After a few gentle drizzles, the long-lost sunshine shone in every corner of Kyoto.
It was on such a sunny afternoon that Xue Poye was summoned into the palace by His Majesty the Emperor. This time, they did not meet in the Imperial Study Room, but were led to the Imperial Garden.
In the Imperial Garden, hundreds of flowers are blooming, the flowers are blooming, the fragrance is refreshing, and the courtyard is filled with the feminine atmosphere. The Queen leads a group of palace maids to play shuttlecock on the grass.
Sitting opposite Emperor Deqing, although Xue Poye felt a little uncomfortable and uncomfortable, his face remained unusually calm.
Emperor Deqing's face was very pale and his spirit looked extremely tired, but he still smiled and said: "You should know that I always want to have a good chat with you."
Xue Poye nodded and said: "We have been waiting for your Majesty's summons."
Emperor Deqing nodded with satisfaction and said warmly: "Today, you and I only tell stories and don't talk about state affairs... let alone treat me as an emperor. I am just a storyteller, and you... are just a listener of stories!
"
When Xue Poye heard the word "story", he suddenly thought of a story about "Ye Qingyao" that His Majesty the Emperor had told him that night in the "Acacia Palace", but only the first half of the story was told, and the second half was not.
If you haven't said it out loud, could it be that today, His Majesty the Emperor wants to say the second half?
Emperor Deqing coughed rapidly, and the queen who was not far away came quickly and said softly: "Your Majesty, the weather is still a little cold, you should go back to the house to discuss matters with Mr. Xue."
Emperor Deqing held the queen's hand and said with a smile: "I'm not in the way, queen, Xue Aiqing and I have some state affairs to discuss. You go and play with them. I'll play with you later."
This emperor, who was always cold and cold, was extremely affectionate towards the queen.
The queen sighed, poured a cup of tea, gave it to the emperor, and said softly: "Okay, if you don't feel well, just call me, and you... don't hold on." Looking at the queen's attentiveness, she was also unusual for the emperor.
care.
Xue Poye glanced at the Queen from the corner of his eyes, and saw that the Queen was noble and graceful, and her appearance was extremely beautiful. Suddenly, Xue Poye's heart was shocked. He seemed to have discovered something. He couldn't help but take another look. It was extremely strange.
The queen... is actually quite similar to Ye Qingyao's painting.
Ye Qingyao's portrait is elegant and refined, which makes people remember it as soon as they see it. When Xue Poye looked at the queen, she looked very similar to her.
"Is it because the Queen looks exactly like Ye Qingyao that His Majesty the Emperor loves her so much?" A very strange thought suddenly came to Xue Poye's mind.
This idea is very reasonable.
When the queen slowly left and was far away, Emperor Deqing took a sip of tea and said calmly: "What do you seem to see?"
Xue Poye was stunned, and then said with some fear: "Weichen...Weichen doesn't dare!"
"Actually, you are right." Emperor Deqing stared at Xue Poye, as if he could see through Xue Poye's thoughts, and did not hide anything: "You have seen Qingyao's portrait... That portrait, except for me
, only you have seen her, and of course you can see that the queen and Qingyao look very similar."
Xue Poye sighed, nodded and admitted, "Wei Chen saw it, and never thought there were such similar people in the world."
Emperor Deqing said calmly, "For all these years, I have always regarded her as Qingyao... even though I know she is not, but... this can make me feel more comfortable."
This is very cruel.
It is always cruel for a woman to be a substitute for another woman and the mother of a country.
Xue Poye didn't know if the Queen knew this reason. If she knew, Xue Poye believed that the Queen must be feeling aggrieved and sad.
Xue Poye was silent for a moment, and finally said: "Is the story that the Lord wants to tell you the story of Ye Qingyao later?"
Emperor Deqing showed a soft smile on his face and said softly: "I am not a storyteller. I am afraid I will only tell this one story in my life."
Xue Poye sat upright and said, "You say it, and I listen!"
Emperor Deqing smiled and said: "This is the attitude of a storyteller."
…
"I won the throne and the throne I deserved from my eldest brother. The second uncle who reported the news to me is now Prince Qian. You should have seen him." Emperor Deqing said slowly.
"I have seen."
"He is an uncle worthy of my trust." Emperor Deqing murmured, his thoughts going back to eighteen years ago.
"I stabilized the situation in the court, and it was already half a year later when I went to Jinling again. I returned to that small village, and I knew that Qingyao must be waiting for me." Emperor Deqing had an unprecedented look on his face. His happy expression seemed to be immersed in it.
Xue Poye listened quietly. He understood that at this time, he should quietly be a qualified listener and not disturb any of Emperor Deqing's thoughts.
Moreover, Emperor Deqing was the most powerful person in the world. He must have a purpose in telling this story to himself. Otherwise, it would be impossible for an emperor to spend time telling his deepest secrets in front of an unrelated person.
Therefore, he must listen carefully and taste carefully.
"You should be able to guess that Qingyao has not left that small village. She is still living there peacefully, with Hu'er, and is still waiting for me there."
"We were naturally very happy to meet again. We continued our previous lives, practicing the flute, going out to perform, and listening to her playing Sanskrit music... For two whole months, I left behind the state affairs and handed them over to Prime Minister Cao and others. I am an effective minister, and I myself live a very nourishing and happy life."
"It's just that I was too young at that time, and I didn't expect that although my eldest brother was gone, his gang members were still alive and well, and even planned to assassinate me." Emperor Deqing's voice began to become colder: " One night, I drank a lot of wine, and in the middle of the night, when I was asleep, a group of assassins finally found me."
Although he knew that Emperor Deqing was still alive, Xue Poye's mood became tense as he went deeper into the story.
"Xue Aiqing, maybe you still don't believe it. At that time, I was just a third-level warrior. Hey, at that time, I knew the way to govern the country and bring peace to the world, but I neglected this martial art. In order to be able to be peaceful with Qingyao Life, I didn't even have a guard by my side... When I saw the assassins surrounding the house, and the cold sword edge was about to pierce my throat, I thought I was going to die. Those assassins, the lowest I am also a warrior of the fourth path, so I... can only close my eyes and wait for death!"
Xue Poye couldn't help but said: "It was... Ye Qingyao saved you?"
"Of course it's her." Emperor Deqing laughed happily: "Qingyao is my lucky star. With her here, how could anything happen to me? If she and Hu'er appeared beside me when I was about to die, then A group of assassins, under the hands of their siblings, couldn't even make it ten rounds before they were all captured."
Xue Poye said in shock: "They are all...captured...!" I couldn't believe it. How could that group of warrior assassins, whose lowest level of cultivation was the fourth level, not survive ten rounds at the hands of Ye Qingyao's sister and brother? Could it be...
…?
"Not only did you not believe it, I also didn't believe it even at that time." Emperor Deqing sighed: "How could I have imagined that Qingyao, a weak woman, could actually be a well-hidden warrior of the Seven Paths, while Hu'er,
It has also reached the Six Paths.”
Although Xue Poye had guessed it, he was still surprised.
Emperor Deqing showed a smile on his face: "Qingyao, Qingyao, you have deceived even me."
"Since then, Qingyao has laughed at me for being a grown man who couldn't protect myself. I felt deeply ashamed, so I asked Qingyao to be my teacher and teach me martial arts. Qingyao agreed, but the state affairs were complicated and I didn't have time.
After staying, my mother sent someone to find me and asked me to return to Kyoto to handle state affairs. In desperation, I had no choice but to ask Qingyao to return to the capital with me. That silly girl... Haha, she put a hurdle for me, saying that only
Only when my martial arts skills surpass hers and can I protect myself will I return to the capital with me."
"I remember Qingyao smiling and saying to me at that time, how can a grown man protect the women around him if he can't even protect himself?" Emperor Deqing's expression became serious, with a complex expression on his face: "This sentence, to this day, I still think about.
I remember it clearly. How can a man be considered a man if he can't even protect the woman he likes...!" At this point, Emperor Deqing coughed again, and Xue Poye hurriedly stood up and walked behind Emperor Deqing.
, gently patted Emperor Deqing's back to cheer him up.
Emperor Deqing waved his hand and motioned for Xue Poye to sit down, and then continued: "I feel ashamed, so I have to agree to his request and make up my mind to practice martial arts... Hehe, but everyone in martial arts understands that martial arts
Every advancement cannot be achieved through hard work. Below the fifth path, it can be achieved through diligent practice. Above the fifth path, in addition to hard work, talent and luck are also required. Although I agreed to Qingyao,
I know in my heart that if I want to think about Qingyao's martial arts cultivation, it is really difficult to reach the sky... Fortunately, Qingyao gave me that unique book when he was leaving. Without it, I am afraid that I would still be a person today.
A lowly warrior."
Xue Poye vaguely felt something and asked softly: "Then... what kind of book is that?"
Emperor Deqing smiled, stared at Xue Poye, and said word by word: "Book of Ecstasy!"
"Ah!" Xue Poye stood up in shock, dumbfounded. Although he was slightly shocked and prepared, he couldn't help being shocked when he heard this.
"Book of Ecstasy"?
That was the booklet that he and Xiao Shitou had been practicing with. Could it be that... was this booklet actually left by Emperor Deqing to Xiao Shitou?
Emperor Deqing calmly motioned Xue Poye to sit down, and said warmly: "Xue Aiqing, what I said today will surely surprise you a lot, so you can listen to it calmly... A story must be told by someone who listens to it.
People listen carefully to the end.”
"I...I obey your order!" Xue Poye suppressed the shock in his heart and said respectfully.
"The Book of Ecstasy... is the most mysterious book in the world: "Please give me that precious book. I... Hey, the Book of Ecstasy is a martial arts manual. According to Qingyao, it was written when she was in Tianzhu.
It was by chance that the person who gave her this book was a peerless warrior who had retired to Tianzhu from the Central Plains. Even Qingyao had never understood why that person had retired to Tianzhu, nor did he know his name, let alone
Why did he give this book to Qingyao... Based on Qingyao's guess, it should be that peerless warrior who wants to bring this martial arts manual back to Dachu through Qingyao."
"With the Book of Ecstasy, one's martial arts cultivation can be improved by leaps and bounds... Qingyao and Hu'er have been practicing for two years. One has reached the seventh path, and the other has reached the sixth path. They can be said to be gods. But at this level, the two
People's martial arts cultivation can no longer break through. This...maybe it is due to talent. I said goodbye to Qingyao, brought back the book of ecstasy, and devoted myself to practice. Only then did I realize that the book of ecstasy was actually more powerful than I imagined.
It's amazing that after only a few months, I actually reached the realm of a five-path warrior."
"Every once in a while, I would secretly go to that small village to spar with Qingyao, hoping to defeat her so that I could bring her back to the capital. But...it took two years before I reached the realm of the Seven Paths Warrior.
Only then did we truly defeat Qingyao."
"Qingyao kept her promise and took Hu'er with me back to Kyoto. It was not until that time that she knew that I was the emperor of the Chu Kingdom. She was not happy because of this, but was a little depressed. I understand her thoughts
, it is said that once you enter the Hou family, it is as deep as the sea, let alone the cage-like palace? But for me, for her promise, she still followed me into the palace... If I knew what happened next, I would rather die than
I will not let her and Hu'er enter the palace... That is the biggest mistake in my life!" Emperor Deqing's expression became gloomy, and his body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Xue Poye knew that something big must have happened after Ye Qingyao entered the palace, otherwise Emperor Deqing would not be so excited.
"From the very beginning, those stupid people in the palace looked down on Qingyao from the bottom of their hearts. They privately called Qingyao a country girl and a vulgar folk girl, but... Qingyao didn't care. Although under everyone's opposition, I
He could not make her a queen, but he made her a noble concubine and gave her the Qingyao Palace. She was modest and did not fight with anyone in the ghostly and gloomy palace. She was kind and caring to everyone, including the maids and eunuchs.
Plus, I will never allow anyone to hurt her." Emperor Deqing clenched his fists with a look of pain on his face.
"She doesn't fight with others, but those hateful people insult her in every way in private... I wanted to kill those bitches, but Qingyao dissuaded me. She even made me swear not to harm Gong because of her.
Any one of them... Qingyao, do you know that it was because of this oath that you didn't kill those damn bitches, so you...!" Emperor Deqing, a man who had always been cold and calm, had circles under his eyes at this time.
Already red, glowing with strong murderous intent.
"Those bitches have been slandering Qingyao around my mother all day long. In the end, even my mother hated Qingyao and called her a witch. Qingyao endured the grievances but never complained to me."
"I couldn't bear it anymore, so I moved Qingyao out of Qingyao Palace. According to Qingyao's wishes, I chose a clean place in the palace for her and Hu'er to live there." Emperor Deqing said calmly: "You should see her.
Once you pass, you will find the Palace of Acacia."
Xue Poye nodded, and he really admired Ye Qingyao in his heart. As a warrior of the Seven Paths, she was favored by His Majesty the Emperor, but she would rather endure the grievances and live in peace with the world. Such a woman can really be called a strange woman.
"I even made a decree that no one is allowed to enter the Xiangsi Palace, otherwise, they will be killed without mercy!" Emperor Deqing's voice was solemn.
Xue Poye sighed, and secretly sighed in his heart: "Ye Qingyao is such a free girl. If she does this, wouldn't she become a prisoner in a cage? A bird in a cage, there is no freedom at all."
"I originally thought that in this way, Qingyao would not be harmed. After Qingyao moved to Xiangsi Palace, no one dared to disturb her anymore. Qingyao and I often played flutes and performed martial arts in Xiangsi Palace. It was very difficult
It's leisurely. One year after Qingyao entered the palace, she finally became pregnant with my child. Before he was born, I named him... If he is a son, he will be called Liu Zichan!" Emperor Deqing said softly: "Zen
Bit of Zen!”
"Liu Zichan!" Xue Poye read it softly, and his whole body was shaken.
It turned out that Emperor Deqing wanted to make Ye Qingyao's child the crown prince, and planned to pass it on to Liu Zichan.
"And that year, the rebellion that started in Liaodong spread to four prefectures. I was furious and made a wrong decision. I decided to put down the rebellion myself. I was worried that sitting in the court for a long time would wear me down.
He wanted to quell the rebellion and stimulate my fighting spirit." Emperor Deqing sighed and blamed himself: "So, in the early summer of that year, when Qingyao was six months pregnant, I left her behind and led the army.
Went to Liaodong to quell the rebellion."
Xue Poye also sighed. He knew that the most tragic moment in the story was after His Majesty the Emperor left Kyoto.
When Emperor Deqing said this, he seemed to be very tired. He leaned on his chair and closed his eyes, with an extremely painful look on his face.
I don't know how long it took before Emperor Deqing sighed, opened his eyes, and continued: "When I come back, everything has changed, and I can't believe it."
"The Xiangsi Palace was burned to the ground, and Qingyao and Hu'er are missing." Emperor Deqing clenched his fists and said painfully: "I searched every corner of the palace, but I couldn't find them... I sent out my
The most capable assistant, I searched for them everywhere, but there was no news about them."
"It wasn't until later that I realized that it was my mother who caused all of this. She took advantage of me to suppress the rebellion and ordered dozens of first-class masters, including seven warriors, to secretly fight against the Qing Dynasty.
Yao moved her hands. Qingyao had just given birth to my son Liu Zichan that night, and her vitality was severely damaged. She and Hu'er faced dozens of warriors, but were ultimately defeated. In order to protect my son and Hu'er, Qingyao finally fought hard.
And...and go...!"
"Hu'er fled the palace and disappeared without a trace. Qingyao's body was abandoned by my mother and I can never find it again."
Having said this, Emperor Deqing, the most powerful man in the world, shed tears.
Xue Poye felt unspeakable discomfort in his heart, and even shed tears along with it. He could imagine that that night when Emperor Deqing was suppressing the rebellion, Ye Qingyao and Ye Huer were so desolate and miserable.
Such a weak and powerful harem force destroyed the pair of weak siblings in an instant.
"Then...Prince Zen...where is he now?" Xue Poye wiped away his tears and asked softly.
Emperor Deqing waited until his emotions calmed down and then said softly: "After that incident, I sent people to secretly kill those harem bitches who had slandered Qingyao... I only hope that I can atone for my sins. If it weren't for me,
Qingyao will not die, she will live happily, busking, singing, and playing the flute in Jinling City... It wasn't until two months later that my brother, Prince Qian, suddenly found me secretly, and I didn't know that,
My good second uncle secretly rescued my son on the night Qingyao was killed."
Xue Poye knew that the truth was getting closer, and the biggest suspicion in his heart was about to surface.
"You guessed well, maybe you have guessed it a long time ago...!" Emperor Deqing stared at Xue Poye and said word by word: "Little Shitou... is my son, and his real name is Liu... Zi