However, the matter of "being able to be an emperor" is not an illusion for Zhao Xu, but a conclusive fact, but it has always been buried deep in his heart. This fact changed from Zhao Shen's death as a point of erection, from a vague and indistinguishable dream to a clear and clear one, and at the same time meant that danger was approaching.

And such a danger is that the saffron on the other side turns into a wild beast, pounces with teeth and claws, and every day is closer to death than the day before, and he himself cannot speak, even if he reveals a signal for help, it will not help. It is to cover his mouth and nose to prevent him from breathing, to press his head into the water to make him drown, to let him sink into quiet despair, which is called "keeping the rules".

What a rule. Zhao Xu thought to himself, this way seems to be never-ending, and the rules that continue to sprout and grow almost kill people.

And the most terrifying thing is that he has an extremely clear perception of all this. He could see, hear, and remember all the humiliation and pain clearly.

Empress Dowager Gao said: "Your Majesty, you are still young, and for the time being, the mourning family will preside over the political affairs for you, do you say okay?"

The minister next to him bowed his head and said, "The minister thinks it's excellent, the Queen Mother."

Empress Dowager Gao's hand caressed Zhao Xu's face, cold and slippery, without warmth. Zhao Xu saw the face of the Empress Dowager Gao from this hand. Empress Dowager Gao was in her fifties at the time, but she still had willow eyebrows and apricot eyes, a red nose and red lips, and pink peach cheeks. She laughed, a beautiful mask.

Nine-year-old Zhao Xu looked up at her and responded with silence.

"What's the matter, Your Majesty?" Empress Dowager Gao was delighted by his unexpectedly gentle attitude, she held his face and said with a smile, "Why don't you express your opinion?" You are the king of a country, your Majesty, don't be so cowardly, say it, don't be afraid." ”

Zhao Xu raised his head lightly and responded: "Niangniang has already decided, what else do you want me to say?"

The little emperor who existed in name only, sitting there was just an ornament. The palace is a shackle, he is the most ornate puppet, he moves the whole body, and the reason why the ulceration that occurs inside the palace is not noticed is because it is all manifested in him. That's it, but he didn't even enjoy the benefits of it, and his life ended before it began.

Until his accident, he was not able to reclaim what belonged to him. It was only when he was in the midst of the endless darkness that he realized that if something was not grasped at first, it meant that it was lost forever and ceased to exist.

- "Are you right, Zhao Xu?

When Zhao Xu heard this voice, he was terrified. He looked up to find the source of the sound, but soon realized that he had lost his "movement", he was unable to move, it was a little "perception" in the darkness and chaos. He realizes that he still "exists", and uses "consciousness" as the support to build a bridge with the outside world and himself in this indescribable place.

And where will this bridge lead?

I don't know, maybe it's the next life. Maybe he's on the bridge, waiting to go to the next place to live, and he'll forget everything.

"I can't forget it. A voice echoed in the void, "Your Majesty, the liberation you are so free is to change to a form of imprisonment. You want to escape, but you have nowhere to go. ”

Zhao Xu was silent for a long time and said, "Impermanence?"

"It's me. Your Majesty, I will always follow you. The voice spoke, gradually flickering red light, that was the only light Zhao Xu could see, it was close to him, brighter and bigger and bigger, it was a moon symbolizing reunion, it was bright red and brilliant, devouring the heart and bones, squeezing his whole person into this only light source.

"How many times have I told you to get out. Zhao Xu said, "Don't let me go when you're alive, even if I'm dead, don't you want to leave me for a quarter of an hour?"

"I listened to the words of the Queen Mother and was ordered to protect you, Your Majesty. We are now one, Emperor, Emperor, are you rejecting me?"

"Ridiculous. Zhao Xu said coldly, "Even if you can protect me, you can't fight against the evil ghost in my dream, the Queen Mother didn't tell you about this, right? You treat the Queen Mother as everything, and the Queen Mother just uses you as a pawn, idiot." ”

When Tong Guan saw Zhao Ji, he was quite taken aback.

First of all, because King Duan was able to arrive at the palace so quickly, and he already thought that he was going to be more than lucky, he was used to thinking that the worst would happen in his heart, and when he flattered, he said one in ten thousand hopes, both sides knew that on the surface he was peaceful, and his feet were like walking on thin ice, and once the ice was broken, it would be a rolling angry wave, so he thought that King Duan would definitely not come back, and as an emergency measure, he was ready to let people look around.

Secondly, Duanwang was too drunk. His whole person was bubbling with a strong smell of alcohol, as if a jar had been hidden for more than ten or twenty years, and his daughter was red that had just been dug out of the ground. His thin and handsome face flushed, and a pair of bright round eyes flickered back and forth, and did not stay on him for a moment. He squinted his eyes as if in the misty sky, and suddenly his eyes widened and he didn't know where God was, his feet were unstable, and his body was involuntarily upside down, all relying on Su Can to support him, the whole person showed a state of uncertainty, trance, and moodiness, Duan Wang raised his head to look at him and laughed.

"Father-in-law Tong, long time no see...... I didn't expect that the first person I met in the palace was you, it's really a great fate, you must remember it. Zhao Ji smiled like a flower, with a fragile beauty, he got rid of Su Can's support, and stumbled towards Tong Guan, Tong Guan hurriedly stretched out his hand to support him, and said, "His Royal Highness King Duan is careful." ”

He is also a practitioner, and he supports Zhao Ji's body steadily, so that he will not walk a few steps with his head bored and then fall to the ground, doubling the humiliation. So Zhao Ji crashed into Tong Guan's arms, Tong Guan thought, what a stinky child. He seemed to be safe and sound, but he was drunk like this, and the Queen Mother didn't know how she would feel when she saw it - didn't everything happen before, or was she stimulated by something?

When Zhao Ji raised his head, the smile on his face had suddenly disappeared, and the fragile smile withered, just like his expression of joy and anger, and at this moment, his demeanor also changed from a short moment of joy just now to irreversible horror, he trembled and trembled and said: "Father-in-law Tong, someone wants to kill me, save me, father-in-law Tong......"

Tong Guan's face changed, and he said, "Who wants to kill you, His Royal Highness Duanwang?" Don't worry, say slowly, it is safe in the palace, and no one will hurt you." ”

"I don't dare to say, I don't believe it, there is no place in the palace that is safe, Gonggong Tong. Zhao Ji shook his head violently, his lips trembled, as if he was frightened, "Father-in-law Tong, I want to see the Queen Mother, can you please introduce me?"

Although Zhao Ji should have been arranged to see the Queen Mother, seeing that he took the initiative to mention it, Tong Guan was still subconsciously alert, and asked more: "What is the matter with His Royal Highness King Duan?"

Zhao Ji looked at him, and suddenly burst into tears, he sobbed and said, "Please be safe...... I haven't asked the Queen Mother for peace today......"

"Ah......" Tong Guan said apologetically, "I forgot." In this case, His Royal Highness King Duan, you look very tired, why don't you pack up first, and I will ask someone to change your clean clothes and then go to see the Queen Mother? He looked at Zhao Ji, and really felt that his clothes were so dirty that they didn't look good, and the smell of wine was very strong, such a greeting might have the opposite effect, and he was even more afraid that something would happen and make trouble, which was not easy to do. It's hard.

However, although Zhao Ji was drunk, he was still very sensitive to the dislike of others, his face sank, and he said angrily: "What's the matter? I'm like this, I don't deserve to see the Queen Mother? I finally came back alive, because there is nothing important, can't I see the Queen Mother? I am not a courtier with real power, and I have something important to report." I'm not going to see the emperor, I can't see it...... But the Queen Mother is my relative, the person who loves me the most, can't I see it if I want to......? Is it just because I'm a prisoner?"

His tears flashed, gradually overflowing the entire eye socket, and then fell hot, his face was hot, tears were also hot, anger and sadness were intertwined, his shoulders shrugged, Tong Guan had no other intentions, and he couldn't bear it, so he simply waved his hand, turned around and took him over, and said: "Your Royal Highness King Duan, don't think too much, the small one just talks casually, and has no other meaning." Come along, the Queen Mother is resting. ”

"Thank you, Father-in-law. Zhao Ji bowed his head and thanked him, and then said, "Su Can, come." ”

Su Can smiled and said, "Can I come with me?" That's the Empress Dowager's Longyou Palace, it's not appropriate for me to go." ”

"What are you kidding with Guard Su?" Tong Guan looked back and smiled, "You are the one responsible for guarding the emperor, which naturally means that you can enter and exit all places in the palace freely." ”

"Please forgive me for my sins. Su Can smiled slightly and said, "It's just that I failed to fulfill my duties well, and I was out of the field at a critical moment, and I failed to protect the emperor, so I really deserve death." ”

"Not really. Although the emperor had an accident, everyone couldn't get out of it, but there was something appointed to you that day, and it wasn't all your fault. Tong Guan's tone was light, and his voice gradually lowered, "At least you caught Shao Bowen back, and by the way, you caught Liu Anshi, who escaped from prison, and what's even more powerful is that King Duan also rescued you, which can also be regarded as making up for it, Su Guards don't have to worry too much." Didn't the Su guards meet General Wang?"

"Ah......" Su Can smiled, "I didn't touch it." Father-in-law Tong, if you say this, I am relieved. ”

Zhao Ji turned his head in shock, looked at Su Can, and said silently: Did you arrange it? Not Zhao Ji?

Su Can's eyes avoided him, but Zhao Ji looked at him with burning eyes, and he had to raise his head, touch his neck, and ask Tong Guan quietly, "Are the two of them okay now?"

"Don't worry, you can still catch your breath. Tong Guan smiled, "If you are caught and killed, then don't you just let Su Guards go and kill them directly?" The Queen Mother wants to ask them something, if they are willing to cooperate, there will be nothing at all, the problem is that I heard that their attitude is still very tough, so there is no way." ”

"Yes...... Su Can smiled reluctantly, "Anyway, Shao Bowen is still a guest from afar, so there's no need to be too cruel to him." ”

Tong Guan's beautiful side face had a clear outline in the backlight, and he spoke with a soft and cool smile, and his eyes revealed a bright light: "Shao Bowen came this time, not because he wanted to come, but because the handle fell on Bianjing, and he was forced to do so." What's the matter, Su Guard, it's rare to see you so human. The killers you've been dealing with all these years often have more tragic backgrounds, but I haven't seen you show such mercy. Could it be that Su Guard and Shao Bowen have any friendship?"

"You're thinking too much, Grandpa Tong. Su Can smiled, "If I had a friendship with Shao Bowen, I wouldn't have brought His Royal Highness Duan Wang over well." ”

Zhao Ji was frightened: "What?"

"That's right. Tong Guan said, "Guard Su, your assumption is really frightening, you see that King Duan is scared by you......"

Su Can smiled and said, "His Royal Highness King Duan is surprised and scared because he trusts me." Right, His Highness King Duan?"

Zhao Ji suddenly made a strange sound from his throat, he leaned down, Su Can wanted to help him, but he waved his hand to let Su Can go away. Su Can didn't touch him, he looked at Zhao Ji trembling all over, his neck leaning forward, as if he was constantly retching and coughing, he leaned over and whispered, "It will feel better to vomit." ”

However, Zhao Ji shook his head violently, he retched for a while, and uncomfortable tears and cold sweat kept pouring out, but he couldn't spit it out. After a long stalemate, he finally became exhausted, lost even the strength to vomit, and sat on the ground with his body tilted, looking at the sky in a daze.

Su Canqiang pulled him up and said, "His Royal Highness King Duan, don't give up at this time." ”

"I ...... Yes, I want to see the Queen Mother. Zhao Ji muttered, "But I'm so scared." ”

Tong Guan smiled without replying: "His Royal Highness King Duan, the world of adults is very dangerous, you should be careful not to be scared away, after all, this game of chess cannot be regretted." ”

The Queen Mother's Longyou Palace is quiet and beautiful, the most suitable for recuperation, and the occasional bird call and cicada song break the tranquility, which is also some embellishment in this depth, but it seems more tranquil.

Tong Guan saw the two palace maids Yinqiao and Forsythia guarding outside the door, so he walked over and smiled at each of them, and said, "Yinqiao, Forsythia, please go in and inform the Queen Mother, saying that His Royal Highness King Duan asked to see him." ”

Unexpectedly, Yin Qiao glanced at him coldly, and Forsythia glanced up with his arms around his eyes and didn't move, just ignoring what he said.

They are the palace maids under the snow silkworm, and the snow silkworm and Tong Guan have always been so bad that they naturally know in their hearts, and they try their best to make him sad. In this way, Tong Guan didn't know if he could pass: he couldn't pass, he broke in like this, it was considered to be a trespass without following the rules, and the guards were very likely to attack him or Duanwang, and then there was a dispute, and the dispute couldn't end for a while; Although their intentions did not have much impact on Tong Guan under the pampering, but in the long run, the impression will always deteriorate little by little. Tong Guan, who seeks perfection in everything, does not allow this kind of thing to happen.

He was still thinking about a way, but Zhao Ji took the first step, walked past Yinqiao, and passed by Forsythia. Su Can was worried that Zhao Ji walking over like this might provoke a few guards behind Yinqiao to come up to stop him, and most of the drunk people couldn't understand people's words, let alone obediently obey orders.

However, instead of stopping them, the guards stepped back and lined up in two rows. When Su Can saw it, his hanging heart suddenly relaxed: Zhao Ji's luck is really not ordinarily good, he is drunk like this, God will not let him have an accident.

Zhao Ji doesn't care. He walked a few steps and stopped, squinted his eyes and looked in, and said with a smile: "Ah, I recognize, this is the Empress Dowager Longyou Palace." Thank you Father-in-law Tong for leading the way, I almost don't recognize it! Father-in-law Tong, hurry up and keep up!"

Yinqiao and Forsythia had already smelled Zhao Ji's extraordinary wine at this time, such a strong taste was not allowed anywhere in the palace, but anyone who drank a third of the amount like this, they should stop the master, otherwise it would be dangerous. Especially today, today is different from yesterday's banquet, today is an ordinary day, and the people of the royal family should be forbearant and restrained on ordinary days. So they feel frightened and strange, but they don't hate it. To be precise, the royal family members outside the palace, one is more interesting than the other, there are many fewer rules and more personalized charm, King Shen is elegant, King Duan is lively and cute, especially every time King Duan comes to visit the Queen Mother, he will also bring some small gifts to them, everyone has received some small favors from him, and they are naturally praised.

Tong Guan smiled and said: "His Royal Highness King Duan, little prince, you don't go in without asking for instructions first, aren't you afraid of being killed?" The two girls didn't say that they could go in, so we have to wait here." ”

"Ah, I forgot ......" Zhao Ji turned his head and walked back with a grin, the smell of wine on his body made Yinqiao frown, Zhao Ji noticed the change in Yinqiao's demeanor, drunkenly stepped forward, his face rushed straight in front of Yinqiao, and Yinqiao's eyes retreated in horror, Zhao Ji asked with concern, "What's wrong, are you not feeling well, Sister Yinqiao? I came in too much of a hurry today and didn't prepare a gift for Yinqiao. Forsythia's two sisters ......" He lowered his head in embarrassment and said, "I'll make up for it next time, okay?"

An imperceptible faint smile appeared on Yinqiao's face, and Forsythia spoke first, "Who wants you to bring me a gift?"

“...... Ah, what about that?" Zhao Ji said confusedly, "Then why don't you let me in?" Although he leaned forward, his hands were behind his back and did not move.

Tong Guan saw this scene in his eyes, and his eyes narrowed slightly.