HLnovel Chapter 159 Emperor Longyun, a treacherous villain!
Chapter 159 Emperor Longyun, a treacherous villain!
Despite it being almost summer, Lin Shiming suddenly felt a chill in the air.
"So we..."
"Don't worry." Lu Yuxi composed herself, and after a long while, she smiled. "It's a good thing. Mother will soon be free."
He took Lin Shiming's hand and led him back to bed.
"You should rest first. Although the news came suddenly, I've almost finished dealing with things at the palace. We'll coordinate the manpower tomorrow and then go back together."
The hall fell silent, and neither of them spoke again.
After a long while, Lin Shiming finally looked up, also smiling, but his eyes were a little red.
“That’s true, we’re not in a hurry to go back. I imagine that Father Emperor, being so stingy, will want to monopolize Mother’s last period of memory. If we go back, we’ll just be doing hard labor for Father Emperor by reviewing memorials.”
*
The lively imperial examinations were not yet over, but the capital city had already fallen silent.
After a long illness, the Empress Dowager was finally told that her life was coming to an end. Emperor Longyun had suspended court for several days and spent all his time in the Phoenix Palace.
Under such a depressing atmosphere, everyone in the court and the public wisely kept quiet and dared not cause any trouble at this juncture, lest they incur the wrath of Emperor Longyun.
However, there was a backlog of government affairs that had to be dealt with. Although the Crown Prince was acting as regent, there were still some matters that the Emperor had to handle personally. Therefore, and also to give his beloved son and daughter-in-law a break, Bai Qiongzhu finally took a firm stance and kicked Emperor Longyun out of the Fengyi Palace, where he had been holed up for several days. Then, he happily replaced him with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
Bai Qiongzhu is in really good condition today.
Upon entering, Lin Shiming was led into the inner room by the Empress, who was in a very good mood. Seeing Bai Qiongzhu happy, he also habitually made a couple of derogatory remarks about Emperor Longyun.
"Mother looks so cheerful today. Is there something good happening? Or is it because that stingy Father is gone, so out of sight, out of mind?"
"You silly child!" Bai Qiongzhu said with a laugh, "How can you talk badly about people behind their backs?"
"Don't worry, I said the same thing to your face."
Lu Yuxi, who was following behind, shook her head helplessly.
Lin Shiming's playful antics only made Bai Qiongzhu happier. She patted Lin Shiming's hand that was supporting her arm, gesturing for them both to sit down.
"Alright, I'll stop making fun of your father. But I did have some good things happen to me yesterday."
Her words puzzled both Lin Shiming and Lu Yuxi. Bai Qiongzhu hadn't left Fengyi Palace for a long time, nor had she seen any outsiders. Where did this good fortune come from?
“Your father said that after he has helped you stabilize the court next year, or at the latest the year after, he will pass the throne to Xi. At that time, he will go to Jiangnan to find me.”
These words sounded fairly ordinary, but Emperor Longyun's original words were—
"Zitong, we've spent half our lives trapped in the palace. We're a loving couple, but there have always been too many troubles. In the end, I'm the one who has wronged you. Don't worry, after a year or two, when the new policies are implemented smoothly and the court is stable, I will pass the throne to the Crown Prince. Let the young people get busy!"
“I often hear that brat Shi Ming talking about the freedom of the martial world. This time, I’m going to beat him to it and experience it for myself. By then, you will have been reborn, and I will go to Jiangnan to find you. We will get to know each other again, become husband and wife again, and have a carefree and fulfilling love life.”
"Without the people of the world, without hatred, we can live a carefree life."
—Words of love filled with affection. Bai Qiongzhu was so moved that her eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded repeatedly in agreement.
but.
but!
Bai Qiongzhu rarely displayed such alluring charm, but Lin Shiming was struck dumb, his smile instantly freezing on his face.
Emperor Longyun, you treacherous villain!!! No wonder you insisted on arguing with me yesterday about the scenery of the martial world and the glory of the capital; it turns out you were deliberately setting a trap to get me to talk!
This is all part of my plan to seduce Lu Yuxi!
He used all my words!
The smile doesn’t disappear, it just shifts.
For the first time, Lin Shiming felt immense regret for his sharp tongue. His plan to take Lu Yuxi away after the deed was just taking shape when it was ruined by plagiarism.
"Don't worry, Mr. Nan Gu said that my memory will gradually return in a few years. Once I remember, I will find an opportunity to come back and visit you with His Majesty."
While Bai Qiongzhu was still immersed in joy and sweetness, Lin Shiming's world had collapsed. He wanted to cry but couldn't, heartbroken and devastated. Afraid that Bai Qiongzhu would see and worry and ask questions, he could only pull Lu Yuxi behind him and bury his head in Lu Yuxi's arms, unwilling to show his face.
"...We'll bring you wines from different regions. How about that?"
"it is good."
"Uh-huh?"
Why is that Yu Xi's voice?
Bai Qiongzhu, lost in her beautiful daydreams, finally snapped out of it. She turned around and saw Lin Shiming burying his head in Lu Yuxi's arms, seemingly doing something.
"What's wrong with Shi Ming?"
Lu Yuxi, completely unaware of the situation, shook her head innocently.
"It's nothing." Lin Shiming spoke up again, his muffled voice coming from Lu Yuxi's arms, "I'm happy for you and Father. I'm so moved I could cry."
"Hahaha, why are you being so sentimental today, child?"
"Father's description of you is so beautiful, I can relate to it."
*
Lin Shiming bravely stayed with Bai Qiongzhu in Fengyi Palace for the entire day. He was so strong that he admired himself.
Before returning to the Eastern Palace, he grabbed Lu Tingsong, who was also accompanying his grandmother in the Phoenix Palace, and gave the child a serious and earnest lecture.
"Tingsong, you must grow up quickly, your uncle's hopes are all on you!"
His words were sincere and moving.
Lu Tingsong was immediately encouraged and firmly promised, "Uncle, don't worry, Tingsong will definitely eat well and grow up quickly!"
Lin Shih-ming's elderly mother nodded with satisfaction. (GIF)
Afterwards, Lu Yuxi secretly asked Lin Shiming and learned the reason. She was both amused and exasperated, but she did not stop him from "forcing the seedlings to grow."
*
But these warm and peaceful days will eventually come to an end.
On May 17th, at 1:15 PM, Bai Qiongzhu drank the last dose of herbal medicine.
At 7:45 PM, news of the Empress's death spread throughout the capital.
When the Empress Dowager passed away, the entire nation observed mourning.
The funeral hall and ceremonial arrangements were prepared well in advance. Under Lin Shiming's command, everyone in Fengyi Palace handled the Empress's funeral arrangements in an orderly manner.
On May 18th, all imperial heirs, members of the imperial clan, and ministers, both inside and outside the court, wore mourning clothes and gathered in the main hall of Jing'an Palace to mourn.
At the third quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), before dawn, Lin Shiming, having safely escorted the still-sleeping Bai Qiongzhu out of the city, hurriedly returned to Jing'an Palace, only to run into the Empress Dowager, who was spouting nonsense and filthy language in front of the Empress's memorial tablet.
At this time, Emperor Longyun and Lu Yuxi happened to be away on business, and the imperial heirs and others outside would not be able to enter the palace for another half hour, which gave Empress Dowager Qin the opportunity to cause trouble.
"...How can such an unfilial and disrespectful person be worthy of being the mother of the nation? What's the point of holding a funeral or setting up a mourning hall? Get her out of here immediately—"
"The Empress Dowager."
Lin Shiming strode into the hall.
"Sometimes I really admire your tenacious spirit and your Alzheimer's-like memory. It seems you've completely forgotten the lesson you learned last time."