A river meanders around Fuyun Mountain and flows through a wasteland planted with reeds. Many lonely graves are hidden in the reeds, which are even more desolate in the bleak autumn colors.
A woman in a black cloak kneels in front of a grave, burning incense and bowing quietly. She clasps her hands together and closes her eyes slightly. The afterglow falls lightly on her quiet and soft face, adding a three-point holy breath to her.
Princess Roujia inserts the incense in the incense burner and looks at the words on the tombstone.
This is the joint tomb of the two. The words on the tombstone were carved by Shen Jinghong himself. There are two names written on it. One is her biological mother, Xing'er, whose name is not recorded in the history books. The other name, she did not dare to carve here, and finally only left his nickname.
- Liu Yuanshou.
She vaguely remembered that her mother always called him by his nickname. She served him for many years. In her eyes, he was not a high-ranking prince, but just a weak brother Yuanshou with a good temper. She had also heard her father talk about Xing'er in a nostalgic and sad tone, saying that although she was just a slave, she lived happier than anyone else, and that a sweet candied fruit could make her forget the pain of being beaten.
Her father said that she was just a life without a name, but she was more alive than anyone else in the palace. Even though she had been dead for so many years, she lived in his heart and dreams.
But she could only live in his heart and dreams. Only a few times, when he looked at her eyebrows and eyes that were somewhat similar to her mother, would he reveal his thoughts with deep emotion.
It was Zhou Yi who crushed his heart and his dreams, so she selfishly stole her father's body. She didn't want him to be trapped in the cold and ruthless imperial mausoleum after his death.
Although she had blamed her father for his cowardice, for not protecting her mother and being unable to avenge her, it was he who entrusted her young self to the Princess Zhenguo and fulfilled her childhood peace.
On one side is the country, on the other side is personal love, on one side is the grace of birth and raising, on the other side is childhood sweetheart. He was trapped in that vast and cramped place, with no way out, no way to advance or retreat. He could never do what he wanted in his life, and could not make a choice that would make him happy. So this choice, and all these sins, should be left to her.
"Father..." Princess Roujia's dark eyes were calm, but there was a faint golden light flickering, "I have searched for famous doctors in the world, but I can't cure your heart disease. Since you have no attachment to this world, then leave your unfinished business to me."
As she spoke, she suddenly chuckled, and a line of sarcasm appeared at the corner of her lips: "Although, you have never thought of entrusting these things to me, you thought that letting the imperial aunt protect me would give me a peaceful life, but I never wanted this kind of anxious peace. Why can't a daughter inherit the throne, not... I am not inferior to Liu Chen and Liu Yu in my desire to conquer the world. Moreover, they are not emperors, so they still have a way out and can be granted a piece of land. What about me, do I have to live under the protection of others all my life? "
She looked at the gold paper burning and said softly: "I am not my mother. A piece of candied fruit cannot make me happy. What makes my mother happy is not the candied fruit, but the thought you personally gave her... You have never understood women, and do not understand their love... and hatred."
As the sun set, she slowly got up from the ground and turned away without a trace of nostalgia.
Not far away by the river, there was a slender and tall figure standing under a tree looking at her. He must have been standing there for a long time, because when Princess Roujia walked in front of him, she saw a withered yellow leaf on his shoulder.
She looked at the fallen leaves on his shoulder absentmindedly. Suddenly, the fallen leaves moved and flew away. She realized that it was a dead leaf butterfly...
"Princess..."
No one had ever heard Shen Jinghong speak in such a tone. His low and magnetic voice was like ice flakes. It should be a cold and cold voice, but it was full of tenderness. Even the most dignified and self-restrained woman would blush and be moved when he called her softly.
Before he could finish his words, a pair of bare hands hooked the back of his neck. He lowered his head involuntarily. Two slightly cool lips held his thin lips, but there was no trace of tenderness or lust. It seemed as if she was venting her feelings by sucking and biting, leaving teeth marks and blood on his lips.
Shen Jinghong was pushed to lean against the tree trunk with his hands around Princess Roujia, letting her vent her emotions on him until her body gradually stopped trembling and her breathing slowly calmed down.
He kept his eyes open and stared at her, not missing any changes on her face. Seeing her closed eyes and seemingly indifferent face, a hint of moisture between her eyelashes revealed her thoughts. Princess Roujia finally let go of his lips. Her lips were also stained with his blood, just a few spots, but it was red and shocking. She raised her hand and brushed her fingertips across his slightly swollen and bloodstained lips. Her eyes were dark and unclear, and she asked softly: "Does it hurt?"
Shen Jinghong lowered his head and stared at her, saying: "No."
He was happy to accept everything she gave.
Princess Roujia curled her lips, and the smile in her eyes was a little cold. Her nails were trimmed clean and beautiful, without nail polish, showing a delicate pink and white color. Her fingertips pressed on his wound, staining it with a hint of bright red: "You like me."
The words she said were so sure, but there was no pride or shyness of being loved.
Shen Jinghong did not avoid her gaze, and let her deepen the pain on his lips. He said softly, "It's not just love."
"I once heard a saying..." Princess Roujia looked at the wound on his thin lips, and said in a trance, "All love is sin, and no heart is no pain... Shen Jinghong, what I want is your loyalty, not love. Love brings sorrow, love brings fear..."
"If you are away from the one you love, what is the joy of life, and what is the pain of death?" Shen Jinghong interrupted her, and gently grasped her slender wrist in his palm, but did not pull her away from his lips, just feeling the warm blood pulsating under his palm. "If the heart has nothing to love, then there is no difference whether you are alive or dead. What has supported me to this day is my wishful thinking about the princess, but to be able to come to this day, perhaps it is not purely wishful thinking..."
Ten years ago, she saved him from the mire with a glimpse, and became the only moonlight in his endless night. Without him, he would be just a lonely wild goose, because of her, this lonely wild goose has a direction.
Princess Roujia stared at Shen Jinghong's eyes absentmindedly, and a strange emotion suddenly surged in her heart, surging and throbbing. Perhaps it was because he had just seen her vulnerable side, which made her unable to maintain the noble and indifferent appearance, or perhaps she was really moved by him for a moment.
She closed her eyes, unable to face Shen Jinghong's aggressive feelings.
"I am doing this for your own good. It is difficult for a couple to live long in the world, but I am willing to be a king and a minister with you for a lifetime."
The pain on his lips was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.
It was his honor to share some of her burden.
"The princess is still brooding over the death of the late emperor." Shen Jinghong suddenly changed the subject. Princess Roujia's body stiffened. She struggled to break free from his hand and turned away, unwilling to face his eyes that seemed to see through her.
Shen Jinghong sighed and told Princess Roujia what she was thinking, "The late emperor was heartbroken because of Zhou Yi and committed suicide to save Prince Ding. It was not the princess's intention to murder him. The princess does not need to worry about it."
"Shut up!" Princess Roujia interrupted him coldly, "Shen Jinghong, don't forget your identity. This is not your business!"
She cruelly reminded him that he was just a chess piece and a knife to her.
Shen Jinghong looked at her thin and slender back quietly, with a bitter smile on his lips.
He thought that the bright moon was high above, illuminating the darkness, and should be warm. Later he found out that the moonlight was cold and clear.
He thought that he admired the bright moon for its purity and flawlessness, but later he found out that the waxing and waning of the moon were all her, the one who made him loyal.
Shen Jinghong lifted the hem of her skirt, took a half step back, and knelt down.
This peerless young man who had amazed Dingjing, the dream lover who had won the hearts of countless girls, knelt down devoutly in front of her and bowed his head.
"Please punish me, Princess." Shen Jinghong lowered his proud head.
Princess Roujia looked back quietly, looking at his straight back. Even if he was kneeling, he did not lose the slightest bit of his integrity and character, still as majestic as a jade mountain and vigorous as pine and cypress. She turned her face away reluctantly, closed her eyes, and said in a cold voice: "I lost my temper just now, you don't have to take it to heart."
That kiss with the smell of blood was just a vent of her grief and anger, and had nothing to do with love.
"Yes." Shen Jinghong replied in a low voice, holding back the bitterness.
Princess Roujia then said: "Get up, you must have a purpose for coming to see me."
Shen Jinghong laughed at himself - he saw her just because he wanted to see her, and everything else was just an excuse.
But what she wanted to know were those excuses.
He slowly got up from the ground, pulled out a wax-sealed letter from his arms and handed it to Princess Roujia.
"Liu Yan framed Beiliang for the crime of stealing and forging the imperial edict, and tried his best to protect Liu Yu and Liu Jin brothers in front of Liu Chen." Shen Jinghong said, "Although Liu Chen listened to Liu Yan's words, named the two as King of Dian and King of Su, and rushed back to their fiefdoms, he was still suspicious in his heart and ordered them to leave Beijing within three days."
Princess Roujia glanced at the ink on the letter and said lightly: "Liu Chen and Liu Yu have been at odds for many years, and Liu Yu has sufficient motives to do this. He is simple-minded and naturally will not have other doubts. But... my uncle is not simple, and it is not easy to deceive him. On that day, the imperial edict was stolen and forged, and Liu Yu and Liu Chen's forces were supposed to fight each other and both sides would suffer losses. Unexpectedly, Liu Yan pushed the crime to Beiliang, so Liu Yu escaped, and the Zhou family who supported Liu Chen also benefited from it. All my preparations were in vain."
"It's not completely hopeless. At least all the people of Liu Yu's lineage will be purged, which will leave us a lot of opportunities. But, Prince Ding's staying in Dingjing is always a hidden danger for us." Shen Jinghong said, "I have sent people to spread rumors and force him to leave Beijing." Princess Roujia shook her head and smiled, "Do you want to alienate Liu Chen and Liu Yan? You don't understand them. They have a deep relationship as uncle and nephew. Three years ago, Liu Yan was betrayed by Xue Xiaotang and was surrounded and nearly died. Liu Chen risked his life to save him. Liu Yan's position in his mind is like a brother and a father. How can a few rumors alienate him?"
"The palace gate records of the night the palace caught fire have been found. I concealed this matter from Liu Chen, so Liu Yan was temporarily safe. If the princess wants to deal with him, it is not difficult." Shen Jinghong said.
"No." Princess Roujia shook her head, "It's not time yet... Liu Chen has the assistance of Prince Ding and the support of the Zhou family. If you want to shake his throne, you have to cut off both of his arms. Liu Yan... he has to keep him to deal with the Zhou family."
"What about Mu Zhuohua? Liu Chen intends to use her." Shen Jinghong hesitated and paused, looking at Princess Roujia's expression, "She is Liu Yan's person, should we keep her? That day in Xiaoqin Palace... I don't know if she found the princess."
Listening to Shen Jinghong's talk about that day, Princess Roujia's heartbeat was disordered for a moment.
Xiaoqin Palace was an intelligence station under her. She went to Xiaoqin Palace that day for intelligence, but she didn't expect to run into Shen Jinghong. When she heard that Yunzhi was accompanying Shen Jinghong, she didn't know why her heart turned cold at that time, but there was a nameless fire burning in her heart. She asked someone to find an excuse to call Yunzhi away, but Shen Jinghong found her whereabouts. He left the table to look for her and blocked her in the quiet backyard.
He had drunk so much wine that he smiled drunkenly on his fair and handsome face. He held her waist with one hand and rested his head on her shoulder, seemingly powerless, but she could not break free even if she tried her best. His hot and humid breath sprayed on her neck, making her heart beat wildly.
- Is the princess jealous?
His voice was low and soft, and it went straight into her heart. She frowned and wanted to refute and rebuke him, but before she could open her mouth, he sealed her lips.
Was he really drunk, or was he pretending to be drunk? He dared to cross the line and flirt with her without her permission!
She was trembling all over, not knowing whether she was angry or ashamed. If she hadn't heard the noise behind the screen that made her flee in a hurry, perhaps she would...
Princess Roujia closed her eyes, forced herself to restrain those charming thoughts, and said in a calm tone: "She knows how to act and when to advance and retreat, and she is only loyal to herself. That idiot Yelu Zhen actually thought that he could kill her by just calling a few people. He looked down on Mu Zhuohua and exposed herself instead. She almost implicated me. I'm afraid Liu Yan will find out about her sooner or later."
Shen Jinghong knew her very well. No matter how well Princess Roujia concealed it, he noticed a slight tremor at her fingertips.
He lowered his eyebrows and said, "Yelü Zhen is now living in the princess's mansion. Liu Yan has people keeping an eye on Yelü Zhen,
so the princess has a lot of inconveniences in her actions." "It doesn't matter. Yelü Zhen's stupidity has its uses. There are some things that I can't do, and she will do it for me. But you don't have to come to the princess's mansion in the future. If there is something important, leave a signal to Man'er. For the rest, you should act according to the original plan and don't make trouble."
Shen Jinghong bowed his head and said, "I will follow the princess's orders."
Princess Roujia looked sideways at Shen Jinghong. This was a chess piece she had cultivated for ten years, but when she casually planted this seed ten years ago, she had never thought that one day he would shine so dazzlingly, and even made her feel a sense of crisis that she could not control. She
remembered that on New Year's Eve this year, she left the palace banquet and was already five points drunk. She rubbed the corners of her slightly dizzy eyes and heard Man'er say that Shen Jinghong had entered the capital. She vaguely remembered a pair of beautiful eyes as bright as stars, and subconsciously summoned him.
It was late at night, and in a quarter of an hour it would be the new year. Princess Roujia changed out of her heavy dress and summoned Shen Jinghong, who was wearing night clothes, to the inner room filled with warm fragrance.
His handsome face overlapped with the young and unruly boy in her memory, but his deep and fiery eyes remained unchanged.
Princess Roujia was slightly drunk and walked slowly in front of him. She was surprised to find that the boy back then was much taller than her now. She raised her head slightly, looked into his eyes and said, "Shen Jinghong, I never doubt your talent and your loyalty. You must take the top prize in this year's exam."
Shen Jinghong curled the corners of his lips, lowered his head and stared at her: "I will not let the princess down... Shen Jinghong will be the princess's person whether he lives or dies."
She shook her head and said, "No... You can't be mine."
Shen Jinghong's eyes were cold.
"You will be a brilliant and talented young master, but I am just a princess with a humble mother. How can I deserve your loyalty?" Princess Roujia laughed at herself. She stretched out her slender index finger and pressed it on Shen Jinghong's heart. She lowered her voice and said softly like a lover's whisper, "I want you... to go to Liu Chen, but your heart must be with me."
Shen Jinghong's heartbeat suddenly paused, and after a moment he said in a hoarse voice, "Please let the princess know."
"Liu Chen is the eldest son and the heir, and he has the support of the Queen Mother and Prince Ding. It will not be possible to seize the throne from him overnight. We can only do it slowly." Princess Roujia said slowly, "He is aggressive and likes young heroes who are full of blood and like-minded. I will create opportunities for you to make you famous in Dingjing and attract his attention. Then you can cater to his preferences, gain his trust, and cooperate with me from inside and outside."
After she finished speaking, she did not get his response for a long time, so she raised her head and looked at his slightly frowning eyebrows, and asked in surprise: "You don't want to? Why?"
Shen Jinghong's deep eyes locked on her, and there seemed to be thousands of words in his eyes.
"After the matter is accomplished, you will be the prime minister who is second only to one person and above ten thousand people." She promised, "I will not let you down."
Shen Jinghong suddenly smiled: "Princess, Liu Chen can also give me this rank of prime minister."
Her eyes instantly turned cold: "Shen Jinghong, you want to betray me?"
No one in Jishan Hall has ever betrayed her. She learned the method of establishing a country with religion in the Western Regions. The children who were admitted to the Jishan Hall were brainwashed every day. They worshipped Princess Roujia as a god and were devoted to her. Such piety was difficult to shake. She didn't expect Shen Jinghong to have second thoughts.
"No." Shen Jinghong took a half step forward and got very close to her. They could smell each other's breath. "Shen Jinghong will never betray the princess in this life. It's just... what I want is not to be above ten thousand people."
She looked at his eyes suspiciously: "What do you want?"
One hand wrapped around her slender waist, the affection in his eyes was ready to come out, and the answer was self-evident.
Princess Roujia sneered: "So... you are the same as Xue Xiaotang."
Shen Jinghong denied: "I am different from him. If I want the princess's man, I will wait until I am the most powerful official, and then I will ask for the emperor's order to grant the marriage." His voice paused and softened a bit, as if he was afraid of scaring her, "What I want is the princess's heart."
Princess Roujia stared at Shen Jinghong's eyes steadily, and for a long time, she raised an arc without a smile: "Shen Jinghong, I don't have a heart."
He said firmly: "I will have one."
The sound of firecrackers and fireworks outside the window suddenly rang, and the light of fire shone through the window paper in her glass-like pupils, dim and full of ridicule and disdain.
She is the holy and noble Princess Roujia in the eyes of the world. He called her princess, but in his heart he called her name more than thousands of times - Jiaojiao.
As bright as the moon, unattainable.
But it was also this cold moon that gave him the only light and warmth ten years ago, saving him from the abyss of water and fire, and bringing him back to life.
She was his bright moon, born to hang high in the sky, giving darkness a dim light, but guarding the boundless coldness alone. There was a desolate palace in her heart, where a lonely person lived. He had also been wandering for a long time, and had seen a lot of suffering in the world. He was lonely but not alone, because he met her and felt warmth for the first time in his life.
How much light is needed to illuminate a dark place?
He knew that only a little firefly light was enough.
Her smile and a look made his world suddenly bright, supporting him to walk through more than three thousand days and nights.
He also wanted to warm the desolation in her heart. Even if she doubted him and rejected him, he still stood firmly in her shadow.
Wait - he lowered his eyes and smiled - it was just another three thousand days and nights.
Less than a month after Emperor Zhaoming and Queen Mother Zhou were buried, Liu Chen held a ceremony to ascend the throne and changed the reign title to Yanxi.
The first decree after Liu Chen ascended the throne was to confer Liu Yu as the King of Dian and Liu Jin as the King of Su, and ordered the two to leave the capital immediately and return to their fiefdoms.
The fiefs of both of them were in barren and remote border areas. They would suffer more and would never be able to return to Beijing. But in the eyes of those who knew the situation, this was a mercy. After all, the two of them had committed the serious crime of forging a will.
But this matter had been ordered to be kept silent, and no one dared to mention it. However, everyone still had doubts in their hearts, wondering what made the furious new emperor change his mind and give his two younger brothers a break. Although Liu Chen gave Liu Yu and Liu Jin a way out, he did not let go of those who had different intentions towards him in the court. With Liu Yan leading the troops as a deterrent, all matters concerning the new emperor's accession to the throne went smoothly without any turmoil. Shen Jinghong was promoted out of turn because of his merits in following the dragon. He jumped three levels and became the Minister of Personnel. He was in the limelight for a while.
Shen Jinghong was kept in the imperial study by Liu Chen and talked for a long time. When he left, he found that it was raining heavily outside. The eunuch in the imperial study sensibly held up an oil-paper umbrella for him. Shen Jinghong took the umbrella and declined the eunuch's kindness to see him off all the way.
Shen Jinghong walked into the rain slowly, holding an umbrella. His dark official robe in the rain was like a smudge of ink, less intimidating and more elegant, making the passing palace maids lose their minds.
"Lord Shen is truly a gentleman with an open mind and a peerless talent." Someone whispered, full of admiration.
"I heard that he was arrogant because of his talent, but after meeting him, I know that he treats us servants very kindly." Even the eunuchs were impressed by his demeanor.
"I don't know what kind of woman is worthy of a man like Lord Shen."
"Lord Shen has already said that he will not talk about marriage unless he is promoted to the first rank. I'm afraid it won't be so soon..."
"Your Majesty trusts Lord Shen so much, it may not be long before he is promoted to the first rank..."
A gentle figure stood quietly under the eaves in the distance, and the ink marks in the rain were reflected in her ice-blue eyes, flashing with a mysterious brilliance.
"He is the person Liu Chen trusts the most..." Yelu Zhen looked around with brilliance, and the cedar-like black jade figure was firmly imprinted in his eyes and heart.
The maid Lanzhu lowered her voice and said in Beiliang dialect: "The person the Emperor of Chen trusts the most should be Prince Ding."
"No, it's different." Yelu Zhen's eyes moved slightly, "Prince Ding must die, but Shen Jinghong... can be used by us..."
Lanzhu frowned, raised her eyes and saw Yelu Zhen's eyes, and immediately understood her thoughts.
"Shen Jinghong is not close to women, and he is very cunning. Princess, be careful not to reveal your flaws in front of him and arouse suspicion." Lanzhu advised.
Yeluzhen lowered his eyes unwillingly and nodded gently: "I will know my limits."
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