On the other side.
When Qi Zhen Emperor learned that Jing Rong was carried out of the palace with frostbite, he was very worried and secretly sent someone to the Rong Estate to inquire about the situation. Fortunately, Divine Doctor Mo was there and Jing Rong's body was strong, so there was nothing serious. Only then did he feel relieved.
As expected, dragons gave birth to dragons and phoenixes gave birth to phoenixes.
Jing Rong's temperament was just like his!
That night, Qi Zhen Emperor tossed and turned with a heavy heart, unable to sleep.
Deep in the night, he had a terrible nightmare after a short nap. When he opened his eyes, he had returned to the night of thunder and lightning fifteen years ago. More than seventy people from the Imperial Duke's residence stood in the courtyard, looking at him with fear in their eyes. Some were kneeling on the ground, trembling, and some were huddling together in fear. But he was the only one who had done so.
He was wearing a black cloak and a hat, almost hiding his face in the dark. In his hand, he held a sharp sword.
Just as lightning flashed across the sky, he pulled out his sword and ruthlessly stabbed at one of the people's throat.
Blood spurted out, and a drop of boiling hot blood splashed on his face, seeping into his skin like poison.
At that moment, everyone in the courtyard screamed, completely forgetting to beg for mercy.
Their screams were filled with despair, and even more so, the fear of impending death!
Suddenly, the Imperial Duke limped out from the crowd. His clothes were tattered from the fire, and his hair was disheveled, covering half of his face. The only eye that was exposed was filled with a bloodthirsty hatred, as if it was dripping with pus and blood.
Come out.
Step by step, he walked towards him.
Closer and closer …
Clearer and clearer …
His hand holding the sword trembled violently. Blood trickled down the corner of the Imperial Duke's pale lips. His cracked lips curled into a strange and horrifying smile. A gust of wind blew around him, lifting his hair and revealing the other half of his face. That half of his face looked like it had been burned by fire. Blood vessels were still attached to his flesh, and his eyebrows were gone, leaving only a dark red patch.
It was wrinkled, and even the eye was glued together. If one did not force one's eyes open, it would be difficult to see that it was an eye.
At a glance, one's heart trembled.
Qi Zhen Emperor was stunned. His hand loosened, and the sword fell heavily to the ground.
"Jing Li!" He called out the Imperial Duke's name in disbelief.
"Imperial Brother, Imperial Brother …" The Imperial Duke's voice sounded like it came from a bottomless abyss, sending shivers down one's spine.
His throat rolled for a long time before he said, "It's you, you forced me to do this!"
He gritted his teeth!
But the Imperial Duke actually laughed in front of him.
Laughter pierced through the dark night …
In an instant, the entire Imperial Duke's residence was engulfed in flames.
He retreated again and again, watching as the seventy-odd people struggled and screamed in front of him.
A cry for help!
The sound of weeping!
A roar!
It was extremely tragic.
His voice echoed throughout the night.
He staggered backwards, but in the next moment, a figure wrapped in flames pounced towards him.
The man by the neck was captured!
The fire instantly enveloped him.
Hot!
Hot!
"Huh?"
Qi Zhen Emperor sat up from his bed, drenched in sweat.
So … it was just a dream!
But it was very real.
He sat on the bed, panting, and did not calm down for a long time.
"Creak."
The window in the room suddenly opened, and a cold gust of wind blew in, causing the gauze curtain beside the bed to flutter. Against the faint light in the room, it blurred his vision.
Qi Zhen Emperor was still in shock, and just as he reached out to pull the gauze curtain in front of him, he saw a figure land outside.
"Who is it?"
He was extremely nervous.
Zhang Quan hurried in, crouching. "Your Majesty, it's this servant."
He heaved a sigh of relief and wiped his sweat with his sleeve.
"Did Your Majesty have a nightmare?" Zhang Quan asked.
He got off the bed in a low voice and dragged his slightly hunched body out of the inner hall with difficulty.
Zhang Quan hurriedly carried some clothes and draped them over him.
"It's already late, Your Majesty shouldn't go out."
"I can't sleep."
He had no choice but to order someone to light a new lamp and pour him a pot of hot tea.
Qi Zhen Emperor was not in the mood to drink it, and walked out of Fuyang Hall. At this time, the snow had stopped.
He looked at the large palace that was brightly lit, and his eyes couldn't help but darken a few inches.
This was his world, his hands and feet.
Zhang Quan pondered and asked, "Does Your Majesty remember the past?"
He said, "No one knows me better than you."
"This old servant has followed by Your Majesty's side for many years, and naturally understands."
Qi Zhen Emperor then dismissed the few eunuchs guarding outside the door. He looked out of the palace and said in a low voice, "Although it's been so many years, every time I think about it, I feel very pained. Why? Why did we end up like that with Jing Li? "
His tone was sorrowful!
More than that, he felt helpless. After a short pause, he continued, "Every time I think about the time before I ascended the throne, Jing Li would often come to the Eighth Prince's residence to play chess with me. His chess skills were superb, and he won almost every game against me by half a chess piece. When I occasionally won, it was because he let me win. He often said that I always lost because my mind was not set, and my chess was not focused. Yes, I had no heart.
How could I win in chess? But how good would it be if I could return to the past? I would also be willing to lose this great empire to him. Unfortunately, I had no other choice. Fate is determined from birth. It was the case for the late Emperor, for me, and for the future Crown Prince. "
He smiled bitterly.
Zhang Quan had been by his side for many years and naturally understood. Suddenly, an idea sprouted in his mind. He stepped forward and said, "This servant has a foolish idea."
"Speak."
"Prince Rong has made up his mind to investigate this matter and will not let it go. If Your Majesty tells the truth of that year to Prince Rong, perhaps …"
He was interrupted before he could finish. "No!" Qi Zhen Emperor immediately denied, "That is a scandal of the Great Lin Imperial Family, a matter that brings shame to our ancestors. If it were to be made public, where would our reputation go? Jing Li is our younger brother, and Consort Zhao is our wife. This matter concerns the honor of the Imperial Family. How can we be careless? That year's matter is in the past, and we do not wish to stir up that scar again.
Moreover, Jing Li is already dead. Why should we add more crimes to his name? If not for Qin Shiyu, we would not have agreed to reverse the verdict. Now that we can't find out the truth, there is no need to investigate further! What's important is that the matter of that year must be concealed. "
He was very determined.
Zhang Quan nodded.
He said no more.
Every time Qi Zhen Emperor thought about the matter of that year, he would feel bitter and hateful.
At this moment, the sky started to snow again, the dense snowflakes carried by the wind.
Zhang Quan said, "Your Majesty, please go in."
He nodded and turned to enter.
But —
Just as he sat down on the bed, he seemed to have thought of something.
"That's right, there is less than a month before the New Year. How did the Imperial Clan Temple arrange for the annual sacrifice?"
Zhang Quan replied, "Minister Liang has already drafted a list. He said that he has invited the Grand Master of Guang 'an Temple to recite scriptures at the Imperial Tomb."
"That's good. Summon him here tomorrow. We still have some things to tell him."
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