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Standing up, Han Derang walked shakily to the desk and picked up his pen to write:

The withered flowers and scattered rain outside the window disturbed me.

Inside the house, only an empty tent and a cold fur coat kept me company.

Young man back then

Today's Sentimental Old Man

Only regret remains

I regret that we cannot be together for a hundred years.

He threw down his pen, walked back to the bed, and slumped down, unable to contain his grief any longer, and burst into tears. From that day on, he often stared blankly at the empty room. When Longxu, Longqing, and others came to visit him, he would often suddenly burst into tears while talking.

Emperor Longxu and his sons were all very filial. Even after Empress Xiao Chuo's death, they were still respectful and dutiful to Han Derang. Emperor Longxu often took Empress Xiao Chuo to visit him and always treated Han Derang as his father.

That day, Emperor Longxu visited Han Derang again, and Han Derang took his hand and said, "Your Majesty, I have a request for Your Majesty."

"Father, please tell me what it is."

"After I die, could you bury my body next to your mother?" Han Derang said, tears welling up in his eyes again.

Longxu held Han Derang's hand tightly and said, "Father, I understand your thoughts. I know what I'm doing, so please rest assured."

"I can't let it go."

"Father, don't you still trust Longxu?" Longxu asked, looking at the white-haired Han Derang. Since his mother passed away, he had aged very quickly.

Han Derang nodded and said, "Yelü Longyun thanks Your Majesty."

"Father, what are you saying? Please don't say that." After saying that, Longxu tried his best to comfort Fanhander to make him feel better.

In the twenty-ninth year of the Tonghe era, Han Derang and Yelü Longxu jointly launched a campaign against Goryeo. On the return journey, Han Derang passed away. In accordance with his wishes, Longxu buried his body next to his mother Xiao Chuo's tomb, alongside his biological father Yelü Xian and mother Xiao Chuo. The decades-long love and entanglement surrounding Xiao Chuo thus came to a perfect end.

It's often said that behind every successful man, there's a great woman. And behind figures like Yelü Xian, Han Derang, Yelü Longxu, Yelü Xiuge, Yelü Xianshi, and Empress Dowager Cixi, you'll find the presence of Empress Xiao Chuo. It's also said that behind every successful woman, there are countless men. Behind Empress Xiao Chuo, it wasn't just Yelü Xian, Han Derang, and Yelü Xiuge who supported and helped her; there were also Xiao Siwen, Empress Dowager Cixi, Liu Yanyu, the people of Liao, and countless others. Because of their contributions and their existence, this woman named Empress Xiao Chuo shines brightly in the long river of history.

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 117 Daylily

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:47:00 Word Count: 899

At Ren'ai Hospital, Liu Lu cooked porridge early in the morning and brought it to Xiao Xuan's ward. Since Xiao Xuan fell into a coma, she had cooked a bowl of hot porridge every morning and brought it over, hoping that Xiao Xuan could drink a bowl of hot porridge when she woke up. Pushing open the ward door, Liu Lu saw Xiao Xuan sitting cross-legged on the bed and was speechless.

Xiao Xuan was starving when she saw her mother walk in carrying a lunchbox but not bring it to her. She couldn't help but ask, "Mom, what's wrong? Did you see something strange that scared you like this?"

Walking to the bedside, Liu Lu looked at Xiao Xuan and said cautiously, "Xuanxuan, are you alright?"

"Mom, I haven't even asked you yet! How did I end up at your hospital again?"

"You still dare to say that? You were probably too close to the lightning when it struck and were scared unconscious. It's been exactly ten days since then! You lay there for another ten days before waking up. You're going to scare your mother to death!"

"What? I'm unconscious again?" Xiao Xuan asked in surprise. "Yes!" Liu Lu said, "These past few days, your classmates in the band and I have been with you every day, we were so worried." Just then, the ward door was pushed open again, and Ye Tong, Tian Ye, Kang Xuan and others walked in. They were all stunned when they saw Xiao Xuan, who had already woken up.

Seeing their surprised looks, Xiaoxuan blinked her big eyes and said, "Hi, I'm awake. My mom said you guys have been keeping me company these past few days. Don't be so polite next time. I'm just catching up on sleep for my final exams, so don't worry."

"Oh!" Ye Tong replied coldly, then walked to her bedside, picked up a pillow, and hit Xiao Xuan with it. "You should have some moderation in your sleep, you know? You almost scared us to death!"

Seeing Xiao Xuan on the hospital bed nimbly dodging the pillows that were attacking her, everyone felt relieved and smiled.

As for Tianye, who would secretly kiss her from time to time when no one was in the ward while she was in a coma, he felt a little regretful: "Sigh, it won't be so easy to take advantage of her again in the future."

Inside the ward, the boys chatted and laughed, their usual lively atmosphere restored. The morning sunlight streamed softly through the windows, making the room increasingly bright.

A pot of aged wine allows one to savor the taste of time, and lets time slowly settle in its mellow aroma, until it is forgotten. In the cycle of wine, who have I remembered, and who have I forgotten? Only the wine knows. If there is regret in the heart, plant a daylily in the rings of time, just as its flower language represents, to commemorate those loves forgotten in the long years.

Daylily: Forgotten love.

----The End

Empress of Khitan - Side Story of Empress Dowager Yanzhao

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:47:31 Word Count: 2809

In the small town, a Song general stood atop the city wall, frowning as he looked at the ever-growing number of Liao soldiers.

"Someone, has the message requesting reinforcements been sent out?" the Song general asked.

"Reporting to General Yang, it has already been dispatched."

"It was sent out already? How come there's still no reinforcement?"

"I am unaware."

"Sigh!" General Yang stamped his foot angrily, glaring once more at the Liao soldiers outside the city with hatred. He was Yang Yanzhao, son of Yang Ye and younger brother of Yan Yu. He didn't know that the letter for help had already been delivered, but no one had come to the rescue; the person who received the letter had already abandoned the small town.

"You killed my father and brothers, Xiao Chuo! You old hag, how could I, Yang Yanzhao, let you get away with this?" Yanzhao looked at the thousands of soldiers inside the city, then at the ever-growing number of Liao soldiers outside. He was both angry and anxious. He was angry because his message for reinforcements had already been sent, and now the Liao army was at the city gates, yet his side had made no move. He was anxious because he only had a few hundred or a thousand men in the city; how could he possibly deal with tens of thousands of elite Liao soldiers?

"Surrender!" After setting up camp, Xiao Chuo issued the order from inside the tent. This was such a small city, and no one knew who was guarding it. It was better to surrender and spare the people from the suffering of war.

"Yes!" A guard accepted the order and left the main tent, but returned a moment later. He reported, "Your Majesty, the enemy commander not only refused to surrender, but also uttered malicious words to mock you."

Yelü Longxu, who was sitting beside Xiao Chuo, was furious upon hearing this and said, "Who is he to dare speak ill of my mother! Guards! Prepare to attack the city immediately."

"Wait!" Xiao Chuo stopped the agitated Longxu, and asked the soldier who had returned to report, "Who is the city guard? What did he say?"

"The general guarding the city is surnamed Yang and named Yanzhao." He said that when the soldier got to this point, he looked up at Xiao Chuo, as if he dared not continue.

"Speak. Just say it."

He said he had a deep-seated hatred for the Empress Dowager, and they were irreconcilable enemies. He would live as long as the city existed, and he would die if the city fell.

Xiao Chuo smiled slightly upon hearing this. She muttered to herself, "Is it the Yang family again?" Then she ordered the mobilization of two elite troops to prepare for the siege.

"Yang Yanzhao, let this old hag see your skills." Stepping out of the main tent, Xiao Chuo looked at the general standing on the city wall of the small town and said softly.

Empress Xiao walked to the war drum and personally beat it. The Liao army began their attack on the city.

Watching the Liao soldiers swarm up and storm the city walls, Yan Zhao brandished his spear, creating a bloodbath on the small city walls.

Suddenly the drumbeats stopped, and the Liao soldiers also ceased their attack on the city.

The Yang family spear was as fierce and sharp as ever. Looking at the tens of thousands of elite soldiers around her, Xiao Chuo pondered whether to engage in a fearless battle or command the entire army to charge and forcefully capture the small city. Raising her hand, Xiao Chuo prepared to issue the order for a full-scale attack. Just then, the enticing aroma of roasted meat wafted into Xiao Chuo's nostrils.

Han Derang appeared before her, carrying a fragrant roasted chicken.

"Are you hungry?" Han Derang asked.

Looking at him, Xiao Chuo lowered her hand. He wouldn't call her to eat for no reason at this time. He was afraid she would regret it.

"Men, surround the city completely and keep a close watch on the grain supply routes outside the city."

"yes!"

The city was completely surrounded by Liao troops. However, they did not seem to be in a hurry to attack the city, but simply guarded outside the city and kept trying to persuade the city to surrender every day.

More than a month later, the city's grain reserves were almost depleted, and the weather was growing colder. Yan Zhao frowned as he looked at the empty granaries.

Outside the city, Xiao Chuo, wearing a thick coat, stood outside the military tent, gazing at the small town. "Yang Yanzhao," she thought, "I've given you a month. I can't wait any longer. I'm going to conquer cities and territories. Once I've overthrown this dynasty, I'll give your Yang family a legendary legacy."

"Men, attack the city!"

Xiao Chuo suddenly shouted from outside the city.

"General, General Yang, the barbarians are attacking the city!"

Upon hearing the report from his soldiers, Yang Yanzhao hurriedly grabbed his spear and led his troops up the city wall to join the fierce battle. The fighting lasted for a full hour. Xiao Chuo looked at Yang Yanzhao, whose clothes were already covered in blood, yet he was still fighting on the city wall, and turned her head to the side.

"withdraw troops!"

The gong sounded in the Liao army's camp, signaling the end of the battle.

That night, Yan Zhao, the governor of the small city, issued an order to pour water on the city walls while the weather was still cold. The soldiers responded readily, and by dawn, a thin layer of ice had formed outside the city walls. This made the siege much more difficult for the Liao troops who wanted to attack again.

Standing outside the main tent, looking at the small town covered in ice, Xiao Chuo smiled. He then dispatched several hundred elite soldiers, ordering them to slaughter several of their cattle and sheep, smear the fat on their bows and arrows, and select a thousand archers, each with an arrow coated with the fat. After lighting the arrows, he ordered them to shoot them into the town.

Arrows, blazing with fire, were fired one after another into the small town. As more and more black smoke billowed from the town, Xiao Chuo murmured, "Yang Yanzhao, you can coat the city walls with ice armor, and I can also set your city ablaze. Put out the fire."

The Liao soldiers, their faces beaming with joy, gazed at the small town billowing black smoke, awaiting their Empress Dowager's next order. They knew that as long as they continued to fire the grease-coated rockets, these hard-to-extinguish fires, aided by the wind, would surely burn the town down. The Liao soldiers watched with excitement as their Empress Dowager raised her hand again. But then the Empress Dowager declared, "Issue the decree: the entire army must break camp, bypass the town, and proceed!"

The Liao soldiers were stunned, not understanding what the Empress Dowager meant. However, since the Empress Dowager had already spoken, they could only leave, no matter what they wanted to do.

Inside the city, watching the rockets that had struck the rooftops and ignited fires, Yan Zhao felt a surge of hatred. What would he do if these rockets kept coming in without stopping? Just as he was getting anxious, a soldier ran up and said, "General Yang, General Yang, good news! The barbarians have broken camp and left."

Looking at the soldier, Yan Zhao didn't believe his words. How could this be! The Liao soldiers were here to capture the city; why would they leave at such a good opportunity? There must be some conspiracy. Climbing the city wall, he saw only the backs of the Liao army, who had already broken camp and were heading far away.

After extinguishing the fire and opening the city gates, Yan Zhao led several soldiers outside the city. Yesterday, the camp was filled with densely packed military tents; now, only a large, round tent remained.

After riding up to the large tent, Yan Zhao thought for a moment, then jumped off his horse to go inside and inspect it.

"General, beware of the barbarians' tricks!"

Yan Zhao frowned and pondered for a moment, then said, "You all wait outside the tent, I'll..."

Carefully lifting the tent flap, Yan Zhao entered the main tent. Inside, there was only a table, on which lay a woman's sash. "Xiao Chuo, you witch! How dare you leave this thing behind to insult my Song soldiers!" Enraged, Yan Zhao strode forward, about to kick over the table, when he noticed faint writing on the sash.

Standing in front of the table, he carefully examined the belt, which bore only three words: Liu Yanyu.

Feeling as if something was blocking his heart, Yan Zhao gritted his teeth and desperately tried to suppress the pain. Brother, it was his brother's name. He thought of Jinyang, of his brother excitedly returning home to tell him he had found his best friend, of his brother being angrily reprimanded and forced to kneel by their mother, of his brother and father bidding him farewell to go to the battlefield and never returning. Tears welled in Yan Zhao's eyes.

Taking out a tinderbox from his person, Yan Zhao glanced at the belt one last time and lit it. Stepping out of the tent, Yan Zhao then set the tent ablaze as well.

"No barbarian artifacts shall be allowed to remain on the land of my Great Song. Order that all the barbarians' belongings be burned."

"yes!"