Chapter 486

And his legitimate eldest son had not only already grown to ten years old, but he also had a legitimate daughter princess.

The former emperor seemed to have suddenly developed a conscience.

He could not accept that the empress had already died.

Like he had gone mad, he first killed the two guards at the gate, and then he purged half of the harem.

Finally, he personally knelt beneath the large tree in the cold palace and dug open those stones with his hands.

His blood-soaked hands personally stroked the empress's skeletal remains, and in regret he continuously vomited blood.

Finally, the former emperor steeled himself and discovered that the reason all news from the cold palace had been blocked was entirely due to that cousin of the empress's maternal clan.

Even the rumor back then that the empress was a harbinger of disaster for the realm was actually orchestrated by the empress's maternal clan.

The empress's parents had long since died in battle on the sands where they clashed with the Western Regions.

Therefore, the empress was raised by her uncles and elders in the family.

From a young age she had little contact with the pampering of orthodox noble ladies; instead, she grew up studying military texts in her parents' former study.

Even in the end she clearly knew that it was those uncles and elders of her maternal clan who wanted to pull her down from the empress's position, yet out of consideration for her family's prosperity, for the kindness of her uncles and elders who raised her, and for her deceased parents, she swallowed all the bitter fruit herself, even without any evidence.

Although it made her two children pitiful.

But she herself also became depressed and unhappy due to her disappointment with the emperor.

Until later she fell gravely ill, and when she later regretted and wanted to bring her two children to live well, it was already too late.

The empress's cousin, Consort Shu Xiao, was given a white silk ribbon.

And she was not allowed to be buried in the imperial mausoleum.

The entire maternal clan of the empress was confiscated and their property seized.

The emperor held Zong Zheng Langri and Zong Zheng Qingyue, and his hair turned white overnight.

From then on, the emperor's health deteriorated day by day.

He made Zong Zheng Langri the crown prince and personally taught him the way of kingship.

But after only half a year, he became completely unable to rise from illness.

After another half year, the emperor died.

Before his death, aside from passing the throne to the crown prince, he left no other words.

It seems he himself also knew that the empress did not wish to be buried with him in the imperial tomb.

Indeed, Zong Zheng Langri did not do so either.

He buried the former emperor and the empress far apart, so that even after his father died, he could never see the empress again.

Eleven-year-old Zong Zheng Langri, with the support of the veteran officials, smoothly ascended the throne as the young emperor of Great Chu.

In the past few years, he had endured great hardship.

Each day, the thing that made him happiest was possibly seeing his younger sister Zong Zheng Qingyue.

Because Zong Zheng Qingyue had never seen anyone other than her brother since childhood, and was raised by Zong Zheng Langri himself from infancy, even after leaving the cold palace she refused to sleep alone.

She clung to Zong Zheng Langri, just as she would cling to her own parents.

She regarded her brother as the closest person, and she had to hold his arm to dare sleep in the vast palace.

As she gradually grew up, she only gradually learned etiquette and rules under the guidance of the wet nurses.

She learned what distinguishes men from women.

She learned what the relationship between ruler and subject is.

She learned what an emperor is, and what a princess is.

She began to distance herself from her brother, and day by day she diligently studied court etiquette.

She wanted to be a princess who would not disappoint her brother, yet the more she did so, the more Zong Zheng Langri felt heartache and reluctance.

"Yue'er, be good; even if you are a bit domineering and willful, it's fine."

Zong Zheng Qingyue, however, solemnly shook her head and said: "No, brother."

"I am your younger sister, and having grown up in the cold palace since childhood, I do not want my words and deeds to be criticized by others, nor do I want to invite gossip that would make you lose face."

"Moreover, a princess of a state ought to have the bearing and responsibility of a princess."

"I want to share your worries."

Zong Zheng Qingyue's words moved Zong Zheng Langri deeply; watching his sister grow day by day and become even more beautiful than the empress had been, to him no one in the world could compare to his Yue'er.

Even later he married the empress and four consorts, yet his attitude toward the harem remained perpetually cold and indifferent.

As Zong Zheng Qingyue grew up, Zong Zheng Langri's gaze increasingly focused on her.

He delighted in cultivating his closest sister into a goddess in the eyes of the world.

So, he built momentum for her.

He held her in his palm with affection.

He gave her mountains of gold and silver.

He gave her the world's largest pearl, and also gave her all the world's rare and exotic treasures.

He also had her handle foreign officials, letting her display her years of study, letting her share his governmental burdens, and letting her attend the former court.

Even if the censors' remonstrances nearly overwhelmed the dragon throne.

But Zong Zheng Langri still went his own way, supporting her in his own manner with near-indulgence, letting her be happy.

Soon, Zong Zheng Qingyue herself realized that she had become a calamitous princess, a bewitching woman who brings disaster to the state.

The former court resented her with complaints.

The populace discussed her extensively.

They said the emperor's indulgence toward this sister of his had even surpassed ordinary sibling ethics.

Even if her abilities were truly outstanding, even more proper than those of the former empress, and even comprehensive.

But the Great Chu court still would not accept a woman's merit.

Zongzheng Qingyue felt a slight urge to retreat.

At that moment, Xie Huaiyuan appeared beside Zongzheng Qingyue.

In public, he judged her by the same etiquette and morals as everyone else.

In private, however, he knelt on the ground, holding the corner of her skirt, begging for a single glance of her favor.

Zongzheng Qingyue felt he was like a madman, always fleeing in panic.

If it weren't for Zongzheng Zhiyuan's repeated schemes against her, and the fact that she had been rescued several times by Xie Huaiyuan, she would not have gradually changed her attitude toward him.

Perhaps, Xie Huaiyuan, could be one of her choices?

But when Zongzheng Langri learned of Xie Huaiyuan's existence, he reacted with frenzied opposition.

"Yue'er, you are not allowed to love him!"

"Did you hear? You are not allowed to marry Xie Huaiyuan!"

Zongzheng Qingyue looked at her brother's eyes with fear.

"Brother, but Yue'er will eventually marry someone."

Zongzheng Langri grabbed her arm with great force.

"Who said that?"

"My Yue'er will never marry."

"Can't Brother support you?"

"Brother is willing to stay with you forever; we can remain as we were, only having each other, isn't that fine?"

Zongzheng Qingyue was frightened by Zongzheng Langri.

She ran out of the palace to meet Xie Huaiyuan.

She even hid away, spending several leisurely days with him at the mountain villa before finally calming her emotions.

Xie Huaiyuan seemed very busy.

He constantly went in and out, back and forth.

Zongzheng Qingyue inquired and learned that the Xie family had been implicated in a corruption case involving millions of taels of silver.

Zongzheng Qingyue had someone investigate, wanting to know whether the Xie family was truly innocent.

However, Xie Huaiyuan came back first to plead with her.

"Yue'er, only you can save my Xie family; please, please save me!"

These days, although Zongzheng Qingyue did not feel romantic love for Xie Huaiyuan, she still felt deep gratitude for his continual help and companionship.

So she said: "Wait for this palace to investigate; if your Xie family is truly innocent, I will not stand idly by."

"I will surely beg the Emperor, my older brother, to investigate this matter and clear the Xie family's name."

"However, Lord Xie, your Xie family is truly innocent, you haven't deceived me, right?"

Xie Huaiyuan's gaze flickered for a moment, then he gave a firm, resolute promise.

But when Qingyue awoke, she found herself back in the imperial palace.

Even, she was back on the bed in the cold palace.

She saw Zongzheng Langri wearing only a thin black gauze robe.

With his long hair hanging loose, his face possessed by madness, he slowly walked toward her…