Chapter 60 Xiao Ziran
The "Qingzhe" plan issued by Emperor Liu Jin began to operate silently but efficiently like the most sophisticated machine.
The tentacles of the inner factories and shadowy agencies extend to every corner of the empire.
Especially in the provincial capitals and border areas bordering southern Xinjiang, a large net targeting the "Owl Feather" organization is quietly tightening.
The atmosphere in the capital seemed a little too calm, but beneath this calmness lay a suffocating repression and undercurrents.
The second prince Liu Cong fully cooperated with his father's instructions, mobilized troops from the Beijing camp, strengthened border patrols, and at the same time carried out stricter monitoring of people from southern Xinjiang in the capital.
The feeling of unease in his heart grew stronger and stronger. The connection between "Owl Feather" and the previous dynasty, and his father's unusual reaction, all indicated that this storm was far more than just an ordinary rebellion.
In this tense atmosphere, the Ministry of Rites received a letter from the southern neighboring country, the Nanyue Kingdom.
Emperor Xiao Ziran of the Nanyue Kingdom will officially visit the Celestial Empire next month to discuss border trade, joint efforts to combat border banditry, and other issues.
When the letter was delivered to the emperor, Liu Jin was reviewing the secret report on the progress of the "Qingzhe" operation.
When he saw the words "Emperor Xiao Ziran of Nanyue Kingdom", the hand holding the pen suddenly froze, and the fine red pen broke into two pieces between his fingers with a "snap"!
The bright red cinnabar splashed on the bright yellow memorial, like bloodstains.
The palace maids standing in the hall were so frightened that they fell to their knees, not daring to breathe.
Fu'an's heart also trembled, and he stepped forward cautiously: "Your Majesty..."
Liu Jin raised his hand to stop him from saying anything else.
His expression changed in an instant, from shock to disbelief, to a rage that almost burned everything and... deeply suppressed, unforgettable pain!
But the out-of-control emotion only lasted for a very brief moment, and he quickly suppressed it, restoring the emperor's composure. However, beneath that composure was an extreme cold that froze thousands of miles.
"I understand."
His voice was calm and even steadier than usual.
"Reply to the envoys from Nanyue Kingdom: The Celestial Empire welcomes the visit of His Majesty the Emperor of Nanyue. Instruct the Ministry of Rites to prepare according to the regulations. Ensure thorough and appropriate preparations to demonstrate the Celestial Empire's magnanimity. No mistakes are allowed."
"Yes." Fuan bowed and accepted the order, but his heart was filled with turbulent waves.
He had served His Majesty for many years and had never seen His Majesty lose his composure like this.
Even when he learned that the crown prince had been replaced, he was only furious, not the pain and hatred that almost made him collapse just now!
What is the past between this Nanyue Emperor Xiao Ziran and Your Majesty?
The order was issued quickly.
Officials from the Ministry of Rites were busy preparing to welcome the state guests.
Everything was carried out in accordance with the most solemn and standardized etiquette, and there was no apparent abnormality.
Only a very small number of confidants, such as Liu Cong, keenly noticed that after his father received the letter from Nanyue.
The low pressure emanating from his body that could almost freeze people and the lingering gloom deep in his eyes.
Liu Cong's doubts grew deeper, but he did not dare to ask and could only act more cautiously.
It was late at night and the emperor was the only one left in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
He waved away all the palace servants and stood alone in front of the window, looking at the dark night sky in the south, his body trembling slightly.
This name, like a rusty but still sharp knife, repeatedly scratched his heart.
It brought waves of sharp pain and hatred that almost drowned him!
How many years has it been? Almost twenty years, right?
That past that he forced himself to bury in the deepest part of his memory and never allowed himself to touch.
The appearance of this name was like a rotten coffin being forcibly pried open, revealing the hideous wound inside that had never truly died.
At that time, he was not yet the mighty emperor of the Celestial Empire, but just an inconspicuous one among many princes.
Xiao Ziran was the prince sent by the Nanyue Kingdom for "exchange and study". He was extremely handsome and talented.
An interaction that started with political purposes eventually turned sour.
The two equally outstanding young people were attracted to each other unknowingly during the mutual testing and competition.
It gave rise to a kind of emotion that was unacceptable to the world and shocking.
That was the only time in his life when he acted recklessly and madly.
How absurd and courageous this is!
I remember carefully hiding the hardships from everyone, and I remember the discomfort and fear brought about by the changes in my body...
But all of this was diluted by his love for Xiao Ziran and their vision for the future.
He even began to secretly plan how to give up the throne that was within his grasp and run away with Xiao Ziran.
Go to a place where no one knows them and raise their children.
However, what he waited for was not his lover's promise to spend the future together, but a cold letter that left without saying goodbye!
The words in the letter are still like red-hot iron, engraved on his soul:
Your Highness Liu Jin: I'm writing to you. I've pondered this for a long time. Our relationship is ultimately fleeting, a fleeting illusion, a mere irritation. Your Highness is incredibly ambitious, aiming for the throne, and you're no ordinary person. I'm the crown prince of Nanyue, shouldering the heavy responsibility of my country. How can I indulge in a personal relationship, harming both the country and myself? All that happened in the past was merely the folly of youth. I hope Your Highness will forget it. From now on, we'll live our lives in harmony. Don't miss me, don't seek me. Xiao Ziran's final words.
Forget? Don't miss?
Haha! What a light word!
He contemptuously defined his overflowing love and desperate courage as "youthful folly"!
When he received this heartless letter
He is struggling to deal with his brothers who are eyeing him covetously, his shrewd and powerful adoptive mother, Queen Mother Zhou, and various forces in the court!
Every step is like walking on thin ice!
But the person who claimed to love him and plan a future with him left when he needed support the most and was most vulnerable.
They even turned around and accused him of being "overly ambitious and aiming for the top spot"!
This is absolutely ridiculous! If he truly wanted the throne, why would he be willing to risk the wrath of the world to bear him a child?! Why would he even plan to give up everything?!
The huge sense of betrayal and humiliation almost broke him down at that moment.
What follows is endless panic. He must face the secret of his pregnancy alone and must protect his own life and that of his child in the vortex of power struggle!
Those days were the darkest and most difficult years in his life.
Finally, he was separated from his children for fifteen years... Didn't the source of all this suffering begin with Xiao Ziran's betrayal?!
Now, this unfaithful person, one of the culprits who caused him half his life's pain, actually dared to come?!
He came to visit us openly as the Emperor of Nanyue?! What right did he have?! How dare he?!
Liu Chen clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, and he was completely unaware of the blood seeping out.
His chest was filled with overwhelming hatred and a pain that almost tore him apart.
He wished he could send troops immediately to flatten Nanyue and cut Xiao Ziran into pieces!
He is the emperor of the Celestial Empire, and he cannot sacrifice public interests for personal gain.
The Nanyue Kingdom is powerful, the border of the Celestial Empire is unstable, and there is also the "Owl Feather" rebellion within the country. This is definitely not a good time to start a war.
And... deep down in his heart, there was an urge that he didn't even want to admit... the urge to see the unfaithful person with his own eyes?
Want to ask "why" in person?
This conflicting emotion tormented him, making his eyes even colder and more unfathomable.
The news of Emperor Nanyue's upcoming visit also reached the East Palace.
Liu Xiao didn't think much about it and just regarded it as a normal diplomatic activity.
He even discussed the customs and habits of Nanyue with officials from the Eastern Palace, and how to take this opportunity to promote trade between the two countries and stabilize the border.
He just vaguely felt that his father seemed to be in a very bad mood recently, and the atmosphere in the entire palace became even more solemn.
When he went to pay his respects, he could feel the lingering low pressure from his father.
He thought that it was the "Owl Feather" and state affairs that made his father worry, so he worked harder to handle government affairs in order to share his father's worries.
The second prince Liu Cong was in a state of high alert.
Although he was unaware of the old grudge between his father and the Emperor of Nanyue, his father's unusual reaction made him conclude that the Emperor of Nanyue's visit was not as simple as it seemed.
He was worried that the "Owl Feather" organization would take advantage of this state visit to stir up trouble, and he was even more worried that this might be a huge conspiracy against his father or the crown prince.
He once again strengthened the guards of the capital and the imperial palace, especially the embassy area where foreign guests would stay and the palace where the state banquet would be held, which were arranged like an iron barrel.
He was on standby for almost twelve hours, personally inspecting each sentry post with eyes as sharp as an eagle, not missing any suspicious signs.
He even secretly sent more people to protect the prince, almost telling everyone
The prince's safety is more important than anything else.
Liu Xiao could feel the silent but omnipresent protection of his second brother.
Although Liu Cong still deliberately kept his distance after the conversation in the Yangxin Palace.
His words and actions strictly followed the etiquette of a subject, but the heavy concern was clearly conveyed through the strict security.
This slightly alleviated the sense of loss he felt due to being alienated.
He knew that no matter what happened, his second brother would always be by his side.
The imperial carriage of Emperor Xiao Ziran of Nanyue arrived in the capital of the Celestial Empire as scheduled in this atmosphere which was peaceful on the surface but turbulent inside.
The welcoming ceremony was grand and solemn, fully in line with the etiquette norms of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Emperor Liu Jin personally greeted him outside the palace gate with a dignified yet polite smile that an emperor should have on his face.
When the dragon chariot of Emperor Nanyue stopped and the man wearing the Nanyue imperial robe, with an upright posture and handsome face, walked down from the carriage, the smile on Liu Jin's face did not change at all, but his hands behind his back clenched tightly in an instant, and the knuckles turned white.
Xiao Ziran looked up and his eyes met Liu Jin's in the air.
The expression in his eyes was complex and difficult to decipher, showing the joy of meeting someone after a long separation, the reserve of an emperor, and it seemed... there was also a hint of deep-hidden, exploratory expectation?
"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Celestial Empire, long time no see." Xiao Ziran smiled slightly and spoke according to etiquette. His voice was gentle and mellow, just like it was back then.
Liu Jin sneered inwardly, but remained silent on his face. He responded politely, "Your Majesty, the Emperor of Nanyue has come a long way. Thank you for your hard work. Please come in."
The two emperors, each with their own ulterior motives, walked into the palace side by side under the watchful eyes of civil and military officials.
A drama that looks glamorous on the surface but is actually full of old grudges, national affairs and unknown dangers has officially begun.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
