Chapter 114: The New Emperor's troubled times are coming to an end, and a prosperous era is coming
Outside the palace gate, an inconspicuous carriage quietly drove out of the imperial city and sped along the small path.
Inside the car, Shen Xingwan sat on a soft couch with a slightly open small medicine box beside her.
Her hands were still shaking slightly and her eyes were full of worry.
"Princess, we have just arrived at the Regent's Palace." Xing Zhou rode his horse to the window and reported in a low voice.
Shen Xingwan came back to his senses, his voice hoarse: "Thank you for your hard work."
Xing Zhou looked respectful, nodded, lowered his head, rode his horse to the front to lead the way, and vigilantly observed the movements around him.
She was exhausted by this huge change, and being able to hold on until now was already her limit.
The carriage slowly stopped in front of the palace gate.
A group of guards were already kneeling at the door to greet her. The steward of the mansion came over quickly. Seeing that she was safe and sound, he was moved and pursed his lips to salute her.
"Princess, you are back... Please come in!"
Shen Xingwan nodded, forced herself to get out of the car and walked towards the gate. Behind her, Xing Zhou whispered to the guards to guard the door and set up layers of defense, not daring to relax for a moment.
As soon as she entered the Regent's Palace, she went straight to the backyard without taking off her cloak.
The wind blew the branches of flowers under the eaves and trembled slightly. Feiyun lay on a small couch by the window, covered with a soft thin brocade blanket. Although her face was still pale, she no longer looked terrified as she had that night.
Seeing Shen Xingwan hurried over, Feiyun was startled, and then her eyes turned red. She struggled to stand up and salute: "Miss..."
"Don't move."
Shen Xingwan stepped forward quickly, stretched out his hand to hold her slender shoulder, and spoke in the same calm tone as always, but with a little more tenderness, "You are seriously injured, rest well, and don't move."
Feiyun's tears fell, "I am lucky. I am alive thanks to the young lady."
"If it weren't for the young lady risking her life to ask the imperial physician to save my life that night...I...I really don't know how to repay you..."
Tears welled up in Shen Xingwan's eyes. She sat down slowly and used her fingers to gently straighten Feiyun's slightly messy hair.
"You have been with me for many years, through thick and thin. Without your sincere protection, I would not be where I am today."
"If I can't even protect you, then what's the point of me living alone?"
Feiyun cried even harder, her lips trembling, but she could no longer utter a word. She could only hold her hand and hold it tight with all her strength.
Shen Xingwan did not try to persuade her, but gently patted the back of her hand and said softly: "Your injury is on the edge of a vital part, but fortunately you have avoided the key point. If you rest and recuperate well, you will definitely recover as before."
"Don't worry. No matter what natural treasures you need, I will have people find them for you. Just rest and recuperate."
Feiyun nodded, her eyes red as she responded: "Thank you, Miss. I will take good care of my injuries and not let you worry."
Shen Xingwan looked at her pale but gradually regaining vitality face, and the tension in his heart finally relaxed a little. He nodded slightly: "You should rest well. If you still feel uncomfortable, send someone to call the imperial physician immediately."
After saying that, she tucked the corner of the quilt for Feiyun, gave her a few more instructions, and then got up and left.
When I left the courtyard, the steward was already waiting for me in the corridor.
Shen Xingwan slowed down his pace and glanced at him, "Where is the Fourteenth Prince now?"
The steward immediately bowed his head and replied, "Princess, the Fourteenth Prince was secretly transferred by order of the Regent on the night of the coup."
"The carriage I personally sent has now entered the Winter Garden. It is heavily guarded and is safe."
Shen Xingwan listened quietly and nodded slightly, his expression unchanged: "Okay."
The steward paused again and added carefully, "When the Fourteenth Prince left, he insisted on taking Xiao Lingdang and her daughter with him."
Shen Xingwan's expression slightly changed, but he was not surprised. He just replied calmly: "I know."
She turned around and was about to leave, but then stopped, her eyes darkened a little, and she turned back and said, "Add more people to take care of the Fourteenth Prince's daily life. All food and drink must be checked and nothing can go wrong."
"I understand."
After giving the instructions, Shen Xingwan slowly walked towards the inner house.
The shadow of the corridor is long and slanting, the breeze makes the branches sway gently, the petals flutter and fall, brushing across her waterfall-like black hair.
When I returned to the room, there was smoke curling from the incense burner and the light was soft.
She untied her cloak, and as if she had finally taken off her armor, she walked step by step to the couch and sat down.
Fatigue surged through every part of his body like a wave, and the calmness he had maintained in front of Feiyun just now finally collapsed at this moment.
She held her forehead and closed her eyes, feeling sore all over and gloomy between her brows.
Although the overall situation has been settled and the imperial power has been stabilized, the remnants of civil strife have not yet been extinguished and undercurrents are still surging in the court.
But today, seeing that Feiyun was safe, the Fourteenth Prince was properly accommodated, and Xiao Lingdang and her daughter were also fine, her heart could finally relax a little.
Shen Xingwan slowly lay down, leaned on the cushion, and let out a long sigh.
The scent of benzoin wafted in the air, soothing her exhausted mind.
She closed her eyes and murmured softly:
"Fortunately... they are all still alive."
I don’t know how long it had been, but suddenly I heard hurried footsteps outside.
She was half asleep when she suddenly woke up and looked up.
The door was pushed open from the outside, and Yan Jinghuan, covered in dust and blood, walked in with firm steps.
"Yeon Kyung-hwan!"
She almost instinctively stood up and rushed over, clutching his collar tightly with both hands, her eyes instantly sore and wet.
Seeing tears in her eyes, Yan Jinghuan frowned, raised his hand to cover the back of her head, and held her tightly in his arms.
His voice was low and hoarse, with a trembling feeling of surviving a disaster: "I'm back."
Shen Xingwan clutched his collar tightly, his voice trembling as he looked at him with concern:
"Where's your wound? Let me see it!"
Yan Jinghuan wanted to refuse, but she forcefully pulled him to sit down beside the couch.
Shen Xingwan personally untied the gauze that was hastily wrapped around his shoulder. The gauze had already been soaked with blood, and the skin and flesh were rolled up, revealing a horrific wound. Her eyes were hot, her fingertips were trembling, and she looked up at him angrily: "You...how could you..."
Yan Jinghuan curled his lips and smiled indifferently, his voice tired and doting:
"It's okay. It doesn't hurt."
Shen Xingwan felt a pang in her heart and almost burst into tears.
She took a deep breath, brought out the medical supplies that had been prepared long ago, tried to keep her hands steady, carefully cleaned his wound, applied medicine powder, and then carefully wrapped it with bandages one circle at a time.
Yan Jinghuan kept staring at her, and the affection in his eyes was so strong that it made her heart palpitate.
She forced herself to calm down and finally finished bandaging the last circle. She breathed a sigh of relief, leaned her head in his arms, and whispered:
"You can't... do this again."
Yan Jinghuan raised his hands and hugged her tightly, then lowered his head and whispered in her ear:
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
Outside the house, the night was dark and the wind was dying down.
Inside the house, a warm yellow candle flickered slightly, reflecting the figures of two people embracing each other, so gentle that it seemed as if even the heaven and earth had turned into spring water.
The next day, dawn broke and the morning light appeared.
Inside the Wei court, a crowd of ministers in court robes stood solemnly, civil and military officials lined up in neat rows, and thousands of eyes were all fixed on the high platform in front of the steps.
Today is the ceremony for the new emperor to ascend the throne.
The bloody storm of last night has gone with the wind.
This morning, the entire imperial city was cleansed of dust and looked brand new.
Outside the palace, a red carpet was laid out, bells and drums rang, and the imperial guards stood solemnly on both sides. The murderous atmosphere was still there, but it was softened a little by the rising sun.
Shen Xingwan, dressed in luxurious court robes, walked slowly up with Yan Jinghuan.
She deliberately chose an inconspicuous position so as not to steal the spotlight and also to make it easy for her to observe the situation.
Although the wound on Yan Jinghuan's shoulder had been bandaged, his face was still pale and sickly, and his thin lips were tightly pursed, making him look even colder.
Even so, he was dressed in a dark golden python and wore a jade belt around his waist. He looked calm and composed, as if the life-and-death battle last night had never happened to him.
He tilted his head slightly and whispered to Shen Xingwan: "Don't worry, I can hold on."
Shen Xingwan's fingers gripping his sleeve slightly tightened, and she softly replied, "I'll accompany you."
Yan Jinghuan's eyes moved slightly, and he smiled softly, with tenderness in his eyes.
On the high platform, the Fourteenth Prince Wei Zihui stood in front of the dragon throne, wearing a newly made bright yellow dragon robe. His small figure was thin but stubborn.
The Queen Mother came slowly, supported by her.
She was dressed in plain white, wearing the queen mother's crown on her head, and her expression was indifferent.
After what happened last night, she seemed to have aged a dozen years overnight. Her brows and eyes were slack, her steps were unsteady, but she still maintained her final dignity.
The Queen Mother held the imperial edict and crowned Wei Zihui with her own hands, announcing to the world in a trembling voice: "Now, in compliance with the order of our ancestors, I enthrone the fourteenth prince, Wei Zihui, as the new emperor, to inherit the throne and forever protect the country!"
The proclamation was made, and the world was settled.
When Wei Zihui slowly raised his head, his eyes were clear and firm, and his brows still carried the youthfulness of a young man, but he was forcibly suppressing a calm and steady aura of an emperor.
All the civil and military officials knelt down in unison, and the cheers like a tsunami shook the sky: "Welcome to the new emperor! Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor!!"
The sound was louder and louder, like thunder, and it lasted for a long time.
Shen Xingwan raised her head slightly, a gleam in her eyes.
She saw Yan Jinghuan standing in the audience, his expression as calm as a mountain, one hand on the sword, the other behind his back, head slightly raised, like a weathered statue, quietly guarding the new emperor and the hard-earned imperial power.
Under the guidance of the ceremonial officer, Wei Zihui slowly ascended the dragon throne and took the imperial seal with trembling hands.
A golden light suddenly appeared, and the jade seal shone in the morning light, heralding the beginning of a new dynasty.
The young man tightly grasped the heavy jade seal, his lips tightly pursed, cold sweat oozing from his forehead, but he did not retreat at all.
He knelt before heaven and earth, before his ancestors, and his clear and resolute voice echoed for a long time in the palace: "I am young, but I have inherited the throne. From now on, I will abolish harsh policies, care for the people, promote talents, promote rituals and education, and hope to achieve peace with the world."
Although the voice was not loud, it revealed an authority that could not be challenged.
The court cheered again.
Shen Xingwan looked at this scene with mixed feelings.
Just a few days ago, Wei Zihui was still a young man hiding in the Regent's Palace, timidly calling her Princess Shen, but now, he has put on the dragon robe and shouldered the burden of the rise and fall of the dynasty.
Yan Jinghuan stared quietly at the young man on the dragon throne. Deep in his eyes, there was relief, but also a hint of deep fatigue and worry.
Although the situation has been stabilized and the traitors have been eliminated, it will still take long-term efforts to truly stabilize the country.
Yan Jinghuan lowered his eyes, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
It seems that I have finally completed the task on my shoulders.
Shen Xingwan felt a little sad and clenched his hand.
She knew that from now on, Yan Jinghuan would no longer be just a regent, but would become the true uncrowned master behind the dynasty.
After the ceremony, Yan Jinghuan declined the advice of his ministers to stay and quietly left the court with Shen Xingwan.
Outside the palace, the warm breeze was blowing and the golden light was shining on the palace walls, dazzling.
The wound on Yan Jinghuan's shoulder was bleeding, and the blood had soaked through the black fabric. Although it was not obvious, it was shocking.
Shen Xingwan's eyes were red with distress, and she whispered, "You said you would take care of yourself, why did you have to stand there for so long? Go back and change the medicine."
Yan Jinghuan chuckled, looked up at her tenderly, and said in a hoarse voice: "Okay."
Shen Xingwan's eyes were moist as she helped him slowly get into the carriage.
The carriage slowly drove out of the palace gate. Outside the palace, the road was full of traces left over from last night, broken walls, bloodstains, and the smell of scorched earth filled the air.
But even so, some people have taken to the streets in groups of three or four, trying to resume their normal lives.
Yan Jinghuan leaned against the wall of the car, his face pale, but his tone relaxed, and he said softly: "The chaotic times are coming to an end, and the prosperous times are expected."
Shen Xingwan gently held his hand and nodded solemnly.
At this moment, the wind blew over the dilapidated city walls, blowing the hair on the two people's foreheads, as if silently telling them that the real spring was finally coming.
That night, the entire capital city celebrated the new emperor's ascension to the throne and stayed up all night.
And Shen Xingwan finally snuggled in Yan Jinghuan's arms, closed her eyes and fell peacefully into a long-lost sleep.
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