Chapter 314: Chapter 311: Sober

It was because you weren’t sincere.

You were just being self-indulgent.

Sang Yan wanted to retort, but after thinking it over, she held herself back.

Why aggravate him?

She might as well play along with his act.

“I am not worthy of your sincerity.”

She continued to belittle herself, “You are the Emperor, the most esteemed person in Beiqi, you deserve a better woman.”

So please let her go.

Qi Wuya heard the unspoken words–asking him to leave her, to look for another woman.

He hated this idea of her pushing him towards other women.

“Sang Yan, don’t be naive. If I thought like you do, that you were unworthy of me, do you know what your fate would be?”

He would have thrown her into the army camp without hesitation, to be trampled upon.

“If I didn’t love you, Sang Yan, you would have no grounds for negotiation.”

His face was cold, his brows and eyes fiercely stern as he cruelly shattered her illusions.

Sang Yan lowered her head and said no more.

Did she even have any grounds for negotiation now?

She never thought that one day, she would be living on a man’s love.

He Ying… don’t blame me…

*

Dahe Palace

Qingning Palace

He Ying, after undergoing seven days of recurring high fever, finally saw the fever subside, and his condition stabilized.

The day he regained consciousness, it snowed.

The world was cloaked in silvery white.

When he opened his eyes, his first thought was of Sang Yan, followed immediately by the memory of their promise to watch the snow together, his emotions surged, “Where is the Empress? Where is she? Quickly, arrange it, I want to take the Empress to see the snow.”

“Your Majesty, please calm down.”

Pei Muyang had finally awaited the Emperor’s recovery, and wasn’t yet thrilled when he heard the Emperor mention the Empress, his mood immediately sank again–these days the Empress hadn’t come, the Emperor was gradually regaining consciousness, it seemed like he was getting through the crisis, but he still wasn’t fully recovered, she should not be allowed nearby.

Thinking this, he explained, “Your Majesty, you’ve just woken up, do you feel unwell anywhere? Don’t worry about the Empress, she is in Qifeng Palace, we are taking good care of her there.”

“Qifeng Palace?”

He Ying frowned, “Why is she there?”

They were married!

She was his legitimately wedded Empress, she should be living in Qingning Palace!

As Pei Muyang thought about the Empress’s husband-killing fate, he hesitated for a moment, but still told the truth, “Your Majesty, it was like this, you were in a coma after an assassination attempt, the situation was too dangerous then, and every time the Empress approached you, your illness worsened, so we temporarily asked the Empress to move to Qifeng Palace.”

He Ying understood–due to the husband-killing fate, Pei Muyang had blocked Sang Yan.

Thinking back to his coma, Sang Yan must have faced a lot of criticism and even prohibition from approaching him.

His heart ached.

His Ah Yan…

“How dare you!”

His anger made his chest heave, pulling at his wounds, causing him to gasp in pain.

Still, he suppressed it and continued, “Fool! Such a fool! My assassination was the work of humans!”

Before he lapsed into unconsciousness, he saw very clearly, it was Sang Ruoshui who attacked him.

Damn it!

That woman, driven mad by unrequited love!

And she implicated his Ah Yan!

“Enough with the nonsense, go and invite the Empress here!”

He couldn’t wait to see her.

Others might believe in her husband-killing fate, but he didn’t.

Even if it were true, he had survived it.

He had broken her husband-killing fate.

For what they say about fortune and misfortune going hand in hand, the worst has passed, and now only good days await them.

Pei Muyang didn’t think so, and continued to advise, “Emperor, regarding the ‘husband-killing fate’, it is better to believe it exists than not. You have not yet fully recovered, please wait. At least until you can get out of bed, then let the Empress visit you.”

He Ying could no longer bear it and ordered directly, “Go and summon the Empress immediately! Do not make me say it a second time!”

Seeing Pei Muyang’s attitude, Sang Yan, a frail woman, must be feeling wronged somehow.

Plus, with his injury and unconsciousness, she must have been worried and stressed day and night.

Ah, it was his fault for letting her suffer.

Feeling heartache, he glanced at the motionless Pei Muyang, anger rising in his heart, “What are you doing? Are you trying to defy me?”

“I dare not.”

Pei Muyang immediately knelt, yet said, “Please, Emperor, take care of yourself. Do not see the Empress for now. Each time the Empress visited while you were unconscious, your condition worsened. I dare not take this risk!”

He Ying simply didn’t believe him and rebuked him coldly, “Fool! My heart knows whom it loves–I definitely cherish myself! What need is there for your nonsense?”

He, more than anyone, wished to live a long life.

Of course, on the condition that Sang Yan was with him.

Thinking of Sang Yan, his longing spilled over.

How was she now? Was she crying? Eating well? Sleeping well? Had she lost weight?

He desperately wanted to see her.

He knew that Pei Muyang genuinely cared about him and was loyal.

During his unconsciousness, if Pei had wanted to do something, he definitely wouldn’t have woken up.

So, not wanting to say harsh words to chill his heart, he spoke reasonably, “First let the Empress come. Even just letting me have a distant glimpse of her would suffice.”

With the Emperor saying so, Pei Muyang blocking any further would seem disrespectful and ungrateful.

After all, it was the Emperor; who would dare truly defy him?

Pei Muyang finally relented, “Yes.”

He turned his head to send someone to pass the message to Qifeng Palace.

While waiting for the Empress, he intentionally let the ministers in to visit, while he waited outside for the Empress.

These days, the Empress had also been cooperating with his arrangements, staying hidden in Qifeng Palace.

Of course, occasionally sending people to inquire about the Emperor’s condition.

She worried about the Emperor and would not just let him act recklessly; she also restrained her feelings, to meet him from a distance.

Qifeng Palace

Qing Wu was quite shocked upon hearing the news of the Emperor’s awakening, “He’s not dead. He actually woke up. His life is indeed tough.”

These days, she had been making offerings and praying day and night for him to ascend to paradise.

What a pity.

He hadn’t died.

“The Emperor invites you.”

The palace maid delivering the message was beaming, saying auspicious words, “Empress, you are truly fortunate. From now on, who will dare call you ‘husband-killer’!”

Qing Wu barely smiled, her heart feeling uneasy: she had expected He Ying to die, and as an imposter, to find an opportunity to retire successfully. Unexpectedly, he survived. Now, she still had to meet him. What to do? Could she deceive the palace attendants, could she deceive He Ying, her husband?

“It has already been said that the lady is not a ‘husband-killer’.”

The speaker was Qiuzhi.

These days, she hadn’t been spared from idle gossip and disdainful looks, and now she could finally feel vindicated, “Those who exaggerate others’ faults to belittle, wait till they see the Emperor and see how they are dealt with!”

Saying this, she supported “Sang Yan,” smiling as she urged, “Lady, hurry. Don’t keep the Emperor waiting.”

Qing Wu went to Qingning Palace with mixed feelings.

As she got closer, her heart grew more panicked.

In Quanzhou, she once had a brief encounter with He Ying.

Back then, she was frightened of him.

Now, wearing Sang Yan’s face, how would he treat her?

He loved Sang Yan so much, would he be able to distinguish between them?

As she thought, a strange hope arose–If he couldn’t tell them apart, then under the guise of Sang Yan, she could enjoy his love and power!

This was perhaps why she hadn’t seized the opportunity to eliminate him earlier.

To say there was no chance was just an excuse.

She, too, had ambition.

Otherwise, why would she have volunteered to switch to Sang Yan’s face?