Chapter 124: The Abandoned Little Emperor (28)
The emperor and the general’s passionate night kept the palace servants at bay, none daring to disturb them.
In the early morning, the little emperor, helped up by Su Mingxiu, still had a rosy glow on her face, her eyelashes fluttering slightly against her delicate features like butterfly wings.
She refused to let the servants bring water for her bath, embarrassed by her appearance. Su Mingxiu, understanding her shyness, had the water brought in and carried her to the bathtub.
By the time the bathwater had splashed all over the floor, Xiao Miyun realized she had been tricked. From then on, she decided to keep her distance from the Prince of Zhenbei, whose energy seemed boundless in bed. Every encounter left her wondering who was truly the frail one.
The little emperor, believing her control over the palace to be absolute, spent a long and blissful period with Su Mingxiu before the new year. Until one day, as she was heading to the Qinzheng Palace to attend to state affairs—
Her palanquin was passing through a snow-covered palace path when a palace maid tending the gardens bumped into it. Wang Dan and the other maids scolded her. The palace maid, perhaps new to the palace, was terrified, kneeling and begging for forgiveness. It was then that Xiao Miyun saw her face.
“Wait.”
She stopped Wang Dan and had the palanquin lowered. Stepping onto the wet path in her bright yellow boots, she approached the maid. “Raise your head.”
The maid timidly looked up, a prominent tear mole at the corner of her eye catching the little emperor’s attention. Xiao Miyun studied her features for a moment, a smile appearing on her lips, then disappearing just as quickly. “Summon Sun Feiyan.”
General Sun had always been a favored official, her rank and salary having increased significantly. But the little emperor didn’t have anyone more trustworthy, so she kept Sun Feiyan in charge of the palace guards, effectively controlling the entire capital’s garrison.
But Sun Feiyan didn’t seem to understand the concept of abusing her power. Despite being the leader of the military faction, she still diligently performed her duties, never shirking her responsibilities. Within moments, she appeared before Xiao Miyun.
The little emperor pointed at the palace maid who was still kneeling. “General Sun, investigate how many palace maids with this appearance have entered the palace recently.”
Sun Feiyan glanced at the maid. She hadn’t noticed anything special at first, but after a closer look, she suddenly realized who the maid resembled. She quickly looked away and replied respectfully: “This minister obeys the decree.”
Just as she was about to leave, she was stopped by the little emperor. “And also investigate if there’s anyone around her who looks like Zhen.”
Having dealt with those cunning officials for so long, the little emperor had learned to be suspicious of coincidences. This path was the one she always took to court. The palace supervisors knew she disliked being approached, and the servants would clear the area beforehand, those who were timid even retreating at the sight of the imperial palanquin.
How could it be such a coincidence that she happened to see a newcomer who resembled Su Mingxiu, alone in this place, and this newcomer just happened to make a mistake and attract her attention?
Thinking about the mastermind behind this, Xiao Miyun clenched her fists. The thought of someone who looked like her getting close to Su Mingxiu filled her with rage.
It was like a spare tire, finally in the main position, only to see countless competitors imitating her, vying for her spot.
—She, the emperor of the Great Zhou, had pursued Su Mingxiu for so long, who were these people, daring to steal her person?
Thinking of this, before turning to leave, she glanced at Wang Dan. “The chief of the Bureau of Imperial Supplies is your man. I don’t want to know what he’s thinking, but if these people appear before Zhen again, you’ll bear the consequences.”
Wang Dan now controlled the eunuch faction. As Xiao Miyun’s intelligence network, monitoring the officials’ movements, he had many talented subordinates, each with their own ambitions.
But Xiao Miyun wouldn’t bother with such details. She had given Wang Dan power and favor, she wouldn’t question his methods. If he wasn’t capable, she would simply replace him.
Before the new year even arrived, a small wave of unrest swept through the palace, a sign of troubled times ahead.
On the day before the Little New Year (a week before the Lunar New Year), heavy snow fell on the capital. Thankfully, with last year’s experience, the city was prepared, and there were no casualties from collapsing houses. But the little emperor wasn’t happy.
The snow melted quickly. On the day the thaw began, the cold poison in Su Mingxiu’s body acted up, causing a high fever, confining her to bed. And she didn’t get up again.
The weather outside was too cold, the winter scenery bleak. Xiao Miyun stayed in bed with Su Mingxiu, but she was constantly reminded by Su Mingxiu not to neglect her duties.
After a few days, Xiao Miyun felt stiff and uncomfortable, wondering how Su Mingxiu could endure it. But this thought brought a pang of guilt.
Su Mingxiu definitely didn’t want to be bedridden. If she could get up, who would choose to stay in bed all day?
She was playing with Su Mingxiu’s fingertips, trying to warm them. But even after her own warm hands turned cold, she couldn’t warm Su Mingxiu’s. So, like admiring an ice sculpture, she traced each slender, cold finger, finding amusement in the simple act.
“Like them so much?”
Su Mingxiu, who had been reading, put down her book, amused by Xiao Miyun’s actions.
The little emperor, initially distracted, nodded absentmindedly. Then, realizing what Su Mingxiu meant, she quickly let go of her hand, blushing, about to say something.
But seeing Su Mingxiu’s pale face, she swallowed her words and changed the subject: “Although this winter is also very cold, spring will arrive soon. Zhen has instructed the Bureau of Imperial Supplies to make a wheelchair so I can take you out to see the scenery, how about it?”
Not good.
Su Mingxiu hesitated. She was well aware of her own condition and didn’t want to raise Xiao Miyun’s hopes only to dash them later. She was about to refuse when she saw the pleading look in Xiao Miyun’s eyes. After a long moment, she nodded softly. “Okay.”
“Zhen has already reviewed the menu for this year’s palace banquet, do you want to take a look? If there are any dishes you want to add—”
“Your Majesty’s decision is fine.”
The little emperor was silent for a moment, then asked: “Zhen remembers you enjoyed the fireworks last year. New Year’s Eve is in seven days. The artisans in the capital have prepared new designs. We can see them from the Qian Yuan Palace windows. Zhen has a wish to make this year, will you watch them with Zhen?”
“Okay.”
Su Mingxiu agreed, but the little emperor remained silent for even longer. This made Su Mingxiu gently lift her chin with her fingertip. “What’s wrong? Anything else you want to do? Tell me, I’ll agree to anything.”
Xiao Miyun opened her mouth but didn’t speak.
There were too many things she wanted to do with Su Mingxiu. She wanted to admire flowers with her in spring, escape the heat with her in summer, go on outings in autumn, play in the snow in winter. She wanted to experience every season with her, to grow old together like an ordinary couple.
But after careful consideration, apart from the times when Su Mingxiu was away at war, and she was stuck in the palace, the time they had spent together the most was when she had just ascended the throne, and Su Mingxiu, the all-powerful Regent, came to teach her every day, reviewing her lessons and her calligraphy practice.
Back then, she had just reached the peak of power, afraid of losing it, both respectful and fearful of Su Mingxiu, her mind preoccupied with how to seize power from her and secure her position on the throne.
If she had known…
“Zhen wants…” she started slowly, not intending to finish her sentence. But looking at Su Mingxiu, thinking about all the miracles she had performed for the Great Zhou, she suddenly said: “To go back to the day we first met.”
If she could go back, she would cherish every moment with Su Mingxiu. Young and ignorant of love, she had resisted the Prince of Zhenbei’s affections.
But if she could return to that time now, even if Su Mingxiu didn’t come, she would go to the Zhenbei Manor every day.
“Oh?” Su Mingxiu knew she had many regrets, ready to listen to her reminisce about lost opportunities.
“Then… many of Zhen’s wishes could come true.” If she could have fallen in love with Su Mingxiu earlier, she wouldn’t have snuck out of the palace, wouldn’t have been kidnapped, wouldn’t have caused Su Mingxiu to transfer the cold poison to herself. If none of that had happened… the Great Zhou’s God of War could have lived a long life.
Su Mingxiu’s cool fingertips cupped Xiao Miyun’s cheek. She said softly, “Whether you believe it or not, your wish… will come true.”
And it has already come true many times—
In those worlds you’ve forgotten, I’ve spent countless seasons with you.
But you’ve forgotten.
The little emperor changed her wish.
She wanted Su Mingxiu to spend the New Year with her, from the New Year’s Eve banquet to the fireworks, her schedule planned until the fifth day of the new year.
This was possible because the wheelchair made by the Bureau of Imperial Supplies for Su Mingxiu had arrived.
On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the little emperor happily took Su Mingxiu out for a spin in the wheelchair, claiming it was to test its functionality. But she ended up having so much fun that she even had the palace maids push her around on the ice before returning. Su Mingxiu didn’t stop her, only watching her from the window of the Qian Yuan Palace, sharing her joy.
Before going to bed that night, she lay in the warm quilt, trying to warm Su Mingxiu’s hands, listening to her cough, patting her back. “Zhen has checked the weather, tomorrow will be sunny. We can go out and watch the sunrise, then the fireworks at night, how nice.”
Su Mingxiu, after using several handkerchiefs to wipe the blood from her lips, looked at the person trying to hide her worry and smiled warmly. “Yes.”
But at dawn, she was the one who woke the little emperor up.
Xiao Miyun’s sleep had become light recently, worried about Su Mingxiu’s condition. The slightest noise could wake her. When she was awakened, she instinctively patted Su Mingxiu’s back, then mumbled drowsily: “What’s wrong?”
“Didn’t you want to watch the sunrise?”
Huh?
The little emperor wondered, couldn’t they watch it at noon? It was still dark outside, the winter sun rising late, wouldn’t it be too cold to go out now?
But Su Mingxiu rarely expressed her desires, so even though she was still sleepy, Xiao Miyun forced herself to wake up, thinking that watching the sunrise wouldn’t be bad, a rare treat in the palace.
The palace maids, summoned, quickly brought warm water and thick cloaks. The wheelchair was lined with warm fur.
They reached the highest point of the palace walls. Xiao Miyun handed Su Mingxiu her hand warmer, dismissed the palace maids, and half-knelt beside her, touching her forehead and adjusting her clothes, worried that she might catch a cold.
If Su Mingxiu hadn’t stopped her, the little emperor would have had the entire area sealed off.
As if the heavens were against them, they waited for a long time on the cold, windy city walls, but the sky remained grey. Xiao Miyun had a chair brought over and sat beside Su Mingxiu, huddled in her cloak. She was sleepy, but she didn’t want Su Mingxiu to be bored, so she kept her company, chatting.
Their conversation drifted from one topic to another, then somehow landed on the person Su Mingxiu had loved before.
“Zhen’s not jealous, just curious, how similar is she to Zhen?”
“There’s no ‘her’.”
“What?”
The little emperor was stunned, then, seeing Su Mingxiu’s gentle smile, she heard her say: “Only you, I’ve only ever loved you.”
Overwhelmed by this unexpected confession, she was about to speak when she saw the first rays of sunlight breaking through the clouds, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold.
The sun, like a red yolk, emerged from the horizon.
Within moments, the sunlight shifted from red to orange, then to a brilliant gold, piercing through the grey sky, illuminating the capital.
The little emperor, captivated by the beautiful scene, smiled brightly and turned to Su Mingxiu: “Look, the sunrise—”
But the person beside her had closed her eyes at some point, the smile still lingering on her lips, as if she had fallen asleep after waiting for too long.
The little emperor smiled helplessly, wanting to brush away the strand of hair falling on Su Mingxiu’s face. Her fingertip grazed Su Mingxiu’s nose, but she felt nothing.
She shivered.
She sat back down, no longer reaching out. After a long moment, she said to Su Mingxiu: “Are you sleepy? Should Zhen have someone take us back?”
The sleeping person didn’t answer.
So the little emperor, as usual, had the palace maids escort them back, but she refused their help, personally carrying Su Mingxiu to bed and removing her outer robe.
The buttons were too tight, she couldn’t undo them. The little emperor, slightly panicked, called for someone from the Bureau of Imperial Supplies, wanting to complain about the complicated design.
The palace maid, seeing her trembling hands and the motionless figure on the bed, guessed the truth and knelt down, her voice filled with fear. “Your Majesty, forgive me, should… should we summon the imperial physicians?”
“Yes… summon them…” The little emperor, usually decisive, now repeated these words over and over, her voice breaking.
Tears fell onto the quilt.
She knew that Su Mingxiu was gone.
The person she loved most, who had promised to watch the sunrise with her, hadn’t even seen it.
—The Prince of Zhenbei, the hero of the Xiao Zhou dynasty, didn’t live to see the warmth of spring, her life ending on this cold winter’s day, the eve of the new year.
Leave a Reply to TheNightOwl Cancel reply