Chapter 102 is truly morbid.

A northerly wind swept through the night, bringing snow, and leaden clouds rolled across the sky. The heavy snow covered the palace, a pristine white expanse that reached above ankle height.

The heavy snow continued to fall, so hard that it was impossible to open one's eyes. Even under the eaves, there were few people to be seen. In the snow-white world, a person hurried across the snow, passed through the majestic palace walls, and rushed towards the Xuande Hall.

Just after New Year's Eve, in the evening of the first day of the new year, Imperial Physician Dou of the Imperial Medical Bureau received a summons, saying that His Majesty was unwell.

As soon as Physician Dou stepped into Xuande Hall, he felt a wave of heat hit him, the air was extremely stuffy, and there were several heaters placed inside the hall.

Further in, past the curtains, one could see the Sage, reclining on a dragon throne covered with a fox fur. He was relaxed, his jade crown was not fastened, his eyebrows and eyes were like mountains and rivers, but his skin was excessively pale, and his figure was too slender. Leaning there, the dragon throne appeared somewhat narrow.

Zhong Changjun briefly explained the situation, and then Imperial Physician Dou came to take the emperor's pulse. He held his breath and concentrated on the diagnosis, then withdrew his hand after a moment and reported, "Your Majesty's pulse is deep and slow, due to past injuries and illnesses. You are extremely sensitive to the cold in winter, and after the snow fell last night, the cold air invaded your body, coupled with Your Majesty's..."

He paused before continuing, "The qi and blood are attacking your heart, and you haven't been able to sleep, which has triggered your discomfort. Your Majesty is worried about the affairs of the country, but you should also pay attention to your health."

Xiao Zhuo closed his eyes and nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Physician Dou then went to the side to write a prescription, and heard the Emperor lazily instructing Zhong Changjun: "Go and summon Jia Li to the palace."

Zhong Changjun replied, "Yes."

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, all officials were on holiday. Founding Duke Jia Li was also reuniting with his family at his residence when he received a sudden summons from the emperor, forcing him to rush over immediately.

Jia Li, standing outside the palace, sighed to Zhong Changjun, "His Majesty should rest. He's busy with state affairs even on the first day of the Lunar New Year. You should all think of His Majesty and try to persuade him. Is it something important that you summoned me today?"

The emperor was diligent in governing, often summoning his ministers in the middle of the night or early morning to handle state affairs. A wise and virtuous ruler is a good thing, but being too wise can cause trouble for those below him.

Zhong Changjun's expression was not good. He immediately told him about the conflict between the Emperor and Empress the night before, omitting the key details.

Upon hearing this, Jia Li glanced at Zhong Changjun again, understood, and then lifted the curtain to enter and pay his respects to the emperor. He first offered New Year's greetings, and then exchanged pleasantries and inquired about the emperor's health.

Xiao Zhuo didn't say a word, not even bothering to lift his eyelids, and leaned back in his chair. "Come and sit down."

Jia Li looked up and saw the scene before her, and her heart sank.

The emperor was in very poor condition. His long hair was disheveled, his face was pale and sickly, and he exuded a strong sense of listlessness that was almost impossible to conceal.

Since the emperor ascended the throne, he has mostly presented a composed, elegant, and witty side to the public.

The last time I saw the emperor like this was several years ago. Jia Li was in a daze.

The world had just been established, and Xiao Zhuo, having long harbored resentment towards the late emperor, resigned his position as crown prince not long after the founding of the Great Qi Kingdom and went to Jiangnan. Before their parting, Xiao Zhuo was in such a melancholy and world-weary state that Jia Li was genuinely worried that Xiao Zhuo might do something impulsive... At that time, he did not seem to have any attachment to the mortal world.

Everything can be attributed to the chaos of the times.

He and Xiao Zhuo were once close friends. They were both from prominent families and were young and spirited, dressed in fine clothes and riding spirited horses. However, at the end of the Chu Dynasty, the world was in chaos and people suffered greatly.

The beginning of a chaotic era inevitably leads to collapse. People eat each other, the land is scorched and barren, and bones lie scattered in the wilderness. The law of the jungle prevails, and all the evil in human nature is unleashed. Warlords fight for power, and many are driven to cruelty by the cruelty of the people, choosing to fight violence with violence.

But Jia Li clearly remembered that Xiao Zhuo and he rode together on a verdant mountain, watching the setting sun, like blood, envelop the world.

At that time, Xiao Zhuo, who was already the heir apparent of the Prince of Qi, said: "Now that I am holding the whip, I will prevent the barbarian cavalry from crossing Yinshan, ensure that the granaries are always full, and bring peace to the four seas."

The vast twilight enveloped Xiao Zhuo's face, and the wind made his robes rustle.

Jia Li vividly remembers that day; the wind blew through his internal organs, stirring his heart and leaving him speechless with awe.

This is a process of tempering one's character through repeated destruction and reconstruction, while also imbuing one with lofty ideals.

However, the underlying nature is destined to be distorted.

Having witnessed countless massacres and already bearing the scars, how could they possibly maintain a normal demeanor? They were merely on edge, wearing a mask to disguise themselves.

Later, the late emperor disregarded the alliance with his allies, only wanting to unify the world. He broke his promise and personally caused the deaths of his two children who had been sent as hostages. His allies beheaded them and displayed their heads on the city wall.

These two children were Xiao Zhuo's half-sister and half-brother, whom he protected during the war when he was young, enduring the enemy's massacre of the city. Their bond was especially deep.

Later, the Qi army, under his command, swept across the land, but soon after establishing his rule, all conflicts with the late emperor erupted.

The relationship between father and son has fallen apart beyond repair.

Xiao Zhuo's temperament was also washed away by the chaos of the world, sinking into an abyss.

If there is anything that the emperor cannot tolerate, it is deception and betrayal in matters of the heart.

After so long, Daqi is now under the emperor's rule, with benevolent governance and peace throughout the land. Jia Li has almost forgotten Xiao Zhuo's retreat to Jiangnan and the strong sense of world-weariness he once carried.

Seeing you again today was like a bolt from the blue.

"His Majesty?"

Jia Li looked at Zhong Changjun, and in their eye contact, they both saw worry and fear in each other's eyes.

The emperor suddenly asked, "Your men investigated the matter at the hunting grounds, but they found nothing."

Jia Li said, "It is their incompetence. I will order them to investigate again, and they will surely come to a conclusion."

Xiao Zhuo raised his hand, indicating that it was unnecessary, and asked, "I want to ask you, how did you and Di Hu meet?"

Jia Li keenly said, "I met Di Hu at a friend's residence. I personally tested his martial arts skills and learned a lot about his past before recommending him to Your Majesty. Is Your Majesty's question about the hunting grounds related to Di Hu?"

Previously, the emperor ordered an investigation into the hunting ground case and suspected there were other hidden circumstances. Jia Li should have investigated Di Hu, but Di Hu had already taken up his post in the Northwest and was personally recommended by Jia Li, so Jia Li did not follow this lead.

But now the emperor has asked a question...

He was about to say that he would investigate Di Hu's matter when Xiao Zhuo said, "Let's close this case here."

Jia Li was stunned, then suddenly remembered something and said, "I heard from Attendant Zhong that Your Majesty argued with the Empress last night. Could it be that the hunting grounds were..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Zhuo coldly interrupted her, saying, "This matter has nothing to do with her."

After that, the emperor did not speak again.

Jia Li breathed a sigh of relief. "I presume to guess that Your Majesty summoned me here because of something with the Empress? How did Your Majesty and the Empress have a falling out?"

Xiao Zhuo then opened his eyes, his gaze indifferent to the point of being almost apathetic.

"We had a minor argument."

But why would a mere verbal argument provoke such a reaction from the Emperor? Jia Li said, "The Empress... her words were disrespectful?"

Xiao Zhuo said, "No."

"Was that an act that harmed His Majesty?"

Xiao Zhuo remained noncommittal. "Have you and your wife ever argued before? How did you resolve it?"

Jia Li said, "What couple in the world doesn't argue? As long as what the Empress did didn't harm His Majesty's safety or involve any fundamental scheming, it's not a big deal. Couples should be tolerant of each other. If the Empress knows her mistake, then His Majesty should give her a way out."

Xiao Zhuo said, "What if we calculate the root cause?"

Jia Li was taken aback: "If this is His Majesty's bottom line... then naturally it is the Empress's fault. The minor punishment is a reprieve, but the major responsibility rests entirely with His Majesty."

Xiao Zhuo said, "What she did would not have spared any other monarch. It would have been enough to depose her as empress. She has no feelings for me at all. Compared to what she wants, she would definitely abandon me."

Hearing the emperor speak in such a heavy tone, Jia Li said, "Although my wife and I have had occasional quarrels, we have never done anything to harm each other. If Your Majesty feels that the Empress has done something that would warrant deposing her, then that would be a grave mistake. Your Majesty and the Empress are husband and wife, but also ruler and subject."

The implication is: handle this matter in the same way that one would treat a subject.

Xiao Zhuo listened in silence, then nodded: "Of course. But when I encountered a wild bear in Hualin Garden, she rushed over and saved me."

Jia Li said, "The situation was critical at the time, and I was the first to try to stop Your Majesty, as were many of the guards."

Xiao Zhuo shook his head: "She didn't have to do that, but she still pounced on me."

Jia Li said, "This is what the Empress should do."

Xiao Zhuo stood up and laughed, "There is no such thing as 'should'. Everyone has a fear of death. In times of crisis, who would risk their life to protect me? The guards are for merit, but what is the Empress for? Besides, I was also wrong to force her to tell what she didn't want to say."

Jia Li's words were cut off several times. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the emperor's expression and shut his mouth.

Xiao Zhuo stood by the open window, the cold wind howling in from outside, carrying with it a flurry of heavy snowflakes that fell on him.

Amidst the flickering lights, her fair face remained fixed on the distant tower, unblinking.

Zhong Changjun hurriedly stepped forward with the cloak, "Oh, Your Majesty, the imperial physician said you need to take care of your health. Wear this cloak and don't let the cold seep into your body again."

Xiao Zhuo's thin lips were pressed into a thin line, his hand rested on the windowsill, his shoulders covered with snow.

After a long while, he turned back to look at Jia Li and said, "She cares about me."

Jia Li: "...Yes."

"Knock knock," a few knocks sounded from outside the door, and a report came from outside the hall, interrupting the conversation. It was said that a palace servant from the Empress's side requested an audience.

Zhong Changjun glanced at the emperor, walked out of the outer hall, and saw a palace maid standing outside the door. She went up to her and asked, "Does Your Highness have something to say to His Majesty?"

The palace maid said, "Your Majesty, Your Excellency, the Empress has sent me to retrieve the edict that Your Majesty left for her last night, but which you did not finish writing in your haste."

The vast hall fell into a deathly silence for a moment.

Zhong Changjun broke out in a cold sweat. He never expected that the Empress would want this item. He turned around and saw that Xiao Zhuo's face had turned pale.

The emperor's thick, dark eyelashes hung over his eyelids, the candlelight flickered on his cheeks, his face was pale, and his cold gaze looked through the beaded curtain.

He suddenly coughed, covering his lips with his hand, and saw bright red blood flowing out between his fingers, which was extremely horrifying.

Zhong Changjun rushed forward and helped Xiao Zhuo up, while Jia Li was also taken aback.

The emperor, his hand resting on the table, raised his face, his eyelashes trembling, looking incredibly vulnerable, yet his gaze was cold as he stared directly at the palace servants.

Zhong Changjun only heard the emperor chuckle softly, but this chuckle was different from any he had heard before, making his scalp tingle.

"OK."

**

The cold wind lashed against the tall tower, and the interior was icy cold.

This tall tower is called Qifengtai, standing amidst wind and snow. It is named after the phoenixes with outstretched wings cast on its eaves.

A chill occasionally seeped in through the cracks in the window, and because of the high altitude, even the howling of the cold wind was more intense.

In the quiet room, the crackling of charcoal fire in the fireplace illuminated a woman bent over her work. On the table in front of her were palettes of various colors and sizes, and she was sketching a portrait of a lady.

The young woman wore no makeup, no jewelry, and her black hair flowed freely down her back. Although she had moved to this place, she did not show the slightest sign of resentment. She was focused on painting, and the room was quiet.

Footsteps approached from afar, and soon the palace doors opened, and a palace maid who had gone to deliver the message walked in.

Yuan Chaolu asked, "Has the message been delivered?"

"Your Majesty, I have delivered it."

"What did he say?" Yuan Chaolu did not address His Majesty as "Your Majesty," but instead used his courtesy name.

The Empress spoke casually, but the palace servants inside the hall couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines upon hearing it.

The palace maid replied, "His Majesty said he understands."

"Then what?"

"His Majesty has said so, and soon after, the Xuande Hall sent me back."

Yuan Chaolu then raised her head, her beautiful face slightly tense, and put the pen down with a crisp sound.

Seeing that the palace goddess looked unwell, as if she had been frightened, Yuan Chaolu pulled her to sit down by the stove to warm herself and asked what was wrong.

The palace maid said it was just because of the cold weather that her body felt a little stiff.

The Empress warmed her hands and told her to go back first, and that the remaining palace servants did not need to stay there.

The palace servants replied, "Yes."

Yuan Chaolu's gaze returned to the painting of a lady in front of her. The woman's eyebrows were like dark mountains, her eyes like rippling water, and she smiled charmingly. Her features were somewhat similar to Yuan Chaolu's. The painting was of Yuan Zhaobi.

Her elder sister sent word in the afternoon that she would come to keep her company tonight, so Yuan Chaolu specially prepared this portrait as a New Year's gift for her.

Originally, her elder sister's legs had not fully recovered and she could only walk with difficulty. Yuan Chaolu couldn't bear to see her like this, but she couldn't stop her elder sister from insisting on going up the tower.

Thinking of this, Yuan Chaolu smiled slightly, got up and walked to the cabinet next to her, where she hung up the scroll to dry.

The wind and snow were extremely strong at night, and snowflakes fluttered against the windows.

Yuan Chaolu first sat on the couch, quietly listening to the sound of wind and snow outside the window.

After an unknown amount of time, the candles seemed to go out, and not a single ray of light could be seen inside the tower. It was eerily dark and silent all around. Yuan Chaolu, in a daze, pulled the blankets around her tightly.

In a daze, she felt someone sitting by the bed. The person had long, black hair and a beautiful profile, and was looking at her.

"Sister."

The woman reached out a hand from under the covers, grasped the man's wrist, and then pressed her cheek against it, gently rubbing it.

Yuan Chaolu felt that the man's fingers were long and slender, gently caressing her cheek.

"Who is your elder sister?"

In the darkness, Yuan Chaolu woke up, opened her eyes, and finally saw the scene before her by the moonlight.

The man sat there casually, dressed in a snow-white robe and a black fox fur coat, looking down at her with disdain.

Just as Yuan Chaolu was about to pull her hand away, his five fingers slid between her fingers, touching each one to the other.

"They manipulate me like a puppet, get close to me, use me, call me 'Third Brother' when they like me, and then ruthlessly withdraw when they don't. They've really played a very clever game."

His eyes were cold and sinister. He leaned down with a smile, his fox fur still covered with unmelted snowflakes. A chill swept over her as she saw his face magnified before her, his long hair falling onto her cheek, carrying a damp, cold scent.

"Whom do you want to divorce?"

Drip, drip, the snow water slid down his hair and hit Yuan Chaolu's nose.

Yuan Chao had never seen him like this before. His cheeks were red from the cold. He tried to turn away, but Yuan Chao grabbed his chin and trapped him between the bed and Yuan Chao.

He stroked her cheek with his fingertips. Her face, glistening with snowflakes, had a touch of aloofness. He looked at her with a slight upturn of his eyebrows, and he was actually smiling.

The voice, however, was languid, "Tell me—"

"Good Osprey."

He pressed his wrist against hers, climbed onto her bed, and spoke sweet nothings through his thin lips, his cool, damp breath lingering around her ear.

"Whom do you want to divorce?"

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Author's Note: There will be a red envelope (cash gift) in this chapter!