Mu Chen opened his eyes and habitually raised his hand to press his heart.

The only warmth in the dream was lost, and the rest was empty, as if such an action was needed to fill it.

He got up and gently pushed open the window.

The morning light on the horizon is slightly dewed, and there is still a crescent moon hanging in the blue sky, as bright as a silver hook, and the strings are sharp.

The guards who were waiting outside heard the movement and whispered instructively: "Your Majesty? ”

Mu Chen didn't answer immediately, and after a while, Fang gave a faint "um", which was regarded as a response.

The guards had been with the emperor for a short time, and knowing that His Majesty was fine at this time and did not want to be disturbed, he retreated to the side with interest.

Mu Chen closed the window, turned around and popped out a spark, lighting an oil lamp on the wooden table in the room.

A lone flame flickered out, casting dappled and swaying shadows that stretched and spread over the white-painted walls.

As early as a hundred years ago, some of the patent leather on the walls had begun to grow old and curled, and now the area on the top side is even more bare and tattered.

The guards who accompanied him once mentioned that this residence could be renovated and replaced with better materials inside and out, but Mu Chen categorically rejected it.

The smell of wall paint and the smell of burning oil lamps are indeed very unpleasant and pungent compared to the incense of flowers in Suzaku Palace.

But in the midst of such an aura, some distant memories become clear.

The gentle gaze and shallow smile that she had before came alive in an instant, as if as soon as she stretched out her hand, she could touch the girl sitting against the window behind the light shadow, which made her once again smiling and smiling down her eyes......

She used to be very talkative, but now she doesn't talk much. The two men were together, often in endless silence.

In the past, her smile came out of her eyes, smart and wise.

Now her smile is only the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and her eyes are empty......

She's changed.

I became cold and hard-hearted.

She knew what he wanted, but she coldly cut off his thoughts:

"I can't give you what you want! I can't give it if I kill it. ”

But she,

And love him.

Isn't it?

"We're still the closest people in the world, aren't we? For the sake of your world and your ideals, I can still do whatever it takes. Just as I said to Fang Shanlei back then, you are not only my brother and ally, but also the person I value and care about the most in this life. But I will do my best to stop anything that is harmful to you, even if my hands are stained with blood, even if it hurts the innocent! ”

"Mu Chen, don't you understand that I have always been by your side and have never thought of turning my back on you?"

Mu Chen looked down at the ring marks on his index finger.

After all, it was he who forced her too hard, so she couldn't help but want to escape, right?

It's a pity that time doesn't allow him to wait, and he doesn't allow him to continue to carefully care for her mood......

Perhaps, at least, he could put himself lower.

Talk to her, don't get angry, think of ways to make her laugh...... Just like that man......

If she likes to cook, let her cook, the stove kitchen here is still the same as it was a hundred years ago, and if she likes, she can have people build an identical garden in Suzaku Palace.

She doesn't like to plant grass, so she won't plant it. The ice crystals sealed the wind lantern made by the fire spirit, and she liked it. If she is willing to return to Suzaku Palace, she will have her bedroom redecorated inside and outside......

If she doesn't want to come back......

That's fine.

He didn't want to push her anymore.

As long as she is willing to stay by his side, as long as the two can still get along in peace as before.

Isn't he, shouldn't he have any more extravagance?

As the afternoon wore on, the sky began to become gloomy, and the strong winds before the rainstorm were blowing clouds from the north.

No matter what country it is like, such weather is not a suitable day for marriage.

However, the agreed wedding date could not be changed, and the mighty army of Lieyang slowly arrived outside Xianxia Pass at noon according to the promised time.

But the send-off team on Chaoyan's side was a mess.

At the most critical juncture, the two people who led the two countries to send their relatives the most important thing actually disappeared!

Yun Yan's relatives insisted that his prince had gone out with Emperor Qingling, and the guards on Chaoyan's side all pleaded innocently that they hadn't seen Emperor Chang Ji out of the gate of the post house at all.

Fortunately, Mo Ninghao, who is the head of the clan, was quite calm, and methodically instructed the relevant people to perform their duties, escorting Ah Jing to Xianxia Pass, and secretly ordering someone to send the prepared secret report to the Vermilion Bird Palace as soon as possible.

Ning Hao didn't know that Mu Chen was waiting for Qing Ling's arrival in a small town a few miles away from here at the moment. Therefore, his carefully prepared rhetoric, implying that Emperor Ji learned of the rumors and caused the gaffe, finally failed to reach Mu Chen's hands in time......

The clouds of cumulonia are getting thicker. The sunlight gradually slanting to the west, casting a few golden edges from the gaps in the clouds, dazzling and distinct.

In the inconspicuous five-room courtyard in Guanwu Town, a man in a white robe with a long jade body stood silently under the eaves, looking up at the sky painted by splashed ink, and remained motionless for a long time.

Counting up, Lieyang's welcoming team should have received Ajing at Xianxia Pass.

Why hasn't the secret guard sent to find out the news come back for a long time?

The daylight between the clouds suddenly darkened, followed by a flash of light, and then a rumbling thunder could be heard from far and near.

The guards behind the pillar looked up at the sky, bowed forward, and said thoughtfully: "Your Majesty, it looks like it's about to rain this day." Your Majesty wants to ...... Come into the house and sit? ”

Mu Chen did not answer.

For some reason, he, who had always been quiet, suddenly became a little inexplicably uneasy.

Such uneasiness has nothing to do with the weather, nor does it have anything to do with the people of Lieyang who are heading south.

But......

Boom! Boom!

Two sudden rings are close at hand!

More than a dozen secret guards reacted in unison, jumping out of the hidden corners of the courtyard in an instant, each pulling out their blades and setting up defenses, guarding Mu Chen in the center.

The wind crackled and poured down large raindrops.

Following the source of the sound of the right person, the two guards ran down to the middle of the courtyard on alert and picked up the two falling objects from the ground.

The severed head, dripping with bright red blood mixed with rain, turned out to be the two people who had been ordered to investigate Xianxia Pass before!

Everyone under the eaves looked through the rain curtain, and their hearts were tight, and the first reaction in most people's minds was:

Lieyang has changed!

However, at this moment, there was another burst of lightning and thunder in the sky, and a slowly approaching figure was introduced.

It was a woman in a crimson dress, holding a divine sword in her hand, her skirt fluttering in the enchantment, and her posture was full of stubborn determination. Under him, there was a terrifying unicorn beast, the original auspicious clouds were low, the glow was colorful, but the hair seemed to be soaked in blood, tangled out a lock of dark red, and it looked very fierce and terrifying.

She floated quietly in the air, dressed in red, and stared down.

Mu Chen's mind was in a trance for a moment.

A hundred years ago, the same person and the same figure also appeared outside Xianxia Pass with a similar attitude.

"I don't care what you're going to do, I'm going with you!"

"Just let me really stay by your side, fight side by side with you, not hide behind you."

"I'm not a person who doesn't distinguish between right and wrong, but even if I can't get used to the way you do things, there's no way to leave you! I said, don't think I'm weak. If you really don't want to leave the Eastern Continent and really want to return to Lingxiao City, I am willing to fight side by side with you, even if I want my hands to be stained with blood......"

The girl in her memory, desperate for everything and her life, landed on the battlefield like nine days of snow, just to stay by his side and fight side by side with him!

But in her dreams, she was also so high and unreachable, and little by little she pulled the only warmth away from herself......

Never came back......

Mu Chen moved his lips, but he couldn't make a sound.

The fear that cracked deep in my heart finally spread uncontrollably and endlessly.

However, the surrounding guards recognized Qing Ling, and subconsciously slowed down their tense state a little.

The leading general whispered to Mu Chen for instructions: "Your Majesty, it's the Elder Emperor...... Here it comes. ”

It's true that the person is the Elder Emperor, but this formation, as well as the two human heads thrown down, are all strange and abnormal no matter how you look at it!

And Your Majesty......

Looking up at the comer, silent and motionless, that look is also weird!

Qing Ling looked at Mu Chen quietly in the crowd for a moment through the rain curtain in the sky, and then turned around and jumped down, the glow in his hand flickered, and the unicorn divine beast turned into a jade plaque and put it in his palm.

The moment it fell to the ground, the protective barrier was also withdrawn.

The bean-sized raindrops fell densely on her head and body, and her hair and dress quickly soaked and wrapped in embarrassment.

Only then did the guards see clearly that the emperor's face was as pale as paper and haggard, but a pair of eyes seemed to have flames jumping in the middle.

She raised the long sword in her hand, pointed directly at the center of everyone's support, and then slowly put it down, turned around slightly, and said in a suppressed voice: "You all go down!" ”

Her tone was not fierce, but her voice was very clear, as if there was a kind of power that went straight to people's hearts, and everyone present couldn't help but be secretly frightened.

Most of them were summoned to the Chengji Hall one after another after Mu Chen succeeded to the throne and served with His Majesty. In their impressions, the Green Elder Emperor Ji has always been a frail and weak image. Because His Majesty was worried about her health, he put a lot of effort into collecting elixirs, and often reprimanded Hexi Xiaodi Ji for being naughty and causing trouble and disturbing his aunt's recuperation......

But the woman in front of her was obviously powerful and murderous, and the sharp blade in her hand looked even more unusual.

As a result, the guards heard it clearly, but they all hesitated, and none of them dared to retreat easily according to the order, and waited vigilantly for His Majesty's orders.

"Go down, all of you."

After a long time, Mu Chen's voice finally sounded slowly.

He calmly looked ahead, his posture was as elegant and respectful as ever, and slowly stretched out his hand in the direction of Qing Ling, "You come here." ”