Chapter 40: What stands between us and fate is a life-or-death relationship...
Li Jin doesn't have many memories of his brothers other than his third brother.
But he had a particularly vivid memory of the struggle for the throne.
The internal wars within the Dali royal family rarely saw bloodshed openly, but blood always flowed in the unseen corners. During that period, every time the historian wrote a stroke on the scroll, countless people, invisible to the long river of history, died in the process.
Li Jin didn't care.
Who in the world can compare to my brother the Emperor? Will anyone be more noble than him in the future?
The answer is self-evident.
He willingly sacrifices everything to help his brother ascend to the throne, and blood is his normal possession. He usually presents himself with a casual and carefree smile, only to deliver a fatal blow when everyone lets their guard down.
Li Jin didn't fear retaliation, as those he targeted wouldn't have the chance. Those who knew his true identity died with grievances, and Li Jin was content with that.
The eldest brother, who was the crown prince, was the first to die. Although he was cautious, he was too gentle. Such a person would not live long in the palace with so many princes and turbulent undercurrents. Li Jin did not feel sorry.
Everything that followed happened naturally. Father, already old and a veteran of this war, understood that this war was unstoppable. For his third brother and him, it wasn't smooth sailing, but thankfully, the outcome was satisfactory.
The third brother was very smart since he was young. He knew how to hide his edge and also revealed his ambition at the right time. So on the night when his father was seriously ill, the third brother got what he wanted very smoothly.
He was extremely cautious and decisive, leaving no room for retreat for his enemies, nor for himself. Therefore, in the end, there were only a few people born into the royal family.
Li Jin scoffed at the so-called "brotherhood" from the beginning.
As for the other survivors, Li Jin didn't care and never took them seriously.
What could a few of them do to him? What could they do to him if they saw through his good disguise?
A hostage sent to an enemy country, a Taoist who entered a monastery at an early age, and a prince who came to power with the help of his mother's family but whose power was greatly weakened, could not cause any waves in the end.
From then on, Li Jin looked down on everyone except Li Lianhan equally.
But one day, he used his usual tactics to invite someone into his scheme. Within the trap he'd carefully crafted, the person escaped overnight. At first, Li Jin simply assumed the person was frightened and would never enter the capital again, but he soon discovered he was terribly wrong.
The Dali Temple Shaoqing, who had fled the capital overnight, sneaked back and killed him directly, putting the blade to his neck again and again.
Now, Li Jin has a new understanding.
A completely different and shocking cognition that overturned all his previous concepts.
Lou Wanqiao is a truly terrifying person.
Jade-faced Shura deserves the title.
Not only are his methods vicious, but his strategy is no less than that of his royal brother.
Just like now.
Li Jin was very clear that the long time she was away was not to escape, but to return better.
He opened his eyes wide and looked at the person in front of him, unable to suppress the shock on his face: "You..."
The young man in white robe walked into the room and stood in front of him, his features clear and bright, resembling those of many years ago.
He smiled and said, "Long time no see, Royal Brother."
——He was once the seventh prince.
Li Jin opened his mouth, but for a moment he couldn't say anything. His heart was beating very fast. He didn't know if it was because of panic or some other reason, and he didn't want to think about it.
He paused for a few seconds and said with some difficulty: "Why?"
This question was a bit irrelevant, but both people present knew it.
Over the past decade or so, the imperial city has been turned upside down. Different forces are intertwined and everyone wants a piece of the pie.
But Li Lianhan's position is unshakable.
For the first time, Li Jin's cognition was deviated.
The third prince's position doesn't seem to be so secure anymore.
Li Su smiled. His smile seemed unchanged from more than a decade ago, still as pure and clear, but Li Jin could sense the difference. More than a decade of quiet cultivation in the Taoist temple had given him an indescribable air, a certain quietness.
Yes, quiet.
If Li Jin were asked to describe Li Su, who now stood before him, only one word came to mind: Too quiet, like the quietness of a vast, empty Taoist temple hall. And then, looking up, there he was, standing before him, appearing from nowhere, silently, as if from beyond the mundane world.
Li Jin had never taken Li Su seriously.
He did not try to find out the truth behind Li Su's departure, nor was he interested in it.
But now.
The look I gave before leaving more than ten years ago overlaps with the one in front of me.
Li Su nodded at him and said, "Long time no see, Your Highness Prince Yun."
His Royal Highness Prince Yun.
He even used this title and couldn't call out "Royal Brother".
Li Jin was suddenly speechless, not out of fear, but out of sheer helplessness. He looked at Li Su standing before him, as if he could see the long night of more than a decade flowing by between them.
What lies in between is the predetermined outcome of life and death.
…
"How is it, Yuesheng?"
Inside the room, Lou Wanqiao slowly took a sip of tea to warm himself up.
Spring was chilly, and the coldest weather came after a light rain. She hid in Changsheng Temple, which didn't pose any safety risks for the time being, but she had more things to do.
Time was short, and I hadn't contacted Wen Xuechi yet, so I didn't know how he was doing. But the other necessary pieces had almost been deployed.
She has also been inquiring about the news in the capital these two days. She heard that there was chaos in the palace and Prince Yun was missing. Although this matter was temporarily suppressed by Li Lianhan, it was estimated that it would not be suppressed for long.
Li Su lowered his eyes to look at the cakes on the table and said softly, "We have done everything we can. Now we just have to wait and see."
God willing?
Lou Wanqiao doesn't believe in fate.
The world is in chaos, and God's will is in the hands of those in power. It is this "God's will" that she wants to fight for.
She saw Li Su's hands forming hand seals and blinked slowly: "What are you doing? Fortune telling?"
Li Su nodded.
"Have you found any results?"
Although Lou Wanqiao didn't quite believe this, she was still a little curious. Li Su paused, then looked up at her, a look that was indifferent and almost devoid of emotion.
He said, "No."
…
The palace has been busy lately, and groups of palace maids are walking quickly along the vermilion palace walls, carrying trays in their hands.
In the imperial study, a crisp sound exploded in the air.
Li Lianhan smashed the teacup in his hand, his face expressionless. Scrolls were piled up on the table, and several shivering palace maids were kneeling in front of him.
"Your Majesty, we still haven't found His Royal Highness Prince Yun, and..." They exchanged glances, and one of them spoke tremblingly, "It seems, it seems, You Xin has escaped."
"Escaped?" Li Lianhan's tone rose, his eyes narrowed, and his voice was indistinguishable from emotion. "Then go catch him. If you can't catch him within two days, you'll take his place."
As the words fell, the man became silent and his body trembled like a sieve.
He looked at another person again: "How are the people sent from the south of the city?"
The man lowered his head and immediately replied, "In reply to your Majesty, we have indeed found some information. There has been a group of people at Yanchunju recently, and they seem to be acting suspiciously. Our people are already investigating."
Li Lianhan closed his eyes and waved his hand, and the two of them lowered their heads and retreated.
Building, night, bridge.
These three words were rolled back and forth from the tip of his teeth to his heart. Li Lianhan endured it again and again, his eyes full of anger.
No one, no one has ever challenged his authority like this!
I'm just a mere ant, why... how dare you...!
No, it shouldn't be like that.
Impatience leads to failure. He is not in a situation where he cannot turn around now. He must not lose his composure unless it is absolutely necessary.
He is the Son of Heaven, second only to the emperor and above all others.
He had underestimated this man's strength before, and now he was attacked from all sides, which was the result of his underestimation of the enemy before.
Li Lian became cold and quiet, staring at the scroll on the table.
He repeated those three words silently.
…
The grand ceremony in early spring is the most lively.
The people of the capital city gathered together and walked forward, every household talking and laughing, discussing the interesting things that had happened around them recently.
This is the time when the people are most relaxed, but it is also the time when the guards of the imperial city are most nervous.
The capital city, which appears to be calm, is already in turmoil, with all kinds of people.
Inside the palace walls, above the main hall, Li Lianhan, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, stood on the long steps, looking down at everyone.
He had a cold expression, and his narrow, almond-shaped eyes looked down coldly. All officials submitted, and all the people knelt down, shouting "Long live the emperor!"
The ceremonial officer read the sacrificial text from a scroll in his hand. The weather was fine, and it was the best time of the day.
Li Lianhan narrowed her eyes slightly, and as the ceremonial officer read the announcement, she lit the incense in her hand.
A wisp of green smoke rose up, drawing a line in the clear sky, and his eyes followed the green smoke.
His thoughts were a little vague. Li Lianhan looked at the smoke and suddenly remembered the bloody battle a few years ago.
The sunlight is a bit dazzling, making people feel uncomfortable.
No.
wrong.
Li Lianhan suddenly looked down and swept his eyes over the group of people below.
The security was tight, the guards were all wearing heavy armor, and the weapons in their hands gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
Everything was perfect, but he vaguely felt that something was wrong.
This comes from years of experience in high positions. As an emperor, you always have some crucial intuition.
His eyes were like a sharp eagle, silently scanning everything around him.
Something is wrong...
——But I can’t explain it.
The overlapping clouds slowly blocked out the sunlight, casting a small shadow under his nostrils. Li Lianhan frowned slightly, but continued with the ritual.
Suddenly, an extremely dim light flashed before his eyes.
Only for a moment.
Just for that moment.
Li Lianhan opened his eyes wide.
A black figure flashed past him, and the sound of a sharp blade breaking through flesh and blood reached his eardrums.
Those were the secret guards he carefully raised, who were always around to protect his master and would come out to defend his safety at the slightest sign of trouble.
This attack was too covert, and it was a perfect combination of timing and location. By the time the secret guard reacted, there was no time to block the arrow, and all he could do was use his body as a shield.
"alert!"
There was a commotion off the court, and someone immediately came to protect Li Lianhan. He stepped back and felt something flash past his eyelids.
My right eyelid twitched violently.
Li Lianhan raised his eyes and saw someone flying in the air under the bright sunlight, holding a long sword and breaking through the air.
The man had a cold look on his face, and one glance at him was enough to frighten people.
The patterns on the Embroidered Spring Knife were sinuous and eerie, reflecting the man's cold eyes. His face was blurred by the backlight, but Li Lianhan recognized him at a glance.
He tilted his head back, his eyes red from the sunlight coming from behind.
The name that had been silently repeated for so long these days was called out from his mouth with tremendous anger.
That was the name he hadn't seen for several days, the name he had gnashed his teeth and chewed on for many nights.
"Lou-Wan-Qiao!"
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