Chapter 345 He Has Done Very Well
Gu Junze pushed open the door and walked along the way, feeling mixed emotions.
The emperor's last words still echoed in my ears: "Sister, take me away..."
The plan finally came to an end, but the expected pleasure did not come as expected.
The bitterness that had been pent up in his chest for many years did not completely dissipate with the emperor's death, but turned into a more complex emotion that entangled his heart.
The mansion was unusually quiet, and most of the servants had returned to their rooms to rest.
Gu Junze stood in the middle of the courtyard, looking up at the night sky.
There is no moon tonight, only a few stars twinkling in the inky sky.
"Han'er?" He called softly, his feet unconsciously moving towards the inner room.
As soon as he opened the door, Gu Junze saw Chu Ruohan sitting on a low couch by the window, holding a book in her hand, and the candlelight cast soft light and shadow on her fair face.
She was waiting for him...
Seeing Gu Junze coming back, Chu Ruohan put down the book, her eyes full of concern.
"I'm back." Chu Ruohan said softly, her voice like a gentle breeze.
Gu Junze nodded and sat down beside the low couch.
Chu Ruohan didn't ask any more questions, but just stood up quietly and poured him a cup of warm tea.
"Your Majesty... has left." Gu Junze took the teacup and said in a low voice.
Chu Ruohan's hand paused slightly, then she regained her composure.
She sat quietly beside Gu Junze, letting silence spread between them.
"It was he who strangled my mother with his own hands. It was he who deprived me of maternal love at a young age. It was he who filled my childhood with darkness."
Gu Junze's voice gradually deepened, revealing a hint of hatred. "But when he called out my mother's name on his deathbed, his face full of regret, I actually felt a little bit of pity in my heart."
Chu Ruohan stood up, walked behind Gu Junze, gently put her arms around his shoulders, and rested her head on the crook of his neck.
The warm breath brushed past his ears, bringing a reassuring warmth.
"It's all over." Chu Ruohan said softly, tightening her arms slightly.
"Yeah." Gu Junze agreed, put his hand on the back of Chu Ruohan's hand, and closed his eyes.
The two of them just leaned on each other quietly, without saying a word, but it was worth more than a thousand words.
Chu Ruohan knew that Gu Junze was at his most vulnerable moment, and his strong disguise finally loosened a little after his goal was achieved.
She doesn't need to say much, just accompany you quietly.
If you don’t avenge your mother, how can you be worthy of being a son?
Gu Junze went through so much trouble just to get his revenge without bloodshed.
He had done well in his attempt to avoid making the people of the world pay the price for his personal vendetta...
As the night deepened outside the window, the lights in the mansion grew brighter.
The capital city is undergoing a great change tonight, but in this small inner room, there is a rare tranquility and warmth.
The next morning, the dawn was just breaking.
Gu Junze rose early and stood in the courtyard, gazing at the gradually brightening sky in the east. A night's rest had restored his usual calmness and composure.
Chu Ruohan came out wearing a coat and stood beside him.
"Accompany me to a place." Gu Junze said softly.
After a quick breakfast, the two of them left the General's Mansion in a carriage, heading towards Xiangshan Temple outside the city.
This is where Princess Anyang is buried. Gu Junze hasn't been here for a long time.
The two men dismounted from the carriage and slowly ascended the mountain path. In the early spring, the mountains were covered in budding vegetation, a scene full of life.
Gu Junze knelt in front of the tomb and kowtowed three times respectfully.
"Mother, your son is here to see you." Gu Junze said softly, his voice choked with sobs, "Your son has avenged your vengeance. Your uncle has admitted his mistakes and is here to atone for his sins."
"Your son knows that what you desire most is peace and prosperity for the people. I have never started a war out of personal vendetta, nor have I caused innocent people to suffer."
Chu Ruohan looked at Gu Junze's back. This seemingly strong man actually had a softness in his heart that was unimaginable to ordinary people.
"Mother, this is Han'er, my son's wife."
Gu Junze gestured for Chu Ruohan to come forward. "She was the one who accompanied our son through his darkest days. If you are still alive, please bless us."
Chu Ruohan walked forward, knelt beside Gu Junze, and kowtowed three times respectfully.
"Greetings, mother-in-law. Ruohan will always be with him and won't let him be alone again." Chu Ruohan promised softly.
The two sat in front of the tomb for a long time, until the sun was high in the sky before they got up and left.
On the way down the mountain, Gu Junze's steps were obviously much lighter, as if he had unloaded a heavy burden.
"How does it feel?" Chu Ruohan asked.
"Very good." Gu Junze smiled, "It's like starting over again."
Chu Ruohan smiled and nodded, then reached out and held Gu Junze's hand.
The two people's hands were tightly clasped, as closely linked as their destinies.
On the way back to the city, an announcement of the emperor's death had been posted at the city gate, and people were talking about it.
"Is the Third Prince about to ascend the throne?"
"Of course, the late emperor only has this one son left."
"It is said that Prince Su's case has also come to a conclusion..."
Gu Junze listened to these discussions and understood. He and Chu Ruohan quickly walked back to the carriage and did not stay any longer.
"What are your plans next?" Chu Ruohan asked on the return carriage.
"The revenge that should be taken has been taken, and the kingdom that should be defended has been secured." Gu Junze smiled faintly, "For the rest of my life, I just want to be with you..."
Inside the imperial palace, the Taiji Hall had already been draped with plain white curtains, and court officials in plain clothes were kneeling in front of the hall with solemn expressions.
Zhao Yunci was dressed in mourning clothes, standing quietly in front of the dragon throne with her eyes slightly closed, as if praying or thinking.
The hall was completely silent, with only the occasional sobbing breaking the suffocating stillness.
The Minister of Rites stepped forward and bowed.
"Your Highness, the Emperor's will has been drafted. Please review it."
Zhao Yunci opened her eyes and took the yellow scroll handed to her.
He slowly unfolded it, his eyes swept over the familiar handwriting, and an almost invisible curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"In his will, my father specifically indicated that I would inherit the throne." Zhao Yunci's voice was calm, but his eyes swept over the ministers present.
The Minister of Rites stepped forward, bowed, and said, "We respectfully invite the Third Prince to ascend the throne immediately to reassure the people."
"Yes, the country cannot be without a king for a day." Minister of Revenue Gu Yan echoed.
Zhao Yunci gently placed the will on the dragon table, took a deep breath, and looked solemn.
"My Lords, you may not know that I have been practicing Buddhism since childhood and have long since become disillusioned with worldly affairs. I know nothing about the affairs of state. Now that my father has suddenly passed away, I am deeply heartbroken and have no desire to take over the throne."
The moment these words came out, there was an uproar in the hall. The ministers looked at each other, unsure how to respond.
"Third Prince, you are of royal blood and the only son of the late emperor. If you don't succeed to the throne, won't our Great Zhou dynasty be cut off?" The Minister of Rites said anxiously.
"Yes, Third Prince, the country cannot be without a ruler for a day..."
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