Rebirth of the Princess Pearl

The morning sun gently sprinkled on the glazed tiles of the Cining Palace, reflecting colorful light. In the Cining Palace, the old Buddha was sitting on the armchair, holding a Buddhist rosary, with a calm and peaceful look in her eyes. The palace maids around her stood quietly, not daring to make a sound, and only the green smoke rising from the incense burner slowly lingered in the air.

The emperor walked into the Cining Palace with heavy steps. His expression was a little solemn, with a hint of guilt in his eyes. The old Buddha looked up and saw the emperor, nodded slightly, and said: "Emperor, is there anything important that brought you here today?"

The emperor slowly walked up to the old Buddha, bowed, stood up, took a deep breath, and said, "Old Buddha, I came here today to confess to you a wrong thing that has been hidden in my heart for many years."

The old Buddha frowned, put down the Buddhist beads, and said, "Oh? Why does the emperor say that?"

The emperor turned around and looked at the blooming peonies outside the window. The flowers were gorgeous and swaying gently in the breeze, as if telling the story of the years. The emperor put his hands behind his back, clasped them tightly, and said, "Old Buddha, do you still remember Xiaoyanzi and Xiaojian? Their life stories have now been found out."

The old Buddha said: "I know that they are brother and sister, and their father was harmed by the literary inquisition."

The emperor showed a painful expression on his face. He lowered his head and said slowly: "Old Buddha, their father was wronged back then, and I also have an unshirkable responsibility. I believed the words of the treacherous ministers, which led to their family suffering such a disaster. Xiaoyanzi and Xiaojian also lost their parents when they were young and were forced to separate. Every time I think of it, my heart is filled with guilt."

After hearing what the emperor said, the old Buddha was silent for a moment, then he sighed softly and said, "Emperor, this happened many years ago. Now that the truth is out, you should do your best to make amends."

The emperor raised his head and said firmly: "My Lord, this is exactly what I mean. I want them to live a happy life in the palace, which can also be regarded as making up for the mistakes I made in the past."

At the same time, in a corner of the Imperial Garden, Xiao Jian was walking alone. His eyes were deep and melancholy, and Xiao Yanzi's innocent smile kept appearing in his mind. Suddenly, a crisp laugh came, and Xiao Jian turned his head and saw Qing'er holding a flower and walking lightly among the flowers.

When Qing'er saw Xiao Jian, her eyes lit up and she said with a smile, "Master Xiao Jian, the Imperial Garden is so beautiful today."

Xiao Jian looked at Qing'er, and suddenly an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart. He clasped his fists and saluted, saying, "Princess Qing'er, it is indeed true. The beauty of this imperial garden is not inferior to your beauty."

Qing'er's face flushed slightly. She lowered her head and said, "Mr. Xiao Jian is really good at joking."

Xiao Jian approached Qing'er, looked at the flower in her hand, and said, "This flower is extremely beautiful. Does Princess like flowers very much?"

Qing'er raised her head, her eyes sparkling, and said, "Qing'er thinks flowers are one of the most beautiful things in the world. They are full of life and vitality. Where is Master Xiao Jian?"

Xiao Jian smiled and said, "I have been wandering around the world for many years and rarely paid attention to these flowers. But today, when I saw the flowers in the princess's hand, I thought they were very beautiful."

They walked slowly along the path of the Imperial Garden, surrounded by blooming flowers and butterflies dancing among the flowers. Xiao Jian's eyes fell on Qing'er from time to time, and Qing'er could also feel Xiao Jian's fiery gaze, and her heartbeat could not help but speed up a little.

"Mr. Xiao Jian, you must have had many interesting experiences in the martial arts world, right?" Qing'er asked curiously.

Xiao Jian nodded, looked into the distance, and said, "Life in the martial arts world has its ups and downs. Sometimes you have to fight against evil forces for justice; sometimes you can meet like-minded friends and drink and chat together. However, those days are not as good as the time I am in the palace now."

Qing'er tilted her head and asked, "Why did Master Xiao Jian say that?"

Xiao Jian looked at Qing'er and said sincerely: "Because here, I found my relatives and met kind people like Gege."

Qing'er's face flushed, and she smiled and said, "Master Xiao Jian, you are really different."

On the other side, Xiaoyanzi learned that the emperor had confessed everything to the old Buddha, and she ran to the emperor's study. Xiaoyanzi rushed into the study with red eyes, looking like she had just cried.

When the emperor saw Xiaoyanzi, he asked distressedly, "Xiaoyanzi, what's wrong?"

Xiaoyanzi walked up to the emperor, knelt down with a plop, and said, "Father Emperor, why did you confess those things to the old Buddha? You are the emperor, you are not wrong."

The emperor helped Xiaoyanzi up and said, "Xiaoyanzi, I was wrong. I cannot hide this fact, and I want you and Xiaojian to live in peace in the palace."

Xiaoyanzi shook her head and said, "Father Emperor, no matter what, you are the best Father Emperor in my heart."

The emperor gently touched Xiaoyanzi's head and said, "Xiaoyanzi, I am very pleased that you think this way. From now on, you and Xiao Jian will live a good life in the palace."

Xiaoyanzi burst into laughter and said, "Father Emperor, can I continue to play with Yongqi, Ziwei, Erkang and the others?"

The emperor smiled and said, "Of course you can, as long as you abide by the rules of the palace."

Little Swallow jumped up happily and said, "Father Emperor, you are so kind."

A few days later, a grand Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was held in the palace. The banquet hall was decorated with red lanterns hanging high, emitting a soft light. The table was filled with various Mid-Autumn Festival delicacies, including moon cakes, fruits, fine wine, etc.

Xiaoyanzi, wearing a gorgeous princess dress, skipped into the banquet hall. She saw Xiaojian and Qing'er standing together and chatting, her eyes lit up, and she walked over and said, "Brother Xiaojian, Qing'er, what are you talking about?"

Xiao Jian smiled and said, "Xiao Yanzi, we were talking about how beautiful the decoration of this banquet hall is."

Little Swallow looked around and said, "Yes, it has a festive atmosphere."

At this time, Yongqi, Ziwei and Erkang also came over. Yongqi said: "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone must celebrate it well."

Ziwei said gently: "Yes, I hope everyone can be reunited and happy."

Erkang also agreed: "Yes, it's a beautiful day."

After the banquet began, there was a wonderful singing and dancing performance. Xiaoyanzi was fascinated by it, and she swayed her body gently to the rhythm of the music. Qing'er whispered to Xiaojian: "Master Xiaojian, look how happy Princess Xiaoyanzi is."

Xiao Jian smiled and said, "Yes, Xiaoyanzi is such a carefree person."

Suddenly, a young eunuch hurried into the banquet hall and whispered something in the emperor's ear. The emperor's face changed slightly, then he stood up and said, "I have something important to deal with, you guys continue first."

Everyone looked at the emperor in confusion as he left. Xiaoyanzi asked curiously, "What happened to the emperor?"

Yongqi said: "I don't know, I hope it's not a big deal."

In a remote corner of the palace, the emperor saw a mysterious man, who was covered in a black robe and whose face could not be seen clearly.

The emperor frowned and asked, "Who are you? Why do you want to see me?"

The man in black robe said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, do you still remember what happened to Fang Zhihang?"

The emperor asked warily, "Who are you? What is your purpose here?"

The man in black robe slowly raised his head, revealing a pair of eyes full of hatred, and said: "Your Majesty, you mistakenly trusted the treacherous ministers and harmed Lord Fang Zhihang. Do you think this is the end? I am here to avenge Lord Fang."

The emperor was shocked and said, "I feel very guilty about what happened back then, and I am trying my best to make up for it."

The black-robed man sneered and said, "Make up for it? Lord Fang's family has been destroyed. What's the point of your making up for it?"

The emperor asked, "What do you want?"

The man in black clenched his fists and said, "I want you to also experience the pain of losing your loved ones."

The emperor said angrily: "How dare you threaten me?"

The man in black robe said, "Your Majesty, you'd better be careful." After that, the man in black robe turned and disappeared into the darkness.

The emperor returned to the banquet hall, his expression slightly worried. Xiaoyanzi saw the emperor coming back and asked, "Father, what's wrong with you? Did something happen?"

The emperor forced a smile and said, "Xiaoyanzi, it's okay. I just have some government affairs to take care of."

But Xiaoyanzi could sense that something was wrong with the emperor, so she said to Xiaojian, "Brother Xiaojian, I think the emperor is worried, we have to help him."

Xiao Jian nodded and said, "Xiaoyanzi, let's observe for a while first."

After the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, Xiao Jian and Xiao Yanzi discussed how to help the emperor in the imperial garden. Xiao Jian folded his hands over his chest and said, "Xiao Yanzi, we must first find out who is threatening the emperor and what their purpose is."

Xiaoyanzi frowned and said, "Brother Xiaojian, how can we check it?"

Xiao Jian thought for a while and said, "We can start with what happened back then and see who else might be holding a grudge against the emperor."

Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit up and she said, "Brother Xiaojian, you are really smart. Let's start investigating now."

They asked around in the palace about what happened back then, and questioned some old eunuchs and palace maids. An old eunuch recalled: "There were indeed many people behind the scenes who fanned the flames of Lord Fang's affair. One of them was Lord Li, who was very close to those treacherous officials, but he disappeared later."

Xiao Jian said: "This Lord Li is very suspicious, we need to find his whereabouts."

Xiaoyanzi said: "But the palace is so big, where can we find it?"

Xiao Jian said: "We can first check the files from that year, maybe we can find some clues."

They came to the library of the palace, which was filled with the smell of old paper. The bookshelves were filled with various volumes, and the dust was flying in the sunlight.

Xiao Jian and Xiao Yanzi began to look for clues about Mr. Li in the files. Xiao Yanzi was flipping through the files, muttering, "These words are so hard to understand."

Xiao Jian smiled and said, "Xiaoyanzi, look carefully, maybe you can find something."

Suddenly, Xiaoyanzi said excitedly: "Brother Xiaojian, I found it. It is mentioned here that Lord Li has a villa in a place called Qingfeng Town."

Xiao Jian said: "Then let's go to Qingfeng Town to take a look."

They reported the situation to the emperor, who agreed to let them investigate. Xiao Jian and Xiao Yanzi, along with several guards, set off for Qingfeng Town.

Qingfeng Town is a quiet town surrounded by green mountains and clear waters. The houses in the town are scattered and a clear stream runs through the town. Women are washing clothes and children are playing by the stream.

Xiao Jian and Xiao Yanzi came to Lord Li's villa, which looked a bit shabby and the door was closed. Xiao Jian went forward and knocked on the door, but no one answered.

Xiaoyanzi said, "Brother Xiaojian, let's go in and take a look."

Xiao Jian nodded, and they pushed open the door and walked in. The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and it looked like no one had lived there for a long time.

They looked around in the courtyard, and suddenly, Xiaoyanzi found the entrance to a basement. Xiao Jian walked ahead cautiously, and they walked slowly into the basement along the steps.

The basement was dark and damp, with a foul smell. Xiao Jian lit a torch, and by the light of the fire, they saw some strange pictures and some words hanging on the wall.