Chapter 184 Awakening

Meng Yan was trapped in darkness, unable to see her hand in front of her face.

“Haozhi…cardamom…jade heart…ruizhu!yunxiang!!”

She called out anxiously, but no one answered.

Thick black fog obscured her eyes, and she sat on the ground in confusion and helplessness.

Perhaps, this is what the world after death is like?

There was no underworld, no Black and White Impermanence, no Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Ghosts to take her away. There was only this boundless loneliness and desolation, until her soul dissipated and was forgotten by the world...

Actually, she had died once.

But that time, she was reborn almost as soon as she closed her eyes, so she was not very experienced in death.

Meng Yan laughed at herself, it seemed that there would be no rebirth this time.

Although the time was very short, during the time she was reborn, she saved her loved ones and regained her true love. The plague prescription she left behind can also benefit the people of the Great Zhou from generation to generation. After all, her life was not lived in vain.

Thinking of this, Meng Yan was still happy in her heart. The initial panic and confusion gradually faded away, and only tranquility remained in her heart. She calmly waited for her upcoming fate.

No matter what, there will always be people in this world who remember her, remember that there was once a woman named Meng.

After an unknown amount of time, a road paved with light suddenly appeared underground, winding its way towards an unknown future.

Meng Yan was a little confused. She stood up and walked slowly along the road.

On the road, there is still nothing, no people, no things, and no scenery along the way.

In the impenetrable darkness, the path quietly emits a warm light, silently guiding the direction.

Meng Yan continued walking along the road, step by step. She didn't know how long she had been walking. Could it have been hours? Or days? Or even years?

Finally, a slender and tall woman appeared in front of the road.

The woman had a beautiful face and was dressed in a green dress. Her wide sleeves and skirt swayed gently in the windless air.

Meng Yan wiped her eyes and said with a mixture of sadness and joy, "Sister Wang!"

Shouting, she quickly ran towards the woman.

Wang stood in the middle of the path and smiled at her gently, "Yan'er, long time no see."

"Long time no see... Sister... I've missed you so much these years..."

Meng Yan only felt her eyes moist and hot. In the harem, the people who treated her best were the Empress Dowager and the late Queen Wang.

During the years when she first entered the prince's residence, Wang took care of her gently and silently like her own sister.

"Sister, why are you here?"

Wang smiled and said, "I came here to take you back."

"go back?"

Meng Yan couldn't help but ask, "Can I still go back? But sister, you... this is not..."

If I can't see Wang again, she must be dead. How can I go back?

Wang smiled. "Yan'er, you're not dead. Right now, you're stuck between life and death. Ordinary people trapped here would soon die. But you, you're different." She took Meng Yan's hand and pointed to the light path underground. "Look, this path is formed by the countless people in the world who have a bond with you and miss you. It points the way for you and will eventually lead you out of this silent place. There are so many people in the world waiting for you, and you still have a lot to do. Of course, you have to go back."

Meng Yan's eyes flickered, and she hesitated, "But..."

She had indeed gained a lot from this journey, but she was also tired. She wondered if she would get even more tired if she continued walking.

Wang smiled, and suddenly a phoenix crown appeared in her hand.

On top of the phoenix crown, phoenixes are flying. Twelve golden phoenixes each hold walnut-sized pearls in their mouths. The crown is inlaid with red and blue sapphires and is decorated with emerald cloud pearl flowers. It is magnificent and dazzling.

This is the crown belonging to the queen, a symbol of a woman's supreme glory and power.

Wang raised her hand and gently placed the phoenix crown on Meng Yan's head.

Meng Yan felt a weight on her head, as if it was weighed down by a heavy burden, and her neck became stiff.

"It's heavy, isn't it?"

Wang smiled serenely, "Since you've shouldered this honor, you must also bear this burden. The burden on the Empress' shoulders is no lighter than that of the Emperor. But, Yan'er, I believe you can do better than me and go further. You and I are different. The Emperor and I are merely family allies. You, on the other hand, are in love with him. Together, supporting each other, you will surely reach a broader world. Yan'er, you have completely changed your destiny. I believe that with your tenacity and wisdom, you will be able to overcome all difficulties."

Looking at the calm smile on Wang's face, Meng Yan's heart suddenly became clear and relaxed.

Just like before, whenever she was troubled, Sister Wang would always use a few simple words to dispel all the haze in her heart.

She held Wang's hand and said, "Sister Wang, I can't bear to leave you..."

"There's no need to be sad when we meet again."

Wang walked around to her side and suddenly pushed her on the waist.

Meng Yan felt her body tilt and then she fell down, falling into the boundless abyss.

Wang's voice came from above, "Go, create your own prosperous world!"

"ah!"

Meng Yan screamed in surprise, opened her eyes suddenly, and was sweating profusely.

What caught her eye was the emerald green curtain with grass insects hanging above her head, the same one she used in Shanghe Garden.

Is she... back?

"……Um……"

She tried to speak, but was surprised to find her throat was so dry that she couldn't utter a word.

"water……"

The sound startled Ruizhu, who was tidying up the vases of flowers outside.

She shuddered, then hurried into the bedroom and rushed to the bedside, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Good Your Majesty, you're awake... You're finally awake!"

As she spoke, Ruizhu's eyes felt hot and tears began to fall.

"Ruizhu..."

Meng Yan raised her hand and wanted to wipe it for her, but she felt her arms were too weak and could only touch her cheek with difficulty.

"Why are you crying..."

Ruizhu cried, "Your Majesty, do you know... it's been nearly three months since you lay down! We servants all thought..."

Three months?

Did she sleep that long?

Meng Yan was a little dazed for a moment. Just as she was about to speak, she started coughing violently again.

Ruizhu got up in a panic, "Look at me, I'm so happy I'm confused! I'll go get some water for you right away!"

She ran to the outer room, picked up the teapot and poured tea, but her hands were shaking so much that a lot of tea splashed onto the table.

Yunxiang came in and saw this and said angrily, "You must have been frightened by a ghost. You can't even pour tea with your hands and feet." Then she felt strange and said, "The queen is unconscious. Who are you preparing to drink from this cup?"

The utensils used by masters and servants had very different specifications. Ruizhu was holding up the teacup that Meng Yan usually used.

"ah?"

Ruizhu looked at her, her face a mixture of joy and sorrow, the corners of her mouth twitching constantly. After a while, she suddenly cried, "Yunxiang, the Queen is awake! The Queen is awake!"

Yunxiang didn't understand at first, and after a moment she shrieked, "Are you serious? You're not kidding me?!" Then she started to run towards the inner room.

Ruizhu grabbed her and said, "I'll take care of you here. You, you should go to Zhonghe Hall and report the good news to the Emperor! And go to the Empress Dowager as well! Hurry!"

Yunxiang thought about it and thought that this was a good idea. She lifted her skirt, turned around and walked out quickly.

Ruizhu took the teacup back to the inner room, helped Meng Yan sit up, and held the teacup to her mouth.

Meng Yan drank the tea in one gulp from her hand, and Ruizhu went to pour tea again.

After repeating this three times, Meng Yan felt her throat moistened a little. She cleared her throat and said, "I... I have been lying in bed for three months?"

Ruizhu nodded like a chicken pecking at rice. "My Lady, do you remember that you fainted on August 14th? It's already November now."

When Meng Yan heard her talk, she realized that Ruizhu was wearing a silver-red double-breasted bodice and an apricot-yellow jacket embroidered with sunflowers, and she herself was also covered with a water-clear silk quilt.

For a moment, she didn't know what to say. She thought she would not make it this time, but after sleeping for three months, she came back to life.

However, this time when she woke up, she felt relaxed, without the heavy and gloomy feeling that weighed on her heart in the past.

Moreover, her spiritual vein disappeared.

The feeling of a leaking tank was gone, and she could no longer use that ability.

Meng Yan herself couldn't explain what was going on, but for her, it was a good thing.

From then on, she became a normal mortal, able to have children and live a long life with her husband.

"Your Majesty, you have no idea how heartbroken everyone was during the days you were asleep. The Emperor initially refused to attend court and sat by the bed for three days and three nights. Finally, the Empress Dowager couldn't bear it anymore and came to persuade her personally. Ah, I heard from Aunt Zangxiu that the Empress Dowager even threw the Buddha statue that day and cried countless times behind everyone's back. And Miss Bai, in order to pray for your speedy recovery, she even shaved her head..."

Cut your hair?

What did Yu Xin do?

Meng Yan was at a loss when she suddenly heard Lu Haozhi's voice outside like thunder.

"Yan'er!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a bright yellow figure rushed into the room like a whirlwind, and a pair of strong arms hugged her tightly.

A familiar warm chest, with a pounding heart underneath.

A faint scent of ambergris covered her, and Meng Yan suddenly felt a sour taste in her nose.

"Haozhi..."

"You're back, you're finally back!"

Lu Haozhi's hoarse voice was filled with suppressed ecstasy, and he panted heavily as he said, "I knew you couldn't bear to leave me. You definitely wouldn't abandon me and leave alone! God must have heard my prayers and let you go back!"

Meng Yan laughed at first, then gradually laughed until tears came out of her eyes, "Yes, I am back."

“Don’t cry…”

Lu Haozhi held her face and clumsily wiped her tears. Looking at her beautiful smiling face that had finally woken up and was no longer asleep and lifeless, his heart surged and his blood boiled, and he actually bent down and kissed her.

Meng Yan was slightly startled and patted his arm to indicate that there was someone else here.

But the heat on the man's lips seemed to indicate that he was eager to tell her about his longing.

She paused, then softened and gently hugged him.

Lu Haozhi hugged and kissed her passionately, then held her and fell on the bed, kissing her eyebrows, eyes, mouth, nose, and cheeks, murmuring in a rough voice.

"Yan'er... do you know how much I've missed you these days? No matter what I say to you, you won't answer... How did I get through this period... You're so cruel..."

"Haozhi..."

Meng Yan breathed softly, feeling a little dizzy from the intense surge of passion.

After a while, Lu Haozhi felt a little satisfied and lay on the bed hugging her.

"Yan'er, it's great that you woke up."

This man is so stupid that he would say these words.

Meng Yan rested her head on his arm, smiled and said softly, "Hao Zhi..."

"Um?"

"I'm hungry..."

In Shou'an Academy, Empress Dowager Jiang was watching Doukou write when she suddenly heard a palace maid come to report the good news that Concubine Meng had woken up. She was so happy that she put all the tea bowls on her body, and the tea immediately soaked her robe.

Fortunately, it was only early winter and people were wearing thick clothes, so they didn't get soaked for a while.

Empress Dowager Jiang cried out repeatedly, "Look at me, this old fool. Now I am getting my clothes wet just by drinking tea."

Zang Xiu hurried over, took a handkerchief and wiped the Empress Dowager's face, saying with a smile, "The Imperial Concubine has woken up. This is a great joyous event. No wonder the Empress Dowager couldn't even hold the tea bowl."

Empress Dowager Jiang laughed and sighed, "Three months, who would have thought that little Yan would suddenly wake up at this time. This is really... wonderful, no matter how big the joy is, it is not as big as this! The twelfth lunar month is almost here, and I was just nagging that little Yan wouldn't be able to accompany me during the New Year. When the time comes, I will be sitting while she lies down, what's the point of it being so lonely!"

Zang Xiu smiled and said, "It seems that Heaven heard the Empress Dowager's wishes and specially released the Imperial Concubine. Or perhaps the Imperial Concubine was also thinking about the Empress Dowager in her past life, so she found her way back."

Doukou, who was standing nearby, heard the news, dropped her pen, got off the stool and wanted to run out.

Empress Dowager Jiang hurriedly called her back, "Come back, little girl. What are you doing?!"

Doukou was pulled back by the palace maid and said with a pout, "Mom is awake, grandson wants to go find her!"

Empress Dowager Jiang tapped her little head and said, "Wait here. I'll change my clothes and then we'll go together, grandparents and grandchildren." After saying that, she went into the inner room and asked the palace maid to help her change into robes.

After coming out, she changed her mind, thinking to herself, the maid had just woken up, and the emperor must have gone over by now. Who knows how many intimate things they would have to say. It seemed a bit inconsiderate for her to rush over with a little kid...

Forget it, let’s go tomorrow and let the young couple spend more time together.

Thinking about this, she pulled Doukou over and said, "My dear granddaughter, listen to your grandmother and don't go today. Finish your homework. She will ask the kitchen to make you eight-treasure soup and amber cake."

Doukou refused to comply and tried to act coquettishly in front of Empress Dowager Jiang for a long time, but seeing that the Empress Dowager was not going to give in at all, she had to give up.

In Chunze Zhai, Meng Yan changed into a light green silk jacket and sat on the bed with a small pearwood table in front of her.

On the table there was a bowl of millet porridge, a plate of magnolia tofu, and a plate of stir-fried artemisia.