Half-day sunshine
Zhao Youyi stood before Zhao Youli's grave. Two years had passed, and it felt like a lifetime had gone by. She knelt before his grave and poured him wine: "Brother, this Daughter's Red wine was buried by Father for me back then. Now that I'm married to Brother Huai Cong, it's time to invite you to a cup of celebratory wine."
The half-dead emperor knelt before Zhao Youli's tomb. He was covered in blood, having lost his eyes and arms, and was too weak to run away due to the poison. He could only kowtow to Zhao Youli's tombstone as Chu Chanyin had instructed.
Liang Jingyun watched this scene from a distance, his gaze fixed on the tombstone.
Zhao Youyi stood up, took out a knife, and slowly walked to the emperor: "Brother, today I will slice this dog emperor to pieces in front of your grave to comfort your spirit in heaven."
Without hesitation, she plunged her knife into his shoulder, one cut, two cuts… The emperor’s cries of pain echoed throughout the tomb, “Please, just give me a quick death!”
Although Zhao Youyi wouldn't let him off so easily, after all, her brother had been tortured to death little by little in the same way back then.
“This knife is what you owe my brother,” Zhao Youyi said, plunging the knife into his stomach.
"This blow is what you owe those soldiers."
"This blow is what you owe to the people of the world."
With each stroke of the blade, the emperor's body was riddled with bloody holes, and he silently knelt before Zhao Youli's tomb.
Chu Chanyin watched this scene from the side, walked to Zhao Youyi's side, and took out a clean handkerchief to wipe her cheeks clean again.
Chu Chanyin led Zhao Youyi to kneel before Zhao Youli's grave: "Eldest brother is like father. Nianling brother, today I will also call you brother along with Awan. From now on, I will love her, cherish her, and not let anyone hurt her. Brother, rest assured, I will take good care of Awan from now on."
As soon as he finished speaking, a snowflake quietly fell.
Zhao Youyi reached out in disbelief to catch the cold snow; it was the first snow of Shenjing.
It was also like my brother's tears and embrace.
Chu Chanyin embraced her, letting the snowflakes fall on his shoulders. "Awan, it's your brother blessing us."
Zhao Youyi nodded, holding back her tears.
Liang Jingyun, who was not far away, also reached out and caught the snowflakes. The snowflakes quickly melted into water in her palm and disappeared without a trace.
The snow has fallen heavily again.
The former officials, seeing the sickly young man storm the capital, seize the throne, and force the emperor to write an edict of self-reproach, dared not say anything about a woman ascending the throne, given Zhao Youyi's swift and decisive actions. They could only quickly prepare for the enthronement ceremony.
Chu Chanyin was worried about leaving Zhao Zhile and Chu Muqing alone, so he rode back to Fuzhou to pick them up, while Zhao Youyi stayed in the capital to handle matters before his ascension to the throne.
On the day she ascended the throne, the heavy snow stopped, and it was a rare sunny day. She stood on the city gate and watched her beloved riding a horse, slowly galloping towards her.
Chu Chanyin returned, and the snow stopped in Shenjing.
It seems he is her half-day sunshine.
"Brother Huai Cong!" Zhao Youyi rushed into his arms after descending the city gate.
Chu Chanyin quickly pulled her into his arms, and couldn't help but smile as he looked at her: "You missed me?"
Zhao Youyi nodded, leaning against him and listening to his heartbeat: "The coronation ceremony is about to begin, I'm so glad you're back."
"Then why did you run out?" Chu Chanyin quickly pulled her out of his arms. "You are the emperor now. Why did you come out alone? Where are your guards?"
“It’s nearby,” Zhao Youyi explained. “I want to walk up with you so I won’t be lonely.”
Zhao Zhile and Chu Muqing poked their little heads out of the carriage and looked at the two people hugging each other.
"Kiss me!"
"hug!"
The two little brats started talking back and forth.
Zhao Youyi and Chu Chanyin blushed at the words of the two children.
The group returned to the palace, where everything had returned to its usual tranquility. Chu Chanyin helped Zhao Youyi with her hair and put a crown on her head, saying, "Awan, you look beautiful today."
Zhao Youyi grasped his hand: "Let me dress you up later too."
"How can I let you do these things?" Chu Chan frowned, feeling very reluctant to let her do them.
"Let's dress together, let's grow old together," Zhao Youyi turned around and hugged his strong waist, "We'll always love each other, always be together, and never be apart."
"Okay." After hearing her words, Chu Chanyin had no reason to disagree.
Chu Chanyin wore a bright yellow brocade robe, which was embroidered with dragons just like Zhao Youyi's robe. However, both of their robes featured two dragons intertwined amidst the clouds and mist, which Zhao Youyi had specially prepared.
Zhao Youyi clumsily picked up the wooden comb and gently combed his hair. "Brother Huai Cong, your hair is so beautiful, like silk. I will comb your hair in the future."
"I can't bear to see you tired," Chu Chanyin said with a smile.
After the two finished dressing, they walked hand in hand toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Their clothes and headdresses were heavy, but they supported each other and walked steadily with each step.
Palace maids and guards knelt down one by one, while civil and military officials in the hall shouted: "Long live Her Majesty the Empress! Long live Her Majesty the Queen!"
The two climbed the platform step by step. Turning around and looking down at this scene, Zhao Youyi squeezed Chu Chanyin's hand. Chu Chanyin turned his head slightly to look at her, and the two smiled at each other.
"No need for formalities," Zhao Youyi said. "I have ascended the throne by the mandate of Heaven, and I only wish for peace and prosperity throughout the land and for all people to live in happiness. All of you ministers are pillars of our dynasty, and you must do your utmost to serve the country and its people."
The courtiers should acknowledge this.
Zhao Youyi began to bestow titles and rewards upon the meritorious officials. Zhou Huaiyuan was appointed as the Grand Censor, Liu Zhiming and Zhou Yaqing were appointed as the Minister of Rites and the Minister of War, respectively, and Zheng Peng was appointed as the Vice Minister of War.
"The King of Chu has appointed...Regent," Zhao Youyi said.
These words shocked the entire court. Since ancient times, the empress's harem has not been allowed to interfere in politics. Unexpectedly, His Majesty directly appointed the empress as regent, which is tantamount to handing power over to her.
Chu Chanyin looked at her with some surprise. The two exchanged a glance, and Chu Chanyin smiled helplessly, understanding what she meant.
Zhao Youyi held his hand and kissed it in front of all the civil and military officials: "From now on, seeing the Regent is as if seeing me. The Regent shall be exempt from all formalities and live in the same palace as me."
The entire court was dumbfounded, never expecting Zhao Youyi to favor Chu Chanyin so much. But since the groundbreaking event of a woman ascending the throne had already occurred, did it matter if the regent and the empress lived together? Whatever, let them do as they please.
However… when the civil and military officials thought of Her Majesty the Empress’s fox-like face, they couldn’t understand why Her Majesty favored her so much. It was practically a blatant declaration to the world – I love my husband, so keep your opinions to yourselves.
"From this day forward, the country's name will be changed to Jing. A women's imperial examination will be established, in accordance with the previous system. A one-year tax exemption will be granted. Minister Liu, the matter of the imperial examination selection is now in your hands," Zhao Youyi said.
Liu Zhimo stepped forward and agreed.
There were many trivial matters to attend to, and Zhao Youyi and Chu Chanyin did not return to Yuanyang Palace to rest until lunchtime. This was the inscription Chu Chanyin had personally written before leaving. Zhao Youyi stared at the palace that the palace staff had renovated. The decoration was fresh and elegant, and a willow tree and several red plum trees had been transplanted from other palaces.
Zhao Youyi and Chu Chanyin helped each other remove their heavy hair ornaments. Neither of them liked being served, so they didn't want to trouble the palace servants with things they could do themselves.
"I never imagined being an emperor would be so tiring." Zhao Youyi sighed and nestled into Chu Chanyin's arms. The two lay on the couch, their breaths mingling.
"We have to attend the morning court session tomorrow." Chu Chanyin stroked her hair. "Did you appoint me as regent just so I could accompany you to the morning court session?"
Zhao Youyi chuckled twice and kissed him: "Didn't Brother Huai Cong say he'd be with me to the ends of the earth? Why aren't you even willing to attend the morning court session?"
"I'm not unwilling," Chu Chan shook his head with a hidden smile, "It's just that it would be troublesome if we disagreed on politics in the future."
"Well," Zhao Youyi looked at him with a smile, "I've thought it all out. If you kiss me, I'll let you have my way once; if you hug me, I'll let you have my way twice; and if it's just you and me... I'll let you have my way three times."
Chu Chanyin blushed at her words: "Awan, you should be more reserved."
"Are you going to say that men and women shouldn't touch each other again? That's utter nonsense and doesn't make sense." Zhao Youyi reached out and pinched his cheek. "Don't even think about it. Don't forget, you seduced me first."
Chu Chanyin looked bewildered: "How did I seduce you?"
Zhao Youyi smiled, her eyes crinkling: "You're seducing me right now."
Chu Chanyin: ?
Zhao Youyi pulled open his coat and put her hands inside: "Brother Huai Cong, my hands are cold, warm them for me."
Chu Chan's eyes darkened as he understood the meaning behind her words. He flipped her over, pinned her beneath him, and kissed her lips.
“Okay, we won’t be cold if we sleep together,” Chu Chanyin said.
...
As the moonlight shone down, he could make out the expression of the person lying beside him in the dim light. Her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were restless in her sleep, always carrying a faint sorrow. Chu Chanyin couldn't help but reach out his fingers and gently smooth her brows. His fingers inadvertently brushed against her eyebrows. She was very beautiful, with straight and thick eyelashes. His fingers slowly and gently slid across her forehead, then to the bridge of her nose, and finally stopped on her pink lips, pressing down on the cupid's bow, and then stopped moving.
Chu Chanyin stared at her without moving, the moonlight illuminating her face. He belatedly realized that she was now truly his wife.
A kiss, as gentle as could be, landed on his lips through his fingers, so close, yet it stopped there.
The next day, Zhao Youyi dragged Chu Chanyin to the morning court, rubbing her back and glaring at him: "Brother Huai Cong, you look so delicate, how come you're not gentle at all when you're tormenting people?"
Chu Chanyin blinked innocently, "Am I not gentle? I've given you whatever you want."
Zhao Youyi fell silent, reached out and pinched his cheek, then angrily quickened her pace.
"Ah Wan, don't be angry. I promise I won't be so troublesome next time."
"...That won't do, it has to be like this."
"ah?"
"Stop asking, let's go to court!"
After the morning court session, the two returned to the Yuanyang Palace. Soon after, it began to snow. Zhao Youyi insisted on building a snowman, and Chu Chanyin had no choice but to ask a palace servant to bring her a fox fur cloak to put on her.
"Why are you still acting like a little kid?" Chu Chan smiled and helped her make eyes for her snowman.
Zhao Youyi kissed him: "Because you're here."
Because you're here, I can feel safe to be a child again.
Chu Chanyin smiled gently and broke off two plum blossom branches to make hands for her snowman. "Who is this snowman?"
Zhao Youyi pointed to the larger snowman and said, "That's you."
She then pointed to the smaller snowman next to her and said, "This is me. We will be together forever."
Chu Chanyin took her hand and said, "Yes, I will."
The snow in Shenjing is always so heavy, but after the clouds clear, you can still see half a day of sunshine.
(End of text)
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