Dan Chao flipped through the golden plate and discovered that it was a new set of Imperial Guard's uniform. He couldn't help but be slightly stunned.
"Change into it," Xie Yun said coldly, "Without this, you won't be able to enter the Xuanwu Gate and will be shot to death."
The imperial guard uniform was dark red brocade with a white gauze lining and a black belt with a dark gold flying fish pattern. The cuffs were tightly bound by a similar material. The cut was unusually tight and neat.
There was a bronze mirror in the corner of the outer room. Shan Chao looked at himself from head to toe and suddenly couldn't recognize the young man in front of him.
The maid came in from the corridor with a bronze imperial guard waist tag. When she saw Shan Chao, she was stunned. She then covered her mouth and laughed, "What a handsome young man."
Shan Chao looked away uncomfortably and saw that Xie Yun had also come out of the inner room. She asked the maid, "Do you like him?"
The maid said, "Who doesn't like handsome older brother?"
Xie Yun smiled and said, "Then you can go and serve him. But if he dies in the palace today, you two won't be fated to be together."
These words had a deep meaning. Shan Chao couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.
Xie Yun didn't explain much. She took the waist tag from the maid's plate and personally tied it to Shan Chao's belt.
Xie Yun also changed into his official uniform. This was the first time that Shan Chao saw him wearing the imperial guard's uniform. It was the opposite of the ordinary imperial guard's uniform. It was snow-white brocade with a dark red lining. The collar and cuffs showed red embroidery. The dark python pattern embroidered on the collar moved with each step as if it was alive.
For someone like him who had practiced external martial arts to the extreme, his body and temperament were very outstanding. However, he was very different from Shan Chao.
Shan Chao was like an unsheathed sword, full of sharp edges and full of vigor. On the other hand, Xie Yun had experienced countless years of polishing. Her poise and power were on the outside, but the real fatal edge was on the inside.
"When we enter the palace later, don't open your mouth and don't walk around randomly. Just follow behind me." Xie Yun fastened the token on her waist and took half a step back. She sized up Shan Chao and said, "Take the snow lotus."
Shan Chao wanted to ask more, but Xie Yun put her index finger on her lips and turned around to leave.
Dongnei, Daming Palace.
The carriage entered from the north gate and passed through the long street to arrive in front of a tall gate. A few Imperial Bodyguards came forward and saluted, asking the Commander to dismount and walk. If they continued forward, they would reach the boundary of the Outer Court.
Shan Chao got off the carriage and looked up to see the morning sun shining through three tall doors. On a blue plaque with a golden outline, there were three words written on it:
"Xuanwu Gate," Xie Yun said.
Shan Chao glanced at the cracks in the bricks under his feet and saw that the square was vast and boundless. In front of him was Zhongxuan Gate and Hanliang Palace Hall, which was further away, cast towering grey shadows in the thin fog.
"What are you looking at?" Xie Yun sneered, "The blood has dried up long ago."
The General draped himself over the Xuanwu Gate at night and asked the Five Great Emperors of the Five Great Dynasties — Xuanwu Gate. The Hidden Crown Prince Jian Cheng, the former Crown Prince Cheng Qian, the King of Qi, the King Of Wei, Li Tai, and even the late Emperor himself had passed away. Golden water surrounded the Taiji Palace. The sparkling pool reflected the clouds in the sky and disappeared into the horizon.
After passing through Beiya, there was already a Palace Attendant waiting at the end of the side street. He stepped forward and bowed deeply, "Commander, please follow me."
After a pause, he said in a low voice, "The Empress has been waiting for a long time."
Shan Chao felt a chill on his wrist — Xie Yun's five fingers touched his wrist.
He couldn't tell if it was a pull or a handshake, and it was hard to tell what kind of emotion was transmitted in that instant. However, it was only for a moment.
Immediately after, Xie Yun let go and politely turned to the Attendant, "I know, please lead the way."
Qingning Palace was at the head of the street north of the inner palace, next to Zichen Palace Hall. After walking for about half an hour, they bypassed the magnificent palace gate and followed the long paulownia wood corridor to a gate tower.
At this moment, it was quiet all around. There wasn't even a shadow in the square in the distance. The Attendant stopped and smiled, "Commander, please. The Empress is waiting for you upstairs."
Xie Yun's back seemed to pause for a moment before she stepped over the high threshold.
Immediately after, the Attendant behind him turned to Shan Chao with a smile, "Imperial Bodyguard, please wait in the side hall — would you like some tea?"
This question was very abrupt. Before Shan Chao could speak, Xie Yun suddenly said, "He doesn't need to eat anything."
There seemed to be a confrontation in the air. Immediately after, Xie Yun turned to Shan Chao and ordered, "Be careful. Don't drop the snow lotus flower in your hand."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Attendant's expression changed slightly.
However, he quickly restrained his expression, bowed and answered, "Yes," and then left.
Shan Chao stared at Xie Yun. The latter's eyes were like a deep pool of water, reflecting the blue sky above Daming Palace and a few wisps of clouds in the distance.
The late autumn wind blew from the horizon, rolling up their clothes and hair and tangling them together.
Shan Chao's hand that was hanging by his side moved. Immediately, he handed the small sandalwood lock box to Xie Yun and said in a low voice, "You …"
Xie Yun suddenly flicked her sleeve and pushed him away, "Protect yourself."
Then, she turned around and walked towards the back hall without looking back. Soon, she disappeared into the shadows of the tall hall.
Shan Chao watched as Xie Yun's figure disappeared completely. Then, he took half a step back and let out a long sigh of relief.
At this time, the sky was blue. The square by the palace gate was spacious and lonely. Other than the sound of geese flying in the distance, the surroundings were so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.
Shan Chao raised his head and looked at the tall gate. Suddenly, he saw something from the corner of his eye — by the jade railings high above, someone was standing there and looking at him.
It was a woman.
She was wearing a golden-red palace dress and a phoenix hairpin. Although she was not young, she was still beautiful and dignified, like a goddess who descended from the nine heavens.
For some reason, Shan Chao's heart suddenly trembled when they looked at each other. An indescribable feeling suddenly rose from the depths of his soul.
But then, the woman withdrew her gaze and turned around to leave the high platform. Her golden embroidered dress disappeared under the blue sky.
·
"Your Majesty," the deacon said softly, "Commander Xie is here."
The high platform was connected to the gate. Queen Wu lifted the jade bead curtain and stepped into the inner hall. As expected, she saw the Commander of the Imperial Army, White Python Robe spread out on the ground. He was actually half-kneeling in front of the main seat with one knee.
"Your Majesty — —"
Her confidant palace maid quickly stepped forward. Queen Wu waved her hand and said, "Leave."
The palace maid remained silent. She bowed and retreated behind the pillar.
The inner hall was extremely luxurious and elegant. The bricks were covered with brocade, and there was precious fragrant dust. Light smoke was slowly emitted from the jeweled beast head.
Queen Wu slowly walked to the front of the main seat and looked down at Xie Yun's head. After a while, she said softly, "Commander has lost weight."
Then, without waiting for Xie Yun to answer, she said, "It must have been a hard journey."
There was a hint of mockery in the latter half of the sentence.
Xie Yun's eyes were fixed on the gorgeous skirt in front of her. It was as if she was unaware of everything around her. Even her tone was steady and calm, "Your Majesty is too kind. This official doesn't deserve such praise. This morning, Ci'en Temple's monk, Xin Chao, presented a snow lotus. This official didn't dare to make the decision, so I specially brought him here to kowtow. Your Majesty, please make the decision." After she finished speaking, she lowered her head and kowtowed.
The confidant palace maid behind the pillar couldn't help but show surprise on her face.
However, Queen Wu didn't move until she saw her kowtow to the bottom. Then, she leisurely said, "Your kowtow … It has been many years."
Xie Yun said, "This official and Your Majesty have known each other for seventeen years. What is this kowtow?"
This answer was extremely fast and flawless. If it was anyone else, they wouldn't be able to say it so smoothly. Queen Wu couldn't even imagine how many times Xie Yun had rehearsed it in advance.
However, she wasn't angry. Instead, a trace of a smile appeared on her face. However, this smile was unusually cold, "Where is the snow lotus?"
"Xin Chao outside the door is holding it in his hand."
"Who is Xin Chao?"
"He is the monk who presented the sour fruit soup on the day the Crown Prince arrived at Ci'en Temple."
"Why is he wearing the color of an imperial guard's uniform?"
"This official wanted to bring him to see the Empress with my own eyes, so I had no choice but to do so. Your Majesty, please calm down."
Queen Wu was silent for a moment. Then, she said, "We saw him outside just now."
No one in the inner hall made a sound. The light smoke slowly dissipated from the beast's mouth.
"… Since you have seen him, then there is no need to see him again," Queen Wu turned her head and ordered, "Servants, drag Xin Chao outside the door and beat him to death."
The palace maid responded. However, before she could reach the door, Xie Yun suddenly raised her head and waved her sleeve. The Tai-Ah Sword, which had been hidden under her clothes, slashed through the air. The sword roared out and slammed the door shut with a bang!
Queen Wu shouted angrily, "How dare you!"
Xie Yun unsheathed the sword and stabbed the tip of the sword deep into the floor tiles. She said in a deep voice, "Showing a weapon in front of the Empress is a serious crime. Since this is the case, please end me with your own hands, Your Majesty."
"…" Queen Wu's chest heaved up and down. She suddenly picked up the teacup on the table and threw it at Xie Yun!
Bang!
The celadon teacup brushed past Xie Yun's forehead and fell to the ground. It instantly shattered into pieces. A line of blood flowed down Xie Yun's cheek.
"He should have died two years ago," Empress Wu grabbed Xie Yun's collar and stared into his eyes at a close distance, "— Two years ago!"
The corners of Xie Yun's eyes were soaked with blood. His cheeks were frighteningly pale because of this, but his expression was very calm. "Although this official is known as the number one in the Inner Palace, I occasionally make mistakes. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
"Why did you make mistakes?!"
"…"
Her trusted maid had her back to them. Although she was used to the storms in the palace, she still couldn't help but tremble at this moment. She didn't even dare to look back.
Xie Yun's dark red collar was tightly gripped by Queen Wu's gold-carved, enameled, hollowed out and inlaid with jewels. A thin leather rope around his neck could be vaguely seen through the gap.
Queen Wu slowly let go of her hand and hooked the leather rope with the tip of her finger. She saw that at the end of the rope hung a white and cracked pendant. The expression in her eyes changed slightly.
It was an eagle's claw.
"… This is not the one I gave you." Queen Wu finally straightened up and said coldly, "Where did it come from?"
The frozen air in the inner hall finally began to flow slowly. Not far away, the maid stealthily held on to the door frame and breathed a sigh of relief silently.
Xie Yun raised her head and stared at Queen Wu. Her eyes reflected the woman at the top of the empire. Although her voice was hoarse, it was still very stable.
"When I was in the Mobei Desert, the desert was desolate and lonely. Every night when I was dreaming, I would always think of the things that happened when I was far away in Chang An. I didn't know if the stone cave under the wall of the outer courtyard of the Sensual Temple was still there. When I was thirsty and hungry, I ran to hide there. Queen Wu would always draw water from the well and secretly put some honey in it. She would pass it to me through the hole in the wall to drink."
Queen Wu looked away and didn't speak for a long time.
"… That was also the share I saved." She finally whispered.
"At that time, I didn't know anything. It was difficult to eat in the Dark Clan, so I always asked Queen Wu for food. But I didn't know that Queen Wu could only live a hard life in the temple.
Later, I was injured and thought I was going to die. I reluctantly went to the courtyard of the Sensual Temple and saw Queen Wu waiting for me there all night. She gave me a basket of food and medicine … "
Queen Wu interrupted him bitterly, "You were just a child at that time. What did you know?"
Xie Yun smiled sadly, "Yes. At that time, I didn't expect that today would come. I only thought that I would die in the Dark Clan and that Queen Wu would spend the rest of her life in the temple … No, I didn't know you were Queen Wu back then."
There seemed to be some inexplicable emotions in Queen Wu's eyes. After a while, she sighed softly.
"Later, I was summoned back to the palace, but you were still trapped in the Dark Clan."
Xie Yun also shook her head in self-mockery.
"Before Queen Wu left, she caught an eagle of the Dark Clan and cut off two eagle claws. She gave one to me after drying it.
Unfortunately, there was a black storm in the Mobei Desert. I couldn't migrate in time and was swept a few miles away. When I woke up, everything that could be blown away was gone. The eagle claw that I had worn for so many years was also gone … "
"I searched for it in the desert for more than ten miles but couldn't find it. I was so tired that I fainted.
When I woke up, I saw another eagle claw by my pillow. It was tied with a rope and hung on the side of my bed. Only then did I know that someone had hunted the eagle overnight and sent it to me. "
Queen Wu suddenly looked at Xie Yun.
Xie Yun also looked at her. The gray and air-dried eagle claw on her neck hung silently in front of her chest.
After a long time, he finally bowed slowly under Queen Wu's gaze.
"I've always remembered your kindness in saving my life. I've never forgotten it for seventeen years.
Two years ago, when I was in the Mobei Desert, I suddenly remembered what happened in the Sentimental Temple … "
"I saw that Zhu Chengbi's mind was in a mess, so I made a mistake for the first time in my life. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
The inner hall was silent. Queen Wu's eyes flashed with an unknown glimmer. After a while, the corners of her mouth curled up and she laughed softly.
"Xie Yun, sometimes I feel that you and I are so alike …"
She reached out and gently lifted Xie Yun's blood-stained cheek. She wiped the blood with her sleeve. Her actions could even be called gentle.
Some of the stains had already dried up. She didn't ask for wet wipes. Instead, she gently wiped the blood several times until the obvious blood stains under her hair were completely wiped away, revealing her smooth skin.
Queen Wu approached slightly and looked down at Xie Yun.
This was actually a very strange scene. Although they were not related by blood, these two faces were both handsome and had deep facial features. There was a kind of hard-to-detect coldness and sharpness hidden in the depths of their eyes. In a trance, there was actually a kind of indescribable resemblance.
"Why aren't you my son?" Queen Wu whispered in Xie Yun's ear.
"If you were, how would the world have fallen to such a state today?"
Xie Yun's breathing stopped.
Queen Wu smiled and stood up. She brushed past Xie Yun and strode to the door. "Commander Xie is injured. Ask the imperial doctor to bring some medicine. Don't leave a scar."
"Ask someone to inform His Majesty that the monk from Ci 'en Temple, Xin Chao, has contributed medicine to treat the Crown Prince. He's been rewarded!"