On a certain day eight months later.
A long convoy of carriages, accompanied by flags fluttering in the wind, arrived in front of the Dunhuang Buddhist Cave under the escort of many guards.
A woman wearing a smaller dragon robe and a smaller dragon crown jumped down from the dragon carriage and ran to the front of the cave to look around. She did not forget to touch it, but when she looked around, there were only Buddha statues or yellow sand everywhere in the cave. Where was the magnificent palace?
"Fang Wenlu, didn't you say that the Phoenix Palace is in the Buddhist Cave of Dunhuang?" The woman couldn't help but get angry. Why haven't I seen a single ghost after being here for so long?”
The Deputy of the Supreme Court, Fang Wenlu, hurriedly bowed and said,"Emperor, that Phoenix Palace is indeed inside the Buddha Cave. It's just that I heard that if no one guides you, no one can enter.”
"I'm not anyone, I'm the emperor, the emperor of Nan Liao, do you understand?”
"Yes, I understand!"
"Since you understand, then go and knock on the door!”
Fang Wenlu was a little surprised." Call, call the door?”
"That's right. When you come to someone's house, you have to call to see if there's anyone at home, don't you?”
"Yes, sir!"
"Since you say so, hurry up and call the door for me!”
"Yes, yes, yes. I'll go and call the door now!”
Fang Wenlu stroked his beard and found a place that looked like a door. He shouted,"The emperor of the Southern Liao Dynasty has arrived. The Phoenix Palace of Dunhuang is welcoming the emperor!”
It turned out that this exasperated woman who had nowhere to vent her anger was Tong Caiyi. After Tong Hao's death, under the urging of her mother, Empress Dowager Xiao, and the courtiers, she officially ascended the throne and became the emperor of the Southern Liao Dynasty.
It was very difficult for a woman to ascend the throne and become the emperor. However, the Southern Liao royal family had fallen, and Tong Hao did not have any children or brothers or uncles to succeed the throne. Secondly, Tong Caiyi had been regent for a long time with Tong Hao's identity. All the officials in the court were impressed by her decisiveness and quick-wittedness. They had also witnessed her kindness and love for the people. Under the circumstances where the country could not be without a ruler for a day, Tong Caiyi had succeeded Tong Hao as the Emperor of the Southern Liao. And because she was a woman, and Yunying was not married, the people of the Southern Liao gave her the title of Emperor E, which meant Empress E Mei.
However, although this Empress E Mei was good, she was full of boldness when she did things. She used both kindness and power, and she rewarded and punished them clearly. She even abolished the three palaces and six courtyards that Tong Hao had set up, leaving only a few serving maids and eunuchs. However, as long as she encountered something related to the name "Chu Yunzhang", she would lose her imposing manner and become a little tyrant who was jumping and impatient in an instant.
Just like now, she had forced Fang Wenlu to call the door.
How big was this Buddha Cave? Fang Wenlu, a mere deputy of the Supreme Court, wanted to open the door?
But Tong Caiyi did not care about that. She wanted Fang Wenlu to knock on her door. If Fang Wenlu couldn't open the door, then she would ask everyone to go to the door until the Feng Palace opened and handed over her Brother Yun. Who asked him to leave her alone and return to Dunhuang? Hmph!
Sigh! Poor Fang Wenlu, how could such a timid scholar who had never traveled far in his eight lifetimes open the door?
Hence, it became such a scene.
However, the tens of thousands of guards, eunuchs, and palace maids, all of whom were male and female, shouted together,""The emperor of the Southern Liao Dynasty has arrived. The Phoenix Palace of Dunhuang is welcoming the emperor!”
For a moment, the sound was so loud that the earth shook. Even the yellow sand was blown away by it. However, the Dunhuang Buddhist Cave was still as unmoving as a mountain. The Buddha statue was still the Buddha statue, and the Phoenix Palace was still unknown.
Seeing that so many people were shouting, but they still couldn't get the Phoenix Palace to open the door, Tong Caiyi was both anxious and angry. Why isn't he coming out? Do you really want me to die in front of you before you come out?
Tong Caiyi was extremely angry, and she cried out in a sad voice,"Chu Yunzhang, if you don't come out, I'll set fire to the Phoenix Palace and turn you into a roasted crow!”
However, the Buddhist Cave of Dunhuang was still as unmoving as a mountain. Clearly, Chu Yunzhang did not care that he would become a roasted crow.
Seeing that her threats were ineffective, Tong Caiyi continued,"Chu Yunzhang, I know you don't love me anymore! Since you don't love me anymore, don't blame me for being heartless. I want to go back and set up three palaces and six courtyards. I also want to confer the titles of an empress, two imperial consorts, four Zhaoyi, eight Jieyu, ten Jie'e, twelve Ronghua, fourteen…"
"Fourteen what? Is she a beauty or a talent?" A man's deep and magnetic voice rang out. A blue figure had appeared beside the Buddha statue, staring at Tong Caiyi from afar.
Tong Caiyi's eyes lit up, and she ran up to the man, shouting excitedly,""Yufeng, it's you! You're finally willing to open the door for me!”
Chu Yufeng pretended to pull his ears, and gave Tong Caiyi an expression that said," You little girl, if I hadn't come out, I'm afraid that your demonic voice would have pierced through my head and destroyed countless of my Buddha statues!"”
Tong Caiyi blushed in embarrassment." Brother Yufeng, where is Brother Yun?" Where was Brother Yun? I want to see him!"
Chu Yufeng smiled." Let's go. Sixth Brother has been waiting for you!"”
Tong Caiyi nodded happily, but she did not forget to turn around and instruct,"Fang Wenlu, you wait outside. Without this one's orders, you are not allowed to make the slightest sound, nor are you allowed to take half a step away. If a corner of the Buddha statue in this Buddha Cave is missing, I won't forgive you, understand?”
Fang Wenlu bitterly accepted the order." I will obey."”
Tong Caiyi followed Chu Yufeng into the Phoenix Palace.
Only to see vermilion railings and jade walls, tall and magnificent carved walls, cloud screens and pearl foil open together, the main hall and Qionglou confrontation. What he saw in his eyes were rare birds and beasts, and the sky was filled with multicolored clouds. What he heard was immortal music fluttering in his ears, soul-stirring. This was simply more like an imperial city than his own imperial city. It was almost the same as calling it a heavenly palace.
"Where is Brother Yun?" asked Tong Caiyi. I want to see him."
Chu Yufeng pointed at a burning fire pool and said,""Isn't he there?"
Tong Caiyi looked in the direction he was pointing at. It would have been fine if she hadn't looked, but when she did, she was shocked. It turned out that Chu Yunzhang was standing in the middle of the raging fire, suffering from the burning flames. The flames had already spread along his clothes to his hair, threatening to engulf him at any moment.
Tong Caiyi's heart was filled with grief, and she wanted to barge in without hesitation." Brother Yun! Brother Yun!"”
Seeing this, Chu Yunzhang hurriedly stopped Tong Caiyi," Cai 'er, don't come over. If you come over, you'll die too!”
Tong Caiyi cried and shook her head." I don't want to. If we're going to die, we'll die together. You can't leave me alone. You can't!"”
"Silly Cai 'er, don't cry. Big Brother Yun was afraid that you would be sad if you knew, so he quietly left.”
Tong Caiyi cried as she ran towards the fire pool." Why? Why do you have to suffer this burning punishment? You didn't do anything wrong. Why should I treat you like this?”
"Cai 'er, of course Big Brother Yun did something wrong. The biggest mistake was using the Nine Phoenix Ring to kill people.”
"Nine Phoenix Ring? You didn't use the Nine Phoenix Ring to kill people? They were the ones who killed each other. How can you be blamed for this?”
"Little fool, do you know why I'm called Yue Tian?”
Tong Caiyi sobbed and did not answer. She was so shocked and sad that she had cried herself silly.
"That's because I'm in charge of all punishments in the Phoenix Palace, so I'm called Yue Tian. However, I, the person in charge of punishment, knowingly broke the law and used the Nine Phoenix Ring to kill people. Shouldn't I be punished?”
"No, how can that be considered murder? If it weren't for their evil intentions and greed, how could they have fallen to this state today? Besides, you did this to save me. If you want to punish me, then punish me as well. You can't be the only one punished!”
Before Chu Yunzhang could refuse, Tong Caiyi had already jumped into his arms. For a moment, he was so touched that he did not know what to say." You, you fool, do you know that you will die if you do this?"”
Tong Caiyi hugged him tightly, her face pressed against his chest." Of course I know, but how can I watch you die?”
"But if you die, what about Nan Liao? You are already the monarch of the Southern Liao. How can you be so impulsive? Even if you don't think for yourself, you have to think for the thousands of people in Nan Liao, right?”
"The ruler of a country is also a human, and the ruler of a country needs someone to love him. If I can't even protect the people I love as the ruler of a country, what fun is there in being the ruler of a country? I'd rather die with you.”
"You little fool, is Brother Yun worth it?”He pressed his forehead against hers and cursed softly in a pampering and pitiful manner.
Tong Caiyi wrapped her arms around his waist and replied in a sweet voice,"If I'm a little fool, then you're a big fool. You are the Dunhuang Nine Phoenix, Yue Tian who is in charge of the Phoenix Palace's punishments and rewards, but you lowered your status for me and became some first-grade Imperial Guard with a saber. You can even give up the Nine Phoenix Ring.”
Chu Yunzhang couldn't help but laugh." So, we're two idiots, a match made in heaven?”
"Yes, I'm a little fool, and you're a big fool. We're destined to stick together forever and have a bunch of silly babies.”
"Silly baby? To give birth to a silly baby, one had to first marry! Come, let's go to the Heavenly Maiden's place to swear an oath and get married!”
Chu Yunzhang pulled Tong Caiyi and jumped outside. Tong Caiyi then realized that the raging fire that had surrounded them had disappeared without a trace, leaving only the gurgling water under their feet.
Tong Caiyi was astonished." Big Brother Yun, what's going on? Why is this fire…"
"This is called the Phoenix Pond, also known as the Water and Fire Origins. It is used by the Phoenix Palace to test one's heart.”
"A test of the heart?"
"Yes! You should know about the so-called Heavenly Fire Burning Body, right?”
"I know."
"The heavenly fire is a punishment that the Phoenix Palace uses to punish traitors. Before the people of the Phoenix Palace get married, they must swear in front of the holy daughter that they will support each other for the rest of their lives and not change until death. Those who broke the oath would suffer the pain of being burned by the heavenly fire. What you and I have just experienced is the punishment of being burned by heavenly fire.”
Tong Caiyi turned her head to the side and looked left and right. Not only was she unharmed, even the corner of her clothes was not wet.
She then looked at Chu Yunzhang and circled around him, only to find that he was also unharmed.
Hence, she shook her head." No! You're not injured, and I'm not injured either. Why do you say that we've experienced the punishment of heavenly fire?”
Chu Yunzhang couldn't help but laugh, hugging her tightly." Silly Cai 'er, don't you know that the fire of love between the two of us is stronger than all the flames in the world?”
Tong Caiyi blushed upon hearing this double meaning." Brother Yun!”
He leaned over and kissed her gently." Come, let's go see the goddess."”
Chu Yunzhang pulled Tong Caiyi along as they walked through long corridors and rooms. After climbing down a dozen stone steps, they finally arrived at a door.
"We're here!" Chu Yunzhang stood in front of the door. "Cai 'er, open the door and take a look.”
Tong Caiyi did not suspect anything and pushed the stone door open with all her might. When the stone door opened, Tong Caiyi's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but exclaim,"Aiyo, what a beautiful person!"
It turned out that behind the stone door, there was a beautiful woman in a palace dress. She was holding a ribbon in one hand and a flower basket in the other.
Tong Caiyi had never seen such a beauty before. She stood there in a daze, staring at the woman." Who are you? You're so beautiful!"
Chu Yunzhang smiled and hugged her from behind." Silly girl, this is a jade statue. Didn't you notice?”
Tong Caiyi didn't believe him at all." Nonsense! How can this be a jade statue? Look at her clothes moving, her eyes bright and spirited. Wherever I go, she will see it. How can this be a jade statue?”
"You don't believe me? Touch it."
Tong Caiyi stretched out her hand in disbelief and touched the woman's face. The woman's jade-like face was faintly flushed, and she looked no different from an ordinary person. However, when her hand touched it, the cold touch immediately told her that this was not a person. This was really a jade statue.
Tong Caiyi opened her mouth, but she was so shocked that she couldn't say anything." She, she really isn't human…"
"Of course she's not human. She's a goddess.”
"Holy daughter?"
"Yes, she's the original owner of the Phoenix Palace, the Vermillion Bird Maiden.”
"Why is she here? Why was she the only one here?”
" I heard that the Vermillion Bird Maiden had a partner, but for some reason, he left her. She was sad, so she placed the jade statue he carved for her here and made an oath. Before the people of the Phoenix Palace got married, they had to bring their partners here to swear that they would support each other for life and never change. Those who violated the oath would suffer the pain of being burned by heavenly fire.”
"Then what we just experienced was the Heavenly Fire Punishment?”
"That's right. It's precisely because we've passed the Heavenly Fire Punishment that I brought you here to see the Holy Daughter. After all, we're already husband and wife, and we can't be compared to ordinary couples, right?”
Tong Caiyi glared at Chu Yunzhang with a red face. She bent her knees and knelt down in front of the statue." Goddess, I, Tong Caiyi, am willing to marry Chu Yunzhang. We will support each other and love each other for the rest of our lives. If I go against you, I am willing to suffer the pain of being struck by lightning and burned by the heavenly fire."”
Chu Yunzhang knelt down as well." Holy Lady, I, Chu Yunzhang, am willing to take Tong Caiyi as my wife. We will support each other and love each other for the rest of our lives. If I go against you, I am willing to suffer the pain of being struck by lightning and burned by the heavenly fire.”
The two of them bowed three times to the statue of the Heavenly Maiden, then bowed three times to each other. Then, they smiled at each other and stood up while holding each other's hands.
Tong Caiyi leaned into Chu Yunzhang's arms and whispered,""Brother Yun, from now on, you are my husband, right?”
Chu Yunzhang nodded without a doubt." Yes!”
"But…I'm the emperor of the Southern Liao Dynasty!" the little girl said proudly.”
He looked at her from the corner of his eyes, looking carefree and at ease." So what? Even if you are the emperor, you cannot change the fact that you are my wife.”
"But shouldn't the emperor have an empress?”
"Yes, there should be an empress."
"But I'm a woman and you're a man. How can a man be the Empress?”
Chu Yunzhang shrugged nonchalantly." It's up to you. As long as I know that you're my wife and I'm your husband, that's enough.”
"But don't emperors have three palaces and six courtyards?”
Chu Yunzhang's eyes widened as if he knew what the little girl was thinking.
He gave Tong Caiyi a wicked smile." I remember now. Someone was talking about making an Empress, two Imperial Concubines, four Zhaoyi, eight Jie Yu, ten Jie Er, and twelve Rong Hua, right?”
Tong Caiyi played with her fingers guiltily." Who told you to leave me in NanLiao? When I came to Dunhuang, you left me outside and ignored me. So I thought,'Well, I'm the emperor anyway…'
Chu Yunzhang reached out to hug her and leaned his handsome face closer to her." How about being the emperor?" Could an emperor have three palaces and six courtyards?”
"Didn't the other emperors do the same?”
He laid her down on the ground, his sturdy body slowly pressing down on her." I don't care about the other emperors. I only know that you are mine! I will never allow you to have other men. You are not even allowed to look at them, understand?”
" But I just became the emperor and have a lot of things to do. You don't care about anything and leave me alone in Nan Liao. I, I..."
It turned out that the little girl was concerned about Chu Yunzhang leaving her alone in Nan Liao.
Chu Yunzhang was enlightened. He hugged her and laid on top of her. I didn't mean to leave you alone in Nan Liao. I just feel that Tong Hao has just died. As the new ruler, you must have a lot of things to do. Moreover, if the officials of the court or the people of Nan Liao knew that their monarch Tong Hao had died for the sake of the Nine Phoenix Ring, how would they view us?”
At the mention of Tong Hao's death, Tong Caiyi's face darkened." Actually, you can't be blamed for the Emperor's death. He can only blame himself for being blinded by his own thoughts. He didn't know how to judge people, and he had delusions of wanting to unify the world. That's why such an irreversible tragedy happened. So, how can you be blamed?”
Chu Yunzhang gently caressed her face." Then will you blame me? Blame me and Shangguan Yao 'er for doing such a shameful thing?”
"It would be a lie to say that I don't blame you. After all, no woman would be able to tolerate her lover doing such a thing. But when I saw her end up in such a miserable state for the sake of the Nine Phoenix Ring, I suddenly realized how lucky I was. I was lucky enough to have you, to have your person, and your heart.”
Tong Caiyi raised her head and kissed Chu Yunzhang.
Chu Yunzhang accepted it without hesitation and took the initiative instead of being passive. He pressed Tong Caiyi under his body, and his large hands naturally unbuttoned her clothes. Countless kisses fell on her eyebrows, her eyes, and her small mouth at the same time.
Tong Caiyi panted." No, Brother Yun, the goddess is here. We can't…"
"The holy daughter doesn't know how to speak! Moreover, the holy daughter is too happy to see us being so loving. How could she have any objections?”
"But Fang Wenlu…"
"What happened to Fang Wenlu?" As he spoke, Chu Yunzhang had already taken off Tong Caiyi's dragon robe, revealing her exquisite and graceful figure beneath it. He didn't understand. What did their intimacy have to do with Fang Wenlu?
"Fang Wenlu is still waiting for me outside…"
Chu Yunzhang covered her mouth and sucked hard." Let him wait. What's more important than us having a silly baby?"”
"But…"
"Shut up, my little emperor, you have too much. I don't want to hear it. From now on, you're not allowed to say the word 'but'.”
"But…"
Before Tong Caiyi could finish her sentence, Chu Yunzhang had already kissed her.
As for whether or not she said anything else, only she and Chu Yunzhang knew!#
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。