Chapter 82 His Majesty has gone mad!
Yunxi said the day she left was in early autumn.
Fan Zishi had just finished teasing Yuanxiao under the eaves. With a smile, he lifted the curtain and walked into the room, saying, "Yunxi, I brought you some crispy cakes."
"I will be leaving the capital in three days," Yunxi said, turning her head as she sat by the window.
Fan Zishi paused for a moment, his smile vanishing instantly. "Three days? That's too fast."
“I’ve been here for a long time.” Yunxi smiled.
“There are still many things to prepare, so there’s no rush.” Fan Zishi became more and more certain as he spoke. “Besides, Yuanxiao is still young, yes, he’s still very young, it will be inconvenient for you to travel.”
Yunxi remained unmoved: "It's alright, I'm not in a hurry."
Having said that, Fan Zishi had no choice but to say, "The mountains are high and the roads are long, so I'll go and prepare my things first."
What do we need to prepare?
Everything needs to be prepared, from clothes to daily necessities for the adult and the child.
Fan Zishi was afraid of making even the slightest oversight.
There are only three days left.
After she leaves, will we have a chance to meet again in this life?
Fan Zishi was unaware of this; he was in a state of panic.
He paced back and forth in the room. What could he do to keep her here?
After much thought, he realized that he couldn't keep her at all.
But he didn't want her to leave at all.
Almost instantly, he turned his head and stared into the dark room within the room.
No one else knew about this place except him.
No one else will find it.
What is he thinking?
Lord Fan's pupils trembled violently, and he staggered back a step.
Fan Zishi claimed to be ill and stayed at home, spending almost every moment with Yunxi for three days.
Even on the night before he left, looking at his packed luggage, he couldn't help but call out "Yunxi".
"Hmm?" Yunxi turned her head from the bed.
"Can we stay?"
Yunxi answered decisively, "No."
The young Lord Fan turned his head away, but quickly turned back and looked at her firmly. "Then could you wait for me?"
"Waiting for you?" Yunxi didn't understand.
"Wait until I resign from my post." He stepped forward, somewhat agitated. "Shall we leave together then?"
“Lord Fan, you are a good official.” This time, Yunxi shook his head even more firmly. “The world needs you.”
Fan Zishi took a step back and turned his head away.
After a long while, Yunxi clenched his hands, turned around, and asked, "Then can I still be your brother?"
If you can't ask for more, then hold on to what you have, even if it's despicable and shameless, it's better than having nothing to do with her anymore.
Yunxi pursed her lips.
"It's nothing." Fan Zishi smiled. "I'll go check again to make sure I haven't forgotten anything."
He took long strides, with a barely perceptible hint of panic.
That evening, Lu Xiuran came to say goodbye to her.
After exchanging a few brief words, he took his leave, but as he reached the door, he turned back, half his face hidden in the night, and asked, "Will we ever meet again?"
“I don’t want to come back to the capital.” Yunxi slowly shook her head. “However, you have students all over the world, and I believe that no matter where I go, I will hear your story.”
Lu Xiuran turned around and smiled. "Then it seems I must work even harder to live up to Miss Yunxi's expectations. Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Yunxi waved to him.
Soon, the tall, slender figure disappeared into the vast night.
Fan Zishi could not escort Yunxi out of the city, but appeared in the courtyard before dawn the next day.
After helping the luggage into the carriage, he had already retreated back to the steps, but when he saw Yunxi getting into the carriage, he couldn't help but take a step forward to chase after her.
Even with the utmost restraint, the moment of parting was filled with reluctance and lingering worry.
Yunxi turned around and looked at Fan Zishi at this moment, and in the end, she still softened.
She turned around, reached out and hugged him. "Big brother!"
A familiar yet distant call froze Fan Zishi in place.
Yunxi quickly retreated, smiled at him, and said, "Goodbye, brother."
"Don't worry about me anymore. You know I can take good care of myself."
"Alright," Lord Fan nodded.
Before the carriage started moving, Yunxi lifted the curtain and waved to him, "Find me a sister-in-law soon."
Lord Fan stood in the misty dawn, smiled at her, and said, "Have a safe journey. If you can, remember to write me a letter to let me know you're safe."
Even as the carriage was about to disappear at the end of the alley, Yunxi turned around and could still see Fan Zishi standing there.
A round-necked robe, the color of the sky after the rain, covered her slender shoulders, embodying the ever-present misty rain of Jiangnan.
Lowering the carriage curtain, Yunxi turned her gaze to the glutinous rice balls held in the wet nurse's arms.
He was still fast asleep, his cheeks round and fair. Yunxi watched him for a few moments, then couldn't help but reach out and poke him.
It pokes a hole, then bounces back quickly.
"Miss, the young master is so handsome!" the wet nurse exclaimed.
Yunxi nodded.
After the carriage left the capital, she took one last look at the enormous prison.
Then, without any hesitation, he lowered the carriage curtain.
"Miss, where are we going now?"
"Let's go to Chengdu."
Although she knew she couldn't show herself, she still had to see Uncle Zhang, even if it meant sneaking around, to put his mind at ease.
When the carriage arrived at the next city, Yunxi saw a familiar face at the city gate.
"Xiao Bei!" Yun Xi waved to him with a smile.
Seeing old friends again always brings extra joy.
With Xiao Bei arranging the itinerary and the wet nurse taking care of Yuanxiao, Yunxi didn't have to worry about anything.
Whenever she saw a beautiful view, she would stop and rest for two days. Whenever she saw injustice, she would intervene. In short, she traveled on and off for about three months before finally arriving in Chengdu.
Early winter has arrived, and the mornings and evenings in Sichuan are getting chilly.
Zhang Huailin arrived at the inn where Yunxi was staying almost immediately after receiving the news.
Zhang Huailin was almost in tears. "Yun girl, you're really still alive!"
Hongxiu had been in contact with him, so she naturally knew about what had happened to Yunxi.
Yunxi's eyes also reddened. "Uncle Zhang, I'm sorry, I really had no other choice at the time."
It wasn't until Xiao Shenjing sent the people from Hongxiuzhao back to Dali that Fan Zishi told Yunxi about it.
At that time, she gave Fan Zishi a huge scolding, accusing him of deceiving and hiding things from her, and asking if he could take responsibility if his godmother got into trouble.
Fan Zishi did not argue, but simply apologized.
Once her anger and panic subsided somewhat, Fan Zishi slowly squatted down beside her. "It's all over now, don't be angry anymore, okay?"
There was not a trace of anger on his gentle and handsome face.
He was like a piece of warm, smooth jade, always extremely tolerant of her.
In that instant, Yunxi felt an overwhelming sense of guilt and self-reproach, and she longed to reach out and hug him.
He was facing the wrath of the emperor, and he also faced the danger of being beheaded.
But he would rather die than betray her.
In the end, however, he still had to bear her anger.
Why should I, Yunxi?
He and you are not related by blood; you only had each other for a short year.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said those things." She admitted that she had already forgiven him.
When he risked everything to rescue her from the palace.
It was as if she had returned to the days when her brother would always bail her out whenever she got into trouble.
"It's alright." Fan Zishi laughed, and even raised his arm to rub her head as if punishing her. "But, you're so good at swearing now, who did you learn to be so bad from?"
"Besides that bastard Xiao Shenjing, who else could it be?" Yunxi said angrily. "He's a foolish ruler, just eating his fill and doing nothing all day long."
“Yes, it’s quite annoying.” Fan Zishi nodded in agreement.
Upon hearing this, Yunxi cursed even more fiercely.
Let's go back to this moment.
Zhang Huailin wiped away his tears. "You silly child, why are you apologizing? As long as you're alive, that's enough. If Hongxiu finds out, I don't know how happy she'll be."
Yunxi suppressed her tears and instructed, "Uncle Zhang, this matter must be kept strictly confidential. I'm afraid Xiao Shenjing's men are still watching my godmother."
"Don't worry," Zhang Huailin said, then asked, "Are you going to see Hongxiu?"
"Yes!" Yunxi answered decisively, then smiled with a blush, "After all, she has to see her precious grandson."
"What grandson?" Zhang Huailin's eyes widened.
After Zhang Huailin held Yuanxiao and sighed for a while, he handed Yunxi a letter. "This letter was delivered by a little beggar. I don't know who wrote it, but he insisted that I give it to you."
When Yunxi opened it, she was surprised to see familiar handwriting.
Xu Yuansi.
He apologized and asked her if she could come to southern Mongolia sometime. He wanted to take her horseback riding on the grasslands and to eat roasted lamb. He said he had a lot to say to her.
When Hongxiu received the secret letter and arrived at the inn to see Yunxi, she naturally burst into tears again. When she finally saw Yuanxiao, Hongxiu and Zhang Huailin had almost identical expressions.
Hongxiu hugged the child affectionately and nuzzled him, her heart melting.
"Is this your child?"
Yunxi crossed her legs, ate a persimmon cake, and said arrogantly, "It's mine. Isn't it beautiful? Doesn't it look like me?"
It was already deep winter. Yuanxiao was one year and three months old. She had learned to walk, though she wasn't very steady yet. But she insisted on breaking free from Hongxiu's arms, opening her arms and stumbling towards Yunxi, calling out, "Mommy, hug me!"
"No hugging." Yunxi was enjoying her persimmon cake when she answered decisively.
"Mother" Yuanxiao didn't care and still hugged Yunxi's leg, refusing to let go no matter how Hongxiu coaxed her.
Yunxi wiped her hands clean, smiled, and picked him up. "Dog Egg, you're so clingy!"
Although the child, "Bu Bu Yuanxiao," was only a little girl and could only say a few simple words, she understood that Yunxi had called her by the wrong name and hugged her neck to correct her.
"Good, good, good, Yuanxiao Gou Dan," Yunxi said deliberately.
I don’t know if Yuanxiao understood, but anyway, he put his arm around Yunxi’s neck and kissed her.
He kissed her until her face was covered in saliva.
"Yuanxiao Gou Dan, you're really vengeful," Yunxi said, laughing as she dodged.
After all, that's how she always 'punished' Yuanxiao.
Hongxiu watched with a face full of satisfaction.
It doesn't matter whose child it is; what matters is making Yunxi happy and hopefully helping her recover from the pain of the past.
The Lunar New Year is approaching.
With such a pleasant climate in Yunnan, Yunxi chose to stay in a town not far from Dali.
She plans to open a tavern to sell wine and make money, firstly to repay Fan Zishi, and secondly to save some money, since she needs to go to Mo Nan to see Xu Yuansi when the Lantern Festival is a little older.
Not for any other reason than that even when he was imprisoned, he still wanted to save her.
On this Lunar New Year's Eve, with Hongxiu by her side and Xiaobei around, she also received a letter from Fan Zishi. She dressed Yuanxiao in a festive red outfit and, while holding him and setting off firecrackers, she actually intended to scare him.
She didn't know why, but sometimes she had a mischievous urge to see Yuanxiao crying her eyes out.
As it turned out, Yuanxiao was really brave. He hugged her neck tightly, his dark eyes darting around, showing no fear but only curiosity.
Yunxi did not get what she wanted, so as punishment, she hugged him and kissed his chubby face hard.
Yuanxiao giggled and dodged around, but she always clung to Yunxi's neck and refused to let go.
That night, a group of people were enjoying hot pot with mutton around a steaming pot of soup.
For Yunxi, every holiday is a reason to be extra happy.
Inside the room, the warm steam dampened the bright red paper-cut window decorations.
Watermarks meandered across the diamond-shaped windows of the Qianqing Palace.
The desolate and solemn Forbidden City resembles a tomb covered in ice and snow.
No one knew the heavy mood Fu Shun was in at this moment, but he still had to suppress his emotions and bowed, saying, "Everything has been prepared."
Xiao Shenjing nodded and brushed away the palace maid's hand that was tying his cloak.
After fastening the hood himself, he walked towards the door almost without stopping.
The emperor spurred his horse and, carrying the gifts he had prepared for Yunxi that year, eagerly headed towards the imperial mausoleum in the suburbs.
It was as if that enormous tomb was his final destination.
Fu Shun watched the tall figure disappear through the palace gates, then sighed deeply.
Consort Yun has been gone for more than two years, but His Majesty shows no sign of letting go of her; on the contrary, he has been doing so more and more frequently lately.
Xiao Shenjing developed a high fever after returning from the imperial tomb.
Inside the Qianqing Palace, candlelight flickered like scattered gold on the crackled window screen, while Fushun guarded the outer room where the grain was stored.
"Yunxi, no!" The emperor suddenly jolted up from the brocade quilt, his hand gripping the air, his nightgown soaked with cold sweat. The high fever caused two patches of rouge-like red to appear at the corners of his eyes, and even his pupils were covered with blood vessels.
"Your Majesty, you've finally woken up." Fu Shun immediately stepped forward.
Xiao Shenjing seemed not to hear him. He stared blankly at his hands, cold sweat rolling down his forehead.
He kept having endless dreams about the fire, about Yunxi being burned alive.
She pleaded with him for help, her face contorted in pain, but he couldn't save her.
“She’s still holding our child.” His throat stung, and he suddenly covered his face. “I couldn’t save her again.”
"Your Majesty, it was all a dream," Fu Shun comforted, quickly ordering someone to bring the medicine. "Your Majesty, please drink the medicine first."
Xiao Shenjing suddenly looked up, overturned the gilded vine-patterned medicine bowl, and the shattered porcelain splashed medicine into the blue bricks, leaving brownish tear stains.
His eyes were bloodshot as he roared hoarsely, "Go and bring me the elixir of immortality!"
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" Upon hearing this, Fu Shun immediately knelt down on both knees. "You have had a high fever for two days without it subsiding, and your body is far too weak now. Taking the elixir at this time will surely harm your imperial body."
"Bring me the elixir!" Xiao Shenjing murmured, seemingly oblivious to everything else. "I must save her! I must save her!"
His black hair was disheveled and draped over his shoulders, his eyes were a manic crimson, and the gaping opening of his dragon-patterned inner garment revealed purple spots below his collarbone caused by the accumulation of cinnabar poison.
Looking at Xiao Shenjing now, Fu Shun felt a pang of heartache, almost bursting into tears. "Your Majesty, I beg you, please don't use those pills to harm yourself anymore."
These words only angered Xiao Shenjing.
He suddenly stood up, clutching the gauze curtain. With a tearing sound, he stumbled and stepped on a shard of medicine bowl, instantly bleeding profusely.
"Your Majesty!" Fu Shun's eyes widened.
Xiao Shenjing, however, seemed oblivious to the pain, and staggered across the broken pieces to Fu Shun.
"Medicine, medicine, give it to me!" His veined hand gripped Fu Shun tightly. "Hurry up, I need to save Yunxi! I need to save her!"
Tears rolled down Fu Shun's cloudy eyes.
How did His Majesty become like this?
How did it turn out like this?!
When the pill was delivered to Xiao Shenjing, he stood amidst the shattered porcelain shards and crimson blood, and without any hesitation, he stuffed it into his mouth.
As the pill dissolved in his mouth, he seemed to finally feel relieved.
"Yunxi, I've come to save you!" He suddenly coughed and gasped, his back arched as he coughed, the veins on his neck bulging, like a crane with broken wings.
After finally suppressing the cough, Xiao Shenjing suddenly chuckled, turned around, and stumbled toward the bed behind him.
Tiny shards of porcelain pierced the soles of his feet, causing excruciating pain with every step and drawing more blood.
Amidst a trail of bloody footprints, Xiao Shenjing felt no pain whatsoever.
He staggered along, muttering, "Yunxi, wait for me! I will definitely save you and our child!"
Watching Xiao Shenjing's retreating figure, Fu Shun's eyes filled with tears, and his whole body felt cold.
Crazy, crazy
His Majesty has truly gone mad.
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