The Sovereign – Chapter 137

Volume Seven: Iron Horses Shock the World

Dust Settles

Will you bully me until death??

Liu Qianxun didn’t know how she had walked to the palace gates, only remembering white mourning silk everywhere, from the main entrance to the imperial palace front. It must have been her blurred vision that made her feel the current Jidu had nothing but this heart-chilling white.

All guards had changed into white mourning clothes, moving among the kneeling officials. Liu Qianxun felt her knees weaken, finding herself collapsed on the ground before she knew it. This couldn’t be real, she refused to believe! The snow had already made the imperial city so cold, why, why did everyone have to wear such ominous mourning clothes??

She ran frantically to Jun Garden, white lanterns hanging down, black flower bouquets blooming desolately among the white silk. Even the snow accumulated on the roofs seemed to be wrapped in mourning clothes. It must be winter’s cold making her heart ache wave after wave. The cold wind caught her clothes, that white cloak now disgusting her utterly. She yanked it off, the cloak drawing a sorrowful arc in the air before falling to the ground, merging with the snow into one color.

She didn’t want to see white, even less did she want to wear these plain mourning clothes.

Jun Garden was before her eyes, yet she couldn’t lift her feet, the icy snow beneath was slippery. She walked with difficulty, lacking even the strength to stand after falling. Because that eye-piercing golden nanmu [金絲楠木 | jin si nan mu | precious wood used for imperial coffins] coffin was gradually entering her vision.

She could barely stand steady; if not for Yi Qingyu supporting her at the side, she feared she wouldn’t have made it to the inner hall.

“You’ve finally returned.” Yun Jin wore plain clothes, while Guo’er knelt by the coffin in hemp mourning clothes.

Her eyes were red, and upon seeing Liu Qianxun, tears instantly soaked her eyes. The swollen eyelids were from grief, and Liu Qianxun wished so much that the usually dignified and steady Yun Jin wasn’t so heartbroken.

“Jin’er, Yan’er she…” Yi Qingyu couldn’t believe her eyes – the spirit hall’s arrangement plus the coffin placement, everything followed the ritual protocol for a monarch’s passing.

Yun Jin remained silent, soundless tears falling from her eyes.

Beside two rows of white candles, a guqin lay there lonely. Liu Qianxun’s entire body became rigid as she stepped forward, her heart feeling as if cut by a knife of lingchi. She dared not breathe, every breath of air here contained frost, weighing down her heart.

Her fingers trembled as she touched the guqin; every string had been maintained by Qin Junlan’s own hands. Her throat choked up, unable to cry out or shed tears, her body stiffly lifting up the instrument.

“Imperial Sister commanded that if you returned, this qin would be given to you; if you didn’t come back, it would be buried with her as a burial object.” Yun Jin’s low voice was more piercing than the howling cold wind, each word embedding itself in Liu Qianxun’s heart.

She hugged the qin tightly to her chest, her slender body trembling, whether from overwhelming grief or from the cold was unclear. Her originally pale lips now tinged purple, she finally lost her balance and fell to her knees beside the coffin.

“Xun’er…” Yi Qingyu’s eyes reddened, wanting to help Liu Qianxun up but was shrugged off by her.

One hand holding the qin, one hand clutching the coffin, she showed no expression, her world seemingly frozen in place. The hand gripping the coffin pressed hard against the solid nanmu wood, her nails turning purple, her bleeding heart feeling as if it had been dragged from her body, suffering a thousand cuts.

“I… want to open the coffin…” Liu Qianxun’s cold voice, like the freezing weather, caused a layer of frost to form throughout the memorial hall.

“How can there be reason to open a sealed coffin? Moreover, Imperial Sister’s status is noble, how can we allow just anyone to view her remains?” Yun Jin’s tone was resolute, as if speaking from indignation.

“Jin’er… don’t speak like this.” Yi Qingyu felt sympathetic; Liu Qianxun was already so heartbroken, and her long absence had been unavoidable.

“Sister…” Liu Qianxun looked pleadingly at Yun Jin, practically crawling on her knees to her side, pulling at her clothes’ hem, “Please, let me see her.”

She didn’t believe Qin Junlan was dead. Without seeing the body, she absolutely wouldn’t believe her Yan’er had thus departed.

Yun Jin closed her eyes tightly, lightly biting her lower lip, heaving a deep sigh. In the end, her heart softened, “She hasn’t been placed in the coffin yet…”

Before the words finished, Liu Qianxun’s pupils dilated as she ran toward the inner palace. She didn’t know where this strength and energy came from, only knowing that in the next moment she could see Yan’er. Perhaps she was waiting for her to come save her, perhaps she still had one last breath not yet exhaled – she couldn’t be dead.

She must still be alive, must be!

Liu Qianxun’s lips curved into a slight smile, carrying all the hope in her heart, rushing into the inner palace like a madwoman. Before she could catch her breath, she saw that familiar figure lying on the bed, and standing beside her, as always, was Li Yue.

“Yan’er…” she called out softly, cautiously.

No one answered.

She nervously swallowed, trying to keep herself calm – surely she was just too weak to respond. She took two steps forward and called again, “Yan’er, I’m back.”

Qin Junlan remained silent, while Li Yue slightly lowered her head.

Liu Qianxun drew in a deep breath, her heart already aching dully, a strong bitter sensation filling her nose! She’s not dead yet, why cry! Liu Qianxun scolded herself internally, yet still didn’t give up calling to Qin Junlan.

“Yan’er, Xun’er has returned.”

Only when she reached the bedside did Liu Qianxun clearly see Qin Junlan’s face, instantly collapsing to the ground, practically crawling to her side. Qin Junlan was bloodless in complexion, her chest showing no rhythm of breathing, looking very peaceful, as if having fallen into eternal sleep – everything looked so real.

Liu Qianxun was now skilled in medicine, having treated countless patients during these two years with Guiguzi. She could determine from someone’s appearance if they were critically ill, but at this moment all her medical knowledge had vanished like smoke – she was unable to make any judgment! She couldn’t determine if the person before her was dead or alive, she didn’t even dare reach out to check for a pulse.

“Yan’er…” her fingertips lightly touched Qin Junlan’s face, finding it ice-cold, startling her to instinctively pull back. She cupped Qin Junlan’s hands in both of hers, frost-cold, bringing them to her lips to gently breathe on them, “The weather’s cold, Yan’er’s hands are so cold.”

Liu Qianxun protected her hands in her palms, continuously rubbing them, wanting to warm her, but inadvertently touched her pulse point.

Nothing… no pulse! She gripped Qin Junlan’s wrist, searching everywhere for a pulse, finding no beating point, none. Frantically, she checked Qin Junlan’s other wrist, still no response. She then pressed her ear to Qin Junlan’s chest to listen for a heartbeat – nothing, still nothing. In her helplessness, hot tears fell onto Qin Junlan’s body, warm teardrops like a breached river bank, impossible to stop.

“Yan’er… Yan’er please don’t sleep? Don’t sleep…” Liu Qianxun lay on her body, tears falling like rain, no matter how she shook Qin Junlan’s body, there was no response.

“Yan’er!” Yi Qingyu followed into the room, rushing forward, tears welling in her eyes, she almost believed everything her eyes were seeing.

But something seemed wrong? She gently rubbed her eyes, slowly calming down. Although Qin Junlan showed no signs of life, there seemed to be a faint pulse in her carotid artery, and the skin around her eyes and face showed different coloring, still maintaining a hint of rosiness – if a dead person stopped breathing, their entire body would be in a completely lifeless state.

Just as Yi Qingyu was about to step forward to investigate, Yun Jin pulled her back. She looked at Yun Jin in surprise, seeing her shake her head with a smile. Yi Qingyu immediately understood everything and finally exhaled in relief.

Meanwhile, Liu Qianxun was crying almost to the point of fainting, when Li Yue seized the opportunity to say: “Miss Liu, after you left that day, Her Majesty woke to see the golden token and knew you had been there. She rushed to the military camp, grabbing onto soldiers and not letting go, thinking you were still disguised as a soldier in the camp. Later, during the attack on Zhengyi, Her Majesty fell ill and couldn’t recover, coughing blood every day.”

“I’m sorry Yan’er, I’m sorry…” Liu Qianxun tightly held Qin Junlan’s hands, but all her guilt and remorse couldn’t wake her loved one.

Why had she left so decisively, why hadn’t she given her a chance to explain, why…

“The world is unified now, but she has no life left to enjoy it. Because of you, she didn’t even execute Ling Yu; because of you, she showed mercy to Yu Kingdom’s people; because of you, after returning to the palace she stayed at Qixia Palace all day, playing the qin until her ten fingers were bloody and raw. How many times did she faint murmuring your name? But you… left for two years, never to return, giving her no chance, giving your relationship no chance.” Yun Jin felt heartache remembering how Qin Junlan had suffered these two years, this Xun’er being so heartless, disappearing without news after leaving, not even returning to visit despite knowing of her serious illness.

Yi Qingyu finally understood the situation – this Yun Jin was feeling indignant on Qin Junlan’s behalf. After so much hardship, must one wait until someone dies before knowing to turn back? Ah, she let out a light sigh.

Each of Yun Jin’s words was like a sharp sword, cutting into her heart, one slash after another, making her already thousand-wounded heart ache so much she could barely breathe. “Yan’er, why are you so foolish, why so foolish…”

Tears wet Qin Junlan’s palm, Liu Qianxun had lost even the strength to cry, finally turning into heavy sobs. She helplessly beat at her chest and shoulders, “Qin Junlan, you are the emperor, you are the empress who rules all under heaven, how can you just let go like this, why didn’t you wait for me to return, why…”

Liu Qianxun’s tears seemed to run dry, just leaning against Qin Junlan’s chest mumbling, her hand still lightly patting her shoulder.

“Cough cough…” Suddenly a violent cough, Liu Qianxun felt the corpse beneath her suddenly move. She rose up in a daze, watching as Qin Junlan gradually resumed breathing.

“Xun’er… you almost beat me to death.” Qin Junlan’s lips curved in a smile, having lingered long between life and death, finally holding onto that last breath.

Two streams of hot tears broke from Liu Qianxun’s eyes, not daring to believe her tears. She raised her hand but dared not touch Qin Junlan – was she alright? Really alright?

Qin Junlan’s complexion regained some vitality, but her whole person was still very weak. She gazed powerlessly at Liu Qianxun, gently reaching out to wipe away her tears, “Silly girl, don’t cry, I’m not dead yet.”

Hearing these warm words, Liu Qianxun bit her lower lip lightly, all emotions collapsing in this moment, all persistence and endurance surging up from her heart. She raised her hand to lightly strike at Qin Junlan, “Even in death you have to bully me once, you always bully me, always…”

Liu Qianxun choked, unable to complete a sentence. Qin Junlan grasped her wrist, pulling her gently into her embrace, “I’m sorry, Xun’er. I was too cold initially, distancing myself from you. In my heart, I never blamed you, never. Let everything be in the past, alright?”

“Don’t speak, just hold me tight.” Liu Qianxun closed her eyes, not wanting to hear anything, only wanting to quietly feel Qin Junlan’s body warmth in this moment. She needed to confirm this was all real, not a dream!

“I missed you, missed you so much…” Qin Junlan placed a gentle kiss on Liu Qianxun’s forehead. Though her body was still so weak, she used all her strength to embrace the trembling Liu Qianxun. These two lost years, she wanted to make up for them properly, never wanting to lose her again.

Outside the window, snow still drifted wildly. At some point, Yun Jin, Yi Qingyu, and Li Yue had left the inner palace. Standing in the hall corridor, Yun Jin heaved a deep sigh.

“What’s really going on?” Yi Qingyu didn’t believe Qin Junlan would fake death just to win back Liu Qianxun.

Li Yue bowed slightly, “In reply to the Princess Consort Cheng, before leaving Shennong Valley last time, Master Guiguzi gifted this servant with a spiritual pill, instructing it be used only to save lives. Unexpectedly, when Her Majesty’s life was in danger during court the other day, this servant remembered the medicine. Otherwise, Her Majesty might truly have been beyond saving…”

“Now Imperial Sister’s body is too weak to manage state affairs. She took advantage to fake death, allowing Guo’er to smoothly ascend the throne. If she still held the title of Emperor Emeritus, the court officials would inevitably find it hard to submit to me and Guo’er, still relying on her. Since she wants to retire, better to use this strategy, letting the world believe the Glorious Heaven Empress has passed away. The new emperor can ascend, grant amnesty, and better implement new policies to govern the other three kingdoms.”

Yi Qingyu nodded, noticing that Yun Jin’s every movement now carried imperial dignity; her former gentle and dignified air now carried additional severity.

The burden of ruling all under heaven had, in the end, fallen upon her shoulders.

---

LP: Things got dragged for too long I don’t really feel anything from this chapter

---

---