"Sir, why don't you take a rest."
Lightning appeared in the sky along with the heavy rain, illuminating the two people clinging to the cliff.
Zhao Chongjiu and Pei Wenxuan had already been wet from the rain, both of them were tied with hemp ropes, and on their backs were carrying packages containing commonly used life-saving medicinal herbs, bandages, fire books and other items.
Pei Wenxuan arranged all the matters, and after instructing people to enter the mountain from the outside and enter the bottom of the cliff, he asked people to prepare hemp rope and insisted on going down the cliff by himself.
It would take at least one night to go from the school field around the periphery to the bottom of the cliff. If you climbed directly down the cliff without stopping, you could reach the bottom of the cliff in less than two hours. But because there is no such a long rope, many ropes are needed in the middle to tie the person down. In this way, once something goes wrong on the rope, or the person climbing the cliff slips and falls beyond the strength of the rope support, it is extremely dangerous.
But Pei Wenxuan didn't worry about other people falling off the cliff. He was afraid that they would not care, that they would not be alert enough, and that some of them would be traitors. At this critical moment of life and death, Pei Wenxuan did not feel relieved to hand Li Rong to anyone.
So he was accompanied by Zhao Chongjiu and went down the cliff together.
They climbed all the way down from the top of the cliff. Although it was a high cliff whose bottom could not be seen clearly, Pei Wenxuan landed his hand on the stone and stepped on the cliff. He had an inexplicable peace of mind when he heard his voice.
He was walking on the road that Li Rong walked, if Li Rong came to the end of her life.
Then, he is also walking on this dead end.
So he started going down from nightfall, his speed down the cliff was controlled evenly, and he didn't say a word from beginning to end, the whole person seemed to extract all his emotions, and calculated precisely, the next step is to step on the stone Last, next time, when should you let go.
Halfway through the climb, his hands had been crushed by stones and had all wounds, and his skin had already been broken.
But his expression didn't change. Zhao Chongjiu looked at his appearance. Although he couldn't see anything, he couldn't help reminding: "Sir, you can rest for a while."
"I'm fine," Pei Wenxuan repeated, "I'm fine. Go on."
Saying that, he lowered his foot and stepped on the next stone.
Just stepping on the stone, the stone could not bear his strength, and it spread out suddenly. He rowed straight down the cliff, the sharp stone rubbed against his clothes, and cut hot wounds on his skin. The rope slid down quickly, and the people above were so shocked that several people quickly grabbed the rope together, Zhao Chongjiu couldn't help but shouted, "Sir!"
Pei Wenxuan didn't speak. When he fell quickly, he looked at the entire cliff like a wolf, and then suddenly shot, and slammed it on a bump he had observed earlier. After stabilizing his figure, he raised his head slightly, Completely calm like a first-time rock climber: "I'm fine, continue."
He will not die here.
Li Rong's life or death is uncertain, he will never die here.
When Pei Wenxuan walked down the cliff, in the cave, the light of lightning reflected on Su Rongqing's face.
Li Rong looked at him, she didn't say anything, her face didn't change at all, as if this was something she had already accepted, understood, and recognized, and it was a very common thing.
"What's the reason?"
Li Rong spoke, her voice hoarse: "Chuan'er... You shouldn't have killed me."
She assisted Li Chuan all his life.
She was his sister, the closest person with the same blood after their parents left.
Even if he was worried that she was too powerful, he shouldn't directly kill her like this.
"In the twenty-five years of Dexu, His Highness was wandering outside, and he came across an alchemist. It was rumored that he possessed a unique skill. His Highness inquired about it in many ways, and asked him many times when he went up the mountain. Only then did he invite the alchemist to go down the mountain and introduce him to His Majesty."
Su Rongqing's voice was very soft, and Li Rong slowly opened her eyes.
"In the twenty-eighth year of Dexu, His Majesty began to feel unwell, and began to thoroughly investigate the palace, but it was finally settled. Soon after, the alchemist dedicated to His Highness died in a lake after drinking."
"Is there something wrong with that alchemist?"
"That alchemist," Su Rongqing pursed her lips, "was carefully selected by the noble family, arranged by Shangguanya, deliberately guided, and let His Highness meet by chance."
"So, Chuan'er thought I was going to kill him?"
Li Rong thought it was a little funny: "Why didn't he ask me? Ask me..."
"If that alchemist was really deliberately placed beside Your Majesty, would His Majesty admit it?"
Su Rongqing asked back, but Li Rong was speechless.
Su Rongqing was right.
Whether or not she really wants to kill Li Chuan, Li Chuan can't ask the truth from her. If you can't ask, why should you speak
"and after?"
Li Rong controlled her emotions: "Since it was found out at the time, why didn't you investigate me directly? The person I sent over has a problem. If he wants to pursue it, he can do it."
"How does he do it?"
Su Rongqing asked directly: "At that time, you were the eldest princess representing the family, and the eldest princess who held great power. If he wanted to make a big splash to encourage you, how sure would you be?"
"so what?"
"So he chose to poison. You go to the palace every seven days to play against him. On top of the chess piece is Xiangmeiren. Over time, it has already penetrated the bones and spleen, so after 28 years of Dexu, you have been unwell. ."
"From then on, you knew." Li Rong looked at Su Rongqing, "I know that I was poisoned."
"Yes," Su Rongqing lowered her eyes, "I will put the antidote in a sachet and let everyone wear it to delay the toxicity."
"Why didn't you save me?"
This question was asked, as if unable to answer, there was a long silence.
"say."
Li Rong clenched her fists: "It's this time, what else can't you say?"
"It's Shangguanya, decide with me."
When Su Rongqing said this, her voice trembled a little: "Actually, we all know that the most important thing in your heart is never the family. Once we have a conflict with Li Chuan, you will immediately defect. So we decided to wait and see. The antidote is in hand, it is always a matter of time to detoxify you, and killing you is also a simple effort."
"And then? Who decided to kill me in the end?"
"Later, Li Chuan became more and more ill. In the early morning of the day you died, Li Chuan vomited blood in the palace. He summoned Pei Wenxuan to enter the palace to issue a widow. After Pei Wenxuan received the widow, Li Chuan asked him a question."
"He asked Pei Wenxuan what would happen to Pei Wenxuan if you rebelled after he died."
"Pei Wenxuan told him that you are his sister and you will never do this."
When these words came out, Li Rong stared at him, tears finally rolling out of her eyes.
Su Rongqing paused, and Li Rong only said, "Continue."
"So Li Chuan knows that Pei Wenxuan can never kill you. Because you in his heart will never betray you."
"After Pei Wenxuan left, Li Chuan fell into a coma. Before he fell into a coma, he issued a death order to poison you. When Shangguanya learned that he was in a coma, he immediately locked the palace to prevent everyone from entering and leaving, and then Tell me, this is the best chance."
"What chance?" Li Rong couldn't help laughing.
Su Rongqing also smiled: "The chance to gain control of the princess' mansion."
"So, Pei Wenxuan came to me because he got the widow and wanted to talk to me for the last time. At that time, you didn't know about the lockup of the palace, and as before, you were worried that Pei Wenxuan would be used by Li Chuan. Xiangmeiren gave him an antidote sachet. Later, you learned that Shangguan Ya sent a letter that when Li Chuan poisoned me, you obviously could detoxify, but you chose to stand by and watch."
"Yes."
Su Rongqing did not deny it, but Li Rong nodded, expressing her understanding: "But I still don't understand why Li Chuan wanted to kill me at the last moment. He could have killed me earlier, so why delay it until the last moment?"
"Because in His Majesty's mind, the entire court and court are just a game of chess. His greatest responsibility in life is to maintain the balance of the game."
"In those days when the family was prosperous, His Majesty's iron-blooded hand beheaded more than half of the official family, and even his uncle was ordered to be executed by him. He also killed the entire Su family and threatened hundreds of families. In fact, at that time, the family had secretly formed an alliance, intending to rebel. It's just that His Majesty suddenly announced his retirement from the palace, Xiuxian asked, His Highness became the eldest princess of the supervisory country, and the family was able to appease and decide to endure. In fact, this is His Majesty's means of balancing."
"Later, His Majesty secretly carried Pei Wenxuan, and Pei Wenxuan Qin Lin supported the Han people with one word and one martial arts, and formed a confrontation with His Highness. Then His Highness thought, if His Majesty died, will this balance still exist?"
"Why not?" Li Rong didn't understand, "Pei Wenxuan is the head of the Han clan..."
"But what if you want to kill him?"
Su Rongqing interrupted Li Rong's words, Li Rong was a little dazed, Su Rongqing smiled bitterly: "His Royal Highness, thirty years, how did Pei Wenxuan feel for you, when he said to His Majesty, 'You are His Majesty's sister, you will never rebel' , isn't it clear? He has been with your political enemy for so many years, but in the end, he never thought that you would betray you."
"Pei Wenxuan won't kill you, and behind you, there are me and Shangguanya. If you want to kill him, it's too easy."
Li Rong stared blankly at Su Rongqing: "A chess piece against a chess piece, in Li Chuan's mind, it's never Pei Wenxuan, but himself. If he's dead and you're still alive, the game will be out of balance."
"Leave Pei Wenxuan and Qin Lin to assist Li Ping and fight against the family headed by the prince. After the bloodbath, the chess game will be balanced. The next monarch will not face the same situation as him when he ascends the throne and is constrained by any party."
"If you are alive, as long as you kill Pei Wenxuan, the poor family will no longer be able to resist, and as the eldest princess, your power is so high, the new monarch can't tolerate you, and you can't tolerate another, it will restrain your new Sir."
"So, Your Highness, in fact, whether or not there is that alchemist, you and Li Chuan are all dead. It's just a matter of time."
Li Rong was speechless.
Everything Su Rongqing said was actually true.
Lust for profit, she endured Li Chuan because Li Chuan was her younger brother. If either Li Ping or Li Xin ascended the throne and disobeyed her like Li Chuan, she didn't know how long she could endure.
I am used to being in a high position and have nothing, so I can only hold on to power tightly.
Now that I look back and think, other people are beyond recognition, why is she not
The alchemist was the introduction that Li Chuan didn't believe her, but if Li Chuan was seventeen-year-old Li Chuan, he would have come to her door and asked her what was going on.
It's just that Li Chuan, who is 48 years old, has long been a king who doesn't believe in anyone and can give up on anyone.
Li Rong took a deep breath and lowered her head: "So, everything you do now is for revenge?"
"His Royal Highness," Su Rongqing smiled bitterly, "What about revenge after reliving what happened in the last life? Rong Qing just felt that Li Chuan would repeat the same mistakes even if he had a new life."
"Li Chuan is too ambitious and too difficult to control. He can't tolerate aristocratic families, nor his future highness. Your Highness, you are not willing to be a woman raised in the backyard of a deep palace. When Li Chuan ascends the throne, sooner or later, you will meet with swords and swords. ."
"Did we treat Li Chuan badly in the last life? He was abolished by Li Ming and became the prince in distress. It was the family that assembled the military power of a hundred families and gave him the throne. But what happened later?"
"He is so greedy for merit, he will go on a northern expedition and reform the system. The harem only favors Concubine Qin, the previous dynasty suppressed nobles, killed his uncle and trapped his mother, imprisoned the queen mother in the palace, and made unjust cases to frame my Su family. Until the end, For the sake of power, even you have not let go."
"Such a monarch," Su Rongqing stared at Li Rong, "how could I just watch him ascend to the throne?"
"So," Li Rong tried to put everything Su Rongqing scolded behind her. She didn't want to hear or think about it. She restrained her emotions and just continued to ask, "When you came back, you already made up your mind to abolish him. ."
"Yes." Su Rongqing didn't hide it, "From the beginning, I planned to abolish him. I originally thought that I didn't need to do anything, just like the last life, when His Majesty abolished Li Chuan, I would not let him. The family accepted Pei Wenxuan's persuasion and persuaded his father to accept Li Cheng's ascension to the throne. Li Cheng is only eleven now. Xiao Su is weak and incompetent, and Concubine Rou is greedy for money and shortsighted. , I killed him and supported the young emperor. At that time, I will be in power, and I will welcome His Highness back to Beijing."
"Then why are you approaching me and pretending to take refuge with the prince?"
"Firstly, I want to contact His Highness. His Highness has changed too much in this life and needs to be observed. Second, if necessary, I would like to act as an inner responder and take down Li Chuan."
"Since Li Chuan ordered me to kill me in the last life, and you want to be his enemy again, why didn't you tell me earlier? You have to recognize me when I ask if you are the murderer?"
Su Rongqing didn't speak, Li Rong forced a smile: "Could it be that you're afraid I'll be sad?"
"His Royal Highness has only one relative in his life. No matter what I say or not, His Highness will never wave a knife at him because of this. If that's the case, why say more?"
"If I succeed, His Highness will hate me. If I fail, it will not damage His Highness's brotherhood."
After listening to Li Rong, she was not surprised. She was silent, and there were faint voices from outside. Su Rongqing looked out of the cave, her voice calm: "Does your Highness still want to ask?"
Li Rong was silent, she hugged herself and looked at the beating fire in front of her. After a long time, she whispered: "Chuan'er doesn't believe me, I think I killed him and his children for power, but you and Aya, why don't you believe me, just watch me die, and then take the power. in hand?"
"Your Highness asked this question, do you really want to know?"
Su Rongqing leaned against the wall and watched as the fire made a crackling sound and sparks rose up.
They vaguely heard the call, which was far away, as if in another world, coming across thousands of mountains and rivers.
When Li Rong heard Su Rongqing's reply, she couldn't help hugging herself a little: "Go ahead."
"Because, Li Xin," Su Rongqing said with difficulty, "is not Li Chuan's child."
Hearing this, Li Rong froze, she slowly raised her head in disbelief, and Su Rongqing lowered her head, seemingly embarrassed.
"Shangguanya fell in love with my eldest brother back then, but because of his family, he was forced into the palace and became a crown princess. My eldest brother decided not to marry her for the rest of his life. It was a good idea, but after Li Chuan and Qin Zhenzhen got together, he didn't She touched anyone in the harem again. Shangguanya soon realized that Li Chuan would never touch anyone in the harem again. She entered the palace for Shangguan's family and became the queen just to keep the crown prince. She could be a widow for the rest of her life, but she couldn't Allow yourself to be a widow for the rest of your life without a child."
"So what?" Li Rong felt her stomach churning.
"So Shangguanya found my eldest brother and got Li Xin in time."
Hearing this, Li Rong felt like she was being pushed into the water by someone, and all the nausea, disgust, and panic rushed up.
Everything has a reason.
Why did Su Ronghua kill Qin Zhenzhen, because Su Ronghua wanted to keep his child and Shangguanya.
Why did Li Chuan use palace torture to humiliate the Su family in the end, because he knew that Su Ronghua had an affair with Shangguan Ya.
Why did Su Rongqing finally form an alliance with Shangguanya, when Li Chuan was dying, she stood by the aristocratic family, and he even loved her, he decided to watch her die—because he wanted to keep the last bloodline of his eldest brother.
She was dead, and Pei Wenxuan was dead. With the methods of Su Rongqing and Shangguanya, the throne was almost at your fingertips for Li Xin.
digusting.
so ugly.
These ugly human hearts and interests are intertwined, and the last life has become a cobweb that exudes a stench, entangling everyone.
Father and son are not father and son, siblings are not siblings, husband and wife are not husband and wife, and friends are not friends.
Everything in the last life was a rotten swamp full of disgusting pus. At first, I thought it was just rotting branches and leaves. When I opened up the rot accumulated above the swamp, I found that there were even more ugly human bones. , those flesh and blood boiled into a thick slurry, and the gulugulu stinks.
Li Rong felt that countless past events flashed across her eyes, and those past events drowned her, she couldn't breathe, she could barely move.
But she couldn't indulge.
She had to go, she had to leave, she couldn't die in this mess with them anymore.
She vaguely heard someone calling not far away, and that person's voice was hoarse and mixed in the rain.
But she still heard it.
It was Pei Wenxuan.
It was in these two lifetimes that he never really betrayed her and always guarded her. When everyone betrayed her, Pei Wenxuan was the only one who believed in her.
She wants to go, she wants to escape, she wants to go to him.
When this thought came to her, Li Rong couldn't hold back any longer. She desperately stumbled to her feet and rushed towards the door.
Seeing her appearance, Su Rongqing quickly got up and chased after her: "His Royal Highness..."
"Let go!"
Li Rong took a sharp swipe with the dagger in her hand, and stared at him with eyes full of water vapor: "I was touched!"
After speaking, she rushed out like crazy.
Her foot was injured, and every step was painful, but she still ran in the direction of the man's voice.
"Pei Wenxuan!"
She shouted Pei Wenxuan's name loudly: "Pei Wenxuan!"
Pei Wenxuan turned around abruptly in the jungle, and rushed over looking for the direction of the voice.
The two were shouting at each other in the heavy rain, looking for each other's voices, until at the end, Pei Wenxuan pulled apart a piece of thorns with his hands, and then saw a girl who seemed to be greatly frightened and rushed into his arms.
The moment she hugged him, Li Rong seemed to have found the other side of her life, and finally burst into tears.
"Take me away," she was trembling, gritted her teeth, and begged him crying, "Pei Wenxuan, take me away. Don't let me stay there, take me away."
Take her away.
Take her away from all those unbearable, hopeless, disgusting things.
Pei Wenxuan had never seen Li Rong like this before, she had almost completely collapsed, her whole body was enveloped in despair and fear, and Li Rong, who was about to shatter at the slightest touch.
He felt that her cry was like a sharp blade, cutting back and forth on his heart. He had never felt such pain before, and every fingertip seemed to be twitching slightly.
He stretched out his hand and protected Li Rong in his arms.
The thorns fell and stuck on him, he didn't realize it, restrained his emotions, suppressed the water vapor in his eyes, raised his arms and hugged this soft girl who seemed to be unable to stand the slightest wind and rain, bowed his head and kissed her hair gently .
"Don't cry," he said hoarsely, coaxing her gently, "Rongrong, I found you, I'll take you home."