Chapter 174 (1/2)

Chapter 174

Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

One could not tell if Nalan Hongye was happy or sad. Her figure seemed so lonely as her eyes gazed into the distance. Far in the distance, the Yi Le Palace stood, with music coming out from inside. The dances and musicals seemed like a metaphor for the weakening of the glorious empire.

”Let us head to Qing Zhi Palace,” Nalan Hongye instructed.

In the dusk, Xuan Mo had left the palace. Aunt Yun, along with the servants, brought up the dishes that had already been prepared. Nalan Hongye did not have a good appetite and merely ate a few mouthfuls. Suddenly, she heard a flurry of panicking footsteps beyond the door. A person was running while shouting breathlessly, ”Princess! Princess! Disaster! Disaster!”

”What happened?” Nalan Hongye raised an eyebrow.

Aunt Yun quickly rushed out to inquire, but before she had even opened her mouth, the eunuch ignored her and dashed in with his eyes full of tears. Pouncing onto the ground, he wailed, ”Your Highness! It was disastrous! His Majesty climbed onto the rooftop of Yi Le Palace and accidentally fell off!”

The setting sun draped the palace with a layer of crimson. The security of the palace was tighter than usual, with patrolmen and guards everywhere. The doors to the palace were completely shut tight, and no one was allowed to enter or exit. Most of the officials had arrived and were all kneeling in waiting. Those lowered head lifted up at the moment she entered. Mixed in with the crimson sunlight, their gazes spoke of differing emotions. There was respect, fear, jealousy, disdain, anger. All kinds of emotions could be felt in that one glance, before they lowered their head again, returning to the prior peace.

Wearing a dark violet silk gown, there were giant embroideries of roses stitched on her collar, contrasting with her pristine white neck. Her face looked solemn and forlorn. Walking up the Mo Ji Palace, the entire atmosphere was frigid. Standing at the front of all the officials was Jinjiang King. Seeing that she had arrived, he quickly stepped up, only to be pushed by a man dressed in a dark blue blouse, and he almost tripped.

Xuan Mo's eyes were filled with worry. Completely ignoring the rage in Jinjiang King's eyes, he stepped up. Despite wanting to speak, he ultimately decided to remain silent.

”How is the emperor?” Nalan Hongye solemnly asked. Her expression was calm, and one could not see any signs of fatigue or emotions. The crowds threw at her gazes of curiosity which was quickly replaced by disappointment. Xuan Mo shook his head and informed, ”The imperial doctors said there was no way to save him. Princess, please head in to take a look.”

In that instance, her heart sank. But unfortunately, many pairs of eyes were staring at her, judging her every move. Nalan Hongye suddenly recalled how many years ago, on the night when her father passed away, also in this Palace, she was also gazed at in the same manner, and it was also raining like it was now. It was freezing cold, and she found it difficult to breathe, yet she forced herself to calm her breathing. Slowly, she forced it back. She forced all of her raging emotions back down with her logic which was already bordering on breaking down.

She slowly walked over, through the crowds. The two maidservants lifted up the veils, and she walked into the bedroom alone. The golden sunlight pierced her eyes. Biting her lips, she walked through layers and layers of curtains. The inside of the palace was so hot that she could barely breathe. Her brother laid on the gigantic bed with a complexion that was completely pale, yet his eyes shone with light. Lying there motionlessly, his eyes seemed to have sunk back into the sockets, and his lips were cracked in dryness. On his head, one could see a patch of crimson red blood.

Her vision suddenly clouded up, but Nalan Hongye forced her tears back. Right now, she was surrounded by judging gazes. Her hands trembled very slightly. She wanted to stretch out her hands, but she did not know where to place them. She could only lightly call out, ”Yu'er?”

Hearing her voice, the Emperor turned around ever so slightly. His first response was fear, as with his hoarse voice, he tried to explain, ”Sister…I still have not finished writing…”

Tears surged and almost fell from her eyes yet again. Nalan Hongye sat by the bed and held his shoulder with her hands. ”You do not need to write it anymore. I will never punish you again…”

”Really?” The young emperor's eyes shone with anticipation. He continued to ask, and seemed more like a healthy person, ”Are you serious?”

Suddenly, Nalan Hongye was reminded of that moment when father passed away. Her heart was likewise frozen up completely. Biting her lips, she nodded, ”Yes, I promise.”

”That would be great!” The Emperor laid back and stared emptily at the veils that hung from the ceilings. The dragon embroideries on it seemed so ferocious, as though it would eat people up.

”That would be great. I could finally…finally…” He ultimately could not continue his speech. His eyes sparkled with anticipation, as though he was about to achieve his lifelong dream. He straightened his neck, and his face looked excited, yet with an unhealthy blush. He pulled on Nalan Hongye's hand, as though he wanted to say something, but it was as though his throat had been blocked, and could only produce incoherent wheezing.

The imperial doctors rushed up, and the crowd gathered. The young eunuch that had been with the emperor since young wailed out, ”Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

”What did His Majesty want to say?” Nalan Hongye turned around. With her eyes bloodshot, she inquired, ”Do you know?”

”Princess…” The young eunuch kneeled on the ground as though he had been scared dumb, and did not answer the question properly, ”His Majesty climbed onto Yi Le Palace as he wanted to see how it looked like outside. He said that he had never been outside the palace before. His Majesty…His Majesty…”

Sadness overflowed from her heart, and freezing coldness encapsulated her entire body. With the imperial doctors rushing all around her, Nalan Hongye's face was bright red. She repeated hoarsely, ”Sure…sure…”