Chapter 65 Your Majesty... Never Again...
Royal Cemetery, inside the Xuan Palace.
The huge tomb chamber is empty and cold, with a high dome and the light of an eternal lamp flickering.
In the center of the tomb, a massive golden nanmu coffin rested on a bed of white marble. The lid was not closed, but only half-open, revealing the figure lying within.
Ning Wujie was dressed in plain white mourning clothes, without a headband, and stood alone beside the coffin, his eyes greedily lingering on the sleeping face of the person in the coffin.
His fingertips lightly brushed across the man's cheek. The man was dressed in solemn imperial robes, and his face was pale, as if he was asleep.
Half a month has passed, and nothing has changed.
The monks in Baohua Hall said that Your Majesty has profound virtues and has attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven, so your Dharma body is incorruptible.
But Ning Wujie didn't believe it. He always felt that Wen Xing was not dead.
Her fingertips probed Wen Xing's nose for the umpteenth time, but as always, there was no trace of warmth.
Ning Wujie was not surprised, he just kept trying again and again without giving up, and was disappointed again and again, and finally turned this action into a paranoid habit.
"Your Majesty..." His voice was low and hoarse, echoing faintly in the silent tomb. "Have you deceived me again?"
However, Wen Xing's skin was icy cold, and the chill penetrated through his fingertips and pierced Ning Wujie's heart.
"Perhaps I've gone insane." Ning Wujie's tone was calm, yet it seemed as if he was suppressing a storm. "Your body is so cold. If you were still alive, how could you still lie down like this? You're definitely going to complain."
That tyrant emperor would stretch out his arms and cry out coquettishly: "Ning Wujie, it's so cold, hold me."
His heart was hurt again, and Ning Wujie took a deep breath, as if he had finally accepted the reality.
After a long moment, he seemed reluctant to part with this final moment of their meeting, and began to mutter to himself again, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I'm so useless. Things have suddenly changed in recent days, and most of the Supervisory Department has been transferred to maintain stability, giving the spy the opportunity to commit suicide. You set the trap for me, but I couldn't find the person behind it."
He clenched his fists so hard that they trembled slightly.
"But you're gone now. What's the point of me ferreting out these villains? Why not..." His voice grew colder, his eyes brimming with rage, "Is it better to just kill all the civil and military officials in the court and bury them with you?"
He said with disdain, "Anyway, they are all people who curry favor with the powerful and form cliques for personal gain."
However, when his gaze fell back on Wen Xing's peaceful sleeping face, the overwhelming hostility receded like a tide.
"You will certainly not agree..."
"You're always like this, talking about killing nine generations of a family. But when have you ever actually killed anyone's family?"
He sighed softly, "Never mind. At least the clues are not completely lost. I will definitely find that person."
"If I don't even have this little ability, how can I protect this kingdom for you?"
Ning Buhuo had come to his side at some point, his voice low and soothing, "Wujie, the auspicious time has arrived, it's time to seal the coffin. His Majesty enjoys quiet, let him rest in peace."
Ning Wujie secretly clenched his fists, trying to use the pain in his palms to suppress the sorrow in his heart.
Even the time of burial was chosen in advance by His Majesty.
If the officials from the Ministry of Rites had not come to urge him the day before, he would not have known that the emperor had secretly ordered the Supervisory Office to issue an edict to the Ministry of Rites on the night he took poison.
Since recalling his father and brother two months ago, His Majesty has arranged every step of his affairs after his death.
He wasn't even given the chance to keep the body for a few more days or for more people to see it.
Your Majesty...you truly have no heart!
He looked at the man's face with affection, leaned down, and gave him a deep kiss on the forehead, and a tear fell on the corner of his forehead.
He murmured hoarsely: "Your Majesty, if you are deceiving me, you should wake up now. Otherwise, the coffin will be nailed shut and you will never again..." He bit his lower lip hard and finally couldn't say any more.
Of course, the man did not respond to such a "threat".
He sneered at himself, rested his forehead on the place he had just kissed, and gently stroked the top of the other person's head.
After a long moment, he finally stood up reluctantly, his gaze glued to the face of the person in the coffin, as if he wanted to carve that face into his heart. Then, with a self-deprecating gesture of determination, he waved his hand.
The craftsman who was waiting on the side stepped forward immediately.
The heavy coffin lid was slowly pushed forward, making a rumbling sound, and finally closed tightly.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
Heavy hammering sounds were heard, and long nails were hammered into the coffin one by one. Every muffled sound seemed to hit Ning Wujie's heart, shaking him to the point of shattering his soul.
He stood with his head bowed. The coffin nails were like the cruelest torture instruments in the world, each one chiseling into the softest part of his heart.
He couldn't hold on any longer and suddenly turned around and walked out the door.
Outside the Xuan Palace, the huge Dragon-Breaking Stone began to slowly fall amid the roar of the mechanism.
The tomb will be closed forever and will never see the light of day again.
Ning Wujie looked up at the gradually closing entrance and felt as if all the strength in his body had been drained.
The heat that he had been suppressing for a while now finally burst into his eyes, and a broken cry of grief escaped from his throat. His knees softened and he fell uncontrollably to his knees on the stone steps.
Tears flowed out silently and fell into the dust.
Upon seeing this, all the civil and military officials behind him knelt down immediately. The black crowd prostrated themselves on the ground in complete silence. Only the heavy roar of the Dragon-Breaking Stone pressing down inch by inch echoed through the mountain top.
Until the last loud bang, the Dragon-Breaking Stone completely sealed the entrance to the tomb.
From then on, that person was separated from him forever.
Ning Wujie raised his head, the sunlight pierced into his eyes, and the last tear slid down the corner of his eye and rolled into his temple.
Your Majesty... Never again.
Li Dequan slowly stepped forward and kowtowed to him solemnly.
"Lord Ning..." He slapped his lips as he spoke, "Look at this old slave's mouth. It's time to call your Majesty."
Ning Wujie said solemnly: "It's okay, just call me Sir."
Li Dequan nodded gratefully: "This old servant has a humble request."
Ning Wujie turned his head, his eyes filled with a dark and dead silence. "What's the matter?"
Li Dequan kowtowed to him and said, "I am old. I wish to accompany the late emperor in these last days. I hope Lord Ning will grant me permission."
"You want to guard the mausoleum?"
Li Dequan nodded slowly.
Ning Wujie's eyes darkened, "Okay."
Li Dequan kowtowed again in gratitude.
Ning Wujie turned around, looked at the tightly closed Dragon-Breaking Stone, and said softly, "I really envy you."
Li Dequan looked at his dejected profile, wiped the corners of his eyes, and tremblingly pulled out a yellow cloud satin bag from his sleeve pocket. He held it in both hands and handed it to him, "This old servant combs your Majesty's hair every day and has collected these hairs. They should have been buried with your Majesty."
"But I think Lord Ning might want to keep it."
Ning Wujie's heart trembled violently when he heard this. He turned his head abruptly and stared at the satin bag.
"Thank you." He reached out to take it, his fingertips trembling slightly.
He stared at the satin bag for a while, unable to bear to open it, and just carefully put it inside his lapel, close to his heart.
After a long time, he finally stood up, took a last resolute look at the mausoleum, and jumped back on his horse.
Li Dequan waved goodbye to him from behind, but he didn't even look back and left in a cloud of dust.
The funeral procession returned to the palace in silence.
*
Inside the Funing Hall, ambergris was still burning in the incense burner, and the familiar scent lingered in the empty bedroom.
But that person is gone.
The huge loss and loneliness overwhelmed Ning Wujie like a tide.
Until His Majesty was sent to the mausoleum, the last bit of uneasy hope in his heart seemed to disappear.
At this moment, he was finally able to suppress the pain in his heart, calm down, and think about everything that had happened recently.
After a long while, he finally called out, "Jupiter."
A dark figure appeared silently behind him and knelt on one knee: "Master."
"Where's Xinghe?" Ning Wujie's voice was cold and gloomy. "Why hasn't he appeared since His Majesty passed away?"
Suixing bowed his head and replied, "My lord, Xinghe disappeared the night of His Majesty's passing. I also asked Li Dequan, and he said that Xinghe was a wild child brought back from outside the palace by the previous emperor, not bound by palace rules. Perhaps he left on his own accord after His Majesty's passing."
"Leave on your own?" Ning Wujie frowned suspiciously.
Not even one last time? They were such a loving couple.
It's impossible that a heartless master also has a heartless shadow guard...
Thinking of this, his eyes became fierce, and he asked again: "Have you checked the tomb just now?"
Suixing nodded, "I checked it out, and there's nothing unusual."
Ning Wujie lowered his eyes upon hearing this and finally took a deep breath.
Maybe he was overthinking it.
"Find him." He said solemnly.
Jupiter responded, "Yes."
*
Inside the deep and dark imperial mausoleum.
In the corner of the tomb where the shadows were the darkest, a round stone wall suddenly made a very slight "click" sound.
Immediately afterwards, the stone wall slid open to reveal a secret passage entrance that was only wide enough for one person to pass through. Xinghe carefully poked his head out from inside and looked around vigilantly.
After confirming that the huge tomb was empty and only the eternal lamp was burning quietly, he easily crawled out.
He walked quickly to the coffin, took out a pry knife from his arms, then bent down and felt the seal of the coffin lid.
He wedged the pry knife into the gap and exerted force suddenly -
"Crack-bang!" The coffin lid suddenly pried open a crack.
Xinghe's eyes lit up, and he continued to pry open the coffin nails at the four corners one by one, then gritted his teeth and pushed the coffin lid with all his strength.
“Boom!”
The coffin lid was pushed aside with a loud noise.
"Master!" Xinghe blurted out excitedly when he saw the person in the coffin. However, realizing that Wen Xing was still asleep, he quickly took out a small medicine bottle from his arms, pulled out the stopper and put it under Wen Xing's nose.
The pungent smell spread instantly, causing him to pinch his nose, but his eyes were fixed on Wen Xing's face.
After a long time, he saw Wen Xing's eyelashes tremble slightly.
"Master! Wake up!"
Wen Xing slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry, but the pungent smell filled his nostrils, irritating him and causing him to cough. He tried to raise his hand to push it away, but his whole body was stiff and he couldn't even move a finger.
He frowned and opened his mouth, "That's enough."
The voice was hoarse and low, like someone just waking up.
Xinghe suddenly realized what was happening and quickly took back the medicine bottle.
Wen Xing felt a chill running down his spine, as if his blood had frozen. When his vision finally came into focus, he sighed and said, "Xinghe, help me..."
He paused and changed his words: "Help me up."
Xinghe quickly helped him sit up and took off his heavy crown. Then he took out a water bag to give him water and pressed a few acupoints on him.
The blood circulation that had been frozen for a long time was activated, and Wen Xing felt as if countless tiny and dense needles were piercing his limbs and bones, even drilling into his heart.
He endured the pain in his heart, his lips pale as he slowly shook his head, "It hurts so much."
It was as if the heartache he felt when he was in suspended animation had been frozen and then revived with his awakening.
"Medicine." Wen Xing finally mustered the strength, raised his hand to cover his chest, his voice weak.
However, as he stood up, a drop of clear liquid slid down his forehead.
He reached out to wipe it in confusion, and transparent water droplets hung on his fingertips.
He stared at the crystal drops of water, frowning in confusion.
Where does the water come from?
Xinghe rummaged around, pulled out a pill and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Master." Xinghe observed his expression and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that his lips had finally regained some color. "Are you feeling better?"
Wen Xing nodded slowly and sat in the coffin for a long time. The needle-like pain in his limbs began to gradually dissipate.
"I don't have the strength. Carry me out."
Xinghe then pulled him out.
Xinghe is sixteen years old. He has grown very fast in the past two years and is now as tall as Wen Xing. It is easy for him to be carried horizontally.
Wen Xing took a deep breath. It was as if his brain had just been activated. He came back to his senses from the chaos, and a complex picture immediately emerged in his mind.
Ning Wujie shed big tears and even trembled as she hugged him, her scarlet eyes full of panic and helplessness.
Xinghe's nagging voice was in my ears: "...Master, Fu Wenxin said that you need to take some time to recover after waking up..."
Wen Xing's heartbeat quickened uncontrollably, and the heartache that had just been suppressed by the medicine surged up again.
He didn't hear what Xinghe said at all. His mind was full of Ning Wujie's eyes that were red enough to cry blood.
He grabbed Xinghe by the collar, his lips pale as he asked anxiously, "Where's Ning Wujie? How is he?"
"Is he okay?"
Xinghe was startled by his panicked look and her voice weakened: "He... is very busy. He hasn't even ascended the throne yet."
Wen Xing was stunned.
"Hasn't ascended the throne yet?"
Memories flooded back into his mind, and he vaguely remembered Ning Wujie's last words: "I won't do as you wish... I will definitely destroy your kingdom with my own hands... So you must... stop me!"
His heart suddenly sank. Could it be that the boy really wanted to retaliate against him in this way?
But even so, he sadly discovered that he had nothing to say.
It's all his fault.
Ning Wujie must hate him to death.
Xinghe carried him out of the coffin and placed him on the stone steps nearby for him to sit on. Then he dragged a dead body out of the corridor and said, "But I heard them all calling him 'Your Majesty'."
Wen Xing: ...
Wen Xing clenched his fist and hooked his arm at Xinghe, "Come here."
Xinghe dragged the body to the side of the coffin and approached with confusion.
The next moment, there was a loud "bang" and his forehead was hit hard, causing a crack in his head.
"It hurts so much." Xinghe scratched his head aggrievedly.
Wen Xing angrily said, "Next time, finish what you want to say all at once!"
It nearly gave him a heart attack.
Wen Xing patted his chest and regained consciousness. He took off his crown and robe and handed them to Xinghe, asking, "Where did you find the body?"
Xinghe: "I found it at a mass grave."
As Xinghe spoke, he began to fiddle with putting the emperor's crown and robes on the corpse.
Wen Xing only had a thin layer of undershirt on, and his already cold body was shivering all over.
He took a look at the corpse lying there and saw that the body shape and skeleton were almost identical to his. When he put on the crown and robes, he looked so conspicuous that he thought the person lying there was himself.
"How could you pick up something so similar just by picking it up? You must have been choosing for a long time, right?"
Xinghe proudly put his hands on his hips and said confidently, "Of course not! I've been squatting in the mass grave for more than ten days, turning over hundreds of corpses! I only found one that looks like the master. If you don't look at the face, no one can tell the difference!"
He stood up, took out a small porcelain bottle from his arms, and sprinkled medicine on the corpse's face.
"Fu Wenxin gave it to you?"
Xinghe nodded, "She said that it can speed up the decay of the corpse. Otherwise, if Ning Wujie finds out in advance, it will be exposed."
Although once the Dragon-Breaking Stone in the imperial mausoleum falls, it can never be opened.
But if their secret passage is discovered, it will be hard to say what will happen. Wen Xing still thinks that finding a substitute will solve the problem once and for all.
After Xinghe finished tinkering with it, he put all his strength into putting the coffin lid back on, banged it with a few clangs, and nailed the coffin shut.
After finishing all this, Xinghe was already sweating profusely.
He turned around and saw Wen Xing had curled up in a ball due to the cold. He quickly took off his outer robe and put it on Wen Xing. "Master, are you cold?"
"It's freezing." Wen Xing complained, "Let's go."
His legs and feet were still not very flexible, so Xinghe carried him into the passage, then turned around and fastened the mechanism. The circular stone wall began to rotate with a rumbling sound, and finally with a "click", it blocked the entrance to the passage tightly.
There were torches lit in the passage, and Xinghe groped his way through the narrow corridor by the light of the fire.
Wen Xing didn't know what he was thinking about, but he kept asking, "Then you haven't shown up for so many days, didn't Ning Wujie suspect you?"
He shouldn't have let Xinghe escape, but he was really worried about Xinghe's acting skills. If he had been hanging around Ning Wujie for so many days, he would definitely be exposed.
Besides, it’s hard to find a substitute for him, so Xinghe can only do it.
Xinghe shrugged. "He was busy crying for the first few days, busy dealing with those ministers who were looking for trouble in the middle, and finally busy burying you. He had no time to care about me. Even if he realized it now, it's too late."
Wen Xing's heart trembled: "What do you mean by busy crying?"
Has Ning Wujie been crying since that day?
Don't you hate him?
Xinghe wrinkled his nose and said, "I just cried. I cried my heart out."
After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Wen Xing and grinned, "But if the master really died, I would cry like this too."
Wen Xing was stunned.
His heart was once again gripped tightly. He lowered his eyes and asked in a low voice, "Then...if I lied to you, what would you do?"
Xinghe paused, his eyes widened, and his voice rose several degrees, "Then I will definitely be furious!"
He pouted and looked at Wen Xing, his eyes warning: "Master, you can't lie to me like this!"
He thought for a moment and then said, "If you really have to lie to me, then you must never let me find out, otherwise..."
Xinghe thought about it and said bitterly: "I will be really, really, really angry!"
Wen Xing tilted his head to look at him, and said with a smile: "What if you are very, very, very angry?"
"Hmm..." Xinghe thought for a moment, "It's nothing serious, I just feel very sad, very sad."
"But I will not harm the master."
Wen Xing was silent.
Xinghe won’t do anything to him, but what about Ning Wujie?
You've been fooled around by him, and you must hate him to death, right?
The corridor was very long. Xinghe held him in her arms and walked for an unknown amount of time before finally reaching the end.
Xinghe pulled the trigger, and a stone door opened with a rumble.
Behind the door is a courtyard surrounded by red walls.
Wen Xing looked back and saw that they had come out of a rockery. At this time, the stone door closed and merged with the rockery.
"This is the outermost gate. Once you pass through it, you'll be out of the imperial mausoleum." Xinghe put him down. "Master, can we go now?"
Wen Xing rolled his toes and found that the tingling sensation had disappeared, so he nodded slowly.
"Let's go!" Xinghe said cheerfully, "The carriage is waiting outside."
The master and servant walked across the yard and were about to step out of the door, but the moment they opened the door, they ran into a figure holding a lantern.
The man was hunched over. When he looked up and saw the two people appear, his eyes suddenly widened, his face turned pale with fear, and he fell to the ground, and the lantern rolled down.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty?!"
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The author has something to say: My heart aches, I can’t write a short play~Ah~~~~
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