Er kämpft in allen Himmeln und unzähligen Welten

Kapitel 13

The water clock ticked again, and someone came running in from outside the door, accompanied by the eunuch's shrill voice.

"The ceremony begins. Please invite Princess Ping An to the hall."

I gritted my teeth, climbed off Ji Feng, and the wide sleeves of my robe swept past Cheng Ping, who was standing to the side. Suddenly, my palms felt cold, so I quickly gathered my sleeves and grabbed the thing with both hands.

When I started, I finally figured out what it was.

It was a small knife still in its sheath. I carefully pulled it out and touched it. With just a slight touch, I felt a slight pain in my fingertip; it was extremely sharp.

I plugged it in, and as I walked, I glanced at Chengping without leaving a trace. He was sweating.

His lips didn't move, but his voice rang in my ears, which was extremely eerie.

However, his words were as direct as usual.

He said, "This is for your self-defense, don't use it to commit suicide."

...

Hai: The palace is so boring. Ping An, let's leave quickly and go out for some fresh air and to meet some interesting people.

Ping An: You've finally arrived... I have a knife...

Chapter 36

The ceremony proceeded smoothly. The hall was filled with fully armed soldiers, making it look more like a review before a major battle. The ministers, who had told their father just days before that their loyalty was as clear as the sun and moon, continued to offer their blessings to the new emperor in the same way, without the slightest stutter or hesitation.

I sat alone behind the desk, not wanting to look at my elder brother, who sat at the highest position, and could only watch the officials who took turns kneeling before the new emperor, gradually feeling admiration for them.

No wonder my elder brother is so eager to ascend the throne. It is indeed rare to find so many capable and resilient pillars of the court in our dynasty.

Without my elder brother and Tianheng, the desk was empty, but Jifeng stood behind me. I thought about every word he had said to me, and gradually I didn't want to look at anyone else anymore. I focused on my nose and nose, and my heart was very calm.

But that inexplicable prince of the Mo Kingdom kept casting his gaze over, which was always annoying. I tried changing my posture several times but couldn't escape his gaze. Eventually, I just let him be. Anyway, he couldn't hurt me by looking at me.

The bell rang again, and the emperor changed into his dragon robe, his crown gleaming with gold. A beaded curtain fell, obscuring his face.

He stood up and walked to the center of the hall. As he passed, everyone prostrated themselves before him, shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" echoing endlessly.

Outside the palace, the troops erupted in a unified shout of "Long live the Emperor!" as the bell tolled, with thousands of people shouting in a thunderous roar.

The ceremony was lengthy, and it was already dark. At that moment, all the lights lit up simultaneously, illuminating the imperial city as if it were daytime. The sound of cannons came from the distant city walls, one after another. I was startled at first, thinking that some trouble had broken out again, but then I heard my elder brother suddenly laugh and say, "Good!"

As soon as he spoke, all sounds vanished. Outside the hall, the neatly arranged army stood solemnly in the lamplight, the four corner banners fluttering in the wind, and thousands of suits of armor gleaming coldly. The faces of the civil officials and eunuchs who had followed him out from inside the hall, who were used to a life of luxury, stiffened.

I was also ushered out of the main hall. My brother turned around and looked at me.

My elder brother and I have always been close. He is also the only blood relative I have in this palace. But at this moment, when he looked at me through the beaded curtain, I was terrified and just wanted to turn my head away from his eyes.

Later I realized I was wrong. My brother wasn't looking at me, but at someone else who was walking up behind me.

It was Murphy, with his enormous black bodyguard. He turned back and smiled at me as he walked past me, then walked straight to my brother and stood beside him.

The emperor smiled and nodded at him, then addressed the silence below.

"The Crown Prince of Mo has come from afar to personally congratulate the grand ceremony. Our dynasty and Mo have now established an alliance, and from now on, the two countries will be on good terms, helping and supporting each other. Today, I hereby grant Princess Ping'an and the Crown Prince of Mo the right to be united in marriage, as a sign of our sincerity."

A moment of silence followed, then countless shouts of "Long live!" rose and fell, one after another, and thousands of faces displayed a variety of expressions. But my blood froze, my vision blurred, and I couldn't make out a single face.

The icy scabbard was burning hot in my hands. I wanted to speak, but I couldn't. My feet moved, and I took a step forward with force. But then I felt a numbness all over my body. I was already very familiar with this feeling. Someone had pressed my pressure points to stop me from moving and, incidentally, to make me sleep or faint for a while.

"I'm dizzy," I thought bitterly as I collapsed into familiar arms. This world was too dark, darker than Murphy's face. What was there to see in such a world? I'd rather stay unconscious forever and never wake up again.

~~ ...

Hai: I know this chapter is short, but I have a lot to say to everyone... so I couldn't hold back and just said it now.

Narrator: Everyone, please line up properly. Even if you're throwing something away, please be orderly. If you do it carelessly, it might hit the children in front of you...

Hai: The story of Ping An came about because I was so frustrated with modern writing that I wanted to throw up, so I wrote an ancient story to relieve my stress... So this story was originally written very freely. Originally, there were two male protagonists... You can see those long words in the prologue... When Ping An was 13 years old, he met the handsome 18-year-old Ji Feng. Actually, this handsome young man... wasn't the only male protagonist...

Narrator: Ahhhhh... I told you not to litter, you threw it on me...

Hai: (Continuing to use the narrator as a shield) Therefore, I solemnly announce to everyone that because another male lead is making a fuss about needing to get some fresh air, and he is extremely...evil, I can't beat him...so Jifeng TX...is likely to experience significant changes in a few chapters. Therefore, if you are not mentally prepared, I'm afraid you might see scenes of him going berserk and harming innocent people.

Narrator: ...You mean me?

Hai: Anyway, the plot is about to take a dramatic turn, but I'm leaving Shanghai again tomorrow, and I'll be spending almost the entire rest of July away from here... so... (raises three fingers, I'll squeeze in a moment)

—Running wildly across the sea with the narration playing in the background

Chapter 37

I woke up in a shaky world, lying on a pile of soft brocade, surrounded by splendor, but constantly swaying.

I was afraid I was going crazy, because everything seemed to be moving. But then a golden light suddenly approached me. I've been sensitive to gold lately, and I was so startled that I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, the gold was still there. I saw it clearly; it was my imperial brother.

My elder brother wasn't wearing a crown. Without the beaded curtain, his face returned to its usual appearance. If it weren't for the dazzling light of the five-clawed golden dragon woven with gold thread on his robe, I would almost have thought that my elder brother had returned.

Unfortunately, that's not the case. I know very well that my leisurely and composed elder brother, who smiled like a gentle breeze through the willows, is gone. Now, before me, he is just an emperor.

Not knowing how to address him, I could only ask directly, "Where is this?" As I spoke, I habitually looked around, but unfortunately, apart from my brother, there was no one else around.

"We're already out of the city in the carriage. This is my sister's first time marrying so far away, and I'm very reluctant to see her go. I'm seeing you off."

I was saddened and looked at my elder brother without saying a word.

My elder brother is the new emperor, and he arranged for me to marry in front of so many people. It must be a done deal. Why rush things? He packed me up and sent me to someone else while I was still unconscious.

Seeing how quiet I was, he patted my face with satisfaction and said, "Good girl."

I sighed and asked him, "Is it okay if we don't go?"

He chuckled and shook his head.

“Huining is fine too, she’s stronger than me.” I pointed out this fact without any guilt.

My brother's smile deepened as he listened. His fingers, which had been on my face, moved up to touch my hair, as if I were some kind of small animal.

He softened his voice and said, "It's a pity that Huining is not my imperial sister; Ping'an is."

I haven't heard him speak to me in such a tone for a long time. When I was very young, I often felt lonely and would search for him everywhere in the palace. Then I would follow behind him, tugging at his clothes, and I wouldn't let go no matter where we went. Sometimes, my brother would be helpless because of my tugging, so he would bend down and coax me in a very soft tone, just like now.

It's a pity, people have to grow up.

I lowered my eyes in silence, and after a long while, I finally uttered an "Oh".

My brother's hand was still on my hair as he continued talking. He probably knew that he wouldn't have many chances to see me again, and it showed how deep our sibling affection was.

He said that although the Kingdom of Mo was located beyond the Great Wall, it was an extremely beautiful place. The capital city was surrounded by lakes and mountains in the desert. Moreover, in recent years, the Kingdom of Mo had become strong and powerful, and had almost annexed all the small countries and tribes in the desert. Its territory was vast. King Mo Fei was getting old, and he would soon be able to ascend the throne. After that, I would be the Queen of the Kingdom of Mo, and I would be very powerful.

I nodded and smiled in his manner, "What Your Majesty says is true, but what if Ping An's health fails and she passes away before even reaching the Emperor? What then?"

After he finished speaking, the carriage fell silent. My brother stopped talking, just glanced at me quietly, then withdrew his hand and used a finger to pry open a crack in the heavy brocade curtain.

The sunlight streaming through the crack was blinding, but the first thing I saw was the person I had been searching for all along.

It was Ji Feng, riding a horse, right next to the carriage. This was the first time I had ever seen him on horseback. His back was straight, as upright as a pine tree, and he was more dazzling than anyone else.

I glanced at him once and then looked away, turning back to stare at my elder brother, who was smiling into my eyes.

His laughter chilled me to the bone, but I forced myself to remain calm and speak.

“I only said it was possible, I didn’t say that I would definitely be in trouble.”

He nodded. "That hits the nail on the head. If something had happened to you, he would have been dead long ago."

I couldn't understand him, but that didn't stop me from being so terrified that I felt cold all over and could barely speak. I stammered, "Why? What is it?"

My elder brother is indeed my brother. He understands what I'm saying and even explains it with a smile. He grabbed a gold box and opened it for me to see. The gold box was tightly sealed. He only opened it a crack and I heard a creepy "squeaking" sound. Looking inside, I saw a pair of small insects, one black and one white, entangled together.

"This is what it means to never leave someone. Do you like it?"

How could something so disgusting have such a name? I sighed and shook my head.

"You should like them. They have a very good relationship. If one dies, the other will definitely go back to its side and die with it."

"What does that have to do with me?" I asked, puzzled.

“Of course they’re related.” He pointed with great interest to the white one, “This one is inside you right now, and the other one…”

I understood, and I didn't want to hear any more. My body reacted directly; I vomited.

My elder brother remained remarkably calm. He immediately grabbed a sandalwood alms bowl from the small table beside him and placed it in front of me. While watching me vomit, he continued, "Don't worry, that lazy white one won't go looking for the black one even if it dies. If nothing happens to you, it will sleep forever. It's very obedient. Don't you like Jifeng? I promise you, as long as you don't die, he will always be by your side. Now you know how much your elder brother loves you?"

...

Hai: I absolutely do not condone retaliating against the author because of the male lead's issues. Please read this silently three times...

Chapter 38

I bid farewell to my elder brother at the Ten Mile Pavilion. My elder brother, dressed in a golden dragon robe, stood in front of the orderly Imperial Guards and smiled at me. Every country has its own rules. Mo Fei and I had not yet performed the grand ceremony and did not travel together. He had already gone ahead, but left behind a guard of more than a dozen soldiers in all black. The burly man who had fought with Ji Feng earlier was also waiting in front of the carriage.

I glanced at the pitch-black mass around me, then at the seemingly endless, brightly lit army behind my brother. The stark contrast caused the sorrow I had painstakingly composed to crack open.

My elder brother saw through my emotional change at a glance. Without saying a word to me, he reached out and placed his hand on the back of my head, turning me around. Then he raised his other hand and pointed at me in the distance, a very dashing gesture.

I'm short, and my view had been blocked by the fancy trucks until I changed direction and finally saw what was ahead.

As far as the eye could see, there was a dark mass, like dark clouds falling to earth. Upon closer inspection, they were all cavalrymen dressed in dark clothes, lined up neatly. Although at first glance the number did not seem to exceed a hundred, the black clothes and black horses gave the impression of being boundless in the twilight.

This scene was so tense it was like two armies were facing off. I gasped and looked around at the people around me, all of whom had unfriendly expressions. Ji Feng was standing right behind me, and I could almost hear his suppressed breathing.

Although I have lived in the inner palace for a long time, I have heard some things about the battlefield. The Mo Kingdom has always been powerful and has repeatedly violated our borders over the years. Our dynasty has long been located in the prosperous Central Plains, and the people are used to a comfortable and luxurious life. They have no resources to fight against others on the battlefield, so the borders have never been stable. It was only in recent years that my father used a policy of appeasement that we were able to catch our breath.

The so-called appeasement policy is just a nice-sounding phrase; in reality, it's just a show of goodwill and seeking peace. With the borders unstable, no matter how peaceful and prosperous the country is, it's all fake. No matter how beautiful it is, it's like a mirage on quicksand.

Ji Feng once said that his father had been guarding the border for many years, and he had followed his father and brothers to fight on the frontier since he was fifteen. According to this calculation, he had probably fought a direct battle with the Mo Kingdom. Countless people fought bloody battles and died on the battlefield to protect the peace of the Central Plains. Now, however, he watched helplessly as his former enemy rode tall horses and drove straight into the capital. This feeling must be heartbreaking.

I remained silent for the rest of the time. The leader of the Mexican cavalry led everyone to kneel before me. I didn't even bother to say "rise." The leader was exceptionally tall, almost as tall as the horse's head when standing. He led hundreds of people to kneel down at the same time, their movements perfectly synchronized, with a loud thud.

The two countries met me at the Shili Pavilion, and the magnificent carriage set off again. I sat inside, knowing my brother was watching me from behind, but stubbornly, I refused to look back at him. The carriage started moving, and after a long while, I lifted the curtain again. Dusk had fallen outside, the sound of horses' hooves was heavy and rhythmic, the farmland on both sides was silent, and there wasn't a single light along the road. Looking back towards the capital through the dust, everything was blurred, and I couldn't see anything clearly.

I spent that night in the car. The large group moved forward in silence, without any intention of stopping, as if they were going to travel day and night to send me abroad.

The carriage was luxurious, covered with brocade cushions everywhere, even the walls were soft, as if to prevent me from banging my head against them. Pulling out the small drawers revealed all sorts of pastries, exquisitely made. But when I thought of the little worm inside my body, I lost my appetite. I racked my brains trying to find a solution, but sitting, lying down, rolling around—nothing worked. Finally, in despair, I buried my head in the cushions like an ostrich, pretending I didn't exist.