02. Welcome and Stand.
She approached that person with a heart full of fervent supplication, but when Liu He raised her head, tearful and unable to speak, and saw the young and beautiful face clearly, she could not help but take two steps back, her spirit collapsing as tears fell down.
In the scorching summer, ice cubes evaporated in the heat, and Liu Fu's body, wrapped in a golden silk and jade garment, lay amidst the vast mist. Just as she intended to step into that haze, a guard stepped forward to dissuade her. She did not get angry; her face remained expressionless, not even a frown, as she stared at the guards until Huo Guang made the only sound: "They have arrived"
She waited for him the entire day, doing nothing all day long. From the moment she opened her eyes, she began to miss him, and even when she closed her eyes, she longed for his breath to return to this cold and desolate palace
In that case, I shall offer a reward of 10,000 gold to have the prize serve as my representative in the horse racing competition
Liu He remained silent without any response. After a while, he suddenly stood up. Gong Sui was overjoyed and hurriedly called for the carriage to stop
Gong Sui shook his head helplessly and sighed
The streets were already under the vigilance of the guards led by the Chief of the Imperial Guards, who were responsible for clearing the way and driving the onlookers to the sides of the road. As Liu He just alighted from the carriage, the crowd of onlookers let out a sigh of exclamation, surging and ebbing like the waves of the sea
The light inside the hall was dim, while outside the hall it was bright and resplendent, with the azure sky and white clouds as the backdrop. As I turned back, I could only see a white figure, dressed in mourning attire, stumbling and crying as it crawled up the stone steps in front of the hall. Then, it knelt at the entrance, tears streaming down its face, utterly devoid of dignity.
Perhaps, without needing to hear it, he had already anticipated such an outcome during his lifetime
As his wife, everything has already come to an end
Queen ... ... Queen ... ...
The car was filled with ambiguous sounds of laughter and joy, while Gong Sui, the chief physician of Changyi, stood awkwardly by the side of the carriage, unable to walk away or stay, forced to muster a faint, helpless smile in his embarrassment
The scorching sunlight fell through her fingers, and the light spots danced on her eyelids
Liu He opened his sleepy eyes, rested his arm under his neck, and impatiently turned over: "My throat hurts, I can't cry"
The maids were anxious, fearing that she had not heard clearly, so they repeated themselves. Unexpectedly, she suddenly interrupted their words in a hushed voice: "Has the Queen of Changyi come along with the entourage?"
Queen! Queen! Wake up...
At sunset, the court dispatched the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, Shi Lecheng, to the banks of the Ba River to receive the emperor. Anle, along with Gong Sui and a group of attendants, surrounded Liu He as they stood on the banks of the Ba River, gazing westward. They could see dust billowing on the horizon, banners fluttering low, and the emperor's six-horse carriage approaching slowly.
When her grandfather and father enjoyed wealth and glory by using her as a queen, she had little complaint beyond self-pity; when the Shangguan clan was completely exterminated, she did not harbor strong hatred. However, now standing before Liu He, the thought of Liu Fu being cut off from the lineage caused the resentment and anger that had been suppressed in her heart for so long to erupt in that moment.
Liu He wept bitterly, and this mournful and piercing wail evoked an infinite sense of longing among the onlookers for the young and deceased Emperor. In less than a moment, the sobs spread rapidly like a plague, and a chorus of sorrowful cries arose outside the Weiyang Palace
His voice is so deep and enchanting, it is what she has longed for...
The team came to a halt, and Liu He reached out to wipe his face, chuckling softly to himself. Gong Sui lifted the curtain, and with Shoucheng's support, Liu He finally set his feet down steadily on the ground.
You are a good queen, and you will also be a good empress in the future
He seemed to want to break free from her embrace, eager to leave. She cried out, vowing not to let go: "Don't leave me! Don't abandon me alone! Please... don't throw me alone in the Weiyang Palace, I am afraid..." By the end of her shouting, her voice had already trembled into fragments.
Upon entering the gates of Chang'an, the procession summoned the common people to gather around, and Liu He sat in the carriage, looking quite pleased. In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the eastern gate tower of Weiyang Palace. Gong Sui could no longer hold back and reminded him: "The Changyi tent set up by the court is located to the north of the carriageway outside the eastern gate tower of Weiyang Palace. We are now only a north-south path away from the tent, and it is just a few steps for the carriage to reach it. Your Majesty might as well dismount here and follow the mourning rites..."
She gazed wistfully at the reflection in the bronze mirror, her cloud-like hair and flower-like beauty.
Your Majesty, this is the King of Changyi
Ruyi turned her gaze towards Huo Guang. When Huo Guang suddenly met that cold stare, he shivered slightly. However, the current situation did not allow for much contemplation. Along with Liu He entering the palace, there was also a group of attendants from the State of Changyi, including the Prime Minister An Le, the Lieutenant Wang Ji, and the Director of the Bureau of Officials Gong Sui, among others. At this moment, how to assess these politicians who were about to join was Huo Guang's primary concern. Overwhelmed with the funeral arrangements for the late Emperor and the selection of a new ruler, he truly had no time to spare for his granddaughter's emotions.
Ah... she spoke in a hushed voice, suppressing her intense heartbeat with her small voice, "Your Majesty..." Not daring to let him know how secretly delighted she was, she hurriedly approached, her steps so light.
With the successor in place, the queen in place, the three dukes and nine ministers in place, and the royal relatives and officials in place. When the craftsmen of the Eastern Garden finally closed the coffin of Liu Futing, which had been in mourning for a month and a half, and when the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, Shi Lecheng, shouted, "Cry—" a deafening wail filled the hall, yet Ruyi seemed like a puppet whose soul had long departed, devoid of any emotion
At that time, he was too young and impetuous. In the State of Changyi, he could summon the wind and call for rain, acting recklessly and indulging in capricious behavior, with no one daring to speak harshly to him. He dared to say what other feudal lords would not say in front of the emperor, and he even mockingly made demands for stakes from his uncle.
Liu He took a deep breath, feeling a subtle pain in his lung lobes
If it were not for her maternal grandfather forcing Liu Fu to favor her exclusively, trying every means to have her bear a legitimate son, perhaps Liu Fu would not face extinction. If it were not for Huo Guang's greed, even if there were no legitimate son now, at least she could have a concubine's son who carries Liu Fu's bloodline, thus Liu Fu would not have to suffer the tragedy of having no descendants and resorting to finding his nephew as an heir.
As the team arrived at the inner city gate of Chang'an, Gong Sui had to remind Liu He once again to mourn. Liu He still repeated the same words—he could not cry. In the end, he shot him a glance, which carried a hint of reproach, and said: "Aren't both the outer city gate and the inner city gate just city gates? Why ask such a redundant question?"
I heard that you won the horse, and seeing your attire, could it be that you personally rode it?
It was not out of willingness that I lost to Liu Fu, yet in the end, I still lost to him
Yesterday, upon arriving in Huxian, the imperial envoys became alert. During the period of national mourning, no one is permitted to engage in romantic affairs, especially since Liu He is the candidate to inherit the throne from Liu Fuzong, who has just been welcomed back to Chang'an. The act of abducting women and committing such lewd acts in a carriage is regarded as unfilial and is a crime that is difficult to forgive. The imperial envoys questioned the Chancellor of Changyi, Anle, who then informed Gong Sui. Gong Sui went to inquire Liu He, but Liu He refused to admit to the accusations. In the end, Gong Sui had no choice but to send that servant to the chief of the guards for punishment, in order to divert the attention of the envoys.
Her heart trembled, he said he liked her
In the end, she was still left all alone
As Liu Fu's successor, she had always hoped that Liu He would share some similarities with Liu Fu, but it now appears that there are none at all. Apart from seeing a handsome and beautiful face at first glance, there is not a trace of Liu Fu in Liu He.
Tears thus soaked away, she wept with joy, unable to suppress her trembling and convulsions of excitement
Her gaze drifted far away, surveying the bustling crowd in the hall one by one, and ultimately returned to that misty realm. Can Liu Fu in the heavens know what is happening at this moment? He lies there, yet can he hear that these people are about to welcome a new ruler of the world to replace him
Empress Shangguan's vacant gaze turned towards the officials gathered in the front hall, while faint sounds of suppressed sobbing could be heard outside Weiyang Palace. However, the expressions of the ministers were all serious and cautious, and her maternal grandfather furrowed his brow tightly, remaining silent.
Since she entered the palace at the age of five, she has faintly felt that she was abandoned by others... Everyone in the world has abandoned her, including her grandfather, father, and mother... Now, the man who has accompanied her for ten years has finally also abandoned her
I like you
She suddenly jerked her body, her eyes wide open. Her eyelids twitched violently, she was drenched in sweat, her cherry lips slightly parted, and her pupils were filled with terror and sorrow
She sighed; since so many people chose to ignore the commotion outside the palace, why should she, a widow, trouble herself? She dragged her feet toward the coffin, which was draped in a golden shroud, and the lid of the coffin had not yet been closed. At this moment, her husband lay inside the coffin, surrounded by hundreds of pounds of ice.
The maids exchanged glances, the queen's sobs were soft, like a fine thread, yet they evoked a sense of hopeless pain. Thus, while wiping their tears, they helped her up: "Your Majesty! General Huo has sent someone with a message, saying that the carriage of the King of Changyi has already arrived at the Ba River, and he asks you to prepare..."
Never has there been a moment when the lonely heart feels such resentment
"As usual, he called her name.
Liu He squinted his eyes, gazing at the carriage that seemed to shimmer in the last rays of the setting sun. Jin Shang, dressed in a hemp mourning robe, stood against the light on the carriage frame, holding the reins. The evening glow bathed his attire in a dazzling golden hue, making him appear as if a celestial being had descended.
They managed to enter the Sanfu region without any major incidents along the way. Now that they have arrived at the banks of the Ba River, they are uncertain about what will happen next and how to respond to it.
When King Ai of Changyi, Liu Bo, died, Liu He was only four or five years old. This young prince, who understood nothing, was supported to ascend the throne, becoming the second great king of the State of Changyi. Compared to the exceptionally intelligent and charismatic young emperor rumored to be in Chang'an, the young king of Changyi resembled his grandfather, Emperor Xiwuh, in his youth, displaying a cleverness that was coupled with a mischievousness that could be quite irritating. Like most offspring of royal families, Liu He seemed to have inherited his grandfather Liu Che's hedonistic character, causing considerable distress to the ministers of the state throughout his upbringing. Compared to the exceptionally intelligent and charismatic young emperor rumored to be in Chang'an, the young king of Changyi resembled his grandfather, Emperor Xiwuh, in his youth, displaying a cleverness that was coupled with a mischievousness that could be quite irritating. Like most offspring of royal families, Liu He seemed to have inherited his grandfather Liu Che's hedonistic character, causing considerable distress to the ministers of the state throughout his upbringing.
Setting out at noon on the day he received the imperial edict, he traveled one hundred thirty-five li in just over half a day, and even now he can still feel the burning excitement within his chest
The expression of the Ruyi was indifferent as it lowered its head: "Alright."
She awoke, emerging from her dreams, only to plunge once more into an endless nightmare
The setting sun painted the sky, reflecting the golden light of the carriage, making it particularly dazzling. Liu He suddenly burst into laughter, as this scene reminded him of the grand horse racing event four years ago, when Liu Fu sat atop this luxurious carriage, and his sudden arrival left the crowd on the banks of the Ba River speechless.
Gong Sui was instantly at a loss for words
Who is he? He is Liu He! He is the son of King Ai of Changyi, Liu Bo! He is the grandson of Empress Dowager Li! How can he be willing to lose to Gou Yi Zi? How can he be willing?
The blazing sun hangs high in the sky, while the rapid waters of the Ba River rush eastward. The momentum is astonishing
Indeed, Your Majesty, our horse racing is all about the stakes
The chariot drew ever closer, breaking through the sky in the resplendent glow of the evening clouds, its momentum astonishing. Liu He, without any surprise, saw that familiar figure before the chariot.
Liu He’s words left those present momentarily stunned, while Jin Shang stood beside the imperial carriage, his face as pale as the garments he wore. The emperor's carriage has always been driven by the Chief of the Imperial Chariots, yet now Liu He, in front of everyone, allowed one of his own servants to take the reins. Jin Shang's feelings of humiliation and anger were openly displayed in his eyes; he maintained a stern expression and silently handed the reins in his hand to the servant named Shoucheng.
The maidservants were all taken aback, unsure of how to respond to this question. As Ruyi ordered someone to prepare her makeup, the maid who had gone out to inquire returned to report: "The Queen of Changyi, Yan Luohan, is the daughter of Yan Yannian, the Chief of the Capital's Gold Guards. Due to the urgent summons from the King of Changyi, she did not accompany the royal carriage this time."
In an instant, apart from the deep sense of disappointment in her heart, another surge of resentful anger unexpectedly arose.
She continued to stare at Liu He, while Huo Guang stood beside him, one being a young monarch of eighteen or nineteen years, and the other a seasoned minister nearing sixty.
She opened her arms, embraced his waist, and buried her face in his chest
This was a thrill he had never anticipated, nor dared to imagine. He smiled broadly in the car, while the woman beside him shyly lowered her head, occasionally stealing glances at him
Queen ... ... Queen ... ...
"Minister He of Changyi Wang, pays his respects to the Empress!" Liu He collapsed in tears at the feet of Ruyi
Perhaps not having offspring is the right choice
Liu He ascended the royal carriage and ordered his chief physician, Gong Sui, to sit on the right side of the carriage. Gong Sui cast a difficult glance at Shi Lecheng, then turned to look at An Le. An Le slightly nodded at him, and only then did he climb up into the carriage
Liu He, feeling quite discontented, jestingly asked, "What else have you not seen enough of?" He reached his hand under the woman's skirt, gliding it up along her smooth skin
The journey progressed very slowly, as the convoy turned westward. By the time they arrived at the Eastern Capital Gate of Guangming, the sky was already bright. Gong Sui had not slept all night; he looked at the scenery outside the carriage and awakened the sleeping Liu He: "Your Majesty, according to the rituals, one should weep upon seeing the gates of the capital when in mourning."
If there were offspring, then the one who would now be welcomed to the throne of the Son of Heaven would be an innocent and ignorant child, and how could he bear to let his own son walk the same old path again
Two groups of people met, and after exchanging formal greetings, Shi Lecheng respectfully invited Liu He to enter Chang'an. Liu He squinted his eyes and smiled: "Shoucheng."
The maids gently shook the queen's body, but were met with her silent sobs. The small figure on the bed curled up, tightly clutching a piece of men's formal attire, the edges of which were embroidered with auspicious patterns; it was a relic of the late Emperor.
You come to drive the carriage
I, your servant, am not properly attired and humbly ask for Your Majesty's forgiveness
He said this to her
Looking ahead, her life is still very long, and perhaps there will be more years of enduring hardships to come
She continued to curl up her limbs, burying her head in her knees, sobbing softly
I am fond of you ... ..." She was captivated and intoxicated, closing her eyes to listen to that voice that made her heart flutter, "I like you ... ..."
The flag fluttered in the wind, and the royal carriage of King Changyi came to a halt by the banks of the Bashui River. Liu He sat inside the carriage, occasionally lifting the curtain to peek outside, only to be quickly driven back by the blinding sunlight.
With a tall and slender figure, Liu He, dressed in mourning attire, was extremely eye-catching wherever he stood. Especially when he lifted the curtain and shouted loudly, after getting off the carriage, before the accompanying crowd could react, he had already crouched down and knelt on the ground, crying loudly towards the west at the Weiyang Palace gate tower.
He is so wise, wise enough to see through people's hearts at a glance, which is why he has given up on self-struggle and abandoned everything.
The sudden demise of Liu Fu was shocking, but even more astonishing was that the group of nobles in the capital chose to disregard Prince Liu Xu of Guangling and instead elevate Liu He to the throne. When the imperial edict reached the state of Changyi, the entire nation was in turmoil. Liu He was so excited that he lost all sense of propriety, yet his ministers dared not easily believe in such good fortune—General Huo Guang, the Grand Marshal, had employed methods in the court over the years that were nothing short of alarming.
The queen's eyes were vacant; although she had stopped crying and obediently got off the bed, it felt as if the figure standing before her was not a living person with vitality, but rather a puppet that could be moved with a mere touch.
She is fifteen years old this year, and she became his wife ten years ago
She raised her head and found his figure in the bright, white light of dawn
Ten thousand gold is not a figure that could truly intimidate him, yet it must be acknowledged that Liu Fu's calm demeanor at that time indeed stirred a sense of annoyance within him. Had it been someone else, they might have approached the competition with a mindset prepared to lose, in order to please the emperor, but he was unwilling to accept that.
The woman shyly stepped back, and he couldn't help but laugh triumphantly: "In order to find you to keep me company and alleviate my boredom, I ended up losing a valuable servant yesterday."
They deliberated back and forth domestically, ultimately deciding to first comply with the imperial edict and head to the capital, then proceed step by step and act according to the situation. At present, it seems that after arriving in the capital, the most important thing is to leave a good impression on Empress Shangguan and General Huo. However, Liu He has continued to act according to his own whims during the journey, behaving recklessly and showing no signs of restraint. A few days ago, when passing through Hongnong, he found the long journey tedious and lonely, and actually ordered his servants to abduct a woman and hide her in the carriage.
A voice rang out from the crowd: "No." Then a frail little man squeezed his way to the front; he was one of Liu He's attendants.