How could my childhood sweetheart be the current empress?

Later, the remnants of the Former Qin came to chase and kill them, but they were all killed by Gongsun Huairou alone.

After that, there was no more Gongsun Huairou and Gongsun family in the world. Yujingfang had a new owner, who only used the surname Gongsun and called herself Gongsun Daniang.

Back then, the golden inner elixir that the Xu family gave her was actually a prototype of the golden elixir.

After years of continuous and diligent practice, she finally condensed this embryonic golden elixir into a complete golden elixir. Not only will her appearance never change again, but her lifespan will also be much longer than that of an ordinary person.

During Gongsun Da Niang's years of investigation, she gradually learned a shocking secret.

The King of Qin sent the alchemist Xu Fu to Penglai to look for the elixir of life, but when she met Xu Fu, it was fifty years later.

During these fifty years, Xu Fu's appearance did not change at all, and it seemed that she had obtained the elixir of immortality.

Gongsun Da Niang couldn't help but have a guess, that is, the secret of the so-called elixir of life is actually the embryonic form of the golden elixir that Xu Fu gave her.

After her continuous investigation, she finally found the Xu Mansion and confirmed that the Xu family were descendants of Xu Fu.

At this time, Gongsun Da Niang looked at the young man in front of her, turned around, and said lightly:

"I just want to see her and thank her."

If it weren't for Xu Fu, she might have died. It can be said that Xu Fu was her savior.

"I owe her a favor. You are her descendant. If you need my help, please let me know."

Gongsun Da Niang said in a calm voice, raising a jade finger, meaning only once.

Having reached her level, she no longer has any thoughts about worldly matters, so she will not take the initiative to interfere in worldly affairs. She can only help Xu Chengling once to repay the favor.

Xu Chengling couldn't help but fall into deep thought. He looked up at the woman in front of him. Even if he could get her to take action once, it would definitely be worth it.

But he didn't need the other party's help for the time being, so he shook his head and said:

"Auntie, I don't need any help at the moment."

"It's okay. If you need anything, bring this token to see me at Yujingfang."

Madam Gongsun waved her slender hand and threw the token into Xu Chengling's hand. The word "Gongsun" was engraved on the token. It was the one in Xue Yuan's hand.

With this identity token, he can enter Yujingfang at will, but he only has one chance.

"If everything is ok, I'll leave first."

After receiving the token, Xu Chengling prepared to leave, as he had something in his mind that urgently needed confirmation.

That is whether his ancestor, Xu Fu, is still alive and where she is now.

"Mr. Xu, please stay for now."

Just as he turned around, Gongsun Da Niang suddenly called him.

She was holding a jade sword in her hand with the word "Gongsun" engraved on the hilt. She lightly stepped on the lotus platform in the middle of the wine pool.

"As a thank you gift for the poem, please let me dance with a sword for you."

Gongsun Da Niang clapped her hands gently, and several beautiful women in gauze walked out from all around, holding pipa in their hands, serving as drumbeats.

It was a rare opportunity to see Gongsun Da Niang's peerless sword dance, and he was alone, so Xu Chengling stayed to watch this stunning dance.

The woman in white gauze on the stage held a light sword in her hand, twisted her slender waist, stood on tiptoes, and danced with her graceful figure to the beat of the drums. Her every frown and smile was like a stunning beauty.

This white dress is so attractive that one cannot take their eyes off it. The woman on the stage dances like a fairy, so mysterious and so pure that countless men yearn for her.

But Xu Chengling also knew in his heart that he would never get such a woman in his lifetime.

As the drumbeats slowly fell, Gongsun Da Niang on the stage turned her head and gave him a stunning smile.

Perhaps he will never forget what happened today in his entire life.

……

After leaving Yujingfang, Xu Chengling still felt as if he was in a dream.

Aunt Gongsun, I didn’t expect that there really is such an extraordinary woman in the world, she is almost like a fairy.

It’s a pity that this is a woman he can’t get.

After leaving Yujingfang, Xu Chengling returned to the Xiangguo Mansion.

Then, he went straight to the old prime minister's residence.

Xu Chengling decided to meet the old prime minister in person.

-

The author said: Not all the heroines that appear in this book will be included, maybe because they appear too rarely, or there are too few plots and not much emotional foreshadowing. However, extra chapters will be written later to supplement their future plots, and some of the heroines will be included in the extra chapters.

For example, Gongsun Da Niang, the woman that one cannot get is often the one that one wants the most (laughs).

Chapter 266: The Old Prime Minister

Ever since the old prime minister fell ill, he has not been seen.

Occasionally, Xu Chengling would go to visit the old prime minister. After all, the other party was his adoptive father and had the grace to raise him.

As time goes by, the old prime minister becomes increasingly ill and his days are numbered. It is likely that he may not have much time left.

As he walked, Xu Chengling came to a quiet courtyard, stood at the door and knocked gently.

"Father, I am Ling'er."

Xu Chengling shouted softly into the house. After a long time, a weak voice slowly came from the house.

"Ling'er, come in."

So Xu Chengling pushed the door and walked into the room.

When I walked into the room, I saw a white-haired old man lying on the bed in front of me. He was suffering from many illnesses, had a weak constitution, and looked very haggard.

Xu Chengling came to the old prime minister and greeted him:

"Father, Ling'er is here to visit you."

"Ah."

The old man lying on the bed nodded slightly, and a gleam of light flashed in his dry old eyes.

The old prime minister who once dominated the government and held power is now just an old man lying in bed.

"Ling'er, come here for a moment."

The old prime minister called Xu Chengling, and he walked to the bedside.

"Ling'er, your father's time is running out. In the future, the Prime Minister's Mansion will depend on you. Since your father has no son, I will adopt you as my adopted son and treat you as my own son. Please don't let your father down."

Xu Chengling gently held the old man's dry hands with both hands, nodded and said:

"Father's words, I will definitely keep them in mind."

"Where's Qian'er?"

"Qian'er went to study at the Imperial College."

"That's fine too."

The old prime minister rarely showed a relieved smile. If there was one thing he couldn't let go of the most now, it was actually Qian'er.

Since she was willing to study at the Imperial College, he felt relieved.

"Ling'er, Qian'er will be handed over to you in the future."

The old prime minister gently patted the back of Xu Chengling's hand and said.

He had already learned from the servants that Qian'er had cancelled the engagement. Although Xu Chengling was a member of the Xu family, he and Xu Xiqian had no blood relationship.

In other words, as long as Xu Chengling is willing, he can marry Qian'er.

"Don't worry, father. Qian'er is my sister. I will take good care of her."

Xu Chengling assured the old prime minister.

He sat on the edge of the bed and thought for a long time. There were some things he didn't know whether he should say them or not.

"Father, what do you think of the current empress's rule?"

Xu Chengling couldn't help but ask the old prime minister a question.

The old prime minister lay in bed and pondered for a long time, then slowly said:

"Compared to the late emperor, the empress is younger, but she is more diligent and enterprising in governing. However, she is still too young."

"Father, I think Dayan is doing pretty well under the rule of the Empress. The country is peaceful and the people are safe. Although there are many shortcomings, everything is moving in the direction of getting better."

Xu Chengling couldn't help but say in a deep voice.

"Perhaps, Dayan is most suitable in the hands of the Empress."

"Ling'er, do you really think so?"

The old prime minister couldn't help but ask him back, and a hint of disappointment flashed in his dry old eyes.

In his opinion, although Xu Chengling inherited his power, he had also forgotten the family's mission.

"Father, Dayan is getting better under the Empress's control. As long as the people can live and work in peace and the country is peaceful, does it really matter who holds the imperial power?"

Compared with the old prime minister, Xu Chengling does not value power. He only cares about whoever can make the country better and allow the people to live and work in peace and contentment. That person is a good emperor.

It can be said that Xu Chengling has always been an idealist.

Since the empress is able to govern Dayan well today, let her continue to be the emperor. If she fails to do a good job, it will not be too late to drive her out.

But given Dayan's current situation, would the country be able to get better even if a new ruler was chosen? He thought that might not be the case, and that it would only make the country more chaotic.

Xu Chengling did not expect that he could convince the old prime minister. The old prime minister had been in officialdom for decades and must know more about this than he did.

All he had to do was express his inner thoughts.

After hearing what Xu Chengling said, the old prime minister couldn't help but sigh helplessly.

"Alas, Ling'er, you think everything is too simple. Some things are more complicated than you think."

Today's wild geese are like an old man slowly walking towards old age, just like the ancient Qin Dynasty, with foreign enemies lurking, disasters happening all over the country, and internal conflicts intensifying.

Within a few years, Dayan will be destroyed by the empress. What she inherited from the previous emperor was already a mess. Even if there was no empress, the demise of Dayan was only a matter of time.

Rather than watching the geese gradually die out, it is better to take the initiative to exterminate them. It is better to suffer a short pain than a long one, and let more suitable people rule the country.

"Today, Dayan's national strength is declining. What Dayan needs now is an enterprising king. Only by continuous reform can Dayan become strong again."

Xu Chengling said in a deep voice that if they wanted to change Dayan’s current situation, they had to keep changing so that they could regain their former strength.

Now, with his assistance, the empress is constantly carrying out reforms, and Dayan's national strength is slowly recovering. Dayan may not necessarily perish at the hands of the empress.

Xu Chengling knew all these, but the old prime minister did not, and this was also the generation gap between them as father and son.

The old prime minister wants to replace the current empress and build a better country by himself, while Xu Chengling wants to help the empress to bring about reforms and make Dayan strong again through her.

"Ling'er, if this is what you think, then go ahead and give it a try."

The old prime minister didn't say anything more. Xu Chengling's words could not convince him, but he would not stop the other party's idea, nor did he have the ability to do so.

But he still told Xu Chengling to see the situation clearly and protect the Prime Minister's Mansion no matter what.

"Father, thank you for your understanding."

Xu Chengling thanked the old prime minister. He knew that he could not convince the other party, but it was already not easy to gain the other party's understanding.

"Father, there is one more thing I hope you can answer."

Xu Chengling spoke again. He came to see the old prime minister this time because of another important matter.

"Do you know where grandma is?

He couldn't help but take a deep breath and suddenly asked.

"Grandma..."

Hearing this title, the old prime minister seemed to remember something and closed his cloudy eyes.

When he was young, he had heard his elders mention that there was a very old elder in the Xu Mansion.

Only the descendants of the Xu family are qualified to meet that elder.

"Take this key and go see her."