In front of the most majestic and grand hall of the palace, the ceremony of the Emperor’s enthronement had just concluded when someone began sprinting across its front.
The sound of footsteps shattered the solemn silence of the palace, echoing across the square, which could accommodate tens of thousands of worshippers.
The imperial guards stationed before Xuande Gate looked on in astonishment at the figure dashing across the square. Clad in the Emperor’s court attire, the tall and slender man covered great distances with every stride, his robes billowing as he moved swiftly.
Behind him, a crowd of eunuchs hurried noisily, followed by panting attendants carrying a royal sedan chair.
Was someone attempting to steal the Emperor’s court robes?
This was the first thought that crossed the guards’ minds.
They hardly dared to consider any other possibility, for palace etiquette was strict, and the Emperor’s dignified demeanor was beyond reproach.
As the figure drew nearer, the guards widened their eyes in disbelief.
“Today’s events must not be recorded in the daily chronicle of the Emperor’s activities.” The eunuch, panting heavily, still remembered his duty. He turned to a younger eunuch beside him and instructed, “Go inform the Attendant.”
Just moments before, the Emperor, who had been in the middle of speaking, rose to his feet without a word and started running as soon as he heard the messenger’s report. He didn’t even take the time to walk around – instead, he leaped directly over the low table in front of him.
The young eunuch couldn’t help but recall the expressions on the faces of the few ministers present, whose jaws had dropped wide enough to swallow an egg. These ministers already had a tendency to speak freely, and the Emperor’s lack of composure was sure to be widely spread by them.
To become the subject of ridicule so soon after ascending the throne would be unthinkable.
The young eunuch immediately turned and began running back.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”
Eunuch Jing, who had rushed over upon receiving the news, gradually caught up with Fang Bocong as he passed the other eunuchs.
“Take the sedan chair, take the sedan chair!”
However, Fang Bocong seemed not to hear him at all and continued running with long strides.
The cold wind of late autumn and early winter blew against his face, wiping away the fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
A dull ache rose in his chest, gradually spreading throughout his body.
She had once said he still could not handle heavy labor or wield a heavy sword.
How far was it from the Hall of Diligent Governance to the palace gate? He couldn’t quite remember, but it felt terribly, terribly far – how had the Eastern Palace not yet come into view?
For the first time, he realized just how distant the Eastern Palace truly was.
Back when he had hastily moved to the Eastern Palace, it was to be closer to her, to return to her side more quickly in the gaps between his busy court affairs.
But now it seemed it was still too far. He should have simply moved into the main palace instead. Though it was against protocol, what did protocol matter to him? All he wanted was to be by her side, to reach her as swiftly as possible.
Someone grabbed his arm.
“Your Majesty, you must not run any longer!”
Eunuch Jing cried out urgently, disregarding protocol as he seized Fang Bocong’s arm.
But the next moment, Fang Bocong shook him off.
Not daring to pull too forcefully for fear of accidentally injuring the Emperor, Eunuch Jing could only run alongside him, shielding him as they moved.
The gate of the Eastern Palace came hazily into view.
“What has happened to Her Majesty the Empress?” Fang Bocong rushed ahead and demanded of the eunuchs waiting at the gate to receive him.
Before the eunuchs could speak, he had already swept past them through the entrance, stirring a gust of wind that seemed to cut short their words of greeting.
What had happened to Her Majesty the Empress?
Her Majesty the Empress… seemed to have awakened.
Awake is awake, and unconscious is unconscious – what did “seemed to have awakened” mean?
All along the way, Fang Bocong paid no heed to the bows and salutes of the eunuchs and palace maids. It was only when he reached the doors of the bedchamber that his steps came to an abrupt halt.
Could this be another dream?
In his dreams, he had rushed into this chamber again and again, only to see the girl inside, leaning against an armrest while reading, lift her head and offer a faint smile – before dissolving into a wisp of smoke.
He would then awaken with a start, holding the silent, sleeping figure beside him until dawn broke.
He could not bear for her to become a cold, breathless corpse, buried underground, gradually decaying, vanishing completely.
Even if she did not care for him, even if he was merely a pawn to her, even if she left him – as long as she lived, as long as he knew she was alive.
“Your Majesty.”
The eunuchs and maids in the courtyard bowed in greeting, interrupting Fang Bocong’s hesitation.
Even if it was a dream, he could still see her smile.
Fang Bocong stepped forward quickly. The door of the room was pulled open, the beaded curtain was lifted, and the drapes before the bed were drawn aside. A girl lay on the bed, turning her gaze toward him.
Her makeup was immaculate, her hair neatly styled, but her face was expressionless, her stare vacant. At the sound of footsteps, her eyes shifted slightly, revealing a faint glimmer of life.
Fang Bocong’s lips moved, but he realized no sound came out.
“Cheng Fang,” he spoke again, his voice emerging dry and unfamiliar even to himself.
The girl looked at him, the dullness in her eyes gradually receding as a flicker of vitality stirred.
“Cheng Fang,” she said.
Her voice was flat and wooden, as if questioning, yet also as if merely repeating Fang Bocong’s words.
“Cheng Fang!” Fang Bocong raised his voice, calling out to her.
Cheng Fang looked at him, slowly sitting up.
Her movements were somewhat slow, yet carried a casual, graceful air.
“Cheng Fang,” she repeated.
The monotonous repetition of these words in the room drew curious glances from those waiting outside.
There was no elation of recovering from a serious illness, no tender embrace of reunited spouses.
The two stood facing each other – one on the bed, the other by the door – their gazes locked as if they were strangers meeting for the first time.
It was… bizarre.
A maid suddenly let out a soft exclamation.
“Her Majesty seems better than a moment ago,” she whispered.
“A moment ago? What was she like then?” Eunuch Jing couldn’t help but ask.
“Earlier, Her Majesty could barely sit up; her movements were very stiff,” another maid whispered in response.
…
Before the carriage even came to a complete stop, Su Xin jumped down from it.
“Su Xin!”
Su Xin turned and saw a carriage speeding toward her. Inside, Ban Qin leaned out, waving frantically.
“Oh, you’re here at last!”
As the two entered, a eunuch hurriedly called out.
“Quick, quick – come see Her Majesty at once!”
Ban Qin’s legs went weak beneath her, and she nearly stumbled.
“What happened to Miss?” Su Xin cried out, gripping Ban Qin’s hand tightly.
…
Fang Bocong took a step forward. Whether it was because the girl before him was watching him or because her own slow movement had affected him, his step was hesitant and heavy – so much so that the maids outside might have thought it was he whose body had stiffened.
“Cheng Fang,” he called again.
Cheng Fang looked at him, but this time did not repeat his words in response.
“Are you feeling better?” Fang Bocong asked. “Should I summon the imperial doctor?”
Before Cheng Fang could answer, the sound of a woman’s tearful cry came from outside.
“Miss, Miss!”
Though the voice carried in, the person was still being held back at the door.
“Let them in,” Fang Bocong said.
Ban Qin rushed in first. Without a moment’s hesitation, she threw herself toward the girl sitting on the bed.
“Miss, Miss,” she wailed, sobbing openly.
“Miss!” Su Xin followed closely behind, crying and laughing all at once.
The atmosphere in the room instantly grew animated.
Yet the liveliness belonged to others alone. Cheng Fang remained upright and still, her expression vacant as she looked at the two kneeling before her, laughing through their tears.
“She moved!”
A maid outside suddenly blurted out.
What nonsense!
Eunuch Jing shot her a sharp look.
Her Majesty had already awakened – of course she could move.
The maid who had spoken hung her head in shame.
But they had waited upon their mistress for so long without seeing her move – it truly felt unfamiliar for a moment.
Cheng Jiao-niang shifted to sit at the edge of the bed.
Having been bedridden for so long, she wore no shoes – only white socks, with her petite feet hanging slightly over the side.
Ban Qin and Su Xin hurriedly wiped their tears while also searching for shoes to put on her feet.
“Summon the imperial doctor,” Fang Bocong ordered.
The maids outside acknowledged his command.
“There’s no need,” Cheng Fang said.
The maids paused and turned to look at the girl who, just moments ago, had barely been able to move her eyes upon waking and had risen as stiffly as a snapped branch. Now she stood, slowly stretching her arms, sleeves sweeping outward, before bringing her hands together in front of her, wide sleeves hanging perfectly still.
“Cheng Fang,” Fang Bocong looked at her, “are you awake?”
Awake? Isn’t she already awake?
Ban Qin and Su Xin raised their heads to look at Cheng Jiao-niang.
Cheng Fang turned her gaze to him.
“Yes, I am awake,” she said, offering a faint smile. “Fang Bocong.”
Fang Bocong!
Fang Bocong!
To Fang Bocong, it felt as though someone had landed a heavy blow right to his chest.
Cheng Fang took a step forward, the movement somewhat slow.
Ban Qin and Su Xin instinctively reached out to support her.
But with the second step, Cheng Fang walked steadily, brushing aside their helping hands.
“As long as you’re awake, all is well.” Fang Bocong looked at the now steady girl and took a deep breath. “I have something to ask you.”
His voice, still hoarse, had barely faded when Cheng Fang took a step toward him.
Then another.
And another.
Step by step, she drew closer.
Fang Bocong felt his body stiffen and instinctively took a step back.
“I have something to ask you,” he said again.
But before the words had fully left his lips, Cheng Fang suddenly halted her steps, opened her arms, and threw herself toward him.
Fang Bocong instinctively reached out – and Cheng Fang reached back, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her head against his chest.
“Fang Bocong,” she said.
The people in the room were stunned for a moment, then began scrambling backward in a chaotic rush – some bumping into each other, others stepping on feet, knocking over the flower stand, crashing into the doorframe. A clamor of clinks, clanks, thuds, and jostling filled the air as they all tumbled out in a heap.
“…Let go! I have something to ask you – doing this is useless…”
Fang Bocong’s voice trailed out from behind them.
Eunuch Jing quickly reached to pull the door shut, sealing off the space between inside and outside.
Everyone in the courtyard stared at them, seemingly startled by the sudden flood of people emerging.
“Dismissed, dismissed,” Eunuch Jing said, waving his hand.
The courtyard quickly emptied.
“Also, summon the imperial doctor,” he added.
At this, he remembered the earlier scene and shook his head.
“It seems she really is awake – and just as willful and reckless in broad daylight as ever,” he murmured to himself.
Her soft body clung tightly to his, and even through the thick layers of clothing, he could feel her warmth.
No longer the cold that lingered no matter how closely he held her, even wrapped in quilts.
Fang Bocong trembled slightly.
He reached out, grasped Cheng Fang by the waist, and pushed her away.
“Don’t try that with me! I have something to ask you – first, make yourself clear,” he said, his voice hoarse.
Cheng Fang was pushed back but looked up at him, a gentle smile touching her lips, her eyes curving softly.
“Fang Bocong,” she called, offering no other words, simply reaching out her hand toward him.
“It’s useless! Don’t think you can just placate me like that every time,” Fang Bocong said, his voice trembling. He looked at her lovely smiling face and the hands she extended toward him.
“Fang Bocong,” Cheng Fang gazed at him, calling again, the light in her curved eyes shimmering like ripples.
Fang Bocong stared at her.
Cheng Fang!
Cheng Fang!
Cheng Fang!
With a sudden pull of his hand, he drew her into his arms, holding her tightly, so tightly.
Cheng Fang!
Cheng Fang!
Cheng Fang!
You’ve finally returned.
You’ve finally returned.
Translator’s Words:
Hi guys! This is the chapter right before the official ending. I’ve decided to upload the final chapter together with all the extras in one go. So there’ll only be one chapter today, no update tomorrow while I finish translating the last extra, and then all remaining chapters will be posted on Sunday. Thank you for your patience!
Oh my…this is actually the ending…thank you for translating this awesome novel. Really appreciate it, you make my days!
Cant wait for the extras , stay safe and healthy😍