"Commander Wei, we can't find the way down.”An Embroidered Uniform Guard cupped his fists and reported.
"Commander Wei, we've searched everywhere. There's really no way down.”The other Embroidered Uniform Guard also returned to the gathering place.
Commander Wei stood at the edge of the cliff and looked down. The edge of the cliff was steep. If one accidentally fell down, they would only fall into a bottomless abyss.
Could the Emperor still be alive? He guessed.
Why did the Emperor jump off the cliff? If it was for self-preservation, then there was no need at all, because the situation at that time was almost under control.
Other than this, he really couldn't understand why the Emperor would jump off the cliff. That was undoubtedly a dead end!
Just as Commander Wei was puzzled, he thought of the carriage and the person in it.
It was Master Jingxin!
Could it be that the Emperor wanted to save Master Jingxin who was traveling together to worship the heavens?
However, was there a need for that?
If he needed a priest to worship the heavens, he could have sent someone to the Nation Protecting Temple to invite him. Why would he risk his life for this? The Emperor's life was much more important than a priest.
"Commander Wei, what should we do now?”a Brocade Guard asked.
"Keep looking. There must be a way to get down. Otherwise, we'll have to jump down together.”Commander Wei ordered.
In order to avoid jumping off the cliff, the Brocade Guard immediately spread out and worked harder to find a feasible path down the cliff.
The cliff was surrounded by steep cliffs, and on the east side was a huge waterfall. Zhu Youtang and Jingxin fell from there.
They searched everywhere, but they could not find a way up.
At this moment, it began to drizzle. The two of them had to give up on finding their way and return to their original resting place.
"This rain will probably last for a while.”Zhu Youtang said. He looked at Jing Xin sitting cross-legged on the ground with his eyes closed and muttering.
"Calm down…"
"Emperor, Jingxin's heart has a demon barrier that needs to be removed.”Jing Xin's eyes remained closed as he continued to chant the Heart Calming Mantra.
Her heart had already become chaotic the moment the Emperor confessed to her, and the lake in her heart was no longer clear.
What did he mean?
She said that his love was a demon?
Her words made his eyes red with anger. He grabbed her slender hand angrily." You still don't understand my feelings and insist on pushing my love to the side?”
"Emperor, Jingxin is only a nun.”
Again, he was using this stupid excuse to stall her!
If she could face everything calmly, why would she save him?
What did this mean?
"If you are really a nun, you should be able to see the world clearly and be free and easy, instead of being so depressed and sad. At least your eyes tell me that you haven't settled down. Also, you saved me. Don't lie to me with those benevolent words of Buddha. I've already seen your eagerness!”
He was so angry that his eyes turned red. He held her hand tightly and refused to let go, not letting her have the chance to close her hands and recite the heart sutra again.
"Emperor, why must you force me?" Her eyes were full of pleading, hoping that he would be merciful.
This man of noble status, what kind of woman could he not have? Why did he have to force such an immoral nun like her?
"Am I forcing you? I thought this was a blessing." He could not hide his disappointment.
Was her past really that painful? Was it so painful that she was unwilling to let him take her under his wing and protect her?
Even if he was the ruler of a country, with gold, silver, jewelry, and power, he still could not make her hand over what she wanted the most! Her heart.
"Let them cultivate the Buddhist Dharma in peace and return to Pingzhen Temple after offering sacrifices to the heavens. This is what the emperor meant by fulfilling their wishes.”Jingxin wasn't scared by his persistence. She was still her, the Jingxin who could be carefree.
"Do you really think so?" He asked for the last time.
"Yes."
"Alright, I'll fulfill your wish!"
He gritted his teeth, furious at her words.
"When I return to the palace, I will order the construction of a Guoguo Temple and let you cultivate in the palace.”
" Emperor!?"
"You can't escape from me." He hardened his heart and thought, Even if that kind of cage would force her into a corner, he couldn't care less.
He could not let the woman he loved escape from his side again. This was the only thing he wanted to do and had the time to do after so many years.
"Your Majesty…"
Jing Xin could not help but be shaken by his stubbornness.
Can't escape?
Yes.
When she entered the palace, it was destined that she would not be able to escape the shackles of worldly love, even if she devoted herself to Buddhism.
Perhaps it was because of the heavy dew in the middle of the night, or perhaps it was because his old injuries had yet to heal, Jingxin suddenly had a high fever that night and slept very uneasily, disturbing Zhu Youtang who was resting at the side.
Jingxin, what's wrong?"
After calling her several times, she did not wake up. Zhu Youtang felt a little strange. He got up and walked to her bed. Unexpectedly, he touched her body and found that her body temperature was frighteningly high.
" Ugh…" She moaned, her throat burning hot and uncomfortable.
"Calm down, wake up!"
He slapped her face and was shocked to find that her flawless face was abnormally red.
Where could he find a doctor now?
Right, the carriage!
The carriage fell off the cliff with them. As long as they found the carriage, perhaps the backup medicine in the carriage could save her.
With a thought, he immediately ran out to look for their carriage, leaving Jingxin, who was running a high fever, behind.
It was not easy for Zhu Youtang to find the overturned carriage. He only hoped that the things inside did not fall elsewhere. Otherwise, he would not know where to find the herbs.
He climbed into the carriage and only found a bundle in the corner. The big box of spare items was gone.
He knew that the baggage was calming. Jingxin did not bring any extra luggage, so the men had far more supplies than she did.
He only hoped that Jingxin had brought some medicine with her.
Hurriedly opening the bag, a golden mirror with a missing corner suddenly fell out, causing him to be shocked for a long time.
This…was this the Falling Flower Mirror?
He couldn't be sure.
That was because the back of the Falling Flower Mirror was decorated with oleander patterns, and it was bright and flawless. Although this golden mirror was made of gold and had patterns carved on its back, there was an additional poem and a missing corner.
Zhu Youtang's thoughts were in a mess in an instant. The more he wanted to clear it up, the harder it was to achieve his goal. He repeatedly looked at the golden mirror in his hand, trying to find some information, but it was in vain.
"The holy jade shines brightly on the world, and the white lotus grows in the Wanli caissons. And met the water mirror in the round, is the mortal dragon in the sky.”
He mumbled the poem on the mirror, but he could not understand the logic behind it.
It seemed that he could only ask her about the mirror.
He packed his luggage and jumped off the carriage. He rushed to the water source and helped her get some water to relieve her fever.
Such tender actions were reflected in the golden mirror.
He quickly fetched some water and rushed back.
" Water…water…" Jing Xin moaned.
Zhu Youtang immediately helped her up and fed her the water on the leaves.
"Are you feeling better?"
The cloth covering her forehead fell down, and he quickly changed it for her.
Jing Xin nodded in a daze.
"Lie down and rest! I've cooked some hot soup for you. It'll be ready soon.”
Jing Xin did not reply and fell asleep again in a daze.
Zhu Youtang looked at her and couldn't help but caress her right face. The rough under his palm made him feel distressed.
"Jingxin, you have to get well quickly. Zhen still has many things to ask you!”
He sighed and looked at her tenderly.
The mystery would eventually be solved.
When Commander Wei and a group of Jinyiwei climbed down the high cliff without caring about their lives, they finally found Zhu Youtang and Jingxin. They almost knelt down to thank the gods for their blessings.
After so many days, they almost thought that the emperor was no longer alive. Fortunately, the heavens helped. One must know how important the emperor was to Ming!
"Your humble subject pays his respects to the Emperor."
"Forget it, get up!"
"This lowly official came late to save you, please forgive me, Your Majesty.”Commander Wei was filled with guilt.
"This isn't your fault. It's this one who jumped off the cliff without considering the consequences.”Zhu Youtang saw that his men did not hesitate to risk climbing down the cliff to save him. How could he still be angry?
" Emperor, Master Jingxin, she…" Seeing the Emperor hugging Master Jingxin, everyone looked at each other and couldn't help but guess in their hearts, could it be…
"She is very sick. Since you are here, quickly find a way out for me!”
"Emperor, please take care of your dragon body. Leave Master Jingxin to us!”
"No, I can do it. You guys go find a way out.”
He insisted on holding onto his unconscious state of mind.
"Yes."
No one dared to disobey the emperor's will and could only leave with suspicion, leaving Commander Wei to look after the emperor.
"Emperor, let this lowly subject do it!"
Commander Wei stretched out his hand and pretended to hug Jingxin.
Zhu Youtang glared at him." Do I have to repeat myself?"”
"I dare not." Commander Wei retracted his hand in a daze.
This was the first time the Emperor had spoken to him with such a cold attitude. This change quickly made him think that it had something to do with Master Jingxin.
The emperor and the nun…
If they really did something, it would probably cause a huge uproar in the palace!
It began to rain again in the mountains. The sudden rain lasted for several hours. All the Brocade Guards who had been sent out to find a way out returned to the place where they had agreed to meet.
"Commander Wei, I found someone about thirty miles away. Why don't we go there and ask for help first?”
"Now that the rain is so heavy, I'm afraid we can only leave after the rain stops. Moreover, the emperor…"
Commander Wei's gaze fell on Zhu Youtang and Jing Xin. The two of them stuck close to each other, completely ignoring what the others would think.
"The emperor really is with Master Jingxin!"
"Shut up! If this matter gets out, I guarantee you'll lose your head.”Commander Wei said angrily.
Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to say another word.
"How about this? When the rain stops, go to that family first to see if there is food, drink, and horses. Buy more. You can't let the emperor walk, right?”he instructed.
"Yes, Commander Wei."
Everyone sat back down and waited for the rain to stop.
Zhu Youtang was still focused on Jingxin, who had fallen into a coma.
Her body temperature fluctuated between high and low, and he was afraid that her body would not be able to take it. But now that it was raining and he couldn't move, he hated his own helplessness.
As an emperor, there were times when he was helpless. That feeling was like when his father ordered the officials to be killed, but he could not change his father's mind. It deeply shocked him.
He was afraid that the incident from back then would repeat itself and he would lose the woman he loved again…
No! He could not let history repeat itself. He was now the emperor who ruled over the entire country. He could change everything.
What he could not make up for in the past, he would make it up to her!
The thought of heartache for Zhuyun easily shifted to Jingxin. He knew that he would do this regardless of whether he found the missing golden mirror or not.
He was still immersed in his own thoughts, and his hand did not stop touching her face. When he came back to his senses, he actually felt the burning temperature between his fingers.
She was having a fever again!
His body temperature, which he had suppressed with great difficulty, rose again, causing him to start panicking.
"Someone come! Have you found a way out?"
His shout alarmed everyone.
"The Emperor?"
"Have you found the way out?" he asked anxiously.
"Your Majesty, we didn't find the way out, but we found a house thirty miles away…"
Before he could finish listening to Commander Wei, Zhu Youtang immediately carried Jingxin and rushed out.
"Your Majesty!"
"Hurry up and follow!" Commander Wei ordered.
The group of people listened to the order and immediately followed behind Zhu Youtang.
"What? The emperor fell off the cliff!"
The news spread like wildfire in the Forbidden City. When Fu Zhenli heard Xiao Yan's report, her hysteria flared up again.
Xiao Yan nodded while trembling. Just now, when she passed by Taihe Palace, she heard the ministers say this and quickly ran to tell the Empress.
"That means…BenGong will become a widow!”
Fu Zhenli couldn't believe it. She hadn't even won the emperor's heart, yet she had to be a widow for him for the rest of her life. The heavens were so unfair to her!
"Your Majesty, this matter has not been confirmed. After all, there were twelve Brocade Guards following them, but they did not send back any news.”Xiao Yan saw Fu Zhenli's strange expression and quickly comforted her.
"Then how did you know?”
"It's Commander Wei's messenger pigeon. They said that they will go down the cliff to find the emperor.”
"What are those people doing? How did they put the emperor in danger?”Fu Zhenli asked angrily.
"It is said that the Emperor jumped off the cliff to save Master Jingxin.”
"Meditation?" Fu Zhenli thought for a moment and suddenly remembered this person. "Are you a nun sent by the Nation Protecting Temple?"
"Yes."
Hearing this, Fu Zhenli snorted coldly."What kind of bewitching method did that nun use to charm the Emperor?!"”
She believed that Jingxin was a demonic and unruly nun.
"Quickly go and find the country's father. Tell him that bengong misses the country's father and let him enter the palace to see bengong.”Father would definitely have a way. Now, she could only rely on Father.
"Yes, Empress."
Xiao Yan received the order and immediately left the palace.
Fu Zhenli walked to the mirror and looked at her own face.
She didn't believe that a nun with a broken right cheek could win the emperor's heart more than her. Besides, she still had the late emperor's secret order! Even the current emperor could not shake her position as the empress.
She would not give up the throne to anyone!
"That girl is fine. She will recover after a few days of rest.”
The doctor walked out and took out a few medicinal herbs from the medicine box.
It turned out that Zhu Youtang and his party had not found a farmer, but a doctor who lived in seclusion in the mortal world. His name was Wu Heng.
Decades ago, he had fallen into the valley due to an accident and had no choice but to recuperate here. After a long time, he decided to stay here.
There was no one else in the room other than him.
Therefore, when they braved the heavy rain to come straight, he was very surprised by this sudden visitor.
"I'll have to trouble you to fry this medicine yourself. The kitchen is at the back. Just fry three bowls of water into one bowl.”Wu Heng said.
"Thank you, doctor."
"What are you thanking me for? If it wasn't for fate, we wouldn't have met like this.”
"You're right. A doctor truly has the heart of a parent. This one admires the great sentiments of a doctor.”Zhu Youtang praised.
Wu Heng shook his head.
"Don't be a doctor. My surname is Wu, and my name is Heng.”
"My surname is Zhu, Zhu Hongzhi." Zhu Youtang said while staring at the change in the person's expression.
Perhaps Wu Heng had been in seclusion for too long, so he didn't know the current emperor's year title. Thus, he treated it as an ordinary friend and didn't have any other thoughts.
"Since we've already introduced ourselves, there's no need for formalities. I'll prepare a room for you.”
Wu Heng turned to leave after he finished speaking, but Commander Wei called out to him.
"Doctor, please take a look at our father to see if he has any external injuries.”
"I'm fine. It's just some superficial injuries.”Zhu Youtang said casually.
"Grandpa…"
"Don't tell me that all of you fell from above?”Wu Heng asked in surprise.
The cliff was so high. When he fell from there, he lay there for a few days, but they looked fine. They were indeed heroes!
"To tell you the truth, yes." Zhu Youtang replied with a smile.
"I'm really impressed by you guys. Is it for the girl inside?"
Wu Heng could see Zhu Youtang's extraordinary aura. These people who followed him would risk their lives to protect him, which showed that this person's status could not be underestimated.
"Yes." Zhu Youtang admitted.
"It's true that heroes can't resist a beauty! Alright, I'll check you one by one." Wu Heng rolled up his sleeves and checked them one by one for injuries.
Of course, the first person to be inspected was Zhu Youtang, the powerful emperor.#
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]