Chapter 105

Fearing that Rong Rong might misunderstand or overthink, after Ding Caiwei's matter was over, Li Tianyi dismissed everyone and still held Rong Rong in his arms, carefully explaining that he had been forced to participate in the imperial selection during the morning court session.

"Rongrong, don't be angry. I will only ever have you as my wife." Li Tianyi took Rongrong's hand and kissed it repeatedly.

Rong Rong chuckled and pulled her hand back. "Of course I'm not angry!"

"There are plenty of handsome men in the world, there's no need to fight with someone!" Rong Rong tilted her head back and looked at Li Tianyi with a smile, like a proud little cat. If there was anything that displeased her, she would leave immediately.

Li Tianyi's arms tightened suddenly, and a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes. Although he knew that Rong Rong was someone he had forced into marriage, and that a goddess like Rong Rong would naturally not be moved by anyone, he still felt sad when he heard Rong Rong's indifferent words.

The thought that Rongrong would be lying in someone else's arms after his death made him want to kill.

Li Tianyi's expression grew increasingly gloomy, as if a storm was brewing.

He stopped speaking and simply held Rong Rong tighter and tighter, as if he wanted to imprison her in his arms forever.

This feeling was very uncomfortable. Rong Rong struggled, and in her movements, she seemed to forget that Li Tianyi was no longer the Li Tianyi of twenty years ago.

Suddenly, Li Tianyi coughed violently, quickly released his arms to cover his mouth, and was about to get up and leave.

Rong Rong grabbed Li Tianyi's arm, stopping him, and immediately noticed the blood seeping through Li Tianyi's fingers.

A palace maid quickly stepped forward and presented him with a handkerchief. Li Tianyi took it nonchalantly and used it to wipe the blood from his hands and mouth.

Rong Rong's eyes were filled with worry. She knew that Li Tianyi was very ill, but knowing it was different from seeing it with her own eyes.

"My days are numbered," Li Tianyi said calmly, as if discussing the weather.

"Is there really no cure? Imperial Physician..."

"No, I'm old." Li Tianyi sighed deeply, his eyes staring blankly in another direction the whole time, as if he dared not meet Rong Rong's gaze.

Rong Rong suddenly cupped Li Tianyi's face and turned him to look into her eyes.

"Even when he's old, he'll still be that gentle and refined Third Prince." Rong Rong smiled radiantly, as if the blazing sun were shining into Li Tianyi's heart, which was about to be swallowed by darkness.

Li Tianyi remained silent for a long time, his pupils reflecting Rong Rong's image. This was the first time since their reunion that Li Tianyi had dared to gaze deeply at Rong Rong, not while she was asleep.

His eyes stung slightly. Rong Rong was still the same Rong Rong he had just met. He was content to see her again before he died. Even if... even if it was all just his imagination, he was grateful to God!

"After I'm gone, you are free to come and go as you please and live the life you want."

"Don't talk nonsense."

Rong Rong nestled against Li Tianyi's chest, trying to hide the helpless expression on her face.

Without supreme power and strength, it wouldn't be so easy for her to gain freedom. In comparison, she would rather Li Tianyi live a little longer so that she could survive until the hidden mission appears.

Li Tianyi put his arm around Rong Rong's back, and the palace servants quietly left the room.

The room became warm and quiet. Rong Rong didn't say anything, but in this unfamiliar world, suddenly encountering someone she knew before made her relax her tense nerves to some extent.

Even though her acquaintance with Li Tianyi wasn't pleasant, he still gave her a certain sense of security.

Gradually, Rongrong drifted off to sleep.

Li Tianyi gently carried the person to the bed, covered them with the blanket, and walked out the door alone.

"Your Majesty." Nan Shi had always been by the door, and had recently grown accustomed to his master gazing at the moon in the night.

But this time was different; Li Tianyi issued an order.

"Secretly recall Yang Yan."

Before they knew it, the day of the coronation ceremony arrived.

From the time Li Tianyi brought Rong Rong back to the grand ceremony of her coronation, time was very tight, but Li Tianyi refused to simplify things in the slightest.

This caused great hardship for the Ministry of Rites. They worked overtime day and night, but still could not successfully prepare for the ceremony.

There was no other way; they had to draw personnel from the other five departments, and they even obtained Li Tianyi's approval.

The entire state apparatus seemed to have come to a standstill, making way for Emperor Chengyuan's coronation ceremony.

This action once again caused many court officials to frown and sigh deeply.

Emperor Chengyuan had clearly eliminated the Daqian and unified the world, achieving remarkable feats and serving as a model for emperors, destined for eternal fame. Unfortunately, his indulgence in love cast a shadow over his wise and mighty image, tinging it with darkness.

It's like a beautiful jade getting a flaw, which is a pity.

But Li Tianyi didn't care about any of that. He attacked Daqian back then only for Rong Rong.

Before dawn, court officials and members of the imperial family arrived at the palace, took their positions, and waited quietly for the arrival of the emperor and empress.

As if knowing today was an important day, the magpie led a flock of birds, chirping and twittering, to fly over people's heads and linger there.

The cheerful birdsong seemed to have a rhythm, playing a melody of phoenixes soaring together.

As the morning glow spreads across the earth, it bathes the birds in golden light, making them appear at first glance like a flock of celestial birds.

Combined with today's scene, it truly evokes the feeling of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix.

Countless people stared in shock at the sky above them. Could this be destiny?

Their emperor had clearly been devoted to his former lover and refused to be near women again, so why is he suddenly going to marry an orphan girl? What else could it be but destiny?

Didn't you see that even the heavens sent down miracles to add splendor to her coronation ceremony?

At this moment, many people who had previously looked down on and neglected the new queen changed their views.

There are countless legends about miracles and auspicious omens since ancient times, but most of them are fabricated by people. However, no one could see any trace of human intervention in the scene before them.

This also made them feel even more awe towards the new queen whom they believed to be ordained by Heaven.

Unlike the others, the Crown Prince, Xie Tianrui, Lou Boshan, and the others all stared at the flock of birds in the sky with dark eyes.

Especially Xie Tianrui, in his heart, Rong Rong is his wife, and he is the original wife, the rightful empress! What kind of stupid bird in the sky can't distinguish between primary and secondary matters, and is actually singing for the wedding of Emperor Chengyuan and Rong Rong.

At that moment, he wished he could take a bow and shoot down every single one of the noisy birds in the sky!

The Crown Prince, however, seemed lost in thought. He, who had once resembled the young Emperor Chengyuan the most, had recently lost his former gentleness.

Lou Boshan remained as expressionless as ever, his face revealing nothing of his thoughts.

Yu Yingyan, Yu Yingyan is a spoiled brat with no real talent, he has no right to be here.

He was confined to his home by Chief Minister Yu, who declared that he could not leave until after the coronation ceremony.

His room had long been a mess, but Chief Minister Yu had ordered that no one be allowed to clean it for him, so he slept in that chaotic room all day long.

Yu Yingyan felt that he had been punished for toying with other people's feelings. He was cursed by countless people to never get the person he loved most.

At the time, he dismissed it and didn't think he would ever fall in love with anyone again.

But now, all the curses have come true for him, and the one he loves is so far away.