The first time in history

Qian Mingduo clearly remembered that the atmosphere in the dragon chariot was so tense that it was suffocating. His voice was low and firm: "My Lady, I am not the real Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, but an ordinary person from a thousand years later."

Yang Guifei's eyes widened in disbelief. She asked tremblingly, "Your Majesty... Is this a joke?"

Qian Mingduo calmly replied: "I am not joking, Madam Noble Concubine. I am a history teacher at a university and I am very familiar with the history of the Tang Dynasty."

Yang Guifei's face turned pale as paper, her body trembling slightly, her eyes changed from shock to confusion, and then gradually to fear.

Qian Mingduo knew that it would be difficult to convince Yang Guifei of this fact, but he decided to use his knowledge as a history lecturer to prove some things. So he began to tell some details that only later generations knew, such as the course of An Lushan's rebellion, Yang Guifei's fate, and the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty. These were things that Yang Guifei had never heard of, but they were so realistic that it seemed as if she had experienced them personally.

Yang Guifei listened quietly, the fear in her eyes gradually replaced by confusion. She seemed to be thinking about something, trying hard to understand everything that was happening before her eyes.

Finally, Qian Mingduo said: "My Lady, everything I said is true. I hope you can accept this fact and follow my arrangements."

Yang Guifei was silent for a long time, finally nodded, and said softly: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for my rudeness. But this matter is too unbelievable, I...I still..."

Qian Mingduo looked at the pale sky and became anxious, knowing that if it was any later, Yang Guifei would have died.

"Do you know that you are praised by later generations as one of the four great beauties in ancient times?" Qian Mingduo said what he really thought. "If your life is not in danger, would I let you leave me? Don't I want to enjoy your beauty? Don't I want to... enjoy the pleasure of love with you?"

"I don't believe it," Yang Guifei shook her head resolutely. "If you are not a saint, then where is the saint now?"

"I don't know where Li Longji is," Qian Mingduo said anxiously, "but I know that if you don't leave, Li Longji will sentence you to death."

Yang Guifei shook her head slowly, looked at Qian Mingduo with sad eyes, and said softly: "Is the Saint tired of me and wants to use this as an excuse to force me to leave? What did I do wrong that the Saint treats me like this?"

"You didn't do anything wrong." Qian Mingduo was really anxious. "Wait until you die, and then you will know whether what I said is true or not?" He moved to the window of the dragon chariot and whispered to Gao Lishi outside: "Let her come in."

Under Yang Guifei's puzzled eyes, a woman bowed and walked into the dragon chariot.

"Juan'er" Yang Guifei opened her eyes wide. This was her personal maid. Although there was a difference in status between them, the concubine usually treated her better than others.

"I told Li Shi that I expected to be forced by a group of soldiers to kill you and your brother." Qian Mingduo resumed the role of Emperor Minghuang of Tang. "Li Shi told Juan'er about this. She knew that she had received a lot of favors from you, so she volunteered to die for you."

"Your Majesty..." Yang Guifei said suspiciously.

"You don't have to say any more." Qian Mingduo said sternly, "You two should swap clothes, quickly!"

The emperor's majesty subdued Yang Guifei, and she had to exchange clothes with Juan'er.

"Your Majesty," Yang Guifei said aggrievedly, "I don't know and I don't believe what Your Majesty said just now, but I will obey your order. It's just... Although Juan'er and I have changed clothes, I am afraid that others will see through it."

"You women usually apply yellow paint on your face and paint your lips with red paper. Today you take off your clothes, and only the servants can recognize you." Qian Mingduo looked at the gradually brightening light outside the window and said anxiously, "And the soldiers who are about to force me are all people outside the palace. You two have some similarities. If you are dressed in fancy clothes, no one will recognize you."

"Your Majesty..." Yang Guifei hesitated to speak.

"I know you don't believe this." Qian Mingduo gently held Yang Guifei's hands. "No one would believe such a weird thing. So, I will let you hide in the dragon chariot to see the truth."

Qian Mingduo looked at Juan'er who was kneeling at a corner of the dragon chariot, and a feeling of reverence arose spontaneously.

"She died for her master," Qian Mingduo murmured, "Juan'er is truly a heroic woman who deserves praise and admiration."

When Gao Lishi had the curtains removed and Juan'er hastily buried on the side of the post road, Qian Mingduo slowly returned to the dragon chariot, and only after walking a few miles did he slowly say, "My Lady, you should always remember Juan'er, remember her forever!"

"Well..." A slight sobbing sound came from the secret compartment of the dragon chariot. "I believe it. I... believe you."

"Come out and change into the eunuch's clothes." Qian Mingduo opened the secret door and stretched out his hand to help Yang Guifei out. "You follow the strong man first. I will send two eunuchs. When they see the right opportunity, they will take you away. The farther you go, the better."

Even wearing the black eunuch's costume, Yang Guifei still looks so beautiful.

"I am really lucky to have such close contact with Yang Guifei, one of the four great beauties." Qian Mingduo smiled and looked at her tenderly, "I even hugged you." There was a hint of regret in his tone, "It's a pity that the time we were together was too short."

Yang Guifei looked at Qian Mingduo affectionately with her charming eyes and asked softly, "Your Majesty..." She paused, as if thinking about how to address this special person in front of her.

"What should I call you?" Qian Mingduo raised his lips slightly and replied, "My name is Qian Mingduo." At this time, Gao Lishi's low and respectful voice came from outside the dragon chariot: "Saint, it's time to set off."

Qian Mingduo sat quietly on the imperial couch and whispered to Yang Guifei, "Go, don't miss this rare opportunity." Yang Guifei nodded silently, indicating that she understood what he meant. Her eyes revealed endless reluctance and confusion, as if she was telling of her inner entanglement and helplessness.

The moment Yang Guifei opened the door, she suddenly turned around, walked to Qian Mingduo, held his face with both hands, and gently kissed Qian Mingduo on the forehead.

"Thank you." After saying this, Yang Guifei turned around resolutely and left quickly.

When recalling this, Qian Mingduo couldn't help but touch his forehead, an indescribable feeling filled his heart: "This is the head that Yang Guifei kissed!"

As the dragon chariot swayed, Qian Mingduo slowly fell asleep. He dreamed of sitting on the bow with Yang Guifei, looking at the bright moon, feeling the gentle sea breeze, and Yang Guifei in his arms looked very happy...