Chapter Ninety-Three: Remorse

Wishing all readers a happy Mid-Autumn Festival! This book will officially be released on Friday afternoon. I hope everyone will continue to support it.

When the few people in the hall heard that the Prince of Virtue wished to see the Emperor, they all turned to look at Yang Yaozong.

At that moment, the Prince of Virtue was also puzzled as to why, upon hearing his request to see the Emperor, everyone seemed to be seeking Yang Yaozong's opinion. He was just about to ask.

Yang Yaozong, after furrowing his brow in thought for a moment, nodded and said, “We will accompany the Prince of Virtue together. Eunuch Shun, please lead the way.”

Jing Yijun, noticing that Yang Yaozong looked exhausted and pale, said gently, “You should not go. Let me take you back to rest first.”

Yang Yaozong shook his head. “It's fine. There are still matters I need to discuss with the Prince of Virtue.”

Jing Yijun said, “Then let me carry you there.”

Yang Yaozong replied awkwardly, “That’s not necessary. I can walk on my own.”

But Jing Yijun insisted, lifting Yang Yaozong onto her back and walking out, following the others.

By now, the rain had stopped and there was no need for umbrellas. The Prince of Virtue glanced back and saw Jing Yijun carrying Yang Yaozong at the end of the group. He halted, frowned, and looked at Yang Yaozong with an expression of anger.

Yang Yaozong looked thoroughly embarrassed.

Walking up to the Prince of Virtue, Jing Yijun explained shyly, “The Imperial Consort suffered a serious injury a few days ago and hasn't recovered yet, so I’m carrying him. He’s not heavy at all. With the skills I have now, carrying him is as easy as carrying nothing.”

The Prince of Virtue glared at Yang Yaozong and snorted, “If you ever dare to treat Yijun poorly, just wait and see how I deal with you! Once you’re well, you must strengthen your body. I can’t stand you scholars all being so frail and delicate!”

Yang Yaozong forced a smile. “Yes, yes, you’re right. Once I’m recovered, I will certainly train my body well.”

The Prince of Virtue snorted again and walked on.

Lowering his head, Yang Yaozong whispered into Jing Yijun’s ear, “Actually, I’m in very good health.”

Jing Yijun blushed deeply, nodded, and whispered, “Mm, I know.”

Recalling how sad Jing Yijun had looked just now, and worried that she would be even more sorrowful upon seeing the Emperor’s body, Yang Yaozong decided to tease her a little to ease her mood. He asked, “You really know?”

Jing Yijun, not realizing the teasing in his tone, thought he was simply seeking reassurance and nodded again, “Mm, I know.”

Yang Yaozong smiled and asked softly in her ear, “Then how do you know?”

Though they were an imperial couple in title, bestowed by the Emperor, they had not yet become so in fact. Still, a little harmless teasing could only add warmth and intimacy between them.

At this, Jing Yijun finally caught on to his playful tone. The warmth of his breath on her neck made her squirm. She turned her head in embarrassment and annoyance, saying, “Keep talking nonsense and I’ll throw you down.” Ever since the establishment of the Secret Vigilance Bureau, Jing Yijun had been by Yang Yaozong’s side, and had seen him training bare-chested. How could she not know how strong he was?

Yang Yaozong, hearing her words, thought she was truly angry and let out two awkward chuckles before lying obediently on her back.

Sensing Yang Yaozong’s pitiful demeanor, Jing Yijun couldn’t keep a straight face and finally burst out laughing, whispering, “Thank you.” She understood Yang Yaozong’s intentions, and realized that no matter how troubled or sad she felt, as long as she was with him, her burdens always seemed lighter.

Yang Yaozong replied with a knowing smile, “Do we really need to say thank you to each other?”

Jing Yijun nodded sweetly, her reply a soft hum.

In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they arrived at the icehouse under Eunuch Shun’s guidance. Eunuch Shun fetched a few fur robes from the adjacent room and distributed them; once everyone was dressed, Zhou Ran cautiously opened the icehouse door, and they all entered. Zhou Ran then closed the door behind them.

All along, the Prince of Virtue had been curious as to why, when he wished to see the Emperor, he was brought to the icehouse, but with so many guards present earlier, he hadn’t dared to ask. Now, inside, he asked, “Why have you brought me here to the icehouse?” He trusted Jing Yijun and so was not afraid they would harm him.

Remembering his late grandfather, the Crown Prince Grandson replied in a trembling whisper, “Third Granduncle—Grandfather passed away late last night.”

“What did you say!” The Prince of Virtue was struck as if thunder had crashed in his mind; he was in utter disbelief. But before him, the Crown Prince Grandson and Eunuch Shun knelt by an ice coffin, and inside lay his brother, Jing Xiang.

The Prince of Virtue staggered forward a few steps and collapsed to his knees, refusing to believe his eyes, wishing this were all a lie.

With a heart-wrenching cry, he called out, “Brother!” and tears streamed down his face. He crawled to the coffin, shouting, “Jing Xiang, you can’t die! How could you die like this! You haven’t seen your younger brother one last time, haven’t heard me call you ‘Brother’ once more—how could you die! I know I was wrong all these years, Brother, I know I was wrong. I’m here to apologize to you! Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Why did you never blame or resent me all these years? Why did you always indulge me so?”

Suddenly possessed, the Prince of Virtue threw himself onto the ice coffin and, gazing upon the Emperor’s body, shouted, “Brother! Wake up! Wake up and look at me one more time, just once! Brother! Do you know that your leaving like this is the greatest punishment for me? You never had the heart to punish me, did you? Then wake up and look at me one more time! Brother!”

Everyone in the icehouse was moved to tears. The Crown Prince Grandson sobbed aloud, “Third Granduncle, Grandfather is gone.”

Jing Yijun went to the coffin and gently pulled the Prince of Virtue down, suppressing her own sobs, and said, “Third Uncle, please don’t do this. Father never blamed you.”

Kneeling before the coffin, the Prince of Virtue’s tears fell in great drops to the floor. He recalled how the Emperor had summoned him to the palace yesterday morning, but he had delayed until nightfall to come. He always did this, no matter how urgent the summons. Now, regret overwhelmed him—if only he had come at once, he could have seen his brother one last time, exchanged a few words, even an argument would have been something. But now, seeing his brother lying in the ice coffin, he raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face, drawing blood from his lips. Jing Yijun hurriedly stopped him as he was about to strike again, saying, “Third Uncle! If Father knew you were tormenting yourself like this, he would not rest in peace.”

Yang Yaozong came to Jing Yijun’s side, knelt down beside her, and said quietly, “Let the Prince of Virtue cry it out. He’ll feel better afterwards.”

The Prince of Virtue thought of how, when they were young, their father was busy, and he had always been cared for by his elder brother, who never neglected him, whether as Crown Prince or Emperor. The distance between them was entirely due to his own selfishness and willfulness. Now, grief and regret consumed him.