Chapter 1113: The Return of an Old Friend (21)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Emperor Yong Le was silent for a long time, so long that he could almost hear the sound of frogs in the pond and cicadas on the willow tree. He said, “You can also choose. Qing Zhen…”
“I didn’t have a choice from the beginning.” Empress Xiande interrupted him. “I’ve invested everything in you. How can you ask me to choose at this moment?”
Emperor Yong Le was stunned. Empress Xiande had already raised her wine bowl and finished the second bowl in one gulp.
“Your Majesty, do you think of me any differently from other women?”
Empress Xiande looked at him. “Did you also choose me because you had to?”
Emperor Yong Le paused for a moment before saying, “You’re very good. You’re the best empress in the Daliang Dynasty. No one can do the job better than you.
Back then, my mother liked you very much, and I liked you very much too. You’re smart, appropriate, generous, and stable. You’ve organized the entire harem very well. There’s nothing wrong with me choosing you.”
Empress Xiande smiled, and as she smiled, she almost burst into tears. She said, “As expected, between Empress Xiande and Qing Zhen, you chose the former. I understand.” She looked at the moon in the sky, and the corners of her eyes seemed to be sparkling. When she turned around, she was back to her usual gentle and calm self. She said, “I’ve already thought about what you told me previously. I think you are right. After all, this is my life. I have to plan for my life in the future.”
Emperor Yong Le stared at her and felt a lump in his throat. A moment later, he asked hesitantly, “Did you… already find someone?”
“Not yet.” Empress Xiande smiled. “But there’s no hurry. When that day comes, I’ll let nature take its course.”
Emperor Yong Le fell into silence.
Empress Xiande picked up the wine bowl and said, “Let’s toast to our marriage.
We’ve been husband and wife for so many years. Over the years, although my life is not especially good, it’s not bad either. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Yong Le also raised his wine bowl. If one looked carefully, they would notice that his fingers were trembling slightly, as if he couldn’t hold it steadily. However, he hid it very well and immediately emptied all the wine in the wine bowl.
As a matter of fact, not only did the wine not taste sweet and mellow in big mouthfuls, but it also burned one’s throat.
Empress Xiande stood up and said to him with a smile, “Actually, this jar of wine looks like a lot, but after drinking a few bowls, it’s already empty. Without wine, even the moon becomes much duller. I’ll take my leave first. Your Majesty, rest well. It’s dark and cool. Be careful not to catch a cold.” She left slowly.
She left briskly. Now that she had bid farewell and drank the farewell wine, what was left to do was to leave his world step by step and never come back. Emperor Yong Le turned to look at Empress Xiande’s departing figure.
She disappeared into the long corridor with firm footsteps.
His heart suddenly ached, and an indescribable pain slowly spread from his heart to his limbs. His heart was beating very fast and was almost twitching. He could not breathe and could not say a word.
He suddenly fell from the chair!
Eunuch Deng was waiting at the side. When he saw this, he was shocked and quickly walked over. He helped Emperor Yong Le up, but when he saw that Emperor Yong Le’s face was terrifyingly pale and his lips were trembling, his heart skipped a beat. He immediately called the imperial physician and asked the guards to send Emperor Yong Le back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation..