1115: The Return of an Old Friend (23)

The Return of an Old Friend (23)

"Qing Zhen, I can't accompany you anymore." Emperor Yong Le said apologetically, "When you married me back then, I thought you would be protected. In fact, after so many years, you didn't get anything." He said it very slowly. With every word he said, he had to rest for a while, as if speaking was already a very difficult task for him.2

Empress Xiande said, "Stop talking."

Only at this moment did the two of them talk like a normal couple.

He said, "Go and live your own life. You're a good person. You'll definitely live happily in the future. Marry someone else. Don't choose a selfish husband like me. Find someone who loves you…"

Empress Xiande cried uncontrollably.

She suddenly felt her hand being grabbed and saw Emperor Yong Le staring at her with bright eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, "But I'm unwilling. I don't want… I'm very selfish. You're my woman, so I don't want you to be with anyone else."

Empress Xiande was stunned.

"I've tried my best to endure the pain for the past year, hoping to live for a few more days. Actually, it's not because I want to see Xie Jingxing rule the world. The world has already been stabilized. There's nothing else I need to do. I just… can't bear to…" He panted with difficulty. "I can't bear to leave you… As long as I can be husband and wife with you for half a day, I will try my best."

"Actually, it wasn't my mother's idea back then. It was me from the beginning. I was the one who told my mother that I thought you were good. I said that anyone could be the empress as long as they followed the rules well. Actually, that's not the case. It has to be you from the beginning. Those hurtful words… were all lies…"

Empress Xiande covered her mouth and said, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Emperor Yong Le's face turned even paler. His voice was so low that it was almost inaudible. He said, "Unfortunately, I'm not a long-lived person, and I'm guilty that I've made your life difficult…" He reached out, as if he wanted to help Empress Xiande wipe the tears off her face. However, halfway through, his hand fell weakly.

He closed his eyes.

Empress Xiande covered her mouth and buried herself in the blanket, crying in pain.

After a while, Empress Xiande stood up. She gently tucked Emperor Yong Le in and kissed him. She tidied her hair in front of the mirror, wiped her tears, and slowly opened the door.

Eunuch Deng bowed and went forward. Empress Xiande said calmly, "His Majesty has passed away."

Eunuch Deng was stunned for a moment before falling on his knees and kowtowing.

Seeing this, the eunuchs and palace maids outside also knelt down and kowtowed, their wails and sobs echoing throughout the palace.

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