The Sovereign – Chapter 88

Volume Five: Remembering a Lifetime in the Sound of a Breaking Heart

Heart-wrenching Grief

The most painful is the parting by death

Ye Ming’s trembling hands caressed Bai Ruoxi’s gushing wound. She dared not breathe or blink, feeling her heart in her throat, her eyes filled with fear.

“Quick, go!” Bai Ruoxi pushed her away with breath as thin as floating silk. She fell from the force, shaking her head helplessly.

“Xi’er!” Bai Yifei roared, his tragic cry like thunder. Thinking he had accidentally wounded her, he directed all his fury toward the assassin before him.

The situation had exceeded expectations. Bai Ruoxi’s appearance had completely disrupted the plan and interfered with the mission’s continuation. Ghost Eye stepped forward and grabbed Ye Ming, “Let’s go!”

Ye Ming remained motionless (literally: didn’t move a thread), still holding Bai Ruoxi’s hand. Bai Ruoxi struggled to let go, looking at Ghost Eye, “Quickly take her away, hurry!”

Ghost Eye gritted their teeth and nodded, gripping Ye Ming’s shoulder and using their inner force to forcefully pull her away. Ye Ming only wanted to stay close to Bai Ruoxi, trying to channel true qi to ease her wound and pain, but she could do nothing. In a daze, holding Bai Ruoxi’s hand, she was forcibly pulled away by Ghost Eye.

Fresh blood covered both their hands. Their tightly clasped hands gradually separated due to Ghost Eye’s pulling, their blood-mingled reluctance to part ultimately couldn’t withstand the dangerous situation. Ye Ming felt herself being torn away, her grip on Bai Ruoxi sliding from palm to fingers, finally slipping away. When she tried to touch her again, there was only emptiness.

Ghost Eye gathered their qi and used qinggong to carry Ye Ming away. Ye Ming’s eyes were moist, her hand suspended in the air, waving toward Bai Ruoxi’s direction, wanting to grab her but could only watch helplessly as she grew more distant.

“Think you can escape? Dream on!” Bai Yifei raised his sword madly, but Bai Ruoxi threw herself forward to embrace his legs. The violent movement aggravated her sword wound, and she felt her internal organs churning, blood spewing from her mouth, staining Bai Yifei’s boots. “Brother~”

“Xi’er!” Bai Yifei hurriedly threw away his sword and supported Bai Ruoxi, calling out in panic: “It’s alright, it’s alright, brother will call for a doctor. Someone!! Someone, call a doctor, quick, quick!” Bai Yifei, a seven-foot tall man, suddenly became completely lost (literally: six spirits masterless, meaning utterly confused), while Yi Ziquan nearby had already departed to the yellow springs.

Bai Ruoxi watched as Ghost Eye safely carried Ye Ming away, a smile slowly appearing at the corner of her mouth, “Brother, I want to see Imperial Sister.”

“Alright, alright, brother will send someone to invite her right away. Someone, go quickly to invite the Emperor! Hurry!” Bai Yifei was in complete disarray, agreeing to whatever Bai Ruoxi said. That sword had pierced through her body and shattered her internal organs, yet she still held onto a breath, wanting to see Qin Junlan.

Swift horses like wind and lightning galloped toward the imperial palace, stopped by guards. He hurriedly conveyed the situation at the mansion, and the guard dared not delay, rushing toward Fengluan Palace.

“What’s this, what kind of deportment is such panic!” Li Ruo stopped them with a shout. The guard quickly knelt and reported, “Lord Li, there’s been an assassination attempt at the Yi mansion!”

“What? Quick, follow me!”

The attendants followed Li Ruo hurriedly to the imperial study, where Qin Junlan was leaning while reading, her face slightly pale. The guard fell to his knees with a thud, “Greetings to Your Majesty.”

“Why such panic? What happened?” Qin Junlan slightly raised her eyes, lacking energy, weakly putting down her book. Even without a smile, her imperial authority was fully displayed.

“There was an assassination attempt at the Yi Nansion. Young Master Ziquan has perished, and the young princess was accidentally wounded. I’m afraid… she won’t last much longer!”

Qin Junlan stood up in shock, her eyes gleaming with sharp light. Without a word, she slammed the book heavily to the ground, suddenly rising and rushing toward the palace exit.

“Your Majesty! Prepare the horses, prepare the horses, quickly!” Li Yue followed behind, hurrying to catch up. Qin Junlan walked hastily, with no time for arrangements, directly mounting the brought horse and galloping away.

Thunder rumbled, stirring up the night’s turbulent tide. Ghost Eye and Ye Ming fled to nearby Wuzi Slope, where Ye Ming collapsed on the ground, finally showing some reaction, “Xi’er, Xi’er…” She kept mumbling Bai Ruoxi’s name, her whole body trembling.

“Look at you, like a pile of mud (meaning completely dejected), what kind of state is this?” Ghost Eye spoke while removing the mask, revealing Chen Qing’s delicate features, looking sternly at Ye Ming.

“So it was you indeed.” Ye Ming slightly raised her head, her gaze unfocused.

“Weren’t you all suspicious of me?” Chen Qing shed her usual humor, completely serious – this was her true self, deeply hidden, concealing her martial arts in the imperial palace for ten years.

“The mission failed, we both must die.” Ye Ming was like a walking corpse with no attachment to life. Now Ghost Eye’s identity didn’t matter anymore. She looked at her blood-stained sword, picking it up with trembling hands, suddenly turning the hilt to point at her neck, intending to end her life. A sudden strike knocked the sword to the ground.

Chen Qing grabbed Ye Ming’s collar angrily, “Ye Ming, please come to your senses! Our lives may be worthless, but what about the Tower Master? What about Yi Ziquan and the young princess’s status? When they’re in trouble, the Empress will receive news immediately. What about the Tower Master then??”

“Tower Master…” Ye Ming mumbled, gradually calming down.

“You must know the Tower Master fell in love with the Empress. Now she refuses to leave, at an impasse. If one day she can’t even return to the Shura Sect, she’ll have no one by her side. Besides you, who else can protect her?” Chen Qing analyzed the situation clearly and thoroughly, unperturbed despite the failed mission.

Sparse raindrops fell, as Ye Ming punched a tree trunk. The swaying branches fell on her shoulders, the blood from her scraped knuckles quickly washed away by rain. Her eyes reddened, “If the Sect Leader hadn’t been so aggressive about killing Bai Yifei, it wouldn’t have come to this. Chen Qing, how can you be so willing to serve her? In these ten years, haven’t you thought about pledging loyalty to the Empress instead?”

Chen Qing smiled faintly, playing with her dagger before tucking it into her belt. She smoothed her rain-dampened temples, sighing slightly, “Do you know how many Yu Kingdom citizens Bai Yifei wrongfully killed? The Sect Leader is justified in killing him. But if you really ask why I’m willing to serve her, I can only tell you that every disciple of the Shura Sect is like me.”

“Why? I don’t understand. The Sect Leader is so cruel, killing subordinates without hesitation, never showing mercy. Yet why does she have such popular support in Yu Kingdom, and why does no one in the Shura Sect dare oppose her?” Ye Ming, who joined halfway, became a Shura disciple only because of her connection with Liu Qianxun, didn’t understand the Shura Sect’s true past and history.

“I can only tell you that this life of mine, Ghost Eye, belongs to the Shura Sect in life and in death. I must return to the palace. Take care of yourself.”

Lightning flickered across the sky, making Chen Qing’s silhouette suddenly appear hazy. Ye Ming called out, “Chen Qing.”

She turned around, looking at Ye Ming with suspicion.

“Be careful~”

Chen Qing broke into a smile, unlike her usual playful one, tinged with bitterness and comfort. She exhaled deeply, yet her tone remained calm, “Our lives were never our own to control. Perhaps we cannot have the ones we love, but we can keep them here forever.” As she spoke, she pressed her thumb against her heart, raising a melodious smile, and said while turning away, “Ye Ming, no matter what, stay alive. Only by living can you feel the love that remains in your heart.”

Thunder and lightning intensified, rain grew heavier. Ye Ming gripped her sword, looking toward the Yi Mansion, her heart twisting in pain. She covered her face again and leapt away.

Several fine horses galloped through the night toward the Yi Mansion. Qin Junlan hadn’t changed clothes or taken a sedan chair, simply whipping her horse forward through the rain, no storm strong enough to stop her urgent heart.

Upon arriving at the Yi Mansion, as servants tried to bow, Qin Junlan, face dark, rushed straight to the main hall. Passing the front courtyard, over ten corpses lay covered in white cloth, blood stains on the ground being washed away by rain. Though faded, the air still reeked of blood.

In the main hall, Yi Ziquan’s body lay straight, his face pale and bloodless, the white cloth not yet covering his head. Qin Junlan stared blankly at Yi Ziquan’s corpse, her legs planted on the ground, caressing his paper-white face, patting it gently, “Ziquan? Ziquan? Imperial Sister is here, wake up~” But Yi Ziquan could no longer respond.

The mansion guards secretly shed tears as Qin Junlan, with a bitter ache in her nose and clenched fists, heavily covered Yi Ziquan with the white cloth. “Where is the princess?”

“In the side chamber!”

Qin Junlan suddenly became deaf to all sound, rushing like the wind into the side chamber. Inside, doctors knelt everywhere while Bai Yifei berated several people, “Treat her! Quickly prepare medicine! Why aren’t you examining her!”

“We… we are powerless, please forgive us, Your Highness!” Several renowned imperial physicians had already given up hope. Beside them were basins of bloody water and towels, as Bai Ruoxi’s blood continued to flow unstoppably.

“Xi’er!” Qin Junlan couldn’t believe her eyes, seeing the once lively and laughing Bai Ruoxi now lying on the bed with breath as thin as silk.

“Paying respects to Your Majesty…”

Qin Junlan directly pushed through the crowd, rushing to Bai Ruoxi’s side.

“Imperial Sister~” Bai Ruoxi reached out, trying to rise. Qin Junlan quickly caught and held her hand, sitting behind her to let her lean against her body. The wound was a bloody mess, the sword entry impossible to discern, a shocking sight.

Qin Junlan’s heart clenched sharply. She held Bai Ruoxi tightly, speaking gently, “Don’t be afraid, Xi’er. Imperial Sister is here. Everything will be fine.”

“Imperial Sister….”

“Sister is here…” Qin Junlan leaned close to her ear, ensuring she could hear every word clearly.

“I’m sorry, Imperial Sister. All these years, Xi’er has been willful and capricious, always causing you trouble. I was immature before. Xi’er has grown up now and wanted to be your sensible sister, but… it seems there’s no chance anymore.” Bai Ruoxi’s reddened eyes were moist with tears, each word spoken with gathered strength, using breath to form sound, her voice so soft only Qin Junlan could hear.

Qin Junlan gently caressed her face, softly brushing away the hair at her temples, showing a slight smile. Though Bai Ruoxi couldn’t see it, she still tried to comfort her in a light tone, “That’s not true. Sister loves Xi’er just as you are. From childhood until now, Imperial Sister has always loved you, that’s why I’ve spoiled and indulged you. If you changed, you wouldn’t be Xi’er anymore. You’re perfect just as you are.”

“Heh~” She giggled mischievously, wanting to act spoiled with Imperial Sister one last time, but the sound was so faint Qin Junlan almost missed it. Outside, thunder grew louder, lightning making the room flicker between light and dark. It illuminated Qin Junlan’s grief-stricken eyes. Bai Ruoxi, as if sensing something, looked up at the roof, and Qin Junlan also felt someone crouching above. Seeing Bai Ruoxi looking at the roof, tears flowed like springs, her heart aching unbearably.

“Everyone withdraw~” Qin Junlan dismissed everyone else, leaving only herself and Bai Ruoxi. Bai Ruoxi’s head fell weakly against Qin Junlan’s chest. “Imperial Sister, can you promise me one last thing?”

“What last thing? Xi’er, I would promise you a hundred things if only you get better.” Qin Junlan could no longer mask her emotions with strength. Bai Ruoxi’s breath grew weaker, her body trembling with each word spoken, pain spreading throughout her body.

“Just one promise from Imperial Sister is enough.”

“Tell me, tell me~”

“No matter what happens, please don’t kill Ye Ming, and don’t make things difficult for Sister Xun’er~” Bai Ruoxi gripped Qin Junlan’s hands, straightening slightly. “Will you promise me??”

“I promise, I promise you, don’t move~” Qin Junlan’s nose stung with emotion, fighting back her grief, yet tears wet her eyes. How could she bear it! Watching someone she had cherished for so many years approaching death, yet still thinking of others.

Bai Ruoxi managed a smile, looking again at the roof, as if speaking to someone there, yet also as if talking to herself, “Ye Ming has lived a lonely life, dedicating herself to protecting Sister Xun’er. I know she once had feelings for Sister Xun’er, and I was a bit jealous. But now I hope she can care for Sister Xun’er even more, so after I die, she’ll have something to live for and won’t feel sad and lonely.”

“Xi’er….” Qin Junlan bit her lip lightly, trying to hold back tears by looking up, but couldn’t contain them.

“I used to always argue with her, annoy her, but I know she just acts tough while being soft-hearted. She’s always spoiled me, I know it all. This fool… thinking that deliberately distancing herself from me would make me back away… Imperial Sister, I regret so much, I feel the time spent with Ye Ming was too short. On the long road of life ahead, she’ll be alone again. I’m afraid she’ll be lonely like before….”

“No, Xi’er, you’ll be together with Ye Ming, I… I will arrange it for you, permit you to leave the palace, to travel….” Qin Junlan began to sob, her tears falling on Bai Ruoxi’s clothes. She wanted to wipe away Qin Junlan’s tears but had no strength left, her raised hand falling back down. “You are the Emperor, how can you shed tears? Imperial Sister mustn’t cry!”

“Alright~ Imperial Sister won’t cry~ won’t cry~” Qin Junlan wiped away her tears, struggling to control her emotions. Suddenly, Bai Ruoxi began to sob, her body heaving irregularly, seemingly in great pain, holding onto her last breath as if about to expire at any moment.

“Xi’er, Xi’er!” Qin Junlan held her anxiously, channeling inner force through her palms, trying to buy her more time.

Lightning flashed across the sky, heavy rain pouring down on the roof. Ye Ming bit her own hand until it bled, unable to distinguish between tears and rainwater mingling on her face. She had returned to lie here, hearing every word Bai Ruoxi spoke clearly. Her heart felt as if being cut by a thousand knives, the pain making it impossible to breathe. She could only bite her hand until it was a bloody mess, biting until numb, yet unable to dull the pain of this moment.

“Don’t~” Bai Ruoxi knew she wouldn’t make it and didn’t want Qin Junlan wasting her inner force. She just gazed upward, tears falling as she spoke, “I miss Ye Ming so much. If I cannot love her in this life, I will continue to cling to her in the next. I don’t want her to always be alone, wandering in solitude. I want~”

Ye Ming could no longer bear it, about to step down to be by her side, when suddenly she heard Bai Ruoxi anxiously call out, “Don’t move! Live on well! I want Ye Ming to live on… see the sights I couldn’t see, go to the places I couldn’t go….”

Ye Ming froze in shock, her body turning to stone, capable only of trembling and involuntary sobbing, having lost all other sensation.

“Xi’er~” Qin Junlan knew Ye Ming was above, suddenly understanding everything, but she couldn’t go against Bai Ruoxi’s wishes and could only pretend to know nothing.

Bai Ruoxi slowly relaxed, her eyelids too heavy to keep open, her body seeming no longer her own, becoming increasingly light. In that moment, she seemed to feel Ye Ming holding her, her lips unconsciously curving upward, “Ye Ming, I’m so tired~~”

She gently fell against Qin Junlan’s shoulder, her hand losing all weight as it fell to the bed. She appeared as if sleeping, peaceful with a slight smile, departing without regrets, yet leaving immense pain for those who lived on.

“Xi’er, Xi’er…..” Qin Junlan held Bai Ruoxi’s body, tears falling like rain. She gently stroked her head, softly caressing down her temples. She pressed her head against Bai Ruoxi’s, tears flowing down her cheeks, the warm liquid unable to wash away her inner grief. “Xi’er, Imperial Sister will make those who harmed you pay double!!”

Ye Ming opened her mouth, as if having lost her voice, unable to cry out, her fingernails digging into the tiles until they bled. She just shook her head, violently shaking it, unable to accept Bai Ruoxi’s departure. Like a wounded beast, whimpering, in this thunder-filled night, she frantically struck herself.

Yet she couldn’t even feel this last bit of pain. She flew from the Yi Mansion like a madwoman, rushing into the forest on the hillside. On the rain-slicked ground, she fell heavily, rolling under a tree. She roared and wept, pain overwhelming her entire body, unable to find release.

She looked at her sword, tears filling her eyes, her pupils red and seemingly changing color.

“Xi’er~~~” She drew her precious sword, turning the blade under her arm, raising it forcefully. In an instant, her left arm separated from her body, blood gushing out like water, the scent of blood filling the forest.

“Ah~~~~~~” A heart-rending scream echoed through the forest.

In her ears echoed Bai Ruoxi’s words, so clear yet now all empty:
“Ye Ming, I like you.”

“Ye Ming, do you like me or not?”

“Ye Ming, I want to eat loquats.”

“Ye Ming, why are you always so lonely?”

“Ye Ming, look how beautiful it is here!”

“Ye Ming, I want to stay by your side for a lifetime.”

The initially heart-wrenching screams turned to soft weeping, alternating with the sound of thunder. Unable to distinguish whether the pain was in her heart or body, Ye Ming lay in a pool of blood. If possible, she truly wished the pain of her severed arm would let her die, to forever accompany her beloved young princess in her heart.

The torrential rain poured down on Ye Ming’s body like a flood, yet in the sky appeared Bai Ruoxi’s face, smiling happily at her.

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