Un corazón puro en una vasija de jade

Capítulo 103

Emperor Yujia did not answer, but he sensed Prince Duan's unease and asked gently, "Is there still no news from Yongye?"

"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself. The fact that there's no news from Yongye is good news." Prince Duan recalled the assassination attempt at Kaibao Temple. Yongye had returned but couldn't go home. He had been secretly gathering information about Youli Valley, but now he was in the enemy's hands. He felt extremely distressed, but he didn't want Emperor Yujia to worry any longer, so he lowered his head and answered gently.

"How long has it been?"

Prince Duan paused for a moment but still didn't tell the truth: "She's fine."

Emperor Yujia, panting, took out a written imperial edict from beside his pillow: "Let's do it tonight. We can't delay any longer. They dared to attack you, so they obviously couldn't wait any longer. I... can't wait either."

Prince Duan took the document and said softly, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Everything has been arranged." He was about to leave when he hesitated for a moment, looked at Emperor Yujia's gaunt face, and said, "Your Majesty, I wish to request an imperial decree for Yongye."

Emperor Yujia looked at him strangely, as if he felt that Prince Duan should not have spoken up.

“Yongye is stubborn, and she is my only one,” Prince Duan replied. He thought to himself that the Emperor was unaware that Yongye had learned a skill in Youli Valley. If he knew, he would probably despise her. Thinking of Youli Valley, and then of Yu Jia mentioning that Tianyou's marriage would be completed within the hundred-day mourning period, he thought it best to take this opportunity to obtain an imperial edict for self-defense.

Emperor Yujia sighed: "I know you've always wanted to avoid getting involved in court politics. Don't you believe in divine favor?"

"Something is better than nothing."

"Hehe, you..." Yu Jiadi coughed lightly and agreed, "Okay, I know you care about her and are afraid that she will clash with Tianyou. Tianyou told me that he likes her very much, so you don't need to worry too much."

"But he will be the emperor someday!"

Emperor Yujia paused, coughed twice, and chuckled, "Yes, those who serve the emperor are always afraid; otherwise, there would be no saying that serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. Even though you and I are as close as brothers, you still avoid being dragged into the power struggle. Second brother, I have ascended the throne, but I envy you. Back then, you said your ambition was for beauty, not the country, and you gave up the throne. Tell me, shouldn't I also give Tianyou a chance to choose? He is the emperor; he will also have someone he likes."

He didn't address Prince Duan as "I," but instead asked him in a casual tone. This stirred a tender feeling in Prince Duan's heart, vaguely recalling the time when the brothers were close in their youth.

Prince Duan was taken aback, and after a long silence, he said, "Yongye doesn't like him."

"Back then...did the Princess Consort like you? She still had to resort to shamelessness to force you into marriage. How dare you say that!" Emperor Yujia seemed to have returned to the time when the two brothers conspired to force Prime Minister Zhang into marriage. He coughed a few times, and a blush rose on his face.

"Your Majesty!" Prince Duan knelt directly before Emperor Yujia, his voice sounding just like the plea he made when he wanted to marry a princess. Prince Duan lowered his head and said softly, "I arranged a marriage for Yongye a long time ago."

Emperor Yujia was taken aback, feeling somewhat displeased. Seeing the expression on Prince Duan's face, he knew it was true and sighed, "Could it really be better than Tianyou?"

"Your Majesty!" Prince Duan crawled forward on his knees and leaned against Emperor Yujia, speaking softly.

Emperor Yujia was stunned upon hearing this, and after a long while, he sighed, "It must have been difficult for you. To come up with such a perfect solution. But, does Yongye like him? What if Yongye falls for Tianyou? I think you shouldn't worry about matters between lovers. You are doing this for Yongye, and I am doing the same for Tianyou. I will issue an imperial decree to Tianyou so that he cannot force her, okay? Give him a chance, just as I gave you a chance back then!"

The two brothers were no longer emperor and subject, but fathers, one for his daughter and the other for his son.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Prince Duan knew that this was Emperor Yujia's final concession.

Emperor Yujia seemed relieved and waved his hand.

Prince Duan thanked the emperor, took the two imperial edicts, and left. He then turned back, kowtowed three times to Emperor Yujia, and performed a grand ceremony. As he rose, he saw Emperor Yujia smiling at him and sighing softly. Only then did he leave Longxiang Palace with tears in his eyes. He knew that this was the last time he would see Emperor Yujia.

The sound of wind approached, and Emperor Yujia listened intently.

Inside the Dragon Palace, the Nine Dragons Gilded Candle suddenly burst into flames and exploded.

Emperor Yujia's contemplative mood was interrupted by a soft thud. He looked up and asked, "Has the Empress retired for the night?"

The attendant, Eunuch Wang, stood respectfully at attention: "There shouldn't be any."

Emperor Yujia sat up and said, "Help me change my clothes and go to Fengwan Palace."

The attendant, Eunuch Wang, was taken aback and was about to dissuade him when Emperor Yujia had already gotten out of bed. He quickly summoned a eunuch to help him change, and seeing that his waist had become even wider, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. He couldn't help but say, "It's raining outside, Your Majesty, perhaps tomorrow..."

Emperor Yujia gazed outside the palace. Tomorrow? He sighed. He had held on until today, and he feared that if he didn't go now, he might miss his chance. "Let's go!"

The emperor's sudden arrival left the empress somewhat at a loss.

The Imperial Guards outside the palace had sealed off the gates, and a fierce storm raged. She already felt extremely uneasy. Seeing Yu Jia approach, she didn't know whether to feel sorrow or joy. She slowly knelt down to pay her respects, her long skirt billowing like a phoenix tail in the hall. Her posture was as beautiful and elegant as ever.

Emperor Yujia did not help her up, but sat on the couch and looked at the Empress.

His eyes were filled with memories.

Many years ago, he too had been fond of her. Her pride, her beauty, her vivacity. Why couldn't this beautiful body now arouse his interest and affection? Emperor Yujia sighed softly, "Get up!"

The Empress had waited a long time for this call, until the string in her heart snapped. She raised her head, her face streaked with tears: "No need, Your Majesty, please speak freely."

"The Empress remains as stubborn as ever..." Emperor Yujia tapped his fingers lightly on the low couch, his kind expression unchanged, neither offended nor pleased. He pondered for a moment and slowly said, "I don't have long to live. I've been taking medicine to keep going, but now I'm at my last gasp, like a lamp burning out. Does the Empress know this?"

The Empress trembled: "His Majesty is still in good health, how could... such a thing be said?"

Emperor Yujia rose and walked to the Empress, smiling faintly, "Does the Empress truly not know?"

The Empress remained silent. He was about to die; how could she not know? Two months ago, Emperor Yujia vomited blood after the morning court session. For the past two weeks, she didn't know what method Prince Duan had used to restore his normal spirits. The Empress thought to herself, the imperial physicians and the doctor both said Emperor Yujia had tuberculosis; if the vomiting blood didn't stop, he would be beyond saving. In the past month, she had witnessed countless vomits of blood from Emperor Yujia, watching him grow increasingly thin, his yellow skin turning an unnatural red. She thought, soon it will all be over.

The bright yellow robe stopped before the Empress. Its hem was embroidered with surging waves and a lifelike golden dragon playing in the water. The Empress lowered her eyes, watching the dragon lunge at her with bared fangs and claws, a heavy pressure pressing on her chest. She slowly uttered, "His Majesty is ordained by Heaven… He will surely live ten thousand years!"

"Haha!" Emperor Yujia laughed loudly, which made the Empress look up. She saw that his thin, bony face still had the arrogance of his youth. Her heart trembled, and she lowered her head again.

Emperor Yujia stopped laughing, squatted down, lifted the Empress's chin, and said calmly, "What the Empress is thinking is probably that she can't wait for me to die!"

He clearly felt the Empress shrink back, but his grip remained firm as he spoke, word by word: "With Yongye captured and my brother unable to move, and Tianyou without support, I am dead, and the Crown Prince will succeed me. Is this what the Empress is thinking?!"

"Your Majesty, please don't speak nonsense. How could I possibly think such a thing?"

"Does the Empress think that just because Youli Valley accepted your commission, she can rest easy? ... Your Highness, the Eastern Palace is surrounded, and my younger brother has taken my imperial edict."

Emperor Yujia's voice was as weak as his face. The Empress, however, saw it as if she were seeing a ghost. She abruptly broke free from Emperor Yujia's grasp, staggered to her feet, and pointed at him, shouting, "He is also your son! How can you be so heartless? How unfair is this to Tianrui?!"

"Unfair?" Emperor Yujia approached the Empress step by step, his body instantly regaining strength, as if his illness had vanished. He had waited for this day for so many years, and hatred finally surfaced in his eyes. "Was I really unfair to him? Heartless towards him? He is my son… After Consort Li became pregnant, I only visited Fengwan Palace once, and Tianrui was conceived on that one visit? You're deceiving me, thinking I was drunk and knew nothing?! What about him resembles me? The Empress's legitimate son, what a joke! Tianyou is cunning, and Tianxiang, though seemingly carefree, is no pushover either, but they lack the Crown Prince's ruthlessness and cruelty!"

The Empress retreated in terror, her long skirt tripping her, and she fell to the ground with a thud. Her gold hairpin slipped from her hair, and her long, flowing hair fell loose. Her beautiful face was filled with despair and sorrow: "Yes, he is not your son, but why? Am I not good enough? My father and brothers guarded Qin Chuan, defending you against the Qi army. I married into the Crown Prince's household at the age of fourteen. Why do you still have Li Shi and Zhang Shi?"