Chapter 200

line: "The bloody smell inside the hall has not yet dissipated." OK.

line: "Ouyang Wentian's skull rolled on the ground; even dead, his eyes remained fixed on the Dragon Throne. That was the pinnacle of power he had pursued his whole life, and he never relinquished it even in death." OK.

line: "Named: Ouyang Wentian. Also "Dragon Throne" is a thing, not a named entity? It's a specific object but maybe considered a named thing? It's a throne; but it's not a proper name; it's a common noun "dragon throne". Probably not include." Contains quotes but no Chinese.

line: "A girl's voice, trembling with sobs, reached his ears; Xiao Jingyuan opened his eyes to look at her, but he could barely see her." OK.

line: "Named: Xiao Jingyuan. Also "girl" generic." OK.

line: "Xiao Jingyuan slowly lifted his hand, intending to shield her eyes, and said, "Don't look that way..."" OK.

Same.

line: "But before his palm could reach her eyes, the first thing he felt was her tears, burning hot." OK.

No new.

line: "He didn't want her to see him like this." OK.

No.

line: "\"You shouldn't have come. \" With each word Xiao Jingyuan spoke, more blood welled up in his mouth, staining his lips red, until he could barely speak." OK.

No.

line: "Seeing this, Emperor Xuwen shoved aside Eunuch Hai's support, disregarding his frailty, and hurriedly stumbled to Xiao Jingyuan's side, anxiously asking, "How did this happen?!" " OK.

line: "Named: Emperor Xuwen, Eunuch Hai, Xiao Jingyuan." OK.

line: "No one could answer his question." OK.

No.

line: "Emperor Xuwen dared not delay; he loudly summoned the imperial physician and had someone quickly carry Xiao Jingyuan to lie down in the side hall of Fengming Hall." OK.

line: "Named: Emperor Xuwen, Imperial Physician, Xiao Jingyuan, Fengming Hall, side hall." OK.

line: "When the imperial physician arrived, Xiao Jingyuan had already fainted, but one of his hands clung tightly to Shen Shuangning's hand." OK.

line: "Named: Imperial Physician, Xiao Jingyuan, Shen Shuangning." OK.

line: "Shen Shuangning stayed by his side, sitting on the edge of the bed, gazing at his pallid, paper‑white face as her tears fell silently." Note: there is a hyphen? "paper‑white" includes a non-breaking hyphen? It's fine. No Chinese.

line: "Named: Shen Shuangning, Xiao Jingyuan." OK.

line: "Emperor Xuwen went out to meet the officials, dealt with the aftermath, and then hurried back to the side hall." OK.

line: "Named: Emperor Xuwen. court officials generic. side hall." OK.

line: "Just as he reached the door, he ran into the imperial physician coming out, and hurriedly asked about Xiao Jingyuan's condition." OK.

line: "Named: Imperial Physician, Xiao Jingyuan." OK.

line: "The imperial physician peered into the side hall, his eyes filled with regret, bowed to Emperor Xuwen, and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is deeply poisoned; the toxin has already permeated his five viscera and six bowels. Even a deity could not save him..."" OK.

line: "Named: Imperial Physician,

Emperor Xuwen tightly closed his eyes; although he had anticipated this, he never imagined it would come so swiftly.

Named: Emperor Xuwen.

The imperial physician also said that when Xiao Jingyuan's hair turned completely white, his time would be up. Roughly calculated, he had less than half a year left.

Named: Imperial Physician, Xiao Jingyuan.

Emperor Xuwen did not make things difficult for the imperial physician; he merely waved his hand wearily, signaling him to retreat.

Named: Emperor Xuwen, Imperial Physician.

After the imperial physician departed, the emperor stood motionless for a moment as the sunset poured through the window, elongating his shadow.

Named: Imperial Physician.

That imperial figure, which should have been dignified and stalwart, now appeared unusually hunched and frail; the dragon robe on his body looked empty, lacking any trace of the Son of Heaven's presence.

Named: "emperor" generic, "dragon robe" generic, "Son of Heaven" generic. Not needed.

The white hair at his temples added a touch of aged sorrow.

No.

Emperor Xuwen walked with his hands behind his back, step by step toward the side hall, each step feeling as heavy as if filled with lead.

Named: Emperor Xuwen, side hall.

After passing through the vestibule, he saw the two locked in an embrace.

Named: vestibule.

Xiao Jingyuan had just awakened, still wearing the blood‑stained armor; the new white strand on his shoulder clashed with his youthful handsome face, yet rendered him extraordinarily beautiful and fragile.

Named: Xiao Jingyuan. military armor generic.

He clung tightly to Shen Shuangning, burying his face in her neck and shoulder, like a drowning man desperately clutching a piece of driftwood.

Named: Xiao Jingyuan, Shen Shuangning.

The setting sun gradually sank, bathing everything in the hall in a warm red hue, yet it could not warm the pervasive sorrow filling the room.

No.

Emperor Xuwen stood silently in place, actually daring not to step forward and disturb the scene before him.

Named: Emperor Xuwen.

His fingers, resting on the wooden vestibule, unconsciously clenched; his chest was heavy with sorrow and regret, and a flash of self‑loathing crossed his eyes.

Note: there is a typo "clenched" maybe "clenched". Anyway no new named.

What kind of karma did he create in the first place?

No.

Emperor Xuwen left silently, and upon reaching the outside of Fengming Hall, he saw a monk in tattered robes sitting on the white marble steps.

Named: Emperor Xuwen, outside Fengming Hall, monk, white marble steps.

It was none other than Ji Gong, who had been missing for a long time.

Named: Ji Gong.

Before Emperor Xuwen planned to leave the secret room, he had wanted to wake the sleeping Ji Gong, but no matter what, Ji Gong wouldn't wake up, so Emperor Xuwen had to go on ahead.

Named: Emperor Xuwen, secret room, Ji Gong.

Later, people were sent to look for Ji Gong, but they found he was gone; Emperor Xuwen had thought he had left, never expecting to see him again.

Named: Ji Gong, Emperor Xuwen.

The blood on the steps had been cleaned up; after Emperor Xuwen dismissed the palace servants, he walked over and sat on the ground beside the monk.

Named: Emperor Xuwen, palace servants, monk.

Ji Gong handed him a gourd wine pot.

Named: Ji Gong, gourd wine pot.

Emperor Xuwen hesitated for a moment, then took it, tilted his head back and took a sip; he found it extremely strong, making him cough.

Named: Emperor Xuwen.

The setting sun like blood, Ji Gong looked into the distance and said, "More than twenty years ago, the demonic Daoist who bewildered Your Majesty was once a fellow apprentice of Dao Ji."

Named: Ji Gong, Your Majesty, evil daoist, Dao Ji, junior disciple.

"Dao Ji" is Ji Gong's dharma name.

Named: Dao Ji, Ji Gong.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuwen started; he never imagined that the Daoist who had nearly overturned the court and caused Xiao Jingyuan untold suffering years ago would share such a deep connection with this eminent monk before him.

Named: Emperor Xuwen, evil daoist, Xiao Jingyuan, eminent monk.

He turned his head to look at Ji Gong, only to see him still gazing at the setting sun, unable to discern what emotion lay in those aged eyes.

Named: Ji Gong.

Ji Gong did not elaborate on his past grievances with that junior disciple; he took out a palm‑sized box from his bosom and handed it over.

Named: Ji Gong, junior disciple.

Emperor Xuwen took it, opened it, and saw a black pill the size of a thumb lying still inside; he looked at Ji Gong with a puzzled expression.

Named: Emperor Xuwen, pill.

Ji Gong rose, casually brushed off the snow from his monk's robe, and said, "Your Majesty and that child were poisoned by the same source; both afflictions stem from the calamity left by my wayward apprentice years ago. Unfortunately, I have managed to refine only this single antidote. Your Majesty, you must decide for yourself."

Named: Ji Gong, Your Majesty, that child, evil apprentice, antidote.

Emperor Xuwen's hand gripping the wooden box tightened suddenly.

Named: Emperor Xuwen.

After saying that, Ji Gong spoke no more, nor did he glance again at Emperor Xuwen's complex expression; he simply bent down, picked up the gourd wine pot placed beside the stone steps, and staggered down the steps.

Named: Ji Gong, Emperor Xuwen, gourd wine pot, stone steps.

Emperor Xuwen suddenly realized, hurriedly rose to call him back, his voice tinged with urgency: "Grand Master Ji Gong, please stay! Thanks to your assistance, the crisis of Great Liang has been averted; allow me to properly entertain you to repay this favor."

Named: Emperor Xuwen, Grand Master Ji Gong, Great Liang.

That retreating figure did not turn back, nor did he pause; he merely lifted one hand and waved it casually.

No.

The wind and snow grew heavier; flecks of snow fell on Emperor Xuwen's golden crown, quickly forming a thin layer.

Named: Emperor Xuwen, golden crown.

He watched Ji Gong vanish completely beyond the palace gates, yet in the end he did not forcibly detain him.

Named: Ji Gong, palace gate.

Eunuch Hai, who had been standing silently in the corridor, had already heard every word of that conversation.

Named: Eunuch Hai, corridor.

Seeing Emperor Xuwen withdraw his gaze, he hurried forward, his face brimming with uncontainable joy: "Excellent, Your Majesty! Your poison can be cured! That monk truly is a living Buddha who saves the suffering; with this antidote, your health will surely improve, and Great Liang will enjoy peace."

Named: Emperor Xuwen, Your Majesty, monk, living Buddha, antidote, Great Liang.

In the old eunuch's view, this antidote undoubtedly belongs to the emperor, for Emperor Xuwen is the foundation of Great Liang; only when the emperor is healthy can the court be stable and the people feel at ease.

Named: old eunuch, emperor, Emperor Xuwen, Great Liang, court, people.

But before his words had finished, Eunuch Hai saw Emperor Xuwen lower his eyes; his face showed no joy, only a sense of settled resignation.

Named: Eunuch Hai, Emperor Xuwen.

"Your Majesty?"

Named: Your Majesty.

Eunuch Hai's heart gave a sudden jolt; a bad premonition struck him, and he hurriedly urged, "Your Majesty, you must certainly not act foolishly! Although Great Liang still cannot do without you, and though the court has cleared the toxin of Ouyang Wentian, there remain many matters awaiting your decision."

Named: Eunuch Hai, Your Majesty, Great Liang, court, Ouyang Wentian.

"Moreover, there is only one dose of the antidote; as the Son of Heaven, your life is more important than anything else!"

Named: antidote, Son of Heaven.

Although the old eunuch gave such advice, he knew deep down that once Your Majesty made a decision, not even ten oxen could pull it back.

Named: old eunuch, Your Majesty.

Emperor Xuwen slowly lifted his head, his gaze falling on Eunuch Hai's tear‑streaked face; he gently patted his shoulder and then spoke to comfort him.

Named: Emperor Xuwen, Eunuch Hai.

"Enough, enough; you're both old enough, yet you cry like a child, and you don't fear being laughed at by those beneath you."

No named.

Hai Gonggong still wanted to advise again, but was interrupted by Emperor Xuwen.

"Your Majesty, do not jest." The emperor's voice was calm and firm: "I have never been clearer than now."

Hai Gonggong no longer urged.

"Keep the antidote a secret; don't tell them." Emperor Xuānwén said, slipping the wooden box holding the antidote into the inner side of his dragon robe.

He still did not intend to give the antidote to Xiao Jingyuan now; he wanted to see whether that Miss Shen was worthy of Xiao Jingyuan's affection.

Hai Gonggong respectfully replied, "Yes."

After waking, Xiao Jingyuan refused to stay another moment in the imperial palace, and left with Shen Shuangning.

He even refused to see Emperor Xuānwén in person.

He cared nothing for the status of a prince, let alone those powers and positions.

After leaving the palace, he took Shen Shuangning to a certain place.

White spirit money was swept up by the cold wind, drifting down together with the heavy snow, falling before a lone grave.

The grave was small, but kept immaculately clean—no weeds grew around it, the tombstone was wiped smooth and spotless, with only a little snow piled at its corner, showing that someone had tended it year after year.

The name on the tombstone was Yuan Zhenfeng.

This was Shen Shuangning's first time coming to this place, and she inevitably felt a tinge of regret.

Beside the lone grave, a new pit had been dug, left by Xiao Jingyuan for himself.

He knew his days were numbered.

Xiao Jingyuan took off his military armor, changed into a clean, simple black brocade robe, and knelt on the ground to pour wine for his maternal uncle.

He parted his thin lips and spoke slowly: "My maternal uncle had always been chasing Ouyang Wentian in life, and thus died by his poisonous scheme. I once swore that if I did not avenge my uncle, I would not come here to see him."