When I heard this voice, I thought it was a hallucination until he held my hand, confirming he had awoken.
“Ayao, don’t be afraid,” he patted my hand softly. Just then, I heard sounds from above.
“Your Majesty!” A voice echoed like a heavenly melody. “Your Majesty, are you down there?”
I thought we had been down there for hours, but it was only less than half an hour. When the aftershock began, An Jin jumped down with me, and rescue was nearly there. They watched An Jin follow me into the crevice, unable to shout. The tremor was brief; once everything calmed, they found ropes to rescue us. An Jin and I were pulled up while another group rescued Jiang Yunqiao. An Jin had a horrific wound, like being pierced by a tree branch, but his life was not in danger. I only had a broken right leg.
Yunqiao and Xia Zhiyuan were carried out, pressed under a stone slab, hands tightly clasped, lifeless but still warm. The accompanying doctor said Xia Zhiyuan died slightly earlier, Yunqiao a bit later. If I’m not mistaken, they had been trapped for several days and hadn’t died until the aftershock caused the stone slab to fall.
If we could have rescued her earlier, perhaps this tragedy would never have occurred. Yunqiao’s eyes were closed, her expression frozen at the moment of departure, half sorrowful, half joyful.
Returning to Rao City, I executed the city official, but this did not ease my mood. After An Jin’s injuries improved, I took the imperial consort and Afu, along with Yunqiao and Xia Zhiyuan’s remains, back to Feng Zhu.
Upon hearing the news, the Emperor locked himself in his chambers for three days, emerging looking ten years older. He never mentioned An Jin again and delegated most political affairs to me.
A year later, he passed the throne to me. After my ascension, I made An Jin the empress, adopted Yunqiao’s firstborn Afu as the crown prince, and made the previous emperor the supporting king. Thus, the Southern Rui court transformed from the conflict between Liu Hua and the former prime minister to the struggle between An Jin and the supporting king.
My life has finally calmed down, though this peace was not easily obtained. Fortunately, An Jin is still by my side.
Author’s note: The next chapter is the grand finale~~ These two chapters have been heavy; the finale will be more relaxed and sweet, letting everyone take a breather…
After the grand finale, there will be some extras. Everyone can share which characters’ extras they’d like to see.
Chapter Seventy-Seven: A New Opportunity (Grand Finale)
”That hateful old fellow!” An Jin walked into the imperial study, throwing a secret report onto the desk, his eyebrows furrowed. “He’s instigating those mediocre ministers to discuss filling the harem again! If I don’t deal with him for three days, he dares to tear down the roof!”
”Don’t speak about my imperial uncle like that,” I laughed, putting down the memorial. “Alright, Your Majesty, please calm down. He does this every year, you’re used to it.”
”This time is different,” he said indignantly, wrapping his arm around my waist and taking a sip from my tea cup. “According to Liu Hua’s information, he plans to join forces with several old ministers, using the pretext that the Emperor and Empress have been without an heir for three years. The imperial physicians are already prepared! Moreover, that third young master of the Shen family has been frequenting the palace recently—do you think I don’t know what he’s up to? He’s in cahoots with them!”
I looked at him with a smile, feeling extremely pleased. He glanced at me, becoming even more furious. “A Yao, you seem quite happy?”
I heard you’ve been spending time with the third young master of Shen, strolling, walking dogs, and chatting pleasantly. The third young master of General Shen was clever, articulate, and an excellent painter, which suited my taste. My imperial uncle arranged for him to approach me to dampen An Jin’s spirit, wanting An Jin to understand he wasn’t the only man in the world, especially since An Jin often looked down on others and sought to oppose him.
This was hardly An Jin’s fault. My uncle frequently discussed filling the harem and never meant well towards him. With An Jin’s temperament, he inevitably opposed my uncle. My uncle escalated these matters, especially now that we had not had children. He became more insistent that I let the imperial physicians examine me or consider replacing my partner. As I ignored him, he arranged for several outstanding noble youths from Southern Rui to appear in the palace under various pretenses, nearly driving An Jin to demolish the imperial study.
I cleared my throat and said seriously, “The third young master is indeed quite good. I’ve been thinking of finding an opportunity—”
His eyes turned cold, and he grabbed my arm. “Don’t you dare!”
I couldn’t help but laugh. He awkwardly glared at me and let go.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said calmly. “When Afu turns fourteen, he will participate in the trial. If he passes, I will establish him as the heir.”
“Your Majesty! This is really inappropriate,” he shook his head. “You should have your own child. You should not delay having an heir because of the empress.”
“How does the imperial uncle know it’s the empress’s problem? It might be my own.”
The imperial uncle stroked his beard and narrowed his eyes. “The imperial physicians have checked your pulse regularly and say that you have no abnormalities. The delay in having an heir is definitely not your fault. Please don’t hide it from this old minister anymore.”
“Very well,” I said. “Imperial uncle, An Jin was indeed poisoned because of me and will find it very difficult to have children. I have decided that in this lifetime, I will only bear children for him. If we ultimately do not have this blessing, I will have no regrets.”
The imperial uncle let out a long sigh. “Please grant me your blessing,” I lowered my head.
After a long pause, the imperial uncle finally spoke: “I have seen how he has acted and protected you. But regarding an heir—is there truly no way?”
“I have consulted famous physicians, hoping for a breakthrough. However, Afu participating in the trial at fourteen will not change.”
“Ah Yao, why must you be like this?” His eyes were slightly moist, and I sensed he was thinking of Yun Qiao, which made my mood turn melancholic.
(end)
