Chapter 131: I promised to return the throne to him, and give you back to me...
Heavy rain can wash away all traces. No matter how many arguments and entanglements occurred in the dead of night, those broken remnants will always disappear before dawn.
Jiang Yu turned to look at Shen Yujiao, who was curled up asleep on the chaise longue. Her peaceful sleeping face was marred by her furrowed brows, and her hands clutching the thin blanket revealed her unease. Jiang Yu raised his hand, pinched the bridge of his nose, and sighed deeply.
Last night, Yongxian braved the rain to enter the palace, saying that Qingjue had observed that the originally scheduled day for the grand ceremony was not an auspicious day. King Zhao was eager for King Huan to ascend the throne, and these remarks naturally aroused his dissatisfaction. The two siblings immediately started arguing in the Taiwei Hall.
One claimed, "If we do not follow the will of Heaven, we will likely suffer a backlash. My elder brother has waited all this time for his elder brother, why can't we postpone it for two more days? Ascending the throne on an auspicious day would be a good thing for the future of our Great Xia Dynasty!"
Another said, "His Majesty is the law. If he says that day is an auspicious day, then it is an auspicious day. The enthronement ceremony has already been announced to the world, and all the civil and military officials are waiting in the palace. Can such an important event be changed just because you say there are unusual celestial phenomena?"
Yongxian, entrusted by Shen Yujiao, came to stall for time, so she naturally used the most mysterious and obscure methods to pester him. She couldn't stop talking about celestial phenomena every three sentences, and she couldn't stop mentioning the fate of the Great Xia Kingdom every five sentences, which made King Zhao furious.
King Zhao was urging King Huan to ascend the throne. He went to great lengths to find out Shen's birthday and set up traps one after another. He finally managed to trick his brother into saying that he would ascend the throne on July 23. What Yongxian said at this moment was like jumping on his death knell.
The brother and sister were arguing fiercely, neither willing to give in. Jiang Yu was getting annoyed and wanted to leave, but then a eunuch announced from outside the door: "Your Majesty, Your Highness Prince Zhao, the late Crown Princess Shen requests an audience."
Jiang Chen is currently away fighting, but the palace has already begun to call for the late Crown Prince. When this announcement was made, the hall fell silent, and everyone in the hall seemed to be in a daze.
King Zhao was the first to react, and he took a few steps forward to grab the eunuch by the neck and shove him out: "What nonsense are you talking about? Shen's disease is contagious, who let her out!"
"Enough!"
Jiang Yu roared and stepped forward to pull the two apart. A flash of lightning illuminated the sharp look on his face. He looked at the King of Zhao with undisguised anger in his eyes: "You two siblings, if you want to argue, argue here. You don't need to interfere in her affairs."
After saying that, the palace doors swung open, and a fierce wind and torrential rain swept into the palace. Amidst the thunder and lightning, Jiang Yu saw the woman dressed in plain palace attire. She stood unsteadily in the wind and rain, like a lotus flower ravaged by the storm. Even those few stumbles were heartbreaking.
Jiang Yu took a few steps forward and pulled the person into his arms, intending to lead her into the hall to avoid the rain. The next moment, he was pushed off balance by the somewhat soft force and stumbled. He heard her say, "A-Yu, you lied to me."
It wasn't His Highness Prince Huan, nor his elder brother, nor Jiang Yu, but the one she had once murmured with affection and tenderness, the one only A Jiao would call "A Yu".
The layers of defense he had built in his heart collapsed instantly. Looking at the girl's weak expression, Jiang Yu felt an overwhelming sense of guilt and regret. He opened his mouth to explain something, but the moment the cold wind entered his throat, he felt that words were utterly inadequate.
The Taiwei Palace was in turmoil all night. Jiang Yu kept Shen Yujiao behind him the whole time. He didn’t ask her how she got out of that secret room, nor did he ask her why she was in the palace at this time. He just looked at her eyes, which were full of disappointment, and felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave and just wanted to escape.
The brother and sister parted on bad terms. King Zhao also suffered a lot of anger from King Huan. After sending Yongxian back to Qingjue Temple, he ordered the entire outskirts of the capital to be sealed off. When he saw his brother protecting that woman again, he felt his blood rush to his head.
Fortunately, after Shen appeared, she did not mention Jiang Chen. She only presented a weak and delicate image to her brother. King Zhao thought that if Shen could keep his brother in the palace, it would not be a bad thing. After all, the enthronement ceremony was the most important thing at present, and he would not allow anyone to disrupt it.
It had been an hour since King Zhao left the palace in a huff. When Jiang Yu saw a palace maid bowing, he knew that the bedchamber had been cleaned. He waved for everyone to leave, then took a few steps forward and carefully picked the person up in his arms.
Shen Yujiao's sleep was not sound. She woke up the moment Jiang Yu picked her up. Her subconscious resistance lasted for less than a second. She pretended to be disturbed and moved slightly, which made Jiang Yu move even more carefully.
Passing through layers of curtains, Jiang Yu gently placed the person on the bed. Just as he was about to get up, someone grabbed his sleeve—
"Don't go..."
The murmured words, like a dream, transformed into a spell. Jiang Yu felt as if his feet had taken root, making it impossible for him to move. He heard her fear in her dream: "It's so dark..."
Her whispered words felt like needles piercing Jiang Yu's heart. He slowly sat down on the chair beside the bed, his throat tightening with emotion: "I'm sorry, A-Jiao, I shouldn't have left you alone..."
"I won't leave, I won't go. Sleep peacefully, I'll stay here with you."
At first, Shen Yujiao was still half-asleep and forced to continue acting. Later, whether it was because the bed was too comfortable or because her mind had not rested for too long, she actually fell into a deep sleep wrapped in soft bedding. When she woke up again, the sun was already high in the sky.
The palace maid standing nearby, seeing that she had woken up, quickly stepped forward and asked through the curtain, "Your Highness, you're awake? Would you like some water? Would you like some hot water for a bath?"
Shen Yujiao shifted her body, vaguely recalling that she had clung to Jiang Yu's sleeve to sleep before going to bed, intending to keep him tied to this place. But now, as she looked around, she couldn't see a trace of Jiang Yu.
"Where is Jiang Yu?" she asked directly.
The palace maid seemed startled by her direct address of the new emperor by his name, and quickly knelt down respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has been watching over you since you fell asleep. Just now, seeing that you were about to wake up, His Majesty personally went to arrange your accommodations."
She kept referring to him as "Your Majesty" and "Your Highness," which annoyed Shen Yujiao. In this palace, she had nothing but the title of Crown Princess. What did it mean for her to call him that now?
After being speechless for a while, she remembered why she had entered the palace, and then suppressed her dissatisfaction and asked, "When I left Fuhui Palace yesterday, was there anything amiss with Consort Rong?"
"Your Majesty, there is nothing amiss with Consort Rong. His Majesty has been very kind to the late Emperor's harem, and he specifically instructed that Consort Rong not be moved to another palace, and that the imperial physicians should take good care of her."
Hearing the little palace maid's words, Shen Yujiao breathed a sigh of relief. Speaking of this rank, she remembered that the last thing the emperor did before his death was to promote Rong Zhaoyi to the rank of Consort Rong. Although this move was expected by everyone, she still couldn't help but sigh when she heard it now.
Seeing that she didn't speak, the young palace maid hesitated whether to leave, when she heard her ask again, "What about the Empress... I mean, what about the late Emperor's Empress?"
Just moments ago she was only respectful, but now the little palace maid's tone immediately carried a hint of fear and unease: "The Empress of Kunyi Palace is doing well now, but she is a little weak. The Empress of Huaqing Palace is currently in charge of the palace affairs."
The nonsensical way of addressing her made Shen Yujiao lose the will to ask any further questions. She waved her hand and said, "Alright, get up. I want to see Jiang Yu."
"Your Majesty, this servant...this servant does not know where His Majesty is at this moment. Would you like to bathe and have a meal first?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Yujiao yanked open the curtain and looked at the little palace maid with a cold gaze: "Then send someone to find him and have Jiang Yu come to see me."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
Her words caused all the palace servants to kneel on the ground. Just as everyone was terrified and covered in cold sweat, Jiang Yu walked in from outside. Seeing the scene, he unconsciously slowed his pace: "What's going on?"
Just moments ago, her gaze towards the palace servants held the sharpness that belonged to the Crown Princess a few days ago. But the next second, as she turned to Jiang Yu, her eyes were filled with brokenness, unease, and a hint of hurt dependence. In just one glance, her eyes reddened: "Where did you go?"
As she looked at him like that, Jiang Yu's voice softened without her noticing: "I've gone to arrange your residence. The Qian Yuan Hall is currently housing the late emperor's coffin, so the Tai Wei Hall will have to be used as the main hall for council meetings for the time being. Ministers may be coming and going in the hall these days. Although it's only in the front hall, it's still a bit inconvenient for you to stay here."
The curve of her lips created a dimple on her cheek, perfectly catching the glistening tears that had slid from the corner of her eye. She chuckled sarcastically, "Jiang Yu, what do you take me for?"
The previously harmonious atmosphere suddenly froze. Jiang Yu waved to everyone, and after clearing the area, he walked step by step towards Shen Yujiao. After standing in front of her, Jiang Yu said guiltily, "Ajiao, I remember the agreement we made when we came here. I never intended to break my promise."
"Then what does all of this mean now? Tell me, what does it mean!"
Shen Yujiao gripped his shirt collar, questioning him repeatedly. Her movements were so forceful that her tears spilled onto Jiang Yu's dark brocade robe.
“Ah Jiao,” Jiang Yu held her shoulders and looked directly at her, “Jiang Jin has gathered the martial arts sects. Now there are not only the Imperial Guards in the city, but also martial arts masters lurking in the shadows. Xia Jingcheng is now an impregnable fortress. If I don’t go along with his wishes, we will all die.”
"Really?" Shen Yujiao raised her chin, the angle perfectly chosen so that her tears would drip onto the back of his hand. Her lips trembled slightly as she asked, "Jiang Yu, do you dare look me in the eye and say you have no ulterior motives?"
Those bright eyes, once so radiant and charming, though weathered by time, still clearly reflected his own image. Jiang Yu could no longer recognize who she was, and he dared not look into her eyes again. His arms seemed to lose their strength and gradually fell to their sides.
Faced with a choice between deception and denial, Jiang Yu chose to acquiesce.
He ascended the throne on her birthday, naturally with ulterior motives. He could deceive anyone, but he couldn't deceive Shen Yujiao. Three days was enough for him to prepare a perfect birthday gift for her, and it was also just the right time to prevent Jiang Chen, who was far away in the northern frontier, from returning.
“Ah Jiao, your succession is only temporary. When Ah Chen returns, I will announce to the world that I will return the throne to him. You and I both know this. If Jiang Jin’s wishes are not fulfilled in time, we may wait for Ah Chen to return, but before that, the result may be a bloodbath in Xia Jing.”
Shen Yujiao knew, of course, that although she had only met him briefly last night, she could tell at a glance that Zhao Wang's mental state was not right. He was definitely sick, to the point that ordinary people would feel terrified just by looking at him. She even regretted asking Princess Yongxian for help last night.
Given such a King Zhao, no cruel and inhumane end would be surprising.
That's why Shen Yujiao closed her eyes tightly, as if in great pain: "Really?"
"Of course, since I've promised you, I will never go back on my word, but..."
Shen Yujiao slowly opened her eyes.
"Ah Jiao, shouldn't you also keep your promise?"
When Shen Yujiao met Jiang Yu's eyes again, she froze on the spot. Those were eyes full of love: "On the day of the ceremony, I will welcome you as Empress. When Achen returns, I will return the throne to him. He is the legitimate son and the Crown Prince. This position should belong to him."
"But you..."
Shen Yujiao's hands, hanging limply at her sides, began to tremble uncontrollably. She forced herself not to show any abnormality and listened as he finished speaking: "Ajiao, we made a promise that if one day we had the right to choose, we would give up everything and live in seclusion in the mountains and seas. Now, we have finally come to this day. I am willing to give up everything that Ajin has done for me, just to get you back."
Perhaps her subconscious resistance was too obvious, Jiang Yu hesitated for a long time before saying, "If you really have fallen for Achen, I don't mind. We can leave Xiajing. Ajiao, I'll go back to Jiangnan with you, okay?"
There was a hint of pleading in those words, and Shen Yujiao felt a mix of emotions upon hearing them. Perhaps the two of them had been waiting for the day when they would have a choice, but Jiang Yu's words came far too late for Shen Yujiao.
Looking at the person in front of her, Shen Yujiao remained silent for a long time before giving her answer: "Okay, but you must not approach me before the ceremony, nor can you harm him."
Jiang Yu was hoping for a response, and although the content hurt him somewhat, he still smiled calmly: "Of course, I would never hurt Ajiao."
Shen Yujiao returned the smile, a smile that contained three parts relief, three parts emotion, three parts grievance, and one part satisfaction.
But there's not a trace of truth in it.
Her tightly clenched hands loosened, revealing nothing in Shen Yujiao's grasp, yet she knew perfectly well that her trump card was Shen Yujiao.
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