Chapter 96 Love What He Loves
The next morning, as soon as Su Luoxue woke up, Fuling and Granny Zhang came in with solemn expressions to serve her.
"Your Highness, you're awake." Fuling helped her up and said in a low voice, "Two major events have occurred in the palace."
Su Luoxue rubbed her sleepy eyes: "What is it?"
Granny Zhang took over, her voice heavy with sorrow: "Last night, the Empress Dowager... passed away."
Su Luoxue paused. Yuwen Che had told her about this last night. She recalled Yuwen Che's tears and vulnerability last night, and felt a pang of heartache.
Fuling continued, "And... Princess Helian of the Northern Kingdom committed suicide last night at the Honglu Guest House."
Su Luoxue was stunned upon hearing this: "What? The person is gone?" Her mind instantly flashed back to Li Dehai's hurried report last night, and Yuwen Che's immediate departure.
She immediately threw off the covers: "Change your clothes, I'm going to the Sizheng Hall."
Fuling quickly dissuaded her, "Your Majesty, you mustn't! Although the New Year is over, the morning air is still chilly. You are pregnant now, what if you catch a cold? His Majesty will surely worry."
Granny Zhang also advised, "Yes, Your Majesty, His Majesty is probably busy with the Empress Dowager's funeral and matters in the Northern Kingdom. If you go now, I'm afraid..."
The image of Yuwen Che burying his face in her arms and weeping last night flashed before Su Luoxue's eyes, and she said firmly, "That's precisely why I must go. Granny, Fuling, change your clothes."
She stroked her pregnant belly and whispered, "He needs someone with him right now."
Seeing that she was determined, Fuling and Granny Zhang had no choice but to dress her properly and drape a thick fox fur cloak over her shoulders.
With Fuling by her side, Su Luoxue walked step by step toward the Sizheng Hall, her feet glistening with morning dew.
As soon as I stepped into the Sizheng Hall, I saw Yuwen Che sitting alone behind his desk, his hand supporting his forehead, a hint of fatigue in his eyes.
"A-Che..." she called softly, her voice full of worry.
Yuwen Che looked up at the sound and saw that she had come. He immediately got up and quickly went to greet her, carefully taking her arm: "Xue'er? Why are you here? It's chilly in the morning, why didn't you sleep a little longer?"
As he spoke, he helped her up and seated her directly on his large dragon throne, then casually placed a hand warmer into her hands.
Su Luoxue grasped his hand and looked up at him, saying, "I...I can't rest easy about you."
Yuwen Che squatted down in front of her, looking her in the eye, and forced a smile: "I'm fine. But you, pregnant, shouldn't have gotten up and been running around so early."
"I just wanted to come see you." Su Luoxue gently smoothed his slightly furrowed brows. "Ache, you don't have to put on a brave face in front of me."
Yuwen Che took her hand and pressed it against his cheek, feeling the warmth of her palm. After a moment of silence, he whispered, "I'm just... a little tired."
Su Luoxue said softly, "Then I'll stay with you, okay?"
At this moment, Li Dehai announced loudly from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, the Minister of Rites and the Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs are waiting outside the hall to request instructions on the regulations for the Empress Dowager's funeral."
Yuwen Che frowned slightly, but before he could speak, Su Luoxue gently nudged him, saying, "Go and attend to your business. I'll wait for you here."
Looking into her gentle yet firm eyes, Yuwen Che felt a warmth in his heart and nodded: "Okay, then sit quietly and don't tire yourself out."
He stood up and said to those outside the hall, "Summon them."
Seeing the ministers about to enter, Su Luoxue said softly to Yuwen Che, "Ache, you are busy with important matters. I will wait for you in the side hall."
She gestured for Fuling to help her up, nodded slightly to the ministers who entered, and then, with Fuling's support, quietly walked towards a side hall.
Several ministers quickly bowed and stepped aside, saying, "We respectfully see off Her Majesty the Empress."
Yuwen Che watched her considerate departure, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. His Xue'er was always so sensible.
In the side hall, Fuling asked in a low voice, somewhat puzzled, "Your Majesty, why aren't you with His Majesty? He certainly needs you by his side right now."
Su Luoxue gently shook her head, supporting her waist as she sat down on the soft couch. Her voice was calm yet clear: "Fuling, the Empress Dowager has just passed away, and during the national mourning period, the affairs of the Northern Kingdom remain unresolved. Countless eyes are watching the court and the harem. If I continue to sit on that dragon throne, listening to His Majesty discuss state affairs with his ministers, even if His Majesty doesn't care, what will those officials say? I cannot bear the blame for the Empress interfering in politics, and I cannot let A'Che bear the criticism of being preoccupied with personal feelings for me."
She sighed, her brows furrowed with heartache for her husband: "He just lost his mother, he must be feeling terrible, and he also has to deal with the predicament in the North. He's already exhausted enough. I can't add any more trouble for him and make him worry about me."
The faint sounds of ministers discussing funeral regulations could be heard from the main hall, mixed with Yuwen Che's calm yet weary voice as he made his decisions.
Su Luoxue listened quietly, her hand gently protecting her abdomen. All she could do was offer him reassurance where he could see, while remaining mindful of her boundaries and not putting him in a difficult position.
Listening to the discussions taking place in the main hall, Fuling couldn't help but mutter softly, "But Your Majesty, His Majesty loves you so much, he certainly won't care about those gossips..."
Looking at Fuling's innocent appearance, Su Luoxue sighed softly, but her tone was unusually clear: "Silly girl, I know he loves me, he treats me like a precious jewel. He is my husband, but don't forget, he is first and foremost the emperor of the Great Zhou."
She gazed towards the main hall, her eyes gentle yet resolute: "He loves me, but he also deeply loves this land and bears the responsibility of protecting the millions of people of the Great Zhou. Now that the Empress Dowager has just passed away and war in the north is imminent, how much pressure must he be under?"
She turned her gaze to Fuling, a helpless smile on her lips: "I am not Empress Lü of the previous dynasty. I do not have the mind and ability to govern the country, and I cannot share his burdens in the court."
She gently stroked her pregnant belly, her voice soft yet strong: "All I can do is let him know I'm always here when he's tired. I'll keep the rules, not let him suffer criticism because of me, and not add any extra burden to him. That's the best support and comfort I can give him."
She paused, her eyes filled with deep love, and whispered:
"Because... I love him just as deeply. Because I love him, I also love what he loves, the country and the people he is responsible for, and the millions of people he needs to protect."
Fuling stared blankly at her mistress. This love, which stood shoulder to shoulder with the emperor, contained not only tender affection, but also deep-rooted understanding, support, and sacrifice.
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