allonlinenovel Chapter 116 Accident
Chapter 116 Accident
Lan Qingwu replied, "In that case, Your Majesty must first send someone to guard the Ruyi Tree to prevent others from being frightened. It's a pity that I haven't made a wish yet!"
Emperor Shenwu said lovingly, "How difficult is that? I have written down my wish and I will hang it up myself."
Lan Qingwu smiled in relief: "Forget it, Your Majesty can fulfill my humble wish, so there is no need to trouble the Ruyi Tree."
As for wishes that even an emperor cannot fulfill, asking a tree for help is just a form of spiritual sustenance.
Late at night, Emperor Shenwu was sleeping soundly with Lan Qingwu in his arms when Li Xiang's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty... Generals Qian Hui and Leng request an audience."
The Emperor suddenly opened his eyes, put on his clothes and stood up. Lan Qingwu was also awakened. She sat up with the Emperor. The Emperor reached out and gently pushed Lan Qingwu down: "Ruoruo, you go back to sleep. I'll be back soon."
Of course, Emperor Shenwu never returned to Jingyou Pavilion after he left.
Lan Qingwu was awakened by a dream in the early morning. Since he got the Buddhist beads of Master Kunku, Lan Qingwu has rarely had dreams. Lan Qingwu sat up and gently wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Ice cubes placed in the four corners of the Quiet Pavilion exuded a subtle coolness. Lan Qingwu recalled her recent dream. In it, she was alone, standing quietly on the Ruyi Terrace. It was clearly night, but the stone terrace radiated a dazzling light, which slowly formed the shape of a five-pointed star... Then Lan Qingwu was awakened.
Lan Qingwu was still in shock. Ruhan, who was beside the bed, called out to Lan Qingwu several times, "Master... Master..."
Lan Qingwu came back to his senses and ordered, "Ruhan, let's go see Master Buyu later."
Ruhan advised: "Your feet..."
"It's okay, it's not serious, just take the sedan chair."
There was an ancient temple in Miaoling Palace, called Yinling Temple. Lan Qingwu was supported by Ruhan and slowly walked into the ancient temple.
Master Buyu was standing outside his meditation room, holding a Buddhist scripture. He was not surprised to see Lan Qingwu and bowed to him: "Amitabha! Greetings, sir."
Lan Qingwu nodded slightly in return. The two of them sat opposite each other at a stone table beneath a tree in the temple.
Master Buyu was as quiet as ever, and Lan Qingwu didn't know where to start.
Ruhan stood quietly in the distance, not moving forward. After a moment, Lan Qingwu gently put down the teacup in his hand and said, "Master Buyu, I dreamed of a road, a very... special road!"
Master Buyu frowned slightly: "Did the noble go to some special place? The noble has a special physique, so it's better not to go to places with special auras."
Lan Qingwu's words lingered on his tongue, but he didn't utter them out loud. He simply said, "The path I'm walking on now has been paved for me. This is the only path I'm walking on."
"Amitabha, since the road in the dream is illusory, please forget it and just walk steadily on the road ahead!"
Lan Qingwu left Yinling Temple and boarded his sedan chair, lost in thought. When he regained consciousness, he looked up and saw the enormous tree that blocked out the sun. Around Ruyi Terrace, Yulin Guards could be seen standing guard like spears.
Lan Qingwu called a halt before he could even react.
Ruhan looked at Lan Qingwu strangely: "Master, do you still want to see this tree?"
Lan Qingwu did not answer. She got off the sedan chair as if she was bewitched and stared at the magical ginkgo tree without blinking.
Lan Qingwu walked closer to the Ruyi Tree step by step, and she slowly walked around the Ruyi Tree for most of the way.
Lan Qingwu was wondering what she was thinking and what she was doing when she first stood on Ruyi Terrace?
She just stood on a corner of Ruyi Terrace, thinking about the world that originally belonged to her.
Ruyi Tree, Ruyi Terrace? Lan Qingwu suddenly came to her senses and took a step back. Ruhan hurriedly supported her.
Lan Qingwu looked back at the Ruyi Tree again and said, "Let's go!"
The atmosphere in the Qinzheng Hall was depressing and solemn.
Emperor Shenwu's face was as cold as ice: "Leng Qujing, say it again!"
Leng Qujing lowered his head and said sadly, "I just received news that the Jialu King has occupied Ningzhou City. The city guards have been killed, and most of the city officials have also been killed. Only a few officials have escaped... Some of the people in the city have been slaughtered, and those who resisted have all been killed... It's my incompetence!"
Emperor Shenwu looked at the silent civil and military officials and asked directly, "Who in the city supports him?"
"It's the Chen family!"
Emperor Shenwu said in a deep voice: "The Chen family? They have always been on good terms with the An family, the mother's family of the Jialu King."
He also had good relations with the Shi family, a prominent figure in the imperial city's literary circles. Emperor Shenwu's eyes swept over Master Shi, who felt a cold sweat pouring down his face as he lowered his head once more.
"The Chen family? Back then, I only expelled the Chen family from the Imperial City, not annihilated them all. I never imagined that the Chen family would now be colluding with the Deer King. Has the Deer King, Zhou Qizheng, forgotten that his mother is still in the Dasheng Palace? Or does he truly believe that I am a clay statue?"
Emperor Shenwu looked at Leng Qujing's hesitant expression and said in an icy tone, "Go on!"
Leng Qujing said with difficulty, "The King of the Deer Family has spread the news—telling His Majesty to go to Ningzhou City in person... Otherwise, fifty civilians will be slaughtered every day! The King of the Deer Family has spread this news to everyone, Your Majesty..."
Emperor Shenwu couldn't help but sneer in disdain. Zhou Qizheng! He was as arrogant and violent as ever.
Some officials couldn't help but speak up, "Your Majesty, you absolutely cannot go! A gentleman doesn't stand under a dangerous wall! Moreover, that Deer King has evil intentions and will definitely harm Your Majesty!"
Another minister hesitated and said, "But... that Deer King has spread this news everywhere. If Your Majesty doesn't go, it might damage your reputation!"
The situation seemed to be in a dilemma. The Shenwu Emperor suddenly stood up from the dragon throne, his wide sleeves dancing with his movements. "Propagate my order. Ningzhou City is not far from Miaoling Palace. For safety reasons, all the concubines, officials and their families must return to the imperial city tomorrow. Wei Yanting!"
Wei Yanting immediately stepped out: "I am here!"
"I'll leave this matter to you! Remember to defend the Imperial City after returning to it and prioritize the people within!"
"The minister obeys the order!"
After Emperor Shenwu gave the order, he walked down the hall. Li Xiang quickly responded: "Dismiss the court!" Then he trotted to follow the emperor's footsteps.
Afterwards, the emperor immediately summoned several important ministers and generals to the main hall of Qingliang Palace to discuss matters.
On this day, the candles in the Qingliang Hall were kept lit all night long, and the lights were bright.
This sudden change made the harem like a drop of water dropped into a frying pan, causing slight ripples, but quickly calming down. Many concubines did not know what had happened. They only received the imperial edict in a daze, and then packed up their belongings to return to the imperial city.
The decree that Lan Qingwu heard was issued by Li Xiang himself at Jingyou Pavilion.
Lan Qingwu repeated Li Xiang's words in surprise: "Are we leaving for the Imperial City tomorrow?"
Li Xiang replied respectfully, "Yes, your Majesty."
Lan Qingwu's mind raced, thinking of the sudden departure of Emperor Shenwu last night, and he asked tentatively, "Eunuch Li, has something happened?"