Chapter 102 The Worthless Emperor
Han Ying, accompanied by five shadow guards, acted like the most efficient killing machine, carrying out a thorough purge within the Northern Kingdom's palace. When Marquis Pei Zhongyuan of Zhenbei led his personal guards into the core area of the palace, even though he was used to the brutality of battlefields, he couldn't help but be shocked by the scene before him.
Corpses lay strewn everywhere, blood flowed like rivers, and the air was thick with a nauseating stench of blood. From palace servants and guards to members of the royal family dressed in their finest attire, not a single one survived.
“This…” A deputy general turned pale and could barely speak.
Pei Zhongyuan took a deep breath, suppressing his discomfort, and looked at the cold figure that emerged from the shadows and the five shadow guards behind him who were spotless yet exuded murderous intent.
Han Ying nodded slightly to Pei Zhongyuan, her voice still cold and unwavering: "My lord, the palace has been purged. Helian Bobo and all his direct descendants have been executed. His Majesty has ordered that all subsequent matters in the Northern Territory be handled by you, my lord. Once the Shadow Pavilion's mission is complete, we will immediately return to the capital to report back."
Pei Zhongyuan nodded, his expression complex: "Lord Hanying, you have worked hard. Please convey to His Majesty that I will certainly live up to your expectations and stabilize the situation as soon as possible."
"Farewell." Han Ying said nothing more. With five shadow guards, he disappeared beyond the ruined palace walls in a few leaps, as if he had never been there.
The lieutenant then leaned closer to Pei Zhongyuan and whispered, "My lord, the methods of the Shadow Pavilion... are a bit too ruthless. If word gets out, I'm afraid..."
Pei Zhongyuan raised his hand to interrupt him, his gaze sweeping over the blood-red palace, and said in a deep voice, "What His Majesty wants is to eliminate future troubles forever. The Shadow Pavilion is merely the sharpest, and most clandestine, knife in His Majesty's hand. They only carry out His Majesty's orders and need not say more."
He paused, his tone turning grim: "Send down the order to inventory the palace's wealth, appease the people in the city, tally our army's casualties, and prepare a victory report to be sent to the capital by express courier!"
"yes!"
The deputy general accepted the order and left. Pei Zhongyuan stood alone in the empty, blood-red square, knowing in his heart: after this battle, the Northern Kingdom had become history.
A few days later, before the news of the fall of the Northern Kingdom could reach back, spring had arrived in the capital. The days were warm, but the nights were still a bit chilly.
Inside the Guanju Palace, Su Luoxue, heavily pregnant, tossed and turned in bed.
"Ah Che, I can't sleep... Let's go for a walk, just for a little while." She pleaded, tugging at Yuwen Che's sleeve.
Looking at her round belly, Yuwen Che was really worried: "The night air is cool, and you're carrying a heavy load now..."
"It'll only be for a little while. Just a walk under the corridor will be fine, otherwise it'll be too stuffy," Su Luoxue pleaded softly.
"Alright, alright, just for a little while." Yuwen Che couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he carefully draped a cloak over her shoulders, personally helped her up, and led Fuling and several other palace servants slowly toward the Imperial Garden.
High atop the distant palace walls, a white figure sat listlessly—it was Bai Xiao, who had returned to the capital ahead of him. He rolled his eyes at the sight of Yuwen Che carefully and meticulously supporting Su Luoxue in the Imperial Garden, muttering under his breath:
"Yuwen Che! I've known you for so many years, done so many dirty and tiring jobs for you, risked my life for you! And what do you do? You're here, acting as a crutch for your wife! And you even have that worthless smile on your face! You have no conscience! You have no humanity!"
He muttered to himself as he made a funny punching motion at Yuwen Che's back in the distance, looking annoyed but he could only wait obediently.
Yuwen Che had already sensed Bai Xiao's presence, but at the moment all his attention was on the person beside him.
"You've been walking for quite a while, why don't you go back and rest? It's late at night, be careful not to catch a cold," he coaxed gently.
Su Luoxue leaned against him, slowly taking steps: "But I can't sleep when I get back, and it's uncomfortable to sit..."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Che gently pinched her slightly rounder cheeks and chuckled, "Who sleeps like a little pig during the day, impossible to wake up? Hmm?"
Su Luoxue playfully punched him, teased, "You're the little pig!"
"Okay, that's me." Yuwen Che readily agreed, putting his arm around her shoulder and patiently walking with her for a little while longer. "Can we go back now, my little pig queen?"
Su Luoxue nodded in satisfaction: "Alright."
Yuwen Che carefully helped her turn around and walk towards Guanju Palace. When they passed a section of the palace wall, he glanced in the direction where Bai Xiao was.
Bai Xiao received the signal and breathed a sigh of relief, finally relieved that he wouldn't have to endure the cold wind here. He flashed away silently, heading towards the Hall of Political Thought, intending to wait for Yuwen Che there.
Back at Guanju Palace, Fuling and Zhang Mama helped Su Luoxue change into her nightgown before quietly retreating to the outer room to wait.
As soon as Yuwen Che sat down on the edge of the bed, Su Luoxue came over, wrapped her arms softly around his neck, snuggled into his arms, looked up at him with wet eyes, showing obvious dependence and a hint of... charm.
"Ah Che..." Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of coquetry, and her fingers unconsciously traced his clothes.
Yuwen Che's body stiffened slightly, and he immediately grabbed her restless hand, his voice tight and hoarse with restraint: "Xue'er, stop fooling around..."
Su Luoxue, however, refused and moved even closer, her warm breath brushing against his chin: "Just a hug...you haven't hugged me properly in so long..."
Yuwen Che took a deep breath, pushed her away slightly, looked into her eyes, and said with a tone that was both helpless and indulgent, yet firm and uncompromising: "No. The imperial physician said that the last two months are the most critical, and we must be careful."
He reached out and gently stroked her belly, feeling the movement of the two little ones inside, and whispered, "For your sake and the babies' sake, please bear with it a little longer, okay?"
Su Luoxue pouted, her eyes filled with disappointment, and muttered softly, "But... I just want to..."
Yuwen Che's heart softened completely. He pulled her back into his arms, carefully avoiding her stomach, and let her lean against his chest. He rested his chin on the top of her head and coaxed her softly, "I know. Then I'll just hold you like this and stay with you, okay? After you give birth and recover, I'll make it up to you properly, okay?"
His voice was gentle and full of promise. In his reassuring embrace and familiar scent, Su Luoxue gradually relaxed, and the inexplicable restlessness was soothed. She nodded gently.
She snuggled against him affectionately before closing her eyes.
Yuwen Che felt the warmth in his arms, his body still tense, a bitter smile playing on his lips. For him, wasn't this a sweet torment? Yet he accepted it willingly.
Once her breathing became even and deep, confirming that she was fast asleep, Yuwen Che carefully settled her down and tucked her in. He sat quietly by the bed for a few more moments before quietly getting up and walking towards the Sizheng Hall, where Bai Xiao was still waiting for him.
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