Duan Changchuan remembered.
He... remembered.
The surging memories, like a tidal wave, swept him back to the night before his wedding.
That night, big red lanterns were hung inside and outside the palace.
But the room was exceptionally cold.
A few days ago, Changle followed his instructions and found a bag of arsenic for him. He was originally angry and thought that if he really didn't work, he would just poison the uncle to death. The worst that could happen would be that he would be branded as a tyrant for all eternity.
But now, looking at the bag of arsenic, he suddenly felt extremely bored.
He has been fighting with his uncle for the imperial power for so long, but what if he can take it away? What if he can't... What difference does it make to the people whether this country is ruled by Duan Changchuan or Duan Jing'an
Those common people who died because of imperial power were so innocent.
The eldest daughter of the Bai family, how innocent...
And the one who caused all this was Duan Changchuan.
My mother is right: Why do you really need that imperial power
Ask yourself: Can you defeat your uncle? If you can't, why fight
Why on earth
So boring.
Life is so boring.
When I think about having to live like this for the next ten or even dozens of years... I just don't want to go on.
That night, he sent away all the secret guards and servants. Before leaving, he didn't know what he could leave for this world. If he died, his mother would no longer have to worry about him angering his uncle, and she would be very happy.
It's just that Yun Xie and Aunt Yu Fengqian have to work hard for him every day...
But he knew that Feng Xian had never liked the constraints of the palace, and Yun Xie had long wanted Feng Xian to live in seclusion in the mountains.
Although they were sad and all their hard work was ruined without the burden of Duan Changchuan, they could finally live the life they had always wanted, which was a good thing.
Who would be sad
In this world, who would be unable to live because of Duan Changchuan's death...
After thinking about it, it seems that Changle is the only one.
There was only Changle, who was devoted to him, and whose fortune and misfortune depended on him.
It was the letter he was holding in his hand right now.
[I am leaving, and you are the only one who is worried. Please show this letter to your mother and ask for their mercy.
I couldn't do anything for you when I was here... I just hope to do my best to help you.
Go out of the palace, Changle.
Live the life you want. If you don't have enough money, ask Yun Xie for it. You can find someone to spend your life with, travel alone in the world, or find a quiet place to live quietly. ]
Go and see this vast world for me, and see true freedom for me...
As the pen tip fell to the end, I felt more and more miserable.
[Duan Changchuan, you are the emperor of Datong and the master of the world, but only by dying can you protect Changle...]
There is only Changle.
If I die...
I wonder if Miss Susu from Bai Xiang’s residence can escape these shackles of fate…
[If, I die.]
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"
Yi Man's voice rang in my ears...
The scenes in my memory gradually overlapped with everything in front of me, and I realized... the letter in my hand had cracks on it.
He quickly smoothed the letter, folded it, and put it back: "Nothing, put the letter away... Go ask your master if the water is ready."
Yi Man took the letter and put it back, then looked at him worriedly: "I think it should be fine... Will I serve Your Majesty?"
The boy nodded and said, "Okay."
Then I followed him out the door.
-
Over in the bathroom, when the two of them walked over, they met Changle who was rushing over.
Seeing the young man in bright yellow clothes, he quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the water is ready, you can bathe now."
Duan Changchuan nodded, opened his arms, and let him take off his robe.
Then she changed into a gauze bathing dress and stepped into the pool step by step.
The bathroom door creaked shut, and suddenly the only sound in the closed room was the splashing water.
The boy looked at the water quietly, sniffed, and blinked his eyes, and wet water droplets appeared on his eyelashes.
In the bathroom where no one could see, that small, bright yellow ball, with its knees bent, sat down at the bottom of the pool...
Crossing his arms, he slowly... hugged himself.
[It's okay, Duan Changchuan... that's not you. ]
Is it right…
-
The next morning, Duan Changchuan woke up at about noon. His eyes were a little swollen because he had cried last night and did not sleep well.
Changle peeled an egg and rolled it over his eyes with heartache.
"Your Majesty, are you still feeling hot? Why don't we move to the palace on the mountain? It will be cooler up there. I went there yesterday and the mountain breeze was so comfortable."
The young man was stunned for a moment, then waved his hand: "No need, there are many old ministers around me, it is not convenient to go up the mountain, this place is the best."
The young eunuch sighed helplessly: "Your Majesty is kind and merciful."
…
After breakfast, Duan Changchuan curled up on the couch and took a nap for a while, and then he felt a little better. But as soon as he closed his eyes, he would always remember the night when he took the medicine...
You know you won't die, and you also know clearly that it wasn't you, but the fear of that scene can't be shaken off...
It is a fear that comes from the bottom of my heart.
In other words, it comes from the body's fear of death.
So he still didn't sleep well, and he was still listless...
After finally getting a short sleep, he was awakened again and opened his eyes completely.
He yawned tiredly and called out, "Changle..."
I found that my voice was becoming hoarse and my throat was inexplicably dry.
more than…
The back of my neck was itchy, my whole body felt weak, and my lower body was a little... wet.
The boy rubbed his eyes and struggled to sit up.
Then I realized that the reaction in my body seemed to be getting stronger and stronger.
This situation...
If nothing unexpected happens, we will be in complete chaos tonight, right
[Should I ask Yun Xie to pass a message to my sister... asking her to come over at night? ]
However, when I thought about asking someone to come over, I felt a little embarrassed.
Or, should I just bear with it a little longer...
But there is only one day left. What difference does it make whether we meet tonight or tomorrow
[I clearly... need her very much. ]
Not just because of...
He was really, a little scared.
I’m afraid of the feeling of being on the verge of death that keeps flashing in my dreams.
Just as he was struggling, Changle pushed the door open and asked, "Your Majesty, are you awake? Are you still feeling hot? Let me fan you."
As he spoke, he brought over a glass of water and fanned himself gently with a palm-leaf fan.
After Duan Changchuan drank a glass of water, his throat finally felt better, but the heat in his body was still unbearable.
He rubbed his collar impatiently and said, "I am not feeling well today, so I will refuse anyone who comes. Let's talk about it tomorrow... the day after tomorrow."
"Yes, I will go and tell Yiman and the others right away." Changle fanned himself while observing his face carefully: "Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell? Or have you not slept well recently and are you tired? Do you want me to ask Mr. Huang to prescribe some prescriptions to calm your nerves?"
The young man yawned slightly and lowered his eyes and said, "No, it's just that I didn't sleep well last night, so I don't want to deal with official business today. Bai Su will come over tomorrow, and I still want to accompany her for a day."
The shrewd eunuch immediately understood: "Oh, it's my fault. Your Majesty and the Empress haven't seen each other for more than a month. You should have a good chat."
"Um… "
-
The summer heat was heavy and there was nothing to entertain him. Duan Changchuan only sat for a while before his eyelids began to droop again. But he didn't dare to really fall asleep, for he was always afraid that the horrible dream would come back again as soon as he closed his eyes.
"Your Majesty, please don't sleep any more. It's not good to sleep too much during the day. How about I go find Master Yun to play chess and chat with you? It won't be too late to sleep after lunch."
Changle's quiet reminder sounded in my ear.
He waved his hand and said, "No need to call him... Ask the imperial kitchen to make some sweet-scented osmanthus dumplings. Put less glutinous rice dumplings and more watermelon and lotus seeds. I want to eat them."
"Hey, I'll go right away."
Changle said this, put down the fan and went out.
As a result, when I opened the door, I met Yiman who came over.
"Master, the maidservant of the princess's family is here. She said that the princess asked her to come here and wants to see His Majesty... The princess just came here yesterday, and I didn't dare to make the decision on my own, so I came to ask you. This... should I inform His Majesty?"
"A maidservant, can you come to see His Majesty? Not to mention a mere maidservant, even the most famous civil and military officials in Shengjing City would not come to His Majesty to see you directly. What did I teach you normally?"
"I remember everything Master said... But she said that she had something important to tell her and the princess asked her to come... She also has the princess's token in her hand."
The master and the disciple spoke in low voices with the door closed, but Duan Changchuan was in the pre-pregnancy period and was very sensitive to sounds, so he could hear it clearly.
The young man supported his chin and thought: I asked Duan Qinxue to investigate the Regent yesterday, and today her maid came hurriedly... Could something have happened
After all, the Regent was someone who could send his son to a plague area for the sake of political achievements. If Duan Qinxue's actions were discovered, she would certainly be placed under house arrest.
He immediately got up and went out, telling Yiman: "Bring her here, I just want to ask her a few questions."
The two young eunuchs finally stopped mumbling and quickly bowed their bodies, lowering their eyebrows and eyes: "Yes."
-
Not long after, Yiman came over with the maid named Muge.
Mu Ge should be older than Duan Qinxue, and she also has the boldness she acquired in the Western Regions. Although she is wearing a maid's clothes, the accessories she wears still reveal some of the charm of a Western woman.
The woman walked in slowly and curtseyed calmly: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty be well and safe."
Duan Changchuan frowned after just one look.
I thought Mu Ge was looking for him for something urgent, but he was so calm from the moment he entered the room. Although he was anxious, his manners seemed to be precisely measured, and there was nothing wrong with them. Especially compared with Duan Qinxue who came to see him yesterday, the difference was obvious at a glance.
So Duan Changchuan did not let her get up, but put on the airs of an emperor and asked her, "As a maid of a princess, you entered the palace without permission and even broke into the emperor's palace. Do you know what mistake you made?"
The maidservant at the foot of the stairs knelt down in panic and explained tremblingly: "I... I grew up with the princess in the northwest since I was a child. I don't know... the princess... It was the princess who asked me to come here. She said that she couldn't go out in a big way now, so she asked me to come to find His Majesty on the pretext of buying something... She told me to make sure to give the things to His Majesty..."
As he spoke, he knelt down and took a few steps forward, took out a letter box from his bosom, held it in both hands, and presented it to Duan Changchuan: "I don't know what is in this letter, but the princess said that it is of great importance and must be delivered to Your Majesty in person... I hurried into the palace, Your Majesty, please forgive me..."
After questioning to this point, Duan Changchuan breathed a sigh of relief.
It turned out that she didn't know. No wonder she looked anxious but also very calm.
"Get up and answer the question. This won't happen again."
He said.
Then he opened the letter.
There were indeed a lot of pages in it. Duan Changchuan only took a quick look and knew clearly: they were all letters of conspiracy between Duan Jing'an and his subordinates. The letters were short, but there were a lot of them, and there were 20 to 30 pages, all placed in this letter box. Although the letters were not complete, with a little piecing together, he could piece together the other party's complete plan.
These evidences were expected, but no one expected Duan Qinxue to send all the originals directly, and even ordered her maid to deliver them as quickly as possible the next day.
Thinking of this, the young man closed the letter box and handed it back to Mu Ge, saying: "I have received the things and have read them, so return them. Tell your princess that the agreement between me and her still stands. The princess is smart, and she will definitely..."
He was halfway through his words when he suddenly froze.
Because he smelled the sudden strong scent of gardenia in the air.
That was the smell of his pheromones.
The next moment, the heat in the body that had just been suppressed rushed out like a tidal wave.