bluestone

"Crack~" The door finally opened.

Ji Yueliu stood at the door, her long hair uncombed, her clothes loose, and some ambiguous marks could be seen on her neck. The room was not yet ventilated, exuding a lewd smell.

Qingming frowned slightly, "I'll wait for you next door, come over after washing up, and the person in the room will come too." After saying that, he turned and walked to the next door.

Ji Yueliu's light-colored eyes turned around, and she leaned back to look at the other person in the room, "Look at him, doesn't he look like he's only looking for me?"

He got up, walked to the basin, wet a soft cloth, and came over to wipe his face, "I don't know him, even if he was looking for me, I don't know why, and I will know the reason in a while."

"That's true."

Not long after, the two of them came to the next room after washing up.

Qing Ming sat on the chair in leisure.

The corridor was too dark just now, Ji Yueliu didn't see him clearly, but after seeing him clearly now, he found that he was much thinner, and his face was so pale that there was no blood.

Seeing the two of them coming in, Qingming put down his teacup, waved his hand, and signaled Dong Gui to go out and watch, "What? I feel like I haven't seen you for a long time, don't you remember me?"

There were only three of them left in the house.

Ji Yueliu sat beside him casually, "It's just that I didn't expect your injury to be so serious. Is it because you haven't healed yet?"

"Maybe it will never heal." Qing Ming murmured.

When Ji Yueliu heard the words, she shook her hand, and the water poured out of the cup, but she didn't want to pour it anymore. She put down the teapot and joked, obviously not taking his words seriously, "Speaking of frustration, there are so many panacea medicines in the palace. , how could it not be cured?"

Qing Ming smiled and said nothing, without explaining.

Seeing that he didn't want to mention it again, Ji Yueliu simply changed the subject, "You were seriously injured and returned to Beijing, why didn't you work hard at government affairs in the palace, and instead ran to my place to enjoy yourself?"

"You also know that I just returned to the capital with a serious injury and lack of energy. I'm afraid it's not enough to undertake so many government affairs. Second brother, as the supervisor of the country, why didn't he stay busy in the mansion, but came here to seek pleasure?" The last two words , he bit very hard, and his eyes lingered on the two of them meaningfully.

"You didn't come here today just to make fun of me, did you?" Ji Yueliu smiled evilly, neither dodging nor dodging, let alone denying it.

"Actually, I didn't come to look for you today," he said, he raised his hand, and the hidden guard appeared behind Ji Yueliu, and touched several acupuncture points on his body.

The man in black who had been standing against the wall straightened up instantly, wanting to rush over.

"Xiao'an!" Ji Yueliu stopped him, turned his eyes and looked at Qingming, "What is the emperor trying to do?"

"I told you, I didn't come to look for you," Qing Ming didn't look at him, but just stared at the man opposite who looked nervous and full of murderous intent.

"What do you want from me?" Xiaoan tensed up, as if ready to go.

Qingming has no doubts that as long as he does any harm to Ji Yueliu, he will rush to fight him without hesitation.

"I know, your name is not Xiao'an." Qing Ming straightened his cuffs and said casually, "Probably no one in the world would have guessed that Xue Ren, the former number one killer of the Black Gate, would be hiding in a window of love and moon. However, this can’t be helped. Although the folk customs of Dazhou are quite open, it is only for a small number of people. After all, there are still fewer people going to the small hall. Most of the people have never seen the former No. [-] killer, have they?"

"You already knew?" Ji Yueliu became serious.

"No," he shook his head, "I only know because of need."

"Need, what need?" Ji Yueliu was wondering, and suddenly remembered something, "You were attacked in Lingquan Temple, and the person who attacked you was related to Heimen? Someone paid a lot of money to hire the killer of Heimen?"

"Everyone is reporting that the emperor was attacked and seriously injured, but who cares about the commander of the guards who died trying to protect him?" Qing Ming smiled coldly.

"The commander of the guards? Zigui?"

"Others may not know his identity, but with your wide sources of information, I'm afraid you already know his identity?" Before he could answer, Qing Ming said, "Actually, he didn't deserve to die, but he did it for us. And die, and I, can't let him die in vain."

"I think there is something in your words." Ji Yueliu saw the flash of guilt in his eyes, and felt that things would not be that simple, especially the "replacing", and it was unimaginable that they were seriously injured by the assassination. There will be hidden guards, and no matter what, one will not be seriously injured and the other will die.

"You don't need to know the details, and you don't need to meddle in anything, as long as you stay in the palace quietly." Qingming looked at Xiao'an, "It doesn't matter whether your name is Xiao'an or Xueren, and it doesn't matter whether you are out of the dark or not." Gate, you are the former number one killer of the Black Gate, others may not be able to find out the identity of the employer, but you will definitely find out."

"I refuse." Xiaoan resolutely refused.

"You have a hundred days. If you can't find out the identity of the employer within a hundred days, I will marry King Liu and seal the Fangcao Pavilion; and you will never see him again. "

"He won't touch others." Xiaoan said firmly.

"Hehe~ Are you being too naive? Even if he doesn't want to, he just needs to take some medicine and forget everything. As long as I think about it." The corners of Qingming's lips curled up, but his eyes were extremely cold.

Ji Yueliu, who was sitting beside him, was keenly aware of his changes, "What are you going to do after you find out?"

"What are you doing?" Qing Ming lowered his head and stroked the white jade wrench in his hand, "Naturally, they have to pay the price, whether it is the black door or the employer, they should be punished if they make a mistake, blood debt, you didn't listen ever?"

Listening to his murderous words, Ji Yueliu shivered as if seeing endless blood.

"Third brother, you have changed."

Qingming's breathing stagnated, and he coughed heavily, "cough cough cough..."

It felt as if he was about to cough up his heart, and his pale face turned a little bloody.

He covered his mouth with a white silk scarf, calmed down slowly, and stared at the ground, "From the moment I returned to the Imperial Capital, it should be what it is now, and I'm afraid it won't happen after that. something." The voice was hoarse and sad.

He put the silk back into his sleeve pocket, stood up, and tidied his clothes, "If you want to force him to stay, just try, but I can't guarantee that he is safe and sound now. If you are sensible, just do as I say, Otherwise, don't blame me for disregarding old feelings."

After finishing speaking, Qingming walked out, and the hidden guard supported Ji Yueliu who had been acupunctured, and followed him back to the palace.

Sure enough, Xiao An did not stop him.

He is not stupid, and he also knows that there are 3000 people outside, even if he is strong in martial arts, he will not be able to take Ji Yueliu away safely, so he can only do what he says.

If you really can't find out, at worst, come back and find a way to take him away.

From that day on, the Fangcao Pavilion was temporarily sealed off, and Xiao An was nowhere to be found.

Ji Yueliu stayed in the palace every day, reading the memorials with Qingming and dealing with government affairs; she also saw the imperial physician helping him change his medicine.

"What's the matter with your injury? As far as I know, none of the assassins who went to Lingquan Temple used bows and arrows. They all used swords. There would never be such penetrating injuries."

Qingming ignored his words and just concentrated on reviewing the memorial.

"Hey~ Don't you take a break? I've hardly seen you take a good rest these days by your side. Even if there are a lot of government affairs piled up, there's no need to deal with them in such a hurry, right?"

Qing Ming remained silent.

This is a change that Ji Yueliu discovered about him. He was taciturn, sitting there all day, and hardly said a word except to order people to do things.

After staying in the palace for less than two months, the queen gave birth to the prince, but he also passed away due to dystocia.

Qingming ordered: For the rest of his life, the empress will be Su Jin alone, and no concubine will be chosen from then on, and the sixth palace will be vacant.

The world was in an uproar, and all kinds of stories and rumors praising the empress' affection suddenly appeared among the people, and Qingming's popularity reached its peak in an instant.

As for the prince, he was given the name Ji Chen, made him the crown prince, and ascended the throne as the emperor when he became an adult.

Others didn't know, but Ji Yueliu knew that Qingming sat in the imperial study the night the empress left.

No.90 days

Qingming received news from Jiang Hu.

"After the former No. [-] killer of the Black Gate defected from the Black Gate, he reappeared in the Black Gate not long ago, attracting the pursuit of everyone from the Black Gate and the enemies of the rivers and lakes. His whereabouts are unknown."

When Qingming told Ji Yueliu the news, Ji Yueliu turned pale instantly, although he still smiled recklessly.

"Are you worried?" Qingming asked lightly.

"Don't worry, he will come back." Ji Yueliu was full of confidence in Xiao'an.

Qingming raised his eyebrows and remained silent.

The last ten days passed quickly, but for Ji Yueliu, it was a long torment.

He believed in his heart that Xiao An would definitely come back, but he also knew that he would not come back safely. You must know that when he was picked up for the first time that year, he was covered in injuries, and I am afraid that this time, he would not be able to escape completely.

He was more worried about his safety than whether he could come back on time.

[-]th day

As soon as he retreated from the court, Qingming sat in the imperial study and never took a step away. Ji Yueliu also couldn't leave. Even if he went to the toilet, he would be followed by dozens of guards and palace servants.

Waiting from day to night, until midnight.

"It's time." Qingming reminded coolly.

Ji Yueliu pretended to be calm and took a swig of cold tea, but his slightly trembling fingertips revealed his loss and worry.

Qingming sighed, picked up the blank imperial decree, and wrote quickly with a pen.

After a while, he stopped writing, picked up the jade seal on the table, and was about to affix the emperor's seal.

"Wait!" A man staggered and fell in, raised his hand and threw him a note, "I found what you asked for, and I'm not late, I entered the palace an hour ago, just It was too dark, and I accidentally lost my way, and it was only a little late." After speaking, with a "bang~", he fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Xiao'an!" Ji Yueliu rushed over to hug him, saw that his body was covered with bruises, old wounds were not healed and new wounds were added, covered in blood, so she quickly picked him up and ran to her residence.

Qingming also got up, followed outside the door, calling out, "Dong Gui~"

"The slave is here."

"Go and pass the imperial doctor into the palace."

"Yes."

Morning the next day

Qingming informs the ministers of the results of Xiaoan's investigation.

The ministers were in an uproar.

"I ordered Han Tuo, the general who conquered the west, and the sinners of the Rong clan to buy the murderous Heimen, assassinate me and the queen in Lingquan Temple, invaded the northwest many times, and attacked the Beilu City, which damaged our Zhou Guowei, and sent [-] soldiers to Xishan City. Help General Han to storm the northwest, and the Rong people will never be destroyed and will never return to Beijing."

"The killer organized Heimen, indulged in murder, bought and sold human lives, colluded with foreign tribes, assassinated the empress, and the crime was heinous. King Liu led 1 people to wipe out Heimen without leaving any dogs behind. "

"Your Majesty is wise~" the ministers shouted.

Even if some people thought that this move was too violent and cruel, no one dared to say it. After all, they were not fools. Judging from the words and deeds of the young emperor after he returned to Beijing with a serious injury, it is impossible not to notice any changes.

Even though he still had a smile on his face from time to time, that smile never reached his eyes, and there was even a cold and heavy atmosphere around him, which was almost suffocating.

When the emperor got angry, he laid down millions of corpses, bleeding and floating on the oars.

This is the first time that the emperor has shown a completely different iron-blooded and brutal side from before.

Of course, these two incidents also became the most controversial incidents in Qingming's career as a monarch.

Most historians of later generations speculated that this incident was far from being as simple as it appeared on the surface, and there must be some other hidden secrets that caused the elegant and generous emperor to burst into such overwhelming anger.

However, no matter what, no one would have guessed that behind this incident, there is a generation of emperors who will never know how much affection and remorse...