In order not to delay the trip to worship the heavens, Zhu Youtang ignored everyone's objections and sent everyone to the Temple of Heaven in Nanjing to announce the delay of the worship. He and Feng Zhuyun rode behind.
After bidding farewell to their savior, Wu Heng, they were about to set off.
"Take care, Brother Zhu, Miss Zhuyun. If you want to invite me to a wedding banquet in the future, don't forget to inform me.”
"Yes, we will send someone to pick you up.”Zhu Youtang replied. He saved the emperor, so the treatment he received would be very different.
Feng Zhuyun hid in Zhu Youtang's arms with a blushing face.
"Remember that there is a path to walk on. Don't jump down from the top.”Wu Heng teased. It turned out that there was a cave on the right side of where he lived. That cave could lead to the outside.
"Hahaha! You're such a joker." Zhu Youtang remembered this person. If there was a chance in the future, he would let him be the imperial doctor in the palace. It was also considered to be making the best use of his talent.
"We're leaving." After waving goodbye, the two of them set off on their journey.
The sun shone on the green grass, giving off a dazzling golden light. Accompanied by a cool breeze, the weather was refreshing and pleasant.
"What's wrong? What are you thinking about?"
Zhu Youtang had been paying attention to Feng Zhuyun for a long time. Along the way, she was unhappy.
"I'm thinking about the Empress."
At the mention of her, Zhu Youtang frowned." There's nothing between us.”
"Youtang, that's not what I meant. It's just…I feel like she loves you very much.”She remembered that the day before she left the palace, the Empress had come to the Abstinence Palace to make a scene. It made her feel that the Empress loved him deeply, but she and him…
"That's her business. I have you, so I can't care about her.”
He was telling the truth. He had never chosen the Empress. He only had Zhuyun in his heart. That was a love that had been set ten years ago, and no one could change it.
" How can we be so selfish…" Feng Zhuyun subconsciously bit his lower lip, not knowing what to do.
"Zhuyun, how can this be called selfish? In terms of knowing each other, we came first, and in terms of knowing each other, we came first. She was the third party who barged into our relationship!”
He slowed down and let the horse stomp on the spot. If he still couldn't solve Zhuyun's problem, what future would they have?
"But she…"
"Zhuyun, I only hate myself for not being able to give you a title. She was chosen by my father. Even if I am the emperor now, I cannot divorce her. But you can have my love, my person, and everything of mine!”
"Youtang!" Her slender hand covered his lips." Don't say anymore. I understand."”
"Then…you won't be unhappy?”
Feng Zhuyun shook his head."I'm just afraid that the Empress will take things too hard."”
"You're underestimating her too much. She's not such a weak person. Zhuyun, promise me that if she throws a ball at you after we return to the palace, you will throw it back to her and fight back.”
"What do you mean?"
"She won't keep quiet. She'll definitely take action.”he said with certainty.
"Yes, I understand." With him accompanying her on the long journey of life, what was there to be afraid of?
On the grass, the horse galloped eastward.
Finally, Zhu Youtang and Feng Zhuyun arrived in Nanjing.
Today was the 18th of the 9th month of the lunar calendar. Cang Sheng's teacher, Qianqiu, was nine days later than the scheduled date. However, in front of the emperor, many officials did not dare to have any objections.
The people who entered the Temple of Heaven early in the morning brought the sacrificial offerings they had prepared to see the face of the emperor.
In front of the solemn altar, there were red candles burning with flames. Thick smoke rose from them as if they were trying to scare monsters and ghosts. The atmosphere was strange and difficult to distinguish.
"Zhuyun, is that okay?" He looked at her worriedly.
When the two of them came to Nanjing together, she had told him that she was afraid of fire.
When she was in the palace, her abnormality was also due to the candle flame.
According to the ancient rites, candles had to be lit on the altar even during the day to show the country's prestige. Secondly, the ancient fire had the power to ward off evil spirits. With the help of the fire, many sacrifices and paper money could be sent to the hands of the gods. Third, fire had the effect of illuminating the darkness and entering the light. Therefore, even the emperor could not change this custom since ancient times.
However, her paleness made him unable to bear it.
"Your Majesty, there's no problem." Feng Zhuyun nodded and changed into a flaming red sacrificial robe. She looked uneasy.
"But I think you…"
"Emperor, I am a priest! Your people have been waiting for this day! That's why I can't be afraid." Feng Zhuyun smiled, but his heart felt like it was being pressed down by a stone.
His heart ached when he saw her gasp, but it was almost time, and he couldn't stay by her side.
"Emperor, you can leave first! I'm fine."
"Alright then! Remember, don't force yourself." Before he left, he reminded her again.
"Yes, I know." Looking at his back as he walked further and further away, she felt that she was filled with happiness. How she wished that this moment could last forever.
She chanted in her heart. Soon, her uneasiness disappeared. She was suppressed by happiness and courage. She was no longer afraid.
At noon, Feng Zhuyun walked up to the altar with a torch in her hand. Behind her were the ministers of the court, led by the Emperor. There were six ministers from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Rites. Behind them were two assistant ministers from each department, including the priest and the Emperor, a total of twenty. The guards were stationed outside the Temple of Heaven. At the foot of the stairs, there were many people kneeling on the ground. The number of people was hard to estimate.
After everyone stood still, Feng Zhuyun, who was high up in the air, took a torch and lit a huge cauldron that weighed a thousand pounds. The flame exploded in an instant, scaring her so much that her hands almost went soft. Zhu Youtang looked at her worriedly.
Taking a deep breath, Feng Zhuyun calmed himself down. He first chanted a few words of Buddhist language and then led the ministers to pay their respects one by one.
Suddenly, the world spun, and the items in everyone's hands scattered all over the ground. "It's the wrath of the heavens. The heavens are angry!”
"The Emperor?" Feng Zhuyun cried out in alarm. He turned around and saw the cauldron coming toward them from the highest point like a rolling ball.
"Hurry up and leave!" Everyone noticed this strange phenomenon and panicked. Their footsteps also became chaotic, and the scene instantly became a mess.
The flames in the cauldron were burning fiercely, and everywhere they rolled down was covered in flames. Everyone followed the stairs, afraid that they would be crushed to death by the cauldron if they were too late.
"Your Majesty…"
"Let's go, let's go!"
Feng Zhuyun's panicked voice drowned out her frightened voice. All she could see was flames, and she couldn't move.
Zhu Youtang pushed aside the crowd and came to her side. His long arm wrapped around her and pulled her into his embrace. The warm touch shocked her.
"Your Majesty…"
"It's okay. Let's go." He brought her to the end of the stairs. At this time, the people at the bottom of the stairs had already dispersed. Some were looking for water to put out the fire, while others were helping to drive them away. The situation was extremely critical.
The flames in the cauldron were blown by the wind, and the flames flickered. This strange phenomenon was seen by everyone present, and it turned into untrustworthy suspicion.
"Why don't you love me? Why?”A mournful voice suddenly sounded, clear and strange.
The two of them looked at each other, not knowing where the voice came from.
"Why don't you love me? Why did you lie to me?”
The intermittent cries were like a sorrowful woman locked up in her boudoir, waiting for her husband to visit, but he did not come.
They seemed to have been bewitched by this strange sound and forgot the danger behind them. They could only stand where they were, unable to move.
"Emperor, be careful!"
When the exclamation came, Zhu Youtang held down Feng Zhuyun, who had lost his mind, and turned over to block it for her, his back facing the cauldron.
"Your Majesty!"
When the cauldron hit him, she was also affected, and her thoughts were immediately shaken back.
When she saw him block the cauldron for her, the depression in her chest condensed and she spat out a mouthful of blood, dyeing her eyes red.
"No, I can't! Your Majesty…"
Both of them were pushed to the ground by the cauldron. They rolled a few times before stopping, but he had already fallen unconscious.
"Your Majesty!" Feng Zhuyun shouted and fainted.
The cauldron rolled down the stairs and finally stopped moving. The people splashed water everywhere to put out the fire. The guards came over when they heard the news. They saw that the entire open space was filled with people, and there was no sign of any officials.
After a while, the entire Temple of Heaven was reduced to ruins.
The news that the Emperor was seriously injured and the Temple of Heaven was engulfed in fire quickly spread back to the capital.
The whole strange process of offering sacrifices to the heavens was regarded as a symbol of the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people. The number of rebels in various places increased day by day, and the ministers of the imperial court were leaderless, and everyone was in danger.
The long night passed!
"How is the Emperor?" As soon as the door was pushed open, Feng Zhuyun saw Zhu Youtang lying unconscious on the bed.
"Master, please stay away from the Emperor." Commander Wei said expressionlessly.
Feng Zhuyun's heart ached when he saw how distant he was. She really didn't know why things had turned out this way.
She didn't want this to happen!
"I just want to know the emperor's situation.”
"If master can stay further away from the emperor, the emperor will recover faster.”Commander Wei replied coldly.
"But…"
He looked so haggard. She really wanted to know what was wrong with him.
Could he get up and talk to her again?
He was the only one who could calm his chaotic heart. However, he had also harmed him.
Silent tears rolled down her face. She begged Commander Wei to let her see the Emperor, but Commander Wei's face was emotionless.
"Master Jingxin, please return. We have confirmed that we will be returning to the capital tomorrow.”His meaning couldn't be clearer. He didn't want her to follow the Emperor, she would harm the Emperor.
When the Emperor jumped off the cliff for her, he should have guessed it. If he had stopped him then, perhaps this wouldn't have happened.
"Are you going back to Beijing tomorrow?" So soon, then they wouldn't have a chance to meet again, right?
"This is everyone's decision. We will send someone to send Master back to the Nation Protecting Temple.”
"No, I'm not leaving!"
Feng Zhuyun said firmly. She wanted to stay, to stay by the Emperor's side. They had sworn an oath together that they would never leave each other for life, no matter what would come for her.
"I want to stay by the emperor's side." She said it again, but Commander Wei didn't think much of it.
"Do you think they will let you stay by the emperor's side? Don't forget, the person who caused the emperor to become like this is you.”He was telling the truth.
"No matter what you say, I will follow the emperor.”
"You will kill the emperor."
Feng Zhuyun was speechless. Commander Wei was telling the truth!
She was an ominous woman. It wasn't enough that she harmed her family, and now she wanted to harm the emperor…Such thoughts quickly surfaced in her mind, and it was out of control.
"I won't let you have the chance to kill the emperor.”
Commander Wei's words were like a sharp blade that pierced deeply into her heart, making her unable to resist and could only cry silently.
"Don't…Don't let your imagination run wild…"
Zhu Youtang's voice came between the two of them, and they both looked at the bed.
"Emperor, you're awake!"
Feng Zhuyun wanted to run to the bed but was stopped by Commander Wei.
"You can't go over."
"Let her come over."
The emperor's orders could not be disobeyed, so Commander Wei retreated.
"Your Majesty!"
"You may leave!" he ordered.
"But Emperor, you…"
"Tell them that I am fine."
Commander Wei had no choice but to leave. Before he left, he glared at Feng Zhuyun, but Feng Zhuyun did not notice it. Zhu Youtang was the only person in her heart.
"I'm fine. Don't push the responsibility onto yourself again. It was just a coincidence!”He knew what she was thinking.
"It's all my fault…"
"What are you talking about? It was just an accident.”He hugged her with both hands and let Feng Zhuyun lean against his chest. "It's not your fault. They don't understand. When I recover, I'll explain it to them.”
"Your Majesty…"
"Didn't we agree to call me Youtang in private?”He furrowed his brows in displeasure. He thought that there was no longer any barrier between them.
"I…"
"Alright, don't cry. You know I can't do anything when you cry.”He wiped her tears away." You're still as crybaby as before.”
"Emperor…Youtang, are you really alright?”
"I'm fine, but my back hurts a little. I'm afraid I'll have to lie down and go back.”He smiled slightly." Don't say silly things like it's all your fault. I've said it before, this has nothing to do with you. It's because I didn't react fast enough that I was hit by the cauldron. I deserved it."”
Feng Zhuyun was extremely touched by his words of comfort. However, she had already decided that after she confirmed that he was fine and sent him back to the palace, she would leave immediately.
The truth was the truth. No matter how indifferent he was, she knew deep down that she was indeed an ominous woman. Staying by his side would only harm him.
Thinking of this, the sadness of parting quickly spread in his heart, and the big stone in his heart could no longer be moved.
"By the way, where did that voice come from? Did you hear that?" Zhu Youtang changed the topic.
" You heard it too?!" She was shocked. He once thought that it was his illusion, but Youtang heard it too.
"Yes, it's a woman's voice." He nodded. If he did not hear wrongly, it should be coming from her.
"Did you bring anything with you?”he asked.
Feng Zhuyun shook his head." Apart from a handkerchief, there's nothing else."”
"Have you been carrying it with you?"
"Yes, I've been carrying it with me for the past ten years.”In order to prove that what she said was true, she really took out the mirror from her pocket.
"The holy jade shines brightly on the world, and the white lotus grows in the Wanli caissons. I met a circle in the mirror in the water. It was the mortal dragon in the sky…I remember that there was no poem behind this back then.”He had never asked her who had mentioned the poem. In the past, he did not ask because he thought that since he had given it to her, she could do whatever she wanted with it. Now, it seemed that this mirror was indeed strange.
"It's Master…Oh right! She once told me that this mirror wasn't a good thing and wanted me to throw it away, but I couldn't bear to, so I kept it until now.”Suddenly, Feng Zhuyun remembered what his Master had said.
"Do you think this mirror is talking?”he guessed.
"Mirror?" She pressed the Falling Flower Mirror tightly to her chest." No matter what, I won't lose it.”
"Because I gave it to you?"
"Yes." Feng Zhuyun nodded.
"Looks like you really love me." he teased.
"I, I didn't!" She blushed and denied it.
"Okay, no, no. It's all my wishful thinking.”Zhu Youtang gave her a way out, but he smiled in his heart.
As for the mirror, they put it aside.
"Daughter, now that our chance has come, you have to seize it.”
In the Forbidden City, Fu Minghan and Fu Lizhen had a private conversation.
"Father, what are you talking about?"
"Didn't Father tell you that Lord Yang's unjust case was being investigated again, and if there was any movement, you had to report it to Father?”
"You did tell your daughter, but those people checked for a long time and didn't see any news!”
"Daughter, no news is good news! You have to know that Yang Qi, Zhang Yu, Xu Fen, Feng Qixuan, and the others were all officials of the Ministry of War. If it wasn't for their high achievements, Father wouldn't have put on a show and let them die unjustly.”Fu Minghan said nervously. All these years, he had been searching for the fish that had slipped through the net back then. Now, he finally had a lead.
"So what?" She didn't know about these things, so it was useless to tell her.
"Father has already found the whereabouts of Feng Qixuan's family. The nun you mentioned is Feng Qixuan's daughter, Feng Zhuyun.”
" What?!" Fu Zhenli's eyes widened. She was now very interested in this matter. "Father, you're saying that the vixen who seduced the emperor is the traitor's daughter?”
"So, killing her is killing two birds with one stone! If the emperor helped her become a concubine, she would definitely ask the emperor to help her rectify the Feng family's injustice, then her father's head would be lost.”
"Yes, only by killing her will the emperor be mine.”Fu Zhenli nodded, agreeing with his father. "Then what should we do now?"
"I heard that there was a strange phenomenon at the Temple of Heaven in Nanjing. The emperor was seriously injured. If we use this, we might be able to make the ignorant people rise up and fight."By the time the Emperor has settled this matter, that nun will already be dead…" Fu Minghan slowly explained his plan.
It was supposed to be a sunny day, but it immediately turned dark as soon as they entered Beijing. It looked like it was going to rain heavily, and the atmosphere around them became strange.
Zhu Youtang ignored the opposition of the crowd and insisted on bringing Feng Zhuyun into the palace. The two of them were inseparable in the carriage along the way.
This feeling of happiness seemed to last forever.
Feng Zhuyun almost thought that it would be like this in the future. However, the truth kept reminding her that this kind of happiness did not belong to her. Once she returned to the palace, everything would change.
He was so peaceful and quiet in his deep sleep. His sword-like eyebrows didn't give off a dignified feeling like usual. His straight nose bridge and tightly pursed lips gave off an unruly aura.
When would she be able to completely forget this man whom she loved and felt helpless about, and live a peaceful life?
She knew that she couldn't do it.
She couldn't help but touch his cheek. The closer she got to the capital, the harder it was to hide her reluctance.
Who could tell her what she should do to escape unscathed?
The carriage slowly drove into the Forbidden City. Suddenly, the horse neighed and refused to take another step forward.
What was going on?
Feng Zhuyun was shocked. He lifted the curtain on the side of the carriage and almost fainted.
"Hand over the demoness who deceived the public!”
"Yes, hand over the traitor's daughter!”
"She caused our emperor to be injured. Hand her over to us to enforce justice on behalf of the heavens!”
The crowd surrounding the carriage grew larger and larger, and the group of people almost couldn't move.
"What happened?" Zhu Youtang was woken up. He opened his eyes and saw Feng Zhuyun crying.
Before the curtain was closed, he saw the situation outside. At this moment, a stone was thrown in their direction.
"I see that witch. She's in the carriage!”
As soon as he said this, the crowd clamored and the scene could no longer be controlled.
"Zhuyun, how are you?"
Blood trickled down her forehead, but she did not feel any pain.
"Emperor, be careful." She pushed him away and understood that she was the source of the disaster. If she did not go out, even he would be injured! "Let me out."
"No, I can't let you go! Don't go, stay by my side, I will protect you!”He hugged her tightly, not letting her go out and do anything risky.
"Emperor, let me out." Feng Zhuyun couldn't hear what he said at all. All he could think about was that he was safe and not hurt because of her.
Zhu Youtang saw that he could not stop her. His body was still very weak, but he still relied on his will to not let her go out to die. He had no choice but to knock her unconscious first.
" Zhuyun, don't blame me. I'm just a selfish man…" He gently put her down and kissed her forehead as he muttered to himself," When he raised his head, his eyes flashed with coldness and his expression was cold and heartless.
He walked out of the carriage, and the guards immediately stepped forward." Your Majesty…"
The noisy atmosphere suddenly quieted down. The commoners looked at each other, and the stones in their hands fell one after another.
"The demoness you speak of is the Country Protecting Goddess, and she is here to protect me. She has done great service to Great Ming and is also the woman I love the most. If you dare to hurt her, I will not let you off easily!”
Perhaps it was his words that had shaken the crowd, or perhaps it was his imposing manner that made them not dare to act rashly, but in short, the people who were jeering did not continue to clamor, and the crowd in front of the carriage slowly dispersed.
"Men, hurry up and return to the palace!" He shouted and glared at Commander Wei coldly, his eyes flashing with reproach.#
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