Chapter 62 Awakening: My Heart Finds Peace in Your Hometown
Consciousness floats and sinks in boundless chaos. Past memories are like shattered glass, shimmering with a light that is both cold and warm.
Who are you? And where are you going?
The empty questions echoed repeatedly in the void, intensifying her sense of loss.
An endless weariness swept over me, as if only by giving up the struggle and sinking into that cold, eternal silence could I gain eternal peace.
However, just as her consciousness was about to be completely swallowed by darkness, that gentle male voice rang out again, like the dazzling dawn cleaving through the thick fog.
"...Lian'er, come back, I need you...this 'home' needs you!"
That gentle whisper, that earnest call, was like a flame that instantly illuminated her chaotic mind.
The scene inside the tunnel slowly changed. She saw herself standing on a palace tower, someone holding her hands tightly. They stood side by side, smiling at each other. The person's face gradually became clearer; it was Galorin.
He... is waiting for me, he's at home... waiting for me to come back.
This thought was like a beacon illuminating her, like a lighthouse rising from the sea, instantly soothing her turbulent confusion and guiding her in the direction she wanted to go.
She mustered all her remaining willpower, struggled against the cold gravity, and swam upstream with difficulty but determination towards the source of the sound and light.
-
Galo Lin held Bai Lian's hand tightly, pressing his forehead against her cold hand, his tears mingling with his whispered words of longing.
This faint connection became a cable of hope, gradually pulling the white lotus from the abyss of chaos back to the warmth of the human world.
Bai Lian's eyelashes began to tremble violently like butterfly wings, and finally, with difficulty, they lifted.
At first, her vision was filled with a blurry, warm halo, and then that handsome face, filled with haggardness yet ecstatic joy, burst in.
"Lian'er!"
She tried to respond, but her throat was dry and burning, and she could only manage a barely audible whisper:
"…琐…"
-
An overwhelming joy swept away Galorin's composure that she had been trying to maintain for days.
He hurriedly bent down, wanting to embrace her, but fearing to touch her many wounds, his movements were clumsy and cautious.
In the end, he simply tightened his arms around her shoulders, his voice choked with suppressed sobs: "You're awake...you're finally awake..."
Bai Lian could feel his body trembling slightly. She wanted to raise her hand to comfort him, but even moving her fingertips was incredibly difficult. She could only let him lean on her, silently savoring the joy of having regained what she had lost.
"Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"
The entire palace quietly sprang into activity because of her awakening.
The imperial physician strode in, carefully taking the pulse and examining the wound. Palace maids moved nimbly, bringing warm water and medicine. The air was filled with an increasingly strong medicinal fragrance, and the once quiet and cold bedchamber gradually became full of vitality.
In the days that followed, Bai Lian's extraordinary self-healing ability gradually returned. Under the careful care of the imperial physicians, within a few days, the wounds left by the war had basically healed, and she was able to sit up on her own and even walk slowly with assistance.
After waking up, she often stared blankly out the window, the sense of dislocation caused by the two completely different life memories still needing time to heal.
Every day after court, Galo Lin would rush to Bai Lian's bedchamber. If he could, he would spend almost all his time outside of official duties by her bedside.
“Actually, you don’t need to come every day. Cuizhu takes very good care of me.” Bailian sipped her medicine, the bitter taste making her furrow her brows. She looked up at Jialuolin and said.
After Bai Lian woke up, Jia Luolin granted Cui Zhu special permission to enter the palace to serve her, but how could Cui Zhu steal her "good job" of feeding her medicine...
"You may leave now, I will feed you myself." Galo Lin reached out to take the bowl from Cui Zhu's hand.
Cuizhu stared in shock at Jialuolin, then at Bailian, and suddenly realized that she was the one who was superfluous here. She immediately left tactfully.
Galo Lin took the bowl, his face beaming with happiness. He carefully blew on it to cool it down, then slowly fed it to Bai Lian, his smile stretching almost to his ears.
"Is it bitter? I'll have someone bring you a bowl of sweet soup later." Galorin coaxed her gently, speaking to her beloved, the current emperor even omitting the "I" in his title.
Bai Lian rolled her eyes at him.
"The imperial physician instructed several times not to eat anything sweet immediately after taking the medicine, as it would affect its effectiveness."
"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you." Galorin smiled indulgently. After experiencing loss, every word and expression of Bai Lian became his treasure, making him feel great.
These are the most heartwarming moments between the two of them.
Although Bai Lian felt that Jia Luolin was acting like a "madman" every day and didn't have the demeanor of an emperor.
-
One afternoon, sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting dappled warmth throughout the room. Bai Lian was dozing off on the soft couch, basking in the sun.
The sunlight made her radiate a gentle glow. A breeze blew by, and a few strands of hair clung to her forehead. She slowly raised her hand to brush them away. Her eyes, which had been squinting, blinked a few times, and her bright eyes and radiant skin complemented each other, sparkling.
This beautiful scene captivated Galo Lin, who had just entered the palace. He stood there for a long time, and after a while, as if he had mustered some courage, he strode up to Bai Lian.
"Hmm? You're here." Bai Lian greeted lazily, placing the book in her hand on a side table. She intended to straighten up and talk to Jia Luolin.
"Lian'er," Jialuolin suddenly knelt down beside her, took Bai Lian's hand, and solemnly said slowly, "These past few days, I have drafted an edict. Once you are fully recovered, we will hold a investiture ceremony and make you empress. From now on, we will rule this country together, okay?"
He eagerly raised his eyes, gazing at her, hoping for a positive answer.
He had never been so anxious in his life. He desperately wanted her, wanted her sincere heart, and wanted her to stay by his side forever.
Bai Lian looked back at him, but for the first time, she felt that Galorin in her eyes... had become somewhat cute.
His expression was like that of a well-behaved puppy waiting for a reward... Although it wasn't quite right to think that way, she could even feel that she could see his little tail wagging rapidly from side to side behind him.
Bai Lian wore a faint smile, but gently shook her head, her voice clear and firm:
"No, I don't want to be empress."
Galorin was stunned, her smile freezing on her lips, a hint of disbelief flashing in her eyes: "Why?"
Bai Lian looked at him calmly and remained silent.
For her, the Empress's phoenix crown was not a source of honor, but rather a shackle.
She knew that once she assumed the position of Empress, she must first be the symbol of the empire, and only then could she be herself.
Their love, forged through life and death, should not be a reward for merit, nor a bargaining chip in the court.
She met his puzzled gaze, parted her lips slightly, and said calmly, "I am willing to protect our homeland and bless the millions of people to live and work in peace. But I do not want to be an empress, nor do I want to confine my life to this deep palace."
She paused slightly, recalling her time as the Crown Princess, her voice tinged with weariness: "Those days in the Eastern Palace were far less innocent and beautiful than when we first met. That palace dress was too heavy for me."
Galo Lin listened intently, her initial astonishment gradually transforming into understanding in her clear and firm gaze.
Yes, isn't it precisely her transcendent clarity and purity that he loves? Then why should he rush to bind her free soul with complicated formalities?
He paused for a moment, then tightened his palm to envelop her slightly cool fingers, and slowly said, "Alright, then let's put the matter of establishing an empress aside for now." This answer was both an emperor's indulgence and his understanding.
Bai Lian stared at Jia Luolin, feeling that the "little dog" in front of her was so disappointed that its ears were about to droop, yet it was still forcing a smile.
They're even cuter now.
She suddenly giggled and patted his head, as if it were a reward or affirmation.
This sudden action left the dignified Emperor Rin visibly terrified, his ears turning bright red instantly.
-
In the days that followed, Galo Lin kept his word and indeed suppressed the edict to establish an empress. However, he did not give up; he decided to wage a meticulous psychological war.
After court, if he happened to see Bai Lian taking a walk in the Imperial Garden, he would often go and "bump into" her.
“The weather is nice today, it’s good to take a walk.” He walked naturally to her side and walked side by side, then casually mentioned, “Today another senior official submitted a memorial requesting that an empress be appointed as soon as possible to ensure the stability of the country.”
Bai Lian turned her head to look at him.
Galo Lin stopped and looked at her, saying with a hint of helplessness, "I told them that my queen must be someone who can share my vision of the restoration of this land and be of one mind with me. How can we be too hasty?"
Bai Lian's eyelashes drooped slightly, and the corners of her lips lifted almost imperceptibly. This person... really is getting better and better at talking.
As Bai Lian's health gradually improved, Jia Luolin often summoned Bai Lian to his study to serve as a military advisor and discuss matters with the ministers.
As the day's political affairs drew to a close, Bai Lian finished reading the military report and shared her thoughts. Jia Luolin put down her pen, pretending to listen, but suddenly turned to her and asked in a low voice, "Lian'er, are you feeling tired? I've had some cheese prepared for you, made to your liking. Would you like to try some now?"
Bai Lian stared at him speechlessly. The voice, neither too loud nor too soft, also reached the ears of the two ministers still present, making them instantly uneasy. They finally coughed twice and made an excuse to "escape."
"I think you did this on purpose." Bai Lian looked at Jia Luolin speechlessly, feeling both annoyed and amused.
"Would you like to go out of the palace today? I heard there's a lantern festival tonight!" Galo Lin suddenly extended an invitation, catching Bai Lian off guard.
These eight hundred cunning men, what kind of romance are they trying to pull now... Bai Lian muttered to herself, but honestly agreed immediately: "Okay."
Upon receiving the news that Bai Lian was going out, Cui Zhu was overjoyed.
Finally, Miss is allowed to go out again! She had a determined look on her face and secretly clenched her fist.
"Don't bother Cuizhu, it's too late and no one can see clearly anyway," Bailian said knowingly, but she still couldn't stop Cuizhu's enthusiasm.
After careful dressing up, Bai Lian stood gracefully, her plain white brocade robe shimmering with a moonlit glow, enveloping her in a cool and serene atmosphere, as if a fairy from the moon palace had mistakenly descended to the mortal world.
Cuizhu then draped a silver fox cloak over her. The thick white fur shimmered with tiny silver flecks, making her small, delicate face appear even more exquisite and pristine.
"Miss, you look like a little vixen, so beautiful!" Cuizhu exclaimed, looking at her "masterpiece" with pride.
"What did you say? Who is the little vixen?" Bai Lian asked, just as Jia Luolin strode up to her side.
He wore a sable fur robe, as if he had absorbed the entire night sky into himself, revealing the profound and aloof nature of the emperor.
"Oh my, this time you two don't look like black and white chess pieces, but like the night and the bright moon!" Cuizhu covered her mouth and said with a smile. This perfect couple is probably even more well-matched than the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.
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