Chapter 330 Extra 1 (Giving Up the World for Her)
After returning to the palace from Chunhui Hall, Xiao Heng stayed alone in Zichen Hall for a long time.
He could understand that Liu Yuetang wanted to be with someone for the rest of her life.
After all, men in Lanyue Country never take concubines and only marry one person in their lifetime.
A man can only marry a second wife if his original wife dies.
Even emperors are no exception.
Which woman in the world doesn’t want to have her husband all to herself?
Who doesn’t want to have a complete love?
Thinking of this, Xiao Heng suddenly remembered what Liu Yuetang had said before.
That day, in the Zhaixing Pavilion.
She said, "If I could let you trade your royal status for this simple happiness, would you be willing?"
In fact, at that moment, he was moved.
He even thought that when An'er could firmly shoulder the heavy responsibility of governing the country in the future, he would follow the example of his grandfather, take off his dragon robe, and follow her footsteps.
However, he was also afraid that the man she loved was not him.
He was afraid that if he went there, he would only bring her constraints, not freedom.
But today, he heard the words that made him happiest.
She said she loved herself.
The reason why she wanted to leave me was because I couldn't give her the free and easy world she longed for, and the love that would last a lifetime.
She had been moved before, but the palace walls and the throne became obstacles between them.
Maybe... he could really try to give her the life she wanted.
When two hearts are connected, one of them must take off his armor first.
His armor is too thick, so let him take it off.
After a long moment of hesitation, Xiao Heng raised his head and whispered to the dark night, "Father, if I did something you once wanted to do but didn't dare to do, would you... be happy for me?"
The night wind blew through the corridor, rustling the tassels of the lanterns under the window, making a faint response.
He didn't know if it was his illusion, but in the inky sky, a bright star suddenly flickered, as if an eye was blinking.
A faint and gentle smile spread across Xiao Heng's lips: "I think you will."
So, in the following days, Xiao Heng put all his focus on the eldest prince Xiao Cheng'an.
In the early morning, he was taught martial arts and sword skills.
In the afternoon, I explained to him the meaning of the scriptures and benevolent governance and virtue.
At dusk, he was slowly taught to read memorials and trained to handle government affairs.
Xiao Cheng'an was intelligent and studious, and soon became capable of standing on his own.
When Xiao Heng went to the battlefield, it was the Grand Tutor who took him with him and managed the government affairs in an orderly manner.
What made Xiao Heng most gratified was that since Cheng An was raised by the Queen, his temperament had become more and more stable, sensible and studious.
The most important point is that an emperor should be kind and generous, and love his people as he loves his own children.
Therefore, when he went to Jiang State and Yantai State, Xiao Heng could kill the enemy on the battlefield without any worries.
In just two years, he recovered both countries.
The unified Central Plains fulfilled the ancestors' last wish.
But it was during these years that he overworked himself and finally collapsed.
After three months of rest, his health gradually improved and he regained his former majestic appearance.
Just because he wants to be in the best condition to see the woman he has been thinking about.
However, despite this, in just a few years, he has aged ten years and has a few white hairs on his temples.
After careful consideration, Xiao Heng made an important decision.
He couldn't wait any longer. He wanted to leave the palace and find her right now. He wanted to stay by her side and ride a light horse with her to see the willows in the south of the Yangtze River and the lonely smoke in the north of the Great Wall, from black hair to white hair.
He didn't want to waste any more time.
Therefore, he no longer wanted the honorable position of the emperor, and gave up the shackles of the emperor. From then on, he was only Xiao Heng, the husband of Liu Yuetang.
Let her stay by his side safely, without having to bow her head and be submissive because of his status, and without having to worry about the three wives and four concubines in the palace.
In the years to come, she is the only one who will stay with me until we are old.
Xiao Heng was the first to tell the Queen about this decision.
The candlelight in Weiyang Palace flickered, casting Xiao Heng's shadow on the window frame, sometimes long and sometimes short.
"Zitong." He used a name that he hadn't called for a long time.
He looked deeply at the woman in front of him who had been with him for fifteen years.
She is still gentle and virtuous, just as she was when we first met.
The queen was startled, and when she raised her eyelids slightly, the faint shadow in front of her eyes disappeared.
Their eyes met, and she heard him say, "I'm leaving."
The queen suddenly clenched her handkerchief with her fingertips, as if everything was expected. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she tried her best to control her emotions.
After a long time, she slowly leaned over and looked at Xiao Heng's face, feeling sad.
All his words were reduced to a brief sentence: "May the Emperor achieve his wish and be free from all ties."
Xiao Heng reached out and helped her up.
The two sat for a long time, their expressions calm and complicated.
Finally, Xiao Heng spoke, "Zi Tong, An'er is a good child and filial to you. In a few years, when he's older, you can relax and enjoy your retirement. Do the things you enjoy, like planting flowers, raising fish, or cooking. Anything is fine."
"Your Majesty..." The Queen raised her eyes, her eyes slightly red.
Xiao Heng smiled, "I know you like these things, but over the years, the identity of Queen has restricted you too much."
The queen felt a sour taste in her throat.
In her free time, she loves to tend to flowers and plants, or cook her favorite dish, which can relieve her sorrow no matter how unhappy she is.
When she first entered the Eastern Palace, she planted flowers in the yard and cooked for herself, but when the Queen Mother found out, she summoned her and gave her a lecture.
Even when my father and mother came, they said in a serious tone, "The Crown Princess is of noble status. Gardening and cooking are things that only servants do. If this gets out, people will laugh at the Eastern Palace for losing its decorum and our Xie family will not know how to raise a daughter."
Later... she put the bag of orchid seeds that had not been planted yet into the deep of her dressing table.
I never set foot on the stove in the small kitchen again.
As time went by, she almost forgot that she used to like growing flowers and cooking.
The queen's eyes grew hazy as she continued to listen to him, "There are still many days ahead."
"It's time to live for yourself."
Live for yourself...
The Queen's breath was caught in her throat. For the first time in fifteen years, she failed to control her demeanor and emotions in front of Xiao Heng, and tears fell from her eyes.
“Don’t cry…”
Xiao Heng slowly raised his hand and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"From now on, you don't need to care about the Xie family or your own identity. Just be Xie Shutong and stop shedding tears in the deep palace."
The Queen took a deep breath and choked up, "Your Majesty, I'm sorry..."
"Over the years, because of the Xie family and the position of Empress, I have also..."
Before the queen could finish her words, a warm feeling covered her arm.
She turned her head and saw Xiao Heng's hand.
Xiao Heng looked at the phoenix hairpin on the queen's temples. He had put it on her with his own hands on the day she was crowned queen.
His eyes were firm yet soft: "Zitong, in my heart, you are the best queen of Jingyuan."
"But I... am not a good husband."
"I'm sorry for having wronged you over the years." He slowly cleared his throat.
"You manage my harem, raise my children, and uphold the dignity of being the Queen Mother. But all I give you is this empty throne and countless lonely nights."
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