Chapter 137 Passing
In the golden autumn of October, when the sweet osmanthus is fragrant and the harvest season is in full swing, news came from the Yushan Palace that the emperor was critically ill.
The emperor suffered a stroke first, and then suffered a serious injury. After arriving at the temporary palace, his spirit became weaker day by day, and he had been unconscious for the past two days. The eunuch Li who was taking care of him sent a message to the palace.
After Empress Dowager Hua, Emperor Jiawen and other princes and relatives arrived, the retired emperor suddenly woke up, looked around, and only asked to see Emperor Jiawen, who specifically asked to see Princess Lanmeng.
Emperor Jiawen had no choice but to send someone to deliver a message to Jiang Yuyan.
The men in the family were all against it. Since she was pregnant and might give birth prematurely at any time, they wanted to find an excuse for her to refuse.
The new emperor had feelings for the retired emperor, so he sent Prime Minister Hua to invite her in person and specially gave her an imperial chariot to send her up the mountain.
It was not good to offend the new emperor and Prime Minister Hua, and perhaps there were other reasons in his heart. Jiang Yuyan thought about it and agreed.
The men in the family had no choice but to discuss having Shen Yi and the Sixteen Riders of Youyun accompany them for escort.
When Jiang Yuyan arrived, Emperor Jiawen was standing outside the palace waiting for her. His eyes moved to her large belly, and he was suddenly surprised, "Ming'an went to war in December, right? Why haven't you given birth yet?"
Jiang Yuyan smiled slightly and said meaningfully, "Your Majesty, I will tell you in detail later."
After saying that, she walked past him and headed towards the bedroom.
Emperor Jiawen looked at her and Shen Yi's backs thoughtfully.
The retired emperor was still in a coma. Jiang Yuyan sat down on the low stool in front of the couch and looked into the tent.
The emperor was now emaciated, almost unrecognizable. His hair was completely white, and his face was deeply wrinkled. He looked nothing like he did before. Could it be that this is what people look like when they are at the end of their lives?
Jiang Yuyan suddenly felt a little nervous.
Perhaps sensing the gaze of the visitor, the emperor slowly opened his eyes.
"You're here?"
The voice is hoarse and old.
Jiang Yuyan was startled again and nodded obediently.
The emperor looked a little happy and a little more energetic. He glanced at Shen Yi who was standing in front of the window.
That man is extremely handsome and seems to never grow old. How enviable...
"Can I ask you a few words alone?" The emperor said softly to Jiang Yuyan. His words were surprisingly gentle.
Jiang Yuyan suddenly softened and nodded to Shen Yi.
“Call me if you need anything…” Shen Yi whispered softly and opened the door of the palace.
"You go ahead." Seeing that the emperor had difficulty speaking, Jiang Yuyan tilted her head and moved closer.
The retired emperor had a dim gaze, and seemed a little confused as he looked at her face.
"As people age, they sleep more. They always dream about the past. But these days I have been wondering, is the past that we dream about real? Isn't it just another dream within a dream?"
Jiang Yuyan lowered her head and sighed, "Zhuangzi dreamed of being a butterfly. I wonder if it was Zhuangzi who dreamed of being a butterfly, or if it was the butterfly who dreamed of being Zhuangzi?"
The retired emperor's cloudy eyes cast towards her waist. She was now potbellied and had a string of strangely shaped copper bells tied around her waist.
"But I keep having the same dream. The bell sound in the dream is the same as the one you used on Commander Lu that day..."
Jiang Yuyan tightened her knuckles slightly on her knees.
"Princess, I want to know whether what happened between you and me that night was...was it...real? Cough cough..." After the emperor finished speaking, he began to cough violently.
Jiang Yuyan hurriedly calmed him down, and after a while, she whispered, "What answer do you want to hear?"
The emperor calmed down a little after hearing this. Yes. Perhaps reality is always crueler than lies...
"There is another question..." The emperor's eyes suddenly became clear, "I have been thinking about it for a long time, but I still don't know who you are..."
Jiang Yuyan sighed and decided not to let her do this kind of hospice care next time. It was a bit sad.
After all, this man had not been bad to her in the past, so she couldn't bear to keep lying to him.
Jiang Yuyan leaned close to his ear and carefully said a name.
The retired emperor's eyes widened slightly, as if he had figured out everything that had happened before, and his face looked like he was half crying and half laughing.
But his hand tightly grasped her wrist.
"At the beginning, I really loved you..." the man, who was already in his last moments of life, suddenly said.
Jiang Yuyan nodded again.
"I'm sorry, Madam Jiang..." The man who once dominated the world sighed and apologized quietly.
Jiang Yuyan's nose was sour. The past was like the wind. It was already this time. What could not be reconciled? "Speaking of which, I... I am also very sorry for taking advantage of you..."
"Don't... say it..." The emperor suddenly became emotional for a moment.
He looked at her fondly again, and said softly, "I don't want to know the answer to that night anymore. But can you give me one last beautiful dream?"
"good……"
Jiang Yuyan activated the dream bell and sang a ballad while looking into his eyes.
"In Chang'an, catkins fly, guzheng sounds, and passers-by get drunk. The painted boats float on the lake, drinking one cup after another. The water embroidery is beautiful, and the flat gold method is used to paint mountains and rivers. The poet's pen flies, and the rouge sweeps the eyebrows..."
The man's eyebrows relaxed, as if he had fallen into a lingering and gentle dream, and fell asleep quietly...
The hand on her wrist dropped silently. Jiang Yuyan burst into tears.
He walked out of the palace in a daze, saying, "The emperor has passed away!"
"Father!"
"His Majesty!"
Empress Dowager Hua, Emperor Jiawen, and several princes all rushed into the palace. Suppressed crying could be heard faintly in the room.
Jiang Yuyan looked back and saw that all the trees were in autumn colors and all the mountains were in sunset. In the dusk of Cangshan Mountain, the golden palace and the beautiful building were indescribably solemn and desolate. The plane trees under the corridor fell one after another, leaving the ground in golden color, as if it was a silent farewell to life...
He held her hand a little tighter.
Jiang Yuyan leaned her head on Shen Yi's shoulder. In this situation, she was so depressed that she always wanted to say something.
"Chen Yi, I love you..."
Love you.
The man's handsome eyes curved slightly, and he patted her back and comforted her softly.
"Me too……"
I love you very much.
…………
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