At this moment, a voice came from outside the hall. "His Majesty summons Li Jinglong for an audience —"
Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong knew that he had won.
"Sirs, Your Highness, this subject will take his leave."
Everyone: "…"
Yang Guozhong and Gao Lishi wanted to denounce him, but at the last moment, it was the Son of Heaven who saved Li Jinglong! Li Heng was also shocked. Li Jinglong saw Li Heng's expression and knew that Li Longji probably didn't know about this matter and had been suppressed by the Crown Prince.
This matter involved many things and involved the power struggle between Geshu Han, Yang Guozhong, and Li Heng, so it was understandable that Li Heng didn't want to report it. If it was only corpses that had died in battle, Li Jinglong might have let it go. However, this matter involved Tianma, and one wrong step could lead to total destruction. Li Jinglong didn't dare to be careless and could only report it to Li Longji.
Li Jinglong couldn't care less if the Crown Prince hated Li Jinglong to the bone. He immediately set off for Golden Flowers Fall.
"Hongjun," Li Jinglong suddenly stopped in the corridor and asked Hongjun, "do you trust me?"
Hongjun was startled and nodded. Li Jinglong said, "No matter what I say, no matter what I do, you have to trust me."
"Of course, what's wrong?" Hongjun asked.
Li Jinglong pondered for a moment before saying, "In a moment, no matter what I say in front of His Majesty, remember, Hongjun …"
Hongjun: "???"
Hongjun looked at Li Jinglong in surprise. Li Jinglong only looked at him calmly and finally said, "You just have to remember that you are the most important to me …"
"Let's go." Li Jinglong's face flushed red. He didn't say anything else and urged Hongjun to leave. At that moment, Hongjun clearly felt that Li Jinglong was a little embarrassed.
His heart began to thump. He caught up with Li Jinglong and arrived outside the Golden Flowers Fall.
Winter passed and spring came. The Nation Protecting Ginkgo Divine Tree grew tender leaves. The surroundings were decorated with peach blossoms, blooming brilliantly.
Li Longji and Yang Yuhuan were still seated on the couch. After Li Jinglong led Hongjun in for an audience, the music stopped, and Li Longji ordered someone to bring Li Heng over. Just as Li Jinglong was about to report, Li Longji calmly said, "Let's wait until the Crown Prince arrives."
Yang Yuhuan was dressed in white. She looked at Hongjun with a smile and said, "Have you found your uncle?"
"Found it." Hongjun took the snacks and tea from the eunuch and said with a smile, "Too bad I did not say goodbye to him and just came back in a hurry."
Yang Yuhuan said, "There will always be a chance to meet. There's no need to rush."
Li Longji asked, "If you didn't send this memorial, We wouldn't have known that you went to Liangzhou. We were wondering why we haven't heard any news of you these days."
Li Jinglong blushed with shame and said, "I was working for Your Highness. Fortunately, I left."
Li Jinglong originally wanted to give some advice, but the Emperor only casually asked about the local customs and customs. Li Jinglong could only randomly answer. When Li Heng arrived, Li Longji glanced at Yang Yuhuan. Yang Yuhuan stood up and left. The atmosphere in the Golden Flowers Fall became heavy again.
"Li Jinglong." Li Longji sent everyone away and coldly said, "The words in your memorial are quite alarmist."
Hongjun did not expect that once Yang Yuhuan left, Li Longji's expression would change. He immediately became nervous. Li Longji threw the memorial to the ground and it scattered. Hongjun could vaguely make out a few lines of words, "Tianma descends to the world, the people are in a terrible situation." He was immediately shocked and looked at Li Jinglong.
"There is not a single false word." Li Jinglong said, "The details are as follows …"
As he spoke, Li Jinglong took a sip of tea and spoke about the Tianma from many years ago, the calamity that occurred once a thousand years, and the journey to the west of the river. He learned the details from the Ghost King. He only left out the inside information related to Hongjun. Finally, he said, "And now, the Tianma seed is still in the world. Its reincarnation is inevitable."
Hongjun was shocked. He did not expect that Li Jinglong would not hide anything!
"You mean." Li Longji muttered, "There is a 'Tianma seed'. When the time is ripe, it will grow into Tianma?"
"Correct." Li Jinglong clearly came prepared today and did not plan to hide anything from the Emperor.
"Where is the demon seed?" Li Longji asked again.
"It is still under investigation." Li Jinglong calmly replied, "But I have already grasped the traces. I cannot say at this time."
Li Heng said in a trembling voice, "Li Jinglong, don't speak nonsense and frighten people with your words!"
"Your Highness." Li Jinglong was not polite in the slightest. "Is there anything unreasonable about the course of events?"
Sometimes, the most persuasive words were the truth. Hongjun had to admit that Li Jinglong was very smart. As long as he spoke the truth, no matter how twisted the process was, no matter how unimaginable the inside story was, the truth would naturally have the power to convince people.
"I will get rid of the Tianma seed." Li Jinglong continued, "But in the process, Chang 'an will inevitably fall into chaos. I must first obtain His Majesty's support."
Getting rid of the Tianma seed meant that Li Jinglong would kill him. In an instant, Hongjun felt the world spin. When he heard these words, he seemed to see the future where he would die at Li Jinglong's hands.
However, Li Jinglong only gave him a look. That was the look that Hongjun was most used to. Calm down, I will take care of everything.
Hongjun recalled Li Jinglong's words. In the end, he barely suppressed the discomfort in his heart and nodded.
"How are you going to get rid of it?" Li Longji asked.
Li Jinglong replied, "The Tianma seed is something that the Demon King is looking for. As long as it is found and guarded by its side, the Demon King will appear sooner or later. They will disregard everything to find it. At that time, I will use all the vitality of the Exorcism Division to first completely eradicate the 'Xie Yu'. Then, I will use the Heart Lamp to purify the demon seed and burn it to ashes. "
"I'm afraid you can't do it." Li Longji said.
"If I can't do it." Li Jinglong said, "No one else can do it."
"In the face of the Demon Race, the entire Exorcism Division is willing to fight with all their might. Just like Hongjun by my side, he is the most important person in my life. They have given their lives to me, but in the face of the Imperial Court and His Majesty, Your Highness, when the crisis comes from our own people, we cannot disobey His Majesty's orders, nor can we ignore the criticism of the many courtiers. "
"This is why I have to report to His Majesty as it is. After the Golden Flower Fall, there cannot be a fifth person who knows about this matter. I need unreserved trust."
As he spoke, Li Jinglong placed his hand on the back of Hongjun's hand that was on his knee. He raised his head and looked at Li Longji's expression.
Li Longji only looked at the two of them in silence. Hongjun's eyes were filled with sadness. Although he knew it would be like this, he still felt sad when he heard it. However, he did not break free from Li Jinglong's hand. It was all because at this moment, he only had Li Jinglong to rely on.
"Li Jinglong." Li Longji said, "Do you know what you are doing?"
Li Jinglong replied, "This official has thought it through."
"In that case, I will fulfill your wish."
"This official admires Your Majesty." Li Jinglong said in the end.
At night, Li Jinglong and Hongjun walked slowly in the alley, one in front and one behind. Hongjun walked in front and Li Jinglong followed behind. The two of them were thinking about their own things and did not speak for a long time.
"Hongjun." Li Jinglong finally spoke, "I have something to say to you."
Hongjun said, "I'm so tired. I don't want to talk."
Li Jinglong caught up a few steps and explained, "Today, the Crown Prince summoned me. It happened suddenly. There are many things I wanted to explain to you last night, or tonight … "
"I'm going back." Hongjun replied.
He still believed in Li Jinglong, but Jin Hua Luozhong's words had a huge impact on him, leaving him at a loss. The bricks outside the Exorcist Department's door flew open and Hongjun quickly walked in. Li Jinglong said behind him:
"You promised to believe in me no matter what!"
Hongjun turned around and glanced at Li Jinglong. His eyes were filled with loneliness and desolation. He understood the reason, but he only felt that his heart was extremely uncomfortable at this moment.
"The two of you are back?" The Carp Demon asked in the courtyard, "Have you eaten? Where did you go? "
Hongjun quickly walked past. Lu Xu poked his head out of Mo Rigen's room and shouted, "Hongjun!"
Hongjun entered the room and closed the door. Li Jinglong caught up with him and stood outside the door, saying, "Hongjun, let me explain …"
Hongjun did not open the door. Li Jinglong faced the thin door and did not force his way in. He just stood there. The lights in the room were not turned on. His tall figure was reflected on the paper door.
Hongjun stared blankly at that figure and did not say a word.
Atay, Mo Rigen, and the others all poked their heads out of the room and looked at Li Jinglong. Li Jinglong waved at Atay, indicating for him to come over. He whispered a few words in his ear. Atay did not know whether to laugh or cry. He held his forehead and returned to his room.
"Are you okay?" Mo Rigen mouthed.
Li Jinglong nodded. Lu Xu was about to knock on the door when Li Jinglong hurriedly stopped him. He gestured to Mo Rigen and made a 'cage' gesture with his five fingers.
Lu Xu: "?"
Mo Rigen understood and hurriedly pulled Lu Xu back and whispered in his ear. Lu Xu impatiently broke free from Mo Rigen and only looked at Li Jinglong suspiciously.
Hongjun lay on the bed. Seeing that Li Jinglong had left, he tossed and turned, thinking about what he said today. He knew in his heart that Li Jinglong only said those words today because he wanted to protect him.
"I know that what I said today made you feel uncomfortable." Li Jinglong's voice came from outside the door again.
Hongjun's heart was in a mess. "Don't say anymore! Just leave! "
"… But you only listened to the words related to Tianma." Li Jinglong ignored Hongjun's eviction order and said, "I have one more thing to say to Your Majesty: You are the most important person in my life."
Mo Rigen, Lu Xu, the Carp Demon, Atay, and Ashina Chong were all stunned when they heard this. Mo Rigen, however, revealed a smile and waved his fist at Li Jinglong. Although he didn't know what happened, he still encouraged him.
The Carp Demon opened its fish mouth wide. Everyone seemed to be watching a show. Li Jinglong, on the other hand, felt uncomfortable and waved his hand to indicate that they should leave.
Inside the room, Hongjun still didn't answer.
Li Jinglong came over with the Barbat Zither in his hand. He sat down cross-legged outside Hongjun's room and said, "Hongjun, do you know what I admire about His Majesty?"
The room was quiet. The moonlight shone on the paper door, making it snow white. Li Jinglong spoke again.
"Ten years ago, Imperial Concubine Wu died of illness. His Majesty fell in love with Imperial Concubine Gui at first sight and summoned her to the palace. Imperial Concubine Gui was once his daughter-in-law. This move was tantamount to setting off a huge wave in the imperial court. "
"But he stood his ground because he believed that they would be together." Li Jinglong continued, "Apart from this, the world was turned upside down and the world was turned upside down. It had nothing to do with him."
Hongjun sat cross-legged on the couch and looked at Li Jinglong's figure outside the room in confusion. He didn't know why Li Jinglong would say such a thing. Li Jinglong didn't have the slightest intention of apologizing. Instead, he sighed in relief.
"I'll play a song for you, Hongjun." Li Jinglong said.
Hongjun: "???"
Hongjun's anger had already subsided. He thought that everyone shouldn't be asleep yet. With Li Jinglong sitting outside the door like this, the others would most likely think that they had quarreled and would feel embarrassed. Just as he was about to open the door for Li Jinglong, he heard the sound of the Barbat Zither.
"Mountains have trees, trees have branches …"
Li Jinglong's voice was deep and deep. It wasn't as clear as Atay's voice. However, when the song came out, it seemed to have a mysterious power that directly struck Hongjun's heart!
"My heart pleases Jun, Jun doesn't know …" Li Jinglong's face was flushed red. He plucked the strings of the zither and light appeared between his five fingers, flowing endlessly into the zither. Hongjun's breathing stopped. This was … a … a song for love!
Hongjun couldn't believe it. He looked around and felt a little dizzy for a moment. He fixed his eyes on Li Jinglong's shadow on the door.
He heard him sing again, "Today, what day will I be in the middle of the continent? Today, what day will I be in the same boat with the prince? Shame, shame, shame?"
"My heart is vexed but not broken. Knowing the prince, mountains have trees, trees have branches!"
"My heart pleases Jun! Jun doesn't know! "
Hongjun: "…"
This "Song of the Yue People" was originally sung by the Yue Nü in a mellow voice, but Li Jinglong's fingers were very fast, and a series of poems were sung by him in a majestic manner. He even seemed to be pressing forward step by step, making Hongjun almost unable to resist.
In Ksana Courtyard, everyone was dumbfounded as they looked at Li Jinglong from afar. Li Jinglong changed the tune again and played again, "Shangxie! I want to know with Jun! Long life without end — Mountains without mountains, rivers run dry, thunder in winter shakes … Summer rain and snow combine … I dare … "
"… to break with Jun."
The music gradually stopped. Li Jinglong stared at the door with a handsome smile like a child. He said, "Hongjun, you like Gege, don't you?"
Hongjun: "…"
Hongjun sat on the floor in the room. He couldn't help but step back a little. Li Jinglong was outside the room. He didn't give him any time to think.
He said, "I know you like me, Hongjun. Say, say that you like me. You said that you like me the most. Say it one more time, Hongjun. "
Hongjun couldn't help but shout, "You … you're too hateful! Chang Shi! You can't do this! "
"Say you like me." Li Jinglong put down the guqin and knelt on the ground outside Hongjun's door. He pressed his hands on his knees and said seriously, "You said you like me, Hongjun. So I came in."
"I …" Hongjun couldn't control himself and panted frantically. At this moment, he felt like he was carried in Li Jinglong's arms that day and flew straight down from the sky of Dazzling Gold Palace.
Li Jinglong was like a general who had arrived at the city gates. Although he was alone, he seemed to be leading an army of thousands of men and horses. He swore to the famous and the nameless gods in the world, to the heavens, the earth, the mountains, the sea, and all the people of the divine continent. He commanded his army to come. He would break through all the cities in the blink of an eye.
"Say you like me." Li Jinglong smiled and said, "Hongjun, the two of us are together. From now on, you won't leave me, and I won't leave you."
"I … I …" Hongjun said, "I …"
Hot blood almost rushed to Hongjun's head. He couldn't help but tremble. That sentence seemed to be stuck in his throat. Everything he looked forward to was on the other side of the door. His voice became distant, but it really came from his heart.
"I … I like … you." Hongjun was almost out of breath.
"Who do you like?" Li Jinglong said outside the door again.
"You bastard!" Hongjun's face was red. He roared at the door, "Li Jinglong — —!"
Li Jinglong said with a smile, opened the paper door, and strode in. Hongjun instantly tensed up. Li Jinglong stepped forward. Hongjun shouted, "What do you want to do?!"
Li Jinglong came in front of Hongjun. Hongjun could only hide in the corner. His whole person was stunned. Li Jinglong knelt on one knee. Immediately, the other knee also knelt down, blocking Hongjun in the corner.
Hongjun was incomparably embarrassed. Li Jinglong locked his chin with his hand, looked at him seriously, and whispered, "Don't move, be obedient."
Then, Li Jinglong tilted his head and kissed him.
In an instant, Hongjun's mind went blank. Li Jinglong's lips were hot and soft. When his lips touched, the spring night was silent. Hongjun felt a white light break through the long night and shine into his soul.
When their lips parted, the two looked at each other in a daze. Li Jinglong was still kneeling, looking at Hongjun. With a smile in his eyes, he said, "What am I?"
"You're a bastard." Hongjun said.
"Say that again?" Li Jinglong said.
"You're … Oh …" Before Hongjun could say anything, he was kissed by Li Jinglong. He opened his eyes wide and looked at Li Jinglong. Then, he looked over his shoulder and looked out the door. Immediately, his face turned red and he pushed Li Jinglong.
"Focus." Li Jinglong frowned.
"Don't look!" Hongjun was so embarrassed that he went crazy. There was a large group of people standing outside the door.
"Congratulations, congratulations!" Mo Rigen hurriedly said.
"Elder, give some money!" Atay said, "Give out red packets when there's a happy event."
Ashina Chong said, "That's right, give everyone twenty taels."
Lu Xu said, "I feel that you're really a bastard, Elder."
Li Jinglong roared, "If you say anything more, I'll deduct your salary!"
Thus, everyone dispersed. The Carp Demon stared blankly at Hongjun, seemingly very disappointed.
"Close the door." Hongjun hurriedly said, "Zhao Zilong."
The Carp Demon said, "Hongjun …"
Hongjun hurriedly said, "Let me be alone for a while!"
The Carp Demon had no choice but to close the door and run away.
When Hongjun looked at Li Jinglong again, he was so nervous that he almost vomited. He got up and wanted to run out of the door. Li Jinglong said, "Where are you going?"
Hongjun said, "I … I'm going to catch my breath."
Hongjun put on his wooden clogs and ran out with a single layer of clothing. Li Jinglong followed behind Hongjun. Hongjun turned around in the courtyard with a blank face. Li Jinglong just followed behind him. He followed wherever Hongjun went.
"You …" When Hongjun turned around, he almost bumped into Li Jinglong's chest. Li Jinglong said, "Do you want me to hug you?"
Hongjun: "No!"
Li Jinglong said, "They all heard it."
Hongjun: "…"
"Come with me." As Li Jinglong spoke, he took Hong Jun's hand. Hong Jun was so nervous that he wanted to shake Li Jinglong's hand off, but Li Jinglong held it tightly and flew up to the roof. Hong Jun was in a daze, he almost slipped and fell down. Li Jinglong then grabbed him by the waist and carried him up to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Hongjun felt as if he was in a dream. He was still unable to digest this shocking change in his life. He just wanted to leave Li Jinglong as soon as possible so that he could be alone for a while. Li Jinglong didn't leave him at all. He didn't give him a chance to catch his breath. It was as if he was afraid that he would lose him if he turned around.
"I …"
Hongjun turned to face Li Jinglong. His heart was like a huge wave. He had thousands of words to say, but he didn't know how to say it.
"Look." Li Jinglong said, "Chang 'an tonight is really beautiful."