Li Shimin had sworn brotherhood with himself to break off his relationship with Gaoyang, and Jiang Liu was very clear on this.
From a personal emotional standpoint, Jiang Liu was naturally reluctant, yet these words remained unspoken.
From Li Shimin's perspective, he had already done very well; he was not only a father but more importantly, he was an Emperor of a nation and had to be responsible for all his subjects.
Moreover, due to his own reasons, locust plagues had arisen, and the people could barely survive, which made Jiang Liu feel extrely guilty.
The so-called Heavenly Dao is suprely fair, impartial in all things; yet, it is also like a ruthless and unrighteous knife!
Li Shimin, standing on the Praying to Heaven Platform, watched Jiang Liu quietly. In these days, he had tried everything to save Gaoyang, but to no avail; in Li Shimin's view, Gaoyang was undoubtedly dood.
He had taken Master Xuanzang as his Imperial Brother, which did not truly harm him, yet it could save them from this unprecedented locust plague. This was the best solution he could think of.
Of course, if there were even a sliver of hope for Gaoyang's survival, Li Shimin might feel a tad guilty about forcibly separating the couple.
"Thank you for your trendous favor, Your Majesty!" Jiang Liu also watched Li Shimin quietly and, after a mont of silence, bowed deeply to him.
After leaving behind these words, Jiang Liu turned around, walked barefoot, and left the ceremony site of the Praying to Heaven ritual.
The officials and citizens, who had knelt down and watched as Jiang Liu rely uttered a lukewarm thank-you before turning and leaving, exchanged bewildered looks.
This behavior clearly displayed dissatisfaction with the Emperor, didn't it?
So military officials had already placed their hands on the hilts of their swords, their gazes fixed on the Emperor, ready to leap forward at the Emperor's command and arrest this traitor who disrespected imperial authority.
No matter what about being a Holy Monk with the Scar of Precepts, within the borders of Great Tang, the Emperor's word was law.
"Alas..." Watching Jiang Liu's retreating figure, Li Shimin did not show any signs of anger but rely sighed inwardly; he could naturally understand the dissatisfaction in Jiang Liu's heart.
Logically, Jiang Liu had not resisted the identity of Imperial Brother, but emotionally, he was very resistant to it. Not refusing in front of everyone was already the greatest extent of restraint he had shown.
Otherwise, considering his audacity to swear to heaven and marry Gaoyang, who knew what he might have done?
"Alright, everyone go back," the event had co to an end, and the Praying to Heaven ceremony had concluded smoothly, Li Shimin said languidly. Under the eunuch's announcent, he got on the Dragon Chariot and headed back to the palace, and the officials and citizens dispersed as well.
The events that took place during the Praying to Heaven ceremony, the Emperor's act of rcy, and the fact that he and Master Xuanzang had beco sworn brothers spread quickly like a hurricane.
"Alas, the heavens toy with us. To have the title of Imperial Brother but not a shred of joy, wealth and fa are but fleeting clouds. Surely, Master Xuanzang's heart is very bitter?" above in the Moon Palace, Fairy Chang'e quietly held the Jade Rabbit, gently stroking it, her voice ethereal.
For so reason, ever since the day Master Xuanzang had sworn to heaven, Chang'e had been particularly attentive to the events about to unfold around him.
"Truly there are remarkable n in this world, Princess Gaoyang, how fortunate yet unfortunate she is…" Far from Chang'an, tens of thousands of miles away, inside a divine abode, a colorful peacock transford into a beautiful woman, her eyes full of pity and emotion.
"Daughter, what's wrong?" In Chang'an City, within an official's household, ever since the Praying to Heaven ceremony, their daughter had stayed in her room, not going out, and even the maids reported that they could hear sobbing from inside. The parents had their guards break into her boudoir.
"Father, mother, please leave, leave, your daughter is fine…" Inside the boudoir, the young lady bent over the dressing table, sobbing as she spoke.
"My child, what has happened to you? Why are you crying like this?" Seeing their daughter in this state, inexplicably sobbing, her parents were imnsely distressed.
"It's nothing, I am not crying for myself, but for Master Xuanzang and Princess Gaoyang. The heavens toy with us, the heavens have been too cruel to Master Xuanzang."
...
Previously, as a Buddhist Disciple with the twelve Scar of Precepts, Master Xuanzang had publicly vowed to take Princess Gaoyang as his wife. This declaration spread throughout all realms, and though his behavior seed insane, won from all realms, whether human, deity, fairy, or demon, were deeply moved.
This ti, having been adopted by Emperor of Tang as his Imperial Brother, he had effectively severed any possibilities with Princess Gaoyang. Hearing Master Xuanzang receiving the prostration of the officials and common people, and standing in a revered position, he did not reject them but departed with a cold expression.
This reaction struck a tender spot in the hearts of these won, who empathized deeply with the sorrows of Master Xuanzang.
If, at this mont, the won of all realms were to vote on who the most infatuated man in the world was, Jiang Liu would undoubtedly receive the highest number of votes and be nad the most lovesick man of all realms.
...
Unaware of these things, Jiang Liu was wholly focused on Gaoyang. After leaving the venue of the Praying to Heaven ceremony, he walked barefoot directly back to Gaoyang's sleeping quarters.
In another great hall, after returning from the Praying to Heaven ceremony, Li Shimin sat on his throne. Before him, Yuan Tiangang, the old mage, stood quietly performing the Concentration Calculation.
But a mont later, Yuan Tiangang opened his eyes, t Li Shimin's inquiring gaze, and bowed, "Your Majesty, good news, the locust plague is gradually subsiding and will soon disappear completely."
"That's good, that's good...", upon hearing Yuan Tiangang's answer, Li Shimin let out a long sigh of relief and relaxed, having successfully halted the locust plague.
In recent days, the entire court, including the Emperor, had been exhausted by the ordeal of the locust plague.
"Your Majesty..." However, before Li Shimin could fully relax, suddenly, a palace maid hurriedly ran over.
"Eh? Are you Princess Gaoyang's maiden? What's happened? Is the princess in trouble?" Seeing the palace maid rushing in, Li Shimin tensed again, sitting up straighter, and asked anxiously.
"Master Xuanzang, he... he has taken the Princess and left...", the palace maid, evidently out of breath from running, stuttered through her words.
"He has taken Gaoyang?", upon hearing this, Li Shimin abruptly stood up and rushed outside.
At the gate of the Imperial Palace, Jiang Liu, dressed in white and barefoot, was carrying Gaoyang in his arms, stepping through the palace gates.
The guards at the gate didn't dare to stop him, kneeling in salute.
The Emperor had said, to see the Imperial Brother was as seeing His Majesty himself.
Without pausing, Jiang Liu continued forward, but many people he passed secretly covered their noses.
Your journey continues on empire
Her body almost rotting, Gaoyang was emitting a foul sll, deterring others from coming close, but Jiang Liu, holding her in his arms, seed indifferent even as pus and blood stained his body.
"Imperial Brother, wait..." In just a short ti, Emperor of Tang Li Shimin hastened out, surrounded by nurous guards trailing behind him.
Jiang Liu paused slightly in his steps but did not turn around or respond.
"Imperial Brother, where are you going?", slling the fetid odor, Li Shimin's heart ached.
"I am off to save a life," with that, Jiang Liu continued walking away.
Emperor of Tang Li Shimin stood there, astonished, watching as he carried Gaoyang further away.
Save a life? He had tried everything to no avail. Where was he going to save her? Who could save her!?
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