jdhmnovel Chapter 134 Her Story (not in the book)
Chapter 134 Her Story (not in the book)
Perhaps because it had rained, Gu Chen's long hair was slightly damp.
The two entered the palace together.
Fortunately, the palace set in this film studio wasn't very large, and we saw the residence of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor Emeritus after walking for a short while.
As if they had anticipated Wu Zhao's arrival, Qi An and his wife were already waiting at the palace gate.
"I told you they'd both come together!" Shao Hanmei said with a smile.
Qi An laughed too, "Mei Zi guessed right, they really can't be separated for even a moment."
Wu Zhao was somewhat puzzled, "We weren't always together, we just bumped into each other at the door."
Without any perspective, Wu Zhao naturally didn't know that after leaving the sacrificial altar, Gu Chen went straight to the outside of the palace to wait for her.
Those who knew the truth couldn't help but flood the live stream with comments.
What a coincidence! He arrived right after you.
[That's why they say real couples are always in sync! You see, this couple is definitely real!]
[Tsk tsk tsk, this is unbearable to watch. You two should just lock in garlic and chili!]
The audience's teasing was tinged with some well wishes, but Wu Zhao's focus was entirely on what Shao Hanmei was holding.
I didn't pay attention to what the comments were saying.
"This is……?"
Shao Hanmei held a somewhat old-looking file in her hand.
She raised her hand after feeling Wu Zhao's gaze. "This was found in the Empress Dowager's, uh, my palace."
"It should be considered the Empress Dowager's diary? It records some information from His Majesty's birth to his diligent governance. I've taken a look, and what's particularly noteworthy is that His Majesty nearly died when he was sixteen years old."
Shao Hanmei opened the dossier in her hand. "It says that His Majesty was nearly killed by assassins during a spring hunt when he was sixteen years old. Then... the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion stepped in and extended His Majesty's life, but it doesn't specify what method was used to extend his life."
Qi An, standing to the side, also said, "I think this record is very obscure, and I don't know what methods were used... It's probably the kind that can't be brought to light."
"But from this point on, His Majesty changed in the eyes of the Empress Dowager. He became obsessed with physiognomy and metaphysics... and began to neglect state affairs."
Shao Hanmei handed the file to Wu Zhao, saying, "Take another look and see if there are any oversights."
Wu Zhao did not answer; her eyes became somewhat vacant, as if she were lost in some kind of memory.
His Majesty was sixteen years old... At that time, he must have just ascended the throne not long ago.
At that time, Dongxuan was already in trouble, but the internal and external troubles were not obvious.
...He clearly promised during his enthronement ceremony that he would be a good emperor.
Unfortunately, he broke his promise.
Are love and immortality really more important than the common people?
A glint flashed in Wu Zhao's eyes, and he almost laughed.
Seeing this, Gu Chen took the file. He seemed to be flipping through the papers, but his eyes were always on Wu Zhao.
"What's wrong?" Qi An couldn't help but ask. "Did I think of some other clue?"
"This record stopped when His Majesty turned twenty. According to the storyline provided by the director, His Majesty should be... twenty-two years old now, right?"
Gu Chen turned to the last page and saw that half-written text had been smeared away with thick ink. "What happened when I was twenty?"
...The witchcraft saga. Wu Zhao's eyes darkened.
That year, His Majesty was bewitched by the sorcerer of the Western Abyss, mistakenly believing that by consuming the blood of the divine sorcerer and raising Gu worms, he could achieve immortality.
His Majesty imprisoned the Imperial Advisor and threatened him to hand over the clan members who possessed the bloodline of the Divine Witch. The elders of the clan endured this in order to protect the bloodline of the Divine Witch.
As a result, the sorcerers of Xiyuan Kingdom took advantage of the situation and used witchcraft to commit riots in Dongxuan Imperial Capital.
Her father and mother died in that riot while protecting the people of Dongxuan...
As a result, the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion developed a rift with the royal family.
The imperial concubine's maternal family seized the opportunity to send her into the palace, causing the empress to lose control of the harem.
This is the darkest part of Dongxuan's history that he could not let outsiders know. That year, the retired emperor and the empress dowager forced the historians to erase all the mistakes His Majesty had made.
Also erased were the two most brilliant and talented sorcerers in the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion...
A boiling hatred flowed through Wu Zhao's blood, and the crimson color gradually spread into his eyes.
A warm hand suddenly grasped Wu Zhao's hand.
The cold touch made Gu Chen clench his thin fingers even tighter.
"Zhao Zhao, it seems our crucial clue lies here. Once we know what happened this year, we should be able to understand what the crisis is, right?" Gu Chen casually waved the hand holding the dossier.
Wu Zhao snapped out of her daze and then gently squeezed Gu Chen's hand in return.
"……probably."
How could this erased history possibly be found again? It's most likely that Mo Dahai had someone fabricate some strange content to include it.
Qi An thought Gu Chen's words made sense, but he smiled somewhat sarcastically and said, "That's what they say, but we're not from the same country, are we?"
Gu Chen: ...
"I think so. Or... should I ask you to leave first?"
Wu Zhao asked tentatively.
Although it feels a bit like using it and then discarding it, we still have to follow the rules of the game.
Gu Chen's lips twitched, seeing that Wu Zhao's mood seemed to have recovered somewhat.
So he had no choice but to let go of Wu Zhao and walk out, saying softly, "Then we'll just have to... see you later."
Once he was out of sight, Shao Hanmei looked at Qi An reproachfully and said, "You old man, you really love making a scene."
"Hahaha, oh dear, I was just trying to create some entertainment value for Director Mo. These days, young people all like that kind of love-hate relationship storyline!" Qi An laughed heartily.
Wu Zhao was still holding the dossier that Gu Chen had just handed her. When she heard Qi An's words about love and hate, she almost threw the dossier away.
Shao Hanmei glanced at the palace behind her and asked, "Since the focus is still on the Empress Dowager, could the key clues still be inside the room?"
"I'm a little confused about what role this hostage from an enemy country plays in this story. It feels like... there aren't any clues to connect his story to the plot," Qi An said, stroking his chin with some uncertainty.
Wu Zhao stuffed the dossier into his small bag. "He must have made an agreement with someone in the palace. He might have been bribed by the Southern Abyss Kingdom to do something underhanded during the rain-praying ceremony."
That was the case back then; unfortunately, she wasn't a hostage but a concubine sent from Nanyuan for a political marriage.
He rushed onto the sacrificial altar and committed suicide before the prayer dance.
Blood stained the altar of prayer, which was blasphemy against the gods and a great disrespect.
It was from this somewhat unsuccessful prayer dance that Dongxuan began to experience constant conflict and internal strife between imperial power and divine power.
Furthermore, the emperor's love at first sight for the imperial advisor's younger sister, who was involved in the Qishenwu ritual, completely led him to neglect state affairs...
I wonder if the character Gu Chen was created so that he would die before Qi Shenwu?
"So it seems there won't be any clues from this hostage?" Shao Hanmei asked. "Then... what clues could he possibly find?"
Wu Zhao thought for a moment, "Probably... he's on the Consort's side."
"It all depends on what clues Yu Chen can bring out from the General's Mansion."
Qi An nodded: "By the way, the Imperial Concubine and the Chief Eunuch also wanted to enter the palace before. But we refused, except... we couldn't stop the young prince. Her status gives her a privilege of entering and exiting a specific scene once. It seems she found something in my room and took it with her."
Wu Nini? She is a VIP, being the young prince of Xiyuan.
The person leaving with the items likely found an important clue to share with Shen Jiaojiao.
Wu Zhao's temple throbbed, and he sneered, "Fine, I didn't expect there would be a traitor among us."