"Please accept my condolences." That was all Luo Zhiheng could say. A chill suddenly ran through her body. She finally understood the meaning behind Mu Qingya's eerie smile and strange words. She had called her an enemy, someone he hated. Mu Qingya had planned this death, and here she was.
Before she stepped through that door, Mu Qingya showed no signs of death. She walked in and walked out, but Mu Qingya was already dead. Even if others said nothing, or even felt that Mu Qingya deserved to die, what would Mu Yunhe think? She might not care what the princess thought, but could she not care about Mu Yunhe?
Mu Qingya even tricked her before she died; how ruthless! But the person is already dead, so any further scheming is futile. She can also use this opportunity to test Mu Yunhe's attitude. If Mu Yunhe truly suspects she killed Mu Qingya, or doesn't believe her, then she'll have to seriously consider whether she has any reason to stay by Mu Yunhe's side.
Clutching the small black porcelain bottle tightly, Luo Zhiheng didn't know what it was, but instinctively, she felt it was very important. Was Mu Qingya's last sentence unclear, or was she deliberately being mysterious?
"His Majesty has arrived!" came the eunuch's shrill voice from outside the door, followed by the emperor's steady steps as he strode in.
"What happened? Are you two alright?" The emperor asked sternly as soon as he entered, but his gaze toward the empress was filled with worry. He glanced at Luo Zhiheng with equal concern.
The Empress was immersed in grief. It took her a long time to slowly raise her head. Her face was haggard and streaked with tears. When the Emperor saw her, his expression darkened. "What exactly happened?"
Murong Qianchen clearly saw worry and concern in the emperor's eyes, but it could no longer warm her heart. She withdrew her gaze and said coldly, "Your Majesty, may I ask you for a favor?"
"Of course you can. When have I ever stopped you from doing what you want?" the emperor said, frowning.
Murong Qianchen thought about it carefully and realized that it was indeed the case. All along, although the Emperor had acted very reservedly, he would never stop her no matter how much she acted up. Was this indulgence? She once thought that it was the Emperor's way of not caring about her, but now it seemed that this was probably the Emperor's way of expressing his love. It was just that this way was too reserved for her to notice. And now that she knew, it was too late.
"Your Majesty, please grant me permission to bury Qingya and Nalan's bodies together!" Murong Qianchen opened her mouth several times before finally speaking resolutely.
The emperor's face changed drastically in an instant! It was disbelief mixed with rage!
"Do you know what you're saying? Burying them together, under what pretext? Have you considered my reputation and dignity? Where does this leave the face of the Southern Dynasty? Is this another one of those vile words from Mu Qingya? How can you be so brainless? You side with whatever Mu Qingya says, even things that will ruin me!"
The emperor was indeed furious. Firstly, he resented Murong Qianchen's concern for Mu Qingya, and secondly, he couldn't believe that a powerful emperor's concubine would be buried with another man. Mu Qingya's status dictated that she be buried in the imperial mausoleum. Nalan wasn't royalty, so naturally, she couldn't be buried there, and even if she could, they couldn't be buried together. Wasn't this a slap in the face to the emperor?
"I know this is difficult for you, but please promise me, this is Qingya's last wish before she died. I have already promised her, and I don't want to break my promise to her," Murong Qianchen pleaded.
"So you think you can just push me out like that? Murong Qianchen, do you even have a heart? Haven't I been good enough to take you along?" the emperor asked coldly.
“I don’t want to talk about our affairs. Qingya’s life has been too bitter. Many things happened by chance and out of helplessness. We couldn’t stop it, but since the mistake has already been made, we must stop it. Qingya should have been with Nalan. They couldn’t be together in life, but please grant them their wish after death.” Murong Qianchen spoke resolutely. She gritted her teeth and took out the antidote for the Gu poison, saying, “This is the antidote for the Gu poison in your body. Promise me, and I will give you the antidote.”
"You're threatening me? Murong Qianchen, you actually threatened me for Mu Qingya's sake?" The emperor was furious, looking as if he wanted to strangle Murong Qianchen.
"This isn't a threat, it's just a deal," Murong Qianchen said coldly, lowering her eyes. 16607635
"What exactly did she say to you? You believe her so easily? If I could, I would never want her. After the mistake I made back then, I really wanted to kill her with one blow. But I was thinking of you. I was afraid you would be sad and resent me, so I kept her and even married her. If I had known back then that we would end up like this because of this vile woman, I should have killed her immediately back then!" the emperor said viciously.
Overwhelmed with grief and burdened by her feelings for the emperor, Murong Qianchen was plunged into a despair on the verge of collapse. She said, "Promise me, I will stay by your side forever. Even if we have no love in the future, even if we are only husband and wife in name only, I will still stay by your side."
The emperor's pupils constricted, and he roared in disbelief, "What do you mean?!" He grabbed Murong Qianchen's wrist, pulling her up with great force, and said coldly, "You mean if I don't agree to your request, you'll leave me? You actually have the idea of leaving me for Mu Qingya?"
"It's not for Mu Qingya!" Murong Qianchen suddenly roared, "I'm already too tired. Loving you has truly exhausted me! All I wanted in this life was to live freely and unrestrained. I'm naturally free-spirited and can't stand being tied down. But because of Mu Qingya, I was forced to marry you, and because of you, I willingly gave up the freedom I longed for. In the dark and hopeless harem, I share you with so many women. While I yearn for and long for you, you're in another woman's bed. I know this can't be changed, so I silently endure all my pain, simply because I love you."
"But loving you has exhausted all my strength. Perhaps I'm still not carefree enough; I can't watch you with other women and still smile happily. I've been waiting desperately behind you for you to turn around, but the time you linger beside me is always just a fleeting moment. You come and go in a hurry, and my love can't keep up with your pace. You walk too fast; I need to run to barely catch the afterimage you leave behind! Nan Xiaoqing, do you think this is fair to me? How long do you think my personality can endure this kind of life? A year? Two years? Are you going to imprison me like this for the rest of my life?" 175.
The emperor's forehead veins bulged, and he roared through gritted teeth, "Is this imprisonment? Why didn't you say you couldn't keep up with me? I would wait for you, I've been waiting for you my whole life, but you've always been hot and cold towards me. You keep me guessing, making me afraid to take a step, afraid that step will lead me not to happiness but to a dangerous trap! Murong Qianchen, you're so carefree. You can't see that I'm just putting on an act, you can't see that I'm deliberately trying to annoy you, you can only see the side of me that I have to do! Why is your love so fragile?"
"Then is your love not cheap? A lively illegitimate child suddenly appears, how do you explain that? After you fell in love with me, you were still able to have a child with another woman, and not even one of your concubines, how do you explain that? My love is fragile, but my deep love has been completely exhausted by your repeated betrayals and lack of response!" Murong Qianchen roared hoarsely.
The emperor trembled all over, suddenly collapsing as if he had lost all his life force. Fear filled his eyes, and his words were cold and suppressed: "So you're telling me that you don't love me anymore?"
"Yes, I don't love you anymore. I can't afford to love you anymore." Murong Qianchen lowered her head and wept, coldly saying, "Please promise me, let them be buried together. From now on, we can be together. Even if we torment each other and despise each other, as long as you don't say anything, I will not leave you."
"Murong Qianchen, you are the most ruthless woman! You forced me, you know I have never refused you anything. I could tolerate you not having children for Mu Qingya, but do you know that I lost you because of Mu Qingya? I wish I could whip Mu Qingya's corpse and tear her to pieces!" The emperor said viciously, then suddenly laughed cruelly, "If you want me to agree, you can give me a child. I want a biological son under the Empress's name!"
Murong Qianchen suddenly looked up, her pale face filled with shock. She was already thirty-five years old; conceiving again would be extremely difficult.
"Why? You have so many women in your harem, and you already have a son. Hasn't Bai Mingyue already been recognized as a member of the family?"
The emperor sneered, "Because this is what you owe me! You owe me a son, and if it's not a son, then you can keep having children! Murong Qianchen, aren't you willing to do anything for your sister? Why is this so difficult?"
Murong Qianchen bit her lip hard, her face full of struggle and gloom. After a long silence, she finally gave in: "Okay, I promise you!"
The emperor's expression changed rapidly, eventually becoming more unsightly than crying. He left laughing, but as he turned away, he was almost heartbroken, his face contorted with rage and grief.
This is the woman he has loved for so many years, who can constantly compromise and give up for others, yet she is hurting him terribly! She believed him when he said she owed him, without a single doubt. Just how little did she trust him?
If it weren't for the fact that her son carries her blood, why would he care about and love him? If it weren't for the fact that that son is the one she left behind, why would he be willing to let her take the risk of getting pregnant?
Murong Qianchen, you've been stabbing me in the heart, again and again. Have you become so skilled at it that you show no mercy?
After the emperor left, Murong Qianchen collapsed to the ground, weeping silently.
Luo Zhiheng witnessed firsthand the entanglement of love and hate among these three people. Clearly, the Emperor and Murong Qianchen loved each other, but due to too many unforeseen circumstances and misunderstandings, their love stagnated, and might even have vanished completely. At that moment, Luo Zhiheng felt a profound sense of shared sorrow.
Is what she and Mu Yunhe have in common love?
Mu Qingya and Nalan Daibai's love was a painful and entangled affair, while Murong Qianchen's love for the emperor was fraught with uncertainty and despair. So what about her and Mu Yunhe? They also had feelings for each other; Mu Yunhe had said he loved her. And what about her? She wasn't someone who would give endlessly without a reason, but since meeting Mu Yunhe, she had changed.
She fought with all her might for Mu Yunhe, from initially fighting for her own survival, to later not wanting someone as pure as Mu Yunhe to die, and finally to not wanting Mu Yunhe to be hurt or suffer even the slightest loss. She fought relentlessly, not for an empire, but for a life more precious than any empire—a life that belonged to Mu Yunhe.
Having done so much, along the way, she has given not only sweat, tears, and strength, but also her heart. Did she also give her heart to a man? Then, isn't that love too?
Luo Zhiheng was extremely confused. For the first time, she carefully considered her relationship with Mu Yunhe, but she had never been in love and didn't know what love was. No one could answer her questions. However, what she was most certain of was that she cared deeply for Mu Yunhe. So much so that she forgot about freedom and her own pursuits.
Murong Qianchen's words awakened her. She seemed to see her own reflection in Murong Qianchen, who had given up her freedom for love and willingly stayed by a man's side, doing all sorts of things she didn't like.
As she left the palace, a light, gray drizzle began to fall, its gentle patter on her face carrying a melancholy air. She walked alone in the drizzle, her mind blank. It wasn't until she returned to the Prince's Palace that she suddenly snapped back to reality: Mu Qingya was dead, and she had to tell Mu Yunhe the news.
The princess happened to be in Mu Yunhe's room. She looked very haggard, but at least she was still eating and drinking. However, Mu Yunhe hadn't eaten or drunk anything for three days. She was trying to persuade Mu Yunhe to eat. When Luo Zhiheng entered, the princess's expression turned unnatural for a moment, and she slightly turned her face away, not daring to look at her.
Luo Zhiheng wasn't so magnanimous as to smile at the princess after she had dealt her such a cruel blow. She walked straight up to Mu Yunhe and said, "Mu Yunhe, I don't know how much more of a blow you can withstand, nor do I know what you think of your sister, but if I don't say it this time, I'm afraid you'll hate me in the future."
Seeing Mu Yunhe's expressionless face, Luo Zhiheng clenched her fists and said in a soft voice, "She's dead!"
A sharp, ringing sound rang out, followed by the princess's trembling voice: "Who? Who's dead?"
As a mother, she had a very strong feeling, and because she sensed it, her expression changed drastically, and her face was filled with terror.
A hint of mockery flashed in Luo Zhiheng's eyes, but then she saw Mu Yunhe's stiff face turn towards her, his gaze lifeless. Luo Zhiheng was stunned for a moment, and she pursed her lips and said, "Mu Qingya is dead."
The princess slumped into a chair, her expression a mixture of stunned disbelief and sudden realization. After a long while, she finally broke down in tears. She repeatedly apologized, calling out Mu Qingya's childhood name, but sadly, her daughter would never hear it again.
Mu Yunhe stared straight at Luo Zhiheng, his face finally showing expression: anger, fear, frustration, and collapse!
Three days later, his nerves, which had been instantly plunged into hell and about to die, finally broke down! Despair shattered and exploded in his eyes, his ashen eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and his thin face twitched slightly.
Luo Zhiheng was startled by his broken gaze. She walked to his bedside and asked, word by word, "Do you suspect me? Do you suspect that I killed your sister? Tell me your first thought."
Her palms were sweating profusely as she asked the question. She was afraid of Mu Yunhe's answer, so she dared not ask, yet she had no choice but to. If Mu Yunhe truly believed that Mu Qingya's death was related to her, then she would leave immediately, no longer caring about Mu Yunhe's life or death, because Mu Yunhe had not given her enough trust. And she would choose to sever this relationship immediately.
Mu Yunhe just stared at her, as if trying to see into her soul. His chapped lips slowly parted, his voice hoarse and strained: "I know, it's not you."
She never imagined that a single sentence from him could send her through heaven and hell! He trusted her; he had no doubts about her. That one sentence filled Luo Zhiheng with joy. Although Mu Yunhe was still reeling from the blow, this one sentence gave her enough patience to wait for him to recover.
"She deliberately called you over; there must be something else going on. Does she hate me that much? Even in death, she won't let me go?" Mu Yunhe trembled all over. He was devastated, but he wasn't stupid. Mu Qingya suddenly summoned Luo Zhiheng, and then died on the same day. People from the rational timeline would likely assume Mu Qingya's death was related to Luo Zhiheng. Perhaps Mu Qingya wanted to use this method to break him off with Luo Zhiheng? Or perhaps something else entirely; he was powerless to discern.
But Mu Qingya underestimated his intelligence and his understanding of Luo Zhiheng. Three days might not be enough for him to recover from this huge blow, but it would be enough for him to calm down. Luo Zhiheng wouldn't do such a thing because she knew that woman was his sister, and even though he hated her, he still didn't want her to die.
“Because of the unpleasant incident before, her reputation has been damaged, so the funeral will be held quickly. She will be buried according to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort, and it has been decided that it will be tomorrow. Are you going?” Luo Zhiheng asked.
Mu Yunhe remained silent, but the princess could no longer stay silent. She said anxiously, "Let's go. One last time, I want to see Qingya one last time."
What difference does it make whether we see it or not? All we see is a corpse, and all that remains is permanent regret.
The next day, the weather was gloomy from morning onwards, and the palace bells tolled, their tolling long and mournful, ancient and desolate.
No commoners came to see Mu Qingya off. Civil and military officials simply performed the rites befitting an imperial concubine. The cold, luxurious coffin had already been closed and was placed in the black and white hall. As the announcer descended step by step, those who had come to see Mu Qingya one last time stood in the center of the hall.
The Princess Consort was there, Madam Hu was there, and Mu Yunhe was there too. These three people—the victims, the culprits, and the accomplices—were all gathered here, looking at the coffin of the person they both loved and hated, unable to even see her one last time. Because the Emperor forbade opening the coffin.
Mu Yunhe stared coldly at the coffin, his pale face a complex expression that was hard to decipher—whether he was crying or laughing.
The princess wept bitterly, fainting several times. Mama Hu was in no better shape. Since being dug up, she hadn't properly spoken a single word to Mu Qingya. Today, before Mu Qingya's coffin, she calmly said to the princess, "My lady, I have served you for nearly forty years. I know you are not a heartless person. If Consort Li hadn't harmed the young prince back then, you wouldn't have hurt her unborn child in a fit of anger, and thus wouldn't have unintentionally harmed the young princess's son."
"I have always been loyal to you. There is only one thing I have ever done to wrong you in my life. But back then, I poisoned the young prince because I couldn't bear to see the young princess so haggard and pleading. Besides, the young princess said that the medicine wouldn't kill the young prince. That's why I agreed. To be frank, the young princess is like my own daughter. I have followed you all my life and never thought of leaving you. I always thought that after you passed away, I would follow you and serve you in the afterlife. But I was wrong, so wrong that I can't turn back and ask for your forgiveness."
Rong Yama Womu. "The young princess has suffered too much in this life. Please forgive this servant for betraying her once again. This servant wants to serve the young princess in the underworld and take care of that poor child. This servant can only repay your kindness and favor in the next life."
"What do you want to do?" The princess stared blankly at Mama Hu. Although she hated Mama Hu, it would be a lie to say that she had no feelings for her after so many years as mistress and servant.
"This servant has committed many sins in my life, hurting the young prince. I have never been able to sleep peacefully for a single day. Now, I can finally use my wretched life to repay the young prince for all the suffering he has endured over the years." Mama Hu kowtowed to the princess with a series of thuds. After the third kowtow, she did not get up again, but remained kneeling there, bent over, prostrating herself on the ground.
The princess reached out to touch her, trembling, but with just a gentle touch, Hu Mama's body collapsed to the side, leaving a pool of blood on the ground. A sharp dagger was embedded in her abdomen. This accomplice who had caused Mu Yunhe fourteen years of pain atoned for used such an extreme method to atone for her sins, and also to express her love for Mu Qingya in such a resolute way.
The princess couldn't even cry anymore. One after another, her closest and most trusted people left her, and all of them left so decisively and without any room for negotiation. Finally, she could no longer bear the immense grief and fainted.
Mu Yunhe watched as Madam Hu committed suicide, his lips twitching slightly, whether in mockery or a twitch, before his gaze fell upon the coffin.
Luo Zhiheng immediately set about arranging this emergency. Since Hu Mama's body could not be buried in the Southern Dynasty imperial mausoleum, she had people carry Hu Mama out, arrange a coffin, and then find a place to bury her.
The time for burial arrived, and the coffin was carried away slowly from the main hall. Yu'er, dressed in white, was indeed wearing mourning clothes for Mu Qingya, and walked at the front of the coffin, weeping as she went.
After the funeral, Luo Zhiheng and the others did not leave, but instead went to a deep mountain. This place was surrounded by mountains on all sides, but the center was like a fairyland, with beautiful scenery, quiet and secluded. On the flat ground in this place, a large coffin was placed.
Murong Qianchen was already standing there, holding a wooden box in her arms, surrounded by royal guards.
Mu Yunhe frowned as he watched this scene, lost in thought. His expression gradually changed, and he suddenly grabbed Luo Zhiheng's hand and asked in a low voice, "What's going on?"
Luo Zhiheng patted him reassuringly and said, "Don't be nervous. We're just following Mu Qingya's wishes. She's already dead. The past is just a thing of the past. I know you don't want to hate her, but you're conflicted and don't know how to face her. But she's dead, and the hurt she caused you is still there. But today, let's not think about her bad side. Let's treat her as a pitiful person and sincerely send her off on her final journey."
Luo Zhiheng spoke entirely according to Mu Yunhe's thoughts. She understood Mu Yunhe's conflicted feelings and the torment of not being able to express his love or hate. So she gave Mu Yunhe a way out, allowing him to send Mu Qingya away with peace of mind.
The coffin was not covered. Luo Zhiheng led the resistant Mu Yunhe forward, and when they finally saw the person inside the coffin, Luo Zhiheng felt Mu Yunhe's body stiffen. She couldn't understand his pain, but she knew he was struggling.
"Yunhe, if you don't like it, then let's leave."
Mu Yunhe's brows furrowed in struggle; this was utterly shocking! Mu Qingya was buried alongside another man! And here at that! Was the previous funeral just a ruse, a deception? But what could he say? Should he destroy Mu Qingya's last wish? Mu Qingya could be ruthless towards him, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He closed his eyes tightly, his voice hoarse: "No need. I want to send her off personally."
“Okay, I’ll go with you.” The two held hands and looked at Mu Qingya and Nalan Daibai’s final remains together.
Their hands were clasped tightly together, and they were dressed neatly. The coffin felt warm because of them, and there was no trace of its private, eerie atmosphere.
Murong Qianchen opened the box in her hand, revealing three jade dolls. She said, "These three jade dolls were found under Qingya's pillow. I know these three jade dolls represent the three children. I never knew that Qingya actually had these three jade dolls. Now that I've discovered them, I suddenly understand that all these years, kind-hearted Qingya has never left. She is still reminiscing about the past and longing for it. She still has love, but her love is too weak to overcome hatred."
Her hand traced the jade dolls in order, introducing them one by one: "This one is Yu'er, this should be Yu'er at four years old. This one is Rui'er, this should be Rui'er at her cutest age of three, when Rui'er loved to laugh the most. This one..."
Chapter 1 is here! Hua Sha will work hard to write Chapter 2! Please vote, leave comments, and give monthly tickets! Group chat, muah!
262 Heartache! The Zhuge family came to apologize, which angered Zhiheng, who smashed a cup in a fit of rage!
Updated: 2013-08-17 16:51:10 Word Count: 3468
When Murong Qianchen stopped speaking and looked up at Mu Yunhe, Mu Yunhe's gaze was already fixed on the third jade doll, and the emotions on his face were cracking inch by inch.