796 Funeral Part 1 (2/2)

Ah, he is finally dead.

The traitor who had controlled the politics of the nation for so many years is finally dead.

God knew how many people secretly felt relieved.

No one knew how sincere were their pretentious tears.

The dirge was solemn and grand, and the funeral was conducted personally by the head of House Ye. Even Her Majesty was present to mourn him, bringing with her the mysterious 'descendant of the former royal family', the present head of House Zhao.

She was a woman who seemed a little sluggish and dumb, her gaze always made her seem as if she was sleepwalking, and she was always half a beat slow in replying whenever someone talked to her.

She always looked as if she wasn't awake.

When the funeral was over and everyone was ready to leave, in the cold silence, she still seemed stuck in the past, and she was quiet.

”Do you feel very sad?” Ye Qingxuan asked her.

”I don't know.” The woman who was once the empress shook her head. ”In the past few days, I saw a lot of things about him, but it was all very different from the him I once saw. I am forgetting many things, and now even if I try hard to remember, I can't remember his face clearly, only his gaze, somewhat.”

Hearing her words, Ye Qingxuan couldn't help but smile resignedly.

It is probably what Bai Heng wanted to see?

However, although he stubbornly asked her not to remember him, if she really forgets, that old fella would probably be fairly upset too?

How ironic, Bai Heng.

”But I am very sure about one thing —” Her voice suddenly sounded.

Ye Qingxuan looked back, puzzled, and saw her serious look.

”I really like him.” Like she was recalling what was left of her memory and once again saw the pair of eyes that remained in her mind, she seemed to wake up from a fuzzy dream, opening her eyes. ”Because his gaze was full of strength.”

She said, ”I want to be like him.”

After a long silence, Ye Qingxuan laughed self-mockingly, not knowing what to say. After a long time, he patted her shoulder. ”Then work hard to live on...”

...

After returning to the palace, Ye Qingxuan walked on the jade staircase alone, looking around, and could not help but sigh emotionally.

Just as he was recalling the past, he heard someone kowtowing in the palace. An old man kowtowed flusteredly, his voice hoarse and alarmed. ”Your Majesty, I must say this even if the price is my life. Abruptly conducting a royal wedding after a state funeral inevitably goes against the traditional etiquette. Moreover, Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and plenty of work must be done...”

Wait!

Royal wedding?

Who is getting married?

Outside the palace, Ye Qingxuan felt like a bolt of thunder had struck him, and he almost rolled down the steps.

”So fast?” He finally picked up his jaw that had hit the floor, and cautiously looked into the palace. He only saw the old man below the steps, whose forehead was bleeding, and Bai Xi sitting on the throne, her gaze cold with no trace of mercy at all.

When she heard his voice, Bai Xi looked up towards him, and her gaze... became even colder.

”Mhmm?” As if she didn't catch what Ye Qingxuan had said, she produced a seemingly puzzled sound from her nostrils, but Ye Qingxuan shuddered and pretended that he had not said anything.

Bai Xi's expression relaxed slightly. Pinning Ye Qingxuan, who was ready to escape, in place with her gaze, she then waved her hand. ”I have my own reasons. Tai Changqing, if there's nothing else, you may go.”

The old man pretended not to hear her and continued to kowtow, but was soon dragged out by two warriors in gold armor.

Suddenly, Ye Qingxuan and Bai Xi were the only two left in the main hall.

The silence became more and more awkward.

No one said anything.

It wasn't until Ye Qingxuan couldn't stand Bai Xi's gaze that he coughed twice pretentiously, then opened his mouth to speak. ”Ahem, cousin...”

”Mhmm?” Bai Xi produced another syllable from her nostrils, signifying her annoyance.

”Bai Xi! Bai Xi, Your Majesty!!” Ye Qingxuan spoke hurriedly, plastering the kind expression he used to wear as an elder cousin on his face. ”Sometimes, you need not rush things too much. Isn't there an old saying that goes, it gets done faster when you take it slow... I don't mean that I am unwilling, I'm just saying...”

Before he could finish stuttering, his words were interrupted by the sharp peals of bells coming from afar.

— Someone had broken into the palace!

The sonorous clanking of iron armor sounded.

Two rows of imperial guards rushed to the scene, stationing themselves before the palace. But Ye Qingxuan had sharp eyes and saw the 'assassin' running here from afar.

It was clearly the standard armor of the Knights of the Round Table!

And from the man's height and sound of heart, Ye Qingxuan could recognize him clearly: The man was his orderly!

”Step aside!!!” The knight held no weapons in his hand, and so panicked that he paid no attention to the strict protocol of the forbidden palace. He held a box high with both his hands, and rushed to the outside of the palace, running all the way. ”Step aside, I want to see His Royal Highness! His Royal Highness! Where is His Royal Highness?!”

Ye Qingxuan frowned and reached out to stop the imperial guards from killing the knight on the spot.

”What happened?” He looked at his panicked orderly. ”What happened to Anglo?”

The knight knelt on the ground and handed him the iron box with both hands. ”Your Royal Highness, Avalon sent an urgent message via the wind tunnel! It has been sent 19 times in the past day! Only Your Royal Highness may open it, please pardon my rudeness...”

Before he finished his words, Ye Qingxuan grabbed the iron box from him and had no time to pacify the knight. He directly pulled the iron box open, and a thin letter made of aether crystal fell into his hand.

Soon, his face turned purple with rage.

For a moment, everyone in the entire imperial capital felt panic in their hearts.

A biting chill rose into the sky from the entire palace and spread in all directions. In a flash, cold winter had swept across the nation, and numerous frostwork spread.

Something heavy pressed down in everyone's heart, making it difficult for them to breathe.

Those with slightly weaker minds almost fainted on the spot.

Not knowing how many enchantments he set off in the palace when he lost control for an instant, Ye Qingxuan flicked his hand and shattered the thunderbolts floating around in the air. For the third time, he read through the urgent report in his hand once again.

He clenched his hands.

Ashes fell from his hands.

A word escaped his lips. ”Charles...”

[1] The largest library in the Western Han Dynasty.