Chapter 380 Zhao Hede 41
Before the Zhang sisters left, Hede gave each of them a gift. The one for Zhang Zhen was naturally a money-making opportunity, while the one for Zhang Mi was a dagger that could cut through iron like mud.
Ban Jieyu stood beside her, looking at the two of them with undisguised reluctance and envy in her eyes.
"Once you leave, the sea will be wide enough for fish to leap and the sky high enough for birds to fly."
The strong wind blew up Hede's wide robe. She looked at the two sisters in front of her who had different pursuits. They might take completely opposite or even opposing positions from now on, but how could such a scene not be said to be a common destination.
How nice.
"This poem is really good. I wish you good luck, Your Highness."
The two of them exchanged greetings, their faces filled with undisguised ambition. The separation didn't bring them much sadness; they were now even more eager to embark on their chosen careers and embrace their own lives.
"That's great! They look so different now."
On the way back, Ban Jieyu and Hede rode in the same carriage. Although she was very polite, she couldn't help but looked back through the window frequently.
"Why, is A Tian envious too?"
Hede was wearing a red gown with a curved skirt and a bun on her head and was sitting opposite Ban Jieyu. Her calm demeanor made Ban Jieyu feel dazed.
The Queen is becoming more and more majestic as the mother of the country. At first glance, she is even more imposing than the Empress Dowager.
"I can't say I'm envious, but I feel ashamed of myself. Although they are women, they will be able to make real contributions to the country just like men. I only have the reputation of being a virtuous person, but I'm far inferior to them."
Seeing that her expression did not seem fake, Zhao Hede suddenly broke into a happy smile.
Ban Tian, who was confused, looked blankly at her hands that were held by Hede, and raised her head, not knowing why the queen was doing this.
"A Tian, do you want to become a female historian and write a history of women?"
"Bang--"
A deafening sound suddenly rang in Ban Tian's ears.
"A Tian, are you willing to use your intelligence and your impartial eyes to help those women leave their mark in the long river of history?"
"Bang—bang—"
"We should not sing praises of their virtues of forbearance, tolerance, and docility, but rather their long-term vision, unyielding struggle, and glorious achievements."
"Compile a history of humanity for women."
Ban Tian didn't know when she pressed her hands tightly against her heart. It turned out that what was ringing in her ears was her own excited heartbeat.
The endless tears soaked her clothes, but this time, it was no longer the heartbreak of love.
Another vigorous force surged through her limbs following Hede's words, and eventually supplied her ordinary heart continuously.
"Dongdong-dong-dongdong-dong-dong"
It's strange, was it once so powerful, so strong, and so full of vitality?
Ban Tian was a little confused for a moment.
The long period of chaos clouded her thoughts for a moment, but her body's instinct had already made her eagerly open her beautifully shaped lips:
"I do. I won't let those girls down."
"I trust you."
Hedra took Ban Tian's hand, and the two of them's gorgeous skirts meandered to the ground as they got out of the car.
This is the Yongxiang Lane of the Weiyang Palace, where the Empress of the Han Dynasty's Pepper Room was located.
Zhao Hede slowly stood on the long steps of the Pepper Room. The howling wind blew her crimson skirt up like a burning flame. Ban Tian stood beside her, one step lower than her, slightly tilting her head, looking at Hede's smiling face.
"Look,"
Hede pointed with her hand, and Ban Tian looked in the direction her finger pointed. There was nothing there, but if he walked along that road, he would reach the Xuanzheng Hall where the current Emperor of the Han Dynasty handled state affairs.
"There will be a place for me there, and there will always be a place for the Queen there."
Zhao Hede did not lower her head, but the women around her who were one step shorter than her were all shocked and could not help but look up at her. From a distance, she looked like stars surrounding the moon, or like firewood thrown into the flames.
"There will be a place for you there, too. Do you want to give it a try?"
"Then let's try it."
…
In the 30th year of Yuande, the first snow of early winter this year came exceptionally early. From midnight yesterday until now, it has been falling like a piece of cotton wool, and it has become heavier.
Liu Ao, who was seventy years old at the time, sighed deeply as he looked at Hede, whose face was only showing fine lines.
"I haven't been able to see Hede grow old..."
His Majesty the Emperor, who had been on the throne for more than fifty years, had now shed his imperial majesty. As he had taken good care of himself, he was not actually very old. At least 70% of his hair was still black, and only the sideburns on both sides were as white as snow, which made him look quite charming. He had often teased him about this before.
However, although he still looked energetic, those close to him knew that he would not live long.
Ever since the Empress Dowager passed away five years ago, the aging Liu Ao had been very sad for a while. His already no longer young body had developed a disease, and naturally he gradually began to show signs of decline.
In addition, the Han Dynasty is now in his hands and has become a veritable Celestial Empire. Who in the entire Eurasian continent and even the American continent dares not submit to the iron cavalry of the Han Dynasty?
This great cause for the ages has only been carried out by me, from ancient times to the present!
Even more fortunately, he had such a perfect successor. Liu Ao was extremely confident that Liu Zhao would be able to do a better job than he had done if the Han Dynasty was handed over to him.
Because he knew very well that the reason he could achieve such great success in his life was simply because he loved the right person.
And now, in the last moment of his life, he was about to sleep forever in the arms of his lover.
"Hede, I am truly the luckiest man in the world."
Liu Ao lay in Hede's arms, looking back on his life. The darkness and struggles of the first half of his life disappeared with the intrusion of this woman.
She is the harbor of one's soul and the anchor of one's reality.
Without Hede, Liu Ao is nothing. Liu Ao needs Hede more, but fortunately, Hede also needs Liu Ao.
Living to this day, Liu Ao was surprised to find that in the last moments of his life, he was actually just regretting that he had not seen Hede's true old appearance and had not been able to fulfill his promise to grow old with her.
"Hede, I broke our promise. I'm so sorry. If there is an afterlife, I will definitely find you sooner rather than later. In the next life, I will die later so you won't be alone."
Zhao Hede looked at the increasingly heavy snow outside, then looked at Liu Ao, who was breathing heavily in her arms and still making an appointment with her for the next life. She couldn't describe her feelings.
"Your Majesty, can you hold on a little longer?"
"Yes."
Although he didn't know what Hede wanted him to do, Liu Ao responded to her immediately, and secretly took a deep breath, and slowly stood up with the help of Hede's strength.
The palace maids around were stopped by Hede's eyes, and the old couple supported each other. To be precise, the young mother-in-law supported the old man, all the way from the warm and fragrant hall to the heavy snow flying in the sky.
"Your Majesty, look."
Liu Ao raised his head with some difficulty, and Hede turned her head to follow his gaze. Her smile was still as bright as before, but the fine smile lines at the corners of her eyes added a touch of gentleness to her.
"Oh, Hede's hair has turned white. So this is what it looks like. She's still so beautiful."
Liu Ao raised his old hand, gently brushed away the cold snow on Hede's head, spread out his cloak, stood in the wind, and laughed heartily.
"Your Majesty may have white hair, but he is still as brave and heroic as ever."
Hede was protected by him in a sheltered place, and the two of them snuggled up to each other unknowingly.
The heavy snow covered the sky and seemed to bury the entire world.
Fortunately, there was a clever palace servant who informed the prince and his companions, and the group staggered in the flower garden that had long since withered.
"Your Highness—then, then is that..."
A palace servant's trembling voice sounded behind Liu Zhao, but they didn't need to remind him, as the three children standing in the front were the first to notice it.
On the swing, two people with snow-covered hair snuggled up to each other, and it was unknown how long they sat under the acacia tree.
Liu Zhao caught up his brother who was crying almost uncontrollably, and held his sister's trembling hands.
In the vast universe, parents with peaceful faces died together, leaving only three young children who continued their bloodline and will. From then on, they supported each other and touched the unknown road ahead.
"Brother, the snow has stopped."
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