The surroundings were completely silent, and it was still dark outside. Fu Ling sat up from the couch, her breathing chaotic, feeling her heart still uncontrollably racing. At this moment, someone gently knocked on the door, and Yuan Zhen’s voice came through the door panel: “Has Your Highness awakened? Lord Yan has sent this servant to ask if you still wish to see His Majesty one last time?”
Fu Ling was struck as if by lightning, with tears suddenly rolling down her cheeks.
Her throat was sore, and she suppressed her choked voice: “Please wait a moment, I’m coming right away.”
When Fu Ling was ready and arrived at the main hall, the Emperor of Longzhi had fallen into a coma. Many people surrounded the imperial couch – eunuchs, imperial historians, and imperial physicians. Only Yan Xiaohan stood far away, his expression bland, seeming distracted like an outsider.
After everyone paid their respects, they made way. Fu Ling knelt beside the imperial couch, tearfully calling out: “Your Majesty…”
The Emperor of Longzhi’s eyelids slightly twitched, seemingly responding to her voice, but he never opened his eyes.
Fu Ling grasped his withered hand and wept: “Please be at ease, Your Majesty. I will surely guide Hui’er well and not betray Your Majesty’s earnest expectations.”
The Emperor’s fingers moved slightly in her hand, his breath as weak as a candle in the wind. After the imperial physician waited breathlessly for a moment, the Emperor of Longzhi ultimately did not regain consciousness and slowly stopped breathing under everyone’s gaze.
“Your Highness, please bear your grief.”
After a while, Yan Xiaohan approached and softly said behind Fu Ling: “The Emperor has passed away.”
With these words, everyone in the Hall of Nurturing Heart knelt down. Seeing Fu Ling still in a daze, Yan Xiaohan had to remind her: “Your Highness?”
Fu Ling blinked slowly, brushing away the last tear from her eye, and reached out to Yuan Zhen.
Yuan Zhen hurriedly helped her up. Yan Xiaohan stepped back and knelt down.
“The Emperor… has passed away.”
Facing the vast hall, Fu Ling parted her lips, her voice hoarse and trembling, but persistently continued: “Immediately send people to inform the lords, officials, princes, and concubines. Close the palace and city gates, and enforce martial law. Please—”
Before she could finish “New Ruler,” a loud shout came from outside: “The Emperor has died. Why haven’t we been summoned to the palace to hear the imperial testament!”
Someone had leaked the news.
Led by Xue Sheng, dozens of court officials gathered at the steps outside the Hall of Nurturing Heart, with the Emperor’s half-brother, Prince Zhao, among them. Supported by Yuan Zhen, Fu Ling walked to the front of the hall and said firmly: “His Majesty has been in a coma and left no testament.”
Xue Sheng hinted: “Perhaps there is one, but Your Highness does not know.”
Fu Ling responded: “My son was personally designated as Crown Prince by His Majesty. As the heir to the throne, he is the new ruler, regardless of any testament. What objection does Lord Xue have?”
Deputy General Li Xiaodong of the Western Expedition Army has already confessed that you instigated him to poison me during the negotiations with the Southwest, and then frame and blame Duan Guihong. I have brought him to the Court of Judicial Review, and the handprint on the confession is still fresh. Lord Xue, why don’t you take your ‘imperial decree’ and keep him company?”
These words were earth-shattering. The court officials from the Northern Frontier were the first to react, glaring angrily: “Old man! How dare you commit such a treasonous act of deceiving the emperor!”
Yan Xiaohan gestured to the nearby imperial guards, and Xue Sheng roared loudly: “I am a court official! Who dares to arrest me without evidence!”
“I dare,” Fu Shen said coldly.
True to his years of leading troops, his authoritative voice was like metal striking stone. The imperial guards around him responded in unison, their voices piercing the sky: “We are here!”
“Capture this treacherous rebel and send him to the imperial prison for interrogation,” Fu Shen said, his words laden with killing intent. “Today, I will gladly bear the punishment of overstepping, and I don’t believe I can’t cut down this traitorous official!”
The imperial guards, already on their side, swarmed forward like tigers and wolves, quickly subduing and binding Xue Sheng, dragging him away.
From Xue Sheng’s appearance to his capture, the situation changed in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, Fu Shen spoke decisively and acted swiftly, dissolving the potential palace coup in an instant. The officials were stunned, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events, but gradually felt a sense of resolution.
The situation was settled, even before the former emperor’s decree was read. With Fu Shen’s return, who could now challenge the Crown Prince?
Yan Xiaohan put away his knife without changing expression, walked to Fu Shen’s horse, and offered his hand with a casual tone: “Why are you here?”
This time, General Fu didn’t play dumb, openly taking his hand and jumping down: “If I didn’t come, who would protect my sister and her orphaned children from that old villain Xue Sheng?”
He glanced at Fu Ling, and the Empress’s tears began to flow uncontrollably.
Fu Shen sighed, saying solemnly: “Restrain your grief.”
He still held a bright yellow imperial decree. Fu Shen glanced down, muttering: “My dear, your grip is a bit too strong.”
Fu Shen smiled, not struggling free, and tossed the decree to the eunuch Cheng Fengjun who accompanied him, succinctly saying: “Read.”
As dawn approaches and daylight arrives, the wind subsides and the snow stops. The sun slowly rises from the distant horizon, and the clear light shines on the fine snow atop the glazed tiles, sparkling brilliantly. However, nothing compares to the figure standing facing him, backlit, as if with the slightest movement, gentle waves of light would ripple across one’s vision.
Sorrow and joy, separation and reunion, life and death’s tribulations—twelve years of time, like a long river, slowly flows past in this single moment of eye contact.
In this gaze, there are his vast mountains and rivers, his nation’s peace and stability, and also his promise of growing old together.
（end）
