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墨書 Inktalez
Murong Xi's voice was soft, his tone still calm.
However, to Liu Consort, this statement was as thunderous as a clap of lightning.
"You... you believe it!" Liu Consort exclaimed, joy flooding her heart, almost unable to believe it. "You believe everything about me, believe that I am your mother?"
Murong Xi did not share her excitement; he merely nodded lightly. "Back then, I found it strange. In the harem, having a child is no easy feat. Yet Consort Shen only treated me well in front of others; privately, she never held me or comforted me."
Unfortunately, at that time, he was too young to recognize the oddity of it all. He only felt wronged and sad, without realizing the underlying truth. By the time he was a bit older, Consort Shen had passed away, leaving him with a sense of regret that gradually faded into the hardships of daily life.
Hearing Murong Xi speak in such an indifferent tone about the harsh treatment he had endured made Liu Consort's heart ache.
"Such things will never happen again! From now on, we mother and son will live happily together!" Liu Consort's eyes brimmed with tears, but this time they were tears of joy.
The past sorrows and disasters were washed away by those glistening tears.
After recognizing each other, Murong Xi and Liu Consort made their relationship public. People were filled with sympathy for the hardships faced by Murong Xi and his mother and cursed Consort Shen for her malicious heart.
With this newfound connection, Liu Chancellor began to openly and secretly promote Murong Xi's ascension to the throne.
Moreover, among the many princes, those without strength had already been eliminated by Murong Cheng and Murong Jing during the previous power struggles.
As for those with strength, they had perished in their mutual conflicts.
Now among the princes, in terms of lineage and strength, there was no one who could rival Murong Xi.
Furthermore, Murong Xi was already the emperor's designated heir. When Liu Chancellor strongly advocated for him, Gu Bei presented the edict left to him by the Predecessor Emperor. It clearly stated that the throne was to be passed to Murong Xi.
With these conditions in place, Murong Xi ascended to the throne naturally and became the new emperor of Dongchuan.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live! Long live!"
After the cheers echoed through the air, the ceremony was complete.
Murong Xi sat upon the Dragon Throne, gazing at the civil and military officials kneeling before him. His expression was solemn, and after a moment, his voice resonated throughout the grand hall.
"All of you, rise."
Though still carrying the youthful tone of a boy, there was already an emperor's authority in his words.
The new emperor had ascended to the throne, and it was a time of great celebration.
To honor the contributions of the Rebel Army, Murong Xi prepared a banquet and personally rewarded those who had served him well, earning the support of many.
Among them, the first to be recognized was Gu Bei, who had made significant sacrifices for Murong Xi's claim to the throne.
"General Gu has worked tirelessly and achieved great merit in stabilizing this realm for me. This is indeed a tremendous accomplishment," Murong Xi declared. "Ordinary rewards cannot express my gratitude to you, General. I have decided to grant you the title of the only foreign prince in Dongchuan."
Everyone was taken aback by this decision, but those in the know quickly realized that it was well-deserved by Gu Bei. Those unaware felt a mix of envy and admiration but were wise enough not to openly challenge the emperor's decree.
Gu Bei hesitated at first but ultimately could not resist Murong Xi's insistence and accepted the title.
News of this spread throughout the capital, as it was a rare event that occurred once in a hundred years.
"You are quite the celebrity now!" Yeh Hsiao-Han teased Gu Bei. "Prince Gu, you are now a household name, ha ha ha."
Gu Bei replied, "I was already a household name before."
Yeh Hsiao-Han paused for a moment, pouting slightly. "I suppose that's true."
Gu Bei smiled and took Yeh Hsiao-Han's hand. "I have fulfilled the late Emperor's wishes. The new emperor is diligent and cares for his people; he is a good ruler. It is a blessing for all under Dongchuan that he is in charge."
"Yes," Yeh Hsiao-Han nodded. "I didn't expect that Murong Xi, who usually seems so quiet, would take on the role of emperor with such presence. With Chancellor Liu assisting him, he will surely become a wise ruler."
Even after becoming emperor, Murong Xi maintained a close relationship with Yeh Hsiao-Han and others. In fact, they felt more like family than even those from the Liu family.
Gu Bei looked at her, his voice softening as he said, "Everyone else's matters are settled. Isn't it time we take care of ours?"
"Hmm? What matters of ours?" Yeh Hsiao-Han asked, puzzled as she looked up.
In that moment, all she saw was a shadow descending upon her, followed by a warmth on her lips.
It was Gu Bei leaning down to kiss her.
"What are you doing?" Yeh Hsiao-Han exclaimed shyly, glancing around. "We're in public! What if someone sees us? How shameless!"
Gu Bei cupped her face, showing no sign of retreat. "If they see us, then so be it. What is there to be afraid of between us?"
He spoke earnestly, "Xiao-Han, shouldn't we discuss our wedding plans? Although it doesn't make much difference now, I still want to give you a public acknowledgment of our relationship."
They lived like any ordinary couple, but in Gu Bei's heart, he always wished to provide Yeh Hsiao-Han with something better. Being influenced by traditional values, he felt that a grand wedding would express his deep affection for her.
Yeh Hsiao-Han was lost in Gu Bei's gentle gaze. When she finally came to her senses, she realized she had nodded in agreement without thinking.
"Alright then. It's bound to happen sooner or later," Yeh Hsiao-Han said readily. She had no qualms about it; her heart was already shouting to walk down the aisle with Gu Bei.
Though Gu Bei had anticipated this outcome, the moment Yeh Hsiao-Han agreed filled him with immense joy.
"That's wonderful!" Gu Bei pulled Yeh Hsiao-Han tightly into his embrace. "I promise I will treat you well from now on!"
Yeh Hsiao-Han couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "You know, after all this time, you still can't manage a sweet word. Is proposing really as simple as just a few phrases?"
"Then what should I do?" Gu Bei asked earnestly, eager to learn from her. "Teach me, and I can do it the way you like."
Yeh Hsiao-Han felt warmth in her heart. This silly man always acted according to her wishes and never made her feel wronged.
"No way! I'm not telling you; figure it out yourself," Yeh Hsiao-Han replied with a smile. Did she really want to train Gu Bei into the type she desired?
No, what she liked was the original form of Gu Bei.
Watching Gu Bei looking somewhat troubled yet still treating her gently, Yeh Hsiao-Han felt that choosing to stay by his side was the best decision of her life.
The wedding date was quickly set. Due to Gu Bei's insistence, it was scheduled for an auspicious day next month. Yeh Hsiao-Han did not oppose; there was enough time for her to prepare her dowry.
"By the way, there's something else to do." The day before the wedding, Yeh Hsiao-Han suggested visiting the grave of Qi Qi. Gu Bei naturally had no objections.
The two brought incense and offerings to the cemetery, only to find that someone had arrived even earlier than them.
"Your Majesty."
Gu Bei and Yeh Hsiao-Han bowed to the person, who was none other than Murong Xi, who should have been busy with state affairs in the palace.
"You both are here too." Murong Xi casually sat on the ground and smiled, "I know you are getting married tomorrow, and Qi can't go. She will surely be unhappy, so I came to keep her company so she won't feel too lonely."
Upon hearing this, both Gu Bei and Yeh Hsiao-Han felt a pang of heartache. Time does not heal all wounds; some scars remain forever etched.
The three stood before the grave for a long while before each returned home.
Yeh Hsiao-Han and Gu Bei's wedding was grand and magnificent, so much so that years later, people in the capital still talked about it with great enthusiasm. The ten miles of red makeup left everyone in awe.
"It’s been three years since then; why do people still keep bringing it up? Have they gotten permission from those involved?"
In a restaurant, Yeh Hsiao-Han leaned against the window, munching on peanuts while listening to nearby diners vividly recounting the scenes from that wedding banquet.
Gu Bei peeled a shrimp for her and placed it on her plate, smiling as he watched her pout in displeasure, though his eyes sparkled with amusement.
A woman nearby laughed and said, "Sister Ye is here again! It's all your fault for making such a big fuss back then that people still remember it. Oh, how envious! I wish I could have a good man come riding in armor to marry me."
Yeh Hsiao-Han shot her a glare. "Xia Qing, your courage is getting bolder; now you dare to ride on my head. With such boldness, you really scare off your admirers."
Xia Qing was now doing business alongside Yeh Hsiao-Han, and over the years, she had grown significantly. The Xia family had become Yeh Hsiao-Han's most steadfast partner in the business world.
In the beginning, she had a crush on Liu Yang, but he was completely focused on Luo Jingxian and never noticed her feelings.
Fortunately, she was optimistic by nature and had long buried those feelings deep within her heart, sending Liu Yang her blessings instead.
"I'm not in a hurry; I haven't even met someone I like!" Xia Qing laughed. "You should focus on Liu Yang instead. How long will it take for him to win over the beauty?"
Liu Yang was infatuated with Luo Jingxian, but she was unwilling to get involved in romance. Thus, he silently guarded her side, year after year.
As they spent more time together, Luo Jingxian's attitude began to change slowly. Although she hadn't fully accepted Liu Yang's pursuit yet, she no longer pushed him away; instead, she adopted a more permissive stance.
Liu Yang firmly believed that as long as he persisted, he would eventually be able to touch Luo Jingxian's heart.
Yeh Hsiao-Han waved her hand dismissively, as if to shoo away the pink bubbles of romance before them. "Who cares about them? Matters of the heart are like fish drinking water; only they know whether it's warm or cold."
Xia Qing chuckled and decided not to pursue the topic any further.
At the next table, a new conversation began about the current most mysterious wealthy businessman in Dongchuan. A group of people argued passionately, their faces flushed with excitement.
Yeh Hsiao-Han exchanged a knowing smile with Xia Qing. After all, wasn't this first mysterious tycoon right in front of them?(THE END)
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