Chapter 143 A Heart-to-Heart Talk Between Husband and Wife
Su Luoxue looked at Yuwen Hao standing by the bed and said softly, "Hao'er..."
Yuwen Hao immediately raised his head and looked at her intently.
"Let Steward Li take you to play with your younger siblings, okay?" Su Luoxue's voice was still weak, but it carried a comforting power. "But... promise Mother that you won't tell them that Mother is not feeling well, okay? Just say that Mother is tired and is resting."
Yuwen Hao nodded obediently and replied softly, "Okay, Hao'er won't say."
Yuwen Che looked at his son's faded, ill-fitting old robe. He turned to Li Dehai, who was standing beside him, and instructed, "Li Dehai, take the eldest prince there."
Li Dehai bowed immediately: "This old servant obeys the decree." He stepped forward and respectfully said to Yuwen Hao: "Your Highness, please follow this old servant."
Yuwen Hao glanced at Su Luoxue on the bed again, and after receiving an encouraging smile from her, he said, "Go, Hao'er..." He then turned around and followed Li Dehai outside.
Just as Yuwen Hao was about to step out of the palace gate, Yuwen Che's voice rang out again:
"Li Dehai, instruct the Imperial Wardrobe to produce twelve sets each of seasonal and ceremonial robes for the Crown Prince, in accordance with the regulations for princes. The materials and workmanship must be of the highest quality, and there must be no mistakes."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the glaring old clothes Yuwen Hao was wearing, and added, "Throw away everything he's wearing now. Not a single piece."
Li Dehai quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty! This old servant will do it immediately!"
Yuwen Hao stopped in his tracks. He turned around abruptly and looked at his father in disbelief, his mouth slightly agape, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Yuwen Che didn't look at him again, but instead focused his attention back on Su Luoxue, and asked softly, "Would you like some water?"
Su Luoxue looked at him, gently took his hand, and whispered, "Ache, thank you..."
Yuwen Hao didn't come to his senses until Li Dehai gently tugged at his sleeve. He glanced one last time at the bed, then lowered his head and silently followed Li Dehai out. But his small figure no longer seemed as timid and lonely as before.
Inside the bedchamber, Yuwen Che helped Su Luoxue up and carefully fed her a few sips of warm water.
Su Luoxue leaned against him, feeling the carefulness in his movements, and asked softly, "A-Che, you... don't blame Bai Xiao anymore? He told me..."
Yuwen Che paused in his act of feeding you water, his eyes darkened, and his voice was low: "Strange. I resent him for making such a cruel decision on his own, placing such a cruel choice before you."
He put down his teacup and pulled Su Luoxue into his arms. "But I blame myself even more... If I hadn't been careless and fallen into their trap, you wouldn't have had to... Xue'er, I'm sorry..."
Su Luoxue raised her hand and gently hugged him back, shaking her head: "Don't apologize, A-Che. It was my own choice. As long as you and the children are well, I have no regrets."
She looked up at him and said, "So, don't blame Bai Xiao, okay? He... wanted to save you too."
Yuwen Che remained silent for a moment, then finally sighed and hugged her tighter: "Hmm... I have ordered him to go to Nanzhao to find the antidote. Xue'er, don't worry, I will definitely find the antidote and I will never let anything happen to you."
Su Luoxue nestled in his arms and gently closed her eyes.
Su Luoxue leaned against him, her voice soft yet firm: "Ache... I know that you have some reservations and some aversion towards Hao'er."
Yuwen Che did not deny it immediately, but listened in silence.
“But he really was a good child…” Su Luoxue continued, her gaze distant, as if lost in memories. “When I first entered the palace, I liked him very much. He was only three years old then, about the same age as Cheng’an now… a tiny little boy, hiding behind his wet nurse, peeking out his little head to peek at me, his eyes bright, just as cute, smart, and well-behaved as ever.”
"He always called me Empress Chen back then..."
She sighed, "But these past few years, he... he hasn't been doing well, that's why he's become so timid. Ah Che, I know some things can't be forced, I won't force you to accept him or love him the way you love Cheng An, but..."
She raised her head and looked earnestly into Yuwen Che's deep eyes: "At least, for the sake of him calling you Father, for the sake of the blood in his veins, protect him a little, don't let him be looked down upon by others again, okay? Just consider it... just consider it for my peace of mind, alright?"
Looking at the pleading look on her pale face, Yuwen Che recalled everything she had done for him, and the way Yuwen Hao had rushed over to deliver the news in a panic. The high wall of ice in his heart finally cracked open.
He hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded and gave his promise: "Very well. I agree."
He grasped Su Luoxue's hand, his tone solemn: "As long as he behaves himself, stays within his bounds, and doesn't harbor any improper thoughts, I will... try to treat him better."
But then, his tone shifted abruptly, his gaze instantly turning sharp and cold, the ruthlessness of an emperor resurfacing, each word clearly defining his bottom line:
"But in the future... if he harbors disloyal thoughts, or dares to do anything detrimental to Cheng'an, Ning'er, or even you..."
Yuwen Che's voice deepened, carrying an undeniable killing intent:
"I will... finish him off personally."
Hearing his chilling words, Su Luoxue's heart tightened. She had no doubt that Yuwen Che could do what he said he would do.
She steadied herself, met his sharp gaze, and said in a soft but exceptionally clear voice, "No. I believe Hao'er, he won't."
She paused, her tone shifting to understanding and firmness, with a calmness born of profound wisdom: "I know you care about the peace of the Great Zhou, about the stability of the nation. No matter who it is, as long as they try to incite internal strife and threaten the Great Zhou's rule and Cheng'an's future, you will not let them get away with it."
She took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision, and slowly said, "If... if one day in the future Hao'er... really does something that harms the country and hurts his brothers..."
"I won't stop you."
She made it clear that, as empress, she would ultimately choose between the fate of the nation and her personal feelings.
Yuwen Che looked at her with some surprise, seemingly not expecting her to say such a thing. He thought that, given her kindness, she would definitely ask him to save the child's life no matter what.
Su Luoxue saw the surprise in his eyes and gave a bitter smile: "Ache, I am your empress, your wife."
“I am Cheng’an and Ning’er’s mother. I know how important a stable court and a country free from internal troubles are to you and to all the people. I cannot… nor should I gamble with so-called benevolence on an uncertain future and sow the seeds of a potential catastrophe that could overturn everything.”
She gently placed her hand on his, her gaze resolute: "So, all I ask is that you promise me, before that moment arrives, to give him a fair chance, to give him the education and guidance he deserves, and not to prejudge his future based on prejudice. If he remains well-behaved, let him live a peaceful life; if he truly does wrong... then, do as you please, I will have no complaints."
Yuwen Che gazed at her, his Xue'er, who was not only dependent on his affection, but also possessed the magnanimity and wisdom of an empress.
He took her slightly cool hand in his own and solemnly promised, "Alright, I promise you. I will give him a chance and have someone teach him properly. As long as he fulfills his duties as a subject and is respectful to his brothers, I will not mistreat him."
Upon receiving his affirmative reply, Su Luoxue felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted. She relaxed, leaned back into his arms, and closed her eyes wearily.
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