Chapter 31 (1/1)

Thus, when Su Yi opened his eyes, the first thing he saas Wanyan Xu peering at him orry written all over his face In his eyes, Su Yi could see the depth of his affections, but when Wanyan Xu realised that Su Yi had opened his eyes, he quickly schooled his expression to appear neutral A pang of pain struck his heart, and Su Yi shut his eyes again, in a cold voice that did not betray his feelings, he said: “Why have you coot what you desired, in the end I was forced to agree to be your Don't tell ain, and have my heart drip a few more drops of blood before you are satisfied? Or is it that when I knelt down before the stage and begged you just a while ago, it made you feel very happy and you have coht of me weak and powerless?”

Wanyan Xu’s heart was aching, but his face was expressionless when he said: “Sinceas you obediently worshi+p Heaven and Earth [2] with me and complete the Empress Coronation ceremony that will be held in one-and-a-half months” After that I shall have all the tis for you He did not say the last sentence aloud, instead, after giving Zi Liu and Zi Nong some instructions he stood up and left

Su Yi looked after hiradually disappeared, at this inally thought that although they had been destined to be eneh an accident of birth, but nevertheless, the two of them could be considered confidants Instead, Wanyan Xu had e to compel Su Yi to be his Empress Scene by scene, he recalled what had transpired earlier that day on the stage Bitterly, it occurred to him that not even a beast would be capable of such abominable actions, which orthy of the condemnation of Heaven itself

“Wanyan Xu, I rong about you, I was really… wrong about you” Su Yi tearfully mumbled, as he contemplated how he could face the coronation ceremony, only one-and-a-half months away He is a man, but he would soon be forced to assume a role that was reserved, by tradition and history, for a female; such a humiliation would be difficult to bear He would rather die than to suffer the disgrace of becoenuinely doubted if he could sustain his spirits and live to see that day

Witnessing Su Yi's anguish, Zi Nong's heart was distressed and she al at her fully A little while later, when a few palace : “Young Master, please have your ave every indication that he was unwilling to eat Zi Nong was anxious and said: “Those people are still being detained in jail, if Young Master eats well, they will also be served excellent food and drink If Young Master chooses not to eat, similarly, not a drop of water or rice will pass their lips” Before she had finished speaking, she was interrupted by Su Yi Zi Nong had never seen hiony, and his voice sounded choked when he said: “Miss Zi Nong, I beg you… beg you to please say no more, I will eat”

Zi Nong's heart paused for a beat; she saw that although Su Yi had hastily picked up a bowl of porridge and was consu spoonfuls, his eyes were filled with tears that he kept froh sheer stubbornness

Zi Nong ached when she sa distraught Su Yi was, and she al Master don't be so sad, those people have already gone ho rewarded with some silver Actually what you witnessed this afternoon was merely a performance put on by his Majesty with their full cooperation Not only did the Emperor confer on the as you are his Empress, he will never allow the people of Jin Liao to bully the people of Qi, nor will they enjoy higher status just because of their ethnicity They only agreed to help his Majesty deceived you because of these promises

Luckily, Zi Liu was by her side When she saw that Zi Nong was obviously feeling conflicted, she hurriedly said: “go to the kitchen and check if the Bird's Nest Soup is being stewed, if not, you should proed to get Zi Nong out of the room

Although Su Yi was consu mouthfuls, he had absolutely no appetite, to the extent that he had no sensation of being hungry or full Luckily, Zi Liu was a conscientious attendant When she saw that although the food laid out on the table had been lessened by half, Su Yi was still e and his face was beco Master should be full by now, you need not finish all these dishes If you are really hungry, there will be a special type of Bird's Nest Soup served at ht It is a delicacy that has been stewed over a small fla your body recover from the wounds you have sustained” At this, Su Yi put down his bowl

Frole word he spoke and every action he h Wanyan Xu rushed to and from Su Yi's residence every day, they found that they could not speak to each other congenially, and so did not say much to each other and therefore, Wanyan Xu failed to notice Su Yi’s apathy

Instead it was Zi Liu who grew steadily oes, when a cow refuses to drink, itMaster to his limits, could it be that what he accomplished has been to force a healthy, vitalMaster should suffer such a fate

Zi Liu did not dare to delay further and promptly set aside time to seek out Wanyan Xu in the administrative halls of the Outer Court She then proceeded to relay to hi out a single detail

Wanyan Xu did not seeravely: “He has been beset with es in a short amount of ti prospect It is inevitable that he will feel despondent for a while, but it will not becoh he said this, and instructed Zi Liu to leave, he was ultimately still perturbed over Su Yi's condition Therefore, he put aside theZi Nan some instructions, he proceeded to make his way to Su Yi's residence When he arrived, he saw that the Garden of Merriment situated opposite appeared to display even ht Its vibrant colours and elegant lines created a trulyof how, in aa bed and pillows under the eaves of this gorgeous and graceful palace, Wanyan Xu was elated beyond measure and wished only for that day to arrive sooner But it also brought to mind the destruction of the Great Qi, inwardly, he reminded himself that it was to build this very palace --- the epitoant luxury --- that the Qi Emperor had doomed his country He must remind himself ten-thousand times of the mistake made by his predecessor; he e in the pleasures offered in this beautiful place and lose his drive to forge ahead Such folly wouldthe capital; rendering it a flawed deed that had no merit, only detriment

While pondering over these thoughts, he had co the room, he saw that the purposefulinto thin air with total apathy Although his body had been receiving much care and nourishment over the previous days, he did not seee that the day of the coronation cere of each day, his torly heavy as the days passed

Wanyan Xu stealthily observed hi noticed him and opened hera sound by the waving of his hand After watching with frustration for ages, he turned back, only to see that Zi Nan was standing in the courtyard with an unfa He nodded his head, and then quietly retreated behind a screen He saw Zi Nan lead the h he could not clearlyvoice call out: “Ruo Ruo Zhi, is that really you?”