Chapter 176 Extra: Another Ending 2
The Dragon Guard had wiped out the rebel army. Li Dehai, leading the palace attendants and officials, knelt on the ground, crying out in grief, "Your Majesty..."
Su Luoxue clung tightly to Yuwen Che's still-warm body, sobbing incoherently, "Yuwen Che, don't sleep... I won't make a fuss anymore, I'll never get angry with you again... Don't you dislike me being nice to other people? I'll even stop seeing my brother from now on, okay? Please wake up, I beg you..."
Han Ying and Bai Xiao rushed into the hall and were both shocked by the sight before them.
Bai Xiao rushed forward and reached for Yuwen Che's neck. His fingertips trembled, and he closed his eyes, saying in deep sorrow, "His Majesty... has passed away."
"Impossible! You're lying to me!" Su Luoxue suddenly grabbed Bai Xiao's sleeve.
"He's Yuwen Che! How could he be dead? Bai Xiao, your medical skills are unparalleled, I beg you, please save him!"
Bai Xiao shook his head, his eyes red: "Your Majesty... the poison has entered your heart meridian, there is no way to save you... He is gone."
Su Luoxue's body went limp, and she fainted beside Yuwen Che. Li Dehai hurriedly signaled to the palace servants, "Quickly help the Empress back to the Sizheng Hall!"
Han Ying gripped her sword tightly and looked at Bai Xiao: "Are you really... out of options?"
Bai Xiao wiped the water from his face and said in a hoarse voice, "I can cure all poisons, but he forcibly used his internal energy, causing the poison to spread to his internal organs... If he hadn't used his internal energy, or if we had arrived when he was still alive..."
"I...I've exhausted all my knowledge, perhaps..."
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally choked up, "But I am not a god, I cannot bring back the dead..."
He suddenly grabbed Han Ying's arm: "The most urgent task is to help the Crown Prince ascend the throne! The court must not be in chaos!"
Han Ying stared blankly at the lifeless figure. For the first time, the iron-willed Shadow Pavilion assassin shed tears. "Yes..."
Inside the main hall of the Sizheng Hall, Yuwen Che's coffin lay quietly.
Li Dehai, suppressing his grief, presided over the funeral rites. The entire palace was draped in white, and cries of sorrow filled the air.
The three children, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt before the coffin, sobbing, supported by palace maids.
Inside the side hall, Su Luoxue awoke from her unconsciousness with a start: "A-Che...where is A-Che?"
Fuling quickly supported her, sobbing uncontrollably, "Your Majesty... His Majesty... His Majesty has already..."
"Impossible!" Su Luoxue shoved her away abruptly. "You're lying to me!"
At this moment, the old woman came in carrying a plain white mourning dress: "Your Majesty, please change... His Majesty's grand funeral requires your presence..."
The blinding white color caught her eye, and Su Luoxue instantly broke down: "Take it away! I won't wear it! All of you get out!"
Bai Xiao suddenly burst into the side hall, shouting angrily, "Su Luoxue! Do you want Yuwen Che's empire to collapse completely? Do you want your son to die without a burial place?"
He snatched the mourning clothes from her and threw them in front of her: "Look at those three children before the coffin! Cheng'an is only three years old! How many eyes in the court are watching him now? If you fall, who will protect the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne? Who will protect the Great Zhou Dynasty?"
Su Luoxue stared blankly at the white-clad figure, finally reaching out with trembling hands, tears dripping onto the plain silk, leaving deep streaks.
Bai Xiao said to Fu Ling in a deep voice, "Help the Empress change her clothes."
After saying that, he turned and left.
With red eyes, Fuling and the nanny carefully helped Su Luoxue change into that glaringly white mourning dress and then combed her messy long hair.
Su Luoxue let them do as they pleased, tears silently streaming down her face. Fuling choked back sobs as she tried to comfort her, "Your Majesty... please take care of yourself..."
Looking at her reflection in the bronze mirror, dressed in white mourning clothes, Su Luoxue suddenly spoke in a very soft voice, so broken it was almost inaudible:
"Ah Che... wait for me..."
She smiled sadly at her reflection in the mirror, tears rolling down her white dress.
"I'll be there for you soon... soon..."
Su Luoxue was helped into the mourning hall, and the three children immediately rushed into her arms, crying, "Mother! We want Father!"
Her heart was breaking, but she gently pushed the children aside and walked to the coffin.
She gazed intently at Yuwen Che's peaceful sleeping face one last time, reached out to gently stroke his cold cheek, and leaned down to place a kiss on his forehead.
"Yuwen Che..." she whispered in his ear, her voice as soft as a sigh, "You must wait for me."
She straightened up, forcing back the excruciating pain, and ordered Li Dehai: "Seal the coffin."
Bai Xiao stepped forward: "Next..."
Su Luoxue closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her expression was resolute: "Support His Highness the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne. Prepare for the enthronement ceremony—"
Her voice trembled slightly, but every word was clear: "After the new emperor ascends the throne, we will... bury the late emperor in peace."
All the officials knelt down, their shouts shaking the heavens:
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is wise and benevolent!"
On the day of the coronation ceremony, Su Luoxue, dressed in the Empress Dowager's court dress, held Cheng'an's small hand tightly as they stepped up the jade steps.
She knelt down in front of the dragon throne, looking her son in the eye: "Cheng'an, you must remember what your father looks like. From this day forward, you will protect this vast land for him."
Cheng'an, dressed in a well-fitting dragon robe, nodded vigorously: "Your subject will remember Father."
Su Luoxue helped him to the grand dragon throne, then sat herself on the phoenix throne behind the beaded curtain. The master of ceremonies announced:
"All officials paid homage—"
The entire court of civil and military officials prostrated themselves and shouted:
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress Dowager!"
Behind the beaded curtain, Su Luoxue stared at the empty throne beside her, her nails digging deeply into her palms.
Three months later
Late at night, Su Luoxue entered the imperial mausoleum alone. She dismissed the guards, stroked the cold tombstone, and whispered:
"My husband, the children are all well. Cheng'an is very clever, and Hao'er is teaching him to read... Ning'er is still so naughty, you've spoiled her. She broke your favorite inkstone again today."
She pressed her face against the stone tablet, her tears soaking the bluestone.
"These past three months... I've missed you so much."
Su Luoxue gently stroked the cold tombstone, her voice as gentle as water:
"Don't worry... I understand. I saw the secret edict you left with General Pei Xuan... My brother will wholeheartedly assist Cheng'an in the court."
"Bai Xiao has also entered the court to protect Cheng An. Han Ying, along with Ying Ge and An Ge, will protect our son just as they would protect you."
She pressed her cheek against the stone tablet, as if listening for someone's response:
"Hao'er and Cheng'an are brothers with a deep bond. They will support each other and protect Ning'er... I saw your last will and testament: Ning'er will never be married off to another country."
Tears streamed down her face silently as she took a porcelain bottle from her sleeve.
"My husband... every moment without you is torture."
After taking the poison, she leaned peacefully against the tombstone, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, yet she wore a happy smile.
In her hazy vision, she seemed to see the emperor in black robes reaching out his hand to her.
“A-Che…” she smiled and closed her eyes, “My husband… I’ve come to find you.”
When the guards noticed something was wrong, the Empress Dowager was already lifeless. Bai Xiao rushed over and picked up the suicide note from beside her.
On the tear-stained paper, the neat handwriting seemed like a final farewell:
"We became husband and wife, and we will never doubt each other in life and death. Today I am buried beside you, may we continue our unfinished bond in the next life."
Bai Xiao bowed deeply to the imperial mausoleum, his voice hoarse:
"The Empress Dowager... has gone with the late Emperor."
(Three days later)
The young Emperor Cheng'an, dressed in mourning clothes, personally buried his parents together. A newly erected stone tablet in front of the tomb bears the inscription:
Yuwen Che Su Luoxue
We share the same bed in life and the same lungs in death.
Mountains and rivers bear witness, we will never be apart.
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