Chapter 329 From Youth to White Hair (End of Text)
The afternoon sunlight sprinkled in the courtyard of "Chunhui Hall" like broken gold.
The yard is surrounded by flowers, plants, fruits and vegetables. The roses are in full bloom climbing along the bamboo fence, and the pomegranate trees are hanging with half-red fruits.
Under the grapevines, the swing swayed slightly in the breeze.
It's like a beautiful painting.
Liu Yuetang sat on a rattan chair, lazily waving the fan in her hand, looking at the children in the school who were getting healthier and having a home, and a quiet smile appeared on the corners of her mouth.
A moment later, Anuo from the school slowly walked over to Liu Yuetang, holding a book and pointing at a sentence in the book. "Aunt Yuetang, what does 'I wish to win the heart of one person and stay together till we grow old' mean?"
Liu Yuetang's fingertips landed on the page, and as she looked at the poem on it, she said, "It means that two people hold each other in their hearts, from youth to old age, and will only accompany each other for their entire lives."
Anuo tilted his head, and stared at her with eyes like black grapes: "Auntie, do you have someone you like like this?"
Liu Yuetang's eyes paused, she looked up at the rose that covered the wall in the corner of the yard, and after a moment of silence, she said softly:
“Yes.”
Ah Nuo frowned and thought for a while, then asked in confusion: "Then why isn't my aunt with him? Doesn't he like my aunt?"
Liu Yuetang's eyes gradually became dazed, and suddenly a figure appeared in her mind.
"He likes my aunt."
"It's just that my aunt yearned for freedom, and even more so for the lifelong love described in the poems. My aunt liked him, but she loved herself more, so she gave up on him."
Xiao Heng, who was standing on the other side of the wall, already had tears in his eyes.
He held his chest, which was beating so fast that it seemed like it was going to break his ribs, and stared blankly at the white figure in the yard.
The wind blew through the hems of their skirts, and among the crisscrossing branches and leaves, he couldn't see her face clearly, but he saw her bright red lips slightly parted with a faint smile.
Just like the first time we met in the plum garden.
But this time, he was clear in his heart and understood.
Xiao Heng turned around slowly, his back stretched out in the sunset.
Suddenly, he laughed softly, his laughter was filled with relief and a bit of indescribable bitterness.
"Your Majesty... aren't you going in?" Zhou Defu stared at Xiao Heng in a daze.
Xiao Heng shook his head.
No need to go in.
He had heard what he wanted to hear most.
Those two words completely untied the knot that had been weighing on his heart for three years.
It turned out that he was not the only one who was obsessed with her all these years. She also had a little star in her heart for him.
It's just that I just didn't understand her all this time.
That’s enough…
As long as she liked me, it was enough...
*****
In the winter of the eleventh year of Jingyuan, Xiao Heng personally led an expedition against the State of Jiang and captured its capital in March.
The following year, he led his troops to the Kingdom of Yantai. After a half-year naval battle, the warships were destroyed in an instant. The King of Yantai tied himself up and surrendered. The Central Plains fell into his hands, and the lifelong wish of the late emperor and ancestors was completely fulfilled.
When Xiao Heng returned victoriously, his armor was covered in blood and wounds. He fainted at the banquet, causing everyone in the hall to exclaim in shock.
In the 13th year of Jingyuan, the Central Plains was at peace. Xiao Heng reduced taxes and corvee labor, built canals, and revitalized agriculture. The people were well-fed and well-clothed, and praised the emperor's grace.
Xiao Heng completely lived up to the ideal of a wise monarch in the eyes of the people.
However, in the year when he achieved unprecedented success, the old injuries he suffered on the battlefield suddenly recurred.
The imperial doctors tried every possible remedy but were ultimately unable to save the patient.
In just three days, Long Yu had already flown west.
At this time, Liu Yuetang was drinking tea on Zhuque Street.
Suddenly, I heard the guests at the next table chatting, "Have you heard? News just came out from the palace. The emperor has been fighting frequently on the battlefields for the past few years. He already has a lot of old injuries and has exhausted his energy in the government. Last night... he passed away."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a loud "clang" and the teacup fell on the table.
Liu Yuetang's face instantly lost all color, and warm water vapor filled her eyes, blurring her vision.
She stared blankly at the people drinking tea at the next table, and managed to stand up by holding onto the edge of the table.
"What did you say?"
The man at the next table sighed and looked at Liu Yuetang, "You haven't heard yet?"
"The Emperor passed away last night. His will passed the throne to the eldest prince and honored the Empress as the Empress Dowager."
At this point, he sighed deeply and shook his head with a look of sorrow: "The Emperor is only thirty-two years old, in the prime of his life. He is a wise and benevolent monarch rarely seen in a century. How could it be that he would not live long enough..."
Before he finished speaking, the sound of a gong suddenly rang out from outside the teahouse, accompanied by the official's loud reading: "In accordance with the late emperor's will - the country will be in mourning for three years, all subjects will wear plain clothes, banquets and music will be banned, and marriages will be prohibited for three months..."
A sharp sound reached my ears, and I trembled all over with fear.
Liu Yuetang turned around suddenly, pushed the wooden chair away and rushed out.
The street was crowded with people wearing plain clothes, but her purple dress was particularly eye-catching among the gray and white crowd.
The hem of her skirt was lifted by the wind, and the heavy sound of her feet stepping on the stone slabs seemed to shatter the peaceful days of the past five years.
She was pushing her way through the crowd, and her fingertips hooked onto something, leaving a scarlet scar. The blood from her palm dripped through her fingers onto the bluestone slab.
But she felt nothing and ran towards the vermilion palace wall.
As I turned the corner, a pale figure suddenly caught my eye.
Liu Yuetang's steps suddenly stopped and she stood there in a daze.
Looking at that familiar figure, her breathing stopped for a moment.
The ecstasy in my chest almost burst through my throat, but was gripped by inexplicable panic.
Liu Yuetang called out in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty?"
The man turned around after hearing the sound.
The bluish-white sleeves swept across the paper money on the ground, raising fine dust.
The two looked at each other from a distance.
He raised his lips slightly.
She smiled through her tears.
Xiao Heng walked towards Liu Yuetang step by step, gazing at her deeply.
There was no imperial majesty in it, only tenderness that had accumulated for a long time, like the moon reflected in a deep pool, illuminating only her.
There was only room for her.
"There is no emperor here."
He looked into her tearful eyes and gradually walked towards her.
"Only Liu Yuetang's husband, Xiao Heng."
Liu Yuetang's lips trembled, tears fell and formed clear traces, "Wait a minute..."
The smile on Xiao Heng's face suddenly froze, and he stopped in his tracks, looking at her nervously.
Liu Yuetang smiled, even more charming than when she was under the plum tree that year: "You have taken so many steps for me just now, now this step, let me take it."
As she spoke, she lifted the hem of her skirt and slowly took a step towards him.
The moment the hem of the purple skirt gently touched the edge of the bluish-white robe, they saw themselves from black hair to white hair in each other's eyes.
The main text is over.
——End of the celebration
I wish that all women in the world will first love themselves like blooming flowers, and then meet their true love and keep the fragrance for their whole life.
(Love yourself first, then be loved)
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