Pei Qingji Side Story I am Pei Qingji, the compiler of the Hanlin Academy, the Minister of Works, the Prime Minister of Da Zhou, and later the emperor.

　　But no one knows that I was reborn.

　　In my previous life, the first time I saw Ye Jingzhao in Qin Prefecture, she was lively, lazy, spoiled, but she liked to defend the weak.

　　The second time was when I failed to assassinate Mu Junze and sought refuge at the Marquis of Xiaoyao's residence, where I met her again.

　　In this life, I hide on the beams.

　　But at that time, she didn't have any martial arts skills and didn't notice my presence.

　　The third time, she secretly established the Ciyu Bureau in the capital, providing relief to orphans without her parents and sister knowing.

　　...

　　Repeatedly coincidental encounters, I fell in love with the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Xiaoyao, who was considered useless in the eyes of others but far surpassed countless stars.

　　I like to call her Ah Zhao.

　　But she never knew all of this.

　　That year, I was a valiant general of Da Zhou.

　　The southern barbarians attacked our dynasty, but no one went to battle.

　　Before I could express my feelings, I had to leave.

　　But when I returned to the capital, everything had changed.

　　The Marquis of Xiaoyao's residence was seized, leaving only her behind.

　　I saw her again on the border desert.

　　She had been exiled.

　　Covered in wounds, she lay in the desert like a broken doll, without any signs of life.

　　I spoke the words I had never said to her while looking at her lifeless body.

　　But it was all too late.

　　She could no longer hear me.

　　I hated Mu Junze, and I hated my own powerlessness.

　　In a fit of rage, I killed Mu Junze with my sword and then committed suicide in front of a Buddha.

　　I asked the Buddha countless times why good people don't receive good fortune.

　　Why can evil exist for thousands of years? If the Buddha truly had divine powers, I would gladly exchange my happiness for several lifetimes in order to have her reborn and change her destiny.

　　Who would have known that when I woke up again, I realized that I had been reborn.

　　This time, I planned everything in advance and got to know her early.

　　But she is no longer the carefree person she used to be.

　　She has become calm and mature, understanding how to endure and make decisive choices, and she has even learned martial arts.

　　After investigating everything about her, I came to a staggering realization: she has also been reborn.

　　However, the price of her rebirth is her parents' fifteen years of prayers.

　　If they cannot fulfill it, she will die young once again.

　　In order to keep her alive, her parents went on a pilgrimage.

　　In other words, her relatives are aware of her rebirth.

　　But because of their love, Lord Xiaoyao and Lady Hou chose to keep it from her.

　　To be honest, I envy Ah Zhao for having such parents.

　　And the reason I know all this is because it was revealed to me by the Court of Divine Astronomy a long time ago.

　　They also said, "Ye Yu Wei was the witch beside Mu Junze that changed her fate in the previous life, causing her to fall from the divine altar.

　　In this life, they have merely returned to their rightful paths." I really want to tell Ah Zhao the truth.

　　But I can't.

　　It's because the Court of Divine Astronomy also told me, "The past is the cause, the present is the result.

　　If there is interference from external forces, no one knows what the outcome will be." Perhaps some people might wonder why Ah Zhao in this lifetime can forgive her elder sister.

　　It's because that day, I obtained a pill from the Court of Divine Astronomy that can diminish feelings of hatred.

　　So I kept serving her tea continuously.

　　My Ah Zhao should be happy and content.

　　I don't want to cause unknown consequences.

　　I understand what she wants to do when she returns, so I continuously strive to climb higher.

　　I hope that this time, I can be her support.

　　Later on, she changed everything and successfully protected her family.

　　But on the day she left, I felt very sad.

　　I said words that had never been spoken in both lifetimes.

　　I asked her, "Can you stay and become my empress?" She didn't directly answer me, but it was already a refusal.

　　In fact, if I had been more forceful or pretended to be pitiable, maybe she would have softened.

　　But I didn't.

　　That woman I called Ah Zhao, she has ambitions that surpass the world and should not be trapped by these four corners of the heavens.

　　She should see a broader world, witness more beautiful things, and stay away from the filth of this palace.

　　So, in the end, I told her, "Ye Jingzhao, I will make this world as you wish." Yes, I will be a good emperor.

　　Before she turned around, I was Pei Qingji.

　　But after she turned around, I became the emperor.

　　In this capital, I am a lonely person.

　　But in this world, I am not.

　　Everywhere Ah Zhao has passed, every inch of land bears my reputation.

　　As she watches me from among the people, how can I disappoint her? In this lifetime, I missed her again.

　　But if there is another life, please allow me to be selfish once.

　　I will never let go of her hand again!