He helped Qin Junche turn around, seemingly not intending to ask any more questions.
After taking a step, Gu Tang's voice came from behind: "He Hui."
He said, "Thank you."
He Hui stopped in his tracks and sighed again: "Will we ever see each other again?"
Gu Tang remained silent.
He Hui sighed again.
He never looked back, as if he was worried that if he did, he would never be able to leave this place, never leave this young man he was willing to risk his life to protect: "I know I can't persuade you. I also know you've been preparing for this day for nine years. From back then..."
He Hui paused for a moment before continuing, "After that incident, you've been preparing."
“But I hope you can still live,” he said. “Even if we can never see each other again, I hope you can live.”
“Gu Tang,” He Hui said, “there are people in this world who are willing to give up their own lives for your lifelong peace.”
"Promise me you'll live."
======
Qin Junche felt like he had slept for a very, very long time.
So long that he even had a particularly turbulent dream.
He dreamed of a person's entire life, from his birth to his adulthood, and then he began to study literature and martial arts, learning combat skills, military command, maintaining political balance, and how to govern a country.
He felt he was probably going mad, because he was so jealous of Gu Feng that in his dreams he became Gu Feng.
Yes! That's right!
It was Gu Feng, the former crown prince of the Galactic Empire, who remained vividly alive in Gu Tang's life even nine years after his death, the one his beloved always longed for.
I had this dream for a long time, so some of the details in the dream seemed so real.
He even dreamed of meeting Gu Tangchu when he was a child.
I also dreamt that the two of us lived in the palace, during a time that could be considered somewhat joyful and happy.
Perhaps it's because the details seem too realistic.
So even when Qin Junche woke up, the experiences in his dream were still so vivid and profound.
He opened his eyes and looked ahead with a somewhat blank expression.
The room was dimly lit.
Qin Junche turned his head and saw that the thick blackout curtains completely blocked out the light from the window.
He felt weak all over, and a cool sensation in his lower abdomen, as if...
Feeling cool and refreshing?!
Lower abdomen!
He suddenly realized that Gu Tang had stabbed him with a dagger earlier.
Qin Junche sat up.
The wound had clearly been treated well, and he didn't feel much pain even with such a big movement.
No!
The wound itself was quite small.
He placed his hand on his lower abdomen, where a dressing completely concealed the dagger wound.
How long did he sleep?
My eyes, which had gradually adapted to the darkness, could now barely make out what was happening in the room.
This should be a bedroom, but the layout looks unfamiliar.
He must have been brought here after he fainted.
His hands and feet were not tied, and the people who brought him here did not seem to intend to restrict his movements.
Qin Junche got out of bed and groped along the wall to find the light switch.
With a soft "snap," the entire room brightened up, and the soft light from the ceiling light shone down, allowing him to see the whole room clearly.
Where is this...?
He vaguely remembered that before he fainted, Gu Tang whispered in his ear: "I wanted to... spare your life. But you know far too much."
So why is he still alive?
Why didn't he die?
Before Qin Junche could think too much, the lights came on and there were several rhythmic knocks on the door.
"General Qin," a deep male voice came from outside the door, "Are you awake?"
The familiar voice, tinged with respect, startled Qin Junche.
He quickly came to his senses and hurried to open the door for the visitor.
“He Hui?” Standing outside the door was none other than He Hui, the Empire’s First Grand Judge, whom Qin Junche had previously disliked.
The other person smiled slightly at him and stepped aside to make way for the doorway.
The waiter carried a plate of food into the room and carefully placed it on the only table in the room.
"You've been sleeping for almost two days, you must be hungry," He Hui waved for the waiter to leave.
The food that was delivered was congee and side dishes.
Qin Junche was indeed hungry, but if what He Hui said was true, he had slept for two days and could only eat these simple things.
“I know you have many questions to ask,” He Hui said, still using a respectful form of address. “But please have something to eat first.”
Qin Junche gave him a deep look.
He sat down at the table, hesitated for a few seconds, then picked up his chopsticks and quickly ate all the congee and side dishes.
He Hui wanted to harm him; he could have killed him eight hundred times over while he was unconscious.
There's absolutely no need to wait until he wakes up before doing anything to his food.
He ate very quickly.
Having served in the military, he was already used to doing everything very decisively and efficiently.
He Hui's gaze towards him now held a hint of appreciation.
Five minutes later, Qin Junche put down his chopsticks.
He then realized that He Hui had been standing next to him the whole time.
Although there were other chairs in the room, as the first judge of the empire and the eldest son of the He family, his status was actually higher than that of Qin Junche.
She actually chose to stand next to him while he was eating.
That manner was unlike that of someone treating a peer, or even an ordinary elder.
It's more like a subject facing his king.
The power of the Galactic Emperor is no longer as great as it was in ancient times.
But he is still a monarch.
He Hui's attitude speaks volumes.
Qin Junche wasn't stupid. Thinking about what had happened in the past few months, his heart sank deeper and deeper.
"Where is Gu Tang?" He didn't ask any other questions, but went straight to the question he cared about most.
After asking his question, Qin Junche looked directly at He Hui.
A fleeting hint of sadness flashed across the other person's eyes.
But a faint smile remained on his face: "I don't know."
He paused, as if to emphasize this point, and slowly said, "None of us know."
Qin Junche suddenly stood up.
He Hui met his gaze calmly and confidently: "But I believe he is still alive."
His voice wasn't loud.
It's unclear whether she was speaking to Qin Junche or telling herself, "I must be alive, on some planet in this Galactic Empire."
With a loud bang, Qin Junche slammed his fist heavily on the table.
He Hui gave him a deep look.
He bent down and took out a small box from his pocket.
The box was sealed, with a few elegant and powerful characters on the seal: Gu Tangfeng.
That was Gu Tang's own handwriting. Qin Junche had been eating and sleeping with him in the palace for the past few months, spending every day together. How could he not recognize his handwriting?
He Hui clasped his hands in a fist and bowed to Qin Junche, then turned and left the room.
Qin Junche stared at the box for a moment, then slowly sat down.
He reached out and took the box, looking at the familiar words on it.
A few minutes later, Qin Junche raised his hand, deftly tore off the seal, and opened the box.
Inside the box was a luminous pearl the size of a fist.
Next to the beads, there was also a letter.
The envelope still bore Gu Tang's handwriting: "To my elder brother."
Qin Junche felt dizzy.
Although he had already guessed some of it, seeing those four words still felt somewhat unreal to him.
Could it be that he himself was actually the object of his jealousy?
Gu Tang's deceased elder brother, Gu Feng, the former crown prince of the Galactic Empire?
But why?