Both worlds are like dreams

"Don't you think that ever since Mo Ruilin was appointed as the crown prince, everything seems to be driven by an invisible hand?"

Xue Huang thought for a moment, "I do have this feeling. Do you mean that Mo Yunchen is behind all this?"

"The dispute over the succession was originally unresolved, but it suddenly intensified rapidly due to the worsening of Emperor Ling's illness. Mo Yunchen has always been very calm about your identity, including the fact that he would be ordered to be transferred back to the northern border. It seems that he had expected it a long time ago."

"Indeed, then what do you think he wants to do?"

"Two dogs fight, play off."

"You mean he wants to intensify the fighting between the various factions, push the fifth brother to that position, and then become the next Shen Congfeng?"

"If this is really the case, then you have to understand that this is the only way to win. Mo Yunchen is a sharp sword that will not be held by anyone, but you have to be his scabbard and seal his edge, so that you can protect the people you care about."

Xue Huang remained silent.

She lived in Changqing Palace like this, and just as Emperor Ling promised, no one treated her unfairly, and her food, clothing, housing and transportation were all provided according to the etiquette for a princess.

But no one took the initiative to talk to her. The maids who came in and out did their job well and left after everything was done.

Xue Huang didn't like other people around her, but now she can have some peace and quiet.

She ate on time every day and spent the rest of her time practicing martial arts. Occasionally, she would drink tea under the peach tree to calm herself.

However, a few days later, Emperor Ling summoned her and asked her to meet him in the imperial study.

Xue Huang was not surprised, she was certain that Emperor Ling would definitely meet her.

On the eve of sunset, Xue Huang was taken to the imperial study.

After entering, she found that only Ling Huang was slumped in a chair waiting for her.

After Xue Huang paid her respects, she asked, "Why doesn't Your Majesty leave someone to serve you?"

Ling Huang's answer also surprised her, "I have no one I can trust."

"Then His Majesty summoned me alone. Does that mean he trusts me more?"

Emperor Ling waved his hand, motioning her to come forward, and then pointed to a scroll on the table in front of him, "Open it and take a look."

Xue Huang looked at the scroll that was very old but well-preserved, slowly opened it, and saw a picture of two middle-aged men playing chess in a pavilion.

One of them was undoubtedly Emperor Ling, and the other one had eyes and eyebrows very similar to hers. The previous person with eyes and eyebrows similar to hers was her brother, Prince Jingchen, but the person in this painting was obviously not of the right age.

Xue Huang was a little bit unbelievable, "He is..."

"A lot of people say you look like someone, don't you think? It's your father, the emperor."

“When was this painted?”

"Many years ago, about thirty years ago, he went to Beiling as an envoy and played chess with me in the old capital. The court painter left this painting. At that time, I talked with him about everything and regarded him as a close friend. He was a man of both civil and military skills, and had strategies for governing the country. I admired him very much, and I also hoped that one day, Beiling could become a country like Beiyuan where the people could live and work in peace and contentment. But too many things happened later."

Xue Huang reached out her hand and stroked Emperor Yuanwen's eyebrows. In the painting, he was gentle and elegant, sitting upright, noble and confident, as if everything was under his control.

They really did look alike. Xuehuang smiled. This was her father. It turned out that she could still see what he looked like with her own eyes during her lifetime.

"Your Majesty, have you met my mother? What kind of person is she?"

"Your mother is the saint of the Tumi tribe. She is stunningly beautiful and well-versed in medicine. She is deeply loved by the people of Beiyuan. She truly lives up to her reputation as the mother of the country and is a well-deserved queen of Beiyuan. You look very similar to her, but your features are more like your father's."

Xue Huang looked at him for a long time. "From what Your Majesty said, it seems that he misses my father very much. Why did he come to this point?"

"It must be God's will."

"Your Majesty, do you regret agreeing to send troops to Beiyuan?"

"The declaration of war has arrived, and the court officials are forcing me to agree."

"Declaration of war?" Xue Huang smiled bitterly, "That's fake. Even when my father's only brother died in Beiling, he didn't start a war in order to save the people of both countries from being slaughtered in the war. Why did he suddenly start a war later?"

"Since you have no intention of fighting, why are you sending border troops to attack us?"

"It was Shen Congfeng who invaded the border! My father's letter was a request for peace, but what he got in return was Beiling's 300,000 troops invaded the border, and finally Shangyang City was broken, with countless casualties. My father and brother had already accepted the surrender with the imperial seal and the ministers in Taiji Hall, but in the end, none of the 473 members of the Beiyuan royal family and ministers survived, and the blood flowed like a river. Your Majesty, under your throne are the bones of my flesh and blood, and the blood of my Beiyuan loyal ministers and generals. Their souls are still lingering in the Taiji Hall!"

Xue Huang's voice was so sad as if she was crying blood. Emperor Ling couldn't help but shrink his body. He couldn't tell whether he was shocked or scared, or regretful or angry, or maybe all of them.

He coughed for a long time, and then collapsed. The majesty of the emperor was gone. He was like an old man who was terminally ill and whose life was coming to an end.

Xue Huang couldn't help but let the tears slide down her eyes. It wasn't that she didn't hate Bei Ling at all. What she hated was the incompetence and inability of this king to distinguish right from wrong.

If he had been more resolute, would Beiyuan not have been destroyed, her relatives would not have died, and would there not be all the helplessness today?

"Isn't it a declaration of war?" Emperor Ling was full of disbelief, "What do you know?"

"It was a letter he personally wrote asking for peace. Unfortunately, it did not reach your Majesty, but was replaced by someone else and eventually became a declaration of war."

"who is it?"

"Shen Congfeng."

"What evidence do you have?"

"I will find evidence and prove it to Your Majesty."

"Shen Congfeng has been instigating the relationship between the two countries. In fact, I understand it, but I can't do anything about it. I had just ascended the throne at that time, and the court was troubled by internal and external troubles. I had to rely on Shen Congfeng, which led to the situation today. When I received the letter of war, I actually didn't believe that your father would issue such a letter of war, because he loved the people like his own children, and it was not easy for the two countries to support each other and grow all the way. If they turned against each other, it would be very likely that other countries would reap the benefits. However, Shen Congfeng's faction tried their best to provoke a war, and I couldn't resist, so I had to order the war."

Xue Huang did not say anything. Even though she had her difficulties, she was not a saint. She was not qualified to express sympathy on behalf of those who died in vain.

Emperor Ling continued, "But I also issued an order not to kill innocent people or harm your father and brother. I wanted to find a place for them to live out their lives in peace. I didn't expect that the war report said that your father and brother would rather die than surrender, and finally died in the chaos. But your statement is different. Could it be that... Shen Congfeng disobeyed my order?"

"Shen Congfeng has evil ambitions. Your Majesty, will you continue to indulge him?"

"Do you have any evidence for what you said?"

Xue Huang shook her head helplessly, "The truth of all this is already very far away. Those who participated in all this are no longer alive. But Your Majesty, my father and brother cannot die in vain like this."

"Of course I hope you can produce evidence. Shen Congfeng and his party have been domineering in the court for a long time. Without strong evidence, we can't do anything to him. But if we move him rashly, the court of Beiling will surely fall into chaos. With the prince's current ability, do you think he can suppress it?"

Xue Huang hesitated.

"Almost all of the defenders of Shangyang City are under the control of Shen Congfeng. My health is getting worse and worse, and the position of the crown prince is unstable. If something unexpected happens, it will be a catastrophe that shakes the world."

"Your Majesty, do you think Shen Congfeng might rebel?" Xue Huang said in shock.

"If the prince wants to return a piece of paradise to the people, he will definitely uproot Shen Congfeng and his gang. Do you think Shen Congfeng will just sit there and wait for death?"

Xue Huang fell into deep thought. Eradicating Shen Congfeng's power has always been the vision of Gu Qinglan and Mo Ruilin, and now it has come to a critical moment. It's either you die or I die.

Ling Huang's cough interrupted Xue Huang's thoughts. She looked up and found that his face was extremely pale, as if he could die at any time.

I saw him tremblingly taking out a bottle from his sleeve, opening it, putting it to his nose and smelling it, and his expression relaxed a lot.

"What is this?" Xue Huang asked.

"This is the fragrance that Concubine Li prepared for me. Every time I smell it, my breathing becomes much smoother."

"Xue Huang, would you be so bold as to feel His Majesty's pulse?"

Emperor Ling hesitated for a long time before extending his hand.