior.
As an older brother, even if he did not have the responsibility to discipline Gao Shi, he had the responsibility to persuade him, rather than allowing Gao Shi to do whatever he wanted.
The emperor came out of the inner room wearing his outer robe.
The first thing he said was, "Go to Gao Shen now and tell him I want all those involved in this matter to be imprisoned and interrogated immediately."
The emperor's eyebrows were cold and his expression was chilling.
Tonight is a chaotic and noisy night.
Just like the night when the Qingning Palace caught fire.
When the day breaks, countless things will undergo earth-shattering changes.
The King of Chu lowered his eyebrows and said softly, "Yes."
Without saying anything, he turned and walked into the rain.
The King of Chu's figure is as sharp as a sword. He has matured a lot in the past two years. He has the unbridled arrogance of a young man, as well as the calmness and composure of an adult man.
Twenty-two years old is the best age for a young person.
Yuan Mu was this age when the emperor met him.
Time flies. Even though his face shows no signs of aging, the emperor still cannot control his boredom every year when he celebrates his birthday.
He is not too different from Yuan Mu.
But the older he got, the more the emperor felt the differences between them.
He was about to enter his thirties, and she had just entered the prime of her life.
A girl in her twenties is a hundred times more gorgeous and beautiful than the peonies that fill the capital city in their blooming season.
What’s more, she is such a stunning beauty like Yuan Mu.
Thinking of her intimacy with the King of Chu just now, the emperor's eyes were filled with murderous intent.
But at this time, he could not touch the King of Chu at all.
The emperor's expression was grim, his knuckles clasped on the table, trying hard to suppress his anger.
He walked out of the inner room, called people over, and continued the meeting.
By the time everything was almost done, it was already late at night.
The emperor returned to the inner room, sat beside Yuan Mu's bed, and looked at her silently for a long time.
The incense was specially made and was similar to a sleeping pill.
After the fire broke out in Qingning Palace, the emperor could not sleep for nights and nights. Finally, he had no choice but to start taking medicine and using incense.
As soon as he closed his eyes, he saw the tragic scene of that night.
Perhaps even on the day the mausoleum collapsed, the emperor could not forget that night.
But he didn't expect that a cruel and cold-blooded person like him would be blessed by God and have a second chance to make amends.
The emperor hugged Yuan Mu in a strange posture and kissed her lips lightly.
Small kisses fell on her forehead, face and neck.
The emperor buried his head in Yuan Mu's shoulder, and like a drug addict, he sniffed the fragrance on her body morbidly.
He has realized that he will never let Yuan Mu go in this life.
Live in the same quilt and die in the same coffin.
The future is still long, and the emperor is willing to spend the rest of his life atonement.
They already had a child, and Yuan Mu was still thinking of him when he was in the most pain.
This is something the King of Chu could never match.
The emperor leaned against Yuan Mu, feeling warm inside the tent, but he did not sleep all night. He had never had a good night's sleep since she left.
However, the present time was too precious and he was reluctant to close his eyes for even a moment.
It rained outside all night and stopped the next morning.
Yuan Mu only woke up after the rain stopped. She seemed to have had a very long dream.
When I woke up, I felt as if I was in another world.
She propped herself up with her arms and sat up, pressing her knuckles against the acupoint on the side of her forehead. It took her a while for her thoughts to become clear.
A large amount of memories poured into Yuan Mu's mind, causing her eyebrows to ache slightly. The maid quickly came to her and asked carefully, "Madam, are you feeling unwell?"
She bit her lip and whispered, "Where is this place?"
The maid said hesitantly, "This... this is the government office in Lingzhou."
Seeing Yuan Mu's expression change in an instant, the maid hurriedly held her arm and said anxiously: "Don't worry, His Highness is fine!"
But Yuan Mu's expression did not improve.
She pursed her lips, her eyes dark.
"Is he here?" Yuan Mu asked in a low voice, "I want to see him."
She lifted the quilt and was about to get off the bed.
Just as Yuan Mu was about to stand up, the emperor walked in, which coincided with countless repressed memories she had.
So much so that at that moment, her heartstrings suddenly tightened.
But Yuan Mu did not look at the emperor well.
"I want to see the King of Chu," her eyes turned cold, "and I want to go back to the palace."
The emperor calmly asked, "Are you hungry? How about some lunch first?"
He was very good at doing this. He always had this attitude after the two of them had a fight.
But Yuan Mu is not the same Yuan Mu as before.
"I never realized before that you had a penchant for plundering other people's wives," she stared at the emperor. "Does it feel so good to have your brother's wife by your side?"
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