Xu Niang disappeared, leaving nothing behind, not even a word to Zuo Qing.
Su Yan originally felt that his heart was filled with panic. Zuo Qing must be so sad that his aunt and nephew have reached this point and their relatives have turned against each other. But when he thought that everything was settled, he also let go of his hatred and felt lucky.
Zuo Qing had submitted his resignation a few days ago and asked Su Yan to pack his bags and leave at any time. Before leaving, Su Yan was a little hesitant. He looked at the closed door across the pond and finally stepped in.
Because of Zuo Qing's affairs these days, Su Yan has not had a good conversation with Fo Zhen. At this time, he didn't know how to speak. He hesitated for a long time before asking her: "Have you been to the palace?"
Fo Zhen nodded.
"Then...you know what I..." Su Yan was still embarrassed to say that title, and finally bowed his head in frustration.
"My mother's spirit in heaven should be happy."
Fo Zhen's cold and calm voice came, and Su Yan raised his head in surprise, "Don't you blame me?"
Fo Zhen just smiled slightly: "Actually, I have noticed your identity for a long time. Don't forget that I am your sister. Blood is thicker than water! From the first time I saw you, I felt that you were very familiar. Later, I just kept saying
Just to verify my guess."
Su Yan was surprised, it turned out that Fo Zhen had known about it for a long time, "Then why don't you recognize me?"
"If you don't tell me, it must be your reason. I don't have to ask. I will be your sister at any time when you want to say it."
Su Yan had mixed feelings in her heart. She thought that when she first came to Ruoshui, she had too many worries. She was always worried that her identity would be revealed, and she was also looking forward to getting together with her family. It turned out that they had known about it for a long time and were silently by her side, protecting her and guarding her.
she……
Su Yan hurriedly wiped away his tears and said sheepishly: "Tears are not worth much these days, they make you laugh."
Fo Zhen stood up, took out thick clothes from the innermost part of the bed, and said, "I know you and Zuo Qing are leaving, so I prepared some clothes for you. It's cold on the road, so you'll need them."
Su Yan was even more surprised: "Don't you blame me for leaving just after we met you two?"
"This place does not belong to you. You are like an eagle in the sky. You should not be trapped in this golden cage like Ruoshui."
Su Yan smiled with relief. Just as he was about to go over, Yansheng suddenly came to deliver the news and said in a panic, "Mr. Su is not okay. Your Majesty's resignation letter was rejected by your Majesty, and he was summoned to the palace.
I want to follow but the guard won’t let me, what should I do?”
Su Yan's head buzzed, and she reached out to grab Buddha in a panic. Buddha immediately supported her, also worried, "Don't worry, I'll go find my father right away."
Su Yan grabbed her sleeve with his backhand, "No, if my father comes forward, it will be a confrontation with the imperial power. Wei Zhen will definitely become angry, so I should go."
"Are you entering the palace?"
"Have you forgotten? He is not only Wei Zhen, he is also Xilou. Don't put your luggage back, I will definitely convince Wei Zhen to let us go." After saying this, he immediately grabbed the door and walked out.
Fo Zhen was stunned in place, and the fragments in her mind were like fire. The people on the fragments were intertwined, torn, and whispered, just like a dream, pieced together bit by bit. That day, Wei Zhen, who was very drunk, spoke lovingly in her ear.
Mianmian, extremely gentle, but Fo Zhen felt unfamiliar. She didn't know him. This was not his Xilou, but why did it sink that day? When Wei Zhen was in a daze, he regarded her as Su Mo's words.
, like a silver needle pricking my heart, inch by inch, piercing deep.
The strength of her body suddenly disappeared, and she fell to the ground, tears streaming down her face.
Wei Zhen, you still don’t give up on your sister.
In the splendid Changle Hall, the coiled dragon pillars were majestic. Under the dome, six gilt palace lanterns with coiled dragons were placed side by side, emitting black smoke as thin as silk. The officials dispersed, leaving only Eunuch Cheng'en waiting at the side. The hall seemed empty.
It was especially quiet. Wei Zhen was sitting on the dragon chair, reading the memorial, and looked at Zuo Qing coldly from time to time. After a cup of tea, Zuo Qing knelt down until his legs were numb, and he felt severe pain in his knees, so he couldn't help but move his legs.
, but was so frightened by Eunuch Chengen's cough that he became motionless.
Someone came into the palace to report that Su Yan, the eldest daughter of Prince Zheng, was in attendance. Zuo Qing's face turned pale and he gritted his teeth secretly.
Wei Zhen put down the memorial and smiled proudly, "Xuan."
"yes!"
Wei Zhen walked down the jade steps and stopped in front of Zuo Qing: "She is still here. Since there are some things you dare not say, let me say it. The decision-making power is still left to Ayan. Just like that time, she chose you
Same."
Zuo Qing buried his head deeply into his knees, "Your Majesty!"
Wei Zhen sneered and turned back to the dragon chair.
Su Yan stepped into the Yongle Hall and looked at Wei Zhen from a distance. He had not seen him for half a month. Now he was already a nine-five-year-old man, exuding an intimidating aura.
Only then did he suddenly realize that he was not Xilou, nor was he his childhood brother Wei Zhen, he was just the emperor of Rongguo!
Su Yan knelt down slowly, but he could still feel Wei Zhen's passionate gaze. However, the sacred and indestructible king in front of him, with a dragon crown and yellow robe, a jade belt around his waist, and a bead curtain covering his face, could not even look like him now.
You can see clearly, not to mention what he is thinking in his heart.
Su Yan bowed, took the opportunity to turn his head to look at Zuo Qing, and whispered: "I will definitely convince him, don't worry."
Zuo Qing looked at her and lowered his eyes, as if there was pain lingering in them.
Wei Zhen said happily: "It's been half a month before you thought of coming to see me. I've been busy dealing with state affairs these days. How about I accompany you to the harem someday? By the way, the begonia flowers in Jinshu Palace are blooming just right.
I know you like plum blossoms, so I have ordered people to transplant the plum trees from Hanbei and plant them behind the Jinshu Palace. When you enter the palace, you will first see the begonias that stretch for several feet. You can go through the palace and enter the back garden.
You’ll love watching the pink and white plum blossoms bloom with abandon.”
Su Yan looked at Zuo Qing and saw the fluctuation in his eyes, but she kept enduring it. Their Guangxiu overlapped each other. She secretly groped her hand into his Guangxiu, held his hand, and gently
Pressing it seems to give him confidence.
Wei Zhen seemed to be in a very good mood and continued: "Also, I know you like to drink. I have already ordered people to move all the fine wines in the imperial dining room to Jinxi Palace. How about we have a drink after the court?"
"Your Majesty! Why do you need to deceive yourself?" Su Yan looked at him impatiently and showed no mercy, "Plum blossoms in Hanbei can only bloom in Hanbei and cannot survive in Ruoshui. Even if they can live for a few days, they are just a flash in the pan.
, just like Your Majesty, there is no doubt that you are forced to stay."
Eunuch Chengen glanced at Su Yan secretly, then looked at the new emperor, and swallowed secretly.
Wei Zhen stood on his head with sword eyebrows and his eyes were cold: "I have been preparing for a long time, you are not going to give me a face?"
Su Yan calmly said: "Your Majesty is the most powerful person in the world. How dare I offend you? I would also like to ask your Majesty to approve Zuo Qing's resignation and allow us to leave. We will be extremely grateful." After saying this, he leaned down and prostrated.
Wei Zhen held back his anger and said: "What are you doing here? Without the director, will the academy become a piece of loose sand?"
"If water talents emerge in large numbers, we can conduct another recruitment to select those who have both civility and virtue. As for the position of director, we can also choose from the Ministry of Etiquette. Master Fang has two ministers beside him. These two ministers have always maintained contact with the academy.
, are very knowledgeable about all matters of the academy, your majesty can let them take charge of the affairs for the first time. Zuo Qing's sick and weak body is no longer qualified for the job, so please think twice."
"Since I am in charge of Rongguo, I don't need you to tell me what to do."
"Your Majesty makes atonement! But the request is reasonable and reasonable, so please, Your Majesty..."
"Su Yan!" Wei Zhen struck the case with his palm, "Do you really want to leave me? It's really ridiculous. Zuo Qing is full of secrets. Didn't he deceive you enough? But you still stupidly take your sincerity.
Treat him, but he never thought of telling you all the past!"
"Yes, Zuo Qing lied to me, but you also lied to me, right?"
Zuo Qing's hand suddenly became stronger and he shook his head at her. Su Yan looked at Wei Zhen stubbornly, waiting for his rebuttal.
Wei Zhen laughed and said: "Yes! So what? But is everything Zuo Qing did right? He has deceived you countless times. If you hadn't discovered his secret by accident, he would never have told you.
"Perhaps you don't know until now?" He pointed to the most guilty person in the palace and said to her, "He has been hiding in hatred for ten years. He can even deceive the people closest to him, and he can sacrifice anything for revenge!"
Ayan, the person next to you is a selfish liar and does not deserve your sincere efforts."
Su Yan couldn't help but feel that Wei Zhen in front of him was really scary. He had obviously been deceived by him, but now he was criticizing Zuo Qing from a high position.
But when facing Wei Zhen, it was his own fault after all.
Su Yan felt sad and begged him: It's my fault. I failed you. I shouldn't have agreed to you out of anger and failed you! But Wei Zhen, feelings are very unreasonable. I like Zuo Qing.
, from beginning to end, there is no way to change it.”
Wei Zhen still wanted to fight for it, but when he saw Su Yan's face that was almost crying, he softened his heart: "You go, I can't keep you, but remember, I, Wei Zhen, only want to protect you from the beginning to the end.
Never taken advantage of it!”
Su Yan breathed a sigh of relief and held Zuo Qing's hand tightly. This time, she seemed to really see hope.
However, Su Yan and Zuo Qing's plan to leave Ruoshui was still not completed, not because the father and daughter recognized each other, but because of a sudden imperial edict.
When Su Yan realized something was wrong and rushed to the palace, he saw his father with a depressed expression, slumped on the threshold of the ancestral hall, staring blankly at the eaves.
Su Yan asked anxiously: "Father, what is written in the imperial edict?"
Only then did Ge Zheng notice Su Yan. He hurriedly put away the imperial edict and hid it in his sleeve. He smiled dryly and said to his daughter: "It's nothing. You...I heard that Wei Zhen agreed to Zuo Qing's resignation. You guys go and pack your bags."
Leave Ruoshui quickly!"
Su Yan understood immediately and quickly walked over to snatch the imperial edict. Ge Zheng crawled away in panic. Su Yan was so anxious that he wanted to cry and almost shouted: "Father...what did Wei Zhen say? Do you still want to hide it from me?"
Ge Zheng sighed heavily, and could only tell the truth: "Your Majesty made Yan Zhen the King of the North, and established an inner court in the palace, which Yan Ling and I will rule... Ayan, he is trying to trap our Ge family.
, and trap you at the same time, if you don’t leave, it will be too late!”
King of the North, what a great title, but once you are crowned king, without the emperor's order, if you really leave privately, it will be regarded as treason, and the inner court, although it seems to be re-employed, is actually supervising...
Wei Zhen obviously agreed to let Su Yan and Zuo Qing leave, but secretly he blocked her and forced her at every turn!
Only then did Su Yan truly realize how terrifying Wei Zhen was and how difficult the singer's situation was!
"Let's go together! We'll leave tonight at night." Su Yan said in a panic.
Ge Zheng pinched his daughter's cheek and smiled kindly, "Silly boy, the Ge family has a large population. How do we get there? How do we get there?"
"Isn't there a eldest grandson? The aunt is her sister and will definitely help!"
Ge Zheng shook his head, with no hope at all on his face.
Su Yan quickly recalled the people who could help: "There are people and friends of Zuo Qing in the court and in the rivers and lakes. If we join forces, we can definitely help Ge Jia leave Ruoshui! Father, don't be discouraged. It's not the end yet."
For a moment, how will you know if you don’t try?”
"In the morning, the wind is tight and I have to protect myself. Even if I can help, I will not hurt my friends!" Ge Zheng's eyes were firm and unquestionable. He stood up and walked to the courtyard. His eyes fell on the flower stand. The hibiscus flowers were withered.
For the most part, as if it was a sign of despair, the singer couldn't help but laugh sadly, "I had expected today's outcome. In fact, I should have known from the beginning that once Wei Zhen succeeded, he would not trust me and Zuo Qing to leave his control.
!”
Su Yan looked at him blankly, "What do you mean?"
Ge Zheng turned back to face his daughter, and finally revealed the secret he had hidden in his heart for many years: "I think Zuo Qing didn't tell you one thing, and Wei Zhen couldn't tell you. He is not the biological son of the Supreme Emperor, but your aunt.
With the child of Emperor Yan, the Supreme Emperor forcibly took her away from Yan Wangshan that year. Your aunt hated the Supreme Emperor so much that on the surface she was on the same page with him, but secretly she never broke off the correspondence with King Yan. Later, King Yan came
After crossing Ruoshui once, Wei Zhen was born..."
"He is the child of King Yan?" Su Yan thought this was too crazy! How could Wei Zhen be the child of King Yan? He hurriedly asked, "Does the Supreme Emperor know?"
"That year when there was a fire in the Fusang Palace, do you think the Supreme Emperor was really so cruel and cold-blooded that he even killed his own children? That was because he knew Wei Zhen's life experience, so he carried out the murder. Previously, hundreds of civil and military officials came to remonstrate with Wei Zhen as the crown prince.
, although the Supreme Emperor was very resistant, he was afraid that the exposure of Wei Zhen's life experience would cause an indelible scandal to the royal family, and he was even more afraid that the crimes he committed back then would be known to the world, so he reluctantly agreed. Both Zuo Qing and I were informed.
He is also a participant. We all thought that as long as we help him ascend to the throne, Ruoshui will be clear and we can get what we want. However, we did not expect that Wei Zhen would still be afraid of his identity after ascending to the throne. For us
These people who know his details want to eradicate him even in their dreams. So Ayan, he won’t let us leave. You and Zuo Qing must leave as soon as possible, the sooner the better!”
Su Yan was completely at a loss for ideas: "What should we do? Will he harm the singer? Will he kill Zuo Qing!"
"He is no longer the Wei Zhen I know. As a father, I can't see through him. Just take one step and see. I don't believe what he will do to the singer!"
Su Yan suddenly discovered that there were a lot of white hairs on his temples, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were densely spread into his hairline. The once all-powerful singer, Prince Zheng, who could compete with Mo Fei, now ended up like this, and had to take orders from himself
Her nephew. And when did Wei Zhen become so cold-blooded? When did it start? She couldn't even notice the slightest bit.
Suddenly a crazy idea came to her mind, so crazy that she couldn't believe it. But besides this method, what else could she do?
"If I stay, you can all leave." She said word by word.
"What did you say?" Ge Zheng looked at her in disbelief.
"Father, the heart of an emperor is never merciful. If you and Zuo Qing know his secret, he will never be able to rest assured that you are living in this world! Doesn't he just want me to stay? In this case, then I will do what he wants.
I hope you can leave and Zuo Qing can live on!"
Ge Zheng flatly refused, "Absolutely impossible! Even if I risk my life, I can't let you stay and suffer! Listen to your father and don't harm yourself."
"Father! I stay to protect the singer and Zuo Qing. I think it's worth it!" Su Yan grinned: "But I won't give up on your daughter. I have my own way!"
The moonlight was hazy, the woods were rustling, and the reflections of the palace residents slowly slid across the floor-to-ceiling windows. The palace was quiet for a long time, so long that Chengen felt drowsy.
"Your Majesty, it's getting late. Go to bed early. You have to go to court early tomorrow."
Wei Zhen did not raise his head, just hummed and continued to review the memorial.
Cheng'en didn't dare to persuade him any more, and stood aside obediently, secretly yawning countless times.
"What's going on there, Zuo Qing?"
Cheng'en hurriedly replied: "The eyeliner reported that it was a heart disease. I think it won't hurt my life, but if I don't get the heart medicine, I'm afraid..."
"Where's Ayan?"
"I only heard from people in the palace that they had gone back. As for the academy, there is no news yet."
Wei Zhen frowned, hummed, and stopped asking questions.
There was a sudden soft landing outside the palace door, and both of them immediately became alert. Chengen was so frightened that he raised his voice and wanted to call the guards, but Wei Zhen quickly stopped him, "It's Ayan!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the palace door opened. Su Yan's thin clothes were flying in the wind, and his pale and weak face showed a morbid beauty under the confusion of thousands of black hairs. Wei Zhen, who was a little too calm, finally couldn't hold it in any longer.
He threw away the cinnabar pen and trotted over. He was about to say something to say hello, but he didn't expect Su Yan to say coldly: "Let's make a deal."
His expression instantly became extremely ugly. Su Yan looked at his appearance with no emotion in his heart, even a little disgusted, "I will stay in Ruoshui. I will make the final decision on the soldiers of the singer family and hand them over to the Ministry of War. My father is old.
, I am not suitable to accept any position from you anymore, and the singer family has a lot of properties. Ge Yiyan and Yan Zhen are not qualified to inherit the family property. Anyway, these properties are originally attached to the royal family. It is natural for them to be returned now, but please allow your majesty. Father-to-be
He and his family members left Ruoshui."
"You went to the palace to discuss a retreat?" Wei Zhen couldn't help but frown.
Su Yan said: "No matter what, isn't it what you want if I stay?"
His face suddenly turned cold-blooded: "My uncle is now in an important position in the inner court. If you leave now, how will you deal with all these matters? The court is already short of manpower, so I can't agree to it."
"Then what conditions does Your Majesty require to let him go?"
Wei Zhen smiled bitterly, "Su Yan, why are you so ruthless? Can't you put aside your prejudice towards me and speak to me in the same tone as you spoke to Zuo Qing?"
Su Yan said goodbye, suppressing the disgust in his heart, "Your Majesty, please respect yourself."
Wei Zhen pulled her face back with force, "I have promised you and Zuo Qing to leave, and now you come to beg me to leave the singing house. What do you think I am!"
Su Yan tried hard to pull his hand away, but he grabbed it instead. She stared at him angrily, "Wei Zhen, what are you pretending to be? You pretended to let us go, but secretly trapped Yan Zhen in the north.
You trapped your father in the palace again, don't you just want me to give up the idea of leaving? Okay, I won't leave, I can stay, but you must do what I say!"
Wei Zhen pulled her in front of her, almost touching his face, and you could clearly see that his ferocious face looked like a devil.
"Well, since you want to stay, I will agree to it, but Prince Zheng can only leave after we get married."
Su Yan had expected it, so he took advantage of the victory to pursue him and put forward another condition, "There is another condition. You must recall Yan Zhen, take back your military power, and never use him again."
"I promise you all, but I will not give the order until after the wedding."
Su Yan thought for a moment and agreed. Wei Zhen suddenly thought of something and asked hurriedly: "What about Zuo Qing..."
"Of course I have to leave, so I will stay wholeheartedly," Su Yan stared at the distrust in his eyes and quickly added, "I will do what I say."
Wei Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and let go of her.
Su Yan's heart that had been holding on to him finally fell to the ground, and he realized that there was a trace of scarlet oozing out of the shoulder he scratched, and there was a bone-crushing pain there.
"Wei Zhen, since I promised you, I will not go back on it, but please remember every word you said today. If you go back on your word, I will hate you forever."
The palace door slowly closed, her figure disappeared at the door, and she returned to silence. Her words just now still echoed in her ears.
You still have him in your heart. Even when you marry me, you have to think of a way out for him first. Ayan, you still can't be sincere to me.
The carriage outside the palace slowly drove away. Su Yan lifted the curtains and looked outside. Behind the towering city wall, the magnificent palace was waving to her like a golden cage. She was so frightened that she immediately hid back, huddled in the corner, and sobbed softly.
.
Back at the academy, Su Yan carried a bright tile-covered glazed lantern and hurriedly turned into the Zen Jingyuan. After walking a few more steps, Yansheng came up to him. Su Yan dragged him to a hiding place. Yansheng was feeling confused.
, after seeing her pale face, she suddenly didn't dare to speak.
Su Yan raised his head and looked at Zuo Qing's bright house, confirming that he had not come out, and then said with relief: "Hurry up and pack your things, and leave with your master overnight. Remember, don't stay. If the city gate guard asks, come out of the city to see a doctor."
.”
After being bombarded by Su Yan, Yansheng asked her in confusion, "Aren't you going to leave with us?"
"I can't leave for the time being. Remember my words, you must ensure the safety of your master. Leave the rest to me!"
Only then did Yansheng feel that the situation was serious and nodded solemnly, "Your Excellency has already arranged for a pair of camel traders in the west of the city, and they can leave that night."
"Remember, don't tell him what I said to you tonight."
Yansheng wiped his sweat and immediately ran to prepare.
Su Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief, looked at the bright and quiet place, and walked over hesitantly and helplessly.
The path paved with stones became brighter and clearer, while her steps became calmer and slower.
His figure was reflected on the window, just touching the toes of her shoes. She froze on the spot, fear growing in her heart, looking at the person within her reach, but she couldn't hold it in her hands after all.
After pushing the door open and going in, he sat in front of the desk. He looked up and saw her and couldn't help but smile.
Su Yan couldn't bear it, but he finally said it: "I thought about it for a long time, and Wei Zhen said that he can give me everything I want, but you can't give me anything."
Zuo Qing's smile disappeared instantly, "What did you say?"
"Do you regret it?" She looked at him with gloating, "You lied to me for so long, and I finally forgave you, but at the end of the day, I regretted it again. In fact, I should have figured it out earlier, between Wei Zhen and I am a childhood sweetheart, a singer and a relative of the emperor. I have glory and wealth within my reach. Why should I leave you and live in those miserable days? What my father said is even more correct. Since a man has deceived you, he will never be able to Believe, even if you can’t help it, you can’t trust it!”
"But, it's obvious that you have forgiven me..."
"Yes, I have forgiven you, but now I have figured it out. If I leave you, how can I live my life? Rely on you? You have no strength and no strengths, how can I rely on you? But I am here in Ruoshui It's completely different. I'm still the eldest daughter of a singer, and I can even enter the palace, become a concubine, and become a queen. There's no difference between heaven and earth. If it were you, what would you choose?"
Zuo Qing swayed slightly, held on to the desk, and asked her tremblingly: "Are you telling the truth, or are you lying to me?"
"Singers have deep roots in Ruoshui and will only go higher in the future, but you will have nothing!"
Zuo Qing's eyes were sore, but he still managed to squeeze out a smile, "As long as you are nice, I can do anything..."
Su Yan felt a pain in his heart, but he still endured the pain and said something against his will: "You go, leave Rong Guo, it will be impossible for you and me after all."
Zuo Qing's heart was like a knife, but he couldn't think of any reason to keep her. In front of Wei Zhen, he had nothing!
The moment Yan Sheng carried the package and opened the door, he was so scared that he covered his mouth. He hesitated for a moment, made up his mind, and approached Zuo Qing step by step. In the bright room, he could clearly see his face, but he still I can't believe that you have aged so much in an instant. There is no trace of blood on your pale face, just like a dying old man...
"Sir!" Yansheng was so distressed that he didn't know how to comfort him.
Zuo Qing came back to his senses, grinned, and smiled painfully, "It's time to leave..." but his tone was extremely desperate.
The next day, someone came to see the headmaster to discuss recruiting talents from the Garden. However, no one moved around in the Zen Jingyuan, which was so quiet that you could hear a needle drop. The large open door and the flying curtains on the floor-to-ceiling windows seemed to have no one there. It exuded the smell of death. It was not until nightfall that the news of Zuo Qing's disappearance spread throughout the academy, and finally reached Wei Zhen's ears. The brush in his hand suddenly broke, and the memorials in his eyes all looked like Zuo Qing's, and Cheng'en in his ears The father-in-law was still reporting, "No one knows when Zuo Qing left. He didn't say goodbye to anyone, and no one knows how he left, because the guards never saw him leave the academy, not even the city gate guards. I saw Zuo Qing leaving, and I was surprised, could this person disappear out of thin air?"
At this time, a eunuch ran in outside the door, knelt on the ground, and reported in a panic: "Your Majesty, you ordered your servants to monitor the palace. There was no movement at all. But last night, Miss Singer and Su Ming left the palace. They thought they were just going to the street. We went out for a walk, but...but they didn't come back for a long time, so I realized something was wrong and immediately came to report to His Majesty."
Wei Zhen raised a pair of eyes that were almost cannibalistic and threw the pen in his hand at him, "What's the use of reporting now? People have left Ruoshui long ago!" He fell heavily back to the dragon chair and smiled bitterly.
He said, "Su Yan, you say one thing openly, but do another behind the scenes. I am being fooled by you!"
Cheng'en glanced at him and lowered his head silently, secretly feeling lucky for Zuo Qing and the others.