Chapter 2003 [Shangxie] I Have Also Seen True Freedom
"This illness lasted for five years. Even though we stayed in the palace all year, we rarely saw the emperor again."
Cuinong sighed and slowly frowned.
"Actually, there's something very strange. I've been in and out of the Purple Palace quite a few times over the years. Logically, since the Emperor is ill, he should be receiving daily doses of medicine, but more often than not, I see palace servants bringing in jars of wine."
"Wine jar?"
Fu Yan thought of the man who sat under the window drinking all day, and was a little absent-minded for a moment.
Cuinong didn't notice her distraction, and she slowly said while sorting out her memories,
"Oh, there's one more thing. I remember that during the beginning of autumn last year, the Emperor was critically ill and summoned all the doctors from the Imperial Hospital. The Purple Palace was completely surrounded by the Imperial Guards, and we could only watch from afar. But what we didn't expect was that even at that time, the palace servants were still bringing in jars of wine..."
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"I've been preparing for that escape for six months. Do you know why I wanted to escape?"
Under the window of the Purple Palace, the man's eyelashes were covered with cool sunlight, making his smile look very casual.
Xia Fuyi looked at him and slowly shook her head.
"Because I'm dying."
The man slowly began to pour the tea, with a faint smile on his face, as if he was only commenting on the quality of the tea, not on his own life or death.
"As early as a year ago, the imperial physician had already determined that I would not live for more than three years."
Xia Fuyi clenched her teeth silently, and her fists clenched unconsciously until they made crackling sounds.
But the man seemed unaware, he just drank his tea gracefully, then looked out the window. The bright green leaves swayed and shone in the sunlight, and they looked so vivid and lovely in his light-colored eyes.
"I've seen true freedom before. I once watched the sunrise and sunset from the top of Mount Taixu, with a pot of wine and a horse. I've also heard the clamor of the world in the taverns along the streets. I've killed people, and I've saved people. I know which river is the least crowded during the Feihua City Lantern Festival, and which girl on the fireworks boat in Luoyang City is the most beautiful..."
Having said this, the emperor suddenly paused and glanced at Xia Fuyi opposite him. The girl was blinking and looked like she was listening attentively, but when she heard this, her lips instinctively pursed, making a look that said "I'm not very happy but I won't say it."
Chang Sun Chi smiled.
"Of course, I only drank and listened to music in those places, and never spent any other money."
Miss Xia returned to her serious expression.
The emperor then looked out the window with a smile. He always liked to look out the window. The sunlight splashing in his eyes was as hazy and beautiful as spring water.
"Look, I've personally measured thousands of miles of mountains and rivers with my own feet, but in the past five years, I haven't even been able to step out of this small palace. I've even almost forgotten the direction of the Jindai River, which is clearly the place I used to be most familiar with."
He smiled sarcastically, not knowing whether it was directed at others or himself.
"After five years of being trapped like a beast, I was completely lost in the alcohol and lost track of time. It wasn't until I heard the imperial physician's words while I was unconscious, saying I had three years to live, that I suddenly woke up."
Chang Sun Chi took a sip of tea and sighed slowly.
"I was born as the Emperor of Chiwei. I can die in battle or die of old age, but I can't be trapped to death in my own palace, right?"
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