novelnext Chapter 460
Chapter 460
The Prince Regent turned around, not wanting to look at him for another second.
The Princess Consort lowered her eyes, her fingertips trembling slightly. "Brother Ning, if you hate me, you could have just killed me. Why... why did you have to turn Zhao'er into a medicine man? You two used to be so close!"
Emperor Yunning was the youngest son of the late Emperor. He was only twenty when he ascended the throne, not much older than Yun Zhao.
In the past, they used to spend a lot of time together in the imperial palace. They were uncle and nephew in name, but they were like brothers in reality.
Emperor Yunning's face showed great pain. "I didn't want to turn him into a medicine man! But it was too late! I knew it was over when Yan Xu led his troops to attack the capital. I fled in a hurry and wanted to go to the western frontier to find Imperial Brother, but I met Prince Jin halfway and he asked for help. I had to save Zihao first, and then rush to the western frontier. But it was too late when I arrived. Imperial Brother took you and disappeared. Langlang protected Miaomiao to escape, and Yun Zhao, Yun Zhao he..."
His voice trembled, and his back bent in pain. "He was heavily injured and dying. He only had one breath left. He begged me to save his brother and sister, but Zihao said he would only help if he agreed to be a medicine man. I wanted to stop it then, but I thought if he became a medicine man and stayed alive, there might be a way to wake him up in the future! But I didn't expect the medicine man's gu to be incurable, and I didn't expect Zihao to use him to kill so many people, and finally it got out of control..."
Yun Lang and Chu Ruoyan's eyes were cold. The latter couldn't help asking, "You didn't expect it? Since you saved Yun Zihao, didn't you know his desire to restore the country was getting stronger? Didn't you think about teaching and disciplining him, but instead indulged him to do evil everywhere!?"
The woman's voice trembled. Just thinking of the innocent Heiya and her brother who was forced to burn to ashes, she wanted to punch him twice.
In fact, Yan Zheng did it for her.
With a flick of his finger, two stones shot out, directly making the last Emperor of Sheng Dynasty kneel down.
Emperor Yunning didn't struggle, just kept shaking his head. "I'm sorry... Although I saved Zihao, we were separated not long after. The Murong family wanted to kill everyone, so I had to fake my death to escape, and Zihao he..."
He closed his eyes and sighed. "He was forced to hide in a troupe, but he was drugged by the old troupe leader to reverse Yin and Yang, and could no longer have children. This child is also miserable. His family is ruined, and he has suffered this disaster. Since then, his temperament changed drastically and he insisted on taking revenge and restoring the country. I couldn't bear to stop him..."
Before he finished speaking, he was sharply interrupted by Yun Zihao. "What's wrong with me taking revenge and restoring the country? The Murong family deserves to die, and your Prince Regent's lineage also deserves to die! Even you, Imperial Uncle, we clearly agreed to join hands to take back the Yun family's country, and then you will ascend the throne. But I didn't expect you to betray me too, you betrayed me too!"
The sharp voice almost pierced the eardrums. Emperor Yunning looked at him with pity, and his eyes became more and more sad. "Zihao, I didn't lie to you. I did want to take back the Yun family's country, but it's not me who will ascend the throne after taking it back..."
He paused, and his deep and complex eyes looked at the Prince Regent again. "I want to return the throne to Imperial Brother."
Yun Zihao was extremely angry, but the Prince Regent just sneered and didn't say a word.
Emperor Yunning knew he was disappointed.
And he was so disappointed that he didn't want to say another word to him.
He smiled bitterly twice, and then said, "But it's not necessary now. Miaomiao has become the Empress, and this future heir also has half of her blood. After going round and round, the throne has returned to the Yun family, but—"
He couldn't help but take a last look at Imperial Brother.
But the other party still didn't turn around, and didn't even give him a glance.
Emperor Yunning knew that times had changed, and they could never go back to being brothers...
All the truths were revealed, but it was as if they hadn't been.
Everyone's heart was filled with lingering depression.
Who would have thought that the root cause of the chaos in the world was just an incompetent Emperor trying to tie down his Imperial Brother?
Yan Zheng held Chu Ruoyan's hand, their fingers intertwined. The young lady looked up and smiled at him. "It's fine."
In this disaster, although she was separated from her close relatives, it was a blessing in disguise. She met her adoptive father, and him.
"Emperor Yunning, since things have been cleared up, shouldn't the body of Heir Apparent Yan be returned to us?"
Yan Zheng was stunned, a thin mist passing through his eyes.
Emperor Yunning sighed deeply. "Don't worry. Although Yan Xu destroyed my country, it has nothing to do with his son. I also respect the Yan family's loyalty, so the body of Heir Apparent Yan is intact, and it's kept—"
"Imperial Uncle!!"
Yun Zihao shouted, and Emperor Yunning shook his head. "Zihao, we lost, so let's lose with some backbone, okay?"
Yun Zihao's pale face turned blue and red. He seemed unable to accept this fact.
Finally, he opened his mouth and spat out a large mouthful of blood.
Amid Emperor Yunning's exclamation, he fell straight to the ground.
"Zihao! Zihao!"
Emperor Yunning rushed over. He was no longer breathing, and his eyes were wide open. He was actually angered to death!
Emperor Yunning burst into tears in grief, and Yun Lang said hatefully, "He got off easy!"
For what he did to his brother and Miaomiao, a thousand deaths would not be enough to atone for his sins!
A light rain suddenly began to fall from the sky.
The Prince Regent took the Princess Consort and left, and Yun Lang followed closely.
Yin Shun hurriedly opened an umbrella and ran to the Emperor and Empress. Chu Ruoyan took it, looked at Yan Zheng, and the latter said, "Go."
Chu Ruoyan held the umbrella and came to Emperor Yunning's side.
Emperor Yunning didn't even raise his head, and just said a place name. "The body of Heir Apparent Yan is kept there. You can go find it yourselves."
Chu Ruoyan nodded and paused for a moment. "Thank you, Imperial Uncle."
Emperor Yunning was shocked and looked up in disbelief. "What did you call me? You, you don't hate me?"
"I hate you, but you helped us. At least in the matter of the High Priest and the Minister of Personnel, Yan Zheng and I owe you a thank you." After Chu Ruoyan finished speaking, she suddenly leaned over and whispered something in his ear very softly.
Emperor Yunning's pupils shrank suddenly, and extreme fear was revealed in his eyes, mixed with the shame and embarrassment of being seen through.
The woman smiled slightly, put the oiled paper umbrella in his hand, and left gracefully.
The Emperor quickly stepped forward to shield her from the rain, and the young lady asked, "Lord Yue's side..."
Yan Zheng looked back. Yin Shun had already sent someone over to persuade him, but Yue Qianzhong sat there numbly, looking as if his heart was dead.
He whispered a few words to Yin Shun, and when the old eunuch went over and said it, Yue Qianzhong's out-of-body soul came back.
He looked at Yan Zheng hesitantly, and the Emperor nodded. Then he showed joy, stood up unsteadily and was about to kneel, but was supported by Yin Shun.
Chu Ruoyan breathed a sigh of relief, naturally took Yan Zheng's arm and asked, "What did you ask Yin Shun to tell him?"
The Emperor glanced at Emperor Yunning not far away. "Then what did A'yan tell him?"
The woman pinched his arm, and Yan Zheng laughed and quickly said, "Okay, okay, I'll say it. Actually, I didn't say anything. I just told him that if he is willing to return to the Five Wards Military Command, I will allow him to let the Yue family divorce, and bury her only as his eldest sister."
Chu Ruoyan suddenly understood. "No wonder he agreed. The Fourth Madam Gu... no, Lady Yue fought to the death today, so she definitely didn't want to be buried in the Gu family's ancestral grave. It's just that if he returns to the Five Wards Military Command, Commander Xie's side..."
"Rest assured, Xie Zhizhou is not a man without tolerance. Besides, the Wardens Office of the Five Cities has always been short of a deputy envoy. Since Yue Qianzhong is now physically disabled, keeping him there to manage internal affairs is also a viable way out."
Chu Ruoyan teased, "Didn't they say that those with physical disabilities cannot enter officialdom?"
Yan Zheng laughed heartily, "That rule was abolished long ago. Their emperor himself took the throne with a disability, so how could they still keep such a rule?"
Chu Ruoyan smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. When her gaze swept over Emperor Yunning, who was standing there numbly, the smile on her face faded slightly. "I didn't actually say much to him. I merely told him that excessive selfish desires ultimately lead to bitter consequences."
"Selfish desires?" Yan Zheng raised an eyebrow. The woman's voice suddenly became ethereal.
"Yes, he would rather die by his father's hand than tell the truth. He lingered at death's door for over a decade just to reclaim the throne for him, and even wanted to eliminate his mother out of jealousy... Would you eliminate Sister-in-law Rong for Big Brother Yan?"
This sudden question sent an instant chill down Yan Zheng's spine. "What are you saying? My elder brother loves my sister-in-law, and I only wish for them to be a happy couple. How could I—"
Before he could finish, he suddenly realized something and scolded in disgust, "Lunatic!"
Chu Ruoyan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Ever since he appeared, he had always used the respectful form of address, and even when facing death, he was impatient and eager.
If explained by selfish desires, everything made perfect sense. He hoped his father would never forget him until death, even if that memory was fueled by hatred.
"The Yun family is all somewhat insane, Yan Zheng..."
Before she could finish her words, the man suddenly leaned over and sealed her lips.
The palace servants all lowered their heads. The two shared a deep, lingering kiss, and only separated when their breathing grew heavy and a touch of crimson stained the corners of their eyes.
"A'Yan..."
He rested his forehead against hers, his gaze incredibly tender. "I don't like this phrase, but if I must say it—"
"You are my selfish desire."
Chu Ruoyan's heart beat like a drum, and the world seemed to fall silent for a moment.
A light, pattering rain slanted across her face, yet her cheeks felt boiling hot, as if even the raindrops were scalding...
"You really are..."
Before she could finish, a sudden wave of nausea hit her chest.
She uncomfortably clutched her chest and dry-heaved a couple of times, her delicate brows knitting together. Yin Shun turned his face away and chuckled softly to himself.
Yan Zheng realized something, and his expression instantly changed. "That's impossible!"
The young lady looked up in astonishment, only to see him state with a solemn face, "I've been drinking the contraceptive potion!"