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After a few drizzles, the long-lost sunshine shines on every corner of Kyoto.

It was on such a sunny afternoon that Xue Poye was recruited into the palace by His Majesty the Emperor. This time, he did not meet in the Imperial Study Room, but was led to the Imperial Garden.

In the imperial garden, a hundred flowers are in full bloom, and they are competing for beauty. There is a refreshing fragrance of flowers, and the courtyard is full of femininity. The empress leads a group of court ladies to play shuttlecock on the grass.

Sitting opposite Emperor Deqing, although Xue Poye was a little uncomfortable and uncomfortable, he kept an unusually calm face.

Emperor Deqing's face was pale, and he looked extremely tired, but he still smiled and said: "You should know, I always want to have a good chat with you."

Xue Poye nodded and said: "My minister has been waiting for His Majesty's call."

Emperor Deqing nodded in satisfaction, and said gently: "Today, you and I only tell stories and don't talk about state affairs... let alone treat me like an emperor, I'm just a storyteller, you... just a story listener! "

When Xue Poye heard the word "story", he suddenly remembered that in the "Lovesickness Palace" that night, His Majesty the Emperor told him a story about "Ye Qingyao". Didn't say it, could it be that today, His Majesty the Emperor wants to tell the second half.

Emperor Deqing coughed quickly, causing the queen who was not far away to come quickly, and said softly: "My lord, the weather is still a bit cold, you should go back to the room to discuss matters with Lord Xue."

Emperor Deqing held the queen's hand and said with a smile: "I'm not in the way, queen, I have some state affairs discussions with Xue Aiqing, you go and play with them yourself, and I will play with you later."

The emperor who had always been ruthless was extremely fond of the empress.

The queen sighed, poured a cup of tea, offered it to the emperor, and said softly: "Well, if you feel uncomfortable, just call me, you... don't hold on." Seeing the queen's carefulness, she was also unusual for the emperor. care.

Xue Poye glanced at the queen from the corner of his eyes, and saw that the queen was noble and graceful, and her appearance was extremely beautiful. Suddenly, Xue Poye's heart was shocked. He seemed to have discovered something, so he couldn't help but take another look. It was very strange. The queen... is actually somewhat similar to Ye Qingyao's painting.

Ye Qingyao's portrait is elegant and refined, and people can remember it firmly when they see it. Xue Poye looked at the queen, and she was really [-]% similar.

"Could it be because the Empress looks exactly like Ye Qingyao that His Majesty the Emperor dotes on her so much?" Xue Poye suddenly had a very strange thought in his mind.

This idea is very reasonable.

When the queen left slowly and walked far away, Emperor Deqing took a sip of tea and said calmly: "You seem to see something?"

Xue Poye was taken aback for a moment, and then said with some panic, "I don't dare to!"

"Actually, you are right." Emperor Deqing stared at Xue Poye, as if he had seen through Xue Poye's mind, and did not hide it: "You have seen Qingyao's portrait... that portrait, apart from my , and only you have seen it, of course you can see that the Empress and Qing Yao look very similar."

Xue Poye sighed, nodded and admitted: "I can see it, I can't imagine that there are such similar people in the world."

Emperor Deqing said indifferently; "For so many years, I have always regarded her as Qingyao...Although I know she is not, but...it makes me feel more comfortable."

This is cruel.

It is always a cruel thing for a woman to be a substitute for another woman, and to be the mother of a nation.

Xue Poye didn't know if the queen knew the reason, if she knew, Xue Poye believed that the empress must be very wronged and sad.

Xue Poye was silent for a moment, and finally said: "The story that the Holy Majesty wants to tell is Ye Qingyao's later story?"

Emperor Deqing showed a gentle smile on his face, and said softly: "I'm not a storyteller, I'm afraid I will only tell this one story in my life."

Xue Poye sat up straight and said, "Speak, I'll listen!"

Emperor Deqing smiled and said, "This is the attitude of a storyteller."

……

"I have won the throne, I have taken the throne that I deserved from my elder brother, and the second uncle who reported to me is the current dry prince, you should have seen it." Emperor Deqing said slowly.

"I have seen."

"He is an uncle worthy of my trust." Emperor Deqing murmured, his thoughts returned to 18 years ago.

"I have stabilized the situation in the court, and it will be half a year before I go to Jinling again. I returned to that small village, and I know that Qingyao must be waiting for me." The happy expression seems to be immersed in it.

Xue Poye listened quietly, he understood that at this time, he should quietly be a qualified listener and not disturb Emperor Deqing's thoughts.

Moreover, Emperor Deqing is the Ninth Five-Year Lord, and he must have a purpose for telling this story to himself, otherwise, an emperor would never spend time telling the secret hidden in his heart in front of an irrelevant person.

Therefore, he must listen carefully and taste carefully.

"You should be able to guess that Qingyao has not left that small village, she is still living there peacefully, together with Hu'er, and is still waiting for me there."

"Of course we are very happy to meet again. We continued our previous life, practicing the flute, going out to perform as a performer, and listening to her playing Sanskrit music... For two full months, I left the state affairs behind and handed them over to Cao Cheng. A competent minister, and myself, live a very nourishing and happy life."

"It's just that I was too young at that time, so I didn't expect that although my eldest brother is gone, his henchmen are still alive and well, and even planned to assassinate me." Emperor Deqing's voice became cold: " Just one night, I drank a lot of wine, and in the middle of the night, when I was drowsy, a group of assassins finally found me."

Although he knew that Emperor Deqing was still alive, Xue Poye's mood became tense as he went deeper into the story.

"Xue Aiqing, maybe you still don't believe it. At that time, I was only a warrior of the third way. Hehe, at that time, what I knew was the way of governing the country and the world, but this martial way was negligent. In order to be able to have a peaceful relationship with Qingyao Life, I didn’t even bring a guard by my side... When I saw the assassins surrounded the house, and the cold sword was about to pierce my throat, I thought I was going to die. Those assassins, the lowest I am also a martial artist of the Four Paths, I... can only close my eyes and wait for death!"

Xue Poye couldn't help but said: "Yes... Ye Qingyao saved you?"

"Of course it's her." Emperor Deqing laughed happily: "Qingyao is my lucky star. With her here, how can anything happen to me? She and Hu'er appeared by my side when I was about to die. A bunch of assassins, under the hands of their siblings, couldn't survive ten rounds, and they were all captured."

Xue Poye said in amazement: "All...all captured...!" I can't believe it, how could it be possible that a group of martial artist assassins with the lowest cultivation level of the four realms could not survive ten rounds under the hands of Ye Qingyao and his brother?Could it be...?

"Not only you can't believe it, even at that time, I can't believe it." Emperor Deqing sighed: "How could I have thought that Qingyao, a weak woman, is actually a hidden warrior of the Seven Paths, and Hu'er, It has also reached the six realms."

Although Xue Poye had guessed it, he was still taken aback.

Emperor Deqing showed a smile on his face: "Qingyao, Qingyao, you have even fooled me."

"Since then, Qingyao laughed at me for being a big man who couldn't protect herself. I felt deeply ashamed, so I asked Qingyao to be my teacher and teach me martial arts. Qingyao agreed, but the state affairs are complicated, and I don't have the time After staying here, my mother sent someone to find me and asked me to return to the capital to deal with state affairs. In desperation, I had no choice but to ask Qingyao to go back to Beijing with me. That silly girl... Hehe, but she put a hurdle on me, saying that only When my martial arts cultivation has surpassed her and I can protect myself, I will return to Beijing with me."

"I remember Qingyao said to me with a smile at that time, a big man can't even protect himself, how can he protect the women around him?" Emperor Deqing's expression became serious, with a complicated expression on his face: "This sentence, until today, I still don't understand it. Remember clearly. How can a man be considered a man if he can’t even protect the woman he likes...!" At this point, Emperor Deqing coughed again, Xue Poye hurriedly got up and walked behind Emperor Deqing , patted Emperor Deqing on the back lightly, for his comfort.

Emperor Deqing waved his hand, motioned Xue Poye to sit down, and then continued: "Being ashamed, I had no choice but to agree to his request, and made up my mind to practice martial arts hard... Hehe, but martial arts people understand that martial arts Every advancement is not achieved through hard work. Below the Five Ways, it can be achieved through hard work. Above the Five Ways, in addition to hard work, talent and luck are needed. Although I promised Qingyao, but I know in my heart that if I want to surpass Qingyao's martial arts cultivation, it is really difficult to reach the sky... Fortunately, Qingyao gave me that peerless book when she was parting. Without it, I am afraid that I would still be alone today. A lowly warrior."

Xue Poye faintly felt something, and asked softly: "Then... what book is that?"

Emperor Deqing smiled, stared at Xue Poye, and said word by word: "Book of Ecstasy!"

"Ah!" Xue Poye stood up in shock, dumbstruck, although he was faintly prepared for the shock in his heart, but he couldn't help being shocked when he heard this.

"Ecstasy"?

That is the booklet that I and Xiao Shitou have been practicing for a long time. Could it be... Could it be that this booklet was left to Xiao Shitou by Emperor Deqing?

Emperor Deqing calmly motioned Xue Poye to sit down, and said gently: "Xue Aiqing, what I said today must surprise you a lot, and you can listen to it calmly... A story must always be heard by someone who listens to it." People listen carefully."

"Minister... I obey the order!" Xue Poye suppressed the shock in his heart and said respectfully.

"The Book of Ecstasy... the most mysterious book in the world: "Please send me that precious book, I... hey, that book of ecstasy is a treasure book of martial arts. According to Qingyao, it was written when she was in Tianzhu. By chance, the person who gave her this book was a peerless martial artist who reclusively from the Central Plains to Tianzhu. Even Qing Yao never understood why that person retreated to Tianzhu, nor did he know his name or surname. Why did he give this book to Qingyao... Based on Qingyao's guess, it should be that peerless warrior who wanted to bring this book of martial arts back to Dachu through Qingyao. "

"With the book of ecstasy, one's martial arts cultivation can be improved by leaps and bounds... Qing Yao and Hu'er have practiced for two years, and one has reached the seventh level, and the other has reached the sixth level. They can be said to be gods. It's just that at this level, two People's martial arts cultivation can no longer break through. This...maybe it is due to talent. I bid farewell to Qingyao, brought back the book of ecstasy, and devoted myself to cultivation. It's amazing that after only a few months, I have actually reached the realm of a warrior of the five realms."

"I would secretly go to that small village every once in a while to compete with Qingyao, hoping to defeat her so that I could bring her back to the capital, but... it took two years before I reached the realm of the seven warriors. That It was only then that Qing Yao was truly defeated."

"Qingyao kept her promise, took Hu'er, and followed me back to the capital. She didn't know until then that I was the emperor of the Great Chu Kingdom. She was not happy about it, but rather depressed. I understand her thoughts The so-called marquis's gate is as deep as the sea, not to mention the cage-like imperial palace? But for me, for her promise, she still entered the palace with me... If I knew what happened later, I would rather die than die. I won't let her and Hu'er enter the palace...that is the biggest mistake in my life!" Emperor Deqing's expression became gloomy, and his body couldn't help trembling slightly.

Xue Poye knew that something big must have happened to Ye Qingyao after she entered the palace, otherwise Emperor Deqing would not have been so excited.

"From the very beginning, those stupid people in the palace looked down on Qingyao from the bottom of their hearts. They called Qingyao a countryman and a vulgar girl in private, but... Qingyao didn't care. Although under everyone's opposition, I You can't make her a queen, but you can make her a noble concubine and give it to Qingyao Palace. She is humble, and in the ghostly and gloomy palace, she doesn't fight with anyone, and treats everyone, including those court ladies and eunuchs. Plus, I will never allow anyone to hurt her." Emperor Deqing clenched his fists, with pain showing on his face.

"She doesn't fight with others, but those hateful people insult her in every possible way in private... I want to kill those bitches, but Qingyao dissuades me. Any one of them... Qingyao, do you know that it is because of this oath that you didn't kill those damned sluts, so you...!" Emperor Deqing, a man who was always gloomy and calm, now had dark circles in his eyes. It was flushed red with a strong murderous intent.

"Those sluts slandered Qingyao around the mother's side all day long. In the end, even the mother's mother hated Qingyao, calling her a witch. Qingyao endured grievances, but never complained to me."

"I couldn't bear it anymore, so I moved Qingyao out of Qingyao Palace. According to Qingyao's wishes, I chose a clean place in the palace for her and Huer to live there." Emperor Deqing said lightly: "You should see However, it is the Acacia Palace."

Xue Poye nodded, she really admired Ye Qingyao in her heart, as a martial artist of the Seven Paths, she was favored by His Majesty the Emperor, but she would rather endure grievances and not contend with the world, such a woman can really be called a strange woman.

"I even made a decree that no one is allowed to enter the Acacia Palace, otherwise, they will be killed without mercy!" Emperor Deqing said in a serious voice.

Xue Poye sighed, and sighed secretly in his heart: "Ye Qingyao is such a free girl, so she will become a prisoner in a cage, a bird in a cage, where there is no freedom at all."

"I originally thought that in this way, Qingyao would not suffer any harm. After Qingyao moved to Acacia Palace, no one dared to bother her anymore. Qingyao and I often play flute and martial arts in Acacia Palace. It's leisurely, one year after Qingyao entered the palace, she finally conceived my child, and before he was born, I named him... If he is a son, he will be called Liu Zichan!" Emperor Deqing said softly: "Zen Bit of Zen!"

"Liu Zichan!" Xue Poye recited softly, his whole body trembling.

It turned out that Emperor Deqing wanted to make Ye Qingyao's son the crown prince, and planned to pass it on to Liu Zichan.

"And in that year, the rebellion that started in Liaodong spread across four state capitals. I was furious and made a wrong decision. I decided to put down the rebellion myself. I was worried that sitting in court for a long time would wear me down. Therefore, I want to suppress the rebellion and stimulate my fighting spirit.” Emperor Deqing sighed and blamed himself: “So, in the early summer of that year, when Qingyao was six months pregnant, I left her and led the army. Went to Liaodong to quell the rebellion."

Xue Poye also sighed, he knew that the most tragic moment of the story was after His Majesty left the capital.

When Emperor Deqing said this, he seemed to be very tired, leaning back on the chair, closing his eyes, with an extremely painful expression on his face.

I don't know how long it took before Emperor Deqing let out a long sigh, opened his eyes, and continued: "When I came back, everything had changed, so much that I couldn't believe it."

"The Acacia Palace was burned, and Qingyao and Hu'er are missing." Emperor Deqing clenched his fists and said in pain, "I searched every corner of the palace, but I couldn't find them... The most powerful assistant, looking for them everywhere, but there is no news of them."

"It wasn't until later that I realized that all of this was caused by my mother. She took advantage of the time when I was suppressing the rebellion and ordered dozens of first-class masters, including seven warriors, to secretly confront the Qing Dynasty. Yao made a move. Qingyao just gave birth to my son Liu Zichan that night, and his vitality was seriously injured. He and Hu'er faced dozens of warriors, but they were defeated. In order to protect my son and Hu'er, Qingyao finally fought hard And... and go...!"

"Hu'er escaped from the palace and disappeared, but Qingyao's body was abandoned by my mother, and I can never find it again."

Speaking of this, Emperor Deqing, the most powerful man in the world, shed tears.

Xue Poye only felt unspeakable pain in his heart, and he also shed tears. He could imagine that Ye Qingyao and Ye Hu'er were so desolate and miserable that night when Emperor Deqing suppressed the rebellion. Such a weak, powerful harem force destroyed that pair of weak siblings in an instant.

"Then...Prince Zen...where is he now?" Xue Poye asked softly, wiping away tears.

Emperor Deqing waited until his emotions calmed down, and then said softly: "After that incident, I sent people to secretly kill those harem bitches who once slandered Qingyao... I only hope that my sins can be redeemed, if not for me, Qingyao will not die, she will still live happily, performing arts, singing, playing the flute in Jinling City... I didn't know until two months later, when my elder brother, the Lord Qian, came to me secretly, My good second uncle, on the night Qingyao was killed, he secretly rescued my son."

Xue Poye knew that the truth was getting closer, and the biggest suspicion in his heart was about to surface.

"You guessed right, maybe you guessed it a long time ago...!" Emperor Deqing stared at Xue Poye, and said word by word: "Little Shitou... is my son, and his real name is Liu... Zi ……Zen!"