Chapter 1693

Aqi and Ake finally realized.

The emperor of this era is not comparable to those past rulers who boasted themselves as Sons of Heaven yet remained mere mortals.

This is a true immortal emperor!

"His Majesty instructed that Miss Ake and Miss Aqi may also accompany you."

"We can go too?"

Ake's heart leapt; she glanced shyly at her Master.

"Since His Majesty extends such kindness, you shall be grateful and go together."

"Yes, Master."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

They bowed once more toward the imperial palace, then the trio walked toward the Forbidden City.

No palanquin, no grand procession.

Unlike any dynasty before it.

In her youth, she might have thought such conduct violated imperial protocol, lacked decorum, and defied order.

What kind of propriety is this?

But after enduring the trials of life, she now saw this act as proof of His Majesty's sage wisdom, his consideration for the people's strength, and his rejection of pomp.

Ake and Aqi felt a dull disappointment.

They had imagined meeting the Emperor as a glorious event.

Yet it was nothing like they had envisioned.

Weathered palace walls, an ordinary path.

Even walking within the imperial palace, a sense of loneliness rose within them.

This was utterly unlike the opulent, extravagant palace they had imagined.

The journey seemed endless; by the time Ake began to regret coming, a grand hall appeared in the distance.

"Master Jiunan, and the two young ladies, we've arrived."

"Master Jiunan has arrived!"

At the maid's announcement, the three entered the hall.

Upon entering, Jiunan saw a youth in the dragon robe of the previous dynasty gazing at her, and she froze.

Wearing the dragon robe of a fallen dynasty before His Majesty—was this rebellion?

Yet His Majesty smiled broadly, showing no reaction whatsoever.

Could this man also be an immortal?

And perhaps a senior who had ascended to immortality during the Great Ming?

Jiunan was deeply suspicious, scouring her memory—but she could not recall any emperor who had ascended.

"How is Zhu Dao you?" Long Er smiled.

Zhu Youjian sighed: "Meichuo, you've endured much."

Hearing that familiar name, Jiunan trembled, her voice shaking: "Who are you?"

"I? The world calls me Chongzhen—Zhu Youjian," replied the youth in the dragon robe.

Jiunan stared, dumbfounded.

Is this man my father?

What's happening? Has my memory failed me?

How could I possibly not recognize my own father!

"Not recognizing me is natural. I am the Chongzhen of another world, distinct from yours."

Jiunan listened, confused, and turned to the reigning Emperor.

Long Er smiled: "Exactly so. I shall not hide it from Princess Jiunan—I am friends with Zhu Dao you from other worlds. It was through meeting those friends that I attained immortal arts and ended the rule of our enemies. He, moved by your hardships in this world, has come to guide you."

Jiunan's spirit shook violently.

This news was terrifying.

She needed time to process it!

She never imagined Zhu Youjian from another world had gained such fortune, becoming an immortal.

Ake and Aqi stared wide-eyed, utterly transfixed.

So miraculous!

Their Master's father is a deity!

If so, could they also benefit from this?

Especially Ake—her inner self nearly leapt out of joy.

Wonderful!

Now she need not become an official to enjoy wealth and honor.

No—she might even become immortal, achieving eternal life!

This was like a fortune falling from the heavens.

Just moments ago she had regretted coming; now Ake wished she could kill her former self.

If she hadn't followed her Master, hadn't met her Ancestor, wouldn't this opportunity have slipped through her fingers?

She looked at her Master—her urgency surpassed even her Master's own.

Master, recognize your lineage at once!

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

Aqi had been anxious too, but suddenly felt her small hand being squeezed until it hurt.

Looking back, she saw her junior sister's worried expression and couldn't help being speechless.

Turns out there was someone even more anxious than herself.

She gently patted Ake's shoulder, and only then did Ake come back to her senses.

How unseemly!

This was the moment to make an impression; she couldn't be too rude.

"Many thanks, Uncle. It's just that Miezhu has one presumptuous request to make—might I have a word?" Jiu Nan thought for a moment, bowed respectfully, and asked.

Zhu Youjian smiled and said: "You want to save your own parents, brothers and sisters, don't you?"

Jiu Nan nodded.

"Mm."

Zhu Youjian smiled and said: "What's so hard about that?"

At a thought, he reached into the void and grabbed.

In an instant, one dumbfounded person after another was pulled out by him from the river of time and space.

Zhu Youjian, Empress Zhou, Noble Consort Yuan, Princess Zhaoren, and others were pulled out one by one.

These people, who had originally long since passed away, suddenly appeared before her eyes, and Zhu Miezhu's eyes reddened at once.

"Father! Mother!"

Zhu Youjian had originally been in a daze, but never expected that in the blink of an eye he would see a woman older than himself calling him "Father"!

Does that even make sense!

Looking closely, she actually resembled his own daughter, Princess Changping, in appearance.

"You are?"

Zhu Miezhu could not speak through her tears: "Father, I am Changping! By now, twenty-five years have already passed since you hanged yourself on Coal Hill."

"Hanged myself on Coal Hill?" Zhu Youjian pointed at himself. "Me?"

Zhu Miezhu nodded: "That year, Li Zicheng entered the pass…"

This history was precisely what she herself had lived through; she didn't need to read history books to recount it in detail.

Zhu Youjian listened, his mind and spirit both shaken, his eyes wide.

Although he had not experienced what came after, he had indeed already gone up Coal Hill.

Presumably what followed was not made up out of thin air either.

The same was true for Empress Zhou, Noble Consort Yuan, and Princess Zhaoren.

They had clearly already died—why had they come back to life!

"Your Majesty, we had not already passed away? Why do we meet again today?"