Chang'an is good

The setting spring sun is still scorching hot, dyeing the clouds red and sprinkling crystal gold powder that floats between heaven and earth.

The late spring breeze is always mixed with the fragrance of flourishing flowers, and at this moment, the sound of the wind and the fragrance of flowers flowing through the air seems to be amplified and slowed down thousands of times in Cui Jing's perception.

This hug seemed to come without warning.

Such an intimate touch was very unfamiliar to Cui Jing, and he had no experience in dealing with it. When he finally began to think about what to do, he found that he had already stretched out a hand.

The response came almost from the heart, without any decision made by the brain.

The young man stretched out an arm and embraced the person in front of him from one side. His calloused palm first touched the soft clothes, and when he pressed closer, he could even feel the temperature of the skin under the clothes.

In addition, she hugged him with her arms and leaned her face on his shoulder. Her hair was blown by the wind, and the scent of ink and seal seemed to pass through his nose.

The world seemed to be still, yet also seemed to be shaking with his heartbeat. Only his body remained motionless.

Cui Jing was no longer able to think rationally about anything, but the hand that was holding Li Suining still unconsciously used a lot of steady strength. This strength was not entirely restrained on her, but was controlled to protect her from falling.

Feeling the strength of that arm, Li Suining relaxed even more. He held him with both hands and asked him, "Do you remember what you promised me last year in the mountains of Youzhou?"

Without Cui Jing's reply, she said, "Cui Ling'an, I want you to be safe."

Hearing the voice of "Cui Ling'an", the young man looked at the sky ahead and said in a low voice: "I should have never said that every time Your Highness called my name, it was as if he was cursing me."

To him, this seemed to be the shortest yet most powerful spell in the world.

It was enough to bind his body and soul, and make him be controlled by her for life.

The gods use words as curses, which mortals cannot resist and regard as an honor. He is destined to wander in this spell all his life.

Hearing this, Li Suining did not refute: "Since it is a curse, I think it will work."

Cui Jing responded seriously, "Yes, I will not let your Highness's spell go back on its word."

Li Suining wanted to stand up and say something, but the arm holding her showed no sign of loosening. The young man said in a low and clear voice, "Your Highness, don't move yet."

As he spoke, he raised his other hand and gently plucked the tiny petals from the top of her hair.

This action is probably just an excuse, a simple and crude excuse.

But holding someone like this in the sunset, without having to exert any effort, and just letting him carefully take care of the trivial details of her hair, made Li Suining feel very happy and comfortable, like a big cat sleeping with its furry belly exposed in the sun, or like a tiger squinting its eyes while someone picked lice for it. It could be like anything, as long as it was warm, soft and safe.

The big hand that helped her pick the petals had distinct joints, and even calluses on the fingertips. That hand often held a knife, as well as a pen. It had killed countless people with its knife, and could write beautiful calligraphy that was rare in the world with its pen. However, it had never done such a delicate and small thing as picking petals for others.

But Cui Jing was very serious at this time. He was always serious when facing her. He was happy to do such small things for her, and was also happy to block the wind and rain for her, remove thorns, and break the catastrophe.

Admittedly, he might not do as well as she did, but he never held back.

Even at this moment, he was also asking: "Before I leave, is there anything I need to do?"

His journey was extremely dangerous, but he only asked her before leaving what else he could do.

Li Suining raised his head and looked up at him right in front of him. After thinking for a while, he said, "There is indeed such a thing."

As she spoke, she turned to look at the setting sun and said with a smile, "While the sun is still setting, Cui Jing, show me how to dance with your sword."

Before the sun sets, a young man in a black robe stands on the roof tiles of a high pavilion, with a bright sword in his hand, his body movements as fast as lightning, the sword shadow whistling like the wind, the clear sword energy breaks through the thick twilight, the sword tip depicts the sunset glow, and exudes a chivalrous spirit.

Li Suining sat on the wall and watched.

People came out of their houses one after another under the wall and craned their necks to look.

While Ah Dian was cheering, some officials were amazed at the young man's amazing body movements and swordsmanship.

Some people also whispered that the Grand Commander Cui, who was known for his rebelliousness, was openly trying to please the Crown Princess...

"Does Commander Cui want to be the princess' husband?" a young official couldn't help but whisper.

A hand was placed on the young official's shoulder, and a voice rang out at the same time: "What's wrong with wanting to be the princess' husband? You know, not everyone dares to dream of this position."

The official turned his head and saw that it was Cui Lang. He was looking at the young man dancing with a sword above the attic with a gratified smile in his eyes.

"Grand Tutor, Grand Tutor..." Some officials also rushed to Grand Tutor Chu to complain: "That Cui Jing from Xuan Ce Mansion danced with a sword for the Crown Princess, which caused a lot of discussion..."

Master Chu only said "tsk", "If those old guys from the Cui family knew about this, they would be furious."

"But……"

Master Chu flipped through the documents nonchalantly: "Let him dance, why are you so anxious? If you want to dance, then go ahead and dance."

The official looked embarrassed. Let alone dancing, he didn't even have the ability to climb up.

"How many years can a person stay young?" Master Chu sighed to himself, "Let them be."

The story of Cui Jing dancing with a sword for the Crown Princess on a high pavilion became a rumor in Taiyuan city that night.

After hearing this, Changji ate one bowl less of rice.

Seeing her husband coming back, she hurriedly asked, "...General Cui openly showed his affection to the Crown Princess. What do you think of him?"

"I just climbed up and watched quietly." Wei Shuyi sighed and praised: "Cui Ling'an's demeanor at that time was unparalleled in the world."

Cui Jing's graceful sword dance was also seen by Madam Lu and others. At that time, Madam Lu was talking to a group of ladies and girls from Taiyuan City. When they heard about "Da Lang dancing with a sword", they all lifted their skirts and came out to climb up to the pavilion to watch.

That night, many girls returned home and they seemed to still see the heroic figure of the young man in black robe dancing with sword in the evening light. So they told their mothers that they would find a man like him to marry in the future.

After hearing this, all the mothers were very worried.

Cui Jing was unaware that he had become a "disaster", and at first light the next morning, he left Taiyuan and rode north.

He left very early, and Li Suining did not see him off - this time, she didn't need to see him off.

On this day, Li Suining once again listened to officials' discussions and arranged various matters.

At the end of the afternoon, the officials gradually dispersed. Li Suining and his teacher walked out of the hall together. Before they could step down the stone steps, they saw a eunuch coming in at the right time. He stepped forward to salute and said with a smile: "The emperor asked me to pass a message to your highness - if your highness is free someday, you can go to the emperor to have a chat."

As a eunuch in front of the emperor, the person who delivered the message tried his best to remain calm and decent, but fear still seeped out from his bones.

"Yes." The woman above said casually, and she walked down the stairs, saying, "Lead the way."

The eunuch was stunned for a moment before he realized that she wanted to go over immediately. He didn't dare to think too much and hurriedly bowed and led the way.

Taifu Chu looked at the departing figure, and slowly walked down the stone steps, muttering in a low voice: "If you dare to be stupid again, I'll see if I can smash your unlucky head..." The person who came to deliver the message did not expect Li Suining to be so "obedient and cooperative" and to go to meet the saint immediately - after all, this was the second time the saint had invited him since he came to Taiyuan, and the other party was very arrogant before and did not give him any face at all.

Li Suining had never thought so much about it. He had not seen him before because he did not need to, and he went to see him now because he had some free time, that was all.

Because Li Suining came in a "hurry", the messenger had no chance to report back, so the empress was not prepared.

When Li Suining was approaching the residence of the Emperor of Shengce, he met Ma Xingzhou and several officials who had just left the Empress.

Ma Xingzhou and others stopped and raised their hands to salute Li Suining.

Li Suining smiled and nodded to them without stopping the conversation.

Seeing that the woman's figure walked away, several officials exchanged glances in the twilight.

"See Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess!"

As the maids saluted, the report was also delivered to the Emperor of the Holy Book.

The Emperor of the Holy Ce was sitting on the bed by the window, with one elbow propped up on the small table, resting his eyes with his hand on his temple. He opened his eyes upon hearing the voice and slowly sat up: "Announce——"

A maid stepped forward to help him, and another maid took the golden dragon-headed staff and handed it to the empress.

The empress stood quietly with her crutches, looking at the opened pearl curtain and the figure that followed in.

The visitor had her hair tied up with a golden hairpin, and wore a moon-white robe with a light orange round-necked gauze dress over it, looking clean and bright.

The lights had just been turned on in the room, and it was not yet completely dark outside. As light and shadow intertwined, the Emperor of the Holy Ceremonial Ceremonial Ce was a little dazed. Looking at the eyebrows and eyes that were much more profound than when he "first met" them in the capital, he seemed to have returned to many years ago.

At that time, this was the case every time Ah Shang came back from outside and entered the palace to see her.

A Shang attached great importance to filial piety. If he had not returned to the capital for a long time, he would always kneel down and kowtow, looking up and calling her "mother" or "empress".

When Ah Shang was calling her mother, his face was lively and smiling. Later, when he called her mother, his demeanor became more and more calm, until only respect remained.

The figure who walked in at this time did not kneel down, but raised his hand to salute, and called her calmly: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

The Emperor of the Holy Ce came back to his senses and looked into those eyes. Their gazes met and Li Suining did not avoid them.

As the Emperor of the Holy Ceremonies raised his hand slightly, the maids and eunuchs in the room bowed and retreated silently.

The empress looked quietly at the young woman in front of her.

Li Suining was also looking back at the empress quietly.

In fact, since her rebirth, she had never looked directly at this female monarch as seriously as she did now.

The person in her sight at this moment had a neat bun that was almost completely white, and his loose robe could not hide his thin figure.

Li Suining suddenly realized that she was really old, even though she had to wait another two years before turning sixty.

She obtained the throne and sacrificed herself to it.

The old and weak always inspire pity, and the old age of the king is more likely to make people feel sad, not to mention a king who lost the capital and was exiled to Taiyuan. Especially this king deliberately put down his dignity at this time and slowly called out:
"Ashan."

After hearing these two words from the other party for the first time in a long time, Li Suining suddenly realized what Cui Jing said yesterday - the name is a curse.

And the same name spoken by different people will be different curses.

At this moment, the word "Ashan", called out by the person in front of her, was like the most convenient spell in the world to trap her soul. It brought with it innate power and runes drawn with bright red blood. Once it touched the body, it would be difficult to break free for the rest of one's life.

"Your Majesty is confused." She corrected seriously: "My name is Li Suining, and my nickname is A Li."

Facing those overly calm eyes, the Emperor of the Holy Ceremonies was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded and said, "Okay, Ah Li..."

"Ali." She called again, "Since you are here, please sit down and talk to me."

She held the golden dragon staff and slowly sat down beside the Arhat bed.

Li Suining found a chair nearby and sat down, then took the initiative to speak: "Your Majesty, do you want to talk to me about Guizong and the Crown Prince?"

The Emperor of the Holy Cemeter did not comment, but just looked at the woman who was speaking with a gentle expression.

"I heard that many officials privately said that Your Majesty helped me return to my clan and took the initiative to propose that I be made the Crown Princess. This was a generous concession, and I should be grateful." Li Suining smiled slightly at this point, "But I believe that Your Majesty, who is so wise, would not think so."

"Your Majesty took the initiative to help me, but he was not helping me, but himself." She said: "As the crown prince, I will always be more lenient to Your Majesty than others. And if I become the crown prince, the saint can stay safely behind me, and all the open and hidden attacks will only be directed at me first."

The Holy Ceremonial Emperor stared at the emotionless girl and said, "Ali, in your eyes, are these the only calculations in my mind?"

Li Suining did not avoid the question and said calmly: "At least it was like this when you still wanted to be the emperor."

Hearing this calm affirmation, the Emperor of the Holy Ceremonies tightened his grip on the dragon staff in his hand, with a rare look of astonishment in his old eyes.

"But Your Majesty has offered to help me, so I accept this favor." Li Suining said, "I came here this time to tell Your Majesty that as long as Your Majesty continues to act in this way, I will not kill people indiscriminately."

Just not indiscriminate killing.

But more than that, it is impossible.

The meaning of her words was very clear, leaving no room for imagination.

All the prepared remarks were completely meaningless. The Holy Ceremonial Emperor suppressed the empty self-mockery in his heart and did not respond directly. Instead, he asked: "A Li, what can I do for you?"

Li Suining shook his head without thinking.

"I can take what I want."

As she spoke, she stood up and said:

"A saint needs only to think about himself—"

“Thinking about how to survive.”

After all, she will sweep away everyone who tries to stand in her way.

After Li Suining explained the purpose of his visit, he no longer looked at the Emperor of the Holy Ceremonial Ceremonial Ceremonial, raised his hand in salute, and was about to leave.

"Ashan."

The Holy Seal Emperor stood up holding her staff, her body trembling a little. It was unknown whether it was because of her illness or because she was trying hard to suppress her emotions. Even her voice trembled a little. She asked the back of the person who stopped:
"Do you... hate me, your mother?" (End of this chapter)